Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters

*Long author's note, skip passed the bold to just get to the story*

Okay, a long, overdue apology is in order. I know it's been months since I've posted anything. I just finally updated something a little while ago, and this story is next on my list. A lot has been going on. I touched upon it in whatever stories I updated (can't remember which ones since it's been so long). Between work (had been 40 hours a week, now 36), catching the flu at New Years', lots of uncertainty about the future, applying for an online schooling program to build up my credentials in my field, spending time with a new friend when we both have spare time, helping another friend deal with anxiety and mental illness, vacation to Disney to celebrate a little girl's birthday (by the way, Galaxy's Edge is AWESOME), spending time with family, commuting back and forth when I finish work on weekends 2 hours each way, mom getting the flu in February, preparing to work on a couple of actual books…I've just had very little time to sit down and actually write for any story.

But there's good news. To keep me longer at my job which most positions require funding (we're waiting to hear on that) I have to work just a few less hours meaning I can come home earlier in the week. That's given me time, not a ton of time, but time to sit down and write a little bit. I want to say, it's not that I haven't written anything in the last few months, but it does feel like it. Honestly, I've written a couple paragraphs or one scene here and there in random stories. It's just taken a long time to pull it all together. That's going to be my new normal for a while. I'm still adjusting, and I still have so much to do. And I need to take time sometimes just to sit and be while I adjust to the mass chaos going on around me.

Nevertheless, I am not giving up any stories or writing fanfiction, and now that I'm teleworking because of the COVID-19 issues, I can actually work on some stuff. It's just going to take me quiet a long time for a while. I thank you for your patience and support, always. And now, let's get to the story. Everyone stay safe and healthy!

It was the week of Thanksgiving.

Well, in America it was.

Botan had been flipping through the channels to look for something to catch her interest. Of all things, on the business network, there was a program about how to make American business associates feel like they're back home for the holiday. It was a cooking program, and Botan rather liked those, so she lingered.

It had been a bad idea. By the end of the program, the pregnant woman craved all the different Thanksgiving foods. Cranberry sauce, yams with marshmallow and caramel, and, above all, the turkey, all looked much too tantalizing. A pout marred her features. Where on Earth was she going to get those types of food? Did they have specialty stores for it, or was it at the local convenience store or market?

Knowing her luck, it was nowhere.

"What has you salivating, woman?"

Botan jumped and quickly touched her mouth and realized she was, in fact, drooling. She quickly cleaned herself off and turned to see Hiei entering the room. He had trained early in the morning before her waking, probably on the roof of the apartment building as he took to doing the closer they got to Botan's due date. When Botan awoke, Hiei was in the shower, so she went to watch TV which now caused her current craving dilemma.

"Nothing," Botan murmured. "It's just that…it's an American holiday today, and I don't know of any place to get the food here. I just got these intense cravings for pretty much everything. The turkey especially." Hiei's expression remained neutral as Botan explained her plight. She expected him to tell her she was being ridiculous, but he simply glanced to her rounded abdomen with a glint of softness. "Hiei?"

"Hn," his normal grunt came. In a flash, he appeared before her and kissed her, mindful of their child between them. "Don't worry, woman. Rest. I'll take care of it."

Botan's brow quirked in question. "Take…care of what?"

But Hiei was gone before she even voiced the question.

Hiei, despite what Botan may have thought he'd think of her, understood full well why she was craving the bird. It surprised him that she didn't remember her intense meat cravings throughout the pregnancy. The baby made his desires known, and Botan's cravings were just an extension of that. Because of this, Hiei was determined to find this "turkey" and make sure Botan and their child was satisfied.

The ferry girl said something about America. Hiei didn't really know what that was, but it couldn't be that difficult to locate with his Jagan. The fire demon had his goal. He would find this giant bird, even if he had to portal jump to get it. Botan and their son would be satisfied.

