Chapter Title: akachan
A/N: because i love you all so dearly...i updated rather quick
(that and I was DYING to write this chapter!!This is not the last chapter)
With his mother visiting coupled with Mei Lin's somewhat cryptic warning, it would have been an understatement to say that Syaoran was stressed. Naturally, at work, he was borderline hostile, and only wanted to take a breather.
Which is how he found himself in the same family restaurant where he found Sakura. He knew she was not working that day, but it calmed him down, a place where bad things melted away. A place where hope was alive.
"Li-kun, nice to see you here."
A pleasant voice greeted him. Looking up, it was Daidouji, Hiiragizawa's possible girlfriend.
"Daidouji-san, hello."
His greeting was polite as he sighed rather heavily.
"Coffee, if you would be so kind."
She smiled and left for his order. Meanwhile, he rested his chin on his hands, in thought.
What was it that Mei Lin said? To let Sakura know he was open to things.
That, and she wished all of them happiness.
All of them?
"Li-kun, here you are."
Daidouji placed his cup down, a wisp of steam escaping the drink. Along with it, a six pack of grapefruit juice.
"If you could give these to Sakura-chan, I would be very grateful."
Syaoran stared hard at the drink.
"For Sakura?...Grapefruit?"
Daidouji nodded solemly. This worried him.
"She's been very ill. This juice seems to be the only thing that she is able to hold down now."
At this, Syaoran paled. He knew she was feeling out of sorts, but not to the point where she had trouble eating. Why did he not know?
"Li-kun should have her see a doctor. If I didn't know any better I would say she was p-"
She never finished her sentence, for Syaoran was out the door, coffee forgotten, money on the table, and the juice in his arms.
He ran very fast without much thought to how badly his sides were burning, a nostalgic feeling from when he chased her was strong.
Thoughts coursed through his mind: Why was I so blind? How could I have overlooked this?
The one questioned that struck him deeply: Why didn't she tell me?
But somehow Mei Lin knew, and Daidouji, and with a sinking feeling, maybe his mother as well. They knew something was wrong with his bride-to-be. They were quick to realize it, yet he who loved her, could not detect it. It was a moment in which he felt incompetent, and useless.
Then there was an anger, mild, but still there. Why did she stay quiet? Why was this kept form him? Why was she so scared to tell him? Why? Why? Why?
"Sakura?"
He entered their apartment, grateful that his mother and Mei Lin were not there. The sight in front of him was too heartwrenching, and no one except him should see such a sight.
Sakura was on the ground, hugging herself, crying. No, not crying. Sobbing. Around her were plates and pans, and spoons. The sove was obviously put out with a fire extinguisher, and soot was on the dishtowels. He kneeled to her level, afraid of doing something wrong to her.
"I..I-I'm s-s-so-sorry! I ca-can't m-marry you!"
His heart stopped and his breath halted.
What?
Why?
No!
"What? Why? No!"
Sakura sniffed and sobbed harder.
"I-I do-don't k-now how to b-be your w-w-wi-wife!"
It was a sick relief that it was that reason she was refusing. He stroked her arm which was hugging her knees.
"Yes, you do. All I need is you."
He said it gently and sincerely, but she cried even harder.
"B-but that's i-it! It is n-no-noy just me!"
The cries grew louder.
"I c-can't do th-things r-right, a-and I ha-haven't g-g-gro-grown! I'm n-not sure...I can d-do this!"
She declared, her voice was hoarse. Her green eyes scanned the debris surounding her, making her choke back a sob.
He waited for her to calm down, soon her shaking and sobbing quieted a bit. Tear were still falling down her face, but she seemed ready to speak.
"If I don't know how to be a wife, how can I be a mom?!"
Syaoran fell a little, thankful he was kneeling.
A what?
"A...I'm sorry, a what?"
Did he hear right? Did he? She said it, right?
Sakura sniffed and looked at him intently, her hands now on her stomach.
"I don't know how to be a wife, and so I can't be a mom."
Syaoran stared, jaw dropped, at her belly. It looked normal, just like how he is used to seeing. Yet, there was something in his brain that clicked. Certain events, certain actions she made...
"What can I do? There is a baby inside me that will need me, and I don't know how to take care of it! I've never taken care of anyone before. Never!"
Sakura cried again, but her sobs were small.
"Sakura...you're pregnant?"
She looked at him, her eyes telling him the answer.
"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! It happened so fast! I'm so sorry! But Syaoran, I am scared! This baby is real, and living inside me, dependent on me!"
"How long?"
Sakura gulped.
"Almost a month."
Syaoran stared at her belly again. His baby has been alive for about a month. His baby...
"You went alone to the doctor? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm sorry. This is all so fast...I'm happy to have your baby and all...but...I just don't...I don't know how-"
Syaoran held her in his arms, a smile plastered on his face.
A father. He was going to be a father.
"You should never be scared to tell me something like this."
That was the first thing he told her. He felt her arms wrap around him as well.
"Sakura...you also should not be sorry. I...I'm happy."
"Are you?"
"Yes. You just told me that I will be a father. How could I be anything other than happy?"
Sakura buried her face in his chest.
"Sakura, you alone did not create our baby. I had something to do with it."
A smirk worked it's way to his face. She laughed a little. It was a beautiful sound-she rarely laughed nowadays.
"Sakura, this is our baby. Yours, mine, so we are going to do this together. I admit, I don't knwo how to be a father, but we're not in this alone. We have each other to fall back on."
"I don't know...what to do once he or she is born."
Syaoran thought for a bit, then sighed happily.
"We will hold our child, care for it, love it, spoil it, watch it grow, spoil our child, discipline our child...we will explain good and bad, right from wrong. Sometimes, we will make mistakes, but we will realize it, and apologize, and remind out child that it is loved."
"That...sounds nice."
Syaoran kissed the top of her head.
"It will be hard, but I know we can do this."
Sakura pulled away and kissed his lips.
"Syaoran...you...you're going to be a dad."
She said this very shyly, but a smile was gracing her delicate features.
"And you Sakura...you're going to be a mom."
She looked down, her cheeks reddening. Syaoran placed a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"If our baby is girl, I'm sure it will be cute like her mom."
"If he is a boy, I'm certain it will be kind and strong, like his dad."
They sat there, in each others arms, Sakura's tear now falling from relief, from happiness, from exhaustion.
The three of them.