DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN BROTHERS CONFLICT IN ANYWAY SHAPE OR FORM

Ema sighed as she stumbled into her home, shaking her umbrella with one hand and holding a bag of groceries in the other.

"Honey, I'm home," she called out as she managed to get a light switched on.

"He's not home yet," a different voiced answered.

"Oh Juli," Ema said when she saw her squirrel friend chilling up in his own little house in a high up corner of the main room.

"Hey Chi," Juli said back. He then began his decent down to the ground with ease.

"Good to see you made it home safe. It's really starting to come down out there."

"Yeah," Ema said looking out the big bay window doors as the rain kept hitting it, hard.

"Do you think he's getting home okay?"

"I'm sure he's fine," Juli assured her, "but if you're that worried, why not just call him?"

"Yeah good idea," Ema agreed as she pulled out her phone.

Wipe Wipe Wipe

Natsume found himself moaning in annoyance as he watched the wipers swipe back and forth, wiping the every falling rain off his windshield. He didn't mind the rain, it was just so heavy that traffic was moving a little slower than usual during the commute home.

'I hope she made it home safe,' he thought, 'and that she's not getting worried about me.'

His worries were answered when he heard his phone going off.

"Hi Ema," he answered.

"Hi," Ema replied, "where are you? Are you on your way home?"

"Yeah, it's just traffic's a little slow due to the weather," Natsume explained.

"Oh yes, well don't try hurrying then. No sense in doing anything reckless," Ema said urgently.

"Don't worry, I won't," Natsume assured her, "and I will be home soon."

Ema smiled at his promised. "I'll make sure dinner is ready by the time you get here. Just stay safe. I love you."

"I love you too," Natsume said with a smile as he hung up, more determined to get home.

Ema quickly went to unpacking her grocery bag, making sure to put aside to the items she'd need to cook the dinner.

"He on his way home?" Juli asked.

"Yeah," Ema said focusing on putting her other groceries away, while also getting other items out needed to prepare her meal.

"I told you, I told he was on his way home and was going to make it safe. You're the one we have to worry about. Seeing as how you have to take the train home every day!" Juli said bitterly.

"Juli, we don't need another car," Ema insisted, "it's not a necessity, plus the extra fee for an additional parking spot. The train goes right past my work so it's just easier to let Natsume take the car to and from work. Honestly, how often are we going to have this argument?"

"Hmm," Juli groaned, "I still don't like it! You're the one out there while he has the safety of the car!"

He was so fixated on his anger he didn't feel the approaching presences behind him.

"Oh Juli," Ema tried brushing him off. She was too focused her task at hand.

Juli folded his paws annoyed, only to suddenly finally realized the threat behind him.

"MEOW!"

"Oh no! None of that now!" Juli ordered sternly at Cat Tsubaki and Cat Azusa.

"Meow!" Cat Tsubaki responded before turning his back to Juli and walked away. He made sure to flick his tail at Juli as he did.

Cat Azusa meanwhile went and rubbed up against Juli.

"Okay, Okay," Juli said as he half pet, half gently pushed him away.

Cat Azusa gave him one last rub before going to join Cat Tsubaki in their beds.

"They nearly get you this time?" Ema asked.

"They wish," Juli boasted.

"Meow," Cat Tsubaki said back.

Ema had to smirk at the cat's reaction.

"We'll play I promised," Juli said to the cats.

The three animals had surprisingly become fast friends after he had come with Ema to live with Natsume.

They never tried to attack to kill Juli, only to play. Which Juli was willing to go along with for the most part.

He'd also didn't mind rubbing the cats' ears or chins, cuddling with them when they nap.

The cats even let Juli ride them and Juli would sometimes sneak them treats.

In all honesty life had been good for everyone since the day Ema had moved in with Natsume after they had married.

Ema couldn't help but glance at one of her wedding photos hung on the wall of her and Natsume on their wedding day. She in a beautiful white gown and Natsume wearing a smart gray tux that made him look even more handsome than usual.

Every time Ema saw that picture, she was reminded just how much she was in love with Natsume and how much he loved her too.

To her life couldn't get much better than that.

Natsume ran to the front doors of his apartment complex to get out of the rain.

'I hope it's not this stormy tomorrow,' he thought as he turned to the elevator. He paused when he noticed the mailboxes on the wall.

'I bet she forgot to check given the circumstances,' he pondered as he went to unlock his and Ema's and sure enough it was full of mail.

Natsume pulled them out and slowly thumbed through the contents. Nothing above normal to get excited over. That was until he came to the last envelope.

This one caused him to raise an eyebrow.

'Well this seems interesting,' he thought as he finally got into the elevator.

Ema hummed happily, pleased with the meal she had prepared for her husband when he came home.

"Natsume's going to love this!" she bragged out loud as she cooked.

