Author's Notes:
I don't own Citrus or any of its characters, no copyright is intended.
This story is set when Mei and Yuzu are just finishing their last year of highschool and are around the ages of 19-20 now.
Italics - Means the person is thinking.
This chapter is set a week after the previous one just so you all know.
This story contains 'Science babies', don't question it, just enjoy it. ^_^
Warning: This contains yuri (girl x girl) pairings, don't like? Don't read simple otherwise enjoy. ;)
...
It seemed to be another very quiet morning toady as Ms Okogi noticed how Mei and Yuzu still were having a few issues with their relationship as although they were talking to each other now which the elder woman was glad for, however she could see that things were still a little awkward between them both, as for most of the morning they had been silent, glancing to each other every so often and having very quick conversations, while it almost seemed like they were trying to avoid talking about certain topics.
The blonde's Mother did want to know just what had been causing the young couple to be acting so awkward around each other lately, and had thought about talking to them about it. But she also didn't want to get involved in their love affairs and would prefer it if they found a way to work it out for themselves like they had done before now.
However this time things did seem to be slightly different from when the two had had relationship problems before, as she noticed that although they were both still nervous around one another, there wasn't any tension between them at all, and for some reason they would keep glancing to her every now and again, almost as if they wanted to ask her something, but would keep feeling anxious about it so they refrained from doing so.
Ms Okogi giving out a slight sigh as she looked to her daughter, causing the blonde to just look away from her in response, while she and Mei sat opposite the elder woman at the dining room table, as she was finishing her breakfast off, the two having already eaten theirs earlier on in the morning, a little before Yuzu's Mother had gotten out of bed.
The elder woman taking her attention off her breakfast for a few moments, as she looked to both her daughter and Mei, while they both glanced back to her every so often before they would look back to each other, like they wanted to engage her in a conversation, and Ms Okogi now just becoming tired of all this uncomfortable staring, and so breaking the silence finally.
"What's with all the staring you two, is there something wrong?" she asked as she gave a wondering look to the other two, while they both quickly shook their heads and looked a little nervous, it seeming that they hadn't really realise they had been staring until the blonde's Mother pointed it out to them.
Yuzu and Mei looking to each other as it still seemed like they both had anxious expressions on their faces at the moment. Mei soon just giving a slight nod to the blonde as she just sighed deeply before they turned back to her Mother, and caused her to just look back to them while clearly being a little puzzled as to just what was going on right now.
"No, there's nothing 'wrong' per-say, but..." Yuzu paused as she glanced back to Mei for a few moments as it seemed like she was unsure of what to say exactly, causing the younger girl to just roll her eyes slightly, and figured that she would just speak to the blonde's Mother instead.
"We have something to tell you," she simply stated with a more serious look on her face, causing Ms Okogi to definitely seem more interested in what the dark haired girl was telling her, as she just waited for Mei to continue.
"What is it?"
"We understand that you might not agree with this, and that's fine, but know that we have given this a lot of thought, and it's what we have both decided...and just so you know, we won't be changing our minds about it anytime soon," Mei said as she gave a glance to Yuzu, who just nodded back to her, seeming to have regained her composure a little as they both looked back to the blonde's Mother and caused her to just look more confused as she wondered just what it could possibly be that Mei and Yuzu were going to tell her.
"We know this is sudden and all, but we have decided...to get engaged," Mei finally revealed what they had both been so quiet about up until now, as she and Yuzu nervously looked away from the elder woman, fearing what her reaction just might be.
Ms Okogi looking surprised as she widened her eyes and let her mouth hang slight agape, causing the other two to both look a little worried, however the elder woman's shocked expression not staying that way for very long, as a smile soon formed on her lips and she seemed to be certainly happy about what she had just heard, which was something the other two definitely didn't expect from her.
"That's great news; so that's why you two have been acting so awkward around each other, I was wondering what was going on, I'm so happy for you two! So how did it happen, and when, and who proposed to who?" she asked looking all too excited at the moment, as it was clear just how overjoyed she was about this development while causing Mei and Yuzu to look back to her with slightly surprised expressions, and also seeming to be a bit confused by the elder woman's response.
"Umm...I proposed to Mei, but kind off in an accidental way about a week ago, although it didn't seem like she was against the idea...and she said 'yes'," Yuzu explained as her Mother just happily nodded back to her, having a bright smile on her lips at the moment, causing the other two to glance to each other as they both still seemed a little nervous, while soon Mei slightly shrugged her shoulders and looked back to the elder woman.
"So just to be clear, you're not against us getting married right?" she questioned as it was obvious that her and Yuzu were still unsure and a little confused by the reaction they had gotten from the blonde's Mother, while she just shook her head and seemed slightly puzzled by Mei's questioning.
