Title: Waddling with Watermelons
Summary: An attempt to make a special dinner for her husband incurs the horrors of the oh-so-over-protective (and intrusive) extended family of Tohru.
Genre: Family/Romance
Rating: K+
Word Count: 4,576
She waddled. She waddled like a penguin and had been for the past couple of months. Yet it still embarrassed her, especially since she was without her usual companion, her husband, and in a very public place, the grocery store, today, but she was determined to accomplish her task, so she waddled into the store and waddled down the aisles with her shopping cart. People stared at her when she passed. Some smiled endearingly, fawning over her, others clicked their tongues in disapproval, speculating about her age, while others scoffed at her, brushing her aside as a nuisance. She just tried to hide behind the red shopping cart as best as she could, which didn't hide much.
Tohru looked and felt as if she were carrying around a ten-pound watermelon. Her back ached, her feet throbbed, and she was sweltering in the air-conditioned building. She felt as if she had just finished a marathon, and she had only been walking for five minutes. She was sure everything just felt worse because Yuki wasn't here, but she wanted to surprise him with a fancy dinner. It probably would be the last fancy dinner they'd have for a while anyways with the birth of their first child only a week away. Besides, if he were here, he would never have allowed her to exert herself in this manner. It had already taken everything she had to convince him just to spend a few hours away from her. She wasn't sure if she could even assure him that she felt fine any more than she already did.
This was the only chance she had. He had been unwilling to leave her side ever since they learned of her pregnancy, but neither of them could neglect a visit, directly requested, to Akito. They had been shocked and grateful enough when the head of the Sohma family had allowed them to wed without any complaints, though they were sure Hatori was most to thank for that for giving Akito those sedatives. Regardless, they were thankful and cherished every moment they had.
These meetings Akito wanted sporadically with Yuki, however, still frightened him. Tohru could tell, even if he didn't say anything. So that compelled her even more to make this dinner special. Her determination made her forget about her discomfort as she swept through the supermarket with new zeal, whirling around like a whirlwind and grabbing all the necessary groceries.
Tohru soon found herself with a full cart at the front of the checkout lane. Several people had let her step in front of them in line with courteous smiles; they had probably noticed her panting and how she could barely keep herself upright any longer, even with the cart as support. She realized she had never fully appreciated what Yuki did for her when they went out together. Not only did he carry everything for her, but she was also now sure he supported about half her weight the whole time she was on her feet. She hadn't noticed how heavy she had grown, and he never complained. Her sweet husband definitely deserved the fanciest feast she could muster up in the few hours before he returned, but now she couldn't quite say for sure that she'd have enough energy when she made it home, if she even made it home at all.
"Ma'am, are you all right?" the cashier asked when he finished checking out the person in front of her.
Tohru nodded as she finished setting the last of the groceries on the conveyer belt before her. She took small steps closer to the cash register as the man continued ringing up the items as quickly as he could. While watching the numbers steadily increase on the small screen, Tohru scrounged around in her handbag for her wallet. The cashier finished scanning the items the same moment Tohru fished out her credit card. She gave a brief sigh at the total, before swiping her card and signing her name- she had worked so hard to find the best deals, and yet it didn't seem to make a difference. Then she turned to help the young man help load her grocery bags back into the cart, but he kindly shook his head and finished the task himself.
"You know, ma'am, Yonosuke here can help you bring your groceries to your car," the cashier offered, gesturing to the younger man beside him.
"Oh no! I really wouldn't want to bother him. I'm sure he's very busy, and there's a long line. Besides, my husband has the car now," Tohru replied cheerfully.
"Your husband is making you carry all these home by yourself in your… condition?" he queried, studying her rounded abdomen.
"No, no, no! Yuki-kun is probably going to be very angry at me when he finds out later, but it's supposed to be a surprise! Though it doesn't seem like such a good idea anymore…" Tohru trailed off, looking worriedly at the long road that would take her to her little house.
They really didn't live far away from this shopping center. That was part of the reason why they had chosen the house they did, but when carrying a ten pound watermelon in addition to at least thirty pounds of groceries, a mile did seem like a rather herculean challenge. But it'd be worth it to see his smile when he saw all the dishes she was planning on making, after he scolded her for even making this trek, so she gave the cashier a determined look. Then she was off, hurrying out the store as fast as she could, which wasn't very fast, but she did make sure to push the cart back neatly into the line of them by the doors.
