Gakuen Hetalia! ~Romance Edition~

Title: Gakuen Hetalia! ~Love Edition~
Author: TheLadyGrey + Frau's Bug
Rating: M
Anime: Hetalia! Axis Powers
Genre: Romance/Humour/Drama/AU
Summary: Its the summer of their youth. Two girls will find themselves. In the heat of their growth two boys will become two men. A tale of romance, humor, tragedy and...sex?! Gakuen Hetalia! Romance Edition.

Chapter IX: Necessity

{{{{{{{{{{Two month Time skip}}}}}}}}}

Alice was becoming impatient. She often snapped at Alfred when he commented on the child creeping steadily past the due date, saying that he was just like his father: lazy! She was wary, wondering just how long the brat would take before deciding that it was time to get on with it. She rubbed her swollen abdomen and observed her test-taking students, glancing at the clock. Almost lunchtime. Perfect. She'd get Alfred to fetch her something from the coffee shop down the way (since, for some reason she inwardly loathed, the child seemed quite fond of cappuccino and enormous muffins).

Feliciana was just finishing her test, smiling and flipping over the thick pamphlet of papers, straightening up, Mateline following suite, and fiddling with her uniform ribbon, which Francis had tied that morning into a fancy heart-shaped knot. She obviously thanked the man with a good-morning kiss, however that was cut short be an anxious Alfred who told them no kissing that early. Mateline pouted at her brother, before looking at an impatient Alice, tilting her head. The woman looked like she was...

Very uncomfortable.

Alice noticed a strange feeling between her legs and jolted as the lunch bell rang. "Leave your papers on my desk and get out of my hair," she called, standing behind the oak desk and watching the children file out.

Mateline approached the woman, as did Feliciana, both looking worried, yet the pink aura of wishful motherhood hanging over them. 'Are you ok Alicia~?' asked Feliciana softly, while Mateline gasped. 'Oh! Your water burst!!' cried out the Canadian in shock. Feliciana gasped. 'Ah! Ah!! Ludovigo!!' cried out Feliciana running out of the classroom.


Alice looked down, and was a little surprised at how calm she felt. Maybe because she couldn't see the dark spot on her slacks because of her stomach. "Oh." Maybe calm wasn't the right word. Disoriented sounded better and she had to grab onto the back of her chair for support.

Mateline guided her to sit down, worrying. 'Quick, start breathing like you've been practicing' whispered the girl, shakily, skin white. Feliciana ran into the room with Ludwig, looking calmed down. 'We went tot tell--' before the girl could even finish her sentence, Alfred rushed into the room.

'Iggy baby! Oh God, come on, I have to get you to the hospital, oh god!' cried out Alfred, who was pushed back by a shaky Mateline. 'Screaming and panicking doesn't help big brother' she snapped, before smiling at the man. 'Look, calm down and breath too. We'll all help' she said softly, turning to Alice. 'I'll go get a wheel chair' she said tenderly, rushing out.

Alice placed two hands on her stomach, glancing up at her husband. "She's right. Man up, Jones, I'll need you for this." She began breathing in and out evenly, rubbing her belly in circles, feeling a pressure building and slowly becoming uncomfortable. "What're you staring at?" she nearly snapped, eyes darting between the three. Ludwig cleared his throat and reached for his cell phone.

"I'll call the hospital to let them know you're coming," he said, turning away.

Feliciana jumped and walked towards Alice's desk, fixing her desk paper nervously. Alfred knelt in front of the woman kissing her stomach, jumping up when Mateline came with Francis, who was pushing the wheelchair. 'Alright, are you ready Alfred?' she asked nervously, approaching her brother and hugging him. 'Y-Yeah' he answered, picking up Alice and placing her gently on the wheel chair.

She knew that the contractions would come soon and looked up at Francis. "Please hurry," she said, rather dying than being seen screaming in pain in front of the entire school. He looked back at her chalk-white face and decided that this was not the time to make her miserable. "Oui, Ms. Eyebrows," he said, quickly rolling her from the room.

'Feliciana, Ludwig, please take care of everything' she told the couple, tugging Alfred to follow her nervously, following Francis and smiling at Alice. 'Everything will be over soon big sister' she said, voice cracking.

