The next few days passed quickly. Kenshin and I seemed to have reached a sort of impasse; unable to move our relationship forward, or move it back to the easygoing friendship we had before. It was now all awkward pauses and timid smiles.

It was during my check-up with Megumi that it was brought up.

Meg was moving the sensor to and fro across my stomach, and I smiled when I was rewarded with a sight of the baby. The gel was cold, but not unbearably so. Meg had a satisfied note in her voice as she professionally checked the babe. "Ten fingers and toes, and the growth seems normal."

I knew Meg had checked the gender and kept a secret from me (on my own request), but really, the mystery was literally keeping me up at night. I've heard that "a mother knows" but it was less of knowing and rather a feeling. And I had to confirm that feeling.

My voice was uncertain as I asked, and my eyes scanned her face for her reaction. "So, he's healthy?"

She nodded, her eyes trained on the screen. "He's fine. If anything, we may be growing a little too fast, but we'll see." Then the effect of her words seemed to have hit her and she grimaced. "Sorry, Kaoru. I didn't mean to spoil it for you."

On the contrary, I was ecstatic. I laughed and bounced up and down in joy. "I knew it!"

She gave me a quizzical look and rolled her eyes. "You're such a child, Kaoru."

I gave her a look. "Well, duh. I'm only nineteen after all."

She gave me a funny look. "Wait, still?" Then she started talking to herself, and I totally lost her to her mumblings. "Well, of course. If she's still nineteen, Sano is too and I'm not such a bad girlfriend to miss his birthday…and he won't let me live it down if I did…" Her face blanched and she became extremely intense. "Kaoru! When is your birthday? Please, tell me. I can't let Sano tease me about not knowing his birthday. Please."

"Megumi, it's on my file, if you're so interested," I said, feeling like an adult who's dangling a piece of candy on front of a kid's face, when there was a jar of the stuff behind me. Like the figurative child, Megumi could only see the immediate solution.

She gripped my hands. "No, please, just tell me."

I laughed. "Fine. It's actually pretty close; in about two weeks. Sano and I don't usually celebrate our birthdays because we've always had conflicting ideas about it. Also, we could never agree on the number of guests and who would come. As the years passed, our friends grew fewer and we just enjoyed our birthday less and less." I smiled faintly at the memory of our sixth birthday. I had wanted a princess themed party, and he had wanted ninjas. Our parents' compromise? Ninja princesses. Neither of us was happy about that.

Megumi looked extremely satisfied. "It's on the Saturday, right? Ok. Misao and I can plan a party by then, and you and Sano would have the best twenty-year old party ever."

"It'll be the best party we'll ever have just 'cause we now share the same group of friends," I said. In all honesty, I didn't want a party. Being at the centre of attention isn't exactly my cup of tea.

However, at my comment Megumi became quiet. I was expecting some sort of comment from her, or at least a running commentary of how they were going to do the party, but she was instead staring at me intently. "So, what's up with you and Kenshin?"

I froze. "Nothing."

She shook her head. "Don't 'nothing' me. Nothing usually means something."

I sighed. "No, I really mean nothing. We're not together, but we're not apart."

Megumi made a face as she tried to make sense of what just said. "So, there's been no development?"

"Nothing. Well, he did find out that this was his baby…"

Megumi's dark brown eyes flashed in anger. "What?" Her voice was dangerously low.

I sunk in my chair. "Didn't I tell you?" I asked feebly, knowing that I didn't. I just assumed Sano told her.

She pursed her lips, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You know I can sue you for breaking our agreement."

Fear lanced through my heart. We didn't have the money to spare if Meg did sue. And if she did…the effects of my stupid, irrational and spiteful comment towards Tomoe would not only result in the ending of any hope between Kenshin and I, but also destroying the first friend I've had in a long time. Megumi may not be the most ideal friend, or even one who I liked most of the time, but she had something about her that made me look forward to seeing her. And, I kinda hoped she'd be my mentor when I interned. I mentally killed myself. How stupid could I be?

Obviously she saw the fear in my expression, for she put a calming hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't. I guess it was inevitable considering the amount of time we've been spending together. Truly, when this first started, I only wanted to monitor your progress and make check ups and such. I never expected…this."

I smiled, wondering how alike this conversation was to the one I had with Kenshin, without the heat of an argument. "Me too."

"It's all your fault, you know," she reprimanded, wagging a finger at me. I would have taken offense if she didn't have a smile colouring her lips.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm just a stupid, pregnant teenager." I joked.

