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"We have got some news," Orihime said, her smiled widening just by saying those words.
"What kind of news?" Isshin questioned after a moment, raising an eyebrow.
"I got an ultrasound done today," Orihime started, as she stepped forward and handed a copy of the ultrasound picture to Isshin, then one for Karin and Yuzu to look at, before she stepped back next to Ichigo. She let her hands fall to rest on her little baby bump.
Ichigo then wrapped an arm around Orihime's waist, as a grin appeared n his face. "It's a girl."
Three days later, December 24th, Christmas eve morning
Walking into their bedroom, Orihime's eyes went to the bed. Ichigo was laying still on his back. One arm resting behind his head, the other resting by his side. His eyes were closed. A smile lifted on Orihime's face at the sight as she approached the bed. Reaching her hand down, she gently rested it on his shoulder. Just that movement was enough to stir Ichigo from his sleep.
His eyes opened, and they connected with hers. He blinked a few times before he seemed to wake up a bit more. "Orihime?" He mumbled, before yawning. "What are you doing up? Are you okay?"
Laughing lightly at his tiredness, Orihime rested her left hand on her lower back where she felt a slight ache. Her other hand remained on her baby bump. "So when I wake up early that automatically means that something isn't okay?"
Managing a smile at her question, Ichigo yawned again before looking over to the clock. "It is eight o'clock on a Wednesday morning that we don't have school on after all."
"Correction," Orihime started, her smile widening. "It's eight o'clock on Christmas eve." She laughed lightly. "So you need to wake up. We've got tons of stuff to do today."
Sitting up, Ichigo stretched his arms above his head, as he laughed. "Well this is certainly a first. I believe this is the first day since you moved in that you're the one telling me to get up," he said, before pushing off the comforter. He stood up as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Kissing her lips first, before kissing the top of her head. "I'll go get dressed and I will be downstairs in a few."
Looking up a little to look into his eyes, Orihime smiled, and stood on her tip toes to kiss him. "Alright," she told him before walking to the door.
Ichigo watched Orihime leave, before he went to the closet. A smile on his face. His mind on Orihime, and how he noticed how she had carefully rested her hand on her baby bump. Ever since they found out they were having a girl, he noticed how much she seemed to touch her baby bump now. Knowing that they were having a girl seemed to put a smile on her face. His eyes glanced to the mirror after he dressed in some dark pants and a long sleeved red shirt.
I'm smiling more than she is. He thought, as he noticed the smile that was still on his face. While he had guessed they were going to have a girl, he still was just as excited as Orihime had been. I'm having a daughter. He thought to himself for almost the millionth time since the doctor's appointment a few days ago. Just the thought made him chuckle.
Orihime's POV
Getting out of the room, she started back towards the stairs, her smile still on her face. Getting downstairs made her smile even more. Yuzu and Karin had got up even earlier than she did, and had already started on some decorations. Everything was already looking so Christmas like, and she loved it.
"Alright Karin and I are going to the store," Isshin said, walking out of the kitchen with Karin trailing behind. She had a shopping list in her hand that Yuzu had given her.
Orihime nodded her head, and her eyes went to Karin. "Have fun. Don't let your dad go overboard on candy canes again."
This brought a smirk on Karin's face. Isshin sighed and hung his head. "They were having such a great sale."
"I know Isshin," Orihime said, patting his shoulder. "It's okay. We'll just send some of the ones you bought home with the guests tonight."
That made Isshin, Karin, and Orihime laugh. Once Isshin and Karin left, Ichigo walked downstairs. "Where are my dad and Karin going?"
"Out to buy some things for the party," Orihime replied, moving back over to the dining room table where she had been putting a table cloth on it before going upstairs to use the bathroom and wake Ichigo up.
Ichigo moved over to the table, and took the other side of the table cloth to help her spread it out over the table. "Did you tell my dad not to buy anymore candy canes?
Orihime laughed and nodded. "Yes I told him," she said, before smoothing down the table cloth on some parts before she heard Yuzu call her name.
