Chapter 10: Mother

by lightpathetic

ZERO stood in front of the mirror, the earlier enthusiasm to get into his trunks quite gone. He hadn't even meant to look. He certainly wouldn't have in the past. But… Damn his insecurity.

"Zero! Are you alright? Did it fit?" came the voice, just outside the door. Kaname was never far from him.

"Yes! Just give me a moment. Why don't you go out to the pool? I'll be right out."

"I'm in no hurry, Zero. Is something wrong…?"

Besides there being a frigging beach ball where his six-pack used to be?

"No!" Zero reassured quickly before Kaname let himself in. "I'm okay! I just need a fucking moment, alright?"

"Fine."

Zero heard nothing more and he resumed dying inside at his reflection. He turned to one side and winced, noticing his "chest" looked even bigger in that direction but at least his stomach didn't make him look like Humpty Dumpty, like a prized melon was perched on top of narrow hips and thin legs. Now he looked like he was carrying around an enormous stomach tumour with matching ones on his chest. An infinitely better assessment. And… were his nipples larger…? Oh no. He couldn't go out like this. Even to sun bathe in an empty mansion in Finland. God, he looked hideous…

Zero came upon the idea as he stood there. A T-shirt? Or perhaps a robe? While Kaname was outside he could nip back and get one. He would look silly but not as silly as Humpty Dumpty. Damn Kaname. He'd done this to him and yet he probably looked fabulous in all his thinness in his trunks… That's it. Zero was going out to the pool in a robe.

"Kaname?"

Zero called just to make sure the coast was clear then, thinking it was, opened the door to peep outside. Still nothing. Good, he thought. He'll run up from this changing area to his room and be back in two minutes. He wouldn't bother to change back it would be so quick…

"What's wrong?"

Zero was just starting up the staircase and froze. Shit! He was supposed to be at the pool!

"Nothing! I was um…" Zero thought about hiding his huge nipples and running but he wouldn't get far if Kaname was in the mood to catch him. He was very mindful of not falling over which vetoed a good, manly effort at a sprint. But he didn't want him to see him like this. Hence the shenanigans. Why hadn't he put on his clothes?

"Aren't you coming to the pool?"

"Yes. But I was cold. I wanted a robe."

"The sun will warm you up, Zero. And the day itself is quite…"

"I still want a robe. Just in case…"

"I'll get it then. You only had to ask…"

"No! I'll see you outside."

Zero continued briskly up the stairs having not turned around for the exchange. He hoped he didn't look as ridiculous from behind. If he got to the top and Kaname was still there he'd run…

"I see it is a good fit. I was worried you wouldn't like it. I almost got you a one piece but I figured you were not the type to feel uncomfortable about your body."

You were wrong. So wrong…

Zero froze again, halfway up the stairs. He probably thinks he is so damned smart for guessing like that. Boy, would he love to prove him wrong. However, couldn't a man have some pride? He was developing a bad case of man-boobs for heaven's sake!

"Come on," came the soft low voice to his right. Zero started a little, not having heard him come up the steps. He had been too steeped in self-pity. "There is no one else here and I've already seen quite a bit between the massages and the doctor's visits."

"Who says this is about you?" Zero bellowed irritably, rounding on him fully, forcing himself not to fling his arm over his chest.

"It's not? Then you have nothing to worry about. Come on. The water's great. I turned on the heating, just in case it was too cold for all of you."

"Will you stop referring to me in the plural…?"

"What's that?" Kaname interrupted, pressing his right ear to the left of Zero's stomach, his arms wrapping around to hold him close. Even Zero couldn't budge him.

"Mr. Kuran...!"

"Could you repeat that, Stephen? 'Mommy's' angry at me for stopping him from running and hiding his body from me."

What?! Of all the nerve!

"I'll show you who's the 'Mommy'! You ass-h…!" Zero made a serious attempt for Kaname's crotch with his knee but was thwarted expertly. "Mommy" was spun and embraced from behind. One hand "inadvertently" trapping a man-boob, a hard, warm almost nude body pressed tightly against his back. Zero's heart began to pound…

"Stephen says they want to swim and that this decision was arrived at by unanimous agreement. Dean even woke up for the vote…"

"You crazy son of a…"

"You're outvoted five to one. I feel duty bound to haul you outside forcibly and push you into the pool."

"You wouldn't dare… No! Kaname! Alright! Alright! Let go of me!"

