Home Sweet Home (Patrick)

[Kazumi O'Connor]

To be quite honest, Kazumi was miserable. She had been home along for awhile now, with Pat off taking care of some stuff and nobody else aside from Carmine to keep her company. She had understood why he had to go away, but that didn't make it any easier, especially with the fact that she was getting further along in her pregnancy, and with everything else that had been going on.

If anything, it was torture. She had tried to keep herself busy, mostly with remodeling the house and making sure that it was as beautiful as possible. She wanted to make sure that their baby was born into a really comfortable feeling house and she wanted to surprise Patrick when he came home. Sure, she knew that things like this did not really matter to him, but at the same time, she wanted him to have a real honest to goodness home. Something she knew he had missed out on a lot while growing up..

So, no sooner had he kissed her goodbye than she had set out on her mission to have the house remodeled, decorated and spruced up into what she thought looked like a truly cozy and relaxing home. All of which she had done herself other than the construction aspects of course, and she had to say, she was rather proud of herself and excited for him to see it.

Yet, there was one room in particular she couldn't wait to show him, seeing as how it was a bit of a surprise and the one area of the house she had given the most time and energy into completing.

Now, with everything done she was right back to being miserable and exhausted. The final adjustments had been finished up today, and being that she was six months along and had been living off of cold stored blood the last week or two, she was about ready to pass out.

No, scratch that. She did pass out. Right on the front porch in the large wooden swing that she had installed. Dressed in nothing but a simple white summer dress and a think white blanket draped over her legs, she was sleeping rather soundly. Her dark locks spilling over the edge of the swing and swaying back and forth as the breeze blew the swing to and fro.

On the other end of the porch, in one of the chairs that Kazumi had put out there, was Carmine. It was dark out, and getting late, yet he didn't have the heart to wake her right now. So, he would just sit there and wait...It was his understanding that Patrick would be back tonight some time, and so he figured he could just stick around to make sure she was okay until the boy got here. His arms folded over his chest as he kept his eyes glued on her. Seemed like everyone was becoming more protective of her the further along she got. It just made her look that much more fragile and delicate, not to mention she was clumsy as all hell.

No way in hell he was leaving her out here like this all aloe. No chance in hell.

[Legion]

There that was it. Patrick was clean. He was out. No more drugs, no more alcohol, no more cigarettes. He was clean and he was done. All of the chains of his past were gone. Patrick was ready to start his new life with a clean slate and for that he couldn't be happier. Although as he drove his way home, he couldn't help but feel a little anxious. He'd been locked in that hotel room longer then he had wanted to be, sweating out the addiction cold turkey. And it had hurt far more then he wanted to admit, indeed, he would in fact avoid telling Kazumi. Particularly would avoid telling her about the seizures. Turns out getting off of things cold turkey could be bad for you, though he was unable to tell what it was that had caused the seizures, seeing as he stopped all at once. He figured that if he had to do it all over again, he probably would have mixed a few things up. Lessons learned huh?

Regardless as he made his way home, yeah even after six months he still had to marvel at the word, as the sun dipped beyond the horizon. As he turned onto their street making his way down, he couldn't help but feel that the speed limit just wasn't fast enough. But you know? Funny thing happened as he got to where their house was, he almost drove past it. Why? It wasn't the same. It didn't look like their house at all. As he actually did pull into the driveway he quietly got out of the truck, noticing Kazumi and Carmine on the new porch, apparently.

A big smile crossed Patrick's face as he walked across the yard, marveling at the chance, slowly and quietly making his way towards the porch, a nod given to Carmine as his eyes returned to their, what seemed like new, home. As Patrick quietly made his way over to the large wood swing where Kazumi sit sleeping, soundly is seemed, which made him smile even more, knowing it wasn't often that she did. Although the majority of his smile and mouthed "wow" came from simply the sight of her. Six months along and she was very clearly pregnant. In her white sundress Patrick couldn't think of anything but how beautiful she looked, how peaceful. There was just something about seeing her this pregnant, it was beautiful in a way he couldn't describe, not without failing at least.

So Patrick silently made his way over to their new swing, sitting down as gently as possible next to her and lightly wrapped an arm around her. Being careful not to disturb her much needed rest. Wanting her to sleep her as long as she could, marveling at everything he could see still, even the new potted plants lining the walk...

