"It says she's only a few days old. How can a mother just leave her child like that?" Maka asked placing the birth certificate in her room.

"I don't know, maybe she couldn't take care of her. You're Asking the wrong person." Maka looked over at the sleeping infant.

"Isn't she so adorable?" She cooed.

"What do I know, I'm not-"

"Can't you try to like her, she'll be staying here for a while and it'll be easier for both of you to get along."

"Maka, she's a baby, there's not much to 'geting along'" Soul said with a sigh.

"She's so tiny, we'll have to think of a name."

"No, Maka if you name her, you're going to get attached and It's going to be hard for you to let her go."

"What makes you think I'm ever going to let that happen?" Maka glared at him angrily.

"Seriously Maka, you shouldn't be raising a baby. I'm not going to sign the next eighteen or so years of my life away to-"

"I couldn't ask you to do that. I just need your help until I get used to this okay?"

"Just until then, I can't believe what I'm getting into. The things I do for my miester." Soul said shaking his head.

"I- appreciate those things Soul." Maka turned from him."I don't always say it, or show it but It's there."

"Yeah, I know you do." The two became silent, eventually it would be Maka that would break the silence.

"Thank you, for doing this, I promise I'll make it up to you one day."

"Good."

"Hey, can I ask you for one more favor?" Maka asked putting away several of the child's outfits.

"Depends on what."

"While I'm doing this, she'll need a bottle, the book I borrowed said she should be woken up to eat for a few weeks. While I'm setting things up, can you feed her or trade with me and I'll do it?"

"I'll let you feed her, she's your sister and you should be getting used to it.' Maka rolled her eyes.

"Fine, come over here and put these clothes and things away, I'll make her a bottle." Soul walked over to her and continued the task. Maka sighed, she picked up a bottle and began to get it ready, she carefully measured everything necessary and placed the lid on top, shaking the mixture.

When finally it was ready, Maka walked over to the crib that Spirit had given them and gently lifted the infant into her arms.

"Come on sweetie, time to wake up." She called softly holding her sister close and carefully lowering herself into a chair. The baby opened her eyes to look up at Maka.

"Are you ready to eat, you can go back to sleep for a little while when you're done." Maka placed the tip of the bottle on her sister's mouth.

"Come on, you can do it, open up." Maka encouraged, Soul laid the last piece of clothing in its place and turned, he couldn't help but notice how happy Maka looked holding the child. It was clear that she loved her.

Soul smiled, Maka would be a great mother one day. She had always been a caring person and seeing her so content made the weapon begin to rethink his position on her raising her sister.

"She's doing it Soul, she's eating." Maka grinned.

"Good, she's supposed to." Soul replied.

"I really hope this works out, I'd love to keep her."

"Never know, maybe you will."

"I can't believe Papa was going to give her up. If she was my daughter, I could never do something like that. I'd do whatever I had to to provide for her, she's not some toy you throw into a corner because you don't want her, she's a real person that needs love."

"You're right, she does, and thanks to you, she has it." Soul said. Maka looked up at him.

"It's because of you too Soul, you said you'd help, I don't think I could have gotten her if you didn't."

"I just hope you know what you got us into." Soul told her.

"Don't worry, It's going to be alright, we can do this." Soul had no doubt by the third day that Maka could do it. He wasn't convinced about himself. He was tired from waking up with them. Maka would feed her but Soul made her bottles. It was his miester's idea of making things easier, Soul was convinced that it was really Maka's way of saying 'if I can't sleep through the night no one should' He had lost count of how many times he'd begun to fall asleep in Stein's class, only to be woken by the child fussing next to him.

Maka was also worn out but seemed to be taking it better than her partner. Some kind of 'woman thing' as Soul called it.

"You guys are gonna be there tonight right?" Black Star asked.

"What?" Soul shook off the fatigue as best he could.

"Damn, you must really be out of it, the game, kid's playing, Tsubaki, everyone. That is unless Stein dissects you first for sleeping in class."

"Yeah, one day he just might." Soul replied.

"So you'll be there?" Soul shook his head.

"No, taking care of a kid's tough on the sleep schedule, I need to catch up on my sleep. I don't know how people do it." Black Star smirked.

"You're finding out though. Better you than me." He said leaving Soul to zone out while waiting for Maka to return from changing her sister.

"Okay Soul let's go home, I-" Maka began. She looked at Soul in mild amusement.

"Soul, come on, we can go home." She shook him gently.

"You're done, good. I can't stay up much longer."

"You don't have to, you can sleep first, I'll take care of her and then when you get up, we can switch." Soul didn't remember getting home or crawling into bed, all he knew was that was where he found himself after waking. He was in no hurry to leave his bed. He was rather enjoying the soft pillow and warm could have stayed there forever. That was if Maka didn't need him. He groaned in protest at the thought of getting up. He had no idea how long he slept but he got up and walked to the living room where Maka sat on the couch, next to her the baby lay in a bassinet, her blue eyes wandering around the room.

"Hey Maka, I'm up." He announced.

"Soul, can I talk to you?" Her tone was remorseful. He sat down.

"You know you can." He told her sincerely.

"I wanted to tell you I'm sorry. You've been sleeping most of the day and I know It's because I make you get uo with me. I can make the bottles myself before waking her up. I just thought it would be faster if we both worked together and it was already done. I'm sorry I dragged you into this." Soul wasn't sure what to say, he hadn't intented to make her feel bad. He never liked to see the girl cry or the pained look on her face when she was upset.

"It's cool Maka, I'll be okay. As your weapon partner It's my job to be here for you."

"This is way more than you should have to deal with. It's Papa's fault, not yours."

"I made the choice to do this, I wasn't exactly happy about but in the end, I chose this. If I don't sleep It's on me. I think It's getting to you too. You should take a break. When you wake up, we'll sit down and come up with a plan to pull ourselves together, for her." Maka smiled sleepily.

"So you don't want me to give her back to Papa?"

"I promised two months, if you want to give her back, you can do that but if not, we'll work something out." Maka threw her arms around Soul.

"Thank you." Soul was surprised by her actions but returned the embrace.

"No problem Maka. Go get some sleep, I got this."

"Are you sure, she'll need fed again in about twenty minutes."

"I can handle that." He said as Maka stood up and stretched.

"If you need anything, you can wake me." She said.

"We'll be fine, go to bed before you fall over or something."

"Thanks again Soul, goodnight, I know you're going to take good care of her." Maka disappeared into her bedroom.

Soul looked over at the baby girl who was beginning to fuss.

"Hey, She'll be back later. For now you have to deal with me, don't worry I'm not Maka, but I think we can be cool." The little girl stared at him as she continued to cry softly.

"I bet you want out of there don't you, I guess I can understand, who wants to be stuck on there bed all the time?" Soul reached down and picked her up. She stopped crying instantly.

"That's better isn't it,to be out of there, having someone hold you?" He paused as the child's eyes stared into his.

"You're not that bad are you, when your quiet. Listen, I'm sorry your dad's such an idiot, but you got a great sister to look after you so life isn't so bad. She loves you, you know. Your sister's a very special person, and once she loves someone nine times outta ten she always will, unconditionally. When you're a little older you'll understand about weapons and miesters. For now, all you should know is Maka's an amazing person and we're lucky to have her." Soul glanced at the clock and stood up from his seat.

"Guess we should get you fed" he said taking the child and setting to work.