DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GA.

CHAPTER 8: For light tasks only

NORMAL POV

"Took you long enough. So where's the good for nothing impostor of a doctor?"

The flame caster simply ignored the inventor and hugged a certain brunette. "It's alright now. I won't let anyone harm my family." He whispered. Mikan was still in a state of shock. Never had she thought that the AAO will come after her in a hospital.

"You know, I don't like it when I'm being ignored." Hotaru aimed her canon at Natsume. "Speak. Why are they after Mikan?"

Natsume shook his head. "They weren't after her. They were after the peanuts. That bastard was tasked to inject a serum that causes abortion."

"Reo sure has a twisted way of revenge." Hotaru calmly replied while leaving the room. "Where are you going, Hotaru?" asked Mikan

"Out."

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"I need the discharge papers of the princess." Hotaru demanded to the director of the hospital.

"We apologize, Princess Imai. But she has been ordered to have a week of complete bed rest. We cannot process her discharge yet."

"This place is not safe for her. Intruders come in undetected. I'm not taking any more of that kind of risk." She argued, folding her arms on her chest. She may have been a forever bully to Mikan but she has always been her best friend. She's like family. And she'll do whatever it takes just to protect her.

The director stepped back. "B-but your majesty. We still need Dr. Minoru's approval for that one."

"Are you going to process it or I'll withdraw all of the equipment I have invested in this hospital?"

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"Mimi, this is Ami-san, she will be your private nurse starting tomorrow. She is the best in her field."

"But mommy, I told you I'll be fine. I don't need a private nurse."

"It's just for this week, sweetheart." Queen Yuka argued. "You just have to stay in bed, and tell Ami-san what you need, be it food, a glass of water, or anything. She'll even assist you to the toilet." She continued and then signalled Ami that it's okay for her to leave.

"Moooooom." Mikan practically whined. The last time she had a baby sitter was when she was four. She has been used to doing things on her own.

"Don't argue, Mikan. It's for your own good. Who knows you might slip in the toilet. And don't worry. This person can be trusted. We were classmates in middle school. She's mommy's friend." Mikan sighed in defeat. When it comes to stubbornness, she would never win against the great Yuka Sakura.

"By the way, sweetie, how did you manage the hospital to let you rest at home? I heard the administration staff there are really strict about discharging patients." The queen asked while Mikan giggled. "Hotaru did."

"Imai blackmailed the hospital director that if they didn't release her discharge papers, she would withdraw all of the equipment she has invested." Natsume coolly explained.

Yuka sweat dropped. "Typical Hotaru. Blackmailing has always been one of her specialty."

The Hyuuga couple were finally able to work things out while Hotaru was 'negotiating' with the hospital director. From then on, Natsume always kept reminding himself never to be on the bad side of a pregnant woman. Hormones go crazy, and not to mention the fact that something bad might happen to his babies. He'll never be able to live that down.

"Oh, look. Your afternoon tea is here." Yuka exclaimed. "The smell of chamomile is just lovely! I have to go now, dearies. The Telekinesis Kingdom awaits. See you all at dinner."

Mikan stood from her bad and started walking towards their room's balcony. Natsume immediately gave his assistance. Mikan rolled her eyes. "I can walk, you know."

"I know. I just – " Natsume tried to argue but with one glare from Mikan, he shut up and let her be. "What are you doing?"

"Preparing my food. Afternoon tea would be perfect with a snack."

"Polka, why are you putting maple syrup and pineapple jam on a cinnamon roll? That's just gross." An automatic cringe was evident on the flame caster's face as he imagined what his wife's masterpiece would taste like.

Mikan shrugged as she ate. "I like it. The twins like it. Just eat." She handed over a piece of it to Natsume.

Natsume forced a smile. "N-no thanks. Had a heavy lunch." Mikan glared at him and shoved the fork nearer to Natsume's face. Without any more complains, Natsume just took a bite. He immediately gulped down his tea after swallowing the cinnamon roll.

"Ugh, that was too sweet."

"Oh come on, Natsume. You liked the Howalon covered strawberries. So why don't you like this one?"

