Tengoko: Da da da DAAA! The sequel is here. I was just so excited about it that I decided that, even though I just finished the other story, I just had to get the sequel up. I hope you enjoy it just as much as the other story. Read and Review.

Disclaimer: I don't own FF7
Rated M for language and romance

Chapter 1: Longest Wait

Reno couldn't keep still. He continuously paced the room, occasionally checking his watch, and muttering under his breath. His blue eyes were wide and his hands were shaking uncontrollably. How long do these things take? He knew it wouldn't be over quickly, but with each minute, his nerves grew more uneasy.

It had been nearly four hours since she told him it was time. He had done all he could do to make her comfortable. He had fluffed her pillows, made her tea, made sure her room was just the right temperature. She had only laughed at him. Still, she let him know in her own way that she appreciated his efforts, but eventually all she wanted from him was to lie down next to her and ease her fears.

Not long after, Shera and Cid arrived and Reno had been hurried from the room. He didn't understand why he wasn't allowed to witness the birth and had thought that the archaic form of delivery had been done away with. At any rate, he had tried to sit next to the door, but when the contractions became more painful for her, and her screams began filling the hallway, Reno found that he couldn't take it anymore.

A puff of smoke rose in front of him, and he stopped walking to look down at Cid Highwind. The pilot sat leisurely on the couch, his arm draped over the back, and his other hand holding the cigarette. Cid returned the stare with friendly eyes and an encouraging smile.

He knew how Reno felt. It hadn't been too long ago that Shera had given birth to his first bundle of joy. He had been a wreck of nerves as well, and at that time, it had been Vincent and Reno who were there, calm as could be. If it hadn't been for them, he surely would have broken a few expensive vases, punched a few holes through the wall, and flipped the couch over.

He grabbed Reno by the back of his untucked shirt and pulled him onto the couch. "You need to relax," he told him. Then, as though ill-fated, a loud, painful scream echoed throughout the house and Reno shot back up to his feet, his face turning pale. Cid shook his head. "She'll be fine, you know. Women have been doing this kind of thing for years."

Reno nodded, though he looked as though he would like nothing more than to shoot himself in the gut. Cid pulled him back down and handed him a cigarette. There was a moment where Reno just stared at it, but then he looked up at Cid disdainfully and scowled. "You know that I've been trying to quit," he snapped.

"Yes, and I've been trying to disabuse you of the ridiculous attempt. Now, take the damn cigarette before I have to shove it in you damn mouth. Trust me. You'll thank me for it later."

Reno hesitantly took it and expertly twisted it through his fingers. It had been a long time since he had held one, and it certainly did feel like home. But, what would she say if she found out he had been smoking while she was upstairs in ultimate agony. No, he had no right to think he was going through hell when his wife was having the worse pain of her life.

"So, what are you going to name the baby?" Cid asked, trying to distract Reno.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "It it's a girl, I know Tifa likes the name, Lena Mae. If it's a boy, we've been considering Hayden or Wesley."

"Interesting," Cid mused. "Hell of a lot more interesting than Sally. But, shit, Shera insisted. Said it was a family name or some crap like that. But, next one, I just might have to steal one of the names you don't use."

"What if we have triplets?" Reno joked.

"Then you deserve all the names. I certainly won't begrudge you, or envy you for that matter."

Another scream and Reno's face flushed. Cid groaned and grabbed his glass of bourbon. Shifting slightly, he nudged Reno with the tip of his shoe and held his drink out to him. Reno merely shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. It was a nervous habit of his; they'd all come to realize this over time.

Actually, it was quite funny at first, because Reno had cut his hair. Sure, it was beginning to grow back now, but watching him try to run his fingers through his pony tail when he didn't have one was quite amusing for all parties present.

"This is taking too long," he complained, as another scream came. "It shouldn't be taking this long."

"It hasn't been that long," Cid said, leaning forward.

"Oh, and you are an expert now?" he asked derisively.

"No, but I am trying to point out that I do know what it's like to be in your position, and I damn well don't appreciate the sarcasm. In case you have forgotten, I have been through this before."

"Sorry," Reno said quietly.

"Don't be," Cid said, taking another drag. "This isn't easy for you, I know it. But, you must believe me when I say, the wait will be worth it. When I held Sally in my arms for the first time…you know…I can't even describe it. You'll feel the same way too, and all this, the bad part, you'll forget all about it."

Reno was about to speak again, but the doorbell rang, and he turned his attention to the door. Cid put his hand on his shoulder and stood up to get it. As soon as the door opened, Yuffie burst into the room and then headed straight for the stairs. Vincent came in a bit slower and stood next to the couch.

"Reno," he said, nodding his hello. "How are you doing?"

"How the hell do you think I'm doing?" he asked.

Vincent knew. He too had gone through it, though it should be said that he wasn't quite like Reno or Cid when Yuffie was giving birth. In fact, he merely just stood by his fireplace, his elbow resting on the mantle, while he sipped a glass of whiskey and waited for the midwife to come down and tell him the happy news. But then, that's just the type of man that Vincent was.

