*Chapter 23: New Lives*
*Week 34*
"Ah!" Yukiko grunted as she sat up, a large kick emanating from her gut. She turned to her right, looking over at the clock near Yosuke, who was curled up in a ball under what little covers he had. The time was the same as always, 4:21 am. She always received a swift kick around 4:30, give or take a few minutes. She was 6 and a half months pregnant with twins, due any day now by those standards.
Yukiko tumbled out of bed, her swollen feet stinging as she stood up. She waddled her way towards the bathroom, having to go very badly was the first thing she had to every time she woke up. Yukiko went to the bathroom, her gut still bubbling from the kicks and hits of one of the kids.
"I don't know if you are Nari or Yosuhiro, but god you're active today," Yukiko said to herself as she was washing her hands. Yukiko admired herself in the mirror as she turned off the sink. God was she fat, her gut stood out like a boulder, even in the pregnancy nightgown she bought. Yukiko quickly stopped looking; too much of it would only worry her and make her depressed. So, she made her way back into bed, shutting her eyes for the next hour.
Until she was swiftly awoken again by another kick, this time by the other one on the other side of her stomach. It was 5:17 right now; right about now was the time for another bathroom break as she got out of bed yet again, Yosuke not even stirring. As she made her way back from yet another bathroom break, she laid on the bed to rest yet again. The bed bent along the center, lowering her side almost to the floor.
Yukiko felt bad as she covered herself with blankets, leaving almost none for Yosuke. He had given her so much over the past few months, time and food and attention. She wanted to give back, but she just physically couldn't. It was so cold, being late January and a thick snowfall coming down outside. It was so cold and she literally felt like she would die without every bit of blanket. So many thoughts… Yukiko's mind racing with everything as she finally drifted off to sleep, only to be awoken by Yosuke's alarm.
"Oh god…" Yosuke groaned as he rolled out of bed, "I do NOT want to work today."
"You have the next two days off," Yukiko murmured still half asleep.
"You have the next few months off because of the pregnancy," Yosuke laughed as he headed to shower, "I have to not only work still, but deal with corporate today and spend the entire day in meetings talking about sales and marketing and dumb stupid ideas to earn money with my father."
"Fun," Yukiko yawned.
"Totally," Yosuke groaned again, "The only one that ever freaking worked was that time we all sang at Junes."
"Mmm," Yukiko let out a soft moan of approval. Yukiko wanted nothing more than to go back asleep, but now the sound of the shower kept her awake and made her have to go to the bathroom yet again. After all was said and down, Yukiko made her ways downstairs and made herself a light breakfast, by her pregnant standards: three over easy eggs, some crispy sausage, burnt black bacon, a glass of milk, and a large bowl of rice with a sunny side egg poured right on top. Yosuke on the other hand had some cereal, knowing what he risked trying to take any of Yukiko's food away from her. Yukiko gobbled down the entire feast like a champ, putting Chie to shame if she was there to see it.
"I'm off to work, see you later," Yosuke gave her a goodbye kiss, "If ANYTHING happens, call me."
"I will, love you," Yukiko said.
"Love you too," Yosuke went out the door and to their car, taking it on the long and slow trek through the fresh snow to Junes.
Yukiko sat on the couch, still hungry even after mowing down her breakfast as she flipped through the television. As a pregnant woman, there wasn't much she could do, especially with the car gone. She watched some television, did some light chores, and curled up with a book for a couple of hours, until she got a phone call from her best friend Chie.
"Hey Chie!" Yukiko smiled.
"How are you feeling? Any contractions? Are you okay? Do you need me to bring you any food or water? Is Yosuke treating you okay?" Chie was asking, overprotective as usual.
"No, just a little stir crazy," Yukiko giggled, "It's hard being cramped up in this house all day."
"How about we go for a walk? I got the day off! I'll bring Skip and we can go to the shrine in the shopping district and maybe have a nice big bowl at Aiya's?" Chie was offering.
"Absolutely," Yukiko smiled in anticipation, getting out of the house was more than enough for her, but the thought of free food was even more enticing. Yukiko hung up and quickly waddled over to the closet, grabbing all her pregnancy snow garb and suiting up. It would be a while before Chie came, but Yukiko wanted to be ready to leap out of the house at the first sight of her.
Yukiko sat on the couch, glancing outside every time a car or person passed in case it was Chie. After what seemed like an eternity, Chie finally arrived, her little pug skip leading her along.
"CHIE!" Yukiko gasped as she ran as fast as she could out the door and hugged her.
"Yu-kiko," Chie grunted out as Yukiko crushed Chie with her enormous gut.
"Oh!" Yukiko pulled away, "Sorry…" Yukiko slightly bent down to greet Skip, "Hi Skip! You're a good little boy aren't you?" the dog simply smiled as it was trying not to fall over into the thick snow, "Can we get going?" Yukiko asked.
"Let's go! I bet you're anxious for some steak?" Chie asked as they began walking together down the street at Yukiko's slow pace, "How far along are you?"
"34 weeks," she responded.
"When are you due?" Chie asked.
"A couple more weeks, but the doctor said it wouldn't be out of the ordinary if they came sooner than that," Yukiko told her.
"Are you… afraid?" Chie asked, "You know… of the…birth part?"
"Honestly…yeah," Yukiko said as she licked her dry lips, "I'm afraid of the pain."
"Pain is just weakness leaving the body!" Chie encouraged her, "It'll make the next one even easier and the one after that will be even easier!"
"Let's hold off on the pregnant thing again," Yukiko said, "Twins will keep Yosuke and I occupied for long enough." The two continued to walk together until they made their way to the shrine, snow covering the entire place.
"You wanna pray?" Chie asked as Yukiko nodded. The two women nodding their heads as they made their prayers and wishes, "I wish for your twins to be perfect and healthy."
"So do I, the same for your and Yu's child," Yukiko said, "Are you two going to have kids?"
"Totally, Yu's just been very… hesitant, but he won't be able to resist m charms… he never does," Chie said, "He's a man and he'll slip up one night like you and Yosuke and…well… there it is," Chie smiled as she pointed to her gut, "NOT that you and Yosuke's kid being unplanned was a bad thing."
"I would've liked to have planned it, but we're both ready for whatever happens," Yukiko said, "Do you want to pull out a fortune?" Yukiko pointed to the box. The two women made their way to the box, Chie wiping the top of the box.
"Alright… will Yu and I have a baby?" Chie said as she pulled a slip deep from the bottom of the box, "GREAT LUCK!" Chie jumped in the air, "Your turn!"
"Alright… will labor be easy for me?" Yukiko just pulled the slip off the top, "…Terrible luck," Yukiko looked at it in a blank horror. Chie ran over and took it, tearing it up in little pieces in front of her.
"It's all a bunch of crap," Chie smiled.
"Then that means you won't have a baby then…" Yukiko said.
"…" Chie looked away, "Whatever, we make our own luck! Let's go get a nice beef bowl, on me." Chie and Yukiko made their way outside the shrine.
"Can we sit down?" Yukiko asked Chie, the two of them walking around the shopping district. Yukiko was wearing a thick large green coat with a hat and a scarf. The winter cold was hard on her, but she wanted to get out on her feet every day, Chie being more than willing to help. "My feet are killing me," she groaned.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Chie said as she and Yukiko found a bench, "I'm sorry! Sometimes I forget how pregnant you are." Yukiko plopped down with a large thud, "Aiya's isn't even a block away so we could easily make it."
"Just give me a moment to catch my breath," Yukiko closed her eyes.
"Skip has to go potty, so I'll be right back," Chie let the dog lead the way, sniffing out a good spot to go.
