After Ten Years - Christmas Special
:For Smitha, who really inspired the sequel for me... (^_^)v
AN: It's apparent by now that I can't possibly put this story away just yet. Since it ended just as Christmas rounds the corner, I felt the need to write just one more chapter. I know it's a little late, but everyone should still have their trees up, so as a Christmas present to all the awesome readers and reviewers, I give you a Christmas Special! It has nothing to do with a story or a plot, it's just a warm and fuzzy 'filler' I guess... Although I sincerely hope that everyone is spending the holiday with family and loved ones, and not sitting alone reading FanFiction... :P Hope you guys like it! :)
-X-
'Homura, do you have Saaya's coat in there with you?' Kentaro called, holding his one and a half year old daughter in one arm, and ransacking their apartment searching with the other.
'Yes it's here!' Homura called from the other side of their closed bedroom door.
'Can I come in and get it?' He asked meekly, knocking on the door with his free hand.
'Just give me a few minutes...' Homura called back. 'I can't find anything that fits.' She groaned.
'What do you mean you can't find anything?' He asked, very confused. 'Why don't you wear that cute maternity outfit your mom gave you?' He asked through the door.
Homura stuck her head out of the door, covering her bare body which was carrying their second child, with just a shirt. 'Kentaro,' She told him firmly. 'I'm only five months pregnant, I am not wearing maternity yet...' She finished, shutting the door again.
'We need to hurry though...' Kentaro groaned slightly. 'I'm sure your parents won't care what you come in.' He assured her.
'But I will!' Homura called through the door.
Kentaro sighed and looked to his young daughter, who was still in his arm, looking very unconcerned. 'Tell Mommy you think she looks just fine...' He said with a smile.
Saaya answered with a gurgle and waved her little arm in the direction of the door.
It was Christmas Eve, and Homura and Kentaro were getting ready to take Saaya over to the annual Kurosaki Christmas family gathering for her second Christmas. The family would have done something larger for Saaya's first Christmas, but the poor child was sick with a double ear infection the last year, so Ichigo and Rukia promised that would have a gathering this year.
Finally, Homura, sporting her pregnant stomach once again, came out of their bedroom dressed and ready to go, carrying Saaya's coat as well.
'You look great...' Kentaro observed with a smile.
'It's a little tight...' Homura grunted, helping little Saaya into her sleeves. 'You ready to go?!' Homura asked her daughter in a cutesy voice, tickling her cheek.
Saaya responded with a wide smile showing the tops of a few baby teeth.
'Do you have everything?' Kentaro asked his wife, looking around the apartment one last time.
'Yep.' Homura answered, slinging the diaper bag over her shoulder and grabbing her set of keys. 'Let's go...' She smiled.
-X-
Ichigo had the Kurosaki house decked out with Christmas lights of almost every color, some even blinked. Homura made sure to point out the bright display to their young daughter, who thoroughly enjoyed it.
Shizuku, being home on break from college, was the one that opened the door to his sister and her family.
'Hi Shizuku!' Homura grinned, hugging her brother.
'Where've you been?' Shizuku asked, returning his older sister's smile. 'We've been waiting for you!' He told them as they walked in the front door.
Upon seeing her uncle, Saaya instantly held out her little arms, begging with her large violet eyes for him to take and hold her.
'There she is! Come to Uncle Shizuku!' Shizuku exclaimed, taking his niece into his arms and covering her face with kisses as Saaya giggled in glee. During the few times that she had seen her uncle, Saaya had demonstrated that Shizuku was her favorite.
Shizuku held Saaya on his forearm and led his sister and her husband into the living room, where Ichigo was putting the finishing touches on the lights and decorations. Rena was standing on the side, holding a box of ornaments and handing them to her father one by one for placement on the tree.
Ichigo stopped the backbreaking task of making sure the colors were evenly distributed across the artificial pine tree to greet his daughter and son-in-law.
'Looking good!' He smiled, giving his once-again-pregnant daughter a welcoming hug. The whole family was already aware that Homura was expecting again.
'Thanks Dad...' Homura sighed contentedly.
