A/N:

Hey guys! Sorry for being late on posting this chapter. Things got busy with celebrating my brother's birthday. Sour Sixteen! (Instead of sweet since he wanted a lemon and lime flavored cake, WHICH WAS DELICIOUS!) Anyways, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Yuffie was cooking breakfast in the kitchen as she called down the kids to eat. An energetic little girl with long black hair and crimson eyes like Vincent's came hopping down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Hi mommy! I washed my hands!" she greeted with joy. "Good girl! Where's Az?" Yuffie asked looking around for him with a slight frown. "Where's daddy?" Alesta asked instead of answering, making Yuffie give her a look. "I asked a question first," she said. "And I asked a question next," said Alesta, clearly trying to provoke Yuffie for fun. "Well then I guess I can't answer yours," said Yuffie, shaking her head. Alesta pouts. "Okay okay. Azzy is still sleeping," she said. "Well then wake him up," said Yuffie as she began making their plates. "But I answered your question so now you have to answer mine," Alesta said, folding her arms. "Daddy is busy. But he should be back any minute," said Yuffie. "Okay!" Alesta's face brightens and she takes off up to Azeir's room.

Without even knocking, she lets herself into his room and begins jumping on his bed. "Azzy! Azzy! Waaakkkeee uuupppp!" she yells while jumping. Azeir groans as he starts to wake up to his big sister's noisiness. He grabs his pillow and covers his head with it as if to shut off the noise. "Come on! Mommy says it's time to eat," Alesta says as she plops onto Azeir. Azeir groans. "Go away, I'm trying to sleep," he said, still keeping his eyes closed. Alesta pouts, then a large grin forms on her face. She leans closer to Azeir's ear, about to say something until Yuffie interrupts. "Alestaa! Daddy's here!" she hollers. "Daddy!?" Alesta shoots up and takes off downstairs. "DADDY!" she could be heard on the way. "Pfft! That should keep her busy," Azeir tucks himself back in. Wait, he frowns. Dad's here? He shoots his crimson eyes open upon the thought, then is on his way downstairs within a second.

Azeir spotted Alesta hugging Vincent like a koala with Yuffie giving him a quick peck on the cheek, and finishes setting up the table. "Dad!" Azeir makes his way over to Vincent and the clinging Alesta. "Welcome back!" he greets him. "Yeah daddy! Where've you been?" Alesta finally lets go of him to look up at him with her puppy eyes. "Busy?" Vincent says as if it was obvious. "More specific," Alesta said, giving him a serious look. Vincent shakes his head. "Go eat," he orders. Alesta pouts, but does as she's told. "He just got back, give him a break already," said Yuffie as she hands Alesta her plate. "I was only asking him a question," Alesta retorts. "A stressful question," said Azeir before taking a bite of his food. "Says the one who sleeps in like he's the most stressed one out of all of us," Alesta spouts. Azeir shrugs. "Az, when you're done, go feed CerBerUs," said Yuffie, following Vincent into the hallway. "Me!? Why can't Alesta do it?" Azeir spouts. "Yeah! Why can't I!? They don't even like Azzy!" Alesta teams up with him, though speaking the truth. "Yuffie turns to them with her arms crossed. "Maybe they don't like him because he keeps refusing to feed them," she said, giving him a stern look. Azeir sighs frustratedly. "You can go with him Alesta. Only to make sure he feeds them," said Yuffie before turning back around.

"Okay! Come on, let's go!" Alesta begins dragging Azeir outside. "I haven't even finished eating yet!" Azeir complains. "Says the one who didn't want to wake up at all," Alesta retorts as they head outside. Yuffie shakes her head at them before facing Vincent. "How bad was it this time?" she asks him. "Two times worse. We still have yet to find who or what's behind it," said Vincent. Yuffie sighs. "When do you leave again?" she asks. "Now..," said Vincent, with a not so happy tone. Yuffie frowns detecting it. "Now? What do you mean?" she asks. "I have to take you all with me. Red can't babysit them this time," said Vincent. "You're needing help so you want me to come with you?" Yuffie asks. Vincent sighs, not liking the idea of needing help. "Yes. Specifically your powers. Maybe it'll be of some use," said Vincent. "I see…Red's in Midgar with Aerith and Zack so you're right, he can't babysit this time. What about Shelke?" said Yuffie. "Haven't heard from her," said Vincent. "Darn..I'd hate to send them to Midgar by themselves too," said Yuffie. "We have no choice…," said Vincent. "Not to mention how cold it is over there…the worst possible place to conduct mass murder like that. And the kids aren't ready to defend themselves yet either," Yuffie rants.

"We'll just have to make sure they stay hidden," said Vincent. "Hidden how exactly?" Yuffie crosses her arms. "Wagon. There's an abandoned wagon over there we could have them hide in," said Vincent. "An abandoned wagon, seriously? You'd better hope there's no danger around there," said Yuffie. "I've already taken care of it. It's fine," said Vincent. Before Yuffie could say anything else, Alesta and Azeir came in panting. Probably from racing each other back to the mansion. "All done! They almost bit Azzy though," said Alesta. "All I did was try to pet them!" said Azeir. "Shouldn't have been refusing to feed them then. They would've grown close to you," said Alesta. "Whatever..," Azeir dusts himself off. "Oh yeah, when are you leaving again?" he asked after spotting Vincent next to Yuffie. Yuffie looks at Vincent then turns to the kids. "Now..," she tells them. "Now!?" they say in unison, almost jumping. "But you're coming with me," said Vincent. "WHAT!?" the two say in unison once more, clearly shocked. Yuffie laughs. "We have no one to babysit you so we have no choice," said Yuffie.

