No Matter What
Author's Note: This fic is NOT a copy of Untouchable Love by TiDuS FoReVeR in case any of you think it is. And there is no rivalry between Squall and Seifer, they're really good friends. This is an idea I came up with.
Disclaimers: I don't own Final Fantasy VIII, nor will I ever.
Summary: Au Squinoa. Squall and Rinoa end up sleeping together at a party of Zell's. And Rinoa finds herself pregnant with more problems than she realises. And Squall's ex-girlfriend Audrey has decided to ruin things for them, maybe resorting to drastic measures to get what she wants…
Note to all reviewers: Sorry if I don't reply to your questions .net has now insisted on authors just writing their stories, and nothing else. There's a petition going around somewhere against this new rule but I highly doubt the board of .net will take any notice. But sorry, all the same. If your questions need urgently answering, email me. My email address is on my profile page.
Author's Note: Ok, guessing is over. Spede has guessed correctly and thanks to that person, the ten page lemon will be up for chapter 16 (I hope).
There may be a little surprise for one of my lucky readers in this chapter. I won't say who, it'll ruin the surprise! Muhahahahahahaha!
Chapter Thirteen
Complications
Squall and Cloud had followed Zidane's motorcycle to Deling City Hospital. They had to know what was wrong with Rinoa. Zidane had already gone into the hospital by the time they reached it. Rushing inside they saw Zidane mouthing off at the receptionist.
"Of course I'm family! I just asked you: 'What room is my cousin, Rinoa Heartilly-Caraway in?'!"
"I'm going to need some proof of relation to the patient-"
"I.D? I got your I.D, right here!" Zidane roared at her giving her his middle finger. Shocked, the receptionist picked up her phone and dialled a number.
"I have a man down in reception refusing to show proof of I.D. Yes, please send someone." She gabbled urgently and put down the receiver.
"Who the fuck did you just call! That better not have been security! Do you want to do a fucking blood-test to prove I'm Rinoa's cousin!" Zidane shouted at the frightened receptionist.
"Please sir, we have tight security in this building. We can't just let anyone visit patients without being a relation and having proof of it."
"For the love of Hyne, I just told you three times that Rinoa Heartilly-Caraway is my bloody cousin! Shall I call my Uncle, Jack Caraway and tell him about this! Or would you rather me call the President of Esthar? It's his grandchild inside my cousin! She's pregnant and the father is right behind me! Do you need his fucking I.D!"
"Zidane, calm down and go and sit over there." Squall said softly towards the angered blonde as he and Cloud reached the desk. "She's only doing her job. And I know full well that you have your I.D on you. I'm very sorry about his behaviour, he's very upset about this." He apologized to the receptionist who now, was chewing on her nails. She nodded slightly. Zidane stomped over to the waiting area. The hard, drearily bright orange chairs seemed the only place for him to sit whilst he awaited the news of his cousin.
"Is there a problem?" a security guard was approaching the reception area. The receptionist shook her head.
"There's no problem James, false alarm. Sorry to have troubled you."
James nodded. "Call me if there's any trouble Angie." He tipped his hat at her and disappeared down the hallway. Angie looked at Squall.
"You say she's your partner, correct?"
"Uh, er, um sort of." Squall stammered. "Can you tell me what's wrong with her, or what room she's in, please?"
Angie began tapping keys at her computer and looked back up at Squall a couple of minutes later.
"I'm afraid there's no information at present about Miss Heartilly-Caraway's condition. According to the computer she's in the Treatment room. I've sent an urgent message to a Doctor in there to contact me when there's any news and where she's been placed. Is that alright with you?"
Squall nodded and headed towards the waiting area with Cloud. They sat down and looked at the clock. It quarter to ten. Zidane stood up and walked over to the vending machines.
"You guys want a coffee? We may be here a while." He mumbled. He sounded much calmer, but his face said otherwise. Cloud nodded, but Squall shook his head.
"Maybe later Zidane."
Whilst Zidane was at the vending machines, he called his father and Rinoa's father about what had happened. They told him that they had just left Esthar by helicopter and would be arriving as soon as possible.
Zidane came back with two coffees and sat down. There was a girl next to him looking very forlorn. Squall looked over at her. She looked like she had been crying.
"Are you ok?" he asked her. She looked at him through her hazel cat's eye contact lenses and shook her head. Her short, pink tipped, black hair quivered above her shoulders. She drooped her head back to her chest and started nibbling on her thumb on her right hand. She had a ring on it with an inverted 'V' shape engraved along the band.
"What's wrong?" Cloud enquired. She mumbled something that Squall and Cloud couldn't make out.
"Pardon?" Squall asked her. Zidane intervened.
"She said she's here because her boyfriend was brought in two hours ago."
Squall looked over her features carefully. She looked familiar to him. She was wearing white tracksuit bottoms, cut off at the knee and a pink, blue and purple tie-dye t-shirt with pink and white platform trainers. In her left hand she was wringing a white baseball cap with the 'V' shape on the visor.
Squall's eyes widened. That symbol was the same as the one on the necklace that Tidus wore! Tidus had told him in Esthar that he'd designed it himself. No other person would have that design unless Tidus had made it for them…
"Excuse me miss? Do you know Tidus Keller?"
