A/N:

Well, it's only been about a week. And I feel you deserve another chapter!

Osaka was fun. Didn't find much doujin of the pairing I wanted... but oh well.

I also was depressed when looking in the Digimon section that it was all boy on boy... not even a Tk/Kari which is out there more often than Taioras... oh well I will have to be content with the three Taiora doujin I found in Tokyo...

Anyway- back to topic. Thanks for the reviews.

"Get out!" She continued to scream. Tai didn't know what to do. He couldn't take back his words, nor did any others come to his lips.

He stood there watching her cry. Her screams for him to leave didn't register in his mind after a time.

A sudden pain hit him, returning him to his senses. He blinked and saw Sora's fist follow through on her punch right before he fell on his back.

'Ouch!' He held in the cry of pain. 'Note to self- never piss her off like this again! And fix things now!'

Quickly getting back up he thought that letting her take a few more hits on him was exactly what he deserved.

Taking a step towards her he prepared himself for the punch. Sure he would be black and blue later... but if Sora forgave him, he would gladly take any beating.

'I'm such a dumbass at times,' he chided himself.

"Sora." He said quietly looking at her, waiting for the attack.

She stood there her hands still in fists at her sides... motionless. Her eyes told of an unspoken inner torture. She was truly lost. Opening his arms he didn't know if she would allow him to hold her. It was worth a try. Silently he told her he was sorry and tried to give comfort through his eyes.

Time passed- she was torn, as much as she hated him at the moment, Tai could see she needed him... someone... anyone. He could see it in her eyes... on her face... in the way she moved.

Before he realized what was happening, Sora had thrown herself into his arms. She sobbed into his shirt as she beat her fists against his chest. Tai instantly held her close, instinctively rocking her and trying to soothe her.

"My life is over..." She mumbled. "I failed them."

"Sora, you didn't fail anyone. Can't you see? You're a Takenouchi. It doesn't matter if you were born to them or not." Tai tried to get her to realize that fact. "They loved you- and you loved them. That makes you a family... it is what makes US a family." He sighed as she stopped hitting him.

He felt her grip lax, and grabbed on to her as she lost the last bit of strength. She was exhausted both mentally and physically as she slumped against him.

"Come on, let's get you to bed. You'll feel better once you calm down." He said as he picked her up. She didn't fight. Tai was glad.

Carrying her in his arms as if she was made of glass, he felt a sense of relief. Her secret was out in the open at least. Now they could work through things together. Tai gently deposited her on the bed and was about to stand up when he was stopped.

Her arms that had wrapped around his neck for support were not letting go. Instead she pulled him down- forcing him to sit next to her laying form on the bed. His upper body continued to be pulled closer and closer to her.

"Sora, you know I love you. It doesn't matter who you are, were, thought you were- what ever. I love you for YOU. I'm sorry I'm an idiot and said those things..."

"Shut up." She said as she pulled him down on her and kissed him on the lips.

Tai smiled inside. 'I don't mind being shut up like this.' He returned the kiss.

"Sora- are you..." He tried to make sure she wasn't still mad at him anymore.

He got his answer as she practically flipped and rolled him so he was now fully laying on the bed below her.

'Note to self...' he thought when it was all over. 'it's ok to get her mad because a few punches are definitely worth it.' He smiled as he pulled her slumbering body closer and went to sleep.

The next morning Tai awoke for an unknown reason. Something had woken him up... and something felt odd. Feeling the warm body next to him, he knew Sora was still there. Finding nothing the matter, he sighed.

Things were looking up. Once Sora calmed down about this whole adopted thing, she would realize she was still a Takenouchi and then they could get married. Technically by doing that he would have also married into the 'outside clan.' Therefore the arranged whatever you call it would be forgotten and go away!

His happy thoughts were interrupted with a painful groan coming from his partner at his side.

He turned on his side to see her holding her stomach. Her face had a look of physical pain- so it couldn't be connected to the whole family thing...

"Sora? Sora?" Tai called to her, shaking her awake. She didn't respond. Sora only continued to cry out in pain.

Getting out of bed, he ran to find his comlink.

