Title: The Price Of Freedom
Author: Izzy-Lawliet
Pairings: Axel/Sora
Rating: M
Warnings: Yaoi, lemon, MPreg, mental problems
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or places that are in this story; those belong to their respective owners.
Summary: Birthday-fic. Sora likes to whore himself to everyone, but when he tries to whore himself to Axel, the redhead—being the good, caring guy he is—says no and asks Sora out on a date like a proper gentleman.
Author's Note: This is is people! I know some of you were really anxious for this. And I'm proud to say that I actually finished it. I dunno if there are typos or anything that doesn't make sense. I'm not one to edit my own work. hee hee. Sorry. But here it is. Part two of The Price of Freedom. And THE LAST part. there will be no more. No epilogues or anything. I tried to close up everything so there were no loose ends.
I hope you enjoy it!
Update: Has been edited.
XxX
When Axel had picked me up, he had only given me a weak smile and unlocked the door for me to get in. I didn't say anything until I realized he was driving towards town.
"Where are we going?" I asked, confused.
"I was going to take you home…" He looked over at me with and odd expression.
I shook my head. "No!" He jumped slightly. "We need to go back. I need to apologize to Reno and make sure he knows that it wasn't his fault that I left."
Axel gave me a suspicious look.
"Please…?" He nodded and pulled over, checking the two-lane road before going in the opposite direction we were just heading in.
"So…what happened to your ride?" At least he was attempting at small talk.
"He was a perv; started feeling me up." I said this with no care in my voice, not even bothering to realize that it might have bothered Axel to know that some other man was touching me. To be honest, I had no idea if he was one of those possessive types or not. I looked over at him and saw his knuckles tighten on the steering wheel.
"You told him no, right?" Oh, so he was a possessive type. I like men like that.
"Of course. That's why I'm no longer in the car with him and instead next to my amazing boyfriend that I don't deserve…" I looked down and started fidgeting, my hands wringing together.
I was shocked when I felt Axel slow to almost a complete stop before pulling off to the side of the road. He unbuckled and turned so he was facing me. I didn't look at him. I was afraid that he'd be angry at me…or something. And I didn't want my fears to come true about him being an abusive boyfriend.
His hand grabbed my chin gently, softly forcing me to look at him. What I saw in his eyes made me happy. I didn't outwardly show it, but I felt my heart speed up and skip a couple beats when I looked into his green eyes.
"Sora…we've been going out for a few months now, right?" I nodded. "And you've been happy? I haven't bored you, have I?" I shook my head. Which was the truth. I really wasn't bored with Axel. We didn't have sex every night, but being able to curl up in his arms was nice and easy to fall asleep to. Yeah, occasionally Axel will give in to me and fuck me hard and raw like I like it, but other times I give in and let me make sweet love to me.
"Sora…you're most likely pregnant with my baby…you know that right?" I didn't want to admit the fact that he was most likely right. "Sora? If that is how it is, then we'll just deal with it, okay?"
I didn't want him to say all this. We didn't know if I was actually pregnant. We didn't know if any of this was true. If it…no. I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to look into his apologetic eyes anymore. They look so supportive, so protective, so…everything that I didn't want…
"Let's just go see Reno…" He sighed in a defeated way and turned the car back on. We drove back in complete silence. Which I was glad for.
Seven weeks, four days later
"Sor Sor, please, let me take you to a doctor?" My best friend said as he rubbed my back soothingly. He didn't comment on how he was able to feel my bones easily. Ever since that day when I saw Axel's brother, I hadn't eaten the same. Without the redhead around I didn't have to worry about him forcing me.
I shook my head in response to his question. I didn't want to go to the doctor. I knew they would look at me weird, call me a freak and then have security escort me out of the office. I had been through that once when I went in for a checkup and they realized my body wasn't what it was supposed to be.
"Please…you've been throwing up constantly the past few weeks…Well, ever since I've gotten back, that's for sure…" He gave me my bottle of water that I know carried around with me so I could wash the taste out of my mouth. He and I had gone out shopping and were currently in the handicapped bathroom so there would be enough room for him to comfort me and help me up.
