Safe In My Arms

Shadow of an Echo

A/N I am getting really excited, next chapter will be the one most of you are anticipating at the moment, and I can't wait to write it! I'm having so much fun with this. I love playing with details and possibilities that might work, but in the end this story is actually pretty light and fluffy compared to what I usually write. Please enjoy :)

Chapter Twenty

Is This Love

"Grimmjow get over here now!" Ichigo called excitedly to his mate, and the Alpha turned just in time to see Hikari, hands freed from Ichigo's grasp stumble forward two steps before falling on her little rear and starting to cry from squishing her tail. "She learned a new trick!" The proud Beta pointed out, hugging and kissing his daughter thoroughly. The others were close, but she was the first to manage a full step.

With a wide grin and a prideful laugh Grimmjow was right next to his Beta, also consoling his daughter, and attempting to encourage the others into doing the same few small steps. They could all stand for a few seconds once their hands were released, heart stopping enough to do, but they couldn't finish a step before falling. It wouldn't be long though. They were growing up fast.

"They're starting to walk," The statement hit Ichigo like a ton of bricks, and he would know, considering the amount of walls he had been thrown through.

Grimmjow gripped his shoulder briefly, "Yes, they are. You made them strong Ichigo, they take after you. Our little girl was the first, she is going to be a firecracker, just like her big sister."

"Nel would be happy to hear you say that," Ichigo was not crying, really he wasn't, there was just a lot of dust in the air; that's right dust.

"Aw Ichigo, you knew this was going to happen someday, they weren't going to stay babies forever even if they were completely human. Just think what kind of mischief they are gonna be once they start running!" The glee in his voice was enough to turn Ichigo's tears into a little bit of apprehension.

"Well, at least I don't have to worry about staying in shape, I think they are going to do it for me." He managed to say while calming his tears, at least at this they were mostly happy tears.

On the other side of the room, Kensei was thinking and he found himself entranced by the dynamics he saw in this group. The easy affection, the way each person took care of the others, without appearing to think about it. There was love between all of them, even if he never heard any of them say it, oh Ichigo did to his children, and when the older Arrancar were speaking of past litters, but no adult said 'I love you' to another adult it was odd.

"There is something puzzling you isn't there?" It was the by now incredibly pregnant Starrk asking him, once more stretched out on the couch, Kensei on the floor watching Grimmjow and Ichigo taking care of their kids, Szayel was sleeping on the bed. Rose and Nel went out for a spar.

"I'm not understanding something. Grimmjow accused the Visoreds recently of burying our heads in the sand, I'm beginning to think he was right." Kensei replied to the calm Beta. He got along well with Starrk, instead of becoming arrogant do to his age and experience Starrk was a patient teacher, and he had moments of doubt that he was more than willing to allow the others to comfort him through. All together it made for a very interesting person.

A baby decided his liver hadn't been pulverized enough yet, and he had to run his hand over the child to try to calm the little one down while he responded, "What has you confused? Grimmjow doesn't have much tact, but the Visoreds were isolated for a long time, it is going to take a little while to bring yourselves out of the exile imposed on you."

Kensei has seen him wince a bit and his hand fly to his stomach, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, they are kicking a lot today and getting really strong, it's a good thing actually but my organs don't agree," Starrk assured. He saw a brief look of indecision on the Alpha's face and guessed the cause, "You can feel them if you want, I don't mind." Kensei had done a lot to help protect them, he was under no illusions how hard it had been to submit to Grimmjow, he was willing to let him feel his babies kick after that.

Kensei's hand was barely in place before a twin was kicking out at it, "Wow, no wonder you winced, they are really hitting hard." He pulled his hand away laughing.

"Just remember that when you have a Beta carrying your litter, be good to them," Starrk warned with a teasing grin, a warm glow settling over him at the Alpha's praise. It was always nice to hear you were doing a good job. "Now, back to what we were talking about before these two decided to interrupt, what's baffling you?"

