I do not own Hetalia okay? I don't have much else to say so enough of this A/N, on with the fic!

Lovina looked at the ceiling as Felicia slept easily. She didn't know that Lovina was pregnant and would have to act like Alfred's proposal at a banquet tomorrow was surprise. She wanted to head to the guest room and curl up with Alfred and cry. The reality of it all was settling in. She knew what her grandfather was likely to do to him, to make him a part of the fold and have him do whatever dirty work that he needed. And he would be away from me and the little baby... she thought as she placed her hand over her abdomen. Helena had told her that it would not show until the 4th month but it had taken one month for her to just figure it out. She was the only one that she felt could get good advice on. Hopefully I can talk her into keeping Alfred safe...

Meanwhile, Alfred lay in the bed and looked at the ring that Julius had given him. It was a simple gold ring with an opal in the center. Something he would not have imaged the man would give if he was the one marrying today. He had so much money, it was insane and now he was marrying in it and his farm was now in no way could get away from. Things were getting heavy in the city and he knew what Lovina said. The farm was now pretty much Julius's but he also knew that he could not back out of this. He had gotten Lovina pregnant and it was his duty to do what was right and take care of her and the baby. Otherwise, he couldn't bare to think what Julius would do to her, based off of what she had told him when they just sat and talked. Closing his eyes, he tried to recall anything he had imagined on what having a wife and child would be like before he met Lovina. He had thought he might have wanted to marry Alice, but that would mean living in England with her as she had refused to move with him back to America, which because his father was still alive, he didn't object to. He had volunteered to go to the hell that was the trenches after all mainly to get away from the man. But as time went on, she was more annoying to him each day and the disastrous attempt at sex they had made her leave him for some Frenchman he was partially certain he had won her over before she had left him. He closed his eyes to try and get some sleep before the day he would be bound to the Vargas family forever, even if the bond to the family was going to have her last name changed. If there was one thing he was going to insist on was that Lovina take his name as he was going to take care of her. She would be his wife after all. Suddenly, he heard a knock on the door. Grabbing a heavy old bible that Julius had given him to get familiar with Catholism before he would meet the priest, he headed to the door, ready to knock Lovino or anyone else who would mean him harm out. Opening the door, he saw Lovina. "Oh thank god..." He said.

"Who did you think I was?" Lovina asked.

"Your cousin. Someone who wanted to clean my clock..." Alfred said. "Come in." He walked her over to the side of the bed and sat her down. "What's going on?" He could tell she was worried.

"I'm sorry." Lovina said as she hugged him.

"Hey, hey, calm down." Alfred said as he stroked her hair. "I did the deed with you, I'm just as at fault."

Lovina smirked with a despondent laugh. "Yeah...you are..." She said as Alfred looked at her with a knowing smirk. "What?"

"You." He said as he kissed her forehead. "I guess we can be a little more open now."

"I guess." Lovina said. "Besides, I have got to get you used to if you're in the family now."

"Let me guess, taking you back to the farm where we can live and raise the kid without too much more than some guys in the barn after the wedding isn't going to happen?" Alfred laughed, knowing the answer.

"Nope." Lovina said. "Although...I wouldn't mind too much..."

"I thought you thought it smelled and you couldn't cook anything there..." Alfred reminded her.

"Well that's because you have poor stores and stocked hardly anything in there." Lovina said. "You may have to teach me how to grow things but I would make sure you and more importantly our child eat well and proper. Better than what you Americans like."

"You said our child." Alfred laughed.

"Well I wouldn't be pregnant if not for you." Lovina snapped.

"Oh ho ho ho...having regrets? Because we're in for it now." Alfred teased.

"I could take Helena's pills, be sick tomorrow and then dump you off on Felicia." Lovina said.

"You won't." Alfred said looking at Lovina knowingly. She looked at him crossly. "You won't."

"How do you know I won't?" She asked.

"Because you'd have done it as soon as Helena gave them to you." Alfred said. "You're determined. If you knew you didn't want anything to do with me other than a good time, you wouldn't have talked to me about it first."

"Helena told me to tell you before I did anything." Lovina simply replied.

"She's likely been where you were." Alfred said. "She seems smart and if you follow her advice in this whole thing, you'll do well. I mean how old is her kid?"

"He's 4. I babysit him. Just give him some cats, be real of toy and he's happy." Lovina said. "Although I have a feeling that with a father like you, it won't be so easy with our child." She sighed. "Helena took a job in the brothels my grandfather runs after her husband died. He was a sailor on the lakes. One winter a storm came in and he was lost." She explained.

"Ah." Alfred said as he laid her down on the bed and held her close. "I think we need this."

"Indeed..." Lovina sighed as she curled up in his arms, falling asleep. Meanwhile, Alfred was still awake, thinking of just how he was going to handle the proposal tomorrow, in front of all of her family and their close associates. I guess I will just wing it, I mean if I got Julius to give me her hand, to not think I knocked her up, I guess I can deliver a good enough show tomorrow... He thought as he forced himself to go to sleep.

