Note: Well, the first part of this was up a grand total of five minutes before I got flamed. Go me! The amount of sickening fluff in this thing is truly disturbing, I have to spend an hour listening to U2, Travis and Bon Jovi just to be able to write it.
This is the last chapter. Yes, there are only two. I am so very lazy, and I like working on Poor Twisted Me better. I like the crazy. This is made up of random bits, if it doesn't make sense feel free to make angry faces at me.
Brave New World 2
Part 2
Bubble BathI was not sick this morning; I think the morning sickness is finally abating. It is growing dark outside now and I had been sitting at the window, watching the shadows fall out in the garden. An hour ago I had to move onto the couch because my stomach began to cramp, right now it has gotten worse and I am curled up against the armrest, trying not to move. Seto is working in his office upstairs and told me to come to him if I needed anything – I would usually endure it and leave him alone, but I feel awful and I do not know what to do to make this feeling go away.
I stand up, wrapping one of Seto's shirts around me because I am wearing it like a jacket, and head slowly out of the library and up the stairs. I have to pause a few times on the way as new waves of pain hit me but I get there eventually and slip inside without knocking. Seto is at his desk as usual and looks up at the sound of the door closing behind me, his expression instantly becoming concerned.
"You look even paler than usual, are you alright?" He asks, moving to get up. Before he can stand I pad over to him and stop in front of his chair, looking away and knowing how weak and pathetic I must seem to be doing this. Another spike in the sickly pain makes me wince and I decide I do not care, I just want it to stop.
"It is just stomach cramps, but…" I trail off, not knowing how to ask him to make it end. I do not need to worry though, because he rises from his seat and kisses my forehead, telling me to wait a moment. I nod and watch him stride quickly out of the office, returning about five minutes later with a hot cup of tea.
"I set the bath running, it should make you feel better." He tells me, placing the tea down on his desk and sitting at the chair, pulling me gently into his arms. I lean back against him and close my eyes, swallowing thickly around another painful cramp. It passes quickly though, because Seto slides a hand beneath my shirt and moves it in soothing circles over my stomach. I sigh contentedly and Tio glows with happiness – she is starting to show now but not enough to be noticeable beneath my clothes.
"Drink this," Seto instructs me quietly, and I take the tea, sipping the hot liquid and noticing that it tastes like cinnamon. The soft motion of his hand rubbing away the pain threatens to lull me into sleep, but after a few minutes when I have finished the tea he stops and lifts me up into his arms. I glare at him for picking me up like a helpless child without even warning me, but he just laughs softly and carries me out of the office, along the corridor to the large bathroom.
After setting me down inside and closing the door he gestures for me to undress while he pours something into the stream of hot water filling the large tub. By the time I have left my clothes in a neat pile on the chair near the door the bath is filled with a layer of bubbles.
"Is it too hot?" He asks as I test the water with one hand, shaking my head and letting him help me into the bath. The water is hot, just not enough to scald and I relax, sighing in pleasure. This bath is huge and I can stretch right out, tipping my head back to wet my hair and then sitting up again to look at Seto, who is perched on the edge of the tub, watching me. I smile at him in relief that the pain has melted away, my hair slicked down from its usual wild spikes with water.
"Thank you." I stretch again, all my aches and pains slipping away. "Tio likes this." I tell him, because I can feel her pleased glow inside me. After she is born I think she would like all these bubbles, I will have to find out what Seto used so that I can make them for her.
"I'm glad. How are you feeling now?" He asks, still worried about me.
"Better, it does not hurt anymore." I am grateful, and now that I know how to cure this the next time it happens I will not need to disturb him, I can just run a bath for myself.
"Is there anything you want?" He asks. I look up at him and curve my lips a little in a smile that he easily understands.
"Yes. You could join me in here…" I suggest, and the bath is certainly big enough for us both. He seems to like this idea because he strips off his shirt, watching me watch him undress.
"I can't say no to you," he drops his clothes onto the same pile as mine and walks back over to me, slipping into the bath and my arms as I pull him down to kiss me.
XxXxX
FamilyMokuba is staying here for the weekend. I do not really know how to act around him so I have been trying to keep out of the way and give Seto some time with his brother. I do not know what Mokuba thinks of me and I would not want to cause any problems for Seto, so I suppose I have been hiding. I cannot hide any more today though, because Tio is hungry so I must eat something.
I crawl out of bed and dress in clothes that belong to Seto – the shirt is so big on me that it reaches halfway down my thighs. Tio is still just a small bump, I do not think she will be a very big baby and the oversized clothes hide her well.
