Mai's Point of View:
I watch as the nurse looks for the baby with the ultrasound equipment. As per every time I come in for a check up, Naru is sitting right next to me in one of the plastic chairs. He watches impassively as the nurse searches for the gender of our baby. It's the same nurse that helped him out when he was at the hospital, and the same nurse that helped birth Gin. Naru seems to really like her, and I have to admit that I really like Sakura-san as well.
Personally, I wanted a boy and so did Luella, but Naru and Martin wanted a girl. Hell, with how many arguments about the gender of the baby have started, I think we'd be happy with one of each.
My belly was swollen to the size of a small foam basket ball. Naru has stopped letting me go to work and he won't even let me leave the house unless I'm going to an appointment. The good news is the morning sickness has stopped and Naru really enjoys me being pregnant. He especially loves that I can't move around like I used to, and he uses that as an excuse to make love any time I'm in the same room as him.
"Well, it seems like your little trouble maker really doesn't want the two of you to know whether it's a he or she." Sakura says, laughing as we groan. The baby keeps doing this. This is my third doctors visit (I'm exactly five months today) and we still haven't figured out the baby's gender.
An hour later I'm standing in the room that we'd decided to make the baby's and Naru walks in with Daisuke in his arms. He watches me for a moment before putting the cat down and moving behind me. His arms circle me; his palms flatten out against round stomach and his kisses the place behind my ear, "What is it?"
"How are we supposed to prepare if the baby is too damn stubborn to give us some lee way?" I was so frustrated that tears were going to start falling any minute now.
Naru sighs, resting his chin in the space between my neck and shoulder, "It's simple. What's the same color you picked out for every color scheme?"
"They all have yellow in them." I turn to look a him, "But I'm not panting this room yellow, Naru. That would be horrible."
He shakes his head, "Not what I meant. Your favorite color is brown," I nod even though it wasn't a question, "And my favorite color is green."
I jerk, "It is?"
He rolls his eyes, before continuing with what he was saying, "You were so excited about those swamps in New Orleans. Why don't we hire a painter to paint the cypress trees and swamps on the walls and go along with that?"
The idea appeals to me, "And it would fit because if it's a girl, we could just paint a bunch of magnolia's everywhere."
Naru nods, "Exactly."
I grin and put my arms around his neck, "You're a genius."
He smirks, "I'm aware."
3rd Person's Point of View:
There were no words to describe the elated feeling Luella had felt when she received the phone call from her son. She knew simply that her son called her, and not his father, because every child needs there mothers. No matter if they're their father's son or not.
She remembers clearly. Luella was sitting at her vanity, brushing her hair and twisting it in to a braid when her phone rang. 'Your Song' by Elton John began to ring through the room in the soft voice of the artist. Luella smiles, because she only has that ringtone for three people: her son, Martin, and Mai.
"Hello, love. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, mother." His voice is calm and controlled, but from years of raising him, Luella could hear the strain.
"What is it, Noll? Is Mai alright?" The dark haired woman stands and moves over to the window. Moon light shines through and illuminates her like a beacon.
"Mai is…" he trails off, before taking up his voice once again much stronger, "Mai is pregnant, mother."
Luella gasps, holding a hand over her heart. She takes a moment to compose herself, before answering, but with a large smile that she can't wipe off of her face, "How far along is she?"
"Five months today, from what the doctor informs me."
Luella can hear the strain in her sons voice become even more apparent. Luella isn't even going to question why she didn't get this call sooner. She smiles gently as she stares out of the window, not really seeing anything but remembering the baby pictures that were with Eugene and Oliver's file.
"And…?"
When he speaks, his voice is so low Luella has to strain her ears to hear him, "I'm not positive if I'm ecstatic or completely terrified."
Luella laughs softly, "Probably both." Feeling as if there's more to this than her son is letting on, she asks, "How long have you known she's pregnant?"
"Mai found out while I was in England." Is her son's vague reply.
Luella rolls her eyes, even if she knows he won't be able to see her, "I'm asking how long you've known."
"…A few weeks longer than her."
Luella smiles, nodding her head, "I thought so. You must be having a late reaction."
"No—"
"Don't lie to me, Oliver." Luella replies, "You may be a grown man, but I'll still ground you. I'll keep Mai with me the next time you visit. I'll even host a sleep over if I must."
Silence, then her son sighs, "A baby, mother."