'Hello!' Ichigo continued happily, turning to shake Kentaro's hand, but noticed that his daughter was still standing. 'Oh, your mother's in the kitchen Homura.' He told her.
'Oh, thanks Dad!' Homura smiled, wondering how her father read her mind so easily and heading towards the kitchen, where she found Rukia removing a tray of tree-shaped cookies from the oven.
'Is there anything I can to do help?' Homura asked her, stealing an already cool cookie from a large plate.
'You can stop eating my cookies...' Rukia chuckled, not even bothering to turn around.
'You're good...' Homura breathed in awe, catching a stray crumb that fell from her mouth with her hand.
'Grab an apron from the wall, and I'm sure there's something you can do...' Rukia added.
Obediently, Homura tied a red apron loosely around her distended waist.
'The cookies in the oven have about five more minutes...' Rukia said as she turned around to hug her daughter. 'Hi dear...' Rukia sighed, squeezing slightly.
'Have you been baking all day?' Homura asked with a giggle.
'It feels like it...' Rukia sighed. 'When I wasn't cleaning, that is.' She added.
'I was gonna say...' Homura chuckled. 'You look tired, Mom...' She said with a fond smile.
'I'm willing to bet I'm not as tired as you are though...' Rukia answered with a smile. 'How are you feeling?' Rukia asked as she leaned against the counter.
'I'm tired...' Homura said with an exasperated sigh. 'If it's not Saaya, it's Kentaro... He can't seem to leave my stomach alone.' She chuckled fondly. 'It's cute, don't get me wrong, but...' She trailed off with a light groan.
'I meant, 'How are you feeling?' Rukia repeated, referring to her daughter's second pregnancy.
Homura groaned again, taking another cookie from the plate. 'I'm eating like a horse, Mom!' She half-whined half-groaned as she bit into her second cookie. 'It's ridiculous! I feel if I weren't busy with Saaya all the time, I'd just sit around and eat us out of the apartment! I just can't stop!' She whined through her crammed cheeks.
Rukia chuckled fondly as she watched her daughter scarf down yet another cookie.
'Let me try and help you...' Rukia chuckled as she picked up the large plate of cookies and moved them out of Homura's reach. Then, Rukia handed Homura a shaker of colored sugar. 'Get sprinkling...' She grinned, showing Homura to a tray of cookies ready to go in the oven. 'And no more eating until dinner...' Rukia playfully scolded, shaking a friendly finger in Homura's direction.
'Yes Mom...' Homura drawled shamefully, feeling like a little kid again, which wasn't such a bad thing to her.
There was silence for a few minutes as the ladies continued working on dinner and dessert.
'How did the ultrasound last week go?' Rukia asked after a few minutes, stirring a pot on the stove.
'Good...' Homura said simply, smiling as she turned around from her work.
'And...?' Rukia asked expectantly, waiting for her daughter's answer.
'It's a boy...' Homura sighed happily.
'And did Kentaro want another girl?' Rukia asked with a smile.
'He's just starting to get over it...' Homura giggled, affirming what her mother asked.
'What am I doing?' Kentaro asked as he walked into the kitchen, bent down helping Saaya toddle along in front of him with his two pointer fingers.
'Nothing dear...' Homura chuckled, turning back to her work.
'But I heard my name...' Kentaro pouted, picking up Saaya.
As soon as Saaya was up at eyelevel with the rest of the adults, her eyes instantly landed on the countless trays of goodies spread out on the counter. Quickly, she reached her chubby little hand out to try and reach a cookie.
'Can she have a cookie?' Kentaro asked meekly, fighting to try and keep little Saaya from climbing down and taking one for herself.
'Here you go!' Rukia crooned in a sweet voice as she handed her granddaughter a frosted snowflake-shaped cookie. Saaya shyly took the cookie from Rukia and put it to her mouth, then resting her head on Kentaro's shoulder she began to eat.
'Can Daddy have a bite?' Kentaro turned his head and asked his daughter with a smile. 'Please?'
With an adorable smile, Saaya slowly put the cookie to her father's lips.
'Yum!' Kentaro declared after taking a small nibble, looking at his daughter for a reaction.
