Evolution

Chapter 7

One Toris had to to admit, his master was very brave, and tough. Most people in his situation probably would scream, and panic, but he clenched his teeth, and went through the labour with calmness, although looking at him one could say he's on the verge of exhaustion.

“It will be over soon,” Toris comforted him, seeing that the child's head was almost fully outside.

“You were saying the same thing a few hours ago,” whimpered Ivan, for whom every minute was like eternity.

When the next contraction came, he tightened his grip on a sheet, which was already torn.

“You like totally buy me new bed covers,” Feliks said to Toris, who also looked too exhausted to pay attention to his comments.

“At last!” exclaimed Lithuania happily, seeing that in a few seconds everything will be over.

Now Toris was sure that children just after being born, like most of other creatures, were rather ugly, all covered in blood, and screaming. Probably only parents could call them beautiful, however he noticed with surprise that he himself felt somehow enchanted by the little country he was holding. He had no doubts that with every day the child would get prettier.

“Are you going to cut, or do I have to do it myself?” asked Poland, grabbing the knife, which brought Toris back from his thoughts.

Lithuania did all the necessary procedures, then wrapped the cleaned baby in the towel.

“See, I told you everything will be fine, master,” Said full of joy, and showed Russia his son.

Ivan smiled looking at the black haired newborn. He wanted to take him into his arms, but he was to weak.

“Have some rest, I'll bring him later,” ensured Lithuania, not hiding that he's proud. At last he was really useful for his master.

Poland, with absolutely disgusted expression, looked at his bed, which was covered with blood and pieces of placenta. He could only burn his bed covers, but he didn't care anymore. After all he shared Ivan's and Toris' happiness.

---

England stood on the hill, and tried to see something with his binoculars, but the visibility was too low. The frost bothered him a lot, but he tried to ignore it. He wasn't going to come back without Ivan.

“There's no traces left, the snow must have covered everything,” announced one of subordinates returning from the reconnaissance.

“You're going to stay silent?” Arthur asked Yao. “If you tell me where he went, I'll make sure you'll get lighter punishment for all this stupidity.

But China still didn't say anything.

“Go ahead, be silent. I'll find them anyway, the question is how it will end for you.” Then England spoke to his people. “Search every house you'll see. We'll eventually find them.”

---

When Ivan woke up, he had an impression that all the previous events were only a dream. But a blunt pain in lower parts of his body proved him wrong. He was surprised to find, that he's wearing fresh clothes and laid on clean sheets. When he turned his head, he noticed Toris sleeping on the armchair. Was it him to change his clothes? Was he sitting there for all that time? Asking himself those questions Ivan for the first time felt touched by his servant's devotion. He had to reward him somehow.
Because it was light outside it must have past at least a day since the birth.

“Toris...” Ivan said quietly, still feeling very weak. “Toris... wake up.”

After a few seconds Lithuania opened his eyes and yawned. He also had to be exhausted after the delivery.

“I'm sorry, master. I accidentally fell asleep.”

“Bring me the child quickly. He must be starving.”

Lithuania fulfilled the order. He left, and soon returned with a little bundle in his arms.

“Look, he has your eyes.”

He handed the newborn to Ivan, who noticed that the baby indeed had purple irises, just like him. Russia observed his child with joy, wondering if his hair will got lighter or will they stay dark, like Yao's. He hoped for the second possibility, especially that the baby seemed to have China's features, although he was still too little to tell whose look he'd inherit.
While Ivan was nursing his son, Lithuania looked through the window, and found out that the weather wasn't getting any better. It was still snowing, and it was almost twenty degrees below zero, in Celcior's scale. Travelling with a newborn wasn't an option now. On the other hand they couldn't stay at Feliks' forever.

“Not like I'm throwing you out, but they'll find you eventually,” announced Poland, entering the room.

“Don't worry, we're departing soon,” said Russia, rocking the baby to sleep.

“But, master, we can't travel with a child in such conditions,” protested Lithuania, hoping not to sound too aggressive.

“I'll keep him close to my body, he'll stay warm. We'll make it. Go fetch the sleight.”

For a moment Toris stayed silent, looking at his master confused.

“I... I can't do it,” he spoke, feeling that he'd regret it.

Now Ivan looked very angry.

“How dare you object my orders?”

Lithania was nervously trying to find a way to defend himself.

“With all the respect, master, think about the baby. He might not survive it. Lets stay for a bit longer, maybe we'll come up with something? You have a cellar, Feliks, right? I beg you, let us hide there, at least till we'll have a better plan.” Toris almost went down to his knees before his friend.

No matter how Poland disliked it, his conscience didn't let him refuse.

“Uh... very well,” he muttered.

“Do you agree, master?” Toris looked at Ivan with begging eyes.

“Fine.”

