After the talk about baby names Ichigo had proceeded to warm up to Grimmjow more and more. Initiating cuddles, purring loudly and even blushing softly at Grimmjow's perverted advancements although still softly rejecting them.
Not that Grimmjow made them very often…only...every second day…Although in his defence he blamed it on Ichigo's scent changing and becoming mouth wateringly irresistible due to the pregnancy. It was all thanks to Ichigo's natural protective instincts, making him alluring and therefore impossible to abandon, or so Szayel had said.
Grimmjow had, in the mean time, become somewhat of a slave to his mate, fetching the carrot top anything his heart desired. He felt it was important to keep his mate as content as possible, due to the fact that his mate had also slipped into a slight depression.
He had seen that the younger man, although still finding comfort in the Sexta's care, was becoming a little willowed and sick looking. This came from the fact that the younger man hadn't been eating properly, not because he wanted to starve himself, but simply because he forgot to do so. He could only assume that Ichigo was wondering where his friends were, why they hadn't saved him and how he was going to escape from this place safely with his cubs.
Nothing had been heard of the soul reapers or Ichigo's friends and it was only to be assumed that the soul society had barred anyone and everyone from moving between realms. Aizen had on one occasion sent Ulquiorra and himself into the world of the living to suss out any activity but upon arriving they hadn't even been approached.
It was odd and unsettling, but all the Espada had been assured that it was now simply a waiting game between the two opposing sides. Aizen was in no rush as he was in the processes of waiting for his heir to be born. This was undoubtedly his trump card for winning the war. This fact had sent a cold spike of fear through Grimmjow but even so he had remained quiet and loyal.
Grimmjow had steadily watched Ichigo grow bigger and bigger, always making sure he ate and slept under enough blankets, so that he wouldn't fall genuinely ill. It was now 3 days past Ichigo's due date so Szayel and Grimmjow where watching him like a hawk. Both where lounging around in Grimmjow's room, waiting until Ichigo went into labour, watching his every step.
Ichigo was currently moving all the pillows and blankets from the apartment under the bed that Grimmjow had raised to allow better movement for Ichigo and his big baby belly. It now resembled a low den, dark and warm and safe through Ichigo's eyes. Grimmjow had also placed two futons on the ground underneath the bed to allow Ichigo a soft surface to sleep on.
Szayel was taking it as a good sign, saying that Ichigo's natural urges to hide and find a secure place for him to give birth where kicking in. So Grimmjow only assumed that Ichigo moving everything under the bed meant that he was getting ready to give birth, whether the berry knew so or not. Ichigo was still a bit thin for someone who was about to have twins, but he was much better than he was a few weeks ago, much to Grimmjow's delight.
Grimmjow looked over to Ichigo who was now rustling under the bed trying to get comfortable amidst the monstrous amount of pillows underneath the bed with him. Grimmjow heard a few little growls coming from the berry as he struggled with both the pillows and his massive belly. The bluenette chuckled as he stood up and made his way underneath the bed, shoving the pillows around into a comfortable looking position.
"Calm down kitten, you're getting yourself into a bit of a mess here" Grimmjow huskily laughed out, Ichigo just gave him a scowling pout, but flopped into the comfortable nest with a happy sigh.
"I feel weird," Ichigo said with a huff, "like something is wrong and I just can't get comfortable" the berry whined whilst shuffling around again. Grimmjow silently new that Ichigo was about to go into labour, he was also silently panicking as he didn't really know what to do about it. Tell Ichigo what was going on and alarm him? Or call out to Szayel and let him do the talking but alarm him anyway? Deciding to just go for it Grimmjow threw caution to the wind and dove straight in.
"Kitten, now don't be worried, but I think that you are about to go into labour, you're showing all the signs and-" Grimmjow's eyes shot open wide as he was abruptly cut of as Ichigo let out a great yell of pain.
"Grimmjow! Ahhh! Wh-what's happening!? GRIMMJOW!" Ichigo was panting and clenching his belly, tears where beginning to run down his face and he looked utterly terrified. Grimmjow looked down and saw that Ichigo's pants (hakama?) appeared to be wet, his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and he nearly knocked himself out on the bed trying to get Szayel from the kitchen.
The pink haired man was already on his way though and Grimmjow just moved behind Ichigo and leant the berries head on his chest for comfort. The younger soul reaper groaned as he was shuffled into the appropriate position for birthing. Grimmjow didn't know much about what had been done to Ichigo during the operation and Szayel hadn't said much about it when he had asked.
Only telling him that Ichigo's birth canal was attached to his rectum, so essentially he would be...giving birth...out of his...well, Grimmjow had tried to block it from his memory. But he was assured that everything would go smoothly and Szayel was prepared with all the necessary equipment if it didn't. It was a bit cramped under the bed, but after Szayel had placed various towels underneath Ichigo the space was more than adequate.
Ichigo was still groaning and moaning in pain, his head rocking from side to side and he held Grimmjow's hand with a vice grip.
