Hey there! Sorry it's been a while but here's the new chapter. I'm really liking the way the story's going and I have a new chapter started so I'll try to update soon! In the meantime thanks a ton to my beta and my followers. Without further ado- here's the next chapter!

Chapter 13: "Infant Ward"

I stared at the tiny baby whose face peeked out at me from between her mother's arms. She was beautiful- all wrapped up in pink and flailing a little as she sought to find herself a place in this new world. The moment was surreal. Kaho had been expecting and I'd constantly seen and heard of her progress but seeing my niece for the first time had me shocked.

"You okay?" The hushed whisper and the squeeze of my shoulder had me turn my head from where mother and daughter lay. Syaoran was there. When we'd received the call from my father nearly fifteen hours ago, Syaoran had been the first to propose coming. I could only numbly follow as my thoughts were everywhere and without him as my guiding anchor I was sure that I would be in a worse mental state.

"Yes." Hesitating, I quickly kissed him and moved back. "Thank you." He seemed confused for a minute before nodding and brining me closer.

"Anything for you." We watched as Toya held his baby for the first time, tears glistening but refusing to spill from his eyes. He looked at me and beckoned me over which I did feeling suddenly alone without Syaoran's presence near me.

"Do you want to hold her too Syaoran?" The question came from Kaho and it instantly made the atmosphere lighter and more familial. Kaho's parents had been opposed to her relationship with Toya from the start so she always leaned on us as family and we didn't hesitate in supporting her. Now, I realized, she had been the one to offer Syaoran an olive branch to grasp onto. He accepted it without thinking and walked to stand by me.

Toya passed my niece to me and I looked into her pink face feeling suddenly overwhelmed with so many feelings- happiness, love, and apprehension at my new aunt duties. I felt Syaoran's breath hitch near me and as I slowly turned to encourage him to hold her as well his face reflected the myriad of emotions I felt. But seeing them reflected on Syaoran made me calmer- I knew that whatever we were now getting into we would get into it together.

"She's-" The low tenor of my husband sounded, "amazing." Gently, he passed her back to the mother who looked with pleading eyes towards my father.

"Fujitaka-san," she began as a nurse came in to place the new baby in the infant ward, "do you mind taking her?" My father was surprised at this show of trust but at the same time it was obvious that he was more than elated to be an active participant in his granddaughter's life from day one.

"I'd love to." Gently, grandfather took granddaughter and the two left the room with the nurse. Moments later, Syaoran slipped his hand into mine and squeezed. Over time, I'd come to learn what certain movements meant- this was a signal that he wanted to lead me somewhere. Deciding that the new parents needed some time alone I followed him out of the room.

He led me to the place where my niece had been taken. I wondered what Kaho and Toya had named her- none of us would know until we saw her nametag in the infant ward. Her name made me gasp and I knew that as my father handed her to the nurse he would have had the same reaction as me.

Ayumi Nadeshiko Kinomoto had a nice ring to it I noted clutching onto Syaoran as tears escaped my eyes. I didn't mean to cry but knowing that my mother was somehow a part, an entity- even if just in name- of Ayumi brought a sense of acceptance and love. To know that somehow my mother's memory was preserved in such a way-

"You okay, darling?" Syaoran had hardly called me by that name all day or if he had I hadn't noticed it till now. Turning to him, I smiled and hastily wiped the last few vestiges of tears.

"She's named after mother." He didn't say anything- just brought me forward in a semi-hug, as we glanced at our niece.

"I know." My father joined us soon after his eyes glistening with gratitude and love. I didn't say a word as I moved away from Syaoran and hugged him. I didn't say a word either when I felt a few teardrops land on my cheek. We left the hospital together- Toya telling us he'd come home later to rest and eat breakfast.

I lay in my childhood bed with Syaoran after we'd both taken a shower. It was too small for the two of us, but neither of us minded much- we rather liked having this close connection. As he played with my hair, I voiced out the question that had been going through my mind since we'd gotten home from the hospital a few hours ago.

"Will we ever have children, Syaoran?" I felt the hand playing with my hair stop and then saw Syaoran shift so that his face was now in my vision.

"What brought that on?" I was annoyed by his deliberate avoidance of my question but answered his question anyway. Or at least answered it with what I thought was the answer. We'd been married for six months so I knew the question was bound to surface soon.

"I don't know- I guess it was seeing all those babies." Understanding dawned in his eyes and he offered me a smile. I waited for the answer- though I wasn't sure what answer I was waiting for.

