Soul and Maka made their way home from the academy after they finished their work. Soul smirked as Maka gave him a look, she was annoyed at him again for getting into another stupid fight. What she didn't know as it was a fight about her. The guy had been following her around the academy and was getting too close to her for Soul's comfort. He couldn't help but keep the guys from her, at twenty she had grown into her figure, becoming one of the most beautiful young women at the academy. She was his partner, best friend, and wife. He couldn't help it when he saw some guy trailing after her. She rolled her eyes at his smirk and walked a little faster.

Soul and Maka paused as they reached their apartment. A woman was pulling a bag from a taxi, she looked disheveled, but she set the suitcase on the ground and tried her best to straighten herself and stand tall. "What…?" Soul trailed off as Maka raised a brow, following him towards the woman. "Mother?" Soul said as they stopped making the woman turn and look at him.

"Soul." She said as she gave a stiff nod.

"What are you doing here?" He asked just as stiff, he hadn't been in contact much other than a few letters and calls with his brother over the years.

She looked at him with eyes that nearly matched his own. "I've left your father." She said simply. "I'm leaving to start my own life." She stood taller and looked at him.

"What the hell-?" Soul was cut off by an elbow in his side.

"Come inside. I'm sure you would like to rest and discuss this in private." Maka said with a small smile. The woman gave a nod as Soul sighed and shook his head before they led his mother into the apartment. "Make yourself at home." She smiled. "I'll make some dinner for the three of us." Soul nodded as he looked back at his mother who stood glancing around.

"What's going on?" Soul asked making his mother look back at him. "Why did you come here?"

"I am starting my life new and I felt that it meant I should start fresh across the board." She explained as she turned to walk farther into the apartment. "This is your home?"

"Yeah. Been home since I was a kid." He told her, following as she walked over to the living room area.

"And you share it with that girl?" She glanced at him before she went to the bookshelves.

Soul furrowed his brow. "That girl has a name." She looked at him as he pushed his hands into his pockets. "Her name is Maka, she's my wife."

"Wife?" His mother turned to look at him completely surprised. Soul gave a small smirk and nodded. "You've gotten married? When did this happen?"

"About a year ago." Soul said before he nodded towards a picture on the wall. "We had a few friends and her father there, just a small thing." She looked at the picture of Maka and Soul with their arms around each other surrounded by large group.

"I didn't hear you come home." They heard making the two turn as Blair walked farther into the room, wrapped in a towel. Soul rolled his eyes as his mother's mouth dropped open. Blair smiled as she moved to pounce on Soul.

"Blair!" Maka called as she stood to the side, her hands on her hips with a hard look at the other woman. "We've had enough fighting today."

"Aw, did my little scythy boy get in trouble again?" She asked innocently as she looked back at Soul.

Soul sighed and shook his head. "Don't ask."

"Did you get in another fight?" She asked curious now.

Maka was the one to answer. "For someone so cool, you sure are stupid." She looked at Soul before she turned on her heels and walked away. "Blair, transform or get dressed." She called as she walked back to finish cooking.

Blair looked at Soul worried as he heaved another sigh. "We're not going to survive." She said softly.

Soul shook his head. "Not even a shred of hope." Blair sighed and transformed into her cat form. "You might want to make yourself scarce for a little bit until I can figure it out." The cat nodded before sneaking off.

"What's going on? Who was that? what was that?" His mother asked confused and freaked out.

"That was Blair. She's a cat that has a lot of magical powers. It's a very long story about how she came to be here." He shook his head. "Look just sit wherever." He told her before he walked into the kitchen to stand behind Maka. His mother watched as Maka glanced over her shoulder to give Soul a quick glare before going back to cooking. Soul reached out wrapping his arms around her making her stop as he dropped his forehead to her shoulder. Maka let out a sigh before she turned in his arms and looked up at him as a small smile spread on her face.

Soul said something low before Maka gave a nod and they pressed their heads together, Maka talking softly before Soul gave a smile and leaned down pressing a quick kiss to her lips. His mother watched, she had never truly seen her son look so loving, not since he was a small child. Maka smiled at him before she pushed back, and she turned back to the food and Soul walked back over to his mother who turned away quickly as if she hadn't been watching.

"I am truly sorry I have missed so much of your life." She said softly as Soul walked back over. "You seem happy." She looked at him as he raised a brow. "Tell me. What have I missed? What has made you happy? What do you have in your life?"

Soul looked at her a minute as she waited. He was trying to figure out what had suddenly changed in her. "Maka and I are partners, we work together to stop kishin eggs from developing farther. We've been partners since I was thirteen and she was twelve." He said as he moved closer while his mother turned back to the pictures Maka had hung on the walls. "I became a death scythe at fifteen and we were one of three teams facing the Kishin Asura on the moon." She looked at him. "I'm sure you heard about that fight." She gave a nod.

"But I had no idea you were there."

Soul shrugged. "Basically, everyone was involved. We were one of the only teams strong enough to really battle it out, so we went with our friends and took over where others couldn't do anything. We started dating soon after the treaty was signed and got engaged when Maka turned eighteen. Took us little over a year to plan and get everything set but we got married and managed to keep it away from prying eyes, so we could just enjoy being together with our friends."

"Prying eyes?" She asked confused.

"Two of the best people in the academy." Maka said making them both look at her. "One of the best weapons meister pairs, two advisors to lord death and two of his closest friends. Not to mention the fact that it made it official that the last death scythe was no longer available." She smirked at Soul as he chuckled and shook his head. "Broke quite a few hearts in that fangirl group." Soul rolled his eyes as she leaned into him. "Dinner's ready, do you want to tell Blair? I have a couple fish set up for her." Soul nodded before he pulled away to find where the cat had wandered off to. "It's nothing special, we haven't had a chance to go shopping yet."

"I'm sure it's fine." Her mother in law said. "My name is Kathleen, you can call me Kathy if you'd like."

Maka smiled brightly. "I'm Maka." The two women walked over to the little table while Soul walked out with Blair attached to his shoulder before she jumped off, wandering off to the fish Maka had set up. The three sat talking about the passed and the adventures for the rest of the night.

