Around lunchtime, Iku was feeling confident in her progress. She still had quite a bit to do, but she felt that she would be ready by the time Atsushi came home. He called to check up on her a few times and offered to bring her lunch, but she said she'd be all right. He then asked if he should send Shibasaki over, but, once again Iku declined. "I just need to rest Atsushi. I'll be fine by dinner time. These things never last long."

"Ok," he replied reluctantly, "drink lots of tea and water then. I'll see you at 6."

By the time 6:00 rolled around Iku was confident that she had everything just right. She asked Atsushi to pick up some dinner on his way home and he agreed it would be a good idea. She figured he'd be suspicious if she cooked anything. He came home right on time and she tried her best to contain her excitement.

"You are looking a lot better than you did this morning," Atsushi remarked as they sat down to eat. "You still look tired. Were you able to sleep?"

Iku smiled, "like a baby."

After they ate, they cuddled up on the couch to watch a movie together. Iku found, however, that she could wait no longer. Before the movie started, she turned to Atsushi. She took a deep breath. This is it! "Honey, I have something I want to tell you…"

The phone rang.

"Oh, I'll get it," he said and picked up the receiver. "Hello? Oh, Shibasaki, how's it going? Yes, she's looking a lot better. Yes. Sure, you can talk to her."

Iku glared at the phone. You're ruining the ambiance! "Hi Shibasaki."

"I heard you caught the flu." Her friend said casually on the other end. Atsushi stood and offered to make tea. Iku nodded resignedly.

"Ya, something like that." Iku said. She tried to sound tired so that they could end the conversation quickly. Normally she would be glad to talk to her friend for a long time, but not today.

"I was thinking I would drop by for a visit. Tezuka wants to talk over some of the wedding details with his best man and I figured I'd help nurse my matron of honour back to health."

"Ah, that's really sweet Asako, but I'm still not feeling super great. Maybe tomorrow? Atsushi and I were just about to watch a movie. I think rest is all I need."

"Fine. I'll come by tomorrow then. Could you put your hubby back on the phone for a second, I just remembered that there's something I needed to tell him."

Iku frowned. "Um, okay." She said. Atsushi was just coming in with the tea and she handed him the phone. He nodded and agreed a few times, before thanking Shibasaki for the information and hung up.

"Shibasaki wants to go to Karaoke next weekend if you are feeling better. Shall we start the movie?" He asked.

"Yes, but first…"

Once again the phone rang. Iku wanted to yank the cord out of the wall! Atsushi looked at her frustration with some confusion but answered the phone. "It's your mother. I mentioned you were sick."

"You told mom I was sick?" Iku was becoming increasingly annoyed. She took the phone, "Hi mom. I'm fine. Just a stomach bug. Lots of people are sick." She flushed, "You assume that every time I'm sick! I've got to go, now. We have something we need to do. Goodbye! I'll see you next week! Yes, I love you too." She hung up.

"What was that?" Atsushi asked.

"Ah, nothing." Iku replied. Trying to calm herself. "I just really wanted a quiet evening."

"Ya, it's been pretty crazy with work." Atsushi agreed.

Before the phone could ring again, Iku pulled out a wrapped square and handed it to her husband. "Here."

"What's this?"

"Open it."

He carefully undid the wrapping and smiled at the little scrapbook. "Got bored today huh?"

"Read it." Iku smiled. He smiled back.

He opened the first page. There was a picture of him surrounded by doodles of their first meeting. "Once upon a time, there was a very brave prince who sought to protect the precious books of his kingdom from the evil MBC. One day, he helped a princess who was willing to go to prison in order to save her favourite book. She was determined to be as brave as he was. So, when she was older, she joined his order of knights so that she could also protect the stories they both treasured. You decided to write down how we met?"

"It's our story. Keep reading." Iku smiled. She curled up and they read the book together. It didn't cover everything that had happened in their relationship (that would take so many books!) but it did, however, have the essentials. How she didn't like him at first when she was training, how he had helped her become a soldier, how they had fallen in love and fought side by side. How he rescued her time and time again. How he had proposed in a garden surrounded by chamomile flowers. How they had been married and everyone had been so happy. She had printed so many pictures of them together and she had drawn in as best as she could all the little details. Even though it had been made in a day, it was pretty adorable if she did say so herself.

It ended with them being happily married and excited to face life's adventures together.

"So, what made you decide to make this?" Atsushi asked, eyebrows raised.

"Oh, I forgot to write you a note in it! Here, read the sequel while I do that." Iku said. She lifted a gigantic volume onto the table and let it fall with a satisfying thump. Atsushi's eyes widened.

"That's huge!" He looked at the title on the volume and frowned at her, "War and Peace? That's our married life's title?"

Iku finished writing her note and placed the book on the table. "Open it."

Atsushi turned open the book. He instantly looked perplexed and surprised. The book had been hollowed out and, rather than pages, inside was a little knitted pair of baby shoes, a plastic-wrapped pregnancy test with the pink plus sign clearly visible, and a small onesie with the slogan, "I love my Daddy" written on it. Atsushi stared at each item for a moment. Then he looked up at Iku. "This isn't the flu?"

"Nope," She smiled.

"We're… you're… expecting? A baby?"

Iku smiled and nodded. Atushi let out a laugh. A shocked and joyous sound! He smiled and embraced Iku enthusiastically. He kissed her and looked closer at the pregnancy test. "You're sure? Did you see the doctor?"

"No doctor yet, but I took five of those things and they all agreed. We're having a baby." Iku smiled.

"So that's why you have been acting so moody and weird!"

"Hey!" Iku pushed him playfully.

"We're going to need to get another place. This one isn't big enough for a family." Atsushi said thinking about all the things they would need to do. He started listing off everything as they came into his mind. Mini-vans and strollers and diapers and medical appointments. It was clear he wanted to be prepared.

Iku laughed, "we've got time!" She pointed to the note she wrote in the book.

Atsushi read it. "Please read this book to me when I arrive in February! Love baby Dojo. Wow, nine months is February, huh? A February baby. That'll do just fine."

"Are you happy?" Iku asked, looking into Atsushi's eyes. He smiled back at her.

"I… I'm still in shock, but yes. Have you told anyone else yet?"

"No, you're the first." She smiled.

"Are you going to take a break from the task force?"

"Not until I have to. I'll take my maternity leave eventually, but I want to work as long as I can."

Atsushi frowned, "It's not the safest place to be right now. Your mom is going to…"

"Shh, let's just enjoy right now and not worry about that stuff. We are going to have a baby after all." They continued to cuddle and drink their tea. Iku had some cake in the freezer and they had some of that as well to celebrate.

Just as they were about to go to bed, Atsushi laughed.

"What is it?" Iku inquired playfully.

"I love that our story is all about protecting books and then you went and announced your pregnancy by destroying a book. It's a little ironic."

"I didn't think of that," Iku replied, "I saw it and said, 'that looks like it could fit a lot of stuff in it if it was hollowed out.' There are plenty of copies of that book anyways for those people who want to read a ridiculously gigantic book."

"It's a classic!"

"Yes, but have you read it?"

"It's on my list."

"Ya right!" Iku said, "Goodnight my love."

"Goodnight."

They went to bed. Both were excited about what the future would hold for them.