#spaaus

Spain was late. Austria would not usually be surprised since his husband often treated punctuality as a suggestion. 

But it was out of character since the minutes until the Christmas mass were ticking closer. Though Spain was often late, but his piety would never allow him to miss even a moment of mass. 

Austria was surprised that he had not been waiting for him by the entrance to the private chapel. He had expected it, and even imagined the moment when he would find his husband lovingly waiting for him. The thought had occupied his mind during the whole long ride from Vienna. 

Though it was necessary for them to live apart, he always looked forward to their reunions. It was especially acute at Christmas, since the cold weather made him long for his husband to be beside him in bed. 

He glanced around, utterly disappointed that Spain had not appeared as he imagined. It broke with a very affectionate tradition that he looked forward to every year.

Then he heard, in the voice he’d been longing for, “Rodrigo.” 

Austria turned and saw Spain striding towards him quickly. The sight made him smile widely. It was the exact sight that he had been longing for. He responded, “You are late.” 

If he had intended it to actually sound cold, he had failed. The words sounded warm instead, and he saw the way that Spain’s lips turned up at the corner. In a single motion, Spain swept him into an embrace. The feeling of his arms, after waiting so long for the embrace, was incredibly inviting. 

Spain then kissed him once on the cheek and said softly in his ear, “I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.” 

When Austria turned his face to look at Spain, the other put his hand on his face and eased him into a kiss.  Austria had intended to ask what had kept Spain so long, since it was so out of character.

But as Spain’s lips pressed against his own, the questions disappeared. He could think of nothing except the feeling of his husband’s affection. There was something distinctly alluring about the firm way that the Spaniard took affection. He was never a shy man, and Austria was glad for it. 

After Spain pulled away, it took a moment for Austria to find the words to ask the question. In the silence Spain said, “Rodrigo, you know I would never miss mass. I had a few delays, but I am here.” 

Austria caught the breath that the kiss had knocked out of him and said, “I am impatient because I have missed you.” Then, after a moment of reflection on what the other had said, he added, “What delays?” 

He could think of few things that would be dire enough to risk possibly being late to mass. It was possible that there was some crisis that Spain couldn’t possibly avoid. If that was the case, then it would be of concern to both of them, since their imperial fates were intimately tied together. 

Spain touched his face and said, with calm confidence, “I missed you too. And once we are alone, I will show you exactly how much.” 

The undertone to the statement almost felt inappropriate for such a holy night. But the feeling it sent down Austria’s spine was admittedly thrilling. He smiled and said, “Provided you don’t have any more delays.” 

Spain smirked and said with a gesture to the space behind him, “That will depend entirely on how well they behave.” 

Austria turned to look and saw a group of small children being shepherded by a group of servants. He hadn’t even considered the colonies since they were such a new addition to Spain’s life. 

He said, verbalizing the first thought that crossed his mind, “There are more than the last time I visited.” Spain didn’t try to hide the look of beaming pride that crossed his face. He glanced at his colonies before saying, “God favors my conquests, and has rewarded me richly.” Then he chuckled and added, “Though I did not anticipate how difficult children can be.” 

Austria looked at his face, appraising his appearance more closely. Though Spain was still young and handsome, his face did have some of the tell-tale signs of fatigue that came with being a young parent. 

Austria knew the feeling well enough. He had faced it when young Holy Rome had been thrust into his care, and again with the Venetia and Lichtenstein. He was no stranger to the way that a child could upend tidy routine, especially on a day like Christmas when they all needed to be organized and dressed for church. He was relieved to know that the delays had nothing to do with a crisis, but rather with the difficulties of adjusting to life with children.

Austria placed a hand on his husband’s shoulder and said calmly, “I have a solution that works at Christmas. Trust me.” 

He walked over to the group of children and kneeled so that they could all see his face. He said, “You should listen closely to Antonio. God has his ministers at Christmas. If you are good, then the Christ child will bring you gifts. But if you are naughty, then a demon named Krampus will come and take you away. You wouldn’t want that.” 

He saw the way that fear flashed across all the children’s faces, but that was what he intended. Some fear would give them good reason to behave and be quiet through mass. He straightened up and turned to Spain and added, “That worked like a charm on Feliciano.” 

