Arthur moaned, feeling Alfred swell to knot inside of him as he leaned forward and rested his head on the King's sweaty chest. Alfred wrapped his arms around Arthur's slim waist as the Queen traced the Spadian Noble mark on his pectoral. Alfred smiled softly, easing his breath. Arthur listened to his lover's calming heartbeat.

"We've been married for a year," Arthur whispered, closing his eyes and breathing in Alfred's soothing alpha scent which stood out from the scent of his omega heat, "and it's still hard to believe."

Alfred chuckled, leaning his head back on the dark cherry wood of his and Arthur's headboard. "Really?"

His Queen hummed and nodded. "Yes. You're just too good to me and to this kingdom. The economics and politics are already close to their former glory because of you, two wars have been prevented, and only within a year. The military is stronger and the people are happier. You truly are a hero."

"Of course." Alfred kissed his omega's head. "I've always been a hero. Especially for you." Arthur blushed, but didn't fuss. He found that he couldn't argue with Alfred because the alpha would only laugh and say something sweet or in his southern accent, both causing the Queen to get flustered. Arthur also was still shocked that Alfred was kinder to him as an omega than other alpha's would normally be with their omega. Usually, alpha'a would establish their dominance over their omega and scare them into being submissive. Alfred only pouted when Arthur yelled and laughed when Arthur tried arguing with his alpha. Alfred never seemed to get angry with him. Sometimes that would anger the Queen that his alpha wouldn't get angry with him, but Arthur was grateful and happy that Alfred was the way he was. Arthur loved how kind hearted his mate and Husband was.

"Alfred?" Said alpha hummed. "What if... Do you think something is wrong with me?"

Alfred furrowed his brow. "No. Why do you ask?"

Arthur sighed, shifting his hips, still feeling the knot connecting them. "I just... I'm worried. We've been married a year, and I'm still not pregnant."

"That's all?" Alfred gently squeezed Arthur. "That's okay, Arthur. Maybe your body just isn't ready for children, yet."

The Queen groaned, pressing his nose into Alfred's chest. "But we've knotted every time, especially during my heat when I have a higher chance of getting pregnant! Alfred, I want children!" Arthur started to sob, curling his hands into fists as he was held tighter. "I'm ready for children, but I can't seem to just get pregnant!"

The King sighed, shifting so he lay down. He pulled the covers up and lay on his side, Arthur curling against him, legs wrapped around his waist. Alfred tilted Arthur's head up and kissed him. "Arthur, please calm down. You just need some rest. If you really want some kids, I'll try harder, mkay? I'll even talk to Yao, ask him if he knows about anything that could help get you pregnant faster if you want."

Arthur nodded, furiously swatting his tears away. "Okay. Thank you, love." Alfred smiled softly, then tucked Arthur back into his chest as he closed his eyes. "Goodnight. I love you.

"Love you, too, Artie. 'Night."

~

Alfred groaned, leaning forward and burying his face in his hands. His elbows propped him up on his desk, paperwork everywhere. His thoughts were jumbled everywhere, just like the papers. Arthur usually came in to organize them while he rested on the couch in the office room, but Arthur was still on his heat in their shared bedroom down the large corridor.

The King leaned back, holding up the paper he was reading from King Ludwig Beilshmidt of the Hearts Kingdom. He was proposing a trade, but Alfred could only see how Ludwig would benefit. He sighed, tossing the now crumbled paper with all the other crumpled papers before leaning over and taking a clean sheet of paper. He wrote an apology and a kind decline of offer to King Beilshmidt, whom he had only met at his wedding and crowing as King. He then nearly folded the off-white paper, tucked it into an envelope, then placed it in his 'to send' pile. So far, he had three piles; 'to send,' 'to trash,'(which was the only one in the floor) and 'to look at.' 'To look at' was still the largest pile.

