Rabid Tiger
Chapter Seven

Rating: R
Category: game-verse. (VERY! AU)
Pairing(s): Cloud/Reno, Cid/Vincent, Aeris/Tseng, Zack/Sephiroth.
Warnings: Language
Summary: The lemons are usurped, Aeris gets to be a bad influence, and pregnancy is contagious.
Notes: This is it, folks. The last chapter of ‘Rabid Tiger’. Really hope you enjoyed it.

Cloud walked up the hill, reaching the crest and looking around. Zack had certainly been busy in the few months since Sephiroth had returned to him. The foundation of the house was laid, which was quite an accomplishment for a single person. Of course Sephiroth may have helped, but Cloud could not be sure. Zack did seem rather adamant about not letting him work.

Cloud spied the Silver Tiger himself not far away. He was lying on something resembling a Roman style couch, his body sunk deep into the soft pillows, draped with a white quilt. The couch was beneath the three cherry trees Zack had planted years ago, sheltering him from the summer sun. He was asleep, and Cloud walked quietly away, not wishing to disturb him, heading towards the sound of digging. He found Zack not far off; excavating what would one day be a koi pond. He had removed his shirt, and his broad shoulders were tanned and gleaming with sweat.

“I brought beer,” said Cloud.

Zack’s head shot up, and he grinned broadly. “Hey Cloud! How are you!” He drove the blade of the shovel into a pile of dirt, then stepped out of the hole. “Let’s go sit by the oak tree, I could use a break.”

They walked over to the young oak tree, the only source of shade other than the cherry trees Sephiroth was sleeping beneath. Cloud passed Zack a beer, then took one for himself.

“You’ve been busy! Did you do all this yourself?”

Zack nodded. “Yeah. Baby’s in no shape to do any of this.”

“How is Baby?” asked Cloud, gazing at the sleeping form across the yard.

Zack opened his beer and had a drink. “Not good. Physically he’s fine but emotionally… I’m worried. He just sleeps. And if he’s not sleeping them he wants sex. Sometimes I can get him to eat but frankly,” Zack gestured towards the couch, “that’s it. The books I found all say it’s natural but, I dunno.”

“Sounds like what I did after Nibelheim. Well, once my brain engaged once more. Sex, sleep, drink, sleep, eat, sleep, for at least a couple weeks. I was depressed. I’m willing to bet he is, too. Just let him be, he’ll be okay. He just needs to recover.”

“I just wish I had something to distract him with, some books or something like that.”

“I can bring you some books. What do you want?”

“Philosophy would be good, Baby likes the philosophers. I’d like some books on Herbalism and natural healing. And a book on gardening. I promised my wilting flower over there a garden, completely failing to realize there is more involved than just tossing bulbs into dirt and leaving them alone.”

Cloud grinned. “That’s just typical of you. Well Reno and I will pop up once in a while and help.”

Zack finished his beer and took another. “How is Reno?”

“Not much different from Baby… look you’ve got me calling him ‘Baby’ now. No man who can single-handedly level a town should have a nickname like ‘Baby’.”

“Well he’s my baby.”

Cloud just shook his head. “Fine, he’s your baby. Well my baby is in much the same condition. He’s depressed. His eyesight is virtually non-existent, he’s going to need surgery to get it back, two of his best friends tried to kill him, he’s out of a job, and he’s in constant pain. I do what I can for him, but both he and Sephiroth are going to need time, and a lot of loving and patience.”

“Well, if there’s one thing we have, it’s time.” Zack watched Sephiroth sleep, the same loopy smile on his face that Cloud had seen so many years ago. “I love him so much.”

“He’s lucky to have you, Zack.”

Zack smiled. Cloud thought he was going to positively melt when Sephiroth woke up briefly to scratch his nose before adjusting his position and settling once more on the pillows.

“He’s so CUTE! You should see him first thing in the morning, when he’s just starting to wake up. He makes the cutest widdle faces…”

“Zack, get a hold of yourself. You just said ‘widdle’.”

“I said ‘widdle’?”

