The next month had been both the most stressful and laziest for Kimimaro. He spent most days in Tayuya's room until she came back from meetings and missions. Today he waited in his own room, playing with the child growing in his stomach.

Kabuto knocked on the door slightly. "Kimimaro-kun, it's time for another appointment, if you don't mind.."

Kimimaro sighed, pushing himself up from his room and waddling out his door to meet with Kabuto.

Kabuto led him to the infirmary, handing him the gown and asking him to go change.

Kimimaro nodded, taking longer to change than he usually did. He came back out, holding his stomach and his back as he sat on the table.

Kabuto first wrapped a cuff around the teen's arm to measure his blood pressure. "...hmm...not too high, not too low...normal for this stage of the pregnancy."

Kimimaro nodded.

"..alright, step on the scale." He gestured to it, but secretly inside hoped Kimimaro wouldn't break it. He looked...huge, to be blunt.

Kimimaro slipped from the table and stepped on the scale as Kabuto told him.

Kabuto moved the small weights on the top around until they came to a standstill, and the scale balanced. "....143 lbs. You've gained...thirty-eight pounds so far, although you'll probably put on a few more in the next two weeks."

Kimimaro nodded, thinking how much Tayuya would approve when he stepped off.

After he laid back down, Kabuto started examining his abdomen. "The head's in the right place....there's an arm..." He moved upwards a bit more. "..while I'm doing this...do you have any questions you'd like to ask?"

"Umm... Is her foot okay? She's been kicking my ribs."

"Your ribs aren't hard enough to break her foot. Trust me. Her bones are very...rubbery, somewhat, right now. They're very hard to break."

Kimimaro nodded with a sigh of releif. "Good."

Kabuto stopped examining and turned to do an internal exam with a gloved hand. "....ten percent effaced...a good sign. You'll be going into labour by the first of January, at the latest."

Kimimaro's lips curled. "That is good... Is there anything I should be concerned about?"

"...when your water breaks, send Tayuya to get me right away. Thank God your hips are wide enough to fit a baby's head." There was silence for a moment. "...speaking of the birth, where do you plan to have this baby?"

"Umm... I didn't really think about it to be honest... I would prefer something private... Maybe my room?"

"Your room. Alright, then. Besides me, obviously, are you having anyone else in the room?"

"Tayuya."

"I figured." He smiled lightly, then turned to the ultrasound machine, grabbing the paddle and spreading the gel on his stomach.

The boy became stiff, for the gel was cool to the touch.

Kabuto ran the paddle over his stomach, showing Miko's form on the screen.

Kimimaro's eyes took interest to the child as he did before. "Wow..." he whispered. "She got bigger..."

He moved the paddle some more, showing him some more of the baby. She was sucking her thumb, looking quite content.

Kimimaro's smile showed some tooth when he watched her. He watched with amusement.

"Would you want me to print a picture out for you?"

"Sure." Kimimaro nodded. "That'd be nice..."

Kabuto printed out the picture and handed it to him, then wiped the gel off of his stomach. He smiled slightly. "You can go change now."

"Thanks." Kimimaro bowed his head, slipping off the table and took five minutes to change into his clothes before walking back to his room to wait for Tayuya.

Tayuya was in her own room, taking her hair down from the small ponytail she'd had it in.

Kimimaro knocked upon the door. "Can I come in?"

"...hm? Oh, yeah.."

Kimimaro walked in and pressed his lips to her's instantly, then handed her the pictures. "I went to an appointment."

Tayuya blinked and looked at the picture. "Is she sucking her thumb?"

"Yeah..." Kimimaro patted the child.

"That's so cute..." She smiled and looked at the pictures some more.

"Yeah and she's healthy too... aaand... I gained thirty-four pounds."

"You did?" She smiled slightly. "That's good."

"Yeaah... thought you would be pleased to hear that..."

"Yes, I am. It's good to know you're not underweight anymore, huh?"

"Yeah..." Kimimaro chuckled, kissing her. "He said she'd be born on the thirtyith at the latest..."

"That's good. That's...that's two and a half weeks from now. Kinda soon, but I guess you want her out, huh?"

Kimimaro nodded. "I'd like to see her pretty face..."

"Her cute little face...and she'll be in those cute little clothes.."

"Yep." He sighed. "Can't wait..."

Tayuya shook her head. "Neither can I. The suspense is killing me."

He nodded in response. "Neither can I..."