Nine Months
Chapter 48
She's pale, a little sweaty, and the bruises on her face haven't faded. There are tearstains running down her cheeks, and she releases her tight grip on a rolled up washcloth, the substitute for the nurse's hand. She looks up at him, her expression a mixture of relief and a glare, and her fear is momentarily replaced by a boiling anger. "You left."
She says it like it was his leave that made the baby in a hurry to come out and chase after him. But he had already told her earlier that he'd leave as soon as she fell asleep... He lets that argument slide for now; it's not the time to fight about such things. He walks over to her, grabbing her hand and hastily kisses her forehead. "I'm sorry," he says breathlessly.
She doesn't even care if he notices that her hands are shaking as fresh tears start to form in the corner of her eyes. "You shouldn't've gone. I'm here and all your workers are here. There's nothing but an empty temple in Djose right now, everyone who needs you is here," she whispers, biting on her lip. "And they called you and couldn't find you... do you even realize how worried I was?" She doesn't think she needs to specify that she was worried about him and the baby. She also doesn't think that she needs to point out that she shouldn't have had to worry about him.
He stares at her for a moment. "Can we talk about this later?" He glances toward her abdomen, and then at the doctor by the monitor. "We need to focus on the baby."
She bites her lip to keep her angry response in and just nods, closing her eyes. Keeping quiet for the moment as she looks at him. She notices bloodstains on his shirt, the way he's got his arm leaning against his body so it won't move too much... realizes that his shoulder was injured a bit more seriously than he'd told her yesterday. "You need to let someone look at your arm, Gippal."
The doctor steps over to him and motions to the chair behind him, dragging another one over from the side of the room. "Well, the good news is that the drugs are working well enough to slow down the labor..." He glances at Rikku as she bites her lip again. "Unfortunately, Rikku's water broke a little while ago, and we really don't have a choice but to let things progress. We've got enough time to give Rikku some medication that will help the baby's lungs mature more quickly, but…"
Gippal doesn't sit down, tightening his grip around Rikku's hands instead. "So it's gonna be born, today? Today?" He tries to keep himself from overreacting, from grabbing the doctor by the collar in fury. For Rikku's sake, at least. The birth of his first child... It's supposed to be a happy day, isn't it?
He loosens his grip on her fingers, squeezing them gently instead in reassurance. "Please do your best to help us," he says.
The doctor nods and watches them for a moment before moving to the door. "We will. We're going to do everything we can." He nods as he steps out into the hall. "I'll send someone in soon to take a look at your shoulder, Gippal." He closes the door gently behind him.
Rikku stares at the opposite wall, breathing deeply once again. She'd already known, of course. Already felt the panic set in when she'd felt gushes of fluid running down her legs. They'd already explained what could go wrong. But it doesn't make it any less stressful.
Gippal groans as he turns his head to look at his shoulder. Even with the supplies he'd been given at the inn, it still looks a mess. He tries moving it a bit, biting back a sharp gasp when it suddenly becomes painful. It probably wouldn't hurt to follow the doctor's orders this time. He turns his attention back to Rikku, her silence worrying him a little. So he rubs his thumb subtly over the back of her hand, because he's not really sure what to tell her - how to tell her confidently that everything'll be alright.
She glances over at him, catching his eyes after a few moments. "I'm sorry I got mad," she whispers, biting her lip again because he looks like hell, and she feels like hell, and this is not at all how she'd imagined her child's day of birth.
He sighs, glancing away. He hates it when they have to apologize. It's not like things every really get forgiven and forgotten no matter how much they may want it to be. "I'm sorry too, for not being here when this all began." He releases her hand to touch her face lightly. "I'm not going anywhere now, so don't worry."
She nods and leans into his touch for a moment, catching his gaze. "They... they said they've delivered babies this early before. They said it's possible." She hates that her voice sounds uncertain.
Possible. "Yeah, don't worry. They'll take good care of you and the baby." He smiles, trying to lighten the mood. "We're not exactly your everyday couple."
