England Baby

When The World Shatters

Misaki blinked and watched Richard, narrowing her eyes suspiciously as he caught her eye. She didn't have to hide her emotions with him, he knew she hated him. And she had every right to be suspicious, as he'd given her every right to be. When she'd visited England a few years back, before she'd become betrothed to Usui, she'd merely been his girlfriend of three years. Now, back then, Richard had of course been wary of his grandson's city girl love, but he had made no attempt to stop everyone welcoming her. He'd raised his eyebrows and nodded in her direction.

"It's nice to meet you, Miss Ayuzawa." He'd offered her a tight smile and opened the door.

"Ayuzawa." Richard's voice broke through her reverie and she suddenly realised that she saw the resemblance between Usui and Richard. Not that she liked to admit it, but Richard was practically just a grouchy old version of Usui. She laughed as she internally prayed that when they were older, he wouldn't end up like Richard.

"Misa?" It was only then that she realised she'd laughed aloud.

"Oh, sorry."

"See, she's useless, always daydreaming. The little brat," Richard snarled.

"Well, excuse me for having an imagination! It's just too bad it was wasted on thinking about how much of a rich snob you are!" Okay... So she couldn't keep her mouth shut.

"Watch the temper," Usui whispered in her ear. But what fired her up more was the fact that he sounded partially amused.

"You might want to keep her on a leash Takumi, or on a plane back to Japan she goes."

"I am done talking to you." Misaki made an attempt to walk away but Usui caught her arm. She looked into his eyes. They were pleading, almost authoritative. She knew what he meant. You can't leave me alone here. I know this might be selfish, but I need you with me. Please Misaki, for me. With a sharp inhale of breath, Misaki nodded slowly. "I am sorry for my actions earlier. Please, forgive me." She bit her tongue to stop any further insults.

"Jeez. You better get some discipline while you're here girl, else you'll be gone. Next plane out, I swear it." Richard huffed as Misaki flexed her fingers, feeling Usui intertwine his fingers with her's as if to say, Thank you.

"So, what did you need Richard?" Misaki asked gently.

"Tonight, after supper, come into my office. I need to talk to you." And with that demand, he stalked off.

"I can breathe," Misaki let out a long breath and turned to Usui. "I think I've lost my appetite for this crepe." She binned the crepe remainders and Usui followed suit. She turned around and he wrapped his arms around her waist dipping his head to rest his forehead in the crook of her neck. He swayed her side to side gently, not saying a word. They stayed like this for a few minutes and Misaki closed her eyes as her forehead rested on his shoulder, breathing in his scent. The children running past, the couples on the benches, the barking dogs and squeaking of wheelchairs, all was lost to them as they stood in each other's embrace. It was so silent. So peaceful. He kissed her cheek and left his lips there to linger for a moment before he pulled back, cupping her face in his hands, his thumbs feathering over her cheeks.

"Do you know what he wants to talk to you about?" He asked softly. She had to stop herself from biting her lip. She didn't know what Richard wanted, but she knew what he'd want to know. What everyone should've known.

"Not at all," She gave a careful smile and rolled her eyes. "Who knows what it'll be with that man?" She joked. He took her hand and they started to walk down the street again.

"I guess we'll find out."

~o~

Supper was undeniably awkward, sat in silence with Richard's eyes burning into the side of her head. When the maids came to take her plate away, Misaki's stomach churned. Richard stood up.

"Come with me girl," He said gruffly and Misaki shot a look towards Usui who stood with her and kissed her forehead.

"You'll be fine. I love you." He squeezed her hand and she gave a curt nod and followed Richard. She followed him out of the dining room door, down the hallway, up two staircases and into the room at the far left end of the hall. He sat down behind the big mahogany desk and lit a cigar as she stood silently in the doorway. "Sit down." He demanded. "And close the door." She did as she was told and closed the door, the click of the closing door the only sound in the ever quiet room. She sat in front of the desk in a brown leather chair and crossed her hands in her lap.

"Why am I here?" She asked.

"Don't talk when you haven't been asked girl," He snapped, blowing a puff of smoke from his cigar. She bit her tongue and her hands tightened involuntarily in her lap. Richard opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a silver case. He spun it around on the desktop and clicked both sides open, flipping the top up. Inside sat stacks upon stacks of thousand yen bills. Misaki's mouth fell agape. "Does this look enough for you?"

"W-what are you saying?" Not only was anger bubbling up inside her, yet a strange sense of deja vu filled her. This had happened once. With Igarashi Tora. She stood abruptly, enraged. "Are you trying to ride me off with money!?" She nearly yelled. His eyes glazed over lazily as if he couldn't be bothered. In his mind she was probably meant to just agree and be gone.

"Is this not enough? Perhaps you'll need another case." He lowered his arm to grab another case and Misaki took a step back.

"Don't even pull that out, it's not worth it. I'm not leaving." She hissed.

"Maybe you don't get it. You're leaving whether you like it or not. Just think of the money as a bonus."

"No way. I'm not leaving."

