Chapter 48
Life Has Surprises
Author's note: just to not get in trouble, I should remind everyone that I don't own anything YuGiOh. I just own my characters and Dark Mage of the Sea owns hers.
This chapter will coincide with the 42nd chapter of A Star Among Darkness, with each chapter focusing on a different POV.
When a sentence is **like this**, it's sign language. When a sentence is ~like this~, it's phoenix speech.
Thank you, Dark Mage of the Sea, my coauthor and best friend.
Roughly a year later, Tima was getting Aziza dressed. "Here we go, sweetie. All ready for the party."
Aziza giggled. "Ma-Ma!"
Tima smiled and picked up the one year old to kiss her cheek. "You are so precious."
At that moment, Atem came in. "We gotta go, Tima. We don't want to be late."
Tima nodded. She took a few steps but paused, her eyes a little blurry. "Ooh…"
Atem got concerned. "You okay?"
Tima nodded. "Yeah…yeah. Just got dizzy."
Atem took Aziza in his arms and suggested, "Maybe you should stay home today."
Tima shook her head. "I'm all right…really. I want to be at the party."
Atem looked at his wife before looking at Aziza. "What do you think? Stay home or party?"
Aziza suckled her fingers but uttered, "Ma-Ma."
Tima smiled. "That means party."
Atem gave her a look but did smirk. "You can't order the King of Games around."
Tima chuckled and kissed Atem, making their daughter giggle. "Nice try."
At the party, Tima stayed on the couch, still feeling under the weather and not wanting to get the toddlers sick. She did enjoy watching Noa and Kisa playing with Crystal, Tsuki, and the phoenixes and watching Merina help Aziza walk around and explore. Getting a little nauseous, she started to rub her stomach. "You okay?"
Tima looked up, seeing Tiki leaning against the couch. "Yeah, I'm fine. My stomach has just been acting up the last few days."
Tiki blinked in surprise. "Really? Same here. I hope we're not getting sick."
Tima agreed. "I'm just glad I felt good enough to come. I didn't want to miss this special day."
Tiki looked at her daughter before turning back and suggesting, "Why don't we stop by the kitchen? I got some amazing tea Seto got for me during a recent business trip to London."
Tima nodded and followed Tiki into the kitchen. As Tiki got out two cups, Tima looked over her shoulder. "Kisa looks very happy these days. Does she still have nightmares about the fire?"
Tiki smiled lovingly as she got the passion fruit tea. "Not really. Her Blue Eyes Ultimate Plush protects her."
Tima smiled as the chef Yuko came out with the cake. "Hello, Miss. Should I frost the cake in the other room?"
Tiki shook her head and continued to make the tea. "It's okay, don't mind us. You still have the drawing for reference?"
Yuko pulled out a piece of paper and started to frost the cake with white frosting, keeping one eye on the drawing. Tima looked: it was a child's drawing of Kisa being circled by a Blue Eyes White Dragon. "So adorable!"
Tiki looked at the picture as she gave Tima her cup. "Noa drew that. He is taking the big brother role very seriously. He's just like his father: Seto was the same way when he and Mokuba were growing up."
Just then, Yuko opened a blue frosting and scooped up a small spoonful. "Would you ladies like a taste?"
Tima looked at the frosting and felt his stomach lurch. Not seeing Tiki run off as well, she ran to the nearest bathroom but found it occupied. Remembering the other powder room, she ran and arrived just in time to get sick. Coughing, she moaned, "Ugh…gross."
While still feeling queasy, she knew there was nothing more in her stomach so she flushed and stayed against the cool wall. Seconds later, she heard knocking on the door. "Occupied…"
Atem's voice sounded on the other side. "Tima, are you all right?"
Tima slowly got up, not wanting to make herself dizzy, and opened the door. "I just threw up…"
Atem grew concerned. "Do you want to go home?"
Tima shook her head. "No, no. That'll make Kisa upset."
Atem gave Tima a look. "Don't worry about her feelings. You don't want to make anyone else sick."
Tima looked at her husband and smiled. "I'm okay now." Atem continued to look at her, making her smile more. "I swear. Okay? If I feel worse, we'll go. I promise."
