Sorry I didn't upload a chapter yesterday...even after I said I was back to updating everyday. I had some work I was doing and it took me a lot of time and other stuff happened...Anyway, I'm really sorry! Here's the next chapter! Thank you anon reviewer and mika siam 71192 giving me ideas for this chapter and the next chapter. You guys are super. (Gives a big star patch) XD It's going to be more cheerful in the next few chapters, but the problems aren't done. I think they have one more final problem to go through before I continue this story with final, happy chapters. So, if you want to read something really badly and you have the idea send me PM and I'll make the idea fit and I'll give you credit and a star patch! (a virtual one, but hey, you know how the internet goes XD) Thank you everyone!

A couple weeks went by and Shiro and my relationship has gotten a little better since that one day that I left him and his brother over at Shinra's. Celty must have said something to him to persuade him, but she won't tell what it was. Shinra said he wasn't there when the two had their little talk so he's of no help. Well, whatever she told him really worked. He's been a bit more open to me about things. When I get home from work, I have Kuro attacking my leg and Shiro steps a little closer than he used to and allows me to get closer to him and pat his head. He won't show as much affection as Kuro, but he's getting there.

It's been a long while since Izaya has gotten time off and he finally got to pencil in sometime today for our kids. I have to go to work today so I'm leaving them with him. He's a competent mother despite him working a lot. He's taking them out walking into Ikebukuro to run a few errands, so I'm hoping things won't get too hectic.

"Well, good luck with the two rascals." I say as I allow Izaya to finish fixing my tie. He pats my shoulder before kissing my cheek.

"Thanks, I'm gonna really need it." Izaya says as he kneels down to fix Kuro's overalls that he keeps unbuckling. Shiro is wearing the same overalls like his brother. They look like twins but they're a year and seven months apart. Izaya just likes to make them look cute. "Aren't they adorable?"

"You really get carried away with the whole dressing them up thing…They're not Barbie dolls, you know that right?" I ask him as I kneel down and hold out my arms so that they can both hug me. Kuro does so right away and Shiro waits a few seconds before doing the same as his brother. He's still a bit hesitant with giving me affection, but as I've said before it's an improvement. "Don't let your mother ever put you in costumes." I whisper into their ears. I'm sure Izaya would try it too. He's a bit more soft and emotional so he's stranger than he ever was, but these are just short, small moments. All the other times, he's the same psycho I had the balls (and lacked the brain) to marry.

"Okay Daddy." Kuro agrees as he blushes, trying to look as cute as possible. I sigh and laugh a little. I know what he wants and I'm sure I'll tell him that I'll get it for him when he asks for it.

"What it is Kuro?" I ask him with a smile.

"Uncle Tom said that he was gonna get me something really nice for my birthday. What is it!" He asks happily. If you haven't noticed by now, everyone our kids know are either addressed as "uncle" or "aunt." And Kuro's birthday is coming up. It's September 2nd, so it's about a month and a half away. Izaya's and my anniversary is about a week away. I've got a lot of stuff to plan. What's today? June 16th, I think. I still have plenty of time. I've got all the preparations for our anniversary, which will make things a lot easier for me. Izaya believes me to be quite disorganized, which I usually am, but for stuff that's really important to me, I don't mess around.

"I'm not sure. You'll just have to wait and find out." I say with a smile. He pouts and sighs loudly. "Well, I better get to work. I'll see you guys around dinner time." I say before heading out. I hope Izaya will be alright with the kids and sure hope he doesn't spoil them like he usually does.

Izaya's POV

Truly this is a wonderful day to take my kids out. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, something else or rather. Anyway, the point is I'm pretty happy that today I'll be spending time with my children. I know this town is a bit dangerous sometimes, but I know how to defend my children if necessary. Shizu-chan knows full well that I have my switchblade on me at all times.

"Now then, since we're going out, I want you two to wear some sunscreen and a hat." I say to them as I take the container of sunscreen and begin to squeeze it. When it doesn't come out I start to shake it, thus causing it to spill on the floor. "Hmm…we'll have your father clean that up later." I say as I wipe most of it off. "That way he can vacuum the whole house while he's at it."

