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The blankets were twisted up between his legs, wrapped around his left leg and the pillow beneath his head was bunched beneath his head forcing it into an ungodly position as he stared up at the darkened ceiling. Italy rolled his head to the side looking to his husband who was sleeping rather peacefully, lips parted with slow even breathes as his hand formed a fist beneath his cheek and his usually tidy hair fell across his forehead in a spikey fringe that gave him the look, the feel, of someone so much younger tha nhe truly was. His lashes trembled against his cheeks every once in a while, fluttering almost, as if the dreams he was thrown into were displeasing him in some manner and Italy found himself rolling onto his side staring at his husband's face with fascination, reaching out to press the tip of his finger against his upper lip stroking the shape of it lightly as the warm breath brushed against his finger tips in a soothing rhythm as he traced the shape of his husband's lower lip with awe widening his eyes. He stroked his cheek bone, pressing his palm to his cheek nd he found hismelfl eaning inwards, leaving his pillow behind in order to cover Germany's lips with his own into a kiss so sweet, so delightful that it made his toes curl. His curl bobbed gently before forming a heart, his lips resting on top of Germany's parted ones and he pulled back only to find those lips chasing after him much to his ever growing delight. He moved the hand on his cheek into the locks of hair as one leg began sliding upwards until Germany's hand tiredly reached out tugging the leg around his waist as their lips met once more with a sudden fierceness to it that robbed Italy of breath.With the twins' birthday long behind them, Italy wasn't sure when he had decided that he wanted to try again. He hard merely whispered to his husband one night that he was ready, unsure if the man understood his logic, but following that statement there was a sudde nfrenxy between the two men that clung to them like a second skin. A frenzy of hands touching, feeling, gripping and holding one another as they made love with a passion that robbed Italy of breath and a fierceness that made his very bones ache with longing as he clung to his husband during their lovemaking. He wasn't holding his breath for a pregnancy, not when he had already miscarried at the beginning of November but after a visit to the doctor he had been assured he was healing up just fine but Italy wasn't sure how ready he truly was. He had said it, whispered it to his husband of course, but there was a fear clinging to him each time he made love with his husband. What if he did get pregnant? What if he had a baby? Italy didn't know how to react but he knew this new passion, this new fierceness to his lovemaking was addicting and while they weren't actively trying they were still trying for something that may not happen and Italy wasn't sure how he felt about it. He knew he wanted a baby still, of course he did, and he longed for a third perfect child just like his boys but there was a worry that he wouldn't be getting pregnant any time soon. With January looming before them Italy couldn't help but feel a new baby would be just what the new year needed and yet he was terrified at the idea of it.His mind crashed back to the task on hand as he kissed his husband hungrily, rolling on top of him happily, his hand pulling out of his hair to find his hand where their fingers weaved together and Italy's right hand captured Germany's other hand with fingers interweaving together. Italy broke the kiss to take a few deep breathes, his lips trembling lightly when Germany pressed his own lips to his throat. Then the phone, shrill as ever, began ringing. Of course they had one in the hall outside but both men were looking at one another with such an intensity that when Italy lowered himself it was almost agreed upon that whoever was calling didn't matter as much as the other did. Italy leaned back down capturing his lips in a fierce kiss that had his stomach squeezing tightly and his toes curling as their lips moved hungrily against one another, hands clutching fiercely at the other, and the breathes taken between the kiss were fast and accelerated like they were burning alive. It wasn't until Germany's cell phone rang that they paused in their feverish desire, groaning in disappointment as Italy reached over snatching up Germany's phone, looking at the caller ID and then turned it towards Germany."It's your brother.""I can see that, sveetheart. Give me the phone." Italy happily handed him the phone as he swiped to answer the call and brought the phone to ear. "Ja, vhat is it?" He paused for a moment then jered into a sitting position making Italy glad he had had the sense to move backwards towards Germany's knees and the blonde looked to the window. "Bruder, it is the crack of dawn! Vhat are you und Austria doing here so early? I thought the playdate vasn't until later? THe boys aren't even avake yet! VHAT? Vhat do you mean you can see them vaving at you? Mein Gott, you could have told me yesterday vhen ve vere talking-" He paused while Italy climbed off of him with a disappointed sigh on his lips. "Fine fine, come on in, just give us all time to get dressed alright?"Italy waled to the dresser pulling a fresh pair of boxers out and slid them up his legs to his hips, opened the closet door reaching in pulling a pair of blac jeans down and then grabbed one of his t-shirts with the Italian flag on it. He slid his jeans on while Germany slid out of bed standing up waling over to the dresser grabbing his own pair of boxers and slid them up his legs to his hips when he curled his arms around Italy's waist tugging the Italian towards him and Italy welcomed it. He leaned his head onto his husband's chest the delight of his flesh pressing to Germany's, his warmth mixing with the German's had his toes curling and his sigh coming out happier this time round as he nuzzled his chee to his chest. He then tilted his head bac to gaze up into his face adoringly, the adoration glowing in his brown eyes as his curl once again formed a beautiful little heart as he stared at Germany. "Ti amo tanto, amore." He pecked his jawline with a light giggle. "Buongiorno, amore.""Guten morgen, liebling. Mein bruder truly is a pain in the ass." Germany sighed out as he kissed his forehead then pulling away allowing Italy to pull his shirt on over his head and pluck the hair brush up moving it through his brown locs of hair and the blonde stepped around Italy to reach into the closer pulling a pair of jeans of his own out of the closet. "He's probably downstairs getting into something he's not supposed too. I svear he's more lie a little id than Giovanni und Wolfram." He paused to pull his jeans up his legs and hopped lightly in place as he tugged them to his hips and reached in for a white shirt, tugging it over his head and moving his arms throuhg the sleeves as he then began walking towards their conjoined bathroom. "Vould you mind going und getting the boys ready for their impromptu playdate?""Of course!" Italy chirped as he then rushed across the floor, his feet thumping against the carpet as he rushed across it and threw the bedroom door open running out happily into theh allway and down it towards the boys bedroom. Their bedroom was just one door down with a bathroom in-between, one room in between theirs and their parents; this was because they had never actually left their nursery room yet, neither boy ready to sleep on their own without the other and so they had been kept in their nursery which had then been transformed into a room for two young boys which had worked out beautifully for Germany and Italy but both boys would eventually have their own rooms and when they did both parents would be ready for it. Italy paused before their door smiling as he grabbed the door handle and threw the door open with a cheerful shout. "Buonogiorno, little ones! Uncle Gilbert told me you were awake! Let's get dress , si?"Two heads jered upwards at the sound of their mother's cheerful voice and a bright beaming smile was aimed his way, one smile being shyer than the other, welcomed Italy as he stepped into the room. Their freshly cut hair stood up wildly around their faces, eyes wide and eager like eager little puppies as Wolfram Beilschmidt rushed over throwing his arms around his mother's waist nuzzling his cheek against his stomach happily making Italy giggle. "Si, Mama! Let's get ready! Me and Gio have been playin' for a little while! We couldn't sleep good at all." He pouted after saying this in the only way a six-year-old could and his blue eyes were disgruntled as they stared up at Italy who smiled moving his fingers through the wild blonde locs of hair lovingly. "Is Uncle going to play with us as well?""Of course he will!" Italy replied cupping his son's face, squishing his cheeks making him giggle happily and he then turned his attention to the quieter twin holding his hands out towards him making him smile in that shy manner once again as he rushed over to join his brother in throwing his arms around his mother's waist. Giovanni Beilschmidt was the quieter,shyer twin of Wolfram's and Italy adored it. Looing at his twins was like looking at duplicates of himself and Germany but with the personalities all switched around and it really was quite precious to Italy."Now let's get you all dressed and brush that wild hair of yours down!"Italy opened the twins closet pulling a blue shirt out and a golden shirt out followed with black pants and he then turned to Giovanni unbuttoning his green pajama shirt,letting the boy shrug out of it then followed it with his bottom clothing and Italy was quick to get a fresh pair of underwear for the boy. He got him into his stretchy,soft black pants then tugged the golden colored shirt over his head then slipped his arms into the holes and stood before him looing so cute as he plucked up the brush that Italy was having a hard time not squealing over his son. He began brushing his hair out letting it fall across his eyebrows for once and then turned his attention to Wolfram who had stripped off his pajamas and was currently stepping into his own fresh pair of underwear and was reaching out for the pants holding them up and stepping into them clumsily, stumbling as he hopped into his pants then smiled brilliantly up at his mother. Italy picked up the blue shirt helping ease it over his head while Wolfram shoved his arms through the sleeves then tilted his head up for his locs of hair to be brushed and Italy giggled then happily moved the brush over Wolfram's hair styling it in a similar way to Giovanni's. THen both boys bolted for the open door running out into the hallway in a cacophony of stomping feet as they ran for the stairs to no doubt get downstairs to the main floor of the home where their Uncle would be. Already Italy could hear shouts of delight from Giovanni and Wolfram as they were no doubt embraced by their cousins. He straightened his own appearance out then worked on getting the boys bed made when he felt the presence behind him making him look over his shoulder to find his husband hovering in the doorway with a small smile on his lips.Germany then walked into the room towards Wolfram's bed and began making the bed, pillows fluffed until it was spick and span making the German smile as he then looed over at his husband with warmth in those blue eyes of his. "I'm sorry ve had to get out of bed all of a sudden." Germany murmured as Italy tipped his head to the side lashes coming down to tickle his skin as he shook his head slowly but the Germanic Nation was quite ready to write off the sudden awakening for them both. "Don't vorry, I'm sure bruder vill tae the boys out. I vouldn't be surprised if he wasn't whispering to them right now about going out to some restaurant to spend time with him.""If so then that'll be good for the boys! I now we don't really go out what with you and me being such good cooks it's not necessary for us to go out to eat often so I'm sure the boys will enjoy it! And besides I kind of wanted to talk to you today about somethings." Italy looked up at Germany throwing his arms around his neck and he didn't miss the flash of panic, of worry in his blue eyes and the Italian blinked himself before leaning upwards slightly. "Oh no! It's nothing bad! I just think that maybe we should...talk about what happened in November and how we're trying again, that's all. I just want to talk about things rather than us just running on assumptions about the other, you know?" He then offered a small smile as he danced up on his toes. "After all, fratello always told me that good communication is what makes a relationship open and stable!""That's vun thing I von't argue vith about your bruder." Germany sighed out but he leaned in pecking the tip of Italy's nose making the Italian beam up at him as they stood there, Italy's arms around his nec and his hands on his waist, swaying slightly back and forth in the middle of their sons bedroom. Italy smiled softly as he looed up at his husband, the adoration shining throuhg his brown eyes making Germany's cheeks flush a soft pink as he looked into Italy's face. A face that he loved above all else, something more precious to him than anything. He had been beyond pleased when Wolfram began talking on the features of Italy, a face that was worthy of love and face that would reveal to the world his thoughts long before he realized what he was doing."If he vasn't such an asshole sometimes I'm sure the things your bruder says vould make even the angriest person calm down. But he's such a snippy bastard that I vonder how Spain puts up vith it.""Romano is just special person! Spain has been in love with Romano forever now so he's used to his attitude! Just like you're used to mine!" Italy chirped as he bounced on his toes before settling bac on his feet and smiled brilliantly at his husband as he played with the hair at the bac of his head lightly as not to mess up the styling Germany had it in. He clutched his hands together tightly against his neck after a moment of playing with his hair and smiled. "Now I think that, after our talk, we should do something nice! I can make lunch for us all! Does that sound nice to you?""You know it does, liebling. Now let's go downstairs und see just vhat kind of chaos mein bruder is up too, shall we?" Germany questioned as he moved his hands from Italy's waist then turning to offer his arm to the Italian who wrapped both arms around it excitedly as they waled across the room arm in arm with one another when the blonde peeked at his little husband. He had gone into such a deep depression, such an inconsolable state of sadness when he miscarried that sometimes Germany worried about his husband slipping bac into that blac mood of his, a mood where even Germany failed to pull him from. He was scared of his husband slipping bac into a depression like that if he were to miscarry again and while it had been nearly two months since the miscarriage there was still fear when it came to the thought of Italy becoming pregnant. He felt Italy's arms tighten around his own as they entered the hallway, shutting the door behind him and turning to Italy with a smile on his lips. "Ich liebe dich, meine Liebe.""Anch'io ti amo, Ludwig." Italy replied softly with a pin flush to his cheeks as he looked up at Germany with delight sparling in those brown eyes of his and there was nothing Germany wanted more than to make sure that his husband stayed happy. There was nothing he wouldn't do in order to make sure he stayed happy and as they waled down the hallway to the stairs Italy once again tightened his arms around Germany's arm as if he needed to readjust his hold on the man, as if he needed to cling onto him just a little longer in order to feel secure. And Germany, ever the loving partner, knew that if Italy needed to hold onto him in order to feel secure or simply wanted to hold onto him tightly that he would let the Italian cling onto him fervently whenever he lied. He just wanted to now that Italy was happy, healthy and that he new he loved him. Those were the things that Germany needed to be secure in just lie he needed his children to now he adored them. He loved his small family and there was nothing he wanted more than to make sure that they were loved, that they were adored, that they new that he would do anything for them and he turned his head kissing Italy's head making the Italian murmur something in Italian before aiming a smile bac at Germany. Truly, deeply did he love his husband. Truly,deeply would he do anything in order to mae his husband happy. Anything. No matter how absurd, no matter how insane it truly was Germany knew that he would do it if it meant securing the Italian's happiness."Papa! Papa, Uncle Gilbert and Uncle Roddy wanna take us to the park!" Germany blinked himself out of his thoughts as to find themselves waling down the stairs and Wolfram at the bottom of it smiling up at him hopefully. His blue eyes were sparkling just like Italy's did when he was determined to get something done , sparkling with hope, and the smile curled on his lips was lopsided when his eyes then flicked to his mother and he clasped his hands together under his chin. "can we please go? It's early so there won't be a lotta other people there! I'll get to go on the swings as long as I want! So can we go, Mama? Papa?"Giovanni cam rushing out of the living room hand in hand with Amelia, the little girl smiling at hre cousin delightfully and then up at her uncles with such enthusiasm that Germany found it hard not to smile bac at the little girl. Astrid barreled out of the living room in the same manner that her father would and she threw her arms around Wolfram's shoulders making the boy giggle happily as he reached up touching the bacs of her ghostly pale hands and her silver hair bounced against her forehead as she pressed her chee against his blonde locs of hair staring up at her Uncles with adoration burning from her ruby eyes. Then Prussia came swinging into the front foyer with a baby in his arms, a sparkle in his eyes that resembled his daughter's and the baby in his arms raised his hands upwards to tug at the Iron Cross around his father's throat and the albino smirked widely. "Oi, Vest! How are you doing this morning? Mind if I kidnap the tvins for a couple hours?""Please, Papa?" Wolfram's voice ws begging, his blue eyes wide as he bounced onto his toes in his cousin's arms making her giggle lightly but then she turned her own expression into a begging one and so did Amelia as they all leveled their wide begging expressions on their faces. It quite put Germany into an awkward position as he then looed to his husband only to find that Italy was widening his own brown eyes at Germany making him jump in surprise and Wolfram was jiggling himself fast in his cousin's arms as he knotted his hands together pressing them underneath his chin. "Papa, pleeease? I wanna go to the par!""Please, Vati? Mutti? Could we go?" Giovanni asked softly looing up at his parents with a rather desperate loo to his own face as his brown eyes sparkled with that same begging loo that the rest of the children had on their faces, the same loo on Italy's face when Germany finally yaned his gaze away from his son bac to his husband who looed as though he was about to start begging along with their sons. It was strange to be put on the spot so suddenly but one loo at his brother , who wined playfully, set him at ease as the baby in his arms gurgled out a sound of delight lie he was also trying to reason with Germany and he scratched his temple."Fine, fine. You can go to the park vith your Uncle but only if you have breakfast at some point this morning." Germany replied as he continued down the stairs awkwardly with Italy clinging to him, holding his arm to his chest and once they got off of the stairs the Italian happily smiled at their sons with a brightness that nearly had the blonde man smiling as well. He wasn't one to give in so easily but the sight of four grinning children had him grateful that he had given in to their request and he reached out ruffling Astrid's short silver locs of hair making her smile widely. "I don't vant the children running on fumes all morning long, they'll crash earlier than normal und that's the last thing I vant for them. So feed them, Gilbert."Prussia held the baby with one arm in order to salute at Germany. "Sir, yes, sir! I'll be sure to get them breakfast right avay!" Austria smacked at the albino who dissolved into cackles as he adjusted his hold on the baby in his arms and Prussia's ruby eyes sparkled at Germany playfully. "I'll take good care of the tvins und I'll make sure that they eat lunch too if we're still out und about. You got nothing to vorry about, Vest! Now come on, children! Get coats and boots! Time for a morning of fun vith Onkel!" The boys cheered throwing their arms up delightedly and rushed towards the shoe tree grabbing their pairs of boots then shoving them onto their feet then bouncing on their toes for their coats which Austria got down for them and Prussia smired. "I have vun thing to as of you though. You have to vatch trouble vhile ve're out."The baby cooed as if agreeing with his father his fingers stuffing their way into his mouth chewing on them lazily as his large ruby eyes flickered towards his uncles and Italy smiled brilliantly at the implication, the longing easy to ready in his brown eyes as he released Germany's arm. "Of course we can watch him! The diaper bag is in the living room I assume?" Italy questioned as he sipped from Germany's side to accept the baby from Prussia who smiled widely at the Italian, a familiar sparkle in his eye as the Italian accepted the baby who squealed at the sight of a new person. "Oh loo at you! Such a big boy! He's what, six months old now? My goodness that makes you such a big boy! Growing up so fast, Uncle needs to see you more!""Danke for looing after trouble! It's easier to focus on four ids without worrying about the baby. We'll come bac for lunch if you're villing to cook, little Italy!" Prussia then turned to his nephews who were bundled up with a thick coat and a scarf around their throats just like their cousins and he smiled. "But for now I think it's time for us to head on out! Ve'll be bac later! Call me if there's any problem vith trouble there!" He then reached out snatching Austria's hand and throwing the door open allowing the children to run out the door and slamming the door behind them.Germany heard the jingle of dog collars from the living room but no dog had made an appearance yet and he turned to italy who was crooning quietly in Italian to the child in his arms and he beamed at the blonde when he caught him staring. Germany loved the sight of the baby in Italy's arms, a sight so perfect that he couldn't help but want to give him something as perfect as a child but again there was that little prickle of fear at the thought. Were they ready? Was it possible to be ready two months after a tragedy as they suffered? But if they weren't ready now would they ever be ready? Germany bit his lip as the thoughts surged through his mind but he smiled when Italy then began waling to the itchen with the baby held securely in his arms, babbling bac at his crooning uncle lie they were carrying on a conversation and Germany smiled softly as he followed after the both of them. As long as it was right, as long as they were ready for it, he knew there was nothing that he could love more than a child from his husband. He just had to believe that they were ready and if they were then the child would be a welcomed member of the family.
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"That vas a fun day, vasn't it?" Prussia questioned his two daughters who bobbed their heads quickly, his gaze leveling on the car seat holding the six moth old and he smiled when he heard gurgling burbled sounds leaving the baby and even found his eyes flicking to Austria who was sitting in the driver's seat this time. THe Austrian smiled softly at his daughter's rather enthusiastic responses and both parents shared a quick look when Prussia turned to loo out the window feeling a stab in his chest. Guilt is what it was. See, Prussia always had it be known that when he was with a partner, a boyfriend or girlfriend, that he was faithful. He would never do anything to question the trust he would work to build between himself and another person but he was absolutely faithful and even loyal to his partner no matter who it was. He even held loyalty to some that he had dated, one of which was Hungary. "Vould you girls like to do this more often?""Ja! I lie playing with Giovanni und Wolfram! It's fun to hang out with Onkel Feli und Onkel Luddy! THe park vas so much fun too!" Astrid babbled with a sparkle in her ruby eyes as she leaned forwards against her seatbelt as she smiled widely at her father who smiled right bac at her gently. "I vould love nothing more if ve visited vith them more! It vould be fun to get avay from the house once in avhile! Right, Mia?" Her sister nodded eagerly and Astrid then turned her attention to her mother happily. "Do you thin we'll see more of Giovanni und Wolfram vhen ve go to the Vorld Academy?""It is quite possible, liebling, that you could see more of your cousins." Austria replied with a smile on his lips, violet eyes flicking over to Prussia who forced himself to meet that gaze as evenly as he could when the phone between them in the cup holder vibrated and the brunette turned his head slightly to peer at his phone meaningfully before looing up at Prussia."Vould you mind getting that for me? It's probably Hungary, I told her to call me vhenever she can because she just seems off lately. You've noticed, haven't you? There's something...jumpy about her, like a child that's done something wrong." He paused then bit his lip and released it to speak again. "In fact you've been acting like that too. Vhat is going on vith the two of you? Is there something going on that I should possibly know about?"Prussia parted his lips to speak but his throat refused to spit out a word, his lips trembling with the string of words they wanted to form and yet his mouth was suddenly dry with the thought that now was the time to own up to his lover. That now was the time that he had to tell his lover just what happened over the weekend when he went to speak to the Hungarian woman. Yet he choked out a quiet sound that registered to his ears faintly as a rush of air leaving his lungs instead and his gaze dropped from Austria to h8is fingers twisting in his lap like he was one of the girls being scolded. He knew that now, with the girls in the car , was not the time. He new it wasn't so why were the words bubbling on his tongue? Why was he so closed to telling his lover everything that happened? He was thankfully interrupted by Amelia's sweet voice. "Mutti, I like to see Giovanni, Wolfram, Onkel Luddy und Onkel Feli but it's an awfully long drive isn't it?""So vhat? Ve hardly ever make the drive to see our Onkels! Ve should start seeing them more! After all vho knows vhen ve'll see them again!" Astrid protested as she then looed at her brother for a moment then bac at her obstinate sister. "Vhat about Fritz? He should get to know Onkel Luddy und Onkel Feli too! Ve only know them so vell because ve visited them all the time growing up und Fritz should be treated to the same thing! I like seeing our Onkels drive be damned!""Oi! That's a bad vord, you shouldn't be saying that!" Austria yelped as he looed at his daughter in the rearview mirror at the sight of the flush crawling up her cheeks at being called out and yet the Austrian frowned severely as he looed bac to the road. "I know you picked that up from your father or from Romano but I vould appreciate it if you could possibly eep that nasty language out of of your vocabulary,understand?" Austria didn't have to look to know his daughter was hanging her head remorsefully and he flicked his eyes up to meet Amelia's in the rearview mirror once more before looing bac to the road. "And as for you, Mja, I understand that this long drive makes you sleepy und the last place that you vant to sleep is the car but I have no problems vith driving out so far. After all these visits are as much for your father as they are for you girl and your brother.""Really? How come it's for Vati as vell?" Amelia asked straining against her seatbelt curiously, her violet eyes alit with curiosity as she drilled her stare into the bac of her father's head but he never turned to loo at her so she did the next best thing in her mind to do. She pressed her feet against the bac of his seat and kicked lightly making him bob yet he didn't break in his silence and even if she dared to kick harder she knew it wouldn't rattle the answer she wanted from her father out of him but she could try couldn't she? She tried for a harder kick hearing his head thump against the headrest and soon enough she was kicking wildly against the seat. "Vaati! Come on, tell me! How come the visits are for you as vell? Tell me, tell me!""Now you knock that off right now, young lady!" Austria scolded as he too one hand from the wheel to swat her calf making her draw her knees close to her chest in response and his lips pinched together for a moment at his response. It would be seen as the improper response to a child wanting answers but how long would Prussia let her kick at the seat? How long would he sit there until he blew up or even gave in? He didn't know but as he glanced at the Prussian from out of the corner of his eye he sighed looing up at his daughter's teary gaze in the rearview mirror. "Mutti's very sorry that he smacked you, sveetheart, but you can't go acting like that just because Vati von't answer your question. It's not right to kick at Vati's seat like that, it's very childish.""But she is a kid!" Astrid jumped in for her sister's defense as she noticed the tears beginning to trickle down her sister's pale cheeks and her ruby eyes flared at her mother as she strained against her seatbelt then threw her arms around her sister tugging her head to her chest and began stroking the chestnut brown locks of hair softly. "You need to be nicer too, Mutti! She just vanted Vati to answer! It's not a big deal!" She hugged her little sister fiercely, a hand rubbing circles into her back softly and slowly in order to help soothe the whimpering girl. So protective Astrid was over Amelia."Vould everyvun just shut up for now? Please?" Prussia finally got out in a thick, choked voice making three pairs of eyes flic towards him but he focused his gaze out the window next to him in order to ignore those heavy weights on top of him, to breath without feeling like he was being smothered. For he was surely, slowly becoming smothered with each passing moment as he watched the snowflakes streak past his window as he tucked his hands between his thighs feeling his heart thump unevenly against his chest. Soon, so soon would he be telling Austria the truth and he wanted a moment of peace, of the general feel of their family before it was all over for surely Austria was going to force an ultimatum on him as soon as he found out. It was going to be a fight of proportions that Prussia knew it would be a fight of proportions that they never had before and yet the words were right there on his tongue waiting to be spoken. Yet there was the knowledge that he was facing the end of the very thing he wanted to preserve the most."Finally home, finally hooome!" Astrid sang the words delightedly as she swung her legs joyfully then turned her attention to her little brother who was cooing to himself at the sound of the sung words and the albino girl giggled happily before smiling at the baby. Prussia sighed as they pulled into the driveway, unclipping his seatbelt as it whizzed into place making both girls stare at him curiously before reaching to do the same thing happily and Austria shot the Prussian a loo of reproach as Astrid leaned forward to the edge of her seat, her head popping forward to loo between both her parents as Austria pared the car and she smiled brilliantly at her father as her hair brushed her chee lightly. "Aren't you happy that ve're home, Vati? Oh, Mutti, could ve order out for dinner? I've been wanting crab ra-rangoons? Is that what they're called? i really want some! So could we please order out? Pretty pleaseeee?""Oh I don't see vhy not." Austria sighed out as he unbuckled himself then pulled the eyes from the ignition causing the headlights to flicker before going out dropping the small family into darkness but Prussia was already opening his door stepping out into the snow which crunched beneath his boots and was opening the door for Amelia and Astrid. Austria climbed out of the driver's seat with the ice crunching lightly beneath his boots as he opened the bac door and began to unbuckle the straps holding Fritz's car seat in place. He gazed down at the face that so much already resembled his fathers from his proud eyebrows to the slant of his little jaw and even the slope of his nose, all things that Austria already adored about his little son as he tugged the car seat from the bac seat into the crook of his elbow. He shut the doors carefully as not to wake the sleeping babe who was snoring lightly, a rhythm resembling his father's and Austria smiled adoringly down at the baby before beginning his wal around the car when he noticed Prussia was holding the door open wide allowing the girls to run in shouting their hello's to their cats and the Prussian smiled at Austria.There was something...painful in the smile, like the Prussian didn't want to smile but had too in order to put the Austrian's worries to ease and this made Austria's heart stutter nervously in his chest. He made his way around the car with Fritz's car seat held tight in the crook of his elbow as the child's car seat rocked against his thigh and he liced his lips nervously as he waled up the pathway to the front door where Prussia was waiting for him. There had been something in his ruby eyes that Austria didn't like t osee when he had glanced at the other male during their journey home and there had been something just...off about how the Prussian was reacting to the little things. Being solemn, quiet like his thoughts were curling into tight robes that bound him to one mood and something about that thought made the Austrian's heart sprint against his chest as he waled up the steps squeezing past Prussia who offered a little shoulder squeeze as he made his way past Prussia who shut the door after them. He heard him faintly over the thundering boom of his heart in his ears for the girls to go upstairs until dinner got there and Prussia turned towards Austria who was quickly rushing for the living room with the sleeping baby. Prussia himself hesitated as he felt his own heart throb with quic beats as he followed after the Austrian biting his inner chee for a moment as he paused in the living room doorway to watch the Austrian tug the tiny brunette baby out of the carseat and he placed said carseat on the coffee table. He shrugged out of his coat, draping it against the couch then reaching in to unbuckle Fritz then tugging him into his arms.It was almost as if he was holding the infant to his chest as a talisman to keep Prussia from speaking but the albino let out a harsh breath as he looed at his lover sitting there reaching for the house phone next to him and he bit his lip nervously for a moment. It was heavy with the amount of words bubbling inside of Prussia that when he looed at his lover he found himself almost unwilling to spill the words that he'd been holding bac. He understood just what he did had been wrong and he understood that he had betrayed just about every promise along with every vow he had ever made to Austria years ago and he knew that he was going to break Austria's heart. He was breaking his own heart right now. Austria opened the drawer of the small table the phone had been sitting on to pull out the menu for Chinese food when Prussia swallowed nervously then clear his throat making those wide violet eyes lift up to him. "I have something I need to tell you, Roddy.""Really, Gilbert? Because I need to call in the food before it gets too late und then I-""I slept vith Hungary last veekend." The words spilled past his lips so quickly that he couldn't even consider them,not even with those large violet eyes going cold and Austria's face freezing in the expression it had been in moments ago. He looed like an exquisite ice sculpture the longer the stared at Prussia and the albino flinched underneath that cold stare but he knew he deserved it. The guilt inside of him festered rather than lightened, swallowed pieces of hm rather than liberating him the way he thought it would when he finally got the truth out but with the tears filling those violet eyes he so adored he found there was no liberation. How could there be when the one he loved more than anything ws hurt so deeply by his betrayal?"You...slept vith her?" Austria whispered with pain thick in his voice,his arms trembling lightly before standing up from the couch to place the baby in the playpen where he laid out on his bac peacefully dreaming while the Austrian Nation turned bac towards his lover. Outrage. Pain. Betrayal. They were all bubbling up inside of Austria the longer he laid eyes on Prussia and he found his hands curling into tight fists as he stared at Prussia before pointing a finger at the albino while trying to ignore the shaking of his fists. "You are a disgusting man! How dare you! Und I bet you vere drinking vith her veren't you? Did you plan this? Or are you going to say it vas an accident? Because last time I checked no vun visits a "friend" und ends up fucking them! How could you, Prussia? Mein Gott, did you even use protection?""Of course I did! Vhy-""So you did this intentionally? You slept vith her to prove vhat? How big of man you are? To prove that every vun vants you or something? Vhat vas the pointy of this, Prussia? To hurt me?" Austria couldn't stop the questions from spilling out of hm as he hurled each one at the Prussia who was surprisingly quiet underneath these accusations and the Austrian's hands tightened their fists causing his nails to bite into his palms as tears began trembling on his lashes. Prussia cheated on him. He never, ever thought he'd live to see this day. Never thought it could happen to him. "Is this vhy you've been so busy at vork? Have you been spending time vith her? Vas this some premeditated thing between the two of you? Gott I can't stand looking at your face right now!""It wasn't planned in the slightest bit! It's just something that happened!" Prussia threw hi hands out then whipped around when he heard feet on the stairs behind him and there were his two daughters staring at him with wide violet and ruby eyes. "You two get back upstairs! Now!" Astrid grabbed Amelia's hand and the two of them fled up the stairs quickly leaving behind their parents with little yelps of alarm from their father's tone and Prussia then turned bac to Austria who was glaring at him rather coldly. A loo he rightly deserved. "Roddy, listen to me. I fucked up. I slept vith Hungary because- because I don't know. I don't know! Just vun moment ve'ere talking about the past then the next ve're making out on the couch und things are going further! I don't expect you to forgive me, I don't even expect you to let this go for a good long vhile but-""Get out." Austria's voice was cold, trembling with it's anger and Prussia stared at him with a shock that rattled down to his very aching core and both men stared at one another in the quiet of the room as Fritz woke whimpering softly to himself. It was those quiet whimpers that made Austria look over his shoulder at the six-month-old before turning bodily to reach down into the crib to tug his child out into his arms and Prussia felt a stab of longing when Austria's angry violet eyes glared at Prussia once again and he lifted one hand up pointing in the direction oft the front door, his hand trembling lightly. "I vant you to get the fuc out of here! I don't even vant to see your face right now! So leave! Pack vhat you need und leave! You've made your bed now sleep in it! Gt the hell out of my house!"Prussia blinked in shock as he looedat his lover and found himself wordless for a moment before his tight throat knotted up. Austria wanted him gone? He hadn't seen this happening when he imagined speaking the truth to Austria and he found his shock was an overwhelming thing inside of his chest as he looed at the nowburning angry face of Austria's. He couldn't see a hint of mercy and he deserved it. But leaving? What about their girls? What would they say with him gone? And what about Fritz? What would his children do without him? What would Austria do without him? Would he better off without him around? Was that really the best solution? He knew deep in his chest, deep in his heart, that the last thing he wanted was to leave but as he stared at his lover he knew that there was only so much he could say to him and he knew that it would go unheard due to how angry Austria was in the moment. And he had every right to be angry. Prussia was angry that he had betrayed Austria's trust, was angry that he had been so stupid as to sleep with Hungary but there was nothing he could do to change it was there? He'd fucked himself in the worst way possible and staring into those angry, wet violet eyes he had no clue on if he could be forgiven for this. Did he stay and fight? Did he fight for his home? For his right to stay? Or does he leave? Prussia stuffed his hands into his pocket to touch the car keys there and he bit his lip to stop the words from spilling past his lips and instead chose to bob his head in a jering nod before turning on his feet walking from the living room.Austria's eyes burned into his very back and yet when the albino was out of view the Austria's anger crumbled on his face as he gasped in a breath that choked it's way down his throat to his mangled lungs and he found himself stumbling to the couch. His legs shoo viciously as he heard the front door open then shut quietly and the tears in his eyes spilled down his cheeks, dripping off of his chin as he worked to get Fritz out of his coat and the sight of those ruby eyes did the sobs choe out of him as he let his head fall backwards. He cried as a small child would with loud gut wrenching sobs ashis quivering arms clutched his six-month-old to his chest as he cried and the infant in his arms whimpered worriedly as his hands came up gripping his shirt tightly. Austria sobbed so hard his shoulders bounced with the weight of each sound choking it's way out of him but he hardly cared about the noises leaving him for the pain in his chest, in his heart, burned bright. How could he? How could Prussia do this to him? Prussia had sworn to take care of him the night he revealed his pregnancy with Astrid, had sworn to be faithful only to him and yet here they were breaking apart. Breaking, drowning and hurting. All because Prussia couldn't keep it in his pants. All because Austria missed the signs. And now here he was with three children who depended on him and he knew he couldn't keep crying but as he sat there he swore he could fee each individual piece of his heart breaking and shattering piece by piece.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Spain remembered many things in his long life and he remembered them with a hue of feelings. He remembered the pain as he said goodbye to Romano countless times, remembered the pain in those light green eyes and he remembered the joy he saw sparling in them when he came waltzing bac into the house after a particularly long time. He remembered how relaxed and at ease he felt when it came to raising Romano in the proper way, how he had enjoyed teaching the little Italian and how he had enjoyed those long summer days with the Italian tucked close to his side as they chatted to one another. He still remembered the day he discovered he was in love with the Italian, how he had acted so flustered around the pouty Italian who had been fed up with the way that Spain had been acting. It made him smile to remember those days but what made him smile the greatest he ever had was the memories of the night Romano had given birth to their son. Oh, it had been storming something fierce with the thunder booming richly and lightening flashing like that of a polaroid camera as Spain rushed the Italian to the hospital where they were admitted rather quickly with Romano's private doctor all too ready to assist the pair. He remembered how Romano had writhed for hours as they waited for him to dilate to a satisfactory point for the doctor and he remembered the curses that Romano had laid on Spain. How clearly he remembered how Romano had screamed and screamed, tears running down his cheeks as he delivered their son and when it was all over they were left with a baby with wide green eyes that stared at them as though he were as awed by the sight of his parents as said parents were awed at the sight of him.Would it be the same for him? Spain had no clue but as he sat in the living room he looed down at his large belly, stroking his palm against the curve of his belly and feeling the wild flutterings from the baby's movements and he smiled widely at the activeness of his baby. Five months in and the baby was already moving restlessly as if nine months was too long to remain in his father and Spain had to admit that he was excited for the next four months to fly by for he wanted nothing more than to see his baby. To see if his baby resembled himself or if the baby would resemble Romano. It made him smile as he stroked his bump where the baby continued to flutter wildly against the palm of his hand as if promising to be kicking and punching soon enough which Spain would expect no less from the child of Romano's. It was quiet in the house, far quieter tha nhe liked and even with the TV before him playing some telenovela he found that the silence of the rest of his large house was weighing on his ears rather heavily causing a light hum of noise. It was a high pitched sound that buzzed annoyingly in his ears but he found himself strangely yawning rather largely as he considered getting up and doing something. Cristiano was at school, Romano was out shopping. What was he to do? He clambered to his feet with a quiet grunt as the baby fluttered as if displeased with the movement and he began shuffling out of the living room into the hallway where he made his way to the kitchen. He spent a lot of time in the kitchen lately, something that Romano found funnier than it should have been and something Spain pouted over but was it truly his fault that the baby demanded more? That one plate of pasta was not enough to satisfy his hunger?Romano naturally had a sweet tooth but it had been horrible when he was pregnant with Cristiano so was this hunger any different? Spain sniffed to himself then as he made his way to the fridge tugging it open peering inside. There was left over pasta sitting in a container for Spain to devour when he was hunger but today he was wanting for something different. He found himself eyeing the pizza dough that Romano had purchased for dinner and though he knew Romano would be very angry with him for making it he found his hands reaching out plucking up the pizza dough. He knew he could make a nice lunch for Romano when he got back but would he appreciate it? Possibly not. He would probably fly into a yelling episode about Spain touching thingsi n the fridge but as he found his hands grabbing the pans and him turning on his heel towards his lazy susan in order to grab sauce he found he wouldn't mind at all if Romano shouted. He could scream the walls down and still Spain would stand there smiling with his hands out stretched like it was any other afternoon. Romano had strangely been holding his tongue multiple times and seemed to be working on the amount of times he snapped at Spain which the Spaniard appreciated fiercely yet there was a strangeness behind the reasoning of Romano's. He knew that just because he was pregnant that it didn't mean that he couldn't cook for himself and Romano. Needing some more background noise the Spaniard turned the radio on listening to the music that blared out and he smiled to himself as he grabbed the rolling pin and flour plopping them on the table next to the pizza dough.He then opened the lazy susan grabbing a jar of sauce and then reopened the fridge for the cheese and plucked a bell pepper from the fridge with a satisfied smile as he plopped his ingredients down on the table. He popped open the container of dough, sprinkled the flour on the pan then began rolling out the dough while humming underneath his breath in time to the song playing on the radio and he knew any moment Romano would be bursting into the house just lie he always did to make sure that Spain was still alright. This was due to their last ultrasound appointment. Apparently, due to Spain's older age, there was a chance of premature birth which had both Spain and Romano on an edge they hadn't been aware of and so Spain too extra precautions to stay off of his feet while Romano ran after Cristiano and took care of the house. He wanted to help more, wanted to help his husband with the daily meals but he was used to the snappish attitude that Romano would throw his way when ordering him to stay off of his feet. Spain hadn't been aware of how much he missed cooing as he rolled the dough out evenly then popped open the cover on the sauce ad turned around pulling a spoon from the drawer and began spooning and spreading out the pizza sauce on the dough as he hummed and gave a tentative hip shae. He felt a wild fluttering from within making him laugh as he paused and stroked his belly rather adoringly as the baby within continued to flutter with those movements of theirs and he found himself smiling widely as he then turned his attention back to spooning the sauce out. It was when he was sprinkling the cheese across the pizza that the sound of the front door flying open had him freezing momentarily before he cleared his throat and shifted guiltily on his feet as the baby gave another flutter of movement. So active this baby was already!"Welcome home, mi amor!" Spain called out as he heard the rustle of shopping bags and he aimed his gaze downwards as he finished spreading the cheese over the pizza and turned to grab a knife from the block when Romano waled into the kitchen with a tilt to his head. There was a curiosity to his light green eyes as he gazed down at the pizza then to the knife in Spain's hand and raised his brows incredulously at the Spaniard who turned the radio down then liced his lips before smiling brightly at his husband. "I got hungry and decided to make us lunch! When was the last time we have a yummy lunch of pizza?""The other day but goddamnit, Antonio! You know you're not supposed to be on your feet!" Romano snapped as he placed the groceries awkwardly on the table around the preparation on the other side and he then pouted at the Spaniard who smiled at the look on his husband's face and the Italian planted his hands on his hips as he scowled at the Spaniard. His head tilted to the side causing his curl to bob softly as those light green eyes burned right at Spain. "I thought that you were listening to the doctor when he said that too much activity could impact not only your health but the baby's health! Come now, don't you have a single drop of rationality? Or is it all down in that fat ass you've got?""You think my ass is fat?" Spain questioned quietly as he felt a strange surge of despair grip his chest, his hands dropping the cheese to fly backwards grabbing his ass and squeezing it fiercely causing his fingers to dig into his cheeks when he then widened his eyes at Romano who was squinting at him. Then the most embarrassing thing that could happen to Spain happened. Tears began welling in his eyes then quickly dripping down his cheeks as he gasped in a breath that rasped down his throat to his hungry lungs and he then began sobbing wildly as he lifted his hands from his ass to rub at his wet lashes as if he were a child no older than Cristiano. "Oh, Lovi, my ass IS fat! Is the rest of me getting fatter too? Lovi, help me! I don't want to get fat and have you leave me! What would I do without you?""Oi, oi! Calm down!" Romano got out nervously as he waled around the table with his hands up like he were approaching a wild animal and there was shoc in that gaze of his as he waled around the table to the wailing Spain who sobbed as if he were a child that had been a bandoned rather than a grown adult. Romano hadn't meant to slip out and say that, it was just something so normal that he'd usually say that he hadn't thought twice about what kind of impact that it would have on his husband. It was so easy to forget that Spain held a sensitivity to him now that was fragile and easy to trigger and Romano stood before the weeping Spaniard lifting his hands upwards cupping his wet face like he would for Cristiano and began murmuring soft crooning phrases in Italian. Nonsense words that made the weeping slow to silent tears slipping down his cheeks, wet emerald eyes so much like their son's had Romano's chest squeezing tightly as he continued murmuring softly in italian to the Spaniard. The tears stopped as suddenly as they came it seemed as Romano wiped at those wet lashes and swiped at his cheeks. to flic the tears off of those red cheeks.It was quite for a moment as they began to sway together bac and forth as if uneasy with the little movement when Spain rubbed at his eyes and let out a tight breath from his chest as he looed at the Italian in his arms. "You don't think it's a bad thing that my ass is fat do you?" Spain asked rather shyly in the wake of his despair and Romano found himself smiling at the sight of the usually confident Spain being so bashful."It's not a bad thing, I love your fat ass, you know that! I didn't-It just came out wrong." Romano stuttered over his words as his face began to flush and he turned from the now happily smiling Spaniard to look down at the unmade pizza then to the knife on the table next to the bell pepper and he plucked up the knife up nudging Spain away from the table with his hip as he began cutting into the bell pepper with a rather satisfying crunch and Spain watched with fascination how Romano made quick work of deseeding the bell pepper then chopping it up into thin slices that he tossed onto the pizza. Spain watched silently for a moment or two as Romano worked before deciding to walk from the room towards the couch once again as he felt that wild fluttering from within him as if the baby had something to say about the despair that had gripped Spain moments ago.When Romano ahd said that he'd become emotional he wasn't kidding. The grief that had gripped him just moments ago had been so painful, so gut wrenching at the simple comment that Spain had been surprised by the tears that had come so quickly. Romano had called his ass fat countless times in their marriage, had even called it fat in the bedroom and when they roleplayed often turned all of his attention to his ass lie it was the single most perfect thing on Spain's body. Perhaps that's how he ended up pregnant to begin with. THanks to his fat ass they were having another baby. Huh, wouldn't that be a funny thing to say to their children in the future if they asked? Spain sat down slowly, carefully as he grabbed the TV remote and began flipping throuhg the channels when he heard the beeping from Romano pressing the buttons to set the oven to the right temperature and then the grating sound of the tray sliding against the metal platform inside of the oven. The door slammed and then came the rustling of shopping bags as Spain shifted and tuced his foot beneath him and jiggled his leg lightly as he flipped through the channels, none doing the tric and holding his attention like he hoped it would. Spain reached up rubbing at his wet lashes feeling another flash of embarrassment from his reaction and for the shy way he had ased his question a few moments ago. He wasn't shy, bashful or hesitant in the slightest bit but the way the question had slipped out of him so shyly embarrassed him to his core. Especially when he recalled the bright smile that Romano had aimed his way. It was strangely like for a moment they had changed positions, taken up the roles of someone opposite of their personalities for a few moments.Spain felt heat trickle into his cheeks when Romano walked into the room with the bag of chips that Spain had requested before the man had left to get his shopping done and he held his hands out accepting the bag with that same shyness. He felt the baby flutter wildly as if they were displeased about this bashful Spain but as he opened the bag sticking his hand in and watched out of the corner of his eye as Romano plopped down with a grunt Spain found his lips trembling lightly with words unspoken. Then, with some effort, he finally spit them out. "Do you think Cristiano will enjoy the World Academy? I heard from America that they were waiting on a few teacher positions to be filled but that they were all but ready to take the children in February.""So soon?" Romano gasped out then jering upwards as he stared at Spain with wide eyes that flashed with their panic and Romano's hands clasped together into a tight mishmash of fingers twisting into one another. "I can't believe they're almost done! It's been close to a year, yeah, but I didn't think that it would be done so soon!" Romano then ripped his hands apart and reached out taking one of Spain's and squeezing it tightly as the Spanish Nation stared surprised at the Italian Nation. It wasn't like Romano to panic but his lips had gone white, his lashes fluttering in wild quick blinks like he was holding back tears was new. Those light green eyes shimmered as they stared at Spain who was feeling his own heart ache at the thought of missing the days where Cristiano would come running down the street to the large house with a bright smile on his face. "Are you really telling the truth? They're really going to be ready next month? We have only one more month with our son?""Don't think of it that way, mi amor! Our son is going to get the greatest, best education at the World Academy! This is an opportunity for our son that he doesn't realize he needs! After all how many of our people go to America for new chances? On scholarships?" He reached up with his free hand cupping the Italian's cheek, stroking his cheekbone with his thumb softly as he squeezed his hand and offered a smile to the rather devastated Nation before him. "It is an opportunity that he needs to grow up! He'll have have a roommate, he'll have a computer to video chat with us whenever possible and we'll talk to him lots on the phone! It'll be like he never left! But we can't refuse to let him go and not mingle with the newest generation of Nations. After all that's how hermits are made, remember? I know you love our son lots but sweet Lovino he has to grow up sometime. He has to learn, grow and he has to make more friends! He'll be happy you'll see! And we'll be going with him anyhow to make sure he's comfortable and happy!""What about his schooling now? What if he-" The phone rang in it's shrill, attention grabbing manner cutting Romano off and the Italian hopped up so quickly that the Spaniard couldn't help feeling a small stab of jealousy as the Italian ran for the ringing phone. He wished he could move that fast again but thanks to his pregnancy he was told to be mindful of his actions and one of those meant no longer running around or jumping up in the similar manner that Romano had to answer the phone. He cleared his throat then picked up the phone holding it to his ear firmly. "Hola this is- Si? Oh! Oh is he really? How high is his temperature? Has he been given anything to help? Si, si! I'll come grab him now! Si, let me run by the store and I'll be right there to pick him up!" He hung up the phone turning to the curious Spaniard. "Oh, Toni, Cris is sick! The nurse said he threw up in the middle of class and that he's running a temp! I hate to leave you here alone again but I have to go to the store and pick up a few things for Cris. Will you be alright on your own?""Of course I will! I was perfectly fine whe nyou left me moments ago and I'll be perfectly fine by the time you come home! Now go get our poor sick boy!" Spain ordered as Romano begna rushing across the room making Spain smile lightly as he listened to the rush of feet on the floor flying into the foyer and the sound of keys rattling as the door swung open then slammed shut behind him. Spain then leaned back against the couch as he reached down stroking the palm of his hand against his tummy affectionately as the flutters plagued his stomach once again and just lie before he felt pride that he had such an active baby. "You'll find, little one, that Papa is the boss and Mama always listens and voices his opinions about Papa. You'll love your big brother too!"Then there was a change in the flutters. They grew heavy and with a swift strie the baby kicked. Spain gasped at the harsh hit directed at his palm making his hand twitch and he felt the awe of such a harsh movement that he looed around for Romano instinctively but then felt a crushing heartbreak. He was alone and their baby had just kicked for the first time. Spain sighed as he stroked his belly slowly like one would do with a cat in their lap and he waited for another solid kick but when none came he found himself patting his belly lightly with satisfaction and even delight at the baby's harsh kick. His first instinct had been to call for Romano but he found that he wanted nothing more than to call Italy or to even call France about his baby's kick but he found that he wanted ROmano to know first. He deserved to know first after all. He happily hummed to the baby, dancing his fingers against his belly making the muscles contract in a ticklish manner and he giggled quietly as he snuggled down into the couch delightedly. Life was piecing itself together in odd ways but the most perfect of situations and as Spain sat there with his hands pressed against his baby bump he found that there was more to life than just existing. He had thought his existence was merely a blessing when Romano had come into it but he found that the real blessing was the ability to have children with one another. It was having a little baby stare up at you with their wide eyes and knowing that without a doubt that they trusted you with their whole little hearts. And Spain found that as he sat there stroking his belly that he was pleased Romano's baby was inside of him.There was a joy in the activity of his baby, joy in the fluttering of movements inside of him, wonder as the baby had kicked at him with all the fierceness of a certain Italian Nation and there was delight in knowing that he was proud to tell Romano just what had happened. There was a heart touching warmth when Romano reached out at night to touch the curve of his belly, something he did often when he thought Spain was out like a light and there was a such warmth in the way the Italian snuggled up to him during the night. A protective edge to the hand that pressed against his baby bump that Spain himself had done countless times with Romano when he had been pregnant with Cristiano. It warmed his heart to think that Romano was as protective of him and their baby as he had been when Romano was pregnant with their first son and Spain adored it. He welcomed the cuddles all while remaining still as possible to keep the Italian from squirming away and it had become a nightly routine of theirs. Spain began singing quietly to himself in Spanish, feeling the baby squirm in response to his voice and even though Spain had much practice in carrying a tune there was a light crackle to his voice from the emotions clogging his throat. He was so damn proud of both of his babies. Both of their babies. He couldn't wait to tell Romano and Cristiano just how proud he was of the both of them.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Canada was in hell. He laid on the bed feeling a scream clawing up his throat as he writhed in place against the sheets and he panted quickly feeling the twins inside of him kicking insistently and he moaned throwing his head back as he sat within the little pool of water with his fiancee pacing nervously as the doctor sat before him in the water peering between his legs. When Canada had decided to do a home birth he hadn't thought of just how long it would take for the twins to make their appearances but as he sat there in the water he couldn't help groaning low in his throat at the pain that clenched through him with a particularly harsh contraction that had him rocking back and forth in order to work through the pain rather than squirming like he had been doing for hours. He found himself humming as he leaned backwards against his fiancée's shoulder as he squeezed his eyes shut at the pain that ricocheted throuhg his hips and clawed at him from the inside out like the babies had somehow developed raptor claws that were intent on gutting him from the inside out. He felt the strongest urge to claw at his belly until the babies popped out one by one like a little daisy but as he peered up into France's worried blue eyes he new that he wasn't the only one in hell in that moment. France was suffering right along with Canada each time he cried out or with each low noise that was claw it's way free from his throat that it was impacting France in the same manner. Canada felt the doctor before him nudging his legs apart peering between his legs with critical glances and with the news that he wanted, the news he needed to hear, rang like golden bells."I think it is time to start pushing." The doctor spoke softly squeezing his knees and Canada swooned backwards with relief as he gasped in a breath feeling a few hot tears streak down his temples and the monitor next to him began to beep slowly. The doctor nodded as she squeezed his knees once again as the contraction began swelling and throbbing throughout the poor Canadian's ravaged body but this time he grunted as he strained and pushed. Oh he pushed fiercely with all of his strength as his hands found their way into France's and he squeezed the fingers tightly maing France whimper quietly behind him but he merely growled as he pushed and pushed through the contraction and was left panting as he leaned bac against his fiancee. He had been in labor for hours, agonizing hours and there was nothing but agony during those hours and France was going to whimper at some pain to his fingers?"Goddammit! I'm never having another baby with you!" Canada howled as he pushed through yet another contraction, squeezing his fiancee's hands so tightly they trembled together from the intensity and the French man cried out as the fingers popped beneath his tight grip and he growled at his fiancee. It was surprising to feel the baby slowly making their way down his birth canal as he pushed with all the strength in his body until his legs trembled and he was howling at the top of his lungs so loudly he was sure all of Canada and America would hear him screaming. He slumped against France releasing his hands and gripping the edges of the pool squeezing tightly as he panted quickly and whimpered at the pain that made his body twitch as he looed up at France who was staring at him with nothing but worry. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Francis! I know it's not your fault but goddamn this is killing me!""Don't say that, mon amour! You'll be 'ealthy and so will the twins, soon enough the first one will be 'ere and the second will be a breeze! I promise, mon amour, you will 'ave nothing but relaxations and sweets whenever you wish for them when you are done. You won't 'ave to worry about a single thing but the 'ours you will recuperating." France murmured quickly to the Canadian who was whimpering and he then rested his aching fingers on the Canadian's shoulders and squeezed. "Now push! Push out that baby! Make me a proud Papa and make Austynn a big brother! Push with all of your strength, mon amour!""i am!" Canada screamed at the top of his lungs as he began pushing throuhg his contraction, gripping the sides of the pool so fiercely they trembled under his grasp and dug into his fingers unpleasantly but he pushed nonetheless as he gasped for air. His sweet son, his sweet Austynn was currently sitting outside in the snow with his cousins rather than being under the roof with Canada's frantic screaming and he just had to be thankful that his brother was so willing to help him through his labor by watching his son. He still remembered the sympathetic loo that England had gave him when he sat the Canadian sweating, pale faced and biting at his lip. SO many hours ago that was by this point and still it was fresh upon his memory. He clawed at the pool screaming his throat raw as he pushed and pushed with all of his strength as he parted his legs feeling his aching hips protest but this was it this had to be it. He could faintly hear the doctor pronounce the baby was crowning. So close!He screamed wildly as he pushed and pushed fiercely feeling the baby sliding out of him inch by inch and within moments of the baby crowning there was a rather strange slipping sensation that left the Canadian gasping as he clutched at the pools edge. There was silence for a moment then the screaming wail of an angry infant and the Canadian felt his tears welling at the sound of his baby wailing out so angrily that Canada had to laugh breathlessly as the baby screamed. Then the screaming angry infant was placed in his arms on his bare chest where the baby mewled and wailed loudly as if voicing their displeasure just as Canada had been doing moments ago and he let out a hiccuping sob as he hugged the baby to his chest where they squirmed while wailing their tiny lungs out. It was almost sweet enough to forget the contractions but the ugly twisting pain had him whimpering the contraction radiated through his body like it were pinging from place to place in his body where it radiated outwards making his shoulders tense. Look like his reprieve was over. The doctor too the now mewling infant from Canada in order to clean up in the water and said infant whined and hiccuped out a sob in protest as little arms flailed and legs kicked outwards as if to help voice their displeasure. The Canadian released a bone crunching cry of pain as his head fell backwards as the contraction ripped through him as viciously as how one would rip into paper; it was sudden and sharp inside of him. The awe of his little baby had worn off with the oncoming contractions and he found himself pushing with little prompting from the doctor as he grunted. He gripped the edges of his pool tightly in his hands as t he water sloshed with his movements while the doctor had turned to swaddle the infant in the blanket as they whined after their umbilical cord had been severed.France accepted the bundle from the doctor only to gasp with delight as he stroked his fingers against the red chubby cheek, caressed the length of their nose and then smiled brilliantly as he kissed the top of Canada's head. "Oh, ma petite fleur, they're beautiful! So beautiful!" Canada smiledu p at France tiredly as he began straining once again gripping the edge of the tub as a long grunt spilled past his lips and his tingers twisted against the edge of the bed as he panted as the baby was produced before his eyes. His baby was lovely, absolutely lovely and their wide blue eyes stared at him curiously now with a small ahoge bouncing out of the crown of two toned blonde hair. France then turned to the doctor who had her eyes trained on the space between Canada's legs. "Is this a boy or girl?"The doctor looked up then smiled as she gave a fond squeeze to Canada's knees in encouragement as Canada grunted once again which ended in a low throaty groan. "Ah, the first born is a girl! I should 'ave announced that but as you can see the next baby is wanting out as much as their sister did." France smiled with excitement at the thought of the second baby coming as he cuddled the infant to his chest. His daughter. How strange the words were to say and yet he had little time to marvel over the words for Canada was releasing a bone crunching cry of pain as he threw his head backwards. "Don't worry, ! This next baby is coming quickly, that much I can tell. It will be faster than the first I promise!""I am so proud of you, mon cheri! You've given us a beautiful little girl!" He leaned down to kiss the sweaty flushed cheek of Canada's and he then kissed the shell of his ear softly as the Canada whimpered softly. "You can do this! Just keep pushing, mon amour! You're doing so well I'm so so proud!" Canada felt his face burning hotly with both the exertion of pushing and the strange pride he felt knowing his fiancee was absolutely proud of him. He was moaning as he squirmed when a knock at the door had the three adults looing towards it as a pair of sky blue eyes appeared and America stuck his head through the space in the door with a hopeful expression on his face. "Ah, Amerique, are you 'ere to see you're little niece?""Niece? You had a girl?" America questioned sliding into the room and Canada groaned at having not only having to give birth in front of France and the doctor but now his brother was here too? Could this get more embarrassing for him? He could hear the machine beeping frantically next to him with the oncoming contraction and Canada began gulping air down in heaving breathes that had his chest fluttering upwards then downwards as he shut his eyes and began pushing once again. His teeth ground down fiercely against one another as he growled through them pushing with all of his strength and America made his way around the pool to France who happily handed the whining infant over to the American who laughed happily. "She looks like you, bro! Especially when she looks at me like that, haha!"Haha very funny!" Canada growled through his teeth as he gripped the edges of the pool fiercely feeling them cut into his fingers and palms as he pushed through the pain the best he could before crying out throwing his head back as he pushed. He eventually had to stop in order to breath the best he could ashe clung to his pool feeling the cool water sloshing around his legs that trembled softly from the exertion his body was being pushed through. When Canada had gone into labor he had been doing nothing menial, just washing the dishes after dinner time when he'd felt a popping sensation from deep inside of him and then liquid running down his legs which was eagerly soaked up by his pants. He'd run to France as he felt his first contraction and he'd been absolutely upset at the thought of giving birth so early at seven months but with the calming words from France and the equally calm call to England and America to come watch Austynn had passed rather rationally.Canada was yanked from his thoughts when a particularly harsh contraction wracked his body causing him to scream as he pushed through the blinding pain and once again the doctor announced she could begin to see the head coming so slowly, so very slowly. Canada screamed with anger at just how slowly this second child was coming and he began pushing fiercely as he gripped at the pool fiercely as he held his breath before screaming again while he pushed and while he new three people were spouting words of encouragement all that mattered was his own. He wanted nothing but to have this be over. He wanted it over. Birthing was a strain on his body that he hated and as he pushed he gasped for air as he clutched at the pools sharp edges. When France had set up the pool in the guest room Canada had whined that there was going to be much more work to do when it came to cleaning up to which the French man argued that Canada wanted a water birth this time and that the doctor had to be able to see what was going on and the tub was simply too small. He could feel the head crowning as he snarled through his breathes, wanting to rip the hands from his shoulders as he pushed and pushed through his contractions that seemed to be coming continuously at this point and it wasn't until he felt that same strange sliding sensation that he gasped as his body jered to a stillness that it hadn't been in for hours. A sense of calm burst through the him as he slumped backwards and found the hands brushing at his hot cheeks that had tears cascading them towards his chin and he hiccuped a sob. It was over. The high piercing wail that came was a welcomed sound as the doctor laid the baby on his chest.The bloody little thing was absolutely outraged just like their twin, tiny lungs were working to feed into the howling cries as Canada stroked his hand down the little spine making the baby jerk in his arms before kicking their legs out and Canada felt the flood of love rush through him when he glanced up at his little daughter ersting in America's arms. After a few moments he handed the bloody baby over to the doctor who washed up the baby who wailed angrily throuhg the washing and as the baby's umbilical cord was cut they were then swadled into a blanket the infant was pronounced to be a boy. A boy and girl, a tiny doll set that were both perfect. He could hear his daughter whimpering at her twin's distress but when France accepted the baby the boy calmed slightly but mewled pitifully as if searching for someone. Canada pushed weakly now in order to get the placenta out and he was surprised at how few pushes it too for the thing to slip out of him rather disgustingly but his relief was too strong to worry about when France and America's whispers caught his attention. France handed the boy over to America who accepted him and France then wrapped his arms around Canada's torso in order to help him to his feet where the doctor wrapped a towel around his waist and France then picked up the Canadian. The doctor promised to begin cleaning up for them as France waled across the room with the Canadian in his arms and he stepped out into the hallway with Canada clinging to him as he was waled towards their bedroom, each step slow and the French man grunted under his breath as he made his way slowly towards the bedroom. When they entered the room Canada was grateful to be placed on the bed, flopping against it tiredly as he raised his aching hips up for the towel to be slipped out from underneath him and the fabric was moved over his legs drying them to the best of France's ability. He then struggled to get the Canadian under the blankets and he then looked up at France."I want to see them." Canada requested tiredly to which America came waling into the room with his twins in his arms and Canada held his arms out, opening and closing his fists, staring up at France imploringly. After a moment or two of silent saring France nodded and America walked forward and helded placed the twins side by side in France's arms and Canada felt tears welling up in his eyes as he heard America announce that he was getting England and the kids but Canada only barely heard it. He was too busy staring at his twins.The girl had lovely pale skin lie her mother along with the same two toned blonde hair and the same ahoge that spiraled out of her hair but she had the large blue eyes of her father, rosy lips formed into a pout when he stroked his finger down her nose to tap the tip and turned his attention to his son. THe boy shared the same pale skin as his sister but where his sister shared many similarities with Canada it seemed that the boy shared some similarities with his father when it came to his blonde cap of hair but surprisingly he shared the same shimmering violet irises as his brother and mother. His cheeks were a rosy red from his crying where his sister's were a sweet pink hue and Canada found himself in awe of the beautiful little twins in his arms when he heard the sound of running feet on the floor. He looked up just in time to see Austynn appear in the doorway with Liam behind him by mere seconds and btoh boys looked in hesitantly before Liam pushed Austynn forward towards his mother and Austynn walked in nervously. "Maman? 'ow are they?""Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Come and see your brother and sister." Austynn climbed on the bed next to his exhausted mother but stared with awe down at the babies while Canada looed up to find England walking into the room with Jolene clinging to his hand as she stared at her cousins curiously. Canada smiled then as Liam and Jolene both stood near the bottom of the bed curiously staring at the tops of the babies heads and he gestured with his head for them to climb on the bed as well. "You two can come up and see them too! Come see your new cousins." WIth this little prompting both Liam and Jolene crawled onto the bed next to Austynn where they gawed at the lovely babies in his arms and he smiled at England who was hesitantly gazing at the babies. "You can come look too, England. We're family so they are technically your niece and nephew you too.""I don't want to overcro- Bloody asshole!" England yelped when his words had cut off by a particularly hard push from America who merely smiled delightedly at the English Nation who then crept forward towards Canada now that he was shoved closer than before and he too a hesitant peek down at the babies in his arms. He then sighed out like he had been holding his breath this whole time and he reached out offering his finger to the little girl who gripped onto it tightly with a strength that had England laughing nervously but he then met Canada's gaze rather bashfully. "You've created some very lovely children, Canada. Good job! They'll no doubt grow into beautiful children just like Austynn." The boy beamed at this and England then tilted his head looking down at the babies. "What are their names?"Canada looked to France who nodded with a wide smile on his lips and the Canadian blinked groggily but smiled down at the babies in his arms as they stared at him with their large eyes. "The girl will be Poppet Adrianna Bonnefoy and the boy is Henri Oliver Bonnefoy. You wouldn't believe how long it too for us to come up with those names." Canada murmured as he looked at the twijns and he found Henri smiling briefly and he smiled sleepily at his twins. It really had taken quite a long time playing with the names and arranging them over and over again with countless variations but finally they had settled on the names when the right time had come and Canada yawned."Alright let's let the twins and Maman rest shall we?" France got out as he then walked around the English man who threw him a glare but Canada didn't protest when the French man plucked the babies from his arms and then leaned in kissing Canada's forehead and once again whispered his praise for the Canadian in French. He then began ushering people out of the room allowing Canada to snuggle down in the bed underneath the blanket as he watched his family wal out one by one through the door and France then smiled at him rather proudly before he too left through the door carrying their twins from the room downstairs for them to no doubt ogle and coo over. Something that Canada would be doing soon enough. His lovely twins. He had never imagined a boy and girl duo in their fantasizing about the twins being boys or girls they'd never imagined having another boy and a girl this time round. He smiled to himself then as he nuzzled his face into the pillow and he knew that if France was so proud of him then he had done something amazing. But Canada himself felt absolutely positively victorious. He'd gotten his twins and all he had to do was rest for now and when he woe he'd be able to ogle and croon to his children as well but for now he just had to get some shut eye. Just for a few minutes.
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It's amazing how things change. England for one knew that life was ruthless in the way that it changed and twisted around a person until they either grew strong enough to bear it or crumbled beneath the weight of that change. When England had gazed upon his niece and nephew he had felt the strongest, fiercest joy he had ever felt and such pride for the Nation that he had helped raise during his younger years but beneath that fierce pride was a deep longing. He had five more months to go before he could give birth, five more months of waiting to hold his own child and there was a longing attached to him that refused to abate. But this wasn't about England's longing that changed. No, it had to do with poor Jolene. England had been knitting purple booties that afternoon, the rain striking the window in it's familiar tapping rhythm when the front door downstairs crashed open then slammed shut as feet slammed against the stairs and when the child ran down the hallway flinging her bag in her room England looed up. There his daughter was running for the open door of his bedroom, tears in her big blue eyes and when she caught sight of England she gasped and wailed throwing herself across the room to his lap where she buried her face into as she wailed with all the heartbreak that a child could possess. England dropped his knitting in surprise before moving it from Jolene's head to the bed bedside table and he tugged the young girl into his lap as tears ran down her pink cheeks as she hiccuped and sobbed as her arms curled around England's throat. Never had Jolene cried like this and as she clung onto England he began rocking his daughter as he rubbed her bac and her little arms tightened around his neck."Oh darling, darling, what ever is the matter?" England murmured to the girl as he rocked the two of them in the chair and Jolene wailed so fiercely her voice cracked as she clung onto England and he noted that she was dressed quite warmly so this afternoon had been her ice sating lessons. Jolene participated in a class with other children rather than the one on one treatment that Abel got but that was because England wanted her to try and make some friends because she was so shy sometimes that others mistook it for a snooty attitude. But this? This wasn't normal. Never once had Jolene come home crying lie this an as she curled up in his arms keening out crackling sounds from her throat did he move his hands from her bac to cup her red face which was dripping with tears. "My darling girl, what is the matter? What happened that has made you weep so?""The-The kids in class are so mean!" Jolene howled as she threw her head bac finally as she raised her hands upwards towards her eyes in such sheer as strands of hair clung to her wet red cheeks and the heavy steps of America's rang out in the hallway. "I-I-I said that I was takin' ballet and ice skating and they called me stuck up! They said I was a stupid princess! Th-They said that I was spoiled by you and Daddy! But that's not true! I'm not spoiled at all!" Jolene's words were howled lie she was unable to deal with the grief and England began rocking in the chair with his daughter burying her face in his chest sobbing wildly and he looked up to meet the sy blue eyes of America's and both parents pursed their lips as Jolene wailed into England's chest. "I don't ever wanna go bac there, Mommy! Never ever!""Darling, you have to go back there just until the Academy is finished then you'll be going to a school with other children who understand you. There's no shame in doing ballet and ice skating, none whatsoever but Jolene you've got to do Mummy a favor." The girl leaned back in her mother's grip and England flicked the end of her nose then began wiping at her wet cheeks making her whine and whimper softly to herself. "Mummy doesn't want you to feel bad about doing two extracurriculars. What you need to do is get your homework done, wash up and we'll do something fun. I promise that as soon as the academy is finished that you'll be much happier, darling.""You're not listening!" Jolene suddenly screamed then jerking herself out of her mother's arms onto the floor once again and she stamped her feet and slamming her fists against her sides as her long golden blonder hair trembled down her back. "You're not listening at all, Mommy! You're just like Daddy! I said I don't want to ever go back there! Never ever will I go back and not you or Daddy can make me go back there to those meanies! I refuse!" She then whipped around facing her father pointing at him with an accusatory look in her sky blue eyes that burned like flames and she stamped her feet once again. "You can't make me do anythin'! Soon enough you'll leave me behind when the stupid baby comes and I'll be all alone! You two are just as mean as those meanie kids!"She then stomped out of the room shoving past America who sighed as Jolene marched to her room slamming the door as hard as she dared making the blast radiate throuhg the house as AMerica turned his attention to England rocking slowly in the chair. America released another sigh as he walked over to the bed plopping down onto it making the springs scream at the sudden impact of weight and the man leaned backwards on his hands looking to England who had picked up his knitting once again. "I don't know what the hell we're going to do with that girl." America groaned out as he flopped onto his back, hands coming to rest on his stomach this time and he crossed his legs. "We're going to have to find a whole new ballet teacher and ice skating teacher in America just for her to go to and then there's the situation of where we're goin to stay.""I've been thinking on it, love. Why don't you petition teachers for afterschool activities? Such as ballet and ice skating and hockey? Even football and baseball!" England replied as he looed to his lover laying out on the bed and he cocked his head to the side with a sigh on his lips. "Of course this means the children who are doing extra curricular things are going to have to wait for a while before beginning again I'm sure that clubs will help school life go normally for them." He then paused and looed to America again. There was something about the way he had finished talking that bothered England. "Love, you don't possibly mean however that you want us to move to America again do you?""Well yeah." America slid his arms along the bed to jerk himself up on his elbows, nudging his glasses up his nose and found the incredulous loo on England's face to be quite the thing to see. He sighed out throwing his head backwards looking up at the ceiling rather than at the hurt expression on his lover's face. "I mean think about it realistically, babe. Do you expect Jolene to give up her ballet for god knows how long? Or for Liam to wait for a soccer team to start up? I mean I can petition for those teachers but it would take a while and we know how nuts Jolene is about her ballet lessons. She'd be even more miserable at the academy than she is right now! We of course can think of moving to my place again but only if you're comfortable with it and then we'll move bac here once the teachers are all settled out for after school activities. And I know you'd get a kick out of seeing Austynn and the twins again! We could invite them over for dinners, hang out with them and all the time you can relax and we could be lie an actual family!"England listened with an awed expression at the long winded ideas from the American and England put his knitting to the side and stood up as quietly as he could and waled over to the bed sitting down next to America. He looked down at his hands silently before peering at his lover who was staring at him rather intently and the sight of those sky blue eyes leveled on him so seriously, so evenly sent flutters through the English Nation as he met those eyes. "Love, are you possibly homesick?" When the AMerican began shaking his head the English Nation reached out placing a hand on top of America's. "I will admit that I miss Canada as well and wish to keep an eye on him and the bloody Frog but we have to move bac to your homeland for the right reasons and while these are very reasonable explanations for moving back we have to remember one very vital thing. I'm pregnant, love. There will come a time where air travel isn't possible for me and if it is it'll be very uncomfortable. We have to be in the right place before I give birth. All this moving back and forth isn't good for us.""I know! But I just-" America's hands curled into fists briefly as he merely breathed in tiny gasps that were surely to be words but died before they could come out and the American then looed up at the ceiling. "I'm not homesick, how could I be? I have everything that matters to me wherever I go and I have you. I'm just thinking of the kids. I don't- I don't want to let go of them yet. It seems so sudden that they're going to be shipped off to the academy next month and yeah I'm completely excited for this new baby but there's just something completely different about saying goodbye to my other babies you know?" America hesitated before looing to England again, the green of those eyes shimmering now as they stared at America and the blonde felt his own eyes prickling lightly. "I don't want to say goodbye to them yet. They're still kids dammit! I'm going to miss them! I want to be closer to them if something happens! It's not fair that we get to be so close but other Nations can't! And-An I just don't know!""Oh, love, I understand completely." England whispered as he then laid down on his side facing the American and squeezed the fist in his hand and he managed to weave his fingers into America's and clutch at the hand with both of his own. "But we can't keep going back and forth. We have a new baby to think about as well and we can't keep going back and forth for it will only be stressful for our child. It'll be stressful for us! Can't you understand my point of view? Besides, we'll be calling and talking to the children every day if we have too just like the other parents and of course there'll be video chats and videos sent back and forth! We have to look at this as an opportunity for our children to get the best education possible! They'll even be home on the vacations and for summer as well! It's not like we'll never go a day without hearing their voices or seeing them on the web camera! But we have to move for the right reasons, darling."It was quiet between the pair as they locked eyes, a quietness that seemed to breath life into the words they both had just spoken and England squeezed the American's hand softly as he leaned in brushing his lips against his cheek. "I love you, Arthur. I just don't want the kids to feel like we're abandoning them next month or something. I want them to be happy that they're going to the same school that we went too. I don't want them to feel lost or alone." America murmured as those soft lips continued kissing his face comfortingly, the lips moving down to his throat where they pressed against his fluttering pulse just below his jaw and he squeezed England's hand back as they laid close to one another. "Liam will be there for his sister but Jolene is only four so I doubt she'll have a good grasp on why all of a sudden it's just Liam and not us there for her. I don't want her to feel lonely at the new school.""Neither do I love but we have to let them grow up. Many parents send their children away to private schools all the time and you have to remember that we're still going to talk to her every day and we're going to see her on vacation so there'll be plenty of time to see them! But we can't just pick up our whole lives and move to America just to breathe down their necks. We have to let them grow up somehow and living on their own will provide some sense of independence amongst them. Plus you have to imagine that they'll have roommates their own ages and they'll be able to make bonds and friendships with other the other Nation's children." He paused then groaned. "And they'll also be meeting their OTHER cousins for the first time possibly. Ireland's, Scotland's and Wales' children will possibly be there so it's not lie they'll be too horribly lonely.""You never told me that your brothers had kids!""Oh. Well my brothers have children? I didn't think it was important at the time as they never bring them round when we're here. You know how they feel about us." England replied with a shrug to his shoulders and he then pouted lightly at the American as he pulled bac. "Besides they're children are absolutely nuisances I bet. You know how my brothers behave! Never showing up for a World Meeting, never attended the World Academy when it was open and never interacting with the other Nations. Well, I should say they were "interacting" with a few choice Nations which gave them children of their own apparently." England then sat up with a sigh as he climbed to his feet and then tugged on America's hand causing him to sit up with him and climb to his feet as well and the two of them looed at one another for a moment or two before England dropped his eyes. "They've sent me pictures of their children would you like to see them?""Uh, hell yeah! Get those pictures out!" America pumped their hands excitedly making England roll his eyes playfully but he released the American's hand and leaned toward the bedside table opening the drawer tugging an envelope out. It was a pristine letter that had clearly been opened once and once only before being shove away and America tilted his head slightly. "So you're telling me that technically I have more nieces or nephews?""Technically speaking yes you do." England sighed out as he t ugged out a single picture that America snatched away from the English Nation making him glare at the American as he looed down at the picture eagerly. In the picture were three girls, two possessing dar and medium brown locs of hair respectively but with wickedly sparkling green eyes and the third girl possessed light reddish-blonde hair with rather large brown eyes. "Wow, these girls are as pretty as Jolene! What are their names? Do you think we'll ever get the chance to meet them?""I don't know if we'll ever meet them but their names are Ansley, Andreina and Gwen. You can only imagine how surprised I was to get the picture and a letter in the mail explaining who these girls were. Ansley is Scotland's daughter, Andreina is Ireland's and Gwen is Wales' daughters. They're quite beautiful girls and while you cannot judge a person throuhg a picture I can only imagine they are quite the handful for each of them." England smirked at that when the sound of a door creaking open made both heads look towards their bedroom door as Jolene appeared looking rather solemn and properly chastised without England having said a word to her about her behavior yet. "Well, hello there, darling. Have you decided to be a good girl and finished up this silly temper tantrum of yours?""Yes, Mommy." Jolene mumbled as she looked down at her feet then looked to her father holding her hands up hopefully. "Daddy?" America placed the picture onto the bed then waled across the room to his daughter and picked her up easily, settling her on his hip as her arms curled tightly around his neck and her fingers began playing with the hair at the base of his neck. "Now who's pretty like me? I heard you and Mommy talk about some other girls and I wanna see them!" She wriggled in America's arms eagerly as her father waled bac across the floor then looked to her mother rather bashfully and widened those sky blue eyes of hers. "Please? I would really like to see the picture, Mommy!"From down below the sound of a door slamming made all three members of the family loo up them smile at the sound of feet racing up the stairs. "Mummy! Daddy, I'm home!" Liam belted out the words like they were a song that needed to be sung and when he used the banister to swing himself into the hallway he rushed down the hallway towards the bedroom door's open entrance and smiled at his parents when he appeared in the doorway. His blonde locks of hair were mussed from the sweat, a stain of dirt on one chee and the flushed redness of exertion on btoh and an easy happy smile was on the boy's lips as he smiled at both of his parents widely. His jersey was wrinkled and dirty from many impacts with the ground no doubt but he smiled like there wasn't a thing he loved more. "What're we doing up here?""Would you like to see a picture of your other cousins? From my side of the family, I mean." England plucked up the picture from the bed as Liam came to stand by his sister who beamed at the sight of her brother and for a moment England could only gawk at the three of them. They were like a perfect set of porcelain dolls with their blonde locks of hair and wide sparling sky blue eyes that they had inherited from their father and England felt the fervent desire to share the same blue eyes as his family. They'd made the perfect set if he himself could possess that beautiful sparkling blue. He shook himself out of his thoughts when he held the picture up for Jolene to gawk at for a few moments before handing the picture to his son who studied the girls' faces with such an intensity that it was almost as if he were committing them to memory. "They come from your Uncles Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If they decide to send the girls to the academy you'll meet them there but I wouldn't hold your breath.""Is it because they're scared of people?" Jolene questioned curiously cocking her head to the side as she stared at her mother who snorted and America coughed to cover up a laugh while Liam looed to their mother to get the answer they both were looing for when Jolene scowled at her father then at her mother. "Are they? Because they never visit us like Uncle Mattie does! Do they not like us? Did we do something bad to make them not like us?""No, darling, neither of you has done a single thing that's made them not like you. They're recluses of a sort, hardly leaving their own homelands and if they chose to raise their daughters in the same manner then there's nothing that we can do about it. But there's not a single thing that you've done. Maybe sometime soon I'll contact your Uncles and see if they'll come and meet you!" England didn't have high hopes he'd get an answer to that letter but he reached up cupping his daughter's face and stroking her pink cheeks as her sky blue eyes sparkled at him worriedly and he pressed his thumbs against her cheekbones lightly. "Don't worry if you're uncles are at all curious about their ever lovely niece and nephew then they'll respond. I'll write the letters tonight! Now who wants to help Mummy with dinner?""Me!" Both children cried delightedly throwing their hands up and England laughed."You, my darling William, have to wash up and change your clothing so go on and do that now for me. And you, my dear little Jolene, can come with me and Daddy downstairs to get dinner done! We're going to have chicken alfredo tonight!" Both children squirmed to get away from their father and America laughed as he plopped his daughter down on the floor where she then ran down the hallway towards the stairs while her brother ran for the bedroom to get a fresh set of clothing on and then to the bathroom with a slam of the door. England then smiled as he draped his arms around America's shoulders and tugged him closer with a smile on his lips as he fluttered his lashes in a way he thought ridiculous but made the both of them smirk. "As for you.""Yes sir?""You owe me about, oh, thirty kisses.""With pleasure!"
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Ladonia couldn't sleep. He had excused himself from downstairs under the watchful gaze of Finland and he had come upstairs to his bedroom then proceeded to curl up under the blankets giving the facade that he was indeed laying down for a nap. He'd been hit with bouts of morning sickness making it hard to keep anything down but the red head found himself feeling even more nauseous under that watchful violet gaze than he ever had before. While he didn't see Finland or Sweden as his parents he respected them enough to respect their rules and their guidelines in the house but since coming out with the news of his pregnancy it felt like Finland was constantly watching to see if he would slip up or making note of every time Sealand touched him. It was as if it was suddenly taboo to touch one another in any manner of way and Ladonia wasn't sure of how much longer he could handle an environment like this. Being two months pregnant he was finding that he was far more sensitive than he would have liked and the way that Finland watched both him and Sealand was getting to him far more than he'd like to admit. When Sealand had come out and explained to his elder brother that he was pregnant there had been shock on England's side but then the congratulations had come pouring in with an eagerness that made Ladonia warm to the core. It had strangely been the response that he wanted from Finland but instead he got something else all together and he wasn't sure how to handle it. Yes, he could understand why Finland was outraged and angry at the two of them but at the end of the day wasn't there some part of him that was excited for this? Wasn't Finland going to support him? Or would he continue to watch him with that unreadable expression in his violet eyes?Ladonia groaned into his pillow as he curled his knees upwards and though his fingers flinched his hand came down and pressed against his stomach. A baby. He was having a baby. Ladonia wasn't sure what type of emotions came with the feeling but he felt a strange sense of joy. While he was unsure of his true feelings for Sealand he knew that he didn't regret one bit having slept with the blonde Micro-Nation. He'd been the one that instigated it after all. That's one thing that Sealand lied to Finland about; the Finnish Nation had interrogated them that next morning after the pregnancy announcement and there had been so many questions to answer and so many answers to give that the lie had rolled off of Sealand's tongue that he had started this relationship. Like Ladonia hadn't given in after that first kiss. He'd been weak to it. Absolutely helpless. When and Sealand had kissed for the first time it had been an "Oh so that's how this feels?" sort of feeling for Ladonia and he'd been helpless to stop the wondering hands and he'd been helpless against the pleasure it gave him. It was so bad of him to give in to the touches and the touches but he'd been absolutely weak. Even now when he gazed at Sealand and those sky blue eyes aimed their way to him did he find his stomach clenching with longing and his hands trembling with the desire to reach out to touch the blonde just to see if he was truly real. He wasn't in love with him, not as Sealand had claimed when they told Finland the news but he knew that he felt something for the Sealander. He just wasn't completely sure what it was that he felt but he definitely knew he felt enough that he wanted to be with Sealand.He'd also never intended to get pregnant when going into this. Exploring his feelings for the Sealander never meant to lead to a pregnancy like this. Ladonia opened his eyes staring at the wall before him when he heard a light tapping on the door and then the door creaked open. "Erland? Are you awake?" Sealand's voice was a hushed whisper as he pushed open the door and slipped into the room then made sure not a click was made when he shut the door and lightly ran on the tips of his toes over to the red head. He plopped down on the bed making it bounce wildly and those sky blue eyes peered down at him worriedly. "When you came up here to lay down I got worried. I know you've been sick all morning long so I convinced Finland to make you some soup which he's working on right now.""Oh." Ladonia rolled onto his back staring up at the blonde who lifted his hand up hesitantly then brushed his fingers against his forehead and pushed his bangs away from his face in a movement that was so soft it sent waves of longing through the red head's body. His lashes fluttered shut for a moment as his face tipped upwards with his breath being held tight in his chest hopefully and the air rushed out of him when soft lips pressed against his own delicately. He pushed his own lips firmly against Sealand's and as if a dam were breaking inside of him, the Sealander pressed his lips urgently and fiercely against Ladonia's who responded with that same urgency as his hands came up to grip at the blonde's shoulders with a low moan in his throat escaping him. His heart was flying against his chest as he eagerly kissed the Sealander and felt a pressure beginning to knot and weave itself throuhg his stomach when the Sealander climbed on top of him. He had been about to say something but it was lost to him, no longer tangible in his mind for all that matter were the lips on his own and the hands that cupped his face so lovingly that it was nearly enough to make him cry.It felt like it had been forever since the two of them had kissed, had touched like this and Ladonia aws starving for the blonde. It was as if he was a cool pool of water and he had ever intent to cherish every drop of water. Behind the urgency of their kisses there was a passion to the movement of their lips that spared heat beneath Ladonia's skin as he gripped the fabric of Sealan's shirt tightly in his hands and felt those hands on his face dipping backwards to tilt his face up further. It was as if it had been centuries since he had kissed the Sealander and he needed every little minute to kiss him. His eyes fluttered open when Sealand pulled bac from the kiss to flutter down his throat a peppering trail of kisses that made his toes curl tightly as he bit his lip and his eyes rolled upwards when the Sealander began rolling his hips against his through the blankets. Desire was fast and burning, scathing. It burned everything that was combustible in a body and then left it wea in the aftermath but as Ladonia gasped and clung to the Sealander there was a forbidden element to this that had his stomach coiling with excitement. He bit his lip as he squirmed to get out of the blankets as their lips again and the door flew open. Finland rushed into the room with a screech on his lips as he marched over to btoh boys slamming a bowl of soup down on the bedside table and reached out grabbing Sealand's upper arms yanking him off of Ladonia."You get out of there! No more of this nonsense!" Finland shrieked as he pulled Sealand to his feet and the blonde looked as dazed as Ladonia felt from the shock of Finland's appearance and those violet eyes swung his way making Ladonia cringe against his pillows. "From now on if you two are going to be in the same room the bedroom door remains open! It's situations lie this that got you pregnant to begin with!" He then turned pushing Sealand making him rush on his feet to stay upright. "Now you go! I need to talk to Ladonia alone for a moment! You go deal out bowls for everyone and feed Aili for me!" Sealand ran from the room as though Finland had just set the hounds of hell after him and Ladonia flinched lightly when the Finnish Nation plopped down on the bed then twisted to loo at the Ladonian Nation."I'll have you know this "nonsense" will continue whether the door is open or not. If Sealand and I want to have a relationship there's nothing you can do about it. And though we never meant to have a baby you can stop looking at me the way you do! With your judgment so clear in your eyes!" Finland blinked in surprise as he looked at Ladonia but the red head too a deep breath to steel his rattling nerves as he jerked his head head in a shay bob against the pillows. "You look at me as though you positively hate me now! Is it just because I'm having a baby? Or is it because it's Sealand's baby that makes you look at me with such judgment in your eyes? Is there a difference whose baby it is? Whether it were Sealands or someone elses? I don't understand you Finland but if you keep looking at me with that judgment in your eyes I'll have no choice but to go away! I just can't stand it!""I haven't been fair to you, have I?" Finland murmured as he lifted his hand and, in a movement similar to Sealand's moments ago, the Finnish Nation rested his hand on the red head's chee as they gazed at one another and the blonde sighed softly like he was about to shift a load off of his chest. He stroked his thumb against his cheekbone softly, slowly like he was a small child again and the red head couldn't help it as he turned his face into that warm palm enjoying the touch of Finland's hand on his cheek. "I'm not angry that you're pregnant. I'm shocked and surprised that this happened under my nose without me noticing. I must admit that I do regret having slapped Sealand but that's a conversation I have to have with him. But I have to admit a baby changes a lot of things, Erland. And you have to figure things out before that baby comes.""I know I do." Ladonia mumbled in response as the Finnish man's words and he looked up from under his lashes at the Finnish Nation awkwardly. "I'm figuring things out with Sealand and I don't even know where I'm going to get baby stuff! I have a lot to figure out with a short amount of time to do it. I have seven months to figure shit out and I have no idea where to start. Would it be fine if you left me alone for now so I can eat the soup? And try to keep it down."He tried not to sound bitter but Finland nodded quietly he stood waling across the room with the quick sure steps that carried him out the door which he shut quietly behind him. Ladonia turned to his soup swallowing nervously as he sat up slowly in the bed and reached out grabbing the bowl of what smelled like vegetable soup. He plucked the spoon up and stirred his soup with all the appetite of one starving and began devouring the soup with gusto. It tasted so delicious as it slid down his throat that when the door opened again he didn't dare look up until he was sipping at the broth that was left behind. The warmth of the liquid trickled delightfully down his throat as he too small sips of the broth and found his nausea was soothed yet it felt like an uneasy peace that was established between himself and the fetus within him. He knew that at any moment this soup could be too much for his tender stomach and he'd be vomiting it up at the next moment's notice. He sighed as he too another when he heard the bedroom door swing open again and yet he didn't bother to look up from his bowl of soup as he sipped at the broth daintily and he sighed again causing ripples to break out across the broth."I brought you a roll." Sweden's voice made him jump as he looed up to find the tall stoic man approaching the bed with a roll in hand and Ladonia put the bowl down in his lap and too the roll from the Swedish man and began ripping it into pieces dipping it into the broth then stuffing it into his mouth. "I just want you to know that we both want the best for you and the baby, Erland. We have adequate space for a second baby so don't think of running of to your home like I know you are." Ladonia swallowed hard wincing at the scraping of the bread making it's way down and he dipped another piece into the broth before peering up at Sweden. "Don't worry about Finland either. I'll talk to him about some things. I'll make sure he's not hovering nor too severe with you.""Meh, he'll be how he'll be. I can't help how I feel about Sealand either." Ladonia warned as he popped the last bite of roll into his mouth, taking his time chewing it and swallowing with a steely loo to his blue eyes as he gazed at Sweden. "We like each other. There's no stopping it nor changing it. I can't help that I'm pregnant with his baby but we're going to figure it out and we'll find someway to support ourselves and move out. I won't deny it's stupid to go running away now with little money to our names and no food in my house but as soon as we have an income we're going to go and live our lives the way we want too. I'm not giving Sealand up for anything." He then squinted at Sweden who raised a single brow at the small Nation. "Not for you, not for Finland and not even for Sealand's sake. He's mine.""Alright. I get it. You want to be with Sealand you can be with Sealand, I'm not going to stop you in the least bit. But you have to tone it down with the physical aspects of your relationship." Ladonia glared at Sweden causing the Swedish man to raise his hands and shrug his broad shoulders as he nudged his glasses up his nose. "You can have whatever you want, buy whatever you need for the baby using my credit card, but the one thing I ask in return is you tone down the physical aspects of your relationship. If Finland and I can do something lie that then surely you can do the same can't you? Or is it so impossible that we have to treat you like some kind of cat in heat?""I'm not a cat in heat!" Ladonia snapped as he then too a moment to sip at the hot broth which soothed his throat and he placed the bowl down in his lap and pointed at Sweden with his spoon like it was some kind of weapon and the blonde man raised his brows like he wasn't the least bit surprised but stood up leaving Ladonia on the bed. "I can be treated lie an adult just like you and Finland treat Sealand! But if we have to tone our shit down then Finland can't go barging into our room lie he did a few moments ago! We were in here alone, as we have every right to be, and he came barging in here screeching like a banshee from hell! If we can't hug or kiss outside of this room then he can't come running in here like some possessed person. Got it?""I'll talk to him about barging into your space. But you both need to grow accustomed to this new change." Sweden rolled his shoulders back then gave Ladonia a loo that made the teen loo down at his lap feeling a small prick of guilt. Guilt? Why did the look inspire guilt? Ladonia had no clue but he kept his eyes down when Sweden spoke again. "If you want to be technical this is a grandchild. Of course the situation isn't ideal in the slightest bit and it's rather out of nowhere but a grandchild is a grand child you know? That is of course if you will view us as such. Finland may have Aili to focus upon at the moment what with her turning four months but this will be a new baby in the household that will need much attention and he's excited for it whether he admits it or not.""But he's going to need to accept that whether he likes it or not that me and Sealand are a package deal. This is OUR baby after all." Ladonia replied hotly as he lifted his gaze from his lap to skewer the Swedish man with that heat and the blonde shrugged his broad shoulders once again making Ladonia glare at him. There was many situations in which Ladonia had come to Sweden for talks but this was by far the most blase way of talking that he'd seen the awkward elder man use. "Look, I'm not trying to be a dick but he has to understand that this baby of mine isn't going anywhere and it's going to be coming in seven months time. I just don't want- I can't handle this awkward judgemental energy.""And that's what I'll speak with him about. For now just enjoy your soup and get some rest if that's what you're aiming for." Sweden spoke in a soft voice as he stood up from the bed making it bounce the Ladonian lightly and slosh his broth against the sides of the bowl and he adjusted his glasses before looking down with a mangled, awkward little smile on his lips his blue-green eyes stared down at Ladonia not with judgement but with something rather akin to excitement. "We will grow used to one another again and if you still desire to leave after the baby comes then you may do so. But my offer to allow you to by the baby stuff with my card stands firm so next time you're on your laptop just pop into the room. I'll have the talk with Finland and while I cannot promise anything will change I hope it will put your mind at ease.""Thanks." Ladonia nodded but he felt that whatever talk the Swedish Nation decided to have with the Finnish one Ladonia knew it would change very little. Finland would still watch his very movements, his very actions to a T and those violet eyes would remain on him like a laser intent on razing him to ashes. Yes, he was young but did that mean he was any less ready for a baby than any other of the Nations? Would he make for a bad parent just because he was a teenager? Ladonia watched Sweden walk from the room when he placed the half drunk soup onto the bedside table and slid down into a lying position feeling his appetite had been soured when the soft clicking of the door rang out in the quiet room.He tugged the blankets up to his mouth while snuggling down into his pillow as he laid with his back facing the room and he felt a strange stinging in his eyes as he considered his position. Would he be a good parent? Or a bad one? Was he ready for this baby? He was worried he'd make the wrong decisions and he was sick with the anxiety that he could possibly mess this kid up just because he was a teen. He felt his stomach squeeze as he took a deep breath and forced his eyes to close as he curled his knees lightly towards his stomach. No, he had to believe that with the supervision that Finland would no doubt be giving him that he could do it. He had to believe that he wouldn't be as clueless or helpless as he thought he'd be in the event of a baby. How was it that Sealand's brother could be happier for them than Finland? Why wasn't Finland being his usual sweet self? Was it because of Sealand and Ladonia's relationship? If so then it put Ladonia in a predicament. He didn't know if he could handle those violet eyes lingering on him for months upon months yet he had just promised not to run off didn't he? He knew that some part of him was uneasy about the pregnancy, just like Finland, but another part of him was pleased. How long had he struggled with his feelings for the blonde? How long did it take to put a word to the emotions he had been feeling for years? It still felt fresh, new as the first raindrop striking the ground, to confront these feelings. Would it be worse if Sealand and him didn't have feelings for each other? Or was it worse that they had feelings? Ladonia didn't know but he wished to God that it were simple. Wished that Finland would stop looking at him the way he did. Wished for a normal life, a normal pregnancy, a normal relationship.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Finland expected many things in his long life. He had expected freedom, had expected to live in a cottage and enjoy his best life while interacting with those around him and he expected the life he never imagined he'd have; a quiet peaceful life. At least those were the expectations from his youth. Finland found that he was ever so grateful that Sweden was a patient man who waited around long before Finland could come out to himself about the conflicting feelings that he felt for the Swedish man and he was grateful that the Nation had promised to wait. If Sweden hadn't given him that time to grow used to him, to find a comfort in his previous companion he knew that he would never have fallen in love with the Swedish Nation ahd knew that Aili would have never existed. If he had gone for the life he wanted from his youth he would never experience the love and joy of raising two boys, of now raising a little girl who needed him desperately as any five month old needed a parent. He sat in the living room watching Aili swat at her dangling toys then watched as her eyes grew wide when they rattled or jingled at her causing her legs to kick out excitedly as her hands formed fists that reached up hitting at the toys. She grunted quietly as she reached upwards but the after effect of her toys swaying and jingling at her was almost worth the little bit of struggle to reach up so high for Finland loved seeing those multicolored eyes of hers sparkle with satisfaction after hitting the toys. He was humming quietly to himself as he crossed his legs, a camera to the left to him and a scrap book in his lap that he was placing the r ecent roll of pictures into happily while his daughter swatted at her toys at her toys.That very next day Sweden was upstairs talking with both Sealand and Ladonia about their conduct, about discretion apparently and the Finnish Nation couldn't help feeling stabs of guilt as he recalled the Ladonian Nations words. He hadn't meant to be looking at the Ladonian Nation with the look that he was being accused of but he hadn't even been aware that he was doing it! He was observing them like a hawk that much was true but he hadn't meant to be looking at the red head in the way that he was caused of and he bit at his lip even now as he stared at a picture of Aili and Sealand. So perfect did Sealand look with a baby in his arms, the same could even be said for Ladonia, but did that mean they were ready for the responsibility of a baby? Finland sighed to himself when his cellphone began chirping loudly from the kitchen and he closed the scrap boo placing it on the table next to him and he stood up casting a final look to his little daughter who was far too fascinated with the cause and effect of hitting her toys to notice him rushing from the room. He sprinted lightly to to the itchen snatching his phone up from the counter where it ha been plugged in charging. He briefly looed at the number on the screen that was flashing up at him and he slid his thumb against the screen and accepted the call. It was quiet for in the absence of his phone's chirping but as he raised the phone to his ear he cleared his throat be fore speaking. "Hallo! Tino Oxenstierna speak!""Hallo, Mr. Oxenstierna! How are you doing today? This is the office of Dr. Langai." THe voice was just as chirping as Finland's was and the tone was rather pleasant as the secretary shuffled some papers on her side of the phone while Finland made a humming noise of acknowledgement. "We just wanted to get in contact with you about some blood results of yours. You're STD results came back negative as always! Um, let's see here..." Finland waited patiently while the woman no doubt scanned the page then made a clicking sound with her tongue. "And as per protocol we ran a blood test for pregnancy for you. Now there's actually an appointment that needs to be made if that's alright with you?""Of course! What time and day?" Finland asked as calmly as he could while plucking a pen out of the cup they ept in the window sill while some part of him wondered curiously just why they had run a pregnancy test for him. Was that truly protocol with this office? He had been seeing the doctor since the beginning of his pregnancy with Aili but he never knew them to merely run blood tests for pregnancy for the hell of it and that's what had his palms sweating as he approached his calendar with his pen. Aili was his pride and joy, the true daughter of his heart, but if his pregnancy test is negative then surely it wouldn't be the end of the world. After all it had only been four months since he gave birth! Surely he couldn't become pregnant so easily? There was a part of him that was trying to rationalize this when the woman spoke up."Would January nineteenth at three thirty work for you?" The woman questioned which Finland confirmed rather quickly for he wanted to know, needed to know, just why he needed an appointment for himself. "And as for the results of your pregnancy test. Now we wanted to let you know that it is not unusual for circumstances like this to happen as human women can get pregnant again in little as three wees after the birth of a baby. As you are a Nation there are obviously extenuating circumstances that make you different from a human woman but that is why we made the appointment. , you're pregnancy test came back positive. You're pregnant."Finland froze. His fingers felt stiff like frozen icicles clutching at his phone as he stared at the calendar before him sightlessly for a moment or two, unsure of what he was staring at when he blinked rapidly before laughing lightly. Incredulously. Of course there was extenuating circumstances because he was a Nation and of course the normal did not apply to him but did that really mean that after four months that he could be pregnant again? If it was possible for human women than was it possible for him? And how could it be possible? They used protection every single time! It's not like it was an 'oops the condom broke' situation for the condoms never broke. "Are you sure that my results didn't get mixed up with someone else's?""We're very strict about our blood samples, sir, so there's no possible way it was mixed up with another person. Doctor Langai would like to see you on the nineteenth to perform an exam and to tal with you further about this." The woman replied in a rather stiff manner, far from the casual even warm way she had been speaking before. It was as if his question had offended her very core and there was nothing to be done about it now that the question was out there. "You have a good day, alright?""Have a good day." Finland replied numbly as he hung up after hearing the click over the line and placed his phone back on the counter then tossed the pen onto the table, not really caring where it landed or if it rolled onto the floor and rushed back to the living room where Aili finally let out a high pitched squeal as he waled into the room. She had grabbed one of her toys yanking the rattle downwards making the arch crumple in on itself as she chewed viciously on the rattle when her mismatched eyes glanced up at the Finnish man as she chewed on the rattle. It was hard to believe that at four months old Aili was going to be a big sister. That is if this pregnancy sticks. Aili released the rattle then giggling when the arch popped right up into place above her once more. He couldn't think. He couldn't breathe.He heard the steps on the stairs but he couldn't bring himself to call out to his husband, not yet, not until he wrapped his mind around it. Pregnant. Him. He looed at Aili sightlessly for a moment or two before his hands reached out numbly to grab the scrap book to place in his lap once again with the few final pictures that rested between the pages. A picture of Aili, a newborn, in the arms of a hesitant looking Ladonia. How lovely he looked with a baby. Finland's mind was still running ragged circles around the news while the forefront of his mind focused on getting the pictures into the clear sleeves and then figuring out dates and times to pen in but the news continued to swell in his mind. It was hard to forget news like that and before long his husband was sitting on the arm rest next to him leaning over to kiss the top of his head and Finland smiled as he accepted the kiss from his husband delightedly. "How did the talk go?""It went well. They seem to understand just what it is that you wanted to convey to them." Sweden replied as his breath ruffled the soft blonde locs as he placed another kiss to the top of Finland's head before looking down at the pictures he was carefully sliding into place then smiled as Finland closed the book placing it on the table next to him. "I'm glad the scrap book is going well. You'll have to take more pictures because before you know it Aili will be off to college. Then we'll have to have another baby." Finland laughed out at this but the touch of hysteria to his tone was not missed by Sweden who pulled back from Finland and tilted his head. "Whatever's the matter?"Finland looed over at the scrapbook for a moment as he considered his words as Aili grunted quietly from the floor as she reached upwards for her toys then let out a screeched as she grabbed the toy above her head tugging it down towards her mouth. She stuck the toy and most of her fingers into her mouth as she chewed rapidly on the digits and item when her eyes flickered over to her mother's and a little smile graced her gooey lips as she wriggled her legs in delight, her little toes curling. Finland adored his daughter more than anything and he adored her the best of all and yet there was something in his heart that felt rather guilty for getting pregnant so soon after having Aili. Was it right? Was it wrong? Oh he just didn't know! He looked away from his daughter chewing on his lip for a moment before deciding that now was the time to answer his husband before the silence dragged out too long. "Oh nothing more than I'm pregnant. "The silence reigned over both men as they stared at their daughter releasing the toy once more with boredom as she chewed on her fingers lazily and her little feet kicked up into the air with some kind of hidden joy to her movements as her multicolored eyes flicked around curiously before landing on Finland again. Aili wasn't the type to whine or whimper but she held her hands up towards Finland with a quiet whimper on her lips and he stood out of the chair leaving Sweden behind him as he stepped forward sweeping the girl up into his arms. He began quietly shushing the girl in Finnish which seemed to calm the girl which cut off her quiet whimpers and she chewed on her fingers staring up at her mother, green-blue and violet eyes shimmering sweetly. "You're pregnant?"The sound of Sweden's voice made Finland flinch as he turned back towards his husband, the baby in his arms sighing throuhg her tiny nose as if she was over the theatrics of the moment and Finland had to admit he didn't want this to be a big thing. He bit his lip as he stared at his husband who was staring at him with a surprised expression on his normally stoic face and he found himself swaying back and forth slowly as he looked at his husband. He released his lower lip, opening his lips to speak but finding it rather hard to when his throat seemed to be closing in on itself as he rocked the four month old as she grisled lightly as if unhappy with the silence between her parents. Then Finland coughed lightly to clear his throat as he continued to lightly sway side to side, looking down when he noticed Aili's blonde lashes flutter to a shut as her rosey lips parted in a perfect little O as she yawned and rubbed at her eyes with her dimpled hands clumsily and only then did he speak again. "I'm...I'm pregnant. I don't know when it happened or how it happened but it's the truth. The doctors just called and told me.""Ho-How is it possible? I thought the recommended age to wait for another baby was at least a year before having another child." Sweden got out in a thick tone as he looked at their yawning daughter and Finland turned strapping her into her bouncer and began lightly bouncing her as she blinked sleepily up at her mother figure. It was a rather unimpressed expression on her little face but in a matter of minutes the baby's lashes fluttered to a shut and remained that way as Finland continued to lightly bounce the baby in her little bouncer and turned to face his husband. "Well I guess the first matter of business would be me to ask this so don't react too horribly." Finland tilted his head and his husband cleared his throat. "Do you want to keep the baby?""Of course I do!" Finland snapped in a surprisingly defensive tone as he pressed his hand against his flat belly and he felt his face flush at the sound of his own voice sounding so angry, so defensive. He hadn't even thought twice about whether he wanted the baby or not, couldn't process whether he wanted another baby or not but something about...about killing his husband's baby just didn't settle right on his spine. It sent chills down it. He wasn't greedy, knew better than to be that way, but when would they ever have a second chance at another child? Aili was a miracle as is! While it was not viewed upon lightly as it would be strenuous on his body four months after giving birth he knew he had nine months to rest up his strength. He pulled his hand away from the bouncer as Aili continued sleeping like a delicate little doll. "I don't- I just- It doesn't seem right. I mean, when are we ever going to get this chance again?""We're not teenagers like Ladonia and Sealand. We're not indecisive but we have to know what we can handle and I don't know if two infants can be handled under the same house! Three if you count Aili which I do!" Sweden took a breath then rubbed his fingers up underneath his glasses and he did it so vigorously that Finland found his teeth worrying at his bottom lip as he stared at his husband who dropped his hand from his eyes but adjusted his glasses. He then stood up to his full height and approached the Finnish man while holding his hands out for the Finnish Nation to take which he did. "Tino, it's not an all or nothing situation. I understand that you want to keep this pregnancy and I won't persuade you for an abortion but you have to think here and now what this would put on your body. You just gave birth four months ago. It wasn't the most ideal birth but it was a birth that was strenuous on your body and now you're pregnant again? Think about it, Tino.""I would never kill a baby of ours!" Finland replied acidly as he looked at the worried expression on his husband's face and he took a stuttering breath to look down at their peacefully sleeping daughter in order to calm himself as he squeezed Sweden's hands. "I just...It'll be okay. I can handle it." He then released one of Sweden's hands to reach up and cup his cheek carefully with a small smile on his lips. "Don't you think I can handle it? Don't you want another baby?""Not while we have a baby! Tino, you're not listening to me!"Finland ripped his hand away from his cheek feeling a burst of agony that twisted fiercely inside of him and he looed up at his husband's face feeling tears welling in his eyes."I am listening! This is about you wanting to kill our baby and start over later! Don't you think this is a miracle? Just lie Aili was! This is a second chance at having another child! I KNOW I can handle it, Berwald! Can't you put some faith into me? Into what I can or can't handle?" He then squeezed the remaining hand tightly making the Swedish Nation look down for a moment before looking bac up at Finland's face. "The doctor made an appointment with me. If she says that I should abort, if it's for the best rather tha nfor the worst, than I'll do it, okay? If it negatively impacts my health or proves to be that way then I'll be a good boy and listen to the doctor."Sweden sighed as he looked into Finland's face, at the joy that was radiating out of it and he couldn't help but feel old. Like he was some kind of old man looking to scold a younger person and he felt like his scoldings would do nothing for his husband. He had to admit that the thought of another child had never crossed his mind and he had been rather happy with Aili in their lives but strangely enough Finland was eager for another baby. So eager for another chance to be a mother that he would put his body through hell and bac in order to provide another child to their small family. A child that would no doubt hurt Finland on the way out.A child that would put strain on his body that was already seeming so fragile after the birth with Aili. He wasn't afraid tht Finland would die but he was afraid that this child would leave him frailer than he had ever seemed before and he was worried about the health of the child that was little more than a clump of cells in there right now. Cells that were eagerly fanning out to grow larger in the upcoming months. Aili snorted delicately in her sleep as though there was something disdainful or even hilarious about the situation that she had to voice outwards and btoh parents turned their attention to the four-month-old instinctively. When the child remained asleep there was a breath of relief but the tension continued to tighten Sweden's shoulders as he looed down at his husband who was smiling softly up at him now with a warmth in his violet eyes that was all too familiar."It'll work out, just you see." Finland murmured to the Swedish Nation as they began to sway back and forth together like he was a child Aili's age that needed soothing and the Swedish Nation moved with his husband in a little circle as they continued to sway. It was almost lie dancing with no music but the only difference was Finland coaxed Sweden's head down to his shoulder with a quiet murmur of Finnish language that the Swedish Nation was yet to catch but allowed his head to rest on his husband's shoulder. He felt the strangest, strongest urge to cry. Whether it be out of fear or out of anguish he had no clue but the tears burned in his eyes as he shut them and turned his face from his husband's glowing one. He just couldn't help but worry not only for his husband but now for a baby that was thrown into the mix. Did he not see how irresponsible it was? Did he not see how it would torment them later on? Or was Finland purposefully closing his eyes? He didn't know but the sickening feeling roiled in his stomach as he swayed back and forth in his husband's arms hoping for the best. Hoping, hopng, hoping.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Norway was positively huge. He felt lie he was navigating around a wrecking ball whenever he was walking and it didn't help that the rest of his family treated him like he was a bomb about to go pop and explode all over the house. Seven months wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world but he was rather huge for seven months pregnant and Denmark had even joked about the baby being twins rather than a singular baby and the Norwegian about strangled the man at the mere thought. He was so big that he found t hat the room left inside of him was adequate space for the baby within that kept punching and kicking at his ribs and pelvis like whoever was inside wanted out right that instant and was angry that they weren't ready yet. Norway's pregnancy had progressed rather beautifully and while he had to admit he couldn't wait to get this kid out of him there was a part of him that absolutely adored the movements and adored being nudged in the middle of the night when he was lying awake in Denmark's arms. It was like having a little person nudging and never letting you feel truly alone. It was hard to feel alone in his body when he had a baby that was nudging, kicking and punching him constantly. Norway loved standing in his kitchen to cook breakfast because that was when the baby seemed to be the most active. Like they were waking up for the day and the smell of breakfast was either the most delightful thing Norway had smelled or the most revolting but either way to feel the baby stretching their little limbs out inside of him was a unique sort of sensation. He wasn't hating the pregnancy as some thought he should, like his brother, but with Iceland worrying about his own three month bump there was little to worry about when it came to his own active child.Ah, his brother. He never thought that when he offered to help him through the pregnancy that his brother would practically move in. When they came to visit that day and Iceland asked for Norway's help through the pregnancy the Norwegian never ever thought that his brother would all but move in and consult him about every little thing that came to the pregnancy. It was almost like whining at this point but the Icelandic Nation held much worry in his system for some reason and Norway could only do so much to soothe the man's worry or anxiety when it cropped up. It didn't help that Norway was " nesting" as they called it and was fussing with the house whenever possible making his sons and husband already batty even battier. Nothing seemed perfect to Norway no matter what he did and no matter how many outlets he covered up or corners he covered with foam or the baby gates that rattled at the stairs even though the baby wouldn't be mobile for months and months. Then there was the baby room. God he must have gone over that room a million times and still he pouted when he tested the durability of the mattress resting within the crib and always went throuhg the diapers in their drawers along with the onesies and clothing that Denmark was actively bringing home from work every day but everything felt off somehow. He couldn't place his finger on it but as he sat in the rocking chair in the baby's room he stroked his hand down his large stomach as he glanced around the baby's room with a rather attentive gaze as he heard his boys downstairs laughing and roughhousing if the thuds were anything to go by. There was something MISSING from the room and he couldn't pin his finger on the idea but as he sat there rocking in the chair he forced himself to his feet with a hand on his stomach as the baby kicked feverishly at his hand as if to knock it off.He knew eventually he'd have to have a talk with his brother about him staying here but the man looed so happy to be here sometimes that the Norwegian felt the words dry up on his tongue each time he would go to talk to the Icelandic Nation. It was as if each time he was set up to say something the Icelandic Nation would turn to him with his bright violet eyes and a sparkle to them that wasn't usually seen by many people and there was a joy in his face when he interacted with his nephews that wasn't there before. Oh, there was fear to Iceland when he wasn't speaking and there was a fear in those violet eyes that would flare itself like a cobra and there was little anyone could say that would make the fear dissipate. Norway groaned to himself as he stretched his arms out in front of him when he felt that all too familiar cramping in his hips that was no doubt from sitting in the chair for much too long and he exited the room stepping into the hallway when he gasped at an ugly spearing pain that twisted inside of him as if intent on scooping his very organs from his body. He bent at the waist as he clutched at the doorframe gasping in a breath that came wildly and shallowly as the pain lurched inside of him making him shout out loudly interrupting the shouts he heard from downstairs and he stumbled forward catching himself on the wall across from the nursery. This pain, where did it come from? He had been feeling pain all week long but it had never been this bad. It had been present but the doctor had told him it was nothing to worry about. That this was normal. Moments ago when it had been mere cramping he had been warned was usual in the pregnancy for Braxton Hick's contractions could start as early as seven months but this pain was far from a Braxton Hicks. It was an ugly pain that twisted from the very bottom of his stomach all the way to the top.It felt like when he had stretched outwards that something inside of him had ripped. Like something inside of him had been waiting to rip or rupture but it just depended on the timing. He felt a clammy sweat forming on his brow as feet rushed up the stairs and there he was, his little brother, reaching out for him. There was worry flaring in his violet eyes as his hands fluttered around his clammy face and then rested against his upper back rubbing between his shoulder blades as if to bring some sense of comfort. "Nor, what's wrong? What's going on? Is it the baby? Jia call Denmark! I got to get my brother to the hospital! He has to get there now! Keep the boys in the living room, they don't need to see this!" The commanding tone of Iceland's was new but when he looed down at his feet he was surprise to see a tiny little puddle by the heel of his foot that was a deep rich red and he blinked slowly."Is...That's mine?" Norway got out dazedly when his brother wrapped his arms around his shoulders ushering him towards the stairs when another wave of pain crumbled throuhg him making him shout out again with the pain tugging tight at his vocal cords and the Icelandic Nation struggled to keep Norway on his feet. What was going on? What was happening? He could feel a chewing pain that was throbbing inside of him as the baby kicked frantically and he could feel the pants of his pajama's clinging to his thighs but what was happening? Was he miscarrying? Was that possible at seven months? His breath began to rasp in and out of his lungs as he was ushered down the stairs, rushed out the door with Iceland snagging the car keys on his way out and began escorting the Norwegian down the walk way when he blinked. "Where are my shoes? Why didn't you let me get my shoes on? Why didn't YOU get shoes on?""No time! Just come on, let's get you into the car and to the hospital. Don't worry, Jia will watch the boys and he's calling Denmark now I bet!" Iceland squeezed his shoulders as they made their way down the snowy walkway towards the drive way and the Norway cried out as another wave of pain ripped throuhg him feeling more like the baby was trying to claw their way out of him and he had to lean against the driver's side for a moment as the pain rippled throuhg him. It chewed, it ate, it devoured his nerve endings leaving him prickling with the pain that radiated from the top of his head down to his toes that were tingling themselves from the frigid cold but Iceland began tugging him around the car even when he cried out at each step that sizzled throuhg him. It was as if he were being stabbed in the stomach with each step he took, a punishment he hadn't been aware that he was being subjected too and he felt the tight hand on his shoulder and he gasped in a breath that came out in a billow of gray air. "Don't worry, Nor, I'll make sure you're okay! I'm sure they'll help you!""Just get me there! Get me there!" Norway ordered on a gasp as the car unlocked with a universal click and the passenger door was ripped open and through gritted teeth the Norwegian climbed into the car and he howled when the pain crescendoed in his stomach, almost as if it were a mockery of contractions only this was vicious and angry. Like an animal backed into a corner. It was ruthless and it tore throuhg the Norwegian as he slid his feet into place and the door was slammed shut behind him when he placed a hand on his stomach. The baby wasn't moving nearly as much as they had been moments ago and Norway felt a cold fear grip at his heart as it pounded in his chest but he looked over at his brother as he slid into place slamming the door behind him. He jammed the keys into the ignition and the Norwegian felt tears filling his eyes. "I'm losing them! I'm going to lose them aren't I?""No! Don't worry! I'm going to g et you there and you'll see that this is just some thing and that the baby is okay!" Iceland stuttered over his words as he threw the car into reverse and began reversing out of the driveway quicker than should be allowed but the Norwegian wanted to scream at him to go faster, faster but he held the screams back as the Icelandic Nation pulled out onto the street and hit the gas making the car lurch forward while the tires screamed against the road. Norway was struggling to take deep breathes as the pain throbbed from within him and continued eating outwards as though he were going to die from the pain alone and he felt his stomach clench tightly forcing him to roll the window down. He found himself vomiting out the window so violently that even he was surprised by the intensity of it. When he was able to slump back in the seat he felt his head spinning wildly as he looked up at the ceiling of the car wishing they could go faster. "Nor? Nor, are you okay?""We're dying!" He croaked out as the lights flashed past them in a streak of color and he groaned resting his hands on his stomach feeling a weave movement beneath them but it was obvious the baby was losing their strength as Norway groaned throwing his head back. Would they make it? Would it be too late? He had no clue but he had no real reasoning as to how his life had gone downhill so damn fast. One moment he was sitting in the rocking chair feeling the baby within kicking wildly underneath his hands as he fussed with the nursery around him and the next moment he was in a world of clawing pain that he wished would take one break in it's assault. He screamed when the pain racketed upwards like gasoline being squirted onto a fire and he reached down clawing at his belly as the baby within seemed to jerk within with the same alarm Norway felt and he threw himself backwards against the seat. "Hurry, hurry! Hurry, Emil! Please hurry!""We're almost there! I promise we're almost there!" Iceland shouted back over his brother's screams as he inched his foot on the gas pedal and the lights streaking by made little sense to Norway as he clutched at his handle above his head now and left one hand on his large belly and he groaned feeling his stomach twist with nausea. He knew there was little to bring up but as he sat there in the car he couldn't help fearing for his life, for his baby's life, and as he writhed in his seat he screamed loudly pounding his knuckles up against the roof of the car. Iceland turned his wide violet eyes to him for a brief moment before turning back to the road and Norway wondered how fast Denmark would get to the hospital, if he could just run out of work but Norway really did hope that his husband would make it. He hoped his baby would make it. He was scared by the movements and he was scared by the pain that was gnawing at him fiercely. He just had to make it there, just a little longer did he have to hold on. Just a little more and he'd be okay and the baby would be okay. Just a little bit longer.It was quiet in the hospital room. The machine next to him was beeping quietly, his eyes were riveted to the bag hanging by his side that was steadily dripping fluids into his veins and his eyes slowly moved downward to his arm where two IV's sat piercing the pale blue veins beneath. Iceland was curled up in the window seat in what appeared to be a deep sleep, the night having taken it's toll on him and Norway found his gaze leaving the bruising of his inner elbow to stare up at the ceiling above him. Where was Denmark? When Norway was brought in for surgery Iceland had called out that he would make sure that Denmark would be there by the time he got out but that had been an a handful of hours ago. Was Denmark at home? Norway wanted so badly to call home, to speak to the boys and assure them that all was fine now but he couldn't find his voice at the moment. It was as if the drugs they had given him paralyzed his very vocal cords or something to that effect for he couldn't find a single word that made him want to speak up. Was it the shock? Norway's gaze slid from the ceiling to his stomach. His swollen, empty stomach. What Norway hadn't realized when he stood out of that rocking chair was that he had been in a very delicate position when it came to his placenta; it would seem that while it hadn't torn before it was ready to tear from the womb wall all together and something about his movements had caused the placenta to rip away from the womb wall inside of him and the weak movements he'd felt had been his baby reacting to the sudden drop in oxygen. Norway wasn't given the chance to naturally birth the child for it was a matter of right that second to get that child out and so they did just that. They gave him a C-Section and he'd been allowed all of five seconds to see his son.He'd been small and screaming his heart out, his tufts of hair were plastered against his head with blood and his eyes were screwed up tightly as were the fists to his chest as he wriggled against Norway's chest but then the baby was whisked away for tests to be done on the infant to make sure that he was alright. Norway was, after all, at seven months pregnant. While there wasn't as many health problems as he was two months away from his due date there was something about knowing that his baby was marked as a premature infant made his heart ache fiercely for his tiny son. Norway felt the longing throb from his chest to the very tips of his fingers and toes causing them to curl slightly from the longing that hummed throuhg his veins; a reaction that he'd always felt with his sons from how tiny they'd been. But this baby was tinier. Delicate. Norway looked to the door willing Denmark to come swinging throuhg like he would if he were at home but the silence that dragged on hurt his heart more than if he had been left alone with the Danish man. He knew he should be sleeping, should have been under longer but some part of him was absolutely restless as he laid there in the bed like cut up and aching doll. He wanted to scream and rage for his husband but as he laid there staring at his swollen tummy he knew it would do very little to demand for his husband in that moment and he rationally knew that Denmark was without a doubt with their sons. There was a light rapping on the door which then creaked open revealing the nurse standing there with her scrubs in a rather interesting state of rumples and disarray but she smiled brilliantly when she noticed Norway gazing at her. It was if her very hope was that he'd be awake." , would you care for some visitors?" Visitors? It was nearly midnight! Just who the hell could be visiting?"Mama!" Abel squeezed past the nurse rushing into the room and threw himself onto the bed climbing up to sit on his legs, dull blue eyes wide and glistening with tears as he reached forward planting his hands on either side of Norway's hips and leaned his head forward until it pressed against his chest. "Oh, Mama! I'm so glad that you're okay! When you and Onkel Emil ran out of here I got really scared! Was it the baby? Is the baby going to show up?" Abel raised his head after Norway finished peppering it with kisses and the young boy then looked down at his swollen belly and then to his brother who was standing beside the bed also staring at his swollen stomach. "Mama, where is the baby now? Who does he look like?""Yes, Who does he look like?" Denmark perked up with a smile on his lips as he walked around the bed to sit next to the only free arm Norway had and too his hand pressing their forearms together as his thumb traced his knuckles. There was a great warmth that came with the casual touch and Norway sighed softly as Sven carefully too his mother's hand and Norway squeezed it gently. He enjoyed the warmth surrounding him, unaware of just how cold he felt and he lifted his gaze to his husband's beloved face and Denmark winked at the Norwegian playfully as he squeezed his fingers lightly. The warmth in those blue eyes truly warmed Norway's chest as he squeezed the hand back."How are you doing, min kære?""I'm fine." He replied before looking to the nurse in the doorway and before he could stop himself he was speaking again. "Could I possibly see the baby? Have they finished the tests on him?" His voice was high strung and worried but the Norwegian couldn't help it. The last time he'd seen his son his stomach was cut open and his baby was wailing the walls of the hospital down it seemed and that was the one and only memory he had to hold close to his heart in that moment. He wanted to hold his son, wanted to see just who it was that he looked like and he wanted to run his fingers throuhg his tuft of hair like he did with his other sons and he wanted more than anything for it to happen now. But at he watched the nurse disappear he looed to his husband again while Iceland continued snoring delicately by the window. "What took you so long to get here?""Well I didn't get the call until I went on break so by the time you were in surgery I was rushing home to make sure that the boys and Hong Kong were alright. Then the boys refused to go to bed no matter what I did so they're bound to be tired in the morning but they insisted on coming to see you tonight." Denmark then breathed out a sigh of relief as he squeezed Norway's hand tightly making the man blush in embarrassment as the thumb traced over the bumps and ridges of his knuckles. "I was able to take the boys to see their brother though. He-""Was really small!" Abel jumped in shouting the words rousing Iceland from his sleep but the boy threw his hands out then moved them into a cradle position as he rocked his arms and smiled brilliantly. "He's small, Mama! But he looks like you! He has this one tube goin' up to his nose which looked weird but Papa said that was to help the baby breath better and help give him a boost. Is that true, Mama?" The boy cocked his head to the side looking at his mother curiously and Norway blinked at this news when there was another quiet rap on the door and the nurse reappeared only this time she dragged a clear plastic bassinet with her and Abel squealed. "That's him! That's him, Mama!"The nurse smiled as Norway sat up straighter eagerly as he peered at the clear bassinet and even Iceland drifted closer to the bed with curiosity burning in his violet eyes and Norway fought to keep from bouncing in his seat when the nurse dipped her hands into the clear bassinet and lifted a wriggling bundle from the bassinet. There was a clear tube connecting to his face that Abel had questioned over and soon enough -finally, finally- the baby was placed into his arms. It was as good as coming home after a long day or a hot drink after being in the cold. Resting in his arms was by far the most perfect child he'd ever had the honor of seeing; he had a tuft of blonde hair sticking up fluffily like it had been washed recently and his large blue eyes looked up at him curiously. The tube was attached to his nose, stretched across his pink cheeks with delicate little strips of tape to keep it in place and unbelievable he did look like him. He had his nose, his ears, the shape of his eyes and unbelievable the arch of his eyebrows he possessed all looked like Norway and yet his coloring matched Denmark's to a T. It was true that when a mother held a child they'd been expecting that sometimes the magic of the moment made their child the most precious thing on the planet and that was something Norway himself had felt twice before but this time he knew it. He had the most perfect son alive and he was going to be just fine. He just knew it.
