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Umi smiled a little as Alex left.

Eichie ruffled Lan's hair, and walked into the kitchen. He was smiling on the outside, but as soon as the door closed, he slumped against the wall, and clutched his chest. He tried to stifle a sob, but he couldn't. He slid down the wall, and cradled his head in his arms as he cried. He had never felt so helpless.

Helix refused to let go of Lan. He didn't want to let go of his brother, and refused to look at Umi, or Damien when he came back.

Umi smiled, and led Lan into the restrooms.

Helix watched them leave, and then explained what had happened to Damien. The man sighed, and scratched his head.

"It always seems to be me," he said. "I have the worst luck sometimes."

Umi smiled as she tucked a piece of her long indigo hair behind one ear. Lan seemed tired, so she made an innocent suggestion.
"Maybe you'd like to take the rest of the day off and get some rest."

Umi giggled, and suddenly, her face twisted a little. She gave a small moan, and sank to her knees, holding her abdomin. She gave a wimper of pain. "Ohh...Lan...go get someone...please..."

Damien scooped Umi up. "All right, you. Time to go see the doctor." He carried her out into the cafe, and looked at Eichie. "I have to leave again Can you--"

"Of course," Eichie said without a moment's hesitation. "Leave it to me and Helix."

Helix nodded, and sat Lan down in a chair.

Damien left with Umi, and Eichie sighed. "Sure was an eventful day. I hope Umi-chan's alright..." He smiled at Lan. "Tell you what...there's a room in the back where we keep some of our stuff. We got a small cot back there, so if you want to go lie down for a bit...it's dead in here anyway, so I'll be okay in the kitchen. What do you say?"

"Sleep time," Helix said, steering Lan into the kitchen, and then into the back room. Eichie sighed, and rubbed his own eyes.

***
"So, is she alright?" Damien asked the doctor.
The doctor sighed. "Yes and no. The baby seems to have been in a distress. It may have gotten the cord wrapped around it's neck."
Damien cringed. "That doesn't sound good..."
The doctor sighed again. "It can only be fixed with surgery, and that's expensive and dangerous."
Damien was quiet. "But...how is that even possible? It's too early for something like that to happen."
"It can happen as ealy as a month in," the doctor explained.
"But...she's only a few weeks," Damien said.
The doctor looked surprised. "You must be mistaken. She looks to be about a few months at least."
Damien felt dizzy. "This can't be..." He sat down.
Umi stirred, and the doctor sat down beside her. "How do you feel?"
Umi blinked. "I'm all right...don't worry...the baby's just anxious, that's all. It'll be all right, so don't worry. It won't happen again."
"Of course it won't," the doctor said. "I'm forbidding you from working until the baby is born."
"What?" Umi cried, her face fearful. "No! You can't! I'm not that far along! I need the money!"
Damien's face fell. "Umi, are you sure you're only a few weeks? The doctor thinks it's been longer."
Umi put a hand to her mouth. Between my chimeraism, and Greed's homoculi blood, I'll bet this baby is developing at twice the normal speed. But I can't tell the doctor that...
She sighed, defeated, and agreed not to work until after the baby was born. She looked at her hands, and tried not to cry.
This is a disaster...
***
Helix looked at the cash register later that afternoon, and bit his lip. He just couldn't take it any longer. He sat on his hand, trying hard not to give in to the temptation.
But...it's just sitting there!
Finally, he couldn't take it any longer. He reached for the button to open the cash register.

Helix hadn't opened the register yet, and looked at his brother with shame. "Lan..." He straightened up, and let his head rop. "I-I'm sorry..." He didn't know what else to say.