"I'd like to have kids," he began leaning forward and turning us so that he was draped across me, "but I don't know how many I'd want or how many I'd be okay with." He seemed to hesitate for a moment before continuing. "What about you?"

"I don't want them now," I answered with a smile. "I want to have kids, that's true, but I want them after we've settled into our relationship." Satisfied that my nagging question was answered I moved to turn and go to sleep when he stopped me.

"You can't think you're getting away that easily."

"Syaoran?" I asked confused as his eyes went down my body until they rested on my stomach.

"I'd love to see this," he punctuated the body part with a sensual touch, "fill with our child."

I wasn't sure what he meant, but when his other hand moved to cup my face, I felt I knew where his train of thought was going. Were we ready to be parents though? I thought about it- Syaoran obviously knew how to handle children- his interactions with his sisters' children proved that to me. Was I ready though? I had time to get ready I mused- after all there was still time for conceiving and then being pregnant. That brought another train of thought to my mind.

"Not many people succeed the first time." I began apprehension clawing at me. He smiled briefly glancing up at me then at my lips.

"I know. That's why we should start now." The implications were obvious but it was up to me to make the final say. I knew that no matter what Syaoran wanted, he'd always try to make me happy. It was something that I found I loved about him- loved.

The sudden thought made me gasp, cover my mouth in shock. Did I love Syaoran? His expression changed as he scanned my face to see what was wrong. But he didn't need to worry, I realized, as I steeled my courage and cupped his face in my hands.

"I love you Syaoran." I gulped before continuing, making sure that he didn't move so that he heard every word. "And I trust you."

The elation was obvious on his face and he swooped down to kiss me. It wasn't slow or sensual or like any other kiss we'd ever shared. Maybe it was something about knowing that the person kissing me was someone who I would willingly give everything of myself to that spurred the sensations. Either way, I could only breathlessly whisper his name as we made love- really made it- for the first time.

I woke up groggily feeling something on my face. Blinking my eyes open slowly I noticed Syaoran's face above mine. He looked breathtakingly handsome in the morning even with his messed up hair. Knowing that I was possibly the only person who ever got to see this made me swell with happiness.

"Good morning, darling." His hand, which I realized had been playing with my hair, came to rest on my cheek and I nuzzled it with affection. It was simple acts like this that I knew he adored and I was willing to indulge myself in every one of those moments. I wasn't coherent enough to reply and Syaoran seemed to have sensed it because he spoke up again.

"I think your father's downstairs making breakfast. Toya already left to go back to the hospital." I wondered how he knew this. Looking at the time I blanched. It was ten. Why didn't he wake me up? "I wanted to make sure you were rested after last night."

The statement hung there and I knew that he was waiting for me to acknowledge something. He really was such an insecure man at times I mused, threading my arms around his neck. I whispered the three words I'd said last night and melted into his hold as he embraced me. We lay there like that for a while before he stood up from the bed.

"I'll go ahead and take a shower. Do you want to brush your teeth and go downstairs?"

"Sounds good." I managed out in a still groggy from sleep voice. Sometimes I swore he knew me just as much as I knew myself, if not better. I searched for the nightgown that had somehow gotten discarded last night and slipped it on, grabbing without a thought Syaoran's robe to cover it.

He led me to the bathroom after slipping into his boxers and a t-shirt himself and I went about my morning ritual before heading downstairs.

My dad was reading a newspaper when I walked in. The steaming pot of coffee sat in its usual spot with two coffee mugs next to it. A stack of pancakes and syrup rested on the table by my father and two plates were already laid out. Eyeing the third plate that showed remnants of breakfast in front of my father showed that he'd already had breakfast.

"Morning." I murmured pouring a cup of coffee for myself and automatically making Syaoran's coffee.

"Morning. Syaoran told me you were tired and to let you sleep in." I nearly dropped my mug. When had this happened? While I was a grown adult, it still felt awkward to know that my father might have seen the evidence of what had transpired last night.

"He came downstairs earlier this morning when Toya was leaving." He explained seeing my sudden tenseness. I relaxed, though a blush was still evident on my face.

"It's been a tiring week." I explained taking a seat across from him and helping myself to some pancakes, "I knew Kaho's due date was coming up so I was trying to get things done to be here on time."

"Even though I told her not to." I squeaked startled and dropped my fork on the table. Syaoran stood by the kitchen entrance. His wet hair stuck down and he had changed into a pair of sweatpants and his favorite t-shirt. Looking at the counter, he picked up his coffee mug and then joined me at the table where I promptly hissed at him.

