(A/N): This is like the sixth time I've attempted to write this chapter. -twitches- So you people better be happy, my muse is ready to forget about this story for a while but I'm not going to let him. Just for you!

Note #2- If you get to feeling impatient with my taking long to update, go check out some of my other stories. Surely some of you are Kingdom Hearts fans. And the're in my cross-over Fritos: The Original Corn Chips. Naruto and InuYasha are also blended in in a not entirely random way. But I feel that if you've stuck with me on this you might like that one or Of A Camera. Just a suggestion.

Note #3- I now hate holidays. -bashes them all with a hammer- So because of that this chapter will probably blind side all of you.

"I will say this only once… as soon as I get hold of it, it shall be burnt."

My mother laughed and I could hear in the background as the tape continued to play. Christmas day she and my siblings came over, no problem there, I'm slowly building up a tolerance to them. The problem is that she hid a camera and filmed the whole thing and I am only just now finding out about it. "What is your obsession with burning things?" She asked, pulling me out of my boding thoughts.

"Don't change the subject! How much is on that thing anyway?" Morbid curiosity prompted the question. No matter what it was, my reputation was at stake.

"Enough to make me a happy grandma and mother. You and the kids are so cute. It's so sweet." She cooed into the phone.

"Do you know who you sound like?" I asked in an even tone. "Aeris!" How could anyone find small matters of simple parent hood cute?

"What is your problem Sephiroth? This is nothing to act this way over. Listen to yourself, over a home video of all things. You don't act this way over any of the others."

"What do you mean?"

"Like the ones when you were little."

"I think you're lying."

"Seriously Sephiroth what is wrong with you today? You are in a particularly sour mood. I think I like you better as you irksome indifferent self. What's going on that's made you so on edge?"

"Why would you ask?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone. Even the television that was in the background earlier was muted. "Sephiroth?"

"Yes?"

"How do you hope to fool your mother? Like it or not I can read you like a book. Now I will repeat this once more, what is the problem?"

"Why do you think there is one evident?" I questioned. Not that there was one… per se. I was taking care of it just fine.

"Because you sound tired," she told me, "and because you ,son, are whining."

There are certain things I never do. I do not eat off of the floor, do not scratch myself in public, do not vandalize public property (anymore), and I do NOT whine. "I am not whining." I informed her matter of factly.

"Out with it boy!" She demanded fiercely, not giving me room to object.

"The twins are sick and I've been up with them for the last two nights. Doctor says it's the flu and I'll probably getting it too." I said in one big exhale of air. I hate it when she's like that. I don't care who you are, if it's someone this scary, there is nothing to do but submit.

She gasped, "Oh honey I'll be right over. Don't even think about trying to object!" She said as if reading my mind.

I sighed and simply hung up the phone. 'I don't need help!' I thought while grinding my teeth in annoyance.

Erin walked into the room rubbing her eyes. "Daddy…" she said with a sob. I jumped up and went over to her. "I made a mess." She cried. She was so obviously sleepy.

I scooped her up and patted her back soothingly. It was then I smelt the stench of stomach acid and was able to guess what happened. Walking her back to their room I saw the blotch on her sheets.

Ayden was an unrecognizable lump of covers. I saw that his cup of Sprite was still full and sat beside his sister's half empty one on the nightstand between their beds. Adjusting Erin in my arms I went over to unbury him and wake him up. "You need to drink your Sprite." I told him once I nudged him awake.

I felt kind of bad about it but he had to keep up his fluids; I didn't need them any more sick than they already were. He grunted as I handed him his glass and he drank from the straw. Meanwhile Erin had fallen asleep on my shoulder and was now snoring lightly.

Tightening my grip on her I went over and yanked the dirty covers off with my free hand then made my way down to the opposite end of the hall to the laundry room that was adjacent to the kitchen. I stumbled only once as the fabric wound its way around my legs but I quickly caught my balance. Erin muttered a bit in her sleep as a response to the sudden jerk, but when she didn't wake up I allowed myself to continue.

By the time I came back out my mother was already letting herself in. "Oh here, let me take her." She whispered, reaching for Erin. I gave her over reluctantly. Having my hands free I went to the hall closet and got a change of covers. I made my way back to the room and flipped the stained mattress over before putting on the new sheets.

"Daddy I done." Ayden said holding out his cup to me. I took it and he plopped back against his pillow with a sigh.

"I brought some disinfectant." My mother said softly coming into the room. I pointed to my own can that rested on the night stand. "Oh." She replied.

I shrugged, "It doesn't matter. Here, you can put her down now, I made her bed back."

"That's fine, I've got her." She answered, showing no sign of laying her down. I watched as she continued to rub Erin's back in a loving way. Erin in return had her hand tangled in my mother's silver grey hair, playing with it as she had taken to doing.

I turned my attention back to Ayden, who'd already begun to rebury himself in his covers. I let him, he still had an hour or so before he had to get back up in order to take his medicine again.

My mother left the room and I turned to follow but stopped at the muffled whine from Ayden. I looked down at him once more and he pulled the blanket away from his mouth before he said, "You pwease stay here with me." He pointed to the space beside him, "Erin gots mamaw, I want you stay here."

I smiled for him and he scooted over as I made to lay down on the bed, praying as I did so that it wouldn't break under my weight. My legs hung off the edge and the mattress wasn't as firm as I would have liked but I dealt with it. Ayden tugged the blanket back over himself and he settled himself in the crook of my body. "I 'on't feel good." He told me.

I rubbed what was exposed of his head and told him, "You will before long."

(A/N): Meh. Ugh. Yeah… this chapter was really hard to get out. Please don't be too disappointed. And for all of you who wanted a Christmas chapter, I mentioned the tape so that you could look forward to that at least. Like sometime in July. -laughs-