Archive of Our Own ^beta

"No! Mimi say no, papa!" The speed at which Kiyoomi ran from the kitchen to the living room would put any cheetah to shame.

"Why? What happened?" Kiyoomi crouched down to check if his daughter was hurt. Behind him was Atsumu, who was fairly certain he broke a plate trying to follow his husband to the living room.

"Mimi, baby, are ya okay? Are ya hurt?"

Sitting down on the sofa was their two year old daughter, pouting away and slouching.

"No. Dada and papa, no want Mimi?"

Kiyoomi and Atsumu spared a glance at each other, trying hard to show concern instead of melting in the adorableness of their kid.

"What made you say that, Mimi? Papa and dada loves you." Kiyoomi answered softly, caressing his daughter's pouty cheek.

Minako started to tear up.

"Mimi listen papa and dada say you want other baby," then, those doll, onyx eyes looked up, and stared at Kiyoomi, "You don't want Mimi?"

"Oh my baby.." Atsumu whispered, squatting beside Kiyoomi to hold Minako's hand.

"We love ya and we always want ta be with our Mimi-chan."

"But papa say he wants baby. Mimi not a baby. Mimi a pwincess."

The couple collectively chuckled. right. their daughter wasn't a baby anymore. She was a big girl. A big girl who heard them loosely discussing the topic of adding another member to the family.

It would have been easy to explain to Motoya, or to Osamu. They would be shocked, probably tease a little, but they would be ecstatic, supportive. Much like when they first announced adopting Minako. But how do you begin to explain it to a two year-old? Would she understand? Or even remember this the next day? Atsumu guesses this is one of those parenting moments their friends tell him about.

"Mimi, d'ya know how dada has a brother?"

"Yes! Uncle 'Samu!" Minako exclaimed, the looming tears in her eyes going away.

"Honey, your dada and I were just talking about how Mimi would like to have a brother." Kiyoomi started to talk slowly, hoping their Minako would get it.

"A bwader?" Sniffing her nose, Minako started to rub her eyes. Sitting straight, curious about what her parents are saying.

"Like pwince James and...and..Uncle 'Samu?"

"Like Uncle "Samu and that show ya watch." Atsumu nodded eagerly at his daughter.

Ages ago, they wouldn't even think about having another child. It's a huge responsibility and Minako is a growing girl and they need to focus on her. But one small dinner with friends, and seeing their Minako play with Tooru's son, made them think twice.

After all, Atsumu knows how happy he is having his brother, and Kiyoomi knows the importance of not growing up alone.

But... convincing a toddler might be harder.

"No! Mimi no want bwader dada! only Mimi! i don't wanna share papa and dada!"

There we go.

Sighing deeply, Kiyoomi sat on the couch and placed Minako on his lap. Atsumu sat beside them.

"Are ya sure princess? Ya can play dress-up with yer baby brother ya know?"

"Pway dwess-up?"

"Uh-huh," Atsumu started to list some things at the top of his head, "and you can play prince and princess, or have a dance party, or.."

"Colow wainbows?" Minako interrupted, tears in her eyes replaced by curiosity of having another playmate.

"Are we sure this is how we should persuade her, love?" Kiyoomi whispered, covering Minako's ears for a moment.

"I got this, Omi." Atsumu winked and removed the hands on his daughter's ears. "And he's going to be very little so you have to take care of him."

"Take c..care of baby?"

"Yes Mimi. Like Sakura-chan."

Minako's lips widened in surprise when her papa Kiyoomi mentioned her doll.

"Mimi woves Sakuwa-chan!" Minako then stayed quiet for a while and hesitantly spoke, "Ta..take care like Sakuwa-chan and..take care.. like papa and dada take care of Mimi?"

"Exactly, honey." Atsumu smiled fondly at Minako, kissing the top of her head, proud of how she was processing the information.

"Do you still not want a baby brother, Mimi? We won't if you don't want to."

Little Minako pursed her lips and started to think about it. Meanwhile, her two dads were nervous. Minako's approval was their number 1 priority, after all.

