Yes, I know.

FYI, there are events mentioned here that are not addressed in my universe (I'm still debating if this is going to become part of it or not). These things will either come up in future stories/my words project, or will remain exclusive to this. I explain what you need to know here in the story. If you still have questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks for reading and please leave a review.

Denzel was rounding the stairs to go up when Cloud and Riku walked in. They had stopped at home briefly before going to Tifa's house to drop off the groceries. He paused on the third step and glanced over his shoulder at them. "Hey, guys. What's up?"

"We have to talk to Tifa." Cloud answered, frowning in thought at the teenager. Maybe they should tell Denzel along with Tifa. Even though the boy had lived with Tifa and Rude for years, Cloud still thought of him as a kind of surrogate son and he knew Denzel saw him as a father figure.

"I had a feeling that was you on the phone; Tifa only gets that look when it has something to do with you." Denzel turned to face the couple. For the past year he had been in Traverse Town, apprenticing under Reeve, and had only returned a few weeks ago. "Something up?"

"Yeah," Cloud said softly. "You doing anything?"

"Uh, I was gonna shower but it can wait if you want me to stick around."

Cloud flicked his eyes toward Riku and the younger man minutely nodded. If they were going to tell Tifa they might as well get Denzel in, too. "Yeah."

The teenager's lips curved down a touch but he traipsed back down the stairs. "Tifa should still be in the den."

Riku and Cloud followed him to the back of the house. The trio entered the den, finding Tifa sitting on the sofa folding clothes. On the floor nearby, her infant son, Artemis, lay sleeping on a blanket. It was a sweet little domestic scene and Riku wondered if he or Cloud would ever be this at peace.

"I don't know if I should be more worried or relieved that Riku is with you." Tifa glanced over as she folded the small pair of jeans in her hands and set them on the pile of toddler clothes. "Did you ask Denzel to stay?"

"Yeah." Cloud confirmed. "He needs to hear this, too."

"Okay, now I'm worried." Tifa stopped her task as Denzel dropped on the floor near his surrogate brother. "Even if it's good news."

"It is good news." Riku enforced. Afterwards, he chuckled almost nervously. "It's also really messed up and completely unbelievable."

"Sounds like most of this family's lives." Denzel grinned.

"This may top all of that."

Tifa turned to fully face the Strife couple. Her mahogany eyes were concerned and she sat straight up with her hands on her knees. "What's going on, Cloud?"

Taking a short breath, Cloud considered his approach. Tifa always got more upset with him when he withheld information and it was likely she'd jump on him if he started with a simple 'I'm pregnant'. "You know how I've been sick off and on for the past month or so."

Denzel snorted. "Reno made a crack the other day that you were knocked up. It was really funny."

Cloud paled a bit but otherwise did not react; Riku made a noise and shook his head. So that was how Reno had kept his mouth shut; he hadn't. He was making jokes about it that no one took seriously. Riku wasn't sure if that was going to be good for them later or not.

Tifa did not take her attention away from Cloud. "I noticed that you were still going to the healers a lot. Aerith said you would be fine though; it was a passing thing you were getting treated for."

"I don't know how passing it's going to be yet…" Cloud's voice lowered. "Hades put a curse on me. I really hope its reversible but…"

"He what?" Tifa started, nearly standing. "What kind of curse?"

Cloud glanced down, an embarrassed flush coming to his fair skin. "He…reversed my physiological gender."

Denzel gaped. "Are you serious? So like, you have girl parts now?"

"No." Cloud shot back rather harshly. "I'm still physically completely a man."

"Well, almost completely." Riku muttered, earning a glare from his husband.

"I don't understand." Tifa canted her head, long bangs falling to the side. "Your physiology? Are you saying you have a woman's body chemistry instead of a man's?"

"And eggs instead of sperm." Riku added making sure she got the full picture.

"Damn." Denzel softly cursed. "That sucks, Cloud. Now you really can PMS."

Tifa was silent as she processed this information and Cloud watched her carefully, waiting. He had no idea how to answer many of the questions he knew she would have. To top that off, they had not even gotten to the most important part.

