I don't own Hetalia okay? I would love to thank all of you who had read this far in. It really means a lot to me. I have school projects going on now so I don't know how fast I will be able to update but I will and hopefully everything goes smoothly so far as this is my last class to my degree. Anyway enough with this A/N, on with the fic.
"I win! I got to the castle first!" Dimitri said as he jumped up happily.
"Cheater." Nikita pouted.
"Now now, what I have I and from what you told me Mr. Allen have taught you about being a good loser?" Natalya said. "I played this game with both of you and I can assure you, that Dimitri did not cheat."
"But losing isn't fun." Nikita pouted.
"It never is," Natalya agreed. Nikita looked hopeful like Natalya would say something to justify Nikita's thoughts. "However, we must be big kids and admit when we lost. And losing doesn't mean you are bad. Sometimes it is just luck. Something you cannot help. Or if you lose at your Tee Ball, what does that tell you?"
"Mr. Allen says it tells us that we need to practice more. And practicing is what will get us better." Nikita said.
"And you said you wanted to be the first girl in 'the majors'" Natalya said.
"Yep." Nikita said proudly.
"Well, I will tell you this, no Major League team wants someone who throws a hissy fit because they lost. It doesn't look good on them. They want skilled motivated players who would follow advice like Mr. Allen gave you." Natalya said. Nikita looked at her amazed. "Do you still want to follow that dream?"
"YES!" Nikita jumped up, knocking over the board, causing Dimitri to look at her annoyed.
"You will have to be careful too." Natalya said, noticing how she often would disregard her surroundings. She acts so much like Alfred and they are not biologically related. Unless somehow he has an unknown sister. Vanya told me their biological mother was a woman from Boston who thought hanging around low level Bratva package boys was a good idea. It is funny though. Nikita reminds me of how Alfred sounded as a child and Dimitri reminds me of how Katyusha said that Vanya was... She thought as the cards and pieces went all over the floor. "Now I need you to help me pick this up so we can put the game up for a little while."
"Okay." Nikita said.
"But I wanted to play again." Dimitri sighed as a knock was heard at the door.
"Is that Uncle Toris?" He asked.
"If it is then we don't need to play something else yet!" Nikita said as she put the board back on the coffee table excitedly. "Let him in!"
"Give me just a moment please. I am the adult here, so let me let him in." Natalya sighed. Thank god that test came back negative, I don't know how I could handle this all the time…. She thought as she opened the door for Toris. "Hello." She smiled.
"Uncle Toris." The twins ran past Natalya knocking her off balance as Toris bent over and caught her, kissing her on the cheek as Alfred had come down the stairs to see the scene giggling.
"What's so funny?" Natalya remarked.
"That." Alfred said. "It was like out of some corny "Leave it to Beaver" thing."
"Shouldn't you be working?" She asked annoyed.
"Break time." Alfred said. "I also was curious who would be knocking on the door to my house. Make sure it's no ax murder you let in. But it's Toris, he's okay. So today was first day of Med school?"
"Not quite Mr. Alfred sir." Toris said. "It was just orientation day, and let me say I did need it. I did not realize the hospital as large as it was."
"Didn't you say this program is at the same one that Katy had Charlotte at?" Alfred said as he pulled a coke out of the fridge and opened it.
"Yes, the very same one." Toris nodded.
"Are you done with work yet Daddy?" Nikita and Dimitri said as the same time.
"Not yet kiddos…." Alfred sighed. "But I am making good progress. Shouldn't be too much longer." He ruffled the twins' hair and headed back to work.
"So, I got your Aunt Natalya's message that she was here." Toris smiled looking at the twins. "Your papa and daddy busy with work?"
"Yup." The twins replied simultaneously.
"And it's no fun." Nikita pouted.
"Yeah, I miss Papa…." Dimitri sighed.
"He'll be back soon." Alfred reassured the twins. "I'll be finished soon too and then we can have fun together tonight. Maybe let you have a bubble bath tonight instead of a regular bath. You're going to need one. Especially you Nikita."
"But Daddy…." She pouted.
"No buts. I know Dimitri likes to play in the sandbox and he gets pretty dirty but you keep making messes everywhere." Alfred said. "You okay watching the kids still?" He asked turning to Toris and Natalya.
"Of course, it would be our pleasure." Toris said. "Not that 'Talya minds?"
"Of course not." Natalya smiled, knowing how much Nikita looked up to her.
"Yeay!" The twins said hugging Natalya and Toris.
"The kids really like you two." Alfred smiled. "Toris, 'Talya" Alfred said as Natalya rolled her eyes. "Let me know if you need anything."
"Will do Mr. Alfred." Toris said.
"How many times do I have to tell you to just call me Alfred? That whole Mr. thing makes me feel old." Alfred laughed.
"You have two kids now, a husband and a house, I'd say you're getting old." Natalya said simply causing Nikita and Dimitri to laugh.
"I'll ignore that." Alfred rolled his eyes.
"Get back to work and finish up!" Natalya ordered as Toris and the twins laughed. Turning to them she said, "Now if you get the board back set up, we can play Candy Land again now that your Uncle Toris is here."
