The Swedes preferences: children (royal au)
Warnings: mention of pregnancy
"Boys!" The two children giggled as they rushed through the palace, wooden toys clattering as they we discarded in their bid to avoid their mother's wrath. You knew what their argument would be 'but farbror Oscar said we could'. You were thankful for Oscar volunteering to watch over your children so Axel could attend meetings but his influence on them was getting out of hand.
The boys would no doubt hiding in Otto's extensive gardens where only they could navigate the bushes. You sighed as they ran out the door, pushing each other jokingly as they went. If this was any other day their nurse would be going after them but as she had been given the day off it was your turn. Gathering your skirts with some curse words in your mother tongue, you were about to go after them.
"Моя любовь?" Axel's stealth was still a part of your marriage that you couldn't get used to. "Your Russians improving" he bowed his head in thanks but still spotted the way your shoulders slump "where are Nils and Lars?" A small shriek from Otto answered his question "your sons are currently attacking your brother" your emphasis on 'sons' made him chuckle.
Nils and Lars appeared from behind a hedge, brown leaves adorning their platinum hair, Axel tilted his head at the boys like he was trying to figure out how best to discipline them. "Next time your brother offers to take care of them say no" he opened his arms so you could cuddle into him.
"Ja, I promise" he kissed your forehead gently before detaching himself from you. Nils and Lars continued to play fight, unaware of their father's looming presences. "Tillräckligt" his voice boomed over the garden and the boys froze, Axel simply held his hand out and beckoned them over.
The boys rushed over to their father obediently, crashing into his legs with bright smiles. He picked Lars, the youngest, up with ease while Nils took his open hand. He whispered something to Lars which caused the pair to giggle, Axel leaned in and the pair rubbed their noses together. He looked down at Nils and said something, the boy nodded before rushing off back into the hedged garden.
You joined the remaining Swedes and kissed your son's cheek as Axel wrapped his free arm around you once more. Nils returned with a flower in hand and held it up to you "thank you sötnos" you smiled at him and cuddled him into your leg.
Axel leaned down and kissed you, you gladly kissed back with a smile. Thinking back to the first few years of your marriage when Axel didn't speak to you unless it was to question you on Swedish culture, a sort of game the pair of you had created as an icebreaker.
The pair of you pulled away and rested your foreheads together, Axel was about to speak when "mina blommor!" Otto screamed from deep within the garden. The boys giggled and you went to scold them "хочу посмотреть, сколько времени ему понадобится, чтобы поймать их?".
The boys were yet to learn Russian so they continued to giggled as their uncle came closer, you nodded and Axel placed Lars down next to his brother to give them words of encouragement. They darted off just as Otto dusted the leaves off himself "should we help him? You asked when Otto tripped on their toys. Axel pondered before shaking his head "wait until Oscar gets involved" he smiled.
While Otto wasn't pleased with being left out of your monthly trip to Russia, your daughter couldn't be more happier. It was snow season in Russia and Linnea was prancing around in the snow as you talked with your sisters. Despite her smiling face it was clear she missed her father.
"Still no word?" Anastasia asked, Otto had promised to try and make the journey to the palace before you came home but no doubt his brothers were keeping him. You shook your head with a sigh, taking one last glimpse out the window before turning back to the group.
It felt like hours had passed with your sisters talking what sounded like nonsense, your gaze flickering between your tea cup and your daughter. A knock sounded at the door and your husband's head appeared, he looked around the room before locking eyes with you and smiled.
You embraced in the hall, attempting to block out your sisters fawning over you. He kissed your lips with a smile "where's Linnea?" Ever since she had been born Otto desperately want to watch over her, even after seven years he still worried Oscar would corrupt her.
Despite needing a male heir, the pair of you were happy with a girl and Linnea proved to be more like her father every day. "Outside, you forget she hasn't seen snow due to her lessons" he nodded "can I go out to see her?" He always preferred to check incase you wanted to help grow her independence.
"Sure, she might need to come in soon, she's not dressed for Russian snow" you kissed his cheek before going back into the study with your sisters. You went over to the window to wait for Otto to reunite with his daughter.
She was taking a small break from making snow angels by sitting down in the middle of them and staring up at the barren trees. Otto trudged through the snow, his height aiding him so he didn't sink unlike his daughter who clearly had sunk multiple times due to the darker patches on her dress.
She turned upon hearing the snow crunch "Papa" she grinned and stumbled to get up, Otto knelt down with opens arms and grin on his face as she crashed into him. They exchanged a few unheard words before he picked her up and waved at you, you waved back.
Once you knew Linnea was with her father you retook your seat and joined your sisters in their conversation. Every now and then you heard her laugh or Otto's deep voice telling her 'I've been hit' in Swedish, after a while you wished you could be out their with them and after a while came to the conclusion that you could.
Without another word, you picked up your gloves and coat, excused yourself and rushed down to join your family. Linnea saw you approaching, you placed a finger on yours lips as an indication to keep quiet. She nodded and went back to whatever Otto was saying, with her distracting him you easily hurled a snowball at the back of his head. He gasped as the snow went down his shirt collar "this means war" he smirked.
The whole palace was on edge with the arrival of a royal baby. Axel had to practically drag Oscar out of your shared room after his attempt to comfort you in Russian ended with him insulting you. Now you were alone, dealing with the contractions while your maids fluttered around you.
In the library, Oscar was making a hole in the floor with his pacing. Axel had taken to reading a book while Otto was attempting to find Catherine in hopes she would distract him long enough to stop the pacing. Oscar could hear the palace staff muttering and running in the corridors, he picked up some of their conversations as they passed.
"I'm going up" he finally said, moving to the door so quick he nearly tripped on Catherine as she dodged Otto's hands. "Sit" Axel said without looking up, Oscar went to protest but Catherine was placed into his arms before he could.
"What if something goes wrong?" He huffed "the midwifes are trained" Axel said bluntly. Oscar twitched with worry but turned his attention to the cat in his lap. Otto grabbed a chair and pulled up next to him "strange how you went from exchanging letters to having baby" he grinned.
Oscar nodded "or from being yelled about at dinner to marriage" Axel set his book down to watch his brother's interaction. "Or from-" a loud scream cut him off and Catherine jumped from his lap and disappeared into the bookcases.
The young swede looked at his brother who nodded his head, indicating he could go upstairs to his wife. Otto chased after the couple's cat while Axel pulled a maid to the side to warn her about Oscar's incoming presences.
Axel stood outside your room with Otto who, after a few scratches, managed to calm Catherine down from hearing all the screaming from upstairs. "Too quiet" Otto muttered into the cat's fur, Axel hummed in agreement.
He was about to knock on the door when a doctor opened the door "congratulations your highnesses, it's a boy" he smiled at them and bowed on his way out. The brothers entered and found your tired form huddled in the bed with Oscar, a baby was in your arms and Oscar cooed at him.
"Hey" he smiled up at his brothers "would you like to meet your nephew?" He gently took your son from your arms to pass to Axel. "Crown Prince Axel, Prince Otto" Axel took the child in his arms "meet Prince Dimitri" the pair looked up at Oscar "it's a Russian name" Otto looked even more confused.
"His way of apologising for calling me something I won't repeat infront of a child" Oscar turned to look at you "I apologised" he sighed but you'd already turned your attention to Catherine "can we get another cat for Dim?" Oscar asked while handing your son to Otto. You shot him a look "I can work on a nickname" he promised.