Tying my hair back loosely because it is growing longer, I pause to look at myself in the mirror to see what it looks like. A few spikes of hair fall to frame my face on each side, it does not look so bad. My cheeks have a little more colourin them than they used to, I look more like the living and less like a ghost and I think it is because of Tio.
I focus on her and she urges me on to find something to eat, so I obey her and slip out of the room Seto and I share, heading down the stairs and to the kitchen, which is at the back of the house.
When I reach it Mokuba is there making coffee and I consider coming back later, but he catches sight of me and grins. Deciding that this is a good sign, I give him a slight smile back and head to the refrigerator, setting about making a sandwich to appease Tio.
"I was wondering when you'd come downstairs," Mokuba smiles, leaning against the counter and drinking his coffee. I feel a little uncomfortable around him, but I do not sense danger from him. I think it is just because I do not know him well yet.
"Tio tires me out." I explain quietly, not mentioning the bout of morning sickness that sent me back to bed. I do not get it much now, thankfully.
Mokuba knows all about Tio – Seto called him the first day we found out and spent half an hour telling him all the things he was going to buy.
"Feeling better now?" He asks, and he seems as though he genuinely cares.
"Yes, just hungry." I can feel Tio wondering who this new person around me is, this is the first time I've really felt curiosity from her.
"Well, I never thought my brother would end up with you, of all people." Mokuba remarks, watching me with eyes that are a lot like Seto's, only dark grey where Seto's are deep blue.
"Nor did I," I murmur in reply, making myself a cup of tea and one for Seto, wherever he is. Mokuba smiles happily at me and I can feel Tio accept him into the small group of people she is comfortable with.
"He acts like a human being now, I guess I have you to thank for that. I don't know what you did to him, but I haven't ever seen him this happy. Or this excited, he won't stop going on about you and little Tio." He laughs, and I think he will make a good uncle for Tio.
Hearing that Seto has been talking about us all day makes me smile, and I am about to reply when a pair of warm arms wrap around me from behind, holding me.
"Talking about me?" Seto accuses in a voice that says he does not mind at all.
"Yep." Mokuba replies easily. "I wish I had a camera, you two look cute together."
"Cute?" I murmur in a horrified voice, which makes Seto laugh softly behind me. I feel a lot more comfortable with Mokuba now that I know he does not think I amthe wrongperson for Seto to be with.
I am happy. I do not remember the last time I had a family, and as Seto guides me to follow Mokuba into the living room where it is warmer, I can feel that Tio is happy too.
XxXxX
Cravings and other things.Seto has not asked what I am doing yet. He is leaning against the doorframe, watching me search the kitchen, opening every cupboard.
Tio is quite big now, she shows even with me wearing Seto's shirts and it will not be long until it is time for her to be born. My body and Tio will both let me know when it is time and I think it will be a relief to be back to normal again. I know that Seto is excited too; he cannot wait to be able to hold our daughter in his arms and show her off to everyone.
I reach up to open a cupboard and realise that I cannot stretch far enough because of Tio. She knows what I am doing and she is following my actions with interest, not quite understanding why but enjoying herself anyway. I glare up at the cupboard I cannot reach, trying to figure out a way to get to it, but I need not have worried because Seto strides over and opens it for me. I look up at him and wonder if Tio will be tall like he is, or shorter as I am.
"Having cravings again?" Seto asks in an amused voice, and I look up at him in what I hope is a pleading way because if I do not sate this soon I will go insane. It seems to work because he smiles and opens another cupboard, taking out a jar and handing it down to me.
"These again?" He asks, and I nod, opening the jar and watching Seto make a face because he does not like them. Today's craving is one I get a lot – pickles. The green kind that go in hamburgers, but I just have them in sandwiches. I do not know why my body has decided it needs them so badly, but I obey it and set about finishing off the sandwich I had started making. Seto puts the jar back in a lower cupboard so that I can reach it next time and I manage one bite of my lunch before I twitch and place it back down, leaning heavily against the counter.
"What's wrong?" Seto asks, probably wondering why I am making such strange faces.
"Tio is kicking me." I tell him, and she does it again. She is restless, and she has very strong legs for something so small and young. I think she is doing it because she wants Seto's attention, and it works.
"Really? Where?" He seems excited by this so I take his hand and slide it up beneath my shirt, laying it flat against my skin. Tio seems to know he's there because a moment later she kicks him again and his eyes widen in surprise.
