"Are you sure you're ok? You don't need anything? Blankets? Some weird craving? A pillow?"

Touka Kirishima sighed and glared up at her husband, Ken Kaneki. "Yes. I'm fine."

"Okay, call me if you need anything."

"Mm-hmm."

"There's food in the fridge."

"Mm-hmm."

"And I'm only one call away."

"I know, Kaneki. Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm dumb."

"Of course not. I just" — Kaneki twisted his hands, a bad habit of his — "want to make sure you're comfortable. For when it comes. The baby."

"I'm seven months, it's not like it's going to pop out at any minute."

"I was premature."

"I wasn't. The doctor says we'll be fine. Now will you get into work already? Your employees need you."

"You need me."

"I don't. You're making me nervous. Go bother Tsukiyama or something."

"But…"

"Kaneki. Go." She fixed him with a steady glare. "I'll be fine. I'll call you if anything happens."

"If you're sure…" He started to drift towards the door. "I have some work to do in the kitchen, I guess."

She made a shooing gesture. "Get. Don't let me see you again before dinnertime. Or I will kick your ass."

"Ok, ok… Have fun then, I guess."

She bared her teeth. He left. Touka let out a big, big sigh and picked up the phone.

"Yo, Hina-chan. How've you been?"

"Good! Ayato and I are just chilling on the couch. How's the baby?"

"Fine. Why does everyone keep asking about that? It's not. A big. Deal."

Hina giggled. "It kind of is. You're having a baby, Touka-chan. Kaneki's baby. It affects all of us."

"Well it's in my body." She pauses to take a deep breath and pinch her nose. "Have you and Ayato got any plans?"

"For tonight? I don't think so, why?"

"No, for the future. For gremlins of your own."

"Oh, no no no." Hina sounds alarmed. "We're not ready for that yet. We just got together a year ago, you know."

"So? You'd been making eyes at each other forever."

"We were not — you know what, it doesn't matter. Ayato isn't ready for it and neither am I."

"Meh, fine. You'll see what I'm talking about when the time comes. You'll experience this hell."

Hina giggles again. "I'm sure it's not hell, Nee-chan. You have Onii-chan to take care of you, after all. He's a very kind person."

"Yes, and he's driving me up the walls. 'Do you need anything? Can I get you this? Can I get you that? Do you want to lie down?' I keep telling him, I'm FINE." Touka gives a long sigh and rubs her eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't used to be such a complainer. It's the hormones getting to me, I guess."

"Don't worry about it, Nee-chan," Hinami says. "Ayato and I will always be there for you, as will the rest. Have you picked out a name yet?"

"Yes, Ichika. After my grandmother. I finally won the battle."

"What will you do for the godparents?"

"We were thinking Renji and whoever he chooses to marry. He is her great-uncle, and you're like our little sister, so it would be weird for you to share a parenting role. That's what we were thinking, anyway."

"No, that's smart. I'm not sure Ayato and I could handle a parenting role now anyway. As I said, we're not ready for a child."

"Well, let me know if you change your mind. I would love a little niece, and I'm sure Kaneki would flip his shit as well."

Hina chuckles. "Rather colorful way of putting it, but thank you. You'll be the first to know."

"Appreciate it. Say, are you free tonight?"

"Didn't you already ask that?"

"No, I asked if you wanted kids."

"Oh. Yes, I am. Why?"

"Was wondering if you'd like to come over. We can kick Kaneki out and have a girl's night all to ourselves."

Hina-chan giggles. "You know I'd love to. Let me ask Ayato-kun." There was a short pause from the other end, and then Hina says, "Ok, he says yes, as long as he can come too. He's lonely."

Touka groans dramatically. "Ugh, that totally ruins the point of a girl's night. FINE, tell him he can come, and Kaneki can stay too. We'll be a big happy family, I guess."

"Sounds good. See you at six, then?"

"See you." Touka-chan hangs up and gives a big stretch. "God, I miss being able to move. Don't you, Kaneki?"

"What was that, dear?"

"Ugh, nothing." Touka yawns and pats her expectant belly. "Do you remember the old days when we used to work at Anteiku?"

"Of course I do! Those were the best days of my life. I met you."

"Aw, you sap." Touka dips her chin down and pulls up her shirt to cover her nose. "I mean the work. It was so easy. Why can't I find another job like that?"

"You could become a barista and work with me. We'd be together all day."

"No thank you. I don't want your crybaby ass breaking down on me every time you get an order wrong."

"Is it just me, or are you cursing more than usual?"

"It's the damn hormones, I'm telling you. Pregnancy sucks."

"Mm, yes, I imagine it would suck to be you right now." He wanders into the room and gives her a crooked grin. "Fancy a snack?"

"I told you, no. I'm fine."

"Then why are you still talking to me?"

Touka grumbles. She can't argue with that. "What are you still doing here, anyway? I thought I told you to get out."

