I do not own Hetalia okay? Between this and A Dream Deferred these are sort of my pet projects of this fandom. I do kind of want to do a spinoff to my AmeBel story The Longing of the Heart but I don't know on that one yet. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!

Alfred and Ivan tossed and turned trying to get comfortable when Ivan was awoken by a start. Katyusha was having another bout of morning sickness. Looking over at his watch, he noticed it was only 5 in the morning. God so it wasn't that one time, it hits her early Ivan thought as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. He got a glass of water from the kitchen and listened carefully. It sounded pretty bad, so he pulled out his phone to quickly see how long it was supposed to last. "So until the 14 week mark. 9 weeks is usually the worst..." He read off, causing Alfred to wake.

"What are you doing up this early Vanya?" Alfred asked as he placed a pillow over his eyes trying to block out the light from the phone.

"I heard Katyusha's morning sickness. Apparently it isn't limited to the morning, but it seems hers is in the wee hours of the morning..." Ivan noted.

"Well she seems to have settled that." Alfred said, not usually so short with someone who was sick or with Ivan's concerns, but not when he's been sleeping on a pull out sofa and phone light was the worst offender for waking him up no matter what. "Put that thing up and come back to sofa bed." Alfred said as he pulled Ivan's phone from his hand, placed it on a side table and then pulled the larger man back to the sofa with him, kissing him behind the ear. "I promise you tonight you'll have something you'll enjoy." Alfred teased.

"Not this morning?" Ivan asked back with a smirk as Alfred then pulled the blankets over themselves, wrapping each other tightly in them

"Give you something to dream about other than Katy's morning sickness and Matt's lack of taste..." He said motioning to the maple leaf blanket and decor. "That stuff will be in storage. I am not hanging it up at our house."

"I agree." Ivan smirked.

The smell of bacon with maple syrup wafted through the house, causing Alfred to stir awake. Breaking out of Ivan's grip he had in his sleep, he walked into the kitchen, back aching from the mattress. "Uggghhhh that hurts like a bitch" He moaned.

"Well old man." Matthew said sticking his tongue out at his brother. "Thought you two had died."

"Never again on that couch." Ivan moaned staring up at the ceiling. "I would rather set out a bunch of blankets like a kid having a sleepover than that thing."

"Well I have breakfast, well now lunch," Matthew said looking at the clock "made so eat hearty. I was thinking we could pack up the stuff Katy and I are moving into your place today as our lease is up at the end of December and we had already paid that rent. Makes things a little easier time wise when it comes to getting this bigger stuff into storage."

"That actually sounds reasonable. Will you get your rent back if you leave early?" Ivan asked though.

"Nope. And since the landlord is a jerk, I made sure to record everything how it was when we moved in and when we finish up to get the security deposit. Trust me, Dad warned me of that when we got this place." Ivan scowled at the fact someone would do such a thing, and that was part of his motivation to own his house outright as much as he could. Matthew saw Ivan's scowl and turned to him. "Hey, when I do get a job, can you and Al advise us on the home market?"

Alfred looked around. "Ummmmm Vanya handled that mostly. I just signed on the line. You see he worked as a construction worker in the summers during college, so that's how he picked so much up on home repair."

"Well that and I was the one who fixed most of the stuff before then. Velikiy dyadya insisted I learn it." Ivan explained as he ate the bacon sandwich looking over the small house. They would have needed to move out anyway even if Matvey didn't lose his job, this is just too small to have a baby in.

"Not too bad an idea Mattie." Alfred added. "Plus you have to be ready for that interview tomorrow. Moving all your shit out your place won't do that." Alfred said thumping his brother on his back.

"Yeah, it wouldn't..."Matthew laughed nervously. He had been acting like he wasn't at all nervous at the prospect of going to interview at the news station, but he was deep down petrified. All logic that anyone told him went out the window in his mind. His fear of letting his duty to Katyusha and their unborn child would always find a way back in. The what ifs flooding back. The idea that they would be stuck forever in his brother's house with Ivan forever being critical of him despite no matter how many times Alfred would tell him it wasn't his fault, ate at him. They very reasons Ivan was critical of him was why he was ashamed before he found out. It's not like he didn't know what kind of life Katyusha had before she married him. He had wanted to provide her with a way to enjoy herself with whatever she wanted to do with her life. She was only 5 years older than him but had to take up duties of someone much older so young. That's what he admired about her, that's what he loved about her. And that was what he wanted to keep her from having to do all over again.

