Yuki and Tohru had been married for three weeks. They had had a simple wedding. No party or even a gown. Tohru had simply worn one of the dresses Uo and Hana had bought for her the first day she came, and Yuki had dressed formally but without the whole tuxedo. It wasn't a big event. They had only bothered to inform a handful of people. They hadn't even been able to go on a honeymoon of any sort out of precaution. Going out in public wasn't such a safe action now with people searching for them, lurking in every corner. What mattered to them wasn't the ceremony but the fact that they had been joined in matrimony.

Only twenty seven days had passed since they were wed, and Yuki had already lost his bride.

Tohru had left the apartment over an hour ago on a trip that should have only taken ten minutes to get there and back. She was supposed to be back from dropping a letter off at the post office for Uo a while ago, but she wasn't.

Uo and Hana paced around the lobby worriedly, feeling guilty. They shouldn't have let her go by herself. She didn't leave the apartment enough to know her way around town. Besides, she was too gullible. By now, she could be somewhere out of state after agreeing to take a ride with a random stranger. They had no idea what to tell Yuki when he returned. He'd be furious, if his concern didn't dispel that emotion.

As expected, when Yuki returned from picking up a few groceries for Tohru, he was more than worried to find Tohru missing. As soon as they told him that Tohru hadn't returned yet, the bags he had been holding slid out of his hands. They were worried that she had gotten lost or kidnapped, but Yuki was worried about those two and the possibility that Tohru had been found by a guard. Barely even bothering to toss the groceries inside the apartment, he quickly dashed back to the lobby in hope that Tohru had returned while he was away, but he was greeted by the two same grim faces. He could hardly remain in the hotel for more than five minutes before he left the apartment building to go search for Tohru.

Sunset was less than half an hour away, and he knew Tohru would freak out if she were out after dark by herself. That is, if she wasn't already panicking. She wasn't known for keeping her cool when she was afraid. He just hoped she was still in town. If she had been kidnapped or taken back home, he wouldn't be able to do much for her, and the worst part was that he hadn't gotten a chance to remind her of how much he loved her.

Another hour passed, and the sun set, the last orange rays sinking past the horizon. Darkness dropped down, covering the town with a black veil, and clouds shielded the moon, hiding the light it would have provided. Streetlights were the only source illuminating the otherwise dark streets. Yuki stalked around town anxiously. Tohru had to be terrified now. His pace quickened, and he apprehensively ran about, peeking around each alleyway until he came upon a soft crying sound. He bolted down the sidewalk hopefully, and his heart skipped a beat when he spotted a small figure hunched over against the side of a building.

He couldn't help but crack a smile when he recognized the familiar brown hair draped across thin legs pulled up against a girl's chest. Yuki was grinning by the time he called out to her, and Tohru looked up at him. Her face lit up with a large smile when she saw him, but he could still see the traces of tears and misery across her face. Yuki darted over to her and locked her in a tight embrace. At the moment, he couldn't decide whether he was more excited over finding her or more worried to see the tears, but he couldn't do much else other than beam when he had her encircled in his arms.

Tohru gasped, her heart thumping rapidly. She grinned widely, sniffling away the last of her tears as she pressed her face against his shoulder. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, trying to make sure he wasn't another one of the illusions coming to rescue her and find her way home for the past hour. His warmth was definitely not an illusion, nor was his breath on her neck. Tohru smiled happily, convinced this Yuki had to be real.

"Yuki…" Tohru murmured.

Yuki pulled back for a moment and pressed his lips on top of her head. Tohru blushed slightly before tugging him back into her embrace in a flustered manner. She was embarrassed, as usual when she was around him, but it was definitely preferable to sitting here, completely lost as much as she hated to let him see her humiliated. He was definitely the best thing in her life, and there was no better feeling than seeing him now after sitting here helplessly for over two hour. She kissed his cheek as she choked back her cries.

"Tohru, what are you doing here? I've been looking for you for so long…" he whispered.

"I-I got l-lost! I-I'm sorry… I-I was almost at the post office, b-but… I-I s-saw… I saw a g-guard…" she swallowed nervously before finishing, "I saw a guard from h-home… I t-think he's looking for us. And t-they're getting c-close!"

Yuki stiffened, pressing Tohru tightly against his chest. He couldn't believe how close he had come to losing his love. He had no doubt that if the guard had found Tohru and had taken her back, he would have never seen her again, that is even if he ever learned that she had been taken back home rather than kidnapped by a random stranger. He released her, bringing his hand to her cheek. Staring into her wide brown eyes, he could tell she was a lot more terrified than he was. He kissed her forehead, caressing the back of her head reassuringly.

