Tangled Web
"Taichi?"
By Starrysapphire, Taito Empress
Disclaimer - I don't own Digimon or the Digicharacters. No kidding.
It's TAITO, TAIORA and SORATO.
Kari glared at the phone. It was midnight, she was trying to sleep and it was ringing. Loudly.
"Davis...."
"I'm asleep," her husband said.
"You are not!"
"I talk very sensibly in my sleep."
Kari scowled and grabbed the phone.
"Hello?"
"Kari?"
It was Tai. He sounded awful.
"Tai?" Kari said, instantly wide awake "What's wrong?"
"Sora's pregnant," Tai said "She's pregnant and she doesn't know who's the baby is!"
Kari blinked.
"Shit."
* * * *
Sora grimaced. She knew she was going to have to tell Matt sooner or later that she was pregnant. She just wasn't sure how. What if the baby was Tai's? What if the baby looked like Tai? Sento was practically the spitting image of Tai, what if this baby was like that? Couldn't she just get an abortion?
No. She knew that she couldn't. She didn't believe in abortion unless there were mitigating circumstances and these were not mitigating, or at least, not mitigating enough..
She was just going to have to tell Matt and hope for the best.
"Matt? Honey?"
Matt blinked. He'd been off in his own little world again. Sora swallowed.
"I've got some good news," she said.
Matt looked at her.
"Yes?"
"I'm pregnant," Sora said "I'm going to have another baby. Isn't it wonderful?"
Matt stared at her. His face lit up.
"Really?" he said, his voice going high with excitement "You're going to have a baby? Really?"
Sora nodded, unable to stop herself smiling as she saw her husbands face light up.
"That's....that's....that's great!" he said "That's brilliant Sora! Oh my God!"
He leapt up and grabbed her and twirled her round the room. Sora laughed.
"Easy Matt, easy!" she said.
Matt let her sit down again but continued excitedly skipping up and down.
"We'll have to tell the boys," he said "And TK. TK'll be so thrilled! And we'll have to think of names and everything!"
Sora felt a pang of guilt. She couldn't help praying that the baby was Matt's. She didn't even want to think about what might happen if it looked like Tai. She made herself keep smiling as she watched Matt chatter on about babies.
Where had things gone wrong in their marriage? It had all seemed so good at first. They'd married straight out of school and Sora had got pregnant with Tanoshii very quickly. After Tanoshii there'd been a two year gap before Shinji. They'd been so happy then. True, Matt had had his down moments but he'd always gone though swings of depression and it wasn't a surprise at all. But some time ago now, things had suddenly gone downhill. Matt had started spending more and more time at the office. Sora had tried to tell him that he was turning into his father but Matt didn't seem to care. When he was home, he didn't seem to have time for her anymore. He played and talked to the kids but rarely with her. And they'd stopped sleeping together. Sora knew that sex wasn't the most important thing in a marriage but she needed certain things to keep her happy. And she wasn't getting them. She'd put up with it for ages until she'd gone to Tai for comfort and reassurance. She hadn't meant to sleep with him. She really hadn't. But they'd kissed and then she'd remembered how much she'd used to like him and it had been ages....
And things had improved between her and Matt once she'd started her affair. They'd even started to sleep together again. Rarely but they did. Which was why she could even claim that the baby might be Matt's.
'Please let it be Matt's, please, please, please....'
"Hey Sora?"
Sora blinked. Matt was smiling at her.
"You zoned out," he said "Tired already?"
Sora smiled.
"Maybe a little," she said "I'm expecting pampering!"
Matt laughed. He patted her stomach gently.
"Which do you want it to be?" he asked "In a way, it would be nice to have a little girl but she might get left out with Tanoshii and Shinji."
"Oh I don't know," Sora said "I think I'd like a little girl."
Matt smiled.
"I'll just be happy as long as it's healthy," he said "I don't really care."
Sora smiled. God, she wanted this baby to be Matt's. The man was just destined for hundreds of kids.
'Please let it be Matt's....'
* * * *
Kari knocked at the Ishida family door. Sora answered it. She smiled faintly when she saw Kari.
"He's told you hasn't he?" she said.
Kari nodded "Is Matt here?"
"He's taken Tanoshii and Shinji out to play football. You'd better come in."
The two women sat on the sofa together. Sora sighed.
"I know what you must think of me," she said "I didn't mean to hurt Matt."
Kari swallowed. God, she didn't even want to think about what Sora would say if she ever found out about Matt and Tai.
"It was just so complicated," Sora was saying "Matt just wasn't showing any affection! It was like he didn't even love me! I had to find some comfort somewhere..."
Kari put an arm round Sora who was actually crying by this time.
"It's okay Sora," she said "Don't cry. You've got to stay relaxed remember? For the new baby."
Sora nodded.
"Matt's just so excited," she said "I never realised how much he wanted loads of kids before. I dread to think of what might happen if it's not his."
"It might be his," Kari said.
Sora snorted.
