To There Was A Silence (awesome username, btw :D), thanks for the idea but I just couldn't see that happening after the war when there aren't any threats around at all, but thanks anyway :)

Enjoy the story and thanks to all who are reading (makes me want to continue writing it knowing there's people who're readin this shit :| ) oh, and although I don't need any more story ideas for this, I would still welcome suggestions for the title, cuz it really doesn't fit :\

When Kanda woke to go train in the morning, he woke up with his arm around the little boy. He looked at the peaceful little face awhile.

The bandanna which Kanda had tied over the ruined eye had come loose. He lifted a hand and gently traced the scar. It was such a hideous thing. He never really told me what happened in his life before the Order, he thought. Was that because he wasn't allowed to tell of his past records? You should have kept following that life, you idiot. It's my fault you're upset…he gritted his teeth and, being careful not to jostle too much, he got out of bed and went to get ready for practice.

He wasn't an Exorcist anymore but training was still important. He had to stay in shape. But his thoughts just resumed from where they'd left off before.

When he came back, Lavi was still sleeping. He gathered up his shower things and went to clean up.

Thoughts of Lavi kept intruding. Stupid bean sprout, he thought. Thanks for reminding me of this. But it wasn't like Allen had been the one to put these thoughts in his head; they'd been there ever since that time.

If he'd been a little firmer about Lavi following his life as Bookman, would the former apprentice be out there following in the old man's footsteps now? If Kanda had said 'no' that time, would Lavi not be here? It was so stupid! He hated doubting himself like this.

As he was approaching his room, he heard loud wails. He groaned and hurried to the door. He was thankful Lavi couldn't reach the door handle; otherwise he'd have left the room and wandered all over the building.

"Lavi?" Kanda asked, dropping his things by the door and kneeling down to gaze at the boy eye-to-eye.

"Papa!" Lavi stood up and flung himself at Kanda, wrapping his little arms around Kanda's neck.

Kanda sighed and patted the boy's head. "What's up?"

"Lavi woke…papa was gone…" Lavi mumbled through sobs.

"Tch. I just went to take a shower." The dark-haired man picked the child up and went over to the bed. "It's still early. Why're you up?"

Lavi burrowed his head into Kanda's chest, his little hands clutching fistfuls of damp, black hair. "Bad dreams…" he mumbled.

"Huh? What bad dreams?" Kanda asked, frowning.

"Lavi was all alone."

All…alone? Kanda thought uneasily. He wondered if little Lavi was influenced by big Lavi's thought process at all. If he was then…

"You're not alone." Kanda murmured as he put a hand on the back of the boy's head and held him there in an awkward sort of hug.

"Is…is papa with me?" the boy muttered.

"Yeah, I'm with you." Kanda replied. Because it's my fault that you feel this way. He didn't say that bit out loud though.

"Thank you…"

Kanda pulled back to look down at the boy. Just now…he sounded…a little like his usual self… But nothing had changed. Lavi was still a little baby.

"Papa?" Lavi frowned, meeting his searching gaze with puzzlement.

"It's nothing. Come on, let's go clean you up. They'll be serving breakfast soon." He stood up and put the boy down and led him out of the room.

Breakfast was a quiet affair because none of the others had woken yet. Jerry stalled them to "talk" with Lavi, which mostly just consisted of cooing and awing over "this little bundle of cuteness".

"Isn't he just adorable?! What do you think, Kanda?"

Kanda raised an eyebrow. "What do I think about what?"

"His cuteness, of course!" Jerry replied enthusiastically.

"Er…" Kanda looked at the boy in his arms. Lavi was looking up with undeniable hope. Kanda shrugged. Lavi was kind of cute. "I suppose he is."

"You suppose?!" Jerry exclaimed, as if he were offended at such a vague response. "What do you mean you suppose?"

But that was enough for baby Lavi as he smiled and laid his head on Kanda's shoulder. "Doesn't matter. Can I get food for this kid and myself?" Kanda asked, sounding bored. Idle chatter was a waste of time…not that he actually had anything to be getting on with though.

After breakfast, Lavi wanted to go to the library. "The library? What're you gonna do at the library?" Kanda demanded.

"Read." Lavi answered simply.

So, not knowing how else to spend the time, Kanda decided to indulge the kid a little and went to the library. Since his friendship with Lavi had strengthened, he'd been going to the library a lot more often than he'd previously done.