She gives him a weak grin back before it fades and she stares at the ceiling. "Guess not." She shakes her head as she watches the clock in the corner. "I don't care what kind of care they give me, as long as the baby's okay..."
"It will be," he tells her, his tone more confident now. He almost forgets he has nothing to support his words. "Have they said anything about it being a boy or a girl yet?"
She turns her head to look at him once more, absently reaching for her little rolled up washcloth. "No... they just said they hoped we had names picked out..." She points over at the bedside table. "May I have a piece of ice, please?"
He pauses before reaching for the bucket, the fact that she'd brushed off the topic of their child's name so quickly hurting him a little inside. He holds up the ice to her. "Are you alright?" he asks, the question sounding stupid the moment it left his mouth.
She takes the piece and sucks on it for a moment, thinking about his question. "I'm just really tired..." she says, knowing that that sounds stupid. "And I'm really scared, too." Absently, she refolds and rerolls the little washcloth. "What about you? Are you alright?"
He nods. "Yeah, I'm alright." He smiles, chuckling softly. "Not scared. More like, anxious." He rubs the back of his neck, letting his gaze wander around the room to take it all in. "This is the moment we've been waiting for, right?" He wishes his voice sounded more excited.
"Yeah, I just wish it were... happening in about two months, that's all." She groans as she feels the contraction starting again, her entire sore midsection feeling like its on fire, her ribs starting to ache. She grips the washcloth tightly, breathing deeply. "We... liked 'Ruba'? Right? For a girl?"
"Are you alright?" He rests his hand over her and the cloth, offering her his support if she needs it. He'd heard many stories of guys and their wives nearly breaking off their hand during the delivery but he doesn't mind. Doesn't mind it at all if he's able to do something to help her. "Any name... any name you want."
She lets go as she breathes, taking his hand instead, careful not to tug on it so she won't hurt his shoulder. Thanks him with an appreciative glance. She doesn't try to talk again until it subsides, and she relaxes once more, releasing the pressure on his hand, but not letting it go. "Contraction thingie," she mumbles, blinking a little to clear her head. "Happens every... eight minutes, about. It'll keep getting sooner and sooner, they said..." She gives him a tiny smile. "I want you to like the name, too." And she thinks it's more comfortable to talk about names rather than what could happen.
He smiles. Just the fact that he's able to hold her hand and discuss baby names at a moment like this makes his entire run back here completely worthwhile. "Don't worry, I will."
She leans her head back and looks at him, smiling tiredly back. "I like Ruba, then. But I can't think of any for a boy."
"Maybe when you see the baby's face a name will hit you," he suggests, looking up when the doctor enters back into the room. "But a strong Al Bhed name," he quietly adds.
She nods absently, looking up at the doctor for a moment. Relieved as he moves toward Gippal instead of her charts, because that means that nothing else has gone wrong.
"Alright... are you going to let me do what I can, this time, or do you like the pain?" the doctor asks kindly.
Gippal takes a step back, giving the doctor an uneasy look. "It doesn't hurt. Isn't she the one you're supposed to be focusing on?"
The doctor glances over at Rikku and then back to Gippal. "She's doing just fine."
He releases her hand hesitantly, making his way to the doctor. "I'm fine too," he mumbles. He turns his body to face the doctor, but his gaze doesn't leave Rikku's face. He doesn't feel comfortable taking away the medical attention from her. He frowns with a sigh. "Can you just hurry?"
The doctor nods. "Let's see if you popped those stitches, shall we?"
She thinks that this is what being crushed under heavy machinery would feel like. Feeling like her eyes are going to pop out of the sockets from the pressure, from trying not to make too much noise because that's a little embarrassing. Seeing stars because she's keeping her eyes shut so tight that it adds a little more pain to what is already quite unbearable. She's trying not to hold onto his hand so hard, but she can't help it.
