Galloping Horses

Rating: PG
Category: AU
Pairing(s): Andy/Yazoo
Warnings: Some angst.
Summary: Yazoo has reached his breaking point.
Notes: A belated birthday fic for abridged_fic!

Illustration of Yazoo in his party clothes by Animama

Andy sat down at the kitchen table of his beautiful Victorian-style house and studied the ragged-looking form across the table from him. Yazoo was listless, morose, and grey, his striking green eyes glazed and dark. He was depressed, and Andy didn’t have to ask why. He knew all too well what was wrong with Yazoo. He’d been working on a cure since he was seventeen.

That was twenty years ago.

The treatments had varied from common sense to wildly theoretical, but things never seemed to change or improve. Yazoo was still coping with the world’s longest pregnancy, and he still didn’t look a day over seventeen. The most recent treatment had been a series of transfusions; taking clean blood from Sephiroth to replace Yazoo’s tainted blood that Hojo had loaded with chemicals and contaminants. For a while it had indeed seemed to be working. The morning sickness and other symptoms seemed to be abating. Then they came back, harder than ever. Andy was becoming deeply concerned for Yazoo’s health, so much so that he had stopped all treatments in the hopes that Yazoo’s body would right itself. So far however, no luck. Yazoo was grey and weak, his delicate ankles swollen with fluid while the rest of him grew thinner, his china-doll face drawn, his hair like straw, and Andy felt his heart break just looking at him.

“I’m so sorry Yazzy,” said Andy softly. “Listen Yazzy, about the party tonight…”

“I’m coming.”

“You don’t have to.”

Yazoo smiled coldly. “And leave you alone in a room with those rancid emaciated vacuous cock-warmers? I don’t think so. I’m not leaving you to be pawed and drooled over by twenty-year-old tarts who think huge tits entitle them to grope my husband.”

Andy smiled. “Yazzy the Fairchild sisters won’t be there, and you don’t have to worry about them anyway. I’m really not interested in women. At all.”

“Doesn’t stop them from trying though, does it?” Yazoo shook his head. “No, if you are going to be honoured for your achievements, then I will be there. Even if I am not one of them.” He paused, blinking as if a thought had just occurred to him. “Unless… that’s why you don’t want me there.”

Andy got out of his seat and moved to Yazoo’s side, crouching beside his chair and taking his hand. “You’re my gift. Of course I want you there.”

Yazoo smiled briefly, listlessly, turning his head to look at Andy. “Am I pretty?”

“Beautiful,” said Andy softly. “Come on. Let’s get you in bed.”

“It’s nine in the morning, I just got up.”

Andy helped Yazoo to his feet. “If you’re going out tonight then you need to be rested. You get tired too easily these days. If you want to be awake through the dinner then you need to rest now.”

Yazoo nodded and allowed Andy to put him to bed. Then Andy drove the thirty minutes to the Healin Spa to begin his day. Dr. Pierce was the first person he encountered as he walked through the doors, still much the same after twenty years in charge of the clinic.

“Good morning Andy. How’s your favourite patient?”

“Weak and miserable.”

Dr. Pierce was clearly surprised. “After all those transfusions? But he seemed to be doing so much better.”

Andy just shook his head as he and Dr. Pierce strolled together down the hall. “I know. Then it seemed to completely backfire. He’s so tired. He’s anaemic…”

“Anaemic?!” said Dr. Pierce. “How can he be anaemic?”

“I have no idea, all I know is he’s a bigger mess than he ever was before and I’m at a loss. For the first time since I began trying to solve his condition I am completely out of theories and ideas. I’ve gone through each and every one of Hojo’s insane notes, and I truly cannot think of one more thing to do to help Yazoo, and after this I’m not starting any more. I’m supposed to be helping him. Not making him worse.”

“Well what has changed?”

They entered Andy’s office. Andy walked over to a small fridge and took out a bottle of iced tea. “Well before the transfusions he had morning sickness and mood swings. Now he has anaemia, mood swings, morning sickness, water retention, weight loss and, believe it or not, borderline scurvy.”

Dr. Pierce just stared. “Well have you tested Sephiroth?”

