Easter Day
Characters; Kanda Yuu, OC: Ariadne. Daisya, Lenalee, Lavi, Allen, Reever, OC: Brooke.
Pairings: KandaxOC, DaisyaxLenalee, LavixFem!Allen, ReeverxOC.
I do not own the characters, except OCs, and there will be one line I stole from the TV show "American X-Factor", as I found it really amusing.
Setting: AU, Canada 2013
Ariadne (A•Ri•Ad•Nee) is Irish, almost 23 years old, is a natural dirty-blonde, but dyes the tips of her hair black frequently. Her parents are divorced, and she is in touch only with her mother in Ireland. Currently she is in Canada, where she met her current boyfriend, Kanda (24). They have been together for three years and she is now seven months pregnant with their first kid. Her mother does not know, but she is coming to visit her on Easter (which had always been Ariadne's favourite time of year, when all of her family's kids joined teams against their parents in a traditional family Easter game.)
Brooke, 27, married to Reever (30), has three kids with him: twelve year old Javier (Hay•Vee•Yer), who is godson of Kanda and Ariadne, eight year old Mariah, godchild of Daisya and Lenalee, and three year old Chris, who is strongly attached to Ariadne for a reason none seem to comprehend.
Daisya (26) and Lenalee (22) have been together for almost six years, since they were in high school to the time they spent together working at Komui's business company. Daisya proposed to Lenalee three months ago with Komui's blessing. As Lenalee is unable to bear children they are signing papers to adopt a little girl from China, Mimiko, who is now six months old.
Lavi (24) and Alina (20), who live with Cross in order to 'support' him, have recently gotten together after a friendship of almost twelve years. They are taking things slow but both live together after Bookman died of pneumonia when visiting a foreign country for research purposes. Lavi sold the house and helps in paying Alina and Cross's rent.
The first thing Kanda felt that morning was the force of a pillow being brought down on his face. He muttered something in an annoyed fashion but didn't open his eyes, but instead turned around, away from his attacker. He felt one of her arms snake around his waist from the back, but then the pillow came crashing back down.
"Wake up, Kanda. I'll hit you again, I swear."
He turned around to face a hardly pleased Ariadne.
"Ari..." He almost whined as he turned to face her.
"Up. Now. It's late, and they're all coming today. My mother's coming as well. Get up and get in the shower. Go!" She pushed him off the bed. He saved himself just in time by landing on his feet.
"Ow," he said halfheartedly. He turned only to see her staring at the white sheets of the bed, and she was already wearing her pristine, unwrinkled new dress, her baby bump clearly visible. She pet her abdomen softly. Must have been a kick. Her hair was also already done. Now he understood what she meant when she had said it was late. It was almost 10 am.
"Come on. I'll help you set the bed."
She only nodded, but didn't move. Kanda didn't push her into doing the chore, but instead commenced doing it by himself.
"Ari?"
"Huh?"
He gave her a softly scolding stare.
"Oh. I'm just a little tired, Yuu, don't mind me." She smiled, but it wavered slightly as her body swayed a little.
Kanda looked at her strangely as he smoothed down the last corner of the duvet, cocking an eyebrow. "Do you wanna try that again? You know... Sound a little bit more convincing?"
"... No."
"Ari—"
"Seriously Yuu. I'm fine. I'm just a little bit dizzy."
"Just lay down a bit. You don't need to work your ass off all the time. Come on. Just one minute. Lay down."
Ariadne nodded, sitting down gingerly at the edge if the newly made bed. Kanda rolled his eyes. "Properly," he chided softly, pushing her down gently onto her back and closing her eyes with his fingers. He kissed her mildly on the lip, and once on her swollen belly. He took her feet into his lap to remove the sandals on them, and then got up.
"I'll be back in ten minutes. Don't do anything stupid." He said.
She lifted her head to smirk at him. "Get in the bathroom, dumbass. They're coming in half an hour."
"Yeah, yeah. Fucktard (Lavi) and punctuality." Kanda scoffed as he grabbed a towel and the change of clothes Ariadne had set out for him.
"Kanda. No bad words in front of children." She sat up, giving him the look. Her hand rest on the curve of her stomach.
"I—but— Just lay down, will you?"
