Here is the epilogue~!

I want to thank everyone who read this story so far and for your support. You have no idea how grateful I am to you all for reading my story and hopefully, you liked it as much as I enjoyed writing it! :)

Thank you! :D

FANFICTION

HAIKYUU! : QUIET VOICE

CHAPTER LIVX : Epilogue

"When you find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will stand in front of you when others cast stones, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who will hold your hand when you're sick, who thinks you're pretty without makeup, the one who turns to his friends and say, 'that's her', the one that would bear your rejection because losing you means losing his will to live, who kisses you when you screw up, watches the stars and names one for you and will hold and rock that baby for hours so you can sleep… you marry him all over again."

― Shannon L. Alder

"You are my best friend as well as my lover, and I do not know which side of you I enjoy the most. I treasure each side, just as I have treasured our life together."

― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

"However motherhood comes to you, it's a miracle."

― Valerie Harper

"Happiness is only real when shared."

― Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

"We don't realize what a privilege it is to grow old with someone."

— Cecelia Ahern, P.S. I Love You

"What are the chances that the universe gives a second chance at someone as rare and wonderful as you…?"

— Ranata Suzuki

"You learned to laugh before you learned to talk."

— Anonymous

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

― Albert Einstein

"Believe in your heart that you're meant to live a life full of passion, purpose, magic and miracles."

― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

"Miracles were just second chances if you really thought about it-second chances when all hope was lost."

― Kaya McLaren, How I Came to Sparkle Again

"Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark."

― Pierce Brown, Golden Son

"In a child's eyes, a mother is a goddess. She can be glorious or terrible, benevolent or filled with wrath, but she commands love either way. I am convinced that this is the greatest power in the universe."

― N.K. Jemisin, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

"I don't remember who said this, but there really are places in the heart you don't even know exist until you love a child."

― Anne Lamott, Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year

Hajime put a huge bag in the car boot. He counted the bags, making sure everything was there, then closed the boot and turned around to go back into the house.

He went into the living-room but was surprised to see no one. He looked around then sighed:

"Atsushi!" He called, "Where are you hiding?"

He went into his son's bedroom, but he wasn't there. So, he went directly into his and Kiku's bedroom, where Atsushi usually hid. Hajime opened the wardrobe door and pushed away all the clothes hanging, crouching down.

"Hey, buddy, what are you doing here?" He asked with a smile.

His son, curled up and hidden all the way in the back, looked up at him, hugging his Godzilla plushy even tighter.

"I don't want to go…" He murmured, voice trembling a little.

Hajime's smile wavered a little but he forced his smile to stay on.

"Why not? You're going to spend the summer holiday with all your uncles and aunts, and there'll be Hoshiko, and Hideyoshi, and Nadeshiko… and everyone else. It's gonna be fun, right?"

"But you and mommy won't be here…"

Hajime couldn't keep his smile on and let it disappear. He looked down very quickly before reaching to grab his son, easily lifting him up and slowly carrying him downstairs.

"I want to see mommy…" Atsushi murmured, pulling at Hajime's collar with his tiny hand.

"You can't see mommy for now, minizilla, we talked about this…" He answered, looking straight ahead.

Atsushi didn't answer, hiding his face in his shoulder until Hajime settled him into his seat in the car, checking twice that he was well attached. He locked the house, checked the bags one last time, then drove off. Atsushi was a quiet child so with only the two of them, the journey was peaceful.

Hajime looked at Atsushi through the mirror, and saw him looking out the window at the landscape going by. Dark hair and dark eyes, the same spiky hair for all the Iwaizumi males, everyone's first reaction when seeing Atsushi and Hajime was that he looked just like his father.

Hajime glanced at his wedding ring, on his left hand, and on the hour or so of journey to get to the Bokuto summer household, he couldn't help but let melancholy hit him.

On his second year of Biology, he decided to move to Tokyo and continue his studies there. Partly because studying and practicing away from the rest of the National team was getting difficult, partly because he was content with his progress as an individual spiker, and mostly because he missed Kiku so much. This spring, they moved into an apartment together, like most of their friends did with their respective girlfriends. Nothing changed between Hajime and Kiku except that they could spend all their time together and got to spend every night with one another. After being apart for a year, after all their promises, and now living together, there was the quiet promise that someday, they'd become more than just a couple. But they kept their wishes and dreams of future in a quiet corner of their minds even if every once in a while, Bokuto and his Ayaka would enthusiastically talk about everyone's weddings and everyone's children; even if Oikawa and his Shiori decided to get married after only a year together… but it was there, they knew it and didn't need to talk about it.

"When are you going to ask Kiku to marry you?" Oikawa asked someday when they were hanging out just the two of them.

"Eh? Where did that come from?" Iwaizumi answered, frowning.

Oikawa put down the magazine he was reading and rolled on his side to look at him.

"You two have been together since high-school! Don't you think it's time you get serious?"

"We live together, and we don't need to be married to prove we are serious; we have been since high-school." He answered with a shrug.

"Right…" Oikawa said, sounding strange – it wasn't doubtful but it was enough to get Iwaizumi to raise his eyebrow curiously.

"You know something?" He asked, "Until now you've miraculously kept your nose out of Kiku and I's relationship, well you have kept your nose out of it since we ended high-school. Why do you ask that so suddenly?"

"Well…"

Oikawa glanced away and tapped the floor he was laying on with his fingers. The golden ring on his left hand shone under the sun, reminding Iwaizumi that as flashy and childish as he could be… Oikawa had been the first one getting married with Shiori. Well, if Bokuto didn't have to wait for Ayaka to finish her studies, these two would have been married since high-school…

"Shiori told me something that Kiku told her, which I'm not supposed to know and even less share but– she did a pregnancy test."

Hajime's heart sped up, suddenly overjoyed and excited and feeling all giddy.

"It turned out negative," Oikawa added, "but it got Kiku-chan worried about every future plan you two might have. She said that she didn't understand why you were waiting so long to talk about marriage and babies when you both want it and you know how she is – her fears were starting to resurface again. So I thought I might need to kick your butt to get you to marry her before she really freaks out."

Hajime couldn't help but feel disappointment – that the pregnancy test had turned out negative and that Kiku still thought he wasn't fully committed to her. But he could understand why she'd think so, with her past. Even more so that he had thought himself that she wasn't ready for marriage and children because she wasn't talking about it. They had been both waiting for the other to make a move.

"Also, Bottan is preparing to ask Ayaka! She's almost finished with her studies now! And I know that Kuroo is planning on asking Akane, even though he admitted himself that he had the idea very suddenly and he has no idea on how to do it or whether Akane wants a marriage or not. Ushiwaka and Hanako are practically engaged, as soon as his evil grandma gives them room to breathe! You're gonna be the last one if you don't hurry up and marry Kiku-chan!"

"…Akaashi isn't planning on asking Addie either." He remarked.

"Akaashi is a year younger than us and Addie is two years younger than him, they're babies! And believe me, they're not gonna wait long once Bokuto is married! Bottan will probably be the one to ask Addie in marriage for Akaashi if he doesn't hurry up to do it himself!" Oikawa exclaimed with a shake of his head.

"They have been dating for three years, which is more than you waited for before marrying Shiori."

"Which gets us back to my initial point: what are you waiting for, Iwa-chan?" Oikawa asked again, not giving up.

Iwaizumi didn't answer, looking thoughtful. Oikawa started worrying and gasped:

"Wait! You're not thinking of ending things with Kiku-chan, right?!"

"NO, I'm not! I'm just thinking… that I have thought about asking her…"

"But you didn't have the balls for it, uh?"

Iwaizumi grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at Oikawa who fell down with a dramatic cry.

"I talked with her father when we went back in Miyagi for Christmas! We talked about it! And he gave me his blessing!" Iwaizumi exclaimed, flushing a little.

Oikawa shot up from the ground, throwing the pillow back at Iwaizumi who avoided it.

"THEN! You are getting married! Do you have the ring yet?! Can I see it?! Do you know how and when you'll propose?! What sort of romantic setting do you want? Do you need my advice and–"

"NO! Please! Stay out of this! I know you're trying to help, but–"

"Could it be you're waiting for her birthday?! What a wonderful gift!" Oikawa exclaimed, realizing that Kiku's birthday was right around the corner.

Iwaizumi rolled his eyes before answering:

"I haven't thought about the specifics! I haven't found a ring yet! Nothing feels right!"

"We'll have to ask Micchan to help us organize the wedding!"

"It's my wedding, not yours! You already got one! And don't tell Mio anything! Tendou can't keep his mouth shut!"

"I won't, I won't!"

"You'd better not!"

It was a blessing, or a curse, for everyone that Tendou's 'fiancée', Miyamoto Mio, was a wedding planner – it was the Miyamoto family business. But it also meant that Mio was trying to get everyone to get married as soon as possible, usually teasing and embarrassing all the couples – recently, Kuroo had snapped telling Tendou and Mio to just get married already. They had blinked and blushed but without missing a beat, Tendou had gotten on one knee, pulled out a ring and asked for her hand. They still didn't know if he had been expecting someone telling them that and he had planned it all ahead of time, but it was funny and sort of romantic. She said yes, obviously. Though, she had also slapped the back of his head for doing it in front of everyone.

Unfortunately for Hajime, it was too much asking Oikawa to keep his excitement and impatience in check. Though, he did manage to wait three days before telling Shiori, who told Ushiwaka, who told Tendou, who told Mio, who then called Iwaizumi. He wasn't even surprised that she knew and was asking him what he was planning on doing, but she didn't seem to know that he and Kiku weren't engaged yet – he was just glad that Kiku was in the bath and hadn't been the one answering to this phone call or it would have been embarrassing to explain. After some awkward stammering, he managed to explain everything to Mio, who calmed down enough to give him some addresses for wedding rings. She was definitely expecting him to make a move soon.

For some reason (the reason being called Oikawa Tooru), Bokuto, Kuroo and Akaashi soon congratulated him and Kiku. She was usually very confused as to why she was being congratulated, but with some frightening recoveries, Iwaizumi always managed to save the situation. Then, when their former teammates of Aoba Jousai sent "congratulation for your engagement" cards, Iwaizumi had to wait everyday for the mail to make sure Kiku wouldn't be the one to get the mail and see that.

"Iwa-chan! It's terrible!" Oikawa exclaimed someday when he arrived at practice.

"You found out that E.T. isn't real?" Iwaizumi mumbled without looking up from his phone.

"You are such a– NO! Kiku-chan thinks you're cheating on her!"

Iwaizumi froze and everyone turned around as he looked up, clenching his phone so hard that he was close to breaking it.

"What have you done?" He hissed, glaring at his friend.

"I haven't done anything!" He exclaimed, offended to be accused, "It's your weird behavior lately! Always being awkward and jumpy and trying to hide things from her! She told Shiori who told me!"

"You are such a–"

Iwaizumi was close to actually strangle Oikawa, but he took deep breaths to calm down. Then he pointed a finger at Oikawa who startled, stepping away.