"You highness?" Alfred looked up to see Yao poking his head through the office doors. Alfred hummed in question, looking down at the new request to trade from the Diamond Kingdom. "Uhm, the Queen is requesting to see you." Alfred looked up at Yao. "I could do some paperwork, if you'd like? But I can only do paperwork for our Kingdom, and not affairs with the other Kingdoms, as you know, but I'm sure it will cut down on work for you."

The King chuckled as he stood. "Thank you, Yao. And when we are speaking alone and not in public, please just call me Alfred. Matthew's already use to it, so now it's your turn." Yao bowed slightly, then took Alfred's spot in the chair as Alfred left the office.

He traveled down the hallway, the only noise being his shoes clicking against the patterned tile. He sighed, shoving his hands in the pockets of his pants. He still wasn't used to the silence of the castle. He honestly missed the farmhouse he hadn't seen since eight months previous when he had the chance to visit his foster mother. Now, he could hardly sleep with all the work being heavily tossed at him from left and right and from Arthur being upset about not getting pregnant.

Honestly, Alfred wasn't sure if he could take the stress of having a kid. He knew they were plenty of work, but wanted one nonetheless. However, perhaps at a later date when he didn't feel as if the world was pressing down on his shoulders. Alfred just didn't have it in him to tell Arthur, whom so desperately wanted a child, that he didn't feel like he could have kids right then.

When Alfred opened the door, he was hit with Arthur's heat. He stepped in, smiling at Arthur. Arthur spread his arms, beckoning Alfred over. "How are you feeling, babe?" Alfred crawled over Arthur and started kissing and licking his Queen's neck.

Arthur whined, curling his fingers into Alfred's hair and wrapping his legs around Alfred's waist. "Ready," was his simple answer which Alfred had understood immediately. Arthur was bent on having children, and Alfred knew he wouldn't be able to shake that from Arthur, not even in the slightest bit.

~

Alfred groaned, slouching only slightly in his throne. He glanced at the two thrones on either side of him; Arthur's to his right and Matthew's to his left. The Ace of Spades had the smaller, less extravagant seat, whereas The King's was the opposite and The Queen's was right in between.

The large doors to the throne room opened, causing Alfred to scowl, but straighten up. Matthew stood at the doors and have a little wave. "Hey, brother. You have a guest."

The King tilted his head, but stood up. "I'll be right out."

Once he stepped out of the large throne room, he grinned and tossed his arms around his visitor. "Ma! Boy, am I glad to see you!"

Victoria giggled, returning the embrace. "Me, too, sweetie. How's Arthur? Are you going to have a baby anytime soon?" Victoria wanted to burst with excitement as they pulled away from the hug.

However, Alfred frowned and looked down, causing worry to build up in Victoria. "About that... Arthur's on his heat right now, so no baby right now, but..." He trailed and Victoria placed a hand on his arm, urging him to continue. "But, ma... I don't think I could take having a kid right now."

"Why not?" Victoria calmly led him over to sit on a plush couch, meant for waiting visiors.

Groaning once again, Alfred sat down beside his foster mother. "Because, ever since our kingdom's economy boosted, more work has been piling up, and I'm getting stressed out. I think a kid might be just too much right now."

Victoria hummed and nodded, taking his hand in both of hers. "Have you talked to Arthur about this?"

"No!" Alfred ran his fingers through his hair, furrowing his brows as he closed his eyes. "I can't do it! He really wants a kid, ma. We talked about it last night after... After... That. He started crying because he thought that he should have been pregnant already. He is starting to think that he is barren as well."

Hazel eyes softens in sympathy as she watched Alfred. "And what did you tell him?"

Sighing, Alfred leaned back, hitting his head against the wall. "I told him that I'd try harder to get him pregnant and ask Yao if he knows of anything to help heighten the chance of pregnancy, which I didn't do."

