A/N: Wrote this when the first game came out. Second game torpedoed the plot to smithereens. No Wutai! No Rocket Town! CidVin are my anchor couple. I can go crazy with the rest of the cast as long as their relationship is solid. It helps Vincent stays by Cid's side during the second game and they rode the gondola together, but... Sigh. Third game for the win. This will be forever incomplete. Just wanted to show that I'm still writing… stuff.

Fandom: Final Fantasy 7 Remake/Kingdom Hearts

Summary: Auntie Aerith is at it again.

Pairings: Rufus/Cloud, Zack/Sephiroth, Cid/Vincent, Rude/Tifa, Tseng/Aerith

Warnings: AU, OOC, OCs, Non-Canon, SPOILERS, Homosexuality, Heterosexuality, Violence, Swearing, Past Mpreg

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this fan fiction. In certain cases incidents, characters and timelines have been changed for dramatic purposes. Certain characters may be composites, or entirely fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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FF7 Remake - Incomplete

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(Top of Shinra Tower)

Cloud furiously squirmed to free his head from Darkstar's maw as the deadly creature dragged its prey to her master.

"Pathetic." To Cloud's grateful astonishment, Rufus Shinra shot him through the shoulder instead of straight in the face.

As the supposed former SOLDIER back-rolled away from the flying bullets, his sensitive ears picked up the ongoing conversation going on behind some steel containers.

"Wow. Papa's using tricks I never saw before. Why is he talking so much and flipping all around? This fight would have been over after a minute. Don't look at me like that, Sora. Papa could've knocked Mama out, when Darkstar bit his butt."

Cloud's forehead furrowed as he heard another little boy's reply. "Papa's flirting with Mama, Roxas, but Mama's not getting it. It's why Dark's playing so rough. The fight's gone on too long."

Cloud took a bullet to the thigh with barely a wince. He held up his hand to pause the battle and was surprised when the new President rested his shotgun on his shoulder. "Is this your way of asking me out on a date?"

Rufus scoffed at the blond. "Get over yourself. Not everyone is trying to get into your pants."

Cloud pointed to the containers. "They seem to think so. Don't shoot! They're kids.

Rufus lowered his shotgun. "Show yourself! I have no patience for gawkers."

A nervous little boy with spiky brown hair walked forward, while holding the hand of a frowning blond boy also with spiky hair. "Mama, are you hurt bad? I can dig the bullets out, if you need me to. Auntie Aerith showed me how."

Since the question was directed at him, a confused as hell Cloud shook his head. "I'm healing fine. I got this. Why do you call me Mama?"

The blond tyke spoke up. "We're from another timeline. Auntie Aerith sent us here to make sure you two end up together, but it's all wrong! You don't know who you are and Papa's angry and mean. I hate this timeline. I wanna go home."

The brunet tugged his brother's hand. "Mama and Papa have to agree and really mean it. Auntie said it was important."

Cloud darted forward to place a hand on the older brother's shoulder. "Tell me your names, your ages, then tell me what the mission is."

The blond grasped Cloud's belt. "My name is Roxas. I'm five. Sora is six. We make sure you and Papa get together so we're born here."

Cloud raised his hand from Sora's shoulder to brush the lad's cheek. "Strange. This is how my son has a Shinra's face."

"And why my second child has yours." Rufus ruffled blond spikes. "These are unsettled times, Roxas. My soul is steeped in darkness. You may be asking the impossible from your Mama and I."

Sora clasped Rufus's hand. "Please try, Papa. Please. Not just for us. You and Mama shouldn't be sad and alone. No one should. It doesn't have to be right now. Like Roxas said, Auntie Aerith sent us too far back in time."

The President cradled the boy's earnest face. "Was I ever so trusting and innocent? It must be true, since I see the proof in front of me."

Rufus leaned slightly to inhale Cloud's intoxicating scent as he ran his lips along a bloody blond hairline. "I've been observing Mama for a good while now. Except for his stubborn attitude, he is perfection in motion. In the future, I would be willing. It's up to him now. What say you, Cloud Strife?"

Made uneasy by the Shinra's obsessive gaze and yearning lips, Cloud blinked a few times, then kissed his boys' foreheads. "Papa's a rude ass, but I can deal with it if I get you. If Papa and I both survive what is to come, I will make sure you two are born to live happy lives."

As Sora released a sigh of relief, Cloud gently nudged his other son's chin. "Raise your head, Roxas. Let me see you."

