Thanks to everyone that reviewed! It means a lot. :)

Continued gratitude to animanical, whose beta skills are without compare.

This one is heavily edited for lemon content to keep the rating, kiddies. Still contains discussion of pregnancy and human sexuality which is something I think should be okay for T. (Full version available at Archive of Our Own.)

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…Winter...

"Ah, Megumi-dono, welcome back to Tokyo!"

"Ken-san!" Megumi was somehow still elegant even after hours of travel. She threw herself forward, latching on to Kenshin's arm. " Have you missed me?" Kenshin suppressed a smile as she fluttered her eyelashes.

"Of course, Megumi-dono, this one always misses his friends when they are far from home." He pretended not to notice her pout. "Do you have luggage?" Though Kaoru had been happy that Megumi agreed to come help with her pregnancy, she was a bit anxious about playing hostess for the lovely doctor. But Kenshin was adamant –Takani Megumi was a skilled physician as well as a friend, and since she had agreed to offer her services, there could be no debate. There would be, however, a gentle but firm warning to avoid causing Kaoru distress.

Kenshin shouldered Megumi's bags, and began the walk towards home. "Megumi-dono, this one would like to speak with you before we reach home, that I would." She raised a eyebrow. "Kaoru-dono is quite... round, now, that she is, and Dr. Gensai has mentioned to this one how important it is that she remain calm at this point -"

"Ken-san!" She stopped in the road, her grip on his arm firm and her eyes annoyed. "Kaoru-san is your wife, and she is heavily pregnant with your child. If you think that I cannot behave myself-"

"Maa, maa." He waved his free hand. "This one did not mean to offend. Please accept one's apologies, Megumi-dono. This one should have known better, that I should."

Megumi sniffed and tossed her long, sleek hair. "You should have." They walked another two steps. "We'll simply have to keep our passion to ourselves."

"Oro!"

Megumi raised a hand to cover her laugh.

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Two days later, Kenshin was again waiting at the train station. He smiled gently when he spotted Misao, waving wildly.

"Him- Kamiya!" She bounced towards him. "Is everyone else already here? Is Kaoru-san really big? Have you thought of any baby names?" She flung one of her bags into his arms, hefting the other herself.

He blinked. Her particular brand of cheerfulness was always a little startling at first. "Yes, you are the last to arrive, Misao-dono, although we are to help Yahiko move tomorrow. Kaoru-dono is exactly as one would expect. And no, we have not selected a name yet, that we haven't."

Her chatter on the walk home was endless and chipper. Kenshin smiled fondly, pleased that time had not diminished her spirit. Without warning, Misao gasped, dropping her bag in the dirt, a hand pressed to her mouth. "Kamiya..."

Kenshin was alarmed: nothing appeared to be wrong, there was no danger, what-

"Kamiya!" She gripped his sleeves, her eyes almost impossibly wide. "This is of the greatest importance. I cannot possibly help keep Kaoru-san entertained without it." She shook him a little. "Do you have a Goh board?"

"Orororo..."

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Kaoru's cute nose was scrunched as she surveyed the rowhouse, one hand on the small of her back and one curving under her belly. She was dressed in bright yellow today, blithely disregarding the effect the color had now she that was round with pregnancy. It made her look like a little bird, Kenshin thought, her plumage bright and her head cocked to the side.

Kaoru kicked at a pile of dirty laundry.

"Ugh, Yahiko, this place smells like feet! Feet and pickles. Do you ever clean?" Kenshin smiled down at the bag he was packing, hiding his amusement under his bangs.

"Hey, Busu, it's not like everyone has a Kenshin around to pick up after them," the boy sneered.

"Ugly?" Kaoru tossed her head. "I'll have you know that I didn't get into this condition by being ugly, Yahiko."

Yahiko blanched, and Kenshin choked a little. "...Oro."

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Kaoru was in the kitchen, watching him cook and sneaking slices of vegetables, a rather smug smile on her pretty face. He raised an eyebrow quizzically.

"What has you smiling so this evening, Kaoru-dono?"

"Are you happy now? Now that you've assembled your honor guard?" she said with mock seriousness, her eyes laughing and her voice teasing.

"What do you mean, Kaoru-dono?" He tried an innocent smile.

"Mmm, maybe the fact that all of our houseguests are skilled fighters, with the exception of the skilled physician?" She shifted closer, firm belly pressed against him. "Tell me, Otou-san, is that merely coincidence?"

"...No." She looked surprised by his easy admission. "No, Kaoru-dono, it is not." He put down his knife and turned to face her. "You will want for nothing that this one can provide: protection, medical care, comfort. This one will give you all of these things, Kaoru-dono, with the help of our friends, that I will."

She smiled into his eyes, so gently now, and bumped her shoulder into him. "Come on, Otou-san, I'll help you carry dinner out to that lot."

