Adjustment
They walked through the door in a daze, still reeling from what the doctor had said. Ichigo walked straight to the kitchen and grabbed a beer, chugging it until the can was dry before reaching for another. Grimmjow was right behind him and reached for one himself. He really wanted something stronger but it was all the way across the house in the wet bar and the beer was right there. They didn't speak to each other, didn't know what to say or how to say it even if they did. It wasn't as if they could do anything about it now that it had happened. They had wanted to be fathers so bad that they had chosen a path that they knew the possibility of multiple fetuses was high. Even knowing that, they had only been expecting the one baby.
After the doctor had announced that he would search for how many there were the room had gone silent and four sets of eyes watched the small screen in eager and nerve-wracking anticipation. Yuzu was still crying but other than the occasional sniffle was silent as well. The doctor smiled suddenly and tapped the screen.
"There's one and it's quite clearly a boy." He turned to Grimmjow. "Congratulations."
Another five minutes of searching and the doctor circled his finger around another small figure. "Number two, though I can't see the sex organ clearly enough I'd say this one is also a boy." He paused and squinted his eyes a bit. "I see two placentas but…." He trailed off and didn't say anything else for a while.
"Ah! And number three is hiding right back here." He tapped the screen once more and looked at Yuzu. "Looks like that's it but I'd like you to come back in three weeks for another sonogram to make sure. With this many fetuses it's easy for one or more to hide and as of now I can only definitely decipher the sex of one of them. Three weeks should be sufficient time for them to grow enough for me to both find all of them and sex them."
Grimmjow set down his empty beer can and stared at the counter in front of him. It was too much to take in all at once. Three babies? Maybe more? He shook his head and closed his eyes. When strong arms wrapped themselves around his waist he tried to force himself to relax. Ichigo leaned his head against the back of Grimmjow's shoulder and sighed.
"We're having a son." He said quietly, his voice muffled by the fabric of Grimmjow's shirt.
Grimmjow smirked and shook his head before turning around and kissing Ichigo's temple. "That's all yer thinkin' about?"
Ichigo shrugged. "The rest is too much and it won't change no matter how much I dwell on it. All we can really do is focus on the fact that we're getting a little more than we bargained for." He looked up into blue eyes and smiled, his eyes droopy and tired looking. "And we're having a son. Just like you wanted."
Grimmjow shook his head and grinned. "You're amazing sometimes, you know that?"
"Maybe I'm just too tired to think about anything right now."
Grimmjow laughed and grabbed Ichigo's hand. "Let's go lay down then."
No matter if it was the sleeplessness talking Ichigo was right. There wasn't anything they could do about it so there was no point in worrying over it. It was happening and they would take it as it came. And they would love their children no matter how many there were, though Grimmjow secretly hoped that it wouldn't be any more than they had already found.
Yuzu was resting on the couch, her head pressed back into the cushions and her feet propped up on the coffee table. The TV wasn't on but it didn't matter. For some reason Shinji had become her closet friend, one of the only people who could put up with her mood swings lately. Since everything had come out in the open years ago about what he and her brother had been doing for a living and what he continued to do she had had time to adjust to things. It wasn't that she didn't approve of it, it had just been a bit of a shock for her. At first anyway. Shinji was chattering on about how irritating the drama at the club was getting and she smiled to herself.
"Why do you still work there if you hate it so much?" She asked, her voice wary and sleepy.
Shinji stopped, she had interrupted him, and blinked at her. "I don't hate it really, it's just that with Yumi and Ikkaku broken up but still workin' together it makes everyone else all… well like we all gotta walk around on eggshells and shit. Pisses me off." He frowned at her suddenly. "You want me ta stop talkin' about it?"
"No, it's fine. It's just you don't seem very happy there and I'd rather you be happy."
Shinji grinned and leaned his head on her shoulder. "Yer so cute Yuzu-chan."
Years ago that would have made her day hearing those words come from him but now it only made her smile and pat his head.
"Ya know, I heard that talkin' to tha babies when they're in there helps with development and shit. Have ya been talkin' to them at all?"
"No." She blinked confusedly.
"Hmm. Maybe ya should have Ichi and Grimmjow talk to 'em since they're the daddy's." He almost laughed out loud at the idea of Grimmjow talking to Yuzu's belly. Ichigo might do it but he could see Grimmjow flat out refusing.
"That's a good idea Shin-chan. Thank you."
Shinji smiled and sat up straight. "No problem Yuzu-chan. So what time they pickin' ya up fer yer sonogram thingie?" He asked.
"Should be another fifteen minutes or so. Why?"
Shinji bit his lip and hoped he would have time. "Well, since I'm gonna be an uncle and all I was thinkin' I'd teach ya a lullaby okaachan used to sing ta me when I was a baby."
