Disclaimer- I do not own Final Fantasy VII or KingdomHearts
The Promise Rings
Chapter 7
This Acceptance
"Roxas, Sora I need you two to wash up for dinner." Aerith called out to her sons.
A chorus of moans came from her sons' bedroom. She could hear them dragging their feet across the carpet as they walked into the bathroom. Aerith nervously stirred the pasta on the stove. She was extremely nervous about tonight. Cloud would be over at any minute. She still had not even discussed to her sons that he would be joining them. She wanted to but she was afraid. How would her sons react to knowing that they had a father? Would they be upset that had not told them sooner? In addition, would they even accept Cloud as their father who they had never known?
Her sons marched out of the bathroom for the inspection. Aerith always made sure her sons had clean hands before dinner. She took both of their hands in hers and inspected them. Satisfied with their scrubbing she let go and patted them each affectionately on the head.
"I need you two to set the table," Aerith said, "For four people."
Sora looked up at her questionably. "Is Aunt Tifa coming for dinner?"
Their mother shook her head. "No, no Cloud will be joining us for dinner."
Roxas tugged on his mom's apron. Aerith looked at him.
"How come?" He asked.
Aerith smiled. "Well, Cloud and I have something important to talk to you two about. Now I want you two on your best behavior, alright?"
The twins looked at one another before nodding. The quietly set the table as Aerith continued stirring the pasta. A minute later, there was a knock on the door. Aerith jumped slightly. Nervously, she put down her wooden spoon. She quickly tore off her apron and placed it on a peg. She walked to the door and after straightening her dress, she took a deep breath. After a moment, she grasped the handle and opened the door.
Sure enough, there stood Cloud. He looked awkward and nervous at the same time. He scratched the back of his head and managed to smile, albeit a very small one. Aerith gave him a very nervous smile before moving aside to allow him in. He stepped inside and walked passed her and into the apartment. Once inside, Sora bombarded him, eager to see him
"Cloud," Sora said. "You missed me fighting off a monster today."
"It wasn't real." Roxas muttered, which caused his twin to glare at him.
"Boys," Aerith interrupted. "We're going to eat now."
The twins quickly headed for the table. Cloud looked at her and she turned to enter the kitchen. Cloud followed her, watching her pick up her wooden spoon to give the pasta one last stir.
"Did you tell them?" Cloud asked softly.
Aerith shook her head, "I was waiting for you. I think it would be best if we told them together."
Cloud nodded. He awkwardly shifted before saying, "Do you need any help… with the food I mean?"
Aerith shook her head. "No thank you. Now go sit down while I bring in the food."
Cloud found the table where the twins were sitting, waiting patiently for food. They sat next to one another. Cloud took the seat nearest Sora, finding him more anxious than the other twin. He thought he would make Roxas uncomfortable since the blond twin seemed more nervous or scared around him. He did not want to make his son uncomfortable.
Son, a word that still sounded awkward in Cloud's head. Roxas was his son. Sora was his son. It would have been hard to believe he had one son but to have two, it was a lot to take in. Yet, they were his and they would soon know. It made the older man nervous. He wanted them to accept him, even though he had never been there.
When Aerith served dinner, Cloud hardly ate. His stomach was in knots and it did not take Aerith long to figure out why. To her, Cloud was easy to read. Then again, she was equally nervous. How would her sons react to knowing this man was their father? She never spoke of him to her children and now all of a sudden to spring this on them seemed frightening. Would they be angry with her? Would they be angry at Cloud?
"Sora, Roxas," Aerith said gently. "I have something… that is Cloud and I have something very important to tell you."
"We don't get dessert?" Sora asked, sounding disappointment.
Aerith shook her head. "Sora, I am being serious."
"I am serious," Sora moaned. "Last time you said you had something important to say I had no dessert because I broke aunt Tifa's window. It wasn't my fault though. The ball just went that way."
"Sora, you are not in trouble," Aerith said. "Now please listen to what I… we have to say."
Sora closed his mouth and looked at his twin. He was almost positive he would get no dessert. Aerith looked at Cloud, wanting his reassurance. Cloud nodded, telling her he was ready to spring the news on the boys. Aerith took a deep breath and mentally said a prayer to help her through this.
"Boys," she began. "I want you to know I love you very much. I have never told you this but you have the right to know. I know you've asked a few times and I never gave you a clear answer but…"
The twins looked nervous, looking between the adults. Aerith glanced at Cloud again, biting her lip nervously.
"Sora, Roxas I want you to meet your father, Cloud."
The room was silent. The twins were shell-shocked. Their eyes were wide, mouths slightly hanging open, and confusion written on their faces. The twins looked at one another wondering if they heard their mother correctly. By the looks on their faces, the twins mentally agreed that they heard the exact same thing.
"Boys, I know this may be a big surprise but…"
"D-dad," Sora said the words foreign in his mouth. He was staring at Cloud. "You're my… dad?"