"Orihime?"
"Yes Yuzu," Orihime said, turning her head to the kitchen to see Yuzu at the archway that led to the kitchen.
"Will you come help me with the ham?" Yuzu asked, before her eyes caught sight of what Orihime was doing. "Or if you're bus-"
"No it's fine Yuzu," Ichigo interrupted his sister, before his eyes went to Orihime. "You can go help her. All I need to do is put the centerpiece on the table right?"
Nodding her head, Orihime pointed across the room to the living room where there was a box on the floor. "And when you finish that would you mind hanging the garland and lights?"
"Not at all," Ichigo replied with a smile, before starting on the centerpiece.
Around five o'clock
"Alright, so the ham looks like it's cooking on schedule," Orihime said, before she closed the oven. She slipped off the little glove, and put it on the countertop. She took one of the trays that had the cookie dough on it, and put in in the refrigerator. They had some dough left over and were planning on making more cookies either later when all the guests had gone home or the next day.
"Alright, and I'm done with this last tray," Yuzu said, before putting the bowl and spoon and the sink. She began to rinse them off before letting them soak in some soap and water. "Will you put it in the refrigerator too?"
"Of course," Orihime said, before putting the second tray in the refrigerator. Turning back towards the countertop she moved over to where she had been decorating a cake. It was a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. She was currently adding a little Christmas flare to the cake and drawing some red berries and green leaves on the cake. "After you put the cookies we already baked on the dessert table, will you check and make sure that we didn't forget any of the other food out on the table?"
"You two didn't forget anything," came Karin's voice, before she appeared in the archway that led into the dining room. "Everything is where it's supposed to be. With the amount of food you two made the guests probably won't even be able to eat any of the actual dinner." She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, and shook her head at the desserts. "This is too much."
"Karin, it's Christmas," Orihime said with a laugh. "We're having a lot more people over than you think, and people love to eat on the holiday's."
"Yeah Karin," Yuzu agreed, before picking up the plate of cookies she had just finished up with. "Plenty of food for plenty people."
Sighing, Karin smiled. "Alright, alright. I'm going to go see what else dad wants to be done."
"I'm going to go set this tray on the dessert table, and then I'm going to go make sure the guest bathrooms are clean," Yuzu told Orihime, before turning to the door.
"Yuzu."
Yuzu stopped, and turned her head to look at Orihime. "Yes Orihime?"
"Don't overwork yourself. Everything's fine. How about you just go start getting ready for the party?" Orihime told her, taking a break from the cake frosting so she could focus on Yuzu. "And by get ready, I mean you getting a shower, getting your dress on, doing your hair, ectera."
Nodding her head, Yuzu smiled. "Alright. I guess it's about time to start doing that anyways. The guests are supposed to arrive around seven."
Yuzu left the kitchen, and Orihime turned back to the cake. She had frosted another couple of berries on the cake before she felt hands on her sides. This made her jump, and she had just barely avoided messing up one of the berries. "Ichigo, you scared me," she told him, recognizing his touch. "You almost made me mess up."
Ichigo chuckled, and he slid his arms fully around her as she turned around to face him. "That would just be awful wouldn't it?"
Smiling at his dramatic tone, Orihime nodded. "It would be sooo awful," she said back just as dramatic. She noticed he was dressed in some sweatpants and a t-shirt and raised an eyebrow. "Are you wearing that to the party?"
"No," Ichigo told her, laughing at her look. "I have a couple more things to get done before I change." Looking behind her at the icing tube she left on the counter top, he reached with one hand and got a little bit of icing. "Like this." He pulled his hand back around to her face, and put the bit of icing on her nose. "You've got a little red nose now."
"Ichigo," Orihime said, laughing as she turned to grab a napkin. Although Ichigo stopped her, and he leaned forward and licked it off. At the contact Orihime laughed, and moved away from him. Taking the tube of red icing with her. "No more icing for you."
"But, it tasted so good," Ichigo told her, a grin clear on his face. "Almost as sweet as you."
