Dear Readers,
The long awaited Baby Bug continuation! Thank you for all of your reviews!
I own nothing.
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She knew something was off when the smell of England's cologne sent her running out of the meeting. America didn't even make it all the way down the hall before managing to toss the contents of her breakfast.
England must have followed her, because he came out not a moment later, and helped her hold her hair back. America winced internally as some of it landed on his shoes.
"So-sorry," she muttered as another wave of his cologne caught her attention. Her stomach gave a vicious clench and she was back to making the so familiar sounds that most knew from too much drinking.
"Hush now," England said in a placating whisper as he rubbed her back. "It's quite alright. Do not worry about it."
She nodded feeling slightly miserable. England continued to murmur soothing things to her.
"Ugh," she said after vomiting for a minute or two. She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth. Her eyes were watering and her throat stung while the bitter taste of bile filled her mouth. That and regurgitated eggs.
Not a good combination.
She blushed slightly, but it was hard to tell from her already reddened features.
England glanced at her with a concerned expression. "America... are you alright?"
Normally, he would be chastising her for getting sick all over the hall, but it had been unexpected. One moment she was fine and the next this had happened.
"I... I don't know." She answered honestly, The sting of the bile was unpleasant. "I'm going to go get some water. I'll... I'll come back and clean this up." She said with a gesture to the mess.
Just as she finished her statement, China peeked out from behind the doorway. His nose crinkled in distaste as he smelled and saw what had happened.
"Disgusting," he said after a moment. "America are you still alive?"
"Yeah," she said as she nodded, wiping her mouth again.
"Then clean it up and-" He started, but his words trailed off and China looked glanced backward.
America nodded, and gave England a sheepish smile. England pretended to look put out, but there was concern dancing in his gaze.
"I'll be fine," she said quietly with a bright grin. "Stop worrying."
England sighed, and reached for her shoulder.
It was everyone's surprise when Norway practically manifested at America's side. His dull blue eyes stared down the Island nation, who blinked in surprise.
"I'm taking America to the doctor." He said in a monotone manner that nearly seemed bored. However, America felt his hand take hers which hung limply at her side.
England nodded. "Please do. Don't worry about the mess. We will get it taken care of."
"I don't want to see a doctor," she half-pouted. "I'm fine. It must have been something I ate."
The males did not look convinced. China 'humpfed' at the door way. He drew himself up to his full height and walked over toward the star-spangled nation. His brown eyes skimmed over her and looked at Norway briefly.
Everyone remembered his bold statement, and some still even snickered about it. When Norway and America were not around, of course.
"America," He said with a serious tone. "Have you been feeling strange lately?"
She wracked her brain.
"Well, I haven't been all that hungry. My stomach has been a bit queasy, and I ache a little bit." She said with a slight shrug.
"Where?" China asked, still very serious.
America blushed, and looked away. "Uh... I really don't think-"
Norway shifted toward her, and there was a strange light in his eyes that lingered as he gazed at America.
England looked even more concerned.
"Why didn't you say anything? You should go to the doctor. It is not like you to not want to eat."
"Are you saying I'm fat?" She hissed and her demeanor changed like lightening. The male nations took a quick step back, except for Norway who looked unfazed by it.
"What? No-no! I was just-"
"Why are you so mean?" She wailed as she started tearing up. The fury from before appeared long forgotten. She practically buried herself into Norway's chest as she tried not to cry.
England looked horrified. China seemed amused.
"Congratulations America," The Asian nation said with sincerity.
"Are you bloody daft? Something is clearly wrong with her!" England shouted as he pointed to the bawling nation.
"She is fine." China responded sagely.
"How can you say she's fine. She's-"
"Pregnant," Norway finished in a bland tone, as he stood stoically while America sobbed on him. She was getting his shirt wet, but he did not seem to mind.
America stopped crying, and wiped at her red eyes. Behind Texas, her eyes had widened and the sorrow was replaced with sheer unadulterated joy.
"Really?"
Norway shrugged.
"We'll still have to go to the doctor to confirm it." He replied, but there was the barest hints of a smile around the corners of his mouth.
