Christmas season was supremely stressful, Kiku had deduced many times over in the past month, but especially so when you looked like you were smuggling a beach ball under any of the six shirts (four of them slightly tacky sweaters) that actually fit you.
Thus why, on the day before Christmas Eve, he chose to relax at home instead of go out with Heracles to finish errands, due to some pain and pressure in his back - while he'd been feeling it for days, today it was particularly bad. He ended up not being able to get to sleep at all, and instead tended to Pochi-kun's fur, fed the cats, and folded laundry; just a few of the things he had gradually taken to be a part of his role in their new shared household.
He was fully engrossed with Soul Silver when someone knocked at the door - it turned out to be his eldest sister, Vietnam. She came bearing a large shopping bag over her arm and a smile on her wind-nipped face. On her neck was a green knit scarf that looked far too luxurious to be anything of her own wardrobe. Without question, Kiku knew it was a gift from France; why would she wear something he had given her, though?
"Xin chao!" she greeted before he could complete the thought, fluttering over to the couch with so much uncharacteristic cheer that Japan hesitated to call her by his usual 'Kim-chan' at all. He made room for her, though, sitting up as straight as possible with his legs propped up. With a small measure of regret, he put his game away and launched into the typical pleasantries he used with family.
Though when she sat she patted his knee affectionately and dove into the small talk, he could tell instantly; like everyone else, she was completely enthralled with his belly, and that only.
"So... what's it like?" She asked after a while, voice half-hushed. To a young woman who loved family and children more than anything, to see her brother have both was certainly a tough blow. Taking this into account, Kiku just smiled gently, hands resting nearly atop the perfect curve.
"It is certainly ... challenging. Not only on my body but, well, I have never been stared at so much in my life. But ... I would not do anything differently. It is wonderful, even if it comes at a price."
Kim nodded, a small placid smile on her face. Unlike many before her, she didn't ask to feel, nor did she feel for herself. She kept the small questions running, earning an unspoken word of eternal thanks from Japan.
"Do you think you're ready for a baby?"
Kiku frowned a little, resting his head against the couch. It was a question he (and Heracles) had mused over quite often, but had never really drawn a conclusion to. He was sure he could handle the basic responsibilities; changing diapers, making sure the baby didn't die, et cetera. And Heracles would be wonderful with a baby, too, but...
"We will have to see, I suppose. I already take care of the cats, and Pochi ... I do the laundry, and cook, and clean ... Heracles is excited to be a father, as well ..."
"You do all of the work around the house?" Kim asked, a tight little smile on her face. She looked like she was holding back laughter; as to why, Kiku couldn't tell, so he just nodded with a slight scowl.
"What a housewife!" She exclaimed after a moment, dissolving into the laughter that Japan had not heard for ages. Said man's face flushed bright red instantly; yes, he did the housework, and yes, he was having the child, but ... but!
"I - i ... no, Kim-chan! I ... ... I can't just go from a sophisticated, powerful nation ... to a housewife!" He cried in protest, flushing darker as he realized how ridiculous he sounded. His sister just kept laughing until a few minutes later, when she calmed down and finally patted his knee again. The intense scowl he attempted to use as a mask for the embarrassment did nothing but make her smile.
"It's alright, em. You'll be a wonderful housewife and mother. I'm sure Greece agrees, hm?"
Still scowling, biting red, Japan nodded thoughtfully; they kept talking, Vietnam dancing around what she really wanted to say and her brother being glad she managed to keep it inside.
It had been a while since Kiku had spoken with his sister so lightly, and while the sudden change in her mood was a bit disconcerting, he figured it was for her own reasons; he had no reason to pry. He was just happy to see her that way, even was almost glad he'd had a guest, until he heard the shouts from outside the house ... and then ...
"MERRY CHRISTMAS, MOTHERFUCKERS!" someone screamed, bursting in through the door with so much skill and ease, it just had to be America. What was different, and actually startling, was that he led a long line of bag - carrying nations, all of whom were pink-cheeked and laughing. The Christmas cheer that they all radiated was practically visible; Kim seemed suspiciously unsurprised to see them.
Kiku drew immediately into himself, frowning at the crowd that trickled in, unannounced, through his door. He would not be stripped naked this year, thank you.
They were horrible at meetings, horrible at war. Nations only organized themselves and acted adeptly when there was fighting or nudity involved; even then, though, their work was slow and shoddy at best.
So it is no surprise that the speed and efficiency with which they set up Greece's home for a party simply shocked Kiku into staring, slightly slack-jawed.
Messes were tidied; banners, streamers and mistletoe were all hung carefully, drowning the room in a sea of red, green and white. In the absence of a Christmas tree someone had brought a small white fake one and was decorating it with dirty playing cards, tinsel, and plastic food; the four statuettes of naked women on the mantel of Greece's never-used fireplace were given tiny Santa hats.
Japan himself was given such a hat - he took it off immediately and passed it to France, who slipped it on with a wink and a tip of his glass of champagne. Another thing about nations; they never skimp on the alcohol.
Two hours.
It took two hours for the house to be completely trashed and for everyone to get smashed out of their minds.
Kiku was half-surprised that Heracles wasn't one of them; while he didn't look or act it, he was quite the party animal, known for knocking back entire bottles of ouzo without much effect. To his credit, he drank a glass or two, but mostly stayed near his love, rubbing his tummy when he could and defending him from anyone who tried to do the same without permission.