"OKAY!" The twins saluted simultaneously and got to work.
"That is cute but creepy." Toris said.
"I know. Must be a twin thing. Have to ask Alfred's fathers if they did this, him and Matthew." Natalya noted.
"READY!" The twins said as they displayed their board proudly.
"Looks like I have nothing to say." Toris smiled as he sat down and began to play.
As the game started back up again, and Toris looked at the children with a smile, Katyusha's voice played back in Natalya's mind. You have to have that discussion with him. Even if this was a false positive, the next time might not be. He deserves to know about how close it was. If you really do want to marry him, he will need to know this. You will need to have this discussion on children. She looked over at Toris as he moved his piece along and the children laughed. I do have to admit he is a good man, plays well with the children, knows how to clean and repair some things. Maybe not as good work as Vanya did on this place but he knows more than Matthew. As she closed her eyes awaiting her turn, a scolding Katyusha appeared in her mind. You cannot keep putting off this very important conversation. "I will talk to him later, away from the twins…." Natalya said too herself.
"Talk to me about what?" Toris asked.
"Back at the house. It's a long discussion I need to have." Natalya said. Toris looked worried. "I still love you, but it's related to why I had to leave early this morning."
"Oh okay." Toris said as he looked over at the twins. "Let's have fun babysitting our niece and nephew right now." He added kissing Natalya on the cheek.
"EWWWWWWWWWWW" Dimitri said. "You kissed a girl Uncle Toris."
"Well your Daddy and Papa are two boys and kiss." Toris smiled.
"That's gross too." Nikita added. "Kissing is gross."
"Kids hate seeing affection in authority figures." Natalya said.
"I saw Grandpa and Grandpear kissing. That's really gross and I got a cookie from Grandpear." Nikita said.
"I shall talk to your grandfathers about that…." Ivan sighed as he came back home.
"PAPA!" The twins yelled running up to him and hugging his legs. "WE MISSED YOU!"
"They're telepathically linked." Natalya said.
"I cannot recall seeing Alfred and Matthew do that, then again I knew them when they were older, so it may be something they knocked off as they aged." Ivan shrugged. "Thanks again for watching them."
"It was my pleasure." Natalya said.
"Is Fredka done with his work yet?" Ivan asked as he picked up Dimitri and Nikita and turned to Natalya.
"Not yet…." Natalya began when Alfred threw open the door to his office.
"Whhooooo! Finally! Back on track!" Alfred sighed as he looked down to see Ivan holding the twins. "And you're back too Vanya." He ran up and kissed Ivan causing the twins to stick their tongues out.
"I take it they are not fond of adults kissing." Toris smiled.
"Nope." Alfred said as he ruffled the twins' hair. "But hey, one day they'll find someone they'll want to kiss."
"NEVER!" The twins said.
"I want to thank you two for helping us out with the children." Ivan said as he set the twins down. "Are you hungry? I figured I would make dinner when I came in for the children. It may be simple Mac and Cheese and hot dogs but Fredka cuts them to look like Octopus for the children." Natalya looked at Ivan confused. "He found this silly little tool and the children love it."
"Would be nice not to have to cook, if you do not mind sir." Toris said.
"Sure, the more the merrier I say." Alfred said as he headed into the kitchen to start the mac and cheese. "We have enough for everyone and often my lunch is the leftovers from the night before. Even with these two growing monsters." He said affectionately to the twins.
"Come over here malen'kiye" Ivan said as he sat down on the couch and motioned for the twins to sit beside him. "I have missed you all day and I want to hear all about your exciting day with your Aunt Natalya and Uncle Toris."
"Okay Papa." The twins replied simultaneously.
"I have to ask Arthur or Francis about if Alfred and Matthew did that when they were little. Those two are so in tune with each other it's crazy." Natalya sighed as she turned to Toris You need to talk to him about this. It is very important Katyusha's voice rang in her head again. "Do you mind if we step out on the porch to talk some? I don't want to do it around the children or my brother and his husband."
"Sure?" Toris asked nervously as they stepped outside under the pretense of getting some fresh air. "Is there anything wrong?"
"Oh where to begin…." Natalya said to herself before looking at Toris. "I didn't exactly leave early to see about my internship. I left to go to a doctor's appointment."
"Are you sick?" He asked with worry flush over his face.
"No, I went for a pregnancy test." She admit to herself, hoping that somehow her brother or his husband did not hear what she had said. She imagined Ivan would be furious and Alfred would just laugh at her for it.
Toris's face fell to a mix of concern, curiosity and anxious happiness. "So, what were the results?"
"Well I had taken a cheap home pregnancy test and that came up positive…" Toris looked nervous. "But I went to the doctor to do a more through blood test and that came back negative. He said it is possible, especially with the cheap ones that you can get from the Dollar Store…."
"I know you 'Talya," Toris said as he pushed a strand of hair from her face. "You would not normally buy something that important from a place like the dollar store, even if you are thrifty. There's something deeper going on?"