With three bags full of groceries hanging from both her arms, Tohru had barely waddled past the bench in front of the store before she was confronted by a scowling woman with blonde hair, her best friend, Arisa Uotani. Said woman promptly took all the shopping bags from Tohru's hands while giving her an angered look.
"What is the Prince making you do when you're so close to your due date?" Uo demanded.
"Oh, Uo-chan! Please don't be mad at Yuki-kun! He doesn't know about this! Really! I wanted to surprise him with one last special dinner before the baby came while he's out meeting the head of the family!" Tohru explained, though this didn't relieve Uo at all.
"So you were planning on walking a mile carrying all of these? Tohru! You're nine-months pregnant! You have to be more careful! What if something happened to the baby?" Uo admonished her.
This made Tohru frown. She hadn't thought she had been endangering her child by doing some shopping. She faltered and looked at the grocery bags shamefully. Of course, this made Uo squeeze her eyes shut in guilt. She hadn't meant to upset Tohru and was probably just giving the poor woman more stress than she needed.
"Look, the Prince would probably kill me if I didn't help you with all this, and I really don't want you to do this all by yourself, so let's go, Tohru. I'm just sorry I didn't drive here," Uo continued in a gentler tone.
"Oh no, Uo-chan! I really shouldn't impose on you like this! I'm sure you came shopping for a reason! I can't trouble you like this!" Tohru squeaked out in a rush.
"Tohru, think about the baby. And besides, I was just going to grab some beer anyways. That can wait."
Tohru had no choice but to waddle after her friend, empty-handed, as Uo led the way down the road. They hadn't even reached the end of the parking lot when a fancy black car that had passed them turned around and pulled up next to them. At first, Uo was suspicious and about to grab Tohru's hand and make a run for it, but before she could, the driver rolled down the window on the passenger's side, and Tohru chirped out a greeting to the driver with long dark bangs covering one eye.
"Good morning, Hatori-san! I didn't expect to see you here!"
"Tohru-kun, what do you think you're doing, walking around in this heat with the baby almost due? You should be inside and resting," Hatori reminded her.
"I just needed to buy a few groceries to make Yuki-kun a special dinner," Tohru meekly confessed.
Hatori sighed, closing his eyes, and breathed deeply before he stepped out of the car and opened the back door. He took the grocery bags from Uo's already outstretched hands and set them on the floor of the backseat before ushering Tohru into the front seat.
"Come, Tohru-kun. I'm taking you home," Hatori informed her, rather than offered.
"EH? But Hatori-san, I'm sure you're very busy, and I really shouldn't burden you! This really is such an inconvenience for you!" Tohru protested, but by this time, Hatori had already seated her in the front seat and had shut the door.
Uo gave Hatori a wry smirk and wink of approval before waving to Tohru, who sat in the car helplessly. She had to admit that sitting down and the air-conditioning felt just about heavenly now though. Normally, Tohru would have argued more and tried to leave the car several times before relenting, but when Hatori slid back into the driver's seat, he wore his no-arguments expression. He looked as if he had several lectures bubbling up inside him, holding back only because as a doctor, he knew how delicate she was now, so Tohru just silently accepted the ride. Self-consciously, she rubbed her large midriff with a frown.
"Tohru-kun, you must be careful with your condition. You shouldn't hesitate to ask any of us for assistance, especially when Yuki isn't around. We would all be glad to help you. Besides, you are part of our family now, or do you not consider us your family?"
"Of course I do, Hatori-san! It's just that I don't want to be troublesome! You've all already done so much! I don't know how I could ever repay you all!" Tohru cried.
"Tohru-kun, don't get worked up. Since we all are family, you shouldn't concern yourself with repaying anyone."
"But everyone has already been so kind! Ayame-san and Kagura-san have already made so many things for the baby, and everyone's already been over so many times to help us set up and decorate the nursery. Not to mention all the check-ups you've had to do for me, Hatori-san! And Shigure-san said he'd even write a book for us!"
"You don't have to thank us, especially not Shigure."
Tohru didn't quite understand Hatori's comment about Shigure. It seemed that after all these years, she still had no grasp on the true nature of Shigure's novels. Hatori sighed. Maybe it was better that way anyways. He could feel a growing headache, but he didn't say anything. They sat in a rather uncomfortable silence as he drove her back to her house. Tohru kept fidgeting nervously while his building headache made him even less conversational than usual. Luckily, the ride didn't take very long. He helped her into the house with a medium-sized black bag in his hand. He seated her on the couch before retrieving her bags for her from the car, declining her offers to help. Tohru got up, intending to start unpacking the groceries, when he returned, but she could only stand before he gently pushed her back onto the couch.
