I think this is my favorite one so far.


While it was definitely Jack's favorite, Soul could take it or leave it. What was all that fantastic about saying goodnight to everything from red balloons to mush? Who the fuck knew, but the way Jack's face lit up every time Soul grabbed "Goodnight Moon" was enough to keep the nightly tradition alive. This was a baby book, definitely not right for Jack's age anymore, but Soul had started dreading the idea that his son could grow out of it especially as the beautiful blonde-haired, green-eyed, perfect little picture of his mother was rounding the corner of seven. Every day he was proving to be more of a Maka-clone than they'd bargained for, and that independent streak was growing like kudzu. Maybe that was why the question didn't surprise him all that much, even though the topic did.

"Daddy?" Jack's eyes were still wide and thoughtful as Soul eased the book shut. It was always the last thing to read after the chapter book they'd started, a common occurrence for a Friday when Soul wanted to give Maka the extra quiet time.

"Yeah?" Soul prompted as he settled down with his head on the pillow next to his son. That tone from Jack usually meant eighty more questions were about to follow, so he at least wanted to get some rest while they shot past him.

"Was Pop-pop tellin' me the truth when he said you and Mama went to the moon?"

"Pop-pop told you that, huh?" Oh, Spirit, you're going to fuckin' get it. Soul tried to resist the frown on his lips.

"I know he likes teasin'..." Jack's little brow furrowed and Soul saw himself reflected there momentarily, a reminder that maybe Jack wasn't all Maka.

"Well," Soul started but stopped to clear his throat. Well, kiddo, we're superhuman, you know? I sorta flew your mama up there with Uncle Black Star and Aunt Tsubaki and we all had a grand time almost dyin' because we had to save the world. Kinda didn't have a choice.

"Daddy?" Jack questioned again.

Soul worked his lips together for a second. "You know how Mama told you about our work, right?" Maka, come here, please, save me from this!

"Yeah." Jack was nodding along, clearly ready for the point.

Maka, I know you can hear me, feel me, Soul muttered off in his head to no avail. He sighed. "We needed to go there for that. So Pop-pop wasn't teasin' but…"

"But?" Jack prompted.

Soul got up on his elbow, letting his hand reach for that tiny face and smooth the ashy-gold hair from his face. "It was hard, kiddo. I was scared. I think Mama was scared, too, but you know her. I guess that was when I knew how much I loved your mama. How important bein' together was."

Jack's eyebrows shot up as the idea hit him. "Was that when I was born?"

Soul chuckled, "Nah, you were way after that. But maybe that's when I first started thinkin' about you. First time I thought maybe this is where me and your mama were gonna end up."

"Do you think I can go to the moon?"

"Maybe," Soul answered with a shrug. Kiddo, I'm waitin' every day to see your weapon form or that meister energy shinin' through. I know it's comin' because there's no way with me and Maka that you aren't but… still scares me, too. Maybe a little part of me is wishin' the only way you see the moon is through the window, not up close in a battle for life and death. "Guess we'll find out when you're older. Alright, Jack, you've reached the question quota for the evenin'-"

"Daddy!"

"So shut your eyes-" Soul continued with as much of a threat in his voice as he could muster, "-and start countin' sheep." He planted a soft kiss on Jack's forehead as the little boy groaned one last complaint. "G'night. Love you."

"Love you," Jack grumbled back, begrudgingly shutting his eyes.

Soul smirked all the way to the door, only losing it when he saw another set of green eyes mischievously staring at him as he entered the hallway. "Thanks for your help with that," Soul complained as he shut the door gently.

"You had it entirely under control," Maka whispered back as she approached him. She slid her arms gently around his waist, wrinkling his t-shirt up in her hands.

"Either way, Pop-pop's gonna get it." Soul was still ready for more bellyaching, but as Maka tilted her chin up at him, he entirely fell victim to the ploy, leaning down to grace her with a few tender kisses. His hand caressed over her cheek, his thumb finally settling to play with the fine hairs just in front of her ear. "Did I tell him the right thing?"

"About the moon?" Maka murmured, still mostly lost in his kiss even if it was nothing new.

"Yeah," he sighed softly. "Sometimes, I just… I wish there was a fuckin' book on the balance between protectin' him and lettin' him grow especially when it comes to 'your parents are a demon weapon and a meister, so, kiddo, life's kinda a toss-up.'"

"Maybe you should write one," Maka giggled.

"That one line would be the entire book," Soul huffed.

"Well…" Maka dusted a kiss against the five o'clock shadow that had started to litter his chin. "I really did like the part about how you- as a teen- were thinking we'd end up together with a kid and another on the way," she teased. "Isn't that romanticizing it a little bit, Soul?"

There was no baby-bump to speak of, not yet at least since Maka had barely shown with Jack to begin with, and the idea of 'the second spawn' as Black Star had so nicely named it was still fairly new in its own right, but Soul still let a hand search for it. "Dunno, babe. Maybe we just settle on love at first sight and say I was dreamin' of this since you took my hand from the piano."

Maka snorted, "You're getting soft in your old age. What happened to Mr. Cool?"

Soul shrugged as he stole another kiss. "Haven't been cool a day since I met you, Maka Albarn."

She shook her head softly, letting her nose nuzzle his. "Opposite. Every day you get cooler. Proved it right now with Jack, even 'the second spawn' agrees."

He let any last lingering fear the memory had brought back to him disappear, once again enveloped in their current reality rather than that tumultuous past. "Agree to disagree."