The nurse at her bedside smiles wide as she collapses back to rest the moment it's over. "I think you're ready to start pushing, Rikku, I'm going to go and get everyone rounded up." Rikku groans as she closes her eyes – the drugs that slowed down the labor had only made it harder for her to endure. Much more drawn out than it would have been. Much stronger. Much more difficult, she thinks, than such a small baby would normally demand.
Gippal's head jerks up as the nurse heads out the door, and he turns to Rikku with wide eyes. "It's time?" he blurts out. "You're gonna push and it's gonna come out -- it's that time?"
She groans and nods, her eyelids feeling heavy as anchors. "Yeah... it's that time. I don't know how much longer I can do this..."
He shakes his head, trying his best to offer a smile. Trying his best to make her forget about the odds against their child. The physical pain is already breaking her down; she doesn't need her emotional anxiety to resurface as well. "You can do it, and it'll be over before you know it," he tells her reassuringly. "And I'm gonna be here with you the whole way so... so go the whole way, okay?"
"It hurts," she whispers. "I don't... I'll try." She looks up at his smile and weakly rubs his hand where she's been gripping it so tightly. "I really don't want to do this, Gippal."
He's quiet for a moment, as if to let her hear her own words. "Yes you do," he tells her quietly. "Maybe not at this moment, but you do." He grabs the bucket of ice behind him. "C'mon. You never used to be the think-before-you-act type. Don't start now."
She takes a piece of ice and shoves it in her mouth, thinking anyway about how she still feels like a mess from the explosion, still bruised and battered... allowing herself one more moment too dwell on her wish that this would have happened differently. "Okay... okay." She breathes deeply as she sucks on the remainder of the ice. "We're gonna have a baby in a little while. We're gonna do this."
He nods, leaning down and combing her hair away from her forehead. She's a sweaty mess, with bloodshot eyes and an iron grip. It makes him amused as he thinks this is what it means to be female.
"We're gonna be parents." He pauses. "Cool parents. Just as soon as it comes out. It'll be the luckiest baby in Spira... Just wait."
Hope. Ruba.
That's what he felt when he watched the little girl being taken away into intensive care, drowning in the massive pink blanket they wrapped her in. The doctors didn't tell him or Rikku anything when the first desperate gasps came out of the child's thin mouth. Its small hands and feet waving in the air, no more than the width of his thumb. It was so tiny, and so alive, and he was ashamed for ever doubting even for the slightest second that the kid wouldn't be able to pull through. He was so proud of her. So proud.
"That's my baby," he would tell them. "That's my baby and just look at her! Look at her!" He didn't know how to express his overwhelming joy. How to suppress his urge to brag to the entire world – "…newspapers, reporters, just look at us now!" – that he had a baby – so beautiful a baby – who proved the instant she was born that she was a natural fighter.
The whole experience made him a little too confident, more than was considered healthy for a father of a premature baby. She was still under intense monitoring, after all, and her lungs were dangerously underdeveloped, but there was hope. There was ruba. And he loved her. He loved her just like that.
As he makes his way back to Rikku's room, he can still feel the faint squeeze of her fingers on his own. That little touch of reassurance that said "Hi Daddy" or "I'm okay, Daddy". He couldn't let his finger touch anything else after that moment. He wants to save it and share it with Rikku. He wants to take his finger and trace it along the side of Rikku's face when he sees her. So she can feel "I'm okay, Mommy" too.
She's still groggy and exhausted when she wakes up to find that her father is sitting next to her bed. She scans the room, feeling a little bit stupid as she looks for one of those little portable cribs. Stupid, because there is no possible way that such a tiny little baby would be out of the doctor's sight. Feeling both a bit relieved and a bit scared that Gippal isn't back yet.
She opens her mouth, but Cid squeezes her hand before she can speak. "Don't start askin' questions now, 'cause I don't know. Haven't seen that boy of yours, yet. Just the doctors, and they say they're not the ones you've been dealin' with, they don't know much."
