A Little Twist

Fourteen

Risa is taken back to the kitchen, where Reiji shows her the baby food for later. Together with the bottles for when the baby is six months old. She is now in the nursery and takes her time to find everything. They sure seem to have thought of everything. I still can't help it that so much is taken out of my hands. What do I get to decide? Can't I go shopping for the baby? I had everything ready with Ema. All I'm allowed is to have contact with her but that's it. She sits on the loveseat and lets her eyes dart through the room. It's all for you, sweety. But what is for me? I'm his mother, but I can be replaced I guess. They were fighting last night over the photo as well. Maybe it's a good thing, I stopped Shu in time from revealing the gender. Unless he has told the others and I'm the only one who doesn't know. She plays with a small brown-gray-ish teddy bear. I'm scared to tell them that it actually started. I'm one centimeter dilated and I noticed that I'm leaking my water for a few hours.

'Is there something wrong?' Ayato is closer and heard her sobbing. 'Is it the baby?'

'I'm scared...' She didn't mean to but the tears welled up in her eyes. 'This is still my first child and I... I don't think I want any of you in the room... if the baby comes.'

Ayato has no idea what to do or say. 'This is the first baby for us as well.' How am I supposed to comfort her? I don't like it when she cries.

'Oi, what did you do?' Subaru comes inside the room. Not bad, I guess. 'Is it something Ayato did or said?' What am I supposed to do? She's crying, it's not the baby.

Why am I such a crybaby? She follows a teardrop falling on the bear she's holding. They know nothing of how they should handle a woman. And then they have to deal with my pregnant ass. How can I possibly say that I just want a cuddle? Or an arm around me for a while. I feel like a mother when the baby isn't born yet. When did I feel like a woman? I can't remember.

'What did you to do to her?' Laito pulls his brother outside the room. 'What happened before she started crying?'

'I don't know. She was sobbing before I found her. It wasn't me,' rolls Ayato his eyes.

Subaru pulls her in her arms. Am I calming you or the baby? 'Risa, please, what is it? You have to tell me something here, okay.' He shakes his head and rubs her back. 'Just... breathe.' They are pointing fingers while I'm trying to calm her! Losers! He keeps his attention on the woman in his arms. 'Is it normal for her to be this emotional?'

Reiji appears. 'Possibly, you can't go compare one pregnancy with another one.'

I'm sure it's because you idiots treat her as a mother instead of as a woman. Shu comes inside. 'This is the last place she needs to be, right now.' He takes the small bear away and throws it in the crib. Then he picks her up. 'Come on.' And how do I figure this out and not you?! He puts her back on the bed in her room and joins her. I don't even remember what happened when your mothers were pregnant. Or my own, Reiji is only one year younger. 'Calm down, Risa. You are in your room now.'

Reiji realizes what it is. 'Shu mentioned she's sensitive and emotional. That also means that you need to be careful about how you treat her. Risa is not only a mother-to-be, but she is also a woman.' He sees the bear in the crib. 'The only woman in this house...'

'She said she's scared,' reacts Ayato.

'I'm sure she is. First baby, in a house with six men, surrounded by vampires,' Subaru clenches his hands into fists. 'Of course, that will do something to her. Aren't mood swings normal during a pregnancy? At least that's what I read.'

Both Laito and Ayato let go of each other and stare at their brother. 'You are reading a book on pregnancy?'

'You tell me that you haven't read a single book? There will be a baby here soon, and, unlike you, I like to be prepared a little.' Subaru shakes his head because of those two and vanishes.

Well, that took a turn. However, that makes Subaru and myself the only few who have read a book to assist Risa. And we are the baby's uncles. He picks up the teddy bear. 'Even without your presence, you could make her cry. You do well to remember that anything can make her emotional. I don't want to hear anything about it tomorrow at the dinner table.' Reiji goes back to prepare for tomorrow's dinner. And if Kanato behaves, I won't have to suppress his powers anymore. I'll give him until after dinner tomorrow.

***

'Risa?' Shu opens his eyes when she moves away from him.

'Bathroom,' she answers and heads to the bathroom. How come you're always there? Or how do you manage to calm me down? She bites her lip when she knows she has to change. Damn, he can hear this. I'll just say that it's a precaution. Maybe I need to put my alarm in case I fall asleep again. After she's done, she washes her hands and goes back.

'What was that?' Shu has his eyes open and sits with his legs over the edge.

'A precaution. I'm told that my water can leak instead of breaking all at once.' She is pulled toward him and stands between his legs. 'It's more common that it leaks, and I don't want to miss anything.'

He doesn't miss her hand on her lower back. 'Pain in your back?'

'Yes.' She answers and feels his hands on her hip turning her around. She blows out some air when he starts massaging her back. 'Hmm, that feels good.'

He laughs softly. So a massage does help. 'How are you feeling?'

'Tired, but that is normal. Besides sleeping, I only take a few naps... that is if I could sleep for more than two hours.' She enjoys the massage as long as she can. I'm just gonna ask him. 'Shu,' she starts and turns to him, 'how come you were so eager to get me away? After you saved me with Reiji, you took me away. Again after I told Kanato what was on my mind... I still don't know what came over me. Just like a few hours ago. You picked me up and brought me here.'

Shu didn't expect her to bluntly ask him. 'Because the baby has a mother. If we don't help you take care of yourself, how can you take care of the baby?' He pulls her on his leg. 'It's not that the baby is family. You are part of this family as well.' You are both precious. And the others fail to see that. Well, a few lost that out of sight. He wipes a lonely tear away.

'That means a lot to me.' She wraps her arms around him and with her head on his shoulder.

Do you hear that, losers?! Forget Kanato, I hope it's mine. Risa deserves so much better. 'You can always come to me,' he whispers in her ear and feels her warm breath fanning on his neck. He easily spots the vein in her neck but he resists the temptation and hugs her back. If it's just a hug you need, I'll give it to you. As long as you need.

***

Shu waited for Risa to fall asleep and put her on her side in bed. You need your rest. He makes sure she has her pillow before heading out. I take it you are in your room. Only to find out that his brother is not in his room. Where are you? His next guess is the kitchen. No need to get started on tomorrow's dinner. He teleports himself and his brother to a bathroom. Where he turns the shower on first.

'Why are you... Why do you turn the shower on?' demands Reiji from him.

'To make sure that no one can listen.' Shu turns to him. 'I think her water broke already but she's scared to tell.'

Reiji holds his chin. 'Or to prevent the others from panicking. That's the last thing, she needs right now. It also means she's close to going into labor.' He did the right thing to come to me alone.

The same thought crossed Shu's mind. 'It might still take a few days. Her obstetrician taught her a trick to know how much she was dilating. If she's under four centimeters, the hospital could send her back home.'

'I prefer she stays here. I have everything ready for her and the baby...'

'That's her worst fear. Even a little bit of blood is enough and everyone here can smell it.' Shu interrupts him. 'None of us can be in the room with her, so if you have a midwife on standby call her.'

'There is something we wanted to talk about as well.' Laito shows up in the bathroom with Ayato. 'Fake the damn results if Kanato comes out as the father. I think it's a matter of time before he goes back to his normal self.'