"Give me a good reason then," He tapped his cigar end into his ashtray and then smushed it to a ball. Misaki's eyes went wide. She couldn't believe it. Hadn't he been the one to say if she stepped out of line she'd be out? What had she done? Why was he so insistent on destroying not only her happiness but his own grandson's happiness too?

"A good reason!? Because I love Takumi! I'm engaged to him for Pete's sake!"

"For the money, yes?"

"No! I may be poor but do I really look like the kind of person who would stoop so low? I wouldn't care if he had nothing more than a dollar, I'd still love him more than anything!" Richard clenched his teeth together, an action that didn't go unnoticed by Misaki. She was pushing him over the edge, every word she spoke was whittling down his tether.

"Loving someone isn't a good reason. Love is fake, it doesn't exist. Give me another reason."

"Maybe that's just because no one loves you!" She knew she'd been a little harsh but it needed to be said. She'd defend herself in any way possible. She'd defend her love. Richard tapped his fingers along the dusty surface of the desk and looked up at her.

"Watch your mouth girl," He warned.

"Why? Because I need you to like me!? Bullshit. I don't need you to approve of me in order for me to love Takumi. That's absurd!" She spat. Without Usui there to calm her, her temper could never be drowned out. She'd become a raging wild fire.

"I tell you girl, give me one good reason for you to stay. Change my mind. You have ten seconds." He held up his fingers and slowly, one by one, took them down as the seconds vanished. With two seconds to go, Misaki took a deep breath.

"Because I'm pregnant!" She whispered. The room fell into a shattering silence that no one wanted to break. She watched as Richard sat, unfazed by her answer. It was only when the door clicked open behind her that she winced. And in came her knight in shining amour.

~o~

"Onee-chan?" Misaki rubbed her eyes and looked over at her sister who stood in the open doorway, seven years of age, hugging her pillow to her chest. The thunder rumbled outside and a flash of bright white light illuminated Misaki's room as Suzuna jumped somewhat.

"What is it Suzu? It's late," Misaki mumbled as Suzuna walked forward and stood in front of her bed.

"Can I- Can I sleep with you? I'm afraid of the thunder." Misaki understood, she'd never really liked the thunder either. She nodded and rolled to the opposite side of the wall to give Suzuna room. When Suzuna settled under the blankets, she laid on her side and watched Misaki as she stared at the roof. "Onee-chan?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think that, maybe one day, Onee-chan will have a baby?" Misaki turned to look at her sister tiredly. It was a strange question for a nine year old to answer to be honest, even stranger for it to be her younger sister to be asking. But that was Suzuna, she'd grown to expect questions like this.

"I don't know. Probably not. I don't like guys. They are all horrible heartbreaking bullies." She nodded as if to confirm her point and she watched as Suzuna smiled.

"I hope you have a baby Onee-chan, then I'll be an aunt. Wouldn't that be cool?"

"Well, what about you Suzu? Do you want a child?" Suzuna thought about it for a minute.

"Yup." Well, that was straight forward.

Misaki had spent her whole life remembering that conversation at random intervals and now it was true. She'd found someone who was the exact opposite of her description and she was pregnant. She turned to face Usui and her hands fell limp at her sides.

"You're pregnant?" He asked, swallowing loudly. Misaki set her eyes on the wooden floor. Some silences are never meant to be broken, and she wished this one hadn't been. She opened her mouth to speak and turned to Richard.

"You're have to excuse me," She bit through gritted teeth. And with that, she grabbed Usui's hand and pulled him out of the room, slamming the door behind them. She kept walking and pulling him along until they reached their secret garden and she turned to him just inside the gateway. She took a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm pregnant." There, it was done. She'd said it, confirmed it, she'd done it all.

"How long have you known?" He asked.

"A couple days." She murmured in return. What surprised her was that he knelt down and place his hands on her stomach. She blinked and then her face flushed. "W-what are you-?" He pressed his lips against her stomach.

"Hello baby," He whispered. She bit her lip and let out a laugh. He looked up. "What?" He grinned a lopsided grin as she knelt down beside him and threw her arms around his neck.

"No," She shook her head. "It's nothing. You're just cute," She laughed and pulled back to press a kiss to his lips. "Thank you."

"What for?" He murmured.

"You're not angry. You're taking this so well. So thank you," He shook his head.

"No, thank you," She raised her eyebrows. "You're giving me the chance to be a father." He smiled.

"I just wish your grandfather felt the same way."

"What were you two talking about in their anyway?" She bit her lip. "Misa,"

"You remember that time that Tora offered me money to come to Miyabigaoka?" He nodded. "Well, it was sort of like that, but to get rid of me." Usui shook his head in disgust and held her closer.

"I can't believe him. Come, get your things," He pulled her to her feet and she blinked in confusion.

"What?"

"We're leaving." He explained as they headed out of the garden, Misaki in a daze.

Okay you guys so I'm so sorry that it took this long to put it up and I know that it's a little shorter than usual but I'm going to start the next chapter straight away. Promise! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed and I'll let your imagination run wild for a day or so. Until next time!

Xx SweetsPrincess-Sama