Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of the other Disney/Anime characters.

Chapter Sixteen

Happiness

-Happiness changes as you change. It's in yourself.- Mary Steward

Gentle beams of sunlight entered the master bedroom bringing light to the once darken room. Underneath white sheets lay Riku with Amaranth pressed up against him. The night before had been exhausting, but something that they both needed. Riku opened his eyes as the light from the window woke him up and he was vested by the beauty in his arms. Her long dark hair spread out behind her and a few strands fell across her face, he lifted his free hand to remove them and as he did long dark lashes fluttered open and amber hues turned to look up at him.

'Morning,' she told him as she lifted her head up to lightly kiss him on the lips.

'Hi,' he smiled down at her. 'How are you feeling?'

'Good,' she responded as she pulled away so that she could stretch her body.

'You aren't hurt anywhere,' he had to admit he was a little worried, he had gotten a little carried away last night.

'No, I feel great,' she turned to look at him and gave him another light kiss on the lips. 'You?'

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him, 'Fabulous,' he answered.

Amaranth smiled, after so many weeks of doubt and worry she was finally in his arms again. She could feel the warmth of his body heat next to hers, hear the sound of his steady heart beat and inhale his scent. You really don't know what you are missing until it is gone. She snuggled up closer to him, 'I've missed this,' she whispered.

Riku looked down at her dark head of hair and wanted to say the same, but it was hard considering that he really had no recollection of the time that they spent together as adults. However, having her in his arms felt right and he knew that his old self would agree with him. 'Well, from now on, I promise not to sleep without you,' he stated and he could sense the smile that was gracing her lips.

'I'll hold you to that,' she lifted her head up to see him and her eyes sparkled with delight.

He leaned his head down to meet her lips and kissed her again, although this time the kiss was deeper than just a peck on the lips. It was of him trying to get drunk off her taste and devour her entire essence. His left hand started wondering down her soft and smooth belly, passed her hips and to her plump round bottom. Last night had been amazing, he had tasted a forbidden fruit that he just couldn't get enough of, 'Is this okay,' he asked as he squeezed her cheek.

'Hmm,' she nodded her head.

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Amaranth gazed out the window and sighed, as her left hand lazily rubbed her stomach. She was in her last week of pregnancy and ready to pop any second. Her body worn and tired from the extra weight that prevented her from doing her daily tasks. Riku and her had asked the doctor if it was normal and she had said yes, but her being out of her element and not being able to do normal tasks such as bending, lifting, squatting and going up the stairs was daunting. However, the people around her had been happy and willing to help.

Her mother was more attentive, now that she wasn't able to go out and go to work. She was always at the apartment watching over Amaranth when Riku wasn't there. If she had work to do, she would have Hina watch over her, but regardless if she told her, Hina was always by her side. She smiled softly as she recalled her champion of justice, because of her calm and quiet nature Hina had always been her hero and knight in shining red armor. She remember how Hina had protested their relationship, not that she didn't want her to be happy, just that she wanted her to find happiness the right way.

But what was the right way? Sure Riku and her had a beautiful start when they were children, but now as adults things had been complicated. People would wonder about why she would stay with someone who's actions had been unjustifiable, but she had accepted because of her feelings. She had gone with him already knowing the consequences of her actions and she felt no remorse. She let Riku be with her because she knew that he would never physically hurt her to the point that it was abuse. The reason he did what he did was because he lacked the ability to communicate with her and of course her active imagination and reserved nature.

However, after finding the issue to all their problems, communication was now open on both ends. She hadn't told him how they initially got together again, fearing that it might pull him away from her, but if he were to sit her down and ask her, she would tell him. It would be one of the many hurdles in life that they would get over together. Amaranth sighed again, but gasped as she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen and felt warm liquid between her legs. 'Hina, Nina,' she cried out as she realized she needed to get to the hospital. 'It's time, we have to go.'

'Go,' Hina walked out of the kitchen confused. Nina and her were making lunch when they heard Amaranth call out to them that it was time to go. 'Go where?'

Amaranth's face contorted as she felt another contraction, 'Hospital, I think that they are on their way,' she cried.

'Hospital,' Hina stood stunned. 'In this weather?'