Said love stayed on the couch practically the entire time, getting up only to use the restroom and grab some food. Whenever he walked around everyone in his way parted instantly, as if they were the ocean and Japan, Moses. They all stared.
The baby was kicking particularly hard and resting in a new, strange position, probably woken up and excited by the horrible music America played so loudly. It took quite a bit of Kiku's effort not to curl into a ball and attempt to sleep the feeling off. He figured, though, if this was one of his last social gatherings as a free man, he might as well attempt to ... enjoy it.
Enjoy, perhaps, was not the word for it; not for Japan, at least. Nations were stripping and getting all over each other, were launching out of windows and sliding down the stairs in beanbags on dares, were dancing horribly to Lady GaGa and La Roux. To one whose idea of a good time was an evening buried under the blankets watching Highschool of the Dead, it was just a tad bit stressful (and unnecessary).
However, once the most amorous had left (Kiku waved goodbye to his sister, Vietnam, but she had been too distracted attempting to feign off France's kisses as they left to wave back) and a few others had wandered off to terrorize other nations, Japan deemed it safe to get up and did so. Greece was at his side immediately, humming some song and finishing off a glass of champagne.
"Have a good time?" He asked, slurring his words just a bit. Scowling once again, Kiku pushed his face away and just shrugged.
"It was noisy, and everyone was drunk. I do not see what it has to do with Christmas. However... it was ... nice, I suppose. And you?"
Heracles nodded, eyes lidded; he leaned in to kiss Kiku's cheek softly, tugging him into the doorway as he did so. Glad to have something to lean against, Japan had no idea of the mistletoe above them or the sudden stares they attracted as everyone (still mostly conscious) took notice.
"H-hey! They're under the mistletoe!" Spain shouted, pointing at the pair shakily. Romano was tucked under his arm and Belgium was practically attached to Romano; all three of them were drunk off of spiked eggnog and possibly ready to start going at it at any time.
Still others noticed; Lithuania, dressed as a reindeer, and Poland as Sexy Santa, looked up from their little lovefest and grinned lecherously.
"Yeah! Kiss 'em, dude! Be a maaaaan, Herc!" Alfred taunted from where he leaned against the fireplace mantel. His cheek was still red from Belarus' slap. Apparently, she wasn't ready to 'lose the zero and get with a hero' quite yet.
Shrugging with a kind of 'what can you do?' smile on his face, Greece looked to Japan's face for permission, somehow found it, and leaned in to give him a soft kiss. Though at first he was shocked into near-paralysis, Kiku fought the intense urge to run (first apologizing to everyone for the inexcusable display of affection) and started to kiss back just a little.
The pressure in his lower back was starting to get incredibly uncomfortable, Kiku noted in the back of his mind as Heracles managed to deepen the kiss a bit. His hands floated to the other's forearms; he stood up on tiptoes so Greece wouldn't be uncomfortable, leaning down for so long.
From somewhere in the back of the room someone shouted: "Kiku's gonna go into laaaabor, with you two suckin' face like that!"
As laughter rippled around the room and the two pulled away from one another, the sudden tight expression on Kiku's face was concerning enough for Heracles to lean in again to ask what was wrong. Usually Japan took good care of himself, rarely revealing pain or any weakness. But ... the sudden jolt was rather intense; Kiku pulled away from Heracles, gripping his forearm just a bit.
"H - hera ... I think that ... they might have been right ..."
"STOP HERE!" America screamed, pointing frantically at the hospital entrance. Despite Japan's meek protests, he, Greece, America, Spain, Belgium, Romano, and still others had all crammed into Alfred's giant car for the ride to the hospital. Said ride was absolutely terrifying, considering the fact that it was two in the morning and Greece was actually trying to drive fast.
They got there in record time, though, and with Alfred and Antonio's insistence, everything was set up comfortably and quickly. While Kiku and Heracles stayed in the tiny sterile room, those who had tagged along waited outside.
"Oh God, you guys." America breathed, staring at the others with his wide, sky eyes. "This is so intense."
"Babies~" Spain sang, still swaying and tipsy. The smile on his face was that of pure bliss. "So cute and squishy and wriggly!"
"Make's 'em sound like worms, eh? Little larvae..." Belgium slurred, head dipped below her knees. It was only a matter of time before she either puked or wandered off.
Hungary, soft-eyed, maybe even a little mournful, nodded along. "I want one... Too bad, though. Wonder if it'll be a boy or a girl ~"
"Boy, duh." America said, rolling his eyes. "He's totally gonna be my new best friend. Maybe he'll even be able to catch a baseball, unlike some people..."
(Squished by Spain's weight, Canada let out a meek, unnoticed protest. He wondered why he hadn't gone off with Ukraine for the night after all; maybe it was the hulk of a brother that she had that stopped him. Again. Damn. At least the booty parked on his lap wasn't too unpleasant.)
It's hard to spend seven hours in a hospital with nothing to do but sit and talk and listen to the screams of your friend and the screams of other, strange women. America nearly hyperventilated several times; after wandering just a little too far, Spain was banished to his chair by a blushing but stern young nurse.
Seven hours was all it took and then - they all stood up and cheered and cried and celebrated in every other way as Greece, carrying a blanket-swaddled bundle and obviously holding back emotion himself, stood before them and announced; "I have a son!"