Chapter 3

Two days later Soul pulled up to the gate of the Evans Estate. He sighed as he pushed the number in and the gates opened allowing them to drive up to the door. "Maka." He said reaching over to wake her gently as his mother and brother walked from the house followed by several others. "We're here."

Maka yawned and nodded as she climbed from the car. Marianne came over and hugged her as Soul walked to the back door and started unbuckling Maya who had fallen asleep. He gently pulled her to him as he stood up and walked over to Maka, handing the little girl to her. "It's okay, baby." She said softly as she positioned Maya to lay on her shoulder. "Mama's got you." Marianne smiled and touched the girl's back as Wes went to help Soul.

"Yeah, just need to bring that in, and we'll lay her down for a bit." Soul told his brother as they walked over, Soul with a suitcase in each hand, the diaper bag over his shoulder and Wes with a duffel bag over one shoulder and carrying the pack and play. "Still sound asleep." He said looking at Maya sleeping on Maka.

"Come, you can lay her in Soul's old room." Marianne said leading everyone into the estate. Maka followed Soul into the room where he dropped the bags and turned taking the pack and play, setting it up quickly and letting Maka lay May down. Marianne watched with a smile as her son moved around as if he had become a professional.

"When did she fall asleep?" Maka asked Soul.

"About ten minutes before we got here." He told her. "She'll be out another half hour probably." Maka nodded as he led her back into the hall and the four walked to the large room down the hall to talk. Soul watched Maka continue to glance at the doorways of the room. "What's wrong?"

"There's people all over, listening in." She said softly making him smirk.

"Not even the servants can get away from your soul perception." He said as his mother and brother looked at them. "Maka has the ability to see souls. She's actually become so strong with it that she's able to see through a witch's soul protect that makes them seem like a normal human. It irks the witches." He chuckled as he looked at her looking at the doors again. "So, she's able to see when people are hiding and listening in on conversations." Suddenly there was a lot of shuffling and Maka seemed to relax.

"I'll have a word with them." Marianne said sternly.

"They're just wondering what's going on." Wes shrugged. "They're curious since it's the first time Soul's been home and he's brought a wife and daughter." He smiled at his younger brother. Tthat's going to take time to get used to."

Soul smirked. "You never get used to it." They heard calls for Da-Da making Maka walk back down the hall to gather her daughter and bring her into the room. "So much for another half hour of quiet." His mother smiled as Maka walked back into the room carrying a smiling Maya.

"I still can't get over that I'm a grandmother and how beautiful she is." She smiled at her granddaughter who put her head on her mother's shoulder.

"Her hair is getting lighter, I'm sure it'll end up matching Soul's" Maka smiled as she smoothed a hand over the bay soft hair. "She's going to take after Soul for a lot, I'm afraid." She sighed making him grin at her. "Don't you even start with the next one will be like me." She warned him making him chuckle.

"What's all this noise?" They turned to see a tall man with light brown hair and deep rusty brown eyes. He glared at the people in the room as Marianne went to his side.

"Harold you should be resting." Marianne said softly. "The doctors said-."

"Doctors don't know what they're talking about. What's going on?" His eyes settled on Soul. "You come running home after all these years?" He glared at Soul.

"Actually, Wes and I asked him to come." Harold turned his gaze on her. "We've been separated long enough. We would get letters just so we knew he was alive, but we never were able to be a part of his life. Harold, I want to have both my sons in my life. I don't want to regret never knowing." She looked over as Maka took Soul's hand in hers, squeezing it gently, showing her support and giving him strength. "Soul has agreed to give us a second chance. A chance to be in his life and to be in the lives of his wife and children. Harold, I don't want to miss out on my daughter-in-law or my grandchildren, I don't want them to grow up never knowing about us." She looked at him pleading as he turned from her to look at Soul, ready for a fight as Maya looked around in Maka's arms, sensing the tension in the room.

"Fine." He heaved a sigh. "If that is what you wish, so be it." He said letting her walk him to the chairs in the room. "Have you made a better life for yourself than the glory of the Evens?" He asked Soul.

"I made one better than I could have dreamed of." Soul answered.

"Do you do more than be used?" He looked at Soul.

Soul knew it was going to be rough. He felt Maka squeeze his hand and knew she would be with him like he was with her. "I'm a death scythe, I help teach at the academy and help advise Lord Death on some matters."

"Matters like how to run from your problems?"

"Harold." Marianne scolded.

"Actually, Soul's one of the top advisors for Lord Death when it comes to strategies and planning what we should do about issues. He's one of the top weapons in the academy and we're one of the only teams sent on missions that Lord Death would even have problems completing." Although the issues would be because of Kid's personality, but they were still sent on missions at Kid's level.

"Soul and Maka were part of that battle we heard about a few years ago. The reason the moon is covered in darkness. They were fighting that evil face to face." Marianne chimed in with a smile. "He's also gotten married to Maka and has a beautiful daughter. And they're going to have another child in about six months." She smiled happily. "Wes and I discovered a lot while we were at the academy. When you hear the stories about what he's done, you'll be so proud."

Harold looked straight at Soul as she spoke to him. Soul didn't fidget or slink away from the gaze. He didn't even seem to lazily ignore him as he used to all those years ago. Soul stood tall beside Maka returning the intense look. "Da-Da!" Maya called making Soul look away and at the girl as she turned in Maka's arms giggling and bouncing. Soul smirked as he pulled her into his arms where she giggled and started to babble making Wes chuckle at the girl while Maka tried to quiet her.

"What's her name?" Harold asked looking at the girl.

Soul looked at him a moment before he responded. "Maya." He answered. "She's almost one." Harold nodded, watching his son interact with the girl as she continued to call him and pull his attention back to her. The family all seemed to relax as Maya babbled on and giggled before Soul set her on her feet, letting her run around a little, watching as she ran over to Wes, making him bend down as she babbled to him, handing him an item she had picked up.

Soul glanced at his father who began to smirk, watching Maya. He wrapped an arm around Maka as they stood silently watching. Maybe Maka had been right, maybe this man did deserve a second chance. A chance to be a grandfather.