"You. You'd better not say anything else to anyone else. I wouldn't have to hide anything if it weren't for you getting ideas into everyone's heads and then everyone spreading rumors that we were getting married! My parents called me last night to congratulate me – they had heard from Kiku's parents! How did they find out?! Did they tell her?! I don't even know!" He exclaimed in panic, shaking his hair.

"You wouldn't be here if you had asked her hand already!"

"You're going to get my fist in your face and your wife won't even recognize you if you continue!" Iwaizumi threatened.

"All right, calm down, everyone!" Bokuto exclaimed, "I'm sure everything will be fine – Kiku-chan will understand, she knows Oikawa, after all!"

"Why am I getting accused of being at fault in this story?! I'm just trying to get Iwa-chan to marry the woman he loves!" He exclaimed, hands on his heart.

"And now she thinks he's cheating on her. You're doing a great job at that." Kuroo mocked.

Oikawa's lips trembled but then Iwaizumi intervened:

"Nevermind! It doesn't matter anyway! I'll have to talk with Kiku about that eventually!"

The others didn't say anything when they noticed how nervous and annoyed he was. Oikawa did try to apologize but was royally ignored for the entire practice.

When Hajime went home that day, exhausted, more from the constant rummaging than the practice, he didn't expect Kiku to be waiting for him in the living-room with the look. The look that said 'we need to talk, sit' and didn't leave any choice. Without a word, but pouting, he went to sit next to her and she spoke up:

"I… believe you're hiding something from me, Hajime. For a while, I was thinking you were having an affair."

"I'm not! I swear! I only love you but – wait, for a while? It means… you don't think that anymore then?" He realized, panic then relief hitting him in waves.

"No, because I trust you," she said with a smile.

"Kiku…" He whispered, about to reveal everything to her and ask her hand right here and now.

"But… I wanted to do some laundry and I found… all that. And I think we need to talk about it, Hajime."

She took out the congratulation cards he had hidden – he had been in a hurry this morning and had just put them in his jacket's pockets. He closed his eyes, biting on his lower lip as she continued:

"I thought it was a joke – it wouldn't be surprising with our friends… but then, I also found… a ring…"

She pulled out the ring he had bought just the previous day and put it on the table. He had come home late because he had been looking for a ring once again, but no shop had anything satisfying. Then, because he went through a tiny street he didn't usually go through unless he had to hurry, he found a tiny antiquities shop. It had a box with several rings on display. He saw one, golden with a sapphire on top and immediately thought it was perfect for Kiku. It was old, not perfect, but it was still beautiful – like his Kiku. He wasn't even certain he'd use this ring to ask her hand but…

"I'm sorry, I should have talked to you about it before but… I just didn't know how to start the topic so suddenly…" He explained, avoiding looking at her directly.

He turned to her and took her hands in his, edging closer. She blushed and her eyes sparkled, both feeling the excitement of what was happening filling the air with something magical. Smiling, Hajime continued:

"You are the love of my life and I have been thinking about asking you to do me the honor of marrying me for a while, but I couldn't find a ring and then I found this one yesterday, in an antiquities shop and I just– I mean, you might want a new ring, and I'd understand, and if you want this ring… or not– I mean, you could… we could… we… I… um…"

He blushed at his stammering and she chuckled, but before she could say anything, he grabbed his courage in two hands and spoke up, looking into her eyes:

"Will you… marry me?" He asked softly, in the voice and with the gaze he used only with her.

Kiku smiled brightly, a joyful chuckle escaping her lips, her eyes filling with happy tears. Then she grabbed his cheeks and kissed him, a short but tender kiss before pulling away to answer:

"Yes! Of course, I will! And this ring is beautiful and perfect! I love it! As much as I love you!"

She kissed him again and he was too stunned by the proposal and her positive answer to react- but then he kissed he passionately, happily and when he pushed the ring on her left finger, the proof they were engaged and would soon get to the next step of their life together, he carried her to the bedroom and made sweet love to her for hours.

Cuddling while she was admiring the ring in the mid-darkness, Kiku turned around, pressing her body against his.

"I'm so happy, Hajime." She whispered against his chest.

"Me too, cupcake… I'm the happiest man alive!" He answered, chuckling and kissing her forehead.

She chuckled then went quiet, then he felt her lips tilt up in amusement against his skin. She moved to look into his eyes, her messy her falling around.

"So… which one of our friends do I have to thank to get you to finally make a move?" She asked knowingly.

He made a face and blushed, but she laughed and kissed his nose. She knew him too well.

Their wedding was soon after. It was small, with just families and friends. But it was the most beautiful day of their lives.

"So, when are you going to announce we're going to become grandparents?" Nanami asked at some family reunion a few months after their wedding.

"At long last! You waited so long to get married, don't wait too long to try for babies as well!" Umeko added.

"Two of your friends are parents of twins already, right?" Shouta continued.

Hajime and Kiku flushed in embarrassment, avoiding looking at their parents with awkward smiles. No matter how many years went by, they were still shy in front of them.

"We… well, we haven't really tried yet. We just moved into the house and there are plenty of things to do still so…" Kiku explained before taking a sip of her drink.

"How is the painting going?" Takashi asked, turning towards Hajime as the men started talking about the different troubles the newly married couple had had to take care of when they had moved into their new house.

"Tooru-chan and Shiori-chan moved right in front of your house, right? It's nice you can be neighbors!" Umeko continued, turning towards her daughter-in-law.

"Yes, but Hajime wasn't thrilled about it at first… Tooru and Shiori did surprise us by moving in front of our house without asking our opinion beforehand," she answered, remembering in amusement Hajime's annoyance when his best friend showed up as their new neighbor.

"I can imagine! But these two can't be apart!" Umeko exclaimed with a laugh.

The conversation became background noise for Kiku who looked out the window.

Hajime glanced at her and noticed her far-away look. He took her hand in his, but she barely reacted to it, and he didn't say a thing, continuing to listen to his father, and father-in-law's advices.

"I think I should see the doctor." Kiku said on their way back to Tokyo after this family reunion.

Hajime glanced at her very quickly, before focusing back on the road:

"You're feeling sick? You've been off for a few days, especially today. I was giving you space because I thought you were just tired but…"

"…I'm… I'm okay, I think. I don't know. I just… I need to see the doctor…" She said in a hushed voice.

"Why? If you're feeling okay there's no need – if you're telling that, then there's a specific reason!" He exclaimed, not realizing he had raised his voice.

When she didn't answer, he took a deep breath to calm down before speaking up again:

"You know you can talk to me, cupcake. I'm with you through everything. You know that, right?"

There was a moment of silence when he glanced at her occasionally until she finally felt like talking:

"…We've been trying… for almost two years now, Hajime…" Kiku said, turning to him with a sad expression.

"…We've been actively trying for only six months or so, since the wedding. This sort of things takes time, it's normal, Kiku." He answered, now understanding why she felt so off.

The moment Kiku started working at a law firm specialized in child-care and adoption, like she had wanted to, because their lives were stable and they both had jobs, they had talked about babies. They weren't married yet and hadn't talked about wedding yet but they knew they wanted a child and with their lives being good, there was no need to be as careful as they used to be. They weren't actively trying to have a child, but an accident wouldn't have been a problem. That was what they used to think. Hajime actually was the one to mention the topic first – when he brought back a Godzilla pajama for baby. They didn't need to buy such a thing, but it was a way to tell her he was ready, and she answered by buying a parrot plushy. Then, once married, they decided they wanted their family. At first Kiku didn't get pregnant and remained positive, but then Ayaka got pregnant, and Akane was also pregnant, both with twins and over the months, every time Kiku thought she might have some symptom of pregnancy, it turned out to be a false hope. She hadn't said it was bothering her yet, but with their families and friends (mostly Oikawa who wanted Shiori and Kiku to have children around the same time so they could be raised together like he and Iwa-chan had been) urging them to have children…

"Ayaka got pregnant right after her wedding–"

"The amount of sex Bokuto and Ayaka have isn't physically achievable – these two aren't normal, they're not a reference!"

"Akane wasn't even trying to get pregnant!"

"She is– you know how she and Kuroo are! Once again, not a reference!"

"Shiori is starting to get impatient and–"

"It's our family! Not theirs! Stop comparing yourself to others and their ~accomplishments~! If Oikawa and Shiori decide to have some baby alien, then they don't need to wait for us! We'll take the time it needs and that's it!"

Kiku turned her head away, breathing heavily. He clicked is tongue, realizing he had only screamed instead of reassuring her. He reached for her hand but couldn't get it so he squeezed her thigh.

"We'll have our family too, cupcake. It just needs some more time than others. It's okay."

"What if there's something wrong with me?" She asked, voice strangled by the tears she was holding back.

"There's nothing wrong with you. Maybe I'm the one who has something wrong."

"Don't say that–"

"Then stop saying there's something wrong with you!"

There was silence again and this time, Kiku was the one to reach for his hand, squeezing it, seeking and giving comfort.

"I'll go to the doctor," she decided.

"…I'll go with you, then," he answered.

She glanced at him, eyes teary and she nodded. Their fingers entwined, the rest of their journey was quiet.

Some time later, they were receiving the results of the various tests they had been asked to do by the doctor to find out why they couldn't have a child.

"I'm sorry but it appears you are infertile, Iwaizumi-san," the doctor said darkly, looking at Kiku.

She opened and closed her lips but didn't seem surprised, just shaken up. Hajime turned to her, then back at the doctor, then back at Kiku. And he grabbed her hand. She remained calm but her grip on his hand was so tight he could tell she desperately needed it to not break.

"After the various tests you and your husband did, we found out that you may be infertile."

"May be?" Hajime repeated.

"Various small factors have had a consequence on your wife's fertility – mostly her medical past… Heavy medication, depression, stress and anxiety are all factors that increase the risk of infertility. Some other unknown factors might have increased the consequences."

"B-but…"

Hajime turned towards Kiku once again. She was looking outside the window, and didn't seem to be here. He squeezed her hand but she didn't react. He knew that her past was still haunting her at times and now knowing that it had a direct consequence in their family…

"I-isn't there a way…?" He asked the doctor.

"It's not impossible for you to have a child if you keep trying, but it might take some time. Of course, there are other ways to increase fertility and make it easier for you."

The doctor kept talking but Kiku didn't listen, his words didn't mean a thing anymore. She was… strangely calm and quiet. Her heart was breaking but it was far from the terrible storm she usually felt when she broke down.

Kiku didn't say a thing until they went home. She had only followed Hajime around without looking. He was worried for her, but he was also too shaken up by the news to think clearly. They wouldn't have a child? Not soon if they were lucky? What… whatever the doctor had said didn't seem to have made any sense. Pregnancy was possible but fertility was low? They… wouldn't have their family, after all?

Once in the house, Kiku went upstairs and locked herself up. Hajime followed and tapped at the door, but he only heard her sniffles and sobs through the door.

"Kiku… open the door for me… please…" He asked.

