Disclaimer: I own the binoculars that Axel uses to spy on Roxas when he's sleeping…not creepy at all, no XD

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Chapter 9

The sun filtered softly through the thin drapes as the two companions lay entangled on the bed. Cloud was stretched out, slightly propped up by pillows as Leon lay with his back to him. They were snuggled up in a fleece, as the pre-winter chill nipped at their skin. With all the excitement with the upcoming birth, which was only a couple of months away, the two had found little time for themselves to just spend some quality time together.

"This is nice," Cloud smiled, stroking his boyfriend's luscious locks enjoying the sensation of the thick hair running between his fingers. Leon had always had enviably lovely hair, but somehow it felt even softer now. Maybe it was just Cloud's mind playing up the sweet scenario that was currently playing out between them.

Leon grunted in what sounded like reluctant agreement. Cloud paused in his motions and peered around to get a better look at Leon's face, "What's wrong Leon?"

The man squirmed awkwardly, cradling his bulbous stomach as he did so, "It is nice, but…"

"But what? You need to tell me what's going on in that head of yours," Sometimes Leon needed a gently reminder that Cloud was not a psychic. He was never the talkative type anyway, but the way things were it was imperative that they kept communicating properly. They would end up in an argument of some kind from misunderstanding one another. Cloud for one, was too stressed already without any of that drama added on top of the pregnancy.

"Will we ever be like this again?" Leon shrugged into Cloud, "I mean once the baby is born."

"Of course we will." Cloud buried his nose into Leon's scalp, and took a mental note of how good his hair smelt in this moment, "Things might not be exactly the same, but I promise we'll find time to be together, just the two of us."

Leon sighed as he turned onto his side, sliding his arms to hug his lover, "Good, you better keep your promise."

"Of course," Cloud kissed his forehead, "We're gonna have our hands full once our baby arrives, but I'm sure your dad would love to babysit for us once in a while."

"That man is not being left alone with my child, not under any circumstances," he groaned, imagining all the worst case scenarios that could occur.

The blonde laughed, "I'm sure he's not that bad. He brought you up and you're still in one piece, right?"

Scoffing the steely eyed one said, "Barely."

They heard a knocking at the door, but chose to ignore it. Cloud's mother was in and she could answer the door. Or Sora, he'd been making himself scarce the past few days for whatever reason. Cloud thought that perhaps his brother had a girlfriend or something that was making him act so suspiciously. He would have to remember to tease him about that later.

The door was knocked again, even louder and more insistent than the last round. Groaning Cloud once again kissed his lover's forehead and slipped out from under him, "I'll go get the door. My mum must be out the back or something."

Plodding down the stairs he was ready to jump whoever was creating all the racket that was disturbing his alone time with Leon. Roughly opening the door he was met with a short, stocky man with receding grey hair. The stranger grinned goofily and thrust his sweaty hand out.

"Hello the name's Palmer. I'm here to talk to a-" he fished a small notebook from his trouser pocket and read, "Mr. Squall Leonhart."

Scowling at the man the hairs on his neck raised. There was something fishy about this man, something screamed in his head that this guy was not to be trusted. His instincts were very rarely wrong.

"He's not here."

"Oh but he is. I have sources that know that this is where he is, in this very house. You must be the boyfriend-," he again referred to his notebook, "Mr. Cloud Strife."

Sources? There was only two types of people that used that sort of term. Spies or desperate, sleazy journalists hungry for a juicy story. Cloud figured from the look of this man, that the latter was the more likely outcome.

"Look if you don't get off my property I'll be forced to call the police," He went to shut the door but Palmer placed a hand firmly against the wood.

"Ah but, I know you don't want to do that. What if the authorities knew about your, um, boyfriend," He chuckled at his own little joke, "I know about Squall and his, um…man-gina, and that he is pregnant with your child."

Cloud laughed mockingly although inside his stomach dropped in fear, "I don't know who these 'sources' are, but even if that were true, no one would believe you. So if you don't want to spend the next twenty-four hours in a nice, little cell I suggest you get off my porch right now."

Looking nervous with a twitch in his eye that cried out in frustration Palmer stepped away from the door, "Fine, if you're going to be that way that's fine. Next time I'll bring back-up. You'll regret this."

Nearly tripping over his own feet the lardy man stumbled away boisterously. Cloud slammed the door shut and held a hand to his head. This was really bad. Surely the man was bluffing, he looked like the kind of person people would avoid. Who was the so called source? When he found out, Cloud vowed to himself that that individual would suffer for the trouble they'd caused.

"Cloud?" Leon's feet creaked on the wooden stairs as he came to a stop, "Who was at the door."

"No one, just one of those annoying door-to-door salesmen," Knowing how fragile Leon had been feeling about everything Cloud decided to keep Palmer and his threats to himself. The last thing Leon needed was to be worried about his safety and wellbeing, "Come on, lets go back up and relax."

