AN: I'VE NEGLECTED THIS STORY SO MUCH I'M SO SORRY. I've had a lot on my plate. I know i said this would be infrequently updated but with the last cliffy i hadn't meant for it to be fore this long!

Ya'll know the disclaimer! On with the fic!

Ichigo laid in their bed, bags under his eyes and unconscious. He was hooked up to an IV, it already bruising the skin. Shiro leaned against the door frame of their room, he hadn't slept well either. Ichigo had been out for nearly a week. They were keeping taps on the baby, the little one was weak as well but fighting. Isshin said if he didn't wake up soon they would have to risk a c-section and take the risk of the baby being premature.

Shiro cursed under his breath and walked out to his friends and adopted family that had come over, to check on the two of them. Everyone looked up at him, they were somber. They had been told the same thing, all of them concerned for Ichigo and the little one's well being.

"Any difference?" Karin asked hopefully. Shiro shook his head. Her face darkened and she looked at the ground with a scowl. Shiro ran a hand through his hair and sat on the air of their couch. Isshin walked in, taking everyone in.

"Afternoon." He received various responses. He nodded then walked straight to the master in the back room. He checked everything, performing the normal routine. They had stablized his spiritual pressure. According to Urahara the baby's creation of it's own spiritual pressure sent Ichigo's body into shock.

The reason it happened now was because it was being to solidify. Isshin made his way back out and saw the somber group of people, that's when his temper snapped. He grabbed Shiro's collar and pushed him against the wall.

"You planned this didn't you?!"

"DAD." The twins cried out while Shiro just stared deadly at him and a mirthless laugh left him.

"Yeah, 'cause my goal in life is to kill my husband and unborn child." Isshin hit him, Shiro's head snapping to the side, not fazed by it. Tatsuki and Chad pulled Isshin away from Shiro, he was glaring at his son-in-law.

"I don't understand Ichigo. I don't understand how he forgave you."

"Ask him because i've asked that question since he even asked that we get married." Shiro replied, tilting his head to the side. It was quiet for a couple of minutes before a groan was heard from the bedroom. Everyone responded at once and made their way to the bedroom, Shiro pushing his way through. Ichigo opened his eyes slowly, blinking.

He looked to the door and rose a single brow.

"Why do you all look like you're going to cry?"

A couple of days later, Ichigo was up and around. He was told to take it easy and not be on his feet very much but he managed. He now had a pregnant waddle, it would be Ulquiorra that pointed it out. They all sat in Ulquiorra and Orihime's apartment. Ichigo sat and was actually eating a hard boiled egg on the couch.

Everyone was helping with preparations for the wedding, they sat trying to choice a main coarse and if Orihime what make the cake or not. Shiro sat next to Ichigo, head on his shoulder. He had been up hunting hollows with Grimmjow last night and with the episode with Ichigo he was exhausted. Orihime suddenly perked up.

"You know what i would like to do?"

"What?"

"If you're okay with it..I would like to share my bridal shower with Ichigo!" Said man frowned and rose a brow.

"Um. Hime i'm not exactly a wo-"

"No no! Like a baby bridal shower!" Orihime said and smiled. "So everyone could be together one last time before the wedding and baby!" At the thought of the baby being born Ichigo paled further and stiffened. Shiro blinked his eyes open when his head rest was risen closer to it's owner.

"What's goin' on?" Shiro mumbled.

'I..I didn't think..How am i going to have this baby.." Ichigo asked, panic in his voice. Shiro was fully awake now and at a loss for words.

"Ichigo i didn't mean t-"

"Like..am i going to go into L-Labor?!" Ichigo yelled. Nel bit her lip. She knew how hollows had babies but she doubted that would help at the moment.

"C-section" Uryu said casually. Shiro looked at Uyru and sighed slightly in relief. Ichigo looked at him and it seemed the realization had hit him as well. He blushed, he was a doctors son and had forgotten about a C-section.

"..Yeah." Ichigo then got up and walked to get some water when Ulquiora watched and tilted his head.

"..You're walking..off balance." Tatsuki let out a hoot of laughter. Ichigo blushed crimson and glared at the oblivious Espada.

"Awe! you got the waddle!" Nel yelled, Ichigo groaning. Shiro snickered a little, Ichigo scowled at his spouse. Shiro shut his mouth, not favoring the couch as a sleeping option.

"If anyone else would like to comment on this let me know, because i will kick your ass and delight in the fact you can't hit me back." Ichigo hissed.

the room fell silent.

Two months before the wedding and Orihime had yet to get a dress. Tatsuki had hit her on the head when she had found this new information out.

"ORIHIME! YOU NEED A DRESS!"

"I know..i just forgot.."

"FORGOT?!"

"It'll be fine." Ulquiorra inputted, not caring for Tatsuki's abuse of his fiance. Then the question was raised about Ichigo's suit.

