I do not own Bleach.

I am trying my hardest to get as many chapters out as I can before I start my new job on Monday. So here is chapter 14 for all you wonderful readers!

Special thanks: kyuumihaira for the review, EzraTheBlue for the review, and Vincent for the review!

Thanks for reading!

The walk home was a quiet one, but Yumichika was smiling on the inside when he remembered the sound of their baby's heartbeat and the smile on Ikkaku's face. Ikkaku was even holding his hand which was something the third seat almost never did when they were walking out in public. The fifth seat knew their talk wouldn't be pleasant and after they came to terms with their own problems they would have a whole new set of them to deal with. Firstly, they had to tell Captain Zaraki of the pregnancy and hope he didn't reach a whole new level of anger and secondly, they would have to wait for the arrival of the Head Captain's Hell butterfly. The wait for what Head Captain Yamamoto would do was making Yumichika overly anxious.

When the two of them finally reach their home, Ikkaku lets go of his lover's hand and turns to look at him, "Before we start this talk…um, I don't want it to be another fight. I…I know I'm the one to blame fer most of our fights, but I really do want us to get over this…whatever 'this' is."

Yumichika nods his head because he wanted that as well, "I agree, Ikkaku, and if…if I get over emotional it's just hormones so don't freak out."

A soft chuckle leaves the bald man's mouth as he nods, "Okay, I guess I should get used to that then, huh?"

"Yeah, apparently it happens to the best of us." Yumichika opens the door to their home and steps inside. It seemed like it had been forever since he and Ikkaku were here together even though it had only been a week. Ikkaku follows him inside and shuts the door behind them.

The two men stand in the middle of the room and the air around them is filled with awkward tension. Neither of them really knew how to begin the very much needed conversation. Finally, Ikkaku is the one to break the silence, "So…um, why don't ya start out by telling me everythin' that made ya wanna have a baby? I know that…um, ya wanted to have a kid with me and all, but ya ain't never wanted that before and I guess I'm just curious as to why ya wanted it so badly?"

Yumichika knew exactly what his lover was asking him, but he also knew Ikkaku wasn't always so eloquent with his words. The third seat essentially wanted to know if Yumichika only wanted a baby because one of their best friends had a baby and if he would regret his bold move to become pregnant later on. The raven haired shinigami contemplates his words for a moment before addressing his lover's question, "This isn't some fleeting fancy if that's what you're asking. I've wanted this for a long time and not just since Emiko and Takahiro came along."

The fifth seat swallows down his nervousness as he soldiers on with his explanation, "Since the moment you and I became serious all those years ago I knew I would never find anyone that made me feel the way you do. You never judged me for something or someone I wasn't. You never cared that I wasn't a beautiful woman and you never looked down on me for the things I'd done in my past. I knew from the first time that you told me you loved me that I would never leave your side and that I wanted everything there was to have with you. I always wanted a family with you and I knew that wasn't possible unless we adopted, but then we became shinigami for Squad Eleven and it just never seemed like the right time to bring it up."

Tears begin to slowly seep from his violet eyes as continues, "I grew to accept you and Yachiru and the Captain as my family and that was good enough for a long time because I knew all the other dreams of a family I had in my head just wouldn't work. Then Emiko came along and I knew there was a possibility of you and I having our own actual child and I wanted that. I kept silent though because I didn't know if the Head Captain would allow it do be done again after what happened to Captain Ukitake. Then Takahiro was here and I just thought about it night and day." He wipes his face on his sleeve, but more tears spill down his cheeks as he continues, "I never want to be without you Ikkaku, but you…you're so reckless sometimes and I'm so afraid that one day…one day…"

Yumichika pauses for a moment as a wave of terror and grief fill his soul and his mind, "I'm so afraid that one day I'll lose you and then what would happen to me? I can take care of myself, but I wouldn't be the same without you and I know that a baby will never take your place if you were gone, but at least…" Fast, hot tears streak down his face and smear his make up, but at this point he didn't care about any of those things, "At least I would have a part of you here with me."

The petite shinigami finds that he can't go on and just lets the salty tears rush down his face and he sobs loudly at the thought of Ikkaku not being by his side and as much as he tries to stop the flow of his tears he can't. He then feels the warmth of his lover's arms around him and a large calloused hand stroking his hair. It felt so good to have Ikkaku hold him and he just remains in the strong embrace taking in his lover's scent and listening to Ikkaku's heart hammer away in his chest. The thumping of the third seat's heart was actually very comforting because it meant that Ikkaku was still here and Yumichika wasn't alone.

