God damn it this sucked.

Hands tightened onto the blanket that was firmly coiled around the shivering body, pulled up high in an attempt to cover his head and the rest of his body. Silver hair just slightly peeked out from under the folds of the blanket, his forehead pressed into the arms that rested above his knees. He couldn't imagine that he would be in this much pain... And that sick little bastard was the reason for it... Well, not Kaname. No, it was the damn baby resting comfortably inside his body.

It didn't help that Zero had been living off of whatever Yuuki could do for him for the past few days... She had been attempting to cook for him, ugh, and keep as good of an eye on him that she could. At least it was her summer vacation... And she was spending it dealing with a pregnant Zero. Though at least she was able to see her old friend again, even though half the time she saw him, he was growling, complaining, or just ignoring her.

...So no different than any other day.

But he sure as hell wasn't feeling well... It was enough that he had wanted to lock the young girl out of his room so he would not be disturbed. Because right now he was in a bit too much pain to deal with her nuisance... He could feel the sweat starting to build on his forehead, and that pain was building up in his stomach. He wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but he was almost sure that it wasn't contractions... He hoped at least. He wasn't ready for the baby to come, and the mess that was his room was enough to show that.

'Bang bang bang'

The continuous knocks sounded on the door as the female continued to hammer away, hoping that the continuous noise would annoy Zero enough to have him let her in. "Zerooo! Answer the door! Kaien has gone to town and he left me in charge of you! Please open the door"

By this stage the female was worried, though she knew Zero wasn't dead, the constant stream of abuse hurled at her was enough of an indicator for such things. But Kaien had told her to go into that room and make sure Zero was there by the time he got back, though she had no idea why he would want such a thing.

Kaien had left early three days ago after receiving a phone call from the vampire council, causing the elder hunter to leave in quite a hurry, not even telling his 'children' what had gone wrong. That alone was a strange thing, though Yuuki wouldn't question his judgement, she knew he always had an idea on what was best.

Little did Yuuki and Zero know, that call was a simple question, the vampires coming to Kaien knowing a certain pureblood attended school there, or so they still thought. It seemed Kaname Kuran hadn't been coming to work for two weeks, those two weeks marking from where Zero had left.. That was an indicator enough as to the feelings Kaname held for Zero, so away Kaien went.

Neither of them knew why Kaien had left that early morning... All Zero knew was that Yuuki had been trying to force meals in that she had cooked herself, something he had refused once again hours ago. Now he was instead hiding away in his room, not daring to go out and show his face to Yuuki again. It had been another week from Yuuki finding out about the pregnancy, and that week had been something close to hell...

Whether it was them arguing or Yuuki deciding that she would take care of him and the baby all by herself, it annoyed the damn hunter to death. Closing his eyes as he took in a shaky breath, he delicately pulled the blanket a little farther over his head. He was in too much pain to be bothered by Yuuki tonight.

"...Leave me alone..." Zero moaned out softly, though immediately wished that he had not said a word. He could hear his own pain... And as he could feel liquid slowly drip down his face, he wasn't sure if it was sweat or maybe even tears. What the hell was wrong with him... Maybe it was contractions. It was the only thing to make him ache so much...

Pulling a hand underneath the blanket, he slowly pressed his hand against his swollen stomach, giving it a few shaky rubs. She was squirming inside him, of course... She had been moving almost nonstop for days, something that frustrated Zero to no end. No sleep except for tiny naps, barely able to eat because of it, feeling restless... He knew that it could be signs of labor coming... But she can't come now.

The sound of his voice only made the pounding on the door that much worse, the females hand quickly knocking away as if her very life had depended on it, and it very well might do if Kaien found out that something was wrong with Zero and she hadn't helped him at all. Then again she was his precious daughter and it seemed as though Kaien wouldn't really growl at her at all..

"Zero! Please! Or else ill go and get the master key and break in myself! and if i need to do that then im going to call Kaien and tell on you" Of course that was quite childish of her, what other choice did she have though? It seemed the silverette wouldn't answer at all.

"Zero!" She was getting impatient now, she knew he was pregnant but sheesh, he could at least answer the door so that she could help him.. Though with the baby in his stomach, she might just be squirming around because she had missed her father, she needed his blood after all and it seemed that when she was in his company her movements calmed down a little.

There was silence for a few moments as Yuuki attempted to figure out just what she needed to do to get Zero out... But thankfully, she may not have to think about it long as the sound of the bed creaking and footsteps approached the door. Only then did a small click sound as Zero undid the lock, only for the bed to creak once more as Zero returned to the same position.

How rude, though not completely unexpected. Zero had often done things like that to her, causing the young female to be in a huff when she entered the room. So that's exactly what she did just then, pulling open the door quickly and pushing herself into the room, Yuuki quickly walked over to the bed and sat herself down in front of him.

"Zero? Whats the matter, you're grumpier than usual and your face is white" So much for being in a huff.. But seeing Zero like that was enough to cause the female to worry quite a bit, her face scrunching up with concern the more she looked upon the silverette. He did look a little pale, something that worried her all the more, though it was hard to see with Zero pushing his face into his knees.

"Did you.. Want my blood? It would be better than those rabbits, right? i see your face when you drink them, they aren't enough and i can give you a lot more" It wasn't often Yuuki did such things since Zero came home, but then again he really did look as though he needed this.

This was something he knew all too well was going to happen... He didn't want Yuuki's blood. She needed to keep it inside her own body where it belonged. Zero knew all too well that the amount he had taken from Kaname was nothing compared to what he would be able to take from her... It would kill her if he did the same. There was just nothing he would be able to do to stop himself...