"Of course not, why would I be? This means that Mei-chan will soon be my daughter once again after all," Ms Okogi simply stated, as she just caused her daughter to be more confused, while the elder woman smiled to Mei, and she soon let her expression soften as she looked back to her soon-to-be Mother in law.
"Really Mom, you don't think it's too fast for us or anything?" Yuzu asked as it still seemed like she was trying to wrap what was going on right now around her head, while her Mother simply just sighed slightly and lowered her voice a little, giving the two a caring expression a moment later.
"Listen you two; is this really what you both want?"
She seemed to be a little more serious than she was a few minutes ago as she raised her eyebrow, and caused the other two to both look slightly nervous back to her, turning to glance at each other as they thought for a moment, before Mei simply rested her hand over Yuzu's and smiled to her slightly, causing the blonde to just widen her eyes, smiling back to the younger girl and squeezing her hand in return.
The two turning back to Yuzu's Mother a moment later as they nodded to her, and answered in unison, "Yes, we really do," they both said with confident smiles, while the elder woman just smiled back to them happily.
"Then that's all that matters right?"
She simply replied causing them both to widen their eyes and seemed slightly taken aback, before they soon both just let smiles form back onto their lips, while Ms Okogi leaned back in her chair and looked like she was thinking for a few moments.
"Besides there's no rush, you two can be engaged for as long as you like before making decisions about everything to do with a wedding and all that, plus I'll be here to support you both all the way through it," she explained, reassuring them both that she would be there for them, and would help them in anyway if they ever needed it, while Yuzu soon just sighed slightly and nodded to her Mother. Mei breathing a sigh of relief as she squeezed onto Yuzu's hand and caused her to just smile back to her happily, it being obvious that she also felt quite relieved right now.
"Thanks Mom," Yuzu replied as they both smiled back to the blonde's Mother, while she just stood up from her chair and came to hug them, causing them to just hug her back in return.
"Don't mention it,"
She simply said, smiling to them with a caring look and seemed a little taken aback by the fact that the two of them thought she would be against them getting married, while they just chuckled slightly now seeing that they really shouldn't have been so worried about this, after all they knew that Yuzu's Mother had always been very accepting and was always there to support them both no matter what they may choose to do.
However Mei's relieved expression soon changing as she thought about her and Yuzu's engagement and knowing that they would eventually have to tell everyone else who were all currently still being kept in the dark about it all.
'I could see that my Father may also be quite accepting of this decision Yuzu and I have made...but my Grandfather would definitely not be the same,' she thought with a heavy sigh as she knew how much she would be dreading telling her Grandfather about her and Yuzu's engagement, and already guessing what his reaction would most likely be.
The sigh causing Ms Okogi to glance back to Mei, and looking a little curious as she saw that the dark haired girl was currently turned away from them both and seeming like she was distracted at the moment for some reason, "Is there something wrong Mei?" she asked wondering if there was anything bothering the young girl as it did look like there was definitely something on her mind right now.
Mei being dragged out of her thoughts as she turned back to the other two, looking to Yuzu and her Mother, while they both gazed back to her with wondering expressions, before Mei soon just shook her head in reply, "It's nothing," she simply stated softening her expression and causing Yuzu and her Mother to just nod back to her with slight smiles, as she just pushed her thoughts and worries to the back of her mind now.
'Well it's not like we have to tell them right now, we can just keep it as a secret from them for just a little longer,' she thought as she glanced back to Yuzu and saw her happily smiling and talking with her Mother more about how the engagement had happened and what plans they had thought about so far, while she soon let a small smile form on her lips, just being glad that she knew the blonde would be with her through all this at least, and honestly feeling that she was the only one she needed by her side right now, but was also happy to know that they would have the blonde's Mother to stand by them as well.
The three all chatting about random topics, occasionally dipping back into the subject of the engagement every so often while Yuzu's Mother left the dining table to go and wash the dishes from this morning, before soon leaving for her shift at work, while later in the afternoon Yuzu dragged Mei out of the house, for a 'spontaneous little date' as the blonde called it.
...
"So what's the reason for this 'spontaneous date' that you suddenly decided to take me on?" Mei asked as it seemed she had been unwillingly dragged out and into town by Yuzu, the younger girl feeling like this 'date' was either just some excuse to get her out of the house and away from her online classes for a bit, or maybe the blonde was up to something more, after all she had been oddly quiet for most of their 'date' so far.
