The Safe Haven

The House

America's pov
☆°•☆•°☆

Warm.
It's really warm.
I like it.
I nuzzled into it a little more.
Large arms wrapped around me. My eyes flung open to see a half-awake alpha.
Russia.
"доброе утро звезды," he said as the larger male cracked open an eye to look at me. He spoke in a language that I wasn't familiar with. He must've seen the confusion on my face.
"Sorry, translation difficult. Tirred." Russia said closing his eyes. His voice was deeper than usual and had a heavy ancient.
"What does it mean?" I asked.
My mate hummed.
"It's 'good morning, Stars' in Russian."
I giggled silently.
I like it.

"Morning," I replied.
Russia smiled. He rubbed my hair slightly. A smile crept across my face while I purred. The morning sun that made its way through the window warmed our exposed skin.

"Hey, do you remember what we talked about last night?" The large, burly man asked.
"That I'm your favorite, or moving in with you?"
"Um, moving in with me." He muttered.
"Yup, I remember that," I mumbled into his warm chest.
"When would you like to do it? Now? Maybe? Whenever you're ready."
Aww, he's trying his best not to sound eager, but failing. Miserably.

I couldn't help but let out a laugh.
Russia's face exploded into a sheet of red.

Aww.

This time I don't silence 13. He's right. Russia is adorable.

"Aww, so, the big, intimidating, muscular, 'ruthless' Alpha of the North isn't so cold and intimidating after all. He is just a giant, blushy, fluff ball." I smirked.
"N-no." He stuttered out. The alpha sat up, making me slide off him. His face was still red like a tomato.
"I beg to differ. The evidence is right there," I booped his nose.

Russia hastily got out of bed in a moment of embracement while I bust out laughing. Russia swiftly regained his composure.
"Okay, okay, mister tough guy, let's go."

I pull myself from the covers and swing my feet over the bed. I have a slight ache in my body, but it's nothing that can stop me.
"Stay right there," Russia demanded before running out of the room.
I sighed and waited patiently for him to return. Russia returned soon after with a walking stick.
"I don't want you to get hurt, so..." The tall male adverted his gaze and offered his hand to help me stand. I knew that getting up would be a struggle, so I took his rough, scarred hand to help me onto my feet.
"So far so good," I mumbled under my breath.
Russia gave me the cane for me to put some of my weight on.
"Let's  go."

I walked with a heavy limp, but at least I can walk. My mate stood by me watching me like the way a mother would when a baby starts walking. With pride, worry, and secretly anticipating and preparing for the fall of said child.

"Are you sure you can walk all the way there?" Russia asked with a voice laced with concern.
"I feel fine, don't worry," I replied back. The taller male sighed but didn't object.

"Here it is." Russia opened the door for me. I happily walked inside the warm house to protect myself from the cold spring drizzle outside.
The house was like a large, two-story, log cabin. There wasn't much decor; there were just a few paintings and some other things like dried flowers.
"There are many rooms to choose from of you'd like to look around upstairs," Russia stated. I looked at the deer antler chandelier in his kitchen.
"You guys have electricity here?" I asked.
"Yes, we also have running water. We once saved man, and for his thank you, he installed electricity into all of the buildings. It's solar-powered if you were wondering."
Wow.

Okay, so. I know I can't get up the stairs so...
"Hey, Russ, can you- uh. Carry me up?" Blush ran up to my face as I looked at the beautiful wooden floors.
Without a word or any hesitation, the "cruel" alpha scooped me up into his muscular arms and carried me up the stairs.
"Where would you like your room? How would you want it to look like?" Russia rambled off questions as he still held me up off the ground.
I cleared my throat, catching the ocean-eyed country's attention.
"Can you put me down, please?" I whispered with a face painted red.
"Oh, yeah, sorry."
Russia gently and carefully put me down.

Since you are mates, you should be close to each other. For efficiency purposes. Why else?

He does have a point. Mates are stronger, faster, and they have more energy and heal quickly when they're closer together.
I was just about to ask Russia a question when the door opened to reveal my brother.
"Russia! I can't find Meri-" he cut his sentence off when his gaze found me up the set of stairs.
"There you are! I was worried sick. I thought you ran off." Canada ran up the stairs and trapped me in a loving hug.
"What are you doing here?" He wondered.
"We thought it was about time I got out of that healing room and move here. Since I heal faster with Russia nearby, I chose to move here," I explained.
"Well, since you do heal quicker with him, why don't you share a room?" My brother's forest-green eyes were laced with mischief as he saw I and my mate's faces flush with color.
"Valid point," the tallest male mumbled as his eyes avoided my gaze.

"Canada, I love you, but if you don't leave within the next 30 seconds, I'm gonna push you down the stairs," I sweetly growled out.
"I love you too, my eldest brother," Canada patted my head, turned around, and left the house.
Russia chuckled beside me.

"Want me to show you to my room?" Russia rubbed his neck.
"Sure," I responded and looked around the halls to avoid his ocean blue eyes.
He walked to the end of the hall and opened the door to reveal a large room. Sunlight made its way through the windows which were placed to exhibit a breathtaking view. The king-sized bed was messy with a mass of blankets and pillows. Red embers were still inside the fireplace.
"Sorry, it's a little messy. I'm not in here too often recently." Russia apologized.
"It's not messy, it's cozy." I smiled at him.
"Make yourself at home," Russia smiled back.

I stood in front of the burly man, then hugged him tightly. I could tell Russ was surprised by my action, but he gently held me in his arms. I buried my face in his chest as he stroked my hair soothingly. Blush sprinkled on my face.
I know we became mates because he wanted to protect me in a friendship kind of way, but I think some feelings developed between now and then. No matter what I do, I will always feel like I have a debt to pay to Russia after he practically saved my life.
I pulled away from the hug and avoided his gaze.

"I don't know how I can ever repay you," I gently spoke.
A calloused hand was placed on my cheek to make me look up at the tall man in front of me and an arm around my waist held me in a loose embrace.
"You don't need to," Russia replied.
"But I want to and don't know how." I barked back.
Russia sighed.
"Why do you have to be so stubborn?"
"Because I want to-"
He cut me off by placing his lips on mine. His hand made my head tilt up slightly. After a few seconds of utter bliss, he pulled away more red than I have ever seen on him.
"There, now we're even." He said.
"Sure you don't need a few more?" I teased. Russ let out an airy laugh. He grabbed my chin gently and kissed my nose.
"I'll save those for later," he purred.

We both laughed while the heat in our faces died down.
Ahh, I love how we can't have a truly, serious, romantic moment.
I spread out like a starfish on the large bed while my mate sat on the edge. His smile was swept off his red, blue, and white face.
I sat up.
"Hey, buddy, what's wrong?" I questioned him. Russia seemed hesitant to answer. He sighed.
"Don't you still want to leave?" his shoulders sunk. I was baffled by the question.
"Why would I leave?"
"You were always talking about the 'safe haven.' Aren't you going to leave once you're fully healed?" Oh.
I thought about his question for a while before realization hit me like a bolt of lightning from the stormy skies.
"This is the Safe Haven. You take people in when they're in need. You help them so they can get better. Like Canada said."
Russia stared wide-eyed.
"You're  my safe haven now."

_________

Hehehehe
It only took 30 chapters, but they did it.
;)



That's  what the bedroom looks like.

Okay so this is what happened at my school:

Guy school counselor: *gets divorce*
The students: :(
The guy school counselor: *starts dating other guy school counselor*
The students: They are our dads now.