Wonderful World
An AU parody inspired by "As Good As It Gets"; beta-read, reviewed and edited by Howling WereWolf.

I'm scared of myself now. I really am.

I let someone help me write this, and now I feel strange looking at it. Apologies for some obvious OOCness, but we both were trying to achieve "really happy Leon". I never figured happy and Leon fit together, but hey, it was inevitable.

Please pardon me, and I hope you'll at least like the chapter.

The next morning, Cid was awoken by the sound of someone hauling a mattress the floor. As he got up, he found Pride already out of the room, and the mattress set to lean against the wall.

As he was starting toward the bathroom, the door to Leon and Cloud's bedroom swung open, and Cloud came out looking better than he had the other day.

"...did you and he finally get down and make up?"

"Just this morning," Cloud answered, his grin widening. "And now Aeris is my favorite woman in the world for what she did for him last night."

"...what she did for...what?"

The next one out was Leon, also in better spirits. Just as Cid was wondering if it was even possible for Leon to smile like that, Leon came up behind Cloud and wrapped an arm around the lower part of his waist.
"Morning."

"About time you woke up."

"Didn't mean to wake you last night, or not even noticing we had; got too excited."

Cloud ruffled dark brown hair from his advantageous position. "You really needed it; how could I just break the moment?"

The unbelievable grin on Leon's face widened even further as he managed to yank Cloud onto his lap this time, proceeding to wheel both of them toward the kitchen.
"I love you, you know that?"

Cid turned several shades of red and chased after them.
"Leonhart! Leonhart, did you just make out with Aeris?"

Both men gave him a strange look, just as Aeris came in with her arms full of hotel soap and shampoo.

"... Sorry, didn't realize she was right there... Well, did you?"

"Please tell me you're not starting that again; last night was traumatic enough," Pride grumbled as he served up another plate of toast.
"But heck, it had to be some good stuff if it's got you three this deliriously cheerful. So what happened, milady? Kids?"

Aeris suddenly looked brighter as she dropped the soap and shampoo into a plastic bag. "Your grandson just gave me what I never knew I needed until last night."

"Don't flatter; you were an angel," Leon countered, making a grab for a slice of toast.

Pride nearly dropped the plate as he looked straight at Leon.

"You two were..."

Leon nodded, biting into the toast.

"And she was..."

He nodded again, chewing.

"And you were..."

Swallowing the mouthful of toast, he nodded a third time as he spoke. "Absolutely."

"Attaboy!" Pride suddenly declared proudly, setting the plate down firmly before giving the younger a friendly punch. "Those pictures are going to make great souvenirs!"

"...are all of you speaking in Pig Latin, or is someone going to tell me what was going on?"

"Aeris modeled for Leon's color schemes!" Cloud suddenly blurted out like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "All of them! How many ladies would do something like that? And here I was, thinking we'd never get back into the business!"

"And now you will," Pride spoke up again, also grinning. "Ms. Aeris Gainsborough, thank you."

Cloud suddenly noticed Cid's expression and raised a brow in question. "What's up with you?"

"Grandfather, we have to talk to you."

Pride looked up from cleaning the table at Leon and Cloud, then wiped his hands clean on the dishcloth. "Kids, you can talk to me anytime. In here?"

Leon nodded. After the morning's excitement, he had sobered with the situation. "It may involve the phone."

Catching the cue easily, Leon's grandfather set the dishcloth down and pulled up a chair. "Go right ahead."

Back out in the living room, Cid was stammering for an apology as Aeris pointedly ignored him while she packed.

"Look, I get why you're angry; it's no snap to explain why I was like...y'know, like that, but let's not do it on the run."

Aeris effectively walked around Cid to drop a few more articles into her suitcase. Undaunted, Cid continued trying to get his words across.

"Come on, we've still got the rest of the day; the lovebirds are going to want to stay, probably ride out to the lake or whatever, so it's a good five hours back; gives us a good chance to take it easy and-"

"We're going back with you," Leon interrupted as he entered the living room, Cloud and Pride just a step behind.

"But what about-"

"We can handle it."

"What are you talking about? You got real problems."

"We know that, but we think we can take this on our own.
"I'm still going to speak with Laguna, but not today and not for money," Leon continued with a smirk. "Just to finally sort our differences at a properly arranged appointment."

"And all that, from one night with you," Cloud concluded, pointedly at Aeris as he nodded in approval.
"Aeris, you're a miracle worker."

Aeris laughed. "You're kidding!"