"It's okay… Shh… It's okay now… Don't worry… I've got you now…" he soothed, "There's no need to cry, Tohru. I love you, and I'll always find you if you get lost or if someone takes you away from me. Of course, you may have to wait a while, but I won't stop until you're safe in my arms. Worrying isn't necessary… It's always only a matter of time until we're together again…"

"But what about when we're found?" Tohru squealed.

He was silent for a moment, "I love you…. I'm not going to let you go like that. Don't worry about it."

Tohru clung to him, rubbing her nose against his chest. She gripped his shirt tightly. He patted her back and held her close to him, concerned about how cold her skin felt. Glancing down at the thin outfit she was dressed in, his worry grew. Yuki ran his hands up and down her arms in attempt to warm her skin, but it wasn't very effective. Before Tohru could even tell him that that was unnecessary, he had taken off his sweater and slipped it over her head. Tohru was too cold to protest, and she knew he wouldn't take it back after seeing her shiver.

"C-Can we go h-home now?" Tohru pled.

"Of course… Come on…"

Yuki released her and stood up. Lowering his hand to her, he gripped her wrist, tugging her up. He readied himself to steady her, familiar with her lack of balance skills, but he wasn't prepared to catch her completely as she fell against him. His back abruptly hit the opposite side of the alley with a thud. Holding Tohru against him, he was suddenly grateful that the alleys were narrow enough for him not to fall over with Tohru. Yuki peered down at her, bewildered, but that shock faded into fret as he noticed she had one of her ankles raised a few inches off the ground. Tohru guiltily peeked up at him, frowning slightly.

"What's the matter, Tohru? Are you okay?" Yuki asked.

"My ankle… It hurts…" Tohru admitted softly.

He lifted her in his arms and set her back on the ground. Yuki took her left foot in his hands, setting it on his lap. He touched her ankle softly, feeling to see if she had broken a bone. Seeing her wince, he frowned. He couldn't feel a break, but he could guess that she had sprained it somehow. He didn't bother to ask how she had injured her self. He didn't exactly care about how. What mattered was that he got her home in time to keep her from hurting herself any worse. Yuki pulled her onto his lap and picked her up. He stood up with her cradled in his arms as he started down the path back to the apartment complex, ignoring her protests.

"Yuki! P-Put me down! I c-can walk myself!" Tohru squealed.

"How? By hopping?" Yuki asked incredulously.

Tohru flushed but nodded after a second. She'd hop all the way home now that he was here. She would have stumbled along by herself earlier had she had any idea how to get back home, and now that he was with her, she didn't even have to fear falling down. She just didn't want to trouble him. She wasn't a child anymore. She wasn't light enough to be carried back home like a baby. However, his grip just seemed to tighten as she tried to squirm out of his arms.

Yuki shook his head, "Please, Tohru? Don't make this hard for me. Just wrap your arms around my neck and don't struggle."

She looked down but obeyed. Her arms slowly slithered around his neck, and she stayed put. Tohru silently let him carry her through town until she started feeling queasy. His walking made her bounce up and down a bit too much for her comfort, although normally, she wouldn't have minded, but she felt nauseous today. She suddenly felt the last meal she ate crawling back up her throat. Tohru released his neck and covered her mouth with both of her hands.

"Down!" Tohru gasped through her hands.

Yuki stared, bewildered, at her for half a second before he set her back on her good foot, keeping his arm around her shoulders to keep her steady. Tohru stumbled over to a nearby grassy area and dropped down, hunching over and vomiting. Yuki instantly kneeled down beside her worriedly. He brushed her hair back and stroked her back fretfully. He watched her wide-eyed, not sure how to help in such a situation. Yuki couldn't even recall her being sick. Tohru had been perfectly healthy the last time he saw her, but now she was wiping vomit off her face. She breathed coarsely as she stumbled backwards.

He steadied her quickly.

Tohru almost looked scared when she glanced up at his concerned expression.

Yuki closed the distance between them, pulling her back towards him. She hesitated, self-conscious of her appearance at the moment, but he didn't let her stay where she was, despite the fact that she was sure remains of her lunch were still on the edge of her mouth and the back of her hand. He just held onto her, pushing her bangs off her forehead worriedly. Tohru nervously let him hold her, turning her face away from him. She knew he was simply concerned, but she'd rather not let him see her in this condition. Tohru wasn't even sure why she had reacted the way she had. As far as she knew, she didn't have the stomach flu, nor had she eaten anything bad.

"Are you okay?" he inquired.

