9: Beyond the Horizon ch23

Beyond the Horizon
Written by *pieface123 and *Tifa-the-Strange

Pregnant

"20!!! 20, my boy!!" 2 called out, holding Fang's leash as 5 looked around. "20!! Little brother!! Where are you!?!"
Fang whimpered, he lost the scent, he walked back to where he was following it and tried to find it again. 2 gave Fang 20's blanket so the dog could get the scent. "Do whatever you can, boy." 2 pat Fang's snout, appreciating what the dog beast was doing for them.
The dog barked softly, sniffing once again at the ground. 5 moved some rubble around, as if thinking 20 was hiding. "Helllllo?..." he asked.
Fang whimpered, sniffing the blanket endlessly before turning to the ground, he took a long time, but 2 understood. "Thank you, Fang..." he pat the dog's back gently and sighed, Fang had lost the scent.
"... so now what?" 5 sighed, dropping the rubble back in place.
"Go back, I guess... and tell the rest of them the news..." 2 muttered sadly. "We'll gather the others to have a wider search, 20 couldn't have gone far..."
"Why would he leave, dad?..." 5 asked quietly.
"I don't know..." 2 responded, having a pretty good idea why his son would come out into the Emptiness. "The Doctor..."
5 frowned at him, groaning before kicking the dirt. "... we need to find this so called Doctor... I want to have a few words with him!" 5 snapped at the end.
"5, you've seen those injuries he made onto Miu!" 2 told worriedly at the mechanic. "I don't want to see anyone else face those horrors..." he climbed down Fang's back, holding the blanket in his hands, touching the soft fabric. "I too feel this rage towards that Doctor, but we mustn't let rage or anger control us. What matters now is to stay alive and find 20, think up a plan before we find the Doctor and set things straight."
5 was silent for a while, but let his rage anther cool down. "... I-I guess you're right... it's not helping 20 if we just get violent... it won't solve anything..."
2 nodded, sighing sadly once he looked at the blanket again. "We better go back... 1 might be getting worried... and we have to tell the others about Miu..." he pat Fang's leg and walked with the beast and the mechanic.
"5... what is that?" the inventor pointed out to a black smudge running across the emptiness.
"Huh?... T-2 wait!" 5 called, running after the inventor.
Fang followed the mechanic, barking as he ran.
5 panted as he waved to 2, who didn't stop at his voice. "2!!! Wait!!!"
5 grabbed hold of Fang's leash, pulling himself up to the dog beast's back as both of them caught up with the inventor.
He was bent over, trying to catch his breath. "What was that about?" 5 asked as Fang skidded to a halt.
"I saw something out there...!! Someone riding an animal...!" 2 held his chest, "I think it's 20...!"
5 gasped, "A-a machine?!"
"No! An animal!! A living thing!!!"
2 then grabbed a hold of Fang's collar and climbed up as fast as he could. "We have to get to him! I know it's my little boy, I know it!!"
5 was still in shock at what his mentor had said. An animal? Didn't the gas wipe them out along with the humans? "I'm going to find my son if it kills me!"
The black smudge turned thicker once they were close enough, the figure falling to the ground and its rider tending to it.
"20!!!!!!!"
They heard a familiar scream as the figures rider was thrown go the ground. The figure growled in pain as it crashed to the floor. 5 yelled for Fang to stop.
Once he came to a stop, the inventor jumped off, tripping before he stood up and ran. "20!! My boy!!"
"2! Dad!! Wait for me!!!" 5 untangled the leash off his leg before chasing after the elder.
5 almost fell over at the look of the figure, it was a real cat! "A-ah!! A-ahhh!" the rider was curled slightly, hugging his leg. But he also gasped at the sight of the two stitchpunks. "D-d-dad?!"
"20...!!!" 2 knelt down next to his son. "Thank the Creator you're safe...!"
20 smiled slightly, suddenly wincing and gripping hid leg again. "A-ahh..." he groaned as 5 knelt down to them. "What's wrong? Is he okay?"
"I think it's the kitten's weight... help me get his leg out..." 2 said as the kitten mewed softly, her breathing fast paced.
"D-don't hurt it..." 20 gasped, "Be careful..." both 5 and 2 gently pushed the kitten enough for 20 to slip his leg out.
"There..." 2 pat the kitten's fur gently, "Are you alright, 20?"
He seethed slightly, hugging his leg and rubbing it. "I-it hurts..."