Yuzu squealed her delight and even clapped her hands together. "Oh that would be wonderful! I didn't even know you could sing."
Shinji blushed a little and grinned. "Well I ain't really all that good but ya don't hafta be good fer that kinda thing." He cleared his throat. "It's called Schlafe, mein Prinzchen or Sleep My Little Prince."
Yuzu smiled up at him and he couldn't help but smile back. He hadn't sung in front of anyone in years but since they were alone he took a deep breath and shifted his position on the couch so that he was lying on his stomach facing Yuzu's ever growing belly before starting out quietly.
Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein,
es ruhn Schäfchen und Vögelein,
Garten und Wiese verstummt,
auch nicht ein Bienchen mehr summt,
Luna mit silbernem Schein
gucket zum Fenster herein,
schlafe bei silbernem Schein,
schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein!
Alles im Schlosse schon liegt,
alles in Schlummer gewiegt,
reget kein Mäuschen sich mehr,
Keller und Küche sind leer,
nur in der Zofe Gemach
tönet ein schmachtendes Ach!
Was für ein Ach mag dies sein?
Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein.
Wer ist beglückter als du?
Nichts als Vergnügen und Ruh!
Spielwerk und Zucker vollauf,
und noch Karossen im Lauf,
alles besorgt und bereit,
daß nur mein Prinzchen nicht schreit.
Was wird da künftig erst sein?
Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein.
Yuzu let out a small squeal part way through his song and grabbed his hand, placing it over the top of her belly so that he could feel the fluttering inside. He had faltered only slightly but kept it up until he was finished. They sat there for a moment, Shinji's hand stretched out over Yuzu's rounded belly and Yuzu smiling down at him, when a throat was cleared and they both jumped and looked up into a pair of frowning blue eyes.
"The fuck you two doin'?" Grimmjow asked, not really sure why he was so pissed off about what he was seeing.
"Shin-chan was singing to the babies." Yuzu replied and pushed herself up off the couch. "Are we leaving right now?"
Grimmjow just nodded and sent a glare at Shinji who rolled his eyes and sat up himself. If Yuzu was leaving that meant it was time for him to leave as well. He wished fleetingly that he had a car, but his umbrella would have to do. Unfortunately the hospital was in the opposite direction from his apartment so he didn't bother asking for a ride. He kissed Yuzu's cheek and waved over his shoulder as he left, ducking out into the pouring winter rain.
"Alright let's go." Grimmjow said gruffly and led Yuzu to the car.
It was another tense wait at the hospital waiting room, and again in the room as they waited for the doctor. Ichigo was running late and barely managed to show up before the doctor did. He was still dressed in his work clothes and Grimmjow grinned at him when he came in the room panting.
"Yer not supposed to run in the hospital hallways, doctor."
"Shut up." He blushed.
Once again the doctor came in the room with a smile, squirted the gel over Yuzu's belly and set to work on finding the babies. He smiled at the screen before speaking.
"Oh my, they have grown." He said as he moved the wand around over the slick gel. "Here's a boy right here and just over here is the one he's sharing a placenta with which means that the both of them shared a single egg and… yes, this one is also a boy. We could do an amniocentesis to determine if they will be identical if you wish but it's not necessary. However since they are sharing the same placenta I would like you to start coming in weekly for sonograms so that we can keep an eye on them. In some cases TTTS or twin to twin transfusion can occur and if we catch it early we can prevent any damage to the fetuses. It only occurs about ten percent of the time but to be safe I'd like to keep an eye on that."
Yuzu nodded and both Ichigo and Grimmjow were surprised she hadn't started crying at the news. Ichigo himself felt a little uneasy about it but he couldn't tell from Grimmjow's expression how he felt.
"What is that?"
"Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome is a disease of the placenta. During pregnancy, when a single placenta is shared by two twins, abnormal blood vessels can develop, essentially connecting the circulatory systems of the two individual babies. The result is an unequal exchange of blood flow. One fetus becomes a donor of blood to the other, creating serious complications that endanger the health of both babies. But as I said this is a rather rare occurrence at best." The doctor smiled and offered to give them a pamphlet before they left. "Alright, let's find out how many others are in there shall we?"
Ichigo reached out and linked his fingers with Grimmjow's, pulling his attention away from the screen momentarily. Ichigo never did things like that in public let alone his place of work. Grimmjow squeezed his hand and grinned.
"Twin boys huh?" Ichigo grinned.
Grimmjow chuckled and fought the urge to kiss him in front of the doctor. Yuzu giggled. "I wonder what else is in there." She said in a dreamy voice.
It was another fifteen minutes before anyone spoke and this time it was the doctor who broke the silence. "Alright, are you three ready?"
