For All The Right Reasons - Chapter 13
May. 30th, 2017 05:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
learashiPairing: Sakumoto
Rating: This chapter NC-17
Genre: m-preg, romance, au
Disclaimer: This is entirely fiction, and couldn’t exist anywhere else but in my head.
Summary: Sakurai Sho has always achieved everything he's ever wanted in his successful business life. Why is it so different in his personal life? Sho has no idea that anything is even wrong with his marriage until he comes home one night and finds his young husband gone. Will he be able to find Jun and make things right between them again?
Previously: CH 1, CH 2, CH 3, CH 4, CH 5, CH 6, CH 7, CH 8, CH 9, CH 10, CH 11, CH 12
Jun paused just outside the bakery rubbing a stitch that had unexpectedly caused pain to shoot up his right side. It seemed ridiculous that he should be so winded just from walking from the apartment, but what usually took only twenty minutes had just taken him almost twice as long.
“What’s wrong?” Aiba asked, popping his head out the door without warning and almost scaring Jun to death.
“Nothing,” Jun said hastily straightening up.
“Then why were you all bent over clutching your side?” Aiba asked suspiciously as he held the door open to allow Jun to enter.
“I had a stitch,” Jun muttered, not wanting any of the café customers to overhear their conversation. “It’s nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
“Don’t panic, the baby isn’t due for another two weeks,” Jun huffed as he unbuttoned Sho’s oversize coat, the only one that he could fit into at the moment. “It’s bad enough with Sho fussing over me like a mother hen on speed without you doing it as well.”
Aiba’s eyes showed a flicker of hurt before he turned quickly away.
Jun caught hold of his friends arm as they walked through to Ohno’s office. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I appreciate your concern, truly I do. I just seem to have a very short fuse lately.”
“It’s fine, really. I understand that your hormones are running crazy as you get closer to the birth,” Aiba said as he pushed some fishing magazines off of the one comfortable chair in the room. “It’s just with Sho being away at the moment I sort of feel responsible for you.”
“He called me this morning to let me know that he'll be back later this afternoon so you can relax,” Jun said as he wriggled around trying to get comfortable. He'd woken up with a backache and it only seemed to be getting worse. It just didn't seem to be his day; he was just generally feeling fat, grumpy and uncomfortable. "Anyway, do you know why Ohno-san wants to see me? He was quite insistent when he called and asked me to come here."
“Um, he didn’t say,” Aiba said as he walked quickly out of the room. “He’s out the back taking a delivery. I’ll just go and let him know that you’re here.
++++
Even the usually comfortable chair seemed to be lumpy, making Jun sigh and shift around. Aiba had been gone an extremely long time by now. He was just in the process of heaving himself out of the chair to go and find out what was going on when the door opened.
“Ants in your pants?”
“Nino? What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be looking after the office?”
“I had to be here to see the look on your face and offer my apologies in advance,” Nino said with a suspicious looking smile.
“Apologize for what?”
“Surprise!!” A dozen voices suddenly screamed and cheered as the office filled with Jun’s co-workers from the bakery led by Aiba carrying a large bunch of blue and pink balloons and Ohno bearing an enormous cake in the shape of a teddy bear.
“For the surprise baby shower,” Nino called out over the hubbub of everyone talking and laughing at once. “I tried to stop them but when Satoshi sets his mind on something there’s no stopping him, as I know only too well,” he added with a leer.
“Urk, don’t traumatise the baby,” Jun said, pressing his hands over his belly as if to shield his child from Nino’s innuendos.
It was the work of a moment for Jun to be engulfed in a press of people all wishing him well and holding out gifts wrapped in various shades of pastel paper.
Ohno dragged Jun out into the front of the shop which was festooned in yet more balloons and streamers; he’d even gone to the trouble of temporarily closing the bakery for the party.
The tables were covered with pink and blue cloths and looked set to collapse under the weight of food that had been placed on them.
“I didn’t know what you were eating these days so I made some of everything,” Ohno declared proudly.
Jun was overwhelmed by the affection and caring that surrounded him and he certainly didn’t have the heart to tell Ohno that at this exact moment the mere sight of the food was making him oddly queasy.
There was a knock at the bakery door and Aiba rushed to let the newest visitor in.
“Shun?” Jun found himself being engulfed by his brother’s long arms and squeezed tightly. Jun let out an involuntary squeak as he felt another pain squeeze his belly, hunching over slightly into Shun’s embrace.
Everyone was too busy eating and talking to notice Shun shuffling Jun back to Ohno’s office and closing the door behind them.
++++
“What was that just now?” Shun asked as he searched Jun’s eyes for answers.
“Nothing. I had a stitch earlier and my muscles are probably still a bit sore,” Jun replied, stretching his back with a wince.
“So how many times have you felt this “stitch”?
“Once when I was walking here and again just now. Why?”
“I’m going to fetch Aiba. Sit and wait here.”
“But the party…”
“Will still be happening in five minutes,” Shun said as he pushed Jun down into the armchair.
“I don’t need you to tell me what to do and I certainly don’t need Aiba,” Jun said as he stood back up and pushed past his brother. “I’m perfectly fine and since all of these people are here because of me it wouldn’t be fair to not spend time with them.”
After Jun had stomped off Shun pulled out his phone and contacted the one person who could probably handle Jun when he was in one of his stubborn moods.
If his suspicions were correct then Sho needed to be here as soon as possible.
++++
Jun was sitting in the place of honour listening to Chinen playing his guitar and singing his latest song when he felt the pain again, this time accompanied by the slight tightening of the muscles across his stomach. He caught Aiba and Shun sharing a look across the room, looking like they wanted to fuss over him. The pains were odd but nothing that felt like he imagined labour pains to feel like. Things were made even worse when Nino came up behind him and bent leant over his shoulder to hand him a glass of water asking quietly, "When are you planning on admitting that you've gone into labour?"