Alice clenched her teeth as a wave of agony ripped through her core and  she gripped the arm of the wheelchair dangerously tight. But she kept her scream locked deep in her larynx, ignoring the knowing looks students were giving her left and right (the ones having just taken the test scuttling to get out of her range of vision just in case). Francis pushed her from the academy, only coming to a stop beside Alfred's beloved SUV.

Alfred opened the door to his SUV and slipped Alice in, climbing after her. 'Francis, you'll have to drive us' he told the other blond, and Mateline was fast enough to fish out her keys from her brothers pockets, handing them to Francis.

Alice came down from the agony and quivered, latching onto Alfred's hand, breathing deeply. Francis slid fluidly into the driver's seat, peeling out of the staff parking lot like a professional.

Mateline looked over at the other, having scrambled into the car and swallowed. 'B-Be careful' she said in a small voice, shaking a little. Alfred dragged himself over to Alice and kissed the woman whispering sweet nothings to her and promising to buy her the best tea he could find and all the biscuits and eat all her food.

Alice knew she needed to save her energy for this milestone in her life and merely nodded silently, laying her head on Alfred's shoulder and murmuring at him to buckle up, he had too many responsibilities now to go flying out the windshield.

Alfred did as she told him, jumping out the car the moment they parked into the parking lot, pulling out the wheel chair and lifting Alice into again, while Mateline made sure to take off Alice's tie, coat, and hat. 'Big sister, I won't be in there, but please try your best for me?' she begged the woman smiling as they walked into the hospital.

Alice smiled wanly before her face contorted into an image of  excruciating pain and she grit her teeth, breaths ragged. Francis walked alongside Mateline, watching his longtime rival bite back angry yells and nearly laughed at the irony of it; now that she was allowed, even expected to scream, it was the one time she decided to control herself.

Alfred sighed in relief as the nurses came to take Alice, following them into the ER room. Mateline filled out some information, handing them to the receptionist nurse and sitting down on one of the plastic seats. 'Oh...oh Francis...' she stammered biting at her thumbnail.

Francis took the abused hand from her mouth and slid his fingers between hers, squeezing her hand comfortingly. "What are you worried about, cher?"

'W-Will Alice be ok? She looked like she was in pain, and the baby, and-and...I'm just so nervous' whispered Mateline, tangling her other hand with his, scooting close and tucking her head under his chin. 'Big sister is going to be ok, right?'

Francis smoothed her soft hair, smiling and wincing at the sound of Alice's angry, pained shriek permeating the thick hospital doors. "Don't underestimate her," he said after a moment, where even the nurses stared at the door in silent terror. "Anyone who can scream like that can live through anything. She's more angry than hurt." He kissed her brow. "And that baby is a combination of your monstrously strong, dense brother and his ferocious, resilient wife. Genetically speaking, the child will be invincible."

'T-That's true...' she whispered, relaxing against him more. Finally calming down and pulling away to give him a sweet smile. 'Ah...Thank you Francis' she told him kissing him delicately. 'I'm so glad you're he---' another scream broke through, making her giggle. 'Glad you're here'

Francis returned her smile. "Certainly. Any time your brother decides to multiply, I'll be happy to sit with you." He sighed. "It's a wonderful thing to know that our student council president is responsible enough to get someone to cover for my classes. As well as your brother's and the harpy's."

'Ludwig is very level headed, until Feliciana displays any remote romantic gesture towards him. Then he becomes so flustered, it's adorable' she giggled softly, pecking Francis again. 'I'm a little....frustrated with big brother though' she admitted to him softly.

"Are you?" he hummed, smiling as he heard a metallic clang against the wall, watching the nurse scuttle from the room as quick as her poor little legs could carry her, Alfred's nervous tone wafting out into the hall after her.

'Yes. Big brother is so overprotective and won't even let you make out with me' she keened softly, whispering into his ear. 'Je veux plus que des baisers bébé. Je veux que vous me baiser comme un amant' she whispered softly, licking the shell of his ear. 'I'm that frustrated' she murmured flushing.

