So I've been getting called into work a lot lately so I haven't had time to put finish this until now, I'm apologizing ahead of time for the lateness, but it's done now even though it's nearly 3am. I hope you people appreciate this!

I'm going to try to have another chapter done by the end of the week, but no promises right now because my work is so variable.

Disclaimer: Still don't own anything

Warning: Potential confusion with time, little talking

Chapter 13

The following morning, before the sun has even had a chance to breach the dark halls of the White Ark, Kanda is suddenly awaked from his sleep. He first turns his attention to see if there is any immediate danger threatening the Moyashi or himself, and after a moment, when he is satisfied that they are still safe; he turns his attention to the figures standing at the door.

That orange hair and purple clothing makes it obvious who the shorter figures is, but the taller is just out of Kanda's line of sight, and still an unknown other than that the shadow they are casting reveals the telltale ears and tail of a neko. He knows that he can trust the shorter, and if the other neko is with her, he knows that they wouldn't dare try to hurt the Moyashi.

After Fou has seen Kanda take note their presence, she and her companion beckon for Kanda to leave Allen's side for just a moment to come out and speak with them. Kanda hesitates for a moment, looking at the young neko who is still using his hand as a pillow, a small smile gracing his features with the contact that he has subconsciously been seeking. Kanda carefully removes his hand from under the Moyashi's head, trying his best not to disturb the sleeping neko. The moment his hand is gone, the Moyashi's face contorts into a mask of confusion as he unconsciously moves his head, seeking out that warmth and comfort that has suddenly disappeared on him.

Kanda gives the Moyashi one last look of longing before he shuts the door behind him, making sure to close it without a sound, lest it wake the sleeping Moyashi. Once in the hall, Kanda takes notice of the expectant looks decorating the features of the two nekos in front of him. Fou has a rather mischievous grin on her face, where as her companion seem to be a bit more contemplative, his dark golden eyes contemplating and analyzing the taller neko before him.

There is an audible silence as the three appraise the current moods of each other, but Fou is soon to break it with her eagerness. "Yuu Kanda," said neko bristles at this, but she pays him no heed, "we've put our heads together, and if you're willing and patient enough, we think we might just have a plan to help Allen become more comfortable around people again, and to get him to trust you again."

Kanda looks at her companion who is nodding his head to the extent where Kanda begins to wonder if his white hat will fall off or get caught on one of his ears. "Of course this won't happen overnight, and we'll need Allen's cooperation as well, but I'm sure that this will work!" Determination flashes through those golden eyes at the owner's statement.

The taller neko looks between the two in front of him, watching as their eagerness and determination seems to grow with each passing second. His first thoughts are to refuse their help and continue to do things his way, but a look back at the door that hides his Moyashi makes him think again, makes him think of Allen.

He sighs before turning his attention back to the other two. "I'll give this one month, but if there doesn't seem to be any improvement for the Moyashi, I'm scrapping the idea and doing it my way, understood?" The two nod adamantly at this. "Ok, now that that part is settled, what do you want me to do?"

The two look at each other for a minute before the blond backs off leaving Fou to do all of the talking. She gives him a slight pouting glare, but doesn't seem to mind too much. "Right now all you need to do is go and do all of the physical and mental training that you used to do each and every morning before the raid."

Kanda raises an eyebrow. "And just how will that help the Moyashi?"

"He needs some personal space, and yesterday really was his first mental awakening since being brought here, so that means that he is more likely to be able to adapt to this environment. However, he was with you when he came to this realization so he'll probably associate you with this awakening, which seemed to be mostly filled with pain and grief, so on some subconscious level he'll probably have those negative feelings about himself when he's around you for now, and that may be the case for a while. It's possible that those feelings might not ever completely leave him, but we try to help him suppress those negative feelings with more positive, distracting ones. To do that, we need to start with limiting your time with him, just for now. Pretty soon you'll be able to spend more time with him, probably not doing or interacting how you want to just yet, but it will be a step in that direction.

