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Epilogue

Epilogue:
*Two Years Later*
Grimmjow woke up with a start when he heard a crash and groaned, sitting up slowly. Hearing a yell, he snorted and got up, deciding he'd better go see what had happened this time. Leaving the bedroom, Grimmjow made his way down the hallway, cursing when he slipped and looked down to see it was paint.
"Ichigo!"
"What?" He called from the adjacent room, coming out with a frown. "Can't you see I'm working?"
"Yeah, I noticed." Grimmjow sighed and shook his head. "What happened? Why's there paint everywhere?" Looking down the hallway, he could see small blue footprints leaving a trail from Ichigo's room into the kitchen. "Who got in?"
"Pantera, who else." Ichigo eyes narrowed in annoyance and he jabbed Grimmjow in the chest with his paint brush, leaving a red smear on his skin. "You and your damn cat are annoying as each other."
"Hey don't blame me, she was probably curious."
"Yeah well, keep her out. If she ruins my painting, I'll kill you both." Ichigo glared at him and he couldn't help but chuckle at the adorable sight he made with paint smeared across his cheeks. "What?" Ichigo asked suspiciously when Grimmjow grinned.
"You have paint on your face." Grimmjow cradled his cheek and brushed a splatter, smearing it further on Ichigo's face. "Want to take a shower? I'll help you clean it off."
Ichigo scoffed and batted his had away. "No thanks." With that, he went back inside, slamming the door shut behind him.
Grimmjow shook his head and left Ichigo to it. He knew from experience disturbing the man when he was painting was a bad idea. He went two weeks without speaking to him once when he'd barged in on him, making the orange head jump and ruin an almost finished painting. Grimmjow shuddered at the thought, Ichigo wouldn't sleep in the same bed as him for a whole week.
Ichigo had been working on this one piece for weeks, some hot shot with too much money for their own good hired Ichigo to do a painting for them. He accepted of course, how could he refuse such a large sum, but he'd insisted, it was for the painting, not the money. Which was true, they didn't need the money. After Grimmjow started up his own business in fitness training, it was suffice to say he earnt a fair bit of money. Ichigo's painting fetched quite a bit too. So technically, he didn't need the money.
Grimmjow followed the trail of footprints into the kitchen, sighing when he saw Pantera curled up in the corner, her usual, pristine white fur dripping with an arrange of colours. "Oh Pantera, you really know how to annoy Ichigo." He grinned when the cat purred, he was sure she was smirking and chuckled, scooping her into her arms. "C'mon, you need a bath."
She glared at him, but made no move to escape, she knew who her master was. Grimmjow grinned and shook his head, it sure as hell wasn't Ichigo, he couldn't get her to do anything, even if his life depended on it. He paused outside Ichigo's door and slowly opened it, peering inside.
Ichigo was stood in the middle of the room, sucking on the end of his paintbrush as he observed whatever he was creating. The canvas was turned so Grimmjow couldn't see what it was but he could see from Ichigo's face, it was important. He quietly closed the door, making sure Ichigo didn't notice him before going to clean Pantera.
...
With a final brush of paint, Ichigo stepped back to admire the painting, nodding in satisfaction before putting the brush down. He stretched his aching muscles, groaning when they popped and sighed heavily. "That shower doesn't sound like a bad idea now..."
He left the room, locking the door behind him. No way was he taking any chances with Pantera, she'd ruined too many of his artworks to count. He sighed and shook his head, he knew it was crazy, but he was so sure the cat had it in for him. The thing hated him completely, and whenever he was with Grimmjow, she sure as hell tried to intervene. Ichigo snorted and shook his head, he was going on about a cat here, how pathetic was that?
He found Grimmjow in the living room and to no surprise, Pantera was on his lap, living the high life as he tended to her whims. Ichigo's eyes narrowed in annoyance and he came up behind Grimmjow, wrapping his arms around the man's neck.
"Hey."
Grimmjow started before relaxing again and looking up at him with a grin. "Hey, how's the painting?"
