The week past by way too fast and Byakuya was starting to have doubt about every decision he'd made. Or more precisely; His decision about keeping the child and his decision to once again step into a loveless marriage.

Well…. Not really loveless, more like one with a one-sided love.

And sure, he felt grateful that Renji was willing to step into the marriage with him for his sake, but the redhead had also awakened a spark of hope deep within him that maybe one day Renji would love him back. A hope he knew would end up getting crushed in the end.

But especially with this last week when they met up and just talked, sat next to each other, getting to know each other better. Getting touched softly by Renji as to let his body grow accustomed to it. This to avoid him flinching during the marriage when they'd have to hold each other and touch as well as the kiss and the wedding night. In which they would, thankfully, only sleep in the same bed together since the head elder feared that having sex could harm the heir. The stress that Byakuya's body would be put under while not having recovered from the traumatizing event of his rape could possibly destabilize his son's reiatsu and kill him, or Byakuya himself.

"Byakuya?" Renji asked softly, laying his hand gently on the man's shoulder while squeezing.

But Byakuya flinched anyway before looking up into Renji's concerned eyes.

"Are you alright? I could stop the caressing if you'd like."

"What? Oh… no…. that's fine…. I was just lost in thought."

The redhead nodded and resumed the caressing over Byakuya's half naked body. It was one of the things they's had to do during their meet-ups. He touched his back, his chest, legs, feet, neck. As much as he possibly could without touching the briefs or what was underneath it. Actually, he just stayed away from as many erogenous zones as he could, not wanting to scare his soon-to-be-husband.

He himself had been thinking as well. About his past with and without Ichigo, the now with Byakuya and them trying to get better, and the future with their son and maybe even a love-filled marriage.

He promised himself to make the best of the present and the future without forgetting his past and his missteps, but not 'dragging them along' as well.

He gazed at the clock. Only a few more hours left until the wedding. God was he nervous.

XXXXXX

Hours passed and before he knew it the wedding was already over and they were left together in Byakuya's room. They sat down on the bed and he could feel Byakuya stiffen almost immediately.

"If you'd prefer it I could sleep on your couch?" he proposed silently, expecting the older one to nod in agreement, but he didn't. Byakuya shook his head in denial. "No. it's fine." He said before laying down on his back and closing his eyes.

Renji followed his example and laid down next to him. "Y'know… Byakuya. I find it to be a loos that we didn't have to say some vows because I had prepared something to say to you…"

The other one stayed silent, biting his bottom lip slightly while waiting for Renji to go on.

"I just wanted to tell you that I really regret the way we started out and that I really hope from the bottom of my heart that I can learn to love you like you love me. Though it will probably need some time. I also hope that you can forgive me for everything stupid I ever did. Thought You know what I want to ask forgiveness for the most. I feel that I can only forgive myself when you do."

He turned on his side to look at his husbands face.

"Renji." His voice broke a little. "I Already forgave you Renji…. It's just forgetting that I am not able to do yet." He mumbled softly, now turning on his side as well.

They stared at each other for a little while until Renji spoke again in a voice so silent Byakuya barely heard it.

"Can I kiss you?"

After a few very long seconds Byakuya nodded hesitantly and Renji leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on his lips before saying goodnight in the same soft and silent voice he asked the question with.

Byakuya blinked and smiled softly as the kiss was not one like he expected. But the smile was barely noticeable. He nodded and returned the wish for a good night.

XXXXX

When Byakuya woke up the next morning he felt an arm lying on top of him and stiffened before he remembered the previous day.

He and Renji were married now.

Somehow he'd once again found his way into a marriage where he was the only one in love. It was like history was repeating itself and he wasn't sure if he hated it or not.

And right now after feeling the initial shock of the contact he found himself relaxed in Renji's arms, and he was loving it. Loving it that he was able to be the one in his arms But at the same time hating the fact that he still was the only one whose heart hammered because of such a simple and innocent thing. Not only because of the stress of being touched but also hammering away because he was lying in the arms of the person he loved the most.

It confused him.

He sighed deeply and crawled from underneath his husband's arm, sitting up on the edge of the bed.

At this Renji woke up, worry immediately filling his heart, eyes and voice.

"Byakuya, Are you alright? I should've slept on the couch…"

The captain turned around and looked at Renji. "No.. It's alright. I'm fine… thank you…" he said softly. Before laying back down right next to his husband. "I was just thinking."

"you seem to do that a lot lately…. What were you thinking about?"

"Us… mostly… And about how I ended up in yet another marriage where my partner doesn't return the feelings of love I feel for them."

The redhead looked down guiltily. "Sorry… " he mumbled. "You know that I really wish I was… But I guess it will come with time."

"Yes, I know… Just don't force yourself."

"I won't force myself. But I will fall in love with you." He said, sounding so sure of himself that it once again made Byakuya's heart flutter in hope.

They heard a knock on the door indicating that it was time for breakfast.

They ended up eating in the lovely, flower filled gardens of the mansion with both Rukia and Isshin who congratulated them softly and wished them luck. Rukia also wishing Byakuya luck on handling Renji.

It ended way too soon to their liking, but breakfast couldn't last all morning. There were things that had to be done so Renji stood up and excused himself, explainting that he was going to his room to bathe and get dressed.

But as he reached the darkwooden heavy door to his room he suddenly felt someone touch his shoulder, making him jump in surprise. He turned around quickly, to his surprise facing not a servant, but Byakuya.

"Renji. I know we both agreed on staying in different rooms, but returning to your own room so soon will raise some very unwanted questions amongst the staff, family and even other clans."

The redhead nodded and followed his now-husband to the master bedroom, finding his stuff already placed there.

"you're going to have to stay here for at least a week. Then the council will allow a meeting about sleeping in separate rooms. We'll have to give reasons for that because even if Yuu-sama already agreed on it we still need to convince the other elders of our reasoning."

Renji nodded and sat down on the couch, letting Byakuya use the bathroom first, seeing as how it was his rrom.

When the 22 weeks pregnant captain emerged from the bathroom about half an hour later he was dressed in a light blue yukata and his hair was still loose and wet, free of the kenseikan. He found the sight absolutely beautiful. Something about Byakuya looking so vulnerable had his attention. Maybe because said, normally stoic, captain showed said vulnerability only in front of caught himself staring when Byakuya met his gaze.

"You can use the bathroom now." Byakuya said, quickly turning away towards where he kept his kenseikan. He wasn't used to the look Renji had been giving him. One filled with amazement and wonder. He clipped the kenseikan in his hair and sat down on the couch to wait for Renji. They still had to announce to the staff and the family that they were now married and they also had to attend a meeting with all the taichou and fukutaichou to announce the same fact.

But what he never expected was that in the contrary to the shocked faces of his staff and family, he'd be getting catcalls and whistles from some of the people present in the latter meeting as well as some 'congratulations' and 'good lucks'

He could also hear somebody mention how they already guessed that his child was Renji's and how they were really happy for him and his redhead lieutenant. It made him smile softly, not even bothering to hide it because after all of this he could still blame it on the hormones.