First of all: this chapter is short. But its building up to something which i didnt want to rush or squidge into the end of a chapter i wanted it to take a whole chapter on its own. Writing the next chapter is going to be challenging for me to because i've never done it myself so i can only hazard a guess as to how it feels. But i will research it and hopefully i'll pull off something great lol (i'm keeping it a secret on purpose hahaha ) but i hope you like this chapter its kinda filler for the next chapter so for that i'm sorry ! XD

More updates coming soon! Possibly today but no promises. :P

oOo

King Isshin stood in the kitchens of his palace, for the first time in his life he'd made his wife tea. As he stared at the steaming cup he pondered, was this really worth risking everything for? Should he even tell Retsu what he was doing or let it be surprise? Half his mind wanted to march right up there, potion in hand and let her make the choice herself but the other half disagreed. What would she think of him if she knew the price he agreed to pay? How would he hide it from her when the time came if he didn't confess now? Isshin couldn't bare it if she hated him for it; divorce was unheard of in Sereitei so they would be stuck together with her hating him in silence for the rest of her days. If he was honest with himself he wanted children as much as his beloved and he loved his kingdom. Isshin couldn't bare it if some distant relative to take over the throne when his time was eventually at an end. They would not carry on his legacy the way sons could. No the way a son could. He had to give the other away Isshin would have to get used to the idea that although his wife would carry twins, he would only have one child.

The weight of the world was on his shoulders but even though he couldn't hurt the one he loved most in the world he could bare this pain no longer and before he had time to back out King Isshin tipped the contents of the tiny glass vial into his wife's nightly tea, and decided that what happened between him and the witch Rangiku would stay between him and the witch Rangiku.

Queen Retsu was sat at the window staring out at the kingdom, as she often did when sleep eluded her. She wore a floor length white night gown, which even whilst sitting hid her bare feet from view. So deep in thought was the queen that she didn't hear the chamber door creek open or the soft footfalls of her husband who was about to change their lives forever. Had she known what fate was about to throw at her she probably wouldn't have smiled at her husband so lovingly as he finally caught her attention, or accepted the hot tea that was strangely bitter. The queen wouldn't have dismissed the little voice in the back of her head that questioned why a man she had known her whole life was suddenly bringing her tea, when she doubted that he even knew where the kitchen was before tonight. She certainly would have rejected his advances when she finished her beverage and sent him to one of the many guest rooms when he tried to lay with her. As it happened Queen Retsu was blissfully unaware of what fate had in store for her and accepted the offering of tea, spending the night in the throes of passion, with the man she vowed to spend the rest of her life with. The man she loved with her heart, soul and every fibre of her being. In her eyes Isshin Kurosaki could do no wrong, but she was about to find out just how wrong she was.

And so it was known across the kingdom of Sereitei that Queen Retsu was with child, with not only one but to healthy babies and parties were held for a week in celebration of the joyous news. The king would have not only one but two healthy heirs to his throne and two strapping sons to carry on his legacy, and Queen Retsu would finally know the gift of motherhood.

Day by day the two boys grew bigger inside their mother and day by day the king hoped and prayed that they would continue to do so. King Isshin hoped he would never need to call upon the witch for help, for he knew it would also come with a price and he didn't have anything else to give as Rangiku had no interest in his money.

Thankfully he had no need for the witches help and nine months passed in the blink of an eye as the due date approached with the speed of a runaway train. It was almost time.

Queen Retsu was asleep, taking an afternoon nap (she often felt fatigued during the day) when cramps across the top of her womb awoke her. The pain spread to her back and at first she was worried until it stopped and a wetness spread across the sheets beneath her before the pain returned again. Queen Retsu had gone into labour.

oOo

See what i mean about filler? XD please R&R as usual :] Next chapter should be sometime next week :) if not during the week then by the weekend definately! :D