Adjustments: Part 3

"Look! Don't worry about me. I'm making dinner so just sit and relax!"

"But I feel so useless if I'm not doing something! Please at least let me set the table."

Ichigo sighed in resignation and Orihime glowed with pride as she made her way over to the cupboard to retrieve the needed dishware for the evening meal.

Watching his wife happily go about arranging the dishes on the table, he couldn't help but be grateful that they had managed to understand each other and the way that they dealt with differences or arguments early on in Orihime's pregnancy so that they had a better idea of how they might handle things properly in the future. Orihime had been about two months along when she had discovered that she was pregnant, and now here she was at five months and they were trying to prepare for not just one but three babies at the same time.

He had been really surprised that he had taken the news so well, Orihime and his sisters as well. It was his dad and friends that had the most animated reactions when they heard that he and Orihime were going to have triplets. His dad had passed out in the kitchen and woken up very unlike himself in that he was very quiet and reflective for a time. Unfortunately, once the initial shock had passed, Ichigo had had to intercept Isshin from almost flattening Orihime in one of his signature bear hugs…twice.

As for everyone else, Tatsuki and the gang had thought they were joking for a while until Orihime almost started crying in frustration since no one seemed to be taking them seriously. Their Soul Reaper friends had caught on sooner, all except for Renji until Rukia had finally knocked him upside the head and told him to shut up and quit making himself look like such an idiot. Upon hearing the news, Rangiku had gone into raptures on trying to discuss just about everything from choosing names for all three to selecting baby furniture with Orihime immediately. Up until then, Ichigo and Orihime had simply been enjoying the fact that they were going to start a family, but neither had given much thought to how they were going to begin arranging their life to make room for these three little ones. Just as they had done with the wedding, Ichigo and Orihime had given a little input into how to arrange things for their offspring but mostly left Rangiku and Yuzu to do most of the planning since they both thrived on such activity.

A movement from Orihime brought Ichigo's mind back to the present, "You ok?"

Orihime smiled, "Oh, two of them decided to start wrestling while the other thought it would be funny to shove his foot up under my ribs."

Ichigo put on a mock scowl and knelt down in front of his wife's protruding middle and gently massaged where he felt the most movement as he said, "What do you think you're doing in there? You guys aren't living in a gym right now."

Orihime laughed as she laid one hand over her active children and the other on her husband's head, "They are just like their father. Always on the move and impatient to do something useful. They are tired of lying around in here and think they're ready to see the world."

Ichigo laughed, "Well as ready as they are, I don't think the world is quite ready for them yet."

Orihime smiled, "You and I know that, but try explaining to them that we aren't ready for them yet. They seem to put up even more of a fuss."

Ichigo suddenly remembered something and changed topics, "Can I ask you something?"

Orihime looked perplexed, "Yes…of course."

"If I remember correctly, you said that you were going to talk with your supervisor today about maternity leave and changing your schedule even after the kids are born. How did it go?"

Orihime smiled, "Oh that," she turned to grab a plate of food from the kitchen as she answered, "Dr. Tendo was very understanding about my desire to stay home and raise our children, but was quite delighted to hear that I would still come in a couple times a month after my maternity leave is up. I really think we made a good decision that works for everyone. Paying all the important bills with your salary and using mine to help with purchasing furniture and any other small things we might need. Speaking of work, how are things going with you?"

Ichigo gave a deep sigh and scowled as he ran a hand through his hair, "I will be happy when this whole thing blows over. Whoever leaked that they were planning on firing someone really needs to be taught a lesson since it's caused nothing but pain and suffering for the past few months. They also need to get their act together and fire someone already because I am tired of almost all the doctors and nurses paying more attention to gossiping about who is going to be let go than on doing their job in the first place. None of them seem to understand that if they would take care of the patients more the likelihood that they are going to be let go is significantly lessened."

Orihime grasped his hand and said, "C'mon," as she led him over to a couch in the room adjacent to their kitchen/dining room. Ichigo was about to protest when he thought better and simply allowed himself to be guided to a seat on the couch next to his wife. After she had settled herself comfortably, she mildly tugged on Ichigo's arm until his head rested in her lap. Sighing half with resignation half with contentment, Ichigo adjusted himself until he was stretched out along the couch and able to look up into Orihime's face. With one hand on her stomach, Orihime used the other to gently massage Ichigo's scalp. They remained in that attitude for several minutes, simply allowing the other's presence to sooth away the day's aches and pains and were grateful that they were able to do so once again.

After a time, Ichigo felt a small foot kick against his cheek and said, "Looks like they're on the move again," he said as he stood up, "All right, all right. I'll go finish dinner."

Without speaking, Orihime pulled Ichigo down to her once more and before Ichigo could ask what was going on, Orihime put her hands on either side of his face and kissed him. Ichigo kissed her back eagerly and didn't pull back until he felt Orihime jerk slightly and put her hands over her stomach.

"Let me guess, they all complained this time?"

Orihime's response was to smile as Ichigo made his way to the kitchen to finish up dinner. Everything was simple, yet satisfying, and the two of them talked about anything that came to mind. It was a very comfortable and pleasant evening and one of the last they would have for a time.