"You did, but only to the kitchen. You never said anything about leaving the house."

"Ugh, you meanie. Thanks to you, I can't have a girl's night in."

"What?"

"Nevermind." She yawns. "Do you think boys can get pregnant?"

"According to science, no."

"Science is fake."

"Feeling controversial tonight, are we? Science is real."

"You're fake."

"Well, I can't argue with that." She glares and he chuckles, then walks over to hug her and stroke her heavily pregnant belly. "You're certain it's going to be a girl?"

"Yes, and we'll name her Ichika. Like you promised."

"Do you think she'll be half-ghoul?"

"She has to be. I'm full ghoul, and you're half. Your brain may be human, but your organs certainly aren't."

"Will she have a kakugan?"

"Mm, dunno. She may have one like you, only in one eye. And kakuga, of course."

"Speaking of our . . . ghoulish tendencies, you've spoken to Renji about this month's supply, right?"

"Yes, we'll be fine. I heard he even got a business deal for it."

"Oh? What kind? I can't imagine a ghoul getting a business deal for selling human meat."

"Believe it or not, he signed on with the White Coats. They're introducing a whole line of family-friendly foods. Puree, blood powder, the works. Some say they've even engineered one that tastes just like Salisbury steak."

"Blood powder? That doesn't sound very family-friendly. Isn't this just like what we did at Anteiku?"

"It's definitely similar. The point is, we won't have to just devour an arm anymore."

"Ew, Touka, you're making me hungry." He wrinkles his nose, and she scoffs.

"You always did have a weak stomach. Now, you said you were cooking dinner, didn't you? Get back to it."

"Fine, fine." He gets up reluctantly and heads for the kitchen. "As the wife, you're supposed to be the one cooking, you know."

"Says who? Your ramen is way better than mine."

"Still. You're not even remotely housewifey. You barely clean."

"Hey, I clean plenty. You're the one who insists on everything being spotless."

Touka sighs and settles into the sofa, only to be brought to her feet once more by Kaneki's shout of alarm.

"Oi! You okay?" she shouts, limping towards the kitchen. It's hard to move with her belly so big, but she'd do anything to save Kaneki from danger.

"Yes, I'm sorry." He's standing before the stove, staring horrified at the steak he had laid out for dinner. "I was just alarmed."

"Well what is it? What's wrong?" She puts an arm around him, concerned. His kakugan is showing.

"I — for a second, I thought the steak was a heart. I — I know we're not supposed to be freaked out by stuff like that, but it was beating. And alive. It . . . reminded me of our days in the war. Of all those inhuman hybrids Dr. Kanou created."

"Hey. It's okay." She puts her hands on the sides of his face and forces him to look her in the eyes. "I'm here. It's over now. It's never going to happen again."

"But what if it does? What if someone finds his old experiment papers and—"

"That's not going to happen. Have you forgotten what I do? I guard top-secret documents at the CCG, remember? And I help out with ghoul research. They'll have to get past me if they want to revive him."

"But — what if they sneak in while you're out and —"

"Kaneki. Listen to me. It's not going to happen. It's never going to happen again. You're okay. We're okay. Listen to me. It's going to be okay."

He looks into her level dark blue eyes and nods. "Thank you. I needed that."

She grins. "I know."

He returns the grin. "Have I ever mentioned how glad I am that you're my wife?"

"Only twenty times a day. Sheesh, it's like you're obsessed. Learn to live a little, will you? Apart from me." She chuckles. His expression gets suddenly serious.

"I will never live without you."

"Ok, ok, then don't. But make some freakin' dinner, will you? I'm starving."

He laughs. "Ok, pregnant lady."

She sticks her tongue out and turns to go. She makes it to the kitchen doorway before suddenly gasping and falling down. "Oh!"

"Touka-chan!" He's by her side in a second. "Touka-chan! Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"Ah, shit." She looks down at the liquid spilling down her legs, forming a puddle on the floor. "And I was so sure she wouldn't be early."

"Is that — oh my god. Did your water just break?"

Touka nods, then gasps as her body ripples with the pain of the first contraction. "Crap. Fuck. Get the car."

"Oh my god, it's happening, it's really happening . . . ok. Calm down, calm down, Kaneki. You can do this. We've practiced this. You know what to do." He paces back and forth, clutching his head. "God, I am so not ready."

"Would you mind hurrying it up a little?" Touka says from between clenched teeth. "This is not exactly the most comfortable position."

"O-of course. Sorry, dear." He scoops her up bridal-style and carries her to the door, which he yanks open with a foot. Awkwardly he manages to dump her into the front seat and walks around to open the door while she writhes with birthing pain.

"Take the — highway," she pants, a sheen of sweat forming on her face as he starts the car up. "They're coming — three minutes apart."

"Three? The nurse said to come in when they were five minutes apart!"

"You think I don't know that? Hurry up, baka," she snaps, knuckles white against the seat. He nods and revs the car up to sixty.

