Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
so I started another story BUT I have been writing the next chapters for my other stories. So don't worry I haven't abandoned them!
Also this chapter contains Female France x Uk. Just letting you guys know, but don't worry for those of you who aren't really into that ship, its only for this chapter. The rest of the story will have very little mention of it.
Enjoy!
A/N: EDITED JULY 30, 2016.
There wasn't too much that needed to change but I did change a few things and added a bit here and there.
A/N 2: I know I don't go into detail about Author's airship but if you have seen Disney's Treasure Planet, the ship looks similar to the one from there.
The smog in the air hung over the large city of Helheim, giving it a dirty and unsophisticated atmosphere, even with all of the glamorous buildings nearby. Buildings that only those of the high class could enjoy, like the luxuries of the opera theater or the art museum while those of the poor class would try and beg for just a little money, in hopes that maybe someone would take sympathy of them and spare a few coins that day. Though it always seemed to be in vain, as the poor were treated like dirt by the upper class, especially the by the Royal Family.
The monarchy ruled with an iron fist, as was the way of the Braginsky Royal Family, who had been in power for seven generations. Only caring for themselves and using whatever means to get what they wanted - not unlike the rest of the Empire's many citizens.
The capitol was full of violence and prosperity, light and darkness and it attracted many people far and wide to its borders. With its machined buildings, locomotives, luxurious airships, mechanical dolls, blimps, and many factories located in almost every corner of the city. The smoke from the coal factories covered the once bright blue sky, turning it to a blue-gray color.
The citizens paid it no mind, only the older generations remembered but had long since passed on to the afterlife while many of the younger generations forgetting what the sky used to look like but more worried about their own personal lives to take notice. After all, the sky wasn't going to start raining money for the hard-working persons.
While the honest man worked hard to feed his family and keep his head down, there were those who worked through deceitful ways. The underground was filled with criminals from all around, each with a goal to be the best and rule the city underneath the monarchy's nose.
And Arthur Kirkland was no exception.
A pirate who raided any government, merchant and any passenger airships or airplanes, as long as there was profitable goods aboard. At the age of seventeen, he was already known as the most feared pirate and showed mercy to very few. He gave up the life of a high class socialite to roam the skies, free and full of adventures.
And drinking. Which he was currently doing.
The Inn was filled with all kinds of men, drinking away their problems, hanging out with old buddies, contests to see who could hold their liquor before getting completely wasted along with others flirting with the barmaids, making some giggle at the drunken men. Scenes one would often see in a tavern at night.
The young pirate captain watched as his crew drank the night away and took a large gulp of whiskey from his own bottle. The drink burned his throat as it went down but he welcomed it. He joined in the nights activities, dancing with some of the barmaids and laughing at his crew. Too be free of responsibilities and stresses, that was a life for Arthur.
But throughout the festivities, Arthur could feel someone watching him. At first, he thought it might have been a royal soldier who had followed him and he carefully glanced around but finding no soldiers or guards nearby, Arthur paid it no mind afterwards, but he could still feel the eyes watching him.
Unbeknownst to him, the person watched him with amusement in their blue eyes, occasionally rolling their eyes at the pirate's antics.
The night passed without any problems and eventually, Arthur passed out from intoxication.
A massive headache came full force as soon as Arthur woke up, making him curse under his breath. His mouth had a terrible mix of morning breath and old alcohol. He blearily spotted most of his men passed out throughout the Inn. He stumbled up the stairs to his room - mumbling about never drinking again - managing to make it to his room with minimal damage.
An hour later, Arthur came down refreshed and clean and decided to take a stroll through the city. On his way out he bumped into a young woman caring a heavy load of bed sheets. The sudden jostle didn't help his blaring headache though it had decreased in pain since he woke up.
"Mon Dieu!" the young woman cried out in alarm. She gave a quick glance at Arthur before quickly picking up the laundry. "Excuse me sir, I wasn't looking where I was going."
Arthur ignored her completely, not wanting some tavern wench's voice to grate upon his sensitive nerves and stepped around the mess. The young woman was appalled at the attitude and stood up and threw her shoe at him - not one of her best ideas. The impact of the shoe startled Arthur and he turned around to glare at the perpetrator, green eyes ablaze with a wild look.
She placed her hands on her hips and stood defiantly, showing that she wasn't afraid.
Arthur's green eyes raked over the woman's form. She was quite pretty with golden wavy blonde hair that was made into a bun a top of her head. Her simple blue dress with a dirty white apron didn't deter to show she had a figure that many women would love.
"You have to help a woman when she needs it, or are you so boorish zat you have no common sense?" She taunted. "Or was it my magnifique body zat keeps you from being a proper gentleman? You men are all the same."
