Be Careful What You Wish For

Rating: NC17
Characters: Gwendel/Gunter, Yuuri, Wolfram, Ken, Konrad, Josak, Cherie, Anissina, Gisela, Dorcas
Warnings: Mpreg and graphic homosexual sex
AN: This has not been beta'd. All mistakes are my own.


Be Careful What You Wish For


Sighing rather loudly, the eldest prince of Shin Makoku ran a hand over his face and pushed back from his desk. It had been a long day for Gwendel. He’d been shut up in his office since mid-afternoon trying to make a dent in the stacks of paperwork that seemed to have doubled since that morning. Putting out the lamps in his office, he closed the door behind him and began to make his way to the dining room. He was looking forward to dinner and then some quality time with his husband. He hadn’t seen Gunter since just after lunch when they’d been playing with Greta as they did most days.

Gunter wasn’t in the dining room when he got there, nor did he show up in the next few minutes. When dinner started and the advisor still hadn’t appeared, Gwendel began to wonder what could be keeping him. He turned to the little green-haired healer who sat next to him.

“Gisela, have you seen your father since lunch?” he asked.

“I’m afraid I haven’t,” she replied.

His brow furrowed, and he looked across the table at his younger brother. “Konrad, have you seen Gunter today?”

“I believe he was with Mother earlier this evening. I haven’t seen him since.”

“He went up to bed about an hour ago, Gwennie,” Lady Cheri said from the end of the table. “The poor dear said he was tired and thought perhaps he should go to bed early.”

“Oh…Well, he has been taking on double his usual workload since he’s started Greta’s lessons as well as Heika’s.”

“He’ll wear himself out at this rate, Gwendel,” Yuuri piped up. “Tell him to sleep in tomorrow.”

Gwendel almost smiled. “I know you don’t like spending the mornings hearing him lecture, Heika, but you do need to know these things. I doubt he’d sleep in anyway. You know how he is.”

Yuuri sighed. “You’re right. But it was worth a try.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gwendel shuffled tiredly down the hall to his rooms. He’d been awake since before dawn, and it was starting to wear on him. Quietly he opened the bedroom door and slipped inside. The room was dark, but he could see the outline of his sleeping husband on the bed by the moonlight streaming in through the window. He quickly dressed for bed and slid underneath the covers.

Gunter stirred and mumbled, turning over in search of his Gwendel and cuddling close as the broader man settled next to him. The soldier wrapped his arms around the pale-haired man, kissing his forehead.

Gunter yawned. “What time is it, beloved?” he asked sleepily.

“It’s late, love. You missed dinner.”

“’m sorry. I was just so tired…”

Gwendel chuckled. “Go back to sleep, Gunter.”

“Ok.”

Smiling at how cute a sleepy Gunter was, the dark-haired Mazoku pulled the soundly sleeping advisor closer and soon fell asleep himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘That doesn’t sound good,’ Gwendel thought half-coherently as he came awake just after dawn to the sounds of someone retching violently. It took him a moment to realize that Gunter was not in bed, and therefore must be the one making the awful noises. He sat up to find the lavender-haired advisor kneeling over a waste basket by the armoire. Getting up quickly, he knelt by Gunter’s side and pulled all that lovely hair back away from the leaner man’s face, rubbing the heaving back with the other hand.

When he was finished being sick, Gunter slumped weakly against his husband. Gwendel lifted him from the floor and carried him back to bed before fetching a wet cloth and a glass of water. He wiped the pale man’s face gently and handed him the glass. Gunter accepted it with shaking hands and a wan smile.

“I’m sorry I woke you,” he said, taking a drink.

“It’s all right,” Gwendel answered, frowning. “This is two days in a row, Gunter. You’re ill, and you need to see a healer.”

Gunter sighed. “It’ll pass in a little while, beloved. Honestly, I’m feeling a little better already.”

“Gunter,” the soldier started threateningly.

“Please, Gwendel. I promise to see a healer if I’m not better tomorrow. Alright?”

“Fine. Just remember, you promised.” He leaned in to place a light kiss on the crown of the lavender head. “Rest a while longer, then we’ll see if you can handle some breakfast. If you’re feeling better by then, I won’t make you stay in bed today.”

