Tomoyuki and Tomoe knew. So did Ryuu, Teppei, and Retsu. However, Tomoyuki knowing meant that a trip to the mountains was very soon in their future. Though Tomoyuki wasn't the most social person on Earth, he would eventually get around to calling Grandfather. So… mountains… joy.

Fumino could feel her blood pressure rising even as she packed the care for the day trip.

Though their relationship had certainly improved since their reconciliation a year and a half ago, Fumino still wasn't on the best of terms with the elder. Grandfather had never quite approved of her marriage to Kazuma. Yes, he was no longer ready to shoot the English teacher (he had been after Fumino had 'truly' become Kazuma's wife), but there was still a heavy disapproval whenever he thought Kazuma was taking too many liberties while in his sight.

She wasn't really sure how he would take the news of her coming child. On one hand… he could behave like a 'normal' Grandpa and be joyful and pleased… or he could be a rude old goat and tell Kazuma he was a child rapist again (Even though she was and had always been of age).

Fumino gave another worried sigh as she continued to pack the car. It would take a few hours to get there and Teppei would probably get hungry on the way…

Strong arms wrapped around he and pulled Fumino close to broad, warm chest.

"Stop thinking so hard, Fumino. It'll be fine. I promise." Kazuma murmured into her hair.

"He still doesn't like you." Fumino murmured. She turned in his arms and buried her face into his strong form. Mm… his T-shirt smelled nice.

"He doesn't have to. You keep forgetting; this child is as much mine as it is yours. He's going to be a great grandfather. For all that he doesn't like me, he's not going to hate a baby that came from you."

"But-"

"I don't care, Fumino. Whatever he says doesn't bother me so long as I can have you safe and happy." Kazuma raised an arm and weaved his fingers through her hair. It was meant to soothe her, but all Fumino felt was a deep pool of sadness.

"But I hate it when he disrespects you. You're my family just as much if not more than he is. He shouldn't call you things like that. They aren't even true." Fumino murmured. Tears pricked her eyes. She tried to swallow them down. Fumino wasn't a child anymore. She would be nineteen soon.

Fumino could no longer allow her husband to be the only strong adult in the house. After all, there was going to be another little one to protect soon.

"Can you change it?" Kazuma asked.

"No," Fumino answered honestly.

"Then stop worrying needlessly. What will happen will happen; there's nothing you gain by fretting yourself to illness." Kazuma released he and pulled back to look her in the eyes.

"Buncha, can we go yet?" Teppei called from within the car. He was already buckled into his new dinosaur booster seat.

"Give me just a minute more," Fumino called as she finished packing a few more cracker packets into the day bag. Kazuma closed the hatch for her. He had already begun doing things for her and she wasn't even showing yet.

Together, they walked to their own respective doors and buckled into the front seats. Kazuma gave Fumino a meaningful look, started the car, and began to drive. They were on their way.

Grandfather greeted them happily. Over the time since their reconciliation, the elderly man had come to treasure their visits quite highly. They often were greeted with sweets and offers of drinks before being led to the living room for long talks and bonding time. By the time they would leave, both parties would have shared every single thing that had happened in the other's absence and Teppei would have received several more toys. Though… he occasionally did glare at Kazuma. Just a little.

This time really would have been no different if not for the news Fumino carried both in her hands and in her womb.

Once the trio had been seated on the patched couches, the Kaji family head seated himself opposite and grinned at them happily. It had been a little while since their last visit.

"Welcome back, Teppei-kun, Fumino-chan, Kazuma."

"Hi, Grampa!" Teppei bounced over and gave the elderly man as tight a hug as the child was able. "Guess what, guess what, Grampa?!" The child cried gleefully as he situated himself on the Kaji patriarch's leg. "We have a surprise for you this time, Grampa!" Teppei cried. He practically vibrated in place with excitement. Though Fumino and Kazuma had told Teppei not to tell the elderly man about Fumino's baby, the child was still very excited to be able to talk to 'Grandpa' about his soon to be niece or nephew.

"A surprise? Don't you know I'm too old for that?" The man pushed his bushy, white eyebrows together and stared down at his grandson in a joy-filled mockery of distaste.

"No!" The child squealed. "Grampa's not old!"

"I'm not? Well then, I guess I'm not too old to do this, then!" Grandfather laughed as he began to tickle Teppei's sides mercilessly.

