Chapter 21 of your favorite story is here! Well, maybe not your favorite, but I hope at least well liked? :3 Anyhow, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, it gets really cute at the end! :) Sorry for the bad cliffhanger by the way!

~XChapter 21: A Child's SmileX~

Pam approached them, her head slightly down. Her eyes looked dull. Bad news was on its' way, this was for sure. Zack jumped up from his seat on the lobby chair and walked up to her.

"It's not good, is it?" He asked, with little hope.

Pam only shook her head no, and used a hand motion to get them to follow. "I'll take you to him. I'll explain on the way." She said, starting to walk.

Aerith got up from her chair and hurried over and walked beside Zack with the same amount of worry that he had.

"So, what's wrong with him?" Zack asked, looking Pam in her dark green eyes. She took a small breath in before she spoke.

"When he was stabbed, the blade sunk in very deep, going all the way to his hamstring muscles. When the knife went to be removed, it wasn't pulled out properly, and instead it sliced into his muscle deeply, leaving a very large gash in it. It nearly went to the bone. Some nerves were damaged and muscle takes awhile to heal. I suspect that he'll walk with a limp for a very long time." She explained. The three stopped outside of the room that Cloud was in.

Aerith understood the severity of it, but she didn't think it was that bad. At least his leg would be fine and the worst that would happen to him was he would walk with a limp. But her question was answered when Zack spoke.

"His leg is infected isn't it?" He asked. Pam only nodded her head and opened the door.

"I'll give you some time." She spoke, walking off.

The two entered the room to see Cloud sleeping. He was curled up in a little ball, with the blankets wrapped up in his hands. The two both pulled up a chair on opposite sides of the bed and watched him sleep soundly. Aerith ran her hands through Cloud's hair as he slept, and Zack could only look at him with a bit of a sad look on his face.
Cloud had already gone through enough pain in his opinion, he didn't deserve any more.

The blonde boy's eyes opened slowly. He blinked a couple of times and rubbed his eyes. Good morning. He said with a little smile. His eyes were filled with pain from his injury.

"Morning?"

"I don't think so." Zack said, giving him a little smile back. Aerith could see the pain in his eyes however.

"Evening?" Cloud asked.

"Nope, guess again." Zack said.

"Is it night?" He asked again, followed by a blink of his eyes.

"Yup." The ravenette smirked, ruffling his son's hair.

"Are you alright?" He added on, his tone sounding very deflated all of a sudden as he rested his hand on his son's head.

"No. My leg really, really hurts." Cloud whimpered, holding back sudden tears. Zack leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

"I know it does, I'm sorry buddy." He said, resting his head tenderly against Cloud's head.

Pam knocked on the door as she entered. The three looked up at her. "Sorry guys. Visiting hours are ending soon." She said with drooped eyes.

"No!" Cloud cried, grabbing onto his father's hand as he rested his head in the crook of his arm.

Pam heavily sighed as she walked closer to them. "You know it's the rules Cloud. We've been over this before if you remember." She said with a heavy voice.

"It's not fair..." Cloud whimpered, closing his eyes tightly as tears slipped from his eyes.

Pam sighed, then quickly looked behind her. Alright, just this once. "Only one of you can stay though." She said.

Upon hearing this, Aerith stood up from her chair.

"Aerith?" Zack asked curiously as he looked up from Cloud, who was still clinging to him tightly.

"I'll go. I'm tired and I feel like taking a shower and falling asleep in a comfy bed tonight." She said with a carefree smile. She didn't mind being the one to go home, she knew how strong the bond was between father and son.

"Are you sure?" Zack asked her. She nodded her head, then made her way over to the side of the bed he was sitting by. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Positive." She replied with an earnest smile.

She ran her hands through Cloud's hair. "You best be a good boy, okay?" She asked with a small smile. The boy looked up at her and smiled as he sniffed.

"Good, I'll see you two tomorrow." She said, walking out of the room. Her and Pam exchanged goodbye's as she left the room.

Pam walked over to the door. "Alright you two, lights out." She smirked, turning the lights off and shutting the door.

Cloud looked up at Zack with big puppy dog eyes. He held his hands out to him and made a little high pitched sound, wanting his father to lay with him.

