Six Men and a Toddler
by NightsDawne

[Okay, just to let you know, there's another Cupid's Trio story up now, in answer to a suggestion from DragonSoul. Three Words I Should Have Said is my first attempt at a true angst, telling Seifer's thoughts as he writes his suicide note on the night of the reception. It has a little more background story about how Seifer and Irvine got to be friends in the first place. Please R&R and tell me what you think of it. And now, back to our regular program.]


Chapter 3: Family Ties

Laguna leaned his head and arm against the pane of the French door, looking out at the deck. Some attempt at bringing winter cheer to the desert had been made in the form of strings of blue and white lights wrapped around the trunks of the palm trees and red and gold ribbons woven into the wrought iron of the fence that surrounded the lagoon-like pool and jacuzzi. Kiros and Irvine were in the pool, tossing Veddy back and forth between them. The toddler was so encompassed in floatation devices that the only part of him that could move was his kicking feet, his mouth perpetually open in laughter so that he kept up a steady intake of pool water, forcing Kiros to stop him every few throws to pat his back so he wouldn't choke. Ward floated by them on his back, the huge man's body completely hiding the raft that labored to keep him above water. Squall lay on his stomach on a lounge chair, Seifer on his back on the one next to him, sunglasses reflecting the sunshine, a half-finished bottle of beer in his hand. Laguna's eyes crinkled a bit as he smiled. Maybe it was an unusual family, but it was a family nonetheless.

He opened the door and stepped out, running his hand through his hair. He waved as Kiros looked over his shoulder.

"Finally done with work?" asked the tall black man.

Laguna nodded. "Sorry it took so long. Feel like I'm missing all the fun."

"Throw on some trunks and get in, Laguna." Irvine scooped Veddy out of the water and tried to find space on his styro-engulfed body to blow on his belly.

"Think I'll just sit and watch for a while." Laguna shaded his eyes with his hand.

"Good idea. Ward's creating enough water displacement as it is." Kiros laughed and ducked out of the way of a splash from the big man.

Laguna laughed and looked over to the lounge chairs, hesitating, then took a seat at the table, stacking the plates from their lunch. "Those were great ribs, by the way, Irvine. Where'd you learn to cook like that?"

"Hell, I grew up in Galbadia. I thought all us Galbadian boys were naturally gifted with barbeque."

Kiros shook his head. "Not Laguna. Do you trust him with fire?"

Irvine considered. "You got a point. Best stick ta microwave, Laguna."

Laguna grinned sheepishly. "I'm better at take out."

"He blew up three microwaves in a row," explained Kiros.

"It's amazing how easy it is to lose track of silverware on a plate." Laguna glanced over to his son, chewing his lip as Seifer rolled onto his side to run his hand intimately along Squall's bare back. Squall shifted his head to the side and smiled a lover's smile to the blond, reaching over to stroke Seifer's inner thigh. Squall had been more relaxed during lunch, even joining in the conversation as Kiros asked him about his work, but he still refused to offer Laguna more than silence or one word answers to his questions. It was as if he were doing Laguna a favor with his presence alone and was not about to give him anything more than that. Laguna had backed off, feeling that Squall's presence was more than he deserved.

His son had grown up an orphan. It didn't really matter that Laguna hadn't even known he existed until Ellone told him, having been captured and imprisoned in Esthar a month before Squall's birth. Raine, his wife and Ellone's mother, hadn't known she was pregnant when Laguna had left to travel, fulfilling his dream to be a journalist. Isolated from his family in a labor prison, then from the rest of the world as a citizen of Esthar and later its president, it had been nearly eighteen years before he learned that his wife had died in childbirth. He longed to make up for the missing time, to get to know the young man who had his mother's eyes and quiet nature, who had done nothing less than save the world from destruction, but Squall kept a wall of icy resentment between them. Laguna's boyish impulsiveness and self-depricating humor that had charmed Raine only seemed to embarrass her son and widen the gulf between them.

Squall dropped his chin against his shoulder, glancing over to his father. Laguna smiled softly to him. Squall stiffened for a moment then sat up, leaning across to kiss Seifer. The blond returned it, pulling Squall closer with the oblivious passion of youth. Laguna took his rejection with a soft sigh and looked back to the pool, letting Squall and Seifer have their privacy.

Irvine climbed out of the pool, putting Veddy down to run around. The toddler instantly started chugging in a circle like an overwound toy, bouncing off of patio furniture, cushioned from any harm by his floaties. Happy squeals created a sweet background music. "Hey, you two, don't leave me out." Irvine strolled over to sit on the foot of Squall's lounge, unbalancing it. He landed on the deck, Squall falling on top of him. Seifer laughed as Squall leaned back in Irvine's arms and grinned up at him. Laguna watched, dropping his chin on his hand.

"Ah, young love. No worries about breaking a hip." Kiros dropped down into a chair next to Laguna, reaching out one arm to redirect Veddy away from the barbeque.

"Do you think he's happy?"