Despite her protests and assurances that she felt fine, she found herself lying on the couch with Hatori hovering over her and a stethoscope wandering across her mountain of a midsection.
"The baby's heartbeat is very strong, Tohru-kun. I wouldn't be surprised if your water breaks tomorrow. You should be prepared," Hatori advised.
"Of course," Tohru replied with a grin. "Yuki packed a suitcase with everything we would need a week after we found out I was pregnant!"
"Are you ready though?" he rephrased the question, looking at her seriously.
"I-I guess! I think Yuki-kun is more worried than I am!"
Regardless of her assurances, Hatori lingered around for half an hour, refusing to let her leave the couch though she was anxious to start on dinner. He didn't start for the door until she felt languid enough to fall asleep, but after Hatori let himself out, she did manage to lift herself from the comfortable couch- after three tries. She could only finish washing and cutting a few vegetables before the back door opened though. Turning around, she found a man with bright orange hair in the kitchen. He studied her, allowing his eyes to traverse her body several times before he glanced at what she was doing. Then just short of panicking, he forced her onto a nearby stool and took the knife she was holding from her.
"What do you think you're doing?!" he practically shouted.
"M-Making dinner?" she choked out in a voice just short of a squeak.
"Don't you think you should be resting with, you know, the baby or whatever…?"
"But Kyo-kun, we need to eat! I can't just let Yuki-kun starve, and I don't think Yuki-kun's cooking will be good for the baby," Tohru admitted with a small smile as she patted her stomach.
"Where's the damn rat then? I'll kill him for working you like this when you're… like that! Why can't he just learn how to cook?!" he snapped.
"Kyo-kun," Tohru said with a laugh, "don't kill Yuki-kun. Our baby is going to need him. And besides, Yuki-kun is like you. Yuki-kun would be mad if he found me like this. He hasn't let me cook very much these past couple of months. I think he hired a secret chef! So I just want to make him a special dinner one last time before the baby comes."
"So where is he? How can he leave you alone when you're… this big?"
"Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun really are similar. Yuki-kun was worried about the same thing this morning, but Akito-san asked to see him. He should be back in a couple of hours though."
Kyo looked away at Tohru's explanation, declining to comment. The brief frown that traversed her face when she mentioned the family head discomforted him, even more than acknowledging the child that resided inside her. A long time had passed since high school, since he was contending against Yuki for her heart. It had taken him years to recover from his heart ache. He had almost refused to attend their wedding, but he was glad Kagura had dragged him to the temple. Seeing her that happy to see him after so long and so happy to be wed to his nemesis made him happy too. He had leapt over the final hurdle, but life didn't become easy after that; it took all his effort to force himself to visit the newlyweds, but it eventually became customary for him to come. Tohru always set out a plate for him every Wednesday for lunch. At first, his visits irked Yuki, he assumed, because Yuki suspected he was trying to steal his new bride, but they quickly resumed their harmless banter. Still he'd be lying if he said their announcement of Tohru's pregnancy didn't make his heart flinch. He still struggled to speak of it, clearly, but Tohru either didn't notice or didn't mind.
"So… how much longer until… the ba- you're done… with the baby?"
"Done with the baby?" she repeated quizzically.
"Yeah… 'til the baby comes?"
She smiled. "Hatori-san said it could be any day now. Even tomorrow!"
"Are you scared?"
"I'm not scared exactly. I'm a little worried that something might go wrong, but I think everything will be all right. Hatori-san is a wonderful doctor after all, and the baby kicks so strongly that I know he'll be healthy!"
"He kicks you?"
"Yes!" Tohru giggled.
He just stared at her, appalled.
"But it's a good thing. It just shows that he has a lot of energy. Besides, I'm sure there's not much room in there, right, baby-san?" Tohru crooned, turning towards her midriff.
Kyo watched her awkwardly as she affectionately stroked her abdomen. As silence enveloped them, Kyo knew he should say or do something, but he didn't know what. He tried to think of something nice to say about her baby, but all he could really think about when he looked at her pregnant body was how that child would probably be an exact replica of Yuki in appearance and attitude. He was sure he was scowling somewhat, but luckily, she seemed too distracted to pay much attention.
"AH! I have to get back to making dinner or it'll never be done in time!"
Tohru hastily jumped off the stool with a frantic expression. She hurriedly wrenched the knife from his hand before he knew what she was doing and resumed rapidly chopping the vegetables before her. When his mind caught up with her actions, he had to wrestle with her to get the knife back and almost impaled himself on the blade, twice.