"It's nothing. I think I have the stomach flu or something…it could also be my mono acting up again." Excuses, I know. But I knew I couldn't tell Demyx the real reason for the way reason I felt this way. I was afraid he would leave me too…but then again that was stupid of me to think because I knew he had stayed with me through a lot of the shit I came with. He probably wouldn't abandon me.
When I had enough strength, I stood and Demyx and I exited the bathroom, getting a few looks while we did. To milk it for all it was worth, Demyx threw his arms around my shoulders – since he was taller – and I put my hand in his back pocket, making it noticeable that I squeezed his ass. Demyx and I chuckled to ourselves before continuing our stroll down the mall, not bothering to change how we were walking. We browsed a couple stores and nothing had caught our interest so we just simply moved on.
As we passed the Abercrombie&Fitch, I gagged and almost had the urge to throw up. That didn't bother Demyx because anyone with a nose would have had the same reaction. Demyx was simply used to it because Xigbar wore cologne from there all the time.
And speaking of the devil, Xigbar walked out of that disgusting store and up to us, "Hey, Dem! Skye!"
I nodded, I wasn't that close to him.
"Hey you." Demyx said, his flirting starting almost out of the blue. We easily slid apart and I set the part of being his sturdy wingman when he and I both knew that he totally didn't need one.
"Didn't know you were back in town already." I saw his body lean closer towards my friend and I could just feel the sexual tension between them. It had been that way ever since Xigbar had gotten drunk while at work and made a pass at Dem.
"Yeah…" I drowned out the rest of the conversation, not really needing to be a part of it, so not bothering to listen to it. I let my gaze wander from the two and a blotch of red caught my head. I stared in that direction for a moment, my heart racing. It was then I saw Axel, and Reno, emerge from a crowd, smiling and laughing about something. I froze when Axel's eyes connected with mine and his smile dropped from his face.
He grabbed Reno's hand and said something to him, both of them walking towards me. I did the only thing I could and turned in the other direction.
"Sor Sor?" I heard Demyx call out, he hadn't seen Axel, and didn't know what had happened between us. He didn't know that he was the reason I was as sick as I was.
I had also heard Axel call my name, but I knew I couldn't turn around. I had to keep going. I didn't want to face him. I couldn't. Not after all this time. Especially if he was with his brother. I knew I had to just keep running. I knew I could do it.
It was then I felt the wear on my body. I bumped into a few people and my pace slowed, things blurred and I felt sick again. I felt beyond weak as I kept trying to push forward. People looked at me oddly as I tried to keep my balance and desperately tried to stay upright. I staggered from left to right, eventually finding a wall to help push me along. I leant my head against it as I knew I couldn't go on anymore and slid down.
I know I wasn't in the best shape, but I should have been able to run.
My heart was pounding in my ears and I couldn't feel. I felt numb, my body was tingling and there was pain. It started from my stomach and continued up around my body, starting in waves before almost completely taking over.
I felt those long, warm arms wrap around me just like they used to, and I fell back into them, not afraid – for once – of the safety from them. My vision turned dark and I only remember seeing Axel's face looking at mine.
I woke up to the 'beep. Beep. Beep. Beep' of what I could only assume was a heart monitor. I tried to move, open my eyes, speak, but nothing seemed to work. I felt too tired. I wanted more sleep.
The beep from the heart monitor seemed a bit faster than it was earlier and I don't know if that was a bad thing or a good thing. Either this was going normally, or the beeping I heard earlier was too slow. But either way my heartrate was changing, at least I assumed it was my heart rate. I still felt tired, but there was something pulling me from my sleep. But I just wanted to go back to it. Sleeping sounded so tempting, and if I willed to go to sleep, I should be able to sleep, right?
Apparently that wasn't the case as my eyes opened slowly and I saw many people around me. Demyx was the first one in my view and I gave him a weak smile.
Without bothering to look at anyone else, I moved my hand, finding difficulty in doing so, and rest it on my stomach, feeling a slight bulge. After reassuring that I wasn't dreaming, I looked up and saw the exact redhead that I had been running from last…whenever that day was that Demyx and I were a the mall.