"What are you waiting for?" She asked, suddenly full of energy as she half-dragged Norway down the hall.
That left China and England alone in a vomit-smelling hallway.
"I'm not cleaning that," China informed England pointedly.
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"We did it! Did ya hear?" She said happily as she danced around Norway.
They were going to have a baby!
"Yes, I was there," he said informatively. His dull blue eyes seemed to be just a bit brighter.
America laughed and grabbed his hands.
"I love you!" She told him as she looked into this eyes.
Norway kissed her forehead. His way of telling her the same. He'd said it once, and she seemed content with that.
"You know," she said with a hint of pink dusting her cheeks. "We could always go celebrate."
Norway thought about that, perhaps he could take her to nice meal at a restaurant. However, as she leaned into him to give him a kiss, he understood that going out was not what she had in mind.
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Norway was very fortunate to be a nation blessed with such an astounding 'poker face' as America called it.
Because, as he watched her drink hot sauce like it was Tomato juice, he nearly -very nearly-, made a face. Which would not have been wise considering that America was a tad...hormonal lately.
The governments had become involved, upon hearing the news, and her care was now overseen by a veritable fleet of doctors with high levels of clearance. Norway was also allowed to come frequently to America's country. Norway had insisted on being able to check on her often.
No one had the heart, or the backbone, to tell him otherwise.
"You need to drink more water," he said as she finished chugging the bottle.
America looked up, her bright blue eye sparkled as her morning sickness had gone for the day. It was a misnomer. She could feel sick at any given point. It had taken Norway a while to get used to that part, and half of the other countries were afraid to sit by her at the moment.
That was fine with him.
Norway had taken to physically putting himself in-between other nations that came around and America. Not that he thought anything would actually happen, but he was willing to make sure they didn't try.
He had also taken care of the paper work with the U.N. for when they would both take leave after the birth.
America nodded and reached for the water glass in front of her. Her eyes glanced to the side and she caught sight of the pastries France had brought in. She was pushing away from the table, with water glass in hand.
Without a word, Norway moved to follow her.
She looked over the confectionary treats with something akin to euphoria.
Norway had no idea why she would want something sweet after drinking the hot sauce. Other nations attempted to come closer, but Norway stared at them until America was finished. She started talking with Norway, who nodded and listened.
She did not even seem to notice that he was giving a 'get back' death stare to the other nations. America was blissfully ignorant.
No one said a word.
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America's back was killing her.
She had been, quite happily, anticipating the arrival of her child with Norway for a few months now. No matter what anyone had to say about the rather reserved nation, America freaking adored him. Even with the cute little beret in his hair. Which, she had insisted he keep and not given to their child unless it was a girl.
She was all for Norway being as involved as was nationally possible, but she drew the line at risking their child being beaten up by the micro nations. Not that such an occurrence was likely to happen. America would open up a can of whoop ass on 'em if she caught wind of anything like that.
So would Molossia. The slightly reclusive mirco-nation had taken to following America around to make certain she was alright when Norway wasn't around. He was also well versed in her food cravings. She still insisted that pickles and blueberry salad would be a craze that swept the nation.
And, oh boy, did she have those.
She shifted in her chair, trying to get comfortable but the kiddo was squishing her organs on the inside. Her poor bladder felt like a freaking punching bag, but it was a very small price to pay. She had taken to sitting more as she was growing increasingly tired. However, the doctors -from both countries mind you- insisted that it was perfectly normal.
Even if their child decided that using her lower ribs as a spring board to flip around in there was a good idea. What could she say? It must take after her a little already.
India had been extremely kind to her since her was informed of the pregnancy. He had given her a quick talk about how she was pretty close to 'sacred; right now while she was carrying another life. America really didn't understand what all of that meant, but it sounded really nice so she went with it.
However, some other nations had taken a very cautious approach to the female blonde nation. Ever since she and Norway had gotten together, Norway had turned a little... protective. America didn't mind it one bit. Oddly enough, with her hormones raging like two teenagers going at it, she was more than happy to have the reserved nation constantly around her during the meetings.
