Chapter 42: False Alarm

Misaki woke up early because she had to go use the bathroom again. She crawled back into bed and watched Takumi stir slightly.

Misaki touched a lock of his soft hair and smiled. Takumi had really nice hair and eyes. His nose was more suited for a boy though. Misaki hoped the baby would have her nose and possibly her mouth? No... Takumi's mouth was better looking... Then again, Misaki's lips were fuller and more feminine.

"Takumi does have really elegant fingers though," she concluded, studying his hand. His hands could cook, play violin, build furniture and give excellent massages. Misaki gently leaned over him and touched the side of his face.

"What are you doing...?" Takumi mumbled.

"Nothing," Misaki said, stroking his hair. "Just looking at your face."

"Like what you see?"

"Possibly."

"That's good," Takumi said, sleepily.

"I wonder who the baby will look more like," Misaki mused.

"They say daughters look more like the dad and sons look like the mom," Takumi said.

"Really?"

"It's not always true though," Takumi said, pulling his pillow over his head. "I think she'll look more like you."

"Why?"

"Because I had this dream…" Takumi said, laying on his stomach. "I was sitting on this park bench and I was watching you swing on the swings at the playground except halfway through the dream I realized it wasn't you...it was our daughter."

"How old were you in the dream?" Misaki asked.

"My current age,"

"How old was our daughter?"

"Like 5?"

"You didn't make the connection that I wouldn't be five…?" Misaki teased.

"Hey, that's why it was a dream," Takumi said, stretching out his arms. "What a lovely Saturday. Do you want to go for a walk?"

"No," Misaki grumbled. "I'm freaking huge." She slowly eased herself up.

"Only a month left," Takumi said. "Do you need help down the stairs?"

"No, I'm not handicapped yet,"

"That's not what I meant!" Takumi called as Misaki went to the bathroom.

"Ugh," Misaki said, placed a hand on her lower back and the other below her stomach. "I have not even reached my maximum girth yet either…" she muttered.

"I think it's pretty sexy looking," Takumi offered.

"Shut up."

"Yes, ma'am."

Misaki couldn't help but laugh. "I'm starving," she after a moment. "Can you make me pancakes? Extra maple syrup?"

"Yeah," Takumi said. "I just got more flour yesterday."

"How often do you go shopping?"

"Minimum twice a week," Takumi replied, running his hand through his messy hair as she got out of bed. "I have three mouths to feed including myself."

"You must be busy. Work, shopping, cooking, housework, and then remodeling," Misaki said, frowning.

They had people come and babyproof their house but skeptical Takumi was checking everything himself.

"It's nothing," Takumi said, smirking.

"I can do the shopping," Misaki argued. "I haven't been that busy at work."

"You," Takumi said, gently placing his hand on her stomach. "Don't carry heavy things, don't bend over, don't overexert yourself, don't stand for long periods of time and I will be the happiest man alive."

Misaki smacked his arm as they went downstairs. Takumi whistled as he whipped up a stack of pancakes for the both of them and they had breakfast at the kitchen table. Takumi had his pancakes with coffee while Misaki drank a tall glass of warm milk.

Takumi's phone buzzed on the table.

"Hello?" he answered.

Misaki chewed her pancakes and tried to read Takumi's face. His brow kept furrowing.

"Does it have to be today?" he asked. "Yeah…but I've got a baby coming on the way. You're the vice CEO. I can't have you calling me at the hospital or something. I thought I said you could make these decisions for the company?"

Takumi sighed. "Fine. One hour and then I'm leaving."

"What's wrong?" Misaki asked after he hung up.

"Work," he sighed. "I have to go in for an hour. I'll be back really fast."

"You can take your time," Misaki reminded him. "I'm not doing anything. I'll just be here."

"One hour," he said, stubbornly. "Call me if anything doesn't feel right."

"You're on speed dial," Misaki snorted. "Don't worry, I will."

Takumi tossed his dishes in the sink and got ready to go to work.

"Just leave the dishes!" he said, leaving.

Misaki washed them anyways. Now that Takumi was gone, she tidied up the place and took a bath.