He knew she was safe and wouldn't do anything stupid but… he wanted to be with her. And he wanted her to be with him too…

Knowing she wouldn't open until she felt ready, he turned around to go downstairs, not sure of what he'll do… He slowed down when he arrived past the closed bedroom. He hesitated before opening it and entered the bedroom that was supposed to become their baby's bedroom. The walls were already painted light green with little animals. There was a bed already. And there were plenty of baby clothes and plushies.

He started shaking and felt tears fill his eyes. He wasn't sure why but he felt guilty and ashamed, like a failure – and yet, how did Kiku feel? Knowing she was… knowing it was her past that might have caused it all.

Hajime left the baby's bedroom, feeling sick and angry and sad. Angry at the world and all the people who had forced Kiku to go through all this misery that led to her infertility… They couldn't be happy, not truly. All because the past kept catching up to them.

Kiku came back downstairs, eyes red from crying, and found Hajime in the living-room. He was looking at the medical papers, as if rereading them again and again might help him find a solution. The family photo album was also opened, to the page right after their wedding pictures, where the… baby pictures should have been. It was Hajime's decision, to keep some room for the baby pictures. It was Hajime's decision to half-try for a baby even before they were married. It was Hajime's decision to choose a house with the thought of children, and it was his decision to start painting and decorating the baby's bedroom.

He wanted to be a father. But she couldn't give it to him. After everything he had given her, she couldn't even allow him to be a father.

Hajime looked up and saw her standing there. Before he could speak up though, she approached and sat next to him. They stared at each other, silent and sad, and not knowing what to do or say.

"I…" Kiku started shakily, "Hajime, I would understand if… despite everything, you would prefer… if you would try to have a family with someone else."

"What… what are you talking about?" He whispered.

She looked away, her fingers nervously rummaging with her wedding ring.

"I-I'm saying that if you want a divorce and want to be with someone who can give you a… a child, I would understand. I want your happiness before anything else and you can't be fully happy without a family…"

"Kiku, stop it… I'm not… I can't live without you, you're my wife and the love of my life…" He murmured, taking her hands in his and forcing her to look back at him, "I don't care about having children, as long as we're together and we're happy, I'm okay! We can still be a family – just you and me, and the pets, and maybe in the future we could adopt… we always said we'd adopt someday anyway. It'll just be… a little different from what we had imagined. But…"

He shook his head then leaned his forehead against hers, green eyes diving into blue ones:

"But… don't leave me… please… I need you, I love you… with or without a child…"

More tears filled her eyes and she lowered her head, shoulders shaking.

"I… I'm sorry…" She breathed.

He shook his head and pulled her to his chest. That was when she broke down, sobbing and holding onto him desperately, his shirt getting wet from her tears.

"I'm sorry…! I'm so sorry…!" She kept repeating.

"Ssshh… it's okay… I love you, I'm not leaving you… don't be sorry, my love…" He kept telling her.

For a few days, Kiku was completely off to the point she needed to be back on medication. The worst part was that every time she took a pill, even though knowing it was necessary to keep functioning, it lowered a little more her fertility. The doctor had said pregnancy was possible but the possibility was low. Maybe someday, if they were lucky, in many years, but the family they had started to think of, to imagine now felt like a faraway dream. Something out of reach and impossible to get. Ever.

From the beginning of their relationship they had always thought they'd have one child or two, and adopt one or two later. They could still adopt but… it almost felt wrong. It might be selfish but both Kiku and Hajime wanted their own child, created from their love, rather than take in another child who needed love. Even if some of her friends might disagree, Kiku wanted to go through the pregnancy no matter how painful and difficult it might be.

They didn't talk about this matter for a few days, that turned into a few weeks. The papers from the doctor were resting on a pile, in a dark corner they didn't look at. When Kiku started feeling a little better, Hajime tried to get them back in their usual routine of work and practice and cooking together and spending amazing nights together. It was almost the same as before. Almost. But something was gone, mostly because now whenever they made love, it wasn't with the spark of excitement thinking "is it going to be the time we'll conceive our baby?" because they knew it wouldn't happen.

Hajime hated that, almost as much as Kiku, but the distance grew between them. Just a little, but it was enough. And because of this distance, they talked a little more about the infertility problem. Not like they could find any solution, there wasn't any. Then, because their families and friends kept harassing them for babies they considered telling them. Eventually, they'll have to. But it was difficult. Just thinking of telling them something was wrong and they couldn't have a family… they could already feel the pity from their friends, the sadness and they hated that before it even happened. So they waited a little longer…

One day, Hajime was all alone at home. Kiku was at work, which must have been even more difficult for her considering she was always dealing with children, but she was feeling better enough to not need medication to go on. There was no practice today and it wasn't much of a surprise when the door suddenly opened and Oikawa's chirpy voice resonated:

"Iwa-chan! Iwa-chan, Iwa-chan!" He exclaimed excitedly.

Hajime stood up when his friend arrived running, a huge grin on his smile. There was something weird, he was always sparkly but that happy was unusual.

"What is it?" He asked curiously.

"Iwa-chan! I'm so happy if you knew!" Oikawa exclaimed, grabbing his shoulders suddenly.

"What is it, then? Just say it!" Iwaizumi exclaimed, unable to hold back his smile by his friend's enthusiastic.

Oikawa jumped up and down, then tried to calm down to talk and took a deep breath:

"Okay! So, I know that Shiori and I had decided to wait for you and Kiku-chan, but we were half-trying anyway and we didn't think it'd work right away and I wanted you to be the first one to know but… but!"

Hajime stared at him, raising an eyebrow to get him to talk. Oikawa's lips trembled in excitement, cheeks red as he blurted out:

"Shiori is pregnant! W-we're going to have a baby!" He exclaimed excitedly.

Hjime's smile wavered and dropped, his heart beating hollowly in his chest. He lowered his head and swallowed hard, which immediately got a reaction from Oikawa:

"H-hey… why do you look so gloomy?! I had thought you'd be happy for me! Shiori and I wanted this for a long time!"

The last few weeks which had almost been a relief, with almost no thinking about Kiku and his' family suddenly hit him in the gut. He had tried so hard to be strong for Kiku that he hadn't mourned the baby he'd never have. Not yet. And now that his best friend, who had wanted to raise their children together (and Hajime low-key wanted the same but would never admit it), would be a father soon when he couldn't…

Tears filled his eyes so suddenly Hajime couldn't control the sob that escaped his throat. He covered his mouth but then, his hands went over his entire face, his entire body shaking for the loss of what he never had.

"I-Iwa-chan… w-what's going on? Oi! What is it…?!" Oikawa exclaimed, grabbing him and starting to worry.

"W-we can't! Kiku and I! We can't have children!" He blabbered, suddenly sounding weak and weary.

Saying it outloud to someone else was like another hit and his legs wavered. Oikawa grabbed him and pulled him to the couch where Hajime cried and sobbed for a long time. Oikawa tried comforting him, his own heart hurting and trying to understand what had happened…

"Iwa-chan, what happened?" He asked as soon as his friend had calmed down.

"…We've been trying… for two years or so…" He admitted.

"Wha– and you never told me?!" Oikawa exclaimed.

"Because! The moment I would have told you, you and Shiori would have tried having a baby too and Kiku and I wanted to be certain it'd work easily for us!" He replied.

Oikawa startled guiltily, knowing it was right. The only reason why he and Shiori had waited these last two or three years was because they were waiting for Iwa-chan and Kiku-chan to try as well; perhaps they had had a feeling they might have difficulty having a child but then…

"How long have you known?" He asked in a calm, warm voice, trying to be as reassuring and comforting as he could.

"A few weeks ago, we received the results of medical tests we did… Kiku… Her condition isn't complete infertility, and the doctor said that lots of minor factors on both of our sides might be to blame, but… did you know that depression, anxiety, heavy medication… lowered fertility?"

Oikawa looked down, understanding that Kiku's past was yet again catching up to them, in the cruelest way.

Hajime had a bitter, short laugh.

"Fuck… we'll never be able to leave it all behind, are we…? W-we can't have babies… we can't have the family we've dreamt of… not the way we wanted it at least…" He whispered, gaze lost in a haze after breaking down.

Oikawa put his hand on his back.

"Is there really no way?" He asked.

"…Maybe someday, if we're lucky but… it's… I don't have much hope. After everything that happened, we won't suddenly get lucky, y'know…"

"I'm… I'm so sorry… Hajime I…"

"It's not your fault. It's no one's fault, even though… Kiku kept blaming herself…" He murmured, looking down.

Oikawa stared at him, pressing his hand a little stronger for comfort, but it felt like it would never be enough. He was so happy about having a child, at long last, he had busted the news without warning, without thinking of the consequences and he had, involuntarily, hurt his best friend… He couldn't even begin to imagine what it would be like – being told he couldn't have a baby with Shiori, their happiness cracked by this absence…

"I'm sorry I told you about Shiori without thinking and… I'm sorry I didn't understand earlier you were suffering. You were odd recently, both you and Kiku but… you two… you two are always so private and quiet, we can never understand what's really going with you… I always thought I understood you better than anyone – until Kiku showed up. And then, it was like you were a different person, thanks to love, and there was an entire side of you I didn't know or could understand… I-I should have known, or I should have told you Shiori and I were trying…"

"It's okay… I'm… I'm happy for you two… your child is probably going to be as beautiful and proud as you are but… I don't doubt he'll also be a genuine and talented being." Hajime said with a honest smile, even though he looked so tired.

"Kiku-chan… how does she handle it?" Oikawa asked worriedly.

Hajime shrugged, shaking lightly his head then sighing.

"Better now than a few weeks ago but… it's… I know she feels guilty. She… she said she wouldn't mind if I were to… divorce…"

"Will you?" Oikawa asked, surprised by this idea.

"NO! Never! I could never do that… I love her too much to live a life without her, with or without a child… I just… I know I can't stop her from feelings what she feels but… I wish she would realize that I don't mind not being the father of our child, as long as someday, we have our own family…"

Oikawa surrounded his shoulders with his arm, leaning towards him and squeezing his shoulder. No matter how touchy-feely he was, it was rare Oikawa showed such a genuine physical proof of affection. For once, Hajime was grateful for his friend's presence and his invasion of his privacy…

"I'm here for you, both you and Kiku-chan. And so is Shiori. And I'm willing to bet I can talk from all our friends, we're here to support you both. As soon as you're ready to talk, we'll listen and we'll understand."

"…Thanks… you're a great friend, Oikawa…"

"I'm your best friend after all! I'm the greatest of best friend!" He exclaimed, trying to light up the mood.

"Yeah, you are…" He answered with a smile, surprising Oikawa by his honesty.

"I-Iwa-chan…!"

"Geh…! Calm down now!"

When Kiku went home that day, the house was mostly quiet. She looked for Hajime and found him upstairs, in the baby's bedroom… She hadn't entered it since learning the terrible truth but now… she was looking into it, the half-ready room, and seeing Hajime just look down at the empty crib. He looked up when he heard her and forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Slowly, Kiku walked to him until they were face-to-face in silence, an almost peaceful quietness. She lifted up her hand, cupping his cheek and he leaned against the palm of her hand.

"Your eyes are red, you've been crying," she remarked sadly, "Is this what you do when I'm not home? You come here, and cry?"