"Okay! Mimi want baby bwader!"

Suddenly, Minako was already up in the air because Atsumu held her up. Small giggles erupted around the room. Atsumu and Kiyoomi smiling the widest.

"Our Mimi-chan is having a baby brother!" Atsumu cheered as he held his daughter.

Setting her back down on the sofa, Atsumu rubbed noses with Minako then kissed her forehead. Kiyoomi did the same too.

"We're goin' to need another crib, omi."

"Yeah we do." Kiyoomi leaned closer to kiss Atsumu. "I love you."

"I love you, omi." Atsumu whispered back.

"Mimi woves papa and dada too!" their daughter screamed from the sofa.

Deep chuckles escaped the two and hugged Minako tightly.

"Papa and dada loves Mimi very much too...and soon, your baby brother."

"Mimi woves baby bwader too, papa!"

They can't wait to have another little Miya running around the house.

Everybody at the miya house soon became busy after that night.

They had to turn the spare bedroom into a nursery, painting it with rainbows, getting every part of their house baby-proofed, and assembling a new crib all on their own.

Minako was busy arranging her toys, thinking what her new sibling would like.

"This one is fow the baby, dada!" She handed Atsumu a small, purple rattle, Minako's favorite, when she was a little baby.

"Are ya sure Mimi-chan? This is yer favorite."

"Yes dada, Mimi-chan not sewfish!" Atsumu would've praised her daughter for being so mature but she already ran off back to her toys, probably to look for another one to give to her brother.

"She's growing up to be very kind, darling." Kiyoomi whispered in Atsumu's ears, crouching down a little.

"Geez! Omi-kun a little warnin' before ya sneak up on me!"

Kiyoomi chuckled at his husband, still so skittish. "I just talked to the agency, they said they'll call when there's someone for us."

Atsumu smiled wide at the news but he quickly lost it, making Kiyoomi kneel down in front of him.

"Hey, baby, what's wrong?" Kiyoomi held Atsumu's hand, rubbing circles on his wrists for comfort.

"I don't wanna be negative, Omi, but how long did we wait for Minako?"

"Almost two years." A somber expression replaced Kiyoomi's concerned ones, remembering the 24 months of nothing but positive calls that turned sour. Waiting and waiting. 

It was a tough time for both of them.

"I'm just worried, honey. If it was just us, then I know we'll be fine, but Mimi's gonna be waitin' with us too." 

"Hey," Atsumu evaded Kiyoomi's eyes but his husband held him, "look at me Atsumu."

What met Atsumu's eyes were onyx ones, shining with concern and love and understanding of Atsumu. Like Kiyoomi always does.

"It's going to be okay. We're going to be patient and we're going to explain everything to Minako so she understands, okay? She's a smart girl. Like her dada."

"Like her papa, too. thanks omi. I love ya."

"I love you, Atsumu." Kiyoomi kissed his husband, and then they walked together to help their daughter sort her toys.

–-----

"Omi! baby!! Omi, Omi, Omi-kun!" Atsumu was shouting at the top of his lungs, hand covering his phone so the person on the other line wouldn't be scared.

He was just too excited.

"What? What's wrong?!" Kiyoomi ran, toothpaste still on his mouth, and barged into their bedroom.

"The agency! Holy shit, 2 months and they call us, finally!" Atsumu shoved the phone on Kiyoomi's chest, signaling he should do the talking.

"Papa, dada shh!! Mimi watchin' barbie!" Minako suddenly screamed from her room.

"Sorry Mimi-chan!" Both parents yelled back, chuckling at their daughter, fully concentrating on her movie.

"Hello?" Kiyoomi started to speak, "uh-huh, okay, yes, yes of course. We'll be on our way. Thank you."

Kiyoomi dropped the phone call and suddenly held Atsumu's face, peppering kisses all over him.

"Omi! Yer toothpaste! Stoo–p!" But Atsumu was laughing too, enjoying the moment.

"There's a girl, in Sakai, who just gave birth and finally made a decision." Holding Atsumu by the shoulders, Kiyoomi was smiling wide at the news.