The next evening, Alfred looked at himself in the mirror as he wore the best suit he had at Julius's place. He had been talking with Julius all day who had been in the kitchen supervising his cooks as they prepared the large feast that was to be had. "Don't worry, I haven't told Lovina your plans." He said as Alfred smiled nervously. Ignoring him, he went on. "I was nervous myself when I proposed to my wife. I was a little younger than you are. Worked night and day to afford her the best ring I could and she loved it so. And when she passed, made me swear to pass it to the grandchildren, for the first one to get married. And well, I thought that the boys would have better luck, and Felicia was almost married, I had met that German man she had fallen in love with but alas, he was lost to the war."

"I know..." Alfred said blankly.

"I thought Lovina would never be married how she acts, but I guess love does magic." Julius replied.

"Yeah..." Alfred had agreed before he had left to get changed. He took a shower, enjoying the hot water as long as he could, and used the pomade in his hair much like the first time he had come to the manor. This is my home now. Julius will not let you go back. Not at all. A voice in his head told him. It reminded him of some of the things Lovina had told him she was worried would happen to him now. Part of him also could not shake the idea that somehow Julius knew what had happened. That he knew the truth. He wasn't a total idiot. He had mannerisms like Feliciano sometimes but he was also the one who took the immigrant family from a ruined country to Chicago and grew what started as a small resturaunt to a boss in the south side. However, what mattered most was making sure that Lovina and their child were taken care of well. It was his duty after all. Sighing, he took the ring box and headed downstairs where Lovina was standing in a emerald green dress with black beading and peacock feather in a headband with Felicia wearing a matching blue dress.

"So, what's the big surprise?" Felicia asked.

"You'll see." Alfred said.

"Come on, tell me." Felicia said. "Lovina says she doesn't know but I think she does."

"The surprise is for her." Alfred said. "That's as much as I'll say."

"Poo." Felicia sighed. "That's as much as Grandpa told me too."

"You'll find out soon enough." Lovina scolded as Alfred took her arm and escorted her into the banquet hall. Alfred looked on at the spread, and the smells and smiled. It was wonderful and his stomach growled in anticipation but he didn't feel hungry. Normally he could eat plate after plate of this food but now, he felt he could hardly take a bite. Looking over at Lovina, she looked much the same. He smiled and hugged her close.

"Don't worry, no matter what happens I can handle it. I'll make sure you and the baby are taken care of." Alfred said as Lovina smiled.

"I love you." She whispered kissing him.

"Ah! The lovers! The reason we are here." Julius said, causing everyone to look at them, making Alfred and Lovina jump apart embarrassed. Ignoring this, Julius tapped his wine glass. "I am sure you are all wondering why we are all here. You see, dear Alfred has asked me for something and well, we are here to give it to him. Alfred," He motioned.

Okay...now or never...Alfred thought as he took the box out of his pocket and turned to Lovina. Just pretend her whole family isn't staring at you, just think it's the two of you at the pond at the farm... He told himself. That you aren't getting shotgun married before she starts to show to keep her honor...Closing his eyes, he imagined their relationship if it had progressed properly, that they had built a solid relationship on getting to know each other rather than carnal love accidents. I would have asked her to marry me there, at the pond... He thought as he imagined it, looked into her eyes and began. "Lovina, I cannot stand the idea of being away from you. You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met and you are not like any other girl that I have ever known. You love me for me. You're honest and insightful and not afraid of anything. That's something I love." He took a deep breath, and imagined again it was just them. Lovina Katherina Vargas, will you do the honor of marrying me?"

Lovina blushed, knowing how hard it must have been on him. She felt her family's eyes on her. "Of course." She smiled as she hugged him and he got up and pulled her into a kiss. "I love you Alfred." He then slid her grandmother's ring on her finger.

"I love you my dear Lovina." Alfred said as Julius clapped.

"Very good! Very good!" He smiled as Alfred and Lovina sat down across from each other. "Alfred has asked me for Lovina's hand and wants the wedding done by the end of the month. Enzo agreed to take on the challenge of suiting us up and he and Isabella will handle the girl's dresses." Julius explained as Alfred had a mouthful of spaghetti and he looked up wide-eyed. Lovina sighed at his look. "Let me be the first to welcome you to the family Alfred. I could not be more honored to have my granddaughter marry such a respectable and hard working young man who will do anything that is needed to make sure she and any future children are taken care of." He looked down at Alfred as if he was asking this of him and wanted a reply.

"Of course." Alfred said. "I would make it my duty to make sure Lovina and my children are taken care of. No man can call himself a man if they do not."

"Just what I wanted to hear from you." Julius said, giving Alfred a chill down his spine as he looked over at Lovina who seemed to feel the same. "For now, let's eat up and enjoy."

Alfred swallowed his spaghetti and noticed Lovina poking at her food. He wanted to just run off and elope but he knew that it was not possible because of her station. Well we're getting married now, I have to make sure my wife and child are taken care of.

Julius looked at Alfred and Lovina and smiled. He knew this was his plan coming together. Alfred's farm was soon to be in the family and he had a tie to do whatever he needed him to. Just as I had hoped. He thought sipping his wine.

So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I got Lovina's middle name from The Taming of the Shrew. And if Felicia's middle name comes up I would use Bianca. Anyway, other than that I don't have much else to say but remember to read (well you just did) and review. Ciao for now,

otherrealmwriter

aka

Realm.