Kingdom Hearts Birth by Heart
I do not own the Kingdom Hearts franchise. All of this is the property of Square Enix and Disney. This is for entertainment purposes only.
Part I: Dearly Beloved
It was a beautiful and starry night in the Land of Departure. Terra and Aqua were sitting out in the courtyard on the top of a stone ledge. Terra sat on the back of the ledge while Aqua was lying in his arms, her back resting on his muscular chest. She nuzzled him affectionately as they shrugged off today's training with their bodies cooled by the chill of the clear night.
After a long period of silence, Aqua sighed, taking Terra completely by surprise.
"You ok Aqua?" Terra asked out of concern.
She nodded her head. "Yeah, I guess I'm just tired from today's training, that's all."
Terra looked down on her sweet face and kissed her on the cheek. "You know how much I care for you, right? I love you. Do you remember our vows?"
She nodded. "Yes, I remember. But why bring that up now? It seems so unlike you, Terra."
"I have a feeling something big is going to happen with the Master. He's been acting so nervous recently. I take it that's a bad sign, and I just want to make sure you know that no matter what, I'm here. You will always be the love of my life."
They remained silent for a moment before the silence was broken. "Well," Aqua said as she stood up and released herself from Terra's arms, "I'm going to bed. The weather's getting to be a little too nippy for my taste."
"Ok," Terra said, "I'll see you later."
As Aqua walked off, Terra sighed. "Something about her seems different. Maybe it isn't just Master Eraqus who's acting funny. It's Aqua too. I wonder what's up."
Concerned for his wife, Terra followed Aqua inside from a distance. When Terra finally reached her bedroom, he lingered in the doorway to see what she was up to. Then to his surprise, at the foot of her bed, he discovered a tiny dream catcher with a rosary hanging from it. She kneeled on the carpet in front of it and began to pray, although Terra did not know which deity she was praying to.
"I hope someday Terra and I can finally be together as husband and wife. I want to prove that I can become a Keyblade Master and an acceptable wife to my husband. One day, I hope that he and I can have a child." She sighed, sounding defeated. "Who am I kidding? That will never happen. The Master wouldn't allow it."
She gasped and turned around when she spotted a figure at the door from behind her. She jumped back with her Keyblade out ready to fight. When it was clear who it was, she sighed and nervously chuckled, relieved that it was only Terra. Then her face turned an even rose with blush.
"How long have you been listening?"
"Oh, long enough," he said while tinkering with her dresser lamp. "I may not be God, but I can help you get your wish, if you so desire."
Aqua's blush intensified and didn't make eye contact with him. She was taken aback by the awkwardness of their conversation. "You don't mean that we…?"
She could see the collected smile, his raised brow; that said it all to her.
Her blush deepened more than she even thought possible, and she turned away from him, her hand on her face. "Oh no Terra, I couldn't! Remember the Master's rules? He would be furious if he found out we did this against his wishes. There's no way I could do that. Besides, what if that one time is enough for it to actually happen? We haven't even finished our training. We don't have protection."
Terra could clearly see through her defenses to soothe her worries. "But you said it yourself. We're married now, so there isn't anything wrong with one night. It's perfectly moral. What would Master Eraqus have to say to object? God is on our side. Kingdom Hearts strike me down if I'm wrong." He waited for lightning to hit him then eventually put his arms down. "Well, I see no divine objections to it, so I guess you can't argue with that. And who needs protection when you are trying for a baby anyway? If it happens, it happens, and I will always be here to support you."
"But-" she was pacified by a passionate kiss to the lips, which cut her from her previous thought. She sighed and went along with it, forgetting all her previous worries. After all, they were only kissing, for now.
She didn't hear Terra pushing the door back gently with his palm until she caught the sound of the clicking lock.
Frightened, Aqua gasped and stepped back. "Terra, what are you doing?"
"It's just a little assurance. The good thing about living with you is that the Master won't try and barge in if your door is locked, with you being a woman and all."
She smiled at him, chuckling lightly, "Yeah, if it was your room, that'd be a whole different story." She stood up and walked to her bathroom but stopped in the doorway. "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere."
