Notes: Standard disclaimers apply. Wow guys! The immediate feedback for this story was amazing! Thank you all so much. And please keep it coming. Answers to questions and replies to comments will come at the end of this chapter. Enjoy!

Clockwork Cowboys

"You're late Rin."

"Sorry Quis. Squall nearly didn't let me out of the dorm."

"You told me you wouldn't be late." Quistis continued, slipping into Instructor mode with ease.

"That was last week." Rinoa argued. "It doesn't count. Anyway, the longer you stand there telling me off the later we're gonna be."

Quistis paused. "Point taken."

The pair made their way to Selphies' dorm and let themselves in. "Oh, good evening ladies." Irvine greeted them.

"Are you going somewhere?" Rinoa asked him, as he put on his coat.

"You think I'm gonna stay here while the brood making broads of Balamb hold their weekly meeting? No thanks." He reached the door and told the guests. "She's in the bedroom. Bye Sefie!" He called out before leaving.

Quistis and Rinoa shared a questioning glance before going to their bedridden friend.

"I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of nights he's come in before midnight in the last three months." Selphie whined even before her friends had sat down. She was laid on her back on the bed. Her face was pale, her hair lank and greasy. "I think he's seeing someone else."

Rinoa laughed uncomfortably. "Don't be silly Selph. Irvine loves you."

"That was before I quadrupled in size."

Quistis sat on the edge on Selphie's bed and took the girls hand. "He's just getting used to the idea Selphie." She comforted. "Guys tend to deal with things differently."

Zell was in the training centre finishing off a gnat when Irvine found him. "Hey Zell, you ready to go?"

"Sure." The martial artist replied, cracking his knuckles. "Pull the car round front and we'll head into town."

"Cool."

Irvine left to get the car and Zell shook his head to himself. His friends had been changing a lot lately. Privately he found it funny to see them running around like headless chickens. Just yesterday he had spent the better half of the day helping Squall childproof the dormitory. Seifer had borrowed every pregnancy and childcare book stocked in the library and Irvine was dishing out heap loads of gil in Balamb to keep businesses open past closing time.

Quickly the blonde left the training centre and ran to the font gate. Irvine was already waiting for him. He jumped in the passenger seat and the two headed into town.

"So, You excited man?" Zell asked, trying to make conversation.

"Yeah, I suppose." Came the reply, as the sharpshooter kept his eyes firmly on the road ahead.

"You suppose?"

"Well it's a lot to take in man. I'm not sure if I'd even make a good father. It's not like I have anything to go by is it?"

"None of us do Irvine. I'd say what you're doing now is a pretty good start."

"Was that sarcasm?"

Zell thought about it for a moment. "Well. Not really. I mean it's for a good cause I guess. Selphie's gonna flip when she finds out what you've been doing."

"I'm beginning to think it wasn't such a good idea." Irvine sighed. "I hate leaving her by herself. Especially now; she's so big she can barely move on her own."

"Of course she's big." Zell laughed. "She's got two of the little bas—I mean babies getting ready to drop."

"That's what worries me most." The would-be cowboy admitted, his knuckles whitening as his gripped the wheel. "Selphie's so small, I hate to think of what she is going to have to go through."

"It won't be for long though, will it? I mean, you're almost done with this project aren't you?"

"Sure. Two more weeks and we can call it a deal." Irvines replied, pulling into a parking space by the docks. "Besides, this is a nice area."

"Don't I know it." The blonde said, his voice holding just a touch of smugness.

While in town the boys got much of their work done and Irvine thought he could even finish earlier than planned. Selphie was asleep by the time he arrived back at Garden and crept into bed.

It was 2am.

Notes: Hmm… so what exactly is Irvine doing you wonder. Well you'll just have to wait and see huh? I would like to thank Vampiric Priestess and QueenAdreena both for pointing out the Siefer/Seifer misspelling; I shall go back at some point and correct it. Thanks again to everyone who reviewed.