The Minamino house was lively, more so that either Kurama or his mother were used to. Of course, they had done holidays before with many loved ones. Today, though, the house was full of strangers. It was unsettling for them both, which is why having Hanako there was a blessing to Kurama. The redhead felt worse for his mother.

Shiori had never celebrated or prepared an American Thanksgiving ever in her life, so when her husband sprung it upon her, it was a shock. The woman understood her husband. After all, his business associates visiting from America were away from home and he wanted to make them feel welcome. However, the man was already aware that there would be a long talk tonight between him and his wife. After all, the few days' notice he gave her was hardly enough given the circumstance.

"Hanako," Shiori chimed, though her voice sounded tired and worn from the day's festivities, "would you mind bringing out the bowl of stuff I left on the counter? I just need to rest for the moment."

"Of course," the woman replied with a sincere smile, "it's not trouble. Is everything else out?"

"Mm," Shiori hummed as she nodded. "Thank you, dear."

Hanako's faint smile never left her face as she backed away from her boyfriend's incredibly kind mother. The two of them spent the majority of the morning preparing the food for Hatanaka's guests which gave them a chance to bond. The obstetrician absolutely adored Kurama's mother, and she believed the feeling was mutual if Shiori's calm and content aura around her was any indication.

As she was about to turn to leave the kitchen, Hanako let out a shriek, immediately alerting Kurama who stormed into the kitchen ready to attack. When he took in the sight before him, his furious gave turned to an uncharacteristic bewilderment. "H-Hiei?!" the redhead exclaimed. "What are you doing here?!"

Hiei stood in the middle of the kitchen of Kurama's family home with a turkey, beheaded and bloodied. Without much explanation, the fire demon stated, "I need hell cleaning it."

Horrified at the thought of his mother, stepbrother, stepfather, or his stepfather's business associates walking in, Kurama rushed Hiei out the back door. That left Hanako alone as she stared at the spot where Hiei had stood in shock. Moments later, Kurama came back to the door smiling his annoyed smile, a drop of nervous sweat appearing. Hanako looked to him, her eyes questioning him.

"This may take a little bit," he explained, exasperated. "Can you clean up here? We need to head to Kuwabara's."

Hanako was baffled, wondered why they needed to go to Kuwabara's. She simply nodded, and after Kurama left she worked on cleaning up, and did it quickly before Shiori came back into the kitchen.

A few days later, Hiei found himself on his own. Shizuru, Keiko, and Yukina had come to take Botan out for a day of relaxation and pampering. Hiei had wanted to go, wanted to be close enough to protect Botan, but he had hovered over her so much lately that even his own sister indicated the couple both needed a break and some time alone. The ice maiden promised to protect Botan, and when Hiei made to protest she asked him, "How do you think I made it across Demon World on my own?"

Between his twin and Kuwabara's sister, Hiei figured Botan would be fine. The decision was not something he came to one his own, but was forced upon him when the two women shoved him back inside the apartment and slammed the door. Hiei couldn't even get a word in edgewise.

Now, he was alone, panicking. He spent the first hour pacing, desperately tried to force himself not to think about anything. He cleaned the apartment, something he neglected to do the past month. The fire demon hadn't realized just how much energy he'd put into getting to know the ferry girl on a deeper level. He didn't regret it, though, especially since he felt more comfortable around the woman.

After cleaning, he checked in on the woman using the Jagan. Apparently the girls took her to the salon before shopping, and Botan seemed completely at ease. With a sigh of resignation, Hiei left the women be. It still didn't ease the pressure in his chest or the pit in his stomach.

When he sat down on the couch, Hiei noticed that Botan placed his parenting boom beside hers. The fire demon mentally shrugged. He had nothing better to do, so he grabbed his book and turned to the current week. The chapter was titled "Pregnancy Symptoms for Dad."

You have got to be kidding me, Hiei griped. Still, after all his guide had helped with in regards to Botan, Hiei figured he'd give it a fair shot.