"But... Ruba? Is she... Vydran, she was so quiet when she cried." He gives her a weak grin. "Nothing? No one's said anything?"
"Not a thing, my girl, except those two doctors came in and fixed your ribs and your head up better. And got rid of a lot of those nasty cuts you had all over the place... said they couldn't heal you up too much before, coulda caused problems for the baby." He squeezes her hand again lightly as she bites her lip worriedly.
She's never seen a more beautiful, fragile baby in her life. Never felt so much for someone she's never even laid eyes on before. And as she'd squirmed around, waving her miniscule hands and feet around in the air, she'd felt a bubble of happiness because she'd felt those little hands and feet squirming around inside her. A bubble of happiness that had turned into a bubble of fear the minute she'd started crying, a breathy, gasping sound. A bubble of guilt, because if Rikku had just been strong enough, if she hadn't waited so long to tell the doctors about the contractions as they started to get stronger... Ruba would be filling the blanket that looked massive in comparison to her tiny body. Would be crying loud enough to fill the room. Because even though her little cries were enough to bring tears of joy to Rikku's eyes, the tears also carried traces of terror and guilt.
She couldn't help but feel as if she'd failed that beautiful little baby, already. So she bites her lip even harder to keep back the tears that are forming once more, happy and sad all at the same time, as her father strokes the back of her hand comfortingly.
The door opens and her head shoots up quickly. She feels a tiny bit of relief automatically when she sees the smile on Gippal's face, and she anxiously reaches up to wipe at her eyes as the tears spill over. "Is she okay? Where is she?"
He nods, quickly moving to her side, anxious to help get those tears off her face because there's certainly no need for them. "She's fine, the doc-" He flinches suddenly at the sight of her father. "C-Cid?"
Cid stands up slowly, looking gruff as always, and debates for a moment before holding out his hand. "Congratulations, son. I hear you've got a little girl now, too."
Gippal takes it hesitantly, a feeling of comfort and reassurance settling in once he feels Cid's firm grip. "I'll take good care of her... Pops."
As much as Rikku doesn't want to end the first bonding moment she thinks Gippal and her father have ever had, she's a little desperate for news about the baby. "She's really okay?"
Gippal turns over to look at her, releasing his hand. He reaches out and gives her the touch on the cheek he'd been saving for her. "They're still monitoring her, but she should be fine. She'll pull through." He grins. "You should see her. She's a little fighter."
After all of this worry, the smile on her face feels really unnatural, but she can't hold it back. And she can't stop crying either. She squeezes her father's hand and beams up at Gippal, laughing a little through her tears. "She's gonna be okay... is she breathing alright? Did she open her eyes at all? Did you get to hold her? When can I see her?"
"When the doctors say you're allowed to walk," he tells her, understanding the frustration she must feel from being unable to see Ruba. And yet, he can't deny the childish excitement he feels for being the first one between them to get to closely observe their baby. "Her breathing... they're monitoring it... but I think it's fine. Really Rikku, that girl is a fighter. She's so tiny but she's strong, y'know? She'll be fine, I know it," he beams. "She'll be fine."
Rikku reaches up for his hand, still smiling wide. "She's the tiniest little thing I've ever seen... but she's... she's perfect." Cid smiles a little before walking to the door, giving them some time to themselves. Rikku grins back at him, a silent thank you.
Gippal pulls up a chair to her bed, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb as he speaks. "She's so little, but I'm really glad." He brings her hand to his lips, kissing it softly. "I'm really glad she's ours."
She sighs heavily, the first happy sigh she's sighed in what feels like weeks. "Ours... she's all ours." She squeezes his hand tightly, grinning once again. "I love her so much... I can't wait to see her. Did you get to hold her? Or... or touch her?"
He nods, then shakes his head after a moment. "They wouldn't let me hold her yet. But I got to touch her little hands." He makes a gesture with his fingers. "She squeezed right here. I wish you could've felt it. She's so little, but you'd be surprised at her strength."
