Disclaimer
I do not own FF7 or FF8, but all the rest is mine. Yaoi warning and serious fluff. You have been warned. Sequel to 'Peace upon us… Please'
Do you remember…?
- … Dad…?
Angel was pale as a sheet, he was shaking all over so much his brothers had to help him to sit down. The students had left few minutes ago, most of them impressed. Only Seifer stayed in the conference room… Somehow, he was very intrigued and felt concerned.
- Angel, Angel look at me! Okay, now push on my hands… Good. Do you want me to go fetch you some water? Sky?
The blond had folded his wings around him and was hugging himself. Zack immediately bolted off to hug him tightly and to bring him closer to Angel, who was starting to wave back and forth on his chair. Seifer got out for a moment, returning with a glass of water.
- Sky… You have to let it go…, Zack said with a quivery voice, You feel bad, I can tell, you haven't cried since daddy Sephy passed away…
- I-I miss them too much! Zack!, he murmured painfully, It hurts… It hurts!
- I know… I know. Just let it go, Sky, let it go… Here, stay with Angel, I'll go get some water.
- Here, prof, intervened Seifer. Kadowaki says that a dorm had been prepared for you.
Zack nodded to the blond and took the glass from him and brought him to his twin's lips. Sky had finally collapsed in tears, and the doctor had troubles holding his own back. In the doorway, Kadowaki, Seifer, Squall, Laguna and Quistis looked at them as they drowned into the painful sorrow, mourning the loss of loved ones.
- Somebody do them a favour and cast sleep on them, murmured Kadowaki, they need to rest.
Quistis made a step forward and her lips moved to cast the spell.
********
Zell was rummaging through the various pictures and books that had been brought to them by their professors. Pictures of precious moments, joy and smiles almost everywhere, and one of the most touching was of Sephiroth and Cloud, on their wedding day. They were sitting on the couch and Sephiroth had an arm passed around Cloud's waist, while the blond had let his head fall on his mate's chest. His belly was obviously round for a man, he was pregnant of Angel and Zack at that time. He was asleep, the silver-haired man looked a little tired too, and in the background another blond man was dancing with a dark-haired woman with red eyes…
- This is not a woman, Zell…, warned Kiros, I can tell you, he looks like Vincent Valentine… This man, here, in the green outfit must be Cid Highwind!
- He's Sephiroth's father?, asked Squall, But how did he come to love a man…?
- I think, Squall, answered his father, that it hasn't anything to do with the gender.
- In fact, Cloud found out he was attracted by men a long way before entering the Shinra Army… When he first heard of the mighty General Sephiroth.
Angel walked up to the table slowly, examining the pictures with an indescribable serenity glistening in his eyes. He took the frame from Laguna's hands, gently laying it on the table.
- Daddy Cloud knew, from the bottom of his very heart, that his love would be a strong, but out of the ordinary one…
- Yeah, added Zack, Vincent told us of a day, few weeks after we were born, daddy Sephy was having a hard time to sleep… We were taking a lot out of them at the time. They called them to the rescue…
*******
Cid and Vincent entered the noisy house, where Sephiroth was pacing the room with two squalling babies bundled in his arms. With all he noise, the silver-haired man didn't notice them and sat down in his armchair, carefully passing a hand on their foreheads and frowned. He got up, walking up to the kitchen, and began to fill the sink with cold water, putting Zack down in the baby seat and undressing Angel. However, the other twin, left alone started crying even louder as Sephiroth bathed the other, who calmed down a little. Cid urged up and scooped the squalling child and went out to rock him in the living room.
- Sephiroth, what's going on? Where is Cloud?
- Dad? I didn't hear you come in…
- Eh, Seph, Zack's burning up!, Cid interrupted.
- Yeah, I know… They started it few days ago. The doc said to give them Tempra each 4 hours, it's just a cold, it'll pass soon.
Just then Cloud entered, dark lines circling his eyes, and Vincent noticed that his son had the same tired lines too. He got out a huge bottle of aspirin and one bottle of Tempra. He greeted the guests and opened a cabinet and took out a little spoon, filling it with the medicine, gesturing Cid to come nearby. He made Zack and Angel swallow the purple liquid, then took Zack into the water. Sephiroth put to Angel a new diaper, muffled him into a warm baby blanket and walked to the living room, rocking his baby to sleep. Vincent followed him.
- Sephiroth… Is it me or you're giving Cloud the cold shoulder?
The silver-haired man didn't respond, just held his baby closer. He saw Cid climb the stairs, then few seconds later, return into the kitchen, and they could hear the soft sound of Cloud's sobbing. Vincent winced, and took the little winged child, now asleep, to bring him next to his brother. When he came back, his own son had buried his face in his hands.
- Oh, Sephiroth…
Vincent embraced his son.
- Sephiroth… You haven't slept in days, am I right?
He nodded.
- I… I yelled at him yesterday…
- So that's why you settled yourself on the couch?
- I don't deserve the bed anymore…
- But did you see how Cloud reacts? Do you hear him? He's crying, Seph, crying his heart out on Cid because he thinks you doesn't love him anymore. You're both tired, you two need to sleep…
Just then Cloud ran out of the kitchen and threw himself on Sephiroth.
- If you want to sleep so badly on the couch, then I'll sleep there too!!! I don't know what I did to upset you, but I'm sorry! Please, forgive---
- Stop it, Cloud, please stop… If someone must be sorry for something it's me. I /never/ been angry with you, I would never, ever, stop loving you, but right now I'm too tired to think…
- Then why don't ya forget all this an'go ta sleep? Vinny and me'll watch over your kids for awhile.
