2- Telling the family.
Corrin sat fidgeting, her hands upon her knees, her foot tapping nervously, eyes scanning the mess hall.
Cool, un shaking fingers wrapped around her own, and Corrin glanced to her left, at her husband Takumi, his face staring dead ahead, a small smile playing on his lips at her current state.
"Calm down Cor," he muttered. "Your gonna get me all nervous too."
"Sorry," Corrin muttered. "I just want them to take this well that's all." Takumi sighed, and Corrin knew he was rolling his eyes.
"They will Cor, don't worry," he turned to face her. "I mean it's not like we've done anything wrong. Were married after all." He lent his head down till their foreheads touched. "Trust me, they will be overjoyed."
"I know..." Corrin sighed. "I just can't help but worry though. I'm glad your here with me." Takumi scoffed.
"Where else would I be?" his hand came to rest on her cheek. "I love you Corrin."
"Love you too Kumi," Corrin let herself relax under her husbands touch, letting his lips press to hers gently. She hummed under her breath leaning into his kiss further, her own hands sliding up toward the collar of his armor, pulling him closer, wishing the distance between them wasn't so vast...
A cough nearby caused the couple to jump apart, dual blushes on their cheeks.
Ryoma, Hinoka, Sakura and Azura stood a few feet away from them, all with bemused looks on their faces. Sakura had her hands over her mouth, a blush of her own forming on her cheeks, and Hinoka and Azura couldn't stop smiling. Ryoma sighed and cleared his throat, his arms crossed, yet he was smirking.
"If all you did was call us here to watch you make out, then I think I speak for all of us when I say we all have better things to do," he teased. Takumi scoffed and threw the nearest thing to him, a bread roll Corrin had been munching on to alleviate the nausea she still suffered, at him. Ryoma dodged it effortlessly, laughing at his younger brothers reaction.
"You know we didn't!" Takumi shouted. Corrin placed a calming hand on his, shooting him a look that instantly stopped his anger. He cleared his throat and stood, pulling Corrin up with him, his arm remaining round her waist at all times as they walked towards them.
"Actually, Takumi and I have something to tell you all," Corrin finally found her voice, although it still wavered slightly. She glanced at Takumi who nodded, a smile on his lips.
"Oh," Ryoma frowned. "And what would that be?" Without meaning too her brother stood sternly, and it made all of Corrin's previous confidence fall away.
"O-oh, well..." she stuttered her eyes dropping to the floor. She gripped Takumi's hand tighter, his thumb rubbing the back of hers in response.
"Corrin and I are going to have a baby," Takumi took charge, finishing the sentence she had longed to get out.
The room erupted with squeals of excitement from the three royal princesses, Sakura being the first to run up to them and hug them both, her eyes alight with happiness.
"R-really!" she squeaked. "I-I'm so happy for you brother, big s-sister." Corrin smiled down at her pink haired sister and patted her head.
"Thank you Sakura," she whispered, releif washing over her. Given no chance to gather her thoughts, Corrin was dragged away by Hinoka, who pulled her into a warm hug, before her and Azura bombarded her with questions.
"How far along are you?"
"When are you due?"
"How long have you known?"
Corrin held up a hand, "Whoa, slow down, one question at a time," she smiled at her sisters. "I'm about 3 months along, I'm due in July and Takumi and I have known about a month or so."
"A month?" Hinoka frowned, before turning to Takumi who was stood watching them with Ryoma, fury in her eyes. "TAKUMI!" she roared. Corrin watched her older sister walk over to him, watched her grab him in a headlock, murder in her eyes. "You idiot, you've known for a month, yet you let Corrin join battles since then!" She yanked his head and he yelped in protest.
"Ouch...Hinoka, lemme go!" Takumi yanked free of his sisters grip, rubbing his neck. "I didn't let her do anything. Beleive me I tried to stop her, but you know what she's like." He walked back over to Corrin, grabbing her hand. "I love Corrin, and you all know I'd protect her with my life, but she's also stubborn. Keeping her at a safe distance in battle was a compromise I had to make to ensure she didn't do anything reckless."
"Hinoka..."Corrin spoke softly. "It was my fault honest. I wanted to still be useful while I could, you know before I become too big." She gestured comically at her outfit, her usual fitted armor, which is she was completely honest was more than a little snug on her now. Just this morning she had been admiring the small little bump of her stomach in awe as she'd dressed.
Hinoka's face softened as she looked at her silver haired sister.
"I still can't believe it Corrin...Takumi..." she grabbed the couples hands. "Your going to be parents." Tears welled in her usually composed eyes, rolling down her face in joy.
"Big sister," Corrin felt the tears fall on her own cheeks, rubbing at them furiously. "Stop crying please, you've got me going now too, I'm so hormonal right now its unreal..." Takumi smiled at his wife as she wiped the tear off her cheeks.
"Takumi..." Ryoma called to his brother. He shuffled on his feet, Takumi realizing that his brother was struggling to voice how he felt, a trait he shared if he was honest. "I'm happy for you both, really I am. And..." Ryoma cleared his throat, rubbing his neck, "I know I don't tell you often...but I'm so proud of the man you've become... and I know father would say the same."
Takumi blinked at his brother in shock, his mouth agape. Today was turning into a weird day, after all Takumi had never heard such praise from his older brother, the older brother he constantly lived in the shadow of. But thanks to Corrin he had learnt to be perfectly content just as he was. Her love had allowed him to finally leave his brothers shadow and allowed him to be as happy as he was now.