With Poland's help, Lithuania cushioned the place in the cellar, where his master could feel comfortable. He took all the useful things from the sleight, like nappies, baby's clothes, even a rattle he'd made himself. The hardest part was to move Ivan, who was too weak to walk, but if they managed to do it last time, they could do it now.

“I hope you feel comfy,” said Toris when everything was prepared.

“Thank you,” answered Russia which really surprised Lithuania.

He didn't remember when for the last time Ivan showed him gratitude. His heartbeat jumped up, and he blushed.

“Do you need anything else, master?”

“I'm hungry.”

“I'll bring you something.”

It wasn't a feast, only a piece of bread, a sausage, and handful of dried fruit, but Russia didn't complain, he was able to adapt to the conditions. Lithuania held the child, so his master could finish eating.

“He's such a good boy, he doesn't cry at all,” he commented, looking at the newborn, who watched him with curiosity.

“You didn't think my son would be a crybaby, did you?” joked Russia.

In the meantime Poland was getting more and more nervous. He had a feeling that England would pay them a visit, he just didn't expect that it would happen...

“So quickly?” he mumbled, when he saw a group of people approaching his mansion.

When they were close enough to see there faces, he noticed Arthur and Yao among them. They were escorted by other man who started searching the area, and the two nations walked towards the door.
Feliks shivered when he heard the knocking, but he pulled himself together and went to open.

---

Although Lithuania prepared a make-shift bed for a child, Russia preferred to have a baby near him so he held him in his arms, watching him sleep. He could stare at him for hours, with growing proud.

“Have you been thinking what's next?” Toris asked quietly, trying not to wake the newborn up.

“If we cannot travel by sleight, we have to change the mean of transport.”

“Like what?”

“I'm sure we could find a car, or even a plane. It would be harder with fuel.”

Then the door creaking could be heard, suggesting that someone came in. They thought that Poland wanted something, but to their horror they saw Arthur guiding Yao.

“Well, well, that was easier than I...” England walked down stairs, savouring his victory, when he stopped seeing the baby.

“This... this is my son?” he asked with a mix of shock, and joy.

“You have no right to call him your son,” hissed Russia, and held the child against his chest. “Don't come any closer!” He shouted, what woke the newborn up and consequently the baby started crying.

Eventually Yao came to his senses, and ran to his lover, looking moved like a person who haven't seen someone at least for a year. He hugged Ivan, and watched the child.

“Can I?” he asked excited.

“Of course.”

Gently China took the baby into his arms, and started rocking him and calming him down with his sweet voice, which seemed to do wonders, because the child stopped crying.

“I'm sorry...” Feliks stood in the doorway, looking devastated.

“You're apologising to me or to them?” asked England. “You know you can be punished for what you did?”

“He haven't done anything wrong. Everybody who has some compassion would do the same.” Toris decided to defend his friend.

“NUNC will deal with this, and I'm afraid I have to interrupt you. You may think I'm a monster, but I have no choice. You have an hour, after this time, please return a child to me.”

Ivan didn't know how long they were looking at each other, but he was sure that his gaze full of hate and determination made England shiver. His eyes told that he wouldn't give up so easily, and even though Arthur was in a powerful position Ivan was still able to scare him.

“Wait!”

Suddenly in the doorway stood Germany, panting, and surprising everyone.

“I don't need help anymore, I found them myself,” Said England with satisfaction, believing that Ludwig was a back-up sent by NUNC.

“It's not the reason I came here.”

Germany walked down stairs and took an envelope from his pocket.

“I think you should read that.”

He handed the letter to confused Arthur, who stood with his mouth opened, wondering what had happened. Hesitating he started reading. In a few seconds his eyes widened in shock.

“Another voting... how... without me?” he mumbled with disbelief.

“The committee decided that your too biased, and excluded you from voting,” Ludwig explained calmly.

“Why excluded? Everyone is biased to some extent,” England snarled.

“But it went too far in your case. Admit it, you've never cared about the new country's well being, you just wanted revenge.”

Red from furry Arthur opened his mouth to say something, but not even a single word came out. He remained silent, realising that starting an argument he'd only make things worse.

“Wait a minute, what it is all about?” spoked Yao. “Does it mean that...”

“We decided that you should have right to take care of the new country. Of course you'll be regularly checked by one of NUNC members, but it's just a formality,” Explained Germany with a smile, which was almost unusual for him.

“Did you hear that?” Yao hugged his lover full of joy, and didn't let him go for at least a minute.

England on the other hand sat on the stairs in a grim mood.

“Will I be punished?” Poland reminded about his presence, and looked at Germany uneasily.

“It will be discussed on the committee meeting, but I wouldn't worry,” explained Ludwig, and looked at Ivan. “I think we should get going. I'm sure you want to get back home.”