"Right now we want to start by letting him wake up on his own and alone in his room; to be able to collect his thoughts and feelings before someone comes in to see him. Now, since I've dealt with this type of situation before, and he seems to be responding positively to me, I'll be the one to show him around and help him interact with others more for the next few weeks. Today I plan to take it slow and have it just be he and I, and then I'll have you come in to see him for about and hour or so before he goes to sleep. Now, after he goes to sleep, you can spend as much of the night in the room with him as you want, just as long as you leave before he wakes up." She pauses to breath for a moment after explaining so much so fast. "Any questions?"

"How exactly is this supposed to help him adjust?"

Fou rolls her eyes. "Each day he'll get to see someone he's already becoming comfortable with for most of the day, me. Then he'll get to see you and me at the same time so that he can start to readjust to your presence. Eventually, I'll start having him spend time with other as well, with and without you present, this way he'll be able to associate you and others with positive emotions and memories. Each day we'll decrease the time I spend with him bit by bit, and expand the time that you and others are around him so that over time he becomes more and more comfortable with his surroundings and the people here.

"Now you know that he's gone through a lot, and the likelihood of him ever completely getting over it is practically nonexistent, but we can do our best to help him move on. He probably won't be the same as you remember him to be, too much has happened for that to even be a possiblity, but you two can still be together again, it will just take some time and some readjusting on both of your parts."

She pauses before looking Kanda square in the eye. "I have no doubt that Allen can do this, that he will help himself to recover with time, but I have to say, from what I've seen, I don't know if you'll be able to restrain and restrict yourself enough to let him help himself. Yuu Kanda, are you willing to do whatever it takes to help Allen, no matter your own personal feelings and desires?"

His first instinct is again to challenge what she is asking him, but Kanda realizes that she really does only want what's best for the Moyashi, so he stops for a moment to ask himself if he really is willing and able to do this for his Moyashi. After much contemplation he looks between the two other nekos. "As I said before, you have one month to let me start seeing results, I'm counting on seeing some by then. I'll go along with it for that long, and longer if it seems to be working. But only if it seems to be working by then"

A look of relief crosses Fou's face, but she is quick to cover it up by grinning up at Kanda. "Ok so you know your part in this, so get out of here already. We can't do anything until after you've left."

Kanda just looks at her. "Che." And he gives the door one last look before setting off down the hallway to the training room.

Fou holds her grin until she can no longer see Kanda's back as he makes his way down to the training grounds. After that she lets the grin fall and turns to her companion, "Bak, I really hope this works."

A pair of arms circles her waist, pulling her close. "We all do. But it's not up to us. It's all up to Allen now."

….

Time passes quickly after this, and even though each day is very much the same as the ones before, by some perspectives, if someone were to compare Allen from one week to the next, the changes they would be able to observe would astound them if they knew all that had happened to the young neko. Even though there is progress, there are still many things that need work, and some things that might never be completely fixed, but the important thing is that despite all of this, Allen is doing his best to move forward.

For Allen, the days that pass seem incredibly long and trying, but at the end of each day, he can tell that it was all worth the effort. And he can tell that day by day, things seem a little brighter, and maybe, just maybe, there really is hope out there, even if it isn't as obvious as he would like it to be some days.

From that first day that Allen woke up alone in his room, he somehow knew that things were going to change, and after that, Fou came in and explained to him that she wanted to help him to recover, but only for as long as Allen was willing to try and help himself. He had hesitated at first, not because he didn't want to be able to try to help himself, but because he wasn't sure if he would be able to do it. It took him quite a bit of self-questioning, but eventually he was able to give her the answer that the both wanted.

At first, it was all extremely overwhelming for Allen, so much so that at times all he wanted to do was just leave things be and revert back to being alone and staying that way, but eventually after much arguing by Fou, a few unknowingly wisely spoken words from Lenalee, encouragements from Lavi, and from those few times when Allen would see Kanda, he would always be able to overcome his difficulties, somehow, and would eventually try to allow himself move on.

With each day, bit by bit of Allen's confidence and self-respect begins to be pieced back together. It may not be all at once, but each piece helps him to recover and to become the person he really wants to be, not someone whose life is rules by fear and mistrust. And each and every day that Allen is able to see Kanda, he knows, deep down, that this is really what he wants. To be able to be with Kanda, if Kanda is willing to except him as he is now, and as what he has yet to become.

….