"Do I really need a reason to take my beloved fiancé out on a nice afternoon date?" Yuzu questioned back as she just caused Mei to raise an eyebrow to her in response, while the blonde just smiled to her nervously, "Besides it's good to get out, you can't just stay inside all day everyday right?" she added, while tightly holding onto the younger girl's hand and tugging on it a little, signalling that she wanted them to keep moving at a faster pace.
Mei just rolling her eyes and sighing as she looked away from the blonde's hope-filled and pleading expression, letting her fiancé just continue to drag her to their destination, not really having any idea as to where they were actually going right now, but could guess easily from Yuzu's nervous smile that she was most certainly planning something at the moment.
Their surroundings not really seeming all that familiar to the younger girl as she looked around, wondering just where they were heading to, and not recognising anything much until they came to a certain bridge, which was in quite the secluded area, the place almost instantly brought back old memories as Yuzu came to halt and let go of Mei's hand, walking over to the railings on the side of the bridge and taking in the cool afternoon breeze, while Mei just glanced back to her with a slightly curious expression.
"You know Mei we came to this bridge on a date a little before our relationship was found out by our parents, and you had to leave, do you remember that day?" the blonde asked as she gave a softened smile back to Mei, and caused her to just nod back to her, as it seemed that this place hadn't left her memory even though they hadn't been here since she had left with her Dad all those months ago.
"I remember it, but why did you bring me here?" Mei simply asked back as she came to stand beside Yuzu by the railings, giving her a questioning expression still, while the blonde just shrugged her shoulders before looking to the calm river below them and sighing slightly.
"I just thought that we never did get the chance to watch the sunset like we had planned, my Mom called us back home early and we had to cut our date short that day," Yuzu explained as she went back in her mind to that very day, it seeming like she had a far-away look in her eyes at the moment. It being like she was simply just thinking out loud, and not really answering Mei's question much at all, while the younger girl just raised her eyebrow to her again as she watched the blonde gaze to the setting sun in the orange sky, causing late afternoon to now turn into early evening.
"Yuzu...what are you getting at right now?"
Mei still clearly being confused as to what was going on right now, and wondering just why Yuzu had brought her here, hoping that she would get some sort of explanation from the blonde soon enough. Yuzu looking back to her as she rested her hand over the younger girl's, giving it a slight squeeze before she let go and stepped back, causing Mei to just look back to her with quite the puzzled expression still.
"I was thinking about a lot of things when I watched you looking out into the distance that day, I thought about how breathtakingly beautiful you looked with the bright sun behind you, making you glow, like the way it is now. I thought 'how did I ever get this lucky, to have you in my life?' I thought about all the happy and sad times we've had together, and how much I wanted those moments to never end and to continue on instead. I even thought about what our future may look like, and now since coming back here all those memories just come flooding back to me as well," Yuzu spoke in a low voice as she smiled to Mei lovingly, causing her to soon change her expression and not look so confused anymore as her eyes widened a few moments later, while the blonde moved to get down on one knee, gazing back to the younger girl happily.
"You were right when you said that there is no right time, however the right place, and the right way...well that's a different story, because Mei..." she paused as she reached into her pocket and took out a small ring box, opening it, and holding it up to Mei, while she looked all too surprised right now, "This is how I really wanted to propose to you, so even though I've already asked you...I love you Mei, will you marry me?" she asked, looking to Mei with hope-filled eyes, as she waited eagerly for the younger girl's answer, Mei just gazing back to her with wide eyes still, seeming to be a little speechless right now.
It looking like she really was taken aback by Yuzu suddenly proposing to her and this time meaning to do so, clearly not expecting the blonde to suddenly do this, as she was still at a loss for words, unsure of how to react to this situation as it was obvious that this time Yuzu had caught her completely off guard just like the elder girl had wanted to do.
However it seeming like that didn't last for much longer as Mei soon let her expression soften and smiled back to the blonde, "Yuzu, you already know my answer," she simply stated, causing Yuzu to just chuckle back to her slightly, it looking like she was about to say some sort of comment back to her, but the younger girl surprising her and cutting her off as she knelt down beside Yuzu and wrapped her arms around her tightly.
"Yes, of course I will,"
She said after a short pause pulling away slightly from the blonde, as Yuzu just regained her composure and smiled back to the younger girl, wrapping one arm of her own around her, and hugging her back, while she soon rested her forehead against Mei's, as she just gripped onto the back of her shirt and then nuzzled into her neck.
"And I love you too," she whispered as her and Yuzu just sat there in their loving embrace, not caring if someone saw them or not, as it felt like they were the only two people in the world that mattered at the this moment in time.