“Really, it’s nothing. I’m fine. There’s no need to restrict me to bed rest.”

“Hn.” Gwendel grunted, getting up to get dressed for the day. “We’ll see.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘I’ll be so glad when Yuuri is finally ready to take care of all of this himself,’ Gwendel thought to himself as he read through yet another dull document that required more of his attention than he wanted to give it. ‘Then I won’t have to spend my days up to my eyebrows in the paperwork needed to run this kingdom.’

Gwendel would never complain out loud, but he’d had enough of running Shin Makoku when his mother had been Maoh to last him a lifetime and beyond. He was a soldier, damn it all, not a politician, or a diplomat, or king. And presently, he was fed up with his work and looking forward to lunch and his playtime with Greta.

He adored his young niece and was glad that Yuuri and Wolfram had taken the girl in. Though, admittedly, he thought she needed some playmates closer to her own age. The only other child around was Hube’s little daughter Elle, now a toddler. He and Gunter had talked about adopting a child of their own. Gunter had loved raising Gisela and was eager for the opportunity to do it again. Perhaps they should discuss it some more soon.

His musings were cut short by a sharp rap on the door. Fearing that it may be Anissina, he hurriedly pretended to be working as the door opened. “Anissina, I’m afraid I’m rather busy ri--”

“Gwendel,” said Wolfram. “Could you come down the hall for a moment? You need to attend to your husband.”

“What’s the matter now?”

“Gunter’s fainted, and Yuuri is hysterical.”

Gwendel was out of his chair and on his way to the advisor’s office in seconds. When he got there, he found an unconscious Gunter and a frantic Maoh on the floor. Yuuri looked a little relieved when the dark-haired man came through the door.

“I don’t know what happened, Gwendel,” he practically wailed. “He got up to get a map and just collapsed. His nose wasn’t even bleeding! I managed to catch him before he fell, but I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”

“Calm down, Yuuri,” he replied as he knelt and pulled Gunter’s upper body into his lap. “Now, tell me slowly exactly what happened.”

“He stood up to get a map, and I think he must have been dizzy or something because he put one hand on the table and leaned forward a little before he sort of keeled over. I caught him so he didn’t hit his head or anything. Is he ok, Gwendel?”

“I’m afraid he’s not well, Heika,” Gwendel said, brushing the pale man’s hair back and gently touching the ashen cheek. “He was ill this morning. I should have made him stay in bed.”

“Should I send for a healer, brother?” Wolfram asked, finally showing some concern for his brother-in-law.

“Please do. I’m going to take him to our room.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Yuuri asked as Wolfram went in search of a healer.

Standing with Gunter in his arms, Gwendel nodded. “If you could come and open the door for me, I would appreciate it.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gunter had regained consciousness by the time Gwendel settled him on their bed. He had vehemently protested medical attention, but the soldier was having none of it. One of Gisela’s assistants was currently examining the advisor while Gwendel waited in the hall. He was about to go back in to see what was taking so long when a distraught Greta came flying down the corridor in his direction.

“Uncle Gwendel!” she yelled, not slowing down as she launched herself at him.

Gwendel caught her up in his arms and settled her against his hip. “Good afternoon, Greta.”

“I’ve already finished my lunch, and I’ve been waiting forever,” the little girl grumped. “Did you and Uncle Gunter forget about me?”

“I’m very sorry. We didn’t forget about you, but Uncle Gunter got sick, and I had to take care of him.”

Greta frowned. “Uncle Gunter is sick? What’s wrong with him?”

“We don’t know yet, little one. Dirk is checking him over right now.”

“Can I go see him, Uncle Gwendel? Please?” she pleaded.

Gwendel considered for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, I think we should. Dirk has been in there for a long time. He should know what’s wrong by now.” He knocked on the door with his free hand, and when his husband’s voice bade him to enter, he took his niece into the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

Gunter was sitting in bed, resting against the pillows. Dirk was sitting in a chair next to the bed, looking over the notes he’d made with a completely baffled expression. Gwendel carried Greta over to the bed, setting her down on it.

“I’ve brought you a visitor, love,” he said, leaning down to drop a kiss on the advisor’s cheek.

The pale man summoned up a smile for the girl. “So you have. Good afternoon, Greta. Oh dear, it’s playtime, isn’t it?” he asked.

