Whole

Chapter 45

Katsuko's POV

"I'm pregnant."

The words came out before I could stop them. They burst out like a glass bottle breaking under extreme pressure, shards shattering everywhere. I didn't want to tell him like that, and I'd barely had time to process the fact myself.

Tears pooled in my eyes, and my emotions were running riot inside me. I was upset he bailed on his family, and I was mad he didn't trust me. I was happy to see him, but I was annoyed about how he came in and accused me of lying. I was pissed at Atsumi, too, for calling him and not bothering to talk to me first. I was overwhelmed with the news I'd only gotten two days ago. I was happy but scared. I was thrilled but anxious. He still had just shy of two years left, and I'd be spending the first year of our baby's life doing it mostly on my own. That idea scared the life out of me. I had no idea how to handle a newborn. I'd barely had experience with toddlers, and what I did was the minimal I spent with Nao and Kimoto. Newborns, however, all I'd done is hold Kimoto when she was just a baby.

Masato just stood there, stunned and bemused as he tried to process the words. "You're...what?"

"Pregnant."

"How?"

"I don't know. I checked and double-checked the dates of my implant. I don't know, but all I know is I'm pregnant, that great big plus sign on the damn test."

"You're pregnant." His voice was quiet, the words coming out slowly as if he was testing them.

The emotions pulled me in their grasp, and I fell to my knees, sobs wracking through me like harsh waves. I buried my face in my hands. I wasn't even sure why I was crying, but yet they came out uncontrolled.

"Hey baby, it's okay." Masato moved quickly, falling beside me and scooping me into his lap. I curled up against him as his arms wrapped around me, and I rested my head on his chest. "When did you find out?"

"Two days ago. I was at the store, getting some anti-nausea medicine when I saw the tests. I thought I was stupid for even thinking about it, but I got one, came home, and took it. I thought if nothing else, it would just rule it out. But then it came up positive. I wanted to call you, I wanted to tell you, but I've barely wrapped my head around it. I didn't want to tell you over the phone, but I didn't want to call you home and have you miss time with Nao and Kim."

"It's okay, baby, I made other arrangements to see them. I'm so sorry, Kat, I should have trusted you. Just when Atsumi called, I was so worried. I'd not even thought about this being a possibility. I'm so sorry." His words came against my temple between peppered kisses as his arms tightened around me.

"I didn't want to tell you like that. I wanted to make it special. I was going to do a little box, with the test, an ultrasound picture, and a little onesie saying, "The best uncles get upgraded to Daddy" or something."

"Shit, Kat, I'm sorry. I'm an idiot."

"It's okay. Honestly, I wasn't sure if I could have waited until you got home. When I spoke to you on the phone, I almost told you. I didn't mean to lie to you." My sobs slowly began to calm as his arms warmed me. His warmth was soothing the riot inside me.

"Sh, it's okay baby, it's okay, I understand. I should have trusted you, and I shouldn't have accused you. How far along are you?"

"I don't know. I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow for a blood test. They'll be able to give me a rough idea until they can send me for a scan."

"Good, I'm coming with you. I don't have to fly out to America until Thursday. So, I'm going to spend the next few days looking after you and this little nugget."

One of his hands moved and pressed gently over my stomach. Warmth spread over me at his gentle touch, and I found myself happy he was here, he was home, to come to the doctors with me.

"I'm glad you're home." I shuffled myself in his lap, encasing my arms around his neck.

"Me too, baby. Don't worry about my family. I'm still going to get to see them, right now, this is where I should be. Ryo came back with me as well, are we going to tell him?"

"Wait till we see the doctor tomorrow. Shit, he's going to freak."

Masato chuckled, "They all are, they've all been waiting for the day I walk in and tell them you're pregnant and I'm going to be a dad. Oh, shit...I'm...I'm going to be a dad."

"Um, yeah, generally how it works when you knock up your fiancee, honey."

"Yeah, all right, smartie pants, cut a guy some slack. That was the last thing I expected you to tell me; it's still sinking in."

"Yeah, for me too. I've freaked out more than once too, are you happy, though?" I asked hesitantly as I lifted my head from his chest to meet his eyes with mine.

"Of course I am, baby. Okay, I'm having a mild panic attack inside right now, and I'm freaking out. The timing isn't the best, and I still feel crap about how I came in here. However, I am happy; I'm more than happy, Koneko. It might be sooner than we planned, but I meant it when I said I wanted a baby with you. I guess life decided it was time for us."

"It's not going to be easy, to begin with, with you still on the road and stuff."

Masato gave me a small smile as his hand reached to my cheek, and his thumb smoothed over the skin. "We'll figure it out, Kat, I promise. I'll make sure I'm around as much as I possibly can be when the nugget is here. And I do not care if I have to run off a stage mid-song, mid-set, I will be here when nugget is ready to join us in the world. We'll work it all out, just like we always do, together."

"Together." I smiled back at him before I leaned and pressed my lips to his.

Relief swept over me as our lips connected, my body relaxed, and my mind settled. Masato was right, it wasn't the best timing, but we'd figure it out. Right now, he was here, even if I did feel bad he was missing time with his family, I was thankful. He was happy, like I was, even if we were both apprehensive.

"Do you have to work before your trip?"

"No. Well, I need to pop into the office on Tuesday, but I'm going to work from home for the next couple of days."

"Good, means I can spend the next couple of days looking after my baby's and making sure you get plenty of rest. What time is your appointment?"

"First thing, half eight in the morning. They'll take the blood, and they should have the results before the end of the day."

"All right. Now, why don't I go run you a bubble bath, then we can curl up watching a film before I cook us dinner? Then we can head to bed and get some sleep. You do look a little exhausted, baby."

"Hmm, that sounds good to me." I smiled, pressing my lips to his once more before standing myself up.

"I love you, Kat. I'll do whatever I can to be here for you and the nugget as much as I can be. I don't want you to be on your own during the pregnancy if I can help it."

"I love you, Masato."