Chapter 11: Absolute Jubilance

Saeko's POV

The bus to Greg's house is only about 45 minutes but it feels like the longest ride of my life. After eating lunch with Hiraku, I tried to call Ami's cell but I only got her voicemail. I remembered lately she began napping in the afternoon (now I know why) so I figured I would go to Greg's house & try to talk to her there. If I haven't already alienated her, I wanted to tell her how sorry I was & to truly show how happy I am for my new grandchild. Grandchild! That feels so good to say! I never thought about having more kids after Ami so having a brand new baby in the house will make me think of the old days.

I stopped at the flower shop & got a bouquet of Peonies. I don't think they're the flowers meaning "I'm Sorry" but the blush colored blossoms somehow reminded me of babies & happiness so I figured these were a good choice. I found a sapphire blue vase to put them in since blue is Ami's favorite color.

I made it to the apartment block just in time before the rain started to come down. Greg's apartment reminds me of Hiraku's first place. It's an older 2 story apartment building made before the economic boom so it's more traditional than the high rise building surrounding it. It's not much but the owners keep the place looking homely & clean. Walking up stairs to the second floor, I feel a knot in my stomach. I feel a bit sick myself but I mentally steel myself thinking it's just my nerves.

I get to 206 & knock firmly on the door, a bit harder than I intended to which further shows my worry. Almost immediately Ami opens the door. She's wearing black leggings & a blue sweater dress. She must have changed after she left because I distinctly remember she left in her pajamas. I can see her stomach clearly now. The perfect rounded bump around her middle makes me tear up immediately & I grab my baby with my free arm crying. Ami squeezed me back tightly & nods knowing my apology before I said the words & walked me in, kicking the door shut.

Putting the flowers in the small window of the living room, I sit down next to her on the couch.

"I know you know but I HAVE to say it, I'm sorry. I panicked. For a minute it felt like 1976 & I was mom & you were me &…I just wasn't thinking straight. I didn't mean it honey…", I babbled pouring my heart into every word.

Ami reached over & held my hand. "I know mom…I shouldn't have run like I did…I was out of my head too. I went to the hospital afterwards. Don't worry!", Ami interjected seeing Saeko's worried expression. "It's just a precaution. But we did find out one of the babies is a boy!".

Saeko's face lit up admits the tears. "Oh honey that's so…BABIES? How many are you having?".

Ami laughed again holding her stomach to still herself. It was a gesture she was getting used to doing. "It's twins! One of the babies appears to be shy so we can't tell if it's a he or a she yet but I have another appointment in 2 weeks."

Saeko reached over & put her hand on Ami's belly. Being a doctor she knew it was a bit early to feel anything but she relished the thought of feeling the warmth of her grandchildren. Remembering the other thing she was here for, Saeko looked up at Ami.

"Sweetie, where is Greg? I have to apologize to him as well…".

"No you don't. He was your biggest supporter. He knows you didn't mean what you said. As a matter of fact, he's the one who told me to wait for you here while he went shopping for dinner", Ami said with a knowing smile. "I don't think I can wait though, I'm feeling a bit hungry now but I didn't want to spoil my appetite".

Saeko stood up. "Nonsense! You're eating for 3 now & you have to keep your strength up. If I'm estimating right, you're not quite at the half way mark so…-"

"Mother! What's wrong with you?", Ami asked horrified, looking vaguely at Saeko's middle region. Looking down, Saeko notice bright red blood trickling down her pants leg. Suddenly the dull knot she felt on the way over here turned into a sharp pain. The shock forced her back onto the couch with a flop & huge puff of air was let out follow by a yell.

Ami wordlessly got up & ran to the wall to call for an ambulance. Taking deep breathes to calm herself, she gave the operator the address then came back to the couch to sit with her. It wouldn't help if both of them were incapacitated & she had another fit that would trigger contractions.

