Orihime ended up falling asleep. Kazui was sent up to get her when it was time for dinner.

"Mom? Mom, are you awake?"

Orihime turned toward her son's voice, groaning. "What time is it, Kazui? It's still dark."

"It's time for dinner."

"Oh!" Orihime sat up quickly, causing her stomach to rock uncomfortably. "Oh, we're at the Cifers', right?"

Kazui laughed. "Yeah, you must have really conked out."

His mother chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I did. Can you turn on a light or something? I want to make sure I don't have drool all over my face."

The boy did and then came over to sit on the edge of the bed next to his mother. "No drool, Mom. You look pretty as always."

Orihime reached over and ruffled his hair. "No bedhead? You sure? I don't want your friend to think your mother is a wild creature."

Kazui got up and looked at the back of Orihime's head and smoothed down the few crooked pieces of hair. "All good now."

She stood. "Thank you, kind sir. Now if you wouldn't mind accompanying me downstairs?"

"Just a minute, Mom, I want to ask you something."

Orihime sat down again and looked at him. "What is it, honey?"

Kazui bit his lip and looked at her. "Um, do you… Do you like Cifer-sensei?"

Orihime's eyes widened a bit but she managed not to overreact. "Why do you ask, sweetheart?"

Kazui clearly was uncomfortable. "Well, it's just that Eri seems to think you guys are, like, I don't know. She keeps hinting that he likes you. I didn't see it. But today after your episode, he was being really, like, nice and stuff, and you were…"

"Oh, honey, don't worry. I do like Eri's dad. He is very kind and nice, like you said. But we are just starting to be friends. We haven't known each other very long. We do like each other, though. Eri is right about that. I enjoy spending time with him and you kids. It's nice that we can all get along and have fun together."

Kazui looked up at her suspiciously. "So that's it, then? You're not going to get married and have more kids? Because that's what Eri thinks."

Orihime chuckled, and then started to laugh. "Sweetie, nobody is talking about getting married and having more kids. That's Eri's overactive imagination. Cifer-sensei told me she watches too many dramas," she explained, ruffling his hair again. "Come on, let's go downstairs."

After Kazui went upstairs to get his mother, Eriko decided it was time. "You were going to kiss her, weren't you?"

"What?"

"Orihime, you touched her. You kissed her forehead. She's in your room. You never let anyone into your room."

Ulquiorra sighed as he put rice into bowls. "Eriko, please. Stop this nonsense."

"I'm not saying it's a bad thing, Dad. I like Orihime. She's a wonderful mom. I wish she was my mom instead of Yuko," Eriko said before placing the bowls on the table. "She seems to make you happy and you've been alone for a long time. Sato said she always thought you'd never find anyone else to be with. You'd never have any more kids."

"I hate to break your heart, but I don't plan on having anymore children. You are it." Ulquiorra grabbed the plate with the grilled vegetables and fish on it and carried it over to the table and sat it down. "Look, Eriko. There was a time I fell in love with a woman. I would have died for this… I almost did. I cannot chase those memories anymore. I have to think about you. You are my priority now; my mission."

The girl looked unhappy and started pouting. "Was I a mistake? Auntie says I was."

"No you were not a mistake. A surprise, but never a mistake. You are my Fraccion and I would die for you. I would kill for you."

Eriko's eyes went wide as she listened to her dad. He didn't mean that. "Do you love Orihime?"

He raised an eyebrow and looked at his child, who looked back at him with the same green eyes. "Didn't we just go over this?"

"Why can't you just tell me?"

"Eri, honestly, you're being rude."

"You're being rude."

"Fine! Yes! Is that what you wanted to know? At one point in time years ago, I was in love with her." Ulquiorra turned away from his daughter. He was irritated. He walked over to the sliding glass door and went outside, standing on the deck. No, he wasn't irritated, he was annoyed. The girl kept persisting until he had spilled his secrets. He reached up with a hand and rubbed his neck. He shouldn't have said anything. He should have put his foot down as the adult and stood his ground.

Orihime and Kazui came down a few moments later. "Wow, everything smells delicious! Oh, it looks so nice, too. Did you help, Eri-chan?" she asked with a wide smile.

