Demure

Synopsis: Feliciano knocks on Ludwig's door one thundering night, bearing a surprise that will change their lives: a baby girl. Alas, this girl as secrets of her own, passed down by her mysterious father. MPREG GERITA

Pairing: GerIta

Genre: Romance/ Hurt/comfort

WARNINGS: Rated M for some rather graphic scenes.

Chapter 1: The Rain

"Oh, how this spring of love resembleth,

The uncertain glory of an April day,

Which now shows all Beauty of the Sun,

And by and by a cloud takes it all away."

-The Two Gentlemen of Verona, William Shakespeare

The rain slaughtered the grass and roofs. It poured down in the dead of night, as three o'clock waned in. It fell over a small neighborhood. It was usually very quiet and undisturbed, and so the strange figure trudging along darkly and hunching over had chose an excellent time to come over. Had he arrived when the residents were awake, chaos would have arisen. Alas, these thoughts were but vague hiccups in the stranger's mind. He eventually trudged over to one of the houses and rapped his knuckles upon the door, glad to be sheltered from the downpour.

The resident of this particular home, a tall, burly German man, noticed the knocking and dismissed it as a dream. His dreams were troubled that night, visited constantly by foreboding darkness and shadows which flickered menacingly beneath his eye lids. Then came the second knock. Resigned to removed himself from the warm sheets, he hobbled to the door.

When he opened it, he promptly gasped.

Outside the door, standing with a bloodied bundle to his chest and eyes so tired the bags beneath them may as well be the size of Pluto, was a young Italian man he hadn't seen in several months.

"Feliciano?" The German gasped, recovering his instincts and gesturing the burdened man inside.

"I'm sorry to trouble you so morning, Ludwig," Feliciano murmured, his voice of a man's who was tipping off the brink of wake and sleep.

Ludwig shook his head vehemently, ushering the exhausted man in and shutting the door. In the dim light of the living room, Feliciano's form became apparent. His clothing was torn and caked with blood; red as rubies, that trailed and splattered over his shirt and pants. His front was covered with the blankets, wrapped tightly and close to Feliciano's bosom.

Ludwig rushed into the bathroom, which was down a narrow hall way with beige walls that held the kitchen on the left side and the guest bedroom on the right. There was only one floor, and Ludwig's room was the farthest down the corner. He came back with a soft blue towel, wrapping it around Feliciano's sagging shoulders. "What happened to you?"

Feliciano didn't respond for a long time.

"I got in some trouble," he mumbled at last, holding the bundle ever closer to him.

"You've been gone for a long time, what, did you get tangled with the mafia?" Ludwig joked, but resented it the moment it left his lips. This was certainly not a time for fooling around. He pressed a warm hand to Feliciano's shoulder, which stiffened like a brick.

Then, there was a very soft cry, like a mewl of a kitten.

Feliciano smiled sheepishly, hoping Ludwig didn't notice.

The cry came again.

The source was the bundle Feliciano held ever so tenderly.

"What's in the bundle?" Ludwig resigned himself to say, glancing it over and reaching forth.

Feliciano snapped away, his eyes enraged. "Nothing," he snapped shortly. He looked at the bundle pleadingly, but it began to cry yet again, this time louder. It sounded like an infant. "Hush," Feliciano whispered, rocking slightly and watching Ludwig in defeat.

Ludwig, tired off everything, quickly snatched off the top bundle. What he revealed was exactly what expected. Yet, he stumbled and held back a yelp of surprise. He had hoped his suspicions would go unheeded, but he was proved dreadfully wrong.

Inside the bundle was a very small infant girl. She had smooth, slightly tanned skin, golden eyes like honey (the color of Feliciano's), and tufts of black hair; the color of upturned earth. The girl stared at Ludwig in mystified fascination. She gave him a toothless giggle.

Ludwig's heart melted then. The child was absolutely beautiful, his soft, tender side shimmering through. "She's beautiful." He muttered.

Feliciano allowed a weak smile to flicker over his face, "Yes, her name is Mia." He explained. Mia reached out a minute hand towards Ludwig.

Ludwig allowed her to grip his pinky finger. She brought it over to her mouth and examined it. Which meant, as babies go, sucking on it and staring profusely.

"Where is she from…?" Ludwig asked, chuckling warmly.

Feliciano stiffened again. He licked his lips and gazed to his lower left. He hoarsely responded; "Well, as I was walking over, before the rain started, there was this woman, I think she was a widow, and she had begun giving birth. I had trained in that a little, so I rushed to help her. We entered an alley-way out of sight and I helped her give birth. It was very messy and she strained for hours, the rain was beginning when the rain began. She held her and, as she wept, named her child." It all sounded queerly rehearsed.

"That doesn't explain how you got a hold of her," Ludwig asked, still watching those curious golden eyes, glimmering like the sunset, watch over him.

Feliciano swallowed and nodded, "U-um, that's because the woman tragically died. She had lost too much blood. She made me promise to watch over her baby." He said hastily, running fingers lovingly down Mia's cheek.

With the blanket gone from Feliciano's front, the stains became even more so visible. From his crotch and trailing down his legs was a river of red—red as rubies, red as the final supple hours of sunshine. It was still moist in some areas.

"Do you want me to get you some clothing?" Ludwig asked, noticing. He hadn't believed a word of the exhausted man's fable.

"That would be very kind, thank you." Feliciano rocked Mia in his arms, lending her a finger to suck on gently.

Ludwig returned with a bundle of clothing. Feliciano grinned and asked Ludwig to hold Mia while he dressed. Ludwig obliged and turned away respectively.

