AN: So I realized all the DAMNED type-o's in the last chapter. I will fix it, sometimes with how long these chapters get it's hard for me to get ALL of them but the last chapter was just a mess. I'm a mess, sorry bout it D:. I start classes soon and I have a new job so-on with the chapter (which a week or so has past since said last chapter)

Ichigo woke up to Shiro's arm draped across his stomach. He chuckled at the other man, his hair taking up most of the pillow while his head was faced away from Ichigo and on the mattress. He had told Shiro how bad it was to sleep on one's stomach, before, but he was guilty of it too. His looked at the ceiling then the clock for a moment. He had to work in a few hours.

He was surprised by how late he slept in, but it had been a rather tiring two months, with the trials and all. It was currently creeping up to being noon, and he still hadn't moved. He just sighed before he went to get up.

"Mmmm...why can't ya jus' stay here," came the groggy and muffled objection to his movement. Ichigo chuckled. He laid back down and Shiro turned to face him fully, long white strands getting in his face, which he tried to blow out of his face. Ichigo snorted and moved them for the other.

"I gotta go to work, and so do you."

"Do we really have ta though?"

"We have a wedding to pay for, Shi."

"We could elope."

"That takes money." Shiro groaned. They had started the wedding preparations..well...they're friends had forced them too. They had insisted on helping, except Grimmjow. He said he already did that shit, and it was too soon for him, but obviously, Nel changed his tune because he came with them to start doing some planning.

Joslyn was all happy about having "another son" marrying, which had hurt Aria a tad since she had been present.

"This weddin' shit is gonna kill me, Ichi." Ichigo just rolled his eyes.

"I think out of everything, that will not kill you."

"You don' know." Ichigo just deadpanned at him, and that caused the other to grin. "Don't be so whiny."

"Whiny?!" Shiro chuckled.

"You heard me."

"Tha's not nice, King."

"Don't call me that right now!" Shiro snorted as he sat up and stretched. He looked back at Ichigo who was blushing and frowning at the same time. Shiro grinned at him again.

"I don' know what ya mean."

"Bullshit." Shiro snickered at that before he turned and leaned over Ichigo who's blush intensified at the action.

"I love ya." Ichigo's expression softened at that.

"I love you too." He hmm'ed, kissing the other before getting up. Ichigo watched him get up and decided to follow suit. They made breakfast before settling to watch something really fast, not anything specific since today was a bit more rushed.

"When do ya gotta leave?"

"Two-thirty."

"Same, mind taking me ta work?"

"No, If you can be ready." Shiro chuckled.

"Yeah yeah, jus' gotta through some stuff on."

"Alright, alright." Shiro leaned over, kissing his jaw before he got up to take care of his things. He looked back to Ichigo, who was just finishing up. He held a hand out to the items and Ichigo handed them over with a thank you. They went about getting ready.

Ichigo was pleased by how well Shiro had been recovering, and that he was starting to recoupe from the stress. He knew he was teasing about the wedding, and that's one of the signs that he was coming back around. After getting around, they left the house to head to work. Ichigo parked in front of the tattoo parlor, to which he received a tease of a kiss from his fiance. Shiro grinned at him before getting out.

"Love ya!"

"You suck," Ichigo said, and Shiro's grin only grew. Ichigo felt a pang as he rolled his window down and called out to Shiro. "Hey!" Shiro turned back around. "I love you too." Shiro stopped and chuckled.

"Don' be late." Ichigo offered him a small smile before he rolled his window up and drove off. Shiro watched him before he chuckled and entered the parlor. The day wasn't a completely full one but Shiro had to do somethings in Grimmjow's absence in regards to the shop. The Jeagerjaques were currently off starting the process of adoption. Nel had been told that her chances of getting pregnant we really low, which she had taken pretty well in regards to the situation. It still wasn't easy, she had confided in Shiro that she still felt like it was her fault.

Shiro sighed at the memory of that conversation before he looked up at the sound of the bell.

"Mornin', Nnoitra." The man just waved him off as he teetered into the shop. Shiro raised his brow. "Are ya drunk?"

"None of your business." Shiro narrowed his eyes at the other.

