Due to years of using various firearms and swords Dante's hands bothered him. He never complained about the severe cramping in his palms and wrists nor did he let on about the shooting, burning pain that mild pain management dulled but never fully took away.

Kyrie had watched him several times as he attempted to rub out the ache in his fingers or unlock them when they stiffened up and finally had had enough.

She instructed him that from then on she would be taking care of it for him and Dante knew better than to argue. She mixed together different salts to alleviate the inflammation in a bowl of warm water daily to soak.

He had to admit that it felt very nice and helped to loosen up the years of abuse he had put them through. Kyrie had picked up mentholated salve and worked out the knots in his fingers, hands and wrists.

It became a regular routine and he enjoyed the extra attention that he received from his lover not that she had ever been in any way neglectful to his needs, even when he didn't know it was something he even needed.

Dante had a hand placed in her lap as his other soaked. He flexed his fingers feeling the ache and tension seem to ease and release into the water around him.

Kyrie kneaded her fingers into his muscles feeling them loosen under her touch considerably. The salve she used made her skin tingle as it began to heat up, it wasn't an unpleasant sensation just an odd one.

"I just don't understand how you let it get this bad." She said. Dante took his hand out of the water cracking his fingers in the process. "That is only going to make it worse."

"No it won't. It helps with the pressure that builds up." He replied.

"I read it could lead to arthritis." She chided.

"Nah, that's b.s." He said. "If I end up getting it then I just do and it won't be from cracking my knuckles."

"How long do you think you'll be able to work for?" She asked curiously.

"Don't know." He stated. "My father kept it up for over two thousand years. With me being a half breed who knows. In a few years I could start to develop some human ailments that can come with old age or I'll just keep going like I've been."

"If you ever become decrepit I'll take care of you." Kyrie said sweetly.

"I have no doubt about that honey." He wrapped his hand around her two smaller ones running his thumb along hers. She leaned down slightly from her spot on his desk laying a soft kiss against his lips.

"I've been thinking a lot lately about us starting our family." She said resuming the massage to his over worked tendons. "And I think I'm just about ready to go ahead."

Dante's smile spread widely across his face, he couldn't help himself. He felt his heart pound into his chest as his brain released a myriad of chemicals increasing his feeling of joy. "I said I think. I'm not one hundred percent sure yet."

"Speaking of kids, how's Patty? You heard anything?" Dante questioned.

"Nero called me the other day and said that her due dates coming up." She replied. "Trish and Lady are going to help with the delivery, he'll let us know when the baby's born."

"Wow." He mused. "That went by fast."

"Time flies." Kyrie agreed.

"So what turned you around on the idea?" He asked.

"I just feel ready." Kyrie said. "We're in a good place right now. It just seems like maybe it's the right time."

The front doors opened widely as Nero walked in alongside Patty as she cradled a bundle in her arms. Kyrie felt her eyes widen as she nearly vaulted off of Dante's desk towards them.

"You said you were going to call to let us know." She chided gently.

"Yeah the same day I talked to you she went into labor and had her." Nero replied.

"It's a girl?" Kyrie asked expectantly of her friends.

"This is Nina." Patty replied pulling away the blanket from her daughters face. Kyrie took a deep breath of awe at the newborn.

"She's just precious." She replied gently.

"Do you want to hold her?" Patty asked.

"Just let me wash my hands then, yes absolutely!" Kyrie enthused. Hurriedly she went into the half bath washing quickly but thoroughly not wanting to get any of the analgesic on the baby.

"Congrats you two, really I mean it." Dante said smiling widely.

"Thanks old man." Nero said proudly.

"Oh Kyrie." Patty said as her friend simply stood in the doorway behind Dante. "Here."

With slight hesitation she made the move closer to the other woman and took the baby from her arms. She supported the infants head in the crook of her arm removing a bit more of the blanket to see her face better.

"Hello little Nina." She soothed when the baby made a face at not being in her mothers arms anymore.

"You look good with a baby in your arms." Dante said winking at her.

"Then maybe you should give her one." Patty quipped playfully.

"Thoughts crossed my mind." He stated.

"Really?" She asked looking from Dante to Kyrie and back again. "I was just kidding but seriously?"

"Why do you say that?" Kyrie questioned with her eyes still on the infant.

"It's just that I can't picture Dante as a father." She replied. "He bought me so much ice cream once I puked all over the place."

"And who's damn fault was that, huh?" He demanded defensively. "I told you that it would make you sick and you just kept nagging and nagging till I said, fuck it!"

"You were the adult, you should have known better!" Patty retorted.

"I did! That's why I kept telling you no right up until I didn't give a shit anymore." He stated.

"Well at least I hit you with it." She said smugly.

"Yeah." He narrowed his eyes at her slightly. "I remember. I also remember someone crying about it afterwards too, please don't be mad at me Dante." His tone took on a bit higher note as he mocked her resulting in a punch to his shoulder. "Now, now Patty...you shouldn't over exerting yourself in your delicate condition."

"I'll put you in a delicate condition." She threatened haughtily.

"So dramatic." Dante said. His eyes fell back to Kyrie as she just stood with a serene look on her face. It was as if she had tuned everything else out and was in another world while she held the baby. "A girl huh? Good luck kid."

"No shit right?" Nero said as she sat in his usual spot on the sofa. "Good thing she's cute."

"She's beautiful." Kyrie whispered coddling the little girl closer to her. "You're going to spend a lot of time with us here, aren't you little Nina?"

"Yeah, great...if she's anything like her mother she'll have a bunch of toys and crap all over my place in a few years." Dante said. Kyrie walked closer to him sitting on the desk comfortably. He stood up from his chair to get a better look at the small bundle.

"It will be different, I mean you are her uncle. Maybe she'll be more laid back, like you." Kyrie offered.

"Nope, she's my brothers grandkid." He replied. "If anything she'll be full of piss and vinegar like the kid."

"I am sitting right here you know." Nero stated smirking.

"Wait, your brothers grandchild? Your...what?" Patty said bringing her attention to Nero. "Is there something you've neglected to mention?"

"About what?" He asked innocently.

"Nero you never told her who your father is?" Kyrie asked astonished.

"It never came up." He said. "She never asked."

"Oh my god." Patty exclaimed. "Are you a descendent of Sparda?!"

"Yeah." Nero replied. "Does it matter?"

"Considering that demons and Devils gun for anyone remotely related to Sparda, uh yeah, kind of." She argued.

"You really think I'd let anything happen to you? To my daughter?" Nero demanded. "Come on Patty, over my dead body."

"Welcome to the crazy world kid." Dante said as a small hand gripped the tip of his finger tightly. "Good luck dealing with them."

"It might be easier on her if she had a cousin and yes I know technically they wouldn't be but for the sake of making it easier, we'll just say they are." Kyrie said quickly.

"You sure honey?" Dante asked. "I don't want you to be pressured into something that you don't really want."

"I want this for us." She said. "I want this moment with our own child."

"Well then, I can't wait to start trying." He said laying a light kiss against her cheek.