"We have to go, Omi! Oh my god oh my god!"

"Yes, yes we do love. But who's going to watch Minako?"

"Let me call my brother, ya get packin'."

A few moments later, Minako was already running into her uncle's arms.

"Uncle ‘Samu! Are you gonna play with Mimi?"

"Yes, little princess. Uncle ‘Samu is here to the rescue!"

"Yay!!" Minako's high pitched giggles for her favorite uncle were heard all around the house.

"Alright, Mimi, be a good girl for your uncle okay? We'll be back soon." Kiyoomi held her daughter's hand and kissed her by the cheek.

"Okay papa, bring Mimi snacks, pwease!"

"ya know we will, princess. Bye Samu, I owe ya one."

"Nah, it's fine. this is huge news ya know. Goodluck ‘Tsum. Call me."

Then Minako watched her parents leave for Sakai.

-----

"Why are ya home already? I assumed ya'd be back after like 3 days or somethin'." 

"Hey, ‘Tsum? Kiyoomi?"

"Thanks for watching Minako, Osamu. Uh, the girl's parents changed their minds. They wanted the child so.." Kiyoomi supplied for Atsumu's lack of response.

Atsumu went directly to their daughter's room to hug her. Missing her so much in the last 18 hours.

"oh." was the only thing Osamu could say for a few seconds. "Why didn't the agency call ya fer that?"

"They found out right after we got to the hospital." Sitting down on the sofa, Kiyoomi rested his head on the couch and pinched the bridge of his nose, disappointed at the turn of events.

"How's ‘Tsumu?"

"He just wants his Minako right now." Kiyoomi heaved a deep sigh, "and frankly, I do too."

"Alright, ya go ahead and be with yer family Kiyoomi. Call me if ya need anything else, okay? anything." Tapping Kiyoomi's knees, Osamu got up and prepared himself to leave.

"Thanks, Osamu." Kiyoomi got up too, then went over to his daughter's room, slithering his way to hug Atsumu, who was hugging Minako.

"There'll be more chances, love." Kiyoomi whispers in Atsumu's ears, knowing full well he's awake.

"I know, Omi. I know." 

So then they slept the sadness for today.

-----

"Yeah, uh-huh.. no, no it's okay. thank you." dropping the phone call, Kiyoomi got back to cooking dinner.

"What is it this time, omi?" Atsumu knew it. He knew it at the back of his mind the moment their phone rang.

10 months of back and forth, of one step forward and a hundred steps back whenever their adoption process didn't go through.

They both knew it could be like this, but it was still so dejecting.

"Chose somebody else. someone closer to them." Kiyoomi immediately went over to Atsumu and stood over him, ready to provide comfort in any way that he could.

Atsumu looked up at his husband. "Sorry, Omi."

"For what? Why are you apologizing? You did nothing wrong."

"Because I keep making ya take all those phone calls. How many has it been? over 10? and I know it hurts ya too. especially since yer the one who hears it first."

"Baby, it's okay."

"No, it's not. We haven't even told Minako anything. the crib's getting dusty, the paint on that room's all cracked," Atsumu's voice started to sound heavy, tears forming in his eyes. "those stupid baby protectors make it hard fer me to open a fucking drawer and I.."

Tears started to fall. Continuously. For Atsumu and Kiyoomi.

"I know other people wait longer than this, I know, Omi but I'm tired. It's tirin'. I don't wanna hear another call where they tell us they're sorry."

Kiyoomi wiped Atsumu's tears away, kneeling so he could face Atsumu. A few tears fell in his face, feeling the same frustration his husband does.

"I know, shh, I know, baby. And if you want we can stop all this. We can just not do this at all. We have Minako. We're going to give our full attention to raising her instead. Okay?"

"Okay… yeah let's do that instead."

"We'll pull out our application first thing tomorrow, baby." Kiyoomi started leaving soft kisses on Atsumu's face. Erasing the dried tears that settled there.

"No, can ya just tell them to not call us unless it's really final and will push through? But we won't wait for their call anymore."

