HEY GUYS~

Sorry, it has been so long! But I got a really painful infection on my hand, and it hurt to type. Like, I couldn't even lay on my palm because of how painful it was. The swelling went down last night, and it isn't throbbing too bad. So, I'm sorry if the chapter is a little too short. I wanted to map out everything, and now all other chapters DO have plans and I'll try to work on them! The next few are gonna be crazy! So this is just a nice small one to wet your tastebuds~

I love you all!

ALSO TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS OF MISCARRIAGES. IT IS TALKED ABOUT, BUT NOT SHOWN

_________________________________________________

Alfred was laying on his bed, bored and alone. He was due tomorrow and everybody had been doting on him all morning until their bosses decided to virtually have a meeting with them. So, as Alfred sat in bed and munched on a cookie, he couldn't help but wonder how the meetings were going. He decided to flick on the tv and watch some cartoons, relaxing.

Then, he felt the sudden urge to pee. He groaned and flopped around the bed, trying so hard to sit up. His foot accidentally got tangled in the sheets, making it ten times harder to move. He was quickly getting impatient and kept rolling around. As he further tangled himself in sheets, he didn't notice how close he was nearing the edge. Until~

PLOP

America landed face first onto the carpet Ivan had placed along Alfred's side of the bed. He installed it because Alfred's feet had swollen a lot during the pregnancy and the carpet made them feel better than the hardwood. Alfred groaned, finding his legs still tangled in the sheets and his face being smothered in the carpet he rubbed his feet on.

It can go without saying that he was frustrated.

Ironically, his door began to open just as Alfred attempted to lift his face.

"Alfred, I have more cookies, for you, aru~" China looked and nearly dropped the tray, "AIYA!!! ARE YOU OK, ARU?!" he quickly placed the silver tray of cookies down and ran to his side, "what were you doing?" China lifted his upper body gently and untangled the younger's feet.

"I needed to pee, and this baby belly made it hard to get up. I just started thrashing and my feet got tangled, then plop," Alfred's lips quivered and a tear fell from his eye. Yao frowned and gently wiped his tear, smiling softly.

"It is ok, Alfred. You are not to blame for needing to pee, you just need to be a little more careful, ok? At least until these babies are out, then you can go back to being that silly nation we all love, aru," Alfred chuckled and nodded, allowing China to help him up and guide him to the bathroom.

After he was done doing his business, China helped him get situated. He had remade the bed and gently tucked Alfred in, giving him a fresh platter of cookies.

"Is everyone still in their meetings?" Yao nodded and brushed Alfred's head.

"Shì, but I finished up so I will take care of you," Yao once again smiled at Alfred, showing that he cared for him. Alfred smiled back as he relaxed, patting the spot next to him and gesturing for China to join him. Alfred flicked on the tv and continued watching his favorite cartoon. China took immediate interest in it.

"You like it, Yao?"

"What show is this? It looks Chinese, aru,"

"Avatar the Last Airbender, and you aren't far off. The four elements each have their own lands, and those lands are partial to a certain race. The Earth Kingdom is highly based around China, the Fire Nation is highly based around Japan, the Water Tribes are called tribes because they are suppose to be Inuit, and the Air Normads are supposed to be Tibetan. But there are other nations alluded to as well, like the one with the ponytail is Sokka. His boomerang is suppose to be native to Australia and the America's, and the little boat he and his sister are sailing in hints to Polynasian roots,"

"Such diversity, we should watch the whole series together, aru," China sat back and let Alfred lay on his shoulder. The elder combed through Alfred's hair as they watched a few episodes, Alfred explaining the confusing parts to Yao. He felt his heart swell at the younger's enthusiasm, looking at the children in his belly. Yao couldn't help but slightly envy him.

"Yao, could you give me advice on being a better mom," Yao looked down, surprised by the request.

"But you are already a fantastic mother, aru,"

"I know, but I can't help but wonder if I am doing anything wrong. You're so much older than me, you raised so many children. I can't help but admire your strength," Yao dryly chuckled.

"It was not easy, but I did a good job raising them by myself, aru," Alfred nodded.

"Yao, can I tell you a secret?" the elder simply edged the younger on, "I'm actually really scared that I'm going to miscarry the babies," Yao felt his blood run cold but kept quiet, "I miscarried once, it was during World War II. It was during the Battle of Attu, I had been shot in the stomach a few times and instantly miscarried. Ivan didn't know I was pregnant because we hadn't talked for a while, I was going to tell him after the war once I'd given birth. But, since I miscarried, I saw no point in hurting him and just thought it best to keep it to myself. To this day, nobody, not even Canada, knows I miscarried a baby. Nobody but me and God,"

Yao felt his heart clench as Alfred silently cried, he had such a blank smile and his cheeks were red.

"I have miscarried as well," Alfred looked up, "The Roman Empire had gotten my pregnant and we were so happy together. But, one day, while he was out in our garden to pick some herbs, I fell. He did not come in until a half hour later, only to find that I had lost our baby. He looked so sad when the realization came to him, and not long after the Roman-Sino War began. I thought it was my fault, since I had lost our baby. I thought that if maybe the pregnancy had gone through, then we would have not gone to war. But, even at the end of the war, Rome still loved me dearly. When I aired my troubles, the exact things I have just told you, he embraced me. He scolded me for thinking it was my fault,"

"You think Ivan would be mad that I kept this from him?" China shook his head.