"Hello?" Misaki said, as she dried her hair.

"Hey girl!" Ruri said on the phone. They were having a three way conference call with Sakura.

"Did you sort everything from your shower?" Ruri asked.

"Yeah, I finally got all the thank you cards out too," Misaki said.

"Didn't you like the shower?" Ruri asked.

"I'm just thankful it was a calm peaceful event," Misaki informed her.

Sakura laughed. "I love all the cute clothes you got," she told Misaki. "Your baby is going to be so fashionable!"

"I know..." Misaki admitted. "Those were some dressy clothes. People even started giving me toddler clothes."

"They grow up fast," Ruri added. "I can't believe you're almost due," Ruri said. "What do you have left? Another month?"

"Yeah," Misaki said, stroking her stomach. "I'm really excited for the baby. My mom is staying when the baby comes to help out."

"That's great," Sakura agreed. "You'll need all the help you can get. My sister promised to stay over when my baby comes. She's had three kids now and probably a lot more experience than me."

Ruri sighed. "It's so nice to have siblings."

"Surely, you have other relatives, right?" Misaki asked, walking back downstairs.

"My aunt is staying over with my uncle. They're the closest family I have."

"What about your parents?"

"My parents will be visiting but they don't really know how to take care of children," Ruri explained. "My aunt and uncle will be more helpful."

"That's alright," Sakura said. "It's the help that matters. In the end, all you want to do is get some shut eye."

Misaki agreed. She had almost forgotten. Ruri came from a rich family and so she was mostly brought up by a nanny. Her parents loved her but they weren't always the most hands on parents.

"I-"

Misaki felt really heavy pressure below her stomach.

"I'll call you guys back..." she said through her teeth.

"Misaki, what's wrong?!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Nothing," Misaki said, clutching her stomach. The pain started getting worse.

She quickly hung up and clenched onto the counter.

"Ugh..." she groaned, holding her stomach tightly.

Why was this hurting so bad?! Was she going into labor?!

Misaki shook her head. That was impossible. She wasn't due until another month. She also didn't think anything was wrong. She just had a healthy checkup last week too.

Misaki twisted around and the pain went away except it came back after a few minutes.

"Ah!" Misaki cried out, sitting down on the stool. Another sharp stab went through her.

Should she call her doctor? Call her mom? Call Takumi?

She looked at the clock. Takumi would be back in half an hour. Misaki gritted her teeth. These pains felt like contractions but she couldn't be having contractions!

Misaki had read up on contractions. They were suppose to come in a pattern and at an increasing intensity. These were sporadic and sometimes it was only pressure without pain. If Misaki adjusted her body, they'd temporarily go away. Was she miscarrying..?

"Takumi!" Misaki exclaimed, calling her husband. Her hand gripped the phone.

"What's wrong?" Takumi asked, worried.

"I don't know..." Misaki cried. "It just hurts!"

Misaki heard things shuffle as Takumi grabbed keys.

"What do you mean it hurts?" he demanded.

"I don't know," Misaki said, leaning against the counter. "I was just on the phone with Sakura and Ruri and I felt it."

"Don't move," Takumi said. "I'll be there in 10 minutes. I have my bluetooth. Keep talking to me, sweetheart. Are you bleeding?"

"No," Misaki said, in a shaky voice. "I'm s-scared."

"I'm going to call your doctor," Takumi said. "I'll be home in five minutes."

Misaki nodded and hung up. Takumi came back in three minutes. He practically ran over to her. The pains had stopped by the time Takumi got home though. Misaki threw her arms around him and cried.

"Shh..." he said. "I think you were just having Braxton Hicks," he said, holding her tightly. "It's perfectly normal."

He helped her lie down on the couch. "Does it hurt anymore?"

Misaki shook her head.

"Did they go away if you moved?"

Misaki nodded.

"Sporadic cramps?"

Misaki nodded. Takumi let out a sigh of relief.

"They're fake contractions," he explained. "Your body is just practicing for the real thing."

Misaki sat up and Takumi hugged her tightly.

"I thought I was having a miscarriage," she choked out. "I'm so sorry!"

