Fade to Grey
Title: Fade to Grey
Rating: Ummm... 'bout PG? No swearing or heavy sex stuff but it's quite... awww... :C
Pairing: Klapollo
Kink Meme Prompt: "Alright, anons. I'm pretty sure this has already been requested, but I need more ;___; If we live in a kink meme that can have people being raped by fire extinguisers, then we can sure as hell have some more mpreg. Edgeworth/Phoenix is my OTP. But, Klavier/Apollo is also acceptable~
But, what I would like, anon, is for the one carrying the baby to miscarry and then blame it all on themselves. When, it was clearly not their fault. And angst ensues. Oh, yes.
I care not who in each pairing is the mummy or daddy, I just want me some angst. Make me cry please, anon ;____; <33"
For something they'd initially been so shocked and horrified by, they were lost when it had gone. Especially Klavier. A world he didn't know he had had been destroyed and all he could do was hate himself for it.
It started before Klavier Gavin had gone to the doctor's office. But for the sake of story telling, it began here. Klavier had gone to the doctor's office for nausea, vomiting and irritatingly frequent need to urinate. He'd seen the doctor the week before, with urine samples and now he was getting the results. When the doctor gave his diagnosis and his condolences or congratulations... Klavier was frozen in shock. More so than when Apollo had asked him on a date, more than when his brother Kristoph had been arrested and even more so than the time him and Apollo found an obsessive fangirl in their house.
He somehow managed to drive himself home. He walked through the front door with a look on his face that suggested a recent lobotomy.
"How'd it go?" his boyfriend Apollo asked, meeting him in the hallway.
"I ah..." he attempted to reply.
"Shit..." he hissed, banging his fist on the wall before wrapping his arms tightly around him. "What is it? Please tell me it's not the big C..."
"Oh nein, it's not that..." he mumbled, still staring at nothing.
"Please... Please tell me it's not incuritus!"
"I'm..."
"Yes?"
"You remember how once you said you wouldn't stick around if I got knocked up, ja?" he asked, laughing nervously, finally possessing a facial expression.
"No," he frowned.
"Well, um... ja. We've been together for... over a year? Ja? So... are you flexible on that stance?"
"Klavier, please let me point out..." he sighed frustratedly. He'd gotten so desperately worried over Klavier that he was going to be really pissed off if he'd been joking.
"This isn't a joke, Forehead."
Apollo could suddenly tell from his voice that he definitely wasn't joking.
"I'm pregnant," he finally stated.
Apollo didn't know how to respond. Instead, he simply ran up the stairs and hid in the bathroom.
Klavier walked slowly upstairs to follow Apollo. He knew exactly where to find him. He knew that when he got stressed, he'd sit in the bath with no water.
"I'm in the bath," he muttered when he saw Klavier hovering in the doorway.
"Apollo... I don't really understand it either... but it's true..."
"Come in."
Klavier sat next to him, despite the taps poking him in the back.
"As far as I know, you're the vati."
"As far as you know?" Apollo repeated with a frown.
"Well, Forehead, you're the only person I've slept with in almost two years but I don't know how male pregnancies work!" he smiled awkwardly.
Apollo chuckled slightly.
"I've never really thought about becoming a father..."
"Neither have I!" Klavier replied, taking hold of Apollo's hand, "Though I suppose... I'm going to be..."
"A mom?" Apollo sniggered.
"Ja... though... really... what is a mom? Or a dad? Is a mom someone who gives birth or a female parent? And what's a dad?"
"Klavier, don't get philosophical on me," he sighed, "This is confusing enough already. Did the doctor say how this happened?"
"Nein. He's about as lost as you and I."
"Except he doesn't have to deal with... well... everything..." he mumbled darkly.
"Please... Please don't leave me!" Klavier broke down and cried, clutching at Apollo's shirt lapels.
"Klavier, you... you fop, come here!" he sighed, pulling him over so he was lying down with Klavier on top of him. "I love you. I'm... I'm confused as all hell, but I'm sticking with you. Through thick and thin!"
"Thick...?" he mumbled, looking increasingly nervous, "Gott, I'm going to get fat!!!"
Once Apollo got sick of Klavier making beached whale remarks, he dragged him out of the bath and down to the kitchen table for a more organised discussion.
"Can we afford a baby?"
"Ja, definitely... Ha, who'd have thought The Gavinners Most Criminal Hits would turn into a baby fund?" he smiled.
"Oh god, you'll probably get a mint in publicity things too," Apollo groaned, rolling his eyes.
"Gott... I'll be a freak show..."
"I won't let that happen," he announced firmly.
"How?
"No idea," he shrugged, "Pretend you're a woman?"
"Oh gott, maybe I actually am!" he squealed, tugging his hair a little.
"Last time I checked," Apollo sighed, patting Klavier's head, "You didn't have a vagina. You have a dick. And they're pretty good indicators of gender."
"How am I going to give birth?"
They shared a thoughtful silence.
"Caesarian," Apollo finally replied firmly.
"But it'll scar..."
"Klavier, what did we just talk about?" he sighed, getting frustrated.
"But what does... Oh Ja... Ja... scheisse, ja, not getting a baby through there!"
It took a while for both of them to get used to the idea. They certainly didn't tell anyone else for a while. Not until he started to show. Klavier insisted that it was easier to tell people he was pregnant rather than letting people think he was just fat.
First came the Wrights. They'd practically adopted Apollo and, by extension, Klavier. Trucy insisted it was magic and Phoenix simply sat there sniggering.
"It seems to be growing fine," Klavier smiled, sitting next to Phoenix on the Wright's tatty old couch. "Herr Doktor says it's developing like any other baby despite the lack of a womb!"
"Then where is it growing?" Phoenix asked.
"Ach, I never really thought to ask..." he laughed, stroking his belly through the black jumper he'd taken to wearing lately.
"Name it after me!" Trucy suggested excitedly, prodding curiously.
"One Trucy is more than enough," Apollo growled, kneeling down next to Klavier and swatting her hand away protectively.
"I always thought you'd make a great mom, Polly!" she giggled.
"Trucy, you do realise that I'm not the one carrying, right?"
"Yeah... but... y'know!"
"No, I don't know. What are you giggling about?"
"Just if I ever had to make a bet on which of you would get pregnant," she started.
"Why would you?" he sighed.
"Theoretically, Polly! I would've bet on you!"
"Even though Klavier shaves his legs?"
"Forehead!" Klavier protested in embarrassment.
Excitedly, they told pretty much anyone they knew. Klavier particularly looked forward to telling their colleague and friend (although, she'd be quick to protest to being friends with Klavier), Ema Skye. The couple invited her out to lunch on a Wednesday afternoon.
"You guys have never invited me to lunch before," she observed, before they'd given their big announcement. "You two getting hitched or something?"
"Or something!" Apollo laughed nervously.
"Pfft, what, you're having a baby?" she joked.
Apollo and Klavier looked at each other.
"Okay guys, what is it really?" she laughed.
"Well, Fraulein Detective, you pretty much hit the nail on the head there!" Klavier smiled.
"You guys are adopting?" she asked, turning serious. "That's a pretty big decision, you know."
"We're not adopting," Apollo said.
"All right, sperm and a surrogate then," she sighed.
"None of that," he shrugged.
"Well... what?"
Klavier took off his jacket and displayed his baby bump.
"Please tell me that's a cushion."
"Nope!" Apollo beamed proudly. He gave the bump an affectionate rub.
She stared at them, mouth wide open, for a while.
"That's scientifically impossible!" she finally announced.
"Yet it's true!" Klavier said with the grin that made Ema feel so homicidal.
"How? You don't even have a womb!"
"The doctors are still trying to work it out!" he replied, still grinning.
"Unless we're suddenly in some parallel existence," she barked, "Neither of you are capable of producing, let alone releasing, egg cells!"
"Yet it's true!" he announced again, grinning even more.
"I... well, hell, that's just strange," she sighed. "I really think I need my damn pancakes now."
"Also, Ema, we were wondering..." Apollo started, blushing a little, "Seeing as you helped us get together, would you... um... Would you be interested in being a godmother? I mean, it's cool if you're not..."
"Apollo, I'd be honored!" she smiled at last, "Jesus, you guys are gonna give me a heart attack one of these days!"
Then their food arrived and Ema was too busy eating to talk anymore.
In the couple's growing excitement, they even told the press. Fortunately, they viewed the Prosecuting Rock God kindly and treated him as such, even respecting his privacy to a decent extent. Everyone they worked with in the courts had been made aware also, so that Klavier didn't have to explain his absences and refusal to accept too many cases.
There was one person they had yet to tell. Even talking about telling him had become a taboo. But it felt... necessary to Klavier.
"Forehead, I need to tell him... He's the only living family I have..." he pleaded as they were huddled up in bed.
"I'm your family now... and this one in here..."
"I know he hurt you..." he sighed.
"It's not just that he hurt me in the past," he argued softly, "But he's hurt you too. God knows what he's capable of, even behind bars. The man is dangerous."
"I'm man enough to..." he started. He trailed off when he noticed Apollo snigger. "Shush Forehead! Apart from being pregnant, I'm man enough to talk to my brother!"
Apollo was thoughtfully silent for a moment.
"I'm not stopping you from visiting him. And I'll be right there for you. But, for both our sakes, I'd prefer it if you didn't."
"Thank you, Forehead..." Klavier smiled softly, pulling Apollo close.
"This things almost getting in the way!" he announced, patting the belly between them.
"We haven't had a name discussion yet!" he pointed out with an excited grin.
"Well, yeah, because when we do, we will get in a fight about it," he sniggered.
"Not necessarily!"
"Yes necessarily!"
"Let's start with girl names!" he smiled, "We could take up Trucy's suggestion?"
"No. I'm not tempting fate with that one," he glared.
"What are you talking about?" he laughed.
"Do you want to deal with magically disappearing diapers?" he pointed out.
"Ach, I see... Well... How about... Ema?"
"I think she's honored enough with the godmother thing," he shrugged, "We probably shouldn't name it after someone we know. Namely, 'cause everyone we know is epically insane."
"Valid point," Klavier sighed thoughtfully, rolling onto his back. "How about... Courtney?"
"Pfft, do you want our kid to be a brainless cheerleader?"
"Forehead! That's a bit... baseless and cruel!"
"Yeah, I guess," he chuckled, stroking at the bump again.
"Any better ideas?"
"Um... Olivia?" he suggested.
"Ach Gott, our poor little girl..." he sighed dramatically, "She's doomed to be a librarian."
"Shut up! Since when has Olivia been a librarian name?"
"Since when has Courtney been a brainless cheerleader name?"
"Touche I suppose... What about... Claire?"
"Claire?" he repeated.
They lay silent for a moment.
"I can't think of any swearwords that rhyme with Claire," Apollo pointed out.
Klavier silently worded all the swearwords he could think of in every language he knew and couldn't think of any either.
"Claire!" he announced.
"What if it's a boy?" Apollo asked.
"Ach.... umm..."
"Dave?"
"Oh fantastiche, our son is going to die an eighty year old virgin," he sighed dramatically.
"Can you think of anything better?"
He thought for a moment.
"You know your name is the same as a greek god?"
"I can see where this is going," he hissed, "My answer is no."
"We could call him something really strong and proud... Like Zeus!"
