When Distant Hearts Beat As One

Author’s Notes:
I’m so happy that everyone is enjoying the story so far. I really want to thank you all for the support that’s been given for the story thus far. ::sniffles:: It means…so much…

With nothing more to say, here’s the next chapter:

When Distant Hearts Beat as One
Chapter Four: One Step at a Time

Sora’s eyes wondered, concentrating on nothing in general as his mind wondered, no longer listen to Cloud talk to his best friend Aerith on his cell, Ri poking and probing him as if he were some kind of weird bug, or Leon having a heated but quiet discussion with Ansem’s three apprentices. (One of which, Braig, seemed to really get on his nerves.)

Not to long ago, Ansem had gotten off the phone with his father, but said nothing as he came back into the room with a small stack of papers, reading them with interest before nodding at Sora and motioning for him to follow him into the examining room.

He took blood, just like he promised which meant needles…which meant Cloud and Leon had to hold him still so he wouldn’t run away, like he’d wanted to.

And then what happened next was just…weird. He didn’t really know how to describe it and it was plain to see that Ansem had gotten some weird kick out of doing it, muttering things like “Going to have to improvise, never done this to a male” and “Such a scientific marvel…perhaps I am the first…”

‘Like this would happen to any other guy ,’ Sora thought bitterly as he sat on the stool, swinging his legs a little to keep his stomach calm. He was very proud: he’d only thrown up once while being examined (and that was actually normal because he had a bad habit of feeling sick when he saw too much blood anyway, in a vile or otherwise), and was miraculously, staying calm--ish.

But that didn’t stop him from worrying.

Ansem had announced that the results would be ready before the end of the day but the old man still wouldn’t tell Sora how he could possibly even be pregnant. It was like he was a magnate for this sort of thing happening: there was that one time in kindergarden when he wore nothing but red and this stupid dog peed on him.

Then there was that time when he was in second grade, when Naming` drew his ‘picture’ and for weeks, all the kids thought he was some kinda of elf…that been a nightmare and he’d had to hide literally, behind Riku to keep people away from him. (You wouldn’t believe the ways people thought of to make him ‘show his true self’.) Then there was that one time when he accidentally gave the wrong soup to an already sick Sephiroth when Cloud was taking care of him. . .

Yeah. Not even gonna dwell on that nightmare.

And now he was possibly pregnant. With his best friend baby. Sora took a deep breath. Riku was his first so it was no question who the father was--but it was Riku. They were barely on good terms now…sure they were playing nice and trying but they’d been…whatever it was they were…for just about their entire high school career. Now two wine coolers and a stubborn girlfriend later, he’s going to have his baby.

Oh yeah….Kairi.

“Crap, I completely forgot about her!” Sora exclaimed and Ri looked up confused and pausing in mid poke. He looked at her as if she should already know. “Kairi! She’s my girlfriend and I’m going to have to tell her I’m pregnant--and then I have to tell it’s Riku’s baby! Oh man, she’s going to hate me and the baby and the fact I was with a guy she despises and oh my god, what if I’m a horrible father--mother--what am I?!”

“Both, who cares about her, and calm down!” Ri snapped, slapping him in the face. Sora blinked and Cloud glared at her, pausing in his conversation on the phone. She smirked sheepishly. “Always wanted to do that…”

“Look Sora, I’m not going to lie to you and say that this isn’t a big deal: it’s a very big deal,” Cloud began, still glaring at Ri a moment before focusing on Sora. “But I will tell you not to worry. If you are pregnant, you’ll be fine. You’ll have our 100% support and it’s not like we’re poor so the baby will be well taken care of. And since Zack and Aerith just had their baby--”

“I’m the one that actually had it,” said a sweet voice over the phone, followed by a very loud “But I helped--and let me tell you how fun that was!“ before there was laughter and the sound of something being smacked. Ri frowned up at him. “How can you hear after talking on that thing, it’s so loud.”

“So are you, so yeah, it is a wonder I can still hear--or any of us,” Cloud retorted and she stuck out her tongue, which he ignored, turning his attention back to Sora. “But like I was saying: she already has gone trough what you will have to so she’s already volunteered to help you.”

Sora nodded absently, still looking worried. “But what about Riku and Kairi?”

