Disclaimer: I don't own FF9 or a car or computer..or laptop I can conveniently cart anywhere I want….but oh well.

Zidane looked up in disbelief. "It's four already?" he asked.

Kuja looked uncomfortable. "Not exactly. We're a little bit early."

"Oh okay but…" Zidane stopped. "Kuja! It's only 2:30!" he exclaimed but Kuja was already gone.

"Oh well I guess it won't kill me to watch him for an extra hour or two."

Alexis came running into the room and stopped right in front of Derrick. "Hi." She said.

"Hi." Said Derrick. There was an awkward silence.

"Well are you two going to stand there all day?" Vivi asked coming into the room. "Away with you monkeys. Go make some noise before the silence kills me."

The pair took off down the hall giggling.

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"Well, it's just that I'm overwhelmed with everything that's going on." Dagger was saying.

Doctor Tot looked at her. "What's been going on lately? You know I am here to help you."

"Well Zidane wants to leave the castle but I know if I let him leave, then he won't come back for a while."

"Do you know this for sure?" asked Doctor Tot.

"Not for sure. I really don't want to take any chances though. Not with the baby coming." Replied Dagger.

"Well.." he paused in thought. "I might have a solution to your problem." He said.

"Oh really? What is it?"

"Well, I need some documents delivered to about four or five different places. I was going to go but I never have time to go myself. Here give these to Zidane and tell him to deliver them to the Regent in Lindblum, Eiko in Madain Sarai, the King of Burmecia, and a Cleyran resident. He should be able to find the Cleyran in Burmecia." Doctor Tot said giving her a folder with many colored papers in it.

"How long will it take?" Dagger asked skeptically.

"A couple of weeks at the most depending on the weather. Since he's the king of Alexandria it will probably only take him a couple of days. You know with all the forms of transportation at his disposal." Doctor Tot said.

"Well," Dagger thought for a moment.

"It's the perfect solution. Zidane is bored and wants to leave but you don't want him to be gone for a long time. If you tell him to go without giving him something to do, he'll probably be out for months. This way he has a reason to leave and a course mapped out for him."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Dagger sighed. "Although I'm definitely going to miss him."

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"What are you two little rats doing now?" Rusty asked.

"Hey! We're not rats!"

"Yeah! Daddy!"

"Uncle Zidane!"

"Oh no, not again." Steiner muttered.

"What did you say now?" asked Zidane coming into the room.

"He called us rats." Alexis said.

Zidane rolled his eyes and sighed. "I thought I told you not to call my daughter anything but her name or Princess, Steiner."

"Yay! Daddy's going to kill Rusty!" Alexis said jumping up and down.

"No, I'm not. Dagger made me promise not to, so I won't. Just watch what you say from now on Steiner because next time you may not be so lucky." Zidane said waving him away.

"Good boy. You listened." Said Dagger putting her arms around his waist and nuzzling his neck.

"Well when you put it the way you did, I kind of leaned towards not killing him. Although it was a hard decision." Zidane said kissing her.

"Well what do you say we put the monkeys to bed and go have some fun?"

"You read my mind." Zidane said. " I'll be right back." He grabbed Alexis and Derrick by the hands and pulled them upstairs. "Alright monkeys since you two were so good, I have a surprise for you."

"Oooh! What is it?" asked both excitedly.

"Nope. First you have to get in bed." Zidane said grinning.

"No! Darn." The kids groaned but about five minutes later they were in bed. Zidane kissed them goodnight and left the room.

"Daddy? What about our surprise?" Alexis called after him.

"Oh yeah." Zidane tossed them each a piece of candy. He left the room and ran into Steiner on the stairs. "Hey Steiner. The Queen and I would like to be left alone tonight. No interruptions unless fire, flood, or blood. Understand?"

Steiner snapped a rusty salute. "Yes your majesty."

Zidane entered his bedchambers. "Hi honey." He whispered.

Dagger didn't say anything so Zidane climbed into the bed and took her into his arms.

"Zidy." She sighed.