Originally written by Ariiyle, but I'm going to finish it since she's not planning on continuing. ~Manamie

liars and believers

01.

"So, your pregnant?" She says nothing to me. Her eyes are cold and defensive. "You're telling me that you're...with child?" My voice seems to be getting darker and angrier with each word. She nods.

"With my child, yeah?"

Again she nods, never taking her eyes off mine.

I look down at the three pregnancy tests in front of me, each reading positive. They weren't those cheap tests either, these were the expensive ones that were right nintey percent of the time. Staring at them for too long made my head hurt. I bit my lip.

"...Maka, you know this isn't going to work. Not for us, baby."

For the first time since she walked in the room, she shows emotion. Her head turns to the side and her eyes water slightly. "You don't know that, Soul."

"I do, Maka. Because of our fucking job, it won't work!" I raise my voice, wondering how she even thought for a second that this was okay. "What? Do you want me to rock the baby in one hand while I'm holding a gun to someone's head in the other?" I growl at her, massaging my temple. This is going to turn into another argument.

"So what do you suggest I do? Kill it?"

"That's the only thing we can do, babe. I won't have anyone else saying they're my kid's father." I roll my eyes.

"Fuck you, Soul. You know I can't do that!" Maka hops out of her seat, her hands in tight fist by her side as if she would hit me any second now. Go ahead, babe. It won't change anything.

"I'd rather it be us, rather than someone out to send us to hell, Beautiful. This isn't up for discussion. If you're going to hit me, do it. It won't change shit."

Maka narrows her eyes at me, pulling her fist back and slamming it into my jaw. She doesn't give me time to recover before she's landed another blow. "I'm not going to kill my baby, Soul. Never."

I wipe the blood from my lip. Liquid starts pouring from her eyes and she wipes it away. "I'm so tired of killing and fighting and planning. I'm dying, Soul."

"That all comes with me, Beautiful. You decided to love me, which means you accepted all of that with it." I groan. "Besides, you think a baby is going to stop the violence? This is our life now, Beautiful. By bringing that," I point to her stomach. "Into this life you're making it a target. They'll do everything in their power to kill it just to make us feel pain. We don't need that."

I sigh and softly touch her cheek, stroking it gently. "I'll schedule an appointment with Kidd as soon as possible. Say your goodbyes to the nut while you can."

"No." Her voice was cold, hard, and angry. She smack my hand away from her face and got up, drying her face and glaring at me. "Fuck you, alright? I'm leaving with my baby."

I raise a brow at her, snarling and showing my sharp teeth. "Heh, yeah right." I grab her wrist with more force than necessary, getting close to her face. "You think i'll let you leave? Your mine, Maka. Always."

"Leave me alone, Soul. I do what I want, you should know that better than anyone." She push me away and left my office.

"Maka Genevieve Albarn, you better be in that room when I get up there or I swear to God!" I scream at her. She shoots me the finger before she was out of my sight.

"I take it that went well?" Star chuckle as he walk back into the room and sat in the chair Maka had once occupied. I pick up one of the pregnancy tests, looking at it closer.

"Fuck her, she knows I'm right. Bringing a baby into this is nothing but bad news." I sigh, throwing the stick back on the desk and leaning back. "She's gonna drive me crazy."

"You'll live." Star shrugs.

"I fucking love her, man. But sometimes she just makes me wanna..." I struggle to find the right words.

"Say fuck it?" Star laughs. "She may be a piece of work, but you said yourself that her fire is the best thing about her."

I roll my eyes, taking a pack of Marlboro cigarettes, putting one of the sticks into my mouth and lighting it. "Maybe. But one day I'm afraid that fire will get too hot, and I'll end up extinguishing it."

Star stares at me for a bit, before nodding. "I know what you mean." He leans back and sighs.

...

I wake up with blurry eyes and a migraine. The room is dark, but I can see the faint light of sunshine outside.

Looking down, I see Payden snuggled up to me comfortably, her breathing silent.

"Give me a fucking break." I groan, falling back on the mattress. I rub my temples as bitterness and regret fill me. That particular dream had never been my favorite. It brought back unwanted memories and pain from a long time ago that I had all but forgotten.

I turn to Payden, touching her soft brown hair and brush it out of her face, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "Wake up, Beautiful."

She stir slightly and after a moment her eyes flutter open. A smile lights up her face. "Good morning, E." She speaks, her voice scratchy and tired. She smells like honey and her voice makes my chest feel light.

"Good morning, my beautiful Payden. I hope you had a nice sleep." I poke her nose, making her giggle. She leans up and kiss my cheek. "I had an amazing sleep, thank you."

She sits up and stretches, and I'm surprised when I see her naked upper half. Memories of last night come drifting back. Lifting the sheets, I sigh. "So that happened." I shake my head, a small smile on my face.

