Forever With You

Nine

"You're going to be a daddy," she said in the afterglow. She smiled happily and waited for his response.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"You're going to be a daddy. We're going to be parents. Isn't that wonderful?"
"You're kidding." He pushed her off and rolled away from her, sitting up and putting his feet on the floor. "I don't believe you."
Hitoka sat up in bed, covering herself with the blanket. This was not at all what she expected. She never thought he'd act like this.
"I'm not lying, Yuji. I've never lied to you."
He snorted and stood up. "That's true, I guess."
"The physician confirmed it this morning," she said hopefully, trying to reclaim the euphoria she felt when she found out. She'd been so happy, and thought he would be too. She started toying with the blanket. "I thought you'd be happy," she whispered.
"Yeah? Well, I'm not, Hitoka. Weren't you even being careful?"
"Of course I was! How could you think I wasn't?"
"Women have tried to trap me before," he said calmly, as if this wasn't anything new.
"I'm not trying to trap you, Yuji!"
He chuckled softly, and it was the worst sound she ever heard. Especially when he turned back to face her with a smirk and a cold glint in his eyes. Eyes that had once looked so warm and loving...
"I'm leaving in two weeks, Yachi. I have a Baronetcy to run."
The use of her family name sent an arrow to her heart. Realization finally set in. Clearly, she was mistaken about their entire relationship, and all she'd ever been to him was a bed warmer. Her vision swam, but she fought back the tears.
"You never loved me, did you?"
"Whatever gave you that idea?" He laughed when he said it. She flinched. "I never said anything to make you think I did." He tossed her clothes at her, and started dressing himself. "The room is paid up for the next few hours. Do whatever you want, but you'll have to pay if you stay later than that."
"Right."
"Goodbye, Yachi."
"Yeah. Goodbye." She couldn't bring herself to utter his name in return.

Her head hurt like hell, and she felt hot all over. She knew she wasn't sick, so why...?
Then it all came back, every last little detail. Prince Tsuki had told her they didn't restrict the invitations, couldn't stop them from being sent, couldn't uninvite anyone, especially not him. Yuji Terushima, also known as the biggest mistake she'd ever made in her life. Yet, from that mistake, her greatest blessing was born. Literally. A beautiful baby girl who had inherited most of her looks, and her temperament, from her, thank all the gods. The only thing Aiko had from her father were her blue eyes.

Aiko! Hitoka struggled to sit up, fighting the blankets that had tangled themselves around her legs. She needed her baby, needed to hold her, to hear her laughing, to know she was happy.

"Easy, there! Hey, Yacchan, calm down. Calm down!"
She knew that voice! It was a rich baritone, and when he sang, it was so beautiful. She almost wished he was singing when she woke up in a panic. Her head might not be pounding and feel as heavy as a boulder. He spoke to her, soft and soothing, and she stopped, but only to catch her breath. She groaned; the pain in her head was excruciating.
"Where's... Aiko?" she panted. "Where's... my baby?"
"I just put her down to sleep. Should I go get her?"
"Please?"
"Be right back."

Dizziness hit her hard, and she slumped down on the bed. It was taking forever for him to come back with Aiko. Where was he? Why was it taking so long? Surely her cradle wasn't on the other side of the castle? The world spun faster, and she reached a hand out to grab hold of something, anything to anchor her. What she eventually latched onto, and held with all of her strength, was his hand.

"Your grace?"
"Shhh... I'm here. I have Aiko, but she's still asleep."
"Okay." It was enough to know he was here, and that he brought her Aiko. "Let me..."
"Hang on a sec," and he gently took his hand back before replacing it with Aiko's tiny one. She tried to smile, but instead, she started crying.
"I sent for medicine for your head, Yacchan," he said soothingly. "And I have the water going for tea, if you think you can handle it."
"Yeah."
He stayed quiet for a few minutes longer, and then, "What else can I do?"
"Lullaby?"
"Gladly, but also, if I may?"

He started singing the lullaby she remembered from her childhood, the one they'd sung together several times before. She was beginning to think it was their lullaby, now, and her heart skipped a beat. In addition to his beautiful voice, he began to rub her back, something she'd missed so much after her mother sent her away. More tears fell, but they weren't sad tears. Or happy tears. He was doing so much for her, and they barely even knew each other. But she didn't want him to stop, and she didn't want him to go away. Hitoka lost herself in the lullaby and gentle back rub.