“You widdled.”

“Well he’s cute. And I love him. I was trying to think of ways to introduce him to human behaviour. I thought a party.”

Cloud winced. “I don’t know, Zack. Sephiroth didn’t like parties before his breakdown, I suspect as fragile as he is now a party might be a really bad idea.”

“No, hear me out. I was thinking next summer, after the place is built and the gardens are all laid and stuff. I could have you and the crew over for an outdoor barbecue. That way we’re not in the house making him nervous, he doesn’t have to come anywhere near us if he doesn’t want to, and he can see people interacting in a normal way. I don’t think he knows how to be a person. This way he can observe but he’s not forced to interact.”

Cloud nodded. “That could work, I think. And you’d know if he was stressed or upset or on the verge of drinking our blood.”

Zack smiled. “Baby doesn’t drink blood, he much prefers saké.” He stared down at the bottle he held, picking at the label with his thumb. “I was reading those files.”

“You should burn those damned files.”

“Yeah, I know, but for now I’m using them to help me understand my love over there. And myself. The files say I’m empathic but I’m not really clear what that means.”

Cloud finished his beer and reached for another one, unscrewing the cap. “It means you can read the emotions of others.”

“Oh.” Zack took a swallow of his beer. “I don’t know if ‘read’ is the right word. More like I hear them. I can’t explain it. When I’m with Sephiroth it’s… it’s almost like I can hear what he’s feeling. I don’t know how to explain it better than that. I always told people I listen to him, and they would say ‘But he never says anything!’ He does speak; he’s just not easy to hear. I know when he’s frightened or angry or happy and he doesn’t have to say a word.” He looked at Cloud. “So is that part of being empathic?”

Cloud nodded. “Yeah, that’s it.”

“Better see if you can find me a book on being an empath.”

Cloud smiled. “I’ll look.

They watched Sephiroth sleep, the summer breeze ruffling his long white hair. They drank their beer, then, without saying a word, rose and resumed work together on the koi pond.

***---***

Cloud would often return to the hill and help Zack build, and always Sephiroth would be on his couch, lost in sleep. By the time fall came, the house was nearly complete, and Cloud showed up one day in late October to help Zack prepare the structure to withstand the cold and wet. Then, promising to return in the spring, Cloud departed, leaving Zack and Sephiroth in peaceful solitude for the winter.

He returned home to his villa, finding Reno asleep on the couch. He did not like leaving him while he was still weak, but, like Cloud, Reno required a certain amount of alone-time, and enjoyed Cloud’s brief trips away to Zack’s hill, so long as he knew he was coming back. Goober had grown from a tiny kitten to a tiny cat, and was in his usual position, perched on Reno’s hip. His long, furry tail was wrapped around himself, and Cloud wondered how such a small cat could have such a loud purr.

Cloud shut the door and looked around. While it was true that only he and Reno claimed the villa as home, none of the friends he had made on their long strange journey to stop Sephiroth had technically moved out. It was not uncommon to see Cid and Vincent, or Barret and Tifa, or any of the other members of the group in the little house. Cid and Vincent were the most common visitors, as they now also called Costa Del Sol home and made their living building small private planes. Aeris was seen the least frequently, she now living in Kalm with her mother Elmyra and Tseng, who was rather unpopular with Elmyra at the moment. It seemed she was unimpressed with the fact that he had given her daughter a baby before marrying her. The fact that Aeris herself had a hand in the situation did not seem to matter. Aeris’ baby was due in May. The wedding was set for September, to give Aeris a chance to regain her waistline before she tried stuffing herself into her wedding dress.

Cloud waked over to Reno, kneeling on the floor beside the living room sofa, touching his long red hair, fighting back the rage he always felt when he saw the damage Rude and Elena had done to him. The area around his eyes still showed bruises and marks, and the whites of his eyes had been turned the colour of blood in some parts. One of his eyes was simply dead, and it looked like it. The other was badly damaged but functioning to an extent. He was not easy to look at, but Cloud would never let Reno know he felt that way. He awakened him with a kiss, smiling as he felt his hand come up to touch his face.