Strangely enough, all the chapter indicates was that Hiei could be experiencing some of the same symptoms as the woman, something called couvade syndrome, and anxiety was the first one listed. Hiei now had to wonder if his current anxiety had been a product of the pregnancy instead of a legitimate fear. Did that mean the one who normally had completely control of emotions was just a victim to silly symptoms? Possibly…

As much as Hiei wanted to berate himself, he couldn't. After all, any time Botan felt similarly, he did his best to reassure her. So, if he used that logic, being angry at himself was pointless. It's not like that would make the anxiety go away.

Thankfully, Hiei did not feel nauseated like the woman, and he definitely hadn't experienced any weight gain or aches and pains. If he did, he knew it would get in the way of training, and that was something both he and Botan could not afford. Contrasting, Hiei could conceive the possibility that he experienced mood swings like the woman did. Lately, he had felt those ups and downs, and he could actually relate to Botan. Unlike the woman, he didn't wear his heart on his sleeve so he was able to hide it from her. In those moments, Hiei would simply hold Botan and sense out their child. The two of them kept him centered, a stark contrast from how he felt in the very beginning.

"Changes in sexual appetite are to be expected," the book stated. "During pregnancy, a woman's drive can either rev up or shift into neutral, or both within a few short days. Some experience a surge whereas others are too tired or self-conscious about their appearance. It isn't just the women experiencing these changes. It is just as unpredictable for the men. Some awaiting fathers are turned on by the changes in their pregnant partner's body, while others may find it overwhelming, and reminded of all the responsibilities. Some men find themselves energized by the thought of having a child, and some are exhausted by the idea."

Hiei pondered this whole paragraph for a while. Despite how active he and Botan had been, it all made sense and added up. For the longest time just looking at the woman was enough to trigger his anger, anxiety, and frustration. He had been so overwhelmed that he avoided the ferry girl like the plague when he could. Meanwhile, Botan had been so worried about her appearance, her uncertainties, the pain, and actually caring for herself and the child. Hiei's gaze became pained as he thought it all over. Now, he was excited about the prospect of a child. Now, Botan didn't seem to be so depressed, sullen, and self-conscious.

She should have never felt that way before. He did that, well that and his neglect. That whole time, he took all of his uncertainties out on her, not even their child. Hiei treated her like the enemy, like an inconvenience he wished to just push behind him. It wasn't fair to Botan. Even though their dynamic changed, Hiei felt guilt.

By the time Hiei had come out of his thoughts, Botan returned home. She entered the apartment and found Hiei sitting on the couch, eyes closed. The woman smiled and waddled her way over to the fire demon. His brow was creased as if he were in deep concentration or though, such a heavy look for someone who was sound asleep.

Botan leaned down the best she could to kiss Hiei's forehead. The fire demon practically leapt away from her, his crimson eyes wide as he took in her joyful form. "Sorry," she softly cooed. "I didn't mean to wake you or startle you."

"You didn't," Hiei said a bit too hurried. "I wasn't asleep."

The woman's expression dropped. "Oh," she practically breathed out. Hiei tried to gage her reaction. Maybe she thought he was weak for being startled. He shook his head of that thought. Botan didn't think like that. She wasn't a demon, so she wouldn't mock or berate him for that foolishness. In fact, Botan looked concerned… Hiei didn't know what to make of it. She must have noticed his distress. Then Botan asked, "Is everything all right?"

Hiei's expression relaxed, but still held some rigidity and seriousness. It really did bother him how poorly he had treated Botan in the beginning, and now that he was getting to know her and understand his own repressed emotions, he couldn't shake the guilt that came with it.

"I haven't been fair to you," he admitted. "In the beginning, when I said all I did…"

"I forgive you," Botan cut in without giving Hiei the chance to say he was "sorry."

Her easy forgiveness only made Hiei feel worse, and Botan noticed the darkness that surrounded him. She smiled. "I know what you need," she cooed. Hiei's brow raised, a silent question in his mind, but Botan merely giggled and held out her hand. "Come on, now."