The two soon separating as Mei held out her left hand for Yuzu, while she took the silver, shiny ring out of the little box and carefully slipped it onto Mei's third finger, smiling when she saw that it fitted her nicely. Giving the younger girl a loving peck on her forehead, as she just looked to the ring on her finger and stroked it gently, before breaking the blissful silence a few moments later.
"So this is why you were home late the other night?" she asked as she raised an eyebrow to the blonde, and caused her to just look back to Mei with a nervous smile in reply.
"Yeah...and it's also why I've been working so much lately, I wanted to get you one that you would really like after all," she said gesturing to the ring, and caused Mei to look back to it again, only now noticing that it had a small piece of emerald placed in the middle that glimmered brightly in the dim glow of the sunset behind them both.
"You know I would have been fine with any ring right?" Mei stated as she glanced back to Yuzu, causing the blonde to just shrug her shoulders slightly and nod back to the younger girl.
"I know...but I wanted the ring to be special, just like how you are to me Mei," Yuzu replied as she held Mei closer to her and softly kissed her cheek, smiling when she saw a slight blush spread across the younger girl's cheeks, while Mei turned away from her now, and looked back to her engagement ring again.
'This must have cost her quite a bit...no wonder she seemed so tired over this past week,' Mei thought as she guessed Yuzu would have had to work extra hard in order to have enough money to afford the ring, looking back to Yuzu now and leaned into her more, bringing her into a sweet kiss, and causing the blonde to look taken aback, before she soon just let her eyes slowly close and kissed Mei back, holding her close to her while the younger girl took hold of her hand and squeezed it tightly, Yuzu squeezing back as she deepened their kiss a little.
Them both staying like that in each other's arms for quite a while, watching the sun set together, still holding onto one another's hands tightly when they finally decided to leave and walk back home, returning back to their apartment a little before Yuzu's Mother came back from her work. The two already knowing that she wasn't working late tonight, and welcomed her back happily, telling her all about Yuzu's second proposal and showing her the ring on Mei's finger, while she was clearly overjoyed to hear about it all from them in return.
...
Mei now sitting in the lounge on the sofa, letting herself relax and taking some time away from her online classes for this evening, as although the television was on right now she clearly wasn't paying that much attention to the program, instead just looking to her ring on her third finger, holding her left hand up and sighing slightly, stroking the small piece of emerald in the middle and smiling as she thought of her blonde fiancé who had the same coloured eyes as the gemstone.
Yuzu and her Mother meanwhile being in the kitchen at the moment as they stood getting their evening meal ready for them all, Mei had offered to help out, however Yuzu not letting her it seemed as she had quickly pushed the younger girl out of the kitchen and into the lounge instead, before she could try to protest and object against the blonde. Mei having given in as she just decided to not be too stubborn since she was feeling quite tired tonight.
Ms Okogi looking to Yuzu as she saw the blonde happily just smiling to herself while she was helping to set the table, her Mother just finishing off making their evening meal at the moment. The elder woman just smiling as well, as she turned back to what she what she was doing, before soon catching her daughter's attention once she was done.
"So when did you get that ring for Mei-chan?" she asked, causing Yuzu to just lift her head up and look back to her Mother, seeing the elder woman just glancing to her with a smile, as she just smiled in response and answered while she went back to setting the table.
"About two nights ago, although I had been having my eye on it every time I passed the jewellery store in town ever since Mei had said yes to my first 'proposal'," she explained, saying that second part in more of a lower tone as she turned away from her Mother slightly, as a blush was slowly spreading across her cheeks, while the elder woman just smiled back to her and nodded in return.
"Well I'm glad that Mei-chan said yes...again," she said with a slight chuckle, causing Yuzu to do the same as she looked back to her Mother and just nodded to her,
"Me too,"
She replied, before she looked into the lounge and could just see the back of Mei's head peeking out from the top of the sofa, smiling when she looked to her dear fiancé, and feeling really glad now that she had accidently proposed to her, even though she regretted doing so until recently.
The blonde getting back to finishing off setting the table as she was snapped back out of her thoughts when she saw her Mother soon walk past her and go into the lounge, getting Mei's attention and causing her to look back to her now, while Yuzu quickly finished setting the dining table and sat down in her chair, showing that she was ready for their evening meal and waiting for Mei to come and sit down beside her at the table.
"Mei-chan, dinner is ready,"
Ms Okogi simply stated as she smiled to Mei, while the dark haired girl took her attention away from her ring and lifted her head up slightly, nodding back to the elder woman, before she left the lounge and walked back into the kitchen and dining area, starting to lay all of their plates of freshly made food out on the table.
Mei just standing up from the sofa and giving a little stretch, before she turned the television off with the remote and then left the lounge, making her way into the kitchen and dining area where Yuzu and her Mother were waiting for her.
