Family
Disclaimerlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>: We do not own
any characters of Final Fantasy. They are the property of Square class=SpellE>Enix and Sony. We do not make any money from the writing of
this story.
Pairing: Sephiroth/Cloud
W A R N I N G: This is about male pregnancy (possibly) and male/male
relationships. We are letting you know now what the relationships WILL
contain. So, if you are AGAINST such pairings, please find something
else more to your liking, you have been WARNED.
Flames will be ignored.
Special thanks to: style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:black'>every one who
reviewed, and to those who have read and didn’t review thanks for reading thus
far. We hope you enjoyed it.
class=GramE>oOoOoOo
Chapter 33: Finally!
Cloud was warm and sleepily lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>contentlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>,
snuggling down as much as he could inlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>tolang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
the overly large bed that was meant for two.style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:blue'> Cid assigned
him a mirror imaged cabin of Zack and Aerith’s. The
pilot simply said, “He’ll be back and I’m
moving shit when does.”
With that small happy thought, Cloud continued to make class=GramE>himself comfortable, he style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>had the
blankets pulled tight around him, and his spiky blond hair was practically the
only thing visible to any onlooker that might have chanced looking into the
bedroom. He had no desire to leave his little cocoon that he lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>had
created to keep the evening chill from touching him.
Taking one last peek at his baby’s own sleeping nest, lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>and
hearing her snore gently as she slept, style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>Cloud’s tired
eyes fought the effects of the sandman style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>no more. He
yearned for sleep, and finally allowed style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>his eyesstyle='color:fuchsia'> to close of their own accordstyle='color:fuchsia'>, feeling his taut, pent up emotions relax as he drifted
off into welcoming slumber.
That was until he feltlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'> alang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
light gentle breathing on the nape of his neckstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>,lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
and something securing tightlylang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
around his waist, pulling him backwards in the bedlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>.
Fusion mako eyes instantly sprlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>alang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>ng
open, alert.
His whole body tensed, and hlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>is
heart thuddedstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> quickly in
his chest as adrenaline pumped ferociouslylang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
through his veins,style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> preparing
him to fight. But the hold upon him was not
threatening. In fact, the arm that held him felt familiar, the fingers that brushed
softly against his skin, sending shivers through him.
The former cadet immediately took stock of the lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>effect
that the stroking hand was having onstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> his body.lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>
His nipples, and his cock, were beginning to harden.lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
Cloud began to panic in consternation, lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>when
he realised that he felt the presence of his
lover behind him.
“This can’t be real…” lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>helang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
whispered to himself, easing awaylang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
from the tight embrace.
But as soon asstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'> lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>he
was free of what,style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> or whoever lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>it
was wrapped around him, cat-like style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>greenlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
eyes opened.
“Cloud?”lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
The blond peddled away lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>more
as he heard the soft seductive purr ofstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> thelang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'> lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>enchanting
voice that he knew so well.style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> “No! You’re
not real!” he cried, his voice rising in pained
denial, tears welling as he twisted his body around
to stare numbly at the lovely vision lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>laying
next to him.
It had to be astyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>
hallucination! style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>He hadn’t
heard anyone come in, hadn’t felt the blankets move or the bed dip. Sephiroth
couldn’t be here. It was impossible. He squeezed lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>hisstyle='color:fuchsia'> weeping blue eyes closed
tight, wishing the taunting teasing apparition gone.
The arm reached for him again, and he felt the
warmth of the hand lying on his skin, the soothing fingers gentle and caressing.
“Don’t be afraid, my love. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>I’m
real, Cloud. Bstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>ut only
here.”
“Here?” Cloud repeatedlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>,lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
confused.
“Here…lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>In
your dreams, Cloud. Or should I say, in lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>ourlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
dreams.”
Staring dumbly at his mate, Cloud lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>askedlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>,
“You mean… I’m asleep?” style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>His pounding
heart was calming downstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'> as he
listened to his husband spstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>eak. His fear
and suspicions were fading away at the touch of the strong hand that was so
reassuring upon him, and the little cadet found himself relaxing back again
into the pillows.
