#katmas2019

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You thought you had finally grown out of the 'dozing when comfortable' phase, but your body seemed to have different ideas and had shared those plans with the warm afternoon sun and the stone bench beneath you that had no business being this cushy.

That's how Mitsuhide usually found you these days, curled up in a comfortable spot in the sun. He teased that Masamune's nickname for you was becoming more and more fitting each time he saw you. The resulting pout you always gave him did little to change his mind either.

Like all the other times, you had thought to take a walk through the gardens to clear your head. And, like all the other times, you found your favorite bench underneath a comfortably shady tree, started watching as the wind blew through all the flowers and grass, became lost in thought, and that resulted into your usual dozing.

Today was no different. A small walk in the garden to clear your head only to get more sleep in despite sleeping plenty at night.

...Except for last night. Mitsuhide hadn't come home, and while it wasn't a rare occurrence for him to stay out all night, he usually sent word if he was going to be late or not coming home at all so you didn't have to wait up for him.

Best case scenario, it likely slipped his mind to send word, you told yourself. Like he forgot to call or text you if he was going to be coming home late from work, if you two were in the modern era. Nothing to worry yourself over.

Still, you couldn't help the worry, even now. Leaning against the familiar tree with a sigh, you laid your hand to rest on your swelled abdomen. Tightened obis and layers of kimono couldn't hide it anymore, but you still hadn't felt any obvious movements that everyone kept mentioning you should be feeling by now. Just a growing tummy that Mitsuhide never can keep his hands off of, as if he didn't love touching you before.

You went back to your nature watching, gazing out into the world, quiet save for the wind and birds chirping in the distance.

Before you know it, your eyelids were becoming heavy again, like every time before it, and your head rested against the tree and your shoulder. If he hasn't returned by sunset, you'll have to go out and find him yourself. That's what he gets for staying out all night without a word, his wife coming to nag him, you think with a smile. Surely you'll be the most intimidating creature he's ever seen, a worried pregnant woman coming to lecture him worse than Hideyoshi ever could.

With that thought in mind, you finally started to doze, lulled by the quiet atmosphere and your own fatigue. It was far too peaceful to not be lured into sleep this way. You vaguely wondered if Mitsuhide had set up his garden just for you to nap in. You wouldn't put it past him, Mitsuhide being... well himself. He was just full of endless surprises.

With a long breath, you relaxed fully and accepted this impromptu nap to wait for your sneaky husband to come home.

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It was a lot warmer than you remember being when you first fell asleep. You could no longer feel tree bark against your face too, now replaced with a familiar muscled shoulder. A strong arm was also supporting your back while a wandering hand entertained itself with rubbing soothing patterns on your belly. The faintest scent of gunpowder and gun cleaning oil that could only belong to Mitsuhide filled your nose, causing you to stir awake.

"Caught you sleeping again, dearest." His deep voice vibrated through you despite being so soft. "Hasn't Hideyoshi already lectured you on the dangers of sleeping out in the open?"

"...A mouse could sneeze in your garden and you'd know about it instantly." You wiped your eyes, trying to clear the sleep away. As if anything could get past Mitsuhide on his own property.

"Oh, there's a mouse with a cold here? That does sound terrible. I certainly hope mine doesn't catch it."

"Well, your mouse stayed up worrying about her husband, so a little nap in the garden is luckily the only repercussion of that."

"Oh, forgive me dearest," he smiled in apology, "I had intended to warm your bed last night, but... well, sometimes, a little more than gentle pressure is needed before things open up to your hapless husband."

He nuzzles your temple before giving it a soft kiss. "You two weren't too lonely without me there, were you?"

"...Well, I don't know about me, but I'm sure the baby missed your constant attention." You placed your hand on his, letting it rest for a moment.

"One of you missing me is enough to soothe my aching heart," he chuckled, "but I supposed that also means I need to make up for my absence. I'd hate for our kit to feel lonely, after all."

"...And if I told you I was lonely too?" you returned his teasing smile with your own.

"Well, my workload just doubled then." He secured his arm around you and helped you to your feet. "I am indeed a terrible husband for leaving my lovely wife and child to stay up worrying about me. Only the most heinous of punishments should be exacted on your terrible husband."

You couldn't help the small laugh that escaped.

"I have a few ideas for you punishment. Just know I won't go easy on you."

"You are a harsh mistress, indeed. But I am yours to do with what you please, as is fair."

"You give me too much power, Mitsuhide."

"As you deserve, Princess."

"Not queen?"

"...No, you're right," his eyes lit up with amusement, "Though, I think empress is far more fitting."

That time, you did laugh.

"You do know flattery gets you nowhere, right?"

"On the contrary, dear Empress, my experience says the exact opposite. And if it gets me what I want, then I will use it to it's fullest potential."

"It won't lessen your punishment, just so you know."

"Ah, a valiant attempt on my part, thwarted in the end." He sighed, walking with you towards his manor. "So, tell me, what you have in mind for my punishment?"

"Why ruin the surprise?"

"I was hoping to prepare myself for the inevitable. You never do go easy on me, after all."

"Only the best for my favorite hapless husband."

"Who was it that said flattery gets you nowhere just now?"

You laughed again, leaning into him for support.

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He stayed by your side the rest of the evening per your 'punishment', sharing dinner together and enjoying some warm tea before bed. As you both started to settle down for the night, he was changing his robes when you came behind him and started to rub his shoulders. The resulting noise from him sounded somewhere between a relieved sigh and a pleased groan.

