A/N I don't own Vampire Knight nor do I make any profit from it

Chapter 31 - Parenthood

Hikari woke up earlier than her husband that day. Kaname had been holding her in a vice-like grip and was almost lying on top of her. She needed to get out and think about how she was going to tell Kaname about how she might be pregnant. He wouldn't be happy… she knew that. Haruka was still a baby. They hadn't planned on having anymore children… at least until Haruka was older and not breast feeding.

Flashes of the few hours before passed in her mind's eye. It made her blush deeply at how intimate they were now compared to how she was at the start of their marriage. She let a hand caress his soft hair. It was messy due to the fact that she had been burying her hands in it in the highest times of ecstasy. His hands held her so delicately yet firmly, keeping her safely in his grasp, "Kaname…" she whispered as if his name was a prayer. His smooth skin shone in the midday light like marble, perfectly smooth and soft.

She wiggled out from Kaname's grip and picked up her underwear from the floor, "Where are you going," Kaname whispered.

"Lord Kaname," Hikari gasped, "I didn't know you were awake."

"Well, I am and I didn't give you permission to leave," Kaname said as he sat up and ran a hand through his messy hair. Hikari bit her lip regretfully.

"Please forgive me for my rudeness, my lord," Hikari whispered.

Kaname gazed at her for a moment, "Where are you going?"

Hikari turned away from him, "It's lunchtime and I'm hungry."

Kaname frowned at his wife's distant attitude. He stood up and pulled on his robe and walked over to Hikari as she pulled on one of her day dresses from the wardrobe. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and he felt her stiffen.

"Hikari, what's going on," he said, "Why are you being like this?"

"It's nothing," Hikari said quietly as she tried in vain to pull away from him.

"I beg to differ," Kaname replied, "A couple of hours before you couldn't keep your hands off me and screaming my name… the moment was perfect. I hate it when you act coldly towards me."

Hikari tried to pry his hands away but Kaname would not let go, "Let go of me, Lord Kaname. I'm not in the mood for this."

Kaname abruptly let go of her, causing Hikari to suddenly feel very cold and empty. Hikari turned to him and gave him a saddened look, "Kaname, I'm sorry… I just have some things on my mind."

"Like what," Kaname asked imperiously, "Please don't shrug me off. You know that I love you."

"Nothing you need to worry about," Hikari said as she picked up her brush from the dresser and brushed out her silvery hair.

"If it is nothing for me to worry about why do I feel myself worrying," Kaname asked, "Did I hurt you? Is that it?"

Hikari shook her head quickly, "No! You didn't hurt me."

"Then what is it," Kaname hissed, "You're not leaving this room until you tell me what's going on."

Hikari sank to her knees and burst out into tears. Kaname fell to his knees and brought her into his arms, "Tell me what's wrong," Kaname said in softer tone. Hikari shook her head and broke away from him, running out of the room in tears, "Hikari! Hikari, come back! Wait!"

He pulled his robe off and pulled on his clothes quickly before pursuing his sobbing wife. When he came to the stairs, he looked around desperately. He didn't like the thought of his wife being upset. Kaname followed her scent through the manor and it led him outside. Ignoring the cold, he ran out and frantically scanned the vast garden for a sign of his distraught queen.

"Hikari," he called, "Where are you?"

"Here," he heard a meek reply. Kaname followed her scent further into the garden. He eventually found her lying in the snow. Kaname's heart broke just watching her.

"Hikari, it's cold out here… you shouldn't be lying there in the snow," Kaname scooped her into his arms and held her tightly to his chest. Hikari gripped his shirt with her cold and pale hands.

"Kaname, I think I am pregnant again," Hikari cried, "I don't think… my body can handle it."

"You can't be," Kaname choked, looking shell-shocked, "You're taking that herb as contraceptive."

"I forgot to take it…" Hikari whispered, "I'm so sorry."

Kaname sat down on the bench behind them wordlessly. The colour had drained from his face. He was going to be father… again. How was Hikari was supposed to cope with baring another child so soon after their first? Of course, if the child was a boy, the pressure would be off Hikari to bare more children.

"You didn't forget on purpose did you," Kaname asked.

"No," Hikari replied, "You think I would want to be pregnant so soon after our first? No, I didn't forget on purpose."

"Are you in any pain," he asked.

"Yes, I am," Hikari said weakly, "I'm trying to ignore them for as long as I can this time… with Hanaka back I cannot afford to be… weak…. I have to take care of Haruka." Hikari tried to take her hands away from her stomach but it was hard to do.

"Hana can take care of Haruka," Kaname said, "By the way, where is Hana?"

"I gave her a couple of weeks off," Hikari replied in a strained voice, "She needs it with all she has done of the past half a year. She will be back next week."

"How will you cope without her," Kaname asked.

"I coped perfectly well without a lady in waiting before I got married to you," Hikari smiled, "I am self sufficient… I always have been."

Kaname glanced at her with his wine coloured eyes, "Well, I'll take you inside now. You should rest."

"No," Hikari whispered, "I cannot rest."

