surrogate labor

Chapter twelve

"Morning!" Takahiro and Manami greeted Akihiko at the door. Their son Mahiro was with them, jumping up and down excitedly as he entered the swanky apartment. Akihiko returned the greeting politely. He was dressed neatly in his usual shirt and vest combination, but his hair looked as though he had just gotten out of bed. "Unagi!" yelled the nearly-three-year-old toddler in glee. He could never pronounce the novelist's nickname properly. Akihiko smiled and invited the family in. Presently, things were cordial between him and Takahiro, neither of them bringing up the topic of his relationship with Misaki. "Is Misaki resting in the bedroom?" Manami asked, looking around. "He's in the kitchen."

"Oh had he recovered already?" Manami looked slightly concerned after the preterm labor scare. "Yes. The doctor says he can get out of bed for short periods." Misaki was standing behind the kitchen counter, lining up the bottles of vitamins and medicines that were a part of his daily routine. He popped the pills one by one, downing them with a glass of milk. The sounds of his nephew's laughter drifted from the living room, prompting him to lift his head. "Suzuki-san!" Mahiro squealed at the orange-brown stuffed bear perched on the sofa with its usual serene expression. He ran towards the bear and wrapped his little arms around it. The sight brought a smile to Misaki's lips. At least the atmosphere now was quite relaxed, and Mahiro was being a great distraction. Akihiko was sitting there arms folded, being his usual reserved self, while Manami did most of the talking. The heavily pregnant teen finished his last gulp of milk and washed his glass in the sink. Pressing one hand in his spine and the other underneath his stomach, he waddled awkwardly over to the living room to join his relatives. One of the babies was lodged in his hips and making it painful to walk. His feet were also swollen and throbbing. Manami jumped up and helped him lower himself into the couch. "Misaki-kun! You haven't been sleeping well."she commented, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. "Yeah," Misaki admitted with a sigh. "I just can't get comfortable at night now, no matter what position I try." 

"Oh you poor thing." said Manami sympathetically. "It was like that when I was carrying Mahiro. I can't imagine how it's like with twins." 

"These two are going to be athletes when they grow up," Misaki's face brightened as he invited her to feel the twins doing their morning flips and rolls. Little Mahiro, who had been watching Misaki with curious eyes all this while, ran to Takahiro and tugged his shirt sleeve. "Daddy, why is Uncle's tummy so big?"

"Because Uncle has two babies inside him," Takahiro answered his son truthfully. Manami laughed as she lifted her hand from Misaki's belly. "We haven't told him that he's going to be a big brother yet." 

"Oh yes, this reminds me - the names!" Misaki exclaimed, struggling to lean forward and reach for the notebook with the list of baby names on the coffee table in front of him. Manami helped him pick up the notebook. "Is this the one?"

"Yes! What do you think of these? Or these?" Misaki asked, showing the names to the couple. Takahiro nodded and smiled approvingly. "Oh, Mitsuo and Minori sound perfect. Great job Misaki!"

"Wow! So you're really taking the names I choose?" Misaki beamed happily. "Yes of course! You deserve the honor," Manami said. "Ah...I can't believe it, soon it will be our turn to get eye bags from all the midnight feedings and diaper changes! Exciting isn't it? Oh, what is it Mahiro?" The little boy was still fascinated with Misaki's mid-section and was trying to digest what his dad told him. He asked his next question rather apprehensively. "Daddy...Did Uncle eat the babies?" 

"Oh, Mahiro darling," Manami laughed as she ruffled her son's hair. Her husband, however, made a serious attempt at explaining what was going on. "No, he didn't. The babies belong to Mommy. You see, Mommy's life was in danger, so we borrowed Uncle's tummy for the babies."