Garment Issues
The last month and a half had been hard on Yuna. She was uncomfortable, tired, over rested.. and moody. Tidus tried everything he could to make her comfortable. He allowed visitors in to their home so she could have company. He re-arranged the furniture, moving the bed with her on it still, so she could see out the door when he had the entrance open.
He even made sure she had Rikku to pick up some reading materials and stuff for her.
But when that little Al Bhed returned he found that she did better than he hoped. She found a sphere recorder and went traveling for a week on the air ship and brought back loads of spheres of well wishes from friends. She even found some ancient spheres with mysterious origins. Nearly made him want to go on a sphere hunt when he saw images of the old Zanarkand.
Paine showed up, with news of Servald's punishments. Tidus was impressed by the New Yevon's judgment. Instead of execution like the old Yevon would have no doubt jumped to, Servald found himself with a tour of the Bevel Underground. According to Paine it had been a week since she heard from him and she knew he wouldn't be getting out anytime soon.
Death wasn't completely ruled out by this punishment. The chances that he would fail and die were hight but should he get out alive, he was to be imprisoned in the dungeons of Bevelle.
That visit was short since Paine needed to return to Bevelle to assist Baralai with a project. She didn't complain when Yuna teased her about a potential budding romance. Unlike Rikku's reaction to the teasing, Paine stood her ground unimpressed by the jest and admitted point blank that Baralai had indeed been spending more time with her. Yuna pouted at the lack of embarrassment.
Tidus knew they had many friends in Spira but he never really counted them until they all started visiting their home.
The Aurochs came often to tell her stories and joke around. Donna and Bartello came to visit her and brought some gifts from the villagers of Killika. Even Clasko had send a messenger chocobo all the way from the Calm Lands to give her some useful items for her recuperation. She enjoyed it all but she still wanted out.
It was to be expected, seeing how she was such a free spirit. Bed rest is not something she would choose for herself. When he was gone, Lulu was there keeping and eye on her. And when Lulu wasn't there many of the village women offered to assist the spirited Lady Summoner.
Yuna tried her best not to drive him crazy and he did his best not to drive her up the hut walls. That was one thing no one warned them about. Happily ever after didn't get into the day to day lives of the couple in love.
At least the doctor decided that Yuna was now in a condition that she could start walking, with limitations of course. She was allowed to move around the village but go no farther than the temple and the main gates. There was absolutely no way she was allowed to go down to the beach. The journey was too long and the ligament will still be tender.
For the entire month and a half she had been in night gowns. Not once had she had a reason to put on a dress or even experiment with a garment grid. Even though she appreciated the gifts that the village seamstress made she felt uncomfortable in anything that was directly on her body.
She had long forgotten about the dress in Luca that lead her to playing those games of Sphere Break leading her to that ill fated day.
While Yuna dressed, Tidus met up with Wakka in the center of the village to talk about the upcoming next Blitz season. The team was getting better and with Tidus around they seemed to be a bit more disciplined. Of course they knew, old habits die hard. They were still lazy bums.
The peace of the village shattered with Yuna's shouting. "You HAVE GOT to be fff-fucking KIDDING!"
Tidus bolted to the door with Wakka in tow. They tossed back the curtain to see Yuna stuffed into her summoners dress. She couldn't get the ties to close properly and her belly stretched the fabric in the front.
Tidus lost it. He fell to the floor laughing while Yuna glared at him. He held his stomach and curled in a ball as she stomped her foot. She was insulted by his reaction and cried out in frustration. She picked up a pillow from the chair near her and threw it at him.
Wakka stepped out, laughing as well, saying "I'll go get Lu."
"Tidus, shut up!" She shouted at him. "This isn't funny!" She held the ties as closed as possible.
"I can't help it." He said between his laughter. "You..you... I'm sorry..."
He was near hyperventilating as he tried to speak. He was unable to get up though he tried.
She picked up a brush from the dresser and threw it at him since the pillow wasn't enough. "Knock it off!"
But he didn't stop until Lulu walked into the door. She smiled at Yuna and hurried to help her. "Calm down, calm down. It's going to be fine." Lulu reassured. "You, stop teasing Yuna."
"But I'm huge! What the hell happened!" Yuna was still in shock. "My dress won't fit!"
"It's a little snug, That's not a big deal" She said calmly tying the strings a little differently. She altered the way the dress draped on Yuna's body. "Perhaps we should start using the dresses the others made for you."
"I just don't understand. You never ever got this big. Why me?"
Tidus, composed, approached the women. He was still grinning and Yuna glared at him. "Yuna, you're beautiful."