Greta crawled up to sit on her knees beside him. “Yes. But it’s ok. Uncle Gwendel said you got sick. What’s the matter with you, Uncle Gunter?

“I’m fine, little one. I feel much better now.”

“Dirk?” Gwendel asked.

“I don’t understand it. He’s in excellent health, Sir von Voltaire. I can only think of one thing that could cause his symptoms, but I’d like to get a second opinion because it’s impossible for Sir von Kleist to be in that condition.”

“In what condition?” Gunter asked. “I thought you said I was in excellent health?”

The young healer raised his hands up in front of him. “Please, just let me get one of the other healers up here.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Half an hour had passed, and there were now two healers in the room, a third having gone to fetch Anissina. Gunter was in a state of panic, wondering what in the world could be wrong with him. Gwendel sat at a little table across the room, playing a game with Greta to keep his own mind from traveling the same paths that Gunter’s was.

The third healer returned to the room, Anissina striding in behind her. Anissina went over to where the other healers had been discussing the situation and comparing their notes on the advisor’s examination. She picked up one of the papers, reading over it carefully before rolling her eyes. Tossing the paper back at Dirk, she laughed.

“I can’t believe the three of you couldn’t figure this out. I’m not even a healer, and I can tell you exactly what the problem is.” She turned to the nervous man on the bed. “Gunter, you’re pregnant.”

“What?!” Gunter squeaked, his eyes as big as dinner plates. “That’s absurd, Anissina. It’s impossible. I’m a man!”

“Look at the notes and see for yourself,” she said.

Dirk handed the paper to the advisor. Gunter read over it twice to be sure he was seeing it correctly before he promptly fainted again. Gwendel hurried over to the bed, sparing a glance for his unconscious husband as he snatched up the paper.

“You three,” he said to the healers, “can go now. Thank you.” Looking at his friend, he asked seriously, “Is this correct, Anissina? I mean, it’s not possible.”

“I wouldn’t think so either, but all three of them got the same results. The odds of them all being wrong aren’t probable.”

“But--” Gwendel was interrupted by a knock at the door. “Yes?” he called.

Ken Murata entered the room, a piece of paper in hand. “What happened here?” he asked, surveying the occupants of the room.

“Gunter is…he’s not well,” Gwendel said. “Can I help you with something, Excellency?”

“I wish you guys would stop calling me that,” Ken said as he handed the paper to Gwendel. “Ulrike asked me to bring this to Gunter. She said it was an important message from Shinou.”

Gwendel accepted the paper, and unfolding the note, read aloud, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Ken frowned. “Does that make any more sense to you than it does to me?” he asked.

“Well,” said Anissina. “It would explain things.” She moved to leave the room, ushering Ken out in front of her. “Congratulations to you both,” she said with a smile as the two left.

Gwendel stood staring in shock at Gunter’s unconscious form, not sure how to take the news. Greta came over from the table where she’d been sitting quietly watching the adults the whole time. She tugged on the soldier’s coat until she had his attention.

“Does this mean Uncle Gunter is going to have a baby?” she asked, unable to conceal her excitement.

He stared at the girl for a long moment before a slow smile split his face. “Yes,” he said. “It does indeed. How do you feel about a little cousin to play with?”

“As long as you promise to still play with me too,” she said grinning at him.

“Of course, I promise. Now, why don’t you go find your papas or Grandma Cheri to play with for a while since you won’t be having lessons this afternoon?”

“Really? I don’t have to have lessons today?”

“No. You can go play. Can you keep a secret for me too?” The little girl nodded at him. “Good. Let’s not tell anyone about the new baby until after dinner, ok?”

“Ok. Can I go play now?”

“You can go.”

Gwendel watched her race out the door in search of someone to play with before turning back to the bed. Taking off his jacket and draping it over a chair, he climbed onto the bed to lie propped up on one elbow next to his husband.

Gunter was starting to wake again. He blinked slowly, moving his head to locate the soldier. Gwendel smiled at him and held up the note Ken brought.

“What’s this?” Gunter asked.

“Ulrike sent it over from the temple. I believe we need to talk.”

Gunter read the note, eyes widening. “It’s really true,” he whispered. “I’m…”

The dark-haired soldier kissed the advisor’s nose. “It would seem so. Care to tell me how this came to be?”

