XD I've died and gone to heaven~ a heaven filled with Hetalia~ I finally got my season 4 and have watched it twice now! I love Norway and Netherland's voice XD so cool

also ... Prussia speaks normally o.o it was so awesome ...

OHOHOH! I got a twenty five dollar tip the other day! That's amazing, no? I wish luck for that couple ^_^ they were getting a bite to eat before heading to the hospital to have a baby ^_^

anyways, here you go~

Kismet

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Stress and Relief

Daan was the last person Lovino expected to see standing in his room. He was taller than he remembered, but his hair still defied logic. The man was talking to Tessa and Femke. The half-elf turned and grinned, "Hey kid, long time no – whoa!" he began laughed, "You've put on a few pounds since I last saw you! Being queen spoiled you that much?"

Lovino's face heated up in anger and embarrassment, but Femke gasped and slammed her fist into Daan's shoulder, "He's not fat! I told you in a letter seven months ago! I even mentioned it again before you came!"

Daan looked at her, "Told me what? You never mentioned anything like this?"

"I did so! Damn it, Daan, Lovino is pregnant for crying out loud!" she walked over to Lovino and finished walking him to the bed to sit down, "And I got in trouble by mama for your little stunt of running away." she grinned.

Lovino smiled half-heartedly and looked back at Daan, "I don't remember anything like that in any of your letters! You must be joking." he walked over to Lovino, "I can't believe the brat got you pregnant. Way to go, brat two."

Antonio just glared, starting to remember why he chose to have Lovino has his personal servant in the first place.

"Quit being insensitive." Tessa scolded, "How are you feeling, Lovino?"

He shrugged and looked to Antonio. Then he patted the spot beside him. Antonio gave a glare to Daan, but slipped next to his queen and put his arm around his shoulder.

"I'm just a little tired."

Tessa nodded, "It's what you get for running around the castle in your condition. Don't try any stunts like that again or you might get hurt." she handed him a cup of juice, "Now drink up."

Antonio took the cup and sipped it first before handing it to Lovino.

"Greedy brat." Daan remarked. Antonio clenched his fist, "Not greedy if I'm looking out for Lovino! It could have been poisoned!"

"You think my mother would poison someone she sees as her own son?" Daan stood up, taking offense.

Antonio rose to his knees on the bed, "No, I don't. But I didn't think your sister poisoned him either when she delivered the tray that nearly killed him!"

"I should-" Daan started.

"Enough!" Tessa shouted, "Both of you stop this now." her voice returned to a soft, but strict tone, "Your shouting and yelling and fighting is bad for Lovino and the babies."

Antonio looked over at Lovino who had his hands over his ears, his eyes closed and his face scrunched up angrily. "Lovi … I'm so-"

"Lovino, kid, I'm sorry." Daan placed a hand on his shoulder. Lovino looked up was jumped in surprise when Antonio slapped Daan's hand away.

"Don't touch my Lovi!"

"Spoiled little shit! He's my friend!" Daan glared.

Antonio glared back, "I don't give a fuck! Don't touch him again!"

"That tears it, I'm going to kick your ass so fucking hard!"

"I'd like to see you tr-"

"Stop!" Lovino shouted, holding his stomach, trying to settled the wriggling babies, "Both of you get the fuck out now! I don't want to see either of you bastards until you learn to stop yelling in front of my babies! Damn it!" he hissed, getting kicked hard.

"Lovi … I-"

"Go!" Lovino growled angrily. Antonio shot a look of anger at Daan and likewise as both were forced out of the room by Femke, "Mama, I'll be back later. I'm going to make sure they don't rip each other's throats out." Tessa nodded and went to Lovino's side.

"Are they moving?"

Lovino nodded and rubbed his stomach soothingly, "C-can I be left alone for a little bit?"

Tessa nodded and kissed his forehead, "I'll be in the nursery if you need me." he nodded and she left, closing the door behind her.