"Um, sorry everyone but I have to go to the bathroom," Jun said as he fled from Nino. His sudden departure was accompanied by good natured teasing and laughter.
If he thought he could escape that easily he was sorely wrong as Nino, Shun and Aiba immediately crowded into the bathroom behind him.
"Will you three leave me alone!" Jun said with frustration. He really did need to pee quite urgently; the baby was kicking his bladder with great enthusiasm. "I am going to pee whether you are here or not so you'd better close your eyes."
"We'll wait outside for a minute," Shun said, dragging the other two out behind him.
They only realized their mistake when the door slammed shut behind them and the key turned in the lock.
++++
"Jun? Open the door. We need to see if you're alright,” Aiba called as he tried to peer through the keyhole.
"Go away, all of you. I'm fine, but I'm not coming out of here until you promise to leave me alone. I am not having the baby."
"But you're in pain," Shun argued.
"My back hurts, that's all."
"But in the early stages of labour..." Aiba began.
"I. Am. Not. In. Labour." Jun just wished that they would all go away.
Ohno came to join the huddle outside the door. "The party is winding down and people want to say goodbye to Jun. Why is he locked in the bathroom?"
"Because he has gone into labour..."
Shun's words were interrupted by something thudding against the back of the door as if thrown very hard at it from the inside of the room.
"Where is he?" A panting and distressed Sho suddenly appeared as if from nowhere making the others part and leave a space for him in front of the door. "Jun, baby?"
"Sho? How did you get here so soon?" Jun flung open the door and looked at his husband in confusion. "You shouldn't be here for hours."
"When Shun rang me and told me that you were having the baby I borrowed my father's helicopter and came straight home," Sho said as he hugged Jun as if he was made of the most delicate china.
"I'm not having the baby," Jun insisted. "Ow!" The stabbing pain in his back suddenly became a whole lot worse.
Before he could say another word of protest Sho bundled him into Shun's car and they sped to the hospital.
++++
Jun's doctor smiled as she gently ran her hands over his bare belly, "You are absolutely correct Matsumoto-san; you are definitely not in labour."
Jun's smile of triumph was cut short as another electric stab of pain shot up his spine, causing him to let out an involuntary yelp.
"Then why is he in so much pain? You must be wrong," Sho protested, aware that he was being rude but his fear was making him snappy.
"It appears that the baby is pressing on a nerve. This sometimes happens at the latter stage of pregnancy when there's not much room for the baby to move," the doctor calmly replied, looking at Jun and ignoring Sho completely. "Matsumoto-san I'm just going to press on your stomach and see if I can persuade your baby to move a little. This should hopefully relieve the pain."
Jun winced as she kneaded his stomach quite firmly until he felt the baby who must have been asleep until now, give a disgruntled wriggle and shift position. The skewering pain in his back ceased immediately. With a sigh of relief he sagged back against the mattress.
"But what about the pains Jun was experiencing earlier? His brother said that he was clutching his belly." Sho was still not convinced.
"They're called Braxton Hicks contractions and they're a sign that your husband's body is preparing itself for the birth," she replied. "Please try and relax Sakurai-san. You should try and remain calm for your husband's sake. I stick by my earlier prediction; the baby is due in approximately two weeks."
"Thank you Sensei and I apologize for my earlier rudeness," Sho said with a polite bow.
"Don't worry Sakurai-san; you aren't the first anxious first-time parent I've had to deal with. Matsumoto-san you can get dressed and leave whenever you feel able and I will see you next week for our regular appointment."
After the doctor was gone Sho braced himself for Jun's anger at his bossy handling of the situation, but Jun was looking at him with a gentle smile instead.
"You flew here in a helicopter? Seriously? Even if I had been in labour you would've had plenty of time to get here before the birth. "
"I couldn't bear the thought of missing out on a single second of it and I didn't want you to be in pain and alone. Oh! I have to tell my parents that it was a false alarm. I'd better go and ring them while I tell Shun to fetch the car around for you."
After Sho's hasty departure, Jun lay back and stroked his belly, sighing with relief at finally being left alone as a tiny fist pressed back against his palm. "Sorry for all the fuss my dear, but you were being a bit naughty. I know that they were being quite annoying but they only did it because they love you already and just want to make sure that you're safe."
Jun was about to get up and dress when Shun came in. He hastily covered his belly with the sheet as Shun blushed and turned away.
"I don't know why I'm so embarrassed since I used to bath you and change your nappies when you were a baby," Shun laughed.
"In that case would you like to visit with your niece or nephew?" Jun asked as he exposed his belly again. He took Shun's hand a placed it on his bump, enjoying the look of wonder on his brother's face as he felt a sharp kick against his hand.
"Wow! That's kind of creepy and amazing at the same time. Remember when Mother's cat was having kittens and you could see them all sort of squirming around..."
"Stop right there unless you want me to throw up on you," Jun laughed.
"Okay!" Shun said, throwing up his hands in surrender. "I'll just go and get the car but first I wanted to give you your shower gift," he added as he handed over a large envelope.
It contained a voucher for multiple day spa services including a massage, manicure, hairstyling and a facial. There was another voucher from Jun's favourite clothes shop and a final one for an expensive accessories store.
"Everyone else gave you things for the baby, but I wanted to give you something just for you. I figure after the birth when you’re up to your eyeballs with baby stuff and you need some time to yourself you can use these vouchers, either one at a time or all at once, however you want."
"You are the best brother a person could ever ask for, and you will make an even better uncle," Jun said as he grabbed Shun and hugged him tightly around the neck. "I love you."
