Chapter 26: Realizations
Eriol, Tomoyo, Syaoran, and Sakura went to the nearby hospital for Tomoyo's check-up. The streets were still cold and filled with snow, but as the holidays passed by, it didn't seem like winter at all. Every month Tomoyo had to go to the doctor and on that February month, Syaoran and Sakura decided to come along and watch. They were going to try to see what the sex of the baby was. Once they got there, Tomoyo was ordered to change into a hospital gown and to lie down on the bed.
"This is exciting." Sakura whispered, stroking Tomoyo's hair.
"I know." Tomoyo smiled brightly. "I can't wait to know…"
Eriol and Syaoran stayed on the bench by the wall. "How are youfeeling?" Syaoran asked, glancing at him.
"Pretty nervous." He admitted. "But I bet you'll be even more nervous when you get your own kid."
Syaoran gave a small snort. "Anyway…what about the kid? You prefer one gender over the other?"
"You'd think I would…but just as long as my baby's healthy and fine…it's all right with me."
"That's right." Syaoran slapped him on the back. "That's what a good father is."
He nodded. "I've already got names for them."
"Really?"
"Yep. If it's a guy, we're calling him Syaoran."
Syaoran's eyes widened. "Uh? What?"
"Yeah man. You're like the brother I never had, and I really appreciate it." Eriol grinned. "Tomoyo and I talked about it and she said that it's all right. Just as long as if it's a girl, her name's gotta be Sakura."
"You're naming your kids after us??" Syaoran asked bewilderedly.
"Don't worry, Syao. We don't want anything back. You guys got cool names."
"Wow, Eriol, didn't know you thought of me as highly as you do." Syaoran admitted. "Thanks man."
"No problem."
The doctor came in about 10 minutes later. She opened the small opening of the gown by the stomach. Placing some sort of jelly on the slight bulge, she smiled at everyone, greeting them. Eriol and Syaoran stood up immediately and went over to Tomoyo's side. The baby monitor was positioned in place by one of the nurses. Soon, the doctor got the ultrasound of the fetus living inside Tomoyo. Eriol took her hand nervously while Syaoran and Sakura held each other romantically.
"Now, you've only been pregnant since September, giving the baby at least 20 weeks to show us its gender." The doctor smiled warmly. "I think we can find out…but this isn't 100% right."
Tomoyo nodded eagerly. "Just please let us know."
"Ok." She pushed the machine around her stomach and finally it settled.
There was a picture on the monitor of a baby moving and the sound of the heartbeat was clear as a sunny day. The baby's face was a little unclear, but the doctor could see the gender. She smiled once again and faced the keen couple. Then she announced it. Both of them laughed with glee and Syaoran and Sakura gasped with excitement. They were going to have a baby boy! Syaoran felt a slight red appearing on his cheeks, knowing that his godson was going to be holding his name.
"Oh my gosh…" Sakura whispered in delight, holding Syaoran's arm. "Isn't it wonderful, Syaoran?"
He made a small swallow. "Yeah…it is."
She smiled happily. "This is probably one of the best moments we'll ever get to experience in our life."
"I agree."
"And look how happy they are…" Sakura giggled to herself. Eriol and Tomoyo were smiling into each other's eyes, kissing sweetly. "It's so amazing … bringing a life into this world."
He looked down at her with adoration. "Someday, Sakura, we'll have our own." He kissed her on the cheek. "But it is amazing."
She turned and buried her face on the nape of his neck. "This baby's going to be named Syaoran, isn't it?"
He gave a low chuckle. "Yeah…it is."
She laughed. "That's amazing! You're going to be his godfather, you know."
"It's gonna be cool."
"I'm sure it will be." Sakura smiled.
----
The next few weeks seemed to pass by in a blur. Tomoyo and Sakura always talked every night of the wedding plans. Syaoran and Eriol went around malls to find good outfits for the little unborn boy because of the women's orders. Eriol and Tomoyo started planning on finding a house where they could live as soon as they were married and had the baby. Sakura and Syaoran didn't approve at first, but they knew what had to happen. They were going to be married and had to lead separate lives.
One night, Sakura just cried her eyes out in her room, burying her face in a pillow. Syaoran closed the door behind him and walked over to her slowly. "Sakura?" He asked quietly, stroking her soft hair. "What's the matter?"