Arthur's eye twitched in annoyance. Yes, she was quite beautiful but her attitude left much to be desired. "I have plenty of manners. However, you ran into me, so I don't have anything to say to you," he sneered. "Though it was your atrocious attitude that refrains me from helping. It leaves... much to be desired." Arthur smirked, loving the way the woman's cheeks turned red in anger and a little embarrassment.
Both teens glared at each other and those nearby could feel the electric and tense atmosphere radiating off of them in large waves.
"Marianne! What do you think you are doing?!" An older woman, the Matron, cried out in frustration. The woman looked frazzled and stressed even though it was only mid-morning. The young blonde, Marianne, turned to the other woman who grabbed her wrist fiercely.
"Marianne. The rooms need to be cleaned and you're just here flirting!"
"Non! I was working!"
"Stupid girl. And look the clean sheets are all over the floor!" Katherine exclaimed. "If we didn't give you somewhere to sleep and work, you would be begging on the streets, being nothing better than some common street whore!"
Marianne looked down in anger, eyes glistening while the woman went on and on, embarrassing her in front of all the people present.
"Excuse me, but it was entirely my fault."
Katherine and Marianne turned to face Arthur. The older woman was surprised to see him standing there while Marianne was surprised he said anything at all.
"Huh?" Katherine looked confused.
"I ran into Miss Marianne. I was just in the process of making sure I didn't hurt her and was just about to help her pick these up." Arthur said, using his most gentlemanly manners, charms and lessons to minimize the damage. Katherine stood in shock, her mouth opening and closing, trying to find something to say to him.
"I hope Marianne didn't cause you any inconvenience, sir." Katherine finally spluttered out and politely added, "You don't have to help, sir. I'm sure you have business to attend too."
Arthur smiled charmingly. "Are you quite sure?"
Katherine nodded and quickly began to pick up the sheets followed by Marianne. When Marianne looked up to Arthur, he gave a small wink and smirk then turned to leave.
A light blush and smile were present upon her face. To think they were fighting only a few minutes before. He was quite interesting. The following days would consist of her spending time spotting him during the nights when he would drink with the other men and making little attempts at making some conversations.
At first, Arthur was annoyed at Marianne constantly trying to talk to him when he was at the Inn, glad when he left the to do what he did best. Most days he would not think about her but sometimes the stray memory of her face would appear in his mind. When he came back from his privateering, she would smile happily and run to hug him, making him embarrassed. A new emotion that neither of them knew at the time would blossom more and more each time they spent time together and far apart.
The months that he left, Marianne would watch the sky, imagining that Arthur's air-ship might be overhead, hiding among the clouds and smog.
He would write letters to her when he had the time but never getting a response because he would never stay in the same place long enough. The letters were about anything and nothing of importance and assurance that he would see her soon and that he was always thinking about her.
They grew closer as the years went by and soon it had been three years since they first met. Both now twenty years old.
Arthur and Marianne had spent some time around the Inn, just talking and enjoying the months together. Marianne had something to tell him and needed to tell him before he left again. Arthur noticed her troubled face and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Love? Is something the matter?" Arthur asked concerned.
Marianne took a deep breath and looked into Arthur's green eyes, her own showing determination and seriousness. "Arthur. There is something that I have to tell you...but please don't interrupt until I am finished."
Arthur lifted an eyebrow in question but nodded in agreement. Marianne took another deep breath to steady her rapid heart beat.
"Arthur. I am pregnant."
Whatever he was expecting, this was not it. Arthur stood shocked trying to process the information, until he choked out, "W-What? How...long?"
"I'm about a month and a half. I visited the doctor a few days ago and I have just been waiting to tell you."
Marianne watched his expressions carefully. Arthur continued to look at her in shock, the new fact that he was going to be a father still swimming around in his mind.
"Marianne...I...I...I need a moment." Arthur quickly said not even sparing her a glance before walking quickly away, leaving Marianne to feel rejected.
The rest of the day Marianne kept a look out for her missing lover. But when she didn't see him, her heart sank and she went to cry in their room. It seemed like she had cried for hours, until a quiet knock and creaking of the door, alerted her of someone entering. She tried to wipe away any tear stains from her face and looked up to see Arthur standing by the door looking concerned.
Marianne glared at him before turning away and icily saying, "What are you doing here Arthur?"
Arthur said nothing but knelt down at her feet and gently placed a hand upon her stomach. "I'm sorry I left suddenly like that but I needed some time to process that I was going to be a father."
Marianne huffed and stood up, moving to another side of the room. "Well you won't have to worry about it anymore. I will raise my child with or without your help."
And before she could leave the room, Arthur had trapped her between his arms and against the wall. His green eyes showed frustration and...hurt. "What makes you think I would just abandoned you now, especially if you're carrying my child?"
Marianne looked into those hypnotic green eyes and saw the truth of his words. She had feared he would leave her to fend for herself and her unborn child. Fresh tears fell from her eyes and she hugged him tightly.
