"This apartment has two bedrooms, one and a half baths, a full kitchen, dining room, and living room. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet and a private balcony. It has been recently remodeled, with new wood floors, laminate in the bathrooms, and tile in the kitchen."

The realtor led Kuu and Julie through the apartment, and Julie looked it over. She walked over to the sliding door that led to the balcony off of the living room and tested the lock.

"What are you doing?" Kuu asked.

"Making sure the baby can't wander out onto the balcony." Julie stepped away from the door with her hand over her belly. She didn't have much of one yet, but at almost 12 weeks, she had opted for more baggy t-shirts and had to keep the top button of her jeans together with a hair tie. As her pregnancy progressed, her morning sickness had abated, but her paranoia had increased exponentially. Kuu came over to kiss her forehead.

"We can have an extra lock installed on it if you want, my love."

The realtor overheard their conversation and nodded. "Many families live on this floor and have young children. It's perfectly safe, I assure you, Mrs. Hizuri."

Julie blushed, but didn't correct her. She already felt mild embarrassment at their situation; it wasn't everyone who got pregnant within two weeks of beginning a relationship. Kuu took her hand and smiled as they toured the rest of the apartment.

"So," the realtor said with a grin, "Would you two like to see something else, or is this the one?"

Kuu turned to Julie. "It's your call. I want you to be comfortable."

They had already toured a dozen apartments. Julie had found something to dislike about every single one of them. She frowned. "I… Can I think about it?"

The realtor nodded. "I would advise acting quickly, however. This is a very desirable property in a very desirable neighborhood. It's going to go fast."

Kuu bowed to her. "We appreciate it, thank you." They parted ways, and Kuu and Julie made their way to the parking garage of the building. When they got in the Jag, Kuu patted Julie's leg. "Are you hungry?"

Julie looked down at her lap. "Not really."

Kuu swallowed nervously. He had always heard that when women were pregnant, they had intense cravings and a ravenous appetite. He had expected Julie to be different in that she would probably be eating enough to feed an army, but it had been the exact opposite. Since becoming pregnant, her appetite had all but disappeared. He half-smiled.

"You barely ate breakfast. I think you should eat something, love."

Julie shrugged. "I suppose. I'm just not very hungry."

He drove a few minutes and parked in another parking garage. They walked down the block to a little hole-in-the-wall ramen shop. Kuu had an extra layer to his disguise that day; a dark brown wig. It made him feel secure enough that they could get away with eating at a public place. They sat at a table in the corner and ordered. When the waiter walked away, Kuu took Julie's hands over the table top. "So, I have to ask. Is there really something wrong with all of these apartments, or is it that you don't want to stay in Japan?"

Julie looked down at the table, away from his eyes. "It's not that I don't want to stay with you. It's just hard to commit to this knowing that I'm leaving my life in LA behind."

Kuu's heart throbbed in his chest, but he understood her position. "Tokyo isn't forever, you know. I wasn't joking with you when I told you that my next stop is LA."

She nodded. "I know that, and I believe that you will make it there… I'm just scared because I don't know when that will be, Kuu." She bit her lip. "I'm going to be mostly alone here while you're working, with a new baby. If I were in LA, I would have Mama to help me."

Kuu massaged the backs of her hands with his thumbs. "If you think you will need help, we'll get a nanny. I want you to be free to pursue your career, just as I have been free to pursue mine. Do you trust me that we can make this work?"

She squeezed his hands. "I trust you."

He offered her a nervous smile. "Then can we say yes to this apartment so your parents won't have me murdered when we tell them about the baby?"

They had invited Eltra and Tatiana to dinner a week from then and were going to tell them. Mercifully, Lana and Cecil had gone back to LA, so they wouldn't have to put up with their judgment. But Kuu was anxious just the same. He had been very friendly with Eltra over the last few months, but he wasn't sure how friendly Eltra would be when he found out that Kuu had knocked up his daughter. He wanted to make sure that he had at least something to tell the man so that he wouldn't worry about his daughter's wellbeing.

