Disclaimer

You know this by heart, I'm sure, so I'll skip the disclaimer today. Enjoy!

Htress

htress@jenovaproject.com

Daddy Sephy and daddy Cloud

Time passed. Katailu soon learned about the two fighters who were keeping two cute babies. Many of them didn't know that Sephiroth was behind the Meteor treat. And those who'd heard about that were told it was an alien called JENOVA that did this, and that Cloud rescued Sephiroth from her. So they began to have a social life with the people in Katailu. Millo and Arche bred, too, and had three chicks: Coast, Veil and Fury. Fury was a real speedster, and after she grown up, Cloud took her to the Gold Saucer, where she won race after race. Veil and Coast were calmer, Cloud and Sephiroth were riding them with the kids around the town, the two other becoming too old to ride.

Angel and Zack grew up, too, made their first steps, spoke their first word (which was daddy, go figure?) and made their first fly. They attended to Rufus's enthronisation as VP of Shinra inc, people startled to see him alive and with a fine woman by his side. Reeve, Shera, Barret, Elmyra, Rufus and Tifa got married somewhere in time. Cid had developed a new airship, the Valrider, a small plane built to carry merchandise over the continents, a great part of the new priorities at Shinra inc. The Turks were always bodyguards to Shinra executives, well all that to say that life was good for all of them. Until…

********

- You sure you'll be okay? Cloud asked in concern, After all, Angel did encased you in an ice block this morning…

Sephiroth sighed at the memory. Who could have predicted that a three year-old toddler could activate an ice materia?

*******

- Angel! Please, give me back my ice materia…

The little boy stretched his arms toward his other father, the small piece of materia glowing dangerously bright.

- Ishe! Angel repeated joyfully

Ice formed around the poor Sephiroth, who was playing 'throw the ball' with Zack, trapping him successfully. Zack cried out in surprise and touched the ice, backing off a little.

- Daddy Shephy cold!

*******

Sephiroth smiled and picked up Angel. The little winged child giggled and hugged his daddy Sephy tight. Cloud shrugged and pouted, feeling unloved and went to the bathroom with Zack. He poured some baking soda in the bath to soothe his itching. Last week Angel had came down with the chickenpox, passing it to his brother. Poor little Zack was feverish and tired. The worst was behind them, tough, the child was getting better.

- No mowe dots!!! Cried joyfully Angel.

- That's right, all your dots disappeared. What do you want to do?, the silver-haired man asked

- Dwaw!

He got out a sheet of paper and some drawing pencils he handed the boy. Sephiroth sat down on the couch, looking out the window and listening to the happy splashes of the bathroom. He closed his eyes, his headache was getting worse. Angel looked at his father in concern.

- Daddy?

- Yes?

- You not mad at me?

- No, my dear, Sephiroth sighed, what are you drawing?

- Gwandmother…, he said, pointing Lucrecia's painting.

- Oh… Angel, you'll be sweet, ok? Daddy Sephy is going up to sleep.

-  Be shweet.

The child continued to draw as his father was climbing the stairs. Few minutes later Cloud emerged from the bathroom, as wet as Zack and let him go find his brother. The blond handed him a sheet of paper, so he could draw with Angel. After a while, Cloud looked over for Sephiroth, but couldn't find him.

- Where's Sephy?

- Sweeping.

- Sleeping? Maybe he caught a cold… better go see that. That's a good idea. Put down your pencils and come with me, it's time to go to bye-byes…

And with that he took them upstairs to put them to sleep.

******

- Daddy Cwoud! I'm huuungwy!!!

The silver haired boy jumped on the bed to wake up his daddy. He was soon joined by his twin, and the two jumped happily before Cloud open his eyes. He grabbed the two and flopped them on the bed, tickling them until a soft groan from Sephiroth's side told him to stop. The blond lifted the covers and gasped.

- Daddy Shephy has dots evwywhere! Zack chirped

Angel made his way to his sick father and put a hand on his forehead, like Cloud used to do to him. And then he did it to Cloud. The blond looked at his son seriously.

- So, does he have a fever?, he asked

The boy nodded. Zack wanted to see for himself too and did the same, coming at the conclusion that yes, daddy Sephy was sick, and he had dots just like him. Zack yawned and lay down next to his father, decided to get some more sleep. Cloud got out of bed with Angel, covering back Sephiroth and Zack.

- We have to let them sleep, okay Angel? Let's be careful not to make too much noise, so daddy Sephy and Zack can be better soon.

He went to the kitchen and started to make oatmeal. He prepared some apple chunks and brown sugar he put in two bowls, then he mixed it with the oatmeal. He served Angel, who soon cleaned his bowl and went back to his drawing, tiptoeing his way to the living room. Cloud giggled softly. Awww…. That's too cute!

- Daddy Cwoud? Why Vampy not with gwandmother?

- Because Lucrecia passed away a long time ago, Angel.

- Lucweshia with Aerish in the Pwomise Land?

- Yes… She's in the Promised Land.

- Morning, Cloud…

Sephiroth was standing at the base of the staircase with Zack in his arms. The child was well awake and petting his silver hair, occasionally putting a hand on his forehead. Sephiroth raised an eyebrow and put the boy down. Cloud smiled and hugged him tightly, asking for a kiss.