"His leg's twisted... I think it was from the fall..." 5 said, examining his little brother's leg. "It's in the knee cap area..." he hissed at the sight, imagining how it must hurt.
2 nodded, taking a look. "It's very bad; we have to take you back now...!" He then looked at the kitten, breathing heavily; he could see its open wounds, many of them fresh. "I still can't believe that there's life out here..." He tried not to touch the dirt covered wound. "This needs to be cleaned or else it'll get infected..."
"How are we going to do that?..." 5 asked, "Do we even have any medicine or water?"
"We've never had need for it..." 2 explained, sighing and rubbing his forehead. "20... how on earth did you find a black cat?!" 5 asked as he tried to help his brother straighten his leg. "U-uh... I-it's a long story..." 20 bit back a yelp as he felt his leg erupt in pain.
"Get him on Fang's back" before helping me with the kitten, 5..." 2 said as he tended to the feline, examining thoroughly its injuries. "There's water running in the garden, we can use it to clean her wounds and patch her up carefully... We'll have to read the books to find if there's any with surgical instructions to help her..." he said.
"It's a girl?"
"Yes, and a very young one, too... she might be a few weeks old..."
"Awww..." 5 smiled slightly as he slipped his arm around 20's shoulder, helping him up onto his back. The boy wrapped his arms around his brothers neck, smiling as Fang's tail wagged and the dogs tongue licked his face.
2 then ordered Fang to hold onto the kitten's back neck and place her onto his back, the stitchpunk helped the beast and made sure the feline wouldn't fall off the machine's back before the inventor went to help the mechanic.
"Let's go home..."

0 bit her lip as she stood near the entrance of the house, watching as 1 ordered 8 to keep an eye out for 5 and 2, who had left to look for 20. 0 rubbed her elbows and glanced at the ground as 1 sighed, turning around. "I swear, that boy of yours..." 1 muttered to her, it was said in a calm, enlightening way. She didn't answer, wiping at her optics.
1 saw her expression and looked back to the setting sun. "If I know my brother and those sons of yours, they'll come back... They've survived almost anything..."
He heard her sigh shakily, "I-I know they have... it's just... one of these days I'm just g-going to break down in worry..."
"I thought you had already broken down in worry." he said with a small chuckle.
She nudged him, "It's not funny..." she growled, but he saw her smile slightly.
"I know it's not, but you have to admit that you're in need of calming yourself down. It's not wise to upset a woman, and I should know." he pointed at his scar on his cheek.
This time she really did smile, "... 1, when you have a child... you can never calm down..."
It was his turn to frown sadly, a small blush forming on his cheeks. "... you know I'll never have any..." his grip on his staff tightened.
Her smile faltered, reaching up to pat his shoulder. "You still have family... that's never going to change..."
"But not a proper family of my own..." he said.
She ignored him and his pride and hugged him around the shoulders, "Does it really matter?..."
"How would you feel if 2 fell in love with someone else and that someone else had his children...?" he asked coldly, replying to her question with one of his own.
He could feel her arms slip around him; he could tell she was thinking of it. 0 thought of it, the thought of 2 loving or holding anyone but her made her shiver all over. "... I guess you're right..." she muttered, "I don't know how that feels... but I wouldn't like it..."
"Well... that's how I feel whenever I see 13... It's not good..."
She frowned at him, her hand longing at his shoulder and patting it. "... that must be... terrible... a broken heart does hurt... I never knew you had a heart," she held up her hands as he glared at her, "I'm only joking..." she chuckled softly.
"We've had this talk once before... Just not that deep in the topic..." he said, almost in a growl but he softened.
She sighed, nodding. "Well, we have butted heads in the past... now I understand why you hate me so much... I was keeping you from loving someone..."
1 shook his head, "No, you were protecting her... I was blinded by lust for power... you said so yourself... I was so blind to see what I was doing, that I was hurting 13..." he turned to see the sun. "I just wish I could start all over again... to stop myself from scaring her... From hurting her... and to possibly have what 6 has..."
0 didn't know what to say or how to comfort him. 1 was right; he would never have children or have the one he loved love him back. And for the first time, she felt sorry for their leader.
"I guess you're the lucky one..." he kept staring at the bright sun in the orange sky. "You have everything I ever wanted... Someone to love... A family... A child to call your own..."