"Me too baby brother, me too," Shun replied softly, hugging him back. "I was so worried when you left Sho. I felt responsible for you being unhappy since I was the one who first suggested to him that he should consider you as his husband. Once his parents found out that he preferred males they were determined to marry him off as soon as possible to a Carrier. They figured that anyone would do as long as they could produce the heir that they wanted, but he refused; he wouldn't marry for any other reason than for love. That's why you can be sure that even though he acts like an insensitive idiot sometimes he truly loves you and will take good care of you and of your child. That doesn't mean that he doesn't deserve a good slapping sometimes and I want you to know that I'm willing to punch him for you any time that you ask."
"Some friend you are," Sho pouted from the doorway. "I can still feel where you punched me last time."
"Nothing that you didn't deserve," replied Shun as he went to retrieve his car earning himself an affectionate punch in the arm from Sho as he walked past.
Jun smiled to himself and stroked his bump, secure in the knowledge that his baby would have a wide circle of friends and relatives willing to offer all of their love and protection if ever he or she needed them.
++++
"Bye sweetheart, I'll be home as soon as I can," Sho said as he pressed a kiss to Jun's forehead. "And you please look after your Daddy," he added as he stroked Jun's bump through the bed coverings.
"Mmm, love you," Jun murmured before curling back into a ball and falling straight back to sleep before Sho even made it out of the room.
The baby was already two days overdue and Sho was loathe to leave Jun alone in the apartment all day, but with the deal in Osaka about to be finalized he was left with no other choice.
With a last loving look at the lightly snoring lump nestled under the blankets he grabbed his briefcase and headed in to the office.
++++
It was almost lunchtime before Jun made it out of bed, blinking at the sudden bright intrusion of light as he drew back the heavy curtains.
"So, my little cherry, what do you feel like eating today?" Jun asked as he smoothed his usual morning application of almond oil onto the tightly stretched skin of his belly. He'd been extremely fortunate to not have developed any stretch marks. Aiba said that it was because he hadn't gained much extra weight over the course of his pregnancy, something that he was extremely grateful for.
"Not so hungry today? Me neither actually," Jun continued, as he poured himself a glass of milk instead. Over the past few days he'd found himself talking to his baby almost constantly, enjoying the little wriggles he received in return.
The nursery was filled with the gifts he'd received at the baby shower and his bag was packed with everything that he and the little one would need at the hospital and waiting ready to go at a moment's notice.
All he could do now was try and occupy himself as he waited for nature to take its course.
++++
Sho had his mobile sitting on his desk, trying to not check every few minutes to see if it was still working. He was just about to check it for what felt like the millionth time that afternoon when it rang, startling him so much that he almost flung it across the desk and onto the floor as his hand twitched in shock.
"J-Jun! Is everything okay?"
"Don't worry, I'm fine, but I will need you to come home soon and drive me to the hospital. Our cherry tomato has finally decided that it's time to put in an appearance," Jun responded cheerfully.
"What? Now? Don't panic!" Sho yelled into the phone.
"Sho, calm down. Aiba's here with me and the pains have only just started." In a complete contrast to Sho, Jun was sounding completely unruffled.
Despite Jun's calming words Sho went into instant panic mode, dropping his car keys under the desk and then banging his head hard enough to see stars as he tried to retrieve them.
Fortunately Nino, who had just received an emergency text from Aiba, came to his rescue. "Here, give me the keys," he said firmly. "You are definitely in no safe state to drive."
Sho was eternally grateful as Nino plucked the keys from his trembling fingers and herded him down to the parking garage.
++++
Sho burst into the apartment in a lather of sweat, his tie askew and his face flushed with excitement, followed by Nino who was following behind much more sedately.
To Sho's great surprise Aiba was the only one in sight and he was casually flicking through one of Jun's design magazines and eating a snack.
"Where is he? What's happening?" Sho barked anxiously.
"He's taking a bath," Aiba said after hastily swallowing the last bite of his sandwich. "There are more sandwiches in the fridge if you want to have one while you wait. There probably won't be time to eat later."
Nino nodded and headed to the kitchen, ignoring Sho's anguished squeak as he ran towards the bathroom.
++++
Jun was lying back in the sweetly scented water, his belly poking out through a sea of bubbles.
"Jun? What on earth are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"
"It was actually my doctor's suggestion. She said that it will relax me and make the contractions less painful."
"But we have to get to the hospital!"
"Not for ages yet. The contractions are still at least twenty minutes apart."
A moment after he finished speaking, Jun closed his eyes and took a deep breath, breathing out very slowly as his body tensed.
"Jun, w-what was that? Was it a...a...you know?"
"Contraction? Yes, but at this stage they aren't too bad."
Sho was at a loss as to what to do next. As he stood shifting his feet and looking confused and stressed Jun made a suggestion.
"Since you look so frazzled why don't you join me for a while? There's room for the three of us." Jun shimmied down to the end of the tub as he spoke making room for Sho to sit behind him.
With a resigned sigh Sho decided to comply with Jun's suggestion. He could already see that he was going to have no say in how matters were going to progress over the next few hours. Jun seemed so calm and serenely sure of himself and his ability to handle the birth of their child, so much so that Sho was filled with utter amazement and love towards his young husband as he slipped into the warm water and pulled him onto his lap.
Jun sighed and leant heavily back against Sho chest, almost purring with pleasure as Sho wrapped his hands around his belly and held him steady, peppering the side of his neck with tiny kisses and whispering words of love into his ear.
++++
"Jun sweetheart we have to get out soon, the water is getting cold," Sho said.
But before Jun could answer he was struck by another contraction much quicker than the last. He stiffened in Sho's arms and whimpered softly at the more intense pain.
"Sho I think we should head to the hospital now," Jun said once he got his breath back.
"That sounds like a very good idea," Sho agreed as he climbed out first and helped Jun to climb out, drying him gently with the fluffiest towel he could find before hastily drying himself enough to be able to pull his clothes on.
