Disclaimer: I own Jake, Faythe, Sara, and RE-becka. Tolkien owns Aragorn and Legolas. I don't know who owns Hiei and Kurama, but it's not me. Oh yeah, and the store, the Maternity Ward, mine. I created that little pun. Go me!

Chapter Two

Mall-aholics

AT THE MALL

They were standing outside The Maternity Ward, the mall's store for maternity clothes, foods that satisfy even the strangest of cravings, and shoes that didn't hurt swollen feet.

"Where are we?" Sara asked fearfully, looking at the enlarged women with moody looks on their faces inside.

"The Maternity Ward," Faythe said, sounding like Sara's question was stupid.

"Do we have to go in there?" Kurama asked quietly, fearing the response.

"No. You can go somewhere else if you want," Faythe replied. "We'll meet in the Food Court in one hour."

"Why the Food Court?"

"I'm hungry. See you there!" And she went inside.

Sara turned to Kurama. "What now?"

Kurama shrugged. "Sears? I need some pillowcases."

"Okay." They wandered off among the smaller shops before finding the Sears Department Store.

"What color do you want?"

"White."

Sara stared at him. "Use your imagination!"

"Okay." He picked up some neon blue pillowcases. "What about these?"

"Dude."

Kurama took that as a good sign. They went and got in line. For some reason, the cashier seemed vaguely familiar to Sara.

Suddenly, she realized who it was. "Jake! What are you doing in Michigan? I thought you lived in Florida."

"I did, but I moved up here to be with Legolas."

Kurama raised an eyebrow. "Are you two…together?"

"No, no! I'm still recovering and I was signed over to Legolas when the hospital said I was well enough to leave. I'm required, by law, to be with him."

"Oh, okay. I thought for a minute that you were gay." Sara said.

Jake laughed. "Legolas can be a little fruity at times, but mainly because he's so narcissistic."

Sara nodded. "Yes, he is."

Jake looked around. "Where's Faythe?"

"Shopping for maternity clothes."

"Oh. When's it due?"

Sara and Kurama looked at each other. "I don't know."

"Come on, Kurama. We need to go meet Faythe. It was nice talking to you."

They walked to the Food Court. "Friend of yours?"

"I only met him once. I don't want to talk about it." They sat down at a table and waited for Faythe.

Not much later, Legolas walked over to them. "Where are Faythe and Aragorn?"

Sara replied, "Aragorn's at home eating ice cream. Faythe's out shopping for maternity clothes."

His eyebrows shot up. "Really? Boy or girl?"

Sara and Kurama shared a look and shrugged. "We don't know."

Legolas sat down. "Well then, we'll just have to wait for her and ask her." He grabbed Sara's soda and took a sip. "Thanks. When's she getting here?"

Sara grabbed her soda away. "She'll be here soon. And get your own soda."

Legolas was about to go get one when Faythe showed up. "Oh, hey Faythe!" he called. "I was about to get a soda. Do you want one?"

She nodded. "Diet Pepsi, please, Legolas!"

He nodded back and walked towards the fountain counter.

Faythe sat down. "What's up, guys?" she asked.

Sara replied, "We ran into Jake at Sears."

"Really."

"Yup."

"How is he?"

Sara shrugged. "He's fine."

Legolas came back and handed Faythe a soda. "Thanks."

Sara looked at Kurama. "I'm hungry. Come on."

"All right." Sara took orders and she and Kurama headed off.

Legolas gestured for Faythe to sit down. "How've you been, Faythe?" he asked.

She sighed. "I'm tired, Legolas. I'm worn out and in pain and hungry." She paused for a moment. "I'm nervous, too. I want to be a good parent to them."

"'Them?' Are you having twins?"

She nodded. "A boy and a girl. That's why I'm showing so much at five months."

"Congratulations! Does Aragorn know it's twins?"

"Not yet. But I'm going to tell him," she promised. Legolas gave her a skeptical look. "I will! He'll just be too nervous right now, though. I'll tell him after my next doctor's appointment." She sipped at her soda. "How's Jake doing?"

"Jake is fine. He misses you."

