Chapter 1 – Six Years Later

It's been six years since that day and I still have yet to find out if the old codger in charge of the Gotei Thirteen has even considered me! All that's left of my Hollow Hole is a scar that Renji calls a "belly button." Over that last six years, our son, Crenshaw Jeagerjaques, has grown from a hair pulling toddler of three to a grumbling fifth grader at Crown Point Academy. His once bright red hair has lightened considerably and there is a blue patch just above his right eye.

"Why do you still wear that stupid mask, Dad? It looks weird and all my friends say that it freaks them out. And could you wash that green eye-shadow off? It makes you look gay."

"The eye-shadow is tattooed on, therefore it can't come off. I still wear this 'stupid' mask because it reminds me of who I was once and that was long before you were born. Now, don't you have some English homework to finish before dinner?"

He rolled his gray blue eyes and went back to work on his English studies. I left him at the kitchen table so that I could check on his four-year-old sister, Misa. I knew that she would be waking up from her pre-dinner nap soon, so I was grateful that Renji was out getting some things from the grocery store down the street and that Crenshaw was at the table doing his homework. Sure enough, I was opening the door to her room when she rolled over groggily and reached for me.

"Why is Crennie so mean to you, Daddy?"

"Because he's a boy, Misa. Promise that you won't turn out like him? Almost time for dinner, my little one. What do you want to eat tonight?"

"Chili Cheese Macaroni and Cheeseburger pizza!"

"Why don't we settle for chicken fingers instead, Baby Doll?"

She pouted at not getting her way. I made to set her down on her bed to get her out of her pajamas but she squirmed out of my arms and ran to Renji's office. I slumped my shoulders and heaved a sigh before going after the blue-haired, red-eyed four-year-old girl that was our daughter, Misa Abarai - no, Misa Jeagerjaques. By the time I caught up to her, Renji had just entered the office and was strating on the paperwork that never seemed to end.

"Daddy Renji! Daddy-Daddy won't let me have Chili Cheese Mac and Cheeseburger Pizza for dinner. It's not fair!"

"Misa! Quit bothering him. Your Daddy Renji has important paperwork to finish before we eat," I scolded her and turned to my red headed lover. "Hurry up with pulling those strings. It's been six years and I'm getting anxious."

"You try working on twins, you pushy, egotistical, maniacal, oversized housecat! Push me anymore and these babies will either end up as premies or you'll cause me to miscarry. I've wanted twins since Crenshaw was born. Now get out and get dinner. Let Misa have what she wants. I'll be out in a few minutes."

I picked up a smiling Misa while a seven-month pregnant Renji Abarai turned back to the paperwork he was filling out in order for me to get into the famous Soul Reaper Academy. I was grumbling about my lover having called me what he did. I'm not pushy, I'm anxious. I'm not egotistical, I have higher than usual standards. I'm not…okay maybe I might be a little maniacal because of what I put Ichigo Kurosaki through a few years before. I'm NOT oversized. I am a large person, but I'm not fat. And I am most certainly not a housecat! When I release my Zanpaku-to, Pantera, I am transformed into a large humanoid panther.

"Dad! I can't concentrate with you ranting and raving about every stupid little name that Renji calls you, you know? Now get over it or I'll knock your head in with my science book!"

Even after six years, Crenshaw still manages to get the last threat in, no matter what. I set Misa down on the counter next to the sink while I went in search of a pot to make the Chili Cheese Mac in. After five minutes of desperate searching (and Misa's giggles when I opened a wrong door), I finally found what Renji called a Dutch Oven. When that was full of water and on the stove, I grabbed the phone and dialed the number for the closest Domino's on the way to the pantry. I got two boxes of Mac and Cheese, a large can of chili and two cans of green beans while the phone was ringing. I set the water to boil when I set the food stuffs down and someone answered on the other end.

"Domino's Pizza. How may I help you?"

"Yes, I would like to place a delivery order please."

"What's the number, address and zip code?"

I told him.

"What would you like, Mister Jeagerjaques?"

"I would like two large supreme and three medium Cheeseburger pizzas."

"What type of payment will that be?"

"Cash, please."

A pause while he rang up my order. "Your total comes to fifty-one, twenty-five. It will take anywhere between thirty and forty-five minutes. Anything else for you today?"

"No, that's all. Thanks."

I hung up and set the phone back in the cradle. I opened the two cardboard boxes and retrieved the packets of freezer dried cheese sauce before rummaging in the drawer next to the stove to get the can opener. I started on the green beans first before moving on to the chili. I then turned around, got Misa off the counter and ordered her to help her brother to get the table ready for dinner. Just as I was pulling out a pot for the green beans, Renji walked by and gave my left ass cheek a good hard smack. I very nearly dropped said pot on my foot in my shock and at the pain radiating from the general area of my ass. There was going to be payback at bedtime.

"How much are the pizzas, Grimm?"

"Fifty-one and some change, not including tip. I ordered two large supreme and three medium Cheeseburger pizzas if that's alright with you? I have fifty hidden in the bedroom if you want to supply the rest with tip, Love. I'll even tell you where it's hidden if you ask me nicely…"

"Do you mind, Kitty? Not in front of the kids…"

"You know how much I hate it when you call me 'Kitty,' Renji."

I walked up to my red-headed lover and placed both hands on his rather rotund belly. I still found it hard to believe that one of an Espada's unknown (to the others, except maybe Ulquiorra) abilities, when "awakened" by the right amount of reiatsu from the right Soul Reaper, could impregnate said person. As it turns out, mine was awakened by the reiatsu of one Renji Abarai after only one night of very, very pleasureable sex. I smiled at him before he pulled me forward and kissed me gently.