"I only liked it because it has a strawberry in it." Natsume mumbled. Strawberries has always been his favourite. So every single time that Mikan would feed her the Howalon covered strawberries, he wouldn't complain. "This one is just… ugh."

"Whatever, Natsume. I like it. End of story."

"You're scheduled for an ultrasound next week. The doctor said we can know the gender by then. She also said that we should tell her in advance in case we would want the gender to be a surprise." Natsume said while looking at Mikan happily munching her pastry. "Ugh. How can she eat such a thing? It's disgusting."

"We should go. If we don't know if they are a boy or a girl, we won't know how to design their room and what kind of baby material."

Natsume smirk. "Tch. I never thought you actually thought of that." Natsume then took a napkin and wiped the side of Mikan's mouth. "You may be a mother soon, but you still eat like a kid."

"Whatever, you bully. Oh! We have to think of names too!" She beamed.

"Fine. We set up the rooms and think of baby names after your check up."

"I'll ask Hotaru who decorated Kai-chan's room. That person's designing skills are superb!"

"No. I don't trust anyone. I'll fix the room myself. The last thing I'd want is to have someone sneaking in and trying to inject some blasted serum in your body. All we need is paint walls and arrange baby things. How hard can it get? We just have the baby supplies delivered here in the palace."

"Fine. I'll help! And there's nothing you could say to stop me."

Natsume sighed in defeat. Deep down, he's silently praying that his kids won't take after Mikan's stubbornness. "Fine. As long as you don't overwork yourself. You only get to do light tasks. Do you understand?"

"Hai!"

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"Polka! What the heck are you doing?!" Natsume has just come back from a royal meeting. He saw Mikan in the twins' room, standing on top of a chair which was placed on top of a table. He immediately carried his wife down.

"I'm painting." Mikan replied cheerily. They found out that they are having twin girls. And to Mikan's rejoicing, her private nurse was already dismissed from all of her duties. "I was bored. And since you said we get to start decorating the room today, I started off with the painting."

"Mikan. What you did was dangerous." He hissed. He was trying his best to control his temper but a certain nullifier makes it a really difficult thing to do. "You could have fallen there!"

"Don't worry, Natsume. I took that into consideration which is why I placed lots of pillows and cushions surrounding the table in case that would happen." She answered with a smile. "And besides, you said I could help with light tasks. Painting is easy. I just make swishing directions up and down with the brush. It's actually kind of fun."

Natsume then grabbed the brush from her. "Seriously, Polka, you are going to be the death of me. You. Are. Pregnant. You're not supposed to play building blocks with chairs and tables then climbing them as you see fit. And the smell of paint is dangerous for you and the peanuts!"

"But you said I could help." Mikan mumbled with a pout.

Natsume took a deep breath. "You could. Just… not like this. How about you call the baby store in Central Town and make a follow up of the supplies that we need? I do the painting and all other things that require physical working. You, on the other hand, can place the toys wherever you want and fix the clothes in their closet."

Mikan shrugged. "Fair enough." She replied as she hummed her way out the room to make that phone call.

Natsume took another deep breath. "Everything all right, sire?" Jun asked while placing a few boxes in the room. "These are the cribs that you have ordered, your highness. Just press the button and it will assemble on its own."

"Hn."

"My, my, what happened here?" Jun asked while looking at the chair and table that were stacked together.

"Polka happened."

Jun chuckled. "Her highness can be a real handful. Stacking things and climbing them has always been one of her favourite things to do when she was a child. This sure brings back memories. And now, she's going to have her own children. Oh, how time flies."

"Do you have children?" Natsume asked out of curiosity. The butler has been serving Mikan's family for years. He must have his own family, right?

"A son, your highness. He's a marine biologist now. Ever since he knew he can breathe underwater, he has been addicted to the sea. He always loved his Water Alice so he chose a profession where he could use it freely."

"That's nice."

"It is. And fulfilling too. A child's dream is his parent's dream. Nothing compares to the feeling when you see your child growing up and eventually living their own dreams. And I'm sure, your highness, that you will experience this in due time."

"In due time. I hope my peanuts will grow up healthy and successful. Whatever their dreams are, I'll support them."