Jun dressed himself more slowly and stopped in front of the mirror looking at himself, "I'll miss my baby bump, even though it makes me look like a whale."
"You do not! You are beyond beautiful like this, and I'll miss it too, but I'm so excited that soon I will have my own connection to our baby as well. I feel a bit left out and jealous sometimes because you two already know and love each other."
"You will make the perfect Papa. My life has been filled with lots of challenges and changes over the past few months but I have never been happier since we got back together," Jun replied quietly. "I know that you love me with all your heart and that you will love our baby even more."
Sho cradled Jun in his arms and pressed a loving kiss to his lips, "Then let's go and meet our baby."
Jun nodded and allowed Sho to help him walk slowly out to the living room where Nino and Aiba were waiting to escort them to the hospital.
++++
Nino and Aiba dropped them off at the Maternity department before retreating to the Blue Fin to wait for news. They knew that Ohno would keep them well supplied with coffee and snacks while they waited.
Sho guided Jun to the reception desk, panicking as Jun stopped in the corridor and leant on the wall puffing as another contraction struck.
“What should I do? Do you want me to fetch a nurse?”
“Can you please rub my back? It makes me feel better,” Jun said as he remained bent in half, hands pressed to the wall for support.
When it was over, Sho wrapped his arm around Jun’s waist and helped him the rest of the way. Jun’s doctor who happened to be at the desk filling in charts immediately took charge, sitting Jun in a wheelchair and wheeling him away to his room while Sho was left with the sea of paperwork that needed signing, his hands shaking so badly that he could hardly hold the pen.
++++
“Sakurai-san, I’ve finished examining your husband so you can join us now,” Jun’s doctor chirped as she stuck her head out the door.
Sho was happy to see that the room was large and well-appointed with a large sofa and table positioned away from the bed and soft lighting. The walls were painted in soothing neutral colours and hung with colourful paintings of flowers.
Jun had changed into a soft and loose-fitting pair of pyjamas that he’d brought from home, in his mind there was no possibility of him wearing the ugly green ones issued by the hospital. Sho was horrified to see that rather than lying in bed, Jun was sitting on a large purple ball and bouncing gently up and down.
“Sensei, shouldn’t he be in bed?” Sho asked, looking to the doctor for an explanation.
“Not at all Sakurai-san, the birthing ball will help to ease the pain of the contractions and also pain in the lower back,” she replied with a smile. “We need the contractions to be much closer together before we attach the monitor to Matsumoto-san’s belly which will help us to decide when the time to perform the caesarean has arrived.”
Sho looked at her with open-mouthed confusion; he’d spent months reading books about Carrier pregnancies and deliveries and now that the moment had finally arrived, everything had instantly vanished from his memory. By the time he’d gathered his senses she had already bustled off to see another one of her patients.
Jun had stopped bouncing in favour of rocking back and forth. “Don’t you want to grab some dinner?” he asked.
“But…I can’t possibly leave you alone…the baby…” Sho was embarrassed to find that he’d lost the ability to speak in complete sentences.
“The baby and I are fine and nothing is going to happen in the next half hour while you go down to the cafeteria,” Jun said as he closed his eyes and hissed through his teeth as pain ripped across his belly.
Sho immediately rushed over and began to rub Jun’s shoulders, earning himself a glare and a “don’t touch me” from Jun who was determined to work through the pain in his own way.
"Um, I'll just go and grab something quickly and come back straight away," Sho said as he backed away from Jun's sudden anger.
++++
Sho was happily slurping his noodles when he felt a pair of eyes burning into the side of his neck from across the room. "Wha...?" he spluttered, looking around, stray noodles dangling from the corners of his mouth.
"How can you just sit there and stuff your face while I'm in pain over here?" Jun huffed. "A little support from you would be nice."
"But you're the one who told me to get some food and you told me not to touch you earlier," Sho protested, his head was beginning to spin from Jun's sudden mood swings.
"That was then and this is now!" Jun's words ended in an agonized whine as the pain in his back threatened to overwhelm him.
Immediately abandoning his noodles, Sho jumped up and helped Jun to stand up from the ball, pulling his hands up onto his shoulders as he wrapped his own arms around Jun's waist and rocked him from side to side, humming soothingly.
"You've always been a terrible dancer," Jun said with a teary smile before he looked up at Sho with huge frightened eyes. "I don't know if I can do this...it hurts so much..."
“Of course you can. Look at how brave you’ve already been; not just now but over the last few months as well. I couldn’t be more proud,” Sho said, stifling a wince as Jun’s nails dug sharply into the tops of his arms through the fabric of his shirt..
Jun sagged with relief as the pain finally receded, moving over to the bed at last. The repeated pains were sapping his energy and he wanted to lie down and rest for a while before the next one struck.
Sho helped Jun climb up on the bed and pressed a damp cloth to his hot forehead. "Just try and rest for a bit sweetheart. You're doing really well."
Jun growled and pushed Sho's hand away. "How would you know? It feels like I'm being torn in half and it's all your fault."
"But Jun, my love..." Sho said in soothing tones as he tried to place the cloth back and almost lost his hand in the process.
Fortunately he was saved by the return of Jun's doctor who laughed and said, "Don't take it personally Sakurai-san. Your husband has just reached the next stage of his labour."
Jun glared at her; his eyebrows bristling with rage as Sho felt his own legs lose their strength at the prospect of his baby arriving soon.
"I think it's time to strap the monitor on now," she continued as she made Jun more comfortable. "If my suspicions are correct we will be moving to the operating theatre soon."
Jun's angry look was replaced by one of fear as he gripped Sho's hand tightly with trembling fingers.