"The fuck it isn't, yer not workin' taday if yer smashed."

"What?" Nnotira turned around, looking at Shiro.

"Yer not workin', get out," Shiro said. Nnorita and Shiro never saw eye to eye, the two of them had seen similar things, while Nnoritra let the past become him, Shiro hadn't..as much. He was guilty of it, but he took his lessons and moved on because he would be damned if he were controlled by Aizen even in his death. Shuuhei came out at that moment from the back with a mop and it's bucket, as he stopped to look at the two.

"You can't tell me what to do." Shiro turned fully to the taller, gold on black eyes dangerous in their glint as Shuuhei watched the man tense.

"Go ahead and think tha' but ya need ta leave. I knew that ya working here would be bullshit. Are ya drinkin' cause of Shinji?"

"You don' know shit, Shirosaki. You think your tough shit because you took on Aizen when it was Kensei that actually really finished him." Shiro moved so fast it had Shuuhei and Nnoitra's heads spinning. Nnoitra's face was pressed into the ground.

"Nnoitra. Leave." Shuuhei ushered Shiro off of the taller man, and Nnoitra shoved both men away from him. He sneered before he went ambling out of the shop, and Shiro watched him with such intensity that Shuuhei wasn't sure if he should speak.

"What a fuckin' prick," Shiro growled as he closed the book he had been looking at that involved the parlor's finances.

"That's true," Shuuhei said. Shiro sighed.

"Make sure he doesn't come back here, alright? I'll tell Grimm bout it later."

"Alright." Said the other, as Shiro crossed Nnitora out of the book.

"Aweeeee, you're so cuuuttteee!" Shinji sang at seeing Rukia's tummy. Ichigo shook his head at his friend as himself, Rangiku, Rukia, and Shinji sat in the park on their break. Rukia blushed at the loud cooing over her belly.

"You're so loud," Rukia said, face red.

"Oh come on, Rukia, he's just teasing. Besides, he's right!" Rangiku said, and Ichigo just chuckled.

"Have you and Shiro talked about having kids?"

"How did this get redirected to me?!" Ichigo yelled in astonishment.

"Ooo! You did say something about it!" Shinji declared and Ichigo sighed. Rukia watched her friends anxiety grow. Things were better between Shiro and Ichigo, but the question still lingered if they would ever be safe enough to have kids.

"I didn't mean to depress you, Ichigo," Rangiku said, and the light-heartedness of the group died a bit. Ichigo shook his head.

"It's fine. I wanted this life with Shiro, it'll be okay." Rukia narrowed her eyes at Ichigo."

"Have you two considered moving?"

"..Not really? Why, Rukia, I don't really want to talk about this." Ichigo squirmed, and the other just sighed.

"You'll have to face it Ichigo, I know you're just going into this because the courtroom was supposed to be your deciding factor but the truth is that they don't have all of Aizen's cronies, and his death didn't do much for that." Ichigo sat silently.

"Wow, what are you three doing to my nephew?" Ichigo looked up and smiled at his Uncle.

"Hey, Kaien!" Kaien grinned at him as he plopped down next to him.

"Hey Ichigo, I would be all cheery to see you but this conversation I've walked in on has me curious, what's going on?" Ichigo was quiet.

"Everyone was talking to me about having kids." Kaien "ooh'ed."

"Trying to deflect off Rukia?" Kaien said and chuckled at the look of indignation on Rukia's face.

"Well, I haven't gotten to have any children yet, Ichigo. I would have liked to."

"Don't talk like you're dying." Kaien laughed.

"I'm not, I would have liked to with my wife." There was silence. "Things happen, though. When the time is right, and you two are ready, it will happen. Take no offense to this, but just because a few around you are in the process doesn't mean you have to as well." Ichigo stared at his uncle before he felt some peace wash over him. Ichigo smiled softly at that.

"...So maybe we will, and maybe we won't" The others in the group stared at their friend before they smiled in their varying states of acceptance.

"Well, that is a way to go about it," Rangiku said with a tilt to her head, she nodded as she leaned back on her hand and looked around. Kaien smiled at his nephew, ruffling his hair as he stood.