"If you call this kid Zeus, you are going to be a single parent before you even know what happened."
"I think it-"
"Not to mention, if the social services hear you've called the kid Zeus, they will take him away!"
"You were-" he tried to argue.
"And that's probably why I never met my parents!" he laughed finally, "Let's just, for the time being, hope it's a girl!"
"Or call it Claire even if it is a boy..."
"Don't you think there'll be enough gender confusion round here, Klavier?"
It was a week later that Klavier gathered the courage to visit his brother. He walked through the many tightly guarded halls of the prison holding tightly to Apollo's hand.
"I'm... you know, Forehead..." he muttered.
"Scared? I know," he replied, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Mr Gavin's cell is just coming up," the guard leading them through the prison announced. He pulled some keys from his pocket. "KRISTOPH! VISITORS!"
They stood in front of the cell. Klavier and Apollo held on to each other as if their lives depended on it.
"Oh, how wondrous. My delightful little brother and my beloved protege who had me incarcerated to begin with. Splendid," the blonde 'Gentleman' sneered at them from behind the bars and his glasses.
"Did you want to go in?" the guard asked.
The two guests looked at each other. Klavier had an unsure, but pleading look on his face. Apollo simply looked stern. He nodded.
"Ja..." Klavier finally replied to the guard. He pushed past them and opened the cell door, allowing them through then locking behind them.
"Klavier. Justice. To what do I owe this... pleasure?" Kristoph greeted, sitting in a disconcertingly exquisite chair. "Do please take a seat," He added, flamboyantly indicating a sofa opposite him.
"Klavier and I have... well, we have some important news," Apollo announced, sitting down gingerly.
"Would this be about... hmmm... Perhaps I'm being released?" he sneered, "For... heh... Good behavior?"
"You wish," he replied in a growl. "Klavier, do you want to tell him?"
Klavier couldn't quite manage to talk. He squeezed Apollo's hand.
"I'm sure you are aware that me and Klavier have been in a relationship together for almost two years," Apollo sighed.
"Something I've been made painfully aware of, yes," he replied, wrinkling his nose for a moment. "It's sickening, really."
"What's sickening about being in love?" Klavier finally blurted.
"Love? Is that what you call it? Well, I'd be quicker to call it a perversion, myself..."
"We're not here for your sick insights, Kristoph!" Apollo barked. "Klavier, tell him our news!"
"We're having a baby!"
A deathly silence.
"Please repeat that, I'm sure you just said..."
"You heard correctly, Kristoph," Apollo said proudly.
"You got bored of each other and decided to adopt to spice things up... How so very droll."
"We're not adopting," Klavier mumbled, he finally let go of Apollo's hand and placed both his hands on his bump.
"You're..." Kristoph gasped, finally at a genuine momentary loss for words. It was short-lived. "This is a hilarious little prank, you boys, but really. I may not have much to do-"
"Kristoph, we wouldn't go to all the trouble of visiting you for the sake of a joke!" Apollo shouted, standing up with his fists clenched. The guard tapped the bars with his truncheon in warning. He sat down and tried to lower his voice. "The doctors still can't find an explanation for any of this, but yes, Klavier is pregnant. I'm surprised you hadn't seen it in any of the papers."
"Oh, they've stopped letting me read the newspapers," he sighed, putting his hand softly to his temples, "Raises my blood pressure. I'm surprised they allowed you in."
"I think Klavier's well-being is of higher priority than yours!"
"Oh, of course. What with my impending execution and all. Still waiting for the date on that. Hmmm... Oh, wouldn't it be delightful if it was on the day of the birth?" he sneered, clapping his hands with twisted sarcasm. "Why the hell should I care?"
"Kristoph... du bist mein bruder..." Klavier said quietly.
"Klavier, did you know that it doesn't actually make you seem more intelligent or cultured when you switch languages?" the elder brother sighed, now folding his arms. "It just makes you look vulnerable... Which I suppose is what you're aiming for, in this case. I can see through your coquettish little acts."
"Visiting hours' up in five minutes," the guard barked.
"Whether you like it or not," Klavier hissed, having finally had enough of Kristoph's mind-games. "You are going to be this kid's uncle. Try to be happy for me!!!"
Kristoph stared at him for a moment. "Even if I live long enough to see this... freak... I absolutely refuse to acknowledge it as... In fact, I refuse to acknowledge it at all."
"This will be the sole Gavin heir!" he barked.
"As far as I'm concerned," he sighed, "The Gavin name dies with me."
"I'd love to know what your problem is..." Apollo growled. "Just wish us well!"
"I'll do no such thing," he shrugged, starting to look bored, "In fact, I wish the abomination ceased to exist. GUARDS! I GROW TIRED OF MY GUESTS! ESCORT THEM OUT PLEASE!"
So, they were escorted outside.
Once home, Klavier went straight to Apollo's hiding place.
"Klavier, you hate sitting in the bath unless there's hot water and fancy bubbles," Apollo sighed, joining him.
"Am I a freak?"
"Yeah, but you were even before you were pregnant," he smiled, taking hold of his hands. "That's why I fell in love with you!"
"Oh, Forehead," he squeaked, trying to snuggle up against him.
"Now that's out of the way, can we get out of the bath?" he laughed.
"Ja, I suppose..." he smiled, struggling to get out. "I shouldn't let Kristoph get to me like this..."
"Too true..." Apollo agreed, helping him up. "His doctor gave us a copy of his medical and psychiatric reports, remember?"
"Ja?"
"They mention sociopathy or pyschopathy," he said, leading him to their bed so Klavier could rest. "You can't believe a thing he says, just like he can't understand..."
"I don't really want to talk about him any more..." he sighed, "He's dead to me now. Let's talk about Claire instead."
"Klavi, for the last time, we are not calling it Claire if it's a boy!"
A few weeks later, they were preparing for a new court case.
"Are you okay, Klavier?" Apollo asked. "You look pretty tired."
"I'm fine," he smiled, nibbling on some toast.
"Are you sure you're still up to taking cases?"
"I'm fine, Forehead!" he chuckled, "I mean, I'm not due for a few months!"
"Okay, but I really think this should be your last case until you give birth!"
"But it would be exciting if Claire were born in court!"
"I can imagine the headlines," Apollo sighed, "'Gender-bent birth of baby boy Courtroom Claire'..."
They stood at opposing sides of the courtroom. The judge gave his speech then asked Klavier, the prosecutor of the case, to give his piece.
He simply stared onwards with that same look he'd had when he first came home to tell Apollo he was pregnant. He held his stomach... It felt strange. Really strange. And it hurt.
"Mr Gavin?"
"I'd like to call a recess..." he responded weakly.
"But you haven't even given your opening-"
"We need to halt the proceedings!" Apollo shouted. He pushed every obstacle aside and sprinted to Klavier. "Someone call an ambulance!!!"
The courtroom erupted into a noisy hive of activity. Klavier had fainted and Apollo was holding him close.
"Everything's going to be okay..." he mumbled, not entirely sure of that himself, "I love you and everything's going to be fine..."
The ambulance arrived shortly and Klavier was rushed straight into surgery. Apollo sat outside in the waiting room, cursing fate.
"If it's any consolation," a nurse told him, "You wouldn't be allowed in with him even if you were a heterosexual couple."
"What kind of consolation is that?!" he shouted, unable to focus his anger.
"I'm sorry. Just some couples get a little... offended," she sighed, "Though, in this situation..."
"Please, can't you just tell me what's happening in there?"
"I am really sorry, Mr... Justice? You'll be informed as soon as surgery is complete."
Then she walked away. Leaving him alone with just fear and anxiety for company.
"Mr Justice?" a doctor called, stepping through the double doors.
"Doctor, please tell me Klavi's okay!" he pleaded, running to the doctor.
"Mr Gavin is going to be fine," he replied, "He's still under anesthetic at the moment, but he should be awake in about a hour or so."
"Thank god..." Apollo sighed.
"However," he continued.
"Please, please not a however!"
"I'm sorry, Mr Justice," he said, visibly emotionless.
"We did everything we could, but we couldn't save the baby."
Apollo didn't know how to respond. He wanted to cry, he wanted to punch the wall, he wanted to curl up into a ball and die.
"From a professional point of view, I'm surprised that she survived as long as she did."
"She?"
"Yes. She'd only just developed a gender, but yes, the fetus was clearly female."
"Claire..."
"Mr Gavin is being transported to a private room now. As his... partner, it is up to you whether the news is given to him by our staff or by yourself."
"I have to tell him. I want to be there when he wakes up," he replied firmly.
"Of course," he nodded, "Well, if you'd like to follow me, Mr Justice."
The doctor led Apollo into a small dimly lit room. Klavier was lying in a hospital bed.
"Take a seat," the doctor offered. "Mr Gavin will be asleep for a while."
Apollo sat in a plastic chair next to the bed. He ran his hand through Klavier's loose blonde hair.
"I love you..." he whispered repeatedly.
"Do either of you have any relatives that we can call in?"
"No..." he whispered. He thought of Kristoph for a moment and instantly rejected the idea.
"Well, I'm sure you'd like to be alone," he sighed, preparing to leave, "Take into consideration that we have security cameras in here."
Apollo frowned as the door opened and closed. He then turned back to his unconscious boyfriend. He took hold of one of his hands and kissed it lightly.
Klavier eventually stirred. Apollo dropped the hand he was holding in surprise.
"Look at my skin," Klavier laughed weakly, "A few months without a sunbed and I look like a corpse!"
"Klavi!" he gasped, wrapping his arms around him.
"What... um... ja, what happened?" he smiled obliviously.
Apollo finally broke down and cried.
"What? What is it, Polly?"
"You... We... We lost Claire."
Klavier looked away.
"The surgeons did everything they could but..."
"I want to go home."
"I think they need to keep you in observation a while," Apollo sighed, still crying, "It was a pretty big operation..."
Klavier pulled away the clinical green bedsheets and stared at the stitches running down his stomach for a moment before covering back up and screwing his eyes shut. Silent tears streamed down his face at first then before long, he was sobbing loudly and clinging tightly to Apollo.
"Mr Justice," the doctor from earlier called, standing at the door a few hours later. "I'm afraid you will have to leave now. Visiting hours are over."
"Please, can't I stay just for tonight?" Apollo pleaded, holding tightly to Klavier's hand.
"I am sorry, Mr Justice," he shook his head, "But this is a hospital, not a hotel. You may return tomorrow between twelve and four, should you wish."
"Apollo, I don't want you to leave me!" Klavier begged.
"You need your rest, Mr Gavin."
"Can't I rest at home?"
"Mr Gavin, we need to keep you in observation."
Klavier pulled Apollo close and started muttering a stream of pleadings and nonsense.
"Klavier, I love you so much..." he whispered, holding him tightly.
"Please Mr Justice, let me escort you out," the doctor sighed, "Otherwise, I will have to call on our security personnel to escort you instead."
Apollo sighed, gave Klavier one last tight squeeze with a whispered "I love you" then followed the doctor away.
He stepped into their house and sighed. It felt horribly empty and cold, as though all the colours had faded away.
He picked up a photo frame. He and Klavier in a tight embrace. Apollo was pretending he wasn't happy about it but the creeping smile as Klavier kissed his face said otherwise.
