CHAPTER 1

Soul rolled his eyes as the two students argued with him about what missions they were capable of handling. "You'll get yourselves killed."

"Would not." The boy argued. "You and Miss Maka did way worse and were fine."

Soul shook his head. "We were and are a unique case, neither of you have the skills or power that we do. Even back when we were your age we nearly got ourselves killed."

"But-."

"Don't be a brat about it. It's so uncool." Soul cut him off.

"Soul." Soul glanced at who called his name and frowned a bit.

Soul looked back at the two kids who wanted to argue more. "No, is no. There is no reason to continue to push. You can ask as many teachers as you want, hell you could even ask Lord Death and every one of us would will keep telling you no. Get to class before you end up with a permanent Maka chop." They both turned red as if they were about to burst before they ran off down the hall.

"Hey, Soul Eater, you know these two?" Spirit asked pointing over his shoulder at the two figures behind him. "What did those kids want?"

"They want a teacher to allow them on a three star mission with them. Apparently, they've already hit up Tsubaki, Miss Marie, Stein, Sid and me. They're too afraid to talk to Kid since he's the boss and they're terrified of Maka's chop, which I don't blame them on that one." He rubbed his head with a wince, remembering her hits.

"You probably deserve them." Spirit crossed his arms with a smirk earning a glare from Soul. "You told them no right?"

"Of course, I did. First Maka would kill me, and they'd end up getting killed on a three star, even if they're with a team of three-star meisters and death scythes. I'm not stupid, those missions had me nearly dead and Maka beat up for months." A gasp made the two turn their attention back to the visitors.

"So who are they?" Spirit asked low as they looked at the two.

Soul sighed. "My mother and brother." Spirit looked shocked as Soul rolled his eyes. "What are you two doing here?" He asked them.

"It's father." Wes said.

Soul turned away, waving over his shoulder as he started walking away. "You came a long way for nothing."

"Soul." His mother said. "Soul, I know you're angry with him, but please just hear us out."

"I've got somewhere to be." He said looking over his shoulder at them before he continued to walk away leaving Spirit watching the two sides.

Spirit put his hands in his pockets, watching Soul walk away before his mother began to cry. "What's this about his father?"

"It's family business." Wes said as he held his crying mother.

Spirit glanced back towards where Soul had disappeared. "I've known Soul since he was a kid. I'm the death scythe that's been in charge here since before he joined the academy. I know about his passed, why he came here."

"My husband…" Soul's mother sniffled. "My husband was not the most understanding when it came to Soul wanting the join this school and abandon the piano. Soul's only ever contacted us once in a while, so we don't worry too much about him being away."

"What's going on that makes you both come all the way here to try to speak with him face to face?" Spirit watched the two.

"He's sick." Wes told him. "He was diagnosed with cancer. With treatment he could live a few years or die in a few months. There are no guarantees."

Spirit nodded and looked over them a minute. "Come with me." He turned and started down the hall Soul had gone down a few minutes earlier. Up ahead a woman with blond hair followed a little girl with pale blond hair in pig tails who ran into the room. Spirit slowed down as Marie left walking the opposite way. He nodded towards the room, letting them watch as the little girl giggled as Soul lifted her into his arms with a smile. They watched as Soul turned hearing a woman's voice. He grinned at a woman in a knee length blue dress, her hair pulled into a pony tail. She smiled as she shook her head and stacked books on the desk. Spirit watched as the two stared in shock at what they saw.

"Who is that?" His mother asked.

"That is Soul's meister, partner and wife, Maka and that's their little daughter Maya. She's eleven months old."

"Soul… he never told us about any of this." She said watching Soul shift Maya into on arm as he turned to help Maka lift several books back onto the bookshelf. "Why didn't he ever tell us about this?"

Wes smirked. "He never wanted us pulled into this life." His mother and Spirit looked at him. "Soul's always been private. I knew something had changed throughout the letters, but he never shared what. Even when he was younger, he always kept to himself. He never wanted up involved in things and from his letters it sounds as if this life he's chosen is rather dangerous. He would never want us pulled into danger."

"He acts like a lazy ass, but he is smart and really does care." Spirit nodded with a small smirk. "I think that's why my daughter fell for him."

"Your daughter?" Wes looked at him with a raised brow.

Spirit nodded again. "Maka's my daughter. Soul is my son-in-law and Maya my granddaughter." He sighed. "Follow me I'll show you a place you can stay."