"Well, I have to go, but I'm glad I could give some advice." He waved, everyone, reciprocating it as he walked away. Ichigo watched him before he looked back to the group.

"You think Shiro is going to be okay with that?" Rukia asked. Ichigo nodded.

"He was always up in the air about it, and one of the reasons he wished I would move on for a while there." Shinji shook his head at Ichigo's response before he put in more of his input

"You two and your insecurities."

"Mmm, because I'm the only one." Ichigo challenged and Rangiku laughed.

"Wow, we're lively today, huh?" Rangiku made to stand and helped Rukia up after she stood to her height. "We should probably head out." Ichigo nodded in agreement, Shinji took that as a queue to follow the man.

"Well, I'll talk to you later, right?" Ichigo chuckled and nodded.

"Yeah." Shinji gave him a long look before he walked off, which made Ichigo frown.

"Coming, Ichigo?" Rukia called.

"...Yeah!" Ichigo jogged to catch up, having his friend in the back of his mind as he got in the truck.

Nel wrung her hands together as she looked at the envelope that her doctor had given her. She stared at it for a bit but she just rubbed her neck. Maybe she should wait for Grimmjow. Leaning back in her chair, she sighed. Right now they were trying to figure out if there was anything chemically wrong with her body and then they would go from there.

She just sighed and stood. She was just going to go to the parlor, at this point it should be closing up and if that was the case Grimmjow might be alone. So, that's what she did. She made her way to her car and made the fifteen-minute drive to the parlor. She parked and made her way in, ensuring that she had the envelope during the journey. She saw Grimmjow sitting on a stool at the cashier, and a book open.

He looked older as he looked at the book, his wedding ring glinted in the light as he started to write. Grimmjow looked up and over to her as he saw her moving towards the store. He watched her, as she came to settle across the counter from him in the parlor. She sat the envelope on the counter, and they sat silent. Grimmjow flicked his eyes to the envelope as if to regard it, before giving his wife his full attention.

Nel broke the silence with a shaky breath.

"...I don't know if I want to open it." She whispered, playing with her own wedding ring. Grimmjow was silent, he took the envelope as he sat back a bit on the stool. He stood to he full height after just merely holding it, he looked at her and motioned to the couch. The two sat down and Grimmjow took the dreaded paper with him.

"Do ya want me to?" Nel stared at if for a moment before she nodded. Grimmjow sighed, as he leaned back and opened the envelope. There was silence as Grimmjow read the results, and he took an exhale. Grimmjow looked at Nel whose eyes were staring at him widely. His chest was tight.

"..Well?" Nel pressed.

"Ah...They're...not." Grimmjow struggled to find the words but Nel could already tell what he was going to say.

"So that's good right?! That's fixable." Nel said, semi-hysterically. Grimmjow's jaw clenched. He didn't like this kind of stuff and he couldn't help her. He couldn't fix it.

"I..can't tell you if it is or isn't, Nel." Nel stared at him before she leaned back and stared at the ceiling for a moment. Nel put her head in her hands. She took a cleansing breath.

"I can't do this again, that's the case."

"The next step would be to check your organs, right?" Nel nodded. She sighed.

"Let's do that then? Then see?" Grimmjow just nodded.

"That seems like it's what we should do." He was quiet. "I'm not good at this."

"That makes two of us," Nel replied, she took his hand and offered him a weak smile.

"We've gotten through a lot of shit, I think we can handle it." Nel chuckled weakly at that, as they just sat there in the silent comfort of one another.

Shiro and Ichigo sat in Renji and Rukia's apartment with their friends as they all looked at wedding stuff.

"I'm so glad we're done with this." Grimmjow groased.

"You can shut up." Shiro gripped. Ichigo raised a brow at his fiance.

"I'm not going to have to deal with you being grumpy, am I?" Shiro sighed.

"Noooo." Ichigo chuckled at that as everyone put in their votes for settings and such of that nature. Tatsuki snorted at the two men.

"You going to make him feel better, Ichigo?" Ichigo blinked at his friend, while a slight tinge reached his ears he just took a pull of his drink and shrugged.

"Sure." Everyone stopped and Shiro cackled.

"You've tainted him."

"I'm so proud."