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Despite China's old age, despite his aching back, there was nothing he loved more than being able to play with the boys in a roughhousing manner. Oh, the times that Japan had walked into the living room to find China on his stomach with his arms being pinned behind him while one child sat on his back and another on his legs which wriggled beneath their weight. Or the times that he'd walk in to find two children balanced precariously on a single foot of China's making both boys laugh delightedly. How he would swing the now four-year-old Genji into his arms or how he would stop what he was doing to drag the seven-year-old Xiong into his arms for a tight hug as he ruffled his hair delightfully. China wasn't afraid to show his affection with the boys, was all too willing to stop whatever he was doing to hug or squeeze the boys in his arms tightly like he was afraid that they'd disappear at a moments notice. There was many things clear in life to Japan, a man who had seen so much in his long life, that he did believe that China loved their children so wildly that he often wondered if the children were aware of how much love was poured into them. Despite his affection that he poured on the children there was a clear disappointment from the seven-year-old and four-year-old for China was no longer as into the activities and was far more careful going into things of the such than he'd ever been before. They had decided that as soon as they were able to buy the tests and got a positive result that they'd tell the boys just what it was that they were up too. Just what it was that they were trying to accomplish. Japan had never been more tired than he truly was for China was constantly wanting to go,go,go at it with one another in an attempt to create a child that he had to wonder if it was truly worth the trouble.He loved his husband to death, had vowed to stay with him no matter what, and yet the sex was strangely tiring. Roleplaying spiced it up only so much when he knew he'd be the one topping China instead of the other way around. He would never say it out loud but he was tired of being the dominant partner and he was tired of having to be the one to do most of the work but he kept it in mind that it would be worth it once they got that positive answer. Japan had headed down the corner store for this very reason, leaving the boys in the care of their father, as he marched down the snowy street towards the c orner store and listened to the snow crunching beneath his shoes as he walked down the slick road. His breath billowed out around his face as he forced his thoughts to rest for just a moment as he patted his coat pocket just to make sure that the wallet was snuggly placed there and he found his heart racing quickly against his chest. There was hope pushing those beats, hope that this would possibly be it. He wanted a change in the bedroom and while he enjoyed spicing things up with roleplay he wanted nothing more than to be the one with his face pushed into the mattress as they attempted to be quiet. Japan had adored topping China in the beginning but after trying for two months with little results he couldn't help but wonder if it was China's side or his side that was causing such a stagnant response. Could he be infertile? Or China? He shivered to himself then as he adjusted his scarf around his throat as he paused outside the door of the store before pushing it open.He breathed a sigh of relief as he waled towards the health isle, grateful that he was alone in buying these, but he felt the cashier's watchful gaze burning into him as he reached for three pregnancy tests then waled to the refrigerators and pulled a quart of orange juice out. He was going to make sure China had more than enough urine for three tests and he was going to make sure that he hydrated himself thoroughly. He walked towards the front with his four items in hand, the boxes rattling against the smooth counter and the jug jiggling as he plopped it down and he was grateful that the cashier wasn't the type to strike up a conversation and rather scanned the items silently. He pulled his wallet out of his pocket pulling the money out and handing it over to the cashier after glancing at the little screens total. He accepted the change then grabbed his shopping bag and walked across the smooth floors with an apology in his mind for he knew that poor worker would have to wipe it up. He stepped back out into the January chill as he began climbing up the hill towards his home with a pep to his step this time that wasn't there on his way down and he coudln't help but wonder how China was going to react to three tests. He'd been sick recently, vomiting first thing in the morning so often that Japan had taken the small trashcan from the bathroom and placed it beside China who often needed it first thing in the morning or late at night. Of course the Chinese man had argued that it was a stomach bug but what bug lasted a week? If that was the case then he had to have the flu not a stomach bug. Japan's breath billowed out around his face once again in a cloud of silver gray, his lashes fluttering down in an attempt to block the bright painful sunlight playing off of the snow.He couldn't wait for winter to be over. While it had been welcomed and beautiful in the beginning now it was just a pain in the ass and a bothersome thing to deal with; especially with having to dress from foot to toe warmly before leaving the house. From what he heard the World Academy was located in one of the warmer states in America meaning winter didn't touch the state with it's cold clutches and Japan wasn't sure how he felt about it for his boys would grow accustomed to it wouldn't they? Japan hated to think about it and as he marched up the hill towards his home he found that he didn't want to think about next month with his boys missing. He didn't want to think about how quiet the house was going to be with the boys away at school and he didn't want to think about how they'd be the ones to take care of their pets and didn't want to think about how he'd miss seeing those big brown eyes staring up at him or how those golden brown eyes would glow with flashes of intuition. He especially didn't want to think about how much he was going to miss them. Japan paused in front of his front door with a light pant to his breathing as he pressed a hand against his chest where his heart fluttered wildly against his chest with either the exertion of walking up a slight hill or from the excitement of the moment he was unsure. He opened the door shutting it behind him only to find three people waiting for him. Bouncing on their toes, fists bobbing up and down excitedly, there was a single pair of wide brown eyes and two pairs of golden brown staring at him excitedly. Of course they'd be waiting for him to get home!"You two go and play. Okaasan had something to discuss with Baba in the bedroom so why don't you two draw some pictures to help Baba feel better?" Japan questioned tilting his head and while the four-year-old nodded before rushing off in a blur there was some hesitance from the seven-year-old before him making him smile softly at the boy and he began fidgeting to get his boots off of his feet then stepped forward ruffling his jaw length black hair. "Don't worry, it's nothing bad. I'm going to figure out Baba's sickness so he'll be able to play with you boys again. Draw him something nice and we'll be right back I promise." When Xiong finally nodded, twisting on his feet to rush in the direction his brother had gone in, Japan turned to China as he shrugged out of his coat. "You. Bedroom now.""Yes, sir -aru!" China got a sparkle of excitement in his golden brown eyes as he turned and, with the excitement of a child Genji's age, ran down the hallway for their bedroom while Japan fished out the wallet from his pocket placing it on the stand before him with the phone and answering machine, hung his coat up then walked in the direction China had just run for. He was too old to be running like a child but he felt excitement curling in his stomach tightly lie a fist reaching inside to scramble together his guts until it was unintelligible just what it was that he was feeling or where it started. He hadn't said it outloud to China but with the vomiting episodes, episodes that came harsher after he'd had something to eat, couple with the fatigue and the quick shift of emotions had him leading to one result and he was sure it would be a positive one. The bag rustled down by his legs as he walked down the hallway passing the living room where the boys were happily drawing did he smile to himself.His boys were absolutely precious! He walked on past the kitchen which was of course overflowing with dishes and he rushed in snagging a clean cup from the hutch before continuing onwards towards the back of the house where theri lounging room was and where Japan and China's room happened to be. He bit his lip as he stood before the closed bedroom door and he hoped to god that the wrong idea hadn't entered China's head but he had the feeling that the wrong idea definitely had. He'd just have to face the embarrassment and hope that China swallowed it better than he did. He slid his fingers into the groove of the doorhandle taking a deep breath before tugging the door open and slipping into the room keeping his back to it as he stared at the smooth wood of the sliding door for a moment or two before deciding to turn around. China was sprawled out on the bed with a simple nightgown that danced against his shifting knees and his hair was down around his shoulders falling in a dark brown river that made Japan swallow but ultimately look away as his face began growing red. "Y-Yao-san this isn't why I called you to the bedroom.""Oh it's not -aru?" China asked with a tilt to his head as his handrailed down his thigh towards the edge of his nightgown and began tugging it up slowly to reveal inch by inch the pale skin that Japan so adored making his face burn hotly. The sultry look on China's face faltered when Japan held up the bag holding the tests and orange juice but due to China's ignorance to what was in the bag the Japanese Nation wasn't surprised to see China try and regain his composure which faltered when he pulled the orange juice jug out and walked over to China taking the cup from it's position in the crook of his arm and placed it down pouring a cup of the orange juice. Confused golden brown eyes peered up at him curiously as the glass was plucked up and held out to him. "What is this for? What else is in the bag -aru?"Japan waited for China to take the glass before he grabbed the bottom of the bag and tilted it upside down allowing the three pregnancy tests to fall out of the bag onto the bed making those confused eyes widen with understanding before fluttering up to Japan."I'd like for you to drink as much orange juice as you possibly can then I want you to take these tests. Of course store bought aren't as reliable as the blood tests at the doctors office but we can always make an appointment for you to go to the doctors and get a blood test done." Japan paused then as he watched China eagerly gulp the orange juice down happily and he then smiled softly. "Your symptoms are somewhat hard to ignore and while I don't put much belief into these store bought tests there are time when they accurate and I figured we'd try the tests again. After all it's been a very long two months of trying for the both of us so how could it not have stuck at some point? So I just want you to try and do the tests.""Well I think I can do one for right now! You're lucky orange juice both moves quickly for me and that I had to pee already -aru!" China snatched one of the tests off of the bed and winked at Japan as he climbed off the bed allowing his nightgown to fall down to his knees once more as he all but skipped delightedly from the room leaving Japan crouching before the bed with an empty glass before him. He sighed as he heard the bathroom door slam shut and he was left to pluck the glass up off of the bed and put onto the floor as he considered the possibilities of the tests. There were three of them which meant there could be three different results or there could be three of the same results which meant that they could get either three negatives or three positives; it honestly felt like fate was playing with them. For so long have they been trying that Japan honestly wanted to g ive up.He wanted to call a quits on the whole trying situation but the sight of China coming to bed every night with a determined sparkle to his golden brown eyes was almost too painful to ruin and almost impossible to tell no too but there was only so long that a person could try. How long could the try before getting a positive? How long would they try and constantly throw those negative tests into the trash? Japan just wasn't sure how much longer they could go on like this and while he wanted to give his husband what he wanted the most of all he found that it was far more difficult than either one of them had ever experienced. Maybe he was giving in too soon? Maybe they were losing hope? Japan didn't know but as he pushed the tests to one side of the bed he flopped down on it grunting quietly to himself as he threw his arms above his head and stared up at the ceiling before him curiously. Would he be a fool to pray? His children prayed every night before they went to bed but that was only because they had once caught Japan doing the same and the Japanese Nation had no choice but to explain what it was that he had been doing. Now whenever something exciting or something they wanted popped up he would find them on their knees before their beds praying with all the ferent energy of a small child that was intent on hoping to get what they desired. Japan had been praying more often than usual for just one test, just one, to be positive but clearly his prayers were going unheard for each test they tried was going on negative time and time again. How many more negatives would they get before China decided to give up? How many times would they try only to find they couldn't conceive?Japan sighed softly to himself as he stared at the roof and before long there was a flurry of activity in the hallway and the door slammed open with a scream attached to the sound and there was China hopping around on his feet as he slammed the door behind him. On his face was a bright smile that sparkled into his golden brown eyes and flushed his cheeks to a rather charming pink but it was the joy that was the most breathtaking joy that he had ever seen in the past three months. "Oh, Kiku, look! Look -aru!" The Chinese man squealed as he thrusted the test towards Japan who cringed initially at the though of touching a stick his husband had just peed on but grabbed the safe side daintily between his fingers and glanced at the little screen. There was two bright pink lines. Two lines. "We're pregnant! Pregnant! We're going to have a baby -aru!"Japan was wordless as he stared at the test held between his fingers. Positive. "Ho-How is this possible? Months we've been trying and-" Japan's thick throat cut off the words as he stared at the test like it were a life jacket thrown to him when he hadn't even been aware he'd been drowning. It was like a flashlight beaming in the darkness of a room. China was pregnant? He quickly reached for the glass and poured another glass of orange juice for China then held it up to the dancing Nation with a look of determination on his face. "Drink more, I still want you to take these other two but I'll also call the doctor on Monday and we'll set up for a blood test and-" He was cut off by the glass being tugged from his fingers then placed on the floor and China rushing forward throwing his arms around his neck making Japan yelp. "Yao-san! You need to be more careful! If you're pregnant you shouldn't be moving like that!""Oh, Kiku! Xièxièxiè xiè! Fēicháng gǎnxiè -aru!" China cried out as the pregnancy test was thrown from Japan's fingers and the Chinese Nation then proceeded to plant little kisses along his cheeks, his nose and his forehead then down along his jawline causing the Japanese Nation's face to flush a deep pred. Then the most brilliantly shining, most breathtaking kiss that had ever been exchanged between the two was planted on Japan's lips causing him to hiss in a breath through his nose as his hands flew up to grip China's upper arms tightly and the Chinese Nation merely pressed his lips against Japan's. It was easy to dive into a kiss but this one had an eager burning desire within in along with a gratefulness that was shared between the two of them that the joy melted right into the kiss.Japan had always loved kissing the older Nation. He had always loved the moments that lead up to the kiss, the moments of tension that would radiate from one man to the other as they waited to see who would close the distance and thrust them into the kiss. This kiss he was sharing with China was filled with an unbridled joy that made his toes curl tightly and his fingers to grip fiercely at the upper arms of his as his very heart sang with the joy as he clung onto the Nation. There was his joy, China's joy and so much more as their lips moved eagerly against one anothers and it seemed just as the kiss was getting good with it's deepening warmth there was a flurry of knocks at the door. Both men broke from the kiss with sighs as the door slid open revealing Xiong and Genji with pieces of paper held in their hands and Xiong was the first to speak up. "We made you pictures to make you feel better, Baba!""Yeah! Just you wait, I drawed you a dragon -aru!" Genji chirruped joyfully with his paper held tight to his chest and his brown eyes then flicked over his parents curiously and his head tilted to the side. "Baba what are you doing to Māmā? Can we join? Are you playing -aru?" Japan used the grip on China's upper arms to push him away rather quickly as he used his blankets to hide the pregnancy test and Genji rushed over with the paper rustling against his shirt and he held it up to China. "Lookit Baba! Look at it -aru! It's super cool and I made sure to use all the blues to make it super pretty! Lookit -aru!""Shi, shi, I see! It looks positively amazing! We'll hang it up right on the wall -aru!" China moved away from Japan who was flushed and scowling at the older man who too the picture from Genji and held it to his heart in the similar way that the young boy had held it to his chest and Xiong waved his paper making China smile. "And I can't wait to see your picture too! But first there's something that Baba would like to ask you -aru." Both boys seemed to perk up as their wide eyes stared at China who looked at the scowling face of Japan's but there was forgiveness in those brown eyes of his and so China continued onwards. "How would the two of you feel if you had a younger sibling? A little brother or sister -aru?""I would love another baby brother!" Xiong cried as he thrusted his picture out to his father who took it and the boy then bounced on his feet spinning in a circle as his hair flew around his face wildly in response to his movements but he jumped on his toes as he then looked to Japan. "When are you going to have the baby, Okaasan? Is it going to be soon? Or a long time like with Mister Spain? Do you know what it is yet? Oh! But what about school? Me and Jiji are going away to the World Academy next month! What are you going to do when the baby comes? Will we have to miss it?"Japan sat up fixing his hair from it's mussed appearance and then smiled ath is son as he opened his arms allowing the seven-year-old to slip into them and rest his head on his chest. He then moved his fingers throuhg his locs of hair humming quietly for a moment as he pieced together his words before smiling. "Well Okaasan isn't the one carrying the baby. Baba is doing it for Okaasan so you have to draw lots of pictures for Baba while you're away at school! And when the baby is coming we'll send for you, I promise! We just have to be patient and wait for Baba to grow the baby and I promise I'll tell you whether it's a boy or girl as soon as we know." He then grinned at China who had sat down next to him with their four-year-old son in his arms and their pictures resting on the bed between them. "I wouldn't mind another son.""It'll be a girl! Just you wait -aru!""Mmm Okaasan thinks it'll be a boy!""You're humor is poor taste, Kiku -aru." China sniffed making the Japanese cackle as he squeezed Xiong to his chest and rubbed his cheek against his silky black locks of hair happily. He truly was going to miss these moments but as he held his son in his arms and gazed at his youngest son he found that there was indeed excitement for this new baby underneath the thought of saying goodbye to his sons. He knew that no matter how far away they went that they'd come running into his arms for years to come and even when they were grown they'd still come to his arms and he'd have a new baby to raise for the next five or so years before sending them away to the World Academy to get the best education possible and that thought made him smile. His small family would always come together and his boys would love them even when they eventually became old and gray.He kissed the top of Xiong's head once again and felt the chubby cheek of his rub against his chest joyfully and he clutched his son tighter to his chest as he nuzzled his head happily.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"I think we should go back home."The words broke the silence that had been hovering in the room as Iceland struggled to follow the instructions within a crochet book that his brother had thrown to him so he would have something to do now that he was back home. Iceland wasn't one to be close to his brother but he found that there was a strange camaraderie between them that hadn't been there before and he couldn't help but wonder if it had to do with the fact that Iceland had been the one that got him to the hospital that night. No, he KNEW it had something to do with that night and he knew that his brother was grateful for Iceland's help but there was an unspoken tension between the brothers that hadn't been there the night of the hospital visit. It was almost as if the house was swollen with the amount of people within in now that the baby was allowed to come home but Iceland had to admit that some part of him was scared. He didn't want to leave. He didn't want to go home. It was childish but he wanted to stay with his big brother who would help him through this pregnancy. A pregnancy that terrified him more than he ever admitted to Hong Kong aloud. He wanted to stay. Hong Kong wanted to go. Iceland too a deep breath as he considered his boyfriend's words and he rested a hand against his tiny bump wondering just what it would mean to be on his own with the Asian Nation in their home with no one to rub his bac when he vomited and no one to talk too about the annoying mood swings that were beginning to grip him rather fiercely. He felt like a child Sven's age what with his wanting to be with his brother. He looked up from his failed crochet project and sighed to himself as he rubbed his stomach idly as he looked at the Asian Nation who was staring down at his phone rather pensively."Do you really thin it's time to go?" Iceland questioned quietly as he looked at his boyfriend who was scrolling through Facebook no doubt but rather than ignoring the question the Asian Nation pushed himself to a sitting position out of the lounging one he'd been in moments ago and turned his attention to Iceland. The sight of those light brown eyes landing on him had him looking down self consciously as he felt a faint blush rise to his cheeks. Of course it was time to go. He knew it the moment Denmark and Norway had looked at one another when they brought their newest son home and he saw it in the way the children looked at their parents and he saw it in Hong Kong's eyes just then. He wanted so badly to stay, wanted to be near to his brother throuhg this pregnancy but was that selfish? There was a baby that needed his brother more than him and he was hogging his brother wasn't he? "I'm hogging Norway, aren't I? Is that why you think it's time to go?""I wouldn't say you're hogging your brother but he's been busy with this new baby of his and I know you want to be near your nephew but I really think it's time to go home." Hong Kong replied softly as he placed his phone down on the bed, sliding off of the squeaky thing and made his way over to the Icelandic Nation and he squatted down in front of the silver haired Nordic and reached up cupping his pink face. He stroked his thumbs across his cheekbones gently then reached up to brush his fingers throuhg the bangs that fell across his forehead and met those large violet eyes. "I miss home, don't you? Don't you miss making love to me? Miss the sense of our own independence?" THe questions sent a fire burning in Iceland's pale face and Hong Kong found his lips twitching at the corners. "How about we go to your place this time? That way you won't be terribly far from your brother and you'll still feel comfortable enough to call him whenever you feel that weird need to do so. Does that sound fair to you?""Of course it sounds fair, you make everything you say sound fair." Iceland mumbled as he looked down at his boyfriend before looking away feeling his cheeks burning rather unpleasantly and he then peeked at the Asian Nation as he took a deep breath. Was he being unfair somehow? Was there some little thing that he had missed that made the Asian Nation unhappy? Had he made him unhappy by asking to come here? He knew it was a lot to move to someplace where kids ran freely and children were born in scary manners but was it all the kids that put him off? Or was it the fact that they never had any alone time? Iceland DID miss making love with Hong Kong and this bed was too squeaky to even try and he did miss having a nice big bed to roll around in and posses his own space while still being in touching proximity of the other male. He sighed then tossed t he mangled project onto the table next to him and reached up touching the backs of Hong Kong's hands hesitantly before sliding his hands up pressing his palms against the backs of his hands, fingers covering Hong Kong's. "Alright. When would you want to leave?""Well, I was looking at flights and there's one for tonight at midnight so we'd have about an hour to pack our stuff up and get out there to the airport to get out tickets." Hong Kong suggested much to the surprise of Iceland and he tapped his fingers lightly against his boyfriend's cheeks. "It's a two hour flight from here to your place so it's not like it'd take long for us to get there and you'd be comfortable the whole time. I'll make sure a car is waiting for us to bring the both of us to your place lickety split. We'd have to get ready now though. That means some short goodbyes but if we're to get to our home then we should probably get going shouldn't we?" He paused as he looked at the expression in the Icelandic Nation's eyes and he sighed out softly as he stroked his thumbs against his cheekbones gently. "That is if you want to do it now. There's a flight for later in the morning around noontime if you'd rather go then.""Let's go at noontime. I'd rather be able to say my goodbyes to my brother and even Denmark alone with Sven, Abel and Nikolai." Iceland whispered then as he looked into his boyfriend's face for a moment and then smiled softly as he swallowed down a yawn. "You know that you'd feel better if you said goodbye that way too. You've gotten close to them whether you want to admit it or not." He yawned largely before he could stop it and he pulled Hong Kong's hands from his cheeks and forced the male to stand up with him as he then began pulling him towards the bed with a smile on his lips. "Now let's get some rest shall we? We'll have to get up early to make sure that everything is packed up and we make it to our flight in time. Let's get some sleep.""Whatever you say." The Asian Nation replied as he squeezed Iceland's, hands as he was pulled onto the bed and he squirmed beneath the blankets with Iceland by his side, their legs twisting up together instinctively. Hong Kong always loved crawling into bed with this boyfriend. Despite his rather frigid coloring and the way in which he reacted to certain things with the stiffness of one unused to it there was a warmth when he crawled into the bed with him. A warmth that was shared and blooming between the two of them as they cuddled together and the feel of Iceland tucking his head underneath his chin in an instinctive manner had the Asian Nation smiling softly to himself. He wrapped his arms around his waist hugging him tightly and pressing his lips briefly against those silver locks of hair. He truly would do anything to make sure his family was happy but he just couldn't wait to be one on one with Iceland again like old times."Do you really have to go Onkel Emil?" Iceland looked down to find Abel clutching a stuffed monkey to his chest as his boots crunched on the snow lightly when he shifted his weight and the sight of those dull blue eyes staring up at him sadly was about enough for him to call a quits. He wanted to stay, he really did and there was nothing he would love more than to stay. He wanted to continue going to Abel's skating lessons, he wanted to play rounds of chess with Sven and he loved being able to help his brother cook dinner. He strangely enjoyed the home life and he enjoyed his nephews enough that as he looked down into his nephew's forlorn expression he almost crumbled. Sven was clutching his brother's hand looking strangely as forlorn as his little brother and Denmark watched from the large living room window with the newest addition to their family in his arms and he waved at Iceland. He had a bright silly smile on his lips that reminded Iceland all too much of how Abel smiled so freely."Yes I do. I've stayed far too long but I'll visit once I have my baby, okay?" Iceland squatted down in front of Abel who had tears welling in those dull blue eyes of his and Iceland reached up rubbing at his lashes, smearing the liquid against his gloves and the five-year-old lurched forward throwing his arms around Iceland's neck then burying his face into his throat. It was a surprise that made him jump but his arms instinctively reached out to cradle the child and hug him back when Sven threw his own arms around Iceland as well. He wriggled an ar free then slipped it around his elder nephew and hugged the both of them tightly as he rested his chin on their shoulders. "I promise that as soon as this baby comes I'll be back to visit but until then we'll talk on the phone? Maybe I'll even visit you at your new school next month." He stood up releasing the boys when Norway approached the little group and he turned to his brother. "Thank you for letting me stay here so long.""No problem. We were far overdue for a visit." Norway's lips twitched as though they wanted to form a smile but he seemed to hold it back and then he let out a heavy breath that bloomed and wrapped around his head but his own dull blue eyes sparkled with a gratefulness that made Iceland's cheeks flush. "I will always appreciate what you did for me that night, Emil, and I won't forget easily the debt that I owe you for helping save your nephew." He then stepped forward and slid his arms around the Icelandic Nation hugging him fiercely making Iceland's lips move rapidly with unspoken words that failed to come to out as his face burned a brilliant red. It was easy to embarrass Iceland and with his brother being so sincere while his arms were around him had him positively flustered. When Norway released him there was a warmth in his chest that was making it so tempting to stay with his brother but as the trunk slammed behind him he flinched turning towards his boyfriend who was leaning against the car. "Don't worry too much about pregnancy cravings or the itching or the stretch marks. Just make it through the pregnancy and you'll have your baby in no time.""Thanks for the inspirational talk." Iceland replied sarcastically then looked to his boyfriend who made a little tapping motion against his wrist making him sigh but when he turned to his nephews and brother had held his arms out as his face burned. "Give me a hug. I'll see you guys again at some point. Maybe we'll spend Christmas together." THe two small boys threw their arms around his waist while Norway's arms slid around his chest to the middle of his back and Norway's cheek brushed against his shoulder as the three of them clutched the Icelandic Nation. When they parted Iceland began walking backwards before spinning on his feet rushing to the passenger side of the car tugging the door open and slipping inside.He could hear Hong Kong's voice as he spoke to Norway, said his goodbyes to the boys and then t he muted sound of his shoes scraping along the ground outside against the road and then the drivers side door opened up allowing the Asian Nation to slide into the car. He slammed the door behind him as he got his seat belt on, waited for Iceland to do the same, then jammed the keys into the ignition and twisted bringing the car to life with a rumbling roar. Iceland looked into the rearview mirror and he could see Norway picking up a sobbing Abel and it made his heart clench fiercely in his chest as the image grew smaller and smaller when Hong Kong spoke up. "We'll come back during the holidays to see the boys if that's what you're so quiet about. We'll visit your brother whenever you want but you know that we'll have to meet my brother so he can see the baby too.""Of course we'll visit China and Japan, I wouldn't keep the baby away from them for anything. They'll meet the baby once they're here." Iceland replied as he looked out the window at the world zooming past in a blur that made little sense to the Icelandic Nation as he gazed out. "We should probably talk baby names. Norway said that it's better to get that out of the way-""Sunneva.""What?"A smile curled over Hong Kong's lips as he stared out the windshield, keeping his eyes on the road when he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel in a little rhythm that made the Icelandic Nation's lips twitch but he fought the urge to smile. He stared at the Asian Nation as he hummed to himself for a moment before peeking at Iceland from the corner of his eye then turning back to the road. "Sunneva. If the baby's a girl then I choose the name Sunneva." He then thought for a moment then smiled wider as he turned his blinker on taking a right turn and speeding up. "If it's a boy I kind of like the name Kai. It's a good strong boy name and it would make for an interesting baby to be named Kai or Sunneva. Of course you can look up your own preference names and we can figure something out for the baby and make a list of names before we choose one final name.""Sounds fair." Iceland replied with a shrug as he then turned his attention to the window fighting the urge to smile widely as he then made a thoughtful sound before rolling his head against the headrest to stare at his boyfriend. "I like the name Sunneva. I don't think I have any girls names that I'd want besides that one because it really is a beautiful name." He paused as the car flew across the road bringing them closer and closer to the airport and he tapped the tips of his fingers together as if he were musing the names over and Hong Kong snickered at the Icelandic Nation. "Jón is also a good name for a boy. I rather like that name.""You really want to name our potential son that?" Hong Kong questioned playfully as he took a left turn with an amused look on his boyfriend's face and there was something about it that made Iceland snicker deviously as the airport loomed up the road from them and Iceland felt a strange clench of longing spear his chest. It was almost as if the thought of going to his Homeland there was a spark of excitement but at the same time he was strangely missing his nephews. Missing the hustle and bustle of his brother's house already but when he turned to look at Hong Kong there was a light of excitement to his face that made it glow so beautifully that it robbed the Icelandic Nation of breath. Hong Kong was beautiful, always had been, but the thought of going to a new place seemed to fill him with an absolute joy that it glowed on his face making his skin glow like backlit alabaster. "I don't know if I approach of that name for our son.""Only you would want a son named Kai. For all you know it's going to end up being a girl." Iceland replied playfully as they navigated their way through the rather large parking lot towards the front of the airport and Hong Kong laughed as he followed the line of cars towards. He leaned back in his seat, his hands dropping to the bottom of the steering wheel and turned his attention to Iceland with a smile on his looked down shyly before peeking up up at the Asian Nation who was smiling at him so beautifully that it once again robbed him of breath and he laughed breathlessly with him as they inched forward. "I think, just to spite you, I'm going to assume from here on out that it's going to be a girl."Hong Kong laughed again, throwing his head bac against the seat as his laughter shook the car lightly and those light brown eyes sparkled at Iceland causing his words to dissolve in his throat as those eyes warm his very chest as he stared into them. He looked away after a moment with a scalding blush on his face as he leaned against the car door and the Asian Nation then sighed as he rubbed his palms against his thighs as they inched forward yet again before stopping and the brunette then turned a blindingly bright smile onto the Icelandic Nation making his face burn fiercely as he finally looked down at his lap. "Well, I think it's going to be a boy but you can go right ahead and spite me by assuming it'll be a girl. Who knows, you might be right and then you'd make ME the fool, haha!""You could never be the fool. An idiot maybe but never a fool." Iceland replied then leaned towards his boyfriend pecking his cheek causing a pink blush to rise into Hong Kong's pale cheeks and his eyes widened at his display of affection and the Icelandic Nation looked away from that wide eyed look aimed his way to look out the window. It was easy for things to dissolve into a comfortable silence between the two and Iceland had to keep himself from peeking at the Asian Nation the way he usually did during these silences. He didn't want to be caught peeking but the urge to do so was so great that when he did peek at the male next to him he felt his cheeks flood with color once again when he caught those light brown eyes and he looked out the window hurriedly. So close to home and yet Iceland had never felt shyer around his boyfriend before. He could only hope that by the time they got to his home that this shyness would wear off. He hoped it would.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Three minutes was a long time. Three minutes can change everything. Italy sat on the toilet see staring down at the pregnancy test held tightly between his fingers as he waited for the little dancing dots to give way to his answer and he bit his lower lip fiercely as his heart sped against his chest. There was something strangely terrifying about this moment; something so unsettling that Italy found that he couldn't string together two coherent thoughts as he stared intently down at that little test in his hands as he waited for the word to pop up. Pregnant or not pregnant. Italy had spent the rest of January sick as a dog and spent the first two wees of February sicker than anything; Germany merely thought it was some kind of super flu mixed with a stomach bug but Italy had known after those final wees of January that it was more than some flu and it was much more serious than a stomach bug. There was a nagging in his mind that had followed him throuhg the rest of January and yet he had been terrified to try the test during those first few weeks but here he was, alone in this big house with a pregnancy test in his hand waiting for the results. Pregnant or not pregnant. Pregnant or not pregnant. Pregnant or- There was a light beep as the test finally registered but Italy's eyes were suddenly riveted upwards as he released his lip and took deep breathes that stuttered and cause his chest to tremble as he squeezed the test fiercely in his hand while he swallowed nervously. This was it. This was IT. He closed his eyes taking a deep breath then angling his head downwards so that the first thing he would see when he opened his eyes would be the pregnancy test in his hand. He slowly opened his eyes and his breath was robbed away from him. Pregnant.He was positive? Italy's hands quivered as he placed the test down struggling to get a breath into his lungs and the first sound that came out of him was some mix of a sob and barking laugh as he placed his hands on his knees and pressed a palm against his flat stomach. Pregnant, him? He knew he shouldn't put all of his hopes into one home pregnancy kit but if it was right, if it was accurate like others claimed it to be, then he was sure that he was pregnant. He'd go to the doctors and he'd get a blood test as soon as he possibly could. He stood up on trembling legs wishing, not for the first time, that he could run to the twins and tell them the news that they were to be big brothers finally but the empty house stood as a testament as to how alone he was. It was two weeks into the boys being at the World Academy and already Italy was missing their loudness, the way they'd come running into his and Germany's room looking to watch something on the TV and more than anything he missed their cherubic faces looking up at him. When they had brought the boys to the World Academy to drop them off Italy had been crying the whole time much like Wolfram had been doing. He cried on the airplane, he cried when they landed in America's lands, cried when he saw just adorable the boys were in their lilac blazers and pants, cried when they were brought to the little dorm room for the boys and he cried when he looked over their class schedule. He was a sobbing mess over how grown up the boys were and there was nothing to stop the tears in Italy when it came time to leave the boys and there was nothing he hated more than when he looked over his shoulder to find the twins waving from their dorm room wildly but tears that bloomed and fell in their eyes.It had been the hardest thing that Italy had ever done. He missed his babies and he wanted to pull them from the school but he knew many other Nations felt the same way and that he wasn't alone in his feeling but he envied America and England who could fly over whenever they wanted to see their children when they wanted. Italy placed his hands down on the counter, the trembling fingers fanning outwards as he lifted his gaze to look at his reflection. His wide brown eyes, the way his hair fell against his forehead and just how shaggy it had become, the stubble forming on his chin and the way that his body seemed to tremble lightly as if in the after effects of some life altering earthquake. Italy was clutching at the sink as he studied himself in the mirror, going over his face looking and scrutinizing his eyes for some sparkle of joy in them but all he got was a look of fear in his eyes the longer he stared into them. Of course he was scared. Last time he took a pregnancy test and announced it to his husband there had been a miscarriage weeks later. Was it alright for him to be afraid of this pregnancy? He wished his husband was home so he could talk to him about it but the man was off doing work in the study and had asked Italy not to bother him for a short while unless it was an emergency. Italy wasn't sure that pregnancy announcements were an emergency but there WAS one person that he could talk to about this. He pushed away from the counter, snagging the pregnancy test as he moved away from the sink and marched out of the bathroom looking then spotting his cellphone. He rushed over to it snatching it up then unlocking the screen as he pulled up his contacts quickly and began scrolling through the endless list of names flooding his screen until he landed on the one number that he had been looking for."Pick up, pick up, pick up!" Italy chanted in a whisper as he squeezed his phone tightly and the pregnancy test with the other was the phone rang and rang. It was about this point that Italy began wondering if his brother would even answer the phone and he felt his curl scrunching up with his distress as he whimpered to himself. Then, like some miracle, the sound of the phone being answered and plucked up sounded out and Italy cried out wordlessly for a moment in relief. He adjusted his phone then cleared his throat and spoke. "Fratello? Are you there? I really need to speak to you about something!""Oh! Hola little Feli! Lovi's downstairs but he told me to get his phone!" Spain's voice cheerfully responded to Italy's rather desperate one and while he loved talking to his brother-in-law he wanted nothing more than to talk to his brother. "I'll bring him his phone though! Just let me get up and I'll bring him the phone! He has me on bedrest you know. Being at six months isn't as comfortable as I thought it would be but it's fine! He and the doctor think the baby will come early if I don't stay off my feet." Italy felt a stabbing fear at the thought of dear Spain giving birth early, the thought that they could have a premature baby had his heart thumping unevenly against his chest as he bit at his bottom lip. His curl remained scrunched, his fear still squirmed and clawed at him but he remained patient as he listened to Spain quietly grunting to himself as he moved down the stairs no doubt and then the sound of Romano's voice shouting."Oi, bastard! You're supposed to be in bed resting! What are you doing on your feet?" Romano's voice barked but there was a soft murmur of Spain's voice rising and then the sound of the phone being handed over to his brother muffled the sound of the call and Italy released his lower lip as he sat on the bed staring down at the pregnancy test in his hand. What would his brother think about his pregnancy? Would he think it too soon? Would he think it inappropriate somehow? Italy took a calming breath, trying to sooth his stomach as he struggled to breath around the tightness in his chest when the phone made it's muffled sound once again and Romano was suddenly there speaking in his ear. "What do you want, Veni? I'm trying to get lunch done for me and Toni. Is there something wrong? Did that potato bastard do something to you?""No! No, nothing like that!" Italy yelped then took a deep breath, the tightness in his chest refusing to abate and he focused his eyes on the positive pregnancy test as he answered his brother."No, Luddy would never do anything to me that I wouldn't ask for. This is about something all together, fratello. I'm, er, how do I put this?" Italy found himself strangely lacking in the word department but as he placed the pregnancy test down on the bedside table Italy felt his stomach growl with hunger as he picked at his bottom lip for a moment before closing his eyes for a brief moment. "I'm pregnant. I don't know what to do. I'm keeping the baby obviously but I'm...I'm scared. What if what happened last time happens this time too? What if I lose the baby again? I don't know how to feel but I know if I can get past this fear that I'll be happy but I'm just so scared, fratello."There was a sigh on Romano's end and the line crackled lightly with the rush of air. "I should've known. When that potato bastard told me that you've been sick before and after the twins left I should have realized something more was going on with you." He paused and seemed to shift something around on his side of the phone before speaking again. "It'll be alright, Veni. I know that after what happened last time that some part of you might be hesitant but you gotta remember something important. This is YOUR baby, yours and the potato bastard's and you love him more than anything right? Well all you have to do is just make it throuhg the next nine months and think about the end goal because if all you do is let this fear control you then you'll regret having not enjoyed the discovery of it. You can't let one miscarriage rule your whole life.""I'm not! I'm just worried!" Italy cried out as the creak of Romano's oven door shrieked over the line and Italy began to lightly pick at his pajama pants as he scooted bacwards on the bed and crossed his legs and scrunching them closer to his body as he bit his lip once again. Was he really doing that? Letting one miscarriage dictate his joy over a pregnancy? Letting it rule his life?"Fratello, do you miss Cristiano?" His plucking came faster as he considered his brother's answer for he finally had someone to talk too that would see the silliness in his behaviors and perhaps even the unreasonability in him. "Because I miss the twins. It's been two weeks and I've never missed the boys more than I do right now. It feels like it's going to be a long time until summer time and I know they're only going to be away for four months I still miss them.""Of course I miss my kid! What kind of parent would I be if I didn't miss him? It's easier to deal with because they'll be back in their homes in four months time so I don't miss him as deeply as I should but it's only because I know he's going to be home soon." Romano replied as the shuffling from his side of the phone rang out and there was a mumbled question from behind him that Italys strained his ears to hear and all of a sudden the line was muted again along with his brother's voice as he spoe to Spain. Italy had never been nosey but he wished that his brother hadn't blocked the speaker just so he could know what they were speaking about. Was it about him? About their son? About the twins? About Germany? Or about Italy's fear for his pregnancy? The line was cleared once more and Romano's sigh rang out. "Look, Veni, you need to talk to the potato bastard.""Why?""Because he's your damn husband!" Romano shouted into the line making Italy flinch at the sudden loudness and then he heard Romano take a deep breath. "If you want someone to support you too then you need to tell that blonde idiot. He's the father of the baby and he deserves to know about it! If you don't tell him and he notices you getting bigger then he's going to be upset with you, you know that. So why don't you go and tell him what's going on." Romano then sighed and Italy could hear the sharp impact of Romano's hand hitting the counter and the fingers tapping his nails against the pristine surface. "Go talk to your potato bastard. Talk to your husband. There's only so much support I can give you as your brother but I'm happy for you, Veni. I know that you've been wanting a baby for a long time but don't let one bad thing ruin this for you. Okay? Now I really have to go, Spain is complaining about his stomach hurting and I need to help him get comfortable upstairs. I'll talk to you later. Ciao."His brother hadn't even waited for him to reply but rather hung up quick in order to help his pregnant husband and while Italy didn't fault him for that for if Germany was the pregnant one and they were talking to Romano he'd hang up just as fast. He slid his phone onto the bedside table then looked down at the pregnancy test held tightly in his hand and he pushed himself to his feet feeling a quiver roll through his legs as he rushed around the bed towards the bedroom door and he knew that Germany wouldn't be pleased to be interrupted but Romano was right. He needed to tell his husband. He needed to tell him right now. He needed those strong arms around his waist and his voice at his ear promising that everything would be alright and he needed to wrap his arms around that firm nec of his and hang on to the German until the shock faded away. He pulled open the bedroom door hesitantly before slipping out of the bedroom and rushing for the steps that would lead him up to the room that was essentially Germany's office floor and Italy felt his stomach clench tightly as he thought of interrupting. Germany was anal about getting his work done but would the man be pleased to hear they were having another child or would he be upset? Would he be angry? Worried? Joyful? Italy had no clue but as he walked up the stairs with his legs quivering as he climbed upwards and popped onto the third floor of the house and began walking towards the office door. It was a rich wood that was thick with the wood being made of cherry and was just as glossy as it's namesake. Italy raised his hand upwards and knocked.It was quiet for a moment btu then the sound of papers rustling had him perking up and then there came a cough. "Ja? Vhat is it?" Germany called out making Italy push open the door stepping into his husband's study. It was a rather impressive with the room wall to wall filled with bookcases and a fireplace placed right behind the large desk, an intimidation sort of thing to give Germany a scarier hue or even throwing him into a light that was rarely seen. Italy had convinced Germany to make love to him countless times in front of that cherished fire place and it remained a special spot for them to this day. Those blue eyes lit up when they landed on Italy despite his previously gruff tone and he stood up pulling his reading glasses off of his nose and placing them on the desk while Italy walked forward with the pregnancy tucked securely into his palm. "Did something happen? If you're lonely I just vant you to know that I'm almost done vith the papervork so ve'll-"Italy took a deep breath moving his hand forward in a whip quick movement and dropped the test onto the table where it clattered much like a pen would against the papers and Germany's eyes flickered downwards to the test. Italy couldn't breath. Couldn't think. He watched as Germany plucked up the test up, holding it between his fingers hesitantly but his eyes were riveted to the little screen that still declared the obvious at that moment but Italy just coudln't breathe. When those warm, cherished eyes lifted Italy felt his air rush out of him like a balloon deflating and he laughed weakly feeling tears beginning to sting in his eyes. How quickly they welled as he pressed his finger tips to the smooth surface of the desk and juggled his hand nervously as he laughed again but those tears began blooming in his eyes embarrassingly fast. "I'm pregnant.""Alright." Germany nodded slowly then those blue eyes narrowed in on Italy's face like he was trying to spot something and he waled around the desk to place his hand on top of Italy's jiggling one and squeezed the hand gently. It was just the thing that Italy had wanted and as he tipped his face into his hand while closing his eyes when he nuzzled that loving palm. The scent of paper and ink clung to the palm of his hand and his fingers but as that thumb traced his cheek bone it was as if Italy was getting exactly what he had been looking for in his brother. Comfort. He reached up touching the back of Germany's hand before covering it with his own as he sighed softly and the German leaned in placing a kiss on his forehead when he whispered out three little words that made Italy's eyes pop open."But you're scared."He looked up at his husband with wide incredulous eyes and found himself blushing with the embarrassment that rolled on through him and he dropped his gaze down to his feet as he considered those three words before coming up with what he thought was the best response. "Of course I'm scared, Luddy. Why wouldn't I be? It was three months ago that I lost our baby so of course I'm scared about this new pregnancy." He hesitated then lifted his gaze up finding Germany's leveled on him with nothing but understanding shining through the man's face and eyes. "I want this pregnancy to stick.I want to be as happy as Big Brother Spain is! But I just can't help being afraid that something bad might happen.""I'm scared too." Germany's confession ahd the Italian's eyes widening and the blonde smiled crookedly for a moment. "Ja, me. I'm scared. I don't vant you to regret this pregnancy und I don't want you to be upset during it but rather I'd love to see you happy during this pregnancy. All I van't is for you to be happy, liebling. I vant you to be joyful, happy und delighted that you're pregnant. I don't vant you to be scared." He paused then stroked Italy's cheek rather lovingly making the Italian's toes curl against the carpet as he swayed forward and Germany then leaned in kissing the tip of his nose making him smile up at him softly while that crooked smile remained on the German's lips he rubbed his palm lightly against his cheek. "Ve can be scared together but I vant you to know that this really is one of the most vunderbar news I could have received.""I-" The ringing of the phone cut off Italy's voice making both of them turn towards the shrill device and Germany's warm hand dropped away from his face leaving him feeling chilled. He crossed his arms across his chest as the blonde walked around his desk with all the professionalism as a man on a hunt and Italy raised his brows when the German plucked up the phone. He said a few words in German, paused, then sounded quite tired as he continued speaking when his eyes flew open wide and his brows flew up his forehead as he continued speaking. Italy rocked back and forth on his heels while tapping his fingers against his upper arm while Germany spoke and when he finally hung up the phone Italy tilted his head to the side looing at his shocked brother. "What's the matter? Is it bad news? What's happened? Are the boys okay?""Nein, it's not the boys it vas my bruder." Germany sat down in the chair heavily when Italy uncrossed his arms and walked around the desk to his husband's side and weaved his fingers throuhg Germany's and clutched his hand fiercely making the man looking up at his husband as he sighed. "Mein bruder is an idiot. He's not only staying in a hotel but he's also pregnant und he's upset about it because he und Austria are fighting right now." He rubbed at his temple letting out another breath as he looked up at Italy with a smile on his lips. "Looks like you und bruder are going to be due around the same time at least. Maybe the cousins vill grow up close to vun another.""Maybe but poor Prussia! I wonder what he did to make Mister Austria kick him out. It must have been bad." Italy reached up smoothing his free hand across Germany's hair and the stiff locks pressed against his palm and fingers fiercely. Italy did feel sorry for Prussia; he had no clue what he would do if Germany kicked him out but in reality he knew it was never an option. Italy was far too precious for the German to kick out of his home. "Do you think maybe we should invite Prussia over here to stay with us? Or should we let them work it out? Because I know Mister Austria and he can be quite stubborn! I don't want Prussia to feel alone seeing as he's never been pregnant before."Germany sighed as he brought their hands up to press the back of Italy's hand against his cheek and stroked the back of it against his cheek rather affectionately when he looked up at Italy. The sight of those blue eyes flickering in the lighting above them had Italy blushing at the sight but smiling for the blue of his eyes were warmer than anything he had ever seen. Warmer than the blue sky. "Nein. My bruder needs to vork things out vith Austria und if he comes running here there's the chance that he stays here und I doubt he vants to be so far avay from Fritz. Now that the girls are at the academy perhaps it's better they odn't have to see their parents fighting like this so vhatever is going on vith them should resolve itself between the two of them. Not me or you being dragged into it." He then sighed once more and leaned bac in his chair patting his lap allowing the Italian to squeal as he jumped into his lap and cuddled up to the German who wrapped his arms around Italy. "Besides ve have more important things to vorry about. Like us having a baby.""We're going to have a baby." Italy whispered feeling a small spark of joy radiate through his chest as he pressed his forehead against the side of his neck as he tightened his arms around his shoulders and he smiled delightfully to himself as he felt the back of Germany's hand press and rub against his flat belly. There was something delightful, even a touch heart warming that made Italy snuggle into his husband's strong arms and there was magic to the words he had spoken just moments ago. THey were going to have a baby. Italy felt his heart flutter both happily and anxiously at the words but he knew that tragedy could not befall him a second time. It just couldn't. He would keep his mind positive and he would keep his heart clear. He was going to have a baby! A baby changed many things and a baby was just what he wanted after all this time. A little girl, maybe, who would take after her father as surely as her elder brother did. Italy felt warmth shoot throuhg his veins at the thought of a perfect little daughter with the coloring and features of her father. A perfect addition to the family and one that filled Italy with warmth as he clutched himself to the equally delighted German. He just had to believe he would make it the nine months. He just had to make it. He just had too.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Prussia was pregnant. There was no way around it and there was no ignoring it for when he tried too he found himself vomiting so violently the muscles in his bac would quiver and jump at the slightest pressure to his stomach or even when he attempted to eat. To drink. Nothing he put into his body would stay down and he knew half of it was from the gut wrenching sobbing he divulged into at night when he felt the urge to do so and while it wasn't the smartest thing to do some nights he just couldn't help it. Austria still hadn't forgiven him. It had two whole months since he'd been kicked out of the house and already he was sporting the tiniest baby bump he'd ever seen in his life but Austria didn't believe it. He thought that Prussia was lying to come bac home, had regarded it as merely another ploy for Prussia to enter the house once more and that was why they had a meeting scheduled at the big house for Austria to SEE the three month bump for himself. He hated that he had to schedule a meeting between himself and Austria but he new that what he had done had hurt the Austrian to his core and he knew it had betrayed everything Prussia had ever said to him. He knew what a slap in the face it was for Prussia to sleep with Hungary and yet he went ahead and done it. Prussia let out a slow breath as he shrugged his coat on and zipped it up as he wrapped a scarf around his throat and with his hotel keys in his pocket he stepped outside into the lobby. He began walking with a purpose, waving at the check-in man and woman at the des then shoved his way out the front door into the swirling cold. The snowflakes bit at his face as he stepped out and down the front steps carefully then down the walkway where the car was waiting for him.He pulled his car keys from his pocket, fingering them for a moment before walking up to his silver car unlocking the drivers side and slipping into the car settling comfortably then slammed the door shut cutting off the swirling snowflakes. Damn, he couldn't WAIT for winter to be over with. He jammed the keys into the ignition and put the car into reverse, twisting in his seat in order to back out of the parking spot and he put the car into drive once he was out of the spot and began driving throuhg the parking lot with the swirling snow attacking his windshield and he let out a long breath. He wished Austria would just take his word for it but to be honest he knew he didn't deserve that. Not after he lied to him like that. He pulled onto the street and found himself driving in the direction of the house instinctively, an eagerness fluttering throuhg him as he considered seeing that lovely face once again for the first time in three months. When Prussia saw the girls off to the Academy it had been alone for Austria refused to be in the same place as the albino so he'd sat in his car rather than stand outside with the girls and ocne Prussia said his goodbyes the brunette had hopped out of his car and ushered them into the Academy's walls. It had been the one time he'd seen the brunette in those long three months but now he was getting to see him again. Perhaps that's why he was so eager to get there. Prussia tapped his fingers against the steering wheel as he took a deep calming breath and let it out slowly in the silence of the car as he squeezed the steering wheel looking out at the other cars surrounding him as he drove down the street.France had said that he needed to make up with Austria, that he needed to apologize and do a lot of making up with the Austrian Nation. Spain had said that if he valued the man at all, that if he was really as in love as he said he was, then he needed to prove it to the Austrian Nation. But the most important thing was that he needed to admit that what he'd done was wrong. He never told them what it was that he'd done but they had both agreed that he needed to admit his wrong doing and he needed to be humble about it when speaking his apologies. For some reason it made Prussia snort as his stomach squeeze lightly as he drove and he groaned under his breath at the thought of having to pull over which made him wonder if he could possibly hold it back until he got to Austria's. He ignored his twisting stomach to instead favor the usual trees and cars on the roads as he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel as he considered the distance between himself and the house. Not much longer now. Prussia considered turning the radio on but he fought the urge to do so for he wasn't in the mood to listen to love ballads or heartbreak songs at that moment. It was the last thing that he wanted to do and as he drove he found himself wishing Austria lived closer to the hotel as he too a left onto the street noting he was just two streets away now. Two streets. That was all he had to wait for. He yawned to himself as he drove and he wished abruptly that he had slept a touch longer last night but he'd been positively restless and unable to fall asleep from his getting up and down all night long whether it was for puking his guts up or needing to take a leak.He'd been up and down so much that after midnight he had given up on sleep that he decided to scroll on Facebook for a while and found his heart clenching when he had seen a picture of the now nine-month-old Fritz. He was sitting up and babbling already and Prussia was missing it. That's why he appealed to Austria's good side and asked to meet with him to show him valid proof of his pregnancy. He missed Austria, he missed Fritz and he missed his home. He toon another left turn fighting the tears that prickled at the back of his eyes as if threatening to well up or spill down his pale cheeks. He wanted nothing more than to sweep his lover into his arms and yet at the same time he was willing to throw himself down to Austria's feet if it meant being forgiven for his indescribable actions against him. He inched his foot on the pedal in order to go faster down the road as he rubbed his eye with his left hand and finally too the turn onto Austria's street. He clenched the steering wheel tightly in his hands as he pulled up along the street in front of Austria's house. A large home with three floors with three bathrooms and two bedrooms on each floor it was a rather suitable home for the Austrian who adored the house better than his much larger one in the capitol, Vienna. Prussia could see someone fussing with the curtains as if peering out onto the street and he felt his heart clench in his chest as he considered another falling out with Austria. He forced himself to unbuckle his seatbelt and forced himself to push open the door after pulling the keys from the ignition and slid out of the car slamming the door shut behind him. He walked around the car towards the front gate pushing it open and shutting it behind him with a rather loud clanging that echoed off of the snow with a shrill piercing grating sound and he began his walk u pthe front walkway.He felt lie he was waling to his prison hearing. An execution. It was only as he was going up the walkway that he noticed the green car sitting next to the dark van in the driveway did he puff up as he banged his fist against the door once he reached it with a force he didn't know he had. There was a few moments before anyone opened the door but when it opened Prussia was stunnedi nto silence. Austria was all that filled his mind. Filled his gaze. Oh how tired he looed, his normally neat hair was messier than normal and there were dark circles underneath his beautiful violet eyes and his lips looed as though he had been ripping the skin off and his hand seemed to tremble lightly on the doorhandle. Austria looked like hell. "Vell come in then. Show me your evidence."Prussia stepped over the threshold with his hands in his pockets in order to keep his hands warm but in doing so he grabbed the ultra sound he had folded up there and turned towards Austria holding the paper out to him. Austria glanced at it curiously but took the ultrasound from Prussia with a small gasp on his lips when opened it and tears strangely filled those violet eyes as they flicered up to Prussia who shrugged listlessly. "I told the truth. I've been known to do that sometimes and this time is no different. I vould never lie about carrying your baby, Roddy. Never. A baby isn't something you lie about." He then tapped the toe of his boot against the carpet then looked at Austria. "So does this mean I come home?""You have something else to answer for before we even think of letting you stay here." Austria replied slipping his fingers under his glasses to rub at his eyes and he tucked the ultrasound into his pocket with a tenderness that hadn't been there before and Prussia felt a flicker of hope in his chest. He then heard the sound of boots thumping against the floor, coming from the living room to be specific and he looked up only to feel his face pale. Hungary. He hadn't seen the woman in three months since their last encounter but the brunette woman stood there rocking bac on her heels as she looked at both men hesitantly. Austria brushed past Prussia to place his hand on Hungary's shoulder and his eyes met hers in an unspoken moment of solidarity then looked to Prussia. "Go on, Elizaveta. Tell him. Tell him vhat you just told me."Hungary looked awkward for a moment before she even considered speaking but the longer she stood there looking at Prussia the longer Austria's lips would press tightly together and the longer it would take for the truth to be spoken. Prussia raised his silver brows at the woman who hesitated once again before clearing her throat. "You're not the only one who's pregnant." She reached into her pocket and tugged out what looked to be an ultrasound identical to Prussia's and his face felt cold. His lashes fluttered in a fast blink as he looked at the ultrasound and then up at Hungary who was shuffling her feet causing her heels to click against the floor. "I'm pregnant with your baby, Prussia.""That's not mine." THree words ripped themselves out of Prussia's throat as a pair of wide green and wide violet landed on him but he pointed to the ultrasound then to her seemingly flat stomach and he could see the tremble to his hand. "That is not my baby. For all I know you fucked someone else. I'm not the only one you've fucked around vith, am I?" Prussia took a step backwards like the reality Hungary had presented him was too much to bear and he squeezed his hands into fists that dropped to his sides as he looked down at the floor. "It's not mine. Ve used protection und the condom didn't rip I know that it didn't. That's not my baby. It's sick that you're trying to pin that on me when you know I'm trying to get Roddy to forgive me. You're a bitch, a meddling selfish bitch vho vants to keep Roddy all to yourself! Vell it must suck for you because I'M carryin' his baby und ve're going to vork this out! Pinning a baby on me changes nothing about how he feels for you!""Eliza, is it possible that you slept vith someone else?" Austria asked quietly but Hungary's wide green eyes flickered to him looking taken aback by everything the Prussian had just spewed out and she began shaking her head quickly causing her hair to sway against her bac and around her face delicately. Prussia's eyes narrowed at her response but Austria pressed his hand to her shoulder before those eyes could well with tears and he turned looking at Prussia. He looked like hell. Paler than normal, dar circles underneath his eyes and his hair had clearly been going unwashed at his hotel room and his frumpy clothes were one set of clothes he left with that night three months ago. Prussia looked like he couldn't, wouldn't, last much longer. "Gilbert, there's one stipulation that you must abide by if you're to come home." He paused then took a deep breath facing Prussia. "If this child turns out to be yours you must acknowledge them. The baby.""Fuck." Prussia hissed the word but rubbed at his eyes with the heels of his hands as he considered his lover's words and knew that deep down he truly wanted nothing more than to come home, wanted to be with the baby and with Austria again but this? This meant something far more serious than it seemed. Prussia KNEW that it couldn't be his baby but standing there with determination in her eyes you'd think that she knew exactly who her baby's father was. Prussia dropped his hands from his face causing them to swing by his side and he looed tiredly from Hungary to Austria when he made his decision. "Fine. IF the baby turns out to be mine, which I highly doubt it will be, then I'll accept them. I'll acknowledge them. Everyone happy? Good. I got a baby to see."He walked forward scooting around Austria and Hungary who turned to follow his movements but when a cry rang out the Prussian jogged into the room to find tears rolling down Fritz's chubby cheeks as he squirmed in his bouncer. When those ruby eyes landed on him the nine-month-old screamed out throwing his hands up to be plucked up by the Prussian who rushed over unbuckling the baby and tugging him into his arms. He hugged that baby fiercely to his shoulder as he nuzzled the child and the wet chubby cheek against his own felt more like a dream than ever before as he nuzzled his cheek to the baby's and Fritz took a deep breath then seemed to calm down as the air rushed and he pulled back just enough to look into his son's face. Tiny chubby hands reached up touching his cheeks, grabbed his nose and pinched the corner of his lips causing him to smile at the baby who squealed at the sight of the smile on Prussia's face. The two of them gaze at one another as though they were meeting for the first time. Gazing at one another with so much affection that even Austria felt his throat close at as he watched the two interact with one another as Prussia tugged at Fritz's cheek making the baby giggle ecstatically as he reached for Prussia's face once again. If there was anyone who suffered the most during this reprieve between Prussia and Austria then it was their son. Oh, the countless nights that Austria had spent walking from floor to floor with a screaming infant in his arms who had seemed so unhappy with just Austria that into the second month he was ready to beg for Prussia to come home. But the sight of those wide ruby eyes sparling with delight had Austria breathing a sigh of relief as he watched his son with his father playing with the different features on Prussia's face lie it were one giant game pad."He missed you, you know." Austria spoke quietly as he wrapped his arms around himself as he watched Fritz's chubby hands feel around Prussia's pale face and giggling happily as his eyes sparkled in a way they hadn't since Prussia had left. He knew how much his son adored his father and yet he had still kicked Prussia out of the was no one Fritz adored more than his father and while he often time enjoyed cuddling with Austria there was just something special between the albino and the baby that just wasn't there for Austria. "He vouldn't eat, he vouldn't sleep. Nothing I did vould vork for him und he just remained unhappy. I-I think everyone's suffered haven't they?" He paused looking at his lover for a moment before looking down at his hands. "If you vant to come home all of your things are untouched but you vill stay in the guest room. Vould that vork for you?""Of course if vould." Prussia replied as he finally tore his eyes from his son to Austria who appeared rather tired in that moment and Prussia kissed his son's chubby cheek making him squeal deafeningly loud as he grabbed Prussia's face. "You can get some sleep, Roddy. I think I can manage looking after one kid while you catch up on some sleep because, no offense, you look like shit." He then turned his gaze to Hungary who had her hands pressed against her stomach and he sighed through his nose rather irritably. "As for you, Hungary, you come back only vhen you had evidence that the kid is even mine. If I have to take a paternity test then fine but I'm saying right here and now that that kid isn't mine. Until you've got some evidence on the matter I'll stand by my convictions. I von't have you screwing up something between me and Roddy.""I'm not trying to screw up anything! If anyone's screwed up something it vas you!" The Hungarian finally snapped at Prussia, the albino's eyes turning into dangerous red slits like a cat ready to pounce on their prey and Hungary's face screamed with her anger has her hands pressed firmly against her stomach. "This baby is yours and I'll prove it! You're the only one I slept vith in the past three months! The only one! Just like you know your baby is Roderich's I know that mine is yours! I vish it vasn't so but goddammit grow the hell up! Take responsibility for the first time in your life! You've raised two children but still act like a child yourself! I know that sleeping vith me fucked everything up but you have got to grow up!""Elizaveta-""No! You know I'm right! He needs to grow up and face vhat he did!" Hungary held up her hand as if she could physically stop Austria from speaking and her brilliant green eyes scowled at Prussia fiercely. Like sparks. "You got me knocked up! This is your kid, your fault and you're being childish over it! Face up to vhat you did and we can all move on and deal with this somehow! I get that I'm not Roderich! I get that I'm jsut some silly woman from your past but goddammit don't I deserve some respect? Just because I'm not beautiful like Roderich or you're not in love with me doesn't mean that this isn't your kid! I want to hear you say that you'll support them once they're here! That you'll try to be a decent father! That you'll take care of them the way that you take care of Astrid or Amelia or even Fritz!""Alright! Chill your shit, voman! I literally just said that if the kid is mine I'll support them! Vhat more do you want from me?" Prussia demanded as he looked at Hungary then cast a nervous look at Fritz who whimpered softly to himself at the raised tone of his father and he took a deep breath then faced Hungary again. "Fine. I'll take care of the kid but I'm not promising all of my love und care to one child vhen I have vun baby und another vun on the vay! So let me bond vith my son in peace!" Hungary spun on her heel causing her hair to fly around her face as she marched for the front door with Austria sending one glare to Prussia before following after the brunette and Prussia plopped down on the couch with Fritz on his lap. "Jeez, kid. Never do vhat Vati has done. Vati is an absolute idiot."Fritz squealed flailing his chubby arms with and Prussia found himself laughing at the reaction. Of course his son didn't understand yet and he wondered if he son would even understand when he was older but there was time to figure out just what he'd say to his son if they ended up having a half sister or brother. In fact, he'd have to talk to the girls as well for they would surely be angry to be lefto ut of the loop about not only a possible half sibling from Hungary but a new sibling on the way. Prussia reached his hand up sliding his fingers throuhg his son's silky chestnut brown locks of hair and then moved his hand down to cup his chubby cheek allowing the child to nuzzle his palm. He loved his son more than anything and he loved his girls in the same way but would he be able to love a child from Hungary like that? Would it be possible? Prussia didn't know but what he did know was that he would try. If the child ended up being his he would definitely try to be a good parent like he was to his other children but it would be a touch harder as the animosity between himself and Hungary seemed to swell to dangerous proportions lately. It was mostly on Prussia's end as the woman still came round and visited with Austria but now that she was pregnant it was like throwing a wrench into Prussia's plans to make things up with Austria. And he knew that in months time it would be impossible to hide his pregnancy and he knew that it would also be impossible for Hungary to hide as well. And he felt his cheeks burn knowing that when the time came that anyone that knew what happened between himself and Hungary would piece together the possibilities. He would embarrass Austria. And it was his fault. He clutched Fritz to his chest and buried his face in his tuft of chestnut brown hair feeling tears well in his eyes at the pain clawing fiercely in his chest. This was his fault.
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Spain's eyes flew open as he gasped into the darkness of the room, scrambling to sit up the bed jered and bounced beneath his movements causing ROmano to grumble out in his sleep as Spain hurriedly swung his legs over the side of the bed. The dream had been so vivid, so sensory that to find himself in the dark bedroom was a shock. It sent waves of longing through him as the baby within him kicked at him fiercely as if angry that he had moved so suddenly and his hand came down to stroke his large belly sighing out to himself quietly as he stood off the bed padding around the bed to get to the bathroom. This pregnancy had come with it's challenges and it's praises but Spain hated having to use the bathroom so frequently in the dead of the night and as he stepped out into the hallway making his way to the bathroom he'd been surprise to find his stomach snarling. Hungry? He was hungry? He pursed his lips together as he flicked the bathroom light on and shutting the door behind him as he turned to the toilet, pushing his pants down and sitting he sighed softly to himself at the relief that flowed throuhg him. The baby punched at him fiercely with their little fists and Spain chucked softly as he rubbed the little lumps that formed on the side of his stomach from the baby's fierce hits. He hadn't spoken it aloud to Romano but he secretly hoped that the baby would be a little girl. When they had been asked if they wanted to know the sex of the baby they'd said no because they wanted it to be a surprise when the baby finally came but Spain could only see a little girl in his head that would resemble her father strongly. A little feminine Romano in his arms. The thought, as always, sent warmth through his veins.Perhaps they're family would be complete with a little girl. Spain loved the thought of a little baby in his arms that resembled his Romano to a T and he loved the idea of having another mini Romano running around the house looing for some kind of mischief to get into just lie Cristiano did. Spain was eager to give birth just so he could see who the baby would look like, who the baby would act like and it felt like the longest time to wait three more months for the baby to come but they wanted the child to be healthy more than anything. It didn't matter what gender the baby was, boy or girl, all Spain wanted was for the baby to be healthy and happy. All he wanted was to be able to hold his baby in his arms and to love the little nudger inside of him as fervently as the baby must love him. Of course, Romano wanted to know the gender and so in private he had been told the gender but had made no slip ups so far as to what the gender was and Spain was absolutely thankful for his husband's ability to keep a secret. Spain hummed as he pulled his pants up and flushed the toilet then opened the door padding out into the hallway as he made his way back towards his bedroom with a happy humming. The baby kicked as insistently as Romano nudged him in the night and it made Spain smile as he pressed a hand to his belly stroking affectionately the curve of his stomach. He felt huge at six months that he honestly couldn't imagine how much bigger he would get in the next three months and he laughed quietly to himself as he entered the bedroom twisting to shut the door behind him. Then he felt it.It was almost like a slight popping sensation inside of him, like a water balloon too full popping in his hands and he blinked when he felt wetness beginning to seep out of him making him blink in surprise as he reached behind him rubbing the wet fabric then lifting his hand up sniffing then tilting his head as no smell registered. He walked across the dark bedroom to the dresser drawer where he pulled out a fresh pair of boxers and a new pair of pajama pants. He wriggled and pushed his wet pants down stepping out of them and climbing into the dry clothing and tossed the wet fabric into the hamper then walked towards the bed where he climbed in sighing softly as he snuggled down into the mattress then rolled over cuddling up to Romano who grunted in hi ssleep and the Spanish Nation happily pressed his cheek against the back of Romano's shoulder, his lashes fluttering against his chee as he wrapped an arm around Romano's waist. His bac curved to Spain's bump and the Spanish Nation found himself yawning rather largely when he felt the first wave of pain. It was intense and deep inside of him fanning outwards until it had swallowed up his entire hip region and had him gasping much like he had when he'd awoen and his eyes flew open when he felt his stomach tense under this wave of pain. The baby seemed to be kicking wildly in response to the sudden pain that gripped him but the Spaniard quickly squeezed his eyes shut and buried his face in Romano's shoulder. It would go away. He just needed to get some sleep and drink some water in the morning. It would go away on it's own, he was sure of it.When Spain's eyes opened for a second time he wished he hadn't. He was sure that he was thrown into Hell if the agony in his lower half was anything to go by and he rolled onto his bac groaning to himself as pressed his fingers against the side of his stomach. He peeled his eyes apart staring up at the ceiling dazedly as a wave of pain crashed over Spain causing his legs to jump away from one another as his stomach tensed under this wave of pain and he groaned under his breath when he rolled his head to find Romano sleeping beside him. He rolled his head to the left to gaze at his alarm clock finding the glowing numbers to be a comfort before rolling his head to stare up at the ceiling once again. Just what was going on? He felt his heart begin to fly against his chest when he rolled onto his side only to groan when his legs pressed together then reached out for Romano only to find himself alone. He felt a moment of abandonment s he pushed himself into a sitting position only to moan this time as he swung his feet over the bed and he stood to his feet only to fall right bac on his ass as he cried out at the crippling pain that had radiated down his legs. He forced himself to his feet once again while gritting his teeth and he began shuffling around the bed at a slow but even pace as he blinked sluggishly while his mind struggle to wrap itself around the pain that was clouding it. He got to the bedroom door pulling it open and gripping onto the door frame with all of his strength as he shuffled out into the hallway eyeing the stair case. Just a little further was all he had to go. Just a little more to go and he'd be downstairs. He braced his shoulder against the wall and began waling down the hall at a slow shuffling speed that felt more like agony with each step he too forward.He felt like he was dying. He was clawing at the wall in order to feel some other pain but the aching radiating pain streaking from his hips down to his toes refused to abate and he felt the strongest urge to push but he fought that urge down. He couldn't afford to do something like that. Not unless he was in the bathroom. He eyed the bathroom on his way past but he decided to ignore it as he reached the stairs and leaned his weight into his hands as he began taking the steps one at a time and he whimpered when his knees shook. He made his way down the stairs slowly as he sniffled lightly as he got to the bottom of those stairs and shuffled into the living room where he fell onto the couch unable to go further as he gasped for breath around the pain that was assaulting him. He decided to kick off his pajama pants, hesitated, then pushed his boxers down to his knees and hesitantly he reached down and back to his entrance then nearly screamed when he felt something bulging there. "Romano! Romano, come here! Help me! Something's coming out of me!"Romano, upon hearing the frantic shrieks,rushed into the living room where he was greeted to the sight of Spain pushing his pants off while angling his hips over the couch with tears in his wide green eyes. Romano rushed over to the Spaniard pressing a hand onto his shoulder he then pushed the Spanish Nation backwards that way he could peer between his legs only to jerk upwards meeting those wet eyes. He didn't know what to say right away but as those tears fell down pale cheeks Romano reached out cupping his face brushing his thumbs against his wet cheeks with a strange croon on his lips as he then leaned in kissing his forehead. "Toni, did your water break last night?" Spain shrugged his shoulders with a whimper and the Italian looked at him feeling a sharp stab of worry. "Do you think you'll make it to the hospital?""No! No, the baby's coming now! I'm scared, Lovi! It's too soon!" Spain cried out as he gripped the cushions of the couch and before he knew it he was pushing with the next crescendo of pain and ROmano yelped standing up rushing from the room leaving the Spanish Nation alone much to his horror. He screamed Romano's name only to hear feet on the floor and the Italian reappeared with a large towel in his hands. He squatted down between Spain's legs making him breath out in relief but he stared down at Romano with tears in his eyes. "Lovi, do you think the baby is going to be okay? I didn't even do anything would break my water I promise! I just went to the bathroom!" He howled these words through a particularly painful contraction as he strained and yet it felt like the baby wasn't moving in the slightest bit and he growled under his breath."It's fine, Toni. We'll go to the hospital right after you get this little shit out and they'll make sure that you and the baby are alright, just focus on getting him out." Romano coached as he rubbed Spain's knees while the Spaniard whimpered softly and he squeezed those knees tightly as the Spaniard began pushing again in time with the contractions that came and went. Coming and going, coming and going, the pain was worse than Spain had ever imagined. He thought ROmano's screaming during Cristiano's birth had been wild then the sounds coming out of his own mouth were absolutely feral as he howled and screamed at the pain that rocked through him over and over again. He clawed at the cushions with his nails wishing he could rip them apart underneath him as he pushed and he found the look of determination on Romano's face was rather charming as his light green eyes focused on the entrance of his where the baby was coming ever so slowly.Spain had been in labor for five hours. Five hours of sleeping through the contractions and yet he'd been incredibly restless after his bathroom trip early in the morning but now he was positively in agony. He had promised France he'd come to a meeting today to help plan his wedding but instead the baby seemed to have different plans for the family. He screamed as he beat his fists into the cushions as he growled and then screamed at the pain that ripped throuhg him. He was straining and straining but it felt like he was getting positively nowhere as he panted. He growled through clenched teeth as he pushed again and this time he felt something sliding slightly out of him and he gasped for air as his head spun wildly at the slight give which prompted him to push again on the next contraction as he ground his teeth together fiercely. He screamed throuhg his clenched teeth as he beat his hands against the cushions and clawed at the fabric fiercely as he gasped for breath when a knocking at the door made both men turn towards the front door and Romano cursed. "Goddammit! I forgot Veni was coming today!" He hissed the words then turned to the front door again. "Come in!"The door flew open with a cheerful "Ve~!" ringing out. "Fratello! I have something very important too-Uwaa! What's going on? Is Big Brother Spain giving birth?" Italy yelped as he appeared in the doorway looking in at the bloody scene and both men looked up locking eyes before looking over at Italy and Germany who both had faces of surprise. The younger Italian brother then rushed into the room sitting down next to Spain and gripping his tense arm fiercely when those green eyes flickered to him to see a loo of determination on his face that was similar to Romano's. "Don't worry, Big Brother! The baby just wanted to said ciao a bit earlier than normal is all! Don't look so sad! I had my twins at six months and they were tiny little things but they're healthy as horses today! Take deep breathes in between your pushing so you don't hyperventilate or anything of the sort.""Thank you, Feli." Spain whispered throuhg the pain that caused his body to twitch sporadically as he tensed with this new contraction rattling throuhg him causing him to scream as he pushed fiercely, gathering his strength for this push and he gasped after it was over. Germany came to stand behind Romano and the Italian shot look over his shoulder at the German but Spain's shriek of pain had Romano turning his head straight as he gripped the baby's head and began to lightly pull as Spain pushed fiercely. It was easy to pull gently but Spain's screams were lashing and cutting Romano with each sound that flew from his lips but this time when he gasped it was with such clear relief that Romano himself felt. The baby spluttered for breath a few times but eventually caught his breath and screamed at the top of his lungs with all the vitality an infant could possess as he shrieked while flailing his little arms and legs as if displeased he'd come out so early. He wrapped the bloody thing up into the towel when Germany waled towards the kitchen leaving Romano to marvel over the sight of the baby.Despite the blood smearing his skin his hair was a dark brown that matched his own and when his eyes opened on a whimper the irises were an astonishing but very familiar light green that matched Romano's. "Toni. Toni, he loos like me!" Romano spoke with a reverence that Spain opened his eyes at and the sight of Romano marveling over the baby was a sight that Spain wasn't lightly to forget in a million years. Germany walked back in with a knife in his hand and handed Spain it allowing the Spaniard to cut the umbilical cord while Italy gazed curiously at the little baby in Romano's arms with a longing in those brown eyes that Spain felt himself. Romano, as if sensing this, turned and smiled at Spain as he passed hi mthe baby. "Look at our bambino. Look at him, all ten toes and all ten fingers. He's beautiful.""He's so tiny." Spain murmured as he looked down at the baby in his arms and he clutched said baby to his chest as he whined squirming in the towel he was wrapped in making both parents smile softly. "We're going to have to tell Cris that we had the baby. We'll have to video chat with him as soon as possible so he can see his little brother." He then laughed happily, drowsily as he bent down kissing his head making the baby whine in response and Romano laughed as the baby continued to whine while Spain smiled. "He's just like you, a little complainer. Our sweet little boy." He smiled tiredly as his arms trembled and the Italian too the bloody baby from the Spaniard who wanted longer to look at his baby but he found himself very tired and he yawned widely then looked to his husband who was watching him worriedly."Potato bastard, I want you to carry Toni. I'll hold the baby but we need to get them both to the hospital to make sure they're fine." Romano ordered in a sharp tone that made Spain drowsily smile as he was helped to his feet and he was sighing with relief at the lack of pain but he did feel uncomfortable inside his own body. It was almost as if there was something still left inside of him and while his rational mind knew it was the placenta his tired brain couldn't figure it out. He leaned firmly against Germany as they shuffled across the living room, drops of blood landing on the carpet from between Spain's entrance and Romano watched just as worriedly as Italy did as the two Italian's followed after Spain and Germany. As they stepped out into the warmth Spain squinted and he could hear his baby whining loudly at the sunlight no doubt blinding his precious eyes and Spain looked over his shoulder worriedly only to find Romano was hushing the baby quietly in italian.Spain was helped into the car when a blanket was wrapped around his legs and waist which he was grateful for when he watched Germany shut the door then run around to the drivers side while Italy and Romano climbed into the back seat looking from the baby to Spain with worried looks. "Don't worry, mi amor, I'm just fine! Just a little sleepy." Spain murmured as the car started up with a quiet purr that did little to keep the Spaniard conscious but he fought valiantly against the exhaustion that was seeming to claw at him insistently and so he twisted to loo at the baby. "I thought of a name for him, Lovi. It's that nice one we both liked. Salvador. Little Sal. It just rolls off the tongue doesn't it?" He could tell that his voice was growing dreamy as he looked at his tiny son feeling a stab of worry pierce throuhg his tired, dreamy sensations. "Do you think he's alright? Because he came three months early.""He'll be fine and you'll be fine. Just focus on staying away for me." Romano replied then as he adjusted his hold on the whining baby who seemed displeased and Italy leaned over cooing over the baby as he touched his little cheek with the back of his finger as the car backed out of the driveway. Romano would have loved to look at the baby further and gaw at the sight of a baby identical to himself but his worry refused to let him look away from his husband who was slumping against the window. He knew it was just exhaustion but with the man being older there was clear reasons to be worried for the man but as the baby cried out the Spaniard jerked upwards and whipped around with an alert light to his green eyes before slumping into the seat to find there was nothing to worry about. This was the routine as Germany drove them to the hospital and as he clutched the whining baby to his chest he couldn't help but feel a warmth at the fact that their son seemed to be just healthy. All he wanted for was him to be healthy and for Spain to be alright. Once those two things were assured he knew they'd worry about other things later. Everything would come as he sought fit and he wanted more than anything for his son and husband to adjust to this newness. To the brilliant days that they had ahead of them.