"We're barely slept together for months," she said "There's just a tiny possibility that it's his. A minute one. But it's almost certainly Tai's."
Kari sighed.
"Oh dear," she said softly.
Sora nodded.
"Oh dear," she agreed sadly.
* * * *
The nine months of Sora's pregnancy passed very quickly, almost too quickly for both Sora and Tai who were dreading the baby's birth. It couldn't pass too quickly for Matt who was looking forward to being a father again more than anything. He was at work when Sora rang him.
"Matt?" she said "It's time."
That was all that was needed. Matt got himself home very fast and drove her to hospital. He phoned Tai from there. Tai's bedroom phoneline was engaged, meaning that he was probably working. Matt phoned Tai's emergency mobile instead and waited.
* * * *
Tai felt his emergency mobile vibrate gently and considered ignoring it. He wasn't supposed to stop working after all and this girl sounded so totally hot....
He looked at the screen. Matt's number.
It could only mean one thing....
Tai finished the call slightly quickly than he normally would have (but the woman seemed satisfied) and then answered.
"Matt! Is it....?"
"Yes. Can you pick the boys up from school today like we arranged?"
"Yes. Phone me when it's born!"
"I promise Tai. Love you."
Tai swallowed. He hated it when Matt said that. He could never reply. For one thing, he wasn't sure if he did love Matt. For another, he couldn't say that while he was sleeping with Matt's wife.
"Yeah," he said simply.
He put the phone down and hugged his knees to his chin. He didn't know what to do. What if the baby was his? What if the baby looked like him? What would Matt do?
Then his work phone rang. Pushing away all thoughts, Tai answered it. It was his boss, asking him to take another call. Tai agreed, pushing all thoughts of Sora, Matt and the baby out of his head.
* * * *
"One last push," the midwife said encouraging "That's it....it's nearly out!"
Matt squeezed Sora's hand gently. She winced in pain. Matt was sure that Tanoshii and Shinji hadn't taken so long to be born. It had been a long hard labour.
"And it's out!" the midwife said. A indignant wail filled the room "It's a little girl!"
Sora smiled faintly at Matt as the baby was wrapped in a blanket and handed to them.
"Oh she's beautiful," Matt said "Hello."
The little girl continued to bawl magnificently. Sora looked at her. She uneasily noted that the baby had a considerable amount of hair. She pushed the thought away and hoped that Matt wouldn't notice. He didn't look like he would. He was looking completely besotted with the child. He gently stroked her face.
"Isn't she lovely?" he said.
Sora nodded.
"What are we going to call her?" she asked.
Matt looked at his watch.
"It's midnight," he said "So let's call her Sayo."
"Sayo Ishida," Sora repeated "I like it. Hello Sayo."
Sayo stopped crying.
"She likes it!" Matt said with a laugh "I'd better go and phone Tai. I promised after all and the boys'll be up worrying!"
He went out. Sora carefully examined Sayo.
She did look a lot like Tai.
"Oh dear," Sora murmured softly.
* * * *
Tai practically threw himself at the phone when it rang.
"Matt?"
"Hey Tai."
"Well?" Tai demanded. Tanoshii, Shinji and Sento were hovering nearby.
"She's a beautiful girl," Matt said "Her name's Sayo and she's gorgeous."
"Oh that's great!" Tai said "Is Sora okay?"
"Yes, Sora's fine. We're all fine," Matt said. He sounded giddy with exhaustion and excitement "Are the boys okay?"
"Tired and over-excited," Tai said "They'll be glad to hear the news."
"Can I tell them?"
"Sure," Tai said with a laugh "Here."
He held out the phone to Tanoshii who grabbed it.
"Daddy?"
Tai watched. Tanoshii grinned.
"That's cool!" he said happily "Is she pretty? Uh huh....uh huh.....uh huh. Yeah, okay. I will."
He handed the phone to Shinji. He looked at Tai.
"I've got a little sister!" he said proudly.
Tai laughed and picked him up. He waited until Shinji had finished before lifting him up too. Sento had grabbed the phone to hear about the baby as well. He put it down and held out his arms expectantly.
"I can't fit you all it!" Tai laughed, kneeling down so he could cram them all into his arms "Congratulations kids!"
"We've got a sister, we've got a sister!" Tanoshii was chanting. Shinji was just laughing. Sento was giggling too.
"Can I have a sister?" he asked his father.
Tai felt like someone had poured cold water down his spine. It was quite possible that Sento already had a little sister.
Before he could answer his son, Tanoshii piped up.
"You can share Sayo," he said "We don't mind, do we Shinji?"
"No!" Shinji said cheerfully "We'll all share her!"
Tai laughed.
"Bed," he announced "All of you. Come on."
He tucked them all into bed and made them promise to go to sleep before going to bed himself. He could only pray that Sayo was Matt's.
* * * *
After school, Tai took all three kids to see Sora and Sayo. Matt was waiting. He hugged Tanoshii and Shinji and then hugged Tai. Tai hugged him back, breathing in the smell of Matt's hair, feeling Matt's warm body pressed against his...