Zero found himself released and below Kaname on the stairs. He looked past Kaname to the landing and then back to the smirking brunette who was taking in every nook and cranny of his body with a pseudo air of admiration, Zero was sure. Well, at least he was enjoying himself.

"You are out of your mind, you know that?"

"It helps to be a little bit crazy with a job like mine. Now turn around. That's it…"

Zero did turn around and head back down the stairs. All of this over a robe. You'd think he had a right to cover himself if he felt like a hippo that walked on its hind legs. Still, a smile broke out grudgingly onto Zero's face. Kaname was such a nutter…

"You shouldn't be ashamed of your body, Zero. With all the people that would kill to look like you do now, with child…"

"I'm tired of hearing about all these people and how lucky I am. It doesn't help when you just don't feel that way. Let them come and undertake the trials I have with a simple bowel moment…"

"Fortunately, it doesn't work that way," Kaname rejoined quickly, just as they had reached the pool. "I would much prefer you to be the mother of my children…"

"Oh, bite me! You call me 'mother' again and I'll… Ahhh! Noo!"

SPLASSSHHHHH!

WELL, it turned out that Zero enjoyed swimming. Or at least paddling around with Kaname's help. He hadn't mentioned his formal training as a swimmer hadn't gotten past a few trips to a pool while he was in high school. So after Kaname got over the shock of his almost drowning Zero and after "Mommy" resurfaced with… um, "Daddy's" help, and stopped breathlessly swearing at him, they ended up having a good day of it, Zero wanting to learn not to sink and Kaname willing to teach and keep his hands on the other as much as possible.

Zero loved it. The warm glittering clear water, the way the sun illuminated all of it. The way he didn't feel as clumsy as he swam. Aside from almost losing his trunks because of his body's shape in the beginning, it had all been just perfect.

Including Kaname. He really was patient and fun to be around. Even Zero got used to having his stomach addressed directly and began to enjoy Kaname's enthusiasm, only pointing out that the babies only seemed to agree with Kaname, which the brunette vehemently denied. He was such a nut. Such a beautiful nut…

Zero turned away and closed his eyes deciding to stop being distracted by Kaname's muscular arms as they rubbed his legs and stomach with oil. He was in dark sunglasses and the odd thing was that since he was sure his eyes couldn't be seen, he became preoccupied with looking at Kaname. Whether watching him swimming with elegant, strong strokes, or sunning or as he massaged Zero's muscles after the exertion of swimming. Yet he couldn't figure out why he found him so fascinating. Sure, he was good looking and exuded a lean cat-like grace. So what? Was it more than that? What if he found Kaname… attractive?

"What is it?" Kaname asked as Zero sat up abruptly and yanked his legs away, throwing them over the side of the lounger.

"Will you stop asking me that? You keep behaving as though I'll pop at any moment…"

"You can't guess why?"

"Kaname…"

"Maybe you're hungry. It has been an hour since lunch..."

"No! I'm tired, that's all. Thanks again for the lessons. Maybe by Friday I will be able to challenge you to a race."

"You're on!" Kaname responded, grinning.

He was relieved the easy atmosphere was still present. It had been two days and so far Zero had been able to forget that Kaname was supposed to be the "enemy". They'd swam every day and sun-bathed, Zero never bothering with the extra garments and they'd been able to joke and laugh, forgetting their differences. Save for when Kaname called him "Mother". He was only teasing but what did he expect? He was heavily pregnant at almost five months for goodness sake.

"There is no shame in it, Zero."

"Fine. Then I'll call you 'mother', shall I? You seem to be the nurturing type."

"But I can't get pregnant…"

"Neither will I when this is over."

At the time Zero said this they were only bantering back and forth, nothing serious. But Kaname grew quiet. Zero noticed this, looking up from the creamy pasta dish he had been inhaling at dinner with some relish to see Kaname picking thoughtfully at his plate.

"What is it? What did I say?"

Kaname seemed to still be deciding if to broach his concerns and Zero leaned back in his chair and kicked his foot under the table. Kaname looked up, startled to see a wide smile on Zero's face. The past day had been wonderful and Zero felt more comfortable with his boss than he'd done for the past five months. He was committed to this, committed to seeing this through and to loving these children and to including Zero in their life. He felt it. Why else would he put up with so much shit from him? As he had all day, with good humour. Such good humour it was odd to see him so sombre. Suddenly.