"Whatever you want, love."

"Thank you, Omi." Atsumu then kissed Kiyoomi softly. The taste of salt lurking at the side of their mouth from their tears, small hiccups escaping them with each press of their lips.

Kiyoomi kissed back lightly, to which Atsumu responded by wrapping his arms around Kiyoomi's neck pulling him and kissing him deeper, opening his mouth signaling Kiyoomi for more.

As they kissed, Atsumu tugged at Kiyoomi's shirt and pulled it off of him, touching all over his torso, breathing softly on Kiyoomi's lips. 

When Atsumu touched his waistband, Kiyoomi pulled away.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes…Minako's at Osamu's ya know?" Atsumu looked through Kiyoomi's eyes, desperate.

"Please? I need ya, Omi."

Kiyoomi kissed his husband again before pulling him to their bedroom.

-----

"Papa, where's my little bwader?" It was a Sunday afternoon, about two months after they decided not to wait for a call anymore, when Minako suddenly asked the question.

Kiyoomi looked at Atsumu in an instant, wanting to know how he'd take the little one's inquiry.

“Oh Mimi, yer little brother's still growing up that's why he's not here yet." Atsumu moved to sit on the floor, beside their daughter and play with her dolls.

"But it's been a long time, dada. When's he coming? so Mimi can play dwess up!" Minako held her favorite doll up, showing off her new shoes and dress to her dada.

Atsumu was about to speak when Kiyoomi interjected. 

"Mimi, remember how we wait for the rain to stop so we can play outside?"

Minako turned her head to look at her papa, and nodded eagerly.

"Remember sometimes we wait for a little and then sometimes we wait for a looooong time that we even sleep before the rain stops?" Kiyoomi added, sitting down beside the two on the floor.

"Yes papa."

"We're just waiting for your little brother for a longer time than how we wait for the rain, baby."

"But bwader will come after waiting?" Minako's eyes full of wonder and excitement for a sibling broke Kiyoomi and Atsumu's heart.

This time, Atsumu held Kiyoomi's hands and squeezed it tight. His turn.

"He could come, or he could not, baby. Just like when we wait for the ice cream truck but sometimes it doesn't arrive."

"but Mimi-chan sad when no ice cream, dada."

"We know, baby. But dada always makes ya yer favorite spaghetti, right?" Kiyoomi watched as Atsumu softly spoke to their daughter.

"Yes! Dada make spagwetti?"

Atsumu chuckled before speaking again, "So Mimi-chan, maybe after waiting for a long time, yer brother will come, and maybe he won't, but papa and dada will be here for Mimi-chan, okay? And we'll make ya spaghetti all the time."

Minako stared at his papa and dada back and forth. Her little mind is trying to understand the conversation.

Kiyoomi kissed Atsumu's head, amazed by how he handled the situation.

“Okay dada! Mimi wait for bwader for long time but if no bwader, then Sakura-chan will be Mimi's bwader, okay?"

Minako lifted up her most prized possession again, waving it at her parents face.

"Sure Mimi-chan, Sakura-chan will be your sister."

"Okay!" Then, Minako went back to playing with her beloved doll.

Her parents, however, both let out a huge sigh of relief. Then Kiyoomi left a kiss on Atsumu's forehead, leaning their heads together.

"We'll be okay, Atsu."

"Yes, we will be, Omi-kun."

Months passed normally, happily.

The first few days were spent still jumping at every phone call they got, but the adoption agency was true to their word.

Soon enough, Atsumu and Kiyoomi just answered the ring nonchalantly. Last year's events turned into a distant memory.

Minako turned 4, enrolled in kindergarten and is making friends.

Sometimes Minako still asks about her brother, mostly when her other classmates talk about theirs, but Minako is smart and she remembers her conversation with her papa and dada.

"We still have to wait, papa?" Minako whispered one night, just as Kiyoomi was tucking her into bed.

"Yes, Mimi-chan. Is that okay?"

"Is okay papa." she replied and yawned afterward, closing her eyes in slumber.

