A/N: Hey there! So this is inspired by Yemi Hikari, who, btw, writes the most amazing Bleach fics! This is a spin on the Gin/Rangiku being Toshiro's parents theory, which is super cute in my opinion (obviously, otherwise I wouldn't write it!). I wrote this while stuck in the office while the rest of the camp went on major trip :( Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Updated and edited 3/12/2016 - Hope it's better! If you read the original and like this better (or the other one) leave a review!

Toshiro Hitsugaya would not say he was easily surprised. Aizen was a traitor? He'd suspected that. The Shinigami who had been transformed into Hollows were alive and now called themselves the Visoreds? No problem. But this news, this startled him.

"Um, taicho? Are you okay?" Matsumoto waved her hand in front of his face, making him blink. "Did you hear what Unohana-taicho said?"

"Yes, I did. Ichimaru is alive," he replied dully. The creepy fox just wouldn't leave. "How long?"

"Since the end of the Winter War. He has finally awoken from his coma, so Yamamoto-soutaicho and I have decided to start telling a select few Shinigami." Peering closely at the young captain, Unohana continued, "Are you alright, Hitsugaya-taicho?"

"Y-yes, I'm fine." Toshiro stood and started for the door.

"Toshiro? Where are you going?" Matsumoto called worriedly.

"To think."

Tossing a rock into the lake, Toshiro sighed. Ichimaru, back? The man had always given him the creeps, but…There was something more there. Something Toshiro didn't recognize. Whenever Ichimaru looked at him it was as if he had something to say but didn't know how to say it. He thought he knew, but –

"Hey chibi-taicho," a familiar voice called from behind him.

Toshiro turned around so fast that he nearly got whiplash. "Ichimaru?!"

"Surprised? I can't stay in fourth for much longer without going bonkers." The tall, white-haired former taicho sat down beside Toshiro, crossing his legs in the process. "What are you doing out here alone?"

"Trying to think, which you are disturbing."

Gin leaned back and gave Toshiro a grin. "I'll be quiet now. Go on, think some more. I wouldn't want to interrupt."

"With you watching me?" He stood up and tried to walk away, but was blocked by Gin's arm. "Let me go!"

"Don't let me disturb you. I'll be quiet, I won't even open my eyes. Besides, Unohana will call me back pretty soon, there's no reason for you to leave just to come back out in a few minutes."

The child glared at him and dropped to the ground a few yards away, his back to the older captain.

Gin sighed. This was going to be fun.

"What do you mean you didn't tell him? Gin!" Matsumoto smacked his shoulder. And not a playful smack, either. "You said you would."

"I couldn't, Ran. He wouldn't even sit near me, let alone talk to me. What was I supposed to do?"

"I don't know! If you knew you wouldn't be able to you should have told me. If he finds out from someone else…"

"I know, I know, he'll be even more upset than he already is. But the only people who know are Nanao, Unohana-taicho, and Yamamoto-soutaicho. Neither of them will tell him." Gin looked over at the strawberry blonde, upset teal eyes meeting stormy gray. "You should tell him. You're his mother. It'll be better from you."

Matsumoto sat down on the grass and Gin followed suit. "Yes, and I'm still upset with you for that. Aizen wiped my memories just after Toshiro was born, but you could've told me about him! Instead you waited until you were nearly dead to tell me about this. You could've told HIM about it! You're not off the hook yet. And since this is your fault, you get to deal with it."

"But-"

"No buts, Gin. Go. I'm his mother, but you're his father. Talk to him."

"Ran, I'm not the father type. He's better off without me. I told you because he likes you. He's close to you already, and you treat him like a son now. You being his mother isn't such a jump." Gin plucked a few blades of grass and began to plait them, avoiding Matsumoto's gaze. "He hates me. He's always hated me. Plus no one trust me because I was a double traitor. Toshiro is better off without me as his father. Or in his life."

"Don't say that. He'll be thrilled to know that you're his father." Matsumoto cupped his chin in her hands, making Gin look up into her eyes. "Just tell him. If he gets upset, send him to me."

