Rhyme & Reason - Chapter 1

Deep in the gardens outside The Castle that Never Was, a familiar figure was currently tending to his rose bushes and irises. The all too familiar locks of rosy colored hair stood out against the regulation Organization black cloak, however something else seemed to stand out with this young man as well. Not sapphire blue eyes, nor trademark rose colored hair, but something else that was just starting to become visible underneath the black leather cloak.1

“Mar, what are you doing here? I thought I told you to take it easy for today.” Vexen spoke softly, but firmly to the younger male. It was a statement for now and not an order. But he knew if the other didn’t listen, he could easily change it and pull rank thereby ordering the other to go to bed. 2

“I am aware of your request, but I doubt I am going to break. Hasn’t happened yet with me tending to my flowers, so why start now?” Marluxia asked softly as he watched Vexen’s expression go from concerned to less than pleased in a few seconds flat. That is definitely not a happy face… 3

“Are you also aware that you are carrying our child? We got lucky to have a second chance. I don’t want you to suffer another miscarriage. The last one was devastating enough for us. Now follow my orders, XI.” Vexen spoke firmly, finally using his partner’s number to hopefully get his point across. 4

“I’m past the danger point, IV. After thirteen weeks you’re safe correct? And the last time I checked it was a couple days until exactly fifteen weeks.” Marluxia protested, crossing his arms as he looked at Vexen. He knew that the other meant well, especially since he did not want a repeat of last year. Neither did Vexen. 5

“I know that. I’m counting my blessings for every week that goes by. You were thirteen weeks when it happened. So please understand my concern and rest. I’ll get Demyx to water your flowers and garden to keep you off your feet. We will talk more when you wake up.” Vexen started, finally glad that the other was listening to him. 6

Marluxia sighed and reluctantly headed off to his and Vexen’s shared room, a frown crossing his lips as he left the other in the garden. After he portaled into the room he lay down on their bed, his hands resting over his stomach. Deep inside the 24 year old assassin was happy, but also scared to death. Something could still go wrong, and he had three weeks until the eighteen week ultrasound. The anxiety levels were high for him considering his past experience.7

----8

Demyx tilted his head, watching Vexen once he entered the kitchen. The young nocturne was wondering what exactly was bothering the older male, since he rarely saw Vexen that worried before. At least not for a year, he knew tomorrow was the anniversary of when tragedy befell the academic and the rest of the Organization. Everyone else was well aware of what happened also, especially since it happened during a mandatory meeting. 9

“Something has you worried, Vexen. I can tell because you’ve been poking at the same egg for the last twenty minutes. Is it about what tomorrow is, or is it about Marly?” Demyx asked softly. He honestly didn’t know, nor did he know if he touched a sore subject. Plus he also remembered what happened three months earlier on the anniversary of what would have been the day their child would have come into the world. 10

“It’s nothing for you to worry about, IX. But I do thank you for your concern. I was well aware of what tomorrow is. If anything Marluxia will need us all. He is still taking this hard. Especially since he is two weeks past from where he lost the first baby.” Vexen started, but he too knew what happened with what would have been the birthday of the child that passed away. 11

“Of course. You know I’ll help him. I was there for him when it happened. I just can’t forget that day… he seemed fine that morning at breakfast. It just scared us… I never saw him so scared or in so much pain.” Demyx spoke softly, looking up at Vexen. Aqua green meeting up with emerald green eyes for a few seconds. Judging from the look in the other’s eyes, he remembered too. 12

“I know. He appeared to be fine the whole time, and even Xemnas was shocked. But we must not try to dwell on the events of the past. I just have to make XI see that…” Vexen sighed, staring at the calendar. He moved the pages a few weeks, then saw August 6th circled with a heart, and a flower next to it. He knew Marluxia did it, probably in hopes that he would actually see that day come and have something to show for it instead of more sadness. 13

“August 6th? So he has… 5 months left. This is going to be hard on him… but maybe when he gets to four months he’ll feel better? He’s almost there I mean…” Demyx spoke softly, watching Vexen turn the calendar back to March. He knew he had to get back to Xigbar though, since the other was probably worrying about him.14

“5 and a half months, it will be exactly 5 in a week. But yes, the baby is due in August. It could be earlier though… I’m just planning on putting Marluxia on bed rest from 24 weeks on up until the due date.” Vexen spoke softly, looking down at the other for a moment. He knew Marluxia would hate it, but it was for the best. 15