She laughs excitedly, watching him and taking in his appearance. "I wish I could've felt it, too..." With a slightly tired grin, she props herself up into a sitting position, glad that she can move once again without her entire body erupting in pain. "Was she squirming? Did they have to hook her up to any machines?" She shakes her head a little bit, brushing her hair away from her face, hoping she'll be able to wash it soon. "I need to stop asking questions..."
"Ah, don't worry about it." He leans back in his chair, his fingers resting against his chin. "She's having a lot of trouble breathing, but that's expected 'cause she's small you know? They've got her hooked up to this big machine thing that's supposed to help support her lungs - but I'm sure she won't need it for long." He grins suddenly. "...she's got your nose. Not a lot of people can see it, but I can."
She smiles brightly at him, feeling her worries drowning momentarily in her excitement. Trying to recall her facial features from the small glance she'd gotten before they'd taken Ruba away. Rikku watches him for a moment, the slightly dazed look on his face making her smile a little more. "I can't wait to see her," she says softly, glancing at the clock on the wall. "How long were you with her? Vydran said I'd been asleep for awhile... did the doctors kick you out? Does she really have my nose?"
He chuckles softly. "You gotta stop asking so many questions at once. You'll see her soon enough." He reaches behind her head, to smooth her hair down and frame her face. "But first, you gotta rest."
She sighs heavily in exasperation, impatient. "Fine, fine... try to get the doctors to clear me to get up, soon, will you?" She grins as she relaxes a little, glancing up at him.
He nods. "Just don't hog her though." He sighs, glancing toward the direction of the window. "I won't be able to see her for much of today. I've already cancelled all work at the temple for this week, but there's still some stuff that needs to be settled..." He's quiet for a moment as he stares at a blank spot on the bed. With a deep breath, he forces his head up and glances down at her with a sheepish grin. "It's been a hectic couple of days, hasn't it?"
''Yeah,'' she says softly, reaching gently for his fingers, giving them a squeeze. ''Too hectic. Just do me a favor, okay?'' She gives him one of those sweet smiles that she tries to reserve just for him, absently running her fingers over his palm. ''Don't stay with the reporters all day, again. Let someone else handle it if you can. There's still people in surgery and recovering and stuff... and if something goes wr-'' She stops, shrugging. ''If Ruba needs us I'd rather you were nearby. And if anyone in here needs you, I'd rather you were nearby, too. The media will understand... you've got a crisis and a new baby to worry about, you shouldn't have to juggle their questioning.''
He turns his head to look at her, the soft expression in her eyes strengthening her words of concern. He smiles. He hadn't said anything in particular, and he's been trying his absolute best to keep his worries to himself. Yet, she somehow managed to tell him exactly what he needed to hear. Managed to make him realize something he couldn't quite sort out on his own until now.
He leans down and kisses her deeply, gently holding her cheek in his palms to control her surprise. He can't help it. He's never had a woman so effortlessly sort out the thoughts and worries in his mind without him ever even expressing them. Never felt so fortunate as he does now for having her by his side to keep him focused on what really matters in his life. "Dryhg oui (Thank you)," he whispers breathily, pressing his head against hers. He glances into her eyes, the still surprised look in them making sigh in amusement. "Cunno (Sorry)," he says sheepishly, pulling away.
She grins and cocks her head to the side, grinning a little shyly back. "Ed'c ugyo. Oui'na famlusa (It's okay. You're welcome)." She reaches up and brushes his rather messy hair out of his eyes, tracing her fingertips down his jawline, resting two on his lips for a moment. "E muja oui...(I love you)" She gazes at him for a moment longer before she looks to the side, her cheeks a little bit flushed. "So, how's your shoulder?"
He shrugs slightly. "It's fine. Hurts a little when I move it too much but it'll heal up soon." He smiles at her. "And then I can pick up Ruba and swing her around a little. Babies like that sorta thing, yeah?"
