"Are you two ready to see your baby?"
Tohru looked over at Kyo, her eyes alight with anticipation. He smiled back at her, grasping her trembling hand with his own.
"Yes, we're ready." He answered for her.
The technician proceeded to cover the handheld device with heated gel before flipping it over and gently placing it on Tohru's exposed belly.
"Ah ha! See, there they are." The technician pointed to the screen displayed in grayscale. There appeared to be a circle within a circle, one of which was twitching occasionally. Kyo cocked his head, eyeing the display with curiosity.
"That little dot is our baby?" He asked, clearly confused with what he was seeing.
"Yep. He's doing flips! Looks like he's happy to see you, too."
Tohru's eyes remained wide with admiration. Rolling the trackball on the machine for several minutes, the tech informed the couple that the baby was measuring seven weeks, one day.
"When do we find out what we're having?" Tohru asked, excitedly.
"Oh, not until twenty weeks or so. There is a blood test you can do at ten weeks, but its optional."
"Yes, please!"
The tech giggled at Tohru's enthusiasm.
"I will let your doctor know that you are interested. Dr. Sohma will give you the full report. Now, are you ready to hear the heartbeat?" The tech pushed in a button on the machine, turning it until the static became audible. After finding the baby once again, a faint but quick heartbeat filled the dark room.
"Woah.." Kyo muttered to himself, his gaze growing wide on Tohru's stomach. His grip tightened on her hand, before meeting her watering eyes.
After handing them some pictures of the little bean and a towel to clean off the gel, the technician wished them congratulations and good luck before bowing and leaving the room.
Kyo broke the silence first with a soft chuckle.
"What are you laughing for?" Tohru asked, placing the soiled rag in the laundry basket.
"It's just funny...I'm pretty sure we conceived the first time we.. you know."
Tohru giggled in return.
"I guess we did. I never thought we would be having a baby so soon." She pulled her arms through her coat, before picking at her fingernails.
"What's wrong?"
Tohru moved to playing with the lock of hair at her shoulder. "I'm a little worried. I've been having nightmares.."
Kyo blinked quickly. She's having them too? He took a deep breath before pulling her into his arms.
"Hey. Don't worry so much. You heard the heartbeat, right? Our little guy is still alive. He's fine."
"He?"
"Just a feeling." Kyo mumbled, his face reddening.
Tohru smiled weakly, not completely eased of her fears, but happy to be held by Kyo again. She squeezed him tightly in return, inhaling the comforting scent of his body wash.
"Let's head home now. Hatori is supposed to be meeting us there in an hour with the report or whatever." He muttered into her hair.
...
They made it home shortly after, despite having to move slower due to Kyo's injuries and medication. The latter made him a little unstable, but didn't seem to affect him nearly as bad as they affected Tohru.
The first thing Kyo noticed upon entering the house was how clean it smelled. Air fresheners and cleaning agents almost washed away their scent entirely. She must've been cleaning while he was in the hospital.
The second thing he noticed was the small pile of bridal catalogs splayed on the coffee table. Near the pile was a pink notebook with various phone numbers crowding the page.
"It looks like you've been busy." He noted, picking up the notebook and reading various categories such as 'Invitations' and 'Food'.
Tohru entered the living room, looping an arm through his and standing on her tippy toes to peer at the notebook.
"A month isn't much time. But I know we can do it!" She declared with adorable determination. Kyo just chuckled, setting the notebook down and turning to face her with his hands on her hips.
"Thank you." He said, barely above a whisper.
"For what?" She asked, cocking her head in confusion.
"For working so hard. You really are unlike anyone I've ever met. I still can't believe you agreed to marry me in the first place. I..I know I don't deserve you, but I will keep trying to be better for you. I love you, Tohru.." He lifted her chin, running a thumb over her blushing cheek.
The two looked at each other longingly, their gaze overflowing with love for one another.
"I think you are wrong, Kyo. I don't think it's about deserving at all. I think we were made for one another. I know that sounds silly and maybe a little childish.. but ever since you fell through Shigures roof, I've known that you were special. I just knew that I could never leave your side. Even when you tried to push me away, I just felt drawn to you. I love you, Kyo. More than I could ever describe."
Kyo was set ablaze by her sincere words, as he tried desperately to accept them, pushing aside his own poor self-esteem in hopes that he could feel her love in his heart.
Then, it hit him.
She loved him, just as he loved her. Maybe, just maybe, she was right. Maybe they truly were made for each other. He suddenly had the overwhelming urge to kiss her, an urge that he willingly surrendered to as his lips crashed down on hers.
