"Yes, of course we'd be happy to see you! Please, feel free to stop by as soon as you're done; we're not going to be doing the mochi until closer to five anyway. I know we told everyone we're starting at three, but Hajime might very well be napping then, anyway!"

Tohru smiled, standing in front of the stove with her phone in hand. Normally, she had a 'no distractions' policy when she was cooking, but today had been such a busy day for phone calls that she'd had to make an exception. If she wasn't willing to multitask, either they'd never eat or she'd be calling people back for hours!

"No, please do. And make sure Tamiko knows too, the time isn't hard and fast at all. I know Saturdays can be hectic for everyone, so if all anyone can do is simply stop by we'll still be happy to see them. Thanks so much for checking in, Yuna. Have a great night!"

Ending the call, Tohru slipped the phone into her pocket with a smile, then returned her full attention to the stove top and her vegetables.

"I'm sorry everyone is calling you, Tohru. I did my best to answer any questions anyone's had about the party, but I guess you're a lot more trustworthy than I am."

Tohru smiled, looking over at Kyo as he stood against the kitchen doorframe. He'd been listening to the entire conversation, and she could from see the aggrieved expression on his face that he was embarrassed.

Which was fair, since this had been the third call Tohru had taken from one of his coworkers in the time she'd been working on dinner.

But she shook her head, dismissing the apology. "Don't worry about it, Kyo, it's fine. They all probably think that because I'm the one arranging everything, I'm the better one to check with. Which is funny, since I'm barely even handling any of the food!"

Kyo chuckled, stepping away from the doorframe and walking into the kitchen. "Seriously. Everyone loves to feed each other around here, don't they?" Walking up behind Tohru, he slipped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder, looking down at the stove. "It smells good, by the way." Turning his head, he kissed her neck. "And so do you."

She giggled and looked back at him, her eyes dancing. "No distractions in the kitchen, Kyo!"

He sighed dramatically and let go of her. "Sure, you'll take a million phone calls, but I try to give one little compliment..."

"I promise you can compliment me all you want later tonight," Tohru said with a smile, and Kyo's eyes lit up.

"I'm gonna hold you to that, you know."

"You'd better!"

Grinning, Kyo sauntered back to the doorway, glancing out into the living room at Hajime. Their son was actually quiet for a change, and quiet was always a reason for parental suspicion; however, at the moment it was due to Hajime's intense concentration as he picked up and put down his colorful building blocks. It was a rare moment of peace; now that Hajime had figured out how to run, he was more of a handful than ever.

"So Sasaki is coming by on Saturday after all, then? Good. I know she and Wada hadn't been sure since they both teach until four, but I told them it was fine. It'll be nice to see them."

Tohru nodded, giving the pan a practiced shake. "That's what I said. I know we're officially starting at three, but I'm not planning for more than food and chatter that early, especially since Hajime could easily be napping until four. I thought we could do the mochi before supper, and cake afterwards, so anyone who comes later will still hit the high points."

"Sounds like you've got it all planned out, then."

She looked up from the stove, giving Kyo an amused smile. "It's our first child's first birthday party, Kyo, of course I have it all planned out. Even if I hadn't wanted to, I wouldn't have had a choice with how many people have been asking about it."

Kyo chuckled. "Point. I just hope you haven't been too annoyed by everyone."

She shook her head. "No, it's been really nice. The girls have been very helpful with suggestions and time, and of course there's the food..."

"Just how many buns are Riko and Yamato bringing, anyway?"

"Enough," Tohru said with a twinkle in her eye. "I'm guessing that we'll be sending people home with buns as additional souvenirs."

"Or we could just keep any extras. They last for a little while, we can eat them all."

She knew he was joking, but she gave him a skeptical look anyway before giggling. "I'm sure there will be enough for you to have a few extra, Kyo, I wouldn't worry."

"I'm not worrying, I'm planning. Isn't that what you're supposed to do when you have a party, plan?"

Tohru laughed and took the pan of vegetables off the heat. "Well, why don't you 'plan' a way to get Hajime cleaned up and at the table? Supper is just about ready."

Grinning, Kyo went into the living room and collected Hajime, who let out a shriek of protest at being taken away from his blocks. "No! No no no no no no!"

Tohru had to smother a laugh at the mock-exasperated look on Kyo's face as he carried Hajime through the kitchen to the bathroom, but she quickly focused on dishing up their respective dinners. By the time Kyo had Hajime washed up and buckled into his seat, everything was ready.

Hajime immediately set to throwing his rice everywhere, and Tohru and Kyo ignored him with the ease of much practice.

"What time was Master Kazuma free tonight, Kyo?"

