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Yuuri woke up later than usual, if he were to judge from the light slipping in from between the thick curtain and the wall. He sighed, and then pushed up to sit, his body feeling oddly stiff. How strange. He had not occupied himself with activities which were more straining than usual the day before, at least not as he could remember. There had been visits from the local gentry families, as there usually was, and they had attended dinner over at the Earl living almost on the edge of the county. The drive had been longer than they usually took so late in the evening, but it was nothing they had not done before.
He looked around, and found that their nest was empty beside from himself. It seemed he had slept in longer even than he had first thought, if his mate had left him. Victor usually let Yuuri sleep a little longer if he could, but he usually woke Yuuri to the point of being able to wish him a good day. Yuuri smiled, but also found his heart aching a little for his mate, and their usual routine. Had Yuuri been so tired that he had not woken when Victor tried to greet him, before the alpha slipped into his own bedroom? Had his mate asked the maid not to come wake him?
Yuuri pushed the sheets from his legs and swung them over the edge, feeling an odd twinge at the back of his hip. That too was strange. Had he slept in a weird position during the night? A small flush spread over his cheeks, at the remembrance of the activities they had indulged in the night before. Truly, Yuuri should not flush at the thought of such acts anymore. They had been mated for several years. This was nothing new, even if it was only becoming more and more enjoyable. He smiled as he pushed up to stand, determined to find that husband of his.
“Ah!”
A sharp pain rushed up Yuuri’s back from both of his hips, making his knees buckle. He caught himself with both his hands, as he fell to the floor. Yuuri gasped, half in shock, half because of the pain, which now seemed to be… gone? He tentatively sat up, and reached behind himself to press against the back of his hips. There was nothing there. There was no pain as he pressed against it, no apparent bruises. He had not felt anything except the stiffness in his back when he moved in the bed, so where did this pain come from?
He pushed up, and slowly stood. The pain returned then, very evident as he put weight on his legs, but since he was prepared for it now he could manage it. It still hurt, and he walked very slowly over towards the string for the bell. When he reached it, he tugged twice, before moving slowly over to the plush armchair, gasping out in relief as he sat. The pain disappeared almost instantly, and Yuuri frowned in frustration.
It did not take long before his maid arrived, and Yuuri did not move until she did, trying instead to come up with any reason for his body to be acting this way.
“My lord!” she called, the teasing smile on her face slipping as she spotted Yuuri sitting in the armchair, and not moving around and getting ready for the day as he usually did. “His lordship asked us not to wake you, for you seemed tired but… are you ill?”
She walked over to him, and Yuuri sighed and wanted to protest, but he did not know what was the matter with him.
“I am not sure,” he admitted. “I seem to be in a great deal of pain as I stand, but not when I sit or lay down.”
“Oh,” she said, her frown deepening. “Would you like to go back to the nest then? I am sure it would be best to call for his lordship, and for the doctor perhaps.”
“Is there a need to make such a fuss?” Yuuri asked, and she gave him a pointed look with one brow raised. Yuuri set his shoulders in determination. “I was alright yesterday, and nothing like this has occurred before. Surely it will pass.”
“I still think it safer to call on his lordship, and to get you back to bed,” she said, and Yuuri frowned, and placed both his hands on the armrest to stand. His knees instantly wobbled as the sharp pain from his hips returned. His maid gasped, hurrying forward to hold on to him.
“My lord!” she cried, eyes wide. “Are you alright? Are you sure you can stand? Perhaps you ought to sit back down.”
“It is alright,” Yuuri assured, taking deep breaths through his nose. “It is worse when I stand up, so if we simply move, I am sure I will be alright.”
“I shall hold onto you then, in case you lose your balance,” she said, the frown returning. “Truly peculiar. What could have caused this? Did something happen yesterday? Did you fall?”
“No, no I did not fall, I cannot think of anything,” Yuuri admitted.