'Okay, here is not the place for that....'
Tai drew away.
"Well," he said "Let's see her then."
Matt led them all to Sora's room. She was holding a small bundle in her arms. Tanoshii and Shinji leapt up onto the bed, one on each side and peered at the bundle. Tai came over too. He felt his stomach drop.
Sayo was almost the spitting image of what Sento had looked like as a baby. There was absolutely no doubt that she was his baby.
"She's very small," Sento said doubtfully from beside him "She won't be very interesting."
"Oh she'll soon grow," Tai said quietly "You'd be surprised."
Sora glanced at him. She smiled but there was no real happiness in there.
"You like her?" she said.
"Oh yes," Tai said "She's a lovely little girl Sora. Well done."
"Hey, where's my credit?" Matt laughed, sitting on the bed.
"You don't get any," Tai said.
Matt laughed again. Only Sora knew that Tai hadn't been joking.
* * * *
Matt frowned. Beside him, Sora was fast asleep. But Matt couldn't sleep.
He wasn't sure what was bothering him. But he knew something was.
Sayo was six months old now and a beautiful little girl. Matt adored her. But there was something about her that made him blink whenever he looked at her. She was familiar but she didn't look anything like Tanoshii or Shinji had looked when they were babies. It was strange because both of the boys had looked so much like them right from the start. Tanoshii looked like him, Shinji looked like Sora. He assumed that Sayo was a mixture of him and Sora. Only he couldn't really see himself in there. Sayo had dark hair and dark eyes. Matt wasn't entirely sure where they'd come from. She was a beautiful baby but sometimes she didn't look like him at all. And there was just something there which made him look twice....
He heard Sayo start to cry and quickly scrambled up, deciding to let Sora sleep. He went over, changed her and sat there gently, rocking Sayo to and fro. Her cries stopped and she lay peaceably. Matt blinked drowsily. He was tired and his eyes kept drooping shut. He heard Sayo coo slightly and knew she was dozing off. Her little dark eyes drooped shut.
"Night Sento," he mumbled.
Then he blinked.
"Huh?"
Sento? Where had Sento come from? Sento was Tai's son! And Sayo didn't....
Matt stared at Sayo. She did look oddly like....
But that would mean....and it couldn't possibly be.....Tai would never....
Matt felt a strange feeling gathering in his stomach. He had to be imagining things. Sayo didn't really look anything Sento had at that age, surely? And he hadn't seen little Sento that often anyway.....
But still...
Matt carefully put Sayo down in her cot and went back to bed. He lay awake, feeling uneasy. Surely this was impossible....
But he couldn't help being frightened.
* * * *
Some days later, Matt went over to Tai's. He needed a break from Sora. She was getting to the stage where she thought there was something wrong again. Matt found it difficult to focus on his worries when he was with Tai. Tai was always so good at soothing his fears about anything and not leaving any room for thought.
But afterwards his niggling fear returned.
Matt waited until Tai had gone to shower, then went under the bed where he knew that Tai kept his baby photos of Sento. He pulled them out and searched though until he found one taken of Sento when he was about six months. He looked at the photo silently.
"Hey."
Matt turned and looked at Tai who was grinning at him.
"I don't see why you need those," Tai said with a laugh "You've got the real thing at home!"
Matt stood up, the photo clutched in his hand.
"What's wrong?" Tai asked, seeing that his friend was a funny colour and he was shaking.
"Tai," Matt said, his voice stiff "This picture...."
"Yeah?" Tai said. He walked over in case Matt was going to faint. He'd never seen Matt look so strange before.
"It looks like Sayo," Matt said.
He caught the look of apprehension that flickered over Tai's face.
"Most babies look alike," he said, his voice sounding neutral. Almost too neutral.
Matt shook his head.
"They're practically identical," he said slowly.
Tai said nothing this time. Matt could see the fear in his eyes.
"What's been going on?" he asked.
He waited. Tai was silent.
'Oh please God no....'
"Tai?" Matt said, his voice rising shrilly "Taichi? What have you done?"
Tai bowed his head.
"Matt I'm so sorry," he said "I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to, I really didn't mean to, it just happened..."
"You've been sleeping....with.....Sora?" Matt croaked.
Tai nodded, still keeping his head down.
"How long?" Matt asked. His voice sounded strained.
"Matt...."
"HOW LONG?"
Tai flinched.
"Since just before you and I...." his voice trailed off.
Matt stared at him.
"You've been sleeping with Sora and me at the same time?" he said softly.
Tai nodded.
"I didn't mean..."
Matt interrupted him.
"You....you.....you filthy, no-good BASTARD!" he shouted. Reaching out, he punched Tai as hard as he could, sending Tai sprawling "All this time! All this time!"
"Matt I...."
