AN: Rating: K+

Pairing: YukiRu

Synopsis: Yuki hates seeing Tohru walk out the door every day to go to work with no guarantee she'll be back. One stormy day he finally says something.

Additional notes: Written over the past couple mornings before work since I didn't want to get out of my warm bed and strangely it gave me inspiration lol.

The windows rattled with the harsh winds outside, the ominous clouds blocking much of the sunlight giving the appearance of evening when it was still early morning as rain fell upon the earth. Already formidable puddles were forming with no sign the downpour would stop soon.

Yuki stared outside, watching the droplets of water hit the window, merge together, and glide down in consistent streaks. The glass was foggy, giving everything outside a whitish hue and separating the warmth of the safe indoors from the cool outdoors as though they were different worlds entirely. The rat glanced at the clock near his head on the nightstand. 8:57AM. Just as he noted that it was almost time for Tohru's shift at work, a faint shifting against his back brought him to the present, the girl in question squirming as the first stage of awakening began alerting her brain. Her arms wrapped around his middle squeezed tighter for a couple seconds as her legs entwined with his more securely, the onigiri clearly getting comfortable to drift back into slumber. The former Zodiac smiled and closed his eyes. The tender love and attachment he could sense from her, the keen bond and chain connecting their hearts... It never failed to cause a warm bubbling current to wash through him originating from his sternum. He could feel the blood gathering in his cheeks and he was thankful that he was facing away in case she awoke. He always became embarrassed when she caught him blushing even though she had said it was endearing and made her happy she could influence him in such a way. But even now, years later, he still found himself trying to hide the red in his skin when her actions or words caused his face to heat, which was a regular occurrence despite everything. He reckoned he could say, if she caught him now, that it was due to her body heat warming him in addition to the silk comforters, but no doubt she would launch into one of her frantic apologies, which while it was adorable, he knew it would also mean she would never do it again... And that's not at all what he wanted. He loved feeling her curled against him, loved the trust and dependency she placed in him... He didn't want this moment to end-

"Mm... Good morning Yu-KIII! OH MY GOD IM GOING TO BE LATE!" Of course it did.

Tohru thrashed around and dramatically flung the blanket off of herself, rushing so ardently she accomplished everything except what she aimed to do- get out of bed. She kept getting tangled in the blanket, fell repeatedly, her arms flailing in a blind reach to grasp something or balance herself. Yuki sighed.

As she finally managed to get both feet on the floor and start to stand, he rolled over and grabbed her arm, tugging her back down and causing her to turn and fall flat on top of him, her head colliding with his chest.

"Yuki! What-"

"No work today."

"Eh?!" He nuzzled the top of her head.

"Stay."

"But-"

"No buts. I already called your supervisor and said you'd be out today. It's dangerous outside and you deserve a break. And besides," He held her tighter. "I really miss you when you're gone..." He kissed her head softly, lingering for a few seconds. He hated when she left to work... He worked from home to support them so she didn't have to worry about money, and he always felt so lonely when she wasn't there... The hours dragged on, the house unsettlingly quiet. It wasn't good for his nerves either. There was always the possibility she wouldn't return or would get hurt somehow. And he couldn't bear the thought of either risk.

"Yuki-kun...why would you..." He didn't answer, instead squeezed her tighter and turned so they were laying side by side, curling around her protectively.

"Stay... Please..." The onigiri sighed but giggled and pressed her face into his chest.

"Alright... You're so silly, Yuki... But I love you for it. I miss you too when I'm gone..."

"Then...don't go anymore?" He continued before she could protest. "I can support us, and I will work twice as hard if I have to. I'll find a way to get more money if we need it. But please, I want you home... With me. We'll make it work." He combed his fingers through her soft beautiful brown hair, dropping his voice to a whisper. "I love you..." It didn't seem to fit in with what he said, and yet at the same time, it felt right. He closed his eyes, waiting for her protest. He waited for her to go on about how it wouldn't be right and she wanted to do something to help. He waited for her to insist on working. It never came.

"Alright." Her agreement stunned him, and he turned his gaze to peer down at her. "But only if you promise not to overwork yourself and if it gets hard on you I'll go back to working, no questions asked. We're in this together. Okay?"

Yuki wanted to protest. He wanted to support her, he wanted her to be able to live happily and worry free and not have to work. But... He also knew she wouldn't be happy if she felt she didn't do her fair share. So it was his turn to sigh. "Okay." She pressed closer to him and wrapped her arms around him. A quiet pleased hum was her only response.

The rat pulled the covers back over them, cradling his wife in his arms as they laid in each other's comforting embrace. They whispered sweet nothings to each other, Yuki stroking Tohru's silk strands as she gradually drifted into a much needed rest. She deserved a long sleep. She worked so hard and refused his offers to help (although he still did what he could when she wasn't around to stop him). He smiled into her hair as her soft, serene breaths tickled his skin and filled his ears with their calming sound. The extending curve of her belly he had become accustomed to pressed against him, shifting with each of her inhales, exhales. He moved a hand to rest on her distended stomach. Only four and a half months left...

A nudge against his palm caused him to widen his eyes. The rat still couldn't quite grasp the miracle of their child... How the two of them had managed to create new life. But he could already feel intense love for the baby. He couldn't wait to see his or her face and hold them for the first time. He couldn't wait to watch them grow. He couldn't wait to hold their hand on their first day of school... All of this and so much more at the side of his beautiful soul mate. His Tohru. He just hoped the baby took more from their mother than him. The less that shown through of him the better... He could hope for nothing more than their child to inherit her beauty, both inner and outer. He was too flawed. She was the image of perfection...

AN: Next drabble will probably be depressing since my depression and anxiety is really nailing me tonight. Likely T rating unless I decide to add graphic self harm.