A/N: Hi guys, another chapter is up! Wanted to upload this together with the prev one but i had to edit it first before i felt that it could be put up for reading! Please, enjoy :)

Chapter 17: Homecoming

xxx Souichi xxx

"Why are you so excited for, Morinaga…?" Stroking Emi's head softly as he frowned at Morinaga, Souichi noted the nervous energy emanating from the younger man. It made him seem even more like a little boy, that cherubic face lit up like the sun.

"N-nothing, Sempai! I'm just really happy, that's all." The man rebuffed Souichi's questioning look and turned away from him abruptly, his focus on the numbers as they lit up with each level that the elevator climbed.

The entrance to their apartment was innocuously quiet as Morinaga stuck the key into the lock. Souichi raised an eyebrow at how worked up his baka kouhai was as he unlocked the door. There was definitely something up with him! Souichi was just about to query the man again when Emi stirred in his arms, her little face peeking from the woolen cap that they had placed over her thick hair.

Souichi gazed at his daughter, absently noting how her features were almost a perfect imitation of Morinaga. Her hair had the same wavy texture as her Papa, and the curve of her lip echoed Morinaga's. Ah, damn. That man was out to snare him for the whole of his life! And yet…unable to resist the adorable way in which his daughter yawned, Souichi placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"…Sempai…"

Jerking up at Morinaga's whispered voice, Souichi flushed. Damn, he was acting like an idiotic father now, like his puppy- dog of a partner! The man in question was gazing at him, swirling emotion in his eyes that made Souichi's breath catch in his throat. The key dangled, forgotten, in the lock.

Suddenly, there were footsteps from within the apartment. Souichi whipped his gaze from Morinaga and the fuzzy feeling in his chest was replaced by surprise as an impatient Kanako swung open the door, her face confused and questioning. "Morinaga- Nii, why did you take so long to open the door!"

"Kanako? What are you doing here? Weren't you and Matsuda- san supposed to be at school?" Then, understanding dawned and he turned to Morinaga, who looked like he had been caught in the act. "You did plan something, didn't you?"

"Uhh—Sempai, why don't we go in first? It's still pretty cool outside." Kanako's appearance at the door seemed to have flustered the younger man but after a loaded pause shared between him and the girl, Morinaga ushered Souichi and their baby into the apartment, closing the door behind them with a firm click. Souichi frowned, reluctantly following behind a skipping Kanako. What was up with everyone?!

"Souichi." The gruff voice of Tatsumi Souji spoke up the moment Souichi turned the corner from the genkan. With a flourish, the deeply tanned man with a ponytail of salt- and –pepper hair engulfed a shocked Souichi and his granddaughter in a bear hug. "Welcome home, and congratulations, son."

"Wha—Tou- san? Wait, why are you here; shouldn't you be in Nicaragua or deep in a forest somewhere?" Pressed tightly against his father's chest, Souichi was really floored this time. Souji was supposed to be halfway across the world! Nonetheless, he returned the hug with the arm that was not holding Emi. "Ah, I shouldn't even ask; Morinaga must be the one behind this!" Here, he glared at Morinaga, who merely smiled sheepishly back. "Tou- san, I should be the one saying 'welcome back'."

"It doesn't matter who says what, so long as we are reunited as a family!" At this point, Tomoe and his husband, Kurokawa, materialized from the kitchen. They were closely followed by Matsuda- san, holding a tray of bowls. The sweet smell of osekihan wafted from the lacquered cutlery. Souichi was once again swallowed up in hugs as Souji gathered his three children tightly. "Ahh, it feels good to be home again."

"You say that but who's the one always jetting off to locations unknown to do his research?" As their father let go of them, Souichi studied the carefree man pointedly, a resigned smile hanging from his lips. Regardless of how long Souji was away from home, it did not beat the fact that he had returned, and beaming in a way that reminded him of Kanako. Just then, the little bundle in his arms squirmed. His daughter was apparently uncomfortable from the combined heat of so many people. Souichi soothed her softly as Souji looked on with delight. "Tou- san, this is your granddaughter. We have named her Emi."

