A/N: Yes I know it's been a while since I updated last, but I haven't been in the mood. In chapter 14 I had 8 reviews saying they wanted me to update, three weeks went by and I only got 2. Ok first I have to apologize for my lack of updating. I know I said I would have it up by the end of March I believe but I had computer trouble and for the past few months I had thought I had lost all of the chapter. I couldn't seem to access it from my flash drive, but I found a way around it and now I'm updating. Again sorry. Also please review. It seems like no one is interested any more, I know that's due in part to the long periods between chapters but for those of you who are reading please review, or I might not feel so compelled to finish it, and there is only about 5 or 6 chapters left. Please review.
Chapter 16
I stared at my father in shock. "He's my what?" I asked in disbelief.
"Your brother, well technically, your half brother." he replied.
"You kept this from me for eighteen years? Were you ever planning on telling me?" I shouted.
"Well no, not really. Layla and your mother and I decided it would be best for everyone if you kids didn't know. Of course in time though, Dravidian found out.
"Wait so mom knew about this?" I asked incredulously.
"Yes, your mother, and Layla knew each other."
"How?" I asked.
"Well at first she didn't know that, that Layla was the one I knew. Your mother took many trips to the main lands. There was this jeweler she befriended. He was half Al Bhed. So she would go out and visit him, and once in a while she would get a few things. She was the only one who knew who he was. I don't know how he concealed himself, but he did.
Anyway, onetime she went to visit him and somehow, I forgot how, her cover was blown and the people found out that she was Al Bhed. The people got angry and chased her to the edge of town. Layla saw what was happening and as your mother turned the corner, Layla grabbed her and hid her until they quieted down. From that day on they became good friends."
I stared at him in shock. "Ok, but why didn't we know about Dravidian?" I asked
"It would've been hard to explain." he replied. "Now can I finish the rest of the story?"
I nodded my head yes, while Gippal remained silent beside me.
"I stood there in shock, just staring at her. Finally, it dawned on me what she said."
'Oh', was all I could say, and yet she understood how I felt because she felt it too. There was a small part of us that was happy. For each of us it was out first child, yet we knew it was wrong.
"We decided that she'd keep the child, and that she and the child would live here at Home. Even though the certain situation we were in was because of a few select Al Bhed who didn't like her, we decided that it would be better to live among the Al Bhed rather than the rest of Spira.
Which of course complicated things with your mother and I. She was do back in a couple of hours so I would have to explain things to her when she got back.
Until then Layla and I talked about anything, skirting around the subject at hand.
Before I knew it your mother was due back at any minute. I excused myself to go and meet her.
She immediately saw my expression and asked what was wrong.
I told her to come with me and I lead her to my father's office.
We walked inside and I was the one who got the surprise.
"Layla!" she exclaimed as she ran over to her and gave her a hug.
"Wait, you know her?" I asked.
"Yes, Layla is the one that saved me that day." Chloe replied (Their mother.) "It's so good to see you. What brings you here?"
"Well, I had some things to discuss with Cid." Layla answered
"Oh?" she inquired
That's when I told her to sit down.
(Flashback type thingy)
"Do you remember when I told you about what happened that night on my birthday?"
"Yea, some jerks got you and your friend drunk, and you ended up sleeping together. What does that have to do with anything?"
"Well that friend was Layla."
"Oh." was all she could say, falling silent. "Well, that still doesn't change much. I mean it was an accident, it wasn't intentional right?" she asked in a strange voice.
"Yes it was an accident and if you're asking of I still love you and want to marry you then yes. But Chloe, there's something else. Layla . . . well she's pregnant Chloe."
I heard her draw in a sharp breath.
"Chloe?" I asked hesitantly.
"I . . . ummmm . . . I need some time to think." She said walking to the door. "Layla it was good to see you again."
Layla turned to me with pained expression on her face. "I'm sorry Cid. I probably shouldn't have come."
"No. It's alright, besides I would want to know if I fathered a child, whether intentionally or not."
"Hmmm" was her only response.
"Umm look, I, uh, should probably go talk to Chloe. Do you still remember your way around?"
"Uh-huh"
"Well than why not go to the Oasis." I suggested.
"Sure." she replied standing up.