He put it back down and stumbled around the house, feeling effectively useless.
A little later, the phone rang. It took Apollo a moment to establish that the noise was real and not just an emotional hallucination. He picked it up.
"Apollo Justice speaking."
"Hey Polly, it's Ema."
"Hey... hey Ema..."
"Sorry if it's nosy or anything..." she said, "But... What happened? The fop was supposed to summon me to give a statement before... um... yeah. Whatever happened."
"He..." he started. He gave a surrendering sigh. "Ema, do you think you could come round?"
"Uh? Oh um... sure. Should I bring anything?"
"Toothbrush?"
"Only if I can borrow one of his slinky negligees..." she sighed.
"Thanks Ema..."
"So, I'm topping, right?" Ema smiled, standing at the front door.
"Come in," Apollo sighed, attempting a smile.
"I'm guessing whatever it is, it's not good, right?" she asked seriously, putting her messenger bag down in the hallway.
"Let's sit down."
They sat down in the living room.
"We lost the baby. Claire is dead."
She gasped.
"They've had to keep Klavier in..." he sighed miserably. "I don't want to go through this alone but... Jesus, I can't imagine what he's feeling right now."
Ema simply hugged him.
"I just wish I could be there for him..."
"Polly, you've gotta look out for yourself too," she finally offered, "Come on, let's put on the tv."
She grabbed for the remote and flicked around for something cheerful to watch, while still hugging her friend.
"It's one of my godmotherly duties to take care of you guys."
"God, I'm tired," Ema yawned a few hours later. "Bed now, Polly?"
"Yeah, sure," he replied tiredly. "You have the bed, I'll sleep on the couch."
"Polly, I don't think her foppishness would be too upset by you sleeping in the same bed as another woman," she sniggered. "Even if we do anything, I'm on the pill so it's not like I'm gonna get..."
An awkward silence.
"Jesus, Apollo, I'm so sorry, I wasn't thinking!" she blurted.
"It's okay, Ema..." Apollo smiled softly, "I know you didn't mean anything by it..."
"God, I feel like such an idiot!" Ema cursed herself as they climbed into bed. She'd borrowed one of Klavier's tour-shirts as a night dress.
"Really, it's fine," Apollo assured her.
"You're cool, y'know, Apollo..." she sighed.
"Cool? I think that's the last word anyone would use to describe me!" he chuckled.
"Just... you seem to be coping pretty damn well already."
"I'm just a survivor, I guess," he shrugged, "I mean, I lost my parents when I was a baby and grew up in different homes. I got fostered a few times and I started getting used to losing all contact with the foster families... Kinda like grieving. I learned to... well... not get over it... but... it's hard to explain."
Ema was just nodding. She looked as though she was mentally taking notes.
"I guess instead of feeling bad that I'd lost them, I felt happy to have known them at all. Like um... damn, what's that saying? 'It's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all', I think."
"That's pretty... smart?"
"Street smart," Apollo laughed. "Well, it's... I get by. But on the flip side, Klavier had a pretty idyllic childhood, save for the homicidal psychopathic brother. Then he became a prosecutor and a rock star. It sounds... bratty, I guess, but he's not used to things not going his way. I'm pretty scared by how he's taking this..."
"I'm sure he's fine..."
Meanwhile, Klavier was not fine. He was crying hysterically and trying to escape from the hospital.
Abandoning the few possessions he had with him, Klavier crept out of his room. The surgical recovery unit was surprisingly lax with it's security so it wasn't until he ran into, and knocked over, a trolley in the department of obstetrics and gynecology that he got caught. He was getting so distressed and uncontrollable that the nurses had to sedate them before carrying him back to his room.
Shortly after, Apollo and Ema were woken up by the phone.
"Ungh... hello?" he answered it groggily.
"Could I speak to a Mr Justice please?"
"Speaking," he yawned.
"Mr Justice, your... partner, Mr Gavin-"
"Oh god, is Klavier all right?!?! Please I couldn't live without-"
"Ah, please calm down, Mr Justice. Mr Gavin is fine, but we just needed to inform you that we have had to sedate him after an escape attempt."
Apollo laughed coldly. Only Klavier would do something that stupid.
"Can I come visit him now? I'm sure I can calm him down."
"I'm sorry, Mr Justice, but rules are rules. We just thought you'd like to be kept informed."
"Well, thanks," he grunted bitterly. "Goodbye."
He put the phone down.
"What was that?" Ema yawned.
"Klavier tried to escape the hospital," he sighed.
"He really is such a drama queen... What time is it?"
"Jeeze, it's three in the morning..." he replied, staring at the radio alarm clock.
"God, I'll never get back to..." she groaned before going back to sleep.
Apollo sighed and tried to follow suit.
At a more social hour in the morning, they got up and had breakfast. Ema had to present her findings in court and Apollo had to make a few phonecalls regarding the same case. He was grateful for the distractions but felt a little bit guilty that Klavier didn't have the same luxury.
As early as possible, Apollo got in Klavier's car and drove to the hospital, only just abiding the speed limit. As a result, he got there about half an hour early. He sighed and walked to a little convenience store across the street, where he bought a ridiculous amount of gifts and toiletries for Klavier. He could hardly carry it all back to the hospital.
Before long, he was being led back to Klavier's room. The man staring up at him from the bed looked like a completely different person to the man he'd woken up with the day before... As if he'd had his essence stolen.
"Hey there, Klavi..." Apollo smiled awkwardly. He put the carrier bag down by the door and dashed to wrap his arms around the patient.
Klavier didn't say anything. He just clung tightly and cried.
"I brought you some things," he announced, pulling him off to bring the bag over. "Look, your favourite chocolates!"
"Thank you, Forehead," he attempted a smile. "I really don't deserve all this though..."
"Don't be silly, Klavier!" he sighed, opening the box for him.
"This is all my fault..."
The usually confident and positive man was bedraggled and avoiding all eye contact.
"Klavier, it is in no way your fault," he whispered, putting the chocolates down and pulling him close again.
"But... what I did... If I hadn't... Ach Gott!"
He started crying again, even harder.
"What did you do?" Apollo sighed, "Come on, babe, I'm sure nothing you've done could... you know..."
"But it's true!" he insisted.
"What did you do, Klavier?"
"I... I... You heard what he said..."
"What who said? The doctor?"
"He wished her dead..."
"What?!"
"I insisted we told him..."
"Are you talking about... well... Kristoph?"
"Ja... He... he... He put a curse... It's all my fault... I shouldn't... I shouldn't have told him..."
"Baby, that's just stupid," he whispered into his ear, still holding tightly. "Come on, it's not your fault at all!"
"I wish I could believe that!!!" he squealed, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Klavi..."
"Mr Justice, may I have a word with you?" the doctor asked, hovering in the doorway.
"Can't it wait until after visiting hours?" Apollo frowned, still holding affectionately tight to Klavier.
"It won't take long."
He sighed with exasperation, kissed Klavier on the forehead then got up and followed the doctor out of the room, to his office.
"I think Mr Gavin will be fit for discharge today," the doctor announced, sitting at his impressive desk.
"What, you mean he can come home?" he asked.
The doctor nodded. "The incision seems to be healing wonderfully."
"What about... um... well... I'm worried about..."
"Scarring? No need to worry, Mr Justice. I'll prescribe a cream and some medications and it'll be gone in weeks."
"I don't care about scarring," he hissed, "It's his mental and emotional state I'm concerned about!"
"Oh yes... I understand that it may be difficult for him-"
"And me!"
"Yes, but what you need to realise is that, realistically, the baby's chance of survival was approximately... one in seven billion? Like I believe I may have said, I'm surprised that the fetus had only just expired. I don't know what his usual general practitioner advised, but in my professional opinion, I would've terminated the pregnancy as soon as it had been discovered."
"How could you say that?" Apollo hissed, feeling deeply offended.
"I am sorry, Mr Justice, but from a scientific viewpoint..."
Apollo sniggered. He could imagine Ema providing her own 'scientific viewpoint' and being a great deal more reasonable about it.
"The question is, do you want Mr Gavin to go home?" the doctor sighed impatiently.
"Of course I do... I just wish that-"
"Good, I'll start on the paperwork now then," he interrupted, guiding Apollo out. "Glad that we could come to an agreement. Goodbye!"
Angered by the doctor but somewhat pleased that Klavier could come home, Apollo went to give the good news.
"I'll be so glad to be out of here," Klavier sighed once he'd been told. "I hate it here."
"Well, you'll be out by the end of the day," he attempted a smile.
"You don't seem too pleased about it, Forehead," he mumbled.
"Oh Klavi, you know I am just..." he sighed, "Just... I'm worried about you."
"I'll be fine once I'm out of this place..." he squeaked. He was getting tearful again.
"I love you so much, Klavier..." he whispered, holding him close again.
"Gott, I love you too, Apollo," he murmured, "You and your shiny forehead are like the shining beacon in my life..."
Their embrace led to gentle affectionate kisses. As they got increasingly more fervent with each other, they were interrupted by a "aherm" by the door.
Frustratedly, Apollo climbed off of Klavier and sat back in the plastic chair.
"I've filed the paper work," the doctor announced.
"That was quick," Apollo growled, starting to hate the doctor.
"Discharge forms are," he replied, somehow not noticing Apollo's disdain. "You're free to leave as soon as you wish."
"Oh, danke gott!" Klavier wailed, clinging to Apollo once again and attempting to continue their heavy kissing.
"Aherm. Also, as hospital policy, Mr Justice will not be permitted in the room while Mr Gavin is changing. I'm sure you understand."
Another growl from Apollo.
"I'll change right away!" Klavier announced, "Anything to get home..."
"I guess I'll go wait in the car then," he sighed. "It's in the blue section of the parking lot."
"I'll try to be as quick as I can," he replied, giving him a quick kiss before he left with the doctor.
Before long, they were stepping through the front door of their house. And in contrast to his earlier moment of fieriness, Klavier had suddenly became quite cold. Without a word, he dashed up the stairs and hid in the bedroom. Apollo slowly and quietly followed him. He stood in the doorway and watched as his partner traced a pattern with his finger, up and down on the window.
"Welcome home," he said meekly.
"Hmm," was all he got in response.
"Klavier, please don't shut me out..."
"But I have to... You're going to leave soon."
Apollo felt completely floored by this.
"Why would you want to stay with me?" Klavier continued. "I'm... Gott, I don't know what I am."
"Oh, Klavier..." he sighed, walking up close and wrapping his arms around his middle. "Don't be ridiculous..."
"You're going to leave for someone who can do something as simple as... simple as having a baby."
"Klavier, let me point out some things," he sighed again, "First, you remember that I'm a homosexual male, right?"
"Ja..."
"And women... well... usually... Women are the ones who have babies. So, that's not likely. Also, you remember what I said before? That I'd leave you if you got knocked up?"
"Ha, ja..."
"So, there we go... I mean, I am upset that we lost Claire... It's gonna take time to heal, of course... But it's definitely not going to make me love you any less."
"But what about... ugh... I hate looking at it..." he groaned, tearing himself away from Apollo and lifting up his shirt to show him the scar.
"Klavier. Would you love me less if I lost an arm?"
"No..."
"And I'm sure as hell not gonna love you less because of some scar."
