"So…"
Maka fumbled for words as she sat before her father. Spirit was growing more and more uneasy by the second. Soul let out a long puff of air from beside Maka and winced when she clutched his hand too tight. Maka looked up as her dad started to mutter quietly, obviously trying to break the tension. She only caught a few sentences.
" – and hey, if this is about your relationship, there's no need to explain…" Spirit fumbled for words. "It's pretty clear, and kinda inevitable. I've known for a long time. I still wish you could have gotten a few years to get so serious, you know, raising a kid all this time and all -"
Maka winced.
"But I understand the circumstances," he raised his hands up. "And I know you're doing the right thing, by both of you. And hey, I love that little girl, and know she adores you guys. But, hey do I look old enough to be a Grandpa? Don't answer that. It's just - "
"Dad," Maka quickly interrupted. She eyed her father fondly and somewhat nervously. Their relationship had been going well ever since she was eighteen and he pulled his act together. She respected him now. As he respected her and Soul.
Soul and she hadn't told her dad when they first started dating – She was sixteen and Soul was seventeen, and her dad was still a little… Unhinged at that time. After he got his act together, they just didn't see the point in announcing it. He's right, it was clear they were a couple.
So, she knew the news of her pregnancy wouldn't be easy to break to him.
Maka remembered the night before with sudden clarity.
"Maka, we need to tell your Dad," Soul told her patiently as she finished up the dishes. He found her there after putting Mara to bed. "The longer we leave it, the more upset he'll be."
Maka dropped the dish she was washing. She hesitated.
"It's only been a few weeks since you've known," she said slowly. "I'm sure he'd understand us needing to get used to the idea ourselves before telling people."
She nodded to herself, pleased with her reasoning. Soul narrowed his eyes.
"But we're already used to the idea," he said dryly. "Why are you putting this off? He'll probably be thrilled."
Maka looked at him innocently.
"I don't know what you mean." She shrugged. "I'd just like a little more time to think about how to tell him. Why don't we tell our friends first? Now, they'd be thrilled."
Soul scoffed.
"Yah, and I'm sure your dad would be thrilled if we told him last." Maka groaned. Soul sighed in exasperation "C'mon, spit it out Maks. What's wrong?"
Maka hung her head in defeat before leaning on the kitchen counter.
"Okay, don't judge me," she eyed him sternly. "I – I'm scared."
Soul's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"You. Maka. Scared of – "
"I know, I know," Maka groaned. "It probably sounds stupid. But you haven't heard the way he speaks about couples having kids under the age of thirty! He'll kill me!"
Soul narrowed his eyes.
"Wait, wasn't your dad only, what – eighteen when he had you? You're twenty-three."
"That's why he has such strong opinions on it," Maka threw her hands up in frustration. "He and Mama had a horrible marriage, and I took to brunt of most the crap that went down."
Maka rolled her eyes.
"He made it very clear in all of his rants that he never regretted me," she smiled despite herself. "He just regrets what he put me through. He said he was too young, and so was Mama. He's always warned me, 'take it slow, don't rush, all in good time' and I always agreed with him!" Maka could feel herself bordering hysterical. She could feel the fear gnawing in her stomach.
"I assured him that, that is not something to worry about! He's gonna explode!"
Soul shook his head in disbelief before sauntering towards her. He took her small face in his hands and looked her dead in the eye. They had been intimate for years but Maka's heart still stuttered when he did things like that.
"You're not your mom," he spoke very precisely. "And whether you're young or not, you act about forty anyway. So, age doesn't matter."
He got a thump for that. He chuckled.
"And I am not your dad. We're two completely different people. We're in a whole different situation and have a whole different relationship. Now, will you suck it up, act like the Maka Albarn that I know, and start writing a draft or something about how you're gonna tell your him he's getting another grandchild?"
And that's exactly what Maka did, to Soul's amusement. But now, all the words she'd carefully planned to say got stuck in her throat. She felt like she was choking. A gentle squeeze on her fingertips brought her back to the present.
Spirit had leaned forward to take her hand, his brow furrowed in concern and confusion.
"Maka, sweetie?" her father spoke softly, as if speaking to a child. "What is it?"
She couldn't do this. She just couldn't. She looked to Soul desperately. Soul met her gaze warily before releasing a long sigh. He pulled his hand gently from hers and leant forwards towards her father. Maka leant back, feeling a small knot tighten in her stomach.
"Spirit," Soul started slowly. Spirits eyes unwillingly left his daughter to land on Soul. "We kinda have some big news, we just don't know how to spit it out."
Spirits eyes narrowed in worry. He leant back.
"Is everything okay? Do you need a large sum of money? Is Amara okay? Is she sick?"