"Why shouldn't he be?" Kiros took a sip from his glass of iced tea. "Look at him, he's got two boyfriends who are crazy about him."

"Yeah, I know. It's just so..." Laguna sighed.

"Unusual? So they break a few of societies rules about love, Laguna. They've got every right to run their lives the way they want."

Laguna frowned. "You're right. And there's nothing wrong with it so long as they're in love. ... Right?"

Kiros laughed. "Will you stop being such a fuddy-duddy? No, there's nothing wrong with it. It's a little different, but then again Irvine's involved and you can't possibly expect him to settle for one lover."

Laguna smiled, reaching down to pick up Veddy and sit him on his lap, the toddler tilting his head back to flash a wide grin. "Good point. I'll just have to get used to it. You, little guy, are going to be just smothered in love."

Kiros reached over to smooth Veddy's damp hair. "I really don't think he's going to mind one bit."

Seifer sat with Veddy standing on the couch cushion next to him, Veddy leaning against the tall blond and stealing pieces of caramel corn from the bowl on his lap. Seifer leaned his head over and whispered in Veddy's ear, pointing to Irvine sitting on the other side. Veddy turned his head, grinning. Seifer whispered again, still pointing. Veddy nodded. "Da-dee." Seifer grinned as Irvine tore his gaze away from the movie they were watching, one of Laguna's.

"Huh? Hey, lil bronco!" Irvine tickled Veddy's belly. "That's me, daddy."

Veddy squirmed and squealed, then went quiet again to listen to Seifer's next whisper, the cadet pointing to Squall. Veddy leaned around Seifer to see his other uncle, wrinkling his nose in a grin. "Skaw."

Squall looked up, smiling for the first time since they'd come in from the pool. "He said my name?"

"Well, something like it." Seifer held the bowl up so Veddy could get himself another piece of corn. "Sounds like his daddy did when he was a kid."

Irvine stuck his tongue out at Seifer. "He talks jus' fine."

"Maybe if he works at it really hard he can learn to talk like a hick instead." Seifer laughed, ducking from Irvine's swipe at him with his hat.

Veddy danced on the couch, pumping his arms in the air and shaking his hips. "Da-dee Seef Skaw Da-dee Seef Skaw!"

Seifer raised a brow. "Okay, I didn't teach him that."

Irvine laughed, swinging Veddy over to toss him into the air and catch him again. "Nah, that's just good ol' genetics."

"You're shameless, cowboy." Seifer poked Veddy in the ribs. "Just make sure you keep your diapers on, you're too young to be shakin' that thang." Veddy just giggled and held his arms out to Seifer, who obligingly took him, only to find out it was the popcorn the toddler was after. ".. I feel so used."

"Shh.. it's gettin' to the dragon scene!" Irvine waved his hand to quiet the conversation, eyes glued to the screen.

"... You've seen this damn movie how many times, Irvine?" Seifer rolled his eyes as the only response he got was a hand clapped over his mouth. He pulled his head back and looked over to Squall, who was blatantly ignoring the movie, choosing instead to focus on the latest issue of Weapons Monthly in his hands. Seifer gave him a nudge. "I'm out of beer."

Squall looked up. ".....And?"

"Well, go get me one."

Squall frowned. "I'm reading."

"No, you're not. You've had it on that same page for the last half hour."

"It's a long article."

"It's a fucking advertisement, dumbass."

Squall looked down and turned the page quickly. "Well, now it's an article. Happy?"

"I'd be happy if I had a nice cold one in my hand right now."

"When did your legs stop working?"

"I've got the kid."

Irvine cast them a glare. "Hush!"

Seifer raised a brow. "See? You got Irvine mad."

Squall rolled his eyes, getting up and throwing the magazine on the couch. "Fine, I'll get your beer!"

Seifer smiled as he watched the brunette storm off to the kitchen, then let it fade as he saw Irvine's pout. "Now what the hell is wrong with you?"

"You made me miss the dialogue."

Seifer sighed and handed Irvine the remote. "It's called rewind, babe. It's not like you don't have this movie memorized anyway."

Irvine settled into a happy grin again as he rewound the tape to his favorite heroic battle scene.

Squall threw open the refridgerator and grabbed a bottle of beer, getting an extra for Irvine to avoid a second trip and a bottled water for himself. He stood back up, blinking for a second as he saw someone behind the open door of the fridge, his eyes working to make the adjustment from the light to the darkened kitchen. "Oh. It's you."

Laguna grinned, running his hand through his hair. "You guys still up?"

Squall shrugged, settling the drinks in his arm and closing the door.

Laguna shifted his weight. "Need any help with those?"

"No."

"Okay." Laguna turned as Squall walked past him towards the doorway. "Um, Squall?"

Squall stopped, but didn't turn around. "What?"

"I'm glad you're here."

Squall shrugged again. "Seifer wanted to."

Laguna bit his lip as Squall walked back out, then sighed, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Still glad, son," he whispered.