Once they were all settled at the table, Kenshin smiled at his assembled family. "Itadakimasu!"

It took all of three seconds before Sano and Yahiko were arguing, ending with Sano's foot on the boy's head. Kaoru's laughter was sweet to his ears.

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Two weeks after that happy family dinner, Kenshin sat on his cushion, drinking tea, and trying to calm himself. Kaoru had apparently bled, bled, after they made love last night and he was wracked with guilt. He felt dirty, monstrous, and ashamed, and so damn worried. He hadn't even realized it until he had seen the stain on the sheets this morning.

He had been gentle enough, hadn't he? Dr. Gensai and Megumi had both said that intercourse was safe, even for a woman in her third season. Kaoru had wanted it, wanted him. He had ceased to initiate things as she had continued to ripen, not wishing to make her feel pressured, but Kaoru had a healthy appetite for sex that even now was only vaguely diminished. It was nothing compared to the wild hunger of her second season, but she still sought out the comfort and pleasure of his touch, and Kenshin was unwilling to deny her.

Megumi entered the room, and Kenshin allowed his worry to show. Her own expression was troubled. She knelt across the table from him. Kenshin forgot to offer her tea. She poured her own.

"Ken-san, both Kaoru-san and the baby appear to be fine." Kenshin began to breathe again. "She is unhurt, and there is no sign of continued bleeding. This occurred after intercourse?" Kenshin nodded and tried to ignore his warm cheeks. "Mm, I have instructed her to stay in bed today and tomorrow. She should spend several extra hours resting in bed each day from now on. I will add more bitter to her diet. Orgasm is still permissible, but she must not be penetrated, by anything, from now until her time." She gave her prescription with an air of calm professionalism.

The terrible fear was still strangling him. "What is wrong, Megumi-dono?"

She sat her cup on the table, and her eyes were compassionate. "Perhaps nothing, Ken-san, but we cannot be too careful. This is her first child. There is no denying the danger she faces, but it is the same danger that all women face. She is strong, Ken-san. We will take care of her together." There wasn't the faintest hint of fox ears about her now, and Kenshin was grateful. "I will make her a good breakfast, and you should send in Misao-san before your wife revolts against her bedrest."

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It had been several weeks since the incident with the bleeding. There were no whispers of trouble from Kenshin's past, no ghosts threatening them. His home was apparently quite secure, but a different and unexpected threat now consumed his thoughts. The knowledge that Kaoru and their child were in danger from something against which he had no defense left him aching. He had been unable to bring himself to touch his wife in a carnal manner since that night, and even when he smiled, he worried. He knew that his family was aware of his worry, and they were all conspiring to make him feel better.

That morning, Yahiko had pretended that he didn't have a shift at the Akabeko, even though that had months ago become part of his routine. He was decidedly unsubtle about stating his intention to stay at the dojo that evening, thus guarding Kenshin's pregnant wife. Megumi had babbled about the amazing strengthening properties of the dried spinach they ate for lunch. Misao had alternated all afternoon between conspicuously sharpening her kunai in front of him and waxing poetic about her amazing Ability To Entertain and Distract Roundly Pregnant Women. Kaoru had always wildly disapproved of Sano's idea of a good time, yet tonight she had, quite literally, shoved Kenshin out the door after dinner.

Soundly defeated by this combined show of force, he now found himself walking into town with Sano in search of distraction. Sano was overly cheerful, trying hard to pretend he was oblivious, his arm resting on Kenshin's much shorter shoulders.

"Ah, I'm glad to be out of the house! Not that I don't love 'em, but all those women, all starry-eyed about baby stuff! Ugh. Manly stuff, tonight, eh?"

"Oro," Kenshin mumbled, half dreading the idea of manly time with Sano, and half grateful that his friends had unanimously sanctioned this outing.

"Man, I haven't seen the guys in forever! First, let's go to this little place I know to win some drinking money..."

"...oro..."

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Kenshin walked carefully to his bedroom with a firmly disciplined lack of weaving. The sake Sano had chosen had been strong, but it had served its purpose. By the time they had stumbled home, his smile felt natural and he vaguely recalled that there had been singing.

It had been worth the extra effort to start the bathing fire. Warm and relaxed in body, somewhat soothed in mind, Kenshin was looking forward to curling around his warm wife and falling asleep. He carefully, quietly closed the shoji and undressed for bed.

He eased into the blankets behind her, propped on his fist, and watched his wife's sleeping face. She was calm and peaceful, her pink lips parted, her breathing gentle. Her hands were tucked neatly beneath her cheek, her belly propped on a rolled quilt to support the weight of the baby. He kissed her bare shoulder, his hand gliding feather light over her, journeying to her belly in search of his son. No kicks from the baby, and Kenshin smiled at the knowledge that his child slept inside his wife.