Francis' fingers tightened around her hand, doing his best not to get turned on in the middle of a delivery waiting room while women and babies alike were yelling and crying all around. "J'ai promis votre frère..." he replied quietly, watching a doctor stride by to enter a room a few yards away. "Je peux seulement vous embrasser," he said, sliding his lips along hers.

'Francis, S'il vous plaît' she whispered, practically begged. 'Je ne suis pas un bébé. Je suis une femme. J'ai besoin ...' her lips brushed against his Adam's apple as she shivered. 'Faire place se ne suffit plus.'

"J'adore votre rapidité," he chuckled, looking up and noticing one of the nurses eying them suspiciously. He smiled apologetically and touched Mateline's shoulder. "Silly girl, there is a time and place for such things. This is neither."

Mateline blushed a little, but not before turning around and giving the nurse a horrifying stare, turning around to kiss Francis softly. 'I'm sorry. It's just, I guess I want our relationship to go to the next level. This is the only time I've been able to privately discuss it with you' she told him, giving him a sweet kiss.

He smiled and nodded. "I feel the same way. But what you're asking for will do neither of us any good for now. If I can't keep this promise to your brother, how will he ever trust me with you? And how will you know I can keep my promises if I fall under pressure?" Francis kissed her chastely. "You see?"

'Well, I suppose' she answered smiling. She looked up as another nurse approached them, telling the couple that it would be a while before Alice would actually go to give birth. Mateline nodded and nervously pulled out a bag of cookies that Francis had given to her that morning and nibbling on one. 'Mmm..these are good'


"Of course they are," Francis said, tying his hair back casually. "I put my heart and soul into making them for you." He smiled and stood to kneel before her. "Hold still," Francis instructed, dividing her hair down the middle over her shoulders, taking one side and began to masterfully French braid the soft strands.

Mateline sat still, nibbling into the cookies, smiling once Francis was done with her hair. 'Thank you.' she told him, giving the man a soft kiss on his cheek. 'You're really talented, I'm so lucky' she said softly, smiling a loving smile towards the older French male.

Francis smirked and stood, regarding his masterpiece with adoration. "I'm not the only one," he countered, seating himself elegantly at her side.

Meanwhile, Alice's contractions were still an excruciating four minutes apart, and she felt like ripping someone apart for it. Unfortunately for Alfred, he was the only one in the room with her.

'Iggy please calm down!' begged Alfred, not liking how his wife was looking at him and recoiling his hand away from her in an attempt to shield himself from her wicked green eyes. 'I know technically this is my fault, but you weren't against it either!!' he whimpered out, blue eyes tearing up.

She snatched his tie to prevent his escape and yanked him closer until they were eye to eye. Her voice oozed from her tongue in the most evil tone she'd ever thought capable. " Jones, so help me, if you say one more word, I'll --" And at that moment, another contraction gave and she gasped, the pain rippling through her and it was all she could do not to kill her husband.

Alfred sobbed a little as he was practically strangled by his adorable and sexy wife, hands reaching to touch her swollen to capacity stomach, trying to ease her pain. 'I'm sorry Iggy, I love you, god, please!' he begged her continuing to try and soothe the currently savage woman so that she wouldn't hurt him in any way.

She agonized for a moment or two before the pain began to lessen. She was tense, which only made it worse, but she couldn't help it; it was too painful. She's forgone the epidural for her baby's sake, but at this point she was reconsidering. The exhaustion and aching and pain brought on the tears, and she glared at him through misty eyes. "I h-hate you," she choked out miserably.

'Oh...baby' Alfred forgot his fear, reaching to brush away her tears, kissing the woman softly, brushing her sweaty brow and smiling a shaky smile. 'Iggy baby, when this is all over, let's take a vacation, I'll pamper you and the baby to death' he promised the woman, kissing her tears away.

She felt her voice get caught in her throat and leaned her cheek into his hand, feeling comforted by the coolness of his palm against her hot face. "Alfred," she said in a small voice, "it hurts so badly." Alice sniffled, allowing the tears to run freely down her face; it seemed as though the faucet had been turned on full power as soon as the other had touched her so tenderly. "I'm scared," she confessed in a whisper, wincing as the dull pressure before another wave formed inside of her.