"Yup. Now about your party…"

I sighed as Megumi began planning it out.

-x-

I was really wondering why Megumi and Misao even bothered dressing me up. I was big on the point on bursting, and now amount of flowing dresses could hide the fact that I was very much pregnant. I tried insisting the party could wait until I've given birth, but they wouldn't hear any of it. It hurt to stand for an extended period of time, my ankles were constantly swollen and even sitting was uncomfortable. And I constantly had to pee.

I swear, they couldn't wait the next four weeks. No, they had to have it the day of our birthday. At least I wasn't the only one who was not thrilled about the party- Sano had protested as much as I had. Megumi had beat him into submission, much like she did to me, but he and I still grumbled. Me, more than him, because he would swing from being angry at Megumi to being totally enamoured.

Y'know, this was a first. Both of my brothers are in a relationship, while I was strung up high and dry. Yahiko's girlfriend –a sweet, timid girl by the name of Tsubaki – was the polar opposite of Megumi. Yet, surprisingly, the two got along perfectly. Misao slightly intimidated the small girl, but she never said anything against it.

Misao wanted a girl's day the weekend before my birthday to look for something for me to wear. So, because she thought the girl was absolutely adorable, she dragged Tsubaki along as well.

Ok, all three girls – even Tsubaki – were accustomed to higher-end stores than I. I, typically, would get my clothes from the cheapest stores possible and but what I felt was the most comfortable. Sure, I looked like I rolled out of bed most days, but it was something that I was comfortable in. Misao and Megumi were fashionable to a fault, and Tsubaki wore really cute, if expensive, clothes. So guess where I was dragged to for my dress? Yup. Those higher-end stores that I never dreamed of even stepping foot in until I met my two crazy best friends.

I grinned at the thought. This baby not only secured my future, but also friendships I wouldn't have otherwise.

"Misao," I wailed as she yanked me out of the car, "Please, can we not do this now? I just want to sleep. And this really doesn't make any sense! Can't y'all wait?" Mind you, I was exhausted because it seemed as if I could never sleep. My body was never comfortable enough, and when I did find a bit of comfort on my bed, I'll need to drag my body to the bathroom to empty my bladder.

"No, a party is supposed to be on the day or close enough," protested Misao.

"Can't this be an exceptions? Its an good exception." I was literally dragging my heels, and Megumi had to join in the effort to move me towards the store.

"But you and Sano would have already been twenty for a month. Now that doesn't make sense," Megumi said.

"It doesn't matter!" I yelled, pulling at their hands. Tsubaki followed, watching us with wide eyes. Actually, the whole situation is slightly ridiculous. "C'mon, Sano and I don't care! Only you two fools do!"

Misao abruptly released my hand, staring off at something behind me. Megumi nor I were expecting it, and I toppled backwards, Megumi landing next to me. She was on her side and sent Misao a glare. I recognised that she twisted mid-fall so she didn't land on me- which would not have been good with the baby. Not good at all.

"Misao, what the hell?" We both yelled in unison.

"That's perfect!" She squealed, clapping her hands in delight. Megumi and I looked at each other confusedly. Then we looked behind us, at the boutique Misao was so fixated on.

"Oh no."

Megumi grinned at me. "Oh yes."

I glared at her. "You're paying. If you can even fit me into the thing."

Misao helped us up, apologising profusely, but I brushed her – and my behind – off. I then reluctantly followed them to the store, eyeing the dress sceptically.

I admit, it was a beautiful dress. And it fit me beautifully. And really, I fell in love with it just as Megumi and Misao did at first sight. It's just…it was so expensive. As in, the three-digit range.

Even though Misao and Megumi insisted that the dress is not as expensive as it could be, and we were getting a great deal on it, I still hesitated. My money-pinching ways were hard to kill. So, Misao and Megumi nicely bought it for me as an early birthday present.

I wanted to cry.

I never really had friends, especially girl friends. I was always a bit of a tomboy, and being raised with two boys, I gained some of their boyish ways. I also never understood the fascination with extremely girly things. The only girly thing I liked were princesses, especially the Disney princesses- but that was because all of them were kick-ass and took their life into their own hands. Also, my dad always called me his little princess.

So the fact that these two women were buying my dress and planning my party when no-one ever bothered to know me, well, it was more than me and my hormonal self could take. I burst into tears, clutching both of them to me. I even reached out for Tsubaki, who awkwardly joined the circle. When I was all dried out, I finally let them go. I was surprised that they hugged me back for so long, but maybe they suspected I needed it.