“How are you?” asked Cloud.

“Okay,” said Reno. “Goober and I watched a little TV, then Cid and Vincent popped over to use the shower.”

“Cid broke the shower again, did he?”

“Actually I got the impression Vincent did. I’m not sure what they do in there, but whatever it is, it’s hard on the plumbing. How are Zack and Sephiroth?”

“Sephiroth is still sleeping all the time. Zack’s worried about him.”

“He’ll be okay. He’s got a lot to work through.” Reno slowly sat up, forcing Goober to relinquish his position. “Personally I wouldn’t mind sleeping a little more myself.”

Cloud rose from the floor to sit beside Reno, putting his arms around him and drawing him close. “You’ve got rather a lot to work through yourself, don’t you?”

Reno nodded. “Yeah. I’m out of a job, my eyesight is half what it used to be, and I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but I miss Rude and Elena.” He shook his head. “I still can’t believe they would do such a thing.”

“Would you have?” asked Cloud.

Reno shook his head. “I don’t know. No, actually, that’s not true. If I was ordered to kill one of my fellow Turks, I probably would have done it, but I would have done it cleanly and quietly. Slowly poisoning him over a period of months before kicking his head in and slashing off a chunk of scalp for good measure… even now the idea of doing something like that to Rude or Elena makes my stomach sick. I mean let’s be honest; we were paid to be bastards. And we were good at it. But I always thought… I always thought I knew where I stood with them.”

Cloud stroked his hair, uncertain of what to say. Reno fortunately decided to change the subject for him.

“Want to go into the bedroom and fool around?”

“Sounds good to me.”

***---***

Winter came and went. Spring arrived, and Reno went in for surgery to restore his eyesight. It was a success, thought the robotic eye they gave him to replace his dead one was blue tinted, not green. The difference was not glaringly obvious, but it gave Reno a very creepy expression, which of course delighted him to no end. The doctors also managed to remove some bone fragments that had been causing him a great deal of pain, and within weeks Reno was back on his feet, better than he had been in a very long time. Of course it upped the mischief quotient around the villa substantially, and Cloud often felt he was living in a Pink Panther movie – he was never sure what direction that attack would come from.

Aeris had her baby – a little girl, which she named Ifalna after her birth mother, and she and Tseng proceeded to bury their friends under a snowstorm of baby pictures. The packages of photos seemed to arrive weekly, until Reno began mailing them back with letters stating that minute by minute updates were not necessary. This resulted in Tseng sending a book of time-lapsed pictures, one a minute, of baby Ifalna. Barret joined the fray with stacks of photos of his adopted daughter Marlene, and Cloud learned to dread checking his e-mail in the morning. Unable to get pregnant himself, Reno fought back with the only weapon he had – Goober photos.

Cloud began to have the sinking feeling that the lemons had just been replaced by baby pictures.

Still, times were good. Tifa was living with Barret currently, as was Nanaki, at least until they decided what to do with their lives. Barret had bought Marlene a couple chocobos, which he had been told were of the dwarf variety. Within three weeks it was quite clear they were not dwarfs, they were of the full-sized racing breed, and therefore unsuitable as house pets. Then Marlene put the male in with the female because “they were lonely”. The result was an egg, and just as Barret was on the verge of pulling his hair out, the egg hatched and out flopped a very tiny, very cute, and very valuable black chocobo. Marlene named the bird Molasses, which Barret desperately hoped would not affect the bird’s racing career.

Molasses photos joined the baby wars. Cid and Vincent added Cessna pictures, and Yuffie decided that since she was a kid, to just spam the hell out of everyone with pictures of herself.

Makers of digital cameras began sending birthday cards.

Spring turned to summer, and at long last the anticipated invitation to Zack’s outdoor barbecue arrived; complete with three hundred and fifty-seven photographs of Sephiroth sleeping.

“We need more cats,” said Reno.

***---***

Zack had not been idle.