“Well, since you keep mentioning him, I’m going to assume he’s the father then,” Cloud frowned and Ri looked at him as if he were stupid. “Nooo! Really? And here I thought Kairi had a big secret Sora didn’t want to tell us about!”

“Shut up,” Cloud snapped. “Look, he’ll either take responsibility or he won’t. If he doesn’t: screw him, you won’t need him anyway Sora, you have us.”

“But…the baby,” Sora began softly, immediately looking sad. “A baby should have both its parents, its father and…mother-father thing. If Riku won’t take responsibility…I won’t lie and say it won’t bother me. It will…if only for the baby’s sake. It’s half his fault, he should take half responsibility right?”

“In that perfect little justice filled world of yours, yes Sora. But not everyone thinks like you Zoey,” Ri told him softly, holding his hands to try and comfort him. “It’s going to be okay…really. If Riku wants to be an asshole, I promise, you’ll have so many friends and family taking care of you, it’ll be like having millions of fathers!”

“It’s not the same,” Sora muttered miserably and Cloud walked over and placed a hand on Sora’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It will be fine Sora, I promise…but…let’s just see if you’re even pregnant before you start to get an ulcer about this, kay?”

Sora took a deep breath and smiled a false smile, trying to seem okay with all of this and brave. But really, he was scared shitless. He didn’t know the first thing about children--sure he’d been around little kids and he’d been there when Aerith had her baby--but it wasn’t nearly the same.

He might have a living, breathing something inside of him…and it would grow and then he’d have to take care of it--he didn’t know how to take care of babies except that you changed their diaper when they cried and gave them milk. Lots of milk. Or something.

“I’m going to be horrible,” Sora whined sadly and Ri gave him a reassuring smile and hugged him from the back around the neck. “Let’s just wait and see what the results are Sora!”

“…M’kay,” he muttered miserably and as if on cue, Ansem walked out of his office, a red vanilla folder in his hand, looking serious but carrying an excited glint in his amber eyes.

That can’t be good.

Everyone grew quiet and Cloud muttered he’d called Aerith back before hanging up the phone and folding his arms over his chest, waiting to hear the results.

“I’ll begin, with an explanation for my seemingly rash actions,” Ansem began and Sora groaned mentally. He was curious as to how it could happen--but he really wanted to know if he was actually pregnant first.

“This is an interesting situation, to say the least,” Ansem continued curiously, opening his folder and looking at the information. “It would appear that sometime during your mother’s pregnancy, your father made the decision to change the sex of the baby.”

Sora looked down right shocked while Cloud looked bewildered and Leon frowned. Ri looked as though she was already fighting to keep from laughing loudly.

“However, the change was made at a point and time when such a thing would be ill advised. Upon birth, all signs seemed positive: you looked like a male--”

“Debatable,” Ri coughed, pretending to choke and Cloud gladly hit her on the back to ‘help’ her.

“--and he had all the male reproductive organs--or to be correct, the outer most organ anyway. However, upon further examination at a later time, it was discovered that you had an unusually high amount of estrogen and furthermore, the complete workings of a dormant female reproduction system.”

“When the hell was this found out?!” Cloud snapped and Ansem hunched. “I’ve only recently become your permanent doctor Mr. Strife, however from the information your father provided, it was at some point when Sora was between fourteen to sixteen. Apparently, Sora was kept in the dark about what all the test were for.”

Sora stared at him in disbelief--he had gone to the doctor an awful lot when he was fifth teen and his parents never really explained why except for “Minor checkups” or something just as ridiculous.

“It appears that you ovulated recently, before sexual intercourse and as such, were ripe for fertilization. Which brings me to my next and most important point.” Ansem closed the folder and staring Sora straight into his eyes, he spoke casually. “You are, in fact, pregnant.”

Sora couldn’t remember a time a room fell so silent.

“Pregnant?” he repeated in a fearful whisper and Ansem nodded. “I do believe that this would be an excellent time to contact said..erm…father of this unborn child so that we may discuss your options.”

“Options?” Sora squeaked before his eyes went wide. “I have to contact Riku?!”

Ansem looked confused. “Why yes. If he is the young man that impregnated you, then I believe this would be a good idea. Now I know this must be very confusing and quite frankly, just plain weird. But I am more than willing to help you through this and explain any and everything you need to know that I am currently aware of.”

