A/N: Okay! I'm so excited! This is my first fan-fiction ever. So this is a VERY big deal for me! This story is based off of the song 'Settle Down' by Kimbra. I advise that you listen to the song before reading the story. Then the story will make more sense.

Description: Orihime and Ichigo and married... But that's about it. Orihime wants more out of their bland relationship, wants more from Ichigo. If she can't find it here, will she find it from someone else...?

Pairings: Ichigo/Orihime and Aizen/Orihime (possibly...)

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters. Sadly...

I wanna settle down
I wanna settle down
Won't you settle down with me?
Settle down

She stared at him from across the room. His hair spiky and distinct in color. The petite, sable haired woman next to him said something obviously funny to him. His chuckle was heard loud and clear across the room to where Orihime was standing next to the refreshment table. He never laughed like that for her. Sipping his glass of champagne. Cool. Calm. Confident. His smile widened. He never smiled like that for her.

"Orihime. Orihime. Orihime!"

She jumped and looked back over at her friend. A blush crept it's way onto her cheeks. She was caught staring him. Tatsuki was wearing a deep purple chiffon cocktail dress with her dark hair flowing down in the back. The dress flattered her sculpted body and moved beautifully on her.

"Like I was saying." Tatsuki rolled her eyes. "That man right there is," She nodded her head towards the stocky, elderly man with a white moustache and white hair. "His name is Barragan Luisenbarn, the second 'Espada.' Apparently, her owned half the Hueco Mundo Company before Aizen brought it off of him." The man's face was lined by large scars in the left side of his chin and across his right eye. His leather suit lined with elaborate furs. Tatsuki looked proud of here self for knowing so much about this man, and took a sip of wine. Though Orihime barely was listening, she couldn't help it when her eyes wandered back to the tall and strong man that owned her heart.

Everything in her world felt out of place. Well, it was herself who felt out of place. In her fitting gray deep V dress that matched her eyes. She didn't feel like she belonged in a place like this. At this elaborate party. Full of tapestry, and fine dining, floor to ceiling curtains. The grand stair case that winded up both sides of the venue, to meet at the top. And the ballroom! Just breath taking!

"Do you see the men surrounding him?" Tatsuki asked.

"Oh, mmhm."

"Well they are what you call his 'Fracción' and they basically take care of all his needs. Apparently, every 'Espada' has them. You know the Espada that work under Aizen Sosuke. The 'Man of the Hour.'"

"Wh-who?" Orihime looked back over at her friend.

Tatsuki tsked. "You know! The man everyone is here for. The famous entrepreneur. This party is all for him! They say he has taken the world by storm. Literally building a army of... Orihime!"

"Huh?" Orihime jumped again. And blushed from being caught staring. Again. This time Tatsuki didn't go on about the man across the room, but she scanned the room and saw who Orihime was staring at. The orange haired male catching everyone's attention.

"Orihime. Are you and Ichigo having problems again?"

The blush still plastered on Orihime's face grew hotter. She didn't want to talk of her 'problems.' At least not tonight. Tatsuki took another sip of her wine. "Orihime." She sighed. " Haven't we been over this before? He knows that you know. And since you don't want to leave him, at least stand by his side and try to look like a happy couple!

Orihime blushed deeper. Tatsuki was right. Why stand here and be a wallflower when she can stand by her man's side. Lifting her chin she swiftly moves across the room making her way towards him. She could see only him. Her love. Until she was seeing the floor. Everything seemed to spin when as she realized she was going down.

A strong hand gabbed hold of forearm before she could make contact with the polished ground. She was swooped back onto her feet. Breathless she tried to look up to see who her savior was.

"Next time, maybe we should watch our footing." A deep humorous voice whispered in her ear. He breathed down her back and she shivered in response. Orihime's eyes widened when heard the stranger chuckle. She craned her neck a little to see the face that belonged to such a chocolate voice.

Wrong decision.

She nearly threw herself to his feet at the sight of him. Deep brown hair, pushed back on his gorgeous face. One simple curl hanging down in-front of his eyes. Oh his eyes. Those chocolate brown eyes, that in a matter of two seconds, looked deep down into her soul. Chilled her bones, then warmed her whole being, right down to her core. Orihime inhaled. How can someone be so.. so beautiful?

The stranger chuckled again. He looped his arm around hers and guided her the dance floor. There, he drew her in tightly and smoothly lead her into a slow dance to the rhythm of the music.

