Chapter 6---Early

Lacus and Miari were sitting in the backyard at Lacus's house. She was 8 months pregnant and glowing. Athrun and Cagalli were away in Tahiti for their honeymoon and Shace and Yzak had extended their cruise. Nicol, Dearka and Mirriallia were out running errands and it was quiet and a beautiful day.

Miari finally gave up on sitting still and turned to Lacus. "Do you have a table or an easel somewhere?"

"Um… there's a sun table in the shed." Lacus smiled.

"Okay." Miari flounced up and drug the table from the shed and set it up where she'd been sitting before, she pulled her hobobag onto her lap, and fished around in it for her sketchbook and an art pencil. With a big smile plastered on her face she started sketching out a familiar face. Lacus leaned over and looked at the rough lines creating Nicol's face. A soft smile caressed on her blue eyes.

"Nicol? It's amazing how you can draw such an expression on his face. When he's not even here." Lacus grinned.

"Huh?" Miari blushed. "I guess so…"

"Well it looks amazing." Lacus grinned.

"Thank-you." Miari looked at Lacus. Her face had paled and she wasn't looking her best. "Lacus, are you alright?"

"I don't know." Lacus ran her hand over her round belly as her eyes closed from pain.

"Lacus? Stay here. I'm gonna get the phone." Miari ran into the house and grabbed the cordless and dialed Kira's work number. But he was in a meeting she couldn't think straight, but Lacus strolled into the kitchen and sat at the table.

"Miari, please calm down. Dial Nicol's cell number. He's with Dearka and Mirr, then go into the nursery upstairs and get the pink suitcase and bring that downstairs." Lacus said with a weak smile reassuring and calming Miari. Miari, nodded and did as she asked. Dearka and Mirriallia drove up and escorted Lacus to the hospital while Miari and Nicol stayed at the Yamato/Clyne household trying to get a hold of Kira. Nicol had calmed Miari once he'd got to the house.

"Kira! Good, okay Lacus went into labor and Dearka and – Hello?" Miari looked at Nicol steadily. "I think he just hung up on me." She smiled.

"Really? Isn't this a little early for her to go into labor?" Nicol added to Miari's initial stress.

"…It's only been eight months. I hope nothing's seriously wrong." Miari shrunk in her seat. Nicol shyly put his arm around her shoulders and both blushed.

"Risky move." Miari teased him with a kiss on is cheek. He blushed more vividly before pulling her into him.

"Should we wait a few more minutes then go to the hospital?" Nicol asked.

"I guess. We should really call Cagalli, it is her niece or nephew coming into this world and Shace and Yzak may want to be here." Miari sighed.

"Very true." Nicol took out his cell. "You call Cagalli and Athrun. I'll call Shace and Yzak."

"Mhmm. Okay." Miari dialed out on the home phone.

(Hospital)

"How's she doing?" Miari asked Mirriallia once Nicol and her arrived.

"Well her water definitely broke, but she's resting." Mirr sighed. Dearka had his arm wrapped lightly around Mirriallia's shoulders and winked at Nicol.

"So…?" Dearka looked intently at Nicol.

"What?"

"Wanna tell me why Yzak and Shace just called from a plane?"

"Oh. We called them to say what was going on…" Nicol began but soon was cut off by Dearka again.

"They were on the REDEYE. They sounded really excited."
"Huh? Awkward." Miari pondered.

"Oh wow." Kira came into the hallway.

"Kira." Miari smirked. "What's going on?"

"Well she has to go into a premature birth, but the baby should be fine." Kira looked overly tired and shooken up.

"Are you alright?" Mirriallia asked Kira, a look of concern overwhelming her smile.

"Just a little unnerved." Kira sighed.

Miari linked her arm in his. "Let's get you some coffee while we wait for some stuff to settle down."

"I'll come with you." Nicol grinned and followed Kira and Miari into the cafeteria.

(3 hours later)

Shace and Yzak had shown up with tanned appearances, but worried looks. They waltzed into Lacus's room where Dearka, Miari and Kira sat.

"What took you so long?" Miari teased.

"Shaddup! We didn't even take our luggage home." Shace poked. She looked over at Lacus. "How ya feelin'?"

"I'm doing well, thanks for asking." Lacus's blue eyes smiled.

"No problem." Shace grinned.

"Heh? When did you guys get here?" Mirr and Nicol waltzed into the room, Cagalli and Athrun following them.

"You guys too?" Kira hugged his sister.

"What? You don't want me here?" Cagalli teased.

"Oh, uh that's not what I meant." Kira shied.

"S'okay." Cagalli smiled and approached Lacus's side. "So? How ya been? Do they know how much longer or what caused this?"

Lacus gave a sadistic smile, out of her character. "Not everything goes as we plan. I am doing just fine seeing all of you here, makes me incredibly happy. And they said premature births are common for first time mothers. But I'm fine and the baby is healthy. They said it could be about another hour or so."

"That's good news… right?" Athrun asked timidly.

"Yes, it's fine." Kira sighed.

(2 hours later)

Lacus had been taken into the delivery room while Kira followed her in. They all stood outside the room when Kira burst through the door.

"It's- It's a BABY GIRL!" Kira smiled so big his face molded into lips.

"Aw!" Was the response and they all crowded around the nursery window, admiring the small baby curled in a lavender blanket. Dark hair and light eyes, she squirmed slightly in the blanket and Miari's face was glued to the pane. Her eyes sparkling, but she was SO adorable.

"Miari, you can step away from the window." Shace pulled her back.

"Yea… It's just so…"

"Stop being in such a rush to grow up." Cagalli sighed outwardly.

Miari's eyes caught something shiny when Shace grabbed her, she spun around and grabbed Shace's hand. "YOU GOT ENGAGED!" Miari snapped with a smile.

"Uh… well…" Shace stuttered. Yzak slapped a hand to his head.

"Yes Miari, we're engaged." Yzak sighed grumpily.

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N/A: No, this is not the last chapter. I love this story WAY too much to just give up and quit typing it up now. Don't worry… there's more to come. I Promise.