"Everybody knows now that you keep these secrets for their best interest. It is why you didn't tell him about you getting raped, or about how many times you actually attempted to kill yourself. Giving the time period, I am sure Ivan will understand. He deserves to know, as well as Hungary. Miscarriages can make future deliveries compromised, so you must tell her exactly what happened so that she can prepare,"

"My ears are burning~" Hungary came in with a smile on her face. However, it quickly dropped as she saw how distressed Alfred looked, "did I interrupt something?" Alfred took a deep breath and shook his head.

"You may wish to fetch Ivan, and whoever will be assisting in my delivery. I need to come clean," Hungary nodded to Alfred and walked out. China gently embraced him and tried to steady his nerves, waiting with baited breath for Hungary to return. Around ten minutes would pass before she would come back with Ivan, Natalia, Katyusha, Matthew, and Kiku.

The moment Kiku walked through the door, he felt his throat close up. He knew Japan already felt bad about hurting Hawaii, he couldn't imagine how much of the old wound would reopen once he told Kiku that he killed his unborn child.

China immediately noticed Alfred's discomfort, feeling horrible for the advice he had given the blonde. Everybody else seemed to understand as well, noting how stiff Alfred had gotten. Matthew walked to his other side and gently rubbed his head.

"Alfie, are you ok?" Alfred took another deep breath and nodded.

"I've just been hiding something from all of you and I need to tell you all. Because if I don't, the babies could be hurt," the group looked to one another and then back to Alfred. Matthew kissed Alfred's temple.

"You can tell us anything. Mama already exposed many of your secrets," Matthew joked lightly. Alfred's lips quivered and shook his head.

"I don't think she told you this one,"

"Alfred, dear, please tell us what's wrong," Katyusha comforted as she knelt next to Canada, grasping Alfred's hands. Alfred nodded and took a few more deep breaths.

"I-I miscarried a child before," everybody's eyes widened at the fact. Ivan especially felt his heart ache, "Ivan and I had hooked up News Years Eve in 1942, just some casual sex to help with the stress. And I got pregnant," Ivan eyes began to water.

"Why didn't you tell me, sunflower?"

"I was going to! I promise I was! I was going to wait until after the war and had given birth to the child in secret. You were already dealing with so much with Germany at the time and the the war showed no signs of ending, I didn't want to give you anything more to worry about," Ivan understood his reasons, but he still felt his heart clench.

"When did you miscarry, how far in?" Natalia asked, her frown deepening.

"22 weeks," Matthew's eyes widened.

"The Battle of Attu, you were shot, I remember you being shot multiple times. Your abdomen was shot five times, your stomach once,"

"Do you memorize each one of my medical reports?" Alfred tried to joke, but ended up crying a little bit.

"Oh, Alfie," Matthew got up and fully hugged his brother. China moved so Ivan could get in, hugging his husband from the other side. The elder than glanced and saw that Kiku's eyes were completely blank. Tears began to glomp down his cheeks and his fists clenched into tight balls. The silence was near deafening until Japan stepped forward, crawling onto the bed between Alfred's legs. He knelt right at the baby bump placing his hands gently on top and his face on his hands. You didn't need to see his face to know he was crying.

"Gomen nasai, Arfred. Had we not been in battle, that baby wourd be arive! I took so much from you! I don't understand how you courd forgive me stirr!!!" Japan's body shook with sadness, "why, why do you forgive so easiry when peoper take so much from you?!" Alfred smiled and pet Kiku's head.

"Because I know that the Japan from back then and the Japan I'm looking at right now are not the same. That Japan was evil, he was clouded with hate and power. He didn't know what he was, all he knew was to destroy. But, you, the Japan, my Kiku. You are not that monster that once inhabited your mind. You like to cook meals and play with the children. You read manga, play videogames, watch anime,"

"But I stirr did those things to you!"

"But, that wasn't you. You are so much better and accepting than the man you once were! Like dude, you would have never been for gay marriage back then! But now, you have literally drawn Ivan and I nude for your doujins. Hell, we fucking cheered for Victor and Yuuri together; we lost our shit when they kissed and we lost our shit even more when they got engaged!" Japan chuckled at the memory of their popcorn bowl flying from their laps as they hugged and cheered.

"I suppose so," Japan hugged Alfred's shoulders tightly. Ivan's phone beeped, as did many of the others.

"It is time for our meetings to get back underway," Ivan explained, kissing his husband. Matthew smiled and gently pet his brother's head, followed by pets from Hungary, Belarus, and Ukraine. Japan gave one final huge hug before leaving, allowing China to get back on the bed.

"Where did we leave off?" Alfred smiled and leaned into China more.

"The one with sexist old man," Alfred switched the tv back on, feeling lighter with that final secret off his chest. China once again began to rub Alfred's head, enjoying this bonding time he never truly got with any of his other children.

Meanwhile, France's dress coat pocket flashed a bit of white.

He knew the crack had gotten even bigger.