"You know me so well…." Natalya laughed slightly. "I was scared. Of what others would think? Maybe? More of the results. I felt so much judgement from myself that I projected it onto others. I could bury the test in a bunch of items from the dollar store, make it look like an accident and buy it anyway."
"What were you scared of? Whose judgement were you fearing?" Toris asked.
"My own. My brother's, the world's, I mean we are just engaged right now. Not married yet. I remember how big brother acted when he found out Katyusha was pregnant and the only thing there was that Matthew had lost his job recently and she had gotten a job to help with the expenses. And in retrospect, that is something she'd do naturally as she always worked hard to make sure we had what we needed and would hold her vows to pick up where the other falls close to her heart. And while Katyusha is very matronly, I am not." Natalya said.
"But how you interact with the twins, well makes me think you could be." Toris said as Natalya sighed.
"I think that is because while I have been accused of being cold hearted, I cannot deny them anything nor would I want to make Vanya upset by making his children upset." Natalya said.
"Well, if it matters any, I think that someday you could be." Toris smiled. "But right now, it's not the right time. It's a great relief that the test came back negative. However, this may only be my faith in you because of my love for you, but I think you could handle both a career and being the best mother a child could ask for."
"Oh now you're just flattering me…." Natalya rolled her eyes.
"No, I am not. "Toris said as he held Nataly close. "We will just have to be more careful from now on. "If you do not feel ready, I would not want you to have to choose between a child and your dreams."
"Nor I you." Natalya replied. "I admire your determination and hard work ethic. Maybe someday."
"Someday is good enough for me." Toris said as he pulled her close and kissed her.
"Natalya! Toris!" Ivan said as he headed out the door to let them know that dinner was ready "Am I interrupting something?" He growled, tapping his foot.
"Nothing! Not at all Mr. Ivan sir!" Toris panicked as Natalya rolled her eyes.
"Well Fredka wanted me to tell you that dinner is ready and the twins want you to join us." Ivan said.
"Sure thing." Toris said meekly as he headed into the house.
As Natalya followed Toris, Ivan pulled her aside. "You really must be careful little sister. You don't want to let your feelings get the better of you and have a child before you are ready."
"I can handle myself well big brother." Natalya said. "I am going to marry him anyway, and from how I see him interact with your children, he would be an excellent father."
"Yes but if he is going to medical school and you are going to get your master's then you will both be very busy to look after a child. Fredka and I cannot do it all the time, and it would be too much to ask Katyusha to look after yours while you two do that." Ivan said as they walked into the kitchen where Alfred had bowls of mac and cheese set out with an octopus shaped hot dog on each with a bowl of peas and carrots beside it for everyone.
"I would not dream of asking you or Katyusha to look after any child of mine more than absolutely necessary." Natalya said as she sat down beside Nikita and across from Toris who was sitting beside Dimitri. "Toris and I will have to be more careful in the future." At this Ivan raised his eyebrow in suspicion.
"More careful?" Ivan said.
"Dude, chill out Vanya." Alfred said. "As much as Nattie and I fight like cats and dogs sometimes, we'd be there to help Toris and her out like we did Mattie and Katy."
"Thank you for your kind thoughts but hopefully I will never need to partake in your and my brother's kindness." Natalya said.
"But it would be so cool if you guys were around all the time. We could play so much and you wouldn't ignore me." Nikita said. "I could help you do your homework."
"Same with me and yours Uncle Toris!" Dimitri said as he eagerly ate all his vegetables. "One day I will be as big as Papa if I keep eating these!"
"Well Mr. Allen is a vegetarian and Papa is bigger than him." Nikita sassed as she poked at the peas and carrots.
"Well he's all done growing up and you need more than just veggies while you are young." Ivan sighed. "Eat your peas."
"Do I have to?" Nikita pleaded with Ivan, pouring on the puppy dog eyes.
"Yes you do. Eat all your food and you may get a treat before bed tonight." Ivan ordered.
"What kind of treat?" Nikita asked, gauging if it would be worth eating the gross food in her eyes.
"A surprise." Alfred said as he got up and added more to his bowl.
"What kind of surprise?" Nikita asked.
"If I told you then it wouldn't be a surprise now would it?" Alfred said back. "And I will tell Mr. Allen you didn't eat your veggies. He wouldn't be too happy to hear one of his best lil sluggers isn't listening to her parents."
"Guess not…." Nikita said as she begrudengly ate the peas.
At this Ivan rolled his eyes and turned back to his younger sister. "Do be careful. I will not be so naïve to think that you are Toris are not having sex, but please do be careful."
"I will." Natalya said. You do not know the scare I just had with that.
"Good." Ivan said. "You have big dreams I know you can accomplish. Both of you. You don't want to have to put it all on hold due to one night of careless passion."
I know this big brother…. Natalya bemoaned to herself.
So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I don't know when I will update again, lot of projects, work, and school stuff at the same time but hopefully with work lessening a little in busy I can get some other things knocked out too. But hey you don't want to hear about that. So, remember to read (well you just did) and to review. Ciao for now,
Otherrealmwriter
Aka
Realm.