“Did you go riding then?” she asked, and Yuuri once again suppressed his own flush as images of the night before filled his mind.
“No, I did not go out riding yesterday,” he answered, happy that she seemed too concerned with his feet and knees, than with his face at the moment.
“Truly strange,” she said, as they reached the nest. She kept a safe distance from the nest edges, as Yuuri reached out and carefully crawled inside, letting out a breath of relief as he laid down.
“I am sure it is nothing,” he said again, but the maid looked even less inclined to believe him now.
“I have never seen such a thing before, and after having nothing causing it,” she said with a shake of her head. “Would you like for me to call for another maid, so I can stay with you?”
“No, no I am perfectly fine here in bed thank you,” Yuuri said, feeling dreadful for making such a fuss. He knew they had much to do, and he did not want to disrupt their duties.
“I will go down and speak to Mrs. Levine then, and make sure she takes care of things, and I will retrieve breakfast for my lord in the meantime.”
“Thank you,” Yuuri said with a defeated sigh.
She gave a nod, and then hurried out, the door falling shut behind her. Yuuri took another deep breath, and reached back to rub at the places where the pain was located. Perhaps he was a bit sore? It was hard to tell really. He was not in pain as he had when he stood or walked, but the memory of it was still there.
It did not take long before breakfast came, placed on a tray with fold out legs to be placed on either side of Yuuri’s body. He felt rather strange about the whole affair. He had only ever eaten in his nest during a heat, and then it was a necessity. Something inside him ached when he left the security of his crafted cocoon at those times. Now he worried he might soil the bedding and that he was going to have to redo his nest, which he absolutely could not in the condition he was currently in.
By the time Victor came rushing into Yuuri’s chambers, eyes wild and breath caught in his throat, Yuuri had managed to eat most of the food which had been served and put away the tray, and was sipping his tea while looking out the window. It was a nice day, and Yuuri felt rather upset about not being able to enjoy it. With his mate tumbling into the room, scent distraught and expression haunted, the mournfulness over missing out on the lovely weather was soon forgotten.
“Love,” Victor said, shoes kicked off in a heartbeat, jacket landing crumpled on the floor. They had long since stopped the customary asking of asking permission to enter the nest, and Victor crawled in immediately now, his movements rushed but carefully. “Yuuri.”
“I am alright, I am alright,” Yuuri assured, his heart swelling in his chest. “Everything is alright.”
“They say you cannot walk, how could it be alright,” Victor said in a rush, kneeling over Yuuri’s stretched out legs. “Is this alright? Are you in pain now? Am I hurting you?”
“Neither,” Yuuri assured. “It is only when I walk, and I can walk, it only hurts.”
Victor did not look as if he thought there was anything only about it, and Yuuri smiled in a way he hoped was comforting. “I have called for the doctor regardless,” he said with determination. Yuuri had expected, but he still lowered his gaze and gave a nod. “I am sure it will take him a while to come, but regardless.”
“I would like to have him visit somewhere else, then when I am in the nest,” Yuuri admitted. He glanced up, and saw Victor frowning, even as he nodded.
“Will it hurt you if I carry you?” he asked, and Yuuri considered this, before giving a light shrug.
“No one has carried me this morning, so I cannot know for certain,” he admitted, letting some humour slip into his voice. Victor smiled too, looking fond.
“Alright, we shall go over to mine then, if that is alright?” he asked. “It is the closest, but it is not your nest.”
“That will do,” Yuuri agreed. Victor nodded, and then leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Yuuri’s cheek. “I do not think there is any reason for concern. I was alright yesterday. Perhaps it will be gone tomorrow.”
Victor sighed, pressing another kiss to Yuuri’s cheek. His scent was worried, and it made Yuuri’s heart clench. “You are the most precious thing in my life, Yuuri,” Victor said as he pulled back, meeting Yuuri’s gaze. “I am glad you are not worried, but please take care of yourself, for my sake.” He looked much like a sulking puppy, and Yuuri had to lean forward and press a kiss to Victor’s lips because of it.