Eriko nodded. "Yes, thank you. Dad tries to make each meal an experience that is pleasing to the mind." She looked at Orihime and then out the huge windows.

"Is something wrong, sweetie?" she asked, noticing the tension in the girl's brow. "Where is your dad?"

"He's outside. He's mad."

"Oh no, did something happen? Should I go talk to him?"

The girl nodded. "I was asking questions."

Orihime nodded. Based on the conversation she had just had with her son, she could guess roughly what the topic of said questions might be. "Okay. You two go wash your hands and make sure everything is ready. I'll be right back," she said, letting herself out.

"Hey," she said softly as she closed the sliding door.

"Hello," Ulquiorra replied. "Do you feel rested?"

She chuckled. "Yes, I fell fast asleep. Kazui had to pat my hair down for me. Your bed is very comfortable."

Ulquiorra turned his head and looked at her. "Thank you? It's supposed to be comfortable. I spent most of my college years and my early teaching years on a futon on the floor. I hated it."

She nodded and faced the same direction he was facing before. "I wouldn't want to go back to those days, either. So, what's upset you? Eri said you were mad."

"She's a nosy child who is prying where she doesn't need to be."

Orihime smiled and looked at him. "That's what they do. They love us, so they think our business is their business. Kazui was asking me questions, too."

He gave the woman a side-eyed glance. "Eriko asked me very personal questions. I answered them because I was becoming annoyed."

"Oh. Well, maybe you should tell her not to tell Kazui. I was very diplomatic in my answers."

"Woman." Ulquiorra shook his head. "I don't think she will say anything because I got angry."

Orihime nodded. He knew her best. "Dinner looks great. Do you cook often?"

"Every night. I have to make sure Eriko gets the proper nutrients. Otherwise she would eat sweets and doughnuts."

Orihime chuckled again. "When I was her age all I ate was red bean paste, white bread and leeks. She is lucky to have such a great dad."

Ulquiorra knew that the food that Aizen had served her wasn't much better, but it had been nutritionally complete. It had been bland, tasteless porridge-like stuff. He didn't mention this because he didn't want her to have a mental breakdown again. "What did Kazui ask you?"

She grinned at him and answered, "He asked if I liked you and if we liked each other. I told him that of course we do, we all enjoy spending time together. Then he said Eri was suggesting much more serious notions." She paused to gauge his reaction; she did want to make his mood worse.

He nodded, understanding what she was saying. She was covering the truth from her son, while he laid it out for his daughter. "She watches too many dramas. The scant hours I've spent with you I have thoroughly enjoyed. "

"Same. Don't worry. I didn't lie to Kazui, but I assured him that nobody is discussing having more kids or getting married or moving in together at this point. These kids get so worked up. They worry about their own places in our lives." She looked forward to the trees again. "I wish they knew how much we love them."

"Are you hungry?" he asked, changing the subject, no longer wanting to discuss this. He wanted her to know how much he loved her and his daughter. Orihime's son was slowly growing on him.

"Starving!" she replied with a bright grin.

The weather was warm on Saturday when Ulquiorra got out of bed. It was muggy. He didn't like heat, instead preferring the autumn and winter months. He got Eriko up and went downstairs to start breakfast.

"Eriko! Get a move on!"

Instead of hearing a reply from his daughter, he heard her scream. In an instant, Ulquiorra used Sonido to transport himself upstairs, running down the hall to her room. The girl stood there with bloody pajamas, crying.

Oh no. Oh no, no, no. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"I don't know! I'm dying!"

"Are you hurt? Did someone get into your room?"

This made Eriko cry harder. "My belly hurts!" she yelled.

Ulquiorra was somewhat taken aback by the volume of his daughter's words. "I will tend to your ailment after we find out what caused this injury."

"Go call Orihime! Please!"

Shit. Oh god. His eyes went wide. Puberty . With slow steps, Ulquiorra backed out of his daughter's room and then walked down the hall to his bedroom, picking up the phone. He found Orihime's contact, pressing it.

"Good morning," Orihime said, sounding like she was mid-stretch. "This is a nice wake-up call."

"Eriko woke up bloody. She wanted me to call you." Ulquiorra said the words quickly. He was on the verge of panicking.

