This fic is officially, in regards to number of chapters, longer than either of my previous fics. Yay!

Anyway!

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or its characters.


"Oh sure. Saïx gets a hug, but I don't." Leon chuckled, watching as his pups hugged the blue haired llarcloa. He then looked over, a familiar scent he longed for catching his nose. "Cloud..."

"Leon, it's been a while." Cloud went over and touched Leon's face. "A scar..."

"Still handsome though, right?"

Cloud chuckled and hugged his mate. "I missed you so much… I know we saw each other on the battlefield, but this..."

"I missed you, too, Cloud." Leon whispered, nuzzling his face into that thick, blonde hair of his beloved mate. He then looked over to Sora, a scent coming to him. While humans had to wait for other signs or even tests to tell them they were pregnant, the llarcloa could tell by their noses alone, the scent of those carrying, even if they only just conceived, changing. "Oh dear..."

"You smell it, too, huh?" Saïx sighed, but he couldn't help but smile. "Try not to complain too much, though; you know he loves Riku."

"Yeah but… And I get that sixteen is when young llarcloa are able to mate, but..." Leon looked conflicted.

"Need I remind you that you got me pregnant when I was only sixteen?" Cloud crossed his arms. "Besides, General Sephiroth is making sure Sora will be safe here, you needn't worry."

"I suppose…" Leon mumbled. He then smiled softly, seeing his son. "Looks like we'll be grandparents. Have you told Riku yet?"

"Mm-hmm." Sora nodded. "He was in shock, but it was a happy shock. Demyx was quick to hug me; he and Xion were so excited. Axel got smacked by Roxas again."

"Damn bastard put his arm around me and asked if we'd be next..." Roxas grumbled, making Leon and Saïx laugh.

"Leon." Xemnas called from down the hall. "Sephiroth's meeting with the other generals is about to begin; he wants you present, too."

Leon looked up and nodded. "Right." he responded. "Sorry, pups, but it looks like I'll be busy for a moment." He hugged his sons before walking off, following Xemnas. "They may not appreciate seeing a llarcloa attending this meeting."

"They'll get over it." Xemnas chuckled. "So, Sora's expecting. How's he doing?"

"Excited. Definitely different from Cloud and myself; we were both nervous. But Sora has typically been a confident pup." Leon explained, smiling. "I still worry, but… he is growing up." He then entered a room with objects he didn't recognize. Screens? Larxene explained such things to Saïx and Saïx relayed everything to Leon. He the noticed there was a different person on each screen. The other generals, I assume. He thought.

"About damn time you showed up, Xemnas; and what the fuck is that beast doing there?" One general snapped.

"He is a guest." Sephiroth stated. "Anyway, we have important matters to discuss, starting with settling things for peaceful matters so we can deal with the true enemy."

Leon listened to the generals speak, hearing just how torn they were on the idea of being allies with the llarcloa rather than attack them. Some thought it would be beneficial, that the llarcloa race wasn't bad or trouble, others were still narrow minded. Typical of humans… some are too afraid of what's different. Then came one comment.

"We know what Xehanort wants, so why not make our own demands, get him to stop this war by just handing over one of those beasts he wants so much?"

Leon's tail bristled and twitched with agitation. He looked over when he felt Xemnas touch his shoulder gently. "I know Xehanort well enough to know that he would lie, say he would happily follow through… only to stab us all in the backs once he has what he wants." he stated. "He isn't a man to underestimate. Need I remind you how many he tortured trying to get information? Men, women, even children, dammit." He glared at each of the screens. "Even when he would say he wouldn't continue with that method, he did. He is a cruel man and we cannot allow him near the llarcloa he wants."

"Young man, you've been silent." an older, female general spoke up, meaning about Leon. "What do you think?"

Leon sighed. "I don't want Sora hurt; he is my child and he's the one Xehanort is after." he stated. "And honestly? Though you humans have hurt us, all we llarcloa want is peace. If you let go of the ones you took hostage and asked about them allying themselves with you, helping you during this war with the south, they'll help, especially if you tell them Xehanort wants one of their own to use for his own selfish desires." He took a moment to pause, letting that sink in. "Humans have judged us because we look different and for our magic, but we've done nothing wrong to be pulled into a war. And in this time, I've seen just how well they can get along in the end when things are desperate. Sora was one of the medics on that battlefield where the explosion happened. When others wanted to abandon those who were badly injured, Sora and the other medics wanted to treat their injuries, help them survive."

