I am really sorry... I thought I didn't have this chapter done and when I went to finish it, it was... ugh... anyway, I have one (unfinished one) after this and that's all I have of this story so far...

I'm still reeeaaally unsure about how to go about this... I want to write more, but as much as I've been roleplaying him lately, I'm still not happy or comfortable with Ludwig... I want to find that perfect balance of discipline and sweetness I know he has... but I make him too... Shy, too nervous... not enough flirty, because I know he is, not enough relaxed, because I know he can be... It's difficult, but I'm trying and hopefully, you'll bear with me and keep reading and awaiting my stuff because heaven knows I don't deserve readers when i make you wait so long for things...

Von Verlust und Liebe

Chapter Twenty-One: His Mistake

Kiku hissed in pain as his large belly and swollen ankles and back pain were starting to get at him. His husband followed the blonde woman into the living room of the royal family's beach house. He was glad to finally be able to rest. His mind also wandered to the fact that soon, they would have their precious bundle. Thankful the beach house was so close to the sea, Kiku could rest comfortably knowing at any moment, he would be able to escape the land and relax out in the salty water he missed so much.

Herakles helped him to sit down. The merman thanked him softly and looked around. There was a four year old, playing with a ball on the floor in the corner and the blonde sat down to watch over him while the child's mother was busy.

The child looked up. He blinked, "Oh! Did you swallow a baby, too! Like mama?" he got up to stare at the man.

Kiku could only blink and look down at the young child "Did I... swallow a baby..?" glancing at Herakles for a moment and nodded softly "Yes, little one. I suppose I did." he said with a small smile. He was certain that's what the child's parents told him to explain away pregnancy.

Herakles chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair, "Too cute…" he rested his head on Kiku's, "I can't wait for ours..." he whispered, as the boy smiled and placed his hands to his husband's belly.

"Baby? Can you hear me? My name is Tristán~!" he said.

Kiku smiled and put his hand on Tristán's back "I think the baby can hear you, young Highness." Feliciano had told him about this child. It was one of the young royals of this land, belonging to that of Feliciano's brother.

Tristán smiled happily and rubbed the belly lightly, "Your baby is already that big and strong‽" he asked, referring, once again, to a talk his parents had given him when he's talked to them about his future brother or sister, "Mama said they stay in there for a loooong time..."

Kiku chuckled quietly and nodded "Your mama is very smart, little one. Babies do have to stay in there for a long time to grow and stay safe until they're ready to come out and meet the ones who love them more than anything."

Tristán smiled, "So you love your baby? I don't know if I'll like my new brother or sister too much..."

Kiku just frowned softly "What makes you say that, young prince?"

Tristán sighed, "Cause mama will love the new baby more than me..."

Tessa over heard, as she walked into the living room once her son had taken his brother into town, and giggled softly. Daan had said the same thing before Femke was born.

Running his fingers through Tristán's hair, he chuckled low in his throat "He's not going to love the new baby more than you. He'll love you all the same."

Tristan smiled, "You think so‽" he sounded genuinely excited, his hazel eyes lighting up with joy.

Kiku just nodded and patted the top of his head "I know so."

Sverran's crowned prince looked happy and hugged Kiku's belly the best he could. He then left Kiku's side having decided to go play again.

Herakles chuckled and leaned down to Kiku's ear, "You're going to be a fabulous mother~" he leaned up and yawned lightly.

Kiku blushed slightly "P-please do not say such things in public, Herakles... It's embarrassing..."

The man chuckled and kissed the top of his head, "I apologize..." he stretched a bit, "Do you need anything...? I believe I'm going to take a nap..."

Kiku shook his head slightly "I'm alright. Just a little tired." Herakles nodded and sat down on a couch close by to sleep.

The merman hummed softly and closed his eyes, deciding to nap as well. It wasn't long before he fell asleep to the laughter of the young Sverran prince.

"From now on, you'll be taking daily vitamins and eating healthier, as well as giving up drinking any sort of alcohol. Understand?" Lovino asked, glancing at his brother while he picked glass out of his hand. Feliciano trembled and nodded. He curled up, realizing now that blue meant he was carrying Ludwig's child. Tears rolled down his cheeks and he bit his lip.

"And when we get back to the house, I want you to go lie down in your room, okay? I'm going to send a letter to Antonio telling him that he and the stupid potato need to come down here as soon as possible." he said, ripping up his shirt and wrapping the strip around his hand to stop the bleeding.

Feliciano looked at him, "B-but Luddy's busy saving the kingdom and the lady's babies..." he couldn't pull Ludwig away to come 'rescue' him again. However, he was exhausted. Blushing dark red, he placed a hand on his belly and silently wondered whether it would be a boy or a girl.

"Well they can do it here, can't they‽" he snapped, glaring at his brother "If he wishes to live, he will be here to support you and the baby!" tying the cloth tight, he rested his chin in his un-wounded hand and stared out the window.

Feliciano winced and nodded.

The little dragon Elizabeth had given Feliciano decided that now was the perfect time to poke her little head out of the Illonian's shirt and nibble on his cheek, giving him a cute little dragon kiss.

He laughed lightly and petted Snow on the head, "Hey~" he cooed at her softly. Feliciano was glad Elizabeth had let him borrow the little dragon for protection. He really needed her. Snow purred softly and nuzzled against his cheek, thankful for the warmth his body provided her.

