Part Of A Family

Chapter 1

The links in your chains may be strange, but they'll make you stronger. So don't replace a thing, mother or father.

It started out like any other day for Sven. Sure, his next show was the next day, but it didn't mean he couldn't practice. As he started a maneuver, he lost his focus. He saw one special penguin. He saw Lovelace walking towards him. Suddenly, Sven crashed.

"You alright, Svensei?" Sven only nodded, nervous because of what he needed to say. The reason he lost his focus in the first place.

"Lovelace, there's..." Sven started to say, then laughed awkwardly. "There's something I wanted to tell you."

"Oh?"

"Lovelace, I...Varför är det så svårt?" He muttered in his native language. Once again he started laughing awkwardly.

"Are you okay?"

"No, I'm fine, it's..." He sighed, knowing there was no going back. "I love you."

"Oh, um...Okay." He replied. "Excuse me for a moment, Sven." As he finished talking, Lovelace ran off.

"No, Lovelace." Sven sighed. After about an hour, most of it spent trying to figure out what to say, Sven flew over to Lovelace. "I'm...Sorry. I didn't think, I didn't even ask if you were-"

"Oh, Svensei. You got it all wrong."

"Wait, so you...You love me too? Oh my goodness. Thank you, Lovelace!" Sven said, just before leaning in to kiss him. Lovelace stopped the overjoyed bird with his flipper.

"But, there is one thing. Things are...A little different in Adelie land. The penguins here don't exactly 'appreciate' the idea of two male penguins. Don't get me wrong, I do love you, but, especially with someone like me, no one can know about this. Okay?"

"I don't care. I've got you." He said, finally being able to kiss his new partner.

A few months later...

Finally, Sven had what he wanted. Even though he had to keep it under wraps. As he was flying around, he thought about that, and sighed contently. Suddenly, he looked down, and saw something strange. It was an Emperor penguin with her egg, but she looked...sad. Eventually, she left. Sven stayed there, wondering if it was a mistake. He waited.

And waited.

After a few hours, he knew what had happened. He couldn't just leave it alone, but what would Lovelace think? It only took a few minutes for him to decide. That night, when he was sure no one would see them, he told his partner.

"Lovelace?" He said quietly.

"Hmm?" He replied.

"I need you to come see this. Follow me." With that, Sven led him to the egg. "I just found it, it vas abandoned."

"Really?" Sven nodded. "Well, what should we do? You know we can't let people know about us."

"I figured we could take turns raising her."

"I don't know, Sven. It's just really risky, isn't it?"

"Lovelace, please. Vhen I lost my home and I came here, I just vanted a family. Let me have this." Lovelace just sighed before responding.

"You know I can't resist you with that look in your eyes." He said as he kissed him on the cheek. "But, where are we gonna put it?" Sven had gotten so caught up in the moment, that he had forgotten about that. He quickly glanced around, and found a small cave in the ice.

"There." He replied as he led them. "It looks like it's big enough for the three of us, right?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Vat's wrong?"

"I don't know, Sven. I guess I'm..." Lovelace sighed sadly. "I don't think I'm ready to become a father yet."

"I never asked you to be. Adopting this child vas my idea, you can join us when you're ready."

"Thank you."

Months later...

It had been a while since they adopted the egg, but something was still wrong.

"Anything yet?" Lovelace asked as he walked towards Sven.

"Actually, no." He said worriedly. "Vat if it doesn't hatch?" He started saying, more frantically than before.

"Sven." Lovelace said as his partner started rambling. "Sven, relax. I'm sure there will be other eggs, we can try again."

"Okay. As sad as it is, you're probably right." He said. "And I'll still have you, right?" As they leaned in for a kiss, they heard some small tapping noises. Sven gasped with the excitement of having a child, as Lovelace smiled. All of a sudden, *crack* Her face was visible. It wasn't long until she was out of her egg completely.

"Any idea for a name?"

"How about...Freja."

"Fine by me." Lovelace said, pulling his lover in for an embrace.