"I'd ask you for this dance, but it seems we have skipped over that part." He whispered down her ear with a chuckle. Orihime nodded. She swayed with him as they moved to the sweet music the band was playing. His firm grip on her back and her hand ensured her safely. It was warm in his arms. And comforting. Her body was beginning to spark. Like lighting a fire. Orihime sighed. Finally letting out her breath which she felt like she held for ages.

"Ah-hm."

Orihime quickly looked up to see the oh so familiar scowling face. Ichigo looked from one to the other. Orihime unwrapped her arms from the stranger and moved a few steps backwards. She immediately cursed her clumsiness.

"Aizen Sosuke," Ichigo's smile was rigid and forced. "My wife didn't tell me she had a new friend." Ichigo slid his arm possessively around Orihime's slender waist. She bowed her head guiltily.

"On the contrary Mr. Ichigo Kurosaki," He gently grabbed her hand a place a light kiss on her knuckles. "I've have just met the lovely Mrs..."

Her body was ablaze.

She stammered. "Orihime Kurosaki."

"Well I've had a wonderful time with the lovely, and very beautiful Orihime Kurosaki. I hope to see you again in the near future." The way he said her name made her stomach turn. She didn't know if the turning was good or bad. Which ever it was, she wanted him to say her name like that again.

"Very well." Said Ichigo. But if you listened closely, you could hear the sneer in his voice. After Aizen had walked away, Ichigo lead Orihime to their seats. "Orihime, grab your purse. We're leaving." Wordlessly, she obeyed his command. And they set off to the venue's grand entrance. Ichigo, sulking all the way from the table to the extravagant doors.

"Ichigo." The couple both swiveled around to see who called his name. It was the petite dark haired woman that Ichigo was talking to earlier. Immediately, Ichigo's face lit up.

"Orihime this is Rukia Kuchiki, heir to the Kuchiki family fortune." His eyes beamed. "And Rukia, this is my wife. Orihime." With that, his eyes lost some of it's twinkle. "Orhime," He turned to her. "You know the Kuchiki family, of the Four Great Noble Families in our society." He speaks so highly of her.

"Oh, well it was very nice to meet you Ms. Kuchiki." She extends her arm and shakes the woman's hand. She could smell a whiff of the women's perfume. It smelled of lilacs. "Ichigo, we were going." Orihime looked up at her husband who was gazing at Rukia. At her comment a flicker of annoyance passed through his features.

"Unfortunately we have to go." Ichigo turns his smile back to Rukia. "It was a pleasure to see you again."

"Oh no, the pleasure was all mine." She quickly replies back. A hint of humor in her voice.

"Good bye Rukia-san." Orihime says politely. But she doesn't seem to hear, her eyes are glued to the back of Ichigo's head. A look of pain flashed across her face at the sight of him leaving her.

...

On the drive home in their Convertible, not a word was spoken. She would look over at him occasionally, but was to afraid to see his expression. When they got home, and Ichigo pulled into the double driveway, he paused. Neither of them dared moved to leave the car.

"Listen. Orihime," His grip on the stirring wheel became tighter, his breathing heavy. "I love you. I really do. But you need to be more careful who you let close to you." He looks up at her and smiles. One of his rigid smiles. He never smiled at here genuinely any more.

Orihime let out a tired sigh. They've been over this plenty of times before. Ichigo never wanted her to be close to any male but him. Her eyes could only be on him. And they were. But he was always flirting with other women to notice.

"I just," He started. "He just rubs me the wrong. I mean-"

"They all 'rub you the wrong way' Ichigo." She snaps back and immediately regrets it. Ichigo is one of those men who are very protective and possessive. But Orihime wasn't a object. I thing to be shown off. A prize. A trophy wife. The thought made her want to hurl. She would not be put on some pedestal for everyone to see and ogle.

"Orihime-"

"You know Ichigo. I have had enough of this." Before she knows it tears start to well up. "I won't leave you. You don't have to keep me locked up, under surveillance." Her bottom lip began to tremble. "I want a family, I want to settle."

She looks over at him and into his amber eyes she knows so well. Orihime licked her now dry lips.

"You don't think I want more out of this fucking relationship? Huh? You think I like getting dressed up in these fucking monkey suits, and pretending everything is okay for the world to see! Huh?" He was angry and his voice was louder now. "I want more Orihime. I want something. I need something. I just... We just..." He breathed and tried to cool down. "I know I haven't been the best husband. But. I think we just need a little time to sort things out." He says finally.

The last thing she heard was the opening and slamming of the car door.