Rolling her eyes at his compliment, Orihime laughed. "You're so goofy Ichigo."
"Ichigo! You're supposed to go outside and turn the lights on!" Karin's voice was heard from the living room.
Ichigo shook his head before his eyes went to Orihime. "I've apparently been giving the task of going outside. So it might take me a good twenty minutes. But, when I'm done I could come back in here and help you put the rest of the frosting on the cake."
"As much fun as that idea sounds, I don't think so," Orihime told him, her smile still on her face. "Because I'm sure most of the icing would end up on me instead."
Laughing Ichigo just turned and went towards the archway, and left the kitchen.
Going back to the cake, Orihime finished up the last bit of decorating on the cake. When it was done she picked it up and took it into the dining room to set it on the cake stand on the dessert table. Okay, now I need to go take my shower. Turning she started towards the stairs, she stopped when she felt an ache from her lower back. Bringing a hand to her back where she felt the pain, she frowned. Please tell me this isn't about to start with the constant back pain. I haven't had bad back pain in a few days.
Shaking her head after a moment, Orihime continued to the stairs, and went up to her and Ichigo's room. Grabbing her bath robe she looked to the clock. It was nearing five thirty, and the party started at seven. I should have enough time to get ready. Leaving the room to go to the bathroom, Orihime turned on the water, and undressed. Stepping under the warm water felt good to her, but made the bathroom air seem much cooler.
Standing under the stream of water until her body was fully covered in the warm water, she stepped out from under the water to grab her shampoo. I can't just slack off again
After ending up taking a forty five minute shower, Orihime turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. Trying to dry off her body quickly as the air seemed even colder when she got out of the shower. She put on her robe, and wrapped her hair up in a towel. Going back to her and Ichigo's room she sighed when she realized she only had forty five minutes to finish getting ready.
Sitting down in front of the mirror they had behind their dresser in the room. She started putting on her foundation, powder, and blush. Before starting on eye shadow, mascara, and eyeliner. Finishing with her makeup, she took off her towel. She blow dried the rest of her hair, before frowning. Unsure with what she wanted to do. Hearing the sound of a few voices floating up from downstairs, her frown deepened.
Are people already arriving? She thought, turning to look at the clock on the bedside table. Seeing that it was already six forty she sighed. I took almost thirty minutes on makeup and drying my hair. I don't have time to curl my hair, so what should I do? Finally deciding on something, she finished her hair, before she went to the closet, and grabbed the dress she was planning on wearing. Just as she slipped on the dress and started putting on her necklace and earrings, she heard a knock on the door. "Come in."
In came Karin and Yuzu, neither of them dressed. "Orihime can you help us? The dresses we bought with you at the mall areā¦" Yuzu trailed off trying to find the right word.
"Confusing," Karin said, before crossing her arms. "I'm not into this girly stuff, and Yuzu is, but not dresses like the ones we got."
Orihime smiled as she approached them. "Let's go to your room, and see what we can do."
Downstairs
A lot of people were here now, as it was getting close to seven. Ichigo was currently talking to Uryu, Chad, Tatsuki, Rukia, and Renji. Toshiro and Rangiku had been talking to his dad, but were heading back towards them.
"Where in the hell is Orihime?" Tatsuki asked, crossing her arms. "I haven't got to talk to her at all since we got out for Christmas break. The last time we texted was when she announced she was having a girl."
"And you can't talk to me about that? The baby is my daughter after all," Ichigo said, his eyes on Tatsuki.
"Yeah well your not that fun talking girl talk with Ichigo," Rukia said, before Tatsuki could say anything. This made the other guys laugh.
"So where is she?" Tatsuki asked after the laughter died down.
"Getting ready I think," Ichigo replied. "She spent a lot of time down here this morning and afternoon baking with Yuzu, so she got a late start on getting ready." He explained, before his eyes went to the stairs at the sound of footsteps.
Orihime appeared at the top of the stairs with Yuzu and Karin at her sides, and everyone's eyes were on them. She urged both Yuzu and Karin to start down the stairs before her, before walking down after them. A smile on her face.
