I groaned as I heaved myself to my feet from the bed. I was glad we had replaced Akisame's futon with my bed, since I couldn't imagine trying to get off the floor with how big I had gotten. I through on my robe and walked over to the stairs. Sakaki, Akisame and Apachai had rebuilt them shortly after I had become pregnant. I walked down the stairs, stopping halfway when I felt a twinge in my stomach. I had been restless all night. I couldn't get comfortable, my back hurt, my hips hurt. I had tossed and turned, disturbing Akisame. He had tried to sooth me, but I had only fallen into a restless sleep when he had taken up his guitar and sang to me softly.
Finally I decided to get up and get something to eat. I gripped my belly, feeling Kimiko shift, her head pressing against my cervix.
"Kimiko," I groaned. "Please, Mommy's had a bad enough night." Kimiko ignored me and pressed again, her limbs stretching. I felt something in me break and water trickled down my legs to the stairs. I lifted my night gown and looked, confused at first, then realizing what it was.
"Shit," I swore. I turned and walked back up the stairs, making my way to our room. I leaned over the bed and shook Akisame's shoulder.
"Hunny," I said. "Hunny, wake up. Hunny! Wake up!" He moaned and rolled over to face me, peeking open one bleary white eye.
"Whaizit, dear?" he asked. "You hungry?"
"We need to go to the hospital," I said. His eyes snapped open and he sat up in bed, the covers dropping to his waist to expose his bare chest.
"Why?" he asked, alarmed.
"My water broke," I told him. "The baby's coming." He shot out of bed and dressed, quickly pulling some cotton pants over my legs and wrapping me in a warm jacket. He grabbed the bag we had already packed a few weeks before and lifted me into his arms. He was making so much noise, that Sakaki and Shugure came out of their rooms, sleepy eyed and confused.
"Whats goin' on?" Sakaki asked, rubbing his eyes.
"The baby's coming," I shouted over Akisame's shoulder. "Meet us at the hospital!"
"What? Now?!" Sakaki exclaimed. "Hospital, yeah, got it!"
"Are we running?" I asked my lover.
"No," he said. "I'm going to drive us."