"Tohru! You're pregnant! You should be taking it easy!"
"Kyo-kun! I need to finish making dinner!" she argued, holding her hand out for the knife.
"J-Just sit down! I'll help you!" he yelled.
He gently pushed her back onto the stool and handed her a peeler instead while he took over the chopping for her. He couldn't cut as finely or evenly, of course, but he doubted the damn rat would notice. Tohru sighed as she started peeling the last of the vegetables, letting him cut each one after she finished. He even cut the leeks willingly, but when she stood to find a mixing bowl and some seasoning, he almost threw a fit, and she had no choice but to retreat back to her stool and let him scrounge around for what she requested, though it took him nearly ten times longer than it would have taken her- not that her kitchen was messy or disorganized. She shook her head with a small smile as she started mixing the vegetables with the countless different spices that he finally procured for her.
"What?" he questioned with a frown.
"Kyo-kun is worse than Yuki-kun. At least Yuki-kun lets me stand!" she told him with a giggle.
He sneered, but he didn't say anything as he watched her turn to the meat he had sliced for her and begin seasoning that too. When she set down the last jar of spice, she turned to look at him hesitantly.
"Kyo-kun isn't going to let me cook this, is he?" she commented with half a smile.
"Argh!" was his guttural reply and "Eep!" was hers as he grabbed a rung of the stool she sat on and dragged her over to the stove.
After she had steadied herself before the stovetop, she beamed at him. Only with a few muttered complaints about how the damn rat didn't deserve any of this, he grudgingly moved all of her ingredients from the far counter to the one beside the stove and retrieved the pans and pots she requested. Though she had to admit cooking tired her less this way, it wasn't exactly comfortable or convenient, being stuck in one spot and dependent on Kyo to fetch other items she forgot to ask for before, but though he looked rather sullen, he didn't really mind, that is, until the door swung open again.
"My dearest little sister! I've new creations to bequeath upon my beloved n- Kyonkichi? Do my aging eyes deceive me or would that be you? Whatever brings you here? Not another attempt to whisk away the bride of my beloved younger brother, is it? And when she's mere days away from bringing his child into this world? For shame!" the newest entrant to the house proclaimed with a dramatic turn of his head that sent his knee length white hair fluttering through the gentle breeze blowing into the house.
"EH?"
"SHUT UP! I am not whisking Tohru away or whatever!" Kyo roared angrily.
Ayame, however, ignored Kyo's rants and the throbbing vein on his forehead, focusing all his attention on his sister-in-law. Kneeling down before Tohru, he took her hands in his, even though she still held onto the large wooden spoon she had been cooking with.
"How is my dearest little niece? She's not giving you too much trouble already, is she? I do hope she is more docile than my dearest brother. I haven't yet managed to convince him to return any of my calls! Isn't it a tragedy?"
Tohru seemed too overwhelmed to even respond as nine others trekked in, their faces obscured by the large boxes they were each carrying.
"A-Ayame-niisan! What is all this?!" she gasped.
"My creations! For my favorite niece! And for you too, my beloved sister," Ayame gushed.
He turned towards the nearest box and pulled out a little pink maid costume with a matching adult version, though it didn't seem as if Ayame used much more fabric to make the larger one. Tohru looked ready to faint while Kyo looked ready to barf as Ayame continued pulling out little dresses and skirts. He made everything- a fluffy fur coat, an elegant ball gown, a puffy ballerina dress, silk kimonos. He continued pulling out sets of intricate infant-sized clothing until the person holding the box stumbled and the box crashed to the floor, revealing a nonchalant Haru. Ayame looked on with horror as a tiny bikini hit the ceramic tiles. Immediately, he grabbed the rest of the boxes and set them on the ground before another accident occurred, revealing Kagura, Ritsu, Kisa, Hiro, Shigure, Rin, Momiji, and Kureno.
"B-But we don't even know if we're having a girl!" Tohru could only utter, clutching the spoon tighter as she gazed at everyone with wide eyes.
"Nonsense! It must be a girl with all of my magnificent creations! Though they do suit boys just as well!"
Before Tohru could fall out of the stool in her astonishment, Kagura and Kisa both rushed over to her now that they were relieved of their burdens. They both clung to the shaking woman, helping to support her precarious position on the stool, though that hadn't seemed to have been their intention.
"Tohru-chan! My Kyo hasn't been making you slave away for a meal when you're this far along in your pregnancy, has he?" Kagura exclaimed in disbelief.