“…I’m…pregnant?” he whispered softly, still looking dazed and Cloud hugged him around the shoulder as he flipped up his cell phone. “Maybe I should call him, I don’t think Sora is up to it.”

“No--no! I can do it Cloud, he’s my--baby’s…father…thing,” Sora muttered, becoming quiet with every passing word. “I-I’ll tell him.”

“Sora, are you sure?” Leon called from where he was standing, looking mildly concerned--or as much as he could being…Leon. Sora nodded softly and Cloud hesitantly handed him the phone.

The group watched him intently as he dialed the number, shaking the entire time and rocking a little in Cloud’s arms, waited for the platinum blond to answer the phone.

“Hello?”

Demyx.

“Um, um, hi,” Sora muttered, sounding shaken and Demyx tone quickly became worried. “Hey, who is this? Are you okay?”

“It’s Sora.”

“Oh yeah, hey Sora! Wait…so--what’s wrong? Are you alright, you sound hurt…or scared…want me to get Riku?”

“Yes,” Sora sniffled, on the verge of tears. He had no clue why he was crying--it wasn’t like he’d done something wrong. . .had he? Well sleeping with a guy when drunk wasn’t exactly a good thing and now he’d have a little trophy from it but that wasn’t so bad…was it? He could handle this…couldn’t he?

“Hey Zo?” he heard Riku call over the phone and Sora couldn’t help but think he sounded irate. “Demyx said something was wrong with you--are you okay.”

“No,” Sora admitted softly, trying as hard as he could not to sob. “Are you in danger? Did somebody do something? Where are you?”

“I-I don’t know if I’m in danger and and…you did it and and…I’m at the hospital,” Sora stammered in fear and there was a pause of silence on the phone before Riku spoke again.

“Okay Sora, just calm down and tell me what happened. What did I do, why are you at the hospital and what’s wrong. I can’t help or fix this if I don’t--”

“I’m pregnant!” Sora sobbed, dropping the phone and Ri picked it up quickly as Cloud began to comfort him, Leon striding over to do the same while Dilan went to get a box of tissue, Ansem and Xehanort watching the young man with interest and concern while Braig quickly left the room to get the other apprentices so he wouldn’t be seen laughing.

“Hey, Ku? Ri,” she announced smoothing, rubbing her free hand on Sora’s back. “So yeah, you knocked my little bro up now what are you gonna do about it?”

“. . .”

“I know you’re still there, I can hear you breathing you know,” she announced matter of factly, taking her hand away and placing it on her hip. “Answer me Riku, this isn’t a joke here! What are you going to--”

Click.

She blinked then sighing, hung up the phone and looked back at Sora and the others sadly. “He just kinda…hung up.”

‘He doesn’t want it,’ Sora thought miserably as fresh tears watered his eyes and he buried his face in Cloud’s chest while his elder brother tried to whisper encouraging things to him that he wasn’t paying attention to. ‘H-he doesn’t want to have anything to do with it--why would he? He’s young and has a full life ahead of him and if he doesn’t have to--’

“So what is the situation with our father to be,” Ansem asked politely and Ri shook her head. “Dunno. He hung up on me and that was before not saying anything so I don’t really know what’s going on. Don’t think he’s too happy though.”

“Well fuck him,” Cloud stated matter of factly. “Sora doesn’t need that little bastard anyway if he doesn’t want to be around.” He pulled Sora off of him softly and holding him by the arms, stared at him angrily. “Sora, what the hell were you doing with Riku anyway?”

“I-I don’t know!” Sora sobbed. “I was drinking a-and he was there and Kairi abandoned me and then Riku took me to his house and then we did stuff and now I’m pregnant and he doesn’t want it!”

Cloud let him bury his face back into his chest and looked over at Leon who shook his head. “He’s not going to be able to tell us the details Cloud--not coherently.”

“What do you mean, he just did,” Ri replied confused and everyone looked at her. “Sora was drinking, Kairi got anal and dumped him where ever they were, Riku took him to his place, they slept together cause Sora was drunk and now he’s knocked up but Riku probably doesn’t want the baby, weren’t you paying attention?”