"Shut the hell up, this is all your fault." She snapped at him.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry." He smiled at her and she turned away from him.
Lulu looked at him an gave him a weak smile. She finished tying Yuna's bow and turned the girl to face her. The dress definitely needed to be put aside. She wasn't "huge". She was a normal sized pregnant woman. The dress was not built an expecting body, but then again neither was hers.
"Yuna" She said spoke gently. " You and I have different bodies. No one woman is alike, not even siblings. Vindina was very small when I delivered him compared to other babies and he sat more towards my back. My torso is longer than yours. Now look... Your baby is more up front. It's going to be fine. Just be careful." She hugged Yuna before heading back to the door. "Tidus, I want to speak to you."
He nodded and followed. Yuna still wouldn't look at him with anything more than annoyance. He tried to hide his amusement with the mood swing.
Lulu took his hand and pulled him out of the hut and into the center of the village. She turned to him, all serious and no nonsense.
"You need to get her another dress. She still has some time to go in this pregnancy and she is going to get bigger. Don't tell her that is the reason. Just say it's because it will be more comfortable without the ties."
"I can't leave her now." He protested.
"Yes, you can. I will watch her. Go to Luca or anywhere, it won't matter where you go. If you commission the people on the island it will be a long time before she can get into it." Lulu sighed. "She already sounds more like you with every mood swing and it will only get worse the longer she is uncomfortable. Now go."
He glanced towards his home. It might be good for her to spend some quality time with Lulu. She would understand what Yuna is going through much better than him or Wakka.
"Alright. I'll go... but I don't want to hear anything about her turning into you when she gets cranky. The throwing is enough." He said before heading back into the hut. Lulu smirked at him and casually walked back to her own home.
Yuna was staring herself down in the mirror. She was visibly frustrated with the way her tummy came out in a smooth slope. She noticed how it actually expanded beyone her bust and groaned.
Tidus slowly walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. His hands rested on her belly. He placed his chin on her shoulder and kissed her earlobe. It surprised him that Yuna wasn't pushing him away with how mad she was just moments ago.
He felt the baby move under his hands and he pressed a little to feel it better. He whispered in her ear "Our baby is growing up strong." He kissed her cheek, "And you are as beautiful as ever."
"Then why did you laugh at me?" She asked, frowing in the mirror at his reflection. She nearly pouted and he grinned.
"Because you said "fuck"." He responded with a chuckle.
Yuna looked down at his hands, unable to look directly at him any longer.. "I didn't say it like that."
"It was funny. You never use the big bad words." Now he was teasing but she ignored it.
"I just can't believe I got so big. I thought I would be like Lulu."
"Nah, I like you just as you are. Lu probably had other symptoms. For all you know she could have had that killer gas everyone keeps warning me about."
She slapped his hand but didn't push him away, instead she looked at the way he placed his palms against the roundness. How his fingers curled protectively. She placed her own on top of his.
"See," he indicated the mirror. "We are a family to be. What is more beautiful than that?"
Yuna stared in awe a the vision of them. Together in a warm embrace with their baby growing... this was beautiful.
He kissed her neck and whispered. "I have to go do something. I'm gonna be gone till tomorrow night."
"What? Why?" She turned in his arms to face him.
"It's alright. Lulu will be here for you. I will be quick, I gotta call Brother and Rikku to come get me."
"It's weird to see you guys getting along." She commented. "Brother has changed a lot since you've been back."
"He's not so bad when he's not trying to kill me. Come on, lets go for a walk I promised you." He said as he took hold of her hand and out into the light for the first time in ages.
Rikku was in good spirits when Tidus told her she could help shop for Yuna. she hardly ever had a reason to go shopping. This was perhaps the biggest treat she had in a long long long long time.
Luca was the primary hub for ready made items in shops. Especially when it came to garments. So regardless of the recent events, they returned to the bustling streets and shops that begged to be visited. Soon the two of them found themselves surounded by shopkeepers and citizens that wanted to do what they could to help the High Summoner after her tragic accident.
Tidus and Rikku were only too glad to have assistance in their mission. They were given advice and suggestions on what would be flattering for a growing body and what essentials would be needed for the first year of a child's life. The shopkeepers were very familiar with young mothers and their concerns. The Eternal Calm brought safety to the people who would no longer fear the death of a child by Sin, but it also brought about a tiny little vice called vanity in many ladies. Not that merchants complained. It was good to see the people of Spira with mundane concerns.
Then ended up with more than enough garments for the remainder of Yuna's term and for her recovery. They also left a the shops slightly traumatized by the tales of birth everyone was so keen on sharing. It left Rikku with a feeling that she was just not ready to "jump into mama hood" anytime soon.
