Running For Our Lives
Rinny Leonheart
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy I to XII. Satisfied now? However, I do own any characters unfamiliar to the games. Like Jessie, for example.
Summary: Slightly AU. Takes place after the game. Every marriage has its ups and downs, but for Rinoa, it's a lot more than she bargained for. She wanted the perfect husband, but there's more to him than meets the eye. After an accident on a SeeD mission that changes the man she loves, she runs away with their daughter, fearing for their life and also for the life of her unborn son. But will he be willing to give her up so easily?
Warnings: Some OOC-ness, violence, and vividly graphic childbirth references. Most of the fic will be in Rinoa's POV.
Chapter Two
Contractions rippled through my body as I knelt on the train platform. Jessie began crying and Squall looked on, still smiling at me. The train was disappearing from my sights. And big black storm clouds were rolling over our heads.
"Come back!" I shouted at it as another contraction flowed through me. I suddenly realised that back at my secret home, I had a neighbour who used to be a maternity doctor. He'd have something to stop my labour!
I struggled to get back on my feet as the pains crept closer together. I had to get away from Squall. My waters would break soon at this rate and it would be too late to stop myself having this baby. I reached out and grabbed Jessie by her hand and began running, my belly bouncing up and down as we ran. I turned my head for a brief second to see the platform empty. Squall was gone! I pushed Jessie forward and kept running.
"Jessie!" I shouted at her. "Keep running and don't stop for anything! If Daddy catches me, don't stop running!"
She turned her head towards me. "I won't! I'm not gonna let Daddy hurt you or baby brother!" she called back determinedly. I decided to stop trying. She had Squall's stubbornness and nothing would stop her.
"Just keep running!" I screamed as I felt another squeeze in my stomach. We ran deep into the forest, not stopping for anything. The rain began pounding down on us in waves of thunder and lightning. Jessie's little legs couldn't hold out much longer and I wasn't going to carry on if she stopped. I ran faster and swept her onto my aching back. I still had my rucksack on so she clung to the straps as I held onto her legs. I was in agony but I couldn't stop… He'd catch us again if I did. Not long to go now. Only a few more steps to go…
Sure enough after about half an hour of running, a few houses in the distance. I used what energy I could muster, running the last few hundred yards. I collapsed in front of my neighbour's home and pounded on the door. A piece of paper fluttered onto the floor. I looked at it in horror.
To the Milkman,
I am currently out of town on a health course. I shall return in 2 weeks time. Please cancel all deliveries until the 24th August
Dr Braele
Dammit! Perfect fucking timing! Why couldn't he have not gone on this course? I can't wait a whole week before I deliver this baby!
Squall… Why? Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to ruin my chances of a new start with my children? I scowled and bit my tongue. I was about to swear out loud in front of my daughter.
Squall, you fucking bastard! Why didn't you leave us alone! I screamed in my head.
I stood up and felt a gushing sensation. More like a numbness. My waters had broken. I fell to the floor in panic.
"NO! Not now! Please not now!" I shouted loudly. The pool around my feet was spreading in all directions.
"Mommy, you've wet yourself!" Jessie exclaimed in shock. I couldn't sugar coat this occurrence. I reached out and put my hand on her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze.
"No dear," I told her as calmly as I could through the pain. "That was just the sign that your brother wants to come out very soon. Mummy needs a doctor and there isn't one out here for miles. I'm going to need you to be a big strong girl now. Here's the key for our house. Just next door. Open the door for me sweetie."
Jessie ran faster than I had seen her as she reached our door in a matter of seconds. She may be young but she has a good head on her shoulders.
"Mommy! Come on!" she cried out as I struggled to my feet and crawled over the garden towards her. The pains were getting more intense by the minute. When I had Jessie, they weren't this bad! It must be to do with that drug Squall injected into me. Damn him! This baby will have to be delivered tonight!