The next morning Maka and Soul stood with Kathy outside the apartment. "Are you sure you'll be okay?" Maka asked. "I'm sorry we can't show you around, we have a doctor appointment or else we would show you the city and the academy."

"Doctor?" Kathy asked. "Is everything alright?"

Maka nodded as Soul locked the door. "Yeah, we're just getting a check up on the little one." She smiled and put her hand on her belly that held a little bump.

"Little one?" Kathy asked as Soul walked over to the two women. "You're pregnant?"

Maka nodded. "Almost four months now. We just have to get a check up and make sure everything's alright." Suddenly the comments between Soul and Blair the night before started making sense.

"We have to head to the academy when we're done so if you need anything just have a taxi or someone take you there and ask for one of us. Someone will be able to point you in our direction." Soul said watching as his mother nodded with a bright smile watching as the two started off down the street.

Later that day Soul stood on one of the balcony's looking out at the city as he held his cellphone to his ear waiting for his brother to answer. "Wes." He said when he heard his older brother's voice. "What the hell's going on with mom and dad? Mom showed up here last night and had this whole thing about leaving dad and starting fresh with everyone."

"She showed up there?"

"Yeah. What's going on?"

Wes paused. "She and father have been fighting a lot more than usual. She had started hearing about you more and more over the last couple of years and she would plan to try to contact you and he would ruin it. She finally told him to either make amends and let her be apart of your life or he would be on his own. Apparently, things didn't go very well. All I really know is that he didn't want to make amends and she left."

"Guess that explains why she came all the way out here." Soul sighed. "Wish we had a heads up. We're still trying to work some things out ourselves, we don't need her being nosy."

"I don't think she'll be as bad as you remember." Wes said with a soft chuckle. "Just let her learn about your world, I'm sure it will all work out. How are things going?"

"Fine, I guess. Maka's ready to rip my head off any time I breathe wrong. Not sure if I'll survive this."

"You'll find a way and when you've made it, you'll be a father." Wes said making Soul smirk.

"Yeah, well it better hurry up or I'll never get there." Soul laughed softly. "Doctor said everything is moving perfect though, had another appointment this morning."

"I'm glad to hear that." Wes said.

"Soul Eater!" He looked down from the balcony to see his father in law with his mother.

Soul sighed. "Mother just showed up and seems to have found the old man. I'll talk to you later. Thanks Wes."

"Of course. Let me know how things go." Wes said before Soul hung up and put his phone in his pocket before he climbed over the rail and dropped making his mother gasp before Soul landed easily.

"She said she's your mother." Spirit pointed at Kathy as she stood with her hand over her mouth.

"Yeah, she is." Soul nodded. "She's visiting for a bit."

"Visiting?" Spirit raised a brow looking at his son in law as he pushed his hands in his pockets. Soul gave a nod. "Oh, how did the doctors go?" He asked excited.

Soul rolled his eyes and pulled a paper from his pocket handing it to Spirit who smiled brightly. "Still have a little bit to go before we find out what it'll be. Stein checked on it and said it's soul is growing fine, no problems from the black blood still."

"Good." Spirit smiled and nodded as he looked at the picture.

"He think's Maka's soul is working to keep it protected." Soul explained.

Spirit nodded handing the paper back. "So, the incident hasn't effected it."

Soul shook his head and shrugged. "We think Maka's soul somehow instinctively protected it when the black blood freaked. Besides it only freaked a minute before I was able to pull it back and we cut it off. So, I doubt it had enough time to really do any damage anyway."

"Better to keep an eye on it anyway. We only know what the black blood can do to you and what it can create. We don't know what it could do to a growing soul." Spirit put his hands in his pockets. "Let me know if you need anything." Soul gave a nod before Spirit looked at Kathy who stood silently listening to the two.

"It's fine, Death Scythe." Soul said making Spirit give another nod before he left. "That was Maka's dad, don't worry about him."

"Is the baby in trouble?" She asked as the worry had built up listening to the two. Soul looked at her a minute. "What was he talking about? What effects you, is there something that's hurting you and can hurt the baby?"

Soul sighed. "It's something that Maka and I got ourselves into when we were kids." He shook his head. "Black blood is something a witch created that was used to revive the Kishin and created the demon weapon Ragnorok. Maka and I were fighting the demon weapon and it's meister when we were kids and the situation got out of hand. I took an attack that would have killed Maka and almost killed me. The blood of the weapon got into my wound and I became infected with the black blood, the madness. It can cause a person to lose control and go on rampages, it can transform people into twisted evil beings. Maka's soul has an ability to nullify this. It's how we were able to survive and take control of it. We use it as our own weapon now, but when we resonate some of it enters her through our link. Her soul has always just destroyed it as soon as we were done our technique, but when Maka became pregnant it seemed to set its sights on the baby and it went out of control. I had to use everything I had to pull it back and away from Maka as she used her soul to nullify it. We don't know why it went crazy or what it can really do so we've been keeping a close eye on the baby and keep checking its soul as it grows. We haven't gone back in the field since." He explained as he looked at his mother.

"Does that make you sick?" She asked.

Soul shook his head. "No, but if it goes out of control it takes over and can go on rampages."

"Is that what happened with the baby?"

Soul paused as he put his hands in his pockets. "No. when it takes over, it uses my body. It attacks everyone, trying to kill everyone near me. What it did with the baby was inside. Our souls are connected, it happens when your partners to a point but with Maka and me we're connected more and all the time. When we resonate to do techniques and our souls become completely one. This lets the black blood into her. Her part of the soul always kept it at bay but for some reason it broke free and went for the soul within ours. It's hard to explain." He shook his head.

His mother looked at him before she nodded. "So, this black blood went inside for the soul of the baby?" Soul nodded. "What's going to happen?"

"Probably nothing. I pulled the blood back, Maka and I broke the resonance and she wiped out what was in her. We did it pretty fast, I don't think it even had a chance to get to the baby but we're doing these check ups and all just to make sure." She nodded.

She looked at the academy. "Show me what I've missed." Soul looked at her a minute before he led the way into the academy to give her a quick tour while they waited for Maka to finish her class for the day. Soul walked with his hands in his pockets as he showed his mother the school he had attended for so many years right beside Maka.

