(A/N – Happy New Year everybody! Time can make fools of us all. I am so sorry guys that this chapter is late! I didn't have any time at all this week to write! But, hopefully this chapter makes up for my tardiness! I have some big ideas coming up for the finale of this story, and the eagerly awaited Directors Edition of this story, which will launch right after the conclusion of this original version. Speaking of, I hope you enjoy this chapter!)

Nine Months in the Socks of the Motamiya's! – Chapter 24

"Hang on, Kari. We're almost there." Davis said, as the car wheels squealed with protest as he slammed his foot on the gas."

"Don't give up! Come on! Full speed ahead

There's no way I can lose this fight!

If I run away I've lost my right to wear these goggles"

Davis fumbled with his cell phone as he took a sharp left turn. "That's odd, that's the house ring tone. Someone's calling from the house." Davis said, as he flipped the phone open. "Hello?"

"Hello, Davis?" "Hey, Cody. What's up? Did we forget something?" "Umm, yeah you could say that. Quick question: whom do you have in the car with you right now?"

"Don't be silly, man. It's Kari and me! We're on our way to the hospital!"

"Take another look, my friend."

Davis quickly shot a glance in the passenger seat and gasped in horror as he noticed the jacket wrapped soccer ball in the seat. "CRAP!" Davis screamed as he slammed on his brakes. "Where's Kari! Where is she?"

"I'm right here, Dai-chan." Kari said on the phone after a few seconds. "Moving a little too fast, aren't we?"

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry, Kari. I wasn't thinking. Are you okay?"

"Don't worry about it. I'm fine Dai-chan. Just get back here as quickly as you can."

"Okay. I'm on my way, Kari. You and the baby just hang on tight."

"Sure thing. Just be careful."

"Don't worry, Kari-chan. I am the picture of cool.." Davis said, executing a U-turn at the nearest block as he slapped the phone shut.

"Oh, so is that why you're currently trying to drive a soccer ball to the hospital to give birth?" Kari said wryly.

"Ha, ha. Just worry about what's going on in your tummy, okay?"

Akina cooed and gurgled as her mother tossed her soiled diaper in the garbage pail from the couch.

"Score! Mommy made it, Aki-chan." She said, smiling down at the infant lying on the couch as she fastened her clothes. "Mommy is going to get her figure back for the summer. Believe it."

"I hope so," TK said, walking from the kitchen with a warm bottle in one hand and a sandwich in another. "Because daddy is getting tired of picking up after mommy misses the diaper pail."

Yolei laughed nervously as she gently scooped Akina in her arms. "Oh, don't worry about daddy. He's just a little sleep depraved."

TK handed Yolei the bottle and plopped down next to her on the couch. "I plan on making it up all day tomorrow. No work."

"But don't forget about tonight," Yolei said, slipping the nipple of the bottle in Akina's mouth. "Aki-chan's first New Year? You said you wanted to stay up and let her listen to the bells ring at midnight."

"Meh, she's up at midnight anyway, so what's the difference? We'll be up either way." TK said, gently rubbing Akina's cheek, which was now moving with each suck on the bottle. "A lot has happened this past year, huh?"

Yolei laughed softly as she held the bottle. "You're telling me. New apartment, new job, and to top it off, our little Christmas surprise."

"Could life get any better?" TK sighed.

Yolei gave a sly grin. "Wait until this little one starts sleeping on her own." She whispered, gesturing to the baby girl in her arms.

TK shook his head in shocked amazement. "Already thinking about giving Aki-chan a brother or sister?"

"Well, a boy would be nice. Give Akina a younger brother to play with."

"Sounds like a pretty good idea, if you're up to it Yolei-chan. But lets wait until you're feeling 100 before we…umm…re-light the pilot light and get the fires burning, okay?" TK said, a small smile forming on his face.

"Of course, Take-chan." Yolei said, looking at the now half empty bottle. "Beautiful job, Aki-chan. Now lets get a burp out of you, and then we can go take a nap." She said, laying the child on her towel draped shoulder. She then began gently patting the child on the back.

Ring! Ring!

"I'll get it." TK said, padding to the phone. He looked down at the caller ID display. "Hey, it's Kari and Davis." He announced, picking up the handset. "Guess they wanna know what we're doing for New Years."

He pressed the talk button and raised the phone to his ear. "Happy New Year, Takashi residence, TK speaking."

"Burrrrrrrp!"

"Ooooh! That was a good one!" Yolei said, wincing as she carefully wiped the spit-up from Akina's mouth. "You got that from your daddy's side of the family, all right."

"You're kidding. Are you serious?" TK said into the phone.

