A/n: Well, some of my fav reviewers have gone AWOL the last two chapters… makes me kind of a sad panda… wanted to end this puppy strong!

So only this and one more chapter left… ah the end is near! But this is a good end, nothing like the end of the world… or is it now? Da da daaaaan… so that was my attempt at scary music via the internet… use your imagination people!

Life has been rather stressful recently. I have found an outlet for that stress in a few places. I just have to say God bless downloads. And jobs that allow you to get a least an hour of good writing time a day, well almost everyday.

Ok- I will shut it, and get on with the chapter! Thanks for the reviews!

Tai was in shock. He could not move, even as the ambulance workers came and prepared to take Sora to the hospital, Tai stood there gazing off into nothing.

"Tai?" Joe called to the brown haired man. Shaking him a little Tai snapped out of it.

"Wha?"

"We are ready to go to the hospital. They will have to do some xrays and an ultrasound to see if the baby was affected by all this…"

"Baby?" He mentally slapped himself to keep from going into another moment of shock. Watching Sora being taken out the back entrance also was a sobering moment. Looking over at Joe, Tai got an answer to his silent question. He was going to go with her.

Running behind the paramedics, he got into the ambulance and the doors were closed.

The trip to the hospital was a long ride. He sat holding her hand while the paramedics did some checks on her.　Having them chattering in another language also added to Tai's confusion and worry.

Once they reached the hospital, he was ushered into the waiting area as the doctors began checking her over and ordering a string strange sounding tests.

After an hour or so of waiting, a nurse came up to Tai and told him that he could see her now. The people in the waiting room had nearly doubled when Mimi, and the crew also came. But they allowed Tai the first chance to see her.

Entering the cold looking room, he noticed an IV was attached to her arm and several machines where humming along with normal vital signs.

Approaching her slowly, Tai did not know what to think, or say… Sora was pregnant… with his child… she would have to be nearly three months along since that was the only possible time she could have conceived it…

Had she known all along? When had she found out? Why didn't she tell him? Was she going to tell him? What were they going to do? Did she want to keep it? How did he really feel?

Tai found no answers for his questions.

Instead he walked to her side and took her hand. Sitting down in the chair near her bedside, he began to speak.

"The doctors say you are going to be fine…and that you are… you and I… are having a baby." He finally said the words. It didn't seem anymore real even after he finally said it… it would take some time to adjust to the idea of what all that entailed.

"Sora… you know I love you. I would do anything for you. But… why didn't you tell me? How long have you been holding this all in… is this why you have been so distant the last few days? It hurts to know that you knew… and wouldn't tell me… Love you." He stopped feeling as if he was going to cry. It hurt to know that she would hold something this important from him. And it angered him that she continued to play a highly physical sport without concern for the child. It was his too… didn't he have a say?

"I'm sorry." Her weak voice came out rather hoarse. Tai's eyes went straight to meet hers. However, she was not looking at him… she was looking up at the ceiling as if it could tell her something.

"Sora, you're awake?!" He smiled letting the tears fall. Tai squeezed her hand, trying to ignore the added pain of her not even looking at him. "How… how do you feel?" He asked seeing she was not going to say anything, she was still searching for the words.

Sora hated herself at that moment. She had heard everything he had said… even when he was hurting, he was still there by her side. She could find no worthy answers to his questions, thus she remained silent, not meeting his gaze.

"Sora, don't worry. Everything will be fine… I love you. What… whatever you choose… I will accept it. And I will always love you, no matter what…You can go back to your career with soccer if you … want…" His last words hurt. He didn't want her to abort this baby. He wanted to raise it… to be a father… but Sora would be affected the most. She was just starting her career…taking time off could be disastrous.

"Whatever I choose?" She whispered. Moving her free hand to touch her stomach she was surprised to have Tai move his hands over hers. Finally looking at him Sora began to cry. He was so worried about her… she could tell. As much as he wanted this child, he would give it up so she could have a career in soccer. And he would forgive her if she did want that path…

"What do you want?" She asked seeing the tears in his eyes, and the ones running down his face

"I want you to be happy…"

"Tai…"

"I would be lying to say it was ok with me to kill this baby… we created a life that has been growing inside of you. I know it is selfish of me… but I want us to have this baby. I… I know we are young. And that it will hurt both our careers a bit… but I will retire. I will give up soccer for this baby, if you… if you decide to keep it." He said looking away from her and to the place where their hands were resting. Underneath their hands was a life growing. One made from a night of passion, and a start of love.

He would give up almost anything to have this baby be born… but it was not up to him… Sora needed to want this baby as much as he did.

Tai sat there in the hospital room as Sora slowly went back to sleep still being utterly exhausted. This time it was not just physically, but emotionally as well. Tai hated putting so much pressure on her… but they had decisions to make.

He had told her how he felt. He wanted this baby; that he would sacrifice for it while she could return to the game they both loved. Thinking things through, Tai knew it would be hard to give up the game he had devoted his life to for so long… but to have this child… it would be hard, but worth it.

A few hours of sitting in silence, Joe came in and told Tai that he had best get some rest. Tai refused. He knew that he should be getting some rest, but nothing really mattered right now except Sora. Talking the hospital staff into letting him stay over night, Tai tried to get comfortable in the chair next to her bedside.

Sora was tired, and now so was he.

Sora awoke sometime in the middle of the night. She still felt weak. That kick in the game really made her body ache. But that was not the only thing that was on her mind. The warm hand still holding on to hers, and the slight pressure of his head sleeping next to the same hand, told her Tai had not left her side.