"Skye?" I flinched at the volume of whoever's voice that was.
"Can you hear us?" That that voice was Demyx, and being so close to me, at least he had the sense to whisper.
I went to speak but found myself unable to. I moved my hand from my stomach and felt a tube trailing down my throat. I looked at Demyx, hoping he could explain what happened.
"You passed out. You've been in a coma for a good two weeks." He said, voice soft. I felt a squeeze on my hand and looked over to see Reno holding it. I attempted a smile and he smiled back.
Wow…two weeks. I bet it was only that long because the stupid doctors didn't know what to do with someone who had Mako in their system.
"I'm gonna stay with you till you're allll better, otay?" I nodded, knowing I couldn't say no to someone as innocent as him.
I didn't see anyone in the room besides Reno and Demyx and that confused me. Demyx seemed to understand my confusion. "Axel's out there, you're only allowed two visitors at a time." I blinked in understanding. I looked downward, hoping he got what I was trying to ask. "You lost a lot of oxygen, and they were trying to resuscitate you, but couldn't. You seemed unable to breathe by yourself. And they couldn't inject anything because when they drew blood, they noticed the Mako in your system." My guesses were right.
"Mako?" I winced at Reno's loud voice. "I have Mako in me too! Lots and lots of it!" Demyx looked over at Reno and somehow knew better than to say anything.
"And they can't take your blood to the labs, because your blood cell count and all that are already different from ours and they didn't know how to read it. And there's no Shin Ra hospital nearby for us to take you to. But they are trying to get a hold of a doctor that could come and do something."
I lifted my hand into the air as much as I could and started writing in the air. Dem thankfully, once again, understood what I was trying to communicate. He turned around and grabbed a notebook and pen for me to write on. I laid the notebook on my slightly raised knees, as I didn't want to let go of Reno's hand. I held the pen as tightly as I could but I couldn't seem to keep it from shaking it as much as it was. I scowled and tried to focus on my writing.
'Dr. Vincent Valentine' I hoped it was legible enough for Demyx to read.
"He's a Mako specialist?"
'Yes'
"Alright, I'll go tell the doctors and send Axel in here while I'm gone." Before I could tell him no he had already raced out of here. Probably excited that there was a doctor that could help me.
Moments after he left, Axel walked in. I wanted to look away, but something about seeing those bloodshot green eyes had me looking at him. Pleading for something.
"I let Reno in here first, he was so worried. He didn't want to let go of your hand, the paramedics were nice enough to let him ride in the ambulance with you." I smiled – well kind of – and looked over at Axel's older brother.
"Yeah! And they said I helped so they gave me a lollipop and a sticker, see!" I saw the smiley sticker he had on his chest and wanted to smile more, but was unable to because of the thing down my throat.
I looked down at the paper in my lap and was tempted to write something to him, but I didn't want to speak to him. There was a reason I was ignoring his calls and texts for the past month or so.
He seemed to understand, for he didn't say anything else, just kept Reno entertained. He seemed to purposely refrain from speaking to me.
Which I had to admit…kinda hurt.
After the Mako specialist got here – which took a good week for the people to get a hold of, - they were able to take the tube out of my throat and I could breathe. He didn't tell the other 'normal' doctors how or why he was able to do that, but it didn't matter to me. He had come in silently, a dark look that was always on his face and treated me like he always did.
Quick and efficiently.
Before I knew it, he was discharging me, walking me out of the hospital himself so I wasn't hassled by any doctors or nurses.
"Does your partner know?" He asked. The first words he spoke since he had entered my room.
I nodded my head.
"And what does he think about it?" It wasn't usually like Vincent to delve into the details of other people's lives.
"He says he wants to be there…but I don't want a baby."
"You know you can't abort it, right?" I nodded. "Then maybe you should have the baby and give it to him. It is his child, as well as yours. You're just the one who has to bear it."
I sighed, stopping in my tracks to look at him.
"You don't want it, but you don't want to give it up either, do you?"
"I know it's complicated, but-" He held up his hand as a sign for me to stop.