Klavier looked unsure for a moment.
"We're gonna get through this. And when we do, we'll be stronger than ever," Apollo assured him.
"I love you so much..."
Klavier hardly left their bed for a week. It took that long for him to regain his physical strength.
Apollo ignored all his cries of "Please, I don't deserve this" and brought him all sorts of nice snacks and hot drinks. He was practically slaving after him.
"Of course you deserve it," he sighed. "Come on, these are your favourites."
"I should be slaving after you..." he whimpered.
"Klavier, stop it. Please. Seeing you like this hurts more than anything."
He sighed. "I'll try to pull myself together. Hmmm..."
Apollo sat down next to him and stroked his hand gently.
Klavier's demeanor suddenly changed.
"Let's try for another," he smiled, taking hold of both of Apollo's hands.
Apollo stared at him. He had a slightly desperate smile.
"You're... joking. Joking, right?"
"Nein! Come on, Forehead! Let's... let's make another baby!"
Apollo gently pushed his hands away and sighed.
"Klavier, you know it's not going to... work like that... Right?"
"Let's try anyway, ja?"
"Baby... I love you. And you know that you turn me on more than anyone ever could... but... we're not going to do this right now. You don't want this. I understand you. You're too upset to make love. You're either trying to make it up to me or actually trying to make another baby... But we don't even know how it happened before. And you don't need to prove anything to me. We're not going to have sex again until we both feel like making love to each other."
Klavier's manner changed again. He'd calmed down and he was almost smiling again.
"Gott, Apollo... Why are you so smart?"
"One of us has to be!" he sniggered. Instead of the sex Klavier had been hinting towards, they shared a massive cuddle instead.
At full physical strength, Klavier was reluctant to return to the courtroom. He declined all cases, declaring that he was focusing on his solo musical career. He had no genuine interest at the time for a solo musical career. He decided that he wanted to live a bit of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle again though. Even though he hadn't left the house since he'd left the hospital.
"Polly," he started, standing in the doorway to the small study in their house.
"Yeah?" Apollo replied, turning away from his laptop for a moment.
"I think I'd like to go out tonight."
"Oh?"
"Ja. I think a few drinks and maybe a dance could cheer us up."
"Well, if you put it like that, then yeah, I'm definitely up for it."
"Brilliant," he smiled slightly, leaving the room to go through his wardrobe for something that would hide his stomach.
When they were out, Klavier was extremely nervous, so Apollo took it upon himself to be the designated driver.
"I'll buy you a drink to calm you down a bit," he smiled.
"Danke, Forehead."
"Then we can dance together. What would you like to drink?"
"Ah... a Cosmopolitan, danke."
"Sure, then I'll do your hair all nice and we'll discuss our boyfriend's techniques," he sneered mockingly.
"It's not that gay, is it?"
"It's quite gay, love."
"ALOPPO!" Klavier shouted, later on in the night.
"Calm down, Klavi..." Apollo sighed, trying to reign in his exceedingly drunk boyfriend.
"Wudjalikeasambucca?"
"What? Say that again slowly..."
"Would... you... like... a... um... sambucca?"
"Klavier, you know I'm driving..." he sighed again.
"Well, I'm... I'm buying two so if you want one..." he shrugged extravagantly. He approached the bar and started waving at the bar girl. "Two sambuccas por favor!"
She brought over two shots of clear, strong-smelling liquid. He drank one, shuddered then slammed it down on the bar, then repeated with the next one.
"Ugh... I feel... um... Less than good..." he muttered. He stumbled over his feet and lurched into the bathroom... the ladies bathroom, but a bathroom nonetheless and it was mercifully empty. Apollo chased him and found him being riotously sick in and around one of the toilets.
"Jesus, Klavier!" he whispered, holding back his hair and wiping periodically at his mouth with tissue. "Why would you want to get like this?"
"I..." he panted, before being sick again. "I wanted to forget how I feel..."
"Oh, baby..." he sighed, stroking softly at his hair. "Come on... Once I've apologized to the bar staff for you, we're going home."
"But I want another drink..." he muttered.
"You stay there and I'll get you another drink," he mumbled, getting up and walking to the sink. He cupped his hands under a running tap and then knelt back down and held them at Klavier's chin. "Okay, drink this, my darling..."
"I'm not thirsty..." he muttered.
"Come on, please..." he sighed, lifting his hands to his lips.
Klavier let out a pathetic sigh then lapped at the water, like a cat.
"I love you, Klavi, sweetheart..."
With some difficulty, he drove them home. Klavier had fallen asleep, leaning on Apollo's shoulder.
In the house, he had a struggle, carrying the taller man up the stairs to bed. Trying to undress him to change him into his pajamas proved difficult too. He was fine with the removal of pants but wrestled against the removal of his shirt.
"Come on, Klavier, please..." Apollo sighed, "That shirt's not very comfy. It's quite tight."
"Are you calling me fat?!?!" he screamed.
"Klavier, shhhh... Of course I'm not calling you fat..."
"But I am though! That's why the baby died!"
"Darling, you're being silly..." he whispered, almost crying, pulling him close. "Come here..."
Klavier clung to him and wept. "I don't want to feel like this anymore..."
"I know you don't... No one does... Shhh... I love you."
And once again, he'd fallen asleep, clutching to Apollo.
In the morning, Apollo had to lever the drunk off of his arm, which was now quite numb. He left the room to get Klavier some coffee and aspirin. He'd certainly need it.
He returned and Klavier was trying to hide his head under one of the pillows.
"You okay, baby?" Apollo asked, putting the coffee and pills on the bed side table.
"My head..." he whined.
"Well, you did drink practically all the alcohol in Los Angeles."
"Hmmmmm..." he groaned, clutching at the pillow.
"I've gotta go to work now. You gonna be okay?"
"Feel like I'm dying..."
"You're not, sweetie..."
"Ach, never drinking again."
"Glad to hear it... Well, give me a call if you need anything."
"Anything?"
"Anything..."
A few hours later, Klavier called up to cry and ask for a hug.
Apollo would come home to find Klavier asleep, clutching at one of his red waist coats. After watching him in his peaceful slumber for a short while, he left to make dinner.
Apparently, the smell of spaghetti sauce was strong enough to rouse Klavier. He appeared in the kitchen doorway, rubbing his eye.
"You okay there?" Apollo smiled.
"Hmm..."
"Dinner won't be long."
"Okay..." he mumbled before shuffling off somewhere.
Apollo sighed. He couldn't tell how Klavier was feeling and that made him uncomfortable.
When they had dinner, they were sat in silence.
Klavier's silence lasted for several days. Apollo couldn't get much more than a nod or a mumble out of him.
One evening, he stood in the study doorway in one of his partying outfits.
"I'm going out," he told Apollo.
"Out? Do you want me to go with you?" he asked.
"Nein... you're really busy," he mumbled.
"Yeah, but I could drive you home."
"You're not my chauffeur, Apollo," he said sternly.
Apollo felt like his heart was going to break. "Well... I'll be right here. If you need me."
"Thank you, Forehead..." he muttered, softening considerably. He then dashed away.
Apollo was terrified. It wasn't that he didn't trust Klavier, of course he did, but the man could become quite flirty when drunk and people could easily take advantage. He chewed nervously on his pen, trying to stop thinking about all the possible (and many not quite so possible) scenarios that could occur.
He attempted to sleep on the couch that night. Klavier stumbled through the front door at about midnight and drunkenly attempted to molest Apollo.
"Klavier," he sighed, "How much did you drink?"
"Some..." he replied, still attempting to arouse him with misplaced prods.
"You should sleep it off. Come on..."
He tried to lead Klavier upstairs. The drunk man decided he'd much rather sleep on the stairs. Apollo was too depressed to argue.
This battle became a nightly occurrence for about a week. Apollo had to nurse Klavier through each and every hangover, and he was becoming more tired than his patient. One morning, he fell asleep after giving him his coffee, missing work and it was then that Klavier started to realise the effect his behavior was having on the man he loved. He tucked him into the bed and, climbing in after, held him close.
Apollo woke up a few hours later with Klavier's hair in his face.
"Guten morgan," he smiled.
"Klavi...?"
"Binge drinking is the wrong way to solve problems, ja?"
"You're telling me," he mumbled.
"I'm not very good at grieving," Klavier smiled sheepishly.
"Oh, I noticed, sweet..." Apollo sneered.
"I wish I could be as strong as you..."
Apollo simply yawned in response.
"Es tut mir leid, mein Apollochien," he sighed, snuggling.
"Klavi, you fop, translation?"
"Ohhh..." he gasped. Then he translated with some lazy air quotes. "I am sorry, my little Apollo!"
"I'm not little!" he protested.
"Not where it counts, Forehead!" he sniggered.
They laughed together, tussling affectionately.
That morning, they made love for the first time in months.
"Maybe we could go to grief counseling?" Apollo suggested later as they held each other. He was twirling a finger in Klavier's loosened hair.
"Does that exist?" Klavier asked, blinking bemusedly.
"Yes, Klavier! That's why I said it!"
"Well... if it exists, then why not?" he smiled.
"Good. Well, let's just have a duvet day today. Book something up tomorrow..."
"Things are already getting better, ja?" he grinned.
"Yeah... I love you, baby!"
It was about a year later and the couple were stronger than ever. Today, they had arranged to have lunch with their close friend Ema, to ask her a question.
"You guys hardly ever invite me to lunch," she observed, before they'd given their proposal. "You two getting hitched or something?"
"Or something!" Apollo laughed nervously.
"Oh god, I'm getting deja vu over here, guys..." she blinked.
Apollo and Klavier looked at each other.
"Okay guys, what is it really?" she laughed.
"Well, Fraulein, we're thinking of having a baby," Klavier grinned.
"Do you have any idea how to do that again?"
"We were thinking something more scientific," Apollo laughed.
"Ooh, you've got my attention now!"
"Well, there's this experimental... um... experiment?" he explained nervously, "Well, it's... uh... they kind of combine two sperms?"
"Right, I'm kinda glad my food hasn't arrived yet..." she muttered.
"Well, yeah, we'd have sperm that's part of both of us and we'd just need an egg and a surrogate."
There was a tense silence.
"We know it's a strain, Fraulein," Klavier said seriously, "But we are willing to pay all expenses. Life time supply of snackoos? All yours. You want a toilet made of solid gold? Ja? That's weird, but it's yours."
"You guys want... me... to... have your baby?"
The two men nodded enthusiastically.
"That's... hell, that's pretty big..."
"That's what she-" Klavier sniggered.
Apollo and Ema kicked him under the table at the same time.
"Despite this idiot's giggling," Apollo sighed, "We have discussed it at length. We're deadly serious about it."
"Okay... but why me exactly?"
"For the same reason we asked you to be godmother," he replied strongly.
She took a deep breath.
"If it would seal the deal, we can fertilize you together the old fashioned way," Klavier suggested 'helpfully'. "I'll even wear the fetish-gear of your choice!"
Apollo elbowed him.
The waitress placed their food in front of them. Ema popped a few fries in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully.
"Yes," she announced, after finishing them. "I'd rather we gave the weird sex a miss, but yes, to the child carrying thing."
Practically crying, the two men hugged her tightly.
"Thank you!" they both giggled hysterically.