'Oh baby, Alice, Iggy' he whispered licking her tears away. 'It's fine, I'm scared too' he admitted before grinning shakily at her and softly kissing her. 'It's ok, we can do this together baby. I know it hurts now Iggy, oh God, it hurts me that it hurts you. But we have to be strong. That's our baby there' he told the woman lovingly, gazing into her eyes. 'Oh baby, even now, you're so sexy. I'm gonna protect you forever, you and our baby' he promised the woman trying to ease her.

She gripped his shirt tightly in her fists, her eyes shut tight, brow knit in concentration, her mouth a thin, white line. After a few moments she opened her eyes, panting. Her face almost softened with relief. "They're shorter," she said, her lips trembling. "The contractions are shorter. It's coming, Alfred."

Alfred kissed her, deeply and lovingly before pulling away, calling the nurse and telling her that Alice ready, racing back to his wife's side and letting her grip his hand. 'Iggy baby, I love you' he told her, watching the doctor pleasantly greet her and help her assume position, before egging her to push.

Alice did as she was told, perhaps not because she was told, but she was ready to get that brat out of her as soon as possible. She cried out as the agonizing pain wrenched her from her senses, face red and drenched in her own sweat and tears, gripping Alfred's hand with her own slender one and yelled. She yelled at Alfred, swearing at an intensity that would make a sailor blush. She yelled at the child taking it's own sweet time leaving her body. She yelled at Francis down the hall just for the heck of it.She did, however, have the decency to leave the doctor out of the mess.

Alfred was smiling, though there were tears falling down his eyes. Thank goodness Mateline was not involved in the list of vulgarities that Alice had screamed at the world in general. 'Oh! The head's popping out!' said the doctor joyously, helping his patient and smiling once the body came out, sticking his finger into the babies mouth as he washed the child off its fluids, and cut the umbilical cord, clearing her mouth and holding her upside down for a moment. The room was silent until the small tiny wail of a baby rang out and the doctor dressed the baby and wrapped it in a pink blanket. 'Congratulations, it's a baby girl' he told the woman softly, handing Alice her baby.

The British woman could barely prop herself up after the exhausting ordeal, but she somehow made herself, and despite the painful, aching throb that radiated from her core to every part of her body, her features softened as she gazed upon the beautiful face of her daughter. "Hello, love," she murmured, big fat tears rolling down her cheeks. "Mummy's sorry she yelled at you," she told the calming child who looked back at her dazedly.

Alfred also had tears rolling down his own face and wetly kissed his wife's cheek, reaching a large hand to stroke at the little girl's head, and as they both watched the child, Alfred couldn't help but grin proudly as their baby girl, beautiful and tiny, gave them a radiant giggle and reached chubby hands to touch both parents with a cute hiccup. 'Iggy, she's as beautiful as you' he whispered hugging the woman against himself, her eyebrows as adorably thick as her mothers.

Alice placed her finger in the child's hand, her heart fit to bursting as those tiny fingers curled around her own. "She's the most beautiful thing in the world. Aren't you, love?" Alice was almost hesitant to let the child go with the doctor for the regulation footprinting and monitoring.

'She is. Just like you' he whispered, prying the woman's fingers away from their baby, cradling her sweetly and kissing her brow softly. 'Baby, they need to register her' he told his wife softly. 'What will the baby's name be?' asked the doctor walking back and holding a clipboard with a sheet to name the baby and registered parents.

Alice coughed, a little embarrassed. She exchanged glances with Alfred, wondering if he felt as bad as she did that they'd never gotten around to picking a name, since the conversation always ended up in a fight and makeup sex. They hadn't even been able to agree on the poor child's gender; how could they have come to terms about a name?

'Elizabeth Victoria Jones' answered Alfred grinning. 'After the English queen of course! Victoria just sounded fancy for a middlename and Jones for her daddy!' he crowed out kissing Alice, before looking a little hesitant. 'Unless...you want something else?' he asked his wife softly, like a lost puppy.

She only nodded in acquiescence, waiting for the doctor to leave before sinking deeply into her pillow, exhaustion taking over. Her hand held Alfred's on reflex like Elizabeth's had, the grip weak.

'You go to sleep baby, and when you wake up, I'll be here and so will your baby' murmured Alfred, pushing the woman's hair away from her face to kiss the woman's brow. 'I love you baby, I love you.' he murmured softly, grinning at Alice, and tucking her in. 'Such a strong baby.'