Terra nodded his head and waited patiently for Aqua to return. His heart was racing, and there were butterflies in the pit of his stomach. He was going to make love to the most beautiful woman in the galaxy whose heart he won over countless possible other choices in the many worlds they had traveled to together. He felt his muscles tense at the lovely thought of Aqua standing there with close to nothing on. He was aware of how beautiful she was with all her clothes on, but to see that natural perfection hidden underneath-it gave him anxious chills.
Suddenly he felt a new sensation that he had never known. He wanted her for real, and he was going to finally get his wish. Terra tried to regain his composure so as not to embarrass himself in front of Aqua.
"I'm ready!" She called from the bathroom.
"Ok," Terra called, his voice giving an embarrassing squeak. "Come on out!"
Aqua stepped out of the bathroom in a violet silk nightgown. She was dressed so simply, yet it draped lightly over each curve on her body and accented her face and eyes. Terra had never realized that she was this beautiful, not even on their wedding day as he watched her in her white dress heading for the altar.
Her breaths were shaky and depicting nervousness. "So um, are you ready for this?"
Terra tried to swallow the lump in his throat, "Yeah."
That was enough for Aqua to initiate a series of light kisses to Terra's face. Terra tried to keep calm and not lose control in case he accidentally hurt Aqua with his strength. He wanted this to be as magical and nonthreatening for her as possible, because he knew this could mold her permanent attitude of having sex with him in the future. He gently kissed her on the lips while still standing firm as stone. As she leaned in closer to him, he tried to use more restraint by letting her take the lead.
"Terra, you seem scared." Aqua questioned. "Isn't this what you wanted?"
He put on a smile for her. "Yeah, it's just…I'm nervous."
She chuckled lightly. "Isn't everybody nervous their first time? Come on. After tonight, we could be on our way to becoming parents. Isn't that an exciting prospect?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Terra?" she pushed some of the hair from his eyes and lightly touched his face. "Something else is bothering you. Come on; let it out."
He sighed and turned his face away from her. He held her hands tenderly. "I'm afraid of hurting you."
"Aw," she smiled. "Don't worry about me. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me. I have faith in you."
He gave an empty chuckle, "Aqua, I love you."
She pecked him slowly on the lips. "I love you too. I hope that this will be the start of a wonderful future where we can have a child of our own. Couldn't you just imagine it, us as one happy family together? I mean, not now anyway, but maybe someday."
When Terra thought of this, it was difficult to imagine any child taking on any of his traits unless it was a son. Still, the image of him having a daughter with all of Aqua's features was enough to give him chills. How beautiful their child would be was beyond his comprehension, except for the fact that no matter how much it resembled Aqua that it would be contaminated with his traits. No child of theirs, in Terra's mind, could be as beautiful as Aqua herself was. It was impossible.
He imagined her joy that would make her beauty even more intense with pregnancy and how he would be there with her when the time of birth arrived. He would be the loving father to support her through thick and thin, all the while taking in the happiness that she would feel during the months she would be carrying his offspring.
He also knew of Eraqus' distaste for the notion of them having children. What would Master Eraqus say to him? Would he think of him any less if he chose his wife over his master? He was unsure of this to the point where he was not entirely certain Eraqus would allow Terra and Aqua to keep the baby. How devastated would Aqua be if he told her she couldn't keep it? It would be really hard on them to take such devastating news, especially for Aqua who wanted it more than anything in the world.
Terra couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't hold back his urges in front of her. With this opportunity, how could he not take his chances? He gently led Aqua by the hand and let her climb into bed first. She scooted over to give him room to come in. Although she was much smaller than him, Aqua was granted the big queen-sized bed, while Terra was content with his old bed from his youth before Aqua arrived to train, one that left his feet hanging off the edge. She smiled and started kissing him again on the lips. She was lying on her side in a seductive pose. The female mage's charm was being worked on him. Terra blocked her lips with his hand and took a moment to do a quick scan down her body with his eyes, observing every curve and feature with the utmost interest with the light if her aura emitting clearly from her eyes.
Aqua turned over on her back with her arms sprawled out to touch his knee. She shuddered with anticipation and a hint of nervousness. "Ok, I think I'm ready."
Terra couldn't hold back a smile as he moved carefully over her and was closer than he had ever been to her. Seeing her body out in front of him brought blush to Terra's face, but his tan skin was able to hide it from Aqua's eyes for the most part. It brought tingles down his spine as all his senses became especially receptive to the world around him. He could hear each anticipating breath Aqua took; he could feel the warmth of her body like a radiating lamp; and he could even indulge himself in her lush scent. It was exhilarating to his senses, almost like a drug. She was so intoxicating to him; he couldn't take it much longer.