"Love what?" Natsume asked as he suddenly appeared in the apartment.

"Welcome home dear!" Ema said with delight.

"Thank you, it's good to be home," Natsume said as he gave Ema a kiss on the cheek. Then he noticed the food.

"Mmm, nikujaga, smells good," he said.

"Thank you, it's almost ready, and so's the rice," Ema said.

"Sounds like a great meal," Natsume said, setting about putting his work things away.

"Did you want to take a quick shower or anything?" Ema asked.

"Nah, I just need a towel, I'll be okay," Natsume insisted. "I got the mail too by the way," he made sure to mention before running into the bathroom.

"Oh, thank you, I forgot to check," said Ema.

"Yeah, I kind of figured," Natsume admitted as he dried himself.

"Anything good?" Ema asked.

"Just a few bills and other letters," Natsume said. He decided to surprise her with the one letter during dinner.

He looked over when suddenly felt his shoulder get some weight on it.

"You know if you're not going to shower, you should at least get out of those wet clothes," Juli scolded. "At the very least your shirt."

"Yeah you're right," Natsume agreed as he took off his shirt, and moved to the shared closet with his and Ema's clothes to pull out a causal shirt.

Neither Natsume, Ema or even Juli understood why, but since the day Natsume and Ema wed, Natsume had started to be able to understand Juli just like Ema and Louis.

It had happened literally after they had just kissed and Juli made a comment, "Great now she really is a wolf's pray!"

It made Natsume look around surprised and confused at hearing a new strange voice out of nowhere.

It continued on during the reception. Although Natsume was trying to enjoy himself, he kept getting looking around confused when he happened to hear Juli talking.

It actually earned him a little mockery and ridicule from his brothers especially Tsubaki.

It wasn't until he and Ema were getting ready to leave for their honeymoon that the three realized what had happened. Juli had come up to Ema to wish her good luck and to stay safe while on their trip and Natsume suddenly recognized the voice.

"You can talk?!" Natsume said in shock.

"Of course I can talk," Juli said casually, "do you think I'm just an average intelligent..., Wait, are you hearing me?!"

"I think I am!" Natsume replied, "been hearing since you the end of the ceremony and all during the reception! Wait, you were the one calling me a wolf!"

Juli gulped.

"How is it that Natsume can hear you now?" Ema asked.

"I, really don't know!" Juli admitted.

"I guess we'll have to deal with this when we're back from the honeymoon," Natsume concluded, "we don't want to miss our flight."

"Well, if this is how it is now, at least living together might be a little easier," Ema mentioned as she gave Juli a little pat before sending him back to Louis and heading off with her husband.

"We'll just see," Juli said.

As it turned out, Ema had been right. Natsume being able to understand Juli made things much easier for everyone.

Juli and Natsume had been able to develop a mutual respect and friendship with each other to the point that Juli didn't even refer to him as a wolf anymore.

Natsume had even been nice enough to hang what was supposed to be a birdhouse in a corner of the apartment for Juli so he would have his own private area.

"How was your day?" Ema asked.

"Good," Natsume said, "had a meeting for the new launch campaign for WTEW 3 today. Everything seems to be going to on schedule with its development and hopefully it'll be as successful as the last two."

"I'm betting it will! I love those games to be honest!" Ema said happily.

Natsume had to smirk at her enthusiasm.

"How long can you run a game series based around WW2?" Juli asked.

"You'd be surprised," Natsume said. He turned his attention back to Ema, "how was your day?"

"Great!" Ema said excited, "I did a photo shoot for GOOD HOME AND CARING today. Got to snap some pictures of different models posing as mothers cooking in their kitchens for an article praising and commenting on how much work and dedication some mothers make in feeding their families."

"Sounds exciting," Natsume said kindly.

Ema had gone to study photography much like father and been hired by a publishing company to be a photographer for its different magazines.

So far she enjoyed it greatly and had even won award for one of her shoots.

"I hope the weather's better for you tomorrow," Natsume mentioned looking out at the poring rain. "I can possibly try seeing about dropping you off and picking you up."

"Yeah you should," Juli mentioned.

"We'll see, I can handle taking the train," Ema said as she started to serve dinner.

"Hmm," Natsume and Juli muttered.

"Let's just enjoy our dinner," Ema insisted.

"Yes thank you," Natsume agreed.

After a short while of enjoying their meal, Natsume spoke up.

"Oh there was one more thing in the mail I thought you'd be exciting," he said holding up the letter.

"Oh? Ema said as Natsume handed it to her.

She smiled so big and brightly as she looked at the envelope.

"Awe!" she cooed, "an invite to Mizu's birthday!"

"I knew you'd get excited about that," Natsume said.

Ema eagerly opene the envelope and pulled out the invitation.