The house was finished, the koi pond was done, the gardens in full bloom, and small waterfalls followed the natural rock formations into the pond, leaving tiny rainbows in the mist. The cherry trees were laden with ripe fruit, and Sephiroth was no where in sight.

“Where’s Baby?” asked Cloud.

“He’s around somewhere. He was on his couch until about an hour ago, then I think he sensed a disturbance in the Force or something. Don’t worry, he’s not far.”

“Gee that’s reassuring,” muttered Reno.

Zack broke into a huge grin as he saw Aeris walking up the hill, and he promptly swooped in to take Ifalna.

“Okay I have what I want.”

“You know it’s customary to greet your guests before stealing their children,” said Aeris.

They hugged, then Aeris came running over to Cloud to embrace him. She cast Reno a glance.

“You look crazier than usual.”

“Thank you. Do I get a hug too?”

“I suppose you can have one now that you’re no longer one of the bad guys.”

She hugged him, then spied Tifa and Barret and ran off to greet them. Reno grinned as he watched her go.

“Isn’t that cute, she thinks I’m rehabilitated.”

“I’m sure she will know better by the end of the evening.”

“Yes, probably. Hey Tseng! My GAWD you look good, get over here so I can force myself on you before your wife notices.”

“I already did!” yelled Aeris. “Cloud, make him behave.”

Cloud snorted with amusement. “Like I have the ability to make him do anything.” He was suddenly knocked on his ass by Nanaki, and he grabbed the massive head, rough-housing with him.

Solitude was good, but this was nice once in a while, too.

***---***

The party got underway, with plenty of food, music, and booze. Vincent had three beers and passed out on Cid’s chest, leaving himself wide open for a complete makeover. Fortunately all Tifa and Aeris did was braid a few flowers in his long black hair. Vincent remained oblivious, which was fine until Cid needed to use the bathroom.

“Pass him this way,” said Tifa, “I’ll look after him for a moment.”

Together the two managed to move Vincent, settling him against Tifa. She smiled and stroked his hair.

“Just what you always wanted,” said Yuffie, “A vampire, face-down in your boobs.”

Tifa grinned. “Oh he’s fine, besides he’s unconscious.”

“Thus proving Turks can’t hold their alcohol,” said Zack.

“Bite me, Soldier-boy,” said Reno.

Aeris suddenly noticed something out of the corner of her eye, and turned her head. There was a solitary figure, just beyond the cherry trees, the wind blowing through his long white hair. He was seated cross-legged on the ground, facing away from the party, back straight, head lowered.

“There’s Sephiroth,” she said.

Zack looked in the direction she indicated. “Yeah he’s been there a few minutes now.”

“I don’t know why, but I feel like I should go talk to him.”

It was clear Tseng felt very strongly the last thing she should do was go anywhere near him, but held his opinion to himself. If there was one thing he had learned about Aeris, it was she did what she wanted, but that did not mean he had to like it.

“I don’t know,” said Barret. “You don’t know how he’ll react, and he might already be upset with all these people on his hill.”

Aeris looked towards Zack for advice. “What do you think?”

Zack considered the situation, looking rather uncertain himself. “I don’t know. Just be careful, okay? If he gets his hackles up just walk away. He won’t hurt you, but I don’t want him getting stressed.”

She nodded. “I will. It should be okay. I mean we do share certain similarities; I should be able to read him the way you do.”

“Just make sure you listen,” said Zack. “He’ll let you know how he’s feeling. If you sense he’s not cool with having you over there, just walk straight back.”

“I will.” Aeris rose to her feet, hoisting Ifalna. “But I think he’ll be fine. I don’t know why, I just feel it.”

The group watched as she began walking over to Sephiroth, Reno reaching out to take Tseng’s hand reassuringly.

Aeris walked over to the lone figure seated near the trees, the wind blowing through his long white hair. She seated herself on the grass beside him, looking at him. His eyes were closed, his head lowered, but somehow Aeris understood that he was aware of her. She let her senses reach out to him, but did not detect any hostility; if anything all she felt was a mild curiosity, mingled with a little uncertainty. Aeris raised her hand, and slowly reached out to him, sensing him, listening to the emotions she felt. He did not like to be touched, but Aeris did not feel any aggression. She held the stance, not touching, asking permission as Zack once had, years ago. After a few moments, he dipped his head slightly, and permitted her to stroke his hair.