Her voice broke a little, but she maintained her composure. His lips opened and closed and finally he sighed. He closed his eyes, nuzzling his nose against the palm of her hand, one of his hand holding onto her wrist, the other entwining his fingers with hers.

"I… I usually don't… but Oikawa came today and… I know I shouldn't have said anything without warning you but… he knows… I supposed Shiori will know soon, if not already. And…"

His voice trailed off but Kiku shook her head:

"It's okay… We would have had to tell them eventually. I'm glad you opened up to Tooru… you needed to talk about it…"

"I… think you need to know but… the reason why he found out is… because Shiori is pregnant…" He said, watching her hesitantly.

She didn't seem surprised, nor sad, but it took a little bit of time for her happy smile to appear.

"We'd better be his godparents," she joked.

He couldn't help but chuckle, before pulling her a little closer then hugging. She held onto him tightly, whispering words he hadn't realized he needed to hear from her:

"We'll have our family someday, Hajime…"

"We will…" He said, hiding his face in her neck.

After this day, and after Tooru and Shiori found out, it was easier telling the others the truth. They talked to their friends first, all the currently pregnant ones being even more emotional and shocked (which was, practically all of them). Everyone was a little shocked but as expected, they were here for their friends. Then, they had to tell their families. It was a little harder and there were more tears, but it was a good weight off their chests. They still didn't know how to feel themselves about not having a child of their own while their friends' families were growing bigger.

Things were almost back to normal when it all changed again.

Kiku was at work, finishing a file for a child that had to change of houses a few times because of his bad biological parents.

"Nakashima-san, how many files do you have?" One of their colleagues asked in the office of four different lawyers working in the same firm law and specialized area.

"Don't tell me there's another one. My hands are full…!" Nakashima replied, showing her pile of files.

"I'm completely stuck as well… and it's a difficult case, I don't think I could do much for it…"

"What happened?"

"A new-born abandoned in a dumpster," she answered, opening the file and going through it quickly.

Kiku froze before slowly looking up at her senpais, discussing about the file.

"How could people be so cruel…?" Nakashima muttered, looking hesitant to take the file, her eyes glancing warily at the pile she already had to take care of.

Kiku's heart sped up, staring at the file in her senpai's hands. It… it hit close to her heart. It was close to what had happened to her, she probably shouldn't, it'll trigger bad memories…

"This poor baby will spend his life going from home to home." Nakashima murmured sadly.

"Maybe with luck some parents in need of a child will take him in and take good care…"

Kiku swallowed hard and spoke up without realizing it:

"I'll take it."

All three of her senpais turned to her, surprised. They didn't know the details of her origins, but they hadn't expected her to speak up.

"Are you sure, Kiku-chan? It's a very heavy file and you're already so overworked…" Nakashima said, blinking in disbelief.

"I-I'll take it, if you think I am capable of handling it…" She answered with a nod.

The two lawyers glanced at each other then without quite realizing it, she received the file in her hands and had to take care of it.

A new-born baby boy abandoned in a dumpster, left to die, barely saved. It was just like her. She saw the pictures of the baby taken by the doctors and… her heart didn't squeeze like it usually did. It just warmed up and lit up. He had an adorable, angelic face, with spiky dark hair that reminded her of Hajime. She had always hoped that her child would have Hajime's hair, just for the fun of it. Her fingers caressed the picture and she couldn't help but smile softly.

If she didn't take good care of this file, this baby and found him a good home… he'll have the same life as she did. Going from home to home, family to family, never quite belonging… But maybe… maybe…

That day, she went home earlier than usual, so she could talk with Hajime. They arrived practically in the same time, which surprised him, especially because of how excited she seemed.

"Is there something you want to tell me, cupcake?" He asked curiously, amused by her behavior as she was obviously trying to hold back and calm down.

"Y-yes… I… today, a new file came in!" She answered.

He hesitated. The files she took care of were mostly abused children, adopted children, miserable children…

"And… that makes you happy?" He asked, sounding confused.

"Well… you know… we… we only talked about it very quickly but with my… my condition, our only possibility is to adopt."

She looked up to him hopefully as understanding dawned on his face. Hajime hesitated as she continued:

"I… I know it's still… it's still fresh, finding out the truth and trying to work with it and rebuild our life around this idea but… Hajime, this baby is… he's been abandoned in a dumpster – like I was! He… if he doesn't get a good home, he'll spend his life miserable. I don't want this for him! We could… adopt him! He'd be happy with us, we'd love him like our own child!" She said, voice trembling in excitement and impatience.

"…Kiku. You're not projecting your past onto this child? You're not trying to bet everything on him? When you became a lawyer we talked about it – you can't let your past and feelings get in the way of your work, we can't adopt every child who needs a good home. And… this story sounds a little too close to your story for me to be comfortable about it."

Kiku's lips fell open in shock and she looked guiltily, as if realizing just now that because this baby's story was close to hers, she felt the need to adopt him more than any other child. Unable to say or do anything, she looked down at her laps, trembling a little.

Hajime hesitated, sighing, before approaching her. He sat next to her on the couch, and took her hands in his.

"Kiku. I want to adopt. I want a child with you even if he doesn't come from us directly. And I know we'll love him, whether it's this baby or another child but… are you certain you will be capable of handling it? Adopting so soon after we've discovered our condition; are you not trying to fill in the hole as soon as possible without thinking of the consequences? What if you realize you can't take care of a baby without having carried it in your womb, after all? What if in a few years when he'll ask questions about his origins, you can't answer to him because you've had to go through the same?"

He squeezed her hands, making her look up:

"I want to make sure you're okay and ready for this, before adopting anyone. Not just for you and I, but also for this child's sake."

"I… you're right. You're right but… I want to adopt and be a mother… I don't want to wait years, hoping that maybe, with luck, we'll have our own child. I don't want to wait years to get over it because I never will… and this baby needs help, he needs love from a family right now – a love we are dying to give! So please, Hajime… trust me on this… I'm ready. I'm okay. I need you to be as well, so we can move forward and have our family…" She whispered with a shaking, but strong voice, tears in her voice.

Hajime stared at her, seeing an unwavering strength in her eyes, slowly smothering the guilt and sadness…

"Then… let's do this…" He said with an amazed smile.

She smiled brightly, happy tears rolling down her cheeks as he kissed her forehead and hope was back in their hearts.

They filled in the adoption papers almost immediately, but it would take many, many months before they could possibly have the authorization to adopt this baby. Because he was a new-born in desperate need, and because Kiku worked in the field, it'd be easier and faster. But because she was fragile, it took more time than she had hoped for.

Their friends' pregnancy went by. Bokuto and Ayaka's third baby, Hideyoshi, being born and hopefully they'll wait a little before making another owlet. Then, soon after it was Akaashi Nadeshiko who was born. And finally, Oikawa Hoshiko, the beautiful daughter of Tooru and Shiori – he never stopped bragging about how perfect his daughter was, like her mother. Kiku spent a lot of time with the Oikawa after the birth, as the godmother of Hoshiko, but also because she craved more and more being a mother.

During this time, Hajime and Kiku finished making the baby's bedroom and prepared everything for his arrival, not ceasing to hope that they will adopt this baby in particular with the same spiky hair as Hajime.

Just two months or so after Hoshiko's birth, a few weeks after finishing the last details of the baby's bedroom, they finally received the letter announcing they could adopt the baby. They didn't waste any time, in just a few days, the last preparative were done.

"What if I'm not a good mother?" Kiku suddenly asked as they were waiting to see their child for the first time.

Hajime chuckled, grabbing her hands, but he was just as nervous.

"You are going to be a wonderful mother, don't ever doubt that, cupcake. And he is the luckiest boy to have a mother like you…"

She smiled, a little reassured.

"And you are going to be a wonderful father," she answered.

He smiled back, excitement and happiness starting to get to them. They would have it, their family.

Then, suddenly, the door opened and the caretaker arrived with a little baby boy. Kiku turned around and within seconds, without quite realizing it, she had held out her arms and was holding her baby boy. Hajime stood beside her, a hand on her shoulder and the other near the baby's head. He was way over six months now and Kiku had never felt so much peace as when she held the bundle of warmth against her chest. He was quiet, almost sleeping if it weren't for the little moves of his legs and arms. He opened his eyes, dark, and looked up at Kiku and Hajime who smiled at him.

"M-my baby…" She whispered, voice strangled with emotion while quiet, happy tears rolled down her cheeks.

He remained quiet, staring at them. Then he babbled and made adorable little noises, shaking his hands happily, as if realizing he was being held by his mother.

Hajime chuckled, his own eyes full of tears as he gently caressed the baby's head.

"Hey, you… my boy…" He whispered.

"What this little boy's name?" The caretaker asked curiously.

Kiku and Hajime finally detached their awed gazes from the baby, looking at each other then back at their baby.

"Atsushi. Iwaizumi Atsushi." Kiku answered softly.

Atsushi made a giggly, gurgling noise, probably his way of saying he liked his name.

Iwaizumi Atsushi was introduced to everyone, their friends and their families, everyone giving the same remark "he has your hair". At the very beginning, it wasn't difficult, but it was a big change, even if they had been ready for it, suddenly they had another person in their families and they hadn't had nine months to get ready for it and slowly realize it was becoming reality. Kiku, especially, was as ecstatic as she was nervous. She didn't stop spending as much as possible with Atsushi, feeling like he had been all alone from the moment he was found until he became their child. Hajime was helping her, obviously but he also knew she needed to spend time with the son she had wanted so badly. It was just for the first few days, anyway. Then it turned into a week, and two and he barely had time with Atsushi without Kiku fussing over it.

"Go take your bath, it's getting late," he told her someday.

"No, he hasn't burped yet, and he needs to go to sleep. You go take your bath."

"I already did, Kiku. Let me take care of him." He said, holding out his hands to hold Atsushi.

"No!" She exclaimed, pulling away and keeping him close.

Hajime stared at her hard and she realized what she had done, suddenly looking guilty.

"I-I'm sorry but… I always do it…"

"Because you don't let me try, come on, relax a little and let me take care of him for once…" He insisted, holding out his hands once again.

She hesitated, then handed him Atsushi. He started rubbing his back, Kiku watching from the doorway. He gave her an impatient stare:

"Go take your bath now."

She ticked her tongue but obeyed, leaving the baby bedroom for a few minutes. It didn't take long for Atsushi to burp and get sleepy, Hajime slowly preparing him for bed but before he could do the entire work and put him to bed for the first time, Kiku reappeared, still damp from her bath.

"Did he burp? Is he okay? Let me do it," she said, already taking Atsushi back in her arms.

"Kiku…" He sighed.

But she was cooing over Atsushi and he just sighed and left the bedroom.

After that, he tried a few more times to take care of Atsushi, to feed him, put him to sleep, even go on a walk, anything that would allow him to spend some time with Atsushi. But Kiku never let him. She'd let him try, then decide he wasn't doing it right, and take Atsushi from him. It became so frustrating for Hajime that he stopped trying. But he was still annoyed by the situation, especially when he saw that Kiku was starting to get tired to handle her job and Atsushi all the time.

