Edonil: This is what, the fourth chapter I've worked on today? I'm good… I'm ending them where it seems logical, not where I run out of thoughts. I'm currently at 5457 words, today is the 25th, and I have to be done on the 30th. Go me! I can do 14000 no problem…

Disclaimer: I've already written this three times today! Surely you can get the idea that I don't own FFIX!

Claimer: Again, how many times have I done this? A new and original way to say I own Crims and Sarah… I don't think I know of one. I really don't.

To Change

Chapter Thirteen

Kuja watched as Zidane's face went from open shock to disbelief to shock again, all in the space of seconds. This was better than watching fireworks! Unfortunately, Zidane soon got over his initial surprise.

"You're sure?" Kuja nodded. "My gosh… You're sure you're sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure I'm sure. Crims is also quite sure."

"But… You're not married!"

"You noticed."

"But… My gosh… I'm surprised. Very surprised."

"I noticed."

"I… don't know what to say."

"Then say nothing."

"Uh… Are you going to tell the others?"

"I don't know," Kuja admitted. "Do you think I should?"

"They might think of that as a mark against you. Sleeping with your brother's assassin-to-be…"

"Not anymore. And besides, it might convince them that I'm really truly not gay," Kuja pointed out, trying for humour.

"Yeah, that'll convince them… Maybe you shouldn't tell them. I don't think they'd take it very well. Get them used to the idea you're alive first. Then the idea that you aren't gay. Then the idea that you have a girlfriend. All one step at a time."

"Very well. You know them better than I." After that, they stood in silence for a few minutes, until,

"Um… Is… Crims… going to… keep the… child?" Zidane asked tentatively.

"Yes."

"Oh." Another pause. "And what are your thoughts on the matter?"

"I have no idea. I'm still in shock. I only found out two days ago."

"Oh." Zidane suddenly laughed. "That must have been a bit of a shock! I remember when Dagger told me… I nearly fainted!"

"Really?" Kuja asked. "I did faint." Zidane laughed louder.

"My gosh, this is crazy! Are you going to marry her?"

"I have no idea. We haven't known each other for that long."

"That's… crazy. So can I meet her?"

"I suppose. When?" Zidane laughed again. "What's so funny?"

"We're back where we started when we got into this conversation! When to see your girlfriend… I don't care. You decide."

"I suppose later this afternoon would be alright…"

"Ok then, I'll go meet her, and I'll tell you what I think of your catch. Forgive me for saying so, but I'm afraid I've got a little more experience than you in this matter."

"I imagine so."

"And what are you going to do after that?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you just going to loll around the palace all day? That could get very boring very quickly."

"I was thinking of checking on things in Treno, and maybe see the Desert Palace…"

"Sounds good. The Desert Palace is probably overrun with monsters by now. Actually, it already was…"

"I beg to differ!" Kuja said, pretending outrage. "They were… pets."

"Yes, nice and cuddly and bloodthirsty pets."

"Still, I thought that some of them were very cute."

"You were also insane at the time, or had you forgotten? And what do you have in Treno?"

"I have a mansion. And I own the auction house."

"Oh! How'd you get that?"

"I usurped it from the previous owners."

"Meaning…?"

"I killed them."

"Oh. Did you leave anyone alive?"

"Um… I think the cat- oh wait, no, I didn't. Sorry." Kuja felt a little sheepish. Even killing the cat… Such excesses. He should learn to control himself better.

"That's… Um… Not nice. Actually-"

"Zidane!" a female voice called from the stairs.

"Yes, Dagger?"

"Oh, there you are! I've been looking everywhere for- Kuja! I didn't see you there! I've been wondering where you were."

"I was in the town, Your Highness."

"Hmm… I hadn't thought you liked taking walks."

"I was showing my girlfriend around, Your Highness," Kuja replied respectfully. He really ought to shock the girl a bit. She wasn't in nearly enough uncomfortable situations. Rulers in uncomfortable situations were generally better rulers.

"Girlfriend? Oh! I had thought… It doesn't matter." Kuja hid his smile under a mask of agreeability. She had also thought he was gay. Facinating.

"Dagger, what did you want to see me about?" Zidane asked quickly. He was terribly intuitive at times.

"Oh, we've been invited to Uncle Cid's for dinner in a couple of days."