"But I thought Dad hated vacuuming…" Shiro reminds me shyly.

"He does. That's why I love giving him that job." I say happily. I start putting the sunscreen on my sons' faces, arms, and legs and then put their hats on. I know I'm being quite not like myself, but I'm a mother now, so I'm officially a changed man. But that doesn't mean I don't act like my old self. "Let's go, kids." I say as I open the door for them. Kuro is the one who runs out the door, while Shiro just walks out like an obedient little boy. Kuro is a rambunctious little guy, but I love that about him. Even if he trashed my office, it was a bit fun making my secretary Namie to clean it all up; which reminds me that our first stop is going to by my office.

I allow my kids to have the liberty to walk around town beside me, but keeping them fairly close to me so they don't get kidnapped. What? It could happen right before my eyes.

"Mommy…you're not mad about me making a mess in your office?"

"Nonsense, my secretary was glad she had something to do." I lie happily. Of course she hated to clean up after my son, but I don't really care. "Anyway, we're gonna go see her right now."

"Maybe I should say I'm sorry?" Kuro asks shyly.

"No need. She loves cleaning. It was like a big game to her." It was a big game for me to watch her having a miserable time.

"Okay." Kuro says as he drops the subject.

"Is that Uncle Mikado over there?" Shiro asks as he points. I look over to where my son is pointing and notice that it is Mikado standing near the entrance of Russian Sushi with his two friends. "Can we go say hello before we go to your office, Mom?" Shiro has always had a sort of an affinity for talking to his "aunts" and "uncles." Kuro also has this same affinity, but to a deeper intensity as Shiro.

"Go on, we have time." I say as I let my two boys hurry on to talk with their "uncles" and "aunt." I catch up to them at a slower pace as I'm checking my messages on my phone. There are a of couple messages here from Shizu-chan telling me to have a good day and that he loves me, which makes me happy.

"Mikado! Nice to see you." I say as I approach him and his friends. Kuro and Shiro are clinging onto Mikado's legs persistently. Mikado already knows my children pretty well. He knows not to underestimate Kuro and he also knows not make Shiro upset.

"Ah, Izaya-kun…I didn't know you were walking around town like this. It's a nice surprise." Mikado says a bit shyly. "Kuro and Shiro sure are lively."

"Only when it comes to seeing people they like." I say simply.

"How's Shizuo doing?" Anri asks me nicely.

"Ah, just fine, but he's gonna be pretty upset tomorrow when you see him." I say with a laugh.

"And why is that? Are you making him angry like old times?" Kida asks.

"Yeah I guess so." I admit plainly. "Just giving you guys a heads up, that's all."

"My birthday is coming up soon." Kuro says happily. "Daddy said that Tom's gift is gonna be a surprise."

"Ah, right, what are you really looking forward to for your birthday, Kuro-kun?" Mikado asks as he kneels down to Kuro's level.

"I want binoculars just like Mommy has. He uses them to spy on people." He says cutely. I immediately take him away from the group, straddling him in my arms and patting his head while laughing to try and hide what my son just said.

"Children, always making up stories." I say with a nervous laugh. "Anyway, we were just heading off to go see Namie. So, we'll be off. Say goodbye to everyone kids." I say as I take my children's hands and head off in the direction of my work place. Mikado and his two friends must be confused, but I won't worry about that. But, it's true what my son had revealed to those three, I do still partake in my old habits. Humans are wonderfully interesting, so why not watch them? Shizu-chan thinks it's creepy. He always thought it was creepy and yet he married me. Love seems to have no boundaries I suppose and Shizu-chan has good taste. I mean, I am the most desirable creature ever. Shizu-chan would disagree if I ever said that in a conversation with him, but he only does that because that's his way of flirting. What a tease.

"Mommy, how come we couldn't stay and talk with Uncle Mikado and the rest?" Kuro asks as he presses the number twelve button once we all get into the elevator. Thankfully, he's being a good boy so far. He didn't press all the buttons like last time.

"Ah, those three are super busy." I state simply as I wave my hand, motioning that it's nothing special to worry over or to think about.

