"Nuh-uh, no way, I'm not doing it."

"Oh, c'mon. What if I get you a couple of candies from the store across the street?"

"Lady you can offer me all the candies in the freakin world and I still won't take your offer."

"Ragnarok," Crona scolded. He glanced up at his weapon. "B-Be reasonable."

"Quiet you!"Ragnarok reprimanded, whacking the top of his meister's skull. "The negotiators are talking here and you are by far the worst of us all!"

"Honestly," Maka pouted. She crossed her arms, raising a challenging brow. "I don't see what the problem is."

"The problem is by doing what you're asking me to do will not only shame me to the level of the dress-wearing fruitcake I'm stuck to, but make me lose every speck of pride and dignity I have in myself."

"It was a robe." Crona sharply corrected.

"Dress, robe, same shit. Whatever makes you feel better about yourself."

Crona's lips pulled down in disagreement and Maka's eyebrows lowered, cautioning, "Last chance, Ragnarok."

"You, Ms. Wench, can kiss my ass. And have fun finding it, because it's going to take you alllll day."

"Ragnarok!" Crona swiped up a fist to punish his weapon, grabbing and shaking him with his other hand after the sword dodged his punch. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling Maka bad names?!"

"Well it's hard not to when she's asking me to model fucking baby clothes for the nutty professor's and your own brat!"

Crona's brow twitched, a mixing of abashed and furious red heating his cheeks. His fingers rooted into the sides of his partner's mouth, pulling the sword's head toward him to grouse, "I also told you more than enough times to stop calling Henry and Baby brat."

For a moment, Ragnarok's x-marked eyes stared into the angry depths of his meister's. He then scoffed, shaking Crona's hand off him to unleash large, square teeth, chomping down on the hand covering his mouth. Crona yelped and drew back his hand, his weapon settling back onto the personal seat that was his meister's head.

"Tch, you think saying a stupid word like 'brat' is mean? That's nothing compared to what you cruel bastards are doing. I mean look at this." The demon rotated his head, inspecting the array of colorful baby clothes settled around them. He snatched a sunflower baby costume from the display, twisted back to face Maka, and pushed down on Crona's head to shove it into her face. "I knew humans could be cruel, but this is going too far! And everyone in this damn store wonders why those mini-banshees cry so much. It's because they're put in degrading and stupid outfits like this! I'd flail and scream my head off too if I was put in something this humiliating!"

Annoyance made a vein uproot and pulsate in Maka's temple. She settled her hands on her hips, barking back, "Wearing those clothes is not the reason why babies cry!"

"Okay, fine. Other than the fact that they'll scream in order to get out of diapers when their inner plumbing leaks, this abomination is why they cry!"

The harsh booming of a book's spine colliding with a hard head echoed within the store, Ragnarok's pained howl following. Striped hands grabbed his abused head and Maka grabbed the outfit that had fallen from Ragnarok's clutches, her other hand clasping her book.

"And I never asked you to model or put on anything." She placed the sunflower costume back on the rack and examined the stands of clothes surrounding them. "All I asked was if you could put one of the outfits in front of you to see what it would look like. You and Henry are practically the same size, so it's a perfect way for me to tell what will fit him."

Ragnarok made a low growl, moving his hands in soothing rubs over his cranium. "I'm not putting myself anywhere near those damn things. I'd rather keep my dignity, thank you very much. Why don't you just get the kid a squeaky chew toy for his birthday or something? It's not like he'll give a crap; he eats his own boogers for fucks sake."

"We're not getting Henry a toy made for a pet." Crona replied matter-of-factly. He gave his complaining weapon a stern glance. "M-Maka wanted to get him some new clothes since he grew out of the others, s-so that's what we're going to do."

"Gee, how nice of you, because it's not like the blonde pirate hasn't given him enough clothes already. You've seen his closet and you know as well as I do that he has more clothes and costumes than a spoiled teenager! It's like that woman spends all day shopping for him!"

Passerbys glanced awkwardly at the couple from Ragnarok's loud voice and Crona shrank in on himself. Dark orbs flickered up to sink a controlled glare into the sword, whispering through clenched teeth, "This is the last time I'm warning you:stop calling people mean names. A-And quit being so loud. We're in public."

