I want to update quickly, because I really want the story to progress, so I'll keep this short ^_^
A few days passed, and I tried my best to get on as best as I could in the situation. It was the day of Donovan's arrival; I hadn't seen him since he left years ago. I'd gone to my classes, because I knew I couldn't miss them if I was going to be sick every day for a few weeks. I did get a few odd looks, but I tried as best I could to ignore them. I avoided Francis completely, because I didn't want to look at what my brothers had inflicted upon him, or have to face him just yet.
I'd started spending a lot more time with Alfred, because although I found the American incredibly annoying, he had been there when I needed him. He noticed me shifting in my seat next to him, in our maths class, in the last lesson. "What's up dude?" I hated that expression. The sky, ceiling, clouds, birds, and many other things were up; therefore, it was not a good way to ask how someone was.
"Oh, it's nothing. Donovan is visiting." I said uncertainly; no doubt my other brothers were just as nervous as I. When he'd left before, he'd been very… explosive about it. It was clear of his opinions, but he'd become a little less reclusive over the years, and although we knew he'd never return, we did know that he didn't hate us anymore. He'd made it very clear that he was angry at the time, and now he was just bitter… like the rest of the world.
"Oh… Who's he?" Alfred asked cluelessly. I had forgotten how ignorant he could be. After explaining about Donovan he stayed silent for a moment before saying "So, you're nervous, because last time you saw him it was when he set off those terrorism attacks? I would be too." He said earnestly.
"No, it's not like that. I just- I don't want things to get worse rather than better. We've only just got things back on track. It's been over ten years since he's done anything; I just don't want things to back the way they were with him. I mean, it's still tense with him, and Seamus has had the worst of it all, but we've finally managed to stop the quarrelling. I'm hoping that my news isn't going to spark anything though…" I tried to explain how complicated things were with my brother, and how none of us were very close. "The thing with me and my brothers is that… well, none of us really like each other. I mean, I'm quite close with Wales, but the others don't talk to him much. Scotland is threatening to leave the United Kingdom, and there isn't anything I can do about it either. I don't know what Seamus is thinking; nor have I ever. Donovan has been troublesome for some time, and all the rest of us want is for the fighting to stop. Seamus often reacts to people though, and will attack if provoked, and that's where the problem lies." I sighed, leaning back on my chair.
"I'm glad I only have Matthew…"he said quietly. I hummed thoughtfully at him.
The bell rung and it was the time of reckoning. I'd made sure everyone knew where to go, even Peter. I was the first to arrive; that was how I hoped it would be when I planned it, and it would give me time to collect myself. I took a few deep breaths looking around the empty classroom that I'd booked especially for the occasion and smiled a little to myself as I took one seat at the round table. I was sat opposite the door, so I would be able to see anyone walk in.
After a few minutes, I saw some curly hair appear around the door, followed by the face of my youngest brother. He smiled sheepishly, and took a seat next to me. "When are the others getting here?" he asked nervously.
"Anytime now." I said, trying to ease both of our nerves. A few moments later, Alistair walked in and sat next to Wales, saying something about Peter sitting on the other side. A few moments later, Peter walked in. He smiled widely; expecting to be greeted like an honoured guest, but his face fell when it was only met by my brothers' half-hearted look of acceptance and my nervous face. As he sat next to me, he was unusually quiet and just stared at the hands in his lap. After another few minutes, Seamus walked in looking paler than usual. It was obvious that he hadn't really spoken to Donovan except over the phone… like the rest of us, except Peter.
"What's all of this about then?" he walked into the room, glaring at all of us. He looked taller than I'd last seen him; his hair was just as fiery as it had always been, and he had the same eyebrows as the rest of us. He looked like an older, frecklier version of Alistair… not that either of them would ever admit it. He took the only seat left at the round table, between Peter and Seamus.
"Well, I have some news for you, but I want all of your opinions upon the matter as to how I am to respond to it." I said formally. Everyone but him knew, but that wasn't the problem. "I am sure you are aware about Francis and my relationship by now, but the circumstances have been altered by a strange change of fate." I continued. I had rehearsed this speech for the past few days, perfecting each word to convey just the correct meaning. "It appears that due to unforeseeable events, I h- have become pregnant." I faltered a little in that sentence, but hastily continued because I didn't want him to voice his opinion until I had explained things properly "When Francis found the test, he had assumed that I had it because I had been sleeping with a girl as well as him, but I had taken the test because Flying Mint Bunny had informed me thusly. It now appears that I am pregnant, but I want your opinions of what I should do from now."
The room fell silent, until he finally spoke "I see… and you want my input?" he said questioningly, raising an eyebrow at me.
"Yes, you are my brother after all, nothing can change that." I said honestly. I smiled at him, trying to show that I forgave him for all that he'd done, and that I should have listened when he'd wanted to leave in the first place. It was a mistake I'd made more than once. "I want your opinions on the matter. I don't even know if I'm in the position to keep it with school and my empire to oversee." I said matter-of-factly.
"Keep it." Donovan said immediately. "You can't kill the baby; it's a gift from god." He was catholic, and believed heavily that preventing life was unforgivable.
