"Please Tai" his voice tinged with pain.
Tai nodded, though they were talking through video chat, he could see his friend was struggling. "Of course you can count on me, Matt" he replied sincerely.
Matt sighed with relief, "Thank you. I'm sorry to burden you, I know you've got your own family and work must be hectic for you too"
"Don't worry about my dumb job, I'll keep an eye on her" he grinned.
Matt grimaced, "Stop trying to make me feel better." he paused "Anyway I'm not asking you to be at her beck and call, I just really worry about Sora coping with both the kids and being pregnant, you know she won't ask for help herself"
Tai rolled his eyes, "Yep that's our Sora, taking care of everyone but herself"
"Yup."
"Anyway when are you guys going to stop having kids? And why now you guys knew you were going to be in Space, talk about family planning!" Tai exclaimed, being a father himself he couldn't imagine a more stressful situation, one was enough for him and Meiko for the time being. Matt and Sora seemed to have left having children a little bit later in life than the rest of the Digidestined but now they seemed to be making up for lost time.
"Hey man, there was no planning about it, it just... happened this time!" Matt said refusing to make eye contact with his friend, uncomfortable with the subject matter.
"Oh jeez" Tai grimaced, "that was way too much information!"
Matt blushed, "you asked!" He belted out, embarrassed.
"And I totally regret it!" Tai yelled back. The pair had never stopped their old ways of getting into spats. "That aside, when are you back?" His face turning serious once more.
"Five months' time, not long before the baby is due."
Tai looked pensive, "well that's something at least"
"And I promised Sora this would be my last time away so please don't make me feel like a bad guy..." the blonde haired astronaut looked wracked with guilt.
"Everything will be fine, I'll look out for her okay?" Tai reassured his best friend. He understood the reasons why Matt had asked him, not only because Tai was a close friend of both of theirs but he was one of the few Digidestined that still resided in Odaiba just like them. Just like they had growing up, they lived in a block of apartments on the island along with Mimi and Izzy. It would be easy to watch over Sora as they would see each other most days as their own kids were close with each other too.
...
It was a hot Saturday afternoon and a few of the Digidestined were gathered at the local Kindergarten for their children's culture festival. Tai, Izzy, Meiko, Sora and Mimi's children all attended the same Kindergarten. It had been a week or so since Matt left for his mission.
Tai, Izzy and Mimi stood a few feet away from the events to catch up. Sora had yet to arrive with her children, so naturally Tai divulged what Matt had asked of him.
"I can't believe she hasn't told me she was pregnant again!" Mimi exclaimed. Izzy quickly shushed his wife, "Don't broadcast it, Mimi!"
"Sorry.." She said quietly, "but why does she always do this? Does she think we don't care about her?"
"It's not that" Tai's eyes focused on his son, who was trying to catch plastic fish in a little paddling pool. "Sora is just Sora, she looks after other people, not herself"
Izzy nodded, "you got that right."
Tai's eyes darted over to the school entrance, "speaking of which, where are Sora and the kids?" He looked at his phone to check the time.
"The festival will be over soon" Mimi chimed in, worried about her friend.
Tai wasted no time in calling her cell phone, he looked to Meiko and gestured that he was going out the school for a few moments. When the call was answered all he could make out was her youngest crying at first before Sora's voice began. "Tai?" Then the sound of ruffling and coughing.
"Sora? Are you okay?" He asked quickly. "Are you still coming to the school?"
"I'm fine, we're nearly there" Sora sounded terrible.
"Where are you?" He began walking quickly down the street, looking out for her.
"We're by the convenience store. Don't worry I'll be there in a minute" Sora tried to reassure him.
By that time Tai had already turned the street corner and found Sora and her two little ones outside. Sora was sitting on the street kerb, arm wrapped around her youngest, who was still sobbing and holding a plastic grocery bag. Her daughter was standing next to her offering her a bottle of water.
"Sora!" He rushed over and crouched down in front of the trio. "What's going on?"
"It's okay- I'm not sick, I'm just pregnant-" Sora began confidently then grimaced and began vomiting into the plastic bag she was holding.
"Mama won't stop being sick, Uncle Tai" Akane, Sora and Matt's daughter explained. Tai began to sweat, the children were both very young, they were scared. The spikey haired uncle took the two children by the hand and led them away from Sora who continued to be sick.