She smirked and closed her eyes.
When Kanda re-entered the bedroom ten minutes later, the spot Ariadne had been occupying was vacant. The sheets had been smoothed out as well, but her shoes were still at the foot of the bed.
"Ariadne!" Kanda called into the small bungalow as he ran a towel through his hair.
"Kitchen!" The answer came, along with the clatter of a spoon hitting the floor.
He entered the mentioned room, picking up the fallen utensil as he neared her. He saw red, and she was trying to keep her hands as far away from her dress as possible.
"What did you do?"
"... Cut it on the can," she said through clenched teeth.
"How the hell did you manage that?"
"...Ow," she muttered, squeezing the lower base of her fingers. It was her left hand.
"Show me." The request was simple enough, but Ariadne was reluctant to let her fingers go. Kanda reached up into the topmost cupboard and brought down the bandages. He looked at them strangely. He never really realized they had both brightly coloured bandages as well as Mickey Mouse ones. He held the offensive Disney character band-aids up questioningly. Ariadne shrugged, telling him they were for Chris, a son of their friends Brooke and Reever. Shaking his head, Kanda pulled out three of them: A Donald Duck screaming, a Minnie Mouse kissing a Mickey Mouse, and a shocked Mickey Mouse. He placed them carefully and gently on her knuckles; one on her left pinky, one on her left ring finger, and the last on her middle finger. She smiled at her hand— even though it hurt— as she stroked the ring finger.
"You know, Kanda, one day I hope it's a ring you're putting on this finger."
His lips turned up slightly as he pulled her close, saying, "One day Ari. One day, I promise."
She smiled back at him.
"... And make sure those cuts aren't infected."
Way to ruin the moment, Yuu.
Ding-dong!
Kanda looked up from the large bowl that contained the un-scooped cans of beans he was mixing to make the salad.
He rolled his eyes as he banged the spoon on the bowl's side before turning on his heel to the door. He wasn't surprised to see Alina and Lavi's smiling faces grin at him as he opened the entrance for them. He didn't even bother greeting them. He just nodded, saying, "Beansprout, Rabbit," before stalking off.
"Oi, Kanda, who're you calling a Beansprout— Ariadne! Hey! How are you?"
The girls embraced tightly. Ariadne lead her guests towards the sofa, where there was a large selection if drinks set on the table beside it. Ariadne picked out a green herbal tea. Lavi and Alina both served themselves to glasses of orange juice.
"Look at you! Seven months, eh? Look at that glow on your face, good Lord you're beautiful!"
"Alina. You humble me. You're looking gorgeous."
"Aww thanks... Have you named it yet?"
Lavi butt in: "Alina, you just called your best friend's kid 'it'." He took a sip of his juice. He made a face at the bitter taste and put it down.
"Lavi shut up—"
"Yeah, we've named her Ekaterina." Ariadne said, smiling softly, interrupting the fight in the motion.
Alina and Lavi stopped in what would have become a lover's spat. "Ekaterina?" Lavi blinked. "How did Yuu ever agree to that?"
"Well... I'd told him that I wanted to call her Kat or Kate, he wanted a Rina. Rina was his sister's name. I know he's always liked it, especially after her death. Kat is my niece's name. Always loved it, always will. Kat and Rina. Ekaterina. He chose it for us."
"I like it," Alina said.
"Hmm. Me too," Lavi agreed.
"Finally!" Ariadne exclaimed, "THEY AGREE ON SOMETHING!"
They laughed.
Ding-dong!
It was a few hours before the entire lot had gathered up at the young couple's home. They joined in the garden, where Daisya had set things on a grill. Brooke and Reever, who were family friends, had brought along their three children; Javier, the twelve year old Kanda-copy. He talked and dealt with things like his 'Uncle K' would, even though his looks were identical to his father Reever's. Mariah was a spitting image of her mother, with red curls bouncing at her sides and her brown eyes shining. She was eight. Chris, their youngest at three, was somewhat an undetermined. He looked like both his parents equally, like in the womb he had been photoshopping their faces together to get the perfect match. He was a bright, melodramatic, happy baby who was practically attached to his 'Auntie Aria' at the hip. Sometimes, he just yelled out her name as 'Aapi', and she would respond. When the pair were together they were inseparable. Ariadne would sometimes sleep over at the Wenham household with Kanda with little Chris holding on to her arms as they fell asleep.
