Iceland- 8 months
Ladonia - 9 months
Japan woke up slowly, the sun had yet to rise to dye the darkness in brilliant colors, nothing bright and the house was perfectly silent. Why did he wake up? He didn't know but he yawned, rolled over nuzzling his face into the pillow and pulled the blankets tighter around him prepared to go back to sleep until sounds reached his ears. China was crying out, gasping, with choked sounds coming after in a way that only came with vomiting.
Japan found himself stumbling out of bed, bleary eyed as he threw open the bathroom door, the light hurting his eyes making him squint but he bent down when he caught sight of China in front of the toilet, on his knees, gagging and retching. He held his husband's long hair back from his back and face until the retching and gagging stopped and he flushed the toilet only to lean back against Japan, sliding down so his head rested on Japan's chest, gasping for a proper breath.
"Are you not feeling well again?" Japan muttered as he stroked China's hair softly, the Chinese man groaning.
"I feel like shit -aru." China moaned out as his eyes opened slowly to look at Japan. "I need to brush my teeth, help me up -aru?"
"Hai, of course." Japan replied as he helped up China, who was lightly shaking, then directed his husband to the sink. China set to work on brushing his teeth all the while Japan watched on with worry creasing his brow and making his normal brown irises even darker than usual.
"I'm alright -aru." China sighed out as he finished up brushing his teeth, his lashes already heavy.
"You've been sick for the past week, are you sure there's nothing wrong?" Japan asked as he helped China to bed and the Nation sighed out closing his eyes again, his fatigue taking hold.
"I'm fine -aru." China got out again, sounding much like a broken record that he yawned before speaking again. "I'll be alright, it's probably just a flu or something -aru."
"Aiyaa." Japan sighed then blushed self consciously though China didn't seem to hear it as his eyes shut. His face tilted in to the pillow and he was down for the count asleep.
Japan took the moment to take note of China's face, reaching out lightly stroking just the bare tips of his fingers down the side of his face as he then took the time to tuck the strand of dark hair behind China's ear and yet his husband never stirred. He took in his husband's surprising beauty, one that made many think China was a woman for so many years but Japan always knew better. Always knew China was male and knew it with a passion. He looked at the alarm clock then at the sky from out the window. He could go back to sleep...When China groaned lightly in his sleep, gaining Japan's attention, he went to comfort his husband when arms were sliding around his torso and he was yanked down onto the bed with a startled yelp.
Japan blushed at the suddenness of being pulled so close and held so tightly. A leg was pushed between both of his, China's arms held him tightly, his face pushed in the crook of China's neck as he breathed in the soft scent that always clung to China yet his face burned. He wished he could move but the tight hold China had on him was surprisingly strong even in sleep and he then sighed out which melted into a yawn making him surprised. He sighed again as he chose to nuzzle China gently as his eyes closed and a little smile curved over his lips.
"Fine. We'll sleep some more, my silly husband." Japan murmured gently as he moved his own arms around China in response, holding his husband tightly. "Just a little longer."
"Xiong wake up! Wake up!" Xiong groaned lightly as his lashes fluttered and he slowly opened his eyes to see his sleepy but anxious brother.
"What's wrong?" Xiong asked as his tired mind struggled to catch up and understand what it was his brother was so anxious about. He yawned as he sat up in his bed and Chiyo looked at him with wide eyes.
"Okaa-san isn't up! And neither is Baba! And it's nine in the morning!" Chiyo explained in a rush then patted his stomach which growled loud enough for Xiong to hear. "And I'm hungry!"
"So you woke me up to make you food huh?" Xiong asked but felt rather honored as he climbed out of bed, his hair sticking up randomly but cutely. He noticed Chiyo's own hair was sticking up like his own and they both shared a giggle and a smile. "Come on then!"
"Hai!" Chiyo exclaimed as he grabbed Xiong's hand and the six year old walked from his room proudly with his four year old brother holding his hand tightly. It was October, a time of excitement for Chiyo and Xiong, both hoping to go trick or treating with Baba and getting lots of candy, same as any year but now Xiong was mostly excited about turning seven in December.
