Forever and Always

9

Ivan glanced over to Alfred, pushing himself over to him. Alfred looked up at him, and gave a small smile. Ivan leaned down to kiss him, petting his cheek.

"What?" Alfred groaned, feeling a kiss get pressed to the top of his neck.

"Dinner passed and you still haven't eaten," Ivan replied, moving so he was practically laying over him, just an inch of space between them, "are you feeling okay?"

"No..." he muttered, before pursing his lips, "I don't know, it's like my stomach is caught in my throat."

Ivan tilted his head, before nuzzling his cheek, "C'mon. You'll feel better if you eat," he ran a hand down his stomach, his fingers barely brushing him, "you need to eat."

Alfred closed his eyes and leaned back. He wanted to argue, say he didn't need to eat that much. But, he remembered he did. He was going to make an argument about how nobody pregnant ate three meals a day during the war, until he remembered that the -now- King and Queen required everyone to get three meals a day.

He muttered something obscene under his breath.

"Okay, fine."

Ivan smiled, moving so he could get up. Alfred trailed behind him in pajamas, occasionally patting his stomach in random places. He was getting big. He'd heard some of his siblings muttering about how a big father made big children, and he was almost worried.

But, overall, Alfred seemed fine. He was a lot more sleepy, but he was still working. He could still do stuff, even though he was half way through term. In fact, he hardly seemed to care.

Today was just a bad day. It was a depression nap and ice cream type of day, so he was with him for most of it.

Alfred sighed, leaning against his husband's arm. He felt it reach up around his shoulder, drawing him into his chest.

Ivan leaned down and kissed his hair as the elevator door opened. The house was practically empty, even though it was only nine. Most people were getting tired and running off to sleep.

Yet, there were still a few night owls out and about.

Bricriu slithered through the hallways, coming up to pass the Chief. The black and green scales of his tail glistened in the dull lighting. His tongue flicked in and out, and his heat sensors flashed.

He took a deep breath and continued along. The Chief did not look good in his opinion. He wanted to know what was going on. Ku was waiting for him at the end of the hallway, Nombeko standing beside him. Both of them were wearing heavy coats, like him.

"What did you want?" Bricriu asked, curling his tail around himself, "It's getting late, and it's cold. I can't be in the cold for long."

One of the things he hated most about the human realm was they had seasons. In their realm, they had a 'hot season' and a 'normal season'. It never got below sixty degrees, at least at the city where he was from.

He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Somethings wrong," Nombeko said, his hands reaching up to clutch his chest, "I feel it."

"What do you mean, wrong?" Bricriu replied. The Chief and his husband passed, neither seeming to care.

"Well... it's... it's," Nombeko stopped for a moment. Ku put his hand on his forearm, brushing the claws over his skin. A silent wish for him to focus. Bricriu knew this must be important. Ku was sober.

"It's Adesimbo," Nombeko said, his head going down.

"Who?"

"Adesimbo!" Nombeko said, "She's the leopard werecat, real quiet?"