{These characters are not property of me. I would never attempt to claim them as my own. This story may not be used without my permission, and may not be used to make money in any way, shape or form. Characters and certain situations were created by Rumiko Takahashi, so don't try any funny stuff!}

He stepped out of the cab into the bright sunshine. It warmed his skin even as the chill air tried to cool it. He paid the driver and looked at the house before him. It hadn't changed from what he remembered. Of course, he had been gone for only nine months, he wasn't sure what he expected to be different.

He went up the walk, towards the door. He just hoped they wouldn't kill him when they saw who it was. He took three deep breaths before knocking.

A young man he didn't recognize answered the door. "Yeah?"

"I'm looking for Nabiki Tendo. I said I would..."

"She ain't here. Everyone's at the hospital."

"Hospital? What for?"

"She's having a baby. Guess she got knocked up a few months before I started living here."

Living there? But that wasn't really important. "Thank you very much," he said, running back down the walk.

Nabiki knew she should have had the abortion and just skip over all the pain and discomfort and trouble. At least Kuno had kept his promise. Each month she had received a rather sizable check from the Kuno estate that she saved. She only spent it when she needed something related to her pregnancy.

"I can't do this any longer," she panted.

"Yes you can. It's almost time," Akane countered, trying to be supportive.

"Almost time... Yeah right."

The birth had been a success. Baby was fine, mother was fine, rest of the family was not so fine. Nabiki was sleeping and the baby was in the nursery. They were giving him an extra battery of tests to make sure none of what Kuno was drugged up on had carried over.

Nabiki awoke, feeling drained but happy. It was finally over, the baby was finally out of her... And she was an unwed, single mother at 18. "Damn you, Kuno," she said quietly. It was something she said almost daily. Damn him for raping her and making her pregnant. Damn him for leaving...

"I'm sorry. I'll leave."

The voice scared Nabiki. She hadn't even seen the person sitting on the other side of the room. "Who..? Kuno-chan?" Was it really him after all this time?

He stepped up to the bed and smiled down at her. "I'm back. You said you wanted to see me when I got out." He took her hand in his. "Here I am."

Nabiki looked at him quizzically. "So you are."

His smile faltered a little at her statement. "I didn't mean to intrude. I'll leave you alone now." He let her hand go and walked to the door. "Maybe I'll talk to you later," he said on his way out. The door swung shut silently behind him.

Nine months. He had been gone nine months and was back. But she had pushed him away and he had left her alone again. She buzzed frantically for the nurse.

"Yes, is there something wrong?" the nurse asked, coming into the room.

"Yeah. Did you see a tall guy with black, poofy hair walk out of here?"

"As a matter of fact, I did."

"Could you bring him back here. He's the father..." Maybe that would get the nurse moving a bit quicker.

"I'll see if I can get him." The nurse left, leaving Nabiki to contemplate what she would say to Tatewaki.

Really, he had stopped being 'Kuno-chan' a long time ago. When, day after day, he wasn't in school, when she didn't hear anything from him the entire time he was gone.

But he was back and she was already falling back into her old ways. He would be her Kuno-chan again. She had never told anyone that she didn't hate him; she would rather let people draw their own conclusions. Considering what most people thought of her anyway, she didn't much care what their conclusions were.

The door opened and Kuno walked in, thanking the nurse. "Good afternoon," he said, keeping his voice neutral. He stood a few feet from the bed.

"Hi," she replied. She really looked at him this time, and what she saw almost made her heart stop. He was dressed in a pair of faded jeans and black loafers. He had on a short-sleeve, black button-up shirt, half open to show the white tank top he wore underneath.

"How have you been?"

"Not bad, kind of pregnant. How are you?"

"Good. Better than I've been in a long time." He took one hesitant step forward. "I would have liked to see you somewhere other than the hospital."

"Come closer. I want to see how you've changed."

He stepped into the light coming through the window, squinting his eyes. He didn't look any older, but he looked more mature. There seemed to be a little more wisdom in his eyes, less arrogance. And he carried himself differently, with more confidence, and without the threatening attitude.

"What happened to you?" she asked as Tatewaki stepped next to the bed.

He shrugged. "I grew up, I guess. The time in the hospital really helped." He said it simply, as a statement of fact. "Can I sit?"

"Go ahead." He had changed for the better, just like he said he would. Nabiki was beginning to like it.

He sat on the bed next to her. "So do you like it?"

"I like it. A lot." She put her hand on his knee.

His hand covered hers. "So... ah... what..."

"It's a boy. Healthy."

His eyes lit up. "Really?"

Nabiki nodded. "They'll bring him in when it's time to feed him."

"I wish I could have been here to see it. I would have liked to be here with you."

"When did you get so sweet?"

"Could I tell a white lie and say it was because of you?"

"Lie? If you have to..."

"Then, could I tell the truth and say it was because I wanted to see you again and didn't want to disappoint you? Could I tell the truth and say that for nine months I only thought of you?" He brushed some hair away from her forehead.

Nabiki couldn't find her voice, she could only nod. She tried not to think of him while he was gone; it hurt too much. But here he was, sitting beside her, telling her he couldn't stop thinking about her.

He leaned forward a little. "May I?"

She nodded.

Tatewaki kissed her softly on the lips, his hand still on hers. "I've been waiting so long to be able to do that," he said after they seperated.

The tears started then. Nabiki sat up and hugged Tatewaki. "I missed you. Things just weren't the same. And there was no one I could talk to."

He held her tightly. "This time, I won't leave. I'll protect you and take care of you and give you everything you deserve." He pulled back and looked in her eyes. "If you'll have me."

Nabiki choked back a sob. "I... I can't."

Tatewaki's face dropped. "Of course. I should have known that too much has happened. I understand, I'm unacceptable." He started to pull his hand away.

Nabiki gripped it tightly. "No, don't go. Let me get to know you again. Let me get to know who you've become and forget the person you used to be. Just be my friend. I don't have many anymore."

"OK, I can be your friend. I have that ability now, to make friends. Thanks to you. But I'd like to be so much more." He kissed her again, gently, like the first one. "I'm going to go now. I should check on the house and Sasuke."

"Please don't. Don't you want to see your son?" She couldn't let him leave. He was the only person that understood, he was the only one who could truly comfort her. He was the only person willing to be her friend.

She sniffled and wiped her eyes. "It's funny, you know? The person who got me into this trouble is the only one who wants anything to do with me."

He smiled, sadness in his eyes. "I'll stay if you want me to."

"I do." She added quietly "I don't think I ever want you to go."

"And I don't want to."

They embraced tightly, unwilling to let each other go.