I sat down at the park bench, leting the warm spring air flow around me, happy to finally be out of that stupid hotel room for the first time in days. Since the insident with the elevator Mattie has had me on bed rest. That ment for the whole week while everyone else was off at the meeting, I was stuck in the hotel room alone. Ivan offered to stay with me, but I told him that at least on of us has to go. Still, for someone like me this was just pure torcher.

I finally had gotten Mattie to let me get out of the bed last night when he visited for my check up. Once he proclaimed I was was in good health I immeadently started pestering him about getting me off bed rest. He finally caved after an hour, but I wasn't allowed to attend the meeting due to the stress it will cause me. Not that I was complining. I'd much rather spend the day hanging out at a park then in a loud, stuffy room. I am deffinetly happy to have some time to myself after Ivan had been smothering me with attention and unnessisary care.

Think of last night brought back to mind a very unsetteling conversation with him regarding my pregnancy. Even thinking about it now sent a shiver of slight dread up my spine.

"Okay Alfie, I have something really weird to tell you, remember?" He reminded me as he finished writting down my blood pressure on his clip board.

"Yea, you mentioned that over the phone, like, a week ago." I said recalling the conversation. The girls started to really go at it with the kickes at that time.

"Well, actually it is really two things."

"Okay, what is it?" I asked as he hesitated for a moment.

"Well, you know how you've been saying your chest has been hurting lately." He stated more then asked. I nodded my head at him already dreading where this was going. "Well, from what I've learned of pregnancy of male nations  from China, you're going to start lactating soon."

"...........Come again?" I asked him with narrowed eyes. Ivan, who was in the room the whole time, looked at Mattie like he had grown three extra heads.

"You are going to produce milk so you can feed the twins." He said repeating what he had just told me. "From what China has told me every male nation does it and it makes sense too, you know? Formula hasn't been around forever, so the Ancients had to feed their babies somehow, eh."

"You can't be seriouse." I said in complete disbelive.

"I am. The reason why your chest has been hurting is because your pecks, or breasts? What would we call them? Either way, your chest skin is streaching to acomidate the new supply of milk." He nodded his head. A big grin that would make the Chesire cat jelouse broke across his face. "You're gonna grow boobs little brother!"

"Don't say it like that!" I shouted in emberassment and threw a pillow at him. My whole face was red and felt like I could start a fire with it.

"Calm down Fredka. It won't be that bad." Ivan said as he placed a hand on my s trying to cheer me up. I angrily looked up at him.

"That's easy for you to say. You're not the one going through all of this!" I snapped at the larger nation. Long used to my mood swings he didn't even flinch, but did back off a little bit. His hand stayed on my shoulder, which I was secretly gratefull for.

"Didn't you say their is two things you needed to tell us?" Ivan asked Matthew as I sat on the bed pouting. I did perk my ears up when he mentioned that so I wouldn't miss what he was going to say.

"Ah, yes. Well the other thing I needed to talk to you about is the birth itself. Their are some things you really need to know." Mattie said carefully, like he was talking to a bear that could attack at any moment. In a way he was right. I gave him a very dark look. "So, because men normally arn't suposed to carry young, our bodies have to adapt. In more ways then just producing milk. One of the first things that are going to happen to you, as you'll soon notice, is that you're hips are going to change." He started out, large grin now leaving his face.

"What do you mean, brother?" The words came out of my mouth like cold fire.

"Well, your hips are going to grow larger, but not by much since you naturally have big hips for a guy. I mean seriously, it's unusual."

"Stop talking about my hips being feminin, I had enough of that growing up the first time." I dead paned.

"Right, well you are going to experience growing pains because of it. China said that their is a change they'll shrink again, but probabaly not." He said getting back on track. "The reason why they'll get biger is so you can carry your girls better and so you can birth them. And that bring me to the final part."

"I don't want to know!" I stoped him there, my hands waving in the air. "I don't want to know." I repeated slowly.

"Fine, just don't be difficult when the time comes." He rolled his eyes. "But I will tell you this, I don't think I can get approvment for an epidural."

I sighed to myself. I can't belive this is happening to me. In all my years on this planet I never once thought that something like this was even possible. Yet here I am, two little girls on the way. I have a dedicated and loving boyfriend. Two cats, two kittens, and the perfict house for all of my loved ones. Things are actually going great in my life right now. Not so favorable side affects aside, ofcourse.

I sighed again in peace as I whent back to people watching. It has been one of my favoriet past times over the years. I love watching how public behavior has changed over the years. Some ways better then others. Like how a couple of teens are here holding hands, obviously on a date. Years ago they would have been supervised like a couple of prisoners. Now they have the freedom to show who they really are to each other without of stuffy adult hanging over them. Not to mention the fact that it's a couple of guy on the date. Just ten years ago they would have attrected some unwanted attention. Now only a few side looks and one or two glares are sent their way. While their is still work to be done, it's getting better.

Another one thing that would have been seen as taboo is a woman and man under a tree. Three hyper active kids ran around them while a little baby sat in her lap. Nothing unusual there axcept they are missing something very small. A wedding ring. I remember when such a thing, kid without a marage, would have been seen as a disgrace. Now no one even bats an eye. Instead of seeing children out of wedlock, they see a happy family enjoying quality time together.