“I do not fucking believe it,” said Reno.

Zack grinned. “I do. Baby knows good people when he sees them. Besides, I’m pretty sure they share genetic material.”

“You mean they’re related?” said Tseng, surprise in his voice.

“No, no. More like Aeris’ real mother gave him a transfusion at some point, albeit against her will. I know they used some of her genetic material so he would have an Ancient’s ability to heal himself. I’m not sure but I think that’s also why he can grow wings briefly when he feels like it.”

Aeris continued focusing her attention on Sephiroth, gently attempting to draw him out of his shell. He seemed to like being stroked, so she carefully set her baby down on the grass, and began gently braiding one of his long tresses. Sephiroth did not react, but she felt a quiet pleasure in the attention; something he did not know how to seek on his own. Aeris finished braiding the length of hair, then tied it off.

“There. You’re beautiful. Well, you already were, actually.”

Sephiroth sat in unmoving silence, and Aeris picked her baby up once more, holding the tiny little girl close. Ifalna immediately reached for the white hair, and grabbed a handful, examining the silken strands, while Tseng sat in the garden and wondered if his heart was going to cease beating. Sephiroth opened his eyes and turned his head, scrutinizing the child. Aeris braced herself, preparing to react if needs must, but she sensed only curiosity, and just a hint of wariness.

“This is my daughter,” she said. “I named her Ifalna, after my mother.”

Sephiroth watched the baby stick his hair into her mouth. “She doesn’t seem very bright.”

Aeris felt her hackles rise in defence of her daughter, but realized Sephiroth did not mean any disrespect, he was simply wholly unfamiliar with infants.

“That’s how babies learn, by touching and tasting. She’s never seen white hair before.”

Ifalna gave the hair a tug, then took it out of her mouth to look at it. Then she clumsily reached forward to take hold of the arm of Sephiroth’s black silk shirt to study the fabric. Again, Sephiroth’s only reaction was curiosity. Tseng was fit to be tied.

“You know, I have no idea how one of those is made,” said Sephiroth.

Aeris gave him a surprised look. “You’re kidding.”

“Well I know having sex leads to having a baby, but I have no idea the process that occurs for the baby to be created.”

“Did they not teach you about reproductive biology?”

“No. I do not believe they felt it necessary. I know that after I was fully grown they took steps to ensure I would not father any children.” He cocked his head, watching with interest as Aeris suddenly became enraged.

“That’s sick! How dare they do that to you! They had no right!”

“They had no right to do any of the things they did. It did not stop them.” He directed his gaze once more to the baby. “It’s odd.”

“What is odd?”

“That I would want one.”

“You mean a baby? Why is that odd? It’s the most natural human desire there is, to want a family. You are human, you know.”

“So I have been told. I still don’t understand how seminal fluid in a vagina results in offspring.”

“Oh I can tell you all that,” said Aeris.

He looked up at her, green eyes shining eerily, the faintest smile on his face. “You could.”

She nodded, smiling. Meanwhile in the garden, her friends watched with complete astonishment.

“Only Aeris could walk up to Sephiroth and start a conversation,” said Cloud. He glanced at Tseng. “Are you all right?”

“Would you be if that was your wife and baby up there?”

“Hey come on, be nice,” said Zack. “You don’t see me pitching a fit about your baby getting drool all over my husband.”

“So how is he?” asked Tifa, playing idly with Vincent’s hair.

“Better,” said Zack. “Definitely better. He has a much better grasp on reality. And I would like to say to our dear Tseng that if I had even the faintest concern that Baby would hurt anyone, I would not have invited you up here.”

“Baby,” snorted Barret. “How did you ever come up with a nickname like ‘Baby’?”

“Well he does this thing in bed…”

“FAR too much, info, man!” said Barret. “Forget I asked.”

