Chapter 15: The Time has Come

In the early months of her pregnancy there were times she'd felt buoyant, awake and alive like never before. But now, only two weeks away from being full term, Haruhi simply felt fat, ugly, lumpy and uncomfortable. It made her short tempered with Kyoya over anything and everything. And his patience with her until now only increased her ire.

Haruhi caught the edge of his shirt as he rose early from bed. "Where are you going?" she asked suspiciously, "Well?"

"I'm going to work, darling." He answered calmly.

"But it's still so early!" she snapped, as she tugged on his shirt.

"That's because I have a lot of things to do today." He replied as he put on his glasses.

Then he looked down on her. "If you don't feel like getting up with me this morning, then don't." he said gently.

"Of course I'll get up with you. What kind of wife do you think I am?" she retorted, "No, don't answer that. What's the matter with me?" She rolled over onto her side and pulled the covers up over her head, "I feel awful…" she groaned into her pillow.

Kyoya sat back down beside her on the bed and rubbed the lower part of her back on either side of her spine, finding an ache she hadn't even realized was there.

"Mmmm," she moaned as the tension eased. He moved his hands to find another spot. "Ahhhh."

And another.

"Mmmm."

"Feeling better?" he asked, grinning.

"Mmmm," she replied.

"Do you want to get up, Haruhi?"

"Mmmmp."

"All right, then get some rest. I'll see you tonight."

Kyoya reached out and caressed the hard, taut mound that was causing Haruhi so much trouble.

"It won't be much longer until our child comes his way into the world. Have patience, darling." He said gently.

"You said that word once before." She rolled onto her back again and uncovered her face. He could see the glint of amusement in her eyes. "Remember?" she smiled teasingly. Then she pulled him close and whispered in his ear.

"Hmmm…" he smirked. "You never missed a single detail, darling." He teased as he looked at her.

"Well, it's a very memorable…" Haruhi smiled mischievously, "and very stimulating memory." She chuckled.

He smiled. "I agree." He placed his hand on her belly and gently stroked it. "I love you, Haruhi." He said sincerely.

Haruhi sighed in contentment. "I love you, too." She smiled as Kyoya pulled the covers over her body gently.

"Come home early, okay?" she coaxed. "I'll make you something special for dinner."

"All right." He agreed, then kissed her forehead and then he left, because he knew that if he didn't he'd end up spending the day with her- and he had work that had to get done.

Kyoya has been gone for an hour when the back pains got worse. Haruhi pressed as hard as she could with her fist against her back to counter the ache, but it didn't help. She tried lying down but it felt better to keep moving so she made the final arrangements in the nursery room instead.

She was so involved in preparing everything for the baby that she didn't hear the door open. She wasn't even aware that there were other people in the room until she felt hands covering her eyes and arms went around her belly. She gasped.

"Guess who?" they said.

Haruhi smiled as she recognized the voices. "Hikaru and Kaoru." She said, relieved.

"Bingo!"

She saw Hikaru and Kaoru grinning in front of her. "Hello, Haruhi!" they greeted.

She pinched their cheeks. "Mou, don't scare me like that!" she scolded.

"We're sorry." They said in unison. Then twins laughed and hugged her tight.

Haruhi sighed. "Little devils." She said then she smiled affectionately.

The twins smiled in return.

"What are you both doing here? Aren't you both busy?" she asked.

Hikaru and Kaoru draped their arms on each other's shoulders. "We are busy…" Hikaru said, grinning.

"…but we wanted to see you again." Kaoru continued.

"Thanks." She smiled. "That's very sweet of both of you." She tears up a bit. "Gomen. I'm kinda emotional these days." She laughed lightly, wiping the tears away.

Hikaru went to her side and captured her left hand. "No need to apologize, Haruhi…"

Kaoru captured the other hand, "…we don't mind seeing this side of you." He said. Then they both placed a gentle kiss on her hands.

They looked at her and grinned. "Both of you still haven't changed." She said softly. Then the three of them laughed.

"Nice nursery room, you have here." Hikaru said as he looked around appreciatively.