She smiles back. "Yeah." She touches his shoulder lightly, feeling the heat of his skin through the fabric of his shirt. She frowns a bit. "But she's so little I doubt we'll be able to pick her up anytime soon... let alone swing her around."
He shakes his head. "I meant, when we can bring her home. Y'know, when she's better, I'm better, you're better. And the temple's better." He glances up thoughtfully. "In just a few weeks probably."
She nods, sighing heavily. "I want to clean the temple up before she comes home. When they took me away... I don't it to be that way when she gets there. I want it to be good old Djose... cold, rainy, and homey. Just like always."
He makes a face. "Cold? Why didn't you tell me that before?" He sighs, folding his arms across his chest. "I should install better heating for the temple."
She grins again. "Outside. Not inside. It hasn't been cold inside since we had that fight about me being cold. You always made sure it was the perfect temperature, after that."
He nods humbly in agreement. "But... kids are sensitive to temperature aren't they? We should buy her some sweaters tomorrow. And maybe a few more blankets too." He scratches the back of his head with a small groan. "Babies need a lot of care, don't they?"
"Yeah... they do. But I think we can handle it." She closes her eyes. "We haven't been shopping in Luca, yet. Maybe we'll find some good stuff for her. And now that we know she's a girl... we can get her girly stuff so she won't turn out to be a tomboy like me."
He raises his eyebrow. "Tomboy?" With a smirk, he bends his head down toward her. "Sorry, Princess. You're too sexy to be a tomboy."
"Sexy with bags under my eyes and nasty hair?" She laughs, shaking her head. She gives him a grateful smile for the familiar teasing.
"Yeah well, some days you're sexier than others." He shrugs with a daring smile.
She grins and shakes her head at him. She sighs in amusement before she glances at the door. Her father is sitting across the hall, looking a little bit out of place with the nurses rushing around from room to room. "Could you do something for me? If the doctors will let you in... could you take Vydran to see Ruba? I think he'd like that."
He slowly turns toward the door, following her gaze. A sudden feeling of discomfort sweeps down his back and he grimaces. "Are you sure you don't want to take him there yourself when you get better?"
She shrugs, biting her lip a little. "Well, yeah... but I don't know when that will be. And I don't know how long he can stay..." She shakes her head and reclines on her pillows, adjusting her blankets. "If you don't want to, it's okay."
He sighs in amusement. "See?" He shakes his head with a groan. "Now I have to take him."
She shakes her head earnestly, grinning a little bit. "No you don't! I wasn't trying to guilt you or anything, I just... well, I thought it would be a good idea?"
He ruffles her hair slightly. "It's okay. He came all the way down here to see his daughter and grand-daughter." With a shake of his head, he leans down close to her ear, frowning. "I don't think he wanted to see his daughter's boyfriend though."
She raises her eyebrows skeptically at him. "His grand-daughter's father, too, remember. Whom he talked with yesterday about helping with temple repairs. I think he wanted to see all of us." She kisses him lightly to get the frown off his face. "But you don't have to take him if you don't wanna. Just a suggestion, I promise."
He sighs heavily, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'll do it... Can't really avoid him forever, right?" He unfolds his arms bending his head to the side in slight embarassment. "But whenever I'm around him I..." He glances quickly at the door just in case Cid is able to read his lips. "It's like... It's like he only likes me because of you, y'know?"
She nods, glancing at the door as well. "Yeah... but you're only really ever around him when you're with me. So maybe that's why it seems that way."
He almost glares at her. "What are you suggesting..."
"That you talk to him without me around for a little bit so you don't think that he only likes you 'cause of me. He always used to call Brother 'good-for-nothing', y'know. Asked him why he couldn't be more like you. He likes what you've done for our people, all on your own. You never asked anyone for help, really, you just did it and made your ideas successful." She shrugs, grinning a bit crookedly. "And you've got things in common with him. You're two of the most stubborn people I've ever met."