"Ran…"

She kissed him softly, stifling his protests. "Go, Gin."

"All right."

"Toshiro-kun?" Gin poked his head into the Tenth Division's office, looking for the chibi captain. Also known as his son. Also known as the cause of his death. Which will actually happen this time. Really. "Hitsugaya-taicho?"

"He isn't in here," Momo Hinamori said, coming up behind him. "Yamamoto-soutaicho just had a captains' and lieutenants' meeting about you. Shiro-chan ran off after that."

"Of course he did. Thank you, Hinamori-fukutaicho." Turning on his heel, Gin set off in the opposite direction. He knew where his son would be, he just hoped the child wasn't doing something stupid.

Gin paused a few feet away from Toshiro and simply looked at him. The boy either didn't notice or was ignoring him. "Toshiro-kun?" he called softly.

"Why are you following me, Ichimaru?" Toshiro turned around and glared at him. "Leave me alone."

"I have to talk to you. It's – "

"I know what it is."

"You do?" Gin opened his eyes in surprise. Sure, Toshiro was smart. But reading minds smart? That was pretty incredible. He didn't think anyone besides himself, Ran-chan, Nanao, Unohana-taicho, and Yamamoto-soutaicho knew about this. "What do you think it is, then?"

Toshiro looked down at his hands. "You tell me. If I'm not right, I don't want you to ridicule me."

"I wouldn't ridicule you." The short captain gave the taller captain a flat stare and a raised eyebrow. "Okay, maybe just a little. But not very much."

"Just get on with it."

"Do you mind if I sit?" At Toshiro's shrug, Gin settled down beside him. "I…I don't know how to say this in a way that won't shock you…"

"Just say it. If it's what I think it is, I won't be shocked." Toshiro looked at him expectantly. "Well?"

"You're my son. Mine and Rangiku's." Gin watched as Toshiro's mouth fell open, an uncomfortable feeling in his chest. "I suppose that was not what you had been expecting?"

"I thought…Unohana-taicho had mentioned something…and…"

He nervously clasped his sweaty hands together. He hadn't been this nervous since Aizen had been defeated. After Rangiku had spent so long convincing him that Toshiro would accept him…if he didn't, Gin didn't know if he would be able to go on. Not without his son. "I understand that you're upset – "

"Upset? Upset doesn't even cover it, Ichimaru! You've played enough sick tricks on me in the past, but this one is the worst you've ever thought of." Toshiro stood up, shaking with suppressed anger. "Don't you dare ever talk to me again. Ever." He stormed away, leaving a stunned Gin sitting on the grass.

The man sighed. Not exactly what he'd expected. Not a great start to a relationship.

A slow clapping sound greeted Toshiro as he entered the nearest building. "That was probably one of the best performances of your life, Toshiro," Karin Kurosaki greeted, swiveling around on his chair.

"What are you doing here? And who said it was an act?" Toshiro sat down on a couch and glared at Karin. "Who even let you in?"

"My brother brought me. Of course it's an act, I know when you're lying. I'm not stupid." She grinned at his unimpressed face from behind his desk. "Since you weren't here I took the liberty of setting myself up in your place. Nice office you've got here."

"Thanks, I think. Now get away from my desk."

"So why were you lying to that white-haired guy? He looks a little like you, you know. Not just the coloring, I mean, his face too."

"It's none of your business."

Karin stood up and sat back down beside Toshiro. "You're upset about it. That makes it my business."

"Karin…"

"Toshiro…"

"Fine. That man is Gin Ichimaru. He's a traitor, a former captain, and…my father." He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, making it stand even more on end. "He isn't a traitor anymore, he was a double traitor. He just told me that he's my father. I knew from before, but I still need time."

"Oh. Who's your mother?"

"Matsumoto."

"Makes sense. Why are you upset, then? You thought you froze to death. This should be an improvement."

Toshiro met her questioning gaze. "Because that brings up other problems. Why did they abandon me until now? I'd always suspected that Ichimaru had something going on, since he always had an odd interest in me. But Matsumoto? I don't think she knew, and I don't know how that could be. Childbirth is not something a person could forget."