"I agree. It has that warm and cozy feeling in it." Kaoru nodded in approval.

"Thanks. I really wanted it to feel like that. Kyoya helped me decorate it." Haruhi smiled.

"Ara?' Hikaru picked up the book lying on top of one table.

"Parenting 101, eh? I remember a book with the number 101 in it, too." He grinned mischievously, "…but it deals with a totally different subject. Right, Kaoru?" he glanced at his twin.

Kaoru grinned, too. "That's right. Tamaki liked it, if I remember correctly."

Haruhi looked at them and sighed. "I won't ask what the book was about." She said, "Judging from both your expressions, it has to be something naughty." She smiled teasingly.

"That's very perceptive of you, Haruhi." Hikaru said, amused.

Kaoru smiled. "You do know us very well." He said.

Then Hikaru noticed the big bag on the floor. "Are you going somewhere, Haruhi?"

"Hmm… I just have a feeling I'm about to give birth." She smiled.

"And you seem pretty calm about it, too." They commented.

"Maybe this is what they call…" Hikaru said.

"A mother's instinct." Kaoru completed.

Haruhi chuckled. "I guess." She said.

Suddenly, Haruhi's cellphone rang.

"Excuse me." She said. "Hello. Haruhi here."

"Haruhi, its Éclair. Have you heard the news?" she asked anxiously.

"News? What news?" Haruhi asked confusedly. The twins looked at her warily.

"Turn on your TV and watch the news. It's about your husband's company. Hurry." Éclair said then she ended the call.

Harui felt apprehensive. "What happened to Kyoya's company?" she thought, her hand clenched around the cellphone.

"Haruhi, where are you going?" Hikaru asked.

"Is something wrong?" Kaoru asked worriedly.

"I don't know yet." She bit her lip. "I hope it's nothing serious." She whispered then she went out of the room. The twins exchanged glances then they followed Haruhi.

Haruhi immediately went towards the entertainment room and turned on the TV. There she watched the live news coverage about an explosion in the Ohtori Group Main Office Building. Haruhi felt a frisson of fear chase down her spine. Unconsciously, her hands curved over her belly protectively as she continued watching.

Then she saw the chaotic state of the building's ground floor. Many injured employees were taken out on stretchers. Firefighters surrounded the building to put out the flames. There was no official statement released as of that moment. Many speculated that it might be a terrorist attack.

Then Haruhi gasped as she heard another explosion again. The camera lost its focus for a moment. Then Haruhi heard the reporter said the explosion occurred at the top floor of the building. She paled and felt her knees starting to wobble.

"Kyoya's office…" Haruhi thought. Then the top view of the building was shown on the screen. There she saw smoke coming from the top floor window. She covered her mouth in shock. "It-it can't be…" she thought frantically.

Haruhi immediately dialed the number of his private telephone line. No connection.

She tried again and still no answer.

"Haruhi, please calm down." Kaoru said but Haruhi hadn't heard. The twins watched her worriedly as she frantically dialed numbers on her phone.

Then she dialed Kyoya's cellphone.

"The number you have dialed is either unattended or out of coverage area." The operator said over and over.

Haruhi trembled in fear. "No! This is not true…"

She dialed the number again desperately. "Kyoya, where are you?" she said. Hoping fervently she'll hear his voice.

But still the voice of the operator answered her.

Then she dialed Oda-san's number. It was ringing but there was no one picking it up.

"Please pick up." she thought agitatedly. "Kyoya, please be all right." She prayed.

Then suddenly she felt a piercing pain in her stomach. She dropped the phone in her hand.

She felt the wet warmth flowing down her legs and splashing onto the floor.

"Haruhi!" the twins caught her before she fell on the floor. She was panting heavily.

"She's going through labor. Hikaru, get the car ready quick!"." Kaoru instructed. Hikaru immediately ran off.

"Oh my." She thought dazedly. "I'm going to have a baby."

Kaoru held her hand. "Stay calm, Haruhi. We'll take you to the hospital soon." He chafed her fingers to bring feeling back into them.

