"Hey guys, guess what? There's a Valentines day dance at the rec-center they even have a little area for the kids with cookies and punch and cots incase they get sleepy. Best of all it's free!" said Lovino a few days before the most romantic day of the year.
"Sounds fun Lovi, you wanna go too Feliciano?"
"No," said the younger Italian.
"Why not? You don't have to bring a date," Lovino pleaded, he wanted to get his brother out of the house.
"What's a date?" asked Ivan looking at the older children.
"I know! I know! Really big raisins that make you poop more," said Yao bouncing up and down.
"I don't think so. Mama's going with Papa so I think that the kinda date they're talking about is another person," corrected Maddie giggling.
"I can be your date Maddie," offered Gilbert handing the only girl a plastic flower.
Maddie giggled taking the flower, "Ok."
That gave Ludwig an idea he grabbed a fake flower of his own and ran to Italy's side tugging on his pants leg, "Mama!"
Feli leaned down, "What is it sweetie? What's with the flower?"
"I be Mama's date!" said Ludwig handing over the plastic and cloth plant.
"How cute!" cooed Lovino hugging the living daylights out of Antonio.
"Ok sweetie," Feli said taking the flower kissing his son's cheek.
"I can be your date, Yao, Alfred," said Ivan grinning at the two.
"Ok," said the two step-brothers.
On the night of the dance Antonio had gotten bouquets of flowers for their dates though Ludwig could barely hold his. Both Feliciano and Lovino had dressed as girls, Feli wearing a curly wig that matched his real hair that he had gotten when he was first pregnant so no one would be suspicious, fake boobs, a white and pink rose patterned dress, white stocking and black tie up ankle boots with pink laces. Lovino wore a short creamy pink dress, the same one he was married in, a pink jacket, pink stockings and black shoes.
"Mama pretty!" said Ludwig handing Feli the flowers.
"Thank you Luddy, you look very handsome," Feli said picking up the boy and kissing his cheek.
The boys were all dressed in little suits and Maddie had on a cute little white and pink dress, little heart shaped earring in her ears, she had pointed out an ear piercing place at the mall the day after her birthday so Antonio let her get her ears pierced Lovino had panicked when they got home though. Lovino sat in the car as they loaded up the kids, he was getting too big to pick the kids up without risking jabbing himself in the stomach with his knee or getting stuck.
During the last dance of the night it was the kids with their parents. Feli danced with his twin boys on his legs and little Ivan in his arms, Lovino danced with Alfred and Yao in his arms, and Antonio slow danced with Maddie dipping his little girl making her giggle. Yao and Ivan both yawned rubbing their eyes, causing Lovino to yawn too.
"I think some people are turning into pumpkins," said Antonio putting Maddie down and taking Yao from his husband.
"Time to go home sweeties," said Feli rounding up his kids.
"Come on Lovi, lets get you and the kids home and in bed," Antonio cooed ushering his family to the van.
"Bed sounds nice… you Tomato Bozo," said Lovino trying to not doze off right there.
Somehow they managed to get the sleepy children and Lovino all into the vehicle and into bed safely. Soon March rolled around bringing storms. On rainy days the adults didn't even bother changing the kids out of their feetie pajamas. All of Alfred's Pjs were super hero themed. The boy could be found running around dressed like Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Captain America, Spiderman or Iron Man. Maddie's favorite night time outfit was a set of polar bear Pjs. It had a little hood with a cute little face and ears on it. Yao had a similar set of pajamas but his made him look like a little panda. Ivan's Pjs were light green and littered with sunflowers, more meant for a girl but Ivan had seen them at the store and refused to let them go until Italy put a pair that was the correct size in the cart. Ludwig and Gilbert's Pjs were for the most part the same; a solid color except for a picture on the chest. Ludwig's was a puppy and Gilbert's was a little yellow bird.
After one such stormy day that turned into a stormy night Ludwig and Gilbert were playing with their train table, Maddie and Lovino were watching a recorded episode of My Little Pony. Antonio was reading Ivan and Yao a story, Alfred was playing with his fire truck and Feli was reading his own book. Suddenly the power went out causing the children to cry out from fright.
"Its ok kids, don't worry," said Antonio turning on a flashlight calming the kids.
He handed both Italians flashlights, started a fire and lit a few candles out of the kids' reach.
"That was scary!" cried Yao pulling his little hood over his eyes.
"Never fear! Superman is here!" crowed Alfred who was in his, you guessed it Superman Pjs.
Yao smiled pulling down his hood, hugging Alfred, Ivan joined the hug making Alfred fall laughing.
"How about we make some smores?" suggested Feli getting up.
"Sounds good. I'll get the kids some milk while you make them?" offered Lovino starting to stand holding Maddie before wincing as Francis kicked him for waking him up.