"Don't patronize me," she mumbled, her eyelids heavy, exhausted body quickly falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Francis watched as the doctor went by with a tiny newborn swaddled in pink from Alice and Alfred's room, lightly jostling the girl who'd decided to doze off on his shoulder. "There's your niece," he murmured, following the doctor with his eyes.

Mateline jumped and looked, wide eyed at her niece, eyes tearing. 'Oh god, she's beautiful' she said covering her mouth the hide her sob as the baby peeked over at her with gorgeous eyes. One blue and the other green. Then she noticed the tiny babies little eyebrows and laughed softly, the tears still rolling. 'She has Alice's eyebrows' she buried her face into Francis' chest.

Francis stroked her hair, laughter bubbling from deep in his chest. "Oui, but hers are far more attractive," he chuckled deeply, his smile wide across his face.

Babies were fantastic. Even a (former) player like Francis could appreciate something as precious as a baby.

'She's so beautiful Francis' answered Mateline who shook with joy. 'She's so cute. Oh Francis I'd love....' she trailed off blushing heavily. 'I'd love to dress her up!' she said quickly smiling nervously at the other before playing with the buttons on his dress-shirt. 'She's so tiny..'

"Mmm," he hummed, watching their retreating figures. "When they're so quiet and adorable, it makes you want one of your own, doesn't it?"

'Oh, I wouldn't mind even if they grew up loud like Alfred' she answered before blushing. 'Babies....children, you name it. I just love them. I used to babysit before this year. Third year is always the hardest' she said trailing the pattern on her school skirt.

Francis turned his attention back to her. "Oh? Do you want children, Mateline?"

'Oh...well, I mean, it's every girls dream to settle down and make a family. But, I've always dreamed about having a baby, even before big sister' answered Mateline docilely cheeks a cherry pink. 'Of course, that's so far away. Who knows, right?' she asked smiling at Francis, still fiddling with his shirt's buttons.

He smiled, leaning forward to briefly catch her lips. "I think any children with your genetics would be the most beautiful children in existence," he said sincerely, fiddling with one of her pigtail braids.

Mateline smiled and pecked him back shyly. 'Mmm, I think the children you'd have would also be attractive' she answered softly, peeking up at him through thick lashes.

He gently cradled her cheek, brushing their lips together. "I think that if that is the case, we should most definitely have children."

Mateline's cheeks went candy-apple red and smiled against his lips, her own hands cupping the man's face and trailing into his hair as she sweetly pecked him. 'K-Kids with you would be so wonderful'

"I agree," he replied simply, going in for a deeper kiss. He was rather enjoying himself with this pastime when a hand he should have been expecting (but hadn't, funnily enough) was placed menacingly on his shoulder.

'What the hell are you doing?' growled out a groggy Alfred, smiling terrifyingly at Francis, his face hanging over the other man's shoulder. 'Big brother!' complained Mateline, pushing at Alfred's face, kissing Francis defiantly before glaring at her brother. 'We were kissing like a normal couple should!'

Francis laughed nervously, wondering if she would say the same thing had Alfred's hand been squeezing her shoulder so fiercely. "I-it's all right, Mateline," he said with a nervous smile.

'Mattie, I'm trying to protect your virtue here!' he cried out staring at Mateline with watery eyes. 'But Alfred, that's unfair. How come you got to kiss big sister when you two were dating? and when I say kissing, I mean practically humping each other on the sofa?' Mateline crossed her arms, staring up at her brother.

'Mattie~ I'm trying to stop you from doing that stuff, kissing leads to touching and then you won't stop~' complained Alfred, trying to appease to his sister. 'Alfred, I have needs too' and at that Alfred let out a sob pointing at Francis. 'This is your fault. She has needs. NEEDS!' he said burying his face into Mateline's shoulder, begging her to forget those needs. To love him again.

Francis nearly told him that she'd probably had needs long before he showed up, but thought better of it for his and Mateline's sake.

"Alfred, why aren't you with your wife?" he asked instead, deciding it was a safer topic.