He pulled his brother down the stairs, both thumping but trying to be quiet about it seeing as their parents took to sleeping on the ground floor just some odd rooms away from the kitchen. Chiyo squeezed his hand softly, sweetly, as they entered the kitchen and he looked up at Xiong. "So, what're we gonna make?"
"Well~ We can try to make what Okaa-san makes for breakfast!" Xiong thoughtfully said before ending it on a cheerful exclaim and Chiyo smiled. "So, let's get some rice and let attempt some miso soup!"
"Shi!" Chiyo exclaimed happily ash is cheeks flushed with the same excitement as his brown eyes glittered happily. "But wait, doesn't Okaa-san doesn't make more than rice and miso soup?"
"I know. But I can't really cook all that stuff, I only know how to make Okaa-san's rice and soup." Xiong replied hesitantly and slowly, as if afraid to be admitting this to his little brother who stared at him with determination.
"It'll be okay! Okaa-san will teach us how to cook eventually!" Chiyo encouraged as he squeezed Xiong's hand gently. Xiong smiled softly at his brother and squeezed his hand back.
"Okay, then let's get cooking!" Xiong replied with some enthusiasm as he smiled brightly at his brother.
He pulled a stool to the sink to his mother's rice cooker, popping the top open while Chiyo grabbed a chair and reached up high to get the rice, jumping down then handing it to Xiong. The six year old smiled brightly at this and he dumped the rice into the cooker with the water, bit his lip and closed the top pressing the buttons to cook and hoped he did it right. He then breathed out when the rice cooker began making the familiar tiny noise it made when his mother used it and looked at his brother.
"Get me Okaa-san's ingredients for miso soup!" Xiong ordered enthusiastically making Chiyo nod quickly as his eyes glimmered again and he ran to the fridge pulling out items he remembered his mother using and brought them all to Xiong who looked at them with some hesitation.
"It's okay!" Chiyo tugged on Xiong's shirt softly and gently with comfort. "You said we'll attempt it and we will! I'm sure we can do it!"
Xiong smiled then nodded firmly. "Hai! I did! So let's try and do this before Okaa-san or Baba get up! Wakatta?"
Chiyo blinked lightly for a few minutes before grinning widely. "Shi!"
"What the hell is that smell -aru?" China moaned as he pulled back from the toilet, clammy from vomiting yet again, tears welled in his eyes from the intensity this time. Japan was growing worried about his husband; it was the second time this morning China vomited and it was worrying. He bit his lip lightly then stroked China's hair from his face, going as far as tying his hair back in a slopped ponytail but one that kept his hair away from his face in case he vomited again.
"I'll go check. I'll be right back." Japan said this like a promise as he stroked China's clammy cheek. He placed a kiss on the top of China's head as the Chinese Nation nodded tiredly and leaned down to press his cheek to the floor, laying on his side.
Japan stood up worriedly looking at his husband, biting his lip lightly still before turning to go and see what that strange scent was. It smelled like it would be good but there was a strange burning scent underneath it that worried him but it was enough to pull China from his sleep to vomit again. He walked into the kitchen only to see his two son's sitting at the table, both a bit pale and hesitant at eating what appeared to be miso soup and rice, which immediately made guilt swamp Japan. He'd forgotten all about making breakfast, choosing to sleep in, thus having his children fend for themselves but then there was the slurping sound Chiyo always made when eating soup. He made a light, puckered face briefly as he swallowed only to take a breath through his nose and then smile at his brother.
"It's good, Gēge!" Chiyo tried to assure as he looked at his brother's rather devastated looking face, neither boys yet aware of their mother's presence yet.
"It's not good like Okaa-san's." Xiong said lamely as his golden-brown eyes looked down in a sulky way. He looked so much like China when he did that it was unbelievable. "The rice is only half cooked, it's sticky, the soup is even burned. How do you even burn soup?"
"I don't know!" Chiyo replied in an exclaim that was cute as all hell. "But it's still good, Gēge! For a first try at least!"
"I don't think I ever want to cook again." Xiong replied as he continued to hold that adorable sulky look, his eyes dark with disappointment and Chiyo huffed a breath. Japan was surprised and rather shocked; despite Chiyo having China's dark brown hair color, Xiong having his black hair, it was like looking at a slightly different scene of him and China. "I'm not good at it."