After about a month and a half of this treatment, Allen is faced with one of his toughest challenges yet, moving out of the hospital wing and into an actual living space. He has grown comfortable in the little room that's away from most of the residence of the White Ark, but he knows that he needs to get used to the idea of being away from what is familiar, and moving on to something new.

The biggest question that still remains for Allen is where exactly is he going to stay? He's had several offers by his friends to help him pick out a room, most likely near one of their own. But he has also received several offers from people stating that he can stay with them for as long as he would like, or until he can find a more permanent place to call his own. Fou offered to let him stay with her and Bak Chan in their room near the forest room, but he politely declined saying that she has done enough for him already, that anymore on his part would just be imposing on even more on her personal life. And though she still insisted, Allen would only give her a small, fake smile and continue to decline the offer.

Lenalee and Komui offered to try and find space in their shared set of rooms for Allen. They told him that even though Kanda has been sleeping on their couch practically since he was brought to the White Ark, that if Allen wanted, they would be more than willing to make more room for him to stay with them. After hearing that Kanda was already staying with them, he immediately declined the offer, saying that they already had one guest to care for they didn't need another. Besides, after hearing that Kanda was staying with them, he began to wonder about how Kanda really was holding up with everything that had happed to him, let alone what has happened after he found Allen again.

Lavi even offered to let Allen crash with him or Bookman if he ever wanted or needed to. The two were right across the hall from one another, so one of them would always have a door open for the young neko if he ever wanted it. After all, to them, Allen has always been a part of their family, and family takes care of family. Allen was tempted to take Lavi up on his offer, but knowing that Lavi was still having some trouble adjusting to only having one eye, he decided that at least for now, he would find somewhere else to stay so that Lavi would have a better chance at a quick recovery.

The last person to offer Allen a place to stay is Kanda. Allen is a little surprised at this, especially after hearing that Kanda has been staying with Lenalee and Komui for the last long while. He asks Kanda just where exactly he would be staying, and the older neko led him to a room tucked away from most of the main hallways, but still close to the medical ward, indoor forest, and cafeteria. The room itself is nothing special, just a simple small sitting area with a small kitchenette in the corner with a microwave and sink and two cupboards above and below the kitchenette. There is a door leading off to a medium sized bathroom that looks hardly used, and another door leads to the only bedroom. The bedroom itself looks practically untouched aside from missing bed coverings and some scattered clothing on the floor. After looking around, Allen agrees to take Kanda up on his offer, because even if Kanda isn't there, the whole room smells of Kanda, and that alone helps to calm Allen to a point where he feels that this will be the most comfortable for him to stay for any extended period of time.

The first few days of living in those rooms are strange for Allen. He knows that the room technically is Kanda's, but with the older neko gone most of the time, and with him off staying with Lenalee and Komui at night instead of staying with him like he did while he was in the medical ward, he begins to feel a bit lonely.

Eventually, one night as Kanda is getting ready to leave, Allen comes up behind him, grabbing the bottom of his coat as he puts it on. His voice is small, and with his head hanging, his voice is a little muffled, but Kanda can still hear him. "Please don't go. Please, please stay, even just this once." The two stay like that for several minutes, both afraid to make the next move. At long last it is Kanda who gives his customary 'Che' before taking off his coat and announcing that he'll stay with Allen, at least for the night.

After a while, this becomes a type of routine for the two of them, Kanda will act as though he is going to leave for the night, and each night that Allen asks for him to stay, Kanda will put his coat away and after making sure that Allen is asleep, will settle in on the couch for the night ahead.

It is a comfortable routine for them, but one night changes this routine into something even more.

After about half a month of Allen living with Kanda, Kanda is awakened by some instinct he has no name for. Somehow, without even stopping to see if he can sense any sort of danger, he immediately heads to his Moyashi who is supposed to be asleep in the bedroom. But when he opens the bedroom door, Kanda is met with a sight that he hadn't anticipated in the slightest.

He can see that the Moyashi is trapped in a nightmare as the young neko thrashes around the bed, seemingly trying to get away from some unseen foe. He can see tears spilling down those pale cheeks, as screams and words die in the throat of the Moyashi who can't seem to escape back in to reality. Sweat dampens his hair and clothing, showing his exertions of trying to escape from his dreams.