"Death Scythe Soul Eater?" The two stopped as two students walked over to them.

"What's up?" He asked looking lazily at the two. "Aren't you supposed to be in class?"

"There's a duel and they need a witness." The girl said.

Soul sighed. "What students are picking fights now?" He asked as he shrugged and followed the two around to the side of the academy where he caught sight of a knife meister and a hammer meister standing in front of each other glaring at each other. "These two again?" He sighed again.

"Remind you of anyone?" He heard as he turned to see Spirit walking closer as he stopped watching as the students couldn't stop glaring.

"Yeah the idiot and Kid." Soul said making Spirit smirk.

Spirit shook his head. "You better hope your kid doesn't take after another idiot weapon I know."

"I wouldn't call you an idiot, moron or freak maybe but not an idiot." Soul said before he dodged a punch with a grin as Spirit glared at him.

"Are you the witnesses or are you the two fighting?" The two men turned to find Maka with her hand on her hip as she looked at the two with a shake of her head. She walked up to stand between the two and sighed, shaking her head as the duel began. "I really wish they would find a better way to deal with their issues."

"Like you were any better." Soul said with a small smile. "Always in stupid fights, punching Black Star in the face… yeah, you're so much better." He looked back at the duel as she rolled her eyes at him.

"I don't understand, these two are students? Why are they fighting? What's this about witnesses?" Kathy asked watching the two go at it.

Maka gave a small smile as she looked around her husband to look at her mother in law. "Actually, all four of them are students. The two meisters and the two weapon partners. We encourage meisters and weapons to spar to test their limits, to push themselves and to solve some issues that can't be worked out. Although a lot of students decide to do this instead of actually working things out, or just because the new kid showed up at school."

"You and Tsubaki will never let that go." Soul shook his head as his mother looked at him curiously.

"You were in fights like this?" She asked making him smirk and shrug.

"A few times." He shrugged as he glanced at her before watching the students. "They're not moving like they were yesterday." Soul said making everyone look back at the students.

"Didn't James and Chris just get back from a mission?" Spirit asked looking at Maka who was staring at the two meisters and she furrowed her brow.

"I think Kid had them on some extra mission." Soul said, "They were late getting in, said they ran into a little trouble with the egg, but they got the soul." Soul shrugged. "Didn't seem like anything more."

"Soul." Maka said grabbing his arm making him look back out at the hammer meister. In a split instant the two lunged forward towards the dueling students. Soul transformed his arms, blocking the knife meister attack as Maka grabbed the hammer meister as he dropped, his weapon transforming to kneel worried beside them. "He's burning up. We need to get him to the infirmary." She said as she turned to look at Soul as he knelt beside her. "Probably got an infected wound and too stubborn to get it taken care of."

Soul turned the boy over onto his back and lifted the side of his shirt to see a badly wrapped wound. "You two should actually listen when you're in class. Didn't you learn anything in first aide?" He asked glancing at his weapon. "A weapon should know how to take care of his meister, including when to make him back down and do what he's supposed to do." He sighed and glanced at the worried weapon. "Let's go. I'm sure Nygus will have a lecture or two for you."

"And then you both will be retaking those classes to make sure you learn the importance of taking care of your wounds." Maka said as Soul pulled the meister into his arms and they all stood, Soul leading the weapon to the infirmary.

"How is he?" Spirit asked as Maka stopped by him and Kathy.

Maka shrugged. "He's burning up. Has a wound on his side that looks like it hasn't been taken care of properly. Soul will get them into enough trouble with Nygus and they'll be retaking every class I can think of about taking care of wounds and the basics." She shook her head. "It's not like it's really hard to deal with that stuff."

"You know how to deal with wounds?" Kathy asked looking at Maka who smirked.

She nodded. "Yeah, it's taught in the basics and all through until you start taking EAT classes. Its part of the weapon's lessons on how to care for their meister. Along with the stupid lesson to teach weapons that it's their job to die to protect their meister." She said with a little bitter tone. She gave a sigh and shook her head. "Well Soul will give them an earful then they'll deal with Nygus and Sid and then Kid will pay them a visit."

"I think they'll remember their lessons." Spirit said.

"I hope so." She said with a small nod. "Being out there against these new eggs is nothing to just slide by in. Especially with the rogue witches and humans trying to cause a war. When you have Spartoi coming home with injuries that knock them out for weeks, you'd think they'd pay a little more attention."

"Did you or the octopus head pay attention when things started getting out of hand?" Spirit asked his daughter. He knew their entire history. He knew his daughter's temper and stubbornness and he knew Soul's attitude and laziness.

Maka sighed. "We paid attention but never really thought about it until Italy."

"Italy?" Kathy asked.

Maka looked at her and gave a small nod. "It's where I got us into a bad situation."

"You did?" She asked confused still.

"You were doing what you thought was right." Spirit said. "You saw souls that were taken, and you went to do your job as a meister from the academy."

"I know but I should have reported it, I should have been more cautious or something." Maka said shaking her head.

"Stop blaming yourself for my decision." Soul said as he walked back to them. "Nygus said she'll take care of everything. I'll let Kid know when the idiot's awake."

"Good." She nodded. "And I'm not blaming myself." She added making him raise a brow. "I'm just saying that we didn't really pay too much attention to the important things until after that."

"Like you stop charging in and getting so beat up it takes almost all night to get your injuries dealt with?" He said making her stick her tongue out as he smirked. "Or when you stopped going face first into fights, without your weapon?"

"I did that once." She said crossing her arms as he stared at her.

"Yeah right, you wouldn't have so many scars if you had only done that once." He said and the two looked at each other before Maka turned away from him.

"The point is." She said as she looked at Kathy. "That we're taught to treat our wounds at least enough to get to the proper place. We are all taught better than to let our wounds go without taking care of them properly. And you can't even say anything about that. We made sure our wounds were cared for even if we did it ourselves." She said looking at Soul.

Soul shrugged. "Yeah, yeah. Don't you have to be in class of something?" Soul said making her smirk at him.