"Where is Atchan?" Oikawa asked some day, showing up with Hoshiko for the two fathers to go for a walk with their babies.

"Stop calling him that, it sounds like you're sneezing. And Kiku took him in town before I was back from my morning run… I haven't even seen him since yesterday." He mumbled, letting Oikawa enter the house.

Instead of going for a walk, Oikawa sat down on the couch, Hoshiko on his knees and playing with her favourite toy, playing at throwing it around, preferably on uncle Hajime who kept retrieving it for her.

"Why don't you force Kiku to let you spend time with Atchan? He's your son too." Oikawa said with a shrug.

"I can't! She barely lets him out of her sight, even when she goes to work, she takes him with her. She doesn't let anyone else take care of him!" He exclaimed, receiving yet again Hoshiko's toy on him, which he got back into her hands.

"She can't do that, just–"

After the fifth time Hoshiko hit uncle Hajime with the toy, he realized she was doing it on purpose and got annoyed – he felt short-tempered all the time recently. He got the toy back but put it down on the table, making Hoshiko whine and start crying.

"Wow! Calm down!" Oikawa exclaimed, nursing his daughter and getting the toy back.

"She's doing on purpose, teach her manners!"

Her cries only increased as she hid in her father's chest, Oikawa almost glaring at Iwaizumi for his tone of voice for his daughter.

"No wonder Kiku doesn't let you approach your son if you're like that!" He couldn't help but remark.

"I wouldn't be like that if she let me approach him!" He hissed, suddenly standing up and walking angrily.

Hoshiko calmed down and Oikawa watched him pace back and forth, finally letting out all his frustration:

"I don't get it! I get that she wants to spend as much time as possible with him, and she's overjoyed to! But I want to spend time with my son as well! I need it just as much but I barely spent more than ten minutes alone with him since he's been here! It's been almost a month, Oikawa! I never see or hold my son! I don't even know if I can call him my son anymore!"

He continued pacing back and forth, Hoshiko looking up at her father and pulling at his shirt, as if asking if uncle Hajime was okay.

"I don't understand what is so wrong with me that my wife wouldn't trust me with our son! It can't be that hard! Shiori trusts YOU with your daughter and I'm definitely more reliable so WHY?!"

"I will ignore the underlying insult but maybe… I don't know, she just needs to be reminded that this is your family, to both of you? That you're married, and you have as much right towards Atchan as she does."

Hajime suddenly let himself drop on the couch, Oikawa putting a comforting hand on his shoulder while trying to hold back Hoshiko from crawling away from his laps, and fall on the ground.

"What if she realized she doesn't want of a family with me anymore? That she only wants it for herself? What if she doesn't trust me after all? What if I can't actually be a father?" He murmured, gaze lost.

"Iwa-chan, there is no one more qualified than you to be a father. You've been around children your whole life, you've always taken care of others, it's in your nature."

"I've had a lot of practice with you."

"Can you stop throwing hidden insults while I'm trying to comfort you?!" He hissed.

Iwaizumi smiled lightly, comforted by his words, his presence and their usual banter.

"Thanks for being here for us through all this…" He said, realizing that even if he always turned towards Oikawa, he didn't thank him enough.

"You're welcome, it's my job as best friend and partner to be here for you, right? AH!"

His face was twisted in pain, Hoshiko giggling at his reaction, having accidently kicked her father's crotch in her crawling around. Oikawa held her up, suffering in silence.

"Take her a moment…" He mumbled.

Hajime grabbed a still giggling Hoshiko while Oikawa rolled over and whined about probably never giving Hoshiko a little brother or little sister. She didn't seem to mind.

"You are going to be in so much trouble when she'll be a teenager…" Hajime said in amusement.

"Don't say that!"

As he straightened up, Oikawa looked thoughtful, then his eyes it up and it worried Hajime:

"I just had an idea about your little problem. You just need to prove to Kiku-chan that she can trust you, right?" He asked.

"U-uh. What's your idea?"

Oikawa's idea wasn't as crazy as he had feared and a few days later, it was getting executed: Shiori forced Kiku to have a ladies' day of shopping and relaxing while their husbands took care of the babies. Oikawa had to bring Hoshiko to the doctor for the check-up so Hajime would be alone with Atsushi. At first, Kiku wasn't very enthusiastic, and she repeated about three times in a row everything Hajime should know about Atsushi, before she was dragged away by Shiori. The moment the door closed, Atsushi looked up at Hajime, sucking calmly on his pacifier as he watched his father curiously.

"Looks like it's you and I, buddy. Finally." Hajime said.

He had a day off, which meant plenty of time spent with Atsushi and, following Kiku's instructions, he let him on his playground, playing with his favourite toys. He was a quiet baby, he barely cried. He only cried when he was hungry, or uncomfortable or in the middle of the night as he's been teething recently. But as soon as he'd notice that the meal was being prepared, or that his mother was around, he'd calm down. Hajime often took care of him at night, when Kiku was sleeping, but she'd always wake up and switch with him at some point. How she knew, he had no idea considering the crying didn't wake her right away.

Hajime had to admit he had been a little scared about being all alone with Atsushi for the first time but he was an angel. The morning went well, the lunch was uneventful either, and he did his nap – of course, Kiku kept sending him messages, waiting for updates. In the afternoon, after his nap, Hajime took him to the nearby park, Atsushi watching curiously the birds and flowers and trying to catch a butterfly that flew too close to him. It was when they went home that trouble started. Atsushi started being troubled, then crying. Hajime did everything he thought could cause it: feeding, but he wasn't hungry, changing his diapers but even clean, he wouldn't calm down, giving him his favourite plushies, but he wouldn't want of it. He tried to make sure he didn't need burping, of more or less clothes if he felt uncomfortable, or maybe it was his teething but the thing Kiku used didn't work. He tried cuddling, to talk to him, even to sing like Kiku usually did. But it didn't help Atsushi and from crying so much, he was starting to get a little feverish which worried Hajime.

Not only Kiku would kill him, but she would never trust him with Atsushi again and more importantly, he didn't understand why he was crying so much when he had been a quiet baby all this time. Why the one time he took care of him, he'd cry endlessly? He tried calling his friends who were fathers, but none answered or had a solution he hadn't already tried. Only Kuroo said that maybe it was because he was missing his mommy after so long – when Akane had gone back to work, it had been very difficult for the twins to adjust to not see their mommy. But there was no solution to that except finding something that would work between Atsushi and his dad.

"Come on, Atsushi! What do I have to do to make you stop crying?!" He exclaimed, grabbing his hair and watching his son cry with no way to help him.

He was starting to be desperate and considered calling Kiku for help.

"I tried everything! What is it I'm doing wrong?!" He continued.

He looked hopefully at his son lying on his bed of change, but he only cried and didn't give any answer.

"Please… I'm trying so hard…" He murmured.

He leaned over Atsushi, trying to shoo him calmly and soothe him.

"Look buddy, I know you miss your mommy, but I'm here…"

He grabbed his hands, and Atsushi calmed a little, more whining than crying now. The baby sniffed and opened his teary eyes, looking into Hajime's green ones. Teary-eyed himself, Hajime brought his little hands to his lips, kissing them tenderly.

"I don't know if I'm a good father, but I'm trying my best… I know we didn't spend much time together, but… you can count on me anytime, okay…? You're… you're the most precious being in the whole universe and I don't want to see you cry… You're my son and I… I love you, you know…" He whispered.

Atsushi stared at him, still hiccupping a little, but he calmed down. Hajime wasn't sure what he had done or said, maybe it was just opening to him. Maybe all Atsushi needed was comfort that he was as loved by his daddy as his mommy. Relaxing, and feeling more at peace with himself, and closer to Atsushi, he kissed his tiny hands again. He cleaned him up then took him with him downstairs, absolutely exhausted after trying so hard to calm him down. But now Atsushi held onto him with as much of his baby strength as he held onto Kiku…

A few hours later…

"He hasn't answered the phone for hours, now! I should have gone home right away!" Kiku exclaimed as she arrived home, Shiori close behind.

"Kiku, calm down… Maybe he just left his phone somewhere and is playing with Atsushi?"

Kiku hurried into the house, completely panicked but went to a stop when she arrived in the living-room. Shiori arrived behind her and smiled at the scene.

"See? Everything is fine…" She said, patting her friend's shoulder.

Hajime was asleep, Atsushi just as exhausted, laying on his father's chest and being held firmly even in his dad's sleep.

"…W-what have they done to be so exhausted…?" Kiku murmured, tears coming into her eyes.

Calmly, she approached the two men of her life, sitting down next to them, caressing tenderly Atsushi's spiky hair. Then brushing Hajime's cheek, which woke him up. He blinked his eyes then startled, seeing Kiku, and it had the effect of waking Atsushi up. He yawned and cried a little, but Kiku didn't immediately try to take him from Hajime's arms.

"I'm sorry I didn't trust you earlier with Atsushi. I was being very selfish, wasn't I?" She realized as Hajime sat up.

He hesitated, not really knowing what to answer or what was the priority when Atsushi was crying. He made him bounce a little, calming Atsushi down as he leaned over his dad's shoulder and didn't stop staring at his mommy.

"Well… now that I spent a day with him, I understand why you couldn't let go of him…" He admitted, not imagining letting go of this bundle of joy from his arms.

She chuckled and Atsushi moved to be held by her. Hajime smiled as he gave him to Kiku and after that, there was no more trouble between them. Their family was complete and happy, even without a baby of their own.

The following months were some of the happiest of their lives. Slowly but surely, Atsushi learned to talk, his first word being "Zilla" – Kiku accused Hajime of talking too much about Godzilla and she was certain that he had made him watch the movies the days she wasn't home. Then it was "mama" and "papa" and "Toowu" which made Oikawa incredibly proud. When he wasn't bragging on how Hoshiko's first word had been "papa", he was bragging about Atsushi. Then, it was Hajime's turn to brag about his son when he learned to walk before Hoshiko. Rather than learning how to walk, one day, while Hajime was filling the assurance papers and Kiku was taking her bath, Atsushi suddenly stood up and started running. It took a moment for Hajime to register what was going on and he started screaming incoherently, which made Kiku panic and run downstairs but by the time she arrived and Hajime had stood up, Atsushi had run into a wall and fallen onto his behind, crying in pain. They were as proud as surprised as happy and Kiku was incredibly pissed she had missed his first steps. They had thought it had been a one-time miracle but as soon as his red forehead had been kissed by mommy, Atsushi was up and running once again. The real trouble had been to teach him how to slow down and avoid furniture, or just walking calmly.

Nothing could be more perfect.

Atsushi was three years-old and a half when Kiku started being sick. At first, she put it on tiredness, too much work, not resting enough. She assumed it was any normal sickness that came and went away. And as expected, it did go away after some rest. Or so Hajime thought.

They were at a park someday, watching over Atsushi who was playing on the toboggan and with his toys. There was no one else in the park because it was too cold for parents to bring their children, but Atsushi had insisted and he was well-covered.