Hesitantly, Hiei took her hand, and then Botan led him to his room. After she released his hand, she moved to sit and get comfortable on the door. Hiei awkwardly stood in the doorway as he watched her with wide and uncertain eyes. When Botan was settled, her eyes met his, and she patted the empty side of the bed to motion the fire demon to join her. Hiei, still apprehensive, slowly made his way across the room and into the bed. Stiffly, he sat, but Botan was undeterred. She wrapped her arm around Hiei, cuddled him close to her, and pet his head lovingly.

Hiei inhaled deeply through his nose, but the air felt like ice and he could hardly breathe at first. His dark thoughts were then chased away as the comfort feeling he always received when the woman did this started to flood him. After that, he was filled with nothing but warmth, and he relaxed against Botan, wondering not for the first time if her hands possessed some kind of drug.

Botan smiled when Hiei's eyes drifted closed. She was happy that she could bring him some sort of peace. To be honest, she had been waiting for the day Hiei brought up the beginning of her pregnancy. They were both in a different place back then, separated by their worlds and fears. She always wanted to include him, but Hiei struggled to adjust. After Yukina told Botan about their past and people, Botan understood, and any anger she felt towards Hiei and his cruel words towards her and their child were but a distant memory. The man Hiei truly was shone through as of late, so Botan never planned to bring it up.

She hoped her few words would ease Hiei's conscience. After all, he was her rock, protector, and friend. The two of them were experiencing this whole ordeal together, and Botan just wanted Hiei to focus on the joy of bringing their son into the world.

Hiei was back in his head after he allowed himself to feel some of the peace. Truthfully, the fire demon did not believe he deserved Botan's immediate acceptance. Even what she was doing now caused Hiei to feel some type of guilt. He finally managed to get ahold of himself, gently grabbed Botan's wrist to stop her. Surprise alit her amethyst eyes.

"Y-Yes?" she stammered.

"You've done enough," Hiei said sternly, but calmly as he removed himself from Botan's grip. "Let me take care of you."

Botan was about to protest, about to tell Hiei that he had done that and more the past few months, but he was fast as lightening. She felt him before she saw him. The fire demon sat perched on the edge of his bed and eyed Botan's swollen foot and ankle in hand. Tentatively, he made a move to rub the aching appendage with his thumb. The ferry girl twitched at the ticklish sensation. Hiei repeated his actions a few more times before he started to gently rub and knead her foot and the joint of her ankle.

The ferry girl closed her eyes and sighed. His ministrations helped relieve the pain that had been afflicting her all day after being out with the girls. Her friends offered so many times for Botan to rest, but Botan assured them she was fine. It was bad enough she had to use the rest room every five minutes. If she continuously took breaks, they would have never gotten anywhere!

Hiei continued to massage the woman's feet. He read that it might help. Of course, he would have never considered doing this for anyone before, ever in his life. His pride would have prevented him from doing so; however, he wrong this woman countless times, and she just took it in stride and easily forgave him for his shortcomings. He owed the ferry girl more than anyone ever in his life. This was just a drop in the bucket compared to what he owed the woman.

His eyes trailed up the ferry girl's body and stopped when he reached her face. The woman's eyes were closed and she looked completely relaxed. A moan of relief passed her lips, and Hiei froze in his actions as desire stirred within him. Part of him wanted to force that feeling away. This was about Botan, but he just couldn't resist. He wanted her…now.

Botan peeked her eyes open when Hiei stopped only to find the fire demon hovering over her. His eyes were filled with so much passion mixed with a glint of something else. Before Botan could question him, Hiei sealed their lips in a searing kiss. The woman melted into it, and her hands wove into Hiei's hair. Hiei was mindful of the baby in between them and gently coaxed Botan into a seated position. As he slowly moved her, however, her body had other plans.