Jessie tried lifting the backpack off me, almost dragging me through the front door. I pushed myself back into the foyer and kicked the door closed with every bit of strength I could summon up. Jessie thankfully locked the door behind us and ran into the kitchen whilst I took deep breaths. The pains were closer together. At this rate, the baby will be here within the hour! My eyes were screwing together in pain; I could only hear the sounds around me now.
I heard a splashing sound for a few seconds, and then the click of a switch as the kettle began to boil. Jessie's hurried footsteps behind me.
"Jessie, I don't think a cup of tea will do me any good right now honey."
"Oh, but mommy you need something to drink! I'll make you some honey and lemon tea and run you a bath."
A bath? Why would I need a bath at a time like this? Bless her, she doesn't understand.
"Sweetheart, I don't think a bath is a good idea right now."
"But when you had the icky week, a bath always helped with the pain. It might work now. Please try it mommy?"
"Darling I barely have enough energy to take my pyjama pants off, let alone climb the stairs to the bathroom. What you can do for me is bring the washing up bowl, a pair of scissors and plenty of towels. I don't think your brother will wait much longer… Gaaaaaaahhhh!" I grabbed my stomach and clung tightly to my trousers.
The pains were scarcely two minutes apart. The drug I was given barely an hour ago was really strong! I managed to get on my hands and knees and push myself in the direction of the front room as Jessie ran back and forth for the items I requested.
"Jessie? Bring the kettle into the front room, be careful with it honey!" I called through gritted teeth as another heavy contraction went through me. My pyjama shirt had ridden up beneath my breasts as I had shuffled across the room, I could see the ripples on my stomach as it hardened and released quickly with the tremorss.
Jessie came in as fast as she could with the copper kettle in her hands. She had also turned the electric fireplace on to keep the room warm; it was a cold morning after all.
I almost screamed as more pain flooded my lower regions. Sweat was rolling down my face as I propped myself against the sofa and began breathing deeply. My hair was all over the place and all I wanted to do was move it out of my eyesight. Jessie, as if reading my thoughts, pulled it back into a bobble, and rubbed my shoulders. I was so tired; I wanted to close my eyes on this nightmare and sleep.
I felt something cold and damp sponging my face and managed a small smile. Jessie was using a wet flannel to cool me off. I began trying to remove my sopping pants and underwear but I couldn't bend forward very far. I flopped back against the sofa and lifted my knees up. There was no way I could do this with my six year old here. An occasion like this would traumatise her.
Jessie left the flannel on my forehead and scrambled over to the backpack. I could hear her unzipping it and pulling things out. The flutter of paper was now in my ears as I opened my eyes to Jessie reading a book about babies.
"What are you doing, sweetheart?" I croaked at her, my energy zapped. She looked at me determinedly.
"I'm looking for the bit where the baby comes out! I wanna help get him out!" she informed me as she flicked through to the final chapters. My eyes pricked with tears. I was so proud of her, wanting to deliver a sibling is not what most six year olds plan on doing, and here was my own, determined to help me out. I could just see her becoming a midwife when she grows up.
"Mommy, we need the pants off. Just lift one leg up and I can get them off for you. Please mommy, the book will tell me how to get my brother out."
I lifted my foot as high as I could as Jessie tugged my pants and knickers off me. I panted with thirst as Jessie sprinted into the kitchen for fresh water to drink.
And that's when I heard it, the dreaded banging on the door, his voice calling for me to open the door. I tried blocking it out, until his shadow appeared at the window. I could almost see him through the curtains, so I closed my eyes and hissed at the next searing pain I felt.
Jessie came back I with a jug of cold water and brought it to my lips. The next few seconds were cool and refreshing. And then the banging started again. It was frantic, almost as if he was trying to get in because he was scared of something. Jessie scampered into the kitchen. If only we weren't trapped here, she could have run further on towards Timber and got away. He shouted loudly for me to open the door.
Hmpf! If he hadn't put me in this situation then I would have done. Hell, if he hadn't tried beating the living daylights out of me and making me run away with our six year old daughter we wouldn't be here at all! I couldn't move, the pain was too much. I could feel myself stretching whilst she was getting the hot water. It was only a matter of time before the urge to push came into effect. I had to stay calm, for Jessie's sake.