A light blush crept into Lovino's cheeks as he looked down at his stomach, "Um … this is embarrassing … I know you can hear me in there … so … please settle down. It hurts me when you're upset like this …" he hissed again as one of them kicked, but he continued talking in a soft manner, "I know your papa was being loud, but he was just looking out for me. Um … fuck, why is this so hard?

"I can't wait for you to get here, you know? I have to be truthful … I never wanted children, but I know Antonio did … but … when I first felt you moving …" he smiled, rubbing his belly, "I knew I was complete.

"I wonder if you two will like me. There's not much to like … I don't even know why your papa loves me, but I promise to take good care of you and love you until the day I die and even after, I'll continue to protect you." tears welled up in his eyes, "I'm so scared. I'm trying to put on a brave face for everyone else, but I don't know what to expect or how I'm supposed to care for you. Your papa says that if things get too rough, I can just call in a nursemaid and they will take over and I won't have to lift a finger. I say that's bullshit and that my mother cared for me without any help, while she was pregnant with Feliciano! And Tessa took care of Daan and Femke without much help. She didn't have nursemaids to take care of them! I don't either!

"I can take good care of you … I just … hope I do a good job." he smiled when he realized the babies had settled back down and he was only receiving the occasional stretch from them.

"But like I said … I can't wait for you to get here so I can hold you in my arms. Maybe I'll learn a lullaby and sing to you or something … but I'm not as good at singing as your uncle Feliciano. Grandpa always praised him on his singing and painting. The only thing I was good at was breaking things and dancing. Grandpa always did love him more …" he muttered sadly, "Which is why I'm never going to favorite either of you, so don't bother even thinking that!" he smiled, "I love you both the exact same." he caressed his belly and felt the babies move.

"I hope you both take after your papa … while he's kind of annoying, he's always smiling and always happy. And he's gorgeous, too. I know no matter what you'll be just as beautiful as he is.

"Oh, today is my birthday. I'm seventeen now. I'm getting too old!" he laughed lightly, "I wonder what it's going to feel like watching you grow up … probably a wonderful feeling. I hope you both have full and healthy lives."

He yawned, sleepily, "Ariana, can you get mama, please." the phoenix rose from her perch and flew to the door to tap on it.

"I love you two," Lovino whispered, before Tessa came in, "You need something, Lovino?"

Lovino nodded, "Yeah, I'm sleepy again. I was just letting you know I'm taking a nap."

Tessa nodded, "Sweet dreams, I'll be back around dinner to check on you." he nodded and settled down on the bed to sleep.

True to her words, Tessa came to wake him for his dinner, "Wake up, Lovino." she whispered, setting the tray down on his night stand. He groaned and opened his eyes, "Wh-what?"

"I brought you your dinner," She helped him sit up so he could eat. Tessa made sure he had everything he needed before letting him alone.

He slowly chewed on a piece of bread and looked around the room. Ariana was sleeping soundly and Lovino let out a soft sigh. He was already bored out of his mind.

One of his babies moved and he smiled, "Here I am thinking I'm bored … what do you do all day in there?" the baby kicked, "Besides kicking your mama …" he smiled, "But it must be so boring in there."

Antonio came into the room and smiled, "Ready for a bath, love~?" Lovino pushed his tray to the side and nodded.

The king had Femke run the bath. While she did that, Antonio slipped Lovino's shirt over his head, revealing his chest and large stomach. Antonio smiled, running his hand over the swollen belly, "So beautiful~"

He kissed Lovino softly and walked him to the bathing room. Femke had just finished up, "Okay~ all done~"

"Thank you." Antonio smiled. She left and he knelt before Lovino to untie his pants and slide them off, followed by his underwear. He stood back up and led Lovino to the edge of the bath, where he sat with his legs in the water.

Antonio lathered up the cloth and placed kissed along Lovino's shoulders then washed them, followed by his arms and back. When it came time to wash Lovino's belly, Antonio slipped into the water before him and knelt down. He placed a wet hand to the side of Lovino's belly and leaned forward to press a loving kiss to the swelled flesh.

