Disclaimer: Don't own.

A/N: Another chapter plus a deleted scene because I liked it even though it wouldn't have gone anywhere.

Warnings: Same.


Chapter 8: Cloudy Skies

Cloud sneezed, thinking dark thoughts about why Merlin couldn't have found a potion to cure the common cold. He didn't often get sick thanks to the Mako enhancing his immune system, and when he did Leon was always there to take care of him. Sometimes he even dressed up in that nurse costume Cloud had given Leon for Christmas, and then Cloud really didn't mind being sick. Unfortunately there was no Leon around to pamper him and do interesting things with the thermometer, only a well meaning Aerith and an annoying Yuffie.

The woman had confined him to bed rest after he had almost collapsed in exhaustion when trying to make some coffee to keep himself awake. He had constantly been at Squall's bedside helping the little boy fight the raging fever alongside Aerith. Half the time Squall was caught up in one nightmare after another that had left the little boy thrashing around in his sleep. When Squall was awake, he was too delirious to comprehend his surroundings and almost immediately went back to sleep when Cloud was done feeding him. That had lasted for three days before the fever finally broke and Squall was able to get some peaceful rest. After which, Cloud's cold had demanded it not be ignored anymore and had decided to attack the blonde's immune system with a vengeance.

Someone knocked on his closed bedroom door and Cloud frowned, settling further into his fluffed up pillows and snatching another tissue from the box on the nightstand. "What?" he asked with a touch of annoyance; his voice a little nasally from his stuffed nose. Right now he just wanted to be alone so he could sulk in peace with his red nose and achy body.

The door was slowly nudged open and Cloud's mood instantly brightened when he saw Squall enter. "Hello Squall," he greeted warmly to the little boy. "What have you got there?"

Squall beamed, his eyes bright with excitement as he carefully carried a tray in his hands with single minded concentration. "Orange juice," he responded proudly once he set the cup on the nightstand. "I made it myself," he added, holding up his hands that were sticky with freshly squeezed juice and orange pulp.

"Thank you," Cloud said graciously, feeling a warm feeling spreading throughout him. Squall looked much better than he had when Cloud had first carried the little boy in. The brunet's eyes were clear and he was back to a healthy color thanks to the strict diet Aerith had put the boy on. The faint pink scar was still between Squall's eyes that Aerith hadn't been able to fully heal because of Merlin's unknown spells that had changed Leon's body, and Cloud felt a pang of remorse. He should have been able to protect Squall to prevent that from happening, but Cloud hid his regret with a faint smile for the little boy's sake.

Along with the sticky glass of orange juice, there was a bowl of soup Aerith had prepared and a plate of crackers. Cloud's eyes caught on the piece of paper that was sticking out under the slim, blue glass vase with a single daisy in it. "What's this?" he murmured, lifting up the vase to get the folded up paper.

"I made it to make you feel better," the little boy mumbled in embarrassment as he dropped his eyes to the floor. Yuffie had bought him crayons from the toy store when Ms. Aerith had told him to stay in bed to get better. Squall had used them to make a card for Cloud when he had found out the man was sick as well. He had worked really hard and Squall hoped Cloud liked it. It was the first present he had ever given anyone.

Cloud unfolded the paper to reveal a colorful crayon drawing. There was a mess of blue at the top for the sky and a giant yellow ball to represent the sun, and down below was a lot of green scribbles for the grass. It was the middle of the picture that made Cloud's breath hitch at the two stick figures. One was small with messy brown hair wearing black pants and a white shirt, holding onto the hand of the taller person. The tall one had a shock of spiky yellow hair and big blue eyes wearing a red cape with his big black wing curled around the smaller figure. And just above their heads next to the red, lopsided heart was large clumsy handwriting that said, 'I love you.'

"Squall," Cloud said, blaming his unsteady voice on the cold he had, "come here." He opened his arms and the little boy crawled into them with an unsure look on his young face. Cloud's arms closed around Squall in a fierce hug as he tried to get a hold on his emotions that were threatening to spill over. "Thank you," he whispered heartfelt into silky brown hair. "It made me feel a lot better."

Squall grinned and turned around to settle firmly onto Cloud's lap, relieved that Cloud had accepted his present. With enthusiasm the brunet started to point out certain parts in the picture in the blonde's hand and explaining them. The man nodded with an indulgent smile curling the corners of his mouth as he held the child. The little boy's excited voice and bright smile that glowed from within was like a special medicine to Cloud, and the man could hardly tell he was sick anymore.