"You shouldn't be explaining it to me. You should be explaining to the man that you abandoned over a month ago." Dammit. I had forgotten they keep track on 'special' cases like me. But luckily, it was only Vincent who watched over my case. And he didn't bother me too much with pointless Shin Ra shit. I think he was really close friends with my dad.
"What would I say to him?" He shrugged and walked over to his Camero, waving a goodbye before leaving.
When I took a few more steps forward, I was jumped by Demyx. His arms were around my neck and he was talking excitedly about something I didn't know.
"Skye?" I looked up at my friend and he looked at me oddly. He still had no idea what happened. And to be honest, I didn't know what happened either. Vincent didn't elaborate much. Other than tell me that I should eat more because of the baby and not do so much physical shit.
"I dunno. Vincent is secretive. He never tells anyone anything unless he finds it vitally important." Which meant that I had to follow through with what he told me or he would kill me personally.
"So he didn't tell you anything 'vitally important'?" I shook my head. I felt bad lying to him so much, but I really didn't know how I was supposed to tell him. Demyx gave me this skeptical look, but said no more. He grabbed my hand and said we were going out. It was late so I figured we were going to the bar since he would have had it opened already.
I was right when Demyx and I walked up to the bar, taking the employee's entrance and getting an apron on. "You sure you want to work tonight?" He asked, that skeptical look back on his face?
"Course! After Vincent left, I felt better than new."
"Mmk. Oh, and I got something to give you. Reno said he and Axel had to leave, but he wanted you to have this." Demyx handed over folded up paper and went into the front to help Xigbar fill orders.
Curious, I unfolded and saw it was the same picture that I saw before, the one Reno drew that made me realize that I was…pregnant.
I folded it up after a moment and tucked it into my pocket. I would think more of what I would do with the whole situation later. Right now I wanted to just get everything off my mind. But I knew that wouldn't be achievable with alcohol. Vincent would kill me. And I couldn't do that to my unborn…child.
"Skye!" I heard Xigbar call. I made my way towards the front and started making drinks as people started shouting them. I flirted a bit with the customers, as always, they responded and bought more drinks.
I turned to the next customer and was slightly shocked to see it was that one silver-haired guy I met at the club months ago. What was his name? Richard? Rico? Pablo?
"Hey there baby." I smiled and waited for him to give me his order while getting someone else their sixth beer in exchange for their car keys. "Lemme buy you a drink." I shook my head before getting the elbow from Demyx. I had forgotten about the rule for never denying a customer when they want to buy you a drink.
I smiled meekly before turning around and grabbing onto Demyx's arm, pulling back to the point that he almost fell. He glared at me shortly before coming close so he could hear me over the music.
"I can't drink." I hissed. Not wanting to just spring it on him, but if I drank, it wouldn't be good and then this silverette would just want me to keep going until he could take me home.
"Why?" There was a hint in his eyes as though he knew somehow.
"You know, don't you? How?" He smiled and hugged me tightly in what I know was a congratulatory way.
"Reno. He said something and then something else and then I saw the picture and I just put it all together." I cringed, but I couldn't blame Reno, he didn't necessarily know better. "We'll talk later, but spit it back into the bottle like I taught you." I nodded and we both went back to work.
I let the guy buy me a drink and drank half of it, slamming the drink on the table and gave him a dirty smile before grabbing a beer bottle from under the counter and making it look like I took a swig before spitting all the alcohol into it.
"Aren't you going to finish the drink?" I looked back to him and smiled, leaning over the counter. I looked over the drink and saw the color a little tinted. I lifted the glass up to my mouth, smelling it and about to sip when I saw the look on his face. I splashed the rest of the drink in his face and was held back by Xigbar from jumping over the counter.
"He tried to drug me!"
"Security!" Demyx called, dragging me into the back room. "Xig, Larx, you two got this?" They nodded as Demyx shut the door and pushed me onto the couch. "What the hell? I've never seen you freak out that much before!"
"Hormones?" I suggested. He looked me over and then laughed.
"I think that's what it might be." His laughter slowed and he looked over at me, laying a hand on my bulging stomach.
I didn't mind the touch. It actually felt nice. I felt a movement. "I think the baby like the touch." I said, shocking Demyx.