Gunter looked away nervously. “I’ve been watching you with the children for quite a while. You’re so good with them, Gwendel. I couldn’t help but think that you’d be a wonderful father. And I know that we’ve talked of adopting a child, but I regretted not being able to give you a child of your own blood. I wished to be able to do that. I…I suppose Shinou has granted my wish.”

“Then I have much to thank Shinou for,” the dark-haired man replied. “He has blessed me with a loving husband and now with a child. And that you would be willing to bear that child…I am truly blessed.”

Tears welled up in Gunter’s eyes as he wrapped his arms around his husband’s neck. The broader man held him close, stroking his hair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After dinner that evening, Gwendel requested that the family gather in the study for an announcement. When everyone was seated, he lifted Greta into his arms and pulled Gunter to stand next to him.

“What’s this about, Gwennie?” Cheri asked curiously.

Looking to the little girl in his arms, the soldier asked, “Greta, would you like to tell everyone the good news?”

Greta looked at everyone and said with a smile, “Uncle Gunter is going to have a baby!”

Complete silence met her words. Wolfram finally found his tongue and said, “That’s not possible. He’s a man.”

“But it is true, Papa Wolfram! Shinou told Ulrike so!”

“Gwennie? Is this true?” asked Cheri excitedly.

Gwendel nodded. “Yes, Mother. It’s true.”

“But how?” Konrad asked. “Men can’t carry children.”

“Well,” the soldier started, hugging his husband closer to him. “Gunter wanted so badly to be able to give me a child of my own blood that it seems Shinou has granted his wish.”

“Father? It’s really true?” Gisela asked, a small smile on her face. “I’m going to have a little brother or sister?”

Gunter nodded, accepting his adopted daughter’s hug with open arms and an answering smile. The healer had no sooner let him go than Cheri had him in a tight hug.

“Oh, Gunter! Congratulations!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the time that everyone was finished giving hugs and congratulatory words, it was quite late and both Gunter and Gwendel were very tired. Gunter sat at the dressing table, brushing his hair out. Gwendel, already dressed for bed, stood watching him. The advisor turned to face him with a smile.

“Six months, Gwendel,” he said, excitedly. “Just six months, and we’ll be parents.”

“Are you certain you’re up to this?” the soldier asked.

“Well, admittedly, I’ve never had much experience with infants before, but Gisela was barely a toddler when she came to me. It shouldn’t be too much more difficult.”

Gwendel smiled at his husband. “I’m sure we’ll be fine as far as that’s concerned. We’ve both had experience with babies when my brothers were born, and you’ve spent as much time with Hube’s little one as I have. I meant, are you up to carrying this child and giving birth to it? That is the hard part, after all.”

Gunter gave a determined nod. “I’m sure not all of the experience will be pleasant, but I will see our child into this world.”

Pulling the leaner man up from his seat and into his arms, the dark-haired Mazoku cupped his husband’s face in his hands. “Then I will be at your side every step of the way.” And he kissed the pale man with all the passion that he felt for him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Time passed, and Gunter’s belly grew bigger. He’d been somewhat picky about the food he was able to eat without getting sick at first, but now he’d moved on into strange combinations and just generally eating whatever food passed in front of him. After just having lunch a little while ago, he was currently sitting in the library doing research for a lesson for Yuuri.

Gwendel stood in the library doorway, unnoticed as he watched his beautiful husband. Gunter was sitting at a table surrounded by a pile of books, glasses perched on his nose, hair tucked behind his ears. The pale man pushed his chair back, laying his glasses on the table as he struggled out of his seat to fetch another book. Standing on his toes to reach a book on one of the higher shelves, the advisor gasped and dropped the book, both hands going to his stomach. Gwendel was at his side in the blink of an eye.

“Love, are you all right? Is something wrong? Should I-”

“No, no, I’m fine,” the lavender-haired man assured a little breathlessly. “The baby kicked. It just startled me, that’s all.”

“You’re sure you’re all right?”

“I promise I’m fine, beloved.”

Gunter took his husband’s hand and held the palm over a spot high on one side of his swollen belly, letting him feel the tiny foot kicking against his hand.

