"I hate this.."

Another month had passed quickly. Only, it didn't feel very quick. Morning sickness had been so horribly tiring to Nico for the months it lasted. The fatigue also wasn't a very fun thing to deal with. Only that didn't go away. Nico felt like he couldn't walk from his room to the bathroom without wanting to pass out. Apperently that wasn't normal, because Mila would always seem really concerned. That wasn't at all comforting.

Sally came by again. Nico immediately knew something must have been wrong because of the slightly worried and surprised "Oh!" Sally gave when she walked into his room and saw the boy sitting on the foot of his bed.

"What?" Nico frowned, his arm coming up to cover the growing bump.

Nico couldn't help but feel self conscious about his growing abdomen. Although it's been weeks, he could still feel Jason's hand pressing firmly against the bump. Since then, he didn't let anyone touch him. Mila was an exception, but a small one. There were some times Nico didn't want her touching him either.

"N-Nothing!" Sally gave a reassuring smile that didn't meet her eyes. Mila placed her hand on Nico's knee in an attempt to comfort him, but it only made the carrier jump a bit. The older woman pulled away, smiling apologeticlly at him.

Sally knelt down in front of Nico, asking him to lift his shirt up. Nico hesitated before complying slowly. Her warm, soft hands ran across his stomach, the bump seeming more of an unhealthy swelling than a sign of pregnancy thanks to how skinny the rest of Nico was.

He had yet to feel the baby move and kick inside of him, which Sally simply said was perfectly normal. He didn't like the idea of it. The strange feeling of a little life feeding off of his own, a life he hadn't even wanted to create, was terrifying to him.

"So, you should be feeling your little one kicking around in about a week or so.." She said softly as she continued to inspect his stomach. "Hm.. How do you feel exactly? More tired, yes?"

"A lot more tired," Nico mumbled, scooting back on the bed and pulling his shirt down. "I can't even leave the room I sleep in without feeling out of breath. It's annoying. My back and feet are starting to hurt whenever I stand and I hate it."

Sally smiled and straightened herself, giving him a soft pat on the cheek. "I know, dear. I understand. Pregnancy is hard. I'm not sure about carrier pregnancies but.." She glances down at Nico's bump again. "Nevermind. It's nothing. I am a little concerned about your extra fatigue though."

"Is.. That a bad thing?" Nico's hand rested on his stomach, still frowning at the bump.

"No, no." Sally waved her hand dismissively with a smile. "I'm sure it's a carrier thing. You know. Just the way your body is reacting to the fetus. I'm sure yours will be a healthy little thing."

"How bad is it going to get?!"

Sally stood up with a laugh. She had heard the question many times before.

"It depends how big the little one wants to get. How good you're eating. How well your body is transferring the nutrients to the baby.." Sally gave Nico another warm smile. "But other then that, you look perfectly fine. I'm sure the fatigue is just because this is your first child. You've never experienced this before. So everything just seems.. Well.. Intense."

Nico nodded, deciding that made sense. Unless this was just the kid deciding to be a little pain in the ass, which he was starting to suspect. Sally left after Nico thanked her for the check up, Mila giving him a quick hug and motherly peck on the cheek before excusing herself as well.

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

"So, you have proof?"

Jason sighed heavily, trying not to appear too disrespectful. Not that he cared, but he rather get this over with as soon as possible.

"Yes, Father. His abdomen has been growing quite a bit, showing his uterus expanding to fit the fetus. If you'd like, you can come with me-"

"I'd prefer if you'd simply bring the boy to me," Zeus waved at Jason dismissively. He was clearly not convinced. Jason growled, turning on his heels and storming out of the room.

Jason didn't appreciate the greeting he was given when he walked into Nico's room. The carrier screamed and threw pillows, shutting himself in a closet to hide. It took struggle and ended with the prince being bitten quite a few times, but he managed to drag the boy to the throne room once again.

"Don't touch me, you filthy bastard!" Nico snapped, throwing his weight around as Jason stood behind him and gripped his arms to his sides. "Let go! Let me go!"