Back to the point, he was sharp and observing like his mother, but sweet, kind and fun-loving like his father.
Daisya and Lenalee brought their little child, an adopted Chinese girl they named Mimiko. She had been at the Barry household for the last six months, a number which was also her own age. They had adopted her three days after her birth when her mother died. Her father was unknown, but the couple had signed a paper regarding the possible assault on them for the child would be filed against him. Since Lenalee and Daisya were new to the whole parental thing, as good friends Brooke and Reever had offered to help them with the child that cried too much.
"Please, the kids would have a field day. They love kids, and Chris has never had a younger sibling, so he'd appreciate that."
Lenalee knew she wanted to accept the offer, but hated inconveniencing others. She told this to Brooke, but the only reply she received was from Reever, who made the decision final: "We've had three kids, Little Lee. We can handle a fourth now that we're used to the sound. Don't worry. Drop her off tomorrow."
Now, Javier and Brooke had gone together to hide little eggs for the children to find on Ariadne's request. Javi never was one to play games, so he helped his mother in the task. It was almost like a payment for the favour Ariadne was doing for them by occupying the youngest, most mischievous Wenham child.
Just then Brooke whipped around as she heard a soft thud, worried. Her youngest son lay on the floor, apparently having hit his head. His legs were in the air, kicking wildly. He took long, deep breaths. Little did she know, it was silent laughter. Brooke nearly threw her basket of hard boiled eggs on the floor, but Javier held her arm, pulling her back. He smiled as he looked at his brother. Suddenly there was a loud, piercing shriek. A shriek of pure, innocent laughter. The melodious sound filled everyone's ears, and they smiled as Chris yelled through his heaving breaths in between laughter.
"Baby kicks me! Hahahahaha baby kicked my head!"
Ariadne sat comfortably on the ground (on a table cloth, of course), laughing softly at the child who had by then started crawling back to her. She pulled him up, bringing him into her lap, and placing his head on her abdomen gently as she whispered, "Shhh, can you hear?"
"What?" Chris said loudly.
"Sssh! You'll hear it. Her heartbeat. Thump, thump, can you hear it?"
The child nodded excitedly, placing both hands on his auntie's stomach and listened harder, nestling into her lap comfortably.
Everybody still watched and smiled, until Ariadne's phone let out a loud hum.
"Hello?" She said, holding Chris against her stomach, "Mum?"
The area went silent.
"You've landed safely? Okay. Sure, yeah... But mum? Mum. Mum! No, don't. Don't... Ugh fine. I'll send Kanda." There was a brief silence before Ariadne's face grew red with shyness and embarrassment.
"MUM! Yes, mum. My boyfriend. Bye." She shut her phone off, before calling out "Kanda!" She tried to sound even the slightest bit angry but the red blush on her cheeks ruined the effect.
He turned his head away from Reever, who he had continued conversing with. "Yeah?"
"Pick Mum up from the airport, please. Terminal four." She gave him the directions to the airport terminal while cradling Chris on her arm. He started whining badly (Chris, not Kanda) so she handed him to his father beside her, smoothed out Kanda's suit, kissed him, and shoved him out the door.
Girlfriends, he shook his head.
It was a long drive to the busy airport, and the traffic was horrendous. When Kanda finally managed to find a parking slot, he had to walk through three other terminal entrances before he got to the 4th. He saw Ari's mother waiting patiently with her head buried in a book, legs crossed delicately and back poised perfectly. She wore her long greying hair open, with a dark black suit made to fit perfectly. A Bluetooth was stuck in her ear, her carry-on trolley and suitcase, her only luggage, sitting beside her on the bench.
Ex-Mrs Hart hated tardiness, so as Kanda neared she looked up at him with an expected raised eyebrow, the type only a businesswoman and mother could muster
"Mrs Hart." He greeted.
"Kanda," she smiled. Despite the lateness, she actually didn't mind the boyfriend, as she knew he had been making her daughter as happy as a love-sick teenager for the past three years they had been together.
He picked up her suitcase, pulling it along with him as he lead the way back to his car. He loaded the two bags into the trunk as they approached, and the two got into the front seats.
