A/N. Hello again. :) I come back begging for forgiveness. I really did want to make another Violently Happy story sooner, or at least write you something to help with the wait for this one, but that fell through. I did have something written out, but when looking over it, I didn't like it anymore, it didn't seem to have any heart, so I didn't post it.

So, why the wait for this one? Well, I wanted to finish reading the manga, and I did, but then classes started… But, now, armed with the knowledge of how Rurouni Kenshin ends, I shall attempt this new story. It's, once again, taken from the Violently Happy series. It's being inspired by it anyway, I'm going to change it a bit…a lot. But I hope you like it just the same. :)

Once again, I must thank my awesome beta Silver Cold for helping me with this. :)

To everyone who reviewed and commented on the Violently Happy series, thank you very much, your support it greatly appreciated. I hope you will enjoy reading this one too and that it will do justice to the original concept. I tried my best. :) Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin belongs to Watsuki-sensei and I would never dream of stealing it, though I dream of Kenshin often. (Heh.) Violently Happy is a doujinshi by Yamaguchi Shinji-sensei, and I will borrow it one more time.

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Our Happiness-Prologue

Pap, pap, Kenshin looked at the robe he had just finished washing with satisfaction. It was white as snow. He gracefully rose from his crouching position and hung the now clean robe on the line along with various other articles of clothing.

Kenshin stepped back and surveyed his work. He glanced up at the sun noting the sparse clouds in the blue sky, glad that there was no sign of rain. He had finished all the laundry and now he had to clean up his things and begin making dinner. Perhaps he would go get some sweets from Akabeko after he finished.

However, Kenshin was not sure if he should leave just yet. Kaoru had gone to the doctors this morning and still had not come back. She said she might do some shopping while she was out, but still… For the past week, Kaoru had been complaining that she felt "funny." She never really elaborated on what exactly "funny" entailed, she would simply wave it away and say it would pass soon enough. Finally, though, Kenshin convinced her that a trip to the doctor's would be best.

What could be troubling Kaoru? Perhaps she is coming down with something…maybe just a cold? It was already early spring, so maybe it was because of the temperature change-- sometimes the body did not quite adapt. Kenshin thought along those lines for another moment more before he went into the kitchen to wash his hands deciding that he would wait for Kaoru to come home first and see if she was okay before going anywhere.

Half an hour later Kenshin both heard and sensed Kaoru's arrival. She did not announce her return however, which made Kenshin frown. Normally when Kaoru came back home the first thing she would do is call out, "I'm home!" so that wherever Kenshin was he would hear her. Now she just went directly to her room without a word.

Worry was slowly building in Kenshin's mind. He debated on whether or not to check up on her, or let her come to him, as she would eventually. Finally, when he was done making dinner and just about to go look for Kaoru to tell her the food was done (and take the opportunity to ask if anything was wrong) he heard faint footsteps approach the kitchen.

Quickly hiding his worry, Kenshin fixed a happy smile on his face and set the table. His marriage to Kaoru was still quite new, but he already understood that Kaoru craved his smile as much as he craved hers. So, every opportunity he got, he smiled for her, because it must fill her heart with love in the same way her smile filled his.

When Kenshin heard Kaoru enter the kitchen he said, "Welcome home, Kaoru," and looked up after setting down the chopsticks. He knew something was wrong the second he saw her face. Kaoru was looking everywhere but at him. Her brow was furrowed slightly and she was wringing her hands.

"Thank you, Kenshin," she replied softly. Still avoiding looking at him, Kaoru took her place at the table and silently waited for Kenshin to bring the food.

Deciding that the food could wait until after Kaoru told him what was wrong, Kenshin made his way over to his young wife. He ignored his seat and lowered himself tokneel down beside Kaoru. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and said carefully, "Kaoru, is something wrong?"

Kaoru bit her bottom lip at Kenshin's words. She slowly unfolded her hands and reached up to the hand Kenshin had placed on her shoulder, and brought it down to rest in her lap, where she gripped it with both hands. Normally his use of her name without the honorific made her smile, but now she just could not quite manage it.

Kenshin watched Kaoru intently. Her small hands gripped his slightly bigger one quite tightly. The worry that had been building in him from earlier was now beginning to transform into panic. What could possibly be troubling Kaoru so much?

Biting his tongue, Kenshin waited for Kaoru to answer him. Kaoru took a deep breath and gave his hand another squeeze. "I'm sorry if I'm worrying you, it's really nothing bad, I'm just…well, I'm just…" To Kenshin's horror, Kaoru's eyes started to well with tears. She tried to speak again but her voice cracked.

