CHAPTER 10

"So…"

Cid began as he returned back to the pilot area, catching the younger man's attention.

"Yer mother…She was Selene, right?"

Cloud's sad face and slow nod confirmed all of Cid's fears. It all became clear as to why she had left Cid on that fateful day. He got his teacher pregnant. Cloud interrupted the pilot's thoughts with his first question.

"How did you meet my mother? And why did you left her?"

Cid could hear anger in Cloud's voice and sat down in front of the young man.

"Listen up, and listen good. I'ma 'xplain what happened to yah, alright?"

Cloud nodded, swallowing nervously.

"An' before you say anythin', I want it to be clear that I did many stupid things in my teen ages. And I do regret some o'them."

Cloud nodded, but said nothing. Cid sighed, getting himself ready to tell a part of his life that he never told anyone. Not even to Shera, his wife.

"I met Selene Markham in the school I was in."

He began, watching the younger blonde listen intensely.

"She was in the science teaching department, which was my favorite subject an' I sort of had a crush on'er."

Cid scratched his head in embarrassment at his confession, but soon regained his composure upon seeing Cloud's discomfort, and became unsure on how to continue with the story. He had to omit certain facts, because that would be too graphical and shocking for the blonde man. And he suffered enough already.

"Selene had a boyfriend, though, sum' jackass whose name I can't even remember, 'xcept fer his last name, Strife."

He continued, not allowing Cloud time to react or jump into conclusions until he heard the entire story.

"She was always sad, an' it was clear that it was 'cuz of him."

The older man brought a hand to rub on his shoulder, as if in search of comfort from the painful memories.

"An' I didn't do any better. I was a stupid punk kid who got in her way, an' did somethin' really stupid."

Cloud watched the man tense; unsure of how to react to the information he was receiving.

"After sum' weeks, Selene filed a reassignment to be moved sum'where, 'cuz she was marryin' her boyfriend, Strife.

Cid leaned on his seat heavily, causing the chair to tilt slightly as he looked at the ceiling.

"That was the last time I saw her. I haven't seen or heard from Selene since I was sixteen or sumethin'."

Both men stood in silence for a long time, lost in their own thoughts, lost in what to say next.

Cid was the first to break the silence.

"But this."

Cloud's eyes watched the older man's hand move from his pocket, bringing upwards the piece of paper that changed their whole lives.

"This scrawny piece o'paper 'xplains why Selene left Midgar."

Cloud blinked, learning this bit of information about his mother. Not once had she mentioned Midgar. It wasn't like she ever shared her past with Cloud in any way possible.

He became upset upon realizing that it wasn't the mako or Jenova infusions affecting the memories of his past and of his mother. He simply didn't know the woman at all, because she never let him.

Cid watched the younger man's face darken with sadness. He wish he could make it better for the youth, but wasn't sure how. He also knew that it wasn't wise to continue talking about such a delicate matter, but there was no way out of it, now.

"I don't know what happened after she left. I didn't even know that she was in Nibelheim all this time."

He admitted, watching the younger man closely.

"I'm sorry, Cloud."

He knew that wouldn't solve things, but he wanted Cloud to know that he still cared for him, that he worried.

"But, yanno. I'm sort of glad that yer not related to that guy. He was really a jerk. I mean, judging from what happened, he left Selene and ye as well."

The older blonde spoke sincerely, watching the youth's reaction closely. Cloud looked like he wanted to scream, but choose to just brood over it.

"Would you leave us too?"

The broken voice of Cloud made Cid wince. He pondered on the question. He didn't think he would leave Selene. He was too in love with her to do such a cruel thing.

"Naw. I don' think I would leave ye two."

He saw Cloud nod his head, but he could tell from the blonde's face that he wasn't convinced. Also, he looked like he was on the verge of tears.

"Listen, Cloud. I'm yer father an' I wanna make things right."

"How?"

Cloud lifted his head to look directly at the captain's equal blue eyes. It was a little too late to fix anything in his life. Many things had happened. He lost many things, many people that he cared for. He felt the worst when he remembered those that he could not save.

Cid just crossed his arm for about a second, tilting his head to the side.

"By givin' ye what you missed all this time. Someone to look out fer ye."

Cid explained, giving a soft smile to the confused younger blonde.

"And ye need it now more than ever."

He pointed out, looking at the long lost look on Cloud's unsure face.

"I don't need help."

Cloud spoke and lifted himself off of his seat, his eyes closed in determination. He would-

His thoughts were cut off when a pair of strong muscled arms wrapped around him and secured him in his place.

"Cid-"

"Yer not walkin' away from this, Cloud."

Cid spoke firmly, holding the younger man into his embrace. He could feel the younger blonde sigh heavily with a shaky voice. Without looking, the captain could tell that the younger man had reached his limit and was pouring himself in tears on his chest.

The older man just held his newfound offspring in his arms, murmuring reassuring words every now and then.

He would take care of Cloud. In Selene's memory and for his own old feelings he had for her.

Also, for the warm feeling he felt on the idea of having a son. He was going to have to work on the younger man's style, teach him mechanics and many other things that he was an expert on.

Cid actually felt excited in sharing his own world with the younger blonde. He also felt nervous, but he was sure it would work out just fine.

If his parents managed him, then he will somehow manage Cloud.

The only problem was to explain to Shera how he happens to have a son of Cloud's age.

THE END

A/N: I'm going to stop here, because I ran out of ideas for this. When I get more ideas, I will release a sequel.