An hour later when Yuffie went to go check on Cloud and put down Squall for a nap, she found them both sound asleep with the little boy nestled in the man's arms. The picture was still clenched in Cloud's fist and she gently pried it from his hands to set on the night stand. Collecting the empty tray, she couldn't help squealing softly and taking a picture of the two for Aerith's photo album.


Something had definitely happened between Cloud and Squall during the time they were recovering from their illness because both of them seemed changed. The blond seemed freer emotionally, as if he had finally admitted something to himself, and Squall was more relaxed and acted like a proper little boy. Aerith couldn't count the number of times the brunet had gotten into mischief during the past week, and it didn't help that Cloud was often the leader in those instances.

"No," the woman said firmly, looking up from her gardening at Cloud and Squall. "Tifa worked really hard on making dinner tonight and you'll spoil your appetite if I give you cookies." She was assaulted with two pairs of puppy eyes and Aerith was startled that Cloud could pull it off so effectively. She had forgotten that the man used to do it when he was younger to get his way.

"That was the point," Cloud muttered, pasting on an angelic grin when Aerith shot him a look. "Please?" the man wheedled. "We'll only have one."

"No," Aerith said again, almost caving at Squall's look who was trying to imitate Cloud's pout as he sat atop the blonde's shoulders. "And don't encourage Squall. You're a bad influence."

Cloud rolled his eyes, reaching up to grab Squall around the waist and flipping the boy forward. "What do you think, kitten?" he asked above Squall's delighted shrieking as he tossed the brunet in the air. "Am I a bad influence?" He caught the laughing boy, making a silly face before tossing Squall in the air again.

Aerith rolled her eyes good naturedly. "Get out of here and go play," she shooed the pair away. "Dinner will be ready at six."

"Fine," Cloud sighed as he held Squall up in one arm. "We'll go play with Cid." Placing Squall atop his shoulders again, he ran off down the hill towards town where the man lived with the little boy's delighted laughter ringing out.

Aerith's faint smile melted into a worried frown once the pair was out of sight, wiping her muddy hands on her gardening apron. On one hand it was heartwarming that Cloud finally admitted to himself that he loved the adorable little boy. It was something he hadn't done with Leon when they were together. Affection wasn't just a physical thing, and both men were stubborn when it came to opening up emotionally. They were both emotionally fragile in their own way, apprehensive of getting hurt if they expressed themselves. She was a quiet spectator of the pair and it was maddening to her as those men had danced around the issue. They were two halves of the same whole; the Light Cloud had been looking for and the stability that Leon had quietly wanted.

On the other hand, Cloud's newfound ability to express himself was a direct result of Leon being turned into a child. Without the physical attraction there was less of a chance for Cloud to be left vulnerable. A child gave unconditional love with unwavering trust, allowing the blond to easily become attached to the little boy without second guessing himself. And as much as Aerith was happy that the pair had created such a strong bond, she was worried about what would happen to that bond at the end of the month when Merlin returned.

Squall couldn't stay a child forever.


Deleted Scene:

One time Seifer had locked him in the dryer with the wet clothes and turned it on. Squall hadn't been able to get out, trapped within the blankets and Zell's jeans as he was twirled around and around feeling sick as the temperature got hotter. Even when Matron had found him during the tumble dry mode, Squall hadn't been able to get rid of the sickeningly dizzy feeling or the room to stop spinning with bright colors.

Squall felt like that now, trapped within the dark as images and feelings too quick for him to understand flashed by.

Sharp jade colored eyes and cornflower hair.

Annoyance.

A violent storm with rain that pierced his flesh.

Loneliness.

Darkened shadows swirling about, trying to swallow everything in its path.

Fear.

The more he tried to jerk awake, the more the dreams kept coming and Squall wanted to cry out as the cycle continued. He wanted them to stop. He wanted to understand. He wanted Cloud.

And then Squall woke up.

He panicked at first because he didn't know where he was, the last thing he remembered was the alley, pain, fear, find me find me, I'msorrysorrysorry, and the darkness surrounding him before he caught sight of familiar blond hair. His body relaxed as the little boy quietly looked at the sleeping man who was sitting in the chair beside his bed. Even though Cloud was asleep with exhaustion clearly etched on his strained features, he still had a grip on the hilt of his blade while his other hand was resting atop Squall's sheets.

The little boy settled back against the many pillows, feeling the edges of a dreamless sleep calling to him and he closed his eyes without fear. His guardian angel was watching over him.