'What about Mommy?' Homura asked her daughter equally sweetly, drawing up beside Kentaro and looking up to her daughter.
Rukia growled playfully under her breath. Thinking, 'It's your own fault you're eating all the time...' All in good humor, of course.
Saaya, seemingly reading her grandmother's thoughts, pulled her hand with the cookie away and shook her head, causing her wavy brown hair to swirl in all directions.
Rukia couldn't help laughing out loud when Homura gasped in mock shock and began to pout.
'That's a good girl...' Rukia laughed, handing Saaya another cookie. 'Have another.'
Again, Saaya played shy, laying her cheek on Daddy's shoulder as she meekly took the cookie.
'Isn't she cute?' Rukia giggled.
'She's just like Daddy...' Homura chuckled fondly with a mouthful of raw cookie dough, which she promptly stole after her daughter adorably refused to share.
'Homura!' Rukia cried, finding that her daughter was eating once again. 'I was going to bake that!' She added, snatching the bowl away from Homura's devouring reach.
'It tastes good anyway...' Homura muttered as she swallowed. 'And I'm hungry...' she added under her breath.
'You better get your wife out of the kitchen...' Rukia chuckled, turning to Kentaro.
'Good idea...' Kentaro agreed. 'Have a baby...' He grinned, handing Saaya over to Homura.
'But I already have one...' Homura pouted, rubbing her belly.
'Have two then...' Kentaro insisted, pushing Homura holding Saaya out of the kitchen and into the living room.
'You'll thank us later Homura!' Rukia called out as Homura crossed the threshold into the living room.
Homura sat down on the couch next to her brother, and started bouncing Saaya on her knees. However, Saaya quickly wriggled her way over to Shizuku's lap, as eagerly as an eighteen month old could be to be with her favorite uncle.
'Mom didn't need your help anymore?' Rena asked, handing Ichigo another ornament.
'Nope...' Homura sighed as she stretched her legs out. 'She kicked me out 'cuz I was eating more than I was helping...' Homura pouted.
'Is there anything left in there then?' Ichigo asked antagonistically with a laugh.
'Of course!' Homura exclaimed indignantly. 'Mom's got so much food in there you'd think we're entertaining the entire Sereitei!' She exaggerated.
Rena was about to say something equally antagonistic, when Rukia carried into the dining room a large platter piled high with turkey. Kentaro followed with a large covered casserole dish.
Homura couldn't help but smirk seeing her husband wearing her mother's oven mitts.
'Dinner's ready...' Rukia announced pleasantly.
Soon, everyone was seated at the family table with plates piled high with their delectable Christmas dinner.
Homura sat on one side of Saaya with a plate of dinner cut into tiny half-bite sizes. With one hand, Homura put bits of food into Saaya's mouth, while shoveling enormous bites into her own at a rapid pace.
'Where's the fire Sis?' Rena chirped, noticing her sister's ravenous appetite and lacking manners. 'Don't forget to come up for air...' She giggled.
'Homura...' Rukia scolded gently, agreeing with Rena. 'We all understand you're hungry and eating for two, but don't punish us with your manners...' She said fondly, trying not to chuckle.
Homura stopped just as her fork piled high with turkey and potatoes entered her mouth. She blushed furiously as she felt her family, and even her own daughter staring in amusement. Slowly, she pulled the empty fork out her mouth and began to chew slowly.
'Sorry...' She mumbled meekly. 'How's school going Shizuku?' She asked, changing the subject.
'Not too bad...' Shizuku shrugged. 'It's kinda cool living in Tokyo. The people aren't the nicest sometimes, but I like it enough.' He finished.
'That's cool...' Homura agreed.
After much more small talk, dinner was finally over and cleaned, and everyone lounged around on the couches and loveseat in the Kurosakis living room. Finally, to Homura's glee, the large plate of cookies appeared on the coffee table in front of her.
'I lost count after your thirds at dinner Homura, and now you're still eating...' Shizuku observed as he watched his sister take a small stack of cookies in her hand and begin to munch on them idly while seated on the couch. 'Where do you put it all?' He asked incredulously
'Right here!' Kentaro snickered, patting Homura's slightly swollen stomach, which was carrying his second child.
