Disclaimer: Squaresoft own FFX. So there.

Safe from harm, was it a dream?

Ash - Candy

I leave Yuna and walk straight into the arms of another hyper kid. Just my luck.

Lesca grinned at the antics of her small cousin, currently doing little spins with her toy claw. She rubbed her back, six months into her pregnancy and she was starting to show only a little. A slight mound visible only from the side was the only indication of her impending motherhood. Never one to be bored, she had taken to educating Rikku in the ways of the world outside of the seclusion of Home. The girl had taken to her teachings like a salmon to water. She impressed Lesca with her constant improvement, absorbing the older girl's wisdom like an eager sponge. Cid had resisted Rikku's Yevonite language lessons to begin with, but he had soon come around with the duel flutter of long eyelashes from niece and daughter.

"Rikku, come on! We need to head back now, Brother will be looking for us."

The girl's face fell and she pouted. "Lescy, zicd y meddma muhkan!"

"What was that Rikku?" Lesca pretended not to understand, forcing her cousin to use her new language.

"C'mon Lescy, just a little longer!"

Lesca took her cousin's hand and led her to her uncle's quarters. "Better, but we can't. We need to get you ready, you have that big party!"

Rikku's face lit up and she scurried off. "Oh, the party! I'll go get ready Lescy, don't worry!"

"I'll be in my quarters if you need me…" She called to the retreating figure, rewarded by barely a backward glance and a half-hearted wave. She shook her head, making her way to her room, the journey slower than usual. Her feet and her back throbbed dully and she prayed constantly that the remaining months would pass quickly.

Worse still was the pain that still lingered in her heart, an open wound that refused to heal. Her uncle, thinking a new suitor would solve her problems, had introduced her to several of the most eligible Al Bhed men in Home. She had turned each and every one down firmly, yet politely. She had soon cultivated a reputation as unapproachable and it suited her perfectly. She had no wish to be bothered with mere boys and their trifling affections.

A man looked at her quizzically as she passed him leaning heavily on the railing. She recognised him as one of her early suitors. Sighing, Lesca forced a smile onto her weary face.

"Ec drana yhodrehk e lyh ramb oui fedr, cen?"

The man looked shocked before retreating hastily. She raised an eyebrow before giggling. Surely I'm not that much of an ice queen!

She opened the door to her small apartment, flipping the light switch as she passed. Her room was, as always, a mess. Hands on hips, she blew the air from her cheeks loudly, turning the dial on the music sphere to find a decent song to clean to. The haunting strains of a familiar Al Bhed song began to fill the room and she sat down on the unmade bed, trying to think where she had heard the melody before.

E's cunno, E raynt ypuid dra pyt hafc dutyo

Y lnuft uv baubma ynuiht oui dammehk oui ed'c ug

Dryd ajanodrehk rybbahc vun y naycuh

Frah oui muuca y bynd uv ouincamv du cusaputo oui ghuf

Ed dygac y mud du mad ku

Ajano pnaydr dryd oui nasaspan,

Beldinac vyta yfyo pid sasuno'c vunajan...

She gulped, a lump coming to her throat. The tune, an Al Bhed diapason for the bereaved lover had been played constantly in the mourning house weeks after her mother had died.

Yh asbdo lryen yd ymm dra dypmac

Yht E'mm pa caaehk oui frah ymm so tyoc puem tufh

Vun huf fa'mm cyo kuutpoa, fa ghuf ed'c hud dra mycd desa

E'ja mucd dra pacd bynd uv so tyo

Pid ed'c paddan frana oui'na kuehk yhofyo.

She grabbed the sphere from the desk blindly, hurling it to the ground. The words rang too true, piercing her heart with each syllable. She blinked back the threatening tears, shaking her head to try and forget.

Not forget, I don't want to forget…it's just too painful just now to remember what I had. Safe, loved, happy…if only for a short while. It seems so unreal, like it was a mere dream.

She finished mentally correcting herself, collecting the pieces of the shattered sphere as she stood. A knock at the door startled her, and she gripped the shards of the sphere involuntarily in response. The serrated edges cut through the tender flesh of her palm, the blood springing readily to the wound. Lesca put the cut to her mouth, trying to stem the flow as she answered the door.

The man staring at her earlier stood on her doorstep and she frowned, unable to think why he was visiting.

"Fryd tu oui fyhd?" She tapped her foot in irritation, looking at her timepiece pointedly.