"Hey lady!" Yukiko opened her eyes as a kid was standing in front of her. He looked to be about six years or so, "Why are you so fat?" Yukiko was shocked, starting to cry from the comment.
"Sachio Ibuka!" a woman ran over to him, "I am so sorry! You are in huge trouble!"
"What did he do this time?" a man walked over to the woman and now crying son. The woman explained as he turned to his son and began to yell at him. Yukiko was still crying as Chie came over to see the commotion.
"What's wrong?" Chie asked Yukiko.
"That kid called me fat, I'm not fat, am I?" Yukiko was still crying.
"No! You don't even look pregnant!" Chie comforted her. Yukiko let out a huge gasp as Chie patted her on the back, "Yukiko?"
"Chie… I think it's time," Yukiko said.
"You mean… the babies…" Chie's eyes widened, she shot up, pulling Yukiko up, "How are you feeling? Are you in pain, do you need me to carry you? Where do we go?!" Chie was jumping in place, "Don't panic! I got this! I'll deliver this baby right here if need be," she rolled up her sleeves, "I'll pull them right out of there!"
"Chie…" Yukiko said.
"Oh god, what do I swaddle them with if they are born right here? How do I even cut the cord… or is it cords? I don't know anything about twins! What if you need a c-section? Then I'll have to cut you open with my nails… oh GOD!" Chie rambled on
"CHIE!" Yukiko grunted out.
"What is it?" Chie grabbed her.
"I'm fine, just take me to hospital," Yukiko calmly said as she was slowly starting to breath as calm as she could.
"The car, it's back at your place!" Chie said, "Skip, let's roll!" Yukiko began to speed dial Yosuke who was at work, Chie quickly grabbing Yukiko and rushing down the street. A pregnant woman in one hand and a dog leash in the other.
"MOVE! WOMAN IN LABOR COMING THROUGH! SHE NEEDS IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY!" Chie was shouting as Yukiko was almost being dragged by Chie along with the dog. Chie ran at as fast of a pace as Yukiko could keep up with, they got to the car, Chie ripping the door open and practically shoving Yukiko into the seat. Chie ran into the house and put Skip inside temporarily, "Be good Skip, don't pee on anything in the house and don't eat the couch!" Skip frowned as Chie slammed the door shut.
"Is Yosuke picking up?" Chie was panicking.
"No, he isn't," Yukiko said, she was surprising calm for a woman about to give birth, "Can you try calling?" Chie quickly dialed Yosuke on her phone, going straight to voicemail.
"Damn it," Chie hit the steering wheel, "I'm calling Yu."
"Isn't he teaching?" asked Yukiko.
"This is more important than middle school teaching," Chie called, "Lives are at stake!"
*At the school*
"As you can see the defining characteristic of this period was…" Yu was teaching the class history until the sound of a phone interrupted the class. "Whose phone is that? Hand it over." The students all looking at Yu as he looked over and saw it was his phone in his bag.
"Crap," he said softly to himself as he quickly reached into his bag and picked the phone up, "I apologize," Yu said as he answered, "Chie, what's wrong?"
"Yukiko's having the baby and Yosuke isn't answering his phone," Chie explained, "Can you call him?"
"She's having the baby? Just call Junes directly; you know the number," Yu told Chie, "I'll come to the hospital after work."
"Why didn't I think of that? Love you!" Chie hung the phone up.
"Uh… now, I think this goes without saying that you don't mention this to any of the other teachers…okay?" Yu looked at the class who said nothing and simply stared back, "Now then, back to the lesson…"
*Back in the car*
"It's ringing! It'll be okay Yukiko!" Chie said to Yukiko whose breathing was getting a little bit heavier now.
"Hello, Junes, how can I direct your call?" a lady said.
"I need to speak with Yosuke Hanamura… wait, Amagi! Yosuke Amagi," Chie sighed and turned to Yukiko, "Forget that every time."
"I'm sorry he's in a meeting with the other managers," the lady on the phone said.
"His wife is in labor and he should get his ass to the hospital now!" Chie was yelling as she was speeding down the street in her car, "So get me on the phone with him!"
"Oh, right away," the lady put them on hold. Some soft music was playing for a minute or so until the phone picked up again.
"Hello?" Yosuke said into the phone.
"Why aren't you picking up your cell phone!" Chie yelled.
"It's off CHIE! I keep it off when I'm in a meeting with corporate so it doesn't go off!" Yosuke yelled back; Yukiko quickly grabbing the phone from Chie before the two got into another yelling match.
"Yosuke, I'm going into labor," Yukiko explained.
"Wait? Now!?" Yosuke continued to yell, "Where are you?"
"Chie is taking me to the hospital," Yukiko calmly talked into the phone, "I… OH!" Yukiko let out a large grunt of pain, "Yosuke, just meet us at the hospital."
"I'm on my way! I love you! Stay safe!" Yosuke shouted as he hung up the phone and ran as fast as he could to the store entrance. "My wife's going into labor, gotta go!" He screamed at a few employees as he made his way outside, "Tell the others I'm leaving!" Yosuke slid across the hood of his car like an action star and quickly started it up, "Don't worry Yukiko I'm on my way." Yosuke revved on the gas and pulled out of Junes, speeding out of the parking lot as fast as he could.
*2 minutes later*
"I'm really sorry officer, my wife just went into labor and," Yosuke tried to explain. He was almost immediately pulled over by an officer as soon as he left Junes.
"That doesn't excuse you for breaking the law sir," the officer spoke to Yosuke, "Especially in this snow. You could've wiped out and hurt a lot of people," the officer was writing a ticket.
"I know," Yosuke said as he was handed the speeding ticket.
"Be safe sir," he made his way back to his car, Yosuke rolled up the window.
"Lousy Adachi-ass cop," Yosuke slowly made his way out of the cops sight, "I'm coming Yukiko!"
*At the hospital*
"Where's Yukiko Amagi?" Yosuke ran up to the main desk, "My wife, she's having my kids!"
"Sir, please calm down," the lady told him. Yosuke was gripping the edge of the desk tightly, his nails scratching the wood surface.
"Okay," he let out a huge breath, "I just need to see my wife."
"She is in room 412 in the maternity ward," the lady said looking at the computer, "She just checked in."
"Thank you thank you thank you!" Yosuke said as he ran off towards the elevators. Upon reaching them, he rapidly pressed the button, the door opening almost immediately. He hopped in, quickly speeding up to the fourth floor. He leaped out of the elevator, rushing down the hall and finding room 412. Inside, Yukiko was in a hospital gown and in bed, hooked up to a heart rate monitor with Chie by her side.
"Oh thank god," Chie sighed as Yosuke ran up to Yukiko.
"How are you doing?" Yosuke asked, "Is everything going well?"
"I'm not having the baby yet, but it'll happen soon," Yukiko told him, "You didn't bring the overnight bag did you?"
"Ah shit," Yosuke put his hands on his head, "We had a ton of stuff we need in there!"
"I'll have Yu swing by your house and bring it over. He's already gotta go there to get Skip back home," Chie texted Yu quickly, "We've already notified everyone Yukiko is here and having the baby."
"Yosuke… I'm scared," Yukiko admitted.
"It's okay, I'm here, we'll get through this together," Yosuke grabbed her hand. The doctor entered the room as Yukiko let out another grunt as Yosuke comforted her.
"Okay," the doctor looked over some charts, "You appear to be going into labor to say the least."
"No," Yukiko said as she rolled her eyes, "How long is this going to be?"
"Well there are several stages to labor, but they vary from a single hour to anywhere upwards of 20 hours," the doctor explained.
"20 hours?" Chie gasped, "And then the baby comes out, right?"