I stood up also. I opened the door for her and followed her out. We parted ways and I walked to Chloe's room.
When I got there I knocked on her door.
"Come in." she replied in a very emotional voice.
I opened the door and walked in. She looked up at me and I saw the dried tears on her face right before she looked down again.
Seeing her like that broke my heart, especially knowing that I was partly responsible for her pain.
I sat down next to her on her bed and brought my arms around her, bringing her closer to me. She cried on my shoulder for a few minutes more. She eventually stopped but kept her head on my shoulder. I rested my head on top of hers.
"Chloe, listen to me. I still love you more than anything. I still ant to marry you, if you still want to of course." I told her.
"Oh Cid of course I still want to marry you. It's just . . . I don't know. I mean what's going to happen now. Layla's pregnant Cid. This changes everything."
"I know, but we'll work through this. We'll figure something out. I didn't want this to happen. I mean yea I wanted to start a family, but with you, not Layla. She's my best friend and that's all I wanted her to be."
"You're not going to ignore that child Cid." Chloe told me.
"Of course not, but this complicates thing so much." I told her.
She pulled away form me our embrace and took my hands in hers. "Like you said Cid. We'll figure something out. All three of us.
I looked up and smiled at her and she smiled back. I leaned in and kissed her lightly, never feeling more in love with her than I did at that moment.
"Well shall we go get this over with and get everything straightened out?" I asked her.
"Sure, but do you know where Layla went?"
"Yea, she went to the Oasis."
(End Flashback Thingy)
We quickly made our way to the Oasis and found Layla with her feet in the water.
"For about two hours we talked and straightened things out. We had decided that every Sunday I would spend time with the child. We also decided to make up a story we would use to explain everything. Your mother and I would be the child's Aunt and Uncle., Claiming that Chloe's brother, who was exiled in his late teens for reasons I never really understood, would be the child's father whom Layla met in Spira.
"Also any children that Chloe and I would have we decided not to tell them about that child unless they met, and then we would say that they were distant relatives."
"But why Vydran? Why couldn't you tell brother and I about Dravidian?"
"You try explaining to a child, your own no doubt, that you had an illegitimate child with someone other than their mother. It's like teaching them that, that kind of behavior is acceptable when it's not.
"I understand that part, but what about when we were older, old enough to understand. Why couldn't you tell us then?"
"By that time Dravidian had already found out that I was his father and had refused to speak with me, and Layla and I had lost touch. You see Dravidian was a very sickly child; he needed doctors and medical treatment that we didn't have at Home at the time, and was only found on the mainlands of Spira. Layla and I decided that it would be best if they moved to Spira to get the treatment he needed. He was seven when they left and you were born three months after.
"I'm not exactly sure how Dravidian found out who I was, I think Layla might have accidentally let it slip, but I don't really know. Moving to Spira might've helped his health, but that was the only good thing. Because he was what he was, he was faced with many prejudices like all Al Bhed. He felt that I had abandoned him, that's why he hated me, and for all I know I did abandon him. I let my son go to the lions den if you will." He finished
"Yea but Vydran, if you didn't send him he might've died at a young age. Now he's all better." I said
"Yea I know the lesser of two evils I suppose. I'm sorry Rikku. I failed. I failed as a father both to you and Brother and to Dravidian." My father said, and I swear I could've seen tears in his eyes. "That is why I had stopped talking to your Aunt. I didn't want what had happened to Dravidian happen to any of the children she might have had. I though she would have learned form my mistakes. But I was wrong. Her life turned out better. After Yuna was born I started talking to her again."
"She had come to visit me and Home again after being in Bevelle for so long, she missed her fellow Al Bhed. But on her way here her shop was attacked by Sin. She didn't make it. I blame myself for what happened. I mean maybe if I hadn't stopped talking to her then maybe she would have visited more often and would not have come on the particular day. Maybe she might still be alive, her and Braska."
"Vydran, you can't blame yourself. She didn't die in vain. I mean yeah Yuna never got to know her mother, but if she didn't die then would Uncle Braska have become a summoner, would Yuna have? Vydran, her death set the wheels in motion for the defeat of Sin. Because Uncle Braska died as a summoner, Yuna became a summoner to carry on his quest to ultimately defeat Sin. I know it's hard Vydran, but you have to think about what might or might not have happened if you did not do the things you did. But vydran, I think I know who did this. I know who is behind the bombings." I said.