Atem accepted the answer, though he was still worried.
The party went on. Tima stayed on the couch and had other people play with Aziza in case she was actually sick. But there was something about this sickness that made her suspicious: she was triggered by the smell of food. The last time she was affected by that was when she was pregnant with Aziza. 'Am I…? Atem and I have only had sex once this last year…but it does take one time…and the timing seems right. Maybe, on the way home, I'll ask Atem to stop by a drugstore and—"
Her thoughts were interrupted by Tiki excusing herself. Feeling the urge to follow, she did. She found Millie the maid giving Tiki a pregnancy test box. Taking a chance, she asked, "Have enough for two?"
Tiki looked over her shoulder and saw Tima. "You think you're also…?"
Tima nodded. "I didn't expect this…especially since Aziza is only a year old. But…"
Tiki smiled and took his friend's hand. "It's okay."
The two women took turns taking the tests. As they waited, Kaiba and Itami came up and looked at Tima. "What are you doing here?"
Itami gave Kaiba a look. ~All these years and still so rude.~
Kaiba ignored him and Tiki giggled a little. "Tima thinks she's expecting too."
Kaiba was surprised as Atem's voice came from behind. "Really? What are the odds?"
Tiki smiled and Itami's eyes sparkled, as if smirking. Tima asked, "Where's Aziza?"
Atem smirked. "Serenity has her. I think she wants to practice for when she and Tristan decide to have a child."
The women smiled. More focused on the test, Kaiba asked, "How long do we have to wait?"
Tiki looked at her watch. "Another two minutes."
No one said anything until the two minutes were up. The women looked at their tests and their eyes sparkled. Atem asked, "So…?"
Tima and Tiki answered at the same time, "I'm pregnant."
"You're both pregnant?!"
The two couples looked up to see Joey with Noa and Kisa hanging off his arms and Earthzina on his shoulder. He was so loud, the whole mansion went quiet. Earthzina looked at Joey. ~I think you messed up.~
Joey paled as Kaiba glared and said with a firm voice, "Noa, what do we do with the bonkotsu with a big mouth?"
Grinning like an imp, Noa broke away from Joey and kicked him in the shins. Kisa giggled as Noa chased Joey and Earthzina into the living room. Tima sighed, amused. "Well, that's one way to announce it."
Itami made a chirping noise like a laugh. As Tiki went to Kisa, Atem went to Tima and hugged her. "This is…unexpected."
Tima agreed and added, "But a happy unexpected."
Atem smiled and kissed her.
A few months later, Tiki had Merina come over for a visit while Noa and Kisa spent the day with Mokuba and Kaiba and Itami were at work. As Merina sat in the living room, she looked at Tiki's four month bump. "Do you know what you're having yet?"
Tiki giggled. "Found out yesterday. We're having a boy."
Merina's eyes sparkled. "That's wonderful!"
Tiki touched her bump. "Noa's really excited to have a little brother. Kisa's disappointed: she wanted a sister."
Merina chuckled. "Poor thing. I'm sure she'll get over it, though."
Tiki grinned. "She is still happy to be a big sister."
Merina then thought of something. "It's so funny that Serenity is also pregnant, within a month of you and Tima. What are the odd of the three of you giving birth at the same time?"
Tiki giggled and shrugged. "We'll see what God has in store for us…though He does have a sense of humor from time to time."
Merina nodded. As happy as she was, however, she was also jealous. She and Yugi had been married for a while and she was feeling the urge to be a mother. However, she was very aware of their busy schedules: Yugi kept developing games and she was busy with the Domino City Theater. Sensing her thoughts, Torru leaned in and nuzzled her. ~Don't worry too much, Meri. You'd be surprised with what fate has in store for you.~
Hearing him as well, Tiki agreed. "Torru's right. God has a plan; we just need to wait for it."
Merina chuckled and scratched Torru's head. "Thanks, you two. You're right—"
Her face suddenly soured and she rubbed her stomach. Tiki noticed and got concerned. "You okay, Merina?"
