Baby Mine

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Tenchi Muyo characters. I am just borrowing them.

A/N: I am soo sorry about the delay in getting this posted. I had actually tried a few months ago and it wouldn't upload properly and I just became frustrated and decided to try at a later date. I didn't realize that meant it'd be several months later. So here you go, chapter ten!! Enjoy!


Chapter Ten

“Okay, I think that’s everything,” Tenchi sighed as he closed the trunk door on the van. He had been helping his dad pack the van with all of Ryoko’s belongings and the wedding gifts.

“Tenchi, there is one more thing that I have to give you and Ryoko. Now that you will be living on your own and will soon be raising a family, I thought you should have one of these,” Nobuyuki said, looking at his son.

He led Tenchi to the back of the garage and stopped. Tenchi stared in awe at the gift from his father.

“Dad, this had to have cost you a fortune!” Tenchi gasped.

“Oh, Father, you didn’t need to get us this!” Ryoko said, coming up behind Tenchi. She had seen her husband and father-in-law going behind the garage and had become curious.

“Nonsense! You will most defiantly find it very useful. Besides, it is actually a gift from your mother, Tenchi. She made me promise that when you got married, I was to get you something that would be helpful for you. So, I’ve added money into an account she had set up over the years and used the money to buy you a car,” Nobuyuki smiled.

Tenchi and Ryoko just stared at the brand-new silver Honda Accord. Ryoko smiled and hugged her father-in-law while Tenchi looked at the inside of the car. Once they found the car satisfactory, Nobuyuki handed Tenchi the keys and Ryoko an extra one. Nobuyuki drove the car around to the front of the house while Tenchi and Ryoko said goodbye to everyone. The women cried and Tenchi, himself got a little misty eyed. This was the beginning of the end. With Tenchi and Ryoko married, everyone in the gang was going their separate ways. Soon Tenchi and Ryoko would have a family and they would most likely visit only during the holidays and summer. Ayeka cried the hardest since she and Ryoko had fought with each other over Tenchi for the past two years non-stop. Now, just when they were becoming friends, Ryoko was leaving.

“Don’t worry, I’ll have that portal open and ready in a few weeks. That should give you two some quality time with each other before the tidal wave of a family comes calling,” Washu smiled as she hugged Tenchi.

“Thanks Washu. However, could you give it to us when we come back for Christmas? That’s only in a couple of months and I will need all the time I can get for preparing for my finals,” Tenchi looked at his mother-in-law.

“Finals! Oh Tenchi, did you have to remind us!?” Amagasaki groaned from his place by the van.

“Of course, Tenchi. Good bye, Ryoko, take good care of Tenchi for all of us.”

“I will, Mom,” Ryoko hugged her mother and then, all of Tenchi’s friends climbed into the Masaki van with Nobuyuki since he was taking them back to their dorms while Tenchi and Ryoko drove their new car to their apartment. Tenchi and Ryoko gave everyone one last hug before they climbed into their car. Tenchi started the car and Ryoko waved to everyone as Tenchi began to follow his dad.

“Do you think they’ll be alright?” Sasami asked softly as she held onto Ryo-Ohki.

“Yes, they’ll take care of each other. Ryoko won’t let Tenchi get too serious and Tenchi won’t let Ryoko become too bored or too playful either. They’ll balance each other out. Besides, right now Ryoko is pregnant and won’t be able to do much so I don’t think we have anything to worry about in that department,” Washu reassured the little princess.

“Plus, Ryoko has matured over these past two years and now that she has Tenchi’s love, I don’t think she has any reason to be so careless and brash any more,” Ayeka added as she put a hand on Sasami’s shoulder.

“Yeah, I guess you guys are right. But who will cook for them? We know Tenchi can’t cook and neither can Ryoko,” Sasami pointed out.

“I’m sure they’ll figure something out. Who knows, maybe Tenchi learned how to cook while he was at college last year and those two months before the wedding,” Kiyone smiled as everyone headed back inside to start cleaning up.

“Maybe, but very unlikely,” Sasami laughed.

“True.”

* * *

Tenchi and Ryoko rode in the car in silence for most of the ride. Sometimes they would listen to a CD or the radio but most of the time they just sat in silence, enjoying each other’s company. Tenchi usually held Ryoko’s hand in his while he drove; enjoying the knowledge that she was actually his and no one else’s. When they stopped at a stop light, he leaned over and gave Ryoko a kiss.

“I love you, Tenchi,” Ryoko smiled.

“And I love you, Ryoko,” Tenchi smiled back. Ryoko sighed in contentment and looked out the window as the light turned green.

