A/N: Whoopee! Another chapter! And another time skip, a bit longer this time, but who the hell cares? I certainly don't! Also, there's that promised event here! *wink, wink, nudge, nudge* Enjoy~

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story and Night.

A Neko's Angel

Chapter 7

X*X(3 Months Later)X*X

It had been 3 months since Joshua and Neku had kissed properly without it being forced, and they had been getting closer and closer with each passing day. I watched Neku blossom from an introverted, private individual to a kinder, and more open and loving person. Joshua had truly changed him for the better.

I remember that one night, about a month ago, they had decided to have a private evening, to which I kindly offered to leave them be for the night. They were both grateful, and the next morning, I came back around midday to find Neku tired but happy, and Joshua seeming happier than usual.

When I asked why they were so happy, they answered simultaneously. They were now mates. I was overjoyed, and knew that this would be the best thing ever for Neku. I was also very proud of the neko, seeing as he had completely recovered from the whole ordeal with Sho. The fact that Joshua and Neku had mated was proof of that.

It was a now about a month since they had become mates, and I noticed something was off with Neku. Whenever he and Joshua would start to kiss, the neko refused to go farther than kissing, and even then not too far into it. He also couldn't keep much food down, so he was getting sick almost every morning. This had been going on for a couple of weeks, too.

I had my suspicions about what it was, but I didn't want to come right out and say it, especially not with Joshua around. I got my opportunity to talk with my friend alone when Joshua had offered to go into town and get some thicker blankets for the impending winter, which was in a month. Neku hugged his mate and kissed him briefly in farewell, and then the angel left. Once he was out of sight, I turned to Neku.

"Can we talk?" I asked him. The neko seemed confused, but shrugged.

"Sure," he agreed easily, and we sat down inside the tree hollow. I didn't know how else to ask, so I just decided to come out and ask.

"Neku…are you pregnant?" I asked. His pale blue eyes widened in shock and horror, and his ears pinned themselves against his head.

"No way! I'm just feeling a bit sick is all," he said, shifting uneasily on the blanket he was sitting on.

"Neku, you know you can tell me the truth, right? We're best friends, after all. Please don't lie to me," I told him. His gaze dropped to the floor as he whimpered before tears started to flow from his eyes. "Neku!" I gasped, and quickly went over to him and held him close and comfortingly. "Neku, what's wrong?"

"I-I'm…p-pregnant!" he wailed, and I almost stiffened in surprise, but recovered in a split second, wrapping my wings around him. "My heat ended the morning after we mated!"

"Neku…it's okay, you know. It's fine, I promise. This was bound to happen eventually," I told him gently. He cried into my shoulder as I held him.

"I…I don't know what to tell…what to tell Joshua…" he whispered through his tears. My heart nearly bled at the pain in his voice. I just murmured soothing words in his ear, trying to calm him.

"You'll need to tell him soon, though, Neku," I advised. He whimpered again, obviously terrified.

"But…Night, I don't want to lose him…" he mumbled with a hiccup as he began to calm down.

"You won't, I promise," I assured him. "He knew what he was getting into when mating with a dobutsu that can go through heat. If he doesn't want you anymore, and I HIGHLY doubt that'll happen, then I'll beat the shit out of him." The neko in my arms sniffled, but gave a weak chuckle nonetheless. "Look, just tell him when he gets back, okay? If you want, I can leave while you tell him. Or would you rather I stay?"

"Please stay," he rasped. "I need the support."

"All right, I'll stay when you decide to tell him," I said soothingly. "For now, let's get you some water. You sound thirsty." He nodded once, slowly, and began to stagger to his feet. He stumbled a bit once standing, but I caught him before he could hurt himself.

"Gah, I feel dizzy…" he muttered. Giving him a concerned look, I summoned an orb of water and pulled a stone cup out from my pack, making the water flow into the cup. I sat Neku back down and handed him the cup.

"Drink. I'm gonna have you rest for now," I said. "You're losing water, and you need to drink some to recover what you've lost. Especially since you're pregnant." He flinched slightly when I said 'pregnant', and I softened my gaze. "Neku, remember, it's not a bad thing, I promise. It's very good, for both you and Joshua. I'm sure that you'll both become closer as a result."

"…You promise a lot of things…" Neku finally murmured after a moment, cracking a small smile.

"You're right, I do," I laughed. "But have I ever broken them?"

"…No, you haven't…"

"Damn straight! Now, drink that water. I'm gonna have you drink 3 more cups of water, okay?" Neku nodded, and drank all the water I made him drink, and then he went to sleep, emotionally drained.

A few hours later, at around dusk, Joshua glided back in, landing with a soft 'whoosh' sound from his wings. I greeted him from within the tree hollow, waving my tail lazily. The angel walked over, setting down a stack of folded blankets by the opening to the tree hollow, and kneeled down next to Neku.

"How's he been today?" he asked me quietly.

"Okay, just tired," I answered easily, keeping the fact that Neku was pregnant hidden from him. Neku wanted to tell him, so I would let him. "I made him drink some water today, just to rehydrate him since he's been getting sick the past couple of weeks."

Joshua didn't say anything, and I wondered idly to myself if he actually suspected the truth. He merely ran his fingers gently through his neko's naturally spiky orange hair, his gaze gentle and loving.