Terra gave in to Aqua's pressures, and eventually, they both lost their virginities to achieve something greater that would change their lives forever.
"Aqua, I love you." Terra whispered into her ear as they both drifted off to sleep.
She smiled. "I love you too, Terra."
The next morning was very tense. Terra and Aqua put in an extra effort to make it seem like the previous night had not happened, though they agreed it was the most magical thing that had ever happened to them, which made it even more challenging to keep secret. They did not speak of it, reference it, or even spend too much time together to even hint it to their master.
Eraqus did not suspect a thing-that is, until two weeks later. That morning after their usual training, Aqua made a startling realization, "Oh no. Terra, Terra!"
Terra was alarmed when he heard her calling for him from her bedroom. He rushed into her room and found her in her bathroom examining herself in the tall mirror on her wall. She had her hands resting on her exposed abdomen underneath her lifted pajama top.
"Aqua, what's wrong? I heard you scream-"
"Terra," she was in tears, "my period's late. This has never happened before!" she said as she continued to stare at herself in the mirror, particularly her torso. She shuddered as she watched Terra place his hands delicately on her shoulders and smiled timidly.
"Maybe it's stress. You have been training a lot." He said but was uncertain. He had no clue what she was talking about in regards to the female reproductive cycle. He slept through that part of his lessons. "This stuff happens, Aqua. Don't worry."
She gazed up at him, her oceanic eyes sparkling with rising tears. "No, oh no, what will Eraqus say if I'm…you know?"
Terra's face reddened with blush. He stroked his fingers tenderly against Aqua's cheek. "I don't know. He didn't even know that we committed the act."
"What will he say if he ever finds out we went off behind his back? I was afraid of this happening now."
"I don't know, but everything's going to be ok. I promise."
Later that morning, Aqua was in the kitchen looking at the paper posted on the refrigerator that had a long list of items needed from the store. The top had 'Aqua' written on it, while she was busy jotting down a couple additional things on the list.
She removed the list from kitchen counter and read over it. She called to the rest of the castle. "Master, I'm heading to the store. It looks like supplies are low."
"Hey Aqua," Terra said in a cool voice. "Are you going somewhere?"
"Yeah," she said in a tired drone while putting the list in her pocket. "It's my turn to do the shopping. Besides, I think it'll do me some good that I get out of the castle for a while."
"Ok. Good luck."
"Thanks, but it's just a shopping trip. I'll be back in a couple hours. I'll be in Radiant Garden if you need me."
Terra smiled while watching her leave. "Imagine how many more times we'll have to go grocery shopping if you end up-?"
The man didn't even get a chance to complete his thought when he heard Aqua let out an agitated groan with a Keyblade suddenly in his face, "If you even finish that sentence, I will mutilate you!"
Terra swallowed nervously. He realized no amount of joking could sugarcoat the severity of the situation at hand. He was silent as he watched her leave the castle with their shopping list and her fingers clenched tightly around her Keyblade.
"Oh yeah, can you pick up some more protein shakes?" he called. "I ran out this morning."
"Got it!"
When Aqua returned, she put the rest of the bags of groceries on the counter of the kitchen and grabbed a small pink box out of one of the larger bags and snuck it to her room. She was followed by Terra, where they closed the door gently.
Terra waited on Aqua's bed, where he reminisced how he felt when they made love on that same bed. That didn't mask his hidden fears. Now he was possibly going to have to face one of the big consequences of his actions: parenthood. While Aqua was busy in the bathroom, he twitted his thumbs and stared at the floor. He only looked up when she returned.
"So, what is it?" he asked anxiously.
Aqua sighed and sat down on the bed beside him with the test in her hand. She didn't look him in the eye when she stated bluntly, "Positive."
Terra sighed with his face cupped in his large hands. "I should've known this was going to happen." He looked up at her face. "A-Aqua, I'm sorry-"
"Don't be." She said in a solemn voice. "It's what I wanted, sort of. I wished for this, and now I get my chance. Still…what will the Master say? We broke the number one rule, Terra! What do you think he'll do to us as punishment?"