She looked at the other students hanging around talking. "Okay, that's enough hiding from class." She said as she walked towards the students, breaking up their talks. "Let's go, back to class with all of you." She shooed them back into the academy stopping by the others on her way after them. "Check in on James and let Kid know what happened."

"Don't worry so much." Soul smirked, putting his hands in his pockets as Maka gave him a small smile.

"You know that will never happen." She looked at her father. "Papa, be nice." She said before she turned back to Soul. "See you after classes." She pressed a kiss to his cheek before she said goodbye to Kathy and went back into the school.

Spirit stood crossing his arms giving Soul a disapproving look. "You have that look every time." Soul shook his head. "She's a big girl, besides you wouldn't be having that grandchild otherwise." Spirit glared but sighed defeated. "See you around Death Scythe. Come on, I'll show you a few more spots before the classes are over." Soul said as he led his mother into school.

"it was nice meeting you." Kathy said to Spirit before she followed her son.

That night Soul had been asked to stay to help Kid so Maka walked home with her mother in law, talking about everything Soul had shown her and told her. Maka smiled as she listened to her mother in law sounding happy to be a part of it all. she opened the door letting the woman in. "I'm glad Soul actually showed you around. He can be a troublemaker sometimes, but he has a bigger heart than a lot of people know."

"Does that include your father?" Kathy asked with a raised brow. "He didn't seem to like him much."

Maka smirked. "My father is something special. He knows how Soul is, he's seen him when he took care of me or when he protected others. My father likes to play the protective father, but he ends up just being a pain." She shook her head. "Soul's been dealing with him since we became partners and when we started dating and got married the two came to a little unspoken agreement. They pick on each other and still fight sometimes but they know it's ridiculous. They know what's really important."

"So they're okay?" Kathy wondered, remembering the discussion from earlier.

Maka nodded. "Yeah. They still act like they hate each other but they have an understanding. Watching them everyone thinks they are fighting but when it comes to any one of us needing anything, we're there for each other, just like all our friends. It's hard to explain."

The two women sat talking about how things had changed and learning about each other. Soul opened the door, dropping his keys on the table as he walked over carrying a bag of take out. "Figured it would be better than one of us having to cook." He told her as he set it on the coffee table and went for the plates and utensils.

"How is everything with Kid?" Maka asked as he dropped in the seat beside her.

Soul shook his head. "I'm going to kill him if he doesn't stop. He freaked about the clouds in the death room, had Patty trying to draw more to make it better but they weren't symmetrical." He shook his head and sighed. "I swear I'm going to take Black Star with me next time."

"That will only make things worse." Maka smiled. "Maybe Liz can do something about him."

Soul scoffed. "Yeah right. You know how he is." He shook his head as he handed her a container of food.

"Kid, Lord Death… he can be a little much sometimes." Maka explained to her mother in law. "Sometimes we need to try to reset him sort of." Kathy smiled and nodded remembering what Soul had told her about the new Lord Death. The three spent the rest of the night talking and sharing stories.

The next morning Maka was in the kitchen getting ready to start working on breakfast, Kathy was walking from the spare room as Soul wandered from his and Maka's room, pulling his shirt on. Maka froze and furrowed her brow. Soul looked at her as she stopped moving. "Maka?" He asked as he walked closer. "Maka, what's wrong?" He asked as he saw her grab the counter and bend forward a bit, feeling the pain seep into their connection.

"Soul…" She said as she bent forward, wrapping her arms around her middle.

"Maka." Soul said as he grabbed her, stopping her from falling. "Maka, what's going on?" He asked as feeling her tense in his arms. He pulled her into his arms more secure as he stood cradling her. She reached out and grabbed hold of him tightly as he carried her towards the living room.

"What's wrong?" Kathy asked as she followed him. "Is she okay?"

"I don't know." He said as he set her on the couch. "Maka, breathe, what the hell's going on?"

It took a while before Maka took a breath and looked at him. "Baby." She said before she cried out and curled into a ball.

Soul pulled his phone from his pocket pressing a number before waiting for the person to answer. "Death scythe, get your ass over here and bring Stein." He said before he hung up and sat watching as Maka cried out in pain again. He had no idea what to do or how to help while he waited for Spirit and stein to arrive. It didn't take long. When Soul tells him to run to their home and to bring Stein he knew it was urgent.

"What happened?" Stein asked as he walked over to the couch while Soul shook his head standing beside Spirit behind the couch.

"She was fine this morning, she was in the kitchen and just doubled over." Soul explained worried. "You tell me what the hell is going on."

"We should get her to the infirmary." Stein said as he looked at Maka curled into a ball.

"What's going on?" Kathy asked as Soul just nodded at Stein.

Stein looked at her. "There's a reaction happening between her soul and the baby's. Once I have her at the infirmary we can run some tests and see exactly what is causing this reaction." He explained to her. "I'll meet you there." Soul nodded as he pulled Maka into his arms and started for the door with Spirit at his side. "You must be Soul's mother."

Kathy nodded. "I am." She said as she stood taller, straightening her shoulders and holding her head up. "Why?"

Stein smirked. "I see where he gets his fiery soul from." Kathy looked at him. "You should go as well." Was all he said as he turned and made his way to the infirmary, making her follow so she wouldn't get lost. Stein had the three sit outside the door while he started the tests and worked to ease the pain Maka felt.

"She'll be fine." Spirit said standing across from Soul in the hallway. "Her and the baby, they're both strong."

Soul glanced at him before rubbing his chest. "I know."

Spirit watched as Soul shifted, still rubbing his chest. "What's wrong?" Soul shook his head. "Is it the scar?"

"I don't know." Soul shook his head and furrowed his brow. "It's not like with Crona, it's…. I don't know." Spirit pushed from the wall a moment before Soul gasped and bent forward, grabbing at his chest.

"Soul!" Spirit called as he grabbed the younger death scythe, stopping him from collapsing on the ground. "Soul, what's going on?" He asked worried as Soul pushed his back up against the wall, gasping for air before his legs gave out and Spirit eased him to the ground. "Soul, take a breath."

"Soul…" Kathy said standing by worried, not knowing what to do as she watched her son gasping in pain.

