Disclaimer: Zack Fair, the Generals and Kunsel all belong to Square Enix, while Anton Tempest belongs to Vega Sailor (used with her okay!), it's only Hewley Fair that's mine.
Chapter 7: Battlefield Reunion
Eight hours, relatively short for labor, but that just meant it hurt MORE... and Zack's constant nervous coaching was making her worse when she just needed to relax for a second!
"Zack! Stop it!"
"Sorry baby, I'm just trying help!"
"Well you're not. Just... go!" Zack's face appeared crestfallen as he slowly stepped away from his wife.
"Okay... if that's what you want..." He mumbled sadly, Aerith chose to ignore him, until the pain of another contraction slammed into her, causing her to shriek out, "Zack!"
Of course Zack, almost about to turn the doorknob, immediately made a mad dash back to Aerith's side, grabbing her clenching hand again, telling her, "I'm right here baby, I'm right here!"
"Alright, one last push and we'll have him." The OB called, focusing on the baby. Aerith took a deep breath, and suddenly the nurses shouting out the the timing seemed go silent as she met her husband's wide blue eyes... but then he smiled for her, and she gave a watery one back, before jerking slightly and gasping, a startled look on her face. A second's silence and then a strangled cry filled the room. The new parents turned to see, but their view was blocked by a nurse and the doctor who were examining the baby.
"Congratulations, a very healthy 8 pound 3 oz baby boy." the doctor at last pronounced even as said baby was letting the whole world know he was rather displeased with his current situation. Then the nurse had wrapped him snug as a moogle in a blue blanket with a matching hat and graciously presented him to the bouncing father, who took the small bundle as if it was porcelain.
"Hey buddy... My little boy..." Zack whispered, staring in awestruck disbelief at this little person with fuzzy green eyes and a thatch of black hair that he just KNEW would be all spiky when the boy was older. There was even little fingernails and eyelashes, and a little pink tongue showed as he cried, everything Zack knew a person to be... sweet Shiva, was he, Zack Fair, really a part of this perfect little being?
Aerith smiled as her husband ogled the baby, the tiny whimpers went down to some grumpy noises and wiggles, till Zack held him a little bit closer and then the little guy settled, burbling softly. The tiny green eyes blinked as if the effort of staying awake was too much...
"Here, let me hold him!" She asked, needing to hold her son in her arms, Zack finally blinking out of his adoring trance.
"Huh? Oh sorry..." He handed over the baby over, eliciting an unhappy whimper, but stood close, as if afraid Aerith might drop this precious gift. But all the happened was Aerith fed him, and held him, and he nodded off soon enough, allowing her to lay a kiss against the black hair.
"We need a name for him." she whispered as Zack laid down next to her, both their eyes focused on their sleeping son.
"Well... I had an idea if you don't mind..." Zack began, feeling just a twinge nervous. They had agreed to name their son together. But one look at the little boy, the tender weight of this precious Solstice gift in his arms, there was just one name that Zack could think of bestowing on him.
"Yes?" Aerith asked, though she had a fair (haha) idea of what her husband was thinking...
"Hewley? After Angeal. And his Gongagan name would be Hewailau." Aerith looked at the newborn for a moment, her expression thoughtful, till her face beamed.
"His middle name can be Gastion! After-" she swallowed against the lump in her throat, "my father. How's that sound?"
"Hewley Gastion Fair." Now he beamed "Perfect!" After a beat, "You're not mad that-"
"We said we'd name him together, and we did! You got his first name, I got his middle." Then Aerith shifted 'Hewley' so she could use her hand to pull her husband's face to hers and give him a kiss.
000
One could cut the tension with a knife as GUARDIAN fighters prepared to square off against the elite of Shinra, SOLDIER, and the legend himself.
Angeal stood before a group of SOLDIERs, taking in a deep breathe before speaking.
"Today... we seek justice. Justice for one of our own. Justice for the destruction of a family, for the callous disregard of innocent life. We remember a dream cut all too short, pride broken and tossed aside. Remember, remember and be strong as we give them such a defeat, they will never, ever forget the power of pride and dreams!" With those final words Angeal gave a dramatic flourish of his Buster sword...