"Ok." Both glanced over at Kuja. Then immediately looked away. Kuja quickly realized their problem.

"Cid probably doesn't know of my existence," he said. Queen Garnet nodded. "Why don't you go, and tell him about me, and enjoy yourselves. I'll go check in on a few things I've been meaning to check in on. I'd only dampen the party, I'm sure."

"No, Kuja, you-"

"Zidane, I'm sure Regent Cid doesn't particularly like me, and I know Lady Hilda will not be inclined to be my friend. I did kidnap her, or had you forgotten? And your friend Eiko most like will not like me either. I'll go and check on the Desert Palace and my property in Treno. You two go and have a lovely time."

"If you're sure…" Zidane looked a little dubious. "I suppose."

"Wonderful!" Queen Garnet was looking at Kuja in a new light. Maybe she'd decided he wasn't all that bad. "I'm going out with Sarah this afternoon. I promised I'd take her to buy some more dresses. Will you two be alright on your own?"

"Yes, Dagger, we will," Zidane assured her. "You go and spend time with Sarah."

---

"Is that you, Kuja?" Crims called. No one but him ever knocked on her door. That was, of course, fine with her. She didn't like people, and people didn't like her. Things had always been that way, but she really didn't mind.

"Yes, it is. And I brought… someone with me." He sounded a little apprehensive. Crims couldn't imagine why.

"Come in, come in! The door's unlocked!" she called. She was tired. She didn't want to have to move about more than she had to.

Kuja entered the room. And Crims understood his apprehension.

His companion was Prince-Consort Zidane.

Her first instinct was to kill him. She had been hired to perform a task. She never liked turning down a job. Sending back the half of the money she'd received before the job- she always sent it back if she couldn't complete the job; it was good for business- had been hard. But she'd already done it. And he was Kuja's brother…

She might as well get used to him. Although she would love to know how much Kuja had told him. Kuja was very secretive. It had been rather hard to get anything out of him. He had finally admitted to his past, and the fact that he had, when it was so stained with blood, had made Crims love him even more. But had he told Zidane about Crims's reason for coming to Alexandria, or about her pregnancy?

"Hi. I'm Zidane," Zidane said shortly. And nervously. Kuja must have told him about Crims's profession and her reason for being here.

"Hello, Zidane. I'm delighted to meet you." Kuja gave no sign of anything. "What have you told him?" Crims asked.

"That you came here to assassinate him, and I convinced you otherwise."

"Ah. Don't worry, Prince-Consort Zidane; I have no intention of killing you." Turning back to Kuja, she asked, "Does he know anything else about me?" Kuja clearly understood the significance.

"Yes, he knows about… our child."

"Good. Does anyone else know?"

"No."

"I see." Crims turned back to Zidane. "Your brother doesn't talk very much." Zidane gave a nervous laugh.

"No, he doesn't, does he?"

"Don't sound so nervous. I really truly don't have anything against you."

"But… I don't suppose you could tell me who hired you."

"I never disclose my client's personal information."

"Drat." Zidane looked a bit worried. Crims was pretty sure she knew why. And he was Kuja's brother… She could tell him something…

"I suppose I could tell you that he's an old enemy of yours."

"How do you know?"

"He mentioned getting back at you."

"Oh. I don't think I've ever harmed anyone…"

"Well, I'm repeating what I know."

"Thanks. It might help. I'll just have to think."

---

Kuja was getting tired of this conversation. It was too dull, too gloomy. "Thank you for telling us everything, Crims. But I'm getting rather depressed, talking of this. Shall we go on to more amusing topics?"

"Definitely," Zidane agreed.

"Alright, then. So, why did you come here? I'll assume it wasn't to interrogate me." That was Crims.

"No, I came to see the woman my brother is… dating."

"And what do you think of me?"

"Well… I don't know. I suppose you're alright-"

"Suppose? Suppose? Kuja, did you hear that? He supposes I'm alright. Really, your brother is not very intuitive. He ought to be able to tell instantly that I am awesome!" Crims grinned. So did Zidane.

"Crims, I'm afraid you're sounding rather stuck-up," Kuja put in.

"It's not my fault I'm better than everyone else," she argued loftily. Everyone laughed.

Edonil: Ok, that was getting really boring, so I had to lighten the mood some. What did you think? I thought I did pretty good. I'm now at 7082 words! Go me! Please read and review!