"Yeah?" I nodded and let him lift my shirt up to rub my belly more. "You're really big for only being about, four months?" I nodded again.
"Because it's a Mako induced baby, the term will only be six months. Research says that I'll really start showing in about two weeks. And it's going to take a huge toll on my body. They recommend you going to a Shin Ra hospital once you hit your fifth month. It can get pretty dangerous for both the host and the baby."
"You sound like a textbook or something."
I laughed and then sighed when he lightly drug his nails around my stomach. "Nah, Vincent drilled in into my head when they discovered I could be a 'host'." Demyx frowned but didn't stop his hand movements. "What's wrong?"
"I don't like that word. It makes it seem like the baby is a parasite or something…" I smiled and closed his eyes. The movement of his hand was really comforting. I felt very relaxed. It was soothing. "This feel good?" I nodded and let a small purr-like-mewl slip from my lips. Not caring since Demyx was my best friend and I knew he was into Xigbar.
"Dunno why, but it's like the baby responds to any kind of caress to my stomach." He nodded and just kept scratching.
"Hey, beautiful!" Xigbar opened the door. He didn't say anything else, only glared at me jealously. "Dem, we need you out here. We're getting packed."
"I'll be right out, Xigbear." Xigbar scowled at the name, but left without another word. "You stay back here and rest, you look tired. I'll come get you when we close up." I nodded and laid back on the couch, feeling too hot to ask for a blanket. If anything I wanted to take my clothes off.
I fell asleep with no trouble, the movement in my stomach actually feeling comforting.
But before I knew it, Demyx was gently shaking me awake, jacket and keys in hand. "Sor Sor?" I 'hmm'ed in response. "It's time to go home. I'll give you a ride." I nodded and felt jolted when I was picked up. I knew Demyx couldn't pick me up. "Relax, he's gonna carry you to the car." I nodded and curled into his chest.
I wasn't asleep, but I was almost there, to that point where I could still hear people and things around me but not completely understand what was going on. That didn't bother me though, as long as I heard a familiar voice, I was fine.
I was placed in a car and I felt myself being buckled shortly before there was the soft hum of a car engine turning on. I felt the ride gently rock me to sleep and I had about to fall completely asleep when the engine turned off and I was pulled from the car. I opened my eyes gently and only saw a black t-shirt.
Demyx fished my keys out of my pocket and took my inside. I was laid on my bed and covered with a light sheet after my jeans were removed.
I felt a light kiss on my forehead, from Demyx of course before I heard the door lock.
It didn't occur to me until the moment right before I fell asleep, Xigbar was wearing a red shirt. Not black.
I woke up groggily, looking over and seeing that it was nine forty. Not too early, and not too late. Since I had stopped my clubbing, I decided to get up at more of a normal time. I got up and used the bathroom, brushing the disgusting taste out of my mouth, deciding to take a shower after I ate. The baby wanted something to eat, and I had to admit…I did too.
When I walked out of my room, I saw my keys on the counter. Which made no sense. If Demyx locked up, how had he left the keys on the counter? Only I have a copy of the key.
"Nngh…" I looked over to the living room and could have killed someone. Axel was sleeping on the couch. Damn Demyx…he must have called Axel to take me home.
I didn't bother waking him, I would deal with him later and grabbed my cell phone, which also happened to be on the counter, and speed-dialed Demyx's number. I walked back to my room and shut the door while waiting for my so called best friend to answer.
"Mmm….hello?" Sounds like I woke him. Good.
"What the fuck?"
"Discovered Ax on your couch?" He seemed smug.
"Yeah, care to explain?" I sat on my bed, pouting childishly.
"Nope. You can ask him. Now I'm going to put my phone on silent. So don't bother trying to call back. Night night." And he hung up. Just like that. And I didn't even want to talk to him or call him back. I didn't even want to leave my room just yet.
"Sora?" I looked up to see Axel peeking his head in after opening the door slightly. "I heard you yelling…"
"Why are you here?" I snapped.