Now, truly on the brink of panic, Kenshin gathered Kaoru in his arms. He tucked her head onto his shoulder and held her tightly. He pressed a light kiss on the top of her head, silently reassuring her of his love. Whatever it was, Kaoru should not be rushed, if she needed time, he would hold her in his arms for however long she needed.

Tears kept flowing down the young girl's cheeks and suddenly she buried her face in Kenshin's shoulder as her slim frame shook with sobs. Worry and panic doubling, Kenshin made soft soothing noises and rubbed her back trying to wordlessly comfort his wife.

Suddenly, Kaoru pulled back slightly and Kenshin realized, she had not been sobbing, but laughing. Confused, Kenshin pulled back as well to look into Kaoru's face. Just what was going on? Kaoru continued to laugh as more tears spilled from her eyes and travelled down her shining cheeks. Carefully releasing her, Kenshin gently brushed away the tears with his soft hands. He wiped the moisture from her cheeks and gave her a cautious smile, "Kaoru?"

Kaoru gave another strangled laugh, "Oh Kenshin, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to start crying! I didn't mean to worry you either! I'm so silly! It's nothing bad Kenshin; in fact, I think it's really good. I'm just getting emotional, it could be the mood swings, apparently I'll start getting them often."

Mood swings…? Kenshin's eyes suddenly widened in surprise, No…

Kaoru gave another shaky laugh, "Kenshin," she paused to beam up at him, "in another seven months or so, we're not going to be living alone," to illustrate her point, Kaoru took his hand and placed it over her abdomen.

Kenshin stared down at his own hand on Kaoru. Not going to be living alone… Kenshin's head was spinning. Never had he thought, never had he for one moment even imagined… He was going to be a father. In a few months, Kaoru would give birth to his son or daughter…his son or daughter. They would be the child of a man that had not expected to live past sixteen. A child made from the love he and Kaoru shared, made from the times that only they existed, from the times she would give her body, her heart, her soul to him, in an act of complete trust. They would be a child of love.

"Kenshin? Please say something," a worried Kaoru ducked her head to look at Kenshin's face waiting for some kind of reaction. Kenshin brought his gaze up away from his hand. He looked into the face of his wife, his beautiful, loving wife who was carrying his child, and smiled.

"This one…I…am happy as well. This one may not be a very good father but..."

Kaoru cut him off harshly, "Kenshin! Don't you ever say something like that again! You will be the best father! You are honourable, honest, kind to a fault, hard working and loving, making you the man I love, the man who will raise his child to be the same way, with my help, of course." Kaoru finished, smiling teasingly at her husband.

Kenshin bowed his head, this time smiling. "With your help, Kaoru, this one is sure our child will be all those things and more."

Satisfied with Kenshin's answer Kaoru softly caressed his scarred cheek, "Good, now let's eat! I'm starving!" As if on cue Kaoru's stomach rumbled. Kenshin laughed and caught her hand on his cheek. He gave her palm a swift kiss and got up to fetch the food.

The old panic and worry in him had faded replaced with a completely new kind. Kenshin still was not sure if he was cut out for fatherhood. He had always been good with kids--or at least they seemed to like him--maybe his child would be the same way.

However, there was also the matter of Kaoru's health. Childbirth took a lot out of a woman, and he understood that the pregnancy itself was sometimes not very enjoyable. He had heard that some woman simply did not survive the ordeal…No. No, don't think like that, Kenshin told himself firmly. Kaoru is a strong woman, healthy and lively, she will be just fine.

Clinging to that desperate hope, Kenshin made his way back to the table to give Kaoru the food that would nourish both her and their unborn child.

A/N. How was that? I've been wondering for a long time how Kenshin and Kaoru would react to the news of becoming parents. I couldn't quite see how Kaoru would react the very moment she was told, so I left that out. (Heh.) Kenshin was hard to do as well. His emotions have never been that clear, even in the manga. They're explained a little, but mostly left up to your interpretation. Therefore, I tried my best to explain how I think he would feel, also leaving some of it to your interpretation. (Ha.) This, as you've no doubt figured out, is just the prologue, so a chapter will be posted shortly. I'm not sure if it'll just be two more. I'm still thinking about that, but one more chapter for sure, because none of this has to do with Violently Happy. :)

For those of you who noticed, the use of Kenshin's fluctuating use of Kenshin's "this one" is done deliberately. It's something I think he'd struggle with after his marriage to Kaoru, and that will be illustrated in the next chapter, so please bear that in mind. :)

Hope you liked it, tell me what you think, thank you for taking the time to read.