~*~

"I think she fell asleep," Kei whispered when he arrived with the headache powder. He leaned against the doorjamb, watching Eita comfort Hitoka even after she'd fallen asleep.
"Yeah," Eita replied quietly, lifting Aiko into his arms and slowly rising off the bed. "She woke up in pain, and could barely sit up. I'm just happy she didn't get sick."
"Yeah, that would have been worse. Are you sure she didn't hit her head or anything?"
"Yeah, I caught her before she fell."
He moved past Kei and put the baby back in her cradle, then he went to shut off the tea kettle. It had been a long night, and it looked to go even longer.
"Taichi gave me this," Kei said, handing over a bag. Inside was a change of clothes, his toiletries and a brush. "I turned down the boys' bed and there's a fresh pillow and blanket."
"Thanks. I might sleep like the dead once I know she's okay."
"Hmmm," was all the answer he got. Kei was staring at him, scrutinizing him with those golden brown eyes of his. Eita once thought it was unnerving, but now, he just stared back, waiting. Whatever Kei was looking for, he found it, and smiled.
"I'll make your excuses again at breakfast," he said, pushing off the doorjamb and walking toward the door. "I doubt I can keep the boys away too much longer."
"Will you try? She needs rest and plenty of quiet."
"Yeah. Hopefully, the other children will provide enough of a distraction. Especially for Yuki."
"How's he doing?"
"He finally calmed down enough to sleep. Tetsu is sleeping with both of them, right now."
"Glad to hear it."
"I'll see you later."
"Yeah, same." Kei was almost out the door before Eita called out to him again. "Hey, Kei?"
"Yeah?"
"Will you tell me what happened?"
Once again, he endured Kei's scrutiny, and then the man smiled rather cryptically.
"I think she'll tell you. You only need to ask."
"You don't think it's impolite?"
"It's impolite to ask other people about someone's past, don't you think?" He stepped into the hallway, and slowly closed the door. "Sleep well, Eita. We'll see you later." And the door shut with a soft click.

~*~

When next she woke, she cracked open her eyes and discovered herself alone. The sun was shining, and very obviously high in the sky, and it was pleasantly warm in her room. She moved tenderly, just enough to squint at her bedside clock. 12:26pm. How long had she been asleep? Yawning, she stretched as much as she could, and then slowly sat up, bracing her arms behind her on the bed.

"Morning, sunshine," his rich baritone voice broke the silence.
Hitoka looked over and smiled at Duke Semi, who held her baby in one arm, and a steaming cup of - she inhaled deeply - coffee with chocolate in his free hand. He walked toward her bed, and she noticed he was in plain clothes now, not any of his royal finery. He wore an indigo colored t-shirt, a pair of cargo shorts, and was barefoot. He sat down beside her on the bed and smiled.
"Which one first, baby or coffee?"
She chuckled. "Baby, please."
He set the coffee on the bedside table, and handed Aiko over to her.
"How's your head?"
"Better," she answered. "Not as bad as before." She cuddled her daughter, who chose to grab a fistful of her hair, screeching happily.
"Glad to hear it. Do you think you can eat something?"
"I feel hungry, so I'll try."
"Anything in particular?"
She thought for a few minutes. "Buttery scrambled eggs, toast, and juice."
"Sounds pretty good, actually."
"Haven't you eaten already?"
"Just woke up about," he glanced at her clock. "Forty-five minutes ago." He watched them for a few minutes and then stood up. "I'll go see about breakfast."
"Okay." And then, before he could leave, she called out to him. "Thank you!"
He stopped and turned to face her. "For what?"
"For staying. You didn't have to," she wasn't looking at him, but at Aiko instead, gathering courage from her happy little girl.
"I wanted to," he replied quietly.
Hitoka nodded, and held Aiko just a little tighter. "Thank you... Eita."
When she looked at him again, his face was flushed, and he was smiling shyly. It was sweet, and he looked incredibly handsome. He scrubbed a hand through his ash blond hair and turned that smile on her.
"Anytime, Hitoka," he replied softly. And then, he left.

The nursery, and her room, felt a little emptier without him here. Oh, she was well aware that he'd be back, but right then, she felt his absence. It still didn't make any sense to her, that she should feel this way about a man she'd basically just met. And she knew he had questions about quite a few things, but didn't ask. Well, depending on how long he'd be staying with her, she decided she would answer his questions.

She just hoped he wasn't gone too long.