"We're happy, aren't we?" Kiku said, slipping her hand in Hajime's.

He was surprised by her sudden remark but smiled happily.

"We are. I've married the love of my life and we have a wonderful son. I couldn't be happier. You are happy, too, right?" He asked worriedly.

"Of course I am," she answered with a chuckle, leaning her head against his shoulder, "…But… you really don't mind that Atsushi… wasn't born from us…? Is it really okay?" She asked.

Hajime tightened his hand around Kiku, his smile wavering a little.

"I know why you're asking me this. And I'm okay. I'm glad that Oikawa and Shiori are having another child. It's not a surprise, they always said they wanted two children. And we're used to it by now, seeing our friends having more and more children. Since we've adopted Atsushi, Akaashi got his son, Kuroo got another kitten who is as terrible as his parents and siblings, and Ayaka is pregnant again."

He paused before kissing Kiku's forehead tenderly.

"I'm okay as long as our family is happy. I don't need for us to have a child being born from us to be happy, or to be a family. Atsushi is the proof of it, isn't it?"

Kiku smiled, reassured. She closed her eyes a moment before straightening up and turning towards Hajime. Her eyes were glossy and he wasn't sure why she seemed so emotional and serious:

"Hajime… I… I have something to tell you…" She started.

"…Okay. What is it?" He said, squeezing her hand for reassurance.

She looked up, her lips starting to tilt up until her expression fell. Her gaze turned towards the playground and she paled.

"Where is Atsushi?" She asked.

Hajime immediately stood up, followed by Kiku as they looked over the entire playground, but except his toys, Atsushi wasn't around.

"Atsushi!" She called.

"He was here just now! Atsushi!"

They walked around frenetically but thankfully, Kiku found him quickly, immediately sighing in relief. He was just hidden from view behind a bush.

"Atsushi!" She called, starting to run towards him.

She froze when she realized that Atsushi was receiving something from a man sitting on a bench. And she recognized that man.

"Atsushi!" She shouted, running.

Atsushi turned around sheepishly and dropped whatever the man had given him when Kiku suddenly grabbed him and lifted him up, keeping him close to her heart. Having heard her screams, Hajime had come running and immediately darkened, standing protectively in front of his family.

"What are you doing here?" He asked Hashimoto Noburu in a hard voice.

Kiku's biological father sighed, leaning down to take the gift he had offered Atsushi, then he stood up. His hair was paler than before, but he was fine. A few years ago, Hashimoto recontacted Kiku through her parents' bakery. He was just telling her he had been operated and was fine. He and Kiku had met a few times over the years, always with Hajime, never really going well. She was only kind to Hashimoto's wife and children, who were all innocent, but she would never completely forget what her biological father had done to her.

"You never let me meet him." Hashimoto said, pointing at Atsushi who was watching him more warily now, feeling the tension between him and his parents.

"There's a reason why. You're not welcome here." Hajime said.

Hashimoto didn't answer, glancing at Atsushi with whom he had talked a little for the few minutes they had had together.

"He looks like you, he's definitely your son." He remarked, glancing between Hajime and Atsushi.

Hajime looked away, clicking his tongue. He usually loved that people told him that, despite not being related by blood. Except their families and close friends or colleagues, no one knew or could guess Atsushi was adopted. But right now, knowing that the root of all Kiku's troubles in her life, which led to her infertility, was right here and telling him that… It filled him with rage. He wanted to grab the man's face and tell him that he wasn't his biological son because of his actions.

"He's not." Kiku said before Hajime could breathe.

Hashimoto looked confused, and Atsushi glanced between his parents, even Hajime was shocked by her words. It was obvious Kiku was too thrown off to realize what she was saying.

"Thanks to everything that happened to me after your mistakes, I'm… he's adopted." She said bitterly, eyes filled with tears.

Hashimoto's lips fell open and he hesitated. Kiku suddenly turned around, mostly to hide her tears, not having the strength to walk away. Hajime hesitated and took a step towards her so they could go home, especially now that Atsushi was hugging her, hiding his face in her neck, probably out of fear because he didn't understand what was going on. But before he could leave, Hashimoto grabbed his arm, stopping Hajime. He handed him the gift for Atsushi.

"It's… it's a gift for him… my grandson… I know why you don't want me in his life, but… let me offer this."

He smiled to Atsushi just as Hajime hesitantly took the gift.

Their way home was quiet, Kiku slowly relaxing the more she was away from Hashimoto. Or rather, the more her son was away from him. Once home, Hajime gave the gift to Atsushi who hesitantly opened it and found a little animal toy. Hajime and Kiku were smiling to him but Atsushi looked serious – he was much more mature and brighter than children so young, already understanding things they hadn't expected him to.

"This man said he was my grandpa…" He started.

"He… he is. He's another grandpa, but he can't be around you too much…" Kiku explained, trying not to lie because he'd figure it out right away.

"What is adotted?" He asked then.

Kiku and Hajime froze. They had expected him to ask them something like that someday, unless they would have had the time to tell him the truth themselves. How could they explain to their not-yet four years old son that he had been adopted?

"Adopted is… it's when…" Kiku said.

"I heard grandma and grandma say mommy is adotted too…" Atsushi continued, staring straight at his mother.

Kiku opened and closed her lips, not knowing what to do. Atsushi was too intelligent and he was so quiet, he listened to everything even when they didn't think he was around. She was just like that so she should have expected that much.

"Atsushi," Hajime started with a little smile, "Sometimes a mommy and daddy aren't good with their baby. So this baby is given to other people who will become his parents. Your mommy was adopted by grandpa Shouta and grandma Nanami, and you were adopted by mommy and daddy."

Atsushi seemed to hesitate, not quite understanding but having an answer, not quite knowing what to do with it. He looked down at the animal toy in his hands, then back at his parents.

"You're my mommy and daddy?" He asked for confirmation.

"Of course we are, buddy," Hajime answered.

He noticed Kiku wiping away a tear, but Atsushi ran into their arms and it was all they needed to be reassured for now.

That night, Kiku remained a little longer watching over Atsushi sleeping then exited the bedroom, leaving the door a little opened because he got scared in the night even with the night lights (thanks to Hajime and Oikawa making Atsushi and Hoshiko watch Godzilla and Aliens, which traumatized only Atsushi).

She sighed deeply, just as Hajime arrived and took her in his arms.

"He's okay." He said, knowing their son was stronger and still too young to understand everything it meant, "He knows we're his parents and we love him." He repeated – it was all that mattered now. For their son to know he was wanted and loved.

"I know…" She whispered against his chest.

"Are you okay, though?" He asked as they slowly walked to their bedroom.

"A little shaken, but okay…" She answered with a reassuring smile.

She cupped his cheeks and kissed his lips.

"You wanted to tell me something earlier at the park, what was it?" He asked curiously.

She seemed hesitant, as if she had forgotten about it herself. Then she smiled, looking down and biting on her lower lip. Then she looked up and her eyes were the brightest he had ever seen, it took his breath away.

"I-it's a little awkward to say now, after everything that happened but… Hajime, I… you remember when I was sick some time ago?"

He frowned, getting more and more worried.

"Yeah… you went to the doctor the other day, right? What is it?"

She didn't seem to know how to say it, so she took his hand and put it over her stomach, very gently. Then her fingers entwined with his and her smile got a little bigger. His heart accelerated, not wanting to believe it, to hope…

"I'm pregnant…" She said with an enchanted smile.

It took a moment for Hajime to process it, then he chuckled but got confused:

"Wait – I thought… that it wasn't possible?"

"I thought so too… I didn't believe it at first but I took a pregnancy test when the symptoms kept coming back. It was positive. I took another one, positive again… I… I didn't want to give you a false joy so I went to see the doctor to be certain and… I am pregnant."

"It's… Kiku… it's… it's a miracle!" He exclaimed.

He lifted her up happily, turning around as ecstatic laughs escaped their lips. He put her down and immediately kissed her joyfully. She laughed into his kiss, holding onto him.

"I know! I… I had stopped praying and hoping it'd someday happen! But the doctor told me that my fertility had only been extremely reduced and the small chance of pregnancy… it became… it…! I am pregnant! We're going to have another baby, Hajime!" She exclaimed.

They laughed and kissed again, thanking the gods for blessing them with a little miracle of their own. After so many years trying, after losing hope they'd someday have their own child… it was happening.

Because they hadn't gone through any pregnancy before, it was a little difficult at first to figure out how to organize anew their lives, but Oikawa was about as excited to be an uncle again as to be a father for a second time and he helped out. Bokuto, who would be soon father of a fourth child, didn't hold back on advices either. The girls were all here to help out Kiku who was, not only going through her first pregnancy, but with a young child as well, and it was a pretty difficult pregnancy.

The first few months, it seemed normal but when her energy didn't have any boost and she kept weakening, Hajime and Kiku got worried. She had a weak health to begin with and with the unexpected pregnancy, her health and the baby's, were in danger. It went to a point where the doctor had to give an option to Kiku: keep the child and take risks for both her baby and herself, or not have this baby anymore.

On their way home, they were dark and quiet, not wanting to think of the possibility, but unable to let it out of their minds. Kiku's hand didn't leave her rounded tummy, softly caressing it. Hajime remained silent. It was only when they arrived home, unusually quiet with Atsushi being taken care of by Tooru and Shiori for today, that Kiku spoke up:

"I want to keep the baby, Hajime."

He turned around, eyes wide, his heart missing a beat:

"W-wait, we should… we should think about it a little more, talk about it…"

"There's no choice to make, I'm not giving up on this baby after trying for so long." She said with a shake of her head.

No, no, no, no… He thought, panic filling his veins.

"B-but the doctor said… y-you could… you could…"

His voice broke, unable to say outloud what the doctor had uttered earlier. He refused to believe it, to consider the option.

Kiku smiled, a little sadly but she approached him, cupping his cheek gently.

"He said it was only a possibility. Like when we thought I was infertile – just a possibility. But a miracle happened and gave us this baby, conceived from our love, I refuse to throw this chance away. If a miracle happened already, I believe it'll happen again. I'm going to be fine, so will our little girl."

Hajime lowered his head, tears filling his eyes. She lifted up his face, her thumb brushing away the single tear that rolled down his cheek:

"All I want is for this baby to be born and live happily. For our family to be happy. I believe in our future happiness and it will be so, if we both believe in it. And if… if I don't make it, you'll have to be here for our babies…"

"Don't say that… please…" He pleaded, holding onto her with shaking hands.

"I won't say it then, because it won't happen. I believe in us, and our happiness and our family." She said, taking his hands in hers.

He held her hands tight, closing his eyes as he leaned his forehead against hers. They took a moment to take in the warmth, peace and love they felt. And they held onto each other and onto life, whether it was their own hearts beating to the same rhythm, or the life their love had created.

The door opened and excited, running steps ran to them:

"Mommy! Daddy!" Atsushi exclaimed, jumping into their arms.

"Hey, buddy, I thought you were with uncle Tooru and auntie Shiori?" Hajime asked, trying to keep his voice from trembling.

Oikawa and Shiori arrived then, Hoshiko also here.