They arrived at the apartment complex a couple of hours later. Tenchi’s dad was dropping the other guys off at their dorms and would arrive at the apartment complex with the wedding gifts and Ryoko’s belongings afterwards. Tenchi helped Ryoko out of the car and led her into the lobby of the building. They headed towards the elevator but where stopped by a voice.

“Mr. Masaki, where have you been? I have had so many people asking for you I almost had to place an ad in the paper telling everyone that I didn’t know where you were.”

“Mrs. Miako, I’m sorry, didn’t I tell you? I went home to get married,” Tenchi turned towards the middle aged woman behind the front desk.

“Married!? Well, where’s the lucky woman?”

“This is my wife, Ryoko. Ryoko, this is my land-lady Miako Sakura,” Tenchi introduced.

“Oh, my, now aren’t you a beauty! Well, I’m glad you decided to marry her,” Sakura said sternly before turning to Ryoko. “Nowadays, boys get young girls pregnant and don’t even bother with marrying them or at least providing the mother with some means to take care of the baby.”

“Mrs. Miako, I would never get a girl pregnant and just leave her! I am not the type to just sleep around as Ryoko can very well vouch for,” Tenchi protested as he held Ryoko close against his side.

“It’s true; I’ve tried to get him to sleep with me for the past two years with very little success. Well, at least until recently as you can very well see,” Ryoko smiled as she placed a hand on her stomach.

“Yes, I can see that. Do you know what it’s going to be?” Sakura leaned against the counter with interest.

“No, we want to be surprised,” Ryoko answered.

“My husband and I have two little girls and one boy and we wanted to be surprised on our first one too. However, it was torture on my husband who really wanted to know, so after our daughter was born we decided to find out what sex the baby was for our future children. So, you may decide to find out what your future children are. Oh and please, call me Sakura. Any time you feel the need to talk about your upcoming birth come and talk with me. My apartment is just down that hall, room A104.”

“Thank you Sakura, I just may take you up on that,” Ryoko smiled.

“Mrs. Miako, my dad will be arriving soon with Ryoko’s stuff and the wedding gifts, so could you have a dolly brought out for him?” Tenchi asked.

“Of course, I guess that’s a subtle way of saying you wish to take your new bride up to her new home? Well go on, I’ll keep an eye out for your father.”

Tenchi just grinned and grabbed Ryoko’s hand. They turned towards the elevator and they were half way there, before once again, they were stopped.

“Tenchi Masaki, where have you been? We were supposed to study together this weekend for that big math test on Tuesday.”

“Oh, Hanako, I’m sorry. I thought I told you I would have to cancel. I had to go home this weekend.”

“That’s okay, Tenchi, we can study tomorrow or sometime on Monday,” the girl, Hanako, smiled as she made her way over to Tenchi. Her comment was casual, but Ryoko heard the suggestive undertone and knew the girl was flirting with Tenchi.

“I’ll give you a call then. Oh, Hanako, this is my wife, Ryoko. She’s the reason I had to go home. Ryoko, this is one of my classmates Yuki Hanako.”

“Pleased to meet you, Hanako,” Ryoko smiled politely as she held out her hand.

“Like wise,” Hanako muttered as she shook Ryoko’s hand.

They all parted and Tenchi and Ryoko finally made it to the elevator. Once they were inside Ryoko turned towards her husband.

“She liked you.”

“Yeah, I know but you are the only one who holds my attention like that, Ryoko.”

“I think you need to publicly announce that you are now married so people will stop asking where you were this weekend.”

“I’m beginning to think so, too.”

They arrived on the fifth floor and Tenchi led Ryoko down the hall towards the last apartment on the right hand side. He unlocked the door and then scooped Ryoko up into his arms and carried her across the threshold of her new home. Looking deep into her eyes, he smiled softly.

“Welcome to your new home, Mrs. Tenchi Masaki.”

“You better put me down before your back goes out from my weight,” Ryoko laughed as she kissed Tenchi.

“Fine, but only because you asked me to. Now come on, I want to show you around.” Tenchi grabbed her hand and began to lead her on a tour of their apartment.

Upon first entering the apartment one could see that it was done in the western style. There was a coat closet on the left and across from it there was the open doorway of the kitchen. Going further into the apartment, the hallway opened up into the living room/ dining room. Tenchi had the room already furnished with a dining room table just in front of the kitchen wall that had a window that opened up into the living room and had a counter with two bar stools placed outside of the kitchen against the counter. In the living room area, there was a black leather couch and two black recliners facing each other on either side of the couch. There was a nice coffee table surrounded by the couch and chairs. All were facing, in a way, towards a fire place with a mantel in the right side wall. In the far corner of the right hand wall there was a door that led into a guest bedroom. At the moment, Tenchi used it as a study.

