Chapter XVII

The New Hearts

"How is she?" Gwandoya asked through the radio.

"Okay. She's really tired. I don't know how much longer," Anselm replied. Gwandoya could hear Bergljot moaning in the background.

"I'll call back in a while. Let me know if something happens."

"Will do," Anselm said as Bergljot started breathing heavily. They turned off their radios.

Hours had passed. Noon had come and gone, and it seemed like dusk was approaching faster than usual. Dark clouds formed in the sky, and thunder could be heard in the distance. Sephiroth stood by the door, the screen closed and the main door open, the breeze blowing across his face. Heartless stood not ten feet away, watching and waiting for the moment when the shield would come down.

"This is weird," Gwandoya laughed quietly. "I always imagined that when I became an uncle, I would be waiting in a hospital. Who would have thought I'd be in my own house?"

"I am interested. I have never been around a pregnant woman before. This was an interesting experience for me," Sephiroth sighed. He turned to Gwandoya. "I cannot imagine how exhilarated you must feel."

"I had two kids. The excitement actually wears off after a while. But you know, he's my only living sibling. He was a twin, but his sister…" Gwandoya paused and took a deep breath. "She had an accident when they were seven years old and I was ten. We were playing by a river near our house when I accidentally pushed her in the direction of the river. My sister slipped and fell in, but she didn't know how to swim. I went after her, but she cracked her head on a rock under the water. I could see the blood reddening the water. I knew it was too late, but I tried anyway. I carried her home and we took her to a hospital. Her lungs were half-filled with water. She caught a bad case of pneumonia on the way to the emergency room and went into a coma the next day. She died a week later. I was so young then, but I knew I caused her death. My parents told me that she should have known better than to play where she could get hurt like that. They never had a problem with my brother and I playing down there, only her. We learned to swim young. They had told her not to play down there, but since when do seven year olds listen? I knew it was my fault. I should never have pushed her, even if we were only playing. I've never forgiven myself."

"I am terribly sorry," Sephiroth laid a hand on Gwandoya's trembling shoulder. "I suppose we have all suffered the loss of loved ones."

"She woke up just before she died. We were all there. She told each of us that she loved us and that she wasn't afraid of death. She asked to only have Anselm and I there when she died. She told us to have faith. She said, 'all the darkness in the world can not extinguish the light of a single candle.' I didn't know what she meant at the time, but now I know. I think she knew this would happen. We all knew of our heritage, but I think she knew that it was our generation that would suffer. She also told us to keep our lights burning strong. Then she died," he began to cry a little. "I wish I could have changed that. I wish I had been the one to die."

"You did die for a while," Sephiroth pointed out. "And you know the joy of family. I was isolated from my mother and never knew who my father was. I had no siblings or children. I hoped to have children with Kalliope, but after she died…"

"Bergljot told me the story. I give you my sympathy."

"I don't need sympathy. I can only hope that Cloud's descendant will not try to kill me. Maybe if I live through this new journey, I will find somebody."

"Why not Leilani?" Gwandoya suggested.

"You mean Aeris? No. She wants to fight me to the death. I cannot marry one who wants me dead, nor can I marry one that I killed."

"Perhaps we'll find someone for you on our mission."

"Sure," Sephiroth rolled his eyes and became saddened. "I fear there is nobody for me. Kalliope was the only one who ever loved me. I am afraid that I have missed the opportunity to spend my life with someone. Now that I have turned to evil, I worry that no woman can love me."

"Bergljot does."

"Are you sure?"

"She doesn't love you the way she loves my brother, but she does care about you. I think if she hadn't married my brother, she might have started to flirt with you. Because she's spoken for, she chose to love you like a brother. The love of a family lasts longer than that of true lovers. The sensual love that you felt for Kalliope, I felt for Gilda, even Anselm feels for Bergljot, that kind of love can fade. Family love, like my love for my sister, lasts forever. No matter what, you will always be connected, even after death," Gwandoya explained.

"You never said your sister's name," Sephiroth looked at him sideways. "Just out of curiosity, what was it?"

"Shamira," he replied. He closed his eyes as he thought about those seven short years.

"How long can labor last?" Sephiroth asked. He had just realized that it had been seven hours since Bergljot and Anselm had disappeared for the delivery.

"Depends. Some can be in labor for half a day, others last nearly a whole one. The first birth tends to be the longest. Normally if a woman goes over twenty-four hours, the doctors give a c-section."