"I-I don't know…" she replied weakly.

Tohru sat there, too dizzy and light-headed to try to stand up. Her arms shook. She felt like falling down, and if she weren't already on the floor, she would have collapsed. Yuki released her hands for a second as he turned around on his knees until his back was faced to her. He glanced back at her and grasped her hands, tugging her over to him and wrapping her arms around his neck. Yuki locked his hands under her legs and hoisted her onto his back. He made sure he had a good grip on her before standing up and starting back down the sidewalk.

"Is it okay back there?" Yuki asked.

"Yes… Thank you…" Tohru murmured.

Yuki smiled as he walked slowly ahead, trying not to bounce her up and down too much. Tohru closed her eyes, resting her head on his warm shoulder, too tired to protest. Her ankle was throbbing now, her stomach was empty, and she was worn out from waiting here all day.

His back felt warm, comfy, and familiar. She couldn't shake the feeling that he had carried her this way before, but she couldn't remember such a scene happening.

Just as she was thinking that, a fuzzy memory slowly came back to her. She could faintly recall a small little boy who had helped her to find her mother when she was six and had fallen and scraped her knee. He had carried her around town on his back as well, and she could clearly remember his soft silver hair that would tickle her face every time the wind blew past them. It took her a minute to realize she was staring at the same person.

Her face scrunched up with confusion.

She started seeing brief images of her and Yuki together, things that didn't make sense. Scenes of them flash by in her head. Both of them were clearly a couple by the way he hugged her and kissed her. However, they were far too young for them to have been together then. Tohru would have brushed them off as hallucinations and her own creations, but they felt real. They felt like memories, but before she could make more sense of them, they disappeared. As she fought to keep the memories, the scenes faded away, not returning no matter how she called for them.

Startled, she stared at Yuki. Her eyes widened for a second before her eyelids fell down and covered her eyes again. As curious as she was for his answer, she couldn't manage to keep her eyes open.

"Yuki… Have I met you before?" she asked in a voice hardly audible.

Yuki's eyes widened, and he craned his neck to peer at her closed eyes. She had fallen asleep before he could even ask her what she meant by that or even reply. He hadn't even realized that he had frozen where he was in middle of a crosswalk until the blinding light of a car flashed by him with the screeching sound of a horn. He hurried across after checking to see that Tohru was still asleep. He wasn't sure how she had slept through that, but he was glad. He wasn't ready to answer her question yet.

Her words left him apprehensive as he brought her back home.

As soon as he got back to their apartment, he instantly set her under the covers of their bed. He felt her forehead. Tohru didn't feel warmer than usual. He couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. She didn't have a fever, but she had to be sick to have thrown up earlier. Yuki sat on the corner of the bed, his chin in his hands, thinking. His thoughts drifted back and forth from her sickness to what she had asked him. Did she remember something? All he knew was that he'd have a hard time explaining things to her. Yuki continued to sit there, too stunned to do much else. An hour passed before he fell down on the mattress, joining her in her slumber.

Tohru felt like she was in a movie theater, except she was the star of that very movie playing. She saw herself walking down the street with Kisa and her mom. Tohru wanted to jump down, and call for her mother, but she couldn't move from wherever she was. She was forced to watch the scene unravel after her mother pointed to a public bathroom nearby and left them alone in town. Tohru wanted to call her mother back, but she was intrigued by how young she looked. She couldn't have been more than fifteen there, but she didn't have many memories of herself when she was that age. Tohru focused back on the scene as she saw a group of drunken men head towards them.

"Hey there, beautiful…. How about you and me go home together?" one of them slurred out to her as he grabbed her chin.

Tohru swallowed nervously, wanting to scream, but she couldn't even make a squeak. Kisa was hiding behind her, gripping her dress nervously. Tohru backed away, but she encountered a wall. She peered around, in search of help as they men inched towards her, but the streets were deserted. The men stared back at her, chuckling to one another as one of them reached towards the top of the dress she was wearing. Her breathing quickened, and her eyes doubled in terror, but before the hand could even get anywhere near her, a paler hand had restrained it.

Her eyes rose, settling on the face of her savior, Yuki? There was no mistake. That silver hair and sparkling gray eyes could belong to no other. She continued staring, perplexed as the men ran away. Yuki, the younger one, looked at her and Kisa to see if they were hurt. Her younger self seemed delighted to see him. She flung herself against Yuki, gripping him tightly in an embrace he seemed startled to receive. He wrapped his arms around her soon enough and smiled, and this was the scene her mother returned to with a smirk.