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Time seemed to be flying by so fast these days. It seemed to Cloud that he would blink and suddenly his boyfriend's stomach strained every so slightly more against his t-shirts. With roughly a month to go before the due date (at least, based on a normal female's pregnancy cycle) he was getting more anxious. Gaia knew how Leon was feeling, probably ten times more nervous than him. Although it was getting more difficult to gauge his emotions, as they swung from one end of the spectrum to the other. Even his mum had said that she was surprised at his boyfriend's mood swings, she herself maintaining a steady pulse of excitement throughout both of her pregnancies.

His blue eyes gazed across the table at the brunet, who was the current owner of a kilowatt smile. In a way it unnerved Cloud to see him this way; Leon never smiled like that, not even when it was just the two of them. Seemed that the life inside him had some kind of profound affect that he himself could never provide. For a split second he envied their child, only for the fact that he wished that he could bring the same wonderful, warm smile on his lover's face.

Of course, the smile could have been from the mounting dishes of food being placed on the dining room table. It was Thanksgiving, and as always his mum had provided them with an amazing feast that would probably feed two, if not three families. Usually his grandpa Merlin would be joining them. However luck would have it that he had a trip that he insisted he could not miss. Cloud was relieved, as he didn't feel up to his grandpa's wild antics today. He just wanted to have a pleasant, peaceful Thanksgiving this year. With the baby arriving, they wouldn't be having a quiet Thanksgiving for years to come.

"Why have I never come here for Thanksgiving before?" Leon practically salivated as Grace placed the turkey at one end of the table.

Chuckling lightly, Grace began slicing up the turkey, "I'm glad you're looking forward to it. I hope you'll still feel the same way after you've tasted my cooking."

"If it tastes as good as it looks, I don't think we'll have a problem." He lifted his plate as she offered up a couple of slices of the meat.

"Cloud? Some turkey sweetie?" Snapping out of his thoughts he nodded and raised his plate towards her.

"Thanks, mum."

"I don't need to ask you if you want any turkey my dear boy?" She laughed as Sora nearly shoved the plate right in her face, "Careful, I don't want to drop anything on the floor!"

By the time she had sat down, the three boys had nearly filled their plates up completely, "Ah Sora, now don't go eating any of that yet. We've still got to say grace yet."

Shoving his bottom lip out, Sora and the others waited for Grace to prepare her own plate. Once she was done she motioned towards the steel eyed brunet, "Leon, since it's your first time with us, I'd love it if you'd say grace for us."

"Um," His smile faltered slightly. He had never been very comfortable with any kind of public speaking (even though this was just his boyfriend's family), but he didn't see any way of squirming his way out of this one, "Okay, I'll do it."

They all bowed their heads and clasped their hands, awaiting Leon's speech.

"We'd like to thank Gaia for this lovely meal before us," he paused awhile before continuing, "We thank Gaia for blessing us this year, and I want to thank her for giving me a boyfriend that quite frankly I don't deserve, and a healthy baby that will hopefully bring our families close together."

"Eww, gag-bag!" Sora make a faux vomiting noise, grasping his throat as he did so.

"Sora, enough!" The glare he received was enough to make him shuffle in his seat and murmur an apology, "Leon that was lovely. Now let's all tuck in!"

The doorbell rang followed by vicious knocking. Cloud rose from the table and placed a hand on Leon's shoulder, as he too tried to stand up, "No, I'll go see what's going on. Just enjoy your food, I'll be back in a second."

Cloud stomped towards the front door. Unless someone was dying, he was going to give hell to whoever was banging on the door. It was rude to keep thumping against a door like that, you ring the doorbell and wait for goodness sake!

Angrily pulling at the door he was ready to snap at the visitor. Instead he paled, as the sight of white vans lined down the street and a swarm of men and women with cameras and microphones were spread out across the lawn.

"I told you I'd be back. This time you'll have to spill the beans, you can't make us all go away," Palmer chortled, Dictaphone in hand, "So Mr Strife, can you tell us more about your partner and how he is the first man to become pregnant?"

He didn't know what to say, with all these arms reaching out towards him with microphones wiggling at his face. Palmer shoved at a couple, making sure he remained at the front of the group. They knew that it would be illegal to force their way into the house, but there was little he could do about them harassing him outside like this.

There was no way of warning Leon, no way of getting him out of harms way. Knowing what the media were like, he wouldn't be surprised if some hadn't sneaked round the back to try their luck there. Who'd leaked the info? Dr Kadowaki had sworn that as a doctor, patient confidentiality was something she was bound to keep through oath. Cloud's gut instincts told him that it couldn't be her. If she'd wanted to, she would have cashed in on this months ago. Then who would do this to them?

"Cloud, move out the way," he stared back at his mum, shocked at the look of pure anger on her face.

"Mum?" She must have heard the commotion and had came to try help. There was nothing that would stop these bottom-feeders though. They lived for the next big story.

"I said move son, I'll deal with this," She stroked his cheek as she stepped past him. He turned to look at her, even from behind she looked menacing. His mum was always so gentle and kind. She had always said that nobody messed with the Strife's. Now he knew why.

"What the hell is going on here? Get off my lawn before I call the cops on you all," Grace spoke in a calm yet powerful voice, which echoed through the crowd of journalists.

