She had given up trying to conceal her stomach, so she had asked Hikaru and Kaoru for help. They had started to design a whole wardrobe for the pregnant businesswoman. Something only they would be crazy enough to do. She looked at the big assembly. None seemed to care. It was almost laughable. She was by far the youngest person in the room, and yet they were hanging on her every word.
She loved it.
"A wonderful speech Mrs Ootori."
"I really learned alt. As always."
Ai smiled towards the two men as she put away her papers.
How she loved it.
"Ai."
"Haruhi? Did we have an appointment I forgot about?"
Ai smiled confused as Haruhi entered the room.
"No. But I want to take you out to lunch, if you're not busy."
"No never."
Ai grabbed her bag and laughing they walked out of the building.
..
"You're moving? When?""Not until a few months. I'll be here when the babies are due."
"Why?"
Ai poured Haruhi a new cup of coffee. They were sitting in their café.
"The law firm I work for, they're merging with several offices, amongst one in Washington, and they want me to go there. As a junior partner."
Ai hugged her friend, and held her close.
"I'll miss you Haruhi."
Finally they let go of one another.
"You mean you won't try to stop me?"
"Of course not. If this is what you want, I have to respect that."
Ai smiled sadly, and got an equal sad smile back.
"Good. I think the boys might try to stop me. I told the twins earlier today, and they almost wouldn't let me leave our lunch."
Ai laughed a little, seeing it quite clearly in her mind, before resting on a small smile. She grabbed Haruhi's hand.
"You will be missed."
"Don't say that."
"Why not? You're my best friend. I have a right to say it."
The women hugged again.
Shortly after they rose, having jobs to go back to. They paid and went outside were her limousine was waiting. Then a man grabbed her arm. Haruhi yelled, and the limousine driver jumped out.
"Don't come any closer or Mrs Ootori will get it."
Ai wasn't scared, even though he was pointing a gun at her.
"Haven't anyone told you, not to play with guns."
He looked at her, before her elbow hit his face, and he couldn't see anything else. It was over in less than two minutes.
"Hey, Mori has really thought you well."
Ai blushed and brushed her suit.
"It's really nothing."
"It's nothing."
Kyoya only looked at her. He would never admit just how scared he had been when he had heard what had happened. It didn't seem he did anything else lately than worry about her.
"You were almost shot."
"Almost Kyoya. He didn't even pull the trigger."
"Because you hit him."
Ai sat down angrily. He hated fighting with her, and couldn't understand why they where doing so much of it recently.
"What will happen when you get to big to fight? Have you thought about that? This isn't just about you Ai. You're pregnant."
"I don't want any babysitters."
"I know you don't like it, and because of your skills have I never pushed this subject. But you need to think about the babies. You're nineteen weeks pregnant."
Ai looked at him.
"Just until the babies are born?"
"If you want, you can fire them the second the children are out."
Ai sighed.
"Okay. Fine."
She got to her feet, and they kissed.
"Okay guys, you can come in."
The door opened and he could see her surprise as she saw her two new bodyguards. Then she smiled and kissed him again.
"I think that will be okay."
"I thought so too."
"Good morning Ai-chan."Ai was standing in the kitchen, and looked up smilingly as her two new bodyguards came in.
"Good morning Hunny. Takashi. And what can I offer you this morning?"
"Cake."
Ai smiled and shook her head, but pointed towards the table where his favourite was already put out. The tiny man got tears in his eyes. He ran towards the table and started to eat. Mori and Ai looked at one another, and Mori sighed.
"Takashi, you've got to try this."
Ai's smile got bigger as she took a new sip of her tea. She stopped when she saw the two men looked at her.
"What?"
"Ai-chan you're drinking tea?"
Ai looked down at the cup before laughing.
"Cravings. Tea is the only thing I've wanted lately."
The two men still looked weird at her.
"Pregnant women sometimes get urges for things they normally wouldn't eat or drink. And don't worry, it's caffeine free."
The two men smiled, and Honey threw himself over the cakes again.
"There's something for you too Takashi."
He turned and his eyes grew slightly as he saw his favourite. Ai smiled as he went over and very slowly took a bite. She knew how much he enjoyed it, and she enjoyed it with him. Every bite.
"Pardon me, Mrs Ootori, a letter was just delivered."
"Thank you."
Ai took the letter from the man before he left. She was puzzled over receiving a letter so early, but opened it and read it.
Then she read it again.
Before she swore.
"Ai-chan?"
Ai threw the cup against the wall, and while the tea dribbled down towards the floor she angrily dried the tears that wouldn't stop coming.
"Mana. Mana, come here. Now."
Ai never screamed at the servants. Therefore when she screamed at the woman she loved almost as a mother it wasn't surprising that Mana entered with a frightened look on her face.
"What?"
"Get my Paris file. Get me everything about Paris. And get Mr Thownsend on the phone. You know, the man running my office in Paris. Now."
Mana had never seen Ai scream to anyone, and she just looked shocked at her mistress.
"Now. Do I have to ask you twice?"
Mana ran out of there. Ai continued to dry her face.
"Stupid hormones."
"Ai are you okay?"
Ai looked up as Mori placed an arm on her shoulder, and this just made her tears come more violently. Her knees buckled and she would have fallen to the floor if Mori hadn't been there.
"Ai-chan what is it?"
She looked from Mori to Honey and back.
"Nothing Honey."
"Then why are you crying?"
"Because of my stupid hormones."
She was screaming again, and both Mori and Honey took a step back.
Ai's head was spinning before the world stopped staying under her feet.
No. It can't be true. It can't.
She fell into someone's strong arms.
"What, Tamaki is here?""Yes, Mrs Ai requested him. They are in the music room."
He found this odd since Ai only tolerated Tamaki when his energy was not directed at her. He walked over to the music room, and paused for moment outside the door. That music. The music only Tamaki could make. It always moved him to tears.
He opened the door to find Tamaki playing the grand piano and Ai sitting in the sofa, looking at him. He walked over and placed his arm over her shoulder, and without taking her face from the man she grabbed it.
"Kyoya, I'm selling out."
A false note. Kyoya looked at Tamaki who just continued to play. He looked down at Ai, but she didn't look at him. He thought it odd that she would say something like that considering she loved her job just as much as he did.
"Are you sure?"
"I want to be a stay at home mom."
She looked up and smiled at him.
"Is that okay?"
A new false tone.
What's going on?
"If that's what you want."
She looked away.
"It is."