"You want me to lower my voice? Alright then. I'll think about doing that when you and lactating Bessie over there do the same. Seems like a fair trade, don't you think?" Crona's brows furrowed with confusion and a realizing heat flowed into Maka's face. Ragnarok looked to her, snickering when eerie eyes contacted his meister's. "Don't know what I'm talking about? Well then, pull down that turtleneck of yours and let's see what kind of damage she did to you last night-"

Maka eye's targeted Ragnarok, jabbing her book forward to harshly strike the middle of the sword's face. He made a raspy wail of agony, holding his dented features and floundering atop the stone-still meister's head, his blushing face stunned, fingers digging into his arm.

She was embarrassed enough about the bruise-like marks hiding behind Crona's turtleneck as it was. The last thing she needed was Ragnarok yelling out to the entire store the effects her overdriven libido inflicted onto Crona. Her passions were why he usually wore the black turtle necks stamped with the skull mark of a Death City product now…it was one of the only pieces of clothing that helped hide what she caused.

And she thought the first couple of months were bad. Nausea, fatigue, and running to the restroom were horrible enough to endure; now her fourth month graced her with this energetic curse.

"I highly doubt Miss Marie has bought Henry that many clothes." Maka said, trying to change the subject. "She probably bought those kinds of costumes because she was excited to take pictures of him."

Ragnarok grumbled on top of Crona's head, waving his hand dismissively. He lounged on his resting place, eyes scanning over the crowd, and Maka figured he was looking for someone else other than them to mock.

That had to be it, as it was literally the only reason why he even bothered to be out of Crona's body while they shopped.

"You've been around Henry the most," Maka said, peering over at the blushing swordsman. "What do you think we should get him? Does he really have too many outfits?"

Crona hesitated, his focus shying away from hers. "Uhm…well. Do you uh, do you remember those family albums Miss Marie likes to show us?"

"Of course."

"…She made a big photo album dedicated to him wearing different costumes."

Maka blinked, distant chattering filling the silent background around them. "Well…they're only pictures of him in outfits for his birthday and big holidays, right?"

"Y-Yes-well kind of," Crona scratched the back of his head. "D-Do you also remember the Santa costume Henry wore last year?"

A soft laugh escaped her. "Yes, and it looked adorable on him."

"…She found a baby-sized beard for him and a sleigh with reindeer."

"That doesn't sound so bad-"

"And he was a heart and cupid on Valentines, a shamrock for St. Patrick's Day, an Easter Bunny, a pumpkin for Halloween, and a turkey for Thanksgiving. She found props for those costumes too..."

The blonde's mouth opened in a half-hung gape, blinking rapidly. "Okay uh… maybe she took it a little overboard. But Henrys a pretty happy boy; how do we know he didn't like all the attention?"

Crona cringed. "I-I don't think he did. It was really hard to take a picture in the outfits without him crying…"

"It's like I said," Ragnarok chimed in from above. "De-gra-ding."

Maka ignored the sword's comments. A nervous smile twitched on her lips, shifting on her heels toward the walkway. "If that's the case, then we're probably in the wrong section to look for gifts."

Crona nodded and the couple scurried out of the clothes department, roaming the isles in search for the perfect gift for the birthday boy.

The store was vast, full of different selections of clothes, toys, or necessities for babies and toddlers. The chance was slim that Henry would remember gifts given to him at two years old, but Maka walked with the determination to find him a present he could cherish. Clothes were something he'd eventually grow out of, so maybe a toy was a better lasting option.

Excitement brightened her eyes, eager to filter through the toys and find something Henry would enjoy, find an item that maybe her own baby could treasure. The simple idea of finding clothes or toys for Henry and Baby with Crona filled Maka with a bubbly giddiness.

Once the couple turned the corner into the toy section, an alerted intake of breath from Ragnarok made cold dread speed through Maka's veins. Large, pregnant women stood close by and the sword's laugh resonated with harsh mocking.

"Oh here we go." Ragnarok cackled, rubbing his hands together. "Check out that whale over there! Ha! And check out her damn knockers! They look like pendulums!" He let his arms go limp, swaying them from side to side to imitate the woman's supposed breasts. "Nice hooters, woman! Try not to hit your little runt against the wall when you turn a corner! He'll be hanging off those damn things!" He turned, spotting another woman with a watermelon-sized gut pass by. "Look at that one! Hey, hey you! I've got some fish over here! Why don't you waddle over here or flap your fat arms as a trick and you'll earn it! I'll even give you two if you do both!"