"Stop doing that!" He merely laughed leaning over and giving me a chaste kiss that had me blushing again. It was still awkward at times to kiss in front of friends and family for me.

"It's all right," Father spoke distracting us and giving me a knowing look that had me blushing some more, "she's always been a hard-worker." He stood up and pushed his newspaper aside picking up his empty plate. "I'm going to my study now. Let me know if you two plan on visiting the hospital later okay? I might come with."

"We'll do that." Syaoran assured him as his hands connected with mine on the table. With another nod, my father left the kitchen. He hadn't washed his plate but I smiled brushing it off. It had been ages since he had someone to help him with chores. I wasn't going to begrudge him on that fact.

Two hours later, we walked into the hospital again and this time went to see Ayumi first. I noticed another figure resting on his cane as Toya showed him something important. Without a doubt I smiled as the older figure turned towards us.

"Oji-san!" I exclaimed with a smile hugging him. "It's nice to see you again."

"You as well, Sakura." He greeted Syaoran as well before looking towards his great-granddaughter. "I'm hoping you're here to see Ayumi and not just this old man."

I assured him as to my reasons for being there relishing being in his presence for a while. I had seen everyone two months ago but after the wedding, I'd never been given a definite visiting date again. To see them one more time made me happy.

"Sakura." Syaoran's voice had me turning towards him. In his hands, he had his phone and he sighed as he looked at it. "Eriol's on the line. He said something about the accounts for the An-Lang purchases?"

Syaoran had given me a great degree of freedom in my job, something that I greatly appreciated. Meiling and I had transformed the accounting department into a lovely mix of both corporations' workers and we regularly handled things together. While the An-Lang account may have been a pure Li Corp. purchase, I had more knowledge in the sale of assets and so I handled it. I had handed the mostly finished product to Tomoyo and Meiling so I had no idea why Eriol was calling me.

"I gave the files to both Tomoyo and Meiling. Do they not have them?" Never before had the two women disappointed me at the workplace. What did Eriol need that they didn't have?

"There might have been a miscalculation of assets," Syaoran stated reiterating to me what Eriol was saying, "They got new documents and were wondering where yours were so that they could recalculate some things."

"They're on my desktop." I answered. "Tomoyo knows my password and it's called the An-Lang account so I'm sure they'll be able to find it."

Giving the information to Eriol with a furrowed brow he turned back to me with another sigh. If there was one thing Syaoran hated it was having work come into his home life. When we came home for the evening, work was left behind unless absolutely necessary, and our home sphere was just us. There was going to be no involvement of settlements, or funds, or other things around the two of us. When we were home, we were family and that was all that mattered. It was the same now I supposed and thus his frustration at Eriol's call was to me understandable.

"It's all right," I began as I held his hand when he stood next to me, "sometimes you can't help it." He understood the hidden meaning behind my words and gave me a charming smile in response before turning his attention to my grandfather once again.

"I suppose so."

"Suppose what?" Grandfather asked, looking around. I knew he was looking for someplace to sit and gingerly stepped forward to take his arm when another beat me to it- Syaoran. I supposed he would answer as he conversed silently with grandfather and lead him to a seating area nearby while I lingered behind a moment with Toya.

"What's he doing?" Toya asked watching the two men who had now made it to the seats. Toya had been wary of Syaoran since the beginning, but there was a pleasant relationship between the two men- one of slight competition. It was endearing to me, to know that they both loved me so much and the fact that they showed their friendship this way- well I could care less about it.

"Why don't you go visit Kaho and Dad?" I answered his question with a question of my own. It would distract him for a while and I supposed that he would like to be with Kaho.

"Hn." The grumble didn't really mean much but when he turned towards Kaho's room I knew that he was following my advice. I began walking towards my husband and grandfather when Syaoran looked up a smirk on his face. Just what was that man up to?

"Sakura," Grandfather's voice boomed as he patted the seat next to him, "Syaoran here tells me you two are planning on making me a great-grandfather again?"

I sputtered, blushed, and then glared at Syaoran. How could he put me in such an embarrassing situation? Seeing my fury, he stood up and came to kneel in front of me, taking my hands in his.

"I just wanted to give him an honest answer ,darling." I sighed at that. There really was only so much I could reply to that with. It seemed that my husband knew how to appease me.