She tasted the salt of her tears on his lips, or were they his? She honestly couldn't tell.
They poured out every bit of their hearts into their kiss, kissing not in hunger, but in need, in desperation to love and be loved. It was a slow and patient gesture, each one taking time to mould to the other, their hands pulling each other close until no gap was left between them.
Once they resurfaced for air, they could both feel a change. An unspoken acceptance and comfort that had never existed before this moment. Neither felt insecure or embarrassed by their passionate confessions, or by the closeness they still shared. It just felt... right.
A knock on the door pulled them from their moment.
"Oh, must be Hatori. I'll get it." Tohru smiled warmly at Kyo before heading to the door.
Kyo sighed in contentment, smiling like a fool in love as he moved to sit on the loveseat.
A moment later, Hatori entered with a folder in hand. Tohru joined Kyo on the couch as Hatori sat on the armchair across from them.
"Hello Kyo, how have you been feeling with your new medication?"
"Fine. It helps with the headaches, and doesn't make me drunk if that's what you mean." He gave a teasing grin to Tohru who pursed her lips in return.
"That's good to hear. Now, to the subject at hand. I got the report on your ultrasound and the baby seems to be growing well. There is only one concern."
"Concern? What's wrong?" Tohru asked, folding her hands nervously in her lap. Kyo put his arm around her, pulling her against his chest, seemingly comfortable with this display of affection in front of Hatori.
"The baby's heart rate seems to be on the lower side. This doesn't necessarily mean that the fetus won't make it, but it can be a great cause of concern if it drops too low. I've brought along a doppler. It's a handheld device that can be used to hear and track the baby's heartrate. I would like for you to record it twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. With where you are in the pregnancy, the babies heartrate should never drop below 110 bpm. If it does, I want you to call me immediately."
They took a moment to process his words.
"What happens if it does drop below 110?" Kyo mumbled, watching as Tohru's hands began to tremble. Hatori sighed.
"Well, it could lead to miscarriage very quickly. In other words, the baby could die."
Kyo tensed. "Well, what the hell can we do to make sure that doesn't happen?! Can't you give her medicine or something?"
"I'm afraid not. There are ways we can interfere if we do see a problem, but the best thing you can do until then is make sure that Tohru is not under alot of stress and is getting a healthy diet and exercise. Also, the vitamins and supplements I provided are vital. Overall, the baby is healthy and on track. It only seems to have a weak heart. Please, dont worry too much about this. Many women have had this problem and given birth to healthy babies. I will do everything in my power to ensure the same goes for you."
They both seemed to relax at his words. He seemed confident. Well, as confident as a doctor could be when dealing with the unknown.
"Okay, I trust you Hatori." Tohru said, giving him a kind smile. He nearly smiled in return, but instead cleared his throat.
"I think it goes without saying that wedding planning could be quite stressful. I would recommend that you seek help with the event, little though it may be. Since Kyo is once again out of work due to his recent injury, perhaps he can pick up some of the workload."
Kyo nodded, his eyes full of determination.
"Of course. I can take over." He turned Tohru's face to look at him. "Please, let me help you. I don't want to lose our baby."
Tohru seemed moved by his words. Although not known for accepting help, she smiled and accepted gratefully. She couldn't let her own pride put her child at risk.
Hatori placed a small device on the table, along with a printed log sheet for her to record the heartrate.
Tohru stood up, walking Hatori to the door for his departure. Before he could make his final bow, Tohru ran up, embracing him with her small arms wrapped tightly around his torso. He inhaled a sharp breath of surprise, his eyes widening at the unexpected affection.
"Thank you so much, Hatori. For everything."
His eyes softened as he placed a hand on her head.
"Of course, Miss Honda. It's the least I could do for what you did for our family. We are forever in your debt. Besides, we all care for you deeply, myself included. I want nothing more than to see you happy. So if that means treating burns and head injuries, I will do so happily. Though, I wouldn't mind if you were a little less clumsy."
She giggled, releasing him with a radiant smile on her face. For the first time in a long time, Hatori allowed himself to smile freely in return. It was a rather beautiful smile, one that would catch anyone's attention passing by.
"You look handsome when you smile, Hatori." Tohru confessed.
He immediately blushed, covering his mouth before bowing and turning to the door.
"Until next time, Miss Honda."
Tohru's shoulders relaxed as she peered after him, saying a silent prayer that, one day, Hatori would find someone that would make him smile freely all the time.