*means thought*

- -

~~~Continents Apart~~~

-Bikanel Island two months later-

"Cid..." I say quietly, trailing off.

"Yes?" he asks, glancing up at me from his work.

"Ahh... oh, never mind... it's nothing."

"You wouldn't have bothered me if it was nothing."

"What are you working on?"

"Some motorbikes, you know... that 'forbidden' machina."

"The priests of Yevon fear what they do not understand.  I suppose it is true for everyone."

Cid grunts and continues working.

"I had a question..."

"Then ask it, or do you no longer have it?"

"Well... I still have it, but now... it seems like such a trivial thing..."

"Just ask."

"Two months ago... that drug..."

"This again?"

"No, I do not blame you... I understand now..."

"Then why do you continue to bring it up?"

"Because..."

"You're just wasting my time... go bother someone else."

A tear escapes my eye and trickles down my cheek, "was it supposed to have a lasting effect, such as throwing up or stomach pains?"

"For the last time girl, leave me—what did you say?"

I back up a step, my eyes fearfully trained on him, "I..."

"No, no, I heard you, come with me.  You're sick aren't you, how long?"

"A week... or two... maybe even three..."

"And you've told no one of this?  Foolish girl!  You should not be suffering like this, you're here to be protected, not die of a disease or something!"  He leads me through Home and to the white mage's office.

"Hey, open the damn door."  The door is opened.  "She's sick, somewhere from a week to three weeks."

"She looks perfectly healthy, but looks are not everything.  Please child, tell me what is wrong."

"I've been throwing up almost every morning, I feel nauseous on and off throughout the day, and my stomach aches."

"Child, I will have to do further testing, but from what you tell me, it sounds as if you may be pregnant."

My eyes widen and my mouth opens and closes several times.

"Say what?" Cid roars.  "How can she be?"

The mage ignores Cid and turns to me, "I know this may sound a little personal, but have you slept with anyone in the past month or two?"

I blush and look away, giving the briefest of nods.

Cid jerks his head over at me, "What, you mean that you have?  With who?  I swear his head will no longer be attached to his shoulders when I meet up with him again!"

"No!  I won't let you hurt him!" I cry out, fearfully.

"And how're you going to stop me... or is it Auron's place to behead him?"

"You won't hurt him," tears form in my eyes, "Leave him alone!"

"Who?" Cid's voice is cold and quiet.

"Auron..." I finally breathe out.

The mage's eyes rise slightly, "Ahem, if I may continue, I wish to make certain."  I hastily nod and he rests a hand on my forehead, white light pulsing out of it and absorbing into me.  "Yes, it seems that you are to be a mother."

I turn to Cid, my eyes pleading, "Please... may I at least tell Auron...?"

"You know the rules girl."

"Then Braska!"

"No!"

"Please, I'm begging you, at least let me write to Braskie..."

"Very well!  You may write to your brother, come along."  He turns to the mage, "thank you for your time."

The mage bows, "it was a pleasure m'lord."

"I'm no lord, never have been and never will be."

I drop a curtsy before I am dragged out of the building.

Once in my room I pull out a piece of paper and sit down at my desk, running my hand along the feather part of the quill.  Eventually I dip the tip in the inkwell and begin writing.

            Braskie,

           

                  I hope that you are well, I miss you a lot.  I am being treated with kindness

            and respect.  No one has harmed me in any way.   I love you and Auron, please

            tell him that, and I wish you well with Kakri—you are to be married soon, right?

      This next thing I am going to tell you is most likely going to be shocking, it
was for me when I first found out.  I... I'm pregnant.  Please, tell Auron, because

 the child  is his, and whatever you do, please don't hurt him.

           

            Zali

I fold the letter and place it in an envelope before elegantly writing Braska's name on the exterior of the envelope.  I then walk out of my room and give the letter to Cid.  "I've finished writing it.  You may send it now."

He nods and takes the envelope from me.

- -

-Bevelle two weeks later -

"I'm going to kill him!  I am going to kill him!" Braska roars.  "He is so dead!"

Kakri walks in, her blonde hair hanging in front of her eyes.  "Who is?"

"Auron!" he snarls.

"May I ask why?"  He thrusts the letter into her hands and she reads it over slowly, "Oh, does he know?"

"Not yet, but he will soon."

"Have you sent word for him to come?" she asks quietly.

"Not yet, the letter only arrived fifteen to twenty minutes ago, and I only just now had the time to read it."  He stands up and walks over to the door.  "I think I'm going to go visit him."

"Go see who, man?"  Someone standing in the doorway asks.

"Our dear friend... our very dear friend."

"That helps a lot, you going to take Auron and me with you?"

"Jecht, you're a fool, I'm going to see Auron."

"You are?  It sounded as if you were going to see someone you hated..."

"And what makes you think that I'm not?"

"Wait a second... we're talking about the same Auron, right?"

"If you're talking about the Auron I made my sister's knight, then yes, we are."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, calm down buddy.  What'd he do to you?"

"Me? Nothing.  My sister? Everything."

"Come on man, you know they kissed, you knew that then, you've got no reason to suddenly explode on him."

"You wouldn't understand..."

- -

-Bevelle Temple two hours later-

"Braska, it's great to see you again!  You too Jecht!"

"Hey Auron, what's up, pal?" Jecht says.

"I miss Zali; I would've thought she'd have demanded to come with you guys."

"Braska, you mean... you didn't tell him?"

"Tell me what?  What didn't he tell me, Jecht?"

"Zali... the Al Bhed... day you visited and left... kidnapped..."

"What? No... it can't... she can't... why?"

Braska looks over at Auron, "maybe it's your punishment..."

"My... punishment...?  For what?"

"She's pregnant you fool!  And she says that it's yours, do you realize how close I am to killing you right about now?"

Auron spins on his heel and walks to the garden where he collapses on a bench and sobs.  "Zali... I'm sorry... I... didn't protect you very well did I?  I never thought of protecting you from myself.  I love you so much, be safe."

"Damn... it looks like he's taking it real hard.  Don't be too harsh, Braska, I think guilt will do that for you."

"Besides, I honestly can't see her wanting you to hurt him, but why didn't she write a letter to him?"

"You're right... she told me not to harm him.  Why she didn't, maybe they wouldn't let her."

Auron slowly walks up, his head hanging, "I'm sorry Braska, I'm sure you want to kill me right about now... but... if you are going to, please don't.  I love her, and I don't want any harm to come to her.  With your permission Braska, next time I see her I will ask her to marry me."

"Well then, I consider the two of you betrothed, until she tells me differently."

"Novitiate Auron, you have studies to be working on, what are you doing standing around talking?"

"Forgive me, Sir, but they were informing me of Lord Braska's sister's disappearance, I had been charged to protect her, so it is a great shock.  Rumor has it that she was taken by the Al Bhed."

"That is all and well, but you must speak with the Maester before you may take a break.  And Novitiate, he wishes to speak to you."

- -


A/N: La la la! La la la! Once again, a plot twist! La la la, oh well!  Hope you liked it!  And don't forget to review!

Arcander