"Emi? A beautiful miracle, ehh…ah, sweetheart, let Grandpa hold you..." Carefully, Souichi slid his daughter into Souji's arms. The older man held her as though she were the most fragile being on earth, love already burning strongly in his eyes.

Emi seemed to have registered that Souichi was no longer carrying her. As Souji looked on, she slowly opened her eyes, blinking sleepily. The sight of her grandfather's foreign face did not seem to faze her. A little yawn escaped her, displaying her toothless gums as she fixed her steady gaze on Souji.

"Aww, she's awake! She wants to greet her Grandpa, right, sweetheart?" Tickling her under her chin, Souji melted into a puddle of goo as Emi grabbed onto his forefinger and squirmed in mirth. Tiny gargling sounds that were her laughter accompanied Souji's deep guffaws.

Souichi stepped back as the others crowded around Souji to play with the baby. All of his family members were here now. Even his father, who had always seemed like an exotic presence in his and his siblings' lives, was taking to his role of grandfather with surprising ease. His initial surprise gave way to pleasure and joy and unknowingly, his lips curved up in a small smile.

Looking at the man standing beside him, Souichi's gaze softened. Morinaga must have done his utmost to contact everybody, especially his father, who liked to immerse himself in far- flung and rural locations with limited communicative tools. The man had been thoughtful enough to gather his family members together for this special occasion, even though Souichi had not mentioned this desire of his. The baka had even conspired with them to surprise him!

Whatever it was, Souichi was touched. The gift of having his loved ones near like this, all at the same time, was rare and something that he cherished. He opened his mouth, wanting to express this sort of sentiment to his kouhai. "Thanks, Morinaga…"

Almost immediately, Souichi wished that he had not uttered those words. They sounded shallow and entirely inadequate, even to his own ears! He glanced furtively at Morinaga, who had turned to him. Urgh, he had to do something—something that would convey everything that his full heart felt in this moment. Without thinking, he leaned into Morinaga's side, folding his arms as sudden embarrassment overcame him.

"You are welcome, Sempai."

The softest words spoken like a sigh against Souichi's hair felt like the butterflies fluttering in his chest. There was no further need for words as Souichi melded into Morinaga's embrace, the man's arms wrapped securely around his waist. It almost felt like they were the only persons in the room.

"All right, all right! I shall hold Emi for now! Let's eat the osekihan before it gets cold; I cooked it especially to commemorate her arrival!" The squabbling over their baby finally calmed down enough for Matsuda- san, now triumphantly carrying a bemused Emi, to serve the food.

Souichi stepped out of Morinaga's arms, taken aback by the wave of reluctance the action brought. Damnit, if that baka knew about this—! Fortunately, everybody was too focused on Emi to notice that they had been embracing. Souichi took a bowl of the traditional dish made of red beans and rice, handing one to Morinaga at the same time. Together, everybody settled around the couch to catch up with all the events happening to each family member.

It was a time filled with much laughter and conversation. As the hours passed, the time came for Emi to be fed, changed and put to bed. Afterwards, the adults and Kanako retreated to the kitchenette, where dinner had already been prepared beforehand. Souji whipped out a bottle of South American wine while Tomoe and Kurokawa thawed a cheesecake that they had especially bought from a famous store in America.

With such an international cuisine, the first dinner that Souichi and Morinaga had as a family of three passed in a perfect harmony of good food and good company.

After all the food had been eaten, the presents for the new parents and baby had been opened, and conversation had been exhausted, the ladies retreated to the temporary nursery to fuss over Emi. Tomoe and Kurokawa, on the other hand, had disappeared to the balcony silently with their glasses of wine. Souichi had wanted to stomp over there and separate the wolf from his innocent brother but Souji had stopped him, saying that he wanted to talk to him and Morinaga.

Now, the three of them had the entire living room to themselves, Souji facing the two of them from the other side of the dining table. It was rather clear what his father wanted to speak about.