Kyo was rapid tucking into his food, curving his arm protectively around it to try and shield it from most of Hajime's fallout. "Pretty much anytime now. He said whatever worked for us after six was fine, just shoot him a message let him know when we're ready."

She nodded. "That sounds good. In that case, I think we might as well go ahead right after we're done eating; that way we don't have to worry about running too late."

Kyo agreed, and the two of them focused on their meals.

"Ok, Master Kazuma, can you see properly?" Tohru leaned back from the laptop, her hand resting at the edge of the screen. In the picture, they could clearly see Kazuma, with Kunimitsu hovering in the background.

"Yes, this all looks excellent, Tohru. Not quite as good as being there in person, but better than having to miss it." Kazuma's smile was warm, and Tohru and Kyo both returned it.

"If you're all set, Kazuma, then I'll leave you to it," Kunimitsu said, turning to move away, but Tohru stopped him.

"No, Kunimitsu, please stay, if you don't have to go! It was so kind of you to help get Master Kazuma's video set up, and we'd love to have you join us too."

Kyo nodded his agreement. "Yeah, the more the merrier, Kunimitsu."

Kunimitsu gave Kazuma a glance, then smiled and sat down. "Ok, I'll stay. It's a pretty big moment!"

Leaving Kyo at the table with Hajime and the laptop, Tohru got up and walked to the kitchen, turning out the lights as she went. At the suddenly darkness Hajime squawked, then looked around anxiously. "Mama? Mama? Maaaaaamaaaa?"

Even though it had been over a week since Hajime had first looking at Tohru and proudly declared 'Mama,' every time he said it a thrill ran right through her heart. She'd been waiting for this for so long; wanting to hear her name, to see him look at her and know who she was. Hearing him finally say it had been amazing; having it be his first word made it even better.

The fact that his second, and currently only other, word was 'no' only made it funnier. She tried not to be too smug about it, though she had to laugh whenever Kyo would sit on the floor with Hajime, pointing to himself and very seriously saying "Daddy. Daaaaaaaaddy."

But Kyo wasn't being competitive at the moment. "Shh, it's ok Hajime. Mommy will be right back. She'll be right back, and Daddy's right here. Daddy's got you."

Hajime stopped crying and cuddled against Kyo, his attention once more on the bright laptop screen and the two men both smiling at him. But then Tohru came out of the kitchen and Hajime's wide eyes came back to her, her and the little cake she was carrying with one bright candle.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Hajime...happy birthday to you!"

Hajime looked around, bewildered, and his lip started to tremble. Quickly, Tohru and Kyo blew out the candle, then Tohru turned back on the lights. As soon as the light was back on, Hajime brightened back up, and turned his eager interest to the cake.

Tohru cut Hajime a small slice as Kyo put him back in his seat, covering him with a large bib. Then all four of the adults sat back and watched as Hajime enthusiastically and aggressively pounced on it.

"I can't tell if he likes it or not," Kunimitsu said with a laugh, and Kazuma chuckled.

"I believe with babies, wanton destruction means they like something. Nicely done, you two."

Tohru smiled, watching Hajime rub his fingers through his cake. "Well, he seems to be enjoying himself, and that's what's important, right?"

They all watched in silence for a few minutes, listening to Hajime's excited chatter, liberally punctuated with "Mamas!" as he held up bits of mushed cake to show Tohru. Kyo's expression was only slightly pained by the fifth 'Mama,' earning another chuckle from Kazuma.

"Still no 'Dada,' Kyo?"

Kyo sighed and shook his head. "Nope. I know where I stand, and it's definitely behind her." He glanced over at Tohru then, smiling. "But it's still a pretty good place to be."

Tohru smiled back, once more feeling a blush creep into her cheeks.

On the other end of the laptop, Kunimitsu stood up. "Well, I'll leave you guys to your talking, but thanks for letting me stay. I can't believe the little guy is one already!"

"Good-bye, Kunimitsu!"

When Kunimitsu was gone, Kazuma let out a slow sigh. "He's certainly correct; it's hard to believe it's already been a year."

Tohru and Kyo looked at each other over Hajime's head, both of them thinking something similar. One year ago, they'd been at the hospital. There'd been so much panic and fear and anxiety; so much pain. But in the end, they'd gotten Hajime, and everything had been worth it.

There had been so many struggles. Physical struggles, and emotional ones. Each of them had broken down, more than once. She had cried. So had he. But each time, they'd pulled each other up again, leaning on the other to help them when they couldn't do it on their own any more.

