To be home…
Sephiroth refused to go inside. The bubbling Lifestream spread on the courtyard, but the silver haired man didn't care. Sky was quickly behind him and both stopped when a human body was revealed, lying on it's side. Laguna reacted quickly; he called Kyros and both of them pulled Sephiroth inside. Zack was livid, they really didn't need this /now/. But Angel screamed his brother's name when Sky walked into the green pool to reach his father's body. Surprisingly, he lifted it from the ground, taking it to safety.
- Dassi! Stay with him!
Laguna startled. It was rare that Kyros cursed, even less in his native language. The lean fighter bolted out, grabbing Zack on his way. Sephiroth then stood up, and his whole body seemed to regain a strength that Angel and Zack hadn't saw in a long time, that Laguna was only waiting to see. A bright light suddenly enveloped him as he walked out, spreading his wings to fly, stopping above his deceased lover's body.
- I heard you, Cloud… Come back!
As if waiting for that simple order, another gash formed around Cloud's body, Kyros, Zack and Sky barely escaping in time. Sephiroth dived into the Lifestream, and a blinding flash was all he would remember.
*********
- Kyros! What are you doing? Leave him alone, he's-
- Laguna!, hushed Kyros, please, you'll wake them up. And for the twentieth time, he's not dead anymore. He's alive. Alive.
They watched Cloud's chest go up and down slowly. He was very pale and thin, so Zack had hurried up to the hospital with his brothers to bring back some supplies to help him in his recovery. The doctor was suspecting that Cloud, being an imperfect clone, instead of slowly going into a stasis phase, like Sephiroth did, just over reacted to the fact the JENOVA cells in him were going dormant for a while. It over stressed his system, and his heart didn't stand the cellular instability.
- Laguna, if you're that uneasy, why don't you go watch over Sephiroth?
- Yeah… I'll go… He's scaring me out.
Sephiroth was resting in Sky's bedroom for now. The man was sleeping soundly since 2 hours. That had been a shock to see him fly deep into the Lifestream with his lover's body. To hear his voice call Aerith to help. The flower girl had appeared to them, smiling and rushed the green river up. Sephiroth had landed in the safe part of the yard, his wings wrapped protectively around Cloud, who, surprisingly, had started to breathe again, although it was very laborious. Sky and Zack had had to relay themselves for almost half an hour to stabilize his state, transporting him into his bed a short while after. He was suffering from a serious case of Mako poisoning. Sephiroth, though, had been sleeping since then. He was clutching a brightly glowing red materia.
Soon after Laguna had left the room, Kyros heard the main door open, and Zack quickly installed the material around his father's bed, of which a heart monitor, a respirator and many perfusions. It was a matter of minutes, and everything was ok. Cloud was left alone to rest, that's all they could do. Then, the doctor went to Sky's bedroom to examine his other father, and, finding nothing unusual, he just covered him warmly before leaving him alone. Laguna was the last one to leave, closing the door behind him. Then he and Kyros waved their goodbyes, saying that they would be back in a few days. After all, the two of them were now curious to meet with Sephiroth /and/ Cloud…
********
Sky closed the door quietly. Sephiroth took his chance, leaving the bed to return into his own bedroom. Angel and Zack were downstairs, he could hear them talk about Cloud. Cloud… The silver haired man found out his legs did not want to advance once alone with him. Finally, he willed himself to go, and shakily he kneeled down, letting his head fall on the blond's chest. He welcomed the sweetest sound of all for him; the slow heartbeat of his love. It was hypnotizing, so slow… Sephiroth clutched the limp hand lying next to him and fell asleep.
The silver haired man was woken up, though, when someone tried to move him. Angel and Sky were there, pulling him up, but suddenly, Cloud lifted an arm and wrapped it around Sephiroth's neck.
- Please… stay, he whispered weakly.
His face lost all colours in an instant. Sephiroth reacted with lightning speed, turning him on his side and ordering his sons to bring back something to clean the mess. After Cloud calmed down, Zack barged in, wearing only his pyjamas pants, asking what was going on. In fact, the heaving fit had triggered the heart rate alarm, which was directly connected on the doctor's page. Angel explained all and lead him back to his room so he could rest a little more. Sephiroth and Sky stayed with Cloud for the time he was awake until he fell asleep again, or rather until the fever won the battle over his will.