"See?" Jason glared at his father, struggling to keep the carrier still as he screamed and thrashed. "He's clearly pregnant. Remember our deal?"

Zeus' eyes almost popped out of his skull. He stared at Nico, who began to tire as his screams quieted to growling and his thrashes slowed to jerking. The king rose, stepping down from his throne to towards the two. Nico stiffened, eyes rising to meet Zeus' in a death glare as the king examined him and his growing bump. To Nico's horror, father turned out to be very much like son as Zeus' large hand pressed heavily against his stomach. Bile rose in Nico's throat, but with his arms pinned to his sides, all the helpless carrier could do is freeze and try not to vomit.

"It's.. Real?" Zeus frowned, lifting Nico's shirt to make sure there wasn't anything pushed underneath. There wasn't, but Nico did yelp and try to thrash out of the brute's grip. The hand returned, this time on bare skin. Nico was about to say something his mother wouldn't have approved of under he felt something. A strange fluttering inside his womb. Then a sudden jab as Zeus' hand jerked back. Both went silent before the fluttering came back, Nico gasping softly. "It is.."

"Our deal, Father?" Jason pressed, a smirk gracing his lips at the king's stone gaze. "I have found a male that can and will produce me an heir. So..?"

Zeus stayed silent, but soon let out a heavy sigh. "A deal's a deal." He let go of Nico's shirt, to the carriers relief, and lifted the silver crown dotted with sparkling rubies from his head and placed it on his son's.

"Wh.. What?" Nico stopped his struggling straining his neck to try and turn to see the prince. "I'm confused."

Zeus stepped back, arms folded behind his back as his eyes seem to almost glare at the pair in front of him. He hadn't expected his son to succeed. He definitely wasn't happy to give his crown up so early, especially since it will be awhile before Zeus passed from old age. "The child better be carried to full term. And better not be.. Faulty or something."

"Faulty?" Nico couldn't help the wave of anger that washed over him hearing that. "What do you mean Faulty?"

"Like, missing limbs or slow in the head," Zeus said dismissively, like the question wasn't worth answering but he was just trying to be nice. "A boy would be preferred. We need an heir that will do this kingdom proud. To strengthen it once they take over, not prove to be a weakness."

How could anyone say something like that about a child? Though he didn't want this baby, the sound of someone talking down to it made his blood boil. Nico was about to speak again, but Zeus simply spoke over him. "The coronation is scheduled for next will. Will you be crowning.. Him.. As your queen?"

"Hm?" Jason looked down at Nico, who was clearly lost, before shaking his head. "I don't believe I need a queen, Father. He is simply to get me an heir. Once that heir is born, he'll be released to return to whatever home he came from."

Although Nico had known of this plan, hearing it again made him even more sick than he already felt. That was all this prince saw him as. Not a person. An object. Not a fellow human being, but an incubator that had a dick instead of breasts. But Nico simply glared at his feet, silent. Jason and his father agreed on the date and time before Jason dragged Nico back to his room.

"So.. This was your plan?" Nico said once they arrived at his bedroom. "To get me so you can take over your kingdom?"

Jason shrugged. "It was to get my father off my back. Sooner ruling of the kingdom was just a plus. Now, you rest up to make sure our child isn't.. Well.. In my father's words 'Faulty'."

Nico huffed and opened the door, slamming it in Jason's face once he was inside. The carrier than proceeded to slide down the door into a sitting position, letting his head tilt back and rest against the door.

"I hate this," he whimpered, slumping slightly forward and burying his face in his hands. "I hate this. I hate this so much." He pulled back as the fluttering feeling came back, only more intense. The carrier shivered as he stared at his stomach, where the fluttering was coming from.

'It's.. Moving?' Was the only thing that came to his mind. Nico sat silently, letting the strange feeling continue for several minutes until it stopped. What the hell was the little shit doing in there? Nico shook his head, standing up finally. The sooner this little shit came out, the better.