Sooo sorrryyy about how late this is! I've been extremely busy with Civil Air Patrol and school so I haven't done much with anything fun like this. Okay... So I forgot to write that the chain to Rukia's dead bolt is abnormally long. Keep that in mind. And quick fact about me, I am pro-gun. That's why Rukia has one, and it fit in the story... Let me know what you think! 3

Rukia's eyes snapped open. She groggily grabbed the purple digital watch on her nightstand. 0557. Time to start moving before he does. She groaned pushing herself upwards. She sighed staring at the headboard of her bed. Setting her feet on her bed, she twisted the light switch on the bedside lamp and looked to Michael's basinet. Then she screamed. A dark shape was looming over Michael's crib. Rukia ripped the top drawer of her nightstand and aimed her handgun at him. It threw it's hands in the air and stepped into the light.

"No! NO! Rukia! It's me! Ichigo!" She lowered the gun and moved to soothe the screaming baby she had awoken.

"It's not even… I can't believe… How did you get in here?" She hissed, rocking Michael. He laughed.

"I still fit through the door with the deadbolt on. She dropped her shoulders and looked over at him.
"You still have a key?" He nodded shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Hey, Midget.." Rukia looked up.

"Yeah?" He sighed.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She sighed.

"You were so excited to study over there. How could I take that away?" Ichigo stared at her for a moment before leaning down and poking her in the forehead.

"You're such an idiot." He smirked. Rukia grabbed her forehead.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She yipped back. The redhead in front of her crossed his arms and grinned.

"I think it speaks for itself. I would have gladly stayed if I had known, and I WOULDN'T of regretted it." He answered. Rukia furrowed her brow. She readjusted Michael in her arms and Ichigo dropped his, taking a seat beside her.

"Um, may I hold him, please?" She looked over at him and smiled, willingly surrendering him.

Ichigo awkwardly took Michael from Rukia's arms. He gurgled and looked up at Ichigo, curiously. A crooked smirk spread across Ichigo's lips.

"Haven't you ever held a baby before?" Ichigo looked over at Rukia.

"My sisters… But I was six." He replied looking back down at Michael, who was staring at his hands.

"He's got my devilishly good looks." Ichigo remarked. Rukia laughed.

"He's gonna be a heart throb." She smiled. Ichigo nodded.

"Ichi, you don't have to hold him so rigidly. Put your arms around his back and support his neck too." She said, carefully readjusting his hands. She sighed.

"Would you please relax?" Ichigo stared down at Michael, fear of dropping him made the older red head even more rigid. Rukia's phone rang in the other room. She stood up.

"W-wait! Don't leave!" She grinned looking over her shoulder.

"Don't drop my baby." She darkly threatened before taking off for the phone. Ichigo gaped staring after the black haired woman. Michael's squirming brought him back to reality. He looked down at the baby. He let out a squeal of delight, staring at Ichigo's sweatshirt. Ichigo laughed.

"The strings, really?" Michael jumped at the sound of Ichigo's voice and looked up at him.

"Da da da da da da da da da da…" He cooed, shoving his tiny fist in his mouth.

"Yeah… That's me…"

Rukia leaned on the doorframe watching Ichigo and Michael.

"He likes laying on your chest when you lay back. Renji does it with him while I'm trying to get things done." Ichigo looked up.

"Renji?" Rukia nodded.

"Or Tatsuki. Not to much Orihime. He kinda… suffocates…" Ichigo laughed. Rukia crossed her arms.

"I'm getting in the shower. I have to work today." He nodded. Michael looked up at her. She grinned bending over.

"You be a good boy and cause lots and lots of trouble for Strawberry, okay?" He flashed a toothless grin at his mother.

"Thanks, Midget."

Moving as fast as she could, Rukia started the water and jumped in. Immediately, she dumped shampoo in her hair and started scrubbing. She stopped for a moment and listened. Peals of high-pitched laughter reached her ears, followed by Ichigo's. Rukia smiled, listening to it for a moment longer. She relaxed and continued with her shower.

Tightening her bathrobe around her waist, Rukia stepped into her bedroom. A grin spread across her face. Michael was sound asleep, lying on top of Ichigo, who was laid back and snoring on her bed. Shaking her head, she opened her closet and dropped the bathrobe on the floor, standing there in her underwear. She grabbed a pair of blue jeans and a black sweater.

"Wear the pink one." Rukia ripped the pants on and covered her chest.

"I thought you were asleep." She moaned burying her face in the row of clothing, feeling the heat rising in her cheeks.

"That door is still loud as hell, Midget." Ichigo chuckled, quietly. Rukia looked over her shoulder, despite her red face. Ichigo was smirking at her, as usual, like she wasn't practically naked, or red faced, or socially awkward in every way.

"Why are you huddled up like that? I've obviously seen you naked before. You're such a prude." She hid her face again. She roughly ripped the soft pink turtleneck of its hanger and jerked it on over her head.

"Like you're one to talk. Remember that day we went swimming with my aunt Yoruichi?" Rukia quietly growled and spinning around pointed at Ichigo. His face turned a deep shade of purple before he huffed and looked at the rising sun.

"I was fifteen freaking years old." He muttered. Rukia victoriously grinned grabbing a pair of black boots.

"Where are you going?" Ichigo turned back to her as she zipped on the first boot.

"To work. Thanks to you, I don't have to run Michael to daycare." Ichigo's eyes widened.

"You're leaving me alone?!" Rukia sat up wiggling her foot in the shoe.

"What kind of moron do you take me for? Tatsuki will check in on you at lunch, idiot." She stood up and grabbed her yellow coat off the white chair by the door.

"Happy birthday, Midget." Rukia's shoulders dropped.

"How the hell did you remember that?" She turned around and gasped as Ichigo grabbed both her hands with one of his and pinned them above her head. Before she could object, his lips touched hers.

"Happy birthday, Rukia." He whispered before pulling away. He pulled her away from the door and pushed her through it, keeping ahold of her shoulder until they got to the front door. He opened this door and shoved her through it.

"Have fun at work, Midget!" He grinned before slamming the door shut. Rukia stood there with her hand at her lips before noticing her eighty-year-old neighbor standing across from her in his white briefs. She snapped her feet in the opposite direction and began walking as fast as she could.

"That IDIOT!" She growled, stomping down the hallway.