'And when you're in Kentaro's place when you have your own wife, I'm sure you'll understand...' Homura added, finishing Kentaro's thought and another cookie at the same time.
Shizuku couldn't think of a witty comeback, so he simply shook his head.
'Are you really having another baby?' Rena asked her sister from over on the loveseat beside Rukia, who was rocking Saaya gently back and forth.
'Shizuku, Rena,' Rukia said gently. 'You don't need to question your sister about how much she eats or how many children she and Kentaro plan on having.' Rukia paused her speech to rub noses with Saaya. 'It's none of your business or concern... She can eat as much as she wants if she really needs to.' She finished.
'Yes Mom...' Rena and Shizuku sighed in unison.
At this time, Saaya had begun to squirm and grunt on Rukia's lap. She had had enough of sitting still and was ready to change laps.
'I'll take her from you...' Kentaro offered, standing up and relieving Rukia. 'Come sit with Daddy...' He cooed to Saaya as he sat back down next to Homura, who was still munching away.
'Save some for me...' He joked quietly as he sat back down.
'That's it!' Homura exclaimed angrily, slamming her hands down on the couch and standing up as quickly as her laden body would allow her. 'If you guys are sick of me eating...!' She trailed off angrily as she stormed out of the living room and up the steps in the direction of her old bedroom.
'I thought she was over the hormonal mood swings...' Kentaro mused sheepishly to the rest of the family, who was utterly confused by Homura's change of demeanor. 'I'll go talk to her...' Kentaro decided, handing Saaya back to Rukia.
'Good luck...' Ichigo smirked lightly as Kentaro began to climb the steps.
Kentaro found Homura pouting in the room that she used to call hers. Since she got married a number of years ago, Rukia and Rena had commandeered it as their own womanly sanctuary.
'What's the matter?' Kentaro asked gently, taking his wife by the shoulders and looking into her eyes.
'You guys are so mean!' Homura sniffed angrily, looking away.
And now Homura was crying... Kentaro wondered where Homura's emotions would go next. He hoped she wouldn't hit him.
Still, Homura continued to cry angrily. 'I can't help it I need to eat! I'm pregnant for Christ's sake!' She yelled indignantly. 'What do think I'm going to do? I-'
'I'm sorry Homura...' Kentaro interrupted, trying to soothe her. 'We weren't trying to be mean, honest we weren't.'
'But-' Homura sniffed.
'Homura, I think you're absolutely adorable!' Kentaro insisted, holding her tight. 'No matter what you do or how high your plate's piled, or-'
'But I did eat like a pig...' Homura sighed. 'A little.' She quickly added.
'Homura...' Kentaro said firmly. 'I don't care what you do... I don't care about anything at all. You just do what you have to for our baby, and I'll be the happiest man alive.' He told her. 'If anyone ever tells you anything different, I'll stomp on them...' He chuckled slightly. 'Don't be like this tonight, it's Christmas...' He added with a smile.
Homura smiled, grateful for Kentaro's comforting words. However, she continued to sob in his arms.
'Now what's the matter?' Kentaro asked again, trying not to become agitated as he wondered if his wife would ever level back out emotionally.
'You're so patient...' Homura sobbed sadly, clutching Kentaro's shirt and using it as her tissue. 'And I'm not...'
Kentaro sighed deeply. How long were they going to go around and around?
'Please don't cry...' Kentaro pleaded simply.
'I can't help it...' Homura sniffed pitifully, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands.
'Do you want to go home?' Kentaro threatened gently. 'Because if you can't stop crying, I'm going to throw you and Saaya in the car, and we're going to go straight home to bed.' Kentaro told her.
'I'm trying...' Homura sniffed as she inhaled deeply, desperately trying to avoid giving Kentaro a reason to take her home. She wanted to spend a wonderful Christmas Eve with her family.
'Try harder...' Kentaro insisted.
Homura forced herself to put on a very wide, and very fake-looking, grin. It looked completely unenthusiastic coupled with her tear-stained cheeks and bleary eyes.
In an instant however, a switch inside Homura seemed to flip, and she instantly began to look as happy and content as one could possibly imagine. She sighed contently as she hugged Kentaro tightly.