Suddenly everything was making sense. The situations, all of the evidence that we've collected, the note we found.
"Who?" My father asked.
"Dravidian."
"What?" Both my father and Gippal said at the same time, which was admittedly creepy.
"I mean think about it Gippal. Remember the note we found "All Full blooded Al Bhed beware." Dravidian is half Al Bhed, and was raised in Spira, Never knew his father, then he found out that his father had another family in which he was acknowledged as a father figure. He probably thought you didn't love him, and hated you for that. That is why he probably attacked you."
"It makes sense, but then why would he attack himself." Cid asked.
"To throw us off his trail. He figured out that we were getting to close to the truth, and that we figure out a pattern to the attacks, that all of the victims were Al Bhed haters."
"But then why attack the Machine Faction?" Gippal asked.
"To frame you, or maybe even kill you. You were being sympathetic to those that had hated the Al Behd for so many years. He felt you were a traitor. But he didn't plan in me being in the picture. He figured that if you were distracted with all of the Legal stuff you wouldn't try to help Nooj and Baralai solve this. Because you're Al Bhed you would have the knowledge to solve this. You know the culture and the glaringly obvious evidence that would point to an Al Behd and he couldn't have you working on the case. Plus you're not bound to any laws restricting your movements, well you are but it wouldn't look so bad if you broke some of the rules compared to if they did." I was talking fast now. Everything was starting to make sense. I burst out of the room and ran to Dravidian's hospital room with Gippal and Cid close behind.
"Rikku wait!" Gippal shouted after me.
But I ignored him and just kept going.
"It was you!" I shouted as soon as I banged open the door.
"What was me?" Dravidian asked startled.
Vydran and Gippal finally caught up with me, and Gippal placed his hand on my shoulder. "Rikku, come on, there is no concrete proof."
I shrugged off his hand from my shoulder.
"No it was you. You caused all of the bombings. You killed all of those innocent people."
He looked around the room and I saw his face harden when his gaze fell upon Cid.
"You would like that wouldn't you. The discovery of your accident half brother was probably a big shock to you. So you figured, 'hey why not blame him' Right?"
"Oh knock it off. Yes it was a surprise, but that doesn't mean that I hate you and would unjustly blame you for something, that's happened to me and I would never do that to anyone, and besides it all fits. You hate Cid. You hate most if not all of Spira for what they did to you."
"You're right. I would have a motive, if I did it. Sure I hate Cid and some of the people of Spira, but don't you dare accuse me of killing people. I have never killed any innocents in my life." He practically shouted with anger.
"Yea, anyone innocent, but those people weren't innocent. At least not to you. They were all Al Bhed haters, they tortured the Al Bhed, so they weren't really innocent, now were they?" I sneered.
He looked as if he was going to shout again, but then he closed his eyes for a few minutes, and during those few minutes I actually felt sorry for him. He looked so weak, so pale, that I actually started doubting myself, maybe it wasn't him. He opened his eyes and all of the anger was gone, now replaced by weariness.
"If I was the attacker then why would I attack myself?" he asked.
"To throw suspicion off your back." I said quietly.
"True but would I try to kill myself? I almost died." he whispered.
Just then a nurse came in. "I'm sorry, but you're going to have to leave now." she said in a somewhat friendly tone.
I just nodded and walked out the door with Gippal's hand placed comfortingly around my waist.
"It's him, I know it is." I whispered.
"I don't know. It seems just to obvious."
"But then who else could it be?" I asked desperately. "All of the evidence seems to point to him."
"Someone who is trying to frame him maybe?"
"I don't know Gippal. I just don't know anymore." I said with tears in my eyes
"Shhh. . . I know Rikku, I know. It'll be alright. You know what I think? I think we need a break from all of this. Something to distract our minds."
"Like what?" I asked him.
He raised my right and placed it to his mouth with a feather light kiss. "Well I was thinking, why not get married, here, at Bikanel, maybe in the Oasis, where it all began." he suggested quietly.
I rested my head on Gippal's chest, thinking it over. It would make sense, we finally have a bit of a break from the investigation, and I wouldn't have to hide our baby's existence anymore. I smiled to myself. " I would love to."