It was bitterly cold outside, winter was lasting longer than expected and it had just snowed the night before. Driving to the hospital would be a prayer that all the streets were cleared. 'It's time,' Nina whirled by her without hesitating.

'Yes,' Amaranth nodded as Nina joined her side and began to inspect her and ask questions.

'Okay, everything is going to be alright,' Nina calmed her with a warm smile. 'Hina, go and get the hospital bag and Amaranth's coat.'

Hina was still frozen in shock, but at the same time amazed at Nina's calm and collectiveness. 'Hina, today.'

'Yes,' she snapped out of her stupor.

'Alright, we're going to get you to the hospital and everything is going to be okay,' Nina tried to reassure her.

'Riku?'

'Once we get there we'll call him and your parents,' Nina told her. Hina returned with Amaranth's coat and hers. 'Okay, head downstairs and get the car ready. Amaranth and I will follow.'

Hina nodded and took off, 'Don't forget your coat, can't have you getting sick,' Nina called as she remembered Hina only holding the overnight bag.

'Got it,' Hina called and she could be heard grabbing her coat off the stand and keys.

'Are you going to let her drive,' Amaranth worried about Hina's state.

'She's just a little nervous, she'll be fine,' Nina smiled as she put her coat on and then helped Amaranth with hers. 'You think you'll be okay with walking?'

'Yeah,' she grimaced as a contraction hit, 'give me a second.'

'Take your time,' however with as fast as the contractions were coming, they needed to get to the hospital soon. 'You good?'

'As can be,' she nodded and Nina helped her.

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Riku was just about to enter a meeting when his assistant came to find him. 'Mr. Miyano,' Roger called as he tried to get air.

'What is it,' Riku asked his out of breath assistant.

'Ms. Nina just called, she said that it was time and that they were at the hospital.' Roger relayed the message.

'Time,' Sora, who was at his side asked.

'They are on their way,' Riku handed his files over to Roger. 'Sora you're going to have to handle the clients alone. I have to go.'

Riku took off before Sora could protest or it clicked what the hospital and they meant. Once it did, it became really hard to want to go inside to the conference room. 'You should also inform Mr. Miyano about his son and call his mother as well. I am sure they will be glad to hear the news.'

'Sir,' Roger nodded.

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'You're doing great, Amaranth, soon you'll be a mother and you won't be suffering as much,' Hina tried to soothe her.

However, Amaranth really didn't know how that was soothing considering the you won't be suffering so much part. 'Argh,' she cried out as another contraction hit. 'Riku?'

'On his way,' Nina came back into the room, she wasn't dilated enough to have them rushed out of the delivery room. Nonetheless, the contractions were getting closer and more painful.

'My Mom and Dad? Riku's parents?'

'They have been notified too. Everyone is on their way.' Nina walked over, grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle reassuring squeeze. 'So for now just focus on you and the babies.'

'Ahh,' she cried out as another big contraction hit and she squeezed Nina's hand tightly.

'I am going to call the nurse,' Hina said as she rushed out to go find a nurse instead of pushing the call button.

Nina sighed as she looked away from Hina's retreating form, 'She is such a worried wart.'

'She means well,' she released Nina's hand and apologized.

'Yeah, I can only imagine how she'll be when they are actually here,' she smiled, but there was a bitterness and sadness hidden in her green hues.

'It's still possible you know,' Amaranth told her as she figured out what made her feel so dejected.

'But what if she says no?'

'You love her, don't you? I know that she loves you, if you ask her,' she grimaced as pain from another contraction hit. 'I am sure that she'll say yes.'

'Now is not a good time to be talking about this,' Nina told her.

'Maybe,' she weakly smiled, 'but we have to talk about it sometime and I think that now is better than later. You two are happy, I can see it on your faces every time you're together or talking about each other. But you want more, don't you?'

Nina nodded, 'I do, but I don't know if she's ready.'

'If you don't ask you'll never know,' she offered. 'Promise you'll ask?'

'You make it sound so easy.'

'You're right it sounds easy, but it's not. Life is never easy, especially when another person is involved,' she smiled before she grabbed the blankets covering her with tight fisted hands. 'Where is Hina?'