However she soon halted in her tracks as she suddenly felt an odd sensation in her lower abdomen, widening her eyes as she looked down to her stomach and rested a hand over it, caressing just below her navel while she caused Yuzu and Ms Okogi to look back to her with slightly questioning expressions, wondering just why she had stopped and wasn't walking forward anymore.
"Are you okay Mei?" Yuzu asked as she caused Mei to just lift her head and look back to her, the younger girl definitely seeming taken aback by something, as she made a gesture to the blonde, asking her to come over to her.
"Yuzu...it's the baby," Mei said as she spoke in a low tone, causing Yuzu to seem concerned for her in response, as she quickly stood up from her chair and walked up to the younger girl, wrapping a caring arm around her shoulders and holding her close, while Mei just sighed slightly.
"Have you got cramps again?"
The blonde questioned hoping that was all it was and really wishing that there wasn't anything wrong with the baby at all, things had been going so well for a good while after all. However Mei just shaking her head in reply, causing Yuzu to look back to her with a bit of a confused expression now.
"Than what is it?" Yuzu asked, looking worried as she now kind of dreaded what Mei's answer would be, while the blonde's Mother seemed awfully concerned as well right now, hoping that Mei wasn't bleeding again or something.
"See for yourself,"
Mei simply stated as she took hold of Yuzu's free hand and slowly rested it over her stomach, rubbing it around just below her navel a little and causing the blonde to look to her with a bit of a confused expression, wondering just what she was trying to do at the moment and going to question it, before she just stayed silent and soon felt something lightly tap against her hand.
Her emerald eyes going wide as she looked surprised, seeming to be waiting for a moment or two, feeling another slight tap against the palm of her hand, as she looked back to Mei and felt tears of joy welling up in her eyes, while the younger girl just softened her expression.
"Mei...our baby...its...its..." Yuzu seeming to be struggling a little as she tried to get her words out at the moment, but felt like she couldn't hold back how overjoyed she was right now, while Mei just nodded to her and smiled in return.
"Its kicking, our baby is kicking Yuzu,"
She finished for the blonde as Yuzu just chuckled slightly, smiling brightly back to her, as she soon rested both hands over Mei's stomach and crouched down on the floor. Mei raising her eyebrow as she wondered just what Yuzu was doing before she got her answer a moment later it seemed.
"Hello little one, I'm you Mama Yuzu, and the one you're kicking right now is your Mama Mei,"
Yuzu said in a baby-talk kind of tone, as she happily smiled, softly caressing Mei's stomach and feeling more slight taps hitting against her hand while it seemed like their unborn baby was responding to the sound of her voice. The blonde glancing up to Mei, as she just rolled her eyes and sighed slightly giving out a small chuckle, as Yuzu just smiled back up to her, before she looked to the younger girl's baby bump once again.
"And we can't wait to finally meet you,"
She whispered leaning into Mei more, laying a light kiss on her covered stomach, as the younger girl widened her eyes slightly, before she soon just smiled back to Yuzu and rested her hands over the blonde's causing her to look back up to her with a returned smile. While Ms Okogi smiled to the young couple, feeling truly happy for them both at this moment in time, being glad that luckily nothing seemed to wrong with their baby at all.
The three soon enough all sitting back down to eat their evening meal together, Mei and Yuzu chatting away to each other pretty much all the way through it as they talked about the baby, what their plans for the near future would be, and other random topics, while the blonde's Mother happily just looked to the two, smiling to them both and joining in on their conversations every so often.
'I can't wait to meet them either,' the elder woman sighed as she thought of her unborn grandchild, wondering just which of their two Mothers they would be most like, or maybe they would be a mixture of both. While also having other questions and thoughts about Mei and Yuzu's baby, 'Well at least I know one thing for sure, they sure are loved,' she smiled propping herself up on her elbow as she continued to talk to the other two well into the late evening, not really stopping it seemed until they had all finished their evening meal and not too long afterwards Mei decided to call it a night and head to bed.
Yuzu staying up for a little longer though as she helped her Mother to clear away everything and wash the dishes together, as the elder woman couldn't seem to stop smiling and expressing her happiness about all that had happened today until she went to bed herself, knowing and easily seeing that her daughter was just the same as her that night.
...
Yes I'm a day late, I'm sorry but the new chapter was posted yesterday so as you can imagine I was busy reading it many times last night, and didn't get a chance to update until today, but at least it's here now. And just so you all know I've finished College now YAY! So this means that I will be able to write and update more often (you guys will likely get a new chapter every week now!). ^_^
Killerchainsaw ;)