"Don't worry guys" he put on a warm smile, "shall we get you to the school festival and then I can look after mama?"
Akane nodded but Hiro began to whale and demanded he stay with Sora. Tai picked him up, "Hey little guy, it'll be okay! What about Uncle Tai?! Huh?" Tai was flustered; he looked down at Sora who had apparently moved onto to just dry wrenching.
"I only want mama!" Hiro continued to cry.
"Only Mama huh..." Tai immediately began to call Meiko. People who passed in and out of the convenience store began to stare, an elderly lady asked if everything was okay.
"Meiko!" Tai attempted to give the old lady an answer but as his hands were full he could only nod and smile awkwardly, "We've got a situation..."
...
Meiko put the phone back into her pocket, "Sora's not feeling well and she's stuck with the kids outside the convenience store,"
Izzy looked panicked, "Not feeling well?! What should we do?"
Mimi gasped, "What does he mean not feeling well?"
"She's puking nonstop according to Tai, I'll go help. Can you guys watch Shinya?" Meiko asked of the pair.
Izzy stepped forward, "Don't worry I'll go" he began walking towards the school entrance.
"Bring the kids back here! Tell Tai to take Sora home!" Meiko called after him.
Izzy waved back at her, "Got it!" and began to run.
Mimi smiled at Meiko, "Good call, Meimei! Tai's leadership skills must be rubbing off on you after all these years!"
Meiko put her hand to her mouth and chuckled, "Maybe you're right…"
The two women then glanced towards the street, worried about Sora before they were interrupted by their children running up to them.
...
"Tai!" Izzy called out to his friend. He frowned at the scene unfolding before him. Tai holding onto to the two children, who were both distressed and Sora looked very unwell.
"Come on you guys! Mama will be fine!" Tai he tried to comfort them, his voice shaky. "Ah look it's Uncle Izzy! I thought Meiko was coming?"
Izzy shook his head, "she said to take Akane and Hiro back to the school so you could take Sora home"
"My wife is amazing" Tai sighed, as he handed over the kids to Izzy.
"Feel better soon, okay, Sora?" Izzy said before he headed back with Akane and Hiro, hand in hand. Tai then let out a huge sigh of relief. He turned his attention to Sora, crouching himself down in front of the redhead and put his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Sora, everything's been taken care of" he said gently.
"Where are my children?" Sora panicked as she looked around.
"Izzy just took them to the school; I'll take you home so you can rest a while okay?" Tai handed her the bottle of water Akane had left behind.
"I don't need them to be babysat, I'll be okay!" Tears welled up in her eyes, "Tell Izzy to bring them back!" She pleaded, before she involuntarily shut her eyes closed and leaned over between Tai's legs and vomited the water she had just drunk.
Her best friend didn't flinch when the vomit hit his shoes; he just rubbed her back and sighed, "Sora. I'm going to be tough on you, you need to rest right now... and I'm pretty mad that you didn't tell any of us that you were, you know, pregnant." He began to ramble as Sora was incapacitated for the time being, "Luckily your husband clued me in before he left. So don't try anymore of this 'doing it on my own' stuff from now on, you hear? Good. Now let's get you home."
...
Tai helped Sora up the apartment block stairs and when they reached her home he opened the front door for her. He kept his arm around her and led her straight to bed. Her face was sweaty and her complexion was incredibly pale.
He put the covers over her. "Now. Stay." Tai instructed her playfully, patting her on the shoulder; he then wandered off, muttering to himself about getting a cold pack for her head.
"Can you bring the kids back?" Sora called to him, she heard the tap running in the bathroom.
"Nope!" He shot back as he came back into the room. He sat down next to her on the bed and placed the neatly folded flannel on top of her forehead.
"Please Tai, I'm not kidding around" her voice cracked and she began to cry.
Tai's eyebrows furrowed, she was so stubborn. "Just have one afternoon to yourself, Sora, heck; me and Meiko will have them the rest of the weekend if you want!"
"I don't want them to think I'm abandoning them!" She sobbed. Tai took hold of her hand and squeezed it tight.
"Why would you think that?!"
"Because Matt's gone too! It's not fair on them!" She sat up and looked directly into Tai's eyes, "I can't do this to them- oh no!" She squeaked as another wave of nausea hit and clasped her hands over her mouth.