A skull-cracking Maka chop slammed onto Ragnarok's head, Crona's steel fist colliding underneath his jaw. The sword cursed and cried out, driblets of black blood dripping down from his shaken, solidified form. Maka gritted her teeth and Crona's cheeks turned redder, shifting uncomfortably at the odd glances and frowns they received.

And Ragnarok thought babies were annoying? Maka felt she would prefer handling an infant, as their sharp noises were at least made for a legitimate reason. But Ragnarok was like a bratty three-year old who whined and threw a fit when he didn't get what he wanted, whether it was food, entertainment, or being reprimanded for mocking the group of waddling women she would soon join in the upcoming months.

But the sword was like a persistent fungus; no amount of punishment he received would stop his comments, finding too much humor in laughing at tired, heavy women to slip back into Crona.

So, Maka devised a plan.

With Ragnarok distracted, Maka called Crona's attention by wiggling her fingers below her waist. His grim face lifted from his downcast, watching as she pointed to the ranting Ragnarok and directed his eyes toward the items she picked up from their basket. His eyes widened with his blink and nodded softly.

Just as Ragnarok leaned back to guffaw, Crona quickly grabbed his partner's head. The sword flailed in protest and Maka quickly tugged a bonnet over Ragnarok's head, velcroing a bib under his chin shortly after. His eyes bulged when she finished, yelling and slapping off Crona's grip to look at himself in a nearby mirror.

There in his reflection presented the image of the terrifying Demon Sword donned in a white bonnet and green bib with a smiling duckling decorating the middle.

The room plunged into an uproar of laughter, previous victims of Ragnarok's ridicule fighting back with pointing fingers and jeering smiles. Maka's grin grew smug and the sides of Crona's mouth wobbled up, lips pulling tight to keep his own laughs stifled.

Ragnarok snapped back towards Maka, narrowed eyes full with searing hatred. "You bitch! What the hell did you do to me?!"

Maka leaned back and forth on the balls of her feet, giving the sword an innocent look. "I don't know what you're talking about. All I did was make you look more presentable to everyone. But you do seem a little fussy about it. The bottles are in isle five, so should I get one to help calm you down?"

"Oh you conniving little piece of-!"

"Hey, junior!"A pregnant woman from across the way called. "I have a rattle and pacifier here. If bottles don't work, will that help calm the grumpy tyke down?"

"I'd give him the pacifier."The woman's husband sneered. "It'll make him less grumpy and shut him up at the same time."

More snorts and chuckles shook the room and Maka couldn't contain her giggles of content any longer. Her smile soon expanded and soul radiated with a pleasant warmth when a rare, entrancing smile from Crona allowed itself to surface. It was small, much too small and shy for others to think he was genuinely happy, but she could read Crona's countenances of when he was truly happy.

And seeing Ragnarok receive payback after many embarrassing visits to the store was definitely a happy moment for them both.

"Hey, you!" The bonnet-wearing Ragnarok exclaimed. "Yeah, the one with the fucking rattle! Who the hell do you think you're laughing at, huh?! You obese penguin! Do you know who you're messing with?! I used to be three times this size before this she-male butted into my life!"

Maka rolled her eyes. Ragnarok's insults were something she took in one ear and dumped out the other, but this time, there was something about the sword thrashing around and yelling injustices in that outfit that made the muscles in her face ache and ears beg to hear more of his anger.

"Don't you walk away from me! You bitchy coward!" He turned, eyes focusing on the woman's laughing husband. "And you. You think I won't try to gobble you whole? Think I won't do it?! Well try me! I'll head over there right now and show you!"

Ragnarok frantically tugged on Crona's hair, making him to cry out and struggle against his hold. "Move your damn legs! Damn it, that stupid hair-pulling trick from that rat movie doesn't work for crap! Those animating liars! Why the hell isn't your body obeying me?!" He reined Crona's hair harder and his eyes wrenched shut from pain. He ripped the sword's grasps off his hair, ordering him to knock it off.

