[Event]Just over a year had passed since the war had ended. Gjertrud had received a few letters from Soren (how he had gotten her address was beyond her) and hadn't replied to any. She didn't know quite how to-
respond. She had started moving from town to town and she hadn't gotten any letters since. She stood at a train station one day, trying to decide which way to go. She noticed a departure for Soren's town and-
hesitates before buying a ticket. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to visit, the idiot probably thought she was dead or something... She arrives at the town and steps off the train before walking around, delaying going-
to his actual house. She didn't want to intrude if she wasn't welcome.
Søren
was
out shopping for some groceries to have a celebratory meal for when he returned home. He was happy, and humming quietly as he walked through the streets with some bags in his hands.
keeps walking and notices him out of the corner of her eye. She stares at him and starts walking in his direction.
stood outside a window and looked inside, licking his lips as he debated on buying some pastries or not..
frowns and hesitates before standing next to him, looking in the window.
noticed her reflection in the window and looked down to her. He smiled widely. "Gjertrud!" He dropped his bags and pulled her into a full embrace.
blinks in surprise, not expecting that kind of a response. "Hello."
Wiggled around a bit and even picked her up slightly. "I'm so glad ye're alive...."
sighs quietly. "Idiot... do you think I would die so easily?"
shrugs as he let go of her and picked up his bags again. "Nej, but I hadn't heard from ye... I was worried I scared ye off."
shakes her head. "No, I just... I was just too busy to reply, I am sorry."
smiles and nods. "I unerstand. So what're ye doin' here?"
shrugs. "Just passing through..."
nodded a bit. "Do ye have anythin' planned tonight? My family is makin' a large dinner to celebrate the end of the war... and we always make too much."
shakes her head. "If you are sure that it is okay and I will not be a bother... I would like that."
nods an started heading home. "Ludwig's not here right now, so it'll be nice to have another war buddy here..."
walks with him. "You are still together?"
nodded. "Ja. It's nice... I need someone who will give me all their attention, and he never seems to get annoyed with it."
nods slowly. "I am happy for the both of you."
smiles. "Tak... how have ye been? Are ye happy...?"
shrugs. "I guess I am. I have been traveling a lot along the border. I'm still not allowed back to Laurasia but I do not mind as much anymore."
nods at that. "At least ye're close to home... maybe some time ye'll be allowed back, and then ye can rest."
shakes her head. "It is not my home." She smiles faintly. "I really never saw any of Laurasia beyond my village and the army. I might just stay in Gondwana, I think I am happiest here."
blinks at that and shrugs. "Whatever ye want~ If ye stay on this side though it'll be closer to me. That is, if ye can tolerate me after today."
sighs. "I don't know, that might be asking a lot..." She glances over at him, a tiny smirk on her face.
hit her arm lightly. "Ha ha. I hope ye like Danish food, 'cause my mom rocks at it." He remembered that her mother was Danish too, but he wanted to make sure.
nods with a hum. "It's been a long time since I've had it, I will look forward to it."
smiled and got back to his house, annoncing that he was home. His mother came over and took the bags to bring into the kitchen, but stopped and smiled at the female. "Mor, this is Gjertrud. We were kinda
frenamies in the war."
....punches Soren's arm. "Nei, I was the one always helping patch him up when he was an idiot." She didn't want his mother to think she was an enemy especially on a night where they were celebrating the end-
of the war...
chuckles as he put an arm around her shoulders lightly. "I can show ye around before I need to help make food." His mother shooshed him and said he should spend time with her, while she cooked. She wanted them
to have time together and enjoy themselves.
nods and glances at him. "So you are going to give me a tour?"
nodded as started walking her around the house. It was a modest one, but a bit on the large size since his mother liked space. He was mostly excited to have her here...
glances at a family picture as they walked through the house. She pauses and stares at it.
stopped with her, hoping that this wasn't making her sad... The last thing he wanted to do was to depress her.