“Yup. He’s fine.”

“How can a remnant have scurvy and anaemia?! Do you keep the boy in a closet in the basement?!”

Andy gave Dr. Pierce a sour look. “No. And he’s not a boy. He’s actually a few months older than I am.”

“Well what on earth is wrong with him? And how do you plan on treating it?”

“I don’t know, on both counts,” said Andy, seating himself at his desk and running both hands through his hair in agitation. “There is so much we do not know about the biology and physiology of these genetically altered warriors, and no one is doing anything to aid in the research because there is only a handful of them and Shinra isn’t producing any more. And Yazoo is even more special because he’s not even technically human; he’s an ambulatory chunk of free-roaming Sephiroth DNA. I’m doing research in the dark with a whaling harpoon when what I need is a glass needle.”

“Maybe Sephiroth can help.”

“I’ve already taken so many blood and tissue samples that he growls when he sees me.” Andy shook his head. “I must be missing something. The transfusions were working. The hormone and chemical levels were dropping.”

“Maybe that’s your problem,” said Dr. Pierce. “Maybe his system can’t adjust.”

Andy shook his head and sighed. “I’m out of ideas. I’m so tired of this. It’s been a constant struggle for years. I just don’t know what to do anymore.”

Dr. Pierce just shook his head. “I feel for you, Andy. I really do. I wish I could help.”

“I wish you could help too,” said Andy softly.

Dr. Pierce left to office, leaving Andy to his thoughts.

***---***

Andy left work early that day. The clinic was almost empty anyway, and his skills were not needed. He drove home, back to his beautiful house surrounded by cherry and magnolia trees, and the small stable with two green chocobos, and the gingerbreading along the front. He had worked hard for this house, because Yazoo had loved and wanted it since they were kids together. A beautiful gingerbread house, with five bedrooms and a staircase for the children to hide on Christmas Eve to see if Santa came. All the things Yazoo never had as a child.

It had become a monument to Yazoo’s unending misery.

Andy parked his grey car on the flagstone driveway, getting out and closing the door. He followed the stone path up to the house, entering through the antique glass door. His housekeeper, Mrs. Fuller, was there to meet him. The whole house was strangely quiet.

“How’s Yazzy?” asked Andy.

The middle-aged woman shook her head, looking very much at home on her Dickens-era uniform. Yazoo was very big on Charles Dickens.

“Hasn’t stirred a muscle all day, and hasn’t eaten either.”

Great. Just great. “Well I’ll see if I can get him to eat something,” said Andy quietly.

He left the foyer, walking past the sitting rooms and parlours, drawing rooms and music rooms and sun rooms, all meticulously decorated personally by Yazoo. Cid had best stated the popular opinion about Yazoo’s taste in decorating once when he and Benji popped over to help with some of the restoration on the house.

“Fucking hell the kid’s gayer than Benji.”

“And they said it couldn’t be done,” said Benji, holding up a decidedly fluffy doily distastefully.

Andy went up the curving staircase to the upper floors, which were likewise set up in a most Victorian manner. Andy’s taste in decorating was strictly neutral. He wouldn’t care if Yazoo had done the place in early North Crater, though occasionally some of the things Yazoo dragged home did stop him in his tracks. Like the pair of elderly greyhounds, so very period and more than happy to live out their days being part of the décor in the downstairs morning room. Today’s addition was a great and mighty grandfather clock, delivered after Andy went to work. It had to be well over two hundred years old and positioned magnificently just outside their bedroom door. Great. It probably sounded like a funeral bell when it chimed. That would make for some sleepless nights.

Andy went into the bedroom, finding a small form curled up in the middle of the huge four poster bed, surrounded on all sides by green velvet drapes. Andy was convinced Ebenezer Scrooge had once met three spirits in it. He walked over to the bed and seated himself on the edge, drawing down the comforters and quilts to find Yazoo beneath them. He was a sickly pale grey, his vibrant green eyes glazed. Andy gently sat him up to hold him close.

“Yazzy baby you have to eat.”

“It all just comes back up,” said Yazoo miserably, pressing close.

