Chapter Seventy-One: A Proper Welcome
Sephiroth and Aralyn had returned to their room to avoid the chaos that had ensued. It was a time to be free of the nurses while they were caring for Dr. Calvin, and Sephiroth gave Zack a call, telling him that now would be the best time to visit.
He had taken longer than Sephiroth had expected, but he came hauling in a large grocery bag of gifts.
Upon entrance, he dropped the sack and ran to Sephiroth, locking his neck in his arm and digging his knuckles into his commander's silver hair. "Yeah, man! My boss is a daddy! Whooooooo!"
Sephiroth did not appreciate the display of affection, no matter how well Zack meant by it.
Aralyn was trying not to laugh, and was hiding her mouth behind her hand, small, choked chuckles escaping as she tried to greet Zack.
"Get off me or you're evicted," Sephiroth said through clenched teeth.
Zack pulled away and went up to Aralyn, reaching for the two bundles cradled close to her body. "Hey, lemme see!"
"Do I want him handling our children?" Aralyn asked Sephiroth, pulling the babies in closer in mock worry.
"Good question," Sephiroth murmured, still fixing his hair.
"Aw, come on! They want to meet their Uncle Zack!" He gave Sephiroth a pitiful face. "Please, man?"
Aralyn got up, Sephiroth grabbing her hand as a precaution even though she made it, and pushed Zack into the rocking chair in the corner. Gently, she held out Aidan and placed him in Zack's inexperienced arms, adjusting them so he cradled the baby tightly.
Zack cooed, bouncing the baby. "This is Aidan? Looks like his daddy. But I can see a lot of Aralyn in him too." He took the tiny hand and felt the soft fingers. "Strong little guy too…Heya squirt!" he said, addressing the little boy. "How are you liking things down here?"
Aidan kicked his little feet and waved his arms. Zack liked the enthusiasm he was getting, so he continued to play with little Aidan.
"He's an active little sucker," Zack noted.
"He is," Aralyn agreed. "He's been playing kickball since he was conceived!"
Zack played with the little boy some more, but soon he raised his head, wrinkling his nose. "Uh…he stinks." He looked around, finding the General not far from where he was. "Trade in! Gimme the clean one," he said as he handed Aidan to Sephiroth.
"Zack, you're horrible!" Aralyn said. All the same, she gently handed Nadiya to him, taking Aidan back and bouncing and cooing with her little son. "Aidan needs a diaper change!" she said in a high, singsong voice. "Maybe Daddy will help."
Sephiroth didn't look too pleased, but took Aidan from Aralyn and dug through the diaper bag.
Zack's attention was on Nadiya. While Aidan had been allowed to flail about, Nadiya preferred to be tightly swaddled in a blanket and held firmly. While Zack had played with the energetic Aidan, he could tell that Nadiya was calmer, more content to simply observe her new world. Her wide, bright eyes wandered constantly, and there was a light of intelligence in them. He almost got the feeling that she could understand him.
"Heya," he said, barely above a whisper. He handled her more tenderly, stroking her thin hair. "You scared us really bad, girl."
She blinked, meeting his eyes and staring for quite a while.
"Wow," Zack said. "They have different personalities already."
Sephiroth reentered the room, cradling Aidan in one arm. "Clean," he said, gently laying him in his wife's arms.
She smiled up at him. "Thanks, Seph."
"You guys have to open my presents now!" Zack declared. He gave Nadiya to Sephiroth as he went to the bag. First he pulled out a box the size of a small toaster, holding it out to Nadiya. "Little ladies first."
Aralyn took the box and opened the paper, being sure to dispose of the ribbon so tiny hands wouldn't find it. "It's a…what is this, Zack?"
"Not sure, but Seph said she was the thoughtful type and so I got a flashy toy to intrigue her. Lots of lights. Plays some music too, but it gets nauseating after a while and I couldn't find the volume switch."
Sephiroth, oddly enough, could picture Zack at the store, trying out each and every baby toy despite his high and dignified status as a Soldier first-class. It caused a sly smile to spread across his face.
Aralyn had found the switch and held the trinket in front of her daughter. As promised, lights and music made themselves present. Nadiya's little eyes widened, and she waved her arms.
"Now to the little man!"
"What did you get my son?" Sephiroth asked.
"I was talking about you." To avoid the glare he got, he thrust another box at Sephiroth. He took Aidan and, when he began to fuss, placed him over his shoulder and patted his back.
It was worth the humiliation of receiving a leash and a bunny suit from Zack to see the look on the Soldier's face as warm, white liquid spilled down his back. Aidan, quite content now that his stomach had regulated, burped again and curled up against Zack, who proceeded to hold the wriggling infant at arm's length. "This thing is lethal!" he cried, grimacing at the smell. "Get it off! Get it off!"