Flower Child Ch. 9

Two months had passed since Demyx had told Marluxia about what he and Xigbar were trying for, but now the younger nocturne was feeling a bit under the weather and wanted to try and find his older rose haired friend. Mainly to talk and to see if Marluxia had any ideas on what was going on with him. Demyx had a pretty good idea, but he wanted to hear it from someone that had been through it before. And maybe give some advice, or at least an opinion as to what was happening.1

“You alright Demyx?” Xigbar asked, spotting the younger walk past him with a worried look on his face. He was aware that the younger was not feeling well at all, he hadn’t been for a couple weeks or so now. If he was going to talk with Marluxia, he figured he might as well go along as well. It would be good to see how the other was faring with Xiuying.2

“Oh, hey Xiggy. I’m alright, I think. I was just going to talk with Marly and see if he has any ideas about what could be wrong with me. I mean I think I know, but I don’t want to get my hopes up.” Demyx spoke, looking up at Xigbar with a light smile on his face. He wanted it to be true, but he could have also just had a bad case of food poisoning.3

“You’ve been sick awhile, Demyx. You seem fine now, but I know I was there this morning. Remember I rubbed your back?” Xigbar smiled, he had a good idea what it meant too. But it was probably best they saw Marluxia then Vexen. Since the older scientist definitely knew what was going on.4

“Of course I do. That wasn’t a good feeling though. I’ve never been that sick before.” Demyx frowned for a moment as they headed toward the garden. First stop, Marluxia. And then they’d head down to the lab and talk to Vexen. He also wanted that as an excuse to play with Xiuying also.5

Xigbar nodded, but he knew that hopefully there was a pleasant explanation behind Demyx’s illness and not something like only food poisoning, or the flu. That wouldn’t have been the kind of news he was hoping for at all. So deep inside he was hoping that the blond was pregnant, giving him a chance to be a father.6

“This is a carnation. That will be one of the first words I hope you say. And you see this flower? It’s a rose, much different than a carnation. See the petals?” Marluxia smiled as he was showing Xiuying around the garden, pointing out the differences in the flowers to her. He was still hoping she’d get his powers, mainly so she didn’t freeze his garden in the future.7

“Marly’s lost it, he’s talking to himself. I thought you knew all of your flowers.” Xigbar laughed, walking up behind Marluxia. He didn’t know that he was talking to Xiuying about the different flowers, or he wouldn’t have thought the other was talking to himself.8

“Funny Xigbar. Of course I know about them. I was teaching Xiuying about the different flowers, I just haven’t gotten to the orchids since I have them on another side of the garden. So what brings you two down here?” Marluxia asked as he turned to face his superior, the smile not leaving his face. He had an idea, but he wanted to hear it from Xigbar and Demyx first.9

Demyx smiled, looking up at Marluxia before looking at Xiuying. Now he was definitely hoping that it was true. He felt sick like Marluxia did with Xiuying, and he tried to eat things he normally didn’t only to lose them not long after he ate them. In his mind this was going to turn out just how he wanted.10

“Well, I know you remember how you felt before you found out about Xiuying right? I’ve been feeling the same way for about a couple weeks or so. I don’t want to get my hopes up though.” Demyx spoke, watching Xigbar carefully take Xiuying into his arms while he spoke with Marluxia. He knew that Xigbar would take care of the infant, or Marluxia wouldn’t have let him take her from his arms.11

“Of course I remember that. Who can forget praising the porcelain god for three months? Wait… so you think…” Marluxia asked before a smile crossed his lips. He knew exactly where he wanted to go, and he figured Demyx would appreciate it too. And he had friends he could talk to at this certain place as well.12

“I might be. Wait, why are you smiling Marly? Happy for me or do you have something in mind?” Demyx asked, seeing the smile crossing the older man’s lips. Normally he’d be afraid if Marluxia even though of something, since he knew the other’s plans didn’t always work out the way he wanted them to.13

“You’ll see. Xigbar, can you watch Xiuying for a few hours? I’m taking Demyx to Wonderland to see some old friends of mine. It would do him some good to get out for awhile. I’ll keep him away from Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb though, don’t worry.” Marluxia laughed as he waited for his superior’s response.14

“And please… keep him away from the Mad Hatter and the Marsh Hare. They’re more insane than the Tweedles. Oh, and the caterpillar. I don’t want him to even get near whatever that creature smokes.” Xigbar shuddered, but waved toward Marluxia once the other opened a portal. He just prayed that his lover and Marluxia would be alright, and not end up at one of the many un-birthday parties the hatter liked to throw.15

Once they arrived in Wonderland, Demyx was almost immediately hit by the different and strange things about the world. He didn’t even know where to start looking, but then he saw a smile in a tree soon forming into a medium sized purple cat. The cat soon disappeared and then reappeared in front of him and Marluxia.16

