War was hell, it didn't matter what side you were on, because it all equaled the same damn thing. Lily listened in as the men discussed the ongoing assault on other nations, doing their best to protect their own as well. She could see Ivan was worried, he had more now to worry about; over the last couple of months he had kept her tucked away from the world as her belly grew each day.

Brie's giggle caught Lily's attention. "He worries as much as Francis."

Lily smiled, she wasn't wrong. Ivan's eyes were constantly on her, watching her every move.

"I know. It's starting to drive me nuts." she confessed, her Russian accent now thicker than before.

"Oui, I know what you mean." Brie said, shifting Jeanne to her other shoulder. "Not much longer huh?"

Lily looked down at her large belly, feeling the baby move around within. "No, not much longer. I can barely wait but he's absolutely nervous."

"It will be fine. Francis was a wreck the day she was born. I was waiting to see an indent in the floor along with the classic cartoon of non-stop cigarette buds everywhere." Brie joked. "Once he saw her, he was fine. That's what I wanted to ask, do you know what you're having?"

"Net." Lily replied, "We wanted to wait till the baby's born."

She wanted to find out but Ivan asked to wait. Wanted to keep to the traditions as much as possible, as much as it drove her insane. Don't cross your legs, don't lay on your back, don't lift your arms above your head, no early gifts. There was always something she wasn't allowed to do, 'It could hurt the baby.'

"That's total bullshit!" Alfred shouted as the last plan was said.

Ivan cleared his throat, glaring at the man. Ah yes, that one as well, no swearing in front of a pregnant woman. The dark aura slowly emitting out of him, a warning to all the nations.

"Alright Brie, I think we are a distraction to the men. Best we go." Lily said.

"D'accord." Brie said, holding her hand out to her, "Need a hand?"

Lily laughed as she took Brie's hand, the woman pulled Lily to her aching feet as a twinge of discomfort hit her lower back.

"You alright?" Brie asked, "You're almost full."

"Da, just fine. I have a month left Brie, nothing to worry over. Just a small Braxton." Lily reassured her, rubbing the small of her back.

Looking back at the men, she sighed and hoped that the situation wouldn't turn violent between them all.

Ivan looked over the map, seeing how the developing terrorist group was advancing across the world. It had grown much faster than any of them had planned over the last seven months, and the latest attack on Ukraine was enough for Ivan to call for war.

"How is Iryna, Ivan?" someone asked.

"Chto?"

"How's your sister?" Arthur asked.

"Better than before. Still has to use the crutch to walk but much better." he replied, thinking back on the phone call he got about the attack and how bad Iryna was when they found her. "Both her and Natalya are keeping an eye on the front with the Baltics, along with watching Lily."

"Dude, don't you think you're smothering the woman?" Alfred said.

"Would you like to keep your teeth?" He gritted out.

"Ivan. Alfred." Ludwig warned. "Set past issues with past. We need to worry about now."

Looking back down at the battle plans, Ivan tried to focus on the situation on hand. He had set the Baltics to the front lines of Ukraine and Russia, where the threat advanced up towards his capital. There were members found in Kursk, attempting to board trains to Moscow. It bothered him deeply, how determined they were to get in.

"Alfred, stop looking at your phone!" Arthur scolded, "The sooner you pay attention and do as told, the sooner you can head back."

Ivan glanced up to see Alfred tucking his cell away, a worried look crossing his face. Something must be bothering him, it wasn't like the man to sit there and not push in his thoughts every two seconds or announce how he was a hero.

"So far it seems like everything is in place Arthur." Yao said, "We just need to place ourselves in our proper places."

"Well enough, besides ourselves, anyone else sitting on the lines besides Ivan's people?" Francis asked.

"Isn't Antonio helping you?" Kiku asked him.

"He's taking a siesta." Francis said, giving him a 'typical Toni' look.

"As of now, I have Carine, Conner, and Allister. Maybe Al can come down and help you." Arthur piped up.

"Ja, it would be good to have more than one nation on the lines. I have Vash and Roderich with me, we're having Lilli and Elizaveta holding back for the time being. Push comes to shove, Eliza will come in."

"Yao and I are together on this." Kiku stated as Yao nodded, "Im Yong and Prem are watching the inner boarders as Lien and Dorjee are keeping an eye on the southern half with Taj. We're keeping Mei and Hong out as much as possible."

"Lovi and I are with Bella, Tim might join but we don't know yet." Feli added.

"Knowing Tim, he'll hold off." Alfred said, "What about the Nordics?"

"Watching their own, Berwald had a set of them head into his capital attacking random people." Arthur stated, "It's the same for Jett and Logan."

"Seems like everyone is all set then." he added in, looking at his phone once more.

"That it seems." Ivan replied.

