They all peer down in the bassinet where a baby is tucked in with a pink blanket, staring right back at them with her wide, steel blue eyes.

''I mean, she could be anyone's,'' Bel says, tilting his head to the side with his hands resting on his hips.

The rest of Varia turn to look at the prince, unsure whether he is kidding or not.

''She is blonde like you, trash.''

''She has your cool and royal eyes too, Bel.''

Fran lifts the baby's shirt just enough to peek at her stomach and the baby giggles at the contact. ''She has the same weird birthmark as you do, Senpai. I think you're the lucky winner.''

Cold sweat runs down his neck, and his throat is dry – despite being outside, surrounded by fresh air, the prince feels as if all the oxygen has been stolen from him.

The baby can't be his. He is no parent material, he has no idea how to take care of a baby – hell, Bel doesn't even know whether he likes babies or not.

The possibility of the baby being his is there, however - around nine months ago, he was having a bit too much fun with several different people. Bel doesn't remember their faces nor their names, so he can't track down the mother of his child. And even if he could, it wouldn't get him anywhere. A mother wouldn't abandon her child at someone's doorsteps if she wanted to keep the baby.

Of course, there was always the possibility that it was Bel and his reputation the mother didn't want to deal with. Being linked to a crown prince and an assassin working for a mafia organization came with a big target on one's back. Anyone sane would tap out of that fate if possible.

Bel glances towards the little bundle of joy. He won't believe the child is his until someone with a medical degree confirms it

''Congratulations, the baby is yours.'' The doctor states dryly, looking through the test results she had printed out before handing them over to Bel. ''She is a healthy baby, too. Around seven weeks old. I'll be back with all the documents you need in a few minutes, please stay seated.''

Before leaving the room, the doctor changes the baby's diaper and buttons up her onesie, handing her over to Bel, who reluctantly takes the infant in his arms. The door shuts close behind the doctor, but Bel doesn't move an inch; he is frozen on the spot with his daughter nuzzled in his arms.

Bel stares at the wall in front of him, his soul leaving his body with each passing second, heart rummaging against his chest as panic threatens to rise inside him.

He is a dad, a parent. Responsible for another human being.

Was he even cut out for being a parent? Everybody knows his job isn't exactly ideal for someone with a young child and he has never even considered having a child of his own. Would she be better off in someone else's care instead?

A demanding wail comes from the baby and Bel snaps back to reality. He glances down at his daughter, the same pair of blue eyes staring right back at him, teary and pleading, as if she sensed his doubts and thoughts about abandoning her. And that's when Bel realizes that whatever he does, giving her for someone else to raise is not an option.

She shares his royal bloodline; she is a part of him whether he wanted it or not.

Bel gives her a pacifier and props her on his shoulder and bounces her slightly. The baby is still crying and frankly, Bel has never felt so lost in his entire life. He tries to calm her down, but bouncing the baby isn't cutting it.

''Shh, I'm trying my best here, princess,'' Bel shushes, rubbing her back in circular motions. It seems to work. Her wailing turns into upset hiccups but it's enough for Bel to gain some confidence and feel less like a failure.

The baby clings onto him as she calms down while Bel whispers comforting sweet nothings to her, bouncing her slightly as he paces around the room. In a way, Bel is also clinging onto her, unable to even consider letting her go now. All the panic and worry from earlier has transformed into a sense of purpose and a need to protect the child.

His parents had never been there for him, never supported him nor gave him love. All attention from them had to be earned, usually by one-upping his twin brother in something. Their love was entirely conditional. He and Rasiel were just props used as the King and Queen pleased. He doesn't look back to his childhood with fondness.

''We'll get through this together, somehow,'' Bel murmurs and places her in the bassinet when she calms down enough for him to dare to move her. He reaches to tuck her in better under her blanket, afraid she might catch a cold even though it's late July. His eyes scan the girl – his daughter – and one thing is crystal clear to him; he won't let her childhood be miserable or filled with memories of an unloving parent. He will do everything in his power to be the parent that his parents failed to be to him.

No matter what.


After the initial shock of one of them being a parent, Lussuria had rushed to the nearby store to buy the absolute essentials for the baby - infant formula, diapers, a pacifier, and a bottle. What he had bought lasted exactly three days until it was time to visit the store again, this time with Bel.

"What does an infant even need?" Bel whines, leaning against the shopping cart while browsing through the baby aisle.

"More diapers, for sure." Lussuria hums, throwing several packages in the cart with a full shelf of wet wipes.

Bel makes a disgusted face. "I'm not going to change any diapers, that's a job for a peasant not for a prince."

Lussuria rolls his eyes - this much is expected from the snobby prince. He looks down at the handwritten list they made. "She also needs another pacifier, milk bottles, toys…."

In all honestly, Bel is glad to have Lussuria there. God knows he wouldn't have had any idea what the correct diaper size is or what type of formula to get. Bel purses his lips slightly - the doctor should've given him a parenting guide or something, after getting something major like this thrown in his face.

