AN: Wahaha here we go =) Warning.. updates maybe slow cause school is the devil lol
I'm hoping the story will speed up after this chapter, and I'm sorry if this chappy seems confusing O.o
Shout out to Faith (aka Kouga's girl) go read her fics "Eternity" and "Call my name" good fics ^^
Oh and to the person who guessed that this story is based on 'Whisper' from Evanescence… *bows* you are correct! It's not based actually, I started it long before I heard the song, but that song is like the theme song for this fic… and because you picked that up you get a prize! You get to request any picture you like, so long as it pertains to Never =) just email me or leave what you want in a review.
"You are well then?"
Liika glanced at the small screen in front of her, her turquoise eyes catching ice blue eyes of the person on the screen. "As well as can be expected. I am after all, confined to bed in a dark, underground bunker beneath the palace in the Spanish capital. I haven't seen daylight in over two weeks!" She grumbled, crossing her arms over her extremely swollen abdomen. "They don't even let me out of bed anymore."
The young man on the screen smiled a bit, a serious sort of amusement dancing in his ice colored eyes. "But you are healthy? The baby is due any day now is it not?"
"Yes, but that's not the point. To be honest I will be damn glad when the kid is out of me so that I can go back to being made of solid flesh and bone, instead of the glass everyone seems to figure I'm made of." Liika replied frowning. "So don't you start either!"
Spencer nodded, his eyes warming a bit. Over the months he had been conversing with the young woman he had grown fond of her. She was his contact with the European group, so it was required he talk to her frequently. She had apparently recovered from Bryan's assault, and had accepted the child that grew inside her. She even appeared to be quite attached to it. Which was a good thing, Spencer didn't wish for the child to have the horrible upbringing he had had, where his parents hated him.
"Byakko." He stated, his tone once more becoming serious as it always did when he was about to talk business. "I want you to promise me that you will leave the bunker as soon as the baby is born."
Liika nodded, sighing. They had been over this time and time again. It wasn't safe that Spencer knew where they were, and it would be better if they moved to another location as soon as possible. "You worry too much, stop it." She said smiling. "Robert and Kai have already taken care of it. We are set to depart the first day of the new-year –provided the baby has come and there are no complications."
"Good. Tala is becoming more ruthless and Bryan impatient. It will not be long until one of them finds out that Esperanza has betrayed Biovolt."
Liika's frown grew. "They know of Anza?" Her voice carried heavy worry. Esperanza Lorenzo had become a valued friend over the two months the European team had occupied the underground bunker. The girl had no experience with pregnancy, but that didn't stop her from bumbling along with Liika and Mariah on their quest to find out more about the world of motherhood. The three girls spent countless hours pouring over catalogues of baby clothes and accessories, as well as over many books written on the subject of motherhood. Liika wanted to be the best mother she could be given her age and the dire situation they were in, and Mari and Anza wanted nothing more than to help. The three of them often drove the males in the group to sever annoyance –especially Kai who had no patience for female warbling- all, that is, except Enrique. More often than not, one could find the blond playboy in the company of the girls. However, Liika and Mariah suspected that his presence had more to do with the pretty brunette than with the baby paraphernalia.
"Of course. Miss Lorenzo is of high consequence to Biovolt. She is after all a high ranked moral figure in her country. Her opinion holds large sway with the people of Spain –more so than her father, grandfather or even the president. Although she doesn't realize it, the princess is very much in Tala's eye. Spain is an important country, strategically speaking." Spencer explained, his tone flat as if he was emotionally detached from the world. Which in all reality, he probably was. It was safer for him that way.
Liika chewed on her bottom lip. She really hoped their presence wouldn't cause Anza too much trouble…she didn't want any more people to die on their account.
"Don't fret Byakko. It's not good for the baby. Miss Lorenzo will be safe enough, I assure you."
This caused the anxiety to disappear in an instant and a scowl to cross Liika's cute face. "I told you not to start with the "it's not good for the baby" crap. I swear to God, if one more person says that to me I'm going to punch them so hard they'll see stars –especially if that person is male." She growled, glowering at the computer screen.
