All About Love And Music

Written by: DesertRose 26

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Ocean or any of its characters.

A/N: A big thank you to FutaguStars and AonAllstars for the reviews! I don't think I would have posted this if it weren't for you guys!


Chapter 9: Falling Slowly

After the wedding, Albel and Nel had planned to postpone the honeymoon until things had settled down. However, on the insistence of Adray, Cliff and Mirage, they gave in and agreed to go or a month long honeymoon to France. Adray, with a big smile, told them about the honeymoon they had planned for the couple. He had said that they should enjoy the time they had together now, because once the 'little tyke' is born, they wouldn't have a chance to be alone together for a while.

At first, Nel felt uneasy with the whole honeymoon idea. However, once they had arrived there, she realized she was actually enjoying herself. She had begun to feel a sort of comfort in being with Albel. Indeed, his teasing did vex her at times, but she felt no unease or nervousness as she once did in his presence. Certainly, he could be rather rude and sarcastic at times, but he was a warm, kindhearted person, as Nel came to realize.

Once they had returned from their honeymoon, the band made an announcement at a press conference that Iris would be on a 'break' for around a year before they start on a new album, using the couple's recent marriage as the reason.

Nel surprised herself at how well she had adjusted to being a married woman. Needless to say, she had a household to run, but Woltar helped her with most things. With all the maids around, she didn't need to bother with housework.

Albel had proved to be both a devoted husband and father to their unborn child. Granted, he didn't love her as she loved him, but he still cared about her and carried out all his duties as a husband and he treated her very well. They say that many men cheat on their wives when they're pregnant, but Nel was certain that Albel wouldn't do anything of the sort. He didn't have the tolerance to deal with such women, let alone have an affair with one. And as for being a father, Nel couldn't ask for anyone better. He even accompanies her willingly to all her routine pregnancy check ups with the gynecologist. However, he had made a fuss when he found out that her doctor was a man, and had made arrangements for her to get a new doctor. One that was female.

During the first trimester of her pregnancy, Nel had been suffering exaggerated pregnancy symptoms. She had severe morning sickness, food cravings, nausea and was gaining weight fast. Nel noticed her waist size slowly increasing too.


During her second trimester, Nel's bump had become much more visible. It was time for them to announce her pregnancy, as the rumours were beginning to get out of hand. Albel and Nel confirmed the rumours, which then led to a media frenzy. Many offers from magazines were made for the first baby pictures that would be released to the public. However, she and Albel turned them all down, insisting they'd like to keep the baby out of the spotlight.

During one of the couple's routine check ups, the doctor gasped when scanning Nel's stomach.

"What? What is it, doctor?" Nel asked, alarmed.

"What's wrong?" Albel was beside her in a heartbeat.

"I.. I'm sorry" the doctor gulped.

"What's wrong?" Albel repeated, with teeth clenched.

"I'm sorry… I didn't notice it earlier…" the doctor continued nervously, not wanting her license to practice to be revoked due to her negligence.

"What's wrong with my baby? Everything is fine right?" Nel asked her voice barely above a whisper. Worry and anxiety filled her heart.

"T..There's two of them. One is slightly smaller, but there are definitely two of them. Seems one was hiding behind the other. Twins."

Nel felt so relieved. Here she was thinking the worst had happened. Nel released the breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Now she wouldn't have to worry about one being lonely.

'Hey, why's Noir over there so quiet?'

Nel turned to look at Albel. He was silent, staring into space. He seemed so stunned, but then relief flooded his face and his expression softened.

"Twins, huh." he chuckled. Nel caught a glimpse of a genuine smile on his lips, before the doctor cut in. She turned up the volume on the machine. Seeing their reactions, she was relieved they were not planning on filing a complaint against her.

Nel and Albel listened in silence to the beating of two little hearts, in perfect unison. "They sound like galloping horses" Albel said, somewhat amused.

"Yeah, they do" Nel replied quietly, still in awe. Without her realizing it, her hand found Albel's and she held onto it. He squeezed it gently and his expression softened once again.

The moment was ruined, however, when the doctor asked them "Would you like to know the gender of the babies?".