“He’ll hate it. I know you’re doing it for the best of the baby though and for Marly too.” Demyx spoke before he got up from the table, moving to put his plate and glass in the sink before heading out of the kitchen. He knew Vexen would follow suit though, especially if there was more to it than he figured. 16

“Of course I am. He went through a lot in the last year alone, and he really shouldn’t be stressing now. I’m lucky he made it this far.” Vexen started, following Demyx out of the kitchen. He was being honest in his words, and he was thankful that Marluxia had made it as far as he had really. 17

Demyx nodded before he headed down the hall with Vexen. He figured they might as well get some rest, considering Xemnas was going to be holding a meeting bright and early tomorrow. He knew it had to do with the anniversary of the miscarriage, or something else entirely. He didn’t know for sure yet. 18

----19

Flashback20

March 1st one year earlier21

“Mar, how are you holding up?” Demyx asked softly, knowing that his older friend had been suffering through a fair amount of morning sickness for the last few weeks. But it had just ended a week earlier, so he noticed the rose haired male seemed fine. At least a little happier at any rate, or so was his general demeanor.22

“I’m alright. Just the usual pregnancy things…I’m tired, and I ate the whole jar of pickles yesterday. But I’m finally starting to show, I noticed it last night but everyone was asleep. And I doubt Vexen wanted me to run around the castle shouting at the top of my lungs.” Marluxia laughed, finally in high spirits. He actually did feel pretty good, and ignored what he thought were the usual pregnancy related cramps. Since his body was adjusting to something that it wasn’t used to carrying around for another six months. 23

“I know. I can sort of tell… but can’t see it through your cloak.” Demyx smiled softly, looking at his friend. He put his hand on the other’s stomach gently and looked up at Marluxia, his smile getting wider before he pulled it back. Now it was definitely real. The young nocturne was more than excited for his friend now. 24

“Not for another few weeks you can’t. Vexen said maybe by 18 at the earliest, or 16. But it all depends on how I eat and how the baby is. I just haven’t felt anything yet, but thirteen weeks is still early.” He smiled softly. He felt nothing could possibly go wrong, that they’d just go through their routine meeting and get assigned heartless scouting missions as always along with collecting hearts. 25

Demyx nodded, smiling softly. But then he saw Saïx walking down the hallway and sighed. That meant only one thing, that the meeting was being held earlier than expected. He looked over at his friend and gestured down the hall. He walked down the hall with Marluxia following closely, before they portaled off and arrived in their respective seats in Where Nothing Gathers. 26

“And thus starts a 4 hour meeting…” Marluxia sighed, while he heard Larxene snicker next to him. He shrugged it off, moving his hands over his stomach lightly while he listened to Xemnas start the meeting off. Of course with the usual ‘we must collect more hearts’ speech, along with other seemingly important things to the older male. If he fell asleep, he could always blame the pregnancy. 27

xXx28

A few hours had passed, and a few of the members had indeed fallen asleep while Xemnas was still droning on about new worlds that have yet to be discovered, and for everyone to head out on reconnaissance missions to investigate said worlds and then report back their findings at the end of the day. 29

Marluxia was listening to every word, a few tears in his eyes as he felt the annoying cramps from earlier get worse. He didn’t understand it really, he felt fine that morning only having light cramps that he knew were normal. He tried to ignore it for the most part, still focused on Xemnas and his speech.30

Demyx tilted his head, playing with a small water bubble in his hands before he let it disappear and splatter on his lap. He could tell something was bothering Marluxia, the look on his face was unmistakable. It was of pain and concern, along with a huge bit of fear. 31

“XI, I didn’t know you were so emotionally attached to Neverland. Last time you were there you did very well. So that makes the second assignment. II, you are in Land of Dragons. And XI will be in Neverland.” Xemnas spoke before he continued on with his list of assignments. 32

Marluxia shook his head before a low moan escaped his lips, bringing his hands to his stomach. He closed his eyes tightly, trying not to cry out. He didn’t think whatever was happening was supposed to be this painful. He breathed slowly, his head still lowered. But then he felt something, and thought he saw a little bit of blood on the white marble chair.33