Some nights, they had wondered why they bothered. Why had they chosen this path, which was so much harder than either of them had ever truly realized. Why they put themselves, and each other, through so much pain and stress and frustration.

But then Hajime would snuggle into them, or smile at them. Giggle at them. Hold their hand.

He'd crawl to them. Walk to them. Light up when he saw them. Reach out to them. Run to them.

Call out to them.

And then everything would be worth it.

It had been a long, hard year, for both of them. But now, looking back, Tohru and Kyo could only be thankful they'd done it. Even if it meant their house was regularly trashed. Even if it meant picking rice out of the tatami on a regular basis, even if it meant planning trips with military precision. Even if it meant less money, and a little less time.

They could handle that, all of that. Every small sacrifice, even added together, was worth it.

Together, they'd always been invincible. Wasn't that what Tohru had said on that beautiful day when Kyo had first asked to hold her? He'd been resigned to transforming, but still wanted, for one brief shining moment, to feel her against him, wrapped in his arms. And she'd smiled at him, agreeing immediately. Telling him that it didn't matter what challenges they had to face, because she loved him, and her love was invincible. He'd laughed, and said that in that case, he had to be invincible, too.

Nearly seven years later, that was still the case. Her love was invincible, and so was his. Together, they could manage anything. It might not always be easy...but they'd do it, together.

Later that night, Kyo settled into Tohru's bare arms, his head pillowed on her chest and his hand resting lightly on her hip. "We've made it a year, Tohru. Can you believe it?"

Tohru gently ran her fingers through Kyo's sweaty hair, shaking her head. "Honestly? No. It feels like it's been an eternity and a blink of an eye at the same time."

He knew exactly how she felt; he felt the same way, himself.

"We've been through a lot this year, haven't we," she said, softly.

Kyo closed his eyes, thinking about it. How he'd felt the day Hajime had been born, thinking Tohru was going to die. The first time he held Hajime. Seeing her incision that first time. Bringing him home.

He thought about the sleepless nights. Leaving them when he first went back to work, and how anxious and jumpy he'd been. His immense guilt at Tohru's nursing struggles. Putting Hajime upstairs in his crib for the first time. The feeling when he'd first been smiled at. The first time Kazuma held Hajime.

That awful period where he'd thought Tohru didn't want him anymore, where he'd worried that motherhood had sapped away her desire. His unbelievable relief when he learned that wasn't true. The frustration of trying to juggle Hajime and all of their luggage on the train while Hajime screamed. The joy of Hajime first sleeping through a night.

Tohru and Hajime joining him for lunches at the dojo. Hajime's first taste of fish. The awful, terrifying experience of Hajime's first serious fever. Walking together as a family and watching the autumn leaves fall. Hajime's first encounter with natto, followed by what would forever only be referred to in horrified tones as "The" diaper blowout.

Hajime pulling himself up on the table, his brow furrowed in concentration just like Kyo's own. Hajime crawling to Tohru, and to Kyo. The satisfying feeling whenever anyone would compliment Hajime, or compliment Tohru and Kyo's parenting.

First teeth. Babbling. The way Hajime would grab at their faces. The look on Hajime's face when he'd be overwhelmed with exhaustion and just...pass out, wherever he happened to be. The relief when he'd first slept through the night, and Tohru and Kyo's incredulity when it never stopped.

Seeing Hajime take his first steps, right to Kyo. Introducing Hajime to Tohru's Grandpa, and seeing the old man's face shine. Tohru's face, trying not to cry when Grandpa told her how proud her parents would be. Hajime in the Sohma Dojo, running fearlessly across the tatami.

Hajime laughing at the summer festival. Tohru squatting down with Hajime beside the koi pond, pointing out all the colors. Their matching faces, covered with curry, when Hajime decided it was fun to throw his food bowl for the first time. Tohru's face when Hajime first said "Mama" and meant her.

"Yeah," Kyo said finally, his own voice soft. "We've been through a lot."

Tohru was thinking about it herself. The fear when she was sent to the hospital, and the terror when she couldn't reach Kyo. Seeing Hajime for the first time, cradled in Kyo's arms. The pain. The exhaustion. Missing out on everything she'd hoped for from Hajime's actual birth. Kyo's tears, and his anguish. Her despair.

How very hard those first weeks had been, when nothing seemed to go right. How much she'd dreaded and despised nursing, and the crushing, exhausting guilt. Hajime's failure to gain weight. The awful night when she'd finally broken down, and the amazing relief that came in the moment she finally agreed that it was time to stop.

So much time wasted by guilt and shame. She'd fought for so long, trying to do everything 'right.' Determined to do everything 'right' and nearly costing herself her sanity. Letting go of her dream for 'perfect motherhood' had been hard, but in letting go she'd finally found the ability to be happy.