..."What is your mother's maiden name?"
hummed as he looked at the photograph. "I'm pretty sure it was Nielsen."
points to a woman in the photograph. "That is my mother. Her name was Nielsen, too."
blinks a bit as he looked at it closer. "... Are ye serious?"
nods very slowly and points to his mother in the picture. "I.... I think we might be cousins."
smiled widely as he looked to her, hugging her again. "Cousins~ That might be a reason as to why I liked ye so quickly. We have similar blood."
blinks in surprise at the hug, still a little shocked. "I guess so..."
smiles. "It kinda makes sense... I talk easily to relatives. And ja... I can see it... I never really knew my aunt, so..." He looke back to the picture, smiling widely.
nods as she looks back to the picture as well. "I never met any relatives on my mother's side. I knew she had a sister but not much else."
smiles a little. "So... ye're family..." He leaned against the wall a bit. "We really should keep in touch then..."
looks at the ground. "Family, huh?" She glances up again. "Hmm, I suppose I have no choice now."
blinks as he looked to her. "What do ye mean ye have no choice now?"
tilts her head at him. "I was joking."
pouts a bit and ruffles her hair a bit. "Don't be so meeean." He continued to walk her through the house, more excited than before. When they finished he went to go talk find his mother to see if it was a
possibility that she was related to him.
follows him. She really didn't have much else to do and she was curious as well. She guessed that Soren and herself did have a similar appearance. They were definitely nothing alike in personality.
leaned against the counter as he told his mother about the picture, smiling more when she agreed that it didn't seem impossibe. She started asking questions about Gjertrud's mother, simple questions.
answered as best she could. "I'm sorry, I didn't know much about her, she passed before I was really at an age to know about her past..." She frowns and looks at the ground.
The Danes mother smiled at her. "It's alright, dear. You have her eyes... and her hair. My sister loved to keep her hair long and flowing. She was always quiet, too. Unlike me. That's why I have this child
as my son. The Dane just rolled his eyes at the comment.
blinks at her and hesitates before opening her knapsack and pulling out a picture of her mother. "I... thank you. I hoped to be like her..."
She smiled and went to take the picture, but just looked at it. "Look at her. Didn't change much since she got married... I wish I knew more about you though. We sort of lost touch after she passed..."
fidgets. "It was just me, I didn't know I had any other family I could go to."
She smiled and hugged the other caringly. "You can come here any time you want, dear. Our home is your home. You'll always be welcomed."
hesitates before hugging her back. "Thank you..."
She squeezed her a bit tighter before pulling back. "I guess tonight is an even better reason to celebrate. Would you like to stay the night? Søren can fix up the guest room for you."
nods slowly. "If you don't mind... I haven't figured out anywhere else to stay tonight."
She nods and smiled at her affectionatly. "Of course. You can stay as long as you want." She looked to Søren after who smiled and nodded. "Here, I can show ye to the room so ye can put yer stuff there. It'll
be a bit till dinner still, so ye can even take a nap once I clean it up. I'm sure the journey must have been long."
walks with him. "I don't think I could sleep now even if I was tired..."
got to the room and just made sure that the sheets were set and everything was neat. "Neither. This is just great... I've never known my extended family, and now I can learn..."
sets her bag down on a table. "I... didn't know I still had family."
smiles as he sat on her bed, bouncing a bit. "Ye do now~ Isn't that great? We can have awesome family reunions, and parties, and ye'll be invited to everythin' we do, and we'll all grow old together..."
nods and sits on the other side, flopping down on her back. "Hmm, are they all as loud as you?"
laughs and shakes his head. "Of course not. My mor is normally quiet, and likes to listen. Unless she drinks a bit, then she's like me. I'm the only 24/7 loud mouth."
nods. "Then I will not mind family events." She glances at him, punching at his arm.
chuckles as he looked to her. "It's great to know ye're more than a friend, now..."
rolls her eyes. "Come on, don't ruin get all sentimental on me."