Gippal wrapped his arms around me in a loving embrace and kissed the top of my head.
"What would you say if I suggested that Baralai preside over the ceremony?" I asked.
"I would say that's a great idea." he said
Well then, come on, lets go tell pops." I said turning out of Gippal's embrace and sprinting back to my father' office with Gippal in tow, trying to catch up with me, I was giggling the whole time.
I didn't even bother knocking as I opened the door and sat in one of the chairs drooping my leg over the other one. "Hey pops, how well do you think you could plan a wedding?" I asked.
"I. . . I don't know. Why?"
"Well Gippal and I are planning on getting married here at Bikanel, at the Oasis."
"Wh. . . What? Now? But. . ."
"Vydran. I'm already pregnant. I hate having to hide my baby from the public. Once we're married I won't have to hide it anymore. And besides we don't know what the future will hold. I want to be able to call Gippal my husband before I die." I said taking Gippal's hand in mine.
"Oh sweetheart, you're not going to . . ."
"You don't know that Vydran. Anything can happen between now and the future. I don't want to think about that but you never know."
"Of course I'll help plan your wedding. It will be the biggest party Home has yet to see."
"Thank you Vydran. It means a lot to me. We were thinking of having Baralai preside over the ceremony."
"Sounds great." My father said falling silent. "Rikku could you come with me for a minute?"
"Sure."I said turning to Gippal.
"Go ahead Rikku. I'll meet you at our room. I'll go ahead and call Baralai."
I quickly kissed Gippal good bye and followed my father out of the room. He lead me to his room.
"Wait here for a minute." He said walking to his bedroom. He returned a few minutes later carrying a dress in his arms.
I gasped slightly, recognition flashing across my face.
"I want you to have this and I'm sure your mother would too."
"Vydran." I said as tears sprang into my eyes. My mother would never get to see my wedding but at least a part of her would always be with me.
"You look more and more like your mother everyday. My baby's growing up before my eyes. It seems like just yesterday you were learning how to build machina, and now you're getting married and expecting your first child." My father said with tears leaving shimmering trails on his face.
"Oh Vydran. I'll always be you little girl no matter how old I get."
"E ghuf cfaadraynd, E ghuf" (I know sweetheart, I know)
My father hugged me and we stayed that way for a few moments, pulling away with tears in both of our eyes.
"Well I should go help Gippal call everyone." I said breaking the silence. I hugged him one more time and walked back to my room carrying my mother's dress. I was itching to try it on, but I knew that it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her dress before the wedding. Now I wasn't one to believe in superstitions but this was one I wasn't willing to test.
I opened the door just as Gippal put down the comm sphere.
"Well Paine and Baralai are coming and he said that he would be glad to preside over our wedding. I'll let you go call Yuna and everyone else. I'm going to go take a shower." he said giving me a quick kiss.
"Ok. Oh wait did you invite Nooj?"
"Yea, he's coming and with LeBlanc. That ok?"
"Yea, it's ok, we'd have to invite her anyway, aren't they engaged now?"
"Something like that. Well I'll be in the bathroom if you need me."
"Ok." I said connecting to Besaid. I called Yuna first and didn't have to wait long for her to pick up.
"Hey Rikku." She said looking a little green.
"Hey Yuna. Are you alright?"
"I don't know. I haven't been feeling well lately. Tidus tried to cook me dinner and at the smell of it I ended up in the bathroom."
"Yunie, is it possible you're pregnant?" I asked carefully.
"I don't know. I guess."
"Well when was you last time of the month?"
"Three weeks ago. I'll have it checked out in the morning, I'm too tired right now."
"You seem awfully calm considering you could be pregnant."
"Im exhausted. It hasn't sunk in yet, but I'm sure it will tomorrow."
"Well I hope you're not too tired to accept my wedding invitation and offer to be maid of honor."
I've never seen Yuna's eyes go wider. "Seriously?"
"Yup."
"Of course I'll be your maid of honor."
"Don't forget to tell Tidus. Do you think you two can be at the Bikanel by the end of tomorrow, and then the day after we'll go to Luca to pick out the Brides maids dresses."
"Sure. OOOO I can't wait. Rikku, you're getting married."