Swallowing hard, the hunter only muttered to himself. He just didn't want to start grumbling about how much pain he was in, she probably would want to try to deliver the baby herself... There was no way in hell that he would allow her to do such a thing. He wouldn't even let her be in the same room if it came to that...

"...I don't need blood." But as he swallowed again, he couldn't help but feel the dryness in his throat, making him lick his lips just slightly. He could taste the saltiness of his tears and sweat... Gross. And it wasn't helping at all. "...I just need a little... Water." There, that was something she could do, something to keep her out of the room while he tried his best to figure out what was going on.

It was a lucky thing Zero kept a cup by his sink in case of situations like these, it allowed Yuuki to quickly stand up and grab hold of the glass and turn the tap on, filling the glass to the brim before handing it over to the silverette quickly. She would want to do anything to help him, especially since he looked so miserable.

And as the hunter downed the drink quickly, Yuuki took this opportunity to place her hand upon his shoulder and give a light squeeze. "Hey.. Zero? How come you came here if you had everything you needed at Kanames? I can talk to you about these things you know, we are friends after all"

It had taken her some getting used to about the idea of Kaname and Zero having a baby together, but now she knew she would start to talk to Zero occasionally about it, well try too.. Zero was very reluctant to say a word about it at all, though the question she had just asked was one she had been wanting to know for a long time.

She still thought they were friends...? Maybe she was a bit slower than he had thought. After all, he was pregnant with Kaname's baby, her 'lover-to-be'. That should be enough for her to hate him after everything that had happened between them... He was still the first vampire that had bit her, something that he was sure that she wished for Kaname to be.

After setting the empty glass down onto the mattress, the hunter reluctantly looked back up. Trying his best, he slowly wiped away the sweat and the tears from his face, hoping she wouldn't understand that he was actually crying from the pain. How much should he be willing to tell her, though... Anything that he said would immediately go back to Kaien, of course.

Swallowing down the water, he let his forehead rest onto his arms resting onto his knees, choosing his words carefully. "...W-whether you believe it or not, I don't care... But he wanted to take her for his d-damn heir. For a fucking... Kuran." He had winced slightly at the swear, putting a hand onto his swollen stomach hidden slightly behind his legs. She was kicking him again... and kicking into his sore ribs wasn't helping...

"Are you sure?" Frowning a little at her friends words, knowing she would probably get told off for asking him such a thing, Yuuki eventually slid a little closer to his side, continuing to rub his shoulder soothingly as best as he she possibly could. He wouldn't have stayed with Kaname for so long if that were truly the case.

Kaien had told her that Zero moved out not long after his four month mark, having found out that Kaname was the father to the baby. It was hard for Yuuki to listen to such things but she also knew she had no other choice, facts were facts.

"I mean.. I know that you two don't get along a lot but if you had a baby together then that's got to mean something, right? Maybe he changed his mind.. Kaien said he seemed happier whenever he saw him when you were there" That was something else Yuuki was jealous over, knowing Zero could make Kaname happier than what she could.

No, Kaname was happy that he was having a baby. Not that Zero was there. Zero was almost absolutely sure that Kaname would much rather favor Yuuki having his baby than Zero... Unless it was for the hunter blood. Though as he looked up from his stomach just enough to glare back at Yuuki, he soon found that he was too tired for that.

Even now he had been losing weight and loosing energy he desperately needed for when the time came for this baby to be born. Resting his forehead back down onto his arms, he couldn't help but let out a ragged groan. "...it was an accident that it happened in the first place. Some... Blood bond or whatever the fuck it was... It's too complicated to explain but it would have happened eventually. The... Urges stopped when I got pregnant."

In other words, it was either get pregnant or die trying. Though he couldn't help but think of the hundreds of times that he thought he should have died instead than deal with this. Rubbing his hand a little deeper into the bottom of his stomach, as if trying to pet his daughter on the head, he instead was greeted by a hard push into his hips. It was enough for him to verbally curse out in pain, his body stiffening up.

The groan made Yuuki tense up as well, though in concern more than anything. "I-i'll call Kaien! Maybe he can help you" Yuuki truly had no idea what she was doing, she had never dealt with pregnancies so this was completely out of her depth, in fact she had no idea why Kaien even thought about letting her do this in the first place.

It took a few grunts to say that it was only the baby making it hard on him that yuuki finally started to calm down... The last thing they needed was the only way to possibly get help to start panicking. That wouldn't help when the baby would come... And Zero knew as much as anyone that it could be at any moment now, now especially since she was so frisky. It took a few more soft rubs against her to convince her to settle down just a little longer, though more color had drained from his face.

Though once things slightly settled down, she thought about what Zero had said to her about a bond.. It made sense in a way, if Zero didn't want Kaname then a bond would be the perfect thing to keep them together until this happened. It allowed a weight to fall from her shoulders, thinking that maybe the two didn't love one another.

"When she's born.. Are you going to let him see her? Or were you going to hide away forever until he gives up?" Yuuki felt horrible for asking such questions of her Kaname, but it seemed to be the only way to get through to Zero at this stage.

He didn't know how long he could take this anymore... With Kaname around, he at least could look forward to sinking his fangs into him as Zero's own form of punishment, or for his soft massages to lull the baby to sleep... Now he didn't have either. And that fact was enough to make him hesitate with answering yuukis question... As he slid his hand along his swollen stomach, he tried his best to say he would deny Kaname...

But instead it ended up something completely different. "...he can... See her. But he won't be taking her from me. I'll... See if Kaito will take me back, or if he wants us at all." A thump, this time a little softer, came from the swell. The pain in his stomach was starting to fade, letting him rest a little bit easier. He couldn't stand her trying to best him to death...

