Chapter 28

A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back, with the next chapter! :D

I hope you enjoy, my lovely readers!

Please, don't forget to R&R ! :)

= 28 =

= 28 =

= 28 =

= 28 =

= 28 =

"Yuma, what's all this about? I have a deadline to meet you know!" Kari complained, seated in the couch as she was, next to Haru.

"So… sorry, Kari" Yuma apologized, blushing and lowering his head.

"Calm down Kari, can't you see poor Yuma is having enough trouble with what he needs to do as it is?" Haru scolded, looking at her granddaughter.

Kari sighed, looking grumpy, as she crossed her arms over her chest and one leg over the other, staring at her brother. "Well, get it over with already then Yuma!" she said.

Yumas blush seemed to turn crimson as she spoke and one of his hands shot up to the key around his neck, where it closed tightly around the cold metal.

Astral looked at him, hovering beside him as he was. His arms were hanging loosely down along his sides, and his eyes were slightly darkened.

He knew how hard this was for Yuma, feeling his partners anxiety clearly across their bond, as well as a sensation insecurity and shame.

The alien sighed. Was this really how Yuma felt about the pregnancy? Shameful?

In a way, it made sense. He was only 17 after all. And though their special relationship may have been noticed by Yumas family, they'd never had any complete confirmation of it.

Well, this sure would be. Astral hoped his assumptions about their reactions to the news, would be proven right. He wasn't sure Yuma could handle it if they were to meet the announcement with anger, or hostility.

"Come on kid! Spit it out already!" Kari said loudly, throwing her hands up in a gesture of frustration.

Haru observed her grandson in silence, occasionally letting her eyes wander to Astral as well, before returning them to Yuma.

"Yuma, you can do this" Astral said across their bond, eyes glancing at the young man beside him, who was now pale and appeared almost like he'd gone without sleep for a week, dark lines suddenly painfully obvious beneath his eyes and worried wrinkles in his forehead.

"Right" Yuma responded faintly to Astrals words, though he didn't move his head to look at him.

Astral then noticed that Yuma had clenched his fists at his sides and was shivering lightly, head lowered, and eyes locked on the floor in front of his feet.

He contemplated saying something, but before he could, Yuma seemed to have gathered his nerves enough to finally speak.

"I… I'm gonna… I'm gonna be a dad!" he exclaimed, blurting it out like it was nothing, though clearly it was something which affected him deeply.

Astral sighed. But Yuma had said it now, and all they could was wait for his sister and grandmothers' reactions.

When they came though, they weren't exactly what he had expected.

"Well yeah, of course you are, you idiot!" Kari said "I have no doubt you'll be a dad someday! Why the hell would you call this little meeting to share something like that? Come on Yuma…".

"Kari is right Yuma. And you're going to be a great father, just like Kazuma, when the time comes" Haru chimed in, both ladies nodding and Haru sending him and Astral a big smile.

"No, you're wrong" Yuma said, voice lowered.

"What do you mean Yuma? Are you not planning on having kids? But you just" Kari said, but before she could finish, Yuma interrupted her.

"No Kari! I'm not gonna be a dad 'someday'! I'm going to be a dad in just a few months!" he exclaimed, angrily, though his voice was now audibly shaking.

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?!" Kari asked, looking confused.

Haru too, seemed incapable of understanding what her grandson was telling them.

Yuma groaned in irritation, but then his head shot up and his clenched fists tightened even further as he yelled "Astral is pregnant, okay?! He's in his second month already, you get that?! And it's mine!".

His face flushed with red as he silenced, and he quickly turned his head away, eyes closed, as Kari and Haru took a few moments to understand what they'd just been told.

Then Kari started laughing.

"Very funny Yuma" she said, still laughing softly "but really, you're taking practical jokes a bit too far now! Come on, there's no way Astral can be pregnant. He's a guy! And so are you! So, it's simply not physically possible".

Haru, though not laughing, seemed to agree.

"Come now Yuma, be realistic. I do not find this very funny" she said.

"I'm afraid this is no joke Haru, Kari" Astral now said, deciding to speak up in the face of Yumas raging emotions and the reactions of the two women.

"Yuma is telling you the truth. I AM pregnant. And Yuma is the father".

"What the hell?! You're in on this too Astral!?" Kari exclaimed, rising from the couch angrily.

"Listen Kari, we're NOT joking!" Yuma said, taking a step towards his sister, hands still clenched, though he'd raised one in front of himself angrily.

"But there's no way Yuma! No fucking way! Both of you are male, aren't you?!" Kari said, now locking her eyes on Astral, who, despite feeling very uncomfortable at the whole situation, nodded to her.

"Yes" he responded "it is true that both Yuma and I are male, however in Astral world, we, the males, are the ones who carry the children. And during my time, my body… changed, somewhat, to better accommodate the fact that I am partnered with… another male".

"What… the… hell… do… you… mean… by… that?" Kari asked, looking shocked and angry on the same time.

"Our time is something that occurs when Astralians reach maturity, or simplified, when we become capable of producing off-spring" Astral replied, intent on making Kari and Haru understand that it wasn't all Yumas fault.

"It calls the partners to one another" he added "to heighten the chance of this happening as soon as it is possible.