Lavi usually liked to spend his time in the library, where he got on with 'work'. It wasn't really work, since he wasn't a Bookman anymore. But he liked to write logs anyway. Kanda had asked once why Lavi wrote them when he had no need to do so. Lavi had replied that it was something to keep his record-keeping skills intact. Kanda had left it at that.

"There's no kids' section, you know." he told the little boy.

"Read with papa?" Lavi requested.

Kanda shrugged. "All right, guess it couldn't hurt."

Lavi took a long time to pick out a book. Kanda was getting impatient. "Just pick one already! Damn!"

The child was getting used to Kanda's frequent violent outbursts. He didn't start crying every time he got yelled at by the dark-haired man. Though he was still upset. "O-okay…" he mumbled and picked up the nearest book and held it out for Kanda to see. Kanda rolled his eyes and took the tome.

"'Questions and Answers about the Natural World'?" He cocked an eyebrow at the title. "You sure you want to read this?"

Lavi nodded, looking down at the floor.

"Ok." Kanda walked over to a table and set the boy down in one chair and went to drag another one over for himself. Lavi was looking down at the book. It was almost as big as he was, because he was tiny. Kanda found it amusing. "You want me to read?"

"Lavi read." Lavi mumbled as he struggled to open the book. Kanda took it from him and set it out on the table and opened it up to the first page.

"There. You can't possibly read that." He scoffed, looking down at the small letters. But there were several pictures on the page.

"Lavi read a little."

"If you say so."

Lavi's head barely cleared the top of the table so he had to stand up and look down at the book to read. Kanda was surprised when he started reading; for a three-year-old, it was pretty darn good. Kanda wasn't sure what age children started to read fluently but he was sure Lavi's reading ability was far, far above average.

"'Why do…m-most…fish…have slime?"

"Slim."

"Slim tap-tapring…?"

"Tapering."

"Tapering…bodies?"

"Yeah."

"'Why do most fish have slim tapering bodies?'" he looked up, happy that he'd got it all. Kanda patted his head. He turned back to the book, "most cre…crea…?" he trailed off.

"Creatures." Kanda supplied.

"Creatures that spen…spend the…their wole?"

"Whole."

"L-lives…"

"Lives; plural of life. Not to live."

"Oh. Ok. Most creatures that spend their whole lives in water?"

"Yeah."

Lavi repeated sentences that he'd already covered without any problem. Kanda wondered if that was the photographic memory or something. "Most creatures that spend their whole lives in water have a…uh…sleek?"

"Uh-huh."

"Um…what's this word? It's long. Stre…"

"Streamlined."

"Streamlined shape…"

It got boring after a while. Lavi lost his enthusiasm and Kanda was prepared to go to sleep. Well, they got through a page, at least. And Kanda never wanted to read anything more about fish…or look at any tiny words on paper; he wasn't an English teacher, goddammit! And, also, as a three year old, Lavi's linguistic capabilities were almost eerie!

They were walking out of the library when Kanda decided to stop by the room that Lavi stayed in. Come to think of it, he must have more eye patches, right? He thought, looking at the bandanna covering the redhead's ruined eye.

He opened the door and stepped through. "Don't touch anything, okay?" he said to the boy. He'd come in here loads of times and when he'd made a disgusted face at the mess of papers lying around on the floor, Lavi had warned him not to move anything around. Even though it was a mess, it was an orderly mess; Lavi knew where everything was.

"Ok." Lavi clutched Kanda's pant leg and stuck by closely as they went further into the room. Kanda went over to the closet and pulled it opened. He saw shirts and trousers hung up, along with Exorcist uniforms that had not been worn for a good few months now, since the war had ended. There were also loads of bandannas and undergarments in the drawers at the bottom but no eye patches.

But he saw something which made him scoff. Taped to the inside of the closet doors were four photographs, two to each side. Those had been taken not long after the war ended, when everyone's injuries had started to heal and the Exorcists had 'officially' served their purpose.

One photograph was of Lavi, Allen, Lenalee, Krory, Miranda, Marie, Timothy, and Kanda altogether. The one beneath that one was of Allen, Lenalee, Lavi, and Kanda. The other two were of just Lavi and Kanda. Kanda looked annoyed in all of them, because back then, Lavi had forced him to get his picture taken. It was amusing looking back on it now though.

Geez, Lavi, you've started to become a sentimental old fart, Kanda thought. Ah well, at least he didn't keep them at his bedside. That would be the worst; Kanda would have gone berserk at having his picture displayed. He contemplated taking down the ones of just him and Lavi but decided against it; it wasn't like they were doing anyone any harm inside the closet.