Merina nodded. "Yeah…yeah, I'm fine. I've been feeling under the weather for a while but I'm fine. Yugi thinks I'm stressed: this last week has been crunch time for our show."
Tiki suggested, "Maybe you should take a break."
Merina shrugged. "This is my dream role and a tough one at that. I have to be on top of my game."
Tiki smiled. "I know. But you need to make sure that you're healthy as well." Just then, Yuko came in with a tray with a teapot, two cups, and a small plate of crumpets. Tiki looked up and smiled. "Thank you, Yuko."
Merina's eyes sparkled at the crumpets. "Where did these come from?"
As Yuko started to pour the tea, Tiki got herself a crumpet. "I made Seto go shopping when he was in London last week."
"Why didn't you go?"
Tiki shrugged a little. "The whole family was supposed to go but, unfortunately, both kids got the flu."
Merina cooed with sympathy. "Poor babies…"
Tiki chuckled. "Yeah…two toddlers sick at the same time…it was not fun."
Merina smiled and inhaled the smell of the crumpets. "Ooh, they smell good!"
Tiki had already taken a bite. "Take one. They're really good."
Merina took one and her eyes lit up. "This is delicious!"
Tiki agreed as she finished hers and gave one to Torru, who took it with his talon. But her attention went to Merina. Having finished her first, she went for a second, then a third, and then a fourth. Half done with his own, Torru made a noise. ~Slow down, Merina. I think you had enough.~
Merina paused and blushed deeply. "Oops…"
Tiki chuckled. "Someone's hungry."
Merina shrugged and took her cup. "They were good…"
Tiki nodded. As she sipped her tea, she studied Merina and her mind started to wonder. 'Sickness…that seemed like a craving…' She asked out loud, "Have you been sexually active with Yugi lately?"
Merina was so startled, she almost choked on her tea. Tiki did not move as the blonde recovered. "Tiki…that's private."
Tiki smirked. "So yes."
Merina blushed bright red. "Why are you so suddenly wanting to know private details of my marriage?"
Tiki shrugged. "Well, your sickness sounds familiar."
Merina waved it off. "Yeah, stress." Tiki gave Merina a look before giving a hinting look at her own stomach. Following Tiki's eyes, the blonde laughed. "Good one, Tiki!"
Tiki did not laugh. "I'm serious, Merina. I think you might be pregnant."
Merina laughed a little more before settling down. "If I really was pregnant, Torru would have told me by now." She turned to her phoenix. "Right, Torru?"
Torru gave Merina a blank look. His lack of reactions made her smile slowly fade. Finally, he respond with ~That's for you to find out.~
Before Merina could ask for more, the phoenix flew to Itami's tree stand. He pretended to drink, though it was clear he was just dipping his beak. Her mind racing, Merina demanded, "Are you saying that I am?!"
Torru continued to "drink." ~I didn't say that.~
"So I'm not?"
~I didn't say that either.~
"Torru!"
~That's for you to find out!~
Tiki giggled, breaking the tension. "You two are like Seto and Itami. I swear, half of their conversations are bickering." She turned to Merina. "How about we find out? When I had Millie get me the test, she got a three pack."
Merina took a gulp of tea. She looked both nervous and skeptical. Taking a deep breath, she got up and left for the bathroom. As she waited, Tiki rubbed her bump. "Sounds like you'll have another friend to grow up with, Caleb."
Minutes later, Merina came back and sat down. Tiki's eyes sparkled. "So…are you?" Merina did not react. "Merina?"
Looking up from "drinking," Torru flew over, landed on her shoulder, and nuzzled her cheek. ~Merina…~
Merina took a breath and said, "I…am pregnant…"
Tiki smiled widely. "Oh, Merina! Congratulations!"
Torru chirped. ~This is exciting news!~
Merina did not speak as she touched her stomach. Worried, Tiki went over and sat next to her. "Merina? You okay?"
Merina did not look at her. "Why now?"
Tiki blinked in surprise. "What kind of question is that?"
Torru ruffled his feathers. ~Yeah! This is a happy day!~
Merina started to shake. "And a busy time! We're opening next week and Yugi is about to present his latest game to financers! This is too much to handle!"