"Cloud, your leg is hurt, I don't think you want me moving you around, do you?" Zack asked with a small smirk.

Cloud gave a little whimper and tugged on his father's hand. Zack chuckled as he released a small sigh.

"Alright then." He said.

He gently picked Cloud up and sat on the bed, getting into a comfortable position. He gently rested his son down next to him. Cloud gave a small whine of protest.

"What's wrong?" Zack asked, looking at him with slightly confused eyes. Cloud began to slowly climb on top of him and lay down on his stomach.

"Watch your leg!" Zack reminded as it almost smacked against the bedrails.

Cloud ignored the comment and snuggled down, his head resting on his father chest. He sighed in contentment and closed his eyes. Zack chuckled and gently rubbed the boy's back.

"Goodnight Cloud." He said, closing his eyes and dosing off.

~X~X~X~X~

Daybreak shone through the window of the hospital. Zack blinked his eyes as he woke up. The red sun shone through the cracks in the window blinds and lit up the floor in an orange glow. He looked down and smiled when he saw Cloud still sleeping away with his head resting on his chest.
His eyes were closed and his mouth was barely hanging open. His hands were curled up under his face and pressing against Zack's chest. He looked so content and peaceful as he slept on. Zack kissed his head tenderly. The blonde shifted a bit in his sleep and smiled from the affection.

He smiled and kissed Cloud's head again. He heard his son make a small noise of happiness and his smile grew wider. Gaia he was so cute! After a few more minutes of continuing doing this, Cloud's eyes finally opened and his smile was happy and bright.

"G'morning Daddy!" He smiled, kissing his father's cheek quickly.

"Good morning, how is your leg today?" He asked on a more serious note.

Cloud moved his leg a bit, and it didn't hurt. "Much better actually!" He smiled as he yawned softly.

"Good, I'm glad. Maybe that means you'll be discharged today." Zack said thoughtfully.

"Really?" Cloud asked, his eyes brightening. Zack nodded and ruffled his son's hair.

He was right. Within the next few hours, Cloud was discharged from the hospital with a pretty clean bill of health. He would have to take some pain pills and antibiotics for a couple of days, but the infection would hopefully clear up by then. He was carrying Cloud back to the house in sector five in which the trio lived in. He unlocked the door with his free hand, then stepped inside the house.
Aerith was sitting on the couch in the living room. She looked excited and nervous at the same time from the expression on her face. Zack walked up and sat down, joining Aerith on the couch as he sat Cloud in his lap.

"What's up Aerith? You alright?" He asked, looking at her as he bounced his son, who giggled and laughed.

"I have some news for us all." She spoke with a small nod of her head.

"Shoot." Zack said with a smile.

"You know what we did about a month ago? Cloud was out with his friends and you and I were talking, when things got, heated?" She said with a faint flush of pink on her cheeks.

Zack blushed a bit, knowing what she meant by 'heated'. "Uh, yeah?" He fumbled, still bouncing Cloud on his knee.

"Well, I'm pregnant." She admitted with a big smile.

Zack immediately stopped bouncing Cloud as his eyes widened. Cloud looked up confused, and a little bit disappointed that he wasn't being bounced anymore.

"Y-You are?" He fumbled. She nodded her head with a smile as her blush overcame her face.

"That's...Great news!" Zack smiled, wrapping Aerith up into a hug. She giggled a bit and kept blushing bashfully.

Cloud impatiently tugged at Zack's shirt sleeve, wanting to be bounced again. Instead of being bounced, the two parents looked at Cloud.

"Guess what?" Zack mused.

"What?" Cloud asked, tilting his head a little bit.

"You're going to be a big brother." Aerith chimed.

Cloud's eyes widened next. "I am?" He asked, a bit bewildered.

The two adults nodded. The blonde boy grew a big smile on his face. He giggled for a bit and soaked up the information that was told to him.

"I'm gonna teach it a bunch of stuff! Like how to swing on the swings!" Cloud listed.

"You'll be a good brother." Aerith smiled, gently leaning over and kissing him on the cheek. Cloud looked up at Zack.

"Can you bounce me again?" He sweetly asked. The ravenette chuckled and bounced his son again, in whom went back to giggling.

He was excited to be a big brother.