- Sephy, did you ever catch the chickenpox when you were a kid?

- I don't think so… Why?

- Go take a look at you in the mirror and see why. Zack, do you want apple chunks in your oatmeal?

- Yeah! And bwown sugar!

Cloud let go of Sephiroth and took Zack's hand. A low groan came out of the bathroom and the silver-haired man trudged to the table next to Zack. The little boy petted his hair again.

- Don scwatch dots, he said, lissen to daddy Cwoud and Shephy be bettew soon…

Sephiroth groaned as Cloud burst out laughing.

*******

- DOOOOOOONNNNNN!!!, screamed Zack and Angel

- It's itching!

- Don't argue with the doctors, Sephiroth, and stop scratching those dots or you'll get them infected, scolded Cloud, I found some more baking soda at the shop, but Mikko said it should be better if I was taking you to Mideel or Midgar's hospital. He said that if you start coughing a lot, you'll probably come down with a viral pneumonia… And you were encased in an ice block yesterday.

- That serious?

Cloud nodded gravely. Sephiroth sighed and sagged in the pillows. In less than 3 hours he had become stiff and weak, not to mention he had dots everywhere while Zack's were disappearing in matter of hours. He heard the water run, and Angel yanked away the covers over him to tug at his pajama top.

- C'mon mishter Shephy, bath time!

The silver-haired man reluctantly got out of bed and trudged to the bathroom, where Cloud was waiting. The tub was large enough for three person, so they all decided to bath daddy Sephy, which turned out to be the biggest water mess they'd never made. And no time to clean, the twins were running around the house butt naked with Cloud's clothes. The blond had to chase them and force them to put something on while Sephiroth was dressing himself in his usual outfit. His lover passed in a hurry to clean the bathroom, dress and give him a swift kiss.

- You think you can ride a Chocobo in your state?

- Yeah…

- Good. Bring the kids when you're ready.

When he finished the kids came to bring him out, where Cloud was saddling Veil and Coast. After being sure they haven't forget anything, they were gone.

******

Mideel was calm as always. The citizen were walking along the central place, enjoying the sun that was shining. Cloud and Sephiroth left their chocobos in a stable nearby and walked with Angel and Zack to the hospital. They entered the emergency room, registered and Cloud settled the twins in the kid's corner. Soon he was summoned in the doctor's office.

- Hi Mr. Valentine… What can I do for…, his eyes went big as saucers, Off with the shirt, now.

Dr. Stark started his examinations right away. After few minutes he called Tammy and took a blood sample. The nurse had brought up a wheelchair and an hospital gown. She gave it to Sephiroth. He dressed up wearily and Tammy helped him to sit in the wheelchair before taking him into an isolation room.

Cloud and the twins were still waiting in the emergency room. Dr. Stark got out to greet them. When he saw the little Zack with dots, he smiled.

- Greetings, Mr. Strife. How are you doing with the kids?

- Great, Doctor, great… And Sephiroth?

- Mmmm… Now that I see Zack, it's obvious he contracted the chickenpox. Unfortunately, if it's no harm for children, it may become deadly for adults. We'll keep him a few days to ensure he doesn't develop any complications.

- Can we see him?

- He's extremely contagious… But I can manage… come back tomorrow.

So they did. Angel and Zack had cried all night long because their daddy Sephy was missing, and they were eager to visit him. They put on some hospital blouses, hats and masks before Tammy let them in the isolation room. Sephiroth was lying in bed, warmly tucked under numerous blankets. His eyes were closed and his hair was glistening in the sun, an angel sleeping on his cloud. An IV had been inserted in his right arm, and the room was quiet, apart from the regular beeping of the cardiac monitor. Cloud lifted the twins on the bed, knowing that they hadn't slept much last night and it didn't took long before they nodded off. The blond sat on the chair near the bed, tenderly caressing Sephiroth's cheek. He woke up slowly.

- Morning, love…, Cloud whispered, How are you today?

- Morning, he slurred, Why are the kids sleeping on my bed?

- They cried all night long… you sound like a wreck, are you ok?

- Yeah… Feel like one too.

- Go back to sleep, my angel. Rest.

Sephiroth offered a weak smile as Cloud covered him up a little more, no noticing the crowd of cooing nurses spying through the door's window.

*******

Cloud and the kids went to visit Sephiroth once a day. Stunned by large amount of antibiotic and painkillers, the silver-haired man was barely able to do anything but sleeping. He had developed a severe pneumonia, but being treated early it wasn't a real threat. Four days later, his contagious state now passed, Dr. Stark gave him his leave. He had examined the twins, and Tammy had come to the Inn to see them again, saying that they were strong kids. They left the peaceful island in the afternoon, not too fast, and by the time they reached Cosmo Canyon, the sun was already gone and they decided to stay at Nanaki's for the night.

The next morning, after receiving some natural medicinal brews from the tail-flaming beast, they headed back for their home… But when they arrived, all they saw was  a dreadful vision.

End

Author's notes

OMG!!! What is this vision? What is happening? You'll see in the next chapter. Just a moment to warn you, though… I just found a job far away from home, and I'm moving, so I won't be able to update before a few weeks, don't worry, though, when I'll update, it will be a big one! I want to thank all of my reviewers, and please, write down to me your e-mail address, so I can send you something before I go! I love you all!