“You have to eat. Your teeth are gonna start falling out and no one likes a mangy remnant.” He kissed him gently. “Except me of course. How about I make you some cold fruit salad?”

Yazoo nodded. Andy kissed his face.

“Okay. I’ll be right back.”

Andy carefully lowered Yazoo back to the bed, then rose and went downstairs to start chopping fruit, crushing it slightly so the juices ran into the bowl along with the pulp. Andy had noticed that Yazoo had an easier time keeping down liquids than solids, and his goal was to get enough nutrition into Yazoo that he was able to start to recover.

“Hey stick-boy.”

Andy sighed heavily. “Sheldon I’m thirty-seven, don’t you think we can give that nickname a rest?”

“Nope, ‘cause you’ll always be stick-boy to me.”

Sheldon set down his hedge clippers. If he minded being the grounds keeper for the estate of a kid he used to pick on in high school, he never showed it. Sheldon’s childhood and teen years had been a constant pressure cooker; his mother driving him to succeed. Sheldon found he was far happier trimming rose bushes and cultivating ivy than he ever was serving his mother’s insane need to turn him into a trophy of her brilliance. He was still quite close to his father, but his mother refused to speak to him until he “came to his senses”.

“Can you do me a favour and see if we have any pineapple?” asked Andy. “Yazzy likes pineapple.”

Sheldon left his hedge clippers on a kitchen chair and walked over to the cupboards, looking around in them. “You have one can of crushed. Is Yaz still sick?”

“And getting worse,” grumbled Andy. “Fucking Hojo and his toxic crap! I have no idea what’s wrong with him! He was so much better after the transfusions!! I don’t understand!”

“Well,” said Sheldon, “Andy have you considered that… maybe he’s actually pregnant this time? I mean… your sister went through some pretty heavy shit when she and her husband had their baby. She did the same thing. Not eating, bloating, puking, hair falling out… all that shit.”

Andy shook his head. “No. And I don’t dare test him for it. There’s no point in doing so, anyway. He’s been testing positive for years.”

“Who said you have to test him?” asked Sheldon as he walked over to Andy with the canned pineapple.

Andy gave Sheldon a puzzled look. “Well how else will I know?”

“Use a stethoscope,” said Sheldon, stealing a bit of fruit.

Andy blinked, forgetting about the fruit salad as he turned to face Sheldon. “A stethoscope?”

“Well yeah, they pick up sound, don’t they? If the tests won’t work then use a stethoscope and listen for a heartbeat. Isn’t that how Marlene figured out Vincent was pregnant a billion years ago?”

Andy felt a large silly grin spread across his face. “Sheldon you’re a genius.”

“Yeah well don’t tell my mom, she’ll expect me to do something with it.” He stole one last piece of fruit, stuffing it into his mouth. “Now I’m off to prune an apple tree. Later stick-boy. And talk to Yazoo about his taste in decorating. This place is way too gay.”

“Well so are we,” said Andy dryly.

Sheldon pointed to the explosion of frilliness and pillows that was the morning room next door, complete with greyhounds. “No one is that gay unless they’re compensating for being a closet straight.”

“Go away or I’ll tell your mom you had a rational thought.”

Sheldon left. Andy contemplated the morning room, visible across the hall from the kitchen. Yeah… Sheldon may have a point about the level of gay in the air. Most people assumed the house was inhabited solely by crazed grannies. But Yazoo loved it. And it wasn’t as if Yazoo got many chances to do things he wanted. Unlike Loz, who now happily made his living clearing things like rockslides and log jams with his bare hands and loving every minute of it, Yazoo no longer enjoyed good health. Oh he could certainly still smash his way through solid concrete if he had a mind to do so, but the chemicals in his system, the battery of tests, the constant symptoms associated with his twenty-year make-believe pregnancy had sucked a lot of joy out of life for Yazoo. He was often too tired to do anything more than read, sinking himself into a place where reality wasn’t needles and morning sickness and bleeding gums and large-breasted harpies preying on his husband. Andy had bought the house for Yazoo, and Yazoo turned it into a fantastic authentic Victorian showpiece. If next he wanted to redo it in early 70’s roller rink, that was just fine with Andy too.