Tiki touched her friend's shoulder. "Hey…it's all right. Take it from me, this is a happy time." She smirked. "If anything, you should be mad at Torru for not telling you."
Torru ruffled his feathers in defense. ~Hey, don't take it out on me! It's better for her to find out on her own! It makes it all the more special!~
Merina gave him a glare as Tiki kept talking. "Just breathe. You don't want to put stress on the baby. I will guarantee one thing, though: when you tell Yugi, he'll be very happy."
Merina looked at her friend. "You really think so?"
Tiki nodded. "I don't just think; I know."
Torru nodded. Merina started to feel better and could not help but smile softly. "Tiki…can you be with me when I tell Yugi?"
Tiki pointed out, "I'll have no choice but to do so: Yugi has to pick you up."
Merina smiled more at that.
A few hours later, Merina was playing with Noa and Kisa as Tiki was going over dinner ideas to give Yuko. Merina looked at the toddlers and their toys and thought about her being pregnant. 'How will Yugi react to this? We haven't talked about expanding our family so…'
Just then, Millie came to the room with Yugi and Tarra. "Mutou Yugi has arrived."
Tiki smiled and laughed at Yugi's blush. "She's introducing you to the house, not to the masses."
Before Yugi could retort, Noa and Kisa run up and hugged his legs. Kisa squeaked, "Uncy!"
Noa bounced. "Play play!"
Tarra made a laugh-like chirp before joining Torru at the tree stand. Yugi laughed, knowing the toddlers always enjoyed the games he showed them. Standing up, Merina watched her husband being dragged by the toddlers to their toys and smiled fondly. 'He is so good with children…and is still a child at heart.'
Having found a dinner she liked, Tiki gave the recipe to Yuko and looked at Merina. She saw the look on her face and smiled. Going to her friend, she tapped the blonde's shoulder. "You should tell him."
Thanks to her pregnancy brain, she was not as quiet as she thought she was. Tarra lifted her head and "asked" Torru privately, ~Is she going to tell him?~
Torru's eyes sparkled, as if smirking. Yugi looked up and asked, "Tell me what?"
Merina hesitated, making Tiki nudge her shoulder. The blonde took a deep breath and said, "I'm pregnant."
Yugi froze for a moment, not feeling the toddlers tugging on his shirt. Within seconds, though, a big grin broke out on Yugi's face. He broke away from the toddlers and went to his wife. "Merina…is this really true?"
Merina nodded with a smile. "Yes…"
Before she knew what was happening, Yugi took her into his arms and spun her around. She giggled and Tiki smiled. She did, however, point out, "Easy, Yugi! She's carrying your child!"
Yugi did stop spinning but kept hugging Merina. "I can't help it! I'm so happy!"
Tiki giggled. "I get it but at least put her down."
Yugi did so as Kisa asked, "Why Auntie spin wound?"
Tiki smiled. "She's going to have a baby, like Mommy."
The toddlers went to Tiki, where they both put a hand on her bump and said with a smile, "Bwudder!"
Tiki smiled and patted both of their heads. Kisa turned and asked Merina, "Auntie have girl?"
Noa grinned, "Or boy?"
Merina giggled. "We don't know yet. We have to wait and see."
Yugi looked at the phoenixes. "Unless…"
Tarra shook his head. ~Can't help you there. All we can see is a soul.~
Torru ruffled his feathers in protest. ~Even if we knew, we wouldn't tell you! It's part of the journey!~
Merina took Yugi's hand. "We'll find out during a doctor's appointment."
Torru tilted his head. ~Isn't it better to be surprised at birth?~
Tiki stated, "You can do that but keep in mind: the 'in' color for gender neutral baby things is green and an ugly green to boot."
Noa and Kisa cutely stuck their tongues out; they both hated green. The adults laughed at that.
Months came and went. One morning, Tima was resting in bed, cradling her belly. She thought back to the doctor appointment where she found out she was having a boy. She smiled and curled her head into the pillow as Atem came in from the bathroom. "How are you feeling?"