"Oui, ouin vydran...ra fyc dra syh fru tavaydat Sin? Y Yevonite?"

She narrowed her eyes, bracing herself for a barrage of insults. "Ra fyc, fryd uv ed? Ra fyc y kuut yht geht syh, dryd ec ymm dryd cruimt syddan du yhouha."

He held up his hands in defence. "E teth'd cyo yhodrehk! E zicd fyhdat du dryhg oui vun fryd ouin vydran tet...ra fyc dnimo y nasyngypma syh, y syh fedruid bnazitela ec rynt du veht eh draca tyng tyoc."

She wilted slightly, grinning in relief. "Dryd'c dnia, druikr drana yna suna uv dras uid drana dryh oui't drehg."

The young man puffed out his chest, flexing his muscles in an unconscious attempt to win favour. "Famm, oui'na eh milg. E's uha cilr syh! E fecr du ycg vun ouin ryht. E tuh'd lyna dryd oui'na y rymv lycd, oui'na cdemm y bnewa fundr ryjehk."

She laughed hysterically, his face becoming darker as she tried to suppress the giggles. "Drec "rymv lycd" ec paddan dryh oui'mm ajan kad! Fryd dra ramm kejac oui dra nekrd du ehcimd sa? E ryja hu haat uv y puo du synno sa, E's banvaldmo rybbo uh so ufh."

"Pid, pid oui haat cusauha du bnujeta vun oui!" The man spluttered indignantly.

"Famm, ed'c hud kuehk du pa oui. E lyh bnujeta vun socamv. Ev drana yna yhosuna mega oui, cyja sa dra ryccma yht damm dras E's hud ehdanacdat."

The man smirked, looking at her rounded stomach. "Oui cruimt pa knydavim dryd cusauha ec femmehk du dyga uh oui yht dra pycdynt knufehk fedreh oui!"

Her hand came up quickly, connecting with his cheek in a resounding slap. The skin burned a bright red as she shoved her left hand in front of his eyes, the gold band glinting in the artificial light of Home.

"E ghuf uv hu pycdynt aqlabd oui. So lremt fyc luhlaejat drnuikr dra muja padfaah so ricpyht yht socamv! Dra ricpyht E mucd du so vydran'c bemknesyka. Ev oui ajan cimmo so hysa, un dra hysa uv so vysemo ykyeh, oui fuh'd meja du naknad ed." She hissed, pushing him roughly as she slammed the door in his face.

She leaned against the door, examining the hurt on her hand that had been forgotten during the encounter. She tore a strip from a nearby towel and wrapped it roughly, watching through unseeing eyes as the blood soaked through the makeshift bandage. Her blood stained the floor, pooling in interesting patterns around her feet. She swayed slightly as her head became lighter, staggering over to the bed as if she were a drunkard. She sprawled on the soft covers, rubbing her nose with the blankets for comfort. The crimson began to seep onto the bedclothes, her eyelids feeling unusually heavy. She gave in to the waves of sleep rolling over her and drifted off soundlessly. The ever-exuberant Rikku bounded in and began shaking the stilled Lesca, trying to wake her.

"Lescy! Lesca?"

The girl withdrew her hand, gasping in horror when she saw the blood her cousin lay in. She began to scream, panicked by the sight of unmoving, pale woman.

"Tytto! Tytto! Lusa xielgmo!"

Cid burst into the room, cursing good-naturedly as he took in the mess. His eyes travelled from the crimson stained floor to his niece, uncomprehending until he saw the vermilion tide spreading from her hand. He scooped her up, running the short distance to the medical wing. He flung open the doors, barking at the staff.

"So heala, cra'c rind! Ramb ran, huf!"

The woman at the reception tried to get Cid to remove the prone Lesca from the gurney. "Cid, fa'na duu pico nekrd huf, ed'c zicd y vmacr fuiht, cu..."

He slammed his fist onto the counter, growling at the woman menacingly. "Oui femm ramb ran yht oui femm ramb ran huf. Ran fruma vilgehk nuus ec lujanat eh ran pmuut! Cra'c bnakhyhd, cra'c rind. Ev oui tuh'd syga ran paddan, E'mm rind oui. Tu E syga socamv lmayn?"

The woman nodded hastily, gulping as she tended to the wounds. "Lnocdym yc ymfyoc, Cid."