[Kazumi O'Connor]

Carmine saw the truck pull up and would cast one last look at Kazumi before rising to stand. He waited of course, until Patrick was on the porch before given a nod of his own and then looking around at the new settings. "She has been very busy since you left. All the decorating she did all by herself, despite everyone's urges to let them help her." Speaking softly as to not wake the small girl as she slept, knowing all too well that she needed it. His large hands moving to smooth out his suit as he would take a step off the porch, though still lingering upon the steps as he turned back.

"Said something about wanting you to have a real home. Whatever that means. I think its just because if she sat still too long she would go insane missing you." He would then finally turn to take his leave, speaking back over his shoulder quietly enough. "Have a good night." Crossing the yard and climbing into his SUV, soon enough having driven out of sight and leaving just the two of them alone on the porch.

As his arm draped around her, Kazumi would not wake, though she did shift about just slightly, instinct driving her to nuzzle into him as she breathed in his scent. It was so familiar to her, even as she slept, that she couldn't help but let forth a little sound of pleasure and happiness as thoughts of him filled her mind.

Truth be told, the fact that she didn't wake up right away should have shown how tired she was, since she was usually not a very sound sleeper, at all. And to have fallen asleep out in the open like this? Unheard of.

But, that didn't change the fact that she was, and that she would stay asleep at least a few more minutes before her mind, however lost in dreams it might have been, started to register that the only way she could be breathing in that scent and feeling that warm touch is if it was here. A little squeaky groan given as she would shift about just slightly, eyes fluttering open so that her deep oceanic blue gaze fell upon him where he sat, looking up at him and a slow smile curling onto her lips. "Hey baby..."

Normally she would have been up and jumping on top of him. But it was all too clear that she was far too along to do such a thing, though that did not stop her small hand from coming up and tracing slowly over that scar on his face. "I have missed you so much."

Speaking through a little yawn as she would finally move to try and sit up. A rather hard task given the size of her belly, and drawing a little grumble from her lips as she gripped the back of the swing to try and pull herself up, the other hand resting on her belly out of habit at this point. However, once she finally managed to sit up, she would lean in and press her lips against his, fingers brushing over his neck slowly and lovingly.

[Legion]

Patrick gave Carmine another nod as the man rose to stand. Patrick listened as the man told him that it was Kazumi that had made the changes to their home, the decorating at least. It wasn't surprising to him that she could do it, rather that she did, and all by herself, in a span of no more then two weeks. From what Carmine was saying, it seemed to indicate that there was more, more to be seen. Patrick had to admit that it got him curious. As the man continued though Patrick couldn't help but smile at Kazumi's reasons for doing this. He knew exactly what it meant. She wanted to make a more permanent looking home for him, something he didn't have when he was growing up. As Carmine turned to walk away Patrick said simply, "Thank ye."

As Patrick sat down next to her draping his arm around her he smiled as she nuzzled into him, sighing lightly in her sleep and taking in his scent. Though for her to not wake up, it told Patrick that she must be exhausted. She was always a light sleeper, very light. To the point of he rolled over to fast she was awake. Normally this would have woken her up, but it didn't and so Patrick was left wondering how much work she actually had done, or if this was just a normal pregnancy thing. So she would remain asleep for a few more minutes as Patrick sat there, more then content to hold her and give a brief look out at what had been done in their yard.

As she would start to stir, groaning, Patrick's eyes would quickly turn on hers, softly. A smile forming on his lips as she greeted him, looking into those deep blue eyes lovingly. Smiling only widening as her finger traced down his scar, his eye closing so she could move it past his eye softly saying, "I've missed ye so much too love. And I'm clean now, ready to start our new life together."

He smiled softly at her attempts to sit up. As she got later and later on in the pregnancy Patrick assumed that this would only get worse. It was kind of funny though, he had to admit, but he didn't let that show on his face, nor would he ever admit it. As she sat up though, leaning in to press her lips to his, a hand would come up to the back of her head, fingers sliding into her hair kissing her slowly, lovingly...

[Kazumi O'Connor]

Kazumi trembled softly as she felt his fingers at the back of her head, his lips pressing back into her own as he returned that kiss she offered him. Gods how she had missed this, missed him. Yes, it had only been a couple of weeks, but he was her entire world and to have to live without him, even if it was for a good reason, still had been torture. Not to mention, it had killed her that he had to go through all that he must have on his own.