"Oh look! He even decorated it himself!" she said as she showed Natsume the front that was covered with all sorts of kids drawings of different things.

In the center were the words; YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO MIZU ASAHINA's BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION THIS SATURDAY AT THE SUNRISE RESIDENTS.

HOSTED BY MASAOMI AND RIKA ASAHINA

"Oh! I can't wait! I'll make sure to go shopping for a birthday present tomorrow!" Ema exclaimed.

"Or I can just pick you up regardless and we can do it together," Natsume said.

"Sure, I'd like that," Ema said happily. "Can't believe it, our little nephew is turning 5! He's getting so big!"

"Yep, he's growing," Natsume said casually.

"And that means soon Kadia will be turning 4!" Ema added excited.

"Yes, as is her way," said Natsume.

"I remember when she was just a baby!" Ema said. She looked over at the most recent pictures she had of their niece and nephew.

"They'll be grown before you know it, going to college and getting jobs! Time moves so fast sometimes."

Natsume looked over at her now having a serious thought face.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

"Oh yes, just lost in thought," Ema said.

"I see," Natsume said. He decided to leave Ema alone with her thoughts. When and if she wanted to share with him, Natsume knew she would.

"I'll take care of the dishes," he offered, quickly getting them together.

"Yes, thank you," Ema said.

Throughout the rest of the evening, Ema seemed to keep thinking about whatever was on her mind.

Natsume tried going about his usual routine, doing some of work, going over the finances. He saw Ema doing her normal routine as well, just stilk thinking.

She didn't really even talk to him as the evening went on.

'I wonder if I should consider saying something,' Natsume thought as it got late.

He was a little surprised when he suddenly felt Ema drap her arms over his shoulders.

"Are you feeling ready for bed?" she whispered in slight suggestive tone.

"Yeah," Natsume said slowly, "I suppose I am."

"Good," Ema said, only to suddenly to start kissing his cheek and neck.

"Are you hinting at something?" Natsume asked.

"Maybe," Ema whispered, "you feeling up to it?"

Natsume swirled around in his office chair .

"Sure, why not," he said.

Ema giggled before giving him a long seductive kiss. "I'll take care of Juli."

"I'll get the room ready," Natsume said.

"Juli," Ema said as she walked over to her squirrel friend who was playing ball with Cat Tsubaki and Azusa.

Juli looked up, "you're not," he moaned.

"Please Juli," Ema begged.

"Fine," Juli allowed. He looked at the cats, "come on guys, give them their privacy."

The two walked over to a cover bed and crawled in.

"Thank you, Juli," Ema said. She held up an almond for him.

Juli monaed as he took it and disappeared into his house in the corner.

"You're just lucky these things knock me out so easily that I don't have to hear you two!"

Ema couldn't help but giggle. She turned to see that Natsume had gotten the room fully ready for them. He was sitting on the mat waiting for.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Oh yes," Ema said eagerly. Natsume stretched out his arm and helped pull her down to him. The shared a happy lustful look before coming together in pure pleasure.

"Mmm!" Ema sighed as she laid happily wrapped up in Natsume's arms.

She could hear Natsume's smooth heartbeat as she rested her head up against his chest.

"I'm glad we made love," she said softly.

"Is it making you feel better?""Natsume whispered.

"Huh?" Ema asked.

"You just seemed so distant all evening after dinner," Natsume reminded.

"Oh yeah," Ema recalled, "Natsume, why do you think I haven't gotten pregnant yet?"

Natsume sat up in surprised.

"Is that what's bugging you?" he asked.

"Kind of," Ema admitted. "It's been what, two years now?"

"Well, yeah but, we had to adjust to being a couple, you finishing school and getting a job. It wasn't a good idea to have a baby," Natsume listed off.

"I know," Ema said.

"Are you thinking you want to have one?" Natsume asked. He didn't know how he felt about it.

"I, don't know," Ema admitted, "it's just, we've had some times we didn't even use protection and yet, I still didn't get pregnant. Do you think there might be something wrong with me?"

"No!" Natsume insisted, "we might not have just gotten lucky. Or, maybe there's something wrong with me."

"No!" Ema argued back.

"Well you never know," Natsume said. He tilted Ema's chin to make her look at him. "Look, do you want a baby?"

"I guess, I have been thinking about it a little more recently," Ema told him.

"I see," Natsume said.

"Unless you're not ready!" Ema said, "we still have time to wait if you're not."

"I didn't say I wasn't," Natsume assured her, "I suppose it might be as good of time as ever to maybe really start trying."

Ema nodded.

"Look, why don't we try thinking and talking about this later. For now let's get some rest," Natsume suggested.

"Sure," Ema said as they laid back down. The two cuddled together in peace to sleep.

Although as the couple drifted off, their final thought was the idea of having a baby.