'Ah, she was taking a bath, she should be done' Alfred jumped and ran into the room that was designated for Alice, smiling as he watched his wife breastfeed the baby. Mateline turned to look at Francis and reached her hand to rub over his abused shoulder, leaning forward to kiss him softly. 'Did you mean it?' she asked softly, blushing at the mere thought of having a baby with Francis.

Judging by the look in her eyes, she was probably referring to what they were talking about before Alfred interrupted. "Of course," he answered with a smile.

'Oh Francis!' cooed Mateline, hugging the man's waist and hiding her face in his chest with an embarrassed and yet ecstatic at the thought, before smiling even wider. She leaned up to kiss him, sweetly and slow and shy, but with all the eagerness of a willing partner before pulling away. 'I'll be right back' she said, standing up and walking towards the bathroom, slipping in.

Alfred was next to Alice sulking and glaring at Francis. 'My wife just told me to let my baby sister grow up. I hope your HAPPY' she spat out pouting, watching his baby. Mateline came out of the bathroom, drying her hands and smiling as she spotted Francis, Alice, Alfred, and finally, the baby. 'Ooooh~ Big sister the baby is beautiful' she cooed walking up to the woman to kiss her. 'She's got all your glamour and composure' she said. She reached a finger, poking the babies chubby cheek, causing the little girl with pink cheeks to giggle. 'Aww~ Francis, she likes us' she told her boyfriend, smiling and kissing a plump cheek.

The nurse cleared her throat. "Excuse me, I'm sorry to seem impatient, but we're moving her to the mommy room," she said. Alice slapped Francis' forearm.

"That means don't bother us until we get there, Frog."

Mateline giggled watching Francis place the baby back against Alice's form, grabbing the man's hand in hers. 'Can we come?' she asked softly, looking at Alfred and Alice as they were lead away by another nurse who gently pushed the bed away.

Alice smiled congenially. "Of course you can, poppet. All this poor girl's seen since she's left my womb is a messy old woman and a haggard old man. She needs a pretty face."

Mateline blushed at her words and smiled following Alice with a bounce on her step, cooing at the baby and waving at the little girl who giggled at her softly and shyly hid her face against a chubby hand. 'Oh big sister~ She's beautiful~'

Alfred watched the women, smiling a little. 'God...where did I go right? A cute baby sister, a sexy wife, and a beautiful baby...'

"Your luck will run out one day, Jones," Alice said, fingering Elizabeth's unbelievably soft ear. She kissed her baby's head, breathing in the clean newborn scent. "But ours has just began, hasn't it, Liz?" she murmured, holding the child's fingers as they were rolled into the dimmer-lit, calmer room.

Mateline reached on of her fingers out to the baby, blushing when the child took it and feeling an overwhelming longing as she smiled at the giggling and drooling Elizabeth.

Alice noticed the leakage and tutted, dabbing the gugrling baby's mouth with the blanket.

"Come now, Liz, you've got to be more proper than that," she said with a smile.

The baby giggled and stretched in her mothers grasp cooing. Mateline rubbed a peach-fuzzed cheek kissing it again before looking over at Francis with a flush. 'Big sister...uhm...'

Alice looked up, her face relaxed and light with a content smile. "Yes, dear?"

Mateline looked at the woman guiltily and pouted a little, holding the woman's hand. 'Well, big brother is too protective of me, and I understand why, but could you please tell him that I'm not going to be a hard-head like him and allow myself to be knocked up without proper precaution and the intention to be knocked up?' she asked pouting at having to use the older woman. Alfred squealed dropping his keys with tears. He could never deny anything Alice explained.

She glanced back and forth from Mateline and Alfred in moderate amusement. Alice looked down at Elizabeth and shook her head, sighing. "You know your brother has your best intentions in mind," she told Mateline, reaching out for the girl's hand, "and so do I. In my opinion, if you're going to commit an act that may result in... a circumstance that requires complete commitment from two persons, you may want to be more secure before your endeavor." She glanced up at Alfred. "I wouldn't let him cross that line until we were married. I knew I couldn't trust him to think far enough to use protection, and it..." She stopped herself quickly, looking away.

