A Waltz in the Dark (Norway + OC Hetalia fanfiction)

Chapter 47

Author's Note: Yes, I understand that this is cheesy. But let's face it, romantic love IS cheesy. (Now hush and enjoy the fluff while you can.)  

*

        Norway parked the shiny blue rental car and jumped out, looking around at the planes on the public airstrip. He couldn’t see the jet, but he knew that it was there somewhere, and that she was waiting for him. Adrenaline pulsing through him, he took a deep breath and checked himself. He wore a green and white plaid shirt, jeans, and converse. A red rose was in his right hand.
    He fingered the stem and walked toward the airport, quickly, his heart pounding nervously, excitedly.
    Thousands of people milled about in the ginormous New York City airport. Lukas’s eyes searched the crowd, looking for a tall blonde. He made it to the gates, where he was scheduled to meet her. He looked around, grasping the single rose with both hands.
    And then he saw her.
    She was standing there, wearing a knee-length white dress, a jean jacket, and black converse. A red suitcase was on her right and her galaxy backpack was sitting on the floor to her left. She was staring out the windows, daydreaming, it seemed, with a peaceful expression on her face. Lukas walked toward her.
    “Mary?”
    She looked at him. A smile lit up her face.
    “Lukas!”
    He stood before her silently. He glanced down at his hands, and then handed it to her, slowly.
    “For me?” she said. She knew it was.
    He nodded.
    She smiled brighter as she took the rose.
    “Thank you,” she said as she lifted to her nose. She closed her eyes as she inhaled.
    His heart ached inside of him, overwhelmed by the joy of seeing her.
    He took a step closer to her and she looked up at him. He hugged her shoulders quickly, while he had the nerve. She accepted the embrace, folding her arms around his back and squishing him before letting go. He stepped back and took a deep breath.
    “I have many plans for us today,” he said, grabbing the handle of her suitcase and pulling it along behind him.
    “Really?” Mary said, swinging her backpack onto her shoulders and following after him. He looked back at her and smiled.
    “Ja.”