She saw this eyes flash as Spirit furrowed his brow. "Soul hold control. You're stronger than it." Soul slammed his eyes shut before he gave strangled noise, grabbing for his chest. "Stein!" Spirit called as loud as he could. "Soul, you need to hold control. You know what will happen if you let it take over. You'll hurt a lot of people and Maka can't step in. You'll end up hurting her and the baby."

"It…" He ground out shaking his head. "I… can't…"

"Spirit back away!" Stein said as he grabbed Kathy and Spirit and pulled them away as Soul cried out and dropped his head to his curled-up knees. "Soul, we've been here before." He said. "You've managed to grab hold of your sanity before, you need to do it again. It's more important now than before that you grab back control."

Soul's head slowly came up and his eyes were completely black as he looked at the three before blades slowly slid from his limbs. "Soul…. What's going on?" Kathy asked becoming afraid as Soul stood slowly, letting his head hang.

"Spirit get Kid and the others. There's something attacking the black blood. I'll hold him off." Stein said never taking his eyes from Soul.

"What's going on?" Kathy demanded but froze when Soul lifted his head holding and evil grin.

"Go!" Stein said as Soul lunged. Stein held his hand out sending a blast of his wave length through the young death scythe, making him fly down the hall. Spirit grabbed Kathy's arm and took off down the hall as she gasped horrified at what she was seeing.

Kathy watched as Spirit tugged her through the halls, calling to the people nearby to get back. "Ox, don't let anyone down there." He said to one who nodded and called to his weapon to stand guard to stop anyone from going farther. "Kid!" He called as he slammed open a door making the several in the room jump and look at him and Kathy.

"Death scythe. What's going on?" Kid asked worried, taking in the two.

"Stein needs you and the others. There's something wrong with the black blood. Stein's holding him at the infirmary." Spirit said.

"Liz, Patty, let's go." The two nodded transforming without a word. "Killik, get the others, surround the infirmary, don't let anyone in and prepare to stop Soul."

"Kid…" Killik paused. "Soul's the strongest of us even without being taken over. You really think we'll be able to stop him? Maka's the only one who can do anything."

"Maka's having her own issues." Spirit said.

Kid nodded. "Gather the others." Kid said before he followed Spirit and Kathy back towards the infirmary. "What's going on with Maka?"

"She collapsed this morning, Stein said it was something with the baby, so we brought her here and then it started effecting Soul. He started feeling it slow, said he wasn't sure if it was the black blood, just said it wasn't like with Crona. It just took over." Spirit explained as they ran towards Ox.

"Hold here, Killik is collecting the others." Kid told him as they passed. In a matter of minutes, they stopped in their tracks as they watched Soul spin grabbing Stein by the front of his shirt and throwing him into the wall stalking over to him. Kid pulled his guns up and fired making Soul fall back before he looked up at Kid.

"What…?" Kathy was confused and scared.

"Soul." Kid said as he slowly walked closer. "Maka told me all about this, she said you could still hear and see what was going on. If that's true you know you need to take control before you do something that can't be fixed. You need to be with Maka, not fighting friends." Soul seemed to roar as he shifted, ready to attack again. "Soul, don't make me use it on you." More blades slide from Soul. "Soul resonance." Kid said before he connected his soul with Liz and Patty bringing forth the cannons. Kid aimed and fired as Soul lunged again.

"Soul." Kathy gasped but Spirit held her from going forward.

"That won't keep him down." Kid said watching Soul lay on the ground. "Get Maka to safety. I'll keep him busy until the others get here and then we can over power him." Kid said as Soul came back to his feet, blades sprouting.

"No!" Everyone looked at the door to find Maka, leaning on the door frame. "There's…. it's not normal."

"Maka, you shouldn't be up." Spirit said coming to her side, holding her up.

"Soul… it's not the imp…" She said trying to control her own pain. She took a deep breath and steadied herself keeping her green eyes on Soul as he glared at everyone with black eyes and a sadistic grin. "Papa, I need to get to him."

"Maka, that's ridiculous. You can barely stand, you're in pain." Spirit tried to argue but she shot him a hard look making him stop. "You could get hurt."

Maka shook her head. "Soul would never hurt me, even when it's happened before he never let anything real bad happen to me. Just… help me get to him." Spirit looked at her a minute before he gave a nod, transforming and landing in her hands. She used the pole to hold herself up a minute.

"Maka, are you sure?" Kid asked still pointing his cannons at Soul.

Maka nodded. "I can reach him, and calm this. He just can't get a grip on it." She said as she stepped up beside him. "Something is manipulating it, it's not the imp taking over." She said. "Once I get him back… get the witches." She said making him nod as he stepped back. Maka stood up straight, pushing all of her pain, fear and worries away before she started towards her husband.

"What's going on? She's going to attack him?" Kathy asked horrified.

"No." Stein said breathing heavily. "She's using Spirit as a shield to get close enough to connect with Soul. Sort of like a manual reboot." He explained looking at Kid. "The madness…"

"The rogues." Kid said with a nod. "Once Maka has him down, get them locked away, I'll get grand witch and see what is going on." He said watching as Soul lunged making Maka run forward, straight at him. She used Spirit to twist and block and avoid being caught by the flying blades Soul reached out with. In one swoop and swiped at him. She slammed the pole into Soul's chest, pinning him to the wall before she shoved away another attack along with the scythe, slamming straight into Soul. She grabbed his face in her hands as the shock was clear on his face.

"You promised you would never let anything happen to me." She said as she saw the blades surround her. "You promised that you would always protect me, you swore you would die before anything happened to me or our baby." She said as Soul's body seemed to tense more. "I know you can hear me. I can still feel you. Soul, I need you to fight it, my soul can't do it alone. Help me." She said as she pulled his head down to hers, closing her eyes as she let her soul explode with as much force as she could muster, making a physical blast of air that went through the hall, making everyone back up a step. They watched as the blade burst and the two slid down the wall.

"Maka…" Soul said hoarsely. "What the hell… you could have been killed."

She smiled and shook her head. "You would never hurt me or the baby." She said softly before he sighed and pulled her to his chest, holding her tight.

"You're such an idiot." He whispered as the others came closer.