Silver hair fell forward from the slight nod lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>givenlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>.
“Yes, you’re sleeping, Cloud. style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'> And so am I.”style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
“Seph, what does this
mean? I mean, how lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>is
it possible that we can share the same
dream, if we’re so far apart?”style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
A sad smile style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>passed overlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
Sephiroth’s handsome face. “It’s because we style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>arelang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>so
far apart,style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> that we can
enter each other’s dreams,” he said, quietly. .
“But how?”lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
Cloud asked again, scooting backwards toward the body beside him, lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>settllang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>inglang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
himself back in placestyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>, snuggling
into the familiar heatstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> of his
lover.
“I believe it’s style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>possiblylang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
from the combination of mako and Jenova
cells in our bodies. But let’s not waste our time
discussing trivial matters,” Sephiroth purred seductivelylang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>,
his warm soft lips coming down and attaching themselves to the back of Cloud’s
neck.
“Wait—how much time do we have lelang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>flang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>t?”
the little blond asked shyly, lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>his
cheeks coloring a pretty shade of
scarlet as his husband worked his magic on one of Cloud’s
favourite erogenous zones. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
“Only a couple of hours,” Sephiroth class=GramE>answered,lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>
his voice husky with need. He turned Cloud around to face him,lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
dropping a kiss to his husband’s browstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>, his eyes,
his nose, and then gliding his tongue lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>wetly
across the boy’s style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>smooth jaw
line, before style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>claiming lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>Cloud’s
lips in a passionate, hungry kiss.
Cloud pulled back from the sinful slippery
appendage that was Sephiroth’s tonguestyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>, panting,
holding on to the moan that hummed lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>at
the back of his throat as the silver haired ex-generallang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
sucked on his neck, marking him.
Finding his voice, Cloud hopefully asked, “Will
we remember this when we wake up?” He was losing himself to the sensual
sensations that were flooding through his bodylang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>, lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>archinglang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
his back from the bed when his manhood was teased underneath the sheet.lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
“I don’t know, Cloudlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>.
But if I were to guess then yes, we will remember this moment.
Why do you ask?” Sephiroth had by now removed the sheetlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>s
and bedding that was acting as a barrier between him and his
young husband, and he let his fingers trial the length of
Cloud’s growing erection, his forefinger playing with the rosy, wet, leaking
crown, his fingernail drawing teasingly over the tight satin soft skin, dipping
into the pre-cum that was spilling from the blonde’s cock.
“Because… Seph…oh, class=SpellE>ahh… …” Cloud fought to keep his
composure. He had to tell Sephiroth about
their child. As bad as Cloud wanted to have Sephiroth take him,style='color:fuchsia'> to enter his body and make sweet love to him, he knewstyle='color:#444444'> Sephiroth neededstyle='color:#444444'> to know he was now a father.lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> “class=SpellE>Seph…your daughter…”
The ex-general paused in his quest to claim his
husband, staring intently at Cloud’s serious expression. And for the first time
since ‘waking’, he noticed the flatness of his husband’s stomach….and
the decorative bassinet next style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>tolang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
their bed.
Cloud reluctantly untangled himself from
Sephiroth’s loving embrace style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>and moved the
tiny crib closer to them, reachlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>inglang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
into the baby’s cradle andstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> removing a
small bundle swaddled in an ivory blanket.style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>Gazing
down withstyle='color:fuchsia'> love and pride at the
beautiful, peaceful features of his little girl, hestyle='color:#444444'> carefully placed his daughter in large strong armsstyle='color:fuchsia'>, laying the tiny sleeping baby in the hold of her daddy.
Startled, Sephiroth nearly dropped what was
handed over to him when it made a grunting sound, lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>the
baby annoyed at being disturbed from slumberstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>A
little alarmed, he was about to hand lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>the
bundle right back to his spouse when style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>small eyelids
fluttered open, and a pair of electric sapphire lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>bluelang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
eyes gazed up at him, fixing him with a rigid unblinking
stare.
