krystalkatzficz | You, Me, and Baby part 12 (Reply)

As Nino had expected the restaurant was almost empty when they arrived, as it was more of a date place only regulars that had been coming since before his mother had taken over continued to come and be served with tea and pastries. There was a selection of seats in the main area, but Nino directed Satoshi and Jareth to one that was secluded near the door to the kitchen.

“Have a look what you want, and I will be back in a minute” He suggested handing the idol a menu as Satoshi looked around with an impressed eye. Nino knew that it wasn’t exactly four star, but his mum had built it up from a failing hole in the wall to a flourishing hot spot and he was proud of her. Not so proud that he had wanted to live his life in a kitchen and follow her footsteps, but proud that he wanted Satoshi’s approval.

“Um…Okay…Um…Your mother works here?” Satoshi asked more as something to say than anything else as he picked up the menu and flipped it open to midday meals.

“Yeah, she owns it…” Nino shrugged heading to the door to the kitchen and throwing it open. Although the front was sedate and calm the kitchen was a hive of activity and Nino skilfully dodged around different chefs before finding his mother who was in the centre of it all like an ant queen in her nest. “Hey mama”

“You have arrived then” Kazuko asked looking him up and down her eyebrow lifting when she saw his hands were empty. “Where’s the baby? I hope you weren’t foolish enough to leave him outside…”

“I was but he isn’t alone…” Nino sighed in a put-upon way nodding at the chef in the corner who was hiding her smirk. His sister had followed in their mother’s footsteps, it was obvious that she would from the moment she could walk and talk following his mother into the kitchen and insisting on being given small bowls and pastry. “He’s with his papa…”

“You brought your boss?” His mother’s formal, stern tone slipped as she gave a smirk that Nino recognised well. It was the same kind of smile that he saw in the reflection when he was about to tease somebody, and he didn’t like it. His sister snorted over where she was making delicate swan creations from swirls of soft pastry and Nino rolled his eyes in her direction. People were often, amused when they found out how alike mother and two children were in personality as well as looks. All three of them were mistaken for siblings with Nino and Namiko being mistaken for twins with their mother being an older sister. It had been interesting when he was young but now he knew how they were going to react. He hadn’t told them who Satoshi was, as it was a part of his contract, but he had waxed poetic about him since starting work and now his sister and mother were going to use that against him, just as he would if it were them.

“He came home early, just as we were going out and the invitation sort of slipped out…Don’t…Don’t say anything!”

“You have no faith in me! What would I say? That my boy has been lusting after you since he moved in, how about you get it on so he will stop whining to me?” Kazuko asked with a laugh and Nino blushed to the roots of his hair. He couldn’t believe he had forgotten the personality of his mother and sister and now this was their chance for pay back. “Jono, you’re in charge…I’m spending time with my son…” Kazuko said to a tall man that had been hovering at her side. The man was older with salt and pepper hair and wrinkles around his eyes, but he was attractive and the smile he gave Kazuko implied that he would like to be more than just an employee…And the smile Kazuko gave back suggested that he already was. “Namiko…When you’re finished with those swans you should come and join us. It’s been so long since we had a family dinner!”

“Yes, Chef…I mean, mum…Yup I’m almost done…” Namiko called back and Nino groaned loudly turning sharply on his heel and stalking out of the kitchen. As soon as the door opened he heard Satoshi singing and Jareth whimpering around a bottle. The idol had the baby in his arms with his eyes closed and a gentle smile on his face. Around him some of the regulars were straining to get a look some of them having either recognised him from his voice or just wanting to here more of the song and Nino smiled taking his phone out of his pocket and snapping a picture of the scene of Satoshi and his son.

“So where is he…Is that Ohno Satoshi? In my restaurant?!” Kazuko spluttered, and Nino blinked in surprise. He had never heard his mother sound so flustered before and he was amazed that she knew who Satoshi was. Okay, it shouldn’t have been hard to know the idol, but his mother had always preferred rock music and said that idols were silly. “He’s your boss?”

“Yup…He’s a nice guy so you don’t have to look so flustered!” Nino grinned seeing the upside to his mother being flustered as it meant she was less likely to be able to tease him in front of Satoshi. Nino moved quickly over to the table and sat back down causing Satoshi to open his eyes. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, Jareth decided to get a little grumpy, but I found the bottle and stuff…” Satoshi explained with a grin looking positively delighted that he had managed it and Nino had to resist the urge to reach out and ruffle his hair softly with his fingers.

“You are so much more confident and in control now” Nino grinned approvingly looking up at his mother who seemed to have gotten her legs to move. “Satoshi. May I present my mother? Ninomiya Kazuko? Mum, this is Ohno Satoshi…And the beautiful baby is his son, Jareth…”

“Pl-Pleased to meet you” Kazuko whispered with a jerky head nod and Satoshi smiled back continuing to feed Jareth as he replied with a happy but somewhat confusing;

“You too! Thank-you for always giving birth to Nino! I don’t know what I would do without him”

“You’re welcome…Um…Thank-you for taking care of my son…”

“No, it is me that is in his care…I was a mess…Kazu has been incredible…” Satoshi breathed, and Nino flushed at the sudden and unexpected use of his first name. Satoshi didn’t seem to notice it, but his mother did and gave him a lifted eyebrow, which he ignored pointedly asking;

“Satoshi have you decided what you want?”

“You…” Satoshi answered causing Kazuko to almost choke on her own spit and Nino’s heart to race in his ears. “Um…Could you recommend…”

TBC

A/N: I hope that this is okay ^_^