"Why, do you have experience?" Karin quipped. Toshiro glared at her again. "Okay, sorry. I'm sure there's a good reason for them not to have taken care of you when you were a child. But right now you do have parents and you do have a family. Take advantage of it."

"It isn't that easy." He reached for a cup of water and Karin passed it to him. "Thanks. I just…I don't know anymore."

"I say to talk to them. Or talk to Matsumoto, at least. You're pretty close to her already, it isn't like she's a stranger." She gently patted his arm, making him roll his eyes. "Go talk to her. Or that white-haired guy, Ichimaru. Trust me on this one, Toshiro. You don't want to lose your family. You never know how long they'll last."

"I know. Thanks, Karin." Giving her a soft smile, one people rarely saw, he turned and walked out.

Rangiku looked up as Toshiro tentatively entered the room. "Hey, taicho. Has Gin spoken to you yet?"

"He has." Toshiro sat down across from her, his hands clasped over his knees. "I knew it before, though."

"He said you didn't, that you were surprised." Rangiku leaned over until she was eye level with her son. "Why did you lie, Toshiro?"

"Because I needed time. I can't just accept that out of the blue. Not from Ichimaru." He pulled himself back, out of her reach. "I can't-"

"I know, sweetheart. I know." Wrapping her arms around him, Rangiku gently squeezed her son. "It's going to be all right. Don't worry."

"What about – "

"Sh. Don't worry about anything. Just relax."

Gin entered the room to find the love of his life and his son sitting on the couch, Toshiro asleep in Rangiku's arms. "I thought he didn't believe me."

"He knew from before. I think Unohana or someone let something slip." She shifted the child to a more comfortable position off her lap and stood up, stretching. "Sit with him. I want to go get some dinner."

"Ran, I – "

"He's your son too, Gin. You have to be his father sometimes." Kissing him on the head, she beat a hasty retreat, leaving them alone.

Gin rolled his eyes and looked down at his son. Rangiku definitely hadn't changed much since he'd gone off with Aizen. She still had her heavy handed way of forcing people to do what she wanted. Right now she wanted him to bond with their son, so she oh-so-subtly left them together. Suddenly he felt Toshiro stirring beside him. "Ah, shh, chibi-taicho, go back to sleep."

"O-oto-san?" Toshiro yawned. He sat up, rubbing sleep out of his eyes. As soon as his gaze landed on Gin, he scooted back. "What are you doing here?!"

"Ran asked me to keep an eye on you while she went to get dinner, Shiro-chan." Gin held up his hands as his son glared at him. "I'm not going to hurt you. You're my son. We're just hanging out here."

Toshiro crossed his arms. "I don't trust you. And don't call me that."

"I never said you had to. I know you're scared about trusting anyone. I'm okay with that. I know your background, I know what you're worried about. But I am still your father, and I still want you to know that – " Gin paused, absentmindedly stroking Toshiro's pale hair. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what. Even if you don't trust me."

"I-" The child sighed and the tension left his body. "Okay."

Gin's eyes flew open in surprise. "What?"

"I said okay. I'll listen to you. I won't trust you, but…" He let out a deep breath. "I won't run away. I mean, I'm not going to be happy with it, but..."

"That's all I'm asking for."

Rangiku peeked into the room where she'd left Gin and Toshiro and smiled softly at the sight that greeted her. Her two boys were settled on the couch, Toshiro's head pillowed against Gin's chest. Gin's arm was wrapped around his son, holding him securely.

"Your plan worked," Nanao Ise whispered softly.

"It did. I told you it would." Rangiku turned around and closed the door quietly. "As long as Toshiro had a bit of time to get used to the information he'd give Gin a chance. Plus I had Ichigo bring Karin to convince him."

"Let's go get some celebratory cake, then." Nanao started for the exit. "Coming?"

"Give me a minute." Opening the door one more time, Rangiku smiled. "Good night, boys."