Cid grunted something unintelligible and retreated from the scene.

Sometime later in the afternoon, they had checked out of the hotel, and were getting ready to leave.

As Pride was prepping the airship to leave the docks, Cid got himself busy making a call.

Sitting in the passenger compartment, Leon handed a metal plate to Aeris.
"I want you to have this."

Aeris looked down at the angel he had dyed in white and blue with gold lining, and nodded.
"It's beautiful. Thanks."

At that moment, Cid hung up and returned to the group.
"Well, your luck is holding. They sublet your place, and you're officially homeless. The recycle people are moving your stuff into another place you can use for now."

"Their names are Sora and Riku," Cloud pointed out automatically, before asking his question. "Another place where?"

Cid shrugged as he sat down. "Does it matter? You co-piloting again, kid, or can I go up there?"

"You go ahead; I'm staying."

Not needing a second invitation, Cid got up again and left the passenger compartment, taking up position next to Pride.

Moments later, the airship lifted off.

By the time they returned to Traverse Town, it was already night. Between Pride and Cid, they soon had all the luggage out.

"You kids hang in there, okay? I'll drop in for a visit in two weeks, if I'm still alive then."

Cloud exchanged a hug with the older man. "Thank you, Granddad; love you."

"Love you too, kiddo. Good luck and hang tight."
After releasing the younger man, Pride patted Leon's shoulder, then disappeared back into the airship, the ramp rising after him.

Cid tossed a pair of keys to Cloud and reached for Aeris' bags. "You boys park in my place while I get Aeris a cab."

Beating him to it, Aeris took her own bags. "No need; I'll take a bus."

"I can pay the whole fare, it's fine; why not?"

"Through this trip, you have managed to not only make a nuisance of yourself, but you also made me feel badly about myself. I don't know if I really know you, or want to know you."
Then she redirected her attention back to the two other men of the group.
"You have my number."

Cloud nodded. "Thank you for everything...and let him take you home."

"Not this time. See you around."

Then she walked off, shaking her head.

In unanimous unison, Cloud and Leon looked back at Cid, taking in his expression with sympathy.

Then Cid looked back at them.
"... Don't say a word."

Later that same night, Cid let his neighbors in through the glass doors that was the entry way to both his shop front and his home.

"I told you to go on in."

Obliging, Cloud took hold of the chair handles and pushed Leon in, Cid following with the bags.

"Look, we've got to get a hold on Sora and Riku; we have to know where we'll be hanging our coats."

"Well...I think you'll have to camp 'em here."

"...what are you talking about?"

Suddenly, a delighted yip interrupted them, and the small brown-and-white furry form of Angelo vaulted towards his favorite people in the world.

Cloud's face immediately broke into a delighted grin as he reached to pick up the little puppy. "I know the feeling, snookums! You feel like your old self again, don't you? Everything's going back to the way it should be! The whole family is home!"

Cid promptly blanched.

Cloud looked at the man with much effort not to laugh, and Leon smirked as the puppy was dumped on his lap.
"You're fun to mess with," he commented.

Cid merely snorted.

It was then that Cloud spotted what looked like one of his favorite sketches.
"...what's that doing here?"

"Oh yeah, that..."
Trailing off, Cid beckoned them to follow as he continued to explain.
"They took your place refurnished; the recycle people managed to grab your personal stuff, and they were supposed to set it up here. It's an extra room, really big, but I never used it. It gets good light; sucks when I want to sleep in..."

The two followed him into a room, and Angelo hopped off Leon's lap as he scampered in.

There, laid out for them in a homely fashion, were their possessions, along with a large, brand new bed that neither remembered owning. Angelo hopped onto that bed, circled once, then settled down, looking back at them.

Cid waved his arm dismissively for the sake of occasion. "Welcome to your new home, boys."

"... Wow," Cloud managed as a reply.

"They did a nice job," Cid commented, also seeing the room for the first time. "Cozy."

Then he was cut off as Cloud reached over and hugged him.

"... I love you, big guy. You overwhelm me."

Cid sighed and ruffled spiky blond hair like a tired parent.
"I'll tell you, buddy: I'll be the luckiest man alive if that did it for me.
"Make yourselves comfy."

As Cloud released him, Cid started to exit the room, pausing to pat Leon on the shoulder. Leon took hold of the hand and squeezed it slightly in gratitude.

Nodding his understanding, Cid took his hand back and left them to settle in.

Believe it or not, we're starting to close in on the ending. I can only hope I do it right without too much procrastination.