"First time in Canada, Mrs Hart?"
"Yes," she told him truthfully, "and I'm sure it'll be full of surprises." She looked at him knowingly. As Kanda paused at a stop sign, he returned the look, eyes clouded in confusion. She smirked.
Mothers. Creepy.
Silence.
"Why was she blushing so hard when she was talking to you?" Kanda asked suddenly.
She looked at him again. "I asked her if you married her yet. She just yelled 'Mum!' And I laughed. Then I asked her when she was planning on getting pregnant."
Kanda froze.
"I asked her if she was... Sleeping well at night, if you understand what I mean." Kanda felt her eyes as they bore into the side of his skull. He concentrated hard on the road, avoiding her gaze as he felt warmth creep into his face.
Another silence. Mrs Hart looked amused as her gaze shifted into the road.
A few minutes of pure silence later, and Kanda reached over into the glove box, pulling out a pastel, intricate glass egg. One hand on the wheel, he gave it to Mrs Hart.
"Open it," he said.
The older occupant in the car delicately lifted the top of the egg. The inside was lined in white silk, a cushion placed on the bottom half. A single-stoned ring poised elegantly on it.
"Oh, Kanda." Mrs Hart's hand flew to her heart. "I... I didn't know you felt that way about me!"
Kanda snorted, shaking his head at his girlfriend's mother's good natured humour.
"No, seriously, Kanda. She'll love it. Easter is most decidedly—"
"Her favourite holiday. I know."
Mrs Hart carefully released the egg, putting it back in the glove-box.
"How long have you been planning...?"
"Almost the past six months now."
"That's a long time."
"... Yeah."
"Kanda," she put a hand on his arm. He looked at her. "... Good luck."
"... Thanks."
"Aria, dear, you really should lay down."
Brooke had completely given up on trying to persuade Ariadne to sit or lay down after she had stumbled slightly as she walked. Now, it was Reever who had to listen to the unconvincing sounds of, "I'm fine!" and "Stop worrying guys!"
Truth be told, Brooke was ready to sedate Ariadne if that's what it took to get her rest. She could see through the younger's makeup; her eyes had dark circles beneath them and her eyelids dropped slightly. It was like she didn't get any sleep.
"Ria," Reever said, using his nickname for her (apparently they all had made a million nicknames for her), "You haven't had the baby yet. Nobody's crying all night long, so why are you not sleeping?"
Ariadne shrugged, staring at her feet. Currently, she looked like a little girl, scared and small.
"Aria," Brooke said softly, "Everyone's worried for you. You haven't even become a mother yet, but if you don't tell someone what's going on, you're already going to be a very irresponsible parent. What happened, sweetie?" Even though Brooke and Reever were more or less only 4-10 years older than her, she felt of them as second parents. No one else had observed the way she swayed slightly in her step, so they were still celebrating and partying in the garden. The three of them were in the kitchen. Slowly but surely, Brooke lowered her friend onto a chair.
"There was two."
Brooke silently looked at her husband.
"One died. Last month. A boy. Yuu knows something's wrong. I haven't been myself lately. But I just can't tell him."
"Kanda still thinks you are carrying two?" It was a quiet question from Reever. Ariadne's head shook violently as tears dropped onto her dress. Her head was bowed so they couldn't see her face.
"He thinks there is one. That there always has been one. And that's Ekaterina. Hell, I thought there was one. I had an accident the night before it happened, and I bled badly that night. There was two, it turned out. It was a miracle one survived. And I don't want to lose her. And... And he's been so nice to me. He's trying to ask, but he just can't find the words to use without hurting me, and I can see that in his eyes. He wants so badly to help me, and I'm just shitting him out. And God, I love him so much I just can't put it on words either, so I can't lose him to this."
Silence drifted for a few minutes.
"I—we— we were going to have twins! And one just... dies? And I don't tell him? He's going to hate me so much. It's gonna hurt him so bad." Her throat made a little straining sound. She started again in a whisper. "I can't have him hate me. I so badly needed—wanted— to tell him yet..."
"You couldn't."
Ariadne snapped her head up. The voice came from the doorway.
"Kanda—"
"It's fine." He said. There was no mocking, no sarcasm, and no malice in his voice. Only understanding.