Finally, Ikkaku breaks through his lover's weeping and voices his own thoughts while still holding the fifth seat in his arms, "I never knew ya felt that way, babe. Ya shouldn't keep all that stuff bottled up inside ya. I know…I know I ain't been the most supportive person about all this baby stuff, but ya couldn'tve told me how ya felt about all that other stuff." When Yumichika remains quiet aside from his sniffling Ikkaku begins speaking again, "I did have a good reason why I didn't wanna a baby though. I just…ya know I ain't good at explainin' myself most of the time."

Yumichika lifts his face from Ikkaku's chest to be able to look into the third seat's eyes, "Then tell me now. Help me understand."

The larger shinigami lets out a deep sigh as he finally releases Yumichika from his embrace to be able to look at his beautiful lover's tear stained face, "I saw how much havin' a baby changed Renji and I know I give him a hard time about it all, but he…he really is a good dad and the change isn't exactly bad, but…but I just saw how much time it took away from him and I guess that ain't a bad thing, but…I just wasn't ready fer a change like that and…" He hesitates for a moment trying to find the right words to express himself, "What if we went out on a mission and…and somethin' happened and we didn't come back. Who's gonna take care of our kid? What if I came back and ya didn't?" He lets out a nervous sigh, "I don't know nothin' about raising a kid…especially not without ya and even worse is if ya came back and I didn't. Then yer here with our kid all alone and no one to help ya."

The third seat bites his bottom lip to hold his own emotions back because he knew he had to be brave and strong for Yumichika and their baby. He had to be ready whether he was or not because this was happening now and there was nothing he could do to stop it, "I had my reasons, babe, but I…I didn't know how to tell ya without gettin' angry and frustrated with myself fer not being able to give ya what ya wanted to be happy. I always want ya to be happy and I…I felt like I had failed ya everytime ya'd bring up wantin a baby."

Yumichika gives his lover a tear-filled incredulous look, "Goddammit, Ikkaku! Why didn't you ever tell me that before? Now, I feel like a selfish asshole."

The bald shinigami chuckles as he once again brings his lover into his arms and kisses the top of Yumichika's raven hair, "Ya don't gotta feel like an asshole. We both shoulda made our peace with all this a long time ago." Ikkaku takes in the flowery smell of Yumichika's hair and smiles, "Yer pregnant now and I ain't ready yet, but I will be. I'll be the best damn dad any kid's ever had. Hell, if Renji and Kyoraku can be good dads then so can I." He pulls away from the fifth seat with a smile on his face, "I'm gonna be here fer ya and that baby and I'm gonna be ready when we bring our kid home. I swear I'm gonna learn everything and help ya anyway I can. Ya gotta believe me, Yumi."

Yumichika smiles as well. He never in a million years dreamed that Ikkaku would make such a turn around on his feelings about them having a baby. The fifth seat still felt terrible about lying to his lover and about stealing from their friend, but knowing that Ikkaku was on his side he knew he could tackle anything, "So, how are we going to break the news to Zaraki?"

Ikkaku grabs Yumichika's hand tightly in his as a determined expression forms on his face, "Together…I mean it when I say I'm gonna be here for ya."

Those words were all that Yumichika needed to hear to make him feel like maybe everything would eventually be okay. He takes in a deep breath and slowly lets it back out, "I think the sooner we tell Zaraki the better. In fact, we should break the news to him before I get summoned before the Head Captain."

Ikkaku nods and never lets go of his lover's hand as he leads them out the door and toward the Captain's quarters. Yumichika was more than a little nervous about telling Captain Zaraki, but the sooner the better was the best course of action.

Once they make it to Captain Zaraki's quarters they knock half a dozen times before the door opens to reveal their pink headed lieutenant, "Hiya, Baldy! Hey, Feathers! What are you guys doing here? Kenny didn't say he was going anywhere today so you don't have to play with me or anything like that."

Ikkaku clears his throat and looks right at Yachiru, "Get outta the way, squirt. We gotta talk to the Captain…alone."

An obstinate expression plays across the young girl's face, "Anything you say to Kenny can be said to me too." She gives him a big grin, "Unless you brought me a present. Then I'll leave you alone to talk to Kenny."

The third seat's face begins to turn red as he balls his hands into fists, "You don't need a god damn present fer us to talk to the Captain! Now get outta the way and let us talk to him!"

Yumichika frowns and gives Ikkaku a stern look, "Ikkaku, that's no way to talk to the lieutenant." He turns his attention to Yachiru and smiles, "Not to worry…I have a present for you, but you have to be a good girl and go and play while we speak with the Captain if I give it to you."

The young lieutenant thinks about this for a moment before nodding her cotton candy colored head, "Hmmm, okay…now present!"

The fifth seat reaches into his pocket and fishes out a packet of cookies that he had really been saving for himself and hands them over to Yachiru, "A brand new packet of cookies and they're your favorite flavor."

Her eyes light up with excitement at the sight of the cookies and she quickly grabs them from Yumichika, "Thanks, Feathers!"

