A Year of Surprises 10
Pairing: UKUS
Rating/Warnings: M for language, sex, mpreg, and angst
Word count: 2431
Summary: Nations in times of prosperity are capable of reproducing. Of course there's a problem with this: when they do go into heat it doesn't stop until they conceive. This is the story of America's first pregnancy.
Chapter One
March
The snow melting was the best thing that had happened in months. The first day America saw grass, he ran out to the stables before breakfast. England had made him promise to be careful, since it was difficult to ride a horse when one was roughly the size of a cow. (He had really said that it could be dangerous if America fell, but why else would he fall? It had never happened to him before.) Of course, he broke that promise as quickly as possible. The moment he was sure that he was hidden by the trees, he gave Carrot a sharp jab to her flanks and they rode off at breakneck speed.
America threw his head back and breathed in the fresh air. It tasted so sweet after the way he'd been cooped up for so damn long. The wind ran through his hair with even more affection than England's fingers and almost lovingly caressed his face. He felt the steady beat of his land coursing through him, as steady and personal as his breathing and heartbeat. Carrot took powerful strides beneath him and her warm steady presence resonated all through his body.
It was almost odd how spiritual the experience was. America closed his eyes and let go of Carrot's reins. Instead, he placed his hands on her neck. Even though she wasn't human, she was still part of him. Americans were Americans, and they were all his babies. What did number of legs matter? He steered her through their connection, gently pushing her simple mind to take them one way or another. It was rare that he used his abilities so fully, but it was a day for it. He was free and wild and hadn't felt so much like himself in years.
He allowed the feeling to expand further. No longer was it just Carrot's head, but down her spine, through her nerves, into her hooves, and then into the ground she steadily beat against. Suddenly, he was everywhere at once. Suddenly, he knew everything that was happening from Georgia to the farthest reaches of Massachusetts where the northern bits rubbed against Canada's land. In fact, he could feel his brother's softer presence like he was snuggling against him. Spain was to his south, bright and warm and energetic. But more important than all of that was the information that he suddenly could see, things he had known all along but hadn't bothered to look for. In New York a man named Peter Miller was bargaining for eggs because he was saving to buy his wife an anniversary present. In Charleston, Sally Hopkins was thinking about giving her virginity to Charlie White, who himself had already planned his proposal to her but at the moment was still asleep and dreaming about the dog he'd had as a boy. Somewhere in an unnamed part of the west a mouse that was about to starve to death found a farmer's grain storage. The child he was carrying loved him.
That thought shocked him more than what he'd seen throughout his land. He slowed Carrot to a halt and pulled his awareness closer to block out everything else. He'd never been inside of an unborn baby's mind so closely before. It wasn't completely simple like an animal's, but it wasn't complex like an adult's or even a child's. It felt sort of hazy, like it was trying to be sentient but wasn't quite there yet. There were no words in her mind or even pictures, just sensations and flashes of light and dark, but in spite of that there were things that she just somehow knew.
Her World was small and she understood that. She knew that her World was inside of another person and there was a bigger place outside of that. She didn't know who America was, but she knew he was the only thing that mattered. He gave her food through the cord coming from her belly, he gave her air even though she couldn't breathe, whenever he was happy she would be too, and he and the Other One (England, presumably) were the only ones that paid attention to her. She listened to their voices, felt them pressing gently against her World's edge. She didn't know what seeing quite was, but she wanted to actually see them, not just the blurry silhouettes of a hand or a head.
America wrapped his arms around his belly and hugged it as tightly as he could. He reached out and touched her consciousness as he had with Carrot's. However, this time instead of sending orders he sort of nuzzled her with it. He gave her warmth and let her know mommy and daddy loved her too.
She was scared and confused at first, kicking wildly in the hopes that somehow it would make things go back to normal. She recognized his presence, but she didn't know how.
America soothed her gently, both with his mind and with his hands. "Hush, Aidie," He said softly, "It's just me. Don't be scared."
She settled after a few moments, finally understanding that the person who had her World was showing her love in a new way. She embraced him after that, trying to show him things that America already knew.
Maybe he should do this sort of thing more often, he realized. After all, his daughter had a very interesting point of view. He dismounted and sat down on a fallen log, lazily rubbing his stomach. Adrianna wasn't exactly giving him intelligent conversation, but the ability to talk to his child like that was good enough.
He looked out and realized with a start Carrot had taken him out to the cliff. The last time he'd been there was back in September. God, he was so scared, so damn angry at the world back then. It was much less pretty now, with all the trees looking dead and not a single sign of life except for a few forlorn-looking crows flying a few miles off, but he was so much happier. It didn't matter that his land was still drowsy with winter that had not quite thawed, he felt more alive than he had in months. He started laughing and pulled back into himself.
"I win, symbolism." He said, standing back up.
"Win what?"
America almost jumped out of his shoes. He had been so focused on himself and his baby that he hadn't noticed Lucy coming up behind him, walking her father's horse. He grinned when he saw her and ran over to give her a big hug.
"What are you doing here?" He asked when he pulled away.
"I wanted to see you, and since most of the snow is gone I thought there'd be a good chance you'd be here."
"I'm glad you were right," America said with a laugh, "How have you been?"
"Good," She said. Her smile fell, "But.. my father is pushing for me to get married again, though. My mother and sisters can handle the housework on their own and I think he doesn't like the extra expense of having me around. That's why I wanted to see you. I needed a bit of comfort."