"Where's my mother?" She asked, alarmed.
"She's in the garden."
"How much did you hear?"
"Enough."
At this point both Brooke and Reever decided it was best to edge away. They were gone in seconds. Kanda came towards her. She didn't dare look at him as she felt his warm hands hold her cold shoulders, running them up and down her bare arms.
"You're cold."
"I can't have you hate me."
"I don't hate—"
"We could have had two children, Kanda! Two! I—"
"It's fine—"
"—should've— what? It's not fine, Yuu, I killed a child. OUR child. How is that fine?"
"You didn't kill anyone. It's not your fault." He picked her off the chair, holding her cold body close. She was shivering. "Agh, fuck. Fuck fuck fuck bloody fuckety motherfucking fuck." She screamed into his shoulder.
"... Better?"
"No." She replied, tone whiny like a child's. Ariadne sighed, "No bad words in front of small children." She said
"Yeah." Kanda muttered into her hair.
"It's hard. Every time I sit, I imagine myself in that car, crashing into another. And... And... I'm sorry I couldn't tell—"
"Don't apologize. I get it."
"But—"
"Don't." He said sternly, looking her in the eye. She saw darkness, but beyond that she saw sadness. Anger. Distance. Understanding. Passion. Shock.
It was amazing how much you could get from a person's eyes. Tears brimmed her eyes as there was one final element that surfaced in his dark blue orbs.
Pain.
"I... I—"
"... Yeah."
They understood. They understood each other perfectly. They stood in silence for a few more minutes, heads touching, lips close enough to touch, breaths mingling.
"We should go—" Ariadne started rubbing at her cheeks to get the wet trails off.
"Yeah, they're waiting..."
Ariadne rubbed her eye, looking at her watch that Kanda had given her on their second year anniversary.
"It's 4." She yawned.
"Tired?" Kanda mumbled onto her neck from behind. She leaned backwards gratefully as he cradled her swiftly, from left to right. She let out a sigh of contentment. "Yeah, slightly."
She leaned her head back as she kissed him.
"Just a few more hours, and then I'll kick them out, I promise."
"Mm, I love you."
"Me too," he said as he nibbled her ear softly.
"We could stay here forever."
"I wish," he said. "Let's go." He pulled her by the hand towards the door leading them to outside, but she remained rooted to the spot.
"Kanda?"
He looked at her.
"We are going to raise this child properly. We'll take care of her so much that she'll be sick of us. You understand me?" Ariadne looked on the verge of years.
"Don't cry, Ari."
She looked at him.
"Promise me."
"I promise. Don't cry. You know... You know it kills me to watch you cry."
"Yeah." Her voice cracked.
"Don't."
She nodded.
"Come on," and she let herself be dragged out.
The sight they came upon was almost breathtaking. Despite the sun just beginning to set, the garden shone with extra lights. Fairy lights were hung across the small garden's wooden gates. The small lake they had installed in the middle of the garden shone elegantly, reflecting the lights. Lenalee and Daisya were in a corner, faces so close to each other's that their shadows actually merged.
Reever and Brooke were nowhere to be seen. When they asked Javier, he said he was too busy finishing off the eggs to realize where they were. He kept looking at his Uncle K with weird looks, but Kanda only smirked at his favourite nephew. When they asked Mariah, who replied, "They had an appointment somewhere. Mum said that it was a last minute decision."
The buffet the couple had set out was being perfected by the mother of the hostess. As both Ariadne and Kanda were vegetarians, the food was kept that way. There was a dessert Ariadne had made, which was her speciality. It was a big feast they had prepared; everything was homemade. Mrs Hart tweaked things around, making them perfect. With one hand on his girlfriend's waist, Kanda pulled himself and his expectant partner towards her mother, who happened to turn around at that second.
"Ariadne? Is that you dear?" She asked incredulously, as it was the first time in a year that she had gotten to see her child.
"Hi, mums," she replied quietly, anxiously wondering what her mother would say of the baby bump.
"You... You're having a baby?!"
Ariadne remained silent.
"I.. I'm ashamed Ariadne Hart, that you —"
Here comes the yelling.
