AN: Cheers for 545 hits!

Grandfather.

"My nephew, still in the waking, went to school with Mikoto." Mizuomi elaborated.

Mikoto unhurriedly inclined his head, Tatara and Mizuomi had covered the introductions, there was nothing for Mikoto to add.

Grandfather made an ambiguous sound, and waved towards the door. "Come in then."

Indoors, the place was serviceably furnished. There was a lot of live edge wood and recycled cement. But beyond that Mikoto couldn't say what, or if there was some style guiding the choices, not being knowledgeable in decorating. All he was concerned with was the comfortable sofa.

Setting a jug of freshly squeezed juice and cups on the table, grandfather joined Mikoto on the aforementioned sofa. "So, are you going to tell me how it happened?"

"First, do you know about Kings?" Tatara asked.

"Do I? I've been friends with the previous Green King since my own school days."

Hearing this, Mikoto asked. "Your friend, the one who died in the Kagutsu Crater Incident?"

"She tried to prevent that tragedy, instead she along with 700,000 others, got caught in it, and wound up here."

"Oh, that's-"

Grandfather cut Tatara off. "In the past. But based on your raising the subject of Kings, I don't suppose there's been much progress."

Mikoto gathered his Red to his palm, a flame sparking in the center briefly. "Not a lot."

"That's not true." Tatara protested. "Mikoto died avenging me, and protecting everyone from the new Colorless King. And the Blue King, Munakata was there to make sure there wasn't another Crater."

Grandfather bowed his head. Mikoto couldn't see his expression, so was caught off guard when the older man laughed. It was a short sound, but sincere.

Lifting his face, grandfather spoke as if to himself. "The Red King and the Blue King cooperating? Guess the kids are alright." Addressing Mikoto he went on. "Still, you should have had the opportunity to live a long life in the waking, like I did. And you were expecting when you died by the look of you."

"Destiny's a bastard." Mikoto agreed. "But I don't have many regrets. Everyone in the waking survived, I'll still be able to deliver this brat. And my other one, Anna will be taken care off. That's good enough."

"Anna?" Grandfather promoted.

Mikoto offered the basics. "Long complicated story, the Red clan took her in. She'll be twelve this year."

"I'm a great-grandfather huh." To Mikoto's ears, he sounded pleased. "So, what of this second kid on the way?"

Mikoto glided his hand over his middle, smoothing creases out of the crossover maternity singlet he wore. Bun must be sleeping, they hadn't kicked in a while. "They're due in six weeks. Munakata's the father. And you're babysitting when they're born."

Grandfather laughed a second time, a proper laugh. "Sure. Your parents are living in Australia now, or the dream version, and I don't doubt they'd like to hear that they've graduated to grandparents." Then more soberly. "Things really are different aren't they. But that suitor of yours, that's a heavy burden he's carrying."

Grandfather was right. Mikoto knew all too well, just what his choices meant for the man he left behind in the waking.

They finished their drinks to lighter topics, Tatara and Mizuomi doing most of the talking. It was getting on towards evening by time they gave grandfather the gift of bourbon, leaving with a big bag of fruit in return, as well as promises to visit each other often.
_

[4th of July 2013]

The night was overly hot. And Mikoto was desperate for two things, a smoke and a cold drink of just about anything.

The former was entirely off limits. But getting up for water seemed out of reach just the same. Walking was an awkward chore, navigating stairs was a newsense. And tonight his back was extra sore, while his middle felt tight as if it were at capacity. Everything was sore in fact. His feet weren't puffy, which had been a concern, but the extra weight on them was annoying. Even his tits were painful, heavy and itchy, though he did his best to avoid scratching them in front of others.

He had his PDA on him, and could call Tatara, or at nights Mizuomi. Even for something like a drink of water. But he didn't feel like being fussed over, he just wanted the brat to arrive already, so he could have his body back.

No sooner had the thought gone through his head, than he felt a shift, a gentle flow of liquid from between his legs starting up. An incredulous snort of a laugh escaped him, and he propped himself on his forearms to see his water had broken. "What were you waiting for, an invitation?" He asked his baby bump aloud.

Not wanting to sit around in damp bedding, he gave in. Taking his PDA from the night stand, he selected Mizuomi's contact listing and hit dial.

"Mikoto, Everything ok?" Mizuomi's voice was made groggy by sleep.

"Waters broken, labor's starting." Was his unconcerned reply.

"Water? Labor!" The man's voice climbed several octaves. "Ok ok, I'll be right there!"

"Bring something to drink, I'm turning to dust."

"Course."

Ending the call, Mikoto listened to Mizuomi crash and clatter from the bar's other bedroom, where he was staying while Mikoto was gestating, down to the kitchen and back up again, to knock on Mikoto's door.

"Come in." Mikoto invited.

Ashen faced, Mizuomi stepped in and put the glass of water on the bed stand. "Are you ok?" Much like Izumo, Mizuomi was a cool head if the situation was extreme, but overreacted concerning more mundane matters.

"Fine, just uncomfy." Mikoto indicated the damp bedding as he eased himself up. "I'm going to take a shower." That said, he shuffled into the shower room.

Stripping out of his singlet and lounge pants, the latter of which had long lost their need for the elastic band. He set the laundry aside for the washing machine. And ducked under the warm water, the worst of the tension and pain easing almost immediately. Resting his palms against the wall, he sighed in relief.

Soon enough a knock came at the door, and Mizuomi's jittery voice announced. "I've texted Kane, to let her know what time your water broke. She wants to know if you're having contractions?"

Kane was Mizuomi's 'lady friend'. She was also a midwife, and had been monitoring Mikoto's pregnancy, as Mikoto was reluctant to go to the hospital.

Switching off the shower, Mikoto toweled off as well as he was able with his mobility limited. And slipped into a loose a-line maternity tshirt, and hip huggers lined with a maternity pad under yet more lounge pants. At which point he was already tired, but he didn't think the brat would take a rain check.

So he stepped out of the shower room and into a pair of soft slippers, arranged for him by Mizuomi.

Further, Mizuomi draped Mikoto's black cardigan over his shoulders and passed him his PDA.

Dropping down heavily, on the edge of his freshly made bed, Mikoto downed the glass of water on the bed stand. Typing out a reply to Kane as he did so.

Mikoto { they don't feel like much, but are happening roughly 10 min apart, and last for under a min. didn't realize they were contractions. ]

The contractions felt like menstrual cramps, if anything they were less painful than he could expect from his 'code red' days. But when they had gone over the topic of labor a few weeks back, Kane had warned him that he should expect the pain to worsen after his water broke.
But pain had never been an issue for Mikoto, nor did he fear the prospect of giving birth, and death wasn't a risk in the dream.

Kane's next text was prompt.

Kane { Ok, take it easy until they're happening five minutes apart. I'm on my way and will be there shortly. ]

"What did she say?" A nervously hovering Mizuomi wanted to know.

"That we have some time to kill. And she's on her way over now." He flopped back into the pillows.

"Are you hungry then, could I make you a bite to eat? It'd give me something to do with my hands too."

"Yeah, whatever's fine."

Mizuomi disappeared out of his field of vision. Mikoto listened to the sound of footsteps descending the stairs.