"I think you should watch the kids while I get the milk," ordered Antonio walking into the kitchen.
Lovino sighed as he lowered himself back onto the sofa.
"I do not wanna be pregnant again after this! At least not for a couple of years!" the older Italian whined putting Maddie on the floor.
"There are still two who need to be reborn Fratello," Feli pointed out from the kitchen where he was making baby safe smores using gram crackers, chocolate syrup, and marshmallow fluff. (AN: My mom helped me come up with the recipe)
"Maybe I'll get lucky and you'll have twins again," teased Lovino as Feli and Antonio walked back into the room.
"Don't you dare joke about that!" snapped Feli.
Lovino got up, "Chill, now excuse me I have a baby on my bladder."
"Sorry about him Feli, he's just sore and cranky," insisted Antonio.
"I know," said Feli with a sigh before there was a knocking at the door, "Who could that be?"
The younger Italian opened the door as lighting flashed over head.
"Grandpa Rome!" he cried hugging the older nation.
The children and Antonio stared, the children because they had no idea who the man was while Antonio knew and was worried about how Lovino would react. By this time Lovino had come out of the bathroom and dropped the towel he was using to dry his hands when he saw his grandfather, starting to hyperventilate just a bit.
"Lovino! You're looking well," said Rome smiling.
"Romulus, here to visit Feli, I guess?" snapped Lovino tears filling his eyes, old bitterness bubbling up as he slumped on to the sofa covering his face to hide his tears.
Alfred looked from his mama to the strange man. The man was upsetting his mama and he wouldn't allow it. The boy ran over , jumped up and came down as hard as he could on the man's foot causing him to yelp.
"Alfred!" scolded Antonio picking up the boy.
"He's got spunk!" Romulus laughed, "Don't worry I know what's going on. So who had the little spunky guy."
"You make mama cry! Say sowwy!" demanded the boy.
Romulus sat by his older grandson and pet his head, "I'm sorry Lovino…I thought you would understand that I thought you were strong and smart enough to take care of yourself. I didn't mean to hurt you. I have an idea, after you pop out that little booger we all go to the zoo."
Lovino nodded smiling a little.
"So who had whom?" asked the former empire taking Alfred into his arms, "Other then this tough little guy."
"Me hero!" the one year old cheered.
"I had the two boys there, Gilbert and Ludwig, they're nearly two, and Ivan here," started Feli picking up his youngest son wrinkling his nose, "And he's in need of diaper change."
After Feli took a giggling Ivan to change him Lovino spoke up, "The little girl is Alfred's twin sister Madison or Maddie. The little black haired boy is Yao. Antonio had him but to him I'm mama," finished Lovino biting his lip.
"Lovi what's wrong?" asked Antonio putting a hand on Lovino's belly.
"I think Francis wants to come out! Ah! Get me to the hospital…I don't have another home birth, especially with the kids here!"
Feli came back just as his brother's water broke, running to his twin's side after putting Ivan down, "What do we do? Its too stormy out to go on our own and who knows how long it will be before an ambulance can get here."
"I can deliver the baby," said Romulus picking up his older grand son, "Antonio, get hot water, towels, a mortar and pestle, I have a list of herbs that I need in my right pocket I'm sure you can get them all. Feli watch the children."
The old nation carried his sobbing grandson up stairs after Antonio retrieved the list of herbs, luckily the power came back at that point so that was a good thing. Antonio grabbed his umbrella and ran to their herb storage house for the dried herbs then to the green house they used to grow fresh herbs before gathering everything else Romulus had asked for. The older nation ground the herbs and mixed them with water to make an ancient and forgotten pain killed that Antonio helped his spouse drink down. Before the older nation got to work.
Feli kept the kids busy by turning on the TV and setting the volume loud enough that the kids would hear Lovino staining from labor.
"One more push Lovino," encouraged Romulus as Lovino pushed out three week early baby before falling back onto his pillows as the new born cried for the first time.
Antonio smiled cutting the cord, before Rome cleaned the baby and handing him to Lovino.
"You should rest soon. You must be worn out," said the ancient empire smiling at his grandson and new great-grandson.
"I will after the kids meet him," said Lovino rocking Francis gently.
Romulus nodded going down stairs with Antonio to gather the kids. Alfred, Maddie and Yao stared at their new brother a few moments later. The other children would see him later since Feli had put them to bed after he had heard that the new baby was here.
"Ok kids, bed time, you're mama needs to rest," said Romulus scooping up the older kids making them laugh, "Great-grandpa's tucking you in tonight."
After he tucked in Lovino's kids he went to the rooms of Feli kids where they were waiting to be tucked in by their great-grandfather which he did.
TBC