Pregnant

The next morning Hitsugaya was woken up by some strange noises coming from the bathroom. He sleepily rubbed his eyes and slowly opened them to accommodate to the light, peeking in the room. Still not being able to understand what was happening, he turned to one side of the bed, only to see that Hinamori was gone.

Suddenly everything became clear to him. She was in the bathroom and as he could judge by the sounds she was throwing up. And not only that…she was sobbing.

He quickly stood up and ran to the bathroom door.

- Hinamori! – he called out to her and knocked on the door. – Are you okay?

He heard no reply. Even the sobbing sounds he had been hearing before had stopped.

- Momo, please open the door! – he tried again and knocked louder this time.

Again no one answered him. His worry was increasing. She could have passed out. Just as he was about to force open the door he heard creaking sound and the door slowly opened, revealing Hinamori's figure. She was pale, looking down and the traces of tears were still visible on her cheeks.

Hitsugaya caught her hand with one of his and with the other he picked up her chin. She was looking at him with teary eyes.

- What is wrong, Momo?

She couldn't reply because once again the sick feeling started to build up in her stomach.

She moved to the lavatory pan and started throwing up again. When she stopped feeling sick, she came down on the floor. Hitsugaya came closer to her and started stroking her cheek.

- Are you feeling a bit better? – he asked and she slowly nodded, too weak to even move.

Then she felt Hitsugaya pick her up and relaxed in his warm embrace. He softly put her in the bed and got her a glass of water. He moved her head up and held the glass for her to drink. Hitsugaya then put the glass away and sat down next to Hinamori.

- Don't worry, you'll be fine soon. – he smiled. – I bet you got food poisoning from Inoue's brownies. That's why I warned you not to eat them, but you didn't listen.

Hearing his words didn't make her feel any better though and she only started to cry again. "You don't understand anything Shiro – chan. It is not from the brownies I ate." – she thought.

- Hey, please don't cry, I wasn't scolding you. – he worriedly wiped away her tears. – Won't you say a word? – he asked. – Please, say something. Do you want me to take you to Unohana?

- No. – she finally spoke timidly. – I am fine.

- Don't act strong! – he told her. – We will go later, when you regain some strength. Don't worry, Momo! You know that I am always beside you, right? – he smiled kindly at her and she returned the smile, as one more tear fell down on her cheek.

Nanao was having her morning cup of tea, when she heard a soft knock on the door. She stood up and opened the door, surprised by this early visitation. When the door opened she saw Hinamori, very pale and obviously very worried too. Nanao looked at her sympathetically and led her to the small couch. The 8th division's vice-captain already knew what Hinamori had come to talk about so she just waited for her begin.

- I…have been throwing up all morning. – Hinamori said and tears started to form again in her eyes.

- Did you visit Unohana? – Nanao asked calmly.

- Not yet.

- What are you waiting for? – the black-haired girl scolded her. – For your belly to start growing?

- It's just that I know what she is going to say, but I am afraid of hearing it.

- You can't live in an illusion. If the reality is that you are pregnant then you have to accept is as it is.

Hinamori covered her face with her hands as she tried to hide her tears but they were flowing like a river so it was impossible.

- Why are you crying? – Nanao spoke up. – Because you don't know who the father is?

- Of course I know. – Hinamori exclaimed almost angrily.

- Or because he is some jerk who will leave you to take care of the baby alone?

The 5th division's vice-captain shook her head.

- Or maybe because you don't want this baby?

This question struck Hinamori. Up until now she had always thought about how Hitsugaya was going to accept the fact that she is wearing their child, but never about whether she wanted it. She put her hands on her stomach and was certain she could almost feel its spiritual pressure. Was it because of this small creature that she was feeling like someone had sucked all her energy? She smiled.

- I am so confused. – she said and burst into tears once again. – But I think that I want it.

- Then stop crying and smile. – Nanao smiled kindly at her. – You are such a lucky girl. You have a man that would give his life for you, you have nice friends and the job you've always dreamed of and now you are going to become a mother. Do you know how many women here wish to be in your place? Some of them can't have babies because here it is complicated, others can't afford to look after their children, because they are starving to death or because they don't have a man who has a steady job and can provide them a good living. And here you are crying like your life is ruined when in reality you should be enormously happy.

- You are right, Nanao – chan! – Hinamori smiled and started wiping her tears away. – I am such a dummy, aren't I?

- You are just confused like any girl at your age should feel. I bet you are worried about how Hitsugaya – taicho will accept the news.

- That is my biggest problem right now.