smirks. "I just wanted to see ye again, and I got more than I expected. I think it's great."
replies jokingly. "I can't help but think I got the short end of this deal..."
laughs a bit an nudged her lightly. "Oh come on. Ye must be happy, even secretly, ja?"
shrugs. "If it's a secret, I can't tell you."
pouts. "Oh come on. Ye can tell meee~"
shrugs again. "It's nice to have family, I guess."
laid down beside her and smiled. "We can treat ye like one of the best families there is... my family is very supportive of anythin'."
blinks over at him before nodding. "Thanks..."
smiles wider. "Velbekommen. I just want ye to know ye still mean a lot to me..."
nods and stares at the ceiling. "You mean a lot to me, too." She stays silent for a bit. "I'm sorry I never wrote back..."
shakes his head. "It's okay... I could tell ye wanted some time... I just... didn't."
sighs quietly. "I didn't know what to say..."
smiles to her. "Nothin'~ It's in the past. This is now, and ye're happily here. And really, if my mor says ye can stay, ye can stay. She'll even take ye to get yer hair done, or nails. She likes to treat
herself..."
glances at him. "I might like to stay, just for a while if that's alright...."
nods. "That's perfectly fine~ I don't mind at all. I will even not bother ye all the time, and ye can explore the town when ye want. Or if ye stay in here to just have some Gjertrud time..."
nods. "It will be nice to not be constantly moving and settle down for a bit."
shrugs. "If ye really want I'm sure we could build another room into a bedroom for ye... we've done it before."
shakes her head. "I wouldn't want to be a bother or overstay my welcome."
pouts. "Ye're family. Ye'll never be a bother, and never overstay yer welcome."
rolls over to lay on her stomach. "If you're sure..."
watched her and stroked her hair lightly. "I'm positive... we like to have family close. It makes sure we don't lose touch..."
fidgets. "I could always just find a place of my own in town if I need the room."
nods at that. "Ye can stay here and get a feel for it... and if ye want, we'll give ye yer own room..."
hides her face in her arms. "Hmm, thanks..."
blinks a bit. "Is somethin' wrong?"
shakes her head. She was just trying to hide that she was really happy right now...
nods a little and rubbed her back slightly, trying to comfort her a bit. He had no idea how she felt right now.
sits up, barely hiding a smile.
smiles a little at that. "It's nice to see ye smile..."
looks away from him. "Don't get used to it."
chuckles a bit and swayed happily a bit. "What if I do though?"
shakes her head. "You won't."
hums. "If ye say so." He got up after a bit. "I'm gonna go help with dinner. Ye can stay here an relax or come and talk with mor."
stands up. "I can help, too..."
smiles a bit. "If my mor let's ye. She might tell ye to sit and relax from yer journey, but ye can try." He headed out of the room and down the stairs towards the kitchen.
follows him, glancing around as they walk.
got to the kitchen and rolled his sleeves up to start cleaning food to be cut. "Ye really don't have to help, Gjertrud. Ye can just watch and talk."
fidgets before sitting down at the table to watch. "Okay..."
watched her and smiled a bit. "Although, ye could also peel the carrots and potatos so I can help mor with the meat."
stands up to help, glad to be able to in some way.
handed her the veggies and tools for her to peel them before shifting over to help his mor with stuff. He was glad to see she wanted to help..
starts peeling the vegetables carefully. She didn't want to just sit there while everyone else was helping.
thought she'd be a great person to call a family member now. He did check on her every once in a while, but knew she could take care of herself.
managed the vegetables fine and takes them over to the counter when she was done.
put them into a pot after and started to boil them. "We can set the table now, since this stuff just needs to cook and my mor can handle it."
nods and glances at him. "If you pull the dishes out, I will put them at their places."
smiles and got the amount of plates, handing them to her as well as the utensils. He got napkins and cups to put at the spots in the meantime.