"But they looked like they were just standing there…" Kuro points out smartly.

"Standing is still something they're doing, so they were busy, son." I say with a laugh. Once we get out of the elevator, Namie greets us with a scowl and particularly at my son Kuro.

"You're back…" She sighs disappointedly. "Aren't you supposed to be on your day off?" She asks with an annoyed expression. I nod and tell her that I just came to get something from my office.

"Make sure your son doesn't make a mess of anything in there again. It took me hours just to clean up half of the room." I laugh a little and pat her shoulder.

"Such a complainer." I say with a smile. "Come Kuro, Shiro." I say as I allow them to enter my office. Shiro runs over to my desk and looks at my name plate. He picks it up and reads it aloud.

"Izaya Heiwajima." He says slowly. He then notices the picture frame on my desk and grabs it carefully. He looks at it and notices that it's a family photo taken a while back. He suddenly asks me why we haven't taken a new family photo.

"Well…I guess we haven't had the time." I say as I grab my bag that I left here yesterday. "Let me just give some of these papers to Namie and we'll be off to the stores, okay?" Kuro and Shiro both nod and continue to fiddle with things I have laying around, things that weren't broken by Kuro, that is.

"Namie, you don't have to be so mad at my dear Kuro." I say as I hand her some paperwork.

"I'd say that whole mess only happened because you don't have control over your own children. You're not a very good mother, if you ask me." She spat vehemently. I suddenly look surprised; this expression is not one I usually wear in front of her, let alone anyone else except for Shizu-chan. I start masking my hurt with a nervous laugh. She doesn't seem to believe my laugh's sincerety. "Look, just do me a favor and don't come to work when you're supposed to be on your day off. It makes my day turn into a day off too."

"Ah, you're quite snippy. Is that because I made you clean up all that mess by yourself yesterday?" I ask with a smile. Kuro and Shiro suddenly cling onto my legs and ask if we could get going now. Kuro looks at Namie sadly and then hides his face with my pants.

"Hey, you're wrong lady." Shiro says sternly. "Our mother is great. He may not know what to do when we get out of control, but he loves us with all his heart. That's the most important thing he can do." Shiro says as he clenches his hands. I'm surprised by my son's words, but they were something I really wanted to hear.

Namie just tells me that she has everything covered and tells me to head out. I look at Kuro and notice that his expression is that of hurt; he must have been listening. I pat his head and take my kids into the elevator after saying a quick goodbye to Naime.

"Kuro, you don't have to look so sad." I tell him as he continues to hold onto my leg for dear life. He looks up at me and whimpers a little. "She's just mad because I always give her a lot of work. It's not your fault." I pause for a moment and ruffle Shiro's hair. "Thank you, Shiro." He looks up at me and blushes before nodding. After a moment of a silence he speaks again.

"Dad was right, she's a bitch." I flinch after hearing these words coming from my son's mouth. I tell Shiro not to say things like that (even if they are true) and in my head I remind myself to punish Shizu-chan for letting such words slip in front of our children. Kuro looks at his brother curiously and then tugs at my shirt.

"Mommy, what does that word mean?" Kuro asks curiously. I tell him it isn't important. Shizu-chan, you sure are charming…All sarcasm aside, he's pretty much dead.

After exiting my work place we head off to the stores. I like taking my kids a lot of places. When we were once a family, a more together kind of family, we used to go to a lot of places together on the weekends. I really liked that, but then my work and Shizu-chan's work tied us all up and we haven't been able to be together like that. I suppose that's why our family is split into sections, but this dynamic is changing. I'm hoping by Christmas this year, our family will be better.

As we walk around into stores we come across our few friends around town. We run into Mikado and his group again and have a longer chat with them, then we met up with Hina and I chatted with her a bit while sitting on a bench in the park. Then my kids went and played with Simon; he seems to really enjoy their company just like everyone else does, well except for Namie apparently.

