41.

Unexpected

"Kuga…" Haruka Suzushiro wrapped her arms around Natsuki, violet eyes staring longingly into emerald ones, "I've always admired your tough-as-nails act. I've wanted you for so long. Bad girls like you just turn me on, so, so much."

Natsuki grinned, "Suzushiro, has anyone ever told you that your forehead is just so…shiny. It really drives me wild."

"Kiss me, you damned delinquent, right here, right now!"

They moved towards each other, their eyes full of longing and passion…

Natsuki sat up in her bed, gasping for air and blushing tomato red.

"What the hell was that?" she managed after she could gulp down some air, "I swear, I'll never eat cold pepperoni pizza out of the fridge ever again, Lord. Just never let me have another dream like that!"

"You're being noisy," Shizuru's muffled voice came from where her face was buried in a pillow, "And I've been tossing and turning since 2a.m."

Natsuki looked up at the clock. She already suspected what she'd see, given the faint rays of sunlight peeking in through the window, "I have bad news for you, lover. It's 7a.m."

"Whyyyyyy?" Shizuru wailed into her pillow.

"Hey, are you really having trouble sleeping at night?" Natsuki asked Shizuru, "I mean, I've noticed that you've had bags under your eyes, lately. I hope it's not anything I'm doing to keep you up."

"It's not you, Natsuki. I've just had a good many things on my mind, lately, and a full mind is not noted for its sedative qualities."

"Work? Us? Home? The Kids?"

"All of the above and then some," Shizuru sighed.

"You need to take some personal time, Shizuru. If you overtax yourself, you're not going to be able to stay healthy."

Shizuru smiled, "It makes me happy just knowing that you care enough to worry. But what was your nightmare about?"

"I'm not sure I should tell you, now," Natsuki looked concerned, "It might give you more to worry about."

"Sex dream, then," Shizuru grinned. Natsuki flushed. "Oh. And about someone else, I'm guessing."

Natsuki was now positively purple.

"It doesn't mean anything, Natsuki. It's not a sign that you're thinking about cheating on me, if that's what you're worried about. Dreams should never be interpreted literally. So please, just tell me. I promise, I won't get angry."

"haruka," Natsuki squeaked.

Shizuru blinked, "Come again?"

"haruka suzushiro was coming on to me and I was liking it," Natsuki whispered.

Shizuru looked at her a moment, then sighed, "I'm going to agree with your original assessment, and state that you should never again eat cold pizza from the refrigerator. Especially with what you would call a 'dollop' of mayonnaise, but most of us would more correctly call a 'glob'."

Natsuki gave a weak laugh, "Well, I haven't consumed mayo like that in awhile. I was just…really craving it. Man, I haven't had cravings like that since I was pregnant with Saiyuri."

Shizuru turned with the speed of a striking cobra, "Wait, what?"

"I mean, it was just a comparison, Shizuru. It's not like I could actually be…" Natsuki suddenly felt a strange heave in her stomach, and was up and running for the toilet, where she heaved a few times.

She came out of the bathroom, trembling, "No. No way. Not possible."

888888

"Positive!" Natsuki screeched.

"Positive," Shizuru confirmed, blinking.

"No. No way. The nanomachines are gone. Mom checked. Alyssa's people checked. I am nanomachine free. And you are definitely the only person I've been in bed with. This is not possible."

"We'll get a more thorough test done at the hospital," Shizuru said, "It might just be some sort of strange hormonal imbalance due to tall the strange things we've been through in our lives."

888888

"Positive!" Natsuki was on the verge of passing out.

"I'm seeing the infant right here on the ultrasound. Given the size, and the fact that you're experiencing morning sickness, I'd say you're about six weeks along."

Natsuki did some quick mental calculations. What was going on six weeks ago? Six weeks ago was Yukino's wedding. And Shizuru and I had decided to celebrate witnessing Yukino's vows with a bit of our own reminiscing about our own wedding, and…Okay, so yeah, we were active together in the relevant time frame.

"Someone please explain this to me," Natsuki cried.

8888888

"So, the retrovirus that altered your genetic makeup died out, but not before it left some more…permanent changes," Saeko was reading a lengthy report in her hands, "Basically, every time you and Fujino…ahem…are active together…you run the risk of this happening. Shizuru's body wasn't altered by the retroviruses, only by nanomachines, so she shouldn't have to worry about a repeat of her last unfortunate experience, but I would recommend she undergo tubal ligation, just in case. And once this pregnancy runs its course, you should do the same. Unless you want upwards of four or more children."

"I'm going to have another child," Natsuki sighed with mad laughter.

"Well," Saeko took off her glasses and smiled, "At least you're living in a larger house. So you've got the room, at least."

"Mom, I'm kind of scared about this."

Saeko reached out her arms and embraced Natsuki, "Well, of course you are. That's part of being a parent, Natsuki."

"But, I've done it before. Why should it scare me, now?"

"Well, I've only ever had one child…the traditional way, anyway. Alyssa's mine by special circumstances, but I didn't actually carry her. So, I can't speak from any experience about having more than one child. But I'm a doctor, a scientist, and I was terrified when I had you. And that was even before I knew about the whole HiME thing. So…I think it's safe to say that it's pretty scary, every time. But also exciting. And rewarding.

"And I'm happy, in a way. I wasn't exactly the most helpful person when you had your first child, but I can be here for you this time. If you and Shizuru will allow me, of course."

"Of course, Mom," Natsuki smiled, tearing up as she hugged Saeko.

"Okay, so let's tell Shizuru about the tubal ligation thing, because I remember how devastated she was when she miscarried, and her being devastated hurt you, too."

"It's going to be a bit before the genetic test confirms it, but I'm fairly sure we can count on it being a girl," Natsuki grinned, "We're going to have to come up with a name."

"That's something you and Shizuru can discuss," Saeko said, "That's a parent thing, not a grandparent thing. I just get to spoil the little rugrats rotten behind your back."

Natsuki shot her a wry smile, "Looking forward to it."

888888

"So, we are having another child," Shizuru said thoughtfully, "Ara, does Natsuki have a preference for names?"

"I think you should decide on the name, this time, Shizuru," Natsuki said, "And tell Nao that when Kasumi outgrows her baby clothes, we'll take them off her hands."

"Speaking of Nao," Shizuru grinned.

"Kuga, how did you manage this?" Nao came in the room, shaking her head.

"Just lucky, I guess."

"Lucky?" Shizuru pondered, "Of course, that's it! This child will be Sachiko."

"Lucky child, huh?" Nao grinned, "I like it."

"Well," Natsuki looked down at her stomach, which would, in due time, be growing out, "We'll see you in about nine months, kiddo."