"You look pregnant today." Juuzou noted, head tilted to the side as he popped into the tiny studio apartment that had been provided for you by his meager salary while he was in training.

"So do you." You giggled at him as he stuck his tongue out at you. "Want to do it?"

His face fell immediately and he turned around and leaned against the doorway. He hadn't told you what had happened; only that he had gotten a job to take care of you and the baby.

"No, no. I'm, uh, I'm tired. Long day at training. There's a big guy there and I think he's hurting animals. Isn't that weird? Who hurts little things like that?" He abruptly changed the subject. "Anyway, I brought you food. We need to find a way for you to get food though, it's hard for me."

"I'm starving every day." You complained. "I could go out you know."

"No, no. Not pregnant. The people I work for... they hunt ghouls..." He admitted.

"Oh... Are you going to..."

"I mean... I have to..." He rubbed his white hair. "Never you though. Obviously. Or the baby. When I finish training, they give us a lot of money and stuff, so I can take care of you forever."

"I think I'd like to meet another ghoul..." You mumbled. "I'm lonely when you're gone..."

"I'll try and figure out maybe somewhere where they meet? I'm sure we have that kind of intelligence somewhere or maybe someone knows? Or maybe a ghoul will tell me? Anyway..." He tossed a plastic bag onto the counter. "This is for you. When will the human stuff be ready for me?"

"It's ready I think?" You frowned at him. "Although I don't know if it'll be tasty. Patatas?"

Your scrunched your forehead at him as he broke into raucous laughter and bent over at his waist.

"Potatoes! They're potatoes!" He laughed even harder. "But thank you for making them for me, silly."

You smiled and blushed at your mistake but couldn't help the smile that spread across your face. Living without your mother had been especially difficult these past few weeks. Who knew it would be so hard to figure out just how to be so independent? Bills and money and food and so many grocery items. And on top of that, you were always hungry and you had a little alien growing inside of you. It was no wonder that Juuzou spent so much time away from you.

But nevertheless, you missed him. By the time he crawled into bed at night, you were already sleeping and when you woke up, he was already awake and getting ready for the day. It was almost like he was avoiding you. That feeling gnawed at you, but you pushed it away as you set out his silly human food on a plate for him. At least you still had him. And you had a mini-him. What more could you really ask for?

AN: Woo! Just a tiny update when I should be sleeping! I want my kindergartners back!!

Three and a half weeks left!

Here we go!