Alice berated herself for almost admitting to a roomful of people how insecure she'd been through a vast majority of the time she and Alfred had dated. After all, if one had been nicknamed "Friendless" from an early age and happened to be dating the town's golden boy, why wouldn't she be? "Anyway, I trust your judgment on your own, Mateline. You know I do. It's your judgment with him that I'm worried about. But you're a big girl, and you make your own choices, and suffer the consequences of your actions." She squeezed Mateline's hand.

Mateline smiled and kissed the older woman's brow happily, loving how Alice was easier to relate to then her older brother was. 'Thank you. I'm just tired of hugging Francis. I can't even kiss him properly big sister. It's really cruel of Alfred to prohibit that!' she told the woman, kissing her cheek this time. 'Mmm, are you tired? Should we let you rest? Or, are you hungry?'

Elizabeth began to fuss a little, her fist bunching up the hospital gown above her breast. "Actually, we may need some privacy," she said with a bit of a smile.

Mateline nodded, gently brushing Alice's hair back with her fingers. 'When you're done, I ca help brush your hair, ok?' asked Mateline softly, pulling away from her older sister, walking up to Alfred and pecking his cheek, hugging the man, making Alfred smile at her and give her a (normally)bone-crushing hug. 'Be good Mattie' he told the girl, kissing her brow.

'I will big brother. Don't stress big sister' she warned the man, grabbing Francis' hand.

Francis nodded toward Alfred and Alice, the latter waving at Mateline before unbuttoning the gown to offer Elizabeth dinner.

Alfred watched Alice, smiling and leaning over to kiss Alice softly on the lips. 'You look beautiful right now. Just...something unreal.' he whispered to the woman, kneeling next to his wife and watching the baby feed, normal hyper energy, replaced by a calm loving look.

Alice felt herself flush, wondering idly when Alfred would stop doing that to her. "If you're trying to talk your way into any sexual favors, I'm aching so terribly it'll be a miracle if you ever get any again," she mumbled, smoothing Elizabeth's down-like blond hair.

'Pfffft. You'll be fine' snorted the blond man laughing deeply at his wife's comment. 'Always so prickly Iggy, but I love you' he told the woman kissing her shoulder. 'Can't a man tell his wife she looks beautiful without it needing to end up in sex?' he asked playfully.

"Some men maybe, but you're not one of them." She turned to him and offered a little smile. "I'd like to say I could have done this without you," she said, her voice softening marginally, "but it would have been impossible. Physically... and emotionally. Thank you, Alfred." She blushed at her own admission and quickly turned back to look at Elizabeth who suckled contentedly, big eyes trained on her mommy's face.

Alfred smiled serenely, his arm sneaking around the woman's shoulders and pulling her head against his chest, kissing her brow once more. 'You're strong Iggy, and I know you like it that way, but sometimes it's nice to have someone else there. Don't think I forgot how it was for you in high-school' he whispered to the woman, tilting her face towards him. 'But you know what, I'm the luckiest man around. A girl like you, accepting a guy like me? I've got to be lucky' he whispered kissing her softly.

She pretended that she didn't tremble and harumphed. "I don't know what you're talking about," she sniffed, nudging his nose with her own. "My high school experience was tops. Why do you think I went back, silly boy?" She hated that he, the clueless one, was so fine-tuned to the most inopportune situations. It probably hadn't helped that she'd had a teensy little outburst the night he'd confessed... But no matter. Memories like that ought to be shot out of the water. "And don't say 'accept' when we've been married for half a decade."

'A beautiful half-a-decade. But I remember you in high-school. Sexy, cute, always blushed whenever I even tried to talk to you, but always throwing things at me and screaming. I really thought you hated me baby' he said softly, smiling and keeping his face close to Alice's, speaking softly, his free hand reaching to pet their baby's little head.

She opened her mouth and then paused, avoiding his eyes. "I did... sort of. I was sure you were only making fun of me, and you were most of the time! I just didn't know that you were doing it because you'd not matured from your silly little pick on girls you fancy phase. I was just tired of..." She let out a tiny gasp as Elizabeth gummed on her swollen nipple particularly hard, wincing.

