Chapter Fourteen

They were lying together in the darkness of the room that they shared. Xiaoyu was turned on her side, facing Jin. Her hands were folded underneath her head and her features were illuminated by the moonlight that filed through the windows and fell in sheets across their bed.

She looked so small underneath the large quilt that covered her. But her eyes were closed and her breathing was slow and deep. It had been such a long time since he had been able to watch her sleep.

Jin gently placed a hand on her widening stomach. She was so warm; it felt good to be near her. He could have sworn that he felt the baby move inside of her.

"Shh," he whispered to his child. "I know you're there."

He gave his wife's stomach another reassuring pat before he continued. "But right now, your mama needs her sleep."

Jin moved closer to his wife and began to think. He tried to remember his childhood. The only person he could remember was his mother; his father hadn't really played the biggest role in his life.

"I didn't have the best father when I was growing up," Jin whispered to his baby. "But I promise, for you, I'll try my best not to let you down."

As though his child understood, Jin felt another smell nudge against his hand. He smiled to himself and gave Xiaoyu's stomach another gentle pat.

"I love you, too, kid," he began. "I really do, but your mama is finally sleeping. She needs her rest."

Jin looked up into his wife's tear-stained eyes. She had been listening to him the whole time.

"Oh, Jin," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Do you really mean all of that?"

Jin could feel her stomach pressing into his and he smiled as he wrapped his arms around her waist. He gently kissed her forehead and wiped a few tears away from her eyes. "Yeah, baby."

"I love you," Xiaoyu breathed into his neck.

"I love you, too," Jin whispered back to her.

They laid there in silence for a long time; enjoying the presence of each other's company. Jin gently rubbed Xiaoyu's stomach and she tried not to giggle when, each time the baby shifted inside of her, Jin's hand would stop and try to feel something move again.

Finally, she broke the silence, asking, "What should we name him?"

"Him?" Jin asked. "I thought we were having a girl!"

"No," she whispered.

"Well?" Jin began, grinning. "Names for a boy."

"Kazama Hikaru," Xiaoyu announced after a moment of thought.

"But, that's a girl's name!" Jin laughed a little. "What about Hikaru if there's a mistake in your prediction and we have a girl instead?"

"Deal!" Xiaoyu gave her husband a quick smile and began to think again. "What about Motoki?"

"I like it," Jin whispered. "Kazama Hikaru and Kazama Motoki."

Xiaoyu placed her hand on top of Jin's, which was resting lightly on top of her stomach. She knew that he was still trying to feel the baby move. 'Poor thing,' she thought. 'He'll never feel him move with his hand over there!'

"Here, you can feel the baby's heart beat," she whispered, moving his hand so that he could feel the baby inside. "And here, you can feel the baby move."

Jin smiled as he felt his son move. "Strong little guy," Jin whispered. "Isn't he?"

"He's just like his daddy," Xiaoyu beamed as she spoke.

"Hopefully with the looks of his mama," Jin's voice trailed off.

"Oh, Jin," she sighed. "I think he'll look just as handsome as you."

He smiled at Xiaoyu and kissed her again. "OK, if it's a boy, he can look like me," Jin smiled. "But if it's a girl, she will have to look just like you."

He pulled his wife close to him and interrupted what she was beginning to say with another kiss. Jin couldn't help but smile every time he thought about the tiny life that they had created together. Sure, he was scared about his new role as a father; but, with Xiaoyu there to help him, he was sure that he could be a good father. He loved them both too much to let them down.