"Screw you guys." Ragnarok snarled. He ripped off the bonnet and bib and threw them into his mouth. He chewed sloppily, spitting the clothes onto the floor to sit in a sopping, saliva-covered mess. "Have fun paying for something wet and nasty, kiddies. I'm out of here."

The sword cackled wickedly, sinking back under his meister's skin. With a grimace, Maka squatted down, and picked up the slobbery items with a forefinger and thumb.

"Well," she sighed, raising herself up from the floor. "That was fun while it lasted."

Crona's smile turned weak, looking at the dripping clothes they got for Baby, and a wave of sadness washed over her.

His smile was exciting to see while it lasted too.

"Let's keep looking," Maka placed the wet clothes in the empty side of the basket. "I'm sure there's something Henry will like in here."

Inspecting emerald and ebon wandered over the boxes and displays of toddler toys sitting on the racks. Maka smiled at the colorful xylophone toy sitting near a set of drums, finding them cute, but decided to spare Marie or Stein of more noise than they needed. Interest in a vehicle set for babies grew, thinking it might be the perfect gift for a small boy, and walked off to get Crona's opinion. She found him standing in front of a stand of stuffed animals and began happily approaching him.

But she stopped next to him, the skin between her brows pinching. Clouds consumed his eyes and lines of deep thought wrinkled his forehead, staring at the brown bunny plush in his hands.

Maka slid a hand down the side of his arm. "Crona," she spoke gently. "Are you alright?"

He quickly came to, dark eyes lighting up from surprise. "O-Oh, yeah."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. There are just a lot of these animals here. I t-thought they were real, but I guess they're not." His voice dropped to a small murmur, lowering his head. "I thought these were animals that were stuffed a-and I thought it was creepy to be selling them to kids…but these aren't stiff like the ones hunters have." Two of his fingers rubbed the bunny's fur between them. "They're soft. I-I knew Blair's fur was, but I didn't know a bunny's could be. It's nice."

The blonde settled for a silent understanding, sliding her thumb along Crona's bicep.

Through a confession to her and therapy sessions with Stein, she knew Crona still had trouble when in the presence of any kind of animal, a trauma instilled there by his past and a fear Blair was determined to help nurse back to health over his years of healing.

Only while she was in cat form, that is. Any lewd form of cuddling was prohibited, especially after a few very naked and horrific hugs Crona experienced from her. She wasn't even sure if he healed from that yet.

"Is that bunny what you wanted to give him?"

"Hm? Oh, n-no. I was just looking at it." He picked up a smiling monkey plush lying next to him, it's long arms and legs swaying as he showed her. "Marie always tells me how much he likes monkeys, s-so I thought he might like this."

Maka brought up three fingers, quipping, "Give that boy three minutes alone with Black Star, and I'm sure he will stop liking monkeys very fast."

It was quiet, but a fragment of a laugh slipped out from Crona. His smile was still weak, but Maka counted her blessings, and smiled back at him.

Her eyes drifted to the bunny he set back on the counter and picked it up. "Henry may not like this, but I think I know someone who will." She placed a hand on the cabbage-sized bump resting behind her black blouse. "Remember, we're not out shopping only for him"

Crona's face blazed a bright cherry-red. He made a wobbly smile and Maka returned it with a beaming one. She placed the stuffed animals into the basket, and when she turned to walk away, a gentle hand took her by the elbow.

"M-May I carry the basket?"

"Crona, I'm not going to buckle under the weight of a couple of toys and baby necessities. I'm not the size of a whale yet. I can manage."

"I know you can...but I'd like to help with something. I'm not exactly useful in stores like this and don't know what we need, s-so maybe I can help carry things."

Maka's face turned soft from Crona's helpful charm. The basket wasn't even close to being heavy, but there was something about the earnest determination in his eyes that she couldn't refuse.

But she could most certainly be sly about this opportunity.

"Here," She grabbed a diaper bag from a nearby stand and handed it to him. "I can handle the basket for now, but if you're concerned about wanting to be useful, you can practice carrying this around. You'll have to enjoy the time when it's empty too. I hear it's going to get nothing but heavier soon. "

The swordsman's blush branched out farther, but his smile survived, managing to tug a little higher as he slung the bag over his shoulder. "I don't mind. Not as long as I'm helping."

