Is there a contest for Worst Author on FanFiction? 'Cause I think I could be nominated for it. Dear Lord, summer 2011 has come and passed, and now it's almost summer again and I haven't updated at all.

Thanks to the encouragement (*coughnaggingcough*) of my dearest friend, PurpleSoul1996, I got off my lazy butt and updated this. It's not her birthday anymore (February 7), but those who are reading this can still spam her story with reviews saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY in caps-lock. Emoticons are optional.

I noticed that while the summary led you to believe that this all from Maka's point of view, the story seems to be more on Soul's viewpoint. So now, this is a chapter on the mommy-to-be's side of the story.

In retrospect, the pasta wasn't that appetizing for her either, and she doesn't blame Soul for having a small (albeit immature) fit over the food.

Still, he could've pretended to like it. It's the least he could do after she had the energy to cook for him. Maka rolled on her side in their bed, keeping in mind that sleeping on her side is the best sleeping position for her and the baby. But she couldn't sleep. How can she? It's not even eight o'clock.

Her mind was restless, and she was still hungry, but being the stubborn woman she had always been, Maka willed herself not to leave the room. Tired of her failed attempts to sleep, she decided to turn the The Joys of Pregnancy to keep her active brain occupied. After skimming through some uninteresting pages, she noticed an entire section dedicated to meals and a healthy pregnancy diet. How did she miss that before?

There's a tiny life growing inside you - your baby! Good news: The chances of having a healthy baby are already excellent. A great way to increase your odds is to simply eat well. The Joys of Pregnancy presents a diet that'll not only increase the odds of a healthy baby, but increase the chances of a more balanced emotional state (less mood swings) and a healthier, more comfortable pregnancy (i.e., less morning sickness, fatigue, etc.).

The more she read, the more astounded Maka was at the endless amount of information and tips about a healthy diet. More astounding was that she missed this section completely, even though there were 20+ pages about it. Some of the recipes this book offered seemed to be good for her and Soul to eat.

(A/N: The following is a recipe. Skip if you don't care for it)

Cream of Tomato Soup

Makes 3 servings

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

2 tablespoons whole-wheat flour

1 3/4 cups evaporated fat-free milk

3 cups tomato or vegetable juice

1/4 cup tomato paste

Salt and pepper for taste

Fresh/Dried Oregano or basil for taste (optional)

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the flour and stir to blend over very low heat for 2 minutes. Gradually blend in the milk and continue cooking over low heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened.

2. Add in the juice, tomato paste, and seasonings, stirring until smooth. Continue cooking over low heat, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.

the soup warm, topped with the oregano or basil if desired.

Fascinating. She'll try that sometime...

The abrupt knock on her door startled her out of her reading, and the annoyed bookworm grudgingly went to the door. No prizes given to anyone who can guess whoever's behind that. Ok, so Soul doesn't like dinner. That's fine; she wasn't fond of it either, but that doesn't give that S.O.B the right to complain over the food she worked hard to make! In fact, she might as well take the fork Soul was eating with and shove it right up his-

Maka stopped her mind-ranting upon seeing Soul, who quietly held a tray in his hands. Said tray had three sandwiches, some fruit, chips and other miscellaneous items, and two champagne glasses filled with milk. She stared at the tray, then at her husband, then at the tray again. She didn't underestimate Soul's kindness (which he tries to be discreet about, but without too much success), but it still stunned her that he did this.

"You know, Maka, I can let you eat some of the food here if you let me in."

It would be so amusing for her if she shut the door in his face, but the food looked good, and she needed food for her and their baby. She won't, under any circumstances, let her child starve.

Something confused her, though... "Soul, why are there three sandwiches? Is one not enough for you?"

He raised his eyebrows at her. Surely a genius like Maka knows why there are three. "What other reason? Do you think I want my baby to miss out on my award-winning sandwiches? It's for him or her, of course."

