Sorry, I've been away. This is the last chapter! I have an epilogue left and that's all! Thanks for reading everyone!

Chapter 57: Family Fun

"Takumi!" Misaki exclaimed. "Make sure you don't let Ayame fall!"

"I got her," Takumi said, chasing after the one year old.

Ayame went straight from crawling to running… Running on wobbly legs, however, led to all sorts of tripping and stumbling.

"Look at her go," Sakura said, feeding Jiro a strawberry.

"She gives me anxiety," Misaki laughed. "Hikari," she called, waving her oldest daughter over. She handed Hikari half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich wrapped in a sandwich bag. "Hold onto it," Misaki said.

"Yes Mommy…"

It was such a sunny day that it would be a shame to stay indoors. Ruri, Sakura, Suzuna all brought their families for a giant picnic. With so many people, there was a ton of food...and baby stuff.

"I love Hikari's dresses," Suzuna added. "She's so fashionable."

"She likes to be clean," Misaki told them. "So she can wear dresses."

Hikari was wearing a purple dress with pockets. Her white socks usually stayed white. Ayame, on the other hand, ran by in her overalls and striped shirt.

"Hey," Misaki said, scooping her up. "You want to eat something?"

Ayame shook her head.

"Shige!" Sakura called. "Come finish your sandwich. Kuuga, where's his sandwich?"

"I got it," Kuuga said, flopping on the grass. He pulled Shige onto his lap and helped him unwrap the sandwich.

"Look at them go," Ruri sighed, sitting down, careful with her stomach.

"I can't believe you're having your third child already," Sakura said. "Shige and Jiro are already as much as I can handle."

Ruri shrugged. "Oops?" she laughed.

"You're not as bad as Suzuna," Misaki teased. "Her oldest son is barely two and her daughter, barely one but she's almost due."

"It's okay," Suzuna said, rubbing her protruding stomach. "Hinata and I like children. Might as well have them all now when we're young."

"They all get along quite well though," Ruri observed, taking a bite of her fruit salad.

"Mimi and Hikari especially," Tora said, sitting next to Ruri. "Aimi has a hard time keeping up with Ayame."

Ruri nodded. "I wonder what people think with all these children here at the park. We have a total of how many?"

"Eight," Misaki said. "Each family has two children, except for Suzuna, she has two and a half."

"I guess I have two and a fourth?" Ruri giggled. "Tora is praying for a boy this time."

"Hey," Tora said. "I like daughters just fine."

"Okay," Ruri said. "I'll hope for another girl then."

"Hey," Tora said, again. "I never said a boy would be bad."

Ruri snorted. "I thought so."

"Can I offer anyone juice boxes?" Takumi asked, opening the cooler.

"Me!" Hikari said, rushing over.

"Here you are, Princess," Takumi said, sticking a straw in one.

"Is this a baby?" Hikari said, touching Suzuna's stomach. She sipped her juice box and looked at Suzuna curiously.

"Yes it is," Suzuna replied. "Can you feel the baby kicking?"

"Yes, does it hurt?"

"No, it's very gentle."

"Mommy had a baby too, you know?"

"Yes, she had two."

"Me and Ayame,"

"Yes," Suzuna said, smiling.

"Hikari," Misaki called. "Don't bother your Aunt Suzuna. Come and eat some fruit!"

"Coming!" Hikari said, skipping toward the table. "Can I have a fork, please?" she asked.

"Of course, Princess," Takumi said, handing her a plastic one.

"Thank you,"

"Such well mannered," Ruri complimented.

"Hikari has very good manners," Misaki agreed, holding out the bag of strawberries. Hikari forked one and put it in her mouth.

"You know," Sakura said, picking at her pasta salad. "I really like Hikari." She covered her mouth. "How's Shige looking for a potential b-o-y-f-r-i-e-n-d?"

Misaki laughed. "Don't tell Takumi."

"Tell me what?"

"How much Sakura likes our daughter," Misaki replied, exchanging a smile with her friends.

"Shige isn't too bad either," Takumi said.

"Ohh," Sakura giggled. "You said so yourself then. Misaki, so we have a deal?"

"Okay," Misaki said, interlacing her fingers with Takumi's.

"What deal?" Kuuga asked.

"Beats me," Takumi said, kissing Misaki's cheek.