Tima smiled a little wider. "A little uncomfortable but happy."
Atem smiled and laid next to her, rubbing her shoulder. "I wish there was something I could do."
Tima shrugged and looked over her shoulder. "Don't worry about it, my love."
Atem shrugged. "I can't help it. Akihiko is two days late."
Tima could not help but laugh. "Atem, just because Aziza was on time doesn't mean all our kids will be."
Atem gave her a look before looking at the door and smiled. "We have company."
Tima turned her head and locked eyes with the barely two year old Aziza. "Hello, sweetie."
The toddler giggled. "Hi, Mommy. Hi, Daddy."
Atem smirked. "I thought I put you to bed."
Aziza climbed into bed. "Seep Mommy Daddy."
The toddler wiggled her way between her parents and laid down, making her intentions clear. Tima chuckled and rolled over to face her family. "Seems like we're going to have company tonight."
Atem smiled and laid down, covering his family with the blanket. Aziza looked up at her mother and asked, "When bwudder come?"
Tima smiled and stroked her daughter's bangs. "He will come when he wants to come."
Aziza's eyes sparkled. "Bwudder be old bwudder?"
Tima and Atem shared a secret smile. There were times like this that Aziza revealed she remembered parts of her Ancient Egypt life. Tima turned back and shook her head. "No, honey. Remember what we said? Old brother has already been reborn as Uncle Yugi. So—unh!"
Aziza's face fell, as if she did something wrong. Atem asked, "Are you okay?"
Tima took a deep breath. "Well…it might be Braxton-Hicks…"
Remembering her parents telling her that Braxton-Hicks were her brother practicing to come into the world, Aziza went down to Tima's belly. "Come out, bwudder!"
Tima laughed, laughing harder when Atem joined in under the covers. "Come on, Akihiko! Your sister wants to meet you."
Aziza giggled and hugged the belly.
The next day, the family was eating breakfast in the dining room when the cell phones dinged. Atem got his phone but Aziza got her mother's phone. "Me see!"
Tima smiled, knowing the toddler liked to "read" the texts first. She asked both Aziza and Atem, "What does it say?"
Aziza gave the phone a blank look; Atem said, "Tiki is in the hospital right now and currently being induced."
Tima lifted her head a little as Aziza returned the phone to eat her cereal. "Oh yeah…"
Atem nodded and returned to his breakfast. Tima took a few bites before wincing again. Atem asked, "Braxton-Hicks again?"
Tima smiled softly. "Maybe…we'll start timing it."
Aziza looked up. "Bwudder come?"
Tima shrugged. "Maybe."
For the rest of the morning, Tima relaxed on the comfiest chair and wrote notes for the novellas that would cover her characters in the modern world. Atem kept Aziza busy as the toddler was excited at the idea of her brother being born. Tima kept timing her contractions. A little before 2:00, she timed the latest contraction and looked at Atem. "I think…I think it's time to go to the hospital."
At the hospital, Tima was in bed with an epidural. Atem was sitting next to her, holding a napping Aziza and alerting their friends. Leaning her head back and draping her hands over her forehead, Tima sighed. "I wish I could have had another water birth. That was a great experience."
Atem smiled, having heard this many times. "I know. But with your gestational diabetes…"
Tima nodded. "I know, I know…we can't put our son at risk. But I believe I'm allowed to whine."
Atem chuckled and continued to hold Aziza. Tima looked at their daughter and asked, "Do you think she should be here? Do you think she'll be able to handle it?"
Atem looked at the toddler. "If you were giving labor naturally, I would have our friends watch her. But, since the doctor recommended an epidural, I think she'll be fine."
Tima looked at Aziza and smiled. She then thought of something. "Do you think this is the same hospital where Tristan and Serenity are?"
Atem got out his phone and looked at the group text where Tristan told everyone that his and Serenity's son Michael was born prematurely because Serenity had unfortunately got a placental abruption (the placenta separated from the uterus). "No, we're not."
Tima made a noise of understanding. "I'm just glad Michael is okay."