He went upstairs and found Yazoo had bothered to make himself presentable. He had made the bed, and was lying on it prettily in amidst a sea of Victorian fluffery. He’d brushed his hair and made some effort at not looking as sick and run down as he was. Andy just smiled the same wide sappy grin he always did whenever Yazoo did anything to please him.

“You really are adorable, you know that,” said Andy.

“Oh of course. All I need is a parrot and a peg-leg. What’s that?”

“Fruit salad. But I crushed the fruit to make it juicy the way you like it, so it’s actually more like fruit soup. And you’re going to eat all of it.”

“Fine,” said Yazoo. “In that case you’re going to oil my hair.”

“Oh yay,” said Andy dryly. “The dreaded oily goop.”

“Don’t let it get on the covers.”

Oh but it’s okay to get it on me?”

Yazoo smiled. Andy went into the bathroom to get the jar of clear silvery oil Yazoo used on his hair, as well as his brush, and returned just in time to see Yazoo slurping down the last of his ‘soup’.

“Holy cats, Yazzy! That’s fantastic! You’re hungry!”

“Well don’t get too excited. Let’s see if it stays down.”

Andy seated himself behind him on the bed, and began carefully oiling the long hair so it would shine as it once had. Both waited in nervous silence to see if the fruit would make a sudden violent reappearance, but it stayed put. Of course both knew better than to get their hopes up. Chances were Yazoo would pay heavily for his five minutes without nausea later.

“Still want to come to the party?”

Yazoo nodded. He probably didn’t want to go at all, but didn’t like the idea of Andy showing up alone. Too many people were waiting for cracks to appear in their relationship so they could move in on Andy. He was the top of his field, and had done an enormous amount of groundbreaking research on reproduction in genetically-altered males, which had made him quite a wealthy man. He was a prime catch, and the gawky teen boy who couldn’t get a date in high school suddenly had no shortage of pretty girls and guys waiting to replace Yazoo. And Yazoo’s health had made him feel inadequate and weak. Yazoo would go to the party even if he had to be carried, because if Andy showed up alone he would be swarmed. Andy just smiled.

“Okay. Let’s get you ready to go.”

***---***

“Yazoo,” said Andy quietly, “I’m not sure this is such a good idea.”

“I’m fine,” said Yazoo softly.

He wasn’t fine – Andy could see that even without the years of medical experience and learning. He was pale and listless and weak, his cheeks faintly blushing from a low-grade fever. There was something wrong with his beautiful Yazoo, and despite all his accomplishments, he had no idea what that may be. Sheldon’s idea with the stethoscope had been a good one, but all Andy had heard when he listened was the usual intestinal racket. Well he did hear something that sounded vaguely like a galloping horse, but Yazoo was a remnant. There was no telling what sort of things his system was doing.

He certainly was beautiful, though. Andy honestly couldn’t think of a single person, male or female, who could hold a candle to his Yazoo. He still had the delicate china-doll features and long white hair and slender build he had years ago. The tarnish cast upon his silver brilliance by his long illness meant nothing to Andy. Yazoo was still his gift, and he loved him as much as he ever had.

“You know, Yazzy, you really do dress far too conservatively,” Andy gently teased.

Yazoo smiled faintly. He had on black breeches and thigh-high boots, and a very long black velvet coat with silver lace around the cuffs and down the front. He looked like some strange Victorian tart, his small face delicately made up.

“Well I don’t like to attract attention,” he said quietly.

“I see that. If you need to leave, just tell me, all right?”

Yazoo nodded. He gazed at the large and pompously grand hotel where the ceremony was to be held, studying the stone front. Andy pulled up before it, stopping the vehicle.

“I booked a room for us. In case we needed it.”

“You spoil me,” said Yazoo quietly.

“Of course I do. It’s my job. Hey there’s Dr. Pierce’s car.”

“And Dr. Fairchild’s is parked right beside it,” said Yazoo snidely. “Gee I wonder if he brought the Magical Slut Sisters?”