Orihime's dress was cherry red colored. It was a long sleeved, knee length dress. The back of the dress scooped a little low, and showed off her back a little. Under her breasts was where the dress had an elastic line so it was tight, and showed off her pregnant belly. Over that elastic line was a thin sparkly white ribbon belt, and it had a gold bow in front. The skirt of the dress was loose and flowy. She wore black sheer tights under her dress so she wouldn't get cold. White sparkly flats with gold jewels on the toes of the flats. She wore a gold heart necklace, and gold heart earrings. Her hair was half up half down. The part that was up was braided into two separate braids that twisted together, and had white and gold lace ribbon braided into them.
Karin's dress was silver, and went down to her knees. It was a short sleeved dress, but she had a dark grey long sleeved cover over on. The skirt of the dress was floated around her as she walked. Her shoes were black flats. Her black hair was half up half down, and the upper half was held up by a butterfly clip.
Yuzu's dress was white. It went to the floor. The dress was long sleeved. The skirt was flowy around her. Her shoes consisted of white flats that had bows on them. Her hair was left down. Which was unusual seeing that she usually wore it up in a pony tail.
When they got downstairs they split up. Yuzu and Karin going to some of their friends from school, and Orihime towards her friends. Tatsuki and Rukia already completing her before she could get all the way to them. Which made her laugh. "Thank you."
Ichigo made his way towards her. He was actually more dressed up than she assumed he would be. He had on nice black dress pants, and a white dress shirt with a dark red tie. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her. "You look beautiful."
Orihime smiled, as she looked up into his eyes. "Thanks."
"So it's a girl, huh?" Rangiku asked as she and Toshiro made it to the group.
Orihime nodded, and placed a hand on her baby bump. "Yep she's a girl."
"Has she moved around yet?" Tatsuki asked.
Shaking her head, Orihime sighed, but kept her smile on her face. "Nope not yet. At least not enough to where I can feel her yet."
"What do you mean by that?" Rukia questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"She's already moving around, it's just a matter of how big she gets before her movements will start being felt by Orihime," Ichigo explained for Orihime.
"Orihime."
Hearing the familiar voice, Orihime turned and a smile lifted on her face. "Mai," she said, stepping forward to hug the other girl. "Your dress is so pretty."
"Thanks, and you look great," Mai complimented her, as they stepped back.
Orihime turned and smiled. "And Hikari and Emi," she said, smiling as Hikari hugged her with his free arm, and then her eyes went to Emi who he held in his other arm. Which at the sight of Orihime Emi reached out for the familiar person.
"Hime," Emi said, giggling.
"She still surprises me whenever she can actually remember a name," Hikari said, as he let Orihime take Emi from him.
Smiling at the cute little toddler in her arms, Orihime laughed. "Oh my goodness, every time I see her she grows. She is just so precious."
"I agree," Rukia said, smiling at Emi who was giggling and clapping her hands.
Orihime smiled as she looked down to Emi when she felt Emi petting her hair. "You're so pretty Emi."
"Pretty," Emi repeated, before giggling. "Hime pretty."
"What's going on man?" Ichigo greeted Hikari, before shaking his hand.
"Nothing much, trying to keep my daughter out of all the Christmas decorations," Hikari replied, chuckling at the thought.
Orihime held Emi for another moment before handing her to Mai. "So tell me if this is strange. But, I just got this really big craving for potato chips and chocolate chip cookies."
"Not strange at all," Mai said before laughing. "Salty and sweet. Usually one of the best cravings I had when I was pregnant was when it was something salty and sweet."
"Well I'm about to go satisfy my craving, because I'm starving," Orihime said, already turning to go for the chocolate chip cookies first.
An hour before midnight
Everyone was starting to leave now. It was a great party. They had dinner around eight, and then everyone just socialized. The last hour of the party was spent exchanging plenty of gifts. As the last few people left Orihime plopped down on the couch with a sigh. "Gosh, I'm tired," she said, before yawing. In truth, she had started feeling tired an hour into the party. By now it would be better to explain it as being exhausted.