"So? We're little!" Chiyo snapped as his brown eyes narrowed on Xiong's golden brown ones making Japan's lips twitch lightly. "You're gonna be seven and I'm four! We got lots and lots of time to cook! It's like Baba or Okaa-san say, we have plenty of time to learn!"
"Maybe..." Xiong pouted lightly now then took a spoonful of his soup and sulked harder. "It doesn't even taste good. I doubt Okaa-san or Baba would even eat it."
"And why don't you let me be the judge of that?" Japan finally spoke up making Chiyo shriek and Xiong to scream along with him in surprise, both pairs of eyes widening as Xiong shifted so far to the side he nearly fell to the floor out of his chair. It was rather funny and Japan probably would have laughed if the situation was different.
"Okaa-san!" Xiong squeaked in surprise, eyes wide while Chiyo quickly got over his shock the way any four year old could and smiled.
"Zǎoshang hǎo, Okaa-san!" Chiyo greeted as Japan walked to the table then reached out stroking Chiyo's dark brown locks softly.
"Ohayou gozaimasu~" Japan replied as he looked at his youngest then at Xiong with a soft smile.
"Where's Baba?" Chiyo asked tilting his head giving him the cutest puppy look in the entire world, his eyes glimmering like China's would and Japan smiled a little more.
"Baba isn't feeling good again this morning." Japan replied with a gentle sigh as he pulled his hand from Chiyo's hair and then stroked Xiong's black locks.
"Again?" Xiong asked with a sulking tone as he looked at his mother but leaned his head up into the caress happily. Japan loved his sons so much it seriously hurt sometimes!
"Hai, again." He replied with a gentle sigh.
"He's been sick all week for- How long did you say, Xiong?" Chiyo asked then with curiosity, his little hands in fists at chest level, his confusion breaking momentarily.
"Two weeks." Xiong replied as he looked at Japan when he removed his hand from Xiong's hair gently. Japan mused this for a few moments, wondering what it was that could be making China so sick and why it would be going on for two wee-
It hit. If he was wrong it could be nothing but disappointment but he needed to know for sure now! "Boys, Okaa-san needs to go to the store. I'll be right back!"
"Which store are you going too, Okaa-san?" Chiyo asked as he pressed his hands to the table, standing up in his chair watching their mother rush from the kitchen, the brother's sharing a look before abandoning both their chairs and breakfast to run after their mother to the front door.
"Just the one of the corner, I'll be very fast." Japan replied as he pulled a coat on for the air, for October, was definitely chilly.
"But why? What's at the store that could help Baba?" Xiong asked this time as he stood with Chiyo now clinging to his side and Japan looked over his shoulder at his sons. It looked, again, so much like China and himself it struck some cord inside him and he smiled gently.
"I don't know if it'll help Baba but it'll give us some answers, won't it?" Japan replied with a soft smile and his brows came together, giving him a strangely helpless look. "Just hang tight for Okaa-san, hai?"
Xiong and Chiyo exchanged a look. "Hai!" Xiong finally exclaimed with a nod that made Chiyo's brown eyes widen and then a determined look took over his face. He nodded as well firmly.
"Shi!" He shouted in an echo of his brother making Japan smile at the cuteness.
"Alright! Okaa-san will be right back!" Japan smiled at his sons bright before pulling his shoes on, opened the door and was gone. He sped walk down the walk way of his home, right to the gate and opened it, shut it behind him and was running but in a slow way so he wouldn't hurt anything.
He wasn't young anymore and he couldn't sprint or run as fast as some of the older Nations; well, technically he could but he was sure he'd hurt something while he did so. He kept up that slow run, aware of a tiny twinge in his back and ignored it as he ran past houses that started to show up on the street, his house being at the very top of the high hill that was this street, along with being the largest, that when he ran downwards he felt his breath coming in huffs. He kept going, the houses coming together and those that knew him as a Nation smiled at him but those were workers of his on an off day. He panted lightly as he rushed down to the corner convenience store with that same slow run as he got to the bottom and took some breathes. He realized that, despite it being October, it was chilly enough right then for him to see his breath which was disorienting but he walked into the convenience store going through the isles instinctively going straight for the medications.