“Yazzy you really do have to start working on saying what you feel and not being so shy.”

Yazoo poked his tongue out. Andy opened his door, and was instantly accosted on either side by matching scrawny bleached blondes with collagen lips, silicon tits, and rubber ass implants. It was of course the “Magical Slut Sisters”, also known as the Fairchild twins.

“Oh, Andy we’re so glad to see you!” gushed Mona Fairchild.

“Oh yes!” agreed Monica. “It wouldn’t have been any fun here without you at all.”

Andy attempted to extract himself from the duo. “Well it’s nice to see you two as well but I have to help Yaz…”

“Oh don’t waste your time with him, talk to us!” said Mona, pressing against him. Her breasts were so large they bordered on parody, and Andy shuddered at their artificial touch.

“Look will you kindly get your body parts off me? I’m not sure if you two are aware of this but contrary to some theories a gay man will not be turned straight by gigantic breasts. In fact they kinda make me feel ill, so will you please back off?”

“Well that’s not nice!” said Monica, pouting.

“Neither is throwing yourselves at me with my husband less than six feet away but that doesn’t seem to stop you.”

“But…!” said Mona.

“Look get off me! You two are like used gum on the ground - distasteful and almost impossible to scrape off. Now go away. I’m a doctor, I can’t afford to contract any diseases you two may have.”

Andy pulled free of the two failed temptresses and went to Yazoo’s side of the car, opening the door. “Are you okay?”

“Little weak,” said Yazoo. “I’d like some water.”

Andy helped Yazoo out of the car and gently walked him into the hotel, taking him up to their room for a glass of ice water.

“Do you think Dr. Fairchild will be pleased with you calling his daughters used gum?” asked Yazoo as he eased himself down onto the bed.

“Frankly I don’t care,” said Andy. “He bought them everything they ever wanted, now when they get told no they can’t believe it. How dare they pounce on me like that with you right there! I can’t believe they would be so… so… horrible! And Dr. Fairchild told me that they would not be here.”

“I think he lied,” said Yazoo.

Andy brought Yazoo his water and seated himself beside him on the bed. “Here you go. How are you feeling?”

“Really weak. And hungry.”

“I’ll get you something,” said Andy. He walked to the door, pulling it open, and stopped short as he saw Dr. Gaywell before him, her hand raised to knock.

“Hi!” said Andy, surprised.

“Hi! I saw one of my favourite patients come in and I wanted to see how he was.”

“He’s hungry. I’m going to go slaughter him a cheese roll.”

“Pack a first aid kit,” said Dr. Gaywell. “Cheese rolls can be dangerous.”

Andy left to get Yazoo some food, and Dr. Gaywell walked over to the bed, seating herself on it. She reached out to take one of Yazoo’s gloved hands.

“How ware you feeling, Yazzy?”

“I don’t know. Lots of everything. I’m sick, I’m hungry, I’m cold, I’m hot, I’m thirsty, I’m bloated…” He shook his head. “I give up. I quit. I can’t take any more false hope. I can’t. I just want to give up but my body is so loaded with Jenova cells that I’ll probably never die. And Andy found a strange sound in my stomach.”

“Strange sound?” said Dr. Gaywell.

Yazoo rolled onto his side, the velvet coat following the lines of his slender body as he turned to look at her. “He said it sounded like horses galloping.”

“Well that can’t be good. Does he have his stethoscope?”

“Oh probably. Does it matter? It’s just one more thing wrong with me that cannot be fixed. He should just take me back to the crater.”

Dr. Gaywell squeezed his hand. “Yazzy I know it’s been a long time, but…”

“Twenty. Years,” said Yazoo, stating each word clearly. “It has been twenty. Years. Over half my life. I have been ill longer than I ever was well, and no one can help me. To make matters worse I have the Fairchild sisters hovering over my husband like harpies, they don’t even care I’m right there.” He closed his eyes. “I really don’t think I care anymore about getting well or having a family. I don’t think I’m going to have either.”