"It hurts it hurts it hurts, please make it stop, ughhhhhha!" Ichigo groaned out.
"It's okay Ichigo, remember what I told you about breathing okay? You have to remember to breath" Szayel soothed, removing Ichigo's pants and covering his lower half with a sheet and readying himself between Ichigo legs. Grimmjow purred behind Ichigo sending comforting vibrations through the younger's back, rubbing his free hand over his stomach soothingly.
"GRIMMJOWW!" Ichigo screamed, Szayel indicated to Grimmjow that Ichigo was ready to push and the bluenette leant forward and calmly told Ichigo to do so. Grimmjow silently thanked the gods that feline type beta's had a nifty advantage of fast births, natural progression, survival of the fittest etc.
"That's it Ichi, push for me kitten" Grimmjow crooned close to the younger's ear so he could hear over his own screams. The boy was a waterfall of tears at this point and was trying desperately to keep his breathing in time with Szayel's helpful (mock) breaths. Grimmjow did the best he could to sooth the crying carrot but he knew that it was all he could do to sit there and support him.
Ichigo let out a long harsh cry that mixed with a pained mewl and suddenly a baby's cry broke through, causing Ichigo to look towards Szayel and the little blood covered body in his arms. Although it didn't last long as Szayel had to quickly place the first baby onto a bed of towels before the berry began to push again. Grimmjow gazed toward the wriggling and wailing mess on the towels with a massive grin plastered across his face, he was a daddy.
His thoughts were interrupted as another cry rang around the room, him and Ichigo looked towards Szayel as he began rubbing both infants down and bundling them up. Both babies crying loudly and wriggling blindly as they were placed in their mothers arms. Ichigo smiled tiredly down at them, he was exhausted and was basically using Grimmjow as a headboard.
Nevertheless the young man smiled down at his babies with a smile so bright it threatened to blind Grimmjow. He too was smiling widely at his cubs, who looked a little dazed and confused.
"Congratulations you now have two beautiful baby boys" Szayel stated softly before quickly replacing the towels beneath Ichigo and moving to the kitchen to allow the new parents privacy. Ichigo was crying soft tears of happiness as he gazed down at his two sons. The oldest looked most like Grimmjow, his hair was sky blue, and he had Ichigo's warm toffee coloured eyes. The youngest had Grimmjow's dashing cyan eyes but to both parents surprise his hair was snow white.
Neither of them said anything, but both new that it was because of Ichigo's attempted suicide and how Shiro, Ichigo's inner hollow had protected the cubs from harm. Ichigo silently thanked him.
"You've done so well Kitten, they're so beautiful" Grimmjow said purring and placing soft kisses on Ichigo's temple. "What do you wanna call them?" Grimmjow whispered out, almost afraid of rousing the now peacefully babbling children. Ichigo purred softly at the bluenette's actions smiling blissfully at his babies.
"I want to call the eldest Kei and the youngest Hikaru...if that's alright with you..." Ichigo said shyly, glancing up at Grimmjow through his lashes with a slight blush dusting his cheeks. Obviously he was a little bashful at taking Grimmjow's suggestion of what to call the cubs.
"Of course it is Kitten, those are perfect names" Grimmjow smiled at the fact that Ichigo had liked the names he suggested. Suddenly he was startled when Kei gurgled out a giggle at the look of his father's grin. Perfect names indeed. Grimmjow reached down to smooth a hand over each of his cub's soft head.
Kei giggled again and let out a high pitch little purr at his father's attention making both parents chuckle. Hikaru simply blinked up at his parents and reached out a cubby and somewhat pale hand, babbling and grasping at the air, wanting to touch his mothers face.
"They are very alert for new-born's, is that normal?" Ichigo asked looking up at Grimmjow who was allowing Hikaru to latch onto his finger and suck on it.
"It's normal for us Ichi, Beta's are strong, stronger I dare say even than the Alphas. You are immensely powerful, I don't even think we have seen the full extent of your abilities. Having said this, the more powerful you are as a beta the better survival rate for Kei and Hikaru. The reason they are so alert is because they are still feeding of your reiatsu, only in small amounts though, but enough to be strong enough against viruses and other things of the like, it gives them a lot of energy" Grimmjow quipped.
"Wow Grimmjow that sounded really smart" Ichigo said, obviously impressed with Grimmjow's knowledge.
"Don't be fooled Kurosaki, he learnt that off me after I gave him a lecture on the inn's and out's of hollow offspring and mating" Szayel blandly stated, coming back from the kitchen to check on the new parents.
"Oh" Ichigo deadpanned looking back to Kei and Hikaru, "your daddy is silly" he cooed unknowingly. Grimmjow just glared softly at Szayel before smirking in happiness at Ichigo's recognition, he was happy that the berry accepted him as the father of his cubs.