"All finished, just gotta dry."
"Mmm, that's good."
Ichigo chuckled, leaning down to kiss him. "About you offer of a shower, is it still open?"
"Only for you." Grimmjow hooked his arm around Ichigo's neck, pulling him into another kiss. The man touched his cheek and he felt some paint smear and chuckled. "You're getting me covered in paint."
"Then let me clean it off." Ichigo grinned slyly, running his hands down Grimmjow's thankfully bare torso to create a colourful display of smears. "C'mon, before it dries." He caught the older man's face and drew a crude heart on his cheek before kissing him again. "Don't take too long." He whispered against his lips before leaving to go start the shower.
Grimmjow followed his progress to the bathroom and shook his head, Ichigo really was going to be the death of him one day, but he couldn't help but the love the fiery orange head for it. He went to stand up, sighing when Pantera mewled at him and looked at her apologetically. "Sorry Pantera, Ichigo's waiting and you know how he gets."
She glared at him as he picked her up and dropped her back on the sofa as to stand up and make his way to the bathroom. He went in, slowly closing the door behind him before turning to see Ichigo's clothes piled on the floor next to the shower and grinned before discarding his own to join him.
Wrapping his arms around Ichigo's lithe frame, he kissed his shoulder. "Hey."
"Took your time didn't you?"
"Mmm." Grimmjow nuzzled his neck and grinned. "Sorry. But you knew I wouldn't be able to resist."
"Heh, I was counting on it." Ichigo turned around, running his hand through Grimmjow's hair. "Now I've finished my painting, we have all the time in the world."
"Until your next job."
"Hey, if I didn't stay away from you, I'd never finish." Ichigo kissed him, trailing his fingers down Grimmjow's back. "Besides, you have Pantera to keep you company don't you?"
"Yeah, but she can't do this for me." Grimmjow murmured the words, kissing him again before pressing him against the wall. "No-one can replace you when it comes to this."
"Well don't I feel special." Ichigo pressed his hands to Grimmjow's chest, slowly washing to paint off. "So, you gunna make up for lost time or what?"
"Yes sir." Grimmjow caught Ichigo's legs and lifted him up, making the man laugh and wrap them around his waist, before tangling his fingers in Grimmjow's hair and kissing him again. His fingers teased the back of Grimmjow's neck and he grinned when he shivered.
"Missed me huh?"
"It's been a week Ichi. You've been holding out."
"I'm sorry, let me make it up to you." Ichigo whispered, leaning forward to kiss him again, pausing when he heard something smash. "What was that?"
Grimmjow frowned and turned to shower off to listen. Sure enough, a few seconds later, another smash could be heard and he cursed. "Pantera, she must be on the kitchen surface."
Ichigo shrugged, pulling Grimmjow into another kiss. "Ignore her, it's only a few plates. We'll buy new ones."
"Mmm." Grimmjow kissed him again, sighing when something else smashed. "Sorry Ichigo, it's gunna have to wait."
He sighed in frustration and shoved Grimmjow away with an annoyed grunt. "Fine, go see to your precious cat. I'll take care of myself."
"C'mon Ichigo."
He flipped him off as he got out the shower and wrapped a towel firmly around his waist. "Pantera's calling, better see what's wrong." With that, he left the bathroom, shooting the cat a dark look when he saw her watching smugly from the kitchen before going into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him.
Grimmjow hear the door slam shut and sighed, slowly following Ichigo's lead and he paused outside the bedroom door. Hearing a mewl from the kitchen he frowned and shook his head before opening the bedroom door to go inside. He paused when he found Ichigo sat on the bed, looking at him expectantly.
"Well?"
Grimmjow rolled his eyes, walking over to him and smiled. "Well what? Are we doing this or not?" He kissed Ichigo, moving to kneel over him and removed the towel. "I can't believe your jealous of a cat."
Ichigo huffed, a light blush dusting his cheeks. "I am not jealous!"
