He tried not to stare at them all the time. He really did… But it was like she was purposely teasing him sometimes.

The moment they had walked in to his quarters after working all day, her bra came off and was tossed to the side. She snapped at him when he tried to touch, so he just backed off and sulked on the couch.

Is this what all men went through when their partner was pregnant? If so, he was going to make a complaint.

The worst part wasn't the fact that he could only touch her when she allowed it. He could even bare the times that all she wanted from him was a simple pastry at 3 AM.

For him, the worst part was definitely the mood swings. Kogami felt like he could never say anything anymore that didn't set Akane off.

One moment she could be calm and happy, and the next (after he may or may not have said anything about her small stature), she was slamming something in his face. A door, sometimes a case file or a book, but if those things weren't around, a nice slap always did the trick.

Kogami sighed and stared at his ceiling. How did they get in to this mess?

Well… It wasn't a mess, really. It was actually quite comforting to know that he was able to do something right in his messed up world. Yeah, it was by accident, but it was still the most curiously beautiful thing he never imagined himself to be capable of doing after gaining the title of enforcer.

Choosing Akane was the most irresponsible, reckless and right choice that he had ever made.

All of the good and bad, she took it head on when it came to Kogami Shinya. They didn't even realize that they were in love until their eyes had locked when she had pinned him down on the gym's floor.

Kogami smirked when he thought about that first time. All she had wanted was for him to help her reduce her pent up stress after her classmate was murdered, and that's what he agreed to.

They were clumsy about it the first few times, but soon they had memorized every dip and curve of each other's body and knew exactly how to please one another.

They knew that there would be consequences if they were caught, but they carried on with their love affair anyway. It wasn't until Akane had told him the news of her being pregnant that they realized just how screwed they were with the PSB.

Ginoza was so livid with Kogami that he actually threw a couple of punches at the New Years party. Chief Kasei ordered for he and Akane to be kept apart and off duty for two weeks while she, Ginoza and a few more of their superiors deliberated on what they were going to do with them.

They had ordered Kogami to come to a meeting to question him on the matter at hand. He fully expected them to throw him out with the rest of the other latent criminals and for Akane to get an abortion as soon as possible.

They asked him expected questions like: "How long have you and Inspector Tsunemori been involved in a physical relationship?" And "Where would these meetings take place and when?"

"It's been going on for almost three months, now. We would meet up in the showers in the locker room after our shifts, but it was slowly moved to different locations around the PSB."

All of the superiors took a moment to write notes down.

"Enforcer Kogami, you were and are still aware of the punishment if you were to be caught in a relationship of this sort, am I correct?" A woman asked.

"Yes. I am aware."

"But you still carelessly put not only you, but Inspector Tsunemori's job at risk?" Ginoza glared at his friend.

"It wasn't intentional. I take full responsibility." Kogami said, putting his head down. "I was the one who initiated all of this."

"Really?" Chief Kasei asked. "Because that is not what Inspector Tsunemori told us."

The enforcer remained quiet.

"Do you regret your relationship with Inspector Tsunemori?"

"I regret that it came to this. She's one of the best inspectors that the CID has, and she doesn't deserve to be going through this because I couldn't control myself."

"If she were told to abort the fetus, what would your response be?"

"Truthfully or as government property?"

"Amuse us."

"I would say that I would cooperate with what you have decided, but deep down, I would resent every single one of you." Kogami looked up and narrowed his eyes in disgust at them. "You would be no better than the murderers of the innocent that we are supposed to be keeping off the street."

All of Kogami's superiors stared back at him, interested by this new behavior.

"You may go back to your quarters, now." Chief Kasei said, standing to her feet.

"Wait. I have one last question." Ginoza interrupted.

Kogami turned to look at his best friend.

"Do you love her?"

"Wait. What?"

"Do. You. Love. Her?"

The enforcer stared back in shock.

"Answer the question, Shinya."

Kogami was shaken from his thoughts when he felt arms wrap around his broad shoulders.

"I'm sorry I slapped you." Akane said, kissing his cheek softly.

"I'm not the type to hold grudges for something like that, Akane." He said with a smirk. "You should know that by now."

She turned his head so he could look at her and smiled.

"Thank you." She whispered as she leaned in for a kiss.

He gladly returned the gesture, making Akane pull him in for more.

He turned around and pulled her over the back of the couch.

She looked up at him, taken aback for a moment because of his strength.

Kogami looked back with a smirk and began to attack her lips with his.

Akane let her hands greedily roam over his muscly torso, only stopping to tug at his waistband.

"Someone is in a hurry." He chuckled and moved his assaults to her neck.

"I can't help it." She giggled. "The man I love is right in front of me."

She leaned in closer to his ear. "Mine for the taking, right?"

Kogami chuckled to himself and looked up at her, saying the same words that he told the council of superiors on the day he was asked if he really did love Inspector Tsunemori Akane.