"Leave me alone, please…" She mumbled. "I just want to be alone…"
"No. Tell me what's wrong." He replied firmly. "Come on babe. What's bothering you?"
She sniffed and turned her head to look at him sideways.
His eyes softened at her tears and he wiped them away, wrapping his huge hands on her cheeks. "What is it?" His heart broke at the sight.
She sobbed and pulled him closer. He lied down beside her and hugged her tightly. She rested her head on his chest. "Tomoyo can't leave, Syaoran!" She cried. "She can't leave me! We've been roommates for so long!"
Then he knew what was the problem. Sakura was afraid of losing her best friend. "You're not going to lose her, Sakura…she's always going to be your best friend, no matter what happens." He whispered in her ear soothingly.
She shook her head. "B-but Eriol's…already planning…and f-finding a house! T-Tomoyo's leaving…"
Syaoran kissed her forehead lovingly. "They have a life together now, babe. They're going to get married…they're going to have a kid. Did you expect the kid to grow here? In a four-room apartment?"
She looked up at him with trembling eyes. "N-no." She was gasping in small breaths.
"See?" He briefly captured her lips in his. He just couldn't resist. They were full and pouty and pink, and he caressed her bottom lip with his thumb. "But you're not going to lose her. She'll always be there…she's just…moving away. Tomoyo's gonna be a mother, Sakura. She's going to be a mom and a wife." He looked into her eyes firmly. "Do you understand? She doesn't need you to cry right now. She needs you to be a best friend and help her out."
Sakura lowered her eyes and buried her face on his chest. "I'm sorry…"
He gave a small laugh. "About what?"
"Breaking down like this…"
"No problem, baby. I love holding you." He murmured.
She gave out a small giggle. "And I love you."
He kissed her on the lips once again, this time longer.
----
Syaoran sat on a bench and buried his face in his hands. He was so sleepy…and Eriol decided to bring him into the mall. Sometimes the soon-to-be father really got on his nerves, but Syaoran knew how anxious Eriol was feeling, preparing to be a husband and father, and finding a new place to live in. So he decided to just be there for his friend, because that was the most honourable thing to do.
"Come on man! There's this store I want to go to. I was looking at the newspaper and there's this advertisement of new baby clothes." Eriol persuaded.
Syaoran stood up and growled. "How many times are we gonna look for clothes, Eriol?? It's been like a month already!"
"Whatever. We can never be too prepared!" He grinned.
Syaoran rolled his eyes.
"You hungry? I'll pay." Eriol suggested.
His face brightened. "Yeah all right." He smirked. "I'll get the most expensive food here."
Eriol's face contorted. "R-really?" He squeaked out.
"Sure. Dad." Syaoran teased.
Eriol stopped in his tracks.
--
Tomoyo sighed one more time as she and Sakura sat on her and Eriol's bed, practicing some breathing exercises. Sakura knew Tomoyo felt frustrated, because honestly, she felt the same. But she kept reminding herself of the conversation she and Syaoran had about Tomoyo needing her as a guide and best friend. It only made her want to cry, because she remembered all the good times they shared and knowing that she and Eriol were moving. Ignoring her sad feelings at that point, Sakura read through a book as she told Tomoyo how to breathe when having contractions.
"Ok, so what did I just say?" Sakura asked knowingly.
Tomoyo pouted. "Um…stop breathing when you get contractions."
"Tomoyo!"
She groaned. "Did I get it wrong again??"
"You're not paying attention!" Sakura scolded.
"Well I'm sorry, but I'm tired." Tomoyo muttered and lied on her back, positioning the pillow on her back as comfortable as possible. "And my tummy is growing faster than I would have thought. I feel like that blue girl in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory."
Sakura laughed out loud. "You are not fat, Tomoyo! It's just your tummy gaining weight, not you."
"Humph…well…Eriol's not exactly been the sweetest guy these past few weeks."
"What do you mean?" Sakura raised an eyebrow.
She sighed again. "He's been so annoying! He keeps saying I'm so fat and unattractive! I've practically hit his head 30 times already. He deserved it! He's not being supportive. At all!" Tomoyo whined.