But, when she had protested and demanded that she could take care of him, he had insisted that she let him go to handle it himself. Mostly because he worried about the stress it would put on her and the baby to see him that way, and even though she had been sure that she would be fine...she had given in and agreed. Some things he would have to do on his own and she understood that, so she had backed off.

But he was here now, and as he told her that he was clean, that it was all over and that they could start their lives together now, officially, she could not have been more happy. Pulling back from the kiss after a long moment, she would smile rather brightly and softly brush her nose against his own. "Well, I am very proud of you baby...I know it must have been hard." She would then reach behind her so that she could push on the swing to help herself get up, managing to do so easily enough and letting out a little sigh as her hands came to rest upon her belly as she smoothed out her dress.

These things were the only things she could wear anymore, well aside from pajamas and what not....The size of her tummy having increased quite a bit, even over the last two weeks he had been gone. Still, once she was done, she would reach out and take his hand, tugging him up from the swing in order to have him follow her. "Come on. I got you a present, well technically I made you a present. Just to show you how proud I am of you and how much I believe in you.....and how much I believe in us."

Her tone somewhat bubbly and happy, however a hint of that sleepiness still heard within. That did not stop her though from tugging him, if he would allow her, toward the front doo, keying in her code so that it would unlock.

Once it had, she would turn to look at him with a huge amount of anticipation before nudging the door open with her foot and releasing his hand. "You first." She would practically giggle with excitement. Waiting for him to enter, and staying behind him, slightly back in order to allow him to look around at their new home...well their old home, just the one she had changed into something much more permanent, just for him and their baby.

From entering the house, he would be able to see the living room, dining area and even part of the kitchen. She would say nothing though, letting him take it all in and biting her lip nervously, worried as to if he would like it or not..."I...I wanted to give you...well...a home...A real home. Because, you said you had never had one before, and I just thought...." Quickly she shut her mouth, catching herself rambling and not wanting to ruin this moment by talking too much. So, she just waited.

[Legion]

As their lips met in that kiss, lingering as Patrick felt her soft little lips against his he couldn't help but love this, love her. He loved this moments with her, every one of them really. But in his time away, he had missed this particularly, the feel of her against him. Missed talking to her, spending time with her, making love to her, everything. But he had to do what he did and he had to do it alone.

Patrick really didn't want her to see that. It wasn't a pretty sight. He had been irritable, he had been a little volatile, the list went on and on until the most important ones were him getting violently ill and having seizures and what not. Things that had happened as he sobered himself up he didn't want her to see not pregnant, let alone with their child. Patrick had remembered Kazumi reading some article about that sort of stuff. About the baby being able to hear outside the womb or something. It all sounded like new age, freaky mumbo jumbo to him, but was he going to risk it? The answer had been a resounding "no".

"It really wasn't that hard when I had you and the baby to look ahead to," Patrick smiled in reply after the kiss had broken. He watched her as she got up out of her seat, with far less of a struggle then she had in sitting up, which kind of added to the amusement of that. As she stood up, smoothing out her dress his jaw dropped, clearly in amazement of her. Like he had said before he found her pregnant, with his child, to be incredible attractive. He hadn't seen her in a bit and apparently, the baby was getting big, seemed to indicate that everything was going well so that was good. Patrick would continue his smile as she tugged him up, standing next to her.

When she spoke of a present that she had made, his eyebrows raised in curiosity. Patrick was pretty sure he knew what she was talking about and well, he couldn't deny that he was intrigued indeed. He noted the bubbly happiness in her voice as well and he was glad for that. She deserved to be happy, perhaps more then he did, but Patrick was grateful to share in her happiness all the same.

As she opened the door, letting go of his hand, ushering him in first Patrick would do so slowly, not really knowing what to expect as he entered their house. As he did, his jaw dropped. It looked great. A far cry from what it had before, making Patrick realize what had been lacking before, because honestly he hadn't know, wouldn't be able to tell you. Though it did look more homey and less like a safe house. As Patrick walked in, he found himself making his way to the living room replying to Kazumi, "It's beautiful love."

His eyes drawn to the artwork on the wall. They had Kazumi written all over them, at least in Patrick's mind. They were good, and Patrick knew that Kazumi was amazing. They were hers, he didn't have to ask but he did, "Did ye do these love? They're fantastic."