Kaoru sighed and shifted, and Kenshin shushed her and stroked her side, trying to soothe her back to sleep. Her ripening body was making it difficult for her to rest now, and Kenshin hoped that she would not wake.

No such luck. "Kenshin?"

"Yes, beloved, it's only me. Go back to sleep," he whispered, stroking her bangs back from her face as she rolled towards him.

"Mmm, did you have good time?" Her voice was a quiet murmur, politely trying to avoid disturbing their many houseguests through the thin rice paper walls.

"Yes. I am glad that I went, that I am. My wife is as wise as she is lovely."

"Don't forget it!" She gently slapped his shoulder, grinning, her blue eyes now truly awake. He leaned over her, the better to smile for her like an idiot and pet her hair while he watched her face. She captured a piece of his long hair, combing through the ends contently and running it across her mouth and chin. "Did you do anything illegal?"

"...Barely," Kenshin was unduly fascinated by her mouth as she stroked his hair against it… over, and over... She laughed quietly, and shifted towards him, moving the weight of her belly off her spine.

"It was barely illegal, or did you barely do it?" She smiled in the darkness; had her eyes always gleamed like that in the moonlight?

"...Both, I suppose. Sano did not bring any money with him, you see, and we needed funds for the sake..."

Kaoru's laugh was both amused and exasperated. "Stupid rooster! I should have known he planned to free-load." She dropped his hair, and ran her small hands over his shoulders, her gaze full of frank admiration.

"Kaoru." His voice was a gentle warning.

Her eyes laughed, her mouth curving into a smile, and she pinched his shoulder. "You're mine, Kenshin, shush and let me look."

He huffed at her a little. "Beloved, it's not the looking I was referring to!"

She stuck her tongue out at him like a naughty child, and pushed him off her so that he was half-sitting, his weight braced on one hand, his other loosely draped over her hip. "Mmm, but you're my husband, Kenshin, and I get to touch you, too."

"Kaoru, beloved -"

"Kenshin, it's alright," she breathed hotly into his ear, "I know the rules, I talked to Megumi-san, too. I'll be safe. I will." She gently bit at his ear with just the edge of her teeth, just the way he liked it. Her voice was dark and full. "Let me do this for you, Husband..."

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After, he watched without comprehension while Kaoru retrieved retrieved something from under the corner of the futon. She put the substance into her mouth and chewed.

"...Oro?" he whispered. She smiled, and gently pushed him to lay on his side while she rearranged herself and their blankets.

"It's mint," she whispered back.

He laughed as silently as possible, bonelessly relaxed in their bed. "Beloved, you are both wise and evil, that you are! This was all a plan, wasn't it?"

"Yes," she snuggled into his shoulder, absentmindedly stroking his chest. "Yes it was, and I'd do it again, too." She kissed his collarbone, relaxing against him, her hard belly pressed firmly into his side.

"Why?"

"Because ..." her voice was soft and serious in the silence. "Because you are the most important person to me; because you are dear, and worthy and perfect. Because you are worried, and stressed and I want you to relax. Because you make me so happy that I want you to be happy, too." Her eyes shone in the moonlight from her spot nestled in the hollow of his shoulder, and Kenshin's heart squeezed.

"Oh, Kaoru," he shifted onto his side, facing her, stroking tender fingers over her sweet face. "Kaoru, thank you," he kissed her. "Thank you for so many things." She kissed him back, sweetly chaste and tasting of mint and smiling into his mouth. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers, his hand stroking up and down her arm.

He kissed her again, more serious now. He hadn't pressed more than two or three kisses to her jaw, however, before she pushed lightly against his chest.

"...Eh?"

"Kenshin, what are you doing?" She was still whispering.

"...Making you happy too?"

"Kenshin, you pervert!" She slapped his chest. How could she yell while whispering? "How could you want to touch me? I don't want to touch me! I'm the size of whale, I haven't seen my feet for a month, my breasts are leaking. Leaking, Kenshin! My back hurts, my ankles hurt, my belly is itchy and the last thing I want is my beautiful, perfect husband putting his hands on me!"

"Kaoru, you are beautiful! I don't care-"

"I care! Now keep your hands to yourself and sleep off your drunken, post-orgasmic bliss!"

"...Yes, beloved..." And so he did, wrapped as far around his infinitely precious wife as he could reach.

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Three days later, a pinched-faced Megumi put Kaoru on full bedrest and tried her best to wave away Kenshin's persistent concern.

"Just a precaution, Ken-san, just a precaution. Now, go play Shogi with your wife before the boredom drives her insane."

His small, strange family all took turns entertaining Kaoru, playing games, reading books, and telling ridiculous stories. Yahiko and Misao were not fighting. Kenshin had caught Sano washing dishes. Megumi was not flirting with him. And beneath everyone's cheerful masks was a nameless, looming worry.