Julie smiled. "Yes, Kuu. But," she said, her hand going to her belly, "I want that extra lock on both of those balcony doors."

Kuu kissed her fingers. "Consider it done."

Their food came, and they ate. When Kuu got on his second bowl and Julie was still pushing her noodles around the first bowl, he put his chopsticks down.

"Are you not eating because you're anxious about something? You can tell me, Julie. I want to talk this out with you. I know it's been hard on you."

Julie shook her head. "I'm nervous, of course, but it's not that. I'm just… not hungry. I feel fine, I'm not sick or anything. I just don't have much of an appetite."

Kuu frowned. At her last doctor's appointment, Julie had asked the doctor about her lack of appetite, and after detailing the things she was eating, the doctor had shrugged and pronounced her food intake normal. She didn't appear to be wasting away, was gaining sufficient weight for her pregnancy, and her blood work came back normal. She just… wasn't as hungry. Though the doctor had said this was normal, Kuu was still concerned. He was glad that Julie had finally agreed on an apartment with him so that he could make sure she was eating enough.

When they finished, he drove her back to the hotel and walked her up to her room. They sat down on the bed. "Can I have your permission for something?"

Julie tilted her head to the side. "What is it?"

Kuu ran his hand through his hair. "It's really stupid, but… do you mind if I tell Lory about this tomorrow?"

Julie frowned. "Do you really think Lory can keep his mouth shut? I don't want Mama and Daddy to know until the dinner."

Kuu smiled. "Believe it or not, I trust Lory with my life. I actually want him to be the godfather, if that's okay with you."

Julie considered it for a moment. Kuu didn't have any family to tell, and this was as much his news as it was hers. Finally, she nodded. "You can tell him, but if he tells anyone else about it before Mama and Daddy find out, you'll be sleeping on his couch."

Kuu chuckled. "I'm getting evicted from the new apartment before we've even moved into it, eh?"

She nodded matter-of-factly. "If Lory blabs and my parents find out about our baby from anyone but us? Yes. You will be on Lory's couch."

He kissed her. "I understand, my love."

The following evening, Kuu paced his living room. He wasn't sure what his best friend's reaction would be to this news, but he hoped that he wouldn't judge him too harshly. There was a knock at the door and Kuu answered it. "Hey, Lory."

Lory walked in wearing a Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts. His aviator sunglasses were pushed up on top of his dark curls, and he held a six pack of beer. He sniffed. "Did you get fried chicken?"

Kuu shook his head laughing. "Yes, I did. And biscuits."

Lory kicked his shoes off at the door and went to the kitchen to put the beers in the fridge. "You invite me over, which you never do, by the way, and you have fried chicken. Is this a date?"

Kuu rolled his eyes. "Put the beer in the fridge and come have a seat, pervert." He took a seat in the living room and Lory sat in the chair beside him.

"So," he started, "Are you going to tell me what this is about?"

Kuu cleared his throat. "Yeah. So… it's about Julie."

Lory leaned back in his chair. "All right. I knew this was coming. When's the wedding? I'm Best Man-ing this, right?"

Kuu let out a low sigh. "I'm not asking you to be my Best Man, Lory. I'm asking you to be my kid's godfather."

Lory's eyes widened. "Come again?"

Kuu swallowed. "Julie and I are having a baby."

Lory was quiet for a moment, and then he looked at Kuu with tear-filled eyes. "Are you fucking with me?"

Kuu shook his head. "Serious as a fucking heart attack, man."

Lory got to his feet and wiped his eyes on his forearm. "Get up so I can hug you, you son of a bitch." Kuu got to his feet and Lory bear hugged him. They broke apart and he slapped him on the back. "So, does Tora know?"

Kuu shook his head again. "No. So, keep your mouth shut."

Lory's lip quivered. "So, you mean… you told me first?"

"Yeah."

Lory wiped his eyes again. "Hell, Kuu, I'm touched."