"We saw the car and assumed you were home, we couldn't keep him from running to you," Oikawa explained with a smile that wavered when he noticed the expressions of his friends.

"Look, look! I made a drawing for my sister!" Atsushi exclaimed happily, showing it to his parents.

It showed all of them, all four of them.

"It's beautiful," Hajime said, kissing his forehead.

"Let's go pin it on the fridge, Atsushi," Kiku said.

She took his hand as Hajime put him back on the ground, Shiori and Hoshiko following to leave the two fathers alone. Oikawa approached, looking worried:

"What did the doctor say?"

It was difficult but Hajime quickly explained to him what he had been told.

"…I can't believe it… it's… it's so unfair…" Oikawa murmured, eyes glossy.

"Life has only been unfair to Kiku." Hajime muttered.

"Until she met you."

"Uh?"

Hajime looked up, blinking as Oikawa continued, smiling:

"Life has been unfair to Kiku, until she met you and fell in love with you. You gave her friendship, support and love. You gave her a family. I don't think she's ungrateful in how her life turned out to be…"

"But…"

"I never really told you that, but… you two, seeing you being in love, completing each other, it made me incredibly jealous back in high-school because I wanted this fulfilling love. You two inspired me to wait to find the right person instead of accumulating meaningless relationships, and seeing you two fighting for your love when you were miles apart gave me the strength to fight for Shiori. If it weren't for you and Kiku-chan, I wouldn't be so happy today. I owe my happiness to you." He said, thankfully.

"…And I owe mine to you… you're the one who played match-maker… but now… I can't imagine my life without her… if she…"

His voice broke and he looked down, quickly covering his eyes to hold back the tears.

"We owe each other's happiness, then!" He exclaimed cheerfully before putting his hand on Hajime's shoulder, "And if there's one thing I've witnessed over the years, happening to you and Kiku-chan… it's that you turn unfairness into chances. She should have died several times before she even met you, but you gave her a reason to live. You were in two different prefectures but your love and commitment only grew stronger. You couldn't have children and yet, you have a happy family and now, you're going to have a baby. You two, together, simply by not giving up on each other, turned disasters into miracles. It's how strong your love is!"

He squeezed his friend's shoulder, forcing Hajime to look up, his eyes shining a little brighter.

"So don't underestimate Kiku's will to live and to keep bringing happiness into both of your lives. She won't give up and you'll have a beautiful baby girl…"

Hajime smiled, before nodding, reassured by his friend's words.

"Thanks, Oikawa…"

"And hopefully she'll become my future daughter-in-law! Considering I'm having a son~!"

Hajime's smile immediately disappeared and he glared at his best friend.

"Don't play match-maker to our children, Oikawa."

But Oikawa only laughed and despite his will, Hajime was smiling again.

Knowing that Kiku would spend a good amount of time of her pregnancy at home, and possibly at the hospital if she didn't feel any better, changed some plans in their preparations for the arrival of their baby girl. It didn't change the happiness. The only problem was that Atsushi, as perceptive as he was, understood that something was wrong and he got extremely worried about his mommy and little sister. It didn't help Kiku who was worrying for him and Hajime struggled maintaining a peaceful atmosphere when himself was freaking out more and more everyday.

That was why it was decided that for the summer, Kiku would spend her last few weeks of pregnancy with only Hajime and Nanami to watch over her. Atsushi was worrying her too much and she needed to focus on her health and on her baby girl. Every summer since a few years ago, everyone would gather in the summer mansion of the Bokuto family. A huge house with enough rooms to fit everyone and all the children, a huge park and it was near a lake. It was perfect for the children in summer and everyone always went there.

Hajime glanced at the window and noticed that Atsushi hadn't moved or reacted much since they've left home. He was still staring at the landscape.

"We're almost there, minizilla," he announced.

Atsushi barely reacted, just quickly glancing at him, then at his plushy and back at the landscape.

Hajime kept his lips thin, hating the idea of leaving his worrying son behind, but it was for Kiku and the baby's sake.

Hajime slowed down as he went onto a side road to go to the mansion, a little away from any town. He arrived at the metal gate, with two pillars on each side of the road, statues of owls on top of it – it had been an addition of Bokuto when they had received this mansion as wedding gift from Ayaka's father.

A few minutes later, he was driving up to the rest of the cars lined up in front of the house. He could hear the other children having fun in the swimming pool and some parents screaming at other children. Hajime helped Atsushi hop down the car and grabbed all the bags he had brought and just as they advanced towards the house, the door opened, revealing Oikawa, Shiori and her rounded belly and Hoshiko holding onto her mother's leg.

"Iwa-chan! Atchan! How was the trip?"

"Good, no traffic," Iwaizumi answered before looking down at Atsushi, giving him an encouraging push forward, "Go have fun with Hoshiko and the others, Atsushi. I need to talk with uncle Tooru."

Atsushi looked up at him, not wanting to leave, but Hoshiko took his hand and dragged him into the house, and certainly into the garden. The moment he left, Hajime let his shoulders drop, the tension coming back onto his face.

"You look like you've aged of twenty years," Oikawa remarked with a teasing smile.

"Ugh…"

"I'll go watch over Hoshiko and Atsushi," Shiori said, going back into the house.

"Be careful!" Oikawa exclaimed.

"I'm fine, Tooru! I won't walk into a wall!" She exclaimed from afar.

Hajime gave the bags to Tooru, giving a detailed description of everything he had brought and why, even though Oikawa knew Atsushi well enough to not need it.

"Tell me how he is doing everyday. I'll call in the morning to talk to him and in the afternoon, it'll be the videocall with Kiku. Don't miss any of it, okay?" Hajime warned.

"It'll be fine, Iwa-chan! Atchan is going to have fun, you're going to have it easy without having to watch over him, you and Kiku can focus on the baby and a good delivery. You can trust me, all of us." Oikawa said as they arrived into the garden where everyone was gathered.

Some children were learning how to swim in the swimming pool, watched over by Akane and Hanako; Kiyoshi, Akane and Kuroo's latest boy, was discovering swimming apparently. Ayaka, Shiori and Addie, her son Kaede on her laps, were sitting in the shadows of some trees, Nadeshiko, Atsushi and Hoshiko probably asking for cookies.

"Watch out, Kuroo!" Bokuto shouted from the other side of the garden.

The laughs of four little devils, the Bokuto twins and the Kuroo twins, all five years-old now, echoed as they ran around, apparently driving their fathers mad.

Kuroo tried to grab two of the children who were running by but landed on his face while Bokuto ran after two others.

"…Do I want to know what happened?" Hajime asked.

"Mmm… I think that all four tried to climb over the kitchen's counter to open the fridge and stole ice-cream but, they didn't close the door well so everyone's ice-cream has melted. Ushiwaka has gone to buy some more. Bottan and Kurocchi decided to punish the two pairs of twins by cleaning the kitchen covered in melted ice-cream and various other stuff that melted but, they accidently made half of the kitchen drop – you know how clumsy Isao and Isamu are, they inherited it from their mother after all – but they ran away instead of warning anyone and now, Bottan and Kurocchi are trying to catch them but it turned into a game for the twins."

"…I'm not sure I should leave my son into your hands, after all."

"Hey!"

"Kuroo! I've got one!" Bokuto suddenly shouted, lifting up one of his twins, "Isao! What is it that's sticking all over you?!"

"It's Isamu, dad!"

Confused, Bokuto turned him around but Isao, because it was him, laughed just as Isamu threw a volleyball in his father's back to free his brother.

"Hey! Come back here, Isamu!" He shouted, keeping Isao under one arm while chasing the other.

Kuroo jumped to stop Isamu who didn't have time to turn around. He was grabbed by Kuroo but Kazuki and Hotaru, his twins, attacked him. He fell on the ground with a scream, Bokuto arriving and grabbing Kazuki while Kuroo kept Isamu and Hotaru stuck.

"Did you swim in the ice-cream?! You're all off for a bath now!" Kuroo exclaimed.

"But, daaaad!" Kazuki whined.

"Don't even think about discussing it or I'm sending you to your mom!"

Kazuki and Hotaru turned silent, while the Bokuto twins laughed.

"And you two, don't think you're getting out of this one so easily! No ice-cream for any of you for the rest of the week!"

"Naaaaan!"

"Please!"

"We'll be good!"

"Uncle Kou!"

"Stop whining, you had it coming!" Kuroo exclaimed, "Hotaru stop putting melted ice-cream into my hair!"

"It's shitty enough as it is, ah ah!" Bokuto added.

Kuroo glared at him but Hotaru did stop when Ayaka, getting tired of all this yelling, scolded them from afar (and all of them, the fathers included).

Once the entire mess had been cleaned up (by an adult, bless Akaashi's presence in this house), the children cleaned up too, and Kuroo's hair cleaned up too, everything went back to peace. As much peace as it could get at least, with eleven children gathered in one place, more than half of them hyperactive thanks to the Bokuto, Kuroo and Oikawa genes.

"You're a good boy and you listen to uncle Tooru, auntie Shiori and everyone except the twins, okay?" Hajime told Atsushi a few minutes before leaving, "Don't let them trick you like at Hideyoshi's birthday party."

Atsushi shook vividly his head before looking up at the adults he could listen to.

"I'll call you tonight with mom. I'll see you soon, minizilla, okay?" Hajime said, ruffling his hair.

Atsushi whined before hugging him. Hajime smiled then patted his back. Atsushi went to hold onto Tooru's hand as his father left. Hajime's heart broke when, from the car, he saw Atsushi hugging Oikawa's leg and hiding his face.

Hajime went directly to the hospital and after the videocall for Kiku and Atsushi, making sure she was okay and the baby was okay too, he went home, strangely quiet without his wife and child.

It was a strange rhythm that settled down between preparing the house for the baby's arrival and Kiku's return, making sure from afar that Atsushi was doing okay, and visiting Kiku, doing the daily video-call where Atsushi would talk about his day and what mayhem the twins had provoked again.

The days turned into weeks and finally, Kiku went into labour. Which would be the longest hours of both her and Hajime's lives.

Back at the summer mansion, Oikawa was starting to worry because he hadn't received a single message from Iwa-chan since the afternoon and the time of the video-call had gone already and he hadn't missed one until now.

"Uncle Tooru…" Atsushi asked, pulling at his pants, "Why is daddy not calling? Is mommy okay?"

"Don't worry, Atchan, I'm sure your mommy is all right, and perhaps your daddy was just stuck in traffic and that's why he's not answering yet. You don't have to– ah! Here it is, I told you not to worry!" He exclaimed after receiving a message.

Atsushi seemed even more impatient but Oikawa read the message once. Twice, then a third time to be certain.

"The baby is coming?" He read on his phone.

Everyone turned to him and he suddenly screamed and stood up, eyes wide:

"THE BABY IS COMING! THE IWABABY IS COMING!"

There was a moment of stunned silence when no one, adults or children, reacted, then all the adults screamed at once, which made the children scream too:

"Finally!"

"We should go!"

"We can't leave the children!"

"They're having a baby!"

"I'm scared now!"

