Chapter fifteen
Aya slowly walked down the stairs trying his hardest to not make a noise and wake the others. This was a hard task for a man 5 months pregnant trying to avoid creaking floorboards when it was pitch black.
He managed to make it into the relative safety of the living room and glanced at the clock. 3.46 AM. Damn was it early. He tried to make himself as comfortable as he could on the sofa, vowing to get another one after Christmas that was a lot less bumpy, and tried to fall asleep. After half an hour he gave up and decided pregnant people just weren't built for sleeping or walking or anything really.
"I hope you realise how difficult you're making things," he said to his bump. "When you are older I promise to get my revenge. Embarrassing pictures to potential boyfriends or girlfriends, making a fuss of you in public when you're 18, baby talk in front of your friends. I swear I'll make you pay. "
So, Aya tried to think of something he could do to keep himself occupied. The television was out of the question. That would wake Omi up no matter how quiet he had it on. He could have read his book if he hadn't left it upstairs. There really wasn't much to do. He settled instead at gazing at the Christmas tree.
It was the first time he'd allowed a Christmas tree in the living room. He knew that they had one elsewhere in previous years but he had never allowed one in the living room. It reminded him of things he'd much rather have forgotten. It reminded him of a time when he was younger and his hands weren't stained with the blood of the people he killed. It reminded him of a time when he had spent Christmas with his family before they were killed by that bastard Takatori. How exited and full of life his sister had been, how happy she got with the decorations and the presents.
If Aya closed his eyes he could still remember his last Christmas with his family. He could still see his sister dancing around in her new kimono. He could clearly see his parents sitting beside each other looking happy. He should still see their tree that Aya-chan had decorated. Aya could remember all this and it hurt to do so. His family was dead or in the case of his sister, in a deep coma.
He began to cry.
Christmas was a time for family but Aya didn't have any family. He no longer had a mother to make a delicious dinner or a father to put up the decorations or no sister to be her usual, bright and cheerful self. He rubbed his bump and new thoughts came to him.
He would never be able to introduce parents to their new Grandchild.
He would never see the look of happiness and pride they would have on their face.
And from the look of things there was little hope of Aya-chan being introduced to her nephew or niece.
"Aya, what's wrong?" Youji asked as he made his way into the living room
"Nothing," Aya replied with as he brushed away the tears still visible on his face.
"You're crying. How can nothing be wrong?" Youji questioned again.
"I'm just being stupid. Go back to bed. Why are you up anyway?" Aya asked trying to change the subject
"You were no longer in bed so I decided to get up to see where you had got too." Youji said as he sat beside Aya on the sofa and placed an arm around him. "Now are you going to tell me why you are so upset or will we be sat here for the rest of eternity?"
"Nothing is wro-"
"I can be stubborn you know. Please tell me?" Youji pleaded wanting to know what was wrong with the man in front of him
Aya sighed in defeat and began to explain. "It's family stuff. I was remembering how Christmas used to be back at home and then I got thinking about how my family will never know my baby. That my child will grow up not knowing its grandparents or aunt, never feel the love they would give to it. I have no family anymore. It's…it's not a good feeling"
"There! Now was that so hard?" Youji gave Aya a cuddle. "The baby will be your family. He or she will be made of your flesh and blood. I love you more than anything and consider you to be my family. I know Omi and Ken consider you to be family and they're looking forward to being uncles. You do have a family it's just not a conventional one. I mean this little one's going to be lucky and have two dads. The child that you are carrying is as much yours as it is mine and I intend for us to be a really family." Youji stood and headed out of the room. "One minute I just want to get something"
Aya was left staring at the tree again as he waited for his lover to return. As much as he really didn't want to agree with the blond he did have a point. He did consider Omi and Ken to be the brothers that he never had on some level. Even if he never acknowledge it out loud or even to himself.
"Here!" Youji exclaimed as he handed a small parcel over to Aya. "I was going to wait until morning to give you this but I suppose now is a good as time as any"
"What is it?" Aya questioned eager to know what it was
"Well it's simple. When someone gives you a present you open it dimwit," Youji said to teased Aya.
Aya slowly undid the bow and pulled back the gold paper surrounding the present. Inside the parcel was a black box that Aya began to open cautiously, being victim of Youji's practical jokes one too many times before.
"Don't you trust me!" Youji cried out in good humour
"You expect me too? What about last Christmas when you got me the present and when it opened a stupid fake spider jumped out!" Aya said in defence.
Youji began to laugh. "And you should have seen the look on your face. You were terrified! I wish I had a camera"
"Yes, well, I'm surprised I didn't kill you for that. I hate spiders and I wasn't expecting one to jump out of my present"
"That was because you loved me! You can't kill the man you love!" Youji said through his laughter
"Ha ha. Very funny Youji," Aya started to open the box a little more confident that it didn't contain anything that would jump out. What he did see was a small gold band. Nothing too flashy which was good seeing as Aya hated flashy rings.
"I know that men can't get married but I wanted to give you this to show that I am committed to you and the baby. I love you with all my heart and want to stay by your side forever more. I want to be there for you, to hold you; I just want to be with you and our baby," Youji said as he took the ring off Aya and kneeled before in front of him and placed the ring on his lovers finger. "I love you Ran."
Aya looked up into Youji's eyes with tears in his own. "Thank you Youji. It's so very sweet of you. I want to give you your gift now if that's ok?"
"Sure thing!" Youji said as he nodded and went to retrieve his gift from under the tree. "This isn't payback for the spider is it? Nothings going to jump out at me?"
"Don't be stupid. I'm not as childish as you," Aya smiled. "Please just open it"
Youji did so. He ever so slowly opened up the present in front of him until Aya snapped and said, "Stop messing about and open the damn thing". Youji hurried up with the opening of his gift and was surprised at what he found.
"Wow, Aya. This is perfect!" Youji said as the biggest smile appeared on his face. "It's just so … perfect!" Youji repeated. He leaned over to capture Aya's mouth in a soft, chaste kiss, which spoke of his thankfulness. In his hand he clutched the matching ring to the one he had just given to Aya.
"No thank you. You've given me the best Christmas ever and it's only 4.30 am. I think you're right. I do have a family and I have you. It might not be perfect but it makes me happy," Aya said as he slipped on his lovers ring. "Our child is going to be loved so well that I might get jealous"
"Can you repeat that part please?" Youji asked with a smirk
"Which part?" Aya questioned
"The bit where you say I'm right. You don't say it all that often." Youji replied
"That's because you're not right all that often," Aya said with a smirk of his own
"That's not nice!" Youji exclaimed in his defence to which Aya laughed. "Anyway," Youji continued, "feel like coming back to bed? Even if you can't sleep we can snuggle."
"Sure. What harm can it do?" Aya stood with some help from Youji and the two moved slowly up the stairs and went to bed.
To be continued
A/N
Sorry for the (very) late arrival of this chapter. Things haven't been good recently for me personally, so this has been neglected. Damn the real life and its ability to get in the way.