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The hardest thing is watching you slip away…

Ash – Sometimes

A groan surfaced from her throat and she massaged her back, pacing the floor impatiently. Her small body shook as another contraction wracked her body, her face contorting in pain. She stopped her movement, leaning heavily on the bed as she tried to catch the breath the pain had stolen from her. The doctor gestured to her to keep moving and she narrowed her eyes, growling.

"Don't you dare tell me to do anything! Stupid, stupid man. You don't have a fucking clue!"

The doctor looked at her uncle, unable to understand the words when spoken at speed. Cid grinned nervously, shrugging off her torrent of abuse. For her to not even attempt at her mother tongue…she must be hurting.

He cleared his throat, the words feeling thick and foreign as they rolled off his tongue. "Lesca, how you doing there?"

She glared at him with the hate only a woman in pain caused by a man can muster. "How the fuck do you think I'm doing?"

He pulled at his collar, chuckling tentatively. "Uh, not good I guess? Do you want some ice, honey?"

She sighed and began her pacing afresh. "I would love some damn ice."

He returned moments later, handing the ice to her before she grabbed it from his fingers. She shoved a cube into her mouth greedily; grinning weakly as the ice began to melt, cooling her throat. The joy was short lived and the agony crossed her face once more, spasms again making her double over. The doctor looked at her and nodded to Cid.

He lifted Lesca's chin to meet her frightened eyes. "Lesca. It's time. You want me to stay with you?"

She shook her head, trying valiantly to climb onto the bed. Cid grinned, hoisting her up in a most undignified manner.

"If you need me, just holler. I'll be right outside, don't you worry. Soon it'll all be over."

He planted a kiss on the top of her head, thankful to be escaping the girl's wrath. Cid grinned as he exited, shaking his head. He had experienced this twice with his wife and came out with a broken hand both times. He didn't really fancy making it a third time.

Lesca eyed the doctor warily. "Better take good care of me…" She stated menacingly.

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Cid strode the halls frantically. The labour had been ongoing for over ten hours so far and there was still no news. The waiting became unbearable and he gave in to impatience, striding over to the door of the medical wing and rapping loudly. The doctor appeared, the worry on his face immediately apparent. The blood in Cid's veins froze and he snapped.

"What's wrong? What's happened?"

The other Al Bhed spoke hesitantly in Yevonite. "She…it doesn't go well. She is too petite for the birth. We could loose both of them. We have to make a choice, to try and save the child or the mother."

Cid collapsed weakly on a nearby chair. "Shit. Save her. She's young; there will be more children. A child cannot survive without its mother. Save my niece." Cid looked into the eyes of the doctor, pleading with him.

The doctor nodded in comprehension before heading back to the surgery. Lesca, delirious with the pain of the birth caught snips of the conversation.

Doesn't go well…too petite…

Loose…both…

Choice…child…mother.

Her uncle's voice cut through her fevered thoughts, "Save my niece."

She called out hoarsely. "I don't wanna be saved! Let me die…"

She was vaguely aware of a prodding at her stomach, moaning at the discomfort it caused. The discomfort was replaced by searing pain as she felt a tear between her legs.

She grabbed the collar of the doctor, panting with exertion. "I swear if he weren't already dead I'd kill the bastard with my bare hands!" She growled before collapsing back on the bed, whimpering intermittently. The doctor shook his head; she was too far-gone. The surgery could not be performed; nature would have to take its course. He braced himself to tell Cid the bad news.

As expected, Cid did not react well. He flung the man against the wall, his breath hot on the doctor's face. "What do you mean, she's gone too far? How could you put her in danger like this? Stay out of the way; don't even think about coming back in. I'm going to see my niece."

He let the man fall to the ground as he rushed to Lesca's bedside, horror at the sight of her making him recoil sharply. Her face blended easily with the stark white of the pillows she lay on, a thin film of sweat covering her face. She tossed uneasily, her eyes wide and unseeing as they darted in her delirium. She mumbled incoherently, reaching out to an invisible ally only she could she. The words he could make out from the babble chilled him to his core.

"Dead…dead! It's all gone…I'm going to join him."

The blood pooled around her loins and he gagged, never had he seen this volume of the red liquid. The births he had attended had been some time ago admittedly, but he knew this was not normal. He stroked Lesca's head lovingly, the cool clamminess revolting to the touch.

"It's ok now, Lescy. Unky Cid's here to take care of everything." He reverted back to the name she called him when she had been much younger, trying to soothe her.

She looked into her eyes, the fever breaking momentarily as she whimpered. "Unky Cid? I'm so scared."

His heart felt as though it was being ripped in two and he smiled weakly at her. "I know, honey, but it's ok. Everything's ok. Unky Cid'll make it all better."

She tried to grin but the expression emerged as a grimace. She gasped slightly as another wave of pain consumed her, the strength to scream having long deserted her. He held her hand, Lesca's grip becoming weaker with each passing moment.

"Come on, Lesca. Give it all you got!" He encouraged her.

She began to weep gently, shaking her head. "I can't…I failed again."

Cid steeled himself and looked below the covers, relieved to see the crown of the child's head showing. He grinned at his niece, "You're nearly there, the head's showin'! A few more pushes and you'll have your kid…be strong, Lesca. You can do this!"