Payden blushes, and I stare. The dusty red of her cheeks travels down and covers most of her chest. "Yes, that did happen."

"I'm gonna go brush my teeth and shower, you can get next." She nods.

"We can always conserve water and shower together, you know. Better for the environment." I give her a wink and she pushes at me playfully. "True, but I have a feeling not much showering would get done with you in there with me. I'll be out in a bit."

Then she was gone.

I feel a strange happiness that I had began getting used to bubble in my stomach. A grin stretch across my face.

I hadn't been the same since the day Maka left.

I remember that day clearly. I walk up the stairs to our room, chocolate and a bunch of shitty DVDs that she like in hand, ready to sweet talk her into forgiving me. But she wasn't there. The room had been empty and cold, and the escape passage I had installed was wide open.

I was half expecting her to jump out somewhere, shouting surprise and laughing. But reality hit hard, and the fact that Maka had actually left me didn't sit too well with me.

So many emotions ran through me that day. Hate, anger, betrayal. I remember tearing everything apart, cursing her and shouting and crying. Fuck her, because she promised me a forever. Fuck her, she was a bitch anyway. Fuck her, I never care about her anyway.I had loathe her for leaving me alone.

But then I woke up and got my shit together.

She didn't deserve those words, and she didn't deserve my hate. She stay with me even when I practically open the door for her and gave her the keys. She stay with me even with I took out my frustrations on her even though she had done nothing wrong.

She was the most important.

Of course I look for her, nonstop. I check everywhere, only to come up short. The thought that she had gotten far away from me was unacceptable, and the thought that she was dead was unbearable.

But I guess I deserve it.

I remember when we got the video. To see her tied to a chair, sitting there looking so emotionless was torture. But what they did after that - when they cut her up and beat her up and ... touch her.

That was hell.

I could see the tears in her eyes, I knew she was in pain. But she never say anything. She never told them anything they wanted to know about me or my family. She protect us, and that's what made me even more pissed off.

It wasn't long after they sent that damned video that I found them and got my revenge. I burn their shit to the ground, and I enjoy every minute of it. I had my fun cutting them up just like they did her.

But it wasn't enough.

It didn't feel like a good enough punishment for them. Killing them one by one by one ... wasn't enough. Nothing could help me with the loss of Maka and that damn baby. As much as I hate to say it, I mourn it too.

It's funny, because that damned child is the reason that this happened in the first place, yet I can't help but wonder what it would have been like to be a father. I couldn't help but feel the loss of my child being taken away from me, and especially by them. If Maka were here, I can hear her giving me shit about how she was right all along.

I really did want that baby. Our baby. But it was too late. Both of them are gone, and there was nothing I could do about it.

I had met Payden about two months ago. She was adorable as hell and seemed to be the only person that could make me smile again. She was energetic, kind, compassionate, beautiful...She was what I needed.

"Showers all yours now, babe." She walks into the room, wrap in towels. I smile at her, stealing the one from off her head. "I need this." I say, before making my way into the shower.

I was very conflicted about starting something with her at first. But Star finally kick my ass telling me how girls like her didn't come around very often. So I did the only thing I could do.

I lock Maka away, along with those memories. It was time to start something new now.

After my much needed shower, I brush my teeth and head back into my bedroom. Payden was pulling up her hair in the mirror. Her face is bright when she sees me.

"So, what are we doing today?" She asks excitedly. I chuckle at her enthusiasm, walking over to my closet and pulling out a suit.

"I'm going to drive you to school and then I'm going to work." I say with excitement that match hers.

She pouts, narrowing her eyes at me. "That's no fun. Wouldn't you rather...spend the day watching movies? Or maybe -"

"Enough, Payden. You can't miss school and I can't miss work."

She shut her mouth quickly, her eyes dimming a bit. "Oh." Was all she said, before turning back to the mirror and fixing her hair.

My sentence came out a bit harsher than I had intended it too. But she was making me uncomfortable with how much her personality started to match Maka's just now and it was...scary.

"I'm sorry. I'm being a dick." I shake my head, my eyes downwards. Payden looks at me, her wide blue eyes filled with understanding.

"You went into that dark room, yeah?" She walks over to me, embracing me in a hug.

"I know you don't want to tell me about it, and I understand that. But just know that you can always confide in me, E. I'm a great listener." She gives me one of her magic smiles that make me feel lighter.

I know she's a great listener, but the story of me and Maka Albarn wasn't something I wanted to tell. Especially to her.

See, I told you it'd be back soon!

I had a few issues with the story. Some things were conflicting and there were a lot of loop holes in the plot. But hopefully everything should go smoothly now. :)

You can always tell me what you think by reviewing! Constructive Criticism is appreciated - so don't try and be nice! If you don't like something about the story or you feel I made a mistake somewhere please let me know. It helps me become a better writer.

-Manamie