There was someone knocking on his door. Alaude reached for the gun he kept under his pillow. His apartment was a safe house, a place he only came infrequently to, in between his travels for Giotto, Vongola and CEDEF. He knew exactly how many knew the location of this apartment and knew none of them would be over. Not without calling.

He unlocked the door, jarring it slightly, and peered through the crack. There was no one present. A prank? Kids did stupid things these days.

Until a sound caught his attention and Alaude looked down.

There was a basket on his doorstep. Alaude shut his door, unlocked the chain and opened it the door fully. He looked around, seeing no one around.

Alaude kneeled down, lifting the blanket. A baby. There was a baby on his doorstep. Alaude was almost certain this was a prank being pulled by Daemon. The Mist user has a twisted sense of humor and this kind of thing was exactly what he would have pulled.

Except...

Alaude lightly stroked the cheek of the baby. The shape of the eyes and nose, the disgruntled unhappy pout, they looked like his features. But the black hair… The baby's eyes opened slightly, revealing gray eyes. Tsubame's eyes.

Alaude clicked his tongue in frustration. Tsubame had gone missing three months ago, vanished overnight. He searched high and low for her, turning over every piece of information and found nothing.

And now there was a baby with her eyes on his doorstep?

The twisting scrunched expression alerted Alaude that the baby was gearing up to cry. Gently, Alaude picked up the baby, remembering everything Elena had forced everyone to learn as she was due next month with her own child. He swiftly checked the diaper, hoping he didn't have to change or a cry for food as he had no formula here. Thankfully, the baby had only wanted to be held it seemed, settling in Alaude's arms as Alaude rocked it back and forth.

He picked up the basket, finding several diapers, a can of formula, one bottle and a letter.

Alaude picked up the letter, unfolding it.

Hello Alaude,

Meet your son, Kyoya. Yes go run the tests to confirm it. If you do not wish to accept him, all I request is that you find a loving home for him.

Tsubame

Alaude's brow crinkled. The writing got smaller and shaky in the post-script. A small watermark - a tear?

I'm sorry. Please keep him safe because I cannot.

A son. He had a son. He would confirm it tomorrow, but a son. 'Tsubame,' Alaude thought in frustration. 'Did you think I would not accept this? Was this why you left?'

Alaude never expected to fall in love. He didn't have time for frivolous relationships. Meeting Tsubame had been a twist of fate. She had stopped him on the street, carrying a bouquet of lilies, asking for directions to the nearest coffee shop.

He fell in love with her quiet wit, defiance while ever so polite. She hadn't mind his stoic expressions, pursuit for justice, or even the way the job consumed all his focus. Tsubame bore it patiently, somewhat amused and indulgence. It was calming to be in her presence, far different from the chaos that he found in the others.

Whirlwind romance was a good term to use. They had only been together for nine months before she disappeared. Was it because she had found out she was pregnant? She hadn't looked the part when she vanished. Surely, she would have shown at six months. Did she really think he would have thrown her out on the streets even if that was case?

The weight of the world pressed down on Alaude's shoulders and he felt impossibly tired. Anger ran hot under his skin like lava, thick and heavy. Angry at Tsubame, angry at himself. He looked down at Kyoya who continued to sleep, unaware.

He would make a decision in the morning.

This story is completely written. It has 7 chapters plus a bonus extra chapter (total of eight).

Please leave a review. I worry about this story. ahaha...