Much to the children's dismay and Katakuri's delight, Linlin stepped in and made sure they slept in their own rooms that night. They were all too big to fit in the bed as it was, you were sure if they tried, it would've ended with too many people crammed together or pushed to the floor.

It didn't stop them from waiting at the door in the morning though. The second it swung open you were buried under a pile of far too hyper kids, unsure of how to handle the situation in your still half asleep state. It took your grumpy husband pulled you out and throwing you over his shoulder along with a few choice words spouted at the group to get them to scatter.

He carried you down the stairs to avoid further pestering but you got a few questioning looks from the other siblings who woke up early as you two did. Once in the dining room, he set you down. A small group of the siblings were already sat down and helping themselves to the spread adorning the huge table. The chatter was light, some of them feeling about as awake as you and Katakuri.

You and him settled into the seats closest to you. There was a full carafe of coffee sitting nearby which you gladly took, filling two cups. Katakuri was usually pretty grumpy in the morning and coffee was always a good way to fix his attitude. Between caffeine and doughnuts, he soon started to mellow out. The table never stayed full as members of the family came and went. Some ate and left quickly while others stuck around to talk with others. You and your husband fit somewhat into the latter.

It was taking your time and people watching more than anything else though. It was interesting seeing such a large family interact with each other. Chaos seemed to be factored into everything they did, but it never caused problems. If anything, you felt they wouldn't be able to function without it.

Your phone buzzed in your pocket, drawing you from your thoughts. It was probably one of your parents 'checking in' again, like each morning before. You looked down at your phone and frowned.

"Are they bothering you again?" Katakuri asked, now looking much more chipper. Well, as chipper as the stern man could look.

"Mom says she'll see us soon." You puzzled over the text for a second. "You don't think she still plans for us to come by, do you?" Your heart stopped for a second. "She didn't find a way to visit here did she?"

"We don't let anyone but family and spouses in on the holidays. She won't be coming by. But if she still thinks we're going to her bullshit event she's in for a rude awakening." He reassured you. "We already told her no."

"She sure likes her drama. I wouldn't be surprised if she's looking to start something." You relaxed and put the phone back in your pocket, not bothering to answer the text this time. Drama wasn't on today's agenda.

Eventually, Linlin made her way in and scanned the room like she was looking for someone in particular. You locked eyes with her and she smiled, making her way to sit across from you and Katakuri. The woman was tolerable, but you weren't excited to figure out what she wanted.

"Katakuri, (Y/n) I didn't get the chance to have a proper talk with you yesterday." She sat down and the chair groaned under her weight as it settled. "I hope you two are getting along?"

Katakuri nodded but Linlin was eyeing you.

"We are." You said, choosing not to elaborate.

"Good." She smiled. "I know how difficult these kinds of things can be at first but they do get better with time."

It was your turn to nod. "You could say that again."

"It wasn't that bad." Katakuri said, crossing his arms stubbornly.

"Oh please." You giggled, relaxing more into the conversation. "You were impossible to deal with for the longest time."

He simply grumbled under his breath in response, unable to argue with that.

"Well I'm glad to see you worked out your differences. Now, I am curious about one thing." Linlin made sure she had both yours and her son's attention before continuing. "When do you plan on having kids?"

You choked back the coffee you were sipping on while Katakuri averted his gaze, suddenly unsure what to say.

"W-well," You recovered quickly since a certain someone else wasn't going to say anything. "we haven't exactly talked about that."

"Why not? Nothing should be more important to a newly wed couple."

You could argue against that until you were blue in the face but it'd be wasted breath against the woman. You were smart enough to know that at least. You didn't want to mention that you had practically just started being intimate either.

"We haven't gotten that far I guess." It was an honest answer. You liked kids, but you hadn't had much time to fully get to know Katakuri yet and that came first as far as you were concerned.

"Don't take too long to think about it." Linlin had started piling food on a plate for herself. "You may still be young but Katakuri isn't. I'd like a few grandchildren from you two."

"We'll find the time to talk about it Mama." Your husband finally said something.

"Of course you will." She hummed as he got up and waited for you to do the same. "Don't be afraid to find some alone time while you're here, I'd be more than happy to keep the little ones busy since I hear your popular with them."

The subtle suggestion did not go unnoticed by either of you. "Thank you Mama but I think we'll be fine."

You said your awkward goodbyes and left to find some way to keep busy until dinner. There'd be more similar topics to be had then and you wanted to mentally prepare for it.

----

The talk with Linlin stuck to you all day. It really had never hit you that kids could be a part of your future with Katakuri. The marriage came and went like a whirlwind, sometimes it left you wondering if it happened or if you were just imagining things. Now, the reality of it started to sink in. That's part of what being married was about to most people.

"Kata?" You were laying on your belly in the middle of your shared bed, chin resting on a pillow with your arms under it. Linlin had made good on her suggestion of making he kids leave you alone, even if Katakuri had said it wasn't necessary.

"Hmm?" He was laying on his back, head resting against the small of yours as his legs dangled off the edge of the bed.

"I've never thought about having kids before." You said into the pillow.

"I didn't think I'd get married."

"Are you suggesting that we don't have a say in it?" You felt a little sad at the idea that you may not be able to have a choice in something so life-changing again.

"No, Mama won't force us. But she will make future gatherings.... uncomfortable for us if we don't."

You laughed. "I'm not sure what I want. But as long as we can choose, I do want to think about it."

Katakuri reached over and rubbed your shoulder. "Don't mind what she said before. We can take our time on this. I'm not as old as she thinks."

You let out a snort. "That's for sure."

He chuckled and rolled further into the bed so he could face you, pulling his scarf down in the process. "You seem to like my youngest siblings."

"Yeah, they're pretty cute." You hugged the pillow and smiled at him. "I do like kids but we haven't been together long and I don't want to rush things."

"No one said we had to."

"Your mom basically did."

"She has an obsession with children. Doesn't care for parenting as much so grandkids have a serious appeal to her."

"What about you? What do you want?" You eyed him as he took a moment to think.

Crimson eyes wandered over your form as he adjusted to lay on his side. "I'd like to have kids but only when you're ready for it. And it doesn't matter if you're ready now or years from now. I can wait."

"Can it wait? I want a little more time for us first." A wave of guilt washed over you for asking that of him but you didn't want any regrets.

"Take as much time as you need." He pulled you closer until your body was flush against his. Warmth radiated off his body and released the tension you didn't realize was there. "We can try when you're ready."

"Thank you Kata." You buried your face into the crook of his neck, breathing in deeply. "I won't make you wait too long."