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Canada looked up from his cook book when the loud piercing wails sounded out and he sighed out as he close the book with a thump then turned on his heel walking across the kitchen out into the hall then into the living room where his daughter was laying in her bouncer red faced and shrieking. The girl was screaming so hard that she coughed delicately before continuing with her wailing sobs and her big blue eyes opened when Canada came close and for a one month old she jerked her arms outwards as if reaching for him. Canada reached down unbuckling her straps then pulling Poppy into his arms where he lightly bounced and rocked the baby in his arms as she wailed fiercely but the redness to her face concerned him more than anything. He squatted down laying Poppy out on the floor then reached over for the diaper bag pulling a diaper and package of wipes out then sat down before her with her tiny body between his legs. Ever since her birth, Poppy had never been afraid to voice her displeasure and had never been afraid when it came to being louder than her twin brother who was a very quite baby so far what with his sister seeming to be vocal for the both of them. Canada buttoned the crotch of her onesie and flipped the fabric up out of the way and tugged at the straps of the diaper pulling the wet diaper off of her which immediately seemed to soothe the child for her wailing sobs dissolved into hiccups as her watery blue eyes stared at her mother in awe now. Canada smiled then as he lifted her bottom up and used a few wipes to get her nice and clean then got her diaper on her bottom all while she looed at him with surprise in those blue eyes of hers making Canada giggle quietly."Ahh our daughter 'as quite the lungs doesn't she?" Canada looked over his shoulder at France with a smile on his lips then turned back to his daughter snapping the buttons back into place then clinging to his feet, bending down and picking the little girl up into his arms. France then walked closer to Canada, standing inches from him as he reached out touching one of Poppy's red hot cheeks and sighed softly. "My sweet girl, there's no need to kick up such a fuss about a wet diaper you know." The baby whined turning her face from France into her mother's chest making Canada laugh delightedly. "Fine, fine! You're going to be one dramatic girl when you get big aren't you?""You know it." Canada replied fondly as he looked down at his daughter who stared up at him with shimmering eyes and he stroked her two toned blonde tufts of hair making her gurgle quietly waving a hand upwards and her long lashes fluttered as she blinked. She was so beautiful that sometimes Canada truly couldn't believe she was his. She was so beautiful, so lovely that often times he found himself gawking open mouthed at the little daughter that he'd carried for nine months. The same went for Henri. The twins were so lovely that often times they resembled dolls with how lovely they were with their pale skin, rosey lips and pink cheeks that Canada was often surprised that he managed to produce such beautiful children. He kissed those tufts of hair happily making the baby whine lightly when Canada turned to France smiling softly. "I was thinking about our wedding. I think that, to be fair to btoh us and others, we should go over the guest list and then we should have the wedding during the summertime. It's easier for everyone that way and it ensures that Austynn will be here for the wedding.""That does seem quite fair. After all you want Amerique as your best man right? And Angleterre has agreed to be mine some'ow but I'm not questioning it too much! Plus, the twins will be much bigger by that point and we can have little Jolene as our flower girl!" THe two of them had discussed over and over the how's and why's of their wedding, even looping in the opinion of others when they dared to ask which was rare but still the opinions they received allowed them to compile the perfect wedding. Jolene would walk dwon the isle as the flower girl, a job that the girl was anticipating with each passing day, and then there was the next idea that they both shared for they wanted nothing more than for the twins to be apart of the wedding ceremony. So, in order to incorporate the twins, they would have a wagon for the twins to Sit up in and Canada would push them down the isle during the march. "Plus in summer time we can 'ave the wedding outdoors! You wanted the wedding in a meadow area didn't you?"Canada felt his cheeks flush but he smiled widely as he nodded happily. Canada and France had gone venue hunting together a few wees before the twins were due and they had found a venue area with a perfect stone alter and a grassing expanse of land that would work perfectly for chairs and an isle. It was absolutely magical and exactly what Canada had been looking for when it came to his wedding for he didn't want the union to be in a church like the other Nations had chosen to do. He wanted a beautiful venue that felt magical and special to him and France, something they could remember for centuries from now and still be touched by that magical quality that this venue seemed to spill. "Oui! I loved that venue more than the others and I'm glad we agreed upon it, I really am! Austynn will look so cute as a ring bearer!""Of course 'e will! 'e got 'is looks from you after all!" France leaned in kissing Canada's cheek softly and lingering before pecking his lips briefly for Poppy voiced her displeasure at being overcrowded and both parents stepped away from one another with laughs bubblig past their lips. "You know, Amerique is 'oping for another little girl after seeing our Poppy." He smiled widely as he used his finger to stroke her now pink cheek and large blue eyes lifted towards him only for a smile to form on the baby's lips briefly as her little hand reached up grabbing the finger and promptly sticking it into her mouth. "I think when it comes to beauty our little Poppy might give Jolene a run for her money. After all, Poppy does take after you with her features no doubt and she'll look ever so sweet with that two toned blonde hair you both 's so beautiful now that I know that she'll be a stunning little thing.""She'll be a stunner. Just like Jolene! And Henri is obviously going to take after his brother and be the handsomest little man that we've ever seen!" Canada's affectionate gaze flicked to the other twin who was watching them while chewing on his fingers lazily and France laughed with delight at the sight as he rushed over unbuckling then lifting the violet eyed twin into his arms. He peppered kisses over the boy's face which earned him a quiet giggle from the boy in his arms and France smiled brightly down at the boy who reached up clumsily to tap his father's cheek happily. "Thank you, Francis, for making these cuties with me. I really am happy we managed to have twins even if this one is like a little siren." Poppy looked up at her mother with wide blue eyes as if surprised to be called out in such a manner."Of course she is like a siren! Our little girl is very opinionated already and she 'as to let Maman and Papa know about it!" France replied rather jubilantly when he then waled bac over to Canada as the twins eyed one another curiously and France tightened his arms around Henri making him squeak lightly and Canada smiled down at the twins. France tilted his head forward which Canada copied allowing their foreheads to clunk together as they gazed down at the twins adoringly in silence for a few moments before France pulled back with a wide smile on his lips. "But you are welcome for creating these beauties for the pleasure was all mine! Now, 'ow about we put them in their bouncers and play a nice TV show for them while we get dinner done? Would you want some assistance any'ow?""Of course I would! But rather than leave the twins alone let's get those baby backpacks." Canada blushed at the use of the term he'd used only in his head but France smiled widely as he rushed from the room with Henri in his arms to grab them from the closet. It had been one of the first things that he and France spent money on once they found out they were having twins and when the Frenchman returned with them dangling from his fingers he laughed lightly as he put Poppy down in her bouncer in order to help France get clips into places before sliding Henri down in the front. His little head poked from the top adorably as it rested against his father's chest and France in turn helped clip the same thing onto Canada who slipped Poppy inside as her wide eyes seemed to grow wider at her clos proximity to her mother and Canada laughed as he poked her nose lightly. "Alright, now let's make some dinner!""After you, mon cheri!" France swept his arms in a rather dramatic manner towards the doorway making Canada giggle as he waled forward with a hand on the baby carrier and it made him giggle once again for he'd once waled with his hand on his large belly. There hadn't been one moment when there wasn't a hand on his large belly whether it had been his, France's or Austynn's but he somewhat missed the sensations of the twins kicking at him late in the night. Though he loved his lovely twins in his arms, he just missed the sensations of the twins beating at him from the inside out but as he kissed those tufts of two toned blonde hair Canada knew he wouldn't trade them for the world. He smiled as he waled through the doorway with France close behind him and he couldn't help but feel lie one of the most luckiest people in the world with his beautiful elder son, a sweet and caring fiancee and two beautiful twins. He really did have it all.Life went on it's little ways and with life came the realities of missing Austynn. When France had flown out with the boy by his side he knew that Austynn wished his mother figure to be there but due to the twins being too young to travel it had been up to France to bring Austynn to the World Academy. Of course when he had brought him it had been a water wors occasion as France had never imagined he'd live to see the day where he not only had a son he adored but had that son attend the very same school that he himself had attended for the longest time. When he had walked Austynn to his room he had been delighted to find that he was sharing a room with Cristiano but there hadn't been much joy when it came time for France to leave and it had once again been met with tears. The sight of his son in his uniform had been heartwarming and touching but it had also been sad at the same time for the boy was growing up and France felt like he were stumbling paces behind trying to catch up with his son's development. There was one thing he hadn't accounted for when Austynn left and that was just how QUIET it could be without the boy running around upstairs or even downstairs chattering with his mother while he baked and even pestering France in his study while he did paperwork. Austynn had been a force to reckon with although quieter in his behaviors than his cousin Liam there was just a hole missing in his chest that had gone with their son to the World Academy while both parents were left to grieve over his absence.Poor Canada hardly had time to feel that absence due to the twins taking up much of his time but that night at dinner the two Nations had laughed and even shed a few tears of Austynn with promises to video call him the next morning to see how he was adapting. Of course it had only been a few weeks since he left so there was a chance it was all still very new to him but the thought of him surrounded by other National children made the parents curious as to just who he was meeting. After a few glasses of wine, a bottle for the twins each, everyone had retired for the night to their beds to drop off into a soundless sleep that was shared by all. At least until a piercing shrie erupted in the night making France jerk from his peaceful dream only to groan at the numbers glowing at him from the alarm clock and it was the echoed groan next to him that inspired him to push out of the bed with the blankets clinging to his legs and he kicked them away with a mumble to the Canadian and stumbled out of the bedroom to the room next door where the screaming originated from. He flicked the light on to find one baby screaming their tiny lungs out and the other baby whimpering softly to themself and France yawned then sighed as he walked over to the light pink bassinet where Poppy was. She had tears running down her temples, her cheeks a fierce red from the intensity of her crying and her little hands were curled into fists against her chest as she wailed as powerfully as she possibly could before opening those big blue eyes of hers to gaze up at her father. She cried out flailing her legs fiercely against the bassinets mattress and he reached in scooping the one month old to his chest then turned towards the changing table with the now whimpering girl in his arms.He unzipped her pajama onesie and pulled her legs out then pulled on the straps of her diaper with a soft ripping sound and the diaper fell open as the girl whimpered while wriggling her legs causing France to tap her nose sleepily. "My, my what a screamer I have. Although I cannot blame you for screaming because I too would scream if I were trapped in a diaper with my own poop. Can't be too comfortable." He reached underneath into the side pouch pulling wipes out and be threw the soiled diaper in the little trashcan then began to clean up his daughter's bottom while humming softly to soothe the whimpering girl and he smiled when her toes wriggled in his grip as he finished cleaning her bottom. He threw the last wipe away then reached for a fresh diaper and laid her bottom down on it and folded it upwards covering her up and grabbing the velcro straps he got them in place then tickled her tummy making her wriggle. "There we are! All done! Now it's time for you to go back to sleep so Papa and Maman can have some more sleep!"The baby girl blinked those wide eyes at him, long lashes fluttering softly, and he grabbed a pacifier from the changing table popping it into Poppy's mouth which she automatically suckled wildly as France carried her back to her bassinet. Her eyelashes were drooping already as she continued suckling wildly at her pacifier but France smiled as he left her to her own devices and turned to his son who was beginning to cry out insistently. He reached into the blue bassinet tugging the boy out into his arms and the violet eyed baby stared up at his father with large tears resting on his blonde lashes which tugged quite viciously at France's heart as he walked bac to the changing table. At least this twin was a mere wetting and was quite easy to change the soggy diaper rather quickly and had the boy suckling on his own pacifier in mere minutes. When he laid Henri down into his bassinet he felt his heart tug in his chest once more as his son stared up at him with those big violet eyes of his and the movement of the pacifier as he sucked at it just added to his rather adorable charms in that moment. He kissed his chubby cheek making the baby whine but after a glance to see Poppy was indeed sleeping he placed a very light kiss on her forehead then crept from the bedroom and shut the light off behind him and shut the door quietly before making his way down the hall to Canada who was shuffling around in the bedroom. Low lamplight spilled into the hallway throuhg the crack in the doorway and France opened the door stepping into the bedroom to find Canada now sitting on the edge of the bed with a yawn on his lips as his glasses flashed in with the lamp light."Was it Poppy?" Canada asked tiredly which got him a nod from France and Canada bobbed his head with a large yawn on his lips as he let himself flopp backwards with a loud groan as he stretched his arms above his head and his legs fiercely with a third yawn spilling past his lips. He then slumped against the bed and France walked around the bed to flop down on his stomach with his head closer to Canada's shoulder as the two parents laid there for a moment or two before Canada gathered his words together and forced his lips to move. He turned his head finding France's blue eyes and he smiled softly. "Imagine if Austynn was still here. I think even our kind and considerate son would be going absolutely nuts with how loud Poppy is. I never thought I'd get such a loud daughter in my life but I love her. She's so vocal and has been since her birth. I worry that Henri might feel left out because of how vocal his sister is so we're going to need to give him some extra attention while they're growing up. Not so special though that it feels lie favoritism to the kids.""Of course not! We wouldn't want them thinking that just because 'enri is a quiet boy that 'e gets extra attention." France replied with a yawn on his lips this time as they rolled towards one another as they curled up on the bed, knees drawing up close to stomachs as the two adults sighed softly. "Poppy is going to be just as demanding and loud as Jolene is. It's a surprise that she's ours and not Amerique's." He paused then smirked widely as he looked at his fiancee. "Did you know that your brother is 'oping for another little girl? Oui, I looked the same way you are looking at me! Your brother is expecting many things with this new baby and 'e is 'oping that the baby will look lie Angleterre and 'e is 'oping it will be another girl." He then sighed reaching up to stroke Canada's cheek softly then feeling lashes tickle his thumb. "Someone 'as to tell that boy that 'e is expecting far too much from a child that's not even 'ere yet.""I'll tell him next time we talk." Canada murmured softly as he rolled onto his side facing France and opening his eyes lazily to find those amazing, breathtaking blue eyes were leveled on his face as the humb continued stroking his was affection in those eyes and the man was smiling softly at the Canadian Nation making Canada lean forward towards his lips feeling his own parting slightly with a quiet breath of anticipation. France, reading his intentions, leaned in pressing his lips against Canada's and there was such tenderness, such sweetness to the kiss that Canada felt his toes curl against the sheets as he leaned in eagerly searching for more to the kiss. It was an eagerness that made his heart sprint against his chest as France moved into a better position that allowed him to kiss the Canadian deeply and firmly making his heart sprint against his chest in anticipation.Then Poppy wailed. THe parents broke apart with a sigh but Canada smiled softly as he pushed at France's shoulder making him laugh lightly as the baby continued wailing. "Fine, fine. I will go see what is wrong with our loud girl." France got out with a playful note to his voice as he tapped his finger against his nose in an equally playful movement which caused the Canadian's nose to wrinkle up rather adorably. "You truly are the cuter brother out of you and Amerique. Such a beautiful man you turned out to be that it is little surprise our children are so lovely." He sighed wistfully then while Canada rolled his eyes playfully but rolled on the bed popping up on his hands and knees crawling underneath the blanket while France smiled lovingly at his fiancee. He truly did love his small family and come summer time they'd be husbands. France just coudln't wait for summer.
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When England had gotten pregnant the first time he had been surprised. When the male Nations began getting pregnant with one another England had sworn that he would be careful and refused to have unprotected sex with his boyfriend at the time but clearly life had other plans for him. When he'd been pregnant with William it had been a breeze; there had hardly been much morning sickness and he'd been rather blissful during his pregnancy with his eldest son and he'd found that he was delighted in the movements and the baby kicking at him happily. His pregnancy had only gotten unbearable in the second half for he had wanted nothing more than to see his son and the waiting would drive anyone batty but when he gave birth to William it was like his life had clicked together to see the tiny America look-alike resting in his arms. He'd showered his son with hours and days of affection whenever he possible and yet when he became pregnant with Jolene he found that that pregnancy was completely different. When he was pregnant with Jolene he'd had the worst morning sickness he'd ever experienced and his mood swung far wilder than they had with William and England had been absolutely taken aback at how different his two pregnancies had been. Even now he balked at the vast differences between his pregnancies for this third pregnancy seemed to be like any other pregnancy. It wasn't smooth sailing like it had been with William and it wasn't the hardcore sickness as what he'd had with Jolene but rather it seemed to seem some balance of the two rather than being one or the other. England adored the baby already but at six months he was quite eager to see his baby.England paused in his knitting to stroke his large belly with a smile on his lips and America, catching the movement, smiled as he turned from his video game for a moment to watch the sight of the English Nation happily stroking his bump. Already they had two names picked out; Eliza if it was to be a girl or Alexander if it was a boy. Both names were absolutely beautiful and while America was hoping for it to be a girl in there England had his mother's instinct that the baby would be a boy. A beautiful, bouncing baby boy that would resemble his big brother and father. He patted his belly comfortingly as the baby within punched out against England's palm as if displeased that the hand was there to begin with and the English Nation giggled at the little lump that popped up on his belly from the force of the punch. Already the baby was displaying the strength of their father and while it made every hit or kick uncomfortable the English Nation was too wrapped up in the awe of the movements to find pain or even discomfort with the movements. "Love, you should perhaps save that game of yours and get on with getting dressed if you want to attend the appointment.""Don't worry, babe, all I gotta do is get my shoes on and I'll be ready!" America replied with a wide smirk as his fingers flew over the game pad and the analog stick with vigor that displayed itself as excitement in those sky blue eyes as he leaned forward towards the edge of the couch as if he could physically crawl into the video game. The sound of gun fire rang out along with screams of zombies filling the air making England roll his eyes as he set back to knitting the little green bootie happily and the metal clicked together gently as he knitted. There was nothing England loved more than creating the perfect little booties for babies; an assortment of colors like a rainbow is what he created but mostly he color coded them for the days of the week so he could keep track of things. He had knitted an array of colors for the twins which Canada was grateful for and so now that he had finished up with the twins he planned on making an array of colors for his own baby this time round and he found himself excited at the prospect of making his child a plushie. Something that they could snuggle with at night."What type of stuffie should I make for our baby? Something that would be perfect!" England then thoughtfully stared into space for a moment or two while he thought on just what would be the best animal to make when England felt a fierce kick that had him gasping. It robbed him of his very breath it seemed as the radiating pain had him clutching his stomach feeling America's eyes on him and the English Nation gasped as another fierce kick radiated throuhg him causing him to double over slightly with a groan. This reminded him of his pregnancy with Jolene; the girl had inherited America's strength and had kicked in such a manner but this had him gasping, taken aback. It HAD been four years since he dealt with an infant with the strength of their father but the shock of it still robbed him of breath. He felt hands on his shoulders which he tried in vain to shrug off as the game before him was paused and England took a few deep calming breathes before he managed to smile thinly at America. "It's fine, love. Just some strong kick's. I swear this baby is going to be even stronger than you!""I doubt that, babe, but maybe we should mention this to the doctor. I don't want you hurting." America brushed the back of his fingers down the length of England's cheek making blonde lashes flutter downwards shyly as a blush rushed up to England's cheeks and America leaned in closely to the other Nation. His breath tickled his cheek making the English Nation look up shyly before smiling gently as the discomfort that had been radiating through him seemed to settle along with the baby. He would never blame the baby as there was no reason to blame the child for their strength for it's not like they asked for it to begin with and it was simply a matter of genetics that gifted the baby their strength. America reached out placing his hand on England's bump curving his hand against the roundness of England's stomach with a smile on his lips as he kissed England's cheek making the man jump as if electrocuted. "Are you alright?""Of course I am!" England replied then flicked his eyes to the clock when he shivered at the kiss pressed to the slope of his neck, an area that gave way to his shoulder and he felt his cheeks burn self consciously as he looked down at his lap. "We've got to get ready for the appointment, Alfred. Come now, let's get ready!" He pushed the American away making him laugh against his palms as he covered his mouth pushing at him before squeezing past him standing to hi sfeet and removing his hands from America's face now that he was a safe distance away. He drummed his fingers against his belly feeling a spark of excitement. He waddled over to the door where his boots were and to the best of his ability he crammed his feet into them and wiggled his feet around as he then grabbed his coat and slipped it on zipping it up then grabbing his red scarf wrapping it around his throat. America was saving his game with quiet mumblings to himself as England plucked the car keys off of the wall. "I'm driving."America looked up from turning the tv off with a wide eyed loo that had him looking positively young and he then pouted. "What? Why?""Because you can hardly remember which side of the road to drive on!" England snapped as he jiggled the keys in his hand then turned to the door pulling it open allowing frigid air to wash through the room like a fresh breath being exhaled into a room that had once been stagnant. "I'll be outside in the car getting it warm so don't take too long, love." England then stepped out onto the porch shutting the door behind him with a firm thump and began making his way down the walkway towards his car with a hum leaving his throat as he cheerfully spun the keys on his finger and used the keypad to unlock the doors from a distance and smiled at the beep the car made.He walked around the car to the drivers side tugging the door open and sliding inside then slamming the door behind him as he huffed a breath between his frigid hands before sticking the key into the ignition. He turned the key bringing the car to life as it rumbled softly and he fiddled with the temperature control until hot air began blasting throuhg the vents making him sigh out delightedly as he slumped backwards in his seat as he stared out the window at the house. When England had discovered he was pregnant for the third time they had sworn to one another that they wouldn't find out the gender no matter how tempting it was but now here they were off rushing to see what the gender of the baby was. See, neither England or America cared what the g ender was. They didn't care if it was a boy or girl, they had their names picked out in the event it was a boy or girl but it didn't matter to them just what the gender was because the health of the baby was what mattered the most to them. While England hoped it would be a boy and America hoped it would be a girl that would give Poppy a run for her money, England just wanted his baby to be healthy. He smiled as he caressed his stomach and pressed a palm against his stomach as he hummed to himself quietly in time to the music that was playing on the radio station. He'd have to remind America that Sealand was coming with Ladonia to visit and that accommodations would be made for the young couple in the guest bedroom. England didn't mind that they were coming to stay for a while but he couldn't help but wonder what the plan was for the birth of their child but he was still just fine with the young couple coming to visit. He didn't see his brother every day after all.He still couldn't believe that not only did his brother hit a growth spurt but that he also was having a baby with someone. It was almost unbelievable when he thought about it and he had to be honest with himself in that he'd never imagined that Sealand was the type to top anyone. England sighed softly as the baby began wriggling around inside of him curiously as if impatient of waiting for America. The sound of the door slamming had the English Nation looking up curiously before grabbing his seatbelt and bringing it across his chest buckling in and smiling as America skidded on a patch of ice that had his arms windmilling. He scowled when he noticed England smirking and giggling to himself at the silliness of the American's movements and the American pulled open his door sliding in. "Don't laugh at me. I nearly broke my damn neck on that ice! How did you not slip on it?""I'm just lucky! Now let's get this appointment over with, shall we?" England replied cheerfully as he adjusted his mirror then put the car into reverse backing down the driveway then pulling out on the dirt road. It bounced the car due to the dirt road being a touch uneven but it was this part that England so adored when he drove and he smirked widely when America gripped the handle above his head like the car ride was something to fear. He honestly, in that moment, couldn't wait to see what the gender of the baby would be. He had to admit that while he was hoping for another son there was the idea that another girl couldn't possibly hurt but his main hope was for his original option. He stroked his stomach with one hand while keeping the other on the wheel and felt that burst of excitement inside of him that was echoed by the baby nudging him softly as if they were also sharing in their mother's delight.It was always satisfying to tell America "I told you so" but there was something even more satisfying about it due to the fact that England's mothering instincts had been absolutely right after all this time. When they had entered the doctors office America was making silly bets with the nurses and the doctor himself that it would be a girl while England had kept insisting that he already knew the gender due to his instincts but the American refused to listen. When the doctor performed the scan England had been holding his breath for them to see what the gender would be only to howl with delight when the doctor announced the news that put a pout on America's face. They had created yet another bouncing baby boy. England was doing all it took to keep from bouncing in his seat on the way home from the doctors office but the joy that he felt was absolutely overwhelming and made his fingers quiver lightly as he drove. Once he got into the house he had taken up his knitting with a fury that even surprised America who had been gawking more at the English Nation than at his video game. England couldn't wait to tell his son and daughter the good news about the baby though he wondered if Jolene would appreciate such news given that she resented no longer being the baby but England figured she'd enjo ybeing the only girl. He wondered just what that did to a girl who was born into a family of a male dominant family but he pushed it away for his daughter was perfect just as she was. One thing England couldn't stop was touching his belly whenever he had a spare moment. He was proud, far beyond proud at making yet another perfect son for them to love and he smiled to himself each time his fingers brushed his stomach."If you keep sitting there and smiling like that I'm going to have you put into a loony bin I swear to god." England looked up from his knitting then to beam at his lover delightedly while the other suckled on a lollipop that he'd snagged from the doctors cup on the way out and the English Nation had merely rolled his eyes at the time. America was focused on his game but clearly he had looked over enough times that he noticed the quiet little smile on England's face which seemed to grow larger depending on the amount of joy that shone in his chest. "Like that! You're smiling in a weirdly psychotic way! Is it because you're going to put this kid to competition with Henri? Or because you're going to rub it in France's face that you're having another boy and that I was wrong?""Both. Clearly our son will be the perfect little angel!" He then smirked as he leaned towards America and nudged him lightly. "And a little cousin rivalry has never hurt anyone. If it develops between Henri and Alexander then who are we to comment on it? A little rivalry has never hurt anyone and it wouldn't hurt now between the boys." England felt a jolt of happiness go throuhg him once he said his son's name, a name that rolled off of his tongue so easily that he smiled widely to himself as he pressed his hand against his bump. "Three more months to go! I can't believe that it's only three months away and then we'll be meeting this little cutie. Who do you think he's going to look like?"America seemed to think for a few moments rather than blurting out the first thing that entered his head and England was surprised by how deep in thought the American seemed to be. America's brow wrinkled slightly as his sky blue eyes stared intently at the tv like he was willing the thing to move or to burst into flames under the weight of his gaze but then they lightened from their seriousness and he turned to England with a sparkle to his eyes. "I think that this new kid will take after you this time. After two kids that look like me it would be a nice change of pace if this new baby looked like you." He then paused his game leaning over to brush his lips against England's cheek causing a weak blush to bloom beneath his lips and England looked up from his knitting. "I'm glad that I can still make you blush.""Of course you can! It's not that difficult." England replied playfully as he placed his little bootie down on the table closest to the couch arm and placed his hands on his stomach knotting his fingers together as he tipped his face upwards towards America's. "Though I find it quite charming that sometimes all I have to do is give you look and you're blushing just like-" The shrill ringing of the phone cut off England's words and America hopped up with a red face of his own as he rushed for the phone leaving England alone on the couch with a sigh on his lips. Just who could be calling? He could hear mumbled conversation then the sound of the phone being hung up on the wall making England's head tilt to the side as he looked up to find America walking back into the room. "Who was that?""Oh just some telemarketer." America replied with a shrug of his shoulders when he smirked at the English Nation who was happily looking over the almost finished green bootie and America tilted his head to the side. "I'm surprised you didn't make them bunny shaped so you could have them match your slippers." England blinked at the idea and looked up at America who shrugged yet again but this time the smile on his lips was wide and warm. "I figured you'd do something cute like that for the baby once he's here but I find the idea of our kid having a pair of slippers just like yours would be absolutely adorable. Why not make them that flying bunny that you say you see? Give him that to cuddle with."England gasped delightedly as he clasped the green bootie to his chest and smiled brightly at America. "Oh, love, that's an amazing idea! I would never have thought of that! I was going to settle on a bear or a unicorn but Flying Mint Bunny as a plush would be a perfect cuddle toy! You can be quite brilliant, you know that?" England smiled at the pink hue that crawled into America's cheeks as he adjusted his glasses on his nose and England placed the bootie down and held his arms upwards as he tilted his own head to the side. "Carry me upstairs? I want to take a nap so I can start fresh on the plush! And, maybe, I can afford to give you a little cuddle.""Oh you can maybe afford too? You're so romantic." America snorted as he spoke but his sky blue eye sparkled with amusement and he reached out for England, hooking one arm around his waist and the other underneath his knees before scooping him up. England initially squeaked as he was picked up but he clung onto America fiercely nearly choking the poor man but he ignored it as he rushed for the stairs. He felt the baby kick at England's side which was pressed firmly against his own body and he laughed as he climbed the stairs. "We sure do have an active kid don't we?""Of course we do! You're the man that can never sit still." England joked as he clung onto America who kept a strong but firm grip on the man in his arms and the two of them made their way to the bedroom together with the English Nation glancing at the pictures lining his walls. So many pictures he had of his children growing, school pictures hanging proudly on his walls and the sight of his children smiling at him had him softly smiling to himself as his heart ached. He truly did miss his children terribly but he knew that in four months they'd be reunited with the children in America's Homeland for the summer. Why spend a wet summer in England when they could visit the most exciting places in America's Homeland? England hummed quietly as the baby punched at him as if trying to tell him that he wasn't alone in his thoughts.When they entered the bedroom England found himself yawning rather largely making his jaw ache and making tears pop up in his eyes from the intensity of his yawn which was strangely echoed by America who blushed at the English Nation's look. "What? Your yawns are freaking contagious. Besides I wouldn't mind napping with you at the moment." He looked away shyly at this as he placed England down on the bed then crawled from across his feet to plop down right next to the English Nation who watched America with greedy, delighted eyes as he curled an arm around his shoulders."Then let's nap." England murmured as he curled up on his side with the baby nudging him wildly as if they were objecting to the idea of a nap but England's arm tightened around America's shoulders as their foreheads came together. The little pocket of air between them was filled with the warmth of their combining breathes but the English man found his lashes fluttering shut as he yawned largely yet again causing his eyes to water with tears and he snuggled down into the bed and his lover. There was nothing he loved more than a nice, good nap with his lover. He tilted his head down so his forehead pressed against his cheek instead when a third yawn broke free and he found himself cuddling as close as possible to his lover that his stomach would allow and the baby kicked as if expressing himself already. The two of them settled down with America placing his glasses on the bedside table and the sky blue of his eyes robbed him of breath as he opened his eyes briefly to watch that strong arm stretch upwards and across him. He loved the feel of America's arm around his waist, holding him fiercely to him and England tucked his face into his throat sighing out happily. A baby boy. There family would be complete and he was excited, ecstatic, at the thought of another little America in his arms. It was all he wanted.
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Ladonia watched Sealand packing their bags while humming to himself and Ladonia stared down at his three month bump which wasn't anything to gawk at yet but he couldn't stop his gaze from being riveted to the sight of the tiny but defined bump that stuck out between his hips. When he was alone he found his fingers riveted to the small bump, brushing across it and cupping his palm against it softly during those hours he spent alone. He laid out on the bed watching the blonde happily folding shirts and pants before laying them in the suitcase with designated sides for his clothes and Ladonia's clothing. That was how they would split four trunks. Two with their clothing then two for their soaps and toothbrush along with underwear which worked quite beautifully as this allowed for Sealand to do something with not only his mind but his hands as well. Finland had kicked up a fuss when he found out that the two of them wanted to go and visit England but he ultimately knew that he couldn't stop the two teens from going to visit Sealands brother. Ladonia knew they weren't going to be staying there for weeks upon weeks but he also knew that they would be staying a decent bit of time to give Finland the space he needed to consider whether he wanted the boys to stay there or to go to Ladonia's home. That was the real situation lately. When Finland had come out and announced his second pregnancy, Ladonia had suggested that he and Sealand go away for a while so that Finland could consider some options. While Ladonia didn't have money it was clear that even if they did move out that the Nation would need to find an income and fast for the teen wasn't able to touch his funds yet but he was trying like hell to get to his funds. That's when Sealand suggested going to see his brother.Ladonia had never met Sealand's older brother, England, before but there was some strange sense of excitement that came with the thought of meeting someone so precious to Sealand somehow and then there was making a good impression on him after all. All he knew so far is that England was pregnant by six months and he somehow was very accepting of the thought that Ladonia was pregnant but he also was willing to let the two of them come to visit him. He seemed rather accepting of their relationship, something that Finland hadn't expressed so far, but the red head figured that this would be the change that they needed in order for Finland to come around and decide just what to do to help. Ladonia blinked himself out of his thoughts as he looked at the blonde who was lightly dancing on the tips of his toes while he hummed some nonsense song. It was a surprise to many but Ladonia didn't care who knew about his feelings for the Sealander. For years he had been posing as someone who hated the blonde, despised and was cruel to him but that couldn't have been farther from the truth. Ladonia wouldn't say he fell in love with Sealand the moment he saw him but he had felt a connection that sparked itself to life between them and Ladonia had been frustrated by that spark that he'd felt so he often would take it out on the Sealander. He never imagined that he'd finally give in to that spark and never thought he'd be the one to be pregnant. He was in the body of a teenager despite his age and while Sealand was in the same boat of being much older than his body the two of them were far from clueless on what to do for the baby but with Sweden's support they just had to be grateful that someone would help them.It wasn't that Finland refused to help them, it was more like he was having a hard time wrapping his mind around this new and sudden change but Ladonia couldn't help but wish that they didn't have to go away just for the Finnish man to wrap it around his mind. Ladonia felt his stomach twist lightly as if it once again wanted food but also threatened that if he ate the wrong thing it would just come back up the way it went down. It was frustrating, this pregnancy. He thought after three months that the morning sickness would stop but it seemed that it was clinging extra fiercely to Ladonia. He sighed throuhg his nose when he pushed himself up into a sitting position and swung his legs over the side of the bed causing the happy hums to pause."Peter, do you mind getting me something to eat?"It was clear to see that the Sealander was happy to be of more help if the way those sky blue eyes of his sparkled delightfully. "Of course! What would you like? A little meal? Something sweet? Something sour?" He popped off his questions like he was an excitable young child again trying to make Ladonia like him and nothing like a father-to-be should sound but Ladonia wasn't going to say anything about it. It was just who Sealand was at this point and Ladonia wasn't going to bitch at him about it. There was no need to do so and as Ladonia pressed a hand against his snarling stomach he bit his bottom lip for a moment as he considered just what it was that he wanted. Nothing sounded good but there was somethings that sounded absolutely divine and yet he was shy about voicing what he wanted to the Sealander. "Come on, Erland. Whatever it is I'm sure it'll be fine! I'll get it to you if it's available!""I want some cookies and salsa." Ladonia got out in a shy manner as his fingers twisted together against his snarling stomach and the Sealander blinked those wide, bright eyes at Ladonia and the red head felt his face beginning to flush a brilliant red. "Don't look at me like that! Just go get it!" He lifted his hands from his stomach to make a shooing motion that had the blonde laughing as he then turned walking out the open bedroom door with a swiftness he didn't know the Sealander possessed. It was quite nice to be alone for just a few moments as he looked over at the two suitcases that sat shut and ready to go while two remained open on the bed filled with their soaps and toothbrushes.He stood up grabbing their hair brushes then walking to the suitcase tucking them away amongst the underwear and he then began fussing with the underwear and it's positioning right down to the way it was folded even going as far as to unfold them then refold them again. Ladonia found his fingers were quick with folding the fabric and settling them nicely in the traveling bag and he then made sure that each had their shampoo, their conditioner and then their toothbrushes along with their toothpaste. Something was just telling him to go over everything that way it would be neat and tidy by the time they got to England's and he wouldn't think them slobs or something of the sort. When he was satisfied by the neatness of the case he made his way back to the bed just in time to hear happy feet trotting down the hallway and Sealand swung into view with a jar of salsa in one hand and a bowl of cookies within the other. He smiled brilliantly as he walked into the room handing Ladonia hsi bowl of cookies and the jar of salsa. Popping the top off Ladonia crossed his legs in a criss-cross position and he dipped his first cookie into the car and scooping out a generous amount of salsa on the cookie then popping it into his mouth with a quiet little moan. He chewed vigorously enjoying the taste as he watched Sealand begin to fold the underwear that he had in the pile next to the suitcase and begin folding them then pressing them down firmly into the case while he began humming once again. There was something relaxing about the humming, something that soothed the Ladonian Nation as he shoveled another salsa covered cookie into his mouth and watched as the top of the suitcase came down and he began pulling the zipper around the edges of the case."There we go! Now we're all ready to go to England's! Our flight is first thing in the morning so we should probably get some sleep tonight, right?" Sealand turned to Ladonia while tipping his head to the side and the red head felt his face flush at just how much of a puppy Sealand seemed like. It was rather adorable. He sighed softly as he plucked another cookie out of the bowl offering it out ot Sealand who cheered and bounced forward accepting the cookie and popping it into his mouth where he happily crunched into the cookie. It was quiet save for the sound of breathing and the crunching but once his mouth was free Sealand approached the edge of the bed that Ladonia was sitting on in order to gawk at the sight of a salsa covered cookie finding it's way into Ladonia's mouth. "Do you think that you'll have more cravings the further you get into your pregnancy? Or do you think it's an early thing only?""I have no clue!" Ladonia snapped but then regretted when he saw the flinch that moved over his lover and he found himself taking a deep breath throuhg his nose before speaking again after he had cleared his mouth. "Look, until we get to your brother's place how about you chill on the pregnancy questions. I have no clue what's going to happen and when it's going to happen so why don't we just wait until we're with your brother and he can answer all of our questions? That'll be way easier on all of us since he is more experienced and Finland isn't really talking about it too much." Ladonia scowled down at his lap as he spoke but the blonde joined him on the bed, plopping down causing the bowl and cookies to bounce softly along with Ladonia and he raised his scowl to aim at the blonde but found those wide, sky blue eyes looking at him rather earnestly did he sigh. "It's not like I can just go to the library and check out books on pregnancy. There's only so much attention we can call to ourselves and it would be weird if a teen boy was checking out books on pregnancy.""Hmmmm true. I sure do hope England has the answers we're looking for. Maybe we'll be able to stay there for a month or two! It'll be nice to be away from Ma-I mean Finland." He smiled sheepishly at his near slip up but reached out cupping Ladonia's cheek making the red head jump at the casual touch of those fingers against his cheek and a blush rushed up to his cheeks in response. "Look at you, blushing so easily." Sealand felt a pink blush in his cheeks but the sight of the delicate blush decorating his cheeks was simply-" Beautiful. You're so beautiful, Erland. I don't know how I never noticed it before now. You're so beautiful.""Sh-Shut up!" Ladonia stuttered over the words when he noticed Sealand leaning in closer, coming in slowly as if he were a horse that was easily spooked, and he felt his face burn hotly at the thought of the other Nation being so cautious of him. He swallowed reflexively, nervously, and found his eyes widening when lips pressed against his cheek rather than his lips as he was expecting and he felt his heart thump unevenly in his chest as he twisted his head slightly to look at the Sealander but found there was a strain to his eyes due to the other being so damn close to him. It was easy to lose himself in those sky blue eyes. So easy to dive into the clear depths.His lips parted slightly with a quiet, trembling breath as he met those eyes as evenly as he could and he found his lashes fluttering to a shut and his head tipping forward allowing for the Sealander to lean in. He could have sang when those lips pressed hesitantly, warmly, against his own and his hands reached up to grip at hi sshoulders as their lips moved slowly and lightly against one anothers as if they had to be cautious. Had to be careful in how they proceeded. Ladonia forgot all about his snacking in that moment as he leaned forward curling his arms around Sealand's shoulders and his fingers finding the ends of his hair against his neck which he played with as their lips moved slowly and warmly against one anothers. It was so easy to lose himself in kissing Sealand, not that they were experienced lovers so far, but there was something so easy in kissing the Sealander that Ladonia wondered why he'd never done it before. Yes, they had been clumsy during that first kiss of theirs but it felt strangely like they had been liberated since then and were finding their rhythm, their pace, in which they kissed one another and Ladonia adored it. He moved one hand from Sealand's neck, pulling back slightly and feeling pleasure to feel the Sealander chasing after him. as he placed the jar of salsa on the bed side table and leaned backwards so he flopped onto his back pulling the Sealander with him. Sealand let out a sound of approval as he leaned carefully over the pregnant Ladonian and pressed his lips eagerly, fiercely against Ladonia's and the redhead happily replied to the kiss as he moved his free hand up along his shoulder before joining it's twin in the locks of blonde hair.He was twisting his fingers delightfully into those locks when there came the sound of a throat clearing from the doorway. Both teens groaned quietly to one another before separating and fixing their clothing despite having not touched them and then turned to the bedroom door as Ladonia sat up awkwardly due to his position. Finland raised a single blonde brow as he crossed his arms over his chest and the two teens had an identical, scalding blush on their cheeks as they looked down at the floor and Ladonia had to admit that he felt a small stab of resentment. He wished Finland didn't come bothering them and he wished that they could just be as any other teenage couple but that clearly wasn't possible with the watchful eyes on them at what seemed to be all of the time. Ladonia, at three months pregnant, was far testier than the three month pregnant Finland and it was known amongst the parents that the Ladonian wouldn't hesitate to snap or shout at the other two men if they got on his bad side. Finland cleared his throat again as if clearing Ladonia's head of these thoughts and began to speak. "I know the two of you are visiting England but I want you to know that just because you're leaving here it doesn't mean it's an all season pass for having sex. There are RULES-""We get it. No touching, no canoodling, no kissing and no having sex. Anything else that you want to dictate us on?" Ladonia questioned in scathing tones that made those violet eyes narrow on him for a brief moment before looking away from the red head who was glaring boldly at the Nation before him. There was something absolutely annoying, even smothering, about the way that the Finnish Nation thought he could tell them what to do and that would be that but the Laonian Nation wanted to put a stop to it right here and now. "You know, you can't keep telling us what to do. We're grown Nations and we can very easily demand out independence. We want to be a couple so why can't you just accept that by now? Because of you we have to leave here and go all the damn way to England's! Is there seriously something so wrong with two people wanting to be together? Is it sickening to you somehow? Is it wrong that I want to be with Sealand?""You need to watch your language and the way you speak to me, young man!" Finland immediately shouted back as he looked at the haughty redhead who was glaring at him defiantly with those blue eyes narrowed into slits and Finland tensed up himself. "You decided to go to England's on your own! It has nothing to do with me and I'd rather you didn't blame me for it! Now I'd lose the attitude of yours! You don't want to leave behind bad memories do you?" Finland seemed to be grasping at straws but Ladonia refused to back down as he looked at the Finnish Nations. "My goodness that attitude! You'd think that one would grow out of it! But instead you've done nothing but become harder to deal with!""Of course I did! I'm a teenager!" Ladonia shouted back hopping off the bed he threw his arms open as he looked at the Finnish Nation who tensed his shoulders and the sight of the Finnish Nation refusing to back down had the Ladonian Nation burning hotly with outrage. "You know, maybe it's a good fucking thing that we're leaving! I can't stand one more minute under this roof! Maybe we'll just go to my place rather than come back here! Because goddammit do I hate it here!" He screamed the words at Finland who flinched under the sharp whip of the words that landed on him like blows being registered. It made Ladonia flinch himself but he'd been holding it in forever now! Ever since he had found out he was pregnant and they'd told Finland it had been absolutely insufferable around here! What else was he to do? How could he keep bottling it up? "At least England accepts my baby. It's clear what you think about it.""Can we stop?" Sealand asked quietly as he looked from the Finnish Nation to the Ladonian one and felt his face growing pale rather than hot for once when he then knotted his fingers together as he turned to Ladonia. There was a pleading expression in his face, shimmering in his large sky blue eyes. "Look, Mama, this is why we're leaving. Things are just too tense between you and Ladonia. We're going to give you the space that you deserve and you can choose whether you want us back or not. It's as simple as that but you can't expect us not to be together like a couple. That's unfair of you to expect of us." He then turned to Finland with hesitation written in his face as he considered his next words and looked down at his knotted hands. "I really want you to consider whether you want us back here or not, Mama. Okay?""Of course I want the two of you back here. I just-""You just wish we weren't together." Ladonia inserted with a scathing tone to his voice as his blue eyes turned icy and narrowed into slits and Sealand shot him a warning look but the redhead purposefully ignored it as he turned away from Finland. It hurt, for some reason, that the Finnish man was acting this way and while he couldn't voice these feelings aloud without them being garbled have worded sentences he wanted nothing more than for the Finnish Nation to understand. He shifted on the bed reaching for a cookie crunching into it wordlessly as the Finnish Nation looked in surprise from teen to teen. Then came the most surprising situation of all. Tears began welling in those wide violet eyes and with the wordless image of anguish rising in those eyes, the Finnish man spun on his heel rushing from the room leaving Ladonia and Sealand alone."Nice, Erland. Nice." Sealand rubbed his temples then as he looked to Ladonia who nearly choked on his cookie and looked at Sealand with wide eyes which the Sealander scowled at. There was something about the usually cheerful Sealand scowling that really made Ladonia aware of his screw up. Was it a screw up? "You could have been nicer to Mama. There's a choice with everything and you don't have to be so mean to Mama even though he's being unfair to the two of us. Now Papa is going to be angry at the moment because you made Mama cry!" He sighed heavily then before turning to Ladonia again with a strange relief to his sky blue eyes. "Thank god we're leaving tomorrow. Just...thank god."
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When Sweden found Finland upstairs in the attic he saw the tears running down his pale cheek and shimmered on his lashes as he sat curled up with a book on his lap that no doubt to Sweden held images within the pages. Those violet eyes sparkled at Sweden making his chest tighten at the sight of tears resting on the blonde lashes of his and he jiggled his car keys in his pocket for a moment as he looked around the attic. The boxes were disappearing steadily,something he hadn't noticed before now and there was a rather large bed tucked into the corner of the attic that looked quite old. It was as if Finland was creating a bedroom out of mere nothing and said Finnish man sniffled softly as he used the bac of his hands to rub at his eyes fiercely and the wetness smeared across the pale skin like a gloss against his skin when he looked up at Sweden with those wide violet eyes of his. Eyes that were still sparkling with tears despite having removed them from his lashes and Sweden felt his chest clench tightly at the agony that revealed itself in those big eyes that peered at him curiously. "What's the matter, Tino? Why are you crying up in the attic?""I miss them. Why did they have to grow up and notice one another?" Finland got out in a thick, crackling voice as his fingers traced the edge of the album in his lap and his fingers plucked at the corner of his book and Sweden sighed softly to himself which was echoed by the baby strapped to his chest. Aili was wriggling in her maternity swing, no doubt wanting to see Finland as she had heard his voice but the five month old was tucked securely against his chest which prevented the girl from looing around like she no doubt wanted too and she scowled up at her father."I can't believe that Ladonia and Sealand turned out this way. Did we do something wrong? Did we not do something right? I don't get it! They apparently had these feelings all along for one another but I just can't see it! I keep looking through their pictures and I can't see one moment where they looked at each other as something more than brothers and it's driving me crazy! I can't help but feel lie I failed them somehow.""We didn't fail them, Tino." Sweden replied as he walked across the squeaky floor to his husband and the baby whined as as she wriggled yet again against Sweden's chest impatiently and he sat down next to Finland while pulling the seven-month-old out of the sling and sat her on his knee making Finland sniffle. The baby's mismatched eyes immediately flew to Finland, whimpering she held her arms out for her mother and Finland happily took the girl from her father and cuddled the baby to his chest where she murmured quietly a nonsense string of sounds and Finland stroked his fingers over her light blonde tufts of hair. The Finnish man was looking down at his daughter but the tears were wavering in those violet eyes yet again when they lifted to Sweden and he reached out stroing his thumb underneath his eye catching the tears before they had the chance to fall down on cheek and then did the same for the other eye awkwardly. "Don't think for a moment that we failed them. Those boys aren't related by blood so they are free to do as they please but you have to remember, Tino, that sometimes you cannot help who you fall for. Isn't that what you told me when you were admitting your feelings way back when?""Of course you can't help who you fall for sometimes but not someone who was raised as a brother figure!" Finland protested then as he looked down at the book which was indeed containing pictures of Ladonia and Sealand during their much younger days. While they'd raised Sealand from a very young age of eleven there was still something parental in the way that they viewed their son and yet when Ladonia came into the picture Sweden hadn't expected the boys to bond as brothers. After all, they had drastically different personalities and they hadn't been the types to cling to one another rather they clashed and continued to clash long after Ladonia was introduced to the household that it should of been obvious where it would lead. Sweden sighed to himself as Finland kissed Aili's chubby cheek making the girl whine lightly as if in protest and the seven-month-old looked at her father curiously as her chubby cheek pressed against his chest. "I just didn't think that they would want to be with one another like that!"Sweden grunted quietly to himself as he looked at his daughter then to Finland as he raised a hand upwards to press the bacs of his fingers against Finland's cheek making those wide violet eyes lift up to him like a child looing for consultation. It felt lie there was many things that the Finnish man seemed ot understand but this scenario was not one of them and yet he loved them enough to miss them terribly already and yet he seemed to absolutely refuse the logic behind the boys' feelings for some reason but Sweden knew there was time to unpack the Finnish man's emotions. He twisted his hand in order to press his palm against his damp chee and rubbed his thumb against his damn cheek bone for a moment or two without speaking in order to convey what he hoped to convey throuhg the touch alone but when those shimmering violet eyes found him again he decided that there had to be more than just a touch. There had to be an exchange of words. Aili grunted to herself as she reached up as if to slap at her father's hand but couldn't quite reach properly making both parents stare down at her fondly before Sweden spoe. "I say that we let them be happy with each other, Tino.""Is that our only option? It would be better if Sealand felt something for Latvia but he claims to feel nothing for the boy but did it have to be Ladonia?" Finland questioned aloud in a murmur as he pressed his lips briefly against Aili's cap of silky light blonde hair and then began making swirls in the little locs of hair making the baby whine loudly in protest as she turned her face into her mothers chest. He sighed softly then as he looked down at his daughter who stared up at him with her mismatched eyes curiously and Finland kept his eyes trained on his daughter's precious face for a moment or two before he decided to speak again. "I just want them to be happy always and I don't know how happy they can make one another. I'd rather that neither of them got together just to spare them a broken heart, okay? Perhaps that's why I've just been so hard on them but I understand that there's nothing I can do to stop them from being together even now. I just want them to be okay and I don't want them to hurt each other.""If they break each other's hearts then that's up to them. They're in charge of their own happiness, their own destinies and we can do nothing more than support and watch them as they go. It's like watching a baby waddling for the first time. Their relationship is new and what they're feeling is new so the best we can do is just let them explore their feelings." Sweden then stood up pulling his hand from the man's cheek to instead hold it out as he noticed Aili's rather adorable yawning. "Come on. Let's go take a nap, all three of us."Finland knew that he could protest, put up a fuss but he refused to do so as he clung to Sweden's hand and both of them walked across the squeaky floor of the attic together with Aili yawning against his chest once more before ending it with a huff of air. If there was anything more precious than his daughter then he had no clue for his daughter truly was his whole world and yet the Finnish man was excited for the newest baby. It would only be another two months before they could see the baby, find out the gender and more than anything Finland found himself hoping for another little girl just lik Aili. It was honestly hard to believe that Aili was alive and well now when there was another baby on the way and he was surprised that he had gotten pregnant not once but twice now. A miracle was what it was. He was three months along but soon enough, very soon, he'd be seeing his little baby. He couldn't wait to find out the gender for Sweden hoped it would be a boy while Finland hoped it would be a girl and it was a constant bac and forth between the both of them. Finland allowed himself to be pulled down the attic stairs carefully as Aili snuggled down against his chest as if pouting and he clutched her fiercely to his chest as they came down on the second floor of the house the two of them waled towards the nursery with Aili whining lightly as if sensing she was about to be put down. Her little hands curled into tight fists gripping fistfuls of fabric with those tiny hands so fiercely that even though she was allowed a teething ring and a stuffed plushie in her crib she still clung to Finland causing Sweden to step in and help get the baby's hands to release Finland's shirt.It was rather sweet that Aili clung onto Finland so fiercely but as he laid the girl into her crib he felt that same desire to swing the little girl up into his arms once more and he fought the desire to do so down as Aili yawned again then shoved her teething toy into her mouth. Her large violet and green-blue eyes watched her parents as they backed away from the crib and she whimpered softly watching her mother and father step over the threshold then turn to walk to their own bedroom with Finland yawning to himself. He knew that Aili wouldn't sleep right away, that she might even cry out a few times for her parents but Finland knew that Sweden would merely leave her be as he was a big believer in self soothing over the past seven month of her life. Of course it had worked in the past but Finland couldn't help wishing he'd brought his daughter with him on the big bed where they could cuddle together for nap time like they usually did. He clung to his husband's hand as he was tugged into the bedroom with the door swinging lightly on it's hinges and Finland found himself yawning yet again as he sniffed slightly then climbed onto the bed with Swede walking around the bed in order to climb onto his side of the bed. The two of them rolled forward meeting in the middle of the bed, Finland's arms reaching outwards for his husband instinctively and wrapping one arm around his shoulders and the other around his waist clinging to the man who wrapped his arm around Finland's waist. There was a warmth radiating between the two that Finland found he adored as he cuddled into Sweden, tucking his face into his throat as he shut his eyes sighing out softly as he settled against the mattress and his husband. A husband who adored him, a daughter who adored him and one more on the way. His life couldn't be more perfect.Right on the dot, little more than an hour later, Aili was making her presence known to her parents. Finland's lashes fluttered against his cheeks as he groaned low in his throat at the nausea that was batting at him like a playful kitten's paws and Sweden's lashes seemed to peel apart revealing those cherished blue-green irises of his and they glowed with warmth for a moment. Aili's cries spiraled upwards with an intensity that had the Finnish man squirming away from his husband but unfortunately couldn't get very far due to the nausea that continued to bat at him and he groaned low in his throat. One of the harder things about pregnancy was the sickness and it was one of the things that Finland honestly felt that he could do without. Sweden pressed a hand against his stomach and rubbed lightly making a kneading movement that helped sooth the waves of nausea lapping at him which had him sending a grateful look to his husband but the cries of his daughter urged him out of bed. When he got to the edge of the bed he swung his feet over the side then forced himself to his feet as he waled across the room doing his best not to double over, not to vomit on his feet like he feared he would, and made his way out of the bed. Aili's crying was nearly hysteric by this point as she wailed her tiny lungs out and the Finnish man moved as fast as he dared to his little doll-like daughter as he entered her nursery where the girl's howling cries pierced his heart. He shuffled over to the crib reaching downwards into the crib and tugging the girl out into his arms as her tears ran down her red, chubby cheeks and her mismatched eyes sparkled up at her mother."Oh, Aili, do you need a change?" Finland murmured as he turned on his heel towards the changing table as his daughter's legs kicked out restlessly as she whimpered and he smiled softly down at the baby who whimpered yet again and he laid the seven-month-old down on the changing table and tugged her little pants off, reached underneath the changing table for a fresh diaper and wipes then placed then on the table next to his daughter's squirming legs. He opened up her diaper, grateful it was just wet for once, and proceeded to wipe her clean then sprinkling a touch of baby powder over her bottom placing the new diaper under said bottom and latched the velcro into place and slipped her pants back on. "There! All done!" The baby whimpered again reaching her hands up for Finland to pick her up and he smiled. "Come on, let's go cuddle with Papa."Scooping the girl up into his arms he felt a faint fluttering from deep inside of him making him stop briefly to press a hand against his four month bump delightedly then returned his hand upwards into the cradle hold he had the seven-month-old in and walked briskly from the bedroom. It was odd to thin that soon enough his daughter would be a year old in just five months and that it would corelate to his giving birth for a second time. He only hoped their birthdays didn't fall on the same day! That would be disastrous he was sure of it but there was a warm spot in his heart as he thought about his children sharing a birthday and even though he didn't want Aili to feel in competition with a baby sibling that she never asked for there was still a drop of warmth. He adjusted his hold on the baby in his arms as he walked back into the room to find Sweden placing his glasses on his nose and adjusting them slightly. He then sighed but had a tiny smile on his lips as he too in the sight of his daughter. "Just couldn't help yourself, could you?""Aww come on! It won't hurt either of us to give her a little cuddle!" Finland replied with a laugh in his voice as he walked towards the bed feeling a stab of nausea as he bent forward to lay Aili on the bed then climbing on after her. The seven-month-old looked up at her father with the same stoic expression yet her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she reached up to no doubt grab his glasses and grunted quietly as she reached up but Sweden angled his face away fromthe girl's reach making her pout. Finland laughed lightly as he stroked his finger down the slope of her tiny nose then tapping the tip making said nose scrunch up as she looked up at her mother with a disgruntled expression and he knew that if she could tal she'd be mumbling to herself, just like her father. "No, little lady. Those glasses are not for you, they're Papa's! Do you think that when she's older that she's going to need glasses?""Who knows. Possibly since I have to have glasses and things like that are genetic." He stroked his daughter's silky cheek making the girl stare up at him curiously once again and then her little hand came up scratching the back of his hand excitedly before gripping onto it fiercely with all the strength a seven-month-old could possibly possess. "Sort of like how her heterochromia could be genetic. Of course it's very rare for a child to have and it's incredibly rare for a Nation to have heterochromia but she has a fifty-fifty chance to pass it on to her children when she gets old enough to have them." Finland laughed at the disgruntled light that came to those precious green-blue eyes and he reached out cupping Sweden's chee in a way that was similar to how he cupped Aili's. "It's strange to think that she'll make us grandparents some day too.""I know but it'll be delightful to be surrounded by grandchildren!" Sweden seemed to frown fiercely at the thought of having more grandchildren but Finland laughed delightedly as he curled his hand from his chee up to his hair as he tugged him down for a brief, sparkling kiss that had his toes curling and his heart thumping unevenly in his chest. When they pulled back Aili was staring up in awe as if the sight of her parents kissing above her was something to gawk at and Finland laughed as he leaned down kissing her chubby pink cheek delightedly. "Our girl is going to be so pretty that it's hard to imagine her NOT having children someday. After all she's going to be unique because of her eyes and she's going to be positively lovely by the time she's England's daughters age! Our daughter is so lovely it's hard not to imagine what she'll look like as a child. The same goes with this new baby! We make lovely babies, don't we?""Of course we do. It's hard not to have a lovely child when you yourself are so lovely, Tino." Finland felt his face flush fiercely at the compliment and he bit his lip for a moment as he looked into Sweden's eye before smiling shyly as he then looked down at their daughter who was staring from Sweden to Finland curiously still. Her pink cheeks, her wide multicolored eyes, her rosy lips, her long lashes and her pale skin along with her silky hair had her as lovely a a china doll made from only the finest materials. No child was as lovely as his own and while he had once been envious over England' daughter for her loveliness he knew that Aili was grow into a child of beautiful proportions and when she was fully grown she'd be so stunning that it would be a pure shame if she didn't have a lover. He was lost in his thoughts, imagining a much older Aili with the same lovely features, when Sweden pulled him out of his thoughts. "Who do you think this new baby will look like?""Hmmm..." Finland hummed for a moment as he looed down at his daughter who was staring up at him now a she chewed on her fingers and he smiled as he poked her chubby cheek making her scowl for a brief moment before going stoic once again and he chuckled softly. "Well, I think our new child will look like you1. Aili takes after you so strongly what with her eyebrows, her little jaw, her chin and her nose that it's impossible not to look at her and not see you that I hope this new baby will hopefully take after you a strongly as Aili does." He then paused then smiled up at his husband brightly. "I think the question now, however, is whether this new baby is going to be a boy or a girl. I know after raising Sealand for as long as he we have that I wouldn't mind a little boy!"Sweden chuckled softly as he leaned in kissing Finland's cheek causing both pale cheeks to turn a rosy red that had the Swedish man smiling as he leaned down and kissed Aili's cheek earning him the same result as her mother only in her case she pouted. While Sweden loved his son, Sealand, he knew that with a daughter as lovely as Aili that there was no way that his little daughter didn't deserve a little playmate who was just a lovely as she was. Son or daughter, he didn't mind in the slightest bit what this new child would be but as he looked into those sparkling violet eyes he found himself leaning forward to kiss the tip of Finland's nose making the man giggle quietly. "Boy or girl, it doesn't matter to me. But I'll tell you this; whatever gender the child will be they'll be just as lovely as their mother and sister.""You're right. Regardless of gender I just want the baby to be healthy. Do we want to know what the baby is ahead of time? Because I think, what with this new baby being a surprise to have happened, that maybe we should keep the gender a secret. Be surprised when they're born." Finland suggested then beamed when Sweden nodded his answer in response to the question and he threw his hand forward wrapping it around Sweden's shoulder's and tugging him down for a kiss that bursted with vitality and warmth. Such joy was poured into the kiss that when it parted he was proud to see a pink blush on his husband's face. He then moved his hand from Sweden's shoulder's down to his stomach where he rubbed his four month bump carefully and delightedly as he smiled. "Well, little baby, whoever you turn out to be just know that we're excited to meet you! Welcome to the family!"
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There was a certain quality to life when it came to raising two boys. THere was fixing scrapes, plucking splinters, kissing bruises and rubbing backs when they inevitably caught the stomach bug but there was also something strangely thrilling about raising two boys who were always on the move. Despite being eleven-years-old and six-years-old now there was no holding back when the boys came together to play together. They often chased one another around the house screeching at the top of their lungs and there was something strangely comforting about the sound of shries coming from the boys, the sound of feet pounding against the wooden floors. It brought life to Norway's quiet cabin home and he found himself enjoying the wildness of his sons. So much like their father. Ever since the boys had been sent away to the World Academy it had been rather quiet around the house, a quietness that crept into Norway's bones as if intent on withering the Norwegian away into nothing if he so much as called attention to this quietness. When he had flown to America with the boys he hadn't expected to feel such crippling sadness at the sight of his boys in their respective uniforms standing there before him all grown up and it made his heart ache to recall the proud sparkle in Abel's eyes. When they had walked to the dorms and the boys were directed to their rooms Norway had felt a quiet sadness growing inside him at the thought of flying home alone but with both boys standing before him so proudly he knew he had to be in better control of his emotions. Of course he smiled and crooned over how proud he was of them but when he was on his plane ride home he was fighting tears. It had been profoundly hard on Norway to fly home alone but at least he'd had Denmark and Nikolai waiting at home for him.Nikolai knew how to keep his parents busy, knew how to keep them on their feet and with an infant in the house it felt at least somewhat full in the absence of both the boys but Norway still ached at the loss of his boys. Empty nest syndrome he heard it be described as. He sighed looking down at the infant in his arms, suckling at the nipple of the bottle he had prepared, and took a moment to gawk at his had pink cheeks, a delicate brushing of color that was easy to identify due to his son's pale coloring and he possessed tufts of blonde hair that were fluffy, soft even, to the touch while his eyelashes were the longest he'd ever seen. Longer than even his brothers and they framed large blue eyes that stared up at Norway curiously. At the moment the baby was staring up at the ceiling curiously as though there was something up there that was distracting him from drinking his bottle and those blue eyes flickered to Norway as tiny hands gripped his wrist fiercely with the strength only a three month old could possess. His lips moved with the suckling movement of his mouth and the bottle wobbled in his grip as the baby began suckling down his formula once again before his eyes were riveted upwards once again leaving Norway to chuckle softly. Nikolai squeaked out a sound around his bottle signalling he was done with the liquid and Norway pulled the nipple from his mouth carefully and placed the bottle down. He stretched his chubby legs out against Norway's arms and his little arms flew upwards while Norway lightly tickled his fingers over the baby's full tummy making the child's arms fly downwards as if to protect his belly with a squeal leaving his lips. Norway laughed as he moved the baby, adjusting him so his little head rested on his shoulder and he began patting his back.It was during this soft patting and the burps that slipped past Nikolai's lips that he heard the front door swing open and he looked over at the doorway expectantly as he continued to pat Nikolai's back softly. Denmark's face was flushed as he walked in, a stack of firewood in his arms, that he let drop from his grip onto the floor where they thudded and rolled against the carpeted floor towards Norway's feet. "Oi, don't just drop firewood wherever! Think about Nikolai when he's playing on the floor." Norway snapped as he moved Nikolai back into a cradled hold and the three-month-old looked to his father with those wide blue eyes of his and Denmark grinned at the baby."Don't worry I'll vacuum so there aren't any splinters on the floor." Denmark walked over to the rocking chair and bent over kissing Nikolai's tufts of hair lovingly making the baby squeal yet again as he wriggled in his mother's arms before reaching a hand out towards his father. The Danish Nation smirked as he happily took the baby from Norway and spun in a little circle towards the middle of the living room with the baby in his arms, crooning to the child in Danish as he lifted his arms up to kiss his chubby cheeks making Nikolai squeal yet again as his little hands gripped fistfuls of his father's shirt in his tiny hands. Denmark flopped onto the couch crossing his legs as he peppered kisses along Nikolai's chubby cheeks and his smooth forehead then used his free hand to swirl the tufts of blonde hair happily around his fingers gently before turning his attention back to Norway. "I want to thank you for giving us another baby, Lukas. I know it wasn't easy and I know that it was scary to do so but now you've given me another son I have to admit that I'm happy. In no time he'll be running around the house getting into all kinds of trouble just like his brothers.""You know it." Norway couldn't hold onto his irritation when his husband was sitting there showering their son with affection and when that wide smile was aimed his way he found his lips twitching up into a soft smile before he could stop himself. There was some sort of happiness that sparkle through his chest as he watched his husband with their son. Norway had absolutely been terrified when Nikolai came so early in his seventh month but the baby had only needed a couple of weeks in the NICU and Norway had only needed a week for his wound from his impromptu C-section to heal up but he'd refused to leave his son alone in the hospital. Oh he'd been as stubborn as Denmark and refused to leave his son behind so he would spend hours upon hours in the same room with his tiny son as he fussed and worried over the boy who had seemed so delicately small. He'd been assured that it was alright if he was smaller than other children his age for a while but given that he was the child of two Nations Norway knew that his son would be shooting up in development any day now.There was always this fear, a worry of his, that his son would show problems later on. After all, from what he'd read, some children have delays when they're born so early and sometimes they can have delays for no real reason and that thought terrified him. Nikolai had grown to that of a three-month-old and he reacted to things as any three-month-old would but there was still this fear that someday he'd be delayed in some stage of development. It wasn't quite the same fear he'd had for Sven or Abel as both the boys had grown so quickly that it was a surprise to him at the time but he'd never had the fear to judge or worry about their development but when it came to his tiny son, his little Nikolai, he found there was much fear. He eyed the baby in Denmark's arms when the blonde looked up. "I know you don't like to hear it because it makes you miss them but it's so quiet now. I never thought it'd be so quiet without them here. It's a good thing it's just four more months until they come home.""I'd be sadder but I know that there's something good about them being at the academy. There're getting the best possible education, they're meeting other Nations' children and they'll be growing up in an environment around others that are like them. Children that understand each other." Norway stood up then from the chair which rocked back and forth slowly from the lack of weight within it and he began picking up the dropped firewood and began stacking it neatly by the fireplace where it belonged. "Plus I'm sure the academy will help with getting Abel set up with an ice skating coach and he'll find a skating partner. They're going to grow up and get smart, become wise and they're going to enjoy coming back home I bet. We just have to be patient and make it through the next four months and I'm sure they'll be knocking down our walls as any six and eleven-year-old can.""Very true! And you know that Nikki is going to join in the fight too once he's big enough! I can see this kid being just like you personality wise but when it comes to fighting he's gonna be just like Papa!" He nuzzled his cheek to Nikolai's forehead making it scrunch up as he whined lightly in response to the nuzzling but Norway found himself smiling as he finished placing the firewood in it's place beside the fire place. He could see it to. A stoic little boy who, when provoked, would be a true force to reckon with. It was a heartwarming thought to have as he straightened up and turned to his husband who was playing with those tufts of hair making the baby stare at him with awe when he looked up smiling with delight. "How about we have a fire? Snuggle together and turn the lights off then watch a movie? Just the three of us?""How about I put Nik into his bouncer and the two of us watch a movie? I can make some popcorn too." Norway suggested as he grabbed the bouncer sliding it to Denmark's feet and he stood up then bent over to place Nikolai into it, clipping the belt into place and when he moved away his infant son was staring at him with those huge blue eyes that he so adored. It was as if Nikolai was absolutely taken aback at being laid down in his bouncer and he even tilted his little head back as if attempting to see his father who was eagerly flicking the TV on and Norway rolled his eyes at the man's eagerness though there was a touch of affection in that eyeroll. It was impossible to remain completely cold to Denmar after having had three of his sons already."Watch him and don't put any gory movies on, he doesn't need to be introduced to horror so young. He'll have nightmares for all you know.""Do babies even have nightmares?" Denmark questioned then as Norway shook his head when the man looked pointedly at the three-month-old curiously and Nikolai squirmed in his bouncer with a whine on his lips and both parents chuckled softly at the baby's response. Denmark leaned forward pressing the tips of his fingers against the top of the bouncer and began to lightly bounce the baby as he used his other hand to flip towards the movie channels while Norway fought down a yawn as he waled from the living room into the hallway and down it to the kitchen with a sigh on his lips as he scratched his chin. It truly was quiet without Abel and Sven around but like he had said before, it was only four more months and the boys would be back for the next three months of summer vacation before returning to the Academy in September. He already knew that Denmark would be going with him with Nikolai so at least the next time he wouldn't be alone.He was snapped from his thoughts when he heard rather fast knocking coming from the front door. He hadn't been expecting anyone to come by and as remote as his home was he didn't think a neighbor would come out so far for him which lead him to squint suspiciously at the door as he backed out of the kitchen to walk down the hallway once again and Norway felt a stab of irritation. He wanted whoever this was to go away, wanted to be left alone with his baby and his husband but the knocking continued with that same fast pace like whoever it was was excited by the thought of interrupting his night in. He reached the front door, unlatched one lock then flipped th eother tugging the door open with the fast jerking movement of a man in deep irritation and as he scowled outwards it stopped short with surprise at just who was on his doorstep. Sweden and Finland. Sweet little Aili was in her mother's arms, bundled up in a thick purple coat with a little purple hat on top of her head with a loose bobbing ball on top amde from yarn and then on her hands were the tiniest little gloves he'd ever seen along with tiny pin boots on her feet. Finland beamed brightly as he adjusted his hold on Aili and Sweden looked up at the lightly swirling snow that drifted down from the clouds above and pursed his lips with distaste but it was the bright eager face of Finland's that made Norway blink in surprise. There was very few times that the couple had been on Norway's doorstep and this counted as one of the few times. The others were during Abel and Sven's birthday's did they see the couple. It was rather odd."Hallo! We're here for a little visit! We figured that while we were in the area that we'd pop on by!" Finland exclaimed as he once again adjusted the little girl in his arms and her mismatched eyes leveled on Norway with a rather bored expression on her face as she wriggled her little feet as if impatient to be put down. It as rather sweet to see the seven-month-old from time to time but the little baby was so stoic that it was hard to call her fascinating when it was hard to determine just what could be going through that little head of hers. "And we figured that we should come see our newest little nephew! I know it's a visit long overdue but I wanted to come by and see my little nephew! Could we come in?""Of course." Norway pushed open the door wide which Sweden caught and held open allowing Finland to walk in under his arm. "I was going to make some popcorn because Mathias and I were going to watch a movie tonight. I'll make two bags if you two are going to be joining us." Norway spun on his heels sighing to himself as he entered the kitchen as he heard the front door shut behind the couple but he merely walked into the kitchen while Finland rushed past the doorway like a child in his excitement and Norway approached the cabinet reaching up grabbing two bags of popcorn while his husband enthusiastically greeted the couple. Well, tonight at least wouldn't be quiet and while it was a touch unexpected on his part he found that some part of him was rather grateful for the noise.There was something nice about the noise. Something comforting about it all. He could hear the Finnish man happily blurbing to his husband as he no doubt held up Aili to him while he cradled Nikolai in his arms and Norway couldn't help but feel a pang in his chest. His two boys, his Sven and Abel, should be here. They should have been flying down the stairs shouting their greetings to their Uncles as they ran into their welcoming arms and they should be here to coo over Aili's adorable little face. They should be here and they weren't. It was far too quiet without them. Norway was surprised to feel a tear trail down his cheek that he reached up to remove with trembling fingers as he ripped open the plastic wrapping around the popcorn and placed it into the microwave pressing the button. He felt awkward, maybe even shy, about talking to his husband about the ache that was eating away at him from the inside out but the man seemed to understand it if the reactions were anything to go by. His husband always seemed loneliest when he entered the house, his coat being hung up and then he'd turn as if ready to throw open his arms for a small person to throw themselves into. The sadness that would shadow those lovely blue eyes hurt Norway more than anything. He wished he could honestly throw himself with the same exuberance as Abel into his husband's arms but he was much too stiff and much too shy to begin to do something like that with his husband. He tried making it up by cuddling with his husband at night in a way that would sooth the ache in his chest.While he loved how tiny and squishable Nikolai was, there was just something he missed about scooping up one of his sons into his arms and swinging them around the house with exuberance that he couldn't show with his husband. He sighed as he listened to the popcorn pop loudly in the microwave and Norway leaned against the counter, tapping his fingers against the counter like a staccato. He wanted to go and see his niece, strange as it was, but he couldn't quite shake the irritation away at the evening being in truded upon but he was somewhat grateful. Noise was good. And he wanted more than anything to feel like his house was fuller than it felt most days and he wanted nothing more than for someone to chatter his ear off like he knew Abel would was a welcomed relief. Norway blinked when the microwave beeped and he pulled the filled bag out then ripped the plastic covering off of the second bag and threw it into the microwave pressing the button and watching the bag spin. He just needed a little something to fill the silence that his boys had left behind. Just something that would get him throuhg the next four months. Anything would be a welcomed relief. Absolutely anything.
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Japan sat close to the heater as he watched China's slow movements of tai-chi, his body having bent and twisted in graceful possesses and Japan had sat in such awe that he'd forgotten all about the little cap in his lap. He'd been happily sewing together a soft fabric in the shape of a baby cap, something that would resemble what they placed on a baby's head in the hospital, something that he'd had the grand idea to sew together in preparation for the baby. When China had taken those tests over a month ago Japan had been nervous that a home test wouldn't be as accurate as a doctor's test and so China had run about the house making an appointment for the test to be conducted and the boys had been in a state of absolute delight. No one had been more excited than his eldest, no one had been ore delighted to hear they'd be a big brother again and no one had been as happy as Xiong had been. The boy had been bouncing around in an uncharacteristic manner for usually he followed after Japan's calming presence but that day he'd been wriggling all over like a little puppy ready to burst free of the house. Genji, of course, was less than thrilled at the thought of being the middle child but he quickly got over it when Japan explained that he too would be a big brother and the boy had perked up quite happily at the news. It was sad that it had only been a handful of weeks ago that they'd made this discovery and the boys had been transported to the World Academy. Japan would never forget the sight of his sons beaming brightly as they accepted their uniforms and rushed to their dorm rooms to hurriedly put them on to show Japan as they smiled proudly at their mother figure. Japan still felt pride at the thought of his sons in their uniforms.There had been a painful element to bringing the boys to America to attend school but the boys had seemed so absolutely delighted that Japan had hidden his sadness rather well considering that the boys never noticed anything wrong with their mother figure. Japan had been thrown into absolute despair when he'd flown home alone. He'd cried and sniffled to himself as he considered his boys being alone in a new country that they very rarely visited and there'd been a painful stab in his chest as he considered just how quiet his own home was going to be from now on. Of course there was relief at the thought that he would be seeing his children in four months time but there was still something sad about saying goodbye to the boys for any length of time, even if it was a wonderful opportunity to meet others. Japan blinked himself out of his rather downcast thoughts when his husband balanced on one leg, as firm as any tree as his arms stretched above his head before coming down to level his hands to his chest as he breathed out in a long whoosh and then planted his other foot onto the floor beaming at Japan. He waled over to the man plopping down onto his knees before him with a sparkle to those golden brown eyes of his and Japan found himself smiling softly at China who leaned forward pressing his lips against his cheek. The fluttering lips moved across his cheek to his nose, pecking the tip of it, then moving down to kiss the edge of his jaw with soft movements of his lips and Japan knew exactly where those lips would seek out next and he felt a flutter of excitement in his chest at the thought. China leaned in pressing his lips against Japan's once, twice, then moved his lips down to his chin."I can't thank you enough, Kiku -aru." China murmured as his lips continued to press against his jawline in between his murmured words and Japan felt hands grab at his own then fingers weaving in between his own making him grip onto China's hands happily. The Chinese Nation pulled back looking at Japan, lifting their right conjoined hands together in order to brush the back of his hand against Japan's cheek softly with a smile on his lips as he then leaned in capturing Japan's lips in another soft kiss. It was the type of kiss that made Japan's toes curl tightly, made his fingers clench tightly around China's and had his heart fluttering wildly in his chest as he held onto the Chinese Nation that was kissing him oh so tenderly at that moment. When China pulled back once again, Japan found himself chasing after the Chinese man's lips and that earned him a fond chuckle from his husband. "I want to say thank you once more. I want to scream it from the rooftop because thanks to you, Kiku, we're finally having a baby.""It would make more sense to thank you, Yao-san. After all, you're the one carrying our baby." Japan replied in a mumble when China pulled his hands from Japan's and while there was a moment of regret Japan found his hands reaching for China's waist as those arms wrapped around his shoulders and in return he wrapped his arms around China's waist. The two sat cheek to cheek for a quiet moment as China hummed a quiet little melody as they rocked back and forth together as the silence around them pressed down on the two parents who opened their eyes as if expecting to be interrupted at any moment. It was instinctive after all! How could one not raise two boys and not expect for a moment to be interrupted by a child? Japan felt a stab of longing in his chest as he pulled his face away from China's with a soft sigh on his lips. "I miss our boys.""I do too. But not to worry! They'll be home soon enough -aru!" China cheerfully replied as he kissed the tip of Japan's nose, tingles racing through the Japanese Nation at the casual affection his husband displayed and those golden brown eyes then glowed delightfully as they looked at one another. "How about we have some lunch? Something to eat will do us good and it will do the baby some good! Can you believe I'm a month along -aru?" China slid his arms from his shoulders using the wall behind him to hop up onto his feet and then held both of his hands out for Japan to take which he did rather gratefully and allowed himself to be tugged up onto his feet. The two men where smiling at one another, China's lips parting to ask a question when a flurry of knocks accompanied by the doorbell ringing interrupted whatever it was that China was about to say. "Aiyaa, who in the world could that be -aru?""I'll get it while you go get lunch started." Japan suggested with raised brows as they turned towards the front doors and China sighed out in a huff but together the two of them walked across the room out into the hallway where the flurry at the door had yet to relax or slow in the slightest bit. China branched off into the kitchen while Japan continued waling down his hallway to his front hall and stepped down before shuffling across the shoe wrack then tugged open the door with curiosity budding inside of him. What greeted him at first were large excited brown eyes that glowed at him and only then did he piece together the face before him, the long hair that quivered with her excited bounces on her toes. Even the familiar bright pink colored qipao with the gold trip that was her iconic style as the sleeves bounced over her hands. Beside her was a rather serious faced woman who possessed golden-honey colored eyes that glowed brilliantly against her dark brown locks of hair. "Taiwan? Vietnam? What are you doing here?""We're here to visit of course!" Taiwan happily replied as her hair continued to tremble lightly as she bounced on her toes and her partner sighed softly as she reached up to press down on Taiwan's head in an effort to get her to stand still but the girl merely trembled on her toes since she was no longer able to bounce freely. Vietnam rolled her eyes affectionately at the trembling Nation beneath her hand and Taiwan's bright eyes sparkled at Japan. "I heard that China was pregnant! Hong Kong told us! The last time he was pregnant it was with Uri! And that was thirteen years ago!""We were about to have lunch but I suppose we can make extra for the two of you to join us." Japan murmured as he looked down at his feet for a moment before looking upwards to find Taiwan had her fingers laced together below her chin with those wide brown eyes sparkling at him hopefully and he found he really didn't have the heart to turn her away. "Alright, come on in but make sure to take your boots off." Taiwan shouted happily as she threw her arms around Japan's shoulders making him stutter wordlessly for a moment but he accepted the hug by awkwardly patting Taiwan's back and Vietnam merely shook her head with a sigh on her lips as Taiwan released Japan with a bright smile and kicked off her boots quickly then ran up on the smooth wood floor in her socks when Japan turned to Vietnam who entered after her partner. "It is nice to see you again, Vietnam.""Come on, Liên!" Taiwan called over her shoulder as she slid along the wooden floor like it were ice and her socks the ice skates making Vietnam roll her eyes once again but the affection that glowed from her golden-honey eyes spoke volumes as Taiwan giggled happily then spun rushing for the kitchen. No doubt she was following the scent with her nose and it was Japan's turn to shake his head at the girl's behavior; he was glad, however, that she was still a bubbly girl despite her tendency to worry and he was glad to see she was still her usual self. She was amazingly balanced out by Vietnam and it was a relationship that truly spoke volumes on opposites attract. Vietnam bent over to slip her feet out of the boots when Taiwan appeared in the hallway feet away with her hands on her hips. "I said come on! You guys are such slowpokes!""It's better to take my time than rush forwards, Lin." Vietnam replied calmly as she got her second boot off then stepped up onto the wooden floor and Japan followed after her when together they began walking down the hallway together. It was times like these that Japan felt that it seemed wild, even bubbly personalities always met their calm ands strong headed counterpart which was absolutely a trope in and of itself but one that Japan found his fingers itching to draw out. He peeked at Vietnam as they walked and the woman turned her head slightly to peer back at him making his face flush when a stiff smile formed on her lips. "Lin can be a lot, so I understand if you're a bit overwhelmed. She used to be overwhelming to me too in the beginning but I think I've grown used to it.""Oh I'm used to her! She used to live with us for a while so I can get accustomed to her rather wild and bubbly personality." He paused then smiled at Vietnam who had a tremble to her stiff smile which had him tilting his head to the side as they walked. "I'm glad she has you at least. You're like her weights, keeping her from floating away. I do the same for Yao-san and I do the same for our sons because I think they'd just float away if they were given the choice to do so." He chuckled to himself as the smile dropped from Vietnam's face as she sighed and together the pair entered the kitchen to find Taiwan having her sleeves pinned backwards revealing her pale, slender arms and China mumbling to himself as he pinned his little sister's sleeves backwards. "What's going on?""Lin wants to help me cook and I refused to let her start a fire with these wretched sleeves -aru!" China grumbled as he finished pinning her long sleeves backwards then slid a ponytail off of his wrist and gestured for Taiwan to spin around which she did rather huffily. "And all this hair too! I swear you are a walking fire hazard -aru!" China began scrapping her hair backwards while being careful not to include her ahoge in the rest of her hair and tugged her hair as efficiently as he could and Taiwan hummed softly to herself as she looked down at her pink painted finger nails which glistened lightly in the light when her hair was dropped by China. It fell in a thick pony tail down her back and it gave her face an open, youthful look to it as she then slapped a hand to her forearm and gave Japan a look of determination."Let's cook!"It was hard to feel the house was lonely, hard to feel that the house was too large when they suddenly had two new houseguests. Accord to Taiwan, the woman wanted to stay until China gave birth but Japan had a feeling that she would leave halfway throughout the pregnancy. After all, she and China couldn't truly stand one another despite being brother and sister. She had many a time in the past told China to stay away from him and had done so in such a threatening manner that China had taken her threats very seriously and left Japan alone countless times due to her words. Despite raising Taiwan as a little sister there was still some tension between the two of them t hat refused to be absolved or resolved in the slightest bit what with the two of them refusing to even acknowledge this tension between one another. At least China refused to acknowledge it. Japan always scolded the elder to resolve things with his little sister but things were tense between Taiwan and himself that often times they ended up bickering with one another before they could finish talking about their problems. Japan was somewhat thankful that Taiwan at least wanted to spend some time together and wanted to watch the pregnancy advanced but he had the feeling that it had more to do with the fact of the news that she had shared with them. She and Vietnam wanted to try and have a baby. They were looking into donors from other Nations but it was rather tough to get a Nation to agree to have a child that wouldn't involve them and Japan understood the women's frustrations. Their choices were dwindling leaving them only with India, Macau and Osaka but they weren't above asking America or one of the European Nations if they'd be willing to help but they wanted to use up their backups first.They wanted to make sure they went every single route they possibly could before they became desperate but they had rather high hopes when it came to India or Macau and Japan found himself hoping the women got the donor that they were looking for. Japan had to shake his head to get the conversation from flowing throuhg his head as he returned his attention back to the dishes and began scrubbing furiously at the bowl in his hands as the hot water flowed over his hands and he gripped the bowl tightly. He carefully rotated the bowl as he scrubbed to keep his hands from dropping the sudsy bowl and rinsed it off when he felt two arms wrap around his waist from behind. It was a welcomed touch that he found his eyes fluttering shut at before forcing them open again and he peered over his shoulder to find China resting his chin on his shoulder, their cheeks pressing together softly. "How are the dishes going? Do you want me to help you with them?""Hai, could you dry while I wash?" Japan questioned as he placed the bowl in the strainer and China bobbed his head in a little nod before releasing Japan's waist making a stab of longing shoot throughout his chest as those arms left his waist and China plucked up the towel. He playfully flicked the towel at Japan making him laugh lightly as he caught the end with his fingers when he tugged China forward pressing their lips together in a kiss that warmed his chest rather fiercely as he released the towel and backed away to pluck up a plate and began scrubbing at the glass item. It was a comfortable silence of Japan scrubbing the dishes and China rubbing the dishes in the strainer dry when Japan peeked upwards at his husband who was happily humming softly to himself as he dried the forks and spoons in his hand when Japan finally spoke up. "So what do you think about Taiwan and Vietnam staying with us for a while?""I think it's silly of her to want to stay here for the next nine months. Especially when we're getting the boys back in four months you have to thin of how full our house is going to be with all these people in it and Lord knows how long Lin will want to stay after the baby is actually here -aru." China rolled his eyes as he spoke but he smiled at Japan in a way that almost betrayed itself as relief as the Chinese Nation placed the utensils to the side and plucked up the bowl that Japan had just finished washing. "It might be interesting though. After all, all it's been quiet around the house lately and perhaps Lin can fill that silence. Besides I think our house is big enough to maybe host the two of them for a while -aru.""It would be nice to have a feminine touch to the house." Japan replied in a marveling tone as he handed the plate to China who took it and immediately began rubbing the towel over it furiously in an effort to dry it quickly when Japan looked to his husband with a smile on his lips. "I'd love to help Taiwan and Vietnam with their pursuits, however. If anyone seems worthy and seems ready for a baby it's them. Taiwan was telling me after dinner that back at Vietnam's home they have a whole bedroom dedicated to having a baby. A bassinet, gender neutral clothing and toys along with diapers and wipes and formula stocked up. They would be great parents, don't you think?""I think that Lin has some growing up to do before she settles down with a baby -aru." China replied when he accepted a cup from the surprised Japanese Nation and he shrugged his shoulders then as he lowered his eyes to the glass in his hands. "I'm just saying that there's a difference between buying all that baby stuff and being ready for an actual baby. Lin is merely romanticizing what having a baby would be like and she, in reality, has no clue how complex and difficult it is to raise a baby. Maybe while she's here she'll see just how difficult it is to care for a newborn and it'll make her wait for a while. I don't want her rushing headlong into a decision that is as permanent as having a child -aru.""I agree that there's a certain level of maturity that comes with having a baby but if Taiwan thinks she's ready then who are we to stand in her way?" Japan looked to his husband who sighed softly then raised his golden brown eyes to Japan's warm brown ones and both men shared a shrugging movement of their shoulders. Japan turned the water off and flicked his fingers to shake the droplets of water off the tips then accepted the damp towel from China rubbing his hands dry. "Let's support them, okay? After all they ARE supporting your pregnancy in their strange way. Why would they come all this way just to see you if it didn't mean something to Taiwan? She cares about you in some strange and twisted way but she does and she dropped all of her plans to come here." He then whipped the towel out striking China in the shoulder making him yelp. "Be nice to your little sister."China reached out to catch the towel only to laugh as Japan shuffled backwards tucking the towel behind his back as his brown eyes sparkled in a devious manner that reminded him of Genji and the Chinese Nation stepped forward with a wicked grin on his face. When Japan flicked the towel out China caught it rather easily and tugged Japan forward causing him to stumble but he laughed as he stumbled into China's chest and he felt his heart flutter wildly in his chest as he rested his cheek against China's shoulder. "Alright, I'll be nice to my little sister. In return you must give me, oh, all of your love tonight -aru."Japan tilted his head backwards with a light sparkling in those brown eyes as they peered up at China and the man used the angle of Japan's head to kiss his chin making the Japanese man laugh delightedly as if struck breathless for a moment. "But of course!" He got out around a laugh as he curled his arms around his husband, swaying in time with him as lips pressed against his cheek softly moving upwards to his cheekbone and he clung to China with a smile on his lips. "I think that can be arranged. So long as you give me all of your love as well. No holding out on me, got it?"China laughed with his own delight and clung to his husband in a similar manner that Japan clung to him while they swayed together slowly together. "Shi, I'll give you all of my love. Every last bit of it."
