It has certainly been a hot minute since I thought about this story. Anyway, decided to continue with it. It'll make a nice break from college classes and homework, and I can certainly use some fun writing. If anyone's reading this, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Sora and Roxas stood helplessly, backed up against the wall, and tried their best to put on a brave face for the sake of the other. Their fathers had always been so unshakable when facing threats like this, so they were going to be, too, although they didn't have the weapons or incredible skills that their guardians had. The being before them (an empousa, if they remembered right) seemed amused at their firm resolve.

"I hope you put up a good fight," she purred menacingly. "It's no fun when they just lie still and die."

Sora pushed a silent Roxas behind him, despite the other boy's non-verbal protests, and frowned at the empousa, trying his best to emulate his dad.

"You're going to regret ever coming near us," he warned her, but they all knew he was bluffing. She didn't get a chance to reply to this comment, however, as the door was hit hard, and the knob was knocked clean off. It opened immediately and Giles rushed in to stand between the boys and the empousa.

"Alright, you bitch," he spat, glaring furiously at the monster, who seemed genuinely taken aback. "You've played cat long enough. I think it's time you took your turn as the mouse."

The empousa snarled and threw herself at Giles, who nimbly leapt out of the way, much to the surprise of the twins. It was only then that they realized that their friend didn't have a muscular disease. No, he had the legs of a goat. He knew how to use them, too, judging by the way he dipped and dodged every swipe the monster made at him. A knife, small but sharpened to a deadly point, appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and Giles slashed right across the empousa's torso. It let out a surprised gasp. The momentary shock of being struck, and by a satyr, no less, was all Giles needed to finish her off with a swift slice across her scaly throat. As it fell to the ground, it began to disintegrate, and by the time it had landed, all that remained was a pile of gold dust.

Giles tucked the knife into a small sheath that was attached to his belt before turning to the boys.

"Are you okay? Oh, gods, I never should have left you alone, Chiron's gonna kill me, not to mention Lord Grover-"

"We're fine, Giles," Roxas replied, his voice quiet and subdued. He was usually the quieter of the two brothers, but both were obviously shaken by the fight that had just taken place. Giles sighed and nodded.

"I'm sorry… I knew I smelled a monster, but I didn't know who it was coming from until it was almost too late. I'm just glad I made it in time." He shot a gentle smile at the two stunned boys. "I think there's a lot that needs to be explained to you. Would your parent mind if I came over for a talk?" Sora and Roxas exchanged glances before returning their bright blue eyes to their friend.

"They… shouldn't mind," Roxas finally responded. Sora, for once, was the quieter of the two, and it concerned the satyr.

"Sora?"

"That… that monster… it was like the one Dad fought in Traverse Town…" Roxas nodded in agreement.

"Maybe he'll…" Roxas began the sentence but left it hanging. Sora already knew what he was thinking.

"Probably…" his brother answered, and they both returned their attention to the satyr in front of them. He had a lot of explaining to do.

The ride home had been tense. A new bus driver had replaced the old one, but just as they did this morning, none of the other kids seemed to realize that she was different. Giles assured them that this bus driver smelled like licorice and old-person, but the twins were still on high alert until they crossed the threshold into their house.

"Dad?" Sora called into the doorway. "Are you home?" Cloud poked his head around the corner into the hall to see his boys standing there with… oh gods.

"No, but I am," he answered warily. "Who's your… friend?"

The twins looked between them at their friend, only to realize that Giles looked absolutely starstruck.

"Y-y-you're Cloud Strife," he stuttered, staring at the blonde man with wide eyes. "Son of Athena, slayer of the Nemean Lion!" Cloud rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Cloud Leonhart, now, actually," he corrected. "I'm guessing Chiron sent you?"

"Uh, yes and no," Giles replied. "I've been keeping an eye on the boys for a while now, but… there was an incident today." Cloud's expression took on a darker tone and he nodded once.

"Come sit in the living room, boys," he said. "We've got a lot to tell you. Your dad's not going to be happy about this." Roxas and Sora both hurried to the living room, gesturing for their satyr friend to follow when they realized that he was still standing in the hallway. Before the two sat, Cloud carefully examined them both to ensure they weren't injured. He shot a grateful smile at the satyr. Giles seemed to choke on his own excitement.

"So, an incident?" Cloud prompted, sitting down in his armchair. The boys followed his lead and sat on the sofa beside Giles.

"An empousa attacked them," Giles explained quickly. "I was able to defeat it, but there are going to be more on the way now that the boys are starting to understand just what they are."

"And what are we?" Sora interjected, his eyes locked on his friend. Giles sighed.

"You're the product of a relationship between a mortal… and a Greek god." He was expecting disbelief. He was expecting screaming and crying and arguing. He was not expecting… whatever this was. The twins looked over to their father for confirmation. Cloud nodded solemnly.

"He's telling the truth," he confirmed. Sora and Roxas looked at each other for a moment, then back at their father.

"We're… half god?" Roxas questioned.