They returned to the airship with their load, insisting that they didn't need to supply themselves for preparations of a another child soon to follow.
"Those people are worse than a swarm of cacatur. I feel like they will overwhelm me any moment." Rikku cried as she tugged a bag up onto her shoulder. "Did you hear what happens to ... down there? I mean, yuck. Really? No one want's to know that. I don't want to know that. I'm getting the heebe jeebies just thinking about it."
She shuttered for effect and Tidus chuckled. He kind wished they had kept those stories to themselves.
"There. Let's get this loaded and we can set a course for good old Besaid Island. Oooooh, Yunie is going to be so excited." Rikku gushed as they walked up the ramp and into the aircraft.
"So, what do ya think?" He asked a when he placed down his parcels next the pile they already accumulated in their last two trips to the market. He shook his head, wondering how the hell it was going to fit into the hut.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah." She looked around at the stash and rushed off to a sliding door that held a closet full of treasure chests. She tugged one and pulled it out and across the room. She ran back for a second one before settling them right in the middle of the mess side by side. "Yunie is gonna flip."
"If you say so... I think we got a little carried away." He scratched the back of his head and picked up a tiny baby garment before it was snatched by Rikku and folded. She began unwrapping the parcels, making sure to put the items in more convenient carrying vessels.
"Nah. I remember Yuna and I went on an item shopping spree in our last mission together. We got all kinds of stuff. Accessories and Grids ... mixable items so I could blow stuff up. It was great. It was too bad we couldn't wear them all. We ended up selling a lot of it back in the end." She folded another little outfit and placed it into the box. "We learned our lesson and started storing extra chests just in case we went crazy again.
She looked down and around her, continuing to snatch up items to pack until she felt she had stored everything safety. The aftermath of her efforts strewn across the floor and she huffed at the thought of having to clean it up.
Tidus came over to close one of the chests. "You guys had a lot of fun back then, didn't you?"
"We did, but it was only to distract her. She really missed you." Rikku plopped down on the floor and Tidus sat on top of the chest.
"Was it really that bad?" He asked, leaning onto his knees. He placed his head in his hand as he spoke to her.
"Uh Yeah! She didn't like to let on to it but she was always thinking about the life you two would have had. Or about how it would have been to go to your Zanarkand. She checked out randomly and got this goofy look on her face like she was thinking of something funny. Always running down memory lane..."
"I still can't believe it's been two years." He closed his eyes. He was still having trouble putting the passage of Spira's time into account from his disappearance.
"You know your a real jerk for not telling us until it was too late." She stated. "Seriously, you have no idea how rattled Yunie was because of that. I mean, it was like you died in that last battle. Completely not fair, Mr."
"Alright, Ms. Bossy, how wold you tell someone you're not real?" He retorted.
"I don't know." She slumped. "Just do it, I guess."
She found a loose string on the floor and began absentmindedly playing with it. "It doesn't matter anymore. You are here now." She reached out and swatted at his shoe before he could tug it back. "If you ever leave her again, I'm gonna hurt you."
"Seriously. Why do you guys swat like that? You're teaching her bad habits." He stood up and backed away.
"Me? Teach her bad habits? Whoa there, who was the one who told her breaking the rules was ok? Huh? And who the hell got her pregnant? Don't blame me." She stood up and placed her hands on her hips. Perfectly reminding him of how Yuna would pose herself to lecture him in the same manner. He also remembered Lulu performing that same act when she was on a roll.
He laughed when it finally connected. "You guys just keep passing the traits around don't you?"
"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked, her face softening and tilting her head... once again reminding him of Yuna. Tidus laughed again.
"Forget it. It's nothing." He waved her off, still laughing, and started off to the lift. "I'm gonna head to the bridge. We should be arriving soon right?"
"Just about..." Rikku was eyeing him like he had gone crazy.
The Village gate was still within walking bounds for Yuna. Right at the edge of them in fact.
She decided that it would be a good spot to wait for the Celsius.
Yuna settled on a barrel, her feet keeping her balanced while she pet Kogoro, the pet who appeared when she wore her Trainer Dress Sphere. She couldn't stomach the look of her Summoners dress any longer. The way it sat on her wasn't right so she poked around with her grids till she found outfits that would fit her comfortably. The choices came down to her White Mage and her Trainer...She tossed the White Mage away soon after. After all this time she finally figured out why Lulu chose to wear all black. The white was just not flattering. Or so was her own opinion on the matter.
She reasoned with herself that it wasn't just the way her belly curved in the garment, or how her hips flaring in that shapeless dress made her feel like a puff of white fluff. She convinced herself that the Trainer would be more practical as she would have Kogoro there to protect her from fiends should any dare to venture to close to the village gates.
