Another week had passed. Standing in her room, shirtless (the door was barricaded, so she didn't need to worry about unwanted visitors), Karin examined her stomach with a pout.

"Why do you have to make things so complicated?" she whined.

A rough kick was the baby's only response.

"You shouldn't be so violent with me, you know. I'm-"

Someone banged on the door. "Who are you talking to?" she heard Suigetsu's voice call.

"My stomach."

The doorknob turned, but the door itself didn't budge. Her dresser was doing its job well.

"I'm not dressed," she said by way of explanation.

"Nothing I haven't already seen – let me in!"

Sighing, she obediently pushed the dresser out of the way (a difficult task with new found pathetic weakness), allowing him to enter the room. Taking one look at her, he scoffed and said, "You're dressed, you liar."

"A bra hardly counts as dressed."

"A bra and pants – you've even got socks on!"

Rolling her eyes, she sat on the end of her bed, crossing her arms. "What do you want, anyway?"

He shrugged. "Isn't a dad allowed to wanna talk to his son?"

"I already told you – it's a girl!"

"I'll believe that when I see it."

"Whatever. Just get your chit-chat bonding stuff over with so I can get back to moping."

"Really," he asked, clearly surprised. "You're actually gonna let me talk to it?"

"If it'll get you to quit nagging me."

"Sweet!" he grinned, at her side in seconds, bending down and cooing nonsense to her stomach.

Watching him with equal parts amusement and disturbance, Karin raised an eyebrow and said, "Wow. You just jump into the role of weirdo dad, don't you?"

"Kids are like pets," he said, poking her bulge, "except even more trainable. And smarter, too, I guess." Taking his attention off their unborn child for a moment, he looked up at her, seeming to contemplate. "Are you... really thinking of keeping it?"

She shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "I dunno. Naruto, Sakura, and Juugo seem to think it's a good idea. Personally, I think they're nuts. Seriously, who in their right mind would think we're good parents?"

"Well, we might not be so bad. I mean, all we really have to worry about it keeping it alive, right?"

Narrowing her eyes at him, she asked, "Whose side are you on?"

"I dunno – you're not exactly decisive about this, either."

She smacked him upside the head. "Shut up! I'm entitled to confusion."

The side of his face – which had splattered at the strike – slowly began to solidify, making his amused expression disturbingly lopsided. "Well, I'm entitled to the opinion that we'd make decent parents."

"And I'm entitled to think you're an idiot. I mean, look at you! The whole head-melting thing is bound to traumatize any kid."

"So's your face."

She smacked him again, but this time he was better prepared for it. Laughter shook his body even though his head was half liquefied. "C'mon, you had that one coming."

Karin didn't respond. She was turned away from him, holding her head in her hands. Frowning, Suigetsu grabbed her shoulder. "Hey, what – Wait... Are you crying?"

Her only response was to shrug of his hand and hide her face again.

"Oh, for the love of... You're crying over a stupid little insult?"

"No," she choked, shaking her head. "I just don't know what to do. I don't want to be a mother, but I don't feel right giving those people my baby. And now everyone's telling me to keep it, when none of them had a problem with adoption before, and I just don't know who to listen to anymore." Shooting him a glare, she added, "And you're not helping, Mr. I-don't-wanna-be-a-dad-now-let-me-talk-to-your-stomach!"

Muttering a curse, Suigetsu bit his lip, trying to think of a way to console the still-babbling girl. Telling her to shut up and quit acting like such a baby certainly wouldn't work this time. What had Sakura said the other day when she was rambling about pregnancies...?

"Counselling!" he exclaimed, earning a curious glare from Karin. Realizing this required more explanation, he said, "A lot of pregnant women go see a counsellor or something when they're not sure what to do. Sakura could probably hook us up with someone."

Sniffling, she seemed to consider the idea. Giving a small nod, she murmured, "I guess that could work..."

"Great. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go somewhere else," Suigetsu said, getting off the bed. Before she could respond, he hurried out of them door, not wanting to risk anymore waterworks.

Author's Notes: Yay for a chapter I'm happy with! =D Sorry if Karin seems a bit OOC, though.

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Naruto' or any of its characters.