Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis or any of its characters. OCs are my creation though.

"You're the most useless man in the world! I'm in the hospital again because of you!"

Sakuno nearly threw a flower vase from the side table at him had the nurses not held her back. Niou's clenched fist was hidden under his coat that draped over his arm. He didn't need to be reminded of the previous visits…

"I think it's best for you to leave, Masaharu." Sumire said, trying to keep a neutral expression. He nodded and turned to leave.

"You bastard!"

He didn't look back, didn't show her how hurtful her misdirected words were. The best place to be was at the waiting room since it was very near the room. If there were any complications, then Sumire didn't have to go far to find him.

The thing is, when a person wants something the most, chances are they're not going to get it immediately. In this case, Niou wanted solitude but with the…comrades he had, that wasn't going to happen.

"How're you feeling, Masharu-chan?"

Fuji asked with a bemused smile. He was playing peek-a-boo with Tezuka's son, Gaku, who was sitting on his lap. Tezuka sat across them, answering messages on his tablet. Niou sighed and took a seat next to Tezuka.

He didn't want to be near Fuji right now.

"I see you haven't been shaving. Life got you stressed?"

"Fuji. Shut. Up. Just for once, shut up." Niou said, placing his elbows on his knees, face against his hands. He felt so defeated.

Fuji merely chuckled. "The first time is always hard."

"What would you know about child birth?" Niou murmured.

"It's commonsense, dearest friend. A woman is experiencing intensive pain for the first time; she needs a scapegoat and that will always be the husband. We men just need to endure it. They're bringing our children into the world, after all. Right, Tezuka?"

Fuji turned Gaku around and waved his tiny hands, causing him to giggle. Tezuka grinned at his son, not intending to take the bait Fuji set.

Niou stared at Gaku, who stared back. He was adorable enough, having soft brown hair and wide brown eyes. Tezuka had him dressed in a blue sleeper today. Fair enough, it could be a long night. Gaku blinked at Niou and extended his arms towards him.

"Looks like someone wants to play." Fuji said, smirking.

"I don't want to." Niou said, ignoring Tezuka's gaze from the corner of his eye. Niou was not going to give into pressure. Not now.

"You'll need practice – it would be a bummer if you dropped your newborn." The sandy haired man said. Niou couldn't believe Fuji was effective in instilling a new fear within him.

He wouldn't drop his baby, would he?

Fuji stood and came over to him, placing Gaku gently on Niou's lap. The silver haired lawyer sighed and pinched Gaku's cheeks. The boy clapped and reached for a strand of silver hair. Niou pulled away with a frown, inducing tears in the baby's eyes.

Tezuka's glare was going to burn a hole in his soul.

He gave Gaku to his father – crying babies were new to him and he didn't know how to deal with. He watched as Tezuka fell so naturally into the role by picking the boy up, placing him against the shoulder and patting his back in a soothing way. He stood and went for a slow and steady walk up and down the waiting room.

Niou couldn't believe his eyes. How could Tezuka be so natural…? It gave him a new insecurity - would he be a good father?

"Once you see your child, everything comes into place. As long as you love him or her, then that's all that matters." Tezuka said as he passed, sensing Niou's apprehension. The silver haired man sighed.

Even though he had nine months to think about this, his mind was elsewhere.

The past two years were blissful and the past year was the best - Sakuno had finally agreed to his proposal. Their life together was an adjustment for sure, especially since he didn't want to go to work in the mornings anymore. She didn't need to work because of his paycheck so she chose to spend her time volunteering with non-profit organizations.

Niou thought her career choice had something to do with Yamamoto but it was never a topic he brought up. He was alright with her staying at home since it motivated him to finish work earlier. He loved coming home to her, loved being welcomed home by her and loved eating the dinner she made.

When she announced her pregnancy, it was exciting.

But the months leading to the delivery day created a bitter Sakuno. It was a difficult run and Niou knew it was the hormones. It definitely tested him in many, many ways as she became more demanding, more hostile and more closed off.

Now, at this moment, she reached her peak of brutality and cussed at him. She had never done that. But as Fuji said, he had to endure it. Taking a deep breath, Niou returned to the nurse's station, asked for scrubs and returned to the delivery room to change.

Sakuno needed him beside her, whether she admitted it or not. He would take her anger, her frustration, and her curses if it eased the process.

He loved her no matter the situation.

So he returned and once ready, he stood next to her and held her hand, keeping silent as she swore and Sumire laughed at him. His reward came five hours later in the form of a baby girl.

