Chapter 54

Christmas this year was by far the absolute best; there were so many baby announcements that everyone's head was spinning. Watanuki and Doumeki's child was due in May, Kurogane and Fai's second child was due in February, and Touya and Yukito surprised everyone with their announcement that they would be having another baby probably sometime in July. Syaoron and Yuui announced their recent engagement and Hokuto announced that she and Kakyou would be parents and their wedding would be after. At this announcement, Subaru jumped up and hugged his older sister.

"What'd I miss?" Kamui entered the room after checking on the kids. Winter, Sora, and Mystic were playing some game and Ember and Kousei were napping.

"You missed me announcing that I am going to be a mother ohohohohohohoho."

"That's great Hokuto! I can't believe that now all of us are parents!"

"For heaven's sake, shut up or I'll feed you to one of the plants."

Violet eyes glared. "What's your problem? Aren't happy for everyone?"

"Yeah I am, which is why I'd like some peace and quiet. Anya, show all our guests to their rooms? I don't have the energy in me right now to do so."

Emerald eyes looked in worry at his husband's retreating back. "Erm, I guess this is the right time to say that Sei-kun and I are going to be having another baby as well."

Subaru was met with an identical emerald gaze though Hokuto's eyes shone with worry until it clicked. "Ohohohohoho, no wonder he's so moody. Well Subaru, you should go be with him."

"He was moody like that even in his early years, right Yuui?"

"Right Fai."

"Not to interrupt the two of you but Fai, my soon to be nephew is climbing on the table."

"Oh my thank you Syaoron; SORA, NO, GET DOWN. Kuro-rin you were supposed to be watching him!"

"Yeah Father, you were supposed to be watching me!"

"No sweets when you get home kid."

Subaru laughed and as he turned to leave the room all he could hear was: "I DIDN'T MAKE ALL OF THOSE FOR YOU TO EAT! I'M THE ONE EATING FOR TWO YOU KNOW?!"

"Only because you're too shy to top."

"WHY YOU! DON'T TALK ABOUT OUR SEX LIFE IN FRONT OF ALL OUR FRIENDS!"

"Too loud."

~#~

Walking through the manor, Subaru felt a tug on his pant leg. "Papa is it true? Am I going to have a baby brother or sister soon to play with?"

"Yes you will. Come on, let's get you to your room."

Subaru headed downstairs after finally getting his three year old daughter to go to bed. The child had been bouncing all over the place full of energy. She was excited to have both of her parents home and about becoming a big sister in the future.

'Speaking of both of her parents, where is that husband of mine? Knowing him he's in one of the reading nooks, reading again.' Holding the enchanted map up in one hand and his wand in the other, Subaru followed the paths leading to the most common area Seishirou seemed to occupy these days in the manor; the reading nook big enough for both of them, complete with a fireplace; perfect for the cold winter months.

Sure enough, when he entered the area he saw his husband in the reading nook, candles burning by either side of him, the fireplace roaring, glasses on, and nose in a book. Seishirou recently had taken to reading Muggle stories (given his stepfather was Muggle born he had a great access to them). Smiling softly, Subaru made his way over to the nook and curled beside the older male.

"I was wondering when you were going to join me instead of just standing there admiring the view."

A light smack upside the head. "You're so mean sometimes Sei-kun… How are you feeling though?"

"You mean besides feeling light headed and nauseated? Fine."

"I'm sorry."

"I'd rather deal with this than lose you. I've told you, you're my whole world, along with Mystic of course."

"And you're mine."

They shifted positions so Subaru ended up in his husband's lap. "This way I can be close to you and our unborn second child."

"Hmm, just make sure you don't fall asleep; I'm not sure I can carry you with the way I'm feeling."

"I won't. What are you reading?"

"Alice in Wonderland. I very much enjoy this cat."

~#~

A few months had passed and throughout his twenty-five years of life Subaru had learned to expect a lot of things. For example, people would always assume that he was younger than he really was because of how he looked. If he hadn't cut his hair they'd probably still mistake him for Hokuto. Another was that Fuuma never learned that irritating his older brother was never a good idea. These were just a few of the things Subaru came to think of when he walked home from work because apparation made him uncomfortable. Lastly, he learned to always to proceed with caution when opening the manor's door; Mystic still left her toys everywhere which usually lead to Subaru nearly falling and killing himself.

"PAPA'S HOME!"

