According to Nature

Chapter One: Growing Up

Lukas Bondevik had always remembered being overprotective of his little brother Emil. In fact, he could even recollect the first time he felt such defensiveness over the newborn. Every time his adorable sibling would glare up at him, a surge of love would engulf him and he'd recall their fist meeting.

He had been anxious at home with his elderly neighbor, waiting for his father to return from the hospital where his mother gave birth. Lukas had kept hearing throughout her pregnancy that it was a miracle for his beta mother to have another child, but it happened soon after their move. Because she was found to be pregnant a few weeks after they had moved from Norway to Iceland, his neighbor claimed the elves favored their family, a rare occurrence for new families that moved into the land.

"Don't you worry, my child," the lady picked him up to rock him to sleep, "the elves will take good care of your mother and father. They'll even look over you and your baby brother. Sleep now and when you awaken, you'll be reunited." There was something in her voice that lulled Lukas to sleep instantaneously, he thought it to be the magic she always spoke of, but whatever it was, it worked.

The next thing he remembered was being unfastened from his car seat by his father as he whispered to him that it was time. It was finally time for him to meet baby Emil. Excitement began to bubble in the two year old's body, but it was difficult to tell of such emotion until he caught sight of his mother and began to squirm in his father's arms. As they neared, he stopped to peer at a bundle of blankets held by his mother.

"Hi sweetie," his mother cooed, "do you want to meet your baby brother? Can you say, 'Hello, Emil?'"

Lukas couldn't be bothered. He shifted to get his father to lower him closer towards the newborn and stare at him. His parents spoke to him, urging him to say something to Emil, but he couldn't. He was speechless. Slowly, he extended his own little hand to touch the other boy's head. When little eyes blinked up at him, Lukas grinned, "Bror."

Emil hummed, and their brotherly bond was formed. From that moment on, Lukas felt a need to always be there for Emil. He'd protect him from mischievous elves and trolls, teach him everything he'll learn, and help him in every way he can. Of course, he really wasn't thinking all these things, but he might as well have been. His parents ingrained it into his head the moment they found out his mother was expecting. As a big brother, Lukas was to protect Emil.

X. x.

The days had dragged into weeks, then months, followed by years with the boys spending more and more time together. They they had their fights, but Lukas always quelled Emil's anger before he said or did anything they'd both regret. Although the two had their tiffs, the brothers were inseparable.

All play dates ended the same: Lukas and Emil playing alone in the corner while the other kids played and learned together. On rare occasions when the boys would interact with others, they led the activity or instructed others.

One mother commented to Mrs. Bondevik how she had better prepare herself for having two alphas hitting puberty around the same time. "Oh there will be lots of blood dear, but don't fret, it's only natural. Even if one of them ends up a beta, they'll at least verbally fight loud enough to wake up the dead. You don't even want to know what kind of trouble my two alpha twins and beta children have caused. I think these last two will fortunately be a beta and omega."

Mrs. Bondevik turned toward her sons. She wouldn't learn their natures until they hit puberty. "How can you tell?"

"Lára," her friend patted her leg, "I'm a mother of five and an omega, although I haven't had an omega child yet, I can tell my Sindri will be omega. Watch how even though he's as old as Lukas, he follows what Emil tells him to do. Of course, there's the chance that he ends up being a pushover beta, but all in good time. With so many omegas in my family, I'm bound to have at least one. Sindri's should to be my baby omega, but if he isn't, at least I've dodged a bullet."

The boys' mother thought back to her extended family. There were plenty of omegas she thought, but being an only beta child to typical alpha and omega parents, there was no telling what her boys would end up. Something that her friend said concerned her however, "What do you mean 'dodged a bullet?'"

"Hmm? Don't worry, then again, you betas have a knack for that, don't you?" Her friend chuckled. "Omega heats are horrible, especially during puberty, but fortunately for you, you'll at least have a beta and an alpha. I think your Lukas could be either or, but Emil most likely will be an alpha. You'll only have to set strict rules on him during puberty, you won't want him reproducing like a bunny. Fortunately, if Lukas's a beta, he'll help you keep Emil under control. Now if they're both alphas, they'll be too busy with dominance fights amongst each other that they won't be too horny."