Soul resisted to urge to roll his eyes. Yeah, Spirit had become a little more tolerable, but he was definitely still eccentric.
"No, no one is sick, and Amara is just fine. She's at school."
"And we're not asking for anything," Maka added quickly. The knot was getting bigger, and even tighter. "Except maybe mercy? I mean, it would be so great if you didn't kill my boyfriend."
Soul closed his eyes in exasperation as Spirit's figure stiffened in alarm. Trust Maka.
"Right, that is enough," Sprit stood up. "What is going on Maka? I've never seen you behave this way. Now, sit up straight,"
Maka did what he said automatically, the fear in her eyes growing.
"Now, tell me, what is it you need me to know?"
Maka felt Soul's eye's burning a hole in her cheek, and she saw him nod in encouragement from the corner of her eyes.
"Um – Well, Daddy," she began, her eyes dropping to her lap. Spirit nodded and sat back down.
"Yes?"
"Well," she stuttered. She heard her father sigh.
"Yes?"
"I – I" Maka shook her head. "I got a new pilates machine."
Soul dropped his face into his hands and groaned. Spirit frowned, clearly taken aback.
"Oh – That's nice, Maka. I think. What is that?" he said absently. Soul lifted his head up to eye the older man incredulously.
"Erm, well – "
"It's slang for pregnant." Soul added in a bright voice.
"Soul!" Maka exclaimed, not even having the nerve to assess her father's reaction. Soul just shrugged.
"No regrets. A new pilates machine, Maka? Really? What is that?"
"Not slang for pregnant, you imbecile!" She whispered furiously. Her eyes fell back on her father, who was frozen in place.
"Papa?" she tested. "Are you alright?"
Spirit didn't reply. Soul frowned and waved a hand in front of his face.
"Sir?" He spoke a little louder but received no reaction. Him and Maka shared a look.
"… Should we just leave?" Maka whispered after a few minutes. Soul shot her a dark look.
"P – Preg – " Spirit choked out. Maka and Soul looked up in surprise. Maka winced.
"Yeah, Dad," she said in defeat, the knot in her stomach was loosening. "Soul and I are having another baby."
Spirit did a double take.
"Another?" he almost yelled.
"She's including Amara, of course," Soul explained. Spirit leant back warily.
"Well, yes, but that's a little different," Sprit rambled in a weak voice. "I mean – Maka didn't carry Mara, nor did she cope with the labour, or –"
"That doesn't matter," Maka interrupted, her voice hard and stern. "She's still my daughter."
Spirit looked at his daughter pleadingly.
"But… but, still," Spirit lost his words.
Maka narrowed her eyes.
"She's mine," Maka insisted. "I want her. She is just as much my child as this one will be," her hand fell to her stomach. She didn't miss how her dad's eyes followed it. The situation finally dawning on him. He coughed strangely.
"Pregnant," he repeated. "My daughter… You're gonna have a baby?"
Maka and Soul shared a nervous look, but then nodded.
Spirit's face seemed to turn red, then purple, then back to a semi normal peach colour before his eyes welled up.
"Wow," he croaked. "'Didn't expect to feel like this, I'll tell ya," he let out a gruff laugh before wiping his eyes. Maka watched him incredulously.
"You're not mad?" she asked in a tight, nearly hysterical voice. Spirit laughed.
"How can I be? If there was ever a couple readier, it's you two." Maka was stumped.
"But – But what about everything you said?" she had to ask. "About waiting, and it being a mistake – " She was interrupted by her dad's soft laughter.
"Maka, I know I came on a little strong with all that stuff," he admitted lightly. "But all that stuff was from my experiences, and what I went through. You're a completely different person than your mother and I was. Not to mention a million more times mature."
He shook his head fondly. Maka didn't know what to say. Soul just smiled smugly.
"What did I say," Soul muttered. Maka elbowed him.
"So…" She just had to check. "You don't think we're making a big mistake?"
Spirit hesitated.
"Well, I have to say, it wasn't the best timing," he admitted. "What, with Amara still being so afraid of you two going on a mission, or in a car. I assume this wasn't planned?"
Maka's cheeks blazed. She shook her head.
"I see. But I think this could be very good. For you two, and for little Amara. And you know I'll be here for you every step of the way."
Maka's eyes welled up and she shot forward to hug her dad. He laughed gruffly and she knew he was crying again. She rolled her eyes and pulled away.
"Dad," she began to complain. He nodded and composed himself.
"Right, right," he wiped his face again and gave her a big smile. "Well, regardless, I think some congratulations is in order! And gifts! OH!"
He jumped up. Maka and Soul jumped back.
"Can I plan your baby shower?"
He went on and Maka cast a look at Soul in exasperation, but she was surprised to find him smirking.
"Told ya," he mouthed.