"Hang on baby," he said as he quickly called Joe. "He's on his way." Tai told her as he returned to her bedside to worry.

Leaving her side only once more to put on some pants, Tai helped her hand and tried to comfort her as they waited for Joe to get there.

Only after Joe arrived and tended to Sora did Tai notice what he looked like- his hair was worse than ever, scratch marks were all over his chest and Sora had marks on her neck and elsewhere... not to mention the state of the room.

Thankfully it didn't phase the blue haired doctor on the outside too much.

"She needs that IV in at least twice a day." Joe instructed Tai as he was finished. "I told her is she wanted to keep this baby alive, she would need to take that medicine and get lots of rest."

Tai's brain froze.

'This baby' seemed to be the only words his mind could process because it was stuck on repeat.

"Stop!" Tai said interrupting the doctor from continuing the long speech on Sora's health and care.

"What's wrong?"Joe asked shifting his glasses a bit. Tai knew the kind of look he must have had on his face... but he was in pure shock.

"What did you say?"

"That she needs a lot of rest?" Joe repeated looking at Tai strangely.

"Before that."

"That since the last injury damaged her reproductive system, if she want to keep the baby..."

"That!"

"Tai, didn't you know? Sora's pregnant."

"P-P-P-P..." And with that the world went dark for Tai.

"He's coming to." A female voice said as his mind became less fuzzy.

"Tai? Tai?" it was Kari. Putting his hand to his head, Tai opened his eyes. He was laying on the ground, still in the garden. "Joe, he's awake." She said looking away from Tai and towards the other man standing near Sora's bedside.

"Tai? Can you sit up?" Kari asked helping him to a sitting position.

"I must have had a dream." Tai sighed.

"Tai... Joe needs to talk to you. Don't stand up. Just stay there." She stopped him from standing. "Just relax."

Joe came over and sat down next to him with a small hand held computer in hand.

"I thought she told you... I'm sorry I sprung that on you."

"Wait- so I wasn't dreaming? Sora's really... really..."

"Pregnant." Joe finished once again adjusting his glasses. "Yes."

"But... with the injury... you said... she told me... she..."

"Couldn't have children. Well, that is the way it looked. It's a miracle the child has survived this far. Her injuries to that system were very extensive. However, I never said it was for sure that she would not be able to have children. Just not likely."

"So... I um... wow." Tai said slowly allowing the information to process. This was something that he wanted more than anything. He had a family now. Someone he loved and wanted to share his life with and now a baby... baby... his baby.

"Would you like to see a picture?" Joe asked pulling up a chart on his computer. "This is the damaged area of her uterus, as long as the baby doesn't get to big, she should only have to worry about increased pain and possibly a complicated delivery. I would recommend we extract the baby out a few months premature as to not further damage the injuries and avoid scar tissue from hurting them both."

"How far along?" Tai asked looking at the picture of the tiny life forming in Sora's body.

"Not very far along. Maybe a month..."

A month... it made sense. It had been a little over a month since the failed mission and the arrival of the outside clans... Tai smiled.

"Can you tell what it is? Are we having a girl or a boy?" Tai asked not looking away from the screen.

"There is too much scare tissue in the uterus to get a clear picture. But I could wager it was a girl." Joe said. "There are some things we need to talk about... Tai? Are you listening?"

Tai had to rip his eyes away from the screen. He was so thrilled and excited. Looking over at Joe, Tai noticed the serious face on the man.

"No one else knows about this yet. Kari is the only other person who knows because when I ran some blood samples I thought the results were odd. I had her run them thinking I had made a mistake or something... but this won't be able to stay a secret for long."

"What?"

"You and Sora... having a kid together... could be bad for the alliance between the two clans... I haven't asked Sora' opinion on this, but I know she'll want to carry it to term."

"There isn't any discussion about this." Tai said snapping into protection mode at the slight suggestion on ending the pregnancy. Sure Joe hadn't said it out loud, but he was thinking of it as an option. "We're having this baby, and we're getting married as soon as she is able to get out of bed." Tai added defiantly.

"But what happens if..."

"Then don't tell anyone about this. No one else needs to know."