Frowning at her friend, Yuuki silently let out a small sigh. Perhaps now was the best time to tell him of her thoughts of him and Kaito.. "Zero.. I.. Well, when you and Kaito were together, it seemed like you weren't very happy. I know he gave you blood and made you feel a little better but, even if you hate Kaname now im sure he made you happy"

She knew Kaname was capable of such things after all, and from the amount of faces Zero had pulled every time she spoke about him in an affectionate tone told her that Zero didn't like that she may have feelings for the elder vampire, it was why she had convinced herself that he loved Kaname too..

No matter what he said or what went through her head for short periods of time. If she was alone and could reflect on conversations and expressions, it was obvious on what Zero felt, and right now he was betrayed yet longing for Kaname, she too missed him after all.

Whether that was right or not, Zero still wasn't about to admit it... He would refuse as long as he was able to. His amethyst eyes were sharp as he stared back at Yuuki, but he couldn't help but feel the pain in his stomach, knowing that there was an ounce of truth in her words... But still, he would refuse as long as he could. Grunting softly, he looked away from the young girl, staring at the door as if waiting for Kaien to come save him from her.

"...You have no clue what happened. Kaito... protects me. Kaname just wants an heir... So what the hell am I supposed to do. Kaname can give me money and blood, Kaito can at least... give her a life. ...I probably won't be around long enough to choose anyway." Once again, Zero pressed his forehead down onto his arms, hiding away the flick of pain that crossed his face.

The things that the first doctor had told him were still circling through his head, telling him that he probably wasn't going to live past the birth. All he wanted now was to make sure that she would be taken care of... And he still wasn't quite... completely sure that Kaname was the one. Kaito still loved him, so he hoped, and he would love Zero's baby... But would he treat it as his own.

Time would be the one thing to answer that question, though it would also have a great deal to do with trust. Neither Kaname or Kaito could prove themselves without Zero allowing them to do so and right now it seemed as though he didn't wish for such a thing, only being concerned about his daughter.

Not that it was a bad thing however, but the hunter had to look after himself too. He was just as important after all.. Especially for Kaname at this stage, no matter what the silverette had thought, if he perished during the birth then the pureblood would be beside himself, the blow from such a thing would cause him to be helpless.

But at Zeros words Yuuki got a little aggravated. Why was he still denying himself? It was obvious about how he felt. With a small huff the girl gently flicked her friend on the forehead "If Kaname didn't want anything else he wouldn't have taken care of you like he did. Im sure he did stuff for you as well as the baby, right?"

A soft growl rumbled in his throat as he looked up at Yuuki, his eyes a little narrowed as he glares back at her. She wasn't going to command everything in his life... The same that Kaname wouldn't and neither would Kaito. Narrowing his eyes a little more at her, he firmly pressed his forehead down onto his knees again.

"You don't know anything about what has happened to me... And you have no idea what I've been through. Just... Leave me alone. You probably want me to die so you can have Kaname anyway." That wa probably more of his bad attitude talking than anything else, but he needed to keep his attitude under wraps. Especially when he was so close to the end of the third trimester...

Maybe it would take a bigger hit to make him realize what was happening, that he did feel something for Kaname more than the thankfulness of him feeding him and helping tend to the baby. But as he pressed his back against the wall, curling himself away from Yuuki, he was beginning to question if... Either of them were worth being the father. Both had betrayed him... Maybe they wouldn't be fit to be parents.

The female couldn't help but sigh softly, Zero had always been so stubborn so why would she think now was any different? He was still the same old Zero after all, regardless of if he was having a baby or not. Maybe if she just told him how she felt then he would be a little better. Well she could only hope.

"I... I think you and Kaname would make a good couple, I would rather you be with him, Zero" It was painful to say but it was the truth. They were opposites but they seemed to complete each other in ways she just couldn't imagine. Both were strong and able to protect each other, something she definitely wasn't.

And now that Zero could carry children, well he was the complete package. Given his attitude and way of life, though it seemed Kaname had always been able to put up with that, able to say the things to either calm him or rile him up more. But he knew what he was doing, and it made Yuuki all the more jealous.

Silence slid from the hunter, and he didn't move from his current spot. He wanted to believe Yuuki... But he also knew that he didn't want to have her blessings, or need it... He was old enough to make his own decisions. And he wouldn't need someone's permission to what he could do and not do.

"...who says I need someone to help me anyway." That was all he growled, but at least it wasn't another denial... It at least was starting to get somewhere. If he wasn't denying it any longer then maybe there was still a chance of him maybe changing his mind. But how long would they have until Zero absolutely had to make a decision... As he felt another flare of pain deep inside him, he couldn't help but wince, knowing there wasn't much time left.

But hopefully Kaien would be coming back soon... After all, it had been absolutely forever, at least for Zero, until he would be coming back... How hard was it for him to go get Kaname in the first then, it seemed like Zero was done talking as he pulled his blanket around his shoulders, tucking it to the point that only the tiffs of his hair were viewable. He just wanted to be left alone...

Yuuki wouldn't leave him alone though, she had a job to do regardless of how Zero had been feeling. So silently the female shifted over and sat beside her friend, leaning up against the wall as they continued to sit in silence for what felt like an endless amount of minutes.

"Where is the headmaster anyway.. He told me he wouldn't be long and it's been days!" The aggravated groan left Yuukis lips after a while, knowing that she had to voice some of her discomfort. After all Kaien had told her he wouldn't be long and she wouldn't have to look after Zero for a long time, Kaien knew how difficult the hunter could be..

"Hey uh.. While we wait did you want me to cook you ramen or something? It's getting to be pretty late now so we can have late lunch" Yuuki still didn't know the hunter couldn't eat ramen, then again even if he could he probably would bring up Yuukis cooking.