"Hjördís!" Lára gasped at what her friend was saying.

"It's all part of growing up, or are betas unlucky enough that you miss the fun out of adolescence?" Hjördís giggles.

Mrs. Bondevik blushed while she watched Lukas. "My babies are too young to think about them having babies."

x. X. x.

Two little pairs of eyes watched rain cascade down their window with disappointment. They had planed a grand adventure in their backyard the night before, but now they were stuck inside with nothing to do. Not all their toys scattered about their rooms nor the multiple channels on the television could entertain them that morning. Only the rain held their attention long enough as it was the bane of every child at one point in their lives.

Lukas was the first to get bored with glaring out the window and settled with looking for a book to "read" like he had seen his father do multiple time before on days like this. He pulled one out of his own mini library in his room randomly, and went off to read in his father's study.

He was half way through the picture book when Emil plopped in font of him, pouting with his stuffed puffin in his arms. Lukas always found his brother's passive-aggressive tantrums amusing, so he peeked over his book to watch Emil's little show.

First, he rubbed his face into his bird, bringing it closer to his face so only his eyes could be seen over its head. His eyes then focused either on the wall in front of him or they fixated on the object that annoyed him. Then he sighed heavily, attracting attention to him if he already hadn't. Occasionally, the fidgeting that happened next would annoy Lukas, yet he was so bored that it was welcomed this time. Finally, the grumbling. It wasn't understandable because he was mumbling into his puffin and his three year old vocabulary was not as developed.

"Lukas, me bored," Emil rotated to face him. "Play with me."

The book was set aside and little arms were crossed. "Okay, then what do you want to play?"

A look of concentration settled on the youngest child's face. After a few seconds of thinking, large, round eyes looked back at his elder brother, "Me no know..."

That was his typical response when Lukas asked. He always was the one to suggest their play choices, and was constantly shot down. It annoyed him, but he'd rather let it go than dwell on it. Emil becomes bored of the same scenario quite easily, so Lukas knew they couldn't play teacher, astronauts, office, music band, racers, boxers, animals, cops and robbers, hide-and-seek, I-Spy, any of their boardgames, or draw. They did that yesterday or the day before; today had to be different. They were going to play vikings outside, and while they stillcould play it inside, they were not allowed to roughhouse.

The night before they had watched a documentary about vikings with their father before bedtime, and with all the adventure and violence they saw, knew it had to be played outside. Lukas could imagine their mother's furry if they broke something or injured themselves jumping from couch to couch and quite frankly, he'd rather fight an actual viking than her. Reading seemed like the best bet, but Emil wouldn't last long.

Giving up, he stood up, "Let's just go help mother, maybe she'll let us help her cook like last time."

Lukas could see the reluctance eyes, but then he was surprised by what came out of his brother's mouth.

"We play mommy! Lukas be mommy and me be daddy!" Emil held up his animal, "Puffin be baby!"

It was an idea, Emil's first play idea in fact, but not quite what Lukas wanted to do. He didn't even want to help their mother, yet it was his last resort before he had to deal with a sulky baby brother. "Okay, but you be mommy. Mr. Puffin is your baby, not mine."

The excitement in his blue violet eyes, although died died down a little, was still there after Lukas's compromise. Not knowing where to start, he looked around the room for a clue before asking for his brother's advice.

He sent him out of their father's study, explaining that the room would be where Lukas worked. Emil had to go find a house and prepare it before Lukas got home. "There'll be a reward if I like it."

Emil shot out of the room like a little bullet.

His first mission was to find a room to claim as their home. His room was too small and Lukas would throw a fit if he messed up his organized room, so those two were options were out. Neither could they use their parent's bedroom which left the living room or dining room, however since the two were connected, Emil reasoned they'd just have a big house between the three. Next he had to decorate their home.

After setting their child, Mr. Puffin, down, he ran to their rooms to pick out blankets and pillows and some of their favorite things to make it feel even more at home. However, because he was small, he couldn't carry everything at once and took many trips to and fro, attracting his mother's attention.

"What are you doing sweet pea?"

"Building a house!"

"Oooh, what for?"

"Lukas coming home. I be ready."

Mrs. Bondevik chuckled. "Are you the mommy then?"

Emil froze with distaste. "Yeah, but me get reward."