Orihime was alarmed, but had her suspicions. She had gotten the impression from Eriko over the past few months that puberty was imminent. The moodiness, the increased interest in romantic notions, the sensitivity, and the backsass… They were all markers of hormonal shifts. "Ulquiorra, everything's going to be alright. Can I talk to her?" she said relatively calmly.

"I do not want to approach her. She screamed at me," Ulquiorra replied. "I'm not sure what to do. Shouldn't there have been some warning? Some sign?"

"Oh, Darling, there were signs, but they are difficult to pick out if you haven't lived through them yourself. Now, I need you to be a big strong Papa Bear and face your snarling cub, okay?" Orihime said with a gentle lilt to her voice. "Everything is going to be alright. Just lean over and hold the phone out to her."

Sighing, Ulquiorra slowly walked back down to Eriko's room. She was sitting on her desk chair, crying. "Eri, baby, do you want to talk to Orihime?"

The girl nodded and held her hand out for the phone. "Hello?"

"Hi sweetie. How are you doing?" Orihime said in a soft, comforting voice.

"I'm dying," she groaned. Eriko wasn't paying attention as her dad slinked out of the room. "It hurts. I'm bleeding. This wasn't supposed to happen yet."

"Oh, sweetheart, I know, I know. Mine came when I was twelve. You're not even there yet. It's not fair. But you know what? It's not all bad news. Today while the boys are practicing Kendo, you and I are going to go out and go shopping. After we get you cleaned up and ease those cramps though, okay? Can you trust me?"

"I-I-I-" Eriko tried to say words that conveyed how upset she was but she just started sobbing again. "Dad is clueless!"

Orihime sighed and chuckled softly. "I know, baby girl, but only because dads will never know what it's like. You're lucky. You have a dad who loves you and wants to take care of you. He just doesn't know, so don't be mad at him, okay? Take a deep breath. Take a couple deep breaths. Then when you're ready, call your dad to take the phone from you, then I want you to grab some towels and go take a long, hot shower. When you're done, I will be there, I promise. Okay?"

"Promise?" Eriko asked as she shuffled over to the door.

"Promise. Everything is going to be fine."

"Daddy! Hime wants you!"

Ulquiorra could have choked on the laughter he was holding back before he took the phone from Eriko. He gave the girl her privacy by walking down the stairs. "Well?"

"Your suspicions are correct," she said with a conciliatory sigh. "I'm going to gather up some supplies and come straight over. I'm not even going to clean up much, so don't expect me to be a fresh flower for you," she joked, partially. She hoped she didn't stink. "I'll have Kazui take the train later for his lesson and maybe you can pick him up at the station then. Quick question though, how bad is the mess?"

He squirmed slightly. "The pajamas are… and I don't know. Is there magical stuff to remove blood? I don't want to go buy her new bedding."

Orihime sighed and rolled her eyes. "It's not magic, but hydrogen peroxide will take care of it if we treat it right away. If you are not too grossed out while she takes a shower you can strip the bed and soak the sheets in cold water. Not hot. Hot will set the stain. Anything you find can go into cold water. Otherwise, just go have a cup of coffee and wait for me to get there. I know this is traumatic for you, too, Papa Bear."

"What-What about the mattress? Do I need to take her to the hospital? Why is this happening?" Ulquiorra was definitely panicking now.

"Ulquiorra, please. Sit down. Take a deep breath. She doesn't need a hospital. This is happening because she is a healthy female. This is part of life. Everything will be alright. I'll be right there." She had already gathered up some pads and hydrogen peroxide from her bathroom. She went down out to her kitchen cabinet where she kept her medicines and grabbed some pain medicine. "All you need to do is hang on and try to relax, Darling. It's going to be okay."

"Okay, you said cold water. Oh, geez, there's blood all over her bed… and the blanket. I'm going to need to mop her floor… For some reason I don't like blood," Ulquiorra stated as he gathered everything from Eriko's bed. He would have to take everything down to the washer. Could he put peroxide into the machine?

"Just throw it all into a big bucket or plastic storage container outside and pour cold water onto it. I'll deal with it when I get there. It will be easier that way. I've got to get into the car now. Don't worry too much, okay? We'll get through it together."

