Hey, so I'm back again! I think I'm finally back on schedule with my stories now! ^_^ Thank you to everyone for reading this and also all of your reviews! It means a lot!
To Eunieberry, I'm so glad you enjoy this! ^.^ And the incident that happened to Mai is explained in chapter one...and also a bit more in chapter three with Naru's dream lol.
"Ne, Naru?" Mai asked quietly, timidly. She subconsciously tightened her arms around his neck as he continued to carry her on his back. She rested her head on his shoulder, waiting for him to give a sign of acknowledgement.
The young couple walked along the beach shore as the sun began to set. Because it was Mai's 19th birthday, Naru had decided to do something special for her. So he, remembering how much she had wanted to go again, took her to the beach—just the two of them—for the weekend to which she happily agreed to.
"Hmm?" He wordlessly inquired as he carried her effortlessly. He'll never know why she was always so freakishly light—seriously though, where did all the food she always eat go? Naru mentally shook his head at that and waited for Mai to continue speaking. The two had walked for a long time along side the beach so, sensing her tiredness, Naru had offered jokingly to carry her the rest of the way. He had expected her to flush unassertively and protest, but she actually had just grinned happily and hopped on his back. That made him wonder why she was now being shy all of a sudden.
"W-Well, I was just wondering..." The young woman stammered before trying to take a breath to calm her wildly beating heart. She really needed—wanted—to ask him. "Do you want to have kids?"
Mai had felt Naru hesitating on answering with his immediate quietness. The only sound that was heard for a while was water moving and the waves crashing in the background, but Naru didn't stop walking. Mai had flushed a deep red when she realized she might have come on too strong about that.
"I-I mean I don't mean now of course!" She quickly assured her fiancé, hopefully before he began to think of absurd things. "If so, that wouldn't even happen until years to come anyways, especially since we're only getting married in three months, but...still..." Her voice trailed off at the end as it became dubious. To be honest she wasn't really sure of his answer, which made her nervous beyond all reason. As if asking him wasn't bad enough. But she was just truly curious about his thoughts on the matter.
"I suppose I would..." Naru replied carefully, his voice was laced with a hint of confusion. "I don't see why not."
Mai let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. "Really?"
"As long as they're mine and yours, of course I would. Mai, I know that by marrying you means starting a family of our own together and the thought of that couldn't make me happier. If you're worried whether or not I want children—because I know you want them—then don't be. Like you said, it won't be until a few years in the future but yes, Mai, I would love to have children with you." Naru continued, being completely truthful with her. At his words Mai let a bright, dazzling smile fall upon her lips. That was the answer she had hoped for. Lifting her head from his shoulder, she leaned forward slightly and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"I love you so much." She whispered. She couldn't hear it, but she felt a vibration that went through Naru's chest. He had given a silent chuckle.
"I love you as well."
Several moments had passed between the couple before Mai decided to speak again. "What would you want first? A boy or a girl?" She questioned, not even bothering to try to hide her curiosity. She believed her had every right to know anyways. Although it, of course, didn't matter what their children would be to her. As long as they were strong and healthy, she was fine with whatever they might be—she couldn't ask for a better blessing than that. Naru answered after a minute of thinking about it.
"As long as they have your traits and personality along with your looks, it wouldn't matter to me."
Sunday, July 7th. Weeks of pregnancy—13
Mai didn't know why, but that memory kept replaying itself inside her mind over and over as she stared up at the ceiling, trying to fall asleep. Oh what a futile attempt that was. Perhaps it was the memory that was keeping her awake—keeping her mind busy—and refusing to let her brain rest, or perhaps it was the fact that her husband wasn't sleeping beside her. He wasn't there to hold her and wrap his arms around her like he usually does every night. It felt...weird not having him there, but it couldn't be helped. He was gone, and most likely wouldn't come back until everything in England was cleared.
Mai huffed and reached over to her right, grabbing Naru's pillow, before turning over on her side on the left. Hoping that her husband's pillow would give her some type of comfort, she clutched it tightly and buried her face into it. A smile spread across her face as that memory once again replayed in her mind. It was hard to believe that was just two years ago. Believe it or not though, that was the first and only time they had talked about having children until they discovered she was pregnant. She loved what Naru had said last, it was very sweet of him. He hadn't said too many things like that back then. Although she couldn't agree with him about hoping their children 'had her looks'. She silently prayed they would have Naru's features—they would be so adorable no one could resist them!
Her bright grin, however, faltered when a wave of nausea hit her causing her to grimace. Not again... Mai mentally groaned. She had hoped this part of the pregnancy was almost over, but apparently her wish was too good to be true. She laid there for fifteen minutes before the urge to vomit grew too great. The blankets flew off her as she dashed across the hall to the bathroom, just making it in time. The 'pregnant woman sitter' showed up just as the miserable brunette began to dry heave. Although still half asleep, Madoka held Mai's hair back and gently rubbed circles into her back until she calmed down. The older woman quickly went to the kitchen and filled a glass full of water before hurrying back to the bathroom and giving it to Mai.