"— didn't have the decency to tell me. Severely ashamed. What would I have done, huh? This is what: stomp all the way to that store I saw for moms and babies, and got this kid some good clothes. I saw this amaaaazing romper, Ri, you wouldn't believe how cute it was!"
What?
Ariadne let out a loose sigh, "... You're not mad?"
With a wide grin on her face, the businesswoman shook her head and kissed her daughter's nose. Just like old times.
"Congrats, sweetie. We have to tell your father!"
"Mom, noooooooo," she whined.
"I won't have that shit, Ri, you're almost bursting at the seams, with child, you can't have your father not know—!"
"But mom he'll just insist we get married, which will make me goddamn embarrassed like shit, talking to my dad about that. Especially since I ain't got no courage to go an' tell him no news for them past years—" her Canadian accent was slowly slipping back into Irish, "—and now I go tell 'im imma go have a baby? Dang, ma, I'll be slaughtered before you can say 'Shitnuts'."
"Ariadne, that is no way to talk in front of your husband—"
"Oh my God ma. He's my boyfriend for Christ's sake. And he's probably already seen this part of me... Right Kanda?"
"Woman, there is no part of this—" he gestured to her glorifying body "—that I haven't seen. You be careful around me."
"Pooh, are you two gonna kiss? 'Cause I wanna go get the camera... " Lavi said as he neared the couple.
Ariadne snapped her face away from her beau as she realized how close she had been to do just that. Their faces had neared as they ranted, so close that their breaths were almost one shared substance.
"Get away from me, dickhead," Ariadne said as she shoved Kanda's face away from hers, her cheeks reddening at the unwanted attention. Kanda scoffed, turning around so she faced his back, not letting his red face show.
"Come on, you guys have already shared a bed, we can all see that, obviously, unless the little lassie here is—"
Kanda glared at his 'best friend'. "Don't you dare, Usagi. Don't. You. Dare."
Lavi put his hands up in mock surrender. "Yes, SIR!" He said loudly. "But you did knock her up, so just one kiss...?"
"Lavi!" Ariadne yelled. Softly. She yelled softly.
Lavi snorted, "You two could write a book about dysfunctional relationships."
He ran off before Kanda could find a knife.
"Alright, now who's up for games?" Mrs Hart asked. The children cheered loudly. (With the exception of Javier, of course.)
The games were set out evenly, fairly, squarely. The rules were as follows:
1- Find an egg.
2- Bring the egg to the team leader, who will open the egg, which has a clue in it.
3- All clues lead to the treasure, an openable glass egg with an object missing from one of the guests.
4- Return the object in the egg to its owner to receive a prize.
It was plain and simple. Mrs Hart, the referee of the game, sat beside Javier, Kanda and her daughter as she amusedly watched the adults and kids segregate into teams. As the whistle finally had its chance to blow, she sat back down next to her family and watched the game like a boy watching football. Yelling, cheering, whooping like a coach.
She glanced back at the youngsters. Javier was texting someone. Ariadne had her head on Kanda's shoulder, his head on hers. They silently watched the competition as Ariadne rocked Mimiko's pushchair back and forth, where she had fallen asleep. Ariadne herself looked like she could doze off as well. She sighed softly in contentment, shifting into a more comfortable position until she found her spot, with her hand on Kanda's neck, softly kneading it in a massage.
Kids, Mrs Hart thought.
"You guys look so adorable~ You're like the most beautiful couple ever~ " she cooed.
"Moooooooooooooom," Ariadne moaned. Her mother chuckled.
"No mom seriously. I don't feel good."
"What's up?" Her mother asked, concerned.
"I have this blooming headache, and there are these things that are, like, bloody twisting my stomach around..." She couldn't continue as another wave of nausea hit her.
"Well, why tell me? Tell your beloved boyfriend." She teased, knowing it was nothing serious and that the child was just playing football.
"He's comfy, moooom..."
"I'll go get you a pill. Do you have any of those pregnancy ones?"
"I don't know..."
Kanda nodded. "Yeah, we do. In the top cupboard in the kitchen."
"This guy knows his stuff, Ri."
"Shut up ma." She teased.
Mrs Hart put on an offended look (faux) and stalked away moodily to the house, (faux) to get her baby her pill.