Ulquiorra sighed. "Thank you. I love you. You're such a big help." He was just saying stuff without thinking. He hung up the phone and then promptly dropped the device. Had he actually said…? Without dwelling on it, Ulquiorra put Eriko's dirty sheets into a basket and took it outside to the deck. He found a big washtub that Sato had kept in the storage closet and pretty soon had it full of cold water. He just dumped all the bloody items into it. He made himself some coffee and then cleaned the floor upstairs where there was a blood trail. He didn't need Eriko to be embarrassed about this.

Orihime had woken Kazui up just long enough to tell him the plan and then told the staff at the cafe to expect him for breakfast, and that there would be no delivery service today, before getting everything in the Halcyon van and driving into Naruki City. The drive to Ulquiorra's house took a little less than twenty minutes. When she knocked at the door, she was wearing shorts, a t-shirt, an apron, and a handkerchief tied over her hair. She looked like a cleaning lady, with a literal bucket of supplies in hand.

Pulling the door open, Ulquiorra looked at the woman. "Thank god you're here. She's still in the bathroom and crying."

Orihime nodded. "Lead the way, Papa Bear," she said. She was tempted to kiss him, but she could tell by his worried expression that the only thing on his mind was helping his little girl. Her heart swelled with affection at the thought.

"Upstairs, middle door. Every time I ask her if she's okay, she just cries more. She-Eriko says she wants Sato or you and I tried to explain that Sato wouldn't be coming back... " Ulquiorra ran his hands through his long black hair and sighed in frustration.

Orihime paused. "Don't take it personally, Ulquiorra. She loves you. She just knows you don't know. That scares her. She loves you. She just needs a woman for this." She reached out and ran her hand down his upper arm. "We'll get through this, together, remember?" She smiled at him and then turned to go up the stairs.

When she walked past him, Ulquiorra reached out and grabbed Orihime's arm and stopped her. He leaned towards her and gently kissed her. "Thank you, Woman."

Orihime sighed and smiled at him, lovestruck. She wasn't ready to answer his accidental sentiment on the phone, but it didn't mean she didn't think about it. "You're welcome. It's… It's really actually my pleasure." Her smile widened and she shook her head at her stupid word choice. "I better-" she was interrupted by a wail from upstairs. "Yeah, I better," she said.

He watched her go upstairs and then poured himself another cup of coffee. He had a feeling he was going to need all the caffeine that he could handle.

Orihime got to the bathroom door and gave it a slight rap. "Eri-chan? It's Orihime. Can I come in?"

"Orihime?"

"Yes, honey, It's me. Can I open the door?"

"Yeah, I'm decent. Please, come in," Eriko said in a pitiful voice.

Orihime opened the door and peeked inside and her heart broke. Eri looked tiny and terrified. "Oh, sweet girl, come here," she said, not actually making Eriko move, but sweeping toward her and gathering her in her arms for a big hug, pressing her lips to the girl's head.

Eriko put her arms around the woman and sniffled. "It hurts. Is it supposed to hurt? Is Kazui here? I don't want him to know about this. He won't be my friend."

Orihime took her questions backward. "Of course he'll be your friend. He knows about this, in general. I talked to him about it when he was younger. His grandpa is a doctor, so he heard it from him, too. He knows it's a normal part of life for girls. But, you're right, it's none of his business. It's yours and yours alone and no one has to know except your dad and your doctor and whoever you want to tell. That's why Kazui is still at home, probably sleeping," she chuckled a bit. "He won't come here until this afternoon for his lesson, and we should be long gone by then. As for the pain? Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it doesn't. There are some things we can do to help it, though. Did it feel better when you were in the shower?"

The girl nodded. "Yes," she said. "But now that I'm out it hurts."

"Yeah, you'll want to keep your belly and back warm. I've brought some warming pads we can put on your skin. I've also brought some pain relieving pills you can take when the pain is very sharp. Would you like to try some? I'll have to ask your dad first, but I think it will help."

"Dad won't let me have medicine unless I'm sick," she said. Her bottom lip stuck out and quivered for a moment. "I don't have anything here. I'm going to make a mess. My dad's probably going to faint because of the blood."