They were still a family either way. and their family of three was nothing but happy.

-----

"Omi-kun, lemme borrow yer laptop, I gotta check some emails." Atsumu yelled, suddenly remembering a surprise birthday party he and Tooru needed to plan.

"It's in the kitchen, honey."

Opening the laptop, a wallpaper of Minako, Atsumu, and Kiyoomi playing in the tub welcomed Atsumu's eyes.

Their little family was too cute. He couldn't help but smile wide and feel his chest tighten from how adorable they all were, bubbles all around their faces.

As he clicked on the email browser, looking for the log-out button, a new unopened mail got Atsumu's attention.

It was from the adoption agency. 25 months after they first tried to adopt again.

Atsumu's heart stopped. It was dated yesterday afternoon, and it was 10am today. Whatever the contents of the mail were, would it still be valid if a whole day already passed by?

Atsumu took a deep, shaky breath before clicking on the mail. He even closed his eyes as he did, and screamed his husband's name.

When Kiyoomi got there, he laughed a little over how Atsumu looked. He wondered if there were some shocking photos that popped up on his face but when he went over to Atsumu's back and saw the email subject, his hand ran cold.

"Did you read it, Atsumu?"

"No, not yet. I was hoping we could read it together."

"Okay, you can open your eyes now, love."

Lifting one eyelid at a time, Atsumu started to read the contents of the mail. Kiyoomi, muttering the words in front of him.

"Shit, Omi shit, shit is this still true? SHIT OMI YA GOTTA CALL THEM BABY HOLY FU–"

Atsumu found a hand on his mouth.

"Stop swearing, Atsumu. What if Minako walks in?"

Atsumu licked Kiyoomi's hand, "First of all, Mimi will be home in three hours, Omi. I’m pickin' her up. Second, can ya call them now, please?"

Kiyoomi was already calling though, and he held a finger up when somebody answered on the other line.

"Hi, yes, this is Miya Kiyoomi, we're calling about the email sent to us yesterday about a possible adoption?"

Atsumu started to tap his foot relentlessly, biting his nails on one hand and the other on his waist.

What if the chance was gone? What if this was a repeat of last year?

"Uh-huh, yes, yes okay.. alright thank you. Thank you so much."

When Kiyoomi turned to Atsumu, he had a questioning look on his face.

"Well? Omi?"

"There's.. there's a woman, an hour from here, she.. she waited until the last minute to choose and she said two volleyball players must be good parents."

"Huh, what?"

"Yeah, apparently she thinks we will raise the child properly, with no health problems if his soon to be parents are athletes…and umm, she's waiting for us. Now."

"Omi.." Atsumu was tearing up now, and though Kiyoomi may need to buy a new phone because he dropped his on the floor, he didn't really care as he ran up to Atsumu and carried him up.

When they were pretty sure they were about to vomit, Kiyoomi stopped spinning around.

"We're going to have another child, baby." Kiyoomi whispered, forehead touching Atsumu's.

"We are, omi." Atsumu then closed the distance between them for a sweet kiss.

"Do you think Osamu can pick up Minako today?"

"Of course he can, that fucker owes me one, Omi."

"He always owes you one, Atsumu." Kiyoomi shook his head at Atsumu and his brother-in-law's relationship.

"Ya, that's how it works, Omi. Ya will see it soon enough with Minako and her brother."

The two looked into each other's eyes again, locked in happiness and adoration.

"We gotta dust that nursery room, omi."

"We'll do that when we get back, okay? are you ready?"

"Ready."

-----

When they got to the hospital, the agency representative greeted them with a nervous look.

"Okay, if yer gonna say we have no baby, we're filin' a formal complaint, lady." Atsumu charged, scaring the poor woman, several centimeters shorter than them.

"Honey, calm down." Kiyoomi whispered, but he was lying through his teeth because he was also about to be furious.

"No, nothing like that! I'm sorry if my..face ever indicated such a thing! There's just been a slight change in adoption details." The lady spoke in a small voice.