“Ah…” He spoke softly, putting one hand on the arm rest of his chair while the other remained on his stomach. He knew Xemnas gave him an order, but he really didn’t feel like going anywhere. He watched as the others were dismissed, while he eventually portaled off himself. But he was definitely in a considerable amount of pain.34

Demyx immediately ran up to his older friend and helped him down to Vexen’s lab, having seen the blood on Marluxia’s chair. And in all his non-life, and even when he was a Somebody, the young nocturne knew that blood was not a good thing. Especially if pain was involved with the blood. 35

xXx36

“Vexy…” Demyx spoke, having walked into the lab while he was still supporting Marluxia. He knew that Vexen had to have seen the blood too; maybe it was the reason why the older male disappeared so quickly. He shrugged and offered worried smile toward Marluxia. 37

“He has to be here… Ah… something is wrong…” Marluxia spoke softly, trying to breathe slowly as he felt the pain get worse. It wasn’t entirely excruciating yet, but it felt like the worst cramps he had ever felt in the entire pregnancy, or even his life. Plus he knew the blood was a bad sign along with the pain. 38

“Come in, IX. Mar…” Vexen frowned, instantly leading the younger assassin over to the table. He had a horrible feeling about this, but he wanted to make sure before he made any conclusions. Right now he really didn’t want to scare Marluxia more than he already was. He knew that the other was freaked out beyond belief if not scared to death.39

Marluxia just nodded, getting up on the table carefully while he lay back against the soft cushions and the pillow that was lying on the top part. Right now he could care less about the comfort; he wanted the pain to end. And he wanted to be reassured that the baby was alright, that it was just a case of his muscles and the rest of his body adjusting to the growing infant. 40

Vexen unzipped Marluxia’s cloak and removed the slightly looser pants the other had come to wear over the last couple weeks. His face fell when he noted the blood, and the amount of it. He knew exactly what was happening, and at 13 weeks the unborn child was only a little over 4 inches long and barely an ounce. Just a little bigger than a strawberry. But he knew this was bad, and he had to do something.41

“I just have to check something Mar…” Vexen spoke softly after putting a blanket over Marluxia’s lower half, getting the ultrasound machine and brought it over to the other male. He put gel on the others stomach before he moved the transceiver over the gelled skin slowly. He half expected to hear something, but he also only saw a small still form. He sighed and lowered his head, turning the monitor off. 42

Vexen turned to Demyx, knowing that the other had to be strong for Marluxia even though this was a sad thing that had just occurred. He had to tell Xemnas first off, and then find a way to make Marluxia more comfortable given his situation and the amount of pain he had to be in. He knew that the hardest part was still to come, the grief and when he knew that the baby was gone.43

“Dem… I want you there for him. I think he knows… the fetus hasn’t passed yet, but it will in an hour or so. I know he will blame himself, but he has no injuries. Nothing internal, it just happens without explanation sometimes.” Vexen spoke softly before he gave Marluxia something for the pain, knowing to check him in an hour. 44

After an hour passed, Vexen came back with a frown on his face. Seeing Marluxia still experiencing a bit of pain. But he knew that it was normal, considering he figured the fetus had probably passed by now. He walked up to the younger male, and put his hand on his shoulder before he pulled back the covers and frowned. It hurt him as well, but he knew that Marluxia was feeling much worse. 45

End Flashback46

March 1st, present47

Marluxia sighed softly, staring at the calendar after he walked into the kitchen. It was still early in the morning; he had left Vexen asleep while he wanted to clear his mind. He knew exactly what day it was, and he didn’t exactly feel up to going to the meeting this morning. He knew that Xemnas was going to be calling it in the next hour, but he didn’t want a repeat of what happened a year earlier. 48

“I wish it didn’t happen… I really wish it didn’t… I can’t get that out of my head…” Marluxia sighed, sitting at the table while he talked to no one but his orange juice glass. He closed his eyes halfway; his normal expression was almost emotionless. His eyes seemed darker, but were also rimmed with unshed tears. He didn’t even hear footsteps coming up from behind him either. 49

“It’s not your fault…” Vexen spoke softly, walking up behind Marluxia before moving his arms around the others waist gently. He frowned, rubbing the others stomach feeling a faint flutter. He put his chin on the others head, smelling a faint hint of roses from his hair. 50