America scowled, "I hate that. You're not some cow that needs to be sold off. You're a great girl, Lucy."
She smiled weakly, "Thanks. It doesn't change anything, though. I think he's going to arrange something soon, though. He's been talking to the Jeffersons. One of their sons is of marrying age now and-" She took a deep breath, "It's a good path, but it's not mine, Alfred."
America thought for a moment. There had to be a way out of this. There had to be a happy ending, there just had to be. Suddenly, he got an idea.
"Why don't you come work for us?"
"What?"
"It'll be great." He took her hands in his, "You can work as my and England's maid! Then your dad can't complain about you being useless, even though you weren't to begin with, and we'll get to spend some time together."
"Are you sure that's alright?"
"Yeah! If nothing else, a lot of people think we're a couple. If your dad thinks I'm courting you he'll get off of your back!"
She smiled, "That's great!"
"Now all we have to do is get England to approve it. I'm sure he will when I put on the puppy dog face and play the pregnant card."
She laughed, "Is the leader of an empire really that easy to convince?"
"Only for me. Now come on, let's go talk to him."
"No. No, Absolutely not!" England didn't know what America was playing at. He had just come back into their parlor and demanded that they hired some girl to be a maid. They didn't need a housekeeper, not when she could reveal their secret. If that happened then everything would be ruined.
"Come on! You were just saying yourself that all of this work is getting to you. Wouldn't you like some help?"
"What I want is irrelevant!" England snapped. He took another sip of his tea to calm himself. "You know how dangerous it is to let humans know what we are."
"What about Lucy? She already knows I'm not human."
That girl?Why did he have to pick her? Wasn't England good enough? No, no he could worry about that later. He just had to convince America not to hire her. "That girl is so religious, she'll think you're an abomination."
"Lucy's not like that. She knows that we're different. She didn't freak out when I told her my life story to prove what I am. She didn't freak out when I showed her how I can control animals. She won't freak out about this!"
England pursed his lips. He wasn't about to give up the fight that easily. "You said she's going to be a nun, right? They'll find out when she goes there."
"And how would they do that? If they ask her what she did before she's not gonna say 'well, I worked for a pregnant man for a while. But it's all cool because he's the spirit of America and the daddy is the spirit of England.' She's not stupid, England."
"Women talk, America," England said, setting down his teacup.
"She won't!"
"It's nothing to do with personality. It's about their work. When you're sitting and doing something with your hands that doesn't take much brain power you chat. I'm a man and I do the same while I'm sewing."
"England, please, do it for me." He was begging now, his lower lip out and his brow scrunched up like he was about to burst into tears. "We're going to need a lot of help once the baby comes and-"
England let out an exasperated sigh. "America, I'm just trying to do what's best for you."
"England, this is what's best for me."
"I said no, and that's my final answer." He said, using his most serious and parental tone, "Nothing you can say or do will convince me otherwise."
"Well then, may I say something?" England's eyes widened with shock. Dammit, that girl had been there the entire time, hadn't she?
England turned and stared her down. He knew how to look impressive. He was an Empire for god's sake. She didn't waiver, but he wasn't ready to give in. He pulled up as much venom as possible and demanded, "What do you think you're doing, coming into my house uninvited?"
"I was invited. Alfred told me to come in to find out if I was to get my things or not. And it's a good thing I did."
"Good for you, maybe."
"Why don't we make a deal?" She asked, ignoring his comment, "If you let me work for you I'll tell no one of this for as long as I live. If you don't, I won't. I'll make sure everyone knows."
"No one will believe you. They'll lock you away and say you're mad."
"So what's the worry then? Either way you and Alfred will be safe."
England cursed internally. He had to remember never to argue when he was angry. "America was right about one thing, at least," He said, walking up to her, "You're not stupid. Go home and pack your things. I'll be at your house by nightfall to get you. You can have the room that used to be America's so that you can take care of the baby once it comes. Tomorrow you can discuss payment with America."
Her face broke out into a smile and embraced him, "Thank you so much, Mister Kirkland, sir!"
England scowled and pushed her away, "I-it's just that you're safer if I can keep an eye on you. Now get out."
"Of course. Thank you so much!" She left the parlor at a run.
When she had shut the front door behind her, England sunk back into his armchair with a sigh. What had he done?
"Are you happy now?" America demanded.
"Why would I be?" England snapped back.
"Well, you made it pretty clear to my best friend that you're an asshole!" he glared at England, "I've been trying to convince her that you're not, but now you just look like a petty jackass!"
"I am not petty! Like I said, I'm just worried about-"
"Bullshit!" America slammed his hands down on the table, giving it a significant dent and sending England's teacup flying, "You don't think I can do anything without you holding my hand! Dammit, England, if I'm old enough to have a baby I'm old enough to think for myself!"
England stood back up, "Physical age has nothing to do with mental maturity!"
"-And you know what I think?" America asked, plowing on as though England hadn't said a word, "I think you're jealous. You're afraid that I'm gonna start sleeping with her instead of you if she lives here. Well, you know what? You're wrong. You're the only one I've ever loved and now you're ruining that too!"
He turned on his heel and stormed upstairs. A few moments later, England heard the bedroom door slam. He sat down again and looked at the shattered cup on the floor. He really should clean up the pieces and then do what he could to keep the tea from staining the rug. He just couldn't find the motivation.
He was glad that he didn't have a housekeeper at the moment so that no one was there to see him cry.
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