[Kazumi O'Connor]

She seemed to brighten up all the more as she heard him remark on how beautiful it was. She was glad that he liked it, she really was. It had been rather easy once she got started, but it was that first step that had nearly killed her. Well, not literally, but yeah...She had wanted something quaint, nice....not too flashy. She didn't want him to feel out of place in his own home and to be honest, she didn't want to either. They were not really a couple that enjoyed flashy shiny new things, they much preferred the more simple things that life had to offer and so, that had been the theme throughout the entire house.

"I am glad you like it. I tried to keep it rather simple since I know that you are like me and not into the very flashy, extravagant styles that are out there. I...I..." She bit her lip, trying to rush the words....not really because she had to, but more because she was just very happy. "I just thought this would make you feel...well make you feel like it is really our home instead of just some place to sleep together at night."

Her hands resting upon her belly, she would blush as he made mention of the pictures, lowering her eyes a bit as she nodded. "I know how much you like my art work, so I thought that I would use it to decorate with. Better than paying a fortune for some other artist I suppose." Slightly embarrassed but having done it just the same, even if she didn't sign her name.

She would then motion toward the dining area and the kitchen. "I redid the entire kitchen and even got us some dining room furniture so we can stop eating on the couch or in bed...Everything is organized much easier to find. Or at least I think so." She nodded and would come up to where he was, her little hand lacing with his own as she leaned into his arm and cast a look up at him, smiling softly. "Come on, I have something else to show you."

Speaking softly as she would move to tug him along toward their bedroom, the bathroom door open as they passed, showing that it too had been redone. However, it was the bedroom that truly looked different. A set of doors that had not been there before leading to a private little balcony of sorts that had not been there.....and another door off to the right that was closed.

She said nothing, letting him decide for himself if he liked the new room design and waiting for him to ask about the extra door with a sense of every mounting anticipation. She really, really wanted to just burst out and tell him without him even asking, but she would wait. She had to, because that was all part of the surprise. Was it not?

[Legion]

Patrick smiled as she spoke. She was right, he wasn't a big fan of the flashy extravagant stuff. He wasn't a really big fan of that because it stuck out, and it was the black sheep that got slaughtered first. Something along those lines anyway. But no, that aside he found his affinity more for the simplistic anyway. Though as she finished her thought, Patrick couldn't bite his tongue it seemed, "I thought home was where ye were with people that loved ye and ye loved them? Doesn't that already make this more then just a place to sleep at night?"

A tongue stuck out at her, knowing that his comment would likely slide, seeing as how they hadn't seen each other for awhile. Well that and he had just proved how well he had been listening the last few months. Hell, when he tallied it all it made it seem like he even had some leeway here, more wiggle room. Which was good because he wasn't done quite yet, though for now he was postponed as she mentioned her art work.

"Better and free," Patrick said with a smile, he really did think the world of her work, thinking it more beautiful then a lot of this crap that he saw today, "Ye know I think that ye could be making money for that stuff if ye wanted to be"

Smiling as they moved their focus to the kitchen and dining room area. He thought it was a great addition. That it was quite sheikh indeed. The kitchen seemed, so, he didn't want to say rich, but it just gave off that well off feeling. Though he imagined that everything would when you grew up on the streets. So that one he shrugged off. The dining room though, that was something they didn't have before. It was a nice addition, when they'd be hosting company, although the company that they'd host wasn't exactly too fond of him. Although it was time for the aforementioned foot in mouth moment again, "Stop eating on the couch now? Just when we got a TV? Isn't that how home life's supposed to work?"

Although once again he figured he still had some wiggle room, and that was before he used his arguments and what not to make what he said "ok". Well and there was this little gem, all sincere by the way, "I think it looks great love."

When she came up to him, grasping his hand in hers he smiled as she leaned into his arm, trying to get him to follow her, which of course he would. No doubt in that. As they moved along he caught a quick glimpse of the bathroom, which looked markedly different, but not as different as the bedroom came to look.

Once again his jaw dropped. It really did look great. And it looked like the sliding doors led to something outside, which was difficult to make out because of the light. And the new door? Well that was impossible not to notice, although Patrick figured that that was the point, so he'd play dumb to tease her, which would also only serve to tease himself, but hey, whatevs. Patrick would smile, looking at Kazumi, kissing her playfully on the nose, "It looks wonderful love, all of it..."

=/

[Kazumi O'Connor]

His words would get her lower lip to jut out just slightly. She was all for teasing and she was willing to let it slide, but she was just so overly anxious about if he would like it or not, that his words almost hurt her feelings. A little whimper as she twisted her fingers together in front of her and would nudge her bare toes into the carpeted flooring.

