Note: The final chapter! Please, if you'd be so kind, let me know what you thought!

My other Rukia/Byakuya stories are Spring Rain Washed Over the Sun (serial), Another Long Day (oneshot), and A Thousand Falling Petals (oneshot). Spring Rain Washed Over the Sun is like a serial followup to Another Long Day!

WHEN THE SNOW FALLS
by Yih

Epilogue

A few days later…

Byakuya was waiting when the senkaimon opened and there was Rukia, looking exactly as he had seen her off… in her shinigami robes, petite and so pretty, and not a scratch on her person. Even though he trusted in her skill as a shinigami, he wanted to be at her side, guarding her from all possible danger. These solo missions, they were rough on him and he tried not to let it show how much it fazed him, not when he knew it would bother her.

"Byakuya!" Rukia cried as she ran to him, looking far more like the young girl he had first seen in the Shinigami Academy than the wife of Kuchiki-sama. She cradled his face in her hands, staring into his eyes with her bright violet ones. "You've been worried, haven't you?"

She always could read him so well, he mused as he slowly conceded with a nod of his head. "Even knowing you are perfectly capable," he said softly, reaching with his hand to caress her silky hair. "I have missed you."

"As I have missed you," she answered, leaning into his touch.

Byakuya was slightly surprised when she took his hand and pressed it into her abdomen. While they were not an aloof couple, they certainly weren't overly affectionate in public either. It did not befit their status as Lord and Lady of the Kuchiki clan. There was something different about her; something that he couldn't put his finger on.

"Rukia?"

"Byakuya," she murmured, looking up at him, "you're going to be a father."

Shock was probably an understatement. Byakuya was astonished, his mouth was gaping, and he was unbelievably happy. His wife was pregnant and they were going to have a child together! He secretively hoped it would be a little girl that looked exactly like Rukia, although he knew the Elders would want a boy. An heir.

Not that it mattered, he thought, smiling down at his wife, they would have more children in the future to fill up on the house with joy and laughter…

"You look happy," Rukia said, looking up at him with her shining eyes.

"I wonder why."

She stretched up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. "I love you."

Byakuya wrapped his arms around her still slender form. "I love you too."

-

A couple weeks later…

"Come in, Rukia-san," Ukitake said, beckoning to her from where she stood at the entrance of his office.

"Sorry for disturbing you, Ukitake-taichou," Rukia said as she bowed in greeting.

"I was just finished working, so you're not bothering me at all."

Rukia sank gracefully onto the cushion that was positioned in front of Ukitake's desk. "Still I must thank you for taking the time to see me."

Ukitake nodded in acknowledgement. "What is it that you wished to speak of?"

"I am expecting," she said softly, blushing.

"Ah," Ukitake murmured. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you."

"I take it you would like to request a leave of absence?" Ukitake inquired directly.

Rukia shook her head and withdrew a white envelope that she had tucked within in shinigami robes. "I am submitting my resignation." She paused in hesitation. "I have truly enjoyed working with you in Squad 13 and proud to have called you my Taichou, but it is time I take more responsibility as Lady Kuchiki."

"This is true," Ukitake remarked, "but Takahiro-dono and I have spoken."

Rukia's eyes widened with surprise as she had no idea that the Head Elder and Ukitake were even acquainted. She opened her mouth to say something, but shut it instead because she didn't really know what to say.

"You do have to uphold the duties of the Kuchiki clan, especially as you are Lady Kuchiki," Ukitake stated, "and yet you are also an invaluable member of Squad 13 and it would be a real pity to lose you."

"I don't understand…"

"I have also spoken with Byakuya," Ukitake continued, gently pushing her hand that held the envelope away from him, "and we have agreed that you have been able to uphold your responsibilities as both 3rd seat and as Lady Kuchiki for 95 years and there is no reason that you cannot do it as mother, but—"

"But?" Rukia asked.

"But Byakuya would decide when you are ready to return after your leave of absence. He personally will make sure you are strong enough to come back as Squad 13's fukutaichou."

Rukia was stunned, her bright violets wide open with her astonishment. It had been more than 95 years since Kaien-dono had died with his wife, Miyako. Rukia had always assumed that no one would fill Kaien's spot even as she assumed Miyako's…

"You were his protégé," Ukitake said. "I think Kaien would be very proud to have you replace him as fukutaichou."

