Disclaimers: I don't own Ranma 1/2.

Chapter Three: The Unexpected Happens and Ranma Isn't Here to Know.

Akane:

I woke up the next morning early. 'This is strange, why is an arm wrapped around me?'  Then the events of last night came back to me. I blushed remembering what Ranma and I did. I felt someone stir next to me and saw Ranma had awakened. "Morning sleepy head," I said to him.

"Morning," he answered back, still kind of asleep. When he realized that I was laying next to him he awoke with a start. When he realized our positions (us both naked,) he started to tense. "Did we… um… you know." He asked tentatively.

"Yes, we did." 'Did he regret it?' I felt my anger rise. "Do you regret it?"

"No, course not, it's just… do you regret it?"

"No, I said I love you and you love me, unless of course you were lying." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"No, I meant it Akane." I could tell from his eyes that he did mean it.

"What time is it Ranma?"

"6:00 A.M." He said after looking at the clock hanging on the wall behind me.

"What time do you plan on leaving at?"

"Huh… oh yeah. Um at 8:00."

"Where are you going?"

"Everywhere."

"How can I reach you?"

"You won't be able to, but I'll write every now and then saying what's going on."

"Promise?!"

"Of course. Hey, Akane?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm starting to get hungry. How about you?"

"I guess." 'Still always thinking with your stomach.' I rolled over and reach for my clothes on the floor. After gathering them all up, I turned to see Ranma already having his pants on. "Um… could you turn around while I dress?" 'Why would I care? He's already seen me plenty of times without anything on, but… still I don't want him to look.' He must have known that I still didn't want him to look even if he already has seen me, for all he said was…

"Alright if ya say so." He turned and faced the wall. I quickly got dressed.

"So Ranma what do you want to eat?"

"I really want Kasumi's cooking." I saw a look of longing in his eyes.

"Okay let's go home."

"But I already said goodbye. I can't…"

I interrupted him. "They'll want to say goodbye again I'm sure. So let's go." I grabbed his arm and started to drag him.

"Wait,' he got out of my grip and went to his pack which obviously never unpacked. Then he went to the printer and grabbed a sheet of paper. On the paper were two copies of our picture we took last night.

"Two?" I asked. Looking him in the face.

"Yeah, one for you and one for me. You're not the only one who is going to miss seeing me. I mean there won't be any mirrors during my travels."

"You little… you won't miss me?"

"Of course I will, which is why I printed two. One for you to stare at me and the other for me to stare at you."

"Are you good at flirting or what?" 'But you are right, that is all I'm going to do to the picture.' "So shall we go to catch some breakfast?"

"Yeah, let's hurry." He grabbed my hand and we ran out of Hiroshi's house to the dojo. Everyone was glad Ranma came back for one more goodbye. At 8:00 Ranma left, just like he said he would, and I began my day like any other normal day… just quieter.

* * * * *

It's been two weeks since Ranma left. I think I might have caught a cold. Kasumi thinks it's the stomach flu, for I keep retching what I ate. I'm visiting Ukyo today, we decided to go shopping. We've been getting along well with no Ranma around. "Hello Ukyo," I said stepping into Ucchan's.

"Hey Akane. We won't be able to leave for a couple of minutes for I've got a house load of customers. Come and have an okinomiyaki, it's on the house."

"Yeah sure Ukyo." I sat down and she handed me a plate of shrimp okinomiyaki. I took a bite and swallowed. Soon, yet again, I had to go to the bathroom. I ran to it, Ukyo was worried and she followed me. She could probably hear the retching sound through the door.

"Are you all right Akane?" I could hear worry in her voice.

"I'm fine, this usually always happens after I eat shrimp." I said as I came out.

"For how long." I knew she meant since when.

"For a 1 week and a half, I think."

"Akane… do you think… you know…" She stuttered.

"No I don't. What do you mean Ukyo?"

"You don't think that maybe you could be pregnant?"

"Why would you think that? That would mean that I would've had to have had sex."

"Don't lie to me Akane. I know you and Ranma sugar did it at Hiroshi's the night before he left."

'She said sugar, not honey.' "How did you find out?"

"Sayuri was telling Yuka and I overheard." 'Sure you did, she said sugar.' "Are you mad and are you giving Ranma up?"

"Some of me is mad and the other half always knew this would happen one day. To answer your other question, yes I'm giving Ranma sugar up. So do you think you are pregnant?"

"Of course not."

"Sure… did you even bother to take the test?"

"No."

"Well take it now."

"Yeah sure, I'm going to go and walk into a drug store and ask for a pregnancy test."

