"Hey you know what, I don't feel so horrible right now," said Zack with a smile seeing that feeling didn't feel so horrible after sex.
"It probably doesn't happen all the time," said Angeal fixing his shirt. "And if it does maybe you're just different from most women."
"Maybe," said Zack looking at herself in a hand mirror.
After a while of fixing her hair she scanned her face and noticed something.
"Hm, you know what I noticed in this stage of my life?" she asked to Angeal who had just finished buckling his belt.
"What?" asked Angeal turning to her.
"I glow," she said with a smile. "It took me a while to notice, but now I do . . . can you see it?"
Angeal scanned her for a little while and just smiled. He let his arms fall limp to his sides as he sat down on the bed beside her and said—
"Of course I have Zack, but to me . . . you've always seemed to glow."
"How so?" asked Zack.
"Well—you're personality. You just always sparkle," he said with a light sigh.
Zack couldn't help but smile at him. Her cheeks turned a slight pink as she closed her eyes and slowly opened them back to Angeal. He was always so kind to her, but then a thought came in her mind. What would he act like when she was a man? Sure he wouldn't treat her so delicate, but would all this be—nothing? Would he stop caring is what she wondered.
That thought soon left her mind as Angeal got up and headed towards the door. He grabbed the handle and glanced back at her saying—
"Well I better be going Zack. Sephiroth and Genesis still don't know I'm seeing you. I'll probably get scolded for this later, but as long as you're happy . . . it's worth it."
"Thanks Angeal," she said with a light sigh. "It's actually fun again."
"What is?" asked Angeal.
"You know—sneaking off to each other's places to secretly see each other. It's so exciting!" she said with a bright smile.
"Sure Zack," Angeal said with a chuckle as he opened the door and headed out.
"Wait, Angeal," said Zack trying to get up off her bed and catch him before he left her apartment.
She had just caught up with him as he opened her front door, but she didn't get a chance to say much before she noticed Angeal looking at something and once her eyes met it she widened them and shut up.
"Lazard wishes to see the two of you," said a grunt standing in front of the door.
Zack couldn't really say anything though. She and Angeal were silent hoping the man didn't get any ideas for they both knew they'd be hounded if Lazard found out they were going against his wishes and still continuing their affair. The man soon left and Zack smiled and through her teeth asked—
"Do you think he noticed anything?"
"Hopefully not," said Angeal shaking his head and leaving.
"Wha—wait for me!" said Zack grabbing her coat and chasing after Angeal to Lazard's office.
Once there they were told some not-so-good news. It might have been good a couple of months ago, but so much has happened and it was something the both of them were least expecting.
"What do you mean Hojo's done?" asked Zack grasping her belly and sitting down in a chair before Lazard's desk.
"What I mean is he's done with the reverse of all this mess," said Lazard leaning forward and folding his hands.
"How convenient for Hojo to be done 'now'," said Sephiroth with his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall.
"Clearly Hojo had this all planned out," said Genesis taking a step forward.
"He probably did," said Lazard. "But there's nothing any of us can do about that now. Hojo is done and I promised myself to give Zack the first opportunity he had to change back."
"But that's saying she'll—" started Genesis thinking all this was absurd.
"I know what it is, but I have to ask," said Lazard. "What do you say Zack?"
She still remained silent as all eyes fell on her. She had both hands on her enlarged belly carrying her eight-month old child. She was eight months along and Hojo picks of all times to finish his machine.
"We're waiting on your choice Zack," said Lazard.
"What would happen to—the child?" she asked casting her blue eyes at the director.
"Hhh," he sighed sitting back in his chair. "I asked Hojo that same thing. He said the child was dissolve and cease to exist seeing how being a man you have nowhere to carry it."
"I see," said Zack casting her eyes down again in thought. All eyes still were on her till they wandered elsewhere. Mostly to Angeal who was the father of the child who could potentially die.
"Well I do want to be a guy again and get rid of this whole mess," she said with a small chuckle.
"But?" asked Lazard knowing it was coming.