"Today... we seek justice. Justice for our own. Justice for the destruction of families, for the callous disregard of innocent life. We honor the cries of others begging for blood, for the downfall of the corporation that is so marred in blood and sewage it's beyond redemption! Remember, remember the cries of those lost brethren and give ShinRa such a defeat! They will never ever forget those lost voices!"
Hewley caught up with his father after the speech. "Is it true Sephiroth is going to be there?"
"That is what our intelligence says." Gethin replied.
"Great! I can't wait to get my hands on him," Hewley smirked pounding his fist into the palm of his other hand.
Gethin frowned and leveled Hewley with a stern look. "Hewley, you're not to take on Sephiroth."
"But Dad-!"
"You nearly lost to Rhapsodos." Gethin pushed, a little irritated that Hewley was arguing with him when he was just trying to protect him! "You'd stand no chance against the legend. No, we deliver ShinRa a large scale defeat today and keep at it, demoralize them a bit. In a year or two-"
"I can do it!" The young man insisted, green eyes pleading.
"Stay back, help the experienced ones clear the path."
"Dad... please?"
Gethin couldn't stop himself from softening, gently clapping Hewley on the shoulder, "Your day will come my son." With that the man hurried off to make sure everyone was in place, leaving his 'son' fuming. I'll show them I can do it! But...how...
"Hey Lotus Blossom!" Riley called over to him, grinning widely as they lined up, "Ready for this?" There was a pause, before Hew grinned as he realized what he could do, before covering his own face.
"You know it!"
0000
There was one advantage to being in a full scale battle when one is plotting to do something bombastic and daring under a Superior's nose, and that was the sheer organized chaos of it. Weapons and noise everywhere, shouts of orders, screams of pain... and it was just so easy for Hewley to use the confusion and heat of the battle to sweep him away from Gethin's watchful eye, ignoring Riley's yells to stick together. Sephiroth was right there, attempting to clear the path to their headquarters, where the Scarlet General was. And it was just so easy...
Except another SOLDIER jumped into his path, by the black uniform he was obviously First class, and by the fact that he was watching Sephiroth's back, he must have been in the top level even in First Class. Hewley felt every ounce of air leave his bodyas he stared at the figure in front of him with burning blue eyes and massive sword at the ready. The face... the hair! It was like looking in a mirror almost. This SOLDIER had to be... but it was impossible! Gethin had TOLD him his father was dead. What... what in the name of Cerberus was this?
Zack, unable to even see the warrior's eyes, was unaware who he was talking to as he growled, "Don't even try it kid, he's way out of your league, you'll only end up dead."
That was enough to shake Hewley out his stupor, taking a swing at Zack with a metallic CRACK! as the two swords again met.
As they battled, Hewley's mind began to run, his brain seeking an explanation, a reason behind this. Maybe this man standing before him had abandoned him... yes, that was it and Gethin made up the other story to protect him!
"Out of my way ShinRa dog!" Hewley snarled, his mind settled.
"Better a dog than a rat!" Zack snapped back. Hewley aimed a kick, trying to get Zack's knees out from under him, but what followed seemed to be a trick of fate. As Zack dodged the blow, he lashed out with his fist knocking the younger man's mask askew, not enough to completely uncover his face, but enough to catch a glimpse of one of his eyes.
Zack froze in shock, those were Aerith's eyes!
Hewley saw the opportunity at Zack's hesitation. He grabbed his staff, and flipping it around knocked Zack squarely in the chest with the non-bladed end, effectively knocking the wind out of the SOLDIER, then dashed forward to his true target. Sephiroth.
"Stand down now, or you will die." Sephiroth, as ever, was calm as he regarded the young warrior
There was a feint, then a block, before the low voice snarled, "I've got more bite then you think!" There was a sudden whistling sound in Sephiroth's ears, he just barely managing to dodge what he thought was the stick end of his opponent's weapon suddenly growing, driving the two blades at his stomach
"I see you have a few tricks up your sleeve, but it will take more than that."