Finally, Kentaro had spoken some sense to her. Kentaro raised an eyebrow once Homura started laughing lightly and tugging at him more. To finish, she pulled his head down to her and kissed him sweetly.
Kentaro didn't mind one bit at all, but Homura's third drastic change of emotions confused him once again.
'This is really strange of you, Homura...' Kentaro wondered quietly. 'What is it now that's got you this happy?' He hoped his words wouldn't set her off again.
'Our baby's moving...' Homura sighed happily, wrapping her arms around Kentaro and laying her head on his chest.
'That is a good reason...' Kentaro breathed happily, stroking Homura's hair.
A knock at the door startled Homura and Kentaro from their peaceful embrace. Ichigo poked his head in the door.
'Just making sure everybody's okay up here...' He explained meekly. 'But I see Kentaro's got everything under control. Umm...' He paused. 'Are you guys planning on coming down any time soon?' Ichigo finally continued. 'Saaya-'
'We're on our way...' Homura smiled. 'Thank you Dad.' She added, leading Kentaro out of the bedroom and back downstairs.
-X-
Finally, everyone was back downstairs. Contrary to what Kentaro and Homura assumed when Ichigo mentioned Saaya upstairs, Saaya was fast asleep on Shizuku's shoulder. Supposedly, after being passed around, she finally dozed off.
'As much as I love this...' Shizuku whispered as he handed Saaya back to Kentaro. 'My arms hurt.'
'This is really nice...' Rena mused aloud to no one in particular.
'What's nice?' Ichigo asked, tilting his head to one side.
'That we're all here... together.' Rena elucidated. 'On Christmas.' She smiled slightly. 'I wish we could get together like this more often.' Rena sighed wistfully.
'We all wish we could...' Rukia added. 'But unfortunately, we all have our own lives now, and it truly is difficult for us to try and synchronize them.' She explained.
'Are you guys coming back tomorrow morning?' Rena asked her sister hopefully.
'I'd like to...' Homura admitted hopefully. 'But we'll have to see how we're all feeling in the morning... We all just might want to stay in bed.' She chuckled lightly. 'But we'll try...' Homura quickly added when she saw Rena's eyes fall.
As to be expected, Rena's eyes lit back up.
'Please?' She begged.
'Ask me again tomorrow...' Homura surrendered, yawning slightly.
'We can't open our presents without you...' Rena added with a light pout, folding her arms across her chest.
Homura was drawn from her conversation with her family when her daughter began to stir on Kentaro's lap. And eyelid popped open for a brief second, but then slowly slammed shut again.
Homura sighed with relief, not wanting the youngster to be awake just yet. 'What do think about young children and Spiritual Pressure?' She asked, turning to her parents.
'What do you mean?' Ichigo asked.
'Well...' Homura thought for a second. 'Is it good or bad?'
'Has Saaya shown signs of Spiritual awareness?' Rukia asked, trying to decipher her daughter's question.
'You can just feel it...' Homura said. 'From what we've seen of her, it's tied together with her emotions.' Homura explained. 'If she's happy on your lap, you'd never notice it, but if she gets into a tantrum, it reverberates all over the place.' Homura sighed. 'Is there anything we should do about it?'
Rukia and Ichigo thought for a few long moments, exchanging thoughtful glances between each other. Finally, they had come to a conclusion.
'There's nothing wrong with being Spiritually aware. It's only natural, since she is the child of Soul Reapers...' Ichigo concluded.
Rukia added to Ichigo's thought. 'I don't see anything wrong with it per say. Or even if she's exuding Spiritual Pressure, just as long as you don't ignore it. Just keep it in check and make sure it doesn't hurt her.' She decided.
'It could hurt her?!' Homura gasped lightly.
'Only in rare cases, when the Spiritual Pressure's too strong for the body...' Ichigo clarified.
'But you don't think she'll have any trouble?' Kentaro asked, making sure he understood what his in-laws were telling them.
'I don't see any problems in the future...' Rukia said, shaking her head. 'Just keep her temper in check if you think her emotions are linked with it somehow...'
