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Tender Love

Rukia yawned, stretching her thin, pale arms over her head as she made her way down the dimly lit hallway. Her hair was clipped back in a butterfly clip the nurse at the hospital had given her to hold back her sweat drenched locks and her four month pregnant belly was brushed lightly by the end of the loose, grey off-the-shoulder short sleeved shirt. It was early on a Sunday morning and do to the lack of noise but absence of Ichigo in bed when she woke up, Rukia guessed she was the only one in the house awake and Ichigo was out for his daily run.

It was only a matter of time now before her sons woke up. Two sons to shut Ichigo up and Rukia only prayed for the good fortune of a girl this time. She yawned again as she slipped into the kitchen flipping the lights on without a second thought, to her knowledge it was 6:27 in the morning and everyone was either asleep or out.

"Happy Mother's Day," three voice screamed, two of them children one of them a man who really had no business yelling that early in the morning.

A wide smile stretched across Rukia's face as her five year old son ran to her leg, "Thank you," she said in the voice she used when talking to her sons, bending down to hug the little boy clinging to her leg.

"Mommy I made you this in school," the little boy beamed handing her a piece of blue—the little boys favorite color—construction paper with "I love you mommy," spelt incorrectly on it with macaroni pasted on it in random patches.

Rukia's mouth dropped in admiration, "It's beautiful, Takurou," she smiled wider kissing the boy on his cheek and hugging him tighter to her side. "Thank you so much." She looked up as her younger, one and a half year old son ran to her this time.

"Mama," the boy called flinging himself into her arms kissing her cheek.

Rukia stood with Hiromichi, her youngest son, in her arms taking Takurou by the hand and walking to the kitchen table where Ichigo sat, a smug look on his face. "Didn't know, did ya'?" he smirked standing up, kissing her chastely only because she would curse him out when they were in front of the children and he slipped her tongue.

"No, I did not," Rukia responded in her baby talk voice, looking at Hiromichi who grinned widely when she straightened his night shirt. "I was completely surprised," she rubbed her nose on her son's smaller, softer one.

"Well that's good," Ichigo scratched the back of his head, picking up Takurou and placing him in the empty chair in his wake. "Because the boys and I have a whole day planned out for you.

"Awe," Rukia cooed setting Hiromichi down, "Look at all my men, planning an entire day just for me." She began to make her way towards the stove before Ichigo's long arms caught her. "I'm just going to make breakfast, Ichigo, you can let me go."

Ichigo pulled her in, "It's Mother's Day, the least I can do—though its not," he grinned, "Is make you and the boys breakfast. I was even thinking I could get out the waffle iron that we got you for Christmas." He winked, releasing her and moving away.

Rukia watched as Ichigo opened the cabinet, the words she wanted to ask teetering of the tip of her tongue contemplating whether to just swallow them or release them. She knew he would turn off for the day, and it was just so early, but she needed to ask.

Whether it be the pregnancy hormones or just the Rukia will power Ichigo fell in love with Rukia spoke. "Mommy and Daddy will come get you when breakfast is ready," she turned to Takurou, "Baby can you take your brother with you?"

"Yes mommy," Takurou nodded happily released from his seat, taking Hiromichi's hand out of the trash can and pulling the slightly giggling toddler behind him.

Rukia smiled as she watched her sons bound out of the room, "Ichigo," she turned to him as he set a bowl down on the counter top.

"I know what you're going to say," Ichigo replied before she could even speak. "I just…" he paused, "Don't want to go this year. The boys aren't old enough and I don't want you to get sick because it always rains."

Rukia came up behind her husband, wrapping her arms around him, molding her body to his back. "Well that could be an issue," she sighed lightly. "Its mother's day and your not going to go see your own mother. I'm sure Isshin won't be pleased with you at all, plus I already called ahead yesterday for a couple bunches of flowers for her grave."

Ichigo turned around, hugging her tightly to his chest. "You always know how to push me," he chuckled.

"Yes I do," Rukia smiled pulling herself back from him and placing a hand on her pregnant belly, "Now, mama's hungry. Chop, chop papa. She's eating for two thanks to your 'oopsy'."

Ichigo laughed and watched her as she walked to the pantry to get the flour. "Oh come on, I thought it was on."

"Should have thought harder," she laughed, setting the flour down next to him. "And for your sake, hope it's a girl." Ichigo just shook his head, cracking some eggs in a bowl.