We can settle at a table..
A table for two
Won't you wine and dine with me?
Settle down

He didn't pay her much attention anymore. Of course he did pay her attention in the beginning. Gave her anything and everything she asked for. If she asked, at the snap of his fingers the world would be at her feet. But that was just a figure of speech of course.

It had been great. The way he treated her like a princess. No a queen. And the way he would ravish her at the end of the day was just the icing on the cake. Now he barely looks at her, let alone touch her. And when they got married it was the happiest day of both their lives. He was so happy, and full of life then.

Now all he does is sulk around the house and wear his permanent scowl on his face. And she always wanted to cry. Because he would have given her anything before, but her won't give her the one thing she wants the most now...

To make her life easier, she found that the simplest things made him happy, if only for a moment. For instance, her cooking his breakfast and dinner before he woke, or came through the door from a long day of work made him briefly happy.

Okay. We all know Orihime isn't the best of cooks. But depending on if they went out to eat, she always had a warm plate of dinner for him every night. When he walked through that door he would smell the aroma of sesame chicken and rice, or fresh penne with feta, which is what they were having that night.

The noodles were boiling, the sauté mushrooms looked great while she was adding the tomatoes, basil and seasonings to the skillet. Oh he'll just love this, Orihime thought merrily.

When the noodles were finished, drained and buttered, she added them to the skillet and mixed it all together. He'll be walking through the door anytime now. It was 6:04 and he was normally pulled up by the driveway by now. She'd known she was moving slow. The kitchen smelled wonderful! Orihime went to the living room to look out the window to see if he was around the corner yet. There was no sign of him.

"I guess he's running late tonight too." She said out loud. It was unlike him to come home late.

Orihime squealed when she heard the timer go off in the kitchen. The Italian bread rolls smelled delicious when she opened the oven. The sweet smell of food wafting through the house. "Ahh." She breathed. This was probably one of the best meals she had cooked for him.

She went back to the window to see if she could see him. It was 6:15, and he came home 6:30 at the latest. Orihime wiped her hands off on her apron(every time she walked past the full length mirror in the hall she'd give a little twirl. Her checkered dress and her cooking reminded her of Betty Crocker).

Dinner had come out perfectly. She made his plate and set it neatly on the table and sprinkled feta on top just like the directions said to do. And after dinner was done, she'd have his favorite homemade pumpkin pie waiting for him. Oh this was just so exciting!

She sat down on the opposite side of the table, and waited...

And waited.

And waited. She looked up at the clock. It was 6:56.

Then it was 7:24 which soon turned to 8:03. Okay this is ridiculous. He probably got held up at the office. Or traffic could be terrible. Or, or, or...

Was he that disgusted with her that he couldn't eat with her. Settle down to dine with her. To taste the food she had cooked just for him. Her lip trembled.

Orihime blinked back a few tears. It just wasn't fair. Pushing her chair away from the table she picked up her plate of food walked into the kitchen, and with shaking hands,

hurled it into the sink. Hands still shaking she went to her bedroom peel off her clothes and took a shower.

Scrubbing her face and arms raw she couldn't help thinking about what Ichigo was really doing. She knew where he was and who he was with. Right at this moment. She knew who he was grinding into, who's name he was murmuring, who's ear he was whispering into. It sickened her. Not to what he was doing behind her back, but more so that she could stand by and watch it all happen. The cracks in her heart split just a little more.

She could no longer tell if the water streaming down her face was from the showerhead or from her tears.

...

After the shower, Orihime got dressed in her night gown and moisturized her skin at her vanity. It was there she heard the front door open the shut.

Orihime jumped to her feet. "Ichigo?" She called out when she rounded the hallway corner. Of course it was him. He threw his jacket over the sofa's arm and then sprawled himself onto it himself. He looked so content and happy. The scowl lines on his face disappeared and instead there lay a man, tired but peaceful.

"Ichigo. Lets get you to bed." She said as she helped lift him off of the vanilla colored sofa. He grunted in return.

She could smell it on him. Her perfume. That woman's perfume. He had the smell of lilacs all over him. She had been all over him!

Orihime's blood boiled at the thought. How was allowed to sleep around when she was supposed to be locked up behind closed doors!

She'll show him. She will show him that she has had enough of his games. That no one plays with the heart of Orihime Inoue Kurosaki!

Okay. I did it! After rereading it like a thousand times I think the story came out pretty decent! I really want to make another chapter, but I need reviews so I know you all want me to continue. I have big plans for this story!

Thank you everyone!