Gwendel’s eyes widened in amazement as they did every time he had felt their child moving. The advisor smiled gently at his husband as the dark-haired soldier knelt before him and pressed his lips over the place where they could still feel the baby moving.

“Hello, little one,” the broader man spoke softly to his husband’s belly. “We can’t wait to see you.” He rubbed gently over the spot, murmuring quietly to their unborn child, and Gunter laid a hand against Gwendel’s cheek. The soldier smiled up at him. “Stop kicking your papa for a while, little one, so he can take a nap, and I’ll see that you get something sweet after dinner.”

Gunter chuckled. “As if he doesn’t get enough sweets already,” he said, turning to gather his things from the table.

“He?” Gwendel asked, following his husband into the hallway. “How do you know the baby’s going to be a boy?”

The advisor flashed him a grin. “I don’t know for sure. Just a feeling. I think a little version of you would be wonderful.”

“What about a little version of you? I think a little Gunter would be terribly cute,” the soldier replied as he opened the door to their room. “But what if the baby is a girl?”

Gunter placed his books and notes on a table with his glasses. “Then it is my most fervent wish that she not turn out to be anything like Anissina,” he answered with a laugh.

“Or my mother.” Gwendel shuddered. “My mother is a wonderful person, but I don’t want to have to deal with the havoc a younger version of her would create in the male populace. Especially if she had my mother’s personality and your looks.” He wrapped his arms around the paler man and kissed him soundly. “Now, how about that nap?”

“Mmm.” Gunter stifled a yawn. “A nap sounds wonderful. Will you stay with me?”

“I can’t think of any place I’d rather be,” the dark-haired man answered as he removed his husband’s cloak. He sat the advisor down on the bed and bent down to remove Gunter’s boots. Settling the lavender-haired man on the bed, he shed his jacket and boots before joining him.

Gunter turned onto his side and snuggled back against his husband. Gwendel’s arms wrapped around the advisor, one hand settling over Gunter’s rounded belly and rubbing gently. The pale Mazoku rested one of his own hands over the soldier’s and sighed quietly.

“Something wrong, love?” Gwendel asked, nuzzling into Gunter’s hair.

“No, nothing’s wrong. I’m just very much ready for this child to be born.”

“It won’t be much longer now. And there’s no need to rush. I don’t know if I can even handle being in the room for the delivery. I don’t know that I can watch you being opened up.”

“I admit I’m rather terrified of the idea myself, but I don’t know how much longer I can deal with this. I’m huge. I don’t walk anymore. I waddle like a duck. I’ve got to relieve myself constantly. I eat everything. I’m always tired. I can’t even take my own boots off anymore. Sitting down and getting back up is a chore. My back hurts all the time. I feel ugly and useless, and I just want my body back to normal.” Poor Gunter was in tears by the time he finished speaking.

Used to his husband’s mood swings at this point, Gwendel simply held the advisor close and murmured softly against his ear. “You aren’t useless, love. Do you have any idea how difficult it is for us to struggle to get along when you aren’t here? It’s complete chaos. And you most certainly are not ugly. I don’t know what would give you such an idea. You are beautiful, Gunter. The single most beautiful being I’ve ever known.”

“B-b-but, I-I’m fat!” Gunter wailed.

“You are not fat, love. You’re pregnant. You can’t know how much more beautiful you are in my eyes when I look at you and know that you carry my child in your belly. And just think, in a few more weeks you’ll have your body to yourself again, and you’ll be holding our little one in your arms. A perfect little person that we made together.”

The lavender-haired man sniffled a bit to cover a giggle. “Why is it that you never say such sweet things where other people can hear you, beloved?”

“Because this part of me is for you alone. And for our baby when it comes. I don’t want to share it with anyone else.”

Gunter grinned, drying his eyes on his sleeve. “I love you, Gwendel von Voltaire.”

“And I love you, Gunter von Kleist. More than anything.” He kissed the back of his husband’s neck. “Feel better now?”

“Yes. Though I’m more tired now than I was when we left the library.”

“Go to sleep then. I’ll wake you in a bit so you can finish whatever it was you were working on before dinner. Then after dinner we’re going to bed early. I intend to show you just how attractive you are.”