Takumi quietly chuckled. "There's nothing to be sorry about," he said. "Here have a tissue," he said, holding out the box. "It helps if you keep hydrated," Takumi added. "They will occur less frequently."

Misaki nodded and rested her head on his chest.

"I'm tired," Misaki said after a few minutes. "Nature sure has an warped sense of humor..." she added.

"Didn't they talk about Braxton Hicks in your guide book?"

"I forgot to read a chapter," Misaki said. "Oops..."

"Out of all the chapters to skip," Takumi teased.

Misaki let out a long breath through her mouth. "I am so not looking forward to the real thing," she muttered.

"How bad could it be…?" Takumi offered.

Misaki glared at him. "What would you know?!" she exclaimed, throwing a pillow at him.

Takumi chuckled and caught it. "Normally, I'd say you were asking for a pillow fight but I don't think that would be smart right now."

"No kidding," Misaki said, standing up.

Their house phone rang.

"Who would that be?" Misaki asked, walking over to the phone. Most people didn't call their house phone. "The number looks out of country… I think it's from England."

"England?" Takumi asked, picking up the phone. "Hello?" he said in english. "Yes, this is the Walker residence…"

Misaki walked over and tried to listen in.

"Who is this?" Takumi asked.

A pause.

"Oh," he said. "Hello, Grandfather."

Misaki raised an eyebrow. Takumi shrugged.

"Um...yes. Yeah, we are expecting…" he said after a pause. "You never asked," he said after some muffled sounds. "It's a girl," he said. "Misaki's in her eighth month. No, we can't go anywhere! Grandfather…" Takumi argued. "That's unreasonable! I simply cannot be traveling!"

Takumi did not look happy.

"I guess we can't say no then. You're not giving us a choice," he said, flatly. "No, it's not okay! She's in her eighth month! It's a girl anyways, why do you care?"

Misaki was really curious now. Takumi never talked back to his Grandfather.

"No press on her," Takumi said. "Absolutely not!"

"Oh no…" Misaki thought to herself. She knew what was happening.

"When?" Takumi asked. "No!" he said after a pause. "Absolutely not! That is way too close to her due date!"

Misaki got tired of standing and went to go sit down on the couch. Around an hour later, Takumi hung up the phone. His aura was practically oozing darkness.

"Is everything alright?" Misaki asked, knowing the answer.

"No," he said, flatly, sitting next to her.

"What did he say?"

Takumi let out an exasperated sigh. "He says he has 'formally' introduce our child as a Walker descendant. He wants this huge event."

"So he's accepting our daughter?"

"Apparently," Takumi said. "He wants to name her as the future heir but I don't know…"

"Well, you're going to have to leave the entire Walker Corporations to someone," Misaki reminded him. "She will be the oldest."

"But," Takumi said. "She's not even born yet. Besides, what if she's a very sweet and shy girl? I don't ever want to throw her into the cutthroat world. Honestly, if you're going to manage business, you can't be too good or else people stomp all over you."

"You want a son," Misaki interpreted.

"No," Takumi said. "I just don't know which one of our future children's personalities will be suitable to be a CEO mostly because none of them are born yet and Grandfather is rushing way too much."

"What are you going to do?"

"I need a drink," Takumi said, running his hand through his hair. "Grandfather and a bunch of people are flying out to Japan in a few weeks. There's going to be some event where he does whatever he does. It's literally all formalities."

"Where is it?"

"In Tokyo actually but like two hours from where we're living," Takumi said. "I don't want you to be in a car for two hours. You're pregnant!"

"Two hours isn't that bad," Misaki reassured him. "How long will it be?"

"Two days," Takumi informed her. "The first day is family and then the second day is the public one."

"Your grandfather is actually going to fly from England?" Misaki asked. "Isn't he...getting old?"

"Well, I said there was no way I'm taking you to England. What if you went into labor on the plane?"

"Point taken," Misaki said. "So we have to go?"

"Unfortunately," Takumi said. "Or you could refuse to go and I'd just tell Grandfather I can't drag you there."

"That's ridiculous," Misaki said. "I'm not five."

"You were in my dream,"

"Takumi!"

"Sorry…"