alrighty! so this is going to be an uber long chapter but i hope you guys like it as i was having a major writer's bloc right in the middle of writing this! thanks for the reviews guys otherwise i swear i wouldnt be up to writing this! as soon as im done with this i have to get to work on Blood Secrets! and the writing never stops haha! anyways enjoy and please review! i really, really, REALLY want to hit at least 50 reviews for this cuz i had so much fun writing this and i hope you all had fun readin this! it's kinda become my favourite story so far hehe

Grimmjow swirls his glass of champagne as he leans against the island in the middle of the kitchen and looks at it mundanely. It's funny how something so classy and sophisticated as champagne can just look like piss in a glass. He gulps it down in one go and winces. It even tastes like shit. He's more of a beer guy. Champagne is more of Ichigo's thing.

A roar of laughter sounds from the living room. It's probably Ulquiorra telling everyone jokes. He always was the funny guy of the family. Syazel was funny too but Syazel was, is, just plain creepy. He shudders. He can't believe his family is here and not just a few of them. Nooo. Ichigo had to invite everyone. He never thought he would see his family congregated as one in his living room to hear him openly declare that he has a family with a guy as his lover and an adopted kid who refers to herself as a third person. If his dad thought he had been weird then he's going to flip now.

Grimmjow freezes.

Hell, his dad doesn't even know that he's gay! How the hell is he going to react to that? He'll probably freak out and faint or maybe walk out. Grimmjow hopes it's the second option. At least he would know how to deal with that. Probably propose a toast or suggest playing spin the bottle. Maybe some people would be devastated if their father walked out on them but Grimmjow is too used to it to even be affected by it now. If his father got up to hug and congratulate him, then he would know something is wrong. But right now, he needs to come up with a plan to get his family out of the penthouse. And fast before any damage is done.

He pours himself another glass of the piss, downs it and shakes his head to clear it.

'It's show time,' he says and straightens his jacket as he marches towards the living room. At that very minute, Ichigo pops up in the doorway. He sees Grimmjow and blushes. Grimmjow narrows his eyes at him but doesn't show how angry he really is. Instead, he just turns around and heads back into the kitchen to pour himself some more champagne.

'What are you doing here, traitor?' Grimmjow says coldly. Damn, these glasses are too small to hold enough alcohol for him! He scans the kitchen counters for his beer mug.

'Ummm,' Ichigo says hesitantly. 'I came to get more chips for the guests.'

'Get 'em and leave.' Ichigo opens the snack drawer and gets a couple of packets. He glances at Grimmjow from the corner of his eye. Grimmjow is examining the bottle and squinting at the label.

'Don't finish that. I think the guests will need more since the sake is finished,' Ichigo says before he can stop himself. Grimmjow brings the bottle down on the counter hard. Ichigo winces. At least the bottle didn't smash with the force.

'Oh sure,' Grimmjow says sarcastically, his voice slurring a little. Champagne doesn't usually make people drunk but it sure as hell can be strong if drunk in many doses. 'We wouldn't want the guests to be unhappy. Ulquiorra likes his champagne extra vintage with a hint of apple in it!

'I don't get how you can hate him so much. He seems like such a fun guy,' Ichigo points out and realizes immediately that he had said the wrong thing.

'Have you seen him?' Grimmjow practically shouts at him. 'Daddy's little perfect son who's good at everything and anything he does. He's always trying to be better than me and belittle me and dad would just encourage him. Do you know how humiliating that was as a kid? Your dad wanting to see you fail and see his favourite do it? Do you?'

'Hush,' Ichigo says softly as he drops the packets back on the counter and gives Grimmjow a hug.

Grimmjow wants to push him away but he's too emotion wrought to try. So he lets Ichigo wraps his arms around him for comfort because truth be told, it's exactly what he wanted. He wanted to be treated like a baby for once and petted and fussed over. He was so used to acting tough and seeming hard, not wanting any sympathy. He never got any attention as a child.