*


    First, they stopped at the hotel she would be staying at for the next two nights. He helped check her in and brought her suitcase to her room. She walked in, and he respectfully staying in the doorway. After dropping all of her things next to the bed, she then grabbed her purse and swung the long handle over her shoulder, turning back toward him. A few moments later they were walking back down to the car. They traveled in silence again, the radio playing quietly in the background. Norway loved to listen to her hum along.
    Second, he drove through Time Square. Mary looked out of the window with wide eyes, pointing to things sometimes with excitement. He knew she was lost in thought when she would begin to sing along with the radio absent-mindedly. She would stop when she realized she was doing it. He loved her voice.
    Once they made it through traffic, he drove through the streets, ignoring Mary’s persistent question:
    “Now where are we going?”
    Their third destination struck Mary speechless at first. But then she couldn’t stop mumbling and gasping with excitement. They walked into the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Mary became speechless again. She didn’t take any of the pamphlets but walked straight to the first exhibit. Norway followed quickly after her, a smile threatening to show itself. She stopped at the first exhibit, reading the description silently. They moved quietly from exhibit to exhibit, and Mary began to read the description out loud to him. He looked at the art while she read. But sometimes he would close his eyes and listen to her voice.
    When they moved to the next hall, Mary quickly rushed to the first painting. Norway casually made his way toward her, staring at her as he walked. She leaned forward slightly since she was so tall. Her feet were pointed toward each other, and her hands were clasped in front of her. His eyes moved to her face, but then she looked at him. He quickly looked away and walked to the next exhibit.
    Mary joined him.
    They wandered around the museum, looking at each and every display. Mary’s fascination made him curious, and sometimes she would tell him random details about the artist or the painting style. They walked up to a sculpture. He stood before the placard, but Mary slowly began to circle around the masterpiece. He watched her as she came to stand opposite of him. One arm was crossed across her stomach and the other was held up, her fist pressed against her cheek. She shifted weight and leaned on one leg, sticking the other out slightly. She smiled a little, and then looked at him. She raised an eyebrow when she saw him staring.
    “Oh, s-sorry,” he said, looking at the sculpture and then at a different sculpture to his right, walking over to it.
    They moved around the museum slowly, and soon they came to an aisle of older paintings. Mary gasped and ran to the first exhibit.
    “Frederic Edwin Church!” she screamed in a whisper, putting one hand over her mouth while she stared.
    “Who?” Norway asked, coming to look at the painting. It was a beautiful landscape picture, too beautiful to be real.
    “Frederic Edwin Church,” she repeated, her eyes glued to the painting, “He’s one of my favorites!”
    They stood at that painting for a long time. Norway’s eyes wandered and he looked over at the next one painting.
    “There’s another by him,” he said to her quietly, pointing.
    “Really?!”
    She rushed over and Norway chuckled.
    There ended up being five different paintings of his. But Norway was more interested in Mary’s interest than the actual paintings. As they came up to the last one she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. A look of serenity passed over her face. Her dark blue eyes stared intently, not even blinking. Her wavy blonde hair was pushed behind her ears so she could see the art clearly. She took a deep breath and then bit her lip. She looked at him.
    “Damn it,” he whispered, diverting his gaze again.
    “Lukas,” Mary scolded. But then she giggled, shaking her head as she walked to the next wall of paintings. Norway followed her.
    They looked at more artists, but obviously Church had been a big deal to Mary. She kept glancing back.
    Finally, she turned and walked back to the exhibit. Lukas followed her. She went and stood in front of the first painting again, her eyes full of yearning. She folded her hands together and held them above her heart.
    “Isn’t it beautiful?” she whispered with a sigh. Norway didn’t reply.
    After a minute, she looked at him.
    This time, he didn’t look away.
    They stared at each other quietly for a time.
    “Mary,” Lukas broke the silence, quietly, “You are more beautiful than anything in this museum. I’m sorry for staring, but I… I’m smitten.”
    She continued to stare, her eyes unblinking. Norway’s cheeks began to heat up and he wished he had stayed silent.
    But then she stepped closer to him.
    “You still give me butterflies,” she whispered in his ear. And then she kissed his cheek.
    “I think there’s a Vincent Van Gogh exhibit around the corner. Just let me look at that and then we can leave if you want, okay?” she said.
    “You can take as long as you vant,” he said. She smiled at him. They began to walk toward the next hall, side by side. Taking a quiet breath and holding it, he held out his hand to her. She looked at it and then shook her head. Norway quickly retracted his hand, embarrassed.
    But then she said, “We’re not supposed to touch the masterpieces.”
    Norway looked at her, slowly raising his eyebrows. She grinned and then shrugged.
    “I suppose I’m willing to take a risk, though,” she said. She held out her hand.
    He took it.