"Well as much as this is heart warming to see, we have a problem" Szayel began, continuing despite Ichigo and Grimmjow's worried glances. "As you have seemed to of forgotten, Aizen is expecting an heir of his own right about now and thanks to Grimmjow, we now instead have Kei and Hikaru. So my question to the both of you would be what is your next move? Be warned Aizen is expecting to see the infants within a few days so I suggest whatever action you wish to take should be done so quickly" Szayel said with authority.
The pink haired man didn't need to say anything but with the tense silence that followed it was understood that everyone knew of the risks involved in staying at Hueco Mundo. Ichigo and Grimmjow new that both their cubs lives were in danger, not to mention Grimmjow's. Grimmjow didn't know whether or not Ichigo cared about if he died or not, but he knew that he did so for the babies.
Grimmjow's face hardened at the thought of Aizen killing his children and he let out a low growl, they had to leave, and they had to do it soon. "Ichi, if we leave, what will the soul society do with us?" Grimmjow asked apprehensively, he didn't want to leave one danger only to be faced with another once they reached the world of the living.
"Hopefully if we guard our reiatsu well enough once we enter the world of the living we won't have to interact with the soul society at all. If we get through that then we'll just have to make our way to Urahara's shop in the hopes that he will hide us" Ichigo told the two men in front of him. The orangette new that Grimmjow would come with him. Knowing without a doubt that the older Espada would follow him to the ends of the earth and back again all in the name of protecting him and the cubs.
"I think I will stay here, I believe it's better that you have someone on the inside that can tell you what Aizen's plan of attack will be, because there will no doubt be one. Plus Aizen won't kill me because I'm the only one equipped enough to perform the operation. So I will be more than safe whilst you both seek refuge with this 'Urahara'" Szayel told them. He quickly handed them both coats that would aid them for the winter currently plaguing the world of the living.
"If you move quickly Grimmjow, you will be able to slip through a garganta virtually undetected, but you need to go now" Szayel rushed. Ichigo was feeling hassled, it hadn't even been 20 mins after he had given birth and he was already being helped to his feet and dressed appropriately. He grumbled a bit as Grimmjow forced him into his coat and helped him wrap the twins up in a thick blanket. The good thing about being a hollow beta allowed him to be up and about with minimal pain shortly after births, which certainly help with the escape plan. But he was still tired as all hell though.
"Come on Kitten we need to hurry, quickly now" Grimmjow soothed gently pushing Ichigo into the garganta. Ichigo new that time was against them and that they really needed to get a move on but he was content to simply waddle along through the dark space. Not in a hurry at all as he stared down at his babies smiling faces. Luckily no one seemed to have followed them and as they masked their reiatsu and Grimmjow opened a garganta above Karakura town.
Stepping out cautiously Grimmjow paused, waiting for any sign of the soul reapers, making sure to guard Ichigo by holding him close to his back. Due to their concealed reiatsu they were not detected and where free to make their way to Urahara's shop. Things were going remarkably well, and it was setting Grimmjow on edge, almost like it was the calm before the storm.
The twins babbled, gurgled and wriggled around in Ichigo's arms, trying to reach out and touch the snow that had slowly begun to fall. Judging by the weather and the amount of time he had been pregnant, Ichigo guessed he had been within Hueco Mundo for about 4 to 5 months give or take a few days. He looked mournfully into the dark grey cloud cover as he contemplated why his friends hadn't even attempted to save him.
He knew they would have a good enough reason for not coming to his aid but he couldn't help but be a little disappointed in the fact that he hadn't even heard a whisper of soul reaper action in Hueco Mundo. His only ally now was Grimmjow and he was determined to keep the twins safe, and even after everything that happened he trusted Grimmjow now more than anyone he used to.
He only hoped that Urahara would be willing to hide them from the soul society and anyone who may blab their existence to them. By now both parents were walking their way up to Urahara's door, feeling a slight chill on his back Ichigo held the twins tighter and reached out a hesitant hand to knock on the door.
The knock sounded like it echoed throughout the entire house like a war drum, or at least it sounded that way to Ichigo. Within a few minutes he heard shuffling within the store and the sound of clogs against wood. Grimmjow held Ichigo around the waist, laying a protective arm around the bundle of blankets that was the twins. He was ready to sonido away if this Urahara didn't end up being as accommodating as Ichigo hoped.
The clacking of Urahara's clogs came to a stop and slowly the door slid open to reveal the hated man. As soon as the man's eyes landed on Ichigo encased within the arms of the Sexta Espada they widened to the size of dinner plates and he just stood stock still, in shock.
"Urahara, we need your help" Ichigo said pleadingly, looking at Urahara with desperation in his eyes. The blonde made no move to allow them entry and appeared to still be in shock, although Ichigo could see inklings of guilt seep into his gaze. At that moment Hikaru started whimpering and latched onto the lapel of Ichigo's coat, allowing Urahara a view of chubby little fingers.
"Oh, I see" Urahara said softly, turning to allow the pair entry into the warmth of the house.
You are certainly in need of help, Urahara thought to himself, sliding the door shut and following after the odd couple.
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