Chapter Ten: Final Preparations, and the Beginning

Yuna was now seven and a half months into her pregnancy. The babies were kicking, and Tidus loved to feel his children so enthusiastic. He made sure that Yuna stayed off her feet as a much as possible. He had added on a room to the house on the ground floor, big enough for the twins. All he had to do was lay the carpet in the room, and he was finished. Yuna was very excited, but she knew it would very painful for her, and it would be many hours of pain. She could feel the babies kicking wildly, and she called for Tidus.

"Tidus, I love you. I want you to take me to Zanarkand soon. Tonight. I want to assure our babies health. I know you can open the portal here, so please do it. I need to sleep, so go finish laying the carpet, and come back to me as soon as you finish."

Tidus nodded, and lay next to her, stroking her hair until she fell asleep. He went, and started to lay down the carpet, and finished within three hours. The room was nice he thought. It was a white-walled room, with brown carpet. Oak wood furniture lined the room. He had furnished a crib, a small desk for when they were older, and everything else would need. He walked to their room, where Miliyah was watching her, just in case she needed something. He hugged his cousin.

"Are you coming with us?"

"Like I'm letting you go to Zanarkand without me. Of course I am. Wake her up, and let's go home again. Before we go to the hospital, let's go to the beach for a quick lunch."

He nodded, and roused Yuna from her sleep. She pulled him to her, and he hugged her close, and kissed her. He held her hand, and raised the pendant into the air, and the portal opened. He stepped through, carrying Yuna in his arms, and Miliyah closed the portal behind them. They were on the beach, and he sat down with Yuna in his arms. Miliyah had brought a picnic lunch, which they ate quickly. Yuna had fully awakened by then, and she sat and talked with them.

"So tell me Tidus. Does Zanarkand have any fish that Spira has?"

Tidus smiled, knowing she just wanted to talk, so he replied.

"Well, a lot of the fish in Zanarkand went extinct after we overfished them. Bass, trout and salmon. All gone. All we have left now are sharks. And these are the big ones, the great white."

Yuna was happy to hear that Zanarkand was similar to Spira. There were sharks in Spira as well. A great reef near Bevelle, her birthplace, was home to a few great whit sharks. She lay back, and stared into the sky, as the sun rising. She remembered the night Tidus and her had first kissed. Tidus knew exactly what she was thinking about, so he said the words he said that day.

"Let's go to the sea, before the sunrise. The city lights go out one by one. The stars fade… then the horizon glows, almost like it's on fire. It's kinda rose-colored right? First in the sea, then it spreads to the sky, then to the whole city. It gets brighter and brighter, until everything glows. It's really… pretty. I know you'd like it."

Yuna looked to the great city of Zanarkand, and one by one, the lights of each building were shut off, and she looked to the sky, as the stars faded, each one replaced by a fiery red glow. It seemed to light the ocean on fire, and it spread to the sky. Everything was glowing after a while, just the way he said it would. He was holding her hand, palms touching, and she leaned up to kiss him. Miliyah saw that they needed some alone time, and stood and walked down the beach. Yuna looked into her husband's eyes, and a smile creased her face.

"It's almost time for our children to be born. We haven't thought of names yet. We're having a boy and a girl. Our son should be named after you. You're a hero in Spira and in Zanarkand. What should we name our daughter?"

Tidus disliked the idea of naming his son after himself. He had a name for their daughter long ago, but he didn't say it until now.

"I have a name for our daughter. Yunalyn. After her beautiful and brave mother. Lynn was my mother's name, and I think the two go well together. But our son, we should name him after my father, Jecht. Or try and combine my name with my father's. How does Tidusene sound? My grandfather's name was Gene. Or maybe Tidugene?"

"I like Yunalyn. It's very pretty. And you should name your son. Any name you pick out will be perfect for him. Look at the stars Tidus. That's how my father picked my name. He stargazed, and remembered the name Yunalesca. Just think and you'll think of a name."

Tidus looked into the sky, and thought back to their journey together. He remembered all the history he had learned of Spira, and he remembered the name Zaon, Lady Yunalesca's husband, the first Final Aeon. His eyes lit up, and he whispered a name.

"Zaonus."

Yuna smiled, and she kissed Tidus softly.

"See? Zaonus is perfect for our son. Their names will be Yunalyn and Zaonus. Our children will be beautiful Tidus. Ow, my stomach hurts a little. The babies must have kicked again."

Tidus held her to him, and smiled as he placed a hand to her stomach, feeling the twins kicking. They were obviously healthy, for they were kicking hard. He knew that Yunalyn would be a beautiful baby, as would Zaonus. He kissed her, and smiled, as her face twisted into that of pain and agony, as her stomach muscles contracted wildly.

"What's wrong Yuna?!"

She looked at him, tears in her eyes.

"It's time, Tidus. The babies are on their way. Tonight is the night for our children to be born."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's notes: Once more thank you for reading Our Story. Once more, happy birthday to my two friends. Their birthdays are next week, and I want to wish them both a happy birthday. Next chapter will be out soon, so keep checking back.