The blanket that was wrapped around lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>the
bundle slid open,style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>as
an interested Sephiroth inspected style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>his childstyle='color:fuchsia'>. He took in her
chubby thighs and her littlestyle='color:#444444'> fat belly,style='color:#444444'> as well as thestyle='color:#444444'> thick little arms
that flailed about, noting with fascination the way the tiny fingers were touching
and clutching at his exploring hand. But
what entranced Sephiroth the most about the little being style='color:fuchsia'>in his hands, wstyle='color:fuchsia'>as the intensity in the colour ofstyle='color:#444444'> her pupilstyle='color:#444444'>s.
“She has ystyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>ourlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
eyes, Cloud,” he said, his voice low in hallowed wonder.
Almost crying with joy, Cloud scooted up to
Sephiroth’s side, placing one arm tenderly around his lover’s shoulders, while
placing the tip of his little finger in the baby’s grasping, sucking mouth. Not
that she grizzling, but Cloud didn’t want Sephiroth to hear lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:blue'>theirlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>
daughter’s ear-splittingstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'> loud
wailing. Not yet, anyway. He rested his head peacefully in the crook of
Sephiroth’s neck, and waited patiently while the new father continued his long
overdue first meeting with his offspring.
Carefully examining the rest of lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>his
daughter’s delicate features, lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>Sephirothlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
saw with contentment thestyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> light
silver-grey hair that topped her crown. It hadlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> a
touch of blondestyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>atlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
the tips, and to his astonishment lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>he
noted that her front mane framed her face just like his, lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>whilelang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
the rest of her hair style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>stuck uplang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>wards
in unruly spikes, resembling a class=SpellE>Chocobo’s,lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'> juststyle='color:#444444'> like Cloud’s did. He
gave a slight chuckle at the prettiness of her, his heart swelling with untold
emotion.
“She’s looks a lot older than that of a newborn,
love,” he commented, tracing a finger lovingly across
her peach soft cheek, trying not to envision what a lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>stunnlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:blue'>ing
beauty his daughter wouldlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
be once she matured into her looksstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>, knowing he
would become a protective, over-bearing parent.
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:blue'>Masamune would
be a good deterrent for predators... style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
“Seph…” Cloud’s vlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>olang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>ice
was strained with sadness. “She….lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>shestyle='color:#444444'>’s nearly eight weeksstyle='color:#444444'> old.”style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
Emerald orbs opened lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>widelang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> to
show emotional shock. “Eight weekslang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>?
I’ve been separated from you…and her, for style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>nearly two
months?”
Fighting style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>back
tears of sorrow and guilt for all that
Sephiroth had missed out on, Cloud simply style='color:fuchsia'>whispered, “Yes.”lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
“I’m sorry, my love…” lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>Sephiroth
began, his gaze now looking beseechingly, imploringly, at his blond mate.
Hurrying to forestall lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>the
words of apology that were about to be made,lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
the smaller male shushed his older partner.style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
“We were carelessstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>, class=SpellE>Seph. No….I was careless. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>Hlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>ad
it not been for me dropping thatlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
suitcase, we’d havestyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> gotten
away.”
“I would have given my life gladly, knowing you
two had made it to safety,” Sephiroth confessed,
hugging his precious baby lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>daughter
close to his bodystyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>, hislang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
arm tight and protective around her, lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>drapinglang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>
his other arm style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>firmly lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>andlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
lovingly around Cloud’s shoulders, pulling him to him,
kissing the boy’s lips with passion.style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>Cloud
returned the kiss just as ardently, his own small arms reaching round to
enclose his little family in his embrace. style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
Utterly worn out style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>emotionally
at meeting his childlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
for the first time, Sephiroth leanstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>tlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
back against the pillowslang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>and
closed his eyes. Cloud followed suit, laying his head
upon the flawless bare chest of his mate. Their daughter lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>nestled
contentedly, situated securely between them.
In this way, they settled into a companionable
silence, the strong fingers of Sephiroth’s hand stroking Cloud’s skin, his
strong heartbeat calming his snoozing baby.