Soon enough, those pale blue, feline eyes flickered open, and focused on Joshua. Neku smiled softly, a purr starting in his chest, and his eyes closed again in bliss as the silverette continued to stroke the neko's hair.

"How are you?" Joshua finally asked, breaking the quiet. Neku's purring quieted and then stopped altogether as he thought.

"Joshua…you love me, no matter what, right?" he said, his posture while lying down a bit stiff and nervous. The tip of his tail flicked back and forth anxiously.

"Of course, dear. Why do you ask?" Joshua answered, looking confused as to why Neku would ask him that. Neku wasn't even fazed by the nickname, which told me he was truly terrified of what might happen. One of his hands found mine, while the other casually went to cover his stomach, almost in a protective manner. The angel didn't notice, still looking into Neku's eyes lovingly.

"Because Josh…I-I'm…pregnant…" he whispered, the last word barely being heard. Joshua's hand stopped stroking his mate's hair, and his lavender eyes widened in shock.

All was still for a few minutes, and then Neku lowered his head, whimpering with tears in his eyes. Suddenly, he shot to his feet and bolted out of the tree hollow, running out of the hidden hollow and away from Joshua.

"NEKU!" I shouted after him, worried sick for my best friend. I whipped around, snarling, and glared frostily at Joshua. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" I screeched at him. "He trusted you, loved you, everything, and you just broke that trust! Now he's hurt more than I can even imagine! He probably thinks you think he's a freak! How could you?!" Finally, Joshua stopped me.

"I was just shocked, that's all!" he yelled back at me. "I didn't know what to say, I was that stunned! I know I fucked up, and now I need to fix this! Please help me find him…" The last part was whispered, and my glare ceased at his words. I rolled my eyes, not that he could tell, and smacked him over the head with my tail.

"I'll help you find him, but as for getting him to listen to you, you're on your own, pal," I growled. "If this ever happens again, I swear to god I will fuck you up. Now come on."

I stormed out of the hollow, leading Joshua to Neku. I sniffed the air once away from the strong scents of the springs, and caught wind of his trail. As we began to catch up, I could hear the loud sobs and cries of Neku as he broke down. Eventually, we reached him, and I think my heart bled and shattered at the sight.

Neku was curled into the fetal position on his left side, his right hand curled around his stomach and fisted into the material of his shirt, and his other hand clenched into a tight fist by his head. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut, the tears that flowed out of them unceasing. His ears were flat against his skull, and his tail was curled around his body closely. He wailed once out of misery, and I heard him whimper, "I'm just a freak…"

"Neku…" I called gently to him, and cautiously approached. His whole body stiffened at my voice, and a second later, he cried even harder. I approached him carefully, not wanting to startle him, and when I reached him, I placed a hand on his shoulder. He curled into himself even tighter, and sobbed. The whole scene just broke my heart. Looking back, I glared pointedly at Joshua, who was standing a little ways away. He took the hint and began to walk over slowly, trying not to scare Neku.

"Neku…Joshua is here…and he wants to explain," I whispered in his ear. Neku froze at that, and immediately began to struggle, trying to get up. I was swift to stop him from running, holding him against the tree. "Neku, he wants to explain. Just give him a chance, okay?" He lowered his head in surrender, knowing I could easily catch him if he tried to run again, and I released him. Joshua reached us then, and tilted Neku's head up with a finger, forcing the neko to look at him.

"Neku…I'm sorry…I'm really, truly sorry…" the silverette whispered to his neko. "I was just so surprised that I couldn't think straight. Please, I love you…Please forgive me…" The ginger's eyes widened in shock at the confession.

"You…you don't…hate me…? You don't…think I'm a…freak?" Neku asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course not, dear," the angel promised.

"Don't call me that…" Neku growled.

"Whatever you say, dear," Joshua giggled.

"Just shut up and kiss me," Neku snapped, cracking a small smile. Joshua smirked and did as he was told, swiftly diving in for a kiss and making Neku gasp at the suddenness. I smiled softly at the sight; it made me happy for Neku, and even for Joshua, even though this wouldn't have happened if Joshua hadn't reacted so slowly. When they pulled apart for air, Joshua smirked at Neku while the neko looked into his mate's eyes, content.

"You're happy about the baby, right?" Neku asked.

"Of course, dear," Joshua giggled.

"Don't call me that!"

"But it suits you, dear."

"Um, guys?" I said. "Sorry to interrupt, but we need to get home." The pair looked at me as though just realizing I was there, and then Joshua chuckled.

"Good point. Let's go home, dear," he agreed, and I led the way back to the springs. Neku grumbled a bit on the way back about the nickname, but was soon silenced when he was kissed by his mate.

When we got home and the mated pair was settled in for the night in the tree hollow, and I had curled up on a branch high from the ground, I thought to myself, It could have gone better, but at least things will be okay now…

A/N: WHEEEEEEE! Neku's pregnant! It's finally official! I'm sorry about the drama, but I needed some filler. Also, anyone have ideas about the name for the baby? I'm not sure where to go with it, so if anyone has any ideas, let me know, okay? Let me know in your reviews! Read & Review, peeps!