"But," started Zack. "I've been a woman for nearly a year. As a matter of fact next month it'll be a year and also it's when the baby's due. I've grown accustomed to him and my body—not to the constant changes of pregnancy, but of the feel of him inside me."
"I see," said Lazard. "So you don't want to carry on with the pregnancy."
"Maybe," said Zack with a heavy sigh. "I don't know. Everything's being pushed down on me and I wonder why? It is all because of a stupid night I wish I could take back, but I can't! I can just think if I say yes then all my problems would go away and I won't have to worry about no child to take care of when—"
"How could you say that Zack?!" came Angeal's voice offended.
"What?" she asked turning to him to see the great frown upon his face.
"How could you through away a life just to make yours more comfortable?!" he asked taking a step closer to her.
"I'm not asking for comfort Angeal," she said leaning towards him. "Just normality."
"And what of the child?" asked Angeal pacing a bit. "What does he have to say?"
"He can't," she said. "Look this is my body, my decision."
"So many lives are ruined with those words," said Angeal shaking his head.
"Well then why don't you stop me?" asked Zack wondering truly why he didn't.
"Because I see it as I have no right," he said holding his arms out. "The child is yours remember?"
"He's yours too," corrected Zack.
At that all were silent. Sephiroth, Genesis, and Lazard just watched as the two starred at each other seeing which one would break, but the silence was so long and undisturbed they knew no one would say anything.
"So what would it be Zack?" asked Lazard breaking the silence with a long inhale.
Zack just turned back to him in her seat and cast her eyes down. She didn't really know. She didn't know what was the best—she thought she did, but did she really know?
She felt sadness right now. She was sad because of how Angeal saw everything. He wouldn't fight for her—at least any of her decisions. Why not?
He would speak his mind, but he would never not let her make up her own mind—not even with her—their own child. Da—it Angeal had every much a right to decide with her than even she. Would she regret this later in life? Would she regret not doing it? What would become of the child anyways?
Zack soon grunted and grasp her head tightly. Too much to think on and too much pressure being pressed on her. She didn't like it—especially not from her friends.
"Zack are you alright?" asked Sephiroth seeing her like this.
"Too much to think of," said Zack. "I'm trying to think of my future, when right now I need to think of the present."
"What would it be then?" asked Lazard. "Hojo is waiting for your response—as is everyone."
Zack just closed her eyes and shook her head. She then let out s surprising chuckle. She opened her eyes and held up her index finger saying—
"I've come all this way just to quit? That doesn't' sound like me does it?"
"A no?" asked Lazard kind of glad in a way—in a way.
"You got it," she said with a smile and wink.
Lazard then turned in his seat to make some call while Zack heard the relief sighs of Sephiroth and Genesis behind her. She turned and smiled to them. Her eyes soon fell on Angeal who just starred blankly at her before she smiled and forced an unknown small smile to emerge from him. It was, in a way, a 'thank-you' smile and she only nodded before she sighed knowing the hard road ahead and knowing she was Zack Fair and she could handle anything . . .she hoped.
"She said no did she?" Hojo said as he spoke to Lazard on the phone.
"That's right Hojo," said Lazard. "But my guess's you already had that planned out."
"Director—if there is one thing I don't like doing it's being accused," he said with fake offense.
"Sure you do doctor," said Lazard. "But that still doesn't mean anything. Once she has that child it stays with her unless she gives it away—which I seriously doubt that. You should see her—she's grown so attached to the child."
"Well that's good," said Hojo with a smirk. "How else do you think I'd get her to continue this pregnancy?"
"Just don't be up to anything Hojo," said Lazard. "Bye."
"Bye Lazard," said Hojo with a smile as he gazed at the new machine he built for the tiny experiment he only had a month to wait for.
"You know we're proud of you Zack," said Sephiroth with a smile. "You did the right thing."
"Yeah I hope so," said Zack placing her fists on her hips. "'Cause I miss being able to see my feet."
Sephiroth let out a chuckle before he noticed Zack looking around.
"Looking for someone?" he asked.