She frowned, "1-" he held his hand up to silence her. "There's nothing to be said... you and 2 are perfect for each other and as a result you had 20... I'm obviously not perfect for anyone... so... well you figure it out..." he sighed.
"Live... and let live... I suppose..." he muttered, "I'll never stop loving her... even if she'll never be mine..." and with that he pointed to the horizon, "I think my brother's come back, you should welcome him back to our home..."
She looked across the bright sky just to see fang over the horizon. She smiled and sighed in relief. She looked back to 1, who smiled and flicked his hand at her. "Go on! Go!" she smiled and started to walk toward the horizon. "2!!" she called, waving as she started to jog up to them.
8 accompanied 2 and the others, the inventor muttered something to 8 and the giant nodded, taking the dog beast to his workshop along with the kitten. 2 smiled and hugged 0 when he reached her. "0...!"
She smiled and hugged him close, what 1 had said made her love him even more. "Where is he? Did you find him? Is our baby alright?" she asked quickly when they let go. "I-I'm fine mom..." 20 muttered as 5 helped him down. "Oh, 20..." She immediately hugged him with a sigh. "Don't do that!!"
5 chuckled, "Mom, don't hug him too tight now, he has a twisted knee..."
"What?!" she squeaked, holding 20 by the shoulders. "What happened?" 20 smiled at her worry, "I'm fine mom, really... 5 can fix me right up..." 20 almost fell back as she hugged him again, "Thank the Creator!..." she kissed his forehead and 20 squirmed wiry a laugh. "Mooom..." he whined and 0 smiled and let go. "Alright, I'm sorry..."
"He'll be easy to fix... but I'm not sure about the kitten..." 5 muttered.
"That's right... I'm not sure how we'll do it..." 2 said, rubbing his chin.
"A kitten?... you mean-"
"Yes, a living thing!" 5 exclaimed excitedly. 0 smiled and crossed her arms at her son. "What have you been up to?" 20 smiled and shrugged. "Tell you later?" he laughed slightly. "Yes, later will have to do..." 2 frowned suddenly, "Miu is asking for you, 20..." he immediately looked at his father. "oh... Well, can I go see her?..."
2 nodded, frowning. "It'll be... a bit of the shock..." he muttered, turning to 0.
She covered her mouth with a sigh.
"Why?..." their son asked.
"You'll see, little brother..." 5 said, nodding to 2 as he went to tend the kitten. 2 helped 20 walk to where Miu was alongside 0.
20's heart was in his throat, he had a feeling what was wrong. How were they going to tell them? He almost ignored the pain in his leg.

2 and 0 took him to Miu's room, they saw her with her twin brother, she looked nervous when 24 look a bit confused, wondering what was making her sister nervous like this. Miu gasped at the sight of the boy, "20...!" she got up from her seat and hugged him. "20...!! Where were you...?"
He smiled and hugged her with one arm, the other being supported by 2 to hold up his injured leg. "Um... I had to help someone out..." he muttered, "It's a long story... so what's wrong?" He looked at her with worry, like he knew what was making like this.
24 listened inventively even if he didn't know what was going on. 2 placed 20 on the bed with Miu by his side; she was blushing when she held his hand.
"20..." 2 sighed, "This is kind of hard to say..." 2 pat 0's shoulder, it was difficult for them.
She nodded in sadness, holding 2's hand on her shoulder. "We don't exactly know... what to say..." 24 looked from them to 20 and Miu. Both of them looked nervous now, their faces burning with red. 20 squeezed Miu's hand, as if sending her a message that he knew what was wrong.
"20... Miu... Miu is..." 2 hesitated, yet with his hesitation Miu got closer to 20. She, 20 and his parents were too nervous to even say what they wanted to tell the other, 2 and 0 had one version of the story as 20 and Miu had another, the real one, but how could they even tell the elderly couple?
"Miu... Miu is pregnant... And we believe it was the Doctor's doing..." 2 muttered, it was difficult for him to say it to his son.
It was also difficult for him, 20 had a feeling that was it and his jaw dropped when they had actually confirmed it. But, there was a small hint of excitement in the boy that he would become a father. However that excitement vanished when his parents believed that the doctor was the father...how would he tell them. "w-what?..."
Miu huddled even closer to 20, her face bright red, even if she was worried, he saw a small smile form across her lips.
2 and 0 looked at their son in sorrow, they knew how 20 loved Miu, now he would never share what they had shared many moons ago, when 20 was conceived.