"I know I can't believe it." I'm expecting a baby in seven months, I'm marrying Gippal. . ." I stopped dead seeing her eyes widen in shock after I realized that I just let slip that o was pregnant.
"Rikku, you're pregnant?"
"Well. . . yea. I'm two months pregnant. I was going to tell you tomorrow but it slipped."
"Does anyone else know?"
"Well, yea, Gippal, Vydran, Brother, my doctor Paine and Baralai."
"Paine knew before me?" She asked a little hurt.
"Not on purpose Yunie. Gippal and I went to Bevelle to discuss the bombings and I got sick. My morning sickness kicked in and I had to go the bathroom, and you know the faces she gives "Tell or Suffer.", and she was so concerned, I would have felt guilty if I didn't tell her, I'm sorry Yunie."
She looked at me for a minute. "Alright I forgive you."
"Yea. I'll see you tomorrow. Love ya Yunie."
"Love ya too Rikku."
I disconnected the commsphere and sighed 'One call to down, and two to go.'
Gippal was still in the shower and for a minute I imagined myself standing in a nice hot shower, the water pulsing on my back like a nice massage, relieving all of the tension I felt. I pulled my mind back to the here and now and picked up the commsphere, and put in the coordinates for Lulu and Wakka's.
Lulu picked up and I saw little Vidina on her hip.
"Hello Rikku. How are you?"
"Tired, but well thank you. I have a question for you."
"Ok"
"Would you like to be my bridesmaid?" I asked.
"Of course Rikku. I'd love to."
"Oh thank you Lulu, Umm if possible do you think you, Wakka and little Vidina could be at Bikanel by tomorrow night? We want to get everyone situated in Bikanel and them settled in their rooms so we can finish any last details that might arise and I figured the day after we could go to Luca to pick out the dresses.
"That sounds great Rikku. We'll see you tomorrow evening."
"Bye Lulu, Bye Vidina." I said as he made cute little gurgling noises.
I hung up and closed my eyes. I was so tired and had no idea why, though I chalked it up to the pregnancy. I really wanted to go to sleep, but I couldn't really leave him out.
I punched in the coordinates and waited to the familiar scene to come up. Within five seconds I saw Kimahri's familiar form in the commsphere.
"Hey Kimahri. How are you?"
"Kimahri doing well and how is Rikku?" (Ok I know I can't really write the ay he speaks.)
"I'm doing well thank you, but I have a question for you. Would you like to attend my wedding?"
"Wedding?" he asked
"Um it's like choosing your mate, your partner and making it official, that you'll be with each other forever."
"Um Kimahri would like to yes, but can not. Kimahri elder now, not allowed to leave mountain. Kimahri is sorry."
"It's alright Kimahri. I understand. Maybe I can connect the commsphere to Mt. Gagazet
and you can watch."
"Kimahri would like that."
"I'll call again when I know more. It should be in a few days. Bye Kimahri."
"Bye Rikku."
I clicked off the commsphere and fell back onto the bed with a sigh. 'Finally' I thought. 'I can sleep."
I heard Gippal get out of the shower and a few minutes later he joined me on the bed.
"So who's coming?" he asked, draping am arm around my waist.
"Well Yuna, Tidus, Wakka, Lulu and Vidina, Paine, Baralai, Nooj, Leblanc, and probably Logos and Ormi."
"Well what about that Ronso, Kimahri?"
"He's not really allowed to leave the mountain that much considering he's the elder. And of course we should invite Brother, Buddy, Benzo, Shinra and Nhadala, but of course they'll already be there considering Vydran will try and get all of the Al Bhed involved. Do you think we should invite Layla and Dravidian.?"
"I have no objection but don't you think it might be a bit awkward?"
"Hmm, it might be a little awkward, but whatever, we'll figure it out in the morning."
"Tired already? What about our plans?" he said with a smirk.
"Ugh, we have enough time for that later. Wedding night maybe. I'm exhausted."
He laughed lightly. "Go to sleep Rikku. We'll talk more in the morning." He said noticing my eyes drifting closed as I fell farther and farther into dream land.
A/N: well there you have it chapter 16. Again sorry for the long wait. But since I haven't gotten many reviews I want at least 4 reviews before I continue, just to know people actually do care. But as always PLEASE review.