"How about we get something to eat, ne?" I ask my children as I take their hands. Kuro smiles and nods a bit energetically. Shiro nods a little less intensively than his brother. As we walk by, Shiro catches a father and son together; the son sitting on his father's shoulders while laughing and the father holding onto his son tightly. He looks at them for a while and even looks behind once they walk past us. I can decipher the look in his eyes as yearning. How could I ignore this?

I buy my boys something to eat and lead them to the park and we eat there peacefully until Kuro decides to go play. Shiro says to his brother that he'll join him later. I can tell he wants to talk to me about something and I can already know what it is.

"Aunt Celty told you, right?" I ask Shiro as I continue eating my fatty tuna. He looks up at me with surprise but then sighs and nods shyly. "Your father and I never wanted to tell you…so I suppose leaving the burden to her was a relief to us, but it should have been our responsibility…" In that part, I've failed as a mother. "You know…when your father had said such a thing to Shinra and even took on another job to pay for all the expenses, I fell in love with him all over again."

Shiro looks surprised again but then seems to understand and nods. I can sense that he wants to cry, but he wants to look strong in front of me so he holds his emotions in.

"Dad…he's not a monster…is he?" I flinch from surprise and then shake my head.

"If you think that he is, I should say you're wrong, but in a way we're all monsters. If you feel out of place, don't feel that way because everyone isn't perfect." I say as I hold him closer to me. "I don't know what Aunt Celty told you specifically, but your father is an amazing man. He not only paid for you and your illness, but also did anything in his power to keep me alive as well. He'd visit every day after work and stay the night, usually visiting you after he saw me."

"You were sick too?" Shiro asks in concern.

"Yes…there were some complications with me having you. Shinra said that I could have died while having you…but they managed to keep me alive…I was very weak and…and since I wasn't a woman they couldn't really conclude any of the normal reasons for me falling ill."

"A woman?"

"…It's not exactly normal…that you have two fathers, son."

"Two father's…?" He asks curiously. I suddenly realize why he's asking these questions so wholeheartedly.

"Son…um…you didn't think I was a woman did you?" He stares at me and blinks. "You did…ah…I see…"

"I knew you looked different than any other mother I've seen, but I thought it was normal…" Shiro explains naively. I laugh a little and pat his head.

"Anyway…the doctor's finally figured out what I was ill with…apparently I had received a virus while in the hospital and since I was pregnant during the time I first caught the illness, I was quite weak and I could easily get sick. They suspected it was the flu of some kind, but they then figured out it was pneumonia, so I was fairly ill for a few days. In those few days you were also ill with some unknown virus and they said you might not make it…I grew very depressed after knowing this…but…you know who was there to tell me that everything would be alright?"

"…Dad…"

"Yes, your father kept telling me that he was going to do whatever it took to save you. He loved you with all his heart the second you were born and the same went for me. We didn't want to lose you. Your father said to me 'Izaya I'm not giving up…I'm gonna save him no matter the cost…He's gonna be alright. I promise.' At that moment I fell in love with him all over again and I could tell that he saw this." I could remember it so clearly…

Flashback

Shizu-chan is holding my hand, so I'm less scared. The nurse just told me that my child is dying…he's fading away and I can't see him…I'm depressed and angry. No mere words can help me describe what I'm feeling or what I'm going through.

"Shizu-chan, I don't think I can take it if Shiro were to…" I don't dare finish that sentence otherwise that would mean I have given up.

"Don't worry, that's not going to happen. I'll make sure it doesn't." He says determinedly. "Izaya I'm not giving up…I'm gonna save him no matter the cost…He's gonna be alright. I promise."

"You haven't broken a promise since before we got back together, so I trust you…" I say with tears in my eyes. He leans over and kisses my lips passionately, probably trying to drown my depression as well as his in love.

"You know…your father was there every step of the way…He only left me when he was taking care of you in the other hospital, but he'd call me so often that sometimes I thought our phone bill would be higher than the cost of our house." I say with a laugh. "But his voice was so comforting during those few days. He left Celty to take care of me so I wasn't so lonely, but even so…I missed him and I missed you so much…" I pause and then look at the sky. "Then Celty told me about how your father had threatened Shinra and I could tell just how serious he was."