20 looked down at Miu and his parents didn't see him smile back. It was silent for a long time before 20 let out a long sigh, trying to sound depressed. "... C-can I speak with her alone?..."
"Of course... Take your time..." 2 told as he and 0 left with sad faces.
"Come along, 24..." 0 muttered, holding the curtain open. 24 had shock and sadness written all over his face, but he got up and trudged out of the room. When everyone was gone, 20 let his small smile light up his face as he looked down at her.
Miu was still nervous but she didn't look sad, she blushed when their eyes met, instantly shy towards him when she saw his smile.
That made his smile grow slightly, he leaned down to kiss her forehead before hugging her to his side. It was obvious that he was happy, but also shared her nervousness. "I-I'm... I'm going to be a dad?..." he whispered breathlessly.
Miu thought he was going to be angry or just plain scared to be a father, his excitement made her cry happily against his shoulder. "Yes, you are..." she felt so happy, "I'm... I'm going to be a mom..."
He laughed softly, nuzzling their optics together. "... You'll be a beautiful mother..."
"Stop it...!" she gently pushed him bashfully. "... But... you really think so...?"
"Of course..." he whispered, leaning his head on hers and rubbing her waist. "Anyone with eyes could see that..."
She giggled as she looked into his optics once more. "We're... we're going to be parents... How crazy is that?"
He smiled more, "Pretty insane if you ask me..." his smile fell slightly, "But... what are we going to say to them?..."
That question altered her smile, frowning. He was right, how would they break the news to their family? 2, 0 and 5 believed that it was the Doctor who got her pregnant, what if the rest of their family knew? "I... I don't know..."
"We can't let them believe that... h-he did that to you..." he muttered, rubbing his leg which was starting to hurt again. His face twisted in worry at the silence. "I-I... I uh... ran into him again..." he admitted quietly, somehow hoping she didn't hear.
"What...?" she asked, holding his face in her hand. "You ran into him?"
He nodded, "I-I uh... I'm fine, it's just..." he sighed, "Miu... he's never going to stop looking for us..." he placed his hands on her shoulders, "... or you... he wanted you pregnant and now you are..."
"I only got pregnant... Because we did something that we both shared... Something wonderful..." she caressed his cheek, "Remember when he wanted us to soulbond? We did it because we wanted to, not because he ordered it... We did it out of love..." she hugged him, hiding her face in his chest, feeling his soft burlap skin. "I became a part of you just like you became a part of me... And that formed life... Because we care for one another... Because I love you, with all of my heart... I would never love him..." she laughed softly, crying at the same time. "Listen to me say such nonsense... I bet I'm speaking gibberish..."
He smiled softly, hugging and rocking her back and forth slowly. "No..." he muttered sweetly in her sensor, "I understand that we did this because we wanted to, I'm happy for that... I just want you to be safe..."
"But you kept me safe... All along..."
"And I always will..." she felt him start to kiss her neck gently then her cheek, he smiled. "Are you cold?... You're shivering..." he chuckled.
"It's just that... Whenever you do that it sends shivers down my spine," she giggled softly.
She didn't see his smirk, "Really?..." he breathed on her neck, then licked it slowly. He laughed at her face. "You taste good..."
She froze with a red face. He was such a big tease! Miu bit her lip before glaring at him. "You're lucky I'm pregnant, boy scout. Or else I would walk up and down your ass..." she giggled.
He laughed, "I'm aware... but you can get me later..." he smirked again, leaning up to brush his lips against hers. "... I think I'll take my chances, gorgeous..." he whispered against them.
Miu let out a small gasp before he took her lips, melting her in his grasp.
20's hands pulled her closer, onto his lap. He ignored the pain in his leg and tilted his head, kissing her softly.
Her hands ran up to his head, holding it gently in her grasp, moaning ever so gently. She blushed again she felt his hand touch her stomach, one day it'll grow as big as their Aunt 4's womb, but she didn't care, it was thanks to their love, and that was the most important thing in the world to her.
Eventually, they got lost in themselves, both of them laying down on the bed, 20's hand on her stomach was gentle as it moved up her chest, and to her neck, holding her up as he kissed all over her face. "I love you so much... more than anything..."
"I love you too, 20..." Miu muttered, letting him do as he pleased, loving every second of his touch, it was just them in that moment, just like when they had let their souls touch for the very first time.
He smiled; he never got tired of hearing that. After he was sure that he kissed every inch of her face, he moved and started to nibble at her shoulder.
