Geno's POV, a month later

"Geno, we're going to head back out to Reaper, okay?"The panthers and hedgehogs say

"Okay, make sure he doesn't overdo it."I say

"We will! *SquAwK!* And we'll send love from you! That'll lift his spirits!"The ravens chirp

"Especially today! *SquAwK!*"A crow adds as they leave

That being our first year anniversary. Reaper's busy going through his lists with the Reaperlings' help. They came home to regain energy or to bring me messages. I send them back and have them make sure he doesn't overdo it. Usually he overworks himself or rushes when he has something on his mind that excites him outside of work. And the first anniversary certainly fits that criteria for him.

I make sure everything stays clean and in place, doing my usual chores around the house. I pass through the hallways and stop at the extra room.

I peek into the doorway and see that this extra room has been worked on. I see the walls are painted a faint blue with little paintings of birds, clouds and a peaceful atmosphere overall. There was even a crib set up with blankets, pilllows, and a doll or two. The walls were colorful with a childish style and there were even some cautions set up like gloves on a desk and a cover over as well as around the crib besides any normal child-proofing steps. I wasn't surprised. Reaper and I had a long talk about plans for the future and along with it came the topic of kids. Reaper set up a room for when we were ready to get that started. Though we both had our concerns considering it. Reaper feared hurting me or the child at any point with his power and I had concerns about the process being too much for either of our souls. And then there's the fact that we dunno how exactly to do it safely. Reaper has gone to Life curiously but hasn't shared much info, if any, that he got from her.

So for now this room is here, waiting for the day. Even setting the crib up with a barrier to keep even a hint of his power from hurting the baby once inside but letting him touch him/her/them through a curtain-like fabric. He even set aside gloves that will block his touch from hurting the baby outside of the crib. All precautions that still probably run through his mind. We even agreed on names.

I lean against the door, remembering what Destinio showed and how I also fell in love with the envisioned child in Reaper's imagination. While I was remembering this, I got a call from Gaster.

"Hello?"I say

"Eureka! Geno! I figured out the reason for your issues! Meet me at my room ASAP!"He shouts

*Click!*

Well okay then...

I go outside and make the long walk from our home to the giant Parthenon building for all the gods to live in. My brother built his own home nearby. I go inside and find Gaster's door. I find a note on it meant for me.

Geno, go see Life for answers. She'll explain better. -Gaster

What the heck? Ok, guess I'm seeing Life now.

I curiously go to Life's garden, wondering what Gaster is talking about. The door creaks open and I enter. Life was growing some flowers and turned her head when she heard me approach. She smiles wider at me.

"Oh! Hello, Geno! I am so glad that you came! Now I understand what Gaster was saying! I can feel it! Come, come! Come sit down."She says eagerly, patting the spot beside her

I was unsettled by her eagerness. Add in Gaster hiding away from a mysterious topic and I see red flags. I sit a few feet away from her.

"So...Are you still feeling side effects or those soul pains?"She asks

I nod.

"Well...We think we know why. Gaster looked through the check-ups since the time that he got the last bit of needed power back to Reaper. He found that the rates of power were increasing with your soul instead of fading away. It was as if something was generating from it. Then the thought crossed his mind and he checked the code in his files and his balance records. The tests had combined the code that made up Reaper's power, likely in that vial you spoke about, with your soul piece. And in his records, an unknown new life appeared in his records, under the family name...."She explains

I stay silent, letting her speak but caught onto what they were suggesting.

"That could only mean so few things. I can sense a new source of life from you, Geno. Normally, two monsters would combine their souls to create the magic for a new soul to form. Looking deeper or technical, that would exchange code from the two. Which isn't too far off from what happened with you. It probably wasn't noticeable at first since the new life would've had to grown from just code or power to a soul before it could even be detected. But there's only one way to confirm it besides my senses or suspicions."She continues

"O-Okay..."I say quietly

I show my soul and feel my body stiffen up. I see a smaller, newer soul forming in front of my own soul, a small link between the two.

"Ah, so we were correct. That may explain your symptoms since the new soul has some of Reaper's power so it was working to replace what Gaster took and it does depend on you to get the enrgy it needs. Congratulations, Geno!"She says, clapping

Glitches start to gather around the souls, phiding them just like my eye. I grip the grass beneath me tightly, feeling my soul pound.

"I....W-W-Will....W-What...? M-M-My...."I stutter, my mind spinning

"Aren't you happy?"She asks

"Of course! I-I'm just worried! My soul isn't exactly normal or stable....I don't want that to hurt the baby-"I begin

"Son. You have a son."She says

"I just don't want my soul condition to hurt the baby...I don't even know where I'd go from here to manage it...I want to care for him...I know Reaper will be overjoyed and cautious with his own concerns...I want to be able to help or reassure him..."I explain

"Geno, you have nothing to worry about. Everything will be okay. But the more you stress, the worse it may get. If you need help or advice, you can speak to me."She says, then explains some tips, advice, and directions to me

"O-Okay, thank you. I guess I have some errands ahead of me."I say

She nods.

I get out and swiftly head to the town, hiding my soul and lifting my scarf. I shop through the stores to get prepared as Life advised. Then there's the thought of breaking the news to Reaper. I don't even know when he will return home, just that it's when he finishes his list.

He will be so happy.....Will he even believe me? He has had some dark thoughts....

I head back home with the thoughts bouncing in my head. I put the supplies away where I could easily find it and go to the spare bedroom. I sit down in the rocking chair and slowly rock in it to relax. I even started to doze. But then a raven soars in, landing on my arm.

"Hey, Gen! Reaper just sent me to check on you!"The Reaperling chirps

I smile wider.

