(A/N – I bid you welcome to the "better late than never" chapter 25 of "Nine Months in the Socks of the Motamiya's". I'm sorry if this chapter was late, but time makes fools of us all! I hope you enjoy this chapter, and don't forget to review.)
Nine Months in the Socks of the Motamiya's – Chapter 25
Everytime I wear this thing, it feels like I'm wearing my pajamas.
Dr. McKnight surveyed his appearance in the full-length mirror by his office door, wiping out a few stray wrinkles in his cobalt blue and silver kimono, and tying the drawstring in the pants.
Come on, Joshua. You wanted to get in the New Year's frame of mind this year remember? He reminded himself, glancing to his left at the red and white colored carp shaped kite. It's long tail formed a sizeable pile on the floor.
Well, let's roll with it and start rounds. He sighed, pulling on his white lab jacket and stepping out the office.
"Hey! Nice outfit, Socks!"
The black doctor turned around to the voice and gave a small smile. "Socks?"
"You're the first person I've met whose socks matches his kimono so directly." Dr. Greystone said, walking towards him with a smirk on her face.
"Is there a problem with that, Amanda?" Dr. McKnight asked, innocently.
"Normally people don't wear toe socks with a kimono." She said, shaking her head as she shoved her hands in her pockets. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Hey, you celebrate New Years your way, I'll do it in mine." Dr. McKnight said, proudly. "Besides, who are you to talk, madam ninja?" he said, looking her up and down.
Under her lab coat, Dr. Greystone wore her jet-black ninja outfit tied off with a dark blue sash and matching headband.
"Hey, hey! Don't insult a genin-level ninja, pretty boy." Dr. Greystone warned, pulling a silver and black stethoscope out her lab jacket. "You left this in the delivery room."
"Oh, thanks!" Dr. McKnight said, taking the stethoscope and wrapping it around his neck. "I was wondering where it—"
"Dr. McKnight, please report to admissions. Dr. McKnight, please report to admissions. Thank you."
"You're being called to battle, Samurai Jack." Dr. Greystone said, spinning on the heels of her open toed boots. "Call me if you have to do a cesarean; I would love to see it done with a long sword."
"Ha, ha." Dr. McKnight laughed dryly, turning in the opposite direction down the hall. "Just remember we use epidurals around here, not paralysis darts."
"Ah well, can't blame a girl for trying. See ya!"
"You called, Paige?" Dr. McKnight asked, reaching the front desk.
"Sure did. We have a full-term mom incoming. Genki is bringing them up." Paige said, looking at the computer screen.
"Genki? The one with the dreadlocks?" Dr. McKnight said, cocking his head to one side. "The one you tried to get to dye his hair bubble gum pink?"
"Well, he change his hair color so often, It was only natural to suggest he try a more…vibrant color for the New Year." Paige said, innocently flipping through a few pages on the desk.
"But did it HAVE to be pink?" Dr. McKnight asked, holding a head to his forehead. "And did you HAVE to offer to do it for him? And did you HAVE to chase him around the maternity ward with a bottle of dye!"
Before Paige could reply, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. A short thin tan skinned guy stepped out first, his head scattered with thick dreadlocks that came down to his chin.
"I'm sorry, doc dude." he said in a cool voice, pushing his round glasses up on his nose. "But he insisted on pushing his own wife's wheelchair."
Almost on cue, Davis stepped out the elevator, pushing a chair with a slightly annoyed Kari sitting in it. "I just wanted to be sure we would get here safely. "
"Davis, we're in a hospital. You can't get much safer than that." Kari sighed, looking up at the braided orderly as Davis stepped to one side. "I'm sorry, Genki. My husband is just trying to get his last few worries out the door before midnight."
"Ah, it's okay." Genki said, waving it off as he walked behind the wheelchair, taking a hold of the handles. "I've seen my share of nervous fathers since I been here. Where do you want 'em, doc?"
"Take them to maternity suite 5," Dr. McKnight said, pointing down the hall. "I'll be with you guys in a split second." He said, patting Davis and Kari on the shoulder before walking to his office.
"You know, the kimono suits him well with the bald head." Kari whispered to Davis as they past the admission desk. "The color goes well with his complexion."
"Oh, Genki." Paige called out in a singsong voice, "When you finish, come see me. We still have time to paint the town pink for the New Year!" She said, holding up a bottle filled with a mysterious pink liquid.
Genki gave a small sigh as he quickened his pace down the hallway.
"Umm, Genki." Kari said, noticing that Davis was now moving at a definite jog to keep up. "You know, we really don't have to run, I'm not in that much pain."
"Well," Dr. McKnight began, peeling off a pair of gloves and covering Kari's legs with the hospital sheet. "It's a good thing I'm not a betting man, otherwise I would have so much money, I wouldn't need to practice medicine."
"What do you mean, doc?" Davis asked. "I thought you said we would have a kid by the 23rd!"
"I gave you guys an official ESTIMATE based on fetal development and the dates given," Dr. McKnight said, grinning. "Based on what you guys told me about your delivery dates, and also because it's a full moon tonight, I made an unofficial GUESS that you would deliver late."
