Chapter 7

"Okay guys, dinner time!" Ranma shouted from in the kitchen as he tasted the curry he'd made and switched off the rice cooker. "Kaori make sure you wash your hands!"

"Yes daddy" Kaori moaned as she turned away from her desk and left her room to go to the bathroom. As soon as she was done, the seven year old red head leapt down the stairs and bolted over to her spot at the dinner table like a crimson comet with her hands still dripping from the sink upstairs. Noticing her wet hands, she shook them dry, flinging water across the living room and onto her father who quickly changed into her much shorter biological mother. "Oops, sorry."

"It's fine sweetie," Ranma said laying the food on the table and kneeling down to her spot. "But next time, use a towel. Where's your mom?"

"I'm coming, hold your horses!" Akane called as she slowly made her way to the living room from the outside. Very carefully, she lowered herself down into a kneeling position. Halfway there she noticed Ranma's slender hands wrap around her arm and hold her gently. "I can do it, Ranma. I don't need your help!"

"Yeah that's what I said when I was pregnant," Ranma scoffed, reminding her wife of how she didn't like it either. "But you wouldn't let me sit down myself either, would ya?"

"Can we eat now?" Kaori asked, getting impatient as she began to start playing with her chopsticks.

"Yeah, we can eat now." Ranma said sitting back down. "Have you finished your homework?"

"Nearly," Kaori answered stuffing a spoonful of food into her mouth. "I'm a bit stuck on the algebra bit though."

"I can help you with that when we've finished dinner," Akane said "I used to love math when I was at school. I used to help your father with it too."

"Hey!" Ranma said slamming her cup down in protest. "I didn't need help all the time! I'm plenty smart!"

"Yeah but you suck at math!" Akane retorted before giggling causing Kaori to follow suit.

I'm just the family punching bag in this house aren't I? Ranma thought to herself as she admitted defeat and quietly resumed eating. Still, at least I can cook a meal without poisoning my family.

Ranma's attention quickly turned to her wife as Akane gently held her stomach, wincing. "You OK there Akane?" she asked concerned.

Akane nodded and smiled. "I think the baby's doing jumping jacks today." She chuckled as the discomfort stopped.

"Hmm," Ranma smiled, turning to her daughter. "You used to do that a lot to me, Kaori."

Kaori groaned as she listened to her father's pregnancy anecdote. "You're so embarrassing daddy." She whined.

"And that's my right as a parent." Ranma answered smiling before noticing that Akane was once again wincing. "You sure you're OK?"

"I'm fine." Akane answered firmly as she continued eating.

"Anyone home?" A voice called from the hallway as three sets of footsteps made their way towards the living room.

"In here!" Ranma answered as she watched Ryoga, Akari and Jiro come into the room and sit down by the table. "Grab a plate, there's plenty."

"Certainly smells good." Akari answered standing up and heading to the kitchen to retrieve three plates.

"Yay food!" Jiro shouted

"OK settle down Jiro," Ryoga said ruffling his son's hair. "Honestly, you'd think we didn't feed you!"

"Nothing wrong with a healthy appetite." Akane said smiling at the little black haired boy and leaning over to ruffle his hair. "What brings you into town anyway?"

"Ryoga needed to see Kiagi, so we thought we'd check in on you guys." Akari answered, sitting down to serve her husband and son.

"You didn't lose ANOTHER compass, did ya Ryoga?" Ranma said snidely.

"Hey shut up!" Ryoga snapped back, before hanging his head low to confirm Ranma's suspicions.

"You know Kiagi gets annoyed when you keep coming back for those?" Akane said, knowing full well her boss's temper. "So what'd he do this time?"

"He sent a bunch of magic knives after me." He answered meekly "And then when I went back in to get my backpack, he turned into a dragon and chased me down the street." At this point the whole house erupted with laughter much to Ryoga's chagrin. "It's not funny!"

The laughter stopped as Akane yet again began wincing. "Ok, now I know you're definitely not fine, Akane!" Ranma said sternly "I'm gonna call Dr. Tofu."

"Will you relax? I said I'm FINE!" Akane said before her discomfort became pain and she began to clutch her stomach. "Actually, I think you better call him."

"Here we go again." Akari said

"What's wrong?" Ryoga asked

"It looks as though you've kick-started another Saotome labour, Ryoga." Ranma said standing up to reach her phone from off the counter. "Here comes baby no.2!"