As a mother, she knew what her son was saying and offered her help. To impress Lukas, they set up a little lap desk on the floor with a cloth over it to make it look like a mini version of their dining table and set it up with their lunch. Emil and Mr. Puffin baby were patiently sitting in their places when Lukas walked into the living room with books in his arms and their father's reading glasses on his nose.

Back in the kitchen, Mrs. Bondevik heard Lukas's surprise to find a meal of soup and bread "prepared" by Emil. The three year old only helped by getting the bread and butter out, but it was enough by the boy's standards. All appeared to go well until the shouting began.

Setting her own bowl of soup down, she ran into the living room to find Emil furiously yelling at Lukas for spilling soup on Mr. Puffin. The poor bird was soaked in vegetable soup, but the older boy looked to be pretty messy as well. Not knowing who to comfort first, Mrs. Bondevik could only watch as Lukas slowly crumbled in guilt.

She knelt down to form a barrier between the two, but Emil would not relent. Soon Lukas was sobbing and cowered into his mother's comfort as she attempted to pacify her youngest son. Nothing she said or did appeased the children, so all she could do was separate the two.

Scooping Lukas into her arms, Mrs. Bondevik carried him off to his room and gave him a few comforting words and a kiss before leaving to handle Emil. When she returned to him, the little boy was enraged to the point that he was crying as well. To calm him down, she rocked him in her arms along with promises of a clean Mr. Puffin and licorice when he awakened.

Her two boys had never quarreled like that before and if either of them cried, it was Emil, not Lukas. Just remembering her eldest child cry tugged at her heart and concerned her. Where her children already displaying hits of their nature? In all the parenting books she had read, its not uncommon for children to begin mimicking other natures around them, particularly those that define them. It would make sense to see Emil flare up like an angered alpha, but despite their father being an alpha, they had never seen him lash out like that.

And where had Lukas learned to submit? They as parents had never fought in front of the children for him to learn a beta and omega trait. Her thoughts remained centered around the boys' natures as she cleaned and up until her husband came come.

He had come home full of excitement, a rare expression from a typically stoic man. The ruckus had drawn the children out of their naps, but soon had them crying into their rooms again.

They didn't want to move to America. It was true that they didn't have any close friends in the neighborhood, but they had grown attached to the land and its inhabitants, human and nonhuman.

x. X. x.

The move to the States was just as quick as from Norway to Iceland, but Lukas didn't remember any of the previous move. Iceland was just as much of his home as was his birthplace. He had learned a lot from his playmates, but he wouldn't miss them as much. Instead, he reminisced his his elderly neighbor and hoped the trolls and elves wouldn't be too angry at them for leaving.

Fortunately, they seemed to have still favored them because the day they arrived to their new, even larger home, Lukas already had a best friend.

"Hej! I saw you had a boy! Can I play with him?" An obnoxious boy pounded on their front door as soon as Mr. Bondevik closed it, carrying in the last box.

Mr. Bondevik was willing to leave the boy outside unanswered, but Mrs. Bondevik wouldn't have any of it. She wanted her boys to have friends, and the opportunity couldn't be wasted.

Eagerly, she swung the door open and presented her two sons to the boisterous child appearing to be close to Lukas's age.

Emil took a step back, while Lukas took a step forward to defend his little brother from the stranger. The boy meant no harm as he grinned innocently at them. He asked for permission to show the boys around, but Mrs. Bondevik only admitted Lukas to go if he wanted; Emil desperately needed a nap. Promising his brother to tell him everything when he got back, the elder boy followed the slightly taller blond down the road.

Lukas quickly learned that the boy, originally from Denmark, loved to talk. He spewed over a hundred words a minute and barely paused to take in a breath. It was a little annoying how he automatically assumed he knew English, and the occasional Danish word, but it helped tune him out. The two were shortly joined by another blond, just as tall as the Dane, but infinitely much quieter.

He introduced himself as Berwald, which promptly reminded the other to introduce himself as well. They discovered that although Lukas couldn't talk to them in English, they could understand themselves pretty well by conversing in their native tongues.