Kid bent down on one side making Soul look at him utterly exhausted, fighting the darkness of unconsciousness. "She's smarter and more talented than ever." Kid smirked looking at Maka as she passed out. "Stein is going to get you guys to a safe place away from people until we figure this out. I'm going to contact Grand Witch and get this handled. Get some rest and take care of Maka." He said.

"Thanks Kid." Soul said before he lost his fight and fell unconscious.

Kid sighed as he stood up and looked at everyone who had gathered. "The dungeon will be the safest place since it's warded from Witches, it will make it impossible for their magic to reach them." Stein said as he looked at the two unconscious. "I'll get everything moved down there so we can monitor the baby and keep them safe."

Kid nodded and looked around as the Spartoi stood waiting for their own orders, all wanting to help. "Death Scythe go with them. Killik, Fire, Thunder, Ox and Harver, you go help stand guard. "Kim, I need you go get in contact with Grand Witch. Tell her what happened and see if she can help or point us to who could have a hand in this." He paused as the teams nodded. "I'm going to call Black star and Tsubaki back. If this happens again, we can't rely on Maka pulling her strength together enough to blast it with her soul. Black Star and Tsubaki will be one of the only teams that can get him down and keep him down until we can figure something out." Liz and Patty transformed standing beside him as Stein bent to look over the two before he started getting them ready to be moved to a better place.

Kid left sending the rest of the Spartoi back to where they were but telling them to be prepared to run to help. Spirit bent beside Stein. "Will they be alright?" Spirit asked worried as he pulled Maka into his arms.

Stein gave a small nod. "It seems so. It even looks like the reaction with the baby is resolved."

"How?" Spirit looked surprised. "Does it have black blood too?"

Stein shrugged. "It may only have aspects of it or the fact that the black blood was getting activated caused it to have issues with the baby's soul since Maka and Soul always have a slight resonance even when they're not in battle." He shook his head. "Let's get them set up in the dungeon and we can work on figuring everything out more later. They're still connected so there shouldn't be any more issues, at least not for a while." The two men pulled the unconscious pair up and led the way to where it would be safer, getting them settled.

Kathy jumped as the door flew open and two people walked in followed by Kid. "They'll be alright?" The tall woman asked.

Kid nodded. "From what Stein said they will be. Soul's worn out from trying to get back in control and the fighting and Maka's still resting her soul after the blast she sent off."

"What about the kid?" Black star asked as he crossed his arms looking at his two friends. Over the last several years he had seemed to calm and understand the tense important moment apart from when he could let loose.

"From what Stein says everything's settled down and it's fine." Kid said making Black star nod. "He said it's still growing normally, no issues. The soul is still bright." A groan made everyone look back over as Soul slowly sat up holding his head. "Soul."

He looked at him with red eyes and gave a nod. "Yeah, I'm still here." He said shaking his head. "Did you really have to hit me that hard?" He said rubbing his head again.

Kid smirked. "I could have used the next level."

"Yeah, no thanks." Soul rolled his eyes, looking over at his old friend. "Good to see you two back."

"Yeah well it sounds like if something happens again there needs to be a god here to rough you up a little more." Black star said with a small smirk making Soul chuckle and shake his head.

"How's Maka?" Tsubaki asked worried as she walked farther into the room.

Soul looked at Maka, still sleeping on the bed beside him. "As far as I can tell she's fine." He said as he reached his soul out, soothing his wife's.

"Stein said her and the baby will be fine." Spirit said from the side of the room. "He said to keep an eye out, but everything is completely normal." Soul gave a nod. "We figured this would be the best place for now, since it's warded from witches magic."

Again, Soul nodded. "Did you find out who it was?" He asked looking at Kid.

Kid shook his head. "Grand Witch said she would look into it and let us know. We are working on our own to search the city, she said that whoever did it would have had to be close by so we're searching with the help of a few of our ally witches, Kim is heading the search. We'll figure it out. Just make sure you and Maka are up for the fight."

"Fight? What fight?" Kathy asked making everyone look at her.

Black Star cocked his head to the side. "Who are you?" He asked stalking closer. "You're the one!" He called making Soul reach his leg out tripping the meister making him face plant before glaring at Soul.

"She's not the one." He sighed. "Black Star, my mother. Mother, this is Black Star." He leaned back on the wall at the head of the bed looking at everyone in the room. Kid said he would check back later and left Spirit, Black Star, Tsubaki, and Kathy with Soul and the sleeping Maka

"Is there anything you guys need us to bring?" Tsubaki asked after a few minutes of idle chatting.

Soul shrugged. "Depends on how long we're stuck here. Probably some clothes and her books. You know how she is cooped up." He smirked glancing at Maka still sleeping making Tsubaki giggle and nod.

"I'll stop by your place and grab some things for you." She offered.

"Yeah, thanks." He glanced at Black Star. "Don't break anything or you're on your own explaining it to Maka."

"I cannot be held responsible for being almighty." He crossed his arms.

"You will be when you have a book permanently in your head." Soul smirked making Black Star pout as Tsubaki giggled.

"Come on Black Star." She said pulling him with her. "We'll bring everything in the morning. Let us know if you need anything else."

"Yeah, thanks, Tsubaki." She nodded and left with her complaining meister. "He's going to break stuff." He sighed shaking his head.

"Probably at least ten things." Spirit said looking at his son in law. "You're straining yourself."

"Don't worry about stuff you don't know, old man." Soul shot back as he shifted, trying to push himself up more. "I'm fine."

"Yeah right. Black Blood was manipulated by a witch to forcibly take over you, you had several direct hits from Stein's soul, Kid shot you then blasted you with one of his most powerful attacks, Maka had to go full force at you and then blasted her soul to clear the spell. Yeah I don't know what all of that can do separately let alone all together can do to a person." Spirit said sarcastically.

"Shut up." Soul scoffed.

"Why, what are you gonna do?" Spirit taunted making Kathy look between the two as they glared at each other. "Bring it, little octopus boy." He said crossing his arms as Soul glared at him.

"Whatever." Soul said knowing the older death scythe was right. He looked at Maka as she shifted in her sleep to lay on her side, closer to him. He felt the worry and fear rising back up.

