AN: Hello everyone. I'm sorry I've been gone for so long... I don't want to explain. Please don't ask me to. I know I should probably update Knocked Up! before publishing a new story... but this already has one and a half chapters finished... so... yeah. I promise Knocked Up! is not dead.
Just a warning, this will not have any sort of a regular update schedule. As none of my fics will. Sorry, but real life comes first (sometimes...)! Anyway, welcome to my newest story! I hope you all like it.
Sunbeams danced through the open window, casting their light upon the otherwise dim room. Romulus paced around his study, unsure of what he was about to do. It was nearly time to officially engage his grandson, Feliciano. The young omega was turning seventeen in three months, and was already past the normal marrying age. Most omegas his age had been made mothers, or were at very least married and mated. Even Feliciano's brother, Lovino was married and expecting baby number two. Romulus just couldn't bear to give away his little Feli, his only remaining joy in life. After the death of his wife and son, all Romulus had were his young grandsons, the grandsons he had raised from the time Lovino was a toddler and Feliciano an infant.
Now he had no choice but to engage Feliciano to an eligible lord. His precious little Feliciano was going to go and be someone's wife. The thought made him a little sad. He could do nothing about it though, Feliciano had to marry. All Romulus could do was to secure the best possible match for his grandson.
The polished walnut desk that he sat at was covered in letters and portraits of all the bachelor nobles in the kingdom. Every letter spoke of riches and deeds and love. Some had even gone as far as to write love letters directly to Feliciano (they had been sent to Romulus for screening) trying to win the omega's favor.
Not a single bachelor, beta or alpha, was good enough for his Feli. Not one of them was brave enough, rich enough, caring enough, handsome enough, talented enough, strong enough.
No one would ever be good enough for his precious grandson. How could he ever choose a candidate?
"Sir?" A quiet voice asked, cracking open the heavy door to the study.
"Yes Colombo?" Romulus sighed, head resting heavily in his hands, as his servant poked his head into the room, "Can't you see that I am busy?"
"Sir, you have a visitor."
"Tell them I am busy and will call on them later."
"I believe you will want to meet with him… He is rather important."
"So am I."
"Do you refuse to give him an audience sir?"
"Yes Colombo. Tell him to leave!" Romulus looked up at his servant as he barked the order, to find a very tall man wearing a very nice tailor-made suit and his blonde hair down to his waist standing in front of his desk. A stern, yet playful expression adorned his strong face, and his arms were folded against his broad chest.
"Well, if you are too busy to meet with your king, perhaps you won't be too busy to meet with an old friend." The man said, his mouth twitching momentarily into what might have been a grin.
"Ulfher!" Romulus cried, his somber mood lifted by the appearance of his old friend. He immediately jumped up from his desk to embrace his visitor.
"That doesn't mean hug me, Romulus." Ulfher complained, leaning away from his friend's show of affection. "I came here to see if you would be willing to help me with a little problem I have been having."
"Anything, Ulfher, anything."
"I have heard you have an omega grandson." The king had long been out of touch with his friend, but it was no secret that Romulus's grandsons were two of the most beautiful omegas to be found in his kingdom.
"You want to talk about Feliciano?" Romulus asked, the sinking feeling he had when looking through suitors returning. "Let's relocate to somewhere more comfortable, Colombo! Send some refreshments into the parlor!"
Romulus and Ulfher sat down to wine, cheese, and cookies in the spacious parlor. The well lighted room had five bay windows that faced the lush gardens surrounding the Vargas family mansion. Spring had just begun, and the garden was full of multicolored blooms. Romulus smiled and seated himself so he was facing a window, hoping to catch a glimpse of his grandson out in the garden, carefree and happily tending to his beloved flowers. Ulfher took the plush chair opposite Romulus, his stern and businesslike demeanor ruined by a shortbread cookie hanging out of his mouth.
"So, what about Feliciano do you wish to talk about?" Romulus asked, stifling a laugh at his friend's eating habits. The man was a king, but his manners were still the same as the soldier he had met during their time in war.
"Well, as you should know, I have three alpha children."
"Yes, I heard your wife—may she rest in peace—had blessed you with three strong alphas."
"They are my pride and joy. And pains in my ass, but that's beside the point." Ulfher finished his cookie and leaned in towards Romulus. "Gilbert, my heir, is now twenty-two years old, and unmarried. I have come here today to make a proposal."
"You want Feliciano to marry your son?" Romulus's dark eyes grew wide. The inevitable had come. His chest tightened at the thought of letting Feliciano go. "But… What about your daughter? I thought she was your heir and already married." He was desperate for an escape, to put off losing his grandson for just a little longer.