Alfred was quick to remedy that by gently easing the baby away from the hurt beast, leading her suckling little mouth to the other, leaning down to kiss the gummed nipple before pulling up to kiss Alice. 'I was pretty stupid' conceded the American gently. 'I didn't know how else to get your attention though. At first, when I spotted you, I would always wave, but you always had your nose stuck in one of those occult books. No matter what I did, you wouldn't notice, not until I started picking on you'

She covered her offended, sensitive flesh with the hospital gown and frowned slightly. "Why would you wave at me in the first place? We'd stopped associating with one another at the beginning of Junior High... I didn't expect you to begin speaking to me again."

'You looked so cute. I'd forgotten how sexy I used to think you were before I stopped talking to you. When I saw you the first day of school, I really wanted to ask you out. But...well, you were so into that book' answered Alfred, smiling at Elizabeth, who cooed around her mother's nipple, gurgling a little milk up.

She rolled her eyes. Wiping the pearlescent trail running down Elizabeth's chin, she muttered, "That's what it always comes back to, isn't it? After all, it isn't my appearance we had that falling out about..."

'Alice, get the hell over it. I made a mistake, alright?' sighed Alfred, staring heatedly down at the woman's eyes. 'Look, I was stupid. I didn't realize just how fucking beautiful you were, or how much you meant at that time. It wasn't easy for me either. I missed you. God, you don't even realize what a mess I was afterwords' Alfred leaned down to kiss the woman deeply, pulling back a little breathless. 'I love you. I regret what I said to you back then. But to hell if I haven't tried making it up'

She recoiled a little at his words, turning to Elizabeth and holding the child close. "I'm sorry," she murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her fingers trembling. "I know you have. I'm sorry."

'Alice' Alfred wrapped both arms around them, kissing the woman's head repeatedly, just cradling both, sighing as the warmth of both his and Alice's body comforted the little baby, who was becoming agitated by the energy her mother and father were letting out. 'Alice, it's in the past. Look, our present and future are right here. Ok? This is what our love made' he told the woman, his hands cupping over Alice's own. 'Our baby. Our little Queen Elizabeth Victoria Kirkland-Jones' he whispered proudly.

She nodded shallowly, a tear dripping down her cheek. She caught it, pretending to have an itch on her nose. "This love manifestation is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," she said sincerely, leaning her head against Alfred's shoulder.

Alfred smiled, catching the tear and pressing it to his mouth allowing his wife to rest against himself with a deep guffaw. 'You're so right. The parent's aren't half-bad in the looks department either' mumbled Alice, teasing one of her eyebrows. 'Everything about you both is so cute and sexy. I'm scared of when she grows up.'

Alice snorted in amusement. "If Mateline is anything to go by, you'll be the one literally beating the boys of with a stick, won't you?"

'Heeey, it's not my fault. She's always been into the invisible guys with no hormones. In Waltzes Francis and suddenly she has NEEDS?' whined Alfred, kissing his wife again and again.

Alice laughed quietly, meeting his lips tenderly with every kiss. "Oh love," she murmured, touching his cheek, "you're so cute, thinking she just recently started having needs."

'W-Wha? You mean she's had them for a while?!' cried out Alfred softly, eyes tearing up. 'But she's my baby sister...when did she...start craving man-flesh? Doesn't she know its all hairy and gross? Doesn't she know men are sweaty and grunt!?'

"Right," Alice said, rolling her eyes. "Just because you're a caveman doesn't mean all men are. Though why she would have a go at Francis is anyone's guess."

'Francis is hairy too! Have you seen his chest? Chin? Arms? Legs?!' cried out Alfred in despair. 'She chose the hairiest man available, and a French-ex-player at that!'

"I thought I told you that I don't understand it, either," she sighed, pressing a kiss to his lips. "You've got another little person to care for now, so don't get too hung up on Mateline and Francis, all right?"

'You won't betray me like Mattie did, right?' asked Alfred pouting at his child, before smiling and kissing the little girl, kissing Alice afterwords.

"You're her father," she said, granting him a kiss in return. "The only way she can betray you is to kill you. And if you insist on keeping too tight of a leash about her past her teenage years, that'll probably be a right tempting option. Won't it, poppet?" she cooed, poking the baby's nose.

'If she dates any hairy French-men, she'd might as well kill me' mumbled Alfred, hugging Alice close.