"I said we're giving the sex a miss!" she barked.
Rating: Ummm... 'bout PG? No swearing or heavy sex stuff but it's quite... awww... :C
Pairing: Klapollo
Kink Meme Prompt: "Alright, anons. I'm pretty sure this has already been requested, but I need more ;___; If we live in a kink meme that can have people being raped by fire extinguisers, then we can sure as hell have some more mpreg. Edgeworth/Phoenix is my OTP. But, Klavier/Apollo is also acceptable~
But, what I would like, anon, is for the one carrying the baby to miscarry and then blame it all on themselves. When, it was clearly not their fault. And angst ensues. Oh, yes.
I care not who in each pairing is the mummy or daddy, I just want me some angst. Make me cry please, anon ;____; <33"
For something they'd initially been so shocked and horrified by, they were lost when it had gone. Especially Klavier. A world he didn't know he had had been destroyed and all he could do was hate himself for it.
It started before Klavier Gavin had gone to the doctor's office. But for the sake of story telling, it began here. Klavier had gone to the doctor's office for nausea, vomiting and irritatingly frequent need to urinate. He'd seen the doctor the week before, with urine samples and now he was getting the results. When the doctor gave his diagnosis and his condolences or congratulations... Klavier was frozen in shock. More so than when Apollo had asked him on a date, more than when his brother Kristoph had been arrested and even more so than the time him and Apollo found an obsessive fangirl in their house.
He somehow managed to drive himself home. He walked through the front door with a look on his face that suggested a recent lobotomy.
"How'd it go?" his boyfriend Apollo asked, meeting him in the hallway.
"I ah..." he attempted to reply.
"Shit..." he hissed, banging his fist on the wall before wrapping his arms tightly around him. "What is it? Please tell me it's not the big C..."
"Oh nein, it's not that..." he mumbled, still staring at nothing.
"Please... Please tell me it's not incuritus!"
"I'm..."
"Yes?"
"You remember how once you said you wouldn't stick around if I got knocked up, ja?" he asked, laughing nervously, finally possessing a facial expression.
"No," he frowned.
"Well, um... ja. We've been together for... over a year? Ja? So... are you flexible on that stance?"
"Klavier, please let me point out..." he sighed frustratedly. He'd gotten so desperately worried over Klavier that he was going to be really pissed off if he'd been joking.
"This isn't a joke, Forehead."
Apollo could suddenly tell from his voice that he definitely wasn't joking.
"I'm pregnant," he finally stated.
Apollo didn't know how to respond. Instead, he simply ran up the stairs and hid in the bathroom.
Klavier walked slowly upstairs to follow Apollo. He knew exactly where to find him. He knew that when he got stressed, he'd sit in the bath with no water.
"I'm in the bath," he muttered when he saw Klavier hovering in the doorway.
"Apollo... I don't really understand it either... but it's true..."
"Come in."
Klavier sat next to him, despite the taps poking him in the back.
"As far as I know, you're the vati."
"As far as you know?" Apollo repeated with a frown.
"Well, Forehead, you're the only person I've slept with in almost two years but I don't know how male pregnancies work!" he smiled awkwardly.
Apollo chuckled slightly.
"I've never really thought about becoming a father..."
"Neither have I!" Klavier replied, taking hold of Apollo's hand, "Though I suppose... I'm going to be..."
"A mom?" Apollo sniggered.
"Ja... though... really... what is a mom? Or a dad? Is a mom someone who gives birth or a female parent? And what's a dad?"
"Klavier, don't get philosophical on me," he sighed, "This is confusing enough already. Did the doctor say how this happened?"
"Nein. He's about as lost as you and I."
"Except he doesn't have to deal with... well... everything..." he mumbled darkly.
"Please... Please don't leave me!" Klavier broke down and cried, clutching at Apollo's shirt lapels.
"Klavier, you... you fop, come here!" he sighed, pulling him over so he was lying down with Klavier on top of him. "I love you. I'm... I'm confused as all hell, but I'm sticking with you. Through thick and thin!"
"Thick...?" he mumbled, looking increasingly nervous, "Gott, I'm going to get fat!!!"
Once Apollo got sick of Klavier making beached whale remarks, he dragged him out of the bath and down to the kitchen table for a more organised discussion.
"Can we afford a baby?"
"Ja, definitely... Ha, who'd have thought The Gavinners Most Criminal Hits would turn into a baby fund?" he smiled.
"Oh god, you'll probably get a mint in publicity things too," Apollo groaned, rolling his eyes.
"Gott... I'll be a freak show..."
"I won't let that happen," he announced firmly.
"How?
"No idea," he shrugged, "Pretend you're a woman?"
"Oh gott, maybe I actually am!" he squealed, tugging his hair a little.
"Last time I checked," Apollo sighed, patting Klavier's head, "You didn't have a vagina. You have a dick. And they're pretty good indicators of gender."
"How am I going to give birth?"
They shared a thoughtful silence.
"Caesarian," Apollo finally replied firmly.
"But it'll scar..."
"Klavier, what did we just talk about?" he sighed, getting frustrated.
"But what does... Oh Ja... Ja... scheisse, ja, not getting a baby through there!"
It took a while for both of them to get used to the idea. They certainly didn't tell anyone else for a while. Not until he started to show. Klavier insisted that it was easier to tell people he was pregnant rather than letting people think he was just fat.
First came the Wrights. They'd practically adopted Apollo and, by extension, Klavier. Trucy insisted it was magic and Phoenix simply sat there sniggering.
"It seems to be growing fine," Klavier smiled, sitting next to Phoenix on the Wright's tatty old couch. "Herr Doktor says it's developing like any other baby despite the lack of a womb!"
"Then where is it growing?" Phoenix asked.
"Ach, I never really thought to ask..." he laughed, stroking his belly through the black jumper he'd taken to wearing lately.
"Name it after me!" Trucy suggested excitedly, prodding curiously.
"One Trucy is more than enough," Apollo growled, kneeling down next to Klavier and swatting her hand away protectively.
"I always thought you'd make a great mom, Polly!" she giggled.
"Trucy, you do realise that I'm not the one carrying, right?"
"Yeah... but... y'know!"
"No, I don't know. What are you giggling about?"
"Just if I ever had to make a bet on which of you would get pregnant," she started.
"Why would you?" he sighed.
"Theoretically, Polly! I would've bet on you!"
"Even though Klavier shaves his legs?"
"Forehead!" Klavier protested in embarrassment.
Excitedly, they told pretty much anyone they knew. Klavier particularly looked forward to telling their colleague and friend (although, she'd be quick to protest to being friends with Klavier), Ema Skye. The couple invited her out to lunch on a Wednesday afternoon.
"You guys have never invited me to lunch before," she observed, before they'd given their big announcement. "You two getting hitched or something?"
"Or something!" Apollo laughed nervously.
"Pfft, what, you're having a baby?" she joked.
Apollo and Klavier looked at each other.
"Okay guys, what is it really?" she laughed.
"Well, Fraulein Detective, you pretty much hit the nail on the head there!" Klavier smiled.
"You guys are adopting?" she asked, turning serious. "That's a pretty big decision, you know."
"We're not adopting," Apollo said.
"All right, sperm and a surrogate then," she sighed.
"None of that," he shrugged.
"Well... what?"
Klavier took off his jacket and displayed his baby bump.
"Please tell me that's a cushion."
"Nope!" Apollo beamed proudly. He gave the bump an affectionate rub.
She stared at them, mouth wide open, for a while.
"That's scientifically impossible!" she finally announced.
"Yet it's true!" Klavier said with the grin that made Ema feel so homicidal.
"How? You don't even have a womb!"
"The doctors are still trying to work it out!" he replied, still grinning.
"Unless we're suddenly in some parallel existence," she barked, "Neither of you are capable of producing, let alone releasing, egg cells!"
"Yet it's true!" he announced again, grinning even more.
"I... well, hell, that's just strange," she sighed. "I really think I need my damn pancakes now."
"Also, Ema, we were wondering..." Apollo started, blushing a little, "Seeing as you helped us get together, would you... um... Would you be interested in being a godmother? I mean, it's cool if you're not..."
"Apollo, I'd be honored!" she smiled at last, "Jesus, you guys are gonna give me a heart attack one of these days!"
Then their food arrived and Ema was too busy eating to talk anymore.
In the couple's growing excitement, they even told the press. Fortunately, they viewed the Prosecuting Rock God kindly and treated him as such, even respecting his privacy to a decent extent. Everyone they worked with in the courts had been made aware also, so that Klavier didn't have to explain his absences and refusal to accept too many cases.
There was one person they had yet to tell. Even talking about telling him had become a taboo. But it felt... necessary to Klavier.
"Forehead, I need to tell him... He's the only living family I have..." he pleaded as they were huddled up in bed.
"I'm your family now... and this one in here..."
"I know he hurt you..." he sighed.
"It's not just that he hurt me in the past," he argued softly, "But he's hurt you too. God knows what he's capable of, even behind bars. The man is dangerous."
"I'm man enough to..." he started. He trailed off when he noticed Apollo snigger. "Shush Forehead! Apart from being pregnant, I'm man enough to talk to my brother!"
Apollo was thoughtfully silent for a moment.
"I'm not stopping you from visiting him. And I'll be right there for you. But, for both our sakes, I'd prefer it if you didn't."
"Thank you, Forehead..." Klavier smiled softly, pulling Apollo close.
"This things almost getting in the way!" he announced, patting the belly between them.
"We haven't had a name discussion yet!" he pointed out with an excited grin.
"Well, yeah, because when we do, we will get in a fight about it," he sniggered.
"Not necessarily!"
"Yes necessarily!"
"Let's start with girl names!" he smiled, "We could take up Trucy's suggestion?"
"No. I'm not tempting fate with that one," he glared.
"What are you talking about?" he laughed.
"Do you want to deal with magically disappearing diapers?" he pointed out.
"Ach, I see... Well... How about... Ema?"
"I think she's honored enough with the godmother thing," he shrugged, "We probably shouldn't name it after someone we know. Namely, 'cause everyone we know is epically insane."
"Valid point," Klavier sighed thoughtfully, rolling onto his back. "How about... Courtney?"
"Pfft, do you want our kid to be a brainless cheerleader?"
"Forehead! That's a bit... baseless and cruel!"
"Yeah, I guess," he chuckled, stroking at the bump again.
"Any better ideas?"
"Um... Olivia?" he suggested.
"Ach Gott, our poor little girl..." he sighed dramatically, "She's doomed to be a librarian."
"Shut up! Since when has Olivia been a librarian name?"
"Since when has Courtney been a brainless cheerleader name?"
"Touche I suppose... What about... Claire?"
"Claire?" he repeated.
They lay silent for a moment.
"I can't think of any swearwords that rhyme with Claire," Apollo pointed out.
Klavier silently worded all the swearwords he could think of in every language he knew and couldn't think of any either.
"Claire!" he announced.
"What if it's a boy?" Apollo asked.
"Ach.... umm..."
"Dave?"
"Oh fantastiche, our son is going to die an eighty year old virgin," he sighed dramatically.
"Can you think of anything better?"
He thought for a moment.
"You know your name is the same as a greek god?"
"I can see where this is going," he hissed, "My answer is no."
"We could call him something really strong and proud... Like Zeus!"