"Never thought I would see you be so nonchalant about this, Kurosaki," Grimmjow said as he raised a brow at one selection Nel showed him. Ichigo shrugged as he pointed to a centerpiece and looked to Shiro. Shiro grinned.

"Perfect." Upon giving everyone a good look, he put it in the binder for later.

"Now is it reversed, Shiro?" Shiro raised a brow at Uryu.

"Wha' do ya mean?"

"Can we get a rise out of you?" Shiro stared at the other before a shit eating grin enveloped his face.

"Go ahead and try."

"Oooo! A challenge!" Nel cheered, and Rukia laughed.

"We'll have to see what we can do about that, Shiro." Shiro just rolled his eyes and went about putting some colors next to each other, and tilting his head as he observed them. Shiro looked at his best man.

"Ya know for someone tha's bitchin' about helpin' you're really interested." Grimmjow just gave the other a look and Nel ooo'ed at one color combo. The two grooms grimaced. Nel sulked and some chuckles were heard.

"I need a drink." Shiro sighed

"Please bring more than one for yourself," Tatsuki begged and Halibel chuckled next to her. Renji got up to help and looked at Rukia.

"Ah...Apple juice." She said and offered him a smile as thanks. Renji followed Shiro to the kitchen, and they went about making drinks. Renji looked at Shiro before he walked out, Shiro raised a brow, watching Renji's back as he walked out. Shiro brought out the remaining drinks, setting Ichigo's in front of his fiance as well as his own as he sat down.

"Things are so weird now, huh?" Renji said after a moment and everyone stopped. Orihime nodded but then she smiled.

"For the better." Nel took Grimmjow's hand under the table and squeezed. There were some nods before Tatsuki asked another question, and that caused everyone to pause yet again.

"What last name combo are you guys going to do?"

"Neither. It's jus' gonna be Kurosaki." Shiro responded and Ichigo smiled softly at the revelation.

"Does your family know about that?"

"It doesn't really concern them. Besides, there's my brother." Shiro replied, with a tone that warned for the subject to be dropped. Shiro didn't talk about his family, it had been a pivotal point of his childhood but that didn't mean he was just going to smile and thank the heavens he had his biological family. As far as he was concerned, the Jeagerjaques were his family. There was some silence.

"Is Aria coming to the wedding?" Grimmjow said, breaking the lingering question. Shiro nodded.

"She's invited, whether or not she's comin' is up ta her." Grimmjow gave Shiro a long look.

"Is that going to cause an issue with Ma and her?" Grimmjow asked, and everyone was kind of shocked, but also not, that he was being so bold. Boldness was in Grimmjow's nature and it knew no bounds.

"I don' know, Grimmjow," Shiro replied, not any happiness lingering in his voice.

"Are you having Joslyn and Alwin in the front?" Ichigo asked and Shiro nodded.

"There's time to hash it out, I wouldn't let it eat at you so quick," Renji suggested nonchalantly. Shiro shrugged.

"We'll just have to see, aye?" There were some nods as they all went back to choosing things for the wedding binder

When the two men walked into their apartment for the night, they were dead tired. They both collapsed onto their couch and stared blankly at the equally as blank television. Ichigo is the on who broke the silence.

"Are you going to be okay, though this process?" Ichigo said, sounding louder than he had intended in the quiet room. Shiro regarded him with a nod.

"I'll be aight," Shiro said. "Jus' don' wanna deal with some family bullshit."

"You haven't your family much of anything about our wedding, I don't want anything to happen either." Shiro was quiet.

"I'll talk to 'em," Shiro said bluntly, and Ichigo blinked.

"What, really?"

"Mhm. I don' see why it's such a big deal that we're not hyphening our last names." Shiro gripped.

"I know, Shi," Ichigo said, he chuckled. "Dad would have an aneurysm if my last name was dropped." Shiro chuckled.

"Tha's true." They sat quietly again before Shiro just sighed. "This is our reward, Ichigo. I'm not lettin' any bullshit get in the way." Ichigo gave him a small smile, as he took his lover's hand.

"I won't either." Shiro kissed his hand, and grabbed the remote to the TV, turning it on as they went about looking for a movie to watch. That's when Ichigo had a thought from the conversation he had earlier that day. "...Shi?"