She knew that this had been a home before, but well, this was different. "I..I just wanted it to feel..." She lowered her head a bit and even managed to take a step back. Her teeth softly biting upon the corner of her lower lip as she would glance up toward the house, now intent upon second guessing every choice she had made for it. It wasn't really his fault, she was pregnant and very hormonal and so the simplest things seemed to set her off. This being one fo them.

Still, when he made mention of the tv, she would glance at it and then absentmindedly shy away from it, shaking her head. "Its not hooked up yet. I just thought, when the baby gets older, it will need television to help stimulate the mind." She shrugged softly and would then lead the way into the bedroom.

She was still very anxious, wanting so badly to tell him what was up the stairs through that door. Yet, he seemed to completely ignore the door which, again, that hurt her feelings. It wasn't so much that she thought he didn't like it, it just seemed, in her head at least, that he was disinterested in the house in general. Her head lowering a bit more as he would kiss her on the tip of the nose, choking back a little whimper as she nodded slightly to his words.

"I...I can...I can change stuff if you don't like it...." Blinking back a few tears as she nervously twisted the skirt of her dress in her fingers. Normally she would let his jokes slide after him having been gone for so long, but she had really worked hard at this and put her heart into every single detail....to joke about it, in her irrational mind, seemed to be making light of her efforts and it hurt...Which, this being Kazumi, meant that it felt like somebody had just stabbed her in the heart with a dull blade. And twisted it. Over and over again.

Reaching up quickly, one hand would try to wipe away the tears that rolled down her cheeks as she ran her other hand along her stomach, wondering if she should just tell him now or not....since he obviously wasn't that into the whole house thing. "I also changed the basement and that attic..." Speaking up softly, her last ditch effort to snag his curiosity. If it failed, she would just tell him and then go grab all her design sketches to rethink her layout so that he would perhaps like it more next time around.

[Legion]

Now, in his defense, this was the first pregnant woman he had ever had to deal with. He didn't really know what to expect, and to be perfectly honest, the hormonal thing had slipped right by Patrick. Although He didn't quite get it right away, which meant that things would only get worse and worse and more damage control would be needed later. So nothing really blipping on his radar he would nod in thought about the TV comment saying thoughtfully, "Makes sense."

Although to be honest he had no real idea. He had never had any experience with that stuff. But it seemed to make logical sense he figured. At least, he'd trust her opinion on this one.

But anyway, back to the whole her being hormonal thing. Patrick honestly didn't know. He didn't know what he was doing was hurtful or wrong. It was the usual banter he figured. But it wasn't hard to figure out when he saw tears in her eyes. Now that made him stop and frown. He didn't ever want to hurt her, especially because he knew that she felt more then most. As she suggested that she could change stuff if he didn't like it he would step forward, wrapping his arms around her, "No, Kazumi, I love what ye've done, I think it's very, very beautiful and all great. I didn't mean to hurt yer feelings, I love it. I'm sorry."

His hand came up to brush her tears away as he held her close, his hand grasping hers, a frown still on his face. He really hadn't meant to hurt her feelings. Patrick at least had thought that he had done a good job expressing his like for what she had done. Maybe the jokes were just too much. Although at her comment he would ask, "Oh yeah? What did ye do to them? I'd love to see it Kazumi. Knowing ye and seeing everything so far, i'm sure it's great."

[Kazumi O'Connor]

She would continue to nervously twist her dress about her little fingers, trying not to show how much it had hurt her, but at the same time not really able to stop herself from doing just that as tears rolled down her delicate little face. However, he soon enough caught on and she would feel his arms wrap around her, proving to give her the comfort she needed in order to release her sobs and bury her face into his chest....her own arms wrapping about his waist. "I...I just....I missed you so much and I thought that...that when you came home that you would...." She didn't even know what to say. It still hurt, but then that was just the side effects of it being her. Her feelings were not as easily repaired as other peoples.

Still, when he reached up to wipe her tears away, those big amethyst eyes would look up to his own, and a little sniffle would be given as she slowly pulled her arms back from around his waist. "I...I know its a bit much...I just...I didn't have anything else to do and I ...I just wanted to...to make you happy..." Her words whimpered forth as her tongue slightly brushed against the fangs that she now had as a result of that Qi or whatever it was called. They hurt, but then that was what happened, she had learned, when she was hungry. But she was trying her best to ignore that for now seeing as how she wanted so desperately to show him the rest of the house.