Tohru awoke with a start. Her dream left her baffled. She was positive that she hadn't known Yuki while her mother was still alive. Tohru glanced around the room, surprised to find herself bathed in sunlight back at the apartment. The last thing she remembered was getting a piggyback ride from Yuki. However, now she was lying under the covers beside Yuki in their bed. Peering at Yuki for a moment, she winced as her head started to throb. Her dream, it felt more than just a figment of her imagination. Deep down in her heart, she had the feeling that that scene had taken place many years ago. It felt so distant and old, but they were definitely real.

Yuki awoke shortly after she did. He laid there for a moment, staring at her for a moment until he fully woke up. He tiredly sat up, yawning as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Tohru jolted at his touch, shocked to find him awake at such an early hour. Usually, he'd get up at least an hour or two after her, but not even twenty minutes had passed since she had opened her eyes. She smiled and leaned against him as he patted her head gingerly, relieved to see her beaming. He hadn't so much as seen her look anything but distressed last night. Even in her sleep, her face would twist with pain every so often, leaving him fretful.

"You're awake… I'm so glad…" he breathed.

Tohru nodded, her smile faltering as she glanced up at him.

"Yuki-kun… This is going to sound crazy… But have we met before?" Tohru repeated the dreaded question with an oblivious look.

She peered at his shocked face before frantically adding, "It's a silly thought! Never mind!"

Yuki kept quiet. He didn't start laughing as she had expected him to. He was just silent and serious. Tohru gazed at him, bewildered by his actions. It wasn't true, was it? She took his hand in hers, trying to get his attention. He looked at her for a second before pulling her back into his arms. Yuki took a deep breath, fighting to think of a reasonable way to explain to her. He had been too busy fussing over her health to think over a response to her question even though it hadn't left his mind since she had voiced her question. A part of him had even been hoping that she had forgotten all about it, but she clearly knew what she was talking about.

Her voice was nearly inaudible, "Yuki…?"

"Do you remember my telling you that I had another secret that wasn't entirely bad?" he stopped only long enough for her to nod, "Well it looks like you know now. I have no more secrets. You know everything now."

"What are you talking about, Yuki?" she asked, confounded.

"I'm sorry if I don't make sense, but the truth is that we were actually in a relationship before this… But on our previous wedding day, we got in a car accident before and forgot everything…. Then, I assume, we met again," Yuki struggled to explain.

"That's… That's…" Tohru gasped.

"Crazy?" Yuki finished her sentence for her.

He had never seen Tohru's eyes so big, and in them, he could clearly identify disbelief. She didn't believe him, but he couldn't blame her. After he had heard, he had thought his family was crazy for over a week before he started accepting it. He had even been angry with his brother and cousins for even telling him he had somehow forgotten the most precious person to him. Yuki just hoped Tohru wasn't mad at him. He wished this wasn't true as much as she probably did, but he couldn't even recognize a single thought fluttering in the chaotic storms brewing in her eyes.

"Are you serious, Yuki?"

He nodded. Tohru sat there as the news sunk in. Everything Haru and Kisa had told her about her mom's death and her sudden missing memories was a lie. She wasn't even sure how her parents died now. They had been trying to keep her from remembering Yuki, the best part of her life, and she didn't understand why. It seemed like everybody knew and forgot to tell her. Even Yuki knew, but she had been completely oblivious. She had never felt this neglected before. This was her life, and she deserved to know as much as everyone else, if not more so.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she chocked out in a hushed voice.

"Because… I still don't remember a thing. Not a single thing. And I'm ashamed of that… I don't want to believe that I forgot and still can't remember the one I love most…" Yuki answered, staring down at his feet.

Yuki released her guiltily. He dropped his head down, resting his forehead against his hands and gripping his hair in frustration. He loved her. He knew he did. So why wasn't a single memory coming back to him? Tohru scooted over to him fretfully. She didn't want him to blame himself for not being able to remember when she, herself, couldn't yesterday. Besides, she could only recollect bits and pieces. Tohru cautiously touched his shoulder, not wanting him to shrug her off. Glad to see he hadn't, she slithered her arms around his waist, comforting him as he always did for her.

"But it's not your fault, Yuki. It's a little hard to believe though… When did you find out?"

"Quite a while ago actually… I'm sorry. I should have told you sooner."

"Forget about it, Yuki. If you told me before, I would have thought you were crazy," she laughed softly.