"Nearly finished." Uryu answered, pushing his glasses up in smug fashion. Chad and Ichigo tensed, hoping he hadn't put his spin on it. Shiro raised a brow at the two.

Uryu pulled his phone out and showed a picture of the nearly done suit. A breath of relief left Ichigo.

"Thank god you didn't put your spin on it." Tatsuki said, rolling her eyes.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"ANYway!" Nel sung, she turned to everyone.

"We should go with Orihime to get her dress."

"...All of us..?"

"Yes!"

"I would love to have your guys opinions." Orihime then looked at Ulquiorra. "But you can't come, it's bad luck."

"Alright."

"Can i stay behind?" Grimmjow asked.

"Probably for the best." Ichigo teased and Shiro laughed at the scowl Grimmjow gave him.

"Hey Ichigo, are you up for this?"

"I'llk be fine if i can sit down." Ichigo replied, then realization hit him. "I..don't think it'll be a good idea for me to go."

"..Why?" Orihime asked.

"Because i'm not exactly able to hide-this" Ichigo replied, gesturing to his seven month belly. Nel slapped Grimmjow's arm before he could respond to it.

"..You're right." Orihime seemed down cast. Ulquiorra sighed, putting an hand on her arm.

"We could go to Soul Society..?" Ichigo suddenly suggested, not too keen on the idea because he knew the looks he would receive.

"Yeah! I'm sure if you couldn't find anything you could have something made! I know that you wanted a dress, there has to be someone there who could do it."

"Rukia could actually come with us." Orihime lit up.

"Then lets go!"

"Wait! Ichi are you even going to be able to do this?"

"If you come with me you can carry my Zangetsu it'll be fine. Urahara would be the one to send us anyway." Ichigo told Shiro.

"I can help sew whatever you would like." Orihime beamed at Uryu's offer.

"Lets go then!"

In Soul Society, Shiro was on edge at all those that stared at Ichigo and Ichigo was reaching his patience with it. He knew why some were staring, because they saw Mayuri's target. They saw the rebellious teen that had screwed some of them over. He sighed, feeling the exhaustion pulling on his but wanting to be there for his friends. They made it to this shop Rangkiu swore by and they set to work on Orihime's dress. He sat down and smiled at the woman who was brimming with excitement.

Soon things settled down when Rangkiu and the new appearance of Rukia made those giving Ichigo dirty looks to scatter. Suddenly everyone was looking at him and he rose a brow.

"What?"

"Tux time." Ichigo's eyes widened then he sighed and stood with some effort and a groan at the pull on his spine.

"Alright..lets do this quick." And so it begun, the sizing and estimating how big his stomach would be then and Ichigo's nerves were grating dangerously low at the hands on said tummy. He groaned as the world spun from being on his feet for so long. His feet hurt, his back hurt, his head hurt. He was done. "Are we..done?" He hissed.

He was exhausted and it didn't help the baby was moving around painfully.

"I believe so, just hold on while we get you out of this." The woman that owned the shop said, Ichigo bit the inside of his lip as they started taking him out of his tux. He could feel that he was retaining water in his feet and ankles and it hurt really bad. He knew he'd have to see his father about it because he knew it would make him bed ridden, risking blood clots and worse.

"I..I need to get off my feet, please." Ichigo ground out. The woman looked sympathetically at him and started moving quicker. She soon had it all off. Ichigo sat down as they all finished up and Shiro helped Ichigo when they finally left. They were making their way back to the Senkimon when Ichigo's arm was tugged on. Shiro bristled and pulled Ichigo out of the grasp. Everyone froze and looked at the drunk Shinigami.

"He'll get what he wants even if..it takes years." He slurred. Ichigo stiffened and he stumbled, heat was running to his face. Rukia and Orihime took Ichigo from Shiro and started leading him away.

"He'll have fun while it screams!" Shiro made sure that squad member wouldn't be moving for at least a day. Ichigo shook and he was panting. He was suddenly having flashes of Aizen telling him he'd had it all planned. What if..Ichigo couldn't get enough air.

"Ichigo breath." Rukia commanded. Orihime rubbed his back. They knew he was having a back by the far away look in his eyes.

"Aizen isn't here, You're okay." Orihime whispered. Ichigo nodded, he felt arms scoop him up, he saw Shiro's face and sighed.

"Alright everyone lets head home."

"Agreed."

Shiro was in bed, laying there as Ichigo slept. He thought about earlier in the day. What was going to happen to them? Would Ichigo be okay? He put his hand to his face and sighed. Too much was going through his head. He knew Ichigo suffered from what Urahara called a form of PTSD.

He was okay most of the time but put under stress made him think back and he either panicked or him and Shiro fought until he cried. Shiro shook his head. Two months they would be fathers and he had a bad feeling in his gut something was going to happen to Ichigo. He cursed softly because his gut was nearly never wrong. He always followed it and it had steered him wrong before he became a better man.