Hewley smirked and made a gesture with a hand that screamed Bring it on!
In a blink Sephiroth moved forward and began again.
Sephiroth easily matched Hewley blow for blow, surprised that such a young person had both the strength and skill to keep up with him, however inexperience made the youngster reckless. In another couple of years he might have actually been a challenge, too bad he would not live that long. Sephiroth spun hitting the younger man in the chest with the blunt side of masamune sending him flying back and landing hard, knocking the wind further out of him. Sephiroth raised masamune over his shoulder and charged in for the kill just as the boy staggered to his feet.
Hewley could see the silver blur coming toward him, his whole body seized up in fear at the realization he was going to die. Too late to move or attack he closed his eyes and braced for Masamune's cold steel...
But, the death blow never came. Instead Hewley felt himself being pushed down to the ground. He heard a loud strangled cry and an even louder call of "Zack!" Overcoming his fear, Hewley cracked an eye open. Sure enough standing above him was Zack Fair, his arm still outstretched from pushing Hewley out of the way, pain evident on his face as his other hand gripped the tip of the sword where it poked out through his abdomen.
After a few moments of frozen shock Sephiroth pulled the blade from Zack's body. The other man swayed and staggered back a few steps before finally falling, and Sephiroth was there to catch him. The silver general carefully knelt down, bringing Zack down with him, resting the wounded man in a slightly sitting up position against his knee.
"Zack... Why...?" Sephiroth whispered out. Only a Masamune breadth away Hewley watched in stunned silence, but the very same question played noiselessly on his lips.
Zack coughed, splattering blood over the front of Sephiroth's coat. After a few ragged breaths he opened his eyes. They shifted frantically for a moment before coming to rest on Hewley just sitting up not far away. A weak and pained, but none the less sunbeam, smile spread across Zack's face. Crystalline tears of both pain and joy formed in his eyes as he raised a trembling blood stained hand to Hewley. "... My son..."
Hewley's breathes were ragged gasps as he froze for what seemed an eternity. Then he slowly rose and removed his gloves as he began making his way over. Sephiroth came out of his shocked stupor as he heard Hewley approach. His battle instincts were still on high alert and the younger man was still the enemy. He raised Masamune to keep the distance between the masked warrior and Zack. "Stay back!"
Zack shook his head at his friend's well meaning attempt to protect him, he didn't have time for this,"Please... Seph... I want... to... see him..." he rasped out between ragged breaths, he looked over at Hewley. "Please ...let me… see you..."
It was an achingly slow motion, but a hand reached up behind his head and began to undo the mask he wore. As his black spikes rose up and his face was revealed, he tried to say something... anything. But he had no words for the 10.0 earthquake that had just hit him.
Sephiroth's eyes widened to saucers. Suddenly there was the little boy who used to play with his irresistibly shiny hair, who he had hefted on his shoulders so he could get a better view of the fireworks, and the little boy with his toy plastic sword who said how he wanted to be a hero like him and his father when he grew up. The silver general had doubted Zack before, believing this to be a delirium from blood loss and Zack's desire to find his son before he died, but when the mask came off there was no doubt as to who the young man's father was. He lowered Masamune and allowed Hewley to approach.
Confused, heartsick and pale, the young man sank to his knees right in front of Zack, still having no words for for the blue eyes gazing at him with such awe and eagerness. Zack's watery smile only grew as Hewley came close, though his looked seemed a little dazed, his stare was clear as he gazed on his son for the first time in nearly 13 years. He raised trembling arms to place a hand on either side of Hewley's face.
"You got so big Sprout..."
It happened in an instant, Hewley found himself enveloped in Zack's arms. He froze for a moment, before giving in and sinking into the loving embrace. The young man took a breathe, and resting his hands on Zack's back, closing his eyes. After a moment a warm green light began glowing underneath Hewley's hand, then travelled down to the mortal wound and the skin began to knit itself together. It was something he usually covered with a Cure or potion, a talent he had hidden from everyone except Riley and his Dad.
"He has his mother's power." Sephiroth murmured, feeling something stir within him he was not familiar with... nor all that comfortable with.