"I said I loved you!" Matt cried, horrified to find tears running down his face "I told you that I loved you and you were doing that! No wonder you never said it back! No wonder you always changed the conversation! You bastard, you bastard! I loved you!"
"Matt, I'm sorry!" Tai cried. He scrambled to his feet, reaching out for Matt "I just didn't know who to chose! I didn't know what to do! I didn't mean to...."
Matt punched him again. Tai sat down again, staring up at Matt.
"So you couldn't chose?" Matt said bitterly "Well here's your choice. You're dumped."
He turned and left the apartment leaving Tai sitting, staring after him, his eyes filled with shock.
* * * *
Sora came back from collecting the boys from school to find Matt at the kitchen table.
"I thought you'd be working later than this!" she said, slightly surprised.
"Yeah," Matt said. He bent down and hugged Tanoshii and Shinji.
"Can you two do me a favour?" he said "Run along into your room? I need to talk with Mummy."
The two boys agreed and ran off. Sora looked questioningly at Matt.
"What's up?" she said "You haven't lost your job have you?"
"No," Matt said.
"Then what's wrong?"
Matt looked at her. Sora gasped. His eyes were icy cold.
"You," he said flatly "I know Sora. I know about you and Taichi."
He spat the name like a swearword. Sora drew back.
"I know that Sayo isn't mine," Matt continued savagely "I know that really she's Sayo Yagami. That it should be Taichi's name on that birth certificate."
Sora swallowed. Oh crap.
"Matt," she said "Oh God Matt..."
"Don't," Matt said "Just don't."
Sora stared at him. She could feel her eyes filling with tears. What had she done?
"I've packed my bags," Matt said coldly "I'm leaving. I just thought that I'd better tell you face to face. And I have to say goodbye to the boys."
"Matt," Sora said "Matt, please don't. Please reconsider this. I don't want to split up, I love you...."
Matt gave a harsh laugh.
"You love me? Really Sora?" he said "Strange way of showing it. But it doesn't matter. Because I don't love you. I don't think I ever did."
He stood up and walked into their room. He came out carrying his bags. He dumped them by the door. Sora stood watching, her face pale with horror.
"Boys!" Matt called.
The boys came out of their room, looking a bit surprised to be summoned so soon. Matt knelt down.
"I know this is going to be a bit confusing and upsetting," he said gently "But I'm going away. I...I won't be coming back."
The boys stared at him.
"You're going away?" Shinji said, sounding puzzled "Can't we come too?"
"No," Matt said softly "I'm sorry. You two have to stay with your mother and sister."
His voice cracked when he said the word sister. Sora felt a horrified tear drop from her eye.
"Why are you leaving?" Tanoshii asked.
"That's a difficult thing to explain," Matt said "I just....I have to go. I need space. It's nothing to do with you. I still love you, love you more than anything. I'll write and phone though. Don't worry, I won't forget you."
"Where are you going?" Shinji said in a small voice.
"A friend's," Matt said "Now, you two be good for your mother, okay? Make sure you help her with Sayo."
He stood up and looked at Sora.
"I'll send you the divorce papers," he said expressionlessly "I hope you and Taichi are happy together."
Sora could feel more horrified tears trickling from her eyes. She stared at Matt. He hugged the boys one last time. Tanoshii began to cry.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to Sayo?" Shinji asked innocently. He didn't really understand.
Matt paused for a moment. Then he went over to Sayo who was still in the pushchair.
"Bye sweetie," he whispered "I'll miss you, even if..."
His voice broke off. Then he stood up and picked up his bags. Sora wrapped her arms round the boys. Shinji was looking puzzled.
"Daddy, don't go!" Tanoshii cried.
"I'm sorry," Matt whispered "I'm very sorry."
Then he walked out of the door, leaving his family behind him.
* * * *
When Tai's phone rang, he snatched it up.
"Hello?"
"Taichi."
It was Matt.
"Matt!" Tai said "Thank God! I..."
"Shut up."
Tai shut up.
"I haven't told Sora. About us."
Tai remained silent, not sure what to say.
"She thinks that you were only fucking her. Not me too."
"Matt...." Tai began.
"Shut up," Matt said again "I'm leaving Taichi. I'll be sending Sora her divorce papers. You can continue to see her or not as you wish. But really it's not my concern. But you may want to help her with your daughter. I know Sento wanted a sister. Well now he has one."
"Matt please," Tai whispered "Please don't. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. Matt I...."
"Goodbye Taichi."
There was a click and the phone went dead. Tai stared at it, his chocolatey eyes filling with tears.
"No...."
But he knew that it was too late. Sinking down onto his bed, Tai began to sob bitterly consumed with misery and guilt.
End of part 2.
Aw, aren't I mean? I'm going to leave it up to you to decide who gets with who in the end so lets have an opinion poll. Say in your reviews if you want it to end as a Taito, a Taiora or a Sorato (it may look hopeless but it's probably mendable). Or even if you think I should set them up with somebody else! I want to know! (besides, if not enough people vote, I'll just set up my preferred couple!) So get voting!
