Ha Ha! got it updated, sorry about the really long wait for this one, but (and I know this is shallow) this isn't one of my more popular stories, but I do try. I am working on other Yullen, I haven't forgotten you, but I'm dealing with the loss of my dog and work does keep my mind off of it, it still hurts
Smooth wheels rolled down the halls, the dark wood paneled floors never stopping or slowing as the disabled man made his way to his son's room. About two weeks after the speaking incident, Kanda had figured that his son was growing up and would need his own room, not to mention the doctor had pointed out that while it was necessary for the man to care for his child, having the boy continually sleep in his room would possibly create massive separation anxiety, though for which one he did not specify.
The first week or so of the transition had been absolute torture for Kanda. Kazue, while normally a very quiet and happy boy, wailed during the night when he could not find his father, the small child latching onto him at every given opportunity he could find, the small fists spinning and feet kicking whenever Kanda tried to put the boy to bed. What killed Kanda the most was the look in his son's silver eyes, the rejection Kanda assumed the boy felt wasn't the most prevalent thing gleaming in the tearing eyes; it was guilt.
The boy felt guilty over nothing, choosing to believe that this was his punishment for any wrong-doings. Unfortunately, his father had no means of telling the boy that his small son wasn't being punished, but that his father was trying to let his child grow up. Thankfully, the boy came to realize that, should he cry, his father, albeit slower than his liking, would come for him and cradle him, shushing the small boy and telling him that he was simply down the hall, though he doubted the boy could understand that.
Gently, Kanda pushed open the door to the small bedroom, the light blue walls welcoming to the father as he looked over at his son, a small smile forming on his lips when he saw the baby boy sitting up, his tiny fist on the bars as he looked over at the approaching man, a smile that now included one or two budding white teeth flashed in his direction. Kanda returned with his soft smile; about three weeks prior, his baby had started sitting up on his own and, after many tumbles and falls, he finally managed to support himself on his leaning arms, much to his and his father's amusement.
Lowering the bar, strong arms reached in and picked up his boy, the child curling his fists into his shirt and snuggling closer to his father, a hand staying around his body to hold him in place. Using one hand effectively, Kanda glided the two of them over to the comfortable wooden rocking chair, the strength of his abs and arms alone managed to lift him to the chair, his son giggling as he was lifted up with his father.
"Hungry?" Kanda asked gently, is body reaching over his son to fetch a small cup of applesauce and spoon, the boy grinning opened mouthed at the thought of his breakfast, the eagerness in his son enough to make Kanda chuckle softly. "All right then, say ahh."
A small sound escaped the boys lip as he leaned towards the treat, his father moving the lime green spoon to his open mouth, the sauce dribbling down the his chin as he laughed while simultaneously eating, his father spooning the escaping breakfast with the empty spoon, the smile on his own face coupled with soft laughter.
"Hey, Kanda…"
"Hm?"
"Could you get me something to eat?"
Cobalt eyes looked towards the figure under the covers, his skin paler than usual and his nose a slight red, tissues stuffed into the trash can by the side of his bed.
The head of long dark hair nodded as he stood from his desk, the laptop lid closing before his long legs carried him to the door.
"What do you want?"
"Something that doesn't hurt my throat," Allen groaned slightly, "and something tasty and healthy."
The Japanese nodded once more before leaving the sick man to his coughing, Allen doubling over as he felt his lungs heave in the process, his hand coming to cover his belly, the faint bump trailing beneath his fingers. The pregnant man groaned, his bout of morning sickness had since ended and then he had to go catch himself a cold. His doctor told him that it was nothing to worry about, just for him to get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids, something Kanda had made his sole mission in life, taking a few days off work to care for the sick man much to Allen's protest.
"I'm sorry," he had murmured to his baby, "I didn't mean to get sick, I'll get better fast, I promise."
"Damn straight."
Silver eyes met Kanda's while the elder walked back into the room, a tray of hot soup and a mug of tea balanced gently on it as he made his way over to Allen's bedside.