Kari laughed and groaned, grabbing Davis hand and clutching it tightly. "Another contraction." She hissed.
"Just breathe through it Kari. Slow deep breaths, that's it." Dr. McKnight whispered, patting Kari's leg. "I'll check back on you in a few minutes."
Kari nodded; her eyes still shut from the pain inside her. "Did you…call…"
"…the others?" Davis finished, still holding onto Kari's hand. "They're on their way. I left a message on Tai's machine."
"I hope he hurries…" Kari grunted, slowly releasing her grip on Davis hand as the pain slowly ebbed away. "Because I don't plan on holding this kid inside any longer than I have to."
"You hear that, squirt?" Davis said to Kari's belly. "It's time to come out and play."
Kari laughed softly. "Our little squirt is going to need a name, Dai-chan. We've put this off long enough."
"Well, we don't know what's in there, do we?" Davis said, setting a hand on her stomach. "It would help if we could look at what we were naming. Unless you have any ideas…"
"I have no idea whatsoever."
"What do you mean no idea!" Davis exclaimed, raising a hand to his forehead. "You've been carrying this kid inside you for the last 9 months! You've been closer to this kid than anyone else! You don't know what he or she wants to be called?"
"Well, you aren't exactly helping!" Kari said, rolling her eyes. "After all, you helped put this kid in here Mr. "Lets-order-a-third-bottle-of-wine-from-room-service!"
"Well, I sure as heck didn't her you complain Mrs. "I-don't-wanna-see-you-in-nothing-but-goggles-and-socks!" Davis retorted.
Kari opened her mouth to respond, but then broke out in a laugh, falling back on the bed in chuckles and snorts.
"What's so funny?" Davis asked, cocking his head to one side.
"Listen to us, Dai-chan! We're arguing like kids! We're probably sounding really immature to our little baby in here, assuming that he or she knows what immature is."
Davis gave a small smirk and kissed Kari on the forehead. "I'm sorry, Kari-chan. It just seems like things are going so fast, and you know how I get under pressure."
Kari gently stroked Davis cheek and returned the kiss. "I'm sorry too, Dai-chan. Things are moving a little fast for me too. Let's just get him or her outta here. Then we'll worry about a name, okay?"
"Sounds like a plan to me."
"…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!"
"Oh my God, this is big." Sora said, standing in front of the answering machine, holding Kenichi in her arms. "Sounds like auntie Kari is getting ready to have cousin…cousin…umm…unknown."
Sora quickly padded into the bedroom where Tai slept soundly under the blankets.
Why is it that whenever anything big happens, Tai is asleep!
"Tai…" Sora whispered in her husband's ear.
"Huh? Wha?"
"Yoo-hoo, Tai…"
"A-A-Agumon?"
"Tai, you have to wake up."
"Uh-uh Sora, it's your turn now…"
"I don't think so, Tai-chan. In fact, in all honesty, it's Kari's turn now."
"Huh? Wha…?"
"I mean, Kari is in labor."
"WHAT!" Tai exclaimed, silting bolt upright in the bed, his eyes. "Kari is pregnant!"
"Yeah, she has been for the past nine months, but she won't be in a few hours. She's in labor right now. Her and Davis are at the hospital, and the next time you confuse me with a rookie digital creature, I'll have you committed to the funny farm."
"Why didn't Davis call me!" Tai said, jumping up from the bed. "He should have called me! I swear, I'm going to jam his goggles straight up—"
"He DID call, Tai…several times." Sora said, cutting him off. "YOU were the one who silenced the answering machine, phone base and the handset."
"Oh." Tai said.
"They called a few hours ago, so chances are they're at the hospital about now." Sora deduced, gently setting Kenichi in his crib.
"Lets roll, then!" Tai said, quickly running to the closet. "I'll hurry and get dressed, you get Kenichi ready to head out. Let's move, people!"
Sora gave a sigh and picked up the handset. "This is Kenichi's birthday all over again." She said, dialing a number on the phone and holding it up to her ear.
"Hello?" Davis answered.
"Hi, Davis! It's Sora."
"Sora! Well, it's about time! I've been trying to call you guys all day!"
"Yeah, I'm sorry. Tai had all the ringers in the house turned off, and the answering machine's volume was on mute. How's Kari?"
"Oh, she's okay. We're at five centimeters, and the contractions are getting a little stronger."
"Did they break her water yet?"
"No, the doctor wants to hold off on that until the last possible second, to prevent infection if her labor slows down."
"Ah. Okay. We're on our way there now. What room are you in?"
"Maternity suite 5. We'll see you guys when you get here, hopefully before the kid gets here."
"Tai wouldn't have it any other way. Bye."
To Be Continued...
(A/N - Well, that's it for chapter 25! I'll try to get a jump on chapter 26 and have it up on time this Saturday! You guys know what to do. PLEASE don't leave one sentence reviews! It's really annoying now that I'm getting to the end of the story! I need your feedback! Thank you!)