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Laying out on the couch Iceland stretched his arms above his head, groaning lightly at how nice it felt to be able to do so without an IV tugging at his arm even if it was weeks ago he just adored the sensation of being able to stretch out his muscles without that sickening sensation. It was one that clung and made him panic for sometimes he still forgot he was home, in the early morning when he woke to Sunneva crying, that one time he swung out of bed his arm held back like there was an IV and it was fair to say he ate the floor. He had his legs bent up with a large, comfy throw pillow under his legs and Sunneva laid against his thighs, her little head near his knees and he was smiling widely at her rather pristine little face as her light brow eyes looked around as if searching for something. It was hard to believe it had been five weeks already since he gave birth but the beautiful baby looking at him curiously was all too real and he was smiling at the little girl who then looked up at the ceiling like there was something so fascinating up there and he chuckled softly. While Sunneva looked more like a lovely doll, something unreal to him most days, she proved him wrong for she was the same breathing, moving, happy little baby that been in his stomach and was so eager to come out that she came barreling right out of him. He found out, however, what happened that night for it seemed he was one of the percent who experienced placental abruption which often lead to problems for the baby when this happens and about fourteen percent of babies end with fatal outcomes and the ones who do survive sometimes have health conditions. But Sunneva was the typical baby, she was a daughter of two different Nations so surely she wouldn't have such problems, right? Even if she was weak they could support her, they could keep her going her whole life but staring at her he couldn't imagine as weak even if she was a micro-nation, he could see her as anything less and he was hoping he would end up right. He looked up when Hong Kong appeared in the doorway and he looked at him curiously. "What's up?" "Don't pretend like you don't know what time it is, what are you in the mood for?" Hong Kong replied raising a dark brow, a slight smile on his lips that was slowly making itself more common and well known that it used too be and it amused Iceland to see. His boyfriend kept his brow raised making the Iceland Nation jealous of how long the Asian Nation could keep that brow raised for so long and so effortlessly for when Iceland attempts it his muscles begin quivering making his brow raise AND twitch. Sunneva, on the other hand, whined like she knew exactly what she wanted for lunch and Kong Kong looked at the baby with the slight smile on his face turning back to the kitchen. "I'll make her a bottle, bring her out with you when you've decided what it is you want for lunch." And with that Hong Kong was back in the kitchen leaving mother and daughter alone in the room once again, his eyes looking down then looking into her large light brown eyes that focused on him intensely like he was the most important thing in her field of vision right then. In a million years never would have Iceland said he wanted a child, never in a million years would he have offered to be alone with a child other than his nephews or niece but staring at Sunneva he had no clue that being a mother would bring so much joy to his life even if the little five week old didn't do that much. He stroked her silken cheeks with both his pointer fingers making the baby whine at the stimulation and he chuckled at her fondly, when he carefully shifted her into his arms as he sat up sighing out when he got to his feet with Sunneva looking up at the ceiling with wide eyes that looked awed. He walked into the kitchen watching Hong Kong tapping his fingers on the table while he want through his phone, gaze bored and rather slack, that Iceland honestly didn't think his boyfriend saw him enter the room but when those eyes lifted to him he smiled awkwardly. "I'm honestly in the mood for sweet and sour pork, steamed shrimp dumplings and smoked lamb." He looked down at Sunneva stroking her little wisps of hair like he needed something to do but the honest truth was he felt gluttonous when he stated what he wanted. It was three different thing that were normally three different dinners and here he wanted all three like it was some kind of smorgasbord. "Alright, I can do that. It won't be that hard and we'll have some left overs in case you want more, nothing ray big or anything but enough to have the rest ready for dinner if I have to do it that way." Hong Kong replied standing up, the chair screeching back, only to go over to the fridge tugging the door open and peer inside at the ingredients they had only to shut it with a sigh. "I'll have to run out an grab the stuff so it might just be a late lunch, early dinner situation by that point. You alright with that?" "I don't care, I can live without food for a few hours, it's not like I'll waste away in a few hours." He then looked down at Sunneva who stared up at her mother curiously then away like something on the ceiling was grabbing his attention up there and he offered a little smile for Hong Kong. "I can always take a nap so i's definitely not a big deal. I was thinking of getting Sunneva to take a nap after her lunch, see if she'll let me get a couple hours this afternoon." "I'm sure she will. Or I can always take her to the store with me." Hong Kong leaned against the fridge, shrugging at the Nordic's shocked look like he couldn't imagine a single moment away from the baby and Hong Kong gestured to the bottle warmer. "I can finish that, get her fed and we can head out to the store, spend a few hours outside of the house and give you some time to nap undisturbed. Besides she always manages to fall asleep rather quickly in the car so I can lay her down when we get home too. How bout that?" Iceland looked at Sunneva who looked at him the exact moment he did so and he then stroked her wisps of hair making her whine lightly, little hands fidgeting like she wanted to slap his hand away and he then smiled crookedly. "Fine. Take her out, get her to sleep and I'll go take a nap." Iceland replied walking over to Hong Kong who took the baby easily and he bent in kissing the top of her silky head making her sigh out like she knew there was nothing she could do to stop the affection. "I'll be upstairs if you need me before you go and I'll see you later, Sunneva~"With that he turned walking back to the doorway of the kitchen as Hong Kong walked over to the bottle warmer, no doubt, and Iceland yawned to himself when he walked into the living room going straight for the stairs by the front door. He had been tired over the past five weeks for Sunneva found that she did not like sleeping at night and woke every three or four hours just to annoy her parents and keep her company but seemed to sleep like a log during half of the day on Iceland or Hong Kong's chest whenever she could. It was hard to imagine the next several months of her life where she'd be waking them up several times in the night but to imagine the nights where she'd sleep solidly through the night seemed like a goal so far away that he couldn't begin to wonder what it would feel like to sleep solidly. He climbed up the stairs quickly, rubbing a hand over his face as he did so while keeping one hand on the railing and yawned for a second time before he could stop himself. There had been nothing Iceland had craved more over the past five weeks than a proper nap or nights sleep, not that he regretted his little baby, no not at all, he was just so tired he didn't know what he was going to do half the time to stay awake. It was hard, staying home while Hong Kong often went to work and him alone with the baby functioning on mostly three or four hours of sleep with the help of at least five cups of coffee to boost him during the day but he always ended up crashing. Some kind of anxiety, some worry, kept him awake and tending to his daughter's needs during the night but Hong Kong always insisted he could do it as well so him taking the baby was like giving him the golden ticket to get some nice rest.He hauled himself up the last step walking down the hall, arms stretching above his head then out in front of him with a soft little groan that ended with his third yawn in the past ten minutes and walked into the bedroom rubbing his eyes fiercely with the heels of his hands as he walked towards the bed like a homing beacon. He yanked the blankets opting for simply crawling under the blankets rather than looking for pajamas or something to change into, laid down and tugged the blankets up over his shoulders swearing he'd be asleep for only half an hour but the minute his head was on the pillow, blankets wrapped around him, he was out like a light. The bed felt both crowded but much warmer than when Iceland had gone to sleep that when he fluttered his lashes curiously he rolled over finding that he was definitely no longer alone in the bed when he welcomed it as he stretched his legs out. He yawned tensing his muscles as he stretched an arm out experimentally letting it flop over the origin of heat only to roll over with the blankets wrapping tightly around him as if to hold him in one place and he threw his arm out over the warmth, hitching a leg up while his cheek managed to find a shoulder. Hong Kong was always a delight to cuddle with, when he was feigning sleep, but both he and the Asian Nation knew he was faking it half the time like now but the warmth felt so good as he soaked up the warmth of his body under the blankets providing a heat that made him sweat but that he enjoyed. He clung onto Hong Kong when he felt the soft chuckle escape the brunette he was currently sprawled over yet he felt dangerously close to drifting off to sleep when he felt the hand on his hair playfully picking at silver-white locks of hair softly in random order that were lulling him slowly. "I didn't know you could be so affectionate, Emil, what a surprise!" He softly murmured to the Nordic making a soft grunt fall out of Iceland who felt his brows come together in a tight line on his forehead making wrinkles break out across his forehead. "You really need to rest more, Emil, you're running yourself ragged the past five weeks. How many more days do you think you can go on living on five cups of coffee a day? I know you're Sunneva's mother but you need to take some breaks and rest." "I am and still trying too, Jia, if you'd shut up and stop talking to me so I can get rest." Iceland replied with a slightly biting tone as he curled into the warmth of his boyfriend's body any way he absolutely could and he sighed out again. There was a time when he'd felt so behind on his fellow Nordics, so isolated that he wondered what was even the point half the time with acting surprised on the newest and greatest things his fellow group was doing when eh had his own amazing things in his Homeland. It hadn't been that, technology wise, he was up to date on everything he could and yet there always seemed to be things his fellow Nordics would do and he'd feel one step behind but when he honestly met Hong Kong, cheesy as it was, he felt much better about his tentative branching out. True, he only chose Hong Kong to branch out too but the Asian Nation and himself had much more in common personality wise by that point that Iceland honestly enjoyed the time he spent with the brunette and fast forward some odd months feelings were in bloom and they were together. It was a fairly simple story, the two of them meeting then establishing their relationship and it had been that way ever since but sometimes Iceland wondered if their relationship should be more...sexual in nature. Iceland and Hong Kong had a rather stable relationship, one that was calm and understood with a simple look between both males but Iceland honestly thought their relationship seemed like that of an elderly couple it seemed or like a long stretched marriage between them rather than the heat filled, wild relationship they should have. The elder Nations were like wild animals when it came to sex which surprised Iceland and he wondered, truly did and honestly, if getting older as a Nation made one more desperately addicted to the sexual part of their lives but who knew. Maybe it was just the sexual attraction and age? Who knew! "What are you thinking so intensely about?" Iceland opened his eyes, finding that sleep merely danced away from him with taunting steps and he yawned which ended with a sigh as he stared across the room to the window which revealed the dark sky outside. "I'm just thinking about stuff." He knew that was much too vague for his boyfriend who clicked his tongue softly at the Icelandic Nation who then rolled his eyes sitting up on his elbow looking at brunette who raised a brow. "I'm not thinking about much. Me and you, mostly, and the kind of relationship that we have, nothing big or bad and I mostly thought about Sunneva. What he'll really look like when she grows up, who she'll be more like, what she'll truly look like when she grows into herself and how we're going to do this for the net eighteen years." "Well, I've thought about it and I have a few answers for you which are pretty good answer wise for your questions." Hong Kong replied when he raised a hand up stroking the silver-white locks of hair away from his face with lazy movements, pushing his fingers through his hair tugging on the locks softly. He dropped his hand down, however, to his lower back rubbing it softly with thoughtful movements that prodded the tense muscles of his lower back and Hong Kong kissed the silver-white locks of hair. "Well, I know when she's older she'll be just as stunning as her mother and when she is older she'll have all the intelligence and rationality her mother has. She'll probably adopt a couple of my traditions but she'll be a good girl, a good head on her shoulders and of course she'll have at least six cousins to play with so she'll never be bored most of the time, she'll have other friends at school to play with and most of all she will be stronger. The strongest little thing anyone could ever set eyes on." Iceland blinked as he looked down at Hong Kong again taking in his words, his heart aching for a moment at the future the brunette had painted with just a few words and he opened his mouth for a moment then shut it feeling his cheeks warm. He could say so many things but he couldn't think of a good way to response when he felt fingers brushing over his hot cheek softly, sweetly with finger tips that seemed hesitant to touch his cheek to begin with and he found his lips curling into a smile."Þakka þér fyrir.""Hm? What's that for?" He questioned with a tilt to his head and Iceland smiled when he bent down enough to kiss the tip of his nose in an uncharacteristic display of affection, his smile curling at the corners of his mouth before he could help himself. "Well then, that was different for you, I normally can read you like a book. Sometimes without even needing to look at your face, it's quite predictable some days, I'd have you know." He then ran a finger down his red cheek, a smirk dancing on his lips when he looked at Iceland who was growing flustered now. "However, there's another expression I like on you better~" "Don't even think about that, Jia, until you move our daughter into her nursery!" Iceland growled the words but the intimidation he strived for was weak when he was so flustered appearing and he yelped when a hand covered his face pushing him to the side where he bounced on the bed. "Oi! Don't do that!" Hong Kong merely chuckled, clicking his tongue before climbing off the bed and fiddled with the bottom of the bassinet before rolling the baby's bed experimentally then walked to the door opening it wide while Iceland scowled at the brunette who wheeled the sleeping baby out of the room and Iceland then turned his scowl to his lap. He didn't notice it upon waking just how dark the room truly was when he tried to find the wall clock on the wall only to make out the white face slightly for even that appeared a dark gray in the darkness of the room and he looked to the window. He knew it was far past dinner for the sun no longer showed itself but there was something strange about the darkness when he looked to the ceiling wondering if he should suggest turning the lights on but he somehow knew Hong Kong would ignore him. It felt like the room was too big, too wide for the darkness that tried taking up every corner and all possible space that it could but still struggled to fill the little spots that when Hong Kong walked back into the room shutting the door behind him, placing a baby monitor on the dresser, he felt his heart jump in his chest and echo in his ears. He couldn't think of anything to say, couldn't even bring up the idea of starting a conversation when it was so clear what was going to happen that the hand that cupped his hot cheek making him jump at the touch, unaware he'd been so lost in his thunderous heartbeat that Hong Kong was sitting next to him on the edge of the bed. His thumb stroked across the heat of his cheeks, a slow movement of his thumb that made Iceland shut his eyes leaving into the lazy caress of the brunette's appendage when he was yelping as Hong Kong climbed onto the bed with knees on either sides of his waist. He could have said a multitude of things then but not a single good one came to his mind and he bit the inside of his cheek when he opened his eyes to look up at the brunette, admiring how the light brown hue of his eyes stood out in the darkness and seemed to seer right into him. Iceland moved his hands up cautiously, letting his fingers trail up his arms and across his shoulders before slipping his arms around his back clinging to the brunette as his lips hungrily parted for air that welcomed the kiss that brought life to his body. It was like someone found his start up button, allowing him to come alive underneath Hong Kong as he held onto the brunette and kissed him just as passionately as the Asian Nation delivered to him and yet his lungs screeched for air due to their nerves. He kissed Hong Kong hungrily, passionately, for as long as he absolutely could which ended up being two minutes at most when he had to tear his face away to take a deep breath. "Ég elska þig!" He gasped the words on a hitching breath when he felt a tongue deliver a playful lick to his throat where his pulse fluttered and he felt like a bowl of cream laid out for a cat to lap up lazily as he so desired but Hong Kong pushed himself up to look down at the Nordic who looked up at him. He could honestly admire the way his boyfriend's eyes seemed so much wider in the darkness of the room, how his silver-white hair messily rested around his face and his pale lashes which framed those sparkling, wide eyes that he felt could honestly swallow him whole. "Ég elska þig, Jia." The Nordic lifted his hands up cupping his face, his fingers fanning over his warm cheeks and spreading to softly touched the brown hair that always framed his face admiring how the color was so much richer, darker in the dark of the room where white colors changed to deep blue when the brunette kissed the palms of his hands as they moved to cover his lips. If everything seemed richer, darker to Iceland then Hong Kong the silver-white of hair almost looked like a pale blue in the darkness and his violet eyes almost betrayed the lines of a deep violet-blue and everything about him was exquisite to the last design of his pale face. Almost as if he truly was made out of ice itself. He bent pressing a kiss between his eyebrows, then down to the corner of his eye and the tip of his nose, trailing to the corner of his lips before pressing a soft kiss to his trembling lips lightly before pulling back to take another look at Iceland's red, flustered face smiling at him now. "Wǒ yě ài nǐ, Emil."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
There was nothing about Italy that was beautiful or precious in some way, in some little minuscule movement of his and Germany watched happily with intense eyes on the Italian who was cooing softly already at the little three month old sitting in Romano's arms on the couch, making the German and Spaniard smile when Italy chucked his coat off to the side much to Romano's displeasure. However he couldn't voice too much for the twins and Cristiano's loud cheerful shouting from the front yard could be heard through both the window and screen door was giving too much infectious happy energy to the adults as well. So he settled for a sour pout even as the cheerful laughter drifted in like the chimes from a wind chime, light and sweet, when Italy approached his brother and his little nephew smiling brilliantly. "Oh, look at you! You're becoming such a big boy, Salvador~!" Germany watched Italy happily take Salvador who looked up at his Uncle intensely, the same look at Romano, and sighed you sitting on the opposite couch across from the elder Italian brother who had a sharp look on his son and brother. Like one would do the wrong thing and he needed to be on tight spring load just in case while Italy softly crooned in Italian to the little boy in his arms, his world already far reach from the rest of them and Germany shook his head but he couldn't muster any reprimand for the sight of Italy happy with the baby would take that stern demand out of anyone's sails. "So, how have you been, Romano?" Germany asked while Spain, their buffer to relieve the awkwardness, escaped to the kitchen to grab drinks for everyone which Germany hated immediately. He swallowed down his pleas for the Spaniard's to stay when he met Romano's eyes which looked to him for a moment. "I've been fine, busy if anything." Romano replied with a civil tone when his eyes flicked back to Italy like he was a ticking time bomb that was holding his baby rather than his trusted younger brother and he crossed his arms then his right leg over his left knee. "Toni dragged me all the way to that damn Austria's place just to show off Salvador like he's some kind of prize but then that albino bastard did the same thing with his kid who ended up screaming so loud I swear my ears nearly bled! Toni is betting with the albino that their kid will end up saying Papa first but it was just a waste of time to me since you decided to bring your family over." Italy had spun in a careful circle with Salvador held protectively in his arms, smiling brilliantly at his husband for a moment as Salvador now stared up at his Uncle's sunny face in surprise, like he had never seen such a cheerful expression before and especially on someone who resembled his mother rather strongly. "Luddy, we should go over there before we go home! It's been a long time since we've seen Gil and Mr. Austria! You know Giovanni and Wolfram always get a kick out of seeing their cousins too!" "That can be saved for another day, sveetheart, alright? Be grateful ve had the time to come out und see your bruder und Spain, plus if ve vent to Prussia's home it vould be late und the boys vould be very much cranky by that time. Ve can go see them antoher time, alright?" Italy nodded making his curl bounce, a pout on his lips that quickly turned into a bright smile when Salvador gurgled in his arms as if demanding the attention of his cheerful, babbling Uncle. It was always painful to Germany seeing just how perfect and beautiful, right even, to see a child in Italy's arms for the Italian was just a loving kind of person that alone always had a loving aura but when a baby was there that aura seemed to triple. Italy was a softie, a big sweetheart and he loved children desperately with their cute chubby cheeks and chub rolls later the bigger they got, the babble and dimpled hands, the red cheeks and sticky faces that were always happy to see someone. At this point they'd been trying for a few weeks, three or four now, with no signs at all to show that Italy could possibly be pregnant and the home tests always came back negative whenever Italy thought there was the slightest glimmer that a morning of nausea could be morning sickness only to be let down. They'd recently seen Japan who was so excited for his baby that it was like he was a whole new person and then there was Hungary, both excited for their children even if it was in different ways but the sight of any baby bump had a longing so painful in Italy's eyes that Germany hated to see it. It was all he wanted to do, to give Italy that child they both so desperately wanted but he was growing afraid on whether it was one of them, if one of them was infertile or something of the sort yet he could never bring it up for it upset the Italian so Germany took a test. It all came back normal and so did Italy's, when he'd been coaxed into trying to take one, and they were both perfectly fine but they'd been assured that all would resume normally and they'd have a baby before they knew it. "Exactly, be grateful you got to see me at all. That boy keeps me up all hours of the night and then there's Cris constantly driving me up the wall each time he gets hurt, so I've been pretty busy and especially with the paper work that seems to keep coming in and in with no stop. Same for Toni, it's like our Bosses are just pulling paperwork out their ass!" Romano replied huffily as he shifted his legs, his left going over his right, and crossed his arms over his chest looking ever the image of what Italy could look like had he inherited that fiery personality of that of his brother. Italy was everything Romano wasn't and Romano was everything Italy wasn't but the men were both absolutely, perfectly fine with that. "Why are all my little nephews growing so fast? Cristiano is shooting up like a tree, Fritz is trying to talk and is learning to walk, Salvador is three months old now and my little nieces are beautiful little ladies! My own boys are growing older, to think they'll be six years old in less than some odd weeks!" Italy lamented then squeezed Salvador lightly, barely moving his arms to do the action when he rubbed his cheek against his silky head smiling with a soft coo. "But you really are lucky, fratello! It feels like it was just yesterday when Big Brother Spain gave birth and he was tiny, wrinkly and full of those scowls and pouts! Now he's chubby, sweet with pudgy cheeks and that cute curl of his! It's like I'm holding a small Romano!" Romano's face was red as he bounced his crossed legs like he couldn't do anything other than that and he looked away for a moment, the shy emotion bright in his eyes before he came up with a remark and tightened his arms across his chest. "Why am I lucky? You have two boys too, Veni, you idiot! I bet yours are better behaved, though annoying as that is." He murmured the last sentence but then rolled his eyes leaning back on the couch again. "Cris is going through that phase where he picks up all these scrapes and dirty along with that one's screaming all night they're driving me up the- What the fuck happened to you! Come here!" Cristiano had been trying to sneak past the living room doorway but stepped into the room when Romano's eyes narrowed on his eldest son who just smiled now when he approached his mother, his curled hair an array of knots which were littered with leaves and twigs with dirt smudged on his cheek like he'd been laying in the dirt for the dirt dusted his clothing in dark stains and he had shallow scrapes on his hands. He was an absolute wreck but he appeared cheerful even if he winced when his hands curled a few times but he looked fine other than that. "I climbed a tree, Mama! I was showing Gio an Wolf how to climb trees and I fell but I'm okay! They didn't go too high, Uncle Feli, don't worry! They wanted to know and I showed them but they're really good! I was clumsy is all, hahaha!" "Come on, I need to get the bath going for you to get cleaned up and don't even say "Well what if I go out again?" because you're not going out there again! You've been outside all damn day, I know other mother's may like that but dammit I'm tired of using up all our band aids on you like you're some patched quilt or something. Too much like your damn father." Romano snapped his words, growling words at points, but Cristiano just smiled happily like he was used to his mother's angry words and he just beamed at his mother. "Let's go, I'll be back so don't wreck my house!" "I wouldn't do that, fratello!" Italy snapped at his brother sounding so much like Romano it was scary for a moment but all the elder Italian did was roll his eyes before dragging his son out of the room and up the stairs. Italy scowled for a moment in that uncharacteristic way before rocking from foot to foot with Salvador gurgling curiously at the absence of his mother and his father no where insight, in the kitchen making drinks still by hand more than likely. Italy wriggled for a moment, fidgeting with the end of his shirt feeling like the fabric hugged his body too tightly and he hated the sensation of the tight fabric but nothing had been worse than the bloating he was experiencing lately. He'd yet to tell Germany but he felt like a whale half the time for his clothes all seemed a touch too tight on him now a days and while he had no problem with gaining a little weight this feeling was absolutely ridiculous and it was driving him nuts. "Hey, Luddy, do I look bloated to you?" Germany blinked at the sudden question that had him pulling his gaze away from Salvador who had been looking over at him curiously but when his gaze roamed over Italy's stomach he could agree that, yes, he was a little bloated but it wasn't anything horrid. He tilted his head squinting for a moment then looked up at Italy with a little smile on his lips. "Don't vorry, sveetheart, ve can find some kind of medicine for you at home if it's bothering you that much. I'm sure I have some antacids somevhere in my study at home so vhen ve get there I'll get you a few und ve'll see how it vorks, alright?" He looked up at Italy who handed him Salvador, nearly floating for a moment when his eyes sparkled like he held some kind of secret as Germany held the three month old carefully. "Vhat is it?" "Well, Luddy, I can try the antacids but, um, I don't think the bloating is because of that." Italy replied playing with his pants, picking a the invisible lint when Germany looked at his husband and he held his breath for a moment before he looked at Germany again. "I don't want to jinx but I think I...I might be. But!" He quickly spoke over to get rid of the hope that suddenly flared between them and he rested his hands on Germany's arm meeting his gaze again. "But we can't just assume the bloating means that, can we? Until I get a test done? I mean, I'll try the antacid because it might just be regular bloating but if it doesn't go away we'll go to the doctors but can you imagine? If it was true?" Germany was hardly a optimistic person, that was his husband, but he had hope running like sparkling champagne through his veins at the thought and the hope that this could be the very thing they'd been trying for and it made his heart stutter for a moment. To just imagine a little perfect baby for Italy along with their boys was sending warmth rushing through his veins and he smiled at his Italian who was smiling back excitedly. "If it does turn out to be true, Feli, then I can only say ve have a very amazing Christmas present a whole month early if it turns out to be that. Just imagine, the boys vill be ecstatic to be big brother's und ve'll have our own busy schedule vith me going to vork, you stay home und looking after the boys like you normally do on the veekend, taking them to the park und stores but vith a little-" "Boy or girl, our litle boy or girl! Oh, Luddy, I hope it's true! I do, I do!" Italy whispered the words like if the world could hear him then it would take this precious gift away just like the first time but he leaned towards Germany who tilted his head in for their forehead's to touch, large amber eyes meeting the hopeful blues of Germany's. "I hope it's true, I want to have just one more baby and our family will be complete, Luddy! Two cute boys with a beautiful little girl or another cute little boy!" "Oi! What the fuck is going on with all of this stupid lovey dovey crapola? And in front of my baby too? Jesus, how much insult can you give me in one day? Go HOME and do your stupid lovey dovey bullshit!" Romano's voice cut in like a sharp crack of a whip when he walked over to the couch, an angry almost protective fire in those hazel eyes when he looked down at his three month old resting in the German's arms then twisted towards the kitchen doorway. "Oi, Toni! Why aren't you watching them! I don't want that crapola in front Salvador!" Spain walked into the room with a tray in his hands holding four drinks for the adults, the twins clinging to each of his legs happily as they stared up adoringly at their Uncle Spain and he sat the tray on the table putting his hands on the space above his hips which happened to be above Giovanni and Wolfram's little heads. "Why should I have to watch them, Lovi? It's cute! I love seeing little Italy and the stony Germany being all lovey dovey! It's so sweet! Besides, sweetie, you're just as lovey dovey when we're alone~!" Romano's face burned at the implication when Cristiano giggled wrapping his arms around his mother's waist looking up at him with the same sparkling green eyes as his father and beamed brilliantly at him when Spain chuckled. "It's true, Mama! You and Padre are always lovey dovey, like Uncle Feli and Luddy, but you always get shy when I walk in!" Cristiano exclaimed with so much cheer it made Romano's face burn fiercely as his hand caressed the damp curls that held little droplets of water that dripped weakly a few times onto his red shirt, his jeans baggy near his little ankles but he was clean. There was a simple band aid on his cheek that no doubt held a little cut from the branch on the tree whipping his cheek before he fell and his palms held band aids on the shallow scrapes there and while it was strange to think but Cristiano simply would not be Cristiano if he wasn't covered in band aids of some kind. He watch his mother settle for drinking up his red drink sipping it while sitting down leaving Cristiano standing on his own but he giggled grabbing his own cup, his mother taking it so he could climb on the couch and he took it back taking a large gulp. It seemed the Italian, Spain and Cristiano all settled for tomato juice while Italy, Germany, Wolfram and Giovanni were given lemonade which they all happily took with the boys sitting by their parents legs happily as they drank it. Spain, however, had a curious eye on the brunette and blonde Nations who seemed suddenly happier, hopeful appearing and he tilted his head taking another sip of his drink before sitting next to Romano sliding an arm around his shoulders. "What's going on with you, pequeña Italia? Don't think that I don't recognize that look!" Italy merely giggled then with his glittering, glowing eyes that caught both Giovanni and Wolfram's curiosity making them share a look with their cousin who had his head tilted slightly and the younger Italian brother smiled brightly. "I don't want to jinx it so you're just going to have to wait a little while before I say anything!" Italy chirped so cheerfully it was easy not to see the bite in his words that were subtle but there and Romano along with his husband tilted their head like Cristiano releasing such a collective, harmonious "Huh?" that he couldn't help laughing. Romano scowled at his brother's laughter but he hid a smile behind his glass, Cristiano and Spain laughed with him and Germany felt Giovanni's little hand squeezing his leg like he knew already but when those amber eyes looked up at him Germany smiled.When they got home that night Italy had made one of the most top notch dinners the boys and Germany had ever eaten before, the twins drooping over their plates after they ate and after a quick bath before bedtime the boys were put n their pajama's and ushered to bed. They didn't go to sleep the moment their heads hit the pillows, however, but it had been clear that the boys were tired so they chose to lay in bed and softly talk to one another where Germany and Italy kissed them good night knowing it was only a matter of time until they fell asleep. The hardly ever did this but they chose to allow the boys to watch Netflix as they laid in bed, setting it up with their favorite shows and left them to fall asleep knowing the twins were absolutely ecstatic about getting to watch TV in bed. It was inching to ten o'clock, however, when Germany and Italy had chose to sit in the living room downstairs to watch a movie together, Italy having taken his antacid for the bloating and when that did absolutely nothing the Italian had been excited beyond reckoning. Walking into the bedroom now, however, Germany was tired but he was just as excited as to what this could truly be and yet he was ready for bed already. Italy, however, was bouncing around thinking on bassinets, baby clothing, baby showers, names and possible appearance of their possible baby that he couldn't even begin to think about sleeping when he felt he had so much to do and so much to figure out. "Luddy, should we get a home test from the store in the morning? Or should I call your doctor, talk to him and go get some blood work done?" Italy asked as he watched his husband changing out of his clothing, putting them in their hamper and pulling his pajama's on with sluggish movements that showed his fatigue. The brunette knew he was going to end up sleeping in his boxers tonight or, if he played his cards right, neither of them would be wearing anything come the morning but he truly was bubbling with electricity at this good turn of events. "Which do you think would be faster though? The blood test or the store bought? I mean, the blood test is more accurate than the store bought." Germany approached the bed pulling the deep blue comforter back to reveal the gold of the fitted sheet and he climbed into the bed pressing a kiss against Italy's temple making the Italian smile happily at the blonde who then yawned settling into his spot. Their own TV was on but set to a soft murmur while Germany rubbed the heels of his hands into his tired eyes yawning hugely then looking to his husband who was staring at him with those bright amber eyes of his and he smiled. "Ve vill do vhat ve have to do tomorrow, sveetheart, und ve'll get the answers ve need. Let's just sleep for now, ja?" "Well, how about we do one more thing before we go to bed?" Italy asked reaching out taking Germany's hand, smiling at him happily as he held Germany's hand with both of his and rubbed his thumb across his knuckles then stroked the solid gold of his wedding band. "And no, not that, silly!" He poked the blonde's nose when his face turned red and Italy smiled brilliantly once again when he kissed the gold band and looked at Germany again. "Let's talk about baby names! If this truly is it then we should start planning and getting ready soon!" "Of course ve vill, sveetheart! I hope this is it as vell, the chance at a new child vouldn't be denied by us a second time, not vhen it's so clear how amazing of a mutter you are to the boys und how good the boys are vith little children. Ve are more than adequate to have a baby, to care for vun, so you're not alone vith your hope, I promise." Germany smiled making Italy giggle sweetly at his husband when the blonde then pressed a kiss against Italy's forehead, wondering how such a beautiful person ever came to like him. It was completely mind boggling to think this all started with a box of tomatoes and a mutually reached and tolerated friendship. "Vhat kind of names vere you thinking of?" "Oh! For girls I've been thinking of one in German and one in Italian, same for boy names! I was thinking first, for a German girl name Ivara was really pretty and the Italian one could be Mirabella!" Italy smiled at his choices, seeming proud when he said them out loud for the names were truly beautiful and he could only imagine having a little Ivara or Mirabella some day! He took in the thoughtful look on his husband's face and he looked down playing with Germany's hand, slapping it between both of his in a soft rhythm, and took a breath. "And as for boys a German one could be Dietrich and an Italian boy name could be Amedeo! So what you think about those names?" Germany thought of those four names, making full names out of them but as the silence stretched on Italy was watching his husband anxiously as the blonde looked at his hand being slapped between both of Italy's nervously. "Vell, all four are beautiful. I like Dietrich and Amedeo, both are strong good names and Ivara is a beautiful name but vould you mind if I made one substitution?" Italy looked at his husband and Germany offered a little smile moving his hand to squeeze one of Italy's. "How about instead of Mirabella ve choose something more...sweet. That rolls off the tongue, is easy und has a nickname that truly sticks to your memory. It's honestly for those three reasons I'd like to know if you vouldn't mind me substituting your girl name for vun I vas thinking of." He stopped took a breath then smiled awkwardly. "Vhat do you think about the name Cecelia?" Italy smiled warmly squeezing Germany's hand happily as he kissed his cheek making the blonde blush at the sudden movements of the Italian and yet the awkward little smile stayed in place on his lips when Italy giggled softly, happily. "I don't mind that at all! Besides, when all the children are grown and we decide on a baby again maybe we can use Mirabella or Ivara for a girl then or even Dietrich or Amedeo for a name then! But I like that name, I didn't think you'd ever choose a name like that! It's pretty! Cecelia~ Cece! Ceese~ My little Cecelia or Dietrich~" Germany chuckled when Italy placed his hand tight against his stomach, the bloated stomach under his hand gave him another little spark of hope when he looked at Italy. It was a contagious feeling that Germany had in his chest and he softly rubbed Italy's belly who giggled gently but relaxed under the ministrations of his husband's hand while holding onto his wrist loosely and watched his hand. "I hope ve can keep this vun, Feli, I really do. Then bruder vould be happy und ve vould have another screaming little mouth in the house the boys can take turns fighting over." "It'll be nice having a baby in the house and you know it!" Italy replied smiling as he giggled sweetly then patted the back of Germany's hand softly and his smile widened when he looked up at Germany once more while squeezing his wrist gently. "But I think it'll be okay this time, it just has to be! We can't be that cursed that we never get the chance for another child, I mean look at Big Brother France and at Gilbert! Austria too! They all are older than me but they're managing to have babies still so we shouldn't be any different!" Italy then paused and giggled sweetly like he just realized something amazing. "Oh! I just realized I'm older than you!" Germany blinked a few times and raised a brow now looking at the giggling Italian who seemed so happy about finally realizing that and he chuckled at his husband bemusedly when the Italian wrapped his arms around his neck. Well, threw them around Germany's neck would be a better description of what he did with his flailing arms and yet Germany held his husband happily when the Italian crawled onto his lap still dressed smartly as he'd been all day and he smiled brilliantly at Germany. "Ja, I guess you are. So vhat does that make me then, hm? Vould it mean I have a thing for older men?" It would be what many considered a stale joke but Italy threw his head back laughing wholeheartedly for a moment before straightening up looking at his husband, cupping his face happily and leaning in kissing him just as passionately which sent wild sparks flying before he pulled back. "Oh, silly Luddy! You're so cute, I swear!" Italy chirped happily, his eyes glowing like gems and he then moved his fingers into Germany's hand messing up the blonde locks and got a playful superior look on his face when he smirked widely. "Buut since I can be seen as older than you then as a superior in age I order that you make love to me right now~!" Germany smirked at his husband now, his arms finding their ways around his waist tugging him close making him squeak when Italy was abruptly spun onto his back where he laid against the bed and his head cushioned by the pillows. He giggled widely when he tightened his arms around the blonde's neck when he was kissed so fervently that he felt his very core tremble with happiness that spread like hot warmth through his veins as he melted into the bed. The blonde pulled back kissing his cheeks, his nose, his eyes when they shut and his lips gently before hovering in front of them smiling widely. "Yes, sir~"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Prussia softly cackled to his son who sat on his lap looking around the room with his wide ruby eyes before gazing at his father curiously, his pudgy hands reaching out to grab the silver hair on his father's head with squeals and the albino cackled again. "Nein, Fritz, you don't vant Vati's hair in your hands~ Now come on, let's try vun more time! Vvvaa-ti! Vati! Va-ti!" The nine month old stared at his father with all the innocent curiosity of a child his age before squealing and reaching towards his father's hair once again like it was some kind of treasure he desired above all else. Prussia kissed his forehead then moved his head back when the hands came up quick as lightening and Fritz squealed happily, giggles coming out of him like rapid fire that was all too much like his father's cackles but much cuter and more contagious. Fritz bounced himself on his father's lap joyfully, giggling once more as he stared up at Prussia before reaching out grabbing his father's cross gripping it with his pudgy little hands only for it to find it's way into his mouth as he settled in. It was like if he couldn't get his father's hair then he'd settle for the cross which was the closest shiny thing near his little fists that he could touch and he sighed through his little nose when Prussia cackled and stroked Fritz's chestnut brown hair softly, the silky feel making him smile. Austria appeared in the doorway of the living room watching hi lover and son giggling and cackling together when he cleared his throat making the albino look up curiously. "Elizaveta is coming over to in a few moments so I vant you to be polite. The voman is pregnant vith your child so the least you can do is show some level of civility towards her." "Fine, fine, vhatever." He replied in a snappy, huffy tone when he turned his attention to the baby in front of him and the nine month old was now rather attentive to the exchange between his mother and father when he poked Fritz's chubby cheek. "Und you don't have to keep saying she's pregnant vith my kid, ve von't know until she pops that sucker out only then vill ve know if it's even mine vhich I doubt it is. It's annoying you keep adding it in the conversation vhenever you can." Now normally Austria would snap back at his lover for talking like a scorned child but the look in those ruby eyes was too much for him to deal with, it felt for the albino was pouting lightly but the true emotions showed in his eyes. They always did. And he was hurt, crushed each time they brought it up but Austria had that gut sense that the baby was going to be Prussia's and he needed to grow up, take responsibility for his mistake and the albino didn't seem willing too even if he and Hungary had been best friends before this took place. "I'm sorry, Gilbert, but you need to prepare yourself if this is your baby und you can't be allowed to forget it." "Ja, ja, don't I fucking know it." Prussia mumbled under his breath when he pulled the iron cross from his son's mouth, the drool making the item slick as he plopped Fritz onto the floor and the little brunette motored across the floor happily to his mother. He babbled up at his mother wordlessly, a squeal on his lips afterwards as pride shined in those large ruby eyes of his and he reached his chubby arms up for his mother to hold him and Austria bent picking the baby up when Prussia scowled at the wall. "I don't need you reminding me of my fuck up all the time but I guess I deserve it, don't I? I deserve it und I must be selfish for vishing everything vould go back to normal." "Nein, it's not selfish of you, Gilbert. I can't say I'm sorry for bringing it up so much but I don't mean to hurt you, I just vant you to know vhat you did rather than pushing it off like you alvays do vhen it comes to the screw ups of yours. I'm sorry, however, liebling, if I truly have been hurting you. I'm trying to make things go back to normal, Gil, I truly am it's just hard." Austria sighed out the words looking at Prussia who kept looking away for a moment when the Austrian felt a string of worry when the albino refused to look at him. "I just vant everything to be open, for us to have a mutual honesty between us, you understand, don't you?" Prussia knew the truth weighed itself heavily in Austria's words that it nearly felt physical to the albino and he couldn't help but see how his lover truly wanted things so should he be upset over it? No. Not at all, he is and should respect Austria's wishes if they were to get over this heartbreak Prussia himself inflicted on the both of them and that could only be gained if they have that open communication, the mutual honesty the Austrian was asking for. He sighed rubbing his forehead but when Austria met those familiar eyes he could see he was forgiven. "Okay, I can see vhat you mean. I just hate vhat I've done, vhat vill happen from here on out." Fritz had begun squirming in his mother's arms which rocked him as if to sooth the nine month old but the tiny brunette was whining loudly as if refusing to be placated in the slightest bit and he wriggled, grunting before screeching out a single sound that made Prussia blink. "Vhat is it? Vhat's vrong, darling, vhat's got you so upset?" Austria questioned stroking the baby's flushed cheeks when the nine month old whimpered softly like his mother would understand what was wrong in the single sound but when he didn't get as he desired he screeched again squirming fiercely in his mother's arms. He had tears beading on his dark lashes when he began whimpering fiercely for a moment or two before screaming out a sound that echoed the sound Prussia had been trying to get him to say moments before flailing his chubby little limbs. "Va! Va! Va!" He screamed the words angrily, his limbs pushing on Austria's chest like he was the last person he wanted to be with right then and whimpered with frustration on his little face as he looked towards his father with desperation. "Va! Va!" He writhed for a moment until his mother put him down, scared the baby would wriggle his way down into a fall to the floor or hurt himself so when he was on the floor Fritz crawled quickly over to his father only to plop into a sitting position whimpering. It seemed the nine month old thought for a moment before reaching out grabbing his father's pant leg tugging himself into a standing position then opened and closed one chubby hand that reached to Prussia. "Vati! Vati!" Prussia blinked then shouted scooping the baby up only to all but dance around the room with Fritz laying in his arms giggling with the rhythm and his previous anger was long forgotten as he nuzzled his father's chest happily. Prussia spun in large circles with the baby in his arms but Austria merely smiled when he sprinted lightly across the room to his lover and son who had stopped the large circle dance for Prussia to see the excitement glowing in Austria's large violet eyes when he stroked Fritz's cheek. "Look at you! Speaking so vell for the first time! You're just booming, hm?" "Oh, stop it! Now, Fritz, say Mutti! Muu-tti! Mutti!" Austria rolled his eyes at his lover when he spoke to Fritz who stared at his mother with large ruby eyes that seemed curious for a moment, as if testing out the word in his little mind and the man smiled chuckling at his little son. "Come on, darling, it's not so hard! It's just like Vati, just vith a U und M! Von't you say it for Mutti? Just two little parts, I know you can do it, darling! Muu-ttii! Mutti!" Fritz watched his mother curiously, like the encouragement was something he had never encountered even if that's what he faced day in and day out when his parents stood him on his little feet and he walked with their hands on his. Austria could see the baby's attention go to his father's cross which had been dried off and giggle happily when he grasped the cool iron with his chubby little fingers when he looked up at Prussia who was beamming with pride and then at his mother once more smiling widly. "Mut! Mut!" He chirped the words joyfully then turned his attention up to his father giggling joyfully. "Vati!" "Don't vorry, Roddy, I'm sure he'll say Mutti sooner than you think!" Prussia enthused when he looked at his little son who managed to get the iron cross back into his mouth, both enthralled with the little boy that the door opening and shutting had escaped them but Prussia looked up seeing Hungary walk into the living room as Austria looked over as well. He nodded faintly to the woman who stood across the room from them, Fritz gurgling now like he was enthralled with the cross. "Bitch Tits." "Gilbert! Vhat did I just say before she came over?" Austria snapped whacking Prussia's hip making the man grunt in response but his lover was walking over to Hungary getting a welcoming hug from the woman when he pulled back sighing. "I'm sorry, Elizaveta, I told him he needed to be kinder to you but he clearly ignored me." The words were scathing, dagger and yet Prussia merely pretended he wasn't listening to his lover but it only succeeded to irritate Austria. Fritz was unaware to the drama thickening the room, his father's darkening mood fo the little boy was happy from his parents praises and he pulled the cross into his other little hand after removing it from his mouth which merely got his hands slick with drool."It's fine, Roderich, I came here to talk to him und I'm used to it by now. He's like a hormonal little girl, svinging from one mood to the other." Hungary replied sitting down in the arm chair then smirked fiercely, almost challenging Prussia. "Isn't that right, Gilbert?" It was a clear ruse to get him to snatch up the moment to insult her but he didn't, clipping his lips together and tightening his jaw at the words that ached to slip out and drill into her. There had been one time in his life where had had honestly thought he used to be in love with Hungary for the both of them had dated for some time in their lives together, about thirty years if he had to admit it, but the woman he kept him enraptured for years. Sure, he'd been in love with Austria as well but the man had never returned Prussia's advances and always married someone new every odd millennia that he just gave up on the Austrian Nation and settled for a life with Hungary thinking that that would be his only option. This was all after they'd gotten divorced, Hungary and Austria, but Prussia found something enthralling about the woman back then and enjoyed his days with her that he was surprised he never got her pregnant back then. Staring at Hungary, the clashing of emotions in her large green eyes against his own, he could admit to himself that the Hungarian woman was beautiful with her soft pale skin that didn't dare ripple with acne ever, the long flowing brown hair that rested to the small of her back and her slim figure that bore as many scars as Prussia's if not more. They were similar on many levels that when he used to think about it one would think he and Hungary came together to make Astrid for the little girl was so much like Hungary in her mannerisms but he was ever the more grateful Astrid came from Austria. "Vhy do you need to talk to me? It's not my kid." Prussia replied shrugging while raising a silver brow with the mask of calm when Hungary glared at him fiercely as he nodded to her stomach. "It's not mine in there so I don't get vhy you have to keep harassing me over this vhen it's clear it von't be mine. Ve used a condom, there's no VAY it can be my kid in there." Austria scowled reproachfully but Prussia shrugged once again when he shifted Fritz who gurgled. "Don't look at me like that, Roddy! You know it's not going to be mine, vhether you vill say it out loud or not, it's not mine! I von't support a kid that ain't mine." "It is your kid! I've gone over the date of conception, my ovulation cycle und it all lined up vith the time I slept vith you! No one but you! I haven't been vith anyone before I got vith you!" Hungary shouted at him rising to her feet when her hands gripped the shirt over her bloated stomach, her eyes flashing like warning lightly when she pointed at Prussia like a warning. "It vill be your baby und you're going to look pretty fucking stupid vhen I give birth und it's a silver haired baby! There's no one else vith your hair color und vhen the baby has it? Vell, you'll have to suck it up und support us!" "He vill, Elizaveta! I svear he vill und if he doesn't then I vill help you vith anything you need vhen it comes to the child." Austria replied with some hope of diffusing the situation that was slowly going to spiral out of control between Prussia and Hungary. "He vill take responsibility und accept it as his child! There's no reason under the sky vhy he von't do it und he knows that it's the right thing to do, if he is the vun who got yoou pregnant." "Roddy, vhat the fuck! Vhy do you have to go und put me out like that? Make me seem like some kind of horrible person like I'm Turkey or the Spanish Kingdom! The fuck! I can't take care of two kids, you know that!" He shouted when Austria gave the man a clueless look and Prussia put Fritz down who crawled off towards his toys without a second of hesitation as the albino pointed at the Aristocratic Nation. "Don't look so damn clueless! It's because of you topping me for the past three veeks now vith no protection you idiot! I've been sick lately, vhich you know about, und vhen I vent to the doctors they told me I vas pregnant! So shut it!" Then he spun on Hungary like a rabid dog, his voice a screech like he'd never heard before "Und you! You should've fucking aborted that baby the moment you knew for you know I vill never love it like I love Astrid, Mia und Fritz!" "Gilbert!" Austria screamed his lovers name in shock, in pure surprise then but Prussia had turned on his heel walking over to Fritz scooping the baby up making him gurgle curiously then whimper when he looked at his father's face. They were gone in a flash when Austria looked to the woman, pity welling in him when he looked at her blank face for a moment when he stepped around the coffee table resting a hand on Hungary's upper arm making her jump. "Elizaveta, I'm so sorry, I didn't think he'd ever say something so horrible." "No, I should apologize to you more than anyvun else, Roderich." She then covered her friend's hand with her own, guilt swimming through her and she knew if she wanted to be free of it then this confession needed to be made right now. "I never should have slept vith Prussia, I knew he vas yours und you vere together but I vas....lonely. Und he was there, I wasn't thinking but all I cared about for that split moment was something was in my control, something I could have some grip over but now I'm stuck with a baby he vants no association vith." "I vill take care of the child, even if it isn't his, I vouldn't let you deal vith something like this on your own! You had Romania last time helping vith Ileana und Levi but this time you don't truly know how the father could be other than Prussia if it turned out to be that vay! You're my friend, Elizaveta, I vill help you anyvay I can." Austria offered then reached up catching the tears that glittered n Hungary's brown lashes, her eyes catching and meeting his with a weak smile on her lips."You don't have to do it on your own, Elizaveta." "I know I don't have too but if he's telling the truth about his own pregnancy and isn't just giving me lies not to do it then I won't depend on him if it's true. You both will have to be preparing, getting ready for your own child and I can't come swooping in expecting money or resources, it isn't right, Roderich." She then took a breath when he caught a few more tears on her lashes that threatened to slip down her cheeks when she cleared her throat softly lifting her gaze to Austria's. "I know he probably didn't mean it as I don't truly think he could be that cruel but it hurt about me. How I should have gotten an abortion the moment I found out about the baby, I don't think he vould have ever said that had he been in the right state of mind." "I know, he's been...very upset over this whole situation that he started. It doesn't give him the right to tell you vhat you should have done nor should he have said vhat he said und I'll be talking vith him about it after you leave. He needs to start treating you vith some dignity for you may be carrying his child." He sighed then offered a smile at Hungary who smiled weakly in response and Austria nodded towards the kitchen holding a hand out as well. "Vould you like some tea?" "I'd be delighted to have a cup with you, Roderich." She smiled then took his hand as they walked towards the kitchen, just a meager handful of steps and she pressed a hand against her bloated stomach happily then smiled at Austria brilliantly. "Even though he seems to hate me I honestly think it's his baby und I'll get the chance to rub it in his stupid little face vhen my child comes out with hair paler than snow! Then he'll eat shit then!" With a little laugh Austria pulled a chair out for Hungary and she sat down only to look up at him with the smile on her lips. "Köszönöm, Roderich."When she climbed into car Astrid could tell immediately that something new was going on between her parents for he mother was much too calm and the nine year old could piece together enough from the look alone to know there was something. When she asked she was told that she didn't need to know such things and she should focus on her piano lessons when they got home which irritated Astrid for the last thing she was going to do was sit at that stupid piano and play the scales horribly because she was nervous and get so angry she or her mother nearly screamed at one another. She'd be damned before she sat in front of that piano but she held her words in to keep her plans to herself which would be to seek out her father as soon as she absolutely could and get him to help her with her homework rather than the piano with her mother. The car cut off it's purring the moment they got into the driveway that Astrid was unbuckled and launching herself out of the parked car up the walkway while Austria shouted at her but she ignored her mother's angry voice behind her and threw the front door open. "Vater!" She shouted loudly making her voice bounce off the walls impressively as if the bland walls were shocked by her loud voice and wanted to give her a piece of what they thought and she threw her bag on the floor tugging uncomfortably at her uniform for a moment before marching into the kitchen. "Vater! Vater! I'm home, Vati!" When her silver haired father still didn't reveal himself she walked through the kitchen with the sound of her mother's voice echoing behind her and she walked up to the sliding doors cutting the kitchen off from the backyard, the only thing giving her the clear view of her father out there amidst the frosty grass that were no doubt stiff with the cold. They were to get their first foot that night of snow which was amazing for Astrid for she loved the snow in late November for it always piled up high when Christmas came round and she could go out playing in the snow that seemed so thick she'd be swallowed right up. She threw the door open smiling at her father's back. "Vater!" She watched the way he jumped, his muscles tensed and jerking so fiercely he turned helplessly like his body ordered him to do this and she blinked when she saw the wet tracks on his cheeks that was so much like her mother for it was wrong to see it. It felt like she was seeing something she shouldn't be but she stepped over the threshold, across the cold bricks holding the patio furniture that was as familiar to her as the swing set her father sat near and she took a few stumbling steps into the stiff grass. "Oh, I didn't know you guys vere home! How vas school, hm? Did you manage to kick some ass today? It vouldn't surprise me! You're my girl, a spitfire is vhat you are und trust me if you did get in trouble I'd make sure your mutter voudln't find out! Is America's kid coming over to hang out vith you today? You mentioned a project but you never told me-" Astrid ran across the stiff grass that crunched under her feet when she used her longer legs to carry her to her father, covering the distance quick as she could and her arms were being thrown outwards hugging onto her father knocking him backwards with a grunt. "I don't know vhat's vrong but don't cry, Vati! No matter vhat happened just remember you have me, und Mutti und Mia und Fritz! So vhatever happened can't be so bad, can they, Vati? It'll be just fine! I promise!" She sounded desperate like she wanted nothing more than to make him smile and it worked for he laughed out as her little face buried into his shoulder and he hugged her fiercely making her breathless. "Don't vorry, Ast, I just said some things today that I'm ashamed off und vere completely unawesome of me to say." He replied softly reaching up stroking her short silver hair, the silky strands slipping through his fingers as he stroked the locks then pulled back looking into her worried face, so much like his own. "Now, how about you go inside und vatch your siblings for me vhile I talk to Mutti? Then I'll be right in to help you vith your homevork, alright?" With a nod Astrid got to her feet with Prussia following her movements so he stood as well, ruffling her hair once more noting that he would have to trim her hair that weekend and he watched her turn around walking towards the house and he sighed out when the door slid shut behind her. "I'm fucking up, aren't I?" Austria uncrossed his arms sighing as well when he walked over to Prussia, the stiff grass crunching and complaining under his feet it seemed as he made his way to the albino, reaching up to him stroking his messy hair softly then cupped his cheeks sighing once more sending a gray plume into the air. "Ja, you might be. But you'll fix them as you go along, I know you vill, Gilbert und I'll be vith you as you fix them vun by vun but you have to do it. The first thing you should probably apologize for is vhat you said to Hungary." Perhaps it was the hormones or simply Prussia's own guilt for his harsh words but to Austria's surprise he watched tears bubbling on silver lashes and a quiet nose twisted out of Prussia's throat, strangled and choked like he had been trying to keep it from coming out. "I'm sorry for that, Roddy, I'm so sorry." He didn't know what he was apologizing for, whether it was for the whole situation with Hungary or because of what he said but his tears slipped down his cheeks faster than he could stop them. He felt his cheeks flushing expecting so many things to happen like a slap, a kick, a scolding or scream match but he got none of them when Austria stepped forward moving his arms around Prussia tugging his head down to his chest. "It'll be okay, Gilbert, don't get yourself all vorked up for nothing. I'll be here, to help vith everything so you von't have to do it all on your own und I promised Elizaveta I vould help her too so neither vun of you are going to do this alone." He then stroked Prussia's silver hair and smiled softly with a little sigh that came out in a small, tiny cloud of gray into the air. "But ve do have other things to talk about, like you being pregnant for vun. You're older then even I am, I'm sure of it, so you need to start taking it easy now und I don't vant to see you rough housing vith the girls either! You'll need to be like your bruder for vunce vhile you're pregnant, alright? I can help you vith vhatever you need to help vith." "Nein, you don't have to help me vith fixing my fuck ups, Roddy. I vill take it easy from here on out und I guess I should call my bruder let him know about the news that he's to be an Onkel again vhich should thrill him endlessly." He shared a smirk with Austria as he lifted his head sighing out cupping Austria's face stroking his cheeks softly, the large amethyst eyes staring at him from behind the dark frames of his glasses and he felt a throb of guilt. "Don't think that just because ve are together means you have to deal vith my fuck ups, Roddy." "It may be your fuck up, Gilbert, but that doesn't mean I can't offer some kind of help vith it. I'm vith you, through thick und thin, especially if ve're going to have a mutual honesty between us und start our relationship the right vay but you have to face the facts, Gilbert, und accept that that baby may just be yours." Austria reached his hands up gripping the albino's wrists looking him right in the eye only to feel his lovers forehead thunk against his softly. "You're going to have to take responsibility, Gilbert, if it does turn out to be your baby she has und I believe you vill love that baby just like you love Astrid, Mia und Fritz." "I shouldn't have said that but it just got to me und I vanted to just hurt her for doing this. I mean, I should never had said the abortion bit but I never thought Hungary vould vant to be a mutter again, it never crossed my mind especially vhen ve used a condom." Austria looked surprised at Prussia's words and the albino pulled back smirking, raising a brow looking at his lover. "Vhat? Did you think I vas that flippant about being vith her? Give me some credit, Roddy. I just don't see vhy I have to be involved or anything if Macau is just going to be vith her vhich vill probably just lead to them raising the baby, no matter who it belongs too, so do I need to step forward? Really?" "Because this baby vill more than possibly be your child und you need to do vhat is right. Vhat kidn of lesson vould that be giving Astrid, Mia or Fritz vhen he is old enough to understand? Vhat about the new baby? They could possibly be related! You just...You should do vhat is right und show the children vhat kind of life to lead but it's up to you in the end, liebling. I cant force you to do anything." Austria replied with a sigh following it and he then smiled cupping Prussia's face now, the chill making him tremble lightly but he leaned his cheek into Prussia's hand. "Just make the right choice, Gilbert, vhether it's to claim the child or not, I'll support you." It was then Prussia's turn to sigh but it was more of a heave that made his shoulders jump up then drop fiercely and he looked away for a moment as his cheek pressed into Austria's hand and the brunette raised a brow at the man who just pouted for a second before turning his attention back to Austria. "Hey, Roddy?" Austria made a little noise tilting his head and Prussia smirked widely, wickedly like he always did and Austria smiled with a helpless edge for the sparkle in those ruby eyes melted him every time. "I am absolutely freezing my nips off out here, can ve go inside now? Oh! Do you think you could make me some apple pie for dessert? I've been craving it und none is better than yours!" "You dummkopf! Und here I thought you vould say something inspirational or loving!" Austria responded with a playful tone in his voice when he laughed before he could help himself then patted Prussia's cheeks as the man smiled happily now. "Let's get inside then, liebling, und get the girls situation for the afternoon und plan out dinner. I'll make apple pie so don't vorry!" Prussia beamed brilliantly at his lover as he threw an arm around his waist hugging Austria to his side happily. Walking across the yard he felt Austria's head rest against his shoulder which sent joy sparkling through his system making everything seem so much happier, brighter than it normally did and he opened the door for Austria when they got there. He let the brunette slip out from under his arm as he sighed hearing th girls upstairs thumping around and arguing about who would have piano lessons first and who would work with their father on their homework and it made him smile widely when Austria went upstairs bellowing to the girls about it. His hand, as if it held it's own consciousness, pressed against his stomach smiling to himself while sighing through his nose while refusing to let it turn into a yawn and he rubbed his stomach.He had about eight months before Hungary gave birth, nine months until his own, which left him with more than enough time to make his decision and yet it was nerve wracking to think about Austria taking his words back if the child did turn out to be his after all. Prussia picked at his lip nervously for a moment then took a deep breath moving a hand through his hair and then smiled once more when he heard feet on the stairs. He'd figure it out, he knew he would, and for now he could just relish in his time with his family and figure out everything when the babies came.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It was hot in the room and it felt smaller than it should have with three bodies inside of it but it was a comfortable sort of sensation and Astrid was bouncing on Cristiano's bed after throwing a pillow to shut the door and turned to both boys before her while placing her hands on her hips. "So, I declare ve play a game! Ve never really get to play since ve meet at school a lot und our parents are busy half the time so ve'll play something extra fun before I have to go home!" Cristiano looked up after plucking at his tank top a few time and tilted his head looking at the silver haired girl bouncing on the bed proudly and he rubbed one of his eyes that itched fiercely, burning for a moment and he then turned to Austynn who was sitting next to the bed just by Astrid's jumping feet and the blonde looked a touch hesitant. "What kind of game? The last game you had us play I fell out of a tree and Austie ended up having poison ivy! It didn't go away for a long time, if you remember that." It wouldn't surprise him if Astrid didn't remember that but he smiled at his excitable friend who thought for a moment as if to call up the memories. Then the nine year old shrugged jumping up then sitting down on the mattress which allowed Austynn to climb up next to her and she smiled wickedly at the blonde making him blink a few times at the girl's expression and she held up a finger like she was about to state rules. "Don't vorry about that game, it's only vunce in a vhile und it's only to be played in summer, as you now know! This game ve say who ve have a crush on und full names, everything! Und yo uhave to let the other two guess at least once before giving in und if you know then you can say it! Sound fun? Just vun last game before I have to go because Mutti is mad I've been skipping my after school piano lessons und ordered me to afternoon und morning lessons at home." Both boys shared a look for they knew just how Astrid's mother could be when it came to the piano and they also knew how Astrid got when she was forced to practice, especially when she didn't want too and Cristiano sighed out for his friend. He then looked at Astrid who was playing with her short silver hair now, smiling widely at Austynn who smiled back. "Well, if that's the rules then I'm making the first declaration because I know you so well, Asty! You, Astrid Bernadett Beilschmidt, have a crush on Mr. Russia's daughter, Tatiana!" He shouted smugly making ruby eyes narrow on him and he beamed now, proud of himself as he sat there on his bedroom floor and the blonde smiled widely. "I think it's her too! You blushed when Cris said her name so I know you like her!" Austynn jumped on board with the Spanish Italian boys claim and he smiled widely at this when Astrid turned her scowl to the blonde as well. "It's so clear, Ast, just how much you like her! I should just draw you with heart eyes half the time cause you're so silly for her!" Astrid was blushing fiercely at this point as she crossed her arms with a huffing breath that made both boys smile victoriously at one another. Then her eyes flashed, sparkling with mischievous victory when she pointed at Austynn. "I know exactly who you like! That's right, think you're so clever und stuff I'll tell right now who you have a crush on!" She declared happily while Cristiano tilted his head looking somewhat like a puppy with his curious eyes bouncing between Astrid who stood on her feet looking down at Austynn's bright red face now. Her ruby eyes twinkled fiercely when she smirked at Cristiano and tilted her head looking every bit like a mischievous pixie right then. "Do you ever vonder vhy he gets so quiet around you sometimes, Cris? Don't you ever vonder vhy he blushes so much?" "Astrid, don't!" Austynn cried out lunging to his feet, his cheeks a fierce red that had nothing to do with the heat of the room that had stained them a soft pink from the heat and his violet eyes were panicked. "I'm serious, don't say it! Please!" She jumped off the bed when he went to cover her mouth and she thudded onto the floor only to dance to the window seat looking absolutely wicked now when she looked at Cristiano who was watching both his friends curiously. "He has a crush on you, Cris!" She shouted the words as if everything in this wold needed to hear her proud words and poor Austynn had a tremble to his hands like he was helpless against the admission or like his hands wanted to scramble, make the words unsaid. Gather them and hide them once more but with them hanging in the air he couldn't handle the playful victory on Astrid's face nor could he handle the shocked expression on his friend's face and tears were instantly gushing up to his eyes making Astrid lose her look. "Oh, Austie, I'm sorry! That vas mean, I'm sorry!" He whimpered rubbing at his eyes but the tears slipped past his fingers cleverly to spill down his burning cheeks as and both his friends looked on until Cristiano stood walking across the room giving Astrid a warning look but merely got an apologetic one and she frowned. Not one bit of her face had the devious pixie appearance it always did but as he walked up to the seven year old he stroked his hair of his bowed head then reached out taking Astrid's limp hand. "It's okay! It's all okay, you guys, maybe this wasn't the best game to play, it sounds more like a game for big kids to play. Not that I blame you, Asty! But maybe we shouldn't play this game again, hm?" His words made Astrid crack a smile but it looked forced, weak even and Austynn was rubbing the tears off his face when the door opened revealing his mother and Cristiano, in all his years of life, was never happier to see him when he saw the brow raise. "Astrid, your padre is here to pick you up. Get your stuff together and get down there, si? And Austynn, your parents just called Toni and said they'd be here in twenty minutes. Apparently they were with Prussia but they have to pick something up at the store so I suggest you start getting your stuff together." Austynn nodded sheepishly when he looked around for his shoes and his bag while Astrid climbed off the bed getting her own shoes on and grabbing her red backpack and her hoodie sliding that on zipping it up and slid her bag on turning to the boys. "I'll see you guys later, ve can do something awesome at school Monday! Maybe, if I convince Mutti, you und Austynn can sleep over at my place! Vouldn't that be cool? It's been a long time since ve had vun! Vati said I'm getting to old for them so let's have just one last vun together, ja? It doesn't matter if it's here or my house or Austie's! Let's set something up, okay? I'll see you later!" She then skipped across the floor sliding past Romano who actually moved an affectionate hand over the silver haired girls short hair when she slipped by him and she smiled up at Romano who smiled back at her softly. Romano was her godfather and she absolutely adored him, he in return saw a lot of himself in the little girl and it just made him adore her all the more for it even if her father annoyed the absolute hell out of him. Then he turned back to the boys, watching his son looking through movies to watch on the TV for the both of them or a show, and he offered a smile to the little blonde who was another child he pretty much liked enough of to adore but didn't care for his father much. "I'll be getting lunch in a while, it's in the oven now but I expect the both of you to come downstairs to the table to eat. No need to hide in your room eating like hermit crabs." "Okay!" Cristiano exclaimed offering a smile to his mother that Austynn copied which honestly stunned Romano for a moment under the sweetness of their faces and his cheeks warmed as he cleared his throat then shut the door behind him. It was quiet as Cristiano waited for the footsteps to go down the stairs before turning to Austynn who avoided his eyes instinctively. "Hey, Austie, it's okay! It was a silly game Astrid came up with and it's just silly fun but for bigger kids, so it's okay!" He hesitated wondering if he should say what he wanted right then most to and he stared at the blonde for a moment for Astrid had gotten him curious. "Is it true, though? Is what she said true?" Austynn looked away from his friend like the action spoke what he didn't want too leaving both six and seven year old to blush like little fools standing in the warm room while Cristiano wondered why this made him feel ten times more embarrassed than it ever would have any other day. He was like his mother, definitely when it came to the older female Nations, for he flirted playfully like his mother did with Belgium only at he knew from his father that Romano had meant his flirting but Cristiano was the same. Yet he knew there was a time to play and joke and there was a time to be serious, which would be right now as he stared at the seven year old who met Cristiano's gaze hesitantly then looked down. "Oui, she's true." Cristiano decided to step close to his friend taking his hands making the blonde squeak at the sudden touch looking up in surprise and took in the helplessly sweet look on Cristiano's face, his soft smile and the way his brows pulled together gave him that helpless edge when he noticed the red hue to his friend's cheeks. It was embarrassing. "Gracias for telling me, Austie, I know it probably wasn't easy for you too! So, maybe one day when we're older like our Papa's and our Mama's we can date like they did! Wouldn't that be cool? You'd want too, si? If you still like me and I still like you that way? It'd be fun!" Austynn took in the words for a moment, silently, staring at Cristiano who was smiling brilliantly at him now like it was no big deal and all was still the same which surprised Austynn for a moment. Then, slowly like he had no will to stop it, he smiled forgetting his embarrassment for the moment as he squeezed Cristiano's hands smiling wider the moments that ticked by and then nodded his enthusiasm. "Oui! If it is still the same then we can do that! I don't see why we couldn't!" "Awesome!" Cristiano pumping their hands up and down in childlike glee that made Austynn giggle happily with the boys laughs and they then smiled widely to one another, glittering violets meeting sparkling greens when he nodded to the TV. "Let's watch a cartoon or something until your parents come! Then we'll go eat lunch, si?" Austynn laughed happily at his friends words before they climbed onto the bed staring at the TV settling in on the bed as Cristiano's mother tended to his wailing little brother in the room over. It was a fun afternoon that passed by with the pizza for lunch, that when his friend was gone Cristiano honestly felt lonely for a split moment until his mother called for him to go clean up before dinner and he pushed the feeling away. Romano honestly marveled at how his son was packing away the formula, gulping it down like he was starving and tiny squeaks left him as he sucked air into his lungs between the suckling mouthfuls he took and his large hazel eyes stared up at his mother. It was like Salvador couldn't get enough of staring at Romano, as if he was surprised there was a parent that was so awe worthy that he couldn't stop and it was honestly growing both adorable and sweet the longer he did it. Romano leaned against the counter when he looked to his husband who was happily dancing in place as he cooked their dinner and the music softly played over the sizzling of food on the stove. "You know, Austynn and Cristiano are going to make one adorable couple one day~" Romano scowled at his husband's words then sniffed as if offended by the very air tainted by those words and he looked down at Salvador. "Like hell they will be! Cristiano is going to be a smart boy when he's older, he won't end up with that pervert's son!" Romano snapped huffily like he was more than offended for himself, almost like he was also offended for the future dignity of their elder son and he scowled at his husband once more. "I have nothing against the kid but Cris will NOT end up with France's kid!" Spain merely clicked his tongue at his husband who scowled fiercely at him and he reached for his spices he had lined up neatly on the counter, adding a small dash of Adobo to the sizzling meat and smiled at Romano once again. "I don't know, sweetie, I feel something in the forces have shifted between the two of them! Don't you feel it? It's like the start of some Life Time movie! Childhood best friends ending up together one day~" He laughed when Romano adopted a sour expression like Spain just offered something absolutely rancid or unacceptable to him and he chuckled. "Oh, hell no they didn't shift! It'll be just like you and fucking France when you two ended up fighting over Canada back then and I refuse to let my son partake in something like that ever! Why did you even like Canada, by the way? I understand he's cute and cuddly and sweet and nice but why did you choose him back then? It still doesn't make sense for I never thought he could even reach your interests or type of man you'd be with." Romano asked looking at his husband squinting fiercely at the Spaniard and his husband hummed for a moment when he seemed to think long and hard about Romano's question which irritated him to no end. "Can you just spit it out?" "I'm playing, I'm playing! Well, I think what got my attention was Canada was very sweet and cute and I did have some attraction to the blonde like France did but I quickly dropped it after France nearly ripped my throat out after I commented on how pretty and cute Canada was. Literally! He bared his teeth and growled through them that I wasn't to even think about going near Canada again and turned on Gilly so fiercely I expected him to rip his throat out too. Gilly ended up dating him for a while but I gave him up like that though." He snapped his fingers then smiled at Romano, a soft look coming to his green eyes that made the Italian blush fiercely and look down at his son like he needed something else to focus on right then. "I only did so because I loved you, Lovi, and when you got so jealous that night when we were drinking together I would have never known how you felt! It's because you told me that I gave up any pursuit of Canada." "You're so sappy!" Romano snapped while his cheeks burned with the cheerful laugh that fell from Spain's lips and he shifted the bottle lightly as Salvador sighed through his little nose. "So do you think Cristiano will end up being the same? That he'll find someone different and remain friends with Austynn? I have no problem with the kid, he's sweet and cute like his mother but I just want to believe my son has SOME sense in his head not to go after a friend. It can ruin things." Spain turned the burner off moving the pan off of it and he then leaned against the counter looking to his husband once more. "I think he might do it like that but I also think that our son has a pretty big crush on little Austynn but from what I've heard Liam also has a crush on the little cutie so it's quite the dramatic love triangle in the making!" Spain then sighed out moving a hand through his hair and Romano watched his fingers get caught on a few curls when he then smiled cheerfully at Romano. "Imagine being that young again! The only problem they have is they're so young and can't do anything about it!" "Oh, shut up. I bet when you were a kid you were a little bastard, a cheerful one but a bastard nonetheless!" Romano replied in a huffy manner when he met his husband's amused gaze then looked down to find that Salvador had stopped guzzling his formula in favor of napping in his mother's arms instead. His tummy was lightly swollen with the amount of formula he had just eaten and there was a little white line of the formula rolling down his cheek from his little lips as those cute little baby snores started up while he laid in Romano's arms as he placed the bottle on the counter. He stroked the little wisps of hair with the tips of his fingers only to caress his fingers down the side of his sleeping face making the baby smile briefly before relaxing once more as Romano wiped the little drool line of formula. "You know, Lovi, our sons are going to grow up someday and they're going to find love for themselves! Maybe even have babies too, if God will allow it!" Spain looked over at Romano with a smile on his lips but he saw the flush to his husband's cheeks and the pouty look he adopted when he looked down at Salvador. Romano didn't like to imagine his squish, sweet Cristiano as a developed, toned teenager who would eventually become an adult and move away from home where if Romano had his choice he'd keep his children young forever. "Don't look so sad, Lovi. It's just how life is, they have to grow and leave the nest eventually." "I know they have to grow up eventually, I just don't like to think about it happening any time soon. I want them to stay my babies for just a little longer before they're adults ready to leave us behind like I know they will someday." Romano replied in soft tones looking at Salvador's sleeping face and stroked his silky cheek making his face twitch while Spain smiled softly t his husband before turning towards Romano stretching an arm out wrapping it around his husband's waist tugging him close to him. "Don't do that when I have the baby!" "Shhh, it's okay. I know how you feel, Lovi, I don't want them to grow up either but that's what children do but because they'll grow and leave they'll adore you all the more because they'll have the absolute best Madre in the world that they could ever ask for. Same for me, haha! We'll provide them the best lives they can have and they'll love us all the more for it, you know that." He then bent pressing his forehead against his husband's who took a deep breath. "They'll be back, married or not, just to see us from time to time because we're their parents and they love us, plus think about all the cute grandchildren we could have! Even if it's one or two they'd be adorable~! But that's years and years ahead of us, Lovi, and even longer before the boys have children of their own." He pressed a kiss to the top of Romano's head, nuzzling the dark brown locks happily while inhaling the scent that clung to his husband's hair with the scent of Italian spices and surprisingly like the crayons he'd been using to color with Cristiano earlier after Austynn left. Romano always smelled like Italian spices and something else, that second underlying scent a new surprise for Spain to place the origin of and it made him happy to smell the spicy scent of his husband. While Italy smelled like the summer air and pasta Romano always had a spicier, almost lightly musky scent that was unlike his little brother's and Spain had to admit he was enjoying it much more than he'd ever enjoyed the scent that clung to Italy like a coat. Romano, on the other hand, in response to his husband's words pouted into his shoulder before resting his temple against it looking down at the baby in his arms. Salvador always looked so much more precious when he was sleeping, even if he fussed to no end some days Romano loved him so desperately that it pained him to think of his tiny baby as a full grown toddler or child in some odd years. It was hard to imagine and he felt his throat tighten. "I know, I've just never been a parent before. I don't know how I'm going to deal when they get older, hell I don't know how I'll deal with it when they graduate from the academy and move on with their lives and I don't know how I'm going to let them go. I've never had to deal with this before." "I know, Lovi, but I have. Many of us who had a small colony to look after dealt with it, look at America and Japan, look at Italy along with so many others and look at yourself, Lovi, you all were small children at one point who doted on your elders even if you were roughly bratty!" He grinned at the slap to his hip and he kissed Romano's forehead now. "But I'll be there with you, each step you have to take, and I'll be with you when we eventually have to let the boys go one day and I'll help you with it. However, when they get to that age we can also still have a few more children, Lovi, if that would be what you wanted when they were grown, we're still young enough to keep expanding our family just a bit." "True, I guess we can have more kids when the boys are grown up and by that point at least I'll have dealt with the boys growing that I won't cling to them so fiercely and be upset when any other of our children grow if we have them. I mean, look at Veni! He cries when the twins even do something slightly advanced for their age and he's a blubbering mess on the phone because his babies are, and I quote, growing up and getting smarter by the day. " He sighed then looked up at Spain with a fierce look to his face that made the Spaniard grin. "I'm gonna go put him in his swing but I'm telling you right now if I ever end up like Veni then you're to slap me as hard as you can until I snap out of it." "I won't agree to slapping you but I can make you snap out of it one way or another." He replied with a sly undertone that was added to with a wink that had Romano blushing to his hairline when he walked away with a huffing breath and Spain laughed happily. Romano got Salvador into his swing happily, the baby seemed out like a light from the warm formula he'd devoured and Romano loved the peaceful, tranquil look on his son's face when he stroked his silky cheek happily before standing up walking into the kitchen once more. "Look at you~ You really are a good Mama, Lovi!" "Shut up, move over and let me get the shells into the oven to warm up." Romano replied in a huff, almost demanding tone as he rolled his sleeves up to his elbows walking over to Spain who was putting the pot of meat on the counter with a oven mitt underneath and he nudged the man out of the way. Spain merely smiled cheerfully when Romano opened the box of taco shells then bent tugging a tray out, stood placing the shells onto the tray with quick precise movements then stuck he shells into the hot oven sighing when Spain handed him a knife. He was handed a few tomatoes while Spain got too cutting the lettuce, the crisp sounds of the knife sliding through the green leaves was rather satisfying as he diced the tomatoes carefully only to jump when he felt an arm around his waist. "What are you doing?" "Gracias, Lovi, for marrying me and being with me long enough to give me such beautiful children~" Spain softly murmured the words against his flushed cheek making the Italian squeak lightly looking up at the Spaniard, his curl crunched but in the sweet shape of a heart and Spain laughed happily. "You truly could be sweeter than little Italy, couldn't you?" Romano scowled then snatched the towel off of Spain's shoulder and whipped him in the stomach which only succeeded in making the Spaniard laugh happily once again before rubbing his cheek into his dark brown locks. "Te amo, Lovi~" "Shut up! I'm trying to get shit cut for dinner and you're distracting me now!" Romano snapped in embarrassment when Spain smiled brilliantly at his husband and he looked down in embarrassment once more when he mumbled his reply which only seemed to make Spain beam brighter than before. He looked over noticing his son hovering in the doorway to the kitchen and the little dining area they had with the kitchen table and Romano raised a brow looking at his son. "Did you finish cleaning up your room, Cris? And did you wash your hands like you were supposed too?" "Si, Mama, of course I did! My room is all clean and I washed my hands so they're all clean, see?" He chirped the words joyfully, holding his hands up for inspection when he showed the back of his hands then his palms cheerfully and Romano smiled. "Mama, do you think I could have a sleep over with Austynn and Astrid? Please? If her Mama is going to make her do piano lessons she'll be really upset so I want to do something fun for her!" Romano thought for a moment when he was handed the cilantro and a few peppers from Spain that he began chopping carefully while debating his answer for a moment or two then looked at his son again pausing his hands. "I don't see why not, if it's okay with Papa. Now, why don't you go and set the table for me? It'll help me and Papa get dinner and plates done all the more faster if you can help us with that part. Do you think you can handle that?" With a happy smile Cristiano nodded then ran off cheerfully while Romano finished chopping the cilantro, working on the peppers now and he looked over to see Spain smiling at him proudly. "What? What is it?" Spain walked around him pressing a kiss against the back of his neck softly then rubbed his shoulders before going to the stove opening the door pulling the shells out right as the oven let out it's shrill beep of the timer and he smiled at Romano when he placed the pan on the counter. "It's so nice watching you talk to the boys, it makes you such a good Mama, Lovi!" He cheerfully replied grabbing a one of their big plastic plates while Romano's curl trembled into another crunched up heart once again at the compliment and his face burned fiercely when Spain threw a smile over his shoulder. "Te amo, Lovi!" Romano pouted down at the bowls of ingredients before cautiously looking up at Spain's back and then looked down once again like he was trying to play it off as something casual but the little smile on his lips felt like anything but casual. It felt more like an "I have a secret" smile when he arranged the bowls on the counter slightly before taking a breath quietly to himself but his little smile grew for a moment until he had to turn away when Spain looked over his shoulder and he went to the fridge for the sauce. "T-Ti amo, Toni." And his answering smile from Spain made those words all the more worth it to say and he smiled into the fridge as the warmth of his husband's smile warmed him to the core.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
When it came to babies there were many noises that France was accustomed too so when he heard Henri crying it didn't surprise him in the least bit and he knew, one way or another, that Henri would settle down sooner rather than later. His sister, on the other hand, was different all together. Shuffling the paperwork in his hands, reading over the lines that strained his eyes France rubbed his forehead groaning under his breath wondering how he let his work pile up so high and get so far behind in doing it but he'd get it done then he'd spend time with his family. When he herd the screaming wails, however, that rose above Henri's he looked up from his work blinking wondering what could possibly be making his daughter so angry, so shrill that she was louder than her brother and he frowned knowing that Canada was more than likely busy with Henri. Standing France frowned at the folder labeled with Canada's name, taking in the amount his husband also had to do and he felt a stab a guilt for they hadn't really done much work after their marriage which their bosses allowed but then with the pregnancy it acted as more time off for the pair of them. They'd had three blissful months with the twins when the paperwork for both of them was delivered that morning and France wondered how Canada could even begin to do his own work for the twins too up much of their mother's time and his patience leaving him drooping over his plate by the end of the day. He felt guilty sometimes when he found his husband sleeping mere seconds after his head would touch the pillow for the fatigue, the look engraved with the blue shadows under his eyes, seemed permanent and he slept so hard now that he hardly woke during the night when the twins needed tending too. If he didn't sleep he was up all night with Poppy most nights for the girl clung to her mother so fiercely like her brother that some nights she would keep poor Canada up for hours on end before she would settle into sleep. France helped when he could, spending many hours with the twins as well but the paperwork had kept him busy and he worried for his husband's health, his twins and even for poor Austynn who's birthday was looming up in the next two months in January and he frowned wondering where the time slipped. He hated the longing that appeared in Austynn when he got even a glimmer of their attention only for France o be taken by business call after call, paper after paper of work and his mother off to change the twins or soothe them in some way. It was obviously taking a toll on the seven year old who was desperately craving his parents attention that he and Canada often found the seven year old sandwiched between them some mornings, like he had to cuddle with them at night just to get some attention and it hurt France. It was worse than any wound he dealt or received in his long life. He walked around the desk, adjusting the reading glasses perched on his nose and opened the study door where the wails were deafening and he caught sight of a frazzled, exhausted Canada rushing past him into the nursery to scoop their daughter up no doubt."Mon amour?He walked out into the hall then down it to the nursery when Canada appeared in the doorway looking so fatigued he wondered if this was the sweet, brilliant man that had always handled little problems without so much as breaking a sweat. "I'm sorry, Francis, I had to find hr binky and I ended up finding it under the couch where she threw it last night and I had to wash it but I had no idea she'd get so upset! I'm sorry if it distracted you from your work, I'll make sure she doesn't cry like that." Canada hated how croaky his voice sounded but he felt like he was holding together by mere frayed strings that even France could see from the paleness in his face, the way his pale blonde hair appeared more greasy as the days went by and the blue rings under his eyes made the violet of his eyes burn. He hardly wore his own clothes save for the black jeans but the other times he wore France's shirts and often nodded off half the time when sitting in the chair or couch when the twins gave him that silence and, like right now, he often forgot his glasses even if he could hardly see without them. "Oh, mon doux Canadien, I'm so sorry." He whispered the words looking at his husband who stared up at him when France cupped his face and Canada looked at the blue eyes that shimmered like they held tears there, his brows came together giving him a saddened expression. "Mon amour, you 'aven't been sleeping right lately, you look so ex'austed. Why don't you come and take a break, hm? Sleep while you can and I will look after little Henri and Poppy for you.""No no, it's fine! I can handle it, Francis, I can! Besides, what kind of mother would I be if I couldn't look after the twins? If I can't balance them with Austynn?" Canada replied with a shake to his voice now and while the blue eyes on him shimmered Canada felt his own eyes burning and he refused to blink for he knew the moment he did tears would gush down. "I need to learn how to balance three children, I mean if Alfred can do it then why can't I? You have work to do and I don't want us slipping behind further."France brushed his thumbs over Canada's cheeks when the tears dripped down btu they slid like tricky mercury and weaseled past his thumbs to trickle down Canada's cheeks as his eyes glistened, staring up at France with a level of raw, true worry that he hadn't seen on his husband in years. "I can do our work later, mon amour, we 'ave nothing but time and you need to rest. I will take a little break from the work and look after the children, okay? Come now, let's lay you down." He managed to get Canada under his arm which made his shoulder ache lightly from the minor height difference and he stroked the pale blonde locks of Canada's as he walked his husband to their bedroom, each step making the Canadian sway and he frowned. He really hadn't noticed the way his husband was getting a lack of sleep until then for it seemed how hard Canada slept most nights he just woke up exhausted now a days and he could see why the man was upset for his brother, his loud and exuberant brother, seemed so much better at balancing three children. But they were finding their balance! They'd find it and they'd be absolutely amazing! It just took time and Canada would see that not everything he had to do would meet his brother's standards for America never had twins before so he wouldn't understand the struggle. He managed to get Canada to their bed, the blankets pulled back and his husband climbed in without even asking to change out of his black jeans and instead curled up on his side like he always did as his eyes shut, his body relaxing into the mattress. It was at that time that Poppy decided to wail out a second time for someone, anyone, to come to her and France pressed a kiss against Canada's head softly before turning rushing out of the room taking his reading glasses off stuffing them into his pocket when he rushed to the nursery. He was worried Canada would wake at the slightest inconvenience but from what he saw the man was out for the day or even the night but France had no problems with that for his husband needed some rest after looking at the twins all day. He walked into the nursery quickly to the little bassinet where his daughter whimpered before hiccuping a sob as he looked down seeing the large glistening blue eyes staring up at him, her cheeks a fierce red as she kicked her legs impatiently before hiccuping again. He reached in scooping the baby crooning to her softly but she refused to be placated when he kissed her little forehead walking to the changing table to both get her diaper changed and get her dressed for the day and he smiled softly. "What is wrong, petite fille? Is your nappy dirty, hm? Don't worry, Papa will take care of it for you~" He placed her on the changing table unbuttoning her onesie taking her little arms and legs out of it then undid her diaper, tossing it in the little diaper genie then cleaned her up, got a little baby powder on her followed by a fresh diaper and she was all smiles. Her smile, for a three month old, was infectious and France absolutely adored how sweet his little girl was, how she seemed so ready to offer her precious little smiles whenever she could to her family and he adored the smiles. She was the sweetest thing in the world, his little star, his only daughter he was likely to have and he cherished everything about his little girl each and every day. While girls were not rare in the Nations as there was plenty of daughters around she was the only one in a twin set for the only other twins were Italy's and they were boys, Poppy and Henri were the only set he knew off with a boy and girl. He wanted to say he knew what he was going to do when she got older, became an adult and matured physically but to be honest he truly couldn't know until the time came when it did. For now his daughter was tiny and sweet, a little thing that depended on her father and mother fiercely along with her quieter brother making it very obvious she would be like France and, like his brother, Henri would be just as sweet and timid as Austynn and his mother. "There you are ~ Let Papa get you dressed~!" He smiled when she gurgled lightly in response with a sigh that sounded almost like she was trying to speak but he opened the little dresser just off to the side. He plucked out a little pink dress for the baby, managing to get it over her little head and her arms in the holes while he straightened the fabric out then smiled adoringly at his little daughter placing a pair of socks on her little feet and swept her into his arms. "Look at you! All 'appy and fresh for Papa!"Poppy let out a little squeal, blowing spit bubbles now to amuse herself happily, her big blue eyes narrowed making France laugh at the little girl's antics while Austynn hovered in the doorway looking at his father wondering when he'd speak up. He'd watched his father dress her and change her diaper but he had been almost afraid to speak up when his father was busy and he hesitated now but he honestly needed his father's attention right now and he swallowed nervously. "Papa?" France turned then offered a bright smile as Poppy laid in the crook of his arm, her little spit bubbles making the cutest little sound that amused her as her little legs kicked out and he smiled at her then smiled at his son once more. "My little Austynn! What do you need me for? Is there something Papa can 'elp you with?" He asked squatting down best he could with Poppy in his arms and he looked at his son's troubled face tilting his head slightly frowning now. "What's wrong? Did something 'appen at school that upset you? Did something 'appen to Henri? Did you get 'urt?" "Non, it's none of that, Papa." Austynn replied quickly to keep his father from panicking then looked away feeling his face beginning to flush when he shuffled in place. "Um, Papa what do you do when you like two people? Do you have to choose one or the other? Or do you have to just ignore it?" France blinked a few times looking at his son then smiled warmly at the little boy and used his free hand to ruffle his hair making the boy blink a few times. It was strange seeing Austynn, a sweet and happy child seem so somber and conflicted then in a way that no seven year old should be. "Are you already 'aving romance problems, my little Austynn? My my, 'ow you 'ave grown up already! To think, my son is already catching the eye of admirers!" He smiled when Austynn blushed, his violet eyes flashing with the surprise of his father's words and France chuckled while ruffling the locks of hair affectionately. "Don't worry, we'll talk about this in just a moment! I 'ave to get Poppy situated, check on little Henri and I will be right with you, I promise!" Austynn brightened at the thought of having his parents full attention for the first time in months that he lit up before nodding and rocking on his feet as France stood up with a little grunt then looked at Poppy who had laid in his arm content in making her spit bubbles that her chin was no slick with drool. Her pacifier, which she'd spit out to scream moments ago, rested in her bassinet and he sighed laying her down noting that she was content enough to lay down and relax when he turned her mobile on which immediately got her attention. Her big eyes focused tightly on the twinkling, spinning object above her then turned halfway leaning to the right looking into Henri's bassinet smiling when he stroked the violet eyed twin's cheek softly as his son slept on peacefully before turning to Austynn, gesturing with his chin to the door. Austynn smiled walking out of the room as France followed, leaving the door open and a baby monitor on his belt look of his pants he walked down stairs with his eldest. "Hey, Papa where's Maman?" With a simple head tilt France could see such likeness between Austynn and his mother when they were that age that he felt a burst of nostalgia before smiling as they walked into the living room with him sitting on the couch heavily with a sigh. Austynn climbed on the couch next to his father, his cheek pressed against the rough material of the couch staring at his father curiously and France smiled cupping his face joyfully then squeezing his cheek making him whine. "Papa, stop it!" "I can't 'elp it, you are so chubby and sweet~" France replied with a coo then darted his hand down to Austynn's throat where the boy shrieked kicking his legs out immediately when two hands were then brought into the equation and tickling the boys poor throat then down to his sides making him scream with laughter. It was a sweet sound to France's ears, the sound of his son's laughter, that with the boy screaming and laughing he then surged to his feet yanking Austynn with him carefully and swinging him around the living room in a display they hadn't done in forever it seemed to the seven year old. He came to a rest on the coffee table putting hi at the same height as his father for a moment when France poked his nose. "Maman is getting his well deserved rest, 'e is working 'imself absolutely ragged over the wins and 'is paperwork 'e 'as to do so I decided to 'elp 'im today!" "I'm glad then! Poppy and Henri must be driving him crazy if he's so tired that he has to sleep right now!" Austynn had such an innocent tone in his words until his fingers found the light blue smudges under France's eyes that were darkening by the day and he frowned for a moment. "You're tired too, Papa. You and Maman are so tired all the time! Are the twins too much?" France sighed for even if his son's question sounded innocent to the ear the questions themselves were pretty serious and heavily loaded that France contemplated whether he should answer or not before meeting his son's large violet eyes. "Sometimes they are a bit too much but it's nothing for you to worry about, Austynn, I will be just fine! Babies always take up time, money and attention from time to time. We were just blessed with two babies than we expected but we'll manage and we'll be just as balanced as your Uncle's! We just 'ave to find our rhythm, is all!" He smiled then ruffling Austynn's hair making the boy giggle now but his eyes still looked dark with worry and France sat on the couch allowing Austynn to sit on the coffee table in front of him and crossed his legs smiling. "Now, tell me what it is that is troubling you, mon précieux trésor, and Papa will try and 'elp you!"The sun stretched into Austynn's room across his carpet but he had long since been awake for the twins, at the ripe hour of five thirty, had woken up screaming and wailing so loud that he felt the entire world could hear Poppy and Henri which wouldn't surprise him for he once thought his cousin, Alexander, was the loudest baby he'd ever meet. He rubbed his eyes fiercely with the heels of his hands for a moment or two before struggling into a sitting position, staring down at his lap as he flinched from the bright light that glowed on the white fresh snow like it was spurring him to get out of bed. He grunted lightly kicking at the blankets off then standing up out of bed stretching his arms over his head inhaling deeply and letting out a strained sound. He then rubbed his hands over his face before walking across his bedroom to pull his clothing off changing it for the fresh shirt, pants and underwear laid out for him last night which he got into quickly, got his socks on and up then walked to his little dresser grabbing his brush moving it through his hair. He normally brushed his teeth first thing in the morning if he wasn't having breakfast but the smells in the hallway wafted to Austynn like it too was urging him to leave his bedroom and go down for breakfast which was no doubt pancakes. His hair, when brushed and smooth, pressed against the back of his neck as if proud in it's new shaggy length that resembled that of his father's hair and he couldn't help but feel a small stab of satisfaction at the thought of his hair growing to be as beautifully elegant as his father's. He opened his bedroom door only to promptly slide down the hallway in his socks to the top of his stairs, something his mother always hated for he swore one day Austynn would break his arm or fall down the stairs which scared Canada but it was something Austynn loved to do. He loved to ice skate, even play ice hockey with his parents on the lake close to here if it was frozen thickly enough so sliding down the hall gave him that sense of happy control which he adored and he smiled to himself when he began walking down the stairs. He could smell the food more thickly downstairs which was definitely pancakes and bacon, the sizzling reaching his ears before he got to the kitchen only to get a rather exuberant hug from his father and a cheek nuzzled to his hair happily. "Ahh, bonjour, Austynn! 'ow did you sleep?" France question looking at his son who stared at him with wide violet eyes, his surprise so intense he couldn't answer for a moment when France smiled widely at his son who just stared in disbelief. "I'm making bacon for Maman and 'e is making pancakes! Poppy and Henri are enjoying their swings so we will sit and 'ave breakfast together! 'ow does that sound to you?" Austynn was still wordless when he looked to his mother who giggled at the wide eyed awe on his son's face and smiled. "It's true, honey, we're going to have breakfast, lunch and dinner together just like before and we're going to make sure Poppy and Henri are taken care of before we do it all! And, if the whether so permits it, we'll go to the store and choose some art supplies for you, ma chérie! How does it all sound?" Canada asked looking owards the stove for a moment to flip a pancake and check the bacon before turning to his son only to find large tears rolling down Austynn's cheeks. "Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas, chéri?" Austynn let out a tight, pitiful sound rubbing at his wet cheeks while his father hugged him fiercely like it would stop the tears from rolling down his son's cheeks as he pressed a kiss to his head and rubbed his little cheek with his free hand. "Austynn, chérie, qu'est-ce qui ne va pas? Venez maintenant, dites à Papa!" It seemed the French from both of his parents tipped Austynn over into such gulping sobs that France and Canada shared a woried look when France stroked the pale blonde locks of his hair away from his face when he looked at Austynn's wet face. "Austynn, come on, tell Papa! What is wrong? Did Maman and I do something wrong?" "Non! Non!" Austynn finally scrounged his words together as he rubbed at his eyes which just kept on releasing tears that even he wasn't sure were for and he hiccuped as his father's arms tightened around him for a moment. It occurred to him that it had felt like forever since his parents welcomed him so happily, looked so refreshed and were so ready to do things other than the twins and paperwork that his little heart and feelings were so overwhelmed. "C'est incroyable! Je suis tellement heureux! Je vous remercie! Merci beaucoup, Maman et Papa!" France and Canada shared another look before a soft smile was the answer and, after taking the pancake off the pan, Canada walked over to his husband and son wrapping his arms around them pressing a kiss to France's blonde locks then to Austynn's making the crying child press his wet face into his mother's chest. "Vous êtes les bienvenus, Austynn. It's about time we do something other than the twins or paperwork, I'm sorry we've been so busy, darling. But I promise, from here on out that we're going to try harder to balance out everything the way we need too and so you don't have to worry so much about Papa and I like I know you do." "Oui! I will do the paperwork later tonight and we asked for an extension which we were granted so that gives us more time to get everything regarding that done! And, since you will be turning eight in two months, we 'ave decided that you'll be old enough to watch your brother and sister on your own for little periods of time so you can get used too it." France smiled when Austynn turned his little face to stare at his father in awe and straighten up in his father's arms wiping at his wet face making both parents chuckle gently. "When you're much older you'll be able to watch them when we need you too but for now we'll start out slow, alright? Would you like that, Austynn?" Austynn stared between his parents who were looking at him expectantly, if a bit curiously, and the little French Canadian stared between his parents for a moment or two while Poppy let out a loud vocal sound from the living room and he smiled. He then met his father's curious blue eyes before meeting his mother's identical, curious violet ones and he nodded making his curl bob when he grinned widely at his parents and putting his free hand on his mother's shoulder clinging to the fabric, much like he did for his father's shoulder. "Oui!" France smiled brilliantly at his son who smiled back while Canada smiled with such pride it made Austynn want to watch the twins right then but when he got a kiss on each cheek at the same time he giggled happily. France then looked at his husband while he set the boy down and used the hair tie on his wrist to yank his hair back into a low ponytail then smiled at his husband with a fire in his blue eyes that spoke levels of confidence. "Now, let's get breakfast done, shall we?" Canada laughed at his husband's theatrics while Austynn climbed up into a chair watching his parents happily and Canada grinned right back at his husband before wiggling his brows lightly. "But of course! Let's get this done so we can eat!" He replied playfully making France laugh now as he took his place next to Canada checking on the bacon which sizzled and hissed, spitting grease for a moment at France's hands but he barely flinched at the feeling. Canada honestly felt some kind of satisfaction that they'd confronted the issue earlier that morning about their balance, about their priorities and he knew soon enough he'd find the perfect balance that would work. It would just take a little time and dedication but they'd find it sooner or later.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The morning was a glorious streak of light that filled the sky turning it a beautiful blue of winter skies and America woke only to find he was sweating like an absolute pig in the sheets that clung to his arms and legs like a sheen that wanted to suck up the sweat on his skin. He groaned sitting up on his arm reaching out for his glasses sliding them on before heaving himself up into a sitting position staring at the other side of the bed, frowning to himself for a moment before taking a deep breath. He missed England. He truly, deeply and wildly wanted nothing more than to get the kids onto the next plane to England's home for the winter but he was giving the man a break with Alexander and he had to stick by what he had promised and agreed upon with England. He walked across the room yawning when he exited the bedroom walking down the hall stretching his arms above his head figuring he'd need a nice big cup of coffee to start his morning before he had to make the children breakfast and he scratched his head. He couldn't get used to the silence that was normally filled by Alexander and England, the way it hung like a blanket that would eagerly part if he would just say the words he knew that would get him to the way things were but he couldn't. He walked down the stairs trailing his fingers on the railing idly like one would stop to affectionately pet a cat that wound themselves around legs purring insistently for affection but he didn't even have that for Freedom was with England and his cat, Winifred. It was lonely without the noise but in as little as five days his lover would be back and they'd spend the rest of Thanksgiving break one last time before parting for the month of December. They agreed, albeit unwillingly on England's end when it came to their "brother in-law", that they'd invite Canada and France's family over for Thanksgiving and then they'd part for the break they agreed upon but America felt close to going nuts without England nitpicking at something he did wrong or right. He honestly wasn't sure if he could go through with it but he knew if he backed out first England would make fun of him or something of the sort which he wanted to avoid best as he possibly could but he also knew England wanted to back out but his reasons must have been the same. America moved his fingers through his hair as he walked into the kitchen sighing to himself in the empty kitchen, walking right up to the Keurig he had and got it set up with the slow, sluggish movements he seemed to possess now a days and grabbed a mug with the American flag blazing against the black porcelain which he put in place before turning on the machine. He knew he wouldn't have long to himself but the sound of little feet behind him had him blinking in surprise wondering which one of his children could be awake and he smiled at his daughter who was pouting fiercely as she could it seemed and he turned squatting down to her height immediately. "Daddy, it's too hot!" She whined immediately as her eyes met America's instantly and he raised a brow looking at her but he didn't disagree with her for she told the truth. "Can't you do something? Make it cold like at Mommy's!" "I can't control the weather, doll face, you know that. I don't think anyone can other than Mother Nature." He sighed standing up now turning to the Keurig that now held a cup full of coffee that he grabbed carefully, taking a scalding mouthful when he then squinted at his daughter. "Where in the world is your shirt? You know Mommy doesn't allow ME to walk around without a shirt, Liam isn't and you sure as hell aren't supposed to be out here without a shirt. So where is it?" "It's gone!" She snapped now stomping her foot impatiently then crossed her arms scowling up at her father like he was responsible for it being so warm outside and in the house right then when she glared now instead of scowling. With her long, messy sunshine blonde hair spilling around her shoulders and clinging to her face from the sweat he could honestly see the England so strongly in her that all she was missing was his signature green eyes and she'd be identical to her mother right then. "Come on, Daddy! Make it cold again! I feel sticky and icky! I want it to be cold out like it was before! Can't you make it cold?" "Jojo, I told you already that I can't control the weather which means I can't force it to be cold outside and there's nothing I can do about it being so warm outside right now, okay? I'm sorry you feel icky and sticky but it's not so bad! Where's your brother? I'm sure if Daddy can handle it then he can too so if the both of us can handle it then you certainly can! Don't you want to be like your big brother and like Daddy? You'd be a super girl! If you're like Daddy then you'll be able to have lots of fans and lots of people will look up to you! Plus, since you have Daddy's strength, you can do lots of cool things too!" He smiled stroking her lank hair making her pout for a moment and he sighed wondering if maybe he said the wrong thing which would no doubt be pointed out if it was or wasn't, had England been there. America walked to the fridge while Jolene pouted fiercely at her father he placed the mug on the table, walked to the sink yanking the drawer next to it open to grab a spoon then walked to the fridge opening the door grabbing the half n half pouring it into his coffee stirring it together and opened a few of the small sugar packets England had left behind. He sipped his coffee when he heard the sluggish steps on the stairs that sounded heavy and slow making him blink when Liam appeared in the doorway moments later wearing no shirt himself, his glasses slipping down his nose and he also had a pout on his face. America sighed rubbing his temple when Liam crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes disgruntled. "Daddy, why is it so hot now? It was cold a few days ago!" "Oh, come on! It's been warm for two days now, well in the fifties and it's nice out! First it's too cold and now it's too hot, you kids really need to start appreciating the weather for what it is! No, you know what? If my place is literally too hot and cold then I think we're just going to have Mommy come back. I can call him and tell him this whole arrangement is over and he'd be on a plan home with Al in a heartbeat." America replied staring at his two children who stared up at him with wide eyes and he looked out the window at the melting snow on the grass outside hating the cold to warm days as well but there wasn't anything he could do. "No, Daddy, not yet! Mommy doesn't let us play video games as long as we do or go out to eat as much as you let us!" Jolene chirped anxiously when she stepped forward gripping the end of America's shirt tightly in her little hands as she stared up at America. "It's just hot, Daddy! You don't have to make Mommy come back so soon! He's so strict, we hardly get to do things like you do, Daddy!" He blinked looking down at his daughter who stared up at him with her wide blue eyes that urged him to see it from their point of view but all it did was succeed in making her look panicked. "Exactly! I love Mummy, I do, but it's fun here with you, Daddy! Can't we do this just a little longer? Then we can say Mummy can come home? It's silly we have to spend a month apart anyways! Mummy no doubt saw our Uncles already so he HAS to come home! Does he not want to be here, Daddy?" Liam asked looking up at America who twitched at the words for they landed and cut him in the worst way possible as he placed his coffee down. He then got onto his knees with zero shame, reached out and tugged both the four year old and seven year old into his arms hugging them so tightly Liam wheezed lightly slapping at his father's back immediately. "Too tight, Daddy! Too tight!" Jolene, on the other hand, used her own strength to squeeze her arm around her father's neck displaying her mighty strength as well, something she rarely used, and he smiled before releasing both the children who looked at him with wide blue eyes. "It's not that Mommy doesn't want to be here, guys, it's that I want to give Mommy a well deserved break that he needs. I miss him, don't get me wrong! But I'm thinking, if you guys don't want to spend your winter month here, we could go to Mommy's house, how bout that? It'd be a trip to school, longer than normal, but we could do it." "I love Mommy's house! It's like a dollhouse, small and pretty! Like Uncle Mattie's house!" Jolene jumped in now with her eyes sparkling delightfully which made both her brother and father smile at the little girl who then beamed brilliantly. It was clear that Jolene adored her mother's home, his land and the entirety of England with all her little heart that they had already planned on giving her own home out near England's own and one for Liam for when he chose to move away and the same remained for America. They could have as many houses as they wanted and yet he knew they'd one day end up in England more than they would be in and the thought warmed his heart. "I miss Mommy but it's been fun! It's just too warm now, Daddy!" Liam nodded with his little sister who both stared America with their large eyes and America then ruffled their blonde locks before tilting his head slightly looking at his son then his daughter. "But don't you guys miss Alex? Jojo, you were just starting to get along with your baby brother so you can't tell me you're happier without him right now." Jolene blushed at her father's playful, light words and looked away with a little pout on her face now and he smiled. "I know I miss Mommy and Alex a whole lot!" "I do too! Alex used to let out those cute little gurgles and he always seems cheerful now a days! And it's quiet without him and Mummy, it's weird. Daddy, do you want ot go back home to Mummy's?" Liam asked tilting his head looking to his father who thought about it and Liam then looked down with his own little blush. "I kind of miss his home too, it was quiet and fun to play in the big yard, it's nice there. It's nice here too! I just miss Mummy's house sometimes. I like his roses and helping him with the garden!" "I used to do the same thing, kiddo, don't worry about being embarrassed by that but I get it. It's quieter at Mommy's, isn't it? And his house isn't as big as mine which is a bonus! But you know what, if we miss Mommy that much even if we like the freedom, even you have to admit it Jojo, that we're all going stir cray without him. So, how about like a big blow out party we play some video games together on the Wii, pack our stuff and we'll bring game systems with us so we can modernize Mommy's house too, go out to eat then go see him?" How his so careful plan, his brilliant one, crumbled so easily after a mere week without England but could anyone blamed him? He wanted to go home, he wanted to be with England and he wanted nothing more than to marvel at his little son. "Okay, I don't mind going back to Mommy's!" Jolene replied with a sigh while smiling at her father and he smiled right back at them when he stood up taking a sip of his coffee, his daughter's little ahoge bouncing lightly with her movements. "Can we have eggs and grits today, Daddy?" When he nodded she smiled brilliantly then looked to her brother before running out of the room in which he followed her, hot on her trail to the living room where they talked excitedly. While he wanted nothing more than to give England a break he'd been wondering if being apart was honestly good in the end for him, Jolene, Liam and Alex. All of them were young, even if Liam understood better than his siblings, he knew that the children missed their mother even if they didn't want to show it and America was missing his son more than he ever thought possible, even missing England so much his old scars threatened to throb. They hardly spent so much time apart save for those years after the war and America had worked on himself. However since they began dating they spent every single day together under the same roof doing their own thing and yet it had always been a comfortable sensation knowing England was in the house somewhere. The one thing, however, that he wanted an answer on was his proposal. It had been a few weeks since he proposed to England but at the time, despite their high emotions, his lover had said he needed "to think about it" and never mentioned it afterwards. America had always, ALWAYS imagined England saying yes when he finally got the courage to propose to the man but the reaction he got versus the answer had given a huge blow to his ego that he hadn't been expecting from him. England always enjoyed the weddings when they were invited to them and always joked on when America would just "get the balls and propose already" but the moment he did he was rejected? How was that for mixed messages. He understood it was his age that must be putting England off but America was old enough to know that the marriage between two Nations had more than just the vows of husbands, more than just a simple human marriage but he was ready for that kind of commitment. Was it wrong of him to want it? Truly? Yes, he maybe nineteen years old in human age byt he was ready for this! His brother, the same age as him, has three kids as well and happily married which only showed that if Canada was handling it well then he could as well with England! They just had to TRY. He wanted his children to have a good home, he wanted to be married to show them what a good marriage is and wanted nothing more than to see his ring, one he chose just for his lover, resting on his ring finger for all of the eternity they'd be sharing. Dramatic? Yes, yes it was. But it was something he wanted SO bad. He could hear the kids bickering in the living room over which game to play when he plucked the phone off the wall dialing the number in wondering if he'd even be up then but knowing Alexander's sleep schedule he would more than likely answering the phone. It did take about three rings but just as it was about to reach to four the other side picked up with a heavy breath as if England had been running from upstairs all the way down the hall, down the stairs and into the kitchen where the phone rested. "Alfred! Love, what took you so long to call?" He panted the words breathlessly when America smiled sipping his coffee, waiting for England to compose himself. "I was waiting more than half the morning, you said you would call at eight but it's obviously later than that! What, couldn't you get your ass you of bed without me?"He laughed at that happily, cheerfully even at the gruff tone England took on now that he regained his breath and America leaned against the counter while swishing his mug lightly to stir up the coffee while he smiled down at the mug. "I'm here, babe, and I did sleep in late only because I had a late night last night with some paperwork. But how are you doing? How's big Al doing now? I bet he's a giant fuss like he's always been, it's too quiet here without him and it's honestly making me realize just how quiet it was before him and how quiet the kids are." He listened to England's warm, happy laugh but there was an undertone of longing there and America cleared his throat. "Listen, babe, I have a question.""What is it? Is something wrong?" England's voice was demanding, already inching towards panicked and America felt embarrassment sweeping over him, the feeling burning blood into his cheeks when he adjusted the phone. "Tell me, Alfred! Did one of the children get hurt? Are you all alright? I've been watching your new so I know nothing huge is going on other than it being warmer than normal for the season, but is there something wrong? Did a pipe burst? Did someone fall down the stairs? Bloody tell me!" "Babe, chill out, it's nothing huge but it's something I think I need to take back." He took a deep breath then, trying to throw his embarrassment into a tiny corner of his mind but it just bloomed fiercely in his chest making him uncomfortable. "Well, you know how I suggested a month apart? Um, I don't know how to phrase it except to say that, uh, the kids miss you a lot and I know you miss them a shit ton more and I've been missing Big Al over there and I know I suggested a month away from each other but, er, I was thinking-" "Do you wan to call it off, Alfred?" The question hit America's ego then just as hard as he response to his proposal and America felt his face burning, the strongest urge to hide his face washed over him even if England couldn't see him. "Love, I wouldn't mind coming home now. I miss you all dreadfully and I want nothing more than to be with you all again, it wasn't a horrible idea though, for me to take a little break for the past two weeks have been amazing! I caught up with Scotland, Wales and Ireland even if they don't like me much but I got meet their children which was pretty surprising as I never really knew they HAD children to begin with." America blinked a few times considering the idea of England's brothers having children, two of which he described as the biggest pricks on the face of the planet and he blinked a third time before tilting his head even if England couldn't see the movement. "Seriously? Some of the biggest pricks, as you described before, have offspring? How many kids do they go each? God forbidden they're little asses like their parents or something." England laughed at that, his voice high and ringing with amusement which got America grinning sheepishly to himself at the reaction and he then rubbed his eyes wanting to spill it out what he wanted but he was embarrassed to agree to England's question. "As to calling it off, I was just thinking about the kids is all. I just wanted to let you kind of know what I was thinking about letting you know is all. It sounds like you were having fun visiting them!" "Eh, it was fine. They're insufferable but they're my brothers I guess. Karma got them good, however, for Bridget is practically a cave girl doing what she wants when she pleases and acting so much like her father it's almost hilarious. Same with Kayleigh, the girl is more polite but she's definitely got a wild side to her but she's better at hiding it than Bridget and the only one I can even think of being the most civilized is Dalisay, Wales' daughter." England laughed happily like he was smug over his daughter being the only sweet girl in the family, like it was his little victory against his brothers and America smiled at the sound. "I guess Wales and Ireland want to meet Liam and Jolene however, after they met Alex, and are talking about a "family get together" with us." America went pale at the thought of so many wild people around him for the only time he'd met Scotland, Ireland and Wales the older two were so loud and rough with him as a child that England about fainted dead away. Perhaps it was simply because England saw America as his son/brother figure but he about ripped Ireland and Scotland in two when they tossed America between them and actually managed to pull a knife out of thin air it seemed and threaten his brothers until they left. Wales was the only decent one, slightly, for he was quieter then the older two and not quite as polite as England but he was definitely tolerable but the thought of meeting with their children? Horrible. "Ahahaha! I'd have to think about that one! Well, I gotta go cook the kids some breakfast. I love you, Iggy." "I love you too, Alfie. Pass my love on to the children as well and I'll make sure to pass it on to Alexander and don't worry, love, I'm sure everything will pass fast, you'll see!" England was forcing a cheerful tone in his voice which was stabbing at America but he knew the false cheer wouldn't last long. Sure, he was going back on his plan and messing it all up but damn it he wanted to be with England rather than spend the month apart like he offered and it was clear to him that England felt the same, they just didn't want to admit it to one another. When America hung up a smile curled over his lips when he turned to the stove to put up his usual routine of making breakfast and felt a small tremble of excitement in his stomach at the prospect of seeing England sooner, rather than later. Rocking in his little swing Alexander stared at England curiously when the blonde placed the cell phone onto the coffee table, his chin coming to rest on his fist then looked over at Alexander who was suckling on a pacifier happily as he rocked. "I wonder what you're father is thinking right now." He sighed the words to the two month old who was happily suckling his pacifier looking up at his mother and England shuffled up to the arm of the couch reaching out managing to poke the little nose so much like America's and Alexander giggled. "I miss your brother and sister, I miss your father. I wonder, if you miss them too? Even a little bit?" Alexander continued to merely giggle around his pacifier every time his little swing came up and England's finger found the cute little nose, the baby's green eyes glowing like emeralds with the joy of the movements and England smiled at his son. When he'd met his nieces he honestly couldn't believe his brother's ever branched out long enough to have a child with someone but he had to admit his nieces were beautiful little girls that was a wild, flame like edge to them. Bridget had inherited Scotland's auburn locks, but the yellow green of her mother and Kayleigh had Ireland's reddish blonde hair but the brilliant blue color of her mother both girls wild spitfires who look liked they'd delight in watching the karma and down fall of others. Basically like their fathers. However his third niece, Dalisay was something else all together with her long wavy dark brown locks of hair, her light brown hued skin and her big forest green eyes like her father was a sweet little thing even if she too was a wild child from time to time he had to admit of all his nieces she was the most civilized. However his own daughter appeared more like a kitten when he proudly flashed off the screensaver of his little girl to his brother's bagging about how his four year old was only to produce a picture of Liam and proceeded to brag then as well. He knew it irritated his brothers but they couldn't deny that while England wasn't the best at many things, even he loss of the war against America, that he had raised beautiful children who were more civilized than Bridget and Kayleigh which made England all the more prideful for his children. Alexander's giggles pulled him out of his thoughts and he smiled at his little son who was truly enjoying each time his nose was poked hat his legs squirmed lightly with each touch and he was smiling around the pacifier in his mouth. It was around noon time now which meant it was close to the time when Alexander would demand his midday bottle and England smiled standing up allowing his finger to poke the little nose once more and he smiled. "Mummy will be right back, darling, I'm going to get a bottle all set up for you~" He yawned lightly to himself, not out of fatigue but out of boredom it felt as he walked to the kitchen and rubbed the heels of his hands into his eyes fiercely, sighing as he walked into the kitchen where he went right for the clean bottle on the counter. It felt strange not too hear the shrieks and squeals from his two eldest as they would run through the house, even through the backyard only to run inside and grip his clothes depending on who would be chased and the feel of tiny hands tugging his shirt was something he had no cue he'd miss once he was alone. He poured the formula into the bottle, added the water and shook the bottle before popping it into the warmer while sighing to himself once again wondering if America had been trying to call of this off but he couldn't be sure if that IS where he was going even if he himself had wanted to call it off. But the space was welcomed for there was an...awkwardness between himself and America lately since he replied to America's beautiful proposal with an "I'll think about it" and since then they felt out of orbit with one another. A strain had come on them, one for England to commit and one made out of America's clueless confusion on the rejection but they never spoke about it for their energy and time went to the children which left them with near no time. Perhaps that's why England had been getting so angry and stressed lately? He felt like he needed to say yes to keep America in his life and at the same time he was hesitant to say yes for he didn't know what would await for them when they were married as a marriage for Nations was not one to be taken lightly for anyone. It would be more than Arthur Kirkland and Alfred Jones being wed, it'd be America and England as a union of some sort. He just wanted to do the right thing for him and America but it just seemed to make them hesitant, quiet and awkward around one another as the other battled the urge to bring up the proposal and question one another on their reactions. England rubbed his forehead with the pads of his fingers wondering if he made the right choice or not when it came to his lover but all he knew right then was they had children and they needed to do right by them whether it was liked or not. He just had no clue why he didn't say yes to being America's husband when the moment presented itself, a moment he had been waiting for ever since they got together and had watched couples marrying off together. Canada and France's wedding had been the one to get him to pipe up about marriage and America getting the balls to ask him someday but he'd been joking! He never, in his wildest dreams or fantasies, imagined America would take him to one of the most beautiful dates he'd ever been on with the perfect time of day to have such a lovely dinner on the beach only for it to end with awkward silence. He didn't know how to remedy the awkwardness other than truly sitting and thinking on what kind of relationship he wanted from America, where he wanted it to go and just if he truly wanted to be married to his lover. The words themselves made everything inside of him scream their yeses but his lips were set to say no or to think about it which surprised him but he rolled his shoulders as if to get the unpleasant thoughts off his back when Alexander cried out as if shouting for his mother and England smiled then. He could think all he wanted later but for now he had Alexander to look after and as he spun on his heel he moved a hand through his hair regaining his composure as he walked down the short little hall to his living room entering it and smiling at his son. "Come on, lovie, let's go watch your bottle warm up, hm?" Alexander reached for his mother it seemed when he got the baby out of the swing and held the warm body to his chest where it calmed him instinctively and he stroked the little wisps of caramel blonde hair happily only to place a kiss to his forehead. It made his heart sing each time he kissed his little baby, the joy it sent through him was unparalleled by anything and the additional weight, the warmth, of the little body in his arms made him happier than words could express as he stared down into those wide green eyes that stared at him in response. So innocent and sweet, those big eyes were and England kissed his cheek softly once more making the baby whine lightly as if he wasn't happy with his mother's adoring kisses and England was all too ready to deliver more as he giggled happily. Alexander truly was a sweet baby that could keep his mind occupied and England was happy for it. He'd need Alexander here when Thanksgiving would come and go, the month apart to truly begin and it made his heart twinge at the thought when he entered the kitchen. It'd be fine, wouldn't it? Surely his lover and children could take care of themselves, right? He bit his lip as he walked towards the warmer, honestly hoping that his answers could be answered with a yes.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Time marched on whether it was relevant to his feelings or his time frame, it went on mercilessly and by the time he truly checked how much time had flown by he found a mere three weeks had passed since his decision had been made. Thanksgiving had slid past as easily as being slid over a bed of rusted razor blades but he got through it with Helena in his arms being his comfort source and yet it never seemed to help quite enough when he looked down at her cheerful face. He should be happy with his results, for figuring himself out slowly, but he was sullen and he wanted nothing more than to talk to Sealand but what could he even begin to say? What would he say?Would he play it off as casual or would he cry? Would he beg for Sealand to come back or order him to come back? It was because he was so unsure about this that he couldn't bring himself to pick up the phone that taunted him day in and day out, whispering how easy it would be to just call him or talk to him through texts but he could never make his hand move towards it. Of course, he had his chances when he came to see Helena but he couldn't speak up to get the blonde to see his point of view on this and to make it worse for him was Latvia was all bu attached to Sealand's hip whenever they came over together. It burned him up inside but he'd made his choices didn't he? That's why he laid here, in the early morning hours, in his bed with the silence screaming at him from all angles like it was trying to make him cry out but it would find that it couldn't make him feel any worse than he already felt when he looked at his daughter. He'd never been aware of just how alone he was in the house, no matter how small or big, without Sealand's cheerful voice filling up all the empty space that used to resonate happily with them and he'd never truly thought he'd miss the blonde's useless babble. He looked to the window watching the light streaking the sky slowly, like a water color slowly staining the deep blue of the sky turning it to the brilliant color of day and he blinked a few times before tugging himself up with a grunt as he kicked at the blankets. He could hear the tiny noises over the monitor, the sign Helena would be waking soon and he swung his legs over the side of the bed sitting on the edge for a moment to soak up his determination, to scrounge what he had of his emotions and stood. He didn't want to do anything today, would rather just bring Helena to his bed and lay with her in bed for today but Sealand would be coming to see her today and he needed to deal with the emotional fall out he might experience later on because of it. It wasn't like he was a baby or anything! It just...hurt. He walked across the room to his doorway while swallowing a yawn as his hand reached out grabbing the door knob twisting and opening the door walking out into the hallway just as Helena made her first loud cry of the morning. It wasn't one of distress but a simple "hey, mom, I'm up!" kind of sound, like she was testing out her vocal cords for the moment and see how it would sound in the silence of the house but it ended up making Ladonia smile at the high little voice. He shuffled down the hall taking his time to do so when he was opening the nursery door where Helena made another loud noise like before which came clearer, higher than before when he walked over to the little pink bassinet looking down only to have large blue eyes stare up at him. "Well, good morning to you too!" Helena's eyes widened at the voice speaking to her when the smallest, sweetest smile curled over her lips when she looked up at her mother and he reached into the bassinet scooping the baby up into his arms stroking her soft golden red wisps, enjoying the feather like texture against his fingers and he kissed her chubby cheek happily. He listened to her little squeaking breathes, a little noise she did occasionally and she rubbed her face fiercely with her little hands as he walked to the dresser tugging the drawer open reaching inside grabbing a simple little shirt and pant set then walked to the changing table draping the fabric over the edge. He unzipped her onesie the reached in gently tugging her little arm and legs out of the fabric, removed her diaper tossing it in the little trash, cleaned her up and grabbed a new diaper for her, sprinkling some baby powder in and smiled when she looked at him curiously. With her diaper situated he got her pants on easily enough but when it came to the shirt she whined fiercely at the fabric going over her head, slid her arms into the little sleeves and tugged it over her belly when she wiggled her legs as she was scooped back into her mother's arms. "Let's get you something to eat before your father gets here. Don't want to be fussy for him, do you?" The baby stared at him while he spoke and he pressed the tip of his finger against the end of her little nose sweetly making the baby blink then smile. He walked out of the nursery into the hall once again when he headed for the stairs walking down them carefully as Helena turned her little head to look around her as they made their way downstairs and he smiled softly. He put a little tiny bounce in his toes when he got to the last stair making Helena giggle cheerfully, her eyes wide but curious about everything around her as he made his way to the kitchen to get a bottle in the warmer for her as her little fingers wriggled against her belly. It was hard sometimes, to look at the baby in his arms and imagining her being the same as in his own stomach for she was so big, had her own developing personality and she was so much more lovely than he'd ever imagined his daughter being. Sure, he would have preferred a baby that looked identical to her father but the baby he got was so much more beautiful than any of his imaginings and he would trade her for anything in the world. Entering the kitchen he shifted Helena into a one arm hold as he approached the counter, reaching to the cabinet above to retrieve the formula popping the top off easily enough, grabbed the little scoop and placed three scoops into the bottle and then leaned forward to plug in the the bottle warmer. He then turned the water on filling the bottle up to the little marking and screwed the nipple on with some difficulty but when he got it on he smiled leaving it on the counter and turning on his heel as those large curious blue eyes stared up at him. "Let's get you in your swing for a bit!" He tried for a cheerful tone, like Sealand, but it sounded horrid and tinny to his own ears when he walked into the living room bending down to get the baby into the swing, buckling her in carefully and turned the TV. He settled for some kids show, not that Helena could truly watch it intently like any other child, but he put it on for background noise for the both of them when he smiled turning the wing on it's lowest setting and turned walking to the kitchen once more. He moved his hands through his messy hair rubbing the heels of his hands into his eyes as he approached the counter grabbing the bottle and, pressing down on the nipple carefully to keep it from spraying everywhere, shook up the bottle fiercely. He chewed on the thumb nail of his right hand while staring out the window worrying, contemplating, one what today would be like with Sealand's visit and he couldn't help but wonder if perhaps he should bring up himself. If he should just spit it out the moment their eyes met or when he was alone with the blonde, perhaps that would end up being better than just doing right out the gates like some kind of desperate fool making a mockery of himself. He put the bottle into the warmer with his anxiety bubbling low like water in a pot set to low, not a roiling boil yet but definitely evident something was taking place and he pressed his hand to his chest only to feel his heart slamming away like it was trying it's best to break free. It was scary to think of talking to Sealand for the blonde had said he didn't want to hear on whether Ladonia had conducted his experiment or not for it was to painful to hear and here Ladonia was, trying to figure out what to do now that he was sure. He pursed his lips together staring at the bottle warmer, listening to the hum that came from the machine and he bit the inside of his cheek wondering just how soon the blonde would be here when his thoughts, like some kind of homing signal, stopped at the sound of the doorbell ringing. Helena let out another high, piping sound of interest when Ladonia walked out of the kitchen letting his feet brush slowly over the floor to waste time on his way to the door knowing what he'd be opening it too and he held his breath. His hand was shaking when he approached the front door grabbing the door handle with his right hand and unlocking it with his left hand tugging the door open looking onto the doorstep to see Sealand standing there silently. There was soft blue rings under his eyes like he too suffered from the sleepless nights and his hair was mussed like he hadn't bothered to brush it in forever, his face paler than before and so much more grim than it had appeared the last time Ladonia saw it. Then his eyes narrowed to the side of him while his back stiffened up like a cat puffing up to hiss or even to strike out but he held his words back for a moment when he evenly met the violet eyes staring at him in response then back at Sealand. Of course he'd bring Latvia. "Come on, then, get in already!" Ladonia snapped turning on his heel wondering why he wasn't asking to talk to Sealand alone and why his feet were carrying him back to the living room to unbuckle Helena from her swing and scoop her into his arms before marching to the kitchen. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He was so stupid. He pursed his lips when he felt tiny nails scratching his neck as the front door shut behind Sealand who walked to the kitchen as Ladonia felt the bottle cursing how long it took for it just to warm up and he bit the inside of his cheek fiercely. Ladonia had never felt more conscious of the blue eyes on him than he did right then when he turned halfway to meet Sealand's gaze evenly when the blonde cleared his throat a few times like he needed something to do before speaking. "How are you, Erland?" Sealand asked making Ladonia wince like it was the last question he ever wanted to answer when he focused his gaze down on Helena's curious little face that stared up at him intently. Her eyes stared right into him in the same way Sealand's did and he swallowed nervously looking to the counter when he scrounged for the right words to reply and yet he felt like this was taking too long to answer. "Okay." He mumbled the single word hating how it halted and stunted itself, not allowing a window to open for conversation when he took a peek out of the corner of his eye at Sealand then away turning so his back faced the room. He bit his cheek for a moment, wondering if for some reason Sealand had chosen to stay with Latvia until Ladonia called the quits on this separation but he didn't know how to bring it up with Latvia standing right there staring at him with his violet eyes that seemed all too smug for some strange reason. It wasn't like he hated the Latvian but it was the way he held himself around the Sealander, the way his eyes lingered a heartbeat too long on his face and how even now, with the awkward atmosphere, he seemed confident over something that seemed to grow each time he looked at Sealand. When the bottle warmer beeped lightly he pulled it out of it's spot and held the nipple to Helena's lips where she latched on hungrily, little tiny squeaking noises filling the kitchen as her lips moved around the rubber nipple greedily. Her eyes were happy, curious on her mother when he took a slow breath through his nose before turning around looking at the two blondes on the other side of the kitchen who both had their own stare and he bit the inside of his cheek when Sealand cleared his throat. "So, how was Thanksgiving for you? Do anything fun?" Sealand asked scratching the back of his head while Ladonia focused on the baby in his arms and the blonde looked at Ladonia. He looked minutes, maybe seconds, to falling apart at the seams and Sealand knew he didn't look any better but it was...painful seeing Ladonia so...not together. "No, I stayed home." Ladonia replied awkwardly trying not to say something snappish but it left him with this questioning, awkward lilt to his words like he was hesitant to say anything to the Sealander and he wished he could punch his own throat. He flicked his eyes up to Sealand's gaze, taking in the unfamiliar emotion on his face that was echoed in his eyes like it was trying to whisper across to Ladonia and he looked down to ignore his heart throbbing in his chest it seemed when his arm lightly tightened around Helena. "What about you?" "Fine, I went by to see Mama and Papa, Aili is getting big. It makes Helena look like a tiny fairy and much more delicate by the comparison," He paused then walked into the room despite the surprised look Latvia sent him and the red head blinked looking at him, watching him come close and even Helena's big blue eyes turned to her father. "She's so tiny compared to her." He hesitated then offered Ladonia a soft smile like it was some kind of olive branch that took him by surprise. He blinked a few times staring at the blonde's face before he felt the answering heat crawl into his cheeks and he leaned in, close to the red head's ear like he was about to deliver a precious secret of some kind to him. "I miss you, Erland." Four little words whispered low, quiet like he dared to breath them echoed in Ladonia's mind while his thoughts played with the words to rearrange and find the meaning only to settle like a content kitten at the truth of Sealand's words. He did miss him, didn't he? He wanted him back, didn't he? The tears were traitorous as they bubbled on his lashes making Helena whimper at the sight when she paused in her eating, big blue eyes concerned now and he met Sealand's eyes just as curiously as his daughter had stared at him before and Ladonia's trembling lips tried moving for a moment only to fail. It took a few moments before he could find the right words to say to the blonde and his trembling lips formed the words that came out in the barest of whispers. "I miss you too."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Walking around a store was always boring but Sweden honestly wanted nothing more than to just head home already, now that they had their shopping completed but Finland insisted they stay a few moments so he look at clothing and toys for the boys and girls for Christmas. It was just a few days after Thanksgiving but Finland, rather cutely, was one of those people who threw the decorations up on the house and inside the house, bought presents and looked at trees the instant it inched closer to December and Sweden didn't mind in the littlest bit. But when they'd been here for hours on end looking at nothing but bright colors of never ending Christmas themes for the impending holiday? It was fair to say that Sweden was tired, not only that but Aili was sitting up in her seat in the cart looking grumpy for she was inching over her nap time already and he wanted nothing more than to get Aili home so she could take her nap but Finland wasn't quite aware of both his husband and daughter's wants or needs right then. Not when he was looking at adorable little Christmas outfits for babies that he was babbling to himself about putting Aili in for Christmas while the baby yawned rubbing her tiny fists against her face like she was all too ready to slump over and sleep. Then Finland squealed gaining both father and daughter's attention when Finland beamed at Sweden holding a plush animal in his hands that instantly got Aili's attention as her eyes glimmered with curiosity at the animal. "Look at this, Ber! It's so cute!" Finland gushed holding the duck up making Sweden arch a brow but Aili's eyes widened at the sight of the duck, the blue glass eyes glinting in the light and the multi colored feathers that laid limply against the sides and a little sailor cap was what Aili seemed eager for. She reached her little hands out whining for it when Finland giggled handing it over to his daughter, the baby immediately hugging the plush animal to her chest gurgling excitedly while tugging on the wings curiously and rubbed her chubby cheek against the head. Aili had a cute little love for ducks, losing her little baby mind each time a duck was on TV and got so hyped up she'd pull herself to a stand bouncing on her little feet squealing so loud it could honestly be mistaken for a scream but the baby adored the ducks on the TV. "Well, you chose good. She absolutely loves it, I think we have to get it for her now." Sweden commented looking at Aili who was happily gurgling to her duck, squeezing the felt excitedly as she hugged it tightly to her little chest staring up at her father with her wide green blue and violet sparkling joyfully. "Is there anything else you want to get? Any off the list item you need to pick up before we head out? I don't want to waste the gas driving back and forth to the store because we keep forgetting things, so why don't you look over the list and double check for us?" "Sure thing!" Finland pulled the crumpled list from his pocket reading over the list, looking to the cart while mouthing the words to himself and no doubt counting up the total but his eyes were sharp missing nothing each time he double checked on the paper to the cart. Finland finally shoved the crumbled list into his pocket, the paper crinkling while Aili flailed her duck around squealing joyfully making the tag flap around with her movements as they walked to the front of the store to the registers. "She looks so happy~!" "Of course she is, she just got a present from her mother, so of course she's overjoyed. I just hope she doesn't throw a screech fit when the cashier has to scan it and we have to take the tag off before slaps herself in the eye or something with it." Sweden replied making Finland beam and made little Aili stare at her father wide eyed with curiosity before going back to bouncing and flailing the duck happily with her squeals as she squeezed the plush excitedly with her little hands. It got many fond looks from the women in the store as they approached the registers, some giggling and giving tiny waves when Aili spotted them and flailed her duck at them in response and Finland began laughing at his daughter's antics. It took all of five seconds to get the duck from Aili for it to be scanned and the tag ripped off then back in her arms, the baby watching curiously the entire time and squealed so loud he swore the walls rang with the sound but not a single dirty look was aimed their way when Aili squeezed the duck to her chest once more. She babbled incoherently to herself while opening and closing the ducks wings happily, giggling sweetly, the seven month old appearing more interested in her brightly colored duck than the rest of the groceries and items her parents were placing in bags which then got placed in the cart. Finland was humming happily when he pulled, counted, then handed over the money for everything and took his change shoving it into his pocket rather than take up time fitting it neatly into his wallet and began tugging on the end of the cart while Sweden thanked the cashier then pushed the cart allowing them to move out of the way. Finland smiled brilliantly while Aili contented herself happily with tugging at the duck wings joyfully while her parents pushed the cart towards their car. "Hey, Ber, what language do you think she'll pick up on first? English, probably since we speak it a majority of the time, but do you think she'll learn Finnish or Swedish first when she's older?" Finland asked looking at his husband when he climbed up on the end of the cart, his stomach against the edge uncomfortably but he stared at his husband curiously. Sweden worried briefly about him fall off the end somehow but when Finland kept that even look on his husband Sweden knew he wasn't moving any time soon, not until they got to the car. "I think she'll pick up on Swedish first, since she seems to understand what you say most of the time I wouldn't be surprised!" "I'm sure she'll also pick up on Finnish rather easily, even if Swedish is her second learned language she'll pick up on Finnish easily enough. Just gotta give it time though, I'm sure soon enough when she starts talking we'll know which she'll lean towards." Sweden replied as they approached the car, fishing the keys out of his pocket to unlock the car as Finland hopped off the end of the cart to open the trunk as Sweden walked over and he began plopping bags into the back. "I'll get Aili in her car seat for you." Finland flashed a brilliant smile as he grabbed a few bags placing them in the trunk that by the time Sweden had the back door open and Aili situated in her seat as he fished for the buckles his husband was done with a slamming of the trunk. "Would you mind running the cart back, Ber? Or do you want me too?" Finland asked when Sweden buckled Aili in, the baby squealing again joyfully as she flapped her duck around and he tugged the driver side of the door open before shutting the back door. He walked to the trunk grabbing the cart wordlessly, bent down getting a peck on the lips despite the eyes on them and he then wheeled the cart towards the front of the store. Sweden made quick work with long strides to get to the front of the store, the doors sliding open with a mechanical whooshing and he put the cart in line with the rest of them, making sure it was in right before he walked away. He stepped into the parking lot looking down for a moment against the bright sunlight when he looked to his glinting car only to see Finland laughing, chatting happily even with a human male that was a mere step away from Finland. He walked then, with purpose to his strides, to get back to his husband and perhaps it was in this haste that made it seem so much shorter to get to Finland when he felt his stomach knotting with this sickening drop even while his chest flamed with irritation. No way was some man going to just stand there flirting with HIS husband with him so near and when the fingers lifted to touch Finland's cheek lightly he felt his irritation snap and crest in his chest like waves that roared in his ears. It made his blood burn in his veins as his teeth ground together against the fierce emotions ripping him up as playfully as a kitten with paper and he was sure he'd burst into flaming jealousy if he wasn't careful about how he went about it but seeing the fingers against Finland's skin just curdled his stomach."Tino!" Finland looked at him in surprise, violet eyes wide and confused when Sweden strode towards him. "Get in the car! Now!" This wasn't Sweden, he knew that, but he was so caught up in his irate state that when his husband stood frozen at the barked orders he shoved himself between Finland and the human male. "Get the absolute fuck away! Go!" The man blinked like he couldn't understand the sudden hostile atmosphere before eyes turned icy towards Sweden and he felt his hands curling into fists instinctively, like his body knew a fight was brewing and it was tensing for the first hit to fly if this went south and he could be ready for it. "I was just talking with her, no harm no foul! I didn't see a wedding ring on her!" The man protested with his own irritation flaring it seemed to Sweden when he felt Finland's hand on his back, hands knotting into his coat tugging on him but Sweden refused to move, to back down, and he grit his together fiercely. He was never one to be cray about his husband being "his" but dammit he wasn't have that good of a day and if a fight relieved this bubbling, angry version of himself then so be it he'd damn well do it! "Who the hell are you anyways? Her keeper?" "I might be but if you don't back away from me and my husband I will personally rip your vocal cords out so you don't speak to him or anyone ever if you don't back away right now. Go find someone else to fuck around with!" He spat the words through clenched teeth while Finland's fingers tensed into his waist, holding onto him fiercely like he wanted to throw Sweden into the car for he was worried, scared even about where this angry husband came from. Normally Sweden would never get so angry, not out of nowhere, which had Finland worrying if perhaps HE had done something wrong earlier in the day that had upset Sweden and had been left to fester but he was clueless. "Berwald! What in the world is wrong with you?" Finland questioned with a gasp in his words as he stared at the back of his husband's head, his hands on his waist but lifting to his lower back gripping the coat tightly in his hands when Sweden peered over his shoulder as the man backed away with a bewildered, irritated expression and the dark, almost irritated expression had Finland's hand releasing instinctively. He then maneuvered himself around the drivers side door, his face hesitant when he climbed into the passenger seat slamming the door then looking over Aili to make sure her buckles were all right but she seemed absolutely oblivious to the atmosphere outside. When Sweden climbed in the door Finland's jaw was tight, clenched fiercely staring out the windshield as Sweden backed out of the spot then forward through the parking lot when he thought of speaking. "What the hell was that, Berwald?" Sweden could have answered but the way his blood boiled irrationally, the way his anger whispered like a humming trill through his nerves he knew it was better not to answer his husband for if he did he'd scream or shout at his husband and it was the last thing he wanted. It's not like he was angry with Finland, or even that man, but he'd been so overworked and so tightly wound lately that he knew a break was coming and today just so happened to be that breaking point for his precious mind state. He was scraping together his calm, his cool emotions but they wriggled away like eels and it irritated him further that he couldn't calm himself over this irrational burst of anger and he took a deep breath through his nose trying to focus on the light, happier emotions that bubbled and popped in his chest each time Aili squealed or flailed her duck. It was hard, the silence between them, that Sweden almost wanted to talk but he knew if he unclenched his teeth that one of them would end up screaming or he'd make Finland cry, he'd make Aili cry and that was the last thing he wanted to do to his family. Finland wanted to fill the silence but he couldn't think of anything to say so he simply took his phone out instead as he scrolled through his texts before a vibration moved the phone in his hand and he opened the recent text from Iceland. It was a video of three month old little Sunneva, pressing the play button he watched the silent video and the way his little niece's light brown eyes widened at something beyond the camera that gained her attention and her little legs kicked excitedly, fists curling a few times when a small smile came to her lips. It was very active for the normally stoic baby, much like Aili was, but like both babies they had a cheerful side just like any other infant their age and it was proven right by the way Aili squealed in the back of the car as her Duck flapped in her little hands joyfully. He sent a text to his fellow Nordic, his thumbs flying over the keyboard as a small smile curled over his lips staring down at the screen and Aili sighed out finally like her episode of squealing joy was over until she giggled happily. At seven months he never imagined his daughter would be so cheerfully bright, he'd imagined her stoic like she'd been in her first three months of life but she seemed cheerful like himself right now so he could only imagine she'd take after her father when she was older. He looked at Sweden once more, at the warring guilt on his face as he turned the corner onto their street, he then looked out the window at the houses passing by slowly but in a quick way that his eyes got glimpses of the colors before it was replaced by another colored house. Sweden scratched at his temple when they pulled up to their home, sliding into the driveway and turning the car off like it was any other day but Finland wanted to talk about that irrational little episode Sweden had but the man was unbuckled, keys in hand, jumping out of the car walking to the back opening the trunk and Finland huffed. He unbuckled himself, slid out and slammed his door then walked around opening the back door where Aili watched her mother with her wide mismatched eyes that sparkled with curiosity as her duck was held tightly in her hands like he would take it away at any moment. He smiled at her softly, happily, which inspired her own little smile as he unbuckled the baby and tugged her out of her car seat, her duck lightly butting his chin with the movements when he turned to Sweden who had the bags in his hands making him wonder just how he'd get the front door unlocked. It didn't prove difficult when Sweden marched up to the front door managing to lift his heavy hand to unlock the door and kick it open lightly as he walked into the house and Finland followed after him with Aili babbling softly to her mother or the duck, he wasn't sure but when he entered the house he shut the door behind him quietly. He got her coat off, tugged her little boots off as well and sat her in her play pen where her eyes were riveted to the TV which displayed one of the many children's shows of bright colors and counting which got her attention right off the bat. Finland walked into the kitchen after taking his own boots off in the living room and tucked under the heater to keep them warm he watched his husband putting things in their proper places in the cabinets when he took a breath letting his eyes shut for a moment. He opened them after that moment to stare fiercely at his husband who seemed unaware of Finland's disapproving, irritated face but continued to put the groceries where they needed to be and he frowned at the Swede as his hands found his hips. "Berwald, would you like to tell me what the hell that little episode was about? Did I do something wrong? You've been stressed lately but you've never pulled the possessive, angry husband card before. I want to know what that was about, Ber!" When he stopped moving Finland only then understood how frantic, frenzied even his husband's movements had been and he pursed his lips for a moment when Sweden slowly breathed out like he was letting all the hot air in his body out in one go. He then took his glasses off his face to pinch the bridge of his nose, his eyes shutting for a moment like he was looking to scrounge up the courage to admit what he had done had been foolish when his eyes opened once more and turned to Finland though he knew he was probably just a blur of color for the man. "I don't know what that was, Tino. I don't. I want to give you a good explanation, explain myself to you, but it just doesn't make sense any to me even though I knew it was irrational of me to do that. I'm sorry it even happened, Tino, and I'm sorry if I embarrassed you because of it." "Something has been bothering you, Ber, I'm not blind." Finland hesitated but walked further into the room, around the table to stand in front of Sweden who could no doubt see him perfectly now and he lifted his hands cupping his husband's face. There was something there, deep in his eyes he was struggling fiercely to hide away from his husband but Finland was determined to figure out what it was and he stroked his cheek bones with his thumbs softly in a soothing motion. "Tell me what's bothering you, Ber, and we can work through it like we always do but you have to tell me what's bothering you." Sweden now appeared cautious, hesitant to say anything but Finland could be patient, he could wait, and he would even if it took hours for Sweden to gather his words together. "I...You wouldn't leave me, would you?" Sweden asked looking at the surprise popping into Finland's sweet but lively face, his eyes bright with the emotion, and Sweden felt his cheeks burn as he fought the urge to tug his face from Finland's hands and instead covered his left hand with his own. He couldn't look at his husband's face, his fears silly now that he was facing them but he had to get them out one way or another even if the notion or idea of Finland leaving him was utterly preposterous and ridiculous but it was a legitimate fear of his now. "I know how badly you want a baby but would you leave me just because we didn't have one right now?" "Berwald Oxenstierna, what would give you that silly idea?" Finland demanded caressing his husband's warm cheeks forcing him to look at him, to meet his gaze directly but the Swedish nation was suddenly bashful when Finland tugged his head down so their foreheads touched. "I would never leave you, Ber, just because we didn't have a baby! I love you, I don't care if we aren't spitting babies out left and right like the others and it's not a baby keeping me here! En halua ketään muuta kuin sinä, olet kaikki mitä haluan! Rakastan sinua ja vain sinua, Berwald. All I want is you, just you, and our baby. That's more than enough for me, Ber." Sweden stared at the violet eyes that were mere millimeters from his own, marveling at the sparkling violet and he then smiled weakly, crookedly as his hands found his waist the way Finland's had found his in the parking lot and clung to him. He rested his head on his shoulder now as he marveled once more at their height differences but he felt Finland's affectionate hands moving over his hair then through the blonde locks as his cheek pressed against his ear and the warmth was nice. "I'm stupid, aren't I?" He asked his voice muffled by his husband's shoulder that wiggled with his little chuckle and he could see now how irrational his worries were, how they had mounted for no reason and he closed his eyes for a moment. Some part of him simply feared one of these days he'd wake up and Finland would want nothing to do with him, would demand a divorce and he'd be left alone. "Of course you are! It took us so many years just to get to this point, Ber, so why would I leave now?" Finland replied then when he kissed Sweden's shoulder then tightened his arms around then pulled back so he could look at his husband's face and moved his right hand from his hair to his cheek once more as it then slid down only to have a kiss delivered to his palm. "Rakastan sinua aina ja ikuisesti, teet minut onnelliseksi. Olen rakastunut sinuun, vain sinä." When Sweden's confused look appeared Finland smiled when his cheeks flushed with his next words to provide his translation. "I love you forever, you make me happy and I'm in love with you, only you. Rakastan sinua koko sydämestäni, I love you with all my heart." Sweden was self conscious over how hot his cheeks were but he had that crooked, wobbly smile on his lips that Finland leaned up kissing softly while he cleared his throat and his glasses were placed on his nose when he hugged Finland around the waist fiercely now as his arms curled around Sweden's shoulders. "Jag blev kär i dig vid första anblicken." He got the words out as his cheeks burned while he wondered, just idly, how they went from comforting to declaring themselves for the millionth time it felt when then then kissed the tip of Finland's nose when he got the same confused look he must have adopted when Finland spoke the unfamiliar Finnish words."I fell in love with you at first sight, Tino." Finland smiled then squealed when he swung up into Sweden's arms but he tightened his arms around his shoulders when he was kissed happily, the tense atmosphere melting away with their insecure worries or fears as he clung to his husband. He stroked the blonde hair happily, mussing his husband's hair up further but he giggled at the kisses that moved down from the corner of his lips to his throat and he squirmed in Sweden's arms but when he felt the teeth nibbling his throat playfully he laughed out now. He slapped at Sweden's back while his legs scrabbled to push away or wrap around Sweden he wasn't sure but when he looked into his husband's face, into his eyes, he felt that the worries would still be there but Finland would also be ready to give his husband the love and assurances he needed. He wasn't going anywhere and he would never go anywhere unless he had Aili in his arms and Sweden at his side.
