IT'S THE LAST CHAPTER T^T Finally, I make up for the horrible fate of the egg earlier. Just like I promised, I hope it'll be a happy enough ending for everyone!

Grimmjow: I'm happy! =3

Ichigo: Me, too! =D

Vaerin: And that's all that matters! =)

Part 22- End

It's been a year and everything has settled nicely, the Visoreds and Shinigami writing up a treaty with the Espada. Grimmjow actually does fairly well leading his clan, though that's mainly because Ichigo keeps him on track. Right now, he's just lounging around the Kuchiki manor with his mate snuggled close to his side. They're here for an announcement, a family thing that Grimmjow was forced to come to 'if he loved his mate'.

"You know what this is all about?" Grimmjow wonders.

"Yep! I helped!"

"What is it?"

"Just wait, they're coming now."

With a huff, Grimmjow turns his gaze to Rukia and Renji. They're just arriving, the bearers of the announcement, and Grimmjow can feel relief at the fact this is all almost done and he can get home. Ichigo's been twice as 'affectionate' lately for some reason, yet Grimmjow's never been the type of mate to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"Okay, for the announcement," Rukia beams. "I want to thank Ichigo, because he's the one that made this possible! Renji and I… we're going to have our first egg!"

"… What?"

"We really wanted to have a hatchling, so I asked Ichigo to use his ability to make this egg perfect like his," she explains.

"Thanks, Ichigo," Renji grins widely. "You're the best friend a guy could ask for."

"I wanted to tell you guys something, too!" Ichigo says. "Grimm and I… well… you know we lost our first egg…"

"Ichi…"

"No, it's okay… I… I'm better. I have been for a while," he grins. "I just… I wanted to tell you that… I'm a few days away from our second egg."

"… You wanna run that by me again?" Grimmjow murmurs in shock.

"I… I've been carrying our second egg, but I didn't realize it until Rukia mentioned something the other day," he blushes. "Nell said my body creates a void to keep it in so I don't show any serious signs, so it's really hard to tell. But… I got checked over by Unohana and she told me that I'm going to be laying my second egg in a few days time."

Grimmjow goes pale, everyone watching him cautiously as he promptly passes out. Ichigo blushes as he tries to fan his mate awake again, the only thing keeping him from panicking being Renji's laughter.

"I thought he'd take that way better than I did," the redhead snorts.

A few days later, Ichigo repeats the process of laying his egg. Rukia refused to let anyone within the room while she helped Ichigo through it for the second time, so everyone was locked out and forced to listen to the two bicker loudly. Grimmjow wanted to break down the door and strangle the small female shouting at his precious mate. Finally, they were allowed in and Grimmjow almost ran Rukia over to reach Ichigo. The orangette is sleeping peacefully in his bed, curled around an onyx egg this time with a dusting of white speckles on one side as a soft teal glow pulses from the shell.

"That's… it's beautiful," Grimmjow murmurs as he runs a hand over the smooth egg. "We made this?"

"Yep, that's your baby," Kisuke grins. "My grandbaby! Yorouchi! We're gonna be grandparents!"

"Shut up, you stupid fool!" she screams. "I'm not old."

"We're not old, Ichi's just having a baby young," he huffs. "We'll be the cool hip grandparents."

"… Okay!"

It's a few weeks after that that Grimmjow and Ichigo are sleeping, their egg nestled between them as their bodies heat it further. Ichigo is startled when something moves beside him, glancing blearily at Grimmjow and then at his egg. It shakes, Ichigo gasping as he gropes blindly to wake his mate.

"Mm… What the hell…"

"Grimm, wake up."

"Go to sleep, ichi," he mumbles in his sleep.

"Wake up, dumb ass!" the orangette snaps as he hits Grimmjow in the face with his pillow.

"Gah! Ichi, I'm sleeping!"

"The egg is moving!"

"Huh?"

The egg shakes again, garnering Grimmjow's attention as he moves to sit up. Ichigo is up and trying hard not to give into the urge to bounce in place when the first crack appears along the shell. A portion of the shell breaks away, a glowing blue eye peeking out before a tiny little hand reaches for Ichigo. Finally a wing breaks out the back and flap around until the egg tips and falls away completely. Lying on the beg with pieces of shell around them, is a tiny little boy. He has a shock of blue hair a shade lighter than his dad's and icy blue eyes, much lighter than Grimmjow's. Ichigo hesitates to lift him in his arms, the baby boy's reptilian tail winding loosely around his wrist.

"Grimm… look," Ichigo gasps. "He's so cute."

"He… looks just like me."

The baby giggles, reaching out a hand to grip Grimmjow's finger tightly. The teal haired feline smirks, running that finger down the baby's stomach carefully. Ichigo looks so happy, his amber eyes alight with it as he gazes upon his little hatchling. For a moment, Grimmjow is almost bitter he didn't get to see this sooner.

"Grimmjow, what are we going to name him?"

"I don't know, Ichi… You pick."

"No, he's our first son," Ichigo frowns. "You should pick, Grimm. You're the dad, after all."

"… Let's call him… Ryo," Grimmjow grins widely. "Ryo Jaegerjaques."

Little Ryo gnaws on Grimmjow's finger, one wing twitching behind him as his tail tightens around Ichigo's wrist. Grimmjow leans over and kisses his mate, Ichigo purring in joy as he holds the baby close to his chest. It's still very early in the morning, but Ryo needs food and Ichigo isn't even considering breast feeding in the least. He gets up and starts for the door, soon joined by his mate as Grimmjow's arms wrap around his waist and his chin settles atop the orangette's head.

"I'm so happy," Ichigo sighs, "but… I think he's going to have your personality."

"… I'll keep Nelliel on speed dial," Grimmjow mutters.

Ichigo laughs, already having heard of the horrid tales of raising his violence prone mate. Though he laughs, on the inside he's crying a river. Grimmjow was definitely no picnic from Nelliel's recollections, but he's certain they'll make it… somehow. At least they can try for a more reasonable child in the future!

LOL! And that's the end! Hope you enjoyed the fic, I know I enjoyed writing it!