Title: Rolemodel
Author/Artist: magic_truth
Pairing: Satou/Takagi
Fandom: Detective Conan
Theme: #22 cradle

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. If I did… I'd probably give Takagi a huge hug and tell him he was adorable.

Satou walked into the baby's nursery. She was due any day now and the room had been ready for the past month. She sat next to the cradle; it was past midnight but she couldn't sleep.

She began her maternity leave a month ago. Though she'd been relegated to mostly paperwork for the past few months, there was only so much you could do in an office at eight months pregnant. Besides, the most common thing you heard was "Gosh Satou-san… are you having twins?"

She loved her job more than anything… well almost anything. Takagi and the soon to be born baby ranked higher but she still loved being a policewoman. It'd been heartbreaking to leave and though she knew she would be coming back after a few months she had some concerns.

Satou had lost her father at a young age while he'd been on duty. Hell, she'd nearly lost Takagi while he was on duty. She'd nearly died herself many times and wondered if it was selfish to continue her career. Should both she and Takagi take a backseat and stick to paperwork? Maybe she could start her own detective agency like Mouri-san? That didn't seem less dangerous, though.

"Can't sleep again?"

Satou looked back startled at her husband standing in the hallway. "Something like that. I've been… do you think going back to work is a good idea?"

Takagi looked surprised. "What? Of course I do! Who else is going to be my partner?"

Satou laughed. "Shirtatori-kun? You're both so fond of each other."

He shuddered. "You're going to make me quit. He would be the last person I'd trust with my life." His expression grew serious. "Why would you even think about it?"

Satou sighed. "You know why. I love my job but I'd hate for our daughter to grow up the way I did, without my dad. I love my mother but that day…"

Takagi shook his head and hugged her. "Miwako, we can't control what happens to us. We could both retire and I could walk across the street and have a car fall on me. Then Kudo-kun would be called to investigate. Along with the shonen-tantei."

She laughed. "Kudo-kun would absolutely avenge you. It would take him a day at most. Maybe another day to figure out how the car fell on you. This conversation is taking a morbid turn."

Takagi tilted her chin to look at him. "You're the best officer I've ever met and I say that without any bias. You're smart, brave and beautiful. You're up for a promotion! Our daughter is going to be incredibly proud to have you as a mother."

He grinned. "Besides Noriko needs a strong female role model. Though for all we know, she'll decide to be an attorney instead."

Satou perked up. "Or a teacher! That would be nice. Peaceful… except for the classroom full of children."

Takagi kissed her. "I think we still have some time to nudge her into a career choice, my dear."

"As long as it's a safe one."

"Because I'm sure that worked well with you, Miwako."

"Are you trying to imply I was a disobedient child, Wataru?"

"No, not at all."

The End.

A/N: Something short and sweet while I work on a slightly longer and more depressing story for them. Thanks for reading all these years guys! We're almost done!