"Tired?" Ichigo asked, a light smile on his face, as he approached the couch she was sitting on. "Why would you be tired?"
Orihime opened her eyes, to reveal a look that she didn't find his joking amusing.
Ichigo laughed at the glare in her eyes, and he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Just joking around."
Orihime just sighed, and got back up. "As soon as we clean up I'm going to bed," she said before taking the garbage bag that Karin handed her. Actually, I change my mind. I'll go to bed after I eat something. She felt hunger pain's she would get sometimes start. She hadn't really ate much since they had dinner except for one little slice of cake.
It had been nearly ten minutes of the Kurosaki family cleaning before Orihime stopped by the window. She had been cleaning the cups of the table in front of the window, and her eyes glanced to the window. Which is when she noticed something that nearly had her do a double take before gasping.
Gaining the attention of Ichigo who was cleaning up around the couches. "What is it?"
"It's snowing," Orihime replied, moving a little closer to the window as she watched the snow flakes come from the sky to rest on the ground.
"It is?" Karin questioned, as she walked quickly over to the window next to Orihime. She turned to look at the kitchen where her dad and Yuzu were. "Dad, Yuzu, it's snowing!"
Isshin and Yuzu came out of the kitchen, and walked over to the window. Each had smiles on their faces. Yuzu's face lit up even more at the sight of the snowflakes falling . She looked to her father. "Can we go outside?"
"I don't really want you two going outside with your dresses on," Isshin started, before he smiled. "But, since it is Christmas, as long as you two bundle up, I don't think it will be a problem."
The two younger girls excitedly ran to the coat rack that was beside the door. They started getting on their winter jackets, and shoes. Isshin had walked over more calmly, and got his own winter jacket.
"Orihime can you help me?" Karin asked. She was frustrated, as each time she attempted putting her jacket it on, she could tell it was messing up the bow on the dress. Plus the skirt of her dress was getting annoying as the jacket kept catching the fabric of the dress.
Orihime nodded, and with a smile approached Karin. Immediately her hands were at work carefully sliding Karin's fluffy light brown jacket on. Her eyes went to Yuzu as she began buttoning Karin's jacket. "The two of you better be careful out there. I know it just started snowing, but with how much snow is falling it could start getting slippery."
"Can you and Ichigo come out with us?" Yuzu asked, as she finished putting her scarf on.
Orihime smiled. "Sure. We'll meet you out there," she said before Yuzu, Karin, and Isshin walked outside. She and Ichigo walked over to the coat rack.
Ichigo grabbed Orihime's jacket to help her put it on. "Now Orihime, you better be careful out there. It might be slipper out there now that is has started snowing." His tone showed he was amused as he gave her the advice she had given the girls a moment ago.
"I was just watching out for them," Orihime said as Ichigo finished helping her with her jacket. She grabbed the zipper to zip up the jacket.
"Hey, I was just giving some good advice," Ichigo said, as he smirked at Orihime's look. "Just take your own advice out there, okay?"
Orihime nodded in agreement. "There goes my plans of going outside just to fall on my butt," she said with a laugh.
Laughter from outside made Ichigo look towards the window. He saw Yuzu with a big handful of snow aimed at Karin. He laughed himself before looking to Orihime. "I'm sure you'll be safe," he told her before zipping up his own jacket. Before he opened the door he slipped Orihime's hood up on her head.
As soon as Ichigo opened the door Orihime felt the cold air from outside hit her legs. She pushed through the chill. The sight of the snow was just a bit more distracting. The snow was falling from the sky at a fast pace. But, slow enough to be admired, and seem like the flakes were floating down. The snow had pretty much covered the ground. Leaving a few patches here and there. But, those were soon filling up. The Christmas lights were on, and as the snow floated on them, and around them it made the snow glistened slightly. Which was really pretty. Orihime wanted to step out into the snow, but was cautious.