It was well over two hours before Aeris came back, looking none the worse for the experience. She placed baby Ifalna into the small portable bassinette she had brought, then seated herself beside Tseng, putting her arms around him.

“Did you miss me?” she asked.

“No but he had four heart attacks and crapped himself twice,” said Cid.

“What did you talk about for all that time?” asked Tifa. She had long ago passed Vincent back to Cid, and was currently serving as Nanaki’s personal ear-scratcher.

“Babies,” said Aeris.

“Babies?” said Cloud. “You and Sephiroth talked about babies.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing,” said Reeve, “it’s just one of those great inconceivable events, you and Sephiroth at a garden party talking about babies.”

“Well not babies exactly. Reproductive biology. He’s so intelligent and he has no idea how the human body works!”

“He’s not supposed to know how it works,” said Yuffie, “He just needs to know how to take it apart.”

“It’s not right,” said Aeris. “Do you know they even denied him the ability to father children?”

“All who are glad Zack and Baby won’t reproduce, raise your hands,” said Cid.

“You’re all terrible!” said Aeris.

“Well Zack and Sephiroth may not be able to have children,” said Reeve, “but no one knows what was done to Vincent. He could be pregnant as we speak.”

Cid stared at Reeve. “Don’t even joke about that.”

“Oh little baby Vincents!” exclaimed Aeris, clapping her hands. “How cute! Wouldn’t they be cute?”

“Oh yeah, very cute,” said Reno. “Little vampire pilots.”

“He’s not a vampire and he’s not pregnant!” Cid took hold of Vincent’s head and gently raised it, looking into bleary red eyes. “Tell me you’re not pregnant.”

“I think I’m going to be sick,” said Vincent.

“Pregnant,” said Tifa.

“He’s not pregnant, he’s just hung over,” said Cid. “Aren’t you?”

Vincent blinked, looking a little mussed and foggy, but he seemed to have caught at least part of the conversation. “Now that you mention it, I could really use some picked herring and chocolate sauce.”

“You’re sleeping on the floor tonight,” growled Cid.

“Hey you know,” said Barret, “we should make these parties an annual thing, just so at least once a year we know we’ll all be together.”

“I like that idea,” said Nanaki.

“I do too,” said Cloud.

“So it’s settled,” said Aeris. “Every August we will all meet on Zack’s hill.”

They drank a toast to the idea. Then, as the sun began to set, the party slowly broke up, and the guests made their way homeward, leaving Zack and Sephiroth in peace once more.

***---***

It was four days after the party when Cloud was awakened by Cid shaking his shoulder. He opened his eyes and stared at him sourly, while Reno pulled the blankets over his head.

“This better be good,” said Cloud.

“I think Vincent’s pregnant.”

Cloud slapped his hands over his face. “Cid it is WAY too early for this shit.”

“No I mean it! I seriously think he is and I’m having a fucking heart attack about it!”

Cloud sighed and sat up, shoving his hand through his hair. “Cid, he’s a guy, he’s NOT pregnant.”

“He’s got all the symptoms! He’s throwing up, he’s gained five pounds, his nerves are a mess, he cries about everything, and all he wants to eat is baked apples, now you tell me he’s not pregnant.”

“He’s NOT. PREGNANT.”

“All right Mr. Genius, tell me what is the matter with him.”

“If I lived with you I’d cry all the time too,” muttered Reno.

“Look,” said Cloud, “Vincent’s always been a little fragile. Is it possible he’s reacting to some change in your environment? Have you changed anything recently in the house, or the shop? Maybe it’s an allergic reaction.”

Cid looked uncertain. “Maybe. I don’t know.”

“Look, why don’t you and he come stay at our place for a day or two, and if he doesn’t start to feel better we’ll… think of something.”

“But what if he really is pregnant?”

“Then I’m sure Aeris will have some lovely baby clothes she can give you.”

“This can’t be happening. I’m not fit to be a parent!”

“Cid, go get Vincent, and let me sleep. And don’t worry about it, he probably just has a stomach virus.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Cid left, and Cloud fell back to the bed. He felt Reno snuggle close, and slid his arm around him.