Rating: This chapter NC-17
Genre: m-preg, romance, au
Disclaimer: This is entirely fiction, and couldn’t exist anywhere else but in my head.
Summary: Sakurai Sho has always achieved everything he's ever wanted in his successful business life. Why is it so different in his personal life? Sho has no idea that anything is even wrong with his marriage until he comes home one night and finds his young husband gone. Will he be able to find Jun and make things right between them again?
Previously: CH 1, CH 2, CH 3, CH 4, CH 5, CH 6, CH 7, CH 8, CH 9, CH 10, CH 11, CH 12
Jun paused just outside the bakery rubbing a stitch that had unexpectedly caused pain to shoot up his right side. It seemed ridiculous that he should be so winded just from walking from the apartment, but what usually took only twenty minutes had just taken him almost twice as long.
“What’s wrong?” Aiba asked, popping his head out the door without warning and almost scaring Jun to death.
“Nothing,” Jun said hastily straightening up.
“Then why were you all bent over clutching your side?” Aiba asked suspiciously as he held the door open to allow Jun to enter.
“I had a stitch,” Jun muttered, not wanting any of the café customers to overhear their conversation. “It’s nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
“Don’t panic, the baby isn’t due for another two weeks,” Jun huffed as he unbuttoned Sho’s oversize coat, the only one that he could fit into at the moment. “It’s bad enough with Sho fussing over me like a mother hen on speed without you doing it as well.”
Aiba’s eyes showed a flicker of hurt before he turned quickly away.
Jun caught hold of his friends arm as they walked through to Ohno’s office. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I appreciate your concern, truly I do. I just seem to have a very short fuse lately.”
“It’s fine, really. I understand that your hormones are running crazy as you get closer to the birth,” Aiba said as he pushed some fishing magazines off of the one comfortable chair in the room. “It’s just with Sho being away at the moment I sort of feel responsible for you.”
“He called me this morning to let me know that he'll be back later this afternoon so you can relax,” Jun said as he wriggled around trying to get comfortable. He'd woken up with a backache and it only seemed to be getting worse. It just didn't seem to be his day; he was just generally feeling fat, grumpy and uncomfortable. "Anyway, do you know why Ohno-san wants to see me? He was quite insistent when he called and asked me to come here."
“Um, he didn’t say,” Aiba said as he walked quickly out of the room. “He’s out the back taking a delivery. I’ll just go and let him know that you’re here.
++++
Even the usually comfortable chair seemed to be lumpy, making Jun sigh and shift around. Aiba had been gone an extremely long time by now. He was just in the process of heaving himself out of the chair to go and find out what was going on when the door opened.
“Ants in your pants?”
“Nino? What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be looking after the office?”
“I had to be here to see the look on your face and offer my apologies in advance,” Nino said with a suspicious looking smile.
“Apologize for what?”
“Surprise!!” A dozen voices suddenly screamed and cheered as the office filled with Jun’s co-workers from the bakery led by Aiba carrying a large bunch of blue and pink balloons and Ohno bearing an enormous cake in the shape of a teddy bear.
“For the surprise baby shower,” Nino called out over the hubbub of everyone talking and laughing at once. “I tried to stop them but when Satoshi sets his mind on something there’s no stopping him, as I know only too well,” he added with a leer.
“Urk, don’t traumatise the baby,” Jun said, pressing his hands over his belly as if to shield his child from Nino’s innuendos.
It was the work of a moment for Jun to be engulfed in a press of people all wishing him well and holding out gifts wrapped in various shades of pastel paper.
Ohno dragged Jun out into the front of the shop which was festooned in yet more balloons and streamers; he’d even gone to the trouble of temporarily closing the bakery for the party.
The tables were covered with pink and blue cloths and looked set to collapse under the weight of food that had been placed on them.
“I didn’t know what you were eating these days so I made some of everything,” Ohno declared proudly.
Jun was overwhelmed by the affection and caring that surrounded him and he certainly didn’t have the heart to tell Ohno that at this exact moment the mere sight of the food was making him oddly queasy.
There was a knock at the bakery door and Aiba rushed to let the newest visitor in.
“Shun?” Jun found himself being engulfed by his brother’s long arms and squeezed tightly. Jun let out an involuntary squeak as he felt another pain squeeze his belly, hunching over slightly into Shun’s embrace.
Everyone was too busy eating and talking to notice Shun shuffling Jun back to Ohno’s office and closing the door behind them.
++++
“What was that just now?” Shun asked as he searched Jun’s eyes for answers.
“Nothing. I had a stitch earlier and my muscles are probably still a bit sore,” Jun replied, stretching his back with a wince.
“So how many times have you felt this “stitch”?
“Once when I was walking here and again just now. Why?”
“I’m going to fetch Aiba. Sit and wait here.”
“But the party…”
“Will still be happening in five minutes,” Shun said as he pushed Jun down into the armchair.
“I don’t need you to tell me what to do and I certainly don’t need Aiba,” Jun said as he stood back up and pushed past his brother. “I’m perfectly fine and since all of these people are here because of me it wouldn’t be fair to not spend time with them.”
After Jun had stomped off Shun pulled out his phone and contacted the one person who could probably handle Jun when he was in one of his stubborn moods.
If his suspicions were correct then Sho needed to be here as soon as possible.
++++
Jun was sitting in the place of honour listening to Chinen playing his guitar and singing his latest song when he felt the pain again, this time accompanied by the slight tightening of the muscles across his stomach. He caught Aiba and Shun sharing a look across the room, looking like they wanted to fuss over him. The pains were odd but nothing that felt like he imagined labour pains to feel like. Things were made even worse when Nino came up behind him and bent leant over his shoulder to hand him a glass of water asking quietly, "When are you planning on admitting that you've gone into labour?"