Meanwhile, Francis was back at his and Arthur's house wrapping the gifts he had bought and stashing them under the bed. It was just him and Arthur in the house now and it wasn't like when Matthew and Alfred were children. They grew up so fast. Francis thought as he knew he was going to be a grand-père come the spring. Looking at the photo album of Christmases past, it was always clear that Matthew was a very quiet child and Alfred very loud and confident, too confident at times... he thought as he saw a picture of Arthur chasing after Alfred for riding his bike in the house right after he got it. That Christmas was particularly snowy so he couldn't go out and ride it but determined as he was to test out his new toy when he got it, he rode it in the house, causing him to crash into the sofa in the living room and instead of hitting the piece of furniture, he hit the floor hard, causing a large welt on his head.

"Oi, Francis." Arthur said as he knocked on the entry way of the door. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine mi amor." Francis smiled. "Just looking at the old Christmas photos. I've been quite sentimental lately."

"Because you are getting old." Arthur said annoyed. "I need some help with the lights and decorations. I want to keep it simple,"

"Just how simple?" Francis asked.

"A string of lights on the gutters, something on the bushes and a few wreaths. Something like that." Arthur said. "The boys aren't little anymore so I don't want to keep up the tacky plastic Santas or what have you."

"So you want tasteful elegance huh?" Francis said.

"So no calling Gilbert or Antonio to do it. They still are not allowed at my office because of what they did at one Christmas party. I should know better than to invite some of your friends."

"Oh you can be a real stick in the mud sometimes." Francis said. "But you are going to be a grandpa soon and aren't they supposed to be the ones who spoil the children behind their parent's backs?"

"I'll be sure to warn Matthew and Katyusha about what you will do." Arthur sighed. "Now come along and help me Frog."

"You're not fun." Francis sighed as they headed out to put the Christmas decorations up.

"And don't you forget it." Arthur smiled at him. "But later, there can be...arrangements and allowances made."

"Oh hohohoohon..." Francis laughed.

"If you help me here." Arthur said.

"Always with strings attached. Fine." Francis said.

The next day, Katyusha woke Matthew up with a kiss on the forehead "Dobroho ranku miy klenovyy lyst" She said with a smile.

"Ugggghhhhh." Matthew said as he reached for his glasses that Katyusha slid on his face. "What time is it?"

"Seven thirty Matvey." Katyusha smiled. "Fredka is in the kitchen and is making you your favorite morning breakfast swimming in maple syrup, the good stuff he claims."

"From Canada or Vermont?" Matthew said.

"Vermont I do believe Fredka said when I asked him." Katyusha replied as Matthew rolled his eyes. "I am sure it is an honest mistake as both places are renowned for their syrup."

"Nah, that's just his way." Matthew said as he rolled his eyes.

"I picked you out a very smart looking outfit." Matthew looked up at Katyusha. "Fredka told me all about your plans for the interview today. You did too the other day silly."

"Yeah, it's just..." Matthew started when Katyusha turned onto him.

"You aren't how you say...chickening out...are you?" Katyusha said annoyed. It was rare that she could be stirred to such a state but when it did happen, the person who caused it was in for it. "After I had told Vanya to stop giving you such a hard time. Do you want me to tell him AND your brother you changed your mind?"

"No! No!" Matthew panicked, not having seen this side of his wife used towards him before.

"I understand you are nervous my darling but there is no need to be. No need for shame either. You are not in competition with anyone. The more you think you are the more you hate yourself..." Katyusha paused. She knew that feeling well herself. Her friends she had graduated with had all went on to bigger and better things and she was taking care of her little brother and sister after high school. Part of her wanted to finish that degree, prove she wasn't as some bullies when she was in school said 'double d meets double dumb'. When women pay good money for implants the size... She placed her hand on her breasts, something other women envied and used against her. These grew naturally, they still made fun of me for them... She thought remembering the teasing she endured in high school for them and her accent, how she hid it from her Great Uncle and Ivan who both would have made sure personally in their own ways, often violent ways, that it never happened again and did not want to cause trouble. There were times she hadn't wondered what would have happened if she hadn't took over after her Great Uncle died. Well you did what you had to to make sure that Vanya and Natalya have a good future ahead of them and it is because you did that Vanya and Fredka can do for you and Matvey what they are now. She recalled as Matthew took the outfit she had picked out for him and kissed her on the cheek. "Matvey" She paused.

"You are Double D meets Double Darling." He said turning the old name into something to compliment her. "You are double dedicated, double devoted, double doting, double dear, double everything good I could ask for. I'm the idiot here for trying to chicken out when my wife and my brother, and I guess lesser extent brother in law are all helping me in my time of need." He then headed to the bathroom to take a shower.

"Ya tak tebe lyublyu" Katyusha whispered.

"Je t'aime de tout mon cœur ma femme chérie. N'oublie jamais ça." Matthew said in French, knowing how much Katyusha thought that as the ultimate language of love.

"I'm sorry, I only understood half of that." She whispered with a tear coming from her eyes.