Dr. Gaywell was at a loss for words. She didn’t know what to say to him. Twenty years was a long time for anyone, but to deal with an illness that affected every aspect of his life for that amount of time had to be exhausting. And what encouragement could she offer, especially in light of his new symptoms? She said nothing, simply giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

Andy returned with a plate of things he knew Yazoo was likely to eat. He seated himself on the large bed, reaching out to touch Yazoo’s shoulder.

“I brought you something.”

Dr. Gaywell looked at Andy. “Yazoo said you have been hearing strange noises in his abdomen.”

“Yeah,” said Andy. “Kind of a galloping noise.”

“I’d like to hear it.”

“I don’t mind if Yazoo doesn’t,” said Andy. He looked down at his beloved. “Do you mind?”

Yazoo stuck out his tongue and blew off a raspberry. Andy handed Dr. Gaywell his stethoscope. She accepted it, and used it to listen to Yazoo’s abdomen. She raised an eyebrow.

“It does sound like galloping. Yazoo what have you been eating?”

“Small horses.”

She rolled her eyes. “Seriously.”

“I had some fruit earlier.”

She listened, then shook her head. “I’m going to go get a friend of mine, let’s see if we can shed some light on this.”

Dr. Gaywell left, and returned a few minutes later in the company of a very beautiful and very nicely packaged young woman with long brown hair and large brown eyes. Yazoo raised his head.

“She’s pretty.”

Andy gently pushed Yazoo’s head back to the pillow. “Hush, you’re not feeling well.”

Dr. Gaywell’s friend sat on the bed and listened. After a moment she raised an eyebrow and looked to the older woman.

“What is that?”

Dr. Gaywell shrugged. “I was hoping you could tell me.”

“We should get Dr. Chin, she’s good with funny-noises-in-the-guts stuff.”

“Is that a medical term?” asked Andy.

The woman with the long brown hair smiled at him. “Hi I’m Dr. White.”

“Andy Kindle.”

Her eyes lit up, and she looked down at Yazoo. “Well that must make you Yazoo! Aren’t you a pretty boy!”

Yazoo growled faintly. “He’s a bit touchy,” said Andy apologetically.

“Well who can blame him,” said Dr. White. “No one likes being sick and surrounded by people poking him.”

“And talking to him like he’s three,” grumbled Yazoo.

“Sorry,” said Dr. White. “It’s an occupational hazard. I’m a paediatrician.”

“What’s going on in here?” asked a familiar voice. “A room party?”

“Hello Dr. Pierce,” said Andy.

Dr. Pierce walked in with two other older men and a woman, all of whom Andy knew from the Healin Spa. The woman was in fact the afore-mentioned Dr. Chin. Dr. White held up a stethoscope.

“Wanna hear something cool?”

“Do I have to eat all my vegetables first?” asked Dr. Chin.

Yazoo sighed. “Should I take my clothes off now or later?”

“Just open your pants and say ‘ahhh’,” said Dr. Chin. She listened to the noise, cocking her head. “That’s very odd.

More stethoscopes came out. Yazoo lay on his back and tolerated being the entertainment for the evening.

“Any idea what it could be?” asked Andy.

A head poked in. “What’s going on in here?” asked Aldus Shinra. “Is it kinky? Can I play too?”

“Do you have a laptop?” asked Dr. Gaywell.

A laptop was found and set up in the room so possible sources and causes for the noises could be researched. Food and drink was brought up, and for the time being Andy’s award seemed forgotten as most of the guests packed themselves into Andy and Yazoo’s suite. Yazoo hadn’t been terribly pleased at first, but soon found he didn’t mind being waited on hand and foot as doctors from all over Gaia examined him. They might even find out what was wrong.

“This is crap,” said Dr. White two hours later as the bartender that had somehow materialized filled her glass. “We need to look inside. We’re not going to solve this mystery just by listening.”

“I might have something we can use,” said Aldus. “Just a moment.” He left the room, returning after only a few minutes with a small device that looked like a large computer mouse. “Here we go - Shinra technology at its finest.”

“It’s a mouse,” said Dr. Pierce dryly.

“It operates on some of the same principles, yes, but it is, in fact, a very powerful sonogram. Plug it into the computer and we will be able to see inside our little patient without the bother of cutting him open and getting our hands yucky.”