"Taichi?"
By Starrysapphire, Taito Empress
Disclaimer - I don't own Digimon or the Digicharacters. No kidding.
It's TAITO, TAIORA and SORATO.
Kari glared at the phone. It was midnight, she was trying to sleep and it was ringing. Loudly.
"Davis...."
"I'm asleep," her husband said.
"You are not!"
"I talk very sensibly in my sleep."
Kari scowled and grabbed the phone.
"Hello?"
"Kari?"
It was Tai. He sounded awful.
"Tai?" Kari said, instantly wide awake "What's wrong?"
"Sora's pregnant," Tai said "She's pregnant and she doesn't know who's the baby is!"
Kari blinked.
"Shit."
* * * *
Sora grimaced. She knew she was going to have to tell Matt sooner or later that she was pregnant. She just wasn't sure how. What if the baby was Tai's? What if the baby looked like Tai? Sento was practically the spitting image of Tai, what if this baby was like that? Couldn't she just get an abortion?
No. She knew that she couldn't. She didn't believe in abortion unless there were mitigating circumstances and these were not mitigating, or at least, not mitigating enough..
She was just going to have to tell Matt and hope for the best.
"Matt? Honey?"
Matt blinked. He'd been off in his own little world again. Sora swallowed.
"I've got some good news," she said.
Matt looked at her.
"Yes?"
"I'm pregnant," Sora said "I'm going to have another baby. Isn't it wonderful?"
Matt stared at her. His face lit up.
"Really?" he said, his voice going high with excitement "You're going to have a baby? Really?"
Sora nodded, unable to stop herself smiling as she saw her husbands face light up.
"That's....that's....that's great!" he said "That's brilliant Sora! Oh my God!"
He leapt up and grabbed her and twirled her round the room. Sora laughed.
"Easy Matt, easy!" she said.
Matt let her sit down again but continued excitedly skipping up and down.
"We'll have to tell the boys," he said "And TK. TK'll be so thrilled! And we'll have to think of names and everything!"
Sora felt a pang of guilt. She couldn't help praying that the baby was Matt's. She didn't even want to think about what might happen if it looked like Tai. She made herself keep smiling as she watched Matt chatter on about babies.
Where had things gone wrong in their marriage? It had all seemed so good at first. They'd married straight out of school and Sora had got pregnant with Tanoshii very quickly. After Tanoshii there'd been a two year gap before Shinji. They'd been so happy then. True, Matt had had his down moments but he'd always gone though swings of depression and it wasn't a surprise at all. But some time ago now, things had suddenly gone downhill. Matt had started spending more and more time at the office. Sora had tried to tell him that he was turning into his father but Matt didn't seem to care. When he was home, he didn't seem to have time for her anymore. He played and talked to the kids but rarely with her. And they'd stopped sleeping together. Sora knew that sex wasn't the most important thing in a marriage but she needed certain things to keep her happy. And she wasn't getting them. She'd put up with it for ages until she'd gone to Tai for comfort and reassurance. She hadn't meant to sleep with him. She really hadn't. But they'd kissed and then she'd remembered how much she'd used to like him and it had been ages....
And things had improved between her and Matt once she'd started her affair. They'd even started to sleep together again. Rarely but they did. Which was why she could even claim that the baby might be Matt's.
'Please let it be Matt's, please, please, please....'
"Hey Sora?"
Sora blinked. Matt was smiling at her.
"You zoned out," he said "Tired already?"
Sora smiled.
"Maybe a little," she said "I'm expecting pampering!"
Matt laughed. He patted her stomach gently.
"Which do you want it to be?" he asked "In a way, it would be nice to have a little girl but she might get left out with Tanoshii and Shinji."
"Oh I don't know," Sora said "I think I'd like a little girl."
Matt smiled.
"I'll just be happy as long as it's healthy," he said "I don't really care."
Sora smiled. God, she wanted this baby to be Matt's. The man was just destined for hundreds of kids.
'Please let it be Matt's....'
* * * *
Kari knocked at the Ishida family door. Sora answered it. She smiled faintly when she saw Kari.
"He's told you hasn't he?" she said.
Kari nodded "Is Matt here?"
"He's taken Tanoshii and Shinji out to play football. You'd better come in."
The two women sat on the sofa together. Sora sighed.
"I know what you must think of me," she said "I didn't mean to hurt Matt."
Kari swallowed. God, she didn't even want to think about what Sora would say if she ever found out about Matt and Tai.
"It was just so complicated," Sora was saying "Matt just wasn't showing any affection! It was like he didn't even love me! I had to find some comfort somewhere..."
Kari put an arm round Sora who was actually crying by this time.
"It's okay Sora," she said "Don't cry. You've got to stay relaxed remember? For the new baby."
Sora nodded.
"Matt's just so excited," she said "I never realised how much he wanted loads of kids before. I dread to think of what might happen if it's not his."
"It might be his," Kari said.
Sora snorted.