"Oh you two, why you remind me of Nadeshiko and Fujitaka at this age, always so shy about things." I looked up this time at Oji-san in slight shock. He hardly ever mentioned my mother around me. I didn't know many sides of her. Almost like a little kid, I waited for a story. Syaoran took the seat next to me, holding my hand in his and gently rubbing soothing circles as I took in information about my mother.

"Why when Toya was born," he stated, "I asked your mother if she'd have any more kids. She blushed and sputtered much like you but Fujitaka answered." Here he shot Syaoran a sly look. "He wanted more and he did get more- they had you Sakura."

I smiled looking down at the hands in my lap. I wouldn't be able to see them when I got pregnant I thought, seeing an image in my mind. Absently, I wondered what it'd be like to have a child that was ours and I found that nothing in the world could make me happier. Yes, nothing could, I noted glancing up and noticing my husband's loving expression reflected at me.

"Who knows," I murmured, "maybe Ayumi will get a little cousin after all."

"What are you thinking about?"

The question caught me off guard and I looked up after calming my heartbeat a little. Tomoyo sat on the edge of my sofa and looked at me pointedly. I knew she wanted information. Briefly, I recalled how this reminded me of another incident involving Syaoran and me- when I'd told her to vacate the apartment for the dinner Syaoran and I had shared in Tokyo.

"Babies." The comment seemed almost casual but I supposed that after mulling over the idea for weeks (nearly three by now) it seemed second nature to mention it. Syaoran and I hadn't really approached the topic since leaving Tokyo but we did have a more affectionate relationship and more often than not he'd looked longingly at my stomach.

"Babies?" Tomoyo asked perplexed. She seemed confused, not that I blamed her, outside of Grandfather we hadn't really told anyone of our intentions. Thinking over it, I swore Tomoyo to secrecy before beginning my explanation.

"Syaoran and I are thinking about trying to get pregnant. That is, we both want to have a baby."

"What brought this on?" Tomoyo asked coming to sit next to me on the sofa.

It was a girl's night and I was happy with the way the evening was progressing. Eriol had invited Syaoran out to watch a game and so I 'd invited Tomoyo over for some much needed girl time. It was nice to be able to talk with a girl my age, my best friend about my concerns.

"Well, I guess it began when we saw Ayumi." I hugged my knees to my chest and looked sideways at her before continuing. "Then I asked him about our kids and well, we decided to try."

"Try? You mean you're willing to get pregnant?" I nodded my head. I could understand why she was surprised. Tomoyo had known me as the girl who had a life plan. Even pregnancy had a plan- I wasn't supposed to have kids until I was married for at least a year. With Syaoran, all the conventions I'd previously built myself upon fell and gave way to spontaneity. I found that I liked it a lot more than my plans.

"Yes, I love him Tomoyo. And I trust him." I reiterated the same words that I'd stated to Syaoran the night we made love and let out a squeal in happiness. It still felt so surreal.

"Congrats then," Tomoyo began touching my hands above my pillow and smiled heartfelt at me. She was truly happy and for that I was grateful. "and I wish you the best of luck."

The rest of the night we spent watching chick-flicks and eating chocolate desserts- ice cream, cake, chocolate bars themselves. It was nice and I enjoyed it- the last girl's night I'd had was my bachelorette party. It was nice to have another one again.

When Syaoran came back at 11, I smelt the alcohol on him. Tomoyo was spending the night with Eriol, they might take the next step in their relationship she'd confided, and he followed Syaoran in. Syaoran wasn't drunk but I knew he'd had something to drink sometime during the night. Eriol was in much the same state and we greeted the boys eagerly.

"Had a good night?" Syaoran asked reaching down to kiss me. I pulled away. I hated the taste of beer and gently pushed Syaoran away from me and towards the bathroom.

"I did. Brush your teeth and you can kiss me all you want." He smirked, giving Eriol a salute and bidding Tomoyo goodnight before doing as I'd instructed. Eriol and Tomoyo left soon after and I was cleaning up the living room when a pair of hands spun me around.

"Welcome home." I managed out before he kissed me. His lips moved over mine and after we parted I looked at him. His eyes were hooded with love and desire as I asked my question.

"Do you want to try again?" He shuddered before letting out a whoosh of air. I knew he'd understood what my statement meant.

"Are you sure?" I braced myself against him and then tiptoed up to give him a kiss. All worry faded as his arms clutched tighter around me.

"What do you think?" His answer was to lead me to the bedroom.

So, reviews please? And for those of you wondering- yes this will be the last arc of the story.

Kaoruhana ^_^