"Here," he murmured, sliding the tray on the bedside table, "some chicken soup and tea with honey in it, finish them both."
"Thank you," Allen sighed, struggling to raise himself up, Kanda helping to prop the pillows behind his head and pull the comforter to cover the man's midsection.
The silver-eyes smiled up at his lover, his aching body reaching for the bowl of soup, his face trying not to show the pain he felt.
"If it hurts you," Kanda told him, taking the steaming bowl out of his reach and stirring it with long fingers, "just tell me."
Allen's fingers retracted as the Japanese dipped the spoon into the broth, his hand cupping beneath it before he passed it to the bed-ridden boy, the pregnant man smiling softly before opening his mouth at taking the mouthful, the liquid soothing as it slid past his throat.
The doorbell rang through the house, startling Kanda out of his memories and the baby out of his breakfast. Swiftly, Kazue was lowered back to his crib where the boy promptly started whimpering, his father's heart breaking at the sound but tried to assure him, the boy beginning to cry as Kanda wheeled out of the room towards the front door.
"Hey Kanda," Lenalee smiled as the door was opened, her bob haircut hugging around her cheeks, "how have you been?"
"Alright," the other murmured, "considering."
"Yeah," she sighed softly, the other wheeled aside to let her into the house, "so where's Kazue?"
"He's-"
His words were cut off by a loud scream from the baby's bedroom, Kanda turning from his friend to the room.
"He's there," the Japanese finished, "I'll go get him-"
"Don't worry," Lenalee smiled, "I'll go get him and bring him to the living room?"
"Sure," Kanda murmured, "did you want tea?"
"Yes please," her voice carried from the room, Kanda moving from the front hall to the baby's room, the child still crying as the young woman lifting him, her face confused as she tried to quiet the child.
"He wants his bear," Kanda informed her, his hands folded neatly in his lap, his head gesturing to the white bear that sat in the corner of his crib, the child reaching for the stuffed animal.
"And you," Lenalee sighed as she bent down for the animal, the boy's silver eyes looking over her shoulder at his father, the chubby arm reaching for him.
"I'll get the tea," the Japanese murmured, turning from the sight to the kitchen, his heart tugging as he felt guilt wash over him.
It only took a few minutes for the kettle to boil and their tea to steep, the tray balanced on his chair before he took to the living room, the child still whimpering as Lenalee tried to make him feel better, her purple eyes relaxing as she saw Kanda approaching.
"Finally," she sighed, the boy's whimpering softening at the sight of his father, "he only calms down when you're here."
"That's what worries me," Kanda confessed as she took the tray off the arm rest one cup handed to him while she took the other, "the separation anxiety isn't just bad for him, it's torture for me."
"Everyone gets like that," Lenalee told him softly, "that's what the books say anyway."
"I suppose," the father sighed, his hands reaching for his son, the tiny hands reaching for him.
"So," the young woman smiled as she gulped down some of her tea, "why did you call me over here?"
"This," Kanda gestured to his son, the crippled man having lowered himself to the carpeted floor for his son, the boy looking around in the man's arms, his legs wobbling slightly as he pushed himself off the man. "He's trying to crawl," the man told her softly, "and…since I can't...I need someone who can to help him."
"Ah," Lenalee sighed, looking from Kanda to Kazue, "alright, I guess I can help."
Kanda nodded as the cup was put onto the bedside table, the young woman standing over the boy and his father, the child looking up curiously at her.
"Come here," the young woman cooed, her arms outstretched and her face smiling, the boy turning to her, his own face lighting up, "come here Kazue, come to Auntie Lenalee."
Kanda watched with pride as his son tried to move towards his "Auntie Lenalee"; the boy had already begun to use his legs to shuffle forward when his father was ever out of reach, Kanda feeling both pride and guilt as the small boy, pride for the boy growing up and guilt for his own immovability.