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It was bittersweet staring at the four month old in his arms but Norway was honestly happy that his son was continuing to grow at a steady, good rate that when he looked at Nikolai he honestly wished for his son to stay so young and he pressed a kiss against the baby's forehead making him whine lightly. It was easy nowadays to talk to Nations he'd never spoken too before for everyone knew at least most of the couples who had children were always coming up to one another to either ask genuinely or lightly brag about their children which left many conversations open. In fact, from the last meeting he learned on how the development of the other Nations babies were doing just as beautifully as Nikolai and when he saw his niece he was taken aback at how fast eight months had honestly both flown by and dragged. It was shocking seeing the now eight month old so big, the same went with Sunneva who was four months old at this point just like Nikolai, and because they brought the babies with them to meetings he could see how big Canada's own twins were at this point of five months, even Spain's son and Prussia's son who remained the eldest at eleven months old. It was surprising when all had their children with them to see each others development for it truly was like a wake up call to Norway on how he'd been subconsciously watching the development of the babies, even the ones who weren't his own! At this point the babies were talked of happily, growing cheerfully and even the Nations who didn't seem to like one another were coming together in their surprise of Prussia's pregnancy and China's who were both at three months now as they entered December.Italy, however, was as cheerful as he'd been when he was carrying his twins and happily let people touch his four month bump and even seemed happier than they all had ever seen the cheerful Italian be in a very long time and even China, along with Prussia, held that same cheer. It was like a glow had enveloped the two older Nations, like what had happened during Spain's pregnancy, that Norway had played with the idea of when or if he were to have another baby if Denmark would carry their baby the next time. It WOULD be quite interesting to see his husband pregnant that his cheeks flushed when he thought of the same pregnancy glow on Denmark that radiated off the others, how his would appear softer than normal and he had to admit it would be an interesting question to pop to Denmark later on. "Hey, Mama? I just thought I'd let you know that he and Pappa went to the park for a little while and that they'd be back long before dinner." Sven's voice pulled Norway out of his thoughts, his gaze over to his eleven year old and Sven walked into the room with a large step that bounced him up for a moment. He then walked over sitting in his father's recliner as Norway adjusted Nikolai to sit against his chest, the baby making a squealing noise at the new position as he stared wide eyed at his older brother as if to say "do you see this?" and then clutched both sets of his mother's fingers. "I didn't go because I'm not in the mood to play out in the cold, Abel is but I'm not. It's weird to think of him as a preteen like myself some day." "I know, I can only imagine he'll turn out just like your father when he gets that big." Norway sighed out the words as he bent his head down kissing the top of Nikolai's silky head then looked to his son raising a brow at the boys appearance. "Do you think you need a hair cut soon? You're hair is getting pretty long." And it was true for his son's blonde hair just barely brushed his shoulders, bangs styled in a fringe framing the left side of his face Sven's hair had been shaggy and growing longer still but he had yet to say anything about a hair cut and even now, the idea of a hair cut, seemed bring a sour look to his face."No, it's fine." Sven replied moving his hand through his hair tugging the locks away from his face, leaving his face open and visible for the first time since he grew the locks out and his eyes then shifted over to his mother with a curious glance to them. "Are you fine with my hair being long? I'm not going to grow it ridiculously long, not like Xiong's dad, just to this length for a while until I feel like cutting it again." He then shrugged letting his hair fall back down while Norway raised a brow then looked down when Nikolai gurgled lightly to himself. "It's fine, I don't mind. It's not like anyone is going to look at you and think you're a girl or anything, so if you want your hair to your shoulders then go right ahead and keep it that length if it makes you happy about it. Just make sure it doesn't get greasy and brush it out so it's not tangled or knotted." Norway replied with a shrug of his own shoulder then bent down kissing the top of Nikolai's silky head once again, enjoying the warmth that seemed to roll off the baby then smiled when Nikolai let off a tiny noise at the lips connecting with his head. "I should probably figure out dinner, what I'm going to do. Anything you feel in the mood for?" Sven thought for a moment while Norway stood up with Nikolai secure against his chest, the baby making a squeaky curious noise when he turned laying the baby in the spot he'd been sitting to get the baby carrier strapped on and picked Nikolai up once more settling him into the carrier and buckling him in securely. His head rested just below Norway's throat, his little warmth against his collar bone and it made him relax with the comforting weight of the baby on his chest when Sven stood up stretching his arms in front of him groaning for a moment. "How about kumla? I know Abe has been bugging Pappa about it and they were going to ask for it sooner or later. I can help too." Norway blinked at his son then smiled at him when he ruffled his hair, the action slightly more satisfying from how long his son's hair was, and smiled at the eleven year old who looked up at his mother with a bashful expression but a smile was on his lips. "Alright, let's get this started then! It always takes a while to make kumla but I'm sure you're brother and father will be happy when they get home, hm?" Norway then walked around the coffee table with Sven copying his steps and he followed his mother into the kitchen happily enough as he tugged his sleeves up. Sven rolled his ow sleeves up happily while Nikolai yawned against his mother's chest then wriggled lightly against him like he too was settling in and it made Norway smile before opening the fridge to get started. The air whooshed through his hair, howled in his ears with each swing that launched him high into the air then backwards fiercely when Abel looked over at his father grinning widely as he risked throwing a hand out to wave at him. "Pappa! Daddy, look at me! Look how high I am!" Abel shouted out with such excitement Denmark laughed figuring all of Norway would hear his son and he grinned seeing the sparkle in those dull blue eyes, his cheeks red with the wind and the exertion of pumping his legs after running for so long. It was hard to believe sometimes that the cheerful boy was six years old now, that his cheerful attitude seemed absolutely delightful and unchanged even if he was a bit more prideful on his new age no matter if it's been a full three weeks since his birthday. "I'm up so high, Pappa!" "I'm looking! You're definitely higher than Mama would like, you're so high in fact you look like you're flying!" Denmark shouted back while he held his thermos of coffee, the only warmth he got with each sip and he smiled at Abel who squealed with laughter. It was true that Abel looked like he was flying for each harsh upwards motion made his hair flail away from his face only to swarm his face when he went backward that it looked as if he was flying on his own will back and forth rather than sitting on the seat of the swing. Denmark took a large mouthful of coffee feeling it slide down to his stomach making a warm path down which then squirmed to the tips of his fingers happily like it was doing it's best to warm every inch of his body when he noticed someone was walking over to him. Cliche, yes, but he honestly hardly heard footsteps over the freshly coated snowy ground but the heels were unmistakable as they approached him that when he looked over he found himself face to face with a woman sitting on the bench next to him, not that he minded in the slightest bit. He hoped his Norwegian would be good enough if she so wanted to strike up a conversation but he wasn't sure if she would even talk to him, much less look at him but she turned to him anyhow with a rather pleasant smile on her lips when her eyes met his. "Is that your little boy there, on the swings?" "Yes, ma'am, that's my boy! He loves those swings with a passion, says it feels like he's about to launch himself up into the sky one of these days and to be honest, from how high he is, I wouldn't be surprised if one day he launched right up into it!" Denmark replied with a polite laugh that was shared by the woman and he offered his hand keeping his polite manners in full swing when his hand was taken and he shook hers. "Mathias Kohler." "Sigrid Pedersen, nice to meet you." She replied smiling still when she looked towards her own children squirming down the slide squealing then laughing as they attempted to climb up the slide from the bottom but thanks to the snow on their boots made it simply wet and possibly more slippery than before. "I've seen you and your son here quite a few times, I live up on the corner of the street so the walk here is never too far. I normally don't put myself out there, like this, but I figured I'd introduce myself for it never kills anyone to see a familiar face, does it?" "No, I don't think it does." Denmark replied with a thoughtful tone as Abel continued laughing and squealing on the swing, his hair no doubt would be missed from the old breeze whipping it back then forward but the joy on his face glowed fiercely. He'd have to take the boys here more often rather than a once in the blue moon kind of day and he smiled when Abel waved at him when he then turned to the woman sitting beside him. "So, how are you doing today, Sigrid?" "I've been good, a busy day like any other with two little ones but I decided a trip to the park has never hurt anyone, it'll tire them out for dinner and it'll be easier getting them into bed if they tucker themselves out right now. I know I'M exhausted, driving too and from their grandparents really exhausted me, not to mention bringing them to the store for shopping." The woman sighed then smiled when Abel let out a loud happy laugh from the swing and she then tilted her head looking at Denmark. "So, not to be rude, but is the mother in the picture with him?" "Uh, no. It was, er, surrogate. My husband and I debated it for a long time but we've got three now and each are very precious to us, growing much too fast as he's just celebrated his sixth birthday and his elder brother just turned eleven. Our youngest just turned four months as well." The lie slipped off his tongue clumsily but the woman smiled at him even still like she heard no inconsistency in his words and he then sipped his coffee once more before sighing out. "Children grow much too fast, one minute their a baby and the moment you blink they're all big and have a personality of their own." "Don't I know it!" Sigrid breathed out with a little laugh when her two children rushed across the playground towards the seesaw as they squealed and laughed to each other while they climbed on either side then began promptly giggling with each movement of the seesaw. Abel was absolutely thrilled to be on the swing and Denmark loved seeing the brilliant emotions on his son's face as he swung on the seat and Denmark then turned his attention to the mother by his side. "My young ones over there seemed to have sprouted over night, I swear it! It's a bit bittersweet watching a child grow up, isn't it?" "That it is. I don't know what I'm going to do when my eldest turns eighteen, let alone Abel and my baby!" Denmark replied heartily, warmly even when Abel shouted something to him that was almost incoherent but when he turned to look at his son once more the squeal of rattling chains got his attention as he jumped to his feet just as Abel flew through the air only to land onto the ground. He landed on his knees, rather hard and Denmark had to be grateful his son hadn't hit any other part of him but from what he could see as he rushed over that his son's hands were scraped as he squatted down two large dull blue eyes had large tears. "Oh, Abel! Why did you jump? You know that's too high to jump off of!" "I-I-" Abel dissolved into loud sobs as his palms stung, not painfully, but his knees were throbbing as were his palms but the pain had yet to actually make itself known and he was embarrassed more than anything as he was scooped up into his father's arms. He hid his face in his shoulder hiccuping another sob as Denmark tightened his arms around his son turning back to the bench where he'd left his thermos and after excusing himself, giving a brief goodbye, Denmark was running out of the park.Abel's cries pierced his heart, leaving holes that bled and throbbed as Denmark rubbed his back while he ran for the car and as he unlocked the doors getting the wailing six year old into his seat and buckled in he bit the inside of his cheek. It was no doubt that Norway was going to be angry when he got home, very angry, but it depended on just what type of anger Denmark would be facing but he had a somewhat decent idea of what he was going to get home too. As he pulled out of the parking lot he looked in the rear-view mirror at Abel crying even now but he was quieter, not because he was calming down but because he was so viciously upset and didn't want to seem like a baby anymore. He rubbed at his wet cheeks when his father looked away but Denmark felt guilt burning in his chest knowing it was his fault that Abel had jumped for he'd looked away for that split moment when Abel had screamed to him incoherently an he hadn't been paying full attention. It was quiet in the car as Denmark drove home, a sigh slipping out of him once in a while and a sniffle coming from Abel was all that filled the car as Denmark prepared himself for the tirade that would no doubt welcome him the moment he got in to clean up Abel's scrapes.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The bed's movement was what made Japan's eyes flicker open as he blinked groggily into the dark room until he rolled over looking to his shoulder to see China walking out of the room with a brisk speed to his steps as Japan blinked a few more times. He rubbed his eyes sitting up turning the lamp on beside him as he swung his legs over the side of the bed wondering if his husband was experiencing another episode of nausea for it had happened twice now as he entered his third month and he frowned before standing with a groan. He had just walked along the side of the bed reaching the foot of it when China's footsteps sounded down the hall, thumping lightly against the floor as he approached the bedroom door pushing it open only to look up in surprise to see Japan standing by the foot of the bed. He looked pale, which was saying something but he'd been pale for a while now, yet China's long dark locks were ruffled and knotted together like he had been tossing and turning before getting up, his skin held a light sheen to it as it always did after a nausea episode. Japan shuffled forward towards his husband with worry fluttering in him like moth wings while his hands reached out to China the closer he got and pressed his palms against his neck lightly, sliding them up to his face which felt clammy. "Yao-san, are you alright? You didn't get sick again, did you?" Japan asked when he stroked his thumbs against his husband's cheeks, his golden brown eyes tired when they met Japan's and he leaned pressing his lips against his cheek gently. "I can stay up with you, Yao-san, anything to help you feel better." China smiled now as he pressed his own kiss against Japan's forehead and sighed rubbing his cheek against his black locks happily while his arms circled around Japan. "I'm fine -aru. I just had to go to the bathroom for what feels like the millionth time tonight." China replied with a sigh in his voice, his words dragging like they too were tired and he clung to Japan who rubbed his lower back soothingly. "I don't want you staying up, Kiku, you watch after the boys all day and clean the house top to bottom so you need your rest more than I need mine right now. You do so much and never rest, now's the time for you to rest and store up on your energy -aru." "I'll be fine, you know I will be, I'm more worried about you right now." Japan replied stroking the wild strands of hair away from China's face when he watched his husband's lips curl into a soft smile and he kissed the tip of China's nose happily. "Come on, let's lay down and watch something on the TV, hm? That way you'll have someone to talk to while you go to the bathroom on and off, especially if you have another throw up episode I'll be up to help you through it." "Aiyaa, such a bossy husband I have -aru!" China murmured the words against Japan's forehead when he kissed his forehead once again and then let himself be ushered to his side of the bed where he climbed under the blankets that Japan fussed with until he walked around the bed once more then climbed under the covers with the remote in his hand. "You know, Kiku, I'm going to get huge with this baby. Absolutely gigantic and I'm going to get hormonal, irrational and so much more on top of that. I'll probably be worse than you were with both Xiong and Chiyo -aru!" Japan smiled at that as he turned the TV on, a laugh bubbling past his lips when he tugged China's head to his shoulder while he used his free hand to slide his fingers through the silky dark brown locks and he cuddled up next to China as the man cuddled up to him. It was a comfortable position they assumed with their legs overlapping one another, an arm slung around Japan's waist and China's breath warming the side of his neck as he settled onto some late night show that was run night and night without repeat when he pressed his cheek against China's hair. "Probably. But you remember, better than anyone, how I was with you when you were pregnant with Uri and I handled that very well, didn't I?" China grumbled into his throat making Japan laugh. "Don't worry, Yao-san, I will take care of you always, no matter how grumpy or hormonal you are." China mumbled incoherently making Japan smile with an affectionate chuckle slipping out of him when he pressed a kiss to his dark locks happily as he looked to the TV screen while fighting off a yawn that was building in his chest but he refused to let it out. He fought hard but with a clench of his jaw he managed to swallow the yawn down but China didn't seem to have any problem with yawning when he so desired which inspired Japan's own yawns that he fought down with what seemed like in vain."You know, Kiku, we're going to have to find our balance soon. Three children are a lot to manage, especially if this baby is needy at all the way Chiyo was, then we'll need to begin planning some stuff out -aru." His voice was low, slow like syrup with his fatigue when Japan rubbed one of his eyes with his free hand as he considered China's words rather easily as he sighed out. Yes, he knew three children could be a handful but if America can do it, if Canada and even Norway or who else that now had three children, then couldn't they do it as well? He didn't have much to worry about when he thought about the baby for he knew he could handle it as the boys were at an age, or Xiong at least, to understand that a baby took a lot of time from their parents and that they'd be quite busy with the baby. Xiong understood somewhat coherently what the new baby would need but he was young, what did he know of raising a baby was just things he heard from the other children his age that talked of their baby siblings. Chiyo, on the other hand, was upset at the thought of not having the time and attention when the baby came so he wasn't as enthused about the baby as Xiong was but Japan wasn't worried, he truly wasn't, for it was all about finding that balance. "Don't worry yourself about that, Yao-san, I can watch the boys and help take care of the baby at the same time! And maybe, since the boys are getting older they can start doing chores like making their own beds and cleaning up their rooms when we ask and slowly move up on the chores as well! We just have to find our balance when the time comes and I know we'll find it relatively fast so I'm not too worried about that but what I am worried about is you right now and the baby." Japan reached his free hand out and lightly rubbed the soft little curve of China's stomach that wasn't nearly as impressive as Italy's four month bump but he found this little three month curve to be cuter than anything on his husband. "I can't wait for our baby, Yao-san. I bet the baby'll look just like you, beautiful just like his father." "What do you mean "he" -aru?" China questioned tilting his head back to look into Japan's face only to find a brow arched in silent question and China blushed now with his next words when he put his face back into his spot. "It's not going to be a boy, I'm telling you! Baba's senses are never wrong and Baba says it's going to be a girl, a beautiful little girl who will look just like Māmā when she gets here -aru!" Japan giggled when China blew a raspberry on the side of his neck then felt the fingers spidering against his side for a brief moment which inspired more giggles from the Japanese nation and China smiled proudly as he chuckled. "Don't doubt Baba, you'll see -aru!" "Fine fine!" Japan got the word out through his giggling when China smirked against his neck when he kissed the side of his throat happily and Japan sighed. "I doubt the baby will look like me though, I'd love it if the baby looks just like you, Yao-san. Chiyo and Xiong both look like you, I wouldn't mind another baby that looks just like you and I'd love to have a little girl just like her father which is bound to be a nightmare knowing you!" When China scoffed he lightly jabbed his fingers against the back of his neck making the Chinese nation let out a tiny yelp. "You're extraordinarily beautiful, Yao-san, you know it and I know you're proud of it in some little way." China rolled his eyes at his husband's words, finding the bias of Japan's answer silly and he kissed his husband's neck now happily while he cuddled into the man's side and tightened his arm around his waist clinging onto him he sighed. "Shì de shì de, we all know it was my absolutely stunning beauty that made you fall in love with me the way you did and makes you extremely biased on your own children beauty. Don't think I don't know that -aru." Japan lightly tapped the back of China's head which made him snicker before kissing his jaw now softly. "Bàoqiàn. Just know, whoever this baby looks like and whether it's a boy or girl it shall be the most beautiful and loved baby on this entire world -aru!" "Of course, he or she will be loved just like our boys are and he or she will be raised with the same techniques the boys were, he or she will be just as graceful and prideful as his or her parents and brothers when they are older!" Japan declared the words like they were some kind of prophecy and before China could even think of snickering again he got a kiss against his forehead, a soft fluttering one that seemed to barely touch the skin of his forehead when Japan smiled. "Watashi wa hontōni anata o aishiteimasu, Yao-san." China smiled back at Japan, marveling at the warmth that made his husband's face glow like the sun itself had just decided to part some of it's warm glow just for this one smile and it melted China's beating heart efficiently when he leaned in for a kiss that was just as warm as the smile had been. it made every cell, ever fiber of his being sing from top to bottom under such a warm kiss that when he parted he wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of the night kissing Japan. "Wǒ yě ài nǐ, Kiku. Xiànzài zàicì wěn wǒ." "But of course, if more kisses is what you want then it's what you get~" Japan pulled out a playful, soft growl that rested low in his throat like it implied more than just the cloying words stated and China felt a shiver snake down his spine with the pure joy in his chest. He could kiss his husband day in and day out, every minute of the day even no matter how dramatic it sounded, he'd do it and he'd never have enough of the Japanese Nation. He sighed out through his nose when the lips touched his own, the warmth pouring into him like warm syrup and he curled his arms around his husband's neck tugging him closer then adoring the rumbling movements of Japan's chest that was no doubt laughter and China swore he would die before the sun lifted. Then again, maybe this would be a much more pleasurable death in the grand scheme of things! The sudden light streaking into the room seemed explode outwards to take up any and all spaces the darkness had settled, hungry like the sunlight needed to take up every little corner to fully warm the room the way it always did but the light also seared his eyelids leaving a bright red glow under his lids. China flinched from the light rolling over to open his eyes safely when he noticed Japan yawning to himself as the TV murmured softly softly, the soft brushing shuffles of Japan's feet against the carpet was rather soothing as he watched his husband go to the closet only to find large brown eyes peering at him. Japan smiled then, the warmth radiating off his husband managed to make China's heart stutter with it's beats and the butterflies that had slept in his stomach to flutter to life with an intensity that made his cheeks warm up. Walking over Japan smiled leaning down to kiss the top of his ark head happily only to kiss the tip of his nose when China tilted his head back and he giggled at the smile on China's face, the warmth making his golden brown eyes glow beautifully as his hair rested under his right cheek like a dark tangled spider web and the rest of his hair to rest around his face it crazed strands. He looked just like Xiong and Chiyo upon waking and it was so sweet that Japan smiled helplessly then leaned in kissing the tip of his nose. "Ohayōgozaimasu, Yao-san. The boys are getting ready for school, it's a good thing you're up now so you can wish them luck at school! Chiyo has a spelling test he's nervous about, so I think he'll appreciate Baba's words of wisdom." Japan ruffled the dark hair before tucking it behind China's ear as he spoke and he smirked when China got that familiar pout, a scowling look whenever it came to him and "wisdom" for it was always a crack at how much older he was. "I also have breakfast on the table for you, if the baby allows you to eat today." China groaned then at the thought of not being able to hold anything down but this stomach growled at the thought of eating something, anything right then and he struggled into a sitting position, scratching the back of his neck where the hair knotted and stuck out from his sleeping position. "Zǎoshang hǎo, Kiku. I'll talk to Chiyo, I'm sure he'll pass it for we've been studying about a week now with those vocabulary words and he's got them all down pat. Probably just worried he'll forget some of the words -aru." He threw the blankets off himself and swung his legs over the side of the bed stretching his arms up over his head in the same movement, groaning loudly at the ache in his lower back then shoved himself to his feet. Japan smiled happily when China walked towards the bedroom door no doubt to go sit at the table and eat which pleased him as the baby had truly been giving China hell when it came to food, only allowing certain things he could eat which was nearly minimal compared to how much he brought back up. His legs felt stiff as he walked, the soles of his feet warm from the sheets now felt frigid against the floor which was normal for December he figured and he sighed as he walked into the kitchen inhaling the scents that clung to everything. The breakfast was the normal, the same rice staring up at him with the same soup as well but this time the fish that Japan had made along with the side dishes set out for all to eat he felt his stomach snarl like he hadn't eaten in centuries. Not bothering to waste any time he picked up the chopsticks placed at his plate and began devouring the food as fast as the chopsticks allowed him too which wasn't fast but the food settled beautifully in his stomach making his eyes burn for a moment. It felt like he hadn't eaten in forever that with each mouthful he took he felt like crying at how good it tasted this morning and he took a sip of his green tea as Japan settled down at the table eating his breakfast happily. China finished his mouthful, took another sip of the hot tea then dabbed at his lips with the napkin before looking at Chiyo who was fidgeting with his chopsticks with each bite he took, looking nervous in between and he smiled. "Now I heard you're worried about your spelling test, Chiyo." Surprised brown eyes flitted up to China, shocked as if Chiyo had expected his father to forget all about it and China smiled at his son. "You don't need to be worried, Chiyo, we've gone over those vocabulary words a million times this week, we've done exercises with them and used them when we absolutely could so you could grasp the meaning of them. I know you'll do just fine when it's time and I know you'll do good -aru!" "But Baba what if I forget something? If I don't remember how to spell the word right?" Chiyo questioned with a high, tense voice that spoke on his nervousness and his eyes were concerned as they looked around the room before looking at his father once more only to look like they were shimmering with tears. "I don't wanna mess up on the test, I wanna get another gold star on it! Mr. Valentino said if we get five stars a week we can choose a prize to take home!" "I remember that! Only teachers in second grade don't do the star thingy anymore, but we still get prizes and stuff if we sign out thingies at the end of the day by the teacher to prove we did school work and at the end of the week if everyone's done their work we all get a prize." Xiong threw in when he took a bite of his fried fish happily, then he scratched his cheek after swallowing and took a sip of his orange juice."Don't be such a worry wart, I don't think Jolene is going to care if you get a low score and I'm sure she'll still be your friend." Chiyo pouted at his brother, his little face disgruntled but a soft pink as his eyes narrowed at the elder but Xiong settled back into eating happily as if he hadn't said a single thing when Japan smiled at his son who looked to him for help. "On our way there we will practice your flash cards before you go in, alright? I'll make sure you understand the words one more time before you go to class, I promise." Japan adored the brilliant smile he got in return for it was a beautiful replica of China's own smile and Japan then reached out stroking Xiong's black locks of hair. "And you should be nicer to your little brother, Xiong. It's cute he's friends with Jolene and besides, you never know, they might end up together one day!" China pursed his lips at the thought of either of his sons being old enough to date and held his words back at the urge to shout what he so desperately wanted too which lead to him taking a large sip of his green tea to choke the words down. It wasn't that he didn't like Jolene, the sweet little girl that she was, he just didn't like thinking of his sons being old enough to start dating for it always lead to drama and Lord knows what kind of tensions would rise between Nations because someone's child broke their child's heart etc etc. "You got this, Chiyo, I know you do! Be sure to show Baba your new vocabulary list when you get it and we'll start practicing it when the time comes but I know you'll do amazing today! Have some confidence -aru!" Chiyo sipped on his orange juice thoughtfully when he took a large bite of his own fried fish and rice, taking a moment to chew and swallow when a sparkle came to his large brown eyes and he smiled brilliantly once again. It was so cute, he had Japan's dimples! "Okay! I'll make sure I try my best today for you and Okaa-san!" Chiyo chirped smiling widely then began eating with earnest like he was filled with the confidence he should be and China shared an amused but affectionate glance between one another. It was clear to see that even if he didn't ask for the role, Chiyo was the sunspot to the family and his cheer honestly was infectious that when Japan looked at the clock he took a final sip from his cup before standing. "Alright, are you boys about finished? We've got to head out if you want to get to school on time." Japan's words sent a fresh wave of worry over Chiyo but he pushed it back with a determined glimmer in his eye as China swallowed his own mouthful. Xiong finished up his plate, happily shoveling the food in fast as his chopsticks would allow then flew towards the door to get his shoes and bag on. "Say goodbye to Baba before you got to the car, Xiong." "Sayōnara, Baba!" Xiong shouted when the front door opened with it's familiar creak then the sound of zippers rattling on Xiong's bag and Xiong gulped down the rest of his orange juice. He had his shoes on already, thankfully and he'd hung his bag on the back of his chair so it allowed China to stand out of his seat for a moment to shuffle around the table to Chiyo's side, ruffle his brown hair affectionately and he giggled happily. "Zàijiàn, Baba! I'll make sure I get a really good score on my test so you and Okaa-san can hang it on the fridge!" Chiyo happily chirped to his father as he got a kiss to his head yet again making him giggle sweetly as China ruffled his hair once more before smoothing it out. Then Chiyo shot off to the door with China following after like a ghost of some kind with his slow steps and he smiled when he reached the door in time to see Chiyo all but flying into the car to get into his seat and he pressed a kiss to Japan's cheek. Japan returned the kiss to China's cheek smiling happily as he pulled the keys out of his pocket then reached out stroking China's bump happily, loving the soft curve his stomach held and he bent down just enough to press a kiss to his stomach making China blush. He then straightened up for a happy kiss from China who still felt embarrassed from the affectionate kiss to his stomach but he smiled when Japan stroked his hot cheek. "I'll be back soon." "Don't rush -aru." China kissed the tip of his nose then leaned in the doorway smiling as Japan walked down the walk way to the car and he waved at the boys who waved to him excitedly from the backseat only to watch Xiong roll down the window. "Zàijiàn! Good luck on your spelling test, Chi, you'll do great I know you will -aru! See you all after school! Ài nǐ!" He got his own shouts in return as Japan back out of the driveway once he was sure the boys were buckled in correctly then, with one final wave, the car was going down the street leaving China alone in the doorway with a sigh. Well, maybe not alone. He smiled down at his bump with a soft stroke and chuckled to himself ash e stepped back into the house and shut the door sighing out in the empty house.
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It was a bit silly to assume a baby could enter a staring contest but at four months old Sunneva could stare with the best of them, meaning she could meet her parents gaze already and could stare for a rather long period of time without blinking. It was adorable of the four month old but Iceland often reprimanded Hong Kong if he caught him doing the stare contest with their daughter but he found it ironic that Iceland could meet Sven's gaze for an hour long without blinking or looking away which was a rather impressive thing in and of itself. He heard his phone vibrate instead making him look over at the cushion next to him making him blink in surprise at the suddenness of it and he looked away from his daughter who had a small smile on her lips when he looked away which made him smirk at her for a moment before grabbing his phone. He bent forward turning her little swing on then leaned back on the couch bringing his leg up placing his ankle on his knee as he unlocked his phones screen scrolling through the text messages which consisted of at least three from Korea, one from China shouting off his stomach which he had to admit looked strange on the elder Asian but he sent him a quick text. Then he got ot the ones from Taiwan which had obviously been sent to him in rapid fire and he blinked a few times as he scrolled to the top of the texts with a little yawn on his lips then scratched his temple while scrolling through the texts. One text from her said how Macau had indeed agreed to help give Vietnam and Taiwan a baby which they would be getting done on Friday and he leaned his fingers against his cheek nodding to himself as he read the texts. "Good for her." He murmured as he typed out a reply to the girl who seemed much too hyped up right then for her to be patient for his responses when he then pulled up Facebook deciding to just scroll through his news feed. It got boring, as it naturally does, and he sighed turning the screen off then looking at Sunneva she looked close to falling asleep with each swing which made him smile at the sight of the baby fighting to keep her eyes open. He stood up carefully, quietly as he could to keep Sunneva from reacting to him walking away for a brief moment as he stepped into the kitchen where Iceland was standing at the sink scrubbing a few of her bottles clean sighing to himself once in a great while. He walked up behind him silently, smirking at the kind of reaction he'd get from the Nordic when he noticed the way Iceland's back tensed like he was about to whip around but Hong Kong got his arms around him making the man jump. "Jia! Don't do that! Gefðu mér hjartaáfall af hverju gerirðu það ekki?" He spit the words out with his red face but it just made Hong Kong smirk at his boyfriend pleasantly which made it amusing for the longer he scowled the more amusing it was. "What are you doing? Other than scrubbing out baby bottles, I mean." Hong Kong curled one arm around Iceland's waist and the other up across his chest as he spoke, feeling the man's chest lift then fall suddenly with his heavy sigh and he pressed a kiss behind his ear. "Duìbùqǐ, wǒ xià dào nǐle, Emil. Now, do you wanna do something fun this afternoon? Like really, super duper, holy shit kind of fun? The kind of fun that makes you believe you have a child?" Iceland twisted in his arms slightly to look over his shoulder incredulously, his hands tickling from the suds rolling down slowly and he blinked at Hong Kong trying to tell if the man was suggesting what Iceland thought he was suggesting. Then, when he was sure of it, he fought the urge to drill his elbow in his stomach and tell him that was how they ended up with Sunneva but he bit back both responses yet the blush burned in his cheeks giving away his thoughts no doubt when he grit his teeth turning back to face the sink. "I'm not doing whatever it is you're suggesting, Jia. We have to do dinner, get her fed and bathed tonight so she can actually sleep tonight." "Well, that's what I was talking about." Iceland turned to look at Hong Kong again to see the familiar expressionless face looking at him but his words were sincere when Iceland blinked at his boyfriend's words and the Asian Nation offered a little grin. "I was talking about dinner, you and I having a sit down kind of dinner together like we used too before we had Sunneva. Why? What were you thinking of, Emil? Naughty naughty, to think I would suggest something lewd like that in the brightness of our kitchen with our daughter mere steps away! The inhumanity of perverseness! For shame, Emil! For shame!" His face burned fiercely now as he stared wide eyed at Hong Kong for a moment before turning around to finish rinsing out the bottles and his hands when he grit his teeth once more feeling the embarrassment eating away at him fiercely. "Heimskur!" He hissed the word leaving it up to debate whether he was saying it to himself or to Hong Kong no one knew but he set the bottles in the dish strainer then struggled away from Hong Kong. "I hate you, you know." "No, you don't. Admit it, Emil, you love me so desperately it makes you want to jump my bones every other day and you know it!" Hong Kong adopted a rather playful, even mocking tone that had violet eyes squinting viciously at him only for Sunneva to decide it was time to use her vocal cords. It wasn't a cry but more like she was making a loud noise to see if anyone would respond, to see if she could do it and when Iceland walked into the room her light brown eyes were as surprised as her face when he turned the swing off and pulled her up into his arms. "I'm sorry, again, Emil. It's just too much fun teasing you, I love watching your reactions." "Yeah, well keep it up and you'll get some kind of reaction." Iceland mumbled into his daughter's silver brown tufts of hair before sitting on the couch sighing out rubbing his forehead wondering just how tired one person could get from a simple joke. He was tired lately, not that he was short on patience, but rather he just wanted unlimited sleep lately so he could catch up on his lack of it but it seemed lately that no matter how much sleep he got he was always tired when he got up the next morning. "How's China doing?" "Oh, he's fine. Bump is growing it mighty well, he's excited for the baby to get near four months cause then he'll start feeling those fluttering movements and he's definitely overly excited about getting to six months when there'd be actual kicks." Hong Kong explained while scratching the side of his neck lazily then rubbed his eye brow as he walked around the coffee table and the baby swing to sit next to Iceland."Taiwan is absolutely pumped, however, because Macau agreed to help her and Vietnam have a baby. She's excited and is asking everyone just what kind of nursery she should set up and what kind of parenting books she should get at the store. It's...cute, I guess, just how excited she is and their appointment at the Obgyn isn't until Friday." "That's sweet, she's absolutely thrilled about it. Do you know which one of them is going to be carrying the baby?" Iceland asked tilting his head as Sunneva made a soft yawning noise like she was saying actual words but it wasn't close enough to be it yet it was cute. He stroked her warm cheek, kissed her silky head then tilted his head looking at Hong Kong for a moment then smiled when Sunneva gripped his shirt fiercely with her little fist like he was about to just drop her and take off out the front door. "I know it's much more than baby fever for Taiwan, it's kind of weird to think of her being a parent with someone though.""I know, she's so floaty and hyperactive it's hard to imagine her as a parent but that's what she's going to be. I think she'll be carrying the baby, though, but that's just something I think I got from the last time she babbled to me on the phone about it after seeing Japan and China about a month ago." Hong Kong then offered a shrug of his shoulders that nudged Iceland's shoulder lightly with the movement but Iceland found he was honestly, genuinely happy for the woman. It was easy to see Hong Kong's relatives as his own for they were in this for the long haul so Iceland could see the others as family members that he honestly wanted nothing but for them to have the best lives they could lead. "At least you know that if she's asking for all that then she's serious about what she's doing, that she's all too ready to be a mother and that's a good thing at least." Iceland replied kissing Sunneva's head again making the baby blink curiously at the action as her fingers clutched his shirt tightly with her little fists. "She's at least preparing for it, meanwhile us males are having something only a woman should experience thrusted upon us out of nowhere it would seem. Do you know how many of us have had sex back to back to back with others? It's a surprise none of us got pregnant before!" "True." Hong Kong nodded then shifted to lean his head against Iceland's who smiled at him crookedly, watching Hong Kong reach out stroking Sunneva's silky cheek before sighing out only to clear his throat lightly. "Do you ever think we'll have another baby?" Iceland jerked away from Hong Kong with an incredulous, horrified look on his face making the Asian Nation blink a few times before shrugging like he did before while Iceland held Sunneva in his arms securely. "What? It's just a question, Emil, no need to look like I just pulled out a severed arm." "Then don't ask stupid questions!" Iceland snapped right back when Sunneva sighed in his arms like she was tired of her parents conversation already and he blushed fiercely at his reaction when Hong Kong blinked at him. "We're not having more babies, Sunneva is more than enough for us now and in the future. I'm not popping out kid after kid like the others and I'm serious about that, don't think it's some kind of joke because it's not. I don't want any more children other than our daughter." Hong Kong made a noise that sounded thoughtful, curious even when his eyes flicked to the TV when he curled his arm around Iceland's shoulders tugging him close again which he allowed and leaned his head against the brunette's shoulder. "You're answer will probably change later on when Sunneva is a child. I'll bet my entire income on it." He smirked when Iceland slapped his stomach fiercely making his smirk widen and he kissed the top of his silver-white locks of hair happily while Iceland huffed out a breath of irritation. "No more babies." He muttered the three words like they were some kind of mantra he needed to cling onto for strength but Hong Kong settled in letting the man say or think however he wanted for the time being but he knew Iceland like the back of his hand. It's all but useless for him to hide his intentions or the thoughts of the future for the brunette knew that as Sunneva got older Iceland would be amusing the thought of another baby sooner or later and it was all a matter of time before it came up. But he wouldn't push it for like he said it was just a thought and things change, for now Sunneva truly was enough for he both of them and he didn't want to change that any time soon for he wouldn't put Iceland through the embarrassment of having another baby just mere months apart. He was happy anyways with Sunneva and Iceland, a family of three was more than big enough for Hong Kong and he wanted to relish in the glory days of having a single child before they expanded their family by one more.
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"Vati? When is Mutti's baby going to come out?" Germany blinked looking down at Giovanni who was sitting next to his leg, his half of the puzzle scattered but slowly coming together much like Wolfram's who was smiling happily with each knew piece he connected. "He's so big now! How much bigger is Mutti going to get? I can even sit on his lap because he said the baby is getting so big there's not enough room on his lap anymore!" Germany smiled at his son reaching down to ruffled his brown locks affectionately while Wolfram smiled up at his father, his eyes glowing much like Italy's did and he then hugged his father's leg with one arm leaning his cheek against his knee. "Do you know what the baby is going to be yet, Papa? Astrid told me that when Mama's and Papa's are pregnant with a baby they have a special star in the sky that they wish on for a boy or girl then, when the star shoots out of the sky the baby comes! Is that how it happens, Papa?" "Nein, that's just your Uncle's silly vay of explaining babies to Astrid because like her you're vay too young to know about child birth und the vay it goes about but Vati vill tell you that you both vere born as boys because of genetics. This new baby vill either be a girl or boy, ve'll find out vith Mutti's next to appointment but you are vhat you are because that's the gender you vere in Mutti's belly." Germany replied rubbing Wolfram's cheek happily making the little blonde beam brightly at his father and Giovanni made a humming noise while he leaned his temple against his father's other knee when Italy walked into the room. "You know, Luddy, one would think they'd be used to the backaches but my back is killing me!" Italy moaned the words while fisting his lower back when he took in the sight of Germany sitting on the couch, both their sons sitting by his legs hugging onto them and he blinked. Germany, on the other hand, felt his chest tighten while butterflies attacked his stomach as though he dropped from some large height for the sight of Italy's large, round stomach was more than enough to give him happiness. They were five months in, the baby was okay and Italy was okay, that he found himself aching for the four months to fly by so he could see their baby and he smiled. "Do you vant me to rub your back for you? Ve can go upstairs und you can lay on the bed vhile I rub it so you can relax." Germany offered then blinked at the sight of tears suddenly filling Italy's eyes making the amber of his eyes glitter like gold, the tears large and clinging o his lashes before dripping down his cheeks with a choked sound leaving his lips. Italy had been recently hit with mood swings that came and went unpredictably but with the tears gushing down his cheeks it was easy to tell those swings had just swung for the worse and the boys let go of heir father's legs in surprise as he stood up walking over to Italy stroking a his wet cheeks. "Oh, sveetheart, I'm sorry! Vhat did I say?" "I don't want you to-to ignore the boys! You were spe-spending time with them first!" Italy wailed the words as the tears rushed down his cheeks faster than Germany could catch, his fingers stroking at the wet trails only to have them replaced immediately and Italy hiccuped a choked sound. "I'm sorryyee! I don't want you to just dr-drop everything because I'm a b-baby!" Germany kissed the top of Italy's hair softly, rubbing his hand up and down his back soothingly when the boys stood up to walk around the puzzle pieces carefully then rush up to their mother throwing their small arms around him. "It's okay, Mama! It's super okay! If your back is hurting then Papa can rub it, it's okay! Gigi and I were just doing a puzzle, Mama, it's okay!" Wolfram spoke quickly over his mother's cries like he was aching to sooth his mother as his hands patted at Italy's arms and legs softly like he had to offer some comfort. His eyes were distressed, however, at the sudden sobs that overtook Italy as he patted him comfortingly and Giovanni was murmuring softly to his mother, quieter than his brother's frantic words but his eyes were just as distressed as Wolfram's. Germany hesitated then took Italy's hands looking down at the boys who looked up at him helplessly, like they knew there was nothing more they could do other than keep saying it was alright which skimmed right off of Italy who kept apologizing. "Boys, vhy don't you go und finish your puzzle vhile I go talk with Mutti." The boys backed away from their weeping mother then as Giovanni walked behind him to stand next to Wolfram who took his hand anxiously before tugging him to the puzzle on the floor while Germany ushered Italy into the kitchen where he spun a chair around for Italy to straddle as he sniffled. "It's alright, sveetheart, it's not a big deal. The boys understand vhen you need your feet or back rubbed, it's nothing horrid. You need some attention, liebling, it's no a crime to have it until he gets here." "He?" Italy was rubbing at his lashes now with a weak smile on his lips when Germany grabbed a chair tugging it over to sit behind Italy, rubbing his husband's lower back comfortingly when he caught sight of the weak smile slowly growing. "You said he, didn't you? I don't think it's going to be a boy, Luddy, it's most definitely going to be a girl and you'll see it when we get to the appointment! Mama's intuition never fails and is never wrong, you'll see that too!" "Vell it's Vati's intuition that Mutti is going to be having another boy, vhether he likes it or not!" Italy giggled at the playful words when he smiled brightly now like his earlier tears had never happened and the blonde chuckled at his husband. "Either vay the baby vill no doubt be loved furiously by his or her's Mutti und Vati, have the best big bruders in the vorld as vell. This ill be vun of the most loving family this baby could have ever asked for." The brunette smiled happily at Germany as goosebumps broke out over his skin with each prod of his husband's fingers and Italy stroked his stomach happily with that happy emotion glowing in his amber eyes once more. "I truly do love you, Luddy, and I'm happy that we took the chance to have another baby together. I'm overjoyed I get to have your baby again, it's absolutely amazing!" A shy, almost sweet smile was shared between Germany, who's cheeks flushed, and Italy who looked simply overjoyed at the statement. "Oh yeah! Gilbert called today! He went to get his scan earlier today and though it's pretty early as he's sixteen weeks but he found out the gender of his baby and he wanted to tell you that you are now to be thee proud Uncle of another boy! It looks like they're evening out their boys and girls, two girls and two boys, it's absolutely amazing!" "Ja, it is. Just be glad ve're only having vun baby und not twins again, I don't know vhat I vould do if you were having another set!" Germany sighed out then smiled as he rubbed Italy's lower back happily and then shifted in his seat. "Although I have to hand it to France he is making und doing the absolute best he can vith those twins of his but I can see that he's slowly finding his balance vith his children. He looks damn right exhausted, however, same vith Canada." "I know! I feel bad for him, he has to watch the twins and Austynn on top of it! Same for Canada, they both look so exhausted! It's hard raising twins for the first time, I remember we had a hard time when Giovanni and Wolfram were born!" Italy smiled then like he was reminiscing back five years and sighed happily stroking his belly once again while he sat in a wave of nostalgia for a moment. "I think they're twins are more civilized however, we had two boys who always instigated one another, the quiet baby and a screamer but they were so sweet!" "Ja, they vere rather mild at times but like vith any baby everyvun vill find their footing und balance." Germany replied then stood kissing the top of Italy's head when the man began turning around and he then bent down kissing Italy's stomach happily when he felt fingers moving through his blonde locks. It was a instinctual for him to do so, one that he liked and one Italy absolutely adored when he then raised his head up kissing Italy softly for a moment making the Italian's stomach flip happily as the baby kicked at him like she was reminding him she was still there. He absolutely couldn't wait until he could finally hold his fierce little kicker and sweet little baby in his arms. Wolfram found it when he was brushing his teeth, staring in the mirror as he did so that he looked over at his brother who was brushing his teeth happily with his hair no longer smooth and neat but wild from his mother ruffling his hair happily and from changing their clothes into their pajama's. For five years Wolfram was happy just being a twin, having another person born with him that he didn't really stop to look at them seriously but he was grumpy staring at his brother's hectic brown locks and his amber eyes that looked tired already, his light olive skin tone from their mother then back to his own reflection to find his own messy blonde hair, his blue eyes disgruntled as his cheeks turned a light pink. Twins, huh? "It do'sn even loo' li'e we are ev' twinsh!" Giovanni paused in brushing his Teeth as his brother spoke making his toothbrush wobble in his mouth, toothpaste running down his chin in a sudsy line and he squinted at his brother severely before spitting into the sink, rinsing his mouth out with water, then turned to his brother as he washed his toothbrush before putting it down."What? Finish brushing your stupid teeth before you talk!" Giovanni sighed out sounding so much like his father when irritated that it made Wolfram smile slightly but he did as told and spit into the sink, rinsed his mouth out with water and cleaned his toothbrush out before putting it back in the holder next to Giovanni's. "So what did you say?""I said it doesn't even look like we're even twins! You look exactly like Mama and I look exactly like Papa, so how are we twins when we don't even look the same?" Wolfram asked while he rubbed the toothpaste off his chin and lips with a little bit of toilet paper. He sighed into the tissue before looking at his grumpy brother again who had that little sparkle of concern in his eyes and the blonde scratched his head before looking down at the sink. "I just don't get it." "Why should it matter?" Giovanni asked looking at his brother who looked over at him and the brunette felt his cheeks getting hot rather quickly which made him look down in embarrassment, fidgeting in place on his little stool. "We're twins and that's all that matters, not that we look the same or not. Mutti and Vati love us regardless and look at Austynn's brother and sister! They're twins but they don't look the same! It's okay cause as long as WE know we're twins then that's all that matters." "There you boys are! Are you boys ready for bed time?" Italy questioned as he appeared in the doorway making both boys look over their shoulders at their mother and Wolfram cheered throwing his hands up making his nightshirt slide up revealing his belly button and achieved in making his mother giggle. "What a silly boy you are! Lets get you boys into your rooms, hm? Come on! I'll be right in your room afterwards, Giovanni, I promise!" The little brunette nodded as both boys climbed off their stools only for Giovanni to take off down the hall to his bedroom with quick steps and Italy followed Wolfram into his bedroom happily with the little blonde babbling to his mother about his day. Ever since the boys fight that morning on Astrid's birthday they had been granted their own bedrooms, Giovanni's of red hues and Wolfram's of blues, and both boys seemed perfectly content in their own space but clung to one another during the day. Climbing up onto the bed Wolfram beamed at his mother who walked over smiling happily when the blonde leaned in kissing his mother's large stomach then patted it softly. "Notte notturna, baby! I can't wait to see you! And buona notte, Mama!"Italy giggled then kissed the top of Wolfram's head happily then ruffled his son's blonde locks as he laid down and Italy tucked him in loosely with the blankets making the blonde beam as he held his brown bear to his chest happily. "Buona notte, mio piccolo principe~" Wolfram beamed at his mother's words when Italy kissed his forehead then turned his nightlight on and walked to the bedroom door shutting it behind him then walked down the hall to Giovanni's room where the brunette stood by the bed waiting for him no doubt and he smiled at his son. Climbing onto the bed Giovanni's cheeks flushed a soft pink when Italy walked over, smiling happily when Giovanni reached out patting his belly lightly but awkwardly when he leaned in giving his mother's stomach a kiss, much like his brother had moments ago. "G-gute nacht, baby." He mumbled the words awkwardly as he settled himself under the blankets only to flush red when Italy giggled at his son's words and leaned down kissing his forehead gently. He then tucked in Giovanni tightly with the blankets, the brunette blushing fiercely when Italy leaned in kissing his hot cheek then his forehead once more and stroked the brown locks from his forehead softly with a rather soothing rhythm. "Buonanotte, mio piccolo tesoro~" He then stood up straight turning on his son's nightlight much like he did for Wolfram while the brunette held his white bear to his chest happily, cheek pressing against the bear's head and Italy smiled. He then made his way across the room blowing the little brunette a kiss from the doorway then shut the door yawning to himself knowing his bed was the next destination but he walked towards the nursery which was a medium sized room right next to the master bedroom and he smiled as he stopped in the doorway. Germany and himself had used it as a sort of store room for a while, just little knickknacks that they didn't need and let gather in the room but the blonde had taken it upon himself to clear out the room, redo the floor to a and repaint the walls. "Ciao, amore! Hows it going?""It's going vell, I'm sure I can get the valls done by tomorrow und let it dry then get the second coat on und after that I can start putting together the dresser und get the clothes moved into here und get the changing table put together as vell, so it's going very vell." Germany replied as he stretched up keeping the line of paint even as he neared the ceiling and Italy was in pure amazement at how beautiful the orange he'd chosen truly was now that it was on the walls and drying perfectly. He honestly was beyond words on just how excited he truly was to have his little baby in there! "So, do you like it so far?" "Oh, it's bello! Truly and amazingly beautiful, Luddy! Truly magnifico! Are you going to the stencils of stars like you mentioned before?" Italy questioned as he walked into the room happily looking around at the walls that glowed the soft orange of sunsets as he stroked his belly softly. Germany had let him choose the color for they didn't know quite yet what the gender was for the last time they were there the baby was scrunched up so they couldn't get a good look at the genitals but the next appointment they'd be able to tell no doubt but they needed a color for the nursery so Italy chose this orange. "Ja! Do you vant to choose the color to go vith it? I vould probably choose an ugly color to go vith it as I don't have an eye for colors like you do." Germany finished up the last patch near the corner with a light grunt then climbed down the little ladder and smiled at Italy who smiled brilliantly back. He walked over to Italy pressing a kiss against his forehead first before bending down to kiss his lips happily when the Italian giggled happily throwing his arms around Germany's shoulders happily clinging to his husband. He pulled back after a moment allowing Italy to take a breath and beam up at Germany when the blonde's hand found it's way to his large stomach to stroke softly and he kissed Italy's pink cheek happily while the Italian played with his hair. "Are you excited to find out the gender?" "Si! Of course I am but I'm telling you it'll be a girl!" Italy chirped the words happily making Germany smile with a fond chuckle and the Italian yawned largely much like he had at Giovanni's door and he rubbed his eye with the heel of his hand. "Don't work too long in here, okay? I'm going to go to bed, I'm pretty sleepy! You'll come to bed soon, right?" Germany nodded making Italy smile brilliantly again despite the blonde seeing the sleepy fog hovering in his amber eyes. "Ti amo tanto, Ludwig!" Germany smiled then pressed a kiss to the tip of Italy's nose making the brunette giggle again as he slid out of Germany's arms but held his hand for a moment and the blonde pressed the back of his hand against his cheek making Italy flip his hand in his grasp and press his palm against his cheek. "Ich liebe dich mehr als alles andere, Feliciano." Italy beamed before pulling away walking out of the nursery to the bedroom and Germany smiled softly for a moment or two before he rubbed his hands together sighing as he looked at the walls knowing that sooner or later he'd have to get the second coats done. Grabbing the paint brush Germany then set to painting a second coat on the other walls knowing that as soon as he was done that he'd be in bed with Italy's warm arms around him and the baby kicking Germany through Italy's stomach.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It was quiet in the house for once which was saying something for Austria's home was always bustling with noise from the girls or from Fritz, even Prussia, but since Prussia had reached his fourth month of pregnancy and his stomach began ballooning outwards the albino was taking advantage of the silence. The symptoms of the pregnancy got to him but he loved nothing more than to rub his growing baby happily and often nodded off when the silence offered itself to him but Austria knew it was simply the quiet before the storm but he didn't say anything, just went along with the good mood. Astrid and Mia, both hurricanes it seemed, ran into the living room towards their father and Fritz looked up from his play piano only to squeal when he caught sight of his sisters. "Vati!" Prussia laughed when both girls climbed onto the couch to throw their arms around his shoulders hugging him tightly making their cheeks squish together happily before releasing their father to sit happily next to him when Fritz squealed again hitting his piano keys in random order making for an off tune but shrill musical sound. "Hallo, girls! Vhat trouble have you gotten into lately?" He asked playfully tickling Astrid's side then tickling Mia's neck making both girls giggle happily as Prussia smirked widely at them. "Come now, you vicked girls, tell Vati vhat you've been doing!" "Oh, nothing!" Mia and Astrid chimed the two words together rather angelically as they widened their eyes at their father who smirked wide at the both of them when Astrid reached out touching her father's baby bump tilting her head, a curious glint in her eyes when she met her father's gaze. "Vati, vhen vill you be having the baby? Are you going to get huge like Mutti did vith Fritz? Or as big as Onkel Feli got vith his babies?" Prussia cackled as Fritz hit a few more of the keys squealing happily as Austria walked into the room smiling at his son then turning that same affectionate smile to Astrid and walked up to the couch ruffling her silver locks. "Nein, Vati von't get that big because Onkel Feli vas pregnant vith twins und Vati only has vun baby in there. He von't be having the baby for another five months, then ve'll have a new baby in the house! Changes all around, I bet Fritz vill start valking soon as vell!" That was the one change they all were looking forward too and Fritz seemed equally excited but they all had the patience to help Fritz walk as he held onto their fingers so Austria had the highest hopes his son would be walking soon. "He is twelve months, his birthday is coming up. Hopefully he valks for his birthday!" "His birthday isn't for another eighteen days, he'll valk soon enough because he's Vati's awesome son vhich means he'll be valking anytime now!" Prussia proclaimed happily when Frit let off a screaming squeal while slamming the keys once again happily. The baby adored his little piano, often listening to his siblings and mother play the bigger one which lead to the little twelve month old to slam on the keys like he too was making the same beautiful notes and Austria beamed happily at his son. The door bell rang making all four look towards the door when Fritz slammed on another key giggling happily now and Astrid jumped up off the couch. "Danke!" She laughed lightly rushing for the door quickly, her hair lightly fluttering around her face with her sprint as she disappeared from his view rather quickly when Mia hugged onto him after flicking her long locks away from her arms. Her hair, once just past her shoulders, had grown out to the middle of her back once again and she was happy with her long chestnut brown locks being so long which was obvious with how often she braided her locks joyfully. "Vati! Onkel Feli und Onkel Luddy vill be here for my birthday party, right?" She asked looking at her father, smiling brilliantly making Prussia return her smile for her excitement for her birhtday was so damn infectious he was helpless to join in her excitement. "Of course they vill! They'd never miss their awesome niece's birthday! April vill alvays be awesome because it has my girl's birthday in it!" Prussia proudly exclaimed ruffling her hair making her giggle joyfully as she squeezed her arms around her father's shoulders and he kissed her forehead. He heard his eldest footsteps walking closer when he turned to her in good humor only for his smile to drop off of his face, both girls noting the dark look draping over their father's ruby eyes as his back stiffened like the rest of his limbs that were taunt with the sudden tension. "Hungary." Mia crawled off the couch to rush over to her mother's side, Astrid even copying her sister's actions to hug onto her mother's left hip while Mia clung to his right and Austria pursed his lips while stroking his daughters' hair softly before bending lightly to murmur to them. "Girls, go to the backyard for me, vill you? This von't take long, don't vorry." He kissed the top of Astrid's had then picked Mia up slightly to kiss her forehead then walked both girls to the doorway of the kitchen, each hand cupping the backs of their heads comfortingly as they then flew to the backdoor and he turned looking at the crackling tension between the Prussian and Hungarian when he offered a tight smile."Elizaveta, good to see you vunce again! Vhen is the baby due again?" Hungary was about two months ahead of Prussia which showed and her eyes warmed for a brief moment when she locked eyes with the Austrian and she stroked her stomach softly from top to bottom, the affection clear in her actions when she smile at Austria. "Vell, I'm six months right now und most mothers give birth between seven to nine months or go full term so I'm hoping I can make it full term in my ninth month." She then smirked viciously at Prussia who glared at the brunette. "I sure hope you're ready to be proven wrong vhen I give birth because I'm sure as hell looking forward to it!" "Vhat makes you so damn cocky that you think you can come here und vreck everything ve are trying to keep good?" Prussia demanded standing up with his hand on his four month bump, much smaller compared to Hungary's but he gripped the fabric over his stomach and the glares between them could raw blood from how sharp they were. "I'm telling you for the last time to leave me the hell alone und go find your baby daddy in some other man because it's not me!" Austria looked worriedly to the baby who was sitting wide eyed in front of his little piano, his fingers lightly moving on the keys but not enough to press down and create the metallic notes, his ruby eyes wide and solemn as he sat there. Hungary then stomped her foot hard enough it made the floor tremble lightly when she fisted her hands up and her eyes flashed with warning like lightening before thunder rolled and he worried, for just one moment, for the woman. If Prussia was the father and his baby anything like Astrid then Hungary could stomp only once more and that baby would come shooting out with the early labor and that's what he worried for. After all it happened to him. "You know for a former, great Nation you truly are a goddamn coward! Italy has more guts than you do! You need to learn to take the repercussions of your actions! This IS your baby and you're going to feel stupid when I prove you wrong!" Fritz finally moved from his spot in front of the piano to crawl over to Austria's leg where he gripped his pants to tug him into a standing position as he looked at his mother, tears now hovering on his dark lashes as he reached one hand up, opening and closing it rapidly with a whimper in his throat. "Mut! Mut!" He whimpered the word while stretching up like he could just climb up his side so he could curl into his arms and Austria felt his heart break when he bent down scooping the twelve month old into his arms. He held the baby tight to his chest while the little brunette rubbed his face clumsily and Austria fought the urge to throttle his lover, hell to throttle them both for their silly and stupid argument that went on each and every time Hungary came over. "Enough!" Austria roared the word making both adults jump and Fritz to whimper, the walls ringing with his loud voice which made him feel a touch of guilt but dammit enough was enough! He rubbed Fritz's backs softly, soothingly, and kissed his head before he glared at the two pregnant Nations who stared at him with wide eyes while he drew in a breath through his nose. "I have had enough! No more fighting, all that the two of you seem capable of doing is bicker, bicker, bicker! Ever since this whole thing took place, vhich I still find shocking, all the two of you have done is bicker und I'm done vith it! Elizaveta, you are six months pregnant und I know it's not good for your baby so stop bickering vith him! I vent into labor during a fight vith this idiot so I vould know vhat I'm talking about, so stop!" "Ha! Vhat now, bitch?" Prussia scoffed smirking at her making the woman glare at him fiercely when Austria turned his attention to Prussia who found himself flopping back onto the couch under the weight of the glare those burning violet eyes cast onto him. It was like he was shrinking in his skin so he could get away from the look but he couldn't, there was no escaping an Austrian glare like that and he instead crossed his legs while curling his arms over his bump like it might protect him. It was rare to see Austria so worked up other than the beginning when they'd fought over the one night with Hungary, that had been the last time they screamed at each other. "Und you! You, who are four months pregnant und certainly in no good position to be fighting either! In fact you should have been taking the time to think about our baby's health before you jumped into this gottverdammt fight vith her! You'll probably give our baby high blood pressure or something vhen he's born because of all the fighting und bickering that you do vhen she come around!" He was still shouting, his voice high and venomously edged when Fritz whimpered close to his mother's ear as he buried his wet face into his neck and he clutched the baby fiercely when he gestured to him. "Look at Fritz! Look at him! He doesn't like hearing his Vati fighting like this, nor his Mutti shouting but if that's vhat I have to do to make you two numskulls get along then I vill!" Both adults looked absolutely floored, mouths opening then shutting rather wisely Austria figured and Prussia felt the shame burning in both his chest and his face when he rubbed his stomach softly like he was trying to comfort himself. Then he felt it. It was like bubbles popping but at the same time just the tiniest, gentlest tap on him that he honestly felt the urge to look around had he not felt it from inside of him and he let out a high, breathless sound when he looked down at his stomach."Roddy! Roddy!" "Vhat?" Austria sighed the word in a snappish way when he looked to his lover only to notice the rather awed look on the albino's face as his hands fannded out over the small bump and he looked up with wide, ruby eyes that sparkled with an awe so pure it matched Fritz's own expression. "Vhat is it? Is something vrong? Gilbert?" He walked over to the Prussia sitting down immediately which placed Fritz in his lap when he reached out touching his lover's belly, rubbing the bump softly when Prussia laughed breathlessly now. "Vhat's going on?" "I think, I mean I could be horribly stupid, but I think I felt a little tap!" He then looked at Austria who's expression was warring between awe and irritation still when Hungary let herself sit in the chair close to the couch. "I could be vrong but I know vhat I felt!" Austria then felt his lips twitching into a smile that was he mirror image on Prussia's face when eh caught sight of a smile twitching at Hungary's face and he offered a bright smile to her which was hesitantly returned. Sitting in the high chair Fritz seemed to be having a blast as he kicked his legs while he ate his little afternoon snack of soft star puffs and some small, safe to eat pieces of wurst that the baby had been reaching for and now happily ate when he remembered there was food in front of him. Austria was preparing the food for dinner, the afternoon dipping later than he thought it had once he had gotten Prussia and Hungary to sit down for a civil conversation which went slightly well and they both agreed that until the baby was here they wouldn't point fingers at one another anymore. "Hey, Mutti?" He blinked looking down at his eldest who stared up at him, the nine year old holding the edge of his shirt lightly. "Vhy does Vati alvays fight vith Miss Hungary vhen she comes over? From vhat I heard isn't it my little bruder or sister in her belly right now? Does Vati hate her?" Austria sighed putting the knife down, wiping his hands off before stroking his daughter's short silver locks away from her face before cupping her face looking down into her curious little face. "Vati doesn' hate Miss Hungary, I promise. It's just..difficult right now. He doesn't vant anything to complicate or hurt our relationship again like it vas before, he's trying to make it up to me even now und he just can't handle thinking he's messed up vunce again. Vhich he hasn't!" He then smiled at his eldest, stroking her hair again taking in her height which had bumped up a few more inches for she stood just below his shoulder, her hips gaining the shape of a young girl going into puberty and she was maturing faster than he wanted. Astrid then looked down with a thoughtful, almost grim look on her face before she looked back up at her mother while reaching her hands up to touch the back of his before holding his wrists like she needed something secure to hold onto. There was something like hesitance, fear even, in her large ruby eyes when she looked at Austria who kissed her forehead as if it would remove the look but when he pulled back she still had that same troubled look in her eyes. "Vill it? Vill Vati have to leave again? I don't vant you to be mad, so please don't be mad at Vati if Miss Hungary's baby is his! Please don't be mad!" "Nein! Astrid, sveetheart, meine kleine Prinzessin, I von't be angry vith him if the baby is his. But this isn't for you to vorry about, meine liebste, this is for adults to be talking about und you're only nine vhich means such things aren't for you to be involved in." He then kissed her forehead again only to give her an affectionate peck to the tip of her nose which made her smile at him when he then moved his fingers through her hair. "You never have to vorry about that ever again. I love your Vater too much und I know he von't hurt him neither vill I hurt him, ever. It vill all be okay, Astrid, don't vorry. Now, vhy don't you go und do the homevork that you were planning on hiding from me until Sunday night?" She blushed fiercely at the comment then smiled sheepishly up at her mother, looking up through her lashes at him when she shuffled in spot holding onto his hands now. "Vill you help me vith it, Mutti? I have History und Health vork to do! It's a confusing vorksheet for Health, you'll see! Und I'll get Vati to help me vith math!" She then tilted her head smiling at her mother more confidently now when she raised a silver brow giving her eyes a mischievous sparkle that made her look the exact duplicate of her father. "I'll tell Mia she has to do her homevork too!" "Danke! I don't vant to have to chase that girl down und make her do it, it's easier vhen you girls sit down to do it together!" He smiled when Astrid took off like a silver rocket towards the stairs to no doubt get her little sister and their homework to do together before dinner was done. When Austria turned his attention to his son the boy squealed with his fists opening and closing showing the drool that glistened on his fingers and palms making Austria chuckle happily before walking over to his son with a napkin and began wiping his cheeks which were slick with drool but the baby smiled happily. The poor boy had been teething lately, gaining at least five teeth already but the rest were taking their sweet time coming through but they were coming no doubt. The doctor assured him that the slow progress would go fast in his first year and by the time he was two years old he'd have a full set of teeth. It was strange to think of just how long the past six or so months had been on all of them and how fast his son had grown over the flying months but he found himself happier than he thought he could be after Prussia's one night with Hungary but here he was, standing in his kitchen with his son gurgling out little sounds and words he picked up while eating happily. His girls were happy, maturing and growing joyfully, Prussia was five months away from giving birth and they'd have a new little son or daughter to shower with affection when the time came. "Mut! Mut!" He smiled at the little boy happily, wiping at his cheeks once again before kissing the top of his silky cap of chestnut locks making his ruby eyes sparkle as his Mariazelle bobbed with his movements as he smiled up at his mother excitedly. "Look at you~ Don't you think it's time to say Mutti?" Austria questioned while lightly running his fingers over the chestnut locks happily making the baby giggle happily as his little hands reached up grabbing the sleeve of his mother's arm giggling once again. "I think you'll say Mutti eventually, just like you'll begin valking und then there will be nothing stopping you if you're anything like your father und sister." "Mut! Mut! Pety!" He squealed the words out making Austria smile as he kissed his son's little nose happily at his words, which he instantly knew his so was trying to say "pretty" but the word was a little to complex for the little boy so he had his own versions of words he could make out. His vocabulary had grown remarkably over the month with the words pretty, Vati, sun, cloud, fork, soft, furry and many other words that he had picked up on from the people around him which made Austria happy with each little word his son had. "Mut! Mut! Mut! Mutti! Mutti!" Austria wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't of been standing there but he looked at his son with surprise then smiled happily, brilliantly and leaned in kissing his son's cheeks and forehead, his nose and the top of his head in a shower of affection. The baby giggled under his mother's kisses only to find the tray being removed and put on the table hen turned unbuckling the baby from the high chair making Fritz squeal when he as coddled to his mother's chest, his heartbeat underneath his tiny ear and Austria peppered the baby with kisses again. "That's my boy! Such a good boy is what you are! Mutti is so proud of you for finally saying it! Let's try again! Who am I? Hmm? Who am I, Fritz?" Fritz was clapping his hands excitedly when his mother held him up above his head joyfully then squealed reaching down to grab Austria's glasses which prompted him to hold Fritz against his chest to take his glasses off then kiss his face twirling with the baby in his arms before holding him above his head once more. The baby squealed, grabbing at his mother's face now giggling happily when he gripped Austria's nose and squeezed his cheeks while he waited and the baby then gripped his hair tightly flailing his hands when he squealed once more happily. "Mutti! Mutti!" Austria laughed happily when he brought the baby down to kiss his chubby cheeks, his little nose and worked the baby's hand out of his hair then cradled the baby to his hip when he kissed the top of his little head making the baby giggle sweetly waving his hands joyfully. Austria then walked across the kitchen excitedly with Fritz babbling to himself now when Austria kissed his forehead happily making Fritz giggle at the action and Austria walked into the living room, practically bouncing on his toes with the happiness. "Gilb- Oh! Shh, quiet now, mein kleiner schatz, Vati is sleeping." The sight was enough for one to feel warmth and even love, both emotions that were surging through Austria when he backed over the threshold into the kitchen smiling to himself as he took in the sight to commit to memory, like it was some kind of picture. Hungary had ended up staying over for dinner at his request which was happily accepted by Hungary but she also wanted to talk with Prussia afterwards and when they began talking he didn't see any hostility like earlier and in fact, both even forgot about Austria for a while. He'd spent the afternoon preparing for dinner but both Nations had slumped together on the couch, shoulder to shoulder, both pink cheeked as they leaned against one another while they napped and it made for quite the cute scene right then. He was surprised to find that, unlike before when he thought of Hungary and Prussia together, he felt no jealousy whatsoever and instead was feeling a rush of relieve, even that adoring love from before and he smiled softly. He then turned walking further into the kitchen once more when he then tickled Fritz's little neck making the baby smile and giggle while clutching onto his mother's shirt and Austria kissed the top of his head happily. "Thank Gott they stopped fighting und fell asleep." He whispered to both himself and to his ruby eyed baby but he kissed his cheek happily making the baby smile brightly at his mother when Austria stroked his cheek happily. "You're going to be an amazing big bruder, Fritz, I just know it! I vonder if Vati has a name in store for his baby, if he's thought about it at all und if he has one chosen like I do. It vouldn't surprise me if he did have a name picked out already und has yet to tell me about it, probably even keeping it a secret from me but if he can keep a secret so can I." He smiled when Fritz giggled happily when Austria tickled his chin again and kissed his temple. "Vouldn't it be nice to have a little bruder named Wilhelm?" Fritz gurgled his answer and Austria laughed lightly. "I knew you'd agree!" He placed Fritz in his little saucer where the twelve month old proceeded to hit the buttons making light melodies play from the speaker and Austria beamed at his son then walked to the counter once more picking up the knife and began chopping his vegetables as he had before. He even hummed lightly to himself a Chopin piece while he chopped that he smiled when Fritz squealed happily hitting the rattle behind him and he turned to the stove dumping his vegetables into the pan where they sizzled and he smiled wider. He knew things would work things out between Prussia and Hungary, work out enough that they could all settle down as friends to the woman and the woman to them once again and Prussia would be happier once that happened. Then they could happily go about life as usual and maybe, just maybe, the albino would ask him to marry him when they were happier and seal them together forever. The thought made a brilliant smile curl over Austria's lips when he heard the girls walking down the stairs to the kitchen to start their homework and he began humming again as the happiness wound it's way through him.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The sun had just barely scratch the horizon when the bedroom door was being slammed open, feet pounding on the floor and by the time Romano had opened one eye curiously at the sudden sounds he was being body slammed by his son which caused all the air to whoosh out of his lungs. Cristiano then jumped onto his feet jumping on the mattress which in turn woke his father who blinked groggily but smiled at the hyper child jumping on the bed when Cristiano let himself fall into a sit on his mother's lap when he struggled into a sitting position. "Mama, Austynn and Astrid are sleeping over today! Remember? They're coming over at dinner time!" Romano sighed but smiled tugging his son to his chest ruffling his curls happily making the boy laugh as cheerfully as his father who rubbed his eyes sitting up next to Romano and the Italian kissed his head making Cristiano giggle happily. "Si, si, I've had it planned with their parents for a week now and I'm not likely to forget about your sleep over!" Romano replied playfully with a little laugh in his voice when Cristiano laughed at his father's tickling fingers at his side then beamed up at his mother who sighed out with a tired smile on his lips. "But Cris, mio piccolo angelo, did you have to wake me up at the crack ass of dawn for this?" Cristiano seemed to think for a moment, a playfully thoughtful look on his cheerful face as his mother ruffled his curls again making him smile up at him before he turned in his mother's arms pressing his cheek against his chest. "Si! I did because it's morning time which means I'm awake now and hungry!" Cristiano chirped in response making Romano roll his eyes chuckling while Spain leaned down kissing their son's curls cheerfully and Cristiano smiled brightly. "Plus I'm too excited to sleep because I can't wait to see them! Oh! Oh! Mama, I was thinking about it but can we invite Liam?" Romano groaned at the thought of four hyperactive children tearing apart his house, messing up Cristiano's room and leaving messes for him to clean up when Spain jumped in while poking his son's chubby cheek. "Let me and Mama talk about adding Liam to your list of slumber party guests, alright? You know how Mama gets when he has to watch lots of kiddies your age~" He poked Cristiano's nose making him giggle happily when the boy settled against his mother's chest happily. "Don't worry, it's not a no, I just need to work out how we'd do it if Mama did say yes since you don't have much room in your bedroom for four chi-" "Oh, I thought about that already! I can share a bed with either Astrid or Austynn! Then only two of them would sleep on the floor or someone can sleep in my window seat!" Cristiano exclaimed excitedly staring at his father with wide eyes that sparkled with hope then turned that same look onto his mother. "Do you think maybe if we can do that then I can have just oonnee more friend over?" The boy knew how to dazzle his parents with his big eyes and Romano squeezed his cheeks affectionately making the boy whine for a moment before giggling at the sensation. "Oi, Papa just said he and I would talk about it, so where do you get off giving such grand ideas?" Romano demanded playfully as he squished his cheeks in his hands making the boy laugh happily at the movements of his mother's palms when a wailing started up down the hall making three pairs of eyes flick to the doorway and Cristiano sighed out. Spain was the one who threw the blankets off smiling at his son and husband, who raised a brow, and Spain stretched his arms up. "If you're going to get Sal then I'll tote smile's here down to the kitchen and get breakfast started since someone-" Cristiano smiled."-wanted to wake Mama and Papa up at the crack of dawn!" "Alright! I think tonight is going to be bath night, however, for you and Sal! If I look after the baby and you're a good boy maybe I'll convince Mama into letting over that one more friend of yours~" Spain winked at Cristiano who lit up at the thought of having just one more friend over then beamed at his mother who rolled his eyes as he moved his hand through the boy's messy curls. "I'll meet you both downstairs!" Romano made a "go already!" motion with his hand that had Cristiano laughing in response and Spain walked across the room to the door then out into the hallway while Romano teased Cristiano who's giggles often raised to laughter as Spain walked towards the nursery while moving a hand through his hair. He flicked the light on walking into the room happily towards the bassinet where Salvador was working himself to a screaming fit until Spain came into view which had the baby hiccuping but staring up at his father with awe on his little face and Spain smiled. He reached in pulling the baby to his chest when the smell hit him seconds later and he stroked his wet cheek comfortingly while walking to the changing table and he tickled his son's belly who just whined in response. "Hola dormilón~ You've got your Madre's powerful lungs, don't you?" The five month old whined up at his father, legs wriggling impatiently as Spain unbuttoned his onesie and hummed lightly making the baby look up at him curiously as Spain opened up his diaper grabbing the wipes, playfully tapping Salvador's knee and belly with the wipe making the baby's eyes widen before he giggled when Spain poked his nose. He cleaned the baby up humming happily still making those hazel eyes sparkle happily as his little fists waved and he opened the rash throwing the diaper and wipes in, grabbed the baby powder along with a fresh diaper. He sprinkled in a little powder, not a lot, but just enough so his son wouldn't chafe and smiled when Salvador's mood took an immediate turn around now that the fresh diaper was on and Spain worked the baby's little arms out of his onesie and picked the five month old up. He walked over to the little dresser humming happily while tapping different spots on Salvador's back, arm and tummy only to poke his cheek or nose which made the baby smile anew with fresh little giggles at the silliness. Spain kissed his dark brown wisps of hair when he opened the top drawer of the dresser looking at the clothing before piking up a little white onesie with the words of "I am loved from my head tomatoes" as a cute little pun that he absolutely adored. He grabbed a pair of pants to with it then turned around walking back to the changing table to get Salvador dressed for the day, the onesie being one that went over the head which naturally left to whines from the baby but with that same tapping rhythm and pokes to his cheeks or nose settled the baby once again when Spain got his arms into the sleeves and buttoned the onesie at the bottom. He got the baby into a pair of pants when the doorbell rang downstairs making him blink curiously wondering just who could be at their door at, in the words of Romano, the crack ass of dawn and he looked at Salvador, tapped the tip of his nose making him giggle. "Let's go see who's at the door, hm?" Spain crooned the baby who smiled up at his father as Spain walked across the carpet using his free hand to swing himself in a little arc by holding onto the door frame which made Salvador giggle once again. He smiled hoping the baby's good mood kept up as he walked down the hall to the top of hte stairs as a knock sounded and Romano shouted for him to get the door making the baby blink at his mother's loud voice and he kissed Salvador's chubby cheek. He walked down the stairs carefully but quickly yawning to himself as he tugged the front door open only to find both his best friend and Austria along with Italy and Germany who was looking sheepish. "Ciao, Antonio! Is fratello up?" Italy chirped happily as he smiled at Spain then looked at Salvador giving him a smile that had an instinctive little smile forming on the baby's lips and he giggled. "Ciao, little Salvador! You sure have gotten big!" Spain moved to the side holding the door open smiling at the group as they shuffled in, the twins on their father's hips and Astrid skipped into the front hall just steps in front of Austria and Prussia, Mia clinging to her mother's hand and Fritz gurgled against his mother's chest. "Oh, what the crapola is this? Some kind of party at the crack of dawn I wasn't in the goddamn loop about?" Romano complained as he walked down the stairs with Cristiano holding his hand happily but looked thrilled when he caught sight of Astrid who smiled excitedly. "Why is everyone up at the crack of fucking dawn now? I haven't even food yet and now I have to cook for twelve people? And God knows what I'll have to cook when that French bastard gets over here!" Spain simply kissed his temple when Italy took his brother's free hand smiling at him, amber eyes twinkling which caused Romano to look away with grumpy embarrassment. "I'll help you, fratello! The children can watch cartoons with Luddy, Antonio, Roderich and Gilbert in the living room while you and I cook breakfast!" Tugging on his hand Cristiano and Astrid rushed to the living room in response to his Uncle's words while Prussia cackled with delight as he trailed after them with the other two adults while Italy dragged Romano into the kitchen. "So what were you going to make?" "I don't know, something simple like pancakes or something." Romano replied rubbing his forehead with his freehand and the movement made his shirt shift then reveal his shoulder while Italy smiled looking at his brother happily. "Why is everyone here so early anyways?" Italy smiled as he pattered around his brother's kitchen releasing his hand to do so and finding the ingredients they would need then smiled at Romano brightly making the elder Italian blush under the warm look. "Well, time has flown by this January and Fritz's birthday is in a week so we decided to celebrate it today because Gilbert and I will be too pregnant to travel distances soon. That's why we decided to come by to spend the day with you and Antonio!" Italy chirped as he put the batter, milk and eggs on the table smiling happily while Romano sighed moving his hand through his hair which was still messy and his brother sighed making him raise a brow. "You're so lucky, fratello! You have such a beautiful family, an awesome marriage and beautiful boys like my own! You're so much happier than you were before and it makes me happy for you!" Romano felt his face burning at his brother's words, at the praise in them and he looked away speechless for a moment as he grabbed a mixing bowl and Italy giggled. Something about the sound of it, how it reminded him of Cristiano's giggles this morning, Romano gave Italy a crooked smile that twitched at the corners but made Italy beam in response and Romano gave an eye roll afterwards. "Shut up, idiota. Let's get this breakfast done already." Italy smiled humming happily while Romano grabbed two pans and two separate spatulas knowing if they both had their own pan it'd cook things faster rather than waiting on at a time. He couldn't help smiling each time he caught Italy stroking his bump joyfully, smiling as he continued humming an indistinguishable song that Romano found himself getting sucked into as the tense muscles in his shoulders and back relaxed, the smile on his lips more genuine than he thought it could get.Astrid's shrieking echoed in the yard as she ran across the yard hot after Cristiano who was screaming with his own laughter and Austynn ran after the girl, all three avoiding one another while chasing after someone with the childlike joy filling the air as the twins played on the swing set together. The sun was touching the horizon with the late afternoon air thickening with the heavy heat of the day and the smell of rain promising to come later that night the parents sat on the porch smiling as the children ran and screamed, laughing loudly. Romano sat with Spain on the porch swing, lightly rocking back and forth with Salvador sitting in his mother's lap watching the children run with wide, curious eyes that never failed to pick out his brother it seemed. Italy was sitting on Germany's lap, the blonde rubbing Italy's bump happily as his chin rested on Italy's shoulder. Prussia was sitting next to Austria on the porch stairs while leaning against one another, heads touching happily while they spoke quietly to one another and to his bump happily with hushed voices as the setting sun painted the world with it's brilliant, golden hues. France and Canada stood by the railing of the porch, speaking to one another in the same quiet tones Austria and Prussia used but they too looked rather content like the others did and Romano shifted on the swing lightly making Salvador sigh out like he too was content and Romano leaned his head to the side, pressing his cheek to Spain's shoulder. "I know I bitched this morning but this is....nice. It feels like some kind of family get together." Romano murmured the words to Spain who chuckled happily as a warm breeze stirred the grass and leaves, tugged playfully at clothing, ruffled hair lightly and brought with it the smell of rain. "I feel bad we said no to Liam but he can always sleep over there if he wants too, until he gets a bigger bedroom." Spain smiled kissing the top of Romano's head, inhaling the spicy sent happily for a moment before sighing out. "It is rather amazing, like everyone I love is finally coming together like one giant family." He smiled looking over to Cristiano who was tackled to the grass by Astrid as she got her arms around him making both squeal with joy as they rolled in the grass, Austynn jumping into the fray crushing both his friends who laughed."Look at him, mi amor, he's so happy with not a single care in the world other than his slumber party tonight." The clouds drifted in front of the sun, hugging the horizon but moving steadily forward when the sun managed to burst through casting the yard with light once again like it needed one more burst of golden hues on the world. Cristiano jumped to his feet, his brown curls a rich brown haloed by the gold of the setting sun and his eyes glowed like jades with laughter bubbling out of him as he ran once again which urged the other two to run after him. He may look like Spain but his face, his movements and laughter were all Romano who looked just as stunningly beautiful in the light. Italy looked sleepy with each rub Germany gave to his bump while they lounged there in the chair, France eventually drifting over to touch his stomach after getting the approving look from Germany and the Italian sighed out sitting up stretching. "I think it's time to head out, Luddy." The twins whined out at the thought of leaving so soon but the man smiled softly as France ruffled his hair making him giggle and he stood up stretching his arms up as the twins got off the swings, seats buckling lightly at the absence of weight. "I know, I love being at Uncles too but we have to go! It's getting late and it's going to be a long drive home from here, plus it looks like it'll rain at any moment so we should really head out." "Alright, I'll go get the boys in the car vhile you say your goodbyes to your bruder." Germany replied smiling softly, looking just as tranquil and content as Italy who leaned up pressing a kiss to the German's lips happily then watched the blonde walk towards their car with the keys jingling in his hand as the boys ran over to him like he had signaled them by jingling. Prussia sighed as he leaned back on his hands for a moment watching his younger brother herd his sons into the car and buckle them in, smiling with what looked like pride that Austria rolled his eyes at but smiled.Romano picked Salvador up when he stood up, holding the baby to his chest now as Italy walked over throwing his arms around his brother carefully, the baby's head touching both their chests for a moment when Italy pulled back kissing his cheeks. "I'll talk to you later, fratello! I'll also come back to visit again too! It was a magnificent day, I loved spending time with you, Antonio and the boys! I hope we can do this again!" Italy babbled then smiled patting his brother's shoulders then leaned in kissing his nephew on the head making the baby look at him with wide eyes as he stared at his Uncle. "You can also come to my home too, if you ever want too! We could have dinner sometime?" "Maybe. I'm pretty busy half the time looking after this one so I'd have to look at my planner. You wouldn't feed me that German crapola, would you?" Romano asked bluntly making Italy laugh which made a smile twitch at Romano's lips in response and Italy simply kissed his brother's cheek once more. He shouted his goodbyes to Prussia, Austria, Canada and France as his husband held the passenger door open for Italy to climb in then shut it as Prussia climbed to his feet rushing over for a hug from the blonde who smiled indulgently. He then climbed in the car, turned it on and was turning the car around to drive down the long dirt driveway while Prussia waved and Austria stood stretching his arms in front of him with a sigh. Prussia then turned to Austria, ruby eyes bright with what looked like that constant mischief as he clapped his hands together which made the three children look up as it was a rather loud clap. Crisp, perfect sounding and Austria raised a brow when the albino jerked his head to the car like he was trying to get the brunette to walk over before he spoke. "Alright, let's get the little ankle monster's bag from the car before ve take off!" "Oui, it would be a good idea to get Austynn's bag as well!" France put in winking at Canada who chuckled in amusement when the French man then turned towards Spain and Romano, smiling happily as he hugged Spain then rested his head on his shoulder playfully with a sigh. "Merci for taking Austynn for the night! 