"But what about the baby," Kaname asked, "You need to take better care of yourself."

"It's different from before. Hanaka is here and doing things with Rido that aren't worth thinking about! Please, Kaname, do not announce the news until it is impossible to conceal."

Kaname sighed wordlessly before he turned back inside. Trying to keep out of sight, Kaname walked briskly towards their room and when he arrived there, he placed her on the bed, "Hikari, please rest for the rest of the day."

"No! Kaname, I must keep up appearances," Hikari cried, "Plus, I told myself that I would help Sara with her pregnancy."

"You should have thought of that before you forgot to take your contraceptive," Kaname said in a stern tone, "You are to take care of yourself. If this child is a son, your position as my queen is secure and the throne will not pass to Rido if I ever die."

"Well, I will have to come up with baby names," Hikari said, "But if Sara calls for me at her labour, I will help her."

Kaname wordlessly smiled softly before leaving the room.

Months went by and the news of Hikari's pregnancy was kept a secret apart from the select few such as Sara, Takuma, Hana, Hanabusa and Yuuki. Hanaka and Rido were surprisingly oblivious to the whole thing.

However, Sara was also pregnant. Due to her being rather petite, it was rather difficult for the young, seventeen year old vampire princess. Takuma was at a loss as to what to do for his wife and now he knew how Kaname felt when Hikari was first pregnant.

During Sara's pregnancy, Hikari insisted that she stay at the Kuran manor. Hikari was determined to be there for her friend but didn't want to compromise her own pregnancy nor could she be away from Haruka.

Then, one early May morning, Sara gave birth to a baby boy. Hikari and Hana had helped the princess throughout her difficult labour. Takuma had been ordered out to wait with Kaname, who would, within a matter months, be a father for a second time.

"He's beautiful," Sara said as she gazed down at her newborn son, "He looks like Takuma but with my eyes!"

Hikari sat on the edge of the newly dressed bed. She could see little blond tufts of hair and his eyes were a deep blue. He had traits from both his mother and father, "What are you going to call him, Sara?"

"Kiseki," Sara said, "He's my little miracle."

Sara kissed her little son's forehead before looking up at Hikari, "Are you looking forward to the birth of your child? I know that helping me was hard on you… "

"Yes," Hikari replied, "But I know but… Haruka is no longer breastfeeding and, since she is of pureblood lineage, her development is rather quick for an infant of her age. She is sitting up and pulling herself up into a standing position and walking around the edge of the room. Kaname and I are both rather proud of her. She also takes energy from Kaname now too as her fangs haven't developed… so be prepared for that. She would take it from me but I am pregnant."

"I see… all these things I have to worry about and look forward to…" Sara said as she gently rocked her son into a peaceful slumber when he started to cry, "I will try to help you with your pregnancy, Hikari. It's only right. You have done everything for me. I should repay the favour."

"You don't have to," Hikari replied, "I was doing it because you're my friend.

"Are you in any pain?"

Hikari nodded, "Yes… Kaname fusses over me quite a lot too. He is worried about me having a miscarriage but I have told him that I have to act as if nothing is wrong. I don't want the demon couple from hell knowing how fragile I actually am."

"When you say "the demon couple from hell", you mean Rido and Hanaka, don't you," Sara asked, biting back a giggle and Hikari nodded, "That's an apt name indeed."

"Well, I will let Takuma in now… I am sure that he wants to see his son," Hikari said as she stood up. Walking over to the door, she opened it to see a very tired Takuma with Kaname leaning against the wall next to him.

"Can I go in yet, Lady Hikari," Takuma asked and Hikari nodded.

"Of course," she said as she stepped out, "Sara's very tired so don't tire her out."

"Okay," Takuma said as he walked inside and closed the door behind him. He took a moment to gaze at his wife and child before walking to the bed, "Hello, my Sweet Sara," Takuma said in a soft tone."

Sara looked up at him, "Hello, my love," she said as he sat down, "I have named him Kiseki, which means "miracle". Do you like the name, Takuma?"

"I love it," Takuma said he kissed Sara on the lips tenderly. Breaking the kiss slowly, he gazed at his son equally as tenderly, "May I hold him?"

"Yes, of course you can," Sara said as she handed the little bundle to him. Takuma's smile broadened, "He's handsome, isn't he?"

"Very," Takuma said as he gazed at Kiseki with pride, "He will be a hit with the ladies."

"A lady killer, huh," Sara smirked, "I can see him being like that with those big blue eyes."

Takuma placed Kiseki in his bassinet next to their bed. The bassinet was originally Haruka's but she had outgrown it considerably and Hikari saw no reason not to lend it to them whilst they were staying in the Kuran manor. Haruka even had her own room but with a bed designed for toddlers.

"It was kind of Kaname and Hikari to lend us this bassinet," Sara said, "We left all the baby equipment back home."

"We will be back home before you know it," Takuma said, "We can get away from the pressures of court life for a while."

"I would like that," Sara replied thoughtfully. Takuma kissed her tenderly again before climbing under the covers and holding onto his exhausted wife gently as they fell into a deep sleep.

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