The girl's head shot up and turned towards Squall, her eyes gleaming.
"Do you know Tidus! Is he the reason why you're here?" she asked Squall frantically.
"Is Tidus here? What happened?" Squall sounded concerned. Zidane's head had also shot up at the mention of Tidus' name.
Before the girl could answer, Zidane intervened again.
"Is Audrey here? Is his sister here?"
She shook her head. "No, but I called his parents, so they should be here soon. She may come along with them but I don't know."
Zidane sighed with partial relief. Squall was frowning at him now.
"As you were Squall." Zidane said quickly. He didn't need to piss Squall off now.
"What's wrong with Tidus? Is it serious?" Squall asked her again. Her eyes glazed over with tears as she began to explain what happened.
"He was trying to teach me how to play Blitzball and I kicked the ball at him and it hit his head really hard. The doctors are looking at him and it's been two hours. I haven't heard anything yet…" she stopped talking and began whimpering. Squall was suddenly overcome with sympathy for her.
"He'll be alright, I promise. Cheer up, ok?
She looked back up at him and smiled slightly.
"Thanks. And you had better be right about him being ok." She stuck her tongue out at him playfully and extended her hand towards him. "My name's Robyn, I'm Tidus' girlfriend."
(A/N: LOL to Griever's Ruler! SURPRISE! I told you I'd put you in here somehow! Pleased!)
"So you're Selphie's cousin?" Squall exclaimed as he shook her hand. "I'm Squall Leonheart. Selphie's a friend of mine."
"Miss Wilde?" Angie called from the reception desk. Robyn stood up and sped over to the desk.
"Mr Keller has been transferred to room 52 cubicle B in the Left Wing. His injuries are not serious, just a mild concussion and a few bruises. Shall I ask someone to take you to him?"
Robyn sighed with relief. "Please."
Angie's computer made a faint tune. She looked back at it.
"Oh! Mr Leonheart! There's some news about Miss Heartilly-Caraway."
Zidane jumped from his seat and legged it to the desk. Squall had just reached it by that point too.
"Well? Is she ok?" Zidane demanded softly, remembering his intimidating scene with Angie earlier.
"There's no news about her condition as of yet, but she's awake now and has been transferred to room 52 cubicle C in the Left Wing. You can go up there now if you like. I'll inform all of your parents when they arrive." She nodded at the group of teenagers in front of her.
A passing nurse came up to them and said she would show them the way to the rooms in which they were headed. They all walked along the halls in silence. All that was heard were the clunks of their shoes on the polished hardwood floor.
After going up two floors in the elevator and passing through numerous hallways the nurse informed them that they were outside their prospective room and left. Squall, Zidane, Cloud and Robyn looked at the door. There was a sign on it
INTENSIVE CARE WARD D
PLEASE BE QUIET
PATIENTS:
Akira Kitsune- Cubicle A
Tidus Keller- Cubicle B
Rinoa Heartilly-Caraway- Cubicle C
Jenny Peters- Cubicle D
Gregory Hamilton- Cubicle E
Lorna Butler- Cubicle F
"Intensive care? But I thought that Angie lady in reception said they were ok." Zidane stammered.
Squall opened the door and looked inside. All of the cubicles had the curtains pulled around them. Luckily enough there were signs on the curtains, naming each cubicle by letter. Rinoa's cubicle was at the far end, next to a window and Tidus' was next to hers in the centre left side of the room. Robyn ran straight over to Tidus' cubicle and flung the curtains open. He was lying on the bed sleeping. He had a bandage over his head and an IV in his arm. He also had a black eye, probably from where the Blitzball had hit his face.
"I'm so sorry!" Robyn burst out loud as she grabbed his hand. "I didn't mean to hit you! Forgive me Tidus!"
Tidus' eyes flickered open. He squeezed her hand. She looked at him, her tears stopping instantly and smiled weakly at him. He smiled back at her.
"It's not your fault. I shouldn't have underestimated your kicking power. You have a powerful kick!" he laughed softly. He saw Squall and two guys he didn't recognise.
"Leonheart? What are you doing here?" he exclaimed as the brunette approached his bedside.
"Squall? Is that you?" Rinoa's voice came from the closed cubicle next to Tidus'. Zidane ripped the curtain open and Rinoa was sitting up in the bed, an IV in her arm also. She was looking straight at Squall.
"Rinny! You're ok!" Zidane rejoiced as he grabbed a chair and plonked it next to his cousin's bedside. "How're you feeling?" he asked. Rinoa kept her gaze on Squall, waiting for him to come over to her. Squall didn't move. He wanted to, but it seemed like his feet were glued to the floor.
"Squall?" she whispered tearfully. Zidane grabbed her hand.
She sounds upset. What's happened to her?
"Leonheart! Get your ass over here now!" Zidane shouted at him. Squall snapped out of his trance and slowly walked over to Rinoa's bedside. He knelt down next to her.
"Rinoa? Are you alright?" Zidane asked her again. She shook his hand from hers and shook her head. She didn't speak. Her face was white as snow. The only colour on her face was her lips, but even then it was a pale pink.