"Come on. Spill it."

Kaname looked back at his plate.

"I know I haven't a right to ask. I've already asked of you more than I had a right to expect…"

"Oh no… No!"

"Wait! Hear me out…"

"No! I can tell from your face what you are going to say! You are right! You have no right to ask me! Isn't it bad enough that it happened once? And you have four kids on the way. Four!"

"I wasn't asking you to get pregnant again. But I want to beg you to not remove…"

"That's the same thing, Kaname! You'll know it's there and you wouldn't be able to resist. Who knows? You may actually ask me first…!"

"Never mind. Forget it."

"Believe me, I will. God-damn! I refuse to feel guilty! I have a right to choose what happens to my body! Look at me! Would you choose this for yourself…?"

"Yes! I would, Zero! I have spent a long time wishing, praying for just what you can do easily. You complain and fret about swollen ankles and having to urinate more often but you don't know how easy this has been for you. But I do! So far your pregnancy with four foetuses has been without a significant hitch while I've had to watch two... surrogates fail devastatingly. You take it for granted because you never wanted it, but given what I've been through, what everyone is going through, can you understand if I am completely horrified at the thought of what you plan to do?"

Zero hadn't replied. They had both descended into silence with Kaname eventually getting up and leaving the room. What could he have said, except that he wouldn't do it? But of course he couldn't promise that. He'd never asked for this role. Never asked for this cruel twist of fate that gave him this capability. Aside from his portable guests he did feel like a man, wanted to do to a woman what Kaname was doing for him, wanted to cherish and protect the one he loved. He sucked at being taken care of. He felt impotent.

The next day, though, Kaname came to his room wearing only navy blue swimming briefs, carrying breakfast and with dimples on full beam – Zero suspected he'd noticed that the silver-haired youth became mesmerised by them – apologised for what happened at dinner last night and asked if he wanted to continue his swimming lessons. Zero did lose his thought for a second. Kaname was leaning close, his breath stirring his hair and smelling really good. Looking really good. He ached to sink his nose into the join of his shoulder and inhale. What was that? Eventually, he did realise Kaname wanted an answer.

"Sure. Forgiven."

"Good. Do you all need more time?" Dimples.

"No… No. We… I mean, I will be down after breakfast."

"Alright. I'll be in the den answering some correspondence. Come get me when you are ready."

"Kaname, if you are busy…"

"Would you prefer I wait here? I could talk to them while you eat…" Kaname illustrated his intentions by rubbing his left hand with possessive confidence over Zero's stomach before leaning in to press his face to the clothed mound...

Zero doubted he'd be able to swallow any of it.

"No. Thanks. I'll come and get you."

"Okay." Dimples. "You all take your time. Make sure you try the bran muffins. Charlotte mentioned you needed them."

"'Charlotte' should mind her own damn business," Zero had muttered as the door slid closed behind his boss, avoiding the muffins and going for the sausage wrap and coffee. He'd made enough sacrifices.

IT REALLY had been wonderful. Too wonderful… Zero's contented mood seemed to make a change for the worst as he rose to leave.

"I think I'll go take a nap."

"Okay. That sounds like a good idea. Shall I wake you for dinner?"

"Yes. Whatever..." Just wear all your clothes this time…

"Zero... before you go... Shizuka called again to remind you of your trip tomorrow."

"Again?"

"Well, she called yesterday as well."

"Oh." That explains it.

"She'll be here tomorrow at seven."

"But I can't go, can I?"

"Of course you can't. Not with her, in any case. I told her you didn't want to go but she is ignoring me, suggesting I am bullying you in some way. You'll need to call her and convince her or… we go ourselves."

"What?"

"Why not? The parks really are beautiful and they allow camping. We'll leave her a message, head out before she gets here and return on Thursday. It will get her off our backs and we'll take in some glorious scenery. What do you think?"

"Wow. This is a surprise."

"You do want to go?"

"Yes! I do!"

"Then that settles it. We'll plan it properly over dinner. Okay?"

"Okay! I can't wait!"

"Good," Kaname replied, grinning, visibly relieved. "I'm glad you approve. See you later, Zero."

"Later."

Zero doubted he'll ever be able to sleep now.

to be continued

lightpathetic wrote this as DramaticPause on AO3 but these are not my original characters. They are based on a manga called Vampire Knight.