“But it's terribly cold, and it's quite a distance,” Lithuania pointed out.

“That's Ok, I came here by plane,” Said Germany, surprising everyone once again.

“By plane?” Yao wanted to be sure he didn't misheard.

“NUNC has a private jet, but since the fuel is so hard to get, we use it only in emergencies. Are you coming?”

Ludwig didn't have to say it twice.

---

Last time Ivan felt so blissfully was after his first night with Yao. Fortune finally came back to him, and the whole world seemed colourful. All anxieties and worries were gone, and even physically he felt better now. Lying under warm covers he could at last rest in his own bed. According to the doctors orders he was supposed to stay in there at least for a week, but he had an impression that he'd recover more quickly.

“I brought you warm chicken soup” said China, entering the chamber with a tray in his hands.

He temporally took over Toris' chores, because the servant had got one week leave as a reward for his enormous help. But knowing him Ivan suspected that he wouldn't probably know what to do with so much free time, and would return earlier.
Yao placed a tray on the night stand, so Russia could reach it, and approached the cradle. The baby wasn't sleeping, but stayed very calm. He cried very rarely, and it seemed that sleepless nights would avoid knew parents.

“Have you already chosen a name?” Yao asked his partner.

“Of course, I hope you don't mind naming him Ukraine?”

China was positively surprised.

“I think it's a great choice,” Yao smiled, and changed the topic. “Germany will be leaving soon. Would you like to talk with him?”

“Yes, send for him, please.”

Before Ludwig came, Ivan managed to drink all the soup, feeling nice warmth filling his body.

“I would like to thank you,” He spoked as soon as his friend entered the chamber. “I assume the second voting was your idea?”

“It doesn't matter whose idea was it. The important thing is the majority supported you.”

Wandering through the room Ludwig focused his attention on the cradle. He peeked inside with hesitation, and even with more hesitation asked:

“Can I... you know... hold him?” He blushed slightly.

“Sure,” Russia smiled, trying not to giggle.

Germany behaved like a person who'd never dealt with a baby before. He took him with such gentleness like it was a piece of very valuable china. Additionally, he looked at the child with a lot of curiosity, like an engineer trying to work out a new mechanism. He looked very concentrated when he held a baby. One could almost had an impression that he was testing how difficult was carrying a newborn.

“It's a child, not a bomb. It won't hurt you,” Laughed Ivan for whom Ludwig looked very funny.

“Do you think it's hard to look after something like that?” asked Germany, putting the baby back to the cradle.

“I don't know, time will show,” answered Russia. “Is something bothering you?”

“No, of course not.”

The only way to gain information was to get Ludwig drunk, so this time Ivan decided to drop the topic.

“I have to go now. We'll meet again soon.”

Germany said goodbye, even smiled slightly, and left.

---

The conference room was full again. The world crisis was slowly passing away, more countries regained their strength, the economy bloomed. Even old grudges became forgotten, England stopped thinking about the revenge, and his humiliation by the rest of NUNC, and was calmly giving a speech about the cooperation between the nations.

“Last years taught us that only cooperation can help us...” he stopped because something was distracting him.

Although Ukraine was a pretty calm boy, he was also very unpredictable, as all babies, and he started crying during England's talk.

“No offence, but couldn't you leave him at home?” Arthur asked irritated.

“With whom? Toris is here as well,” snarled Yao, rocking the baby. “Besides every country has a right to be here.”

“Give him to me, I'll feed him.” Russia took his son into his arms, and left the room.

With a sigh of relief, England decided to continue.

“Where did I stop? On cooperation, right? I wanted to say that cooperation...”

This time he was interrupted by someone eating noisily. He scanned the room with his eyes, and noticed Feliciano consuming pasta from a plastic box.

“You shouldn't eat during the conference,” said Arthur.

“But I'm hungry! And the baby in my tummy as well!” protested Italy, and massaged his roundness with his palm.

Ludwig put a hand on his head with embarrassment. Of course everybody already knew the “good news”, but Germany didn't like when Feliciano showed off with his pregnancy.

“Maybe lets have a break.” Arthur gave in, knowing he won't be able to say anything else.

Russia sat in the corner, with the baby against his chest, which was nursing quietly. He watched the nations leaving the room, and hoped that this time female countries won't stalk him, squeaking at the sight of his son. Especially that they all always wanted to hug him.

“I'm glad it's already finished.” Fortunately this time it was only Yao.

“Lets get back home. I don't want to stay here for a night with a child.”

“I'll tell Toris in a minute.”

China was ready to go, but Russia wanted to say something more.

“I was thinking... would you like to have another baby?” Ivan looked at his partner meaningfully. “Of course in a right time.”

“It's a rhetorical question, isn't it?” China giggled.

He didn't have to answer, they agreed without words.

the end