"Yes, Angeal," she said. "I haven't seen him since the meeting. Do you know where he's gone?" she asked with a tilt of her head.
"Who knows," he said with a shrug. "He could have gone anywhere."
"You know for an expecting father he sure seems to not care," she said pursing her lips outward a bit.
"I think he cares more than you think," said Sephiroth shifting his shoulders a bit. "He's just always in thought."
"Huh, tell me about," she said shuffling her feet a little.
"When Angeal doesn't like something he'll speak up, but will never stop you from making up your own mind," said Sephiroth.
"So I've noticed," she said casting her eyes down. "It's just I'd like him to show a little more care you know?"
"I know," said Sephiroth nodding his head. "But for now it's up to you to stand strong. Angeal may not always be there for you and so you have to learn to not cling so tightly onto someone."
"'Kay Sephiroth," said Zack. "I'll catcha later."
"Bye Zack, take care," said Sephiroth as he watched her leave.
Even though Sephiroth told her to be alone Zack enjoyed clinging onto Angeal. He seemed to never fail and always be there for her. He seemed so strong and always secure. She wanted that and always had, but Sephiroth was right about him not always being there for right now he wasn't.
Zack still wanted to look for him though. She looked all over for him until she came to the training room and found him there. She just watched him for a little while until He spoke her name letting her know he knew she was there.
"What do you want Zack?" he asked holding his sword before his head.
"You caught me," she said with a smile as she inched closer to him with her arms behind her back.
Angeal just turned to her and looked at her as if waiting for something. Zack then realized he wanted to know why she was there and so straightened and said—
"I wanted to make sure you were alright."
"Of course I am," he said taking his sword and swinging back on his back.
"Even if I had decided to change back?" she asked.
"Your body, your decisions right?" he asked as he glanced at her then began to walk off.
"Wait Angeal," she said holding her hand out to him hoping he'd stop—he did. "I didn't know you'd get so offended . . . as a matter of fact I didn't think you cared."
"Hhh, what kind of a man do you think I am Zack?" asked Angeal as he turned to her. "Someone who would leave a child and his mother?"
"You see right there," she said biting her index finger. "You never refer our child as ours or yours—why?"
"I just don't want to get too attached if you decide to do away with him," said Angeal flapping his arms to his sides.
"But why would I do that?" asked Zack.
"I see you slipping—a little each day. I don't know what you'd be like that last month," said Angeal.
"Oh—I see," she said casting her eyes down a little sad that Angeal thought she was so disturbed. "You don't want to get your heart broken."
Angeal didn't say anything for a second or so before he managed to get out—
"No."
"I see," said Zack shaking her head now understanding why Angeal said what he said or handled things they way handled them. "I'm sorry for causing you any heartache if I had then."
"Not much," Angeal said with a small smile.
Zack let out a slightly gasp seeing the smile and so couldn't help but smile herself. She showed her teeth, which Angeal liked about her. Not many people smiled and showed their teeth.
"Don't be so hard on yourself because of me Zack," said Angeal coming up to her and placing his hand on her shoulder. "I wish the best for you . . ." he then let his hand trail down to her bulge and gently rub it. "And 'our' child."
"Ours," said Zack beginning to get all teary-eyed for no reason and then lunging herself at him as she embraced him in a hug.
Angeal just patted her on the back wondering when she'd get out of this phase. It may take a while, but he didn't mind at all.
"You know in some places that would be considered disgusting," said Genesis as he and Sephiroth watched from outside the door as Angeal and Zack hugged.
"Not nearly as disgusting as Zack was attacked by that craving drinking a whole jar of warm mayonnaise," pointed out Sephiroth as he walked off.
"Eh—true," said Genesis with a chuckle as he followed him.
Hot Shot's girl: Well as you can see Hojo's up to somethin' XD You'll have to wait and see what it is though--though some of you may already guess I dunno. Glad you guys like it. Well until next chp, bye :)
P.S. Happy Thanksgiving! just in case I can't update tomorrow and wish you guys one! :D