They haven't seen their daughters since their wedding day. They agreed they'd tell them after their honeymoon, but Ume's morning sicknesses became more frequent. They temporarily moved out so that they could give Mei and Yuzu some privacy, but it ultimately turned out to be a mistake.

Shou never had to care for a pregnant woman before, and Ume had her mother around when she was pregnant with Yuzu. Not having announced the news meant that they had to be careful around Yuzu and Mei. They didn't participate in the wedding preparations, with the pretext that Shou was settling down in his new position as interim chairman. It broke Ume's heart that she wasn't able to be there for her daughters as much as she could have. Shou told her to see it as "being there for their new child."

Yuzu and Mei didn't want to go anywhere for their honeymoon. They were being stubborn as the wedding itself was paid for by their parents. Mei and Yuzu made a "wedding planning committee" to try to cut expenses wherever they could. Their grandfather made an excellent gesture by covering a significant part. Shou was offended until Ume made him see things for what they truly were: "A grandfather wanting to make his grandchildren happy." Ume teased him by saying jealousy ran in their family.

Shou didn't express it much, but he loved Ume. She filled his life in all kinds of ways. When he thought she couldn't make him any happier, she told him she was pregnant. He couldn't wipe out his smile that day and Ume kept on teasing him. They didn't want to distract Yuzu and Mei, so they kept it from them. "I bet they will postpone it if we tell them. I wanna look good in the pictures!". Shou told her she'd look good no matter what. "That's sweet, baby, but I don't believe you."

They were sitting in the living room with Yuzu. Ume never imagined she'd feel nervous about telling their daughter anything, but somehow she was back to being a 20 years old girl trying to tell her parents she was having a child out of wedlock.

"Mei will be here in a sec," said Yuzu who was trying to buy time for her wife, "So? Apart from the big news, you're here for, what's new with you guys."

"Well," mused Shou "My daughters got married recently. I haven't had the chance to ask them how they're doing."

"They're in love!" said Yuzu not making any effort containing her enthusiasm."You guys spoiled us, but we miss you! When are you coming back? "

"About that… We have to discuss some changes with you and Mei," said Ume.

"Why are you talking like that?" inquired Yuzu, "Don't tell me you're not coming back!"

"No, no! On the contrary… Let's wait for-... Oh, Mei. Good timing… Why are you wearing that?"

Mei was wearing a turtleneck in the summertime.

Yuzu giggled, "I went a little crazy, yesterday."

Mei glared at her, "Don't you think it beats the purpose if you tell them?"

"Like they wouldn't put two and two together. Why do you think dad wears a scarf each time mom drinks a little too much?"

"Yuzu!" Ume intervened, "That's not true… Sometimes he wears it after I visit him at work, and I'm never drunk when I go there."

Shou cleared his throat, "Moving on. Ume and I have an announcement to make."

"I'm pregnant!" Ume couldn't contain her excitement anymore.

Yuzu and Mei looked at each other for a second, then Yuzu crouched and hugged Ume's waist. "Welcome home! You have two big sisters that will love you so, so, so much!"

Mei just ranked this as "Yuzu's most captivating moment" dethroning the first time she saw her in a wedding dress.

"When are you coming back?" inquired Mei.

"We haven't worked it out yet. That's why we're here," said Shou

"I'll go pack with you, dad!" proposed Yuzu, "Mom, you stay here with Mei."

Ume patted Yuzu's head "Oh, you're spoiling me already! I'm looking forward to this."

Mei made her way to the fridge. She picked up the beers that were stored in there and started emptying them in the sink!

"Mei-chan!" Ume cried, "Expiration date is until after I've had the baby."

"Come on, Mei," pleaded Sho, "Don't be hard on your mom. Leave them there. I'll get rid of those"

Mei gave him a meaningful look. "Do you think you can fool me? Plus, there's a third person I want to keep away from alcohol." She glared at Yuzu, but her wife met her glare with a smile that says: I know why you don't resist...

"Especially with the baby coming, we all need to be alert" continued Mei. "Alcoholic beverages will be banned from this household until the baby is 18." Mei announced, "Any objections?"

"Honey, I don't think I wanna come back any more!" said Ume in a childlike voice, "Mei-chan's a meanie."

"I think Mei and Yuzu will make the perfect sisters," said Shou, thinking that Mei's disciplinarian attitude and Yuzu's free spirit will create an ideal environment for the child to prosper.

"Oh yeah," said Ume, giving Mei and Yuzu fake reprimanding pout "No monkey business, with this child, you two!"

A collective brain freeze struck Shou, Yuzu, and Mei.

Ume put her hands on her tummy. "Hear that, baby? In this home, mama's always got things under control."

Author's Note:

This Chapter Has been proofread by demosthenes56

Thank you all for reading these 3 first quick-fire chapters. The idea was to set up the tone for this series of one-shots before letting it settle for a week. I wanted to end the weekend writing session on a high note and set up what's coming next. I hope I did just that.

So Mei and Yuzu are getting a sibling... Should I go for a boy or a girl? Why not both?

I hope you'll read me again next week when we meet Yuki and Shiro, the newest addition to the Aihara family.