Yuki stared at her, not believing her act of happiness, as if she wasn't bothered by what he had just told her. He could see her trembling and mentally continuing to deny his words. He could even see the tears bubbling to the surface of her face. She kept smiling though, feigning a carefree attitude for some reason he didn't understand. He was her husband. She should feel comfortable enough to confide in him whatever she was thinking or feeling, but she was still putting up an act. Having been through the same experience she was currently going though, he should have been able to understand her emotions better than anyone else.

"What's wrong, Tohru? Are you mad at me?" Yuki asked worriedly.

"No… Not at you… You did nothing wrong…" Tohru whispered.

"Then why are you crying?"

"Because I don't know why Niisan or Kisa-chan would lie to me…" Tohru choked out.

He was unable to hide his relief at her an answer. He could answer that. With a smile, Yuki brushed away her tears. There was no reason for her to be upset over this. He actually thought she'd figure it out on her own. After all, she knew as well as he did how badly their families despised each other. It shouldn't have startled her to find out that their families would go as far as lying to them about their pasts. They were desperate to keep their families clearly distinct and separate. What was there that they wouldn't do to keep Tohru and Yuki from blending those lines?

"They didn't tell you because they couldn't… They love you too… Just not as much as I love you, but nobody loves you as much as I do," Yuki soothed her.

"Why can't they tell me?" Tohru inquired, not sure what he meant.

"Because… You know we're not supposed to be together. You know our families despise each other more than anything else… Of course they wouldn't want you to find out about me. If you did, wouldn't you be curious enough to want to meet me? And if you did, your aunt and uncle would be mad, wouldn't they? Then you'd get in trouble. Your brother and sister wouldn't want that, so they couldn't tell you."

"But I would have wanted to know…"

"Then be mad at me. I could have told you too. Hit me if you'd like. Just please smile for me?"

"I'm not going to hit you… I already did before… Once is more than enough… I'm fine… You don't have to worry, Yuki-kun," Tohru smiled faintly.

Yuki ran his fingers through her hair, knowing she was more troubled than she appeared to be. Suddenly feeling the need for comfort, Tohru snuggled against him, and he kissed her on top of her head. A peaceful expression crossed her face as she closed her eyes again, but he knew she wasn't placid inside yet. Physically, she seemed better than she did yesterday though. She didn't seem to be experiencing any more abdominal pain, and he couldn't be more grateful for that. He hurt when she did, and he was positive her pain far surpassed his.

However, the next day proved his assumptions wrong…

Tohru awoke early in the morning with her stomach turning. She got out of bed as quickly as she could and limped over to the bathroom, using every piece of furniture she came across on her journey to help her keep her balance. She didn't want to fall and wake Yuki. He'd be mad if he found her stumbling around with her hurt ankle. She told him her ankle didn't hurt as much anymore, but he still refused to let her walk on her own. Most of the time, she was forbidden to even leave the bed, and Yuki did everything she needed to for her. Yuki had insisted she wake him up to help her to the bathroom if she didn't feel better, but she couldn't bring herself to disturb his slumber. He had already stayed up late with her, stroking her back and talking to her until she fell asleep.

Regardless of her efforts to keep quiet, he found her shortly after she had exited the bathroom with an exasperated expression.

"Tohru, how many times did I tell you yesterday that I'll help you around? Please, don't walk on your own," Yuki pled.

"I'm sorry…" Tohru apologized.

He shook his head at her, smiling faintly as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and helped her hop back to bed. Yuki would rather have carried her. It was quicker and simpler, but Tohru would never stop protesting when he did so. She'd complain endlessly about how unnecessary his constant assistance was. Of course, she was lying. He knew because he had let her walk on her own for about half a minute and she had fallen over. Tohru probably would have hurt her other leg if he hadn't been standing an inch away to catch her in case she did fall. She didn't have the greatest balance on two feet, and on one, that little grace she had seemed to vanish completely. She had eventually caved in and let him be her human crutch after that.

----

It was hardly six in the morning, and Tohru was already awake, standing in the bathroom nervously. Her period was late. Weeks late. And she was sure her vomiting wasn't due to a sickness she knew she didn't have. However, she'd rather continue to let Yuki believe she did have the flu. She bit her nails nervously, shaking a little as she lifted her shirt and glanced at her flat stomach. She couldn't be experiencing morning sickness. There was no way that a baby was inside there. She stayed in there a minute longer before exiting and silently slipping back into bed before Yuki awoke.

It had been almost a week since she sprained her ankle. It was better now, but Yuki still didn't like it when she walked around. He'd lecture her if he found out she left, but that wasn't what bothered her. He worried endlessly if he saw her walking, and she didn't want to trouble him. Yuki fussed over her enough nowadays with her supposed illness. He was constantly rushing about for her, getting anything she wanted and making sure she didn't leave the bed. The only time he let her rise was to cook, since he didn't want them to starve, but even then he was practically carrying her there. His concern would skyrocket if she tried to do anything on her own, so she tried to be obedient for his sake.