Orihime shook her bucket. "I've got you covered, sweetie. I'll get some clean underwear from your room for you and I'll show you how to use these. And you would be proud of your dad. He was super brave," she said with a warm smile. "Now I'll go get those undies and I'll be right back, okay?"

Eriko nodded as the woman left. Ulquiorra was waiting out in the hallway. "Is she okay?" he whispered.

She hugged him, nodding. "She's fine." She looked up at him, still holding him around the torso. "Do you mind if she has a pain reliever? I brought some, but I told her I wouldn't give her one unless you approved."

A sigh left the man. "Only if it's necessary," he replied.

"It is, trust me. It won't always be, but sometimes the first day or so of a cycle is very painful. After you left my house last week I was in bed for half of the day." Orihime smiled and looked toward Eriko's room. "Can you show me where she keeps her underwear?"

"Of course," he said and led Orihime to the girl's room. "So if you have a period, that means what? Not pregnant?"

"Right. Women who have started puberty go through a four to five week-long cycle during which the uterus grows a blood-rich lining, then an egg is released. If the egg is not fertilized it dies and then the uterine lining sheds, leaving the body. That's the period, and then the cycle starts over again. If the egg is fertilized it will implant itself into the uterine lining and pregnancy occurs," she explained matter-of-factly.

He felt like he was going to faint. It wasn't like Aizen had taught classes on human reproduction while he was an Arrancar. "You had a period recently, correct?"

"Yes, from Saturday to Wednesday. Why do you ask?" She wasn't bothered by his question, but she was curious about his motivation.

"Timing to avoid copulation," he replied, as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.

She snickered. "Don't worry, now that I know you don't like blood, I'll warn you," she said, opening the girl's dresser and pulling out a pair of dark blue colored underwear.

"Do you think-" Ulquiorra shook his head; there was no way she'd say yes. "Never mind."

"No, ask me. Do I think what?" she asked, pausing in front of him.

Ulquiorra glanced at the woman, feeling childish for asking. "I missed you. Can you stay tonight?"

She blushed a bit and smiled at him. "Maybe. I think we're smart enough to come up with some plausible explanation about why it's absolutely necessary." She kissed him and then started toward the bathroom. "You think of excuses while I tend to Eri, okay?"

His body felt like it was on fire as she walked away. "Fine," he called after her.

Orihime smirked as she knocked on the door and let herself back into the bathroom. "Okay, I've brought you some new underwear. Now, I've brought some sanitary pads for you to try. We can go to the store and get some smaller ones for you if these are uncomfortable, but they will do in a pinch." Orihime held the underwear up and demonstrated how to affix the pad to it, then turned around to let the girl try it out. While her back was to the girl, she explained to her about proper hygiene, the frequency at which to change to new supplies and how to properly dispose of used items. "Let me know if you have any questions or need any help. You don't have to be embarrassed about me seeing you or helping you, if that is what you need. I'm here to help you."

Eriko frowned and followed Orihime's directions. She should have been warned about this way before it even happened. Her mother should have told her this instead of a woman who her dad liked or loved. Her dad had handed her books and instructed her to read them. They weren't interesting. They didn't have the soothing tone that Orihime had while explaining what was happening. It was all clinical and scientific. "I hate Yuko," she said after she put the rest of her clothes on.

"Who is Yuko, honey?" Orihime knew, but she didn't want the girl to know that she knew.

"She used my dad. She's the woman who gave birth to me," Eriko stated.

Orihime nodded and hummed thoughtfully as she stood behind the girl reflected in the bathroom mirror. She gave her a pill and a bottle of water. "Your father said it was okay to take this," she said, before peeling off the paper from the adhesive surface of a heating pad. "You can put this on your belly when you're done. I'll put one on your back."

Eriko took the medicine and then put the heating pad on where it hurt the most. She stood still as a statue while Orihime put another on her back. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me, sweetheart. You are special to me. I'd do it in a heartbeat," she said as she started to carefully untangle the girl's hair. Once the biggest knots were out, she took the brush off the side of the sink and began going through the strands. "You know, I didn't have a mother, either."

"You didn't? Did your dad raise you too?"

"No. My big brother did, but he died when I was twelve. He was hit by a car. I had to learn that even though it's not easy, you can learn to trust other people, too; ones outside your family. There are a lot of people who care about you, too, Eri."