A burning of warmth and appreciation heated Maka's heart, making her smile grow all the more. She grabbed his hand and tugged on it to guide them to the check-out counter.

As they passed one more of the many racks in the store, a mischievous smirk pulled high on Maka's face. She grabbed one of the items, tossed it into the basket, and proudly watched Crona's face stay almost permanently red the entire time they stood in line.

He should have known reading a baby name book together was in their near future.


"Maka, t-they uh…they won't stop staring at me."

"Trust me, you'll feel better if you don't pay attention to them. Just look away."

"B-But even when I look somewhere else I can feel them staring at me…"

"I know…just…try to ignore them. I understand it's hard, but I'm almost finished. It shouldn't be much longer."

Crona winced. He stared at the food on his plate with the matching intensity of a person trying to awaken the ability of x-ray vision, paranoia making his body fidget. Out of the repeatedly practiced habit of keeping a wary eye on a possible enemy, Maka caved into her instinct, and let a curious eye wander over her shoulder.

And she found that those god-forsaken animatronics on stage still kept those eerie, vacant eyes stuck on their backs.

"I don't care what those stupid employees say," Ragnarok said. He lay tensely perched on his meister's head, eyes glued to the pizzeria's musical entertainers. "I don't trust those robotic fuckers one bit. Look at those freaky things, trying to stare you down and shit. You're telling me those animals are supposed to be comforting to children?"

"In a sense, yes." Maka replied. Cautious emerald fixed on the smiling brown bear frozen in the middle of the stage, his band of animal instrumentalists surrounding him. "But that doesn't mean all children like those things…"

Ragnarok cemented his fervent gaze on the dormant animatronics. "I'll never understand you humans and your methods of entertainment for kids. You put them in outfits that would make a grown man cry, feed them nasty food goop that looks like it was barfed up by birds, and put them in this creepy place to celebrate their birthday. Man, fuck growing up as a human kid."

Maka glared at Ragnarok and Crona made a sound of protest. "I-It's not that bad. Their singing and moving may have been a little…weird, but the idea of having a place where kids can roam free and have fun sounds pretty nice."

"Pretty nice for the fuzzy robots who want to eat our faces off. How do you know this place isn't some farm used to gather small children for that asshole?"

Crona sighed in defeat and Maka shook her head. Staying in the party room to finish her last slice of pizza with a ranting Ragnarok just wasn't worth it.

Standing up from her spot at the long party table, she delicately placed her hands on the swordsman's stiff shoulders, putting her lips near his ear. "I'm finished now and everyone else has run off into the play area. Want to join them and make sure Black Star or Soul haven't pried open the ticket boxes yet?"

She pressed a comforting squeeze into his tense muscles, allowing Crona to surrender into ease. He smiled meekly, rising from the pizza and salad-bit dotted table to follow her out of the party room. Ragnarok pointed a small hand to his eyes, jabbing it back to the frightening mechanical animals in warning his eyes were never leaving them, especially when their backs were turned.

And for once, Maka couldn't blame the sword for being so paranoid about those things; not one bit.

When they passed through the entrance of the play area, sounds of laughter from children and friends filled the couple's ears. Bright lights from arcade games blipped and flashed while children ran through the pizzeria, chasing the other from the arcade into the multi-colored tube play places. Amusement and exasperation left Maka in a sigh as she passed by her friends: Kid sobbing on the carpeted floor due to the messily arranged tube playhouses and Liz trying to lure Patty off the whack-a-mole game, the younger pistol standing atop and keeping two feet on mole holes while hammering the others mercilessly.

Much to Maka's surprise, Black Star and Soul hadn't busted open the ticket boxes yet; their contorted faces informed her they were too angry from their low score from the shooting hoop game to be focused on collecting ticket stubs.

"I demand a rematch!" Black Star ordered. "It's not fair to use your magic to help you shoot hoops!"

"It's also unfair to have Soul feed you basketballs while you stand next to the hoop." Kim retorted. "You're crazy if you're expecting us to play fair while you idiots cheat!"

"It's called teamwork. Sorry you've never heard of it."

"Oh, well if that's what it is, then Angela and I are simply practicing our magic." Kim sneered, giving the bear-mask wearing Angela a playful nudge. "Aren't we?"