They weren't told twice, Cloud buried himself into Sephiroth's arms and both fell on the couch, totally exhausted. Soon the two were snoring contentedly, and Cid thought that they would go through this just fine…
********
*cough, cough, cough*
The deep coughing sound stopped Zack and the doctor immediately bolted off for the bedroom, knowing what was going on. Angel too winced, and explained to the others that Sky was very frail emotionally.
- Sky does that pretty often when he's tensed. Falls ill all of a sudden, without any apparent reason. It's a good thing Zack's a doctor, I guess… Very like Cloud…
- Angel! Come here! And bring the covers that are on your bed, please!
The Professor executed himself, followed by Kyros, Laguna, Zell and Squall. Sky was still asleep, and it seemed that he couldn't wake up. Angel spread the blankets over his brother and sat on the bed, taking the hand that Zack was tending him.
- Zack, he's so cold! What's happening to him?
Only a sigh answered him. The doctor couldn't tell. He just stood there, taking his brother's pulse worriedly and listening to his lungs. Apart for a lingering bronchitis, which was treated actually, he couldn't make out why Sky was so cold. He put back his hand under the covers, making sure he was comfortable and warm. Then all of a sudden his page rang. The hospital was calling him in for an emergency.
- I do hope it's for an extreme case…, he murmured, Angel, I have to go. Stay close to him and make sure he takes his medicine on time. M. President? Can I ask you for a lift?
- Please, no 'mister', just Laguna!, the man cheered, Sure. Just meet at the Ragnarok in five minutes. Squall, do you want to come home for a few days?
Angel knew that the brunette would want to bring Seifer along. Squall was often staying after class, and he was even enjoying Angel's company. After some time, the teacher became his confident, and Squall confessed his attraction to Seifer. Angel wasn't surprised at first, after all, his own parents were both men, too. Later on, when the sorceress was beaten, the brunette went off to search for Seifer, had brought him back to the Garden, nursed him back to health… Well, Angel knew, because he hadn't get out much of Seifer's room during that time, that they must have fallen in each other's arms. And the others obviously still didn't know. The silver-haired man then asked Zell to go to the infirmary to get some aspirin and this did the trick, Squall relaxed visibly and calmly asked if the blond could come with him.
- Awww… my little boy, I was wondering when you'd ask me! Your boyfriend is welcomed home, as well as your friends, Squall.
Laguna patted his son's back and he got out behind Zack, leaving Squall gaping in front of Kyros. The lean fighter smiled and whispered back 'I hope you'll be that understanding when he'll tell you about us'. With his good hearing, Angel burst out laughing as Squall's eyes bugged out of his head and the youth just shook his head in despair.
When everyone was gone, Angel brushed the bangs off his brother's cold forehead. C'mon Sky, wake up… But the blond just trembled and coughed. Zell came back with Irvine and Selphie, who were coming to visit. They didn't talk long, and the new world saviours were off to their daily activities, leaving the teachers alone. The day passed, but Sky didn't wake up. In the evening, Quistis came with two plates from the cafeteria. She'd heard of the situation and only brought two servings of soup and one main meal for herself. Angel got out of the small bedroom to eat with the blonde. They chatted a little, quietly, when few hesitant steps startled the silver-haired man. Sky walked to the small table with a dazzled expression on his face. Angel quickly wrapped a robe around his brother's shoulder and pushed the steaming bowl of potage toward him.
- Sky… How do you feel?
- I… had a dream… Aerith… said not to worry, dads will return shortly… I saw the Lifestream…
Angel looked at Quistis worriedly as Sky slowly ate his soup. After he finished, they both grabbed him by an arm to take him back to bed and the teacher corked open a little bottle of pills, giving the required dose to the already drifting man. It wasn't long before he'd completely nodded off. Angel passed a hand over his brow once again. He wasn't cold anymore… Had he really… ? Aerith? Is it… true?
*********
- Zack, listen to me…, pleaded Adrian
- We have no time for this! It took me already too much time to come here, let's go!
And with that, the doctor Valentine pushed the double doors of the intensive care unit. Adrian winced and called a nurse. Few seconds later they heard a loud crashing noise, followed by a distress cry. At least ten person burst into the room and hurriedly picked up the fallen doctor, slapping him gently to bring him back. On the nearby bed, the patient was asking worriedly if Zack was okay. Adrian lifted his friend with the help of the nurses, placing him on the vacant bed. Slowly, the silver-haired man resurfaced, pale and shivering, and the doctors that had gathered around him for support were forced to inject him a tranquilizer to calm him down.
- You should have listened to your friend, scolded the other patient
- You… you're dead… can't be alive, the doctor slurred
- Haven't I told you that I cannot die that easily? I was merely in stasis… I'm sorry I scared you.
- ………… How…?
- Mmm… I cannot answer you. But I know it happened before, when Cloud threw me in the Lifestream… I stayed in stasis for five years before awakening, I think the Jenova cells kept me alive.
Sephiroth then just hopped down his bed and walked up to his son, putting a hand over his eyes, a soft green glow surrounding him. After a while, Zack's breathing evened, his shivers stopped and the green-eyed General covered his sleeping child. Then, turning to the medical staff, he asked if someone could bring him his normal clothes so he could get rid of his hospital gown.
End
Author's notes
OOOOooooooooooh!!! Yes, Sephy's back and kick asses! Err. He will, in the next chapter. How do you see that sequel? Squall and Seifer will also take a smooth moment alone on the deserted Esthar beaches… And something big will happen… Next chapter: Make a wish