"You know, there's nothing a good glass of brandy wouldn't cure. Cid, why don't you get him one. I think it'll help."

"Unless this glass of brandy magically makes Tifa have this baby any faster, then I want nothing to do with it."

"Damn, you won't smoke, you won't drink," Cid mused. "Tifa's damned well turned him into a pansy."

"Where is your Sally, by the way?" Vincent asked, looking at Cid.

"With Shera's parents. They just love her so it wasn't a problem or anything. And what about Veronica?"

"With her grandfather at the pagoda," Vincent muttered. It was no secret that Vin and Yuffie's divine father had their disputes. Nobody quite knew why the two didn't click, but whatever the reason, there was no love lost between the two of them.

There was another loud scream, followed by a few more. Reno lurched and dropped the unlit cigarette to the ground. Vincent grabbed his shoulder to keep him from following it and pushed him back. "Reno, she'll be fine," he assured him.

"Tifa," he whispered, putting his face in his hand.

Vincent sat down next to him and patted him on the back. Other than that, he did nothing else to comfort him, but Reno wasn't paying any attention to him anyway. All he could focus on was the groans and screams that he knew his wife was trying to conceal for his benefit.

"I want this to be done," he said.

"That's completely understandable," Vincent replied, as he looked up at Cid and took the glass of brandy that was being offered. "Here, drink this," he said, nudging it in Reno's direction. He forced it into Reno's hand and said, "It really does help."

Reno put the glass to his lips, but footsteps on the stairs had him bringing it down quickly. He stood up just as Shera turned the corner and came into the living room smiling. At first she said nothing, just stood in front of Reno. Cid came behind her, put his hands on her shoulder, and asked, "Well, what happened?"

"Good news, Reno," she said softly. "You have a beautiful baby boy."

Reno let out a sigh of relief, and as his fear dissipated, joy and pride filled his lungs and all he could do was shout, "YES!" He instantly grabbed Shera and hugged her so tightly that Cid was sure that her eyes actually bugled. Cid pried Reno's hands off of his wife, but gasped as Reno hugged him next. "I have a boy!" he shouted.

"I…heard," he grunted.

"Don't you want to go and see him?" Vincent asked.

"Yes! Of course!" Reno exclaimed as he raced for the stairs.

Their bedroom was at the end of the hallway, and Reno slowed his pace as he approached the door. Reno pushed it open and was instantly greeted with a dim, golden light that seemed to add warmth to the room. "And here's Reno," Yuffie said, putting her arm on the exhausted Tifa. "I told you there was no need for me to go get him."

Tifa opened her eyes and looked at her husband standing at the door. She wore a tired smile and her eyes were heavy lidded. She sat up a bit, pushing herself with one arm while the other held her newborn securely against her. "Come here, Reno," she said so quietly that he could barely hear.

He slowly walked towards the bed and sat on the edge of it, putting his arm around his beautiful wife. For the first time, his eyes looked upon the face of his son. He was wrapped in blankets and was staring up at his father with, what Reno could have sworn, was a mischievous glint in his sharp, blue eyes. Reno chuckled as his hand adjusted the blanket so he could see the baby better.

"He's perfect," he said, kissing Tifa on the forehead.

"He's got your eyes," she said, looking at her son with the utmost motherly affection.

"Yes, but everything else is yours."

"Do you want to hold him?" she asked.

"You don't mind?" He sat up straighter.

"Well, you are the father, Reno. I think it's perfectly within reason to let you hold him."

"I don't know," Yuffie began, looking at the baby with mock confusion. "I think you should hold out for the blood test."

Reno chuckled just as Tifa handed him the baby. Cid was right. There were no words to describe what Reno was feeling at that precise moment. All he could do was look down at his son with the widest smile he had ever smiled. It was just unbelievable. Reno, the man who once killed hundreds of people, the man who had been a Turk, was now a father.

"Tifa," he looked up at her with tears in his eyes. "I never thought that I would be…"

"Reno," she whispered, putting her hand on his knee. "I know."

Holding the baby against him, he leaned over Tifa and pressed his lips softly to hers. He couldn't be any happier than he felt right now. His son was in his arms, his wife was beside him. He had a family, something he had always wanted for as long as he could remember.

"I love you," he said.

"You'd better after all I just went through," she teased. "Reno, support his head."

"I am," he defended, adjusting his hand.

"Good…now take him downstairs. I know Cid and Vin are dying to see him."

"Yes ma'am," he said, almost sarcastically, but still affectionately. "Now, get some rest, babe. You deserve it," he leaned down again and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Besides, who else is going to clean and cook my meals."

"Reno!" she yelled. "You are lucky you are holding my son or I would hit you so hard."

"I'm only kidding, Tifa," he smiled. "Though, speaking of our son, what exactly are we going to call him?"

"Wesley," she answered with confidence. "Yes…Wesley will be just fine."