A pained moan escaped her, and Hiei pulled away abruptly, his brow furrowed in concern. "What's wrong?"

Botan met his worried gaze with a sheepish smile. "It's nothing really," she murmured. "It's just my back. I didn't want to take too many breaks out and it kind of hurts."

Though Hiei still felt desire towards the ferry girl, his instinct to protect returned. He had to push down those feelings to take care of the woman. "Turn around," he ordered. Botan appeared perplexed. "I'll take care of it."

Botan's heart nearly burst; her hand moved to her chest. Hiei had been saying those words a lot more lately, and he always delivered. He was always so serious about making sure she was comfortable, especially when they both knew things would get and feel worse the closer they got to her due date. She offered her lover a smile and cautiously turned so that her feet went over the side of the bed. She sat at the edge and waited patiently.

Hiei kept his eyes on her, but at first he couldn't move. He knew what he offered, but at the same time he feared he'd do more harm than good and hurt Botan. After a moment of mental deliberation, Hiei placed his hands on her back, and he carefully began to rub her back.

The ferry girl smiled. Hiei's touch was so soft and gentle, and she had to bite her lip to keep herself from giggling. They had been together so many times where Hiei never seemed to hold back, but now it seemed Hiei was afraid to hurt her and the baby in some way. She didn't know where this timidity came from, but it was incredibly sweet and adorable.

"Hiei," Botan spoke calmly. Hiei's hands twitched, as if he flinched at the sound of her voice. "It's okay. You aren't going to hurt me. You can use more pressure than that." She turned to face him, the fire demon bewildered as she smiled. "I could barely feel that."

Hiei's expression softened and became more neutral, but the fire demon was still deeply surprised. He had been so worried about hurting Botan, but he hadn't realized he was barely doing anything until the ferry girl spoke up. She turned around again to give Hiei another shot at this. The fire demon used more pressure, and Botan once again sighed in relief. It was in that moment that Hiei realized he could use more of his strength on the woman than he expect. Botan wasn't brittle.

Botan drank her smoothie; she sucked the delicious combination of strawberries, banana, and chocolate through her paper straw mindlessly. Her eyes roved over the content of her guidebook. She was deep in though. She read that her baby was the size of a coconut and that his senses were increasing. As he grew larger, Botan's breathing room would decrease.

Still, that didn't bother so much.

Honestly, Botan knew the next few weeks would be tougher on her, so instead of worrying about it, she shifted her focus to what was happening on the inside. Her son's brain was developing connections fairly quickly. According to the book, he would rest a lot more too. Botan learned this when hours went by without any activity. It was unusual to her, and she nearly panicked. She rushed to Hiei when she felt so scared, but Hiei used the Jagan to check on the boy.

When he breathed out a breath of relief and assured Botan the baby was okay, Botan realized both how important it was to express her fears to Hiei and how worried Hiei seemed to be at the thought that something was wrong. To be safe, Botan called Hanako who assured her it was normal and that if she wanted to wake the baby up from time to time she could eat or drink something sugary. That chocolate Hiei sneaked Botan when she was down would definitely come in handy for that.

Botan also read that their baby could already process and pick up signals related to all five senses. What was really interesting was that even though that was the case, her baby couldn't smell anything. Not when he was surrounded by liquid. Once he was born and breathing air, though, that would change. The first thing he would smell was her, and the book said it would become his favorite. Botan smiled.

The ferry girl put the book down on the table along with her drink and turned her gaze to the ceiling. She couldn't believe that in two short months she would be a mother. The thought didn't scare her as much as it usually did, a sign that she adjusted well to everything. She couldn't wait to meet her little boy and hold him. She still had no idea how she and Hiei were going to work out the logistics of their situation, but she had faith in him and, surprisingly considering the immense amount of pregnancy-induced depression, herself.

