This is a short chapter mostly because I have a massive headache and have a busy week ahead so I wanted to try and get the chapter out early, I'm sorry if it's unsatisfactory.


Saruhiko felt like he was on top of the world. Sure he felt like he was going to explode at any moment and his whole body was achy and he was always either sleeping or on the toilet, but he was experiencing true happiness. Reisi took more days off work than he had in his entire career, spending quality time with him and watching sappy movies on the TV that made Saruhiko teary eyed as he scarfed down popcorn.

Misaki came over often to help Reisi with the baby room when Saruhiko was too tired and slept in all day, sometimes Akiyama who he was now going out with. It was awkward and Saruhiko had threatened to throttle him if he made Misaki cry, but it worked, somehow. Akiyama was twenty-five, six years older than Misaki and Saruhiko and one year his senior, and it was rather amusing for Reisi to watch Saruhiko talk the man into a shivering mess of nerves.

The twins would share a room, of course, and since they didn't want to known the babies genders until the birth they painted the room gender neutral colors of green and pale yellow with splashes of red. They received gifts on a daily basis from both the remnants of Homra and Scepter4 because Saruhiko refused to have a baby shower. Kusanagi gave them a set of beautiful white wood cribs that he had for some reason and Awashima bought them practically a closet full of baby clothes and there were so many they would never be able to use them all.

Baby names had become a topic of debate for them, if they had two boys Saruhiko had wanted Michiro and Shinji, while Reisi wanted Kasuka and Kensuke. If they had girls Saruhiko couldn't think of any but refused to go with Reisi's idea of Sakura and Tsuki. They were too common names, and was sure if they called their children at the park more than two heads would turn. Misaki offered up the names Pachiko and Usagi, and then was forced to leave the meeting. God have mercy on Akiyama if they ever had kids.

Saruhiko's sky was still monochrome, no matter how much he wished it away and no matter how adamant he was to be cured of his sickness. The cracks had gone away, the voices disappeared like smoke, but the sky was still grey and Saruhiko wanted to see the blue of the sky just once in life like Reisi did. He wanted to be normal, for his children to be normal and live happy and healthy lives.

He still had nightmares about his children coming out looking like monsters and having it be his fault, still cried in the bathtub at the thought of his children not being able to make friends. But Reisi was with him through all of it and never let him stay depressed for long.

At forty weeks and waiting for his water to break any minute, Saruhiko liked to sit at the table and make puzzles with Reisi. He had fun putting together big complicated puzzles that took hours for them to build, and then insisted on buying a nail polish like substance that glued the pieces together so they could frame them on the walls of the babies' room. Reisi was his light, his Alpha, his mate, and he made his life perfectly perfect.

Misaki was his friend again, his schizophrenia symptoms almost gone, babies ready to be born and a mate at his side, and Saruhiko was the happiest he had ever been. It was fate that he meet Reisi Munakata, he thought, fate that he leave Homra and join Scepter4 and fate that the children in his belly were theirs and theirs alone.


It was a Saturday, early in May and late in the day, when Reisi was away at work, that Saruhiko decided to bake a cake. He didn't have a reason to make one, other than he wanted to eat cake. It was just out of the oven, a nice pink strawberry cake, and set out on the counter to cool when Saruhiko felt something wet suddenly flow down his thighs.

Despite having thought he was prepared for it, Saruhiko felt fear overwhelm him. He wasn't ready, wasn't ready to face his children, wasn't ready to go into the pain of childbirth when Reisi wasn't there to hold his hand!

Saruhiko whimpered, floor slippery and causing him to slip but he caught himself on the counter, slowly letting himself slid to the floor. He cried out when another, stronger, contraction hit, and forced all his desperation in the Soul Bond, hoping Reisi would feel it and come as soon as possible.

He tried to take deep steadying breaths but the contractions made it hurt to breath and tears began spill down his cheeks. He had never been in so much pain in his life, feeling like his body was on fire. Accepting Mikoto's flames hadn't even been so painful.

He focused his mind to think about happy things, about the babies he would soon be able to hold and cherish, about how happy Reisi would be to hold them.

...

He swore to himself that if Reisi didn't arrive in the next ten minutes he was going to strangle him to death.

He panted, pressing his back against the cold countertop, and let out a low whine. At the same time the door burst open and a frazzled Reisi ran to his side. "I'm going to carry you okay?" Reisi asked, hooking his hands behind his back and under his knees. Saruhiko nodded quickly, unable to stop his tears of relief from mingling with his tears of pain.

In so much pain, contractions getting closer together, Saruhiko cried out when his lover lifted him effortlessly. Being a King had it's perks, but at the moment being thankful he was chosen by the slate was the last thing on Reisi's mind. He rushed out the door, not bothering to lock it knowing no one would dare rob him, and putting Saruhiko in the passenger seat he drove as fast but as safely as he could to the hospital.

The arrival at the hospital was a blur for Saruhiko, only able to focus on the pain and nothing else.


Lol cliffy, catch you guys next week :P