"There is a problem- military rules require me to report any medical changes in personnel directly to Matt and Sora. There will also be questions as to why Sora is off active duty after seemingly to recover from the injuries. Not to mention she will start showing in a matter of months, no weeks." Joe countered.

"You haven't already told Matt, have you? How long have you known?" Tai asked getting a little worried.

"I've known since I checked on her a few days ago. And no I have not told Matt, for that I could get us all in trouble." Joe replied.

"Can you at least give me time to talk to her about this and what to do before you go and tell Matt?" Tai looked up at Joe. He didn't want to sound like he was pleading, but he didn't know if throwing this out into the open would be good for Sora. Especially when Tai added the fact he wanted to marry her... sooner or later the other secret Sora had just told him would come out as well. That would make things even more complicated.

"I owe Sora. So I will give you all the time I can... but don't take too long. You could get us all in trouble." Joe said with a hint of worry in his voice. This was a big thing. Tai couldn't just go about this without knowing how Sora felt about things. He had stuck his foot in his mouth several times in the last few days. He would not afford to mess this up.

Joe and Kari had left a few hours before, leaving Tai to wonder what was going to happen.

Like Joe said this was something big. Too much stress and pressure added to Sora at the moment would be detrimental not only to Sora, but their unborn child. With Sora's injuries to work with, that poor baby needed a chance to survive.

Sitting next to her on the bed, Tai wondered if she would have told him about the baby or not. Well she would have told him, but the real question was when?

"Were you afraid of my reaction to all this? Why didn't you tell me about the baby?" He asked to no one in particular.

"I don't know why I didn't tell you." Came her voice. Tai quickly looked down on her and smiled seeing her crimson orbs again.

"Taichi... I'm sorry... I didn't want to get your hopes up... I..."

"I want us to get through this together. If the baby wasn't meant to survive, then we will live without a baby. But I don't want you to go through something like that alone. I am here. I'm not going anywhere. Now more than ever I love you Sora."

"But... what about everything?"

"What about everything? Does it really matter? As long as you and I are together, we will be fine. Besides, love is worth fighting for... and this way they get their damn prophecy fulfilled. And I get to marry and live with the woman I love... the woman who has given me the best gift ever..."

"A baby? But Tai anything can happen from now till..."

"Wrong. I don't love you just because of us having a baby, I love you because you love me." He kissed her forehead. "Now, what about taking some medicine and I will make some food. We kind of need to talk about a few things. Don't we?"

"Sure."

They ate a simple meal together on the ground near her bed. Tai felt a new warmth as they sat close together. Something was different. Maybe it was Sora's mood had changed from one of despair over her family, to one of happiness. Her smile grew even larger when she saw him smile.

"Hey Sora...I have a question." Tai said after a time of sitting in peace. He hated to change the mood, but there was something that was nagging at him.

"What's the matter?"

"Can I ask you a question? It's about your family... so if you don't want to..."

"No, it's ok. I need to talk about it anyway. I can't keep it bottled up inside."

"What did Gennai tell you? I mean how?"

"It happened around the time of the last meeting of the two peoples. When the Takenouchi group was attacked a few managed to escape with a small handful of survivors. Gennai said I was one of the survivors. I was very little, maybe only a few months old at the time... but I was brought back to the city. Gennai didn't know what to do with me... and then my parents said they would take me... they couldn't have children of their own I guess. Gennai told me that the clan was having trouble continuing the line due to illness and genetic problems."

"And they took you in and raised you."

"Yeah... it doesn't seem real, but there's proof that I am not a Takenouchi... I guess it was Ryo who figured it out first."

"So you and him?"

"Probably relatives at the least... but maybe I am his sister... I don't really know. It's a bit much to understand right now... I just feel like I failed them..."

"Them?"

"The Takenouchi clan. I was always different. But I was one of them. Now I know that the clan line is already gone..."

"Not gone. Just changing... for the better. You and me Sora. We'll restore your clan. You'll see. We're going to have this baby and then we'll have another and another. And soon, there will be lots of Takenouchi children to bring honor to their ancestors." Tai smiled squeezing her hand.