Dr. Pierce plugged the ‘mouse’ into the computer, then handed it to Andy. He took the little device, which was surprisingly weighty, and placed on Yazoo’s stomach. He began slowly moving it across the white flesh, eyes on the computer screen, looking for the potential source of the strange galloping noise in Yazoo’s insides. Dr. Gaywell walked over to the laptop and studied the screen.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have found our galloping horses.”

Several doctors drew close, looking at the screen as Dr. Gaywell pointed at the screen. “There, there, and there.”

Aldus pointed over her shoulder. “What about that there?”

Dr. Gaywell peered at the screen, then nodded. “Yeah I would say you’re right.”

“What are you looking at?” asked Andy.

Dr. Gaywell picked up the laptop and handed it to Andy. He took it, setting it on the bed, and stared. For a very long time he was unable to wrap his mind around what he was looking at.

“If this is a joke it’s really not funny,” said Andy, his voice quavering slightly.

“It’s not a joke,” said Dr. Gaywell. “It’s exactly what it looks like it is.”

Andy felt the blood drain out of his face, his body becoming cold. The world became strangely grey and distant, surreal. He closed his eyes and swallowed. Yazoo slowly sat up, looking concerned.

“Chip? What is it?”

Andy put a hand over his face and slowly lay back on the bed, saying nothing. Yazoo blinked, then looked to the other doctors.

“What is it?”

“Quadruplets,” said Dr. Gaywell. She smiled. “It took twenty years, but the baby-gods finally came through for you, kiddo. You’re pregnant. For real. No mistakes and false readings this time. We’ve all seen them.”

“Quad…?” said Yazoo quietly.

Dr. Gaywell held up four fingers. “Quad. Four babies. Looks like you’re getting paid off for all the years you waited with interest.”

Yazoo looked at Andy. “Chip did you hear that?!”

“Oh I heard all right,” said Andy.

“Four babies! Four! We’re gonna have four!! Aren’t you excited?”

“Thrilled,” said Andy. “I’ll be more thrilled when I’ve had a chance to…”

“Whoops,” said Dr. Chin, looking at the screen. “Miscounted.”

“Only three?” asked Andy hopefully.

“Nuh-uh. You’re not that lucky, stud. Five. Not four.”

Yazoo squeaked with glee. Andy made a strange panicked sound.

“Well this has been a most exciting party!” said Aldus. “Champagne all around! A toast to our little mother, here. Yazoo, your days of waiting are at an end. Andy are you all right?”

“I think I’m having a panic attack.”

“Aren’t you happy?” asked Yazoo, clearly worried.

“Yes of course I am, but five?”

Yazoo was becoming frantic. “Should it have been more? I don’t think I have room for more…”

Andy sat up and pulled him close, holding him in a fierce embrace. “No. Five is just perfect. Don’t you worry one single moment about it. I’m just… a little surprised.”

“But you’re pleased?”

“Yeah,” said Andy. “I am. I’m very pleased. Especially for you. You waited so long.”

“Well I can’t top this,” said Dr. Pierce. “Andy, here’s your award. I’ll put it on your desk. If you care to come downstairs I think there is some sort of dance going on. It will be dreadful I’m sure. Come along, people. Let’s leave the happy couple to absorb the news.”

The crowd slowly departed, leaving Andy and Yazoo on the bed, holding each other tightly.

“Five,” said Andy. “Holy cats, Yazzy, when you get pregnant you don’t mess around. It must be all the fertility drugs.”

“You’re not unhappy about that, are you?”

“No,” said Andy. “Not in the least and don’t you ever think for one moment I am. But… um… we do have a problem.”

“What’s that?”

“I think you’re gonna have to move the greyhounds in order to make room for the babies.”

“Okay. The greyhounds can sleep with us.”

Andy winced inwardly. Not quite what he had in mind, but…

“You sure you’re happy?”

Andy just smiled, and nuzzled the long white hair. “Yeah. I’m happy. Congratulations, Yazzy.”

Yazoo snuggled close, and felt a great weight rise from his shoulders he had not realized was there.