Spain looked somewhat skeptical, but he simply said, “If it keeps them from causing trouble, then I’ll be grateful. I would very much like them to pay attention to the Lord’s message at this time of year.” Austria said, with a certain smile, “I promise that it will work.”

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Once mass and a long feast were over, Spain and Austria were alone in their bedroom. Austria was increasingly impatient with the distance between their bodies. 

All through the feast Spain had taken the opportunity to lay his hand on Austria’s thigh, and the gesture had filled him with anticipation. The sweet comments that Spain had taken to whispering in his ear had also given him a very good idea of what would happen when they were alone. 

As soon as the door had been pushed mostly closed, Spain took Austria firmly by the waist and pulled him into a deep kiss. On instinct, Austria closed his eyes and let himself melt. He could feel the other taking control, and he didn’t mind in the slightest. 

He could feel the desire in the way that Spain’s hands roamed over his coat before eventually finding the ties on his doublet. As he started working, Spain broke the kiss to say, “I’ve missed the way you feel.” The words made Austria’s face feel like it was glowing. He was certain that he was blushing deeply.

He took a break from working on the clothing to stroke Austria’s face and say, “I do not like having to wait for this. Why can’t we live together as a married couple?” Austria shook his head slightly and said, “I don’t like the distance either, but you know the answer.” 

He mirrored the other’s gesture and put his hand to Spain’s face. He could feel the stubble there, like it was every day. He continued, “Schatz, I have my own empire to see to. I can’t live with you, even if I would like to.” 

Spain leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Austria’s. He said, “I know we could find a way. I come home from battle and all I want is you, but you’re a world away in Vienna.” 

Austria softly stroked his husband’s face. He could not be upset with the fact that his husband wanted him closer. But it simply wasn’t possible for either of them to spend too much time away from the land they represented. He answered, “I am here now, and it is Christmas. We can discuss it in the morning. Take me to bed.” He bit his lower lip before adding, “Please.” 

Spain smiled softly, incapable of resisting the request. He answered, “Very well.”

 Then he swept Austria into his arms and deposited him on the bed. He took Austria’s glasses off gently and set them aside. Then he peppered Austria’s face with kisses. It was profoundly pleasant.

Just as he planted a kiss on Austria’s neck there was the sound of the door creaking open followed by a small voice saying, “Tony?” 

The world was blurry for Austria beyond Spain’s face, so he could not make out what was happening, but he could tell that Spain left the bed and walked to the door. Austria felt around until he found his glasses. 

As the world came into focus, he saw that Spain was at the door kneeling in front of a child who was saying, “I’m scared. Can I sleep with you?” 

Austria wished that Spain would send the child away and return to what he was doing. But instead, Spain nodded and picked up the child. Austria sighed and accepted that they were not going to have the intimate night that he hoped for.

As if to confirm it, Spain said, “Nueva España is going to stay with us tonight.”

Even if Austria wanted to object, he wouldn’t dare to say anything in front of the child. No child would understand why adults wanted to be alone in the bedroom, and he wasn’t going to be part of such a conversation. 

Spain took his silence as agreement and settled the child into bed between them. He said, speaking to New Spain, “What are you so scared of?” The boy looked around nervously before saying, “Will you protect me if Krampus thinks I am naughty?” 

Spain shot Austria a glare over the child’s head, making the unspoken blame clear. He said comfortingly to the child, “Of course I will.” 

Austria muttered to himself, “It works on Feli.” Thoroughly convinced that the night was a loss, he laid back onto the pillows and decided to get some sleep.

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Austria woke in the morning and turned to look at his husband. Though the rest of the world was blurry, he could see everyone else in bed. 

New Spain was cuddled up against Spain, who was still fast asleep. He looked like a little cherub who was perfectly peaceful as he slept. Spain had wrapped his arms protectively around the boy. It was a sweet sight. 

Austria contemplated to the sleeping pair as reality dawned on him. All of Spain’s success meant that he was a parent responsible for several children. They would make it more difficult to act as a carefree young married couple. Their moments alone would have to conform to the needs of the children, and not their own convenience.

But it was the result of all their success, and he couldn’t begrudge that. He knew it was Spain’s dream to be a successful empire, and he had done that. In fact, seeing Spain’s concern for his young colony made him only love the man more.