Forever With You

“What can I do to help?” he asked her, standing inside the nursery door, still holding a sleeping Yuki.
Yachi had just finished parking the pram, and wrapping her free arm around little Haru, who was mumbling in his sleep. She turned to face him and grinned.
“You don’t need to do anything, your grace. Let me put Haru in bed, and then I’ll take Yuki…”
“I don’t mind helping,” he said. “At the very least, I can sing them a lullaby.”
Now, she was amused, too. “But they’re already asleep, your grace,” she teased as she walked by. “But I’ll keep that in mind. They do have a habit of waking up just as I get them in bed.”
“They still do that?” he asked as he followed her into the boys’ room.
“It’s not often, but yeah, they will wake up either right after I’ve put them to bed, or an hour later.”
“I’m just glad they’re big enough for a bed. It was a nightmare for Kei and Tetsu when they were still in the cradle.”
“I can imagine.”

She turned the lamp by the bedside on, and bent her knees enough to reach the blankets and turn them down. Then, as carefully as she could, she nestled Haru in bed, hushed him when he whimpered, little hands reaching up for her. The boy would’ve risen if she hadn’t quickly taken Yuki from him, and placed him beside his brother. The two of them snuggled together, and as close as they could. Yachi tucked them in, and gave them each a little kiss on their heads.

They stood there for a few more minutes, making sure the boys were still asleep, and then she turned off the light. With practiced ease, she took out what looked like a large figurine, of sorts, and flipped a switch. A gentle light faded on, just enough that the room wasn’t completely dark, and he could now see it was a sculpture of a crescent moon with a little black cat sleeping in it. He chuckled lightly; the design was so Tetsu and Kei, and they were trying to work the motif into newer designs around the palace.

“Do you want some tea, your grace?” Yachi asked when she finally turned to him, gesturing for him to leave the room ahead of her.
“Sure,” he replied. A little more time spent with her was preferable to going back to his suite and his two advisors, who were no doubt ready to scold him for not returning immediately after dinner.
“I have vanilla chamomile, orange pekoe, and honey lemon,” she offered, going over to a small tea service area set up with her tea things, including an electric kettle, and several tea cups, saucers, and a sugar bowl.
“Honey lemon, please,” he replied, taking a seat at the table.

Eita watched her move. Graceful and precise, she somehow managed to keep the clinking sounds of preparation down to barely audible. While the water heated up, she turned to check on her baby, whose tiny little hands reached up for her. Yachi picked her up, smiled brightly, and went back to preparing the tea things. She did it all easily, as if it were second nature.

Well, duh. It would be second nature, wouldn’t it? He chided himself. She probably does this every night before going to bed. He started to stand up, to go see what help he could offer, but she turned and smiled at him.

“Would you mind bringing the tray over? My arms are a little full.” The tiny angel in her arms gazed at him with huge blue eyes.
“Not at all,” he replied, going over to pick up the tray, swiftly taking in the contents, smiling down at her, and then following them back to the table. When she tried to start serving, he stopped her, gently laying his hand over hers. “Allow me.”
“But, your grace…!”
“Vanilla chamomile for you, I presume?” She blinked and nodded. Chuckling softly, he winked at her, and began to make their tea.
“My mom loved tea,” he told her quietly. “Everything from arranging the tea service, to serving her guests.” He carefully placed a full teacup and saucer in front of her, the fragrance of vanilla and chamomile gently scenting the air between them. “I learned how to make a fairly decent cup, at least according to her.”

For a few moments, she stared at her cup of tea. Not sure what to make of it, Eita went about making his own tea, adding a touch more honey to his. He lifted the teacup to his lips, and saw over the rim of his cup that Yachi had done the same. The expressions on her face were well worth the effort of making her tea: she was equal parts surprised, pleased, and a faint smile appeared.

“What do you think?”
“She taught you well, your grace.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”

At that moment, she looked past him and gave a lop-sided grin. With her head, she nodded in that direction, suggesting he look behind him. Which he did, and laughed softly. Standing in the doorway, holding hands, were Yuki and Haru. Half-asleep, rubbing their eyes, and yawning. Eita turned to see Yachi stuck with a bit of a problem and trying to think her way through it.

“Need some help?” he asked her again.
She sighed and smiled ironically. “Please? She’s usually in her bed by now, so getting them back in theirs isn’t usually a problem.”
“Okay. What do you need me to do?”
“Well, have you ever put them to bed before?” Yachi asked, watching the boys as they shuffled their way to her.
Eita smirked. “It’s been a while. They weren’t more than a year old.”
“Well, hopefully they’ll let you now.”