Hiei entered the apartment and found Botan at the kitchen table. He took in the sight of her before he placed his sword by the front door. The ferry girl was lost in though once again that she didn't even notice that the fire demon returned from his rooftop training. Instead of retreating to his room like he usually had in the past, Hiei joined Botan at the table. The sound of the seat rubbing against the floor stole Botan's attention.

"Oh, Hiei," she called out in surprise. "Good…good morning."

Hiei chuckled over her greeting. Honestly, Botan was right to be surprised. The day before he had made himself scarce after their emotionally intense night. As much as Hiei tried to adjust, there were still times he needed to be on his own and think. For the ferry girl's benefit, though, he didn't keep himself holed up in his room for days and days at a time, and he didn't ignore her completely. The day before, he simply left the room when he awoke and didn't return until the evening to make sure Botan ate something and then the two of them went off to bed. Botan must have sensed his mood, for she didn't attempt to converse with him. Instead, they just enjoyed each other's presence in silence. Absentminded, Hiei stroked her should with his thumb, as a way to comfort and reassure her while also keeping himself distracted.

Botan didn't know what to say to Hiei. The day before, they didn't speak at all, which was a huge break in their recent routine. Botan had wondered if she did or said something to offend Hiei the night before yesterday. It wasn't until Hiei returned and made them dinner as if nothing had changed that Botan realized that wasn't true. Still, Hiei didn't speak with her at all. After dinner, he cleaned up and then joined Botan on the couch. She put on some program she couldn't recall. While Hiei remained silent, Botan kept herself quiet, unsure of what to say. That uncertainty still lingered in her heart, even with the calm, casual way Hiei stared at her.

"Is…is everything okay?"

Hiei's relaxed expression contorted into one of confusion. "Of course."

"Oh," Botan replied. "Um, okay then. Let me just get you some breakfast."

Botan was about to stand when Hiei's voice stopped her. "It's okay. You don't have to trouble yourself. I'm not hungry."

At that, Botan smiled. She could hear the underlying concern in Hiei's voice. "Nonsense, silly," she chimed. "Breakfast is important, and you just got back from training. You need energy too."

"I don't," Hiei countered. Botan was about to comment on his being difficult. "Besides, I wasn't training."

Now, Botan was confused. "But…you had your sword. I thought…"

"I always have it on me whenever I'm outside," he told her. He left the "just in case" unspoken as to not worry her. "I was just thinking."

Pink eyes blinked, a tick the ferry girl usual had whenever she received news she didn't understand. Maybe it wasn't the fact that Hiei was thinking that stunned her, but the fact that he openly admitted it to her. "What about?" she asked curiously before she caught herself. "I mean…you don't have to say anything if you don't want to. I didn't mean to pry, just-"

"Botan, it's fine," Hiei replied without any kind of bothered tone. "You should know."

"I…I should?"

Hiei answered with a nod. Botan remained quiet, so he decided to reassure her before he broached the topic which had consumed his thoughts the entire morning. "First of all, yesterday wasn't about you. I had a lot on my mind and needed time to myself to sort through some things. You needn't act so wary."

Botan flinched and eyed him guiltily. "I…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just didn't know if I upset you again."

Hiei shook his head. "Nothing like that. All of this is still new to me, being around someone for so long and…feeling something, let alone two people." His eyes shifted to the edge of the table that hid Botan's protruding abdomen. "There will always be instances where I need time away. I don't want you to worry about whether or not I'll come back. It's not good for you or him."

Botan's expression calmed, and she nodded in agreement. "Of course, I understand that." She smiled at him. "We all need that sort of time. I guess I still have some anxiety every so often."

"You're pregnant," Hiei reminded her. "That's the only reason I'm verbalizing this to you. I don't want you to get into a bad state again."

His concern was so sincere and sweet that all of Botan's worries from the day before just left her. "Is that what you were thinking about?"

Hiei, again, shook his head. "No. I was thinking about the future. Koenma said we'd work something out, and Mukuro told me to agree on a parenting plan with you. We haven't really talked about it."