"We're barely slept together for months," she said "There's just a tiny possibility that it's his. A minute one. But it's almost certainly Tai's."
Kari sighed.
"Oh dear," she said softly.
Sora nodded.
"Oh dear," she agreed sadly.
* * * *
The nine months of Sora's pregnancy passed very quickly, almost too quickly for both Sora and Tai who were dreading the baby's birth. It couldn't pass too quickly for Matt who was looking forward to being a father again more than anything. He was at work when Sora rang him.
"Matt?" she said "It's time."
That was all that was needed. Matt got himself home very fast and drove her to hospital. He phoned Tai from there. Tai's bedroom phoneline was engaged, meaning that he was probably working. Matt phoned Tai's emergency mobile instead and waited.
* * * *
Tai felt his emergency mobile vibrate gently and considered ignoring it. He wasn't supposed to stop working after all and this girl sounded so totally hot....
He looked at the screen. Matt's number.
It could only mean one thing....
Tai finished the call slightly quickly than he normally would have (but the woman seemed satisfied) and then answered.
"Matt! Is it....?"
"Yes. Can you pick the boys up from school today like we arranged?"
"Yes. Phone me when it's born!"
"I promise Tai. Love you."
Tai swallowed. He hated it when Matt said that. He could never reply. For one thing, he wasn't sure if he did love Matt. For another, he couldn't say that while he was sleeping with Matt's wife.
"Yeah," he said simply.
He put the phone down and hugged his knees to his chin. He didn't know what to do. What if the baby was his? What if the baby looked like him? What would Matt do?
Then his work phone rang. Pushing away all thoughts, Tai answered it. It was his boss, asking him to take another call. Tai agreed, pushing all thoughts of Sora, Matt and the baby out of his head.
* * * *
"One last push," the midwife said encouraging "That's it....it's nearly out!"
Matt squeezed Sora's hand gently. She winced in pain. Matt was sure that Tanoshii and Shinji hadn't taken so long to be born. It had been a long hard labour.
"And it's out!" the midwife said. A indignant wail filled the room "It's a little girl!"
Sora smiled faintly at Matt as the baby was wrapped in a blanket and handed to them.
"Oh she's beautiful," Matt said "Hello."
The little girl continued to bawl magnificently. Sora looked at her. She uneasily noted that the baby had a considerable amount of hair. She pushed the thought away and hoped that Matt wouldn't notice. He didn't look like he would. He was looking completely besotted with the child. He gently stroked her face.
"Isn't she lovely?" he said.
Sora nodded.
"What are we going to call her?" she asked.
Matt looked at his watch.
"It's midnight," he said "So let's call her Sayo."
"Sayo Ishida," Sora repeated "I like it. Hello Sayo."
Sayo stopped crying.
"She likes it!" Matt said with a laugh "I'd better go and phone Tai. I promised after all and the boys'll be up worrying!"
He went out. Sora carefully examined Sayo.
She did look a lot like Tai.
"Oh dear," Sora murmured softly.
* * * *
Tai practically threw himself at the phone when it rang.
"Matt?"
"Hey Tai."
"Well?" Tai demanded. Tanoshii, Shinji and Sento were hovering nearby.
"She's a beautiful girl," Matt said "Her name's Sayo and she's gorgeous."
"Oh that's great!" Tai said "Is Sora okay?"
"Yes, Sora's fine. We're all fine," Matt said. He sounded giddy with exhaustion and excitement "Are the boys okay?"
"Tired and over-excited," Tai said "They'll be glad to hear the news."
"Can I tell them?"
"Sure," Tai said with a laugh "Here."
He held out the phone to Tanoshii who grabbed it.
"Daddy?"
Tai watched. Tanoshii grinned.
"That's cool!" he said happily "Is she pretty? Uh huh....uh huh.....uh huh. Yeah, okay. I will."
He handed the phone to Shinji. He looked at Tai.
"I've got a little sister!" he said proudly.
Tai laughed and picked him up. He waited until Shinji had finished before lifting him up too. Sento had grabbed the phone to hear about the baby as well. He put it down and held out his arms expectantly.
"I can't fit you all it!" Tai laughed, kneeling down so he could cram them all into his arms "Congratulations kids!"
"We've got a sister, we've got a sister!" Tanoshii was chanting. Shinji was just laughing. Sento was giggling too.
"Can I have a sister?" he asked his father.
Tai felt like someone had poured cold water down his spine. It was quite possible that Sento already had a little sister.
Before he could answer his son, Tanoshii piped up.
"You can share Sayo," he said "We don't mind, do we Shinji?"
"No!" Shinji said cheerfully "We'll all share her!"
Tai laughed.
"Bed," he announced "All of you. Come on."
He tucked them all into bed and made them promise to go to sleep before going to bed himself. He could only pray that Sayo was Matt's.
* * * *
After school, Tai took all three kids to see Sora and Sayo. Matt was waiting. He hugged Tanoshii and Shinji and then hugged Tai. Tai hugged him back, breathing in the smell of Matt's hair, feeling Matt's warm body pressed against his...