"Near the end generally," he joked. The doctor left the three as Yukiko let out another couple of small grunts in pain.
"What are you feeling?" Chie asked, "I mean, I know it's painful, but what does it feel like?"
"Like a never ending stomach cramp that just keeps getting worse," Yukiko put her head back and closed her eyes, "I'm just going to continue to breath and it'll be fine."
"That's the spirit," Yosuke told Yukiko. The three continued to chat as Yukiko had the occasional labor cramp, Yosuke coached her through it exactly as all the books stated. The doctors continued to come back and check up on her, making sure everything was progressing as planned.
"Guess who?" Yu came in carrying a black bag over his shoulder.
"Oh thank god!" Yosuke ran over and grabbed the bag, opening it and pulling out a small pink pillow and a pack of animal crackers. He lifted Yukiko's head, laying it against the pillow as he opened the pack of animal crackers.
"… A 'hi' or 'thank you' would be nice," Yu said as Yosuke was feeding Yukiko some animal crackers.
"Oh hi," Yosuke said without even looking at him, "Here's the penguin!"
"My favorite!" Yukiko laughed as she nibbled on it.
"Guess pregnancy is a little more important," Yu sat next to Chie, "How are you doing Yukiko?"
"I'm okay for now," Yukiko said, "I just want to get this over with as painlessly as possible." A couple of nurses came in and began to examine Yukiko.
"I guess everyone is getting a look at Yukiko," Yu awkwardly joked, "I'm sure everything is fine. Actually, I have a question for you," Yu said to the nurses, "Is it true Yukiko might go to the bathroom multiple times during all of this."
"What?" Chie said, "Like on the table in front of everyone?"
"Yeah, I read it online," Yu said as they all looked at him, "What? I was curious…"
"It is a common thing, nothing to embarrassed about, just the body's natural reaction," the nurse explained as Yukiko turned bright red.
"I'm… sure that won't happen to me," Yukiko defended, "Right Yosuke."
"Yeah, not going to happen," Yosuke smiled as he leaned over to Chie, "It's probably gonna happen, I just won't say anything."
"You're a good husband," Chie whispered back.
*About Five Hours Later*
"Big bro," Nanako walked up and gave Yu a big hug.
"Nanako!" Yu hugged her back.
"How's she doing?" Dojima walked in right behind her. Chie and Yu were the only ones of the group there. Teddie and Rise would arrive tomorrow and Naoto and Kanji were halfway across the world and most like wouldn't see the children for a while. Nanako was dressed in her high school uniform, similar to the one they wore all those years ago when they were in high school.
"She's fine, but it's getting really rough," Yu told them, "She looks like she's in a lot of pain."
"Childbirth tends to be rather painful," Dojima remarked, "I remember the day Nanako was born… your mother screamed so loud they could hear her all the way in the cafeteria."
"Can I see her?" Nanako asked.
"Sorry, but that might not be the best right now," Yu said to Nanako, "She really needs to focus; the only people in there right now are doctors, their parents, and Yosuke." Inside the room, Yukiko's contraction had worsened and the doctors were making sure things were going well.
"Shh," Yukiko's mom said to her, wiping away some of the beads of sweat from her head, "It's okay, just breathe."
"WHAT THE HELL WOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?" Yukiko screamed.
"Well she gave birth to you," Yukiko's dad said.
"SHUT UP DAD AND GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" Yukiko shouted at him and grabbing Yosuke's hand as another wave of contractions overcame her.
"What?" Yukiko's dad said to her as Yukiko ground her teeth in pain.
"ALL OF YOU JUST LEAVE! NOW!" Yukiko started banging her head into her pillow.
"No problem," Yosuke's dad said in a fearful voice as he turned and left the room, "No problem!"
"Do… do you want me to leave?" Yosuke asked.
"OH NO!" Yukiko grabbed Yosuke's arm and pulled him down to her face, "You got me into this and you're going through this with me!" Yukiko let out a scream as she squeezed Yosuke's arm so hard, he back to yell in pain as well.
"Mom," Yosuke turned to his mother who was leaving with Yukiko's parents.
"It's okay," she smiled at Yosuke who was in pain, "It'll all be over before you know it and you'll have two little babies to play with," She turned around and began to walk away.
"Mom! Dad!" Yosuke pleaded as he turned back towards Yukiko whose entire face was red from pain and anger, "Uhh," he let out a couple of laughs.
"How's Yukiko?" Chie ran up to the parents to ask as they hurried out of the room.
"Not good," Yosuke's dad said, "I don't envy either of them right now, thank god were done with kids." Just then Yukiko let out a loud scream that could be heard from down the hallway along with Yosuke who was screaming too.
"Yu, we gotta help Yukiko!" Chie ran back to Yu, "Come on, we're her best friends."
"Chie…" Yu tried to explain as Chie dragged him towards Yukiko's room. Inside, Yu and Chie entered to a screaming Yukiko.
"Yukiko, we are here to help!" Chie proudly declared.
"GET OUT CHIE! I'M GOING TO KICK YOU IN THE FACE!" Yukiko screamed.
"Yukiko…" Chie seemed heartbroken.
"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" Yukiko shouted.
"AHHHHH!" Yosuke yelled out in pain as Yukiko continued to squeeze his hand.
"Yu…" Chie almost had tears in her eyes from Yukiko's comment. Yu sighed as he knew now he had to calm Yukiko down with his charm as always.
"Hey," Yu walked up to Yukiko, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Yukiko, we're only here to help," Yu let out a smile, followed by Yukiko reaching over and grabbing Yu's crotch.
"Yukiko!" Yosuke yelled. Yukiko let out another scream from another contraction and squeezed as hard as she could, Yu letting out a blood curdling scream as he wrestled free from Yukiko's death grip. Yu fell over in pain, gripping his crotch as a few tears rolled out of his eyes.
"FUCKING LEAVE!" Yukiko yelled as Chie quickly grabbed Yu and helped him wobble out of the room.
"Oh my god get me a doctor, something popped!" Yu was crying out. Chie carried Yu on her shoulder as he continued to cry.
"…Well there goes the whole kid thing," Chie laughed as she carried Yu who was whimpering in pain.
*A few hours later*
"AHHHHH!" Yukiko let out a large scream, or at least as loud of one as she could because she was completely out of breathe, "This kid is kicking me in the lung! Gethimoutgethimout GET! HIM! OUT!"
"Great timing because you're fully dilated and ready to deliver," the doctor said as he handed a pair of scrubs to Yosuke, "You can change into these and we're going to wheel you off to the delivery room to deliver these kids. Yosuke quickly threw the medical garb on and ran back to Yukiko's side, which was being prepared to move into the delivery room.
"Breathe, I'm here for you," Yosuke said to Yukiko who was crying in pain. Yosuke mimicked some breathing for Yukiko to follow. Yukiko was trying to follow Yosuke's technique, but was having trouble due to the large amount of pain.
"I don't wanna do this!" Yukiko bawled her eyes out, "Please! I just wanna go home!"
"We've gotta do this, together," Yosuke said as they began to wheel Yukiko out of the room. Yosuke following as they entered the hall. "I'll be right back, I'm just going to update everyone," Yosuke quickly ran away and into the waiting area, "We're going into the delivery room right now! Wish us luck!" The only people other than their parents who were there were Yu and Chie who both were starting to drift off.
"Good luck sweetie!" Yosuke's mom said to him as Yosuke quickly ran back to Yukiko's side.
"Yeah partner, good luc… OWW!" Yu let out a yelp of pain as he tried to move. He had a large ice pack on his lap in order to reduce the swelling from the damage Yukiko had down. Nothing was permanently damaged, but there was definitely going to be some bruising, "My crotch is on fire!"