- Don't worry too much. A baby is made by two, so you are not the only one responsible for it. And I am sure that if you say it with a smile he will take it better, then if you cry like you are miserable about it.

- That is right. – Hinamori smiled.

- Besides he might get really happy and excited, even though he looks so cold. Weren't you the one saying that he isn't as cold as he seems?

- Sure he is not. The thing which he told me this morning keeps me strong – "You know that I am always beside you, right?" – Hinamori put her hands on her stomach once more and looked down at it. – I just have to protect my baby right?

Nanao smiled and handed her a cup of tea.

- Congratulations, Hinamori-chan, you are going to become a mother! – Unohana said with a smile. – You are in the 9th week of your pregnancy and if my calculations are right you shall deliver around the 15th of December.

Hinamori tied her obi and looked at the 4th division captain. "Wonderful! Hitsugaya – kun"s birthday is on 20th December. So close!"

- Your baby will surely become a powerful shinigami. His reaitsu is so overflowing even at such young age. A small genius like his father, I suppose.

Hinamori nodded with a smile.

- But won't this overflowing reaitsu harm Hinamori? – Nanao, who was sitting next to the window, asked.

- Hinamori-chan is strong, so I don't think that she will have any problems, but it will sure bring her some discomfort. She should rest more from now on. She will feel tired from the slightest amounts of work.

- This will be a bit problematic for me and Sakura-san. – Hinamori spoke.

- Don't worry about it and get some rest! – Unohana said and smiled kindly again. – The Gotei 13 will be really happy about this news. A future strong member is always welcomed. – Do you wish to leave with the echography?

- Yes. I want to show it to my…to the baby's father.

- You know, Nanao-chan, back then in the 4th division, I realized that I don't know how to call Hitsugaya-kun anymore. Should I use the father of my child? But it sounds so cold and distanced. Maybe I should use my boyfriend, but it sounds too immature in this kind of situation. I would like to call him my husband, but he is not. – she paused. – When Orihime told us about how hers and Uryu's relationship had started, I felt somehow in the same position. She got pregnant and that's why they got married. I don't want that. But there is nothing I can do now, right? I am already pregnant and I can't wait for Hitsugaya-kun to propose without knowing about the baby.

- And what of it? – Nanao cut her off. – Look at Abarai and Kuchiki. They have two grown up children. And they are happy. Uryu and Orihime are happy too.

- But Abarai-kun proposed without knowing about…

- So what? – Nanao positioned her glasses and looked at Hinamori seriously. – A marriage without a beautiful reason behind it won't last long. Yes, they say love is the best reason. But many families break up, due to lack of everything else but love. Whereas, if the reason is child, it binds you for a whole life.

- I am still as naive. To think I believe in eternal love. – Hinamori looked sad.

- I am not saying that eternal love doesn't exist. I was trying to say that a family can't be built solely on love.

- You are so mature, Nanao-chan. I wish I were like you.

- Stop complimenting me and go back home. You have news to announce.

Hinamori walked home tired from all the activities she had been busy with. Luckily Hitsugaya wasn't home yet, so she had time to prepare herself mentally. However, her nausea was really violent, so she had to spend most of her afternoon in the bathroom.

Before she knew it, it was already 6 o'clock and she decided to dress herself in a wonderful pink, silk kimono.

"Breathe, Momo, breathe!" – she told herself. In the same moment she heard the door open and close shortly after and felt her heart beating faster in her chest.

- Good evening! – she said when she spotted Toushirou in the mirror, standing behind her.

He was wearing a serious expression.

- Why did you go to the doctor's alone? – he asked. – You got me worried. When I came to pick you up, you were gone. You weren't at the 4th division. Later Nanao told me that she had been with you all day.

- I am sorry.

- Forget it. Tell me what Unohana said. – he moved closer to her.

- She told that… - she paused. She couldn't get any words out of her mouth.

- Is it something serious? – he asked worriedly. – Don't keep quiet, please!

- No, it is nothing serious. – she told, because she wanted to calm him down. "Nothing serious. I am an idiot."

- You aren't lying, right? – he looked straight in her eyes and she smiled as to hide the truth.

- Of course not. My condition is temporary. It will pass soon.

- Great. – he smiled and kissed her forehead.

She stared at her feet and wondered how to continue. "Don't be such a coward, miss!".

- You know, Momo, I have news too. – Toushirou said as he was taking off his haori. – Yamamoto offered me his soutaicho position.

Suddenly Hinamori felt even more lost than before. "Now, how will I tell him?"

Hi ,guys, I am back with the sequel to "Step by step". Sorry for the long wait. Hope you enjoy it!