Lovino shrieked and pressed himself back against his seat "What the fucking hell, Feli! What is that thing‽"

The younger brother smiled but jumped when his brother freaked out. He held Snow against his body, "It's a snow dragon ... Miss Elizabeth gave her to me while I'm down here so she could protect me and Kiku while Miss Elizabeth gets her kids back..." he explained.

Lovino frowned and glared at the scaly little thing "Feli... I've seen snow Dragons... Their babies are bigger than I am. I don't believe that it's a dragon. Looks like an over grown lizard to me."

Feliciano hummed softly and ran fingers down her scales, "Well, she's still pretty and smart." he said, his stomach turning when he once again thought about telling Ludwig. His stomach turned at the thought of telling Kiku! He'd forgotten he'd have to tell him, too... He bit his lip and nuzzled his face against Snow.

Snow cooed softly and licked the tip of his nose while cuddling against him, trying to give him any sort of comfort she could.

Feliciano giggled and definitely found her comforting. His stomach stopped twisting and he dozed off, holding her against him, under his shirt.

Lovino just frowned and huffed "Fine. She can stay." Though, he was wary about letting that thing near his children.

Soon, the carriage pulled back into the beach house and Feliciano was startled awake. He sleepily got out of the carriage and stumbled into the house, rubbing his eyes.

Lovino slid out of the carriage and went inside after his brother, slamming the door behind himself.

Tessa looked at Lovino, "So...?" she asked with worried eyes.

"He's pregnant..." sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair and tried his best to relax. He knew stress was bad for the baby he was carrying "Find Ariana and tell her to come to me. I'll be in my room…" he said before heading upstairs to relax before he hurt himself and his unborn child.

Tessa winced slightly and looked at the Illonian wandering to the living room to sit down. She nodded and went to locate the phoenix. When found, she brought her to Lovino's room. "Wouldn't he know beforehand that he was...? It's not exactly easy being male and just getting pregnant without knowing..." she said, sitting down on the edge of Lovino's bed.

Lovino looked up from his desk and sighed, sealing the letter to Antonio. He held it out to the phoenix and let her clamp it safely in her beak before he opened the window so she could take flight "I don't know, mama... This is Feli we're talking about, so he probably ate something really stupid and it had the same affect the potions do."

The woman sighed, "We may have to have Lukas look him over to see if his body can even handle carrying the child full term ..." she said grimly, "We don't know what he did to get pregnant so we don't know how often he needs to do it to keep it going..."

Sverran's queen just nodded and watched as Ariana flew off toward the castle "Yeah... Is he still in town?

Tessa nodded, "He stayed behind with Tino to collect some ingredients... I think we're lucky because they're leaving tomorrow."

"Can you go into town and find them, mama? They should check out Feli as soon as possible... If there's a risk of him losing his life because of the baby, I want to know" he said, looking over at his adoptive mother.

Tessa nodded and kissed his forehead, "We'll make sure he stays safe." she immediately went downstairs to take a carriage into town to find Lukas and Tino.

Lovino nodded and watched her as she left "Thanks, mama..."

Feliciano lied down on the couch, on the other end of the sleeping Herakles and stared at the wall. He twisted the hem of his shirt in his hand and chewed his lips, dreading confronting Ludwig about this.

Kiku waddled into the room, nibbling on a piece of dried sea weed, "Feliciano? Is something wrong?"

Feliciano looked at him, "I'm pregnant..." he muttered, still reeling from the news. He rubbed his belly and wondered about the baby inside him. Would they be a blond or a coppery haired child?

Kiku could only blink and sit himself down in a chair "But how? I did not see you take any potions recently..."

Feliciano shrugged, "I don't know... trying to figure out what could have gone wrong ... I don't think I've had any potions or anything and the only thing I've eaten that I usually don't is that candy I found .."

Kiku raised an eyebrow "Candy? What did it look like?" He eyed him carefully. Eating anything strange was not good and he felt a fear in his heart that he knew what Feliciano had eaten. That was why some of his vitamins were missing...

Feli nibbled his lower lip and looked off to the side "I found it in a little bag in your room after you left me alone on the ferry ship… I thought it was for everyone… I'm sorry, Kiku!"

The merman sighed, "That is what I was afraid of. Those weren't candy ... they are a special vitamin I mixed to ensure my pregnancy was a smooth one. It must have assumed your body was lacking and set you up for giving birth... which means I'll have to make more for you to continue taking... that is, if you are still interested in having this baby..."

Feliciano's eyes widened and he sat upright, staring at the merman "Not candy...?" whimpering softly, he placed his hands against his stomach and looked down where he knew his baby was growing "I... I don't know... I'll have to talk to Luddy..." he murmured softly.

Kiku shook his head, "No, it was not. Have you eaten any today?" he asked softly. He was now worried for his friend. Human males weren't equipped for children and he worried about his body and the stress.

Feliciano just shook his head "No... Why? Should I have eaten some?"

Grabbing a little bag on his hip, he grabbed one, "Yes. At least once a day." he explained before finishing his snack.

The Illonian nodded and looked at the small candy like object in his friend's hand "Okay..." he looked down at his stomach, then to the thing that caused all of this. He brought it to his lips and wondered what Ludwig would think when he saw him. His fingers trembled and he looked at Kiku before putting the vitamin into his mouth and chewing the flaky yet chewy 'candy'.

Kiku smiled softly. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest. Maybe soon he would talk to the queen or someone else about getting a room to actually lie down and sleep on. He could almost feel a soft bed beneath him to help soothe the pain he felt in his back and legs.

~Lady Pyrien & xxxBloody Blossomxxx