The woman studied Cloud for a beat longer. "Is that what's been making you sick?"

"Kind of." Cloud replied.

"Can it be reversed?" Denzel inquired. "If it's a spell it can be undone, right?"

"Probably; Merlin is working on that right now."

Tifa shook her head. "This is a really random way to curse someone, not to mention form of revenge. I suppose to a male female hormones are one of the worst things out there and having to deal with them would be an experience no man would want but…"

"Hades…" Cloud spoke slowly. "Had a different goal in mind."

"Like what?"

The blond looked to Riku. Shifting his weight, Riku explained. "He put Cloud under a modified god-pregnancy spell. He figured that if Cloud got pregnant, it was the worst thing he could do to him."

Tifa worried her lower lip and nodded. "I can see that. Cloud would freak out if he was going to be responsible for a child like that, especially one created under extreme circumstances. He wouldn't handle it well at all."

"But," Denzel scrunched his face. "If Cloud just suddenly came up pregnant, wouldn't he just be able to abort it? I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not really for that but if I became magically pregnant I'd probably end it right away."

"I would have." Cloud confirmed both of their statements. "And Hades knew that. What he did was make it so I could become pregnant."

"He assumed like many others that I do the taking." Riku furthered. "So not only could Hades throw Cloud with an impossible pregnancy, it would be my baby so he couldn't just abort it."

"That's diabolical." Denzel leaned back, resting his weight behind him on his hands. "I always thought that Hades was kind of an idiot but that's a clever plan."

"It is." Tifa agreed. "Thankfully he was wrong about the sex roles. So long as you don't switch things up, there's no chance of an unwanted pregnancy."

Both Cloud and Riku stiffened. They cast brief looks at one another, each wondering how they were going to tell her that there was a pregnancy. It did not sound like Tifa thought that Cloud could handle that scenario and Riku knew that Cloud valued her opinion deeply.

"How did you find out about all of this anyway?" Tifa inquired, glancing at her infant son on the floor as he stirred a bit.

In a calm voice that surprised Riku, Cloud answered. "I started having morning sickness about a month after Riku and I decided to switch places."

Tifa completely froze and her expression went blank.

Denzel, on the other hand, sputtered and sat up straight. "Are you fucking serious?"

"Language, Denzel." Tifa chastised automatically.

Riku's hand gripped Cloud's and he felt no relief from the contact. He was honestly afraid of what Tifa's next words to him would be. Just by her earlier remarks, she obviously did not think he could handle this. That upset him a great deal; she had gone on for years about thinking he and Riku would make great parents. Now that the real possibility had appeared, she was changing her mind.

Riku was also afraid but more so of how Cloud would react to his childhood friend's words. Would he change his mind about keeping the baby if Tifa didn't think he could deal with? Riku knew that Cloud often took her advice more seriously than anyone else's; she had always supported him and was first to make him face things he did not want. What if she decided that this wasn't what Cloud wanted?

What if she was right?

The dark-haired woman swallowed thickly. The shock was finally making its way into her expression. "You're… pregnant?"

"Yes." Cloud confirmed quietly. "Do you think I would come and tell you about the curse if there wasn't going to be a lasting effect from it?"

"No, I suppose not." She agreed softly. She faced the Strife couple and very softly asked, "You decided to keep it?"

Cloud simply nodded.

"Wow…"

"So, hold on." Denzel frowned. "Did you get a uterus or something? I mean, where's the baby growing?"

Cloud released Riku's hand and lifted his shirt. So that Denzel and Tifa could really see it, he inhaled so that the rest of his stomach became sucked in. He then gently caressed the raised portion of his abdomen.

"Oh, wow." Denzel got on his knees and crawled closer. He stopped before Cloud and studied the area, not trying to touch it. "It attached to the abdominal wall?"

"Yeah." Riku watched the teen and was glad to see that he was more curious than anything. He had hoped that Denzel would take no serious issue with the pregnancy. "We got lucky with the placement. The baby will have plenty of room to grow."

"Too weird."

On the floor, Artemis moved his head and opened his eyes. He fussed a bit, making light, distressed noises. The infant appeared about ready to cry.