"...I don't feel good so I'll just... Skip it. I just want to rest..." Zero murmured as he closed his eyes, trying to ignore the feeling of pain deep in his stomach. It was either cramps or contractions, and seeing as how it wasn't fading at all, then he was damn sure that it was her being a bitch to him... She was probably complaining that she wasn't getting fed or Kaname wasn't around.

Zero couldn't help but try to shuffle his way into a better position against the wall, though, as he felt that pain in his back. Kaien didn't rub his back nearly as well as Kaname use to but he wasn't going back just so he could have his back rubbed. Carefully he pulled a hand back before starting to rub carefully into his lower back... But he also knew he couldn't show pain to Yuuki.

She would worry then she would go tell Kaien and he might end up being dressed as a woman and wished away to the doctor. It was the last thing he wanted at this point. He had been humiliated enough today, and having to go to the doctor or wherever Kaien intended on taking him would be the last straw. Eventually the hunter lifted his head up before leanin over, claiming his glass of water and taking a sip.

Zero never wanted to eat her food.. If he wasn't in so much discomfort then she would have scolded him for it, she knew his excuses were probably a lie, something she had grown used to over the years. It wasn't a secret she wasn't the best cook but then again her food was edible... Right?

Regardless of all of that, Yuuki shuffled a little closer to her friend and rested her head upon his shoulder. She had hoped thru this motion would help the silverette, showing him that he wasnt really alone in this world. She would be here for him as well as Kaien, perhaps even Kaname or Kaito in time.

Stifling down a yawn, Yuuki picked up the corner of Zeros blanket and began playing with a loose thread. "Maybe you can sleep then, It would probably do you and the little baby good"

Sleep wasn't something that he would pass off on. Not when he felt this weak and tired... Keeping his eyes closed as he tried to relax into the blanket, he couldn't help but shift a little closer to her, only for heat of course. He was much too tired to care for anything else... Though as he adjusted himself to find a better position, the hunter gradually let himself peek out from under the blanket.

"...hey, do you know any... Good girl names. I haven't been able to think of anything good and I'm... Running out of time." It was true, and today was proving that more than anything else at this point. Resting his hand back onto his stomach once he was done with the water, he tried his best to give it a soft rub. Maybe he could settle her down a bit.

Resting his cheek against his knees, his tired eyes looked back at Yuuki. There was something she would have thought of... After all, she was a girl. She probably had the first three babies she would have planned out as well as a multitude of names. It was something the woman was supposed to be thinking about...

Thinking for a small moment, Yuuki placed her hand underneath her chin and furrowed her nose. Girls names.. Well she had a heap up her sleeve so there would be one that Zero was bound to like. He only had a few weeks to go until they had to name her anyway, so after a quick flick to the head and calling her friend a baka, Yuuki proceeded to speak.

"Jasmine, lily, Sara, Caitlin, Misaki, Sayori, Aoi, Annabelle, Isabella, Yui, Clara, Asuna, Jen. Anything like that help? I have a lot more.." And for the next ten or so minutes the young female continued to prattle out name after name, each one pouring out of her mouth and barely allowing Zero any time to react.

He wouldn't have suspected this after all, maybe several names but to have her list out hundreds would be slightly overwhelming for him. Heres hoping he had at least heard one of them that took his fancy.

Woah. Looked like she did have a lot of names under her belt... It left the hunter blinking as the names were swarmed into his head, though she didn't exactly give him a chance to say which ones he liked and which ones he didn't. Instead this continued on for a few minutes, probably feeling like an eternity for Zero, as he listened. Some weren't too bad...

But some were also ones that he had not exactly wished to name his daughter, others were ones he had tried to convince Kaname to try before. And not many of them seemed to fit... His hand continued to rest against his swollen stomach, his lips pulled into a faint frown as he rubbed it gently. He was waiting for her to kick, as if signalling that it was a good name... But now she chose to sit still.

"...Well those are pretty good ideas... Annabelle was pretty good..." Zero murmured as he looked down at his swollen stomach, only to carefully adjust the blankets around his body. He seemed to have cheered up a little bit, or at least he wasn't glaring at Yuuki like he normally did. Maybe this was something he needed to keep his mind off of things... After waiting for any movement from the baby, he gave out a sigh.

"...Any other ideas?"

Frowning in concentration, Yuuki quickly ran through names in her head, trying to remember all of the ones she had already spoke of.. But it seemed that she had used all of her ideas in her last splurge. Smirking a little but and letting out a small giggle, Yuuki looked up to her pregnant friend with a rather large but mischievous smirk.

"If she has white hair, call her mini me.. Ooooor Zera! So it's a girl version of your name" Snickering through her words, Yuuki gave the silverette a soft nudge against his side, hoping that would cheer him up a little. Though it could also prove to annoy him, it was something she took a gamble on.

These hormones had surprised the female, seeing Zero more crabby than what she was used to. Even the small things had set him off at times, her grabbing the last thing to eat or trying one of his drinks from the fridge. She wondered at times how Kaname put up with it for five months.

Zero had almost clawed Yuuki last night when she had taken his spot on the couch, and had taken one of his pillows... Though the snarling that he had done at her seemed to have been enough to scare her off. But if she had any idea how much pain he was in daily in his male body having to adjust to something that was unnatural. Even with the changes in his hips and such, his height alone was hurting him...

After all, that meant more space his belly was from the ground. The more that his back would ache at him, and the more height from him to the chair in sitting down... That alone was making his knees, ankles and feet ache. Though what was aching right now in particular was his bad mood... At least it didn't seem that all of it was aimed at her, or at least not yet.

