"Sorry for waking you up so late," Hiroki apologized as Akihiko carried him into his apartment. Nowaki stepped in behind him, Fuyumi cradled in his arms.

"It's fine. It was an emergency situation," Akihiko said without hesitation. He looked over his shoulder at Nowaki. "Hey, Kusama- we have formula. Want to feed Fuyumi?"

"Yes. She's been whimpering a little bit, I think she's hungry," Nowaki replied. "Thanks."

Akihiko went to the couch and gently set Hiroki down on it, earning a whine of pain.

"I don't suppose you have vicodin, do you?" Hiroki said, wincing as he shifted so his back was propped up against some pillows and the armrest.

"No, sorry. I do have lots of ibuprofen, though," Akihiko offered with a shrug.

"Okay, that's fine. Bring like four of them," Hiroki groaned, laying his head back against the headrest as Akihiko went to the kitchen.

Nowaki hobbled to him and slowly lowered himself down onto the opposite end of the couch. He held Fuyumi in the crook of his arm and stroked her hair. Fuyumi blinked back up at him, pouting her rosy red lips and squeak-whimpering.

"She's just a baby," Nowaki muttered. Hiroki frowned at him and affectionately prodded Nowaki's thigh with his bare foot. "I don't understand how anyone could want to hurt a defenseless infant."

"I don't understand it either," Hiroki murmured. Nowaki turned to him, a sad look in his eyes.

"I'm sorry I pushed you off of me in the hospital. I… I couldn't control myself. I hardly even knew what I was doing. I could only think about getting that pill out of Fuyumi's throat."

Hiroki smiled at him understandingly.

"You saved our baby's life. There's no way I could be angry with you about that," Hiroki whispered. Nowaki put his free hand on Hiroki's calf and rubbed.

"I'm still sorry."

Akihiko returned a moment later, a glass of water and a bottle of ibuprofen in one hand, and a little bottle in the other hand.

"The formula's at the right temperature," Akihiko said, handing Hiroki the ibuprofen and water. Hiroki took the painkiller, and Akihiko gave him the formula for the empty cup. He gave Nowaki and Hiroki one last smile before leaving for the kitchen to give them privacy.

"I'll show you how to feed the baby," Hiroki said softly, holding his arms out for Fuyumi. Nowaki smiled and handed his daughter to Hiroki. Nowaki stood, then went to Hiroki's side and grunted as he slowly lowered himself to the floor. He leaned against Hiroki as his little fiancé held Fuyumi in one arm. Hiroki reached up with the bottle and gently prodded Fuyumi's lips.

"Hiro-san," Nowaki breathed when Fuyumi latched onto the nipple of the bottle and suckled, her eyes half-lidded in content. Nowaki reached out to stroke his daughter's hair back.

"Look at her lips," Hiroki said with an adoring grin. As Fuyumi drank, little bubbles of milk popped out of the corners of her lips. Nowaki raised his head to press a kiss to Hiroki's arm, then leaned against him once more.

"She's so perfect," Nowaki murmured. "I have completely fallen in love with her, Hiro-san."

Hiroki chortled, rocking his daughter slightly.

"Me too."

After feeding and watching Fuyumi, Nowaki took Fuyumi into the guest bedroom. Akihiko carried Hiroki into the room behind him. Nowaki and Hiroki gasped in surprise. The crib had been set up next to the bed, with a baby blanket already folded up inside.

"Thank you so much, Akihiko," Hiroki said gratefully as Akihiko went around the bed and gently laid him down onto the soft mattress. He pulled the covers up and over his little friend, smiling gently.

"No problem," he said simply. He bade Nowaki and Hiroki goodnight before shutting the lights off and sweeping from the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Nowaki sat down on the edge of the bed, rocking Fuyumi as she dozed sleepily in his arms.

"Goodnight, Fuyumi," Nowaki whispered, bringing Fuyumi up to kiss her forehead. "I love you."

Nowaki turned around towards Hiroki, holding Fuyumi out to him. Hiroki took her and he pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"Goodnight. Papa loves you, too," Hiroki murmured. He smiled at his precious daughter before handing her back to Nowaki, who set her down in her crib and stroked her hair one last time. Hiroki watched in silence as Nowaki slipped under the covers and shuffled up to Hiroki.