"Denzel, could you go change him?" Tifa asked, not moving from her spot on the sofa.

Riku could tell by Denzel's expression he knew he was being dismissed. Deciding that it would be best at this point to just let Tifa have it out with Cloud and hoping that it would not change Cloud's decision, Riku walked over to the baby. He knelt and scooped Artemis up, smiling lightly at him. "Come on, Denz. You can show me where everything is."

Denzel was well aware that Riku already knew where to find the diaper supplies in the nursery, Riku had been here visiting several times, but he laughed and got up. "Yeah. Better start getting your practice in, Dad."

Cloud observed Riku picking up and settling Artemis against him to take upstairs. He had always thought Riku was very natural with babies and small children and right now it was hitting him harder than ever before. It had to be the damn hormones.

When Riku passed him, Cloud automatically reached and brushed his hand along his lover's jaw and smiled. Riku returned it, leaning over to kiss the corner of Cloud's mouth. Then Artemis cried and Riku took him away with Denzel following.

Once he heard them on the stairs, he turned his face down. "Tifa…"

"Are you sure about this, Cloud? I know that the two of you talked about kids when I had the twins but you decided against them. While I know Riku was a little disappointed about it, I haven't heard a word from you about it. In fact, you seemed rather relieved by the decision."

"That was a few years ago." Cloud retorted. "We weren't ready then."

"And suddenly you are now?" Tifa asked tersely. "What changed? You got pregnant? That doesn't mean you're ready, Cloud. There are other options."

"No, there aren't." Cloud turned on her. "I hate how this happened. If I had been given the choice it wouldn't have but it did. When I was told… my first instinct was to have the abortion and pretend it never happened. I even told Riku and the doctors that but… it was a reflex. I shut down like I always do. Even after it was discovered that Riku was the baby's father, I didn't care."

Taking a breath, the blond man walked the few steps to the blanket on the floor. "It killed Riku that I could even consider killing our child. I won't lie, Tifa. I'm not keeping the baby for myself but I'm not keeping it only because of Riku either."

"Then why are you?" Tifa inquired softly.

Cloud knelt down and picked up a small stuffed chocobo. He examined it for a time before looking to his oldest friend. "I'm doing it because I want to experience this with Riku. I see how much it means to him and I want to give it to him."

They fell silent. Cloud could see that Tifa was not satisfied with his answer and found himself not caring. He had made his decision and would not be swayed from it. Even if he had reservations, he would deal with them and be the parent he would need to be. He would give Riku the family he wanted.

Tifa's voice was quiet. "I don't agree with this, Cloud."

"You don't have to."

"I know." She sighed. "I just… Make sure this is really what you want. It's one thing to sacrifice yourself for someone's happiness but it's the baby who will suffer for it this time if you're wrong. I know you don't want that."

"I already thought about that." Cloud straightened up. "Sephiroth has been forcing me to really think about all of this."

"What does he think you should do?"

"He hasn't said either way. He's made it clear that this is between me and Riku and we need to do what we think is best for us and our baby." The blond idly touched his abdomen. "All I want is for my family to be happy."

He felt Tifa's eyes on him and he dreaded her next question. He knew what she was going to ask and he did not have an answer for her. It was something that had been hovering in the back of his mind for weeks now and he was avoiding worrying about.

"What happens if Riku loses control again?"

-0—0—

"That's a much happier baby." Riku fastened the clean cloth diaper around Artemis. The boy fussed happily at him and Riku smiled easily at him.

"He's a really happy baby." Denzel noted, watching the older male scoop up the infant. "I've only known the little guy for the few weeks since coming back from Travers Town but he's just so full of joy. He's more energetic than Ayden was as a baby."

"Ilea was the energetic twin." Riku agreed, shifting Artemis in his arms. The child cooed and gave a toothless grin. Artemis favored Tifa in appearance, unlike his older brother who looked more like Rude.

Riku wondered which of them his and Cloud's child would take after. Would she have Cloud's blond hair? Or maybe his silver but spiky like Cloud's. He really hoped she ended up with Cloud's blue eyes. Then again, maybe she would get one of their relatives' features. It would be odd if people ended up mistaking her for Sephiroth's child. Perhaps she'd look like Cloud's mom-

"Riku?"