His father had been too busy with his older brothers, trying to raise them to be like him. He had never seen Grimmjow with the potential to be a strong character to carry on the family name. Grimmjow had practically spent his entire life trying to impress his father, even when he abandoned him like that on his first day at school. Even though he had tried to convince himself that he shouldn't, he still did it subconsciously when his parents divorced and he started living with his mom. When she died, he was once again under the roof and influence of his father. He always seemed to be there, watching him and loathing him secretly. But Grimmjow knew. He knew how much his father detested him. Which is why he had finally decided to move out of his house. He thought that was the last he'll ever see his dad again but he had hoped too much. You can't avoid family. One way or another, they'll make it back into your life. You can't keep running away from them forever.

Taking a deep breath, he gently moves Ichigo away and fixes him with a strong gaze. It isn't an angry one but a calm and understanding one.

'I know you did this to help him,' he says carefully. 'For that, I'm grateful. But I wish you had told me.'

'I thought,' Ichigo struggles to say. 'That if your dad came here, you could finally settle what you two had left unsolved all those years ago.'

'Ichi. It's not that we've left something behind when we parted ways. It's just that…my dad never accepted me for me. He always wanted me to be something and when I wouldn't or couldn't, he didn't bother with me anymore. It's why I loathe him so much.'

'Well, maybe it's time you made him accept you. After all, you are his son.'

'It's not that easy.'

'That's why I'm here.' He takes Grimmjow's hand. 'I'll always be by your side, Grimmjow, so don't be scared to face your dad.'

Grimmjow stares at his boyfriend's hand as it encloses his. He then looks up at that innocent face and smirks.

'You know I love you, right?' he teases and pulls him close in one movement, dipping him a bit.

'Easy, Romeo,' Ichigo laughs. 'We have a party to host. Leave the love talk for the bed. Right now, you need to do some talking.'

'Party pooper,' Grimmjow sighs and puts Ichigo back on his feet. 'Just by the way, my dad doesn't know that I'm gay. And I don't think you've told him that this is a party where we come out as a steady couple either.'

'All the more reason to talk things out,' Ichigo says and gently eases the glass of champagne out of his boyfriend's hand. 'And I think you've had more than enough to drink.'

'I can hold my alcohol better than Rangiku so I can have as much as I want!'

'I wouldn't be too sure about that.'

'Oh, please.' Grimmjow marches out of the kitchen but accidently knocks his head against the doorframe before walking out.

'Don't say a word,' he mutters, rubbing his head.

His family moves like a pack. You'll never find one without the other. He has to admit, they've all changed since the last time he had met them. Harribel had finally grown a pair of tits and they are huge. They're probably bigger than Rangiku's!

Syazel…well, Syazel is still as creepy as ever. Apparently he's working at some bio lab for the government. Dissecting stuff or something like that. Well, if that makes him happy.

Yammy is still as loud and obnoxious but he's gotten buffer. Grimmjow wonders if he's still in that gang he used to hang out with back in high school.

Luppi has let his hair grow from his usual army cut. He could probably pass of as a girl now. Isn't that why he had cut it short in the first place? Ah well, it's hard work always going to get a hair-cut.

Zommari is now a beautician for men. He's still bald but he's planted spikes there like a mohawk. It looks cool. Right now, he's massaging Orihime while explaining to Uryu the importance of placing the thumbs in that place to get the rough knots out of the shoulder. Orihime looks like she's in heaven.

Stark is snoring in a corner. His twin, Lillinette, is nudging him to wake up. Stark had always been lazy but from all his brothers, Grimmjow had always liked him the best. While the others had ignored him, Stark had always been nice to him and helped him settle in school. He had even picked and dropped him to school. He had been most sorry to see Grimmjow leave the house.

Then there was Nnoitra. Grimmjow was surprised he could find anyone he hated so much (but that was before he had met Urahara). Nnoitra had to be the most evil big brother anyone could ever have. He had made his life a living hell when his dad wasn't doing it. He'd pick on him at school and at home, he'd take over his room, wreck it and then let him in. It was one of the reasons he left home.