'e 'as been bothering to let 'im sleep over 'ere for a while now and ever since little Astrid brought it up 'e 'as been doubly insistent so I thank you! It will be easier with the twins tonight, they won't be waking 'im up as often as they normally do during the night! 'e only 'as Salvador here and I doubt 'e can wake Austynn!" He had reached out lightly stroking the dark brown locks on Salvador which got him a rather fierce look from the baby, a look that should be impossible for a child his age but they all shared a laugh at the look while Romano pouted when his husband pointed out that the baby looked like him with that look. France then detached from Spain to rush down the porch steps to his own car which was a simple four door, black Mercedes that was obviously France's pride and joy in the same way Prussia's was and unlocked the doors reaching in the back grabbing Austynn's blue duffle bag, slamming the door at the same time Prussia. They then walked up to the porch together when Prussia simply plopped the bag down and France put his son's down into a chair when the albino sighed stretching his arms up then brought his hands down cupping his mouth. "Ast! Come give Vati und Mutti hugs! Ve gotta take off! Same vith you, Aust!" "Coming!" The two shouted the word together as the three of them ran to the porch happily, Astrid right into her mother's arms and Austynn right into his father's hugging onto their parents tightly while Cristiano stood by the stairs of the porch smiling. Astrid hugged her father carefully, her cheek smooshing up against his rounded stomach happily and Canada lifted Austynn in his arms kissing his cheek and head while he spoke in a stern voice for him to be good but smiled when Austynn kissed his cheek back. Romano handed the baby to Spain who took him happily as the Italian walked into the house no doubt to look for something to make for dinner while the children said their goodbyes to their parents and he heard Spain's cheerful voice from the kitchen. He watched the dark grey clouds fanning across the sky eagerly as if they had nearly no time to spread out in time for the rain and he heard the car doors from outside, muted from his spot in front of the fridge and that was it. He heard the porch door open with three sets of feet running towards him, zippers jingling lightly when he felt Cristiano's arms around his waist hugging him happily as his eyes glowed up at him only for two other sets of small arms to be thrown around him. He felt his face flush as one pair of green, violet and ruby red stared up at him rather adoringly he ruffled his son's curls then sighed out looking at the grime clinging to the children as if a new layer of clothing from how dirty they appeared. "Go wash your hands before I get dinner done, don't rub the blankets either. All three of you are going to need baths tonight, Austynn and Cristiano first obviously." "Onkel Romano, vhy can't I take a bath vith Austie und Cris? I've taken baths vith them before! It's just like taking a bath vith my bruders! It'll save vater too!" Astrid chirped sweetly while staring up at Romano who blushed at being called Uncle by the little albino but it wasn't the first time. Prussia's kids called Spain Uncle as well but it still embarrassed him to no end when he was called it as well, awkward even though they were technically her god-parents and he sighed out before looking to Cristiano and Austynn. "I promise ve von't splash! Not a single drop vill go over the tub, I promise!" "Fine fine! The three of you can take a bath together but this is the last time you bath together, you're growing up. And since Astrid is older than you she'll mature before the both of you, so that means bath time together won't be allowed much longer." He was hit with three confused glances which made him blush and he made a shooing movement with his hands as his face burned. "Go play! Go! Watch TV or something, I have to get dinner done! Cris, be sure to their bags are brought upstairs if you go up!" The children smiled before running out of the kitchen to the living room, squirming around Spain who laughed happily with Salvador on his hip as the baby's torso wobbled lightly only to lean against his father's side carefully as he made a high noise. "I'm glad he's so happy~ You look pretty happy too, Lovi~!" Spain commented walking towards the Italian sliding his arm around his waist kissing his temple making his husband sigh softly. "It was one of the best days ever! It truly felt like a big family get together, didn't it?" Romano measured his words, trying to keep the snap out of them as he sighed for the millionth time it seemed when he tilted his head back getting a soft kiss placed on his lips and kissed Salvador's chubby cheek making the baby whine lightly. "Man, this kid sure does flip through moods faster than I do?" Romano questioned narrowing his eyes at the baby who just pouted lightly as Spain got the baby in his arms against his chest laughing happily at his husband's words. "Fine! Laugh! Go in the living room with the kids then!" Spain simply smiled kissing Romano's cheek, squeezing Romano's hip for a moment then chuckled. "Te amo con todo mi corazón, Lovi." Romano smiled then as he was given another soft, heart warming and knee buckling inducing kiss that warmed him to his very core. He felt every bit of love he felt for this man flow through his veins, into every part of his body and into every tip of his toes and fingers that was then aching in his heart fiercely knowing he could never, ever, find the right words to express it. So he settled when he leaned in pecking Spain's lips and kissed his throat making his husband's cheeks flush a light pink as Salvador wriggled between them and he stepped back smiling at his husband softly as he then turned the sink on as heb egan to turn towards it to wash his hand. "Ti amerò sempre di più, Toni." Spain beamed at his words with such love that Romano felt his heart ache once more when Spain kissed his shoulder and walked out of the kitchen to no doubt sit in the living room with the children leaving Romano alone with a soft smile on his lips and a blush in his cheeks as he began to lightly hum the same happy tune his brother had earlier.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Poppy and Henri sat in front of France who sat on the floor in front of the couch gazing at the babbling babies as they squeezed and held their plushies, a polar bear for Poppy and a wolf for Henri both being white, when France watched his daughter lift her tiny hand from her bear to her ear. That was the fifth time today that she had grabbed her ear tugging on it with a little whimper leaving her lips and Henri, the quieter of the two, was crankier than normal for he never napped at nap time half the time and he hadn't been eating as much or drinking, straight out refusing it. They both were irritated when they swatted at one another but it would then melt away with a wailing episode of either or both of the twins which made Canada cry and when Canada cried Austynn caught onto the sadness. Then it clicked.France jerked upright staring at his daughter who was tugging on her ear still then to Henri who had begun to chew on his finger fiercely which glistened with the drool on his chin and France looked to the kitchen where Canada was making bottles no doubt. He couldn't help but feel foolish for the moments when he felt helpless when Henri or Poppy wailed, refusing to be soothed in any manner, how they wouldn't eat half the time or refuse sleep and he would feel so horribly helpless when the answer was clear. "Mon amour, could you come 'ere for just a moment?" France called lightly to his husband then turned his attention to Poppy who was no longer tugging on her ear but now happily chewing on the ear of her polar bear while giggling to herself for a moment. He heard Canada's shuffling steps, the light vibrations of his steps when he appeared in the doorway and France looked up at him with a smile on his lips as Canada looked to the twins then to France silently for a moment while Poppy squealed."I think I know what's wrong with them, mon amour! It is unbelievable that I missed the signs, especially after we 'ad Austynn! But I'm pretty sure that little Poppy and Henri are teething! It would make sense, non?" Canada blinked a few times then walked over to the couch sitting on the cushion next to Poppy, picked her up making her smile at the sudden movement as her little feet planted steadily on his thighs when he lifted his hand to wriggle a finger past her lips. She whined in protest as he felt around her gums only to jump when he felt a tooth dig into his finger as she bit down, gnawing on his finger for a moment and he carefully got her mouth to open wide enough for him to peer in and caught sight of a little tooth that was a little towards the back, a tiny little molar which surprised him. When Austynn had been teething the first to come in had been his front teeth which was horrid for the boy at the time but his other teeth came in quickly and on time which was nice but it seemed the twins teeth were taking a little longer to pop out but the doctor assured him it was fine. "She has a tooth, I can feel at least two on her upper gums but they're more like pressing so I can only guess they'll pop out in a week or two. Ma pauvre petite princesse!" France climbed up onto the couch next to Henri tugging the baby onto his lap in the same manner Canada had done with Poppy and Canada turned the baby in his arms around so she would sit on his lap as she gurgled lightly, growling even as she bit the bear's ear making Canada giggle. While she could say Mama and Dada like her twin she still made many sounds with the main one being little growling sounds that made him laugh at his fierce daughter's attitude an he kissed the top of her silky hair which had darkened up to a platinum blonde that promised to hold the same texture as her mother's. "Ah! There it is! Henri 'as two little teeth out already, no wonder 'e 'as been so cranky lately, ma pauvre petite chérie!" "I guess I should start freezing some of those teething rings and call the doctor, ask if there's anything for their gums that I can do to soothe it." Canada replied thoughtfully as Poppy squealed flailing her arms and legs which in turn made the bear narrowly whack him in the face but she giggled, happily content in her mother's lap and he kissed her head softly again. "Such a princess you'll grow up to be won't you? La belle petite princesse de maman~! And Henri will be our second little prince, un beau petit prince!" "Papa! Mr. Italy and Mr. Germany are here!" Austynn called out making both parents look up in surprise, wondering when they had missed the doorbell when their son came trotting in with a happy Italy behind him smiling. Since France opted for living with his husband in his Homeland he didn't see much of Italy, who always came round for Wolfram and Austynn got along rather beautifully, but since his permanent residence was with his husband he hardly saw the man. He was six months pregnant, a rather decent curve to his stomach that wasn't as large as the one he had when he was pregnant with the twins but it was a decent bump now that when one saw him they'd know instinctively he was pregnant. "Ciao, Big Brother France! How are you? Luddy and I were going to meet up with Japan and China for dinner tonight since the boys are playing over at Romano's but I figured since we were in the area I'd stop in and say hello to you!" Italy explained smiling brightly like his idea was absolutely flawless, beautiful and well thought which made France smile at the Italian who's eyes lit up when he looked at the seven month twins happily. "Oh, look at them! So big now! Are they still keeping you up at night? I've been noticing how tired you and Canada have been looking!"France laughed happily as Henri squeaked at the sudden loud noise then looked at his father with large, awed eyes when France stood up with Henri's legs dangling over his forearms which he lightly swung with a little movement that made the baby giggle now. "It is always nice to see you, petite Italy! And you too, Germany! But they twins 'ave been letting us sleep some nights as they sleep rather solidly now, as you would expect from a seven month old, but they are sadly teething! 'ow is your brother? Oh! Pass my love on to those two when you see them again, I'm sure petite Romano will get a kick out of that wouldn't 'e?" Italy laughed at the thought of his grumpy brother turning red, even swearing about "that pervert telling you to pass on that shit to me!" like he always did and even Germany cracked a smirk at the thought of his brother-in-law getting angry over a compliment from France. No matter how much time had passed it always seemed Romano liked France more than he disliked the German but he often kept his comments to himself now thanks to the children per arrangement by a begging, sweet Italy to his elder brother. "I'm sure he would! I just wanted to see you one last time because after we see Japan and China it's the last I can really travel! I'm sorry we didn't make it out to little Austynn's party but I heard turning eight made for an amazing party!" Austynn beamed at the acknowledgement of his birthday, even if it was a month ago, and his mother giggled ruffling his hair happily when Canada stood with Poppy making that tiny growling sound that leaned more towards gurgle as she continued to gnaw on her polar bears ear happily. "It was! My brother came up with England, Liam, Jolene and Alexander so it was a rather nice turnabout party and he truly loved he gifts you sent him!" Canada smiled when Italy beamed brightly much like Austynn had and he held a hand out hesitantly, shyly even when he met Italy's curious gaze. "May I?" Italy nodded with a happy giggle as Canada stepped closer to the Italian, touching his curved stomach hesitantly like he was afraid of offending one of them or oing something wrong as his daughter let off a sudden squeal of joy. Germany smiled at Poppy who stared at the blonde man with curiosity glittering in her large blue eyes, direct copies of France's own, and reached towards him with a little grunt that got Canada's attention and he smiled handing off the baby who took her easily as her chubby arms curled around his neck like she refused to let go or else he'd disappear. "It's nice to get out vun last time before the baby comes. Feli vanted vun last night out vithout the boys before he is permanently home bound in country since traveling out of my Homeland might be too much for him. Because of that he vill be sticking to staying vithin my boarders just until the baby comes." "Si! It just makes it easier, I get to see Romano and Antonio along with Gilbert and Mr. Austria one last time before I have to stay home and now I get to see you one more time then Japan! It'll be nice when the baby finally comes, like Luddy said, but I just can't wait to have her so my back will stop aching! I love the baby but it's getting a little difficult with sleeping and stuff when the baby is so active at night!" Italy babbled as Canada stroked his stomach lightly while Poppy tugged on Germany's ear playfully and Henri watched his twin with curiosity in his large violet eyes but remained complacent in his father's arms happily. "I've mostly been imagining what she'll look like! I'm hoping for another baby that looks just like Ludwig but he hopes the baby looks like me! Either way I'm going to love my little Cecelia regardless!" "What if the baby looks like a mix of the both of you?" France questioned smiling when he also reached ah and out to touch the Italian's stomach only to feel a hit against his palm making him chuckle at the thought of the baby agreeing. "Wouldn't it make 'er better if she looked like the both of you, coloring wise? I know my féroce petite fille looks much like myself but she 'as Mathieu's beautiful blonde locks and the same for my doux petit garçon! 'e looks more like Mathieu than Poppy does but it just makes 'e and 'er are all the more precious for it! Same with my Austynn, who looks just like 'is Mama!" Austynn smiled brilliantly up at his father, his cheek pressing against his stomach happily after sneaking over to his father while the adults had been speaking and had gone unnoticed until France called his son to attention. Italy giggled at the little boy who hugged his father's waist happily when Germany sighed with a little smile on his lips when he looked to his husband who looked back at him happily with a large smile on his lips. "Ve ought to get going if ve vant to meet vith Japan und China on time. Danke, for letting us drop in rather unexpectedly." "Vous êtes les bienvenus! I 'ope you drop in again like this! It was nice to see the both of you again!" France replied happily, cheerfully even as Germany handed Poppy over to her mother and she snuggled into her mother's chest now with a rather sleepy look on her little face. "Henri and Poppy love seeing the both of you when they can! But I look forward to seeing you again and 'opefully with your new beautiful little baby!" "Prego! I'll talk to you later, Big Brother France!" Italy chirped then giggled when Henri made a little squeaking nose as he gripped his wolf plushie's tale fiercely in his chubby hand and he waved at the twins who looked at him with wide eyes then to Austynn who smiled from his spot at ihs father's hip. "Addio, little Henri and Poppy! And addio, Austynn! I hope I'll see you all soon again!" Germany took Italy's hand lightly tugging the man towards the front door as he said his own goodbyes with a pink hue to his cheeks much to the delight of France who would have done anything to see the blonde man blush the vivid red. The family stodo in the living room as the front door opened then shut behind the both of them and Austynn looked up at his father only for his nose to wrinkle as he stepped away from his father instinctively who looked at him curiously. "I think one of the babies pooped!" Austynn's voice was lightly muffled from the hand he put over his nose and mouth but the smile twinkled in his violet eyes when France raised a brow only to smirk at his son picking Henri up sniffing near his bottom only to return the boy to his cradled arms. "Wow, Poppy, you sure are smelly! Mama change her quick before gets even more smelly and I die from the fumes!" Canada had a good laugh over that when he ruffled Austynn's hair happily making the boy smile happily up at his mother. "Oui, oui, I'll change Poppy and when I get back I'll figure something out for dinner then you can draw in front of the TV until bedtime! Sound good to you, ma chérie?" Canada questioned lightly tapping Austynn's chin to make his head tip back for a moment and the boy looked absolutely elated at the thought of drawing until bedtime for it was always a treat along with vanilla milk before bed! His violet eyes sparkled with the happiness of being able to do something fun before Sunday rolled around for the boy had been very meticulous in getting his homework done and tomorrow his father would review his homework and they'd spend the day going over it to make sure he understood it. He dashed off to his bedroom then while Canada smiled, no doubt to get his sketch pad and a pencil, when Canada turned to his husband happily. "Would you mind trying to feed Henri and call the doctor's personal number?" "No problem, mon amour!" France replied cheerfully before leaning in to peck his lips softly only for the Canadian to pout and he chuckled leaning in giving the Canadian a longer, softer kiss until Poppy began whimpering while wriggling her legs impatiently against her mother's arms. He pulled away chuckling affectionately as he kissed her silky locks of hair then kissed Canada's lips once more, quickly, then shifted Henri who yawned rather cutely showing off the few teeth he had which were closer to the front in the way Austynn's had been at his age. Canada kissed Henri's chubby cheek making the baby whine much like Poppy had only to receive an impatient cry spurring him to walk up stairs to change her and France kissed Henri's temple making the baby whine once more but turned his little face into his father's neck with a little baby sigh that squeaked lightly making France laugh.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Every family has a routine, a daily schedule in which they follow to a T and a start to each day that was needed to kick off said morning or day but as England laid in the bed with Alexander next to him on the bed with the silence of his house pressing on his ear drums England had to admit he was lonely. Alexander gurgled to himself while babbling lightly as if telling his mother a fascinating story that England hadn't been following at all only to twitch when Alexander squealed at the fact he managed to get one of his socks off then fling it into the air only for it to land right back on his face. He screamed with laughter at the sock laying across his face then reached up with his chubby little fist grabbing the sock while England slowly began smiling at his son's little fun as he flung the sock, his arms and legs flailing in excitement when it came back down on his head. England laughed at the baby's excitement as his little fingers scrabbled for the sock, gripping it in his pudgy fist throwing it up again only to watch with wide eyes as it landed on England's head this time making the squealing laughter all the more hilarious. His green eyes sparkled like America's when England pulled the baby towards him carefully, peppering his chubby cheeks happily, pretending to eat his hands while making growling noises which set the baby into fits of screeching laughter. "Such little hands of yours I don't think they'll fill Mummy's stomach for long! Oh my, oh my, look at these tiny little feet!" England put on the best ghoulish voice he knew to do as he sat up on his knees grabbing the baby's flailing feet as said baby squealed fiercely as he kicked his chubby legs as if to get away. England lifted one foot near his mouth as the baby screamed with laughter at the nibbles he pretended to take of the baby's foot while those large eyes of his glowed with humor and England laughed with his son when he lightly bit his son's ankle only for the baby's foot to nail him right in the nose.Normally he'd like to say that it didn't hurt, that a baby's foot can't kick that hard, but this baby was America's son and unlike Liam who seemed to lack his father's strength, Alexander had that same strength as his father. So, with that kind of strength being driven into his face hurt him horribly but it could have always been worse with the baby kicking his face an he had to thank his lucky stars there was no bleeding and there would probably, possibly, be a bruise. Maybe. He then pretended to scold the baby who squealed with delight when England flopped onto his back holding the baby up above his head laughing when Alexander flailed his limbs joyfully at the new position as his eyes glowed down at his mother. England was about to laugh, felt it bubbling on his lips when the sound of the door opening downstairs slashed through him like cold knives as he sat up quickly while hugging the baby to his chest in a protective hold. Someone was in the house. Someone was in the house. He bit his lip torn as he looked down at the baby who was a beautiful crawler already so leaving him up here was going to be hard until he all but slapped himself when his gaze landed on the play pen that he had set up near the window last night and he bit the inside of his cheek. He then poked Alexander nose lightly when the baby caught onto his mother's mood, staring with suddenly solemn eyes England placed the six month old in the playpen as he stared up at his mother curiously as England stroked his caramel locks. "Shhh, lovie. Quiet for Mummy, I'll be right back I promise and we'll play in just a second. Be very quiet for Mummy!" England instructed in a low voice as the baby looked up at him curiously still when England walked away from the play pen with a finger to his lips when Alexander, thinking it was another silly game of his mother's, giggled and copied his mother with his own tiny fingers. England hesitated then grabbed the black umbrella he had by his bedroom door at all times and held it in his hands tightly as he crept out into the hallway shutting his bedroom door behind him just as quietly when he heard the footsteps in the kitchen making his palms become slick with sweat that seemed to be in response to his thundering heart. He crept down his hallway looking around curiously to see if anyone else was in the downstairs but found none other than the sounds from the living room which was good, right? If there was only one then he'd have just a single person to focus on as he crept towards the kitchen, umbrella held tight in his sweaty hands as he prayed he wouldn't let his sudden nerves get to him as he got closer to the kitchen. He took a breath walking towards the door way of the kitchen wondering how he went so unnoticed when he burst into the room screaming a war cry while holding the umbrella high above his head only to find a pair of familiar but startling green eyes looking at him that were unimpressed. He let his arm swing down the war cry on his lips dying off to a strangled croak as the umbrella hung in his hand loosely when he blinked a few times when he felt thin but small arms throwing themselves around his waist. "Ahhhahaha." He got it out weakly, a croak more than anything when he looked at his brother narrowing his eyes on Scotland then lifted the umbrella pointing it at the man who continued to look unimpressed. "What the bloody hell are you doing here, Allistor? I didn't think you'd be the type to welcome yourself in your little brother's home unannounced and especially one you are not particularly fond of so spit it out! What are you actually here for?" "Well it wasn't ta get bludgeoned by your silly umbrella, you pipsqueak." Scotland replied with a dead, rather blunt tone like he always did with that Scottish accent of his as he stared at his brother point blank then dropped his eyes to the owner of the thin arms around England's waist. "I only stopped by because Bridget wanted ta see you one last time. No idea why when she has better Uncles she could see but oh well, whatever she likes is whatever I have ta oblige." "Yes you do, Daddy! And don't listen ta Daddy, Uncle Arthur! He's just grumpy because I said I wanted ta see you before I went back ta see Mama!" Bridget explained cheerfully with her slim arms tightening around his waist as her sparkling yellow-green eyes stared up at her Uncle. The little girl was about a year old than Jolene but even England could tell the girl would be just as brash and blunt as her father who was currently rummaging around his fridge which made his brow twitch, then his cheek when Bridget tugged on his shirt. "Uncle Arthur, where's Al?" "Ah, he's upstairs, darling! I didn't know who was in my house so I left him upstairs!" He then shot a rather dark look to his brother who sat at his table after having settled to eat his pretzel's then look rather unimpressed by his brother for a moment then gained an innocent look when Bridget looked towards him. "But clearly it's no one of importance so I'll go and get Alexander so you can see him! However next time, Allistor, can you call or ring my bell before just barging in my home?" "Mmmm.....no promises." Scotland replied after swirling a pretzel stick through the air like a wand making Bridget giggle when she released her Uncle who sighed rubbing his forehead walking towards the stairs once more climbing up them quickly. His brother was such a pain! He visited with each of his brother's already, even if they either didn't care for him or weren't fond of him, so why the hell did Scotland have to all but break into his house? It didn't make any sense! He sighed when he got to the top of the stairs throwing his bedroom door open putting his umbrella back in it's spot only to notice Alexander standing up in the play pen happily, his chubby little hands gripping the edge of it when his eyes glittered and he let of a squeal that England imagined bats could hear. "Come here, lovie, Uncle Allistor is here." He sighed the words making Alexander blink curiously only to giggle when he was lifted into his mother's arms his little arms clinging to the back of his neck when England turned towards the door kissing his son's caramel blonde locks softly. "He's a bloody nuisance but I'm sure you'll figure that out soon enough and you'll see how annoying your Uncle's can be on Mummy's side." The baby gurgled his answer rather cheerfully, the six month old looking around curiously when England walked down the stairs sighing once again at the thought of dealing with his eldest brother but he bit the inside of his cheek to tell himself to just suck it up and deal with it. Soon enough he'd be gone and England would be alone with his baby again. A throbbing ice, panicked emotion grabbed him at the thought of being alone again but was he so lonely he'd accept his brother's presence? "Hi, Al!" Bridget's voice chirped happily when England walked into the kitchen once more, the little five year old fluttering over to his side smiling at her little cousin when she played with the end of her Uncle's shirt happily, smiling hugely. "Uncle Arthur, will I ever meet Liam and Jolene? Will it be someday soon? I know Dalisay and Kayleigh would have fun meeting them too! What are they like? Are they nice?" England smiled when Alexander looked over at his auburn haired Uncle, reaching towards him with a squeal that surprised the Scottish Nation but took him when England walked over handing the baby too him and was mildly surprise too see the self assured, confident hold Scotland used to hold the six month old. "I'm sure that very soon you'll meet then, darling! Liam and Jolene are absolutely thrilled to know that they have more than three cousins on Alfred's side and they seem very eager to meet you, Dalisay and Kayleigh! It's just a matter of time, darling! Now, would you like something to drink? I have a pitcher of wa-" "Arthur! Guess who's here!" He jumped when America's voice boomed into the small house, filling all those lonely quiet places and England felt his heart beating rapidly in his chest while Alexander let off a scream of excitement at his father's voice. Then came two pairs of little legs running down the hall towards him, a flurry of noise as they threw their own arms around England's waist happily when America walked into the kitchen with a backpack on his back when he brought the English man into a kiss that was quick but sweet and he chuckled at England's confusion. "The kids and I missed you, a lot, so I figured I'd just say "F it, we're going home" and they agreed to it thankfully! We really missed you, Arthur." England was at a loss of words that somehow, right when his loneliness seemed horridly unbearable his lover and children appeared like the some kind of saving grace for him and he looked down at the pairs of blue eyes glowing up at him and he smiled. "I missed you too, love. And I missed my little darlings more than anything as well!" He exclaimed happily sounding a touch breathless when he ruffled his children's blonde hair then looked to Bridget who was smiling excitedly at the sight of her Uncle Alfred and cousins. "Liam, Jolene, this is one of your cousins from your Uncle Allistor, Bridget Kirkland. Bridget, these are your other two cousins, Liam and Jolene Kirkland." It was adorable to see Jolene looking at Bridget, who was looking back with the same curiosity, when the little blonde and red head both stepped forward peering at one another much to England's amusement when they blinked. There was some family traces in both of them they inherited from England and Scotland but other than those few similarities Bridget was the complete opposite of Jolene's sunshine blonde hair and large blue eyes but they both had a sparkle starting to grow in their eyes like they were growing amused. Bridget then turned her attention to Liam who smiled becomingly, his glasses glinting in the light when Scotland spoke up finally. "Liam, was it? Spitting image of your father, I'll say that much." Scotland stood then with Alexander on his hip as the baby reached for his Uncle's auburn locks as the man approached America. "Nice ta see you again, America. Last time I saw you you were just a wee lad, huh?" "Of course I remember. Last time I remember you, Wales and Ireland were having a fun time throwing me around like a ball or somethin' and Arthur ran out with a knife threatening to cut off, er, special bits if you didn't put me down." The children looked to him curiously when he censored his words while England smirked for that was the one and only time his brothers had ever taken him seriously when it came to America and he smirked at his brother who narrowed his eyes. "It was a long time ago, anyways, but thanks for the compliment! Liam takes after me a whole lot, the same way Mattie's son takes after him exactly! Lots of kids seem to be duplicates of their parents, whether it's direct coloring or in the similarities of their faces." England looked over at Jolene, Liam and Bridget who were having their own animated conversation when Bridget reached out stroking a lock of Jolene's sunshine blonde hair with a marveling awe in her face while Jolene began braiding her cousins auburn locks in a little braid and he clapped his hands. "Alright! All children why don't you go in the living room and turn the telly on? Spend some time together before Uncle Allistor and Bridget leaves!" The children didn't hesitate to shoot out of the kitchen to the living room with high giggles of excitement that even Alexander giggled with them as he clung onto his Uncle when America took a few steps back like he too was going to walk away and England grabbed his arm making him blink. "And where the bloody hell do you think you're going?" He blinked a few times curiously while he looked at the rather ferocious look on his lover's face and smiled happily shifting his arm so his hand slid perfectly into England's, fingers lacing together and he smiled cheerfully. "No where. I'm not going anywhere, if you don't want me too." England felt his face burn when he dropped his scowling and America chuckled kissing his temple when he squeezed his hand softly, moving his thumb across his knuckles happily. Scotland rolled his eyes at the fluffy atmosphere and England scowled at his brother for the millionth time it felt while America happily smiled, content to hold onto his lover's hand as long as allowed."Hey, Arthur?" England looked over at America who looked solemn, serious for the first time that day and the darkness of night out the window just seemed to enhance the suddenly changed America who was lightly rotating a little velvet box between his fingers like it was some kind of fidget spinner. England made a soft noise in response as he sat on the bed when America looked up hesitantly, the raw emotions in his eyes struck England like a smack to the back of his head when he blinked a few times and the American took a breath. "When I asked you to marry me, why did you say what you said? Don't you want to be with me that way? I thought-" He hesitated, cheeks going red when he looked down. "-I thought I was doing something right for once.""Oh, love. Alfred, darling, it's nothing to do with you! Nothing at all!" England found his legs working to scrambled off the bed reaching for America to do what? Soothe him? Touch him to remove such a sad, somber look off of his usually bright face? His hands lifted uselessly with these questions flying from every direction in his head as he stared at America who looked more embarrassed than he would like to admit and England hesitated, hoping he could say the right thing. "Love, when I said I need to think about it I meant it. I love you, darling Alfred, more than anything but I just...I want to marry you for the right reasons. Not just because we have children together or anything of the sort! It has nothing to do with you at all, sweetheart, I promise." "But you still don't want to marry me, do you?" America asked softly which cut England as deep as if America had shouted the words, these were quieter and softer than his normal tone which made the cut from them so much deeper and ache so much fiercely. Those blue eyes, the lovely shade England so adored, lifted revealing the conflicted emotions surging in America that he couldn't begin to pick apart and England walked closer to America who took a breath staring down at the velvet box in his hands. "I understand what you want, I know, but there's not one single better thing I can imagine than being married to you, Arthur. Even engaged is more than enough for me, so long as I feel like I'm not going to lose you and to have something stronger than just the title of boyfriends when it feels so much more than that and we don't have to jump into marriage either if that's what you're scared of. I...I just want to know I won't lose you." "Alfie, you could never lose me." England stood in front of the American who looked down at him, the embarrassment clear in his eyes like the stars outside and he lifted his hands up cupping his face stroking his red cheeks softly with his thumbs. "Don't be scared about losing me, you never will. You have my heart, you always have, and I won't be anywhere else other than with you and you know I love you more than anything, Alfie." It was England's turn to hesitate then stroke his lover's caramel locks of hair softly looking into the face he so adored, the face that looked at him each day in their children. "Why don't we try again? Ask me. Ask me, Alfred, ask me once more and we'll have a do over." America blinked at the thought of trying again, of having a do over, that he was flinching at the thought of having the same results from England and he looked at the velvet box that held the silver band for England. He planned on the siler being for their engagement and he would get the solid gold bands the others had on their significant others but he wanted this silver band to be on his finger for a long time before he traded up for a gold one. He took a breath knowing he couldn't be afraid of rejection forever, knew that England wouldn't purposely hurt him if he was offering to redo this whole thing and he kissed England's palm softly as it pressed against his cheek and he slid down to one knee. "Arthur Kirkland, personification of England and the United Kingdom, from my heart of hearts I have a very important question to ask you and I would love nothing more than your honest answer." "Of course, love! What is it you want to ask me?" England asked curiously, naively as he played along with America who smirked at him for a moment while staring up at England who smiled back at him fighting down childish giggles. The lamp light glowed across the bed to half of America, silhouetting half his caramel locks and face with the soft yellow light that made even his normally brilliant blue eyes darker than normal as they stared up at him from behind his glasses that reflected the soft yellow lighting. England let America take his left hand, which he squeezed softly then threaded hs fingers with America's who used his chin now to flip open the velvet box allowing the silver band to wink up at him with the soft yellow lighting of the room. "Arthur Kirkland, I vow to love you with every breath of mine and for as long as you want me but I need more and I'll always want more but I'll never push you to do things you don't want which is why I wanted to ask you something that will ultimately change everything between us." America's voice trembled lightly with nerves, like he was afraid England would say no this time and he had to mentally slap himself for England seemed more than optimistic! Plus, he was America! There was no other Nation as prideful and strong as he, so he could do this! He took a large breath to sooth the trembling in his voice then smiled crookedly up at England who held his breath of the imperfect smile on his lover's face and America felt the corner of his lips twitch. "Arthur Kirkland will you marry me?" England felt as shot of breath as the first America asked but this time his answer whispered to him like the hope that blossom in America's eyes that he tried in vain to hide away but England could see right to the bottom of those blue eyes, right down to the man's very being. America's eyes were as limitless as the sky and ocean, he could see himself reflected in them forever and even then it wouldn't be enough time to marvel at the purity that still managed to shine out of those eyes and he smiled softly using his free hand to stroke his caramel blonde locks softly when he cleared his throat lightly. "Of course I will, Alfred. Nothing would make me happier than marrying you." America stared at him wide eyed, looking like an adult version of Liam and he could watch the joy spreading out from those eyes like a flower that quickly bloomed onto his face with a slowly stretching smile that made him gasp air in like he was dying suddenly. Then he jumped up with a loud shout that made England giggle when he threw his arms around the man kissing him so enthusiastically that the poor English Nation felt his head spin like a top with the fiercely happy kiss he was losing himself in when America pulled back allowing the man to breathe. "Woohoo! Yeah, baby, thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" "Alfred, you bloody idiot, you'll wake the children!" England scolded but he was giggling too much for it to be taken seriously when America's shimmering blue eyes met his, sparkling like the stars outside in the sky, and he then held his left hand out raising his brow expectantly. "Well? Am I going to get me ring or not?" America looked ready to explode at the words when he slid the silver ring onto England's ring finger where it sparkled like it took was excited and he smiled at the cool metal of the silver band then laughed when he was pulled into another kiss. He threw his arms around America's shoulders carefully, feeling that his left hand now felt a million times more precious with the ring on it than it ever had before when he kissed America so enthusiastically, so passionately that he gasped pulling away for air. He laughed happily, breathlessly even when America kissed down his throat softly then kissed below his jaw sucking on the skin for just a moment before moving up kissing his jawline and cheek softly to below his eye then finally to the tip of his nose and up to his forehead softly. England yelped when he was yanked into a bridal hold that had his face flushing fiercely when he was tossed on the bed, bouncing with the mattress when America climbed on top of him kissing him for a moment before pulling back. "Thank you, Arthur. Like I said we don't have to get married right away, we can stay engaged as long as you want!"England smiled tugging America down for another brief but rather heated kiss when his curiosity finally got the better of him and he pushed America back slightly, his palm pressing against America's heart when he looked up at the same curiosity mirroring his own. "Alfred, love, I know you told me this afternoon but why did you really come back? I thought you were dedicated to the plan of meeting together again at Christmas, letting this month go by with the children staying with you and me here. What made you come here so suddenly?" America thought for a moment, staring down at England who was looking at him both curiously and expectantly when he sighed taking his glasses off, sitting up on his knees to fold them then place them on the bedside table when he turned the lamp off plunging the room into darkness. The light from the moon, weak as it was, barely lit up the room but England already looked ten times more lovely in the darkness that showcased just how pale his skin was, how vibrant his hair was and how truly emerald like his green eyes were. "I came back because I woke up that morning I called you feeling empty. I missed you, so so much, and nothing seemed right without you there whining at me for some reason or another and without Alexander there screaming with the background noise. I know this is going to sound cheesy but I felt incomplete without you there in bed with me. So incomplete, in fact, that it hurt not hearing your voice somewhere in that big house of mine and I wanted to be with you, even if it is shameful for me to call it all off the deal I offered you but I wanted to be with you again." England felt his eyes stinging when the tears rested on his lashes on just how his words hit him, cheesy as it all was, but he smiled knowing that this morning he hadn't been suffering from just the loneliness like he thought. He just had refused to accept, refused to even think it, but he knew he had been feeling the same about America and had even thought of calling tomorrow to beg him to come home but here h was like he had read his mind over the sea parting them. He truly had been incomplete without America whining too, the children screaming and laughing and Alexander laughing with his father which would be all the more beautiful between America and the six month old. He smiled softly feeling the tears streak down the corner of his eyes to his temples into his hair and he laughed weakly when he tugged the blonde down to his chest while he buried his face in the caramel blonde locks, kissing his head softly. "I missed you too, Alfred. So much."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It started slow between them, so slow that Ladonia almost didn't notice the changes between them until Sealand began staying longer hours and sleeping over every once in a while on the couch and stayed the weekend. They didn't kiss, they didn't hold hands but they did sit close to one another on the couch when Helena was with them and they did brush hands occasionally when they did the dishes but Ladonia found himself wishing for things to go faster but he didn't push. He had already hurt Sealand once, he couldn't afford to do it again just because Ladonia wanted more. It would be selfish that even if he was sure he was in the process of falling in love with the blonde, even now, he couldn't push for the physical relationship they had before and especially if he couldn't bring himself to say it. So slow and easy was the way they took it for a few weeks when Sealand asked if he could come home to which Ladonia allowed him too and after that it was staying with a new roommate and it was all around awkwardness. Dancing around one another's schedules, sharing sheepish smiles in the silence when talking could be done and yet Ladonia could see he was slowly wining back the blonde which elated him to no bounds but he yet to say anything out loud. It was only after one night when he and Sealand were sharing drinks in the living room getting sloppy with his actions and used his drunken state to kiss the blonde which in return gave him a morning with a pounding head and aching back but it had done everything he wanted. He sat with the blonde, explained what he wanted even if he blushed and stuttered through it but they had established a new, fresh relationship that should have been done the right way when they left Finland's home. It's why they sat now in the living room, Ladonia sitting on the floor with Helena sitting in front of him in the safety off her boppy and she was happily squealing with joy at each smile Ladonia gave her along with the silly faces he pulled for her. He laughed then when she waved her arms excitedly until she would wobble and flop backwards on her boppy, Ladonia catching her so she wouldn't hit her head even on the pillow and she would then amuse herself with rolling like a little log. "What a big girl you are! That's my little Nellie, such a big girl!" The baby squealed happily at her mother's voice, her blue eyes shimmering at the nickname her mother had given her and as far as Ladonia was concerned he was the only one who called Helena by that nickname. It was special one he chose for her among the many others called her raging from Lena from Sweden and Finland, Leny from Latvia which was annoying to Ladonia, the closest one being Nell by America but when it came to Ladonia and Sealand she was his Nellie and Lonnie to Sealand. She loved all her nicknames, responding to them happily more than her fully name and Ladonia laughed when she smiled at him excitedly as she began moving her little legs, even rocking back and forth happily. The doctor had old him that it was a good sign, that she was simply preparing for her crawling stage in a few months and it made Ladonia excited to see the little baby to begin crawling, even sitting up on her own by that point, and he smiled at her. He heard footsteps on the stairs that were walking in his direction when Helena looked over at the sound and squealed in pure joy, the sound making Ladonia smile widely at the sound as Sealand yawned scratching his messy blonde hair. "Mornin'" He yawned out the word then smiled when Helena did those cute, fast little baby breathes of excitement like she was gearing herself up for another squeal or a scream of joy when Sealand smiled at her and gave a little wave. "Mornin' to you too, Lonnie, what are you up too, hm?" Helena gurgled with little laughs in between when she flopped onto her belly only to roll herself over onto her back as she stared up at her father who laughed with her this time. "I see! Keep at that then, Lonnie!" Walking over he poked the baby's nose then walked over to Ladonia bending down kissing the messy red locks of hair which made Ladonia blush but a small little smile curled over his lips when Sealand walked to the kitchen and he sighed looking at his daughter who looked at him curiously. He then rolled onto his knees leaning forward kissing her chubby cheek making her giggle when he then blew a raspberry on her belly which had her screaming with laughter, her arms flailing wildly as she kicked her legs out and her laugh was so infectious Ladonia laughed in between raspberries. Then she gripped his hair tightly with her little hands which made him gasp lightly at the fierce pulls on the locks which made him wince lightly. "Nellie, let go! Come on, let go now!" He tried to go for a carefree tone but she was yanking on his hair pretty fiercely for a baby and he winced. "Helena, let go!" "Come on, Lonnie, let go of Mommy's hair! I know, it's pretty but you can't pull on his hair so much!" He felt Sealand's hands working Helena's hair out of Ladonia's messy hair and he sat up sighing when the little hands were out of his hands and she smiled at her mother happily, still ready to play again. "You alright, Erland? She has such fierce grabby hands, this one, I swear!" He watched Sealand pick the baby up who giggled mischievously it seemed and Ladonia climbed to his feet yawning before he could help himself and he then rubbed his eyes fiercely with the heels of his hands. "I'm fine, I just didn't expect her hands is all." Ladonia replied rolling his shoulders in a shrug while Helena tugged on Sealand's ear happily, the five month old amusing herself rather easily as she sat in her father's arms. "So, do we have anything to do today? Any appointments or anything?" Normally Ladonia kept track of things but since Sealand moved back in, since their relationship kicked off again he found it hard to think about anything but Helena and Sealand most days which, ironically, made the days slip by without him thinking twice about them. "Well, I promised England and America we'd stop by with Helena since they miss her and I want to see how big Alex is getting so we're going over there around lunch time!" Sealand started but then he got this shifty look, like he was avoiding saying something as he looked at Helena and he wouldn't meet Ladonia's gaze which surprised the red head. "AndImayormaynotbehangingoutwithLatvia." Ladonia blinked at the rush of words, frowning when he tried to pick them out but they were said so quickly hat all he truly picked out was Latvia and he clenched his jaw for a moment. In their precarious, new relationship Ladonia had done his best to keep his resentment and jealousy of the Baltic nation under wraps but they had recently got into a large fight the other night about Sealand hanging out with Latvia who was "completely in love with him" and while Sealand agreed he could tell he had feelings he would in no way shape or form return them. Ladonia was all he wanted, all he needed and loved him happily so it didn't matter to him whether Latvia had feelings for him or not but it did matter. Oh, you better believe it mattered a whole lot to Ladonia! He hated the Latvian teen and the way he approached everything when it came to Sealand, how he always held that smug look when they were getting on particularly good or knew some little fact Ladonia didn't. "What was that? What did you just say?" "Hm? Oh, you mean us going to see England? Yeah, he and America were going to take a month apart but America went to his house instead calling it off and they just got engaged so it's no doubt going to be fluff central over there! Oh, that reminds me too that Mama and Papa asked us to go see Aili as well and he said, I quote, "I need more time with my grand baby" so we have no choice but to go see them." Sealand replied cheerfully when he looked at the baby in his arms, stroking her golden red wisps of hair making her giggle when she reached up grabbing his large hand with her tiny ones and Ladonia felt his eye twitch. He was purposely throwing in other things to keep him distracted from what he had said and Ladonia ground his teeth together for a moment before he spoke, just ot make sure he wouldn't scream or rip the blonde's head off. "What did you say about Latvia? Are you seriously going to go out with that idiot?" Ladonia questioned with a snappish, quarrelsome tone that had Sealand looking up with his own hackles rising and Ladonia took a slow breath while pressing his fingers in the space between his brows as he struggled to remain calm. No fights, he wouldn't jeopardize everything over one stupid guy. "Fine. Whatever. Do what you want, you know you will so I won't even waste my breath saying anything!" Sealand got that crushed, puppy dog look which made Ladonia flinch only to find the look gone with one of bright realization when the baby was placed in his arms to which he felt his heart stutter in alarm and he glared at the man. "Stay right here! I wanted to give this to you over the past week, since we've been together for the past couple of months but I need you to believe me that nothing will be happening ever between Latvia and myself. Stay! I'll be right back!" Then he took off to the stairs running up them quickly like a child taking his toys to his room on Christmas morning and he looked Helena who stared with wide blue eyes. "What are we? Dogs or something?" He asked his daughter who merely reached up with a giggle to touch his cheek and he then kissed her golden red wisps of hair softly, her warmth soaking into his chest and he inhaled the familiar scent that clung to her. He loved his daughter for everything about her reminded him about Sealand and she even had the best parts of himself in her which made her all the more precious however his mind strayed to Sealand's sudden realization and he frowned. Just what was he planning on giving him?"Wow, she's absolutely huge compared to the last time I saw her!" Those were the first words out of America when he was handed Helena who happily sat in her Uncle's arms like it was any other person holding her and she was all smiles the moment she was put there. If there was anyone she loved more than her parents and her grandparents it was America, Helena simply adored the man each time they came to see him and she was always restless when they went home for they had the same atmosphere of cheer around them. She adored her Uncle and Ladonia felt if she could stay here permanently so she could see the American any time she absolutely would stay happily but so long as Sealand and himself stayed with her which was slightly funny. "I know, she gets bigger and bigger every time I blink it seems!" Sealand chirped happily as he shut the door behind them, taking their boots off while America spun in a circle which was all the more reckless seeing as he was wearing socks on a hardwood floor but he had full confidence America wouldn't let Helena get hurt. Ladonia, on the other hand, was watching the man like a hawk and refused to look elsewhere the longer Helena rested in his arms, like he expected something bad to happen the moment he looked away. "So, where's England? Normally he answers the door for his place, I'm surprised you heard us to begin with!" "Oh, he's upstairs with Alex trying to find him a matching pair of socks to wear with his clothes. Why he even bothers I have no clue since Alex keeps yanking his own socks off and throwing them all over the place so I don't see a reason why he tries to do it but he does it anyway~!" His last words were a coo aimed at Helena who smiled happily at her Uncle when his dog tags, just like with Alexander, caught her attention with each jingle they made and her eyes widened curiously. "You are absolutely going to love your cousin, aren't you? Oh, did you go and see Finland today?" "Oh yeah! It's a surprise to see all these babies growing up so fast!" Sealand replied happily as they walked the short hall to the living room, Ladonia's hand secured in Sealand's which felt all the more delicate and something he was more aware of than before. Just how long would it take for America noticed? Before England noticed? Would they honestly get away with what they had done without being noticed? "It's hard to believe it's been ten months for Aili, much less five for Helena!" When they sat in the love seat Ladonia swore he was going to start sweating bullets before they left this house, every heart beat louder and harder than the next when he looked at Sealand who gave him a calming, confident look. "True! Babies grow up so fast, first they're these tiny little things that need you for everything and the next they're well on their way to becoming a year old soon enough!" America replied when he lightly bounced Helena in his lap, the baby gurgling happily at the movement as she slapped her little hands against America's palms when he offered them to the baby girl. "So, did Iggy tell you that we've taken that next step in the relationship yet? I told him we didn't need to jump into marriage right away and we can be engaged as long as he likes!" Sealand had moved his hand during the string of babble which made the light dance off his finger for a split moment which had America suddenly stopping and going still. "What was that?" "What was what?" Sealand asked casually while tilting his head looking at the American who squinted for a moment and Ladonia was screaming at Sealand in a million different arguments for he had told him that America may be dense but he paid attention! Sealand looked at Ladonia with wide eyes, too innocent, and tilted his head slightly. "Did you see anything, Erland? Because I sure didn't! America, are you sure your vision isn't going or something?" America's eyes narrowed on the young Kirkland who just looked back innocently with wide blue eyes that made Helena giggle as she looked at her father only for foot steps to sound on the old wooden stairs making all eyes shift to the doorway. "Well, it's official! This boy has lost at least one sock out of each pair we had for him so he'll have to go mismatched for a while until we can get new socks or something." England sighed the words but the six month old in his arms giggled as mischievously as America, his green eyes sparkling like he was delighted by the news. When Sealand shifted the English Nation then smiled at Sealand rather fondly when he sat next to America, smiling at his little niece who squealed at the presence of her other Uncle. "Hello there, Nell! How are you, precious girl? Have you been good for your Mummy?" "Of course she is! Cheerful little girl is what she is, always keeping us running to get her some toys but she's probably one of the most well behaved babies I know!" Sealand replied proudly when Helena managed to get one of America's fingers in her mouth, chewing on it fiercely but happily and America chuckled at the baby but there was still suspicion in his eyes. "The doctor told us that she'll be crawling soon and so we're pretty excited about that especially with her rolling over like a champ!" Then it happened, like some kind of planned thing to Ladonia, but England had just pulled his gaze away from Helena when Sealand readjusted the grip on Ladonia's to comfort him from getting to anxious and in the movement the flash winked at both America and England. Green eyes narrowed on the young couple when England gave a pointed look that clearly said he had seen it and he was not going to be playing games. "What the bloody hell was that? Show me your hand!" When Sealand merely put on a scowl in response to the order England gave a scowl that was much more fierce than Sealand's weak one and he looked at Ladonia who was squirming when the blonde held out their conjoined hands. "What the hell is that?" The words were a yelp for on both Ladonia and Sealand's left hands, nestled on their middle fingers, was two rings glinting silver with a simple middle of eternity sign weaving for the entire top half of the time and what went unseen was the inside graving. It was expensive but Sealand saved up for the rings for their unique look and had engraved into the inside two single words: I Promise. He had handed it to Ladonia promising nothing would ever come between them and had told him he would love no other than Ladonia and gave him the promise ring that morning so the two words had warmed against Ladonia's finger happily. It looked right on his hand, on Sealand's hand, and yet both adults across from them looked absolutely scandalized which made Ladonia's eyes narrow and Sealand to hold his breath. Not good, not good at all. "They're promise rings." "I gave it to Erland this morning, I think it's better than splendid! In fact, it looks right lovely on his hand!" Sealand proclaimed when England's face slowly turned red with the rather outraged look shining in his eyes when Sealand blinked wondering if perhaps they were acting too smug about this. The scandalized look on America's face, the outrage on England's red face made him want to hide their hands once more in an instinctive wave that made him feel England would rip the rings off their fingers himself and he wanted to sit on their hands to keep it from happening. "I don't know what the big deal is!" "Peter Kirkland, have you gone as mad as a bag of ferrets?!" England shrieked jumping up making both Alexander and Helena blink in surprise at the explosion from the English man when he got met with a steel in Sealand's eyes that made him grit his teeth. "You must have completely lost the plot if you think you're going to wear those rings! You absolute prat! This isn't going to happen, not at all! Does Finland know of your little promise ring, hm? I doubt he does and I know if he did he wouldn't approve either!" "I am not an idiot! I'm not crazy either, so don't go confusing Ladonia with your damn slang words and phrases, Arthur! It's not like I'm marrying him right now! It's just a freaking promise ring, it's just symbolic that we're taking the relationship seriously! I promised to be with no one but him! It's not like it's an engagement ring or something! I got them for thirty bucks off Etsy!" Sealand yelled back when he then narrowed his eyes, crossed his arms and immediately looked the blue eyed version of England. "I'm fifty years old, give or take, I know what I'm doing! I was mature enough to have a baby with, a baby who I am taking care of, so why shouldn't I be mature enough to have a promise ring with him?" "It doesn't matter if you got them for thirty dollars, it doesn't matter if you're fifty years old or mature enough to have a baby the fact remains that you are too young!" England shrieked now when flames blazed in England's eyes but the same fiery anger flamed in Sealand's eyes, neither one willing to back down. Helena whimpered, the sound then echoed by her cousin who wriggled in his arms and America stood up next to England with Helena held snugly in his arms. "And it's because you are too young that I will be having a talk with Finland!" "You know, Sea, I'd just admit that you were too young before Arthur rips your head off and feeds you to sharks." America softly said but there was a steel in his voice that made Sealand want to back down but he refused too when he glared at the American. "Promise rings are serious, kiddo, and I don't think you're ready for a relationship that serious. Artie and I are hundreds of years old, yeah I'm only two hundred years old technically, but we're old enough to make that kind of decision. You're just too young, no matter what and especially if you think just because you're fifty years old that means you're mature enough for this." "Sit your ass back down, young man! I'm calling Finland and I'm letting him know of your little stunt you think you're going to pull!" England snapped walking around the couch towards the doorway while he tugged his cellphone out of his pocket, more than likely pulling up the number as he huffily walked away. Helena was handed to Ladonia when America sped walked to find the now shrieking and ranting England when Sealand sighed leaning against Ladonia who leaned his head against Sealand in return while the baby stared curiously at the rings that glinted at her. This was going to be a long day, wasn't it?
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Opening the door quietly Sweden sighed as he shut the door behind him while he unzipped his coat, pushed his glasses up out of habit and hung his coat up while he leaned down to untie his shoes when little feet appeared before him. He smiled at the slimmer, longer legs behind her and he untied his other boot before standing up straight to look into happily shining violet eyes along with two mismatched eyes glowing with happiness and he leaned in kissing Finland happily before leaning down kissing the top of Aili's head making her smile. "Tervetuloa kotiin, Ber! Look at her! I'm sure soon enough she'll be walking without my hands helping her!" "I'm sure one of these days she's going to come running to the front door when I get in." He smiled crookedly when Aili took a few steps forward then released her mother's fingers to hug her father's leg giving a giggle of happiness at her success and he smiled a little wider bending down picking up the little eleven month old up kissing her chubby cheek. "Hello, älskling, where you good for your mother today?" Aili smiled at him excitedly in response to his voice, her little legs flailing with a squeal leaving her at her father's voice. At eleven months old Aili was hitting yet another growth spurt but unlike the ones she had before this one had her thinning just a touch, her body stretching as it slowly once again and even if she was still a baby t was clear she'd be walking in no time. It was hard to believe that next month, in April, his only daughter would be one and on her way to walking, even talking soon! "Can you believe there's only one month left before she turns one? It's hard to believe time has flown by so fast!" Finland sighed making Aili giggle, the sound high and sweet like her mother's own giggle and he smiled at her widely poking her little nose. "My little baby is going to be a big girl! Rakas pikkutyttöni~" Aili smiled excitedly at the familiar language, her eyes sparkling as she looked at her mother then looked up at her father reaching for his glasses which reflected the light and he angled his head up making the baby grunt softly as she reached but he kept his glasses out of reach. "Aili, don't be grabbing Pappa's glasses!""It's fine, Tino, don't worry. I'm used to it, I know how to keep them away from her so it's not like she'll get the-" With a quick move, quicker than Finland or Sweden thought possible for an eleven month old, Aili reached up pulling the glasses off her father's face. She squealed waving them in her chubby fist cheerfully, a bright smile on her face and a sparkle in her eyes as she held the glasses with both of her chubby hands no doubt leaving smudges on the lenses when Sweden merely sighed and kissed her head making the baby giggle. "Alright, I guess she's faster than I give her credit for." "Aili, you silly girl! Give Pappa his glasses back!" Finland playfully scolded the baby who giggled happily and moved the glasses to one hand holding them away from her father who chuckled softly and Finland tried to hold his own giggles down. "Come on, sweetie, let's give Pappa his glasses back!" Aili shook her head happily then held the glasses away again as she giggled happily with the new game and she looked down at the glasses in her hands when Sweden simply raised a brow at his husband."Aili, enough now, give Pappa his glasses!" "No!" She shouted the word in a high, clear voice as she pouted at her mother now, the baby disgruntled now as her nose wrinkled lightly as if Finland was offering her something horrid but both her parents blinked at her. She screeched when Finland tried to take the glasses out of her hands and she held them tightly in her chubby hands as she huffed an irritated breath at her parents then released the same high piercing screech as before. "No! No!" It was a surprise to hear her high, trilling voice but she was angry with both her Mama and Pappa that much was clear and while Finland had wanted her first words to be either Pappa or Mama it seemed her first word would be "no". He sighed rubbing his forehead then reached for the glasses one more time getting the same screech when Aili lifted her hand up throwing the glasses on the floor hard enough the lenses on the right side cracked. "Aili! Bad girl!" Finland scolded when he bent down to pick the glasses up then frowned staring at the lenses, met Sweden's gaze and handed him the glasses while taking the baby. He took her little hand lightly tapping it which made her eyes appear even bigger, tears glittering on her lashes and he sighed kissing her forehead. "You broke Pappa's glasses, kultaseni, that was very naughty." She whimpered softly when Sweden ruffled Finland's blonde locks of hair sighing with a little smile twisting at the corner of his lips when his husband looked up at him and Aili rubbed her eyes. "It's fine, Tino, she's a baby and babies do things like this. I have a back up pair upstairs, don't worry about it." He then kissed Aili's head softly making her blink, a rather confused look on her face when he stroked her pink cheek softly and she smiled grabbing his hand holding it against her cheek happily. "It's alright, Aili, Pappa forgives you. You just wanted his glasses, huh? Maybe Pappa and Mamma can get a pair of play glasses for you at the store." She smiled brightly at his words, her eyes sparkling once more while Sweden smiled back at her rather helplessly then stroked her light blonde locks of hair softly making the baby hum happily and he honestly could say she was the spitting image of her mother right then. "Alright, Aili, let's go in the living room together and play with your toys while Pappa goes upstairs to get his glasses which you won't be touching this time!" The baby merely smiled at her mother as he spun towards the living room making her giggle as Sweden walked to the stair case loping up the steps easily enough and Finland clicked his tongue softly at the child in his arms as he entered the living room and set the baby down. "Alright, Aili, show me your toys!"The little girl looked absolutely thrilled as she crawled quickly over to her toy box opening the top reaching in then tossing a ball happily into the middle of the room, some of her blocks and he chuckled when she stood herself up on her legs reaching in then pulling her duck out from behind her father's arm chair. Ever since Finland and Sweden bought the toy she brought it with her everywhere, slept with it every night and was very restless if she couldn't find it and she squealed loudly to him as she waved her duck around making the multicolored wings flap for a moment as she smiled brilliantly. She stood there then, looking very uncertain as she looked across the room at her mother whimpering suddenly like she wished she was closer and he smiled at the little eleven month old gesturing her to come closer and she whimpered again. She held her duck to her chest then stretched one arm out opening and closing her little fist while she whimpered like she wanted him to walk across the room to her and she bounced on her feet for a moment before falling back onto her butt. Large tears glistened in her eyes as she began to cry, her little hands under her eyes as Finland jumped up rushing over to her scooping her up into his arms allowing her to cry into his chest and her duck rested against his neck in her little hand while her voice wavered with her cries. "It's okay, baby, Äiti is right here! Mama's right here, honey, you're alright I promise but I bet it was scary falling back so suddenly, huh?" Aili pulled back to look at her mother with her large glistening eyes as he then kept one arm around her securely and lifted his left hand up stroking her wet cheeks, wiping the tears away softly. "Don't worry, Mama will kiss it all better!" He then kissed her sticky wet cheek, her soft light hair, her chin and tiny nose then her ducks head and one of her little hands which made her giggle softly in response which made him smile happily at her. "What happened?" Sweden walked into the room with his glasses perched on his nose just like before and like before Aili's eyes widened at the sight of her father's glasses but he made sure to keep his face out of her reach and he wiped at a stray tear tear on her cheek. She smiled at her father as if she hadn't been crying moments before when she wriggled in her mother's arms tucking her duck underneath her arm and pressed her cheek against Finland's heart snuggling against his chest when he stroked the hair at the nape of her neck while kissing her silky hair. "Looks like it's nap time." Finland smiled looking at the baby in his arms as he kissed her silky hair again, unable to help himself as his heart swelled painfully as she snuggled against him radiating her heat into his chest like she was melting him away for a perfect groove for her little body. His arms were shaped for her and her alone, a place where she fit perfectly like a piece of him and he felt like he'd die from the amount of love in his heart for the baby but he knew there was more and more of that love still inside of him taking up as much space as possible even if it hurt. "I think it is nap time! However I don't think she'll let me put her down, I think she's determined to sleep on my chest." Sweden smiled softly at the baby who was smiling happily with her lashes resting on her cheeks, her duck underneath her little arm and she looked so content there that neither parent could bear the idea of putting the baby down in her crib just yet. "Oh, Austria wants to set up a play date with Aili and Fritz, since their closer in age than the other babies and he thinks they'll benefit more together for a while until the others are older. And the most recent "scandal" between Hungary and Prussia is finally over with." "Really?" Finland questioned with wide eyes, his curiosity peeking as Aili wriggled against his chest and he decided to sit back on the couch, the baby sitting in his lap now with her head against his chest and he crossed his legs lightly rocking them to sooth the baby. "I'm guessing it was Prussia's baby after all?" Sweden nodded as he sat next to him on the couch and Finland blinked then amazed so much time had passed allowing this whole situation that had been whispered and texted to one another about was over. Sweden nodded when he looked to the TV, at the show Finland had put on but the volume had been turned down to a murmur but he could make the words out when he looked at his husband who was happily rocking the baby in his lap. He looked more happy, more content that he had ever seen Finland appear as he rocked the baby lightly, humming quietly to her as her breath deepened in an even pace and he kissed the top of Aili's head again softly. Every blonde hair was perfectly in place like any other day only his violet eyes seemed to glow happily, his face glowing as well with his content and he then looked up smiling at Sweden surprising him by the pure joy that radiated from it. "Tino? Do....Do you remember when you asked for a baby back when Aili was six months old?"Finland looked up at Sweden once again, his gaze had automatically drifted to his sleeping daughter who laid slumped against his chest and he smiled but his curiosity was peaking at the question. Where was this coming out of nowhere? He tilted his head but kept his smile on his lips when he offered a little nod to his husband who looked hesitant to say anything again but Finland knew he would get his answer one way or another when Sweden waited for Finland's response. "Of course I do!" Sweden then took a breath, clearing his throat and scratched his cheek before moving his hand to his neck scratching nervously as Finland looked at his nervous husband who once again seemed hesitant to say anything when he drew in another deep breath. "Well I was thinking, what with Aili turning one in April and her growing rather quickly, so I've been truly thinking of that. About another baby." Finland blinked nearly blanking out as he smiled pleasantly at his husband, his eyes wider than Sweden had seen them before and he felt a wave of embarrassment. "Tino, what do you think about adding another baby now?""So, are you going to tell me what caused this rather random drop in?" Norway questioned making Finland look up with a sheepish but surprised expression when he turned his gaze to Aili who was standing between them on the couch, bouncing herself lightly which had her longer locks of hair bounce with her. Her hair was growing out much to Finland's joy to a soft cap that covered her whole head, curved behind her ears and against the back of her neck looking more like feather down than pale blonde locks but he couldn't wait to see it grow longer. His own nephew, Nikolai, stared at his cousin with wide blue eyes at each of her movements and he looked absolutely awed at the sight of another baby standing on her own that his own legs wriggled but he didn't move to pull himself up, contented to watch his cousin. "Ahaha, yeah about that. I normally I'd have brought Berwald with me but I needed to kind of talk to you, one on one. Like, brother to brother even if we're not related by blood." Norway looked patient with Finland's babbling when he then took a deep breath and gave one look to his eldest son who picked up on it immediately then ushered his little brother upstairs with the loud Abel questioning him the entire way up there. "Er, well I guess to start off would be with what started it and that was me asking for another baby when Aili was six months. We agreed naturally that we would wait to have another baby until Aili was either two or three, maybe four when she was old enough to understand and when I asked at six months Sweden kind of made me see logic that Aili won't be our only daughter and we'd have time to try so I've gotten used to one baby. She's more than enough for right now and I'm honestly content but, um, Berwald asked me today out of nowhere if I wanted to have another baby."Norway blinked looking mildly surprised at the Finnish Nation's words and he tilted his head slightly as Nikolai grabbed his thumbs making his hands turn palm up for the baby to slap which made him squeal excitedly, little nails scratching his palms. It was strange how apprehensive, nervous even that the Nordic next to him looked at the thought of having another baby for once upon a time after Finland got married to Sweden he had confided in Norway and said he wished he could have a baby with Sweden. "I thought you wanted one with him? Or multiple, as you said when she was born." He poked Aili's chubby cheek making her giggle in response, her eyes sparkling. "Isn't that something you've always wanted?" "It is!" He snapped the words in a rather uncharacteristic way that left Norway to blink again, surprised at the sharp words that had spit out of Finland and the blonde then shook his head when Aili looked too him with surprise of her own now. "Sorry. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap but it's been on my mind a lot. I said I wanted a lot of babies with Ber after Aili was born, at least two more babies, but when we found out just how hard it was to be pregnant, how hard and how long it took us to have Aili that after I gave birth I was ready for another baby. I wanted to get right on the horse while we were going strong, to make sure that I got pregnant while I had a rather good chance and before we had to start from scratch just for another baby and when he asked it was something I would have been thrilled to hear five months ago." "But?" Norway's voice made him look up curiously when the Norwegian raised a brow at Finland who was staring at him wide eyed, his violet eyes hesitant and Norway sighed out through his nose but offered a weak, almost sarcastic smile. "I'm sensing a but, Fin. Sure, this is something you waited for but what more is there? What was keeping you from responding to him when he asked you about it? If it would have thrilled you five months ago can I guess that you weren't so thrilled when he suggested it today?" Finland sighed out rubbing his eyes with his hands, the sound weighted and not at all a sound that should come out of Finland's mouth for it just sounded wrong, not a sound someone as cheerful or sweet as him should be able to heave but someone who had seen too much, known too much. That sigh would have sounded natural out of someone like that rather than Finland and when he looked up his eyes held that same amount of hesitance that they had since he began speaking about it and he press his knuckles against his lips, his chin in his palm and he then met Norway's gaze once again. "I'm...not sure. If I want another baby right now. I love Aili, she's so inquisitive, so sweet and she takes up so much of my time now that she's eleven months that she needs much more attention, especially with her birthday next month. I just don't know if I'd be able to handle two babies so close in age, to be up all night long with a newborn when Aili needs so much of my time during the day and she grows so much with a new thing every day that I want to keep my eye on her all the time but that same longing is there. I don't want a baby but at the same time I do." Norway nodded letting out a slow breath when he then kissed Nikolai's blonde hair softly which got him a gurgle in response, hands scrabbling on his mother's hands happily. "So, you're finally seeing the pro's and con's of having another baby and it's making you think. I was the same way only, and if you say this to Abel or Sven I will happily choke you, but all of my boys are accidents or weren't planned in the slightest bit." Norway sighed when Nikolai smiled up at him rather happily now, squealing when his mother's gaze as his own sparkled joyfully and he bounced himself in his lap while flapping his arms with another squeal that ended in a giggle when Norway bent kissing his locks of hair softly again before turning back to Finland. "But it doesn't mean I don't love them any less. In fact, you were preparing and planning for Aili for how many years? Since England and Canada got pregnant? Italy or Romano? You've been waiting a long time that now you have the choice to have another baby and it's putting you off, it's not a big deal. It's okay if having a baby isn't in your plans right now."Finland stared at Norway wondering how or when Norway had gotten so open with his words, even kind if he had to put a solid word to it but he felt a small warmth growing in his chest along with the joy and he smiled happily. Perhaps it was the children that had softened Norway up, made him more approachable, but Finland was absolutely happy and overjoyed he had come to someone to talk this out so he could get some kind of way to figure it out! He reached out grabbing his fellow Nordic's hand when Nikolai released it, startling Norway at the sudden grip and Finland had never felt more sure of how to answer his husband or how understood he felt without ever truly getting deeply into it. "Thank you Nor, I honestly appreciate you taking the time to sit down and talk with me. Hell, I dropped in out of nowhere and you were in all rights to turn me away! I really appreciate it!" "Anytime, Fin. Now would you like some coffee?" Norway stood with Nikolai held tight to his chest, securely, as his legs dangled over his arm as Norway raised a brow at him and Finland smiled standing up himself making the baby blink a few times looking at him then smiled when he picked her up plopping her on his hip. Her little hands gripped onto his shirt when he nodded following Norway to the kitchen and he looked down into Aili's curious little face which then bloomed into a smile at him when her little hand reached up trying to grab his cheek in her pudgy hand and he kissed her little pink palm happily. He could tell Sweden too wait, after all Aili wasn't going to get small again and he'd want to watch her grow, catch every moment with her and he was more than happy with the little girl babbling to him right then.
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The house was quiet for once save for Nikolai gurgling to himself as he stood by Norway, clinging to his pants to keep himself standing and he played with the cabinet doors in front of him when he then babbled out a sound that was high and sweet but Norway smiled. Each day he and Denmark waited anxiously to see what Nikolai's first word would be but the baby had yet to babble anything close to it but he was a rather happy baby, much like his father in terms of cheerfulness, which made everyone happy. The house seemed so much bigger to Norway for both Sven and Abel had been brought to the Academy earlier that morning which left both parents to truly feel lonely without the boys screaming or running around upstairs like they normally did. It was a quieter, bigger house than it truly was without the boys inside to provide some kind of background sound for them and Denmark seemed to be taking it the hardest with the boys being at school which in turn annoyed the hell out of Norway. Then, like he was summoned by thought alone, Denmark came shuffling into the room as Nikolai looked over at his father bouncing himself for a moment as he clung to his mother's leg and smiled. "Lukas, it's too quiet! I miss the boys making background noise for us!" Denmark whined making his husband roll his eyes in response when he sat in the chair, slumped against the table with his chin on his arms when he pouted for a moment. "What do you think they're doing right now? Do you think they miss us at all? I mean, they got friends sure, but don't kids miss their parents once in a while? It's definitely going to be quieter when Nik here is old enough to go into daycare during the day." Norway blinked looking over his shoulder at the Danish Nation, his blue eyes locked onto Norway who returned his gaze rather surprised then heard Nikolai sigh plopping down into a sit making both parents look down at the seven month old. With Abel in second grade, Sven in sixth grade and the both of them being gone all day was more than Norway could deal with but did they have to enroll Nikolai into day care? What was the point when Norway didn't work? "What would be the point in putting Nikolai into day care? I'm home all day long, I have no problems with watching him until he's ready for preschool when the time comes. Why would he have to be in day care?" "Well, maybe for once, when he's in day care I can take you out for breakfast or lunch, you know? Start going on dates more often now that the boys are old enough and it'll be easier when Nikolai is old enough for day care." He then looked sheepish, a smile curling oer his lips when he shrugged like it was no big deal but Norway was rather taken aback at how well thought Denmark was right then and he had to admit the idea of going on more dates, even a lunch date without the baby, appealed to him."I don't know though. You don't like going out to eat that much but I was honestly thinking of us going somewhere fancy, like Hos Thea or Sabi Omakase, something like that. Or maybe somewhere we'd have to dress nicely, make an occasion out of it." "Wow, I never would have thought that would be something YOU would suggest, Mathias. Are you sure about that though?" Norway questioned tilting his head slightly looking at his husband who began smiling sheepishly at him and he raised a brow at his impish husband before sighing out. He then lifted his hand up to his bangs, fidgeting them side to side as Nikolai began grizzling down at his leg like he was complaining about the lack of attention on him and he looked down at the baby."What's wrong, hm? Are you complaining just to complain? Or are you tired?" "If he's tired I can go put him down for a nap for you while you get lunch done. It'll give us time to go upstairs too and relax!" Denmark offered standing up but Norway's back was tense at the implications his husband just gave and scowled at the man who looked back at him with wide, innocent blue eyes. "What's that look for?" Norway's scowl deepened, suspicious and rather dark on the man's face but Denmark kept up the rather innocent facade and kept his eyes wide which would no doubt get to Norway one way or another. "If you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting then I will personally and happily beat you because we are not going too. If you can pull condoms out of your ass then it's not going to happen and no, we're not doing the whole "we can do it one time unprotected" because I'm not taking that risk and if you'll be pleased to remember that's how Abel got here." He spoke in a very firm, very tight tone when he glared at his husband who looked personally wounded but Norway wasn't baking down, he refused too and he looked down at Nikolai who was still grizzling as he wriggled his legs. "If you want go put him to bed for me." "Fine, fine. After I do that, though, I'll go to the stupid store!" Denmark replied in a pouty, childish way making Norway raise a brow as Denmark walked over picking Nikolai up and he rolled his eyes when Denmark walked out of the room with that same pout on his face. Norway sighed to himself when he flipped the sandwich in the pan, pressing down lightly when he rubbed his forehead at his husband's antics when all he truly wanted was to take a nap rather than stand around cleaning or even cooking. He wanted to sit, relax like he used too and give himself a break, even watch a movie or something with Denmark to relax for the day rather than doing this however he sighed rubbing his eye knowing things couldn't go backwards for his life seemed bland, mundane back then. His life now was active, it was loud and it was boisterous with the sound of his sons always making some kind of ruckus and he adored it for it gave him something to look forward too upon each morning, even if he was exhausted half the time. He heard the feet slamming on the stairs making him look up just as he took the pan off the heat placing the sandwich on the plate when Denmark popped into the doorway jingling his keys and Norway raised a brow looking at his husband. "You know that just because you go get them doesn't mean that sex is guaranteed, right?" Norway questioned when his husband disappeared out of sight leaving him to sigh roughly, shaking his head when he rubbed his forehead softly as he grabbed a bag of Lays sprinkling them on both plates and grabbed his setting it at the table. "That man, I swear!" He turned towards the fridge walking towards it tugging it open, grabbing a bottle of juice then sat at the table crossing his ankle rocking them slightly as he took his first bite of the sandwich sighing through his nose when he continued rocking his heels. It was a sort of quiet that long before Norway would have found solace in but ow it was just a pressure on his ear drums, waiting for the squeals and laughter to fill the air, for someone to call for him and when it didn't happen he was swamped with a feeling that felt more heavy than the weak word bittersweet. He took another bite of his sandwich, popping in a few chips as well rubbing his eyes with his fingers wondering when he got so tired and listened intently for any muffled cries from his son upstairs but he was greeted with nothing but silence. He was about halfway through his sandwich when the front door flew open making him jump along with the sound of boots being thrown then the door slamming shut and he looked over his shoulder at the thumping steps coming straight for him. Denmark appeared beaming brilliantly, his blue eyes shining like Abel's when he was coloring and like Nikolai's when the baby was particularly proud of his achievements, that sparkle had been passed down much to Norway's smug satisfaction. "Go put them away, I need to eat. God forbid Sven or Abel comes home and you leave them in plain sight for them to get too!" He said the words as snappily, as haughtily as he could but Denmark just smiled happily at his husband when eh e shuffled in kissing the top of Norway's head softly. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Mathias." The Danish Nation laughed happily when he walked out of the room, his steps loud on the stairs as he ran upstairs and Norway rolled his eyes at his husband's antics and took another bite of his sandwich popping in a few chips. Perhaps it was the silence but Norway found his crunching bites were ten times louder than they had ever seemed before and he rubbed the side of his nose as he ate his lunch. He honestly didn't hear Denmark's return but when the hands fell on his shoulders he choked on air, it seemed, whirling with a scream stuck in his throat and Denmark laughed at his husband's expression and kissed his forehead which wrinkled when his brows pulled tightly together. He let out a soft noise when Norway punched his hip fiercely with irritation bright in his dull blue eyes and Denmark sat at the table next to him picking up his sandwich chuckling softly as he took a bite and Norway scowled at the man. "I got you good, admit it!" Denmark spoke around his mouthful, hiding his mouth when he did so and Norway's scowl became so fierce it was nearly a glare. "So, Nik is asleep like a champ surprisingly, do you want to watch a movie in the living room? Or upstairs in the room?" The Norwegian stared rather surprised at his husband, blinking a few times at the offer and Denmark smiled rather innocently at his husband while Norway thought about it before taking a sip of his juice then shifting in his chair making it creak lightly. "We can watch a movie upstairs. It'd be easier up there anyways, we'd hear Nikolai if he ends up screaming his lungs out we'll already be upstairs rather than climb up the stairs." Denmark smiled brilliantly once again which left Norway to marvel at just how easy it was to make his husband happy and he felt the corners of his lips twitching when he took the last bite of his sandwich while his husband ate happily next to him. Sven walked up the front walk way, turning to wave to his Uncle who smiled happily out the window shield as Abel clung to his brother's hand but waved happily back when both boys reached the door pushing it open. He was honestly happy that he had gotten Abel to calm down when they were at the school for Norway was always there in the parking lot waiting for them in the usual spot but when an hour had slipped by without their mother or father showing up they had to call Finland and ask him to bring them home. Walking into the house Sven raised a brow at the silence of the home and he kicked his boots off with Abel who was looking anxious once again but Sven doubted anything was seriously wrong. "Mama! Pappa! We're home!" "Sven, where's Mama and Pappa? Do you think they're gone?" Abel asked with anxiety rippling, squirming in his eyes that stared wide at his elder brother and Sven pulled his hat off allowing his blonde hair to fall down around his face in a rush. He combed his fingers through the blonde locks for a moment while Sven stared up at him worriedly and he then looked down at his brother, ruffled his hair and he then walked forward with his bag bouncing lightly with his moment. "Sven!" "Chill, Abe, I'm sure Mama and Pappa are just fine! You have to remember they constantly chase after you and Nik day in day out so they're probably taking a nap or something, which you'll be doing here in a few moments. Let me get you a snack and you need to head up for your nap." Sven replied with an almost bored tone when he plopped his bag on the table on his way to the fridge and he pulled it open looking inside before opening a drawer pulling bologna and cheese out waving them. "Want a few roll ups before you go lay down?" Pouting Abel nodded as he held onto his bag straps, his knuckles white with his nerves as he contemplated how he'd even begin to lay down for a nap when he looked up at his brother who made the roll ups quickly and was placing them on a little plate handing them to Abel. "How come you're not worried at all about Mama and Pappa?" Abel demanded when he picked up one of his roll ups biting into it when Sven sat at the table, his hair falling over his eye like it always did and he pouted at his brother. "Isn't it scary that they're not around? Doesn't it scare you at all?" "Abe, you have to remember I am older than you so I had at least five years more of knowledge when it comes to Mama and Pappa, remember? I was here way before you, I know them a lot better than you do but it's fine that they're not around. " Sven replied tugging his social studies book out, the worksheets tucked neatly into the book and pulled out his Science book which had a few papers sticking out as well and Able rubbed his eyes. "Why don't you go upstairs and lay down when you're done with those? You'll feel better when you take a little nap and eat dinner, I promise." Abel simply scowled in a very uncharacteristic way, looking more like their mother than ever before and Sven sighed. "Are you going to take a nap?" "No!" Abel replied sharply then marched out of the kitchen to the living room, his little face livid with both anger and anxiety now which had Sven sighing out as he opened his social studies book writing his name on the work sheet then rattling his pencil between his thumb and ring finger idly. He knew his parents were home, they had to be, so he wasn't worried for like he said to Abel he did have five years more experience than the six year old and he knew there was always a reasons for everything when it came to his parents. He listened to the sound of his pencil scratching against the paper, the TV murmuring from the living room and he felt his shoulders relaxing as the moments ticked by with each tick of the clock, the mundane boredom of doing his homework made one hour bleed into the next until he heard thumping steps around four, looking up from his book to frown lightly at the sounds and he scratched his cheek before calling out to his brother. "Abe, what are you doing?" He frowned at the response which was, in the cliche way, "nothing" and he turned back to his book just when feet slammed down the stairs with shrieking words that barely reached Sven when he climbed off his chair squinting. "Mathias, you idiot! You let us oversleep, look at the time! Where are the boys?" Norway's voice was high, higher than the man's voice ought to be and it was strung tight as he shrieked at his father and Sven blinked a few times before looking to the stove where he was making mac and cheese for himself and his brother, giving it a stir before walking towards the kitchen doorway. Both his parents looked rumpled like they'd been napping, as he suspected, but both looked absolutely frenzied when Norway looked over catching sight of the eleven year old and let out a choked sound that made him concerned when his mother's hand flew up to his throat. "Oh! Oh, Sven!" He opened his mouth only to feel the air escape his lungs in response when his mother's arms were thrown around him squeezing the life out of him it seemed as his cheek pressed fiercely against his mother's chest where his heart hammered as if it wanted to jump out of him. He squeaked when his father hugged him from behind, squeezing him just as fiercely as his mother who stroked his hair softly when Abel yelled out for Sven which made his father release him, running for the living room speaking in rapid Danish to the boy who shouted his joy at the sight of his father who swung him into his arms and Norway pulled back murmuring to him in Norwegian."It's fine, Mama, we're fine. When you didn't show up and Pappa didn't we called Onkel Tino and he picked us up at the school then brought us here around two." "I am so sorry, Sven, I swear I didn't do this on purpose or anything of the sort, your father and I watched a movie and I guess we just fell asleep, Jeg er så lei meg, kjære." He stroked Sven's hair softly, brushed it away his face and stroked his cheeks softly then looked to the left where his father appeared with Abel in his arms who appeared just as relieved as Norway. "And I'm sorry to you too, søtnos, I know how anxious you can get and I promise you both it will never, ever, happen again! We'll be much more responsible next time, this will never be allowed to happen again." "I think it's okay, Mama, it was just one time in our whole lives that you forgot and I'm not made or anxious about it either. You chase Abel and Nik around all day long, I understand." Sven replied when he was hugged to his mother's chest once more like he needed Sven near his heart, to assure himself that Sven was truly alright."Skyld ikke dig selv, Mama. It's fine that you fell asleep, you need to sleep more anyways." Norway's lips turned up into a smile, kissing Sven's light blonde locks of hair softly, then stroked the locks affectionately as humor glinted in his dull blue eyes for a moment and Sven smiled back at his mother. "Look at you, sounding like an adult." Norway replied when Denmark laughed after he kissed Abel's temple, holding the little boy to his hip like he might just disappear and he smiled at his father when he ruffled Sven's hair softly only for his mother to look lightly worried when he cupped Sven's cheek softly and then looked to Abel. "Did the two of you eat dinner yet? I'm sure you both must be starving since the last meal you had was lunch at school, right? I'll whip something up real qui-" "Don't worry, Mama! Sve is making me and him mac and cheese for dinner!" Abel chirruped to his mother who looked at the six year old then the eleven year old who looked sheepish at his younger brother's words but smiled crookedly at his mother's surprised look. "He said that you and Papa were here, that I needed to stop being so scared, and he promised me mac and cheese with hot dogs for dinner if I was super extra good! He also made me bologna and cheese roll ups when we got home too!" Norway was smiling now, pride brimming in his eyes and face when he turned to his eldest son only for a wail drifting down to them made the four of them look at one another questioningly when Sven pulled away from his mother. He then ran up the stairs quickly, making quick work up the stairs before his mother or father could move and he was gone from view making both parents share a rather prideful, happy look with one another. "He's growing up so fast!" Denmark sighed out then smiled at Abel who giggled when he tickled his neck affectionately which had the boy smiling widely as he sat on his father's hip, dull blue eyes sparkling joyfully. "Don't you go growing up too fast, Abe, I don't think Mama would be able to handle you growing up that fast! Let's go stir the noodles, hm? And you, me, Sve, Mama and Nik will all sit down in the living room to watch a movie or something together! Let's go!"He then ran into the living room with Abel laughing on his hip, his face cheerful and sweet like it always was and Norway smiled at the laughter when he looked up the stairs where Sven was taking care of his brother and he smiled a little wider to himself. His boys were growing up, maturing and he was sure they were one day going to be amazing adults and he couldn't help but feel pride brimming in his heart along with his love for both boys and he moved his hands through his hair, the smile refusing to budge a single inch.