Cloud looked at the brunette twin and slowly nodded once. Sora stood up and moved toward the older man. Roxas remained planted in his chair. When he first met Cloud, Sora had never been at a lost for words. He even enjoyed chatting with him, even if the older man could have cared less about his imaginary sword fighting. Sora stared at him, straight in the eyes. Cloud nervously stared back.
The twin's eyebrow arched as he stared, as if looking for something. The golden locks looked exactly like his brother's hair. The shape of Cloud's face matched exactly to his. Yet, it was the sapphire blue eyes Sora recognized. Those blue eyes he saw every time he looked in a mirror.
Nervously, he reached out and tugged on Cloud's hair. Cloud did not move as the child touched him. Sora then touched his face, began pinching his cheeks, and pulled them apart. Cloud winced slightly and Sora laughed. Aerith let out a breath, relieved that one of her sons seemed satisfactory with the idea.
"I never had a daddy before." He said innocently.
"I never had a son before," Cloud muttered back.
Sora reached up and hugged Cloud, wrapping his little arms around his newly found father's neck. Cloud shifted his eyes to Aerith who smiled while mouthing, "Hug him." Cloud, reached around the kid, and hugged him gently. At first, the hug was awkward. Cloud was never an affectionate person. Nevertheless, when he felt Sora let out a sigh he relaxed. Sora is, after all, his son. When they pulled away, Sora gave him a big smile.
"Cloud…" he said. "Can I call you dad?"
Cloud nodded a small smile crept on up at the corners of his mouth. Sora turned and looked back at his twin.
"Roxas," he called out.
Roxas was looking down at his lap. His twin came up, took his arm, and tugged him out of his chair. Aerith stood up and knelt next to her timid son.
"Don't you want to meet your father?" she whispered.
Roxas did not say a word. However, he walked toward his dad. His feet were shuffling across the floor and he stopped inches away from the man he now had to accept to be his father. He was still staring away from Cloud, unsure.
"Hi Roxas," Cloud said softly.
"Hi," the blond twin muttered.
Cloud looked at Aerith. He had no idea how to react to Roxas. He looked toward the mother for reassurance, since she knew more about their children than he did. He returned his gaze to the boy. Roxas breathed.
"You're my dad, right?" Roxas asked.
"Yes, I am."
Then out of nowhere, Roxas's tiny fist hit Cloud on the knee. The minor attack did not even make Cloud flinch. However, the golden blond twin hit him again out of anger and frustration.
"I hate you!" Roxas cried fiercely.
The outburst caught Cloud off guard, as well as the mother and twin brother. The twin turned around to flee from the room. He scrambled out of the kitchen and into his bedroom before slamming the door behind him. Aerith gasped.
"Cloud, let me talk to him," Aerith said hurrying to her son's room.
Cloud looked down feeling horrible when he felt Sora tug on his sleeve. Sora gave him a toothy grin.
"I like you," he said and then he added, "…dad."
Cloud smiled slightly. He stood up, wanting to talk to his other son and somehow have him understand that he did care for him.
In the bedroom, Aerith was holding her son in her lap. She gently strokes his blond locks as he listens to his mother. She spoke gently to him, calming his fury.
"Roxas," she whispers gently. "I'm sorry I never told you about Cloud, your daddy. Are you mad at me too?"
Roxas shook his head. "No, but how come he never came here. Everyone laughed at Sora and me when we told people we had no daddy. Now I have a daddy. Why was he never here? Does he hate me?"
Aerith hugs him, "No, he doesn't hate you."
Roxas sobs slightly. "Then why was he never here?"
Just then, Cloud lifts his son off his mother's lap and into the strong arms of his father. Cloud, finally getting use to the idea, hugged his son to him.
"I don't hate you," Cloud firmly states. "I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I promise I will be if you let me."
Roxas cries as he looks at his father before throwing his arms around him and hugs him. He muffles out, "Dad" as he cries out of happiness that he finally has a father of his own. Aerith smiles from the bed and Sora is at his father's side. He hugs his dad's leg and Cloud's lips curve into a bigger smile. His sons accepted him.
The night goes smoothly after everyone finishes dinner. Sora and Roxas drag their father around their room showing him things. Roxas showed him pictures he painted in art class while Sora showed him a ribbon he won in gym class for being the fastest runner. Each son was determined to show off as much as possible to his father. Cloud enjoyed watching them, seeing what he missed in the last eight years.
As he watched them, he wondered what it would have been like had he been around. He wondered what it would be like to hold a baby in his arms and watch them grow up. He could not even begin to imagine how hard it must have been for Aerith to raise twins. Cloud wanted to help her now and he was determined to do it.
"DAD!" Sora shouted. "Look at me!"
Cloud looked up to see Sora jumping off his bed. Cloud gasped and quickly reached out and caught the boy in his arms. Sora laughed as he clung to his dad like a little monkey.