"And we're the best team ever~!" Angela cheerfully sang. The small witch lifted up the pizzeria's mascot mask up, sticking out her tongue to the ninja. She grabbed a small, rubber basketball from the hoop game and hurled it into his face. "So eat that loss, you big jerk!"

Black Star growled, rubbing his stricken face. "Alright, that's it! No more basketball, we're playing dodgeball now! Soul, give me some back-up!"

"I'm not throwing anything at a damn kid!" Soul fought.

"Then it's your own fault if they pelt your balls into microscopic dust!"

Understanding their tough competition, the boys threw the rubber basketballs at their opponents, yelling and jumping to the sides to dodge the incoming balls. It was a struggle for Maka to not interject and teach Black Star a lesson in playing fairly-especially when it came to playing with children-, but Kim quelled her desire by striking the blue dunce on his head, commanding the levitating basketballs to chase Soul and Black Star like homing missiles. The sounds of delight and smiles produced from Angela made Maka's smile surface, Kim's turning proud from the young witch's admiration.

Today was focused on Angela too, after all; it was important for her to be happy. Miss Marie was generous enough to add her recent birthday to the celebration and Maka was sure the samurai watching comfortably nearby was grateful for her kind gesture. They knew as well as Crona and her that Angela needed to enjoy and reclaim the lost days of early childhood while she still could.

"Maka, Crona!"A voice called out.

Maka's attention shifted to the ball pits, seeing the exuberant Marie sitting on the play area's rim, waving at them. When their gazes met, not even Crona could resist smiling with her; Marie's happiness was practically infectious.

"I'm so glad you all could come!" Marie said happily. Her caramel eye shined as the couple approached. "It's so good to see all of you. I know this place is more suited for younger children, but I do hope you're enjoying yourselves."

"We are," Maka smiled. "Had I been small enough to fit into the play area again, I would run to it in a heartbeat, but I better stick to the arcade this time."

"You mean the games where you die the minute you enter the level?" Ragnarok asked. "Oh, oh, play against me! Aside from wailing on Crona, those shooting games help out with pent up stress!"

The blonde shot the sword a glare and Crona swiftly uppercutted his weapon, hands moving over Ragnarok's mouth to keep his mouth shut.

With a sheepish expression, Maka glanced over at Marie. Her single eye was closed, smile curved with humor from a daily scenario the couple encountered.

Her eye then snapped open. "Oh! I almost forgot. There's someone else whose grateful for you all being here." The Pulverizer's torso twisted around, picking up something from the ball-pit behind her. She then turned, placing a toddler with a red party hat on his silver-colored head on her lap. Her knee bobbed the boy up and down, gently cooing to him, "Say hi to Crona and his girlfriend, Henry. Go on, I know you can."

The fair-skinned boy glanced up at Maka, his busy mouth sucking on his tiny fingers. A small, recognizing smile came upon seeing her, but when his amber orbs shifted to Crona, a bright twinkle shined in his eyes. Henry lifted the hand holding his new monkey, smiling with a giggle, waving hello to him with it.

Maka's heart leaped when another smile decorated Crona's pink face. He struggled at first, his hand lifting up and back cautiously like Henry was a hot stove, but finally managed to place it on Henry's head and lightly ruffled his hair. "I-It was no problem at all. I'm just glad he likes it."

Seeing that sweet smile, her Soul Perception revealing how bright Crona's soul beamed when around a toddler he's known since his birth, Maka sank into the wonder if that was the smile he would wear when a baby of their own arrived.

"Only a hair ruffle?" Marie humoredly scorned. "Oh, please. He gets that enough from his father. Clearly Henry wants to hug his big brother." Marie pushed Henry into Crona's arms, startling the swordsman.

Throughout her guidance to properly hold him, Henry shrieked gleefully, babbling and shaking his monkey in Crona's face. The plush's limbs lightly hit Crona's face and while Ragnarok ordered Henry to desist his annoying noises and slaps from a toy, his meister took the fluffy abuse with a smile.

The scene was entrancing. Maka had seen the boys interact many times before, but there was something about this moment that made her breathing shake and warmth overflow in her heart.

Crona was always so patient and gentle with Henry- whether it was when he tugged on his hair or dribbled drool on his clothes. Even his smile was different and it pleased her to see it extended higher as the toddler repeated "Croba brova" to him.