"Alright then everyone. Time to settle this." Ludwig said, signing the paper before him.

The sheet was passed around, country to country as it came to Ivan. A declaration of war with a nation that fully did not exist. He read over the piece, hearing General Winter in his head, telling him to start the war. With a sigh, he signed the piece, making it truly official, that the Axis and Allies were starting WWIII with the terrorist group.

"For Moscow and St. Petersburg." he said to himself.

"Paris and Rouen." Francis said after him.

Ivan looked over to the man, knowing they both had the same thought. To protect their capitals and cities.

"Washington D.C." Alfred mumbled as he walked out of the room.

Everyone's head turned to his direction, their suspicions finally realized. Shaking his head, Ivan made his way to the door, patting Francis's shoulder as he passed. He was hoping that the battlefront wasn't horrible, but knowing how past was and how this group was working, he wasn't going to be that lucky.

Ivan watched as the artillery let loose on the advancing enemy, the echoing sounds of guns and explosions filled his ears. How war could drown out life, take it and leave destruction. He hated it and yet enjoyed it as well. Power. That's what he felt when his troops were in battle. He was glad enough to push the group out of Russia, now he was attempting to remove them completely out of Ukraine. The Baltics were giving orders to their generals, advancing their soldiers inward. Iryna's troops took orders from Natalya's people and so far, it seemed like it would end soon.

"Ivan," Natalya called out, "Everyone is where you asked. Word from the others is that Alfred when back to the states, some emergency came up."

Handing him the message, Ivan read Arthur's message, the American's pulled back for a moment as Alfred went off in the US. Of course, he would.

"Keep everything where it needs to be Natalya, I believe by the end of the week, this battle will be over." he said.

With a nod, she turned on her heels and made her way back to the trio. He was hoping he was making the right choices with all this. Iryna scolded him earlier for thinking so low of his plans, but he doubted himself like usual. He wished Iryna was here beside him really. He may have been a power nation and can hold himself during war, but getting his older sister's ok on things and her praise to him was more than others could give him. Well, besides Lily. That woman however silenced any negative thought he had, her kiss was enough to give him hope.

As he thought of Lily, he started to worry. Ever since they crossed into Ukraine two days ago, she had been in pain and almost demanding to go back to Russia, that she needed to be there. He was hoping that he had done the right thing and keeping her close. He didn't want her in Russia alone as the battle went on, it just didn't sit right with him. Iryna said she'd help her out in anything but a small part of him felt like he betrayed Lily, he wasn't sure how though.

"What are you doing here?" Raivis asked someone behind Ivan.

Before he could turn to see, he felt a hand grab onto his arm and drag him backwards. Looking at the source, he saw Iryna, full military uniform, crutch under her arm and a look of pure determination on her face. What the hell was she doing out here?

"Iryna, what are you doing? You are to be at your house, resting with Lily." He asked.

She ignored him as she continued to drag him with her, "Iryna enough, what is going on. We are in the middle of a battle, I just can't leave."

"Oh, yes you can." she said, giving him one more yank.

"For what? You haven't said a damn word about anything so what is-" she cut him off with her stern gaze.

"It's Lily."

That was enough for him to shut up. Giving a quick nod to the boys, he followed her towards her place. His worry had morphed into fret, what was wrong with Lily? The house seemed normal, no attack from the outside, was someone inside? No, Iryna would've killed them if that was the case. So, what was going on? Entering the warm home, he looked around, everything was just as before when he left her here.

He watched as Iryna maneuvered herself around the place, grabbing a set of towels and handing them to him.

"Um, Iryna, you haven't explained anything?" he said.

"I shouldn't have to, think about it." she said, adjusting her beret and opening the door.

"You said it was Lily, you dragged me from the battle front saying it's about her, then just hand me this and telling me to figure it out, what is going on?"

Iryna paused and looked at him, "I'll take lead of the front for now. Moscow and St. Petersburg need Russia. As Ukraine, I can only do so much. It's your turn."

He was absolutely confused by her statement. They needed him, how? He pondered on her words, trying to figure out what was going on.

"I've cleaned everything that needs it, just use the water for everything else. You'll be fine. Just watch your manhood." she said attempting to walk out the door.

It donned on him, "Net! Iryna wait, net. No, I can't do this. This is a woman's job, not a man's. Wait, don't leave me here, I need your help. Net, Iryna, net!"

"There is no one else to lead them, you have to do this while I take over your spot for now. You are needed here."

"But I don't know what to do?!"

"Simple, catch."

"WHAT!?"

"When he gets here, I am ripping off his balls!" Lily gritted out as another contraction tore through her body.

This was the last thing she expected from earlier that morning. She should've knows with those false contractions that the real ones would've been coming soon, just not this soon. Lily gave credit to Iryna, trying her damnedest to get her comfortable and whatnot but all she really wanted was Ivan. Something deep within her was telling her to get him, to have him close.