Kuu nodded. "You're going to be extra touched if Tora and his wife find out before we tell them in a couple of days. I'm serious, Lory, not a fucking word to anyone."

Lory smiled broadly as they sat back down. "Mum's the word, my friend. I can't believe it. When is the baby due?"

"February."

Lory blinked as he mentally counted months. "You… didn't waste any time, did you?"

Kuu pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's not like we planned this."

Lory laughed. "They never are. You should have been there when Mari told me she was pregnant with Kouki. I think it took me a month to get over the shock." He gave his friend a warm smile. "How are you taking it?"

Kuu frowned at his feet. "I'm scared, Lory. I didn't have a dad. What if I mess this up? You can only raise a kid once."

Lory shook his head. "Nonsense, you're going to be a great dad." He got up from the chair to go to the kitchen. He grabbed two beers, came back to the living room, and handed one to Kuu. "They don't come with instruction manuals, but you and Julie are good people. You'll do what the rest of us had to do and figure it out." He raised his beer. "To your kid. May it take after Julie."

Kuu smirked as he tapped his own beer against his friend's. "Fuck you, Lory."

A few days later, Kuu and Julie were sitting at a table at a fancy restaurant in Downtown Tokyo with Eltra and Tatiana. They sat nursing their glasses of wine as they went one by one telling the waiter what they would like to order. Kuu smiled. "Please, feel free to order whatever you'd like. I'll take care of the bill."

Eltra raised his eyebrows. "So generous of you, Kuu." They finished ordering, and the waiter hurried away to put it in.

Tatiana sat looking at the water with lemon in front of Julie, her shrewd Russian eyes narrowing.

"Julienna. Is there something you need to tell us?"

Kuu squeezed her hand under the table as she pulled her most recent ultrasound pictures from her purse and slid them across the table. It took everything in her to meet her mother's eyes, and when she did, she found them full of tears.

Eltra looked over at the pictures and froze. "Is that… a sonogram?"

"This says 12 weeks. How long have you known about this?," asked Tatiana, her voice thick.

Julie swallowed. "About a month and a half."

"Why didn't you tell me? You know you can always tell me if you need help."

Julie wiped her eyes. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Mama. We just wanted to make sure that the danger of miscarriage had passed before I said anything."

Eltra's eyes found Kuu, and Kuu did his best to steel himself for the reaming of a lifetime.

"So, Kuu, what's the plan?" Eltra was calm, but Kuu could tell he was on thin ice.

"Well," started Kuu nervously, "Julie and I signed a lease for an apartment this week. The plan is for her to stay here with the baby until I find work in LA. And then we will be in LA."

"And marriage?"

Kuu nodded. "Julie's visa expires soon, so we'll have to if she's going to stay."

Eltra smiled. "Forgive me, I need to be more clear. Are you in love with my daughter, or did you simply get her pregnant and feel that you need to take responsibility?" He looked at Julie. "If this is simply about responsibility, I would prefer that my daughter marry someone that loves her, regardless of who has fathered her baby."

Kuu sat up straight. "I do love her. I love her, and I want her and our baby. I am committed to this, Eltra, and I am going to do my best to make sure that they always know that."

Eltra nodded. "I want it understood that my daughter and grandchild will always have my support should they need it." He extended his hand across the table to Kuu. "I reiterate. Do not make me regret liking you, Kuu."

Kuu wiped his sweaty palm on his pants and took Eltra's hand. "I will take care of both of them. You have my word."

Eltra nodded and picked his wine glass up. "So," he said, his eyes sparkling, "Our second grandchild. This is unexpected, but very exciting. Don't you think, Tati?"

Tatiana dabbed at her eyes with her napkin. "Quite." She looked at the ultrasound picture again and saw the due date printed at the top. "Valentine's Day. The perfect due date for someone who is already so loved." She reached across the table for her daughter's hand and squeezed it. "I'm here for you, Julie. Whatever you need."

