It isn’t long before Taiwan notices something feels wrong with her body. Eight weeks later, and she can not deny the significance of her symptoms, the nausea and weight gain and mood swings and bizarre food cravings. She has been around long enough to know that nations simply do not beget other nations like humans do, so she confirms her state, several times, before making the dreaded call.
“France, if you get this message, please, please, come see me as soon as you can, I’m sorry to bother you, but it is important, and I need to talk to you. Goodbye.”
Then, and only then, Taiwan starts to cry.
He does come to Taiwan, almost immediately after he checked his voice messages and requested a vacation from his boss, and the worry he feels only increases during the taxi ride to her home in the outskirts of Taipei. When France knocks on the door, calling out Taiwan’s name softly, she flies out and throws her arms about him.
“Ma cherie, what is the problem? How can I help you?”
Through tears and sniffles, Taiwan reveals that she is possibly, most likely, pregnant with his child. France blinks and gapes at her in confusion, starts to say something, shuts his mouth, and starts again.
“I do not want to doubt a woman’s intuition, but this sort of thing is… it is impossible, Taiwan.”
“Well, I didn’t want it to happen either!” she snaps back heatedly. Taking a deep shuddering breath, she continues, “But… let us say that I really am pregnant. What do we do?”
“The first thing we are going to do… is sit down and get something to drink and eat.”
France steers her carefully towards the kitchen, and he makes her sit at the table, quickly brewing some tea and finding some biscuits to eat. Finally, Taiwan seems to have calmed down and France gently broaches the subject again.
“What do you want to do?”
“I… can’t keep the baby,” Taiwan murmurs. “I am too young, I would make a terrible mother, I just… can’t do it.”
“And… the other options?”
She stares at him and then shakes her head miserably, wringing her hands within her sleeves. “I am even more afraid.”
“Then don’t even think of it,” France whispers, reaching out to pat her soothingly on her back. “I am here now, dearest, and I will help you and the baby. You are not alone.”
“Honestly, I would have never expected it of you,” Taiwan says at last, smiling slightly.
“Ah, I even surprise myself sometimes.” France sighs, and then declares that their child will at least be incredibly good looking, to her amusement.
That night, France stays with her instead of at a hotel, and she is grateful for his comforting presence in her bed. Taiwan watches him doze off as she gradually tries to relax, her mind too full of racing thoughts for her to fall asleep right away.
“Hmm?” France mumbles, blinking sleepily. “Are you still awake, Taiwan?”
“Ah, I am sorry, I can’t stop worrying. A-am I keeping you up?”
He yawns and stretches, then winks at her suggestively. “Yes, but now that I am awake, I feel obliged to help you relax before I can go back to sleep.”
“You are so considerate, France,” she whispers back, before he leans over and kisses her tenderly.
Luciole [part 8/??]
“France, if you get this message, please, please, come see me as soon as you can, I’m sorry to bother you, but it is important, and I need to talk to you. Goodbye.”
Then, and only then, Taiwan starts to cry.
He does come to Taiwan, almost immediately after he checked his voice messages and requested a vacation from his boss, and the worry he feels only increases during the taxi ride to her home in the outskirts of Taipei. When France knocks on the door, calling out Taiwan’s name softly, she flies out and throws her arms about him.
“Ma cherie, what is the problem? How can I help you?”
Through tears and sniffles, Taiwan reveals that she is possibly, most likely, pregnant with his child. France blinks and gapes at her in confusion, starts to say something, shuts his mouth, and starts again.
“I do not want to doubt a woman’s intuition, but this sort of thing is… it is impossible, Taiwan.”
“Well, I didn’t want it to happen either!” she snaps back heatedly. Taking a deep shuddering breath, she continues, “But… let us say that I really am pregnant. What do we do?”
“The first thing we are going to do… is sit down and get something to drink and eat.”
France steers her carefully towards the kitchen, and he makes her sit at the table, quickly brewing some tea and finding some biscuits to eat. Finally, Taiwan seems to have calmed down and France gently broaches the subject again.
“What do you want to do?”
“I… can’t keep the baby,” Taiwan murmurs. “I am too young, I would make a terrible mother, I just… can’t do it.”
“And… the other options?”
She stares at him and then shakes her head miserably, wringing her hands within her sleeves. “I am even more afraid.”
“Then don’t even think of it,” France whispers, reaching out to pat her soothingly on her back. “I am here now, dearest, and I will help you and the baby. You are not alone.”
“Honestly, I would have never expected it of you,” Taiwan says at last, smiling slightly.
“Ah, I even surprise myself sometimes.” France sighs, and then declares that their child will at least be incredibly good looking, to her amusement.
That night, France stays with her instead of at a hotel, and she is grateful for his comforting presence in her bed. Taiwan watches him doze off as she gradually tries to relax, her mind too full of racing thoughts for her to fall asleep right away.
“Hmm?” France mumbles, blinking sleepily. “Are you still awake, Taiwan?”
“Ah, I am sorry, I can’t stop worrying. A-am I keeping you up?”
He yawns and stretches, then winks at her suggestively. “Yes, but now that I am awake, I feel obliged to help you relax before I can go back to sleep.”
“You are so considerate, France,” she whispers back, before he leans over and kisses her tenderly.