CHAPTER 11

Demyx looked out the window as Axel drove the short distance from the blond's house to the woman doctor's. He wouldn't say he wasn't afraid, because he was terrified of what the cost might be and pain that is surely to come after the surgery. But they first must make a date of when the surgery might be and when Demyx could get the money.

Axel felt his lover's nervousness and sighed. "Stop worrying Demmy, she may be creepy but she's nice. Plus once she finds out about you predicament with money, she'll lower the cost."

"That makes me feel a whole lot better," the blond said sarcastically. "The cost isn't really what I'm afraid of; it's the pain that fallows after the surgery."

"Don't worry about that, she'll give you enough drugs to surpass the pain. You'll only have the pain for a day, and then you'll have to start learning how to use your new arms."

"And you know this how?"

"I know Rosso and she explains a lot about her work."

"Oh."

Axel drove up a big driveway that led to a large house. It was a white, two story house with large windows. The driveway went around in a circle so it went back out into the road; a piece of it went to the side of the house where the garage was. That was where they parked. The redhead helped the blond out and led him to the doorway.

The redhead rang the doorbell and both waited for several minutes before the door opened. A young woman in her early thirties opened the door, her face held annoyance. She had long red hair as bright as Axel's, golden eyes, pale skin, and the skimpiest skirt Demyx had ever seen. The noodle strap tank top also was a little too low for the blond's comfort. But Demyx was glad for the long lab coat.

"Can I help you Axel?" Her voice was smooth as silk and was heavy in a German accent. "Oh, and who is your little pregnant friend?"

"Uh…" both of the boys said at the same time.

"What, you didn't know your little friend here was pregnant? What a shame Axel," she tsked. She suddenly leaned over towards the blond and sniffed. "Ah, especially if its yours Axel!"

"So he really is pregnant?" the redhead asked, gulping down the wad of spit that was stuck in his throat.

"Of course and by the smell of it," she sniffed again, "a couple of days now. I hope you'll take responsibility Axel."

"I am."

"Oh? So you're actually sticking to this handsome boy? For how long?"

"As long as life takes me."

Rosso patted his back harshly in a friendly gesture. "That's what I've wanted to hear for a long time. Please, do come in and chat for a while." She gestured them in, closing the door after they entered. "Would you like something to drink blondy, a beer for you Axel?"

"No thank you," Demyx replied quietly while Axel said a 'Oh god yes.'

"I'll be back in a jiffy."

The blond sat down on the corner of the L shaped couch before giving the redhead an odd look.

"What?" Axel said innocently, giving an odd questioning look. Demyx didn't fall for it. "Ok, so she's a little bit weird-"

"A little?"

"Ok, on the verge of being insanity, but she's still a pretty nice lady. Besides, whoever is lover of mine; my aunt will surely like whoever it is."

"Aunt?" Demyx did not see that coming.

"Yeah, Rosso's my aunt. Couldn't you tell?"

"I thought around it…"

Axel chuckled when Rosso walked in with two beers, handing one to Axel. She sat on the coffee table in front of them, taking a wig of her beer. "So… why are you here Axel?"

"Well, as you can see; my lover here needs some artificial arms. And I was hoping sometime soon before the baby becomes more developed. Or, is that not an option?" The young redhead boy had his fingers crossed as he waited for his aunt to speak.

"It's possible. But… it has to be done before the week ends. It'll be too late by then. If we do it before Thursday, then everything should be ok."

"I can feel a but about to come," Axel said with a slight sigh.

"But… I can't give him any heavy sedatives unless you want me to kill the baby. But seeing the horrific look on your face, I can see that you don't want that."

"Of course not!" Demyx said, body tense in fear for his baby.

"Well then, Mr. Strife, I will have your arms prepared on Tuesday and we'll have the surgery on Wednesday," she said calmly, speaking like she was an old friend of the blond's.

"How do you know my name?" Demyx asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Well, it is impossible for a man to get pregnant. And the only male that can get pregnant are the Strifes. And I have looked up the name several times," Rosso explained.

Demyx nodded.

"I'll see you Wednesday; and you don't have to worry about payment. I have enough money as it is."

(Thursday)

If anyone asked Demyx how he felt, he would reply, 'like a run over squirrel'. Because that literally how he felt. Since he couldn't have any heavy sedatives, he had to deal with light pain killers; which toned down the aching pain in his skin that had been cut open for the new arms placed there down a small notch.

He laid there in the guest bedroom of Rosso's home, his brother standing next beside his bed along with Axel. Demyx slept through most of it, not remembering half of what happened that day. It was good for the most part too. Most of it was mostly pain, luckily he forgot about those memories.

(Friday)

Demyx finally woke up around 12 in the afternoon. The pain was gone, except for the itching redness around the metal parts attached to his body. Instantly, he moved an arm to itch the redness there, not knowing he had arms to scratch with now. When was sedated enough for now, he laid back down to sleep when he suddenly remembered that he had just itched himself with his hand!

He immediately sat up again and looked down at smooth metallic arms. He flexed his fingers slowly, getting used to moving his hand and fingers. He rotated his arms, wondering how he could move them like a normal person could. He went to touch them, but felt nothing. He could feel anything with his new arms. He couldn't feel pressure, hot, cold, or hurt.

But Demyx was thankful to have something than nothing. He looked to the side of the room where a clip board with paper and a pen sat on the table next to his bed. He grabbed it, took the pen with his right hand and tried to write on the blank pieces of paper. It was sloppy and hard to read, but he actually wrote with his hand!

He retried and retried writing out sentences and names until he got to the point where it almost looked perfect for him. It came naturally to him like talking had. He perfected it until late in the evening when Axel came and picked him up to take him home. He was surprised to see hi blond awake and already writing with his hand. The whole clipboard was filled out by the time Axel had come for him.

He was surprised by how quickly Demyx had improved over the last few hours.

--

Before the two boys left Demyx had to ask Rosso an important question.

"Rosso, how did make these arms? And how come they can move like a normal human hand can?"

"Well," she started, "the arms are made out of stainless steal with water protection painted on top of it. And I connected the mechanical nerves to your shoulder nerves together to make it move and rotate like a normal human hand. You can practically do anything with this arm of yours, except feel pressure and stuff like that," she explained.

This amazed the blond beyond all reason. It was amazing of what doctors could do today. He thanked the woman and let Axel take him home. But before he went inside, Axel had an important question to ask him.

"Demyx?" The redhead stopped the blond before he could get onto the porch. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Demyx replied with a half smile.

"Can you… would you…would you like to move in with me? I bought myself a condo while you were out of it on Thursday and I wanted you to move in with me. I don't like the idea of moving the baby back and forth between parents."

Demyx stared, smile gone. But it was back a second later as he jumped the redhead, arms wrapping around his lover. "Yes! Yes I would love to!"

"Good, you'll move in tomorrow."

The blond nodded before frowning. "Everything seems to be going so fast. I mean, we had sex for the first time on a Wednesday or Thursday, then we went out to your uncle's cabin for the week end, and now… here I am, moving in with you because I got pregnant with your baby. Do you really want to stick with me because you like me a lot, or are saying all this because of some other reason?"

Axel let out sigh, grinning. "It's the latter."

"Oh," Demyx looked down at his feet.

The redhead gently grabbed the blond's chin and made him look up at him. "It's because I love you, not like, but love."

At that moment, Demyx felt like he could fly.