"What about Soul?" Wes asked as they turned following the man once again.

Spirit smirked. "I'll tell Maka what's going on. She'll be able to talk to him, no one can make him do anything but the two of them usually talk things out and always do what's best for them and the family. They make a great team on and off the field." He smirked turning another corner. "Here's a place you can stay for a while. Just don't go wandering the school." The two nodded as they went into the guest rooms. Spirit turned to go try to speak with Maka before she left the academy.

"Papa." She smiled seeing Spirit walk into her classroom.

"Where's Soul and Maya?" He asked.

Maka gave a small smile. "He took her to play outside while I finished here. Why?"

"There's something I need to talk to you about." He said seriously making her paused gathering her papers and look at him worried. "There were two visitors today, Soul's mother and brother."

"What? Soul never said anything." She turned to face him fully. "He writes to them once in a while to tell them he's doing well and things are okay, but that's the only contact he's really had with any of them since he joined the academy. Why are they here?" She asked.

"Because of Soul's father." Spirit watched as Maka raised a brow. "They said he was diagnosed with Cancer. His brother said that he could have a few months to a couple years even with treatment. I think they just want to try to make amends before it's too late."

"Soul's never going to talk to his father." Maka leaned on the end of the desk.

"I was never the great father I should have been. I never made the best choices and I hurt you many times, but I never stopped loving you with all my heart. All those years ago I promised you that I would be a better Papa to you. You gave me that chance and I've still made wrong choices and bad dictions, but I've tried hard to be the Papa you deserve."

"And you have become that." Maka gave a small smile. "You've been there for everything. I know you weren't exactly happy when Soul and I started dating, even less when Soul asked me to marry him. You were upset when Soul and I found out we were going to have Maya and that was worse since we weren't married yet, but you stood beside us through everything. You were there to help me through anything going on with the pregnancy. And Soul can deny it all he wants I know you were there for him through all of it too and even after when he was worried about being a good dad." Maka paused and smiled at him. "Soul's father never was there for him at all unless it was to make him play the piano and become someone he's not. And when he didn't listen to him he would be punished. That is not a man I can exactly talk him into accepting and giving a chance."

"This may be his only chance to make amends or at least get things said that need to be said." Spirit sighed looking at his daughter.

Maka nodded as she thought. "I'll try to talk to him tonight, but I wont force him to do anything. He at least deserves the choice, I'll only speak on behalf of making amends and giving the man a chance."

"That's all I could ask. As a father I know I'd like to be given the same chance to get to know how great my child turned out to be and to know his family."

Maka stood and smiled brightly at him. "You really have changed so much since those days." Spirit gave a small smile. "Thank you, Papa." She gave him a hug. "I'll talk to Soul tonight. I can't promise that I'll be able to get him to agree."

"At least try. It wouldn't be good to let Soul have any regrets about his family." Maka nodded and gathered her papers before she walked out to find Soul playing with Maya as she screeched with laughter. She glanced at Spirit beside her as he smirked watching the young death scythe before she caught sight of two figures farther down the walk way watching Soul as well. "I'll let you know how it goes."

Spirit nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow." Maka gave a nod and started walking towards Soul as he scooped Maya up as she tried to run passed him.

"Guess we don't need to do any exercising again." Maka laughed as Soul pulled Maya to lay over his shoulder as he looked at her with a grin. "Never thought we could skip so many exercises because of a toddler."

"Definitely keeps us on our toes." He grinned before he pulled the girl back down to sit in his arms giggling. She looked at her parents with bright red eyes as Maka kissed Soul's cheek. "Let's go home and get something to eat."

Maka smiled as she walked beside Soul while they made their way home, making the girl giggle as they went. Once they got home Maka placed her papers on the table and started dinner, letting Soul handle their daughter, placing her in her playpen before he went to help Maka. He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his hands on her belly with a smile. It was still early but the slight bump was just starting to develop. He kissed her cheek making her smile brighter. These were the moments she loved the most, when they were themselves not under the scrutinizing eyes of their peers, students and random other people. He kissed her neck making her lean back a little more into him.

"Papa stopped by the classroom after you took Maya out to play." Maka said making him hum in response, resting his chin on her shoulder. "He told me about your visitors."

"He tell you I told them to go away?" He asked with a soft sigh.