“You style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>haven’t
introduced me properly to my baby daughter, style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Cloudstyle='color:fuchsia'>. You haven’t yet told
me her name,” Sephiroth chastisedstyle='color:#444444'> in the growing light of the room. It was nearing
daybreak. They had been comforting each
other for hours and soon they would be waking-up
in the real world.
Not receiving a response to his lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>commentlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>,
the former elite SOLDIER thoughtlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
that his lover might havelang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
finally succumbedstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> to
consciousness, but the slight bodylang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>
in his arms still felt just as solidlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>,lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
and just as whole.
“Clstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>oud?lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>”lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
Looking down, Sephiroth saw guilt written all
over the boy’s beautiful lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>flushed
face.
“Istyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>….I haven’tlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
named her, style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>yet,lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>”
Cloud admitted shamefully. “How could I, without you here to
christen her with me? It…it just didn’t
feel right. You missed her birth, love, and I’m not about to
take away you naming her.”style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
Sephiroth smiled down softly at his husband’s
bowed head. He knew exactly how the boy felt. To name their child on his own
would have felt like a betrayal to him. They had created this new life
together, and it was only fitting that they gave her a title together.
“Hmstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>mlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>,lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>”
the ex-general said musingly, taking his arm from around Cloud and rubbing at
his chin with his fingers, as if in deep thought. “lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>I
see… well, let’s give her a name style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>now that we
are actually here together, shall we?”
Cloud’s once shamed face lifted up towards
Sephiroth, but his face now was aglow with love and happiness. He nodded
eagerly at his mate’s suggestion, and starting rattling off a selection of
names, quickly finding fault with each and every one of them, and trying morelang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:blue'>,
evening using some of the names his friends thrown at him—those weren’t
noteworthy either.
Nothing else struck Cloud that would be suitable for
his little jewel. “Any suggestions, love?” lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>the
little blond finally asked of the silent man that held him.
The choices that had been offered perplexed lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>Sephiroth.
He was clueless lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>as
to what made a good child’s name.style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:blue'> His own name
meant ‘god-like’, he found out from Hojo that his
mother had named him when he was born. He didn’t know how she came up with it
but it did match him perfectly.
Glancing down at his daughter, Sephiroth realized
that it took a lot time and consideration into naming something. lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>He
had never owned a pet, style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>had never had
to think of a fitting title. So how could helang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>
be expected to name his own child?lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>He
explained as such to Cloud, hoping the boy would take the onus off his
shoulders and come up with an idea.
Fiddling with the wayward strands of silky silverlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>
that spilled over his shoulder, Cloud
looked
away with a blush steadily creeping along his nose, spreading outward to his
cheeks and down his neck. He did have a name
in mind. He had done so since his daughter’s birth. He just didn’t know how to
explain his choice properly, without the big man laughing at him.
Watching Cloud becomlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>elang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
flustered was an extreme turn-on for Sephirothstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>. He surmised
that the main reason he was able to enter Cloud’s dream and
vice-versa was simple: they were sexually frustrated and needed to release thelang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>irlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
tension. Their close bond had somehow opened a gate for
them to couple psychologically. style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>Unfortunately,lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>
he knew their time was running out, andstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> thlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>atlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
making love wouldn’tstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> happen in
this dreamscape. Maybe in the next one, Sephiroth smirkedlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>
to himself, before saying, “Come my love. Tell me what is on your mind? You
have a name you want to suggest? Let me hear it.”
“I… well, uh… since, since she looks so much like
you, I wanted to call her…” Cloud’s face was on fire. “…Slang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>tephanielang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>…”lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
Tossing style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>the name
Cloud had offered around in his head a few times, lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>Sephirothlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
then rolled it on his tongue, trying it out.lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
“Stephanie… Sstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>tephanielang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
Valentine. It has a nice sound to it.”
Sensing approval, Cloud hurried to explain his
choice. “You see, Seph, it’s made up of nine letters,
exactly the same number as yours. And…it starts with the same first initial as
yours too. And…” Here he paused, his cheeks burning even brighter as he took a
deep breath. This was where his lover would either ridicule him, or understand
what he meant.