So… Though I did not think it possible, precisely BECAUSE both Yuma and I are males, my body seems to have adjusted according to what was necessary for me to, well… create a child, in this scenario. And this" he placed a hand over his stomach absentmindedly at that "is the result".

"And don't think we're gonna get rid of it, Kari!" Yuma said, once the alien silenced "we've already decided to keep it and raise it together!".

For the longest time, the room was completely silent.

Not a sound was heard, except for Yumas rapid breathing, which only slowly calmed down, and this not until Astral took his hand and their eyes locked on one another.

But then, finally, Kari spoke up, her eyes locked on Astral.

"How could you trap him like that?!" she said, voice harsh "he's only 17! And you trapped him, KNOWING what your time was intended for!

There's no WAY, Yuma can be a dad! He's still in school – And he's going to finish it and go on to college! That was ALWAYS the plan!

How could you DO this to him?!".

Haru didn't say a word.

Astral blinked rapidly, lowering his head.

"I… I did not know… He was another male, so it shouldn't… I" he started, but Kari cut him off.

"You KNEW your time was intended to create offspring! What the hell is wrong with you?! I TRUSTED you!" she exclaimed.

Astral felt tears burning in his eyes, but he couldn't look at her.

A moment later, Kari had jumped over to them and had forced his and Yumas hands apart, pushing Astral away from her little brother.

Astral, shocked, fell to the floor, groaning quietly as he landed on his elbow and hip.

Yuma, honestly shocked at his sisters' behavior, felt the pain as his lover was injured.

"Astral!" he cried out, rushing past Kari, whose eyes widened with surprise as he did, even as she tried grabbing his wrist to stop him, though his agility made her unsuccessful.

Kneeling beside Astral, he placed an arm around the alien, taking one of his hands with his own free one.

"Astral, are you okay? Are you hurt?" he asked, anxiously.

Astral shook his head. "I'm alright Yuma… Do not worry about me" he replied, voice faint.

"You're obviously not" Yuma commented, pulling him in to a gentle hug.

"Yuma, please. Let go of me" Astral asked, voice barely a whisper.

He couldn't face Karis anger.

And he most certainly couldn't let Yuma become hostile with his family.

Weakly, he attempted to pull away from his beloved, but Yuma wouldn't let him.

"What do you think you're doing?" he said quietly "I won't let Kari separate us. I won't.

If it means I have to… leave her, and Grandma, I will, as long as I can be with you. I can get a job. I'll provide for us, AND the baby, once it comes".

"Yuma…" Astral replied, faintly, but he didn't know what to say. He couldn't let Yuma do that.

Then Haru finally spoke.

"Kari, stop it" she said, harsher than usually, as she too rose from the couch and went over to Yuma and Astral, putting her hand on Astrals cheek.

Astral lifted his head at her motion, looking at her with tired, wet eyes.

For a while, Haru observed him quietly, but then she smiled.

"It will be fine" she said, encouragingly "with us behind the two of you, I believe you and Yuma will do fine in raising a child".

"Grandma, what the hell?!" Kari exclaimed, but Haru ignored her.

"I cannot say that I approve of my grandson having a child at the age of 17, or I guess it will be 18 by the time it comes, but I do approve of him choosing the responsible thing when faced with such a dilemma.

I would honestly have been quite disappointed if the two of you decided to have it removed.

If you are old enough to engage in the things related to making a child, then you are old enough to face any potential consequences.

I am proud that he chooses to face it head on, as he always has" the old woman said, sending Astral a smile, before placing the hand not currently on Astrals cheek, on Yumas shoulder, proceeding to send her grandson a smile as well.

"And I am certain your parents would agree, Yuma" she then added.

Astral, overcome by gratitude towards her suddenly, rose and leaned down, placing his arms around her in an impromptu hug.

The first he had ever given her, or anyone from Yumas family.

"Thank you" he said, voice a low whisper, and Haru smiled.

"Hang in there Astral" she whispered in response "I know Kari might seem very angry right now, but it is only because she is so very protective of her brother.

Forgive her words. If you give her a few days, I'm sure she'll come around".

Astral, pulling slightly away from her, locked his eyes on hers and, seeing the sincerity in them, he nodded once.

"I will" he said quietly, before letting go of her again.

Yuma had risen during their conversation and was now locking one of his arms around Astrals waist, kissing his neck tenderly.

Kari was still fuming with anger, and watching the display between Yuma and Astral, she let out something close to a growl, then stormed out of the room, slamming the door to her workspace behind her as she disappeared.

Yuma sighed audibly, with Astral mirroring this, then all but collapsed on the couch, placing a hand over his eyes. Haru observed him.

"She just needs time Yuma" she then said after a bit "this news is completely unexpected, for both of us".

"Man, I hope you're right Grandma" Yuma replied, voice tired and slightly hoarse.

"I hate it when she's this mad at me".

Haru chuckled softly, but then sobered somewhat again.

"Yuma" she said after a little "be responsible and go to bed at a reasonable hour tonight, okay?".

Yuma, frowning, glanced at her through his fingers, but then just nodded.

"I will Grandma. I'll head upstairs now and do a bit of homework, then hit the sack" he replied and Haru nodded.

As she turned to leave, Yuma said softly "thanks for being so cool with this Grandma… If you'd been that angry too, I don't know what…".

He silenced then and Haru send him another smile in response, before she left for her own room, trusting Yuma to head upstairs in his own time…