Each one of them gulped and nodded, waiting with bated breath to hear what the verdict was.
"There is one more fetus in there and she's hiding under her brothers."
Grimmjow's lips twitched. He was going to have a daughter too? He heard a rush of air leave Ichigo's lungs and turned to him to see a wash of relief, happiness and wariness cross his face. They were officially fathers of three, two twin boys and a single baby girl. He wasn't sure what to feel but either way he still couldn't stop the smile from creeping up to his lips and stretching them.
"So can I pee now?" Yuzu broke his thoughts and he heard the doctor chuckle.
"Yes go ahead, we're done here anyway unless you have any questions." When Yuzu shook her head he smiled and turned off the machine before standing. "Be sure to make an appointment for next week at the front desk."
Once alone in the room Ichigo grabbed Grimmjow by his shirt and pulled him close, kissing him briefly before pulling back with a smile.
"Oh God, three." It didn't have the impact it would have had he been frowning, the smile ruining it just a bit. "Three kids."
Grimmjow grinned, still not exactly sure how to feel but letting happiness take precedence over his uncertainty. "Three." He whispered before pulling Ichigo back for another kiss, this time mouths opening and tongues tangling.
They were startled by a giggle and pulled apart quickly but only because Ichigo basically pushed Grimmjow off him. Yuzu shook her head.
"You should be proud of your love, Onii-chan."
Ichigo frowned. "I am proud, it's just…."
"Don't worry about it Yuzu. I don't think he'll ever be up for PDA really." He laughed when Ichigo turned his frown on him. "How about we go eat? Whatever you want Yuzu."
Yuzu grinned and placed a hand on her belly. "Let's have Chinese!"
It was three days later that that Grimmjow finally approached Ichigo with an idea he had had for a while now. He didn't like that they only saw Yuzu and subsequently their unborn children only when they took her to the doctors. He hadn't been sure what to do about that until he had seen Shinji with her and seen how close and companionable they were. It wasn't so much that he didn't want them being friends, it wasn't his place to say so anyway, it was just pissing him off that the blond spent more time around his unborn children than he did. It wasn't fair.
Ichigo had been home for about an hour, had showered and was now sitting next to him on the couch as they decided what to watch on TV that night. He sighed and scowled at his feet.
"I think we should have Yuzu move in until the babies are born." He said without preamble.
Ichigo stopped flipping channels and turned to him with a quizzical look. "You sure about that?"
"Of course I am. Shouldn't we be there for the development of our children?" Grimmjow shot out angrily, not really sure why he was angry about it anyway.
"But aren't pregnant women really moody. I mean you heard what she did to my dad a while back right?"
Grimmjow sighed. "I just think it would be nice… ya know, to see how they're comin' along and shit."
Ichigo didn't want to immediately admit that he liked the idea. He wanted to make sure that Grimmjow was serious about it before he did that.
"Really?"
"Yes really, stupid."
"Don't yell at me, I was just makin' sure. I know how you get when people are here and if Yuzu moves in you can forget about sex until she leaves."
"Oh fuck that! You just need to keep yer mouth shut while I fuck ya." He grinned then and Ichigo scowled.
"Yuzu has better ears than Karin and I don't want her listening to us. It's gross."
"Too bad. She's moving in and yer still gonna let me fuck that tight ass of yers. End of conversation."
"Why did you even bring it up if you had already made up your mind. You act like my opinion doesn't count at all you know."
"It counts, but not in this case."
"God you can be such an asshole, you know that?" Ichigo stood and left the room and Grimmjow glared at the TV. That hadn't exactly gone as he had wanted it to.
The move to Grimmjow and Ichigo's home went relatively smoothly even if Yuzu did sense a bit of tension between the two. She didn't ask even though she was itching to. She had already been there a month and she was adjusting rather well. Since she wasn't in school at the moment and working was out of the question with her mood swings and fatigue, she was often left alone in the condo but she didn't mind it much. She sewed little outfits for the babies and tried to teach herself how to knit, though that project was currently abandoned in the corner of her room due to her frustration.
She was currently in the living room relaxing on the couch with Aiko, her favorite of the three cats, when the front door opened and Grimmjow walked in. She frowned at the clock.
"You're home early today." She commented, not bothering to move from her spot.
"Yeah, uh… I wanted to talk to you before Ichigo got home tonight." He looked nervous about something and it made Yuzu frown even harder.
"What is it?"
Grimmjow sighed and sat on the couch next to her while he tried to figure out what to say. He had thought about this for a while, had even rehearsed what he would say on the car ride home but he couldn't remember it any more. It frustrated him that he was like this sometimes and he had to stop himself from clenching his fists.
"I… heard that talking to the babies was a good thing." He mumbled. "Get's them used to the people they're gonna be around when they come out and stuff."
