"Naru?" The young man looked up when Madoka knocked on his door and called his name. Before he could reply the doorknob turned and she entered with a mix of worry and disapproval on her pretty features.

"What was the point of knocking if you were just going to barge in here anyways?" Naru said with a sigh, returning to his book.

"I don't want any sass from you, mister," she shot back with her hands on her hips. "Plus, this is serious. What did you do to Mai?"

Naru paused. Do to Mai?

"I don't remember doing anything." He flipped a page and kept reading.

"Then why isn't she at work today?"

Naru paused again.

"Hey, Naru," Mai said quietly from her side of the bed. The dark haired boy shifted under the covers and turned over to face her. The clock on the wall read 2:14 am.

"Yes?" he asked, voice heavy with sleep.

"Can I, uh, take off from work tomorrow? I want to go see my parents."

Noll blinked twice and sat up, grabbing his girl by the arm and pulling her close. "Is everything okay?"

Mai resisted a little, but ended up putting her head on his shoulder, hands clasped in her lap. Noll frowned a little; this was very unlike the girl who loved cuddling.

"Yeah, I just... miss them suddenly."

It was pretty obvious that she was lying by the way she avoided his eyes and fidgeted, but he didn't ask anymore questions. Instead he pulled her down and wrapped his arms around her waist, his stomach to her back. "You can go."

Mai touched his hands lightly and went back to sleep without another word.

"She's gone to visit her parents' graves."

Madoka's frown deepened, pondering over his words. "Noll, she called me a few minutes ago bawling her eyes out. She kept saying that you were in trouble and she was going to beat you up with a frying pan."

The boy being addressed put his book down, his eyes wide with surprise. Had he actually done something? He'd remembered to bring her that snack she'd asked for in the morning, he had made sure he cleaned up his side of the room (as usual), and he'd done all other work allotted to him. No, Mai wouldn't cry over something so trivial, she would just do it herself and then scold him at night.

"Did she mention why she was crying?" he asked, running his fingers through his hair. What could it be?

"No," was the curt reply, "but then she went quiet and kept saying she was so sorry and had let you down."

That did it. Naru grabbed the phone on his desk and dialed Mai's number. It rang twice, thrice, four times. Dammit Mai, pick up.

Just before the phone went to answering machine, the brunette answered with a shaky voice. "Hello?"

"Mai? Are you okay? I just spoke to Madoka and-" he was cut off when she burst into tears and started yelling at him.

"You jerk!" she screamed, "I'm going to kill you when you get home!"

"Mai calm down," he tried to say soothingly, but the despair on his face was evident and in his voice. Madoka waved her hand, questioning.

"You're in so much trouble Naru, so much trouble," she had stopped screaming but was still crying. Naru glanced at the clock: it was seven in the evening already.

"I'll be home in fifteen minutes," he promised quickly, but the line was already dead.

He had no recollection of his journey home, but he nearly broke the key trying to unlock the door, his hand was shaking that bad. Inside, the lights were dim, and the front of the apartment was empty. Naru headed straight to the room he shared with Mai; the door was closed. He knocked briskly and entered.

"Mai?" he could vaguely make out her shape sitting on the bed. Reaching blindly, he switched on the light. Mai sat wrapped in a blanket, dark circles under her red and puffy eyes, her nose red too. She blinked owlishly when the lights came on, her hair uncombed and messy, her lips already quivering.

Naru took a couple of cautious steps into the room, shutting the door behind him. "Can we talk?"

She didn't reply, just stared at him so blankly he nearly shivered.

"Mai..."

One of her delicate hands came out from under the blanket, her fist pulled back and she threw something at the boy so fast he didn't have time to react. The object hit his cheekbone, missing his eye by an inch and clattered to the ground. Naru stood stunned, one hand on his face that throbbed minutely; he couldn't believe the girl had thrown something at him. He glanced down at the object, and his throat went dry.

She was pregnant.

Suddenly, everything made sense. Her anger, her tears, her words, it all made sense. And Oliver Davis didn't know how to react. Minutes went by, Naru staring at the girl, Mai glaring at him.

And then Mai's eyes filled with tears and she whispered, "I'm sorry."

What?

Tears began to drip down her face. "I- I should have been more careful a-about this, I'm sorry N-Naru I know you don't like kids and all..."

She kept rambling, but Naru stopped listening. He moved to the bed and sat down on the edge, reaching out hesitantly and touching her fingers. Her hand was shaking, and he grabbed it roughly, effectively quietening her down.

"I... am the one who should be apologizing, Mai. You're not- I mean its not, I mean-" he kept stumbling over his words, because really how could he truly apologize this situation he had put her in. What if she hadn't wanted a child? She was so young too, fresh out of school, not to mention they weren't married or even engaged.

"I'm sorry," he said finally, his voice gruff, "and I will agree with whatever decision you take regarding it. Whatever you want to do."

"You're not... mad at me?" Mai asked meekly, lowering her eyes, her lashes glistening with tears. Naru shook his head violently.

"Do you want it?" Was his question and Mai bit her lip.

"Do you want it?" She countered, "It's your money and all after all."

"If it means I can keep you forever, then yes." The words were out before he could stop himself, and he facepalmed hard. What was wrong with him? He was beginning to sound like Gene.

Mai giggled softly. "I honestly don't want to let it go. It's a part of you."

"Then we can keep her or him, or whatever it is." He said with a note of finality. He was serious about keeping Mai, and if this was the solution then so be it.

The girl extended her arms and he gratefully fell into them, pushing them back down onto the bed. This was what he wanted, forever and ever. Just her arms around him, her scent lingering, the feel of her skin and the sound of her heartbeat.

God, I love you so much.

"I love you too, Naru."

Shit. He'd said that out loud. He could feel his cheeks heat up, but it soon went away when Mai snuggled closer and took his hand, placing it on her belly.

"Boy or girl?"

"Girl," he whispered.

"I want a boy though."

"How about both?"

It was Mai's turn to blush. "D-Don't think so far ahead, you jerk."

Naru smiled. She had no idea.

So. I'm done. And I'm hopefully back to writing, so keep an eye out for other themed weeks and an update for First Kiss, Last Breath. Thanks fam!

-M