"Will you please just tell us before my husband pops the vein on his neck?"

"Miya Kiyoomi!" Kiyoomi just kissed his husband's cheek, avoiding Atsumu's annoyed stare.

"Just umm, follow me please."

When they arrived at the nursery, Atsumu and Kiyoomi were rendered speechless.

The lady didn't know how many times they looked through the window then back to each other. their eyes expressed surprise, then fear, to panic, and then calm.

Then, a wondrous thing happened. 

Kiyoomi looked at Atsumu, and Atsumu looked at Kiyoomi, and they both smiled at each other. fondly, lovingly, like they already finished an unspoken conversation.

The lady already knew that they came to a decision.

"We're gonna have to figure out how to tell Minako, Omi."

"Heads you do it, tails I do?"

"Bring it."

Kiyoomi got a coin from his pocket and tossed it up in the air. Showing it to Atsumu when it landed.

"Oh goddamn it! fine, I'll do it." Atsumu pretended to be mad, but his eyes were so happy, he couldn't fool anyone.

"I'll be there with you, Atsumu." 

-----

"Knock knock, little girl with a golden star on her hand comi..ng…through.. what?!" Osamu stopped in his tracks when he opened the door and found Kiyoomi carrying a little baby boy in his arms.

"Hello, osamu. Meet Akihiko."

The boy was so small compared to Kiyoomi. But he held him so carefully, with so much caution, and in his eyes showed fondness for the child.

But that's not what surprised Osamu. He's still trying to wrap his head around what was going on in front of him when Minako hit him in the knee and squirmed to get inside her home.

"Uncle ‘Samu, you fowgot to say my name!" the little girl huffed and puffed, crossing her arms at her uncle.

Atsumu cleared his throat so Minako would look at her papa and dada.

"Papa! dada! baby!" the wonder in her eyes turned to a puzzled look, "Baby with papa, and baby with dada?"

"Did ya steal the other one?!" Osamu finally found his voice and yelled.

"Oooh dada! Teacher said that's bad!!!" Minako scolded her fathers, arms on her waist, foot tapping the floor. She probably wanted to look mean, but with her pigtails, she just looked squishy.

"Of course not! don't say that ‘Samu! Meet Haruhiko."

"Dada, Hawu-chan and..and.."

"Akihiko, Mimi-chan." Kiyoomi whispered, crouching down so their Minako could see her brothers.

"Aki-chan, look the same?"

"Yes baby, just like…" Atsumu trailed off, letting Minako guess.

"Dada and uncle ‘Samu! Uncle ’Samu, Uncle ‘Samu! Look!" Minako ran to her uncle and tugged at his pants.

Atsumu laughed at his twin's face.

"what, did ya expect me ta leave the other one, ‘Samu?"

"Of course not, ya dimwit."

"It will be a lot of work, but we can't keep them apart." Atsumu smiled knowingly at his brother. who wouldn't know a twin's bond better than them?

"Twins run in the family, anyway, don't they? ‘Samu?"

Osamu stared at his twin and chuckled. He couldn’t believe their luck. "Yeah, yer right, dumbass."

"Mimi-chan done waiting now papa?" Minako whispered to her papa, careful not to wake the sleeping baby in Kiyoomi's arms.

"Yes baby, we're done waiting now."

"Yay! Mimi-chan has two bwaders! Three plus two is five dada! we are five now!"

Then, Minako waved her hands at Kiyoomi and Atsumu to crouch down at her level.

"Mimi-chan loves Aki-chan and Hawu-chan." their little girl then placed the softest, feather-light kiss on the twin's foreheads, and hugged her parents.

"Looks like we didn't need to explain anything, Omi-kun."

"Our Minako is the best." Kiyoomi kissed Minako's forehead, and sat down on the floor, letting Minako memorize the face of her brothers.

"Finally papa, Mimi-chan is tired of eating spagwetti!"

Minako's papa and dada looked at each other before laughing out loud. Then they rested their heads against each other and watched their little angels hold their small hands together.

Their family of three plus two, was now five.

And damn were they the happiest.