"If you call this kid Zeus, you are going to be a single parent before you even know what happened."
"I think it-"
"Not to mention, if the social services hear you've called the kid Zeus, they will take him away!"
"You were-" he tried to argue.
"And that's probably why I never met my parents!" he laughed finally, "Let's just, for the time being, hope it's a girl!"
"Or call it Claire even if it is a boy..."
"Don't you think there'll be enough gender confusion round here, Klavier?"
It was a week later that Klavier gathered the courage to visit his brother. He walked through the many tightly guarded halls of the prison holding tightly to Apollo's hand.
"I'm... you know, Forehead..." he muttered.
"Scared? I know," he replied, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Mr Gavin's cell is just coming up," the guard leading them through the prison announced. He pulled some keys from his pocket. "KRISTOPH! VISITORS!"
They stood in front of the cell. Klavier and Apollo held on to each other as if their lives depended on it.
"Oh, how wondrous. My delightful little brother and my beloved protege who had me incarcerated to begin with. Splendid," the blonde 'Gentleman' sneered at them from behind the bars and his glasses.
"Did you want to go in?" the guard asked.
The two guests looked at each other. Klavier had an unsure, but pleading look on his face. Apollo simply looked stern. He nodded.
"Ja..." Klavier finally replied to the guard. He pushed past them and opened the cell door, allowing them through then locking behind them.
"Klavier. Justice. To what do I owe this... pleasure?" Kristoph greeted, sitting in a disconcertingly exquisite chair. "Do please take a seat," He added, flamboyantly indicating a sofa opposite him.
"Klavier and I have... well, we have some important news," Apollo announced, sitting down gingerly.
"Would this be about... hmmm... Perhaps I'm being released?" he sneered, "For... heh... Good behavior?"
"You wish," he replied in a growl. "Klavier, do you want to tell him?"
Klavier couldn't quite manage to talk. He squeezed Apollo's hand.
"I'm sure you are aware that me and Klavier have been in a relationship together for almost two years," Apollo sighed.
"Something I've been made painfully aware of, yes," he replied, wrinkling his nose for a moment. "It's sickening, really."
"What's sickening about being in love?" Klavier finally blurted.
"Love? Is that what you call it? Well, I'd be quicker to call it a perversion, myself..."
"We're not here for your sick insights, Kristoph!" Apollo barked. "Klavier, tell him our news!"
"We're having a baby!"
A deathly silence.
"Please repeat that, I'm sure you just said..."
"You heard correctly, Kristoph," Apollo said proudly.
"You got bored of each other and decided to adopt to spice things up... How so very droll."
"We're not adopting," Klavier mumbled, he finally let go of Apollo's hand and placed both his hands on his bump.
"You're..." Kristoph gasped, finally at a genuine momentary loss for words. It was short-lived. "This is a hilarious little prank, you boys, but really. I may not have much to do-"
"Kristoph, we wouldn't go to all the trouble of visiting you for the sake of a joke!" Apollo shouted, standing up with his fists clenched. The guard tapped the bars with his truncheon in warning. He sat down and tried to lower his voice. "The doctors still can't find an explanation for any of this, but yes, Klavier is pregnant. I'm surprised you hadn't seen it in any of the papers."
"Oh, they've stopped letting me read the newspapers," he sighed, putting his hand softly to his temples, "Raises my blood pressure. I'm surprised they allowed you in."
"I think Klavier's well-being is of higher priority than yours!"
"Oh, of course. What with my impending execution and all. Still waiting for the date on that. Hmmm... Oh, wouldn't it be delightful if it was on the day of the birth?" he sneered, clapping his hands with twisted sarcasm. "Why the hell should I care?"
"Kristoph... du bist mein bruder..." Klavier said quietly.
"Klavier, did you know that it doesn't actually make you seem more intelligent or cultured when you switch languages?" the elder brother sighed, now folding his arms. "It just makes you look vulnerable... Which I suppose is what you're aiming for, in this case. I can see through your coquettish little acts."
"Visiting hours' up in five minutes," the guard barked.
"Whether you like it or not," Klavier hissed, having finally had enough of Kristoph's mind-games. "You are going to be this kid's uncle. Try to be happy for me!!!"
Kristoph stared at him for a moment. "Even if I live long enough to see this... freak... I absolutely refuse to acknowledge it as... In fact, I refuse to acknowledge it at all."
"This will be the sole Gavin heir!" he barked.
"As far as I'm concerned," he sighed, "The Gavin name dies with me."
"I'd love to know what your problem is..." Apollo growled. "Just wish us well!"
"I'll do no such thing," he shrugged, starting to look bored, "In fact, I wish the abomination ceased to exist. GUARDS! I GROW TIRED OF MY GUESTS! ESCORT THEM OUT PLEASE!"
So, they were escorted outside.
Once home, Klavier went straight to Apollo's hiding place.
"Klavier, you hate sitting in the bath unless there's hot water and fancy bubbles," Apollo sighed, joining him.
"Am I a freak?"
"Yeah, but you were even before you were pregnant," he smiled, taking hold of his hands. "That's why I fell in love with you!"
"Oh, Forehead," he squeaked, trying to snuggle up against him.
"Now that's out of the way, can we get out of the bath?" he laughed.
"Ja, I suppose..." he smiled, struggling to get out. "I shouldn't let Kristoph get to me like this..."
"Too true..." Apollo agreed, helping him up. "His doctor gave us a copy of his medical and psychiatric reports, remember?"
"Ja?"
"They mention sociopathy or pyschopathy," he said, leading him to their bed so Klavier could rest. "You can't believe a thing he says, just like he can't understand..."
"I don't really want to talk about him any more..." he sighed, "He's dead to me now. Let's talk about Claire instead."
"Klavi, for the last time, we are not calling it Claire if it's a boy!"
A few weeks later, they were preparing for a new court case.
"Are you okay, Klavier?" Apollo asked. "You look pretty tired."
"I'm fine," he smiled, nibbling on some toast.
"Are you sure you're still up to taking cases?"
"I'm fine, Forehead!" he chuckled, "I mean, I'm not due for a few months!"
"Okay, but I really think this should be your last case until you give birth!"
"But it would be exciting if Claire were born in court!"
"I can imagine the headlines," Apollo sighed, "'Gender-bent birth of baby boy Courtroom Claire'..."
They stood at opposing sides of the courtroom. The judge gave his speech then asked Klavier, the prosecutor of the case, to give his piece.
He simply stared onwards with that same look he'd had when he first came home to tell Apollo he was pregnant. He held his stomach... It felt strange. Really strange. And it hurt.
"Mr Gavin?"
"I'd like to call a recess..." he responded weakly.
"But you haven't even given your opening-"
"We need to halt the proceedings!" Apollo shouted. He pushed every obstacle aside and sprinted to Klavier. "Someone call an ambulance!!!"
The courtroom erupted into a noisy hive of activity. Klavier had fainted and Apollo was holding him close.
"Everything's going to be okay..." he mumbled, not entirely sure of that himself, "I love you and everything's going to be fine..."
The ambulance arrived shortly and Klavier was rushed straight into surgery. Apollo sat outside in the waiting room, cursing fate.
"If it's any consolation," a nurse told him, "You wouldn't be allowed in with him even if you were a heterosexual couple."
"What kind of consolation is that?!" he shouted, unable to focus his anger.
"I'm sorry. Just some couples get a little... offended," she sighed, "Though, in this situation..."
"Please, can't you just tell me what's happening in there?"
"I am really sorry, Mr... Justice? You'll be informed as soon as surgery is complete."
Then she walked away. Leaving him alone with just fear and anxiety for company.
"Mr Justice?" a doctor called, stepping through the double doors.
"Doctor, please tell me Klavi's okay!" he pleaded, running to the doctor.
"Mr Gavin is going to be fine," he replied, "He's still under anesthetic at the moment, but he should be awake in about a hour or so."
"Thank god..." Apollo sighed.
"However," he continued.
"Please, please not a however!"
"I'm sorry, Mr Justice," he said, visibly emotionless.
"We did everything we could, but we couldn't save the baby."
Apollo didn't know how to respond. He wanted to cry, he wanted to punch the wall, he wanted to curl up into a ball and die.
"From a professional point of view, I'm surprised that she survived as long as she did."
"She?"
"Yes. She'd only just developed a gender, but yes, the fetus was clearly female."
"Claire..."
"Mr Gavin is being transported to a private room now. As his... partner, it is up to you whether the news is given to him by our staff or by yourself."
"I have to tell him. I want to be there when he wakes up," he replied firmly.
"Of course," he nodded, "Well, if you'd like to follow me, Mr Justice."
The doctor led Apollo into a small dimly lit room. Klavier was lying in a hospital bed.
"Take a seat," the doctor offered. "Mr Gavin will be asleep for a while."
Apollo sat in a plastic chair next to the bed. He ran his hand through Klavier's loose blonde hair.
"I love you..." he whispered repeatedly.
"Do either of you have any relatives that we can call in?"
"No..." he whispered. He thought of Kristoph for a moment and instantly rejected the idea.
"Well, I'm sure you'd like to be alone," he sighed, preparing to leave, "Take into consideration that we have security cameras in here."
Apollo frowned as the door opened and closed. He then turned back to his unconscious boyfriend. He took hold of one of his hands and kissed it lightly.
Klavier eventually stirred. Apollo dropped the hand he was holding in surprise.
"Look at my skin," Klavier laughed weakly, "A few months without a sunbed and I look like a corpse!"
"Klavi!" he gasped, wrapping his arms around him.
"What... um... ja, what happened?" he smiled obliviously.
Apollo finally broke down and cried.
"What? What is it, Polly?"
"You... We... We lost Claire."
Klavier looked away.
"The surgeons did everything they could but..."
"I want to go home."
"I think they need to keep you in observation a while," Apollo sighed, still crying, "It was a pretty big operation..."
Klavier pulled away the clinical green bedsheets and stared at the stitches running down his stomach for a moment before covering back up and screwing his eyes shut. Silent tears streamed down his face at first then before long, he was sobbing loudly and clinging tightly to Apollo.
"Mr Justice," the doctor from earlier called, standing at the door a few hours later. "I'm afraid you will have to leave now. Visiting hours are over."
"Please, can't I stay just for tonight?" Apollo pleaded, holding tightly to Klavier's hand.
"I am sorry, Mr Justice," he shook his head, "But this is a hospital, not a hotel. You may return tomorrow between twelve and four, should you wish."
"Apollo, I don't want you to leave me!" Klavier begged.
"You need your rest, Mr Gavin."
"Can't I rest at home?"
"Mr Gavin, we need to keep you in observation."
Klavier pulled Apollo close and started muttering a stream of pleadings and nonsense.
"Klavier, I love you so much..." he whispered, holding him tightly.
"Please Mr Justice, let me escort you out," the doctor sighed, "Otherwise, I will have to call on our security personnel to escort you instead."
Apollo sighed, gave Klavier one last tight squeeze with a whispered "I love you" then followed the doctor away.
He stepped into their house and sighed. It felt horribly empty and cold, as though all the colours had faded away.
He picked up a photo frame. He and Klavier in a tight embrace. Apollo was pretending he wasn't happy about it but the creeping smile as Klavier kissed his face said otherwise.