The silvered man blinked and focused on Denzel who was smirking at him. He knew that Denzel understood exactly what he was doing and made a face at him. "Just wait till you have kids. You'll get caught up wondering the same things."

"Oh, I'm sure" The nineteen-year-old folded his arms. "I think all parents no matter who they are goes through the same process."

"Well, I don't know about that." Riku frowned. "People who don't want kids but have them any way wouldn't."

"They aren't parents then. What does Sephiroth call your father? Your paternal genetic donor?"

"Yeah."

"So there you go." Denzel leaned against the short dresser by the door. "My mom once told me that before I was born, she had this picture of what I would look like. When I finally was born, I didn't look anything like she imagined. I asked her if that upset her and she laughed then said no because I was real perfection, not her imagined."

Riku really liked that idea. That was how all parents should view their children; it was fine to have wants and hopes for one's child bit those should never overshadow the reality of what is. One of the issues he was unable to reconcile with his own mother was that she never saw him as an individual and acknowledge his accomplishments' all she saw was his shortcomings and failure to become the ideal she had created that he should be.

"Hey, Riku?"

Aqua eyes flitted to the side to check that Artemis was still content. "What?"

"You scared? 'Bout becoming a dad, I mean."

Riku worried his lower lip and watched Artemis giggle and bury his face into Riku's shoulder. "Yeah, I am. There's… so much that can happen, both to me and Cloud or because of us. Our child could suffer horribly due to us and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened. At the same time, we could give her an absolutely amazing life. Everything is so uncertain and that's frightening but I want to take that chance."

Denzel nodded. "I still see Cloud as my dad, even though he's always been more of an absentee father than anything, but he was always there when I needed him. We always knew that he would give us everything we needed and he supported us to the best of his ability. I know that he's going to be a great dad."

Riku smiled, feeling warmth spread through him. "I know he will. I have no doubts about that."

-0—0—

When Riku and Denzel returned to the den with Artemis, it was easily apparent that an intense discuss had been had between Cloud and Tifa. Cloud smiled at Riku as he came in with the infant but it was a constructed one that Riku saw through immediately. Rather than draw attention to it, Riku smiled back and handed off Artemis to his husband.

"Hey, Artemis." The blond spoke softly. His blue eyes brightened and the smile became more natural as he held his godson. "Riku take good care of you?"

The tanned boy giggled and reached to grab a spike of his hair. He didn't pull it though, just held on and continued giggling. The child squirmed happily against Cloud.

Riku glanced at Tifa, who was looking at him. There was worry in her eyes but also an odd acceptance that Riku was uncertain about. He got the impression that she was concerned about him and trying not to be. He had no guesses as to why. He knew that she hadn't gotten Cloud to change his mind.

Tifa stood. "Do you two want to stay for dinner? Rude and Ayden should be coming back soon from Ayden's check-up."

"Thank, but no." Cloud answered for them. He made the few steps toward the woman and returned her younger son to her. He gave no excuses or reason for the refusal but Tifa didn't ask.

Tifa nodded as she took Artemis. There was a beat of awkward silence before she leaned in and kissed Cloud's cheek. The edges of her mouth curled up in a genuine smile. "If you need anything or just wanna bitch for a bit, I'm here. I know how some of those side-effects can get."

Cloud snorted in amusement. "The cravings are already driving me crazy."

"I still can't eat anything with caramel. I am completely burned out on it."

"Only when you're pregnant now, huh?"

"Pretty much."

Denzel nudged Riku. "Wait till he's all huge and doesn't want to get up himself when he gets those cravings. Rude said those three a.m. searches for random things were the worst part."

"It wasn't nearly as bad with this one as it had been with the twins." Tifa scowled, bouncing Artemis. "But I gained almost as much weight. Thankfully I lost it all after."

Cloud pressed a hand to his belly. "I'm really hoping to avoid that."

Denzel laughed. "I promise not to laugh when you're waddling down the street in baggy clothes and complaining about your swollen ankles, Cloud."

The man glared at him. "Thanks, Denzel."