'Okay, here is not the place for that....'
Tai drew away.
"Well," he said "Let's see her then."
Matt led them all to Sora's room. She was holding a small bundle in her arms. Tanoshii and Shinji leapt up onto the bed, one on each side and peered at the bundle. Tai came over too. He felt his stomach drop.
Sayo was almost the spitting image of what Sento had looked like as a baby. There was absolutely no doubt that she was his baby.
"She's very small," Sento said doubtfully from beside him "She won't be very interesting."
"Oh she'll soon grow," Tai said quietly "You'd be surprised."
Sora glanced at him. She smiled but there was no real happiness in there.
"You like her?" she said.
"Oh yes," Tai said "She's a lovely little girl Sora. Well done."
"Hey, where's my credit?" Matt laughed, sitting on the bed.
"You don't get any," Tai said.
Matt laughed again. Only Sora knew that Tai hadn't been joking.
* * * *
Matt frowned. Beside him, Sora was fast asleep. But Matt couldn't sleep.
He wasn't sure what was bothering him. But he knew something was.
Sayo was six months old now and a beautiful little girl. Matt adored her. But there was something about her that made him blink whenever he looked at her. She was familiar but she didn't look anything like Tanoshii or Shinji had looked when they were babies. It was strange because both of the boys had looked so much like them right from the start. Tanoshii looked like him, Shinji looked like Sora. He assumed that Sayo was a mixture of him and Sora. Only he couldn't really see himself in there. Sayo had dark hair and dark eyes. Matt wasn't entirely sure where they'd come from. She was a beautiful baby but sometimes she didn't look like him at all. And there was just something there which made him look twice....
He heard Sayo start to cry and quickly scrambled up, deciding to let Sora sleep. He went over, changed her and sat there gently, rocking Sayo to and fro. Her cries stopped and she lay peaceably. Matt blinked drowsily. He was tired and his eyes kept drooping shut. He heard Sayo coo slightly and knew she was dozing off. Her little dark eyes drooped shut.
"Night Sento," he mumbled.
Then he blinked.
"Huh?"
Sento? Where had Sento come from? Sento was Tai's son! And Sayo didn't....
Matt stared at Sayo. She did look oddly like....
But that would mean....and it couldn't possibly be.....Tai would never....
Matt felt a strange feeling gathering in his stomach. He had to be imagining things. Sayo didn't really look anything Sento had at that age, surely? And he hadn't seen little Sento that often anyway.....
But still...
Matt carefully put Sayo down in her cot and went back to bed. He lay awake, feeling uneasy. Surely this was impossible....
But he couldn't help being frightened.
* * * *
Some days later, Matt went over to Tai's. He needed a break from Sora. She was getting to the stage where she thought there was something wrong again. Matt found it difficult to focus on his worries when he was with Tai. Tai was always so good at soothing his fears about anything and not leaving any room for thought.
But afterwards his niggling fear returned.
Matt waited until Tai had gone to shower, then went under the bed where he knew that Tai kept his baby photos of Sento. He pulled them out and searched though until he found one taken of Sento when he was about six months. He looked at the photo silently.
"Hey."
Matt turned and looked at Tai who was grinning at him.
"I don't see why you need those," Tai said with a laugh "You've got the real thing at home!"
Matt stood up, the photo clutched in his hand.
"What's wrong?" Tai asked, seeing that his friend was a funny colour and he was shaking.
"Tai," Matt said, his voice stiff "This picture...."
"Yeah?" Tai said. He walked over in case Matt was going to faint. He'd never seen Matt look so strange before.
"It looks like Sayo," Matt said.
He caught the look of apprehension that flickered over Tai's face.
"Most babies look alike," he said, his voice sounding neutral. Almost too neutral.
Matt shook his head.
"They're practically identical," he said slowly.
Tai said nothing this time. Matt could see the fear in his eyes.
"What's been going on?" he asked.
He waited. Tai was silent.
'Oh please God no....'
"Tai?" Matt said, his voice rising shrilly "Taichi? What have you done?"
Tai bowed his head.
"Matt I'm so sorry," he said "I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to, I really didn't mean to, it just happened..."
"You've been sleeping....with.....Sora?" Matt croaked.
Tai nodded, still keeping his head down.
"How long?" Matt asked. His voice sounded strained.
"Matt...."
"HOW LONG?"
Tai flinched.
"Since just before you and I...." his voice trailed off.
Matt stared at him.
"You've been sleeping with Sora and me at the same time?" he said softly.
Tai nodded.
"I didn't mean..."
Matt interrupted him.
"You....you.....you filthy, no-good BASTARD!" he shouted. Reaching out, he punched Tai as hard as he could, sending Tai sprawling "All this time! All this time!"
"Matt I...."
"I said I loved you!" Matt cried, horrified to find tears running down his face "I told you that I loved you and you were doing that! No wonder you never said it back! No wonder you always changed the conversation! You bastard, you bastard! I loved you!"