He put it back down and stumbled around the house, feeling effectively useless.
A little later, the phone rang. It took Apollo a moment to establish that the noise was real and not just an emotional hallucination. He picked it up.
"Apollo Justice speaking."
"Hey Polly, it's Ema."
"Hey... hey Ema..."
"Sorry if it's nosy or anything..." she said, "But... What happened? The fop was supposed to summon me to give a statement before... um... yeah. Whatever happened."
"He..." he started. He gave a surrendering sigh. "Ema, do you think you could come round?"
"Uh? Oh um... sure. Should I bring anything?"
"Toothbrush?"
"Only if I can borrow one of his slinky negligees..." she sighed.
"Thanks Ema..."
"So, I'm topping, right?" Ema smiled, standing at the front door.
"Come in," Apollo sighed, attempting a smile.
"I'm guessing whatever it is, it's not good, right?" she asked seriously, putting her messenger bag down in the hallway.
"Let's sit down."
They sat down in the living room.
"We lost the baby. Claire is dead."
She gasped.
"They've had to keep Klavier in..." he sighed miserably. "I don't want to go through this alone but... Jesus, I can't imagine what he's feeling right now."
Ema simply hugged him.
"I just wish I could be there for him..."
"Polly, you've gotta look out for yourself too," she finally offered, "Come on, let's put on the tv."
She grabbed for the remote and flicked around for something cheerful to watch, while still hugging her friend.
"It's one of my godmotherly duties to take care of you guys."
"God, I'm tired," Ema yawned a few hours later. "Bed now, Polly?"
"Yeah, sure," he replied tiredly. "You have the bed, I'll sleep on the couch."
"Polly, I don't think her foppishness would be too upset by you sleeping in the same bed as another woman," she sniggered. "Even if we do anything, I'm on the pill so it's not like I'm gonna get..."
An awkward silence.
"Jesus, Apollo, I'm so sorry, I wasn't thinking!" she blurted.
"It's okay, Ema..." Apollo smiled softly, "I know you didn't mean anything by it..."
"God, I feel like such an idiot!" Ema cursed herself as they climbed into bed. She'd borrowed one of Klavier's tour-shirts as a night dress.
"Really, it's fine," Apollo assured her.
"You're cool, y'know, Apollo..." she sighed.
"Cool? I think that's the last word anyone would use to describe me!" he chuckled.
"Just... you seem to be coping pretty damn well already."
"I'm just a survivor, I guess," he shrugged, "I mean, I lost my parents when I was a baby and grew up in different homes. I got fostered a few times and I started getting used to losing all contact with the foster families... Kinda like grieving. I learned to... well... not get over it... but... it's hard to explain."
Ema was just nodding. She looked as though she was mentally taking notes.
"I guess instead of feeling bad that I'd lost them, I felt happy to have known them at all. Like um... damn, what's that saying? 'It's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all', I think."
"That's pretty... smart?"
"Street smart," Apollo laughed. "Well, it's... I get by. But on the flip side, Klavier had a pretty idyllic childhood, save for the homicidal psychopathic brother. Then he became a prosecutor and a rock star. It sounds... bratty, I guess, but he's not used to things not going his way. I'm pretty scared by how he's taking this..."
"I'm sure he's fine..."
Meanwhile, Klavier was not fine. He was crying hysterically and trying to escape from the hospital.
Abandoning the few possessions he had with him, Klavier crept out of his room. The surgical recovery unit was surprisingly lax with it's security so it wasn't until he ran into, and knocked over, a trolley in the department of obstetrics and gynecology that he got caught. He was getting so distressed and uncontrollable that the nurses had to sedate them before carrying him back to his room.
Shortly after, Apollo and Ema were woken up by the phone.
"Ungh... hello?" he answered it groggily.
"Could I speak to a Mr Justice please?"
"Speaking," he yawned.
"Mr Justice, your... partner, Mr Gavin-"
"Oh god, is Klavier all right?!?! Please I couldn't live without-"
"Ah, please calm down, Mr Justice. Mr Gavin is fine, but we just needed to inform you that we have had to sedate him after an escape attempt."
Apollo laughed coldly. Only Klavier would do something that stupid.
"Can I come visit him now? I'm sure I can calm him down."
"I'm sorry, Mr Justice, but rules are rules. We just thought you'd like to be kept informed."
"Well, thanks," he grunted bitterly. "Goodbye."
He put the phone down.
"What was that?" Ema yawned.
"Klavier tried to escape the hospital," he sighed.
"He really is such a drama queen... What time is it?"
"Jeeze, it's three in the morning..." he replied, staring at the radio alarm clock.
"God, I'll never get back to..." she groaned before going back to sleep.
Apollo sighed and tried to follow suit.
At a more social hour in the morning, they got up and had breakfast. Ema had to present her findings in court and Apollo had to make a few phonecalls regarding the same case. He was grateful for the distractions but felt a little bit guilty that Klavier didn't have the same luxury.
As early as possible, Apollo got in Klavier's car and drove to the hospital, only just abiding the speed limit. As a result, he got there about half an hour early. He sighed and walked to a little convenience store across the street, where he bought a ridiculous amount of gifts and toiletries for Klavier. He could hardly carry it all back to the hospital.
Before long, he was being led back to Klavier's room. The man staring up at him from the bed looked like a completely different person to the man he'd woken up with the day before... As if he'd had his essence stolen.
"Hey there, Klavi..." Apollo smiled awkwardly. He put the carrier bag down by the door and dashed to wrap his arms around the patient.
Klavier didn't say anything. He just clung tightly and cried.
"I brought you some things," he announced, pulling him off to bring the bag over. "Look, your favourite chocolates!"
"Thank you, Forehead," he attempted a smile. "I really don't deserve all this though..."
"Don't be silly, Klavier!" he sighed, opening the box for him.
"This is all my fault..."
The usually confident and positive man was bedraggled and avoiding all eye contact.
"Klavier, it is in no way your fault," he whispered, putting the chocolates down and pulling him close again.
"But... what I did... If I hadn't... Ach Gott!"
He started crying again, even harder.
"What did you do?" Apollo sighed, "Come on, babe, I'm sure nothing you've done could... you know..."
"But it's true!" he insisted.
"What did you do, Klavier?"
"I... I... You heard what he said..."
"What who said? The doctor?"
"He wished her dead..."
"What?!"
"I insisted we told him..."
"Are you talking about... well... Kristoph?"
"Ja... He... he... He put a curse... It's all my fault... I shouldn't... I shouldn't have told him..."
"Baby, that's just stupid," he whispered into his ear, still holding tightly. "Come on, it's not your fault at all!"
"I wish I could believe that!!!" he squealed, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Klavi..."
"Mr Justice, may I have a word with you?" the doctor asked, hovering in the doorway.
"Can't it wait until after visiting hours?" Apollo frowned, still holding affectionately tight to Klavier.
"It won't take long."
He sighed with exasperation, kissed Klavier on the forehead then got up and followed the doctor out of the room, to his office.
"I think Mr Gavin will be fit for discharge today," the doctor announced, sitting at his impressive desk.
"What, you mean he can come home?" he asked.
The doctor nodded. "The incision seems to be healing wonderfully."
"What about... um... well... I'm worried about..."
"Scarring? No need to worry, Mr Justice. I'll prescribe a cream and some medications and it'll be gone in weeks."
"I don't care about scarring," he hissed, "It's his mental and emotional state I'm concerned about!"
"Oh yes... I understand that it may be difficult for him-"
"And me!"
"Yes, but what you need to realise is that, realistically, the baby's chance of survival was approximately... one in seven billion? Like I believe I may have said, I'm surprised that the fetus had only just expired. I don't know what his usual general practitioner advised, but in my professional opinion, I would've terminated the pregnancy as soon as it had been discovered."
"How could you say that?" Apollo hissed, feeling deeply offended.
"I am sorry, Mr Justice, but from a scientific viewpoint..."
Apollo sniggered. He could imagine Ema providing her own 'scientific viewpoint' and being a great deal more reasonable about it.
"The question is, do you want Mr Gavin to go home?" the doctor sighed impatiently.
"Of course I do... I just wish that-"
"Good, I'll start on the paperwork now then," he interrupted, guiding Apollo out. "Glad that we could come to an agreement. Goodbye!"
Angered by the doctor but somewhat pleased that Klavier could come home, Apollo went to give the good news.
"I'll be so glad to be out of here," Klavier sighed once he'd been told. "I hate it here."
"Well, you'll be out by the end of the day," he attempted a smile.
"You don't seem too pleased about it, Forehead," he mumbled.
"Oh Klavi, you know I am just..." he sighed, "Just... I'm worried about you."
"I'll be fine once I'm out of this place..." he squeaked. He was getting tearful again.
"I love you so much, Klavier..." he whispered, holding him close again.
"Gott, I love you too, Apollo," he murmured, "You and your shiny forehead are like the shining beacon in my life..."
Their embrace led to gentle affectionate kisses. As they got increasingly more fervent with each other, they were interrupted by a "aherm" by the door.
Frustratedly, Apollo climbed off of Klavier and sat back in the plastic chair.
"I've filed the paper work," the doctor announced.
"That was quick," Apollo growled, starting to hate the doctor.
"Discharge forms are," he replied, somehow not noticing Apollo's disdain. "You're free to leave as soon as you wish."
"Oh, danke gott!" Klavier wailed, clinging to Apollo once again and attempting to continue their heavy kissing.
"Aherm. Also, as hospital policy, Mr Justice will not be permitted in the room while Mr Gavin is changing. I'm sure you understand."
Another growl from Apollo.
"I'll change right away!" Klavier announced, "Anything to get home..."
"I guess I'll go wait in the car then," he sighed. "It's in the blue section of the parking lot."
"I'll try to be as quick as I can," he replied, giving him a quick kiss before he left with the doctor.
Before long, they were stepping through the front door of their house. And in contrast to his earlier moment of fieriness, Klavier had suddenly became quite cold. Without a word, he dashed up the stairs and hid in the bedroom. Apollo slowly and quietly followed him. He stood in the doorway and watched as his partner traced a pattern with his finger, up and down on the window.
"Welcome home," he said meekly.
"Hmm," was all he got in response.
"Klavier, please don't shut me out..."
"But I have to... You're going to leave soon."
Apollo felt completely floored by this.
"Why would you want to stay with me?" Klavier continued. "I'm... Gott, I don't know what I am."
"Oh, Klavier..." he sighed, walking up close and wrapping his arms around his middle. "Don't be ridiculous..."
"You're going to leave for someone who can do something as simple as... simple as having a baby."
"Klavier, let me point out some things," he sighed again, "First, you remember that I'm a homosexual male, right?"
"Ja..."
"And women... well... usually... Women are the ones who have babies. So, that's not likely. Also, you remember what I said before? That I'd leave you if you got knocked up?"
"Ha, ja..."
"So, there we go... I mean, I am upset that we lost Claire... It's gonna take time to heal, of course... But it's definitely not going to make me love you any less."
"But what about... ugh... I hate looking at it..." he groaned, tearing himself away from Apollo and lifting up his shirt to show him the scar.
"Klavier. Would you love me less if I lost an arm?"
"No..."
"And I'm sure as hell not gonna love you less because of some scar."
Klavier looked unsure for a moment.