"What's that?" Sephiroth asked.

"The doctors cut into the woman to get the baby out. I doubt we'll have that problem with Bergljot."

"How long has she been in labor?"

"Well, Anselm said the contractions started about four o'clock this morning, so I think it's been at least eleven hours."

"It shouldn't be much longer then, right?"

"Hopefully. I remember when Gilda had Zita. She was my first child. Gilda labored for twenty-five hours and had to have a c-section. The doctors were just about to make the incision when out the baby came. They were unprepared as anything. I had to pull my shirt out of the closet to wrap my daughter in until they could get her cleaned up. Omega was easy. He was only about ten months old when he died. My wife only labored for seven hours, believe it or not. She ended up delivering here. There was no time to get her to the hospital, so I called the doctor to come here. The baby came two hours after the doctor arrived."

"Is that why you knew what to tell Anselm to do?" Sephiroth smiled.

"Yeah. Omega's birth was actually a lot like what's happening now, except Anselm was down here keeping Zita busy while I helped with the delivery and there were no Heartless trying to get at us."

"I hope some day I can feel the joy and pride you and Anselm feel."

The two of them sat in silence for what felt like hours. Alpha eventually came in from the basement.

"Any news?"

"Not for awhile. This sort of thing takes patience," Gwandoya shrugged as he leaned back against the wall.

"No news is good news though, right?" Sephiroth said quietly.

"I just came up to renew the shield and get a drink," Alpha explained as she held up a glass. "I guess I'll go back down. Let me know as soon as she's finished.

"Will do," Gwandoya nodded. He noticed that Sephiroth was watching the young woman disappear with interest. "How about her?"

"Possibly. She's a strong woman. I wouldn't mind someone like that. But then, her ancestor was one of the men that tried to kill me."

"You mean Cid?"

"Yeah."

"How can you handle that sword?" Gwandoya asked, trying to pass the time.

"Magic. I'm stronger than any other man, but Masamune is still too heavy for me to handle without help. It was reinforced with magic, making it so only one man may ever wield it."

"You?" Gwandoya smiled.

"Who else?" Sephiroth sighed. "Seeing how stressed you and your brother are about Bergljot, I am a little glad that Kalliope died and I never had to go through this."

"But you still miss her."

"Yes…" Sephiroth trailed off, his voice cracking slightly. "This is the first time I've thought about her in a millennia. Longer, actually. I was created back in the early nineteen hundreds. I was frozen in two thousand two. I wish she were with me. Maybe then, I wouldn't be who I am now."

"Nobody ever knows what would happen to them if they chose a different path. It's something that we all have to get used to," Gwandoya whispered. He sat by Sephiroth and patted him on the back. "I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I heard Anselm and Bergljot discussing who is to be the godparent. I think they're going to ask you."

"I don't know what to say," Sephiroth gasped in disbelief.

"Nothing. Don't say a word until they ask you."

"If a am godfather, that means that I would be in charge of the child if the two of them die, right?"

"Yep. I doubt it'll come to that."

"Gwandoya!" came Anselm's voice from the radio.

"Talk to me," he said as he picked up the machine.

"I thought I'd give you an update. She's going to give birth any minute. Give it another fifteen or twenty and you can come up."

"Cool. We'll be up in a few."

"What do I do when I go in?" Sephiroth asked as Gwandoya laid down the radio.

"Talk quietly so you don't scare the baby and wait until Bergljot says you can hold it. When you hold it, keep its head up. One of a baby's most sensitive parts of the body is the head. Be gentle with it," Gwandoya explained. He looked at Sephiroth and smiled. "But then, given your past, maybe you should just stay away from it."

"That's not funny," Sephiroth muttered angrily.

"I'm sorry. It was just a joke."

Sephiroth went back to gazing outside while Gwandoya looked out the window. It was half-an-hour before Anselm got back to them.

"Hey guys!" he gasped happily. "I'm a father!"
"What is it? Boy or girl?" Gwandoya replied.

"It's a-" Anselm was cut off by a cry from Bergljot.

"Oh, god, Anselm! Get back over here!"

"Oh, shit."

"What's going on?" Sephiroth asked worriedly.

"Her bleeding hasn't stopped."

"We'll be right there," Gwandoya called.

"Wait a minute…" Anselm whispered slowly. "Stay downstairs. I'll tell you when to come."