Ulquiorra. The eldest brother. The perfect one. The favourite. He never did anything to Grimmjow directly but his attitude towards him had been enough. He would look down on him constantly and side with their dad when it came to ridiculing him. It had become a sport in the house to who could make Grimmjow's life a living hell in the house. Grimmjow would sometimes spend hours on end hiding in Stark's room, praying that nobody would find him here.

Grimmjow swallows. The nostalgia is suffocating him as he views each and every one of his siblings. These were the people who had ruined his childhood. The reason he suppresses his memories of being a child when others would dwell on them happily. And the centre of it all was his father.

His father is right now standing next to Ulquiorra who is chatting away with Toshiro who seems to be talking so comfortably with someone. Gin is talking with his father, who seems so engrossed in his conversation that he doesn't notice Grimmjow approaching him.

Grimmjow clears his throat loudly. His dad doesn't even glance in his direction. Slightly annoyed, he taps his father's shoulder. Still no reaction.

Rolling his eyes, he yells, 'Yo, pops! You got a minute?'

His father pauses in talking and turns slowly like a robot to face his son. A smile slowly spreads across his face but it seems forced.

'Ah, Grimmjow,' he says delicately. 'I have all the time in the world for you. After all, it is your party, isn't it? What is it for anyway?'

'It's why I want to talk to you,' Grimmjow says coolly, trying to keep his cool. 'Why don't we go into a private room and talk? Father to son?'

His father raises an eyebrow. But before they can react, Nnoitra bounds up from behind and wraps his arm around Grimmjow's shoulders.

'Yo, little brother!' he says gleefully. 'How's it been going? Still a loser?'

'No, you?' Grimmjow says icily as he throws his brother's arm off.

'Hey! Gotten feisty since the last time I saw you!' Nnoitra laughs. Syazel comes up behind him, a maniac grin plastered across his face.

'Big brother!' he says in a slightly crazed voice and Grimmjow can't help a shiver running up his spine. Syazel had always had that effect. 'Your hair looks bluer! Mind if I take a sample?'

'I'd rather keep all my hair thanks.'

'Aww, still in love with your hair?' Zommari teases.

'Shut up, Zommari,' Grimmjow says quietly and looks at his father. 'Dad, shall we?'

'What? Trying to be daddy's favourite now? Isn't that a bit too late?' Nnoitra says nastily. 'Ulquiorra has already taken that place permanently, ain't that right, Ulqi?'

'Don't call me that, Nnoitra,' Ulquiorra sighs and crosses his arms across his chest. He gazes blankly at Grimmjow and Grimmjow just sneers. He promised to patch things up with his dad, not his siblings.

'Get off my back, Nnoitra!' Grimmjow snarls when Nnoitra places his elbows on Grimmjow's shoulders. He had always been abnormally tall and he used his height to his advantage when it came to picking on Grimmjow. Grimmjow shrugs off his brother's elbows. 'Would you guys just leave me alone? I'm not a kid anymore that you can still pick on me!'

'Why does it matter to you? You'll never match up to us, Grimmy!' Nnoitra sneers. 'No matter what, you'll always be the loser in the family who could never fit in and ran away when he couldn't handle the pressure!'

Grimmjow grits his teeth. Not because Nnoitra is seriously starting to piss him off but because what Nnoitra is saying seems so true. He did run away because he couldn't handle the pressure. He was sick of playing second fiddle to everyone in the house. He gave in and left. And now, Nnoitra is making sure he doesn't forget that he was a coward for doing it.

'So what're you going to do now, kitty cat?' Nnoitra taunts him. Grimmjow has cast his eyes to the floor. He's just glad that Nnoitra hasn't raised his voice and made a scene. Ichigo would get so mad if he did. 'Are you going to run for it?'

'Just fuck off, Nnoitra,' he mutters under his breath as he pushes Nnoitra away to leave. He doesn't want to speak to his dad now. Forget it. Nnoitra hasn't changed. What if his dad is still the same? Anyway, he doesn't want to stick around to find out. He should have kicked them out the door when he had the chance.

