A new miracle

Sephiroth cracked an eye open and looked at the clock. 3:45 am. He turned to look at Cloud and was surprised to find him sitting at the edge of the bed. The blond had his back turned to him and he was rubbing his tummy. Suddenly he tensed and began to pant heavily, Sephiroth knew what he had to do. He got up and wrapped a blanket around his mate's shoulders.

- C'mon, Cloud, breath…

After a while Cloud relaxed and sagged into Sephiroth's arms.

- He's ready to come out?

- Yeah…

- I'll call Cid and Mikko right away. Just lie down and let me take care of the things, okay?

The blond nodded and did as he was told, concentring on his breathing and easing the pain as much as he could. Sephiroth helped him to dress properly and carried him on the couch with a backpack full of clothing for him and the kids. Few minutes later Mikko arrived, to look over Cloud while his transport to Mideel. Angel and Zack packed their blankies and followed their daddies to the Highwind, and about half an hour after Cloud had woken up, they were on their way for Mideel.

Mikko had called Dr. Stark, so he was waiting for them in the emergency room. Sephiroth lay Cloud on a stretcher and gestured to Vincent to go with him.

- I can't leave Angel and Zack… They'll worry too much. Go, Vincent, and bring me good news.

- Why did they take daddy Cwoud away?

- I wanna go with daddy Cwoud!

- No, only Vampy is going with daddy Cloud. We have to wait. The doctors will make the baby come out.

- That's why daddy Cwoud huwt?

- Yeah. The baby wants to come out, but he can't because men aren't fit to make babies come out. And that's why the doctors are taking him away for a while. Now come with me, we'll wait to see your smaller brother or sister…

*******

Few hours later

Sephiroth was pacing the room since an hour now. The kids were drawing quietly and Cid was trying not to go crazy. Finally he grabbed the silver-haired man by the shoulders and sat him on a chair.

- Now, you're sitting down! You're driving me nuts!

And just then Vincent and a nurse got through the double doors with a small squalling bundle. He almost didn't hear the nurse telling him it was a boy and when he picked him up, he immediately calmed down and opened his garnet eyes to gaze sleepily at his father. The newborn child grasped a lock of silver hair and cooed, snuggling closer to get warm. Sephiroth held him tenderly, passing a hand into his smooth spiky-gold hair.

- They tuwned daddy into a baby!!!, squealed Zack

- Why does he have wed eyes, daddy Shephy?

- I guess originally your daddy had my eyes, answered Vincent, but with Hojo pumping a lot of Mako into him made his eyes turn green…

- Give him back to me, I have to dress him up, interrupted the nurse, you can go see your spouse in room 342.

- Cid, go with the kids, I have to talk with my son…

Cid took Angel and Zack and followed the nurse out of the waiting room. Vincent smiled, embracing his own child. The two of them never expressed it aloud, but even with Lucrecia's confession, the fact that Sephiroth did not show any physical similarities with Vincent was telling there were possibilities that Hojo could be his father… However, the truth held by those red eyes was soothing two suffering souls. Sephiroth let himself being rocked back and forth.

- I'm so glad, Vincent started, maybe Hojo's doing protected you even more than we'd think… I don't know what he would have done if he discovered you had red eyes at birth…

*******

- Sky… Shhh… Stop crying, you'll wake up daddy… Here, better, now?

Sky cooed and Sephiroth smiled, lifting up the little child to rock him in his arms. The baby twitched his golden wings and yawned, returning to a peaceful sleep. The silver-haired man lay his son gently in his cradle and covered him before leaving the room quietly, joining back his lover in the bed. Cloud sneezed twice and grabbed a Kleenex.

- Whad was id dhis dime?

- His diaper.

- Oh… And did he had a… a… tchoo!

His sentence died in his throat as a coughing fit started. The blond sank back in his pillows and accepted the pills Sephiroth gave him. The silver-haired man wrapped his arms around Cloud to cuddle, trying to soothe him a little. Finally, he put a hand on his forehead and frowned, finding it a little too hot to his liking.

- Stop worrying about him, he said, and think about you. You need rest, sleep, love, I'll handle the kids.

- Bud…

- No 'buts'. We will go visit Tifa and Rufus in Rocket Town tomorrow and you'll take that time to recover, that's final.

Cloud gave up and snuggled closer. He barely felt a light kiss on his cheek before slipping away into sleep. The next morning, Sephiroth prepared the children and went to Rocket Town, leaving a note on the bedside table. He let his lover sleep, only kissed his forehead before going. He had started the fire to keep the house warm, with the first cold winds of October already blowing outside, he didn't want Cloud to feel worse. When he came back, though, the fire was dead and the lights out. He put Sky on the ground and the baby crawled to his park to play with Angel and Zack not far behind.

- Cloud? We're back… Are you awake? He called.

When he didn't get any answer he climbed the stairs to find his mate. He was muffled in the covers and he was looking like he hadn't wake up at all. He checked again his temperature before going back down to prepare diner. He called Angel and Zack over and settled Sky in his highchair.

- C'mon, Sky, open up for the Highwind!

The baby giggled and munched his mashed carrots. After he finished feeding him, Sephiroth placed him in his park, returning in the kitchen to heat some soup for Cloud and do the dishes.

- Zack, Angel, could you go up and wake up your daddy? Tell him I'll bring him something to eat.

- Is he bettew, now?, asked Zack.

- Yeah, his fever's down. Now go wake him up, it's almost ready.

The twins ran upstairs and got on the bed, gently shaking their father. Cloud's blue eyes opened a little and he groaned in protest. Angel took his hand and rub it while Zack patted his hair. The blond smiled sleepily to his children.

- Where is Sky?, he croaked

- Right here, Sephiroth answered, a tray in an hand and the baby in the other.

The small toddler giggled and crawled on the bed to his daddy Cloud, who welcomed him with wide arms. Sky gave his father a wet kiss on his cheek before going straight into Zack's arms to retrieve his pacifier. Sephiroth chuckled and lay down gently the tray in Cloud's lap. Then Angel and Zack proceeded to tell the story of the day and so they chatted a while before little Sky let out an exhausted yawn and curled on himself to sleep.

- It's late, stated Sephiroth, go brush your teeth while I put to sleep your brother and I'll go tuck you in, okay?

The twins nodded and trotted down to the bathroom. Sephiroth picked up the sleeping child and winked to Cloud.

- I have something for you, wait for me…

When he came back, about half an hour later, he had a small bottle in his hands. He corked the bottle, gesturing to Cloud to turn on his belly, and spread some of the vanilla oil on his back, massaging his stiff muscles. Cloud purred and melted in the bed, Sephiroth's hands working on him always had this effect and he relaxed, soft moans turning into more even breaths. After he was sure the blond was asleep, Sephiroth stopped his massage and slipped next to him, bringing him close enough to hear him breath, humming a soft lullaby to himself. I could not be happier… I love you, Cloud… was all he thought when he kissed his forehead and fell asleep too.

End

Author's note

I'm telling you, sorry, I announced the wrong chapter. History lesson is supposed to be the last chapter of this fic… I'm so sad to tell you all that the end is near, but every story must have an end! I don't know what the next chapter's title will be, but I plan on writing an another before the last one. Stay tuned!