Feliciano dressed in the t-shirt and shorts, which proved several sizes too big; which meant that they were rather comfortable. He folded away his soiled clothing and tossed them in the waste bin. He tapped Ludwig on the shoulder. He was filthy, still, but better than the clothing.

Ludwig gingerly returned the baby, who had begun to nod off, her eyes flicking closed, long dark eyelashes creating semi-circles upon her cheeks.

"Tell me the truth, please, Feli," Ludwig said, sitting down with Feliciano upon the couch.

"I don't think you want to hear it." He asked, his hair still bedraggled and frayed.

"I do." Ludwig pleaded, holding Feliciano's wrist gently.

Feliciano sighed, "She's my daughter."

Ludwig nearly drowned in emotion. He felt betrayal, shock, fear, jealously, and countless other he daren't name. Why had Feliciano gone off and knocked some lady up? That didn't sound like something he would do! Why didn't he tell him? Why, oh here's the million dollar question, why was he jealous of this woman? "Oh," he managed to say thickly and stupidly.

Feliciano remained silent, swaying slightly for Mia to fall asleep.

"Who's the mother?" Ludwig asked, gripping his knees. He didn't truthfully want the answer. But he needed it.

"Do you really want to know?" Feliciano asked, as though reading his thoughts.

Ludwig's answer caught in his throat, but he managed to croak out; "Yes."

"I am." Feliciano stated simply.

"What?" Ludwig asked, biting his lip and gripping his knees tighter, until his knuckles turned white. He refused to make eye-contact.

"I didn't meet some woman. I was gone for all those months, right?" Feliciano looked up, raising an eyebrow, "Well I got a bit too much to drink one night and stumbled into some part of town. I can remember it all, really."

Ludwig nodded stiffly, still glaring at the ground, as if it was at fault. "Who's the father, then?"

"I don't know, actually." Feliciano admitted ruefully, "He was a very kind, humble man, with hair dark and black as night. I guess the night was too filled with passion for me to even ask the guy's name! Such is a true dalliance. I would know him if I saw him, though. We weren't in love, though, just a night of passion. He was a very odd man." He looked away, his hair pressed still against his face. "I'm sorry."

Ludwig brought himself to look at Feliciano, who had fat tears rolling down his cheeks. "What are you sorry for?" The blonde asked, startled.

"For running off. I was so scared, so scared… At first I thought I had gotten sick. Then I knew what really happened and fled as fast as I could. I hopped from place to place, until I wasn't far from here and—well I had Mia and then came to you." He shuddered at the memory, tears still tumbling down Feliciano's tears and plopping onto the bundle. Mia noticed and frowned, reaching for him. Feliciano slid a slender finger into her groping hands.

"Don't be sorry," Ludwig had resorted to the obvious truth; it was impossible to stay mad at Feliciano, especially in this condition. "Please, don't be sorry…" he added in softer undertones.

"Is there somewhere I can sleep, a guest bedroom?" Feliciano asked, gazing into Ludwig's eyes in a bittersweet way.

"The guest bedroom doesn't really have a bed, sleep in mine, I'll use the couch." Ludwig asserted, but Feliciano, with his free hand, snatched Ludwig's arm.

"Please, I've been so alone, sleep with me…" He muttered breathlessly, furrowing his brows and pleading.

"I—I," Ludwig stammered, but found no opposite route. "Come on, down there, I'll go get you something to drink."

Feliciano thanked him multiple times, and would proceed to until the end of his life. He entered the room and created a make-shift nest out of pillows, settling Mia down ad tucking her in gently. He kissed her forehead and lay down, laying a hand across her protectively, falling into a deep slumber without dreams.

Ludwig returned and placed the glass of water on the bedside, not finding the heart to wake him. He relaxed next to him. He, too, protectively placed an arm about Mia, finding that his fingers tangled with Feliciano's.

The rain stopped pouring at 6 in the morning. The sun poured through the clouds, casting a bright yellow light to sift into the room and sparkle on the sleepers. The world outside was heavy, lush, and green with the rain water. The neighbors had got about their own business, the early risers at least, such as the children getting up groggily to brush their teeth and ready themselves for school.

Feliciano was awake, nursing Mia silently and watching the outside world. Ludwig rose as well, and stopped, staring at Feliciano. His hair brimmed in the sunlight, looking like copper. But that wasn't all. He looked different. No longer were his features careless, free, and foolish. There was a maternal smile laced upon his lips, his eyes deep and thoughtful. He looked rich, full, complete.

Ludwig also found his fingers entwined with Feliciano's. He blushed and moved slightly.

Feliciano turned slowly, as if waking from a deep dream. "Good morning," He said, smiling at Ludwig, "I hope you slept well."

Ludwig removed his fingers, "Oh, I slept alright, what about you? Sorry about that," he nodded at his hand.

Feliciano looked at his hand curiously, "I slept fine, and it's nothing, really… I feel I've changed, you know? It's odd to think of me, that guy who only wanted to run away and cook pasta, having a baby and waking early, thinking… Just thinking…"

"I don't know," Ludwig muttered, staring at the ceiling, "Sometimes, I used to think if there was something more, something warm and mature beneath that hard shell of silliness."

Feliciano's eyes widened and he turned, overcome with sudden emotion so strong and powerful, greater than passion and rage, greater than happiness and sadness. He didn't know what it was, but next think he knew he was leaning forward and pressing a kiss to Ludwig's lips, careful not to squish Mia between them.

"I love you," He whispered to the startled Ludwig, who had kissed back.