He smiles, amused. "I don't know if I believe you, Princess. Cid... admire me? Maybe he did when we never hooked up. But do you think he still feels the same way now?" He takes a deep breath, glancing up. He hesitates for a moment. "I know I worry a little too much sometimes about how he thinks of me but... he's..." He lowers his gaze, half frowning, half trying to hold a smile as he stares blankly at the wall. "Well my old man never thought of me as anything more than a brat, y'know..."
"What do you mean? Vydran thinks I'm a brat, too... that's normal, isn't it?" she asks casually, carefully watching his face. His expression is uncertain, and it makes her a little bit worried. "It's not bad to worry about how he thinks of you, Gippal."
He gives her a bit of a smile, shifting his body slightly. "It's not the same type of 'brat,' Rikku. Cid's different." He pauses, trying to keep the hint of jealousy from leaking into his voice. "He's a good father to you and Brother."
She's quiet for a moment, just looking at him. Thinking about that barely there edge in his voice. She glances over at her father, who is now chatting with one of the family members of an injured Faction worker in the hallway. And even if Cid was a slightly unorthodox parent, she can't deny what Gippal said, that he's a good father. He'd done the best he could, raising two children by himself in the middle of a desert full of exiles. She was proud to say that Cid was her father... he was a good example, and he'd never done wrong by her.
And she thinks that maybe that's what Gippal is getting at. That maybe that's why there's a bit of an edge in his voice. "And your dad wasn't." It's a statement, not a question. Because even though she wants to know more, she doesn't want to push him to tell her.
His fingers curl inward slowly, his nails barely grazing the skin of his palm before he suddenly relaxes his hand and turns his head to the window. The pale green curtains block the view outside effectively, and so all he sees is the glow of the sunlight trying to burn through the fabric. Bright, bright beams that seem so promising, but never make it through.
When he turns around to face her again, there's a bit of a forced smile on his face. There's been enough heartache and sadness recently. He doesn't want to bring in any more. "That's in the past now. There's no use discussing it really."
She's not sure what he's so afraid of. He's avoided her father as much as possible, and she's always thought it was because he was afraid that Cid wouldn't like him. Now, though, she thinks it runs a little bit deeper than that. Thinks that maybe he's afraid that Cid will like him, even when his own father couldn't.
She blinks up at him for a moment before sighing heavily. "Okay." She reaches for his hand and squeezes it again, very gently. With a half grin, she glances back out toward the hallway. "Take Dad. Talk to him, show him our little girl. I'm pretty sure he thinks more highly of you than you think he does."
He chuckles softly. "You really believe that? Or you just hope he does?"
She smiles and reaches up to rub her eyes. "I really believe it." She's starting to get sleepy again from the relief about Ruba, and the contentment she feels right now with her hand in his. With a tired yawn, she reaches for the glass of water on her bedside table. "When are you going to go back out to the reporters?" she asks hesitantly, glancing toward the window, the curtains still closed. She wishes she could open them again without having to worry about camera lenses pressing against the glass.
"I don't know... but they can wait." He presses his hand against her cheek gently. "You should get some sleep... I'll go with your father and see if they'll let him in."
She grins widely at him. "Okay..." She giggles a bit. "Thanks, mujan."
"Yeah, yeah..." he replies with a deliberate grumble. He smirks slightly. "Who knows, maybe your pops will like me more than you."
Gippal shifts uneasily as he notices the look of concern on Cid's face. Ruba had been quiet ever since they entered the room. And while it was perfectly normal for her to be asleep and resting like her mother currently was, there was still that look of concern in his eyes for his grand-daughter. He wishes Rikku could see what a softie her father seemed to be at the moment.
"Y'knowww..." Gippal starts before clearing his throat of the dry sound that came out. He quickly puts on a confident smile. "If it'd been a boy, we were gonna name him Cid." He makes a gesture. "Good strong Al Bhed name."
