Alfred woke up with a huge yawn, rubbing the sleep from his eyes before running a hand through his messy hair. Looking at his other hand, he was still attached to the small, blue blanket, which America rubbed against his cheek before getting up. He had been sleeping with it for the last three days, and he could tell Russia wasn't too impressed.
Traipsing the few meters to the room his children were in, Alfred's heart started to race as he saw Dmitri in his incubator but without the tubes around him. Why wasn't his ventilator on? "Russia?" He raised his voice, looking out of the room towards the nursery. When the other nation came out, America asked. "Why isn't Dmitri on his ventilator?"
Smiling, Ivan walked over. "He has been doing very well, so I took it off while you were sleeping. It has been about two hours, and I have been watching him closely. But he seems to be doing just fine." Looking down to the smaller nation, Russia rubbed his arm, trying to calm him down. "Sorry I didn't tell you."
Nodding, America mumbled. "That makes sense. Thank you." Really, he couldn't imagine most new mothers getting nearly as much sleep as he did with Russia. "So... Is it ok to hold him now?" He had before, but never outside of the incubator.
"Yes. Just be careful, because he is still smaller than Anya. Do you want to feed him?" For the first few times that Alfred fed both babies, he may have to also give them some formula, but that was alright. He would build up enough milk eventually.
Alfred nodded again. "Yeah, I will." He had more than gotten used to it with Anya already; almost to the point of looking forward to the bonding it created with his children. Still, it was almost too much to think about everything that got them to this point. The point where they were both parents. "I know this is looking really far, but will our kids be recluses their whole lives because we're both guys?"
Looking over the two small bodies thoughtfully, Ivan shrugged. "There is no way to know. It will all depend, I suppose." Most likely it would be more because they lived in the middle of a snow storm, but he would still let them have friends their age. As long as they were carefully picked.
Accepting his answer for now, Alfred smiled as he went over to his son. Dmitri wasn't doing much, but he could sense he was awake. "Hi Dmitri." He whispered, raising the pitch of his voice. "Mommy's gonna feed you now." Picking his son up gently, he went over to the rocking chair. "You're gonna grow up to be big and strong, but first you have to focus on getting bigger than your sister."
Picking up Anya as well, Ivan went to sit on the cot he had brought in for himself. She would need changing soon. "She will probably be able to come out of the incubator in a few days, if she keeps growing like she has been." He had been weighing them every day, to keep track of how much they were gaining.
America hummed absentmindedly, watching as his son suckled. "Hey, could I get a cot to sleep in here too? I don't want to be so far from our kids." Plus he felt somewhat bad that Ivan had been doing most of the work with the kids.
"I could bring Estonia's over here, if you wish." Anya was grasping his shirt, a habit which she had gotten these past few days. She was making gurgling sounds, already trying to communicate with the rest of the world.
Watching as Dmitri held onto his hand, America nodded. "I'd like that." It wouldn't be very comfortable, but it would definitely make him feel closer. Alfred gazed over to Ivan with their daughter, smiling as Russia all but beamed down at Anya. "If the world could see you like this, a lot more people would like you."
"Everyone would be more likable with a newborn in their arms." Russia smiled, lifting her up a little more and putting her on her stomach. She always liked sleeping like this. "I think they will both need changing, when you finish feeding him."
Feeling Dmitri start to lose interest with his nipple, Alfred moved him so he was cradled in his arm. "Ok. I'll change Dmitri then. Anya seems to be too happy with you to separate."
Nodding, they went to the changing table. "Do you remember how to do it?" So far he had been changing them, wanting to let Alfred rest as much as possible. But he seemed to be healing very well, and now that Dmitri wasn't on the ventilator, it would be better.
Placing their son down, he nodded slowly. "I'm pretty sure." Sticking his tongue out, America undid the one already on before changing it to a new one, all the inner steps included. "So, it's gonna be difficult when they can squirm more, huh?"
"Just be glad Dmitri didn't decide to give you a shower." Russia laughed, remembering the one time it had happened to him. It hadn't been too bad though, so it wasn't much to clean up. Finishing Anya's, he picked her up, putting her on his shoulder.
Watching Russia again, America shook out of his reverie to hold his son. "Do you think they'll ever fall in love with someone?" Since they were half nation, it might not be the best for them. Who knew just how long they would live anyways? If it kept them around forever, America would be more than willing to give them some of his land for their own.
Looking over at Dmitri, who was trying to grab America's glasses, Ivan smiled. "Everyone falls in love. Perhaps not with a specific person, perhaps just with an idea, or a symbol." Life would be meaningless without love. They loved their children, and they made life better.
"How can you think of stuff like that? Arthur used to talk like that too. Well, he still does." Shrugging, he looked down at his sleepy son, smiling as he yawned.
"Shall we get them back in the incubators?" He had already fed Anya when America was sleeping. But soon, he would have to wake him up for feedings, so that they got the best food possible. Right now, Ivan mostly wanted him to get better.
America nodded. "It would be the best." Rocking their son in his arms for a few more seconds, Alfred went over to the incubator and placed him back inside. There was no way now that anyone could come between their children and him if they needed protecting. He may still have man boobs and gave birth to his kids, but America was still very much a man with the power to drag a car behind him.
Once they were back, Russia stood up. "Would you like for me to get you the cot now? I was going to start dinner, but I can grab it first." The babies were going to sleep, so it might be good for Alfred to sleep as well.
"Yeah that would work. I'm kinda tired anyways. And hungry. Always hungry." He grinned, feeling proud of himself. America couldn't imagine just how it would be to know he only contributed sperm while a woman went through everything he did.
Nodding, Russia went over to Dmitri and gave him a quick kiss on the forehead before going to get the cot. Coming back, he found America curled up on the one he used, staring at the babies. "Are they all you dreamed about?"
"They couldn't be any better. I'm just happy we have children." America was determined to at least let Matthew and Arthur see them, if not more people. Though, there still was the whole 'a man gave birth' thing he needed to hide. "Can we have hamburgers for dinner? I haven't had one since I had morning sickness and my stomach misses them."
"Of course. But you will also have to drink a tea I got. It helps with milk production, and you will need that." There were also a few other things that would help, that he would be gradually getting him to use. "Even though you have had the kids, you still have to think about your health."
America's initial exhalation was cut short. "Tea? Seriously? Do you know just how nasty that stuff is? I haven't had a drop since the Boston Tea Harbor and Arthur won't let me forget."
Stopping at the door, Ivan turned around. "Would you rather not have enough milk for our babies, and have them eat formula?" It was sad to say, but with two babies it wasn't bad, but with three it would have taken a while for him to be able to keep enough milk.
Grimacing, America mumbled. "Fine. Just don't tell Arthur I'm drinking tea or he'll go crazy." If it was for his babies, he could do it. As disgusting as it would be. "I just want my hamburger to wash down the nastiness."
Going into the kitchen, Russia got everything ready. Soon he heard crying, possibly Anya, coming from the room, followed by soft words spoken from a loving mother. And he had been worried that he wouldn't know what to do with kids.
Dance for Dmitri being able to breath by himself!
So yeah FF is being stupid, and won't let me respond to reviews my normal way. To respond I have to do it the long way. So if I get a lot of reviews then I will answer, but if not then I probably won't. Sorry, it makes me feel bad because I like responding. Anyway, see you all next week!