"Yes I'm home. But Mystic, sweetie, what have Daddy and I told you about leaving your toys everywhere? What if one of us falls and gets hurt? Namely me or one of the servants?"

"Sorry Papa; how was work?"

"Tiring." Subaru was puzzled. A look at the antique clock that stood in the corner of the entrance hall showed that Seishirou was home, but usually when the older male was home before Subaru, it was almost guaranteed that he was either playing with Mystic or waiting for Subaru's arrival as soon as the clock showed him switch from work to traveling.

"Mystic honey, where's your daddy?"

"Don't know."

"You go into your room okay? And stay there until I come and get you for dinner."

"Okay." The child tottered to the elevator and pushed the button to go to her room. Subaru for his part cast his Patronus, the white dove burst from his wand tip. "You go alert the servants to watch my daughter at all costs. I'm going to find that husband of mine."

Subaru didn't like to think there could be anyone gutsy enough to sneak into the manor and try to deal with the Ministry's top two Aurors plus the Sakurazukamori, but Fei Wang had bust out of Azkaban prison and that man was a nutcase if Subaru had ever seen one. Subaru ended up in the fireplace room. The fire was lit and the candles were burning but no surprise; it was a cold February night. He didn't sense any danger but that wasn't exactly his strong suit.

What Subaru wasn't expecting was the image he saw on the couch. Subaru had seen a lot of things, but Seishirou Sumeragi-Sakurazuka sound asleep while still in his navy blue robes, glasses askew, and a hand above a fallen open book on the floor was one thing he had never thought he'd see.

Subaru sighed and smiled softly before picking up the book, The Little Mermaid, and stashing it back on the shelf for now. Moving over to where his husband slept soundly, he gently removed his husband's glasses. On the floor was his wand which Subaru picked up as well.

~#~

Emerald eyes opened at the knocking at the door. What time was it? How long had he been asleep? Those same eyes looked at the clock on the mantle. Ten minutes after 8 PM?

"Master Sumeragi? Would you like any dinner?"

Quiet breathing to his left made Subaru smile. "No thank you, we'll go out later, he's still asleep."

"Very well."

Subaru brushed the hair out of his husband's face, watching him sleep and smiled. "Please don't push yourself too hard."

~#~

As February melted into March, and March swirled into April, Seishirou was finding it harder and harder to get to work.

The blood dripped down his sleeve and onto the street. The smell of it made him nauseated. But he moved on, heading in the direction of home.

As soon as he reached the manor door, he tapped his wand against it. Once it opened he slid down the wall. "Why do I feel so sick? Like I'm not used to the scent of blood."

Wand light filled the room. "Sei-kun? Why are you out here?"

"Too nauseated to move...I can't even stand the scent of blood."

"Then it's time you put the second job on hold."

"And who will be Sakurazukamori then? Fuuma's too squeamish. Dad's a healer and I'm not going to my mother for help. Not after what she did."

"You're forgetting someone Sei-kun...Me."

"I could never ask you to kill anyone Subaru; you're far too kind to do such a thing."

"I'm not as kind as people think. I've been changed, by you I suppose. Besides, if you want to try to throw that on me, you're doing something outside of your comfort zone too. Last I checked, Seishirou Sumeragi-Sakurazuka hated depending on people for help."

"True."

The older male laid back so his head was in Subaru's lap. "I guess tomorrow I'll have to teach you the ways of the Sakurazukamori."

"You bet your wand on it you will because you are going to bed."

The next night, Subaru was in the process of getting changed for bed (Seishirou was out for the count) when the message came in through the fireplace. Emerald eyes scanned it and a frown formed on his face. 'No way is he going out there…he's in no state to. He was protective over me when I carried Mystic, I'll be protective over him now.' Slipping into his and his husband's shared closet, Subaru began to strip off his PJs and get changed into outside clothing. As a finishing touch, he pulled on Seishirou's black robes and sunglasses.

'These are way too big on me…I'll need to get some in Diagon Alley.'

He entered the bedroom and for once was greeted with his husband's sleeping face. Carrying a baby was hard; Subaru knew and apparently Seishirou had gotten more than he bargained for. It would be worth it though when they finally got to meet their new child in a few months.

He pulled on the gloves and slipped his wand inside the compartment in the robe sleeve. Bending down, he left a ghost of a kiss on his husband's cheek. 'I'll be back and until you can get up and fill your role as Sakurazukamori again…I'll do it...just like I promised you I would.'