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Syo was oddly quiet. Which meant she was up to something. Komaru could feel it in her gut if she didn't do something, something would go wrong.
Toko and Syo have worked too hard to throw it all away now. They were at a Future Foundation 'Going Away' party for a worker under Kyoko who was leaving on maternity leave soon. Syo stared at the coworker in silence.
"Hey, Syo! Ready to head home?" No reply. "Uh… Syo?"
She's not standing like Toko… Komaru walked over and gently grabbed her hand.
"Syo, ready to head home? I'm sure the kids miss us. Nagisa must have his hands full with the other three." After another moment of silence, she started getting nervous. "Hey, everything alright? You aren't normally this quiet, that's more Toko's thing." Syo stared at her for a second before smiling.
"Kyahaha! I've decided!"
"Decided?"
"Let's go! Let's go!" Syo began tugging on Komaru's arm. "Come on! Let's go home!" After a quick goodbye to everyone, they hopped onto their motorcycle and headed toward their apartment.
"I've been meaning to bring it up with Toko too, but we should really look into a car or something. The bike is fine for us, but what about when the kids want to start school again."
"And it's not very safe for babies!" Syo added with a nod.
"Ye- huh?! Syo? What are you talking about?"
"I told you earlier! I've decided!" The woman pointed scissors at her companion. "Dekumaru, I want to expand our family with a baby!"
"Hold on! You can't just say that out of nowhere!" Komaru felt her face heat up. "You can't just decide that on your own! We're a couple, with a family, and we need to talk these things through. I mean, how will the kids feel?"
"So I just need their permission? Kyahaha! Then let's go ask!"
"Syo that's not wha-" Before Komaru could get a word in Syo raced up the stairs. With a sigh, she decided to use this time to prep herself to give the 'where do babies come from' talk.
Nearly the moment she opened the door chaos was already ensuing.
"Your pregnant?"
"Is it a boy or girl?"
"Does this mean you're gonna replace me?"
"What did we do wrong?"
"Oh! Are we adopting? Can I come to pick them out? I want an adorbs lol sister!"
"No way! A little brother! I want a cool little brother!"
"I'll be better I promise!"
"Is Toko pregnant?"
"Enough!" Komaru yelled. "No one is pregnant! No one is being replaced!" The room went silent except for Syo's laughter. "Syo!"
"Looks like we're done with doom and it's time for gloom!" With that Syo made herself sneeze.
"Wha-... oh w-when did we get home?" Toko asked. Komaru sighed annoyed with Syo. "Oh no, what did she do?"
"Kids, go get ready for dinner. I need to talk with Toko." The former warriors of hope shared a look. "Don't worry I'll address everything at dinner."
"Um… Syo didn't do anything bad did she?"
"Not bad but…" Komaru thought about it for a second. "Toko, I love you and I need you to be totally honest with me, do you want another child."
"W-wh-what?! Where d-did you get that-that idea!?"
"Syo said she had decided she wanted a baby. I know you guys tend to share feelings."
"I-I… It's not like I don't like our family the way it is but…"
"it's ok, take your time." They stood there quietly as Toko collected her thoughts. "Come on, let's get dinner started." As they made dinner Toko kept stealing glances at Komaru.
"D-do you think I'm a good mom?"
"I dont think I'm in a position to answer that." Komaru smiled at her. "I think you should ask the kids. If you have questions about if you're a good partner, I like to think I'm more than a little qualified to answer that!" That statement was punctuated with a kiss to Toko's cheek. "I-I'm jealous that Kyoko could potentially get a kid that looks like you and Makoto."
"Huh?"
"D-d-don't get a big head about it! I just wish… I… She's going to get to be pregnant and doted on by her spouse for nine months, and then r-rewarded for it with a baby… She gets to look at it and see something she made with her husband." Toko started explaining. "I l-love our kids… but having a baby kind of feels like it's be the bow on top, you know? You and the kids are the best presents I ever asked for… B-but part of me w-w-wants to experience pregnancy. I want to see what we missed… I don't know why Syo wants one, but that's why I do."
"That's so sweet Toko!" Komaru cupped her face. "Let's talk it over with the kids, make sure everyone is ready for a baby to enter our lives mentally. Then we can talk about the 'how'." Toko smiled and leaned into her wife's hand. "I am curious and a little concerned about why Syo wants one, and I do need to scold her for springing it on the kids, but… I'd be more than happy to raise another kid with you." The couple shared a kiss and finished dinner. Toko set the table while Komaru went to fetch the kids.
Knowing them, Nagisa probably dragged Kotoko to his and his brother's room to talk. She approached the door and put her ear up to it.
"-could be a good thing." Kotoko reasoned. "Komaru, Toko, and Syo love us. I think a little brother or sister would just make things better."
"Or make them worse. What if the baby takes up all their attention or they decide they don't want us no more." Jataru argued. "They'll have a kid who hasn 't tried to kill them."
"I'm with Jataru, we were never formally adopted. Future Foundation just treats them as our guardians because of their connections."
"What if they don't see us as their kids anymore once they have the baby," Masaru mumbled. "They might think we're a danger and-" Komaru knocked on the door.
"Dinners ready." She smiled gently.
"Good! I'm starved!" Kotoko was the first to run out of the room. "Last one there gets extra veggies!" Soon everyone but Nagisa was running toward the kitchen.
“Were you… Listening?” He asked.
“Yeah… You know, Toko and I want each of your opinions on this. We’re a family and a baby would impact all of us.”
“Did we do something wrong?” His fists were clenched at his sides. Komaru couldn’t help but hug him when she saw the tears streaming down his face.
