Italy lost the championship, but on the upside Spain won~ I'm so happy for Spain ^_^ but at the same time, my Italian blood is crying out that we lost X'D oh well~
Thank you guys for such wonderful reviews ^_^ I love you all... sooo ... enjoy~
okay, i get asked this a lot and it's getting repetitive XD Feliciano will be in this story but closer to the last few chapters. It will be in the next two years of the twin's birth~
Kimset
Chapter Forty: Through Her Eyes, Unforgiven
Lovino awoke after what felt like a few minutes to Tristán crying. He rolled over, away from Antonio's warmth and sat up to rub his eyes. He reached into the cradle and picked up the crying baby and began bouncing him lightly. When that didn't work, he checked his diaper. The cloth was dirty with something everyone told him was normal and expected after birth and he sighed, taking it off and cleaning him up, before replacing a new diaper on him.
Tristán stopped crying and Lovino put him back in the cradle, but no sooner had his head hit his pillow, Romana began screaming. He quickly picked her up and changed her diaper as well. She fell quiet and he set her back next to her brother.
He laid back down and closed his eyes, listening to the babies' soft whimpers and grunts, before falling back asleep, only to be woken a short time later for some more milk.
This was Lovino's routine through out the night. He was just thankful that neither cried with the other yet.
Lovino awoken with the sun shining through the window and Romana starting to fuss. He sat up and groaned at the pulling in his stomach. He hadn't eaten anything since lunch the day before due to all the excitement, and now he was starving.
He grabbed Romana and checked her clean diaper and then made her some breakfast. She greedily, but cutely, suckled down the milk.
When she finished, he burped her and laid her back down in the cradle. Despite his exhaustion, he was starving and had to go as well. After ordering up breakfast for him and Antonio, he relieved himself and shakily walked back over to the bed to lie down.
Antonio curled up beside him, "Morning, Lovi~"
Lovino smiled and nuzzled into him, "Morning, bastard." the king chuckled lightly and kissed his forehead.
"You look exhausted …"
A glare was sent his way, "You think? I was up all night taking care of the babies."
Antonio looked at him oddly, "You should have woken me up …" no sooner had the words left his mouth, Tristán began whimpering and then crying.
Lovino reflexively rolled over and sat up to pull the crying child from the cradle. Antonio watched as he checked his diaper, then decided it was food he wanted. He made a bottle of milk and placed it to the baby's lips, but Tristán refused it and continued crying.
The queen let out a soft sigh and bounced him in his arms. However, Tristán continued crying.
The Sverran king smiled softly, "You need more sleep. I took the day off, so I'll watch them while you rest."
"Okay, but save my breakfast for me …" Lovino yawned, handing the baby over to Antonio. He let his head hit the pillow and he watched Antonio walk carefully around the room, singing softly to their son, before drifting into a comfortable sleep.
He awoke a short while later to a set of screaming and crying and looked over to see Antonio holding both babies and trying to calm them. A smile crossed Lovino's lips and he pushed out of the bed and crossed the room to his love and children.
Antonio gave him an apologetic look, but Lovino just smiled and grabbed Romana. She was wet, so he shakily walked back to the bed and sat down to change her. His husband was finally able to feed Tristán and calm him down.
"I'm sorry I woke you …"Antonio laughed, sitting down with Tristán in his arms.
Lovino shrugged it off, "I don't really care. They needed me." he ran a hand over his daughter's soft brown locks. She kicked her legs beneath her swaddling cloth. Lovino got lost staring at her face. He couldn't believe they were finally out and right there. He gently took one of her small hands and ran his thumb over the tiny fingers.
"They're beautiful … just like you." Antonio smiled, taking the bottle from Tristán's mouth and set him on his shoulder to be burped.
Lovino's stomach let loose an angry torrent of growls and he blushed from embarrassment. His husband laughed, "I set your tray on your nightstand."