“So what if Vincent is pregnant?” said Reno.

“He’s not. But if he is, I’m sure Vincent will be just fine. Cid however will be a basket case.” Cloud glanced at his lover. “You don’t actually think there is a chance, do you?”

Reno shrugged. “I think we shouldn’t ignore the possibility. As Reeve said, there is no paperwork documenting what was done to Vincent, he could be fully capable of bearing children. And Hojo certainly wasn’t above such things. Considering how devastated Vincent was over Lucrecia and her baby, Hojo might think implanting ovaries or something in Vincent was a hilarious idea.”

Cloud sighed heavily. “Okay then, I guess until we know for sure one way or another, we have to treat him as if he is. It’s a good thing we went through the effort of converting the basement into a separate apartment.”

“Yeah well with all the company we have, it just seemed like a good idea.” Reno suddenly pounced on Cloud, pinning him to the bed, grinning. “Now let’s see if we can get you pregnant.”

Cloud kissed him. “I doubt it, but feel free to try.”

***---***

As Cloud suspected, Vincent was not pregnant. The crying and vomiting turned out to be a reaction to an additive in the paint Cid used on the planes, and the weight gain was a direct result of a diet of roast apples heaped in brown sugar. Cid began using a different type of paint, Vincent cut back on the apples, and life returned to what passed for normal. Cloud continued to visit Zack on a regular basis, and together they watched as Sephiroth slowly became more stable. He would never be right, and he would never be social, but he was as happy as could be expected. It was all Zack could hope for, and he was content with the results of his hard work. Baby would be okay.

The months passed. Barret and Tifa, perhaps not unexpectedly, became a couple, much to Marlene’s delight. She could begin school with a mommy and daddy, like other children, and was thriving in the stable environment. At six years of age she was an accomplished chocobo rider, and Barret bought a house just outside Kalm to have room to indulge her passion with funds provided by Molasses. The bird was definitely not living up to his name, and his trophies, ribbons and medals filled a wall in his stable.

The year rolled by. Winter came and went, turning to spring, and finally summer. At long last August arrived, and with it the invitation to Zack’s garden party, as well as a wall-sized blow up photo of Sephiroth on his couch beneath the cherry trees, his hair and body dotted with pink petals from the falling blossoms.

“So is that all he does?” asked Reno.

“It beats his last hobby,” said Cloud.

The day of the party finally came, Tifa and Barret arriving on the hill along with Cloud and Reno, Marlene leading the way. The sun was shining, and the gardens were in full glory. Tifa noted with some amusement a ‘no fishing’ sign beside the koi pond. Several fishy faces peered at the visitors hopefully, awaiting any possible treats. Any one of them would have made more than a meal.

“Well Zack certainly can raise some impressive fish,” said Barret.

“Don’t get too close,” said Cloud as Marlene sat down by the pond. “They might eat you.”

Tifa looked around. “I don’t see Zack or Sephiroth.”

“Well we are a bit early,” said Barret.

Cloud nodded. “Yeah they probably aren’t expecting us to be here yet. Well let’s help get things set up since we are already here.”

Barret, Cloud and Reno began setting up the chairs, tables and lounges, while Tifa sat by the pond with Marlene, watching the enormous koi. Hearing something going on in his garden, Zack came out of his house.

“I thought I heard voices other than the ones in my head! Hey guys!”

“Hey Zack!” said Cloud, and waved. “We were starting to think you had ditched your own party!”

“Never! I was just getting a few things done.” He walked over to his friends and greeted them, then grabbed Cloud and shoved his tongue down his throat.

“HEY!” said Reno. “I said you get to kiss him once in a while, that’s taking advantage!”

“I was just checking for cavities,” said Zack.

“You stay away from my husband’s cavities.”

Marlene meanwhile noticed Sephiroth’s couch and ran over to it. “Mommy Tifa look at this!”

Tifa followed after the child. “Careful, that quilt is white, don’t get marks on it!”