Between the door way and the fireplace there was a large wardrobe that held a big screen television and a DVD player. A bunch of DVDs were placed in the cabinet below the stand where the TV and DVD player were situated. On either side of the window, there were large bookcases half filled with books, mostly Tenchi’s college books. On the left side of the room, there was a door way that led into a hall. The master bedroom and another guest room were on the right hand side of the hallway. On the left side of the hall way, there was another closet and a bathroom. There was also a bathroom in the master bedroom complete with shower and bathtub. In the other guest bedroom, the one Tenchi had made a study; there was another bathroom with a tub/shower.

“Is this really all of ours, Tenchi?” Ryoko asked once the tour was over.

“Of course. Thanks to Dad and Grandpa, I was able to afford this place. It’s one of the better apartments. We’ll turn one of the guest bedrooms into the baby’s room.”

Ryoko smiled up at Tenchi and leaned up to kiss him. Tenchi backed Ryoko up towards the couch, his lips still pressed against hers. However, just as Tenchi was reaching for the buttons of Ryoko’s shirt, a voice stopped him.

“Really Tenchi, must you make an old man such as I do your job? This is your wife’s stuff; you are responsible for getting it up here. Now get downstairs and bring up the next load of boxes,” Nobuyuki laughed as he pulled the dolly loaded with Ryoko’s stuff into the apartment.

“You really know how to spoil the moment, Dad,” Tenchi muttered as he stood up and helped Ryoko up.

Ryoko laughed as she watched her husband take the dolly out of the apartment and disappear down the hallway towards the elevator. Nobuyuki looked at Ryoko after he had set the last box down.

“I know I haven’t been the best father to Tenchi, what with my perverted behavior, but I do love him. I am also glad he chose you, Ryoko, as his bride. There was always something about you that brought out the best in Tenchi, despite what it may have looked like. You more than anyone knew how Tenchi was; you saw him grow up while you were locked in that cave. Tenchi wasn’t always the type of boy to just go and fight for something he was passionate about. He usually just walked away or suffered in silence. He was never very good with girls until you came along; you and the other girls.

“However you were always so free with your emotions around Tenchi and he never knew what to do because he had never really been exposed to love the way you were exposing him to. Grandfather and I, well, we tried to give him the love he needed after my wife died but it was hard. Two men could never replace the love of a woman of any sort in a young boy’s life. So, I was thankful when you and the others came. I knew Tenchi would choose one of you and for a while, I didn’t know which one. Although, I knew it wouldn’t be Sasami or Washu and in the end I knew it would either be you or Princess Ayeka. As time went by, I began to recognize the signs of love coming from Tenchi aimed at you so I knew Tenchi had chosen and it was just a matter of time before he announced his choice. You bring a balance to Tenchi; when he’s weak, you are strong and when you are weak, he is strong. I know it never seemed like I observed anything about what was actually going on around the house apart from which girl was the most attractive, but I knew. Sometimes I wish I had been there for Tenchi more than I was and that I hadn’t made him so disgusted with me for my lecherous behavior,” Nobuyuki sighed as he sat down.

“I don’t think he was disgusted, just confused. I believe you act the way you do because you don’t want another woman to take your heart. You don’t want to fall in love with someone else now that your wife is dead. By acting like a pervert you can keep any potential women at bay. Deep down, I think Tenchi understands that and in a way admires you for it because it shows just how faithful you are to his mother,” Ryoko explained as she hugged her father-in-law.

“I leave you to go do what you ordered me to do and what do I find when I come back? My bride is already being unfaithful to me with my own father!” Tenchi cried out sternly but his eyes twinkled with humor as he stood in the doorway with the dolly filled with the last of Ryoko’s stuff.

“Tenchi, don’t tease your father and don’t blame me if I’m so irresistible. Though how anyone could think that way of me when I look like I have a watermelon for a stomach is beyond me,” Ryoko laughed as she stepped back from Nobuyuki.

“Well, I had better get going. If I don’t leave soon I’ll get caught in the rush hour traffic and I won’t get back home before ten. You two take care of each other and I expect to have a healthy grandchild in a few months so don’t do anything that could ruin that,” Nobuyuki smiled as he hugged his son and daughter-in-law. Tears filled his eyes as he gave one last look at the couple before he waved and left.

After a few minutes, Tenchi turned to Ryoko and smiled. He finally had her all to himself. So with a kiss, they started to unpack everything.