He looked over and saw the food, "Thanks …" Romana was put back in her cradle and he grabbed the food and wolfed it down, knowing it would cause him stomach pains later. He didn't care. He was just glad to have food in his belly.
Antonio laid Tristán back down next to his sister and sat behind Lovino to lean on him and hold him around his waist, "Are you going to be fine with them for a few minutes. There's something I have to do today."
Lovino shot him an angry glare, "They were just born! What's more important than your children?"
The king frowned, "I'll be right back! I hate missing a moment, but I really have to go. Jut for a bit!" Lovino crossed his arms, "Fine, bastard. Just go. But you'd better hurry back or else I'll kick your ass!"
Antonio smiled, "Thank you, my love!" he kissed Lovino's cheek, because that was all he could manage with Lovino turning away angrily. The man slipped off the bed and dressed himself before heading out.
He walked slowly down the halls, already missing Lovino and the twins. He steadied his breath and knocked on the large door before him. A guard was stationed close by.
"Come in." a bitter voice sounded from inside.
Antonio grabbed the handle and pushed open the door, the guard close behind him. Mixed feelings filled him when he spotted the older woman sitting at a vanity brushing her long brown locks.
He loved her, since she was his mother, but this woman had almost killed his beloved twice and even his children had been put in danger. Her piercing green eyes met his, "Oh? The king has come to pay me a visit? I'm so lucky."
"Ahahaha~!" he laughed lightly, the battle raging inside him. The king wanted to hug the woman who had brought him into the world … because after what Lovi went through … it couldn't have been easy, but he also wanted to break her neck because thinking of her and Lovi at the same time brought up memories of the current queen lying on the ground dying.
"In case your really are that stupid, I was being sarcastic." she set her brush down, "Why are you here? Come to rub it in my face that I'm forever trapped in this room watching my son ruin the kingdom with Illonian filth beside him?"
Antonio took a deep breath, trying not to take the insult to heart, "No … I came to tell you that Lovi had the babies last night. Twins … a boy and a girl." he watched her eyes carefully for emotion, "We named the eldest Tristán … after father and the younger one Romana for Lovi's mother. They are so cute~!"
Isabella turned to him, "So he actually gave birth to twins?" he smiled lightly, seeing the happiness slowly returning.
Antonio nodded, "Yes. I … I was wondering … if you're willing to be civil with my husband … I'll let you see them … th-they are your grandchildren …" his eyes hardened, "But you can only see. I don't trust you anymore than I have to. If you try anything, if you step one foot out of line and try and hurt Lovi or the babies, I'll kill you with my bare hands, mother or not." his voice was cold.
The former queen nodded and rose from her seat. The guard took his place behind her to watch her carefully.
"Son … my little Antonio … I won't apologize for the things I've done. I did them for the betterment of the kingdom and country." he shot her a dark glare, which she glared back, "I didn't want to see Illonian trash on the throne, especially such garbage that couldn't give you an heir. I wanted the kingdom to flourish with the Carriedo name." Antonio clenched his fists.
"Watch your tongue mother. You're speaking about your queen."
"I will say as I please." she snapped, "As I was saying, I wanted the Carriedo name to keep this kingdom well, as we have been doing for generations. It seems Lovino," she grimaced using the name, "has done exceptionally well in allowing that. I still hate him. He is disgusting Illonian filth and will be so until the day he dies. But there is a Carriedo heir, born to you and I have nothing more to say on that matter."
Antonio thought over her words, "So you won't be trying to kill Lovi anymore?"
She nodded, "I have no reason to anymore. Your son will sit on the throne. Maybe he'll fix whatever damage Lovino will do."
"Lovi is doing a wonderful job as queen … the people love him … because he understands what they go through daily." he sighed.
Isabella said nothing.
"It's stupid of me … and Lovi will be so angry and upset … but I'm letting you off the hook. You're allowed to leave your room … but only if you have two guards watching you at all times. You are not allowed anywhere near the babies or Lovi without my supervision."
"Your too kind." she growled, however she was glad she wouldn't be trapped in the room all the time.