"No!" they both shouted at the same time, giving the doctor a shock. They agreed that they'd wait till the babies were born.


Albel and Nel decided to redesign the room across from theirs into a nursery for the babies in preparation for their arrival.

"We'll paint it blue." he decided.

"Blue? What if they're girls? I think we should paint it pink and white"

"No, they aren't girls. They're boys. I think we should paint the room blue." He crossed his arms.

"How are you so sure they're boys? Maybe one's a boy and one's a girl. What then?".

"I can tell. They are most definitely boys." he said as he placed a hand on her now enormous stomach, feeling the babies kick hard. He laughed "See? They agree with me."

"Haha, they are probably disagreeing with Daddy, that's why they're kicking so hard. I'm sure at least one's a girl." Nel said, amused at his excitement of feeling the babies kicking. The kicking, punching and elbow jabbing had started increasing and getting more forceful. Now 27 weeks along, Nel often felt pangs of pain when the kicks became too forceful. These were really active kids. Sometimes they would even kick Albel in the back when the couple snuggled up too close at night.

"I'm positive they're both boys, but its fine if you don't believe me. We'll see when the time comes. But I warn you in advance, Rouge. I'm hardly ever wrong. Do you wanna make a bet? The loser has to do be a slave and do anything the winner says for an entire month" he said, eyes gleaming with desire.

Nel let out an exasperated sigh. She was finally starting to get used to of all his teasing and flirtations. "Why so quiet, Rouge? Can I take that as an agreement?" Albel whispered, his lips grazing her ear as he spoke. Nel shuddered at his nearness. Albel smirked, delighted he could still affect her this way just by being close to her.

'Okay… maybe not quite used to it yet.'

'You'd think a person would get used to it after month long honeymoon .You're pathetic.'

'Oh, shut up.'

Nel was pulled out of the conversation she was having in her head when Albel took a step back and began to speak. "Anyway, fine. We'll compromise, since that's what people do in marriages, right? We'll make it blue and white." Before Nel could say anything, Albel had already left the room, presumably to get someone to go buy some paint. The couple thought it best to paint the room themselves instead of hiring someone to do it. Albel had insisted that Nel should rest in bed, as she was feeling very exhausted. However she wouldn't hear a thing about it and wanted to paint the room too. As she told him, it was a labour of love.

Once they had finished painting the entire room, both sank onto the floor and leaned against the door, exhausted. They sat there, admiring the job well done. Much couldn't be said for their clothes, which were covered in blue and white paint. Nel took in a deep breath and brushed away a stray strand of hair that got plastered onto her slightly sweaty forehead. Then she turned to Albel beside her.

"Albel, my sexy beast..." she called. He turned slowly to look at her, eyes narrowing slightly. "What?" he asked cautiously.

"Noir, my manly stud…" she continued.

"What do you want now?" Albel answered wearily. He already knew her well enough to know that she would only call him such when she wanted something major. Or when she was drunk. Or frisky.

Nel looked down at her tummy. "I want some Bouillabaisse. From France" she mumbled.

"You want me to go get you some Bouillabaisse from France. Now? In the middle of the night?" he was incredulous. Nel just nodded, looking sheepish. "Fine, I'll see what I can do." He let out a loud sigh. Nel gave him a broad smile in return, realizing just how much trouble her weird food cravings had caused him since her first trimester.


When Nel reached her third trimester, her stomach was huge and she spent most of her time in bed. Mirage, Cliff, Sophia, Fayt and Maria would often visit her to keep her entertained. Mirage, Sophia and Maria had even organized a baby shower for her, and they had invited all their friends, including Tynave, Farleen and Peppita. However, lately, Nel had begun to get bored, so she immersed herself in preparations for the babies. The nursery was set up with the best, most modern stuff, including two identical white cribs, a diaper changing table, a rocking chair, a diaper stacker, a baby bath tub, a twin stroller, walkers, and all those necessary little things like baby monitors, mobiles, dressers, bottles, toys, bibs and of course, baby clothes. Nel couldn't decide what coloured clothes to buy, so she decided that white would be the safest bet.