"You shouldn't be jumping off the bed," Cloud said, putting him down.
"DAD!" Roxas shouted. Cloud looked back just in time to catch his other son, however the crash took the wind out of Cloud, knocking him back a bit.
Roxas and Sora began laughing hysterically when, Aerith walked into the room. In her hand was a dish towel, which she was using to wipe her hands.
"What's going on in here?" she asked.
Sora and Roxas hid behind their dad, knowing very well that they were not allowed to jump on their beds.
"The boys were just playing," Cloud said, ruffling their hair. "No harm done."
Aerith gave him a skeptical look but let topic drop. She looked at her sons.
"Boys its time to get ready for bed," Aerith said.
The boys groaned.
"But we want to play games with daddy," Sora protested tugging on his dad's hand.
"We don't want him to leave," Roxas whined.
"It's bedtime, no arguing." Aerith sternly ordered.
The twins groaned and marched off to their bedtime rituals of washing up, brushing teeth, and putting on pajamas. Cloud smiled after them, playfully rustling their hair as they left the room.
"You have them on a tight leash." Cloud commented.
"Being a single mom I cannot necessarily have them run rampant. Besides, tomorrow I have to take them with me to do errands since Tifa and Zack have the last of the wedding details to finish up."
Cloud nodded when an idea came to his mind.
"Aerith, let me watch the boys tomorrow."
Aerith's eyes widened. "Cloud, I don't think that is such a good idea."
"Why, they're good kids."
"Yes, they are good kids but they are a handful and you don't really have experience taking care of children."
Cloud shrugged, "How hard can it be? Let me spend time with my sons. I have eight years of catch up."
Just then, Roxas and Sora reentered the room dressed in pajamas and ready for bed. Cloud looked at the twins smilingly gently.
"Boys how would you like to spend the entire day with me tomorrow?" he asked.
Their faces lit up as if it were Christmas. In seconds, they were cheering as they jumped up and down excitedly. Aerith let out a sigh. She did not like the idea one bit. Sora and Roxas were kids and listened to her as if she were a drill sergeant. She was afraid the twins would walk all over their father.
"I don't think it's a good idea," Aerith attempted voiced her opinion.
The twins' faces fell to frowns. In seconds, they looked as if they were going to burst into tears.
"Come on Aerith, it will make it easier to get your errands done."
"PLEASE! PLEASE!" the twins chorused after.
Aerith's sighed again as she shook her head. She did not like this idea but maybe she would be wrong and everything would go well. When she finally did say yes, her sons bombarded her with hugs, clinging to her tightly. Behind them, Cloud smiled at her.
When the twins were finally tucked into bed, their mother kissed them goodnight. They repeatedly said good night to their dad, trying to outdo the other until their mother told them they had to sleep or they would not be able to go out with their father. With that finished, Aerith escorted Cloud to her door.
"Thank you," Cloud said, "for letting me into their lives."
"You're welcome," she replied softly.
Cloud looked at her finding it hard not to stare at her. Why did she have to look so beautiful?
"Cloud," Aerith called. "You better get going or you'll miss the bus."
Cloud broke away realizing she was right. He nodded and grabbed the door handle.
"I'll see you in the morning," he called over his shoulder.
"Good night," she whispered.
When Cloud returns to Tifa and Zack's place, the couple had just finished eating as Cloud walks through the door. The smile on Cloud's face is enough of an answer for them to realize that everything went well. They congratulated him and Cloud thanked them before telling them tomorrow's plan.
"You're going to babysit Roxas and Sora?" Zack said in the same unsure tone that Aerith used.
"They're my kids," Cloud replied sourly.
"I know that," the raven haired man stated, "it's just that… they are handful."
Tifa agreed, "Cloud those two are generally good kids but like all kids they're very mischievous. You have to keep an eye out for them at all times."
"Also, if those two get in a fight you have to be prepared to break them apart. I remember one time Sora played a prank on Roxas and it was damn near impossible to break them apart and I still don't know which one bit me."
Cloud suddenly felt nervous.
"Roxas is quiet and you have to make sure he is near you at all times." Tifa warned. "He wanders off a lot! He is quiet so you won't notice him."
Then Zack added, "Sora doesn't listen well either. If you tell him one thing I swear that kid purposely does the opposite."
Tifa interjected, "Oh and Roxas is very sensitive he cries easily but it's because Sora is talkative that it's hard for Roxas to get his say in."
"Also it's a pain in the ass to get them to eat food that isn't potato chips or chocolate. Well some of the time."
"Otherwise, they are really sweethearts," the couple said at the same time.
Cloud stared wide-eyed. A sweat drop ran down the back of Cloud's neck. He was hoping that taking care of the boys would impress Aerith and help him bond with his sons. Yet now all he could think of was what did he just get himself into?
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