"Calm down, honey." Sakura giggled. "He's just teasing you. We all know he can't resist you."
"Tell that to him!" Tomoyo glared. "Once this burden is off of me, I so would like to seduce that four-eyes and just make him beg!"
"Don't forget that once this 'burden' is off of you, you'll be a mom." Sakura reminded.
Tomoyo stopped and her eyes didn't blink.
--
"Eriol?" Syaoran asked, puzzled. "Hiiragizawa? Uh…I wanna eat…and all you're doing is…standing in the middle of the mall…and staring at a plant. Could…uh…we go…already?"
"I-I never realized…" He trailed off.
"Realized what?" Syaoran asked again, this time concerned.
"T-that I would be a dad…"
"It just occurred to you?"
"I-I never realized…" Eriol blinked his eyes rapidly and stared at Syaoran with fear and love clear in his eyes.
Syaoran broke into a small smile and patted Eriol's back. "Congratulations, man."
Eriol took a deep breath and grinned. "I'm gonna be a dad. A dad…"
--
"Honey? Tomoyo? Could you please blink?? I'm freaking out here!" Sakura stared at her friend worriedly.
Tomoyo blinked. "Oh my god, Sakura!!"
"W-what? What is it??"
"I'm going to be a mom!!!" Tomoyo shrieked. "I can't believe this!!"
Sakura sweat-dropped. "You…didn't know this…before?"
"I-I didn't realize it until you said 'mom'! Oh my gosh!!" Tomoyo laughed and yelled. "I'm going to be a mom, Sakura!! A mom!!"
"Congratulations, Tomoyo!" Sakura laughed with her friend and they hugged tightly.
----
The four had dinner one evening, but all the lights were out because of a blackout. There were 5 candles standing in the middle of the dining table and they were eating leftovers from early that day. It was a good thing the food was still a little warm. The blackout started merely 2 hours ago. The four had to eat the rice cooked at lunch, which was kind of hard. And there were the other foods, which were at least tasty.
"Stupid blackout." Eriol muttered, straightening his glasses.
"Ditto." Syaoran replied and shoved in a spoonful of food in his mouth. "Friggin' storm."
"Relax, guys. The electricity's coming back in a little while." Tomoyo assured. "I'm not angry. You shouldn't be either."
"Mm-hmm." Sakura agreed quietly, but she hated blackouts so much. Touya told her long ago that that was when ghosts decided to come out and scare the hell out of people. She scooted closer to Syaoran and took a bite out of her pork.
Syaoran glanced at her. "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing."
"She's just scared." Tomoyo replied calmly. "Blackouts and ghosts seemed to make a connection in her mind."
Sakura dropped her spoon on the plate and crossed her arms, pulling her up legs. "I-it's true. I am scared."
Syaoran let out a smirk. "You're a big scaredy-cat, you know that?" He teased, putting his spoon down, and brushing her chin with his forefinger.
She trembled and looked up at him. "You don't have to be mean." She pouted.
He laughed.
Eriol interrupted. "Tomoyo, let's go and give them some time alone?"
"Yeah because they're in love!" She spit out and left the dining table angrily.
"Huh?" Syaoran asked in confusion.
Eriol shrugged, seemingly not affected by it. "Mood swings." He stood up. "Tomoyo, don't be mad, sweetie!"
Syaoran looked back at the trembling Sakura. "Oh baby…" He joked again.
She punched him on the arm. "Stop it!"
"I'm kidding!" He took her spoon and filled with rice and meat. Syaoran moved the spoon close to her mouth and she opened willingly. "There you go…" He whispered, babying her.
She swallowed the food and looked up at him. "Why'd you do that?"
"I'm supposed to take care of you, remember?" He kissed her lightly on the cheek. "I know you're scared, babe. I'm here."
Sakura nodded. "Thank you Syaoran…"
"You're welcome." He spoon-fed her again and gave her a glass of water.
"I'm done." She murmured and brought her drink to her lips. "Thank you."
He wove his arms underneath her and carried her to the sofa. "You still scared?" He whispered.
She shook her head, looking up at him with adoration. "I've got my angel here…" She smiled. "Watching over me…"
His lips caressed her lips lightly and he moved across her cheek and whispered in her ear, "Aishiteru."