"Yeah, but-" Sephiroth started to protest.

"I said stay there!" Anselm snapped. The next moment, there was silence.

"What do you think is happening?" Sephiroth looked at Gwandoya with a scared expression on his face.

"I don't know," Gwandoya muttered. He was extremely pale. They waited for several long minutes before Anselm called back.

"She's fine. Come on up in about ten minutes," Anselm said giddily. Static followed this short statement.

"Sounds like everything went well," Sephiroth smiled widely. "Shall we?"

"Give it ten minutes like Anselm said and we'll go up."

=============

"How is mommy feeling?" Anselm asked softly. Bergljot was lying in bed, the blankets tucked in tightly. Her hair was matted and her eyes were watery, but she was smiling.

"It still hurts a little, but I feel great. I'm glad I made theses blankets."

"I'm happier about what we made together," he smiled.

"Looks like you got what you wanted," Bergljot said softly as she kissed her baby's face.

"I could say the same for you," Anselm gently kissed Bergljot's cheek when there was a knock at the door.

"Who's there?" Anselm called.

"Us," Gwandoya and Sephiroth called together.

"Come on in."

"Wow," Sephiroth whispered as he caught sight of the golden bundle in Bergljot's arms. Anselm was looking out the window.

"Wow is right," Anselm smiled as he turned around.

"My god," Gwandoya gasped.

"What?"

There was another white bundle in Anselm's arms. He handed it back to Bergljot.

"So that was the problem," Sephiroth whispered.

"That's right," Bergljot grinned as she gazed at the two small faces. "Twins."

"What sexes?" Gwandoya questioned.

"The first one was a boy. He's the one in the gold. The other's a girl," Anselm answered as he picked up his son. "Come meet uncle Gwandoya."

"Hey, little guy," Gwandoya whispered softly. The baby's eyes were just beginning to open. "He's so small."

"Seven pounds, both of them," Bergljot told him. "Sephiroth, come hold her."

"No, I really shouldn't," he replied hurriedly. He was standing by the door, refusing to come closer."

"I was just kidding about you staying away from the baby!" Gwandoya said exasperatedly.

"I think somebody needs an angel to hold her," Anselm sang as he brought his squirming daughter over.

"No, that's okay, I'll…" Before he could object further, Sephiroth found a small, white bundle pushed into his arms.

"Careful of her head," Bergljot reminded him as she took back the boy.

"She's so adorable," Sephiroth muttered in surprise. Her eyes were wide-open and bright blue. "She has your eyes, Bergljot."

"All babies have blue eyes when they're born. They could change."

"I never knew babies were so cute."

"Here, let me take her. They need to be with Bergljot for awhile," Anselm said as he took the child. No sooner was she separated from Sephiroth than she began crying.

"I think somebody likes you," Gwandoya teased. Sephiroth knelt by Bergljot as the baby was placed in her arms.

"I'm sorry honey, but I'm a little old for you."

"Could you leave for a little while? I need to rest," Bergljot sighed happily.

"Sure," Gwandoya agreed. He and Sephiroth turned to leave.

"Sephiroth?" Bergljot asked.

"Yes?" he said, turning to face her.

"We were wondering if you would be godfather."

"I would be honored," Sephiroth bowed.

"Thank you," Anselm smiled. "I'll be down in a minute."

"Fine," Gwandoya nodded. He and Sephiroth disappeared.

"You know what we need to do?" Anselm asked his wife.

"What?"

"Name them."

Bergljot looked at the two faces and pondered. She searched her mind for all the names she could think of, but nothing seemed to fit. She finally nodded and turned to Anselm.

"You got an idea?"

"Yes. Say hello to your son, Gemini Apollo Hammond, and daughter, Genesis Artemis Hammond."

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Okay, next chapter: I promise you'll get more detail and it'll pick up. And… Sephiroth singing??? Interesting concept, eh?

I'm also posting another story featuring (who else?) the silver haired Sephiroth. It's kind of like one of those 'PS2 blows up and Final Fantasy characters pop up in your living room' stories. Only not. Check for it under Final Fantasy VII. I should post it later this afternoon.

As for my FFX, I should be starting that this week, but no later than next. Should I make fun of the final FMV? You know, at the very end of FFX? Let me know! I really have nothing else to say…

Oh, I remember now! Keep sending reviews!