Kanda tires to carefully shake the Moyashi, hoping to gently wake him up, but when the nightmare continues, Kanda tries to talk to Allen, to talk and shake him, but nothing he does will wake the young neko. Eventually, Kanda sits on the bed and after maneuvering his Moyashi into a more comfortable position, he simply holds the Moyashi, hoping that his presence will somehow alleviate the dream or at least allow some comfort to become available to him.

The nightmare continues long into the early hours of the morning, but Kanda still holds onto his Moyashi, despite all of the struggling, and the strange and confusing noises coming from the younger neko. Eventually all of that seems to die down, and the Moyashi is allowed at least a little bit of restful sleep, but Kanda still doesn't leave his side, opting to continue holding the younger neko for a while longer.

Kanda ends up falling asleep while still holding Allen, and when Allen is the first to wake, to say that he is surprised would be an understatement. However, this is not an unwelcome surprise. In truth, Allen has been longing for Kanda to come and share the bed with him like they used to do when they were younger. At that time, whenever there was a storm, Kanda would let Allen into his bed, and hold him close until morning would come. And for this to be finally happening again, especially after the nightmare that he had just had, it is exactly what Allen needs.

Allen tires to be discreet as he wiggles closer to Kanda, taking in his warmth and the calm that seem to radiate off of him as he sleeps. But even the slight movement makes Kanda wake up. When those deep blue eyes, still lazy with sleep see liquid silver ones staring back at them, Kanda freeze for a moment, fearing that he has overstepped some type of boundary.

Kanda's confusion and concern is evident, and it makes Allen worry for a moment that he did something wrong. So after little contemplation he does the first thing that pops into his head. He leans in closer to Kanda, and when the other neko doesn't move, he draws the older neko into a kiss.

Their lips meet and it is if time has stopped. The molding of soft flesh on soft flesh, and the desire to be closer and closer rings with clarity. Allen is a little surprised when he feels a tongue hesitantly wipe at the crease in his lips, and after only a moments hesitation, he opens his mouth just enough so that the kiss isn't broken, but the exploring muscle is allowed entrance. There is no battle for dominance, only continued passion, until the spell is broken and the two nekos are forced back to reality with the need for oxygen.

The two look at each other for a long time, neither moving nor speaking, both hoping that that moment wasn't simply a dream, but part of reality. Eventually, Kanda breaks eye contact with Allen, and the younger neko takes the opportunity to lie back down and snuggle closer to Kanda, intertwining their tails together.

Kanda is stunned, but after seeing his Moyashi drift back to sleep, and being able to still taste the younger on his tongue, he wraps his arms around the younger neko, holding him close as he too falls back into a much more peaceful and restful sleep.

After that one kiss, everything about their interactions changes. Both of the nekos are more forward with each other, asking and saying what they want without fear of miscommunication. Kanda begins to start sharing the same bed with his Moyashi, making sure to hold him through both the good dreams, and the reoccurring nightmares. Allen beings to seek out Kanda more and more, and while his interactions with others continue to improve, it is only when he is with Kanda that he truly feels like himself.

The two begin to spend more and more time together, one never too far from the other. This happens especially since Allen's pregnancy is progressing so swiftly, and with such a large litter, that by the time he is five months along, his stomach is so full with kittens that he has to help going anywhere, and doing anything that involves reaching up or bending down. Kanda takes this as an opportunity to have an excuse to spend more time with his Moyashi, and be near him.

It is also around this time that the two nekos start to go off on their own every once in a while, after meeting up with their friends for a rather loud dinner. Sometimes the two of them simply wander the halls, hand in hand, and other times they go and sit in various spots in the indoor forest, letting the beauty around them fill the peaceful silence. It is also during these times when more kisses are frequently exchanged and whispers of nothing and everything are exchanged.

One night when the two of them are off in their room, tired enough that their actions become automatic and with no thought, that Allen begins to feel that something is off. He disregards it and continues with his shower, just hoping to not fall asleep before making it to the bedroom. As he rubs the last of the excess water from his skin he stops when he feels a pain shoot up his spine. His eyes widen, but when the pain doesn't return, he ignores it and wearily makes his way into bed where Kanda is already asleep.