Spencer smirked, "You would have a hard time punching me from three thousand miles away. In any case, I must go now. Good luck with birthing your little one, and with choosing a name. I understand that choosing a name is the hardest part of the process." The last part he said with a teasing note that brought a smile to Liika's lips.
Spencer never teased.
But his mention of her baby's name subdued her surprise. He was right of course, that choosing a name was the hardest part, mentally anyway. She was sure the physical pain was equally as difficult. However, her child's name had been bothering her for sometime. She had an idea what she wanted to call her, but was still unsure. "Say, before you go, could you tell me the Russian name for Hope?" She asked, frowning a bit in concentration.
Spencer paused for a moment, thinking the question over. "Nadezhda." (AN: Pronounced: Nah-dee-ehzh-dah) He said finally, staring back at her. He said nothing more.
Her face screwed up at the hard to pronounce word as she tried to replicate it. She finally gave up. "Hmm… thanks."
"Nadya is its short form."
She brightened and smiled. "Thanks! I can pronounce that!"
"Then you will call it Nadya? What if it's a boy?"
"It's a girl, I know it."
Spencer shook his head but did not argue. "Hope. Ironic for a child sired by a man who seeks to crush the world's hope."
A cheeky grin tugged at Liika's lips. "I think it's rather fitting actually. Don't you agree, my little Nadya?"
Her answer was a sharp pain lancing through her lower abdomen, accompanied by a heavy pressure. Liika gasped, pressing a hand to her lower stomach. Tears sprang to her eyes as she waited for the pain to subside.
"Byakko?" Spencer's voice was laced with quiet concern.
"I think it's time… not even born and she already has her father's sense of impeccable timing." She said bitterly, sighing as the pain stopped, signaling the end of the contraction.
The blond snorted. "Do not associate Bryan with anything that concerns the child. Are you saying that you are alone?"
"Yes…everyone went out for a couple of hours. I'm supposed to be sleeping."
Spencer cursed. "Damn." Inside a trace of panic lurked near his heart; the same panic that laced him when Tala had questioned him about the traitor in their midst. There was nothing he could do.
"Don't worry. I don't think Nadi will be coming for a while. I read somewhere that a woman's first labour is always the longest."
Spencer frowned, not entirely convinced. He opened his mouth to reply when a loud banging noise behind him stopped him. Freezing he called something over his shoulder then bowed his head in a nod toward her, and clicked off the screen. Liika sighed, leaning back in the nest of pillows that had been set up behind her head. The only thing she could do now was wait. Wait for someone to come back, and wait for the next contraction. She really hoped that this was the real thing this time.
The week before Liika had had a 'false alarm', the midwife Anza had found said it was perfectly normal –especially for first time mothers. Kai, however, did not take it so lightly. It was actually extremely funny thinking back to it. Liika had never seen him so panicked.
Of course now she really wished he hadn't chosen this day to go into town with Robert and Rei. What they were doing, she couldn't guess, but she couldn't help resenting the fact that they hadn't gone earlier in the week. Bah, pregnant mood swings. They had been many during the nine months she had carried the infant inside her. Her size hadn't helped much either. By the eighth month she was hard pressed to move anywhere with out getting exceedingly tired, a fact which Kai –the rest of her team too…just mostly Kai- loved to play upon. Naturally, that didn't stop her from defying them. Defiance was just part of her personality.
Staring at the ceiling proved less than amusing, and Liika began to worry. Where were they? It was after nine o'clock at night! The sun had set long ago, yet here she was, sitting in a dark room alone as her contractions started.
What if they didn't make it back in time?
The thought frightened her. She couldn't even contact them, as the phone was in the other room, and she knew there was no way she was going to be able to get there on her own. Her tiny frame just couldn't do it. Then a thought occurred to her…one that had never crossed her mind in the months since she was afflicted with the pregnancy.
If she couldn't even get up from bed for very long…how was she going to be able to deliver the baby??