sets up the plates and utensils at each seat and steps back when she is finished.
went back to the kitchen and helped bring out the different plates of food before calling everyone to dinner. "Sit wherever ye like, Gjertrud."
nods and takes a seat, staring at the food. She recognized a lot of the dishes and smiles faintly, looking forward to getting to eat them again.
waited for everyone to sit down before his mor uttered a quiet prayer and then started passing around the plates so everyone could get some food. The Dane just licked his lips. "Take whatever ye want, Gjertrud,
we don't like left overs."
glances at him before nodding and dishing herself a little bit of everything. She had missed food like this and missed being at a table with family.
started eating once everyone had food, laughing every so often with someone. He was glad to share the most important thing with someone new...
listens to everyone, not speaking much herself. She enjoys the food in silence.
hoped she didn't feel too out of place. He did tell a few stories about the war that involved her, but nothing that would make her seem bad, or worry his family.
didn't feel out of place, she just didn't talk very often and didn't know anyone but him well enough to talk much. She got a little embarrassed when he would mention her but hid it, really not minding.
ate all he could, getting full at the end and leaned back in the chair. "Got enough room for dessert?"
shakes her head slowly. "I don't think I can eat anymore..."
chuckles a bit. "I always have room for dessert..." He leaned forward when his mor walked in, smiling as the cake was decorated in a way that welcomed Gjertrud into the family, as well as a celebration of
the end of the war.
blinks at the cake and hides a smile behind her hand, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. She wasn't used to this kind of celebration.
smiles as he looked to her. "Ye gotta have some cake now. It literally has yer name on it."
sighs quietly. "I guess it would be rude to refuse..." She smiles faintly as she takes a slice of cake.
took a slice himself and started eating. He smiled and wiggled. "Tastes great, as always. Tak, mor~" He was always thankful for sweets.
eats her own, thanking Soren's mother as well.
started eating his, glancing at Gjertrud now and again, enjoying her smile for whatever faintness of it was there.
hadn't had cake in a long time and finds it almost too sweet but she eats happily, glancing at Soren when she notices him watching her.
Søren
was
happy for her happiness... He finished off his cake and even took another slice. "What do ye plan to do later, Gjertrud?"
blinks at him and shrugs. "I hadn't planned anything..."
nods at that. "I was wonderin' if ye'd wanna go for a walk and drink some beer by the lake. It's kinda relaxin'."
hesitates before nodding. "That sounds nice, thanks."
smiled and finished off his cake. "We can go when ye wanna, then. I normally wanna let dinner set a bit before goin'."
glances at the table. "Ja, that would probably be best..." She felt as if she couldn't even walk after all that food.
leaned back in his chair and just listened to the rest of his family make some idle chat. He had missed this throughout the war.
listens to the chatter as well, giving up on hiding her smile.
stopped looking at her, knowing she'd prefer it that way so he'd stop bringing it up.
sits in silence, enjoying the atmosphere. It had been a long time since she had been able to share a meal with family.
thought she'd be able to get more and more used to it... He could really get used to this.
looked forward to it. She had missed out on spending time with family all theses years and she was glad she would get a second chance.
waited a bit longer before sighing and getting up, finding a small case of beer to take on their journey. "I'm ready when ye are, Gjertrud. We don't have to leave right now though, just whenever ye want."
stands, following him. "We can go now." She figured that she would have plenty of chances to spend time with family.
knew she would if she stayed. He walked out the door and headed to a nice lake nearby, humming quietly with the case in his hand.
walks alongside him in silence.
"I hope my family isn't too overbearin' for ye. They normally like to make visitors feel like they're home, but it's even more so for ye since ye're now family."
shakes her head. "It was nice, thank you... It felt like I was really part of the family. I was happy."
smiles at that. "I'm glad. When's yer birthday? I wanna make sure everyone knows so we can celebrate it. As a family."
