The Baby Project

10. Calm Before the Storm

  Martin blinked at his wife, suddenly questioning the sanity of the woman he loves.

"What on earth are you talking about dear?" Luella scowled at him. Didn't she just scream it at him?

"Our little Noll has impregnated his lovely little assistant and they had a little boy! We have to go to Japan now. First to yell at your son for knocking the poor girl up, second to yell at my son for not telling me I have a grandchild, and third to plan a wedding." Martin blinked again.

"Huh?" Luella sighed before pushing his rolling chair away from the desk. With a couple of quick movements she was in her email account and showing Maryin the lovely pictures Madoka had sent her. Martin stared, his face turning pale, red, and purple all at the same time.

"Martin honey?" Luella put her hand on her husbands shoulder. It was then that he exploded.

"WHAT?!"

~x-X-x~

Two days had passed since she had dreamed of Oliver's parents engagement. The case had quickly grown dangerous with two people going missing, and the realization that the ghost-now dubbed Urado-took the youngest people in the house and left the older people alone.

"Mama!" A soft voice cried out. Mai let a smile cross her lips, standing up and heading over to the small crib Madoka had helped her set up. Quickly scooping the crying child up into her arms she began to rock back and forth, bouncing slightly. She kissed Oliver's forehead and then began to sing.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine~. You make me happy, when skies are grey~. You'll never know dear~how much I love you~. Please don't take, my sunshine away~." With a yawn, her son drifted off into sleep. Putting him back into his crib, Mai quietly crept out of the room, heading towards the kitchen.

"You're up late." Naru smirked as he watched the girl jump and grab a plastic spoon before spinning around and pointing it at him. She was adorable sometimes.

"Naru! Don't do that!" Mai pouted at him, her eyes shooting daggers as she put the spoon back down.

"Why are you here? Don't you have to stay at the case?" She cocked her head to the side as she set a pot of water on the stove to boil.

"Madoka and Lin decided to go somewhere for the nig-" He was cut off by a soft squeal.

"I knew it! They're together aren't they?! Take that Yasu, you owe me 500¥!" Her eyes sparkled as she pumped her fist in the air. Naru rolled his eyes and set his briefcase on the table, pulling out a chair and quickly grabbing a file as Mai turned around to pour the ready water into a pot.

"Here you go!" A small teacup full of warm brown liquid was set in front of him and he resisted a smile. Mai sat down across from him and sipped at her own cup, pulling one of the files over and reading it slowly.

~x-X-x~

"Over here Luella! Martin!" A pink haired woman jumped up and down, waving her hand as her tall dark haired companion stood stoically.

"Madoka! Oh it's so great to see you! How's my son?" The brunette woman enthusiastically pulled her into a hug as she spouted out questions.

"Noll is doing great! I left him at the apartment with Mai and the baby!" Lin stiffened as the two woman exchanged glances and smiles. Martin walked over and stood next to Lin, glaring at the taller man.

"Why did you let my son impregnate that girl."

Why was his job so hard?

~x-X-x~

Mai stood and grabbed the two empty tea cups, setting them in the sink with the now empty teapot. Then she grabbed the last file and sat down to read it.

Naru sat back and rubbed his temples. They had all this information and yet they were missing something.

"Mamamamamamama..." Naru watched as Mai's head snapped up to look at the clock with wide eyes.

"It's already five in the morning?" She stood up and began to make a bottle, pouring in eight ounces of purified water and three scoops of baby formula powder into a clean bottle and shoving it into her bosses hands.

"Here, shake this up while I go get Oliver." And with that she swept out of the room. Naru blinked before standing up and following her, shaking the bottle as he went.

When he reached the door he leaned against it, watching silently as Mai picked Oliver up out of the crib.

"Good morning! I bet somebody's hungry huh? Well let's check your diaper first." She was smiling as the seven month old let out a coo and wiggled his arms in the air as he was laid down on top of a towel on the bed. Mai had him changed within two minutes.

Naru raised an eyebrow as he watched his assistant change the babe's clothes. Mai had said she worked at a hospital sometimes and that was how she was so good at this, however, he doubted she ever treated those kids like this.

"Oh Naru! Um thank you but I was going to feed him in the living room." She smiled and took the bottle from his hands before heading back into the room they had just come from. She sat down on the couch and began to feed Oliver, her eyes softening as she watched the boy eat.

"Do you want to try feeding him?" The question was quiet and Naru stared at Mai as he tried to figure out if he should take up the offer. After a minute he slowly nodded, sitting on the couch to her right.

"Alright then, hold your right arm so that his head is in the crook of your elbow and his butt is in your palm. Then when he is situated you'll hold the nipple to his mouth." Following her instructions he began to feed Oliver.

It was then that the door burst open.