Souichi had not disclosed his relationship with his kouhai to his family explicitly, even Matsuda- san and Kanako. However, with his pregnancy and Morinaga's constant presence in his life, it had probably not been hard for the women to deduce who Emi's father was. With Souji, the situation was considerably murkier for the man to comprehend. His father had only ever been informed by phone about his eldest's pregnancy and arrival of his granddaughter. The shock must have been rather impactful, although the older man seemed to be taking everything in stride.

"Souichi, isn't it time you introduced Morinaga- kun formally as your partner to me?" As Souichi had predicted, Souji went directly into the subject. "Both of you have already had a daughter together! Is there such a thing as marriage for you?"

The leap in his father's thinking was rather astounding. Souichi had expected to have to bring Souji through everything that had occurred since the beginning but the older man apparently had no problem accepting the fact that his son (who had been violently against Tomoe's marriage to Kurokawa, a man!) was: a) himself in a relationship with a man, b) could get pregnant, and c) not flipping a table over the first two events, hitherto thought impossible, happening.

Sometimes, the open-mindedness of his family blew him away. Now in the same shoes as Tomoe had been when he had had to introduce his new husband to Souji, Souichi could only thank the stars that his father was adopting such a natural attitude towards their relationship. It made his following announcement that much easier to say.

Taking a deep breath to organize his thoughts, Souichi looked at Morinaga, who seldom looked as serious as he did now. "Erm, Tou- san, actually this was something that I have wanted to talk to you about."

The topic of marriage, or legal adoption in their case, had been brought up a few months ago when Souichi had presented his kouhai with the documents. Urghh, something must have damaged his brains! To think that he had pr—proposed to Morinaga!

However, somewhere in the back of his mind, the thought of adopting Morinaga into his family's register had seemed to appear naturally, the notion growing stronger as the pregnancy advanced. Somehow, his baka lover had managed to invade him completely—his body, his mind, and his heart. Morinaga was like a tidal wave, crashing against him again and again relentlessly until he had no choice but to be swept under.

Now, Souichi moved to sit closer to his kouhai, his steady gaze on Souji. "Tou- san, Morinaga and I have been go—going out for the past year—" The soft intake of breath from the man sitting beside him distracted Souichi and he had to dig in his nails to concentrate. He could feel Morinaga trembling slightly.

"—As you obviously have guessed, he's also the father of Emi…the thing is—" Here, Souichi had to cough, the embarrassment and several, unidentifiable emotions overwhelming him. Subtly, Morinaga pressed his hands on his, squeezing them encouragingly. His dark- green eyes were shining so brightly that Souichi felt his own eyes begin to tear. "Tou- san, I would like to ask your permission to adopt Morinaga into our family register," The man's grip on his hands tightened convulsively. "That is, we would like to get married."

There, Souichi had said it; the biggest and probably most significant words he had ever uttered in his life.

And somehow, even though he had already proposed to Morinaga, declaring his intentions in front of his father turned what had been a vague event in the future into something real and tangible.

It also concretised all that he felt for the overwhelmingly tenacious man named Morinaga Tetsuhiro. Souichi was not a man to compromise, but if he gave his word, it was binding. And he was now committing to an act that would bind him and Morinaga together in every way that mattered.

Souichi had in other words, bared his everything. And damnit, it was hard to remain still in his seat as Morinaga looked at him, the heat of his gaze searing into his heart.

Without a pause, Souji broke into the sunniest smile that Souichi had ever seen. It was a smile that his father had reserved for his mother, back when she had been alive and their family young. Suddenly, Souji transformed from a veteran researcher and explorer back to his father, just his father. "Of course I'd give my permission, Souichi. It gladdens me to see that it's Morinaga-kun who'll be by your side to take care of you, as I've not been able to…I can see that you have found happiness, son."

"T-that was fast, Tou- san…thank you…" It was only at that point that Souichi realized that he had been coiled up as tight as a spring. His father's approval was immeasurably reassuring, and relieving.

"Tatsumi- san, please entrust Sempai to me! I promise to take care of him and Emi with my utmost! Thank you for this!" Morinaga was smiling and tearing at the same time as he bowed deeply at Souji.