"You feel okay now?" Madoka asked in concern once Mai took a few shaky sips of her water. Giving a weak smile, Mai nodded.
"Yeah, I am... I'm sorry for waking you up. It appears I always wake up Naru too even though I try my best not to." She said with gnawing guilt.
"Don't worry about it, Mai." Madoka reassured her. Eyelids half closed from her still sleepy state, she tried her best to remain upright and not slump against the bathroom floor. "You should rest and try to get some more sleep though. It's only one-thirty." She suggested, not knowing the girl had yet to fall asleep.
After sheepishly admitting she would need some help getting to the bedroom, Mai allowed Madoka to guide her to the bed as she leaned against her for support. She crawled back under the covers and laid down. Just as Madoka turned to leave, Mai swiftly caught her wrist effectively stopping her movements.
"Um, Madoka...?"
"Yeah, Mai? What is it?"
"W-Would...would you mind sleeping in here with me? I just can't seem to be able to fall asleep..." Mai had her head turned and gaze lowered, not looking at Madoka, who gave a smile in understanding. She knew the reason why without Mai having to say it aloud.
"Sure, I'll just be right back." The sleepy pink-haired woman said before she exited the room to grab her pillow on the couch where she had been sleeping. Sighing in relief, Mai clutched Naru's pillow again as she waited for Madoka to return. Briefly, she wondered if it was going to become a regular thing all while Naru's gone, or if she'd finally able to fall asleep without Madoka sleeping beside her and pretending it was Naru.
"You sure you want to go to the office today?" Madoka questioned as she sat down at the table before they both began to eat breakfast. Mai nodded. She didn't know why Madoka seemed so concerned about it.
"I do still work there, Madoka. Just because Naru's not here doesn't mean I'm going to lack off from work." She laughed a bit before she took another bite of her food. Her other hand gently cupped the small bulge on her stomach. "Besides don't you want to see everyone? Lin's there~!"
"...Okay, yes, that's true I do. But you partially own SPR along with Naru since you're married. If you don't want to work then you could tell Yasu to do it. And if he refuses, fire him." Madoka grinned mischievously. "You have that power, Mai!"
The pregnant woman smiled and shook her shook at her friend in a 'what am I doing to do with you?' type of way. "I know, but I leave all of that up to Naru. I couldn't run a business." She replied truthfully. It all seemed too complicated for her.
"Well, you should learn for situations like this!"
"That's what Lin is here for." Mai waved it off. She felt a bit guilty after saying that though. It made Lin sound like he was their own personal servant...or a butler. Yeah, she could see him as a butler better... Mai mentally slapped her cheeks to reprimand herself. What was she thinking?! Lin was their friend, not some hired help!
"Okay, what if Lin had to go with Naru somewhere? Then what?" Madoka continued to press.
"Then...you would be here. Naru wouldn't leave me by myself." She insisted nonchalantly. Madoka narrowed her eyes and 'tsk'ed.
"You're being too confident there. Don't expect Naru to always do that." Mai gave her a pointed look which made her re-think her statement. "Okay, never mind then." Madoka said, causing Mai to smile and nod in approval. Mai was right...Naru would never leave her alone by herself, especially when the baby will be born. Madoka doubted that, when that happened, Naru would never leave without his family again.
"Exactly." Mai giggled. The two women finished eating just when they heard Mai's cell phone ringing from the living room. Not knowing if it was Naru or not, Mai quickly went in search for her phone with Madoka leisurely following behind her a few moments later. The older woman smiled softly. If only Naru could see how much Mai missed him. "Luella...?" Mai whispered before answering it. "Hello?"
"Hello, dear! How are you and my lovely grandchild doing?" Her mother-in-law asked cheerfully. Mai smiled at her voice before sitting down on the couch. She'd probably be on the phone with her for a while. She always was when she called.
"We're doing just fine, Luella. Although I was up during the night with the morning sickness again." Mai responded as Madoka came and sat beside her.
"Oh no..." Luella said soft-heartedly. "Did you do as I suggested last week with drinking the ginger tea every morning and night?" She asked.
"Yes, I have been... Oh, wait... I completely forgot last night! We didn't get home until late and I was so tired I forgot." Mai laughed halfheartedly. "Well, I guess there's the reason why."
"Well, try to remember tonight, dear. How's Noll doing, by the way? I haven't even spoke with that boy since he told me that you were pregnant."
Mai furrowed her brows in confusion. "Naru...?" She asked in almost a whisper. She glanced at Madoka when she noticed the woman's eyes had went wide as if she just realized something. She gave her a questioning look, but Madoka was still too shocked. "Shouldn't you have already spoken to him, Luella? Or seen him for that matter?"