He sighed happily as the midwife handed her to Sakuno to hold. They looked perfect together. When it was his turn, he understood Tezuka's words – he never loved anyone as much as Sakuno before.

"Hi…" He said, grinning and placing a finger against her cheek. She squirmed at the touch.

"Congratulations, Niou, Sakuno." Tezuka said as he entered, Gaku in hand. Niou looked up and noticed Fuji wasn't with him. Not that it was surprising or anything since Sakuno and he still had tension between them.

"Thank you, Kunimitsu-kun." Sakuno said with a smile and Niou simply nodded his thanks. "How are you doing today, Gaku-chan?"

Gaku giggled at Sakuno's mention of him and Tezuka went to Niou's side to get a better look at the baby. He grinned and it seemed Gaku took an instant liking to the young one. He leaned in to get a better look and Niou raised a brow.

He moved his daughter away.

"…What are you doing?" Tezuka questioned.

"She's too young for boys."

"…" Tezuka didn't…know what to say.

"Masaharu, stop being so silly! Here-" Sakuno reached for Gaku and put him on the bed next to her. She reached for her daughter and glared at Niou when he was hesitant to give her over. He gave in and watched as Sakuno introduced the children to one another.

The temperature in the room dropped when Gaku gave the baby girl a kiss on the cheek. Tezuka picked up his son and stood on the other side of the bed.

Sakuno chuckled, oblivious to Niou's reaction. "How adorable. I think they'll be the best of friends, neh, Kunimitsu-kun?"

"…Perhaps."

After some time, Tezuka and Sumire took with their leave with a sleeping Gaku. Niou sighed and thumped onto the chair next to the bed.

"That was an ordeal." He said.

"Hm…Masaharu," Sakuno reached for his hand. "Thank you for everything…and I'm very sorry about my behaviour."

She smiled sadly and Niou grinned. "It's fine. Pregnancy, labour and childbirth aren't something I'll ever understand. Thank you for the little one."

He joined her on the bed, kissed her on the forehead and they looked at their child sleeping at the end of the bed. Parenthood, they heard, was a struggle. But they were in it together and if Tezuka could handle it with his ridiculous schedule, then so could Niou.

"What should we name her, Sakuno?"

"Come by around 6, we'll have dinner at 7." Niou had said, surprising Fuji with the dinner invitation. He stopped working and looked up at the silver hair man who visited his office.

"Hm, is it a good idea for me to attend, Masaharu-kun?" Fuji asked, tapping his pen. It was a nervous habit he had formed in the past year.

"Sakuno asked me to invite you." Niou said as he left the office, taking a last glance at Fuji, who had his eyes wide open in shock.

Fuji snapped out of his reverie when he reached the Ryuzaki's front gate. Despite his disbelief of Sakuno's invite, he still came but he couldn't bring himself to open that gate and walk up to the door that was slightly ajar.

He kept thinking it was a cruel prank, that when he saw Sakuno, she would have many terrible things to say to him. He smiled at his mistrust of someone who was still very, very important to him. Perhaps that was why he couldn't believe she was willing to have him around her.

The sounds of a busy household drifted from the house and he smiled. Tezuka and Gaku were already here. That was somewhat of a relief. Their friendship had strengthened since Tezuka's son came into the picture.

With a deep breath, he placed his hand on the latch and unlocked it. He slowly walked towards the door and stopped midway through. He wanted to walk away, call and cancel.

That home had a sense of belonging and after everything he'd done, he didn't deserve it. Someone like him wasn't meant to have comrades or genuine friends.

Fuji's lips twitched upwards in another smile at his cowardice. Imagine that, a professional lawyer couldn't handle something like this.

But he never had the chance to turn because at that moment, Sakuno stepped out the door, her eyes slightly widened at seeing him. Then those brown eyes softened and she faintly grinned.

"I'm glad you came, Fuji-senpai." She said just loud enough for the words to reach him.

"I'm…surprised you'd have me."

Sakuno slightly tilted her head in contemplation. "You know, someone once told me that a kingdom of seclusion was a difficult place to leave. I think that's nonsense, don't you, Fuji-senpai?"

Fuji frowned, feeling his guard rise. "For those who have the capability of empathy, it would be."

Sakuno's grin slowly faded. "Seclusion isn't part of human nature. People like to think of themselves as tragic heroes and place themselves into isolation. The man I married was like that. The man who was once his partner is like that too."

"I don't think you understand-"

"I don't think you understand, Fuji-senpai." Sakuno frowned. "You gave me advice about letting down barriers but why can't you do the same?"

