Ok, so this chappie's a bit long, but then, it's a very emotional chapter, and I tried my best to make it as touching as possible. I hope you like it. :)

Daddy's Corner

Baby's Name: Thinking, still thinking.

Fears: Mood swings, commitment, mushy talks, angry hormone-filled pregnant women

Thoughts to ponder: Err, will never ever look at pregnant ladies the same again… Feel me shuddering! *shudder, shudder*

20 Weeks

Misaki stared at her phone, and nothing.

It's been three days since Kaname last called, so maybe, just maybe, she should call him this time.

She picked it up and dialed. The phone rang seven times, (yup, she counted) then a small voice picked up. It sounded like a girl.

"He-hello?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, but is Kaname there?"

"Well, are you an immediate relative of his?"

"Well, no. I'm a close friend of his."

"Oh, err, do you happen to have any contact with any of his relatives? Family?" Her tone stuck out hints of concern and panic.

"Uhh, Kaname's an only child and he's basically an orphan now. So, yeah. Why? What happened?"

"May I ask you name, ma'am?"

"Misaki Andou."

"Would you happen to have time to drop by the hospital today? It's very urgent."

[In the hospital…]

Misaki frantically made her way through the halls as she worried about her very dear friend.

What if…? No. This can't happen. Easy, Misaki.

People stared at the pregnant woman running in panic mode. Misaki ignored them.

Then she reached the room. Her hands slid to the cold silver doorknob and Misaki breathed in a deep breath.

Easy girl.

Her eyes widened when she saw the sight before her. Nurses and doctors were surrounding the bed, so she had to move closer to get a better look.

No, no, no…

Kaname was breathing heavily, his hands tightly gripping the metal railings of the bed. He was shaking all over, and his skin color had turned into a sickly shade of gray. His lids fluttered open feebly. Then his trembling reduced a bit when he saw his new visitor.

"Oh. *cough* Misaki!"

"Kaname…"

"I-I'm *cough* so sorreee…*cough* *cough* I wasn't able to call… *cough*" Blood spatters stained the white blanket he was holding onto so tightly. Tears welled up in Misaki's eyes.

"Hey, *cough*, what's wrong?" Kaname attempted to scrunch is forehead, but he was too weak to do so that it didn't look like he was even worried. Misaki looked at pity at her friend.

Kaname had looked frailer and more fragile than the last time she saw him, which was exactly two months ago. The dark circles under his eyes were now darker and bigger while his whole body seemed nothing more than bones and plain old gray skin. Misaki held back the tears.

"You are a friend of Sonoh-kun's, I presume?"

"Y-yes."

"Doc, can I say it?"

"Sonoh-kun…"

"Misaki, I don't have much time anymore. *cough* That's *cough* why I'm leaving the *cough* factory to the o-orphanage, and *cough*, I hope Tono and Megane would manage my documents and accounts, *cough* when I'm…" Kaname let out a series of coughs, followed by a light spray of blood on some areas of the once immaculate cloth of his downer quilt and hospital gown.

He gave a shudder. "P-please, *cough*, take care of B-bear for me… *cough*" His body trembled and his eyelids drooped. His chest now rapidly rising and falling.

"Doc! We're losing him!" A nurse shrieked. The doctors suddenly huddled around the enormous machine beside Kaname's bed.

"Kaname, no!" Misaki held on to Kaname's fragile body that was shaking.

A soft paw strongly tugged on Misaki's pants. She looked down. It was Bear. And it was still astonishing to find out that this little creature lived long enough to even see his maker die before him. But time never pardoned anybody, or anything, which left the once cuddly stuffed toy a ragged, worn-out, and matted dish cloth. One of his eyes looked loose and was about to come off while his left leg had several stitches that were clumsily and hastily done. His right paw has a tear in it, and his left paw seemed like it was about to run out of stuffing.

He tugged on Misaki's pants again. She quizzically looked at him with big, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. Then Bear glanced up on a nurse and the nurse quickly understood. She picked him up and placed him by Kaname's side.

Bear lay down on his maker's dying figure.

"B-b-bear… *cough* I-iim so soree, *cough* *cough*, I haven't been a-able to *cough* look after y-you-you… *cough*" Kaname sadly stated with all the remaining strength he could muster. Bear stroked his face.

"L-l-love you gu-guys… *cough*" And with that, Kaname let out a final tremor that shook the entire bed. Misaki fell on her wobbly knees that gave away, her tears continuously streaming down her face, her sobbing evident across the room. The final beeping sound was heard. Bear looked puzzled by the sound of this. He looked around.

Kaname now looked like he was enveloped in a deep and peaceful slumber. Bear cocked his head and pressed an ear against Kaname's non-moving chest. His tedious face thoughtful after a few seconds. Then he lifted his head and looked at Misaki, who was being helped up by a nurse.

"Ma'am, it won't be good for the baby if you frequently fall down like that." The nurse's worried tone was very evident against Misaki's muffled sobs.

Bear then instinctively crawled under Kaname's blanket and got something from his now relaxed hands. He was going to hand that over to Misaki later on since Kaname mentioned it was a letter for all his friends, especially Bear. And since he was unable to read, he was going to let Kaname's friends read it.

He limply jumped from the bed. Then he took one last look at his owner's now dead and lifeless body.

All those years of earnestly waiting by the hospital, whether rain or shine, for his owner to come out through those shiny glass doors, were now summed up to this one moment in time. It was the most depressing moment ever in his life, for as far as he can remember. He was sad alright, and mourning too, although it didn't show, for he was sewn that way, showing no tiny hint of emotion in that indifferent stuffed face. But on the other hand, he already knew that Kaname had sewn him with a heart, which was making him feel the way he was right now.

