She has been trying to wake him up for 5 minutes, and must have kissed his forehead 100 times now as she brushed his orange hair from his face. He cradled his head in her chest. Ichigo was still sobbing and shaking in his sleep, but he was too much in misery to feel her comforting him.
"Sweetheart, wake up. It's just a dream." And she kissed him again and brushed his hair. He starts to calm down, he opens an eye to confirm she is there, and though still sobbing, both his arms encircle her waist and moved her closer to him.
She was suppressing a grin when the door slamed open, "Ma! Dad! Pop's here were going for ice cream, what do you want?" The 10-year-old boy barged inside their room. This is the first time he saw his father crying…but before he could ask any question, another kid went running into the 10-year-old.
"They're here! We're going!" This time the 8-year-old girl moved towards her father who was still hiding his face in Rukia's chest.
"I know why you're crying!!!" She says teasing. "You dreamt again about that time Ma left you!" Rukia was hiding her grin inside herself to keep embarrassing Ichigo. This is the second time this happened in 10 years since they have been together, and this is the second time their daughter saw him. The first time was when she was 3-years-old.
Rukia glared at the girl. She will have to berate, as in berate and nag, the little girl later so she remembers not talk that way, certainly not about the subject matter and not about her father that way. She will make sure the little girl will not do it again.
"We're going, what flavor do you guys want?" The boy asked looking at his mother. He understands his father and unlike his sister, hewould not dare make a mockery of his father who he looks up to highly.
"One chocolate, one strawberry," Rukia says and then the boy dragged the girl outside.
When the kids were out, he looked at her eyes and she smiled. "I'm sorry," she says. "I promise it will never happen again."
"It's okay. I guess it is the same this year that it happened that's why I dreamt of it." He pulled himself up a little and placed his lips on her neck. "It rarely happens anyway and you promise not to do it ever again right?" He was leaving a trail of marks on her neck. His dream was still fresh in his mind, his longing for her to be with him still present…his hands and body sent this message to her.
"Promise," she whispered in his ear huskily. That's what she also said to him when he came to her a week after she left him. He went to Soul Society to speak with her and they ended up making love, and she came home with him. He decided then that she is what he wants.
Two months later, their making love surprised Isshin, Byakuya, and practically everyone else except them. He actually wanted it. He was claiming her as his and that is how he decided to do it so he can keep her forever.
Of course, he is now a doctor and she is a housewife. From time to time when duty calls, they still fight hollows.
THE END
Author's notes: I am more of a reader than a writer.