"…I've hurt many people, Sakuno."

"And those people have forgiven you, Syuusuke."

Fuji's eyes snapped open at her intimacy. Sakuno sighed.

"Why are you the way you are? Is it because you put up barriers so you can't become close to others? Is that why you have difficulties believing when others are willing to accept you?"

She waited for him to speak but he had nothing to say.

"Fuji-senpai, you say you don't have empathy but your mind always lingers on the bad you've done to others. Have you considered the good? You have supported Kunimitsu-kun and Masaharu these past two years and while they may not say it, they are thankful for you…so am I."

Sakuno smiled so sweetly that it nearly broke Fuji's heart. What she said was spot on and having someone analyze him without being near him in two years made him feel…vulnerable. But because it was Sakuno, he felt okay to be so for the first time ever.

It suddenly felt as if many weights had been lifted from his shoulders.

"There are many who want you in their lives and…I'm one of them."

Sakuno continued and walked up to him. She looked up at him with that sweet smile and Fuji returned it with a soft smile of his own, content to hear those words coming from her. At that point, Gaku came running of the house.

"Syu-chan!" He called so amiably and grabbed onto Fuji's leg. Sakuno chuckled as he picked the boy up.

"It seems Gaku loves having you near him as well."

Fuji rubbed the little tyke's head, inducing giggles. He looked at Sakuno. "I'm…so sorry for everything, Sakuno."

"…Stop doing that, senpai."

He shook his head. "No, I like you calling my name better."

Sakuno blinked then smiled again. "Okay."

"Thank you for everything, Sakuno." He held her chin and kissed her cheek. "I love you."

Sakuno tilted her head and smiled widely, understanding the platonic implications but blushing lightly nonetheless.

"I love you too, Syuusuke-kun."

Sakuno turned and led a genuinely happy Fuji back towards the house.

Inside, Niou, who was standing next to the door with crossed arms and hidden from view, was listening to the entire conversation and scowled when he heard that last part.

"Maa, what a cute couple." Sumire teased when she caught a glimpse of Fuji, Sakuno and Gaku from the window. She smirked when seeing Niou's increased tension. That boy, she thought, was incredibly fun to tease.

"I'll make you some tea, Syuusuke-kun." Sakuno said and headed straight for the kitchen.

Niou didn't hide his scowl from a smiling Fuji as he entered. "Why hello Masaharu-chan. Lovely day, no? By the way, if you ever get a divorce from Sakuno-chan, let me know in advance, okay?"

Before he could say a phrase of terrible words, Tezuka called out a warning from the living room.

"Don't give him the satisfaction."

"Hoi, hoi, hello Tezuka. Neh, Gaku, why don't we visit Kanoko-chan? She should be awake by now." Fuji said, walking towards the living room where the baby was put to sleep.

"Kanoko is too young for boys!" Niou said, starting after Fuji.

"Gaku is two years old, Niou. Calm down." Tezuka said, a threat hidden under a calm expression.

"Syu-chan, Gaku wants to marry Ka-chan!" Gaku exclaimed.

Niou shot Tezuka an incredulous look. "What the hell are you teaching him at home?!"

Fuji smirked as he watched Niou and Tezuka be the protective fathers that they were. Don't give who satisfaction, Tezuka? Fuji chuckled.

"Hm, Gaku-chan wants to marry Kanoko-chan? That's adorable." Sakuno said as she brought Fuji a cup of tea.

"Wouldn't they make an adorable couple, Sakuno-chan?" Fuji asked.

"They certainly would, Syuusuke-kun."

Sakuno and Fuji smiled at one another as Niou's eyebrow twitched. Bringing Fuji back into Sakuno's life might have been a mistake on his part.

A/N: Alright! Done, complete, finished!

Hopefully this was up to standards for everyone. I think Niou's fairly OoC but ah well, it's done now. I feel as though the Fuji+Saku dynamic here wasn't emphasized as much as it should've been but hopefully the epilouge makes up for it.

I can't believe how popular this story began (close to 100 reviews!) so again, thank you to all the readers and reviewers! It always makes my day to hear from all of you :)

If you're into the Naruto fandom, my next main project is there (Tales of the Oppressed). If not, then I'll be continuing In a Heartbeat and am welcome to hearing requests for one-shots and the like which will be updated under Challenges. So send me a PM if you have an idea/pairing you'd like to to see but no guarantees that will be up immediately :)

Thanks for a great run!

Lily