"You two always look so cute together!" Marie clapped her hands together. "I can't believe he's two already. Time is flying by far too fast and sometimes I wish I had a rewind button to reset it all." She placed a concerned hand on her cheek. "At this rate, I can only hope your baby gets to see their grandmother while she's still in her prime. Looks like these are bound to wither away sooner than later. Henry and your little one will keep growing older and beautiful while I steadily turn into a shrived old lady!"

A nervous beat skipped in Maka's chest and the color from Crona's face drained. He looked away, his once joyful and bright wavelength waning until it was as dim and weak like a dying candle flame.

Marie spotted the sudden uneasiness. She made a nervous chuckle, attempting to break the tension. "Kidding. I'm just kidding. Even old ladies can crack a few jokes about their age. I know there's nothing but forward from here and I wish I could relive my memories, but I'm lucky enough to be able to watch my kids grow up. I couldn't ask for anything better."

Marie's eyes remained on the boys, but Maka's eyebrows lifted in surprise when Marie's gaze shifted to her, winking. With her brain delving into hindsight of everything, Maka felt absolutely stupid to not have noticed it sooner.

Throughout the past few months, every concern, every question Maka had was answered by this gentle, caring woman and her husband. She was a teacher who fought with her, watched her grow into a prevailing fighter, and where her own mother was absent to provide support, Marie was her substitute.

She wasn't so sure how she should feel about that…but gratefulness and comfort were the only clear feelings in the jumbled mess of emotions tensing her chest. Even though her family failed to be there for her, Maka was glad she had another to turn to.

"Ugh, I'm getting tired of this sappy-gooey crap." Ragnarok groaned. He twisted Crona's head, moving it forward toward the arcade room. "Let's ditch this feel-fest and go try out one of those shooting games already. I've got some frustration to unload on some digital assholes!"

Crona's stormy eyes looked to Maka, silently asking her for permission.

"Go ahead," she waved him on. "If it'll get his foul mouth away from Henry and keep him quiet, I'm all for it."

The swordsman made a sheepish uprise of lips and nodded. Maka carefully took Henry from him, resting him in her arms to allow Crona to concede into his weapon's gaming desire.

"I touched a nerve in him again, didn't I?" Marie asked sadly. She sighed and sat in a nearby chair. "Sorry about that. I should have been more careful."

"Don't be. You'd probably just make him more upset that you tried to screen your words. He doesn't want us worrying about what we have to say around him."

Marie gave Maka an apologetic look. Her eyes then wandered over the blonde, a faint smile pulling up. "But you seem to be doing better. Or at least, calmer about all of this."

"I have my up and down days, nothing new." Maka's busy arms tried to keep the curious toddler at bay, struggling to keep him from toppling back or to the side as his body and head moved to investigate every inch of the pizzeria.

"Nervous butterflies still stirring around in the gut about it?"

"I really hope that's what the feeling is…"

Marie let out a small chuckle. "I know it'll be hard to get used to, but I'm sure you can handle it."

"That's what I've been hearing from everyone the past few months, and it's getting more difficult to believe each time."Doubt eclipsed her eyes, holding Henry closer. "I've read more books than I can count, but I still don't have a lot of experience with kids. Yes, I've held Henry plenty of times, but how to properly hold kids is only one problem solved out of so many others coming."

The teacher stayed silent, her curious eye studying Maka. "Well, if you do have a concern or a problem, you know I'm here to help; Stein too. And I'll be sure to drill that into you plenty of times, regardless of if you believe me or not. " She paused, the small smile adorning her face turning soft. "And I think you have more experience with children than you know. You don't just have Henry to practice with; you've got someone else."

Maka tilted her head in wonder and Marie pointed a finger to her side. She followed, and wandering emerald fell on the loudly shouting Ragnarok.

"Quit getting mauled by zombies, damn it!" Ragnarok yelled. "I'll have to carry out the entire mission if you lose one more life!"

"I-I'm not trying to!"Crona defended. "T-They keep chasing me and there are too many. And t-this trigger is sticky!"