Homura sighed deeply. She had been hoping that seeing and talking with her parents would give them some answers and direction, but here in the end, it only left them with more questions.
'Only if you want her to do something with her abilities would I suggest honing her abilities.' Ichigo put in the final word.
'Would you want her to be put through what you and your brother went through?' Rukia asked. 'Because that's the only thing I can see possible in her future.' She added.
Homura thought for a second and reflected back on her time in the Shino Academy. 'Nope...' Homura admitted. There was nothing in either worlds that would persuade her to do that to her daughter. 'I want her to have a normal life. Should she even be told of Soul Reapers and Spirits?' Homura asked.
Rukia shook her head. 'She'll find out sooner or later.' She said. 'Just enjoy her and love her while she's young and sweet, enjoy your beautiful family, and everything will work out in its own time.' Rukia smiled fondly.
Homura nodded, understanding. 'Yes Mom...' She resigned compliantly.
'Homura?' Kentaro interjected, shifting Saaya in his lap while looking out the window. 'The snow's really coming down now... I think we should scoot along before it gets any more hazardous tonight. Remember we still have to drive home.' He reminded.
'Awww...' Rena and Shizuku groaned sadly in unison.
'Do you really have to go?' Rena whined.
'I'm afraid Kentaro's right.' Homura sighed sadly. 'It is getting late, and we should be moving along.'
'I'll miss you...' Rena sighed, hugging her older sister tightly.
'We'll be back over for New Year's...' Homura offered. 'I promise.'
Finally, after a longer series of goodbyes, Homura and Kentaro found themselves back at their apartment, winding down and getting ready for bed themselves. Saaya had fallen asleep in the car, and was willing to embrace slumber once she returned home.
'What was with your sister?' Kentaro finally asked. 'She seemed a bit clingy...' He observed.
'It was strange of her...' Homura agreed, closing her eyes and leaning back. 'No need to worry about her though...' She decided.
'Merry Christmas...' Kentaro chirped.
'Goodnight...' Homura slurred, ignoring Kentaro's wishing her a Merry Christmas.
'Are we going back tomorrow morning?' Kentaro asked.
'Goodnight...' Homura repeated firmly.
-X-
The Sasazakis dragged themselves back to the Kurosaki house the next morning, and were glad that they did. Soon, as the days passed, the busyness of the holidays died down, and everyone returned to their normal lives.
'She's too much like you...' Kentaro chuckled fondly to Homura as he played with Saaya in his lap one early-March morning.
Homura shook her head playfully. 'I don't think you can tell that quite this early.' She grinned, playing with Saaya's chubby hand.
'How's he doing?' Kentaro asked gently, wrapping his arm around Homura's waist and resting it by her round stomach once he had noticed her recline back and sigh tiredly.
'I don't know...' Homura sighed again, holding her stomach gingerly.
'You don't know?' Kentaro repeated, slightly confused.
'Something's been hurting all day...' Homura told him, wincing just a little bit.
'That's not good!' Kentaro cried slightly urgently, putting Saaya down and looking Homura square in the eyes. 'Why didn't you tell me?'
'Because it's nothing...' Homura assured him, standing up from the couch. 'It's fine.'
'But what if it's-?!' He insisted, picking Saaya back up and following Homura out of the living room.
'It's nothing!' Homura insisted, raising her voice slightly. 'Stop worrying so much!'
'But I have to!' Kentaro defended. 'You-!'
'I'm fine!' Homura insisted forcefully for the third time, gritting her teeth for emphasis. 'I'm not due for another month and a half, nothing's happening!' She told him vehemently.
'I'm not saying anything is!' Kentaro responded defensively, his own voice rising in volume. 'I just want to know what's wrong!'
'Nothing's wrong!' Homura yelled, storming to their bedroom and slamming the door shut behind her, leaving Kentaro with Saaya watching, not knowing what to say or do.
Finally, Kentaro resigned back to the couch to continue playing with his daughter. Presently, the door to their room that Homura slammed shut, burst open again just as quickly as she stumbled out slowly and leaned against the threshold. Her face had the look of defeat about it.
'I'm sorry I yelled and I didn't listen to you...' She apologized quietly.