"And don't bother bribing anyone to do anything for you. If Lovi ends up sick again, I'll know it was you. You will die for it."
Isabella rolled her eyes, "I get it, Antonio."
He stopped in front of his bedroom door and bit his lip painfully. Now all he had to do was convince Lovi to agree to let her see the babies. That was going to be extremely hard. Lovi wasn't letting the babies out of his sight and it would be difficult convincing him to let her in the room.
"Wait here. Lovi doesn't know I'm letting you see them and I'm sure he's not going to happy about it." she nodded as he slipped inside.
Lovi was sitting on the bed, cradling the twins in either arm. He looked up and smiled warmly, "Look. Daddy's back." Antonio felt his heart skip a beat in joy. He loved seeing Lovi so happy and warm … and to think he was about to ruin that.
"L-Lovi? I have a small favor to ask of you … and you're not going to like it …" Lovi's warm eyes turned to ice.
"What favor and why won't I like it?" he looked at the babies protectively, "If you're thinking of taking them anywhere without me, you're sorely mistaken. I will kick your ass, even in my weakened state before I let anyone take them away from me!"
"No, no, no! I'm not taking them out! But … they have a visitor …"
Lovi looked at him weirdly, "Who?"
"My mother."
A dark, thundering anger spilled over Lovi and he glared the most murderous look he could muster, "Get out! I don't want to see you at all! Ever! How could you even consider letting her near them? She tried to kill me! Twice!"
Antonio looked at him sadly, having expected this, "Please, Lovi … I already told her she's not allowed to touch them or you. The guards will be right here … she just wants to see them. They are her grandchildren …"
Lovi was seething, "I hate you. If she tries anything, anything, I will personally see to it you die a slow and agonizing death." he looked down at the babies.
The king nodded, "Thank you, Lovi!"
"Whatever. They aren't leaving my sight, bastard!" he set them down on the bed between his legs and watched the two of them squirm. His heart raced and he opened the beside table and pulled out his dragon handle dagger, tucking in under him. He would be ready if she tried anything. The door opened and Isabella walked in behind Antonio. The guards were at her sides.
Lovino protectively placed and hand on Tristán's exposed hand. The former queen's eyes fell on the babies and she looked taken aback.
Isabella looked down at her grandchildren and bit her lip. "They look so much like you, Antonio …" she whispered. She took a step closer, but Antonio stuck his arm in front of her and shot her a warning glance while Lovino hunched over them slightly, also glaring her way.
Her lips formed a tight line. Antonio had warned her that neither would trust her with anything. She thought she could contain herself, but even she wanted to hold one of them. It was too much to ask of them. The babies squirmed and she smiled fondly, remembering when Rosana was born. Her first child had been so precious to her that she, too, had huddled closely to the baby, making sure she had everything she wanted and needed.
Then Antonio was born … maybe she hadn't given him enough attention … maybe she should have continued giving Rosana the same attention … then perhaps her children would not have fallen from grace and married so lowly.
It's honestly not that she cared that they married low. Rosana was happy and that's all that mattered. It was that Antonio had married an Illonian. She would never tell anyone, nor did she want to, but there was a dark reason she hated Illonia and all of its inhabitants.
Every time she looked at Lovino or heard of him, she was painfully reminded of those terrible years of her past. Being the age of fourteen, and a young Sverran noble, she was constantly the target of courting men, all waiting for her to come of marrying age.
However, like her children, she had a rebellious streak. She wanted nothing more than to escape the horrors of marrying some man she didn't love. To some, her story, on the outside, was considered a romantic love story, but to her it was a dark tale that the late king Tristán had saved her from.
If she could go back and change herself, she would. She would warn herself not to fall for that young Illonian man. He seemed so nice … so loving … he offered her dreams of traveling the world and finally getting her away from her old life. Oh how she wished she hadn't listened.