Tai jumped up to help his poor friend and ran into the kitchen to grab a suitable sized bowl, he returned just in time to catch her before she had been sick. As she threw up into the bowl, Tai continued to talk her down, "Okay, just the afternoon then but please listen, you're not in a fit state to care for them like you usually do, Sora, they need you to be well"
Sora finished vomiting and laid back down, Tai made sure to tuck her in, hoping she might play ball and actually stay there. "And I'm starting to think you might need to see a doctor."'
"No way!" Sora tried to jump back up but Tai raised his hand to her in a stop gesture.
"Matt would KILL me if he knew what was going on right now! And I mean literally! In fact, I should probably call him" he threatened.
The redhead pouted and reluctantly laid her head back down onto her pillow. "Okay. I'll sleep for a couple of hours and then you promise to bring them back?"
Tai nodded sternly, "Yes. Now sleep, woman" he playfully pointed his finger at her. She gave a weak smile and closed her eyes.
….
It had been a tough couple of hours for the leader of the Digidestined, just when he would think Sora was finally asleep, she would start feeling unwell again and when Tai would offer her something light to eat, or get her to drink water, which would render the same result.
During a moment of respite, Tai wandered around Sora's apartment tidying away stray toys as he checked in with Meiko. Izzy, Mimi and Meiko were now at their place having dinner with the kids, Tai was put on speakerphone.
"She's in a bad way" he sighed "I think she needs to go to a hospital. She can't keep anything down"
Izzy chimed in, "Let me guess, she won't go?"
"I had to pin her to the bed just to get her to rest!" Tai exclaimed in frustration, "Uhh, not literally, I didn't do that" he quickly added, his face turning red.
Meiko pushed her glasses back then crossed her arms, "I think you're right, Tai, remember when I had morning sickness, I spent a night in hospital because I was so dehydrated"
"Exactly…" he agreed with his wife "But she's not thinking straight, she feels guilty about leaving the kids"
Mimi put her hands on her hips, "it's all well and good being a hero for her kids but she's got the baby to think about too! Call Matt!"
"How?!" Tai exclaimed "He's in space!"
Izzy shook his head, "From what I've heard from Matt, they still have access to the internet on the space station, he may be busy working but it wouldn't do any harm to at least send him an email."
"Alright, I'll do that." Tai conceded "good thing too, she won't listen to me at all"
Before he hung up, he heard Hiro begin to cry for Sora again. "Is that Hiro?"
"Wah! It was my bad for putting it on speaker phone!" Meiko laughed nervously. He could hear Mimi rushing to comfort him. "Don't worry, just focus on Sora and don't tell her about Hiro, he's been fine!"
Tai nodded, "Alright, thanks, I will…"
…
Matt, Sora is having bad morning sickness. REALLY bad. I mean she's not dying or anything. Having trouble convincing her to see a doctor. Don't worry though! I got this! But please call ASAP. Kids are with Meiko.
Tai winced at his terrible sounding message but sent it anyway, he debated sending a follow up email to redeem himself but before he could he heard Sora retching again.
"Is anything coming up?" He asked and rushed over to the bed; he grabbed onto her side and held the bowl for her. She cried out in pain as bile hit the bowl, "barely" she managed to answer before letting out a series of coughs.
"Sora how long has it been like this?!"
"Couple of weeks… but the last couple of days it's been nonstop "she cried out in pain again, gripping onto her bump.
That was it. Enough was enough. Action mode kicked in for the leader of the Digidestined. They had been doing this for a few hours now and she was not getting any better. It didn't matter whether Sora wanted to or not, he was taking her to the hospital. He called a taxi. He called the hospital. He sent Matt another email. Everything was now in motion. Tai lifted Sora up under the armpit and carried the bowl so it remained in front of her. "Come on now, we're going on a little trip, to make you all better"
Sora sobbed, "But my children need me!"
Tai shuffled her out of the bedroom, gently shushing her as they walked, "Sssh… its okay, don't worry, don't worry, I promise, they are in the best hands"
"I'm their mother! I'm the best hands!" She stopped walking, in protest, still crying.
"No no no, I know, I'm not saying you're not the best" he squeezed her shoulder, acknowledging her raw emotional state was due to hormones, as well as her husband being away. He continued to comfort her, "it's going to be okay, just keep walking with me."