"Yukiko's is probably feeling a lot worse than yours!" Chie told him jokingly, slightly pushing him in a playful manner, "Huh?"
"Not funny," Yu huffed out. Chie angrily shoved Yu to the side, causing him to move his injured parts, "OWIE, IT HHURTTTS," Yu almost passed out from pain.
*A couple more hours*
"COME! ON!" Yukiko was yelling as loud as she could between gasps. She had been giving it her all the past couple hours, trying to push the babies out.
"You're doing great," Yosuke comforted her.
"SHUT UP!" Yukiko screamed bloody murder.
"It's okay," Yosuke still comforted her.
"Okay Yukiko, we can see the head right now, just one more push and baby number one will be out!" the doctor told her. Yukiko let out one more huge scream, Yukiko squeezing Yosuke's hand still. Yosuke's hand was bruised, but he knew any pain he felt was nothing compared to Yukiko. As Yukiko finished her scream, another small scream filled the air.
"The girl is out!" the doctor exclaimed as Yukiko let out a huge sigh of relief, a lot of pressure releasing as the first baby was out.
"Yosuke," Yukiko was trying to catch her breath. Yosuke leaned over to look at the child that was being cleaned up, "How is she?"
"She's… beautiful," Yosuke said, his voice cracking. Yukiko smiled as she let out another loud grunt of pain.
"Last push, give it you're all!" the doctor encouraged her as she gave the last of her energy pushing the other twin out. Another cry filled the air as Yukiko finally fell back, pleased that it was all over. Yosuke continued to watch as his son and daughter were being wrapped up.
"Here we go," the nurse said as she carried the two babies and handed them to Yukiko. The two were calm now. Yukiko let out a slight gasp as Yosuke sat down on the edge of the bed next to her, Yukiko looking at the kids with pure joy.
"Hey there little guy… little girl," Yosuke softly said, "Welcome to the world." Yukiko started crying with Yosuke as she placed her finger in the hand of her son, softly gripping it as her daughter let out a huge yawn.
"He's strong," Yukiko said, "He's going to be an athlete."
"Yosuhiro, your name is Yosuhiro Amagi" he looked at his son and then turned to his daughter, "and you are Nari Amagi. I love you both more than anything and I promise to spend my life making sure you two are safe and happy." The two sat there for what seemed like an eternity, the two celebrating two brand new lives. Eventually, the babies were taken away from the two to be examined more thoroughly to make sure they were completely healthy and Yukiko was wheeled out again into a regular hospital room to recover from her labor.
"Thank you Yosuke for going through all this with me, I love you," Yukiko smiled as her eyes felt heavier than ever before in her life.
"You did all the hard work, the kids are safe and healthy and so are you," Yosuke tucked her in, "Get some rest now and leave everything else to me, I love you."
"Love you too," Yukiko closed her eyes.
Yosuke stayed by her side until she fell asleep, watching her for a little while as she slept with a smile on her face. She looked exhausted and clearly felt it too, even in sleep. He left the room, walking down the hall slowly as he approached the waiting room. It was almost sunrise, the hospital almost silent except for the beeps of a few machines. In the waiting area, everyone was asleep. Yosuke sat down across from his parents, Yu and Chie standing at the other end of the hall, snacking on some chips they had bought from a vending machine. Yu had an ice pack shoved down the front of his pants, finally able to stand thanks to ice and some pain pills.
"Yosuke!" Chie gasped as she ran over to Yosuke, "Well?"
"A healthy baby boy and a healthy baby girl," Yosuke said as he got up, trying not to wake his tired parents.
"Oh thank god!" Yu said as he hugged Yosuke, "How's Yukiko?"
"Sleeping, it took a lot out of her to state the obvious," Yosuke said as the three walked down the hall towards the nursery, "I gotta tell you, I've never felt something like this in my life… I'm a dad." They reached the viewing area; a few of babies that weren't Yosuke's placed in their cribs.
"Where are they?" Chie asked. They waited for a little while until a nurse wheeled over a small crib with a blue sheet under the newborn.
"That's my son," Yosuke smiled.
"Your son," Chie smiled, her eyes welling up with tears, "He looks like you, but with Yukiko's eyes." The three stood there for a few minutes until Yosuke's daughter was wheeled over next to his son.
"Is that your daughter?" Chie gasped, "She's so pretty Yosuke! She has your brown hair!" Chie started to cry as she pressed her face against the window like a little child, "I can't believe you and Yukiko made those two wonderful miracles."
"Yasuhiro Hanamura and Nari Hanamura, my son and my daughter… my two children," Yosuke said, "I would do anything for you two."
"You did good," Yu told Yosuke, "I'm sure you're going to be a great dad."
"I know I will," Yosuke said as the three sat there in awe of the kids.
*The next morning*
"Hi there little Nari," Yukiko's mother said as she picked up her granddaughter and rocked her softly. The parents were all standing in Yukiko's hospital room, Yukiko still exhausted, but recovering. Yosuke had been very supportive over the past few hours. He was working his ass off making sure everyone was comfortable, not getting a wink of sleep until everyone else was asleep. Nari let out a little coo as she stirred around in her grandmother's arms.
"It's okay," she comforted the little baby, Yasuhiro being held in Yukiko's arms. Yosuke's dad came over and picked up his grandson and began to rock him too.
"How are you feeling?" Yukiko's father asked her.
"I'm good," Yukiko told her father.
"You're exhausted," Yosuke said, "Don't try to hide it."
"You gave birth to twins honey," Yukiko's mom said, "That's twice as many babies as either of us had. I remember after giving birth to you I was in so much pain and was so tired." The parents talked and held their grandkids for some time before letting Yukiko get some more rest with the kids.
Outside, Yu and Chie were waiting for Teddie and Rise to arrive, their plane being delayed. They were standing by the elevator bay, Teddie texting them almost every minute with question galore. The latest text saying they had just arrived at the hospital and were heading up. The door opened up, out pouring Teddie and Rise in the latest designer clothes. More surprisingly, Naoto and Kanji stepped out of the bay with them, Kanji carrying a big stuffed giraffe.
"Kanji! Naoto! What are you two doing here?" Chie exclaimed.
"You think we were going to miss the birth of Yukiko and Yosuke's child?" Kanji laughed, "I made this for the kids! How's Yukiko doing, how far along is she?"
"She's already given birth…" Yu told Kanji.
"Ted told us she was giving birth today," Kanji said.
"You told them that Ted?" Rise scolded Teddie, "I told you she already had given birth!"
"Teddie, do you know exactly what constitutes birth?" Yu asked.
"Yeah, she's been giving birth the past few months!" Teddie exclaimed, "Right?"
"Teddie," Chie was about to explain it to him before Yu cut her off.
"Wait, Teddie, explain to me exactly what happens during birth," Yu was really curious to hear his answer.
"Well, Yukiko has a bearby growing inside of her, two in fact!" Teddie began to explain the wonder of childbirth to them, "She went to the hospital and Yosuke pulls the little cubs out of her over the course of several days with his bear hands. In the end, his love triumphs and bearby is born! Then, you can play with them all day and night like Nanako."
"Not only is that physiologically wrong, but somehow you appear to not even understand the basics of what newborn children are like," Naoto bluntly told him.
"Teddie we talked about this…" Rise let out a huge sigh.
"But… how?" Teddie asked.
"Simple," Naoto coughed as she proceeded to give him a full lecture on what occurs during childbirth, as complicated as a medical textbook, as everyone around them began to slightly blush.
"Come on that's gross!" Kanji was saying, "I don't wanna hear about the afterbirth and how they dispose of it!