“Of course not! A baby wouldn’t replace any of you!” She was so careful with him. “We’re not trying to start over or replace anyone. We just think that it would be nice to have another member of the family. But if one of you isn’t ready, then it obviously just isn’t time.” Before she knew it Nagisa was hugging her back. “I know it’s… Difficult not to compare everything now with the past, but… Nagisa, you are my child, from the moment I took you in at Towa city you became my family.”
“Sorry for crying over something like this.”
“Your human after all. You can cry all you want.”
Finally, everyone sat down for dinner. It was a bit awkward because of the proverbial elephant in the room.
“Soo… You guys are thinking of having a baby?” Kotoko asked bluntly.
“We’re discussing it.” Komaru confirmed. “We need to make sure we’re ready for a baby, and look at the logistics! But what do you guys think?”
“I always wanted a totally adorbs baby sister! But I’m fine with a little brother as well.”
“Huh? So you actually think I’ve been a good mom!?” Toko was stunned.
“Why would you think otherwise? You clothe us, you feed us… We get unconditional love and the only thing you’ve asked for in return is that we behave ourselves.” Kotoko answered honestly. “This is the best family I’ve been part of.”
“If that’s what you want, I don’t mind being replaced…” Jataro stated.
“No way, you weirdo! You are not getting replaced! You are my son!” Toko looked offended by his comment. “You can’t escape me that easily.”
“Where would a baby even go?” Masaru asked.
“Well… If and that’s a huge if we have a baby, they’d sleep in our room until they can sleep through the night, if it’s a boy then we’d start looking for a bigger place and possibly get you each your own room, or if it’s a girl, then they’d share a room with Kotoko.” Komaru explained. “With you guys growing so fast, maybe we should still look into getting a bigger place regardless of the potential babies' gender.”
“I think a little brother or sister would be nice,” Nagisa mumbled.
“Wha? But earlier you sai-”
“Kotoko was right, no other child is going to change the fact that this is our family… It’s just another addition.” Nagisa looked embarrassed. “Besides think of all the cool games we could show them.”
“No demon-hunting games!” Toko’s voice sounded stern.
“If you do have a totally adorbs baby, are you gonna adopt, or is one of you gonna be pregnant?”
“That’s for us to discuss in privet.” Komaru firmly said. “No one else has to worry about where this baby is coming from… Speaking of, aren’t any of you curious about where babies come from.” Kotoko and Nagisa just started at Komaru deadpanned. “... Point taken for you two, but I thought Jatatro and Masaru would be curious.”
“I know it has to do with wieners, and that's all I need to know.” Masaru bounced in his chair. Jataro shrugged.
“Just a warning, that conversations are not too far off. You guys will be hitting puberty soon.”
“Puberty’s not cute!” Kotoko whined.
“Don’t worry, I can tell you’re gonna become a cute girl like in manga!” Komaru comforted before squealing. “I can’t wait to take you out shopping and buy you all sorts of cute outfits to wear!”
They ate dinner and chatted about anything and everything. Soon they were putting the kids to bed. It was the same routine every night, the kids would fight to stay up past their bedtime. Komaru would chase them around the apartment while Syo or Toko did the dishes. When the kids were sufficiently tuckered out Komaru carried them each individually to their bed to be tucked in. Then she'd read a manga aloud or sing a lullaby, before kissing them on the forehead goodnight.
It was a way to help them heal and experience the parental love they never got as little kids.
"I can't believe the author just left it on that cliffhanger…" Masaru whined.
"Well… maybe he or a fan will finish the story once things settle down." Komaru suggested tucking him in tight with a weighted blanket. "That could even be something we all do together."
"Alright kids, lights out," Toko announced from the hall. "I got a couple of minutes before Syo gets to say goodnight to everyone so let's make them last." Komaru watched Toko wish each child goodnight and let them know they were loved before making herself sneeze.
Despite her… eccentricities Syo was a loving, doting, parent and partner. So every night before Toko and Komaru cuddled in bed to get to sleep, Syo got to say goodnight and get some Komaru cuddles as well.
Syo quietly closed the door to the rooms.
"Finally! Some alone time~"
"Oh no, Syo, you are still in trouble."
"Fuck…"
"Language!" Komaru crossed her arms with an angry pout. "Do you know how panicked the kids were? Especially Nagisa!"
"But I want a baby!"
"Syo!"
"Quiet darling you'll wake the kids~"
"Bedroom! Now! And it's not to have fun!" She pointed to the master bedroom.
"Watch it, sweetheart! People don't usually order former serial killers around." Syo twirled her scissors in her hand. Komaru glared.
"Well I'm not just anybody. Go !" The tone of Komaru's voice left little room for argument. After a thorough scolding and Syo 'making it up' to Komaru, they cuddled on the bed. "Toko and I still need to talk about the logistics of everything, but why do you want a baby?"
"Obviously I want a kid that looks like us!" Syo huffed. "They'd be so cute! … and I'm curious about what it's like to be pregnant!"
"Wait, you want to be pregnant?"
"I want to know what it's like to bring a life into this world instead of taking it! Kyahaha! Besides, you'd have to spoil me! Spoil me rotten! Spoil me, Dekumaru!"
"I already spoil you!" She smiled at her lover. "I think it's sweet you want a baby that looks like us, Syo. I knew Toko had a side like this, but I didn't think you did." Syo seemed annoyed by that and gave Komaru a love nip on the neck. "Ok, ok, I'll stop teasing."
"So, we're having a baby?"
"Probably." Komaru nodded.
"Kyahaha! You really do spoil me, Dekumaru!"
"You're gonna wake the kids!"