And she'd been so very happy. She got to see her son grow and thrive, learn, and explore. She got to see her husband become the father she'd always known he could be, strong and loving. Her rock, keeping her safe and stable even when everything else was threatening to bury her.

She never would have been able to do this without Kyo. So many times he'd held her, or just held her hand. Listened to her fears, let her cry. He had been there for her through everything, encouraging her, rejoicing with her, loving with her. No concern had been too petty, no worry to stupid. Her only regret through it all was that she hadn't done enough for him, too caught up in her own problems and anxieties.

Not once had her judged her. Not once had he turned his back on her. He was always there, reminding her just how much he loved her.

How much he loved them.

Kyo shifted up in bed to lay his head on the pillow, resting his cheek against Tohru's as the two of them drifted away in thought. The year had been wonderful and terrible; joyous and heart-wrenching. But they'd made it through it, together.

Tohru found Kyo's hand under the blanket and threaded her fingers through his. "Our baby is a year old, Kyo."

He nodded, running his thumb along her knuckles. "Crazy, huh? Though he's not that much of a baby anymore, is he? Now that he's running around so well."

Tohru nodded, trying not to let that thought make her cry. There had been so many times when she hated the baby stage, when she wanted it all to be over and take its assorted headaches and hassles with it, but there had been many more times that she loved it. She was excited to see Hajime grow, to see what kind of boy he'd become. What kind of man. But he would always be her baby, and she would miss that baby as he grew.

She sighed, allowing her head to rest on Kyo's shoulder. "Do you ever think...that you might want another one, Kyo?" He turned to look at her, and she quickly clarified, "Another baby?"

Kyo chuckled, letting go of Tohru's hand to bring his arms up around her. "I know what you meant, you goof." He smiled, letting his cheek rest against the top of her head. This was the first time she'd asked him that question, but not the first time he'd thought about it, so his answer came easily.

"Honestly, yeah. Yeah, I do want another, sometime. If you still do, of course," he hastened to add on, not wanting Tohru to feel pressured by his answer. "Not for a while yet, but yeah...I think I'd like having another kid. We've done pretty good with the one we have, I bet we'd do even better with a second."

Tohru smiled and nuzzled against Kyo's shoulder. She'd hoped he felt that way; before they'd started trying for Hajime, they'd talked about how many kids they'd like to have, and both of them had always said they wanted more than one. But that was before; now, looking back at the reality of pregnancy, childbirth, and the trials of babyhood, it was possible he could have changed his mind.

She was so glad he hadn't.

"I'm glad, Kyo. About all of it," she said, smiling at him. "Because I want another, too. But not for a while, not for at least another year, maybe longer," Tohru stressed. "I want to have more time, just the three of us. And I'm ready to go back to work for a while."

Technically, Tohru could have extended her child care leave by another six months, assuming she actually wanted to go back to work at all. They could technically have afforded for her to quit, if she'd really wanted to keep staying home. But Tohru had decided that one year, as sweet as it had been, was enough. She missed her job, and the people she worked with. The patients. And she couldn't wait to be back with the wisdom of experience on her side now, allowing her to relate even more to everyone's struggles.

She'd be starting work the following Monday. Tomorrow was actually the first 'trial run' for Hajime at the daycare center they'd chosen, his first time being around the other kids and teachers. Tohru would be there, but it would be a chance for him to get comfortable before she started leaving him.

Kyo nodded, in complete agreement. "All of that sounds good to me. I love Hajime, and I love the idea of him having a little brother or sister, but...not yet." He smiled, giving her a tight squeeze. "I know it's selfish, but I'm not ready to share you again, not just yet."

Tohru smiled, pushing herself up on one arm and looking at Kyo. He was still just as handsome as ever, but time had strengthened his lines. He was slightly less angular than he'd once been, his face slightly more filled out. He'd gotten stronger, and more muscular. He frowned a lot less, and he smiled a lot more, at a lot of things.

Most often at her.

He was smiling now at her scrutiny, and he leaned into her palm as she cupped his cheek. "What're you thinking, Tohru, when you look at me like that?"

His voice was soft, and Tohru's own was soft in response. "I'm thinking just how far we've come, Kyo, and how lucky I am to be doing it with you."

Taking the hand from his cheek, Kyo brought it to his lips and kissed it. "I love you, Tohru Sohma."

"And I love you, Kyo Sohma. Always and forever."

"Always and forever."

Author's Note: And with that, this story draws to a close. Thank you so much for reading! I've really enjoyed this particular story, and I hope you have, too.