And just like that, what had happened not even an hour ago ceased to exist. They sat at the foot of their bed, eating their overdue dinner in a mock-picnic. Barely any words were exchanged, but they smiled and held hands.

"You really surprise me sometimes, Soul," Maka murmured, the second sandwich in her hands. "I didn't expect you to do something like this."

Soul shrugged. "Cool guys don't let their women go hungry, especially when they're carrying their kid. It's common sense."

"You really are a great partner," she told him, beaming. "I have no doubts saying that you'll make a great daddy for our little bundle of joy."

Did her eyes decieve her? Was Death Scythe Soul Eater Evans blushing? Flustered at her compliment? He turned away awkwardly before Maka could get a good look at his pink face. "Now let's not get ahead of ourselves. It's really up for our child to decide."

She laughed; she never thought she'd hear Soul being modest. "I'm confident he or she will see how great you are." Maka smiled and lifted her milk-filled champagne glass. "To our baby."

Soul glanced her, and the grin appeared on his face again. Lifting up his own glass, he toasted, "To the future Death Scythe, our kid."

And in that one moment, everything was peaceful and forgiven.

For the moment.

"Who are you calling?"

As Maka served the bowls of Cream of Tomato the next night, Soul chatted on his phone. She had been so preoccupied with cooking (amongst other things) that she didn't even notice that he had been on the phone, much less know who he's talking to or what the subject is.

Soul grinned at her. He seemed truly excited about something, and it intrigued Maka. "Well, since it's official that you're pregnant, we might as well tell everyone about it."

"Who do you plan on calling?" There are certain people Maka had in mind that she prefers NOT to know about her pregnancy.

Soul sensed her tone and held up the one hand that wasn't holding the phone. "Calm down, calm down. On the phone is Tsubaki, and no doubt she will tell Black*Star, who will mention it to Kid, Liz, and Patty. I'm just telling them to meet us in the park tomorrow. I want to tell them the news in person."

"And those are the only people you plan on telling?"

"Well..." He hesitated, and for good reason. "Maybe you should tell your Dad."

"No!" She was adamant. Maka didn't want Spirit to know because she knows he will try to "help" her throughout these remaining 7 months. She doesn't need his help! Or worse, he'll probably kill Soul. He almost did that at their wedding, only to be stopped by some abnormally thick book that she happened to have with her.

"Look, I'm no more eager than you to tell him, but it's better to tell him now when you're not obvious." He nodded at her suspiciously, unbulging stomach. "Otherwise, he'll start nagging and whining when you do become obvious about how we should've told told months ago and blah, blah, blah. I don't need that kind of crap from him."

Dammit. He had a point. Maka's green eyes narrowed at the thought of her bumbling idiot of a father, but decided it would be best for him to hear the news now. "Fine, fine. But I don't want him to help at all with my pregnancy."

"I'll make that fact known. Oh yeah, and Stein might find out from him. Lord Death, too, if Kid hasn't told him first."

Maka threw her hands up. She doesn't mind Stein or Lord Death knowing, but she's not in the mood to have the entire population of Death City know about her, the expecting mother. That yucky, uncomforting feeling in her stomach didn't help her emotions. "Whatever! Tell everyone in Death City. Tell all of your students, all of the teachers, even the workers at Chupa Cabra! Heck, run up to strangers and tell them about it. I'm sure they'll be estatic."

"Jeez, what's with the sarcasm?"

"Just get over here before the soup gets cold or I decide to throw up in it."

The next day is the first chapter of For The One We Love, and though (looking at the chapter now while I am typing) it says that Maka called Spirit (in a great mood, too), it seems that here, Soul called him. Maybe she decided to be the one to call and invite her father to the park in the end...or something. I don't know. Come up with your own theories!

I'm reopening the poll for " What gender do you want for the Evans baby?", and it'll be there indefinitely.

The text for The Joys of Pregnancy baby book is loosely based off of What To Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, and Sandee Hathaway. I unearthed the book from my living room bookshelf, and kept it as a reference for this story. The recipe is from there too. It's actually tasty. Try it!