Falling in Love in a Coffee Shop
A/N: a longer chapter this time. Thanks to: jenaca, Ayase Reincarnated, WhiteMoon'sFrozenTears, Aizawa Ayumu, FlameAlchemist13, Personal Riot, Mitsuki Riaku, TwilightAnimeLover21, Assault Godzilla (one true pairing, lol. Like my Bleach otp is GinRan.), Angelcute72, anika102, Ichigo-Fan-girl, Kuchiki Byakuya (I feel like I'm getting praise from a real noble, lol), RukiHina15, AkaiTsumi, and Potterwatcher1997. You guys deserve more than a two-week Bleach chapter hiatus! *is still pissed* Well, enjoy anyway...~Nanao-chan
Chapter 15
Nine
If I didn't have you, I'd rather be alone
Rukia entered the coffee shop and threw her bag on the back of her favorite chair, slumping down at the table.
"Yo," Ichigo said, swinging by and kissing her head. "Why the long face?"
"My back hurts," Rukia complained, muffled by the table.
"Uh, I think that's a pregnancy thing," Ichigo said unhelpfully.
"I want a milk or something. And a muffin. No, make that two muffins."
"Yessir. I mean ma'am," Ichigo said quickly as she raised her head to give him a look of death.
Rukia accepted her muffins and milk and ate them ravenously. "Curse work. Can I take maternity leave extra, extra early?"
"I think that's only the last few weeks," Ichigo offered.
Rukia sighed dramatically. "Oh, go get me another muffin."
-o-o-o-
"Dr. Unohana says I'm all good," Rukia informed Rangiku. "But I feel like there's ten extra people eating my food." She emphasized this point by waving her footlong sandwich.
"I hope you have twins," Rangiku gushed. "Just imagine, two little Rukias running around!"
"Or Ichigos," Rukia pointed out.
Rangiku frowned a little. "I like my fantasy better."
-o-o-o-
"Oh, Ichigo, I scheduled an ultrasound for today. It's the first time we'll be able to see the baby." Rukia was beaming.
"When?"
"In three hours, during my lunch break. Meet me at the hospital?"
"Okay, love you, see you then." Ichigo planted a kiss on Rukia's forehead and they both went to their respective jobs.
-o-o-o-
"Dr. Unohana is busy this morning, so I'll be doing your ultrasound," Isane said as she led them into the room. "Mrs. Rukia, please lie down on this table and we'll begin."
As Isane smeared some odd gel on Rukia's stomach, Ichigo asked, "What will this tell us?"
"If the baby is developing properly, and whether or not we have one," Isane said promptly.
"...what do you mean, whether or not?"
"Well, twins run in the family," Isane said. "We can start." She grabbed a small rod and ran it over Rukia's belly. They sat their in silence for a minute. Rukia tried not to fidget.
After a little while, Isane spoke up, looking at the screen. "Well, we have good news and we have bad news."
"Good news first," Rukia said.
"It's twins."
"Whaaaat?" Ichigo jumped up. "What's the bad news?"
"It's twins," Isane said matter-of-factly.
"But you just said-"
"Well, if you look at yourselves, Rukia seems to be overjoyed, and you seem to be mildly frightened," Isane pointed out. "Therefore it's both."
Ichigo sank down into his chair. "How in the world can you deal with two?"
"How in the world am I going to carry around two?" Rukia retorted.
-o-o-o-
"I'm sure you're aware that twins are going to make it even harder for you," Dr. Unohana said, almost apologetically.
"Yes, but it'll be worth it, right?" Rukia swung her legs impatiently, sitting on the edge of the table.
"If you think raising two beautiful, similar, intelligent children is worth it? Then yes. It is definitely worth it." Dr. Unohana smiled sincerely. "However, you will most likely have a lot of trouble, both the carrying and labor."
"That's okay, then. I can deal," Rukia said. "What doesn't kill me will...you know, give me children."
-o-o-o-
"Ichigo," Rukia whispered.
"Yeah?" He turned over in bed.
"Put your hand on my stomach."
Ichigo did so. "And?"
"Just wait."
Within a few minutes, Ichigo felt a thump, thump.
"Did you feel that?"
"What was it?" Ichigo looked perplexed.
"The twins. They like to kick at the same time." A ghost of a smile had formed on Rukia's face.
Ichigo smiled back. "How long have they been doing this?"
"They just started today. You're the first one to know," Rukia whispered back.
They sat there in silence for a second and then Ichigo leaned over and kissed Rukia's bare belly, twice.
"Once for both," he explained.
-o-o-o-
"Hello, Rukia-san, is something happening?"
"We went to go see the gender of the babies today, nii-sama."
"And what were the results?"
Rukia gave Ichigo a huge smile and then said into the phone, "You get a niece and a nephew in four months or so, nii-sama."
"A male and a female?"
"Yes!"
"Congratulations, Rukia-san! Now, I have one more question. Has your husband accepted the news yet? May I speak to him?"
Rukia gave Ichigo a look in askance.
He replied silently, vigorously shaking his head NO.
"Not...really," Rukia said into the phone, hiding a smile.
"That is a shame," Byakuya sighed. "However...please relate to your husband that I know what game he is playing, and that he cannot escape from me forever. He will learn the meaning of parenthood."
Rukia glanced over at Ichigo and nearly burst into giggles at his paling face. "I'll tell him, nii-sama. Good night."
-o-o-o-
Rukia had begun showing around the six-month mark, and now that she only had four weeks left to go, she looked very, very pregnant. She had a lot of trouble walking, so Rangiku had negotiated with her boss to let her work from home.
Dr. Unohana said there was always a chance of premature birth, which could possibly injure Rukia, so Ichigo was now taking time off to stay with her at home. Rukia said that not only did he reassure her physical health but her sanity as well.
"They're going to be fantastic, I bet," Ichigo told her. "The most beautiful things ever."
"What makes you so sure of that?"
"Well, just take a look at their mom," Ichigo said, leaning down for a kiss.
A/N: sooo...excited...for...next...CHAPTER. Expect an update soon :D REVIEWS PLEASE! ~Nanao