A Little Twist

Twenty

'What on earth happened?' demands Ayato. 

However, Reiji keeps his eyes on the bedroom door. 'Living room,' is all he says and disappears to said room. Where he waits for his brothers. Sorry, sweety, mommy has a hard time, the words linger in his mind. She's a mother in all aspects but we forgot the most important factor of all. She's a woman. 

'Alright, we're here.' Ayato urges his older brother. 'What happened in there?' He points upstairs. 'Did something happen between you and her? Did you bite her?' 

'Don't make any assumptions, loser.' Subaru keeps his distance by standing against the wall. Away from the chairs and couch. 

Laito chortled at the frown on Ayato's face. 'If he did bite her, we would smell her blood.' 

'I agree.' Kanato holds Teddy with a firm grip. 'Reiji did mention we can't bite her until next week. He wouldn't do such a thing to contradict himself.' 

Reiji finally sees his brother on the couch by the fireplace. 'It's not so much something I did. This is all your fault for not helping with the baby but also not paying attention to Risa. She is more than just a mother...' 

'Doesn't that apply to you more than us?' Laito almost laughs at his expression for being cut off. 'You help her the most with the baby. I prefer to help her once the father is determined. I'm positive that Ayato and Kanato are keeping some distance for the same reason.' 

'Damn right, I do.' Ayato nods and crosses his leg over the other while tapping on the armrest with his fingers. 'When can we do that DNA test, anyway?' 

Reiji eyes his other brother. 'Why does that matter? Either way, we have a nephew in the family. Or are we going to give Risa what she wants? A place for herself and the baby?' He turns to the youngest. 'Why haven't you helped her? It seems that both you and that deadbeat never helped with the baby.' 

'I want her to be out of bed first. So leave me out of this lame conversation.' Subaru refuses to answer any questions and stays out of it. 

Sitting down, Reiji addresses his older brother. 'And why didn't you help her? You came inside the delivery room to calm her. Something you did a few times for her over the last few days. You even carried her away when she was high pregnant.' He never knew just how strong his brother was until he picked Risa up the first time. 

Shu lets out a soft chuckle. 'That baby needs his mother over all of us. Why don't you clarify your behavior? With every noise he makes, you go to help out. Is that to get used to the baby to do the DNA test or are you getting attached to him? You try so hard and take things out of her hands that I would be surprised if she wasn't feeling a little insecure.' He opens his eyes and directs them to his brother. 'She's crying because you are the one to make her feel like a mother. Just like you reminded her of us being vampires by giving in to your thirst. Add the postpartum...' 

'Postpartum? What is that?' Kanato repeats with widened eyes. 

'Why and how do you know that stuff? You always listen to music, and never ever have I seen you read a book.' Reiji doesn't believe him and takes out an earbud to see what he's listening to. Just to hear the normal classical music. 'Postpartum means the time after childbirth. Most women get the "baby blues," or feel sad or empty, within a few days of giving birth. A period which can last up to six or eight weeks,' he explains to Kanato. 

'Simply put, she will be emotional for a while longer.' Shu folds his arm under his head. 'The baby seems to be used to you so why not take what you need for that DNA test? It might annoy him but it doesn't harm the baby.' 

Laito lets the words sink in. 'Then what are we waiting for...' 

'Do I need to remind you that the baby is sensitive and cries easily?' Reiji closes his eyes at the impatience. 'Or that I help to make sure he doesn't cry for too long. If he does, he would wake us all up regardless of what the time is.' No, I can't. Not after what just happened. 'His cries are high pitched and she wakes up from that. So do we because of our enhanced hearing. You will have to wait before I can perform the DNA test. Some things take time.'