Spying the child's reticence, Rufus's voice rang across the roof. "By birthing you, your Mama has earned his place in this family. He is Shinra. Respect his wishes."

Cloud noticed his sons straightening hearing their Papa's tone. He sat back on his heels as he viewed Roxas's face up close. "Your eyes… What's wrong with your eyes?"

Rufus hurriedly bent and turned the child's head to see what Cloud saw. The Shinra smiled at what he viewed in Roxas's eyes. "A born hunter. Don't be afraid, Baby. You are merely untrained with hiding your true soul. All Turks have eyes like yours. See?"

Roxas patted Rufus's cheeks as he viewed a kindred spirit appear in his father's eyes. "Goody. I'm not alone. Mama said he'd love me no matter what. Is it different here?"

Cloud shook his head and hugged his disturbed second-born. "No, it's not. I'm sorry, Roxas. You caught me by surprise. Don't hide your inner Shinra from me. I'll get used to it."

Rufus stood up as the hovering helicopter edged closer to the rooftop. "I've tarried longer than I planned. I must wrest ultimate control over Shinra or there is no future for any of us."

Cloud's whole frame quivered with irritation. "You're leaving me here, shot to hell, with two Shinra under the age of seven? Talk about a bad blind date. Why don't you shoot me in the crotch while you're at it?"

Roxas held his arm up to show a glowing bracelet. "It won't be for long, Mama. Once the Fates are content, we'll go back to our timeline."

Sora waved his arms. "Hug time! Let's pretend Papa's going to work."

Rufus nearly fell over as the boys easily leapt into his arms and hung from his neck. "You inherited Mama's enhancements. Wonderful. Careful, Boys. Don't break Papa's bones."

Cloud continued to be perplexed as he hesitantly completed the circle of love. "This isn't how I thought this battle would end."

Sora whispered to Rufus. "Papa, can you do the coin trick before you leave? Roxas missed it."

Backing away from his sudden family, Rufus smirked, twirled around, flipped two coins in the air, and shot through them. As he grabbed onto the helicopter's landing gear and was flown away, he chose to listen to his sons' applause and cheering, instead of his black heart breaking.

Sora peered at his glowing bracelet. "It shouldn't be much longer. We'll be going back soon, Mama."

Cloud glanced back to his new sons and glared closer. "You guys aren't big enough to hide her. Why didn't Darkstar leave with your Papa?"

Roxas hugged the purring beast closer. "She didn't wanna."

Sora petted the lethal pet. "It's a good thing, Mama. Dark is trained to take care of the Shinra heirs. She'll protect us while you're busy. When we leave, she'll find her way back to Papa."

Cloud sighed and clapped his sword to his back. "Fine! We have to get out of here. Let's go. Stay close. Hide if we're attacked. I'll take out the enemy."

The group was met at the open doorway by a scared Tifa Lockheart holding a one-year-old boy in her arms. The child was wearing another glowing bracelet. "Cloud, can you tell me what's going on? I'm watching you battle Rufus Shinra, then this baby's hanging onto the back of my skirt!"

Sora held the toddler's hand. "Hiya, Terry! Why did Auntie Aerith send you? You can't tell your Mommy what you need to meet the Fates' requirements."

Tifa patted the sleepy boy's back. "Requirements? What requirements?"

Sora frowned as the bracelet seemed to dim. "Terry has to make sure he's born here."

Tifa shrugged. "Shouldn't be hard. I love children. Who is Terry's daddy?"

Sora kissed the tot's hand. "Rude. He's a Turk."

Tifa hotly blushed and held the child closer. "Rude? He activated the code to drop the plate on Sector 7. Why would I ever choose him?"

Cloud patted Terry as he passed by. "Rude pressed the button, but he was following someone else's orders. Why would I choose Rufus Shinra to be the father of my babies? We'll see Rufus and the Turks again. When we do, I'm going to interrogate Rufus within an inch of his life. Do the same with Rude. Have him explain his past actions."

Tifa kissed her baby's cheek. "I certainly will."

Arriving at the lobby, the group met up with Aerith, Barrett, and Nanaki.

Barrett shook his fist at the newcomers. "Who the hell are all of you? Is Shinra attacking us with babies now?!"

Aerith comforted the two hiding little girls gripping her skirt. "Shhhh. Uncle Barrett's always loud. We're leaving the nasty Tower soon. No one is taking you away from me."

Sora beamed up to a shocked Cloud. "They're Auntie Aerith and Uncle Tseng's twin girls, Kairi and Naminé. Naminé is the blonde one."