"Why don't Hollows tell their mates they love them, even though they obviously do?" Kensei finally asked his question.

"So you've noticed that have you?" Starrk approved, liking to see observant people around, "Love is complicated for us, at least when coming at it from a human's perspective. We are instinctive creatures. Emotions usually have little room in instinct, yet there can be no doubt both parents love the children produced from a mating, so a Hollow is capable of it. Both Betas and Alphas do love our mates, but for us the ties in a band are so tight, we are just as close to the other Betas in the bands as we are to the Alphas. Szayel has lost his mate, the father to the child he carries now, if he were human the loss would be crippling. He grieves yes, he misses Nnoitra's presence and wishes he were here to witness the birth of their child, but notice his yearnings lie with him wanting Nnoitra to meet their baby, not him. In this way having multiple mates protects us from loses like his, we are a species that is very violent and death is not uncommon especially for an Alpha protecting their Beta. The Beta can move on and raise the litter the Alpha left behind, honoring the sacrifice the Alpha made to keep the Beta and litter alive. Now without Nnoitra, but part of a band, Szayel has clung to Ichigo, and those two show love to each other on the same level as an Alpha and Beta would, fitting since Ichigo is the third father to Szayel's child. Even without that though, Szayel would have bonded to the dominant Beta without his Alpha around anymore."

"So you do love, a little oddly but still love, so why don't you say it?" It wasn't lost on Kensei that Starrk has never truly answered the question.

"As old as I am, I could have had well over seventy mates, after so many the words lose their meaning." Starrk admitted easily. "A human may only say it to a handful of people in the course of dating, but that just isn't the case with us. Three words are not important. Actions mean more to a race that is heavily instinctual and ritualistic. We show our love in never letting a band member be alone in fear or pain, and in never failing a mate without feeling despair, that is far more reliable than words."

"You don't say it, because you don't need to," Kensei realized.

"Right, the best Alphas, and the closest bands have no need for words when we are always showing each other exactly how much we mean to one another. It is harder to lie with your body than your voice." Starrk confirmed, his hands back on his stomach, still attempting to calm the twins down, but today they did not seem to be listening to him. They wanted to play. He didn't mind though, they were healthy and happy, and letting him know it.

"You really could have had as many as seventy mates?" Kensei couldn't help himself from asking.

"That's just the number of Alphas that attempted to approach me, I had to turn them down, they were not strong enough and the litters would not have made it." Starrk replied, glad for the life filling him now, and the powerful Alphas giving him the opportunity to have them. "I am very old, that healer that came Retsu, she and I are about the same age, I'm not completely sure who is older but its close. It's impolite to ask a woman her exact age though."

Kensei couldn't stop the awe from showing, "Retsu is over a thousand years old, nearly as old as Yamamoto, and she's older than Jyuushiro and Shunsui."

"Hmm, I was right, about the same age," Starrk didn't seem ruffled at all, and that just added to Kensei's shock. "What? The Second Espada was even older than me, so old he was past his peak and beginning to lose his power instead of gain like the rest of us. We can't die of old age, but I doubt Baraggan had another century before a challenger got strong enough to kill him even if he had survived the war."

"I just wasn't expecting it, you let Ichigo and Szayel take the lead so much, the older Captains all have a tendency to take command from the rest of us, usually without them even noticing, they are just so used to leading its second nature." Kensei defended himself.

"I've never really had much of anything to lead." Starrk confessed. "Yes, I was the Primera, but Aizen was in command, I just followed orders. Before the Espada it was just Lilynette and I, so its hard to take the lead when you never have. For once I am enjoying being part of a group and not having to worry about everything myself. Also, Ichigo has earned his position, many times over, for what he has gone through. My life was lonely, but I was always powerful and trained to use it, so it wasn't difficult to protect myself. I did not have the fear and doubt he had to deal with. He has my respect, and he deserves it." The babies kicked him again, and he resigned himself to their sparring.