Fear crept over her. Babies were big! She was small… or rather her hips were anyway, and then there was the baby's father. He was huge! What if his daughter took after him in size?? O.O
Oh God…The terror was starting to get to her. She couldn't do this! Take it back God! Please take it back! I can't do this! She prayed silently, pleading with the invisible force in the sky. I can't do it on my own!
However, just as another contraction started –about a half hour after the first one- Liika heard the door to the bunker open and close from the front room and sighed with relief. At least someone would be there! "Help!" She called through gritted teeth, gripping her abdomen.
The door to her room burst open with in seconds and a flushed Enrique appeared, his blond hair tousled. "What's the matter??" He cried, looking panicked.
"The baby…" She ground out, a cold sweat breaking out over her forehead as the contraction passed.
Enrique's eyes expanded comically. "The baby's coming??" He demanded, if at all possible looking even more panicked. "Are you sure? It's not like last week is it?"
Liika shook her head, relaxing again. "No, she's coming for sure this time…my water just broke. The contractions are about a half hour apart."
"Oh God…" The blond murmured, slumping into the chair beside the bed, hanging his head.
The blue haired girl stared at the blond. She couldn't believe it. Someone finally came home, and it had to be the only person not capable of handling the situation. Poor Enrique didn't think well in times of pressure. Kai had gone over the procedure with everyone, should he not be there himself, of what to do when she went into labour. Apparently Enrique had forgotten those instructions. Breathe Liika…Don't panic…Enrique isn't completely useless…you just need to coach him. She would have laughed at the situation had she not been so close to breaking into hysterics herself. After all, wasn't she the one that needed to be coached? "Eny."
Enrique didn't look up, he merely continued to rock himself back and forth muttering to himself. "I can't believe this…Kai's going to blow a gasket if he's not here…"
"Eny."
"What do I do? I can't remember anything that Kai said… damn why does my mind always blank when something big is about to happen? What if she dies because I'm so stupid and useless?"
That was it. Liika rolled her eyes, picked up a pillow and hurled it at his head. "ENRIQUE!"
The pillow hit him square in the head and knocked him out of his reverie. "Ow."
"Good, now that I have your attention." She sniffed, glaring at him. "Stop being a fool and listen to my instructions. I'm close to hysterics myself, I don't need you being close to hysterics as well!"
He nodded rapidly, his large stormy blue eyes staring in rapture at her. "Now," She said, "Bring me the phone and then go find me some ice to chew on." Her calm tone belied her actual emotions. Inside she was quivering with both fear and excitement.
He raced off to do her bidding and was back with in seconds before disappearing again to get her ice. With shaking hands Liika dialed the teams satellite phone.
"Hello?"
Liika took in a calming breath and willed down the panic in her voice. "Hiya Rei, may I speak to Kai please?" She said with more cheer than she felt.
"I'm sorry Ika, he's not right here at the moment, is there something I can help you with?"
She wanted to smack her forehead in frustration. For a team that was usually on the ball, they were being especially dense today. Why couldn't any of them figure out that she was in labour? Why else would she call them? "No Rei, I need to talk to Kai. Can you please find him?"
Rei sighed on the other end. "I know where he is, but he and Robert are occupied at the moment. Are you sure there's nothing I can do?"
"The only thing you can do is get Kai. At least tell him I called… immediately."
"Alright, I'll do my best. Bye." With that the black haired young man hung up the phone and left Liika with a sinking feeling. Damn you Kai…you had to pick today of all days! I need you…
With in moments, however, the phone rang and Liika picked it up instantly. "Hello?" She said hopefully, praying it was Kai.
"Woman this better be good, what is it?" Kai's gruff voice snapped, concern underlying his words.
"I'm scared Kai." She murmured, biting her lip anxiously.
A loud sigh echoed from the other end. "You just called me to tell me you had another nightmare?" He asked, impatience now over riding the concern.
Liika puffed up, indignation flaring up. "No! Do you think I'm that stupid that I'd risk calling you for a stupid nightmare?" She retorted hotly.
"Damn it, then what is it that has you scared?"
"She's coming Kai."
Kai froze at the words, the only sound being his coarse breathing. "What?"