"Matt, I'm sorry!" Tai cried. He scrambled to his feet, reaching out for Matt "I just didn't know who to chose! I didn't know what to do! I didn't mean to...."
Matt punched him again. Tai sat down again, staring up at Matt.
"So you couldn't chose?" Matt said bitterly "Well here's your choice. You're dumped."
He turned and left the apartment leaving Tai sitting, staring after him, his eyes filled with shock.
* * * *
Sora came back from collecting the boys from school to find Matt at the kitchen table.
"I thought you'd be working later than this!" she said, slightly surprised.
"Yeah," Matt said. He bent down and hugged Tanoshii and Shinji.
"Can you two do me a favour?" he said "Run along into your room? I need to talk with Mummy."
The two boys agreed and ran off. Sora looked questioningly at Matt.
"What's up?" she said "You haven't lost your job have you?"
"No," Matt said.
"Then what's wrong?"
Matt looked at her. Sora gasped. His eyes were icy cold.
"You," he said flatly "I know Sora. I know about you and Taichi."
He spat the name like a swearword. Sora drew back.
"I know that Sayo isn't mine," Matt continued savagely "I know that really she's Sayo Yagami. That it should be Taichi's name on that birth certificate."
Sora swallowed. Oh crap.
"Matt," she said "Oh God Matt..."
"Don't," Matt said "Just don't."
Sora stared at him. She could feel her eyes filling with tears. What had she done?
"I've packed my bags," Matt said coldly "I'm leaving. I just thought that I'd better tell you face to face. And I have to say goodbye to the boys."
"Matt," Sora said "Matt, please don't. Please reconsider this. I don't want to split up, I love you...."
Matt gave a harsh laugh.
"You love me? Really Sora?" he said "Strange way of showing it. But it doesn't matter. Because I don't love you. I don't think I ever did."
He stood up and walked into their room. He came out carrying his bags. He dumped them by the door. Sora stood watching, her face pale with horror.
"Boys!" Matt called.
The boys came out of their room, looking a bit surprised to be summoned so soon. Matt knelt down.
"I know this is going to be a bit confusing and upsetting," he said gently "But I'm going away. I...I won't be coming back."
The boys stared at him.
"You're going away?" Shinji said, sounding puzzled "Can't we come too?"
"No," Matt said softly "I'm sorry. You two have to stay with your mother and sister."
His voice cracked when he said the word sister. Sora felt a horrified tear drop from her eye.
"Why are you leaving?" Tanoshii asked.
"That's a difficult thing to explain," Matt said "I just....I have to go. I need space. It's nothing to do with you. I still love you, love you more than anything. I'll write and phone though. Don't worry, I won't forget you."
"Where are you going?" Shinji said in a small voice.
"A friend's," Matt said "Now, you two be good for your mother, okay? Make sure you help her with Sayo."
He stood up and looked at Sora.
"I'll send you the divorce papers," he said expressionlessly "I hope you and Taichi are happy together."
Sora could feel more horrified tears trickling from her eyes. She stared at Matt. He hugged the boys one last time. Tanoshii began to cry.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to Sayo?" Shinji asked innocently. He didn't really understand.
Matt paused for a moment. Then he went over to Sayo who was still in the pushchair.
"Bye sweetie," he whispered "I'll miss you, even if..."
His voice broke off. Then he stood up and picked up his bags. Sora wrapped her arms round the boys. Shinji was looking puzzled.
"Daddy, don't go!" Tanoshii cried.
"I'm sorry," Matt whispered "I'm very sorry."
Then he walked out of the door, leaving his family behind him.
* * * *
When Tai's phone rang, he snatched it up.
"Hello?"
"Taichi."
It was Matt.
"Matt!" Tai said "Thank God! I..."
"Shut up."
Tai shut up.
"I haven't told Sora. About us."
Tai remained silent, not sure what to say.
"She thinks that you were only fucking her. Not me too."
"Matt...." Tai began.
"Shut up," Matt said again "I'm leaving Taichi. I'll be sending Sora her divorce papers. You can continue to see her or not as you wish. But really it's not my concern. But you may want to help her with your daughter. I know Sento wanted a sister. Well now he has one."
"Matt please," Tai whispered "Please don't. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. Matt I...."
"Goodbye Taichi."
There was a click and the phone went dead. Tai stared at it, his chocolatey eyes filling with tears.
"No...."
But he knew that it was too late. Sinking down onto his bed, Tai began to sob bitterly consumed with misery and guilt.
End of part 2.
Aw, aren't I mean? I'm going to leave it up to you to decide who gets with who in the end so lets have an opinion poll. Say in your reviews if you want it to end as a Taito, a Taiora or a Sorato (it may look hopeless but it's probably mendable). Or even if you think I should set them up with somebody else! I want to know! (besides, if not enough people vote, I'll just set up my preferred couple!) So get voting!