Title: Late – Part 3
Date: 15 January, 2009
Words: 596
Characters: Matsumoto, Hitsugaya, Hanataro, mentions of Ukitake, Unohana, Kyoraku
Pairings: Hitsugaya & Matsumoto
Summary: Matsumoto and Hitsugaya get the test results back. Some gifts are given to Shuuhei and Renji.
Inspiration: I actually have no idea why this idea popped into my head…
Rating: PG-13/T – honestly, if you haven't realized by now that I include innuendoes and whatnot every chance I get (because it's usually funny) then you should commit this statement to memory 8-)

A/N: No real reason to share, but now that it's been brought to my attention, I felt compared to share the cuteness. I was informed last night that I have had my own personal HitsuMatsu sort of scene. Not romantically, but friendly. Anyway, some of this refers back to "Emergency" (chapter 14).

Please read and review!
-Rachel Noelle

Matsumoto smiled a small, sad smile. "Well, Toshiro…"

"Well?" Hitsugaya prompted, wondering what was taking so long for the answer, and if he wanted to know.

"It's negative." Matsumoto looked sad, and Hitsugaya couldn't help feeling a little down himself. Since they had accepted the possibility of a child and all…

"That's right, Rangiku-san," Hanataro put in. He smiled softly.

The group of three sat in silence until Hanataro made a sudden realization. "Wait, what did you say Rangiku-san?" Hanataro fidgeted nervously, fearing the worst.

"It says that the test was negative. See?" she pushed the paper toward Hanataro's face. It was the wrong test.

"Oh… Oh, my. I am so sorry, Hitsugaya taicho, Rangiku-san. That- that's the wrong test. Erm, I'm so sorry, please forgive me," he squeaked, fishing around in his pack for another letter. He handed it over and bowed low, a silent plea to not meet his untimely death.

"Oh," Matsumoto giggled. "That was my pap test. Silly me!" Hitsugaya looked ready to faint. Matsumoto made short work of the next envelope, ensuring it was indeed the correct test.

Hitsugaya groaned loudly. "Matsumoto…" he whined uncharacteristically.

She looked as nervous as Hanataro when she managed to speak again, smiling a half-smile. "Well, Taicho… it's positive."

Hitsugaya's face mimicked his earlier expression of shock perfectly. He took several short, quick breaths, Hanataro readying a paper sack in the event of hyperventilation. Unohana was very much correct when she suggested he stick around for a few minutes. Hitsugaya regained the ability to breathe properly and managed to close his mouth.

"So, that means that… you're going to… and I'm… and we're going to…" he couldn't fully finish his sentences.

It may have been the last thing they planned for, but Matsumoto couldn't say she wasn't excited. Unable to contain herself, she latched onto Hitsugaya, forcing them flat on the sofa, him pinned beneath her. "Congratulations, Daddy!" she chirped. Hitsugaya smiled. Before the commotion could get too… intimate, Hanataro saw himself out of the office, warning a few passing shinigami that they shouldn't go in there just yet.

"Daddy…" Hitsugaya tried the foreign word on his tongue. "Rangiku, really? A father? Me?"

Matsumoto's bright smile shone brighter, "Yes, you're going to be a daddy." She hugged him, more like glomped, kissing him happily.

"Daddy… Daddy… I think I like it," Hitsugaya smiled brightly enough to rival Matsumoto. Hitsugaya's smile fell. "I wonder what the soutaicho is going to say?"

"If Ukitake complains, we'll just remind him that this wouldn't have happened if Omaeda hadn't sat on our butterfly. They're the fools who left us behind, remember?" she responded, defensive.

That evening, Hitsugaya and Matsumoto made full use of most of the gifts from Ukitake and Kyoraku. The gifts that no longer served a purpose (an two bottles of the lubricant) they donated to Hisagi and Renji, who blushed deeply and stuttered incoherently when Hitsugaya handed them the basket, telling them that Matsumoto didn't want them 'catching anything.'

oOoOo

Ukitake, Unohana, and Kyoraku sat in the new office of the soutaicho in the thirteenth division, discussing their experiment. Unohana declared that she only agreed to participate because of the offer of more funding for the fourth division. Ukitake and Kyoraku both agreed that it was all about wanting to know if the rumors were true. As it turned out, they were.

They discovered that he wasn't simply a prodigy when it came to his talents as a taicho. Matsumoto could not have been on the placebo pills for more than two weeks before she was pregnant.

A/N: According to the enthusiasm from the reviews I've received for the last posting, this will probably end up being more than just the three-shot I planned. 8-) Rather, to simplify that, this will become part of the normal storyline, and I'll be sure to let you all know if a story isn't following this. What's strange is that I already have a full story focused on this topic in the works. I believe it was kingleby who said something on the "Earrings" chapter about hating to see her (Matsumoto screaming) in child birth, to which I responded that I actually was going to have to attempt that scenario. This wasn't the fic I was talking about. Lol. But, please enjoy, I had an overwhelming response of "Yes" from begging to simple statements. I am amazed. I was leaning to 'yes' myself, but I wondered if my readers would agree. And, boy, did you. 8-)

The next question will be: Is a wedding in the works?
-Rachel Noelle