A/N: He's not fawning over her...but...well...they're friends, okay? This is how I acted with my friends when I was single. And my gay ones now that I'm married. (waves) Hi Ennie!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the increasing urgency to go pee. TMI? Yeah...thought so. (evil grin)

The red-streaked guardian sat cross-legged on her bed as she studied the spell book, running her fingers over the ancient symbols that decorated the worn leather cover. She had cleaned it to the best of her ability, shining and polishing the silver knots and links as well as trying to restore the leather binding with some oil she had borrowed from Squall. Kandi sighed as she tried the lock again, unable to open it without the necessary key. Of course, when she won the book at the auction, she hadn't thought it would need a key to be opened. Nine-hundred and fifty gil for a birthday present that couldn't even be used. Perhaps Kuja would still like it anyway. She sat it in a box amidst some tissue paper and began wrapping it, hoping the silver wizard would appreciate the sentiment.

Since finding out that Kuja was the father of her child, Kandi had been avoiding the powerful mage, unsure of what she was going to say to him. Kuja had made a few attempts to see her, but was, for the most part, respecting her privacy and giving her the space she needed. Plus, it helped to have a few...distractions. Lady Rhianna's kidnapping, Gwen and Seph's deaths, Gwen and Seph's amazing resurrection from the Lifestream, Rhianna being found safe, Vergil being a good half-demon and Gwen being pregnant, too. Oh yes, the wife of General Sephiroth was preggers as well. Now, the Shrine had three very tempermental, very strong, very powerful women to contend with for nine months. Kandi snickered to herself as she finished wrapping Kuja's birthday present. This was going to be an interesting year.

Rude still hadn't talked to her.

It had been nearly two weeks and he'd not said five words to her. Towards anyone else, that would be normal behavior for him; but she wasn't anyone else. She sighed again and slipped on her skater shoes, grabbing the black and silver decorated gift and a plate of homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. She supposed...Rude was just someone she worked with now. Nothing more.

Nothing more.

Kuja studied his reflection in the mirror with a scrutinizing eye. No wrinkles...yet. No need to zap any gray hairs since his hair was silver anyway. He turned, this way and that, trying to see if he looked...older. He was still slim, still fit; the muscles underneath his smooth skin were still taunt and firm, though not bulky. Convinced he hadn't morphed into a decrepid old man over night, he finished dressing, opting for a pair of black jeans and a white button up.

It was his birthday. He'd been given the day off and he planned on enjoying himself. Plus, he was getting rather irritated that a certain immature red-head kept making lewd remarks regarding his choice of wizard attire. His costume was perfectly acceptable for mages of his power and influence in his division. Rhianna, however, had suggested that he try wearing clothes that would be considered normal, so he was willing to try. And he reluctantly admitted, the normal attire was more comfortable and didn't require as much time or effort in putting on. Plus, he looked good.

Now, to think of how he wanted to spend his day off. He really didn't want to stay by himself, but he didn't want to 'hang out' with the miscreants of the Shrine either. What he wanted to do was talk to the mother of his child, but he had been told, quite forcibly by Squall and Zack to leave her alone until she was ready to see him. When a SeeD captain and a SOLDIER First Class make such a request, one tends to listen. Squall had become close to her after their assignment to Division 8 and Zack had been one of her best friends for longer than he'd known her, so their protectiveness was warranted. Kuja sighed. Perhaps he'd go shopping and buy himself a birthday present.

Suddenly, his ears started ringing and the beating of his heart sped up. Kandi was near. He could sense his spawn's presence. Resisting the urge to yank the door opened and tear down the hall to find her, he waited, knowing she would pass by soon and leave him to his misery. The ringing grew louder and louder, excitement and joy filling him. Moving slowly, he pressed his ear against the door, his fingers resting on the wood, trying to reach through and touch what was about to pass by. The movement of his spawn stopped and he drew back as a hesitant knock resounded against his door.

Kandi had stopped. She was right outside his room, on the other side of his door.

Kuja tore the door opened and stared at the red-streaked guardian in shock. Her eyes widened as she looked him up and down, taking in his appearance. She gave him a stunning smile and held out a plate of cookies and a gift to him.

"Happy Birthday, Kuja," she said genuinely.

Kuja blinked, a slow smile coming to his lips. "Thank you," he said softly taking the items from her. He stepped aside and gestured to her. "Would you...like to come in?"

Kandi nodded slowly. "I'd like that," she said sweetly. "Thank you."

Kuja continued to smile as he closed the door behind her. "Have a seat," he said kindly, setting the gift down on his dresser and unwrapping the plate of cookies. He offered her some and she readily accepted as she sat down in the arm chair next to his bed. His eyes sparkled with joy at her smile as he took a cookie for himself. "Did you make these?" he asked, taking a bite.

"Uh huh," she said, chewing thoroughly. "Improvised recipe. I don't like raisins. The remind me of little bugs. They have no place in cookies."