Yuzu smiled. So Shinji's little lullaby had made an impression on him after all. She had wondered about that for a while but had finally decided that he hadn't thought anything about it. Apparently she had been wrong, though he didn't seem inclined to sing to her belly as Shinji had, and still did on occasion.
"I think that's a great idea Grimmjow." She grabbed his hand and placed it over her belly, smiling at his apprehensive expression. "If you do this you'll be able to feel their reactions to your voice."
Grimmjow tried to smile but ended up frowning instead. He didn't know what to say.
"Tell them who you are." Yuzu prompted.
"Uh… I'm Grimmjow?" He rolled his eyes.
"Forget I'm here if it helps."
"How can I forget yer here if I'm touching you?" He groused. When she didn't reply he closed his eyes and tried again. "I'm one of your daddy's." He took a deep breath before snorting a little. "I know that's sounds weird but you have two of us. Me and Ichigo. Yuzu is your biological mom but… well I guess basically when yer all born you'll just call her auntie or whatever. I think she'd like that. Sorry you won't grow up with an actual mom but you get two dads and that's more than some kids get." He sighed and leaned unconsciously closer to Yuzu's belly. Now that he was talking, having closed his eyes making it easier for the words to flow, he couldn't seem to stop. Everything that he had been holding back was now bursting forth like someone had turned on a faucet or opened the flood gates on a dam. "I'm not really sure what kind of parent I'm gonna be. I don't really remember my parents other than they were assholes, but you don't really need to hear about them since you'll never meet them. I just really hope I don't fuck you up like they did for me. I… no, I would never do that to you."
He stopped when his hand was kicked several times and he looked up at Yuzu with a curious expression.
"They recognize your voice. Every time you're near me and you speak they go crazy. Same with Onii-chan." She grinned and Grimmjow felt himself do the same at her next words. "They don't react nearly this way with Shin-chan."
"Oh yeah? Good."
Yuzu giggled at that and watched as Grimmjow looked down at her belly. "You can put your ear to it and hear them move and hear their heart beats too."
Grimmjow's eyes widened. "Really?"
She nodded and waited to see what he would do. He seemed to be in deep debate but his hand had yet to leave her and the babies were still moving like crazy. Slowly, as if still unsure of his movements, he lowered himself and placed his ear against Yuzu's soft skin. He jumped back when one of the babies kicked and chuckled nervously before trying again. When nothing happened this time he closed his eyes and sighed as he listened. Yuzu was right, he could hear something but he wasn't sure it was heart beats. They sat there for a long time and Yuzu was happy to see a small, rarely seen contented smile on his face. It was the smile he only showed when he and Ichigo were together and only when he thought no one was looking. Yuzu had only seen it a handful of times but she found him the most handsome at those times. If his sons looked anything like him the women of Japan were in great trouble once they were grown.
"What time is it?" Grimmjow asked suddenly, his eyes still closed and his ear still pressed against her.
"Five to six."
Grimmjow sighed and sat up, rubbing her belly once before pulling away almost reluctantly. "Uh… don't tell Ichigo about this, okay?" He scratched the back of his head and looked away as he cleared his throat. He wasn't sure why he wanted to keep this from him but he just didn't want him to find out. Not yet anyway.
Yuzu smiled warmly and shifted in her seat. "Okay Grimmjow. I won't." She could have sworn she saw the barest of blushes on his face as he left the room and had to fight hard to control her giggle. He was even more handsome when he blushed.
A/N Okay translation time. The words to the German lullaby that Shinji sang are:
Sleep, my little prince, fall asleep:
the lambs and birdies are resting,
the garden and meadow are silent
,and even the little bee hums no more.
Luna with a silver gleam
is pouring her light into the window.
Sleep by the silvery light,
sleep, my little prince, fall asleep!
Everyone in the castle is already lying down:
everyone is cradled in slumber,
and even the little mouse rustles no more.
The cellar and kitchen are empty,
only in the chambermaid's quarters
one can hear a languishing sigh!
What kind of sigh might this be?
Sleep, my little prince, fall asleep!
Who is happier than you?
Nothing but amusement and rest!
Toys and sugar enough,
and even a stately coach to convey you;
everyone is careful and ready
so that my little prince will not shriek.
But what will the future bring?
Sleep, my little prince, fall asleep.
The song was written by Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter in the 18 century. I got the translation online but if any of it is wrong please let me know and I'll change it. Anyway, congrats to all those who guessed it would be three babies :D I really hoped you liked this chapter. Getting closer and closer to the birth. *squee* So what didja think?? Hope you enjoyed it and ZOMG already over 100 review and only three chapters posted. Holy Jeebus Duckies! Thank you so much :D:D
~Penny