”And….if you take all the same letters used in
both your names, S-E-P-H-I-T… and rearrange them…” He stopped, giving Sephiroth
a chance to guess where his reasoning was leading. When the ex-general
continued to look at him placidly, Cloud hastened to finish off his narrative. class=GramE>“HISPET. And separate the word into two, class=GramE>It makes, ‘his pet’. And she is, isn’t
she, your little pet?” He turned big watery blue eyes up to Sephiroth’s face,
silently beseeching the man not to mock him. ”Of course, if you don’t like it,
you can always pick another name.”
In answer, Sephiroth rubbed the class=SpellE>blond’s hair affectionately. “You’ve obviously been
spending a lot of time, thinking about this,” he mused. “And it proves to me
that, although I haven’t been with you, I have been deep in your thoughts.” His
thumb rubbed a tear from Cloud’s cheek, and he felt his own heart tighten,
knowing the boy was on the verge of waking up, and wanting him to do so happily.
Holdingstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> his baby out
to his partner, Sephiroth gave one of his
brightest, rarest smiles. “Sstyle='color:fuchsia'>tephanie… my daughter,
my pet. style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Take
care of her, Cloud, until I return. I love
you. I love you both…”lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
Cerulean orbs fluttered style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>openlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>.
Cloud sat up in bed, his gaze immediately style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>searching his cabin for his
husband.
“Just a dream…” he muttered to himself style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>despondently,
until his eyes caught sight of his daughter in bed with himlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>,lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
and the rumpled sheets on the other side of herstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>. Cloud
reached out a hand towards Sephiroth’s side of the bed lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>where
it was rumpled and still…warm.
He smiled, his heart soaringlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>.
He wasn’t dreaming. He hadstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> seelang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>nlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
his husband. Now he knew, without any doubt, that it was Sephiroth he lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>had heardstyle='color:#444444'> all those other times in his sleep. style='color:fuchsia'>His wonderful, beautiful, caring husband, who had passed
through every possible barrier to get a message to Cloud, to let him know he
still lived…..And to help finally name their child.
As quickly as he could, Cloud dressed in a pair of seat pants
and an over-sized t-shirt. Scooping up his style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>still
sleeping precious jewel, the former cadet raced out lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>of
his room to the galley, where style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>he knew most
of his friends were probably having breakfast.
All eyes turned on him as he burst through the doorslang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>,lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
holding out his baby girl for them to seestyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>, held like a
prized trophy. She was awake now, and looked around with her large blue eyes
opened wide in bemusement.
“Everyone, may I introduce to you, my daughter—Slang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>tephanielang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
Valentine,” Cloud proclaimed, proudly.
As one,style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> his friends lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>left
their early morning meals and gathered around him and his babylang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>,lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
congratulating him for finally naming her. Tifa and
Aerith instantly plucked their godchild from her mother’s arms lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>and
fussed and cooed over her, saying her name over and over again as they tickled
her tummy, and kissed her nose. As style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>Cloud went
and sat next to his best friendstyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'> at the
table, he suddenly realised how hungry he was, and how good food smelt. He
hadn’t realised he had started eating only as something to do just to stay
alive. Now he couldn’t wait to let his tongue wrestle with a plateful of
pancakes and maple syrup.
“It’s about damn time my niece hastyle='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>dlang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'> a
name, Spike. How did you manage to come up with that style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>onelang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>?”
Zack asked, ploughing through a stack of piping hot
pancakes of his own.
Boldly smiling for the first time in a good long while, Cloud
answered, “Sephiroth named her.”
class=GramE>oOo TBC oOo
A/N: How was that? Sorry, no Sephiroth or Vincent. And yes, Cloud
did dream of his beloved husband but it wasn’t all bad.
Questions, so many questions… will Sephiroth and Vincent make it
to their family? Do know? Well, stay tuned for the next chapter to find out.
Mitts & ArchNemesis
class=GramE>oOoOo Teaser for Next Chapter class=SpellE>oOoOo
“Shit,” he muttered under his
breath.
“Such style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:fuchsia'>foul lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>language,
Mr. Strife.”
Cloud whipped around to see...”Rufus?”lang=EN-GB style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";color:#444444'>