Botan's eyes lit up in amusement. Hiei didn't understand what was so amusing about it, but then Botan told him, "I was just thinking about that, too. I still have no idea what to do. I mean…I already know that our child would need to grow up here and not in Spirit World, but I still have duties there. And you still have duties in Demon World. I don't want to take you away from that."

"One of us has to be here for him," Hiei stated. His firm tone and candor startled Botan. He voiced the one thing she couldn't bring herself to say out loud in fear that it would upset Hiei. "When you can't be, I will be. The same will be the case when I can't be."

In theory, it made the most logical sense, but Botan couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment that welled up in her heart. The woman knew it was a matter of time for Hiei to confirm her fear. This was all about the child, and she accepted that. Still, it hurt that if they went by Hiei's suggestion, she would most likely never see him again, at least not like the way they had spent time together recently. It would only be in passing, maybe parties, holidays, and events. They wouldn't be a couple anymore. Botan mentally shook herself from her thoughts. Were they even a couple now?

Botan knew that this would probably be what was decided upon, and she accepted it. She didn't know why she felt so overwhelmed all of a sudden. Not wanting to alert or upset Hiei, she managed to keep her emotions hidden for once and put on a smile. "Exactly my thoughts. Glad we're on the same page, then."

Botan stood up abruptly and went to remove her dishes from the table. She needed to put some distance between herself and Hiei before he realized how much she was bothered by the idea of no longer being with him. Of course, Hiei noticed Botan's distress and was puzzled by her reaction. It was the most practical solution to their problem. There would be times Hiei would need to be in Demon World, and times Botan would be needed in Spirit World. They could spend months at a time in their respective worlds, and months with their son. Hiei didn't know why Botan was all of a sudden acting so unbalanced. And then, Hiei realized what the woman thought.

She thought the two of them would no longer be whatever the heck they were now.

It would have been so easy for Hiei to speak up and contradict her thoughts. After all he had been trying to do, he had no desire to never see the woman again. He still didn't know fully what he wanted, what he could be. He could not live this mundane life forever. It was not who he was deep inside. He needed to fight, needed the adrenaline rush. Even his current training had become lackluster, but he endured because of the woman and his son.

Botan's mood shifted. Hiei could already sense that, and a heavy weight settled in the pit of his stomach. It would be so easy to explain the last part of the plan he concocted, settle her fears and dispel any uncertainty he just created. But he couldn't.

"Do you want to go for a walk?"

Botan froze in her task at the sink, shoulders hunched and body tense. "R-Really?" she voiced, uncertain. "I thought…"

Hiei steeled himself and asked, "Thought what?"

"N-Never mind," Botan stammered. "Sure, I could use some time outside, and it's surprisingly beautiful out today, too. Just let me change-"

As Botan walked away, Hiei could hear her labored breathing and frowned. He knew she'd been combatting another side effect, shortness of breath. A walk would be good for them both, but he would be mindful of how the ferry girl faired. If her breathing became too labored, Hiei would make sure she took as many breaks necessary whether she wanted to or not.

When she left the room, Hiei slid her book over to his side of the table. He read over the parts where it discussed how much his son was developing and smirked. As he glanced over the side effects, he grimaced. Botan had been dealing with the backaches. The other symptoms – headaches, clumsiness, the frequent urination, pregnancy brain, and sleep problems – were an ongoing battle, but they were managing those symptoms well, although Hiei could argue that Botan would disagree. Hopefully, the walk would help her spend some of that energy.

Botan really enjoyed the walk with Hiei. It had been a while since they were out, just the too of them. With her due date approaching quickly, Botan was exhausted and hadn't really asked to go out much. The girls kept her active, and it was nice just curling up and cuddling with Hiei. A somber wave passed over Botan towards the end of their walk. Would this be the last time they were like this together?