Lovino blushed and rested his hand on top of his belly and watched Antonio run the sudsy cloth over the large stomach, "I love you so much, Lovi~ I can't tell you enough how much you mean to me, how much this means to me."

The queen blushed again and Antonio took a cup he kept in the bathing room and began rinsing Lovino off. The suds sunk into the water and he smiled, "There all clean, you ready to get out, love~?"

Lovino nodded and Antonio assisted him in standing. The king dried Lovino off and covered him in rose oil, before taking him back to bed, "I love you so much~"

Lovino blushed again, "I love you, too …"

"I love seeing the real you~" Antonio covered Lovino with the blanket and climbed into the bed.

"What do you mean 'real me'?" The Sverran queen glared, crossing his arms as best he could, laying down.

Antonio kissed his cheek, "When we first met, I couldn't stand you … I hate myself for saying that, but it was true. You were so mean and distant, but after while … I began to see glimpses of someone in you I had never met before and when we were on that island … you really let him through, trusting me to help you learn to swim.

"I wanted to see him more and more and when I did, I realized you keep your true self locked away. Somewhere no one could get to and hurt." he placed his hand over Lovino's heart, "I … I don't know how, but I think I broke that lock and you allowed me to see you for who you really are. I love that. I love you. I've even grown to love the you that you keep as an outer shell for everyone else, because I know that's not who you really are."

Lovino's face was a bright red and he was embarrassed by Antonio's words, but he couldn't force himself to look away from those eyes that spoke volumes about the truth and love in those words.

A kiss was shared and Antonio curled up to Lovino, "Good night, my love."

"G-good n-night." Lovino whispered lightly. Sleep came quickly for Antonio, but not so much for Lovino. As usual, he could sleep all day if he wanted to, but as soon as the sun went down, he was wide awake and unable to fall asleep.

Even the babies were asleep because they weren't being very active. He sighed and closed his eyes but his mind wandered to Antonio's words.

A childhood, filled with pain and suffering had led him to become the happiest he'd ever been. He had two children on the way, a loving husband and a lifetime of security. He had a surrogate family that, while they couldn't replace Feliciano, were always there for him whenever he needed something.

He let out a sigh and turned his head to look out the window. He couldn't recall exactly what moment in his life knocked over the first books, causing the rest to fall. Maybe it was the moment he ran away from his owner … or perhaps when he'd knocked over that vase that caused Roderich to sell him … going back even further, it would have been Feliciano dropping his betrothal necklace, but then if 'Horoem' hadn't given it to him, they would have walked passed the alley, because Feli wouldn't have a necklace to drop. They wouldn't have been picked up with the human traffickers. Roderich wouldn't have bought them and he would never had been sold. He wouldn't have run away and ended up found by Antonio.

Lovino cringed thinking he and Feliciano would still be living in their run down grandfather's house, eating three day old pasta and probably be dead due to the dragon invasion. If he ever saw his brother again, he was going to thank him so many times for dropping the necklace, and possibly for falling in love with some random kid he met.

He allowed a small smile to creep onto his lips. If someone had told him, when he was younger, that he would be a queen with a loving husband and two children, he would have laughed and kicked the person's shin.

A laughed escaped him and he let his eyes close again. Who knew that he would finally find some sort of happiness after all his pain? He couldn't help but wonder if Antonio would really have fallen in love with him if he'd met Feliciano, too. It stung to think that even his husband might have chosen Feli over him. He forced away those thoughts and focused on his current happiness. At least he'd found someone, right? Someone to love him and cherish him and treat him like a queen, literally and figuratively.

Antonio rolled over in his sleep and rubbed his cheek and Lovino smiled, reaching over to run his fingers through the back of Antonio's dark curls. As rough as his life had been so far, he was glad this is where that road led.

He closed his eyes and finally fell into a light peaceful sleep.

TBC

~Lady Pyrien