Another wave of pain and pressure rolled through her lower body, making her drop to her knees, giving the chair a death grip. "God, where is he?" she thought as she let out a pained moan.

"Lily?" she heard him from the door.

"Ivan." Finally, he showed his sorry ass up.

"Podsolnechnik, are you ok?" he said coming up to her.

"Does it look it?" she said, another passing through her.

"I'm here now. Hopefully the battle won't be too long and Iryna can make it back." he said rubbing her lower back.

"Net."

"Net?"

"Net, baby isn't waiting that long." she told him. "God this hurts."

"It's ok, soon it'll end and the baby will be here." he purred in her ear, trying to comfort her.

Lily tried to smile at him, at the thought of her baby in her arms, but another contraction took it out of her. Her breath caught in her chest as her muscles stiffened, she wanted it to end.

"I can't do this Ivan." she finally said, the pain becoming too overwhelming.

"Yes, you can. If anyone can do it, you can, no one is as strong as you Lily." he told her, still rubbing her back.

Lily moved to sit on the floor, adjusting her back against the chair, her breath came in pants as the contractions overlapped each other. She could feel Ivan's worry as a pained moan came out of her.

The pressure was constant, her body ready. "Ivan, the baby is coming."

"Now? Can't you try and hold it off for Iryna and Natalya?"

Oh, he did not. Without even thinking, Lily reached out and grabbed ahold of his scarf, yanking him down to her face, "If you ever say anything so stupid to me again I will beat you with that pipe of yours, am I clear?"

"Da, very." he said.

Lily pushed him back as her body reacted to the next contraction, he might have wanted his sisters to do this but the baby was saying otherwise. She was lucky to concentrate on anything as the pain barreled through her again and again.

"Ivan, I can't do this, it hurts too much." she cried.

"Yes, you can. I'm right here, just do what you need." he said, laying his hand on her knee, rubbing small circles on her skin.

For a moment, Lily felt calm and relaxed; no pain or pressure in her body, just calm. She placed her hand on top of his, "Ivan, don't let go. Please don't, not until you truly have to."

"Alright Lily," he said, continuing rubbing the small circles, "Now go."

With that, she did as told, barring down. As he promised, Ivan never moved his hand. Just making those circles as he gave her words of encouragement. It felt like an eternity as she grew tired of the strain, her body fatigued. Out of the blue, his hand was gone, blinding white pain rippled through her, as a scream left her parted lips.

Then it disappeared as a tiny cry filled the room. Lily opened her eyes, and looked down at Ivan to see him wrap the baby in his scarf and gently lay it on her chest. There in her arms was the little one she carried for so long, felt move within her, the baby she loved more than life itself.

"Oh, my god." she breathed out, "You're perfect. So, perfect."

Tears filled her eyes as she looked at her baby, touching the little fingers before her, "Ten fingers, ten toes." she quickly lifted the scarf to see what it was, "Stones! Mal'chik, eta mal'chik, you're a boy. A boy. A beautiful, healthy boy!"

Lily couldn't stop her tears as they flowed down to her son, happiness was all she could feel as she looked at him. She was in awe with him.

"Mal'chik." she heard Ivan whisper beside her.

Looking over, she saw a look of puzzlement on him, his mind whirling with multiple thoughts, "Da Ivan, mal'chik. Look at him."

"He's perfect."

"Da, he is."

"He can't be mine." he said barely above a whisper.

"Chto?!" Lily was shocked, he didn't mean that did he?

"He can't." he said, melancholy crossed his features. "He's so perfect and I'm not."

"Ivan, what are you saying?"

"I'm cold, harsh, calloused, cruel, and broken with no repair. How can someone like me make something so perfect and beautiful like him?"

Lily's heart panged in sadness, "Oh Ivan, you are none of that. To hell what the others say. Alexei is our and ours alone."

"What?"

She smiled at him, "You heard me. For both of those pieces."

Ivan's bottom lip trembled as it all sunk in, "Alexei?"

"I know how much you loved Anastasia and Alexei. I saw the memories to know. That little boy meant so much to you, just like this one will." She smiled, cupping his cheek, "Yes, Alexei Nikolai. Our little boy."

Ivan's hand grasped hers, holding it to him, she felt his tears run down his cheek. He moved closer to her, laying his head on her chest, facing Alexei. Lily couldn't help but smile at them, feeling the bond between the two as Alexei wrapped his little fingers around Ivan's one.

Lily smiled as they held onto one another. She brushed the hair from Ivan's eyes as he awed over their little boy.

"Moi mal'chiki, moi mal'chiki." She said as she began to him the lullaby to them.

For now, there was no war outside the house, just her little family within her arms.