"Oh no, of course not." 'Good she sees it my way.' "I've already got the test." I face faulted from that comment. 'Already had one, why would she already have one?' Ukyo returned a minute later from her room with the test. She handed it to me. "Well… what are you waiting for?"

"Nothing." I went into the bathroom and peed on that stupid stick. 'I'm not pregnant. This is so stupid. How… did Ranma use a condom? Stupid of me to think of that now though. But did he? He didn't…THAT IDIOT! If I am pregnant I'm going to… I'm going to… I don't know. Besides you can't get pregnant from your first time can you?' I walked out of the bathroom with the dumb test.

"Well." Ukyo said expectantly.

"The box says to wait an hour."

"That's okay we can wait. Let's go eat something. Don't worry it won't have shrimp." She led me back to the main room. "Sit anywhere while I get some chow." I sat down at a booth that was close to the bathroom, just in case my stomach decided not to hold my food down again, Ukyo soon came out of the kitchen with two bowls of rice, some pickles, and leftover pork. "Here you go Akane," she placed a bowl in front of me.

"Thanks Ukyo."

"No prob. So Akane what would you do if you are pregnant?"

"I'm not pregnant. But I don't know what I would do if I was. Would you hate me?"

"Me, no way sugar. I might be mad for awhile. But I couldn't stay mad."

"Thank you. Ukyo are we still going shopping?" I asked trying to change the subject.

"Of course. We'll go shopping for maternity clothes." I spit out my food when I heard that.

"Ukyo!" I shouted after recovering.

"I was just joking. My goodness Akane."

"That isn't something to joke about."

"I know, I know. Just eat your food." After that we just ate in silence. When we finished it was an hour after I took the test. I looked at the result and almost fainted. "So what is the result?"

"I'm pre-pregnant." Still shocked.

"I knew it, I knew it!" Ukyo shouted, jumping up and down.

"What am I going to do?" I asked aloud falling to the floor.

"What do you mean?" Ukyo asked looking at me strangely.

"How am I going to tell my family?"

"Won't they be happy?"

"Our fathers maybe. Nabiki will probably make money off this. Kasumi will scowl me. Not to mention our fathers will force us to marry."

"Wouldn't you two get married anyways?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right. But my gosh. Ranma's other fiancées and Kuno will be furious."

"I'm not mad."

"Not you. Shampoo and Kodachi; those two always worry me. What if they attack? I'm no match for Shampoo."

"Don't worry. I'll deal with Shampoo… and Kodachi if you need help."

"Really?!" 'I can't believe my ears. She'll help me?'

"Of course." 'Well all that's set. But there is still one problem…'

"Ranma." I whispered.

"What about Ranma?" Ukyo asked she heard me whisper his name.

"How can I tell him? He says he'll be traveling everywhere. I haven't got a clue where he is. I can't tell him."

"I've got an idea. If we hurry we might get it to work." She grabbed my arm and we took off running.

* * * * *

That all happened three months ago. A lot of things happened during the passing time. I told my family. They reacted just as I suspected.

*Flashback:*

 Dad and Uncle Saotome first over reacted, thinking that it wasn't Ranma's, that it was a child consumed from a fling. Of course, that's better than how they reacted when they found out that it indeed was Ranma's. They started to cry saying, "The schools will at last be joined." Then they started to of course make plans for a wedding. They didn't stop until I told them that Ranma didn't know and I didn't want him to find out from them blubbering and throwing a wedding out of nowhere. "It would only cause more trouble dad. Just wait until after I'm done telling him."

"But you have to…" Dad started.

"I don't have to do anything dad. Just wait okay."

"Fine, but you will be married."

"Yes, Akane, it's only right that you and that son of my marry." Uncle Saotome added in. 'They're fools. Both are fools. I will not be forced into marriage. If Ranma wants to reject the child, that will be his problem. But they will not use my unborn child as an excuse to have us marry. But I might as well humor them.'

"Fine whatever you say dad, but remember no mentioning of anything until I tell him myself."

"Yes, okay Akane."

"Father are you done talking, for I must say something to Akane." Kasumi announced. 'Here it comes, prepare for the worst.' "Akane, how could you do something like this? What about school?"

"I'll still go." I answered meekly.

"I highly doubt they'll let you." She retorted.

"I'll go until I start to show, then I stay home and do make up work."

"That sounds smart, except for the part where you have to take tests. Really Akane, you didn't think this through. You are only 17."

"I know I didn't Kasumi. I didn't, it was just a spur of the moment thing."

"Well Akane, you are now going to be supporting another person, you better learn to think, you and Ranma both!"

"I will Kasumi, but… I'll need help."

"I know you will, which is why everyone is going to pull their weight and help out."

"Thank you Kasumi."

"Maybe now you have learned your lesson."