"I've heard in some cultures it's considered a delicacy," Naoto explained.
"Oh my god I'm going to be ill," Rise was completely blue in the face now.
"Just tell him they come from storks or something!" Kanji was as blue as Rise.
"What's a stork?" Teddie asked.
"For Christmas, we're just getting you a big book of common knowledge," Yu laughed as the six went on their way down the hall. They passed the window where the new babies were held, Teddie pressing his entire face against the window as Rise continued to drag him along.
"Okay, we gotta be quiet because Yukiko is so exhausted," Chie said, "As much as we all wanna see these babies, we have to respect that everyone is tired. Promise?" Chie looked around as they all nodded. They slowly stepped inside the room, Yosuke sitting in a chair with his daughter while Yukiko was holding her son in the bed. "Oh my god they're so cute!" Chie shouted at the top of her lungs at the first look of the kids, followed by both of the children crying as Chie covered her mouth in shame.
"Good to see you guys too," Yosuke said as he began to rock the kid softly. Eventually, the kids calmed down as Yukiko held the both of them as Yosuke sat back down in his chair.
"What are their names?" Naoto asked.
"The boy is Yasuhiro and the girl is Nari," Yukiko said as Kanji went up and tickled the noise of Nari, causing a smile to crack on her face.
"Can I hold her?" Kanji asked.
"Just be careful," Yukiko told him as Kanji lifted Nari up and into his arms, cradling the child still.
"Hi there," Kanji said in an almost motherly feminine voice, "You're such a cutie pie, yes you are!" Nari smiling and cooing as Naoto and the group was thoroughly impressed by Kanji's parental instinct.
"Can I hold Yasuhiro?" asked Rise as Yosuke nodded and picked him up and handed him off to Rise. Rise awing so much at the little kid she sounded like a deflating balloon, "I can't believe that this little guy was inside of you, both of them! Did it hurt giving birth?"
"Yes, but it was worth it," Yukiko softly said.
"But if you had to rate the pain on a scale of one to ten, where would it rank?" Rise asked.
"Twenty," Yukiko said.
"Really?" Rise was in shock.
"Look at my hand, this is from her squeezing," Yosuke showed his bruised hand, everyone gasping at it.
"Good god man," Kanji proclaimed, "I could not imagine something more painful… other than the birth of course."
"I can," Yu groaned, "Yukiko, uh, grabbed me and did that to me."
"Your hands look fine," Kanji said.
"She grabbed his nads," Yosuke laughed, "I almost felt bad for Yu, but that's what you get for touching a woman in labor."
"Ouch," Kanji grunted at the thought as he continued to rock Nari, "Did you want to hold her Naoto?"
"What? I…" Kanji passed the baby off to Naoto, Teddie taking the baby from Rise as well, "Wow," Naoto was blushing, "This is… hi!" she smiled as the baby began stirring around in her arms.
"These babies are so cute!" Teddie squealed as he held the kid above his head, freaking Yukiko and Yosuke out completely, "BEARPLANE BABY!"
"No!" Yosuke quickly pulled the child down and into his arms, "You gotta be gentle with kids Teddie, you can't do stuff like that with a newborn child."
"You can't?" Teddie frowned, "You're right Rise, I've got a lot to learn about being a fath-bear." Teddie frowning as he looked over at Rise who was looking away nervously. The group looking over at the two as they came to a slow realization.
"Rise… are you pregnant?" Yu asked.
"Sur…prise," Rise said as she titled her head with an awkward chuckle. The entire group erupted in celebration as Chie gave Rise a huge hug from her and Yukiko. Naoto handed the kid back to Yukiko as Yosuke went over and congratulated Rise.
"Wow! You're pregnant!" Yu laughed, "I guess that answers a lot of questions."
"Like what?" Rise asked.
"I mean, we all kinda wondered if Teddie could really… DO that," Yu shrugged, "But you know as long as the baby doesn't come out half bear or all shadowy I'm sure it'll be normal."
"You think it'll look like that?" Rise asked, "I considered it potentially, but maybe the human side of Teddie won out or something."
"He's just a shadow in the shape of a human," Kanji said, "No offense Ted, so technically you are carrying a half human child… a demon spawn!"
"My child is not a demon!" Rise defended.
"He's a shadow!" Teddie proudly declared, "And he'll be heir to The Midnight Channel!"
"The Prince to your King and Queen," Chie squealed, "Picture perfect. I'm sure it'll be fine Rise!"
"I can just see it now, she's on the table and all that comes out is black goop that kills everyone in the room and flies out the window and massacres the entire town…" Yosuke painted a vivid picture.
"That's enough!" Rise yelled, "I don't wanna think about it."
*A few days later*
"Alright!" Yosuke proudly stated as he carried both his son in his hands out of the hospital, Yukiko being strolled along with her daughter by a nurse, "Hold onto Yosuhiro, I'm gonna pull the car around." Yosuke ran off as Yukiko took the kid. Nari started to cry slightly as a gust of cold wind blew into her face.
"It's okay!" Yukiko calmed her son, "Daddy's going to be right back with a nice warm car." Yosuke pulled up next to them as he lept out and began to open the trunk and the car doors. He carefully took the kids, strapping them into their car seats in the back as the nurse helped Yukiko into the front.
"We're all set!" Yosuke smiled as he shut the door, "Everyone strapped in? How are my bundles of joy doing?" Yosuke said as he looked back to make sure they were fine; "Let's go home." He began to pull out of the parking lot, taking his sweet time to get home safely.
"I gotta say, so far I love being a parent," Yosuke, "I've never felt so much joy and meaning in my life, I've got a whole new reason in my life to live, two now."
"It certainly will be quite the adventure," Yukiko chuckled, "And I cannot wait for it."
*Later that night*
"Yosuke," Yukiko groaned as the two kids were crying their eyes out in the other room, "Your turn."
"UGH! It hasn't even been three minutes since they stopped last," Yosuke looked at the clock as he rolled out of bed, he slugged his way into the newborns room, picking each of them up with his arms as he began to rock them both back and forth.
"Are you hungry?" Yosuke said to the two, "Let's go see mommy," he took them into the bedroom as Yukiko sat up, "I think they're hungry."
"Okay," Yukiko took Nari and tried to feed her, Yosuke still rocking Yosuhiro in his arms, "She's not hungry."
"She's not hungry? You sure?" Yosuke said, "Try him." The two exchanged babies as Yosuhiro quickly began feeding as Nari was still kicking up a storm, "Well that solves that problem and now for the other one. What's wrong with you Nari?" Yosuke continued to rock her on the edge of the bed as Yosuhiro had begun crying again.
"Please stop," Yukiko pleaded, "Come on Yosuhiro, it's okay." The two continued on for some time trying to calm the kids down until they appeared to wear themselves out. Yosuke took them back to their cribs, gently laying them down and heading back Yukiko who was passed out. As soon as Yosuke laid his head down, he was completely out, but awakened only an hour later by the cries of the children.
"It never ends," Yukiko yawned as she climbed out of bed.
*A couple of weeks later*
"Did you forget the list again?" Chie asked as Yu was rustling around in the car.
"No, I swear it's somewhere… in…here," Yu was looking through every nook and cranny.
"…It's not in your back pocket again, is it?" Chie rolled her eyes.
"What? No, I swear it," Yu reached in his back pocket, pulling out a small piece of folded paper, "… oops."
"How do you always forget that it's back there?" Chie laughed as she went off with Yu towards Junes.
"I don't know! Maybe I'm getting senile," Yu said, "We are old now."
"I'm not old!" Chie gasped out, "I'm in my late twenties! That's not old."