"Shut up, you stupid woman! I would never make her work like this!"
"Kyo-kun has been helping me make a special dinner for Yuki-kun, Kagura-san!"
"Kyo helping make a dinner for Yuki? Are you sure, Tohru-kun?"
"Tohru! Tohru!"
"Onee-chan! Are you sure you should be cooking right now? Even if it is for Yuki-nii?"
"Dumb woman, are you trying to worry Kisa to death? Are you-"
"I think Yuki would prefer it if you rest and order take-out. Should I fetch some for you?"
"Maaa…. Haa-kun! By the time you get back, Tohru-kun will have had her baby already! Besides, Yuki-kun might be expecting a different type of dessert, neh, Tohru-kun?"
"EH?!"
"I'M SO SORRY! IT'S ALL MY FAULT THAT TOHRU-SAN IS WORKING SO HARD EVEN THOUGH SHE'S EXPECTING A BABY! NOW THE BABY MIGHT NOT MAKE IT! I DESERVE TO DIE!"
"SHUT UP!"
"Don't scare Tohru like that!"
"Tohruuuuu! I want a hug! I want a hug!"
Everyone seemed to speak, or shout in some cases, at once. Less than five minutes after Ayame made his entrance, Tohru was only partly seated on the stool, having fallen back into Kagura's arms, with a yellow rabbit hanging onto her round abdomen while an unconscious Ritsu lay on the ground, half buried under more little dresses that Ayame had been tossing about to show Tohru all the while. Rin stood in the corner, scowling, beside an apathetic Haru and Kureno, who offered a pitying smile at the flustered Tohru. Kisa was tugging on the corner of Tohru's apron with her brow furrowed with worry while Hiro rolled his eyes at Kyo, who was trying to punch Shigure.
Then Tohru interrupted them all with a loud shriek as black smoke started to waft from the pots and pans on the stove. She almost tossed the rabbit from her lap as she turned back to the stove and started frantically stirring and removing lids. Even Ayame paused to watch as her hands moved about so fast that they could only see the blur her movements left behind. She only paused and let out a sigh of relief after she had all the salvaged dishes on platters.
They all looked guiltily on as the stressed mother-to-be caught her breath, but none could even stutter out an apology before the door opened again, and an angry Hatori and stunned Yuki entered.
Yuki rushed over to his wife, helped her off the wobbling stool, and settled her into a steadier chair by the kitchen table while Hatori shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Only after he checked over Tohru and inquired after her wellbeing three times did Yuki dare to glance around the chaotic kitchen that he could hardly recognize anymore. He instantly regretted doing so and dropped into the chair beside Tohru with his hand over his face.
"What's going on in here?" Yuki and Hatori asked at once.
Neither could make out a clear answer as the other eleven occupants of the room started talking simultaneously. Yuki only groaned, rubbing his temples as he felt his head throb. Concerned, Tohru felt his forehead, and while they busied themselves over one another's health, Hatori worked on ushering the rest out, using shoves and threats when necessary. When the doctor was the last guest left, Yuki turned to him with a grateful smile.
"Thanks, Hatori."
Hatori gave him a curt nod before addressing Tohru, "Honda-kun, I'll stop by tomorrow to give you another checkup in case this left any permanent damage, but for now, I'll let you two have some alone time and try to keep everyone else at bay."
Tohru couldn't even attempt to insist that it was all quite unnecessary before Hatori shut the door behind him and Yuki locked and bolted it. With a smile, Tohru just stood, waddling over to plant a gentle kiss on Yuki's lips before retrieving the dishes and setting them on the table. After adding two empty plates and some silverware, lighting the set of candles that Ayame probably left at some point during his visit, and turning off the lights, she grabbed Yuki's hand and led him back to the table with a grin.
"What's all this for, Tohru?"
"It's for you. This might just be the last dinner with just the two of us before the baby comes, you know," she reminded him.
"I hope you didn't tire yourself with all th-"
Tohru quickly placed her fingers over his mouth. "Please. I don't need that from you too today. I'm pregnant, not ill."
He chuckled. "All right. All right. I'll keep it to myself for tonight, but after dinner, you're going to bed."
Tohru just smiled through her sigh and let Yuki serve her as she wondered what her family would be like when the baby actually came. They probably wouldn't let the poor thing take its first step before age ten.
Because I haven't written a oneshot involving pregnancy in a while o_o (I think the ending is a little off though- Tell me what you think? :D)