All Zero did was heave a sigh at her joke, soon pushing his face in between his knees again and curl up a little. At least she wasn't thinking of wanting ownership of this child, even if he stayed here... Of course she may have to help out from time to time, seeing as how she was female and would be able to do more than he could. He didn't know the first thing of what to do, no matter how much he had researched...

Slowly he let his eyes close again as he gained a little comfort, adjusting the blanket around his body to keep him and the baby warm. He was exhausted, even when he hadn't done anything all day... Maybe it was just the fact that he had not drank proper human or vampire blood for weeks... The slight darkening rings under his eyes was enough to give that away, as well as a possible loss of weight...

Maybe if he just rested for a little longer...

Soon enough, though, as the thought managed to pass from his mind, his breathing had softened and he no longer stirred. His cheek slid down against his folded arms as the tiredness finally took over him. Finally his daughter had settled down enough to allow her mother to rest a little longer... Because who knows how long it'll be until it's time for her to be born. Weeks, days... Maybe even hours.

The sound of his soft breathing was enough to make a small smile spread across Yuukis face. Zero had needed sleep for a long time now and it was probably a good thing that he had managed to doze off now.. God knows Kaien would make a lot of noise when he returned, more than likely waking the hunter up.

So it was with great care that Yuuki pulled a pillow down onto the floor, only to gently begin moving the hunter so he could lay down a little more comfortably than what he was now. If he slept like that for hours his back would hurt far more than what it had already been hurting.

"Good night, Zero.." Sliding herself back a little once the hunter was properly laid down, Yuuki climbed up onto the bed and curled herself up for warmth. She may as well get some sleep now while she had the chance, she had been a little tired after all..

At least she was willing to let him sleep in peace... And the hunter probably would have regretted his back aching so much when he would wake up all cramped up into a ball. The usually tough and hardened hunter was unnaturally unresponsive as Yuuki laid him down gently, showing that he must be hurting even more than Yuuki had been thinking...

But now he would be able to sleep, and with Yuuki close by his side on the other side of the bed, it would seem a little bit... pervy. But it was all innocent, and seeing as how Zero was rather pregnant, it would be impossible for him to try something on her any way. Also, it would be handy if he would be awake... Instead he slept quietly beside her, comfortably curled up in the blanket with the pillow rested beneath his head.

Though as an hour slowly passed them by, Yuuki may be stirred awake by an opening of the door. It creaked open slowly, as if hesitating at first, before finally opening all the way in the living room. Someone was back home... And soon the calls for Zero to come were starting, though not quite in Kaien's normal sing song voice. Something must be rather important... But Zero was just too tired to care.

It was rather quiet in the house.. Something the visitors weren't that happy with. But as a few moments went by and Kaien continued to call out for Zero, the young female eventually made her way out of the bedroom while rubbing both her eyes. It seemed as though she wasn't ready to wake up just yet, causing her to gaze down at the floor as she spoke.

"Shhh. I just got him to sleep chairman, why did you-" She was soon cut short as her eyes locked onto two pairs of shoes though, the second pair seemingly familiar.. It caused her heart to jump up into he throat and hammer away quickly, something she couldn't control. But as seconds passed and her gaze locked onto the other person in the room, her heart filled with sadness.

He wasn't here to see her anymore.. Gone were the times that she would rush into this room and fling her arms around one person. That person no longer desired to see her.. It was only for the silverette who lay sleeping in the bedroom right at this moment. But pulling up as much courage as she could, Yuuki soon addressed him.

"K-Kaname-Sama.. Welcome"

'...Kaname...?'

Soft amethyst eyes fluttered open gently, still drowsy from the sleep. He had wanted to sleep a little longer... But now he could taste the scent on his tongue. And for a moment... the last couple weeks were only a dream. Kaname must be coming to get him to breakfast, or maybe he had taken a nap or two... Who knows, but he's willing to get something to eat now...

Though as he yawned and started to sit himself up on the bed, he felt the bed creak beneath him... That wasn't a normal bed sound... It wasn't the way that the plush bed Kaname owned felt... Then of course it all came rushing back to him. He wasn't in Kaname's home any longer. He was with Kaien and Yuuki...

And Kaname was here.

Immediately he felt the color wash from his face as he tried his best to pull himself to his feet. Of course it took a few moments to manage to do so... He needed to find some place to hide. Some place where Kaname wouldn't find him... He hadn't been outside all day, maybe his scent wouldn't carry outside of that room...

There was truly no way for Zero to hide now, not when he was so close.. Kaname could smell him quite strongly from where he stood and if he attempted to move then he could quite easily follow that same strong smell. It had been a scent Kaname had been missing for the last two weeks after all.. Though he still felt uneasy at being here.

Did he truly have any right to see Zero? He had left him to come here, though Kaien was sure he needed to return back home, the elder hunter practically pleading with the pureblood to return and take Zero with him. It wasn't as if Kaien didn't want him though, he just knew the silverette would be far happier with Kaname in the long run.

Regardless of what was said, they were in love.

So nodding his head slightly towards Yuuki and Kaien quickly moving forward to grab hold of the females arm to yank her from the room, Kaname began to step his way towards the bedroom, grasping hold of the handle and gently pulling it open.. Hoping all the while Zero wouldn't try to escape him.

Whether Zero was going to believe that he was in love or not was something that may have to wait a little bit... Because all he cared about right now was to get the hell out of here as soon as he could. But as the scent began to grow closer to his room, heading towards his door, he knew that there wasn't going to be an easy way out of this place without being caught... And he couldn't exactly hop out the window in his... condition.