“If you insist,” he assured. He was not sure why he was not worried. Perhaps he should. Nothing like this had ever happened before, and it was rather odd. He did not know why he was so unconcerned himself. He fully understood his mate’s worry. If it had been Victor who was hurting, Yuuri would be beside himself. “I will be careful.”
“Thank you love,” Victor said, and then climbed out of bed. With some light manoeuvring they managed for Victor to wrap his arms under Yuuri’s knees and behind his back, and Yuuri got his own arms around Victor’s shoulders. “Any pain?” Victor asked, and Yuuri shook his head.
“I have some soreness around my hips, but there is not any pain, except when I stand and walk,” Yuuri explained. Victor’s cheeks colored.
“You do not think our activities last night…” he trailed off, and Yuuri’s cheeks flushed bright red as well.
“It is nothing we have not done before,” he said, his cheeks burning with embarrassment as they stepped over the threshold of Yuuri’s chambers into Victor’s. The room was only used for Victor to dress and undress, since he always slept in Yuuri’s bed during the night. Yuuri had never even been in the bed before. “I cannot see why it would cause such problems today, if it was that.”
“You are right,” Victor agreed, putting him down on top of the covers. It felt rather odd to be on a bed which did not have a nest, but it did make Yuuri feel better to know that the doctor would not see nor come close to his own. It was a private place after all. “Are you comfortable?”
“I am yes,” Yuuri agreed. Victor let out a relieved sigh, and seemed to consider where to put himself, looking about the room. “I would like to climb in after you, but I fear we may give the doctor a terrible fright.”
“Perhaps you can pull up the armchair,” Yuuri suggested, nodding towards the one in the corner. Victor turned towards it.
“Well, I had forgotten it was there,” he admitted with a laugh. “I do not spend much time in here nowadays. It has become a dressing chamber.” He walked over and carried the chair to the bedside, before looking back up and meeting Yuuri’s gaze. “Do you need anything right now, love? Otherwise I will go over to yours and close up.”
Yuuri shook his head, and watched as Victor disappeared back into Yuuri’s bedroom to do as he had said, bringing back the cup of tea Yuuri had occupied himself earlier with as well.
“You are spoiling me,” Yuuri said, and Victor shook his head, pulling the string for the bell before he sat down.
“If you consider this as spoiling you, I am not doing a very well at being an attentive mate,” he said, and Yuuri shook his head.
“That is hardly true,” Yuuri argued. “You are the best mate, much more than I could have ever dreamt of.”
“Flattery,” Victor teased, but the usual ease behind his voice was lacking. Yuuri’s heart ached. He was truly worried.
“My lord?” the valet asked, appearing in the door. He looked to Yuuri, and then looked back to Victor. “You called?”
“When the doctor arrives, make sure he comes straight here,” Victor said, and the valet nodded.
“Of course, I will go wait for him at the door myself,” he assured.
“Thank you so much,” Yuuri said softly, still keeping his eyes on Victor, finally taking in the tension in his shoulders, the restlessness of his fingers, his flickering gaze. He truly was worried.
“Yes thank you,” Victor echoed, smiling in a way which did not look genuine. The valet seemed to notice too, for he lingered in the door for a moment longer.
“Is there anything else I can do, send for something?” he asked. Victor instantly shook his head, clearly ready to answer in the negative, but Yuuri hurried to cut in before he managed to utter a word.
“Perhaps we could send for a book from the library?” Yuuri asked, and Victor looked over, eyebrows raised. “You were speaking of one the other night, the- the one by Radcliffe, about a forest.”
“Oh, The Romance of the Forest?” Victor said, and Yuuri smiled and nodded.
“That is the one!” he agreed, looking at the valet. “Would it be too much trouble to retrieve it?”