"I came by the bar last night to see how you were doing, and Demyx said you were asleep in the back. So I took you home. I hope you don't mind me staying. I had no other choice because I didn't want to wake you up, or take your keys with me." He had logic. But that didn't mean I wanted him here.
I walked past him into the kitchen to get some food. The baby and I were hungry. But I didn't know exactly what to eat.
"Do you want me to make you something?" Why doesn't he just leave?
"No." I snapped. He was a nuisance. I didn't need him to do anything for me.
When I looked up I saw him looking at the floor, his eyes watering. He was shuffling his feet slightly and avoided eye contact. "Alright…I guess I'll just leave. I don't want to be a burden." I furrowed my eyebrows together and went to stop him, but decided against him. I was hurting him enough. He didn't need to deal with more of my shit.
He slipped on his shoes that were by the door. As he opened it, I said, "Wait."
I don't know what compelled me to say it. But I knew that somewhere deep inside me that I didn't want him to go just yet.
"Can I have one of your omelets? But without the meat, cause the smell of raw meat makes me sick." I smiled lightly, giddy when he looked back and smiled widely.
"Of course."
Axel had made me a nice omelet, we didn't talk much. Although, I did ask about Reno. He told me that the doctors said he was improving and allowed him to go out more often. It made me happy to hear Axel go on and on about his brother. He was really excited to be able to go out and do all the things he had wanted with his older brother, with exceptions of course. Everything he did with Reno basically what you were legally able to do with a child. No drugs, alcohol, clubs, gambling. All the good stuff. But apparently it didn't bother Axel much at all, he hadn't wanted to do that stuff anyways.
It wasn't long before Axel said that he had to head out. I bade him farewell, holding myself back from kissing him on the cheek when he hugged me, his hands sliding around to my stomach for only a brief moment. I could tell that he didn't want me to notice what he was doing. But the caress felt nice.
After I shut the door, I looked over to the microwave to check the time and saw that it was already two in the afternoon. There was no way that much time had passed.
It made me realize that I really enjoyed being in his company and time seemed irrelevant when we were talking and laughing together. It made me miss him. I'd never felt so attached to someone in my life. I didn't understand what I was feeling. I felt…sad.
It must have been the hormones. I basically ran to my room and picked up my phone, calling Vincent. He would know what was wrong.
As I waited impatiently for Vincent to answer the phone, I realized that I was crying and that when he answered I let out a sob of relief.
"Sora?" His voice held a concerned tone, which was unusual because it usually was monotone.
"Vince…I don't know what's wrong. I feel…I don't know. My heart. Hurts. My head feels all jumbled and my body aches. Like…like…I need something." I cried out to him, hoping he would understand what I was saying.
"What happened before you felt this way?" His tone returned almost completely back to normal, holding that serious 'doctor' tone.
"Axel. He-he-he-" I couldn't stop gasping for air.
"'He-' what Sora?"
"He left. He had hugged me and then just left. That's it. I didn't want him to go. Why'd he go? Vince, why do I want him to come back so badly?" I all but screamed into my phone.
Then he said the one thing I had never expected to hear someone say about me, let alone to me. "It's because you love him."
"Vincent said that?" Demyx said, just as shocked as I was.
"Yeah…" I twisted the cup in my hand. I was currently drinking a cup of decaf coffee.
"What do you think of it?"
I looked up at him and I could practically feel my face rip in half from my smile. "I love him."
"Then why aren't you two attached at the hip yet? I think you should tell him."
I laughed. "Calling the kettle black, aren't we now? You still haven't told Xigbar how you feel, have you?" He shook his head. "So then, let's make a deal. I'll tell Axel tonight when he comes over, yes, I invited him over so we could talk. But only if you call Xigbar, put him on speaker, so I can hear, and tell him how you feel."
Demyx's mouth dropped open in nothing else but pure shock.
"And I mean right now, mister."
It was only thirty seconds before Demyx took a deep breath and picked his phone off the table. As he was going through the contacts to call Xigbar, I assume, he said to me, "I'm doing this because you and Axel basically are made for each other. And with that baby on the way, he needs to know that you want him in your life. I'm doing this for you…and only a little for me." I smiled and shook my head. He just needed that push in the right direction so he could do it.