And, he did call every day when they were parted. That deeply touched America and she chattered with him for about an hour every day. Though, she had come to discover that he wouldn't hang up. It wasn't that Norway was being strange or unusual. It was just that unless she said 'bye' in a certain tone where it was stretched out for at least eight syllables, he seemed to listen as if she had more to say.
It had taken quite a few phone calls to get that corrected and understood. She chuckled fondly at the memories of misunderstandings and her having to flat out ask if he was going to hang up or not.
A shadow fell across her table, and she beamed at Norway. He looked as he always did, and his face was impassive. No hint of excitement on his face, but America had learned that while he did not let his emotions show on the surface, he did feel very deeply.
It was his dull blue eyes that gave her some inkling as to how he was feeling. They always looked a bit... brighter lately. His gaze narrowed as she shifted in her chair again.
"Is everything alright?" He asked in a calm fashion, without a hint of concern in the words but she knew it was there.
"Yeah, totally dude. Just can't get comfortable." She said with a slight laugh.
Norway nodded.
Canada attempted to pull out his chair and sit next to America.
"Hey dude!" She said happily, as her growing midsection became more obvious. "How have you been?"
"Oh Hello," Canada said easily, a little concerned as to why Norway was staring at him like that. "I'm a doing well. How are you? How is the baby?"
America beamed at him as if he'd just handed her the best subject in the world to talk about.
"Fantastic! We find out the gender soon!" Her voice carried around the meeting room and several heads swiveled in her direction. Interest was prevalent on more than a few faces. Norway glanced between the pair and moved around the table and took his own seat on the other side of the beaming female nation.
"Oh!" She said after a moment and grabbed Norway's hand.
He was becoming used to her invading his personal space. Like he'd invaded hers. She placed his hand on a spot over her belly. The tiny fluttering, like little kicks signaling a growing life, moved across his palm.
America grinned at him, a true happiness radiating from her. Their kid was going to be freaking amazing! Finland had promised to go shopping for baby clothes with her, but kept asking her if Norway would be alright with that.
She didn't see why he wouldn't. Their baby couldn't run around naked! Sometimes other nations were just so funny.
"Canada," she said turning toward her neighbor, "You want to feel?" She asked with a soft smile.
Canada returned the smile with one of his own, and started to reach forward his hand.
"Yes..," he said, but suddenly blanched. "I mean no. no that looks private." He said with a high pitched tone to his words.
America blinked. That was weird. Norway said nothing, but his eyes were firmly fixed on Canada with a blank look on his face.
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As happens with pregnant women, America grew progressively more tired as the meeting wore on.
One moment she was staring at Germany, and the next she was struggling to keep her eyes open. She yawned and laid her head against her arm, which was propped up on the table. It took only a moment or two before she was fast asleep.
However, Norway had been watching and he gently helped move her to a more comfortable position, so that she could lay her head against the table. He made a mental note to go and refill her watcher pitcher in a little while.
It only took a few minutes for Germany to notice America was not paying attention. The blue eyed nation, known for his rigid and strict ways, turned toward her. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of her blonde hair on the table.
"America!" He shouted with thunder in his voice, trying to rouse the female nation.
With the grace of a cat, Norway was up and out of his chair before anyone could say anything.
"America! Verdammit! Wou-"
Norway placed his hand over Germany's mouth and gave him a slight glare. The other male nation froze.
"It is rude," Norway said with an aura that radiated the promise of physical harm. "To wake a pregnant woman while she is sleeping. "
America was still fast asleep, undisturbed by the exchange as several nations lowered their volume in order not to have Norway's wrath turned in their direction. He removed his hand from Germany's mouth and looked at the other male.
"But.. the meeting."
The dull blue eyes flashed. "Can continue as planned, we will just be more quiet." He said matter-of-factly, as he walked back to his seat next to the pregnant nation. He unbuttoned his suit jacket and placed it around her shoulder.
So that she would not catch a chill.
The Nordic nations nearly fell out of their chairs, Denmark did, at the blatant display of affection.
Norway's face remained impassive.