"Dad…Dad did that all for me…?"

"Of course. He loved and still loves you." I say proudly. "After you came back after recovering, I got to finally see you. Your father stood by my bedside as I held you and he told me that he'd never give up on you and he's kept his promise. He loves you and your brother very much and he'd do anything for you boys. I want you to know that." Shiro fidgets in his spot before clinging onto my arm and then collapsing on my lap. I haven't seen Shiro cry like this in a long time. I hold him in my arms and kiss his head, trying very hard to comfort him. I know what he's feeling is most likely regret, regret because he's been so distant and cold to his father without even knowing the truth of what he really is. And what Shizu-chan really is, is one hell of a good husband and father. "I bet your father would really like it if you'd give him a really big hug when he gets home. That's what he's always wanted from you." He nods and wipes his eyes.

"Shiro…" Kuro says as he approaches us. "Why are you crying, big bro?" Shiro hides his face and tries to make Kuro go away.

"I'm not crying…" Shiro says as he waves his hand, trying to shoo his brother. "J-just g-go p-play…" Ah, Shiro's acquired my stuttering. Ah, memories; it sure takes me back. I laugh goodheartedly and hug my two kids.

After lunch I suggest that we go to the barber, but Shiro refuses and says quite sternly that he wants his father to cut his hair because Shizu-chan had promised he would. Truth be told, Shizu-chan cuts hair pretty well, but when I told him he should become a hairstylist he retorted by saying that I looked more like the type to be one. I think he was saying that I look gay. He says the V-neck shirts and the slim figure I have are supposed to be evidence that I would fit the image of a gay hairstylist. That night he slept on the couch.

Shizuo's POV

After a couple more clients, Tom says we'll be done. It makes me happy that I'll be going home. After a day of a bunch of shitheads, it's good to relax and spend some time with my family. Kuro likes to watch TV with me and Shiro enjoys joining in whenever he wants to. Sometimes he's pretty hesitant, but he'll sit close enough for me to feel like he's trying to be affectionate. Ah, I also love seeing Izaya. Never thought I'd say that. I used to dread going to school when I was little because he would always pester me, but nowadays his presence pleases me.

There's something that Izaya told me that's been bothering me though. He said that Shiro might know about his hospital days when he was born. I bet that's what Celty told him. We never told him about that because we thought it was best for him not to know, but now Izaya has told me that it's probably the key to bring us together. I suppose it's true, but I really rather not remember the days when Shiro and Izaya were in the hospital.

I felt so strange…There I was the strongest man of Ikebukuro sitting beside my sick husband and I'm not able to do anything to help him. I then find out that my son is also sick and feel even weaker because the doctor's say they don't know what's wrong with him. I can remember it so clearly, that it makes my chest tight.

Flashback

"We're really sorry…but he doesn't seem like he's going to make it…" I had gotten the news a few minutes before and the words are still repeating in my mind. How could this happen? Shinra was checking Izaya all throughout his pregnancy and yet there are complications now? I don't want to believe it. I can't. Hours before I just got word of Izaya catching pneumonia, so I'm not allowed in his room until he's on antibiotics.

I feel so fucking powerless…I'm supposed to be the strongest man in Ikebukuro and yet the two people I love most in this world are suffering and I can't do anything about it except watch and wait for some miracle to happen?

The doctors say that Izaya will most likely recover, but that my son's future looks bleak. I can't sit here and torture myself over these words. I can't listen to anymore of this. It's making me lose it. I head off down the hall and try to relax, but I just can't, not when my son and husband are sick. I look at the door in front of me and notice that it's the door that Shinra went through with my son, Shiro. I clench my fists and head inside carefully and quietly. I see a few babies in incubators, struggling to keep their breaths. I feel my heartstrings being tugged at as I finally set my eyes on the incubator that my son is in.

"I'm sorry…" I say to him as I watch his chest rise and fall. I put my hand through the glove that allows you to "touch" the child inside and hold onto his hand. He's having trouble breathing and he's hooked up to machines; it scares and worries me. At that moment I felt like there was nothing I could do, that maybe this was just how it was going to go; it's how the world works, but then I felt his hand twitch and then hold onto my finger.