"Demigods, half-bloods, heroes, these are words that are often used to describe… your circumstances. I'm not sure which god is your parent, but they must be one of the twelve Olympians for the monsters to be so insistent on killing you." Sora squeaked at the word 'kill,' and Roxas leaned into his side to offer his brother comfort.

"It would be their father," Cloud explained. "Their mother was also a demigod, a daughter of Dionysus." Giles hummed and nodded.

"That might explain why their aura is so strong, to be born of a demigod and a god… it's definitely rare." He tapped his hoof anxiously. "What is your… relation to the boys?"

"I'm their father," Cloud informed them. "One of their fathers, actually. Their other father should be coming home in about ten or so minutes." Giles nodded again.

"Good," the satyr answered. "He'll probably want to know what's going on. You do realize that they'll have to-"

"We know," Cloud interrupted, his voice firm. "We've known since the day they were adopted."

They spent the next handful of minutes giving the twins a brief rundown on what, exactly, was going on. In essence, they learned that the Greek (and Roman) gods were real and still around, that they had moved to North America, that their fathers were both also demigods, and that the fighting they often did was against Greek monsters.

"I'm a son of Athena," Cloud told his sons. "Do you remember which goddess she is?" The two had been very well educated regarding Greek mythology, if they could even call it that anymore, due to their fathers' involvement with that world.

"Wisdom," Roxas answered, just as Sora chimed in with "Battle strategy."

"Both right," Cloud told them with a small smile. "She's also the goddess of weaving, and the patron goddess to the city of Athens."

"What about Dad?" Sora asked.

"What about me?" Squall asked as he set down his computer bag next to the sofa. He stopped and stared at Giles for a few seconds before looking at Cloud. "I wasn't aware we'd be having… company." Once again, the satyr was in awe.

"Squall Leonhart," he acknowledged softly. "Son of Aphrodite, broke the stereotypes surrounding your mother's cabin in the Second Titan War and the Second Giant War both, skilled swordsman, matched only by…" he looked over at Cloud, who was smiling, amused. "Cloud Str-Leonhart."

"You hear that, Pretty Boy?" Cloud teased as Squall settled into the armchair next to Cloud's seat. "You broke the stereotypes. Just like when you refused to-"

"Yeah, okay, I get it," Squall cut him off, dutifully ignoring the little snicker that came from beside him. "What were you discussing when I walked in?" The easygoing atmosphere drained away near instantly. Cloud took Squall's hand.

"There was an attack today, at their school," Cloud spoke softly. Squall was silent for a moment. He turned his eyes to his boys, quickly giving them a once-over. "They're completely fine, their protector ensured their safety."

"So it's time." It wasn't a question. Cloud answered anyway.

"We knew this day would come," he reminded his husband. "We have to understand-"

"I know."

"Would someone please tell us what it's time for?" Sora requested, starting to get impatient. After another moment of tense silence, Squall spoke up.

"Go pack some things," he instructed. "Like you do when we go visit Grampa. Take anything you're going to need. We'll explain on the way." He glanced out of the window. The sun was inching its way closer to the west horizon. "Be quick, too." Both boys obediently darted to their room, confused but trusting in their father. Squall sighed deeply.

"We can go visit on weekends," Cloud suggested. "We're demigods, too, remember? Besides, Chiron would probably be happy to see us." Squall shrugged, but the reminder that he would still see his sons was obviously helping him somewhat.

"Things can never be peaceful, can they?" he asked, and Cloud smiled.

"Not around us."

As Sora and Roxas began throwing things into their bags, they talked quietly.

"So, we're… demigods?" Sora asked. Roxas shrugged.

"If Dad and Pa say we are… then I believe them." Sora nodded in agreement. "Besides, it would explain some of the weird things that happen."

"Yeah, you've got a point," Sora agreed. "Like that thing with Jamie Olivier."

"I still kind of feel bad about that," Roxas admitted. "He was a bully, but he didn't deserve to get sick like he did."

"He's probably better by now," Sora reassured him. "And besides, you were only trying to protect me. I think it was really cool of you to help me like you did."

"Thanks Sora," Roxas said with a smile. Sora returned the smile full force.

"No problem, Rox," he answered. "What else are big brothers for?"

"Seventeen minutes, So!" Roxas half-complained, half-teased. "Are you ever gonna let that go?"

"Why would I ever want to let such an important job go? Who else would you look at memes with?"

"Pa," Roxas responded simply, and Sora let out a faux-insulted huff.

"Well, I've never!" He placed a hand flat on his chest, as if he were an eighteenth-century woman who had caught the vapors. "After all of these years, this is the thanks I get? I see how it is." Roxas replied by throwing a pillow at his head, and Sora collapsed into a heap of giggles.

"Dad said to hurry, remember?" Roxas said, and Sora hit him with the pillow in retaliation before zipping up his duffel bag. Roxas went to do the same.

"Wait," Sora stopped him. "Did you grab…?"

"No, let me just…" Roxas walked over to their dresser and pulled a scrap of fabric out. It was a deep purple, and the edges were singed black. "Okay, now we're ready."

With that, the two boys left their room, ready to head out to wherever their fathers had been alluding to taking them.