"That's sweet of him." She took another drink. "God! Where are they?"

"Faythe, they just left!"

"I know. But I'm hungry!"

"You already said that."

"Well, I'm saying it again."

"Alright!" Legolas held his hands up. "You're in a bad mood."

"I'm pregnant."

"So I've heard."

"Don't get short with me, mister! Never mess with a hungry pregnant woman," she warned him. Sara and Kurama came back with two trays that were laden with food. "Oh, goody!" Faythe exclaimed. "Dinner's here!"

"Did you get enough for me?" Aragorn asked, stepping out from behind the potted plant he'd been hiding behind. He turned to Faythe. "Twins, huh? Wow…I'm gonna be a double-daddy!"

Sara cocked an eyebrow. She turned to Kurama. "Gee, I guess the table's full. We'll have to sit somewhere else." They took their food and sat at a different table.

Legolas smiled. "Look at the happy couple."

Faythe shook her head. "They're just friends."

"They seem to be enjoying themselves."

Faythe shook her head harder. "They're just friends!"

"Who's just friends?" Hiei asked, appearing out of nowhere.

"Sara and Kurama," Legolas responded.

"Where are they at?" Hiei asked. He didn't sound angry. Aragorn pointed to their table. Hiei went over to it and sat down, indulging himself in some of Sara's fries.

"Hey! Those are my fries!"

Hiei smiled. "I know."

Kurama looked up from the book he was reading. "Hello, Hiei." Hiei nodded at him. They all started talking when some girl came up to them. She was holding a piece of paper out to Hiei.

"C-c-can you sign this for me?" She spoke Japanese.

He raised an eyebrow. "Whom do I make it out to?"

"Becka. It's really RE-becka, but I like to go by Becka," she replied enthusiastically. She was beginning to hyperventilate and began giggling incessantly. "I've seen every episode of YYH! I love you! I have dreams about you! Hiei, I want to marry you!"

Hiei raised his eyebrow so far it nearly disappeared under the ward. "I'm afraid I'll have to turn you down," he said. "But some lucky guy will understand you…eventually." He scrawled his name out and dotted the "I's," handing it back to her. He said, "It was…nice…meeting you."

She clutched the paper to her heart and squealed. "Thank you, Hiei!" She turned and ran away.

Kurama was trying not to laugh, but Sara had a look of horror on her face. "Sara? Are you okay?"

She began twitching, so Hiei put his arm around her. Faythe and the others came over. "Maybe we should go back to my house…"

"Good idea." Kurama helped Sara stand up and they left the mall.

They piled into their modes of transportation. Kurama alone in his convertible, Sara and Hiei in Sara's pickup truck, Faythe and Aragorn in Aragorn's Jeep. Legolas said he'd be by later, after Jake's shift was over.

IN KURAMA'S CAR

He was singing along to a love song on the radio that he was fond of, hoping that the rest of the day would be as "normal" as possible.

IN SARA'S TRUCK

Hiei was talking about Kurama. "Sara, he's my best friend, but you've been a little…chummy with him lately. Is everything all right?"

Sara was tired of this conversation. "Hiei, there's nothing going on!"

"But Faythe said…"

"Lord, is that who's been putting this crap in your head? Hiei, Faythe's heart is in the right place…usually…but her depth perception is way off." She hugged him as best as she could without crashing. Unfortunately, she didn't see the car coming at her.

"Sara! Look out!"

IN ARAGORN'S JEEP

"I can't believe you told him that, Faythe! What were you thinking?"

Faythe sighed. "I was thinking I was doing the right thing. He had a right to know!"

Aragorn looked at her. "Faythe, sweetie, I know you were trying to help, but there was nothing going on."

Faythe looked at him, sort of staring in disbelief. "You really think so? I really think there's something going on. Sara's my best friend, I know when something's going on." She tapped her temple. "I've got spidey senses."

Aragorn snorted. "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."

"Don't use your big speeches on me!"

This apparently ended the conversation. They rode the rest of the way in silence.

KURAMA'S CAR

Kurama was the first back to Faythe's house. Which was surprising because he hadn't really known how to get there.