"I don't ever want us to be far from each other," Ruri said, smiling. "Life's so perfect here."

"It is a very good place," Misaki agreed. "Neighborhood is great, lots of space."

"Great academy not too far either," Takumi added.

"School?" Ruri asked. "Wow...they're really growing up, huh?"

"We still have a few years," Misaki reminded everyone. "But yes, great school choices here."

"Ayame," Takumi said, getting up. "You're suppose to eat the crackers," he said, kneeling beside her. Ayame was tossing them in the grass.

"Oh," Ayame said, pointing to the sky. Birds were flying around.

"This is for Ayame to eat," Takumi explained, popping a cracker into his mouth. "Mmm…Yummy."

Ayame pouted.

"You can be a bird," Takumi said, lifting her up. "Weee!"

Ayame laughed as Takumi walked around with her held over his head.

"And fly back to the ground," Takumi said, setting her down. "Time to eat."

"No,"

"Come on," Takumi coaxed. "Let's eat some egg salad!"

"No!" Ayame giggled.

"Mmm…" Takumi said, holding out a spoonful.

"No…"

"This child does not eat," Takumi sighed. "Here comes the airplane!" he said, making airplane noises.

"Ma!" Ayame said, pointing to Misaki.

"Here," Misaki said, holding out her hand. "I'll feed her."

"Okay," Takumi said, handing the tupperware to Misaki.

Misaki scooped up a little bit and held it out for Ayame.

"Hmm…" Ayame said, smelling it.

"It's yummy," Misaki said. "See-" she said, smelling it. "Oh," she said, covering her mouth. She quickly set the container down on the table.

"Misaki," Takumi said, rubbing her back. "What's wrong?"

Misaki inhaled the fresh air and rubbed her chest. "I feel nauseous," she said, closing her eyes. "I really don't like the smell of eggs anymore."

"Are you…?" Ruri asked. "You know…"

Misaki blinked a few times. "No, I don't think so."

Sakura cleared her throat. "When was your...you know."

Misaki counted a few times. "I'm really bad at keeping track," she said, looking up from her fingers.

"I got it on my phone!" Takumi announced.

"What?!" Misaki exclaimed. "Why would you have that on your phone?! Give it to me!"

Takumi scrolled through his phone. "Hold on!"

"Takumi! You're so weird!" Misaki complained.

Takumi ran his hand through his hair. "Come here," he said.

"Why?" Misaki said, crossing her arms.

Takumi wrapped his arm around her head and pulled her close. "You're late," he whispered.

Misaki blushed. "I barely even noticed," she whispered back. "I'm barely getting any of the symptoms."

"Really?" Takumi asked, raising an eyebrow. "No back pains? No fatigue?"

"A little tired sometimes but nothing like with Hikari or Ayame. I think it's a false alarm," Misaki explained.

"Have you two finished discussing and want to share some news?" Kuuga asked.

"No!" Misaki and Takumi said at the same time.

Ruri laughed. "I have an idea," she said. "Hikari, Ayame!" she called.

The two girls ran over.

"How about you two stay here with us while Mommy and Daddy run to the convenience store a few blocks away?" Ruri suggested.

"That's a good idea," Sakura agreed. "We'll watch your kids. I swear we won't let them lose a single hair while you're gone."

Misaki thought about it. "Okay…" she finally said. "Hikari," she said, smoothing Hikari's hair. "Listen to Ruri and Sakura while we're gone."

"Why are you leaving?" Hikari asked.

"Only for a few minutes," Misaki promised. "Daddy and I have to run to the store. Can you watch your sister?"

"Okay," Hikari replied.

"Good girl," Misaki said, kissing the top of her head.

"Bye," Hikari said, waving.

"We probably have some at our house," Takumi said, interlacing his hand with Misaki's.

"Probably," Misaki agreed. "Want to take a walk then?"

Takumi nodded. "It's such a nice day," he observed.

"You know," Misaki said. "We haven't had a lot of time for ourselves."

"Agreed," Takumi said. "Because of your utter hate for babysitters...not that I like them any better."

"Mhm…" Misaki said, looping her arm with Takumi's. "We should go on a date sometime."

"Whoa," Takumi teased. "Are you asking me out?"