"She'll be fine." Soul glanced back at his father in law who sighed and walked closer. "Stein said she's fine, just needs to rest and replenish the energy she put out. He said the baby is showing no signs of distress or any effects from the black blood either. You've still got Maka and you're still going to be a father." He watched as Soul gave a small smirk. "Now you better lay back down and get more rest before she wakes up and finds out you didn't do what you were supposed to." Soul grumbled but laid down none the less. Within a few minutes Soul was sound asleep and Maka rolled more to lay her head on his chest. Spirit gently covered the two.

"You and my son…" Kathy started. "Why don't you get along? What did my son do?"

Spirit looked at her and gave a small smirk. "It's not really that he's done anything. It started out as jealousy that my daughter would let him near her, she would trust him with everything from school to her life, but she wouldn't even look at me. I wanted to be there, to be the one she relied on. I saw him taking her away from me. But after they started dating, he told me to go over their apartment one night. When I showed up Maka wasn't happy, but he just smiled at her, told her to remember what he said and said he was heading out to help Kid with some work and left the two of us to talk." Spirit smirked. "He apparently had set everything up and forced her to give me another chance to be her father, to let me make everything up to her. Ever since then, Maka and me have been a little closer. We talk more and I'm part of her life."

"Then why do you and Soul always fight?" Kathy wondered as she took her seat on the opposite side of the bed.

Spirit smirked. "It's what we do." He shrugged. "It would be ridiculous if we were nice." He laughed. "But we do what we need to when the time calls for it."

"Like this morning?" Kathy questioned.

Spirit nodded. "When it comes to Maka and the baby we always put everything aside. But there's times that we need to talk…" He shrugged and gave a small smile. "After Maka and I talked when they started dating I talked with him, we had a very honest conversation. And when they found out about the baby and the black blood attacked it… he was so worried and afraid." Spirit sighed. "There's a lot more to your son than he shows. It took a long time, but I was able to crack through once in a while to see what's under that lazy jerk exterior."

Kathy looked at her sleeping son as he shifted, wrapping his arms around Maka. "I wish I could see it." She said sadly.

Spirit smiled. "I'm sure you will. He wouldn't let you be around him let alone Maka and the baby if he didn't want to let you in. Just give him time, he'll let you in to see it."

Kathy smiled softly. "I came here to try to fix things with him. his father and I had tried to force him to be a part of our life and our way of life." She shook her head. "We never understood what was so great about being like… a…"

"Monster?" Spirit added making her look at him. "I've heard it. I know what happened." He nodded.

"I left my husband because he refused to try to understand." She said. "My other son, Wes, he's been in contact with Soul more than anyone of us, and he's told me about what has gone on, what he's achieved. I've wanted to for a while but my husband forbid me from being any part of this. When I heard that Soul had achieved so much and had been involved in the war on the moon, I tried again. I fought my husband and I finally gave up. I left him. I wanted to be part of both my sons lives, I wanted to see the man he's grown up to be without us."

"And?" Spirit asked making her look at him. "What do you think? Now that you've seen a little bit of the man he's become."

Kathy looked back at Soul and gave a small smile. "I'm still confused and honestly I'm afraid, especially after what I saw today… but… I couldn't be prouder of who he's become and everything he's achieved." She looked back at Spirit as he smirked and gave a nod. "I never expected to find him with so much responsibility, so smart and talented, let alone married and about to become a father." She shook her head.

"That part still gets me." Spirit nodded. "It seems like yesterday they became partners and took their first mission or came so close to making him into a death scythe. It seems like time has just flew by watching them battle well above their level, always surprising everyone by coming out on top. And now my little girl is married and about to be a mother." He shook his head. "I can't believe it some days." They fell silent until a phone rang making them jump. Spirit picked it up from the table by the door.

"Is that your phone?" Kathy wondered as he walked closer.

"It's Soul's." Spirit said just as the weapon shifted. Sitting up he watched Spirit walk over. "Your brother."

"I'll call him back." Soul said as he rubbed his head and leaned back as Spirit clicked the phone off and set it back on the table. "Damn, my head feels like it's going to explode." He groaned.

"Here." Spirit said as he walked back over with a cup of water and a little medicine cup. "Stein said that if you or Maka had any pain, to take this." He handed it to Soul who looked at it.

"Well if the nutty professor says so." He downed the medicine making Spirit shake his head.

"Get more rest while you can." Spirit said before Maka's phone started to ring. "I'll handle it."

"Yeah, thanks." He said as he let his body relax and drifted back off to sleep, holding Maka close.

Spirit looked at it and found 'Mom' on the screen. With a heavy sigh he picked it up. He knew how this conversation was going to go, especially after the last two big ones that had her screaming at him for screwing up and letting their daughter go down the path they had taken and how it would just end up hurting her. "Kimi." He answered. "yes, this is Maka's phone…. There's been some things going on… no, no. She fine, she's just resting for now." He paused listening. "No, Soul didn't-…. Kimi, there's no need-…"

"Is that Mama?" Maka asked tiredly as she rolled to look at her father. Spirit looked at the two as Soul rolled onto his back watching as Maka pushed to sit up. "Let me talk to her." She said softly.

"Kimi, Maka, just woke up." Spirit said before he quickly handed the phone to his daughter wincing as Soul smirked, reaching out to take Maka's free hand, entwining their fingers.

"Mama…. Please don't yell so loud, my head hurts." She said with a sigh. "No Mama, it's nothing like that…. Soul did not go running around." She gave a quick glare at Soul who started to laugh. "No Mama, I didn't call about anything like that happening. I was trying to get a hold of you because I wanted to tell you, we're going to have a baby." Maka winced and held the phone away from her head as the sound of yelling and screaming could be heard from the earpiece. Soul sat up, still holding her hand. He knew exactly how her mother was when it came to meister and weapons together.

"I'll talk to her." Spirit offered.

Maka shook her head and slowly pulled the phone back to her ear. "Mama, please… no, that's not… why would you think…" Soul could feel the anger building and Spirit could see it on Maka's face as she tried to argue with her mother. "No, would you stop suggesting… Mama." Soul and Spirit saw the tears building before they started to really collect in her green eyes. Soul took the phone. "Soul." She said but didn't fight him.

