White lacy curtains dance in the breeze as the scent of the lavender bush outside fills the room. A melancholy tune is heard all around them as Estonia plays his partner a personal piece. He sits on a basic wooden chair, one that he had stolen from the kitchen, his black grand piano sits on display behind him but the large cello commands all of the room’s attention as its shown to be almost as tall as the man playing it.

Lithuania rested comfortably on the sofa with his feet up on the black coffee table, a warm cup of tea in his hands and his head fallen back. The sounds of the cello take him away to another world—one for his eyes only. He dreamt of the long hilly summer fields of Alytus, the vast waters of the Baltic Sea off of Klaipėda’s coast, the picturesque scenery of Trakai as a whole—

And Estonia is always with him.

Sometimes they are sailing on the sea, other times it’s on the river that flows through the smaller villages, the ones that still look as they did more than a century or two ago. Sometimes they are relaxing with a glass of fruit vine in the countryside, or sharing a large pitcher of beer in the big city. There were trips to festivals, museums, and the end rows of books and antiques in the old-fashioned shops.

Because that’s just how they liked to do things. They were an old-fashioned couple who enjoyed the simple things in life. The endless nights in the dark by the fireplace cuddling under the same knitted blanket, the cottage runs every Midsummer and more, and the holidays spent with friends over dinner in the long winter days. He doesn’t see Estonia as often as he should and this world he created was just for him. The music guides him wherever he goes, no matter how somber it sounds. He finds comfort knowing there’s something waiting for him here.

And suddenly, it was all over.

“Why did you stop?”

“Because the song’s over.”

The first box didn’t give him much to look at. It was mostly filled with pearl necklaces and rings with similar cuts of gems that he already had in his possession. Pearls were not worth much in their world. They were the ‘commoner’s gem’ as they were so easily accessible to the public. Some pearls were more elusive than others but these ones in particular were nothing special in their worth. Eduard only received the best from him and these just wouldn’t do.

“That felt so abrupt.”

Estonia laughed, “Did you forget that I said it was a work in progress? It’s not finished yet.”

He rested his cello against his chair at an angle he felt was safe and left the bow on the table. He walked over and leaned against the sofa, brushing Lithuania’s locks of hair with his long fingers.

“What were you thinking about?” Estonia asked curiously as fell a sense of warmth in his chest staring at his lover. Lithuania grinned playfully, he was ready to call him out.

“You call yourself an intellect and yet you still need to ask that?”

Estonia huffed but knew he was just playing with him. It was his turn to smile back at him.

“You got me there,” he replied before going down and stealing a kiss. He was happy to let Estonia’s lips linger against his own for as long as he liked, despite the occasional bump from his partner’s glasses. It wasn’t everyday that Estonia was this forward.

It had been ages since he last heard Estonia play the cello, not since those times living under Russia’s roof more than a hundred years ago. Though Lithuania knew he was talented at it, he also knew well that the piano was his musical love. He didn’t expect for Estonia to make a comeback anytime soon. He didn’t even believe him when Estonia said he picked up a used cello from a seller online in Tartu. It was a little beaten up with some scratches and dents but it played exceptionally well (as expected with Estonia being the one operating it).

Lithuania was glad that he was wrong. He missed hearing these sounds so much.

“Will you play another one for me?”

Their faces were so close and Lithuania had hoped Estonia would give in and kiss him again. Disappointment followed when he didn’t but his answer certainly filled a void.

“I’ll play you as many pieces as you like.”