Silence.

“Well that’s certainly dreadful,” Ansem mumbled finally, looking as if in heavy thought. “An inebriated young man, taken advantage of and now pregnant with the father not wanting to take responsibility. What a…mess.”

“And who the hell does Kairi think she is to just leave Sora there drunk!” Cloud snapped angrily, actually seeming as though he wanted an answer. “She’s suppose to be the responsible one!”

“S-s-she got mad cause…I-I wasn’t--and--”

“Ssssh, you can explain it later Sora, you need to calm down first,” Leon muttered softly, smoothing his hair and looking over at Cloud. “What are we going to do about this?”

“What can we do?” Cloud sighed. “We can’t force Riku to want the baby.”

“No, but we can have him beaten up, Turk style, for taking advantage of our little Sora and abandoning him when he needs him,” Ri smiled brightly and even Leon smirked deviously. “I like that plan.”

“N-No!” Sora sobbed and Ri immediately looked cresset fallen. “But Soooraaa! He’s being a jeeeerk!”

“H-he didn’t take advantage of me--we both drank and…I wanted…to…”

He paused for a moment, face heating up as he knew everyone was staring directly at him now. “I-it’s my problem now and if R-r-riku doesn’t want to k-k-keep it (hiccup), I will!” he stammered and Ansem nodded. “Then I take it you want to keep the child? Delightful!”

“Yeah, just delightful,” Cloud muttered sarcastically, glaring at Ansem and he hunched. “This is a scientific break through! Imagine: a male having a natural conception and birth--”

“Okay, yeah, we’re not taking this to the papers,” Cloud snapped and Ansem and his apprentices immediately looked heartbroken. “No! I won’t have Sora being treated like some kind of weird circus freak for something that should be an otherwise, natural event.”

Sora shook his head, still crying though not as much. “I-I don’t want that…b-but I do want D-diZ to continue being my doctor.” The professor looked honored and Leon nodded in approval, looking at Cloud. “He and his apprentices already know so it would keep things quiet and easy for him.”

“Right,” Cloud agreed, glaring over at Ri as she began to head for the door, on his cell phone again. “Yeah Yuffie? You won’t believe what happened to Sora!”

“Rikku, no! She’ll tell everyone,” Cloud snapped angrily, storming over to her and hanging up the phone, Ri snatching it back. Before he could retaliate, both freeze as her male counterpart came stormed into the room, looking wildly around until spotting Sora.

“Where’d you come from,” Cloud frowned. “And how did you know where to come to?” Ri added but he completely ignored the pair, heading straight for Sora as Braig and Ansem’s three other apprentices peaked into the room without entering, looking on with interest and ridicule.

“What are you--” Leon started but fell silent when Riku took Sora away from him and into his own arms hugging him closely.

“I didn’t know what to do so I, you know, ran,” Riku admitted softly, rocking Sora back and forth slightly. “Axel caught me a block away and made me get in the car so he could drive me here. I’m sorry I didn’t stay on the phone but I didn’t know what to say anymore.”

“. . .R-Riku…”

“I‘m sorry Sora,” he continued softly, smoothing his hair and ignoring everyone else around them. “I didn’t mean for this to happen to you I swear--I didn’t even know guys could get pregnant--go figure, huh?”

“Riku…”

“I mean at first I thought you were joking around because you are kinda goofy but you sounded so upset and Ri sounded so pissed off like she might twist my balls off --”

“Riku!”

“Yeah?” he asked, looking down at Sora who pushed him away and sighed, breathing hard. “It’s okay--just let me breath!”

“Oh…yeah. That,” Riku nodded, having a faint sheepish smirk before frowning in worry. “Fuck, I squeezed you too hard, are you okay? Is the baby--!”

“Calm down young man, calm down,” Ansem laughed, getting his attention and stepping forward. “I think we’re all just happy that you’re here…and ready to take responsibility.” Riku looked hesitant for a moment but nodded. “Well yeah…I mean I’m not good with kids but I can figure it out, I think.”

Ansem nodded. “Most first time parents have no idea what they should do or be doing. That’s why I’ll be here to help you. You’ll be getting all sorts of reading material and I’ll give you my own private cell number so that if you have any questions, you may call me.”