"No... Why?" Luella inquired suspiciously. Where exactly was her son...?
"Because he's in England and he's staying at your house..." Mai informed her slowly. She was starting to get confused and very much worried. But Naru had called last night and told her he was already there...
"He's WHAT?!" She shouted so loud through the phone that Mai had to hold it away from her. Madoka paled and flinched. She was in so much trouble... "Why is he in England?! And why did no one tell me about this? Mai, what's going on?!"
"A-Ah, well..." And so, for the next time ten minutes Mai had to explain everything to her poor, 'forgotten' mother-in-law—as Luella had so dramatically put it.
"Madoka's there?!" Luella yelled loudly. "How dare she not tell me any of this! Where is she? MADOKA, DO YOU HEAR ME?" She demanded. If it's one thing Luella hates...it's being let out of the loop completely. Mai looked at Madoka as the woman visibly cringed beside her. To save her hearing from further damage, Mai decided to just put the phone on speaker. She nodded towards Madoka.
"Yes, Luella, I hear you." She sighed. "And I'm sorry I didn't tell you all the plans, but in my defense, you've been so busy that I haven't even spoken to you in a whole week! Martin probably found no time to tell you for the same reasons..."
"I'm sure a note would have been doable! I still can't believe no one bothered to tell me that my son, who I haven't seen in months, is at my house at this moment! Oh, just wait until I get my hands on Martin! He's going to regret not telling me and I'll make sure he never does this again!" Luella began to mumble threateningly. Mai laughed nervously. She didn't even want to imagine what Luella would do to them. That woman was the scariest person she knew; she respected her by all means, but she was still scary.
"Does this mean I'm off—"
"No, Madoka." Luella immediately shot her down. "This does not mean you're off the hook, but right now, I have two men I have to speak very rigorously to when I get home. So if you two will excuse me." Not a second later did the line go dead on the other end.
As the car came to a stop, the English woman pushed the vehicle's door open with a great deal of force before the driver could even get out and open it for her. With a fierce yet excited expression, the woman stalked to the front door, ignoring the greeting that came her way upon entering by one of the few maids she had. She demanded to know where her husband was, knowing that her son would be with his father, and the maid timidly pointed her to the living room. This time the woman nodded in thanks before walking towards the living room that was a several paces away from the hallway.
At the threshold she paused when she saw her raven-haired son talking proficiently with her husband. From the hundreds of different papers and files scattered all around them, she could only guess they were discussing work. And from what her precious daughter-in-law told her, that's the only reason her son was here right now. She slowly crept into the room without making a noise until she was right behind the two men who were sitting on the sofa. Raising both of her hands she quickly slapped the back of their heads simultaneously, jarring them from their private conversation.
"Wha..." Her husband began before the two men turned to look at her as they held the spots, where she had hit them, with their hands.
"Mother!"
"Luella, what on earth was that for?!"
"That was for not telling me Noll was coming here! The same goes for you, Noll!" Luella shouted, still upset that no one told her this important news.
"What? No, I'm sure I told you..." Martin trailed off when he saw his wife shake her head vehemently. "Madoka didn't...?" He asked.
"No. She didn't—she thought you had." Luella looked between the two of them with fiery eyes. "I just called Mai to see how she was doing, and then when I ask about Noll, she tells me he's here! Imagine my surprise, especially when Mai tells me Madoka's there with her!"
"Well, I'm sorry Luella, but I haven't really seen you all that much either to inform you about everything. One of us is always gone or asleep." The older man said. Luella huffed and crossed her arms. Noll raised a brow and flicked his gaze back and forth between his parents.
"You know now, Mother, so shouldn't that be enough?" He questioned her, trying to calm her down. Hearing her son actually speaking to her this time, Luella sighed after a few moments. She couldn't stay mad at him—he wasn't there to inform her anyways and he didn't need her wrath, unlike two other certain people.
"I'm sorry for hitting you, Noll..."
"It's fine." Noll's lips twitched upwards. Mai had hit him a lot harder before. "You said you spoke with Mai..." He alluded, wanting her to continue on that topic. He watched as his mother's gaze turned soft.
"Yes, she said she was sick during the night, but she's feeling a lot better since it's morning there now and she's had rest." Luella relayed to him. Noll nodded, letting his gaze slide down in concern for his wife. "She's fine, so don't worry." Luella smiled in a motherly fashion before walking around the sofa with her arms held out to hug her son, who stood up knowing what she wanted and knowing he couldn't get out of it even if he wished to. "Congratulations on the pregnancy, Oliver." She whispered as she hugged him tightly. "You and Mai are going to be fantastic parents!"
"Thank you, Mother..."
Hehe, I love the ending if I say so myself—not that I'm trying to brag or anything. ^_^; I just wanted a little mother-and-son moment there! Did anyone get the reference about Lin being a 'butler' though? Lol! I couldn't help myself!
Please review and tell me what you think! :)