PendragonU: Here is chapter 2. Enjoy, read and review please. I hope that you all like this version better, I certainly do. I DO NOT OWN KINGDOM HEARTS.
Chapter 2
Xemnas stared at his subordinate. He would have considered the situation a miracle if he believed in such things. Even though everything had a scientific reason and could be explained, how could such a thing be? Yet Xemnas knew that Vexen wasn't lying, there was no reason for him to do such a thing. And it was highly unlikely that he was wrong. Vexen and Xemnas might not always see eye to eye, but the blonde was a very competent scientist. To add to the mystery of male conception, there was the matter of regaining a heart. If Vexen had truly regained his heart through the pregnancy, the Organization may have found a way to have hearts once more without the sacrifice of other lives.
"Number IV, are you absolutely sure of the results of both tests? If there is any possibility of a mistake, please tell me now." Xemnas waited with baited breath. This could mean the end of their long commitment to Kingdom Hearts. This could mean the end of the killing that would surely weigh heavily on them when they were once more human. Vexen shook his head.
"There is no mistake. I have done the tests a hundred times over, and the results stay the same with absolutely no indication of error. I know that this is hard to believe, but I would not lie to you. It would not benefit me in any way to deceive you about this matter. I am going to have Marluxia's child and I can once more feel emotion." Vexen shivered. He was now exhausted and feeling drained. The stress of having to deal with newly occurring emotions and the hormones this pregnancy produced was wearing the icy Nobody down. He was tired.
Xemnas observed Vexen closely after the man shivered. He looked exhausted and pale, like he could faint any moment. Was it a product of the pregnancy or was it a symptom of dealing with emotions once more? Perhaps both? In any case, the other was weary and it was the responsibility of Xemnas to ensure Vexen's well being.
"I can see that you are drained, Number IV. I am sure that you would like to rest but I would like to ascertain a few things before you retire. Can you hold out for a few minutes more?" Vexen nodded. "Good. Remain here; I want to ask Marluxia what he thinks of this occurrence." Vexen felt his jaw tighten and he was no longer tired as the sudden burst of angry energy from earlier returned.
"I can tell you what he thinks! He wants me to abort the pregnancy!" Xemnas looked vaguely startled at the venom in Vexen's voice. He had not anticipated that the anger in Vexen's eyes would be due to a desire to keep the child. He had guessed that the anger at Marluxia was due to the blame assigned to him as the sire of the child. That would have been the logical reason for the ire that Vexen displayed towards the pink haired Nobody. But it was no longer a matter of logic and reasoning, it was a matter of heart and instinct. If Xemnas had a heart, he might have found the situation touching in a way. As it was, the Superior could only feel a sort of detached amusement. It was almost humorous that the first feelings Vexen experienced ones often associated with heat and passion; the chilly academic was a hot headed, protective mother. Ah, the irony was beautiful.
"You were attempting to strangle number XI because he suggested terminating the pregnancy? Is that not a little extreme? It was a suggestion likely put forth in the sense of practicality. This will not be easy to deal with number IV."
"I am aware of that, Superior." Vexen swallowed. "I still detest the mere thought of an abortion. I want…this. The life inside of me is worth the difficulty." Vexen looked up at Xemnas with slightly misty eyes. "Do you understand, Superior?" The Enigmatic Man nodded.
"If you truly wish to keep the child, you must be prepared to be extremely vulnerable. You will have to be protected by others and you can no longer spend days in your laboratory without eating or sleeping." Xemnas looked into Vexen's vivid green eyes. He was looking for some doubt or some indication of hesitance. He would not have the Organization slow its' progress towards Kingdom Hearts if Vexen was unsure about keeping this child. The sacrifice would not be worth it if Vexen changed his mind a few months down the road and terminated the child. If Vexen was sure, then Xemnas would make every effort to ensure the safety of both mother and child. It would be the right thing to do and it might end up as another solution to the dilemma of the Nobodies. Vexen looked at his booted feet for a moment. It was worth it.
"I am prepared for the consequences, Superior." The blond raised his eyes to meet those of Xemnas "Whatever the consequences are."
When Vexen boldly met his gaze, Xemnas was a little surprised. He caught a glimpse of the long gone Even in those eyes. The determination and passion that had marked the man were present once more. There was no more distant stubbornness, just a genuine desire to see this difficult road to the end. It confirmed everything for Xemnas. There was indeed a heart, and that heart was set on having that child. No being that relied on logic alone would choose the path of greatest difficulty; common sense and reasoning dictated the wisdom of the path of least resistance. Xemnas sighed softly; the coming months were not going to be easy.
"I hope that you are prepared for an extremely hard pregnancy. You are far too slender for bearing children." Xemnas sat in a chair opposite Vexen. Now that the course had been determined, it was time to make plans. Things had to be done correctly, or not done at all. "You must be careful with your body, Vexen. You no longer have the ability to allow great stresses on your physical form." Xemnas paused for a moment, thinking. "It is also logical for you to avoid great emotional upheaval as such occurrences are known to have negative effects on pregnancies." Vexen nodded his head. He knew these things, but he did make that observation aloud. The leader of the Organization was doing as a leader should, taking into account all risk factors and determining how to either prevent disaster or weather it. Vexen believed that it was only fair to the man to let him know one other crucial factor.
"Superior, I also know something else of my… condition. According to certain hormone levels in my body I am carrying more than one child. I have three hearts in my body because my tests indicate twins." Xemnas raised an eyebrow. That was interesting.
"So you are quite fertile or Marluxia is extremely virile. I wonder which it is…" Xemnas smirked at Vexen. "Perhaps once you have given birth to this set of children you should try this again; maybe make an experiment out of it." Vexen's eyes widened comically. He had not considered the future beyond having his children. While the thought of the children in his belly brought him joy, the thought of repeating the labor process more than once was not a prospect that the scientist relished. The fact that he was not yet sure as how he was going to give birth only heightened his discomfiture. The involvement of Marluxia in his life again was also not something he wanted to contemplate.
This brought Vexen to an uncomfortable place in his train of thought. Would the twins need their father, and what would happen if only one parent had the ability to love them? Would he need to make peace with the arrogant Neophyte for the sake of his children? Vexen didn't know. He supposed that the whole mess might have been so much easier if both of the Nobodies involved in the conception had regained their hearts. It saddened him that he was no longer able to enjoy the others affections. He could no longer bear the shallow imitations of such a powerful emotion. It grieved Vexen that he would not know the love of the father of his children. Even if Marluxia did regain his heart, he was not the sort of man to waste his affections on someone like Vexen.
"Superior, I have a request to make concerning Marluxia." Vexen knew that he was in a difficult position and he must make clear to the leader the circumstances. Xemnas cocked his head slightly to the left and crossed his legs at the ankle. It was a familiar position, as it was one he struck when he was going to be indulgent of any whims a particular Nobody had. "If Marluxia continues to express a desire to terminate my pregnancy, then I would like for him to remain well away from me. I fear his intent if he should decide that the decision is his whether or not my children live or die. I think that one such as him might attempt to harm us." Xemnas smirked.
"That will not be a problem. If Number XI cannot bring himself to accept that you are going to have his children, then he will simply have to stay away from you. And if he tries to harm you, he will regret it. You are under my protection; if he hurts you or compromises the safety of the children, he will die."