"Kuut."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Auron looked around, awed by the tiny pinpricks of light that emanated from every dwelling. The noise rivalled the bustle of Bevelle, though this city was more magnificent in its machina induced splendour. He began to despair of ever finding the boy; his own Zanarkand had been but a mere shadow, a skeleton of this vibrant city.

It is too big! How am I meant to find a seven-year-old in the midst of this chaos?

He looked up at the skyline, jumping slightly as he saw the image of Jecht projected onto a large screen. The hologram of his friend smirked down at him as he shook his head, berating himself for his stupidity.

Of course, he said he was well known for his sport. The Zanarkand Abe's? Someone must know where he resided.

He stopped a scantily clad woman who looked at him like a dog would regard a bone. "Uh…excuse me miss? Do you know where I can the home of Jecht?"

She ran a finger lightly down his arm, making him pull away slightly. "Sure, everyone knows where Jecht lives! You just new here then darlin'? Why don't ya come home with me instead? I can fix you right up!"

He raised an eyebrow, "Thank you for the kind offer, but I have to meet my wife at Jecht's, so if you could kindly point me in the right direction?"

She looked down her nose at him, sulking. "Hn. All the best ones are always taken. Jecht lives right over there, don't know if they found him yet though."

She pointed to a nearby house on the water and turned on her heel. Auron looked over at the domicile, noticing a small boy sitting forlornly at the boy.

Well, he certainly looks like a crybaby. That must be the son of Jecht.

He made his way over, stopping to tower over the sniffling child. Definitely him. The boy looked up at him suspiciously, attempting to wipe away his tears furtively.

"What do you want?"

Auron hid a smile. So much of Jecht in him…

He cleared his throat. "You are the son of Jecht, correct? You are Tidus?"

"Yeah, so? What's it got to do with you?"

Anger flashed in Auron's eyes as he tried to remind himself this was only a boy, a boy who had lost his father. "I knew your father. He is…He sent me to watch over you and your mother."

Tidus looked up at the scarred man, his face unreadable. "He's not coming back?"

Auron simply shook his head, unable to provide words of comfort for the child. Tidus looked thoughtful before gesturing to the door.

"Well, you better go tell my mom then."

He led the way inside, pointing to a frail looking woman. He ran over to his mother, shaking her gently.

"Mom? There's a man here to see you, he knows dad."

The woman lifted her head slightly to look at Auron, a faint glimmer of hope shining in dying eyes. Her voice cracked, the vocal cords straining from not being used for some time.

"You know Jecht? Where is he?"

Auron hesitated. How do you tell someone their husband has become Sin?

The woman shook her head, unruly locks of dirty, uncombed hair falling into her face. "He's dead, isn't he? Goddamn you, Jecht!"

Auron watched as she sobbed, acutely aware he had some part to play in her distress. He turned to the boy who was trying to comfort his mother.

"Is there a healer that you could bring here?"

Tidus pulled a face, "Don't you mean a doctor? You speak funny."

Auron rolled his eyes, So I need to speak differently too? Thank you Jecht.

"Yes, a doctor. Go fetch one, boy. Has she eaten since Jecht left?"

The boy shook his head before running to do as he was bidden. Auron turned back to the distraught woman, sighing as she continued to wail.

"What is your name?"

"Serene." She sniffled. Auron snorted derisively. Serene? Hah!

"I am Auron. You need to pull yourself together for the boy's sake, Serene. Jecht asked me to watch over you, but I cannot take care of two infants."

"You don't know what it's like! You're a mere boy yourself! How can you know what it is like to loose the one you love?" She shot back, rage making her words sharp.

He shook his head sadly. "I do know. I was married little more than six months ago. My wife is gone, I'll never see her again and I didn't get to say goodbye, tell her I love her…My greatest regret is that I didn't stay by her side. I should have stayed."

"That may be, but me and Jecht, we had a bond…I can't live without him!"

I am not living without Lesca.

He chuckled, his bitter thoughts threatening to consume him. Tidus came back with the doctor who began to fuss around the hysterical woman. Tidus clung onto his leg as Auron looked down at him. He sighed, looking heavenwards.

I cannot deal with children! If Lesca were here, she would know what to do, know how to comfort him. But she is not and I must try my best. What would she do?

He patted the child's flaxen locks awkwardly with a gloved hand, satisfied when the vice-like grip loosened a little. I can do this. I hope.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lesca stirred, opening her eyes groggily to find herself in her uncle's chambers. She frowned, confused as to how she got there. She lolled her head to the side, meeting the worried gaze of Cid.