"That is beside the point, but yes, Marelda is married. However, she inherited all the stubbornness of her mother and grandmother—"
"Don't forget her father." Romulus interrupted, laughing at his friend's inability to admit to his own bullheadedness.
"Anyway, she refuses to take the throne and be king." Ulfher's eyebrow twitched in annoyance, "So I named Gilbert my heir to try and change her mind… It backfired. She was overjoyed and Gilbert is now next in line." The king's head fell heavily into his hands. "What have I done?"
"Regretting your choice so soon old friend?" Romulus laughed.
"Please do not laugh at my distress Romulus. But we are off topic. I wish for your grandson, Feliciano, to be engaged to my oldest son, Gilbert. Feliciano can come live in the palace for a few months while we arrange the wedding so he may get used to Gilbert and his new home."
Romulus couldn't believe the way Ulfher spoke of such things with such detachment. He spoke of the proposal as if it were a business deal and they were only trading cattle. Of course, the king was not losing his son to another.
"I hate losing my grandson…" Romulus admitted solemnly, "It was hard enough to marry off Lovino. I don't know what I'll do without Feliciano as well."
Ulfher nodded, he did not know how Romulus felt, but he knew it could not be easy for him to let Feliciano go.
"He will be well cared for, safe, in want of nothing. Gilbert will be a good husband to him and you will always be welcome in my home, so do not feel as if you will never see your grandson again." Ulfher smiled slightly, trying to help cheer up his friend.
"Thank you." Romulus smiled, looking past the king to see his grandson out in the garden, happy and smiling. Probably singing to the flowers and stopping to smell every one that was in bloom. His chest ached at the sight. How many times would he get to see Feliciano in the garden again? "I believe you have made me an offer I cannot refuse. Would you like to meet him before you go?" Romulus offered, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He had to control his emotions. If not for himself, for Feliciano.
Feliciano was a little nervous as he walked to the parlor. His grandfather never summoned him with servants, but Colombo had come out to the garden to tell him that his grandfather requested his presence in the parlor. The omega couldn't help but worry. What if something was wrong? Perhaps something had gone wrong with Lovino's pregnancy and he was going to meet with his grandfather and Antonio—his brother-in-law—to learn of the misfortune that had befallen his brother.
Tears had already filled Feliciano's eyes as he walked into the parlor, not ready to hear Antonio tell him something tragic. He just couldn't bear it if something happened to his big brother.
"Feliciano, my love, what is wrong?" Romulus asked as his grandson entered the room, head hung and shoulders shaking.
"D-d-d-did something happen to Lovi, Nonno? You never send Colombo to come get me… W-what happened to my fratello?" The omega sobbed, grabbing ahold of his grandfather.
"No. No Feliciano. Feli, look at me. Lovino is perfectly fine." Romulus cooed, cupping his grandson's chin and forcing him to look up, "There is someone here who would like to meet you."
"Who?" Feliciano wiped the tears from his face and looked around his grandfather to find Ulfher now standing a few feet away from the pair, deep blue eyes looking curiously at Feliciano.
"Hello Feliciano. It is very nice to meet you." Ulfher said, walking over to the young omega and extending his hand.
"K-king Ulfher?" Feliciano asked, recognizing the man from the descriptions his grandfather would give of the man when telling his grandson stories of his days in the army. "It's nice to meet you, Your Highness." Shyly he took the king's hand, and Ulfher raised Feliciano's little hand to his mouth and gently kissed it. The young omega blushed at the gesture. The king was not known for showing such favor to anyone.
"You wouldn't even hug me! No fair Ulfher!" Romulus complained, eliciting a giggle from his grandson's lips.
"Don't whine Romulus, it doesn't suit you." Ulfher retorted coldly. He then returned his attention to Feliciano. "Will you tell me a little about yourself, Feliciano?" His deep voice was much warmer and kinder when talking to the omega than his alpha grandfather.
"Oh… Uh, I like pasta, tomatoes, painting, spending time in the gardens, cooking, and sleeping." Feliciano nodded his head as he finished listing off his favorite things.
"How much time have you spent with alphas?" The king asked, his eyes squinting as they studied Feliciano's face.
"Other than Nonno? I spent two weeks at the Carriedo manor when Lovino got married… And I spent some time with Antonio and Lovi while I was there." Other than that, Feliciano could not think of a single alpha in whose company he had spent more than a few minutes. And even that was a rare occurrence. The only alpha that lived permanently in the Vargas mansion was Romulus Vargas himself. Ulfher smiled at Feliciano's answer. That was what he had been hoping to hear. Romulus had done a great job of keeping Feliciano pure, untouched, and innocent. The little omega possessed the sweetest scent, and his entire being sang of a sweet innocence mirrored by his scent. He would make a good queen for Gilbert.
