He held her hand as she screamed in pain, her feet in stirrups and a strange man looking up her hospital gown. He felt the woman's grip threatening to break the bones in his hands, but he didn't pull away from her. He didn't let go of her hand, wrapping his fingers gently around the back of her hand as another contraction hit her.

"Don't worry, Marie. I'm here, I'm right here, just keep pushing for the doctor, can you do that?" He said soothingly, his free hand brushing her sweat soaked hair out of her face. The only answers that she gave him were panting gasps of agony, and he felt his face contort into a brief smile. "Regretting the decision to go without pain killers?"

"My mother gave birth naturally, my grandmother did. And so on, and so on. I'm a deathscythe, damnit, I can do this!" Marie rasped out in between the contractions that were coming faster and faster, her hold on the man's hand tightening as her back arched.

"Push once more, it's almost over Ms. Mjolnir." The doctor's muffled voice came from between the woman's trembling legs.

"One…. More!" Marie nearly shrieked as she felt an immense weight fall out of her. She collapsed back and lay there panting after it was all over. The doctor smiled as he placed the silver haired child in her arms, and Marie, exhausted as she was, pulled her shirt aside to let the newborn suckle.

"Have you two decided on a name for him?" The doctor said, looking up at the two individuals.

"Franken… Franken Albarn." Marie said quietly, Spirit squeezing her shoulder. Both stared down at the small baby that was suckling at her breast and smiled. A weak hand reached up to Spirit's face and she smiled up at him.

"Thank you, Spirit. Thank you."

He pressed his lips against her forehead; looking down at the child he would start the adoption papers for in the morning. "Oh, Stein. He's gorgeous. I wish you could have been here to see it."

But Stein never would see his only child. Five months ago, when Marie was only four months pregnant and no one knew but him and her they had gone on a mission. The witch had been able to tell, somehow, that Marie was pregnant, and before they could engage had ambushed them.

Stein had to choose, Marie and his unborn child or himself. He stepped in front of the attack meant for Marie, taking the brunt of it. Once she transformed the witch had continued focusing on the weapon, forcing Stein to more and more reckless maneuvers.

The attack that finished the witch also finished Stein, the meister hitting his knees with blood pouring from multiple wounds even as the witch discorporated and her soul was left hanging in the air above where the body had been. Marie had hit the ground beside him.

They had found her holding his cold body when they arrived. Nygus had had to hold the distraught woman back as Sid and Spirit carried Stein's body and soul back to the vehicle for transportation to Shibusen. Her wails didn't stop until she had cried herself to sleep beside Stein's body. It was the next day that the news had been spilled about her pregnancy.

Spirit didn't let himself sigh, knowing that this was a happy occasion for Marie. She had a piece of Stein back now, the family that she had wanted, if not with the person that she had imagined. Ignoring the sorrow he felt at the loss of his best friend Spirit forced himself to smile, his hand squeezing Marie's shoulder as Franken drifted off to sleep, cradled against his mother's chest.

The image of Stein's head resting against Marie's chest flashed through Spirit's mind and he closed his eyes tightly, trying to banish the image.


A/N: Well, this is inspired by boob tube watcher3452, so it is dedicated to boob. (If this bothers you that I've started this, let me know and I'll delete it! Not wanting to step on your toes, just thought you'd like it ^_^) More to come, of course. This was just a fast bit done before bed :)

I don't own Soul Eater.