His sleep is constantly interrupted that night, the pain returns out of the blue, and he can feel himself lose his focus on everything, even though he is still awake. He wants to wake Kanda, to have him reassure him that nothing is wrong and that he is just overreacting, but he decides against it, knowing that the older neko is just as exhausted and if he can get some sleep, then he deserves it.

Eventually the pain increases and starts to become more constant, by then, all Allen can do is concentrate on is trying not to make too much noise and wake Kanda, but with each wave of pain it becomes increasingly difficult. It is one particularly loud grunt of pain that finally wakes Kanda and alerts him to Allen's condition.

After a few minutes of observing his Moyashi, Kanda quickly becomes worried and starts to find his keys so that he can get his Moyashi to the medical wing as soon as possible. Finding the keys ends up being the easy part as getting Allen to concentrate enough on anything except the pain becomes exceedingly difficult, not impossible, just difficult.

Eventually, Allen is able to stand while using Kanda as a support. He tries to focus solely on each step forward, but by the time they finally reach the hall to the elevator, he is wracked with another wave of pain, only this one is slightly different. After the pain subsides, Allen feels a wetness slide down his legs at an alarming rate and volume.

Before he can even fully react, Kanda seems to notice what has happened and gathers Allen in his arms, carrying him in much the same way he did during the raid on the Black Ark. Kanda begins to run the rest of the way to the medical wing, only stopping to wait impatiently for the elevator.

Upon arriving at the quite medical wing, Kanda begins to call for a doctor, for anyone to come and help Allen. Within seconds, a nurse rushes down one of the halls and after seeing exactly what the emergency is, ushers Kanda and Allen into one of the nearest rooms where she immediately calls for help.

While they wait for more assistance to arrive, the nurse wastes no time in setting out, gathering supplies and checking on Allen's condition every few seconds. After only a few minutes of this, Komui rushes in the door, and after taking one look at Allen, kicks both the nurse and Kanda out of the room.

Out in the hallway, the nurse is quick to tell the arriving help exactly what she wants, and soon Kanda is left by himself outside of the door, worrying about Allen the entire time. After roughly fifteen minutes of waiting, the door opens and Kanda is allowed back into the room.

Upon entering Kanda notices that Allen is now dressed in one of the hospital gowns, and a thin blanket helps to cover everything below his waist. He doesn't even seem to notice when Kanda enters, his breathing labored and pain written across his features. Kanda takes a seat near his side, and takes hold of the younger neko's hand, only to have his grabbed and squeezed tightly instead.

Kanda looks at Komui for answers, but he doesn't get the chance to ask as the door bursts open again and more nurses rush in with various supplies before either leaving or trying to get Kanda to leave with them. Kanda refuses to leave until someone tells him what his going on and what is wrong with his Moyashi.

Eventually, Komui takes Kanda by the shoulder and steers him out of the room, telling him exactly what is going on. "Allen has gone into premature labor and it appears that his water broke on your way here. At this point there is no turning back or waiting any longer. He's about to birth his litter." And with that he heads back into the room, leaving a very stunned Kanda in the hall.

For Allen, all he can feel is pain pulling at his stomach and lower torso. The pain doesn't seem to be coming from just one point, but from multiple points, each shifting causing even more pain. He tires to pay attention to the things going on around him instead of the pain, but at this point he can only concentrate for a few seconds at a time, but never long enough to really understand what is going on.

Finally he sees a glimpse of Komui trying to talk to him, so he tires even harder to concentrate on what the man is saying, but even then he still isn't able to catch everything, but he is able to catch just enough to know roughly what is happening.

He now understands that the pain he is feeling is from going into labor, that his water has broke, and that any minute now, the first kitten would be trying to come out.

He doesn't have to wait long before the pain becomes even more intense and he can hear people shouting at him to push. He does what they tell him, screaming with the pain and effort.

He feels something slide out of himself, but doesn't have much time to dwell on it before the pain begins anew.

This continues three more times, and each time the pushing becomes harder and the pain seems to never end.

By the time he is being told for a fifth time to push, he has no energy left to even try. He can hear people calling to him, urging him for just a little more, to hold out for just a little longer.

With a final desperate push, Allen uses up the last of his energy and falls into a sweet, painless oblivion.

Well I'm off to bed, finally.

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