How the times do change. Nothing ever stay the same for long, or at least not forever. That has always been one of my favriot things about life. Everything changes in one way or another.

I continued to watch when I noticed something odd. A woman was running around, looking frantic. Her hair was a mess, her cloths were ripped in places, and blood was seeping from somewhere. She kept shouting, looking for something by the sound of it, but I couldn't tell what. I was about to call 911 when I noticed that no one else was looking at her or hearing her shouting. It was like she was invisable to them.

Then it clicked that she was! I realsied why no one else noticed her. She was a ghost. I got up, trying to be as unnoticable as possible, and followed her behind a group of bushes. I was now close enough to hear what she was shouting.

"Annie! Annie! Where are you, honey?! Annie!" She called out desperatly. Her eyes darted from side to side, trying desperatly to find who she was looking for.

"Ma'am? Are you okay?" I called out gently. I know how easy it is for ghost to be startled and freak out.

She turned to face me and I was able to see her more clearly. Her blue shirt had several bullet holes over where her heart used to be. A large slash cut across her mid section. Bruises, scratches, and scraps littered her whole body. To sum it up she looked like she just lost a fight.

"Please! You have to help me!" She gripped my shoulders, desperation clear in her eyes.

"I'll do my best, but you have to tell me what happened." I tried to calm her sown enough to talk. Ghosts generaly stick to one emotion and energy, finding that changing is hard. I know I can't calm down her anxtiouseness fully, since that's what she is based on, but I can help her rein it in slightly.

"I, uh, I can't remember. I just know that she's in danger. I have to find her!" She started panicing again.

"Who? Who do you need to find?"

"My little girl. I can't find her! And no one is helping me!" The last part came out in a screetch. It is easy for them to shift to anger, especially if they are already are stressed out.

"I'll help you. What does she look like? Where did you last see her?"

"She's young, only six. She has wavey red hair, beautiful grey eyes, and is wearing a pink shirt with a denium jacket." She tried to esplain. I could tell it was hard for her too rememeber anything. "It was by a, by a, a, uhh, at tree! A big tree with a tire swing on it. We were by a forest, when something heppened. Their was a loud sound, like banging, and screams! I can't rememeber!" She ended with a shrik before fazing out.

Her cycle is repeating. Her infinit loop that repeats either her last moments or her serch for whatever she is looking for. I know she claimed to be looking for her daughter, but that might not be what she really needed to find. Her daughter could be grown by now and long gone. So their could be something else she is connected to around here. Since I don't know where specifically her loop started, I only have what she told me to go on.

She said something about a big tree with a tire swing. I know that their hasn't been any tire swings in this park for nearly three years due to liability reasons, but that doesn't mean that I can't find evidence of one being here long ago. I have to look in the right place first. She said it was by some woods, not in it, so it would have to be a tree some distance away from the rest. I know three in this park that would match that. The nearest was hidden nearby off the beaten path on a small slope.

I checked there first since the other two were on the other side of the pond. I took a small short cut through the forest, but regretted it about half way through when I realised how much hiking sucks while being pregnant. I trudged on though, stoping to take a rest when I brok through the tree line. I looked up at the giant oak that sat nearly in the midle of the little clearing. As I grew closer I noticed signs of this being a place where a tire swing once was. Their was a shallow divet in the earth were feet had kicked away the dirt. On the branch were groves where the rope had worn away through the bark. Finally the branch itself sat in a way that suggested years of supporting weight that wasn't its own.

I circled the tree and found a small hole at the bottom of the tree. Being very careful I lowered myself down enough to look inside. I saw an object in it near the back. Confused I reached my hand in there and felt something soft. I pulled out what looked to be an old, stuffed pink lamb. I stared at it in confusion, almost certin that this is the object the woman was tied to, when I heard a soft whimper behind me.

I turned around a gasped in shock. A small child with red hair, grey eyes, and wearing a pink shirt with a denium jacket stood behind me. Tears fell down her face, mixing with the blood from variouse cuts and holes in her. Her clothing was torn, though not nearly as bad as the mother's was. She was covered in bruises and scratches and had a couple of holes in her stomach.

"Please don't take my Lamy away. I really need her." She cried sadly as she reatched for the stuffed animal. My heart broke seeing any child like this. I quickly scooped her up and held her close to my chest. She held on tight to me, stuffed lamb now in one hand.

"It's okay sweety. I'm here to help you." I whispered to her. I knew that this was the mothers child and that I had to reunite them.

"I want my mommy." She whimpered.

"Ssshhh. It's okay sweety. I'm going to take you to your mommy." I promised her.

Keeping the little ghost girl in my arms, I walked down a faded path to the main path. I quickly looked around, hoping to spot the mother. I saw her in a feild looking around. I jogged as best as I could over to where she was, calling out to her. Luckily no one was around to see me, or else they'd think I was crazy. When she saw who I was calling out too she pipped up as well.