Ichigo noticed her hesitation, and took her hand. He squeezed her hand letting her know he wouldn't let her fall. So Orihime stepped out into the snow. They walked over to Isshin, Karin, and Yuzu. Who were currently throwing snowballs at each other.
Isshin who was outnumbered by Karin and Yuzu held his hands up in surrender. "I give!" He called. Laughter in his voice. He looked to Ichigo and Orihime.
"We got it covered dad," Ichigo said, with a nod of his head.
Ichigo's dad nodded before walking back to the house. "Don't stay out too much longer!" He called too them before going inside.
Orihime crossed her arms, and watched as Yuzu and Karin began throwing snow balls at each other again. She sighed, her smile still light on her face. The snow was pretty and all, but she was still on the edge of complete exhaustion.
Ichigo saw her look, and wrapped his arms around her in a hug. "Don't worry you'll be back inside and under the warm covers soon."
Orihime nodded. "As long as you're there with me," she murmured before resting her chin on his shoulder.
Around twenty minutes later
Yuzu and Karin finally got tired. Yuzu was so tired that she was about fall asleep on her feet so Ichigo picked her up, and was going to carry her inside. Orihime walked beside Karin with a hand on the younger girls back leading her to the front door.
The snow was getting heavier so it was harder to get to the front door. But, eventually they made it. As soon as they got inside shoes were off, and jackets were too. The fire in the fireplace had made the room warm, and toasty.
They went to sit on the couch. Ichigo rested Yuzu next to him on the couch. She was about to fall asleep.
Isshin came in with a tray with mugs of hot chocolate on it. "I know it's pretty late, but it will help you warm up."
He saw Yuzu. "I better take her up to bed."
Orihime stood up as he picked Yuzu up. "I'll come upstairs with you. She doesn't need to sleep in her dress."
After Orihime and Isshin went upstairs Karin reached for her cup of hot chocolate. It had a lot of whip cream at the top, with chocolate drizzled over it, and a little bit of brown sugar was sprinkled over the top. As soon as the warm chocolaty liquid went down her throat she felt so much better. Her dad always made the best hot chocolate. It was one of the best times about winter.
"You should probably go ahead, and change," Ichigo told his sister. He had to hold back a laugh as he saw Karin's face light up when she took a sip of the hot chocolate. "It's going to feel so much better."
Karin just smiled. "I will after I finish my hot chocolate."
Orihime and Isshin came back downstairs. Orihime went to sit by Ichigo. While Isshin sat on the other couch. The four talked for a little while longer, before Karin finished her hot chocolate, and Isshin did too. They both went upstairs leaving Orihime and Ichigo downstairs.
Orihime had enjoyed her hot chocolate. It was just what she needed to fill herself up. She had drank more than half of it, and was satisfied. She had to grin as Ichigo took a sip of his hot chocolate, and whip cream was around his mouth. "You have whip cream around your mouth."
Ichigo smirked, and got some whip cream on his finger before quickly dabbing it on her nose like he had done with the cake icing earlier that day. "You have something on your nose Orihime."
"Ichigo," Orihime laughed as she dabbed some on his nose. She giggled, and he wiped off with his hand.
Instead of getting more whip cream, and carrying on, Ichigo did something else. He leaned forward, and licked the whip cream off of Orihime's nose also like he had done with the icing earlier.
Orihime laughed, and moved to scoot away from Ichigo as he licked her, then he started tickling her. It ended with both of them laying back beside each other on the couch. Orihime was still laughing, and had stopped trying to get away. Besides she couldn't because he had his arms wrapped around her. So she rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm so tired."
Ichigo chuckled. "You'll be in bed soon."
Orihime smiled at his words. "And you'll be with me," she said before looking out the window at the snow. She felt Ichigo's hand rest on her baby bump, and she looked up to see him staring at her.
As their eyes connected, Ichigo's smile widened. "And she'll be with us."
A/N: Christmas time! The ending of the chapter was my fav! I love how sweet Ichigo can be :)
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