I give his small amount of strength hold onto my finger, as if asking me not to give on him. I start to cry a little as I hold onto his small, delicate hand. I should never give up…not on my son…not on Izaya…I won't give up. I then loosen my grip on my son and head off to tell Izaya how I'm not going to give up on him.

There were only a few days where Shiro was in the hospital where Izaya was, those few days I visited Izaya first and then went to go see Shiro. I had taken up another job as a bartender to make enough money to pay for a specialist doctor to try and save Shiro. Izaya said I was working too hard because every day I would wake up early to work with Tom and then head off in the evening 'til late to work at the bar. I would visit Izaya and Shiro really late, about eleven o'clock.

Then, I approached Shinra once I had caught word that Shiro was in stable condition.

"Don't you dare let my son die! I don't care what it takes; just make sure my son lives through this." I push him and hold him up by his collar with tears welling up in my eyes. "I don't want to lose my son…I can't…I won't be able to take it, neither would Izaya…Please…I'm begging you…" I tell him more slowly.

"Shizuo…" Shinra says as he sees my tears start to stream down. I put my hand on my head and run my fingers through my hair downheartedly. "Don't worry…I'll find someone who'll be able to help." Shinra says as he looks over to Celty.

"Thank you…" I say sadly as I think about what my life would be like if I really had to go through with losing a child…It would devastate me and I don't think I'd be able to ever get over it, neither would Izaya. But, I'm thinking even more so for Izaya because he has a bond with our child that nothing can break, birthing a child is having a connection with it like no other person can. "I'd never forgive myself if I let this happen…if I don't do anything to try and stop it…"

It was painful…It was painful to wait for my son to get better. And it was painful to leave Izaya alone while staying with my son in a hospital miles away from home, but it was something that I was capable of doing so I did. I'm glad I did because they had figured out what was wrong with him; he had caught a flu-like virus, but not quite the same, that was causing mucus to drain into his lungs. Thankfully they were able to help him and in the few days that followed he seemed to be recovering quite well. I was able to take him home in due time and once I did, Izaya was eccentric to see him.

The moment I brought him back, Izaya was sobbing so much; he had an emotional meltdown. It was alright though because he was crying because he was so happy.

Flashback

"I was so stupid…" He says as he holds onto Shiro tightly. It's already night, but Izaya hasn't wanted to let go of Shiro since I brought him back an hour or so ago.

"What do you mean?" I ask him as I caress my son's check.

"I was stupid to call you a monster." He says to me as he holds my hand. "Thank you…"

"I should thank you for giving us Shiro." I say as I kiss Izaya's forehead gently. "I love you."

"I love you too, Shizu-chan."

Izaya's POV

After a while of playing in the park capturing bugs and paying a few bills and other errands, the kids and I finally head home, so we can be there before Shizu-chan. Shiro is excited about greeting his father more appropriately than he's been doing.

"You guys had fun?" I ask them as I head into the kitchen to start preparing dinner. Kuro nods happily as he eats another piece of pocky from one of the boxes I bought at the convenient store. I suddenly hear the doorknob rattle and then hear the door open slowly.

"I'm ho—" I can tell that he was tackled by Kuro, even if I'm not in the living room near the door where Shizu-chan entered. But when I check, it's not Kuro who was the first to attack Shizu-chan; it was Shiro. There, attached to Shizu-chan's leg is Shiro with tears in his eyes. He's talking to his father, but the words are broken and muffled because he's buried his face in Shizu-chan's chest since Shizu-chan kneeled down to embrace him.

It's a beautiful sight actually. It reminds me of some TV drama I once saw, but seeing this sight in front of me stirs more real and intense feelings than watching it on TV.

"Welcome home, Shizu-chan." I say with a smile. He looks at me and smiles back after he nods.

I really think our family is becoming stronger; such a bond will hopefully be equivalent to the strength that Shizu-chan possesses. That would make me happy.

A/N: THE END! No, just kidding XD Anyway, please please review it'd make me super duper happy! And see you in the next chapter!