The dog was ever the body guard. He knew his mistress was in a state of vulnerability when she summoned him along with the garment. Kogoro was gentle with her, his nuzzles were not forceful and his lick was not overly enthusiastic. He kept himself in check and stood as a silent sentinel while she waiting for her family to return.
Kogoro's bark alerted her to the direction of the Celsius. So far away, and he could sense it comming. She patted his head when the ship came in to hover by the gates. Tidus, Rikku and Brother, along with their filled chests, were ported down to the ground. Kogoro barked again.
Tidus yelped and jumped back when he saw the big hound at Yuna's feet.
Rikku squealed it delight, "Kogoro, Come here, Boy!" She called to him. The dog ran to her and together they collided into the ground. He covered the girl with sloppy kisses while she affectionatly scratched his head. Yuna laughed at the sight while she edged herself off the barrel.
Tidus and Brother by passed the scene, each carrying one chest into the village gates.
"Hey you two. Where are you going? I don't get a hug?" She teased them.
Brother turned and said. "Yuna, come. Rikku! Cdub clnafehk ynuiht!"
Tidus smiled and shrugged, "Kinda got my arms full."
Yuna harumphed and followed them. She felt a tug on her garment that linked her to the dog. She turned to her cousin and her pet. "Come on you two."
They stopped wrestling around and followed Yuna. Kogoro took the lead and made sure that his mistress was following by looking back every few steps.
"Did you guys go on an adventure without me?" Yuna asked Rikku, to which the other girl giggled and held her hands up.
The group entered the hut and the guys placed the chests down. Yuna was the last to enter. She wrapped her arms around herself when she noticed everyone was watching her expectantly.
"First things first. This box, is for you." He pushed the smaller chest to her then sat on the floor. He leaned back on his hands and grinned when she tentativly opened the chest. Her expression lit up. Her hand came to her mouth as the tears began to pool in her eyes.
She reached into the chest and pulled out a light breezy fabric. The weave allowed for the garment to stretch better than anything they had on Besaid.
"You brought me dresses?" She sunk down to her knees next to the chest. He moved across the floor and placed his ars around her.
"Thank you, Tidus." She turned her head and kissed his cheek.
"You're welcome." He whispered. "That's not all.."
Rikku squealed. "That box was all him but this one, well, it's soooooooo much more fun. Plus it was all my idea."
Tidus rolled his eyes but didn't argue.
Yuna pulled away from Tidus and wiped her eyes. Still on her knees she waddled her way over to the second box. This time when she opened it she froze.
"Rikku! You got baby cloths!" She reached inside an pulled out a little garment. Suddenly everything felt all too real. The concept of the baby was always there but now, as Yuna held the little bit of fabric she could see it on a tiny babe. A ball of of wiggling, giggling tiny person that will no longer be kicking around in her abdomen but in her arms.
She tried to get up, wobbling. Tidus rushed to her side to balance her and help her up. She stood there for a moment taking in, well, everything. Brother patted Tidus on the shoulder and walked out of the hut. Seeing as Yuna was ok for now he pecked her on the cheek and followed Brother out.
Rikku was still beaming but it was slowly starting to slip at the lack of reaction from Yuna.
"Rikku," She said, causing Rikku to jump. Yuna had tears in her eyes again. "Did you guys plan the trip just for this?"
"You could say that. Don't tell him I told you but Tidus called us and said you were feeling uncomfortable. He complained about your grumpiness too, by the way." She grinned when Yuna gave her a long look. "Whaaat? You forget that I know how grouchy you can get, Sister."
"Grumpy runs in the family." She retorted and turned back to the chest. She reached over and pulled out a simple green garment of that same weave as the first dress. This one lacked the elaborate sleeves but the fabric was just as soft and breathable as the first. She smiled at the embroidery on the edges of the neckline.
Kogoro came over to Yuna, sensing that she was about to dismiss him. She pet the dog lovingly and gave him a kiss on his head before she deactivated the trainer dress sphere. Rikku turned away out of respect for Yuna's modesty when the garment vanished in light.
The dress slid over her head easily in one simple move and draped over her smoothly. Her arms felt like they were being encased in a buttery softness. There were no complicated ties or latches and it clung to her figure in a flattering way, showing not only her rounding belly but the curve of her body showed a woman in full bloom and not that of a flan in human clothing.
Standing in front of the mirror she ran her hand over her torso and smiled. She was glowing.
Al Bhed Translation:
Cdub clnafehk ynuiht - Stop screwing around