"I'll get you there on time."

They skid into the hospital parking lot just as Touka lets out a pained shriek. Kaneki watches anxiously as she's carted away, nurses waving him off despite his concern. In the chaos, he reaches out and manages to grab her hand, holding onto it like a lifeline as she writhes and shrieks.

They are quickly escorted to a room and an IV inserted into Touka's arm. Kaneki is horrified to see blood staining her white skirt, blooming like a rose in the dead of winter. A nurse runs up and hands him some paperwork.

"Are you the father?"

"Y-yes, I am," he stammers.

"Husband too?"

"Yes."

"I'll need you to sign these documents authorizing us to use whatever means necessary to save your wife and child."

"Sure thing — wait, whatever means necessary? What does that mean?"

"If it comes down to that, we'll tell you. Please, sir. We're only planning on giving her an anesthetic at this point."

He glances over at Touka, face contorted in mingled pain and rage, and nods. "I'll sign. Do whatever you need to do."

"Thank you, sir," she says, and runs off. Kaneki grips Touka's hand, holding on despite how desperately she squeezes it. Her body is rippling, contorting, and her kakugan is out. Kaneki breathes a sigh of relief when Dr. Nishino rushes into the room, Nishiki by her side.

The doctor immediately starts checking Touka's vitals, while Nishiki's eyes dart from their hands to Kaneki's taut expression. "You look a wreck," he says, sounding amused. "Relax, will you? My wife knows what she's doing."

Kaneki glances and a brief half-smile graces his expression. "She's two months early. There will be complications, to say the least."

"But she'll live." Nishiki puts a hand on Kaneki's shoulder. "And in the end, that's all that matters."

"But what about the baby? Will she—"

"What did I just tell you? Relax. She's got this. From one whipped husband to another."

Kaneki smiles again, a wry one this time. "Just this morning she was yelling at me to leave her alone because nothing was going to happen."

"Yeah, things change." Nishiki takes out his phone and holds it up. "Want me to call anybody?"

"Hina-chan, please? And Reiji Yomo-kun. He's the godfather."

"Gotcha." Nishiki puts the phone up to his ear and winks. "They'll be here in no time."

True to his word, Hinami, Ayato, and Reiji come rushing in scarcely a half an hour later. Nothing has changed regarding Touka-chan's condition, and Kaneki tells them as much. This whole time he hasn't let go of her hand once, except to go meet Hina and Ayato at the hospital doors.

Just then Touka lets out a scream and arches her back. Something starts beeping as the nurses rush in and the guests are pushed back. Kaneki glances from one nurse to the other, face overwritten with distress. "What's happening?" he demands. "What's happening?!"

Dr. Nishino puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. "She's gone into the final stage of labor, that's all. It's going to be a lot more intense from here on. You might want to leave."

"No way." Kaneki grips Touka's hand tighter than ever before. "I'm not leaving."

She shrugs. "Suit yourself."

Kaneki looks around at the worried assembly of friends. "Everyone staying?"

They all nod, determined. The devotion in their eyes remind Kaneki of the war, when they were all willing to die for their King. This time around it's a little different.

"Ok, we're putting her on an epidural now," Dr. Nishino says, taking out an insanely long and scary needle. Kaneki winces.

"You're gonna stick that . . . in her?"

"Yes, in her back." When she sees his terrified expression, Dr. Nishino's face softens. "She's in so much pain right now she won't even feel it, I promise. Sit up, please, dear."

"Good to know," he murmurs, squeezing Touka's hand even tighter as Dr. Nishino applies the epidural. He doesn't like the idea of her being in pain, especially that much. He wishes he could take some of it from her. He wishes he could take all of it from her.

At first Kaneki doesn't think it's worked, because Touka lets out an ungodly shriek and arches her back. Then he hears the nurses shouting, and Dr. Nishino runs over to yell, "She's crowning!"

"C-c-crowning? Ehhh?" Kaneki cries, rushing over to see. Sure enough, he can see the top of the baby's head, just barely poking out. "Whoaaa."

In the end, Touka's final stage of labor only lasts about forty-five minutes. To Kaneki, it feels like forever. He can't put into words the relief he feels when he hears his child's first cries and sees Touka's whole body relax.

An angelic smile graces her tired face as the nurses hand the newborn baby to her, wrapped in a light red blanket. "Hello, my love," she coos as their child wails and thrashes. "Hello, Ichika."

Kaneki leans over to see and tickle Ichika's belly, making the baby stop crying for a second and look up at him in awe. He's surprised and happy to see that she has one gray eye and one red. It's not a kakugan, but it's close. They had a half-ghoul after all.

After giving Ichika her first feeding, Touka hands their child over to him. She's quiet now, sucking her thumb with a pure expression of contentment. He bounces her lightly up and down and coos lightly.

"Hello, Ichika."