"Hurry up, go join Iwaizumi! We'll come later!" Bokuto exclaimed, grabbing Oikawa and pushing him forward.

"R-right! I'll go!"

He quickly went into his bedroom to take his car keys and be properly dressed then before leaving, he leaned towards Shiori, quickly kissing her lips before running off, jumping into his car and driving off.

"I'm worried for Kiku… I hope the birth will go well…" Ayaka murmured worriedly.

"We have to pray it will! For both Kiku and Sacchan!" Bokuto exclaimed.

"She's not even born yet, don't give her a nickname," Kuroo remarked.

Atsushi watched uncle Tooru go and all the adults talking in low voices, then he watched by the window, hoping he'll see his daddy and mommy coming back soon.

Shiori went into the bedroom she shared with Tooru to take her phone with her and follow what was happening. She stopped when she found Tooru's phone – he would panic when he wouldn't have it, Iwaizumi would probably panic too with no answer but it was too late to bring it to him now…

"Auntie Shiori…"

She turned towards Atsushi as he approached her shyly, his eyes a little teary but bravely holding back his tears.

"Will mommy and my sister be all right…?" He asked hesitantly.

"Oh, honey, I'm sure, they will," she answered.

She opened her arms and he immediately ran to her despite her round belly. She winced but ignored the feeling and a few minutes later, Atsushi was going to ask uncle Kou when he'll be able to visit his mommy and sister. Shiori wanted to initially follow him but after another wince from a pain in her tummy, she sat down on the side of her bed.

"…Hoshiko! Come here a minute!" She called her daughter, "Go get uncle Toshi, would you?" She asked with a tight smile.

A moment later, her cousin arrived in the room, sending her a confused expression.

"What is it?" He asked.

"The baby is coming," she said, a hand on her belly.

"I know, I hope everything will go well for Iwaizumi."

"N-no! I mean MY baby! I'm! I just lost my waters, my baby is coming, Wakatoshi!" She exclaimed.

"Oh."

There was a moment of confusion, not quite knowing what he should do as he panicked a little, but not as much as when his wife had told him the same words two years ago or so. When he looked back at his cousin, she shrieked:

"HURRY UP!"

He startled and turned around, going back in the living-room. Calm as always, and before anyone could scream at him, he spoke up:

"Where is Oikawa?" He asked.

"Gone, already," Kuroo answered, pointing at the door, "Why? Did he forget something?"

"His wife."

They all gave him a confused expression before he added:

"Shiori's waters just broke."

There was a moment of silence until they all stood up and started screaming, Hoshiko most of all.

"Take her to the hospital! Hurry!"

"Which one is the closest?!"

"Shiori wanted to go to the same as Hoshiko's – Tokyo's hospital!"

"It's two HOURS from here!"

"We have to warn Oikawa!"

"Hey! But he's already going there! For Iwaizumi! If Shiori can hold on until then, it'll be easier!"

"Grouped package!"

"Tetsu, if you EVER say that again about someone's baby I'm going to divorce."

"Admit it, it's funny~"

"No, it's not."

"EXCUSE ME! I'M GIVING BIRTH OVER HERE!" Shiori shouted from the bedroom from where she could hear them.

"What do you want to do?" Her cousin asked, coming back to her, calm.

"If it's the same as Hoshiko, I won't be ready until a few more hours – take me to Tooru!"

"Bokuto, can I borrow your car?"

"Yes! Yes! Hurry up! Don't give birth in my car, though."

"Koutarou! She can't help it if it happens faster than she thinks!"

"Yeaaaah buuut…!"

"Instead of talking – could someone help me walk to the car?!"

Wakatoshi and Bokuto helped her – her cousin proposed to carry her but she could still walk, though with difficulty. Once they were gone, they tried contacting Oikawa – but he had forgotten his phone and was on his way to Iwaizumi. And Iwaizumi himself had other troubles than checking his phone. It was why when, a little more than two hours later, Oikawa arrived running to Iwaizumi, who sighed in relief to see him here to support him. As surprising as it was, Hajime was so panicked that he went directly into Oikawa's arms.

"How is it going?" He asked.

"Oikawa!"

Iwaizumi and Oikawa turned to Ushijima as he arrived to him – some meters behind him a nurse was pushing Shiori, in much more pain than before, in a wheelchair.

"What are you doing here?" Oikawa asked, too frantic to think clearly.

"Isn't it OBVIOUS, Tooru?!" Shiori screamed from where she was before biting down on her lip to not scream too loudly.

He blinked once, twice, then gasped.

"Y-you! YOU! NOW?!"

"Go with her, Oikawa, for your son's birth," Ushijima said, "I'll stay here and wait for everyone to arrive – and everyone's babies too."

"B-baby, coming… right! Baby! Coming!" Oikawa exclaimed, panicking a little.

"Tooru, calm down!" Shiori exclaimed as he turned around in confusion.

"What do I do?! What do I do?!"

"TOORU!"

Oikawa turned towards Iwaizumi, conflicted because his best friend needed him more than ever – his wife and child might not make it alive and he was already shaking and sobbing and– Hajime put his hand on Tooru's shoulder, a tight, but happy smile on his face:

"Go, Oikawa! Go with her!" He exclaimed, pushing him lightly towards his wife.

Tooru stared back at Hajime, he nodded then after a squeeze on each other's shoulders, Tooru ran to help the nurse and his wife.

Iwaizumi glanced at Ushijima who awkwardly patted his shoulder.

"It's going to be okay…" He said.

Hesitantly, Hajime nodded just as the doctor came out:

"Iwaizumi-san? Your wife is asking for you."

Hajime swallowed hard but after another pat from his teammate and friend, he followed the doctor. He put on the protective outfit then was with Kiku who was screaming in pain. He took her hand, whispering soothing words as she gave birth to their baby girl.

"It's going to be all right, I'm with you… we're going to be all right…" He kept whispering.

"H-Hajime…" She called, eyes teary from the pain.

"It's okay… I believe in you, you're the strongest woman I know…" He murmured, kissing her sweaty forehead just as another series of pain hit her.

It took a long time, long hours of physical pain for Kiku, and long hours of emotional pain to see her suffer for Hajime. Their hands never let go of each other.

After many hours of labour, their baby girl was finally born, but she wasn't crying. Worried, Hajime tried to have a look to know what was going on but the doctors took her away.

"Is it okay? Is she okay? What's going on?" He asked a nurse.

She didn't have time to answer to her that she leaned over Kiku, tapping lightly her cheek:

"Iwaizumi-san?"

"Her heartbeat is slowing down."

Hajime's heart missed a beat, scared for his wife and baby girl.

"Iwaizumi-san, please leave the room," another nurse said, pushing him aside.

"W-wait! I need to be here for her! For both of them! Wait! Kiku!" He exclaimed.

He held onto Kiku's limp hand for as long as possible but he was pushed out of the room. He stumbled out, breathing with difficulty, panic making him dizzy.

"Iwaizumi!"

He looked up, seeing Bokuto run to him and hold him standing.

"Ushiwaka and Kuroo are here too, the others remained behind to stay with the kids! Atsushi and Hoshiko were brought but Kuroo is distracting them with candies. What's happening?!"

"I… I don't know… I don't know! She's… they're…!"

Tears filling his eyes, he covered his face with his hands, not knowing what to do, what to think, the only image in his mind being Kiku not waking up and his baby not surviving either. It couldn't happen… it couldn't…!

Sudden baby cries made him look up. Hajime stared at the door from which the baby cries came from, a little smothered but alive and well…

Quiet tears rolled down his cheeks, this sound being the happiest sound he's ever heard.

"Congratulations, dad," Bokuto said, patting his shoulder with a smile.

The doctor exited the room just now and Hajime jumped on him:

"How is she?! My wife, and my baby? What happened?!"

"They're fine, Iwaizumi-san. Both of them. It took a little time for your daughter to cry, but she's healthy and your wife lost consciousness temporarily, she's coming back to herself now."

The doctor patted his shoulder with a smile:

"You've created miracles. They're strong, both of them."

"C… can I see them…?" He asked in a broken voice.

The doctor smiled and Hajime stumbled after him, finding Kiku awake and as well as she could be at the moment, holding tightly the bundle of joy in her arms. He approached hesitantly, seeing the little hands of their new-born daughter waving around. Kiku looked up, her eyes the most beautiful shade of blue and love he had ever seen. It left him breathless.

"Hajime…" She called, voice hoarse from tears of joy and hours of screaming.

He approached hesitantly, looking down at their beautiful daughter. He approached a trembling hand and caressed her head with brown hair, as spiky as his.

"Gods, I hope her hair will grow out to be like yours…" He murmured, making Kiku chuckle.

"She's beautiful… our little miracle… our little Sachi…" She whispered.

Hajime detached his eyes from the joyful baby, turning towards Kiku who was in awe with their daughter. He fell in love all over again with her.

"Kiku… I love you… and I love our children…"

"I love you too…" She answered, looking up.

He kissed her forehead and a few minutes later, someone knocked at the hospital door. They turned around and saw Bokuto wave at them.

"Hey! Someone is getting impatient to meet his sister…" He said, Atsushi coming out from behind his legs.

Atsushi hesitated, seeing his mommy and daddy and his little sister from afar but not knowing if he could approach.

"Come here," Hajime said.

Grinning, he immediately ran into his father's arms who lifted him up, helping him sit on the side of the bed so he could lean and meet his sister.

"It's my sister?" He asked in awe.

"Yes, you'll be a wonderful big brother…" Kiku said.

"Hi, Sachi…" Atsushi said, waving at her, "She's the best little sister in the whole world, I know it…!"

Kiku and Hajime smiled happily.

A few hours later…

The Oikawa and Iwaizumi had been put into the same big hospital room, both mothers resting, exhausted, while the fathers were proudly introducing their babies to their friends and families. Both babies were red and healthy. Tooru didn't stop crying, and when he stopped, it was Hajime's turn, which would make Tooru cry again. They looked just as tired as their wives and both stunned and red-eyed from all the emotions and events.

"You're saying they were born at the same time?" Akaashi asked as everyone was gathered in the now cramped hospital room.

"No, Sachi was born before," Hajime said, "At 3:52. Hikoboshi was born at… what?"

"3:53," Tooru answered proudly.

"…One minute, y'know… they're practically twins." Kuroo said.

"Our twins had more time in between." Akane added, Ayaka nodding beside her.

"What matter is that you both have beautiful babies! And they're big and healthy! They'll become great volleyball players!" Bokuto exclaimed happily.

Tooru and Hajime glanced at each other, not quite believing they were holding their babies who were born in the same time, if not for one minute. Then, they shared the same smile – everything had turned all right, everyone was happy and the parents… They were the happiest beings in the whole universe.

After all, no matter how unfair life could get, love could create miracles.

A little dramatic, but it's proved that depression and anxiety lower fertility even fi doctors don't know why yet. And I wanted to show as long as you believe in love, miracles DO come true~!

Once again, thank you for reading this fanfic and supportingme. Hopefully, I will see you again in my Kuroo and Oikawa fanfics~

Yours Truly,

May