We were met with a bit of a surprise when we got home from the hospital. Hiei was leaning against the door of the house, waiting for us to return.

"There you are." Hiei snapped. He stood straight up, and walked impatiently towards us. "You wouldn't answer your phone, Kurama."

I stifled a laugh. He would never admit it, but he was worried about us. I gave him a sweet smile, and his angry expression softened a bit.

"I'm sorry, we were at the hospital. I had to turn off my cell phone there." Kurama explained patiently.

Hiei's crimson eyes widened in shock. "Hospital? Why?" He stared straight at me. "Are you…?"

"I'm fine," I assured him. "I wouldn't have even gone, if not for him." I glared at Kurama playfully. It was sad that this had only started out as a topic change.

Kurama shrugged, giving me a small grin. "The baby's broken a couple of her ribs. We wanted to get her checked out, to make sure she's okay."

"Fractured. Just fractured." I argued. "Not as serious. No danger of ruptured organs, or anything, sir."

Hiei still looked doubtful. "Well…Alright. Just take it easy."

I rolled my eyes. As if Kurama would let me do anything but that.

"Are you sure it was the baby, and not the demon that broke your ribs?" Hiei asked suspiciously.

"Quite positive. I don't feel any damage from the attack, other than bruises. They took sonograms, to check my organs, too." Hiei still wasn't convinced. "Please," I sighed, brushing his cheek, "don't worry so much."

Hiei turned away from me, probably to hide his concern. "Who said I was worried? I just want you to be careful."

I smiled at him, even though he didn't see. Kurama escorted me into the house, and a moment later, Hiei followed us.

(*o*)( =^_^=)(*o*)

"Hey," I asked, after we had gotten settled in the living room with cups of tea, "weren't you supposed to be on a mission with Yusuke, Genkai, and Kuwabara?"

Hiei scoffed. "They're just trying to find out information, right now. A follow-up on that hospital on the edge of town. They don't need me."

"Meaning, Aya needed you more instead?" Kurama teased.

"Hn." Hiei replied, just the tad bit annoyed. I swallowed a giggle.

"Actually," Hiei said, irritation still in his voice as he changed the subject, "I was hoping that you could help us find the missing girls. With internet or whatever."

I smiled. "Oh, Hiei, you do care about other people!" I cried in fake surprise. It felt good to be on the opposite end of the joke.

He glared angrily at me. "No I don't," he growled. "Koenma wanted me to ask you to do that. Stop ruining my image."

This time, both Kurama and I burst out into laughter. Hiei didn't seem to get any angrier, so I assumed he had purposefully meant that as humor. After a minute of hysterical laughing, I wiped my eyes, clutching my stomach.

"Oh, ouch…" I said, still giggling a little. "Laughing hurts."

"Well, if it kills you, at least we'll know you died happy." Hiei retorted.

I glared at him. "I'm so glad you're showing such concern for me, sir." I snapped back. Kurama hastily raised his hands between us.

"Now now," He said, trying to calm us down. I shot Hiei a playful grin, fully aware that I had successfully won the last word. His blood red eyes held the promise of a certain hell for me to come in the future, courtesy of him. I began to concoct a method of faking a ruptured kidney…

Kurama set his hand softly on my stomach, taking me away from my malevolent plotting. His expression as he smiled as my bulging belly was so gentle, and full of love. Oh, he was going to be a great father!

I placed my hand over his and smiled at him. I felt myself drowning in his beautiful green eyes…I heard Hiei scoff, and walk towards the direction of the bedrooms. Apparently we were getting a little too mushy for his comfort level. Just fine with me…

Taking advantage of Hiei's absence, Kurama leaned over to kiss my neck. I giggled as his lips brushed over a ticklish spot before I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"You're a liar," Kurama whispered.

I blinked, and my grip on his neck loosened. Those weren't exactly the sweet nothings I liked to have whispered in my ear.

"Beg pardon, sir?" I asked, as Kurama sat straight up, chuckling.

"You were lying about the baby breaking your ribs at breakfast. Sure, he did give you broken ribs, but not then…" Kurama glanced up at me through amused eyes.

I pouted. "How long did you know?" I complained.

"I suspected when you first cried out. You've endured far more pain that a broken rib without uttering a sound. And, just now, if you were truly in the pain of a newly broken rib, I couldn't seduce you."

He bent down to nibble at my neck, and I pushed him away in annoyance. "In my defense, I'm pregnant. And hormonal."

Kurama chuckled. "Oh, I know that. Very well." I nudged him in the side.

"Be nice. Or I might go into labor seven weeks early."

Kurama bit my ear playfully. "Not likely. You're too stubborn for that."

I scoffed. "Some husband you are."

Kurama laughed. "You know I love you."

I smiled back. "Sometimes I wonder…"

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♥ Lark ♥