Hiei hadn't spoken much about their conversation that morning, which was probably a good thing. Botan didn't know if she could handle Hiei directly saying that after the baby was born they would hardly see each other. There was really no reason she should be so sad, though. Before all of this, Hiei didn't even intend to visit the baby let alone stay with him for extended periods of time. At least her son would know and have his father. She couldn't be greedy and ask for more.

"Hey," Hiei spoke, causing Botan to snap out of her thoughts. She looked to Hiei; the fire demon stared intensely into her eyes. Her pink pools questioned him, and Hiei gestured to a food cart across the stress. "You hungry?"

Botan's stomach growled which effectively answered the question. She laughed lightly and nodded. "I guess I am."

Hiei's lip quirked up slightly; the impish grin did strange things to Botan's insides. Surprisingly, he took her hand and led her to a yakitori stand. The smell of the meat and sauce caused Botan to crave like she had never craved before. The fire demon must have sensed it because he ordered a lot for the two of them. Botan wasn't even going to ask where he got the money to pay for all of it. It was probably best she didn't know.

The two walked further away from the stand and found a park. Hiei found a bench for them to sit and share the snack. They still sat in silence, though it was more comfortable than it had been the past couple of days. Botan figured that instead of sulking, she should just enjoy the few moments she had left with her demon lover.

Hiei's amused chuckle cut through her mind. She looked over to him, both surprised and perplexed. "You have sauce on your face."

Botan's eyes widened, and she reached to a random spot on her face, unable to feel anything. Again, Hiei snickered. "Here, let me."

What Botan was expecting was for Hiei to wipe the sauce away. Instead, the fire demon gently cupped her cheek and pulled her towards him. Slowly, he licked the sauce from her chin and didn't stop until he reached her lips. Botan accepted his kiss, surprised by how coy Hiei acted in that moment. His thumb gently stroked her neck, and Botan moaned into the kiss. Her eyes snapped open once she remembered where they were. "W-Wait!"

Hiei pulled away abruptly, and his lips hovered over Botan's. He was teasing her, and Botan seriously just wanted to grab him and pulled him back. "And here I thought you were a fan of voyeurism," he joked, and Botan clenched her eyes shut. "But I'm not. Let's go home."

Botan's eyes shot to Hiei once again, again startled. Did she hear correctly? Did Hiei really call the apartment home? Blue brows furrowed in confusion, and she was about to ask what Hiei meant by that, but he hoisted her up before they could. The two of them walked back home and quickly and safely as they could.

Once home, the door nearly slammed open after Botan unlocked it. Hiei was on her the minute they were inside. He held Botan with one arm, kissed her senseless as he used his other to close and lock the door. The two ended up in his bed, still frantically kissing one another. Hiei felt no conflict at all as they gave into their desires. He actually acted playful and enjoyed himself as Botan mewled with desire. They didn't need to ask where this lead up was going.

A while later, Botan was asleep at Hiei's side, completely exhausted from their earlier activities. Hiei also felt satisfied and relaxed, his eyes never leaving Botan's face. She didn't look as sad as she had been all day. Hiei hoped that his actions could convey what his words could not. He wanted to tell her desperately that he had no intention of fully leaving her, but something still held him back, some worry or fear that still existed inside of him. Even so, he wasn't done with her yet, didn't think he ever could be.

Absentmindedly, Hiei's fingers glided across her bare shoulder, the repetitive motion lulling him into slumber. At that moment, Hiei realized that there hadn't been much activity on their son's part either for the past hour, surprising considering the boy usually made his presence known during these moments.

Hiei recalled one thing from Botan's guide from that morning, now that he thought about it. Hm, guess the motion really does rock you to sleep. Hiei mentally chuckled. Of course, he knew the baby reacted other ways in the past. If the book was correct, thankfully, their son was not aware of what was going on, just that there was something going on that alerted him.

Hiei's hand slid down Botan's body and rested on her abdomen. Mentally, he communicated, Good night, son. Then, he joined the woman and their baby in slumber. It was the most at peace Hiei had felt in a very long time.