A/N: OH MY GOD I'M SO SORRY HOW LONG THIS TOOK TO UPDATE! I got busy doing the 25 one-shots...TT^TT
Anyways, it's FINALLY here! The plot has changed from what I originally planned, but I think it's easier this way...plus, it'll make the end more dramatic :3
So, favourite, review, send to AAAAAAAAALLL your friends, and fucking pray that I update sooner in the future!
Enjoy!
Can we work it out?
Can we be a family?
I promise I'll be better,
Mommy I'll do anything
Can we work it out?
Can we be a family?
I promise I'll be better,
Daddy please don't leave…
(SOUL'S POV)
The ivory keys sung under my fingers, their melodic cries echoing around the dimly-lit lounge and flooding through the audience's ears. It was me, alone, with nothing but the grand piano baring my soul for everyone to see. I could hear gasps of amazement, as the awed crowd admired my talent. It was nothing to be shocked about, in comparison to someone like Wes this was amateurish. His skills far surpass mine.
Minors and majors danced in a heated battle, their fluidity creating a tune both coated in melancholy and tinted with light joy. Long since had I abandoned the sheet music placed atop the keys; this was pure improvising.
I picked up to a crescendo as the song reached it's climax, the resonance filling the room to the brim with music. I wanted the audience all to hear it-what I felt for Kid, for our baby. Because, in the end, this was theirs. Their song. And I was playing it for them.
When there was nothing left to say, I slowed my playing down to an adagio before finishing completely, and rose from the piano's bench. I ignored the applause and walked over to Maka, who had been watching my performance from the wings.
"What did you think?"
She smiled.
"Do I really need to say? It was incredible of course, like always~"
I managed a grin.
"Then your ears are retarded, obviously."
"Oh shut up, you know you're good."
We stood in a comfortable silence as we watched the follow-up act-a sweaty faced comedian-awkwardly make his way onto the stage and spew out a few painfully unfunny jokes. As the unimpressed crowd hissed and booed, Maka broke our hush.
"Hey, Soul?"
"Yeah?"
"You've been performing here for a month now…do you think you've earned enough?"
I sighed.
"I think so…tonight's pay check should bring the total amount to about $800...I'm sure that'd be enough for Kid…"
"Probably…"
I stared at the ground sadly. I'd still not been able to get in touch with the reaper, but had spent the time since he'd moved in with Stein performing around clubs to earn some money to give to him and the baby. I knew he was rich enough to be able to provide for it by himself, but this was my child too, and I wanted him to know that I wanted to be involved in it's life.
The pay I was making was good, for my skill I was earning $200 a week, which over the course of merely a month had brought me closer and closer up to my total of $800. I wasn't going to let Kid have a symmetry spaz over my gesture.
Without warning, a large hand clapped me on the back, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Good show tonight, Evans! Well done, you're really earning your keep!"
Turning around to face the speaker, I gave him a forced smile. It was the owner, in other words, my boss.
"Thanks, sir. Speaking of which, have you got it…?"
"Oh yes, it's here somewhere…"
He dug within the overly large pockets of his jacket for a few minutes before pulling out a crumpled envelope and handed it over.
"$200 exactly."
I nodded, and pocketed my pay.
"Listen, I need to tell you something…" I glanced at Maka, and she gave me an encouraging smile. "See, the thing is, I was only working here to make some money for a friend, and now I've got enough…I'd like to quit, if it's okay with you."
The owner stared at me in shock for a few minutes, before his brain seemed to regain the ability to function.
"B-but Soul…you're my best act! You can't leave, business has never been better since you started!"
"I know, but I just don't see any point in carrying on when I've done what I needed to do. I'm sorry it's such short notice, but it can't be helped. Come on, Maka…"
I grabbed my meister by the wrist, and pulled her out the back door with me. My breath was visible in the air, the peak of midwinter evident.
"So…now what?" the ash-blonde mumbled against chattering teeth.
"I say we go home, and then I can take the money for Kid tomorrow. That sound like a plan…?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Right. Stay here, I'll bring the bike around."
I shoved my hands into my pockets, and jogged around to the parking lot, fumbling with my keys. Straddling the motorcycle, I slipped them into the ignition and started up the engine. Maka was shivering by the time I got back to her. The second she took her seat behind me, I sped off into the night, down the frosted streets.
"Have you got it all?"
"Yup. I counted it, all the money's in here." I held up the envelope I'd packed the money into to my meister's face, and she nodded in approval.
"I can't believe you actually went to the trouble of doing this, Soul…the baby's really lucky to have you as a father…"
A light blush spread across my cheeks, and I looked away.
"I'm only doing what's right…"
Maka smiled, and handed me my keys.
"And that's why it's lucky."
(KID'S POV)
I groaned, having thrown up for the third time today. Stein was out, having being called to head out on a mission that would take a few days before he got back. His orders to me were to relax, and not put any strain or stress upon the baby. However, the second he'd walked out the door, I'd immediately set about his house, reorganising and arranging his belongings and furniture in a symmetrical fashion.