"Well then unstick it! Aw damn it. You died again! Now this mission is up to me!" Ragnarok dramatically cocked his plastic shotgun, aiming the muzzle at the arcade game's large screen. "Die you zombie bastards! My partner's dead corpse is only a distraction for your demise!"

Ragnarok's maniacal laughter permeated the air as he fired over and over again, bellowing victoriously when the level was finally cleared. Henry clapped his hands, copying Ragnarok's cry with a shrill, happy scream, the sound strong enough to feel like it was rattling Maka's brain. He then comfortably rested on Maka's chest, small laughs hiccupping in his throat, holding his monkey close.

"Ragnarok is loud, whines, is hungry all the time, and you have to comprise to get him to be quiet or listen to you." Marie counted off. "Technically, you guys already have a toddler in his terrible twos. You're already one step ahead."

Embarrassment warmed Maka's cheeks."The only compromise that even works with him though is be quiet or else his head will cave in on itself."

"Then try talking to him? Make a deal?"

"You… think I haven't tried? Marie, we've tried everything. Ragnarok is just impossible."

"Maybe. And maybe we'll be saying that same line about our own children in ten years. So why not keep trying and attempt to practice to brace up for when those days come?"

Maka blinked. Marie's smile eased, leaning back in her chair. "If I had the chance to do so before I had Henry, I would have jumped on it. I think you two have a pretty good advantage and can be more prepared than most. Think about it."

The conversation ended there. Marie's attention swayed around the room, Maka flinching as Henry burrowed his face into the crook of her neck. His skin and smooth hair tickled, and his eyes blinked heavily with his yawn, settling into a snooze.

Holding Henry and watching his unique features ease into rest reminded Maka of her protruding tummy where Baby slept. She watched him sleep, her brain transforming Henry's looks to create an image of what he might look like with her ash blonde hair, Crona's beautifully dark eyes, something that could be a small copy of him so his lost boyhood could be lived through another.

"What do you mean we can't afford it?" Ragnarok challenged, snapping Maka from her trance. "You've got money, don't you? So what's the problem?"

"We need tickets in order to get prizes here."Crona replied. "I-I can't just buy them. We have to play some of the games that give out tickets first."

"Then why didn't that zombie game spit out tickets when we played? I should have been getting a ticket for every fucker I unloaded on! Gah, fine, what a rip. I guess we can just go get more tokens so we can nab that BB gun."

"…H-Hold on, I already spent enough for you to play the dinosaur simulator and that shooting game. You don't need any more tokens."

"The hell I don't. Money equals tokens, and tokens equal tickets. So we're going and we're getting that gun."

"N-No, I spent enough on you already."

"Come on!" Ragnarok snaked a suggestive arm around the back of Crona's neck, shaking him to help convince him. "Just think of all the havoc we can do with it. We can shoot squirrels in the butt or pelt that cat woman who lives at the apartment! You think she flips out with a spray bottle? Just wait until her ass gets slapped with one of those puppies!"

"R-Ragnarok, I said no and I mean no."

"What if I said please?"

"No."

"What if I said I'd let you eat my dessert for tonight? No wait that's going a little far. Okay, how about I give you my sides at dinnertime?"

"No!"

"Damn it you're no fun at all!" Here I am trying to give us a bit of fun and you knock me down! You unfair bastard, get me that gun!"

Fists and insults flew while the pair fought. Ragnarok melted down to emerge from Crona's front, attempting to pull down his pants. The meister desperately kept his grip tight on the belt holding his jeans up, preventing the sword from publicly humiliating him.

Maka observed Crona attempt to give his weapon an ultimatum of another prize, but he refused and grabbed an inflatable mallet to repeatedly whack it on his meister's head.

Seeing for herself that Crona had the ability to refuse his weapon, Maka thought that maybe, just maybe there was a chance one of her concerns would not become reality: that Crona wouldn't spoil Baby rotten to their core and cave whenever they wanted something.

But with the help of an unfamiliar instinct and her own experience with the sweet swordsman, she highly doubted it.


I can't put into words how excited I was to post this. Really, I can't. It was just loads of fun to writexD(Even though one part reminded me of my scars from Five Nights at Freddy's. *shudders*)

To all the guests who I cannot respond to, thank you for your reviews:D I was so happy to see how much you all liked the last chapter and see some new faces. Much love to you and all who stopped by.

See you all next time!