When nearly reaching the end of her pregnancy, Nel started to get more nervous. She had already gotten her hospital bag packed and ready, in case the babies wanted to surprise her and come out early. Nel forced Albel to join her in her childbirth classes as well as in interviewing labor coaches and finding the right pediatrician and finally at her 38th week, Nel toured the hospital's maternity floor.


Nel was tired out after returning from the hospital tour and had gone straight to bed after dinner. At around 11 p.m., she woke up with intense contractions. "Albel" she called, shaking his shoulder, trying to wake him up.

"Ugh, Rouge not tonight. I've got a headache." he mumbled sleepily, turning and facing the other way.

She felt water rush down her legs and she was sure it was not pee. Nel quickly pulled the covers off him and shook him again. "It's the babies!" she shrieked, another bout of contractions making it hard to breathe. Albel must have heard her, because he sprung into action a split second later. He hastily pulled on a shirt and jeans and called for the car to be brought to the front door. He helped Nel put on a sweater, then grabbed her bag and helped her to the car.

The journey to the hospital was hell. Nel couldn't breathe. She clutched Albel's hand in her own tightly. It probably hurt him, but the thought didn't cross her mind then. The pain she was going through was excruciating. Once they reached the hospital, a nurse came to their car with a wheelchair ready, so Albel helped her into it.

Nel was immediately taken to the delivery room where she was prepared for delivery. The doctor examined her and said that she was already 10 centimeters dilated and could start pushing when she was ready. Five minutes later, Nel felt an urge to push, and notified the doctor. The doctor and nurses started coaching her to push with each contraction, while resting in between. The pain was unbearable and Nel felt as though she was going to collapse from exhaustion. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't push. She felt faintish. Everyone seemed to be panicking around her. Something about her losing too much blood. She couldn't hear what they were saying, she could only hear the sound of her heart thumping in her ears. She could see them forcing Albel to wait outside as things were getting hectic. She couldn't even tell them she wanted him to stay with her. Nel closed her tired eyes.


Albel was sitting in the waiting room, his head in his hands. He had been waiting for hours. What if something were to happen to her? He knew he shouldn't have let her paint the nursery and tour the hospital grounds while she was heavily pregnant. He should have realized that that would wear her out. It's his fault if anything were to happen to Nel or to his babies. He was pulled out of his thought when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Cliff standing there with Mirage beside him.

"How are you holding up?" Cliff asked him, aware of what the situation was like.

"Nel is in there, only God knows how she's holding up, and you're asking me how I'm doing?" Albel snapped at him. "This wouldn't even be happening if it weren't for me. Nel's life wouldn't be in danger if she had nothing to do with me in the first place. I knew from the start that there was absolutely nothing I could offer her. I can't make her happy. She deserves better." Cliff could see the grief evident in Albel's eyes.

"Nel is happy because of you. I can honestly tell you, you have given Nel the best gift anyone could give. I'm sure, she would give anything for her babies and she loves you, you know. She doesn't regret anything."

"I can't live, knowing that I was the cause if something were to happen. What is this feeling? That if she were to leave me, I'd want to go with her. It's agonizing, knowing she's in pain and there's nothing I can do." Albel's voice was barely over a whisper, raw with emotion.

"You love her. Albel Nox, you really love her. So you've finally realized it." Cliff said, with a warm look. Albel's eyes widened with realization.

Just then, a nurse walked in and interrupted their conversation. "Excuse me, Mr. Nox? You have two healthy baby boys waiting to meet you."


'What are you doing?! Wake up, you moron! Push! Push! Do you wanna kill your own babies?' Nel's opened her eyes once more.

'No, of course not! Why would I do that?! I'm just closing my eyes for a minute…so tired…'

'If you close your eyes, you're gonna pass out. That could cause problems for our babies who just wanna come out. Stop being a wuss and PUSH. What sort of mother do you call yourself?'

Nel gathered her strength and pushed hard. The doctor informed her the baby was nearly out. One more push, and she heard a baby crying.