"The baby…she's coming. My water broke."
Then suddenly it was if time started again. Kai swore up a storm and said something to the people around him. "Are you alone?" He asked, coolness oozing from his voice. However Liika could tell he was not as calm as he wanted her to think.
"No, Enrique just came home. But he's pretty much useless, he's more hysterical than I am."
"Shit. The other two girls aren't home yet? Damn it, it shouldn't take that long to shop!" He growled, clearly loosing the flimsy hold he hand on his alarm. "Has he called the midwife yet?"
"No…" Liika shifted, groaning as a pain shot up her back. "Kai…I need you. I can't do this alone!"
Kai swore again. "Ok, just calm down. Panicking isn't going to help the situation. I know you're scared, but you need to be brave for me ok? Can you do that?" He asked softly, urging her to work with him.
"I'll try…you're coming though?" Liika replied, biting her lip once more.
"Yes, I'm on my way, but I don't know how long it will take me to get there. How far apart are the contractions?"
"About a half an hour."
He grunted, and it sounded like he got into a car. "You can do this Liika. Remember, you're the girl that over came that bastards torture, and if you can do that you can deliver your baby." He soothed, trying not to loose it himself.
"But I'm so small Kai…how is she going to fit down there??"
A choking sound reached her ear, followed shortly by a sharp intake of breath. In truth he wasn't sure what to say to that, as she was partly right. He often spent minutes at a time pondering how a bulge as big as her stomach was going to fit through a tiny hole. However, the midwife assured him that she was of normal size and that the baby wouldn't have any trouble. Liika's stomach just looked larger than normal because the rest of her was so fine. The midwife had patted him on the shoulder and told him not to worry, that Liika was a strong girl with, despite her small frame, good sized hips. She would be fine.
"You know what Zoe said, your young, strong and healthy. You'll do fine. Now are you listening?"
"Yes…"
"I want you to send Enrique for Zoe, she is the midwife and she'll know what do you. Hang in there until I get there ok?"
Liika frowned. "Ok…"
"And don't panic. I didn't spend a crap load of my time doing those stupid prenatal exercises with you just for you to forget them when it really counts!"
He knew that statement would distract her from her fear and smirked when it worked. "You're an insensitive bastard Kai Hiwatari! Here I am scared out of my mind and about to go through one of the most important experiences of my life and you're complaining that I took your time! Asshole!" She snapped, glaring at the phone as Kai's chuckles rumbled in her ear.
"See you'll be fine. Hold out till I get there hm?"
"Bah, fine. I don't know why I bothered with you. Robert wouldn't have complained."
"Robert wouldn't get with in five feet of you in labour." Kai muttered, sounding severely annoyed all of a sudden.
Liika blinked before shrugging and giggling. "You're probably right. Not that it matters, I wouldn't have anyone else as my coach than you, I'd miss the grouchiness."
"Ha. Your spirits seemed lifted, I'll let you go now. Don't be afraid and remember what I told you: get Zoe. I'll be there when I can."
"Thank you Kai…" She said quietly.
"Hn." Then a click sounded and the phone went dead.
Just as Liika set the phone down on the bed beside her the door burst open and Esperanza and Mariah came tumbling in, their cheeks rosy with excitement.
"Is it true??" Mariah exclaimed. "Is the baby coming??"
Liika nodded, smiling at her friend's excitement. "Yes, my water broke about forty minutes ago, contractions are about a half hour apart."
Anza was at her side in an instant, an arm moving behind her back to help her sit up. "Let's get those sheets changed so you don't have to lay on wet ones. You must be terrified, what with only Enrique here. The poor boy was running around hysterical when we came in. We sent him to get Zoe." She explained.
Mariah helped Liika to her feet and steadied her as Esperanza quickly changed the bed sheets. "Have you notified Kai yet?" Mariah asked.
Liika settled back into the bed, but not before the two girls divested her of her soaked nightshirt and put her in a new one, one that was sleeveless. She decided that she was too warm for the heavy quilts over her and had them pushed aside with only a thin afghan left to cover her. "Yes, I just talked to him."