"You're coming too?" Alesta asked. "Daddy needs help, so yes," said Yuffie. "So we can help?" Azeir said, beaming. "No. You're staying hidden," Vincent said boldly, making Yuffie shoot him a glare. "Did you really have to say it like that?" said Yuffie. Yuffie kneels in front of the two disappointed kids. "What he means is, it's very dangerous and we don't want you two to get hurt. So we have to hide you. That's why we're taking you with us," said Yuffie. "It's dangerous here at home?" Alesta asked. "Pfft. Isn't it dangerous everywhere?" said Azeir. Yuffie rolls her eyes. "either way, we just want you two to be safe. So do as we say when we get there, okay?" said Yuffie. "Yes mommy," said Alesta. "Yes mom," Azeir said at the same time. "I'll go get us some warm clothing and then we can leave," said Yuffie. "It's not even cold here. What do you mean?" Alesta asked as Yuffie went upstairs. "Idiot, home isn't where we're going," said Azeir, crossing his arms. "Oh," Alesta caught on. "Can't believe you're older than me..," Azeir said quietly, but he was still heard. "Only by a year!" said Alesta. Azeir sticks his tongue out at her, and she does the same. "Hmph," Vincent shakes his head. "You're both idiots. Now cut it out," he said. "Hey! If we're idiots, so are you," said Alesta. "How so?" Vincent asked. "Because you're our father?" said Azeir, as if it was obvious. "What makes you think it didn't come from your mother?" said Vincent, which got him a smack on the head from Yuffie.

"It came from both of us. Mostly from you, though," said Yuffie as she hands Azeir and Alesta their hooded cloaks. "Why me?" said Vincent. Yuffie and the kids look at him like he really is the most idiot out of all of them. "Who's the one that's completely stoic and naïve about emotional things and is denying having any trace of it?" said Yuffie. "Who's the one who turned mom into a Valentinus in the first place?" said Alesta. "And as a result of that, who's the one who helped her give birth to more Valentinus?" said Azeir. They were all clearly claiming that they got all of their traits from Vincent's DNA. Apparently including being an idiot. Now Vincent had nothing to say, which resulted in the three giving him a satisfied look that read 'We won'. Vincent sighs.

"Now then, let's get going," said Yuffie as she puts on her hooded cloak, then they head out the door. "What about CerBerUs?" Alesta asked after Vincent locks the door, spotting their little hut down the hill. Yuffie and Vincent exchange a look. "I..guess we can bring them with us," said Yuffie. "Yay!" Alesta takes off towards the hut. "Hurry!" said Yuffie. "You two go on ahead, I'll help Alesta," said Yuffie. "We can wait. There's no rush," said Vincent. Yuffie goes after Alesta and they enter the hut to unchain CerBerUs. "Hi there! Who's my good boys?" Alesta hugs and pets the triplet bulldogs. They happily wag their tails and lick Alesta. Yuffie giggles as she unchains them. "Guess what? We're gonna have a family trip today. And you guys get to come with us," Alesta tells them. "A family trip you say?" Yuffie raises an eyebrow at her with a smirk. "Well what else can we call it? It may not be fun but it's something," said Alesta. "Huh..good point," said Yuffie. "Alright guys! Let's go!" Alesta gets up, and begins running so the dogs can chase her. Yuffie shakes her head at them. "Well that's one way to get them exercising," said Azeir, watching them run past with an eyebrow raised.

"Let them be. They're still growing. Let them play and be kids as much as they need to," Yuffie rubs Azeir on the head. "They were puppies when you brought them home, now they're huge and they still aren't fully grown?" said Azeir, removing Yuffie's hand from the top of his head. "They're not even half your size, silly. Your definition of 'big' is different from mine I guess," said Yuffie. "Meh. Whatever," said Azeir as Yuffie holds his hand. "Lead the way, Vinnie," Yuffie smiles brightly. "About time," said Vincent, then began leading the way. "Hah! Even dad understands it lame wasting time talking about dogs," said Azeir. "The dogs who are on the same level as you," said Yuffie. "What's that supposed to mean?" Azeir frowns. "That they're more than what you think they are. Especially when it comes to intellect," said Yuffie. "Hmm," Azeir frowns in thought on it, but sets it in the back of his mind.

Vincent went ahead to catch up with Alesta and CerBerUs, making sure they follow him. He glides through the sky like a bird, leading everyone in the direction they're supposed to go. "Heh. If we didn't have to bring CerBerUs, I'd fly us too," said Yuffie. "You can fly!?" Azeir and Alesta turn to her in shock. Yuffie laughs. "Who do you think we are?" she said. "Oh! Right..," said Azeir. "Awesome!" Alesta takes off. "Is it just me or are they going to fast?" said Azeir. "No. We're just slow. If you haven't noticed, they're running, and your father is flying while we're walking," said Yuffie. "Well then let's go catch up," said Azeir, and they begin running after them.