"May seventeenth. What is yours?"
smiles. "June fifth. Pretty close, so we can maybe combine them and go on a long vacation together somewhere if we wanted to."
hums under her breath. "That might be nice... I will look forwars to it."
smiled some more as they got to the lake and found a place to sit down on the sand, nestling the beer into the sand beside him. "Help yerself to as many of these as ye want. If mor finds out I drank them all
she'd be upset."
sits next to the beer and looks out over the lake as she grabs a beer. "This place is beautiful..."
nods as he took a beer himself and opened it. "Ja. I come here to relax and think, or just to get outta the house."
starts drinking. "It's really lovely. I'll have to come back and see it during the day next time."
smirks at that. "I'll take ye when the sun rises. It's beautiful."
smiles before taking a drink of her beer. "Alright..."
drank his beer happily. "We can do this a lot... as much as ye want."
lays back to stare at the sky. "I'd like that..."
nods as he finished off his beer and put the empty back in the case, taking out another and opening it. "Since this place is so far from the big cities, we don't get many visitors... so this is a local
vacation spot. Just for this town."
hums under her breath as she finishes her own beer. "It seems very serene in this town..."
chuckles. "This place is pretty serene. Not much bad happens here. And the events are fun."
smiles and closes her eyes. "Sounds perfect..."
smiles. "It really is the perfect piece of life... and now ye'll get it too."
grabs a second beer. "Thanks..."
shrugs. "Don't thank me. Ye're the one that's family. And ye're the one that came here."
glances at him. "You are the one who invited me here."
nods. "Ja, but ye were the one who decided to come... ye could have decided not to."
looks back out at the lake. "...I am glad that I did."
smiles widely. "I am, too. It just feels... good..."
takes a long drink of her beer, staying silent.
finished off his second, hiccuping quietly as he put it away.
glances at him, smirking faintly.
cursed quietly, shaking his head at that. "The war made my alcohol tolerance terrible..."
grabs a third beer. "More for me, then..." She smirks faintly to show she was joking.
chuckles at that. "Ye wish. I've got dibs on the last." He took the last one, though didn't open it yet.
drinks some more. "How did it make it worse?"
hums. "I used to be able to drink half a pack without issue. Now two seem to make me a bit light headed."
finishes her beer. "...I haven't had that problem in a long time."
huffs. "I guess I just need to drink more."
waves her hand. "You don't have to drink."
smirks a bit. "I enjoy it. It's a fun way to relax, and there's always stories for the next day."
"Just drink one or two at a time then."
shakes his head. "It's funner this way. Besides, I never get sick 'cause I know when to stop. So it's always fun."
shrugs. "Then it's okay, ja?"
nods. "Ja. I just wanna be able to drink more like I used to."
sighs faintly. "It won't be the end of the world because you can't drink much."
chuckles. "Ja, I know. But it's interestin' when I do. If ye stay around ye'll find out."
rolls her eyes. "Now I have to stay just to keep an eye on you."
smirks. "It's at least one way to keep ye here."
looks away from him and stares out over the lake. "Or I could just let you drink yourself sick."
shakes his head. "I'd not do that... nej..." He opened the beer and started sipping at it slowly.
nods slowly. "Good."
sighed and downed the rest of his beer. "The mosquitoes might be bad tonight. So we shouldn't stay too long. But we can come back here tomorrow."
nods and stands up a little reluctantly. "Alright."
got up a bit after, making sure they left no trash behind. "We can have a picnic here tomorrow. How's that?"
smiles faintly. "That could be nice."
nods as he started walking home, not seemingly tipsy anymore. "We'll have some smørrebrød, and beer, and pastries. Maybe even some kinda doughnuts, if I ask my mom to make some."
nods. "I could go buy some ingredients to make something as well."
smiles. "The two of ye can go and shop then. It'll be cute~"
blinks at him before shrugging. "If she wouldn't mind, I guess."
chuckles. "Of course not. My mor seemed happy ye were around... She never had any daughters, so I guess she can kinda treat ye like one."
tilts her head. "Do you have brothers, then?"
nods. "Two, but they were lucky and escaped the war... One's in Sweden now, the other in Norway. They visit quite a bit, so we never lose touch."
