Disclaimer - Characters belong to Square-Enix I'm just borrowing them for my own amusement.
P.S.- I proofread twice so if you find any typos my bad I tried to catch them all
The important thing we must remember is Cloud for once is trying to do something for himself even if we don't like it this is what he wants" Vincent said calmly as he pushed Reeve away for sixth time in a two minute period . It had been nearly a week since he and Loz had come across the cabin in the wood where they had not only found Cloud & the twins but the true Sephiroth ready to attack once Loz charged at him, Vincent had to admit he was ready to transform and order Loz to take Cloud and the babies And run but Cloud intervened with a loud cry of "Stop all three of you!". Much to his surprise Sephiroth quickly halted and all but flew to Cloud's side checking him for any signs of injury. Vincent took a step back to partially to quiet down Chaos and to asses what he was witnessing.
"Sephiroth stop I'm ok really. Vincent, Loz can we please just talk?" Cloud whispered quietly looking at them with sincere eyes.
"Vincent can't you tell us more" Tifa asked as she brought him a glass of his favorite wine.
Vincent nodded "he's very happy he's gotten back something he thought was lost forever." he said quickly before closing his eyes indicating he wasn't saying anything more after all he had promised Cloud that he and Loz would keep quiet it wasn't their place to say anything. Besides he wasn't entirely sure how the others would react to Cloud bring Sephiroth with him especially, if the flush look on Cloud's face as Sephiroth checked him for injuries was anything to go by, old feelings were returning.
"Well I'm happy for Spiky it's about time something goes right for the kid" Barret spoke up while helping Cid assemble the double bassinet.
"And this is why I don't like babies! Little rugrats always need something that needs to be assembled" Cid grumbled as the cactuar mobile fell off for the 4th time "fuck it the kids can't see more than a few inches in front of the faces they won't miss it lets take this mess upstairs."
Vincent frowned and thought to himself "No ways in hell are my grandkids sleeping in something looked like it would collapse if someone so much as sneezed near it."
"Sephiroth I'm ok" Cloud closed his eyes as another wave of nausea washed over him and apparently over Evan also as he spit up for the 5th time.
"You don't look fine." Sephiroth said wiping the mess off of the small boy's chin. "You look lost in thought" he said inwardly smiling remembering how when Cloud was a cadet he would often find him studying in Zack's office or his, he could always tell when Cloud didn't quite understand something, he always managed to get a sort of pinched look on his face. Once Evan was clean he turned to look at Lucrecia who was happily sucking on her binky showing no signs of motion sickness at all. "We still have an hour I think before we reach Junon Harbor you can nap if you like or we can talk about what's troubling you it…" Sephiroth cut himself off before he could finish his sentence.
Cloud nodded it was safe to say he felt comfortable talking to Sephiroth it was nice having him around to talk about things but he wasn't sure if what was on his mind would be a touchy subject or not. "I was just thinking" he said slowly his heart skipped a few beats as Sephiroth sat next to him. "The list time I was on a ship like this I was on my way to Nibelheim to stop you when someone said they spotted you I walked through doors like that" Cloud said sadly pointing to the large door to their left. You well what I thought was you" he corrected himself "a Sephiroth clone was waiting for me but not alone it brought along JENOVA-Birth. I just kept thinking this is it if I can just kill him now I can move on and the headaches and feelings would hopefully stop but then the clone just took off" Cloud said looking down at his hands trying to shoo away old memories and emotions.
"I'm sorry I should have been stronger." Sephiroth said trying to suppress his own emotions.
Cloud looked at him noticed that Sephiroth too had a pinched expression.
"I think Lucrecia was happy to see you." he said trying to change the subject to something that would take away Sephiroths pained expression. It had been 3 days since they had left Lucrecia's cave he had been there once before with Vincent and the others not knowing that even deeper within the cave Sephiroth was healing. Sephiroth looked up at Cloud a little startled buy what was just said. Cloud smiled and tilted his head back. "I got this feeling like I could hear her saying 'they're so beautiful' and her cooing about how now Vincent could be happy, it was a little muffed but it felt different being there this time there was no ominous feeling there does that make sense?" he said giving Sephiroth a puzzled look.
The horn of the huge ship began to sound indicating at they were nearing their destination of the Junon Harbor. Sephiroth smiled and stood. "I'm sure should have started knitting them pink and blue mittens I'm going up top for a minute I always did love the view of Junon, & the cannon from the sea" he said before making his way up the stairs to the deck.