"It's your choice…" Dylan had always been content with letting me do as I liked, so long as it wasn't too disruptive to him.
"Keep it; you can't kill something you made." Seamus's opinion was similar to that of Donovan's, but he expressed it differently. I saw a look upon my eldest brother's face that I hadn't seen in years. He looked in approval at Seamus's comment and nodded. This was going better than I ever thought it would.
"It's your choice, Arthur. It's clear what their opinion is, but as much as I disapprove of what you did with the frog, I can't tell you what to do." Alistair was indifferent… that just left Peter. He sat silently for a while, but soon noticed that we were waiting for his input, since he was the only one at the table who had not yet spoken.
"W-well, I think that… you should have it. I won't be the youngest then." He said slowly, as if he was trying to think of a response as he said it. He looked down at his hands after he'd said it. It was so out of character for him to be this quiet, but I could ask him about it after the meeting.
"Ok, so let's assume that I'm keeping it for now. How will I look after the child once it is born?" I asked. I was lost as to what to do, so I was just going to list all of the aspects of having the child and see what they thought upon the matter.
"Considering that you have school, maybe you could put it up for adoption?" Alistair spoke first this time. "I mean, you wouldn't be able to look after it, and none of us have time either." He stated. Everyone remained quiet after this statement, in deep thought.
"Maybe not though, if we worked on it, we could try and get free periods so that we could work in shifts during the day… I don't think we should just get rid of it because it would make things challenging." Seamus argued.
"How would we do it though?" Dylan spoke up.
"I don't know! I just think we should think about it!" Seamus started to get angry at the Scot.
"Stop shouting Seamus." I said formally, trying to restore order. He huffed and deflated his chest a little and relaxed a little.
"What about your homework? What about where the baby would stay? Your room is small, Arthur." Donovan added, levelly. He had a point. It would be hard to get any work done while trying to look after a small child. It would be ok after they'd grown up enough to go to the nursery, but until then it would prove troublesome.
"That's a good point." Said, opening the topic up to the group.
"It would be due just before the summer holidays, so you won't have much to do, and once it's a little older, it would be les work." Seamus reasoned.
"That still doesn't answer the question about his room being too small." Alistair replied.
"He could request a larger room, and explain to the school. It's not like he would be able to hide it from everyone." Seamus was set in his opinion, it seemed.
"He's right there, Arthur. When will you tell the rest of the school?" Dylan asked.
"Well, I was going to leave it until people start suspecting things, as there is no need to tell anyone too hastily. It would only create unnecessary problems." I answered. "Donovan, will you stay here with us? I'm not asking for you to become a part of the Empire, nor the United Kingdom, just to stay around for the child, since you'd be its uncle." I said. I really hoped that if he stayed, we'd get along better, and the relationship between us would be helped by his presence.
"That's asking for a lot, Arthur… I have my own country to govern, as you know." He said reluctantly. "However, I will try. But, I want you to know, the second I don't like something I'm leaving." I smiled. That was as good as a yes for me. Seamus smiled half-heartedly, and Alistair just nodded at him. Dylan smiled, as he'd never really gotten a chance to spend any time with our older brother before he left, and I could tell that he wanted someone to put Alistair and Seamus in their place. I didn't want to tell him that Donovan would probably be the one who ended up in more arguments, but it crossed my mind.
"You would do that?" Seamus spoke up. "I thought you hated us." He said hesitantly. It was a complicated relationship at the best of times.
"Yes. I want to make things better. I won't comply with any rules you or the school set for me, but I guess I should try and help…" I knew how hard this kind of thing was for him to say, as well as how much it would take on his part. I honestly didn't know why he agreed to it, but I was too pleased with what he'd said to let on.
"Will you visit me?" Peter piped up, sensing an opening for him to say something.
"Who are you?" Donovan asked, unamusedly
"I am the Principality of Sealand." He said proudly "I'm going to be recognised, one day." He continued, trying to get my eldest brother to take him seriously.
"I've never heard of it, sorry. You are of no importance to me." He said coldly. Sealand sunk down into his seat after being so out rightly rejected again.
Author's notes:
Wooo! Ok so, for those who are confused. This is based on the idea that the UK is how it is now-ish, my research may not be perfect, so please don't hate on me for that, because I do have millions of other things that I need to do these days… Iggy still has the empire because I said so, even though that does make it a little inaccurate, but I just need it that way for the story to progress.
Sorry that this scene has been a little bland, but it had to happen, and that's why I updated quickly. I needed to get this out of the way, so that things could be explained, and I could develop some more characters.
I know I said there would be a new character in this chapter, but I decided that it would be best if they appeared in the next chapter which I should be able to upload soon ^_^
Thank you for your continued support, and reading this far. Reviews are love, and all review givers will receive cookies ^_^; I have no questions for you this time, but you can ask me anything, and I will respond. Even if you just review to say "Cool chapter" or "I don't hate this story" it is really, really appreciated, and it always makes my day a little better when I get an inbox :DD… I'll stop talking