"Papa," he felt a pull at his leg and looked down.

"Hmm?"

Lavi looked up at him pleadingly. "Wee-wee."

Kanda sighed and closed the closet. "Can't you go yourself? You know where the toilets are, right?"

"But papa has to come too!"

"Why do I have to?"

"Because!"

"That's the most idiotic reason I've ever heard." But he went with the boy anyway (mostly because he didn't want to go back to his room just to get the kid another pair of pants in case he had an "accident").

He wondered what he should do for the rest of the day. Normally, Lavi's presence always provided a distraction from boredom but it wasn't like Kanda could beat up his friend's smaller self just for the hell of it. If Lavi was feeling particularly adventurous, he'd sometimes force Kanda to get his coat and they'd go explore town for a while. Lavi was really the only one who kept Kanda from hibernating in his room all day.

But now he couldn't even do that because he had to babysit this brat! He looked down at the little boy clinging onto the material of his pants with a sour look. He's an idiot! He just had to be reckless, didn't he? He's going to pay for this when the two weeks are up! The dark-haired man thought.

Lunch came and went. Allen and Lenalee were missing so Komui asked (threatened) everyone to look for them, because he was convinced Allen was up to no-good with the cute and innocent Lenalee. He couldn't make Kanda join in though, so the former Exorcist watched on while everyone turned the entire building upside down, too scared to take it easy what with the mean-looking drill in Komui's hands as the Supervisor patrolled the corridors.

Miranda was around so Kanda all but ordered her to hang around with Lavi, just so he could make the little boy let go of his leg. Miranda did not seem at all at ease.

Around teatime, Krory, Allen, and Lenalee just walked calmly through the front entrance, laughing and joking, their arms laden with shopping bags. Komui, in hysterics by now, rushed up to them and demanded where on earth the devilish white-haired boy had taken his precious sister to.

"Um…brother, please…" Lenalee began.

"NO! WHO KNOWS WHAT HE COULD HAVE BEEN DOING WITH YOU?!" Komui said with streams of tears running down his cheeks.

Allen looked at a loss. "Er…I'm sorry…?"

"YOU THINK KIDNAPPING MY SISTER IS OKAY IF YOU COME BACK AND SAY YOU'RE SORRY, YOU EVIL LITTLE BRAT?!"

"Huh?! What're you talking about?! I didn't kidnap her!"

"Yeah, we just went shopping." Krory added helpfully.

"BE QUIET! Lenalee…!" Komui started fussing over his little sister, until she got annoyed to the point where she landed a chop on his head, thus sending him to the floor unconscious.

"Well, how about we go get some tea?" she suggested with a smile as she brushed her hands off.

S-scary, Allen thought as a shudder ran down his spine. "Sure!"

In the cafeteria, they found an anxious Miranda trying to entertain a gleeful Lavi. Kanda was, as usual, his indifferent self as he watched over his little charge while drinking tea.

The three newcomers came to sit at the table. Lavi's happy grin faded as Allen greeted them all and he scooted right into Kanda's side.

"I feel sudden hostility…" Allen mumbled.

"It's an automatic reaction to your annoying presence." Kanda informed matter-of-factly.

"I wasn't talking about you." the white-haired boy huffed, looking at Lavi.

Lavi stared back with a glare, clutching the sleeve of Kanda's shirt with tiny hands. Allen, in turn, glared at Kanda. Kanda leant his head against one propped up fist and appeared to be paying no attention to his surroundings.

"So, what have you guys been doing all day?" Lenalee asked.

"Aunty and Papa and Lavi played!" Lavi answered happily.

"Oh, it's a happy family, I see," Allen said, his tone sarcastic. "How surprising! Kanda can actually act like a human!" Kanda kicked the boy's shin under the table. "Ow! What's your problem, Kanda?!"

Kanda glared at him. "Care to repeat what you just said?"

"Huh! Who'd want to waste their breath of you?! Stupid Kanda!"

Kanda was about to retort but Lenalee beat him to it. "Allen, please try to act civil."

"But he kicked me!"

"And who started it?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Allen grudgingly conceded defeat and took to glaring silently at Kanda instead. Lenalee smiled sweetly.

Kanda paid him no mind as he felt a tug on his sleeve. "What?"

"Lavi want milk." the little boy said.

"You've already had some."

"Lavi want more!"

"Geez, you're being spoilt today." Kanda grumbled as he took Lavi's empty glass and went to get some milk. Lavi followed, of course, clutching Kanda's pant leg as he did so.