“Mmm,” the advisor yawned. “I can’t wait. I just hope I’m not too tired. It would be terribly rude of me to fall asleep on you.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Following his lovely husband into their room shortly after dinner, Gwendel shed his jacket and boots before taking the advisor into his arms. Gunter relaxed against him, melting into the comforting embrace. The soldier kissed his temple.

“Tired, love?”

Gunter sighed against his throat. “No, I’m not really tired. Just a little stiff. My back aches.”

“Perhaps I should put my plans off ‘til another night, then. I don’t want to make it worse.”

The advisor turned around and pouted at his husband. “I thought you were going to show me how attractive I am. Have you changed your mind already?”

Gwendel placed one hand over Gunter’s eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. I haven’t changed my mind. I am merely considering your comfort.”

“It’s just an achy back, beloved. It’s pretty much a constant lately. And I’m sure you’ll be very considerate of my comfort,” he said, tilting his head back and licking the palm of the dark-haired man’s hand.

Gwendel broke down and attacked his husband’s lips with his own, before pulling back to quickly strip out of his clothes and to remove the advisor from his. When his husband was totally nude, Gwendel settled him cross-legged on the bed, leaning forward and bracing his weight on his arms. Fetching the massage oil, the soldier joined Gunter, settling behind him.

“What are you doing, beloved?” Gunter asked, curiously.

“I’m going to take care of your back before I do anything else,” the dark-haired man replied matter-of-factly.

Smiling softly to himself, Gunter relaxed and let his husband take care of him. Gwendel’s hands were gentle but firm as he dug his fingers into the tense muscles in the paler man’s back, neck, and shoulders. He gave a quiet chuckle at the advisor’s soft sounds of pleasure as he worked over the smooth skin in front of him.

“How’s that, love?” the soldier asked, kissing the back of his husband’s head.

“Much better. Thank you, Gwendel.”

“Good,” the dark-haired Mazoku replied as he laid the pregnant man out on the bed and, kneeling beside him, just looked at Gunter, drinking in his beauty.

After a few moments and before Gunter began to squirm under the intense gaze, the soldier leaned down and began placing soft butterfly kisses over the fairer man’s face. He paused to taste hungry lips, then moved over chin and jaw to nuzzle into silky hair as he nibbled and sucked at an earlobe, lips then trailing down the elegant neck and along the collar bone. Gunter’s fingers had tangled into Gwendel’s unbound dark hair, and his breathing was growing heavy.

Gwendel continued to assail his husband’s body with soft kisses and teasing licks, his mouth moving over one pale shoulder and down the slender arm, placing kisses on each finger before flipping the hand over and licking the palm, drawing a path of kisses up the inside of the limb. The dark-haired soldier kissed across the pale expanse of Gunter’s chest, stopping to gently torment each sensitive nipple before giving the second arm the same treatment as the first.

Gunter’s violet eyes had darkened and glazed over, and a soft pink flush now decorated his face, neck, and chest. He was making small whimpering sounds as Gwendel went about worshipping every inch of flesh he could reach with his mouth. The advisor nearly burst into tears again as he watched the look in his husband’s eyes as the soldier gently placed a hand on either side of the swollen belly and began placing light kisses all over the stretched skin, murmuring quietly to their child.

The soldier lingered a while, caressing Gunter’s sides as he spoke to their baby, then moved on, bypassing the erection jutting up from a pale patch of curls and paying the same attention to each leg that the arms received. By the time that Gwendel began licking at the back of Gunter’s right knee, the poor advisor couldn’t take any more.

“Beloved, please!” he gasped.

“Please, what?” Gwendel asked, voice gone husky as he teasingly stroked the paler man’s erection. “Tell me what you want, Gunter.”

“Please take me. Please! I need you!”

Considering for a moment the best position to use, the broader man pressed a tender kiss to Gunter’s lips and turned him onto his side. He carefully slipped two oily fingers into the advisor’s channel, quickly preparing the fairer man for their lovemaking before moving to lay behind him, taking Gunter into his arms as he slowly pushed his length into his husband’s eager body. When he was completely sheathed inside the lavender-haired Mazoku, he stopped moving and rained kisses all over any part of Gunter’s body he could reach.