“Certainly not,” he assured. “I will go to the door to ensure I do not miss the doctor, but make sure I catch someone on the way to search out the book.”
“Thank you,” Yuuri said, and the valet bowed, and disappeared. Victor turned his attention fully to Yuuri then, looking a little perplexed.
“My love, you have a mind to focus on a book at a time such as this?” he asked, and Yuuri nodded.
“It will be good to spend the time, and you have a lovely reading voice,” he said, settling back against the pillows. “It has been far too long since you read to me.”
“This is true of course,” Victor agreed, his smile looking a little more genuine. “We are invited out so often, or host ourselves, that it has been rare that I have read. It had entrusted it to younger, more eager talents,” he said, and Yuuri huffed out a laugh.
The book arrived first, and Victor was just about to start reading the second chapter, when they were interrupted by the doctor. Victor stood to ensure the doctor had enough room to examine Yuuri, but refused to leave when asked. Yuuri was very grateful for it. Luckily with Victor being a duke and alpha, the doctor did not argue, and let Victor remain in the room.
Yuuri was asked to explain his condition, his history of such afflictions, as well as stand and show the physician where he experienced the pain, as well as how. Victor’s scent grew more and more worried, but he did not speak, except ask the occasional question to the physician, or remind Yuuri of something the servants had said when they had retrieved him back to the manor.
“Does either of your parents suffer from rheumatism?” he asked, and Yuuri considered for a moment.
“My mother sometimes does, when the weather is foggy, but otherwise no,” he answered. “Nothing which resembles this, or at least to my knowledge.”
“Perhaps it can be due to your earlier profession,” he said, and Yuuri frowned. “It does strain the body to work in such a way. Surely you started working for your parents’ inn when you were young?”
“Yes,” Yuuri agreed, and the doctor hummed and nodded. “Is there-, what do you perceive this to be?”
“I cannot find anything else which seems to be of concern,” the doctor said. “The pain seems to be the only thing which is affecting you. I would suggest bedrest, and no straining activities!” He looked to Victor again then, whose cheeks colored.
“It seems I will have to carry you around then, my love,” he said in a teasing manner, even if the tension in his shoulders had returned. Yuuri shook his head fondly.
“I am perfectly capable of walking,” he said, but the doctor gave him a sharp look.
“My lord will do well to walk as little as possible, and if he needs to leave the bed and his mate can carry him, I would advise such a cause of action,” he said sternly, and Yuuri frowned. This was indeed going to be a problem. He did not want to call on Victor for everything he needed. His mate was very busy, and could not be Yuuri’s personal carrier. Furthermore, he did not want anyone else to carry him, so if he was not to walk, he did not know how he would get by.
“How long do you think it will take for this to go away?” Yuuri asked instead, and the doctor shook his head.
“I do not know, I would hope that tomorrow you wake and realise it was merely that your body needed a day to rest,” the doctor answered. “I do not think it is permanent, but because of your background of labour I cannot be certain. We shall have to keep in touch. I would advise you, my lord, to write to your family and ask if they know of any who may have had a similar affliction.”
“Thank you,” Yuuri said with a nod, and then the doctor asked Victor to follow him out. It was not a surprise, but Yuuri still let out a sigh of disappointment from the implication. He had met the doctor before. He was a good man, and knowledgeable, but Yuuri was left feeling as if they knew even less than this morning, as well as the sensation of being talked down to because of his past and his secondary gender.
Victor returned shortly after, smelling and looking as if he too felt more worried now than he had before. He did not bother with the armchair now, but climbed into the bed instead. Yuuri laid down, and Victor laid down beside him, and wrapped Yuuri up in his arms. “What did he say?” Yuuri asked, his face pressed into Victor’s chest. It smelled comforting there, like home.