The boys made it to her side, and were clinging to her skirts. But, he noted, she was being a little clingy with her daughter, too. She wanted to be the one to do it all, and she couldn’t. Not easily, anyway. So Eita tried something, hoping maybe the boys would come to him. He started humming the lullaby from his homeland. He almost made it through, and began to think it wasn’t going to work. But then, little Yuki toddled over, sleepily reaching up to him.

As slowly as he could, he picked up the child, and repeated the lullaby. While he did that, he rose to his feet, and carried Yuki to the boys’ room. Without pausing, he laid the little one in bed, brushing his fingers through baby soft blond locks and trailing his fingers over chubby cheeks. Yuki was asleep again, but he was reaching for his brother. Still humming, he turned to go get Haru, but found Yachi standing in the doorway holding his hand. And she was humming, too.

As soon as he put Haru next to his brother and tucked them in, he finished the lullaby and he crept out, leaving the door open a crack.

“That wasn’t so hard,” he said quietly. “Will they stay there?”
“Yeah. With everything going on, they got a little too excited.”
“With Tetsu’s birthday the day after tomorrow, do you think they’ll have trouble sleeping?”
“It’s possible,” she replied, turning and walking toward another room. He followed her, but stayed just outside the door. “I’ll just have to make sure they retire a little earlier. All of them.”
“All of them?”
“We’re expecting several families tomorrow. Prince Kuroo and Prince Tsuki said invitations were sent out and children were invited to come along. I’m expecting, at most, another seven children.”
“Sounds like it’ll be difficult for you.”

She didn’t answer, but instead, began humming the lullaby again. He took a step closer to the door, and peeked inside. Yachi was rocking her baby, one tiny hand wrapped around a finger, and eyes drooping. Soon, she was asleep. Carefully, Yachi gently laid her baby in a rocking cradle, and then turned to face him. She hadn’t said anything, but he knew it was time to go.

Even if he didn’t want to leave just yet.

“I should take my leave,” he said when she met him where he stood.
“You need your rest, too, your grace.” She went around him and returned to their table, to start clearing away the tea things.
“Let me help you.”
“Thank you, but I can manage, your grace.”

He reached out to take the tray from her, and their hands touched. He shivered and his heart fluttered; she gasped. The touch was… a sparkling sensation zipping up his spine. He felt the goosebumps on his skin, and he saw them appear on hers. The tray nearly slipped out of her hands, but he quickly moved so that he had it in his grip.

“Careful.”
“I-I’m sorry, your grace.”
So, she was as unsteady as he was.
“Miss Yachi?”
“Call me Yacchan. I don’t mind.”
“Only if you call me Semi.”
He would love to hear his given name on her lips, but he’d have to wait. Getting her to even call him by his family name would likely also be a bit of a problem, seeing as how she used titles before Kuroo and Tsuki’s names.
“Oh, but I don’t think I should, your grace.”
“Why not? I just said you could.”
“It wouldn’t be proper! I’m not your equal.”
So that’s what it was?
“I understand. But… Could you say it? Just once?”
“Your family name?”
“Yeah. Or better yet, my given name.”
“I don’t know…”
They walked slowly to the door of the nursery. She opened it and he stepped out into the hall. He’d known it was a shot in the dark to hear his name from her. Well, it wasn’t like it wouldn’t happen, just not now. Facing her he held out his hand, which she eventually placed hers in it. Again, the goosebumps and sparkling sensation rode up his spine. Before he second guessed himself, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back, gently letting it go after.

“Goodnight, Yacchan,” he said quietly.
“Goodnight…” She started closing the door. But before she closed it completely, he heard her say softly, “...Eita.” And the door closed with a soft click.

He neither knew, nor cared how he got back to his own suite. He barely even heard his advisors scold him for coming back so late, and did he realize what time it was? He had to be up early for the official procession and greetings… He heard none of that. All he heard was his heart thumping, and the sound of her voice when she said his name.

“Your grace? Have you even heard a word we've said?”
“Not one, Taichi,” he said. “Not a single one.”

He left his advisors standing dumbstruck in the main room and went to his bedroom. He knew he’d have to explain later, and he would. Not everything, at least, and not in front of Kenjiro. Lord knew what he'd take it upon himself to do if he knew about his fascination with a certain angel. But, eventually, he’d say something. Until then, he’d keep Yachi Hitoka to himself. Just for a little while longer.