Disclaimer: Dude...if I owned Bleach...there'd be a hell LOT more of Hitsugaya there! XD

A/N: Inspiration hit me with a 10 meter pole while I was in a melancholy mood, and I just had to write this. Although I wrote this fic with Hitsugaya and Hinamori in mind, it could really be applied to any couple, be it anime, manga or real life. ) Enjoy.

Title: Shattered

Rating: PG

Characters: Hitsugaya and Hinamori

Timeline: After becoming full-fledged Shinigami, but before becoming vice-/captains.

Summary: When a nightingale cries in the night...

In response to: idiosyn's 20themes challenge at kurosaki clinic, Fears.

Shattered

He awoke, startled out of sleep by the sound of muffled crying from the room next door. His brow furrowed in worry as he disentangled himself quickly from the futon sheets and pulled his gi around himself quickly to shield himself from the cold breeze that blew in.

He found her, a shattered goddess; long black locks of hair tangled within her fingers as she muffled her cries into her hands, the tears like crystal drops pooling down the sides of her face. His heart cried heartache at the painful sight of his beloved and he silently went to her, wrapping his arms around her trembling form. She jumped slightly at his sudden appearance, surprised for a moment, eyes bright with tears as she looked up into his eyes, dark with worry and concern. Her face crumpled into tears again, but this time she clung to him desperately like a life line as he ran his long fingers through her hair, combing the tangles away while his other hand rubbed her back soothingly.

It was as it always was; he offered no words, and just his presence and his arms around her were enough to put her fears at bay, and she could let all her shields down, let the pretences go, and for once, just drown with him by her side. The night shook quietly with her sobs and his protective presence, the dark night silent except for the occasional cricket chirps and owl hoots.

All the while she cried, all the while he held her, and they said nothing at all. For something like this, words were insufficient, and just being meant a lot more. She wouldn't talk about what scared her, and he wouldn't ask; if she really needed to tell him, she would, but until then, her thoughts were her own, and he respected that. He just wanted to be by her side whenever she needed him, and it was enough.

Slowly, slowly, her sobs dissolved into quiet, even breathing, and he knew that she'd fallen asleep, but still he sat there, unwilling to unwittingly wake her from the deep sleep that she'd fallen into after so much pain. Shifting as gently as he could, he placed her slowly on her futon, then climbed in after her, one arm wrapped around her waist while the other pulled the covers over them. Unconsciously she snuggled closer to him and his warmth, and he in turn held her more tightly to himself. She whispered something incoherent, unconscious, and he smiled gently as he wiped away the tear tracks from her face and kissed her forehead gently. Then he, too, closed his eyes to follow her in sleep.

Tomorrow, she would once again be the Momo that everyone assumed was happy 24/7, but tonight, she was just his, his shattered goddess Momo, his lifeline, his reason to protect.

The others could see all they wanted to see of the facades that she put up sometimes to satisfy them, but he, he knew that there were two sides to her, not split personalities, per se, but just, the one who didn't have to hide behind a mask.

And if she cried, he would always be by her side, to hold her and be there for her just as he had always been, just as he would always be.

owari