Lesca gritted her teeth, bearing down as she used the last of her strength to push her child into the world. Cid caught the child, a boy, as he slid out easily. He cut the cord expertly as the boy began to cry heartily, wrapping him in a towel before handing him to his exhausted mother. She smiled weakly, her pain forgotten as she held her perfect son in her arms, a rush of overwhelming love threatening to consume her. He calmed immediately, looking up at her with the burnished bronze eyes of his father. She looked at him quizzically, she could have swore there was a hint of a frown on the new-born's face as if he was studying her. I thought all babies eyes were blue to begin with?

A mop of thick, ebony hair stood in spiky angles from his head and she smoothed it lovingly, becoming lost in her son's eyes once more. She subconsciously counted the fingers and toes to make sure none were missing and heaved a small sigh of relief. Her own verdant eyes became heavy as sleep began to take her in its grasp. Cid took the boy from her, admiring the child with a keen eye.

"Good looking little mite, he'll be a heart breaker one day, mark my words. What you callin' him?"

"Auron?"

He looked over at her lazily before propping himself up on an elbow, resting the remaining arm over her torso lightly. He raised an eyebrow, grinning at her.

"Yes?"

She caught his lips in a quick kiss before lying back down, looking into his eyes deeply. She loved looking into those eyes, she would have given her soul and happily drowned in them for the chance to be so close to him.

"If we had a child, what would you name it?"

He laughed a deep, rumbling laugh that tickled her ear as she lay on his chest, listening to the comforting rhythm of his heartbeat.

"We were just married this morning, my love! There is plenty of time to think of children when I return from the pilgrimage."

She grinned, clambering atop him and pinning him to the bed. Auron smiled, having no wish to protest.

"But, there is a chance…Auron, I want to give you a son. Many sons! A whole room full of them!" She swept her arm grandly to illustrate her point and he chuckled again, pulling her close to him.

"I would be just as happy with a daughter who was the image of her mother. It matters not to me as long as the child is healthy, happy and we are together." He murmured into her hair, kissing her softly.

"Well, what name do you like?"

He thought for a moment, stroking her hair absently. "Aleron."

"Aleron? Isn't that…"

"Al Bhed? Yes. It mean's "knight"."

She giggled. "My son the knight. Aleron, son of Auron. Hey, I like it!"

"That is because I have impeccable taste darling."

She hit him lightly before silencing any protest with a kiss. "Shut up."

"Aleron."

Cid blinked. "You're giving him an Al Bhed name? I can't say I'm not thrilled, but I thought you'd name him for his father."

She looked over at her son being cradled by her uncle. "Auron wanted him to be named Aleron." She stated simply.

She yawned, letting the fatigue claim her as the pillows cradled her head. "Aleron, son of Auron…has a nice ring to it…"

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"What do you mean she's sick? Is she all right? If something's happened to her…I don't know what I'd do…"

Auron burst into the living room of Jecht's former home, searching the dimly lit place with a trained eye for Serene. Tidus was sitting at the door, tears leaving there tell tale trail down his fair cheeks. Auron shook the woman roughly, trying to wake her.

"Serene? Serene! Answer me, damn you!"

She choked a little before grinning. She used her final breath to mock him. "I'm going to be with him now, Auron." The life slipped away from her, her eyes looking at him with the glassy stare of the dead.

He sat down heavily, cradling his head in his hands, venom in his thoughts. Bitch. Leaving me to care for her child, mocking me with the fact she'll be with Jecht soon and I'll never see Lesca again.

He felt the wet face of the boy snuggle under his arm and he sighed, allowing him the small comfort. Bitch. Evil, selfish bitch.

Tidus looked up at him, lower lip quivering. "Auron? What's gonna happen to me? Are you gonna leave me too?"

Auron looked into the boys cerulean eyes, seeing there an image of Yuna. Lesca wouldn't leave Yuna to fend for herself and I won't leave Tidus either.

He cradled the boy awkwardly; "I'm not going anywhere, Tidus. I was sent here to guard you and that's what I'll do. You have my word."

Tidus nodded, apparently satisfied with the answer. "What happens now? Are you moving in?"

Auron groaned lightly, he hadn't thought this through. "Yes. I'll move in."

The child smiled brightly, jumping up and claiming Auron's hand. "Great! We can have so much fun! You taking me to blitzball practice now then? I gotta hurry or I'll be late, the coach don't like me being late…"

"Doesn't like you being late."

Tidus shrugged, "Yeah, doesn't, don't, who cares?"

Auron sighed in exasperation. "It's bad grammar, don't you want to learn anything apart from how to take a knock to the head in the sphere pool?"

Tidus grinned sunnily, "Nope. Can't say I do."

"You're going to drive me mad, boy."

The boy winked and started to run away before Auron could catch him. "Won't take much though, will it? You're already half way there old man!"

Auron stopped dead, contemplating what the boy had just said. A range of emotions ran through him before he settled on amusement. He chuckled lightly and began the long walk to the stadium.

Old man, eh? I suppose you'd agree with that, Jecht. What was it you used to call me? A stiff? Ah well, there are worse things than being old in the eyes of a child.

Like being dead

A/N: I forgot to say, the song in the last chapter is "Sonny" by New Found Glory. It's pretty poignant and it helped me through some tough times last year, I've been looking for an excuse to use it since then ;)

Thanks to The Angel of the Lion, Refugee and Pierson.

A special thanks to Wi11 and DJ666 for those kind words, you have no idea how happy you made me. Thank you.

Final plugs: Please review! Please, please! Check out New Beginnings! Website of choice other than ff.net:

(For you Pierson!)