*


   
    They strolled through Battery Park, side by side. Mary stared out at the water. Not far in the distance was the Statue of Liberty.
    She was having trouble processing reality. It was all so perfect, it could’ve been a dream.
    Speaking of perfect… She looked over at Lukas. He was also looking out at the famous landmark. The soft sea breeze ruffled his hair and there was a distant look in his dark purple eyes.
    “Thanks for the day, Lukas,” she said. He looked at her. “It’s been amazing.”
    “It’s not over yet,” he said quietly, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. Mary smiled.
    Lukas walked over to the railing, closer to the sea. Mary went and stood next to him, placing her elbows on the railing and clasping her hands together. She looked at the Statue again and then around at the boats and ferries going by. The sky was full of gray clouds and the breeze was cold, but not unbearable. It was a beautiful day, and Mary felt like she was on top of the world.
    But at the same time, she felt so breathless and… nervous. She wasn’t sure why.
    She looked at Lukas just as he looked at her.
    “Mary…”
    “Yes?”
    He looked back out at the water, giving her a perfect view of his profile.
    “They say distance makes the heart grow fonder…” he said, quietly, “And I know that ve vere only separate for four days… but I have become fonder of you than ever before. I… I couldn’t stop thinking about you, and I am so overwhelmed vith emotion vhenever I look at you.” He looked at her. “You… have no idea how happy I am today, being vith you. I… I’m sorry I can’t say it better, but… I missed you. I know our relationship has been a vhirlvind and… and ve can take our time, but… I yust thought you should know how I feel. And… and I vas vondering… did you miss me too?”
    Mary’s heart fluttered in her chest. She looked down at the water.    “Our relationship has been fast, hasn’t it? Isn’t it… miraculous? You and I were strangers not to long ago, but… now I can’t imagine my world without you.” She turned her head to look at him again. “I missed you so much. I… I couldn’t stop thinking… daydreaming…” They were only a few inches apart and seemed to be getting closer, somehow. “But… Lukas…” she whispered, staring into his eyes. “Please, be gentle with me…”
    “Hva mener du?” he asked, meeting her gaze boldly.
    “I mean… I mean that I’m falling in love with you, Lukas Bondevik, but I’m afraid of… of…”
    He laughed, softly.
    “Me too. Me too, Mary. But I’m not going anyvhere. Your love is safe vith me, I promise.”
    His deep dark eyes stared at her in awe, like maybe she was magical.
    “Okay,” Mary said with a nod, “I trust you.”
    Their noses were only inches apart. Her hands found his.
    But then Mary’s iPhone buzzed. She turned away from him, looking out at the sea.  He did the same. She pulled it from her pocket. A picture message from…
    She frowned as she opened it.
    Lukas must’ve felt her tense, because he peeked over her shoulder.
    “Vhat—?” he stopped. Mary felt his grip on her hand tighten slightly.
    His cousin Matthias had sent her a picture.
    A picture of them together, looking like they were about to kiss. Mary could feel her cheeks begin to burn. He must’ve been standing not far behind them.
    They looked over their shoulder simultaneously. Dozens of people walked by, but from the crowds came a loud, obnoxious laugh.
    “HEE HEE HEE HEE HEEEEEEEEE.”
    “I am going to kill him,” Norway said, releasing her hand.
    “That seems a bit drastic,” Mary said, urgently, not sure whether he was serious or not. He certainly looked ready to kill someone.
    “Is it?” he growled. She grabbed his hand again, looking at his face.
    “Yes, yes it is,” she said. “Let’s make a good impression as a couple, okay?”
    “We don’t have to impress them,” he said, but there was less anger in his voice now.
    “Well, we don’t have to kill them, either…” she mumbled. Lukas looked at her.
    “I vasn’t serious, you know—“
    “NO NO NO NO NO HE’S GOING TO KIIIIIILL MEEEEE,” a scream interrupted their conversation. Mary and Lukas both looked to their left at the same time. Three men were walking toward them. The two in front held firm grips on the man who was screaming for mercy as they dragged him along behind them.
    “If that is the consequence of… whatever you did,” the shortest of the three blond men said, “Then you shouldn’t have done it if you valued your life.”
    The man winked at them and then smiled.
    Lukas turned to face them head on, pulling Mary along with him. She couldn’t help but smile at the third man, obviously Matthias, who was still struggling to escape.
    “Don’t worry, Matthias,” Mary said, reassuringly, “I won’t let him kill you. This time.”
    Matthias stopped. He looked at them, standing up straight. He was the taller than the rest of them, including Mary. His messy, spiked up hair gave him the impression of being even taller than he was, and she stared at him with some awe. He wore a black long coat with silver buttons and black boots. The color didn’t really fit his personality, in her opinion, but it gave him an air of sophistication that he wouldn’t have had otherwise. He glanced from her to Lukas, grinning madly.
    “Tak, Mary,” he said, pulling free of their grips.
    “That was extremely rude of you, however,” Mary said, holding her head up and giving him the evil eye. Matthias’s smile fell. He shuffled over and hid behind the man who Mary recognized now. He looked nearly the same as he had on the day she first met him, wearing a blue long coat and square glasses.
    “I remember you,” she said, holding her free hand out to him, “Berwald, isn’t it?”
    He nodded, shaking her hand solemnly. He stared at her intently.
    “And I’m Tino!” the shorter man next to him exclaimed, smiling. He held his hand out to her and she took it. He shook heartily. “It’s good to finally meet you in person, Mary!”
    “Vhat are you three doing here?” Lukas asked, weariness in his voice. “How did you find us?”
    “Mary posted that you were in Battery Park on Facebook!” Matthias exclaimed from behind Berwald. Lukas looked at her and Mary smiled, nervously.
    “You’re friends vith them on Facebook?” he said with a look that said it all. Mary chuckled. Matthias held up a thumb for them to see.
    “Iceland’s here, too,” Berwald said, his voice deep and rumbling.
    “Really?” Lukas said, looking at him.
    “What— oh, right! You guys are part of that… society,” Mary nodded. “Cool. Who’s Iceland?”