“But what happened?” Riku questioned looking confused. “Seriously: how can Sora even get pregnant? I mean, he‘s always been a bit…girly…but I didn‘t think he could actually get pregnant.”

“Gee, thanks,” Sora grumbled and Riku couldn‘t help but smirk a little as Ansem opened his mouth to answer, having Ri cut him off first. “Apparently, our parents messed something up and Sora has a girly reproductive system. So when you guys got it on with the unprotected business, you knocked him up.”

Riku nodded slowly but still seemed confused. “So what do we do now?”

“Well let’s talk about your options,” Ansem announced and Riku immediately frowned at him coldly. “We’re not terminating it, we’re not having it for anyone else or donating it science, and we’re not putting it up for adoption. Does that help?”

“About forty-five minutes of it, yes,” Ansem admitted and Sora looked up at Riku with wide eyes. “You…want to keep it?”

Riku narrowed his eyes at him suspiciously. “Don’t you?”

Sora looked away from him, unsure. “I-I don’t want to kill it…and I do want to keep it but I’m afraid.”

Riku hunched. “Don’t be. I won’t let anything happen to you or the baby. I’m not gonna abandon you and there‘s no way I‘m letting you go through this alone.”

Then Riku smiled a little. “Actually, this is kinda cool. My own little me. Wonder if he’ll have my hair. . .hope so. . .”

“Riku!” Sora whined, glaring at him and startling a few people around them. “Riku--why aren’t you freaking out! I’m about to have a baby for you and you’re laughing and smiling like a big idiot! W-we’re not even together and what am I suppose to do about Kairi?!”

“Okay, first of all, don’t worry about Kairi right now, she’s the least of what’s important,” Riku replied in a bored, casual tone. “ Secondly: Yeah, okay we’re not together…which isn’t my fault…”

“What?!” Sora cried bewildered and Cloud arched his brow and looked over at Leon, who didn’t seem to miss that last bit Riku had all but whispered either.

“Nothing. Anyway, look, I’m worried and yes I care, but I’m not going completely freak out about it. Your pregnant and we’re having a kid--not much I can do about that. But if we can get through school, we can get through this. Just one step at a time. We’ll be fine Zo.”

Sora shook his head. “You make this sound too easy Riku.”

“What? It is easy Zo, look: You have it, we raise it and you--because I refuse to--cry when it goes to college. What else is there?” Riku hunched matter of factly and Braig whistled as he rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“Uh Riku…there’s more to it than that,” Cloud muttered and Riku sighed. “Yeah, okay, details. But…that’s the gist of the timeline right: You have it, raise it, then ship it off to college and hope it actually becomes president instead of partying all your hard earned saved money away.”

“Is it really that simple,” Sora asked in a tiny hopeful voice and Ri slapped him over the head. “No! Riku, shut up, you’re not allowed to explain anything to Sora anymore, he‘s too naïve!”

“What?! That’s what happens!” Riku snapped and the pair got into a heated debate, Ansem, Cloud and the apprentices watching silently while Sora drifted off into his own little world.

Riku was on board and was taking it well which not only surprised but excited Sora. This just might work out. Neither of them knew what to do so they could learn it together--maybe Riku was right. This could be fun. Sure, his mom might freak out--a lot--and Kairi might…

Kairi.

Sora took a deep breath and closed his eyes. No matter what anyone said, this was going to have to come up: he was going to have to explain this to her. He could just imagine her reaction; she would cry probably and scream at him. She’d slap him and declare her everlasting hatred.

Then he’d be out of a friend and despite being slightly annoying, otherwise good girlfriend whom he’d cheated on.

Wonderful. And just the thought of it now was beginning to make him feel nauseous again. . .

“Huh?! Oh Sora, that’s gross!” Riku shouted as the brunette threw up all of his chest, his face twisted up in utter disgusted before he closed his eyes and chuckled miserably while Ri smirked in satisfaction.

“Better your chest than my lap, buddy.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author’s Notes:
As always, thank you so much for reading and/or reviewing the new chapter. Next chapter:

-Riku and Sora will talk about…them.
-Axel and the gang will find out about the pregnancy.
-Cloud is reunited with a certain One-Winged Angel.

Until next time: Happy Reading!