The banging at the door stopped, and it went silent except for my haggard breathing. Was he gone? Or was he trying to find another way into the house? If it was the latter, he would spend the rest of the night finding an open window or unlocked door. I was never stupid enough to go away for months at a time, leaving access for burglars to rob me of my smallest possessions.
I stayed still, sucking air in as another wave crashed through me. I felt so weak; the pain was making my eyelids heavy, along with the rest of my body. I didn't think I could stay awake to deliver my son. I had no choice but my body wouldn't do what I wanted it to. It was as if I was paralysed from the neck down.
A crash erupted from upstairs. A window had likely been smashed. He was determined to get in here alright. And I couldn't do anything more to stop him. Jessie ran into the room, her eyes wide with fright. It was over. We couldn't run anymore. He had us right where he wanted us and there was nothing more I could do.
A loud thudding was heard above my head. He had climbed the wall and had gone through the smashed window in the spare bedroom. His boots were scraping across the floor as his footsteps became louder and louder.
My daughter bravely picked up her Revolver and walked out of the room before I could stop her. She was so much like Squall. I called out her name and pushed myself forward onto my knees, holding myself up with my arms on all fours.
"Jessie! Come back!" I shouted loudly. No answer. The house was silent. I couldn't even hear footsteps anymore. Squall might have caught her!
I struggled to my feet and started for the door. I felt ridiculous; all I was wearing was my pyjama top and a pair of trainers. I couldn't have cared less; my daughter's life was in the hands of her lunatic father! I wasn't going to let him hurt her.
I staggered into the hallway, my maternal instincts going into overdrive. If he has hurt her, I would tear his fucking head off, regardless of the situation I was in. I could hear muffled sounds coming from upstairs. I braced myself as the pains kept coming, faster and more intense by the second.
If I could just get Jessie to somewhere safe, I could take care of Squall. Oh who am I trying to kid, I can barely climb these stairs, let alone take on a fully grown man who was a hell of a lot stronger than me.
I knelt on the stairs to catch my breath. And that was the turning point. I could feel his head between my legs.
"Shit!" I shouted out. "Squall if you can hear me, let Jessie go, I need her here with me right now! Your son doesn't want to wait to make his entrance!"
"Mommy! I'm coming!" I heard my daughter cry out, and the thudding of her feet on the floor became louder. I crawled back down the stairs. I'd only managed to climb up five of them, and it was less of an effort to go down, than up.
I leaned against the front door; it was all I could do now. I had to start pushing. If only I hadn't let him near me, I wouldn't be in this situation right now. Jessie came pounding down the stairs and threw herself right between my knees.
"Mommy I can see his head!" she gasped. I smiled weakly at her.
"I know sweetheart. All I need to do is push him out, which won't take me long. Could you do me a big favour, and get a large towel? We need to wrap him in something."
Jessie ran off in the direction of the living room and I lifted my knees towards my chest. I began to push, listening to Jessie gathering the towel and rustling through my backpack.
"Mommy, should I get a ball of string?" she called out to me. Her voice was quiet to my ears as I strained to push my son into the world.
My head started spinning, Jessie's voice becoming hazy, a blur in black appearing in front of me,
My eyes closed. I couldn't hear anything now; I couldn't even feel any pain. Strange sensations flowed over me in the brief seconds my eyes were shut. I could feel strong arms in damp clothes holding me, his voice in my head, telling me everything is ok, that he was here, that he would never hurt me again…
I opened my eyes. I saw his face, his hair sticking to his forehead with rain water, his eyes wild with panic.
"Rinoa? I'm so sorry," he said as everything around me went black.
Author's Note: Well that's it for this chapter. My apologies for taking so long to update, things have been quite hectic. Let me know what you think and I'll get the next chapter up as soon as possible! And that goes for the rest of my stories too, I need to stop writing new ones before I complete everything else