"Um, sorry everyone but I have to go to the bathroom," Jun said as he fled from Nino. His sudden departure was accompanied by good natured teasing and laughter.
If he thought he could escape that easily he was sorely wrong as Nino, Shun and Aiba immediately crowded into the bathroom behind him.
"Will you three leave me alone!" Jun said with frustration. He really did need to pee quite urgently; the baby was kicking his bladder with great enthusiasm. "I am going to pee whether you are here or not so you'd better close your eyes."
"We'll wait outside for a minute," Shun said, dragging the other two out behind him.
They only realized their mistake when the door slammed shut behind them and the key turned in the lock.
++++
"Jun? Open the door. We need to see if you're alright,” Aiba called as he tried to peer through the keyhole.
"Go away, all of you. I'm fine, but I'm not coming out of here until you promise to leave me alone. I am not having the baby."
"But you're in pain," Shun argued.
"My back hurts, that's all."
"But in the early stages of labour..." Aiba began.
"I. Am. Not. In. Labour." Jun just wished that they would all go away.
Ohno came to join the huddle outside the door. "The party is winding down and people want to say goodbye to Jun. Why is he locked in the bathroom?"
"Because he has gone into labour..."
Shun's words were interrupted by something thudding against the back of the door as if thrown very hard at it from the inside of the room.
"Where is he?" A panting and distressed Sho suddenly appeared as if from nowhere making the others part and leave a space for him in front of the door. "Jun, baby?"
"Sho? How did you get here so soon?" Jun flung open the door and looked at his husband in confusion. "You shouldn't be here for hours."
"When Shun rang me and told me that you were having the baby I borrowed my father's helicopter and came straight home," Sho said as he hugged Jun as if he was made of the most delicate china.
"I'm not having the baby," Jun insisted. "Ow!" The stabbing pain in his back suddenly became a whole lot worse.
Before he could say another word of protest Sho bundled him into Shun's car and they sped to the hospital.
++++
Jun's doctor smiled as she gently ran her hands over his bare belly, "You are absolutely correct Matsumoto-san; you are definitely not in labour."
Jun's smile of triumph was cut short as another electric stab of pain shot up his spine, causing him to let out an involuntary yelp.
"Then why is he in so much pain? You must be wrong," Sho protested, aware that he was being rude but his fear was making him snappy.
"It appears that the baby is pressing on a nerve. This sometimes happens at the latter stage of pregnancy when there's not much room for the baby to move," the doctor calmly replied, looking at Jun and ignoring Sho completely. "Matsumoto-san I'm just going to press on your stomach and see if I can persuade your baby to move a little. This should hopefully relieve the pain."
Jun winced as she kneaded his stomach quite firmly until he felt the baby who must have been asleep until now, give a disgruntled wriggle and shift position. The skewering pain in his back ceased immediately. With a sigh of relief he sagged back against the mattress.
"But what about the pains Jun was experiencing earlier? His brother said that he was clutching his belly." Sho was still not convinced.
"They're called Braxton Hicks contractions and they're a sign that your husband's body is preparing itself for the birth," she replied. "Please try and relax Sakurai-san. You should try and remain calm for your husband's sake. I stick by my earlier prediction; the baby is due in approximately two weeks."
"Thank you Sensei and I apologize for my earlier rudeness," Sho said with a polite bow.
"Don't worry Sakurai-san; you aren't the first anxious first-time parent I've had to deal with. Matsumoto-san you can get dressed and leave whenever you feel able and I will see you next week for our regular appointment."
After the doctor was gone Sho braced himself for Jun's anger at his bossy handling of the situation, but Jun was looking at him with a gentle smile instead.
"You flew here in a helicopter? Seriously? Even if I had been in labour you would've had plenty of time to get here before the birth. "
"I couldn't bear the thought of missing out on a single second of it and I didn't want you to be in pain and alone. Oh! I have to tell my parents that it was a false alarm. I'd better go and ring them while I tell Shun to fetch the car around for you."
After Sho's hasty departure, Jun lay back and stroked his belly, sighing with relief at finally being left alone as a tiny fist pressed back against his palm. "Sorry for all the fuss my dear, but you were being a bit naughty. I know that they were being quite annoying but they only did it because they love you already and just want to make sure that you're safe."
Jun was about to get up and dress when Shun came in. He hastily covered his belly with the sheet as Shun blushed and turned away.
"I don't know why I'm so embarrassed since I used to bath you and change your nappies when you were a baby," Shun laughed.
"In that case would you like to visit with your niece or nephew?" Jun asked as he exposed his belly again. He took Shun's hand a placed it on his bump, enjoying the look of wonder on his brother's face as he felt a sharp kick against his hand.
"Wow! That's kind of creepy and amazing at the same time. Remember when Mother's cat was having kittens and you could see them all sort of squirming around..."
"Stop right there unless you want me to throw up on you," Jun laughed.
"Okay!" Shun said, throwing up his hands in surrender. "I'll just go and get the car but first I wanted to give you your shower gift," he added as he handed over a large envelope.
It contained a voucher for multiple day spa services including a massage, manicure, hairstyling and a facial. There was another voucher from Jun's favourite clothes shop and a final one for an expensive accessories store.
"Everyone else gave you things for the baby, but I wanted to give you something just for you. I figure after the birth when you’re up to your eyeballs with baby stuff and you need some time to yourself you can use these vouchers, either one at a time or all at once, however you want."
"You are the best brother a person could ever ask for, and you will make an even better uncle," Jun said as he grabbed Shun and hugged him tightly around the neck. "I love you."