"She wants you to play with her, but she will have to wait a little longer." I smile.
"Does that hurt?" He asks, because Tio is enjoying herself trying to kick right where his hand is.
"No, it is just hard to move when she does it." I explain. "She will tire herself out soon."
Seto keeps his hand on me, feeling her move a few more times before she finally stops. I smile and pick up my sandwich again, knowing that Tio was kicking to get closer to Seto. He seems pleased at having such close contact with her too, and I am glad that when she is born he will be the first person to hold her.
XxXxX
Time.
Seto has had a busy day today so I am rubbing his shoulders, listening to him tell me about all the things that happened at work. I do not understand half of it but I think he just needs someone to tell it to, and I am good at listening. I like hearing him speak anyway, and it is nice kneeling behind him on the bed, hearing him speak in that smooth, deep voice he has.
"They'll sort it out by the time the new upgrade is ready, hopefully. So how was your day?" He asks me, sounding less tense now that he has gotten all this out. I lean to kiss the back of his neck gently, smiling at how much like a married couple we sound now, and feel a tremor run through me. I sigh softly as I realise what it is, and why Tio has been so excited today.
"I finished the book I was reading. It had a happy ending." I murmur, then give a soft gasp as another tremor makes me shiver. Seto turns to look at me and I moan, – half at the shuddering feeling and half at what is about to happen – collapsing into his arms weakly. I like it here against his chest, I am not afraid.
"Bakura?" He strokes my hair and tries to get me to look at him, worried for me because he does not understand what is happening yet. I open my eyes and groan, reaching up to touch his face and smiling a little through the tight pain to try and stop him worrying. He does that too much.
"Seto…" I whisper, "You should call Ishizu."
His eyes widen and he looks down at me in shock for a moment before gently helping me lie down on the bed. He kisses me deeply and then stands up, quickly moving over to the phone beside the bed so that he can call the priestess here. I half listen to him speak to her and half focus on Tio, who is excited that her day has finally arrived. I lean my head back on the pillows and shudder, closing my eyes. I am a little nervous, but I trust Seto and I know that he will take care of everything. He touches my face and I open my eyes, nuzzling his hand to reassure him that Tio and I will be alright. He looks more afraid than I am, and Tio is not scared at all.
"Just rest a while, Ishizu will be here in about twenty minutes." He tells me, moving onto the bed again to hold me while we wait for her to arrive. I relax against him, ignoring the pain of my body telling me that it is time, and I cannot carry Tio any longer. I feel safe and warm here in his embrace and I know that he will not let anything go wrong.
"I'll take care of you." He tells me quietly, his fingers running in soothing touches over my neck and down my shoulders to my collarbone. It feels wonderful and I cannot wait until we can make love again, I miss feeling him moving over me.
The time passes quickly and before I can think too much about what is going to happen to me there is a timid knock at the bedroom door. Seto looks up as Ishizu lets herself in and sends us both a gentle smile. She is carrying a medical bag and a spike of fear trickles down my spine, but Seto moves so that I am sitting with my back against his chest, his arms around me.
"I need to give you a general anaesthetic," Ishizu tells me, setting her things down on the bedside table and looking very professional, other than the butterfly stickers stuck to the black bag. "Are we doing this in here?" She looks at Seto and I can tell what she is thinking – there will be a lot of blood.
"No, just the anaesthetic. I'll carry him into the guest room we set up once he's out." Seto tells her, then kisses the junction between my neck and shoulder.
"Are you ready for this?" He asks me, whispering it against my skin. Ishizu politely busies herself preparing the injection for me while I manage to turn around just enough to kiss Seto, closing my eyes. I smile against his lips because I have the easiest task of us all. I will be asleep through most of this.
"Are you ready?" I ask him in reply to his question, feeling Ishizu take my hand and roll my sleeve up.
"Tio and I will be right here when you wake up," he smiles, trying to reassure me. I know he is more frightened by this than I am, and I tense against him as I feel the burn of the needle pinch my arm.
"Relax…" Seto breathes, still holding me as Ishizu draws back and places the needle in a plastic bag to dispose of later, picking her things up and giving Seto a quick look before leaving the room.
"Mmmh… love you…" I manage to tell him, my eyes sliding closed. I hadn't expected it to work this quickly and I'm glad he's right here against me as the dizziness rushes in, pressing down on me and forcing me to sleep.
The last thing I feel is his lips on my throat again and his warm breath as he murmurs comforting words, then I relax against him and everything fades as I pass out.