"Sure you're not." Grimmjow kissed his nose and chuckled. "You don't need to be, she's a cat. You, like I told you a few years ago, are my only."
"Mmm." Ichigo wrapped his arms around Grimmjow's neck and kissed him softly. "Make love to me Grimm."
"With pleasure."
...
Grimmjow nuzzled the back of Ichigo's neck, grinning when he moaned softly and pressed back against him. "Ichi..."
"Grimm?"
"You're warm, I love you."
Ichigo smiled, cradling Grimmjow's hand to his chest. "I love you too." He frowned when the door opened and lifted himself up, scoffing when he saw Pantera slink in. "Looks like your mistress wants you."
Grimmjow groaned and rolled over to see her and sighed, scooping her into his arms and dumped her on the bed. He rolled back to pull Ichigo into his arms again. "There, she's on the bed so she should be fine, now let me enjoy this."
Ichigo smiled and turned over to curl up in his arms and sighed happily. "M'kay."
"Hey Ichigo?"
"Yeah?"
"Why don't you like Pantera?"
Ichigo sighed and kissed his chest before shrugging. "Dunno, this might sound stupid but I get the feeling she doesn't like us being together."
Grimmjow snorted and looked down at him amusedly. "You're right, that does sound stupid." He chuckled when Ichigo groaned. "Don't worry Ichi, she's a cat, she can't come between us."
Ichigo nodded. "Yeah, I know." He sighed, humming idly as Grimmjow stroked his arm. "Grimmjow?"
"Yeah?"
He sat up to look at him seriously. "We've been together a long time now, and married for two years."
"Mmm?"
Ichigo hesitated, slowly tracing his hand over Grimmjow's chest. "I-" He sighed and shook his head. "It's nothing."
Grimmjow frowned and poked his head. "What is it?"
He blushed and buried his head in Grimmjow's chest in embarrassment. "I want to start a family." He muttered quietly, almost too quietly for Grimmjow to hear.
He frowned down at Ichigo before snorting and smiling softly. "A family huh? Doesn't sound too bad I guess." He paused, grinning at Ichigo when he looked up in surprise. "Of course, we'll need a bigger house. And you'll need a studio so they won't ruin your paintings. A cat's will be nothing compared to kids"
Ichigo stopped him suddenly by pulling him into a kiss and grinned widely. "You're actually thinking about it?"
"I guess?"
Ichigo laughed, moving to sit in Grimmjow's lap and nuzzled his neck. "I love you Grimm. Can you actually believe we used to hate each other? This seems so unbelievable, compared to our past don't you think?"
"Yeah it does." Grimmjow ran his hands down Ichigo's sides, smiling when he shivered. "Me and you, married? Heh, and two years at that. The thought would've seemed laughable five years ago."
"And now?"
"Now it's everything I want. Me and you, and apparently Pantera and a couple of kids. Sounds good to me."
Ichigo smiled and twirled a lock of blue hair between his fingers, grinning mischievously. "Grimm?"
"Yeah?"
"Kick Pantera out of the room. Me and you aint finished by a long shot yet."
Grimmjow frowned in confusion before it dawned on him and he grinned. "Can do Ichi." Scooping the cat into his arms, he unceremoniously dropped her outside the room, sighing when she huffed and stalked away. "I hope you're happy, she's pissed at me now."
"Come back to bed Grimm, I'll make it up to you." Ichigo crawled to the edge of the bed and pulled Grimmjow back onto it, kissing him forcefully. "You are not leaving this bed for the rest of the day, understand?"
"Yup and I completely agree, as long as you stay with me." Wrapping an arm around his waist, Grimmjow flipped Ichigo onto his back and knelt over him. He looked into his brown eyes and felt his heart stutter slightly at the heated expression and he smiled softly. "I love you."
Ichigo's expression softened and he kissed Grimmjow slowly, savouring the moment before pulling away and pressing their foreheads together. He caught Grimmjow's hand and ran his finger over his ring and felt a burst of pride at the fact that the man before him was his, and always will be. "I love you too."