"Fuck..." Zero swore softly to himself as he knelt down on the ground, trying desperately to pull everything back into his bag, trying to pack it all away. It was going to take balls to get out of this mess... Balls that he no longer had, of course. But he still desperately packed away everything, hoping that maybe he could get away...

But then of course the doors opened up into his room, light pouring in as he crouched over his bag. Flinching slightly as he looked away from the door, he couldn't help but feel his body stiffen up at the deep scent of Kaname's blood. "...D-damn it... Why are you here," Zero tried to spit out as he stared down into the bag, still starting to pour the clothing inside.

There was nothing but concern written over Kanames face as he glanced down at the silverette, deep bags shadowed beneath his eyes as a sign that he hadn't slept in quite a while.. If anyone would guess it would be those two weeks Zero had been gone for, having worried so much that he refused to rest.

But as Zeros words reached his ears, Kaname couldn't help but crouch down in front of the hunter with a small frown. "I'm worried about you, please come home Zero" no words had been truer, the pure blood had thought of nothing but his mate from the time he left, trying to figure out ways which he could make things right between them.

Of course Kaien had always refused to let him come, that was until early this morning. His concern for the pureblood and Silverette outweighing the orders the young hunter had given him to keep Kaname away. It had occurred to Kaien that no matter what would happen, they would both need each other.

"Why, so you can take her? So you can have your heir and then come back to have more kids from me?" Zero grunted as he stared down at the box, trying his best not to put any pressure on his stomach. It wouldn't be good for him to press against his stomach when he was trying to keep her protected. Pressing his hand against the swell, he piled in the clothes and soon shut the lid to his bag.

His stomach still ached, and he could feel the movements and kicks again... She knew that her father was here, and she wanted him and his blood. She was almost begging him for it as he felt kick after kick into his ribs, making him visibly flinch at the sensation. Damn it, why couldn't she settle down just for a little bit... She was making it obvious that he needed Kaname more than he was admitting.

Rubbing into the bottom of his stomach to try to settle her, he pulled up his bag and managed to get back to his feet, even if unsteadily. "I'm leaving. I'm going to find an apartment, or a hotel, or something, but I'm not staying here." Kaname was going to keep trying to follow him, he knew that, but right now he was wondering... why he was still running. What if he was hurting her...

The pure blood stepped forward as soon as Zero went to leave, he wouldn't allow such a thing again.. Not if it was this obvious that they both needed one another this desperately. It was all the proof Kaname needed to ensure that this wouldn't happen again, Zero couldn't leave..

"I don't want that, I want you. I am no longer interested in an heir, I havnt been for a very long time. Zero, I fell in love with you and I plan on being a family, can't you see that?" He was practically begging of course, but what other option did he have? Zero didn't wish to listen and it would be the only way of making him do so.

He did see those movements though, their little girl knowing that he had been there. It made Kaname know how thirsty Zero would be, something Kaname wished to help.. But he wouldn't do so until this was sorted out, knowing that Zero wouldn't drink from him unless they were together once more.

Zero had been living off of rabbit blood for weeks on end, or whatever Kaien had managed to hunt for him... And with all the hunting starting to fade off, with animals moving deeper into the woods, it left him with barely a mouthful of blood a day. Sometimes not even that. "And what makes you think that it'll be happily ever after, huh? How long until your vampires hunt me down because I'm around you?"

Zero wasn't quite trustful... Though it wasn't all at Kaname. It was about... well, everything. Kaname had vampires around him almost every heartbeat... Something that he hated to see. He hated vampires, maybe all of them except for Kaname. Maybe. He didn't completely hate Kaname... Not until he betrayed him, which he still was thinking it would happen.

Who knows how long it would be until the vampires would turn against Kaname. After all, he was a danger to the pureblood... And as sharp amethyst eyes glared up at him, slowly getting back up to his feet, he couldn't help but cross his arms around his stomach, his last effort to keep her protected.

Crouching down in front of Zero so they could make eye contact, Kaname hoping that this would help Zero trust him more so than what he had now. That of course wasn't much, making Kaname have very little to work with in attempting to bring Zero home.

"We will be as happy as we possibly can be, to know that we have each other for all eternity.. My vampires will not disobey me, if they try I can easily kill a hundred of them in the blink of an eye. I will not allow harm to come to my family. That now includes you, Zero.."

Moving his hand forward slowly, Kaname hoped that Zero would at least let him touch him. He had yearned to feel the hunters flesh for so long, even now this felt surreal to him, having the male so close after weeks of being away was something he could barely comprehend.

Who knows how much Zero had wanted to get closer to the pureblood, to taste the blood he had been lusting for... But he would refuse to admit it until the very end. Even he knew that he was on his last legs here, though. With no blood to drink, no doctor, no room, it seemed like his time was up here... So why did he still deny himself from Kaname.

Another low hiss rumbled in his throat as he reached out his hand, and every hunter instinct told him to dart away... But he stood his ground. He had to think for the baby and for himself... And maybe for the fact that Kaname would just keep trying to drag him home. But didntt that meant he should fight? Another growl rumbled as his nearly crimson eyes stared back at Kaname before he attempted to take a few staggers back...

Then pain rushed out from his stomach instantly.

A hiss of pain rushed from him before he could stop it, falling down to his knees. Christ that hurt...! Trying hard to not show his weakness, but doing exactly that, he couldn't help but feel the hands that touched his stomach and his shoulder, attempting to steady him. All he could hope was that the baby wasn't deciding for him who she needed.

"Zero?! Are you alright?" Kaname nearly helped but managed to control his volume and panic, but his mind was already racing... Had Zero gone into labor? But his hand pressed to the swollen stomach told differently... It was still soft to his gentle touch, and a rather grumpy squirm shifted beneath him. It wasn't contractions... But Zero was still in pain. The hiss of discomfort and the flinch to try to escape his body didn't detour Kaname...