"I'm sorry…about this…Kaoru." She panted, beads of sweat appeared in her forehead as the pain became more intense.

"Calm down, Haruhi. It's going to be alright." Kaoru said comfortingly. Haruhi managed a small smile.

"Kyoya, please be alright…" she thought as she closed her eyes. "Kyoya…"

Haruhi was immediately taken to the hospital's labor room. Haruhi kept on calling Kyoya's name through her pain. Éclair was on her side trying to calm her down.

Later, she was taken to the delivery room.

"Kyoya…Kyoya…" she panted.

Éclair held her hand. "Don't worry, Haruhi. Kyoya is-"

"I'm here, darling."

Haruhi opened her eyes and saw the familiar black hair and glasses.

"Kyoya? Is that…really you?" she panted.

"It's me." Then Kyoya leaned closer and held her hand. A feeling of strange calmness overwhelmed her.

"I'm glad…you're alright…" Haruhi held his hand tight as another contraction came.

"Stay…with me…through this…okay?" she groaned.

"I will."

"All right… now PUSH!" she heard the midwife say.

Haruhi pushed with all her strength to expel the child.

"You're doing good." The midwife encouraged. "Again, PUSH!"

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Later, the sound of their baby's crying filled the room.

"It's a baby girl! Congratulations!" the midwife announced.

Haruhi smiled and looked at Kyoya. "You did great, Haruhi." He tightened his hold on her hand.

Hospital Room~

Haruhi looked lovingly at the baby in her arms, gently sucking her breast. She looked small and fragile. "My baby…Our baby girl…" she thought, her eyes filled with wonder as she gently caressed her.

"She's beautiful…" Haruhi looked up and smiled warmly at him.

"She really is…" Kyoya said softly as he kissed her cheek. "What shall we call her?" He asked, draping his arms around her shoulders.

"I'd like to call her Ayako, if that's all right." she said, looking at her baby lovingly.

"Ayako, hm? That's a nice name." he said.

"Look! She got your eyes and my hair color." She looked at him, smirking. "A perfect combination, if you ask me." She smiled.

Kyoya chuckled. "Hmm…I wonder if she'll be demanding like you…" he said, looking at his daughter.

Haruhi looked down on her baby. "Really? Well, I wonder if she'll be cunning like you…" she said softly.

They looked at each other and laughed.

"We'll find out soon enough, right?" Kyoya said, sobering a little.

"Yes. And I look forward to it!" she said excitedly.

"Me too."

They were about to kiss when there was a knock on the door.

"May we come in now?" The twins asked in unison.

"We heard laughter from here…"Hikaru said.

"So we decided to come join the fun!' Kaoru continued.

"Please come in!" Haruhi said cheerfully. The twins smiled and eagerly entered the room followed by Tamaki, Éclair, Hunny and Mori.

"Congratulations, Kyoya! Haruhi! I heard you had a baby girl!" Tamaki said happily.

"Congratulations!" Éclair said, smiling.

"Thanks!" Haruhi smiled.

"Let us see! Let us see!" the twins chorused.

"Waah! Kawaii!" Hunny said, staring at the baby in Haruhi's arms.

"Ah." Mori nodded in approval.

"Neh, neh, What's her name, Haru-chan?" Hunny asked.

"It's Ayako, Hunny-senpai."

"Oh..." Hunny thought for a moment. "Then can i call her Aya-chan? Can i? Can i?" he looked pleadingly at Haruhi. Haruhi smiled and nodded.

"Yay!"

"Ayako? I think that means "pretty child" in the baby book." Éclair said softly.

Haruhi looked at her for a moment. "My, my, Éclair. You know quite a lot." Haruhi smiled.

Éclair blushed. "Not really. It's just that…" she glanced at Tamaki briefly. "I'm also…" she twined her fingers nervously.

The twins grinned and together they draped their arms over Tamaki's shoulders.

"Congratulations, Tono! You sure are fast!" Hikaru said, grinning.

"You didn't waste any time, eh?" Kaoru smiled teasingly.