"Do you think so?"

Ukitake smiled and placed a reassuring hand on Rukia's shoulder. "Why wouldn't he be?"

"Thank you, Ukitake-taichou."

"No, thank you," he said firmly. "Now please burn that resignation letter as I will not accept it now or in the future and please enjoy your brief respite from Squad 13. We will miss you and welcome you back readily when it is time for you to return."

-

Several months later…

Rukia was feeling very bloated carrying her baby and not at all beautiful like Byakuya would whisper into her ear at night. Rukia glanced at the clock, wondering when Byakuya would arrive home from his duties as Taichou of Squad 6. He should be home at any moment. He had started coming home early in the evenings because she often got weary after sundown and they couldn't spend as much time together as they usually did.

Rukia sighed and placed a hand on her large stomach, stroking gently as she felt the baby kicking again. "I hope you look just like your father," she murmured.

"I would rather she take after you," Byakuya said, suddenly appearing in front of Rukia and bending over to kiss her forehead. "I would especially like her to have your beautiful eyes."

"Who says it's a girl?" Rukia retorted with a warm smile as Byakuya sat at her feet, massaging her swollen feet.

"I hope it's a girl that's exactly like her mother."

Rukia's eyes were shining as she gazed down at her husband. "And I hope it's a boy that takes after his father."

Byakuya smiled up at her, looking still so young and handsome it was hard to believe that he was decades older than her. Rukia was never as happy as she was now, but she knew there was more happiness to come and that when she experienced it she would think this is the happiest moment!

And as she stared into Byakuya's eyes she thought, this is what it's like to be in love!

-

Many years later…

"Tou-san!" Yuuna exclaimed as she saw Byakuya shunpo into view.

Rukia smiled as she watched her daughter run off to greet her father. Her attention was diverted though when her son, Yuuto, tugged on her sleeve. "Kaa-san?"

Yuuto looked so much like his father, both her children took after Byakuya, except for the fact that the twins had her violet eyes. Yuuto's gaze, however, reminded Rukia of Byakuya. There was a seriousness in his eyes, a solemnity that quite matched his father's. Rukia reached over and pulled Yuuto into her lap.

"What is it?" she asked.

Yuuto looked straight into her eyes. "I hear a voice," he said. "And I dream of water all around me, but I can breath. I'm not drowning…"

Rukia wrapped her arms around him. "Does the voice have a name?"

Yuuto shook his head. "I don't know. I think so."

Rukia bent her head, noticing out of the corner of her eyes that Byakuya had Yuuna in arms as he headed toward them.

"Let me tell you a secret," Rukia said softly into Yuuto's ear, "I hear a voice too, but my voice has a name and your voice will have a name as well. If you listen carefully, you'll hear the name, but you must be patient. Because once you learn the name, you will find that this voice is as much a part of you as your eyes, your ears, your nose."

"Really?" Yuuto asked.

"Really," Rukia said.

"What are you two talking about?" Byakuya inquired, holding Yuuna in his arms as he leaned over and kissed Rukia on the lips.

Rukia smiled down at Yuuto as he smiled up at her.

Yuuto looked up at his father and said, "It's a secret!"

The End

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review as it's your last chance! I'm awfully sorry that it's taken so long to get to this point and that I hope the final chapter makes up for the wait, as it's longer than typical chapters. I really did think I was going to go into the Soul Society Arc and try to make it my own, but I reconsidered it as the main point of the story was the relationship between Rukia and Byakuya – not the action and adventure within Bleach per se. Anyhow, it's been a fun ride! I will be occasionally writing oneshots/short serials of Rukia/Byakuya and perhaps other pairings within Bleach. Whatever catches my fancy.

I already do have a oneshot out called "Another Long Day," which is an AU where Rukia is Byakuya's fukutaichou, if you'd like to read and review that!

I don't have as much time to write anymore, as I've started my 3rd year of medical school and I'm working 60-80 hour weeks and barely have any time to write. I will try to find time, but it took more than a month to finish this short chapter! Thanks for all the support and I hope you get to read some other stories from me in the future!

Released: 10/17/2009