"Hahah, Morinaga- kun! You should be calling me Father now, no? Kami—I can see why my Souichi was taken by you!"

"What—! He's a baka, Tou- san; don't you act like one as well!" Although his lover's declaration made his heart do a funny sort of flip- flop in his chest, Souichi could only sputter at the atrocious words that Morinaga and his father were spouting now. What taken—he had virtually been snatched by the man!

"Hahaha! Morinaga- kun, ahh, Tetsuhiro—don't mind my Souichi, his bark has always been harder than his bite! Keep at it, my boy!"

"Yes, sir! F-father!"

"The both of you—! Urghh!"

"Tou- san, take care when you're doing your research. Drop us a postcard from whenever you're going next." Souichi stood at the doorway of their apartment with Morinaga as he bade his family goodnight, a good eight hours after the surprise celebration and mini baby shower.

"I will, Souichi. Take pictures of Emi and email them to me, all right! It keeps an old man happy when he's alone in the bellies of a jungle!" Souji chuckled at his own joke and impulsively hugged Souichi again. "I wish you all the best, Souichi."

"Thanks, Tou- san." Souichi patted his father's back before pulling back. The ache of long separation had dulled significantly over the years but it was still there, tingling in his fingertips as their grasps parted.

He turned to Tomoe and his husband and wished them a safe flight back to America. The two of them would stay on in Japan for a short vacation before going back to their jobs half a world away.

"Nii- san, I wanna come and see Emi- chan again soon, okay, okay?" Despite a full day, Kanako was still brimming with energy as she bounded around.

Souichi smiled affectionately at his kid sister. "Of course you can, Kanako. Just make sure to call ahead of time."

"All right!"

"We'll be going off then, Sou- kun, Morinaga- kun. Congratulations again, sweethearts. Say goodnight to Emi for me too, Sou-kun." Matsuda- san hugged them, and then waved. "Goodnight!"

"Goodnight, Matsuda- san!"

Finally, the boisterous crowd retreated down the corridor and Souichi shut the door to their apartment. Ahh, there could finally be some kind of peace and quiet—or not.

Beyond the nursery door, Emi's loud cries rang out. The decibels of her cries were rather incongruous with her size. Souichi glanced at Morinaga and both of them chuckled. "So much for peace and quiet, huh."

"Yea, Sempai. Come on, our daughter's calling for us!" Tugging Souichi along, his kouhai darted into the darkened nursery, where Emi was sobbing. The distinct smell of poo told them why their little girl was howling her lungs out.

After they had changed her soiled diapers and powdered her soft bottom, Emi quieted down and lay docilely in Morinaga's arms. Together, they studied their baby's sleeping features in the moonlight, their breathing soft so as not to awaken her.

"Sleep, my baby girl, fall asleep.

Sleep and dream nice dreams—

A small pink elephant in the garden,

A small golden fish in the pond.

Hushaby…

Hushaby…"

Morinaga cradled Emi lovingly, singing a soft lullaby that Souichi had never heard before. The low, almost toneless melody melded with his husky voice, lulling them into a dreamlike world of silver light and dim shadows.

Souichi let his head fall against his lover's shoulder as he traced his daughter's fingers, Morinaga's song washing over him in a gentle wave. He could stay like this forever, surrounded by the halves of his heart.

The slumberous spell was at last broken when Morinaga ended the lullaby with a kiss to Emi's cheek. He placed her back into the crib, making sure to wrap the baby blanket snugly around her. Switching on the baby mobile and checking that the crib was securely locked, they finally retreated to their room.

The atmosphere between them was decidedly cozy as they changed into their pajamas silently before sliding beneath the sheets. Souichi removed his hair tie, placing it beside the vase that now housed the bouquet of origami sakura that Morinaga had folded for him. He lay on his side, not resisting when arms enclosed around him. Morinaga's breath was warm against his nape. "Sempai, did you like the lullaby just now?"