"I must take my leave now. I will see you in… How does one month sound, Romulus?"
"It does not seem like enough time. But nothing ever will be, so I will cherish this next month. I will see you soon, dear friend." Romulus's heart broke at every word.
The king then took his leave.
"Wh-what do you mean I'm leaving Nonno!?" Feliciano asked, tears welling up in his eyes as Romulus sat him down on his bed.
"Feli, you are almost seventeen. It's about time you marry… That is why King Ulfher was here. He proposed that you marry his son Gilbert." Romulus couldn't look at his grandson. His chest ached as if Feliciano was already gone. He wished Feliciano could see that he was only doing what he must, for Feliciano's sake.
"Why did you agree if you knew I would have to leave?" Feliciano sobbingly asked. He couldn't believe what his grandfather was doing. He didn't want to leave.
"No matter who you wed, you would have to leave, Feliciano. Gilbert is the best match you could get. And, although it breaks my heart to see you go," He pulled the little omega into his arms, holding his grandson tight, "I have to let go."
"Am I going to see you? Am I going to get to see Lovi?" Feliciano buried his head into his grandfather's chest and took in his scent. The scent of home. He was so scared. The only times he had ever left the Vargas mansion were two festivals his grandfather took him and Lovino to when they were young, and Lovino's wedding. He wasn't sure he could make it in the palace.
"You will be able to see us any time." Romulus assured his grandson, "I will come at a moment's notice if you need me, and, Ulfher told me that Gilbert is best friends with Antonio, so you will probably be seeing a lot of your big brother."
"Really Nonno?" Feliciano asked looking up at his grandfather, watery hazel eyes wide with hope.
"Really really." Romulus whispered.
The month was over too quickly. Feliciano had spent every waking second soaking up every detail of home. He walked the gardens for hours with his grandfather, memorizing every last line on the old alpha's face, every curl of his fading chestnut hair, every sparkle and glimmer of his chocolate eyes. Every moment they could spend together, they did. Feliciano even sat with his grandfather as he worked in his study, the most boring past-time he could ever imagine. Now the stuffy study was a place he could hardly be torn away from. He wasn't going to miss a single hug, a single kiss, a single laugh, a single word.
Every second of that month was precious.
The night before Feliciano was to leave was hollow and unnaturally quiet. Feliciano's bed, which was normally warm and comfortable with thick furs and plush pillows, was as hard as brick and cold as December. No matter what he did, how many blankets he wrapped around himself, no matter how many logs he put in the fireplace to feed the fire, no matter how much he tried not to think about the coming morning, sleep alluded him. His chest felt heavy and his torso empty.
"I don't want to go Nonno…" He whispered into his pillow. Every time he closed his eyes a different fantasy about his new life in the palace would play in his mind.
An escort of royal guards had come to take him to the palace. His grandfather cried as he waved goodbye to his grandson…
The palace was scary. There were people everywhere, and they were all staring at him as a knight escorted him to meet Gilbert. His stomach had tied itself into a knot, and his heart was pounding so hard he was sure the entire kingdom could hear it…
A young man met him and the knight as they passed the throne room. He was tall, strong, handsome. Feliciano's heart fluttered at the sight of him…
Then the thoughts would go on very different paths.
The young man took his hand and kissed it tenderly, introducing himself as Prince Gilbert and telling Feliciano how beautiful he was, and how nervous he had been to meet him. The prince's smiling face made Feliciano feel at ease…
The young man bowed and introduced himself as Crown Prince Gilbert, Heir to the Throne and his future husband. The meeting was tense, and Gilbert much too formal. His eyes were devoid of any emotion towards Feliciano. Indifference. He didn't want that kind of marriage…
The young man dismissed the knight before taking Feliciano's hand, kissing it, and introducing himself as Gilbert, his future husband. He kept ahold of the omega's hand and invited him to follow as he began down the corridor. Feliciano did so nervously. Before he knew it, the prince had Feliciano in his room, locked the door, and thrown the omega onto his bed. In a flash Gilbert was on top of him, pulling at his clothes and groping incessantly. Feliciano tried to fight against the alpha, but he was too strong. Silent tears slipped down his face…
The omega cried most of the night, terrified that his grandfather had engaged him to a brute who cared nothing for the omega who would be his wife and queen.
It wasn't long before he wandered out of his room and into his grandfather's.
"Nonno?" He asked in a small voice.
"Feliciano? What are you doing up?" Romulus asked, sitting up in his bed to look at his grandson.
"Can I sleep with you?" It had been years since Feliciano had slept in the giant bed with his grandfather. He had always shared a bed with Lovino, but he had been eight the last time he slept in his grandfather's bed.
"Always, my love, always."