He felt his cheeks flush lightly, wondering strangely how China was able to run here to get the test and run back with so much confidence when he shook his head. He wasn't some nineteen year old buying condoms, it was just a test! He reached grabbing at least four home tests before turning walking to the counter placing them down and looked away as they were rung up, paid for them and took the bag leaving the store, going back up the hill in that slow run. It was even harder going uphill but the thought of China laying on the bathroom floor, being slammed with nausea and vomiting was the one thing inspiring to get up that hill and go. His bag rustled loudly while he ran in that slow way, his chest tight and his heart slammed as he took gulping breathes of the chilly air when his phone began ringing loudly. He ignored it in favor of climbing the hill but when it rang and rang and rang he found irritation mounting as he got up the hill with a few smiles aimed at him and he paused in front of his front gate, reaching out to grip it and bent over gasping and when his phone rang again he gritted his teeth gently.
He answered his phone. "America-kun, if this is you again asking for party stuff I'm not doing it! Nor can I come to Oktober Fest or go out for dri-"
"Nice try~ It's Taiwan!" The feminine voice on the other side of the phone had Japan sighing out harshly.
"What do you want, Taiwan? I don't mean to be rude but I need to get home and give Yao-san his tests and-" He hissed in a breath realizing he gave something away he shouldn't have when Taiwan squealed loudly.
"Oh my gosh! Gēgē might be pregnant?!" Taiwan squealed when he heard Hong Kong in the background asking what Taiwan was squealing over now. "Jia! Gēgē might be pregnant again!"
"Taiwan, I really have to go!" Japan urgently got out as he shifted pushing open his gate, which he'd forgotten to lock but not close apparently, with his hip and did the same thing, shifting the bag to his wrist to lock it.
"Wait! Wait! Tell Gēgē I'm coming to visit you guys soon enough! I think I'm going into Chiyo withdrawl~" Taiwan laughed cutely and Japan could only imagine how she looked then. "But tell Gēgē good luck if he's pregnant! Bye bye now~"
"Bye!" Japan hung up quickly before Taiwan could add anything in and he rushed up the walk way into the house. He shut the door behind him. "Yao-san!" He heard laughter from the living room as he kicked his shoes off, messily instead of the usual neat way, to thump lightly to the living room to catch a much better looking China versus the one he'd left behind. China looked up, his golden-brown eyes glowing happily despite him still looking lightly pale and clammy.
"Kiku-chan~" China happily greeted pushing his sons off his lap gently. "Xiong and Chiyo, you can watch TV for a little while -aru!"
"Yay!" Both boys shouted throwing their arms up as Xiong grabbed the TV remote, climbed on the couch and Chiyo joined him, both immediately looking for the anime's.
"Yao-san, come with me." Japan ordered as he took China's hand the moment his husband drifted close to the living room doorway. China blinked rapidly as he was yanked down the hall, both of their steps loud with soft thumps and he blinked again when he was pulled into the bedroom.
"Kiku, what's wrong with you -aru?" China asked his confusion plan as day, his hair pulled back in it's usual ponytail which was much neater than what Japan had put it in before he left, his little curl sticking up like usual.
"We have lots of water bottles in here right?" Japan asked busily as he began looking around and caught sight of China's red water bottle, filled again and chilled so he could assume it'd been refilled. He walked around the bed to grab it, feeling the perspiration on the bottle already.
"Kiku! What is going on -aru!" China shouted with confusion tainting his tone and his wide golden-brown eyes were met with Japan's frantic brown ones.
"I want you to drink as much of this," Japan ordered as he walked back around the bed thrusting the bottle at his husband who took it with confusion painted on his face.
"What. . -aru." China spoke slowly as Japan chewed on his thumb nail briefly then sighed out and China looked down at the plastic back dangling from his wife's wrist.
"I think I know what's wrong with you. Why you've been so sick." Japan got out on a sigh and looked at China then shifted to hold the bag with his fingers tight then held it out to China. "I need you to take these."
China looked in the bag and his eyes widened lightly. He felt a strange surge of nausea at the sight of the four boxes and bit his lip lightly. "Why so many -aru?"
"We need to be sure. Completely sure." Japan got out then took a deep breath. "We need to be sure that, if I'm right, you're pregnant."