Mariah grinned. "Did he swear violently and panic?"
Liika giggled, the mental picture of Kai throwing a panic attack taking over her mind. "Swear? Yes, very violently, I'll have to talk to him about his language around the baby. But as for the panicking part, surprisingly he did rather well. He calmed me down at least." She said, running a hand over her extended stomach, readying herself for another contraction.
Esperanza snorted, shaking her head. "Ten to one as soon as he hung up the phone he spazed."
Mariah and Liika laughed, knowing it was all together true. If Kai's reaction to the false alarm when he had been there was any indication of his reaction then they pitied Rei and Robert who had to drive in the same car as him. Kai was overprotective to a fault, with everyone.
"Well, we have a bit of a wait ahead of us, what do you say we break out a deck of cards? Don't mind me if I stop suddenly to wait out the pain." Liika said cheerfully, her fear abated. With her friends near, she no longer felt the chilling terror of being alone to deliver her child.
"Ok, that's a good girl! Just a little longer ok Liika? We're going to push on the next contraction." The dark haired midwife crooned at the panting Liika.
"What we??" Liika growled, biting back another loud moan. Her breathing was ragged as pain racked her body. Damn men! How could they do this to women?? She broke off her angry thoughts and emitted a wail, tears treading down her flushed sweat streaked cheeks. "Ahhhhh…. I swear I'll never even look at another man again… just make it stop!" She cried, clenching Mariah's hand tightly.
Despite what the books had said about a mother's first labour being a long one, Liika had progressed quite quickly through the birthing process. Only three hours after her water broke the midwife exclaimed that it was almost time to push. So at half past midnight on Christmas Eve, Liika readied herself to bring her daughter into the world.
Mariah winced slightly at the pressure being put on her hand, she hoped her hand would survive this ordeal and she prayed that she never had to go through the pain of childbirth. "You're almost there…you've done so well, keep it up!" Mariah coached supportively.
"Graaahhh… Fucking hell, where the fuck is Kai?? How could be he late for this?! I'm going to ring his pretty, fine toned neck!" Liika screeched, through clenched teeth. If she couldn't punish the ass responsible for the pain she was experiencing, then she would punish the next closest thing! Kai! Who really only was going to suffer because of his gender.
"Why am I not surprised to find that your violent streak is accentuated during childbirth?" A cool voice said from the doorway.
Liika snapped her head towards the door and let out a sigh of relief, her eyes drifting shut. "Thank you God. About damn time! If you hadn't been here I wasn't just going to throttle you, oh no, I was going to cut you into tiny pieces and feed you to the pigeons in Red Square!"
Kai raised a blue eyebrow, hesitating at the door, not entirely sure he wanted to approach the bed where an obviously angry Liika was glaring at him. Now normally he wouldn't have thought twice about Liika's threats, he wasn't at all afraid of her, but right now there seemed to be something dangerous about the young woman lying on the bed.
The three women in the room chuckled, sending each other looks, while Enrique looked frightened to death. "Ah, never fear Signore Kai, I have heard women spout out worse during delivery." The midwife winked at Kai, beckoning him inside the room.
"Comforting." Kai replied flatly, eyeing Liika warily. However, his concern got the best of him when she let out another wail as the next contraction started. He was at her side in seconds, brushing her soaked bangs off her forehead. Mariah shifted over to allow him access to the blue haired girls side, a kind smile on her face.
"Alright! It's time! Everyone out except the coach, my helper and of course myself! Signora Mariah, would you please be my helper?" The midwife announced, waving hr hand at Enrique and Esperanza. Anza sent Liika a supportive glance before taking Enrique by the arm and dragging him out of the room. Mariah nodded and hurried to the midwife's side, anxious to get her instructions. "Signor Kai, I need you to move the pillows behind Liika's head and position yourself behind her so you can best support her." Zoe instructed, with a flick of her hand. "Signora Mariah, you get the birthing blanket ready."
Both teens were quick to jump at the midwife's command. Kai moved behind Liika, settling her firmly against his chest and took both her hands in his own. Mariah moved off to the side, behind Zoe and unfolded a soft white blanket.