"Sora did not see llarcloa and humans." Leon continued on. "He saw people who bled the same way, had families and friends, who hated the pain. He saw everyone the same… so he treated however many he could, even when he got tired, weak, and even sick." He shook his head. "And he fell in love, too. With a human. And that human loves him, too. If they can disregard the differences they were raised with, the war they were raised in, and fall in love, even conceive a child together? Then why can't the rest of us?" He stared for a moment, remaining silent to let that sink in. "We llarcloa can put it all aside, put the past behind us, and make peace. But can you humans do the same?"

The generals were silent for a moment before the same woman spoke up. "Young man, if you would please excuse us to talk about this." Leon nodded and excused himself from the room, closing the door behind him. He let out a sigh before making his way to the medical room, smelling Sora there.

"Huh?" Sora was sitting on the cot in his area, studying with Xion and Zexion. "Dad, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Leon nodded.

"How'd it go?" Zexion inquired, putting his notes down and getting up, grabbing a chair for Leon to sit down in.

"Don't know yet; I was dismissed so they could talk alone." Leon admitted, sitting down. "I'm worried that some are so narrow minded that they can't see what's in front of them, only what they're told to see." He then looked over at the scent of blood, seeing Zack enter the room, holding his arm up, a long scratch going down the side of it. "Looks like you have a patient."

"Indeed." Sora nodded and got off of the cot; Xion did, too. "Over here, Zack, I'll treat it."

"I was hoping you'd say that; Roxas told me to come to you." Zack walked over and sat down on the cot. "There's a lot of sharp edges to the metal remains of that explosion. And I got cut."

"You need to be careful more." Sora chuckled, cleaning the wound. He then stopped. Black blood. "Hmm..."

"Something wrong?" Zack asked.

"Xion, get a vial, please, and collect some of this blood." Sora ordered.

"Right!" Xion nodded and did as told. "Huh? Why's it black?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out." Sora mumbled.

"I'll take it to Dad." Xion closed up the vial. Getting a nod from Sora, she ran off to find Vexen, knowing he returned to the base with Xemnas, Leon, and Saïx.

"This… this isn't bad, is it?" Zack inquired, looking concerned.

"Hmm… it was only a little bit. And nothing smells off." Sora shook his head. "I think some residue from the debris got into some of the blood that came out already." He looked to some other medics. "Excuse me, can you do me a favour? Can you go to the group going over the explosion debris and swab it down a bit? Taking residue samples?"

"Yeah, sure thing." a medic said, grabbing supplies and taking off with a few others.

"And be careful to not get cut! And warn Roxas and Papa-Cloud to not get cut!" Sora called after them.

"Sora? Do you think it has to do with the illness?" Zexion inquired.

"Perhaps… Zexion, can you do a blood draw from Zack? And perhaps Dad?" Sora requested. "I'd like Vexen to look things over… and when I'm done, I'd like a draw from me, too, to compare their blood to blood with the dormant disease."

"Right." Zexion nodded and got the supplies needed, working on Leon first while Sora finished treating Zack's wound.

"After Zexion draws a little blood, you'll be good to go back to work." Sora responded, putting ointment on the wound. "It's not too deep, so you won't need stitches. But keep it clean and see me in the morning to check it again."

"Will do." Zack nodded. He then let Zexion work on his other arm once the younger male was done with the older llarcloa. When Zexion finished, Zack left.

"Perhaps Dad will figure something out with the blood and residue samples." Zexion spoke, working on Sora next. He finished getting the little vials filled and labeled. "I'll get these to Dad to look over." He nodded and left, heading out of the room, dipping his head to Sephiroth as the general walked in.

"Figured you'd be here." Sephiroth chuckled.

"What news do we have?" Leon inquired.

"Formally, we'll work on a peace treaty after we deal with Xehanort." the general responded. "But… they all agreed to free all hostages they have at their bases and work together." He smiled. "We're on the path to peace."


Heyo, lovelies!

Sora is officially expecting, maybe finding out more about the revival of the dormant disease, and on a path to peace? Looks like things are progressing! Anyway, I hope this chapter was to your liking. Remember, while reviews don't affect updates, I plan on uploading the chapters since I have it all finished, I do appreciate them. Let me know what you think, what you hope for, and what could be different; such things can help me improve when writing other fics. Well, until the next chapter!

~chibi