He held the phone to his ear for only a moment before pressing a button and laying it on the table in between us. It was ringing.
"Hey, gorgeous." I could never tell if Xigbar was truly interested in Dem as well, or if he just flirted with anything that moved.
"Hey. Xiggy, I have something to tell you." There was determination in Demyx's voice and I was surprised to hear that he was really going to do it.
'Are you serious?' I mouthed to him. He nodded.
"What is it, dollface?"
"I…" There was a hesitation that made me want to giggle. Dem would always be Dem. "I…like you Xigbar. As more than a co-worker. All that flirting was real for me…I just…felt like you should know." His voice had seemed to drop at the end, trailing off into mumbling.
It was silent for a moment and I was just as anxious to hear his answer as Demyx was. "Took you long enough. I was afraid I was scaring you off." Demyx's face broke into a large grin and he took the phone off speaker.
"Really?" I smiled and shook my head. Pulling out my wallet and laying five on the table for Demyx to pay with and left. I didn't want to hear him get all gushy, especially when I knew I would have enough of it when I went back to work.
I had taken two steps from my seat when I felt the sharp pain shoot through my lower half. I fell to the floor, clutching my raised stomach. I looked up to Demyx with tears in my eyes. He was frozen on the phone for just a moment before he told Xigbar something and hung up. He fell to the floor with me and held me.
I knew he was trying to talk to me, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. I was in too much pain. I felt like screaming. Maybe I already was. I couldn't really tell.
When I woke, I saw Vincent standing over me, Mako injections already being pressed into my IV. I looked over at him and he gave me a small smile.
"You need to rest. You'll heal faster."
"The ba…by…" I muttered, the words not being formed. I felt like I had the first time I was here. So tired…
Vincent's mouth moved but I couldn't make out any of the words being said.
"Sora? Sora. You need to wake up. Sora." Vincent's voice was stern. That was his you-better-listen-or-else tone.
I opened my eyes and looked up into his red ones. He gave me a rare smile and stood up straight. He pressed the button on my bed and I was gently pushed up into a sitting position. I felt the blanket slide down my chest. I looked down to my stomach to see nothing. It was flat. There wasn't even a scar.
"Before you freak out," Vincent said, turning around for a moment before he turned back towards me. There was a bundle of blankets in his arms and my heart raced as I realized what it was. "It's a boy."
I took him into my arms and moved the blanket so I could see more of his face. I smiled down at his bright green eyes. I was shocked to see them green already. Usually it took a while for a true color to sink in.
"How long was I out?" My voice was raspy.
"Two months." My eyes bugged out of my head.
"When I was called," Vincent started, "You were going into labor, but the baby was not mature enough. It would have died the moment it hit oxygen. And since you were in so much pain from all the pain, I did what I could to keep you unconscious and keep him alive at the same time. I was able to prolong the birth for as long as another three weeks. Which was fine, but you weren't nearly as healed as you should have been. And because of what the baby had done to your body, besides the fact that you carried it past what your body could handle, it took longer than it should have for you to heal."
"He's only a month old, and the only person he's seen is Vincent. So-" Vincent cut Demyx off.
"It was that way so that he wouldn't get confused seeing too many people so early. Because he's Mako induced, his brain level is already much higher than it would be normally." Vincent paused. I was barely listening anyways. He might have noticed.
"He has your hair color." I looked up at the voice, smiling warmly.
"But he has your eyes." Axel looked shocked for a moment before slowly making his way over to me. No one said anything as he leaned over me.
"He's…" Axel reached out a long finger and gently touched his cheek, shocked when he grabbed it.
"Beautiful, is the word I think you're looking for." Vincent inputted.
"And he's ours." I said, smiling up at the father of my child.
"Yeah?"
"Mmhmm. Only if you promise not to bore me." I winked at him.
"I think I can do that." He smirked back at me.
"Yeah?"
"Mmhmm. Only if you promise no more running." I nodded.
"I couldn't run away from the man I love."
His words seemed to leave him as he looked at me. I felt my heart flutter at the look in his eyes. "I love you, too, Sora."