Cloud arched an eyebrow at the Cetra. "Tseng? Really?"

Aerith wouldn't meet Cloud's gaze. "I've known Tseng since I was their age. It's complicated."

Nanaki motioned towards the front entrance. "Let us depart. Tifa, if you must fight, you can entrust your child to my care."

Tifa smiled at her new friend as she strapped Terry tighter to her chest. "Thank you, Nanaki. Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

Barrett readied his gun arm. "We ready?"

Cloud scanned his excited children. "I can't baby you now. You were born with my enhancements, so I'm assuming you know your limits. Can you both keep up with us?"

Sora nodded. "I've been tested, Mama. I'm Second Class ranked already."

Roxas's serious expression mirrored Cloud's. "I'm right behind Sora, Mama. I won't let you down."

Cloud peered out to the darkness. "Let's mosey."

xxx

(Post Final Game Battle)

Once the dust cleared, Cloud found himself on the ground, being embraced by his boys. "Don't cry. I'm okay. The fight wasn't that bad. Sora, what's wrong?"

Cloud's eldest stared at his bracelet. "It's not glowing anymore. Why isn't it glowing anymore? Does it mean we can't go back? What does it mean, Auntie Aerith?"

As tears trailed down her cheeks, the Cetra held her frightened girls tighter, knowing they had viewed the same changes she had. "It means we are now the masters of our own fates. It also means the alternate timeline is no more."

Sitting on the ground, Roxas hit his own legs until Cloud caught his fists. His overflowing eyes broke his Mama's heart. "Auntie Aerith lied to us! We were never going back home! Our other Mama and Papa are gone! My Lea is gone!"

Sora embraced his distraught brother. "No, he's not, Roxas. If he was, your soul would be crying. Mine's not. It means Riku is alive somewhere, just like Lea is."

Cloud held his sad children. "Riku? Who is Riku?"

Sora looked towards the horizon with a gentle smile. "My best friend. His Dada is Uncle Zack and his Mama is Uncle Sephiroth. We'll meet each other soon. I just know it. Riku wasn't with his Mama, so he must be with his Dada."

Cloud cuddled Sora and Roxas closer. "Zack… Who's Zack? Ouch! My head..."

Feeling a tug to her skirt, Aerith bent over to hear what Naminé had to say. "You can fix Uncle Cloud's head? Are you sure you're strong enough? My brave girl. It's fine. Let's wait until we stop at an Inn. Okay?"

Barrett rotated his shoulders. "Closest place is Kalm. Everyone all good and traumatized for the trip?"

As Roxas rested his weary head on his Mama's upper arm, Sora held Cloud's hand. "We didn't disappear like we promised, Mama. Sorry."

Cloud kissed Sora and Roxas's heads. "I'm not. You boys have given me something to fight for again. You've given me hope."

Tifa sing-songed to Terry in her arms. "It's a wonderful thing."

Aerith whispered to her girls. "Yes, I feel the rage too. Your Bàba senses a portion of my love has left him. He doesn't know it's for you. Once he meets you, the bad feeling will be gone. I promise."

Cloud stood up and stretched. "I'll take Point with Darkstar. Boys, stay close."

Roxas scanned the surrounding environment. "They're hiding. I can smell them. Mama can too. Why hasn't he killed them yet?"

Sora grinned at his wary brother as they walked with the group. "Same reason Darkstar hasn't. Our watchers are Papa's people. They're making sure we stay safe."

Roxas squinted with irritation. "Safe? They're not Turks. Hired help will never keep us safer than family."

Sora held his little brother's hand. "The Turks are keeping Papa safe until he can gain control of Shinra, Inc. for good. It's up to us to stay alive and protect Mama until then. I think we'll do great."

Roxas agreed with a determined nod as Darkstar idly tore a menacing creature in half in front of him. "You're right, Sora. We're Shinra. Nothing's ever going to bring us down."

XXX

(Gongaga)

Zack Fair stepped outside of his hut, stretched his whole body, then scratched his butt as he sang. "Sky rockets in flight. Afternoon delight. AAAAAAAAfternoon deliiiiiiiight."

A listening little boy with silver hair and periwinkle blue eyes ventured closer to the singing man. "There you are, Dada! I've been looking all over for you."

Zack sneezed, wiped his nose, and gave the boy a goofy smile. "Hey! You sorta look like me. Smile. There's the Fair twinkle. Yep, you're mine somehow."

Riku crossed his arms against his chest and scowled at his parent. "Mama's left you alone too long, Dada. You've gone all stupid."