"Me too baby brother, me too," Shun replied softly, hugging him back. "I was so worried when you left Sho. I felt responsible for you being unhappy since I was the one who first suggested to him that he should consider you as his husband. Once his parents found out that he preferred males they were determined to marry him off as soon as possible to a Carrier. They figured that anyone would do as long as they could produce the heir that they wanted, but he refused; he wouldn't marry for any other reason than for love. That's why you can be sure that even though he acts like an insensitive idiot sometimes he truly loves you and will take good care of you and of your child. That doesn't mean that he doesn't deserve a good slapping sometimes and I want you to know that I'm willing to punch him for you any time that you ask."
"Some friend you are," Sho pouted from the doorway. "I can still feel where you punched me last time."
"Nothing that you didn't deserve," replied Shun as he went to retrieve his car earning himself an affectionate punch in the arm from Sho as he walked past.
Jun smiled to himself and stroked his bump, secure in the knowledge that his baby would have a wide circle of friends and relatives willing to offer all of their love and protection if ever he or she needed them.
++++
"Bye sweetheart, I'll be home as soon as I can," Sho said as he pressed a kiss to Jun's forehead. "And you please look after your Daddy," he added as he stroked Jun's bump through the bed coverings.
"Mmm, love you," Jun murmured before curling back into a ball and falling straight back to sleep before Sho even made it out of the room.
The baby was already two days overdue and Sho was loathe to leave Jun alone in the apartment all day, but with the deal in Osaka about to be finalized he was left with no other choice.
With a last loving look at the lightly snoring lump nestled under the blankets he grabbed his briefcase and headed in to the office.
++++
It was almost lunchtime before Jun made it out of bed, blinking at the sudden bright intrusion of light as he drew back the heavy curtains.
"So, my little cherry, what do you feel like eating today?" Jun asked as he smoothed his usual morning application of almond oil onto the tightly stretched skin of his belly. He'd been extremely fortunate to not have developed any stretch marks. Aiba said that it was because he hadn't gained much extra weight over the course of his pregnancy, something that he was extremely grateful for.
"Not so hungry today? Me neither actually," Jun continued, as he poured himself a glass of milk instead. Over the past few days he'd found himself talking to his baby almost constantly, enjoying the little wriggles he received in return.
The nursery was filled with the gifts he'd received at the baby shower and his bag was packed with everything that he and the little one would need at the hospital and waiting ready to go at a moment's notice.
All he could do now was try and occupy himself as he waited for nature to take its course.
++++
Sho had his mobile sitting on his desk, trying to not check every few minutes to see if it was still working. He was just about to check it for what felt like the millionth time that afternoon when it rang, startling him so much that he almost flung it across the desk and onto the floor as his hand twitched in shock.
"J-Jun! Is everything okay?"
"Don't worry, I'm fine, but I will need you to come home soon and drive me to the hospital. Our cherry tomato has finally decided that it's time to put in an appearance," Jun responded cheerfully.
"What? Now? Don't panic!" Sho yelled into the phone.
"Sho, calm down. Aiba's here with me and the pains have only just started." In a complete contrast to Sho, Jun was sounding completely unruffled.
Despite Jun's calming words Sho went into instant panic mode, dropping his car keys under the desk and then banging his head hard enough to see stars as he tried to retrieve them.
Fortunately Nino, who had just received an emergency text from Aiba, came to his rescue. "Here, give me the keys," he said firmly. "You are definitely in no safe state to drive."
Sho was eternally grateful as Nino plucked the keys from his trembling fingers and herded him down to the parking garage.
++++
Sho burst into the apartment in a lather of sweat, his tie askew and his face flushed with excitement, followed by Nino who was following behind much more sedately.
To Sho's great surprise Aiba was the only one in sight and he was casually flicking through one of Jun's design magazines and eating a snack.
"Where is he? What's happening?" Sho barked anxiously.
"He's taking a bath," Aiba said after hastily swallowing the last bite of his sandwich. "There are more sandwiches in the fridge if you want to have one while you wait. There probably won't be time to eat later."
Nino nodded and headed to the kitchen, ignoring Sho's anguished squeak as he ran towards the bathroom.
++++
Jun was lying back in the sweetly scented water, his belly poking out through a sea of bubbles.
"Jun? What on earth are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"
"It was actually my doctor's suggestion. She said that it will relax me and make the contractions less painful."
"But we have to get to the hospital!"
"Not for ages yet. The contractions are still at least twenty minutes apart."
A moment after he finished speaking, Jun closed his eyes and took a deep breath, breathing out very slowly as his body tensed.
"Jun, w-what was that? Was it a...a...you know?"
"Contraction? Yes, but at this stage they aren't too bad."
Sho was at a loss as to what to do next. As he stood shifting his feet and looking confused and stressed Jun made a suggestion.
"Since you look so frazzled why don't you join me for a while? There's room for the three of us." Jun shimmied down to the end of the tub as he spoke making room for Sho to sit behind him.
With a resigned sigh Sho decided to comply with Jun's suggestion. He could already see that he was going to have no say in how matters were going to progress over the next few hours. Jun seemed so calm and serenely sure of himself and his ability to handle the birth of their child, so much so that Sho was filled with utter amazement and love towards his young husband as he slipped into the warm water and pulled him onto his lap.
Jun sighed and leant heavily back against Sho chest, almost purring with pleasure as Sho wrapped his hands around his belly and held him steady, peppering the side of his neck with tiny kisses and whispering words of love into his ear.
++++
"Jun sweetheart we have to get out soon, the water is getting cold," Sho said.
But before Jun could answer he was struck by another contraction much quicker than the last. He stiffened in Sho's arms and whimpered softly at the more intense pain.
"Sho I think we should head to the hospital now," Jun said once he got his breath back.
"That sounds like a very good idea," Sho agreed as he climbed out first and helped Jun to climb out, drying him gently with the fluffiest towel he could find before hastily drying himself enough to be able to pull his clothes on.
Jun dressed himself more slowly and stopped in front of the mirror looking at himself, "I'll miss my baby bump, even though it makes me look like a whale."