"How come you had to turn down so many Alphas?" That was kind of impressive when you thought about it.

"I was a born Vasto Lorde, we are very rare despite what it looks like here. Aizen searched for a long time to gather all of us together for his Espada, and he still only found five of us, Baraggan, Nel, Tia, Ulquiorra, and me. Of those, only Ulquiorra is an Alpha, Vasto Lordes tend to be Betas since we are stronger than Alphas in general. All the Vasto Lordes I did come across in my wanderings were Betas, and the Adjuchas that discovered me withered like the rest, none were strong enough." He was very glad that period of his life was over.

"I think I understand now why you mated both when you finally did have a choice available," Kensei made a leap of insight.

"Going so long without a single chance, and suddenly there was two, what did you think was going to happen?" Starrk didn't bother to hedge or argue, the proof was currently wrestling with each other inside him. "I didn't like waiting so long, but I wasn't about to choose a lower Alpha and risk my litter when I knew better."

"Makes sense," Kensei agreed.

A stirring from the bed drew their attention, Szayel was waking up and stretching, something Grimmjow had been waiting for. "Hey sleepy head, I have a surprise for you and Starrk, you are going to want to see this." He sounded almost as excited as Nel could get, and they were beginning to see where Nel was getting her hyperness from.

"Does this mean I have to get up?" Starrk did not sound thrilled, he wasn't too tired having managed a nap before the twins had started playing, but it was still far more pleasant to be sitting down.

"I know you don't really want to," Grimmjow was speaking a little more gently but he was still excited, "This is something that will be worth it, I promise."

"For once, he's right," Ichigo agreed with his Alpha, "It's worth it." He went over to the couch and held out his arm.

It wasn't as hard as Starrk had been afraid it would be when he first discovered he was pregnant, and it did help to have someone steady him, so he was soon on his feet, but he couldn't stop himself from commenting. "How did you manage to get up carrying three of them without help?"

Ichigo laughed, "Very carefully, towards the end Shiro and I made sure to never sit down unless there was a tree or a rock near us we could grip to pull ourselves up, the last month we never fully sat down, just knelt and leaned against the cave wall to sleep, not exactly comfortable, but it was safer."

As Ichigo spoke, Starrk caught Kensei's eye and an understanding look passed between them. The easy way Ichigo talked about such a difficult situation showed just how many obstacles he had been put through already. It hit Kensei then that Ichigo really had earned the Arrancar's respect, and now he understood why.

"Alright, lets go," Grimmjow was back to being all excited once Szayel made it over to them, still yawning and blinking sleep from his eyes.

The pink haired Beta looked at the Alpha suspiciously, "Okay Grimmjow, just what kind of drug are you on?"

"Nothing, can't I do something nice for the Betas in my care?" He asked teasingly, leading them from the room once they had collected the babies from the floor.

They didn't go far, only to the door on the other side of his room, the one belonging to his Alpha Fraccion. With his trademark wide grin Grimmjow opened it, and lead them inside. The room was much smaller than Ichigo's, and there was no bed. Like Starrk's old room, this one had piles of cushions, some small and set in groups, with one or two of the large ones as in the meeting hall. There was room to walk, room to sit, and room to lay, whatever the Beta needed, and the cushions could be moved and piled to accommodate however they wanted to position themselves and their helpers.

It was Szayel who realized it first, "You made us a den." Starrk wasn't speaking, he was walking slowly around the room, looking at what Grimmjow and Ichigo had done for them.

Ichigo replied to them, "I may not have liked being alone, but I did like being contained. This will let you have privacy and safety, you can have whomever you want with you, and the rest are just down the hall so if there is trouble they can get to us. Those children will be welcomed into the world by their family, but only when you wish them to be."

"This was Ichigo's idea," Grimmjow gave his Beta the credit he deserved, "Rose and I have been doing the work, Nel helped too while she was able. We all want to see those kids safe and happy, and that means keeping you two the same way."