Zack pointed at Riku's expression. "I know that face! I would see it every time I woke up hungover in the gutter... and the latrine... and Cloud's storage foot locker… That was a really small foot locker."

Riku huffed. "Dada, you can't be silly now. My bracelet stopped glowing, so I'm stuck in this timeline forever. I can't find Mama. You're all I have."

Zack scratched the back of his head, blinked, and stared back at the earnest little boy. "You're still here? You're not a hallucination? Holy Hell, you're serious and still here! I can't be the responsible one! That was Sephiroth! He's the General and he's… He's…"

Zack broke down, as Riku hugged his waist. "It's not meant to be this way. Your Mama should be here. He comes by sometimes. He never stays. Why won't he stay?"

Riku's confident look made Zack's heart yearn more for his missing Angel. "Don't be sad, Dada. I'll get Mama to stay with us for good."

Zack beamed down to his child and brushed back Riku's hair with a shaky hand. "How?"

Riku's blue eyes veered away from his father's. "It's hard to explain, Dada."

Zack gave Riku a teary smile. "You got some magic in ya, Baby Boy?"

Riku's sweet smile back renewed the hope in Zack's soul. "Uh-huh. I'm a Fair."

Zack knelt down and squeezed his son close. "Yeah, you are. Thanks for waking my heart back up, Riku. It's been lonely without Mama by my side."

Riku kissed his father's cheek and wiped Zack's tears away. "Not anymore, Dada."

XXX

(B3 - General Affairs: Auditing)

Half-asleep on his favorite couch, Reno's forearm covered his ocean-blue eyes. "Rude! Get your ass back in here! Tseng's dick isn't going to suck itself!"

"Gross, Dad."

Reno slowly lifted a part of his arm to glare, with one eye, at a red headed little boy. "Forget what I said, Kid. Shit, did Hojo clone me? Fuck, he did. No one's that crazy. Who are you? Why do you have my face and how the hell did you get past Security?"

The scared child yanked Reno's long leg so hard the Turk nearly fell off the couch. "I'm Lea. I'm not a clone. I'm your son from another timeline. Auntie Aerith sent me here on a mission, but it's gone bad. My bracelet stopped glowing and I can't find Mom anywhere. Once I find her, she'll fix it. Mom fixes everything!"

Reno managed to sit up and rub his eyes. "Pipe down! Giving me a bigger headache. Who's your mom?"

Lea calmed down a little when his father's tone became more serious. "She's a Turk too. Her code name is Cissnei. I went to her old room first, but someone else is living there. Is she living with you?"

Reno's hands dropped to his lap and he stared out into space. "Cissnei? Shit, Kid. I'm sorry. You're not going to find your Mom here. You're not going to find her anywhere. We held her funeral last month. Never knew a Turk could be so loved. Just shows how special your Mom was."

Lea quickly turned and hunched down so his crying eyes were covered by his knees. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. I'm okay. I'm okay."

Reno swore at hearing his new son use Reno's old childhood mantra to cope. The Turk yanked the tyke into his arms and exhaled as the boy released a torrent of tears onto his chest bandage. "You're right, Lea. It's okay. You found your old man and Turks take care of their own. You've been sittin' there all this time, Rude?"

The bald Turk sat back in his leather chair. "Never left. Alternate timeline, huh? Shit just got interesting, Partner."

Lea managed to stop crying enough to look at Rude. "Hi, Uncle Rude. Where's Terry? I guess he's with Aunt Tifa. It makes sense since he's only one. Babies need their Mom."

Reno sneered as Rude's gloved hands balled into fists and his forehead hit the table. "Yeah, Partner. Shit just got reaaaaaaallllll interesting. Tifa saw you drop the Plate. There ain't no way in Hell you're gonna see your kid in this lifetime."

Lea played with Reno's ponytail. "I can help explain it to Aunt Tifa. If a Turk doesn't follow orders, they're dead. If it's the President's order, the whole team is eliminated if they fail in their mission."

Reno ruffled Lea's fiery hair. "You explain it real easy, Son. Aunt Tifa got a way of turning easy into complicated in her head. It's her superpower, besides the boobs."

Rude raised his head from the desk. "Who does Terry look like, Lea?"

Lea sat up. "Terry looks like Aunt Tifa. Strangers keep thinking he's a girl because he's so pretty."

Reno guffawed at the mental picture. "Seems we both lucked out, Partner. A new generation of pretty Turks to fool the populace."