Hiraku's POV

For the second time today, I was running. This time Ami called me. I thought she was calling to tell me everything had been settled but instead she told me Saeko was taken to Minato-ku Municipal Juuban Hospital. As soon as I got the call, I hailed the nearest cab & then sprinted into the ER ward knocking over a doctor in the process.

I spotted Ami on a bench in the narrow hallway & ran over. I barely had time to stop before she grabbed me in a hug. I hugged her back before looking at her to ask what's wrong.

"They wouldn't tell me. They just took the chart from the EMT & rushed her into the room & asked me to wait here. And Greg isn't answering his phone…", Ami cried, clinging to her father like the scared child she felt like at the moment.

"Honey, don't get worked up. Mama is in the best possible care & wouldn't want you or the baby to be upset". I sit her back down & try to think of a way to distract her to calm her nerves. "so how far are you? About 6 months?".

"It's twins, I'm almost 4. The doctor said they show faster than a normal baby", Ami said, wiping her eyes.

"Twins? Wait until I call home! That's double happiness, you know!", I said showing my newfound grandfatherly pride just as a doctor walks up.

"Are you here for Hasegawa-san?", the short, older doctor asked. He had a neutral look on his face that both relieved & worried me. Older doctors are trained not to show emotions no matter the news to keep the peace in the corridors.

I stood up & nodded. "Yes, is my wife alright?". I noticed out the corner of my eye Ami looked surprised at my reply. She probably assumed we divorced as I haven't lived at home in almost 13 years. I'll address that later. "May we see her?".

"In a few moments you may. The technician is still performing the scan but it appears Hasegawa-san got here in time. I think a few weeks of bed rest to err on the side of safety are in order. After that, she can resume light work duties", the doctor explained as her wrote it off on the release papers.

Hikaru looked confused for a second. A scan? Best rest? Is he…no…it can't be…"Saeko is pregnant? Pregnant as in a baby? A child? 9 months…labor pains?".

The corners of the doctor's mouth lifted slightly in amusement as he nodded & handed Hiraku the slips. "I take it this was a surprise pregnancy? 40 is hardly old but since this is presenting as a high risk case, the directions are just to make sure Hasegawa-san & the child are healthy. By my estimation, the fetus appears to be 12 weeks old. In 6 weeks, we will do a gender ultrasound. Give these slips to the charge nurse when your wife is ready to go home & she will provide you with further instruction. Congratulations!".

Hiraku stood there in shock. At 40 years old, he was about to become a grandfather & a father for the second time around. This has got to be some record breaker!

"Dad? Dad! Say something?", Ami's voice broke into his thoughts. She shook his arm to gently orient him to her presence.

Turning to say something to Ami, Hiraku's eyes roll back into his head & he hit the floor with a loud thud.

"Oh come on! This is the second time today! I can't pick you up either!", Ami said looking over her father's face that was frozen into a happy grin.

Author's note: DON'T HIT ME! I'm sorry…I love you all! I know six months is a long time to go without an update but I had to deal with tons of school work, an emergency trip home to see my sick grandfather, vacation, returning to school, my grandfather's passing & relationship issues. Yeah I know, my life sounds like a Shakespearean tragedy but I'm doing ok! And look, you got an extra long chapter with a plot twist in it!

If you haven't seen the movie, watch Father of the Bride Part II! I love it & the first one so much! In the second movie, both the mother & daughter are pregnant at the same time & I thought it would fit in the story since Saeko isn't that old. It's not uncommon to have babies far apart in age or to have babies in your 40s now. Plus I wanted more of Saeko & Hiraku in the story. I felt like I could add more of them into it someway. I left some things here open for the next chapter when I get around to writing it but I will be making notes for it.

I'm having so much fun writing & thinking about this story. I know I took a long time to update it but it wasn't out my mind. I'm thinking the next chapter may be the last one. I think out of all my stories, this is my favorite because it's been an absolutely pleasure to write & if I could keep it going forever, I honestly would but all good things must come to an end! I'm open to sequels or even a prequel story for Ami's parents too (hint hint! Let me know what you all think!).