'I am here,' she announced as she rushed in with the nurse. 'Are the contractions getting worse?'

The nurse grabbed her gloves and began to get ready to check how she was doing and if she was ready. 'The contractions are closer and more painful,' Amaranth told her as the platinum blonde stood at the end of her bed.

'Okay, I am going to check and see how wide you are dilated,' she lifted the blanket up a little and slipped her hand up between her legs and night gown. 'My hand is going to feel a bit cold.'

It was weird every time she did that, 'How am I doing?'

'You're far along enough for me to call the doctor and get you ready, once the doctor gets here, we're going to have to clear the room except for the person that will be helping you with the delivery,' she told her as she pulled the blanket back down, walked over to dispose of her gloves and wash her hands.

'Until Riku gets here, I'll stay with you,' Hina announced.

'Don't worry about that, I am here,' Riku stated as he rushed into the room.

Amaranth's body was flooded with relief as she saw Riku, he walked over to her and cupped her cheek before leaning forward and kissing her lips lightly. 'You're here,' she breath out.

'Of course,' he whispered as he noted the paleness of her skin and slight perspiration. 'The doctor?'

'On her way,' she grabbed his hand and squeezed it as a contraction hit.

'Hmm,' he nodded and worried about her pain, but knew that by now it was under control and natural. 'It'll be okay,' he whispered.

'I know,' she smiled up at him.

'Come on, we should leave them alone,' Nina ushered Hina out of the room, which Hina tried to resist and protest. 'Once the babies are here and everything simmered down we'll be back. Plus, we need to talk about something important.'

'Can't it wait,' Hina tried to turn back into the room as they walked out the door.

'No,' she pushed her out and closed the door behind them.

Hina stopped and looked at her, stunned that Nina wouldn't allow her to have her way. Knowing that this was as important for her as it was for them. Amaranth was like her little sister that she needed to protect and take care off and right now she was suffering and needed her by her side to aid her in any way possible. 'I ne—-'

'You don't need to be in there, Riku is with her and he has it covered,' Nina cut her off before she could protest. You and I on the other hand, need to talk.' She grabbed her hand and pulled her down the hallway, away from Amaranth's room and all the nurses and people that surrounded them and could interrupt their important conversation.

'Nina,' they walked into an empty stair corridor. 'What is going on? Why are we here?'

Nina turned around, took a deep breath and looked up at Hina, whom looked at her in annoyance but at the same time concerned because of her sudden odd behavior. 'Because I have something very important to say and I don't want anyone to interrupt us.'

Hina dark hues searched her face and noted that for the first time Nina was flustered and anxious. That whatever she had to say needed to be said now before she lost her nerve, so she nodded her head, waiting to hear her out. 'I am listening, go on.'

Nina took another deep calming breath, trying to get her thoughts together. She was acting irrational and on impulse because she wanted Amaranth and Riku's happiness. Sure they weren't married or even engaged, but they were happy and starting a family. Binding each other together until death, in a roundabout way that would someday end in the same manner as other couples. As them, hopefully, but she wanted to do right by Hina and protect her and not allow others to harm her, make her cry or ridicule her. 'First, I am not an ordinary bakery attendant.' She saw the quizzical look on her face that wanted to question her, but remained silent and patient. 'I am, but I am not. I left my parents house years ago, before meeting you and Amaranth. I wanted to see the world beyond my sheltered and overprotective homestead. So I ventured out, explored the world, had my run in of bad experiences until I came across Amaranth and you. First, I was only curious about you and her. You two had a strange relationship, which at first I though was you chasing after the impossible with her being clueless but it wasn't. You were just overprotective about her, because you loved her as family. The little sister you never had, that trouble seemed to always follow her and find her. It took me befriending you two and hanging out with you to understand that, but it wasn't until Riku showed up into her life that I got jealous. I had put my feelings on the back burner for you, thinking that it was just friendship that I felt for you or that regardless of my confession you'd never accept me.'

Hina was confused about her long winded explanation, wondering where she was going with this conversation. Was she still jealous of Amaranth and that was what she wanted to tell her and what about her mysterious parents that she never talked about until now? 'Like you said earlier, Amaranth is like family to me,' she tried to ease her worries.