"...And they aren't as annoying as you, right?" She smirks faintly.
shakes his head. "Nej, not at all. My the one in Norway is a lot like ye, really. The one in Sweden is an ass though."
nods slowly. "I will look forward to meeting them."
hums. "They should be by soon... like, in the week or so. They know I wanna see 'em."
blinks over at him. "Have you seen them since the war?"
nods happily. "Ja~ They visited soon after I was home. It was great 'cause they're both younger, but they seem more mature than me..."
resists a laugh. "To be fair, most people probably are..."
stuck his tongue out at her. "Meanie." He hummed quietly as he saw the house in the distance, taking his time to get there.
hides a smile behind her hand. She glances at the house as they get closer. It had been a long time since she had been able to walk to a place she could call home.
Søren
was
just happy to have her here really... He wanted her to feel at home and everything. He'd even go with her to Laurasia some time if she wanted.
glances at him. "So... it really is okay if I stay for a bit?"
smiles and looks to her. "Completely. Ye're not a bother at all."
nods slowly. "Thank you... I.... this really means a lot to me."
smiles and looks down. "M'glad... It's good to see ye happy."
hums under her breath. "I am happy..."
smiled more and hugged her. "M'glad... really glad..."
blinks in surprise before hugging him back, smiling faintly.
wiggled a bit before squeezing her a bit more. He started walking back home, stumbling a bit as he got up the stairs.
watches him. "Need help?"
shakes his head. "I'm used to this. My mor normally finds me out here and helps me in if I've drank too much. tonight I'm good though." He got to the door and opened it for her.
steps inside, still keeping an eye on him just in case.
hummed and just headed to the couch, thanking his mor for dinner before collapsing on the couch.
watches with a sigh. "Are you just going to sleep there?"
hums. "Nej... just restin' here for a bit. Ye can sleep though. I don't wanna ruin yer night or anythin'."
shrugs. "I didn't have anything else planned."
chuckles. "I don't wanna bore ye... If I get too outta control or anythin' just hit me."
replies in a monotone. "Wow... you are really getting out of control now, laying on the couch and doing nothing."
smirks at her. "That's what I've missed since the war... But m'glad that's all done and gone with..."
sits down on his legs. "It is good that the war is over."
wiggled a bit but quickly gave up. "Ja... no kiddin'. I like bein' home..."
pauses before nodding slowly. "Ja..."
smiles. "We'll make this the best home there ever was~ And ye'll totally be a part of it~"
...hides a smile behind her hand.
hummed as he stared at the ceiling. "I'm so happy..."
tilts her head. "Why?"
shrugs. "I got to see ye, after a full long year... and then to find out ye're family... it's great."
sighs quietly. "I guess it is reason to be happy."
hums. "Ye really can sleep now, ye know..."
blinks at him and hesitates before laying on top of him. "Okay, night." She pretends to fall asleep.
blinks as he looked at her and pouted. "Heeeeey that's not fair! Ye're warm and all but stiiillllll"
can't help but smirk as she keeps her eyes closed.
watched her a bit longer before smiling and putting his arms around her lightly. "We should get to bed..."
"What do you mean? I am already sleeping."
smiles a bit and closes his eyes. "Fine. But only tonight will ye take advantage of me."
opens her eyes and glances at him. "I was just joking, I can get up and go to bed."
shakes his head. "Nej. Ye're warm and this is nice and comfy. Ye're not leavin' now."
sighs. "Fine, I suppose I have no other option now."
smiled more and started to fall asleep, loosening his grip on her but only slightly.
watches him for a bit before smiling faintly and closing her eyes, falling asleep.
slept soundlessly, glad that no one came to wake them up during the night and telling them to go to bed properly.