'It's a boy!' the nurse said

'That makes Noir only half right! Come on, one more baby to go. Push hard. You can do it!'

Nel pushed hard again. And again. The head was nearly out, the doctor said. Nel was feeling lightheaded again. She summoned up all the strength she could muster and pushed hard, sweat covering her forehead. With one last push, Nel heard the baby cry, thanked God, and breathed a sigh of relief. Nel couldn't hear the nurse telling her the gender of the second baby. By then she had gone unconscious and had become deathly cold.


Albel cradled his sons in his arms, amazed at how well they fit there. He looked at his children. Nel and Albel had decided that if both babies were boys, the twins would be named Glou and Nevelle, after the twins' grandfathers. He noted that both his sons shared the same black hair and blonde tips. The twins were smiling and gurgling up at him, with hands outstretched, the way babies do.

"How's my wife? I want to see her" Albel asked the nurse.

"Mrs. Nox has lost a lot of blood due to some complications during childbirth." The nurse replied gravely. "This way, please" the nurse led him to her room. The room was dark, cold and gloomy. Albel put Glou and Nevelle in the cribs provided and the opened all the windows in the room, letting light enter. It was already sunrise. He sat beside Nel on the bed, and held her cold hand.

"Nel? Can you hear me?" he whispered. "Please wake up. Are you going to leave me too, just like Father did?" Albel held her hand tighter. His eyes started to sting with unshed tears. "I need to tell you something. I...I'd just figured it out. It's very important and you need to hear it. Are you gonna go without even hearing me out? Without even saying goodbye? And what am I going to do when you're gone? I can't raise these two on my own…"

Just then, Glou and Nevelle started to cry. Albel quickly got off the bed and picked both of them up, trying to get them to stop crying. "Hush, little guys, Mommy's resting right now. Don't worry, she'll be okay. You can meet her soon" he said trying to comfort them, probably trying to reassure himself of it too.


"A..Albel? What happened?" Nel said, in a quiet voice, waking up to the sound of crying babies. Albel eyes widened and he turned around. He was at her side in a second. "My babies" she said as she slowly sat up. Albel laid the twins in her arms, and they immediately stopped crying. "Shhh… sleep, my darlings" she said to them, kissing them both on the forehead before putting them both into the crib beside her to sleep. She looked at Albel, who was staring at the floor. She couldn't see his face, as his hair was covering it.

"Albel, what's wrong?" she said, her voice still soft from tiredness. A split second later Albel was hugging her tightly. Nel was surprised.

"What is it?" she said gently, her arms wrapping around him.

"Don't do that ever again. I thought I was losing you. I thought you'd never wake up. The nurse said you had lost a lot of blood as there were some complications." Albel said his voice choked with emotion. Nel closed her eyes, tears forming at the corners. Was he this broken up because of her?

"And I wouldn't have been able to tell you. I've just realized. It took me so long, but I've finally realized it. I've been a blind idiot."

"Tell me what?"

Albel shifted so that he faced her and rested his forehead on hers, their noses touching. He looked directly into her eyes, and Nel felt as though he could see her very soul.

"I love you, Rouge. I may have loved you from the very start. You've made me experience these feelings, emotions that I haven't felt, or allowed myself to feel in a long time. I-I" Albel didn't know what to say, how to express himself well with words.

Nel couldn't believe her ears. "You love me?"

"I couldn't help it" he replied, the corners of his mouth turning upwards into a small smile.

"That's not really romantic, you know."

"It's nothing but the truth."

"I love you too, Noir." Tears of happiness were streaming down her face.

Albel kissed the tears away. "I love you so much. Always have, and always will." After he'd said it, he couldn't stop. These pent-up feelings that have been building up for a long time, he couldn't control them any longer. He claimed her lips with his own. "I love you. I love you so much" he said in between kisses. He needed her to know, to understand just how important she was to him.

Nel held his face with both her hands and looked him in the eye "It's alright, I know. And I love you too. Forever."