They made their way to the front door, thinking quickly he left his vomit covered shoes there and borrowed a pair of Matt's before putting on Sora's shoes for her. "I'm so sorry, Tai, I didn't mean to be rude! Meiko is an amazing mother!" She sniffed.
"Hey come on, don't worry about that," he took hold of her cheek and gently wiped away her tears with his thumb. He held his breath as found himself gazing at her. Sora blinked, taken aback at the gesture. The moment was broken when she suddenly bent over in pain; he shook his head, bringing himself back to reality. Tai put his arm around his friend and escorted her out of the apartment. "Now come on, you."
"Stop babying me" Sora shot back, her mood had apparently swung back to angry.
Tai sighed heavily, unbelievable!
….
It wasn't long before Sora was admitted and hooked up to a multiple IVs. The baby was scanned; the doctor gave her a lecture on how to look after herself, which Tai found himself mediating. A few hours later, she slept peacefully now the drugs were working and her body was beginning to rehydrate.
Tai heard his phone go off, it was Matt. Not wanting to wake Sora he slipped out of the room and answered it.
"Tai, I got your messages but why isn't Sora answering her phone?" Matt seemed to be panicking
"Don't worry, she's being treated, she'll have to stay overnight at least but she's sleeping now…" he closed his eyes as he leant against a wall, "Oh! And the baby is fine, really good" he added
"That's a relief, thanks, Tai"
"Don't mention it! I mean… she didn't make it easy for me" Tai chuckled, putting a hand behind his head.
"Well.. if she'll listen to anyone it'll be you, Tai" Matt tried to reassure him.
"That's what you think!" The spiky haired man replied, sweating.
Matt laughed, "Anyway, you'll be able to go home soon, I'll call my parents and Sora's mother to come and relieve you and they can take the kids too"
"Oh! Right! Of course… " Tai didn't know why he was surprised, that's what families do. It was his job to keep an eye out, not take over for Matt completely. His heart dropped a little as he glanced back at Sora. It was nice being close to her again, even though of course he would rather Sora wasn't sick at all.
"Tai?"
"I'm here!" He answered back quickly but cheerfully, pulling himself back into reality. Matt told him he would let him know once he knew when Sora's mother would be on her way and they finished the call.
Tai walked back into the room and sat back down in the chair next to the sleeping Sora. The medical staff had put a band around her stomach so they could monitor the baby's heartbeat. Her small bump was exposed outside of her hospital gown and the bed sheets. He relaxed back into his chair and smiled fondly, thinking that there was actually three of them in that room and to him that felt a bit magical.
….
"Oh! Taichi!" Mrs Takenouchi whispered and waved as she came into the room. "Thank you for bringing Sora, I knew she wasn't feeling well but she didn't tell me how bad it was"
"I don't think she wanted to tell anyone" he muttered as he stood up politely to properly greet Sora's mother. Mrs Takenouchi smiled then began sorting through an overnight bag she had brought for her daughter.
"Are the kids staying with Matt's mother?" Tai asked, she nodded and told him that the children had already been picked up. He relaxed knowing everything was arranged by Matt and felt comfortable leaving. He did good.
Tai gently took a hold of Sora's hand, bending down so he was closer to her, "I'm going now" he said quietly, "your mom is here" Sora slowly opened her eyes and quickly looked around the room and saw her mother at the other end of the room. She nodded sleepily. "Feel better soon, ok?" He gave her a warm smile and squeezed her hand.
"Thank you, Tai" she whispered, squeezing his hand back and smiled weakly, still exhausted.
Tai let go of her hand and gently put his hand on her bump, "remember to look after the baby too."
She nodded and fell back to sleep.
Tai then gave a little bow to Mrs Takenouchi and headed out. Mrs Takenouchi couldn't help but smile to herself; she always liked Tai and was so glad he and Sora were still close. Not that she didn't love her own son in law, she was just so grateful someone had been around for her daughter today.
Authors notes: First time writing something for the adult digidestined, so I'm a bit nervous about it. Don't generally ship Meiko/Tai and Izzy/Mimi, so I hope the choice of married couples wont put off any readers from enjoying the story. If anyone has any questions about Tai/Sora Sora/Matt or anything story wise feel free to DM or leave a comment as I don't want to spoil the story with my own thoughts/shipping preferences.