"Fryd dra ramm fana oui drehgehk? Fryd tet oui ku yht lid ouincamv ib vun? Drehg ypuid dra pypo, Lesca! Fryd tu oui drehg fuimt'ja rybbahat ev drec ryt paah yho suna caneuic?" He smoothed her hair from her face, his harsh words merely showing his concern.

"Fryd tu oui sayh? E hajan sayhd du rind socamv! E csycrat dra cbrana, frah E belgat ib dra cryntc E kud rind. Cusauha lysa du dra tuun yht E vunkud ypuid ed, dryd'c ymm. E ryjah'd kud y taydr fecr." She rolled her eyes, perplexed by her uncle's thoughts.

He looked relieved, the scene he had witnessed tied in with her explanation. "Kuut. Lesca, E fyc funneat vun oui, oui'ja paah drnuikr cu silr nalahdmo yht E druikrd...ed tuach'd syddan fryd E druikrd. Oui'na ug yht dryd'c ymm dryd syddanc. Ruf muhk huf ihdem oui'na tia?"

"Zicd ihtan drnaa suhdr'c. E lyh'd fyed, so vaad yht so pylg yna gemmehk sa."

Cid laughed heartily, "Ouin sudran yht knyhtsudran cyet aqyldmo dra cysa drehk! Famm, ouin nuusc nayto frah oui fyhd du rayt pylg. Ev oui haat yhodrehk, Rikku ec fyedehk vun oui ujan drana yhofyo."

She caught his arm as he made to leave. "Dryhg oui vun ajanodrehk, Cid."

He waved her thanks away. "Tuh'd dryhg sa tynmeh', oui'na vysemo. Dryd'c fryd fa'na rana vun."

Translations.

Lescy, just a little longer!

Is there anything i can help you with, sir?

I'm sorry, I heard about the bad news today

A crowd of people around you telling you it's ok

That everything happens for a reason

When you loose a part of yourself to somebody you know

It takes a lot to let go

Every breath that you remember,

Pictures fade away but memory's forever...

An empty chair at all the tables

And I'll be seeing you when all my days boil down

For now we'll say goodbye, we know it's not the last time

I've lost the best part of my day

But it's better where you're going anyway.

What do you want?

You, your father…he was the man who defeated Sin? A Yevonite?

He was, what of it? He was a good and kind man, that is all that should matter to anyone.

I didn't say anything! I just wanted to thank you for what your father did...he was truly a remarkable man, a man without prejudice is hard to find in these dark days.

That's true, though there are more of them out there than you'd think.

Well, you're in luck. I'm one such man! I wish to ask for your hand. I don't care that you're a half cast, you're still a prize worth having.

This "half cast" is better than you'll ever get! What the hell gives you the right to insult me? I have no need of a boy to marry me, I'm perfectly happy on my own

But, but you need someone to provide for you!

Well, it's not going to be you. I can provide for myself. If there are anymore like you, save me the hassle and tell them I'm not interested

You should be grateful that someone is willing to take on you and the bastard growing within you!

I know of no bastard except you. My child was conceived through the love between my husband and myself! The husband I lost to my father's pilgrimage. If you ever sully my name, or the name of my family again, you won't live to regret it.

Daddy! Daddy! Come quickly!

My niece, she's hurt! Help her, now!

Cid, we're too busy right now, it's just a flesh wound, so...

You will help her and you will help her now. Her whole fucking room is covered in her blood! She's pregnant, she's hurt. If you don't make her better, I'll hurt you. Do I make myself clear?

Crystal as always, Cid.

Good.

What the hell were you thinking? What did you go and cut yourself up for? Think about the baby, Lesca! What do you think would've happened if this had been any more serious?

What do you mean? I never meant to hurt myself! I smashed the sphere, when I picked up the shards I got hurt. Someone came to the door and I forgot about it, that's all. I haven't got a death wish.

Good. Lesca, I was worried for you, you've been through so much recently and I thought...it doesn't matter what I thought. You're ok and that's all that matters. How long now until you're due?

Just under three month's. I can't wait, my feet and my back are killing me.

Your mother and grandmother said exactly the same thing! Well, your rooms ready when you want to head back. If you need anything, Rikku is waiting for you over there anyway.

Thank you for everything, Cid.

Don't thank me darlin', you're family. That's what we're here for.

A/N: I'm so horrible to them. Anyway, thanks to The Angel of the Lion, Pierson and Refugee!