She laid down quietly, pretending to never have even left the bed. He stirred almost instantly and shifted over to her, placing his hand on the side of her face. Tohru beamed at him. She could tell he wasn't exactly awake, but he was too preoccupied over her wellbeing to just go back to sleep.

"How are you feeling?" he asked softly.

"Better…" she lied, feeling no need to inform him that she had already puked before he woke up.

"Really? You don't sound much better," Yuki pointed out.

"I am… I am, Yuki… Really," Tohru insisted.

Yuki looked at her skeptically, but he didn't argue with her.

Tohru flipped over onto her side tiredly. Her energy had diminished due to the lack of food she was able to keep inside of her. Yuki immediately slipped his arms around her stomach, resting his chin on her shoulder. He felt as depressed as she was, not able to smile when she couldn't. She had tried to stay cheerful for him, but it grew more difficult to do so each day. Tohru attempted to be a little happier for Yuki, at least with a smile, but Yuki put a finger to her lips when she tried.

"If you're not happy, you don't have to smile…" Yuki told her.

"I'm sorry…"

"You're sick. There's no reason for you to be apologizing," Yuki murmured.

Tohru didn't say anything. Every time he mentioned her being sick, she felt guiltier about not telling him of her suspicions of pregnancy. He deserved to know, but she couldn't bring herself to inform him. It was too embarrassing to voice and rather difficult as well. In their situation, a child wouldn't exactly be the best news, despite the fact that they were in love and capable of caring for a child. Considering how desperately their families wanted them apart, a child wouldn't be something they'd support. She'd be lucky if they let her give birth. Regardless, having a child while they were trying to be discreet and blend in wouldn't be very helpful. Pregnant women and little children drew crowds.

"Why don't you go back to sleep? It's still early… Or would you let me go get you some medicine now?"

"No, no, no! You don't need to do that! I'm fine," Tohru insisted with a forced smile.

Yuki shook his head slowly. He had reluctantly agreed to her when she declined medicine the first time, arguing that she'd get better in a couple of days, but more than a couple of days had passed, and she only seemed to be getting worse. Tohru spun around in his arms, facing him with a weak smile. She placed her hand on his cheek, tacitly asking him not to leave her alone. Yuki sighed and hugged her, unable to disobey her when she was in pain. He wanted to do all he could for her, but she didn't want medicine, which baffled him, seeing as that was probably the easiest way to make her feel better.

"Fine. But if you're not any better tomorrow, I'm taking you to the doctor," Yuki warned.

"No!" Tohru squeaked.

"Tohru… Please? I can't stand watching you in pain. What's the doctor going to do that's bad enough to make you so against going?" Yuki asked, bewildered.

"I-I don't want to go!" Tohru sniffed.

Yuki's eyes widened as tears started streaming down her face. He didn't understand what was upsetting her. Going to a doctor had to be better than puking every morning. The doctor would mostly likely only ask her about how she felt and write her a prescription. He highly doubted she'd get a shot or anything that would possibly hurt her at all. However, Tohru wasn't worried about pain, but rather what the doctor may tell her. She was pretty sure she knew what was wrong with her, and she'd rather not have it confirmed.

---

Tohru was sitting on the floor of the bathroom, nervously leaning against the bathtub. She chewed on her lip apprehensively, watching the second hand of the clock slide over to twelve. Two minutes had passed since she had taken the pregnancy test Uo and Hana had brought over. The results would be displayed now. She anxiously glanced up at the top of the sink where the test was sitting, making no move to get it. Tohru set her forehead back on top of her knees, taking three deep breaths before looking up again. She glanced up at the sink again, still petrified of the possible results.

Looking at Tohru's terrified face, Uo picked up the test and read it herself.

"Congratulations, Tohru!" Uo exclaimed with a smile.

Tohru's eyes widened and she snatched the test from Uo. She stared at it in horror. Her emotions couldn't be described as shock of any sort. She had been expecting a positive result all along, yet she was still disappointed by the news. Wrapping her fingers around it, she prayed that she had been mistaken, but when her fingers uncurled, nothing had changed. The test was still telling her that she was pregnant. She shook her head back and forth in denial.

"No, no! It can't be true!" Tohru squealed.

"Tohru, that was the last of the three tests," Uo reminded her, holding up the empty box.