“Oh, it’s only you Cheshire Cat. Can you please move so we can be on our way? I wanted to show my friend the garden.” Marluxia spoke, knowing this cat very well. But he didn’t know if the purple feline remembered him, or even recognized him.17

“He does the same thing you do, Marly. That’s kind of cool.” Demyx spoke, looking at the cat in wonder. It wasn’t every day he saw a cat that could just disappear in only a few seconds flat, and then reappear in another location.18

“Where do you think I learned it from? But anyway, can you please tell us the way?” Marluxia spoke, vaguely remembering the direction to the gardens. Of course he also wanted to stop by the talking flowers and see if they remembered him.19

“You are lost, and have not found your way. Or you have found your way, and are not lost.” The Cheshire Cat spoke, looking at the two in front of him. The pink haired man looked vaguely familiar, at least the deep blue eyes did.20

“And he sounds like you too… this must be your home world, Marly.” Demyx chuckled, referring to when Marluxia speaks in riddles on occasion. But he just waited to see what Marluxia had to say to the cat, not really that worried yet. They were only gone for a half hour.21

“I don’t remember my home world that well, but I wouldn’t doubt it. But if I am found, then I am not lost. And if I am lost, then I have not been found.” Marluxia grinned, crossing his arms. Two could play at this game. He remembered saying something similar when he was in charge of Castle Oblivion.22

“Armulai, it is you. You know the way to the flowers. But you keep walking the path, you will arrive at either destination, coming or leaving. You will always end up where you want to go.” The Cheshire Cat grinned before slowly phasing out.23

Marluxia just chuckled softly as the cat left. He walked down the path, making sure that Demyx stayed close to him. This was definitely no place to get lost, especially if the Queen of Hearts was in one of her moods again. Which seemed to be almost all the time, so he tried to stay clear of her when he could.24

“Armulai! He has returned.” A tiger lily spoke, turning her head toward the path where she and the others had felt soft foot steps on the grass and through the dirt. It had been a long time since she saw the blue eyed man, along with the other flowers.25

“That is not possible, Lily. He has abandoned us.” The purple iris started, almost dejectedly. She couldn’t believe the tiger lily, not until she heard the other’s voice again. But it had been years, she was more upset that their favorite person had left them.26

Marluxia tilted his head as he heard the flowers gossiping, a light smile crossing his lips. He knew he would have never left them intentionally; he just had no choice since his heart was taken not too long after he promised that he would return. And now he was a different person, but he still loved the flowers and their other friends.27

“Who has abandoned whom, Iris?” Marluxia spoke, walking up to the flowers making sure that Demyx was still close by. He should probably think about bringing him back home if he was feeling tired, but he just wanted to bring his friend here to get his mind off the sickness he was experiencing.28

“You don’t belong here, weed. Be gone. We thought our long departed friend has returned to us. It looks like you were mistaken, Lily.” The iris spoke harshly, turning her petals toward Marluxia. She didn’t trust this man, although his voice was the same.29

“Now hold on just a minute. Who so carefully removed the weeds from your roots? Who helped tend your leaf injuries? I’m not exactly the same person, but I know all of you by name.” Marluxia spoke, looking at the tiger lily and iris.30

“Armulai… it is you. But your hair… it wasn’t pink before was it? It resembles Rose now.” The tiger lily spoke softly before turning her attention to Demyx. If she could smile, she would. But the tone in her voice sounded calmer than the iris.31

“It wasn’t always pink, no. Armulai died years ago… I’m Marluxia now. It is a long story, but I thought I would bring my friend here. He just has a lot on his mind, since he’s going to be a parent soon.” Marluxia replied, moving Demyx to sit down on the bench near the flowers. He knew where they were allowed to sit, and where they weren’t.32

“Oh. But it is very good to see an old friend again. Will you be staying long?” The lily asked, looking up at Marluxia and Demyx. She still missed the other’s voice and kind nature toward her and the other flowers in the garden. And she wanted Iris to apologize to Marluxia and his friend as well.33

“I’m sorry, I have a baby to take care of and I told my friend I’d be gone for a few hours. It’s been an hour already my dear friends. We can stay only an hour longer, but no more I’m afraid. But I will be sure to bring Xiuying by some day.” Marluxia smiled with a warm glint in his eyes as he spoke of his daughter. Definitely a huge change compared to how he used to be before the infant.34

“Lovely name. Graceful Flower, so you have honored us as well. But you should go back, Armulai. And we wish your friend luck as well.” Iris finally spoke with a somewhat kinder tone to her voice. She watched as Marluxia nodded and left with Demyx, knowing that the older nobody would visit them again soon.35

“Where are they…? I have the results of Demyx’s test. And I wanted him to hear it himself.” Vexen spoke, standing next to Xigbar. He had already told his fellow nobody, but he still wanted to share the news with the one involved. It was rather good news, and one that meant their numbers would be expanding once more.36