- Dad, how did you know he would…?
- It's a long story, really. It was just before your brothers were born, in fact, it's the reason why he got pregnant in the first place. One night we decided to go to the lake together, and your father got bitten by a snake. A Mako induced monster, created by Hojo. Cloud fell ill the day after. Just like that. He passed one month bedridden, eating only baby food and running such a high fever… Three weeks after his initial attack, he fell into a coma. He woke up, though. God, I was so afraid of loosing him. I can sense he is stronger, now. He won't stay sick like that too long…
*********
- Who… who are you?
- Dad…, Angel whispered, Just stay still, it's me, Angel.
- His fever's down, it's a good sign. He should be able to recognize his surroundings in a few days if he rest enough. Open the window, would you? The breeze will do him good.
The blond sighed sleepily, nuzzling his pillow while his son petted his hair gently. Sephiroth was gone out shopping with Sky, wanting to prepare some broth for Cloud. Since yesterday Zack had removed every machine that were attached to him, so he could move a little more freely than before. The twins looked at each other, smiling and left their father to rest.
Both of them were very intrigued by the red materia Sephiroth had been holding when he got out of the Lifestream. Strangely, it would glow only in Cloud or Sephiroth's hand. It was heavy, too, much more heavy than any materia they had… Angel came closer to Zack, bowing his head.
- Zack, I… I can't believe he's back. I just… Brother, since he can't do it yet, could you?
Zack smiled warmly and welcomed his twin in his arms. Angel had always been like this, too introverted, and in that way needed his brother to help him. A strong bond linked them. Whenever Angel was feeling bad, Zack knew it and was feeling it. His brother needed an anchor, he was so confused.
- It was quite of a shock when he left… If it can make you feel better, he's really alive. And in few days, he'll be alright. Relax, Angel. If he doesn't recognize you now, it's only because he is very disoriented.
- We're home!, Sky chirped joyously
He and Sephiroth stepped in the kitchen together with the provisions. They soon startled to see Angel buried in Zack's arms. The blond suddenly lost some of his enthusiasm and went directly to his brothers while Sephiroth unpacked the vegetables and started to cook. Few minutes after he could hear laughs again and the table was set. It has been a while now, that they had had a real family dinner together, and after they finished, Sephiroth prepared a tray with a portion of soup to take up to Cloud. But after more reflection, he gave it to Angel.
When he entered the bedroom, the silver haired professor didn't expect to see his father awake. He had slept peacefully through the afternoon, and Zack had said that he would probably be like that a couple of days… Angel put the tray down and walked to Cloud, lifting him into a sit position, but before he could retrieve the tray…
- Angel… Angel, take me to Zack… I-I feel bad…
Zack!! C'm here!!!A few seconds later Zack was there, silently what was going on. Angel was beaming as he sat down on the bed near his dad, holding his hand firmly.
- He says he's feeling bad…
- It's normal, dad, Zack answered softly, You just need to eat a little and to rest a lot.
- Where is Sky? And… Sephiroth? I wanna see him…
- Eat first. While you're at it, I'll go fetch them, okay? Take it easy, you'll feel better soon.
Cloud nodded feebly. Zack smiled, letting his twin alone with his dad. Angel took hold of the small spoon and began feeding the blonde, slowly, until he would accept no more. By the time he finished, another blond was in the room, beside the bed, and a tall silver haired man was waiting for his turn in the doorway. Time stopped for a moment, Sephiroth walked up to the bed with tears in his eyes; his lover was back. The embrace came naturally, tender and warm, Cloud was there, his Cloud was really there…
- I scared you… I'm sorry… How… long did… I sleep?
- You didn't sleep, Cloud, you were taken away by an heart attack six months ago. You died in my arms, I felt your very life escape from my grasp. You went into stasis…
- It wasn't a dream… I dreamed of you… You were dying, you came to me…
- Shhh… It's alright, I'll stay with you, love, just rest… You're home…
End
Author's notes
Home, that's where I wanna go… I'm so far away from home, it's hard, y'know? But it's so cute… I mean, Seph and Cloud. Poor Cloud is not out of it yet… See ya in 'Recovery'