Hey, he said he didn't want me stressing out, and the state of disarray his house was in had put me on edge.
Grabbing my toothbrush, I brushed my teeth before heading downstairs and flopping down on the scientist's sofa, switching the decrepit TV on and flicking through channels. There was nothing interesting to watch, even static would've been more appealing than half the crap that was showing. Groaning in defeat, I settled for lying back and staring at the ceiling, counting the multiple stitches that held Stein's house together.
Suddenly, a knock on the door dragged me from my seemingly infinite boredom, and I rose to go answer it. I glanced, curious, through the peephole to see who would be calling, and my heart just about stopped when I saw them.
It was Soul, clutching something to his chest, a determined look upon his face.
Panicking, I pulled my shirt closer around me, the loose-fitting material doing a poor job of hiding my swollen stomach. In desperation I settled for just wrapping my arms around it, as if I was folding them nonchalantly. Taking a deep breath, I swung the door open to face my child's father.
"H-hi, Soul…Stein isn't here right now, maybe you should call back later…?"
"He isn't here?"
"No…"
The scythe stepped closer, causing me to edge back.
"Good. Because it's you I'm here to see."
(SOUL'S POV)
He'd wrapped his arms around his stomach in what I guessed was a poor attempt to hide the baby. I rolled my eyes and stepped across the threshold, ignoring his protests, and subtly slipped the money into my jacket pocket. I wasn't going to tell him I knew he was pregnant, I wanted him to say it himself.
"Kid, listen, we need to talk. It's about what happened at Kilik's party."
His gold eyes grew to the size of saucers, but he nodded and led the way to the couch. Cautiously he sat down, and beckoned me to do the same. I seated myself beside him, never once breaking eye contact. The young reaper squirmed under my gaze.
"S-so…what did you want to say…?"
"I'm sorry for what I did…I knew we were both drunk and I shouldn't have pushed you like I did…please, can you ever forgive me?"
Kid bit his lip, looking away and obviously holding back tears, the crack in his voice when he next spoke giving him away.
"You could've stopped at any time and…and you didn't…I mean, did you even think about the…about the consequences…?"
His arms tightened around his stomach on that.
Without thinking, I grabbed his chin, and turned him back to face me. He stared into my eyes in shock, with a hint of fear etched across his face.
"Soul, what are you-"
"Move your arms."
"W-what?"
"Your arms. Move them."
"N-no…"
"Kid, please…"
Slowly, hesitantly, he unfurled his arms, revealing his baby bump. Moving gently so as not to freak him out, I rested one hand against it softly. Kid bowed his head in shame, choosing to stare at the floor rather than look at me.
"S-Soul…I'm sorry…I-I should've told you sooner, but…I'm pregnant…"
I sighed.
"It's okay, I know…"
He visibly twitched, and turned back to face me.
"You know? How?"
"Stein's journal…I found it, I found the ultrasound…I can't believe you didn't tell me."
"I didn't know what you'd think…I figured it'd be better if you didn't find out…"
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the envelope full of money and shoved it into his hand. He stared at it for a few seconds, before cocking his head in confusion.
"What…what's this…?"
"Proof."
"Proof? Of what?"
"Proof that I want to be involved in our child's life. What I did was wrong, and you didn't deserve it. I'm going to do whatever it takes to make it up to you, even if it takes a lifetime."
Kid stared at me in shock, obviously not believing a single thing I'd just said. Determination growing within me, I cupped his cheek and rested my forehead against his.
"This may be the wrong time to say it, but…I love you, Kid…"
With that, I crushed our lips together in a searing kiss, all the emotions I'd been feeling for him for the past few months the driving force behind it.
A muffled squeak escaped the meister's lips, and he rested his hands against my chest so as to push me off. Desperately, I deepened the kiss, almost pleading him to respond. On the action, he moaned softly, before allowing his eyes to flutter closed, and his hand instead gripped my shirt and pulled me closer. I moved him so he was straddling my lap, and gripped his hips lightly to keep him in place.
It was everything like I'd imagined it to be.
His lips were soft, smooth and delicious, and moved in perfect sync with my own. Slowly, in a teasing movement, I traced small circles on his lower back, the sensation causing his breath to hitch and a light gasp escape. I smirked into the kiss, before pulling away for air.
"Kid, look. I know you're probably still kinda pissed at me, but I swear, I'm going to be the best damn father I can be. You're not gonna be alone in raising the baby."
The reaper flung his arms around my neck, a smile etched across his pale features.
"Thank you…so much…"
Wrapping my arms around his middle, I hugged back, and kissed his cheek.
"No problem…"
"Ha, I guess the only thing to do now is decide on a name, hm?"
"Guess so~"
A/N: Corny? Yes. Oop, spoilers~~~~~~ ;)
Cute? YOU KNOW IT~~
Stein? The good guy? HELL NO~!
Until next time, my lovelies~