"What happened to you Rinny?" Zidane asked her. "Don't keep it bottled up! What's happened?"
Squall spoke to her.
"You're not…?" he couldn't finish the sentence. Her eyes looked so sad. She shook her head again.
"I don't know." She whispered. "The doctor's haven't told me anything yet-"
"TIDUS!"
They all looked to where the voice came from. Rinoa's mouth went dry and Zidane's face turned into a frown. Audrey was standing in the doorway.
"Audrey!" Squall exclaimed. Audrey beamed at him. She saw Rinoa. And glared with intense hatred. She saw Squall still looking at her and changed her face back to a smile and ran over to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and drove her tongue straight down his throat. Unknowingly, he kissed her back. Zidane spluttered. Robyn growled. Tidus winced. And Cloud looked like he was about to be sick.
Rinoa collapsed onto her pillow and closed her eyes.
"Zidane?" she whispered to her faithful cousin. He looked straight at her and grabbed her hand again.
"Yes Rinny? What is it?" he answered softly.
"Close the curtain, after you remove Squall and Audrey from my sight!" she replied angrily.
Happy to comply with her request, Zidane let go of her hand, walked over to the embracing teenagers and shoved them apart and away from the cubicle's outline.
"Hey! What the fuck was that for, you little monkey?" Audrey shouted at the younger blonde, still holding onto Squall. Zidane opened his mouth to speak but he felt a tug on his tail. He turned to see Rinoa shaking her head at him. Her eyes were still shut, but tears were flowing from the closed lids. He nodded at her and pulled the curtains around Rinoa's cubicle and himself.
Squall shook Audrey off him and tried to pull the curtains back open only to be met face to face with Zidane's Ultima Weapon.
"Keep the fuck out of this cubicle, Leonheart! Rinoa doesn't want to see you now." Zidane's cold voice came from behind the weapon's deadly point. "And seeing as you're not family, you can piss off home. I'll look after Rinoa since she needs a non-backstabbing shoulder to cry on!"
"I remember you!" Audrey exclaimed, pushing her way through the closed curtains. "You're that little monkey who hung around with Rinoa in Esthar Private School! So you're her cousin!"
Suddenly, Robyn grabbed the blonde by her shoulder and threw her out of the cubicle.
"Audrey! You came here for your brother's well-being! Not to pick fights as always! Go over there and be with Tidus!" she ordered. Audrey frowned at the dark haired girl with dislike. But she complied and sat next to her brother, only after she'd kissed Squall on the lips softly. Robyn shut the curtains and walked over to Squall and Cloud.
"I'm really sorry about this." She said and then…
SLAP!
Squall reeled back in surprise, clutching his left cheek.
"What the hell was that for?" Squall exclaimed.
She glared at him.
"I did that because you have some nerve to allow her to kiss you like that! And kissing her back! That's your girlfriend in the next cubicle isn't it? And the way she was looking at you when Audrey kissed you! You disgust me!" Robyn finished her outburst and went back into Tidus' cubicle and shut the curtains.
Squall stared at Rinoa's cubicle. He heard her crying and felt her heart breaking again. Cloud put his hand on his shoulder and led him out of the room. When Cloud had closed the door, a doctor came over.
"Hello? Can I help you?" he asked. Squall nodded.
"Are you Rinoa Heartilly-Caraway's doctor?"
"Yes, I am just about to go in to see Miss Heartilly-Caraway now. Have you just come out of the room?"
"Yes, I think she doesn't want to be disturbed though." Squall admitted.
"Oh. I need to tell her the results from her test."
"Test? What test? Can you tell me? I'm the father of her baby!" Squall asked frantically.
"Baby? What baby?" the doctor was confused now. Squall's eyes went wide.
"What do you mean 'what baby?'? Rinoa's two and a half months pregnant!" he exclaimed. The doctor looked worried now.
"We had no idea that she was expecting a baby! We thought she'd just fainted. We did X-rays and everything-"
"X-rays! You can't give a pregnant woman an X-ray!" Squall shouted at the doctor. The doctor paled and grabbed his beeper. He put through a number and ran into the room. Squall and Cloud followed him.
"What's going on! Let me go!" Rinoa was shouting as two nurses who had just arrived were putting her into a wheelchair. She struggled to get up but was pushed back into the chair and wheeled out of the room. Zidane was chasing after the doctor with Squall and Cloud.
"We have to get this woman to the maternity ward now! She could be having a miscarriage!" the doctor shouted to the nurses as they reached the elevators. "Get her in for a scan STAT!" he said as they climbed into a free elevator.
"A miscarriage? What's wrong with my baby? Let me go! SQUALL!" Rinoa screamed as the elevator doors closed, locking Squall, Cloud and Zidane out.
"RINOA!" Squall shouted. "I'm coming up for you! Don't worry!"
"Squall! There's a free one opening now!" Zidane shouted as he ran inside and held it open for his friends. The nurse inside it asked him:
"Which floor?"
"The maternity floor!" All of them yelled.
"And hurry!" Zidane added.
Author's Note: Muhahahahahahaha! Cliffhanger! Review for more!
Rinny Leonheart