"I don't know, these weary bones need rest," Yu began to slow down like an old person.
"Oh my god, quit making a scene," Chie walked ahead of him, "You're worse than Yosuke some days."
"Maybe you should have married him," Yu joked.
"Oh god no! I don't think I could put up with that kid," Chie said, "He's a giant twelve year old. The fact Yukiko had his kids is mind blowing to me."
"I wonder if Yosuke is working today? I haven't seen him since the hospital," Yu caught up to her. The two walked into Junes, the story still as busy as it always was. They made their way to the grocery department. They were just by the dairy section of the store, buying eggs when Yu spotted Yosuke just down one of the aisles, restocking the far back of a shelf.
"Hey Yosuke!" Yu walked over to say hi. As he did, Yosuke made no motion and was still buried in the far back of the shelf. "Yosuke?" Yu pushed him slightly.
"HUH!" Yosuke jolted out of the shelf, "Cheese is half off today!" he shouted as he had clearly just been woken up, "Oh, Yu…" Yosuke smiled back at Yu, but with a forced smile. His eyes had huge bags under his eyes, both very bloodshot as his eyelids seemed to drop by the second.
"Are you okay man?" Yu asked.
"Yeah… yeah… just uh… you know…" Yosuke yawned, "Doing my job and stuff…things…"
"Getting any sleep?" Chie walked up to him.
"An hour or so over the past three days… which is good! I'm fine… we're all fine…" Yosuke was wobbling back and forth.
"Well we'll leave you to it!" Chie pulled Yu away.
"Yup," Yosuke said as he tucked his head away in the shelf again.
"Good god, look at him." Yu said to Chie.
"He just had a baby!" Chie defended, "Cut him some slack. Someday we'll have a baby and you'll know how he feels." Yu shuddered at the thought; Yosuke immediately falling back to sleep in the shelf again..
*A couple more weeks later*
"YOSUKE! DOOR!" Yukiko yelled down the stairs at Yosuke who was bent over the washer, half dead. The two were doing their best to get ready for both of their parents and Yu and Chie who they had invited over for dinner. Yosuke wandered to the door, dragging his feet along the way to the door.
"Oh hey guys," Yosuke said after opening the door. His eyes were completely red and his clothes all stained and old. He was unshaven and appeared to just be in poor health in general.
"What the hell happened to you?" Yu asked, "What's that all over your shirt?"
"Nari threw up on me a little bit," Yosuke said, "It was the last clean shirt, I got more in the dryer right now."
"Hehehe," Yosuke's dad began to chuckle.
"What?" Yosuke said as his dad continued to laugh.
"Not all it's cracked up to be, is it?" Yosuke's dad told him.
"It's everything I thought it was going to," Yosuke was quickly interrupted with a huge yawn as he lost his train of thought, "…You know? What was I talking about?"
"Where's Yukiko?" Chie asked.
"With the kids," Yosuke said, "Yukiko, our parents and Yu and Chie are here!"
"Great!" she yelled, "I'll be right down."
"I take it we're cooking?" Yosuke's mom said.
"No we can cook, you're our guests," Yosuke said as Yukiko came over with the kids in her arms, "We can have some nice… food… Yukiko's making it so I don't know what we're having."
"Nonsense, you guys have your hands full, a least let grandma and grandpa cook you one homemade meal," Yukiko's mom said, "How are my grandkids doing?"
"They are doing fantastic," Yukiko said. Her eyes were just as bloodshot as Yosuke's if not more. Her hair was a mess and bags were under her eyes. She let out a soft yawn as her parents quickly scooped the kids up. Chie and Yu walked in as well. The house was pretty erratic to say the least, Yukiko and Yosuke needed to give the place a good vacuuming and dusting.
Chie sat down on the couch as Yukiko and Yosuke's parents continued to hold the newborns. Yosuke and Yukiko sitting down next to Yu and Chie. Yukiko laid her head back on the couch, Yosuke following in suit.
"What are you guys hungry for?" Yukiko's mom asked, "These guys have milk, right?"
"I got some… breast milk… in the fridge," Yukiko muttered out followed by her falling over onto Yosuke's shoulder. Yosuke and Yukiko both began to lightly snore as Chie and Yu simply looked at the two.
"Yosuke," Yu went to wake him up.
"Let them rest," Yukiko's mother said, "They need it."
*Dinner*
"Yummy," Chie said to Nari as she held the bottle up to her mouth and she began to drink the milk, "A nice baba of milk!" Yu was sitting at the table with everyone as they ate a home cooked meal from their friend's parents. Yosuke and Yukiko were still out on the couch, both of them not moving an inch since they sat down there.
"Man they are out!" Yu laughed, "I've never seen a sight like that. The last time I saw Yosuke that tired was that time we all went skinny…. SKIING!" Yu shouted, almost saying the time they went skinny dipping in the hot springs at The Amagi Inn and fainted from the events in their beds, "The time we all went skiing in high school."
"…These little guys take a lot out of you," Yosuke's father said, "I doubt they've slept for over 24 hours."
"Yu, you wanna try feeding Yosuhiro?" Chie asked him.
"I…" Yu gave a hesitant look, but it was to no avail because Chie shoved him in his arms immediately, "Sure," Yu said as he got up and picked a bottle out of the fridge, "What do I do?"
"Put it in the warmer over there and press the start button and wait," Chie said as Nari had already finished off the whole bottle, "There we go, you ate the whole bottle!" Chie laughed as she began to burp Nari. The timer went off as Yu picked the bottle out of the warmer.
"Now what?" Yu asked.
"You gotta test it to see if it's too hot," Yukiko's mom said, "Just squirt a little on your wrist." Yu complied and felt the warm milk, "Feels okay."
"Alright, It's warm, but not that hot," Yukiko's father handed Yosuhiro to Yu, the little kid stirring around in Yu's arms, "Just gently tilt the bottle like this," he showed Yu how to do it and Yosuhiro quickly latched on and began chugging the milk down.
"Wow this guy is hungry," Yu said. Yosuhiro quickly finished the bottle off as Yu set it back down on the table, "Now what?"
"You gotta burp him Yu," Chie told him. Yu began lightly bouncing and tapping the baby until he let out a loud burp and spit up a bunch of milk over the back of Yu's shirt.
"Oh my god!" Yu gasped, "This is so gross, eww!"
"Did somebody spit up?" Yosuke's mom took the baby away from Yu, "Did you eat too fast? Yes you did! Yes you did!"
"Get me a towel or something!" Yu was basically panicking from the vomit.
"It's just spit up Yu," Chie said, "Babies spit up, no big deal. You're acting like a girl."
"I'm going to puke, I can feel it running down my back! It's still warm!" Yu said, "This is so wrong."
"Uh oh, someone's gotta a full diaper!" Chie said as she held up Nari, "Yu, go change Nari."
"You want me to change a baby?" Yu shrieked out, "No."
"Come on I'll help," Chie dragged Yu along and upstairs to the baby's room. They set Nari down on the changing table as Chie quickly began to undo her onesie.
"Just remove the diaper," Chie undid the diaper, "And… oh my god!" She covered her nose.
"Holy shit that smells so bad," Yu coughed into his arm, "I can't do this."
"Just take the diaper, I'll wipe her!" Chie handed him the dirty diaper. Yu held the diaper as far out from him as possible as he dropped it into the diaper disposal. He turned back as Chie continued to clean Nari up with some baby wipes, "Get the powder Yu." Yu grabbed some baby powder as they finished cleaning Nari and diapered her up again.
"Thank god it's over," Yu sighed, then, a smell filled the room, "Oh my god she just went again!"