"Yes." Luella replies, smiling gently to herself again, "A baby that the two of you made with the purest of love and the deepest of connections. I can already see what's going to happen. He or she is going to be spoiled rotten by both you and Mai, but even more so by your father and I. Mai's adoptive family is also going to be a large factor in the spoiling of this child. This baby is going to have all of us wrapped around it's little finger, but we're all going to be okay with that because it's going to have Mai's kindness and your passion. Mai's selflessness and your intelligence. Oliver, this baby is going to be Gods' gift to humanity, and I think that you already know that."
Oliver is quiet for a moment, before a letting out a long breath, "Thank you, mother."
"Anytime, Oliver." Luella laughs, "Keep us updated. We'll be out there as soon as possible to come see the two of you."
"Goodbye, mother."
"Goodbye, love." Luella places the phone down just as the front door opens. The dark haired woman grins to herself before calling out, "Martin! I have wonderful news!"
Mai's Point of View:
"Wow," Yasu says as they all walk in, "You got huge." I haven't seen the group since I was in my third month with barely a baby bump. They'd all been busy and today is the first Sunday in a long time that no one is working.
Naru had put this whole thing together. I was sitting on the couch this morning when Naru had walked in and suddenly told me that everyone was coming over for a baby shower. Even Luella and Martin had flown in with a couple of people from BSPR and would be here any minute.
It doesn't take long before a party somehow takes place at my house.
Ayako and Luella are talking together with Madoka and Gin. Lin, Naru, Yasu and Martin are all in Naru's study (yes, Naru had an entire room dedicated to work and I was perfectly fine with it. It looked like a huge library and I've always wanted one of those) and I could practically feel the excitement between Haru and Masako. Those two get along really well. Aiko is dragging Shuto around and like the oversized teddy bear he is, he lets her. Hannah and John are having a conversation at my kitchen table with a pot of warm tea between them.
I look around to realize that this is my family. Even though my mom and dad are gone, and Gene too, I still have a family. I think that was Naru's point in all of this. Even though we all live far away from each other, this is how I know I'm loved.
The thought brings tears to my eyes and Aiko notices, "Mai-chan! You're crying!" She darts forward and hugs me, "Are you okay?!"
Everyone looks on in alarm as I hug the child and cry in to her small shoulder. They all surround me and the men come out of the study. Naru finds me in the silent crowd and crouches down to my level, "Mai?"
I look up with a large tears in my eyes and give them all a watery smile, "I just love you guys. You're all my family." Everyone let's out a sigh of relief, but it's Luella that grabs my hand and pulls me to my feet. She hugs me warmly and I cry some more. She laughs and hugs me as the pregnant hormones continue to make a fool out of me.
Naru sighs, irritated, "Mai—"
He's cut off as Monk and Aiko both yell, "Group hug!" Everyone piles on top of me and I laugh but sob at the same time. I just love them so much.
•
It's about six before everyone begins to leave. Luella and Hannah stay behind to help me clean while Madoka has to understandably leave with Lin to go put Gin to bed. Naru walks them out and I begin to wipe the kitchen down.
As I'm reaching for some cleaner on a high shelf, Luella comes up behind me and grabs the bottle for me. She hands it to me, "Mai, dear, you probably shouldn't be stretching for things while you're pregnant. You should get one of those grab-y things."
I smile at the woman, "Thank you, but Ayako says I can still do the things I normally do. I can even work out as long as it isn't as intense and I drink lots of water. Once I reach six months, though, I have to stop."
"How many months are you now?" Hannah asks, appearing from the door way.
"I'll be six months in two days." I say happily, rubbing my swollen tummy.
Luella and Hannah both grin at each other, before Hannah turns to me, "You know what that means right?" At the shake of my head, Luella and Hannah both shriek, "Shopping!"
Somewhere in the house, Martin and Naru groan.
"That's so cute!" Luella shrieks, darting to a rack of clothing with Hannah not far behind.
I sigh, standing off to the side with Naru and Martin. I rub my belly, watching as they argue over what color to buy. We've been at this for an hour and I'm nearly positive my feet are swollen. I do know one thing: I'm starving.
Naru must notice how my eyes keep flicking to the goodies the store has on sale, because he hands his father the extra key to out house, "Father, would you mind—?"
"Go." Martin says with a grin, to me, "Drink lots of water and remember your vitamins. It's almost two-thirty."
I kiss him on side of the face in thanks before Naru is ushering me outside to the car. He helps me inside before closing the door and jogging over to the drivers side. It isn't long before we're on our way down the high way. Naru reaches over the side and grasps my hand tightly in his hand.
"Are you alright?" I ask my fiancé, leaning toward him.
He sends me a look I can't decipher, "Mai, I adore my mother, but…" I wait as he drives and collects his thoughts. He let's out a slow breath, "Even she becomes annoying."