The couple stood in the room for a few minutes, enjoying the moment until Arthur decided to go celebrate downstairs with the men. The night passed with congratulations from his crew and random men who were present at the bar.
Soon a pair of arms wrapped around his waist and he could feel the person's face into his shoulder, he smiled fondly, knowing who the person was.
"Well hello there Marianne. Lovely evening for drinking, isn't it?"
Marianne smiled then laughed at Arthur as he wobbly tried to turn around and face her.
"Mon Cheri, you shouldn't't be drinking so much. You're going to have a massive headache later." She touched his cheek tenderly but her blues eyes were full of mirth.
"Come love, it's a time to be celebrating! I just received wonderful news after all! And I let my crew celebrate it by drinking the night away!" Arthur replied happily drunk and took another quick drink of whiskey.
Marianne did her best to hold back her laughter at her lover's drunken state. Suddenly, he began to twirl her around with the fast paced music playing and both are laughing from the fun. They twirled around and round and trying to waltz to another song. The men and women present cheer at the dancing and some even join in. When the song ended, Arthur mock bowed while Marianne curtsy, playing along.
"Mon Amour, I think it is time to get you to bed, otherwise, you won't be able to get up in the morning." She carefully guided him up the stairs to their room in the Inn, and shut the door before helping him to bed. She dressed into her nightgown before lying next to Arthur - who is half awake and waiting for her. His arms wrap around her midsection, her stomach barely showing and rubs it soothingly.
"Goodnight Marianne. Goodnight my child," Arthur mumbles sleepily.
Marianne smiles contently and places her hands over Arthur's and both sleep thinking about their new life to come.
The months of the pregnancy were filled with highs and lows for the couple. Arthur would rant to his first mate that Marianne's midnight cravings were driving him insane, especially when she wanted different foods mixed together. Or when they slept, the constant kicking on his back from the baby was annoying, telling his first mate that it felt like there were two children kicking at him.
But when he was away, he would confide to his first mate that he hoped Marianne was alright. The first mate knew that Arthur was worried and missed her but never said anything.
The days and months passed quietly and peacefully for both of the soon-to-be parents.
"Arthur."
Silence. Marianne shook her lover harder in order to wake him up. Unfortunately, he just buried himself deeper into the blankets, going back into dreamland. Marianne pouted and continued to shake the sleeping man.
"Arthur."
A groan.
"Mon Lapin, it's time to get up."
"Five more minutes Marianne."
Marianne chuckled, grabbing the blankets and removing them which caused Arthur to curl into a ball at the lack of warmth before slowly getting up. He rubbed his eyes and went to the bathroom to clean up as Marianne began to lay out his clothes, waddling throughout the room.
Arthur came out the bathroom, quickly dressed in his pirate attire and gave a kiss to his lover then a kiss to her large stomach, where his children lay within. He placed two hands upon her stomach, feeling the life that it emitted.
"Good morning Marianne and Good morning to you, my sons."
Both chuckled when they felt two kicks, one harder than the other.
"I can't believe we're having twins. It's almost time for them to come out. A few more days. Daddy can't wait to meet you and your Mummy as well," Arthur cooed. "I'll teach you two lots of things and when you're older maybe you will join me on my adventures."
"What makes you so sure, they are both boys? What if they are girls?" Marianne asked curiously but amused.
"Nonsense, they will be boys. It's a man's goal to have sons to carry on his legacy."
Marianne rolled her eyes at Arthur's statement but hugged him, happy that he would be present for the birth instead of roaming the skies pirating. Just as they were ready to head downstairs, Marianne cried in a little pain, startling Arthur.
"Marianne?! Are you alright?! Is it the children?!" Arthur tried to hold back his panic but was failing.
Marianne laughed and rolled her eyes. "I'm fine. They just decided to kick really hard right now and it just surprised me. I thought you were a feared pirate who doesn't get scared easily."
Arthur regained his calm composer and huffed at the belittling question she posed at him. They went downstairs to enjoy breakfast and said 'hello' and 'good morning' to those they knew.
The couple enjoyed the peacefulness of the calm morning as they enjoyed breakfast that the Inn provided. After breakfast, Arthur and Marianne took a stroll through the city, while carefully avoiding any of the King's patrolling soldiers.
"Arthur, let's go to the art museum. We haven't been there in a while." Marianne asked eagerly.
Arthur chuckled in amusement. "Very well."
As the couple walked into the museum, they didn't notice a person watching them a few yards away. He gave a wicked smile and quickly left to plan.
By the time the couple exited the museum, the sky had turned to night and the smog blending in with the clouds of the sky. Arthur held Marianne close to him, knowing that the streets were dangerous at night, especially for women. He found a carriage and flagged down the driver. The carriage came to a stop and Arthur helped Marianne enter inside.
