Chapter Text
The First Trimester:
Shouyou and Tobio crossed the two-month mark without even realizing the pregnancy. It passed in a blur of shock, confusion, doubt, but finally joyous acceptance. Except, of course, the symptoms that came with the pregnancy.
Shouyou found himself draped lazily over the toilet bowl, retching on his empty stomach. One would think he’d be used to this, not only was it a daily occurrence throughout his pregnancy, ‘more so than a normal pregnancy’ Dr. Ishikawa added, but it used to practically be a pre-game ritual. Maybe that is why Tobio was always so well prepared…maybe too much so.
“I know the herbal tea wasn’t great for your stomach, so I found these wrist bands that have beads on special pressure points to alleviate nausea.” Tobio rambled rubbing circles on his mate’s back. “If that doesn’t work, we can try acupuncture directly, although I will have to read up on whether it is suitable for pregnancy.”
“I’m sure it’s-“
“Oikawa was also mentioning a traditional Argentinian remedy that was effective for him.”
“Tobio, it’s alright, it passes. I just need to take my mind off it.” Shouyou smiled. Each of Tobio’s comments originally spiking his irritation but catching a simple glance of his alpha’s face - the genuine worry etched on his face, the furred eyebrows and bite of his lips – Shouyou would be crazy not love him.
“I’m just worried about you.” Tobio sighed.
“I know, but it’s okay! It passes, and you know what, I’m the King of Nausea!” Shouyou joked, “I’ve seen it all, the bouts of bile, the strikes of sickness, I’ve overcome it all,” he puffs out his chest dramatically.
“Gosh, you’re embarrassing.” Tobio shakes his forehead into his palm.
“So, you’ll trust me in that I don’t need any needles in my back.” Shouyou poked his chest.
“Hph, I suppose.” Tobio relented.
Tobio trudged out of the car, the straps of his baggage running from his wrist well past his elbow, he was practically drowning under the bags. His arms were decorated with the findings of his recent visit to the mall, he had simply gone to the grocery store to stock up on some of Shouyou’s pregnancy cravings to avoid any late-night trips (nothing too out of the ordinary – some natto, grapefruits, spinach), but on his way out Tobio’s eyes caught one of the mannequins of the childcare store: a little child in a pale yellow onesie. A decision to take a quick look inside turned in to an extravagant escapade.
“Tobio, what is all of this?” Shouyou gasped heading down to the apartment’s front door, hearing a thud of the bags.
“Just somethings I got” Tobio slips off his shoes.
“Just some things?” Shouyou questions, ruffling through the bags.
“Oh! Here, your grapefruit.” Tobio said, stepping over the bags gracefully.
The bags were filled with clothes of every color imaginable, from baby pink to neon green, no area of the color spectrum was untouched. Tobio didn’t just exploit all the colors of the color wheel, every fabric imaginable was bought too. Velvet for if the baby ever got too cold, swimsuits for a beach trip, and silk for…surely some occasion.
“Are we just going to ignore the 5 million pieces of baby clothing you got?” Shouyou said lifting a ballet-inspired ruffled dress.
“Well, we don’t know the gender of the baby, so I thought I’d get a little of everything.”
“Okay…But getting them all in the same size? You know babies grow right? Like super-fast, too.” Shouyou asked, he knew this growing up with a baby sister. Natsu grew like a weed, but like a totally adorable one, Shouyou should clarify.
“Oh.” Tobio started, “I forgot.”
The next day they went to return a whole 70,000 Yen worth of mono-sized baby clothes.
The Second Trimester:
“How is my cute little brother and his cute little husband and my cute little niece and or nephew?” Miwa’s voice came barreling through the door.
“Miwa-nee-chan, it’s only one! The doctor confirmed it last time we went.” Shouyou giggled into a hug with his sister-in-law.
“I don’t get it, if you wanted a surprise about the baby’s gender then why not just be surprised about the number too.” Another voice chimed in from around the corner.
“Natsu! I didn’t know you were coming!” Shouyou grabbed her into the group hug.
“I was at Miwa-nee’s for a trim and she told me she was heading here after her shift, so I decided to surprise you.”
“If you told me I would have made you something.” Shouyou poked her cheek.