Ichigo has his arms full with carrying Hikari on his hip, and a very happy Szayel pressing kisses to his face, being careful not to squish the little girl between them. Grimmjow was treated to a smile and affectionate kiss from Starrk, feeling the twins' strong kicks with the Beta's closeness. When Starrk pulled away there was matching smiles on father and son as Grimmjow and Tsume watched him.

Kensei had kept to the back of the room with Amon, appreciative of being allowed to see this moment, it was a sweet thing to see, and very apt after his discussion about love with Starrk earlier.

He had seen Ulquiorra drill the lessons into him over and over again until he got it down, not even considering letting him near Las Noches unless he was one hundred percent certain he would be able to submit to Grimmjow. If there was one thing he was sure of, there was one member of this band that distance did not matter, he loved them. Looking at Starrk once again pacing the room, this time joined by Szayel, he could see the babies were getting close. His hips were loose, and the twins were riding lower than when he first arrived. He was anxious to see what children this powerful Beta produced, Grimmjow or Ulquiorra, it didn't matter so much, Starrk himself was unique enough to provoke curiosity towards the litter he carried.

Kensei was thinking like an Alpha, even if he didn't realize it yet, and his Hollow was waking up and starting to purr. This time, maybe, someone would break through to his stubborn jailor.

While Kensei was thinking, Starrk and Szayel were talking. "This is nice," Szayel commented.

"I think it's going to be," He was quiet, but at least he wasn't going pale again. His hand was over the twins, rubbing circles, they weren't calming down, but this time he needed the reassurance.

"When they come, all these thoughts and worries, they aren't going to matter. Your focus is going to be on your body and your children. You will have your Alphas and Ichigo with you, but relax and let yourself do what you are designed to. We are Betas, and we are made to give birth, our bodies know what to do, so don't fight it." Szayel knew exactly what was running through Starrk's head, because it did through every Beta about to birth their first litter. Didn't matter if they were Ichigo's age or his, this was scary and daunting, but they had to remember they were made to do this, it was supposed to happen.

He took a nice deep breath, "I don't know why I keep panicking like this, it's not like me."

Szayel couldn't help it, he had to laugh at him a bit, "Its the twins. I keep telling you this is normal, they are going to mess with your brain a bit, you are keeping it together better than most first time Betas actually, especially this close to the end."

"I feel like I'm making a fool of myself," Starrk admitted lowly.

"Why? Because you are scared about birthing and raising a pair of twins when you have never done it before? You aren't panicking every fifteen seconds, just when something like this comes up, where it gets put in relief just how little time is left. If it helps, I'm nervous too, and this is far from my first, I just have a better idea of what's coming than you do." Szayel tried to assure.

"I just want them to be here," He was ready to see them and hold them, he was afraid of how empty his body would feel, but he wanted them in his arms.

"They will be, probably before you know it," Szayel promised, brushing against him.

The intimate moment was broken by the door opening again and Nel coming inside, still in her adult form for the time being, "Good you found it! Do you like it?"

"Yes Nel, thank you for helping," Szayel approved.

"It was a really good idea," Starrk agreed.

"Hey Ichigo, why don't the Alphas leave you Betas to get used to the place? That way you can talk without us underfoot, and without worrying about the kids." Grimmjow offered, noticing the short conversation Szayel had with Starrk, and figuring they might like to have a deeper conversation with just the littering Betas.

"What do you two think?" Ichigo asked Szayel and Starrk, who nodded agreement with the idea.

With Grimmjow carrying Tsume, taking Hikari from his Beta, and Kensei with Amon they made to leave, only Nel waivered. "Can I stay?"

"I don't think it would hurt anything," Ichigo allowed, and she smiled brightly before launching herself at him in one of her tackle hugs. It was a little harder to remain standing with her as an adult, but he managed.