Zack gazed disbelieving at the healed wounds, and then back a Hewley, a tear finally fell from his eye at the memory of Aerith, if only she could be here to hold her child one more time too. "Just like your mom."
The boy jerked slightly and finally felt his lips become unstuck about to ask after his mother, when the sound of a gunshot called him back to reality, that GUARDIAN was retreating and SOLDIERs were heading towards them. He stood quickly, searching for Gethin and Riley, making to run to them once he'd spotted them.
Zack lashed out and grabbed onto his wrist. "Wait! Don't go!"
The boy instinctively yanked his wrist free, "I can't..!" A sharp inhale of breathe and Hewley bolted, but he barely made it halfway before the world in front of him suddenly spun. Along with the spinning was a weak feeling, till he tripped over his own feet, and rather gracelessly tumbled to the ground.
"Hewley!" Zack shakily got to his feet and staggered toward his fallen son. While his wounds had been healed, the blood he'd lost from them had not been accounted for so he was in little better shape than Hewley was, but he managed to stay conscious as he fell to his knees next to Hewley. "Sprout come on, stay with me!"
Baleful green eyes stared up at him, but Hewley was feeling so weak and his head was throbbing...
"Hang in there Hew, we'll get you home." Zack tried to pick his little boy up, but his 'little boy' had gained 100 pounds and a few feet since the three year old Zack had last seen him as. His arms shook like jello as his blood drained body trembled with fatigue. Thankfully, Sephiroth had caught up with him. Sheathing Masamune, he easily transferred the youngster into his own arms before Zack's gave way.
"Thanks Seph... I can't seem to do anything right for him." Zack grumbled, wearily catching his breath.
"You protected him from my blade." The General pointed out, ignoring some token resistance from his charge. Hewley stuggled, even as his limbs began to feel like ten-ton weights and blackness started to creep into his vision, terror overriding the fatigue. No, no he had to stay awake, he was in the hands of the enemy, in Sephiroth's arms no less! Gaia only knew what tortures and interrogation awaited him. But despite his fear, his sudden exhaustion forced his eyelids to close all on their own...
The last thing he saw were Zack's blue eyes and strands of silver.
"Yeah, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat, I just wish..." Zack trailed off somberly.
Sephiroth nodded his understanding. "The one responsible for this WILL be held accountable Zack."
"I don't care... I just wanted him back," Zack said softly, running a gentle hand through Hewley's hair.
Naturally, Riley had been trying to get to his best friend since the start, but lost sight of him in the melee and was forced back further in the fighting. When he next saw Hewley in the arms Sephiroth, he panicked, barrelling toward his uncle and yelling in his homeland's tongue and pointing frantically. When Gethin followed the line of sight, he saw Sephiroth carrying someone-
Gethin's very blood froze as he saw the spiky black hair, and letting out a curse, yelled to his second in command to take over before leaping to recover his son
Zack saw them coming and ran to grab his sword, nearby where he had dropped it earlier. Exhaustion still riddled his body, but battle-induced adrenaline was pumping at full blast now. Mothers were not the only ones who gained strength when trying to protect their child, fathers had it in them too.
"Who are you?" Zack growled as he and the masked man locked swords.
"His father." Gethin answered, but he'd lost sight of the fact that his men were mostly fleeing which meant more of the SOLDIERs were free to help, and as talented as his nephew was it only took a few of the experienced gunners to handle the boy and get him under control.
It hit Zack like a ton of bricks. This was the man that stolen Hewley, had taken his son away and maybe had even killed Aerith, had ruined his life, had deprived him of a father's right to watch his child grow-up. Zack's eyes lit up with the green fire of pure unadulterated rage.
What came from Zack was a sound like a roar and a scream rolled into one. Then all of the pain, all the sorrow and the anger came forward, focusing solely on Gethin. and suddenly the man found himself being flung back about ten feet and hitting the ground hard, and then swords and guns were being pointed at him...
Gethin, seeing as he had no choice, and wanting to look after his boy, let his sword drop...
0000
Author's Note:
And thus... we have reunion!
Yep... let the jokes begin.
