This takes place before Love Me Again, Husband. You don't have to have read the story to understand this one-shot.

Beauty

A Love Me Again, Husband One-Shot

Soul couldn't stop staring at her. He had always been aware of her beauty and her elegant grace. He had woken up to her when her makeup were smeared all over her face and the horror of when she had fallen asleep with a clay mask and it had been all over the pillows, blanket and on him. It had taken plenty of washes before the colour had finally disappeared. He had been only two washes away from giving up and buying everything new. She had offered plenty of times to do the laundry and take care of her mess, but he feared she might have ruined them more if he let her anywhere close to the washing machine. He still haven't forgotten the time she mixed his favourite orange shirt with her new black blazer and the bright glory of his orange shirt had diminished.

He had shared seven years with her. Seven absolutely wonderful years of falling head over heels in love with her, something he didn't think he was capable of after he walked away from his relationship with Anya. He had learned what love truly was. Maka was the love of his life. His soul mate. His partner to share life with. He had moved in with her because he wanted to be with her all day every day. To his luck she wanted too. She loved him just as much as he loved her. They shared their struggles, hearts and minds— their lives. And he wanted to keep sharing his life with her because she was his rock, his life and the one person who mattered more than his life. He would lay down everything for her.

She was so precious to him. Seeing her happy brought him happiness. He was ready to walk away from the one thing he had moved to Death City for to make sure he could keep seeing that beautiful smile of hers he treasured so much instead of her broken face and tears smudging her cheeks because their student loans just kept on growing and growing. His education didn't matter anymore. Even with a degree in music, he would've never been able to pay off the student loans and he knew she knew it, but she wouldn't let him. The same way he would do everything to make her happy, she would do the same. She would've never forgiven him if he walked away from his dream. She was going to make sure she made enough money to pay off his student loans too.

He couldn't be without her. He loved her so much and he was willing to do everything to make them work, to keep her happy and proud to call him her husband. And lucky him she felt the same way.

Maka Albarn. She was so incredible. So smart and stubborn, willing to put in 110 % for a project, maybe a little bit too much, but all he could do was to support her. When the spark in her eyes consumed her, all he wanted to do was cheer for her. Give her snacks, give her neck massages or once she had fallen asleep at her desk, carry her to their bedroom and tuck her in.

She was so incredibly beautiful. Had always been. These past few days, there were features he couldn't stop thinking about. Admiring even. Everything from her light golden hair to her green eyes to her devotion. He couldn't help but… but wanting those features in their child.

It was an insane thought. Kids. They were twenty-six and Maka was still building up her career and brand and she was working really hard to finalize the touches to her pension pitch she would pitch to some investors, hoping one wanted to invest in it. It was too early for kids and he knew if she were to get pregnant, it could ruin her chances. He was not ignorant. He knew once a woman became a mother, the expectations of her to care for the child was definitely going to be pushed on her. And he wasn't going to let that ruin her chances of achieving her dreams. She had slaved away in university worked hard at Wes's company in order to get where she was today, and she wasn't going to stop now, she could and will go to the top.

But staring at her in that one cute black dress he absolutely loved on her in their little kitchen. Apron on and wooden spoon in hand and she stirred the content in the pot. She had decorated their table with a nice white cloth and their finest plates, utensils and wine glass. And the icing on the cake: lit candles and soft jazz music in the background.

It wasn't a special day at all. Their anniversary wasn't until two and a half month more. It was simply an ordinary Friday.

And yet she had come home early and prepared all of this for them.

She looked over her shoulder and offered him her biggest smile. "Why do you keep standing there for?"

"Because you are beautiful."

"You can admire my beauty up close, you know."

He let out a short chuckle. He took of his jacket and hung it on the rack before he strolled over to her, enveloping her in his arms and her hands joined around his neck all too familiar. Her green eyes sparkled so bright in their dim kitchen and he admired her so much for doing all of this for them. He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear before he gingerly cupped her cheek, allowing his thumb to run over her smooth skin.

"So what is the occasion?"

"Nothing special," Maka whispered as she leaned into his touch. "Now when the pitch is almost finished, I want to celebrate and thank you for supporting me through all those late nights and hours I worked overtime."

He smiled gently and rested his forehead against hers. "You don't have to thank me. I know this means a lot to you and I want you to succeed."

"But I do. It means the world to me and I want to show you my appreciation." Her fingers played with the locks of hair at his neck. "I love you. I want you to feel like you matter too in our relationship. Sometimes I fear only my dreams and aspirations matters while yours are forgotten."

"Believe me when I say my dreams are your dreams."

"But don't you have a dream that is not mine?"

There was one. A longing he felt every time he looked at his beautiful beloved wife. A longing for a mini them to care and love for. He… he wanted to witness he belly grow with their child. He wanted to… he really wanted her to carry their child.

The hesitant paus did not go unnoticed.

A wide smile spread on her rosy lips. "So there is one?"

"No," he denied it and pulled away. "I better change if you will be dress up for this."

He was sure the conversation was over when he turned for their room but she was not having it. She dashed after him as he took off his t-shirt and threw it in the laundry basked in the bedroom.

"Come on, tell me! I know there is something you want!" she almost sung in joy as if it was her dream come true.