'Yes, I know that. She means the world to you and I am sure that her children will mean the same to you. But I want that too, I don't want to come second,' she told her.

'You don't,' Hina told her. 'I just know that you're strong and centered and that unless you ask for it, you don't need my help.'

Nina saw the softening creases of her dark hues and slight frown as Hina watched her with concern. 'Well, I need your help.'

'Anything,' Hina wondered if she was in trouble.

'I want you to come and meet my parents. I might not see them often, but I do still talk to them from time to time and let them know that I am alright.'

'Okay,' she nodded puzzled.

'I also would like to formally introduce you as more than a friend and girlfriend,' she announced.

Hina was nodding until the last part sunk in, 'Wait, what?'

'This isn't the most glamours of places,' Nina looked around her at the white washed walls and marble steps leading up and down, 'but it's now or never.' Nina got down on one knee and grabbed Hina's hands, 'Hina Rose, will you make me the luckiest woman in the world and marry me? Start a family with me and build a future together?'

Hina was shell shocked, she looked down at Nina and thought that she had somewhat hit her head and gone bonkers. Or was playing a prank on her, but as she searched her face for deceit, she only noted genuine love and admiration. 'You don't even have a ring to give me,' she pointed out.

'I know that,' Nina had acted on impulse, of course she didn't have the ring yet. 'If you say yes, I'll get you one later.'

'So this is one of those things where I'll spend the money if I have to, but otherwise I'll wait,' she couldn't help ruffling Nina's feathers.

'You know, I am starting to,' she never finished saying that she was starting to regret her decision when Hina pulled her up, cupped her face with both her hands and leaned forward to kiss her.

'Fine,' Hina said as she pulled away from the kiss. 'Lets do this.'

Now it was Nina's turn to be shocked, before she leaned forward and kissed her annoying girlfriend. Well, now it was her annoying fiancée, 'I hate you sometimes,' Nina stated as she wrapped her arms around the red head.

'Me too,' Hina told her as she returned the embrace. 'I'm expecting a large ring sometime soon.'

'Anything you want,' Nina promised.

0-0-0-0-Four Hours Later-0-0-0-0

Riku looked down at the two bundles sleeping quite peacefully after being fed and changed. Two little humans that he helped create and there was no denying that they were his, considering that they both had his family's light silver hair and nose. They hadn't really opened their eyes much but he had an inkling that they would be ocean blue like his own. He wondered that as they got older would they look like their mother. Oh, there is was, he didn't know what they were dreaming but that smile could only belong to one person only it was made much cuter by them. 'They have your smile,' he said as he turned around to see Amaranth.

She smiled up at him, 'I'll at least know that I have one thing in common with them.'

Riku walked over to her and took a seat beside her on the edge of the bed, 'We can always try again and hope that our next child looks like you.'

Amaranth stared up at him before laughing softly, 'I think we should see what life is going to be like with your minis running around first. We have two children to raise at once and from what I've seen before, one is enough for first time parents.'

'Right,' he nodded as he bent over to fill the gap and kiss her. Even though she was tired and exhausted she still looked beautiful. 'Have you decided on what we should name them? Because I don't think that Baby 1 and Baby 2 are going to look right on the birth certificate.' He said as he pulled away from the kiss.

'There are two of them,' she pointed out. 'Why don't you name the girl,' she offered instead of having to decided what to call them on her own.

'Hmm,' he turned his head to look over at his son and daughter. It was still weird to say and know that they were his children, but they were a piece of him and her and he wouldn't have it any other way. 'Orianna Hikari,' he told her after a bit of thinking. 'It means raising light.'

'Orianna Hikari,' she said her daughter's name before nodding in agreement.

'Our son, what should we call him,' Riku asked.

She paused to think before she answered with a smile, 'Neo Rikhard it means a new beginning for a strong and brave ruler. For some odd reason he seems to have an aristocratic air about him.'

'He's a baby,' he pointed out, 'but otherwise I like it, Neo Rikhard.'

To be continued…

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A/N: Sorry, because this chapter got so long it was split in two. The next part should be up in a couple of days, after I have tried to edit it and make it legible.