Tohru hopelessly took the other two tests Hana was holding and halfheartedly checked for negative results, but she was only greeted by two more positive ones. She sighed, frowning at the three tests in her hands. If she were in any other situation, she would have been delighted to be pregnant with Yuki's child, but she couldn't be happy, or even all right, when she couldn't even be sure that her child would even take its first breath. She didn't want to have a child until she could be sure that it'd have a happy life, but she couldn't guarantee that, nor could Yuki.

"This isn't good… This isn't good…" Tohru muttered to herself.

"What do you mean? You're married to a man you love, and you're having a baby. What's wrong with that? He'll be happy!"

"He won't be happy… Now isn't a good time for a child… He won't want it… This isn't good… He'll be upset… What am I going to do?" Tohru murmured, pressing her hands against her face.

She could already feel the tears brimming. Tohru tried holding back her tears, knowing the noise would awake Yuki from his oblivious slumber. His ears were oddly sensitive to her crying. Her tears wouldn't listen to her pleas to stop. They continued down her cheeks, quickening her breaths and making her body tremble. Hana scooted over by Tohru, touching Tohru's shoulder gently. Tohru sniffled, unable to hinder the rivers of tears that were dampening her skirt.

"Tohru-"

"You don't understand! I love him, I do. And I want a family… But not now… Not now…" Tohru wept.

"What's wrong with now?"

"It-It's just not a good time…"

"Now is as good as any other time, isn't it? You have to tell him anyways," Hana reminded her.

"I know… But I d-don't think I can…" Tohru admitted.

"I'm sorry, Tohru… But you're pregnant, and you do have to tell him… I just can't believe you two actually took my advice," Uo teased.

Tohru flushed, clutching all three positive tests in both of her hands. She looked down at her abdomen, too embarrassed to reply. What Uo had said did humiliate her, but it also left her scared. She had to tell Yuki too, before he realized it himself. She had no idea what to tell him. Tohru just hoped he'd react better than her with her stubborn denials. Everything told her she was pregnant, her vomiting, the three tests, and now her friends, but she couldn't bring herself to believe it. She was hardly eighteen, not old enough to be a mother.

"Little Tohru-kun is going to be a mother…. Oh my. What are we going to tell him when he wakes up?" Hana mused.

Tohru jumped, scattering the three pregnancy tests across the floor. She dropped back down, frantically picking them up. Uo and Hana watched her drop them down into the bottom of the trash can. They exchanged bewildered looks. She seemed too nervous about telling Yuki. Even more anxious than she had been when she had taken the first test, which had been a difficult task to get her to do. Having watched Tohru and Yuki together and seeing the nearly impossible amount of trust between them, they would have expected them to be able to tell each other anything, yet Tohru was hesitating.

"Tohru, you are going to tell him, right?"

"Arisa, what do you think? That one year from now she'll just introduce the baby to him?" Hana asked back.

"I will… I-I just don't want to…. What if he doesn't want the baby? Or what if he doesn't want to be with me anymore because of the baby? What am I going to do?" Tohru questioned in a state of panic and fluster.

"Tohru, calm down already. If he wants to leave you because you're pregnant, then he's not the guy for you. Besides, it's half his fault, you know?"

"B-But I don't want to disappoint him… He's done so much for me, and all I can do is carry his child that I'm not even sure he wants," Tohru whispered in a fragile voice.

Tohru choked back a yelp when she heard Yuki's sleepy voice calling for her. She had planned to have this done before he woke. He'd be suspicious and question her if he found her in the bathroom with Uo and Hana. She could hear him get out of bed and start looking for her. She knew he was concerned, but she couldn't find a voice to answer his worried calls. Uo and Hana revealed their location for her, swinging open the door as they got up to leave. They could see the relief on his face as he started over to them.

Tohru looked up at them, begging in a voice that her friends could only hear, "Please, don't tell him. Not yet, okay?"

Uo and Hana nodded a little reluctantly. He had a right to know, but it was her decision to tell him when she was ready. They had no right to interfere, although she had asked them to take the test with her instead of her own husband. They passed by a confused Yuki on their way out without a word. He shrugged to himself and walked over to where they had just come from, worried to find Tohru sitting on the bathroom floor with a tearstained face.

"What are you doing in here?"

"Nothing," Tohru smiled innocently, subconsciously sliding in front of the trash can.

"Then what were Uotani-san and Hanajima-san doing here at eight in the morning?" Yuki asked, perplexed.

"I-I don't know," Tohru nervously answered.

Yuki sat down in front of her, "Tohru, is there something you're not telling me?"