    Berwald stared at her, blinked twice, and then looked at Lukas.
    “Iceland is my brother, Emil,”  Lukas explained with some hesitance. “Vhere is he?”
    “We left him at a coffee shop on the edge of the park,” Tino said. “He didn’t feel like spying, as he put it.”
    “We should go back so he can meet you!!” Matthias explained, popping into view again, smiling at Mary. “Will you sing ‘Let It Go’ for me now?”
    Mary giggled and shook her head.
    They began to walk down the wide, concrete path. The first few minutes were filled with Matthias begging Mary to sing, but then Lukas ordered him to shut up and leave her alone, and he did. In fact, it was hard to get him to talk again, which Mary felt really guilty about.
    Tino asked her a couple polite questions, like where she was from, where she went to school, and how she and Lukas met. She answered each question, the other three standing in silence, listening intently.
    She liked Tino. She could see why Lukas would find it hard to hate him.
    Tino soon engaged Lukas in conversation, drawing the awkward turtle out of his shell by asking him about the University of Oslo and his plans for the next semester. While he talked in low tones, Mary glanced over at Matthias who walked on her right. He met her gaze and smiled. She stepped a little closer to him and cleared her throat.
    “Let it go… Let it go… can’t hold it back anymore,” she sang quietly.
    Matthias’s smile grew wider.
    “There, you happy?” she exclaimed, sarcastically. But she couldn’t help but smile back.
    “Very. I am absolutely convinced that you are Elsa. Don’t deny it! I’m onto you!” he chuckled. “You should ask Emil to braid your hair when we meet him. He’s really good at braiding. Just don’t tell him I told you. Actually, just don’t tell anyone at all. Because if a certain Pole finds out—“
    Mary burst out laughing, interrupting him.
    “You… you are the funniest person I have ever met!” she giggled, shaking her head.
    “Heh. Did you hear that, Nor? Huh? She thinks I’m funny!” Matthias exclaimed. Lukas grunted in response. Mary glanced at him and quickly composed herself.
    “There it is!” Tino exclaimed. A gravel path led to a small, obscure looking cafe. Matthias bounded ahead, Tino and Berwald not far behind. Mary and Lukas entered last, and Lukas held the door open for her.
    “What kind of coffee do you want?” Mary asked, looking back at him. He raised an eyebrow in response.
    “Coffee’s on me,” she said with a smile. He opened his mouth but Mary beat him too it.
    “Nope, nope, nope!” she exclaimed, nudging him with her elbow. “You’ve done so much for me, let me do this one little thing for you, okay?”
    “Fine,” Lukas said, looking at the menu before telling her what he wanted.
    Mary walked up to the counter and ordered their drinks, feeling very nostalgic. She glanced over at Lukas. He sat at a table with the others, plus one more. Mary’s heart began to pound a little harder and she took a deep breath.
    Stay calm. This is no big deal. Just be yourself and don’t do anything stupid. She still couldn’t believe that one of her writing idols was her boyfriend’s brother. But there he was, sitting there. He swiped his silver hair from his forehead, staring at the others around the table, his light purple eyes gleaming. His eye color alone should’ve been enough to clue Mary in. Emil clicked off his iPad and set it down on the table before him, crossing his arms and glaring at the four blonds surrounding him.
    The sight made her sad.
    Their drinks were set before her and she picked them up, smiling at the employee. She took a deep breath as she walked over.
    Lukas was talking to Emil, who was glaring at him fiercely.
    Mary could hear their conversation as she walked up.
    “… Big brother.”
    “Alvarlega?”
    “Big brother…”
    “Shut. Up.”
    “Here, Lukas,” Mary interrupted, setting his cup before him. She looked at Emil and smiled.
    “Hi, you must be Lukas’s brother,” she said, holding her hand out to him, “My name’s Mary. Mary Shepherd. Lukas’s girlfriend.”
    Emil met her gaze, but his eyes went from furious to shocked in half a second. He stared at her, his eyes growing wide.
    The seconds passed by and there was no further reaction. Tino and Matthias silenced and turned their heads to stare at them.
    “Mr. Steilsson?”  Mary said, retracting her hand and glancing at Lukas for a second. “Are you all right?”
    “Uh…” he blinked twice.
    “What’s wrong with you, Icey?” Matthias exclaimed from the other end of the table. “Say hello!”
    Emil shook his head, snapping from his stupor.
    “Sorry,” he mumbled, still staring at her. He held out his hand. Mary took it and they shook.
    “Emil Steilsson,” he said, taking a deep breath and looking away from her. “Sorry about that. I just… I’m a huge fan of you and your books.”
    “You are?” Mary and Lukas said simultaneously.
    “Yes,” Emil said with a nod, glancing at her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
    Mary smiled.
    “I’m a big fan of your books,” she said, sincerely.
    “Really?” Emil said.
    “Yeah!”
    Lukas moved a chair over so she could sit next to Emil. Mary thanked him and sat down.
    “So do you have any works in progress?” Mary asked politely.
    “Yes, several, actually,” Emil mumbled with a nod. “What about you?”
    “Same.”
    “Do you mind me asking what your writing style is like?” Emil said, keeping his eyes lowered. “Like, do you outline your stories or do you just create them spontaneously? I don’t know very many other writers, so I’m always curious to learn new techniques.”
    Thus ensued a long discussion about writing that the other four were excluded from. After a few minutes, Tino, Berwald, and Matthias struck up a conversation, but Lukas sat silently in between the two groups. Mary noticed, but didn’t say anything. She wasn’t sure what to say, and she was actually talking about writing with the Emil Steilsson! She didn’t want to mess that up.
    But the guilt settled in the front of her mind, soon becoming hard to ignore. When their conversation came to a momentary pause, Mary quickly turned toward Lukas.
    “Hey, how—“
    “Ve have to go soon,” Lukas said, looking at his watch.
    “We… we do?” she asked, surprised.
    “Ja. I have a surprise for you,” he said. The others at the table were quickly paying attention.
    “What is it?” Mary asked. Lukas glanced around at the other Nordics and then reached into his coat pocket. He pulled out two white slips of paper.
    “Have you ever been to Broadvay?”