"He's oddly tolerant." Miranda mumbled as the four at the table watched them go.

"That's only because it's Lavi." Krory informed.

"I wonder what it'd have been like if it had been Allen instead." Lenalee mused.

Allen shuddered as images of violence and bloodshed filled his mind. Yes, Lavi was the only exception to the aloof and cold front that Kanda put up before everybody.

Sometimes, though, this wasn't clear.

Thud.

Something clattered to the floor. A sudden wailing echoed in the great chamber. Everyone in the cafeteria turned to look towards the kitchen hatch.

"You idiot!" Kanda snapped, looking down disapprovingly at the little wailing boy.

The glass of hot milk had slipped from Lavi's grasp and had spilt down his front and burnt his hands. Thick tears were coming out of his eyes and the sound he was making was horrific and pained.

"Lavi!" Lenalee rushed over and fell to her knees beside the little boy. She tried to take him in her arms but he pulled away from her, still bawling. His red, scalded hands were shaking.

"Kanda! Do something!" Lenalee snapped, looking up at the dark-haired man.

Kanda was at a loss. Lavi was in pain but he didn't know what to do about that! "Wh-what do you expect me to do?!" he sputtered.

"Comfort him, idiot! You're the only one he'll let near him! Take him to the nurse!" When Kanda still didn't move, she yelled, "QUICKLY!"

"OK! I'm going!" He picked up the crying baby as gently as he could and rushed out of the cafeteria. Lavi didn't move to make himself more comfortable, as he usually did when Kanda picked him up, just continued to wail loudly. Kanda hated the cries. Not only because it was noisy and annoying but because it discomfited him to see the child in such a state.

He pulled the little body against his chest and sighed. "It's all right." he murmured. "It's just a little burn. You'll be fine so stop crying like someone just cut your arm off." Lavi's wails increased in pitch. Kanda groaned. So much for trying to calm him down with words…though he could have been a little more subtle…

"I'm sorry." he tried, patting the boy's back awkwardly. "It's okay. Lavi, c'mon, stop crying."

Slowly, very slowly, the loud screams died down to low whimpers and the little boy burrowed his head into Kanda's neck. His tiny hands clenched tightly onto the material of Kanda's damp shirt (made so by Lavi's tears and the milk spilt down the little boy's front) and he sniffled.

Kanda breathed a sigh of relief as he pushed open the door to the medical wing and sought out the nurse.

In the end, after Lavi (grudgingly) let the Head Nurse take a look at his hands and change his wet clothes (and also provide him with a real eye patch), Kanda was the one who got scolded for handing a glass of hot, hot milk to a little child. "Children have flimsy grasps!" she cried. "What were you thinking?! Didn't it occur to you that he might drop it?! You should be more careful around children!"

He appeared not to be interested as he folded his arms across his chest and started at the far wall of the room as if he saw something interesting there. But he really did feel ashamed. A little baby…no, this particular little baby was hurting because of him.

She gave up after a few minutes of rambling and gave him some instructions for taking care of the little boy. The bandages were to stay on for a few days, until he stopped trying to scratch his hands so much, and this special ointment should be applied nightly, etc.

As they were walking out, Lavi called out. "Papa?"

"Hmm?"

"Pick up?"

Kanda didn't refuse as he hoisted the boy up in his arms and walked back to the hall. He figured the others would want to know whether Lavi was all right or not. Otherwise they'd all come knocking at his door later and he could do without that annoyance.

"Lavi!" Lenalee and Miranda called out as they entered the cafeteria. But Lavi didn't feel like talking and turned his face into Kanda's shoulder.

"He's fine." Kanda said blankly.

The women both breathed sighs of relief. "I'm so glad. He didn't get burned too badly, did he?"

Kanda shook his head curtly. Allen snorted and, now that the worry was out of the way, he returned to his usual self. "Nice going, stupid Kanda. Giving kids glassfuls of hot liquids isn't exactly smart."

And, for once, Kanda didn't retort back angrily. Instead, he just turned around and strode out of the hall. Allen balked as he watched the dark-haired man go. "Eh…? He didn't…" he turned to Lenalee and the others, pointing at the door where Kanda had just left from and then at himself, gaping openly. "…Was it something I said?"

Lenalee just rolled her eyes.

Um...about the reading thing; there is absolutely NO WAY a three year old can read like that!!!!!!!!! But...this is Lavi the super-baby we're talking about so please let it slide :( (I hate not being accurate, y'see) actually, that bit was just supposed to show that he's not like normal three year olds :)