"Thanks!" She heard from behind as the children's side of the team cheered with the next clue.
"Whoa whoa whoa, kids. No circling old granny with clues. I know nothing," Mrs Harts told the kids who begged her for the answer of the riddle as she pulled medicine boxes out of the cabinet. "But by reading that slip of paper, I guess... It's in the hall," she whispered.
"Thank you Mrs Hart!" The children, mainly Mariah and her friends, yelled.
With a cup of water and the medication, the host's mother made her way back outside, where Ariadne has fallen asleep on Kanda. He held her close but didn't say a word as Mrs Hart neared.
"She's asleep—?"
"Nope," Kanda answered, not even looking down to check.
"Ri?"
"My boyfriend knows me more than my mother."
"Hey!"
"Just kidding. Yep?"
"Your pill."
"Thanks."
Javier was giving the three a weird look before returning to his texting. Kanda could have laughed at that face.
"So, kid. Who're you texting?" Kanda asked.
"No one." Javier's face dusted slightly in a pinkish hue.
"Really?" He teased. Ariadne looked up from Kanda's shoulder with an inquisitive expression.
"Come on Javi." She said. "I won't tell your mom..."
"Aunt Ria..." He whined. "She's a friend of mine. We're doing a project together for school. I swear."
"Uh huh."
There was a brief silence. Then: "Some partner at school huh?" It was Kanda.
"Yes!"
Kanda was almost smiling in amusement. "Really? Then why's your face going red?"
"I don't know!" Javier almost yelled, face covered by his hands.
(A/N: Watch: http: #/watch?v= RWp_xIuL5hY&desktop_ uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3 DRWp_xIuL5hY (erase the spaces, of course) )
The grownups laughed at the kid, Kanda ruffling his hair.
There was a loud cheer in the children's side of the game. They ran towards the three hosts sitting on the floor.
"Another clue?" Ariadne asked.
Mariah shook her head excitedly.
"We found it, Aunt 'Adne! We found it!" She handed the silver laced egg to her aunt.
The grown up team, having purposely let the kids win, came up from behind their opposing team.
"It's mine? Uncle Kanda's stealing my stuff?"
Mariah giggled. "Open it!"
Ariadne gave Kanda a suspicious look. "Am I even allowed to open it in front of children?"
"Oh come on Ari."
"Kidding." And she opened it. Javier looked up from his phone with a smile on his face, looking at his aunt and waiting for a reaction. Her hand flew to her heart.
"K-Kanda I.."
There was silence as the waiting audience caught sight of a silver, solitaire diamond ring.
"Ariadne Rose Hart," Kanda started. Tears were nearly falling from Ariadne's eyes as he came closer to her, "Will you marry me?"
He hadn't knelt down on one knee. He didn't bring roses. The ring was hidden in an egg for it to be found be little kids to bring to her, and it was definitely not your standard proposal.
But that's what she liked about Kanda. Nothing ever was that standard.
"Yes, you weirdo."
The crowd cheered.
"You guys gonna kiss NOW?" Lavi asked.
He was shot an unamused glare, but Ariadne pulled Kanda's collar until their lips met.
Ariadne didn't take the ring off even as the night neared. Their guests had left, except Brooke and Reever hadn't returned from their last minute business. It was late, so Kanda had to carry a sleeping Javier up to their bedroom (snatching the phone away from his hands, of course. He caught a look at the person he was texting—Lianne) with Chris while Mariah pretended not to be sleepy in front of the television. She had dozed off in a few minutes but neither fiancé nor fiancée wanted to wake her to move her to a bed. They just left a blanket over her and tucked in a pillow under her head. Ariadne's mom slept in the small guest bedroom.
The couple waited at the porch steps of their little bungalow. Ariadne texted Brooke at a quarter to one (12:45 am): 'We have your kids. You know where to find them :P'
The faux ransom note quickly got Brooke's attention, and she texted back that they were coming in a few minutes, having forgotten their kids were at hers rather than at home.
Javier had gotten comfortable on the bed, holding his little brother as they slept serenely. Ariadne risked a quick snapshot before waking the older sibling up. Like the responsible twelve year old boy he was, Javier understandingly awoke without disturbing his brother, holding him in his arms as he walked towards the doorway. Mariah refused to get up, so Kanda picked her up and placed her into her parents' car as they arrived.