*


    They went and saw Shrek: the Musical. (Author’s note: You happy, BookBird1497?)
    Mary laughed until she cried. Norway smiled twice, mostly in reaction to Mary, but he wouldn’t tell her that.
    When it was over, they walked to the car. Mary continued to laughed at random, apologizing through her smiles whenever she did. When they got into the car, she seemed to have herself under control, though her smile remained as they drove through the city.
    “You know,” she said at one point, staring out of the window with a wistful look, “I didn’t get to tell you earlier, but your cousins are nice. So is your brother. It was cool to meet them.” She looked at him.
    He nodded.
    “I vasn’t expecting to see them today,” was his only comment. He thought about the afternoon as he drove. Their meeting had been random and spontaneous, but he was glad to have it over with. He just felt bad that he forgot to warn Iceland that Mary looked like Aud.
    They reached her hotel and Norway walked her into the lobby, which was full of guests. Mary gestured for him to follow her, and they walked through the door that led to the stairway. It was empty.
    She turned toward him.
    “Thanks for inviting me here, Lukas,” she said, sincerely, her blue eyes sparkling. “This has been an amazing experience and… and I’m so glad I’m with you. That has made it a million times more amazing.” She smiled. “Thank you.”
    “Thank you for coming,” he replied, quietly. “My life has been a million times more amazing with you in it.”
    She giggled, her cheeks betraying her and flushing pink.
    “Well, goodnight, Lukas.”
    “Goodnight.”
    And then she turned and walked up the stairs, glancing back at him as she turned the corner before continuing to the second floor. She smiled and waved, and he waved back. When she was out of sight, he closed his eyes and put a fist over his sighing heart.