Cell Division

I respectfully credit all Original Creators, namely Squaresoft, which became SquareEnix,for these characters. In this way, I pay homage to my Fandom's Original Creator, and illustrate my Community's belief that Fan Fiction is "fair use". I do not claim to own these characters. I do not make money or gil from using these protected characters, nor do I wish to make money or gil from them. In other words, I am borrowing these characters to entertain the adult fanfiction community, but I am doing so with the highest degree of respect to the engineers, game designers, music makers, and voice actors.

Incredibly, my appetite increased. I spent the next week absolutely starving. I got so weary of chewing I took to drinking nutritional supplements just to keep up with my hunger. Sometimes I awoke in the middle of the night with my stomach growling. When I complained to my obstetrician, he laughed.

“You wouldn’t believe how often I hear that complaint,” he said, which made me feel slightly better. “Let’s have another look at these miracle babies, shall we?” He put me on the table again and performed another pelvic scan. Beside him, the nurse gasped.

“Doctor Pellan?” Her voice trembled.

“Professionalism, Nurse,” he said in a cautionary tone. To me, he smiled. “Miss Grey, your children are well ahead of development. We have you at sixteen weeks, but your children are comparable to twenty weeks.” He patted my shoulder. “No wonder your appetite is bothering you; you can barely keep up with their nutritional needs.” He began writing on a notepad. “I’m prescribing special vitamins for you. You must be exhausted with trying to eat enough.”

“I am,” I said fervently.

“It won’t be much longer,” he soothed. “Make sure you choose iron and protein rich foods and eat a lot of fiber. Have your partner fetch and carry for you as much as possible and spend some time in lukewarm baths to relieve the pressure of carrying twins.”

I thought the bus ride would make me sick. Heartily tired of being jostled, I made my visit to the pharmacy, got my vitamins and another case of health drinks, and took a taxi the rest of the way home. I felt clumsy, worn out, and cranky.

As I put my key in the lock, a movement from above startled me. The babies jerked when I did. Sephiroth descended from the heavens, black wing unfolded but not flapping. He did look like an angel, I had to admit. All that silver hair, I supposed. He landed beside me and took the heavy case of drinks from my weary hand. “You don’t look well,” he said, employing his usual lack of tact.

“I’m so tired,” I admitted, feeling myself tearing up. I hovered on the verge of collapse. “The babies are sucking the life out of me, I can’t tie my own shoes, and I miss Hojo.” I dropped my key, leaned my head on the door and just wept.

I heard a crash. Sephiroth had dropped my drinks. They spread out in a mass of broken glass and brownness on the steps. Hands went under my knees and to my back. “My father has better supplements,” Sephiroth said, picking me up with frightening ease. “As for Hojo not being allowed to show these children affection, I’ll kill anyone who tries to use them against either one of you.”

“Sephiroth?” I couldn’t believe it. He was taking me to Hojo!

“I’ve fought it like hell,” he said, taking us into the air. “I can’t fight it any longer. A good soldier knows when to lay down his arms. Aiko and Kai could die because of my selfishness.”

I clutched onto the straps that crossed his chest and closed my eyes. Relief like I’d never known washed through me. Almost overwhelmed, I sobbed my thank you.

“Don’t thank me for waking up,” he growled. “I should be drawn and quartered. You’ve been nothing but kind and honest and helpful, and I’ve made your life a living nightmare. I said I don’t deserve to be loved.”

“You do deserve it, Sephiroth,” I whispered.

“We’ll see how much my father loves me when he finds out what I’ve kept from him,” he replied.