"I love you," Nowaki said, his cobalt gaze glimmering in the moonlight that came in through the window-wall. Hiroki nestled against his fiancé, feeling warmth and comfort as a big arm wrapped around his waist.

"I love you, too."


Hiroki's face contorted in his sleep and he awoke to the scarlet glow of the sunrise shining in through the window. He yawned and naturally looked over to Nowaki's side of the bed, where the crib was. However, his eyes only came in contact with the bare back of his fiancé, who was slightly slumped over.

"Nowaki?" Hiroki asked softly. Nowaki shifted and looked over his shoulder, black circles around his bloodshot eyes.

"Good morning," he croaked before turning back to his sleeping daughter.

"What are you doing up so early?"

"Watching Fuyumi."

"Why? Is something wrong?" Hiroki asked fretfully.

"No. I'm just watching her," Nowaki sighed. Hiroki furrowed his eyebrows and very slowly sat up, propping himself up against the headboard.

"How long have you been up?"

"I haven't slept at all."

Hiroki frowned at Nowaki, who stared into Fuyumi's crib with dull, expressionless eyes.

"Nowaki… we're safe here," Hiroki whispered, reaching out to stroke his fiancé's broad back.

"No. We're not safe anywhere. Not in our home, not in the damn hospital... I love her so much more than I thought I would, Hiro-san," Nowaki said lowly, not turning to look at Hiroki. "It's hardly been twenty four hours since she was born, and I'm already sure that I would die without her. I want to protect her twenty four-seven."

Hiroki sighed, his knitted eyebrows relaxing in sympathy.

"I do too, but I don't think it's healthy for you to stay up all night."

Nowaki didn't answer, and Hiroki dragged himself up behind Nowaki. He braced himself with his hands on Nowaki's shoulders as he rained kisses down onto the powerful spine.

"Please? Sleep with me, baby."

Nowaki sighed and glanced over his shoulder.

"Hiro-san, you don't have to try and be extra cute to persuade me. You're already adorable," he mumbled. Hiroki glanced up at his fiancé through thick lashes, flushing scarlet.

"Can you at least lie down?" Hiroki asked exasperatedly. Nowaki sighed again, looking down longingly at Fuyumi once more. He then swiveled his body and swung his legs back up onto the bed. He flopped back down onto his pillow. Hiroki rolled onto his side, relieving his aching backside. He snuggled up to Nowaki, pressing a kiss to his collarbone before resting his head against his chest. Nowaki absentmindedly stroked Hiroki's back, making sure to stay clear of his bottom.

There was a long, comfortable silence, and Hiroki found content in listening to Nowaki's even breathing.

"Nowaki, remember when we took that bath a long time ago, the day after you drunk yourself stupid?" Hiroki asked with a smile as he traced patterns down Nowaki's torso with his index finger. Nowaki chuckled softly.

"When you couldn't even put boxers on because your butt hurt so bad?"

"Yeah," Hiroki said, giggling. "My situation right now kind of reminds me of that time."

"Hm… except this time it's not my fault."

"Yes it is!"

"Oh, I guess you're right."

Nowaki and Hiroki laughed quietly together. Nowaki rolled onto his side and faced Hiroki, stroking a stray lock of chestnut hair out of his face.

"It'd be nice to go back to those times, wouldn't it?" he asked softly. Hiroki nodded.

"When we buy a house, I want to have an even bigger bathroom and bathtub."

"Yes."

"And… a big yard for Fuyumi to play in."

"Yes."

"And-"

"Hiro-san."

Hiroki noticed the firmness of Nowaki's voice, and he glanced up sheepishly.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make it about myself."

"No… that's not it," Nowaki sighed. He looked away for a moment. "After… after the whole raiding incident at our apartment, it really got me thinking."

Hiroki furrowed his eyebrows and raised his head. Nowaki looked back up at him before reaching up to lovingly caress his cheek.

"I want to protect you and Fuyumi, no matter what it takes. I've got to finish up my education here; I need to get my doctor's degree and become a full-fledged pediatrician. I'm almost finished- I should be don by mid-spring. But tonight, I realized that it's just going to get more and more dangerous for you."

Hiroki shook his head.

"I-I don't understand what you're saying, I-"

"I've already talked to Miyagi and Shinobu about it. After Shinobu has the twins, they're taking you and Fuyumi to Sweden."