"You've made me the happiest man in the world. I've never allowed myself to be this happy. I don't deserve it." Nel was about to interrupt him about how he did deserve to be happy, just like everyone else, but he just continued. "My father died protecting me, all because I was too weak and careless. I blamed myself for what happened. Why did he have to save me? He could have just let me die. I would have rather died. I hated him for it and I hated myself. But things are different now. Now I understand why he did it. It was love. I would do the same for you or for my children. I'd do it in a heartbeat."

Nel caressed his cheek and Albel held onto her hand. "But I'm happy now. I'm happy because of you. And you now what? Tomorrow we'll be even happier. And the next day will be even better than that. Because I'll love you more and more each day, with every breath I take." He lowered his face and kissed her gently. Nel knew that things were going to be alright. They had something that both of them always needed. And together, they had found it. A family to call their own.


-Four years later-

"Mommy! Mommy!" A small boy of four with two-toned hair and ruby red eyes came running into the library where Nel was reading a book. He jumped onto the sofa and hugged her tightly.

"What is it, Glou dear?" Nel asked, kissing his cheek.

"Nevi and I were just playing. We didn't do anything naughty, really!" he said, sounding so angelic. They heard angry footsteps approaching coupled with the screams of another small child. Glou hugged his mother more tightly. Just then, Fayt entered the library, carrying a screaming and kicking Nevelle. She looked at Fayt and her eyes widened in shock.

"My Goodness, what did you boys do?" Nel couldn't help but stare. Fayt's hair was a dark shade of green! Just then Albel walked in, wondering what all the noise was about. One look at Fayt, and he was laughing uncontrollably. Fayt chose to ignore him.

"These two little brats of yours thought it was funny to put hair dye in my shampoo!" Fayt yelled, letting Nevelle go. Apparently, Fayt really loved his blue hair. Nevelle ran over and grabbed onto Albel's legs. Albel gave both his sons a secret high five.

"Don't encourage them!" Fayt shrieked.

"We just thought Uncle Fayt would look better with green hair…" Glou said softly, sounding so innocent again. However, Nel didn't miss the mischievous gleam in his eyes. He just like a carbon copy Albel, except with a little less carbon.

"We didn't think he'd be this angry" Nevelle finished the sentence. Tears were beginning to form in his bright emerald eyes.

"I know, Mon Tresor, I know" Albel said gently, carrying his son up and kissing him on the forehead. Nevelle wrapped his arms tightly around his Daddy's neck. Nevelle, the younger of the two, was a little more sensitive compared to Glou, who was the more mischievous of the two, and no doubt the mastermind behind it all.

"What the heck am I gonna do now? I'm getting married in two weeks!" Fayt had gone hysterical, clutching his hair. Fayt was the last band member to get married. Cliff and Mirage had decided to get married shortly after Albel and Nel. They do visit very often especially for play dates. Their three year old son Caleb gets on very well with the twins. It was a very endearing sight seeing Glou, Nevelle and Caleb, who looked a lot like Cliff, playing together.

"Maybe you should just leave it green. It's not that bad…" Nel said, trying to sound convincing, but failed miserably. Fayt screamed in aggravation and left the room.

"Well, that went well" Albel said, setting Nevelle on his feet. Glou grabbed Nevelle's hand and led him toward the library door. 'Let's go get some cookies from the kitchen, Nevi' He whispered, rather loudly to Nevelle. Believing "Nevelle" to be a mouthful to pronouce, Glou had started calling him "Nevi" from the time they started talking, and it somehow stuck with him.

"Okay! Let's go! I'll race you there!" Nevelle broke into a giant smile, forgetting the trouble they had gotten into only seconds ago. The two of them raced down the hallway hand in hand, their shaggy, unruly two-toned hair swishing behind them as they ran as fast as they could.

"No cookies before lunch!" Nel yelled after them, but doubted they could even hear her.

Albel followed Nel and sat on the couch beside her. Nel placed her head on his shoulder and he circled his arm around her waist.

"Glou looks more and more like you everyday"

"Heh. Well, he is my son after all"

"Nevelle looks like you too" Nel added

"That's true. But he has his mother's eyes, which I truly adore." He leaned down and kissed her closed eyelids. "You know what else I adore? Your nose" He added kissing her nose. Nel sighed, knowing what was going to come next. 'And…' he stopped short. Nel opened her eyes.