"No they don't. I look weird. I'm different. Kids make fun of me. Oh look at her, she has green eyes. I bet my dad didn't even think about that. He should have known how hard it is for a kid to grow up here."

Orihime wrapped her arms around the girl's shoulders, and put her mouth near her ear. "I don't dye my hair this color. Neither does Kazui," she giggled softly. "Neither did his dad. We all have weird hair. We're all misfits. But we found great friends, anyway. Just like you found Kazui." Orihime stood up and looked at Eri's reflection in the mirror. "Besides, you are lucky to have your father's eyes. They are the most beautiful color I've ever seen." She turned the girl gently to the side and bent down to her level. "And your father… Don't be angry with him. He couldn't have known how hard it would be. He couldn't have known that Yuko would use him. What she did wasn't fair to either of you. But I'm glad she met your father, and I'm glad that you were born," she said with a warm smile. "So is he. He loves you with his whole heart."

That made the girl's bottom lip jut out and Eriko's eyes filled with tears. She turned around in Orihime's arms and gave her a big hug. "I wish you were my mom," she cried, burying her face into the woman's shoulder. "I still hate her."

Orihime returned her embrace, soothing her back with the palm of one hand. "I can't tell you how to feel, Eri-chan. I hope that someday you won't feel so angry with Yuko. I hope someday you can understand that people will sometimes let you down,sometimes in really, really big ways. There's nothing you can do about it, except accept it and move on. But I am here for you. Kazui's here for you, and your father will always be your biggest supporter." Orihime was careful not to address the girl's confession about wanting her as her mother. It wouldn't be right to give the girl any kind of hope, false or otherwise, at this point. "Are you starting to feel any better? Do you want to lie down for a bit or have something to eat?"

"I want to lay down. I want chocolate. I was some salty snacks. I know if I go downstairs to eat, Dad has made eggs and rice," Eriko complained.

"Hmm, that sounds good. Do you mind if I eat yours? I'll sneak you up some forbidden treats," she said, as if dangling a carrot.

The girl shrugged. "Go ahead, and good luck getting anything that isn't actual food past Grumpypants Cifer. Thank you again, Orihime." Eriko stepped back and gave the woman a small smile. Today just sucked so far.

Orihime smiled at her and bent over to kiss the crown of her head before straightening up. "Go to bed. You have so little faith in my charming skills… I'll be back up in a couple minutes with goodies, you just wait," she said with a chuckle, stepping toward the door. She watched as Eriko went back to her room, and then galloped down the stairs.

She found Ulquiorra in the kitchen, staring into a cup of coffee. "Alright. I need three things. No, I need four things. I need chocolate. I need a salty snack. I need a cup of coffee, and I need Eri's breakfast."

"No, no, cups are over in the cupboard by the wall and the coffee pot is on the counter and her plate is on the table," Ulquiorra said from where he sat at the kitchen island with a stack of papers and a pen.

"No? No? You're going to deny me, the woman who came all the way from the next town over, still in my disgusting hair from yesterday, a couple simple requests?"

Ulquiorra looked at the redhead. She didn't look disgusting. She looked rather casual and it was nice to see her like this. "No, I do not have chocolate in the house. No, I have no salty snacks. Thus I will deny your simple requests."

"Ah ha," Orihime said in understanding. "I see. In that case, I leave you. I'll be back," she said, leaving her bucket on the floor and grabbing her keys from where she left them on the island, leaning in to kiss Ulquiorra's cheek before she stood back up. "Do you need me to pick up anything else?"

Confusion crossed his features. "Wait a minute, where are you going? I'll be going to the store later to shop, but you just got here."

She smiled at him gently. He didn't understand. "I'll be right back, I'm just going to run to the nearest convenience store. Eri needs chocolate and salt. They will ease her discomfort. She is resting in bed right now. Thank you for redressing her bed," Orihime said, running her hand through his hair. Eri was so lucky to have him, she thought. Sora had been great, but he had been just a kid himself.

"Just doing what a normal father would do," Ulquiorra said. "Thank you for helping her."

"Anytime." She smiled and left.

Thanks for reading! Like the story? Surprised at Ulquiorra's handling of it all? Orihime's response? Let us know!