From that day on, Lukas spent most of his days with the two boys and slowly came out of his shell and learned his third language fairly rapidly. He was rougher, and a little louder around the two than he had with other children back in Iceland. They'd often include Emil in their games and adventures, but they were often too fast or impatient with the younger boy. Nonetheless, Lukas continued to play with his baby brother when the two were alone and often preferred to stay with his brother. However, it was not long before he too made a friend in the daycare once school began for Lukas and Mrs. Bondevik found a job as an assistant at a design firm.

Although Mr. Bondevik was not as thrilled in his sons' playmates, he was pleased with their development. In school Lukas excelled in almost every subject and was growing to be a strong boy, just like himself. He commented to his wife his thoughts about their son, as each year they were approaching "the talk."

Worries from the past about the incident between the two brothers a few years ago no longer worried Lára. Lukas had increasingly asserted his authority over his brother while maintaining that loving care for him that he had always had when they were younger. Soon her nerves would be settled once and for all once puberty struck.

A few months after his ninth birthday Mr. and Mrs. Bondevik sat Lukas down to explain to him what his body would go through soon as he approached the age. The talk was instigated when they had received a letter in the mail that first week of school that the students would be attending special classes that explained puberty, but strongly encouraged parents to talk with their students beforehand.

As they began to explain to their son what possible changes he'd go through depending on their nature, they found that Lukas already knew most of what they were saying.

"So you know alpha, beta, and omega roles, do ya?" Mr. Bondevik rubbed his chin in thought. "Then do ya know about reproduction and how sex between alphas and omegas, or the occasional alpha and beta, can make babies?"

Lukas nodded while attempting to contain his blush. There was no use lying to his parents. They would be able to catch his lie the moment they made eye contact and he'd rather not relearn it again. After all, it took a few tries from Berwald and him to explain sex to Mathias. He figured he was an expert by now.

"I see, and ya know this... how?"

"Oh, stop, you know how," his mother teasingly batted her husband. "You were a kid once too; of course he looked it up on his own or with friends. Isn't that right sweet pea?"

Again, he nodded.

Mr. Bondevik huffed. "Well then, we don't really need this talk do we now? Just tell me son, do you fancy anyone in ya class yet? Feel closer to either one of your friends? It'd give us some sort of idea of your nature if you tell us. Then again, his mates wouldn't have a nature yet either would they, Lára."

This time he shook his head. There really wasn't anyone he felt particular towards. Everyone was annoying; Berwald was the only tolerable one he knew.

Satisfied, his father let him go to enjoy the rest of the day.

x. X. x.

"Luke! Lukie! Look at me!" The obnoxious blond he knew to be Mathias, waved his arms dangerously as he stood proudly on top of the monkey bars. The ten year old was one of the bravest boys in their class, but Lukas also considered him the stupidest.

"You're going to get in trouble," Lukas barely spared him a glance as he headed towards the swings where Berwald slowly rocked back and forth.

"Or hurt," teal eyes glared up at his reluctant friend. When his other friend reached him, he forfeited his swing to give Lukas a turn and offered to push him. "Tell 'im t' get down."

Lukas complied with the gentle pushes, but denied the other request. "No, he doesn't listen to me. Just wait until Mrs. Héderváry yells at him."

Berwald sighed, but continued with his ministrations.

The two were quietly marveling how stupid their friend could be when the small Dane slipped. Twin gasps and a cry were heard, but fortunately, his hands shot out to grab a bar before he plummeted towards the grown face first. Once he knew he was safe, Mathias let out a nervous chuckle, but still held the bar tightly. Lukas and Berwald were there in an instant staring up at him along with a few other kids who witnessed the incident.

"What are you doing? You can let go now." Lukas crossed his arms as anger slightly bubbled through him from the scare the other inflicted. He rolled his eyes once he understood what was happening. "Of course now you're scared. Berwald, I think you're gonna have to catch him."

The other blond didn't look pleased with this, but there didn't seem to be any other alternative. He placed himself under his foolish friend and extended his arm.

"Nooo, I can't." Sky blue eyes began to darken as tears pooled along the edges.

"Ya scared?" Berwald smirked, but quickly moved out of way when Mathias began kicking.

More and more kids were beginning to wonder over to them, so before the entire playground arrived to watch, Lukas moved to take Berwald's place. "Fine, I'll catch you, I promise. I'm right here; it's all right."