Atem agreed. "They're lucky to be living in this age. If they had been through this during Ancient Egypt…" He trailed off, not wanting to think about that.
A few minutes to four, the doctor came into the room and checked Tima. Atem covered Aziza's eyes, making the toddler giggle, as the doctor nodded. "All right, we are ready to go."
Tima smiled. As the doctor called a nurse in to help her, Aziza pulled her father's hand down. "Bwudder come?"
Atem nodded and stood up, keeping the toddler in his arms. "What do you want me to do, Tima?"
As her legs were propped up, Tima looked at her family. She wanted Atem to hold her hand but knew that would be difficult with Aziza. She then got an idea. "Come closer. Aziza, you want to rub my arm while your brother comes?"
Aziza nodded and, once she was close enough, patted her mother's arm. Tima smiled and started to push. The toddler was curious and tried to look but could not see over the blanket. Within a minute, however, the room erupted in newborn cries. The family watched as the doctor placed Akihiko on Tima's chest. The nurse started to clean the brown-haired newborn, making him cry harder. Aziza looked at her brother, stunned. Atem looked at his daughter and kissed her head. "You okay, princess?"
Aziza looked at Akihiko as Tima held him close. "Why bwudder cwy?"
As the doctor worked on the afterbirth and the nurse took Akihiko to the warming bed, Tima looked tiredly at Aziza. "That's how babies are. You cried a lot when you were a baby."
Aziza looked at the baby, making Atem bring her closer. While he texted the friends that Akihiko was here, the toddler reached out and touched the newborn's hand. Akihiko instinctively gripped her finger, making her squeak in surprise. Atem looked and smiled. "He likes you."
Aziza stared at Akihiko and a smile broke out on her face. "Hi, bwudder."
Three months later, everyone was at the Kaiba manor for a fun get-together. Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Atem were playing video games. Serenity was feeding Michael and having her fortune told by Crystal while Tsuki and Ukino were talking to Kaiba and Mokuba about a potential partnership between their companies. Noa, Kisa, and Aziza were playing with their plushies (Noa with his Blue Eyes, Kisa with his Blue Eyes Ultimate, and Aziza with her Dark Magician Girl). All the phoenixes were on Itami's tree stand, "talking" and enjoying a dish of melons. The other women were sitting on the couches, watching everyone. Tima and Tiki were holding their three month old boys, who were napping, and Kiko was rubbing Merina's swollen belly. "I can't wait to meet little Yuichi! How much longer?"
Merina blushed a little. "Any day now."
Tiki stroked Caleb's hair and asked, "You excited, Merina?"
Merina nodded and rubbed the top of her belly. "Yes…and a little nervous. I mean…this is my first."
Tima smiled soothingly. "You'll do just fine."
Merina winced a little, catching Kiko's attention. "You okay?"
Merina waved it off. "Been having them for a while. It's just Braxton-Hicks, according to my doctor. But that is one thing I am nervous about: the pain."
Tiki pointed out, "There's always the epidural."
Merina retorted, "You had an epidural for Caleb and it didn't work."
Tiki giggled a little. Tima shrugged. "The doctor said that was a rare thing. The epidural is still the best way to dull the pain, though I still rather enjoyed the water birth I had for Aziza."
Merina blushed a little. "Well, whatever it takes for me to not have pain during birth."
Tima opened her mouth to answer but she was cut off by Joey's frustrated yell. "Damn it, Tristan! You were supposed to save my butt!"
Tristan stated, "How am I supposed to save you, man?! I had my hands full with Atem!"
Atem smirked with pride. "When are you two going to learn you cannot defeat the King and Prince of Games?"
Yugi blushed at the title and said, "Atem, I think Joey is too prideful to admit that."
Tristan grumbled, "Or too dumb…"
Joey growled. "That's it!"
The blond attacked his friend and got him in a headlock. Yugi and Atem went over and tried to get their friends apart. Looking up from their conversation, Kaiba glared. "So immature…"
Atem and Yugi finally broke them and Atem pointed out, "You two need to knock it off. We don't want to teach the kids this behavior."