"I guess that milk just goes right through her," Chie said as Nari began to cry, "Here, you can do this one! Good practice for a future daddy!" Chie handed Nari off and headed out the door.
"Chie, wait!" before he could stop her Chie was already gone as he stood there with a crying child, "This is so gross… babies are gross." Yu adverted his eyes from Nari as he went through all the steps again in changing her, "This is disgusting, you are gross little dumb person." Yu held Nari out as he walked back downstairs with her and handed her off to the grandparents and washed his hands. They finished their dinner and continued to relax next to the sleeping Yosuke and Yukiko for another couple hours until Yosuke was jolted awake by a large cry from Nari.
"Oh shit," Yosuke looked over, "Sorry, drifted off there for a few seconds."
"It's been 5 hours," Chie said.
"Five hours!" Yukiko was now awake, "Huh, did you guys cook dinner already?"
"You're parents did, we've been taking care of the kids, don't worry," Yu said, "You two are exhausted.
"Let me tell you, I did not expect raising a child to be this much work," Yosuke said, "You expect them to be like Nanako and so self sufficient, but they aren't. You just worry all the time and when they cry you just want them to stop."
"Welcome to the club sucker," Yosuke's dad said, "It'll get better as they get older, but that's still a decade away."
"Yeah," Yukiko was rubbing her eyes, "Only a decade…"
*A few months later*
"So… how are things?" Yu asked Kanji. The two men were sitting in a booth at a local bar in Inaba. Both of the their friends were busy with baby stuff, Rise now about 6 months pregnant and Yosuke's kids a few months old too.
"Good…good… you?" he asked.
"Also good…" Yu said. The two men sat in silence, trying to figure out what to talk about, "I'm gonna call Yosuke, maybe he can join us?"
"Great idea!" Kanji smiled as Yu pulled his phone out and dialed.
"… Yosuke? You got a few hours to get out of the house for a few drinks with your old friends?" Yu asked.
"I gotta ask Yukiko, it's technically my night to watch the kids. She worked all day at the inn," Yosuke said.
"Just go!" Yu whined, "We miss you! She can spend one night with the kids!"
"Fine… Yukiko! I'm going out with the guys!" Yosuke got off the couch.
"WHAT?" Yukiko yelled as she stormed the stairs.
"I'm… going out with Yu and Kanji…" Yosuke said.
"I SPEND EVERY DAY WITH THE KIDS WHILE YOU ARE OUT AT WORK AND THE DAYS YOU DON'T WORK, YOU WANNA JUST GO OUT DRINKING WITH YOUR FRIENDS!" Yukiko was screaming.
"NO I DON'T. YOU SPEND JUST AS MUCH TIME AT THE INN AS I DO AT JUNES!" Yosuke screamed back.
"THAT'S A LIE AND YOU KNOW IT!" Yukiko shouted.
"GOD DAMN YUKIKO! I JUST WANT SOME TIME ALONE!" Yosuke shouted back.
"OH, SO YOU DON'T WANNA BE AROUND ME AND THE KIDS ANYMORE! IS THIS TOO HARD FOR YOU?!" Yukiko sarcastically cried out, "I'M SO SORRY THAT HAVING KIDS IS SUCH A BURDEN FOR YOU! IT'S NOT LIKE I HAD TO DO ANY OF THE HARD PHYSICAL LABOR OF BRINGING THEM INTO THE WORLD. ALL YOU DID WAS GET TO WATCH AND DO THE FUN PART OF MAKING THE KIDS!"
"Maybe we should shut the phone off…" Kanji said.
"Shh!" Yu sushed him.
"I'm not going to sit here and argue bullshit with you, I'm leaving," Yosuke said now, the two speaking softer now to each other.
"You're not going anywhere without the kids!" Yukiko said, "Spend some time with your kids!" The two continued to argue with each other over the phone as Yu and Kanji were both entranced by the conversations that were happening. After what was about fifteen minutes of pure arguing, Yu hung the phone up, feeling horrible that he was somewhat responsible for what had just happened.
"Okay…" Kanji took a drink of sake, "That was… awkward."
"HEY GUYS!" the two turned to see Yosuke running into the bar, "I made it!"
"Y-Yosuke!" Yu gasped. On his chest were both of the infants in a double baby buggy that was tied around his torso.
"What? This was the only way I could leave the house! I had to bring the kids with me!" Yosuke said.
"You can't bring babies into a bar man!" Kanji said, "Those guys are all smoking in here man! Smoke is really bad for babies! Plus the music and all the drinking…"
"Hey hey hey!" a bar tender yelled at Yosuke, "No babies in here!"
"No it's fine! I can still hang out with you guys! I'll just hang outside and when you're done drinking we can…" Yosuke sadly smiled as both Nari and Yosuhiro began to stir and cry, "It's okay! It's okay!" Yosuke rocked them both.
"Yosuke, let's go outside," Yu lead Yosuke outside as the two kids began to cry even harder.
"Shh… it's okay… it's okay- it-I-I-I can't do this anymore!" Yosuke began to cry himself as the two were alone outside the bar, "These kids are ruining my marriage! My free time! Everything is gone!"
"You," Yu looked down, Yosuke was in a living hell right now. Every part of the life he knew was gone, "You… You'll be fine. I know it must be hard, but you and Yukiko cannot give up on these two! If you do…"
"I know! I know!" Yosuke tried to stop crying as he rocked both of the kids, "It's just… it's just so hard. I don't want to be a daddy anymore. I don't want these kids! I wanna have my old life back. Remember when we could hang out and drink all night and…" Yosuke cried, "Now I got these little monsters to worry about!"
"Why don't you go home," Yu told Yosuke, "Yukiko must miss you and the kids…"
"…Yeah," Yosuke said as a few more tears fell from his eyes, "Come on, let's go…" he slowly walked off as the two kids were still crying, "It's okay. Daddy's here… daddy's here… daddy's here…" he repeated to himself like a mantra before disappearing from Yu's sight. Yu didn't know if Yosuke and Yukiko would make it, he hoped they did, but he really didn't know.
Back at home Yosuke wiped the tears away from his eyes as he came into a dark silent house and set the kids down on the couch. He simply watch them as they were distracted by their surroundings. Then, horrible thoughts began to race through his head. Maybe he could just leave the kids on the side of the road or on a doorstep. Someone would find them and be a better dad than he could be.
Yosuke picked his kids back up and went upstairs to their room. Inside, Yukiko was seated in a rocking chair, her face in her arms as she was softly crying to herself. Yosuke set the kids down into the cribs and fell to the ground next to Yukiko.
"I can't do this," Yukiko cried, "I can't raise these kids."
"I can't do it either!" Yosuke said to Yukiko.
"We have to get rid of them!" Yukiko said.
"Maybe we could give them to Chie… she wants kids…" Yosuke said as a few tears rolled out of his eyes. As the two new parents both sat in depressive pity trying to figure some way out of being parents in the dark nursery room, a small cough rang out of one of the cribs.
"…Yosuhiro?" Yosuke looked up as the baby let out another hard cough. Yosuke jolted up as Yukiko stopped crying and looked over as Yosuke placed one hand on his head and the other on Yosuhiro, "Oh god you are burning up!"
"Is he okay?" Yukiko got out of the chair.
"He's got a fever and a cough. He needs to go to the hospital!" Yosuke picked him up and began rocking him.
"What about Nari?" Yukiko ran over to check her temperature, "Thank god she's fine… I'll go start the car. Get the two of them ready!" Yosuke nodded as he quickly bundled the kids up and hurried down the stairs to the car. Yosuke strapped them in and got into the passenger seat as Yukiko hurried off to the hospital.