It was a cold fall evening when her, much too old for her, suitor came knocking on her balcony window. She packed up her things and left with him. Things went from peaceful meadow to dark, nightmarish swamp. He turned cold and mean and rude. She was never allowed to leave his sight … and then he raped her. Repeatedly.
When she turned sixteen, she conceived a child. She had been overjoyed to finally have a ray of sun in her dark life, but he wouldn't let her even have that.
She remembered well the nights of sobbing over the loss of her first born. The Illonian became worse after that, beating her until she couldn't stand or see.
On the day of her seventeenth birthday … the crowned prince of Sverran found her. She had managed to escape, but only just. Isabella stumbled through the wilderness, just hoping she could die, when she stumbled into his camp.
He'd looked up at her and that was all she remembered until she awoke days later in his tent. He and his servants had cared for her and brought her back to health. When asked her story she broke down and sobbed and told him everything and only then he realized he knew her.
"Wait! Isabella Carmen?" he laughed, "I know you! Your parents reported you missing a little over two years ago …" his face fell, "That's terrible … you've had it so rough …"
Isabella looked at him. Her tears streaming still.
"Even I know your life is over now that you're impure …" he leaned back against a crate of food, "I know! I'll marry you!"
"Wh-what?" she asked, incredulously. How could the crowned prince of Sverran, of all people, want to marry someone like her. She was touched … impure … she was worth nothing anymore.
"I'll marry you!" he smiled, "We'll tell everyone that I rescued you from a band of pirates or something like that. I'm the only one who knows your real story, so it's perfect! You won't even have to do anything … well … besides the queen's duties, of course, but it's perfect!"
Tristán had always been so happy and willing to give anything to everyone. She'd grown to love him, though it wasn't until long after Antonio was born. Of course, she had mourned his loss, for he had given her a new life. Part of her was incredibly happy Antonio was like him, but it also made her wonder why he chose to marry Lovino. Was it really for love?
She sighed, "They are beautiful. You've done well, Antonio. I'd like to go back to my room now."
He nodded and she left.
Lovino had seen the dark mixture of sadness and anger in her eyes. He glared at Antonio before turning his attention back to the babies, one of which was about to start fussing. He unwrapped her swaddling cloth, "In their room, in the top drawer is a bunch of socks mama made. Grab two pairs. Second drawer down are some clothes. Grab the small white dresses and the white pants to match."
Antonio nodded and ran off to do as he had been asked, not wanting to push Lovino any further than he had.
When he brought the clothes back he watched as Lovino changed Romana's diaper and slipped the tiny fluffy short pants on her bottom. They only covered the diaper. Then he carefully slipped the white dress over her head and onto her arms.
"Re-swaddle her." Lovino picked her up from her spot in front of him and moved her to Antonio's side of the bed. He then turned to take off Tristán's blanket and dressed him in his long pants and dress.
The king looked down at his baby girl and smiled, sitting on the bed in front of her. He took her hands into each of his and pulled them together and pressed a soft kiss to her fingers. He sighed and wrapped her up in her swaddling.
"A-are you mad at me?" Antonio asked, picking up Romana.
Lovino didn't answer. He just tucked the side of the blanket under their son's body and wrapped the bottom up and the other side over.
"Lovi~?"
The queen picked up the baby and tucked him in his arm.
"Are you go-"
"No! Bastard, I'm not mad at you!" Lovino hissed, "I'm upset that you didn't ask me before she showed up … but I'm not mad. She doesn't look like she wants to hurt them, and as long as she doesn't hurt them, I'll be fine, but I thought we were a partnership!" Lovino felt a dark feeling settling into him, "I thought you loved me enough to tell me things before they happened … didn't you learn anything the last time you hid something from me?"
Antonio felt the words pierce him like a cold dagger "I did! I … I just wanted … please don't leave again! I can't handle it if you left me again …" he looked at Lovino with sadness and pain in his eyes, "I love you and I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"
"I'm not going to leave you, bastard." Lovino sighed, turning his head away, "Next time you decide to go crazy and bring a woman who tried to kill me into the room, tell me first so I'm prepared." he pulled the dagger from under his thigh and pushed it back into his drawer.