"Well," Victoria shifted, patting the back of Alfred's hand, "maybe you should talk to Arthur. I'm sure he'd understand. Tell him that there is too much work and stress for a child right now. Tell him that when everything settles down for a while, you can try for a baby. I'm sure that he'll understand and try to help lighten the load off your shoulders as well as Yao and Matthew. Don't try to do it all by yourself, sweetheart."

Alfred looked up at Victoria, worry in his eyes. "But, ma... He'd be crushed. He's set on having children. He'd die if I told him no."

Victoria's frown deepened. "Then I don't know what to say, baby." Alfred looked down, sighing softly. "I'm sorry, sweetie."

~

One knock at his office doors caused Alfred's head to snap up. He yawned, leaning back. He wasn't sleeping, but he was pretty close to it. "Who is it?"

A head poked in. "It's just me," the Queen whispered, slipping through the crack of the doors before closing them. "I was just checking up on you."

Alfred nodded, leaning forward to read the offer he was previously falling asleep to. "Well, I'm just a tad tired. Why don't you go eat something? I bet you're hungry. You haven't hardly eaten anything all week because if your heat."

Arthur bit his lip, slowly advancing Alfred. "I'm not hungry, right now. But, I was hoping that you'd come with me."

The King quirked a brow at Arthur, but didn't look up from the paper. "Walk?" His voice was quite but slightly curious as he signed the paper and placed it in an envelope.

"Yes, a walk." Arthur stepped behind the chair and placed his hands on Alfred's shoulders. "I was thinking that perhaps you'd like even a small break from all this work, then when we get back, I could help you."

Alfred chuckled, leaning back as Arthur began to massage his shoulders. "That sounds great," he muttered, relaxing into the chair. Arthur smiled and kissed Alfred's head. Arthur knead his fingers into Alfred's shoulders, working out the knots steadily forming from his stress. "Hmm~," Alfred hummed, closing his eyes. "Are we going on a walk or are you going to keep giving me an awesome massage?"

Arthur chuckled. "Let's go on a walk. I'll ask for tea if you want some."

Alfred sighed, then nodded. "That sounds wonderful right now and I don't even like tea. I'll meet you outside, just give me a minute."

"Alright. I'll see you then." The Queen leaned down and kissed Alfred's cheek before exiting the room.

~

Once Alfred finished three more papers, he met with Arthur by the castle doors. He smiled, holding up his arm. "May we go for that walk, my Queen?"

Arthur blushed, smiling softly as he hooked his arm through Alfred's. "Of course, my Farmer boy."

Alfred chuckled, leading Arthur outside. They stepped down the stairs, passing guard after guard until hey reached the garden. They spoke about several different things, most tying into the affairs of their Kingdom.

"Did you ever ask Yao?" Arthur sat in a cushioned chair, placing his tea cup down on the table as they rested under the roof of the gazebo.

Alfred looked up and tilted his head, also placing his cup down. "Ask what?"

Arthur's emerald eyes saddened as his shoulder dropped slightly. "About help in getting pregnant," he reminded, trying not to whine. "You promised me you'd ask him."

The King sighed, gently taking Arthur's hand in his. "I know. I'm sorry, I meant to ask, but..." He trailed. He could use two truths, but which one? That he didn't want a kid right then or that he was busy?

"You've been terribly busy, I know." Arthur looked down, nodding. "You're tired and working yourself to the bone for this Kingdom."

Slowly, Alfred nodded as well, leaning back. "I promise, Arthur... We will have children one day, but not right now. I've been thinking about it and I talked to mom on the subject..." Arthur looked up and tilted his head. Alfred gulped, looking into the rose bushes. "I don't... Think it'd be a good idea for children right now."

Arthur gasped, reeling back in his seat as if his life was thewatened, his hands clutching his chest. "W-What?"

