I Can't Stand You

EPILOGUE: Our Reason / ...On A Tuesday - Ebisu

"I need to talk to you."

His heart sank. Things had been going so well for the past two years. What did she look so upset for? He looked at the ground.

"Did I do something to upset you?"

"No, Love. Not directly."

Not directly? He heard her sigh.

"Ebisu, I'm pregnant."

Everything felt like it suddenly stopped. The news was so big that the world had stopped. Everything went black.

"Ebisu? Ebisu? Wake up, you big fucking baby. You're not the one with a kid growing inside of you."

He heard her voice before he opened his eyes. She was squatting next to him, smacking him lightly in the face.

"You okay?"

She plopped down next to him on the floor. He sat up.

"Yeah, I'm fine. How are you feeling?"

"Terrified. This wasn't in the plan. But, I knew something was wrong when I couldn't find my balance on the pole. And, I took the test this morning..."

She began to cry. He reached out and gently touched her clothed belly, closing his eyes again. His head hurt form hitting the floor, but not even that could take away from this moment. He let a smile spread across his face.

"This is scary, but it's also really flattering? I'm humbled. You took my seed and you're making something incredible, intentionally or not. And I'm deeply honored. And completely shocked."

She began to cry harder as she wrapped her arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder.

"Oh, Ebisu!"

""Marry me, Kat. This is our reason. I can't imagine being with anyone but you. Marry me. Be my wife. We can be a family officially when Baby arrives.  On paper."

"O-Okay! Yes! A-Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life!"

Suddenly, she scrambled from the floor and rushed to the bathroom. He heard the toilet seat slam open before retching. He hurried down the hall to help her. Entering the bathroom, he knelt behind her, holding her hair back as she vomited into the bowl.

"Were you that scared to tell me?"

"No. It's baby sickness, I'm pretty sure."

"We don't have to get married anytime soon-"

"No, I want to. I do. I love you. I just wish I wasn't saying yes from the inside of a toilet bowl."

She spit, blew her nose, and flushed before turning back to him. Even with bloodshot eyes and a flushed face, she was beautiful.

"Come on, let's lay down and spend the day together. I'm going to cancel with my students today. I think this news warrants a day off."

"But, Ebi-"

"No, it's okay. I'm sure that Kakashi, of all people, will understand. I'll let him know. And Iruka's been so busy with his... whatever that woman is to him that he rescued, he won't even notice."

She nodded, smiling.

"Okay. Will you hold me?"

His heart felt so full.

"I'll hold you all day, Baby."

***

He put an arm around Katsu as they excited the shrine. His head was in a daze. He had just quietly married the mother of his unborn child in front of the Shinto priest and shrine maiden. They took vows, exchanged rings, and made their love official.  On paper official.  To the Konoha records, at least.