"Mommy! Mommy!" She cried out despretly for her mother. She turned around and broke out in tears when she saw her daughter.

"Annie! There you are, my sweet baby." She ran to us. I put the little girl down so she could run up to her mother.

The mother scooped up her little girl in a tight hug. She started crying harder, this time in joy, as she smother her little girl in kisses. Annie huged back just as tightly, giggiling and laughing, happy to back in her mothers protective arms. Not a single care in the world. I watched on from a little distance, happy tears running down my cheeks. I watched as their injuries faded away and their cloths mended. They looked like how they did before they died. I was about to walk away, knowing that they were now ready to move on, when I heard the little girl speak up.

"Wait! Don't go yet." She called out and I turned around to face her. She run up to me with the lamb still in her hands. She then held it up for me to take. I carefully grabed it in my arms. "Here, you can have Lamy now, I don't need her anymore. You can give her to your little girls now! She'll protect them from the dark, shadowy thing! She was always good at that!"

The smile fell from my face when she mentioned that. "Dark thing? What do you me-"

"Annie, it's time to go home now sweety." Her mother called out, eyes only on her little girl. I don't think she was even aware of me anymore.

"Comming mommy!" Annie called out as she raced back to her mothers side, completly forgetting about me.

I watched them fade away, finally at peace and able to let go of the world. While I don't know exsactly where they wen't, I know they were safe now. Not a single thing can hurt the two of them now. A small smile made it's way to my face when I thoguth about that, but quickly fell again when I remembered what the little girl said.

'She'll protect them from the dark, shadowy thing!' What did she mean by that? What was out there? I looked down at the lamb like it held all the answers to all of my questions. The thing just stared back at me, purple glass eyes giving away nothing. I knew what the Other Side holds. I know of the many monsters and evils that hide with in it. But what did she mean by shadowy? I know to humans the evils can appear shodowy and dark, but ghosts and spirets can see the real form of such monsters.

I sighed, wishing I had more answers, but I don't. The only thing I had was this stuffed lamb. I would have to look more into the orgin of it later, but for now I'll be happy just knowing that I was able to help to spirets today. Some spirets would have to stay on Earth untill the thing they were attched to was destroyed, naturally or by accident, or somethimes they were stuck forever with out any help.

I turned around, ready to head back to my hotel room. I saw something move from the corner of my eye, but when I turned to face it I saw nothing. I quickly made my way out of the park, stoping now and then to make small talk with my citizens. I made it back to my room and packed the stuffed animal in my bag. I didn't want Ivan seeing it and demanding it be thrown away because of how gross it looked. I sat down on my bed and waited for Ivan to come pick me, the cats, and our stuff up.

*Time skip brought to you by Sweetheart and Spitfire!*

I was unpacking my bag as I vaguly listened to Ivan tell me about the meeting. From what he's been saying its been even worse this week then usual. No one would listen to Germany nor did the meeting ever back under control. I smirked to my self as I listened. I guess without me being there as the lighting rod the other nations just get worse. Maybe now the others will see what I always did for them. Doubtful, but possible.

I was shifting through my stuff when my hands felt the soft, curly fur of the stuffed animal I had hidden in the bag earlier. I pulled it out an looked at it for a minute before making a descion. I walked out of the room, stuffed animal in hand, and down the hall to the nursery. I stepped into the empty room. It was still a blank white since we still hadn't decorated it yet. Their was a shelf on the far wall though. I walked over to it, after turning on the light, and put the stuffed animal on the shelf.

I stepped back and looked at it, one hand on my swollen stomach. For some reason the room seemed brighter all of a sudden. I looked at its blue glass eyes that seamed to sparkle. I stared at it for a moment in confusion. I could have sworn that it had purple eyes before. It was probably just a trick of the light.

"What are you doing in here Fredka?" I heard Ivan say from behind me, making me jump a little.

"Oh, just, you know. Nesting." I answered as I turned to face him.

He looked at the stuffed animal and hummed. "Where did you get that from?"

"A little ghost girl gave it to me after I reunited her with her mother." I answered with a small shrug.

"Oh, uh, do you often recive gifts from ghost you help." He asked me some what akwardly. I found it cute that he still didn't know how to talk to me about my little gift.

"Sometimes, not offten though." I shrugged again. "Come on big guy, lets go to bed. I'm beat from today."

"Da, after you moya lyubov." He said gestering for me to go first.

I took one last look at the stuffed lamb, smiled, then left the room. Ivan fallowed close behind me, ever watchful for me. As we crawled into bed I felt him wrap his arms around my waist and pull me closer to him. I sighed in contentment, happy with everything as another eventful day drew to a close.

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Hey guys! I just got back from my Indianapolis Comicon and decided to end my day with an update. And let me just say that Comicon is a blast, 10/10 would recomend! And that is coming from an introvert who doesn't like going places. I dressed up as America and got so many complements. I was the only America there all three days, but I found two Canandas. I even made friends with one of them!

So if any of you were thinking about going to a comicon, be it the big comicon or one in your state, I would highly recomend you do so! You will have an absolute blast! Their are so many cool things there to see and experience.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed the next chapter!