Maka gave a nod. "He did." She turned in his arms, snaking her arms around his neck. "He also told me why they are here looking for you." Soul sighed. "He asked if I would talk to you, to get you to give them a chance to talk. I told him I would talk to you but your decision is what it will be." He smirked at her. "You know better than to think I would make you do something like this."

"I know." He kissed her quickly. "That's one reason you're the coolest partner and wife."

Maka smiled at him. "So since I told him I would try, I want you to listen." He rolled his eyes but let his head rest on hers, letting her continue. "You know how after the war, you were pushing for me to let my father have another chance. To let him prove he could change? Well I listened against my better judgement and I let him prove that he could be better. He made me think about how far he's come from the days when we were kids. Once I gave him one last shot he made sure not to waste it. Although he did yell he never tried to change my mind about dating you." She looked up into his eyes. "He wasn't happy that I was growing up but he was happy for me when you asked me to marry you, and I know he threatened you quite a few times but he was still there for us when we found out we were going to be parents. He was there helping through everything even when we first brought her home and we had no idea what we were doing."

"Even after all those books you read and then made me read." He smirked making her giggle.

"Yes, and he's stood by every step we've ever taken. My point is that if I hadn't given him the chance to change and prove it, we would have been alone this whole road and he probably would never had been able to know his granddaughter or the new little one."

"That he doesn't even know about." Soul smirked as she looked at him. "I know, Maka, I'm not sure this one deserves that chance."

"Everyone deserves a chance." She said. "Will you promise me you'll at least think about it, and I mean actually think about it?"

Soul heaved a sigh before he gave a small smile. "You have a bigger heart than anyone deserves." Making her give a small smile. "I promise I will actually think about it, but you tell your dad to keep his nose out of it." She nodded as he smirked and kissed her head.

"Good." She pulled him a little closer.

"You know how uncool you and your daughter make me?" He sighed, shaking his head. "This one better be a cool little guy."

"I don't know, I think another girl would be the perfect amount of uncool for this family." She smiled as he scoffed. She kissed his cheek before turning back to cooking dinner. "I'll finish dinner, can you straighten up a little?" He gave a nod and turned back to their new apartment they had moved into soon after they were married and did as she had asked.

The next morning Maka laughed as she held Maya's hand as she walked with her and Soul up the stairs of the academy. The little girl was in another bright mood, babbling happily as they walked. Marie was standing at the top with her son Micah and Angela, both running around. Maya pointed and looked up at Maka who nodded and let the girl run to the other two. She was almost one and always enjoyed playing with the older kids, trying to keep up with them. Soul grinned watching his daughter run off to play. Maka and Soul thanked Marie before they continued into the academy.

"Don't get into too much trouble today." Maka smirked as they walked to her classroom.

"We'll see how the talk goes." Soul said as he watched her put her papers on her desk and look at him. "I will let them talk. I haven't decided yet about him."

"I know you'll do what's best." Maka smiled as she walked closer, draping her arms over his shoulders. "Whether its to let him have a chance or to continue our lives as we always have, I know you'll know what's best for you, what's best for your family."

"You're the coolest wife ever." He smirked.

"I know." She smiled. "I'm behind you, no matter what you chose. Always remember that." Soul gave a nod before he kissed her. "I'll see you at lunch." He nodded and left to find the older death scythe who can't seem to stay out of his and Maka's business.

It took almost an hour before he found the red headed death scythe wandering the halls. "Hey, old man." Spirit turned and looked at him, the nickname still irked him, but he refused to give Soul any reaction to it. "I heard you decided to get Maka involved in my business with my parents and brother."

"I merely told her-."

"I know what you told her." Soul pushed his hands into his pockets. "You really think Maka wouldn't tell me what you said?" He smirked. "You should know better by now. So why did you push your old nose into this mess?"

Spirit glanced at him. "I know I wanted nothing more than to get a second chance with Maka, to be a better father for her. She gave that to me and I got to be apart f her life, apart of my granddaughter's life. And I know you had a lot to do with that." Soul shrugged. "I know how it feels and maybe your father is feeling the same. And he doesn't have much time to wait for you to decide to let him back in and know you, your wife or your daughter."

Soul looked at him as the older scythe watched him. "I promised Maka I'd think about it, for now I will listen to my mother and brother, but that is it." Spirit gave a small smirk. "Where do you have them stored away." Spirit led the way to the rooms where the two were sitting.