Victor let out a deep sigh, pressing his own face to Yuuri’s hair. “He did not really tell me any more than he did you, except his wording was sharper.” Yuuri felt a shiver race down his spine. “I can call for someone else-”
“No, no let us not make enemies in our home,” Yuuri said, pulling away to speak but still keeping close. “We cannot know if there has been strain to my body because it has been exposed to labour.”
“It seems rather odd that you would go from experiencing no pain to such sharp pain that you cannot walk,” Victor pointed out, and Yuuri hummed. He pushed back and gave an easy smile.
“This is why everyone warned you not to wed me,” he pointed out. “It would have been much more beneficial for you to find a mate in the nobility.”
“I could, and would have none but you,” Victor said calmly, his fingers moving into Yuuri’s hair. Yuuri hummed.
“That feels lovely,” he admitted, and Victor hummed too.
“Would you like to move back to the nest?” Victor asked. “You could undress, and I could touch you.”
“No straining activities,” Yuuri echoed, and Victor smirked.
“I am sure I can make it very non-straining for you,” he assured, and Yuuri giggled. “Besides, considering how much effort you put in last night, it is only fair that it is my turn this time.” He pulled back, and then tipped Yuuri’s face up, placing a slow and sweet kiss on his lips. Yuuri suddenly felt a little breathless, the worries of his condition melting away under the attention of his husband’s lips.
“Victor,” he sighed when the alpha pulled back for breath, and when he blinked his eyes open, Victor was smiling genuinely, making Yuuri’s heart soar.
“Believe it or not my love, but my suggestion was in no way as lewd as you seem to have thought,” he said, placing a kiss on Yuuri’s nose before pulling back. “I was thinking that perhaps it would be enjoyable, to simply be touched.”
“See,” Yuuri sighed as a shiver of pleasure over the idea rushed up his spine. “How could one ask for a better mate?” he asked. Victor’s smile grew, and he pulled away to be able to pull Yuuri up from his bed and carry him back into the nest.
_____________________
The pain did not go away the next day, nor the day after that, and the day after that. Yuuri stayed in bed and rested, but the pain did not seem to subside because of it. It stayed the same, both in character and amount. It did not change if Yuuri moved more or less, it was consistent, which perhaps worried him more than if it had fluctuated. He wrote to his parents, but neither of them had any recollection of anyone suffering a condition such a Yuuri’s. They asked if they should visit, but he declined. He did not wish to worry them further.
Victor kept close by, his office being moved into the alpha’s bedroom, the door now almost always open between them. He kept his word as well, carrying Yuuri around whenever he needed to, even if Yuuri did take the opportunity to walk a little every day, since he grew dreadfully restless. He could not occupy more of Victor’s time, but after two weeks of bed rest he could hardly stand himself anymore.
He needed to do something.
“Are you sure about this?” Victor asked, Yuuri balanced in his arms as they carefully moved down the stairs. They had gotten rather good at this now, since Victor carried Yuuri down at least once a day, for dinner. Yuuri would have gone fully mad otherwise.
“I will perish,” Yuuri said, in a way which felt more dramatic than he usually expressed himself. “I adore my nest, but it is starting to feel like a prison. I need some air.”
“I see,” Victor agreed, even if he looked wary. “But you have to promise me that if it becomes too much, you will tell me.”
“I will,” Yuuri agreed, only half-lying. If the pain were to grow too much he would tell Victor, but he was not planning on telling him if he was in the usual amount of pain. If this was what he was to live with from now on, it was better to get used to it.
Outside stood their finest carriage, with the plushest of seats. Additional pillows had been added for Yuuri as well, and Victor sat him down carefully on the seat, settling down beside him. Yuuri could not say he enjoyed being coddled, but he was very grateful to have such a loving attentive mate, who always stood by him, even now when he was hardly allowed to walk.