"Breathe Liika…In and out just like we practiced." Kai encouraged quietly in her ear, his breath fanning her cheek.
Liika was calmed by the simple action. It never ceased to amaze her how he could calm her frazzled nerves with no more than a few words. On the other hand he could stir those frazzled nerves with no more than a few words. Grunting, she squeezed his hands. "How is it that you're so calm, when last week you nearly passed out in panic…and that was only a false alarm?" She asked, sucking in a mouthful of air.
"Hn." Kai smirked shortly. "Practice, last week prepared me. Besides, I knew no one else would keep a cool head about this. Now enough chatter, concentrate, this is going to hurt."
"No shit Sherlock, it hasn't stopped hurting since the contractions started. But I still say you had a spaz attack as soon as you hung up the phone."
"Humph. I did not."
"Yes you did."
"No. I didn't."
"Yes. You did."
"Ahem."
Both teens looked up to see the midwife staring at him, her hands on her hips. Mariah stood just behind her giggling behind her hand. She threw them a wink. Liika huffed, Kai merely snorted and squeezed Liika's hands.
"Let us prepare. Liika on the next contraction –since we missed the last one- I want you to push as hard as you can ok?"
Liika nodded. With in moments the next contraction started and Liika clenched her jaw and pushed. A wail escaped her lips as she felt the baby move lower. She would get her revenge for this!
"That's it, keep pushing. I know you're tired but just a bit more…you can do it Ika." Kai murmured to her softly, not moving as she clutched his hands to death.
"It's going to kill me Kai!" Liika panted back, pausing in her pushing to wait for another contraction.
Kai snorted. "No it's not. Come on now, if you can put up with Tyson's eating and sleeping habits for almost a year you can handle this trivial pain for a few hours."
This caused a giggle to escape Liika's tired lips as she started pushing again. "That wasn't very nice Kai."
"I can see the head!" Zoe exclaimed, readying herself to catch the baby. "Just a bit more!"
"You know…I'm getting really sick of hearing that! As if I'm going anywhere…" Liika muttered, pushing even harder.
Kai laughed under his breath, but said nothing. Silently he urged her to finish pushing.
With one final push, Liika felt something release from her in a gush of hot fluid. It was if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, but at the same time it felt if something was missing. Then the loud wail of a baby cut through the silence and Liika felt her heart-expand and tears flood her eyes. Her baby…
"I'm proud of you." Kai whispered in Liika's ear, pressing kiss to her temple. "You did well."
A bright smile crossed over Liika's tired face, her eyes lighting up. "I did didn't I?"
A low chuckle was her answer.
"Congratulations Signora Liika, you have a beautiful and very healthy baby girl." Zoe smiled, placing a tiny wrapped bundle to the waiting mother's arms.
Liika peered down at her tiny infant daughter. The baby's skin was rosy pink, but clean as Mariah had washed her carefully before handing her off to Zoe. Her tiny head was covered for the most part, but a single lock of lavender hair peaked out from underneath the blanket. However, it made no difference to her. In her mind the tiny baby in her arms was the most beautiful thing in the world.
Liika's eyes traced the small face, running over the closed eyes lids, the pert little nose –her nose- and pouting lips. The baby had since stopped crying and was blindly groping for something to hold on to. Kai's index finger appeared and instantly the child latched onto it, tugging at the appendage with surprising strength.
"She's beautiful." He whispered in awe, a smile playing upon his lips.
Liika chuckled fondly, leaning her head back to rest it on Kai's solid chest. "Isn't she though? I've never seen anything so perfect."
Kai dropped a kiss onto the top of Liika's head, his heart tightening with new emotions. Something about the scene, something about seeing the girl he cared very much about, holding her newborn daughter struck a chord in him. Pride swelled in his chest. They were his girls. My girls…
When the baby finally let go of Kai's finger, she yawned and cracked her eyes open a bit, blinking to adjust to the new surroundings. Neither teen was surprised to see that the newborn's eyes were the same color as her hair, pale lavender. It just seemed to fit the situation. Nothing had gone right in the past year anyway.