As the little girl hugs the cookies to her chest, Yumichika addresses her once more, "You know, I heard that Captain Ukitake has a fresh supply of candy and he may even have some milk for you to wash those cookies down with if you hurry."

A wide smile spreads across her young face, "That candy is mine!"

Without another word, Yachiru disappears in the direction of Squad Thirteen and Ikkaku gives Yumichika a shocked look, "Where in the hell did ya get those cookies?"

Yumichika shrugs, "I'm pregnant…I eat, I throw up, and then I'm hungry again from throwing up. I just started keeping things to eat in my pocket." He lets out a loud sigh, "Now, let's get this over with." Ikkaku nods and the two of them walk into the Captain's quarters with determined expressions on their faces.

Captain Zaraki is at his desk when they walk farther into the room, but the Captain never used the desk for actual work and had his feet propped up on the desk top as he leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head, "Where'd Yachiru run off to and what are you two doing in here?"

Yumichika steels his resolve and clears his throat, "We sent Yachiru on a candy hunt because we need to tell you something very important."

Zaraki slides his feet from the desk top and sits up a bit straighter, but still slumps slightly over the desk, "What's goin on? Why're you being so formal? And why does Madarame look like he's about to piss himself?"

Ikkaku gives the Captain an offended look as he frowns, "I ain't about to piss myself. We just gotta tell ya somethin' unusual."

A sly grin erupts over the Eleventh Captain's face as he leans in to be able to hear them better, "Unusual, eh? Well, spit it out. I ain't got all god damn day."

Yumichika swallows down the lump of apprehension in his throat and decides the best course of action was to just 'spit it out' as the Captain put it, "Ikkaku and I are…expecting a baby."

The room becomes deathly quiet and Yumichika was afraid everyone would be able to hear his heart pounding in the silent room. Finally Captain Zaraki shatters the quiet with the most unusual response, "About fucking time."

A confused expression appears on both their faces and Ikkaku leans in to whisper to Yumichika, "Did he say about time?"

Yumichika nods and whispers back, "Yeah, I think so." The fifth seat clears his throat and looks at the Captain once more, "Um, Captain…have you been drinking? Did you hear what I said?"

Zaraki rolls his eyes with only one being visible considering his eye patch covered the other, "I ain't fuckin' drunk. I heard what you said and Yachiru has been driving me bat shit crazy day in and day out ever since that first kid came along about when the two of you would have a kid. At least now I'll get some fuckin' relief from all her questions about it."

Yumichika certainly didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but Zaraki's attitude toward everything just really seemed out of character, "Um, but aren't you upset because we didn't tell you about it first and I won't be able to do my normal squad duties anymore."

A bit of a repulsed look appears on Zaraki's face as he answers the fifth seat's questions, "Hell no! I mean I know the two of you fuck, but I don't need to know when you do it and besides you're the only one who ever fills out any paperwork. Maybe if you do our paperwork for a few months we'll get out of the fuckin' hole on back logged shit." He stands up from the desk and gives them both a curious look, "So when's the little brat due anyway? You don't look pregnant."

Yumichika over looks the Captain's ignorance of how pregnancy progressed and only shakes his head, "Well, I haven't actually been given a due date yet, but it will be about seven more months if everything goes well."

"Seven months, huh?" Zaraki lets out a loud laugh as he points at Ikkaku, "And you think you can turn this doofus into a good father by then?"

Ikkaku crosses his arms and looks a bit put out, "Hey! I ain't that dumb."

The Captain laughs again and returns to his seat, "I ain't mad just as long as you let Yachiru fawn over it when it gets here." He yawns and resumes his first position with his feet on the desk top, "Just keep me updated on the little shit's progress."

"Um, Captain…there is something else?" Yumichika feels his hands begin to tremble, but he had to tell Zaraki the truth, "I went against procedure and I'll be getting a reprimand from the Head Captain and…"

Zaraki waves his hand in front of him in a bored gesture, "Fuck that…I'll back the two of you up all the way just so long as I get a break from Yachiru's fuckin' questions and you do all the paperwork."

The raven haired man lets out a relieved sigh at hearing the Captain's words, "Thank you, Captain."

Zaraki yawns again before slipping his feet off the desk and lying his head down on the desk top, "Yeah, whatever…is that all?"

Ikkaku and Yumichika nod and speak at the same time, "Yes."

The Eleventh Captain closes his visible eye and yawns once more, "Then get out so I can take a nap."

The two of them don't argue or say another word and leave the Captain's quarters. They were both feeling pretty good about the encounter until they reach their own quarters and see a black Hell butterfly fluttering patiently in the doorway. Yumichika extends his finger allowing the butterfly to light on his fingertip.

TBC…

Thanks again for reading and hopefully it won't be long before I get chapter 15 out.