"Arthur," Alfred stood and calmly made his way to Arthur's side. Arthur watched with wide eyes as Alfred knelt on one knee beside him. "Arthur, there's way too much to deal with right now, and a child is so much work. I know you want them, babe, and I want one, too, but..." Alfred took Arthur's hand and gently caressed the back of it with his thumb. "Arthur, we can't have a child right now. It'd be too much stress on the both of us. Once things start to settle down and there isn't as much work, then I promise you that we can have children. I swear it on my life, babe, but just not right now."

The Queen sobbed softly, leaning into Alfred as the King embraced him. "Okay... If you promise."

"I promise, Arthur."

~

Arthur paced back and forth at the end of his shared bed that had just been prepared for his heat three days previous, when his heat was supposed to begin. "It's late... It's too late... Why is it late?"

"Arthur?" Alfred stepped into the room, causing Arthur to freeze up. "What's the matter?" Alfred shut the door and cautiously advanced on Arthur.

Tears gathered in the Queens eyes as he opened his arms. Alfred met the embrace and rubbed his back. "It's not starting... It was supposed to start three days ago. It's never late."

Alfred sighed, kissing Arthur's head. "I'm sorry, baby. Maybe it'll start soon?"

Arthur shook his head with a whimper. "I can't feel anything, Alfred. It's not starting at all!"

The King sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't know what to say. Do you want me to call for a doctor?" Arthur nodded. "Alright. I'll be right back."

~

"Have you been feeling sick lately?"

Arthur shook his head. "No. I've been fine."

The doctor nodded, packing up his things. "Have you been trying for children?"

Alfred sighed, sitting beside his spouse. "Yes, but stopped a while ago."

Slowly, the Doctor turned to face the couple with sympathetic eyes. "Then I have bad news." Arthur gulped, clutching Alfred's hand. "You are perfectly healthy but, if you stopped trying for children and you haven't been feeling sick, then there is nothing else except..." Arthur tried swallowing around the large lump in his throat as tears built in his eyes. He knew what the doctor was about to say, be he refused to believe it. "I'm sorry, your majesty, but you're barren."

Arthur felt completely crushed, his grip tightening on Alfred. "B-barren?" The Queen's voice cracked, heightening in pitch. "So I... I won't have children? I can't have children?"

"Yes. I'm so sorry." The doctor placed a hand on Alfred's and Arthur's shoulders before taking his leave.

Alfred tightly wrapped Arthur in his arms. The Queen was silent as he leaned weakly into Alfred. "Arthur? Baby, talk to me."

However, Arthur couldn't find the words to speak. He curled his fingers around the fabric of Alfred's shirt. "I... I can't... I'm not..." Tears spilled from his eyes and soaked through Alfred's shirt. "I can't have children?"

"No." Alfred kissed Arthur's head, gently squeezing him. "I'm sorry, Arthur. I'm so sorry. I should have tried harder sooner. Maybe we'd already have a kid. I'm sorry, Arthur, I'm sorry."

The Queen started to sob, burying himself in Alfred's warmth and held him tighter. "Alfred, I can't have children! I'm barren! I was supposed to give you children, I'm supposed to bear an heir to the kingdom! I wanted to have a baby to watch it grow and take care of it with you! And now I'll never be able to have children!"

Alfred bit back tears and rocked Arthur back and forth as he rubbed his back. "I'm sorry, Arthur. I'm so sorry. I wish I could do something. I wish I could make this better. I'm sorry for not having tried harder for a kid earlier. This is my fault, Arthur, I'm sorry."

Arthur only cried, trying to melt into Alfred's arms. He looked across the room through tearful eyes at the crib that had been built to suit Arthur's taste and to match the castle, in size and design. He quickly
buried his nose in the crook of Alfred's neck. "Alfred... Alfred, I'm so sorry... I'm terrible. I'm an awful mate. I should have been able to bear you children. I'm sorry... I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

The King shook his head. "No, Arthur. Stop apologizing. It's not your fault that you can't have children. If anything, it's my fault that we don't already have children in our arms. Come get some rest, Arthur. You're going to need it."