"Do I annoy you?" I ask him seriously.
Naru smirks, "All the time." I shriek, hitting him with the back of my hand. He just laughs at me. Naru brings me to eat and then he's dragging me to a park. I know he's just trying to bide his time before going home to his more-than-likely angry mother.
I sit under the tree. The bench is a little wet, but I don't care; the back of the bench supports my back. Naru sits next to me, watching as I relax and rub my tummy. It's become a habit of mine to rub it whenever I'm relaxing. I've even taken it to singing any song I can't think of.
"How can you be so calm?" Naru's voice comes from my left. I look over to see him watching me intensely. He reaches up and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, "We're having a baby. That doesn't…" Naru has been doing that a lot lately. Trailing off from his sentences. Like he isn't sure anymore.
I grab his hand in mine, "Terrify me? Yes. I'm scared out of my mind, Naru. But I'll be okay," I smile at him gently, "Because I have you. And I'll have him." I place his hand on my stomach.
With a weak glare, he says, "Her."
I groan, throwing my head back as I try to roll out of the bed once again. Nine months along and the baby is still stubborn to tell us what it is. Naru laughs at me each time I get angry at it.
We'd decided to give the baby an English name and a Japanese name. Though the Japanese name will technically be a middle name, it will still be much easier to write in kanji for me. I hate writing in English.
Madoka has been sticking close with Gin lately. She's letting me change him and put him to sleep and do all of the stuff that she seemed to do with ease.
Any day now, I'd be giving birth. Naru knows that, of course, but after a huge fight, I convinced him to go to work. It was hell. I had to get Madoka and Lin enlisted. I never thought I'd see the day when I have to fight with Naru to go to work.
I really wish he'd have stayed home today.
Daisuke scurries off when my water bursts. The fluid falls all over the kitchen floor and I burn red, thinking I'd just accidentally urinated on myself. I huff a sigh in irritation, before bending over when the first contraction hits. When it passes, I let out a slow breath.
"Alright, Mai," I say aloud, "You can do this. Get to the phone and then call an ambulance. You can call everyone on the way."
3rd Person's Point of View:
Naru let's the phone ring for a few moments before picking it up with a brisk, "Shibuya Psychic Research. What do you want?" Not the most professional greeting, but he really just wanted to go home to his pregnant fiancée.
"Um…Naru?" An unfamiliar female voice says.
"Who is this?"
"My name is Aira Gazarella. I'm a medic. We just picked up your fiancée from your home. She's going in to labor, sir." Her voice is hesitant.
Naru stills. Shock forcing him to freeze.
In the background, he can hear Mai ask for the phone politely. Then she's in his ear, "Naru, you had better not answer every phone call like that!"
"Mai—" The CEO of SPR can feel his chest contracting.
"Naru, grab Lin and Madoka, and get over here. I'm not giving birth until you get here, I don't care what this stubborn child says! Now hurry!" The line goes dead.
That puts him in motion. He stands quickly, grabbing his keys from the top of his desk and exiting his office. Madoka and Lin are on the couch. Gin must be with Ayako, who is serving as a temporary babysitter.
They look up at him when he exits, and before he can say anything, they're both standing and preparing to leave. Naru walks towards the door with his two best friends behind him.
•
The ride to the hospital is relatively short. It was quiet and Naru realizes why. Both Madoka and Lin know the feeling. Lin mostly knows what he's going through, which is probably why the tall man sat in the passenger seat as Naru speeds down the high way.
They're there in ten minutes, even though the hospital should be twenty minutes away. However, to be honest, the black haired professor really didn't care about any 'should be's' right now.
Right through the emergency room, the nurse greets him with a flirty smile and an hidden meaning behind the words, "What can I help you with?"
Madoka steps forward, about to snap at her, but Lin catches his wife's shoulder. She sends him a questioning look, but all Lin does it watch his ward. Naru steps forward, "Mai Taniyama."
The nurse gives him a confused look, "Excuse me?"
"My fiancée, Mai Taniyama, is giving birth. You can help me by giving me the room number." Naru's face is a mask of indifference, but even an idiot can see the barely contained anger swirling there. The nurse stumbles through the files on her computer before giving him the number.
Lin follows behind him with a giggling Madoka at his side.
"Ma'am, you have to push!" The doctor is pleading with the brown haired girl.
"Not until— Naru!" Mai exclaims, relief and pain contorting her face.
"You're Naru?" The doctor asks with the relief clear on his face. He waits for the nod, "Good. Please come here so we can get this show on the road." Naru stands next to his fiancée, while Lin and Madoka move over to the side. The doctor smiles at Mai, "Ready. Push."