"Thank you, Mama."

She turned to Kuu, "And you. Do me a favor and be the son-in-law that I actually like."

Kuu chuckled as Eltra turned to his wife with a smile. "I thought we had agreed not to talk badly about Cecil?"

Tatiana drank her wine. "I shouldn't. He takes care of my Lana. She is provided for and happy. But he brings out the worst in her, and that is so disappointing." She reached across the table and pinched Kuu's cheek. "But you are a sweet boy. I hope you will stay sweet."

Kuu blushed and patted his cheek where she had pinched it. "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, ."

She shook her head. "Mama. You're marrying my daughter, I'm your Mama now, too."

I'm your Mama now, too. Kuu hadn't expected that. He hadn't had a mother since he was sixteen. It hadn't occurred to him that not only was he gaining a wife, but he was gaining her family. I can't fuck this up, he thought.

Julie saw the tears in Kuu's eyes and put her hand on his knee. She knew that what her mother had said had touched him in a way that he couldn't express. She was grateful to her parents for being so accepting of him and so welcoming, despite the circumstances.

Their food came, and they tucked in.

"So," said Eltra as they ate their dinner, "Would you like us to tell Lana?"

Tatiana frowned. "She's going to take this personally. Maybe we should wait until her baby has come already? Perhaps she will be less… ah… emotional."

Julie nodded. "Wait until the baby is here. It's only a few more weeks. I don't want to risk upsetting her and hurting the baby." Julie didn't really care how upset Lana would get, but she didn't want to risk unintentionally harming her unborn nephew.

They finished eating and got up to leave. Tatiana hugged Kuu. "Thank you for the meal."

"You're welcome… Mama."

She patted his cheek and giggled at him. "You'll get used to it, dear."

They parted ways, and Kuu and Julie went back to the Jag. Instead of driving her back to the hotel, he drove another way.

"Kuu? Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

They drove for a few minutes and then pulled up to an ornate brick fence. Kuu parallel parked on the street and got out. He opened Julie's door and gave her a hand out of the car.

"Kuu, where are we?"

He smiled. "It's called Rikugien Gardens."

The sun was setting, and Julie looked at the entrance, unsure. "Kuu, I think it's closed."

As if on cue, a man appeared at the gate. "Hozu-san! Right this way."

Kuu gave the man a tip and smiled. "We won't be long, I promise."

The man bowed to him and smiled. "Please, take your time."

Kuu led Julie into the garden, and it took her breath away. There were beautiful trees, ponds, and charming little bridges. The paths were illuminated by small lanterns. The soft glow fell on the ripples of the little ponds. A gentle breeze whispered through the trees, ruffling the leaves, and blowing Julie's hair away from her shoulders.

She looked around, expecting to see other people and seeing no one. "Kuu, did you rent the whole garden!?"

He chuckled. "Maybe."

"It's so beautiful."

He led her on to one of the little bridges. "I was thinking. I never told you what the name Kuon means."

"Oh?" She smiled. "And what does it mean?"

Kuu took a breath. "It means Eternity."

Julie seemed to glow in the lantern light. "If I wasn't sold on it before, I certainly am now. That's beautiful, Kuu."

He got down on one knee before her. "I'm glad you think so. Julienna, will you be mine for eternity?" He produced a black ring box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a platinum Marquise cut diamond ring. Julie's hands flew to her mouth.

"Kuu, it's huge!" He couldn't help but laugh. She smacked his shoulder. "Perv!"

"I'm not hearing a 'yes!' Julie."

She sobbed into her hands. "Yes, Kuu!"

He got up and pulled her left hand away from her face to slide the ring onto her finger. She marveled at it. "It's gorgeous!"

He pulled her close and they kissed. He rested his forehead against hers. "I don't know what the hell I would have done if you'd have said no."

"You rented a whole garden, I'm carrying your child, and my parents love you. No is not an option."

He laughed. "And you? Do you love me?"

She smiled with tears in her eyes. "For eternity."