Fanfic- Expectant Time Chapter 3
Title: Expectant Time Chapter 3
Rating: T
Category: Drama/Romance
Pairing: Tashigi/Zoro, Tashigi/Smoker (sort of)
Summary: Tashigi faces the consequences of some actions. She does not face them alone.
Spoilers: Mentions of many things before the time-skip.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. I'm not making any money. Please don't sue.
Week 30
The waddling had started. Tashigi had read that it might happen in several of the baby books but had worked hard so that her body would stay normal as long as possible. She didn't need the men looking at her with pity as she walked the base. It didn't help that she couldn't stay on her feet for as long, even during training sessions. The first time she had to ask for someone else to lead the training had been almost physically painful.
Unknown to her, the black market for pictures had exploded with her waddling. Covert photographers had been following her every move, documenting every back stretch, every pause to lean against a wall, every new nuance was recorded for posterity. The men could not get enough of their "glowing" Lieutenant.
While these photos were the most popular, they were not the most desired. There was an alleged photo of both the CO and second-in-command that was rumored to be so touching as to bring a grown man to tears. The negatives had been destroyed shortly after the first batch of copies was made and anyone who had a copy was said to guard it with their life.
Week 32
Smoker was staring at her stomach again, Tashigi could feel it. She was lying on the office couch with her feet propped up on the end. She had her arm thrown over her face and she had just been pondering a short nap when he had walked into the office.
"What is she doing now, sir?" she mumbled, not bothering to move her arm.
Smoker snorted in response and said, "You do know that the entire side of your stomach is… rippling."
"Aaa… she keeps hitting my ribs."
"It looks… uncomfortable."
Tashigi peeked from under her arm at her CO who was now standing several feet from her in the middle of the room. He was still staring at her stomach. She sighed and reached out the arm that had been covering her face. It was this again. "Give me your hand sir."
Smoker scowled and moved forward, reaching out his hand. Tashigi placed it on her still-moving stomach. 'Really,' she thought as she rolled her eyes, 'all he had to do was ask.'
Smoker continued to scowl and blush as he enjoyed feeling the baby move.
Week 36
"So are you going to keep all that baby crap you're gettin' in the off-base housing or are you going to try to squeeze it in to your quarters here?"
Tashigi looked up from the pile she was trying to stack in the corner of the office. First, it had been the stacks and stacks of books. Now it was clothes and diapers and toys and blankets and things that she didn't even know what they were. It was starting to get crowded in her quarters and the gifts kept coming in.
"The off-base housing is looking more and more appealing, sir."
"Hmph. Good. I'll send some seamen to move your things this afternoon," said Smoker, looking smug.
"But, sir! It's most convenient that I stay here! Aaa… especially since it is a shorter walk." Tashigi blushed a little at the admittance of her current lack of energy.
"You don't have to abandon your quarters here… they'll just get the house ready for you when the baby comes."
Tashigi sighed. "You were just waiting for an excuse to do this, weren't you sir?"
"Heh."
Week 37
"The doc told me you were only supposed to be working half days! Starting last week!"
Tashigi looked up as Smoker slammed into the office with an angry look on his face. He actually looked more angry than normal.
"Sir, I have been working to get the office ready for my maternity leave as well as keep up the training schedule and…"
"Lieutenant! Half days! He said it was important for your health!"
"Really, sir, it's not a big deal… my blood pressure has just been a little high and my feet a little swollen. It's nothing to worry about."
"Lieutenant. Tashigi." She blushed at the use of her name. "The office is gonna survive. The troops will get trained. But you can't work yourself sick."
"I just don't want to cause a burden when I'm gone."
"You're not a burden and you won't be when you're gone. Hell, the staff's probably gonna be trippin' over themselves to have the office perfect for you when you get back."
Tashigi knew what she was supposed to do. She couldn't even put up much fight when her CO was looking so earnest and concerned. Sighing, she said, "Fine… I'll start half days tomorrow."
"Today."
"But, sir!"
"Today… why don't you leave now?"
Tashigi looked at the work on her desk and then back to Smoker. "Yes sir."
Week 39
Tashigi was woken up from her afternoon nap by a sharp knock on her door. Rolling as quickly out of her bunk as possible, she waddled slowly to her door. When she opened it, she found one of the office petty officers looking nervous outside it.
"Lieutenant Tashigi, ma'am! I have a message from Rear Admiral Smoker," the young man said as he saluted.
Tashigi couldn't hold back a yawn. "Yes?"
"He wished me to inform you of a visiting Admiral. He also asked me to escort you to your off-base quarters."
Tashigi looked at the petty officer in confusion. "Off-base? Who is visiting?"
"Admiral Akainu, ma'am! May we go?"
The blood left Tashigi's face and she began to feel light headed. She leaned against the doorway and nodded. Feeling winded already, she allowed the young man to lead her slowly through the back hallways. She was going to need to trust Smoker to take care of this.
Week 40
"Hey! Baby! You can come out now!" Tashigi poked her stomach and sighed. She was getting bored. She was nesting. She was getting sick and tired of the men following her and asking if she needed anything! After spending several days last week confined to her quarters during the admiral's visit, officially "under the weather," the men had been doting on her even more. She was surprised they hadn't offered to carry her. Tashigi started poking her stomach again. "Really, you can come out."
Week 41
Tashigi had been feeling contractions all morning. She thought nothing of it because she had been feeling contractions all week. She still waddled through her half-day of work. She still gave orders. She still made sure that the office was in a ready state in case she couldn't come back the next day. (Oh, she hoped she wasn't coming back the next day!) It wasn't until the last half hour of her shift that the contractions intensified to anything that she was distracted by. Then she felt a wetness spread on her chair.
'Aaa… I should probably go send someone to get the doctor,' she thought breathing through the most recent contraction.
The next person into the office was the ensign set to relieve her. When she explained the situation, she couldn't understand all the excitement. She just needed a little help to the doctor. She just breathed through the next contraction until someone came to their senses.
6 hours later
When all was said and done, labor over, blood and other bodily fluids cleaned up, Tashigi held her sleepy baby. Dark hair peeked from under a little hat and a little red hand flexed as she breathed in and out. Looking at Smoker sitting in a chair next to the bed, Tashigi offered, "Would you like to hold Suzume, sir?"
Smoker looked slightly panicked but smiled. "Yeah, hand the kid over."
Tashigi gently shifted the baby to her CO's arms and watched as he cuddled her to his chest. Little did they know that someone had snapped a picture of the scene.
Author's Note- This chapter didn't want to come out until I was super tired. I'd been poking at it for a week before some of the scenes started shaping up. Chapter 5 is almost done though. It's good to know that my brain prioritizes. Thank you so much to gure for beta reading!