"She looks just like him, but…for some strange reason that doesn't bother me. I don't care what she looks like…" Liika whispered, brushing a gentle finger over the baby's soft skin.
"Nor do I." Kai said quietly, staring with dark eyes at the tiny bundle. "Besides, she doesn't look just like him…she has your nose. Cute and perky…not wide and flat."
Liika couldn't fight the grin that spread over her face at Kai's words. "You thought so too hm?" She giggled. "I'm glad to see the great Kai Hiwatari isn't as immune to the warbling of women as he likes to claim."
Kai flushed and scowled, realizing that he had been caught up in an activity that, only a few short weeks ago, he would have deemed 'women's warbling'. Oh well…it wasn't his fault really, it was the baby's fault. She was just too damn cute for words. She made a man do and say funny things. "Oh shut up." He snapped back, shifting his hands to her sides.
"Have you decided what you are going to name her Ika?" Mariah's quiet voice broke into their little world.
Liika shifted her gaze from her daughter to her best friend, smiling. She hadn't realized the pink haired girl had gotten on to the bed beside her, but there she was, leaning down so she could better see the infant's face. "Actually I have…I decided just as the contractions started." She replied, turning her smile back to the baby.
"Well?"
Smile turning teasing, Liika craned her neck and ran a finger over the underside of Kai's jaw as he stared at her expectantly. "Patience oh esteemed captain, patience."
His eyebrows shot downwards, but he didn't say anything, seeming willing to wait out her teasing bout. Mariah giggled at the pair, her heart warming at the sight. Kai could be so caring when he wanted to be.
"I've decided to call her Nadya," Liika spoke. She cooed at the baby in her arms. "Her full name is Nadya Alexa Hiwatari. Nadie for short." She winked.
Mariah grinned her approval at the name, even if she was a bit confused at its origins. She threw a glance at Kai who had gone stock still and silent as if in shock. She chuckled inwardly. "Why Russian?"
Liika positively beamed with pride at her own cleverness. "Well, ignoring the fact that her biological father is Russian, Russian names are pretty, besides each one has meaning."
"Such as?"
"Well, for starters Nadya is the Russian name for Hope. And I think the name suits her well –she's our hope. Alexa is short for Alexandria…the woman who saved our lives back in Moscow." Liika explained patiently.
"My name is dangerous."
Turquoise eyes flashed towards Kai and narrowed challengingly. "So is mine. Are you going to deny a newborn baby your name?"
Kai sighed, frowning. "You know that's not what I meant."
"Kai you said once that you would be my baby's father…have you changed your mind?"
"Of course not!" Kai snapped, tightening his hold on her. "You know I would give my life for her, but you have always fought me tooth and nail about this subject. Why have you changed your mind now?"
It was Liika's turn to sigh. She relaxed again, slumping against Kai, the events of the last few hours finally catching up to her. "Because Kai, every baby needs a father, and Nadie's father isn't fit to be one. Also…you have been there with me through the whole long, hard pregnancy. You put up with my mood swings –albeit not with out some of your own- you protected me and you were the one that finally knocked some sense into my head after Bryan defiled me. You are as much Nadie's father as Bryan is."
Words failed him as a lump grew in Kai's throat. She was giving him the chance to be something to this little girl, something besides an uncle…something he himself had never had. A father. He could have a family of his own, one he could protect and love…who would love him back. True they would be an odd family, with various 'aunts and uncles' around all the time, and a mother and father that weren't really… 'together', but it would be a family nonetheless. It was one of his biggest dreams…and it was coming true.
"Thank you…" He whispered, brushing his lips faintly across her bare shoulder.
Liika smiled, leaning the baby up so that she could see Kai fully. "Say hello to your daddy Nadie!" She cooed.
The baby opened her large, lavender eyes and gurgled, reaching a pudgy hand towards Kai. Mariah watched the scene with tears in her eyes. It was so sweet. She knew Nadya would not lack for love in her life, even if she grew up on the run.