Chapter 46: Extra Hands

Takumi tried to get comfortable on the little couch in the room. His 6 foot figure was not meant for this tiny vinyl couch that he had been using as a bed. He slowly woke up when he heard whispers. His eyes slowly opened. Right... He was still at the hospital. He looked over.

"Hey, sleepy head" Misaki said, giving him a smile.

Takumi scrambled up but then practically fell to the floor. "You're awake!" he exclaimed, rushing over. Minako was sitting by the bedside with a thermos.

Misaki nodded. "I took one long nap," she agreed. "But I'm awake now."

"How are you feeling?"

"Drained," Misaki admitted. "Where's our baby?" she asked, looking around.

"Hikari? She's perfectly fine. They have her in the baby room," Takumi explained.

"I was just telling Misaki," Minako said. "She is gorgeous."

Misaki smiled. "I kind of wish I got a better look before I passed out."

"You have the next twenty years to look every day," Takumi teased.

Minako laughed. "I never get tired of looking at you," she said, smoothing Misaki's hair.

"Mom helped me wash up already," Misaki said. "You can use the sink here to wash up."

"Okay," Takumi said. "What are you eating?"

"Broth and a little rice," Misaki said. "Mom made it."

"Here, I can feed her," Takumi offered.

"Rest," Minako said, smiling. "I got it. There'll be plenty of time for you to take care of Misaki. She'll be in bed for a while."

"Mom," Misaki complained.

"Mom's right," Takumi said. "You're going to be confined to bed when we go home. These few months, you need to recover."

"Who'll take care of Hikari?" Misaki asked.

"Your mom and I," Takumi said. "Of course, you too but you can't keep getting up in the middle of the night. You're body is really weak right now and you really need rest. I think the doctors are going to keep you here a few more nights to observe."

Misaki nodded. "I might take another nap after I eat."

"Do you have to go to the bathroom?"

Misaki blushed. "A nurse helped me when you were sleeping." Misaki held her hand out and Takumi walked closer. "You have horrible dark circles," she said, touching his face. "You should go sleep at a hotel for a few hours. That couch is too tiny."

Takumi shook his head. "I'm going to stay with you," he said. "I sent our driver to get an air mattress I can use. We also have pillows and blankets in the car."

"Your arm," Misaki said, gently caressing it.

"It's nothing," Takumi said. "Compared to what you went through... Nothing at all. A paper cut maybe."

"I think I want the medication next time," Misaki admitted. "I seriously thought I was going to die."

"Your daughter threatened to sterilize me," Takumi informed Minako as he was brushing his teeth.

"I did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Denial," Takumi said, smirking. "Don't you want to get Hikari a sister?"

Misaki collapsed back. "Let's not talk about more babies," she groaned. "I'm still trying to recover from this one."

Minako laughed. "Give it time," she said, blowing on a spoonful of broth and then feeding it to Misaki.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Takumi said.

"Good afternoon," the doctor said. "How are we all feeling this morning?"

"Good," Misaki said.

"Very good," the doctor said, checking her monitors. "Usually new mothers stay a two nights at the hospital but I think we're going to keep you here for another day and see how it goes."

Misaki nodded. "When can I see my baby again?" she asked.

"I can have someone bring your daughter."

"I'll get her," Takumi said, standing up.

"Protective already," the doctor teased. "Come along then."

"Hello..." Misaki whispered when Takumi placed Hikari back into her arms. "Hikari," she said, smoothing the blanket.

She was so tiny. Her little baby hat was a soft pink color like her onesie. When Misaki first bought the clothes, she couldn't imagine anyone being so small and delicate but here her daughter was.

"She has your eyes," Takumi said. "Dark hair like yours. My nose, I think."

"She looks just like Misaki as a baby," Minako sighed.

"Did you get pictures?" Misaki asked.

"Plenty," Takumi promised. He pulled out his phone. "We take take some more right now."

"Right now?" Misaki asked, smoothing her messy hair.

"You look perfect, my love," Takumi said, taking several photos.

"Let me take some with the three of you," Minako offered.

Takumi placed his hands on Misaki's shoulders. Misaki giggled.

"What?"

"We're parents..." she whispered.

"Yes, we are," Takumi agreed, gently touching Hikari's chubby cheeks. "Princess," he said. "Princess Hikari."

Two days later, the happy family headed home.

"Mom," Takumi said. "The baby is going to sleep in our room until it can sleep through the night."

"Maybe we should move Misaki to a different room," Minako suggested. "That way she can rest better."

"I'm fine," Misaki said. "Besides I can't have you and Takumi always taking care of Hikari."

"But you had a delivery complication," Minako worried. "There can be after effects if you don't recover properly."

"I'll move if it gets too much," Misaki promised.

They pulled up to their familiar driveway.

"Mom, can you carry the baby? I'll get Misaki."

"I can walk!" Misaki pointed out as Takumi helped her out of the care.

"Yeah, no," he said, picking her up.

They got settled in. The baby was asleep upstairs and Misaki was curled up on the couch with a blanket and hot tea. Her hair was damp after a hot bath.

"Finally home," Takumi said, sitting beside her. "I am beat."

"Go take a nap," Misaki urged.

"I'll just sleep over here," Takumi said, laying down on the other couch.