"I'm doing alright....Reaper isn't overdoing it, is he?"I ask

The raven shakes his head.

"Good."I say, continuing to rock back and forth.

The raven glances around curiously.

"Why are you in this room?"He asks

"Just clearing my head...."I say

"Ok, well he is nearly done with his list so he will be back soon."He says, then flies off

I smile, summoning my soul once the raven left.

"He will be so excited to meet you...."I whisper

The tiny soul glows brightly to my words. Then, I doze off.

Cccrrreeeaaak...

I shift in my seat at hearing the noise. I open my eye to see that it's early in the morning. Too early. I close my eye again, thinking that it's just the Reaperlings.

"Ssssh! He's asleep!"I hear my brother whisper

"Got it!"Reaper's brother says

I hear footsteps coming closer. I feel something get placed on me and open my eye, seeing the two on either side of me, adjusting a blanket onto me.

"Oh...Hey..."I say, rubbing my eye sleepily

"Gaster shared the news with us and we want to help you, especially since my brother isn't here."R!Pap says

My brother smiles wider.

"I'll get something cooking!"He says, heading to the kitchen

The next few days they stayed at my house helping me with the usual chores or handling Life's advice. Then my phone rang again. I pick it up and find it was Gaster calling again.

"Hello?"I say

"Hey, Geno. We have to speak. Meet me by the forest near your house."He says, then hangs up

I sigh.

"What's the matter, brother?"Paps asks

"Gaster wants to talk again. It sounds serious but the last time he wanted to speak, he sent me to Life at the last minute."I say

"Hmm, I'd be careful if I were you. It is Gaster."He says

R!Pap nods.

"We'll get some things together. Call us if you face any troubles."R!Pap says

I nod, then head out. I find Gaster at the tree with the heart carving. He was just gazing at it, seeming lost in thought.

"Umm, you wanted to talk?"I say

He turns and jolts as if surprised that I came, then clears his throat and nods.

"You went to see Life, correct?"He asks

I nod.

"Okay, well we have to keep this between us, okay? Who else knows?"He asks

"My brother, Reaper's brother, you and Life. At least, for now."I say

"Okay...Good. It's going to stay that way the best we can keep it, okay? It's too late to reverse it after all."He says

Wait...Keep it secret? What? Does he not approve of a child? I thought he'd be happy! But is he implying that if it could be reversed that he would remove the baby? And not to tell Reaper?

I grip my chest where my soul is.

"You're doing a great job at that by having us meet at an open forest."I say sarcastically

"Just agree please."He says

"Gaster, you make no sense! Keep this news secret? He is literally attached to my soul! It just takes a quick *CHECK* to see him! And I will tell Reaper! He'd be overjoyed and if not me, then someone will! People will find out! This is good news, not something to hide with shame like you are trying!"I snap at him

"No! Least of all my son! You won't tell him! He has no limits and will blab about it! And don't call it anything, then you'll get attached! That only worsens the issue! He can't find out! I'm warning you, Geno! It's better that he doesn't know!"He shouts

"Quit your shouting! How stupid are you, Gaster? I live with him and he's my husband! I don't keep secrets and it would be impossible to do so! He is death himself! Sensing and finding souls is his power! How do you expect that plan to work? And he's much better at keeping things in than you think! Clearly if you think that of him he has done a good job at keeping to himself! He doesn't just blab! And what are you even going to do with that warning? Threaten me if I don't listen? Good luck."I snap, honestly annoyed at his suggestions or insulting claims about his own son

I didn't like this conversation at all. Some father-in-law.

"Geno, I'm saying this to protect you and the child. It is becoming a demi-god, a target for any entity to go after. And being that it is a demi-god descendant of my son, that only enlarges the target. Target on it and you for being his husband or the other parent. Once he finds out, that connection will be made and put you both at risk. I could set things in order to keep you at a safe distance, but you can't te-"He begins

"One, stop calling the baby an it. He's a boy. Two, I see where this is going. I'm not letting you isolate him again just because you percieve an issue. Three, we can handle it. We are safe and just keeping it from him worsens things. So stop it while you're ahead."I say

"Geno, even if everything goes right, he could pose a threat to his own kid. There's no confirmation that he will be protected from my son's power like you are. And despite having a piece of it, he is still mortal. He could kill his-"He begins again

"You have no faith in him! Don't you think we would've considered that? He has prepared for that chance! What do you even think of him to have to warn me of these things as if he is an idiot or monster to look out for! He wouldn't hurt his own family and to even imply that is disgusting of you! That's it! I'm done! I'm telling him, goodbye!"I snap, marching away with my fists clenched and bone marrow boiling

My glitches picked up and were spreading to show how agitated I became.

"Geno, I will be watching over you."He says

I glance over and see him summon some flying orbs in fire. They looked like balls of galaxies and were surrounded by colorful flames. Not subtle at all. Some water from the wet tree leaves dripped on them, making them disappear. I took note of that mentally.

"Uh huh, don't care. Bye."I say, continuing to leave

I leave the forest, hearing my phone ding. I check it to see a reminder to get some fresh air as Life advised. Clear my head, relax, that sort of thing. I nod and take some deep breaths and walk through an open trail. I enjoy the peace and quiet as the trail takes me to a more isolated or empty space. My mind clears and my shoulders slump, Gaster's words leaving my head. I find a river and dip my feet in, listening to the natural sounds of the water splashing by. I glance around, then peek at my soul again.

"He may not be excited for you, but we will embrace you..."I whisper

The soul glows brighter and I smile.

Now how to tell Reaper....

TBC