"It's nothing really." He waved it away as h turned toward their shared closet.

"Dreams aren't simply 'nothing'. Come on tell me! I promise I won't judge."

"It truly is nothing, really." He pulled out a hanger with a red dress shirt he knew she adored.

"Come on, please tell me. Let me make you happy for once."

He snorted. "It is nothing that can be done in one day."

"So let us work toward you goal for once." Maka went up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder once he had put the shirt on and started buttoning it.

Soul sighed and stopped after buttoning the second button. He knew Maka wasn't going to let this go. There was no use trying to hold it in anymore. They were partners and even if it was a huge conversation, it was better to talk about it than hold it in. Then they could work his baby blues through and make them go away.

He turned toward her and he grabbed her hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "There is something I have thought a lot about," he barely whispered.

"What is it?"

"… I want a child with you."

Her eyes widened slightly and her lips parted.

He let out a short laugh and ran his hand through his hair. "I told you. It's nothing—"

"No, no, no, it's definitely not nothing. I'm happy you told me."

His eyes fluttered. "Y-you are?"

"Yeah." She pulled her hand from his and she tugged at his shirt. Slowly she started buttoning his shirt. "I'm not against the thought of kids and one day I do want them with you."

"But it is too early. I know. You're staring up projects and want to make a name in the finance world before that happens."

"I do want those things." She finished buttoning the last button, grabbing his hand and giving it a comforting squeeze. "Are you serious about this? This is not just a phase or a fun thought or because you're noticing other people's babies?"

Soul nodded. "I'm serious. I want to be your baby's father."

She smiled wide and she rose on her feet and planted a delicate kiss on his lips. "Maybe we could work this through."

"Can we?"

"We can do anything as long as we are together."

Joy fluttered in his heart as they returned to the kitchen. She gestured him to take a seat by the table, but he refused. He helped her put their dinner on the table that proved to be oven cooked salmon, nice roasted potatoes and a delicious white wine reduction sauce. Once they were seated and the wine was poured, the serious conversation continued.

"So what will we do?" he asked.

"We are financially stable and we do have a great stable relationship so on those basis we are good."

"But once you gave birth, our finance would rock because we would live only on my salary once you're resting and healing."

"I know." Maka took a sip of her wine. "But we could plan ahead and save money for that period of time, but what would happen after that?"

"I could stay at home and raise our child until they are old enough for day care."

"But are you sure? It would mean you would have to close your recording studio for a while."

He was sure. His career wouldn't take off. He knew it would be hard running a recording studio and competing with the modern media choices and other large corporations. His small and humble recording studio wouldn't become any bigger than it already was. The joy of having a child with Maka… it was greater than his recording studio. He wanted a child with her badly.

"I'm willing. It doesn't mean I have to give it up forever. I could try and keep work on the weekends if you are cool with it?"

"I'm okay with it. You will need a job to return to and I would like some time alone with our child to bond with them."

"That's cool. But what if your work collides with mine?"

She reached out and gingerly touched his feet with hers. "We will work through it. We could always call our friends and see if they could babysit or in the worst case, we would have to bring the baby to work."

"But if we had a baby, are we willing to move? You need an office and right now we don't have enough space for both a baby and an office. Do we want to move?" Soul asked.

"I could move out my desk to the living room if necessary to make room for the baby, but we would have to move eventually."

"We don't exactly have the money to buy an apartment or a house. We would have to rent."

"Yes, and finding a baby-proof apartment in a good neighbourhood could take a while. We would have to start searching for a new apartment immediately."

"Yeah." Soul smiled wide and reached for her hand over the table, entwining their fingers. "So… are we really going to try to make a baby? As in, right now?"

"I don't see why now?" She squeezed his hand. "I want a baby with you and we are on the same page."

"But what about your pitch? Wouldn't the baby make it difficult for you?"

She shook her head gently. "Not really. If we start today and miraculously end up pregnant immediately, we would still have nine months to find an investor, develop it and launch it. I can do it in nine months." She leaned closer to him over the table. "I want a child with you. I have thought about kids too but I didn't think you wanted them at the moment. I have thought our baby could end up with your beautiful red eyes and that gorgeous smile of yours."

Soul chuckled. "And I want our child to have your features."

"There is only one way to find out." She stood up from her chair and rounded the table, offering her hand. "You want to start working on our baby?"

A huge grin grew on his face and he nodded eagerly, accepting her hand. "You know me. I never turn down sex."

Maka snorted as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "This won't be sex, this will be making a baby. We have never tried it before."

"Same thing different name." He pulled her close to him and rested his forehead against hers. "As long as it allows me to slide between those long legs of yours and please you."

"Your pleasure will be more important than mine now." Soul wrinkled his nose and immediately Maka placed her hand over his mouth before he could response. "But I will still make sure you please me. I hold you to a high standard, my dear."

"And that's the way I like it." Soul planted a kiss on her lips. "How about we take this to the bedroom so we can start working on our baby making skills."

A large grin grew on her lips and she nodded eagerly. She closed the space between them and kissed his breath away. Finally Soul was allowed to the do the thing he wanted. His hands disappeared up her skirt and she made a joyous giggle. She jumped and wrapped her legs around his waist and he carried her inside of their bedroom.