The Turks and Lea jumped as Tseng's strong voice was amplified by the office. "Interesting. Do I have any children, Lea? Do not be afraid to speak."

Reno petted Lea's back to relax his tense son. "Damn, Sir. When did you return to the office?"

The Director sat down in his chair behind his desk. "Just now. The meeting was shorter than usual. Must I repeat the question, Lea?"

The child cringed under Tseng's authoritative stare. "No, Sir. It's not my fault! Auntie Aerith placed a mental block on me before she sent me here. She guessed I'd meet up with other Turks besides my Dad. It made my brain itch, so I got around the mental stuff with an old trick my Mom taught me."

Tseng tapped his pointer finger on the desk. "Yet you are still leery to tell me what you know."

Lea unconsciously gripped Reno's suit jacket tighter. "You're acting cool, but you're really angry inside. If I don't tell you what I know, you'll smack me in front of my Dad. I'm only six, Sir."

Tseng continued to stare at the cowering tyke with hard eyes. "A six-year-old who has failed to tell me what I want to know."

Reno wrapped his long arms around his boy and whispered into his ear. "Spill your guts, Lea. Tseng won't hurt his kids. Swear."

Lea took comfort from his father's embrace and rattled off the information. He made sure to keep his eyes lowered. "Auntie Aerith has twin girls, Sir. Naminé and Kairi. They're five years old. They were sent the same time as I was. They're probably with Auntie Aerith."

Tseng's gaze dropped down to his desk as he muttered to himself. "This explains the seemingly waning devotion. I will forgive the emotional betrayal, Aerith. By loving our girls, you are still loving me."

Lea hid against Reno's lean body and whispered. "Uncle Tseng's weird here. Is it because Auntie Aerith's away?"

Reno smiled at his lookalike son. "Nah. Didn't you get the memo, Lea? All Turks are weird."

Lea giggled as he nestled against his father. "It's only been a day for me, Dad, but I missed you."

Reno rocked his boy as he mentally worked out the weekly bribes to make Lea stay in daily daycare. "I missed you too, Lea. I didn't know what I was missing, but my soul was hurting for sure. Keep it on the down low though. This Turk still got a rep to protect."

Lea sighed against Reno's damp chest bandage. "I can hear your thinking, Old Man. I'll stay in daycare when you're working. I promised Mom when she first returned to the job. I never broke a promise to her. I won't start now."

Reno kissed his new son's forehead. "You're a good kid, Lea. I wouldn't believe you were mine, except you're wearing my face. Cissnei got the right to be proud in the Lifestream. She raised you good. Do me a favor and tell me when I'm screwing up. This Turk daddy's flying blind here."

Lea smiled against Reno's chest. "Don't worry, Dad. It'll be aces from now on. Swear."

XXX

(Rocket Town)

Cid Highwind softly sang to himself as he worked on the rocket's innards. "Sky rockets in flight. Afternoon delight..."

"AAAAAAAAfternoon deliiiiiiiight." A sweet child's treble finished the line for him.

As his scarred hands continued their delicate work, the Captain peered over his shoulder to spy an ethereal, tiny little girl with ankle-length golden hair sitting on a metal container and swinging her dirty, bare feet. "Howdy-do there, young'un. Whut brings you to mah workspace? If yer a fairy sent to curse me, Ah gotta warn you, Shinra already beat ya to it."

The shiny tot giggled. "Not a fairy! I'm Calla, Princess of the Darkness."

Cid chuckled, set his tools down, and placed his fists on his hips. "Princess? Well, la-di-da. Why are you gracing little old me with yer presence?"

Calla's feet stopped swinging and the tyke's gaze fell away from Cid's. "Come to say bye, Pa. The mean lady said I shouldn't bother you with lies, but I'm not a liar. Highwinds die before we lie!"

Cid knelt on one knee and waited until the little girl's sky-blue eyes met his. "Damned straight. Highwind? Impossible. Ah'd never confess to being a saint, but yer an angel baby. Ain't no way an angel baby came from these loins."

Calla held her own face with petite hands. "Strangers always say that. I look like my Mommy. I don't mean to look like Mommy. It just happened. Don't be mad, Pa."

Cid gathered the sad child up in his arms and stood up. "At you? Never. Ah'd sooner be angry at the sun fer shinin.' That's a pretty bracelet ya got there. Whut's the tears fer now?"