“They’ll be here. Marluxia said he was taking Demyx to Wonderland to get his mind off things. He promised they wouldn’t be gone long. I know he can’t stay away from Xiuying for more than an hour.” Xigbar smiled, looking down at the little girl in Vexen’s arms.37

“He is a good mother, I’ll give him that. Honestly I never even saw it coming, so it is a pleasant surprise. He actually adores something other than his flowers, and has someone that will love him back and not find any fault. It’s what he wanted all along.” Vexen spoke while shifting the two month old infant in his arms. But he adored Xiuying as well; she was his flesh and blood. Something he couldn’t remember as Even. He couldn’t remember if his other had children, or if he did not.38

“You know you love him, Even. Just tell him so tonight, call him by his heart’s name and he’ll know you mean it. Oh, speak of the assassin. There he is.” Xigbar smiled, ignoring Vexen’s glare as he saw Marluxia and Demyx walk down the hall with smiles on their faces. Only to be met with the smile of Vexen.39

“So… what’s the verdict? Is it food poisoning, or something else?” Marluxia asked as Demyx went over to Xigbar; the other still had a smile on his face. So it must have been really good news, or the older was hiding something and didn’t want to worry his smaller lover.40

Vexen just smiled, moving to hand Xiuying to Marluxia as he stood next to the other’s side. He then looked at Demyx and Xigbar, moving his arm around Marluxia’s waist. This was great news, hopefully the best news the two would have had in awhile during their non-lives.41

“Well, I came to the same conclusion with Marluxia almost a year ago. And you are showing the same signs, Demyx. So congratulations, you’re approximately 9 weeks pregnant.” Vexen spoke, looking at the blond nocturne as he hugged Xigbar, tears falling down his cheeks.42

“A baby… we’re having a baby, Xiggy!” Demyx chirped, still hugging his older lover. The tears eventually slowing down as he kissed the scarred man. He couldn’t have been happier, it was something he wanted since he spoke to Marluxia after the birth of Xiuying. And now he’d be experiencing the same joy that his friend had.43

“Yes we are Demyx. Our very own.” Xigbar smiled, hugging the other back gently. He sensed that Marluxia and Vexen needed to talk so he decided to pick Demyx up with his arms behind the other’s knees and the other arm supporting his back before he portaled off toward his room.44

“They seem very happy. Then again Demyx did say he wanted this right? So I know that baby will be loved.” Marluxia smiled before he took Xiuying into his arms. He couldn’t believe she was actually here, and a living breathing being in his arms.45

“Of course he did, Mar. But there was something I wanted to tell you…” Vexen spoke softly, looking at Marluxia while the older held their daughter close to him. Somehow it felt kind of good to see the other holding a two month old infant in his arms. Perhaps better since it was his daughter instead of someone else’s child.46

“What is it?” Marluxia asked hesitantly, afraid of what the other was about to say to him. Was he going to just let him raise Xiuying by himself? Or something else entirely? He just didn’t want it to be anything like that at all.47

“Just how I feel about you. I neglected to say so earlier because I was so worried about what others would say. And what would have happened with the baby, or you. Mostly if Xemnas decided to kill you after Xiuying.” Vexen spoke softly, looking at Marluxia.48

“That’s being cryptic, Vexen. You know I hate that. Just tell me what it is please.” Marluxia spoke softly, keeping his voice calm since he was holding Xiuying and didn’t want to her to end up crying or screaming at the top of her lungs.49

Vexen sighed and moved to kiss Marluxia on the lips, hoping that would give him a hint. But he had the words as well; it was just hard to say it right now. It wasn’t exactly coming to him that easy, but he did know what he wanted to say. The phrasing just didn’t sound right in his head.50

“I… love you, Armulai. I tried to tell you earlier, it just didn’t seem right. But I think it sounds right now. We have a child, and it’s only right to have the same feelings for you as you do for me. This can’t be a one sided relationship.” Vexen spoke after he pulled away from the kiss. He noticed the faint blush on Marluxia’s cheeks, deciding to put a hand on one of them. He knew he couldn’t rub the blush away, but apparently made it worse.51

“I know… but you had time to decide your feelings. I’m glad you did though. I love you too, Even.” Marluxia spoke softly, managing to hug Vexen the best he could without accidentally putting Xiuying between himself and Vexen. It just came out to be a weird one armed hug, but it served the same purpose.52

Vexen just smiled and kissed Marluxia again, a little deeper this time. But he knew it meant the same thing. He was starting to rethink what he told the younger about waiting two years. He still wanted to wait until Marluxia was healed though, he couldn’t bear to hurt the other. Of course little did he know that perhaps their plans of a second child could possibly be coming sooner than they thought.