"Ahhaha! No! Hahaha! Grampa!" Teppei shrieked loudly as he waved his limbs about wildly. After a few moments, Grandfather finally released Teppei from his hold. The shrieking preschooler ran and jumped into Kazuma's waiting arms.

"Bad Grampa!" Teppei cried out as he pointed an accusing finger at Grandfather Kaji. The elderly man only shrugged and gave a roll of his stiff shoulders. Then, he turned to the married couple in seriousness.

"Now, what's this surprise that's got Teppei-kun so worked up?" Grandfather Kaji asked. Fumino looked over to Kazuma nervously. After the train-wreck telling Teppei and Tomoyuki had been, the young couple had decided they needed a more concrete plan to tell someone as… temperamental as Grandfather Kaji could be. In the end, neither English professor nor student could think of the magic words with which to tell Grandfather Kaji. Instead, they had gone a rather roundabout way involving a trip to the doctor's office and a small, pink and blue gift box. Now, Kazuma carefully withdrew the small package from the folds of his jacket. As he handed it to the aged patriarch, Fumino snuggled herself closer to Kazuma and ran a delicate hand through Teppei's hair.

No magic words had come to the couple, but perhaps actions would do the trick instead.

A magic trick, as it were.

Slowly, Grandfather Fumino took hold of the box and began to fumble with the pink and blue ribbon. He looked up at Kazuma suspiciously when the fancy lace was removed before he opened the box.

For a moment, the elder man was absolutely still. Then, he tenderly lifted out a small, black and white picture with a few scrawled words on the side.

Congratulations! You're going to be a Great-Grandfather!

Fumino held her breath and grabbed hold of Teppei. If Grandfather Kaji became upset, she was going to take Teppei and leave. Though she loved her grandfather, she despised his temper and refused to let Teppei become a victim of it.

Fumino felt Kazuma place a hand on top of her own.

However, no outburst came. Instead, the old man got up, grabbed his cane, and walked unsteadily from the room. The whole time he never once let go or looked away from the ultrasound photo.

Fumino looked over at Kazuma in confusion. Of all the reactions they had tried to predict, this was not one they were prepared for.

Fumino steeled herself. Then she kissed Teppei gently on the head.

"Stay here a minute, Teppei. I'm going to go talk to Grandfather." Fumino instructed before she stood and followed her grandfather out.

At first, she couldn't see him anywhere. The hall looked empty and she wondered if the aged man had gone outside for a walk.

Then she heard a sniffle.

Fumino turned and saw first the gray hair and then the hunched shoulders. Grandfather Kaji was sitting before the family shrine. Tears ran down his face while his eyes remained glued to the picture of his late wife. A moment later, his eyes lowered to gaze into the face of his son; caught forever in a smile as he could no longer smile in life.

Slowly, so as not to spook the man, Fumino approached the elder Kaji. For a moment it appeared he had not noticed her approach.

"She would have loved to see her great grandchildren. She was better than me; would never 'ave let you two go anywhere but home with us. All the same, she would have loved to see this. Probably would have approved of your marriage too. I swear, that woman never grew up." Grandfather Kaji's voice was rough with pain and tears. As Fumino looked at the picture containing the memory of his beloved wife and could not fault him. If she lost Kazuma, would she not also cry at anything he would have loved but could not be there for?

Carefully, Fumino settled on her knees beside him.

"What was she like?" Fumino asked.

Old eyes looked her way before a sad smile woke from underneath them.

"She was a lot like you."

Fumino looked at the bright smile and the unmanageably curly hair. It peaked out of a white bonnet and rested wildly across her shoulders. The woman's dark eyes grinned mischievously, and she clutched a bouquet of wildflowers and weeds in her fists. Though her face had a few laugh lines, the youth of her spirit was readily apparent. Even frozen for all of eternity, Grandmother Kaji's memory still held a bright sparkle of unmistakable vibrancy.

"Yeah. I can see that. Tell me more?"

"Okay."

I don't know why I'm doing this. I have an eight page paper due in less than two weeks, but it is now of all times that I'm writing and trying to catch up with my schedule (I was a whole week behind, now I'm almost caught up). After those two weeks, I have to get my wisdom teeth removed and another HUGE paper due. I don't know why I'm doing this. I've got way too much to do, yet here I am. Writing away in Eng 102 instead of listening on how to accurately use the four main different types of sentences.

Please pray over my homework and papers... I think I'll need it.

~Blitza