“I mean if we have nothing planned, we can bake something, I saw this recipe for melon pan, and it looks so good,” Miwa said, grabbing her phone from her purse and scrolling to the recipe.
“Sounds good, I think we should have everything in the kitchen, Tobio thinks he needs to be prepared for any craving, so he’s practically wiped the grocery store clean.” Shouyou laughed.
Within minutes of embarking on their baking project, the kitchen fell victim to their clumsiness, antics, and genuine attempts at cooking. From Shouyou and Natsu seeing if they could spike an egg with just enough force to get it across the room without cracking and Miwa forgetting the first three ingredients, it was no surprise when Tobio came home from practice to a dirty kitchen and no melon pan.
“You are all a combined danger.” Is all Tobio said. When he shamed the three of the cooking menaces in to clean up, he went off for a quick run.
“I can’t believe he just left us like this,” Miwa said sweeping sadly.
“It’s okay, I mean we made the mess.” Natsu reasoned.
The sound of the door opening caught their attention. There Tobio stood, with fresh melon pan in hand.
It was strange, being on the outside looking in. Shouyou was so used to being on the court, his view so tunneled, he forgot about the sheer presence of a stadium: the thunderous applause, the bright lights, and the thousands of fans. Of course, this wasn’t just any game. It was the Olympic semi-finals.
Shouyou, after entering his sixth month and taking a hiatus from the sport, sat in the designated family section with his and Tobio’s family. Well, he smiled, they were one family now.
“Look! Look! Tobio-nii-chan is walking out now!” Natsu pulled at his sleeve. Shouyou looked toward the court, and, descending in his complete Alphan glory, there Tobio was- glistening lightly from the warmup, his muscles taut, and a small smirk epitomizing his confidence. Where Tobio struggled with slight anxieties off the court, from tense social situations and sheer awkwardness, there was not an ounce of doubt in his demeanor on the court. In some ways, and with all connotations left behind, Tobio did look a bit like the King of the Court.
Shouyou thought it might have been their innate connection, but somehow, in the crowd of people, his and Tobio’s eyes met. Tobio’s smirk upturned to a smile, one reserved exclusively for his husband. Shouyou replied with the same sunny smile that Tobio fell for.
Why was Shouyou so far? Tobio thought. Oh, because he’s not playing. Tobio, of course, knew this, but it felt strange to be here without his husband, his partner, his spiker. He tried to shake it off with visions of victory, anything to distract him from the slight void he was feeling, yet his thoughts strayed back to Shouyou.
Tobio knew he could win, but part of him felt like he had to win for his husband who couldn’t play today. The thought weighed down on him slightly, he was responsible for taking Shouyou out of this game, what would have been Shouyou’s first Olympics and that too on home-turf, something Shouyou likely would never see in his career again. He doesn’t blame their child – he would never. He just wished things could have gone a little differently.
Suddenly, despite the distance between them seeming vast, Shouyou clenched his fist, threw it in the air, and screamed at the top of his lungs: “You can do it, Japan!”
Tobio chuckled at his husband’s antics (and his adorable pronunciation of ‘Japan’, something the redhead had been trying to correct since high school), and gestured back a thumbs up. If he was with Shouyou, everything would seem right in the end.
The Third Trimester:
The couple was blessed with a perfect, little girl.
Epilogue (4 years later):
Himawari Kageyama swung between the outstretched arms of her fathers. Her flowing red locks cascaded down her team Japan jersey.
"Papa, Daddy you both were amazing." She chirped, her blue eyes sparkling. "It was so cool, everyone was cheering your name! How did they know your name? Do they know my name?" She questioned.
"Well, if you get really good at a sport and make the Olympics one day, people will learn your name too," Tobio answered, slightly monotonously, but pinned with the warmth he held for her daughter.
"Of course they'll know your name, Hima!" Shouyou smiled. "You're going to be Japan's best spiker".
"You mean setter, right, Himawari?" Tobio cut him off.
They both stopped swinging her and looked at her expectingly.
"Hm... No, I think I want to do Judo. No, archery. Actually, gymnastics..." She thought out loud.
"So...everything but volleyball?" Shouyou inquired.
"Well, yeah, I want do something new since you both already got the gold medal!"