"Huh? What are you two talking about?" Tamaki looked at the twins confusedly.

"Tch. Tch. Tch." The twins said as they wagged their index fingersin unison.

"Sorry Éclair, Tono is still so slow." Hikaru said with a shrug.

"You have to tell him straight later." Kaoru said, patting her back gently.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SLOW, YOU TWINS!" Tamaki protested angrily.

"YOU ARE!" The twins chorused, pointing at Tamaki with a smile.

"Nani?! Take that back!"

"We won't! Kekekekekeke!" the twins laughed.

The others in the room joined in the laughter as Tamaki chased the twins out of the room.

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Later, Yoshio-san and Fuyumi-nee-san arrived. Then Nekozawa and his sister, Kirimi, dropped by to give their congratulations, too.

When the two of them are alone again, Kyoya finally told her what happened that day at the Main office.

"…and about the perpetrator,"

"Let me guess..." she looked at him calmly, "...it's already taken cared of." she said.

"And it's for good, too." Kyoya confirmed as he adjusted his glasses but Haruhi caught sight of the cool glitter in his steel gray eyes before his glasses hid it.

"So you don't have to worry anymore." He said as he kissed her cheek.

She sighed. "I wish you could have told me about your plans beforehand." she held his hand, trembling. "I was really scared. I thought i lost you..." she said, her voice uneven.

"I know, darling." he raised her hand to his lips. "And I'm sorry for making you go through that."

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "Promise me you won't do it again." she said.

Haruhi saw hesitation cross his face. She tightened her hold on his hand. "Promise me." she said again, her eyes determined.

"But Haruhi-"

"Promise me, Ohtori Kyoya." she said, putting emphasis on his name.

Kyoya looked at her then sighed. There's no use arguing. Her mind is already made up.

"All right." he said. "But I'm warning you now, my plans get very dirty..." he looked at her intently, his eyes gleaming dangerously.

"I'm prepared to hear all of it." she said firmly.

"Fine then." Kyoya smiled and pinched her nose. "Stubborn woman."

Haruhi smiled. "Oh and one more thing..." she held both his hands and looked up at him. "Trust me to stay by your side always." she said sincerely.

Kyoya stared at her face. Her simple declaration of trust in him moved him to the core. He was so overwhelmed with emotion that's why he couldn't speak for a moment.

Instead, he leaned down and hugged her body tight. Hoping his feelings will reach her through this.

And it did.

"I love you, Kyoya." she said softly, pulling him closer.

"I love you, too." he said with difficulty, burying his face in her hair.

And they stayed locked in each others arms for a while...

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Later...

"How are you feeling now, darling?" Kyoya asked.

"Oh i feel great!" Haruhi exclaimed. "I wish we could go home now..." she smiled. "The three of us, that is."

"Hm, I like the sound of that…" he said softly. "But, soon it will be the four of us…" he smirked, "… then the five of us…" his eyes gleamed suggestively.

Haruhi held her chin. "If you can put up with all my cravings and other demands, I guess its okay." She smirked.

"That's not a problem." He leaned closer until she could feel his warm breath against her neck. "I'll satisfy your every demand." He whispered seductively.

"I have no doubt, you would."

(smirk)

The End

A/N Oh my! I can't believe it's finally done! Fufufu! I'm so happy! ^_^

Now I'm able to put the twins into the story! Yay!

Now what happened to Keiko Tachibana? Well… I'll just leave it to your imagination. Fufufu!

As the Shadow King said, "It's already taken cared of."(smirk)

So how was it? I hope you all enjoyed reading it!

Before I forget, I want to thank everyone who took their time reading this story of mine and even leaving a review!

Also, I want to thank those who added "Love and Marriage" to their favorites!

Thank you! Thank you very much! I'm so happy to feel all your support! ^_^

By the way, I'm currently writing another Ouran Fanfic. (It's entitled: Welcome to Paradise Mansion!)

Okay, that's all! Till next time!

Sincerely,

Keirajoy

P.S. Leave a comment please? Thanks! ^w^