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The flow of a month often went by slow, it could go by normally or it can truly fly by but when Japan's eyes opened in response to the shrill wails near the bottom of his bed he found that a month had truly slipped by without him noticing. His heart ached when he turned the light on sighing to himself when he threw his legs over the side of the bed stretching his arms above his head groaning when the tight muscles stretched with relief and he sighed moving his hands through his hair. When China had been around five months they were happier than anything, high on bliss at the thought of their baby coming a mere four months away and it excited them to no ends at the thought of having a baby in the house. Then the cramping started, the pain settling in when Japan had left his husband to bring the boys to school and when he got home China was screaming for someone to help the baby as he was being loaded into the ambulance and Japan had jumped right back into his car after promising China he'd be right behind him. He followed the ambulance as fast as he could without being pulled over but sadly when he got there China had been wheeled away to the delivery room where the baby was delivered via Cesarean. It felt like a drama show how fast the baby came, how she was so tiny and frail a month ago, and China who had slipped into what the doctors assured him was a simple medical coma to help him heal faster but the days felt so much longer and harder without his husband. "Hai, hai, Okaa-san is coming!" Japan got out on a sigh when he turned the light on which bathed the room with a soft golden light as he walked to the end of the bed to the bassinet holding the wailing baby as she screamed her discontent and he looked over at the creaking of his door which made him smile softly looking at his son standing there haloed by the light of the room as he rubbed his eye. His black, shoulder length hair was sticking around his face wildly from the pillow no doubt and his golden brown eyes held a very cranky expression in them which just made Japan smile. "Did she wake you up, Xiong? She sure does have a loud voice, doesn't she?" "Hai, she does." Xiong grumbled when he walked over to his mother while rubbing one of his eyes when he scowled at the wailing baby in the way a seven year old boy could and Japan chuckled fondly at his son who just pouted. "Why does she have to be so loud, Okaa-san? Chiyo wasn't this loud, he was really quiet!" Japan smiled widely at his son who seemed unable to deal with the baby's crying and he ruffled his son's shoulder length black hair, noting he'd have to cut it very soon but that was a topic for later. "Why is she so loud?" "I think it's because she misses Baba or misses being inside of Baba's belly." Japan replied when he picked the wailing baby up, hiccuping softly as he cradled the baby to his chest swaying back and forth when her large wet eyes stared up at her mother. It was only her second night home much to Japan's joy but to the boys it was hard to adjust to the new baby without Baba being home to give them the perfect amount of attention that Japan was grasping at in vain. He tried to give all his time evenly but the baby was so fussy that half the time he was soothing and tending to the baby more than he was the boys and he could see the effect of it. "She's a loud girl, Xiong, it's just who she is." "Well, I miss Baba too! I miss him a whole lot and I want him to wake up too but you don't see me crying about it like she is!" Xiong declared with such determination that even his eyes flared exactly like China's did when he was determined with his medicine making and it made Japan smile with a wince. So much like his father, Xiong was! "I don't cry because if I do then you'll cry and if you cry then Chiyo will too! So the baby shouldn't be crying just because she misses Baba, if so then we all should be crying, right Okaa-san? Or am I wrong?" "So much like your father, you are, Xiong!" Japan sighed his words, sounding like every tired mother in the world as he tugged the seven year closer to him and hugged him with one arm, stroking his black locks of hair softly. His sons were very intuitive, they missed nothing and Japan could only guess they inherited from their father who was the same way and it was just one more little stab to his already aching heart when he then ruffled his hair softly. "Let's get your sister changed, alright?"He got a smile from his son who nodded when he rushed across the room to the door flicking the overhead lights on making both Japan and the baby wince at the bright light as he laid his little daughter on the changing table. It was surprising looking at her compared to how small she was just a mere month ago, when tubes and wires had decorated her paper pale skin and how she was so restless even then as she laid in the clear plastic box but luck was in her favor in the end. She was the daughter of not one but two Nations which worked in her favor in making progress that whole month but his daughter was still small, still so dainty he was scared to hold her even if she was getting some chub to her and getting bigger she would still be smaller than other babies. That had been his warning, when he took her home, that his daughter could possibly have a few issues with her for being born so early but they wouldn't know more until she was a child and it hurt Japan to think about it.When he was allowed to take her home he took meticulous care of her, was careful when she was in the baby sling, and yet his doll like daughter was strong despite the odds that were stacking against her and he was proud of her. Here she was, a premature baby born at five months, slowly making her own progress and growing at her own rate even if it was slower than others but she was strong and healthy, her little hands so fiercely strong as she held onto him he couldn't imagine her being weak. He unbuttoned her onesie which was pretty big on her but she was growing into it slowly much to his satisfaction and he undid her diaper, wiped her clean with the wipes when he noticed Xiong looking at his sister rather strangely when he tugged on Japan's sleeve. "Um, Okaa-san? Where is it?" Japan looked at his son questioningly when golden brown eyes lifted to him with worry making them appear brighter and his brows came together when he looked at his sister once again. "Where's her ochinko? Where is it, Okaa-san? Why doesn't she have one? Di the doctors cut it off? We need to bring her back to the hospital and make them give it back!" Japan had been trying to keep quiet but the laughter burst out of him like a torrent, loud in the room and he snorted when he tried to catch his breath but the laughter kept coming. "Why are you laughing! It's serious! That's mean, Okaa-san!" "Xiong, stop! Stop! Oh my Lord, you are too precious!" He howled the words between the heavy, loud laughter that hurt his stomach and sides which caused him to wheeze his breathes when tears began rolling down his face with the intensity of his laughter. His son's disapproving face did absolutely nothing to help with the laughter that was scraping out of Japan when he turned to his son hugging him fiercely while he laughed. It was so hilarious, so rich that he was helpless to stop the laughter as he hugged his son. "Xiong, darling boy, she's a girl! Stop with that look! Stop, I can't breathe!" It took several moments for his mother's wild, howling laughter to calm down to mere giggles but Japan felt lighter more happier when he looked at his son and he sighed which made his sides ache. "Xiong, girls don't have an ochinko.""What? They don't? Why don't they have one? Liam told me that everybody had an ochinko at first but when the girls got big i went away! So was he wrong then? Isn't that how it works with girls, Okaa-san?"Japan smiled at his son while he wiped at his wet cheeks and Xiong stared up at him curiously when he then was hugged as Japan bent down, his cheek pressing against his mother's shoulder as he began blushing at his silly knowledge. "Is Liam wrong then? What's the difference between boys and girls, if girls don't have an ochinko." Japan kissed the black locks of hair softly then stood back up stroking his son's cheek when he looked at his little daughter, her golden brown eyes glowing at him with impatience it seemed. "Hai, Liam was indeed wrong. Okaa-san will tell you the difference between boys and girls one day, perhaps when you are much older and more mature for Baba is planning out his best talks for you with his "sage advice" as he likes to call it." He smiled at Xiong who giggled at the words and he then got a fresh diaper out laying it underneath her bottom, sprinkled a little powder then chuckled when her legs wriggled as he fastened the diaper up and got her little feet back in the onesie the zipped her up. When he had seen his daughter he had been taken aback at her likeliness to her father for she had the same dark brown hair and large golden brown eyes of China, a true little duplicate of him and she acted like him most days which made Japan want to cry but he knew China would see her. He had too. "Now, why don't you go back to bed? You need your rest, you're still young and will blow through all that energy by noon if you don't sleep now." "Okay! Can I sleep in your bed with you, Okaa-san? Pretty please?" Xiong asked widening his large golden brown eyes when Japan noticed movement by the doorway and smiled at the sight of his younger son, his dark brown locks of hair sticking up while his big brown eyes widened like he silently asked the same question. He couldnt deny them, could he? He ruffled Xiong's black hair then nodded which sent both boys shouting with joy onto the bed where they scrambled for the best spots that would be on either side of Japan as he cradled his daughter in his arms and he chuckled. Then, surprisingly for such a late time, the phone rang shrilly and impatient in the hallway which made all three look towards it curiously as the baby in his arms grizzled but he walked across the floor to his door walking out into the hall. He had been waiting for a phone call from his doctor for what felt like an eternity since China had been out and his heart was pulsing with hope so strong he feared that the organ might break in his chest as he picked up the house phone only to be greeted with a light static and then there was the very voice he'd been hoping for. "Mr. Japan? Hi, this is Dr. Tanaka! Gomen'nasai, for calling so late! Er, so early I should rephrase but there is something very important I want to tell you! We're running tests as we speak but your husband, Mr. China, is awake and he's been asking for you! I'd say come around the middle of the afternoon, just after noon, and he'll be all ready! Does that sound good to you?" "Hai! Hai, dōmo arigatōgozaimasu! Dōmo arigatōgozaimashita, Dr. Tanaka! I'll be there with the children right after lunch, I promise! Tell him that, won't you? I'll see him as soon as I absolutely can! Oh! Also tell him, if you can, just how beautiful our daughter is!" Japan cried the words with tears on his lashes, his joy too much for him to bear as the baby grizzled loudly in his arms and kissed her little face softly to sooth her and he made small noises of agreement with the doctor as she spoke quickly like their connection might break. "Hai! Hai! I'll be there! See you later, Dr.Tanaka!"He hung up rushing back to the bedroom with quick steps only to find the boys staring at him with such a hesitant joy that one look at his face and Xiong was shouting wordlessly, bouncing on the bed while Chiyo cried out with him looking close to tears much like his mother. "Baba's awake! Baba's awake!" They chanted the words with such hope, such happiness Japan couldn't help but join in happily even if the baby whined and she stared at her family curiously as their voices raised to a hopeful cry that he swore the whole world could hear but he didn't care. All that mattered was China was awake and they'd see him in a mere handful of hours. "My husband is coming? Is he bringing the baby -aru?" China was questioning the nurse who was helping wheel his bed in from the tests as he couldn't quite sit up due to the stitches that pulled and throbbed on his stomach but he'd felt worse. The sky was a cheerful blue holding promises of a beautiful day, the sun brightly shining while blue puffy clouds drifted in the blue sky as spring sprung itself forward in little ways and it truly hit China just how long he had been asleep. What he wanted, since he woke, was to see his husband and boys but if he had to admit it the one he was most curious about meeting was his daughter for the only memories he had of her as a tiny, weak thing covered with blood that matted her little wisps of hair and her pale skin as she wailed against his chest before she was taken away. A daughter that seemed more unreal with each passing moment but his memory of her seemed even more unreal that she seemed real. It was a confusing thing. The nurse, however, smile when she checked his IV bag hanging above him and her brown eyes sparkled at him with a sort of empathy that made him blink. "I know how you feel, Mr. China, trust me I do! I got married pretty young, about nineteen years old and had my first child in that first year but I couldn't give birth naturally so I was left with a Cesarean being my only option. I slept for a while because I was exhausted and I wanted nothing more than my baby." The nurse replied then turned to him fluffing up his pillows, her light brown locks moving with her and he was surprised at such a light shade that appeared so natural it shouldn't be. Man, his thoughts sure were confusing! "Ah, I think you're family is here!" "Baba! Baba!" Their high voices mixed together into one loud shout as Chiyo and Xiong ran into the room throwing themselves on their father's legs, careful of the IV's and machinery around him as they stared up at him with so much joy it made his heart sing. Xiong took his right hand, Chiyo his left, when his eldest smiled brilliantly choosing to speak on his own now as Chiyo held his father's hand to his cheek to nuzzle happily. "Baba, we missed you a whole lot! I didn't cry, not once!" "Oh? You didn't cry at all, hm? You sure are Baba's strong little warrior -aru! But you know, even the strongest warrior cries now and then!" He said the last part in a mere whisper making Chiyo and the nurse giggle while Xiong smiled so wide it looked like it would hurt when China's eyes lifted to the doorway as Japan walked in holding a baby car seat. THe smile on his lips was so wide it was easy for China to see just how exhausted his husband had been after all this time and he felt sheepish it took so long for him to recuperate when Japan walked over placing the car seat on the chair next to him when his eyes met Japan's."Nǐ hǎo, zhúzi Értóng." There was a watery sheen to those brown eyes the longer China looked and he sighed smiling at his husband taking his hand from Xiong who released it happily and he reached up stroking Japan's cheek just as the tears dripped down. The nurse had left the room quietly they didn't notice but even then all that mattered to China right then was his husband who looked close to sobbing as he leaned down, his tears dripping onto China's fingers then to his cheeks at the proximity of their faces. "Kon'nichiwa, ai. Totemo koishikatta, shin'aina." He smiled when China leaned up pressing their lips together softly, the urge there to make it more than soft, more than sweet but with the boys there it would suffice for now when he pulled back. "How are you feeling?" "I'm fine -aru!" China replied quickly like he wanted these pleasantries over when his eyes flicked to the car seat, to the baby laying inside and Japan smiled softly at his husband who then flicked his eyes up to his again with a curious almost begging expression. "Can I see her? Please -aru?" Japan smiled turning to the car seat reaching in to unbuckle the baby who was whining lightly, reaching for Japan with her tiny fists when he pulled her out in plain sight of China who hissed in a breath at the sight of the tiny girl. "Here she is! She's tiny but she's so strong it's amazing, I have a good feeling she's going to be just fine despite the early birth." Japan explained when he put the baby in China's waiting arms, watching two pairs of golden brown eyes meeting as the baby stared up at her father then smiled, the sweetest smile a one month old baby can give and China returned the smile immediately. It was instinctive that Japan knew the baby was happy, their daughter recognizing China immediately and was happy now that she had finally gotten what she wanted for the last month. "I didn't finish her birth certificate, I had them keep it here so we can fill it out together and I also wanted you to decide what her name will be. I thought no one had more right to name her than you did."China was in complete awe of the tiny baby in his arms, smaller than her brother's had been, but he knew that it was now or never when it came to naming his little daughter and he stroked her dark brown wisps of hair softly, lovingly. She was easily the most lovely thing China had ever seen and he inhaled her scent when he could, awed of the little girl who looked identical to himself and he smiled as the name came as easily as his breathes as he looked at his lovely little daughter. "Ai. Her name is Ai -aru." Japan smiled kissing the top of China's head while the boys exchanged a curious look between one another before shrugging it off and Xiong moved closer which made Ai looked towards him curiously and he waved at the baby. "Hi! I'm Xiong, your aniki, and this is your other aniki, Chiyo!" Xiong spoke cheerfully but with a soft tone as his little sister stared at him with wide, curious eyes and he smiled at the baby which got him that same sweet smile she'd given China and the man grinned at his son. "That's Baba, you can from his belly but that's our Okaa-san!" He pointed to Japan who blushed but laughed lightly at his son and Xiong reached out lightly patting the baby's little hand happily then smiled again. "We have a lot of relatives too! You're going to meet lots of them including Obasan Mei! Oh, and especially Baba's brothers! One of them had a baby so we have a cousin now!" The baby's eyes were wide like she was taking in all of her brother's words when the one month old yawn largely making both her parents chuckle fondly at her when China carefully lifted his hand to stroke her little nose, poking it lightly making her whine. "You know she may look a lot like me but she has your nose, Kiku! It's so cute on her, so tiny -aru!" China had a coo in his voice that Ai responded too by looking up at him and he smiled stroking her pink cheek softly. "She's going to have your lashes -aru." "Perhaps, but I think she'll continue to look like you." Japan replied as he moved the car seat to the floor, sitting in the chair next to China which allowed Chiyo to climb into his lap and he wrapped his arms around his son happily. "Yao-san, I know I agreed to this but I think I have something that we can both agree upon rather easily. " His husband looked up curiously as Xiong climbed on the bed by his father's feet and Japan smiled at Ai who looked up at him curiously. "No more babies for us. We have two beautiful-oh, sorry I mean handsome boys," The boys had shot their mother a look and smiled when he corrected himself and kissed Chiyo's dark brown locks. "And we now have a lovely little daughter, I think that's enough for us don't you?"China looked down at Ai again, her big golden brown eyes finding his gaze curiously as her little hand gripped his finger tightly and he smiled softly at the little girl now as she looked down at the large finger she held with her tiny hand. "Shi, I can agree to that. We have three children despite our age, handsome boys and a lovely girl, we have more than enough children -aru!" China smiled at his daughter who looked up with curiosity bright in her little face and he chuckled at her lifting her up just enough for him to kiss her warm forehead and he held her closer to his chest. Yes, they were more than satisfied with two boys and one girl for it was perfect just the way it was with the five of them at the home and he felt like his final piece was finally with him making him feel truly happy, truly contented and he would do anything to keep the feeling.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Hong Kong had been having one of the best dreams of his life, he swore it, but he couldn't quite grasp it when his lashes fluttered for the annoyance was crowding his mind too fast for him to cling to his dream when he opened his eyes with a groan. The sheets felt cool, slick against his bare skin when he buried his face into the pillow when the shaking got fierce and he opened his eyes again when he caught sight of Iceland's irritated face and he blinked a few times. "Get up, Jia! Come on, up!" His voice was so loud, irritated and so unlike last night when it had been rich, smooth like velvet even as he had shouted out in Icelandic and his face had been so open, so loving last night but now it was pinched and irritated. "Goddamit, get up!" "Why? Why do I have to get up now?" Hong Kong whined in response when he finally rolled onto his back pushing his hair away from his face looking up at Iceland who looked the very image of irritated, his violet eyes narrowed at him. He could feel the chilly air outside the blankets that he clutched to his chin while staring at his boyfriend noticing that he was fully dressed for the day and he wondered when he got changes so fast and he sighed out rubbing his forehead. "It better be good if I'm getting up so damn early in the morning for it." "We're going to Japan's this morning to go and see your brother, whether you like it or not. He got out of the hospital today so he's still sore and stuff but Japan texted with the offering of lunch while we're there since it'll take a while just to get there." Iceland replied moving a hand through his hair when a loud, impatient cry sounded through the quiet house and the wall making Iceland sigh out when he then tapped Hong Kong's leg offering a little half smile. "Get up though, I'll be right back with Sunneva." With that Hong Kong pouted at the man playfully, his eyes narrowed but when Iceland stood in the doorway the Asian nation grumbled under his breath throwing the blankets off of him, walking towards their shared closet and Iceland nodded. He then left his boyfriend in the bedroom in favor of walking to the nursery just one room from theirs with the bathroom being in between them but their daughter had some powerful lungs in her so when she was upset or awake you would know. He walked into the nursery smiling at his daughter who stood in her crib, clinging to the bars holding herself up when she pouted while looking up at her mother with all the haughty impatience of an eight month old."Oh, what ever could be wrong, baby girl, hm? Mama's right here, I was just talking to Pabbi! He's being grumpy this morning too."Sunneva bounced herself as her tiny hands gripped the bars of her crib, a low humming sound coming out of her which was rather adorable as he walked up to the crib to look down at her while she bounced like she was gassing herself up to throw herself over the bars. She met his gaze making that same sound which made Iceland laugh when she flopped down onto her bottom but she whined pulling herself back up staring up at her mother, her eyes narrowing for a moment with irritation forming on her tiny little face. Her silver brown locks of hair, a color Iceland loved more than anything, had grown out to a length that looked more like a pixie cut than anything with her hair covering her entire head with the silver brown but he was distracted when she made the same humming noise again making him blink. She looked irritated when he kissed the top of her head softly, as if it wasn't what she wanted, and he then smiled. "Don't worry, let Mama get your clothes for the day and I'll change you in just one second I promise! We're going to see China today, so that half of your family will all be there and you'll meet your cousin!" As Iceland talked Sunneva began whimpering as she got impatient while Iceland put the wipes, powder and diaper on the changing table then opened her dresser drawer going through her clothing while Sunneva bounced herself. She was humming still, a sound that was strangely comforting in the room but it sounded more irritated than anything when Iceland tugged a little pair of baby jeans and a light violet shirt to go with it when she began absolutely fed up. Her snake plushie, something she adored more than anything, was chucked at the floor with a scream of anger coming from the baby and maybe it was with her emotions so high strung that it gave her the second to piece together all of Iceland's coaching as of lately. "Ma! Ma! Mama! Mama!" Iceland whipped around so fast he nearly yanked the whole damn drawer out of the dresser when Sunneva screamed at him from her crib and he when he looked at her, the anger on her face she screamed the word again hitting the bars of the crib which got him moving faster than he thought possible but he did indeed yank the drawer out yet he could careless. Hong Kong, at that moment, had been contemplating a shower when Iceland screamed at the top of his lungs which put shower being the second thing on his list to do and he pulled a pair of pants on fast as he could then ran into the hall to the nursery slamming the door even if it hung open and it banged off the wall. "What? What's going on? Who's hurt? Emil?" "Jia, you won't believe this! She just said Mama!" Iceland was positively squeaking his words, his voice high and strung tight yet thick with his emotions which made Hong Kong blink when he looked at his daughter then at his boyfriend. The Nordic looked close to sobbing away, his emotions running high and he then beckoned Hong Kong closer with his hand, his eyes sparkling despite the tears on his cheeks with his smile stretching wide over his lips. "Come here! I want to see if she'll say Pabbi or something like that!" "She'll probably say Baba, it's easier and shorter so she'll more than likely pick up on that instead." Hong Kong replied while he walked over to his boyfriend then to his daughter who was beaming now, her eyes sparkling when she reached for her father and he took one of her tiny hands which she then used to tug close to her face then nuzzle said face into his palm squealing happily now as she got caught up in her mother's emotions as well. "It'll be an easier way for her to learn how to say Daddy, long before she can say it. Mama and Baba are somewhat the same sound so she'll more than likely pick up on that because Baba-" Her eyes went wide at his voice raising a tone and she looked at her father curiously."-is easy to say just like Mama is easy." "Huh, I never knew about the whole Baba thing. Does China know that you're teaching her that? I'm sure he'd get somewhat of a kick out of you using something he taught you a long time ago, I know Norway's the same way and it's a pain in the ass." Iceland looked at Hong Kong curiously, violets meeting light browns, and Hong Kong rubbed his forehead for a moment fighting off a yawn when he looked at Sunneva who still held his other hand, playing with his fingers now. He thought about what China would say then felt a slash of irritation at the smugness that could possibly radiate off of China if he found out Hong Kong used any of his little words for his own daughter and he blew out a breath shrugging his shoulders. "He either wouldn't care or he doesn't know, both of which I don't want him finding out about. He'd never let it down that Sunneva knows how to say Baba and he'll just pride himself on teaching me things since he got me back from England." Hong Kong explained when he looked at Sunneva playing with his fingers still before slapping her little hands against his much bigger palm squealing happily when she looked at her mother who was grinning now. It was strange for one to see true emotions on Iceland's face but Hong Kong loved seeing the moments like these where his boyfriend looked truly wicked and alive with the expression on his face that was down right evil it seemed. "Mama! Mama!" Sunneva chirped the word out happily when she bounced her little body as if moving to a rhythm, her legs moving up and down happily as she played with her father' hand while appearing absolutely delighted with her new word and smiled happily. "Mama, Mama, Mama!" Her voice was high, sweet and so very adorable that Hong Kong wanted to just squish her to his chest and never let her go off on her own ever again. Iceland rubbed his cheeks dry with the back of his hand when her little hand replaced his against his cheek, her little nails scratching him when he curled his fingers a few times giggling happily when she then looked to her father happily. While she was all smiles and giggles right now the baby was definitely becoming more like her parents in regards to her suddenly becoming blank or expressionless just like them but she mostly did it when she was around others who were her mother or father. She was shy, Iceland decided when she hid her face away from Denmark multiple times and the way she went blank when in her Uncle Lukas's arms or in Sweden's when they visited one another and it was simply adorable. "Ba!" She pointed at her father, gaining her mother's attention where she then pointed at Hong Kong again. "Ba!" "She sounds like she's just one step away from saying Baba, just has to tie those two little words together!" He poked her nose making her giggle when he noticed the light pink tinge to Hong Kong's cheeks while he smiled widely turning towards the changing table sighing out stroking her silver brow locks of hair softly. "I have to get her changed and dressed for the day and you need to take a shower before you go and make sure the diaper bag is stocked up. Would you mind doing that for me?" "Roger that, I'll be right back." Hong Kong replied while Iceland rolled his eyes, his face unimpressed when the Asian Nation saluted to the Nordic who returned it once again with another eye roll that had Hong Kong snickering softly. Iceland knew that even if his boyfriend didn't say it out loud he was eager to go and see China after everything that had taken place but he wasn't about to rush out of here dirty with his daughter and boyfriend messy as can be. The first time they saw China again in what felt like years he wanted everyone to look nice and clean, like they had to look somewhat decent after all!Pulling up to the house Hong Kong had to admit that if the jet lag wasn't truly getting to him that he'd be ten times nervous to just walk right in here even if he felt comfortable just walking right into China's house whenever he pleased. This was Japan's house, Japan's Homeland and he actually respected the man enough not to barge into his house but from the way Sunneva was whining in the back of the car he turned the engine off allowing Iceland to unbuckle himself, get the door open and open the back door to begin unbuckling Sunneva. Hong Kong unbuckled his own seat belt wishing he could just go to sleep, perhaps put off the meeting with China again but some part of him truly wanted to see the older Nation up and healthy once again, regaining his strength at least and he had to admit there was some part of him curious about what their kid looked like. He climbed out of the car twirling the keys into his palm then to his pockets with Sunneva's wide eyes on his hand due to the jingling and he smiled at his daughter when Iceland shut her oor and he shut his both walking up to the front door of the house ringing the doorbell. It took about three seconds for the door to fly open, which didn't surprise him, for Taiwan stood there in the doorway with her eyes glowing at the sight of Hong Kong and she threw her arms around him happily as she then nuzzled him. He could tell that she was glowing with more than just joy in that moment and yet he didn't know how to bring it up properly when she pulled back as if she wanted to gaze at him, her lips in a wide smile when she looked at him."How are you, Jia? You look good! Maybe a bit tired if anything." Taiwan then fussed over his hair then turned her attention to Iceland asking him the same question when she looked at Sunneva who pouted at her Aunt who just offered a sweet smile to the baby. "Wow, she sure has become more and more like you, Jia! She's so beautiful, though, you got so freaking lucky! Well come in, China and them are in the living room right now marveling over the baby! You won't believe how much she looks like China!""Oh, I can guess." Hong Kong muttered the words under his breath when he bent down to place his shoes neatly to the side and shrugged his coat off hanging it up then took Sunneva's little coat hanging it up as well and he took the baby to allow Iceland to take his own coat off. It wasn't particularly cold in Japan but it was breezy enough that Iceland didn't want to risk it in the slightest bit and he agreed to it to soothe the Nordic's whining. Taiwan whacked his back before walking back to the living room with a rather pouty look on her face when he stood up sighing then blinked when Iceland took his hand in a rather rare act of affection as they walked down the hall. "She's pregnant." "I could tell when she opened the door, she's positively glowing! I'm happy for her, it's not easy for her to just run out and get pregnant like it is for the rest of us so it's good she's going to get a baby in nine months. It's not easy to get pregnant when you're in a relationship with a girl, it's sad it doesn't work that way but I'm glad she's having a baby like she wanted." Iceland nodded like it was a nice ending to a nice book and Hong Kong just rolled his eyes affectionately when he looked at his boyfriend then leaned in kissing his rather chilly cheek. "She and Vietnam will be good mothers, I'm sure of it. Someone who's trying so hard just for one is bound to be a pair of good mothers." He paused then squeezed Hong Kong's hand softly. "No one will blame you for not visiting him." Hong Kong took a long, deep breath through his nose as he then leaned against Iceland's side as he squeezed his hand back, interlocking their fingers together so he could press his palm to Iceland's which was happily returned. "I know they won't. I doubt even he will or he won't even question it." He murmured his answer as they walked down the entrance hall of Japan's home, Sunneva quieter than she normally was and he could only guess she was shy. When he entered Korea made a few cat calls until Vietnam smacked him in the back of the head which caused whines from the grown man and Hong Kong rolled his eyes then turned his attention to Japan who was walking over to them with a smile on his lips. "Hey, Japan." "It's nice to see you, Jia! It's been a long time since I saw you last." He leaned in giving Hong Kong a hug, not awkward like it had once been but now warmer and more confident now that Japan had had his children who required lots of hugs during their day. Japan then looked over at Sunneva, his eyes lighting up at the little girl who hid her face in Iceland's neck like it could make her go invisible and Japan chuckled softly at the little girl's antics. "And look at you, little Sunneva! Getting bigger and bigger each time I see you but still quite beautiful no less! How old is she now?" "She's eight months right now and she's pretty shy still, doing that whole blank face thing when around others when we're out of the house. She actually said her first word this morning which is a huge thing, I just don't know when she'll start walking but this little lady is always surprising us with her growth." Iceland replied then when he kissed the top of her head softly making the baby grumble into his neck like she both did an did not appreciate the sweet kiss given to her and he smiled. Sunneva peeked out from her mother's neck when Japan gave a little wave and to that she hid her little face again when Iceland shifted the baby against his hip slightly and Japan laughed fondly at the baby who looked curious at the sound. It had been a month, a whole long month, since Japan had laughed and the sound was just as high, infectious even as it had sounded before but it was a polite kind of infectious that offered for others to join in and Hong Kong felt his lips twitching. "She truly is a gem, isn't she? It's impossible to think of her as a grown up, beautiful little girl someday! I can only imagine what a boy would look like from the two of you when you've made a stunning girl! I'm sure a son would be stunning as well! Are either of you thinking about having another baby?" That's when a snort, a very familiar one, flew out of China and Hong Kong looked over Japan's shoulder to meet brilliant golden brown eyes that sparkled with humor, like Japan had just told an undisclosed joke of some sort to the whole room. "I don't see Jia ever having children again so soon, he's not that reckless! He's not going to have babies back to back like us oldies, he's going to be smart about it next time round now that he knows how much work a baby is -aru!" China spoke so confidently that Hong Kong snorted with him as he walked forward sitting down next to China who held a squirming bundle of blankets in his arms. "You've got that right, old timer. I guess you're sharper than I give you credit for, huh?" Hong Kong replied casually as his light brown eyes sparkled at those golden browns which sparkled back no doubt and he smirked finally as he crossed one leg over the other. "Where's Xiong and Chiyo? I thought they'd be in here gawking at all the new people in here and staring at their sister nonstop knowing those weirdos. So where are they? Napping or something?" "Hai, they're napping right now. It's been a long day and they've worn themselves now that their father is home where he belongs and they hardly slept a wink when we went to go see him the other day so it's fair to say that they're tired out." Japan replied then when Sunneva sat up slowly in her mother's arms, her eyes on Japan curiously when she then reached her hands towards Japan with an intent but blank look on her little face which surprised her mother. When they went to visit his brother Sunneva often did this sort of thing with Norway for the baby was attached to him for some reason or another but Iceland never questioned it but with her reaction this way to Japan surprised him. "Wow I don't think she's ever done this except with my brother." Iceland blinked in surprise when he moved closer to Japan who took the baby from him with expertise and she laid her head on Japan's shoulder holding onto his yukata tightly with her little dimpled hand like she might be ripped away at a moment's notice. "Er, I'm sorry I didn't mean to make it sound the way that it did, trust me! I do want her to spend more time with you guys, I truly do and Hong Kong wants her too, but it's just ha-" "It's a long, hard trip from here to Iceland and I understand." Japan filled in kindly then smiled warmly at Iceland who blinked a few times with that same surprised look on his face and Japan chuckled. "Yao-san and I understand, so do the rest of us, for Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway are your family and they're much closer. Plus, you have several nephews and a niece there that you would obviously want to be near and it'd be asking a lot for you to just pack up and move to Hong Kong's home but it doesn't mean that Yao-san and I can't make the trip with the boys and Ai." "We can flip flop." He had a rather eureka type voice, marveling almost like it hadn't occurred to him sooner and he turned to Hong Kong smiling proudly now as his violet eyes shimmered with his rather beautiful idea. "We live primarily in my home, right? Well how about for vacations, like big ones, all of us get together? And for vacation weeks we come to Jia's place then come over here to visit you guys while we're close enough. Sounds good, right?" "Smart, honestly." Hong Kong put in then turned to his attention to the squirming baby next to him, her golden brown eyes looking around restlessly like she was searching the giving up when she couldn't spot then and contented herself with staring up at her father. "So, did you decide on a name for the little monster yet? I kind of thought Japan would never name her and we'd have to call her Baby Girl for the rest of her life or until you woke your lazy ass up." China snorted again only this time he reached out whacking his brother's stomach making him narrow his eyes for a moment as China huffed. "Shi, we decided on a name but it was none of the ones we chose before so don't be a smart ass or I'll decide not to tell you -aru!" China snappily replied then let out a breath looking at the baby n his arms then smiled stroking her pink cheek when a little hand reached up grabbing his finger tightly with her tiny dimpled hand and he smiled at the bundle in his arms. "Her name is Ai -aru." Hong Kong merely nodded his head and China sat back as if satisfied with himself when he gave a sly smirk to his brother. "I'd offer to let others to hold her but I'm being selfish because I missed a whole month of her life. It's hard to believe I have a daughter now -aru." "It's fine, it's not like I'm not going to be around sometimes. I'll hold her eventually, whether you like it or not, old timer." Hong Kong replied when he looked at the baby, at her likeliness to China when he looked up at Sunneva's whining in Japan's arms, twisting as if searching for something when Japan handed the baby over easily enough. He could hear her whimpering increasing as she twisted in her mother's arms, pushing at his chest when he began speaking to her softly in a murmur, often going from English to Icelandic but it did nothing to placate the baby. Hong Kong frowned at his daughter as he uncrossed his leg standing up now as the baby whimpered again slumping against her mother's chest like she had given up until her little fists pushed at Iceland's chest whining loudly. She finally let out a shriek of frustration, of impatience as she gripped her mother's shirt while her legs wiggled with her emotions until her light brown eye's met Hong Kong's identically colored ones when she began reaching for him whimpering. Iceland turned towards Hong Kong and the baby whimpered loudly now, her hands opening and closing with tears now resting in her big eyes and he hesitated until she opened her mouth wordlessly before she shrieked again and like this morning her anger fueled her words. "Ba!" She cried out the word reaching towards Hong Kong who slowly felt a heat creeping and burning in his cheeks slowly as he stared at his daughter wishing he could speak to her thoughts. Just please don't, he begged when the curious eyes fell on him and the baby now. Please don't say it. "Ba!" Oh, dear GOD don't let her say it! China's rather smug face looked closer to smirk of victory when Hong Kong felt his face burn uncomfortably hot, so hot in fact he felt little throbs that went right along with his heart beat like two beating suns implanted themselves in his face. Could this truly, honestly, get any worse than this right now? "Jia, is she trying to say what I think she is?" China questioned while Sunneva continued whimpering and shouting that single word that had Hong Kong's cheeks burning fiercely as he began to speed walk towards Iceland like that might make his daughter stop. "Jia, is she-"He would have liked to deny it but the whining, whimpering baby had enough as she hit her little fists on her mother's arms and screamed wordlessly before she used that anger to string the words together, much like this morning. "Baba! Baba!" She screamed the words reaching for Hong Kong as her own cheeks flushed from the intensity of her little fit as tears rolled down her chubby cheeks when he got to her and pulled her out of Iceland's arms. China howled with laughter behind him making him want to die, to shrivel up smaller than a grain of sand and just disappear out of this room, leave the scenario behind and keep talking about other things but it would appear that China would never let him live it down. Sunneva, on the other hand, seemed to stop crying magically as her pink palm touched Hong Kong's red cheek tilting her head. "Baba? Baba!" It felt like nails on a coffin with each time she said it and he had to admit he knew that parenthood was filled with embarrassing moments, they'd be there and be forever remembered which he hadn't had a problem with but each time Sunneva chirped out "Baba!" he wanted to die. He had no problem with embarrassing moments but in that moment he had to admit that when said moments happened he hoped they wouldn't be around family and the victoriously smug grin on China's face made him want to run out of the room. His daughter smiled at him when she then chirped to her mother happily, her light brown eyes sparkling for once since they stepped foot in the room and he wanted nothing more than to curl up behind the couch and never see the light of day or until this embarrassment just went away.
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While he was used to the symptoms of pregnancy Italy found that there was still some things he couldn't deal with quite gracefully as he had with the twins, somethings that he wish he didn't have to go through with but the symptoms were just stepping stones to his baby. That morning, however, a symptom he wished he'd never experience was the nausea that had his stomach swirling lazily and he was scrambling out of bed but the blankets clung to his legs stubbornly when his stomach heaved like it was some kind of joke. He knew he'd never make it, that he couldn't run fast enough and tears rose in his eyes when he looked at his sleeping husband then turned for the trash bin they kept in the room but the baby had decided she would not stand for the food in him and before he could properly stand it all came flying out.Germany, normally the lightest of light sleepers, naturally sat up at the sound of Italy gagging and coughing following the sound of wet sounds hitting their carpet which had him wincing when he sat up in the same blankets that clutched at his legs. He shifted closer to Italy touching the man's back making him flinch as he took deep breaths, trying not to ruin their carpet further as he groaned and Germany himself winced at the low, throaty sound that it produced when Italy jumped up running around the bed fast as he could manage with his large stomach. He threw the bedroom door open without thinking twice, his thudding steps running down the hall and the bathroom door slamming shut behind him leaving Germany alone with the sour scent of vomit hanging in the air. He climbed out of his side of the bed, flinging the blankets away from him and he walked to the door that hung open sadly from the rough slam making Germany sigh as he walked out of the bedroom towards the end of the hall where they had a little closet filled with their towels, paper towels and toilet paper along with the cleaning products on the bottom of the closet underneath all the racks above it. He winced hearing Italy vomiting in the bathroom, crying as he did so and he knew the last thing Italy would want is Germany busting in there, making him more upset more than likely, and he approached the thin door opening it to grab a couple towels and some cleaning spray. He then walked past the bathroom making sure he'd get the towels down on the carpet then he'd check on Italy who was quieting down in the bathroom and he entered their bedroom once again frowning to himself wondering if, perhaps, Italy was sick for his immune system wasn't in it's peak condition right now and he felt the frown deepen. He sprayed the carpet, pressed the towels down then left the spray on their bedside table and walked around the bed towards the door quickly while fighting the urge to run to that bathroom and throw the door open. He approached the door, however, hesitantly knocking on the door taking a deep breath then made sure his voice wouldn't shake when he grabbed the handle. "Feli? Are you okay?" He got a whimper in response when he opened the door slowly to see Large wet amber eyes turning towards him. He shut the toilet lid sitting down on top of it when he flushed but tears gathered on his dark lashes as Germany opened the door then shut it behind him as he approached his husband, reaching his hands out cupping his wet face. "It's alright, sveetheart. Just think, vun more month und then ve'll have our baby und you'll never have to deal vith these symptoms again." Italy sniffled while Germany stroked his cheeks softly and he stood up with a weak smile on his lips when he then turned to the sink turning the water on to rinse his mouth out while Germany rubbed his back softly and he turned the water off, swishing the water around his mouth once again then spit the water into the sink. He took the towel offered from Germany and rubbed his wet face softly for a moment then dried his hands off sighing softly but smiled at Germany in the mirror. "True. I love feeling her in there, though, kicking at me from the inside like she's some kind of karate master already. I just don't know where all this vomiting came from out of nowhere and the diarrhea." Italy sighed rubbing his belly happily when he then looked up at Germany who gave him a soft kiss."I'm going to go get breakfast started for the boys, vhy don't you stay in here und take a shower, hm? It might make you feel better, liebling." Germany rubbed Italy's upper arms softly while Italy leaned backwards so his back rested against his husband's chest and he curled his arms around Italy, his hands on his husband's large stomach and Italy covered his sighing. "I'll come back, obviously, to help vash your back if you vant me too." Italy giggled then when he caught sight of his husband's face turning a soft pink at his offer and Italy tilted his head back slightly smiling into his husband's throat as he shut his eyes for a moment inhaling the scent of Germany, sighing happily when he watched his curl bob and form a perfect little heart."How about you take a shower with me and we'll make breakfast together? I don't think the boys are even awake yet and if they are they know how to knock on the bathroom door to get our attention, not that we're doing anything naughty." He giggled when he peeked at the mirror watching Germany's face go from the delicate pink to a deep red that burned in his cheeks, tinting the tips of his ears and he kissed his throat happily while inhaling once again as he tapped his fingers against the backs of the blonde's hands. Some may disagree but Germany had a very addicting scent that clung to him naturally, a smell Italy couldn't begin to describe properly and yet he adored the scent that clung to his husband before he put his cologne on. "Would you want to shower with me, Luddy?" Germany looked flustered, his cheeks burning when Italy caught his eye in the mirror, a smile on his lips at the sight of his embarrassed husband who seemed hesitant but then closed his eyes inhaling deeply through his nose like he had to steel himself just to lean towards the right to lock the bathroom door. Italy watched Germany take the few steps to the shower, moving the curtain aside to reach in turning the shower on then looked at Italy again who giggled at his husband's red face when hands came to rest on his hips and he smiled. "I vould love nothing more than to shower vith you, sveetheart. Though, according to the doctor vhen ve asked, it's alright for us to do something more, you know." Italy's eyes widened when he then laughed joyfully as his hands came up locking behind the German's neck, playing with his blonde locks of hair softly while he smiled at his husband raising a brow at his scarlet face. "Are you trying to seduce me, Luddy?" Italy questioned then giggled when the blue eyes flicked away from him, suddenly interested in watching the shower and Italy stroked his cheek happily when he leaned up kissing his jaw softly and he then tightened his arms around Germany. Truth be told Italy was slightly hesitant to have sex, thought about it and the cramps he had been suffering from last night but he figured it had just been the constipation and he knew he'd wash himself before Germany could even get near his bottom. "You know I'm an all too willing husband, you don't have to try and seduce the willing, Luddy." Germany looked at the brunette hesitantly then smiled awkwardly bending in kissing Italy softly but longer this time, deeply as his fingers prodded his lower back making the muscles quiver softly in relief and Italy pulled back to fiddle with Germany's tank top before the blonde checked the water. Then he was giggling as he took his large shirt off, one of Germany's as he was honestly too big for his own clothing, and he wriggled his underwear down and off when Germany was tugging him into the shower under the hot water. He giggled once more when the curtain closed and his back was pressed against the chilled tiles of the shower but he only truly cared about his husband's lips on his and he moved his fingers through the blonde locks that were slowly becoming soaked with the water and he parted his lips. If there was one thing Italy could do for the rest of his life, without stopping and without fail, it would be to kiss Germany and trace his hands down his muscled back and along his arms to his hands that were strong but so so gentle with him when he needed that and rough when he wanted it. His heart was singing with joy but something brewed behind the joy, something that made his stomach knot up with irrational cold bursts of fear but he focused on the movement of his lips, on the blonde hair wrapped around his fingers. Everything was fine, he had no reason to be scared for he was with Germany who would make it okay ad his baby was happy within him, so why should he be afraid?Sitting at the table Italy hummed softly as he wrote out a list of things they'd need to grab before the baby, just a few last minute things, and he rocked his heels under the table while he ate an apple looking over the list. He was excited for the month to fly by so he could have his baby, to complete their family with the girl they'd been aiming for and he smiled happily stroking his belly where the baby kicked now happily like she approved the apple he was eating. He had cramps on and off all day long but like he had mentioned to Germany it could have something to do with the on and off constipation he'd been dealing with lately and he didn't look much into it for he had a good knowledge of his own body. He tapped the pen against the lined paper creating a small dot from the ink and the many times he tapped in the same spot as he ate his apple when he looked to the kitchen window out where Germany chased the boys around the yard. He smiled at the sight of Germany throwing Giovanni into the air making the boy scream with laughter as he was launched up towards the blue sky and Wolfram squealed when Giovanni was put down only for the blonde to be thrown up next then spun in circles. The twins loved playing with their father and mother but they understood that because of the baby Italy truly couldn't throw or pick up the boys for they were too heavy but they drew together at the table every afternoon or colored in coloring books which appeased the twins. If someone had come up and asked him that second Italy could admit he knew when the moment went from warm and adoring to cold with fear and it all came down to a single minor change in his body as he went to stand up. He had wanted to get a closer look at his husband and sons, adoring the sight of a playful Germany with the boys but when he stood up the pressure in his pelvis throbbed with a cramp so vicious pain speared up into his stomach. He gasped out in surprise when his heart began racing with fear, his hand flying to his belly where the baby kicked him urgently like she was trying to warn him and he cried out at the pain that ripped through him a second time. He walked around the table taking his time while he prayed silently, terrified promises he wasn't sure he could keep to God and got to the back door throwing the door open gasping in air to scream for Germany who looked up at the door and something in Italy's face made his go dark. "Lu-Ludwig! Somethings wr-wrong!" Understanding then lit in his blue eyes along with the same fear Italy had coursing through his veins as his bod ached from the building pain that would strike minutes between that he now recognized instinctively as contractions but it made no sense! He was another three weeks away from being nine months! He had a due date then, so what had he done wrong to trigger the contractions? He watched Germany herd the children to the car where they ran, looking as frantic as their father who rushed to the backdoor taking Italy's hands pulling him too the door and Italy could hear Germany's dogs barking from upstairs somewhere. He felt horrible but as he walked to the car the pain made all else fade away, seemed insignificant compared to his baby who was kicking him rapidly, squirming and he was terrified he was losing her as she kicked at him fiercely. The boys thankfully buckled themselves in as Germany got Italy to sit down only for a wave of pain to wash over him as he cried out in pain when the door shut and Germany climbed into the drivers side, not bothering with a seat belt, and turned the car only to screech backwards. Giovanni's face was ashen at the speed when they pulled onto the street that even his brother's assurances weren't enough to calm him while they sped towards the hospital and Italy felt guilt when he stared at Giovanni and he panted quietly when he twisted in his seat holding out a hand. "Gi-Giovanni, it's okay, tesoro! It seems your little sister just wants out sooner than we thought!" Italy got the words out when his son placed his hand in his hesitantly and Italy squeezed it comfortingly. "Don't worry! Papa is going to ca-call your Uncles and have them sit wi-with you too, alright? It's all going to be okay, I promise!" Germany's jaw was tight but Italy took his other hand resting it on his husband's arm which was tight as he sped ever so slightly down the road, daring to go as fast as he could without the police pulling them over when Italy saw the turn off sign for the hospital. Italy knew Germany as just as scared as he was, worried sick that something more might be going on than premature labor and Italy refused to let that thought branch off the way his mind wanted it too when they screeched into the parking lot of the hospital. Italy was worried Germany would hit something but the blonde was very careful as he pulled up to the front doors of the hospital, jumping out of the car with it still running as he rushed into the hospital and three pairs of eyes widened, waiting when pain washed over Italy. He rubbed his belly comfortingly which felt much too tense under his hand, too hard, and he bit his lip when he saw Germany running out with a few nurses and his doctor, a wheelchair held tight in one of the nurses hands and Germany opened the door. "Hallo, Mr. Italy, it's a rather unexpected drop in! Vould you like some assistance getting into the vheel chair?" Dr. Hofmann questioned, obviously aiming for a joking almost casual tone but it failed due to the worry in his dark blue eyes. When Italy nodded he had to grit his teeth through the pain in his pelvis as he stood then was directed to the chair and sat with a huff as he was turned around with a little yelp when he looked up at the doctor he had seen the last time he was here. "So, Mr. Italy, your husband said you vere in pain? Vould you mind showing me or telling me vhere that pain vould be right now?" "It's down in my pe-pelvis but I keep feeling bad pain in my be-belly and back sometimes!" He whimpered the words around a wave of pain and he squirmed in the chair, not comfortable in the slightest bit in sitting due to the pressure down there. "It's li-like contractions and I would know, since I had the twins! It feels uncomfortable down there too!" He hated the pressure underneath him when the doctor spoke quickly to the nurse by his side who ran ahead and Italy searched for Germany anxiously. "Wh-Where's Ludwig? Where is he?" "Don't vorry, he's parking the car und calling his or your bruder at this very moment und he'll be right in after he gets the children under the supervision of a nurse so he can come in vith you." Dr. Hofmann sighed out then when he smiled in a rather politely friendly way at Italy. "It is a lovely day to be having a baby, don't you think so?" Italy looked up at the question, pain no doubt mangling his features when the doctor patted Italy's hand softly. "Ve are going to make sure that everything goes perfectly, Mr. Italy, und ve'll make sure your baby is just fine along vith you health as vell. I just need to look you over in the examination room so I can see if there's anything happening down there." Italy went quiet after that when he was wheeled through the halls that smelled of disinfectant and the familiar smell one would associate with a hospital, all sterile and stark white as he was wheeled towards the examination room and the entire time he was bewildered. One moment he was happily adoring his husband for playing with their sons and the next pain was taking over every thought of his as he worried for his little baby who kicked him fiercely as if she were telling him she wouldn't go down without a fight. He rubbed his aching belly when he was brought into the examination room and he stood up on shaky legs as he was helped take his clothing off and put into one of the hospital gowns then, with an apologetic look to the nurses, was helped onto the examination table but he got comforting pats and soft words. When his legs went into the stirrups he whimpered wishing Germany would hurry and come to him so he could hold onto his husband's hand during this so he wouldn't feel as alone as he did right then when Dr. Hofmann sat in a rolling chair after washing his hands and took a breath. "Alright! Let's just see vhat's going on, alright?" He seemed to be talking to Italy but at the moment it almost seemed to be to himself when he got his wriggled his hands into the white sterile gloves and he rubbed his hands together. Then he lifted Itay's gown to his knees making the Italian blush but felt that heat drain right out of his face in the next instant at the surprised, even shocked look on the doctors face when he looked up at Italy with wide dark blue eyes then called for the nurse who fluttered over. "Call the maternity vard, now, ve need a room right this second if they can manage it und if not then ve'll stay here und have them bring the equipment." Then he turned to Italy who stared with wide amber eyes. "Mr. Italy, you were right about the contractions however it would seem that you're actually crowning right now, I can just see the baby's head." "What! I'm having her right now? Isn't this bad that she's a month early?" Italy yelped with fear circling through him when the door flew open with a panting Germany standing there only to rush over to Italy, stroking his hair away from his face when Italy's eyes welled with tears when he looked up at Germany. "Luddy, the baby's coming! She's coming now! It's too early, it's a whole month early! Did I do something wrong this time? Why is she coming so early?" "Vell, Mr. Italy, vhile eight months would be considered a month early I can tell you vith full assurance that your baby vas full term last time I checked so there shouldn't be a single problem vith the baby vhen she comes. Some babies just come early, much earlier than thought, but it's nothing you did to trigger it the baby just decided she vants out earlier than planned is all." Dr. Hofmann replied when the nurse returned speaking to him in a low voice that first there was surprise then irritation clouding his face when he sighed. "Of course there's no room down there. Mr. Italy, I'm going to have to get you set up here und since you're already beginning to crown I'll say you're going to be able to start pushing here very very soon. Vhen I get back I'll check on the progress though I have a feeling you'll be ready for delivery soon enough." The doctor patted Italy's shin comfortingly when he got up following the nurse out of the room and Italy looked up at German with fear in his eyes at the thought of delivering a baby right now so he squeezed Germany's hand tightly. "It'll be alright, sveetheart, just think about vhat he said. It's not bad, in fact the baby seems eager than ever to meet her Mutter, don't you think? It'll be just fine, liebling, I promise! In fact, my bruder is fit to burst any day now? The doctors don't think he'll make it to nine months but I'm sure he vill for if that man is made out of anything it's spite und steel keeping him going so strong during this whole thing. Your bruder actually got here before mine, he drove like a madman according to Spain und Cris but he's vorried about you right now und vas yelling at a nurse last I saw about vanting to see you soon as possible.""Fratello always was an overbearing man when irritated, like our Nonno used to be when the situation called for it." He giggled weakly then as Germany stroked the tears away from his lashes where the clung stubbornly and he then smiled softly. "Do you really think the baby wants to see me that bad? I honestly thought she was happier in my belly than anything, but it still makes me scared she's early and that I'm going to have her any mome-" His face paled when he gasped a painful wave along with this instinctive need to push, to relieve himself of the pressure in his bottom half and he whimpered while clinging to Germany's hand. At that moment the doctor walked back in with his hair brushed away from his face as he sat down in front of Italy once again, taking one look between Italy's legs and nodded looking up to meet Italy's eyes when he took a deep breath. "Alright, I vant you to start pushing, Mr. Italy. Ready? I'm going to count to five vhile you push, I vant you to keep up until I reach five, alright? Ready, set and go!" His words gave Italy some hope as he bore down, gritting his teeth while his face turned red as tears gushed down his cheeks making he blink to clear his vision. When the doctor got to five Italy was tired abruptly from the rough pushing but the doctor looked up again urging him to keep going and Italy then gathered his breath and began bearing down again when a contraction ripped through him making him scream. He spent a lot of time, pushing, straining and crying with screaming in between as the baby came both slow but not fast enough for the pain made Italy dizzy the longer he pushed and he began begging for someone to just pull her out that by the time her head popped out he wanted nothing more than to stop. He was giving praises from Dr. Hofmann, the nurses beside him and Germany's soft voice in his ear was begging him to keep going and with that he spent the next twenty minutes screaming but he felt like he had truly been screaming for centuries. He knew he screamed profanities, curses and threats but he kept going for he knew it had to be worth it which he kept in mind that the moment he finished the daughter of his dreams would be there in his arms. And yet he could hear his screams turning to howls of pain but he couldn't quite connect them to himself. However, thirty solid minutes of pushing came to an end when Italy gasped in air so suddenly it hurt his throat and his body jerked when he felt the baby slide out making his head spin at the sudden lack of pain and pressure for that moment. He leaned back against the bed when she wailed from down between his legs, loud and angry almost like she had been fighting her mother's body when he was then holding a small bloody screaming child who sent warmth through his veins when she was taken away before he could get a closer look and Germany kissed his sweaty face softly before going down to cut the umbilical cord and was back moments later. "She's stunning, liebling, you did vunderbar! They're taking her to be vashed up und to check her veight so ve can sign her birth certificate." Germany then smiled at Italy, the first warm smile that the Italian had seen all day long when he wondered if it truly had been all day long. Surely they were in late afternoon, right? Or would it just be the middle of the afternoon? He was confused on the time for he had spent thirty minutes in a world encompassed by pain and he was distracted when he had the nurse help remove the placenta which gave one final stab of pain for his weary body but it was done. Germany was by his side as Italy was then wheeled out of the room, surprisingly, but Germany murmured he had a room in the recovery wing and he shut his eyes for a moment while he was wheeled through the halls. He was sore, as he ought be after delivering a baby, but it throbbed softly making him want to cry but like he had believed from the beginning was true for they had a little girl who was perfect despite being born a month early and he craved to hold her. He HAD to hold his daughter, see her to make sure she truly was okay despite her early appearance and when he got to the room he felt like ordering for his daughter when the door opened which allowed Prussia, Austria, their children along with Romano and Spain with their two, hell even Hungary was there! His sons rushed to the bed looking worried, the first time they truly appeared identical and he assured his sons he was fine, assured the others he was that while it was giving him something to do right then but he still wanted his baby. It was like his very wish came true when the nurse shuffled into the room with a polite smile on her lips as she walked forward with the small plastic bassinet and stopped right next to Italy. When he held his arms out Germany took a seat right next to him as the bundle of blankets was placed in his arms and he took a look at her little face. "Oh! Look at her, Luddy!" He breathed the words as if the child had just punched a whole in his chest and he couldn't bear to say it louder. Germany smiled looking at the baby in his husband's arms while Italy marveled at the baby who whined, squirming in her blankets as her little hands rested close to her chubby face and he stroked her cheek crooning to her softly."Ciao, bambina! Sembri tuo padre! Mi chiedo, hai anche i suoi occhi?"His daughter was lovelier than he ever imagined with pale skin so much like her father's, her cheeks red from crying earlier and she wriggled with a whimper in his arms as her little hands rubbed at her face impatiently, making her mother giggle softly as he stroked her wisps of blonde hair. They covered her little head, the color being the exact shade of her father's that Italy was waiting eagerly waited for her to open her eyes as she whined again, her little lashes parting to reveal large brilliant irises of amber like her mother's as she winced against the light. "She's pretty, Mama! She has Giovanni's eyes!" Italy giggled poking Wolfram's nose making the boy giggle with him while Giovanni blushed when Prussia ruffled his hair, his stomach larger than Italy remembered and returned his gaze to the baby in his arms as she whined lightly again but stared at Italy with rapt awe. "That's because your brother has my eyes, silly boy!" He smiled then happily at his daughter who looked up past him now, her amber eyes curious about the beeping around her, at the many faces circling her and her mother when Italy lifted her up kissing her tiny nose making it wrinkle it up. "She's more beautiful than I imagined her being! Look at her, little Cecelia Rae Beilschmidt." The baby blinked at her name curiously then opted for snuggling down into her mother's chest and Italy laughed as he cuddled the baby in return and he kissed her silky head feeling each drop of love he felt for his little daughter fill his chest painfully as he smiled.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Prussia's lashes fluttered open for the simple reason of the couch being much to uncomfortable for his sore back that when he sat up he was momentarily dizzy from the position he had been in and he blinked groggily a few times when he looked over at the playpen where Fritz was currently napping and he stroked his large stomach. He felt huge, absolutely humongous by this point that he honestly wished his baby would come early like Italy's had but his baby was stubborn and happily stayed in his stomach and Prussia sighed swirling designs on his large stomach. He looked over at his son, sleeping in the playpen and he stood up grunting softly to himself as he walked across the room to the playpen then leaned against the edge lightly staring down at the one year old for a moment in contemplative silence. Fritz was sprawled out on his back, hands curled near his face as he snored lightly, his little belly rising and falling with each breath he took and Prussia leaned down poking his son's cheek lightly but got no reaction as he expected and sighed. Fritz still crawled everywhere but with the assistance of his mother he was taking clumsy practice steps that it was truly only a matter of time until his son was walking like the champ that he was, he just seemed somewhat stubborn when it came down too it. He looked over when the front door opened, his daughters chattering happily together when they walked into the living room and he held a finger to his lips smirking at the two girls who blinked then smiled when he straightened up. He walked over to the girls throwing his arms around them ruffling their hair with a soft cackle as they walked to the doorway of the living room taking his hands from their hair but kept his arms around both of his daughters. "So, vhat did you think about shopping vith Mutti?" Prussia questioned when both girls look up at him with bright eyes and he smirked down at them walking to the kitchen following the sound of rustling bags, walking right up to Austria who jumped at the arms around him. "So, vhat did you get me at the store?" "Nothing, if you vant to keep scaring me like that!" Austria replied indignantly then smiled over his shoulder, a playful sparkle in his eyes when he then turned back to the bags tugging the groceries out and Prussia moved to the side of him smiling when he kissed his cheek softly. "How vas everything vhen ve left? I take it that Fritz und yourself took a nice nap, hmm?" Prussia pulled a chair out sighing as he plopped down, the baby kicking him with zero mercy making him wince for a moment then rub the large curve which seemed to sooth the baby for a moment. "Ja, the couch isn't very comfortable though, is it, mein kleines monster?" He crooned the words to his stomach where the baby punched him, from the feel of it, and he laughed now patting his stomach affectionately while Austria smile and he leaned his cheek into his hand staring at Austria. "So, vhat are ve having for dinner? Is it going to be something good? Oh, just to remind you in case you forgot my bruder is coming over on Saturday to have dinner vith us." Mia brightened at the thought of seeing her Uncles and cousins, her violet eyes sparkling happily and Astrid snickered at her little sister while Austria opened the cabinet to put the pasta and snacks away. "Of course I remember, it's not like I'd forget they vere coming over for dinner! Und I'll figure something out for dinner, don't vorry!" He hesitated then before deciding, with a sigh, that there was only so long he could prolong his next words and especially with the girls knowing about it. "By the vay, Gilbert, vhether you like it or not Hungary is on her vay over here to see us." He could practically feel Prussia's outrage but more than anything he saw the worry in his eyes when he turned to look at his lover and Austria circled his arms around his shoulders kissing his silver locks of hair softly. "Don't vorry, I'm not going to be angry vith you anymore. It is vhat it is but you need to do this." "Und ve're sure it's my kid?" Prussia replied stiffly feeling Austria nod softly and he sighed out covering his face with his hands feeling the emotions surging through his chest painfully as Austria squeezed him softly but comfortingly as he stroked his tense forearms softly. "I'm sorry, Roddy. " Austria knew his words were trying to make up for something larger than a simple baby but it was true what the brunette had said; he wasn't angry, he wasn't upset or anything of the sort for he knew that the chance was there for the baby to be Prussia's. Prussia tensed up when the sound of car door slamming could be heard from outside and Austria turned to the girls grabbing two bags handing them to the girls who watched their parents warily when Austria smiled softly at them. "Bring your things upstairs und vhen I call for you you can show your Vati vhat you got at the store, okay? Just go up there for now und I'll call for you two, alright? Don't look so scared, there von't be any fighting I promise, lieblinge." He kissed Astrid's silky silver locks then Mia's chestnut brown ones softly then allowed the girls to run for the stiars, rushing up them when the doorbell rang out making Prussia take a deep breath. "I'm checking on Fritz, see if he's vake und feels like valking or something." Prussia muttered the words standing up quickly, the chair screeching against the floor as he walked to the living room and Austria picked at his lip worriedly then turned walking to the front door. His lover truly was torn up, upset about the whole situation but Austria had time to accept and forgive the both of them for one drunken mistake and he had come to terms that Prussia may have a baby with his ex-wife but he had accepted it. He forgave the Prussian and the Hungarian for the moment he saw that baby when he ran into her at the store he knew he couldn't hate or be angry at a baby, she was innocent in it all! Taking a breath he stood in front of the door listening to Fritz squeal at the sight of his father and he opened the door revealing Hungary who stood there looking just as torn up as Prussia had, the car seat resting in the crook of her elbow with tiny little sounds leaving the blankets inside and he opened the door wide. "Hallo, Elizaveta! You look vell, like alvays! Vhy don't you come in und sit down? Do you vant coffee, tea? Something to drink?" Austria offered as he shut the door behind the woman who hesitated for a moment then shook her head and Austria took her free hand squeezing it softly which made large green eyes lift to him. "It's alright, Elizaveta, he's not angry today nor am I. If anything he needs to see his daughter before ve had our own und he need to accept this child before he gives birth. Come on, it's alright!" "I know YOU'RE not angry but even if he isn't how do you know he won't refuse her? Deny her and any relation to her?" Hungary whispered the words, her lips trembling when a glisten came to those large green eyes that tugged at Austria's chest but then she shook her head, brown locks swaying and she looked up with determination now."I need to do this, not just for me but for her. She's the only important one that matters right now, not I or Prussia or some shitty past we may share together, it's about this baby right now. I'm scared but if I don't do it now I'll never have the strength to do it!" Entering the living room was like entering a battlefield, unsure of where the attack might be coming from but all there stood was a heavily pregnant Prussia helping Fritz out of the playpen who smiled when his feet touched the floor. The one year old stared up at his father curiously then to his mother, his ruby eyes sparkling when he reached out to his mother squealing joyfully as he smiled brilliantly to show off the four teeth he had growing in the front, each one coming in rather quick in the back but seemed to be taking their time in the front but it gave him an adorable edge. "Mutti! Mutti, up!" He chirped his words bouncing on his toes happily as he stretched towards Austria who smiled as he walked towards him but stopped in the middle of the room when Fritz narrowed his large eyes looking down at his feet. "Vhat's the matter, kiddo? Don't you vant Mutti?" Prussia questioned making the baby look up with wide eyes then looked at his mother with a curious glance then back up at his father who ruffled his chestnut brown locks of hair carefully. "Come on, kiddo, Vati knows you can valk you just have to believe in yourself! Valk to Mutti, I know you can do that!" Fritz stared up wide eyed at his father then down at his feet with the same curious look then up too Austria with a determination in his eyes that matched his father's. He then picked one foot up, wobbling when he moved forward but then he took another step then another and another with his confidence growing until he was walking right into the familiar arms of his mother, squealing happily as Austria picked his son up swirling him around. "Vunderbar, Fritz! Absolut vunderbar, mein kleiner Prinz! Just you vait until your Onkels hear about it! They'll be so proud too!" Austria crooned the words to the one year old who giggled happily while cupping his mother's face with his little hands, his nails lightly scratching his cheeks and the joy was so infectious that it was helpless to fight it. That is, of course, until Hungary put the car seat down unbuckling it with a gentle click as she then pulled the baby out of the seat and Austria smiled at Prussia who looked worried at the sight of the bundle and Austria gestured with his head. "Go on, Gilbert, hold her. Vhether you meant too or not you created a beautiful little daughter."Prussia looked hesitant to reach out towards the baby but he walked forward to stand by Austria's side looking like he was expecting someone to cut his arm off, not hand him a baby and when Hungary did place the baby in his arms he looked down. The little hat on her head had been taken off moments before and while Prussia tried to assume a disinterest in the baby but the sight of the little silver wisps of hair, her large green eyes staring rather adoringly up at her father were too much and Austria could see that the baby had him wrapped around her tiny fingers. Hungary was watching intently, holding her breath practically, when he lifted his hand up stroking the wisps of silver hair on her head which made the baby's green eyes widen curiously at him and he hesitated before speaking. "I think she looks a shit ton like Hungary all she got from me is the hair." "Nu-uh! You're not looking hard enough, let me show you." She interjected moving to his side, her cheek nearly couching his when she touched the baby's little nose making the baby smile at her mother, wriggling her legs lightly in response to the touch. "She has your nose shape, your chin and eye brow arch, see? I think she'll even have your cheek bones when she's older but we don't know that yet since she's still a baby but I think she looks like you the most, Pru- Gilbert. I'm there in her eye shape and color but the rest is all you. Her name is Réka, by the way." Prussia blinked then when the Réka's large eyes shifted to him curiously once more and he hesitated then stroked her silver wisps of hair again. "They look....nice. The coloring, I mean, she looks almost Christmasy vith the silver und green, like those tacky bags they alvays put out near Christmas but they look good on her." He then hesitated when his lips twitched into a smile as he looked at the baby in his arms, her eyes now permanently locked onto him like she was gauging his reactions and he then stroked the bridge of her tiny nose. "I only hope she grows out of the silver hair und her hair turns brown instead, vhen she's bigger. No need for another silver haired kid running around confusing everyvun." "Ha! You can only wish that that'll happen for I have a feeling it's going to stick to her, that silver coloring." Hungary replied when she poked Réka's cheek softly making the baby whine and she then smiled at her daughter which got her a brief smile in response. Austria held Fritz who was playing with the iron cross Prussia gave to him, babbling too his mother when he then kissed Fritz's cheek turning on his heel smiling with satisfaction that the two of them were actually getting along for once and even if it was for the sake of little Réka he had a feeling that their friendship would be reestablished sooner or later. He kissed Fritz's chestnut locks softly when the baby smiled up at him again rather joyfully as he gurgled softly, jumping right back into his baby babble like he was telling his mother a long beautiful story and Austria smiled listening to each babble happily. "Ugh, I'm so ready to pop this kid out!" Austria smirked looking over at Prussia who was sprawled out on the bed, the large bump looking more like a small mountain in that position and his eyes were tired but it was easy to see he was truly tired of the pregnancy and there was still two months left. "Can't they just induce me next month? Vhy do I have to go a full two months before they feel like doing anything? This fucking SUCKS!" Austria chuckled walking over to the bed sitting down on his side then looking down at Prussia's grumpy face and stroke the silver locks away from his face bending down kissing the tip of his nose softly making it wrinkle up in response. "Don't vorry, the next two months vill fly by I promise! Then you can go back to your gossiping vays vith Spain und France like you used too every Saturday night but I think you're going to miss being pregnant vhen this is all over vith." Austria replied with a rather knowing tone that had Prussia scowling up at him while the brunette chuckled at him fondly and he rubbed the tip of his nose with his finger making the Prussian whine in response, reaching up to swat his hand away when Austria pulled it away before he could. "Come on, don't you think I have the right to tease you just a little bit? Or can the great und awesome Gilbert not take a little teasing?" "Shut up!" Prussia mumble the words like a sulking child, his eyes shifting away from Austria's rather amused ones and the albino surged up huffing at the slight struggle but got to his feet walking towards the bedroom door. "I'm getting something to drink since you vant to be a douche to my uncomfortable sadness! I'll come back vhen you're nice to me!" Austria blinked at his lover's words then burst with laughter, holding his stomach even and Prussia scowled at the brunette before opening their bedroom door and walking out into the hall way shutting the door firmly behind him when all he wanted was to slam it but it was late, the girls were in bed and Fritz would be up all night. So he settled adding a little extra stomp down as he went down the stairs sighing when the baby kicked at him and he rubbed his stomach which inspired a few more hits against his hand, the baby moving more than he ever had and Prussia patted his stomach as he walked into the bright kitchen blinking. "Vhat are you up too, trouble?" "Nothing, I got thirsty so I came down und got a drink! Are you okay, Vati? I heard you stomping down the stairs, you souned like Mia when she's mad!" She giggled softly, the sound working to make his lips twitch into a rather happy smile and he sighed out sitting at the table looking at his daughter. He hadn't noticed earlier but his daughter's hair hung closer to her jaw now, her fingers plucking at the silver locks when she looked to her father tilting her head to the side slightly as she continued playing with her silver locks. "Vati, do you think that you could cut my hair in the morning? It's getting long again und I don't vant Mutti to tell me to grow it out." He smiled at his daughter while leaning his cheek into his hand looking at the young girl and then pretended to check his nails with a blase expression on his face no doubt. "Hmmm, maybe, I'd have to move some things around." He then looked up to see his daughter smirking at him happily, her ruby eyes absolutely wicked as she stared at her father and he was helpless when he smirked back at his daughter laughing now as he leaned back in his seat. "Sure thing, kid, I'll cut your hair first thing in the morning right after ve have breakfast." "Danke, Vati! It's annoying vith it even this long! I keep having to brush it out of my face und I'm going to be playing vith Cristiano und Liam today, so I need my hair cut so I don't trip over my feet or something! I like having short hair too, it's super easy to take care of too!" Astrid tucked her behind her ears sighing when she drained the last of her chocolate milk beforee placing the cup in the sink and smiling at her father when he stood up groaning softly. "Do you think the baby vill come out soon, Vati?""Ja, I'm hoping so! This kid is too big und he's killing my back vhen I sleep, I don't know how your Onkel vent through this so easily up until a few days ago!" Prussia groaned the words fisting his lower back then smiled at his daughter who walked up to him touching his large stomach, stroking the curve softly with a curious sort of awe in her eyes."Mutti thinks ve're having another girl, Mia is agreeing vith him because she vants another sister but between you und I, I think it's going to be a boy. Vati's intuition is never vrong, as you know by now." They shared a smirk when he ruffled her hair softly again making her giggle happily and his smirk widened. "You know, you hang out vith Cris so much you'd think that if I didn't know you like the back of my hand I'd have half the mind to think you have a crush on that poor boy!" Astrid snorted then, her smirk wide on her face which made a sparkle dance in her eyes when she looked up at her father with the devious sparkle he adored in her eyes and she patted his stomach softly. "Ha! You vish! Everyvun knows Cris likes Austynn und Austynn likes Cris! I'm going to be a free lady, nothing to hold me down so I can travel vherever I go! If I get married und have kids I'll never be able to do vhat I vant vhen I vant!" Prussia was taken aback by how firm his daughter's words were, how mature they seemed in that moment and he blinked a few times staring at his daughter then smirked ruffling her hair, squishing her cheeks making her giggle. "Vell, look at my girl! Thinking about the future already, acting like Vati vould villing let you have babies of your own! I'm old, ja, but not so old I need grandchildren from any of you for a long long time!" Prussia scolded playfully making the little albino laugh happily as she swatted at her father playfully but he simply pulled on her cheeks in response making her laugh at the stretch and he released her little face ruffling her hair. "Alright, kiddo, vhy don't you head upstairs for now? You've got a long day today vith Cris und you have school on Monday, no need to give yourself a vonky sleep schedule! Go on, get up there so you can sleep!" "Allright! Gute Nacht, Vati!" He bent down best as possible until Astrid leaned up kissing her father's cheek, giving him a hug that made her cheek smoosh up against the curve of her father's extended belly and she smiled giggling. "See you in the morning, Vati! Hopefully the baby vill let you sleep tonight!" She then rushed out of the kitchen running up the stairs with light thumps and Prussia sighed rubbing his stomach knowing better than anyone that the baby would keep him up tonight but he was determined to get some sleep. It was just hard when someone was kicking and punching you all night long, squirming around in there too. He opened the fridge deciding to have a cup of chocolate milk like Astrid, walking over to the cabinet grabbing a cup then going back to the fridge tugging the gallon of chocolate milk out pouring a full cup that he then proceeded to chug like he'd been dying of thirst. He gulped it down feeling a trail of milk run down his chin when he heard feet on the stairs once again making him lower the cup, filling it half way this time before closing the cover and putting it in the fridge.He picked that cup up gulping down the chocolate milk once again when Austria walked into the kitchen raising a brow at the albino. "Really? You got so upset vith me that you valked off to come down here und chug as much chocolate milk as you can?" Prussia widened his eyes for what he hoped was an innocent look and Austria crossed his arms. "Don't blame me vhen that chocolate milk comes back up!" "It von't! The kid is loving it, dancing I bet from how good this chocolate milk is! Aren't you, kiddo?" He patted the side of his large stomach chuckling softly at the feel of the baby punching at him in what felt like agreement and he stroked his stomach sighing out once again when he then placed his empty cup in the sink. "I can believe I have five kids! How did I end up vith so many damn kids? I thought Toni, America or Francis vould of had more kids than me! Ugh, so many children I have!" Austria laughed then walking over to Prussia who pouted at his lover who kissed his cheek softly and stroked his silver hair back looking at him affectionately. "Vell, think of it this vay, the more children you have the more that you're likely to be proud of vhen the time calls for it." Austria moved his fingers through Prussia's silver locks smiling happily at the man and he then slid his hands down to cup his face. "I don't mind so many children, after all the girls vill be grown before ve know it along vith this new baby und Fritz, it'll be nice having a few young children around. The moment ve blink or look avay they're going to be grown up und von't need to hold our hands anymore like they do know. It's a bit sad to think abut, honestly.""Ja, it is but everything und everyvun grows up! If I'm going to be honest I truly can't vait to see West's daughter all grown up und see how many hearts she ends up breaking!" He cackled when Austria giggled at the thought it was true! Prussia said so when he held the baby that one day she'll be a heart breaker with those looks of hers that she'll surely only grow into and it made him amused to think of his little niece being that confident and he cackled again stroking hiis belly. "Same vith my boys, they'll certainly be heart breakers themselves, if they keep taking after you, Roddy." Austria blushed at his words which made him smirk as he leaned in kissing his hot cheek softly and the Austrian sighed like he was fed up with Prussia but smiled at him. "Come on, enough flattery, let's get back to bed. Ve have a very long day ahead of us!" Austria sighed the words but Prussia knew he was just as excited as he at the thought of helping Fritz grow confident in his walking and he took Austria's hand as they walked around the kitchen table. It was moments like these that Prussia truly was grateful their lives had intersected, come together finally when they did and it was moments like these that he felt that Austria was one of the most precious things in his life he'd die without. He looked at the Austrian when they got to the stairs, stopping in his tracks to just stare at his lover who looked back at him blinking his wide violet eyes and watched those dark brows pull together. "Vhat? Vhat, is there something on me?" "Nein, just vanted to admire the view!" Prussia replied cheerfully when he climbed up the stairs next to Austria who was stammering, his face a bright red that made Prussia laugh but he was just being honest to his Austrian for he really did love to just stop and admired Austria in all his beauty. He had gotten lucky with this life he led with Austria, lucky that he was forgiven and he was lucky that Austria loved him just as much as Prussia loved him, that Austria wanted to be with him despite all of his stupid moments and large messes. He knew that each time Austria had been married that none other had felt the love that beat through him like whispers of joy, as if his very cells were rejoicing each time he touched Austria and he knew that no one loved this man as much as Prussia did. He climbed up the stairs with Austria's help, clinging to his hand as he did so and he smiled happily at Austria as they walked to their room and the baby kicked him like he too was joyful at the touch of his other parent. Everything always fell into place and he was more than grateful that it had fallen together this way.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"Ugh, please tell me we won't stay long tonight." Romano mumbled the words as he slumped in the passenger side of the car, Cristiano in the back making his brother squeal with laughter in the backseat and Spain took a peek at his husband with a frown on his lips. It had been a long day with Cristiano, Liam and Astrid playing together mixed with Salvador ringing a good portion of the day which left Romano with a headache that seemed to worsen throughout the day that he had to take a few pain pills to help with it before they went to Italy's. "Damn idiot always chooses the wrong fucking times to have dinner together, I swear! Fucking dense is all he is!" "Lovi, I'm sure all he wants is for you to visit with your little niece again! I know I can't wait to see her! It'll be okay, Lovi, I promise and once the medicine kicks in I'm sure you'll start feeling better by the time we get there!" He then paused only to smile when Romano glared at him and he turned his turn signal on when he turned, using that moment for some kind of mystery for his husband who glared fiercely at him just like usual. "Italy told me he was making he was making lasagna alla bolognese just for us! It's something easy and something the children will eat as well, so it works out for everyone! He said he made it because he knows you don't like Germany much and he wanted to make something that would kind of make you happier while we're over!" Romano looked away then to the window where he sulked as Salvador screeched with joy behind him at whatever Cristiano had done and the boy laughed with him and Romano sighed out heavily when he peeked at his husband who hummed softly to the low music on the radio. "I'll try to be nice tonight." He mumbled the words which got him a brilliant smile from Spain that brought a fierce blush to Romano's face so he turned towards the window hiding his face from Spain's view and he sighed through his nose. He wanted nothing more than to just go to sleep, to get his sons ready for bed and pass out until next week but his brother wanted to see him and he did want to make sure the younger Italian was okay after the birth he'd went through. He straightened up with a sigh when they pulled into the driveway of Germany's home, Romano snorting in disdain while Cristiano bounced in his seat obviously excited at seeing his Uncle Feli again and Spain turned the car off. Romano was unbuckled and throwing his door open as fast as Cristiano but he walked to the back as Cristiano jumped out smiling as the cool air hit his face and Romano leaned in unbuckling Salvador tugging him up into his arms as the nine month old gurgled softly in response. Spain locked the doors before shutting his own, the keys being stuffed in his pocket as the four of them walked up to the door and Romano shifted Salvador who was trying to grab his mother's bouncing curl, curiosity glimmering bright in the baby's hazel eyes. Spain smiled ringing the door bell when Cristiano threw his arms around his father's waist, cheek against his side only to giggle when his father ruffled his hair while they waited and Romano narrowed his eyes at his husband when the minutes ticked by. He lightly bounced the baby wondering if Spain had gotten the day wrong for normally when they rang the bell Italy would be flying to the door, flinging it open then pulling them all into his home but this time there was no response. When Romano opened his mouth the door flew open making the family jump in alarm to see Italy standing there, panting softly looking like he had run down five flights of stairs in order to get to the door but what got to the elder Italian was how tired Italy appeared. There as light blue markings under his eyes, his hair was messy and his clothes were neat like they normally were but wrinkled, his shirt hanging over his jeans and he looked about five seconds from falling apart but when he smiled it was like nothing was wrong. "Ciao! Ciao! Come in!" He opened the door allowing Spain to pick Cristiano up before walking into the house and Salvador made a loud, high sound that made Italy beam at the sight of his smaller nephew. "Ciao, little Salvador! You seem bigger and bigger each time I see you!" "I know, he's growing too fast. It's like every time I blink he gets bigger and goes through another growth spurt before I can even get used to how he was moments before but I don't mind, it's not like I'm having another baby any time soon. " Romano shrugged but smiled at Salvador who reached for his mother's face, a smile on his little face that was as bright as Spain's as his chubby hand tried then reaching for his mother's curl which had formed a heart. He lifted the baby up nuzzling his cheek against the baby's chubby one making Salvador squeal loudly in response at his mother's face being so close and he kicked his legs excitedly and Romano then moved him into a cradle hold. "It's not like he'll turn into a toddler over night after all. So, speaking of babies, where's yours?" "Oh! Luddy is upstairs changing her diaper! He's going to bring her down in just a minute, now let me see my little nipote!" Thankfully Salvador was in a cheerful mood thanks to his brother's antics in the car and he handed Salvador to Italy who took the nine month old happily spinning a few times crooning to the baby as he flitted to the living room and Romano rolled his eyes. He followed after his chipper brother with a sigh into the living room where Cristiano, Wolfram and Giovanni were talking among one another as they sat over towards the right corner of the room by the toy-box and he sat next to Spain on the couch. "So, Roma, how are you and Spain?" "We're fine, little Italy! Salvador takes much of our time so it's easy not to pay attention to times and days half the time when it comes to the baby but we've been alright! Cris is doing very well in school and we're talking about getting the baby into preschool around three years old. It'll give us the day time to do what we want, whether it be go out for breakfast or lunch before returning to our roles as parents!" Spain smiled at Romano who blushed at his words, scowling for a moment when Germany walked into the room with the fussy baby and Spain smiled at the blonde happily, brightly even making Romano's scowl deepen at his husband for a moment."Look, there's our little sobrina! How is little Cecelia?" "Fussy, very fussy." Germany replied tiredly as he sat down next to Italy on the couch, the nine month old in Italy's lap looked at the whining baby in Germany's arms curiously, his face worried when he began whimpering softly with the baby. Italy heard a few of those whimpers sliding out of Salvador and he stroked his soft dark brown locks gently murmuring to the baby in Italian and Germany looked apologetically to Romano and Spain who watched Salvador. "She's very restless, not a lot of vhat ve do can soothe her but most days she's in a good mood! I think she's tired tonight." "Give me her." Romano stood up holding his hands up when the three adults looked at him in surprise and he narrowed his eyes as Salvador's whimpering increased at the sight of his mother. "Well? Let me see her, she's my niece so I'm sure there's something I can do to help." He stood up when Germany did, handing over the fussing child while Italy soothed Salvador who stared intently at the baby in his mother's arms and Romano looked down at Cecelia. "Oi! Hush up already, what do you think you're achieving by fussing, hmm? Quiet now, there's not a thing wrong with you." He stroked her tiny nose, the shape of Italy's and his own, her amber eyes wide as she stared up at her Uncle like she was in awe at his sharp words and even Italy and Germany had that same look of awe on their faces but Spain grinned at Romano smugly. He knew that while it would be considered callous of Romano to speak so to the baby but Spain knew better than anyone that Romano was like a baby whisperer of sorts and this just added more in his case that Romano knew more about babies than he would let others know. "Good job, amor! Sit next to me, I want to see our little sobrina too!" Romano sat next to Spain who looked at the baby, taking in her wide amber eyes and stroked her wisps of blonde hair. "Look at you, little cutie! You look like Madre but you've got some of your Padre in you, don't you? Such a pretty little lady!" Cecelia's little hands were curled near her chest but she stretched a small hand out touching her Uncle's nose then looked to Spain as she opened her mouth only to sigh as she stared at her Uncles with an awe on her face. Salvador was giggling across from them as he played with the beaded necklace around Italy's throat while his Uncle crooned softly to him, happily as he stood the baby up on his thighs allowing the nine month old to squeal as he looked down into his Uncle's hair. "Hey, fratello, what did you mean when you said you weren't going to be having anymore babies? Don't you want to have one more?" "Hell no! Just because Sal is all giggly and happy now doesn't mean he's like that all the time plus I have my hands full with Cris, that boy is clumsier than I was at his age! He's always scraping or bruising some part of his freaking body and with Sal finally sleeping through the night I can safely say I'm not having any kids any time soon." Romano replied when Cecelia managed to grab his finger as he was stroking her silky cheek and he then sighed when a helpless, soft smile curled over his lips. "Not that Cece here isn't one of the prettiest babies and it's nice to hold a tiny baby, it's just not in the cards for me to be popping kids out left and right. I'm sure Toni agrees." "I do! We have a lot of work when it comes to our boys that I can't even think of having another baby until little Sal is all grown up! To be honest these boys fill the void with the personalities of multiple children so I don't think we're missing anything right now!" He smiled stroking Cecelia's blonde wisps again making her look up curiously and Salvador squealed as he gripped Italy's brown locks tightly with his pudgy hands and Spain chuckled which got the baby to look over. "Sal, my little cutie, take it easy on your Tío! He's not Mama, you have to be careful!" The nine month old blinked then squeezed his Uncle's hair then released it reaching for Germany now with a soft little noise as he was switched over to Germany's lap. "I'm going to check the food! I'm sure it's about ready now!" He jumped to his feet happily sprinting out of the room to the kitchen, a bright cheerful smile on his lips like normal and Romano looked over at Salvador who was playing with the iron cross around Germany's neck, his eyes wide. He then looked down at the baby in his arms admiring how much she truly did look like Italy but it was easy to see that other than her blonde hair Germany was there in the way her eyebrows arched, in her ear shape and her little chin. Her eyes, though, he was happy to see as complete duplicates of his brother's and he smiled when she squeezed his finger as Italy walked into the room happily. "Come on, everyone! Dinner's ready!" "Finally! I thought I'd be here all freaking night waiting!" Romano sighed out even if his stomach growled fiercely at the thought of food and he looked at the baby then looked at Italy. His brother, the clueless fool he was half the time, just stared wide eyed like the baby and he smiled happily at his brother when Romano walked over to his brother holding the baby out to him like it was some kind of peace offering. He scowled when his brother continued with that clueless, sweet look on his face and he rolled his eyes."What do you want me to do with you kid?" "Oh! I'll put her bouncer next to me, it'll be fine!" He took his daughter back with ease as the little blonde squeaked at the transition but cuddled into her mother's chest as the three boys rushed past their parents cheering at the thought of dinner and Italy giggled fondly. He was grateful, at least, that Italy let him borrow one of the twins old high chairs when they got to the table and he settled the baby in his chair while he wondered if Salvador would even eat the noodles when Italy handed him a small plastic plate."Here, fratello! I put it in the fridge so it's warm but not to too warm, so Salvador won't get hurt eating it!" "Well, thank you, Italy! I don't think we thought about that until now so it's nice you were one step ahead!" Spain chirped as he sat down placing his napkin on his lap and Cristiano sat between his cousins, a chair pulled out for Romano at Spain's side and Italy would sit between Salvador and Giovanni, Germany between Spain and Wolfram. Romano simply mumbled a thanks when Italy began putting food on plates, the smell more than enough to make Romano's stomach snarl fiercely at the thought of eating and he sighed sitting down when he received his plate. The boys got cups of milk, which they chugged in between bites, while Italy gave Germany, Romano and Spain a glass of red wine much to the elder Italian's surprise but he took it with no problem and he blinked. Perhaps it was the way Spain was chattering happily with Italy then turning to the blonde by his side to rope him into the conversation and perhaps it was how delighted Salvador was as he ate the noodles joyfully, Cecelia in her bounce as she grizzled on and off but looked content with the light music twinkling in the room and even the three boys' conversation felt comfortable. Romano, who still held a dislike for his brother's husband, honestly found himself joining the conversation with Germany who looked like he was trying his best to get on Romano's good side and he felt that with all this lively atmosphere and different conversations it truly felt like a large family. He was surprised at the warmth that washed through him at the thought, surprised he could even consider Germany family after all the years and shit he put the man through but sitting there eating with them he had to admit he was more comfortable in his skin than he'd ever been. Each time Italy's amber eyes found his, glowing with warmth, he found himself giving his brother an awkward, crooked smile but it got him a beaming smile in response and he looked to Salvador who had never been more lively and at Cristiano who chattered happily with his cousins. It was a rather nice evening it was turning into, wasn't it? Like they were a large, true family finally. "Look at them." Romano looked over smiling at his son who was sprawled out on the floor between Giovanni and Wolfram, Salvador cuddled up to his brother's side as well while Cecelia dozed on and off in Romano's arms during the evening. The clock ticked towards ten but Romano had never felt more awake now that his headache had definitely diminished thanks to the medicine he had taken hours ago and Spain was slumped by his side, warming him as his husband smiled adoringly at their sons."It'll be a shame if they wake up when we head out. It's too late for the little ones, I'm surprised they managed to stay awake so long!" "Same. Do you want to just grab their coats and shoes for me? We can just carry them out and get them in their seats, it shouldn't be too hard and if they're anything like you they'll just sleep right through it." Romano looked over at Italy who was humming softly to the music on the little radio while he lightly swayed with Germany, the complete content on his younger brother's face was a shock and so just open, raw even, that he had to look away when he bumped Spain's shoulder with his head. "Come on, get a move on. If the car's warm then they'll stay asleep until we get home and get them in bed." He tilted his face back when Spain pecked his lips then walked out of the living room, keys jingling on his fingers as he pulled them out and no doubt grabbed their coats then stepped into the mild air outside then shut the door behind him. "Oh, fratello, are you leaving so soon?" Italy questioned with a rather dazed tone in his voice, like he had just been in a world where only he and Germany existed only to step into reality finding himself two steps behind on everything. He blinked then rubbing at his eye while Germany finished off what seemed to be his fourth glass of wine and Romano shifted the baby in his arms instinctively when Italy giggled at the sight of Cristiano, Salvador, Wolfram and Giovanni on the floor then turned to his husband. "Luddy, go get the camera! I want to take a picture of them all together like this! And I'll give you a copy, fratello, to put in their baby books as well!" "Grazie." Romano then looked at Cecelia who looked well on her way to happily sleeping in her Uncle's arms as long as he would hold her and he turned towards Italy gesturing to the baby when Germany walked through the door with the camera on his wrist and Italy beamed. When Germany took the picture, flash off of course, Romano handed off the blonde baby to Italy who took her happily and nuzzled her little head carefully when she whined lightly with a twitch but cuddled into her mother's warmth as Spain walked in. "The doors are open and the heats on, right?" "Si! It's all ready for us! Gracias for the lovely night, Italy! Maybe we can do this again with Gil here!" Spain suggested happily making Italy giggle but Romano throw him a warning glare at the thought and he smiled hugging Italy carefully as the baby wriggled and Romano grunted as he picked Cristiano up. His arms hung limply over his mother's shoulders, his legs noodles near his waist and Spain gave Germany a hug patting his upper arms happily at the sheepish German as the elder Italian managed a weak little wave util Italy rushed over to him kissing his cheek. "Don't hesitate to give us a call either! You're family, Germany! We'll see you next time, si? Good bye, little Italy! Next time you have dinner at our home! Make the trip out, maybe you'll miss the warmth of home! Hablaré contigo más tarde!" He scooped Salvador up easily and quickly as not to wake the nine month old who slumped into his father's chest, chubby fists gripping onto the fabric of his shirt as he waved once again to Italy and Germany who waved back as he exited the living room. He walked through the front door, shutting it behind him, and walking to the car where Romano had Cristiano in his seat buckled up only to look over at Spain with a little smile on his lips when he met his gaze and climbed into the passenger seat. He made quick work to get Salvador into his seat without waking him, getting the buckles out from underneath him and clipped together while the baby slept before shutting the door quietly but firmly and then slid into the drivers seat shutting his door. He yawned while backing out of the driveway onto the street, putting the car to drive when the first droplet of rain hit the windshield and Romano echoed his yawn as he relaxed into the gentle feel of the car moving beneath him, the vibrations from the engine tingling his feet. "It was fun tonight, wasn't it, mi amor?" Spain asked quietly, softly in the silence of the car and he peeked at Romano who was yawning for a second time and he rubbed the heels of his hands against his eyes but nodded. "I think Cris can stand to miss tomorrow, can't he? Seeing as we won't be getting back at least until after midnight and the poor boy will be tired silly after the long day he's had." Spain paused then smiled moving one hand off the wheel to take Romano's making the Italian blink when Spain kissed the back of his hand softly. "You looked so happy tonight, querido, I wish you could have seen yourself tonight the way I did." "It was a nice night, I'll give them that." Romano mumbled grumpily but he felt his husband's words hit home when he stared out his window then sighed leaning against the glass watching the world blur by quickly as he contemplated before speaking. "You know, Veniziano was made to love children and to have many babies, that's just the kind of guy he is. I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to go for one or two more before stopping." He hesitated then peeked at Spain who was humming lightly, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. "It's weird, he looked sad when I said I wasn't going to be having another baby for a long time and I couldn't figure out why until he told me after dinner, when we were doing the dishes." "What did he have to tell you?" Spain asked curiously but Romano went quiet for a moment like he was unsure he should say anything or not so Spain choose not to push it for Romano often got grumpy or mad when he pushed the man for details on things. He continued humming while Romano contemplated by the window, his hazel eyes reluctant to say anything and so Spain didn't want to make the man upset while they were in the car at least and he decided to change his humming to one of his husband's favorite songs. It was quiet in the car save for that humming when Romano looked down picking at his finger nails, his cheeks flushing while he wondered why he was so embarrassed by a simple thing his brother had said when he took a breath through his nose. "When we were doing the dishes I asked him why he was upset about me not having kids." He paused then grinned when Spain chuckled under his breath in the pause of his humming and Romano shifted in the seat. "Alright, I said why the hell did he give a crap on whether I spit kid after kid out and he just got quiet, not a hurt quiet, but he was thinking when he flicked the suds off his fingers and held my hand. Naturally I tried to pull it away but there was something about him then that was serious, more serious than I'd seen that idiot be in a very long time and he said that he got sad because he wants me to be happy and even be happier. As happy as I can get." "Well that's sweet of him! It shows he really cares for his big brother, doesn't it? Lovi?" Spain took a peek at his husband who was staring down at his lap now, looking conflicted but upset when he raised his head up taking a breath and Spain bit the inside of his cheek before giving him a soft smile. "I see. You don't have to say it, Lovi, I don't want you to cry. It must be amazingly nice to have someone looking out for you the way your brother is. I tried to do that and you used to hit me in the balls, remember?" That got a smirk out of Romano who chuckled softly now as he sighed. "Yeah, I do. You were a tall bastard, I was just a kid back then but I went for what I could reach so you have to give me credit there!" They both laughed now when the Italian sighed looking behind him at his boys who slept peacefully. "If Salvador turns out to be like me I don't know what I'm going to do! One bastard is enough in the family, no need for two grumpy bastards. I'm surprised you even put up with me long enough to return my feelings, honestly. You turned into such a kind person, a caring one and I'm still the same snappy bastard I've always been. Lord knows how you put up with my insufferable ass!" "Porque me encanta eso de ti, tonto. Siempre estaré aquí para ti cuando me necesites, siempre. Incluso si eres un bastardo a veces." Romano smirked at the Spaniard who grinned right back, the street lights washing over his face and he then sighed happily when he took a moment to look at Romano again. "I truly do mean that, though. No matter what, even if you push me away as hard as you want or as frequent as you do, I'm always going to be here for you no matter what. I'm happy I fell in love with you, Lovino, and I'm happy we have our boys, I'll always be happy when I'm with you and nothing can change that. Not even your bullheaded attitude!" "Oi!" Romano muttered the word under his breath making Spain laugh softly as he then settled in for the ride it would take to get from his brother's to home and he knew that if it was early morning by the time they got there then Cristiano could earn a few days home to get back into his sleep schedule. No way would he send his son half asleep to school and besides, he was a Nation, who was going to take his son? No one, that's who! He grinned to himself when he then brought his knees up pressing them against the dashboard and looked at Spain when his grin widened from the fluttery happiness his words gave him and Romano then cupped his cheek with his hand looking out the window. "Ti amo, Toni." Spain beamed while keeping his eyes on the road, moving one hand off the steering wheel again to take Romano's hand and felt happiness burst through every part of him when he didn't yank his hand away so he brought it up kissing his knuckles softly, the back of his hand and finally to the fluttering pulse in his wrist. He truly did love his husband, more than he had ever loved anyone and he released his hand with a squeeze before returning it to the wheel sighing out happily as Romano blushed in the darkness of the car, hoping it went unnoticed, but Spain caught sight of the red hue against his olive skin. "Yo también te quiero, Lovino. Por los siglos de los siglos, mi amor."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Austynn sat in the living room looking at the homework spread out on the coffee table with disdain as his father walked back and forth in the front hallway with his fussing sister who sounded more displeased as the moments went by. The little blonde would be playing with Cristiano today and the eight year old was unsure of how he felt about it, nervous maybe, and he was definitely still embarrassed that Astrid had outed his obvious crush on the Italian-Spanish boy. He could hear the front door open with the happy chatter from his father as Poppy screamed angrily making him blink curiously when Cristiano flew into the room throwing himself onto the couch knocking over Austynn who yelped in alarm. "Austie! You ready to play?" Austynn blinked looking up at the boy in surprise from the whole interaction, the green eyes sparkling down at him playfully and he relaxed when he was allowed to sit up finding the weight of Cristiano sitting on his legs comfortable, rather than heavy when his cousin did it. He laughed even while Cristiano smiled brilliantly at him and Austynn scratched the back of his head feeling his cheeks flush when his eyes met Cristiano's which lead him to look away shyly. "Yeah! Do you want to play in my room? Or in the backyard? Papa just put together a new swing set for me, Poppy and Henri so we all have a little thing to play on rather than going to the park every day!" "Oh, cool! My Mama put one of those together a lot time ago because the park's really far and Salvador is really fussy!" Cristiano climbed off Austynn's legs allowing the blonde to stand net to him before they rushed into the hall where Spain, Romano, Canada and France chatted. "Papa! I'm going to play in the backyard with Austie! Okay? We'll be super careful, I promise!" Spain smiled ruffling his curls happily which France also delivered to Austynn's pale locks while Poppy, who was grizzling, looked at her brother and Henri nuzzled into his mother's chest while Salvador stared at the other babies curiously. "Let's go!" Austynn yelped once again at the quick movements of his friends when Cristiano grabbed his hand and they ran towards the back of the house to the back door, laughing cheerfully while Austynn ran after him trying his best to keep up with the fast steps. The backdoor was pushed open as the small brunette sheered jumping off the stairs, releasing the blonde's hand to do so and ran to the swing set with Austynn behind him in pursuit. There was four swings waiting for them, two normal seats and two baby swings for Poppy and Henri, but the boys jumped to the normal swing seats, Austynn sitting down and Cristiano draped over the seat on his stomach allowing his feet and knees dragging on the dirt. "Oh, Ast said she couldn't show up today because she had piano lessons! She said she really wanted to come over but she has to practice at least once today." Austynn pursed his lips in what seemed like a suitable reaction for Cristiano sighed nodding in the silent agreement as he pushed himself backwards then lifted his feet swinging backwards with his feet bent up towards the sky, knees barely managing to graze the ground. Austynn watched his friend for a moment or two, blushing at the brilliant joy on Cristiano's face as he giggled and laughed when he managed to get himself to a rather decent height as he swung back and forth, clinging up to the chains above him somehow and Austynn wondered if his stomach hurt as his lips pressed together tight. When Astrid had outed his crush on Cristiano he honestly thought his friend would find him weird, would want to stay away but the brunette still played with him like nothing had been said and while that was fine to him the blonde just wished that the brunette was a girl so it would be easier to deny the feelings because girls WERE kind of gross. Well, not Astrid, but she was more like a boy than Cristiano and Austynn combined so it was easy to forget she was a girl half the time until it was pointed out by her or their parents but Austynn wanted nothing more than to forget everything. As he swung slowly compared to Cristiano's flailing limbs and laughter he managed to giggle along with his cheerful friend but he he could tell that after a few more minutes of the silly display of Cristiano laying on the seat which dug into his stomach he stood up sighing. He turned around sitting in the bouncing seat then looked at Austynn who blinked at his friend's sudden serious expression, his eyes burning into the blonde rather intently. "Hey, Austynn, remember the last time we played together? The three of us? And Astrid said you had a crush on me?" Austynn felt his face burn when Cristiano looked down at his feet dragging slowly through the dirt and he looked up at Austynn who had failed to respond. "Well, I talked to Papa and he told me what he did with your Papa one time to make it all clear! I just thought I'd tell you but Papa said he and your Papa kissed! So we have to have a kiss!" "Wh-What?! A ki-kiss?! That's silly! We're too young for kisses!" Austynn yelped when Cristiano pressed a finger to his lips as not to have the blonde get too carried away for the brunette knew that when Austynn got anxious his voice rose and echoed easily. "Mama said kisses are for older kids, Cris! We can't do th-that! What will our Mama's say?" Wide violet eyes met with the determined, bright green ones and Austynn swore he was going to cry from how red his face was but Cristiano stood up then walked in front of Austynn who stared up at him with those wide eyes still. "Our Mama's and Papa's don't have to know! Mama told me that he and Papa both had their first kisses when they were our age! Plus, I watch Papa and Mama kiss all the time! I know how to do it and it doesn't have to be a long one! It can be just like this!" Cristiano's voice was determined when he leaned down grabbing Austynn's hands on the chains to keep him from jerking back and pressed his lips against the blonde's, his eyes impossibly wide at the sensation. He whimpered then, squirming to get away as he finally managed to squeeze his eyes shut but Cristiano pulled away after a heartbeats second and squeezed the blonde's hands softly before releasing them where they flew to his mouth. "See, easy peasy!" It was something his parents shared all the time but Austynn knew it was an adult, grown up thing and he covered his lips looking at Cristiano who looked satisfied at what had just taken place, curiosity in his eyes but other than that there was no change in his friend. His Papa had told him multiple times in his life, for as long as he could remember, that kisses were special and were given in different ways with different meanings but a kiss on the lips was a serious kiss that was in no way casual for a first time. His parents kissed all the time, though, but his Papa said that's because he and Mama had been together for a long time so their kisses can be very casual but they rarely were and here Austynn was trading a kiss. "I-I-I don't-" "Austynn, don't get scared! It's okay! I promise!" He pat the platinum blonde locks softly making Austynn's face burn hotly but Cristiano gave a comforting smile when Austynn had dropped his hands from his lips to talk and the brunette hugged his friend fiercely. "You're my bestest friend in the whole world, Austynn! Me, you, and Ast are going to still be together, I promise!" He pat the blonde's back comfortingly when Romano appeared in the doorway and Cristiano looked over his shoulder smiling happily. "Hola, Mama!" "Come on, we need to head out. Netherlands and Belgium want to see you, we need to roll out so we can get there and home before it's too late!" He paused then sighed when his son stared at him and shifted Salvador who was babbling as he grabbed his mother's ear. "I promise next time you can stay the whole afternoon! Your father failed to tell me we had other people to see today, I'm sorry I gave the impression you'd be here longer." "It's fine!" He then turned to Austynn who was still red faced and he pat the blonde locks again making Austynn blink when Cristiano ran across the yard throwing the words over his shoulder. "I'll see you at school! See you later, Austie!" Then Cristiano was gone while Austynn sat there on the swing, feeling more lost than he remembered ever feeling and he felt a tiny noise leaving him when he covered his face closing his eyes tight like he hoped to wake up and find this was all a dream. It was silly! What had that done? What did it even solve? He had no clue what had even truly happened! All he knew was that he felt more twisted up than Poppy's creations she made with her baby toys. France leaned against the sink after Canada had filled the silver pot of water and gotten on the stove which the French man now watched bubble weakly as Canada opened the cabinet debating what kind of pasta should go well with the chicken breast he had cooking in the stove. France looked over at the twins who were having a blast in their doorway bouncers, gifts from their Uncle America, and they watched another with wide eyes only to squeal, giggling and clapping their hands when one of them bounced. "Mon amour, do you think Austynn 'as been acting rather strange since Cristiano left?" Canada looked over blinking as he adjusted his glasses, surprise bright in the violet irises as he looked at his husband. "Call me crazy but 'e seemed awfully nervous since that boy left." "I don't think there's anything wrong with him, I mean, I didn't see anything different about him. Sure, he looked a little flushed when he came in but they were playing on the swing set before Romano and Spain took off to go see Netherlands and Belgium." Canada replied while he thought back on his son's behavior that afternoon but honestly couldn't find anything that would be out of the ordinary for they young boy and he shrugged. "Either way I'm sure it's nothing, Francis. He's an eight year old, most boys his age have secrets and little games that they refuse to tell us adults so I don't think it's that bad after all. He's a child, they'll always act suspicious." France made a thoughtful noise, his eyes focused on something out of sight it seemed when he smirked at Canada pushing off the sink moving behind the man and slid his arms around him. "I think that our little boy is finally growing up and 'e is 'iding something both 'is Papa and his Maman!" France playfully purred into the Canadian's ear making him giggle softly as France patted his flat belly, dancing his fingers around his navel through his shirt and he smiled over his shoulder at France who nuzzled their cheeks together. "What do you think that a sweet boy like our Austynn is 'iding from us? I think it 'as something to do with little Cristiano~!" Canada giggled again at the fingers dancing on his belly and he felt the muscles quiver under France's fingers, pushing at the French man playfully with a twinkle in his eyes. "He is hiding nothing, Francis! I'm sure he'll tell you about his childhood love affairs when he's old enough to understand something that's happened now." Canada replied then slapped playfully at the hands resting on his stomach which had France backing up holding said hands up and Canada smiled, his violet eyes twinkling behind his glasses when he wagged a finger at France. "Now, stop that! The last time something like that happened when we made dinner we had those two!" Poppy squealed at the indication of her and her brother, bouncing excitedly as a ten month old could while her blue eyes glowed at her mother when she waved her hands and Henri giggled at his sister's enthusiasm, his own violet eyes sparkling. The twins were the perfect size of a ten month old, crawling and getting into whatever they could that Canada often couldn't wait until they could walk in a few months and he smiled at the babies who bounced with vigor now. "Aww, but look at our petits chéris! So sweet, both of them!" He hen smiled at his husband wrestling him closer making him squeal with laughter as he curled his arms around France's neck and his fingers skated up his side making him feel like said fingers pushed all the air out of his lungs. "Wouldn't you like to 'ave another pretty baby, chéri?""Non! We have en-enough babies!" Canada squealed when the fingers found his ticklish spot just above his ribs making him squirm in France's arms, one hand reaching up plucking Canada's glasses off his face and onto the counter which had the poor man screaming with laughter when France attacked his ticklish spot again. "Non! Non, stop it, Francis! I ha-have to get dinner done! My bro-brother and his family are coming ov-ER!" He screamed the last two words squirming in France's arms as he laughed while trying his best to leave France's arms but the man merely growled playfully keeping Canada in his arms while the man squirmed and twisted. "Play with me, Mathieu~ I'm much more fun than cooking for an ungrateful Angleterre and 'is silly grumpy butt!" He then moved backwards sitting down yanking Canada with him as he sat with his back against the cabinet making Canada shriek with laughter as his legs kicked out, squirming in his husband's arms and France laughed with him now. The twins blinked at their parents antics, watching the squirming giggling adults before Poppy then joined in on their laughter with her own and clapped her hands excitedly which got Henri giggling while Canada screamed with laughter. He bucked against France's hold, arching his back away as his cheeks began flushing from the intensity as he screamed with laughter while he was tickled happily. "Francis, non! Stop I can't play right no-now! I have to get di-dinner done!" Canada screamed as he flailed in France's arms, his body squirming and bucking in his hold as his fingers got to the tickling points of his neck and he felt the tears gushing down his cheeks from the laughter. His face was burning hot, tears running down and he swore he was sweating too as he kicked his legs tucking his chin in towards his throat to hide it only for France's fingers to spider down to his ribs once again where he bucked screaming with new laughter. The twins seemed just as happy as their parents, bouncing and squealing with their mother when Austynn walked in the doorway squinting at both his squealing siblings and the sight of both his parents on the floor, his mother red face screaming with his laughter as tears rolled down his cheeks and France caught his eye. "Ah! Bounjour, Austynn! Would you like to come and 'elp me tickle your Maman so 'e isn't wasting 'is afternoon by making dinner at three? Tell Maman 'e 'as to play with us for a bit!" France laughed in between speaking which made a contagious smile curl over Austynn's lips as Canada wheezed with his laughter, screaming loudly with the tickling fingers and France was laughing just as hard. Austynn ran over smiling widely as he shouted his answer then dived into the squirming mess that was his parents, his fingers attacking his mother's chest, neck, armpits and ribs along with anywhere possible that could be ticklish and Canada howled with laughter. Austynn's own high twinkling laughs mixed with his mother's screamed ones and his father's happy laughter along with the twins squealing laughter as well the room felt much too loud for others but it was too infectious not to laugh along. France had been holding his mother's arms but released them where they curled over his stomach as he continued to howl with his laughter when he then gulped air in, wheezing with laughter as he struggled to calm down."You two, tag teaming! You su-suck!" He gasped the words in between those wheezing laughs when he pulled away crawling backwards towards the table where he placed a hand on to push up but he couldn't just yet due to the weakness in his muscles from laughing. "Do that again and you'll be lu-lucky if I don't cut off both you and Austynn's hair off when you're sleeping tonight!" The threat was weak, not even a threat from how it hit, and his eyes sparkled brightly like France's did with the adrenaline of the moment while his cheeks burned a fierce red but both father and son now gasped like he offered them a severed fish head. "Non! You can't!" Both Austynn and France shouted with the perfect amount of drama, hands flying to cover their hair reflexively while widening their eyes at Canada which only set him off in more wild laughter. While their hair was different in blonde shades, Austynn and France were truly two peas in a pod, truly father and son when it came to their precious locks of hair which were their pride and joy and a weak point when Canada used it. The Canadian smirked when France yanked Austynn to his chest, smooshing his back against the cabinet like it would be some kind of armor against the evil look on his husband's face and he stroked Austynn's platinum blonde locks protectively. "Not our sons precious locks of 'air! Not 'is! Cut mine if you must, but not the poor boy's! 'e is too young and knows not 'ow 'orrid it is to cut 'air!" "But Papa what about yours? He can't cut yours either! You wouldn't have your own pretty blonde locks anymore and it'd look so silly!" Austynn cried the words but the grin was wide on his face as the twins watched their family, Poppy squealing while clapping her hands again and Henri laughed as he bounced excitedly while flailing his arms joyfully. "Papa, you cannot let Mama cut your hair! It wouldn't be right! The world would be thrown out of whack! Nothing would ever be right again if he cuts your locks of hair!" "Oui, it would be a 'orrible world without my blonde locks! But if it is to protect the young and the innocent then I must sacrifice my own 'air! My sweet boy, you're locks of 'air are so much more important than Papa and so beautiful! I could never stand to see your beautiful locks 'acked off!" France gasped rather dramatically as he hugged the boy to his chest which made his son giggle when his father's bear tickled his cheek and Canada giggled with him when France dropped his act with a sigh. He then squirmed over reaching out grabbing the ends of Canada's shirt yanking him down into his arms as well making him yelp softly at the sudden movement and France then leaned against the cabinets once again sighing as he kissed Canada's head then Austynn's and rubbed their backs happily. "My precious ones!" Austynn giggled when his mother kissed his cheek, stroking his hair behind his ear and he smiled widely. "What about Poppy and Henri, Papa? Aren't they your precious ones as well?" Austynn asked curiously when he was released, sitting on his father's leg shin happily while his mother rested between his legs with his back against France's chest. His father's eyes were glowing happily now, lovingly even, and it reminded Austynn on his ongoing debate with his father about the beauty of blue versus violet eyes and he honestly had to admit he wished he had his father's eyes sometimes. His father then ruffled his hair delightfully making the eight year old giggle before he sighed out. "Oh, my little twins are my precious ones too! They are just way too small to be part of such a large family pile! They'd get squished!" France replied happily when he looked up at the cheerful laugh and America smirked down at his brother who blushed at the position he was in. Alexander was in England's arms, per usual, Jolene clinging to his hip and Liam holding onto his father's hand and France laughed with good humor as he held Canada tightly so he couldn't quite squirm away yet. "Bonjour, Amérique and Angleterre! And bonjour my sweet nièce and 'andsome neveux! Come and give Uncle Francis a big 'ug!" Canada laughed when he was swarmed with Jolene and Liam who yanked Austynn into the hug, chipper giggles around him and when they parted he took America's hand, smiling when he was yanked up with relative ease. Poppy let out a loud, gurgling squeal reaching for her Uncle America who turned with a bright smile on his lips when he looked at the little ten month old, blue eyes baby reaching for him and he smiled walking over to the doorway picking the baby up out of her seat and she gurgled excitedly. She cupped his face squealing with delight, a wide smile on her face which displayed the teeth that had grown in and even the ones coming in as she tried to grab for America's glasses but he caught her hand in time and Henri stared up with wide violet eyes at his Uncle when Canada spoke up. "I'm sorry that dinner isn't done quite yet, this one had other ideas." France yelped when fingers were jabbed into his hip and Austynn giggled when Canada ruffled his hair softly, looking up at his mother when he sighed out but smiled ad America and England. "I'm going to get back to cooking and making sure it's done soon. Austynn, why don't you go and put on a movie or cartoons for the three of you, hmm? Help Maman but keeping your cousins entertained for a little bit until dinner is done. Do you think you can help Maman with that?" "Oui, Mama! I can do that for you!" He chirped standing up on his toes for a moment when Canada leaned down kissing his cheek then spun him around and pulled the hair tie off of his wrist, scraped together Austynn's pale blonde locks back while minding the curl that spiraled out of the pale locks then tied them back into a ponytail that bobbed much like his father's. He turned around beaming, stroking the tail and beaming up at his mother in appreciation that in the split second Canada swore Austynn looked exactly like his father. "Merci, Mama! Now I can play and stuff without my hair getting in my face! Merci!" "Bienvenue, chérie!" Canada bent down kissing the top of his head before he sped off with Liam and Jolene too the living room, the children chattering happily to one another when he helped his husband up off the floor and took a seat at the table when Canada checked the bubbling water. Poppy let off a delighted giggle when America rubbed her chubby cheek with his own, nuzzling the baby in his arms happily as she grabbed his other cheek. "Yo, check that out! She's standing on her own!" Canada looked over at his brother's cheerful, familiar laugh and he looked down at his daughter who was staring up at her Uncle then her father with giggles of her own. Her large blue eyes were delighted when she looked down at her little feet then up at her mother smiling brightly as she stretched her chubby fists out and, much to his surprise, Poppy took a single step forward but wobbled before she took another then another. He knew babies could walk between eight months to a year old, could stand on their own and walk with the help of his hands but here his daughter was walking with the worst wobble right to her mother where she got confident and began walking faster. "Look at her go!" She squealed when she was in the familiar warmth of her mother's arms, rubbing her face against his chest as she clung to his shirt then released it to clap her chubby hands delightedly while her eyes glowed with a victory of sorts. "Oh, absolument merveilleuse, ma chérie! Une si grande fille que tu es!" He crooned to her proudly when she squealed again clapping her hands joyfully once again and Canada looked up at France hopefully and he smiled widely. "Do you think Henri can walk too? They are twins, after all, and they've been hitting the same milestones at the same time." "Well, let's see!" France stood moving his chair out of the way so Henri would have a clear path to his mother and sister when France plucked the boy out of his seat setting him firmly on his little feet as Frnace held the baby's waist securely. "Alright, Henri, let's see if you can walk to Mama, alright? Look, there is your sister and she is waiting for you over there! Do you want Papa to 'elp you, chéri?" France stood straight up taking Henri's chubby fists walking forward with the baby who took two clumsy steps before he caught up and began liftng his little feet with some wobble as they approached the table, Henri looked up at Poppy who waved at him happily. He released his father's fingers then to reach his chubby fists out to his elder twin, whimpering softly as he rushed forward taking quick steps to his mother and sister with zero assistance when his fists began opening and closing repeatedly when he approached Canada. He was picked up where he looked at Poppy, the baby clapping her hands joyfully and he smiled copying her movements joyfully like he hadn't just walked the short distance to his mother and especially not at ten months old. "Wow, look at that! Arthur, put Alex down and see if he'll walk over! Mattie, put the twins down will you? I just wanna see if they'll interact with one another this early!" "I'm surprised Alexander is walking now, he's only nine months isn't he?" Canada questioned when France took Poppy out of his arms placing her down helpfully as Canada bent to put Henri down once again much to the whimpering baby's dismay. Alexander stood on his legs as solidly as the twins, Poppy staring at her cousin just as curiously as Alexander looked at the twins before the green eyed baby walked forward clumsily but on his feet none the less and Poppy ran over to the green eyed baby with curiosity making her blue eyes wide.The way they then stared at one another made Canada remember the first time he met America, only Poppy wasn't circling the poor boy. Not yet anyways for there was always time for that in their toddler years when that comes. Henri watched his sister stand close to Alexander when he pouted, stomping his little foot and let out such a piercing scream that Poppy turned around to look at her twin before she rushed over as he ran clumsily, wobbly, towards his twin and threw his tiny arms around her smooshing their cheeks together as he scowled at Alexander. However concerned Poppy had been for her twin melted away at the tight hold and she whined, squirming to get away from her brother who merely held her tighter and she pushed him away only for her to end up wobbling on her feet then falling back onto her butt. The adults laughed good natured when she then looked up smiling angelically at them before Canada scooped his daughter up and France scooped up the pouting Henri who then looked happy to be in his father's arms and America picked Alexander up. "It looks like Henri is jealous of his big sister being around the other boys!" Canada crooned the words looking to his son who pouted at his mother's words but he stroked his thickening cape of blonde hair, the shade just like France's, and stroked the locks of bangs out of his face grateful his son's hair was growing out and laughed when those displeased violet eyes landed on him. He then stroked Poppy's hair, the pale locks silkier than her brother's and he kissed her little forehead and smiled. "They'll have to learn to get along anyways, sooner or later. Look at Liam and Austynn, they weren't the best of friends when they were this age." "True true! They used to be little assholes to each other, that much I remember, haha!" America got whacked in the upper arm do to his language but he pouted at England who rolled his eyes and America finally huffed out a breath before looking to Canada. "So, there's something I wanted to tell you while I was here! It's kind of big, it's definitely something I want you to be a part of, but he finally said yes! England agreed to marry me and when the time comes I hope you'll be my best man, Mattie! It's honestly mean a lot to me if you'd do that! And, before he gets huffy, France would you be his best man? It's not like Mattie can do it since I asked him first!" "That's amazing, Alfie! Truly amazing, congratulations! Of course I'll be your best man and Francis will gladly be England's but I'll make sure he doesn't annoy him too much!" England gave him a smile even if he glared at France who smirked at the English man and both brothers sighed. Poppy tapped her mother's neck making little notes that she sung happily, just nonsense, but it warmed Canada's heart for he was overflowing with the relief that he hadn't known lingered in his mind for so long. He had always had the biggest, irrational fear that despite him being married to France that England would one day want France back and it had been a fear that haunted him all the time for years, the mere thought of France wanting England or England wanting France would happen once again. But now, standing here as he held Poppy to his heart and Henri was held against France's chest as well, he walked forward reaching out hugging his brother fiercely knowing his own brother had once had the same fears he did. He was happy, so happy that it mixed with his relief and he felt honestly dizzy for a moment for he knew that if England was marrying his brother then that silly fear could go away finally and he found that he was happier now as he looked into America's sparkling blue eyes. His brother had been through a lot, they all had, but he could see the true happiness in his eyes with this news and he couldn't help but feel that same relieved overbearing joy as his brother who was finally tying the knot with England. It felt like the story was wrapping up, that their final curtain fall was coming with this happy ending but he could see that nothing was truly over and yet it felt like someone had just handed him the last, lost page revealing all their happy endings and he was eager to see it , once and for all as warmth spread through his chest, warming him to his core.