He had a feeling he knew the cause of all of this.

"Zero... You need my blood. Our baby needs my blood... Its hurting her," Kaname tried to explain, but that only made the once gentle amethysts to glare darkly at him, the crimson already starting to fleck and invade his eyes. Attempting to soothe his lover, he unfortunately decides to press his hand to Zero's cheek.

A warning snarl came from the hunter, trying to fight his way free, but in too much pain to move far. Kaname only pulled him closer, tugging him as if to make sure he would not escape... Zero just shouldn't move, not with him being in so much pain, in need for the blood that ran through his veins. "Shh... Just relax, I'm here to protect you both," Kaname attempted to soothe him, though he only got the glare to leave a human dead deep into his eyes. Thankfully he halted his struggles, though remaining stiff in his arms.

. "...and how long will that last. Until I fall to level E? Until a hunter has to finish me off whether you like it or not? Why don't you just take her, it'll save us both the trouble of when I fall."

Zero's voice trembled as he spoke, as if the thought of blood had already brought on his fears of falling. One more attempt to soothe the hunter came by gentle caresses to his cheek, still feeling the hunter tremble beneath him. Kanames eyes took on a soft sadness at the hunters words, knowing that a time would come where Zero would indeed fall.. But the pureblood would do everything in his power to prevent that, to use every resource he possibly could do stop the fall.

Sliding his hands through the soft silver locks he had missed beyond reason, Kaname gave the other a gentle smile. "I will do everything I can possibly do to reverse that, to find a way to keep you as you are now. It isn't over, it won't be for a very long time. You needn't fear for the future, I am here for you"

Once again Kaname spoke nothing but the truth, even if Zero were to look him in the eyes he wouldn't see a trace of a lie. In fact Kaname was quite passionate about what he had said. Even if Zero didn't return to him he would still do the same, for the sake of their daughter and the knowledge of knowing Zero is safe.

The growl still rumbled deep in his throat, his eyes still staring into Kaname's. he was trying to search for a lie in his words, something to tell him that Kaname was only dragging him back to take his daughter... But the more he searched, the less he found to give him a reason to back away from the pureblood's offer. But his arms couldn't help but tighten around his stomach, trying to cover his baby, though only felt the pain strengthened. He needed blood... If he didn't, he could possibly bring on labor right now. Either he got Kaname off his tracks and got blood now or... Well, he didn't want to think about what would happen.

"...how do I know that you won't just keep me prisoner and never let me leave even after she's born. This is the first time I was outside the house in months. I don't want to live inside a house every hour of the day, every day of the week." Zero had been sick and tired of staying inside their home, it was why he had always tried to convince Kaname to let him out..

Zero didn't want to stay inside the rest of his life. He would refuse to. Pressing his hand against the side of his stomach, he tried to massage her to keep her at ease. But she was still squirming and trying to get closer to her father... But he needed to keep her in control as much as he could right now. She was too close to the end of the pregnancy to be squirming this much...

"Trust me.." It was the only thing Kaname could say to him after all.. There was no way he could physically prove that he wouldn't do that to Zero, though the way he had been living these past few months would be enough of a sign. Kaname hadn't locked him away in a single room after all. "The only reason you have been indoors is because of the pregnancy. If you were to be seen it would cause you and our child to be in danger. As soon as she has been delivered I can look after her and you may do as you wish" it was all for Zeros safety after all. Everything was always for Zero..

"If you don't believe a word I say, take my blood.. See my memories and thoughts. Everything I am is open to you and to you alone. Because I love you." He didn't care if anyone heard him, if Zero wanted him to tell the world then he would. There would be no one to stop them, they would be forever united.

He was still suspicious on having to remain inside... Kaname would find some excuse to keep him locked inside. Whether it'll be that he didn't want the vampires to find him, or that he was in 'danger', it would be excused time and time again... Yet he wanted Zero to trust him. How could he... Then again, there must be some element of trust, as he could still feel the soft fingers still sliding through his silver hair.

But at the thought of drinking Kaname's blood, it made his body stiffen up, his eyes widening as he quickly tried to pull back away from his grasp. It was the crimson that flooded his vision, bleeding out into his iris until they bled red that caused his alarm, another pain rushing into his throat and trying to suffocate him. Fuck... he wanted that blood. But he also knew that this wasn't the time, wasn't the place...

If any of those damn Night class students were still at the dorms... They would scent the blood. They would come running. Or... maybe he was just making up excuses. After all, what if he found out that he was right, that Kaname had never intended to harm him or the baby. He would look like a fool... Maybe he would even begin to trust the damn pureblood... But as he pressed his hand over his mouth to hide his lengthening fangs, he found that he was running out of reasons why not to trust him.

The reason that he was a pureblood wasn't quite cutting it anymore.

Kaname didn't say a word.. He instead allowed Zero to make up his own mind, to decide if he would take that blood or not. He didn't care if they were scented, if anyone asked he returned to help Kaien with an experiment, his blood was needed for. Shifting his hand from Zero's cheek, Kaname brushed his hair back behind his shoulder in case Zero had decided he wished to drink without any indication, allowing the pureblood to be ready for it. Then again the pureblood was sure he would be ready for anything.

"I'm sorry for every one of my tainted thoughts, I truly regret every one of them." Looking towards the male with his most earnest expression, Kaname shuffled a little closer. "Please, give me a chance. I'll do anything you ask of me"

The expression itself was rare... Kaname rarely let his emotions slide out onto his face for Zero to see until recently. Did that mean that he truly did care for the hunter? But as Zero still fought against the thirst, he realized that he really wasn't in the mood to think about that right now... All he wanted was some blood.