"…Yea, I did…" His tongue was absurdly honest tonight. But, Souichi decided fuzzily, it did not matter. Fingers ran down the front of his chest, coming to rest against his nipples. A small gasp escaped from him. "Morinaga…"

"Shall I sing it for you, then?" Small nibbles landed on Souichi's neck as Morinaga swept his hair away. "Sleep, my beloved, fall asleep. Sleep and dream nice dreams—"

"Mhnn…" Souichi was pressed down on his back as Morinaga knelt over him, his recently- donned pajama top pushed up as the man explored the expanse of his skin. "…Don't—touch there…" The scar from the surgery was still red, the stitches still visible. "It's—ugly…hnnn…"

"How could it be ugly? Sempai, you are beautiful through and through…"

Morinaga kneaded at Souichi's nipples, licking them repeatedly until Souichi felt like he was going to go out of his mind. Then the man moved lower, his lips flush against the scar. Before Souichi could stop him, he was placing feathery kisses along its length, his hot breath making him shiver and buckle. "Tetsuhiro—!"

"This was where our baby lay in you, Sempai. To me, it could never be ugly…love you, every part of you." At this, the younger man looked up into Souichi's passion- glazed eyes. "Every part of you."

"Tetsu—! Kami—" Flinging his head back as Morinaga took him into his mouth, Souichi gripped the sheets, writhing in pleasure- agony. This heat, this exhilaration—only one person could make him feel like this. His heart beat in staccato as he panted with every pump of Morinaga's hand, every lick of his tongue. He could feel himself slicking up, sliding smoothly in and out of Morinaga's mouth, sometimes slow, sometimes fast. "Can't—Tetsuhiro—!"

The pants from the man puffed against Souichi's throbbing length and Souichi felt Morinaga's full arousal pressing against his thigh. Then he could not think at all as the man's teeth scraped against his leaking tip. Without warning, Souichi's hips jerked up of their own accord and he was spurting hotly, uncontrollably. Muscles coiled and wrenched with the power of his release. "Morinaga..."

"Sempai, can I—enter you now? I can't—hold on!" Shuddering as though Souichi's release were his own, Morinaga wiped the dribble of white from the corners of his mouth. Stripping off his pants, he wrapped Souichi's trembling form in his arms, the wet tip of his cock probing against his entrance. "Do you know how happy I'm today, Sempai? And it's all because of you—hnnn!"

"Ahh—!" Souichi was instantly filled to the brim, the feeling of Morinaga within him something that he had missed without knowing. They lay there without moving for a moment, simply gazing at each other, connected in the most primitive and intimate of ways. His own length started stirring into life again as he hooked his arms around his kouhai, bringing their lips together.

Slowly, Morinaga began to move, rocking their hips together that caused Souichi to see stars as the restless friction deep in him built up ceaselessly. Legs raised up high by Morinaga's strong arms, he clutched on to his lover for support as the momentum of his thrusts began to increase. Moans, gasps—every sound and every move melded together as Morinaga brought him to greater and greater heights of pleasure. "Tetsu—hiro—"

"Yes, Sempai—I love you—I love you!" With every exclamation, Morinaga would plunge with equal fervour, his arms sweating with the exertion. "This is—your sweet spot, Sempai—do you—feel good? Hnn!"

He could not think; he could not speak. Souichi could only hang onto Morinaga as his insides burned with intense heat, quivering and clenching wetly around his lover. Nonetheless, he pressed himself close to his heaving lover, feeling their racing hearts across their heated skins. "Hahh—uhnn…! Can't—Morinaga! This is—uhnn—uhnn!"

"Let's come together, Sempai—" With difficulty, Morinaga kissed Souichi deeply, his face contorted and flushed in the throes of his desire. He drove deeply into Souichi, holding it there for an endless moment.

Souichi gasped as he hit the deepest ache that he had wanted to be touched. A guttural groan clawed out of his throat, his nails scratching the length of Morinaga's broad back. "C-coming—!"

"Me too, Sempai—uhnn—feels good—feels like I could die right now—hnnn!" With one final thrust, Morinaga found his climax, his hands squeezing and pumping Souichi's wet length until he, too, found his. "Ahhh!"

