"No," Minjoo whispered harshly, hot tears spilling out from her bloodshot eyes. "We're not keeping the child, Hitomi. We can't. I don't want to, and I don't want you to."

Hitomi only curled her arms protectively around her growing belly. She choked back tears as she spoke, "I'm keeping the child," she said defiantly. "It's still mine, Min."

"But it's not mine!" Minjoo bellowed angrily, screeching and slamming her hand down the marble countertop. Her jaw was clenched tight, teeth grounding together. Disbelief, anger, sadness--all were mixed into one in her expression. "What are you playing at, Tomi?" She asked, her voice cracking with desperation. "I don't want to raise a kid that doesn't share a drop of my blood, Tomi."

Hitomi flinched when Minjoo moved closer, her trembling hands caressing her cheeks.

"Especially a kid that came from someone who hurt you..."

The older woman released a shudder of breath, then enveloped Hitomi's small frame with her arms. Sobs soon racked her body, and Hitomi couldn't help but wrap her arms around her wife, barely holding back tears of her own.

"It's still a child of mine, Minjoo." Hitomi swallowed, forcing down the lump in when Minjoo tightened her hug. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have--"

"You're not at fault, my love." She heard Minjoo whisper back, cutting off her words with another gentle squ