While Lussuria is stacking essentials in the cart, Bel is looking around for anything that catches his eyes. His eyes light up as soon as the prince sees the softest looking blanket neatly folded in one of the shelves. Bel picks up a white blanket with a light pink crown pattern all over it. A wide smile spreads on his face.

"I'm getting her this."

"Bel, she has a blanket already."

"It's not fit for a princess, I like this one."

Lussuria lets him have his way - it's no use starting to argue over a blanket. They still have a lot more to buy and Lussuria needs all of his energy for the shopping spree.

They pick out several other necessary items (along with a few unnecessary ones, mostly because of Bel) and head towards the clothing stores.

"What sizes are we looking for?" Lussuria asks.

Bel is already stacking several tiny dresses in the shopping basket.

"I don't know," He replies, throwing a few pairs of shoes in to accompany the dresses. "The tiny size?"

"We should get three different sizes of each, then," Lussuria says, ''You might want to pick some rompers, those are easy to put on.''

Bel nods in agreement.

Fashion and shopping are something Bel and Lussuria have always bonded over ever since the prince had joined Varia. Now, looking at Lussuria comparing two different pajamas before throwing them both in the cart makes something bubble in his chest. As if they had come a full circle, shopping clothes for Bel's daughter.

''We have all the clothes she needs now, but shouldn't we get something warmer for her as well?'' Lussuria wonders out loud, tapping a perfectly manicured finger against his chin. ''It'll get colder before we know it. We don't want autumn to surprise us, right?''

''Better to get everything we can at once,'' Bel says, ''The prince is busy.''

They end up spending a fortune on the baby but as they leave the store, Bel seems pleased with the haul and excited to bury his daughter in luxurious toys and high fashion dresses.

When they come back from shopping, the baby is cradled in Fran's arms. Mammon is sitting on the floor in front of Fran, calculating something with their phone. Possibly the extra expenses the baby was going to cost them.

"What is she wearing?" Bel asks, bags dropping on the floor as he strides towards the two. Instead of the pink onesie she was wearing earlier, his daughter was now wearing something dark and familiar.

Fran lifts the baby towards her papa. "Mammon's uniform," he says, "her previous clothes got covered in shit and this is the only thing that fits her."

Bel lets out his trademark laugh, reaching for his phone to take a picture before scooping her up in his arms. This is a sight he wouldn't see anytime soon.

"Oh right," Fran says, picking dirt out under his fingernails, "Boss wants to see you. Says it's urgent."

Bel adjusts the girl's position in his arms, Lussuria's advice to support her head ringing loud and clear in his mind.

"Empty the bags while I'm gone." He demands, striding towards the kitchen to grab the baby's milk before he heads to Xanxus' office.

Xanxus is sitting by his office table, legs thrown on the wooden surface as he browses a stack of papers. He motions for Bel to come in without bearing a glance to the prince.

"What's up, Boss?"

Xanxus slides two papers towards him. "Read these through. You up for the mission?"

Before Bel can read the first sentence, the baby starts to bawl her eyes out - she is hungry, and much like her father, she is not patient when it comes to food.

Bel curses under his breath and shoves the baby in Xanxus' arms putting the bottle in her mouth.

Xanxus looks alarmed as the baby starts gulping down her milk happily and Bel laughs at his internal panic. He had felt the same way when he held his daughter for the first time - panic, quickly followed by adoration.

"Just hold her like that while I go through these."

Xanxus has never in his life held a baby before, let alone fed one. He stares at the little creature in his arms, icy blue eyes meeting his red ones as she empties the bottle. The boss of Varia isn't a religious man but at that moment he prays for every God and deity that the baby doesn't start crying while in his arms.

When the baby is finished, he puts the empty milk bottle on the table, unsure what he is supposed to do next. Bel seems to have noticed as he advises Xanxus to burp her, not bothering to tear his gaze from the papers in his hands.

Xanxus copies what he has seen Bel do before, tapping her back with his hand. It's possibly the most gentle he has been with another person in a long time, he realizes. He doesn't react when she burps milk on his shoulder, only wipes her face carefully before cradling her in his arms.

Bel is still focused on reading the details of his upcoming mission and Xanxus doesn't bother him. Instead, he grabs the toy the baby had dropped on his table earlier and wiggles it in front of her, unsure how to entertain an infant.

The baby giggles and swats the toy playfully. A tender smile tugs the corners of his mouth - the kid has spunk. They play like that until the baby tires and wraps her tiny fist around his index finger as she starts to drift back asleep.

Something stirs in the man's chest as he watches the defenseless baby in his arms and Xanxus recognizes the feeling immediately. The urge to protect her stirs inside him, loud and present. He knows, right there and then, that he would kill a man for the sake of this child if he had to.