"No no sweetie, come here-"
Kanda looked up at the two of them only to see a small boy snuffling towards him, his smile bright and his voice laughing.
"No, go to Auntie Lenalee," his father told him, the boy ignoring him and laughing as he reached for Kanda.
"Da!"
The word had quickly become the boy's favorite word when he found out his father's reaction to it, Kazue learning quickly that whenever he said it, his father would come quickly or smile down at him lovingly; chubby hands raised to grab his father, Kanda responding by slowly reaching for his son.
"Good job," his father smiled, "now, go to Lenalee."
The pair spent a good hour trying to get the boy to crawl over to Lenalee; after several unsuccessful attempts, it was Lenalee who decided to take the boy away from his father and place him a safe distance away, the boy whining before she placed him on the ground, Kazue pushing his small body over to the man he loved more than anything in the world.
"He's getting faster," the young woman commented smiling as the boy sped over to Kanda, his father smiling as he hoisted the now tired babe into his arms.
"He's improving," Kanda commented softly, "he just doesn't give up."
"Allen never did," Lenalee murmured, her friend nodding slowly.
"Just one more time!"
"No!"
Allen looked over at Kanda, his lip stuck out in a pout before he turned back to the white gold-trimmed piano.
"Please?" the white-haired man asked, "let me try just once more and then we'll get going."
"Our dinner reservation is for six," the Japanese pointed out, "we're going to be late!"
"Fine, I'll be fast!" Allen announced, Kanda groaning as the young man turned back to the ivory key, the young man extending his reach as a result of his child growing steadily in the womb.
The music was slow and melodious to start out before the young musician began to increase the tempo and play quicker, his body growing more comfortable with the music and resting easier. Kanda relaxed slightly as his lover reached the crescendo, his body leaning over as he reached out to both ends of the piano, his lips smiling before the cluster of keys in the middle suddenly made an unwanted sound, Allen groaning as his head hit the center keys.
"Why," the young man groaned, his hand running over his swollen belly, "I love you so much, why do you wanna make me not work?"
"Just wait until it's out of you," Kanda chuckle as he stepped behind his lover, arms encircling him, "then you'll never get a moments peace or rest."
"I know," Allen sighed, "but still~"
"Let's just go get dinner," the Japanese murmured, softly, "I'm sure the bad baby is hungry."
"Yes he is," the white-haired man murmured, "and I am too."
"Then hurry up and get ready."
"But Kanda-"
"No buts," the other told him sternly while Allen pouted.
"But I don't want to quit," the pregnant man told him softly, his shoulders sagging slightly while Kanda sighed.
"Then don't think of it as quitting," his lover whispered quietly, "think of it as taking a small break."
"But you hate me playing piano at night…"
"If it'll get me to dinner," Kanda murmured, "then you can play that damn thing all night long."
Allen laughed at his lover's statement, his hands running over their developing baby.
"Alright then," he agreed smiling, "I'll take a little break."
"Da."
Kanda looked at the small infant on his hands, the boy's mass of dark hair against his father's chest, his silver eyes tired-looking.
"Come on," the dark-haired father murmured softly, his other arm lifting his body and his son up off the floor to the couch, his hands reaching for his chair, "you're tired, right Kazue? Let's take a little break."
"Kanda, are you sure-"
"It's alright Lenalee," her friend replied softly, his body settled into his chair, while his hands ran soothing circles on the boy's back, the white bear laced on his lap, "I'll put him down for his nap, it's about time for it anyway."
"Then let me help," she smiled as she stood behind him, her hands on the back of his chair, cobalt eyes looking up at her before he smiled softly, his eyes turning back to the babe falling slowly asleep in his arms.
"Thanks," Kanda murmured, his heart content for the time being to focus on his son and not his disability, Kanda determined to find more moments like these; the small boy in his arms was the most precious thing to Allen, which made loving him and making him happy Kanda's most dedicated and difficult task.
So...lemme know ^^