"Of course."

—-

The next morning, Akane pulled Kogami out of bed so they could get her favorite pastries fresh and make it back to work in time to relieve Ginoza and his team.

Once they were away from the Bureau they laced their fingers together and walked like a normal couple would. This was definitely one of the most enjoyable times that they always had together.

But, of course, they weren't the only ones that got up for work that early. They were well aware of Inspector Shimotsuki the moment they got in the lobby of the PSB.

Akane held herself against Kogami's arm, well aware the commotion that the rookie would probably cause when everything came to the surface. He caught on and quickly and pulled her swiftly around the next corner, making sure that Mika was going to see them.

"She's really gotta work on being discreet." He chuckled when he put his face near hers. He gave her a long, passionate kiss, then they went on ahead to Akane's favorite pastry shop.

"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Saito." The woman behind the counter greeted them. "Are you here for your usual?"

"Yes." Kogami answered, pulling out money from his back pocket.

"You know, women who are craving sweet things are most likely carrying a girl." The woman said as she packed a box for them.

"Her face does look like it's gotten fuller." An older woman said as she came from the back. "Show me your hands."

Akane shyly held out her hands, letting the older woman examine them.

"Yes. Just like I thought. Palms up and soft like a baby's." She nodded. "I believe you are carrying a girl, Mrs. Saito."

"We'll see." Akane laughed, feeling uncomfortable with how the ladies watched her every time that her and Kogami went in.

They had told the women at the bakery that her and Kogami were married because of how she always caught the looks that they gave him, and she didn't like it. Plus, an enforcer and an inspector having a child out of wedlock wasn't a story they wanted to tell just anyone.

So, outside of the PSB, they were Shinya and Akane Saito. A young newlywed couple who were expecting their first child.

Kogami gave the older woman money for the pastries and they left for work.

Mika peeked from behind a plant as they left.

"Oh! Welcome! How can we help you?"

"Do you know anything about that couple you were just talking to?" The young inspector asked with her arms folded.

"Oh, that's just Mr. and Mrs. Saito."

"Saito?" Mika scoffed.

"Yes. She is a social worker at the PSB. He walks her to work every morning before he goes to his job at a small insurance company nearby."

Mika clenched her teeth. "Oh really?"

"He's such a great catch for her. Sibyl really is amazing with matches!"

"Do you honestly believe that?!" Inspector Shimotsuki slammed her hand down on the counter in anger.

"Miss, you're going to have to leave if you're not going to order something." The older woman said. "You seem really stressed out, and it's not good for our hues."

"I'm sorry." Mika mumbled, then turned on her heel and walked out.

"Must be jealous."

"Who wouldn't be?"

—-

"You know, I don't care if they keep using those old wives tales to try to predict the sex of the baby every day. These are worth it all." Akane said, licking the filling of a pastry off of her fingers.

"What do they think it is this week?" Kagari asked, reaching for one, but getting his hand slapped in response.

"Girl." Kogami answered, leaning back in his chair and turning in circles. "Something about her craving sweets and having soft skin makes that evident."

"Don't all girls have soft skin?"

"That's what I'm saying." Kogami snorted.

"Then again, Shimotsuki seems like a total hard ass."

Akane started choking at his words.

Around that time, the doors opened. A fuming Shimotsuki Mika came in.

Akane was downing water to clear her throat, Kogami was still turning circles in his chair, and Kagari was leaned over Akane's desk still trying to get a pastry.

"You're late." Akane choked out.

"Sorry." Mika glared and slammed her things down at her desk.

"What's your damn problem?" Kagari turned around to the inspector.

"Shut up, dog."

"Man, I'm getting so sick of your attitude." The young enforcer clenched his fists.

"Enforcer Kogami, can you please take Enforcer Kagari to go cool off?"

"Come on, let's go." Kogami said, standing up and taking his friend by the shoulders and leading him out.

"I'm serious, Akane. That stick in her ass has got to go, or I'm gonna lose it."

The door shut, leaving Akane and Mika alone.

"This is only your second day, and I understand how the enforcers can intimidate you, but-"

"Intimidate? Are you kidding?" Mika interrupted. "You're making it look like they're your friends. Even more than that if you ask me."

Akane narrowed her eyes. "Is that a problem?"

"They're criminals!" The young inspector threw her hands in the air. "Nothing more than a tool to be used! Don't you get that? Or is that how you play your game?"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh don't play dumb, Inspector. You know exactly what I mean." She glared. "Enforcer Kogami, Enforcer Kagari, even Inspector Ginoza. You might have them fooled, but I'm not."

Akane was about to say something, but an alarm went off, signaling for the inspectors and enforcers to attend to an elevated stress level.

She wasn't sure if it was the hormones, or real rage, but Akane was ready to blow up on this little rookie.

She only managed to get a couple of words in as they made it out of the division office.

"Grow up."