Bear knew, for Kaname himself had once told him that he made him lovingly with tiny pieces of his heart. Oh how he was truly going to miss his owner. He wistfully wished to perish away together with Kaname at that moment. And yet…

Bear glanced over at Misaki. She was still weeping on the nurse's shoulders, while the young, timid-looking intern didn't seem to mind. Then he remembered the things he'd miss if he were to vanish right now…

He'd miss Mikan's loving touch of warmth, Tsubasa's sly yet dazzling smile whenever he'd carry him on his shoulder, and Ruka's hypnotic animal pheromones whenever he got too near. He'd yearn for Youichi's affectionate cuddles, Anna and Nonoko's homemade bear-shaped cookie potions and Misaki's tender hands that always stroked his head whenever he seemed dismal or dreary. But most of all, he'd miss this.

He'd miss the moments when his owner's friends, no, his friends would need a shoulder to cry on or an assuring hand to pat them, telling them it's alright. He'd really miss this.

He walked over to Misaki and rubbed her back.

Misaki stopped for a bit, and turned around to grab Bear by the arms. Then she scooped him up and hugged him.

Yeah, Bear would certainly miss this too. He held on to Kaname's letter tightly, the nurse's covering his maker's body with a blanket. The nurse escorted them out the room with Bear in Misaki's arms.

[In the apartment…]

Misaki dragged her feet to the couch the moment she got inside the room. Then she put Bear down on the floor beside the sofa and slumped down on the couch.

This day had been particularly emotionally draining and tiring, and it seemed like it was too much for her and the baby inside of her to take. She let herself fall facedown. Then she wept. Bear came over to comfort her once again.

After several minutes, Tsubasa came in through the doors.

"I'm hoooome!" He squealed lovingly. He apparently didn't seem to notice Misaki's hunched figure lying on the couch.

"And it's only seve – Eh? Bear? What are you doing here?" He apparently seemed to notice. Bear walked over to him and handed him a crumpled piece of paper.

Tsubasa opened it and read the contents that were written in Kaname's messy cursives.

To all my dear friends,

By the time you may be reading this, I might have passed away without any further notice. Well then, if that's the case, then I'm completely sorry. Anyway, I'm not exactly sure how this letter may reach you, but when my time finally comes, I hopefully wish it can land in any of your hands.

Tono, if you're reading this, I want you to tell the other guys about this letter ok? In case you don't know, I'm leaving you in charge of looking after the guys and my documents and the such. This won't be hard since I'll have Megane to help you with it. Anyway, be a good boy, or else I'll come to haunt you if you break the heart of a girl that truly loves you. Of course, at the sound of this, you might laugh, but then, I strongly believe that the day when you find your true love would arrive some day. And I'm sure it would surface any time now. Don't worry, I give you my blessing.

If this paper happened to land in Megane's hands, I'm sure you already know what to do. Tono and you would be helping each other out involving my documents and accounts ok? And yeah, well that may have seemed boring, but I'm sure you'll find some pretty interesting stuff I've specifically left out in one of my file cabinets just for you. I hope you find it soon, and I'd be very happy if you did. Anyway, feel free to call me Kaname-chan anytime, ok? I'm perfectly fine with that.

Tsubasa… Or Misaki.

I'm leaving Bear to your care ok? Please look after him and fill in the missing gap I've left out in his life. It is not necessary to make him a part of your lives, especially with a baby on the way, but then, please do promise, that you will show him your love ok? I believe that it has been a thing he's been deprived of ever since I've overstayed my welcome at the hospital. I trust you to do this very important job, ok?

And Bear…

Tsubasa paused. He walked over to the couch where Misaki was still sobbing silently. Then he sat down next to Misaki's hunched figure and resumed reading, hastily blinking back the tears that were forming in his eyes.

I'm truly sorry for suddenly leaving you out after all these years. You know that deep down, you will always be my favorite creation ever, because I personally laced you with compassion and emotion when I first made you. You also perfectly know that I embedded my heart into you, not literally, but you get my point. I'm guessing Tsubasa or somebody else is reading this to you, and so I hope you understand this: No matter how far apart we may be, my love and concern for you would never fade with the miles. And yes, I'm sorry for being so cheesy, but it's really true. Be good, Bear, and don't be a trouble to Tsubasa and Misaki, ok?

Guys, I've lived a happy and fulfilled life, and even though it had been an extremely short one, it had been so full of the most wonderful and beautiful events and things a person like me could ever witness. Thank you for the love and compassion, you guys. Please do take care of the factory, I'm donating all my money to the orphanage, but Misaki can keep some for her baby, my treat. Then take care of the orphans, and visit them often. And please do look after Mr. Bear, because yeah, he's just a kid deep down, like every one of us, even now. Give him my love as I give my fullest regards in this letter here. Thank you, for everything.

-Kaname

Wet tears dropped from Tsubasa's rigid jaw and onto the letter, smudging some of the letters. He didn't know how or when, but by the looks of his depressed and weeping pregnant wife, he was guessing it happened today.

He looked down at Misaki and stroked her hair. Then she picked her up and took her into his arms.

"Just like old times." Misaki murmured into his chest.

"Just like old times." Tsubasa murmured back into her hair.

So, did you cry? Was it ok? Huh? Tell me your feedback please, and please do kindly insert whether you cried, jerked a tear, got misty-eyed, or kept a poker face? So, what? Please R&R.