I know! I know! It's been two months since I last posted, I'm so sorry! November and December were very busy months for me. The closer it got to the end of the semester, the more school demanded of me and working retail during the holidays doesn't allow me much free time either. SO! I hope you all enjoy this delayed chapter!

Review Responses:

Padfoot Starfyre: When Suzume said that she would have rather waited to have kids after marriage, she didn't necessarily mean after her and Tora got married. It was more of a general statement. But that doesn't really matter anyway since, like you said, that's not the situation they were dealt.

MichikoHe: I'm so glad to have you as another reader! I hope you continue to enjoy my story!

MystearicaBlaze: Yes! They did kiss! Not once, but TWICE! ;)

After her eyes fluttered open, Suzume stared up at the ceiling. Following yesterday's events, she really didn't want to leave her son but she also knew that she couldn't miss another day of classes. She sat up and, just as her feet were about to touch the floor, a hand tugged at her wrist. The force made her fall back onto the bed. Hazel eyes met golden ones.

A couple blinks and then she stared up at Tora, upside down and wide-eyed. "Good morning."

"Where do you think you're going?" He leaned in closer to her face, causing a blush to cover her cheeks. Well, he's back from whatever vacation he took last night. It had been a little unsettling to hear what he said before they fell asleep and now he's back to being a shameless flirt. At least he's finally holding a conversation with her.

Being that close to him, her voice came out quieter than usual and she stuttered. "I–I need to get ready for class."

"Stay home today," he mumbled against her lips.

"That'd be great if I hadn't already skipped so much." Her cheeks were hot as she escaped from him so she could prepare to leave.

Tora didn't say anything else as she entered their closet to search for something to wear. Looking around in the walk-in closet, she realized how few clothes she had. That is when compared to how many her fiancé has. His clothes covered a whole wall and then some while her wardrobe was about an eighth of his.

Pulling a shirt off a hanger and a pair of pants from a shelf, she turned around at the noise behind her. At the opposite wall, Tora had grabbed a shirt as well and started taking off his shirt that he remained in from yesterday. Why she stared at him, she had no clue. It's not like she hadn't seen him without a shirt before, but it was the fact that he did it without a second thought.

Even with his back to her, he knew she was staring. It was easy to hear the delight in his voice. "Are you going to finish or are you going to keep staring?" Turning and walking out of the closet with her clothes in hand, she could feel her cheeks burning again.

Suzume finished up her morning routine in the bathroom. While brushing her hair, her engagement ring glittered and she paused. The last time she considered the beautiful ring, she thought that the only reason she wore it was because it would cause trouble otherwise. Extending her left hand, she admired it and smiled lightly. Last night is making her think differently.

Hands gently landed on her hips and a kiss was placed in the crook of her neck, causing her to involuntarily giggle.

"Tora, stop. I already told you, I'm not staying home," she tried saying firmly between her fits of giggles. Her eyes met his in the mirror and he shrugged, indifferent.

With a smirk on his face, he replied, "Worth a shot."

Suzume paid attention to his clothes. He looked like he was headed out instead of staying home. "Since you're dressed, I assume you have plans for today?"

"Yes, but I thought I'd drop you off at class first."

They walked back into the bedroom and Suzume noticed that Kei stood in his playpen, his pajamas already discarded. Blinking and mouth slightly ajar, she kept her gaze on her son. After a moment, she turned toward her fiancé. Did he really…?

"You took care of Kei?"

"Does it really surprise you that much? He's my son just as much as he is yours and I figured I'd take him with me today," he retorted while moving Kei from the playpen to the carrier and strapping him in. Meanwhile, she gathered things that needed to be included in the diaper bag.

At first, she didn't know what to say. Suddenly, Tora's acting more like a father. "It's… unexpected is all. I keep thinking back to how we were in high school. Honestly, when I found out I was pregnant, I couldn't picture you as a parent. At least, not at our age." Zipping up the diaper bag, she began placing the strap on her shoulder only for it to be taken from her hands.

Minutes later, when they walked out the front door, Tora hadn't allowed her to carry anything out to the car aside from her tote bag that she used for her school books. His actions today had her head spinning. This was not the Tora she was used to.

Pulling up to the curb closest to the building that housed Suzume's first class, Tora put the car in park and made a move to open his door.

She stopped him before he could lay a hand on the door handle. "You don't have to get out and open my door. I'm more than capable of doing that on my own… but I appreciate the gesture." Smiling, she laid a hand on his forearm. For a moment, she considered kissing his cheek then decided against it. "I'll see you two after my classes."

Stepping out of the car, she grabbed her bag and made her way to the sidewalk. Turning around, she stood and waved as her fiancé pulled away from the curb. After a few seconds, she began making her way to class.

Thinking back to the first day she and Tora came to class after the engagement was announced, things had changed a lot. There are still some glares aimed in her direction, but they don't bother her nearly as much as they used to. It's easier for her to smile more naturally too.

What got worse was the guys that were staring her down became more assertive. In the time it took for her to walk from the car to the lecture hall where her first class was, five guys walked up to her and asked if they could carry her bag for her. Her answer to all five of them? No. If anyone would be carrying her bag, aside from herself, it would be her fiancé.

By the time she reached her second class, they had thoroughly annoyed and irritated her. Suzume slumped down in her seat. This day is going to drag on, she could feel it.

Tora walked through the door with the diaper bag hanging from his left shoulder and the baby carrier in his right hand. He felt out of place, even more so when he saw the looks he was receiving from some familiar faces. Maki was the only one that remained stoic. His eyes narrowed at them and all but Usui lost their amused look.

No one spoke a word about it, but it was clear that Usui was holding himself back. That devilish grin said it all. Misaki had told him to restrain himself when she learned that he would be going to a tux fitting for Tora and Suzume's wedding today.

An older man wearing glasses and a tailor's tape measure around his neck walked up to the group. "Ah, Mr. Igarashi! Congratulations on your engagement! We are thrilled to be involved in the preparations for the wedding of the year! Are these your groomsmen?" The man gestured to the five men standing behind Tora. Maki is his best man, leaving Usui and the three guys from Miyabigaoka's Elite Group as his groomsmen.

"Yes, they are."