"O-o-o-oh...!! T-t-20...!!" she said in a high pitched voice yet oddly in a low moan, shivering.
He chuckled a little, kissing where he was biting. "I'll say it again... you have a beautiful voice..." he kissed her sensor.
Another noise escaped her voicebox, moaning in surprise. Each gasp, each moan excited him.
He ran his fingers down her lips before gently pecking them, his other hand rubbing her side gently. He hummed softly against her lips, kissing them every once in a while.  "Hmmm, hmmmhmm..."
"You're..." she tried to speak between his lips, "Such... a tease..."
"I'm sorry..." he muttered back, licking her lips slowly. "You're just fun to mess with..." he ran his fingers through her hair. "My Rapunzel..." he kissed her again.
"If our child turns out to be a big tease with anyone he or she likes, I'm blaming you..." Miu laughed softly.
He smiled, his hand going to her stomach again, "Fine... but if our child comes out beautiful and perfect... I'm blaming you," he smirked before nuzzling her cheek.
"I told you once and I'll tell you again... I'm not perfect or beautiful... I'm just an airhead..." she laughed, it was her turn to take over his lips.
She took her chance when he opened his mouth to argue. He moaned softly, relaxing against her.
"You're not the only one who can take their love's breath away, boy scout..." she smirked.
He blinked his optics slowly, smiling at her. "Fair enough... but, is that all you've got?..." he challenged, crossing his arms.
"Oooh... Are you questioning my tactics?" Miu's hand found its way between his legs, smirking devilishly.
"M-mmm?!..." he moaned softly, his head lulling on his side. "W-well of course not..." he growled lightly, kissing her jaw.
Miu's smirk grew, "At least I found a weak spot of yours that I can abuse..." she guided his lips back to hers with a passionate desire.
He groaned a little, moving his hands up her waist. He shivered at her hand, going limp. "M-Miu..." he whispered shakily.
"Yes...?" she asked softly, biting gently on his lip.
He didn't answer, just let out a shuddery moan. His eyes fluttered closed.
Miu just giggled, "Silence is sometimes good or bad... I'll take it as a good thing for now..." she smiled, returning to their loving gesture, practically on top of him.
"They've taken a pretty long time..." 2 muttered, "I thought we'd hear sobs before now..."
"If I know my sister, she'd stick to her guns... But I guess... this is different..." 24 rubbed behind his neck as 0 parted the curtains to the room.
It all happened too fast, with 0 and 2's surprised gasps and 24's small surprised yell. Miu jumped and fell off of 20, who shot up, sitting with a red face. This was bad...
Both sides looked astonished, paralyzed with wide optics staring back at each other. 24's jaw dropped as both couples kept very still, frozen.
The only sound was silence, until 20 spoke quietly to Miu, "Maybe it's time to tell them..."
"Agreed..." Miu replied, the two adults kept staring at them before they snapped back into reality, 2 cleared his throat while Miu sat back on the bed close to 20, 24 still looked shocked and appalled, pointing at them, bewildered as if he couldn't believe what he saw, his sister and his best friend snogging.
"Ahem..." 20 cleared his throat loudly which snapped him back to reality.
Miu got her nerves straight and tried to be as serious as possible, trying not to smile yet still look a bit worried like her grandparent figures.
"Um... well... uh, obviously we have something to... tell you..." 20 muttered to start the awkward conversation.
"S-something that might... well... shock you..." Miu said.
"Um..." 2 blinked a couple of times at them, what could be more shocking that this? "Well..." 20 rubbed the back of his neck and sighed, "Y-you know how Miu is pregnant?" they all nodded and 20 took a deep breath before saying it straight out quickly. "It's not the Doctor's baby... it's mine..." him and Miu then braced themselves, holding their hands up and cringing slightly.
"Please don't think badly about this..." Miu muttered.
"The doctor tried to force us!" 20 tried to explain quickly, "But we chose to do it... if we didn't love each other we would have just taken the torture... but... we do uh... love each other...." he tried to smile for his parents, but he frowned. "... we're in trouble huh?..."
"I think so..." she blushed, holding his hands, "If you're punishing him, then punish me too!! It's not his fault!" she tried to say it as fast as she could before 2 and 0 could answer.
"N-no, no... wait... we're not punishing anyone yet..." 0 said, holding her hands up to calm the girl. "We need to know the whole story, from the beginning..."