Ok, I am sorry that this chapter is so short and took a while to write. I have been rather busy in my real life and I have hit a bit of a writers block but here it is at last!

Chapter 5

Retsu took a deep breath. Then on the exhale the secrete came out. She kept her eyes down while she was speaking and when she was done, she continued to study the floor boards of the cabin. She heard nothing from Jushiro and finally she looked up at him. She almost reached out to him at the look of anguish on his face.

Jushiro was stunned. He had a child? One that was either dead or missing? His heart soared at the thought of being a father. He had always wanted children, but had never really dared to hope that he would have kids of his own someday. Now he had a daughter! Then the second part of what Retsu had said sunk in and his heart froze in his chest. How had this happened! Why would someone want to take their child? What was being done to find her? Wait….could it be that easy….

"What about Kana, is she our child?" Jushiro asked hopefully.

Retsu shook her head. "She is not the right age and I just cant think like that anymore. I have met many girls over the past decade or so that could have been the child that was taken from me but every time the tests came back negative. That is why Kana was placed in your squad instead of mine. She would have just been a constant reminder of our child and at some point I would have been tempted enough to get the tests taken but when they come back negative, that would just crush me". Retsu wrapped her arms around herself "I have gotten my hopes up so many times only to have them dashed, I don't think I could go through that again". She whispered the last part of that sentence with such a sad look in her eyes that Jushiro reached out for her.

"Don't worry, I am sure that she is out there somewhere. I mean come one, she is our child. I can't see a child of two captains, even a young one, getting killed by something as simple as that!" Jushiro argued, seeing the despair in Retsu's eyes. But while he knew that his words were probably wrong he could not help the hope blooming in his chest. He wanted a child of his own so badly and to gain and loose one in a matter of minutes was putting him through the ringer as far as emotions went. So much was going on and he still needed to comfort Retsu since she looked like she was a short step away from a full on break down. He soothed her as best he could as she cried. He rubbed her back and rocked her gently. Eventually the tears ran out and Retsu fell asleep in Jushiro's arms. Jushiro just spent the night watching her sleep. His arm eventually went numb but he couldn't bring himself to move it in fear of waking Retsu. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, all soft curves and relaxed features.

Retsu had one of the first peaceful nights since the incident. There were no nightmares and instead there was this sense of satisfaction, as if something had finally been set right. She snuggled deeper into Jushiro's arms. She breathed in his scent and let the warmth of his body seep into her bones. How long had she dreamed of him holding her in just this manner? She had not forgotten a single detail of that amazing night together. It had taken on an almost dream-like quality in her mind. She wondered if he had ever thought again about that night as well. Before she could stop herself she said on a sigh "Have you ever wondered what would have happened if we had decided to not pretend like that night had never happened? If we had decided to try to stay together?"

Jushiro, who had thought often of just that, simply nodded.

Retsu sighed again and turned her face towards him. "A couple of times I found myself outside your room trying to come up with a reason to knock but I always chickened out." Jushiro held his breath as she continued "I wanted so badly to see you again, and when I found out about our baby, I wanted desperately to talk to you but the head captain made me swear to silence. And that was just after the scare with Captain Hitsuguya so I agreed. Now I wonder what would have happened if I had told you about the child and you had been there with me that night….."

" I doubt that I could have made much of a difference" Jushiro admitted, "if you could not keep track of her then I defiantly would not have been able to and would probably have just made things worse."

"You don't know that!" Retsu responded immediately, "now she is gone and its all my fault."

"No its not and I don't want to hear you say that again! Or even think it!"

"And just how do you plan on monitoring my thoughts?" Retsu asked playfully, a smile slowly forming on her face.

"Mmmmm…I am sure that I can think of a way." Jushiro smiled at Retsu, relieved to see her smile again. "So if you wanted to see me again, then why didn't you. I understand why you could not tell me about the baby but surely there were other reasons you wanted to see me."

"Yes, but I was being a coward. Sadly I could not gather the courage to face you. Can you forgive me my lack?"

"Of course I forgive you, for I am just a guilty as you. I also wanted to see you after that night but I was so afraid that you did not feel the same way that I all but avoided you."

They smiled at each other for a heart beat. Then Jushiro leaned in and pressed his lips to Retsu's own and they made more memories that would last a lifetime.

When the morning came she did not want to move but she knew that she had to eventually so she got up and made some tea for breakfast. The rain was gone and the sun was out so there was no real reason to linger in the cabin with Jushiro, but Retsu found herself taking her time preparing the tea and cleaning up the cabin to leave. She dragged out the process as long as she could, but eventually they had to go. Jushiro and Retsu took one more look at each other and Jushiro bent down for a kiss. The kiss was filled with everything that was unsaid between them, their bond that they could never acknowledge, the child that they lost, and the hope that no amount of time could kill. When it was over, they both knew that the fragile peace that they had made in the cabin was over and they flash stepped away.

I hope you are still liking this story. If I get enough reviews I might even be persuaded to add what happened on that night in my next update. Remember more reviews = faster updates