Once the Alphas and children had left, Ichigo and Nel dragged the two large cushions together so there was enough room for all of them to stretch out together, Starrk fully aware he was going to need help getting back up but enjoying being surrounded by his band too much to care. "So you two really like it?" Ichigo asked once they were settled, Starrk lounging in Ichigo's unrestricted lap, and Nel cuddling up to her uncle.

"Yes, I think I feel a little better about things knowing there is a safe place ready for them." Starrk knew he hadn't spoken much during his initial inspection, so he wanted to make sure Ichigo knew the gesture was appreciated. "There isn't much time left to go at all."

"What do you want, boys or girls?" Ichigo asked, already knowing he wouldn't get an answer if he asked which Alpha Starrk preferred.

"The way these two fight I'm guessing boys," Starrk confessed, moving Ichigo's hand to where they were still kicking away.

"I warned you about these days, mine felt the same way, seemed like I always had a little foot or fist hitting me somewhere. Just like their father, always fighting." Ichigo had a smile on his face remembering.

"I had two litters," Nelliel told them quietly. "Mine came in pairs like yours Starrk. The first set was only two. The second litter was four young, but it was two pairs of identicals. It comes from my form, mountain goats often birth twins."

"So you are a mother Nel, I wondered about that," Ichigo commented.

Suddenly Szayel laughed, "Grimmjow is a grandfather."

"That would be the danger of having long lives," Starrk added, "Your grandchildren and great grandchildren can be older than your children."

"So Tia is the last Espada Beta to not have a litter," Szayel realized.

"Its hard for female Hollows," Nel spoke up, "We not only have to worry about getting ganged up on and killed because our forms are usually smaller, but we have to be selective in the Alphas we chose, not just in their strength but in the amount of young they give. A small form is not good for carrying the large litters that some Alphas produce."

"I never thought of it that way," Szayel admitted, glad to see Nelliel getting her memory and maturity back, even if she still chose to use her hyper mode most of the time. With all the pain and uncertainty she had faced, no one blamed her for getting some enjoyment out of acting like a child, while actually being in control of it.

"Don't blame you, it's not like there are a whole lot of female Hollows around to tell you about it." Nel waved him off, snuggling closer against him, loving feeling her nephew move inside him. "Starrk, there is a reason I brought up my litters though. There is something you should know about identical twins, after the first one comes, don't get up. Normally multiples are in separate bags and you would have a little time to reposition yourself for the second baby, identical twins share one, and they might be right behind each other, so just let your helpers take care of you." She wanted to warn him, she loved him and those twins just as much as the others did, and she was the only other one to her knowledge to birth a set of identical twins.

Starrk did blanch at that, but he managed, "I appreciate the warning." He felt Ichigo's arms wrap around him, holding him, and rubbing circles over the twins as Grimmjow had done for him before.

"It's better you know, trust me, when you get to that particular point, surprises are the last thing you are going to want. We will make sure you and the babies will be just fine." He soothed gently, his power and touch calming Starrk almost as well as his Alphas could.

"Ichigo, I have a favor to ask," Starrk started not quite sure how to phrase it.

"What is it? You know I'll do my best to help you." Ichigo assured, he had already made a surprising promise to Szayel to bring Kenpachi to him, what could Starrk be asking?

"I want you to deliver the twins, and unless they have markings on their face that can't be hidden by a blanket, I don't want to know which Alpha sired them until the birth is over and Lilynette is free to see them too. Both Alphas have promised to stand by me until all of us are safe, and well, I just don't want to know until the end." Starrk confessed.

"If you want me to be the one to catch them, I would be honored, but for the rest, like you said, I would only have so much control. It would depend on what they look like, but I will try to keep you from knowing." Ichigo promised, blown over by the request, that Starrk trusted him so much as to be the very first hands to touch his children.