Cid glances up at Gippal and blinks at him before raising a single eyebrow. "That so? Musta been yer idea, then, 'cause Rikku always said she'd never name her kids after me." He looks down at the tiny baby in the isolette unit, wrapped in blankets and surrounded by tubes and wires. "Well, Ruba is a good strong Al Bhed name, too."
Gippal grins, turning his head down to watch her sleep, her small fingers curling only slightly every now and then. "You think so? My idea too." He pauses, pressing his hands against the glass. "It seems fitting, especially now."
"I don't like all those wire things all over her." Cid gestures towards the sleeping infant. "Wasn't expectin' her to be this little. Little, yeah, but..." He glances at Gippal, unsure of what to say. He doesn't want to make Rikku's boy worry about their baby girl anymore than he already is. He clears his throat.
"I remember the first time I saw Rikku like it was yesterday... she was on the small side, too. Not like 'lil Ruba, here, 'course, but... anyway... it's hard to take yer eyes off 'em, ain't it?"
Gippal hesitates before nodding in agreement. He points to Ruba's face, snuggled partially into the blankets. "Her nose. I told Rikku it looks like hers."
Cid leans closer to the little walls, looking at her closely. She's tiny and red and fragile looking... but even so, he can see the resemblance. He nods. "Yeah, it does. She's got yer cheeks though... kinda higher and sharper lookin'."
Gippal grins at the comment. "Really?" Then he suddenly frowns. "Is that... okay for a girl?"
Cid nods and gives him a sort of gruff, surprised look. "Why wouldn't it be okay for a girl?"
"Aren't girls supposed to have softer features on their faces? Not sharp, high cheeks." Gippal leans down, trying to get a better glimpse of Ruba, sighing. "She should've gotten my nose and Rikku's cheeks."
Cid claps him lightly on the back, chuckling softly. "Calm down, sonnie... she's gonna be beautiful no matter what." He watches as Ruba turns her head a bit, bringing her features into a better view. "See? She's already a pretty 'lil thing..."
Gippal nods. "'She'll be smart too, and a true expert on machines." He suddenly beams a little. "You should see some of the toys we already got her. Big plastic hammers." He straightens slightly. "We didn't get to open them all yet. Didn't expect her to be out so soon, y'know?"
"I don't think anyone coulda predicted this all happenin'... did you get her a carry seat yet? I know you finished the crib... I'm a bad grandpa, I shoulda been helpin' you two get everythin' ready." Cid sighs and rubs his forehead, grinning a little as he thinks about plastic tools. "I've got Brother and Rikku's old toy measurin' tapes and screwdrivers and all that in a box in my tent. I'll make sure to bring it to you once you get back to Djose."
Gippal laughs. "That'd be great. I'm sure Rikku'd love to see all her old stuff again." He's quiet for moment before looking up at Cid. His voice softens. "Ruba still needs a playpen... If you... If you ever have time, you should drop by."
Cid's quiet for a moment before nodding. "Well, I'll get one for her and then I'll bring it when I stop in." He glances awkwardly down at his folded hands before settling on a handshake as a thank you for the invitation. "That means a lot, kid. I'd love to drop by... see you and Rikku and my little grand-baby here. That'll be real nice."
Gippal sighs in amusement. "Well, with the amount of money you're chipping in for us to fix the damages and the policing back in Bikanel, the temple's practically half yours anyway." He pauses. "And I didn't mean that you should take some more gil out of your wallet for a playpen... I've... kinda had some sketches drawn up already on how I wanted to build it." Gippal glances down, finding a bit of reassurance in the calm look on Ruba's face. "I'd appreciate your input."
Cid glances down at the baby as well, thinking for a moment about how much time and effort goes into building things. About how he knows the process well, himself. About how glad he is that Gippal actually wants to take time out in his schedule so that he can make sure his child has the best of everything. Then he nods, smiling slightly. "I'd be happy to give it."
We'd like to dedicate this chapter and say congratulations to EtherTwist and new baby Lance! Thank you so much for all of your advice and tips, and we wish you the best of luck and happiness!