"I hope so."

"You'll see. Don't worry."

"Tai... what will we do when Matt..."

"When Matt finds out? Well, he pretty much knows we are involved... and so do a few other people... but when all this is added to the problem... I don't know." Tai sighed. "How do you want to do this? I don't want you to have any added stress because of this..."

"I can handle it. I can handle it because you are here with me."

"I've already gotten a lot of people to hate, me... but I really think it is up to you if you want to tell others about your family past. It might help us."

"If I do that the elders will declare the Takenouchi line dead... I won't be able to keep the name either... I can't... I can't kill them. I..."

"I understand. We'll deal with this another way then." Tai said with a sigh. Telling the elders at least of each clan would have made things easier. But if Sora wasn't willing to do that, then they would find another way.

"Sora... I want... I want us to get married now. Before anything else happens, before anyone can pull us apart."

"Help me out of bed then." She smiled sitting up. Sora took his hand and was gently pulled to her feet. Holding her close Tai kissed her. Before letting her go, Tai took her hand in his and led her out to get some better clothes.

The walk to the temple felt longer than usual. The two held hands the whole way, no longer caring what others saw.

Tai hoped Sora was as happy as he was about this. He never could tell what was going through her head at times. But there was a large smile on her lips. And a faint blush when she noticed he was staring at her.

"When this is all over and the bugs are gone, where should we live?" Tai asked wanting to talk about anything so that the walk would go faster.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Well, when people get married in my time they usually move somewhere they want to go or things change a little. Is there some place you want to go? Once the outside lands are rid of bugs, we can make a home anywhere."

"I would like to go and live in a forest.. it would be like in the garden, but not just one room... but Tai, I can't leave the city. I... I have to be there as a Takenouchi and what about everyone else that needs my help here? I don't want to leave Kari, and Tk..."

"Ok- we're staying put." He smiled. 'Should have known we'd be staying here for good. But a summer house in the forest would be a nice touch... that's it. Once this is over, I will surprise her!'

"What are you smiling for?" Sora questioned his ultra happy look.

"Nothing. Just thinking about giving you a present later. You might have to wait a few years for it... but it's going to be great."

"I'll wait a life time only because you asked." She returned the smile and quickened her step so they were walking shoulder to shoulder.

"Well, we're here. The temple looks a little off today. I hope Gennai has time to do us a favor." Tai said as they climbed the steps.

"And where are you going?" A voice stopped them as they crossed the main hallway. They were nearly to Gennai's area of the building, but suddenly all the exits and corridors were blocked off with armed soldiers.

Stepping out from the group was a sad looking blonde haired man.

"Matt?" Sora said in disbelief.

"So you're here to stop us... I thought you might try something." Tai growled as he held tighter to Sora's hand.

"I'm sorry Taichi... I'm sorry Sora. But I have no choice in the matter. I've found some disturbing information earlier... and I figured you would come this way..."

"Matt? What is going on?" Sora asked trying to step in front of Tai. Tai of course, would not let her. He was damn determined to protect her.

"Sora, I didn't think you would do this... you of all people. You who knows what it is to sacrifice for peace and the chance at ending the fighting with each other and the bugs. I never would have thought you would... you would let him..."

"Love me? Have a child with me? Marry me?" She finished for him. Tai could feel she was getting angry. "Why not? Why must I sacrifice the last thing I could possibly want in life... why must I give up so much?" She asked tears coming down her face.

"I'm sorry Sora. I know you have suffered greatly for our goals. But you also once believed in them as well. Why has he changed things?"

"Because I love him!"

"Sora!" Matt said steeping forward.

"It's not love. You know it. The outside clans demand he marry one of theirs. You know you can't keep him. You grew up knowing that he would come and create an alliance. With that we could defeat the bugs."

"No Matt! It is love. I love him! I don't care who he is! All I know is this isn't something that I can just forget about... I love him."

"I'm so sorry Sora. But you leave me no choice in the matter..." Matt's words were eerie. Tai's skin began to crawl as the blonde man looked down at his feet and turned around. The troupes made way and he walked out of sight.