The couple thanked them and quickly drove off back home, leaving the two alone, hand in hand. Then suddenly, it was lip to lip, nose to nose, and head to head as well.
They trekked back to the house, faces still drawn together. With their hands still entangled they made their way to their room for bed, as it was late.
Ariadne fell asleep quickly, her arm linked to her fiancé. Her ring still shone in the dim light. Kanda, however, was still pondering on the lost child. He didn't know exactly how to deal with the news, but he sure as hell didn't blame Ari about it.
He hoped that there had been no lawsuits filed against her or something, and certainly hoped she hasn't gotten any bad news from the hospital other than the half miscarriage.
God only knew how weird that sounded. Well, God bless, at least it wasn't a full miscarriage. He closed his eyes at the thought, knowing full-well how much he and Ariadne wanted this child.
Carefully unhooking his arm from Ari's, he got out of bed into the kitchen. He couldn't sleep. He thought about making himself a cup of tea.
Imagine his surprise when he ran into his mother-in-law, stirring a mug of hot milk which was gradually turning into a shady brown.
"Mrs Hart," Kanda said.
"Oh. Hi Kanda." She smiled and returned to her magazine.
"Can't sleep?"
"How could you tell?"
"Because you're here."
"Cheeky boy," she smiled over her pages.
There was a brief silence.
"Say Kanda?"
"Hmm?"
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why the sudden pregnancy?"
She didn't think he was going to answer at first, but a few silent moments later he did, "Holidays aren't fun without kids, she says. And she wanted one. I just gave her what she wanted. That's my job."
"...You're a great guy for her."
"... Okay."
Mrs Hart only laughed.
"Kanda...?" Ariadne whispered from the bed as her boyfr—fiancé— neared.
"Yeah?"
"Where'd you go?"
"Kitchen."
"Oh."
As they got comfortable on the bed again, (hand in hand, eye to eye... Kanda's hands on her hips, her head in his chest, a baby bump in between), Ariadne smiled: it was all she ever wanted or needed.
She didn't wake up until later at night, her abdomen experiencing out painful contractions.
She knew what today was.
It was now April first, also April Fools' Day.
But this... This was no joke.
Her eyes screwed shut. She didn't want to wake Kanda— she knew how long it had taken before he had fallen asleep. So she shot up, by herself, holding in tightly to the bedpost. She took even breaths that were threatening to become laboured.
She didn't realize Kanda was already awakened and studying her carefully.
"Oi," Kanda said.
He'd managed to wake up himself. Thank goodness.
"Oi, you okay?"
She nodded. "I'm okay, I'm okay. I'm okay... Go back to sleep."
He pretended to oblige but propped his knee up; she rested her head on it silently, waiting for the pain to cease.
But what if... Maybe it was...
What if it was the real thing?
It was. The pain didn't stop. It increased.
"Kanda can we... Go?"
"Thought your never ask."
They picked up a pre-packed bag, woke up the mother and they were on their way.
"It hurts! Make it stop, make it stop, please make it stop I'm begging you. It hurts... It hurts!"
Ariadne cried. Her insides hurt, hurt so badly. She wanted it to be over with. It just hurt too much, even if it was probably going to be worth it in the end.
But she had been here for hours.
But finally when she thought she'd have enough, that she'd just give up and they could both die for she cared, she felt her baby. She felt its tiny head where it shouldn't be. She almost wanted to cry in happiness, but her job wasn't done. So she pushed, until she had brought life to a creature she had saved inside her for the past seven and a half months. True, she was premature, but this doctor was dependable and experienced. She'd help them.
She was finally allowed to see Kanda. She held his hand tightly, because the after-pain of childbirth still lingered, but he didn't mind.
She looked into his deep eyes. He kissed her head over and over and over, telling her it was over. It was done. They had a kid. Ekaterina.
And that was all they could ever hope for.
BloodStains: hey guys! Here's Easter! I'm not sure about the exact dates so sorry.
April Fools ' Day comes day after tomorrow (I WORK MY ASS OFF FOR YOU GUYS, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE LATE! SOOOOOZ)
So, yeah. Suggestions down below in the reviews, and subscribe!