Okay, I am back. I hope that you're all enjoying this. I feel like I've lost some readers, but oh well. :) I just want to know what you're all thinking. I know I could improve, so just let me know if you have any suggestions or comments. :P I'd really appreciate it!

And the concept that Mina brings up in the beginning of this chapter is the one DetroitBleachWings! :D Thanks again!

Alright, were it is! Chapter 2!

-:-

Mina's POV:

A few days after I found out I was pregnant my mom took me to see an OB GYN. It was too early for a sonogram, but she told me things I could be doing to make sure the baby was healthy. She gave me some vitamins and a few pamphlets on prenatal care. She told me I was already a month and a half pregnant which was why I had already started having morning sickness.

All of the new information was overwhelming. The doctor seemed notice by the end of our appointment, so did my mother. They assured me I'd have all the help I needed. I began to relax but of course I was still panicked about everything. I was able to smile and nod to reassure them that I was alright, seeming to satisfy both the doctor and Mom.

By the time I got home there was only a few minutes before school ended. Rukia and Ichigo had gotten accustomed to coming over to my apartment after school and helping me with the homework I missed. When they arrived that afternoon Ichigo asked to use the restroom and I pointed in the direction of the hallway. Rukia sat on the couch next to me and smiled. I looked back at her frantically and scooted closer to her.

"Rukia, I know it's been awhile, but surely you didn't forget our deal," I said, getting a surprised look from her.

"W-what are you talking about?" she asked innocently.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," I whispered.

"Look, Mina...I really can't do it," she said sternly.

"What do you mean? We had an agreement! If one of us got pregnant while in high school so would the other!" I exclaimed, keeping my voice low.

"Mina, listen to how ridiculous you sound! I'm not purposely getting pregnant."

"But you agreed to it! You said you would! I'd do it for you," I responded, a frown crossing my features.

Looking away, she said, "I agreed in case I got pregnant."

"What? You never planned on keeping your promise?" I demanded, feeling like a bigger idiot.

"No," she admitted, looking guilty. "But you're such a good kid, I never imagined you getting knocked up. I should have known better, you are with Renji," she said, muttering her last statement bitterly.

"Rukia, that's horrible," I said, my frown deepening.

"I'm sorry. Okay? I never expected this to actually happen. But I can't get pregnant," she answered, laying a hand on my arm. I knew she was right, it really was a ridiculous pact we had made, but I really didn't want to be alone in this.

"But you're plenty old enough," I said, smiling slightly as I teased her.

"Hey, watch it," she said, returning the gesture.

Before I could reply Ichigo came down the hall and sat on the couch next to Rukia. She looked over at me and rose her eyebrows, signaling me to drop the subject. I nodded slightly and leaned back against the couch, sighing tiredly.

"Have you told Renji yet?" Rukia asked, absently grabbing Ichigo's hand as his other arm rested against the couch behind her shoulders, scooting closer to her.

I shook my head. "No, I haven't," I answered guiltily. "He seemed to be in a really good mood yesterday, I didn't want to ruin it," I stated, making an excuse.

"You spoke to him and just acted like everything was fine?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow slightly.

Nodding I looked down at my hands. "I just...can't tell him. Not right now. Give me a few weeks. I mean, I haven't even began to deal with this myself. I can't tell him, not yet," I stated, getting a nod from Rukia.

"Alright, alright. Take as long as you need," she said, smiling back at my worried face warmly.

I nodded back at her and thanked her. Yeah, Mina. Take as long as you need before you tell him.

-:-

I was sitting in my room, idly trying to watch the television and catch up on some homework while forgetting my horrible day I had had. It was three in the morning, but I couldn't sleep, memories of the day flashing by in my head.

It was July second, which meant I was about three months pregnant by now. Ichigo, Rukia, and I were out preparing to watch fireworks the town usually displayed at the beginning of the summer. Their first date had to be rescheduled because someone stole half of the fireworks they had prepared or something.