"You do not! You are beyond beautiful like this, and I'll miss it too, but I'm so excited that soon I will have my own connection to our baby as well. I feel a bit left out and jealous sometimes because you two already know and love each other."
"You will make the perfect Papa. My life has been filled with lots of challenges and changes over the past few months but I have never been happier since we got back together," Jun replied quietly. "I know that you love me with all your heart and that you will love our baby even more."
Sho cradled Jun in his arms and pressed a loving kiss to his lips, "Then let's go and meet our baby."
Jun nodded and allowed Sho to help him walk slowly out to the living room where Nino and Aiba were waiting to escort them to the hospital.
++++
Nino and Aiba dropped them off at the Maternity department before retreating to the Blue Fin to wait for news. They knew that Ohno would keep them well supplied with coffee and snacks while they waited.
Sho guided Jun to the reception desk, panicking as Jun stopped in the corridor and leant on the wall puffing as another contraction struck.
“What should I do? Do you want me to fetch a nurse?”
“Can you please rub my back? It makes me feel better,” Jun said as he remained bent in half, hands pressed to the wall for support.
When it was over, Sho wrapped his arm around Jun’s waist and helped him the rest of the way. Jun’s doctor who happened to be at the desk filling in charts immediately took charge, sitting Jun in a wheelchair and wheeling him away to his room while Sho was left with the sea of paperwork that needed signing, his hands shaking so badly that he could hardly hold the pen.
++++
“Sakurai-san, I’ve finished examining your husband so you can join us now,” Jun’s doctor chirped as she stuck her head out the door.
Sho was happy to see that the room was large and well-appointed with a large sofa and table positioned away from the bed and soft lighting. The walls were painted in soothing neutral colours and hung with colourful paintings of flowers.
Jun had changed into a soft and loose-fitting pair of pyjamas that he’d brought from home, in his mind there was no possibility of him wearing the ugly green ones issued by the hospital. Sho was horrified to see that rather than lying in bed, Jun was sitting on a large purple ball and bouncing gently up and down.
“Sensei, shouldn’t he be in bed?” Sho asked, looking to the doctor for an explanation.
“Not at all Sakurai-san, the birthing ball will help to ease the pain of the contractions and also pain in the lower back,” she replied with a smile. “We need the contractions to be much closer together before we attach the monitor to Matsumoto-san’s belly which will help us to decide when the time to perform the caesarean has arrived.”
Sho looked at her with open-mouthed confusion; he’d spent months reading books about Carrier pregnancies and deliveries and now that the moment had finally arrived, everything had instantly vanished from his memory. By the time he’d gathered his senses she had already bustled off to see another one of her patients.
Jun had stopped bouncing in favour of rocking back and forth. “Don’t you want to grab some dinner?” he asked.
“But…I can’t possibly leave you alone…the baby…” Sho was embarrassed to find that he’d lost the ability to speak in complete sentences.
“The baby and I are fine and nothing is going to happen in the next half hour while you go down to the cafeteria,” Jun said as he closed his eyes and hissed through his teeth as pain ripped across his belly.
Sho immediately rushed over and began to rub Jun’s shoulders, earning himself a glare and a “don’t touch me” from Jun who was determined to work through the pain in his own way.
"Um, I'll just go and grab something quickly and come back straight away," Sho said as he backed away from Jun's sudden anger.
++++
Sho was happily slurping his noodles when he felt a pair of eyes burning into the side of his neck from across the room. "Wha...?" he spluttered, looking around, stray noodles dangling from the corners of his mouth.
"How can you just sit there and stuff your face while I'm in pain over here?" Jun huffed. "A little support from you would be nice."
"But you're the one who told me to get some food and you told me not to touch you earlier," Sho protested, his head was beginning to spin from Jun's sudden mood swings.
"That was then and this is now!" Jun's words ended in an agonized whine as the pain in his back threatened to overwhelm him.
Immediately abandoning his noodles, Sho jumped up and helped Jun to stand up from the ball, pulling his hands up onto his shoulders as he wrapped his own arms around Jun's waist and rocked him from side to side, humming soothingly.
"You've always been a terrible dancer," Jun said with a teary smile before he looked up at Sho with huge frightened eyes. "I don't know if I can do this...it hurts so much..."
“Of course you can. Look at how brave you’ve already been; not just now but over the last few months as well. I couldn’t be more proud,” Sho said, stifling a wince as Jun’s nails dug sharply into the tops of his arms through the fabric of his shirt..
Jun sagged with relief as the pain finally receded, moving over to the bed at last. The repeated pains were sapping his energy and he wanted to lie down and rest for a while before the next one struck.
Sho helped Jun climb up on the bed and pressed a damp cloth to his hot forehead. "Just try and rest for a bit sweetheart. You're doing really well."
Jun growled and pushed Sho's hand away. "How would you know? It feels like I'm being torn in half and it's all your fault."
"But Jun, my love..." Sho said in soothing tones as he tried to place the cloth back and almost lost his hand in the process.
Fortunately he was saved by the return of Jun's doctor who laughed and said, "Don't take it personally Sakurai-san. Your husband has just reached the next stage of his labour."
Jun glared at her; his eyebrows bristling with rage as Sho felt his own legs lose their strength at the prospect of his baby arriving soon.
"I think it's time to strap the monitor on now," she continued as she made Jun more comfortable. "If my suspicions are correct we will be moving to the operating theatre soon."
Jun's angry look was replaced by one of fear as he gripped Sho's hand tightly with trembling fingers.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-31 04:18 am (UTC)Next time is baby time and the last chapter including epilogue all rolled into one. (If I can post it while I am on holiday. We'd better pray to the free Wi-Fi gods that everything works.)
*hugs*