Shiro looked over at the peaceful face and sighed once more. He had to protect him or he wouldn't live it down.

The week Ichigo hit his ninth month was when the wedding was. It was chaos, everyone trying to get it together. Ichigo helped as much as he could but Ichigo lacked..luster. He couldn't walk for more than a few minutes. He was so tired, he hadn't been sleeping well for a long while.

Shiro was acting as the both of them, helping seeing he and Ichigo were the only ones to have gone through this. Orihime would be walked down the isle by none other than Ukitake. The fragile man being delighted at being asked. Orihime had become very close to the captain over the years and all thought there were many captains she loved like family, it felt right for Ukitake to do so. Ichigo leaned back and closed his eyes at the memory of him and Shiro walking together down the isle, hand in hand.

Ulquiorra was messing with his tie and Ichigo sighed, getting up shakily. The men in the room protested.

"Shut up." Ichigo said, voice cracking. He fixed the messed up tie and chuckled at the uncomfortable look on Ulquiorra's face. He and Ulquiorra weren't close but the person Ulquiorra cherished the most was one of his best friends and Ichigo trying to be as kind as he could would help Ulquiorra break from the shell that he had taken under Aizen.

"You'll be fine." Ulquiorra nodded. "It'll all just become you and her when you see each other." Ichigo's knees nearly buckled and Ulquiorra steadied him and sat him down. Now they just waited for the wedding.

"You look beautiful, really." Nel said later at the reception to Orihime. She smiled widely.

"Thank you but so did all you."

"So what's it like being Orihime Cifer now?" Tatsuki teased and she blushed.

"Amazing.." She giggled and said man appeared, wrapping his arms around her. Ichigo was sitting down and hummed at the sight. They started the music for their first dance as husband and wife. That's when Ichigo felt it. Like he was being ripped apart. Ichigo had sadly been nodding off when he felt the gripping pain.

Ichigo let out a gasp, the baby was moving around frantically and Ichigo felt like he was going to pass out. Nobody was around him until he saw Tatsuki walking back over with drinks and she saw his distress she forwent the drinks and ran to him.

"The baby?" Ichigo could only manage a nod. He let out a scream, the ripping felling coming back. He felt like they were trying to pry their way out of him. Something was wrong, he felt the baby's distress. Shiro was running, everyone turning to watch the blur as he made his way to his husband. Ichigo's eyes were teary and he felt like he was dying.

Tatsuki called out for Unohana and Isshin. They were there in an instant.

"Ichigo what's wrong." Ichigo's vision was fading in and out.

"Baby..something..wrong." He swallowed hard. Shiro felt his stomach drop. Grimmjow was near by and his eyes widened. He had only seen that once when he was an Adjuchas. Hollow babies would force their way out if their mother wasn't able to handle them anymore. He spun and ran for the oldest Espada. Starrk and Harribel at their own table, Nel with them.

"We know." Harribel answered. She got up to aid the man. The reception had all but stopped. Ichigo let out a scream and that's when his world went black. Shiro panicked.

"Ichi, Ichi baby come on don't.." Shiro's breath hitched when Isshin grabbed his son. They needed to get to a empty room. They ran to one, Isshin clutching his son, the newly picked up Espada not far behind. Isshin put his ear to his son's chest. Shallow beats and breaths.

Unohana yelled for Isane to get her equipment. She was grateful she was there. Shiro was close enough to watch Ichigo but he wasn't aloud to get closer. Ichigo's skin was moving and stretching in a torturous way. The lieutenant came running back in with her captain's equipment. She started prepping Ichigo. Shiro knew what was about to happen and it made him uneasy.

Unohana numbed the area with kido and began and Isshin kept checking Ichigo's vitals. The captain worked quickly, getting the baby out and beginning to sew him up. The baby wasn't crying and Shiro was starting to sink down the wall. Isane started clearing the newly born girl's lungs, flicking her bottom while rubbing her back.

"Come on, little one." Shiro's world was crashing, his resolve. The baby started crying, weakly but crying. Ichigo wasn't fairing as well. Unohana was finishing sewing him up when Ichigo stopped breathing. Isshin jumped into action. He started CPR on his son and when it didn't work he stepped back, eyes wide. Shiro got up, cupping Ichigo's face.

"Ichigo.." He whispered and put his head on the mans chest. They all were quiet until they heard the intake of breath, small but there. Shiro shot his head up and looked at Ichigo's face. He was alive. He was breathing. Shiro smiled softly.

AN: Holy shit that hadn't gone as planned! one or two more chaps and this'll be done! My eyes hurt from the laptop, i didn't sleep well last night some scary shit happened.

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Later days and nights, Hollows!