Cloud watched before looking down at Evan & Lucrecia "Just look at me you two getting all mushy." Cloud giggled as twins yawned and stuck their tongues out at him. "Thanks you two" he said poking their noses before gathering them up and making their way to the deck. Once he reached the deck he was greeted by a beautiful sight of silver hair whipping in the wind and faint smile on Sephiroth's face as he felt the air and took in the sight of the approaching Junon. Sensing he wasn't alone he turned around and motioned for Cloud to come closer once close enough he took Lucrecia into his arms and positioned her so she could see what he was looking at. "I was a little over the age of four I think when I first saw this it was one of my first memories standing on the deck of a Shinra ship with Professor Gast as he told me a story about a Bottomswell." Cloud smiled as he listened to Sephiroth retell the story and for a few minutes he allowed himself to be happy about the thoughts fluttering in his mind.
For the 8th time in an hour Kadaj swatted at Reno as he successfully used his finger to pick a blueberry out of the fruit salad he had put on the bar next to the rest of the food that Yazoo was carefully preparing. "ARG! Would you stop!" he gave a small frown and added more blueberries to the top the replace the once Reno was happily munching on, "it's winter you know, so it's hard to find ones that don't taste like leather cleaner" he said poking Reno's hand.
"You know you could have asked me to bring some from the Shinra labs and Cloud is late I say we go ahead and eat" Reno said reaching for the bowl once again only to have it moved by Kadaj. Reno was about to say something when he noticed all three remnants looking at each other then looking around as if they were hearing something no one else in the room could hear.
"What is it Yazoo what do you hear" Tifa said not liking the identical looks the three of them had she could tell by the look of fear on Kadaj's face that whatever it was it wasn't good she just hoped that Cloud and the babies would get there soon so they could keep them safe till the danger passed.
"I feel Sephiroth but it's a different feeling do you feel it Kadaj?" he said looking at a shaky Kadaj who had a stronger connection Sephiroth than any of them.
"I can feel brother and something that feels like Sephiroth only kind of warm but I don't hear his voice and I don't fee pain." Kadaj moved closer to Reno who was busy checking the EMR he kept behind the bar.
Vincent sat in the corner and eyes everyone but him and Loz we panicking "Got any 4's?" he asked as both Loz & Marlene both looked up "go fish" they both said in unison.
"How the hell can you just sit there like you didn't hear what Kadaj just said Cloud is near and that psycho is out there! Vincent you're colder than ever" Cid said poking at Vincent with his spear but quickly stepped back when he herd Chaos growl."
"There's nothing to be afraid of Cloud is in excellent hands." Vincent said as he handed Reeve a 3.
Cid was about to yell when the door to the bar eased open and something was set on the floor. They all heard a familiar voice "It's ok get Evan I got Lucrecia." Marlene instantly leapt from her seat before being grabbed by Tifa as another figure walked into the bar.
"Let me get that Cloud you heard the doctor." he gave a Cloud a look that said that he was absolutely serious. Cloud looked up to see his friends ready to attack and quickly put his hands up and shook his head. "Guys there's someone I want you to meet." He said as Sephiroth put both of the safety seats on a clear table. "This is Sephiroth the real one" he smiled but his smile was quickly wiped from his face as he was met with angry critical stares.
"I was beginning to worry the sun started to set and you hadn't arrived" Vincent said using his metal claw to pull Reeve from underneath the table and pull him over to where Sephiroth was carefully unbuckling one of the babies.
Sephiroth inwardly smirked a little there was something strangely satisfying about the look of fear plastered on their faces.
"You knew Loz! You knew and you didn't say anything how could you!" Kadaj screamed before he ran out the door with Yazoo behind him.
Cloud turned to go after them only to be halted by Sephiroth "Give him so time I believe this is more urgent"
Cloud nodded and began the arduous task of explaining everything to his friends.
It took nearly an hour to explain everything that had happen over the week and he was nearly drained of what energy and he had yet to talk to Yazoo & Kadaj. He stood up to stretch his aching muscles before a twinge of pain flooded his body he smiled and swatted away Sephiroth's & Tifa's hands "I'm ok but maybe it would be better if we just stayed at the church." He said rubbing his head trying to delay the onset of what felt like was going to be migraine
Sephiroth and Tifa both glared at him "I don't think so Strife you've been in bad shape and I'm pretty sure that place is even more dilapidated that it was when Zack use to visit there that is hardly a place for you or the twins go talk to the other two and once you get back I'll go stay at the church or see if there is a opening in the inn. And don't give me that face I'll be on my best behavior looking after the twins" Sephiroth said ignoring the shocked expressions on Cloud's friends faces as he began to make sure Cloud was once again thoroughly bundled up tightly.
"That doesn't help," Cloud said giving Sephiroth a mock frown "be on MY best behavior, I'll be back as quick as I can ok?" He said before kneeling and whispering something in Marlene's ear that caused her to smile and run into the kitchen and he began to walk out the door to find Yazoo and Kadaj.
A/N: I find the whole idea of Vincent playing go fish and having to push a overly affectionate Reeve away from him funny.