Soul put the phone to his ear as Kimi continued her speech. "We've been through this before." He said cutting her off. "I don't give a damn what you think, or feel is best for Maka. She knows what's best and she does what she want's there's no changing that. She wants you to be part of her life but if you would rather be bitter then its better if you never show up."

"Soul." Maka said as the tears built more.

He sighed. "You never liked it but its her life. You can either be there for her and get to be a part of her life or you can just cut it off and not be part of her life or your grandkids. I don't give a damn what you pick but you keep yelling at her for being happy I'm not going to keep quiet." He hung up as she started yelling at him and he gave the phone to Spirit who gave a small smirk, happy to see Soul stand up to the woman.

"Soul, you didn't have to yell at her." Maka said. "I could have handled it."

"Yeah well, I've been watching her yell at you and make you feel bad for doing what you wanted, just because her life was screwed up. Not going to have her yelling at you anymore, and do you really want that around the baby?"

Maka looked at him before she sighed. "No, but she's still my mom."

"Soul's right." Spirit said making everyone look at him. "I really hate to admit that, but he is right. Kimi is your mother, she always will be, and I know she loves you more than anything, but she can be stubborn. She saw what happened with her and me and she's scared but she shouldn't take away your happiness for her own fears." He paused. "She doesn't know Soul, she hasn't seen that your life isn't ours. She hasn't tried to see it. Yes, she's your mother but if she doesn't want to let you be happy then you don't need her making you hurt."

Maka looked at him before she looked at Soul who was watching her. She swallowed hard, trying not to cry. "Come here." He said as he pulled her to him, letting her cry into his chest as he held her tight. He glanced at Spirit who gave him a small nod. Spirit looked at Kathy as she watched Soul, shocked at how he had spoken to his mother in law and now comforted his crying wife. Spirit motioned for her to follow and led her from the room, closing the door behind them as he started to explain what happened, letting Soul and Maka be alone for a little while.

It had been three days before Kid called Maka and Soul to the death room where the grand witch was waiting with several others. Kathy stood beside Spirit to the side as the two walked in, looking better than they had a few days before. "Grand Witch has informed me that she's used her connections to find out who it was that had tried to start something. She's taken care of them and taken their souls."

"What's to stop this from happening again?" Maka asked as she looked at the grand witch. "It nearly destroyed Soul and it attacked our child? It could have destroyed our baby as well. What's to stop someone else from stepping up and doing it again and maybe the next time we don't have the strength to fight it back, maybe next time it kills our child, maybe next time it destroys Soul or even me? Then what? What protection do we have?"

She felt Soul grab her hand as he looked at the Grand Witch, but it was Spirit who spoke. "You left the black blood, saying you wanted to see how it played out, to see how it could be controlled. We agreed to share, but Maka's right." He paused. "With all due respect of course."

The grand witch looked at him a moment before she bowed her head before Kid spoke up. "They were able to fashion a spell into these gems." He held out two stones. "They'll be able to block the magic from connecting with the black blood until they can find a more permanent solution."

Soul took the stones and gave a nod. "Thanks." The grand witch gave another nod. "So, we just keep these on us and we're good?"

"Yes. They will block the spell related to black blood." Kim said. "I made sure they blocked every spell known to mess with the blood, so they should cover everything. I'm helping them develop a spell or some way to hold the black blood at bay, to cage it."

"Thanks, Kim." Maka said with a small smile making her nod. "Thank you, Grand Witch."

She bowed her head. "I hope your child is as intense as you are." She said softly making Maka give a small smile. "It will definitely be just as strong as both it's parents. If there is anything more, we can do we will do our best."

Soul and Maka nodded. "Thanks." Soul said again before they turned, and he led Maka from the death room. She seemed to sway a bit as they reached the door and Soul grabbed her arm to steady her.

"She's still working on gaining her energy back from the amount of force she put into her soul wave length to stop the attack." Stein explained. "Another day or two of rest and she'll be back to her normal self."

"The child is fine?" Another witch asked concerned.

Stein nodded. "The child seems to be growing normally, it's soul has stabilized and is thriving. It seems they're all going to be fine."

Kathy and Spirit followed the couple from the room as they made their way back to the apartment. "At least the baby will be safe." Maka said as she examined the stone.

"What's important that all three of you are safe." Spirit said making her give a small smile and nod.

"And that we get to be with our family." She smiled happily. "And our baby will be able to know their grandparents."

"At least its grandmother and grandfather." Soul mumbled as he put his hands in his pockets. Maka wrapped her arm around his, leaning into his side.

"That's all it needs." She smiled resting a hand on her little baby bump. "Just the people who love us and the baby, that's all that matters." Soul sighed and shook his head.

"Maka's right. As long as the baby is loved it doesn't matter if it has one grandparent or all four or more. It only matters that the baby is loved and cared for by those in it's life." Kathy smiled. "I meant to ask before, have you told your brother?"

Soul nodded. "Yeah told him after Death Scythe and our friends." Soul said. "He said to let him know when the baby's due and he'll come out for a while. Said he'll be here even if he has to sneak out the back of the concert hall." He smirked as Kathy laughed softly. "Dad will be so pissed."

"I doubt Wes cares about that." Maka said smiled. "He's too excited, he's already trying to buy everything for the baby."

"Sounds like he's excited to be an uncle." Kathy laughed as Maka nodded. Soul watched his mother and wife talk, laughing and joking as they walked ahead leaving Spirit and Soul to follow.

"Feels good, doesn't it?" Spirit asked making Soul look at him. "To have your mother in your life and involved with all of this. I know it felt good be allowed in my daughter's life. I couldn't have ever imagined being a part of my grandchild's life and here I am a father to Maka and about to be a grandfather."

Soul looked from him and back to Maka and Kathy walking in front of them. He gave a small smirk and nodded. "Yeah, it feels good. I'm glad my kid will at least have her and you there for it." Spirit just smirked as they made it to the apartment where they had dinner together and started to get more comfortable as Kathy fit right into their lives.