“But it’s pretty!”

“Well it won’t be pretty with your shoe prints on it.”

Tifa stepped into the area beneath the cherry trees, feeling nervous. She did not see Sephiroth anywhere, but that did not mean he was not close at hand.

“Cherries, mommy! Can I have some?”

“Okay, take a few, then let’s get back to daddy.”

Marlene began picking cherries from the lowest branches, while Tifa kept watch, hoping Sephiroth would not have an adverse reaction to the intrusion. She glanced towards the couch, cocking her head as she noticed something on the deep white quilt, safely nestled in an enclosure of heavy down pillows braced against the arms of the couch. She stepped closer, and blinked, not certain what she was looking at. She bent over the nest of pillows and quilts, and drew a quiet gasp of complete surprise.

“Well where did you come from?” she said, and gently picked up the tiny baby.

Tifa held the child up, and thought there was something very familiar about the out-of-control black hair, the white skin, and the intensely green eyes. The idea had only just occurred to her when she saw Marlene point at something just over Tifa’s shoulder. Her eyes were huge, and her voice was very quiet.

“Mommy? There’s an angel behind you with black wings.”

Slowly, Tifa turned. She did not expect to see an angel, and she wasn’t disappointed. It was Sephiroth in full glory, standing over her, wings raised at an angle that suggested he was fully prepared to use them to smash her skull, his masamune blade in his hand. She could feel his breath on her face as he loomed over her, green feline eyes narrowing.

“That’s. Mine.”

Tifa swallowed. “I was just picking it up for you. Uh… cute baby.”

Zack was there seconds later, as was Cloud. Zack placed himself between Sephiroth and Tifa.

“Sorry about that,” said Zack. “Baby has a touch of ‘nervous mother’ syndrome.”

Sephiroth made a sound like a bull preparing to charge. His pupils narrowed, and Tifa was sure she saw smoke come from his nostrils.

“N-n-no… harm…” said Tifa.

Aeris walked up just then, reaching out to softly touch Sephiroth’s shoulder, gently drawing him back, smiling. He stepped back a pace, watching as Aeris carefully took the baby from Tifa and passed it to him. Sephiroth accepted the tiny newborn from her, cradling it close. He gave Tifa a look that could have set fires, then turned and walked away. Seconds later Barret was there, catching her as her legs failed to hold her, taking her hand as she sank down to the grass.

“Tifa! Are you okay?”

She swallowed. “I think I just wet my panties. And not in a fun way.” She looked at Zack. “Whose baby was that?!”

“It’s Baby’s baby,” said Zack. “I was waiting until you guys all came up here to tell you.”

Cloud gaped at his friend. “Who let you adopt a baby?”

“No one. I told you, it’s Baby’s. He had her just over a week ago. That’s why he was grilling Aeris about reproduction. He wanted a baby of his own. He’s a terrific little mum, too.”

“But… HOW?” asked Cloud.

Zack shrugged. “How should I know? But I read those files; he can regenerate massive wounds, so I think he just willed himself the ability. He certainly never consulted me about it.”

“Oh man,” said Cloud. “Baby had a baby. Pity the school house bully who picks a fight with… him? Her?”

“Her,” said Zack. “Would you like to see her? I can go get her.”

“I’ll pass,” said Tifa weakly.

Barret and Cloud exchanged glances.

“Sure,” said Barret. “Let’s have a look at the little straight-jacketed bundle of batshit.”

“Careful,” said Zack. “That’s my family you’re talking about!”

Zack went off to see if Sephiroth would willingly part with his infant for a moment, while his friends sat on the grass, trying to absorb the information.

“Pity the poor guy who wants to take her out for a date,” mumbled Barret.

“I guess this is my fault,” said Aeris.

Cloud looked at her. “What did you say to him?”

She shrugged. “He wants to be human. I told him having a baby was the most natural of human desires. He really does just want to be like us.”

They stared at Aeris. She blinked back cutely, hands behind her back, her pink hair ribbon blowing softly in the summer breeze.

“I ain’t babysitting!” said Barret.