''She fell asleep?'' Bel curses something under his breath and folds the papers messily to fit into his uniform pockets. ''Hope you're not too busy, she is a light sleeper so I can't move her until she wakes up.''

''Bel, the mission?'' Xanxus grunts, ignoring the prince entirely.

''I'll do it.'' Bel rubs his neck, a habit of his whenever something bothers him.

''But?''

''I'll be gone for one night and two days. She'll need a babysitter.''

''So? One of the maids can do it.''

Bel shakes his head, stubborn as ever. ''Has to be someone I trust.''

''Fine, the rest of the scum will take turns.''

This seems to please the prince and he relaxes visibly. It's kind of sweet, Xanxus muses, that the prince trash doesn't let just anyone watch over his daughter.

''Levi isn't allowed to even breathe in her presence, though. Who knows what germs that thing carries.''


Bel is sitting on the common room sofa, holding the infant close to his chest while watching TV on low volume. The whole night Bel had tried to get her to fall asleep in her crib but as soon as he placed her in it, the baby started crying. Eventually, Bel had given up with the crib and came downstairs to kill some time while his daughter slept blissfully on his chest.

Bel rubs his eyes, careful not to wake the baby with his movements and yawns. Couldn't she pick a better night to be menace instead of keeping him up right before a mission? He is about to drift to sleep himself when Fran enters the room and takes a seat next to Bel on the sofa.

''If you wake the baby, I'll kill you.''

"You know, Senpai," Fran whispers, "you have to give her a name soon. What if she ends up thinking her name is baby?"

"I know." Bel hisses, rubbing his daughter's back gently. "It's not that simple."

Fran hums and changes the channel to which Bel responds with a glare.

"I'm sure it's very challenging for a fake prince." He says, "Just name her Susan, problem solved. You're welcome."

"I'm not fucking naming her Susan. She has to have a name fit for royalty."

Fran shrugs and turns his gaze to the TV.

"Does it matter? You're not a real prince anyway."

If he didn't have his daughter nuzzled up against his chest, he would've chucked his knives at the illusionist. Bel bet his money that Fran was aware of this.

A comfortable silence falls between the two assassins as a mediocre action movie plays on the screen. Bel didn't know why exactly Fran was still up and about, but he appreciated the company nevertheless.

''Astra,'' Bel whispers to no one in particular, but it's enough for Fran to whip his head towards the older man. ''I think I'll name her Astra.''

Fran opens his mouth but Astra is quicker, interrupting him with her crying, demanding food. He rushes to the kitchen to prepare the bottle before her wailing manages to wake up the rest of the house as well.

"I don't think she is a fan of her name, Senpai," Fran comments from the kitchen as Bel tries to grab her attention by waving the baby's favorite frog toy in front of her.

''Shut your mouth and bring her the bottle, toad.''

Fran ignores the royalty and gives the baby her bottle. As soon as the nub is in her mouth, she falls silent and gulps down the milk, hand reaching up to grab onto Bel's.

"You have the appetite of your papa, little Susie," Fran coos at the baby in his monotone voice, taking his previous seat on the couch.

''I told you, she's Astra, not Susie and definitely not Susan.'' Bel's eye twitches - the illusionist was pissing him off on purpose, knowing he couldn't react with Astra in his arms.

Astra, much like her papa, was a greedy and quick eater - in no time the milk bottle was empty. Bel looks at his daughter and judging from her already drooping eyes, she was about to fall asleep any minute now. This was his chance to place her in her crib.

He doesn't bother to say goodnight to Fran as he rushes upstairs to his room where her crib is stuffed in until the preparations for her room are done.

Mink, who had been asleep in her bed, moves out of the way as soon as Bel places the baby down. The box animal trails around Astra, the fluffy white tail tickling her jaw as he passes, settling down to sleep at her feet.

Bel smiles fondly, scratching behind Mink's ear as he gives Astra her pacifier and rubs her back until she falls back asleep.

Mink watches her, ears perked up and ready to react if she was to make any noise. In the short time the baby had been with them, Mink had created a bit of a protective streak towards the new addition to the family. He would spend the nights in her crib even when Bel tried to get him to sleep in his expensive bed and showed his teeth to the servants and maids if Bel or other guardians weren't in the room with his daughter.

Mink had never been one to accept many people in his pack but Bel was more than happy to see his companion accepting his daughter as his own in such a short time.

Bel glances at the time from his phone and groans; it was about time for him to head towards the airport for his mission. He grabs his box weapon and Varia coat, leaning over to take one last glance of his daughter who was sleeping soundly in her crib.

''Papa will be right back,'' he promises, voice barely louder than a whisper. He turns on the baby monitor and takes it to Squalo's room, as they had agreed earlier the day.

Now it was up to Varia to look after her for the next two days and all Bel could do was to have faith they succeed.


A/N: Please leave a comment if you liked the story. Thank you for reading, until next time!