He pretty much out cold within seconds. Minako quietly covered him with a blanket and exchanged a smile with Misaki.

"Mom, you should rest too," Misaki whispered.

"I'm not tired," Minako reassured Misaki. "It's you who needs to rest. I'll go look at the nursery."

Misaki nodded and pulled the blanket around herself. She must have dozed off because she woke up to the doorbell.

Takumi woke up too. "I'll get it," he said, yawning.

The door opened and Misaki who it was.

"Congratulations!" Ruri cheers, holding a bunch of pink balloons.

"Hey," Misaki said, sitting up.

"Misaki!" Sakura said, hurrying over. "I heard all about it. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Misaki reassured them.

"How are you holding up?" Kuuga asked, patting Takumi on the shoulder.

"Hanging in there."

"Your face is NOT reassuring," Tora informed him. "You look...like a new parent."

Takumi chuckled. "That I am."

"Misaki, did it hurt?" Sakura asked.

Misaki nodded. "Get the pain medication," she told her friends. "Surviving natural birth is not natural."

"You must have had it hard," Tora said. "Did that birthing class help?"

"Heck no," Takumi said. "Misaki screams a lot louder than that man."

"Any threats?"

Takumi just smirked. "It happens," he said.

Misaki blushed. "Takumi, if you say anything..." she muttered.

Takumi just grinned at her. "It can be our secret," he said, winking.

"What was the secret name?" Sakura asked.

"Hikari Rose Walker," Misaki said.

"Oh, that's pretty," Sakura squealed. "I got the pictures you texted me. She's such a pretty baby."

"How close are you?" Misaki asked, putting her hand on Sakura's round stomach.

"I'm one month behind you," Sakura said. "And Ruri is one month behind me."

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Minako asked, coming back into the living room.

"Not today," Ruri said. "But thank you."

"Yeah, we should probably let you guys rest," Sakura added.

They heard Hikari crying upstairs.

"I'll get her," Takumi said.

Everyone crowded around when he came back downstairs.

"She's adorable," Sakura cooed. "Hello baby," she said, gently stroking her chubby cheeks.

"Hikari is a beautiful name," Ruri agreed.

"We should probably let them rest," Kuuga said. "Congrats again, Takumi, Misaki,"

"Call," Ruri said, giving Misaki a hug.

"I will," Misaki promised.

After they left, Misaki held out her arms for her daughter. Takumi kneeled beside the couch and watched Misaki fix the tiny hat on Hikari's head.

"She has your hair," Takumi said, gingerly touching a small tuft of black hair.

"Your nose," Misaki said.

"Your eyes," Takumi told her. "They're exact copies of yours. This daughter looks just like you."

"Was it like in your dreams?"

"Hard to tell yet," Takumi decided. "Ask me again when she's older."

"Like I'll remember," Misaki snorted.

"Misaki,"

"What-"

Takumi cut her off with a kiss. Misaki smiled and kissed him back.

"You don't know how happy I am," Takumi said.

"I bet I do," Misaki teased.

"Oh really?"

"I'm just as happy," Misaki said, giving him a light kiss on the cheek.

Takumi actually confined Misaki to bed. He gave her a million reasons why she needed to rest.

"Here," Takumi said, setting down a tray. "This broth has a lot of nutrients. I boiled all sorts of meats, vegetables and different natural supplements and let it simmer over night. Once every vitamin was in the broth, I strained it."

"It smells good," Misaki agreed, sitting up in bed.

Takumi picked up the bowl and stirred it with a spoon. He blew on a spoonful and held it out to her.

"I can feed myself," Misaki mumbled.

"Just let me," Takumi said, holding the spoon to Misaki's lips.

Misaki took a sip. "It's delicious," she said, licking her lips.

"Your mom and I are swapping recipes," Takumi said, feeding her another spoonful. "These few months, you need to replace all the nutrition you lost."

"Did you get enough sleep last night?" Misaki asked, touching his face. "You kept getting up."

"Yeah, it was fine," Takumi said, feeding her another sip. "I only woke you up when she was hungry."

"How is she now?" Misaki asked.

"Your mom has her. Changing diaper, I think."

"Yes, she's all clean now," Minako said, walking in. "Say hello to your mommy," she cooed, giving the baby to Misaki.

"Hello Hikari," Misaki said, rocking her daughter slightly. "Did Grandma change you?"

"I feel so old," Minako laughed. "Grandma?"

"You should have seen my grandfather," Takumi added, sitting on the bed. "He was getting choked up at the word 'great grandchild,'"

"I can see why," Minako said, picking up the empty tray. "My baby had a baby. How is that suppose to make me feel?" Minako said, touching her heart. "It's so moving."

"Oh Mom…" Misaki sighed as Minako left.

Hikari began to cry.

"Are you hungry?" Misaki asked, soothing her daughter.

"I think she is," Takumi said, straightening the blanket around her. "Aren't you, Princess?"

Misaki unbuttoned her shirt.

"Stare and I'll kick you out," Misaki warned.

Takumi chuckled and rubbed Misaki's leg. "I've seen that more than our daughter has."

"Takumi…"

Takumi ducked the flying pillow. "I love you," he said, kissing her on the cheek.

"Don't suck up," Misaki said, fighting a smile.

"Yeah, that's Hikari's job," Takumi grinned.

Takumi found himself locked out of the bedroom.