They drove into the nearest village, only for the sake of going somewhere. It hurt, but Yuuri pushed it down and instead focused on Victor’s pheromones, and the closeness of him by his side. They stopped next to the park, and settled on a blanket and plush pillows there, watching as people strode by. Many came up to speak for a bit, and Yuuri was glad to see so many. He usually did not particularly enjoy this part of his title, but in this moment it was lovely to simply hear voices and see new faces.
Victor left for a moment to go buy something to eat from one of the local shops, even if the cook had sent with them a large basket, which left Yuuri alone in the park, their servant staying beside the carriage. He sat there, his face turned up towards the sky, his hips aching, but happier than he had been for several days now.
“My lord.”
Yuuri opened his eyes, and saw an older omega standing there, one which he did not recognize. He smiled regardless, inclining his head as the omega bowed.
“Good day,” Yuuri greeted in return, and the older omega smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Ah, my lord will have to forgive me but… we have been told my lord has been ill and it is lovely to see him out again,” the omega said, and Yuuri felt an odd rush of embarrassment and discomfort. He did not think he would ever get used to this, being known in this way by strangers. “May I inquire about your health? Is it better?”
“I am afraid I shall have to disappoint you,” Yuuri said, hoping to be vague. “It is as it was previously, I simply needed to get out for a moment. It is not contagious.”
“Of course not,” the omega said with a nod. He frowned however, seeming to consider for a moment before he spoke again. “How- what is it that my lord is struggling with?” he finally asked, and Yuuri felt a sense of worry rise in his chest.
“Ah,” Yuuri said, looking over to where Victor had gone off to. He wished his mate would return soon. He had always been much better at handling things such as this. “I woke up one morning and my hips ached when I stood or walked, they still do. I do not know why.”
“My lord,” the omega said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, which surprised Yuuri. “May I ask you something rather personal. If you are not comfortable with discussing it, you do not have to answer.”
“Well now I am intrigued,” Yuuri admitted, because the smile on the omega’s face did not in any way resemble the worry which had been there earlier. “Please ask, and if it is too scandalous I shall have to ask you to leave.”
“I will be prepared for the possibility then,” he said, and glanced over to Yuuri once more, before seeming to steel himself. “My lord, when did you last have your heat, and was it spent with your husband?”
“Ah,” Yuuri said, his cheeks colouring. This was not something which was spoken of, and not outside of the relationship of an omega and their mate, as well as an omega and their maid. Yuuri considered for a moment not to answer. However, he wondered which relation this may have to his condition. “It has been about twelve weeks. I- it was spent with my mate, yes,” he said, looking away to try to collect himself.
“I see,” the omega said slowly, and when Yuuri looked back he was still smiling. “I am dreadfully sorry that my lord is in such pain, but I would- you see I had a similar condition myself when I was younger.”
“You did?” Yuuri asked, and then looked down at the man’s hips, before looking back up. “What was it? How long did it last?”
“The duration of my pregnancy, my lord.”
“Pregna-” Yuuri started, and then stopped, his heart suddenly beating up his throat.
“It is a fairly common affliction,” the man explained. “However it usually arrives much later, when the pregnancy is already known. My lord must not have noticed the lack of a heat yet, since there has not been one but… I am no doctor my lord but I feel rather sure.”
“Pregnant,” Yuuri said again, and then the man smiled and nodded.
“I am sure you will know, if your heat does not return in the coming weeks,” he said, softer now. Yuuri nodded, heart caught in his throat.
“Thank you,” he whispered, and the man nodded, a wide grin on his face as he stepped away. Yuuri’s heart ached, and he let out a long slow breath.
“Love,” Victor suddenly said, and when Yuuri turned towards him, he was coming to kneel beside him, eyes wide and scent distraught. Yuuri had not even noticed him approach. “What happened? Are you in pain? We should go back-” His hand came up to Yuuri’s cheek, caressing away the tears.
“Victor,” Yuuri said, placing one hand on Victor’s chest to calm him. The alpha slowed, and blinked at him. A tear trickled down Yuuri’s face. “I need to tell you something.”