A/N: Wow! Two updates in one week! Thank my professors and work, I find myself rather bored. Enjoy!

Oh, and if you enjoy it...review it!

Thank you krisawesomeness!

Gin grinned and set his son on the floor. The toddler looked up at him, teal eyes wide. "No, I am not giving you any more watermelon, Shiro-chan."

Pressing his hands to Gin's knees to steady himself, Toshiro pulled himself up and reached for the plate of watermelon in his father's hands. "I said no, you'll get sick. You'll just have to wait until after supper. You can have more once you finish eating." Gin lifted him off the floor and brought him over to the kitchen counter. "How does pureed squash sound?"

U_U

Later that night Gin began to get Toshiro ready for bed. The sleep toddler rested his white head on his father's shoulder, his thumb tucked securely into his mouth. Gin gently undressed him and slid him into the bath.

For once it didn't take hours to bathe Toshiro. When Ran had still had her memories...well, Gin tried not thinking about that much...she used to bathe Toshiro a lot earlier, and he had had much more energy then. Usually Toshiro screamed while being stripped and put in the bath, but then refused to come out. Right now he was quietly looking up at Gin, an odd look on his face. If not for the fact that he was only six months old, Gin would swear that his son was contemplating something. "Here we go." Gin lifted Toshiro out of the bath and wrapped him in a towel. Bringing him to his room, Gin put on his diaper and sleeper.

U_U

Father and son lay on the couch, half asleep. Gin ran his fingers through the baby's soft white locks, humming absentmindedly. In response Toshiro snuggled closer to his father and sighed contently. This was nice, Gin thought to himself. Toshiro wasn't crying for once. Usually by now he started acting up, Kami knew why. But -

A sharp cry interrupted his musings. For no discernable reason, Toshiro's face was screwed up and he was bawling. "What is it, Shiro-chan? What's wrong?" Gin stood up and began to walk around the house, bouncing his son in his arms. "Calm down. You've been fed, changed, and bathed. There's nothing here to bother you."

The sobs suddenly stopped, making Gin look up in surprise. Toshiro had caught sight of a picture of Gin and Rangiku from when they had just gotten together, courtesy of the machinations of the SWA (which was a long story involving a goat and right now Gin was not going to give up some of his precious non-crying time to reminisce about). "You want Ka-chan, don't you," Gin whispered softly. The toddler's teal gaze met his and Gin could've sworn that he nodded. "I'm sure she misses you as well, except that she doesn't care who you are."

In response, Toshiro wrapped his fingers in his father's hair and tried to pull on it. "No hair-pulling, you know that. Come on, let's go to bed. You-" At the word 'bed' Toshiro burst into tears again. "Aw, come on, you just got quiet! What's wrong now?"

"Mama."

Gin blinked. "What?"

"Mama." Toshiro tucked his thumb into his mouth and looked at Gin expectantly.

Now, while Gin wasn't an expert on infant milestones, he was fairly certain that six month olds should not be talking just yet. He brought Toshiro into his room and, instead of setting him in his crib, put him on his own bed. Once assured that Gin was staying with him, Toshiro quieted down and fell asleep.

Gin looked down at his slumbering son. "Guess you're smarter than I gave you credit for. I don't know if I can keep you safe if you're so clever." He sighed and rubbed the baby's back. "Sleep well, Shiro-chan."

U_U

"Are you sure about this, Gin? I don't mind watching him, but you should really take care of your own son. He needs his father in his life." Gin's mother tickled her grandson while looking at her son. "Are you sure you can't take care of him? I know Rangiku cannot, but you..."

"I can't keep him as safe as I'd like while I'm a spy. I'd rather if you keep watch over him, Mother." Gin kissed his son's forehead gently. "He'll be happier here, anyway. He'll be with other kids, he'll have you and Momo...It's better this way."

"If you really feel that way..."

"I do." Gin scooped up his son. "I'm just going to say good-bye to him."

His mother smiled softly. "Of course, dear. Take as long as you need."

He went into his old bedroom and held Toshiro up in front of him. "Now, Shiro-chan, I have to leave you here with your Granny, but I want you to know that as soon as I can I'm going to come back here and take you home." Gin held him close and whispered into his ear, "And don't forget that your mother and I love you very much, even...even if she doesn't remember you. You'll grow up to be a big, strong shinigami and will come join me in Seireitei. And who knows, your mother might even know who you are by then."

Toshiro batted at Gin's face and blew a few bubbles at him. Gin sighed. "I wish you could stay with me, Shiro. You and Ran-chan are the most important people in my life, and I can't have her. You understand, right?" He sat down, shifting Toshiro to a more comfortable position. "Of course you don't. You're six months old, no matter how smart you seem. You'll hate me no matter what happens, just because I abandoned you. Plus, I'll probably be super unpopular in the Gotei 13 by the time you join. You'll probably hate me for that, too."

"Gin, if you can't do it, you do not have to."

Gin looked up at his mother. "I have to. I can't put him in danger and I need to look after Rangiku in Seireitei. Leaving him here will take care of both."

"I understand, but if you want to keep him with you..."

"I do. You don't know how much I do. But it's safer for him to be here and I won't risk his safety." Gin gave Toshiro to his mother and stood up. "I'm just going to leave now. It's easier this way. Good-bye, Toshiro."

He turned and left the house before anyone could see the tears in his eyes.