"Geez brother, don't get all mushy on me..." Takumi nudged his brother teasingly.
"I mean every word Takumi..." Ryoma smiled. "This news is truly wonderful. Shiro will have a playmate, and that should be enough to get him off my back about a sibling."
Takumi laughed. "What about Shigure?" Shigure was Azura and Jakob's son, a little younger than Shiro.
"Shiro and Shigure are so different," Ryoma waved a hand dismissively. "Shigure is a quiet child, and although Shiro loves Shigure I think Shiro wants a more boisterous playmate." Ryoma laughed. "I'm sure any son, or daughter of yours will fit that criteria."
"Hey!" Takumi pouted. " They will be half Corrin so they won't be that bad." Takumi smirked."Besides...whats wrong with giving my nephew a sibling? Surely Oboro wants more children?" When Ryoma and Takumi's own retainer Oboro had first told the family of their intent to marry, to be honest Takumi had been shocked, yet also relieved. Oboro had never shied from the fact she was smitten with him, and although Takumi cared for her, it was never going to be the same as what he had realized he felt for Corrin. Naturally Oboro and Ryoma falling in love had made it easier on Takumi, who was free to follow his own heart without fear of breaking his retainers. Little Shiro was almost 3 and the sweetest little boy you could ask for, and Takumi only hoped his own child was as sweet and loving as Shiro was.
Ryoma coughed nervously, "I don't think thats something I want to discuss with my little brother," he chuckled in spite of himself. "Besides were talking about you dear brother, not me."
Takumi glanced at his wife, who was smiling as Azura, Sakura and Hinkoa doted upon her. In the dim light of the Mess hall she almost glowed. He'd heard that said about pregnant ladies somewhere, possibly Ryoma had said it about Oboro. Corrin noticed Takumi looking her way and smiled at him warmly, a smile that took his breath away.
"I think I'm going to need some new clothes..." Corrin muttered as she stood in front of the mirror in their room later that night. Takumi was sprawled on the bed reading from a history book, barely noticing his wife's current state of panic as she searched the armoire for something that fit. She held up a mid thigh length nightdress, pulling it over her head, it fitting far more snugly over her cleavage and stomach than I had before, huffing annoyed. "Honestly I feel so big already, she ran a hand down the fabrics front, her hand resting on her bump, which already felt so much bigger than it should be. I mean she couldn't remember Azura or Oboro being this big this early on. "Takumi?" she turned to face her husband, who wasn't paying any attention.
"Hmmm," was his only reaction to his name, his concentration solely on his book.
Corrin tutted, rolling her eyes, yet finding herself unable to be mad at her husband. Instead she decided to have a bit of fun and tease him. She stepped closer to him, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Who knows," she kept her voice light and airy. "Maybe I'm having twins..." She let her words trail off, watched Takumi blink once, twice, then close his book, frowning.
"I-I'm sorry..." he sat up. "What did you say?" Corrin could hear the fluster in his voice.
"Well I was saying I need to get new clothes as mine are now too tight, and how I feel so big already," Corrin moved closer, smiling. "Then I said maybe we're having twins."
"T-twins!" Takumi stammered, clearly trying not to get himself into a panic. He ran a hand through his hair, hand shaking, trying to compose himself. "I-I..." he cleared his throat. "T-that is to say...hmmmm..." Takumi seemed lost for words, clearly panicked despite his best efforts.
Corrin laughed.
"Kumi I was joking..." she told him.
"J-joking.." Takumi looked up a his wifes face, seeing the mirth behind her eyes. "Gods Corrin don't do that!"
"Sorry couldn't resist," Corrin was in front of him now, and she placed her hands on his shoulders shaking with laughter. "Good to know how you feel about it though."
Takumi sighed, his hands moving to her hips, the silky fabric of her nightdress soft under his fingers. "You just startled me, thats all." He busied himself with a loose thread, his head down. "If we end up having twins... well thats fine by me... the more the merrier!" He flashed her a smile, pulling her gently onto his lap.
"Speak for yourself, your not the one who'd have to carry them," Corrin huffed. "Kumi...?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm not... fat... am I?"
Takumi flinched, staring at her wide eyed, like she'd slapped him in the face. His brow furrowed in anger as he stared at her incredulously.
"What gave you that impression," he tried to keep his voice calm, but his tone was perhaps a bit sharper than he wanted.
Corrin shrugged, "I dunno..."
"Well stop it," Takumi poked her cheek playfully. "Your beautiful," the flush on his wife's cheeks at his complement was quite lovely. "Honestly Corrin, your pregnant, nothing about you is fat. Your growing our child in there," he placed a hand across her stomach. "And you've never been more beautiful to me as you are right now."
"Oh Kumi...
He kissed her forehead, "And don't worry about your clothes. First thing in the morning we will go see Oboro and see if she can make you a few bits."
True to his word, the next morning they went to see Oboro, who had heard their news from Ryoma, and who had been sewing all night, presenting a new set of everyday and sleeping clothes for Corrin, who hugged her sister in law tightly. Corrin couldn't wait to change into her new outfits, but Takumi was a little disappointed, for it meant she'd have to take off the shirt of his she was currently wearing over her leggings, and he would be lying if it didn't make his heart hammer in his chest seeing her dressed that way.
Authors note: I dunno if i like the way i ended this chapter, but i spent so long agonizing over it that i wanted to publish it and see the response i got to it. Lemme know kay x