Kuja laughed and reached for another cookie. "They are very good," he said. "No one's ever made me baked goods for my birthday before. This is a first."

She grinned again, snatching another cookie. "I'm glad you like them," she told him sincerely. She gestured to the gift on his dresser. "Open it."

Kuja took the package and sat on his bed, drawing a leg up. He began unwrapping the gift, shocked when she moved and sat beside him on the bed. "You really didn't...have...to..." he trailed off as he lifted the tissue paper off the gift. His eyes lit up and he looked at her. "Where did you find this?"

"I bought it at the ShinRa Auction about a month ago," she told him, watching as he tenderly caressed the symbols and lock adorning the leather. "Do you like it?"

Kuja stared at her in disbelief. "Do you have any idea what this is?" he asked, excitement apparant on his face. She shook her head. "This is the spell book of one of the greatest wizards ever to grace any of the worlds! This is Merlin's spell book!"

Kandi's eyes widened. "No shit?" she asked, looking at it again. "Wow! Oh, that is so cool! I had no idea!"

Kuja examined the book, looking over it in awe. "I can't believe it's in such excellent condition," he murmured.

Kandi blushed. "Well, it wasn't," she said softly. Kuja looked at her in question. "Well, it kinda looked really crappy, so I polished up the silver and oiled the leather to make it look better. I wanted to give you something nice, you know?"

The silver wizard was moved. He reached out and stroked her cheek. "You went through so much trouble for me," he said, tracing his thumb over her bottom lip. "I don't deserve it."

She batted his hand away playfully and poked his nose. "You're my friend, Kuja," she said, leaning over to kiss his cheek. "I wanted you to have a happy birthday because I care about you."

He grinned seductively and kissed her hand. "Thank you," he said. "It's wonderful."

"There's just one catch," she said biting her lip. "I can't get it opened. They don't know where the key to the lock is."

Kuja threw his head back and laughed. "My dear little canary, this book cannot be opened with a physical key," he said, raising to his feet and holding the book in his palms. The book levetated from his hands and spun in a counter-clockwise fashion before the lock clicked and opened, settling down in it's new master's hands.

Kandi blinked. "Whoa," she breathed. She gave Kuja a crooked grin. "You are so cool."

The wizard grinned and sat down beside her again, thumbing through the book. "This is magnificent," he breathed out, scanning the spells the famous wizard had written down. "Absolutely magnificent."

The Turk beamed and threw her arms around his shoulders, squeezing him tightly. "I'm so glad you like it!" she squealed, bouncing excitedly.

Kuja turned and looked at her through half-lidded eyes. "I love it," he told her sincerely, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close. "I absolutely adore it."

He brushed his lips against her's gently in an imitation of a kiss. Kandi's eyes slid closed as she leaned into it, pressing their lips more firmly against each other. Kuja sighed contentedly and pulled back before the kiss could go deeper, smirking at Kandi's noise of disappointment.

"What are you doing today?" he asked, setting the spell book aside and drawing her into his lap. "Isn't today your day off as well?"

She nodded before snuggling against him, breathing in the scent that was so...Kuja. "Yeah," she said. "I don't have any plans, though."

Kuja kissed the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair. "Would you care to spend the day with me?" he asked gently. "So I don't have to spend my birthday alone?"

Kandi looked up and grinned at him. "Really?" she asked in disbelief. "Isn't there someone else you'd rather hang out with? Or stalk? Rhianna's back, you know."

The silver wizard chuckled and rested his hand on her belly, feeling the lifeforce thriving in her womb. "I can think of no one else I'd rather be with than you and our child."

She pecked him on the lips. "Cool," she said, raising to her feet and extending her hand out to him. "But you do realize you're buying me lunch?"

Kuja took her hand and rose to his feet, running the fingers of his left hand through her hair. "Of course, little canary," he said gently. "I would love to."

He lifted her chin with his fingers and placed another sensual kiss to her lips. "Thank you," he said again.

She nodded and smiled. "You're welcome," she replied. "And Kuja?"

"Yes, my dear?"

Kandi blushed and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. "Thank you for...what you have given me," she whispered.

His heart melted at that. She was happy. She was happy she was having their child. Bending down, he kissed the top of her head again, enveloping her in his arms. "My pleasure," he said with a smile.

Looping her arm through his, he escorted her out of his room and down the halls of the Shrine. They stopped to get her coat and then continued on their way, arm in arm. He bent down and kissed her cheek again, stroking her face and smiling as they exited the Shrine to head into town.

The closing Shrine doors reflected off the black lenses of the sunglasses that watched them exit into the street. The owner's head turned and stared at the tile of the floor, slowly making his way back down the hall, his black shoes noiselessly carrying him. He stopped at a trash can and tossed the roses he had been carrying away.

There was no need for them now.

A/N: I...am a romantic SAP! So...much...angst! Review please!