"I'm afraid we won't do that Missy. We want to see the freak, the boy carrying a baby!" Palmer swiped away beads of sweat from his forehead, his hand shaking with anticipation. All Cloud could wonder was how in this cold air could the man be sweating so profusely?

"I'm sorry for your disappointment, but the freak you are referring to is myself," She gleefully leaned into the microphones, so they could not miss her words.

"Lies won't get you anywhere. I have a source that informed me that-"

Cutting over him Grace raised her delicate hand, "I know, my son Sora is your so called 'source'. Honestly are you that desperate that you'll believe the ramblings of a fourteen year old boy?"

"I don't discriminate against age, I won't fall for your distraction tactics. Just let us see Mr Leonhart. I guarantee you'll be paid sweetly for your cooperation." The moist patches underneath Palmer's jacket underarms was growing as he tried to push his way past.

"Mr Palmer, I believe? You'll have to stop trying to shove by me, it isn't becoming for a grown man to try physically overpower a pregnant woman."

He jolted back staring down at the large bulge pressing against the front of her dress. All of a sudden the press seemed to lose their interest.

"'Woman gets pregnant', nice story Palmer!" One man scoffed as he ushered his camera crew away from the door.

"Typical Palmer, this is the last time we're trusting one of your supposed 'scoops'."

"Pregnant boy? Should've known it was some fabricated piece of shit!"

"W-w-wait! Please, I know there is a boy in there and he is pregnant! Come back!" Palmer pleaded, even trying to grab the arms of those leaving.

"I think it's time to give it up. My son has told me the whole thing, about how he called you up a couple of months ago with his little fairy tale. I'm sorry he's wasted your time, but he's been feeling a little left out since I've been preparing for the birth," She stroked her 'tummy', "It's a cry for attention, I'm just embarrassed that he's taken it this far. Sora, come apologise to this man."

Shuffling out with head hung down, he mumbled, "I'm sorry, I lied about everything. I just felt left out with the baby coming…"

An inhuman cry sprung out from Palmer's mouth, as he patted his wet eyes with his already soiled handkerchief, "You boy, have ruined my career! I had dreams of writing for Astro Physics Monthly, and now I'll never ever reach my goal!"

Cloud wondered how writing gossip pieces could lead into space related journalism, but he was just relieved that his mum had quickly resolved the situation.

"Goodbye, Palmer. Happy Thanksgiving," She ushered her two sons back into the house and shut the door before the man could say anymore.

The tension in the atmosphere was palpable. Grace didn't even look at Sora as she spoke, "Go to your room Sora, you're grounded until further notice."

Tears welling up in his eyes, he ran past Cloud and made his way up the stairs. The sound of his thudding footsteps were followed by a resounding slam of his room door. Sighing Grace went over to the dining room table where Leon was sat motionless, his face white as a sheet.

Wrapping her arms around his neck and placing her head atop his she whispered, "I am so sorry for what my boy has done. I guess I'm to blame, I've been so preoccupied with helping you plan for the baby that I've maybe not paid enough attention to him."

"It's not your fault mum. Honest to god I could kick his ass right now!"

Pulling him into a hug she hushed him, "No Cloud, it's my job to discipline him, and I'll make sure he makes it up to you both," Grabbing Sora's plate, she walked to the kitchen and grabbed some clingfilm to place over it as she called through, "Now Leon, sweetie, I don't want you to stress whatsoever. Me and your mum and dad will make sure you are always safe, I promise you that," she returned and guided Cloud back to his seat, "Let's try enjoy some dinner before it goes cold, you need to keep nourished for the sake of the baby."

Cloud slowly picked away at his food, and couldn't help but keep looking over at his boyfriend. Leon was looking more like his old self: cold and detached. It worried him, he didn't want Leon to feel unsafe while he was vulnerable like this. He vowed to himself that he would never let Leon get into a situation like this ever again. He was caught off guard by Palmer, but that would never happen again. There had to be a way for him to prove himself, he didn't know how yet, but he would show Leon that he would never let him or their baby, get into danger again.

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Poor guys, it's bad enough being pregnant never mind having people try to shove their nose where it isn't welcome (hmm this kinda relates to the recent revelation of Kate Middleton's pregnancy. She may be providing an heir to our British royalty, but she deserves to have a peaceful pregnancy like any other woman!). So we're getting nearer the due date! Just a month to go till the baby should arrive (if we go by dog years, that means it'll take me five months to get it written haha!). This chapter is dedicated to Sir Shirkin, who recently asked me when I was gonna update this bad boy! So if you want to thank anyone for this update, thank him! I really hope that this chapter met your expectations. Thank you to everyone else who has reviewed/favourited this story so far, it always means a lot to me.

I have major university deadlines to work to so I may not have time to write for a little while (I will try to fit it in though). So if I don't get this updated in time, I wish everyone reading this a merry Christmas, or happy Hannukah depending on your religion. And happy holidays to everyone else! Xxx (of course, if you're reading this after Christmas of 2012, please ignore this message XD)