SORRY

I apologise. It has been so long. I actually started writing this chapter 2 years ago... that's right. TWO YEARS AGO. Unfortunately real life happened. I am so sorry. I don't think I can say that enough. It will continue. It will. It was a rotten move leaving you all in suspense, but here you go. I'm sorry again. Especially because it is so short. I'm sorry.

Chapter 4

Teruhiko was conflicted. Did he want a traditional Japanese wedding, or a big traditional Western wedding? It was a hard decision to make. A Japanese wedding would be nice, quiet and formal… but with a western wedding he could frill and fluff to his heart's content (and between the two of us that is an awful lot of frill and the fluffiest fluff any random three people in the textile business combined could imagine). There would be no pressures from his Okaa-san or Obaa-san on a Western wedding, they seemed to be quite over the moon that the McBear's wanted anything to do with their family at all… and… Joshua looked so good in formal Western wear… He continued to ponder this very important question, a slight frown marring his brow as he knelt in front of the planter box he had just finished sowing seedling into in the vast McBear greenhouses, worrying the large blossoming ring on his finger.

This was the scene that Joshua walked into, though narrowly avoiding knocking over the large potted ferns in the middle of the room, and despite the rolling clatter from the tottering pot, Teruhiko remained oblivious as Joshua made his way to his green fingered love.

As he stood behind him, watching the abuse of the ring on his finger Joshua's heart became clouded with fears, irrational fears. Was Teruhiko regretting their decision…? He hadn't liked the ring, he knew it! Joshua was such a failure as his mate, he was too young, too immature for his beautiful moon bear. Swallowing his anguish he tried to ask casually, though it came out rather gruff and demanding, "What are you thinking of?"

The voice startled Teruhiko so much he flailed and tipped over onto his side with a yelp of surprise. "Joshua! Ah! How long were you standing there?"

Joshua frowned as he helped right his love. "Not long… why… What were you thinking? You are regretting this! I won't let you go! I won't, I won't!" he shouted, his grip tightening on the arm he still held.

"No! No, Joshua! I was thinking about the wedding!" Teruhiko cried, nearly devastated that Joshua could think he didn't want this.

"The wedding?" asked Joshua, letting go of his arm, calming some and subconsciously soothing the abused area, "What about the wedding?"

"Well," said Teruhiko, happily opening up his woes to his large mate, "I was thinking I wanted a western wedding, you look so good in these Western clothing, and I want lots of flowers, I always wanted babies' breath and orange blossoms and camellia and sakura flowers, but I know Sunflowers are so important to you, to us, our story that I want them there too, but pink and yellow clash so much… but I like Irises too…. Blue and white may even out that clash…. So many choices Joshua!" He ended a little frantically giving his mates lapels a little shake.

Joshua blinked at both his mates' hysteria and penchant for diverging into tangents, he had obviously been thinking about this very hard. "When is this wedding to be?"

Teruhiko heaved a breathy sigh and said through a smile, eyes twinkling "In the spring, before our cub is born. I want…" he said hesitantly, looking up through his eyelashes at his big mate, "I want us to be a family in time for when the cub gets here."

Joshua's heart swelled at these words, and he grasped his mate to him, tight against his chest, "In April then … our cub will be due in May."

"Unless he is a big old grizzly bear like you, then he will be born in…" Teruhiko counted on his finger, "…May… but the beginning not the end." He asserted.

Joshua chuckled. "I will be happy so long as they are health and have your looks and temperament."

"You are too kind to me Joshua," Teruhiko blushed.

"Ahem." They were disturbed by Butler-san. "Milords, luncheon is served."

Smiling at each other again, they walked with their arms linked, out of the glass greenhouse and down to the large dining area for their repast.

January slipped slowly but surely towards February and Teruhiko had to make the journey back to Japan. It was hard to tell which bear was sadder to see the other go, but separate they must. Teruhiko was trying to give Joshua one last kiss before he had to go through the terminal but Joshua was just having none of this 'one last kiss' and was trying for 'never letting Teruhiko get on the plane'.

"Flying is too dangerous when you are with cub." Joshua asserted from his chosen spot in Teruhikos' hairline, just behind his ear.

"I was… already….. cleared by the…mmmm…. Doctor….ah" Teruhiko end on a gasp as Joshua gave a small nip to his neck, amount the suckling and kisses being fervently pressed around his collar line.

"I still don't want you to go… back to that cat" Joshua spat slightly, his sentence ending with a small growl, thinking about the returner to ancestry that would be waiting for his beautiful fiancé in Japan, on the other side of the flight.

"He is my best friend and going to be my maid… man of honour." Teruhiko patiently explained… again. "I love you so much, but I need to go to school, and you need to go to school, but we will see each other at the end of March at Easter time, and then we will be married just after and have a beautiful honeymoon, and be back here, before our cub arrives."

Joshua grudgingly growled his assent.

"One more kiss Teru…" he nudged their noses together and brought their lips together once more in a deep, heart wrenchingly soul filled kiss, one that neither party, because surely the gesture was returned by Teruhiko with much passion, could not help but feel the depth of love felt for on another by the other.

Butler-san clearing his throat finally caused the two to part in time for the final boarding to be called. After the exchange of final, heartfelt "I love yous", and "I will miss yous", and another peck to each other's lips, Joshua finally released his love, and let Teru board the aeroplane, with much reluctance, and many a forlorn glance behind him.

Butler-san, not a word passing from his lips to draw attention to the crystal-like tears glistening in Joshua's eyes, held out a pristine handkerchief to his master, whose nose may also have started to run. For all that he looked an adult, though Butler-san privately, the master was still a young, somewhat spoilt child who felt like he was being left behind.

As the plane took off into the sky, however, Butler-san was made to eat his thoughts. Joshua wiped his eyes determinedly, and stood tall.

"Butler-san. By March, we must have the manor prepared. I am going to be a husband, and a father." With that strong declaration, Joshua walked with confident strides back to the car, already making plans for redecoration, as well as a schedule for some private tutors. If he could complete his schooling early, then he could much better provide for his family. Butler-san blinked in astonishment at the adult perspective his young master was showing. He had not been so proud in a very, very long time.