Calla angrily scrubbed at her eyes. "It stopped glowing last night. It means I'm stuck here. I asked the mean lady if I could sleep in my room. She said I didn't have a room, you're not my Pa, and lying little girls with no parents go to the orphanage. So I slept in the barn next door. I wanted to say goodbye before I left to go find Mommy."

Cid sat down on the metal container, with Calla on his lap, and let his genius mind go to work. "Glowing bracelet? Some witchy tomfoolery there. Sounds like an alternate timeline. Good thing Ah took the time continuum class in college. How old are you, Baby Girl?"

Calla kissed Cid's cheek. "I'm four-years-old, Pa."

Cid kissed his new daughter's head in return. "Four? Turnin' a four-year-old with mah eyes away? Tellin' her to git to an orphanage? Not tellin' me shit about it? Shera ain't a mean lady, Calla. She's an entitled crazy woman who's taken enough from Cid Highwind! Stay in the rocket while yer Pa cleans house!"

Calla hugged an irate Cid's neck tight and whispered in his ear. "No, Pa! I'm okay. Widow Cramer's dogs snuggled me at night and she gave me breakfast this morning when she found me. I want to let Mommy take care of the mean lady."

Cid blinked at his scheming child. "Take care? Calla, could you describe yer Mommy to me?"

Calla beamed as she remembered. "My Mommy is a head taller than that door over there. I look like him, but he has long black hair and red eyes. He's really skinny. You try to feed him a lot, but he doesn't gain weight."

Cid brushed a hand down wavy golden hair. "He? Well, that's a one-time in Wutai drunken secret blown. Guess Ah like men more than Ah thought."

Calla shook her head. "No. Just my Mommy. You like my Mommy a lot."

Cid cuddled his daughter closer. "Ah suppose Ah do. He looks like you? Ah probably follow him around like a love-sick hound dog."

Calla giggled and clapped her hands. "Uh-huh! Mommy's cheeks get all red but he gives you kisses when I'm not looking."

Cid sighed and peered out the hatchway. "Ah'll keep the farce with Shera goin' fer you, Calla. When we bring yer Mommy back here, all bets are off. Ah won't have that psycho anywhere near you two."

Calla kissed Cid's bristly chin. "Don't worry, Pa. Mommy will make the mean lady disappear."

Cid's broad hand paused with patting Calla's back. "Whut's Mommy's name and whut does he do fer a living?"

Calla rested her head against Cid's chest and listened to his strong heart. "Mommy's name is Vincent Valentine. He's a retired Turk."

Cid whistled to the wind as he put all the puzzle pieces together. "Retired Turk? Heh. The Old regime was nothin' to sneeze at. Damned sure Shera's gonna disappear. Yer Mommy's tall, thin, gorgeous, and let's me kiss him durin' the day. This country fool never had a chance. Did Ah, Baby Girl?"

Calla hummed to the beat of Cid's heart. "Nope."

A half hour later, Cid strode through his front door with Calla in his arms.

Shera hurriedly placed a kettle on the stove. "Cid, I didn't expect you! Oh, I'm sorry the little girl bothered your work. I'll call Constable Werner to pick her up. I'm sure her parents are frantic to find the misguided child."

Cid placed Calla in a chair and bolted Shera down with a cold glare. "The only misguided person in this house is you, Shera. This baby girl looked at you with mah eyes and ya kicked her out of MAH house inter the cold night. We're lucky the Widow Cramer has a heart unlike you. Ah'd be in mah rights to kick you outta this house, except mah little girl asked me not to. Better thank her. She's the one reason yer not homeless."

Shera's face twitched as her mouth struggled into a scary rictus of a smile. "I'm sorry, Calla. It was all a misunderstanding. I'll ready a place for you to sleep."

Cid held a hand up. "Don't bother. Calla will be sleepin' over at the Widow Cramer's until we leave. The least time she spends around you the better."

Shera placed a shaking hand over her heart. "Leave? I would certainly like to know where you're going."

Cid peeled a banana and gave it to Calla. "Ah bet you would."

Calla daintily nibbled the fruit like the princess she was. "We have to wait for them to come. Auntie Aerith sent me too early, so we have to wait."

Shera moved the kettle as it whistled on the stove. "Them? Who will they be?"

Calla finished the banana with a satisfied smack of the lips. "My Aunties, my Uncles, and my Mommy. He'll be the one everyone stares at. Everyone stares at him when we go out."

Shera superimposed the child's angelic face on a grown-up visage. Calla's Mommy was surely a breathtaking sight to the common folk. A shriek of rage echoed through the scientist's disturbed brain. "I've no doubt."