"He's a smiley one, isn't he?" The death scythe mentioned quietly, the ghost of a smile around his lips. He looked back up to Lord Death, stood proudly to his left, probably smiling under the mask. His eyes then averted back to the child across the dome-like room, drawing happily on a sheet of paper. And, as he watched his large, golden eyes shining, he couldn't help but smile, upon imagining a little girl like that he'd soon have the joys of being around. Only one month more, and then he'd be a papa just like Shinigami-sama.

"He's not usually this cheerful... Perhaps he's just happy to see me." The death god chirped, beaming.

"Or perhaps he likes the room? He likes his personal space..."

"You should see him more often. A young child like him needs paternal love."

"I do try, Spirit-kun... I simply find myself too busy." He sighed deeply. "I worry sometimes that he gets lonely. And that one day, I'll hardly be able to spend time with him at all. But, being a death god isn't exactly a position you can give up..."

"I can understand." He said with a nod, surprisingly calm.

"With the work piling up every day, it has become harder to find the time..." He continued, staring up at the randomly placed window to his right. Even though it was late evening, the view remained clear and cloudy. "Although it's moments like these I suppose I should try to enjoy."

"I'm happy to help out, if you ever need someone to watch him. It's good practice."

"Oh yes, I almost forgot! How long is it?"

"Due date is in nineteen days."

"How exciting! And what will she be called?"

He took a moment to reply, possibly processing the thought through his mind. "We'd like to name her Maka."

"That's a nice name."

He smiled, and went slightly weak at the knees.

"It's not long! And then I can be a papa just like you!"

Shinigami-sama chuckled, although he was also rather surprised to see Spirit so... gentle? No, soft. Soft was a far more accurate description.

"Perhaps they can be friends, one day."

"One day."

Shinigami-sama suddenly was pulled back into reality upon sensing a small tug at his cloak. He then looked down, and noticed, just as he had expected, his little Kid staring up at him almost into his soul. Those eyes, those golden orbs that were somehow able to see through him so well... It was almost strange how piercing his gaze could be, at times.

"Hm? What is it Kiddo?"

He didn't speak, but instead kept his eyes averted downwards. He wasn't shy, nor was he nervous; but he always seemed reluctant to say anything. He hadn't even said his first words yet, and he was nearly fourteen months. And Kid was never a loud child besides that, either. He never cried, he never screamed, he didn't shriek and get overly-excited about everything like most babies; he was just quiet. If he was happy, he simply smiled peacefully to himself, and if he was sad, he would pout or make a sad face to show it. But he didn't talk. Whether he physically couldn't or he chose to restrain from speaking Shinigami-sama didn't know, and so he estimated it was a bit of both.

"He's so cute." Spirit cooed, fingers interlaced together next to his face.

Kid's eyes wondered across to him for a moment, but they soon found their way back to his father, and he proceeded to stare up at him longingly.

"What is it?" He asked again, still cheerfully as ever. "I can't know what you want if you don't tell me, Kiddo."

He reached his arms out, and whimpered quietly, head tilted upwards to stare at his father hopefully. But he looked rather tired, and so it came across as more wanting to be hopeful.

"Do you want a hug?"

He nodded, just, struggling to keep his eyes open.

"Okay then~" the reaper smiled under the mask, and bent down to hold his son somewhat delicately. His large, flexible hands were always good for hugs. Like two great big barriers protecting Kid from the outside world.

After a while, just a few more thirty seconds spent close to his son, he suddenly felt him go limp, and realised that he had dozed off. His head seemed to have buried itself in his shoulder, and his grip had loosened slightly.

"Aww~" he cheerfully whispered, being careful not to wake him. He gently rubbed his head, trying not to mess up the sanzu lines in his hair too much, and smiled as he felt his little hand move upwards again, clutching onto the black material softly. And for that one moment in time, for those few seconds of bliss, time seemed to stop altogether. The world paused itself.