"Another punishment, mouse? You truly are the harshest mistress."

"Only the most harsh and cruel mistress to the most deserving husband." Your thumbs and fingers made their way down his back, releasing small knots along the way. He voiced his relief each and every time.

"What I must have done to deserve you..." that sigh was especially loud as a tougher knot was released, you'd think he just moaned.

"Just by being yourself, Mitsuhide. Just by being yourself." You ran your hands up and down his back, your impromptu massage finished.

"Quite a few people would disagree with that statement, I'm afraid, dearest."

"I love you because you're you, and that should be reason enough, shouldn't it?" You reached up and tried to kiss his jaw, but found it a little harder to do than it used to be, finding your belly pressing into his back in a quite not as comfortable position. Instead, you settled back onto your feet and kissed his shoulder instead.

Mitsuhide, however, had other ideas.

He turned around and kissed you properly, his hand tilted your jaw up towards him. He drew it out, his thumb rubbing against your cheek while gently teasing your mouth with his tongue. When you couldn't breathe anymore did he finally pull away, panting, but his familiar smirk lit up his face.

"You've made me happier than I probably ever deserve, [Name]." He kissed your cheek, using his free arm to pull you as close as your body could allow you to be. "Is it selfish of me to want to spend all my happiness on you?"

You lean into his hand on your face, smiling warmly.

"Only if I can't spend my happiness with you."

Satisfied with your answer, he kissed you again, finished changing clothes, pulling you towards the futon with him. Once you two were settled in, he rested on one elbow while his other hand roamed over you freely, giving attention to all of his favorite parts of you. Of course, he loved coming back to his new favorite part of you, now massaging his palm into you.

"If you keep pressing into me like that, the baby's gonna come out and start squishing you."

"Good. I want to meet our kit as soon as possible," he smirked, "though I would sorely miss seeing you round like this."

"..Most women don't like being called round, you know." You pouted. "Not to mention only going to get bigger over the next few months."

"Even better. More for me to squish and poke at." He looked like a child that just found his new favorite toy.

"Not funny, Mitsuhide. No poking me or the baby."

"But I thought you liked it whenever I poked you?"

"I don't, as I've said every other time you've poked me."

"Every other time implies there are times when you do enjoy it."

"I don't enjoy it at all, then."

"Now you're just backpedaling on your own words, dear." He chuckled.

You wanted to poke him, you wanted to do it so bad. But you also know he would just do it back. Instead, you settled for watching his hand, to make sure he doesn't really start poking you, but also not wanting him to stop massaging you.

"Hmm... is the reason you touch me so much is that you want to catch when the baby start kicking?"

"Well, the main reason is that I love you and I love how soft you are," he paused, as if trying to concentrate, "but that is a small part of it, yes."

"So you reveal your true motives in the end," you giggled.

"As if there was any doubts about my motives." The clear affection in his eyes certainly would erase any doubts you had. "I'm curious about our kit and this is the only method available to me to learn about him. And it's not like you don't find this enjoyable too."

"You were rubbing me there even before there was a noticeable bump."

He grinned.

"My little mouse always deserves belly rubs, with or without our kit inside her."

You pouted. "You make me sound like a cat or dog."

"I'd let you do it to me, if want to give me belly rubs too." He chuckled. "I can even bark or meow for you, if it helps."

"...Don't you dare."

You really should have known better than to tell Mitsuhide not to do something.

He then rolled onto his back, looking you in the eye with his signature smirk.

"Woof woof. Rub my belly, [Name]."

You were stunned for a brief moment, trying to process what he just said and did, before bursting out laughing.

"Mi...Mitsuhide!" You were shaking with how much you were laughing.

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, [Name]," he teased, even making a point to run his fingers down his chest to his belly button and back up again. "All of this, is yours to touch, my dear."

You felt you were laughing too much to take his suggestion even remotely seriously.

"You're leaving yourself very open right now, Mitsuhide. Whose to say I'm not going to use this opportunity to try tickle torture on you?"

"I could always use insight into my own techniques. Do your worst, if you so wish. I could always use the learning experience, after all."

You smiled and shook your head. What were you going to with him?

You sat up and scooted closer to him, placing your hand on his abdomen, feeling it rise and fall as he breathed. Despite your earlier threats, you instead rubbed him like he did you thousands of times, more curious and exploring rather than to tease and tickle you. He seemed to enjoy it, based on the contented sigh he let out.

"Am I to be expecting my own kit soon, then?" he teased while watching your hand move over him.

"Hmm, I don't feel any kicks yet, but they could start up any day now, I think."

He smiled, taking your hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing the knuckles. Your smile mirrored his as you laid down beside him, snuggling in as much as you could into his awaiting arms. He kissed your forehead tenderly once you were settled and started finger-combing your hair.

"I am sorry," he apologized suddenly, "for not sending word yesterday and leaving you to wait up for me unnecessarily."

"..You're forgiven, Mitsuhide," you said softly, feeling your eyelids, once again, feeling heavy. "Get some sleep. You need to keep your strength up for your kit, after all."

He chuckled softly.

"As do you, dearest. Rest as much as you need to." He wrapped his arm around you protectively, closing his eyes as well.

His soft voice carried through you, finally sending you into a warm and peaceful sleep.