He really wanted this child. He had told her he would give up soccer… him! Tai was more of a soccer-holic than she was before they began dating. She was a little worried that she had changed him. And she could not tell if it all was for the best. Sure he was still a famous player, sure he was still in the top of the best players list, but he was no longer the number one all the time.

It did not seem to bother him, and then when he said he would give it up for their baby… Sora didn't know what to say. Was it selfish of her to not want to miss out on the rest of the season and the tournament? What if there was no second chance after the baby was born? Would her body be the same? Would the team let her go for good? There were just so many questions.

Shifting a little, and trying hard to not wake him, Sora thought about things. It was a little late in the pregnancy to have an abortion. Which means a more risky procedure would have to be used to… to kill… Sora began to cry.

How could she kill this child? Wasn't life precious to her? Hadn't she always thought that? That is what she tried to tell him… but he had not listened… it was so long ago now, but here she was about to throw one away. One that Tai desperately wanted… one that she too deep down wanted.

"Tai?" She called to him. "Tai?" Stroking his hair she finally got a response from the sleepy man at her side.

"Sora?" He asked still drowsy. He rubbed his eyes and suddenly seemed to snap awake. "Sora? Are you ok, what is it? Should I call a doctor?"

"No, Tai… calm down." She smiled knowing she was making the right choice. "I… I just wanted you to know… we're having this baby… we're going to be parents."

Tai took a second to process her words. Parents, he thought as a big smile came to his face.

In an instant he was hugging her tightly, kissing her head, her hair, anywhere he could. Pulling back, he was not ashamed to show her he was crying with happy tears. Kissing her lips passionately, he wanted to tell her how much he loved her… and their child.

"Are you sure?" He asked once the kiss was over and he still held her close. Looking into her eyes he wanted to make sure this was her decision.

"And I don't mind giving up soccer to do it…" She smiled moving to kiss him.

"Sora… I was so worried that you might not want…"

"Life is precious. Especially the one we created. It just came rather early and unexpected. But I want this child."

"We'll make it work. Just you wait and see."

Sora was released from the hospital, but strictly told what her limits were from now on. The doctors had told her that the baby seemed to be fine, and the few falls she had in the last few months had not affected anything they could see… but any more might be dangerous.

As much as Sora did not like being told to sit out the rest of the tournament, her team members rallied and continued on. Yui especially picked up the slack and proved she was a star player.

Sora sat on the bench with Tai at her side while she watched the last few minutes of the World Cup Championship Game. The Japan Women's team had made it there with her, and she still was there in spirit, if not on the field.

It would take some getting use to, but knowing that their child would be born healthy was more important at the moment.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Sora could do nothing but smile. Her team had won. She was a part of the FIFA Championship team. The awards ceremony brought about another surprise for her, as she was named MVP.

Once the men's tournament was over, the two Japanese teams headed home; one with first place, and the other with second. But trophies did not seem to matter to Tai or Sora at the moment.

Upon their arrival a huge crowd of welcomers were at the airport. Not to mention reporters. With Sora's highly publicized trip to the hospital, and then absence from the game, many began to speculate on some things.

A few days later the couple officially notified the media and their fans that they were getting married, and that indeed they were having a child.

The media hoards were having a field day, and Tai and Sora once again graced the cover of every newspaper, sports magazine and entertainment publication for several weeks. But the couple took things in stride.

Arriving for practice after the week break after the FIFA games, Sora was surprised to find an impromptu baby and wedding shower put on by the team and her friends.

"Sora, you are going to make a great mom!" Yui smiled hugging her friend.

"And Tai is so great. Joe told me he is still asking him questions about the baby. You won't have to do anything… well, give birth to it and carry it for around five more months, but after that, Tai will be well prepared." Mimi squealed. She was secretly hoping for a girl, that way she could introduce her niece to the wonders of pink.

"I know he will be a great dad. But I am going to do my share, even afterwards." Sora smiled rubbing her belly.

"And coach said she is keeping you on as a consultant until you are ready to jump right back into the game. Isn't that wonderful?" Another player added.

"It is." Sora smiled and enjoyed the warm feelings from all her friends and teammates.

"Now, I think the baby wants some of that yummy looking cake." Kari smiled as she handed Sora a huge piece of cake.

"Not going to argue with my baby there." Sora laughed and the party continued.

"Damn it Tai, you work way the hell too fast." Matt said still not knowing what to say about the fact that his seemingly inexperienced roommate was now going to be a married man, with a baby on the way.

"I can't help it. I love her and I want to spend the rest of our lives together." Tai said as his friends met up at bar. "And it's not like I am the only one who is settling down… right Joe? Tk?" he added as he looked over at the two friends who were also getting rather serious in their own love lives.

"Well, I plan on working a little slower. I mean I already have Mimi asking for a child now since she has been going out with Sora to find baby things… So marriage first, then wait a year, and then maybe an addition to the family."

"Ah don't worry about him, and TN is too bashful to admit how far he's gotten with Kari, you just work fast." Davis spoke up after chugging another beer.

"It's TK… Jesus Davis, can you ever get my name right? And you leave Kari out of this conversation. I like my personal life, personal. Thank you." The younger blonde said as he sipped his own beer.

"Don't worry about Davis. He will grow up some time… soon hopefully… otherwise he will always be a rookie." Izzy added to the conversation.

"What? Tai, that's not true right?"

The group all laughed at the worried and partially drunk Davis.

"Ah, life is good."

A/N:

Are you ready for the ending?

I kind of have mixed feelings about it all.. I enjoyed this fic, but I do want to move on to other Taiora ideas that have been bouncing around in my head.

Anyway, thanks for the reviews and all!

Until next time kiddies!