'What do you mean?' Kentaro asked, feeling her unease as he stood up, his own confusion overwhelming him.
'You told me so...' Homura admitted shamefully, gritting her teeth. 'My water just broke...'
'No... no!' Kentaro panicked, hurrying to her side. 'It can't! What about the baby?! It's too young! He won't-!' He rambled on, concerned for the welfare of his second child, soon to be born.
'Kentaro...' Homura steadied him firmly. 'There's nothing we can do about it now.' She told him. 'Just call my parents and see if they can keep Saaya for the night.' Homura explained. 'It looks like I'm having this baby today...' She tried to smile.
'But it's so premature!' Kentaro cried.
'We can't do anything about it...' Homura repeated sternly. 'Just call my parents and let's go...'
-X-
As to be expected, Rukia came as quickly as she could to collect Saaya so Kentaro could take Homura to the hospital and not be distracted by his daughter. The delivery room was no place for an almost-two-year-old anyway. Rukia too was concerned about the baby's ability to survive outside of Homura.
Finally, after eight hours of medical tests, all while Homura was writhing in pain of course, and anything else imaginable, Homura gave birth to an almost five-pound preemie. The doctors had whisked the little boy away so quickly, neither of the parents had a chance to see him until he was under the incubator with countless wires and breathing machines attached to him.
Finally, when Homura was able to stand the next day, she and Kentaro were able to see their truly tiny son. Barely recognizable was the tiny pink bundle underneath all the lifesaving medical equipment.
Homura wiped a tear from her eye. 'He's so small...' She mused. 'Have the doctors said anything?'
'They said she'll be in, in a few minutes.' Kentaro mumbled numbly, unable to take his eyes from the heart monitor.
'The poor little thing hasn't had that good of a start to life.' The human doctor admitted as she walked into the room. 'Born a little more than a whole month early, feet first, with his cord wrapped three times around his neck.' She told Homura and Kentaro. 'Although premature babies can make any parents nervous, it's lucky you had him when you did.' She said to Homura. 'The umbilical cord could've strangled him if you carried him any longer.'
Homura nodded solemnly.
'We'll need to keep him in the Premature Care Unit for the next few weeks.' The doctor told them.
'Is he going to be okay then?' Kentaro asked, holding Homura tight.
'In the age of advanced medical technology, every baby has a chance.' She smiled. 'Some just take longer than others.'
'I'll stay at the hospital then.' Kentaro insisted.
'Are you sure?' Homura asked him once the doctor walked away.
'Positive...' Kentaro assured her. 'It's only for a few weeks, you stay home with Saaya.'
'We'll visit often.' Homura nodded, taking another glance at their baby in the incubator. 'What shall we name him?' She tried to smile, but her tears prevented her.
'I named the last one...' Kentaro told her, hugging her gently. 'It's your turn.'
Homura thought for a minute. She had made a list of ones she liked, but she had yet to make her final decision.
'I like 'Tomoya'...' Homura finally decided.
'I like it too.' Kentaro sighed, kissing her forehead. 'He'll be fine. I promise...'
-X-
After several long weeks of changing shifts at the Karakura Hospital, Homura and Kentaro felt like they had reached the end of their ropes, the exhaustion and the worry for their son was weighing heavy on them.
Finally, when everyone (the Kurosaki family included) felt like they couldn't make it through the day, little Tomoya was declared able to survive and leave the hospital to return home. As to be expected, everyone rejoiced greatly, and Homura was finally able to hold her child. She hadn't noticed in the weeks prior, but she had missed the son she hardly knew tremendously. Everyone was so happy to have the families all together in happiness once again.
'It's an 'after-Christmas miracle!' Rena declared happily to no one in particular, but everyone else heard, and heartily agreed as they formally welcomed Tomoya home as a part of the family.
-X-
AN: And even I thought this story was done for good, but I wanted a Christmas special... Hopefully everyone now still remembers Christmas as the holiday that was over two weeks ago... :P Sorry it took so long. Thanks again everyone! I love you guys! (^_^)v Hopefully this chapter doesn't leave anyone hanging, because I PROMISE, there's nothing after this...