"We don't know which Alpha sired my twins, but both have supported me through carrying, and I think I'm going to need them through the birth. I trust you to protect my children." Starrk explained, adjusting Ichigo's arms around him so the Visoreds hands could feel the twins move.

Ichigo kissed Starrk's temple, now he often kissed Szayel, and he touched Starrk often, but he rarely kissed him. He just wanted to show some affection and appreciation. "Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, and I are going to take really good care of you. You can just relax and get what enjoyment you can out of it. There was pain when I was in labor, I'm not going to lie, but it was the most connected I felt to my children out of the whole pregnancy. I've handled pain before, and the reward at the end was well worth it."

"I've never been worried about the pain," Starrk admitted, "That at least I know I can handle. Not exactly looking forward to it, but pain is something I do know about. It's everything else about having a litter that potentially scares and confuses me."

"That's what we are here for," Szayel assured, "We aren't going to let you fumble around without answers, if you need help, we are going to be right there with you. Well I might be a little out of it, but I will still be able to talk and give advice."

"Do you remember all the times everyone just seemed to show up in my room when mine were brand new? You should, you were one of them. You all helped raise my children, why would we leave you on your own?" Ichigo asked incredulously.

"He is too used to being alone," Nel correctly deduced.

Ichigo tightened his arms, "We aren't leaving you alone, not when we have you and two brand new babies to spoil."

Starrk turned his head and pressed his face into Ichigo's neck, "It's a hard habit to break. I've been alone for centuries."

"Then you will have to be with us for just as long." Szayel stated firmly. "Solitary doesn't mean opposite ends of the desert, we would just drift back to our own rooms when the children are big enough. Even when our litters are grown, you will not be alone."

Ichigo nodded, "I had hoped that's how it would work, I like living with everyone here."

"…I think I'm actually starting to believe you about not being alone anymore." Starrk sounded shocked at his own words.

"Good, because I meant it," Szayel said firmly.

Suddenly the serious topic was broken when Starrk started to wheeze, "Alright you two, just what has my lungs done to you lately?" He questioned when he managed to get his breath back.

"I can answer that, its getting cramped in there; your organs are taking up valuable living space." Szayel teased, his bubbling laughter triggering his son into doing what felt remarkably like back flips.

"Hate to break it to them, the organs were there first," Starrk quipped, rubbing downwards on his stomach, at least beating up his liver let him breath better.

Ichigo started laughing at that, "Ah yeah, children aren't so good with the whole concept of first and last, unless they are first then they are all over that."

"Well little ones, enjoy the stay in your nice warm squishy home, because your days are numbered in there." He threatened, but there was too much love in his voice for anyone to take him seriously.

Ichigo blinked at him, "…I'm pretty sure I just heard Lilynette talking."

"I am Lilynette." Starrk stated. "Normally people say she is me, well the reverse is true as well. She came from my body and soul, she is listening and watching right now."

"Then she should know you are both in good hands, I haven't forgotten her, but I wasn't sure how aware she was." Ichigo assured.

"That's alright, most people don't," Starrk revealed. "You would have a better idea than most truthfully. She is on about the same level of awareness as Shiro as far as I can tell. She could interact, but it requires me to funnel her power, and she won't let me while the twins are so close."

"Can she feel the babies? Shiro could, he could feel everything from them moving to the labor pains, he was part of my soul, so what my soul went through to carry the litter happened to him too." Ichigo explained. Grimmjow hadn't even known that one; all the times Shiro had come forward to assist during their labor he was feeling it too.

"She can feel them now, so she will probably feel labor too." Starrk informed.

"Like I said, we will take care of you both, and make sure the twins get here safe. I remember what you asked too. I will attempt to keep you from knowing which Alpha sired them until she is separate again, I can at least try." Ichigo promised again.

"Thank you." Starrk was grateful, both for the promise, and the soothing hands of the dominant Beta attempting to calm the twins down from their hours long sparring match. For once it seemed to be working. Now all that needed to happen was for them to get here, safe and sound.