The ride was quiet, only a few sounds of pain from Marianne but kept reassuring that the children were just extra playful at the moment, were present inside the carriage.
"Are you sure you are alright? You have been in pain since this morning." Arthur asked unsurely not quite convinced that his lover was alright.
And before she could answer, she gave a loud cry and cried out, "Argh! Arthur I think my water just broke!" A bit of water dripped down her legs onto the carriage floor. "Ze babies are coming!"
"What?! Are you sure?! They might jus-"
"When I say zey are coming, zey are coming!" Marianne growled out in pain and annoyance. Arthur took this opportunity to yell to the driver.
"Driver, take us to the nearest doctor, my children are coming!"
"Aye sir."
The carriage sped up, allowing them to reach a doctor's office a few blocks away in a matter of minutes.
Arthur immediately got out and carried his lover inside the building and calling out for the doctor.
A few nurses quickly ushered him to another room, where he placed Marianne upon the bed. Soon he was told to wait outside while the doctor and nurses helped with the childbirth. The hours seemed to go by agonizingly slow for Arthur. The cries of pain from Marianne was not helping calm his frazzled nerves. In the early hours of the morning, Arthur heard them.
Two cries from the babies.
The doctor came out and walked over to Arthur who immediately stood up.
"Congratulations. You have two healthy baby boys. You should be proud."
Arthur puffed out his chest, very proud indeed. Two sons that he could teach and love and watch grow up. Two sons that were of his flesh and blood.
Arthur eagerly entered into the room to see a tired and sweaty Marianne holding two small bundles in her arms.
"Would you like to hold them?"
The nurses helped give Arthur one of the children and he held him protectively and delicately. After all, they were his treasures.
The new parents cooed at their sons and deciding on names.
"How about Alfred and Matthew?" Arthur asked. "They both begin with the same initials as our names."
Marianne gazed upon her children and smiled when the children moved. "I zink zey are lovely names. Mon petites Alfred and Matthew."
When Marianne is rested and healed enough to move around, Arthur helps her into the carriage with the twins. The carriage ride is peaceful both watching the scenery pass by in a blur of colors. Though Marianne notices that the carriage is not heading to the Inn and questionly looks at her lover.
"Cher? Where are we going? Ze Inn is ze other way."
"It's a surprise," Arthur smirked.
The carriage took them to the countryside about an hour ride away from the city. Soon they approached a large manor and Marianne stared in shock at its size. Arthur chuckled at his lover's amazed look.
"Do you like it? This is our home now."
"How? How did you afford this?"
"I own it. It's part of my inheritance, though this used to be my family's vacation house but my parents gave it to me. Now I have a reason to use it."
Marianne carried the twins close while looking at the manor in awe. The inside was much more grand than the outside and Marianne thought she would faint.
The rest of the day was spent with Arthur giving a tour of their new house and meeting the staff. In the parlor room, the couple sat near the fireplace with Arthur reading out loud and the twins in a bassinet listening quietly. He abruptly stopped which made Marianne look at him in confusion.
Arthur stepped towards the bassinet and took out a package from his coat and unwrapped it. Marianne saw that they were two gold pocket watches, diamonds and rubies and an insignia of a lion standing on its hind legs and roaring furiously were embedded in the front.
"Now boys I have a job for the both of you," Arthur started off seriously. "When I am gone, you two will be the men of the house. Understand? So that means you have to take care of your mother. And to show proof that you are my sons, these watches are yours. And Alfred, as the oldest you have a responsibility to take care of your brother. Now I want you both to promise me."
The babies cooed softly in response just looking around and eating their fists and Arthur chuckled and took that as a "yes".
The family lived in peace for a few months, but it couldn't last forever.
Gun fires rang loud and clear through the night, the servants running to safety and getting the infants and Lady out of harms way. The authorities had been tipped off that Arthur had been hiding in someone's manor. The fight was bloody and dangerous and Arthur struggled to get his men to the ship without any of them being caught.
Just before he boarded his ship, Arthur gave a long kiss goodbye to Marianne and a long look of love to his children who were sleeping peacefully.
"I'm afraid that we won't be able to see each other for a while, love. Take care of Alfred and Matthew. I love you."
Tears ran down Marianne's face as she nodded and watched her lover escape from the Royal Guards.
"I love you too." The words whispered as she watched his airship leave their home. That night the twins cried for their missing parent. Their following days would be much different than before.
So this chapter was TWELVE pages! I haven't written that much unless it was for research papers. I hope you enjoyed this new story! I had fun writing it. The next chapter won't be AS long but it will be a decent length.
PLEASE REVIEW! They inspire me!
Until next chapter! ;D
I think I improved this chapter since I first wrote it. Let me know what you think! Not sure when I'll finish editing the other chapters, hopefully soon.