"Do you wish to dance again?" Byakuya asked taking the champagne glass out of her hand and sitting it on a table.

The room was festive and lively. Many of the higher ranking officers were in attendance at the party. Byakuya stayed close to the violet eyed girl who laughed beside him. They were both in good spirits.

"Yes." she said as he put his arm around her waist.

"I am glad you decided to join me for the New Year party." he said twirling her around the floor.

"I wouldn't want to see the New Year with anyone else." she said their relationship now devoid of embarrassment with such words after all they had gone through together.

"I am glad to hear that. Come." he said leading her with his arm toward a door ignoring the whispers from the crowd at the spectacle of brother and sister being so close, and the rumors that constantly circulated about them.

"Where are we going?" she said putting up no protests as she followed him to a large balcony.

"I thought it would be better to go somewhere quieter for a while. Besides I did not like the way that third seat was looking at you. I have no intention of sharing you this evening." he said pulling her close.

"I had fun tonight. You've been so nice to me. I keep thinking it's going to change." she said honestly.

"It will not. I have much planed for us in the coming years. For now let us focus on this moment. It is almost time and there is something I have been waiting all evening to do." he lifted her chin as the end of the count down to the new year approached.

"What do you m…" her eyes shot open and then closed when his lips met hers.

It was a different kiss then they had ever shared. It was soft, slow and they took the time to explore one another. They held each other tightly, the past seemingly erased in that moment. The touch was so familiar yet so foreign. It was sweet and not desperate.

"You should know my intentions." he said when their lips parted.

"I already know. You haven't exactly made an effort to hide your feelings. Once a long time ago you opened your home and heart to me, then life got in the way. I wanted so much to be near you and after all of this time, even though I expected it to, it hasn't changed." she said laying her head on his chest.

"So will you agree to a proper courting? We can move at any pace you wish, only in the end I have no intention of letting you go no matter what your decision. " he smiled.

"I…" Rukia began but was cut off by a loud man approaching.

"Rukia! It's time! The baby is coming. Hurry! Taicho!" Renji yelled for his closest friends.

Several more months had passed. Joy turned to sorrow as winter changed to spring. For Renji things did not go well. For Rukia she was there to comfort her friend in his time of need. When he was ready to care for his child Rukia returned to the manor greeted with open arms.

"I wondered if you would move back with me considering what has happened. I know how close you are to Abarai. " Byakuya said sitting with her under the stars.

"He asked me to stay and be the child's mother, but I just couldn't. It was hard leaving the child. He's growing so fast. I'll help him anyway I can, but I cant try to take her place. It would be too much."

"Did you want to stay with him?" Byakuya asked unable to face her for fear of the answer.

"As a friend yes I still want to help him and do what I can to make things easier but it's not where I want to stay." Rukia said acknowledging that she wanted to be right where she was by the look she was giving him.

"It is tragic that birthing is not as easy here as it is in the living world." he stated taking her hand.

"He's ready to go back to work but he's lost his fight. I never thought I would see him that way." she was nearly in tears.

"Is the child well?" he put his arm around he to comfort her.

"Yep he's just fine. Renji can care for him without me now. It's just too much to see him that way."

"I am glad you have returned." he said changing the subject.

"I belong here no matter what has happened." she said.

"Much has happened to us over the course of a lifetime together." he mused.

"Yes things have been gravely difficult but it's all over now. I hope." she crossed her fingers.

"After all I have done to you, my refusal to treat you as a sister, allowing my wife to treat you that way. How can you still sit here with me? I do not understand how you can genuinely act like I have not harmed you in any way."

"I made my choices just as you did. If I had wished to leave your household I would have."

"Why did you not?"

"Grandfather needed someone to look after him and so did you. There were times I wanted to leave and just run away especially when she was there. She was my sister I felt responsible for her making everyone miserable. I thought I could help everyone by taking the brunt of her anger and covering for her. I didn't want to see you any sadder then you were. You'll never even know half of the things that occurred between us over the time she was there. When she was gone I couldn't bring myself to leave you as much as you couldn't let me go." she said.

"They are just words but can you truly forgive me for all I have done." he bowed to her for the first time in his life asking her for her forgiveness. It meant more to him then anything could. It would free them both.

It pained her to see him in such a state and she got down close to him making him face her.

"There is nothing to forgive." she put her arms around him.

"Your compassion has never ceased to amaze me. You have always made me proud, even though I have rarely showed it to you."

"I want to put it all behind us. One thing I've learned is that there's so much tragedy in life that we must hold onto any happiness and share all the pain together. It's not worth creating more unhappiness by holding onto a past that can not be changed." she said looking into his eyes as they both sat on their knees holding one another.

She placed a kiss on his lips. "You once offered me an official courting. Is the invitation still open?"

"Yes but I take back the moving slowly part." he said with his normal arrogance.

"It's the new moon tonight."

"Yes the stars are particularly bright."

"Will you stay for a while? The time will be in a few moments when Ama will connect with me."

"Ama? Is that the name that was decided?"

"Yes since she is the incarnation of another. I cant really explain it with words. It's something that can only be felt. She doesn't speak its only energy and now that she is several months old I believe you can experience her through me as well. You do feel the separation as well?"

"Yes I do."

"Should only be another moment…"

Rukia closed her eyes and began to glow it spread through her arm to Byakuya and they both sat there feeling the connection much like one speaks to ones child. Ama told them both how she was feeling through her emotional connection to them.

It was a beautiful feeling for the short moment it lasted. Ama had grown in power and she had conveyed every emotion she felt from her doubt to her love...