Misaki laughed and blushed. "My mom's visiting tomorrow. How's dinner sound?"

"Come on Misa Chan," Takumi teased, opening the front door for her. "That's not going to impress me."

Misaki elbowed him. "You're weird."

"That's why you love me," he said, walking upstairs. He opened up the dresser and took out a little box. "So before you serenade me and ask me to go on a romantic candle light dinner, we should find out how many people you'll be eating for," Takumi said, tossing it to her.

"Let's bet," Misaki said. "Do you think I'm pregnant?"

"I think it might be a false alarm," Takumi said, flopping down on the bed. "You've just been working too hard, hence your delayed...word you don't like me saying."

Misaki snorted. "Okay, so what should we bet on?"

Takumi smirked. "You never fail to make life interesting, honey. How about this, if you are, I'll do fifty pushups with you pushing against me. If you aren't, you get to do fifty pushups with me pushing against you.."

"You suck," Misaki muttered. "Now, I'm starting to change my answer."

"Too bad," Takumi said. "Besides, you can' do pushups if actually are pregnant."

"Fine fine," Misaki sighed. "We'll see how this goes."

They waited around the bathroom after Misaki took the test.

"Ready?" Takumi asked, looking at the face down test.

"Yup," Misaki said, squeezing his hand.

Takumi flipped it over. Two lines…

Misaki laughed. "You lose," she teased, hugging him.

"That's okay," Takumi said, kissing the top of her head. "I gladly lose… we're having another baby!"

Of course, Ruri, Sakura and Suzuna all freaked out when Misaki and Takumi broke the news.

"Congrats!" Sakura squealed. "The more the merrier."

Misaki laughed. "Our picnics are getting bigger," she agreed.

"That's okay," Ruri said. "Isn't that what everyone wants? To see their children go one to have more children?"

"Mommy," Hikari said, running over. "You're back!"

Misaki nodded and kneeled on the ground. "Hikari," she said. "You're going to have another baby brother or sister," she informed Hikari.

"Like Ruri and Auntie Suzuna?" Hikari asked.

Misaki nodded. "There'll be more kids to play with you," she said, picking up her daughter.

"Well," Tora said. "It's getting late, we should all head back," he said, strapping Aimi into the stroller.

"Agreed," Takumi said. "You won't believe who fell asleep," he said, holding a fast asleep Ayame in his arms.

"So she does get tired," Misaki marveled. "I would have never guessed."

"See you later!" Ruri called, waving to everyone.

"Bye!"

Later that night….

"Come on, Mr. Walker," Misaki said. "You're only at twenty! Twenty one! Twenty two!"

Misaki was sitting on Takumi back as he was doing pushups...punishment for losing the bet.

"I'm working on it!" he said, going back down and up again.

"Twenty five," Misaki said, fake yawning. "Twenty six…"

"You're purposely pushing against me," Takumi informed her. He blew a strand of hair out of his face.

"You would have done the same," Misaki reminded him. "Losing is a big price to pay."

Takumi snorted. "Misa Chan is a bully," he whined.

"Forty eight! Forty nine...Fifty," Misaki said, trying to stifle her laughter.

Takumi dramatically but gently fell to the ground. He was careful not to jolt Misaki.

"I'm dead," he said.

"You are not that out of shape," Misaki said, messing up his hair. "You and Hinata were at it with the weights when we were at the gym."

"That's because I had my pride to defend," Takumi mumbled. "Underling was trying to show me up."

"How'd that work out?"

"He lost."

"Don't sound so smug," Misaki scolded. "He is your brother in law. We're family."

"Mhm…" Takumi said, still lying on the ground. "I only need to be number one in your heart."

"You know how much you mean to me," Misaki muttered. "I don't know why you always say such weird things."

Takumi smiled. "I like your reactions," he said, bluntly.

"You're about to get a reaction," Misaki threatened.

"That's not very honorable, Misa Chan," Takumi said. "You have me pinned to the ground right now with no way to defend myself."

"Go take a shower," Misaki said, getting off him.

"Can you help me up?"

Misaki face palmed. "You're like a kid sometimes."

Takumi beamed and got off the floor. "Go to sleep," he said. "If you can't...you'll know where you find me," he said, slowly closing the bathroom door.

"What the heck?!"

Aliens will be aliens.