We were out, walking around town. I was clad in a yellow sun dress and a white cardigan sweater, sandals adorning my feet. Again, I was three months pregnant and the dress didn't hide the little baby bump that I had accumulated at all. As we were spending the day in town together we ran into some of our school mates. Tatsuki, Orihime, Ishida, Chad, Keigo, and Mizuru were all together at a coffee shop that Ichigo, Rukia, and I decided to stop at. They immediately approached us and asked us what we were up to.

"Hey Mina," Keigo started, grinning at me in an all too familiar way. He soon noticed my stomach and rudely asked, "How'd you gain so much weight?"

I was going to slap him in the face, really I was, but Ichigo stepped in. "Leave her the hell alone, Keigo! That's none of your business!" he exclaimed, his eyebrows knit further together as he held onto his friends shirt collar tightly, standing in front of him in an intimidating manor.

"Sorry!" he whined, backing down right away.

I ignored him and went to the counter, asking for a plan coffee, decaf. Keigo overheard and cocked his eyebrow as he watched me curiously. I glanced over at him and glared. "Can I help you?" I questioned with a sharp tone.

"What's going on? Decaf? And you've gotten huge. It looks like you're-...," he stopped, his eyes widening. He quickly turned away from me and headed toward Mizuru, leaning closer to him and whispering in his ear. Right in front of me.

I stepped away from the counter and stood in front of the group, hands on my hips, glaring at Keigo. "How dare you gossip about me when I'm right in front of you!" I exclaimed, gaining everyone's attention. "Don't you dare start spreading crap about me, you idiot! If you have a guess, I suggest you ask me before you go running your mouth like you know everything!"

"You're pregnant?" he shouted out, knowing that's not what I meant.

Sighing, I nodded, but before I could say anything he said, "And it's Ichigo's?"

"What!" Ichigo asked, glaring at the short male. "Hell no!"

"Then why are you being so protective over her?" Keigo asked.

"Because you're being an ass to her! Just shut the fuck up, I'm not it's father!" he responded, his face slightly tinting pink. By then Rukia had taken a step closer to him and grabbed his hand, a glare on her face.

"Then who's is it?" he demanded while the other stared at me with him. I noticed Tatsuki and Orihime giving me looks of pity, making me feel even more uncomfortable.

"I haven't even told him, why would I tell you?" I responded curtly.

After a few moments of silence Orihime asked, "Well, how far along are you?", stepping closer to her boyfriend, Ishida.

"About three months," I answered, not returning her concerned stare.

"A small decaf!" the boy at the cash register said, looking at me. I payed for my coffee and grabbed the cup, giving Ichigo a look that told him I wanted to leave.

"We gotta go," he said immediately, waving at the group slightly with his free hand, Rukia still clutching the other angrily. He looked stern and angry, more so than usual. "See you guys later."

"Wait," Tatsuki called, stopping us. "Are you guys seeing the fireworks tonight?"

"Yeah."

"Call me, we can meet up together," she said with a pleasant smile.

We didn't end up going after all. I insisted Ichigo and Rukia go ahead, but they continued to wonder through the town with me, keeping me company.

Sighing, I couldn't get over how embarrassed I had felt with everyone looking at me like I was...horrible. Their stares were full of pity, but if felt like they all looked down on me. Which makes sense, I got that look from a lot of people since my stomach started to become more noticeable.

I laid down on my bed, pushing my hair out of my face. Since I got pregnant my hair had been growing even longer and at a faster rate, I had to cut it every other week to keep it at a tolerable length. After minutes I was uncomfortable and decided to sit back up. As I did so I heard something move in the living room area. My room was right at the end of the hallway and I had the door closed. I soon realized that it was footsteps and assumed it was my mom getting a glass of water or something.

Ignoring the sound, I rested against the wall and folded my hands in my lap, staring at the TV but not really hearing it. Suddenly my bedroom door flung open and as I looked up my eyes widened. Renji was standing in the doorway in his gigai, clad in a pair of ripped up jeans and a long sleeved shirt. As he first opened the door he had a wide grin on his face but it soon fell. Shock took over his expression as he stared at me, unmoving from the doorway, his hand wrapped tightly around the door knob.