"We're gonna get through this. And when we do, we'll be stronger than ever," Apollo assured him.
"I love you so much..."
Klavier hardly left their bed for a week. It took that long for him to regain his physical strength.
Apollo ignored all his cries of "Please, I don't deserve this" and brought him all sorts of nice snacks and hot drinks. He was practically slaving after him.
"Of course you deserve it," he sighed. "Come on, these are your favourites."
"I should be slaving after you..." he whimpered.
"Klavier, stop it. Please. Seeing you like this hurts more than anything."
He sighed. "I'll try to pull myself together. Hmmm..."
Apollo sat down next to him and stroked his hand gently.
Klavier's demeanor suddenly changed.
"Let's try for another," he smiled, taking hold of both of Apollo's hands.
Apollo stared at him. He had a slightly desperate smile.
"You're... joking. Joking, right?"
"Nein! Come on, Forehead! Let's... let's make another baby!"
Apollo gently pushed his hands away and sighed.
"Klavier, you know it's not going to... work like that... Right?"
"Let's try anyway, ja?"
"Baby... I love you. And you know that you turn me on more than anyone ever could... but... we're not going to do this right now. You don't want this. I understand you. You're too upset to make love. You're either trying to make it up to me or actually trying to make another baby... But we don't even know how it happened before. And you don't need to prove anything to me. We're not going to have sex again until we both feel like making love to each other."
Klavier's manner changed again. He'd calmed down and he was almost smiling again.
"Gott, Apollo... Why are you so smart?"
"One of us has to be!" he sniggered. Instead of the sex Klavier had been hinting towards, they shared a massive cuddle instead.
At full physical strength, Klavier was reluctant to return to the courtroom. He declined all cases, declaring that he was focusing on his solo musical career. He had no genuine interest at the time for a solo musical career. He decided that he wanted to live a bit of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle again though. Even though he hadn't left the house since he'd left the hospital.
"Polly," he started, standing in the doorway to the small study in their house.
"Yeah?" Apollo replied, turning away from his laptop for a moment.
"I think I'd like to go out tonight."
"Oh?"
"Ja. I think a few drinks and maybe a dance could cheer us up."
"Well, if you put it like that, then yeah, I'm definitely up for it."
"Brilliant," he smiled slightly, leaving the room to go through his wardrobe for something that would hide his stomach.
When they were out, Klavier was extremely nervous, so Apollo took it upon himself to be the designated driver.
"I'll buy you a drink to calm you down a bit," he smiled.
"Danke, Forehead."
"Then we can dance together. What would you like to drink?"
"Ah... a Cosmopolitan, danke."
"Sure, then I'll do your hair all nice and we'll discuss our boyfriend's techniques," he sneered mockingly.
"It's not that gay, is it?"
"It's quite gay, love."
"ALOPPO!" Klavier shouted, later on in the night.
"Calm down, Klavi..." Apollo sighed, trying to reign in his exceedingly drunk boyfriend.
"Wudjalikeasambucca?"
"What? Say that again slowly..."
"Would... you... like... a... um... sambucca?"
"Klavier, you know I'm driving..." he sighed again.
"Well, I'm... I'm buying two so if you want one..." he shrugged extravagantly. He approached the bar and started waving at the bar girl. "Two sambuccas por favor!"
She brought over two shots of clear, strong-smelling liquid. He drank one, shuddered then slammed it down on the bar, then repeated with the next one.
"Ugh... I feel... um... Less than good..." he muttered. He stumbled over his feet and lurched into the bathroom... the ladies bathroom, but a bathroom nonetheless and it was mercifully empty. Apollo chased him and found him being riotously sick in and around one of the toilets.
"Jesus, Klavier!" he whispered, holding back his hair and wiping periodically at his mouth with tissue. "Why would you want to get like this?"
"I..." he panted, before being sick again. "I wanted to forget how I feel..."
"Oh, baby..." he sighed, stroking softly at his hair. "Come on... Once I've apologized to the bar staff for you, we're going home."
"But I want another drink..." he muttered.
"You stay there and I'll get you another drink," he mumbled, getting up and walking to the sink. He cupped his hands under a running tap and then knelt back down and held them at Klavier's chin. "Okay, drink this, my darling..."
"I'm not thirsty..." he muttered.
"Come on, please..." he sighed, lifting his hands to his lips.
Klavier let out a pathetic sigh then lapped at the water, like a cat.
"I love you, Klavi, sweetheart..."
With some difficulty, he drove them home. Klavier had fallen asleep, leaning on Apollo's shoulder.
In the house, he had a struggle, carrying the taller man up the stairs to bed. Trying to undress him to change him into his pajamas proved difficult too. He was fine with the removal of pants but wrestled against the removal of his shirt.
"Come on, Klavier, please..." Apollo sighed, "That shirt's not very comfy. It's quite tight."
"Are you calling me fat?!?!" he screamed.
"Klavier, shhhh... Of course I'm not calling you fat..."
"But I am though! That's why the baby died!"
"Darling, you're being silly..." he whispered, almost crying, pulling him close. "Come here..."
Klavier clung to him and wept. "I don't want to feel like this anymore..."
"I know you don't... No one does... Shhh... I love you."
And once again, he'd fallen asleep, clutching to Apollo.
In the morning, Apollo had to lever the drunk off of his arm, which was now quite numb. He left the room to get Klavier some coffee and aspirin. He'd certainly need it.
He returned and Klavier was trying to hide his head under one of the pillows.
"You okay, baby?" Apollo asked, putting the coffee and pills on the bed side table.
"My head..." he whined.
"Well, you did drink practically all the alcohol in Los Angeles."
"Hmmmmm..." he groaned, clutching at the pillow.
"I've gotta go to work now. You gonna be okay?"
"Feel like I'm dying..."
"You're not, sweetie..."
"Ach, never drinking again."
"Glad to hear it... Well, give me a call if you need anything."
"Anything?"
"Anything..."
A few hours later, Klavier called up to cry and ask for a hug.
Apollo would come home to find Klavier asleep, clutching at one of his red waist coats. After watching him in his peaceful slumber for a short while, he left to make dinner.
Apparently, the smell of spaghetti sauce was strong enough to rouse Klavier. He appeared in the kitchen doorway, rubbing his eye.
"You okay there?" Apollo smiled.
"Hmm..."
"Dinner won't be long."
"Okay..." he mumbled before shuffling off somewhere.
Apollo sighed. He couldn't tell how Klavier was feeling and that made him uncomfortable.
When they had dinner, they were sat in silence.
Klavier's silence lasted for several days. Apollo couldn't get much more than a nod or a mumble out of him.
One evening, he stood in the study doorway in one of his partying outfits.
"I'm going out," he told Apollo.
"Out? Do you want me to go with you?" he asked.
"Nein... you're really busy," he mumbled.
"Yeah, but I could drive you home."
"You're not my chauffeur, Apollo," he said sternly.
Apollo felt like his heart was going to break. "Well... I'll be right here. If you need me."
"Thank you, Forehead..." he muttered, softening considerably. He then dashed away.
Apollo was terrified. It wasn't that he didn't trust Klavier, of course he did, but the man could become quite flirty when drunk and people could easily take advantage. He chewed nervously on his pen, trying to stop thinking about all the possible (and many not quite so possible) scenarios that could occur.
He attempted to sleep on the couch that night. Klavier stumbled through the front door at about midnight and drunkenly attempted to molest Apollo.
"Klavier," he sighed, "How much did you drink?"
"Some..." he replied, still attempting to arouse him with misplaced prods.
"You should sleep it off. Come on..."
He tried to lead Klavier upstairs. The drunk man decided he'd much rather sleep on the stairs. Apollo was too depressed to argue.
This battle became a nightly occurrence for about a week. Apollo had to nurse Klavier through each and every hangover, and he was becoming more tired than his patient. One morning, he fell asleep after giving him his coffee, missing work and it was then that Klavier started to realise the effect his behavior was having on the man he loved. He tucked him into the bed and, climbing in after, held him close.
Apollo woke up a few hours later with Klavier's hair in his face.
"Guten morgan," he smiled.
"Klavi...?"
"Binge drinking is the wrong way to solve problems, ja?"
"You're telling me," he mumbled.
"I'm not very good at grieving," Klavier smiled sheepishly.
"Oh, I noticed, sweet..." Apollo sneered.
"I wish I could be as strong as you..."
Apollo simply yawned in response.
"Es tut mir leid, mein Apollochien," he sighed, snuggling.
"Klavi, you fop, translation?"
"Ohhh..." he gasped. Then he translated with some lazy air quotes. "I am sorry, my little Apollo!"
"I'm not little!" he protested.
"Not where it counts, Forehead!" he sniggered.
They laughed together, tussling affectionately.
That morning, they made love for the first time in months.
"Maybe we could go to grief counseling?" Apollo suggested later as they held each other. He was twirling a finger in Klavier's loosened hair.
"Does that exist?" Klavier asked, blinking bemusedly.
"Yes, Klavier! That's why I said it!"
"Well... if it exists, then why not?" he smiled.
"Good. Well, let's just have a duvet day today. Book something up tomorrow..."
"Things are already getting better, ja?" he grinned.
"Yeah... I love you, baby!"
It was about a year later and the couple were stronger than ever. Today, they had arranged to have lunch with their close friend Ema, to ask her a question.
"You guys hardly ever invite me to lunch," she observed, before they'd given their proposal. "You two getting hitched or something?"
"Or something!" Apollo laughed nervously.
"Oh god, I'm getting deja vu over here, guys..." she blinked.
Apollo and Klavier looked at each other.
"Okay guys, what is it really?" she laughed.
"Well, Fraulein, we're thinking of having a baby," Klavier grinned.
"Do you have any idea how to do that again?"
"We were thinking something more scientific," Apollo laughed.
"Ooh, you've got my attention now!"
"Well, there's this experimental... um... experiment?" he explained nervously, "Well, it's... uh... they kind of combine two sperms?"
"Right, I'm kinda glad my food hasn't arrived yet..." she muttered.
"Well, yeah, we'd have sperm that's part of both of us and we'd just need an egg and a surrogate."
There was a tense silence.
"We know it's a strain, Fraulein," Klavier said seriously, "But we are willing to pay all expenses. Life time supply of snackoos? All yours. You want a toilet made of solid gold? Ja? That's weird, but it's yours."
"You guys want... me... to... have your baby?"
The two men nodded enthusiastically.
"That's... hell, that's pretty big..."
"That's what she-" Klavier sniggered.
Apollo and Ema kicked him under the table at the same time.
"Despite this idiot's giggling," Apollo sighed, "We have discussed it at length. We're deadly serious about it."
"Okay... but why me exactly?"
"For the same reason we asked you to be godmother," he replied strongly.
She took a deep breath.
"If it would seal the deal, we can fertilize you together the old fashioned way," Klavier suggested 'helpfully'. "I'll even wear the fetish-gear of your choice!"
Apollo elbowed him.
The waitress placed their food in front of them. Ema popped a few fries in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully.
"Yes," she announced, after finishing them. "I'd rather we gave the weird sex a miss, but yes, to the child carrying thing."
Practically crying, the two men hugged her tightly.
"Thank you!" they both giggled hysterically.
"I said we're giving the sex a miss!" she barked.