"Kamijou-san, can you hand me one of those blue ones?" Misaki asked as he stood on tiptoes on his stool in front of the Christmas tree. Akihiko stood behind him, supporting his hips. Hiroki grimaced at the hungry look on Akihiko's face as he stared at Misaki's shorts-clad backside. He grabbed a blue ornament and carefully made his way to the Christmas tree. He was still suffering from his hemorrhoids from birth, but by Christmas Eve, the swelling had gone down significantly and Hiroki could walk again. He was still a little slow and stiff, but he was walking nonetheless.

"Here you go," Hiroki said, handing the ornament up to Misaki.

"Thanks," he said cheerfully, taking the ornament and hanging it.

"Mmm… Kusama has been really tired recently, eh?" Akihiko said, jerking his head towards the couch. Hiroki glanced over to see Nowaki snoring on the couch with Fuyumi sprawled out on his chest stomach-down. Hiroki's eyes softened as Fuyumi's ducky print footie-clad leg twitched in her sleep. He and Nowaki had borrowed several sets of baby clothes that Hitomi had outgrown, much to Akihiko's and Misaki's delight.

"Yes. He's been working very hard to find a house in Sweden before he has to go back to work," Hiroki said softly. Nowaki grunted in his sleep, as if knowing he was being talked about. He reached up to lay his hand over his sleeping daughter's back, nearly covering her whole upper body.

"Are you sure you'll be alright by yourself?" Misaki asked, concerned. Hiroki smiled gently at his snoozing fiancé.

"I… don't know," Hiroki said distantly, lowering his gaze as his smile contorted slightly. "I just don't know."

"Maybe it isn't a good idea to go to Sweden without him," Akihiko said. Hiroki glanced up at him, his smile returning to his face.

"No. It's for the best. As long as Fuyumi is safe, we're both fine with it. It'll only be a couple of months," Hiroki answered. Akihiko was about to say more when the phone rang.

"Can you get that, Kamijou-san? My hands are full," Misaki said, his hands full of tinsel. Hiroki nodded and went to the phone. He picked it up with a sigh.

"Hello?"

"Is that you, Kamijou? Hey, it's Miyagi. Shinobu-chin went into labor last night. He wants you to be one of his witnesses," Miyagi said calmly. Hiroki nearly dropped the phone in shock.

"What? He's in labor? Right now?" Hiroki asked rapidly, clutching the phone to his ear with both hands.

"…Well, yeah. His due date was around Christmas," Miyagi said. Hiroki pinched his lips together.

Oh yes, Shinobu actually had his support with him.

"Yeah. I'll be right down," Hiroki said slowly.

"Thanks, Kamijou," Miyagi said cheerfully. The phone hung up, and Hiroki placed it down on its stand. He stood there for a few moments, staring at the wall.

Of course they'd be calm. They're both present for the birth.

Hiroki clenched his fists.

"Kamijou-san? Who was that?" Misaki called.

"Miyagi. Shinobu went into labor. Akihiko, do you think you could drive me down to the hospital?"


"Call me when you're done, I'll come pick you up," Akihiko said. Hiroki nodded and slipped out of the car. He wrapped his arms around himself in the winter chill as he made his way up into the hospital. In the lobby, he went to the receptionist.

"Hi, I'm Takatsuki Shinobu's witness for child birth?" Hiroki said. The receptionist turned to her computer and typed furiously at it.

"Um… yes. Down hall F and to your right. He is in room seventy."

"Thanks."

Hiroki trudged down the hall, growing more and more tense as he went further into the building. His eyes flicked about nervously, and every time something moved, he'd jump. He passed room sixty-five on the way down, and a frigid chill ran up his spine. He sped-walked past it.

"Miyagi?" Hiroki asked as he entered room seventy. There, on the birthing bed, was Shinobu, who was panting slightly as Miyagi stood over him with a damp washcloth. A nurse stood by, writing things down on a clipboard. Nagasaki stood between Shinobu's legs, peering into his hospital gown.

"Hello, Kamijou," Miyagi said, looking up with a gentle smile. "We're about to start."

"Th-Thanks for coming," Shinobu rasped, grinning up at Hiroki. Hiroki smiled back at him waveringly, stepping up to him.

"What would you like me to do?" he asked softly.

"Just… hold my hand," Shinobu said, outstretching his hand. Hiroki took it and squeezed reassuringly.

"You scared?" Hiroki asked. Shinobu glanced at Miyagi, then turned back to Hiroki.

"I'm only afraid about the condition of my ass after I give birth," Shinobu joked. Miyagi chuckled quietly, and Hiroki frowned. He watched as Shinobu talked softly to Miyagi, who lovingly stroked his perspiring cheek with his thumb. Hiroki averted his eyes, his lips thinning.

Why couldn't he have had that experience?

"Oh!" Shinobu suddenly gasped, tensing and squeezing Hiroki hand. "That was a big one!"

"We should get started, then," Nagasaki said with a smile and a quick pat to Shinobu's leg. The nurse immediately set down her clipboard and went to Shinobu's side, taking his leg and pulling it up and back. Miyagi mimicked her, holding Shinobu's other leg with the crook of his arm.

"You'll do great, brat," Miyagi murmured, taking Shinobu's free hand.

"I know. You don't need to tell me, old man," Shinobu teased, earning an adoring grin.

And so, the birthing process began.

Hiroki watched absentmindedly, every once and a while praising Shinobu for his efforts. He screamed and cried, but it wasn't nearly as bad as Hiroki's experience. All of his pushes were strong, and he had plenty of time between contractions to catch his breath. Each time, Miyagi released his hand to dab the sweat from his beloved's face, whispering words of love and praise. He would take his hand once more, and chant encouragement as Shinobu pushed.

"Baby number one is crowning!" Nagasaki announced cheerfully. Shinobu smiled.

"Almost halfway done," he said softly. Miyagi stooped down to briefly kiss him.

"I know. You're doing so well. I love you," Miyagi breathed into Shinobu's ear.

Hiroki turned away, the crease between his eyebrows deepening.

Several pushes later, the first baby was born, and its cries were strong.

"A boy!" Nagasaki exclaimed. He turned to Miyagi. "Want to cut the umbilical cord?"

"Sure," Miyagi said. He gave Shinobu a fleeting kiss on the forehead and released his hand. Hiroki watched in silence as Nagasaki quickly instructed him. He clamped two clips to the umbilical cord, then Miyagi cut the section between the clips. The nurse and Nagasaki cheered, and Shinobu teased Miyagi about something, but Hiroki wasn't paying attention.

The father was allowed to cut the umbilical cord?

Hiroki turned his head away so no one could see the scowl that had sprung to his face.

"Oh, here comes the second!" Shinobu suddenly cried out. Miyagi rushed back to his beloved's side and took up his hand once more, leaving Nagasaki to hand his first newborn to the nurse, who began washing him.

The birthing process for the second baby wasn't as long, or as painful.

"Crowning…" Nagasaki trailed off. Shinobu smiled widely up at Miyagi, who grinned back down at him. "Here it comes, it's a…"

Hiroki glanced down at Shinobu, willing himself to give him a supporting smile. He waited for the cries as Shinobu tensed for the last time, then relaxed against the bed, panting.

And he waited.

…and he waited.

Miyagi's smiled faded as he straightened from his hunched over position. Hiroki cast a panicked glance to Nagasaki, who was staring down at the bundle in his hands. He looked up slowly, his face grim.

"Takatsuki-san, Miyagi-san… I'm sorry."