Yugi looked up and grimaced. "Too late…"
Everyone looked up. Kisa and Aziza had tackled Noa; Kisa tried to put him in a headlock and Aziza hugged his legs. Noa yelped, "Help me!"
Their mothers laughed as Kaiba went to the children and picked up Noa by his shirt. "Girls, you know better than to attack Noa."
The girls looked innocent as Noa was set down. Kaiba glared at Joey and Tristan "And you two…"
Joey and Tristan looked guilty; Tristan felt especially guilty as he was not acting like a responsible father. Tiki smiled at her husband. "Seto, I think they got the message."
Kaiba said nothing but returned to the conversation with Tsuki and Ukino. Merina smiled in amusement as she felt another jolt of dull pain. 'Hmm…they are really getting frequent…but my water hasn't broken. So maybe…'
The get-together went on for a couple hours and ended when the toddlers started to get tired. On the way home, Merina winced again. This time, Yugi noticed. "Merina, maybe we should get you checked out. You've been wincing for the last two days."
Torru peeked in from the backseat. ~I agree. I'm getting a little worried, Merina.~
Merina stubbornly shook her head. "It's just Braxton-Hicks…"
Tarra gave the blonde a look. ~Braxton-Hicks consistently for the last two days?~
Yugi nodded and took a turn with their car. "We're going to the hospital. If nothing is wrong, we'll just lose a few hours."
Merina tried to protest but got another jolt of pain. "All right, let's go."
Yugi made the right call: by the time they arrived, Merina was wincing even more than before. The phoenixes waited outside as the couple went inside. Merina sat down and Yugi told to the receptionist, "My wife is wincing a lot. Her due date is imminent so…"
The receptionist understood and called a nurse. A male nurse came out and said, "Mrs. Mutou?"
Merina nodded and stood up. The second she stood up fully, she froze and her eyes became as big as plates. Yugi and the nurse were about to ask her what was wrong when they saw the wet patch. Yugi was so surprised, he almost fainted right then and there. The nurse helped Merina to the back and paged a doctor on staff while another female nurse helped Merina get undressed. Luckily, the doctor was on the floor so he arrived within a minute. "Good evening, Mrs. Mutou. Ready to be a mom?"
Merina nodded as she laid down. "Yeah, I (ow) guess. It's just so (ow) sudden."
The doctor checked her and paused, a little taken aback. "Um…forgive me but how long have you been having contractions?"
Merina shrugged. Yugi answered, "She's been having Braxton-Hicks for two days."
The doctor looked at the blonde. "With all due respect, you're wrong; she's in labor and probably has been for two days."
The couple froze. Yugi uttered, "She's been…for two days…?"
Merina winced but managed to blush. "My father's pain tolerance…has come in handy…"
Yugi looked both scared and amazed. Clearing his throat, he asked, "Um…so…are we being checked in…?"
The doctor called for stir-ups. "There's no time for that. The baby is coming now."
Merina looked at Yugi and said in a slightly scared voice, "Well…here we go…"
Though scared himself, Yugi smiled and kissed her cheek. "I'm here with you, Meri-babe."
Merina blushed as her legs were prepped. "Always be together?"
Yugi nodded. "Always and forever."
Merina was about to answer again when she was given the order to push. The blonde did as she was told, straining and sweating. Within 15 minutes of them arriving, their newborn blond son was placed on Merina's stomach. Overwhelmed, she held the wailing newborn and smiled, feeling tears forming. "Hi, Yuichi…"
Yuichi wailed for a little while before calming down, recognizing Merina's heartbeat and comfort. As the doctor and nurses worked on the afterbirth, Yugi looked at their son, overwhelmed. "Oh, Merina…you did great."
Merina smiled and pointed out, "You had some work in this too." Her eyes refused to leave Yuichi. "Look at him…he's so handsome…"
Yugi looked at Yuichi and his eyes sparkled. "Our little Yuichi…"
The new parents were so absorbed in their new baby, they did not hear the medical people talking about getting a room for them or see Tarra and Torru flying up to the nearest window. Seeing the baby, they broke out into a gentle but happy Song of the Phoenix duet in celebration.