He tries to control his breathing as he grips the kitchen counter tightly. He had almost lost his temper back there. And it would have ruined the party for everyone. He closes his eyes and scrunches his forehead. He should probably go back in there and try to talk to his dad again but he can't risk Nnoitra trying to press his buttons. He'll probably have to sneak around him and-

He gasps as he feels two arms snake around his waist but relaxes as he knows only one person who would do that to comfort him at a time like this.

'Thanks, love,' he whispers to his boyfriend. 'Don't worry, I'll be alright. I'll go out there and finish talking to my father and then we'll go and enjoy this night.'

'Actually,' comes a mischievous voice. Grimmjow freezes. 'I'd rather we have a good time here, babe.'

The owner of the voice turns Grimmjow around swiftly and he comes face to face with two cat yellow eyes that seem to be laughing at him.

'I was looking all over for you,' Shiro pouts and tugs Grimmjow closer, making sure not to let him escape.

'Get your hands off me!' Grimmjow hisses savagely and he attempts to wriggle away but Shiro has him pinned with his back to the counter.

'Sure,' Shiro says playfully. 'After I do this.'

He leans in close and places his lips on Grimmjow's. Grimmjow yelps in surprise and frees one hand to smack Shiro across the face.

'Holy shit…'

At the same time, both Shiro and Grimmjow look towards the kitchen door and see Grimmjow's entire family standing there, their mouths wide open. Nnoitra looks like his jaw is touching the floor.

'Hey, has anyone seen Nel?' Ichigo asks as he pushes the people aside to enter the kitchen. Then he sees Shiro and Grimmjow and raises an eyebrow. 'What's going on?'

'Dude,' Yammy stutters. 'Did you just kiss that guy?'

'Well, he ain't a girl, Yammy!' Luppi snaps.

'And you should know!'

'What is that supposed to mean?'

'Shiro, you did WHAT?' Ichigo yells, his brown eyes flaring up in anger. His twin brother steps back, afraid of the new fire in his brother.

'Now, listen, Ichi, I can explain myself,' he says hastily as he scans the room for an exit.

'Oh yeah? You tripped and landed on Grimmjow's lips?' Ichigo snarls as he closes the distance between them. Shiro gulps and smiles weakly.

'Now, bro,' he says, trying to regain his cool demeanor. 'You don't want to make a scene in front of the guests.'

'You're right,' Ichigo says nastily and grabs his brother by the ear. 'So let's take this outside on the terrace. At least I can throw you off from there without worrying how I'll get blood off my carpets.'

And with that, the brothers leave Grimmjow alone with his family.

'Grimmjow,' comes a soft voice. Grimmjow had been looking down the whole time and when he looks up, he's surprised to find that the voice belonged to his father.

'What does this mean?' he asks, like he really cares about his son for once. Grimmjow thinks fast, trying to come up with an excuse but he quickly stops and curls his hands into fists. No. Enough running away from his problems. It's time he faced the music and came clean.

'It means,' Grimmjow starts. 'That I'm gay, dad. I've been gay since I was in your house and I've been gay ever since. But you never knew the real me, did you? I'm not the perfect son you've always wanted me to be and I never will be. I'll never be like Ulquiorra and frankly, I'm proud of that. You never appreciated me for who I was and always wanted me to become something I wasn't. And for that, I feel sorry for you. You'll never get to know me. It's kinda sad that a father never knew his real son.'

He walks past his father, his siblings parting to let him through, still staring at him with their mouths open. He stops when he's level with his father and sighs. Then he turns and locks eyes with him.

'And by the way,' he says calmly. 'I meant it when I said I had screwed each and every one of the wrestling team over. Twice actually.'

As he walks out, he spots Shinji eavesdropping at the kitchen door and in guffaws.

'Holy shit, Jaguerjack!' he snickers. 'That is damn embarrassing for a guy like-!'

He didn't get to finish his sentence. Grimmjow had punched his lights out again. Shinji spits.

'My other teeth!' he wails.

Grimmjow grins as he grabs the car keys and opens the front door. He feels like going out for a spin right now.