Then, that last little bit of bait she had thrown out seemed to work, drawing his attention toward the attic and the basement. The latter of which could wait for all she cared. As for the attic, well that would get a soft little smile to break across her features, eyes still swimming with tears but a light seeming to fill them that showed she was happy, at least for the time being. "Go take a look..." Her little hand motioning toward the door that had been added to their bedroom.

Now, he was a smart man, and she knew that he would likely be questioning why she would put the access door to the attic in their room...But she wasn't about to tell him. Nope, she was going to let him figure that out all on his own.

Assuming he would turn to head toward the door, she would follow closely behind, her hands resting upon her stomach as she watched him with an ever increasing amount of anticipation. As they climbed the stairs, one hand would come out to grasp the railing, not wanting to risk falling and already feeling her knees begin to weaken with excitement.

Then, as they neared the top of the stairs she would speak up from behind him. "I went to the doctor while you were gone..." All she would say, seeing as he should have been entering the attic about that time and knowing that the room itself would answer any question he might ask.

[Legion]

As she buried her face into his chest, sobbing Patrick would frown. He had never intended to hurt her, not in the slightest. His frown only widening as she began to speak, telling him how much she missed him. Having another sentence but being unable to finish it, so Patrick would, "I'm so sorry Kazumi, I never meant to hurt ye."

As she pulled back away from him he'd look at her, that frown still on his face. As she explained that this was what she had done the entire time while he had been away Patrick said, "And I am happy Kazumi, very happy. I think ye did a great job baby and I love it."

But it was his interest in the attic and basement that seemed to win the day, bringing light into her eyes. Wondering which one she would have him see first, decided immediately that it had to be the attic as she pointed to their new door. So Patrick made his way towards the door, quite curious as to what she had done with the attic. Not entirely without his ideas Patrick made his way up those stairs excited to see what was in store for him. As he made his way up the stairs he heard her following, quite curious indeed, especially after she said that she went to the doctor while he was away. His question a simple, "Oh? and what did he say?"

As the words left his lips Patrick made it to the door, opening it to a room of white and pink. He saw the crib and all the fashionings for a nursery, even that mural that she said she was going to be painting. Patrick couldn't help but drop his jaw yet again, it was beautiful and all he could get out was, "Pink?"

A pause, he knew what that meant, what he meant it was just taking him a moment to put it into words before he finally asked, "We're having a baby girl?"

A questioning smile crossing his face...

[Kazumi O'Connor]

She stayed close behind him, not bothering to answer his question about the doctor right away seeing as he had just opened the door to the nursery. So, she would wait, following him into the room and then stopping just inside the door, both her hands resting lightly on her stomach as those now blue eyes watched him intently.

When he finally said something, she couldn't help but giggle softly, nodding a bit. "Yes, pink." His next question getting a rather bright smile to appear on her face as she nodded once more, her hand slowly running along over her stomach. "Mmhmm...From what the doctor can tell, she is a perfectly healthy baby girl who is due in three months."

To be quite honest, she had not been sure how he would react to this. She had never gone through the process of having to tell somebody if they were having a girl or a boy, but from what she had seen on tv and stuff and from what she had heard at the doctor's office from other expectant mothers...usually the men wanted sons...So yeah, when she had found out that she was carrying a little girl, she had been kind of nervous in telling him.

What if he wanted a son? What if he wasn't happy like she was about finding out it was a girl? What if he got upset like some of those women said men tended to do? She honestly didn't know, but it wasn't like she could change it either. They were going to be having a little girl and that was all there was to that. Yet as she stood there looking at him, that questioning smile curling onto his lips, she could not help but think he was happy.

Even as she had sat and listened to all those other women talk about the bad reactions they had gotten, she couldn't help but think that Patrick was different. He wasn't like those guys and he wouldn't care if they were having a boy or a girl, so long as it was healthy and Kaz herself was okay afterwards. Though, she supposed now was the time to put that theory to the test.

A single step forward taken as she would reach out and lightly brush her hand against his cheek, that smile so bright and peaceful, like a calmness had come over her while he was away that had not been there before. It was a strange thing, knowing that you were pregnant and then finding out that you were having a daughter...it changed your view on things and it made her that much more aware of the life that grew inside her. No longer was it just a baby, but it was their daughter...one whom they would soon be picking out names for and who she had already bought a couple outfits for. Everything was just that much more real, at least in her mind.