Yolei nodded "Well, your dad has been known to belch like this too after a good meal, though I don't remember—"

TK quickly covered the mouthpiece with his free hand. "Not that! It's Kari. She's in labor. She and Davis are on their way to the hospital." TK uncovered the mouthpiece. "Okay…okay. We'll meet you there. Okay. Bye!"

TK padded quickly back into the living room. "You and Akina feel up to a trip?"

"I'll have to get some stuff together for Aki-chan, but sure. We could use the fresh air." Yolei said, nodding as she slowly stood up with the newborn in her arms. "Lets go get ready, Akina. We're going on a car ride."

"Aki-chan's first car ride." TK said, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Shouldn't we write this in her baby book or something?"

"Good point. This is not the way I really wanted Aki-chan's first car ride to go." Yolei said, nodding. "Meh, we'll just call this a test drive. Is that okay with you, Aki-chan?"

Akina gave a small gurgle, blowing a bubble with her saliva.

"That's baby for 'yes'. Let's get ready to move out." Yolei said, nodding.

The phone received the electrical signal of a phone call from the thin fiber optic cables running from the wall. The signal flowed through the circuit boards and split abruptly; one to the base antenna, which sent a signal to the handset sitting on the charger, another to the base ringer.

However, the signal for both ringers was muted, owing to the fact that the switch on the handset was set to off, and the settings on the base routed the incoming signal to the answering machine, which then activated.

"Hi! This is Taichi, Sora, and Kenichi Kamiya. I'm sorry we're not able to take your call, but at the sound of the beep, please leave your name and number and we'll get back with you as soon as possible. Thank you and happy New Year!"

Beep!

"Hey! Tai! Are you there? Pick up! Come on, pick up! This is Davis. Look, Kari is in labor. We're on our way to the hospital. Give us a call, or meet us at the hospital when you get this message. Okay. Bye!"

The machine gave another beep as the message wait light started flashing, unknown to the three exhausted sleeping figures in the bedroom.

"Ah, it's no use, I still can't get a hold of them." Davis growled, slapping the phone shut. "I keep getting their machine. What's going on?"

"They must have their ringers turned off so they won't wake Kenichi." Kari deduced, her hands setting on top of her stomach, which was now wrapped in her seatbelt. "They're probably asleep too."

"How are you feeling, Kari-chan?" Davis said, giving his wife a quick glance as he watched the road ahead of him.

"The pain is coming every so often, about every 10 minutes or so." Kari said, sighing. "Guess our little one isn't in that big a hurry."

"Oh, don't worry. He's coming out of there if I have to go in and get him!" Davis said, pointing a finger at Kari's belly.

"You hear that, kid?" Kari said, patting her stomach. "Trust me, you really don't want daddy coming in there and getting you out. Heaven knows I sure don't' want him getting you outta me."

"We still don't know what the kid is, do we?" Davis said as he pulled to a stop at a red signal light.

"No clue. Guess we'll find out today, won't—uh-oh." Kari groaned, eyes now squinted shut. "Here it comes again. Drive Dai-chan! Drive!"

"You got it babe!" Davis said, quickly stuffing a CD in the radio. "Just gotta get the right music and—"

"WHAT!" Kari exclaimed, holding her stomach. "MUISIC!"

"Haven't you ever seen those pregnant couple movies? Anytime there's a mad dash to the hospital when the girl goes into labor, some cool music plays!"

"Daisuke Kentaro Motomiya, will you STEP ON THE FREAKING GAS AND GO!" Kari screamed.

"I thought you'd never ask." Davis said, pressing play on the radio while flooring the gas pedal.

We are Fighting Dreamers Takami wo mezashite

Fighting Dreamers Narifuri kamawazu

Fighting Dreamers Shinjiru ga mama ni

Oli Oli Oli Oh-! Just go my way!

Right here Right now (Bang!)

Buppanase Like a dangan LINER!

Right here Right now (Burn!)

Buttakitteku ze Get the fire!

(A/N - Guess what anime this theme goes to!)

"You know?" Kari said, managing a small smile as the contraction squeezed inside her. "It does make the trip to the hospital more interesting."

"See? What did I tell ya? Great soundtrack plus impending birth equals total coolness!" Davis said as the needle on the speedometer began its rapid ascent.

To Be Continued...

(A/N – And there you have it: Chapter 24 locked down and put away! I am so sorry once again that it's late, and I'm even more sorry that I haven't replied to you guys reviews for the last two chapters! I'll hopefully catch up and reply to each and every review! I hope to see you, (on time) for chapter 25 of Nine Months in the Socks of the Motamiya's! See you soon and please review (Constructive reviews, I should add—not just one line reviews. I'm really tired of those.)