"Hmm?"

"Remember when we talked about kids?"

"Mhm. I do recall tha'."

"...Do you want them?" Shiro shrugged.

"I don' need fulfillment tha' way, Ichi. I would like ta, but if don' happen then I'm not gonna be torn up about it." Shiro turned towards him fully. "I know this is a lot deeper than ya jus' bein' curious, so why do ya ask?" Ichigo sighed and did the same thing.

"Well, I just-Well, I was thinking about it," Ichigo started before he sighed. "I've always wanted them."

"I know, tha's why I told y-"

"BUT! I'm not sure if I do anymore." Shiro frowned at Ichigo's revelation.

"What?" Ichigo chuckled at the other's reaction.

"I know, it's weird."

"...Alright. Any reason?"

"Well, I know I've had dream and such about it, but I also know you and I can't just take the 'if it happens, it happens' approach," Ichigo replied. Shiro snorted with a concurring nod.

"Tha's true." Shiro was quiet after he responded. "We could always wait a few years." Ichigo's eyebrows rose.

"Oh?" Shiro chuckled.

"Hear me out, I know It's not what motivates me in life, but I wanted ta experience bein' a Dad wit' ya," Shiro responded and Ichigo stared at him with wide eyes. Ichigo watched Shiro's ears tint pink.

"Shi.." Ichigo reached out and grabbed a hand. "Okay, well...We can take the go with the flow approach." Shiro nodded, and he smiled softly at his fiance.

"Life is weird," Shiro announced and Ichigo laughed softly.

"No shit." He retorted and it caused Shiro to join in on his laughter. Ichigo stopped and watched the other, Shiro watching him as he did. He had a very serene look to his face. "Thank you for talking about this with me."

"Tha's literally in the job description when you're a partner ta someone." Ichigo rolled his eyes, nudging his shoulder.

"Ass." Shiro cackled, as Ichigo merely shook his head.

"..I love ya, Ichi." Ichigo stopped and smiled at him.

"I love you too, Shi."

A few days later, Shiro was out with his family, as they sat with their varying drinks of choice for their family meet up.

"So what have ya been up ta, Rei?"

"Oh, what? Me?" Shiro deadpanned at his brother.

"No the other damned twin." Rei rolled his eyes.

"Well-not much. I've been getting out on my own, and I want to open a shop of my own." Shiro nodded as he took a pull of his coffee.

"Mm. Sounds cool. Wha' kinda shop?"

"I'm thinking a pastry shop," Rei replied. Aria smiled at her son and then looked at Shiro for a reaction. The nod was all Rei got, but the two of them knew it wasn't due to lack of interest, he just didn't have much else to say on the topic.

"What 'bout ya, Aria?" Shiro asked. It still stung to her that neither of her sons called her "Mom". Rei called Unohana, Mom, and Aria was certain that Shiro called Grimmjow's mother Mom. Neither of them did that for her. She could see why, but it didn't make it hurt any less.

"Ah...Nothing too exciting. Just have been living, going to work to make one too." Shiro nodded again in response. "How's the wedding planning coming?" She then asked, the glint of the ring on her son's ring finger jolting the memory to ask.

Shiro stopped in thought. Did he bring up Joslyn? He knew Ichigo would be mad if he didn't try and bring her up.

"Aight...Ya know Joslyn and Alwin will be there, right?" Aria nodded.

"I figured, Shiro." She replied nonchalantly. Shiro frowned, it's not that he didn't think she would be so...lax about it.

"I didn't think you would like tha'," Shiro replied as he leaned back to observe her. Rei was just simply watching the two.

"I don't like her but I can't deny that she did help make your life a bit easier, even if she didn't ever adopt you like she should have," Aria said. Shiro visibly bristled at the last statement. Rei took a breath in to prepare for whatever his twin had to say.

"What the hell is tha' supposed to mean? You left."

"Why is it every time we meet something makes you standoffish towards me?"

"I don' know, Aria, I would think tha' it's cause ya think ya have a say in my life," Shiro growled. "I'm lettin' ya in my life because I think tha' this could work, and mainly for Rei," Rei's brows rose as he looked at Shiro. "But here you are, trying to divide the two of us and then also wedge yourself between me and others in my life."