Terra wrapped his wife in his arms. "Don't worry. I'll talk to him. You have nothing to fear. If anything, he'll punish me because he would believe that I started it. He knows you're too good to go do things behind his back. He'll know it was mine, and I'll take the heat for it. I promise."
"Yes, but I conceived it! It's my fault, and now I have jeopardized our Keyblade Master training. I ruined my chances at becoming a Master, and I'm so sorry I got you involved in this as well."
He put his face gently in her hair. "It's ok. I will talk to him, and I will divert the blame from you. I won't let him hurt you. I promise. You have nothing to worry about."
Aqua had her face pressed to his chest in fear and held onto his shirt gently. She choked out a few tears before Terra put her back on the bed and left the room. Aqua didn't leave the room until the next day.
After training with Master Eraqus, Aqua left the throne room to freshen up while Terra stayed behind with Eraqus.
"Terra," the old man looked surprised at Terra's disturbance in his blue eyes. "Is there something the matter?"
"Yes Master," Terra sighed, his hands balled into fists at his side. He looked up at his Master's face with an apologetic gaze. "Aqua's pregnant, sir, and the baby is mine."
Eraqus gasped and stepped back. This was completely unexpected. "How could you Terra? I thought I had told you that sleeping with one another was strictly forbidden until you both became Masters. Why? What was the notion that led you to this?"
"We're married, Master! Aqua and I have the right to be with each other as husband and wife, and you know it. Besides, she really wants this baby."
Eraqus looked at him sternly. "But do you think you're ready to raise a baby, Terra? Let me tell you that being a parent is a big responsibility. How do you expect to finish your training with a child in your care? I had to raise you all by myself after your mother died. Luckily, I already had this castle and plenty of experience with young apprentices before you arrived. Nevertheless, you were always a challenge."
"I-I don't know Master, but I'll find a way. I promise."
Eraqus crossed his arms across his chest, "Really? You know that what you did is strictly forbidden."
Terra swallowed nervously. "Yes Master."
Light footsteps echoed in the chamber. Terra turned and saw Aqua tentatively approaching them.
Her eyes downcast, she spoke in a soft somber tone, "I couldn't stay away. It's my fault too. You can't take the fall alone."
Terra smiled and wrapped his arm around her.
"Master," she paused to swallow her fear, "I want to keep it. My baby needs me. I can not abandon it."
Eraqus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "If you two have your hearts set on it, I will not object. You may keep it. Aqua, I am entrusting you to take care of yourself now that we have a new apprentice in the making. Do you understand? The baby's life is in your hands."
Despite his master's accepting words, Terra could see fury in his eyes. However, that fiery rage was soon replaced by heartbreak.
Aqua nodded dutifully. "Yes Master."
"Terra, you do realize that this means a lifelong dedication to Aqua and your future child. Their lives are in your hands now and yours alone. After the child is born, you must do everything in your power to care for and protect it. It is the duty of every father to look out for his family. Have I made myself clear?"
"I understand Master. I won't let you down."
Eraqus looked at both of them with a sentimental gaze. "We must proceed with great care. This is a very delicate time, and we must ensure that the embryo receives everything it needs to grow properly within the first three months. That is on your shoulders, Aqua. Terra and I will be here to assist, but ultimately, it is your duty to keep it safe. You are more likely to lose the baby in the first three months of pregnancy, so you must be especially vigilant."
She bowed. "Yes Master, understood!"
"I am very proud of both of you as my students and taking on this responsibility so maturely, though I wish this could happen at a later time when I feel like you have grown up more. You will both make excellent parents and have my blessing for this child to become an apprentice when it gets older. If you need any assistance, please let me know, and I will do all that I can. After all," he chuckled, "I'm going to be a grandpa."
There were smiles on everyone's faces as Eraqus congratulated Aqua with a hug while exchanging a proud glance with Terra. Aqua was elated that they were able to diffuse the possibly dangerous situation with such finesse. Her future and her child's future were assured in the castle as far as she could tell.
As the pair left the throne room, Master Eraqus' eyes softened as he looked toward the stained-glass windows above. "This was a terrible mistake. Terra…did the past teach you nothing?"
When Aqua returned to her room, Terra followed her. Master Eraqus was left to plan on what to do next now that he knew about the new arrival. They did not emerge for the rest of the day.