-0—0—

Riku and Cloud walked quietly back home, the older man holding onto the younger's hand. While he seemed lost in thought, there was nothing brooding or anxious about it. It was almost like he was musing to himself and Riku was reluctant to interrupt it. It wasn't very often Could got this way.

When they got home, Cloud took the lead into the kitchen. He let the dogs outside and came back from the door to watch Riku search the fridge for something to make for dinner. "Riku."

"Yeah?" The silvered man pursed his lips, debating steak and potatoes or ravioli.

Cloud considered how he wanted to word his question. Deciding there really was not a good way to do it, he simply asked. "Does Jenova bother you anymore?"

Riku paused in his consideration. That was a random question and he was uneasy about why Cloud asked it. A year ago, Riku had completely lost control of himself, going into a psychotic state that Cloud, Sephiroth and Sora had barely pulled him out of. After it, he had gone through an intensive four-month psychiatric rehabilitation. Since then, he had felt more stable than he ever had in his life and while Jenova and the darkness were still there, he was never troubled by them. He had learned to truly accept and integrate them into his being.

He stood and looked at Cloud, noting the casual attitude his husband had despite the rather seriousness of the question. "No, she doesn't. She's there but she has no power anymore. Her cells are simply a part of me."

Cloud nodded slowly. "That was Tifa's main concern, if I could handle things if you lost control again."

Riku swallowed thickly. That was something he had never considered. What would happen if he did have a relapse? Or what if Cloud started having issues with his own darkness? They both had monsters within them, sleeping now, but the possibility for them awakening was always there. Why hadn't he thought of that before?

"I told her that it wasn't an issue. I know my Riku and he'd never do anything to hurt me or our child."

Riku took a moment to process the words and felt a smile pull at his lips. He closed the fridge and walked over to his love, wrapping his arms around Cloud's neck. Burying his face into his shoulder, Riku whispered. "Never again."

Cloud rubbed at his back. "I know."

"So… you aren't worried?"

"No." Cloud pushed him away enough to look into his eyes. "This child's only been in existence for a few months, only known of for a few weeks, and you're completely devoted to it. I know that no matter what, you'll make sure the baby is safe."

The younger one bit his lower lip. "You won't let anything happen either."

Cloud smiled. "Of course not."

Something about the conversation was nagging at Riku but he didn't want to think about it. They had been through enough today and it was time to relax. Riku kissed Cloud lightly and broke away from their embrace. He let the dogs back in and asked, "Steak or ravioli?"

"Ravioli is faster and I'm starving." The blond swordsman was rummaging through the fruit bowl on the counter, eventually producing a pear and biting into it.

"Got it." Riku pulled the package out, set in on the counter and set water to boil. "Anything with it?"

"If it's meat ravioli, I want tomato sauce."

"It's cheese." Riku glanced over his shoulder. "Herb mix and olive oil?"

"Yeah," Cloud sat at the table. He watched Riku again as he prepared dinner, yawning. "Long day."

"Yep." Riku flicked his silver hair. "But we got the important people out of the way. Denzel seems really excited."

"He does. Marlene will probably be at our door later tonight. Word will spread fast now."

"Indeed it will." Sephiroth commented as he entered the kitchen area. "Especially with Irvine knowing. You are aware that he's already trying to talk to Leon and Zack about your pregnancy?"

"Not surprised." Cloud ate some more pear. "We told Tifa, so as of now I don't really care who knows and who doesn't."

"Good." Sephiroth glanced over his brother's shoulder. "Because I can guarantee that within the next forty-eight hours, the whole city will know."

"Saves me the trouble of doing it myself."

"Aw, you don't like the looks of shock and confusion?" Riku snickered.

"Can't say that I do, Riku. In fact, I'm just going to direct all questions to you."

"Be easier on you both to simply create a flyer and posting in the marketplace." Sephiroth added a touch of spice to the oil mixture Riku was making.

"We are not putting up a flyer explaining how I got knocked up."

"Then be prepared to do a lot of explaining."

Cloud sighed and rubbed at his stomach. "The things I'm going to have to go through for you."

Both Riku and Sephiroth laughed.