Antonio's eyes widened, but he nodded, picking up Romana to put her in the cradle now that she was asleep. He turned and took Tristán from Lovino's arms and put him next to Romana.
"I'm sorry, love … I promise I'll tell you everything from now on." he pressed a soft, tentative kiss to Lovino's cheek. When Lovino neither reacted nor pushed him away, he kissed him again, this time closer to his lips.
Once again Lovino just glared into space, until Antonio kissed him deeply on the lips, pulling Lovino against his chest. The queen moaned softly and gripped his shirt, trying to coax Antonio's tongue from his mouth. The Sverran king complied quickly and leaned forward, crawling onto the bed above his queen.
Lovino leaned back, bringing Antonio further down and on top of him. He moaned softly when Antonio's mouth began to wander down his jaw and to his neck. He gripped Antonio's shirt when the older man nipped Lovino's skin.
Antonio's hand began to wander, as well, and slid up Lovino's shirt, surprised to find Lovino was already wearing nothing underneath.
"Wha-"
"Shut up, bastard … they had to strip my lower half to cut the babies out and I've been to unstable to go get dressed …" Lovino blushed.
A gasp followed soon after when Antonio didn't reply, but instead wrapped his fingers around Lovino's member and began stroking. He grinned, feeling Lovino grow more excited with each stroke.
He returned his lips to the younger man's neck and relished in the gasps and soft moans. Antonio understood why he was being quieter than usual, but he wished to hear the loud moans his love usually gave off.
Lovino spread his legs a little further, hoping to entice Antonio to forget the foreplay and skip right to the fun part. The king took the bait and took his hand away from Lovino's throbbing member and lifted his hand to Lovino's mouth, "Suck."
The queen opened his mouth and took the digits in and began coating Antonio's fingers well with his saliva. It wasn't the first time they had done anything without the oils, and it usually irritated Lovino when Antonio tried it, but it was good when the two were excited and were in a pinch.
Antonio pulled his fingers away and lowered them to his love's entrance. Lovino looked into his eyes, his cheeks stained red, and chewed his lower lip, expectantly. The king grinned and pushed all three into Lovino, aiming for his spot.
Lovino bit his lip, refusing to moan loudly. His fingers dug into the fabric of Antonio's shirt as Antonio coated his entrance.
The older man pulled away to untie the string of his pants and pull them down, revealing his own excitement. Lovino panted softly in anticipation.
Antonio climbed back on top of Lovino and kissed him passionately. He positioned himself and prepared to thrust in, but they were interrupted but the piercing cry of Tristán.
Lovino jumped up and pushed passed Antonio to lift the crying child from the cradle. The queen bounced the baby lightly and looked at Antonio, "Put that thing away."
"But … Lovi …" his voice was strained, already feeling sexual deprivation Lovino was forcing on him, "Can't we just let Femke or Tessa care for him for a minute? Please?" the look he received made him cringe and he tucked himself away, uncomfortably.
Lovino checked Tristán's diaper and changed it, then fed the child, before burping him. By the time he was done, Lovino was complaining about being starved.
Antonio sighed and went to order food for their lunch.
Tristán was calmed and put back down to sleep. Lovino groaned. He hadn't wanted to stop, but his children's needs came before his sexual needs. Maybe he would try again after lunch?
Unfortunately, that wasn't possible. After the meal, Romana cried, which woke her brother and Tristán was crying to cry. Romana finally calmed down, but Tristán couldn't be consoled. Lovino was beginning to feel better on his feet and Ray came to visit him and check how he was doing.
Tristán was consoled and put back in his cradle, but Lovino was exhausted and used the advantage of his children being asleep to sleep himself.
Antonio climbed into bed beside his love and smiled, kissing his head. Lovi was such a good mother already. The king honestly wondered why Lovi had been so hard on himself before they had been born. He was going to do better than fine.
TBC
~Lady Pyrien