"You can do it!" Mrs. Héderváry's daughter, Elizaveta, rooted for him.

Yet, Mathias wasn't convinced. What seemed like a short hop from the bars to the ground before was now miles and miles away. He couldn't even look down at Lukas to make sure the boy was there. Slowly, he could feel himself slipping and his arms were aching. There was no way he could last forever or even wait for their teacher to arrive after a few kids ran off to find her. The fear was instilled now, and Mathias had to trust his best friend.

"One... Two...," Lukas softly urged him, but he didn't make it to three before his friend's arms gave out and he was underneath the big oaf.

"Luuuukiiiieeee!" Mathias quickly swiveled his body to hug his friend and completely disregarded the fact that they were both bleeding.

Mrs. Héderváry plucked the boys from the grown and chastised them all the way to the infirmary. Lukas didn't see why he was in trouble, it was the idiot Dane's fault, but the lecture about consequences was ingrained into his young mind. They were fortunate to have only received scratches on their palms and knees, however, death could have awaited them had things gone horribly wrong.

"Or even worse!" Mrs. Héderváry gasped while Lukas wondered what could possibly be worse than death. "Either one of you boys could be omegas and if your internally damaged, you'd never be able to have children! Studies have shown that most omegas that cannot conceive lead a life of distress. Then there's heats! Even those that don't want children end up having a few so they can carry on with their lives. Heats don't even become bearable until you've had at least two children!

"It's astonishing that we're not over populated by now. I'm the only one I know who's had more than five. No, wait, Mrs. Kirkland's got six like me, but everyone else has two or one." she was rambling again. With it being near the end of the school year, Lukas had learned to ignore her verbose speeches, except this one seemed important. He's always known omegas were valued, but he never understood the scope of it.

According to Mrs. Héderváry, without omegas, there would be no order. They are the breaks of the harsh ruling of betas and alphas, their humanistic reasoning. Yet, they cannot be in the forefront of politics and other leading responsibilities because it wears them down too much? Lukas didn't understand, nor did he really want to attempt to do so because all his attention was beginning to draw towards the sting in his palms. He glanced at Mathias and noticed he wasn't listening either and was focusing on not limping as his knees dribbled a little blood. The boys had a few more years before puberty after all. Their nature was their least worry at the moment.

Thoughts of the three natures floated around the little Norwegian's head that night, however. He wondered what his would be and categorized his friends into natures that would suited them. Mathias would likely end up an alpha, Lukas reasoned. Most of the alphas he had read about in history class were impulsive, idiotic, and stubborn as his friend. Berwald would be an omega because he listen to him loyally like one. A small blush spread across Lukas' face as he imagined himself and Berwald as a couple, but quickly dismissed it. The three of them were just friends, it just happened to be that Berwald was more reasonable than Mathias and thats what lead him down paths of partnership. There were no romantic feelings for either of them or anyone at all.

All he cared about was his school work and his cute little brother.

As an alpha or beta, Lukas thought as he drifted laggardly into sleep, it'll be my responsibility to protect Emil, my omega baby brother.

Edit: ¿Te gustaria leer mi historia en español? ¡Psyx-ITD lo está traduciendo! El link es de fanfiction y: /u/6811317/Psyx-ITD or sigue el link en mi perfil. ¡Gracias!

I do not own Hetalia.

Sorry if this first chapter's confusing, it's mostly background information, but I couldn't stop myself. I love writing about baby Norway/Lukas and Iceland/Emil! I'm pretty sure I've annoyed my friend (the ultimate Nordic fan I know) with my obsession of these two... So review/PM me if something's confusing, I'm sure there is a bunch of stuff because every omegaverse is slightly different and I'm half asleep and such...

I had an idea for an omegaverse for the Nordics a long time ago, but scrapped it, then had a new one after I ready my friend's, Silly Kwado's, own Nordic omegaverse. (Go check it out if you haven't already) I hope to continue this story along with my other many many unfinished ones soon, but life!

If you liked reading about the boys as little kids, check out Silly Kwado's and mine ask blog we started a few months ago. Its about the Nordic 5 as children and next door neighbours! It's on tumblr as: ask-the-nordic-neighbours

Shameless self-promote for my friend because I know she was really excited about starting one!