Tai felt something akin to relief sink in thinking Matt was just backing down, but he was mistaken. The minute Matt was gone, the soldiers began to close in on the couple. Sora's hand was ripped out of Tai's and restrained. Her arms we quickly tied behind her back before she could even begin to fight.

Tai saw this and saw red. He was mad... furious. No one was even touching him, they were there to take her away... she was going to be punished... not him.

"Let her go!" He screamed running into the group of soldiers who were beginning to drag her away. "I won't let you take her!"

"Sir, you need to back off, we are under orders to not hurt you... but if you stop us from taking the commander, we will be forced to take action." A man said as he tried to hold Tai back.

By now the troupes had Sora halfway down the stairs. Try as she might, there were six or more of them and she still wasn't at full strength.

Tai could hear her struggling as well, every time she cried out in pain, he felt his blood boil more. He fought more and more. Soon he had five men on him as well, holding him down on the floor.

"Where are they taking her? Let me go! SORA!" He screamed as he continued to kick and claw at the men. "How can you do this to her? She's your commander! Don't you care?"

They were gone as quickly as they came. Tai was left laying on the floor of the temple where he had been restrained. Nothing made sense... nothing could explain what had just happened.

"I heard a noise... and then I was locked in my room for five minutes... I figured something had happened." Came the old woman's voice.

Tai looked up to find Gennai walking up to him. Anger filled him. She had done nothing to stop this... surely they would have listened to her...

"I'm sorry young one. They wouldn't have listened to me if they had orders from the elders and from Matt. He is the commanding officer after all... I am just a relic from the olden days." She said sadly.

"But... why? What..."

"It seems that others have found out about your situation."

"But how? Joe and Kari are the only ones who knew!" Tai tried to figure out what had happened.

"Matt has his ways of knowing things. And I am sure when it comes to Sora, he is extra vigilant."

"Where are they taking her? What's going to happen?" Tai asked suddenly afraid of what Matt would do... his heart began to pump faster as he thought of them aborting the baby just to make sure there were no problems with the alliance.

"I don't think they would do anything rash. More than likely they will try and talk her out of loving you. They will try and appeal to her sense of loyalty and honor. There should be no physical harm done..."

"But I'm not worried about just physical harm. She can't take that much stress right now... not with the baby and her injuries and all..."

"So it is as I thought it was. You are starting a family." The old lady smiled. "I admit I thought it would take a while, but you seem to be quite the miracle makers. You change the one person I thought would take years to open up, and now you two are starting a family."

"Gennai, could our baby... could that child also fulfill the prophecy? I mean, she is from the outside clan and all... that technically covers everything!"

"That might be true, but what if the outside clans do not acknowledge Sora as one of their own, what if they do and then she has to give up her family name here? Whatever path you choose, there will be pain for a time. You need to decide together what is the best way for you both."

"Where do you think they took her? I need to go and find her." Tai said feeling a need to be near her. There was no way he was going to let her alone take the fall for their relationship.

"I would head to headquarters. I am sure you will find friends there who are willing to help you." The old woman smiled.

Tai ran towards headquarters without stopping.

'Damn you Matt... I swear I will kill you with my own hands if you so much as hurt her.' Tai decided. Chanting her name over and over as a battle call, he reached the main building in record time.

"Tai!" It was Tk, the younger blonde haired man can running to Tai's side. "What happened? I was training with the rest of the squad when we got word that Sora was taken into custody. What the hell happened?"

"That's what I would like to know." Tai said looking even more worried. "I don't want to get you involved... but at least tell me where they would take her."

"Tai, Sora is like my sister. I am involved no matter what. Let's go and see what we can find out. Izzy will know more." Tk motioned for Tai to follow.

They quickly found Izzy as they ran down the hallways. Things seemed to be in a big commotion. Whispers could be heard of the relationship between the commander and the guest from the past... Tai didn't let that and the stares bother him. He had more important things to do.

"Izzy, can you help us?"

"One step ahead of you. She's in the meeting room with Matt and some of the outside clansmen." The computer man said.

"Thanks!" Tai said knowing where the room was and taking off.

'Hang on baby.'