After a moment of us just staring wide-eyed at each other, I said, "R-Renji...I thought you weren't coming home for another month or so..."

He slowly shook his head, having an answer but too shocked to say it. I allowed it to sink in, frowning up at him as he just stared back, looking horrified.

"You...," he started, trailing off. "Did you...just...get fat?" he questioned, knowing the answer to his hopeful question.

Shaking my head, my frown deepened. "No Renji. I'm...I'm pregnant," I answered, tears building up in my eyes. Get ready to say goodbye, I thought, preparing myself for him to run out on me.

But he didn't. He quickly crossed the room and stood in front of me, his hands gripped into tight fists nervously. "H-how far?" he asked quietly, his expression panicked.

Holding up three clammy fingers I muttered, "Three months."

"What are you going to do?" he questioned, sitting on the edge of the bed. His question upset me but angered me more. I stood and headed toward the kitchen quietly, expecting him to follow. He did.

"Mina! Answer me," he said, louder than he should have been.

"Sh, Renji," I said, opening the fridge door and peering in. After spotting a few bottles of water in the door compartment, I grabbed one and looked back at him. "I'm keeping it," I answered, taking a drink, recapping the bottle, and sitting it on the counter. My hands found their way to my hips as I slightly arched my back, standing in a very pregnant stance.

I noticed him glancing down at my stomach; none of the shock had left his face. "Why didn't you tell me? We've been talking almost everyday, why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" he demanded, his voice level rising.

"Renji, be quiet," I said.

"No! How long have you known, Mina?"

"Renji!" I exclaimed, grabbing his arms tightly. "Sh. Please. Just listen to me, okay? Please. The last thing I need right now is for you to be screaming at me. Just calm down, please." As I finished more tears flooded my eyes and Renji calmed down. I pulled a hand away and wiped away the fresh tears with the back of my hand. He grabbed my hand carefully and I noticed how sweaty his hands were.

I led him to the couch and sat down, pulling him next to me. "I've known for about a month and a half. And I didn't tell you because I thought you wouldn't come back. Or call me. I thought you'd leave," I said honestly, causing him to give me a guilty look. "I'm sorry, Renji. But I was too nervous to tell you."

Sighing, he rested his elbows against his knees and laid his head in his hands. He was silent for a few more moments before saying, "You should have told me. I would have been here right away."

"I'm sorry," I repeated.

He was silent for a few more minutes before sitting his head up and looking at me again. He looked terrified, it was the first time I had seen him look that way.

"I've learned a lot about the baby," I said, unable to stop a small smile from gracing my lips.

Noticing my gesture, he smiled slightly also, still looking freaked out of course. "Like?"

"Well, it's healthy so far. Everything's alright, there aren't any problems," I started, getting a nod from him. "They let me hear the heart beats, but it was a little hard to hear. They said it'll be easier as it develops more."

"And you're...going to be alright?" he asked.

I nodded and felt my smile grow. "They said I should be alright. They told me not to worry."

He nodded also and glanced over at the clock. "Mina it's almost four in the morning. Why are you still awake?"

"I had a bad day, I couldn't sleep," I answered, shrugging it off.

"What happened?"

"I just...ran into people from school and they obviously figured it out," I answered.

Renji stood and helped me up carefully. "Well, you should sleep. You look exhausted," he stated absently, leading me back to my room. I laid down and let Renji turn off the TV and the light. He sat on the bed next to me and I curled up closer to him.

"Aren't you going to sleep?" I asked.

"I'm not tired," he answered. Usually I would have objected to this, but didn't want to stress him out any further.

I assumed I would have trouble sleeping even though Renji was here. I was sure I would panic over the thought of him leaving while I slept. But I didn't. I scooted closer to him, grabbed his moist hand, and closed my eyes, sleep taking over me.

-:-

Okay, there's chapter two! :D

I know it seems like things are being rushed, but don't worry. They're going to slow down now! :)

Hope you all enjoyed, please review!