"What do you think?" Nervously swallowing past the lump that had formed in her throat. Not sure what else to say other than to ask him that and hope for the best...not able to fully press up to him due to the fact that her belly now got in the way, but maintaining that soft, loving brush of her fingers along his cheek as she waited for some kind of response from him.

[Legion]

Yeah, pink was definitely a girl's color, well maybe not every girl's color, but as an infant it was the generic color. Patrick turned to hear that giggle as he asked the question of color. Yeah, it was a girl. And when she nodded to confirm that Patrick's smile widened even more. Listening to her with a nod of his own as she told him what the doctor had said about their soon to be baby girl. He was first and foremost glad that the child was healthy, and glad that she was okay too.

As for having a girl? He didn't mind having a girl, it just scared him a little, or at least unsettled him. He didn't know what to do for that. I'm sure, boys he figured he could handle, he had been one, but girls? It would be a learning experience to say the very least. He didn't know the first thing about raising a girl, or a child for that matter, but like he had said, a boy would at least have the same package and a mind that he could understand. This? Now this was different. She was a different animal. He was excited, and he would love her, that much was certain.

Maybe a lot of it had to do with that fact that he still had a hard time imagining himself as a parent. He was only twenty one, and he didn't even have a high school degree yet. That and the fact that he now had a beautiful home, a beautiful girlfriend, with a child on the way. Things that he hadn't ever imagined himself having, even before the craziness. It just seemed like everything was panning out smooth for him, something that he loved, but like he had said had never expected to ever happen to him. Patrick always figured he'd die young. But he was glad that things were turning out this way.

Patrick smiled as she stepped forward reaching her hand up to brush his cheek. He beamed at her bright smile and her calmness he like to see her happy like this. As she asked him that question all he could do to answer was to smile and put a hand on her stomach, where their daughter grew and say, "I'm really happy Kazumi, and proud of our daughter, and of ye."

[Kazumi O'Connor]

Kazumi had to admit that she was a little scared herself. Sure, she was a girl and so raising a girl should be easy, but at the same time, all she could think of was the "what ifs" and how she really didn't want to be a bad Mother. Sure, Kevala had not been the best role model, but Mischa had been...though even now, thinking about her Mother caused her a great deal of pain. She had asked Mischa to help her and yet even after saying she would, the woman had been avoiding her like the plague.

For a girl who was as into family as Kazumi was, it had been very hard. Still, that was not something she needed to dwell on right now. No, she had more important things to think about, like the fact that his smile was growing as the realization started to set in that they were indeed going to be having a baby girl. No amount of words could describe how happy it made her, how relieved she was, to see that smile on his face and to see the look in his eyes that told her that he was just as happy to be having a girl as he would be to have a son.

As she stepped forward and pressed her hand to his cheek, she would tilt her head slightly, unable to help the blush that formed across her cheeks at the words he spoke. It meant a lot to her that he was proud of her, especially since if you had asked her eight months ago if she would be planning on having a child, redecorating a home and secretly wishing every day that her boyfriend would ask her to marry him...she would have told you that you were insane.

Yet here she was. She had a house that she loved, a boyfriend she wanted to spend the rest of her life with and a baby girl on the way who she already loved more than life itself. To be honest, nothing could have made her happier, well, nothing short of her family all being there for her and being happy for her.

As his hand fell to rest upon her stomach, she would allow her hand to fall from his cheek to rest atop of it, opening her mouth to say something when suddenly a sturdy little thud was felt beneath the area where his hand rested. Enough so that it caused her hand, which was on his, to move just a tiny bit and hard enough also that it caused her eyes to shoot down to where their hands rested upon her belly.

"Did you..." Another little kick felt, and then another, all of which were centered directly beneath his touch. A little giggle escaping her as she pressed his hand down into her stomach a bit more firmly. See, she had been feeling flutters here and there of the baby moving, but never had she been able to feel it from her hand on her stomach. This being the first official time the baby kicked..."Seems like somebody is excited that Daddy is home..." Her eyes bright and filled with happiness as she looked at him, curious now as to what he was thinking...completely forgetting what she had been about to say to him.

Another series of flutters and kicks as their child moved within her, always within range of his hand. The smile on Kazumi's face making it apparent that she was just as taken back and surprised by this as he likely was.