Gwendel remained still, breathing quiet words of love in his husband’s ear until Gunter pushed back against him. He rocked his hips forward, starting a slow and easy pace, stroking the fairer man’s erection in time with his thrusts. The advisor loved it when their lovemaking was a long drawn out session, and Gwendel intended to do whatever he could to please the pregnant man.

It was quite some time later that the dark-haired soldier finally couldn’t stand it any longer, and he shifted the angle of his thrusts and sped his pace just slightly. Gunter gasped, his climax taking him by surprise as he clung to the strong arm wrapped around his chest. Gwendel was not far behind. He gave a few more sharp thrusts before following his husband into bliss.

“I love you, Gunter. I love you,” he whispered in the fair man’s ear.

The pair lay quiet for a few moments, trying to catch their breath before the broader man got up to fetch a soft, wet cloth to clean them up. He put out the lamp and pulled the blankets up over Gunter’s pale form before slipping back into bed and taking the advisor into his arms again. One hand stroked gently along the side of the pregnant man’s belly. Gunter smiled tiredly.

“Thank you, beloved,” he said softly.

“Hm? For what?”

“For loving me. For taking care of me…For everything you do for me,” he answered, head turning to seek out his husband’s lips.

“Mmm… I can’t help but love you, Gunter. And I like taking care of you,” the soldier replied, nuzzling the lavender-haired man’s ear. “Goodnight, love.”

“Goodnight.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You’ve still not had the little one yet?” Josak asked Gunter as he led his horse into the stables.

“Oh! Welcome home, Josak,” the advisor replied, looking up from where he had been brushing his horse’s mane. He sighed. “No, I’m afraid he doesn’t want to come out yet.”

“Ah, well, hopefully soon, hm?”

“I do hope so.”

“What are you doing down here all alone? If Gwendel found out, he’d have kittens.”

Gunter chuckled a bit. “I’m sure he would at that. Gisela was with me, but she was called away a while ago. I promised her I’d stay right here until she comes back. Honestly, between the two of them I feel like a child again.”

“Well, they worry. The general especially.”

The advisor sighed again. “I know he does. That’s probably the only thing that’s kept me from snapping at him the last few weeks.”

“Give me a moment to remove my mare’s tack, and I’ll walk you back into the castle if you like.”

The fair man graced the flame-haired spy with a brilliant smile. “Thank you, Josak. I would appreciate that.”

Josak went about making his horse comfortable as he asked amicably, “Have you decided on a name yet, since you’re so certain it’s a boy?”

“No. We’ve been discussing it, but I want to wait until I can see him before we--ah!” Gunter gasped, doubling over slightly, brush clattering to the floor as his hands flew to his belly.

Turning to see what had happened, the spy was at his side immediately. “Gunter? Are you all right?”

“I…I think the baby wants out now…”

“Alright. Come on, then,” Josak said calmly as he moved to help the advisor back to the castle. “Let’s get you inside and find Gisela.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Gwennie!” Cheri called as she hurried into her oldest son’s office. “Gwennie! You are needed in the infirmary, come on!”

The dark-haired man was on his feet and across the room in seconds. “What’s happened? Is Gunter all right?”

“Come on,” she said, taking his hand and dragging him out the door and down the halls. “He’s all right, but the baby is going to arrive soon, and I thought you’d like to be there.”

Gwendel rushed past his mother, running full tilt down the corridors to the infirmary. He was panting as he burst through the doors, looking around wildly for his husband. He spotted Dakaskos coming out of the little room off to one side which was usually used for surgeries.

“Dakaskos! Where is Gunter?!”

Looking like a rabbit about to be attacked by hungry wolves, the bald man pointed over his shoulder to the room he’d just come from. “They took him in there,” he squeaked.

Hurrying into the room, Gwendel was surprised to find Josak there holding the advisor’s hand while Gisela prepared to bring her little sibling into the world.

“Here now,” the spy spoke gently to Gunter as he let go of his hand. “I told you he’d be here soon.”

“Beloved?” Gunter turned to see his husband standing in the doorway and reached out a shaking hand to him.

The soldier moved to take that hand, his other going to stroke back strands of lavender hair. “I’m here, love. It’s all right.” He looked up at Josak questioningly.

“Ah, I’ve been recruited to help. Dakaskos is too nervous to be of any use, and The Sergeant here nearly scared the wits out of him,” the spy said, nodding at Gisela.