"Yes, I have."

"Do tell what you learned."

"To wait and have sex after marriage."

"That is a good lesson, but not what I was thinking of."

"To think before you act."

"That's good too, but nope sorry."

"Well then I'm fresh out. What is the lesson big sister?" I looked at her curiously.

"The lesson my dear little sister is that it's okay to have fun, but you should always use protection."

"What!" 'I would have suspected this from Nabiki, but from Kasumi. Whoa.'

"It's true Akane. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I think."

"Good, now congratulations, I must start dinner now." She got up and went to the kitchen.

"I'm so going to make a lot of money off of this." Nabiki began to cackle.

"Nabiki! Really don't you dare tell anyone!" I shouted.

"What, tell people you are pregnant with Ranma's child?"

"Akane Tendo! You are pregnant?!" A voice shouted.

"Who said that?" Me and Nabiki looked around the room.

"With Ranma Saotome's child no less?!" The voice shouted again.

"Who are you?"

"I am Mousse of course. Hello Akane Tendo." Mousse said stepping out from behind a tree.

"Why were you hiding Mousse?"

"Cologne sent me to spy on you."

"Why would she do that?"

"How should I know, but she'll be interested to know that you and Saotome are having a baby."

"Don't tell her. Please."

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Please Mousse, if she knows, then Shampoo will know, and Shampoo will attack Ranma and tell him, and I want to be the one to tell him. So do you promise not to tell?"

"I don't know."

"You better listen to her sugar." Ukyo said walking into the room. She started to wave mini spatulas around.

"Why should I?"

"Why should ou act like a dog and listen to everything Cologne says?" Ukyo countered

"I do not act like a dog to that old bat." Mousse protested.

"IF you tell Cologne about Akane you will be a dog." Mousse was speechless at what Ukyo said. "So do you promise not to tell?"

"Yes," Mousse said defeated.

"Good! You'll be great help."

"Help for what?" We both asked.

"He can help me protect you until Ranma gets back.'

"Why would she need protection?" Mousse asked.

"My dear Mousse," Nabiki said, "do you not know anything? A woman with child should not be hit, it could kill the unborn baby. Also I think you should keep Kuno from her."

"Why id that?" Mousse asked again.

"It's not good for the baby if the mother is stressed out, and Kuno will most definitely stress Akane out."

"That's an understatement," I muttered.

"So Mousse will you do this? Will you do this? Will you keep the secret and help protect Akane?" Ukyo asked. She was waving her min spatulas as a way to tell him the answer she would like is yes.

"Of course I will help you Akane Tendo. We are friends after all right?"

"I guess you could say that. But friends don't usually address other friends with their full name."

"I will stop that Akane Ten… Akane."

"Good, so it's agreed. Mousse and I will protect Akane and keep her stress free and Nabiki won't tell a soul that she's pregnant." Ukyo said.

"I ne…" Nabiki started, but she stopped when she saw us all glaring at her with our battle auras blazing. "Fine, I won't tell."

"Thank you Nabiki," I jumped up and hugged her.

*End of Flashback.*

Things went quite well for me with Mousse and Ukyo making sure Kuno is out of my hair. Everywhere I go (except the bathroom.) Ukyo and Mousse are sure to be close behind. I mean Ukyo even moved into my room until Ranma came back just to make sure Shampoo and Kodachi don't try a night attack. Sol my life has been less hectic then usual and that's great. I'm guessing everyone is wondering what Ukyo's great plan to find Ranma was. Well it was to have Ryouga go find him and tell to come home. Ryouga is a great friend and all, but he couldn't find his way out of a box. I mean after he set out he came back about 50 times and not once did he find Ranma. Oh well, the three months are almost up. I know Ranma will return for he kept his promise and he's been writing to me, so I know he isn't dead. Like I said the three months are almost up. So here's where we get back to the story.

* * * * *

"Akane you have to come down and eat." Kasumi called up to me.

"Coming," I put the picture of Ranma back on the table next to my bed. I went down the stairs and sat at my place at the table. Kasumi placed my food in front of me and we all began to eat.

"Oh, Akane, you got a letter today." Kasumi said smiling.

"Really?!" 'Maybe it's from Ranma.'

"Yes, it's from Ranma." Kasumi answered as if knowing what I was thinking. 'YES!' "Here it is." She handed me an envelope. I quickly read the letter and a big smile spread across my face. "What did he write Akane?" Everyone was staring at me. They all probably wanted to know what was making me so happy.

"Well, Akane, what did he say?" Mousse and Ukyo asked together. Yes they were eating at my house. They wouldn't let me out of their sights.

"Ranma… Ranma is coming home tomorrow!" I cried out with glee.