"I said, 'I love you with all my heart my darling wife. Never forget that.' in French." Matthew wiped away her tear. "You have done more for me than I could ever hope for. Now it is my turn to get back in the saddle and do it for you." He placed his hand on her lower abdomen. "And this little fella here too."

"HEY MATTIE CAN YOU HURRY THE HELL UP? THESE PANCAKES ARE GOING TO GET AS GOOD AS THE STUFF YOU GET AT MCDONALDS AND THOSE SUCK!" Alfred yelled toward Matthew's room.

"FINE BY GOD!" Matthew yelled back. "LET ME SHOWER FIRST SO I DON'T SMELL LIKE MOOSE ASS!"

"MAKE IT QUICK!" Alfred said.

Matthew kissed Katyusha quickly on the cheek and headed to take a shower as she headed to the kitchen and looked at the plates Alfred had out. "Looks good. You weren't going to wake Vanya were you?" She asked knowing how much Ivan hated being woken up by yelling.

"Nah, he had to go to his company's office today so he had to leave early." Alfred said as he sipped his coffee. "You know I'm the only person Matt will yell at like that."

"Really?" Katyusha noted.

"Must be a brother thing." Alfred then began to eat his pancakes. "I'm hungry and not waiting on him." At this, Matthew headed into the dining room where Alfred was greedily eating his food. "Mmmphthsteremmpshtsurs..."

"Swallow your food before speaking." Matthew said rolling his eyes. "They're going to think I have to take care of you like some George and Lennie thing..." This caused Alfred to pause confused. Katyusha blushed getting the reference Matthew was making to the John Steinbeck novel Of Mice and Men.

"Huh?" Alfred asked swallowing his food.

"Maybe I'll get you the book this Christmas so you'll get how I just ascribed you." Matthew smirked. See Al, that English Degree has some use after all.

"Well I'm ignoring if you called me some sort of idiot or something. Just hurry up and eat so we can get there early. It's like Dad drilled into us. Early is best, on time is late. And I want my brother to have the best impression ever." Alfred said.

"If you keep up the Lennie act, maybe they'll give the job to me out of pity." Matthew said, savoring the looks that Alfred gave him. They headed out to the car where Alfred had agreed to drive him, absorbing the backhanded comments that his brother gave him. If this helps his confidence right now, take it, take it. You can kick his ass later... Alfred thought as he ground his teeth as they pulled into the station. Matthew then spoke with the manager and Alfred sat in the waiting area, looking at the magazines to keep himself occupied. Grabbing a parenting one he looked at it, seeing the magazine at first for ideas for things to get Matthew and Katyusha but the conversation he had with Ivan the other night was ringing out in his mind. He did think that it might just be time for him and Ivan to think about adoption.

Looking at an ad for some toys where the parents were blowing bubbles for a child around a playhouse and toy grill with another family member was grilling looking at the child with the toy grill happily. It seemed wonderful and he imagined himself grilling and Ivan blowing bubbles and their child was there happy as could be, possibly with their cousin while their grandpas argued in the corner on how hot dogs and sausages were not quite a good food and the other stupid things Alfred knew his dads to fight about. He then looked down at his phone and then called Arthur. He was the one parent he had that was more rational.

"Uggggghhhhh..." Arthur said waking up, breaking free from Francis's grip. The Thanksgiving holiday was still on at the University, so he did not have work, but what his husband had talked him into the night before was something he had not wanted to wake up so early. "Hello Alfred, what may I talk with you about this early morning."

"Well I am waiting for an interview Mattie's at and got the crazy idea of adopting a child. It's something I mentioned to Ivan the other night but it was late and he was tired so we didn't want to discuss much. I was wondering what you and Papa thought before you adopted Mattie and I." Alfred asked.

"Well it's a big thing to think about. Yes you and Ivan should talk about it more and in depth." Arthur said as he groaned in pain from a headache.

"You okay Dad?" Alfred asked.

"Just the way your Papa is...I'll call you later. I've got a terrible headache." He moaned as Alfred laid back and sighed. Sometimes I just wish guys could get pregnant too, make this decision a lot easier and could just oops into it like Matt and Katy did...

Translation Guide

(Obtained via Google Translate)

Velikiy dyadya-Russian-Great Uncle

grand-père- French-grandfather

mi amor-French- my love

Dobroho ranku miy klenovyy lyst- Ukrainian- Good morning my maple leaf

Ya tak tebe lyublyu-Ukrainian- I love you so much.

Je t'aime de tout mon cœur ma femme chérie. N'oublie jamais ça.-French-I love you with all my heart my darling wife. Never forget that.

So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I don't have much else to say here so remember to read (well you just did) and review. Ciao for now,

otherrealmwriter

aka

Realm.