XxXxX
Welcome BackI wake groggily to a sound I have looked forward to hearing for months – a baby crying. I just lie still for a moment, letting the haze of the drugs wear off a little before opening my eyes slowly. I can feel Tio nearby and I turn my head to the side, surprised at how weak I am.
Seto is asleep in the chair next to the bed I am laid on and there is no light shining between the cracks in the curtains, so I know that it is night. He must be exhausted, because even Tio's crying is not waking him.
I murmur Tio's name weakly and try to sit up to find her, but I am not expecting the sharp pain that stabs through my side. I give a breathless gasp and fall back to the bed, feeling someone place a hand on my arm.
Opening my eyes again I find Ishizu standing on the other side of the bed from where Seto is sleeping, holding Tio in her arms, wrapped up in a clean blanket with little cats on.
"Do not try to move yet – you have stitches in your side and you have lost a lot of blood." She says, but I am barely listening, focusing instead on the tiny creature in her arms.
"Tio?" I whisper, barely able to believe that she is finally here with us. She stops crying at my voice and Ishizu hands her to me carefully. I manage to sit up a little, able to move without jarring my stitches now that I know they are there, and look down at my daughter for the first time. She has a few curls of white hair already and she is looking up at me with large blue eyes, just like Seto's. Her hands are tiny but perfect, clutching at the blanket as she watches me. The glow I felt before is still here, only it is coming from outside me now and I have to focus to feel it.
"Will you be alright now, or do you need me to stay a little longer?" Ishizu asks me. I look up from Tio and smile gratefully at her.
"We will be fine. Thank you for your help." I tell her. She nods to me and smiles down at Tio, giving her a little wave before turning and taking up her bag and coat, leaving quietly so as not to wake Seto. I watch her leave and then look down at Tio again, her tiny hand curling around one of my fingers.
"Well done," I tell her quietly, knowing that it must have been quite an ordeal for her. She makes a pleased noise at me and I feel eyes watching us, so I look over at Seto to find him awake. He is looking at me holding Tio in my arms, his eyes tired but happy.
"Welcome back." He murmurs, and Tio reaches out one little arm towards his voice, her fingers grasping at the air and her other hand holding onto me. Seto unfolds himself wearily from his chair and moves around to the free side of the large bed, laying down with us and sighing happily, Tio in the middle making all sorts of noises as though she's trying to tell us all about her day.
"This is much better than a chair," Seto tells Tio, who gurgles at him in agreement.
"How's your side?" He asks me, reaching over Tio to stroke my hair out of my eyes.
"I heal quickly." I assure him, leaning into his touch.
"Mmmh, good…" He breathes tiredly, his hand moving down from my face to rest on my hip, out of the way of my tender stitches and holding us all together. Tio quietens down and cuddles up to Seto, still holding onto my finger and closing her eyes. I watch her fall asleep and raise my eyes to Seto's, feeling just as tired as him.
"Tomorrow is going to be a busy day," he murmurs, brushing his thumb over my hip lovingly.
"Mmm." I agree, letting my eyes drift closed as well.
No matter how exhausted I may be right now, I'm still looking forward to the morning.
The End.
Ending notes: That was actually hard to write because I'm utterly terrified of needles. Ever noticed that Ishizu always ends getting roped in whenever there's a baby, information or magic involved? Tio looks like Kisara, which I noticed halfway through writing her description. I'll probably do more one-shot spin-offs from this when I can be bothered, because Seto looking after a baby is too much of a cute image to ignore. I also want to do a random lemon for this, so if I ever get it finished I'll post it up. Yes, it was short, weird and like trying to read a jigsaw puzzle, but love me anyway because I wrote fluff.
Review Repiles - Thanks to everyone who liked this. You make me happy!
Spyder Webb - I want a girl, if I ever have a kid. Boys are evil! I hope you liked it anyway, maybe I'll make Marik have a boy! Heheh, nah, I wouldn't do that to him, he's too scary to get knocked up.
Shiro Ryuu - I'm glad you like the fluff! I feel all pathetic and girly now... Too much cuteness, I think. I'm hoping it makes up for having Bakura stab himself through the hand with a kitchen knife, although I think I like him crazy better.
Flamethrowerqueen - I have answered the eternal question. Yes, you can have too much fluff. Hehe. I'm glad you like it though, I wanna write a sequel to Dread and the Fugitive Mind now. How much more can I butcher these characters? We shall see! Mwaha!
tHrEEdaizGr8cE - Oops, I accidentally wrote another chapter! You're mean, bad karma!