Tohru shook her head vehemently. She averted his eyes and inched back towards the trash can and away from him, acting as a barrier between the pregnancy tests she didn't want him to see and Yuki. Yuki didn't seem to notice her tense movements, too focused on the misery displayed across her face. He brushed her hair out of her face, swiping his fingers across her cheeks and clearing her skin of the tears. Running his fingers across her forehead, he smoothed the wrinkles that coated her head.

"No! Of course not! What wouldn't I be telling you?"

"I don't know… That you're pregnant?" Yuki guessed, raising his eyebrows expectantly.

Tohru gasped. Her eyes doubled in size, and she stared at him in pure shock. She opened her mouth, making an attempt to question him, but she couldn't speak. Her mouth shut for a second before she opened it again, failing at voicing her question again. Her eyebrows furrowed with fret. She couldn't tell what he was thinking. She lifted her arm shakily, pointing at him in fear. Yuki instantly wrapped his hand around hers, lowering it back down onto her lap.

"H-How How did you know?" Tohru stuttered.

"Tohru, you were practically screaming in here," Yuki reminded her.

Tohru stared at him worriedly. She focused on his face, checking for any signs of anger, but she could find no emotion. He was good at disguising his emotions. She couldn't even tell if he was upset or pleased by the news. His voice seemed nonchalant, as did his face, but she knew him well enough to realize that he was keeping calm to pacify her, but she was desperate to learn of how he felt towards her pregnancy.

"A-And?"

"And I want to know why you were so scared of telling me," Yuki responded.

"I-I… I didn't want you to be m-mad…" Tohru swallowed anxiously.

"How could I be mad? It's not your fault… I'm the one who should be worried about how you feel. My job is easy… You're the one who is going to carry the baby inside of you for the next nine months or so," Yuki replied.

"So you're not angry?"

"Don't be silly… Of course not… Come here…" Yuki called, holding his arms out to her.

Tohru crawled over to him, settling into his arms happily. She smiled as he held her against his chest, grateful to have such an understanding husband. Sure, his acceptance was just one of her preoccupations, but it was hard not to be delighted after she had been relieved of one of her major concerns. Their child would be fine, she knew it. Yuki wanted it, and he was much more capable of defending it than she'd be. Everything would be okay. It just had to be.

"You should never be afraid to tell me anything next time… Even if it's you hate me," Yuki added in a half teasing voice.

"I would never say that!" Tohru exclaimed seriously.

"I hope not. But you never know," Yuki whispered in an almost frightened voice.

Tohru gazed at him for a second before hugging him tightly. He was taken aback by her sudden movement, but he wrapped his arms around her again soon enough. She pressed her face into his shirt, teary eyed, wondering why he was talking like this. She didn't like this kind of talk. A time when she said such words couldn't be even a relatively good time. Yuki stroked her back, holding her tightly, his face against her hair.

"I won't say that. Ever… Because I love you," Tohru whimpered in a tiny voice.

"I know… I'm sorry. I know you love me, and I love you, but it's hard to think very far into the future," Yuki murmured.

Tohru peered up at him, her eyes red and wet. Yuki gazed back at her regretfully. He should have known better than to say that when he knew how much she fussed over the future already. There was no need to remind her of that, especially after she had learned of her pregnancy. He apologized and reminded her of how much he loved her again only to have her brush his words off with a smile. Yuki beamed back and decided to change the subject, moving onto a topic that wouldn't upset her.

"Can you believe it? We're going to be parents! Our child is inside of you!" Yuki laughed, pulling back so he could look at her.

"I'm actually scared, Yuki-kun," Tohru confessed.

Yuki caressed her cheek, holding her face comfortingly. A smile remained across his face. She looked into his eyes and instantly felt her fears go to the other end of the world. What was there to fear if Yuki was beside her, after all? She could doubt her own parenting abilities, but she could never second-guess his. He'd be a magnificent father, whether they had a son or daughter. That eased some of her terror. At least one of them was guaranteed to be able to care for their child properly.

"Don't be. I won't let anything happen to you or the baby," Yuki promised her.

"You really want to keep the baby?" Tohru asked, looking down at her lap.

"Of course… I know we're both young, but if you're ready, I really want to give this a chance…"

"I'm ready…"

He grinned and inched his face closer to hers. Yuki placed his hand behind her head, tugging her towards him. His lips captured hers lovingly. He moved both of his hands onto her soft cheeks, his thumbs pushing down on her jaw slightly. Yuki cradled her head in his hands, kissing her delicately. They broke apart after a few minutes. Tohru still clung to Yuki, and he continued to hold her protectively.