"Haa…haa…" Bracing himself as Morinaga collapsed on top of him, Souichi kissed the top of his head as the man nuzzled against his shoulder blade. He was still embedded in him. "I'm glad…we told my father today…"

"Yea? Aww, Sempai, you are being so honest today…!" Shifting until he was no longer suffocating Souichi, Morinaga pulled out of him reluctantly but instantly pulled him again into his arms. "Can we do it one more time, Sempai? I have to do this while you are being so truthful—oww, oww!"

"Baka—! Are you saying that I've always been dishonest?" Souichi hit him hard, but his strength was only half- hearted. It was only Morinaga who could get beneath his skin like this…Before he could chicken out of embarrassment, Souichi sat up, crossing one leg across Morinaga's torso. His naked bottom brushed against his lover's dormant member, rubbing it sensually as semen began to trickle from his entrance. He gritted his teeth. There was no way he was going to do anything further if the man did not get his hint!

"Sempai, are you going to…straddle me?" Morinaga's astounded tone was almost insulting.

"Get a condom out from the drawer, baka! Damn, if I get pregnant again so soon, I'm going to kill you!"

"Ahh, but we forgot to wear it just now!" Scrambling to get the rubber, the younger man hastily pulled off the plastic packaging, holding the translucent item in his hand. "Put it on for me, Sempai?"

"Y-you are kidding me!" Souichi glared at the offending item. No way! He was already dying of embarrassment here, for Kami's sake!

"Please, Sempai?"

Feeling the rigid length of his lover pressing against his bottom, Souichi groaned. This man in front of him—! Morinaga's eyes were wide and pleading, his voice soft enough to weaken his resolve. Damn him, damn him! Unceremoniously, he snatched the condom from his kouhai's hand. "Just this once!"

"Yes, yes, Sempai!" Fervently nodding in agreement, Morinaga grinned happily.

"…!" His face burning so hot that he almost threw the rubber away and get off from Morinaga, Souichi hesitantly placed the rim of the condom over his lover's arousal. His fingers brushed against it, eliciting a gasp from the younger man.

"Sempai…!"

Unwilling to acknowledge the answering twitch from his own arousal, Souichi concentrated on unrolling the rubber. Through the thin barrier, his nails ran across the ridged surface of Morinaga's cock. Every little touch brought on jolts from his lover. It was unbelievably erotic.

Shaking a little, Souichi looked up when he had finished putting the condom over Morinaga. He began to lower himself over the rigid organ, groaning as he was stretched.

Soon, he was sheathing his lover's member again. Experimentally, he began to move, the condom barely taking away the heat as they rubbed against each other. "Morinaga…"

"You are beautiful, Sempai," Sprawled beneath Souichi, Morinaga's face was filled with wonder. His hand rose to cup the cheeks of his butt as they moved rhythmically. "Just—beautiful."

"S-silly, stop saying that I'm—beautiful! Hnnn…" Despite his words, despite his gritted teeth as the pleasure- pain caused him to teeter and grab hold of Morinaga's thighs, Souichi closed his eyes and submerged into the sensation of being loved by the man who could ensnare him with just words. But they had a lifetime ahead of them, a lifetime when his silly puppy- dog would drown him in his confessions and earnestness.

"Ahhh!"

As their bodies arched together, Souichi was locked in a strong embrace, his body bouncing with every desperate pump of Morinaga's cock.

""Uhnn, uhnn, uhnn! Mori—naga!"

He could handle it, Souichi supposed wildly as Morinaga thrust deeply into him, the inferno spreading like wildfire throughout his body.

"Yes—Morinaga—yes—!"

"Sempai!"

Yes, Souichi thought, his heart gamboling with every breathless gasp that he took. With a soundless cry, he bit into his lover's neck as the waves of release hit him over and over, Morinaga shouting out his name as he rode them with him. Clutching on to his man's shoulders, Souichi shivered from the musk of their desire.

Yes, he could handle a lifetime being together with him.

To be continued.

A/N: The lullaby is actually an English translation of Vita's "Lullaby". He's a Russian singer who sang Opera 2! The song's pretty sweet, if you want to listen to it. :)