Inside they checked in as quickly as possible and waited for a few minutes before being led in to see the doctor.
"Our baby… he's sick!" Yukiko was almost crying again, "I don't know what's wrong. He's got a fever and a cough!"
"I see," the doctor said as he began to take the babies temperature and look at him all over, "It appears to be just a cold."
"Just a cold?" Yosuke almost shouted at the doctor, "My son is sick. He needs to get better. What if he gets hurt or dies!"
"He's not going to die sir," the doctor explained, "Just give him some children's cough medicine and run a warm bath for him and he'll be better in a few days."
"That's… are you sure?" Yosuke sighed, "I'm scared."
"I'm a doctor, I see this all the time. He's just got a cold," he comforted Yosuke.
"Thank you doctor," Yukiko said. The two walked out of the hospital and back to their car with their two kids. Driving all the way to Junes for Yosuke to run in and grab medicine and then back home. Yukiko ran a bath for Yosuhiro as Yosuke gave him his cough medicine.
"I know it's gross," Yosuke said as Yosuhiro coughed again from the medicine, "But it'll make to all better." Yosuke carried him up the stairs to the bathroom where Yukiko was now sitting in the tub. Yosuke sat down parallel to Yukiko outside the tub and undressed Yosuhiro as the two helped bath him, letting out deep coughs.
"Shh… it's okay. Mommy's going to make you all better," Yukiko ran some water through her son's hair. The two washed him for quite some time before getting out of the tub and drying him off. They walked together to the crib room, stopping just outside as Yosuhiro let out one more thick cough.
"I think he should sleep with us tonight… Nari two, just in case something bad happens," Yosuke said.
"Yeah," Yukiko said as she carried Yosuhiro into the bedroom. Yosuke went inside to pick up Nari out of the crib and carry her to the bedroom. As they both arrived with their two kids, the set them together in the middle and swaddled them in tight. Yosuke and Yukiko took a place on each end of the bed, looking inward at the kids and each other.
"Daddy's here," Yosuke said to Yosuhiro as he let out another cough, "Daddy will always be here for you… I didn't forget my promise I made back when you were born. I'm going to make sure you and Nari are safe and happy."
"Me too," Yukiko said. Yosuke and Yukiko watched their kids until they both fell asleep, falling asleep themselves shortly after, hoping that they would all get better. As Yosuke awoke his mouth was being pulled on by some small force. As he opened his eyes he saw Nari messing around with his lips as she giggled.
"Wha…" Yosuke slowly got up to see Yukiko feeding Yosuhiro in bed as she watched television, "How is he?"
"Better, the cough is a lot softer now and not as often. Also his fever is gone," Yukiko smiled at him.
"That's good," Yosuke took Nari in his hand as she began to nipple on his hand, "What is up with you today?" he looked down at here.
"They're just playful," Yukiko said, "Not every day they get to spend the night in a giant bed…" the two softly laughed, "Yosuke… I'm sorry for what I said… you're a good father and you work hard and you should be able to go out with Yu and Kanji and Teddie."
"No, I'm sorry," Yosuke said, "I know you mean well and you've done more than enough for these kids… I guess we're both just tired."
"That's an understatement," Yukiko said, "This has just been a lot more stressful than I thought it was going to be, but I've resolved I won't give up on these kids, ever."
"Me too, and I won't give up on us either, we may be parents, but we can still be a couple," Yosuke said to her.
"It's a little hard to be a couple with these two… we haven't had sex in over two months," Yukiko said.
"I mean… we could today. It's Sunday and we both have the day off," Yosuke looked at her as she looked back at him.
"…We have the kids… but they gotta nap in a few hours," Yukiko smiled, "That'd give us some time."
"That's more than enough time then I need… wait, that came out wrong," Yosuke said as Yukiko began to laugh, "God I missed that laugh."
*1st Birthday*
"Come on Yukiko!" Chie pushed Yukiko aside, camera in hand, "I gotta get a picture of the birthday boy and birthday girl!" It had been one year since the birth of the twins, and things had gotten a lot better for both Yosuke and Yukiko. They both still fought a lot, but now that the kids were getting older and weren't completely erratic in their sleeping and eating patterns, Yosuke and Yukiko found a wonderful balance in their life and had a much easier time resolving disputes. The two had both of their parents over, along with all the old group, but were waiting on Teddie and Rise and their new baby boy which they decided to name 'Ted jr.' because to quote Rise 'Why not'. Yosuhiro now had longer black hair and Nari with Yosuke's brown hair. The two looked very similar and very different at the same time.
"Can you say cheese?" Chie asked the two kids, each on one of Yosuke's knees. Nari was in a small pink onesie and Yosuhiro in a blue one, "Cheeeeessseee?"
"caahh," Nari said.
"Da-da," Yosuhiro looked up.
"Yes! I'm dada," Yosuke smiled.
"Mom-my," Nari said out loud too.
"You wanna see mommy?" Yosuke handed her off to Yukiko, "Let's go see mommy."
"Hi Nari!" Yukiko sat down with Nari in her lap, "Are you hungry?" Nari smiled back at her, "You're gonna get a nice sweet treat in a few minutes!"
"Can you say treat?" Chie asked Nari, "Treeeaaattt," Chie said as Nari simply stared at her, "Can they say anything?"
"Nari can say mommy and Yosuhiro can say dada, but that's it," Yosuke said.
"They're so smart!" Yukiko's mother picked up Nari, "Just like their mother."
"Well they certainly don't get it from their father," Yu joked.
"Ha ha ha," Yosuke groaned as the doorbell rang, "That must be Rise with the newborn!" Yosuke gave Yukiko Yosuhiro and ran to the door. Opening it was both Rise and Teddie who held a small little baby carrier with a small human, or rather half-human, child inside, "Look at him!" Yosuke looked into the carriage. Inside was a small little blonde haired, blue eyed baby. No monster parts of goopy shadow parts or glowing red eyes, just a small little baby.
"I'm still frightened of it," Kanji whispered to Naoto.
"Hush! It's a baby, not a monster," Naoto said. The group all admired and congratulated Rise and Teddie, another new addition to the group, but hopefully they wouldn't have to go through all the adventures that they had to.
"Now that everyone is here, it's time for the birthday song!" Yukiko smiled as she placed two small cupcakes in front of the kids with a single candle in each of them. The group sang the song to the two kids who simply stared at the cupcakes.
"Happy birthday to you!" the group finished off as Yosuke and Yukiko blew out the respective candles for their kids. Yosuhiro simply stared at the cupcake while Nari slammed her head down like she passed out straight onto the cupcake. She brought her face up, a huge smile on her face along with tons of frosting.
"Ohhh!" Chie squealed, "She made such a mess!" Yosuhiro was now digging into the cupcake in front of him. The group all had a wonderful birthday party with the two kids, happy at the direction their new lives were taking, "I can't wait for our kid's first birthday," Chie said to Yu as she hugged him.
"Yeah…" Yu sighed.
"Look how happy everyone is! Don't you want to be happy like them?" Chie asked.
"Uhh," Yu stuttered as time seemed to slow for him. Right now he pictured two scenarios. One where he said yes and they had a baby. And one where he said no, Chie and everyone gets upset and ruins the party. Despite almost being thirty now, he remembered how he told Chie that when they both turned thirty that they would consider having a child, but now that the time had officially come, Yu didn't want a child, but Chie was so hell bent on the idea of a kid. Sure, Yosuke and Yukiko and Rise and Teddie seemed happy, but Yu only saw the bad times, not the good. Yu had to make a choice. Either have a kid he didn't want and possibly ruin the happiness he had in his life or not and risk losing Chie, "…maybe?" Yu slightly smiled to Chie.