"Well, I guess I just shouldn't come to your wedding, hmm? If I'm that much of a bother then why not just act like I don't exist?" Aria baited, and Shiro stopped. "I would say you have your own issues to deal with Ogichi, and I'm not the root cause of all of it," Shiro lost his temper because he knew exactly who she was insinuating.

"Ichigo is why I didn't end up back with Aizen, and actually continued to make something of myself!" Shiro stood. "Every time we get together this happens because you like to be in control of everything and bitch, bitch, bitch about everything I've done in my life. It was me, myself, and I for a very long time. You know what, you don't just get to use Rei or me. Don't give me lectures on having to leave people behind when you're the last person, the very last, that should tell me tha'. You weren't even trying to find us. You could have come back when Dad died but you didn't and that, Mother dearest, is why I'm standoffish." Shiro was breathing hard by the end of his speech, and Aria had her lips pressed into a thin line.

"If that's what you really think, Ogichi."

"Don't. Don't you dare think I can't make decisions for myself." He then turned to his brother.

"Ya still have an invite, but not a plus one if it's gonna be her." Shiro declared as he sneered at his mother as he grabbed his phone and wallet and made a quick escape. His blood was alight with adrenaline and malicious. Ichigo wouldn't be home for another hour. He decided that he would still go home, and wait for him. Shiro stood there before his feet led him to another direction.

Upon reaching his destination, he knocked and waited. He looked up to see Grimmjow answering the door.

"Aye." Shiro greeted, Grimmjow just rose a brow at him before letting him in.

"Ya good?" Was Grimmjow's greeting.

"Meh," Shiro replied as he took a seat on their couch. Grimmjow regarded him before he went and disappeared into the kitchen. He came back out with some beer and handed it to the other as he sat next to him. There was silence before Shiro breathed through his nose. "It's Aria."

"That'll do it." Grimmjow replied, taking a sip of his beer. "What did she have to say?"

"The usual shit about Ichigo." Grimmjow nodded.

"Did you uninvite her?"

"Yep." There was silence.

"What'd she have to say about Ma?"

"That she should have adopted me." Silence descended again. Grimmjow shook his head.

"Why do you want her in your life again?"

"For my brother's sake." Grimmjow snorted and looked at Shiro.

"When did you start caring about him?" Shiro shrugged at Grimmjow's question.

"I don' know, they gave him up too, ya know?"

"But they gave him to a nice family, they left you by yourself," Grimmjow replied. Shiro was quiet as he pondered Grimmjow's response.

"...Tha's true." Shiro tilted his head. "He jus' wants us ta get along."

"He needs to get his head out of his ass," Grimmjow said bluntly. "Whatever relationship you and her will ever have is after she stops being a bitch about how you handled being left to figure shit out." The blue haired main finished off his drink and put it on the coffee table in front of them, Shiro watched him do it before he nodded.

"Tha's what I said, but I don' know why I…" Shiro trailed off and Grimmjow just looked at him.

"You don't know becauuussee?" Grimmjow reiterated.

"I don' know If I did the right thing," Shiro said, huffing after he let it out. Grimmjow laughed, and Shiro frowned at the other man.

"Shiro, your Kurosaki is showing. Listen, if she's going to be that way and not just trying and be the mother she wasn't, then she doesn't really have a fucking place in my opinion. If she just thinks after all these years you're going to call her Mom and bend to her will, she's got another thing coming." Grimmjow settled back in and Shiro chuckled.

"True." There was some silence. "...I'm gonna head out."

"Alright. Don't die." Shiro nodded and put his unopened beer on the coffee table. On his walk home, he sat and thought about how things had changed for them in nearly a year. He heard honking and looked over to see Ichigo who waved him in. Shiro chuckled, hopping in the car as he did.

"Ya know how bad this looks, right?" Shiro said and Ichigo just gave him a look as he pulled away from the crib.

AN: So this story is on its downswing! Few more chapters to go!

Don't forget:

Favorite, Follow, Review, and Critique!

Later Days and Nights, Hollows!