“Alright, people,” Gisela said, sternly. “I’m ready to start, but first, Gwendel, are you going to be able to stand this?”

The soldier’s face paled a bit, and he shook his head. “I’ll just keep my back to you,” he said, pulling up a stool and sitting down facing away from Gisela as he took up Gunter’s hand again.

“Josak, hold the sheet up for me. I don’t want father to watch.”

The spy took up the sheet she pointed to, spreading it out and holding it up to block off Gunter’s view of his belly. Gunter was trembling as he gripped his husband’s hand as tightly as he could manage.

“I’m sorry that I can’t knock you out, Father, but it’s too risky,” the green-haired healer said quietly.

“It’s all right, Gisela,” the advisor ground out through tightly clenched teeth. “Do what you must.”

Gwendel’s hand tightened around his husband’s, and he leaned down to brush a kiss across the pale man’s forehead. “Take a deep breath and focus on me, love. Alright?”

Gunter nodded, taking in a deep breath and focusing his eyes on his beloved’s.

“I’m going to start now, Father. Please try not to move.”

The advisor screamed as his daughter made the incision, struggling with his body to keep still, tears spilling down both cheeks. The initial scream faded into pained whimpering noises that tore at Gwendel’s heart. He hated that his Gunter was in pain, and there was nothing he could do to help. He just let the lavender-haired man squeeze his hand as hard as he would and continued to brush the sweaty strands of hair away from his husband’s tear-stained face. He bent his head down close to Gunter’s ear, whispering encouragement to the pale man.

“It’s going to be all right, love. I know it hurts. Just breathe. You’ll have our little one in your arms very soon.”

Gunter made a strange gasping sound when he felt something being pulled from inside his belly. A moment later, the room was filled with high-pitched squalling. Josak peeked around his side of the sheet.

“It looks like you were wrong, Gunter. Congratulations on your daughter, General,” he said with a grin.

Whatever the advisor had been about to try to say was cut off as Gisela made a startled sound, and the odd gasping noise came from Gunter again. A second set of little lungs joined the first in their wailing. This time it was the green-haired healer who poked her head around the sheet grinning.

“Actually, Father, you were half right. You’ve a son as well.”

Unable to speak through the pain he was currently in, the fair-haired Mozoku tried a tight smile instead, but his eyes clearly told his husband ‘I told you so.’

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gunter had been exhausted by the time the ordeal was over and he’d been closed up. He’d fallen asleep while waiting to see his babies. He came awake slowly, his body conscious of the soreness in his lower belly. He shifted, wincing as muscles in his stomach bunched painfully.

“Lie still for a moment, love,” came Gwendel’s quiet voice from somewhere to the left.

Turning his head, Gunter smiled tiredly as he watched the soldier settle a little blanket-wrapped bundle into a large bassinet. “Help me sit up, beloved. I want to see them.”

The dark-haired Mazoku carefully helped ease his husband into a sitting position, propped up with pillows against the headboard. Gunter relaxed into the pillows and looked up to watch Gwendel bring their babies over to the bed. The soldier gently lay first one little bundle then the other in the advisor’s waiting arms. Gunter stared at them in awe.

Their daughter blinked at him with eyes the color of his own as Gwendel ran a gentle finger over her fluffy charcoal colored hair. He turned to look at their son. The tiny boy had a tuft of pale lavender hair and looked at him sleepily out of Gwendel’s deep blue eyes.

“Oh, Gwendel!” he breathed. “Look at them!”

“I know. They’re perfect, Gunter. Thank you.”

“Names!”

Gwendel looked at his husband, startled by the sudden outburst. “What?”

“We should decide what we’re going to call them, don’t you think?”

“I’ve been thinking about that. What do you think of Gabriel and Lorelei?”

“I liked Dietrich and Grazia. But how about Gabriel and Grazia?”

The soldier smiled at his husband and their babies. “Gabriel Dietrich and Grazia Lorelei. I think those are excellent names, love.”

Gunter returned the smile. “I love you, Gwendel.”

“I love you too, Gunter,” Gwendel replied, placing a soft kiss to his husband’s lips before dropping one on the fluffy head of each baby as he watched them snuggle against their papa and drift off to sleep.


owari