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America was naturally a bed hogger, something their children had inherited from him, and something he had been doing all his life by simply flinging his limbs around wherever they could fit taking up as much space as they could. So England was used to either sleeping with the American right on top of him or with him hugging the edge of the bed but when his lashes fluttered open, the beg sheets twisted around his waist and legs he blinked groggily into the dark room reaching out for his fiancee but was greeted with cool, empty sheets. He sat up making the bed squeak under his hand as he rubbed his eye with the heel of his hand before kicking the blankets off of his legs which he swung over the side of the bed standing up groaning and scratched his forehead before leaving the room. They'd chosen (America mostly did) to stay the night at Canada's for the drive at night would be risky right now and both adults, along with children, were sleepy so the choice to stay was agreed by all and a reluctant England. Liam and Jolene slept in Austynn's room, Alexander slept in the crib with Poppy and England got the guest bedroom with America only now he was alone, the house silent and his worry peaking up. He walked out into the dark hallway trying not to step on any excessively squeaky boards as he made his way to the stairs hesitating when he hear the very quiet of a murmuring TV and he walked down the stairs slowly but quietly while he hoped that America would be down her somewhere. He got to the bottom step letting out a quiet breath then shuffled forward peeking his head into the doorway of the living room and he blinked seeing America sitting on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table, a mug in his hands. "Alfred, what are you doing? It's two in the morning, love!" He walked over to America sitting down on the couch next to him, taking the mug away without so much of a protest from the man and he set it on the table when he took America's hand in his squeezing them softly. "What has been bothering you lately, love? I know it's something so you might as well tell me." "I'm fine, baby, I promise. I just can't sleep good lately, I'm too restless and it's hard for me to settle down when I wake up sometimes." He shrugged one shoulder like it was no big deal but the intense, disapproving look on England's face made him force a little smile and poke the tip of his nose. "Don't look so worried, I'm completely fine! Like I said it's just hard for me to sleep lately and I'll get over it soon enough! I'll sleep soon enough, even if I have to use Mattie's NyQuil in the bathroom! So don't look so worried, okay? It's kind of sad to see you look like that." England hesitated then rubbed the skin underneath America's eye softly, tracing the blue ring there and he frowned softly. "It's hard not to be worried, love, when you look so exhausted lately! You have bags under your eyes that are so dark some days and your eyes are bloodshot! How can you tell me not to worry about you when you're looking close to falling apart?" He tried for a calm tone but it sounded more like he was scolding America as he traced the bags under America's eyes frowning to himself at just how tired the man seemed to be and how he had failed to see this the whole time. America watched the light from the TV wink off of England's engagement ring as it pressed against his cheek then his forehead, brushing his bangs back and England frowned softly when he stroked the space between his brows softly. "You feel hot. Are you getting sick?" "I'm not getting sick, I'm not dying nor am I going to stop sleeping. You're worrying too much, baby, I'm going to be absolutely fine I promise! I wouldn't have given you this ring if it meant that I'd be lying to you while we were together, okay?" He cupped England's face now smiling softly at his fiancee and England looked like he was holding his breath, staring at America like he was trying to see some kind of lie or sign he was faking it but America knew he would find none for he wasn't faking it, he wasn't lie at all either. "I wouldn't lie to you about things, not anymore, Arthur. I promise that if you ask me then I'll tell you the truth, alright?" "Then tell me why you aren't sleeping?" America looked away from England which made his stomach knot up and he stroked America's caramel blonde locks away from his face, a face that looked years younger without his glasses on and he bit his lip at the urge to nag him about wearing his glasses. America's eye sight wasn't the worst but it wasn't the best, like when he was younger, so he needed his glasses somewhat even if his vision was wonky sometimes and England wanted nothing more than to just focus on his glasses but it was more than that. "You've barely been sleeping since you've come back with me, is there something else going on? I've heard about the mess going on right now, bombings galore last I checked in and things were quite the mess in your Homeland. Is that what's going on, love? Or is there something more? Talk to me about it, love, and I'm sure I can help you somehow!" America once again hesitated which merely created more knots in England's stomach the longer he stared at his fiancee's face and America finally blew out a breath as he leaned back moving a hand through his hair. "Things really aren't good right now, in fact they're pretty bad. The tension between me and North Korea is just growing and growing to the point that I have no idea what's going to happen." He paused then smiled sheepishly at the English Nation. "Sorry, I meant to say North Korea and I." England tsked him as he then tugged America closer to him, taking his hands with his admiring at the difference for a moment then stroked his knuckles softly in a soothing rhythm. "Well, at least your correcting your bad grammar." They both shared a wry smile but England kissed America's knuckles now, softly, and pressed the back of America's hand to his cheek shutting his eyes for a moment as he contemplated what to say next before spitting out the first thing in his mind. "I've heard about the rising tensions between you and North Korea, er, well both of your bosses to be specific. I'm sure it's going to resolve itself, love, and I'm sure that some kind of understanding will be reached soon enough. After all, Alfred, you are America personified! I'm sure that you have some standing ground with all of your officials, don't you? There has to be something you can do!" He gave America a little smile, opening his eyes to look at his fiancee once again. "After all, you're still that same Nation that claimed his independence at sixteen, aren't you? I believe that you'll figure this all out, love, I just know you will." "That's more hope and confidence than I really deserve right now." America sighed the words out then flipped his hand so he could cup England's face, stroking his cheek softly and leaned his head against his hand after a moment as he gazed at England's face. "I just don't want the kids to grow up with wars raging and I don't want it to be the way it was for all of you older ones when you were younger. Everyone's kids, even if we don't like them, don't deserve to see that kind of anger, that ind of brutality. I'm trying to do what I can, but it's getting hard to get along with Russia right now with our Bosses and what not so it's starting to feel like the entire world is trying to push me down." England stared at America's face, took in the sight of the anxiety in his blue eyes and the rather solemn look on America's face that looked so out of place for the cheerful man that England felt there was nothing he could truly say in this moment that could make things better. So he did what he could which was to turn the TV off, which America was about to protest, and threw his arms around the American's shoulders hugging him to his chest fiercely as he flung himself backwards in an awkward laying position that required moving limbs. After a few moments of squirming, however, they laid on the couch with England's tight around America who rested his head on his chest just listening to his heart beating underneath his ear and he stroked the soft locks of hair, like he used too when America was a child. "It's all going to be just fine, love, I promise. No one is going to want to fight in the grand scheme of things, I bet you anything about that but for now let's just forget about it, alright? Right now there's you and I, that's all that needs to matter." America felt his eyes stinging with each word that slipped out of England and he wondered if he could even bear to say anything to the man which led to him squeezing his eyes shut to control the tears at least for England would never let him live it down, would he? But the warmth of his arms around him, the sound of England's heartbeat beating strongly underneath his ear and the familiar scent that always clung to the English Nation and his fingers moving through his hair all felt like too much for his tired mind. Even if he kept squeezing his eyes shut tight they still burned and threatened to bubble up with tears no matter what he did and he took a deep breath through his nose. "Arthur-" "It's alright, love, remember what I just said? All that's right here is you and I, that's all that needs to matter right this second and if you need to have a good cry then I'll be right here to help you through it, Alfred. I won't let you be alone and cry, you can do it right here and I'll help piece you together when you're all done. I promise, love, and if I have too I'll hold you through it so you don't fall apart if that will help you in any way. " England softly murmured his words to America as he tightened his arms around the American like he could posses the same strength he did and hold him together when he felt the first hot drop hit his chest as America took a deep breath. Like he was about to dive deep into water and his hands clung to England's nightshirt like he used too when he was a little kid and scared of the dark, or had a nightmare of some sort, he clung onto his one comforting presence in his life and he swallowed thickly. America couldn't talk now even if he wanted too for his throat felt too tight and swollen for him to talk as the tears came down faster and faster, dripping onto England's shirt creating a decent sized wet spot already when he sniffled hard. It was rare for America to truly sit down and have a good cry, something he hadn't done since he won against England for his independence for he had never felt a true reason to let out all the tears that had built up over the course of the years. England wanted to rock America when he heard the first mangled, tight noise leave his lips quietly as his shirt as he stroked America's soft blonde hair and it seemed that once that first sound came out the others spilled out quietly into England's chest. Like the English Nation could hide them all away in his chest, to keep all of the painful sounds locked away so no one would ever be able to see the sad America that not even England could properly see right now and he kissed the top of his head. He held him fiercely, holding fistfuls of his shirt with his right hand while his left hand stroked his soft caramel locks while the quiet choked noises left America with the tears that dripped onto his chest nonstop it seemed. It took a lot of out of him to hold it back but England swallowed thickly with each of the sounds, his chest aching at the sounds America let out unwillingly and he took a slow breath through his nose which hurt his wet chest. He clenched his jaw tightly when he felt something warm streak down his temple wetting his hair and pooling into his ear as he began to rub America's back in soothing rhythms and he stroked his hair softly while he began to hum lightly, the song broken by how thick his sadness was but he did so anyways. Again he wished he could rock America but he couldn't in this position so all he could do was clutch his fiancee to his chest as tight as he could while his back shuddered with each inhale that fed another sob that came out mangled and choked from his tight throat. Another sound from America, another tear down England's temple, another shudder led to another patter on his back, another droplet of warmth another note from the song. England kissed America's hair again, softly, inhaling the scent clinging to the caramel blonde locks of hair as he stroked the back of his head gently while being careful of the Nantucket curl that poked his cheek softly and he held the man as tight as he could as he gripped his hair fiercely as he held his fiancee tightly in his arms like it could make everything all better. The full weight on top of him was what England had wanted when he woke at two in the morning only this time was different for his muscles were stiff and sore from sleeping in the same position, his back aching from the couch underneath him and his face was sticky with the drying tears last night. He honestly felt like he might look as bad as he felt but he stroked the caramel blonde locks near his chin and he kissed the top of America's head softly trying not to think of the American drooling on his shirt which would be why it was soaked and stuck to him so. He was sleeping harder than England had ever seen him sleep, it was almost like he was making up for all those late nights he spent worrying about his problems had caught up to him and the crying mixed in was enough to get him to sleep solidly. England smiled, however, as he stroked his hair for a few more moments while he stared adoringly at America's sleeping face, at how just open and vulnerable America looked while asleep. He smiled then, moving certain limbs and parts of his body, he managed to wriggle out from underneath America but almost hit the floor as a result of his wriggling and he pulled the throw over on the couch over America who began to snore lightly at the new position of his. He walked to the kitchen with a slightly sour mood drifting over him knowing he more than likely would have to settle for coffee and he sighed as he shuffled into the kitchen only to jump at the sight of the rather sleepy looking France sitting at the table looking at the newspaper. His hair was tied back, messy however, like he had slept with his hair up and this reading glasses were perched on his nos as he licked his finger to turn the page and England noticed the hickey on his neck that was on grand display due to his hair being pulled back. "Bonjour, Angleterre! Sleep well, I take it?" France questioned mildly like he had no inkling of the slightest bit of both England and America sleeping on his couch but that throbbing vein, the one that always popped up when it came to France, throbbed lightly. He knew what he was doing. Fine, he wanted to play games? England can too! "Morning, frog." He got the words out stiffly as he walked over to the coffee pot only to scoff at the sight of the Keurig off to the side and opened the cabinet only to spot the small little pods for the Keurig only to notice a black tea, picked it up and shuffled over o the Keurig. He put the tea in, used a mug to pour some water in the side and turned it on, enjoying the silence wrapping the kitchen save for the sounds of the newspaper pages turning behind him as he watched the Keurig even if nothing was happening just yet. He just didn't feel like chatting it up and acting chummy with France so early in the morning. He was honestly grateful for the nice weather for he could bring the children outside when they got back to his home and they could enjoy a few nice days he knew were coming. He knew America would complain that England's Homeland was too gloomy but it wasn't like he controlled the weather! There's always lots of rainy days in Spring and Summer!"Can we speak 'onestly to one another, Angleterre?" England tensed for a moment at France soft voice, thick with sleep still and he turned looking at France who was staring at him rather seriously which was unusual to see on the flashy French man who then gestured to the chair across from him. England shuffled over to the chair suspiciously, tugging it out quietly and sitting down folding his hands on the table while France took his reading glasses off, crossing his arms across his chest. "I only want to say I only know because Mathieu was worried about 'is brother but I 'eard you both last night. Mathieu wanted me to go down and make sure that Amérique was sleeping or something of the sort, anything even as long 'e wasn't watching the news. But there is something more to this than just Amérique's struggles, Angleterre.""Is there?" England replied stiffly now, rather tense as he sat there meeting France's eyes evenly as he could without letting his irritation get the best of him so early in the morning. It had been a long time since he and France had sat at a table like they were now, discussing something rather seriously for the last time it had been France begging him to marry him but that had ended in the least desirable way. He couldn't remember a time when France looked so serious, so unlike himself and yet it flickered there in his head that the only time France had appeared so serious, so solemn had been in their younger days when the man was running around in that blue dress of his and yet he couldn't connect it. Couldn't hold the memory. "What more is there to discuss?" France sighed rubbing his temple like this too was something he didn't want to be doing first thing in the morning and he shifted his legs, no doubt crossing them underneath the table and he then rubbed the space between his brows before crossing his arms over his chest once again. "This aggression between one another. It is pointless, wouldn't you say? We 'ave been at each others throats for centuries and for what? Simple petty dislike for one another? Why should we keep nitpicking at one another when you are 'appy with Amérique and I am 'appy with my Mathieu, so what is it that we keep nitpicking at? Why are constantly at each others throats? Was there anything I 'ave truly done to anger you, Angleterre? Truly?" He was gobsmacked, literally and truly in every sense of that word as he leaned back in his seat staring at France when the Keurig beeped, the smell of the black tea reaching him and he stood to grab his cup deciding it was the perfect thing to stall with as he thought about it. He couldn't remember one specific thing that the French man had done in all their lives to make him dislike him, to hate him so deeply, it was just something that ran through England to dislike the man and he was helpless against it. He had spent much of his life trying to be better than his brothers, then better than France and he had spent so much time focused on it that he knew he pissed France off when he took Canada away from him but at the time he had been doing what he could.He took his tea, stirring in sugar and grabbed some ilk from the fridge pouring just a smidgen in turning the dark color to a golden red then walked back to his seat sipping the tea before putting the mug down taking a deep breath through his nose. "So even if we are happy with our respective significant others I can't explain why it is I don't like you, I just don't. We've always been at one another's throats, for as long as I can remember. But if you're asking me to be civil then I can do that." "Oui! That is all I'm asking for, just while the children are growing up! Mathieu made a fair point to me last night that our children, who are cousins, shouldn't grow around such animosity for all you know our children could be the next generation of us who bicker and fight constantly. 'owever, we remain civil just for the children while they are growing up for the time being, oui? You can do that right?" France questioned when England hissed in a breath fighting back the snappy return when he clenched his jaw fiercely for a moment at the taunt and he let out a slow breath like the air was being released out of him. Alright. Alright, he could at least be civil around the children and grant Canada that peace of mind that the children won't grow up feuding like France and himself did but that left room for a much bigger question right now. "Okay, I can be civil with you for now but what about when the children grow up? When they're adults with their own ideas and feuds?" England threw the question right back at him then took a large sip of his hot tea which made a hot, scalding path to his stomach which complained at being so empty. He knew they were going to have breakfast before leaving here so they can make their flight back home but his question hung more importantly than his hunger as they met each other's gaze evenly once again and France chuckled low in his throat. He then scratched his chin smirking widely, his eyes sparkling dangerously at England who raised a brow with his own answering smirk curling over his lips as they both leaned forward, at least one arm going on the table on each of their sides. "When the children are grown all civility will be over and we can go right back to our old bickering ways if you so wish for it too~" France replied like he was strange excited at the thought of their children being older already so they could get back to their same, usual volatile relationship they kept with one another. Sure, there was a time to be serious but if someone didn't know France or England well the relationship would be one of those loving relationships that secretly care about one another while ragging on one another constantly about little things and denying any feelings or caring for the other. Then his eyes shifted and he smiled brilliantly. "Bonjour, Amérique!" "Yes, good morning, love!" England happily greeted the sleepy American who rubbed at his eye like a sleepy child, his glasses held in his other hand when he slipped them onto his nose and his hair was as wild as Liam's or Jolene's would be after sleeping. He looked like a giant child and he absolutely adored him for it! "The children are still sleeping which is a bloody miracle in and of itself but we can head home when they wake up if you'd rather do that so we can catch one of the earlier flights that we can get after the children get out of school. Or we can stay here, spend some time with Matthew for a while and spend time bonding time with Poppy, Henri and Austynn, if you'd rather do that?" "Sure! Let's hang out here! Since we all moved over to your place we don't see Mattie as often so it'd be nice to just spend the day here and drive the kids to school which will be pretty quick since we're closer to it and then after they get out of school we can grab dinner here and take a flight home right after dinner. Does that sound good to you, baby?" America questioned sounding strangely strategic for being awake for about five or ten minutes as he slipped his fingers under his glasses, rubbing his other eye now as he looked at France now with a bright smile on his lips. "And good morning, France! Thanks for lettin' us crash here last night!" "You are welcome, Amérique! Be sure to thank your brother as well~! 'e truly does love seeing little Liam, Jolene and Alexander! 'e loves seeing them whenever 'e can and adores them rather 'appily that I thin 'e would be sad if 'e couldn't see them so often!" France smiled then looked over his shoulder to see a sleepy Canada staying there and he perked up walking over to the man's side kissing him happily which got him two eye rolls from England and America when he pulled back looking down into Canada's giggling face."Bonjour, mon amour! I see you slept rather well! We should start getting Austynn's things together for school, non?" "Okay, let's go do that then and we need to take showers fast if we want to be clean before we have to drive them to school." Canada replied when France smirked wickedly at the Canadian who giggled at the look when he blushed a rather delicate shade of pink when he took France's hand and looked over at his brother. "Go ahead and find something for breakfast, if you want! I'll call down to let you know when the shower is open for the both of you to take one, promise!" France blew a kiss towards the couple in the kitchen when they disappeared upstairs, the sounds of their feet quick and light followed by the giggles from Canada cutting off when they were out of range and America merely walked over to the coffee pot making himself a cup with cream and sugar contemplating saying anything but it was weighing on him horribly. "So, um, about last night." England looked over at his fiancee who was careful to keep his back to England as he stirred his coffee, acting like it took all of his concentration to do so and he cleared his throat softly as if to spur himself onward. "I just wanted to say thank you for last night. For letting me, you know." "Oh, well that's not something you have to thank me for, love! I'm more than willing to help you when you are struggling even if it's with your emotions, I'm right here for you and if my getting married to you isn't proof enough to help you with whatever you need then I don't know what will. I know there will be moments for both of us when there's stress and economical issues weighing us down, that there will be issues and tension but we'll deal with them when they come, love." America turned to face England as he dragged the chair closest to him out and England took his free hand, his engagement ring winking softly in the morning light and he smiled softly at the American. "I love you, Alfred, and if last night proves anything it just shows how much I truly do love and care for you when you're down like that. Just know you can always come to me, love." "It's because I trust you more. I could've gone to Mattie, he's the only one who's really seen me cry but I trust you, Arthur." He then smiled sheepishly while his cheeks burned and he chuckled softly when he rubbed his thumb across England's knuckles softly taking a deep breath, obviously trying to go for confident when he looked at England from under his lashes but he just looked like a shy child. "Doesn't this feel like some kind of weird, shitty romance movie plot though? Or like one of those cliche story lines where the strong character breaks down and is soothed by their partner?""That it does, love!" England replied with a laugh of his own when America smiled wider, happier now as his blue eyes danced and he loved to see the look on his lover as he then stroked his hair away from his face as the light from the window caught on his glasses for a moment. He then leaned in at the same moment America did which knocked their foreheads together making both wince for a moment then laugh at the other happily before leaning in pressing lips together instead and England sighed through his nose happily. He used his hand to grip the collar of America's night shirt to keep him in place as the kiss deepened, the warmth radiating off of America strangely addicting this morning as he shifted to the edge of his chair only for America to grab at his pajama pants yanking him forward by his thighs. He curled his arms around his neck happily as he kissed him enthusiastically only to break when his lungs screamed for air and he played with the caramel blonde hair at the base of his neck smiling. "I love you so much, Arthur Kirkland. I'm happy you're marrying me." America murmured the words making England blush and he smiled at his fiancee, cupping his face happily when his caramel lashes fluttered open as their eyes met and he stroked his bangs out of his face then kissed the top of America's head. The American replied by rubbing England's thighs and lower back happily, kissing the fluttering pulse in his throat and England sighed happily at just how right it felt to be resting in America's arms, on his lap that felt as though it had been carved for him and him alone. "I love you too, Alfred F. Jones, more than anything on the planet and right to the moon and back. I promise."
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Ladonia smiled while he watched his daughter crawling fast as she could across the living room with a squeal of joy as she dragged her seagull plushie with her, her little hands slapping the floor when she would suddenly stop to sit up and look over at her mother only to cover her face adorably. She was a champ at crawling, much to his delight, and because she was a champ they bought and put up the baby gates so she couldn't crawl wherever she pleased, when she pleased and grabbed whatever she could get into. Her golden red hair was growing out to a full, shimmering cap of hair that decorated the nape of her neck now rather beautifully and her blue eyes were brighter than ever which gave her one of the cutest looks he'd ever imagined a baby having. Helena was growing rather well, meeting her milestones and while she wasn't quite running around like her aunt, Aili, she was standing on her own when she could and delighted in her new abilities that now she would stand in her crib first thing in the morning calling out. Ladonia's day had been made when he woke that morning to Helena shouting "Mama! Mama!" from down the hall and he would admit that he cried at the sound of his daughter's high, piping voice calling out for him had made the day just that more amazing. She was practicing her Y letters so saying Daddy probably wouldn't happen until she was a year or two older and would perhaps even stick to Dada or Papa but either way he could tell that Sealand was happy with the baby's progress either way. Looking at his daughter she pulled herself up at the gate when the front door opened as Sealand walked in holding a few bags of groceries with a yellow packet tucked under his arms holding a rolls worth of pictures for Helena's baby book. She squealed happily, her eyes glittering as she danced in place while she giggled and then dropped to her knees crawling over to the other gate that prevented her from going to the kitchen but she crawled over quickly with her seagull and pulled herself up again shouting out sounds to her father which he responded with curious noises. Ladonia rolled his eyes but stood up with a smile on his lips when he walked over to Helena who looked up while she babbled and gripped his pant leg yanking herself up, sucking on her fingers now but she burbled around her fingers the cute nonsense of nine month old's and he looked over at Sealand. "You wanna give me the pictures? I can start putting them in her book while you get the groceries away and get in here to feed her before she eats her whole hand." Sealand snickered but complied with a light easy throw of the packet that Ladonia caught perfectly with a clapping sound that made Helena jump in response and he smiled ruffling her golden red locks of hair. "Have I ever mentioned how much I love her hair?" "I know! I don't think there's every been a Nation with your pretty hair color, Lonnie! You're one of a kid with your pretty hair!" Helena gave one of those cute baby gasps then began screaming a babble of incoherent sounds and vowels at her father like he understood exactly what she said and he laughed easily. "That is right, Lonnie girl! You've got such pretty hair that I doubt anyone else could have unless you have babies on your own which won't happen for a super long time or never!" Ladonia raised a brow at the cheerful tone Sealand used and the blonde shrugged it off after narrowing his eyes at the baby who narrowed hers back and giggled. "What, you never think she's going to have kids or something?" Ladonia asked as he opened the package, taking the pictures out while flipping through them. He could honestly careless whether his daughter had babies someday or not, he just wanted her to be old enough and mature enough to make that decision. He looked down at the baby clinging to his pant legs as she picked her little feet up stamping them on the floor then giggling happily at her new game when she picked her bird up, keeping one hand on his pants tightly, and whipped her bird around giggling. "Can you honestly believe how big she's gotten compared to how small she used to be?" "I know! It's a shock on how big she is! Because you used to be a little petite thing, a tiny girl you used to be, Lonnie!" Sealand cooed the words to his daughter as he put the groceries up and Helena made a happy noise back as she then plopped down onto her bottom, more entertained with the bird than her parents now. Ladonia took the release of the baby's dimpled hand to walk over to the couch to pull the pictures out and get them in her book, making a soft satisfied noise to himself. "Hey, Erland, can I ask you kind of a serious question without you getting mad or overreacting?" Ladonia looked up at this when he sat on the couch with the pictures resting in his hand and he blinked when Sealand climbed over the baby gate easily then walked over to the red head who blinked a few times then debated his answer so it wouldn't be too sharp or scathing. "Um. Sure, what kind of question is it?" He felt silly answering a question with a question of his own but he wanted an idea on just what kind of question the blonde could be springing on him out of nowhere and he squinted when the blonde sat next to him on the couch. He could read a single thing on Sealand's normally open face and it somewhat made him concerned but most curious more than anything, even if he was hesitant about what kind of question it could be at this point. "Well, I was thinking while I was out getting the picture and the lady there said I had a beautiful daughter it got me thinking." He then fidgeted with his fingers when he looked up at Ladonia from under his lashes, a puppy dog look that Ladonia was absolutely helpless against and he looked down taking his hand playing with the promise ring. They had decided to wear the rings on their fingers when they were home and would wear it on their chains when they went to see Finland or England, who scowled at their fingers as if waiting for the rings to pop up magically on their fingers. But that wasn't waht they were talking about, was it? "When she said that it got me thinking and I figured I'd ask you it before you hit me. Um, would you ever want another baby?" Well. That's not the kind of question he had been bracing himself for. Ladonia blinked thinking about the question then looked to Helena who was staring at the TV intently, holding her seagull to her chest as she idly plucked at the feet while watching some generic kids show and he thought about it. Helena was a sweet girl, yes, but he hadn't been handling the pregnancy or the childbirth well and even when he had been taking care of her in the beginning he had doubted his own mothering abilities so much that it upset him nearly every day when she cried. "No, I don't think I would." At Sealand's hurt expression he knew he needed to hurry for damage control. "It might change in the future! When she's older, like a lot older and we decide that the timing is right but I just don't think I'd have another baby any time soon or in the near future, you know? Helena just feels like enough for me and she was just an accident!" "I guess I can see your point, honestly." Sealand then shrugged looking at Helena now too, the baby babbling to her seagull while she tugged on the wings curiously then threw the bird up above her head only for it to fall on her head and make her wobble, the bird falling next to her and she giggled. "You just have to be lucky that I don't want a lot of babies like my brother! I mean, I'd like another baby but if Helena is enough for you then she's enough for me and I'll be happy just to have only her if we never decide to have another one." He shrugged again then kissed Ladonia's temple who relaxed by his side, as if tensed like Sealand would flip out about another baby, and he smiled softly when he watched Helena throw her seagull up once again only to clap while wriggling her legs and laugh wildly when the bird came down beside her again. "She's more than enough for me, having her is like having two different babies if I'm going to be honest. She goes from one mood to the next and it's like have two different children depending on the time." Sealand replied looking at Helena's little game of tossing her seagull up into the air only for her to clap and giggle when the plushie landed next to her and he then watched Ladonia putting the pictures in their slots. "So, I talked to Seborga and Wy the other day! I guess Wy matured like we did, so she got her own growth spur and Seborga is actually dating her right now." The red head looked up at the blonde's words when he raised his hand up. "Swear to God she is." "No way is Wy with Seborga! I thought she'd end up with Hutt River! No offense to Italy or his brother, but Seborga either has sex or pasta on the brain more than half the time unlike his brothers who have actually matured with their kids. I didn't think that Wy or Seborga would ever end up together in a relationship together!" Ladonia was honestly surprised by this little tidbit but then he wondered if anyone else would be surprised to hear that he and Sealand were together with their own kid which made him feel somewhat hypocritical when he frowned. It was just that Wy and Seborga have such different personalities last he saw and they didn't really talk much but when had they gotten so close that they could establish a relationship? Was he that far out of the loop when it came to the other micro nations?"That's not even the biggest thing about the both of them being together either!" He paused for a moment when Ladonia punched his thigh making the blonde whine in response and Helena looked over at her father with curiosity before her attention right back to the seagull in her hands which she threw up with a new giggle. "Ow! Okay, jeesh, you didn't have too punch me, Erland, I was going to tell you! But the biggest thing and it's kind of why Australia nearly choked out Seborga one time but Wy is actually pregnant right now with Seborga's kid. Look I have a picture and everything!" "Wow! I didn't think she'd ever get pregnant but I guess if she matured then Seborga wasted no time with getting with her." Ladonia mumbled the words but he turned his attention to the blonde's phone when he pulled it out and pulled up his texts with Wy and scrolled through until he got to the picture. Wy stood with her hands on the rails of what looked like a boardwalk by the beach, her flip flops in one hand and her hair was actually down around her back in glossy brown curls and her brown eyes glowed at the camera like she has some kind of epic secret. Seborga was next to her, grinning widely while he flashed a peace sign at the camera, his other arm around her waist happily as his green eyes glowed the same way Wy's did and his hair was ruffled with the wind but when his eyes dropped to her waist he was surprised. Straining against her black tank top and white shorts was a six month pregnancy belly, nothing huge but something that was definitely noticeable on her for she was rather petite and her belly ballooned out from her body even from that angle. Ladonia couldn't think of anything to say right then but he stared in disbelief at the camera and he looked to Sealand who smiled when Helena abandoned her seagull in favor of crawling over to her father now, her eyes bright with excitement. "They look happy though, despite Australia's outrage. To be honest, you and Wy growing up makes a lot of sense but I don't make any sense in why I grew because I'm just some military fort in the middle of the ocean that England left behind a long time ago and yet here I am all mature and grown up." He bent picking Helena up as she tugged on his pants and she giggled cuddling into his chest as he wrapped his arms around the nine month old and kissed her golden red hair softly making her smile happily as she clung to his shirt now, her cheek against his heart. "Either way be happy you got that recognition when you did." Ladonia replied then smiled when he kissed Sealand's cheek, something he was getting more and more comfortable with doing but his cheeks still turned a light pink when he did so and he smiled at Helena who smiled at her mother. "I'm not going to lie, I never thought Wy would see past all of Seborga's flirting and his being with other women so much back to back when he was doing hat kind of thing and then grow feelings for him or have his baby! They're just an odd couple, something you wouldn't see often and yet they look happy together." He poked Helena's nose making her giggle softly at the touch and he smiled when she gripped his finger tight with her little hand. "You know, she's so happy and cheerful, determined even so it's hard to believe that someone like her wouldn't grow to do great things." "I can see it! Little Helena will probably be a doctor or a scientist or something important! She'll have centuries to practice anyways~" Sealand crooned to the baby standing her up, her tiny feet pressing on his thighs as he kissed her chubby cheek as she giggled and bounced herself joyfully before grabbing Sealand's blonde hair, his face even with a determined look. She then made a high clear noise then bent her knees a couple times whining with annoyance and Sealand felt her diaper to make sure it wasn't wet then felt her forehead finding both to be perfectly fine and he stroked her golden red hair softly. "What's the matter, Lonnie? Hmm? What's got you upset?" She whined while bouncing again, her knees bending a few times irritably and she slapped his cheeks with her tiny hands while staring intently at her father then narrowed her eyes at them, looking for all the world like Ladonia when she did so. She sighed roughly staring at her father's face then squeezed his cheeks in excitement when her eyes sparkled after a moment, giggling happily now as she gripped her father's face joyfully, her little nails digging into his cheeks. "Daddy! Daddy!" She chirped the words joyfully, smiling when she then clapped her hands against his cheeks with joy on her face as she giggled then looked to her mother and reached out just barely touching his hair giggling happily. "Mama!" Sealand was on his feet shouting with absolute exhilaration as he spun around the room with the baby in his arms making her laugh sweetly when she was up above his head with her little hands reaching down to touch his face, chirping the two known words to her while wriggling her legs. Ladonia was surprised to hear the laughter bubbling out of him as well when he watched Sealand spin again with the baby held tight in his arms, his eyes glowing when he held the baby girl up above his head once again then lowered her down to kiss her chubby cheek, her tiny nose and then her golden red locks of hair happily then grinned at the smiling baby. "That's my girl!"
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Finland smiled at the sound of little feet running back and forth behind him, little shoes tapping against the tiles of the floor in a soothing pattern that made him giggle when he looked over his shoulder seeing Aili running around the table giggling to herself then. The sun lit up the kitchen where it played on Aili's light blonde hair, almost seeming to create a halo on her little head as her large mismatched eyes took in the kitchen around her as she ran around a chair which she dodged easily enough and Finland smiled when she ran out to the living room for another lap no doubt. Since Aili began walking she quickly had zero patience for her clumsy legs that had wobbled underneath her and had gone right to running when she was a confident walker which she now used to run all over the place happily. Finland figured the life of a one year old must be full of places to go, in her imagination at least, and she had seen walking as a slow way to making her way to those imaginary spots and running was more her speed in the grand scheme of things which made him laugh. He turned his attention to the soup he was stirring, keeping a watchful eye over in between tracking his daughter's light rhythmic footsteps and her happy squeals as she ran from room to room only to pause by the stairs which were gated off then run back to the living room again. Running into the kitchen once again with her light rhythm steps, a giggle on her lips Aili ran right up to her mother who bent down swooping the one year old up into his arms happily making her hands clap together, her eyes to sparkle joyfully at the quick movements. "Hello, pikku kultaseni! Are you having fun running room to room?" Finland questioned the baby in his arms, nuzzling her warm cheek against his own making her squeal an answer while she smiled happily and giggled sweetly which made Finland join in with her giggles. "Such a sweet girl you are today! Look, Mama is almost done with lunch! Then you and I can sit down to eat something, okay?" She cupped her small hand around his nose, squeezing the bridge of it then giggling happily in response and he kissed her little pink palm making her giggle again as he smiled wide looking at the small girl in his arms as her eyes sparkled. She swung her legs happily then cupped her mother's face with her little hands and tapped his cheeks with her little palms, squealing at his violet eyes sparkling at that she used her position to bring her little nose to his as she peered at his violet irises curiously. She squealed when he met her gaze, her little hands slapping his cheeks with excitement when she then pulled back pointing at the floor with a smile on her lips and he kissed her chubby cheek before placing her on the floor where she ran off to the living room. He felt his heart literally ache at the sight of her running, the bottom of her dress swishing and her hair managing to bounce lightly with her movements and he chuckled turning back to the pot on the stove as her little tapping feet disappeared. Since she had taken to walking and running like a natural both Sweden and Finland were now eagerly awaiting for Aili to say Mama or even Pappa, after all she'd said "no" just a month or two ago so she could clearly say certain words, couldn't she?When Sealand and Ladonia had come over proudly showing Finland how well Helena was getting along with words that were somewhat limited to Mama, Daddy, up and down but it was sweet to hear her high, piping voice as she smiled at Finland. He knew despite being a man that she'd one day call him grandma as that's what she'd see him as but he also knew that when she was an adult it would change to grandpa, like Sweden, but he just couldn't wait until Helena could distinguish his name and call him it either way. Aili, on the other hand, had said no in the moments when her irritation got to her and she's scream it but other than that her doctor had assured Finland her vocabulary is no doubt growing and she was on a good maturing speed other babies her age. Her motor functions and bodily functions were just perfect but Finland was always because his baby wasn't babbling or talking like other babies her age and because she never spoke she had other ways of showing what she wanted by pointing or tapping to get attention. His doctor had also explained that Finland wasn't over worrying or making up the worst case scenarios for Aili had come from his body so it was only natural that Finland would have much deeper worries about his child than before and that he just had to be patient. He had the suspicion, lately however, that if Aili took after him right now then she was like her father as well and Sweden was often pretty quiet most of the time so it would make sense if she also was quiet like her father. It still bothered him, however, with how quiet his daughter was and how she didn't babble at least like her niece and like Prussia's son whom Aili played with happily but still she didn't babble with him but rather looked like she merely talked with her movements. It was alwas like a dark cloud over Finland, that worry that there might be something wrong with his daughter, that she might be experiencing something from her early birth and despite how many times Sweden assured him that Aili was fine it was still a quiet murmur inside of him that until she spoke he couldn't or wouldn't shake the fear that there might be something wrong with her. Really all he needed, all he wanted, was to know that his baby was just fine. He felt the anxiety rising in him like slow water rising which he tried to get over by taking slow but deep breaths in through his nose and out through his mouth, closing his eyes while he did so until his anxiety felt somewhat manageable but his hands still shook in response. He tried to calm the shaking, the anxiety that tugged at him by stirring the soup but he just couldn't find the calm he'd had moments ago that danced out of reach now like a taunting flag waving just out of view of his hand. It was in the midst of this anxious episode that he heard light tapping feet running towards him happily then the small hand gripping his pant leg and he looked down to find his daughter staring up at him rather intently. There was one thing that he loved, however, and it was that his daughter's eyes didn't change like the doctors had predicted that they would by saying her heterochromia would balance out, with her left eye turning violet or her eyes balancing out to the blue green of her father but it just didn't happen. It was something he adored that her eyes remained the violet and blue green they'd been when she was born. Realizing what she must want before she lifted her little fist up he smiled apologetically to her when he stirred the soup and she tugged on his pants fiercely, a look of frustration on her tiny face and he looked down at her again. "I'm sorry, darling, Mama has to stir the soup and get it done! I'll pick you up in just a few seconds, alright?" He then turned his attention back to the soup when Aili let out a loud wailing scream that made him flinch when she stomped her little feet angrily and he sighed softly. "Aili, just give me a second! I'll pick you right up when I take this off the heat, I promise!" He hated the tight, angry look in her eyes as she then yanked herself away from him stomping around the kitchen now as he blinked and she then screamed for all her worth and he sighed. Aili had gotten to the age where most of the time she would dissolve into an episode of screaming, crying and shoving because she refused to speak so they didn't understand when she got angry most of the time and she would resort to screaming. It was what every toddler did, isn't it? Every parent deals with tantrums and so, like every other time his daughter had thrown one, he merely pulled the pot off the heat when it was ready to do so and rinse off the cutting board he'd used earlier to cut the vegetables and turned the water on. In response to this Aili would open her mouth like she was going to say something then thought better of it and replaced the word with another scream at her mother as angry tears rolled down her red cheeks and she stomped her feet fiercely on the tiles of the kitchen. She was wailing now as she continued stomping and screaming as any one year old would, her anger getting the best of her as her little feet slammed the floor and she hiccuped in between wailing when her anger finally reached a crest. "Mama! Ma! Ma!" He looked over at his baby wailing and screeching at him now, her feet hitting the floor when she wailed for him once again holding her hands out and he dropped the board in his hands, didn't mind that his hands were wet and rushed over scooping the baby up into his arms. All things were dropped in that instant as he stroked his daughter's hot cheeks removing the sticky trails of tears as he then kissed her forehead which was just as hot as her cheeks and his arms moved rocking her softly to soothe her. "Olen pahoillani, olen pahoillani! Olen pahoillani, kulta!" He murmured the words to her instinctively while he rocked the one year old in his arm, swaying side to side kissing her little nose and warm cheeks but she looked happy to be in his arms now as she reached up cupping his face with her tiny hands. He kissed the top of her head a few times when she nuzzled her little face into his neck and he marveled at just how high and piping her voice had been, just like any other baby. Then it hit him. His daughter had gotten angry, so angry in fact that it had made her scream at him and he wondered for a moment, just one, if perhaps his daughter would begin talking if she knew that the only way to get attention was to speak up? Not that he would ever repeat this kind of tantrum but he hoped that no she would keep talking, keep calling out for him and it made his heart ache with a fierce rush of love and even some regret for letting her tantrum go on like that but what else could he had done then? His daughter, while needing to talk more, also would need to learn some patience as she got older but that didn't mean he had to let her throw tantrums like that just to teach her a lesson, did he? He kissed her light, silky blonde locks of hair gently when he then sighed wondering if she'd let him put her in her high chair and he shifted her to one arm to hold her up as he used the other to get the tray off of the high chair but when he went to put he down her hands gripped fistfuls of his shirt and she said calmly but clearly "no!" and so he sighed. Looks like he'd be having a late lunch, didn't it?When Sweden walked through the front door he was surprised by the fact that he hadn't received a "welcome home" greeting from Finland like he usually did and save from the giggling he honestly wouldn't have known that his husband and daughter was home. He unzipped his coat shrugging it off to hang up when he heard the light tapping of his daughter's little feet on the floor, running towards him as he bent down to put his shoes together neatly when his daughter ran in front of him as he was bent over and he smiled. She beamed brilliantly at the sight of him when he then stood up smiling at the little girl who bounced up on her toes excitedly as she stretched her little hands out opening and closing them rapidly as she giggled softly continuing the little dance. "Hi there, Aili, did you come to welcome Pappa home? Where's Mama, hmm?" "Pappa! Up!" She chirped the words happily as she stood up on her toes, bouncing again as she opened and closed her hands faster while looking up at him with wide eyes that were happy but eager when she then walked forward grabbing onto his legs then reached up tugging on his hand. Up, Pappa! Up! Up!" He blinked then walked forward quickly with Aili running after him letting out a little cry at her father when he entered the living room to see Finland sitting on the couch with a book in his hands and he looked up raising a brow at his husband while Aili ran up to her father then began her little routine once again this time with whines. He then bent down picking up the one year old up much to her satisfaction now for she smiled, the whines replaced easily with her smiles, and she played with her father's ear for a moment while he squinted at Finland who was beaming at their daughter. He then pointed at the baby, her eyes wide as she grabbed his finger and giggled happily when her father then moved the finger to her pink cheek which made for an interesting game of catch the finger, apparently, as he began lightly poking her wherever he could and she struggled to follow his fast movements when she squealed happily. "She's talking. Tino, she's talking. When did she start talking?" "Earlier around lunch time! She got mad at me while I was doing lunch and she started screaming Mama, then she started saying other words on top of it! She even said "where's Pappa" earlier when you were late getting home and she's been very vocal about that too!" Finland replied with such pride as he then put the book down, clapping his hands like he was too overjoyed and he then giggled at Aili's game as she finally caught her father's finger and shouted with her victory in the small little game. "I could hardly believe it! It's strange to think of all that stupid anxiety I had that something was wrong! I think she was just storing up her words, they're somewhat good too! She pays such close attention when I read to her too!" "Maybe she'll start speaking in full sentences by the time she's three, en sådan liten dam." Aili giggled at her father's crooned words and reached up nuzzling her cheek happily with Sweden's now, his glasses lightly poking her face each time but she smiled brilliantly when he rubbed his cheek back against hers. She curled her little arms around his neck happily, clinging to her father like he might disappear in a second and he smiled reaching a hand up to stroke her light blonde locks softly, carefully with the proximity of their cheeks when she pulled back settling herself happily in his arms. Then he took a breath looking at Finland curiously. "So, are we ever going to talk about why you took off to Norway's when Aili was eleven months? Or is that something I can't be in the loop on?" "Er, no." He hesitated then when he looked down playing with his hands like he was a child being scolded and even Aili stared at her mother curiously. "It was just that when you asked if I wanted a baby it...scared me." Sweden looked at him in surprise, his normally blank face contorting with the look and Finland felt his face flush with his sudden guilt when he kept his gaze down. "I realized I only really wanted to have another baby because I was scared that we would have the same bad luck we'd been having for years. I mean, it scared me to think that what if she's our only baby? At the time I wanted to have another baby as quickly as possible and then I stopped being scared about it when Aili began walking but when you asked me so suddenly it scared me and I didn't know how to react. I h-had to ask someone, talk it out and Norway gave my some ad-advice." "Tino, look at me for a moment." He saw the hesitation at first then watched Finland lift his head up cautiously looking at his husband who then stroked his cheek, moving his fingers back to cup his cheek with his palm as he took a breath. "I didn't mean to scare you then, Tino. It was never my intention to scare you so bad that you had to run off and ask another person what to do rather than talking it out with me at a later time but I never wanted to scare you so bad that you had to run away from me so fast." He paused then offered a crooked, awkward smile. "Tino, if you don't want a baby right now then we don't need to have one, I promise it won't upset me. Besides, if Aili is beginning to talk then we need to focus on her right now, don't we? Help the building blocks for her to go to preschool eventually." Finland let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding and smiled at his husband happily, his cheeks warm when he covered Sweden's hand with his own and Aili, who had been watching curiously, pressed her little hand against her father's cheek and leaned over pressing one against her mother's. Her eyes brightened with her giggles as she was then pressing against her mother's chest and her father's when Finland kissed her warm cheek then leaned up giving Sweden a soft but sweet kiss as well making the man chuckle quietly. "Alright, no more babies until she's all grown up. I don't mind if she's four or five if we have a baby, if we have to try then I'm going to try just as hard as we did to have her!" "It's not like it's a race, Tino." He smirked now when Finland plucked the baby from his arms and she giggled in her one year old glee, her eyes glittering at her mother now when Finland hummed spinning towards the couch where he sat down with Aili held on his lap then proceeded to curl up with the baby who smiled brightly. She loved laying on the couch, cuddling into her mother and gripped his shirt nuzzling her face into his chest with a squeal of happiness, her face bright with the emotion as Finland kissed her light blonde locks happily. "I think it's only a matter of time now before we have another baby, trust me." Finland merely smiled when he held Aili in his arms, the baby giggling happily when she then reached her little hands up playing with Finland's blonde locks of hair happily. He then kissed the tip of the baby's nose before smiling brilliantly at his husband who had his own awkward smile on his lips and he then walked over sitting beside Finland and Aili, who squealed happily at her father sitting next to her. She then gripped his big hand with her tiny ones, slapped his palm happily while she giggled, rather than babble, and both parents found watching the one year old was far more interesting than whatever was playing on the TV. Aili clearly felt the same when she then squeezed Sweden's fingers with her excitement and her mismatched eyes sparkled joyfully at her parents when she then threw his hand up and flailed her legs out squealing as she clapped happily. This time Finland giggled with her and even Sweden chuckled fondly at the baby, leaning over kissing the top of her head making her beam brilliantly at her father joyfully as she then clapped again smiling brightly.
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His boots were loud on the floor, tracking snow all over the place as his eyes roamed over the wooden walls of the small house before his blue eyes then finally and Norway scowled at the rather horrified awe on the Dane's face. "Nor, tell me and be honest about it, but how the heck can you STAY here? There's no consistent heat here, only that one fire place in this whole place! Aren't you cold at all at night in this shitty heating?" Denmark questioned when he waved a hand around at Norway's small home and his eye twitched in response at the incredulous look on Denmark's right then. His home was small, yes, but it was more than enough for one fourteen year old male to handle, a Nation in the body of a fourteen year old body at that, so he was fine just staying here in these "conditions".
"Though I doubt your little brain can handle this kind of answer," He watched the pout form on Denmark's face and he rolled his eyes."but this is my home, I don't need to move into some fancy house with more than one fire place that you may or may not have, Dane. I'm not going to move into the public, no matter how much you come here ad pester me to do so." He then turned his attention to the book on the table, focusing his eyes on it for it was something else to look at rather than Denmark's rejected face but for as long as Norway had known Denmark the guy was trying to constantly get him to move either into his home or somewhere close to him. Either way, he would stay right here as long as his Leader allowed him too and that was going to be that.
"But the houses there have more heat than this house! It's even cold right here! I don't want you to get frostbite later in the winter, Norge!" Norway threw him an irritated look at his protesting and Denmark gave him a pointed look when Norway took a calm sip of his water. "Come on, Norge, truly you can see the benefits of moving closer to me, can't you? Is it really that horrid to live close or with me? Truly? Is that why you keep making some excuses? Or is there some other reason that you're staying here?"
"Dane, I will be fine. I don't know how many times I have to tell you, I've been fine here for years and this brings up the mighty good point of why are you so concerned about me now? I'm not merging or anything of the sort with you, that's the one thing we won't be discussing." Norway replied with a rather highly dignified air to him and he then gave the Danish boy a pointed look, watching the way he fitted with the ends of his sleeves for a moment and he had the itching suspicion that Denmark was hiding something. "Why DID you come here, Denmark? You hardly come here unless it's when you or your Leader want something from me or the political issues or the government changes. Why are you here now?"
"Because your my best friend, Norge! Obviously I care about you after all this time! Sure, my Leader sends me here sometimes for the political and government stuff, but why can't I just come in to see you with no strings attached? Do you hate seeing me that much, Norway?" His last words were quiet when they fell off his lips, his tone hurt in such a way that Norway looked up to see Denmark walk over to the table leaning against it with a rather sad, almost hurt expression on his face that made Norway bite the inside of his cheek. No, Denmark did this time and time again! He would do it so Norway would stutter over his words, that he would apologize or feel bad about what he had done but he had to know it wouldn't work every single time! So he steeled himself looking down at his cup of water which he now sipped again trying not to meet Denmark's suddenly wide blue eyes.
"You never come just to see me, there's always going to be something in it for you either way, isn't that right?" Norway replied in a mumble while he stared down at the pages in his hands but he for the life of him couldn't focus on the words themselves with Denmark's upset face pointing at him. It annoyed him to no end but the Norwegian had long since come to terms that there was some kind of pull towards Denmark, an attraction towards the Dane that irritated him to no end for what was there about Denmark he had to be attracted too? His eyes? Maybe. He was just fine, however, with remaining "friends" with the guy if it made him happy and he would go along with it like he always did even if he was feeling true genuine concern for Denmark more than half of the time now a days.
"Well, this time I did and there's nothing in it for me, Norge. I promise!" Denmark insisted when Norway looked up in surprise at his firm tone, his cheeks burning in response and he watched the teens face turn red slowly but surely when he then fidgeted with his coat now. "But I guess you can say there's something in it right now for me. It's so simple but, um, I want to kiss you, Lukas." Norway felt like someone had just made everything inside him freeze over, the situation was going to face for him to understand when he felt fingers lightly teasing his curl and he slapped the hand away standing up quickly like he was going to put space between them. Denmark, sensing this, reached out grabbing Norway's hand and tugged him towards him, his arm going around his waist as Norway's heart slammed against his chest like a birds wings trying to take off out of his chest and he felt his hands trembling.
"Cut it out, Mikkel! I'm being serious!" Norway snapped when he was pulled close, so close in fact that he could feel Denmark's pressing lightly against his own and he tried to skitter back but the arm around his waist made it hard to put distance between them. Denmark watched the normally blank face, the careful facade Norway held up, crack showing the irritation as his face burned like the poor Norwegian was going far past his limits and patience for the Dane. Norway, on the other hand, could see a displeasure in Denmark's face at the use of his name when he felt a hand sliding up the middle of his back making him shiver at the sensation and then fingers playing with the edge of his hair.
"My name's not Mikkel anymore, Lukas. I didn't tell you, did I? I changed it, with permission of course, so how about you get used to calling me Mathias Køhler?" Denmark suggested with an innocent tilt to his head until he smiled rather viciously, more like a predator than anything, and then raised a brow at Norway like it was some kind of challenge as his smile morphed into a smirk. "Now, Lukas, I'm going to kiss you and you're going to enjoy it, I promise." Norway tensed in the Danish Nation's arms, at his tone in particular and the way that his palms tingled at the thought of just slapping the hell out of that smug looking face and just how good it would feel to make him angry for once if he let go of him.
He opened his mouth to snap, to speak or something of the sort when Denmark's lips were covering his own rendering him silent as the air whooshed out of his nose the moment their lips made contact with one another and he was unsure of what to do. His hands, which ached to hit, gripped his clothing so tightly the blood receded from his knuckles turning them white when the kiss turned from a simple touching of lips to movement and Norway found with curiosity that his lips seemed to know just what to do. He clung to Denmark, a tiny noise escaping his throat when he was picked up placed on his table and the Danish Nation moving between his legs spreading them out as he gasped now into the kiss parting his lips which made a tiny growling sound escape Denmark's throat. The kiss was a wild, heated thing that was burning through him before rationality could ring in his head and he was moving his hands up to Denmark's hair to grip the blonde locks fiercely as his face burned fiercely, his hips nudging forward and holy shiiii-
When Norway's lashes fluttered open he was aware of how the blanket was wrapped uncomfortably tight around him, his cheek was wet from the line of drool that had been rolling down his face God knows how long and he felt strangely stunned to be awake. The dream had been so REAL that he honestly thought that had been his reality, not this much too warm tightly bound drooling reality that had him feeling like someone had filled his head with sand while he had been sleeping or popped every joint in his body which ached from the position he had been sleeping in. He shifted only to hold back a groan at how his body ached in response to the movements and he buried his face into the pillow, his wet cheek feeling all too sticky when it smeared against the pillow with his movements when he then peeked out from his new position.It was strange waking alone without the boys or Denmark above him smiling at him excitedly, waiting for him to open his eyes and he opened his eyes staring into the empty room sighing when he decided if he was ever going to have the time to take a shower undisturbed then now was the time. He pushed himself up kicking the blankets off of him swinging his legs over the side rubbing his fingers over his face trying to remove the clinging sensations of the dream and stood up walking over to the dresser grabbing a fresh pair of boxers, a shirt then walked to the closet grabbing a pair of pants that hung there and he walked out of the bedroom. He walked across the hall to the bathroom finding the quiet to be a touch unnerving, something that he would have normally delighted in, and entered the bathroom locking the door behidn him as he placed his clothing on the sink taking a deep breath to sooth little nerves that wanted to pop up. He turned the shower on, pulled his shirt above his head and sighed rubbing at his face again while fighting off a yawn when he frowned at the sight of his shirtless reflection in the mirror, his reflection just as displeased as him. While Norway did sleep noticeably well considering three children who kept him on his feet from sun up to sun down he still had light blue circles underneath his eyes like he had done nothing the night before but toss and turn when it was the complete opposite.He brushed off the marks under his eyes, turning to the shower frowning to himself for as much as his tired face made him feel it was the dream that really clung to him with silky threads that tried to tug him back to what could have been the conclusion. He hadn't had dreams of that far back in a long time, a very long time in fact, but it still bothered him just how it popped up out of nowhere and especially with nothing to provoke said dream which truly was bothering him at this moment. What was it that triggered such a dream? Was it because he was thinking about his children growing? No, that wouldn't be it. Norway believed dreams didn't just "happen". He believed that dreams were compiled of the things you thought about, the things you saw or heard during that day and all were mixed together into one confusing dream or no dream, in fact, but a memory disguising itself as a dream didn't happen out of nowhere. Could it? He stuck his hand under the water feeling the heat and bent tugging his pajama pants down then stepped into the shower shivering at the hot water hitting his hair immediately and tilted his head back letting his face warm under the water. It would solve itself, a dream such as that wasn't much to throw him off course and even if it was he wouldn't let it. He used the loofah to clean his body, sighing to himself wondering why everything felt so much more mundane today, the sponge rough against his pale skin and yet he still couldn't get it out of his mind how confident Denmark had been, just years before he hit his Viking phase. How even unpredictable, how rough Denmark had been during that phase but no matter how many times Norway had seen him he'd always insist Norway call him Mathias, the name that never changed and continued to never change for he always threw away names. He sighed rinsing his body off while reaching for the shampoo and scrubbed his hair fiercely when he turned tilting his head back shutting his eyes as he continued moving his fingers through the locks and he grabbed the conditioner after the shampoo was completely out of his hair. The smell of the soaps was comforting, strange as it was, but he finished scrubbing his hair and made sure all soap was off his body before he then turned the shower off watching the head of the shower drip a few times before he stepped out grabbing a large, rather fluffy towel to dry his skin and rub his hair fiercely to get the water out before wrapping it around his waist. He plucked his toothbrush out of the holder while grabbing the toothpaste and brushed his teeth quickly but thoroughly as he did every morning, inspecting to make sure the stubble that always came after a week or so was nonexistent for he always hated shaving first thing in the morning. After a close inspection saying he could go another week before anything truly growing he rinsed his mouth out and grabbed his clothing knowing it'd just be difficult to dress in the humid bathroom he unlocked the door then stepped out into the hall walking across to his bedroom. It was there that he got a rather loud surprise that had him blinking. "God morgen, Mamma/God morgen, Lukas!" Was what ended up being shouted at him from Sven, Nikolai and Denmark when Nikolai added his own loud impressive squeal with them that had him blinking one more time in surprise when Abel jumped off the bed running forward throwing his arms around his mother's toweled waist. "Mamma, we made breakfast for you! Pappa helped us but Sven and I did the most work! You'll try it, won't you, Mamma?" "Of course I will, but why aren't the two of you in school?" Norway questioned reaching down ruffling Abel's hair happily, the six year old giggling cheerfully when his mother rubbed his cheek smooshing it up and Sven smiled at his little brother. "I thought Pappa would have brought you in, it was so quiet when I woke up! Were you all sneaking around the kitchen, is that what was going on?" A mischievous twinkle came to Abel's eyes then and Norway found himself grinning at his son then, finding himself helpless to keep the grin from forming and he ruffled his hair with his hand again while sighing out then putting his clothing down on the dresser. "They had to miss today, roads are slicker than hell out there that the wheels on the car even slid before I could get out of the driveway so I decided to keep the boys home today until they salt the streets! I figured that was a better idea than driving out of here on slick ass roads." Denmark replied to Norway with a happy, almost smug voice when he kissed the top of Nikolai's head softly making the baby gurgle in response as Abel released his mother's waist when he pulled his boxers on under the towel which then dropped when he pulled the boxers up. "I also told the boys that they needed to be super quiet as you've been pretty restless in your sleep lately! It worked though and we got an awesome breakfast downstairs! We were going to come up and wake you up!" Norway blinked a few times as he pulled up the dark jeans, his surprise coming back in full force when he then tugged the material up over his legs buttoning them when he tugged them into place over his boxers and then pulled the shirt over his head. "Well, thank you. Let's go down and eat then, okay? Let's go!" That made Sven spring into action, both boys running out of the room with Abel shrieking with joy as they thudded down the stairs and Nikolai squealed at the sounds of his loud brothers, his blue eyes sparkling happily. "Mamma! Mamma!" Nikolai chirped the words but it sounded like he was singing a song in how he said it as he bounced on his father's lap reaching towards Norway happily, his little hands opening and closing eagerly until Norway walked over scooping the baby up into his arms. Nikolai's chubby arms went around his neck, his cheek against his neck as he murmured the word a few times happily while nuzzling his mother and cuddling into his chest which was returned happily by Norway who nuzzled then kissed his blonde locks of hair softly. Nikolai had learned a few other words but Norway had taught him that those were naughty and even tapped his little lips to keep him from saying, like a little game and the baby caught on quickly as he chirped his little word happily. "Ready to go down?"Norway looked up when Denmark climbed off the bed, his eyes bright and a happy smile on his lips looking like he did every other morning and kissed Norway's temple softly, gently even making his eyes flutter shut for a moment. To think so long ago he would have never imagined being married to Denmark or having three sons with him, being this happy with him and he found himself swamped with dozen of memories that fluttered at the edges. "Lukas? You alright?" "Do you remember that day when you told me your new name?" The words blurted out of him leaving Denmark looking surprised and Norway's face to turn red, Nikolai looking at his mother questioningly then amused himself to fiddle with the cross in his mother's hair and Norway felt like need to backtrack quickly. "You-You know, when you told me your new name wa-was Mathias Køhler and that it wasn't Mikkel anymore. Remember? And then you-" He clamped his lips shut to keep from saying anymore when interest suddenly sparkled in Denmark's blue eyes and he grit his teeth together hating how loose lipped he was this morning just because some memories were screaming at him from all angles for no reason! "And I what? I mean, I remember telling you that and then you all but kicked my ass, yelled at me about the confusing names I kept picking but you were really surprised that I kept it all this time though! I remember that conversation, it was when we were dating still and you told me you were shocked that I stuck to one name for so long!" Denmark smiled laughing then smirked tilting his head, that interest glittering in his eyes once again when he raised a brow. "Why? Was it something to do with your dream?" At Norway's scandalized look he laughed. "Yeah, I figured so! I woke up and you said Mikkel so loud I thought you'd woken up but then you just sighed and rolled over, drooling like you always do while snoring away!" Norway scowled now for two things he was sure of was that he didn't drool all the time and he did not snore! He scowled when Nikolai chirped out a sweet little "Mamma! Food!" and he was inspired to move walking away in a huffy way that had Denmark laughing behind him joyfully. His face still felt hot when he marched down the stairs with Denmark mere steps behind him now with that same sparkle in his eyes and Norway felt like someone had strung him out naked for Denmark to see all his weak points and he felt desperate to cover them all up. He reached the bottom of the step that, even if the house had been remodeled and enlarged, squeaked loudly anyhow just like it had for centuries when he walked down the little front hall to the kitchen with Nikolai securely held in his arms. He placed him in his high chair when he handed the baby his plate of cut up pancakes which made him squeal when his bottle of milk was placed next to it and he dug in with vigor into his pieces of pancakes joyfully. Norway sat down cutting into his own pancakes, the syrup much too sweet this morning but he began eating like he'd been starving for years and Abel made faces at Nikolai who giggled at his elder brother's foolishness as Denmark sat down on the other side of the table next to Sven. It was a normal morning, the usual morning but some reason it felt like something out of a happy dream to Norway when Denmark met his gaze smiling at him in this knowing way had him blushing brightly again and looking down with a hushed expletive leaving his lips when Abel giggled. "Pappa, you're making Mamma all red!" Abel pointed out which just made Norway's face burn that much hotter at his son's brilliantly loud words, his cheek smeared with syrup and he sported a milkstache on his upper lip from the chocolate milk he'd been guzzling when he smiled at Sven. "Sve, have you ever seen Mamma so red before? He looks like a pretty lady!" Sven laughed at his little brother's choice words and then smiled when his eyes sparkled much like his father's. "I've seen him redder, Abe. You're not helping though, making Mamma embarrassed by pointing it out so obviously, Abe, poor Mamma's so red I doubt it'll ever go away!" Sven then took a large bite of his pancakes while Abel let out a cry that sounded worried, panicked even and Denmark laughed while Nikolai giggled at his elder brothers while he fisted some pancakes fiercely with his pudgy hands only to devour them happily and sip from his bottle. It was then the battle between brothers with their words, each bickering lightly back and forth between bites of their food or sips of their drinks much to their parents entertainment when Norway finally felt the heat moving out of his face slowly. When Sven finished before Abel, even draining the rest of his milk and pushing his chair in Norway watched Abel's dull blue eyes narrow before stuffing his cheeks with the rest of his pancakes and working overtime to finish them with a hard swallow. He then gulped the rest of his chocolate milk, perhaps too fast from the little line running down from the corner of his mouth and he then jumped out of his chair much to Nikolai's joy who clapped his sticky hands together happily before grabbing his bottle gulping the milk happily then twisted watching his brother run out the doorway after Sven. It was then they shouted they'd be outside, the sound of boots being put on clumsily and then the door opening only slam shut being the only answer both parents received from the hurried breakfast and soon enough their screams filled the air outside. Norway looked over at Nikolai who would need a bath, no doubt, to remove all the syrup and the baby gulped his milk down taking moments to breath through his nose before putting the bottle down clumsily and finishing the last few pieces of pancake when Norway stood up grabbing his, Abel and Sven's plate before walking to the sink sighing out. He caught sight of the boys laughing, running circles around each other as they laughed only for Sven to squeal when Abel launched himself at Sven taking them both to the ground where they laughed and Norway was so caught up in watching them that he jumped when Denmark's arm circled his waist. He kissed Norway's cheek making a light pink hue form in his husband's pale face and he nuzzled his light blonde locks happily when he then kissed the top of his head, his arm tightening around him slightly as he sighed out happily. "Jeg elsker dig virkelig, Lukas, det gør jeg virkelig." Norway blinked then turned the water on when Nikolai squealed behind them, the baby finding something entertaining before suckling on the nipple of his bottle and he looked down feeling the light burn in his cheeks before he looked up at Denmark who took advantage of the position and kissed him softly, lingering for a moment. When he pulled back he looked at Denmark who smiled back at him, his blue eyes glowing when Norway nudged his head with Denmark's who caught on to the old action and nuzzled their heads together in an action Norway hadn't done since he was very young and saved for his sons. "Jeg elsker deg også, mer enn noe annet, Mathias." And the smile he got was so blindingly warm that he felt his own chest thawing with the emotion when he nuzzled their heads together softly, his hair tickling his face with the movement and he felt the arm tightened around his waist until it was near painful when his fingers dug into his hip. And it still, truly, honestly wasn't quite tight enough but his heart sang with joy anyway.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"Ai, where's Baba? Where did Baba go -aru?" Looking up Japan smiled at the sight of China laying on his belly, his hands over his eyes with a smile on his lips as Ai sat in front of him in her little boppy giggling sweetly at the sight, her panda held tight in her little hands as her golden brown eyes widened at the quiet. "Come on, Ai, where's Baba -aru?" The five month old gurgled her answer, bouncing the panda in her hands before looking up to find China moving his hands from his eyes and she squealed excitedly while hugging her panda fiercely with the emotion as her father leaned forward nuzzling the baby's little neck happily making her giggle."Here's Baba -aru!" Japan giggled with the baby who then gripped her father's dark hair happily, her golden brown eyes glowing joyfully with her giggles that went up to laughing screams when he blew a raspberry against her cheek and then her belly making her little legs kick out in response. Ai, now five months old, was one of the happiest babies Japan had ever seen and he adored his little daughter who adored him and her big brothers in return the older she got which warmed his heart at just how much she seemed to love her brothers. Speaking of her brothers, Xiong's head was suddenly in his lap with a sulking pout on his lips and displeasure glowing in his own golden brown eyes when he looked up at his mother who had begun moving his fingers through his freshly cut hair which was short once again much to Japan's satisfaction. "Okaa-san, when is Uri going to be here?" Japan sighed feeling the conflicting feelings warring in his chest already when he looked down at Xiong who seemed glum already at the thought of Uri coming to stay for the week and it made him wish that his son would just get along with his elder brother. He had no clue why Xiong disliked Uri so much but Japan was becoming determined to find the reason as to why there was dislike in Xiong for Uri, even if he had the itching feeling like he could just barely put his finger on the reason why. "I'm going to drive over to the airport to pick him up in an hour but I have to start getting ready to head out soon." He then sighed at the pout forming on his son's face and he tapped his nose lightly making his face scrunch up. "Uri loves you very much, Xiong, you're his little brother. You should respect your aniki, Xiong, just like how Chiyo respects you all the time no matter what you do." Xiong just mumbled under his breath rolling so his face was pressed against his mother's stomach and Japan sighed stroking his sons black locks softly, moving his fingers through the silky locks that snagged at his fingers and he looked over at his husband and daughter. Ai's dark brown hair was growing thickly on her head much to his happiness and there was a little curl at the base of her neck that tuck up against the rest of the hair there, a cowlick of sorts that he had seen in China's hair when it was up and even when it was down he could spot the curl from miles away and it would seem Ai had inherited that. China then sat up reaching forward with a little grunt and picked the five month old up and placed her in his lap where she gripped onto his clothing happily, gurgling softly as she held her panda with one chubby hand of hers and giggled happily. He was happy the boys did more with her for the first three months had been hard what with Ai waking up shrieking in the night making everyone tired and cranky, even when China came home, but now that she was finally starting to sleep through the night the boys happily played with her day in and day out making her sleepy at bed time now. He stroked Xiong's hair softly looking down at his son then peering up at the clock wondering if it was perhaps too soon to say anything when Xiong looked so close to falling asleep in his lap with each squeal his little sister gave and Japan's fingers raking through his hair. Finally he let out another breath that made Ai and China look over at him curiously making him smile sheepishly when he then nudged Xiong softly which made the boy blink a few times tiredly before sitting up rubbing at his eyes. "I have to go get ready to pick up Uri, it's quite the drive there and I want to avoid most of the after work rush. Yao-san you don't mind watching Xiong and Ai while I'm gone, do you? Chiyo is napping upstairs so you'd only have to watch them and that's only if you want too, if you're feeling up to it and if not I can bring Xiong with me-" "Kiku, I'm fine! I can handle both Xiong and Ai, I promise! It'll only be a few hours and besides, Taiwan and Vietnam are stopping by soon so it's not like I'd be alone for long -aru!" China smiled at his husband happily then leaned down kissing the top of Ai's head softly making the baby gurgle as she tugged on the arms of her panda curiously then hugged the bear to her chest giggling as her legs squirmed against China's thigh. China then moved Ai up into his arms when he stood up with a grunt but then shuffled over to Japan kissing the man happily as Ai tugged on his ear giggling cutely at her father's movements an the warmth of her mother so close to her. "Be safe while you're driving -aru." "I will be, don't worry. Xiong, I want you to be good for Baba, alright? I'll be back here with Uri by dinner time! If Baba doesn't make anything then I'll make something quick for us or we'll just end up getting pizza for dinner." He sounded displeased at the thought of ordering out but China was smiling at Ai in his arms for he did have an idea for dinner and with the baby sling they had it would make cooking so much easier AND he'd show Xiong how a good Chinese dinner can be made! Japan then leaned in kissing their daughter's chubby cheek making her whine as though she was already missing him, understanding his words already and he then watched Japan kiss the top of Xiong's head making the boy smile softly. With that Japan had his coat, car keys and shoes on then was flying out the door with it shutting behind him with one more shout of goodbye and Ai whimpered softly at the lack of her mother's voice when she looked up at China with large, wet golden brown eyes and he nuzzled the baby softly when she whimpered again. "I know, tiānshǐ, I know! But Okaa-san will be home soon and until then you get to play with Xiong and Baba! And you get to meet your Āyís -aru!" The baby stared at him then sighed when he turned to Xiong smiling happily at the boy who suddenly smiled brightly at his father in response, his eyes glowing for a moment. "And you! I'm going to show you just how yummy a Chinese dinner can be -aru!" "I know it's good, Baba!" Xiong replied with a giggle when he smiled at the happy look on China's face and he then stood up on the couch bouncing a few times, his eyes alight now with interest. "Are you going to show me how to cook, Baba? Like what Okaa-san does?" Xiong, unlike his brother, enjoyed cooking already and always looked eager when it came to it so China smiled with delight at his son's genuine curiosity when he looked at his father, eyes bright. "Shi! We're going to make quick noodles tonight and spring rolls -aru!" China proclaimed making Xiong's eyes light at the thought of helping his father cook and China smiled at his son happily when Ai whined in his arms, her eyes disgruntled like all this talk of dinner was making her hungry now. "Okaa-san will probably say quick noodles and spring rolls shouldn't be made together because of all the veggies I'll have to use but he doesn't have to know until he gets home -aru!" Xiong giggled mischievously with his father and Ai, with curiosity at the giggles, joined in with a high pitched giggle of her own before chewing on her fingers happily. "When is Āyí coming over though? Is she going to have dinner with us?" Xiong asked curiously when he jumped off the couch in a display that made his little sister's eyes widen in awe at the sight and the sound of it impact. He kissed Ai's soft, wispy dark brown locks of hair making her sigh as if she was both tired of the kisses and yet demanding more when she then bapped China's face with her panda giggling with her elder brother when China narrowed his eyes at the baby. "Baba, are you happy now because we have a sister?" China looked over at Xiong curiously for a moment then looked down into Ai's shining golden brown eyes, exactly like his and Xiong's, and smiled kissing her little cheek this time making her giggle, legs wriggling with excitement. "I guess I am, it feels like I have a full family now. I have you," He ruffled Xiong's black locks affectionately making the boy smile."I have my Chiyo and now I have my Ai! I couldn't be happier than I am right now! And when Uri gets here I'll have my three boys all together with my girl! How much happier can I get -aru?" He smiled at Xiong who blinked a few times and he tapped his son's nose softly. "And do me a favor, Xiong, but try to get along with Uri this week! He's your brother, whether you like it or not -aru." Xiong looked at his father for a moment or two, silence reigning over them since his mother left when he then kept his eyes lowered when he asked the question slowly but hesitantly. "Baba, do you love Uri more than me?" China blinked at the question, at the conflicted look on Xiong's face when he shuffled in place. "He came first, before you and Okaa-san got married and it was because you liked Mr. Russia right? Well, he was born first so does that mean you love him more than me? More than Chiyo and Ai?" "Xiong, listen to Baba, and listen good, alright?" He looked at his son who stared up into his father's rather serious face, his golden brown eyes darker than Xiong had ever seen them become when China took a breath. "I do not love Uri more than you, Chiyo or Ai. He is my son, just like you are my son and Chiyo is my son and the way Ai is my daughter. I don't love any of you any less or any more than the other, I love you all equally, I love you all as much as the next and there will never be a day when I love Uri or you or Chiyo or even Ai more than the other, I love you all desperately. You're my babies! How can I love one more than the other? Is that why you don't like your brother so much -aru?" Xiong looked down, embarrassed now when he nodded sheepishly and Ai seemed to have enough of the moment for she vocalized a sound very loudly like she was trying to get her father's attention and bapped him in the face with her panda again. That made China laugh when he gestured for Xiong to follow him and he trotted after his father, his hand reaching out grabbing his pant leg as they walked into the kitchen together and Ai made a curious noise towards her brother. "Do you need help making her bottle, Baba?" Xiong had some experience after watching his mother countless times make bottles for Ai and even for Chiyo when he was little so he at least knew where the formula was if his father needed it and he knew if he had too he'd hold his sister. "Hmmm, maybe, if my big boy is willing to help -aru!" He used his free hand to poke Xiong's nose softly making him giggle happily as China flipped a clean bottle over, reaching into the cabinet while Ai squeaked in his ear when he adjusted her and her panda touched his jaw as he reached up grabbing the can of formula. He got to the top off when the doorbell rang out making both father and son look over their shoulders curiously before he smiled at Xiong, happily ruffling his short hair once again then felt his smile twitch wider when he looked at Ai. "Does the big boy want to go get the door for Baba -aru?" "Hai! I'll be right back, Baba!" Xiong cried excitedly then spun on his heel with a grace that seemed all Japan and ran off quickly, his retreating footsteps loud on the wooden floor making China smile before turning back to the bottle putting two scoops in and turned the sink on then picked the bottle up letting it fill up the proper mark. He managed to twist the nipple on firmly only to shake it with his hand, trying his best not to let the rest of him move so he wouldn't rattle Ai who was happily chewing on her pandas eager as her eyes stared at the shaking bottle with rapt fascination. "Baba, Āyí is here!" "Nǐ hǎo, China!" Taiwan's happy, bubbling voice appeared in the doorway leaving him to wonder when Taiwan got stealth enough to catch him off guard and yet he offered the woman a smile when he placed Ai's bottle in the warmer. "How are you? Are you feeling any better since you left the hospital? And nǐ hǎo, Ai! Look at you, so big now! Last time I saw you you were a tiny little thing, now you're a big girl huh?"Ai giggled at her Aunt's attention when Vietnam walked up behind Taiwan, her gold eyes sweeping the kitchen before settling on China and the giggling baby. "Nǐ hǎo, Tai, and I'm just fine! You and Kiku, I swear you fuss and fuss over me when I am perfectly healthy and I'll have the both of you know I've experienced much more than a simple C section -aru!" China replied huffily but smiled then at Taiwan like he couldn't help holding onto the huffy angry mood and sighed then tilted his head slightly. "So how's the pregnancy going? I know that the third month always seems kind of rough, especially my second time through it! Are you hoping for a specific gender -aru?" Taiwan immediately lit up at his words, a sparkle forming in her dark eyes when she sat at the table like she was all too ready to indulge in her pregnancy thus far and China found himself sitting across from her while Vietnam sat next to her. "I'm not going to lie and say that the symptoms aren't kicking my ass half the time but I am pretty good despite all those symptoms I've had! The baby had provided new guidelines and rules it seems, so I can't rough house any more with Thiên but as she keeps reminding me it's all going to be worth it in six months!" Taiwan replied in a stream of babble it seemed with that bright sparkle still in place where it started in her dark eyes as she smiled happily then rubbed her belly with the same happiness that glowed from her. "I honestly still can't believe that Macau helped so willingly, that when we sat down with him and he listened to what we had to say and agreed rather wholeheartedly to help us. It'll be easy, since all three of us and I know the baby will look like either myself or Macau but both Thiên and him have dark brown hair with gold eyes so the baby won't be so confused as to why there's three different looking parents you know? He said also that if Thiên and I were okay with it that he wouldn't mind being part of the baby's life when he or she is grown up." "It was on the baseline of the poor kid being confused as the only one with two mothers and one father. It'd be confusing for a toddler to walk around saying he or she has two mother's and one father, much less what humans will think if they ever over hear it." Vietnam added in her rather businesslike, almost flat tone of voice when she peered at her partner who beamed back joyfully and China could have sworn he saw a pale pink dusting on Vietnam's cheeks when she then sighed out. "It's all rather practical of him, especially you, Mei.""Well it's our baby! Of course I'd take this seriously and practically!" Taiwan replied with a pout on her face however Vietnam rolled her eyes at the expression and the hyper brunette sighed like she too was over her sudden burst of energy. China watched the women lock eyes, much to his surprise, it looked like how any other of the male Nations looked at their partners and it made him feel like some kind of peeping Tom the longer Taiwan and Vietnam held eyes steadily like they were talking without using their words. He cleared his throat which made the sudden intense eye contact break off, both women flushing to a soft pink when he watched Taiwan take a breath then smile. "But yeah! I'm good! I hope my baby is as beautiful as yours, Yao! You make such pretty babies!" China then grinned when Ai stared at her Aunt with growing curiosity and he then nodded gratefully before chuckling gently. "Xièxiè! I'm sure that as soon as you have your own baby that he or she will be just as lovely as you no doubt! You'll be having a beautiful child, I swear you will -aru!" Taiwan then beamed at China's words, her dark eyes warm like mahogany and the bottle warmer beeped lightly right when Ai let out a pealing screech of outrage at how long it had taken her father to get her bottle and he laughed light heartedly. "Hǎo ba, hǎo ba I hear you! You're bottle's all warm, trust me, so you'll be eating in just a second -aru!" Taiwan laughed when Ai whined loudly, her legs wriggling with impatience and her tiny fingers twisted into the soft fur of the panda in her arms as she pouted fiercely until China got the bottle and was sitting back at the table, the panda being taken out of her arms and the bottle pressed against her lips. Now her little fingers twisted into the fabric of her father's shirt, clinging onto him when she latched onto the nipple guzzling the formula in such a way that China knew she'd end up with hiccups as soon as she was done eating and Taiwan giggled. "That's so cute!" Taiwan squealed smiling at Ai who giggled around then nipple, looking to her Aunt curiously before looking up at China once again. "Oh! Chiyo!" She was jumping up faster than a pregnant woman ought too but there was a sort of careful, restrained way about it when she rushed over to the doorway swooping in to hug Chiyo fiercely. "Āyí! When did you get here?" Chiyo asked with a sleepy tone that was slowly perking up the longer Taiwan hugged him, rubbing her cheek against his soft dark brown locks of hair and his own eyes began to sparkle when he hugged Taiwan around the neck. "Will you come watch cartoons with me in the living room, Āyí? Xiong says he's too old to watch my cartoons are too silly for big kids like him!" He then threw a look at Xiong who had been digging in the cabinet and sat on the counter chewing on a rice cake, widening his golden brown eyes at his little brother who pouted now. "Of course I will! Come on!" She then bent down picking the boy up, using her legs to do so then settled him on her hip low so his legs rested far below her stomach and walked towards the living room with Chiyo babbling to his Aunt already, happier than he ever had been after walking up from a nap. The two of them were gone in mere minutes when both Vietnam and China sighed out in unison only to exchanged a surprised look that slowly morphed into a sheepish one as they then sighed out while Xiong crunched on his rice cake. He looked positively excited at the thought of helping his father cook and munched rather quickly but cheerfully it seemed when China then kissed Ai's warm forehead making her eyes glitter up at him while she continued sucking her formula down.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Sitting in her high chair Sunneva seemed to be having a blast eating her pieces of banana and toast, her light brown eyes bright with joy as she picked her bottle up taking a long pull of milk then put it down clumsily to grabbing another little fistful of food only to make a mess of her little face. Iceland watched the display with a smile on his lips each time she took a messy bite or a clumsy sip when her light brown eyes found him and she smiled bright at him, her little legs kicking joyfully and he laughed at the small eleven month old. "What's up, huh? Does Mama's lunch look good to you, hmm?" At her squeal he smiled scooping up a small bite of his potato salad lifting it up to her lips which she ate with zero hesitation only to clap her little hands, her legs kicking back and forth joyfully. "Is it good?" "Já!" She squealed her new word with a joy that had Iceland laughing again when she smiled brightly at him, her eyes sparkling again now that she had gotten a hang of saying the word was proud each time she said it and it made Iceland happy. His accent was something she picked up on easily, always watching with wide eyes when he spoke in Icelandic or in pure awe of his accent that her new vocabulary that consisted of Mama, Baba, food, up, down, birdy, kitty and toy had been added on by the the word já, something she picked up from Iceland. The eleven month old was learning new words every day, often using them even if they weren't in the right context but he was happy each time she chirped out a word and she seemed just as thrilled to be saying it at all. "Mama! Mama! Down! Down, Mama!""Oh, are you done now? Are you sure you don't want more?" Iceland questioned picking up the napkin on the table beginning to wipe her little face clean until he got up to wet a new napkin and wiped at her sticky little hands while the baby giggled pretending to think for a silent moment then nodded. He kissed her silver brown locks joyfully as he detached the tray, took her bib off and unbuckled her then tugged her up into his arms kissing her cheek making her giggle before walking towards the doorway of the living room leaning over the gate plopping her down in the living room. He and Hong Kong had spent weeks baby proofing the house when Sunneva learned to crawl about two or three months ago so he often felt comfortable leaving her to play in the living room but he always made sure he had the doorway in sight and his ears strained for anything. He picked up his bowl then walked to the living room doorway while Sunneva squealed anew at the sight of her mother even if she had just been in his arms moments ago and he took a bite of his food when she then crawled towards her toy box. She had been eating nonstop lately, having two whole pancakes to herself this morning then two pieces of toast with jelly and a banana go to with it, she gulped her milk and ate like she had never had solid food before but Hong Kong assured him it was just a growth spurt. Eating to get energy in case she wanted to pop up on her feet and walk one of these days but Iceland had the feeling she might walk after she turns one, or that was the hope at least and he took another bite of his lunch. He was happily watching Sunneva crawling across the floor, giggling when she dragged toy after toy out of her toy box that she would hold up squealing her babble then getting a new one for Iceland to see and yet his anxiety was cold in his stomach. When Iceland woke up that day after his C section with Sunneva, as she laid in his arms tinier than a doll and as beautiful as one, he swore he wouldn't have another baby for one child was more than enough for him and he knew himself well enough to know that. But lately he had been getting spears of anxiety that made him colder than an ice sculpture for he had been feeling off lately, not quite normal but like there was something wrong with him and everything was terrified he would get the news he didn't want. That he was pregnant. He didn't know what he'd do if it turned out he was pregnant again, he didn't know how he'd react yet he knew exactly how Hong Kong would react if it turned out that Iceland was pregnant once again and the thought made him irritated. While he wanted to make his boyfriend happy he knew another baby was not the way to make him happy but he also knew that Hong Kong often brought up the random just how cute it would be to have a baby that looked just like Iceland. He sighed while he ate his lunch, Sunneva continuing to babble at him abut her brightly colored toys and he smiled at his daughter who smiled right back happily, her tiny dimpled hands tugging or throwing toys as her favorite show played on the TV. Sunneva was enough, he swore he never wanted to get pregnant for he had been miserable during those last months and when she was born she turned out to be more than what he had wanted and he was still content with just her. He sighed through his nose again taking one large bite when he took the second to tentatively consider just what it would be like to had another baby, just one second, to truly gauge his feelings at the possibility but he found hat he was scared. Only scared. He felt like someone had backed him in the corner with this possibility but he was unsure of how to react, how to talk and how to deal but he then shook his head fiercely shoving all thoughts out of his mind when Sunneva threw a block towards the gate smiling at her mother and he smiled back. He scrapped his bowl getting the last bite before turning to put the bowl in to the sink when the phone, like it had been reading his thoughts, rang shrilly making him twitch while Sunneva squealed with joy at the TV show changing to a more familiar one when he sighed. He walked over to the cordless house phone picking it up when he caught sight of Sunneva who had pulled herself to her feet by the coffee table and was bobbing with the opening song of the show and he smiled at her. He turned away from her sitting at the table preparing himself for whatever stupid voice he would hear, his mind immediately assuming Denmark for the man always called to invite him to some stupid family function or some kind of party. "Já, this is Emil." He said the words quick, sharp even and Sunneva squealed when she heard the familiar word and smiled at him sweetly, like she was proud of her mother for saying the same word she had and he smiled right back at the baby. Truly, with Sunneva being his everything, did he really want another child when she was all he wanted? Honestly, no. No, he wanted no other children but her. "Halló, Mr. Steilsson! I was just calling to let you know that the blood work came back and I just wanted to go over the results with you!" He made a light noise for the nurse to continue and she cleared her throat, the whispering sound of paper being held or adjusted sounding. "Alright, so you don't have the flu thankfully and everything else came back perfectly normal, so we decided to do an additional testing about anything else and of course we made sure that, as a man of your standing, nothing was wrong. They all came back normal, better than ever, and yet it kind of left us with one last test and that one came back positive. It turns out that you are, um, pregnant actually so til hamingju!" How did he know? How? Perhaps he was either ironic or something about his bodily intuition was tipping him off with all this fearful anxiety like he was some a woman, scared shitless because her period didn't show up for a month after she had sex and was left with no other options. That's what Iceland felt like and it was choking him now when he heard the nurse questioning him rapidly, asking if he was alright when his thumb slipped over the buttons and pressed hang up then hung the phone on the wall. No. No, no, no, no! No way! He had told Hong Kong a long time ago, weeks after Sunneva was born in fact, that there would be no more pregnancies and that everyone else could push out as many babies as they wanted but he was sticking with one child, one daughter and he'd be happy with it. He wouldn't have another baby, no way, not a chance when he had happily felt Sunneva was more than enough. He felt like he was detaching from his body even while he felt his hands moving to his very flat stomach, his hands shaking with the thoughts lapping at him when he stared down at the flat surface of his stomach trying to piece it together. Right now, just below his stomach, was a clump of cells that would inevitably turn itself into a child in the upcoming months. He felt cold, like someone had just shoved a brick of ice into his chest to make his heart pump the feeling in icy jets through his body like it needed to freeze every part of him to be satisfied and he felt his stomach twist like he might vomit. He and Hong Kong used condoms religiously every time they did get in the mood and he'd been very careful, as had Hong Kong, so how did he end up pregnant? He never felt the condom break if that was the case, they never did it without a condom and yet here he was standing in the middle of his kitchen with anxiety gripping him in it's frozen fist while his breathes trembled past his quivering lips, threatening to speed up and rob him of breath. That is until Sunneva tugged on the gait making him look over at her and she tilted her head. "Mama? Mama sad?" He walked over trying to keep his breath even, his hands shook when he picked her up and that sent another stab of anxiety right into his heart when he feared he might drop her if his hands shook any more and he pulled her to his chest quickly. He then turned yanking out a chair sitting at the table hiding his face in her soft silver brown locks of hair, holding her like she was some kind of comfort object as her little hand patted his arm, murmuring in her quiet baby babble to him and he kissed her head. What was he going to do? What could he do? Did he tell people? Did he let Hong Kong know? What was he honestly going to do that would make sense to him right now? He stroked Sunneva's back when he failed to respond to her which left anxious whimpers to leave her lips as she patted his arm and shoulder quickly, like she was trying her best to soothe him and he kissed her hair softly. "It's okay, baby, it's okay. Mama's just fine, don't worry, it's going to be just fine." Laying across his lap Sunneva had chosen his thighs as the perfect pillow when she nuzzled into him while he sat with her, her cheek pressing against his thigh and her little lashes were quick to flutter with each yawn she gave and before he knew she was out like a light in his lap. That had been an hour ago when he did so and he was now rendered immobile, much to his dismay, for it forced him to sit down and do what he had thought about doing hours ago when he got the call but he was completely unsure of the reaction he'd get when he held his cell phone in his hand tightly. He took a breath staring down at his daughter who slept peacefully, her face turned towards the TV and he stroked her silver brown locks of hair while he pulled up the familiar number, pressing the call button and held the phone against his ear while he took a deep breath. He knew his brother would help him calm down, would tell him it wasn't so bad but at the same time he knew exactly how his brother would react when he told him he was pregnant again and that alone nearly made him want to hang up as he bit his lip fighting the urge to wriggle for it might wake the baby when the phone picked up."Hallo?" He held his breath for a moment then let it out, his fingers squeezing the phone. "Hey, Norway." Iceland found himself wordless after he forced those two single words out and he looked down at Sunneva who shifted, her cheek rubbing in a rather content manner as she mumbled and he swallowed down his nerves. If he couldn't say it himself to Norway over the phone how on Earth would he say it to Hong Kong when he got back home from visiting Taiwan? "Um, I have some news." "Oh? What would that be-Abel! Do not lift Nikolai like that!" Norway's voice barked out sounding about the most motherly Iceland had ever heard it be and there was shouting in the background for a moment and then another shrieking voice in response. "No, I don't care if Sven does it! He's older than you! Put him down, now!" There was a whine now when Norway sighed, the phone shifting and Iceland cringed for his brother who had not one but three rowdy boys it would seem and the third wasn't even old enough to cause real havoc with his brothers. "So, Emil, what is it you wanted to say? I'm assuming it's good news, right? Does it have something to do with Sunneva?" Iceland again felt wordless, staring down at the peacefully sleeping eleven month old before he tilted his head back shutting his eyes for a moment. "Um, not really. She's fine, like she always is, napping on my lap like usual. But the news, uh, has more to do with me than with her." Who was this awkwardly speaking person? It couldn't be him for he had never stuttered so fiercely to Norway before and it was killing him that he was stuttering now and he heard his nephews shrieking in the background followed by Norway's sigh. "I, er, haven't been feeling good lately and I went to the doctors to get some blood work done. It would seem that I'm, ah, pregnant. Again." Silence. Complete and utter silence filled his brother's end of the phone, like he had suddenly stopped breathing and Iceland found his hesitation melting away to curiosity at the silence but he fought off the questions on his tongue when a breath suddenly hissed in filling the line. "You're pregnant again? What the hell are you thinking, Emil Steilsson? I thought you didn't want anymore children!" Norway's voice was a piercing, shrieking squawk that it came as a surprise to Iceland when Sunneva didn't so much as twitch at the sudden loud noise of her Uncle on the phone and he blinked. Guess he knew who Sunneva took after when it came to sleeping! His irritation, however, had bubbled up when Iceland lifted his free hand from Sunneva's silver brown locks to rub at his forehead when he found his irritation snapping at each accusation hurled at him from Norway. "Okay, I freaking get it already, Norway! Yes, I said I didn't want any more kids and yes, this is a complete accident! I don't even freaking know HOW I got pregnant when we use condoms every time and I have no clue what I'm going to tell Jia when he gets home and I sure as hell don't know if I even WANT this damn baby! You sound like a parrot, stop shrieking the same thing at me over and over, it's mad irritating, alright?" "Emil, are you...are you thinking about getting an abortion?" Norway's voice was suddenly very quiet, very solemn and though it seemed to try to soften the blow Iceland still felt as though someone had walked right up to him to deliver a punch so fierce to his stomach all the air was forced out of his lungs. As many thoughts had run through his head wondering how he got pregnant, if he even wanted a baby and even circling on how Sunneva was all he wanted not once had the thought of an abortion crept through his mind. It was in fact an option he had never considered and it sent a stab of cold through his stomach, like he had just fallen from some large height the way his stomach suddenly dropped when his hand lifted covering his flat stomach. "Abortion?" He sounded like he was talking in some kind of tomb, the way his voice echoed in his head and the word felt like acid on his tongue from how the knots formed in his stomach with the idea of doing such a thing. He knew it was his body, he could very well do it, and he knew he was justified in doing as he wanted with his body but the thought of an abortion made him suddenly scared and feel millions years younger than he was. Could he honestly do that? Tell Hong Kong about the baby then suggest an abortion? What would his boyfriend think about him? Hell, what if his daughter found out somehow when she's older? And what if he kept the baby but he or she found out he was thinking of aborting them? The thoughts, the questions, all swirled until he felt like he might vomit and he swallowed reflexively. "Yes, you idiot, an abortion! Are you thinking of getting one, Emil?" Norway shouted surprising both of them by how loud, how fierce he sounded over the line and he flinched from his brother's stabbing voice while said brother took a breath. "Look, it's your body and it's absolutely your choice but you need to tell me if you want an abortion. I'm guessing you have some time to consider this, right? I just want to know if that's something you're thinking about then, if you can't bring Hong Kong with you, I'd...come with you. If it's something you want to do in the grand scheme of things." Then his voice lowered, getting soft like it was moments ago. "No one will hate you for it, Emil. It's your choice and as your brother I'll support you if it's what you want." Iceland didn't know how to respond to such a serious topic when the sound of a car pulling into the driveway made him look over reflexively, the sound of the engine and the way one wheel squeaked lightly when it stopped forced him to take a deep breath. "I have to go, I need to get Sunneva in her room for a nap. I'll-I'll talk to you later, Jia's home." He spoke quickly before pulling the phone away from his ear only to hear the sound of his name being repeated until he hung up the phone. He scooped Sunneva into his arms carefully but quickly then stood walking with that fast pace to the stairs and walked up them quickly but tightened his arms around Sunneva to keep her from bouncing with his quick movements and he took a breath when he walked down the hall only to turn into her room. He walked up to her pale pink crib, bending down laying her down then covering her little legs with a blanket while she sighed out, lashes fluttering for a moment before she settled back down and he rubbed his face fiercely. He heard the door open and shut downstairs which triggered that icy pulse of anxiety, his heart racing in his chest when his hands instinctively went to his stomach as he took deep breathes before he bit his lip so he wouldn't wake his daughter. He didn't understand why he was so scared this time round, he'd been so blase when he told Hong Kong he was pregnant with Sunneva and yet this time round he wanted to cry, to hide and avoid this until he could avoid it no longer but if he was going to get an...an abortion, didn't Hong Kong deserve to know? Could he honestly hide this from his boyfriend? His teeth dug into his lip when he heard a shout of his name and the creaking of stairs as Hong Kong climbed up the stairs which sent him into a fluster as he rushed out of the nursery into the hall rushing down it as Hong Kong appeared at the top of the stairs. Their eyes met for a brief moment, Hong Kong's lips parting to say his name again no doubt but Iceland ran into their bedroom slamming the behind him and flicking the lock which surprised him just as much as it must have surprised his boyfriend but dammit he couldn't do this! He was gnawing on his lip at this point before releasing it only to bite at the inside of his lower lip anxiously as his heart flew in his chest faster than a helicopter's propellers and he wanted nothing more than to explain his behavior to his boyfriend but his voice was clogged in his throat. Trapped there. Then the knocks on the door behind him had Iceland nearly jumping out of his skin, his face suspiciously hot even while the rest of him felt clammy and chilled to the bone when he made a strangled noise in response. "Emil? Are you alright? Is something wrong?" His lips parted then his jaw snapped up shutting only to repeat this a few more times, trying to unclog his throat to let his voice out and he clenched his hands into fists, gripping his shirt over his stomach naturally and he cleared his throat which wavered. "I-I'm fine, Jia! Just have to change my clothes!" He got out in a croaking shout cringing at how unbalanced, wavering his voice sounded and he knew it was noticed by Hong Kong for how could he miss it? "Just give me a fe-few moments alone, I'll be out and downstairs to get dinner st-started!" Damn, damn, damn! Why did his voice betray the facade he wanted to pull off? Damn it! "Oh, alright. If you're making what I think you're making tonight then I'll head down stairs and get out your ingredients. I'll see you downstairs when you come out, I guess." Hong Kong stated the words, not spoke, but stated like Iceland was an angry child locking their parent away and he hated that tone of voice. It was the one that he used when Sunneva was told what to do, to scold her when she did something wrong and Iceland hated how young it made him feel when he clenched his jaw for a moment, his teeth aching at the pressure he applied but he had too! He crept forward then, careful of where he put his feet so the floor wouldn't creak when he heard Hong Kong's feet walking down the hall and he held his breath when he approached the door wondering if he was truly gone. He swallowed nervously leaning against the door then looking underneath to catch any shadows but saw nothing which pushed him to unlock the door quietly and carefully, holding it tight in his fingers which kept it silent and he gripped the door handle. He swallowed again even if his mouth felt dry now and he pulled the door open just a slit so he could peek into the hallway when he was jumping backwards gasping as the door was shoved open so quickly that it just barely hit him. He had never seen Hong Kong looked more irritated for even if his face was blank like it usually was his light brown eyes blazed like fire and he let out a tiny noise before he could stop it and twisted running onto the bed when his boyfriend walked into the room. He ran on the bed to the head board, the pillows covering his feet when he got there and felt his face burning when he looked at Hong Kong, the man looking simply outraged right then. "What the hell are you doing now, Emil? What kind of stunt was that?" Iceland was panicking but it seemed amidst the panic the anger in Hong Kong's eyes flipped a little switch inside him and his own anger was rushing upwards to his throat, aching to be let out and he found that he was useless to keep it from taking over. If he was going to be defensive why not throw some gasoline on the fire? He glared at his boyfriend now, the worst and hottest glare he could muster that he often saved for his brother and he pointed at Hong Kong with what he hoped was the right amount of accusation in his actions when he took a breath. "What's wrong with me, what stunt this is, is all because of you! It's all your fucking fault for buying those thin, shitty condoms! That's what's going on, fáviti!" Hong Kong stepped back, physically and mentally, at the Icelandic Nations accusation and he tried to piece together what that had to do with anything when he looked up at his boyfriend who was glaring so viciously it was surprising he had that type of animosity in him. His face was red faced, tears were hovering on his ghostly pale lashes while his violet eyes burned with flames of outrage that was venomous in his tone when he spoke and Hong Kong still didn't know what he had done to warrant this! "Emil, you're normally the most rational person I can depend on to make sense, you know that. But what in the absolute hell does condoms have anything to do with what's going on right now?" "It has everything to do with what's going on right now! You got me pregnant, Jia! I didn't want another baby, you know that, and here you are walking in three weeks ago saying that these thing condoms "work just the same but are thin so it feels like nothing" like the fáviti you are! But you didn't predict such thin condoms would fail at the same time did you?" Iceland shouted then making Hong Kong jump at the accusation flying off his boyfriend's lips and Iceland took a breath but it just spurred him onward. "It didn't break, yeah, I know but there must have been something faulty about them cause how else am I pregnant, huh? Shitty rass smokkar, kjaftæði er það sem þeir eru!" "Wait, wait!" He got the words out breathlessly now, his eyes wide with the surprise of his boyfriend's words when he held his hands up towards Iceland like the Nordic was a wild animal of some sort and he had to show his submission right then. "Emil, you're pregnant? How do you know? Did you take a test?" He saw Iceland's brow twitch, then his eye like his questions were loaded with bullshit excuses but Hong Kong wasn't excusing anything, not at all in fact but it just seemed to throw gasoline on the Iceland's fury it would seem. "I went to the doctor, dumbass, and they called me today! You idiot, I trusted that you would get good condoms but you bring those shitty ass false ones that do nothing!" Iceland shouted at the top of his lungs but his vocal cords ached from all the screaming but he just could't help it now that his anger was ruling everything about him. He was helpless against the fierce emotion that blazed in his chest and boiled his blood through his veins like lava, helpless and yet it felt so nice just to let loose like this, to scream and shout his anger for once. "I didn't want another baby, Jia! You know that! And here we are, back in the same damn situation we were in with Sunneva!" Hong Kong then looked down before climbing on the bed, aware he was approaching an angry Iceland and did so slowly like the man was an angry cat ready to strike but other than going stiff when Hong Kong slid his arms around him he got no fight back. He took a breath instead then kissed Iceland's shoulder softly, comfortingly while he rubbed his lower back trying his best to get the tense posture to melt away but when it just tightened he sighed then pulling back looking at Iceland. "Scream and shout all you want, Emil, but it's not going to change what you just said. I know you don't want another baby but I'm not going to lie when I say that I've been wanting another baby with you, just one more but now I know how you feel about it." He then lifted his eyes to meet Iceland's which were still blazing with outrage and he moved his right hand up cupping the side of his neck, stroking his thumb against his jawline. "If you want to go and get an..an abortion I'll go with you, Emil. You won't have to do it alone, I promise."He watched the flames grow in Iceland's eyes before freezing over like ice and he blinked at how fast he just went from one emotion to another, leaving him to stumble to play catch up with these suddenly shifting emotions his boyfriend had. "I'm going to say this one time and one time only, but the next time you or Norway suggest an abortion I'm going to personally rip your vocal cords out!" He growled the words but in truth he felt a horrible stab of icy anxiety in his stomach at Hong Kong's words, to hear the same ones his brother had said falling from his lips and he felt like he had taken advantage of Hong Kong almost. Here he was, saying he wanted another baby but because Iceland was so angry about it he was willing to go through an abortion with him. Yes, he didn't want the baby right this second but everyone was losing their heads over it! "Emil, look at me." Iceland raised his eyes up when Hong Kong's hands slide up cupping his icy face, rubbing at tears on his lashes he hadn't known rested there and he blinked. "If you really, truly don't want the baby then an abortion is what you need to go through if that's going to be your ultimate decision. If you decide a week from now that you don't want this baby, that you don't want to go through that all again, then you can tell me and we'll go see your doctor to get the procedure done right but it's your choice, Emil. " He seemed to hesitate before sighing out like he didn't want to resort to his next words but he went through with it either way. "All I ask is you give it a week, like you did with Sunneva, because you loved her more than anything that week and so maybe this will be just like that kind of situation. It's all I'm asking you, while you think about what you want to do, but I just want you to give it one week and if you decide what you decide I'll be there. Alright?" Iceland looked at his boyfriend, met his light brown eye's which showed a glimmer of hope that this could in fact be the very same situation with Sunneva but Iceland was anxious about giving it a week yet he was also terrified at giving an ultimate decision right now. Could he honestly do it though? Could he go through with the abortion if he decided to do so? Would he regret it later on? Or would he still be happy with Sunneva? Or would he always wonder what kind of child he could be carrying right now would be like? Should he do it? Or should he not? There was so many situations that could take place between him ad that little lump of cells that was inside of him right now, growing and thriving which had him biting his lip again looking down at his flat stomach taking a breath. The thoughts felt like wasp stings, repeated and vicious making him wince against them for he had no idea what he should do or what would be the right thing when he met Hong Kong's gaze again unclenching his jaw. His teeth seemed to throb from how tight he'd been clenching them but he closed his eyes after a moment only for his eyes to find Hong Kong's like a magnet. He could do that, though, he could give Hong Kong the week he was asking and he felt his heart tighten in his chest as if apprehensive. One week, that's how long he'd give before committing to the two paths stretching out before him and he then nodded softly. "Okay. I'll give it a week, Jia."