Zero's response to the sudden rush of Kaname's scent from moving his hair was to quickly press his hand to his lips and nose, trying to hide the scent. He could feel his sharp fangs starting to lightly cut against his bottom lip. He really needed that blood, they both did... And the constant squirms were enough of a sign to how dire they needed this blood. But was he really willing to see just what the pureblood thought, about to see if he truly cared for the hunter...

Apparently. Because it was with a few clumsy movements that the hunter closed the remaining distance, leaning over to where his stomach lightly touched the ground. But he was sure to grab onto Kaname's shoulder and pull him a little closer, enough for him to lean over and sink his aching fangs into his neck. He would not only drink for him and his child...

But to learn the truth.

There was nothing Kaname wanted to hide from Zero.. Nothing he was willing to keep from the one he loved, apart from one thing.. Though that could wait for another time, a time where he knew Zero would want to be with him for as long as they lived.. Only then would he give the last of his secrets to the hunter.

But for now as Zero drank, the pureblood allowed him to see everything he desired, how he had been coping with the silverettes absence, or lack there of. Every emotion he felt for Zero, the happiness he felt for having a child with the hunter and the love he felt for the him alone.. The truth he felt about their lives together..

So moving his arm around the pregnant hunters waist while his free hand continued to run through his silver locks, Kaname couldn't help but sigh happily at having the fangs he missed in his neck once more.. His life felt whole for the first time in weeks.. He could only hope it wasn't temporary.

He had missed this blood... The warmth of the emotions seeped into his body, trying to heat up his body with care... But he still attempted to fight against it as he bit a little deeper in warning as he felt his arm starting to wind around his pregnant waist. That was getting a little bit too close for his comfort... Or it was more for the fact that he didn't want his baby to be in danger.

But as he continued to drink from his partner, and let himself find the emotions that raced through Kaname's body, he already seemed to know that the things he had been intending to find... would not be there. The hate the pureblood felt for him, the anger of letting him be the mother of their child... It wasn't there. And he wasn't quite prepared to feel the heat of the emotions...

Moments quietly passed, and slowly his body began to relax into his grasp just slightly. Bit by bit, the stiffness fell away and the force of his bite relaxed. And as he drank the last mouthful of blood that he wished to have, he let his fangs slide out of the rapidly healing wound, licking away the rest of the blood. Once again his hand dropped to his stomach, but amazingly, the movements had... softened. She was relaxing. The pain was fleeing too, as if that little bit of blood was already helping repair damage of two or more weeks without the father's blood.

Yet he was silent... It probably was a good thing that he was silent rather than tearing into Kaname.

Maybe it would give Kaname a little hope.

The pureblood kept his arms around the other, not wishing to be separated for a moment if he could help it. They had been apart for far too long, something that still made Kanames heart ache at the mere thought. If Zero decided to return to him, then he would do everything in his power to make him happy.

Though that's not to say he wouldn't like to keep him from the world, to keep him all for himself so he wouldn't need to share. But he loved him too much to even attempt such a thing, knowing Zero would only be happy doing as he wished, he wasn't the type of person happy with being locked away for endless amounts of time.

So looking back up at the silverette as he waited for some form of answer, Kaname quickly realized that the hunter might not answer him just yet, meaning he might just have to make the first step in this moment. "Will you return to me, Zero?"

Zero's eyes didn't look back at him, his eyes staring down at the ground as he delicately licked the blood from his lips. His hand still down and pressed against his stomach, waiting to feel the furious kicks and squirms inside him start once more... But she had grown quiet again. At least hopefully she would stay that way for a little longer... But she seemed to be perfectly fine with her father being so close against him.

But how was he going to respond... Was he going to respond. Silence controlled him as he remained close to Kaname, swallowing away the last traces of blood inside his mouth. So... It looks like he was going to have the choice here. And as he felt the soft wiggle inside him, her head nuzzling against his palm, he knew that there was only one answer...

Though Zero wasn't going to just sit there and lose. Not when he had the upper hand... Kinda. And so slowly, the hunter started to pull himself out of his arms, pushing away from Kaname. He turned away from him without a word, his eyes locking onto his suitcase. Carefully, though, he leaned down and grabbed onto the handle, silently dragging it over to Kaname, for him to pick up.

Turning his gaze to the door, he didn't hesitate to pull himself, however awkwardly it may be, to his feet and began to walk past the pureblood, reaching out to get the handle. His eyes stared down to the handle as his other hand stayed to his stomach, as if to remind him just who he was doing all of this for... A sigh slipped from him, and he closed his eyes, already beginning to open the door and let light pour into the cramped, dark room.

"...You better have some damn salmon going when we get home."

:o daddy has come to save mommy and baby! XD Now let's hope that the lack of blood has not damaged the little sweetheart in any way ;-; But we are very close to the end of this pregnancy! veeeeeeery close. Now should I build tension and wait to do the next chapter... Or put it up right away...

Decisions, decisions...

-J

Reviews answered:

Ben4kevin: yeah Zero needs to use his brain a little bit .-. Or actually his heart :3

Cherrypicker11: more updates!

KxZ fan girl: Yuuki, stay away from Kaname's man DX

Evanthe Beelzenef: i love to keep this moving and please the readers :3

Vampirekitty26: Woot go full chapter! 3

ChienzNimea2Wind: Yay majority vote! :D

Platoniclus Nue: Your wish is my command :3 25 is here!

KkChibiChop: I'm always worried that chapters get too long though Dx

Sake-Chan: Yuuki has made her entrance and we will probably see more from her in the future~ :3