I wiped my eyes and gave them a watery smile. "You girls are the best friends a girl can have."

"You know it!" Chirped Misao, giving me a bright smile. "Now let me organise to have this dropped off to you the day before…"

Megumi rolled her eyes. "Duh." She handed me a tissue, and I gratefully accepted it.

I turned to Tsubaki. "I think you're adorable for my brother."

It was random, but I had this fuzzy feeling in my chest and I just felt as if I should spread it around. She blushed and dipped her head. "Thank you."

Just for good measure, I grabbed the smaller girl and hugged her again. She was so huggable!

Of course, how could I expect the good feeling to last?

I got home to a grumpy Sano. Some guy had goaded him into a fight tomorrow, but it was the same time he had a date with Megumi. He couldn't choose between protecting his manhood or standing up Megumi, with the possibility of being murdered later by his girlfriend.

"Why not call her?" I said, exasperated. I sank into the sofa, kicking my heels up. I sighed, but as soon as I got comfortable, I felt the need to pee again.

"Great idea!" He said, and scampered off to talk to her. From the pleading note in his voice that moved to desperation, I knew he wasn't winning the fight.

I groaned as I got up and waddled to the bathroom. As soon as I relieved myself, my phone wrist watch thing buzzed.

I brightened when I saw who was calling. "Hey, Kenshin!" His face was solemn, and my smile quickly slid off my face. "What's wrong?"

"Could I come by you tonight?"

I nodded, confused. "Sure, but what is this about?"

"You'll see," was all he said before he hung up.

Thoroughly confused, I shrugged and waited for him. And worried. And waited.

What had he meant?

When he knocked half an hour later, Sano had lost his fight to Megumi and was sulking in his room. If I wasn't in such a concerned mood, I would have joked with him and told him women were always right.

I answered the door quickly, and Kenshin looked the same as ever. However, there was a shadow in his violet eyes that warned me that the news wasn't great.

"What's wrong?" I asked, automatically placing my hand on his shoulder. He didn't shrug it off, which I took as a good sign.

he gave me a thin smile. "Where's your kitchen? I'll cook you dinner tonight."

My expression was perplexed, but I pointed him in the right direction. "I hear you're a horrible cook."

"Better believe it," said Sano from the doorway. He gave me a smirk, and by his happy attitude I assumed that the prospect of someone else cooking for him lightened his spirits considerably.

I slapped his arm, but I said, "Yeah. I'm pretty bad. I can't even make cereal and milk."

Kenshin gave me an incredulous look, and pushed his sleeves to his elbows. "Well, my cooking isn't extraordinary, but I'm decent."

"Your food would be a direct improvement than Kaoru's." Quipped Sano. I wanted to hit him again.

Kenshin laughed, and got to work.

Well, his cooking was simple, but fabulous. We all enjoyed it. Even Yahiko, who was now working in the Akabeko with Tsubaki and got free dinner, ate some. After dinner, my brothers filed out to deal with the daily brotherly thing- watch sports. I would join them when it was soccer or some fighting tournament, but that's about it.

I looked at Kenshin as I washed the dishes; he dried. 'So why'd you come over?"

He didn't answer for a little while, and I was about to ask the question again. "My dad is going on a business trip for the next two weeks."

I nodded. "Ok. So you and Misao are going to be alone, no big deal. You're both adults."

"No, he insisted I come with him."

"Oh. Well, that'll be fun. If you want, I can have Misao stay here."

He gave me a smile. "That's great and takes a load off my dad's and my shoulders. We weren't sure what to do with her. But I'll be missing your party."

I shrugged, pretending not to care when in reality I was a little heartbroken. "It's not my party, it's Misao and Megumi's."

"But still-"

"Have fun with your dad. It's fine, really." I tried to sound as sincere as possible.

"I'll make it up to you," he promised, kissing my fingertips.

I grinned. This was the most progress we've made in the past few weeks. "You better. It's a date then."

He then did something I really didn't expect. He pulled me towards him and kissed me full on the mouth. I was so surprised, I didn't respond at first, but then I closed my eyes and cupped his face with my hands.

He smelled like sandalwood.

Competition time! Send in what you think Kaoru's dress should look like, and I'll choose the best one :) you can either send in a description, or a picture in a review. I don't have the creative capacity to design her dress.