"Did I tell you I love you today?" Albel asked her seriously. Everyday since the twins were born and Albel confessed his love for her for the first time, they told each other they loved them on a daily basis.

"Hmmm I believe you did yesterday, but not yet today."

"Well then, Mrs Nox. Let me make it up to you for delaying my declaration of love" He gave her that signature smirk of his. There was that feral gleam in his eyes as he leaned his face toward hers, his lips only an inch away from hers. Nel sucked in a ragged breath.

'Four years of marriage and you're STILL not used to it. You're pathetic'

"Je t'adore" He said as his lips caressed hers gently. "Je t'aime, mon amour" He whispered again in between his kisses. Nel couldn't reply, she couldn't even think straight at that moment. All she could do was kiss him back. Albel smirked against her lips. He loved how he was always able to befuddle her mind with just a kiss. But then he pulled away slightly, looking at her confused expression. She was clearly unhappy with the abrupt stop.

"I think we should try for another baby. The boys need more company" He whispered in her ear.

"B-but Cliff and Mirage bring Caleb over thrice a week" Nel stuttered. But Nel had to admit, the twins did need more company. They've been asking her for a little brother or sister for some time now.

"B-but Fayt and Sophia are here. And it's only noon"

"They wouldn't know. Glou and Nevelle have them occupied, I'm sure. And so what if it's noon? You've forgotten our honeymoon, my love."

"B-but.." She couldn't think of anymore excuses. Honestly, she didn't want any excuses.

"Come with me. Come with me now." Albel whispered in her ear, then nibbled it. He got up and held out his hand to her. Nel felt her legs turn to jelly. Albel, realizing this would take some time, scooped her into his arms and proceeded to the stairs heading for their bedroom.

Sophia was busy trying to answer an impossible question the twins were asking her. "Where, Aunt Sophie? Where do they come from?" they kept on asking her. When she heard footsteps approach, she looked up. Maybe whomever it was could help her get out of answering the question of where babies come from.

"Ah" she stared wide-eyed as she saw Albel carrying a blushing Nel up the stairs.

"We're very busy. Don't disturb us for a few hours" was all Albel said as he walked past Sophia.

"Albel!" Nel gasped, embarrassed by his bluntness.

"What? I'm sure she's already aware of what we're up to even if I didn't tell her to leave us alone".

"Mommy and Daddy are going to go wrestle. They'll be busy for a while." Glou and Nevelle explained to their Aunt Sophie. Clearly, they were very bright children.

"That's my boys"Albel chucked, hearing his sons

Albel walked into the bedroom and shut the door behind them.

-Three months later-

Albel and Nel were lounging on the sofa, content in each other's presence. Albel placed his hand on Nel's stomach.

"You know what? I think this one's a girl." He said after a couple of minutes. Nel rolled her eyes.

'Well, the last time he guessed, he was absolutely right.'

"And I think she's gonna look just like you" he added. "With red hair and emerald eyes."

"You wanna make a bet?" Nel asked, repeating his words from last time

"Haha the last time we bet, I won. Remember Rouge? I'm never wrong." He smirked

"Well this time, I don't care if I'm wrong, actually."

Albel kissed her stomach "Mon Ange" he whispered to his unborn daughter.

"What should we call her?"

"I'd like to name her Anne, after my mother" Albel suggested, and Nel agreed. It was a beautiful name.

Nel gasped as a thought ran through her mind. "What if they're twins?"

Just then, they heard Glou and Nevelle shout in excitement "Giddy-up, Grampa Woltar!" and they saw poor Woltar on all fours, with two four year olds on his back, looking so helpless.

Nel and Albel just stared wide-eyed, then looked at each other. "Let's hope not" was all Albel said, as they continued to watch.

Finis


A/N: Thank you for reading this story, especially those who read it from the start till the end. I know it wasn't the best of fanfics and that it hardly can compare to many, but thank you very much for putting up with me and bearing with it. You have my heartfelt gratitude.