The Prettiest Star

Rating: PG
Category: AU
Pairing(s): Cid/Vincent
Warnings: Mpreg all over the freaking place.
Summary: Benji and Cid spend some quality time together, Vincent and Aiden weather a storm, and there’s a small mystery…
Notes: This takes place roughly nine months after the fic ‘Thanksgiving’. I know I said I wouldn’t do another because it depressed me too much thinking about the FF crew getting old but… yeah some things just need to be written.

“It’s snowing,” said Cid.

Vincent raised his head to gaze at the tall form standing before the window. “You’re kidding me. It’s May!”

Cid nodded. “Yeah it’s May and it’s snowing like a son of a bitch. That’s what happens when a volcano goes off in the northern continent and all the ice spirits get frightened and come down here. You get snow in Costa del Sol in May.”

Vincent tried to roll over, eventually succeeding, and then sank deep into the bed once more. He sighed quietly. “Cid, I’m eighty-five. Did you have to give me a baby?”

“Yes, because I’m sixty and I have a point to prove about my masculinity.”

“So why take it out on me?”

Cid walked over to the bed and lay down on it beside Vincent, facing him. He kissed him softly, touching his face.

“Poor baby. You’re too old to be in this condition.”

“It’s not your fault,” said Vincent. “It’s the fault of whatever bastard thought it was funny to cut a hole in the condom. But we’ve got a real problem. Aiden is a week overdue. How are we going to get him to the hospital if it’s snowing?”

“We have a bigger problem than that. Benji called. I have to go down to Wutai and get him.”

Vincent raised his head, concerned. “Why? What’s the matter?”

“I don’t know, he called and he was really upset. And Teddy and David won’t be home, they’re stuck on the north continent doing damage control, and Rhiannon is still in Junon. You and Aiden are going to be all alone for a while. Possibly until tomorrow. Think you can handle it?”

Vincent shook his head. “I don’t know. I… I suppose so. If he goes into labour I can lie here and shout helpful things.”

Cid lowered his head and kissed Vincent. “You’ll both be fine. I’ll be back as fast as I can.” He stroked his hand over Vincent’s stomach, gently rubbing the round belly. “Don’t stress yourself. Just take it slow and easy, and I’ll be home with Benji as soon as I’m able. I left food made up in the fridge, all you have to do is heat it, and Cloud and Reno know you’re alone, they’ll pop in on you later. Just relax.”

“You’re sure you have to go?”

Cid nodded. “Yeah, the big baby won’t talk about it, so you know it’s bad. But we will be back soon. And I’ll be careful.”

Vincent nodded, closing his eyes as Cid kissed him. Then Cid left, and Vincent was alone in the house with only his second eldest son, Aiden, who seemed to be carrying a troublesome blue whale foetus inside of him. Vincent hoped for a quiet twenty-four hours.

“Mom?”

Vincent raised his head. Speaking of the poor pregnant brat…

“Are you all right?” Vincent asked.

“Yeah. Just really uncomfortable,” said Aiden. “Can I sleep with you?”

Vincent nodded. “Is Matias still coming down to look after you?”

Aiden walked slowly over to the bed, carefully seating himself on it. “He’s borrowing his neighbour’s black chocobo and riding down, but the neighbour won’t be able to loan it to him until tomorrow.”

“You’re lucky to have him.”

“I know,” said Aiden, getting himself settled in the bed. “You should have seen the look on his face when I was trying to explain all of this to him. I was sure he was just going to get up and quietly sneak away.”

Vincent smiled. “He loves you.”

“I love him. I think he wants to propose but he’s scared of Dad.”

Vincent sighed. “What did your father do this time?”

“He told Matias that if he upset me then he would personally fuck him up the ass with a broken piece of rebar.”

“Yeah I’ve heard him use that threat on a few of Benji’s men too.”

“Why doesn’t he ever say it to Rhiannon’s guys?”

“Because your sister likes to date nervous little mice.”

“I wonder if we should tell her that she’s Dad in a girl’s body?”

“She already knows.”

Aiden smiled, closing his eyes. “I can’t wait until this is over.”

“Enjoy the peace while it lasts. You won’t have any once that baby is born.”

“Dad said Benji and I were no trouble at all.”

Vincent rolled his eyes. “Yes, well, you were very good for babies but you both still had your fair share of tantrums and hysterics. But don’t worry. You’re not alone.”

Aiden looked towards the window, watching the falling snow. “I just hope this baby stays put until the snow goes away.”

***---***

Cid reached the small private airfield outside of Wutai, landing his plane safely. He rented a car, and drove to the large house where the dancers were being housed. Sitting before it on his baggage was Benji, and Cid groaned aloud at the sight of the cast on his wrist, the second cast on his ankle, and the brace on his knee. He pulled up before the house, parking the car and yanking the parking brake into place before getting out. Benji’s head shot up, and he was looking a great deal like he had when he was little and he had fallen on his butt. He held his arms out to Cid.

“Daddy…”

“Aw, crap, kid, what did you have to go and hurt yourself for?”

Cid walked over to Benji, kneeling before him and putting his arms around him, gently rubbing his back. Benji held him tightly, bursting into tears.

“What happened?” asked Cid.

“I fell. I fell right off the stage. I broke my wrist and my ankle and wrecked my knee…” He sniffed, wiping at his eyes. “I’m never gonna dance agaiiiiiiiiiinnn…..”

Benji burst into tears. Cid sighed heavily, holding his son close as Benji cried on him.

“It’s okay,” said Cid gently, patting his back. “Let’s just get you home and all healed up. We’ll see what we can do for that knee. Why can’t you stay here and heal up?”

Benji wiped at his eyes, sniffing. “Because when I broke my ankle they gave my part to my boyfriend Julian, and once he had my part he took off with another guy and dumped meeeeeeeeeeee…”

Benji began crying all the harder. Cid growled quietly, making a mental note to get the son of a bitch for hurting his baby.

“Come on, Benji,” said Cid. “Let’s get you home, and I can look after you and your pregnant mother and brother.”

Benji nodded, letting his father help him up and into the car. Cid put Benji’s bags in the trunk, then got into the car and drove to the airstrip, but was halted at the gates by one of the employees. Cid rolled down the window to speak to the man.

“What’s the matter?” asked Cid.

“All aircraft are temporarily grounded,” said the man. “There’s a huge storm over Costa del Sol. No one can get in or out. It’s going to be at least a day, most likely two or three.”

Cid’s jaw dropped. “Two or three?! I can’t stay away two or three days!”

“I’m sorry sir but…”

“My son is a week past due!”

The man sighed. “Mr. Highwind with all due respect to your unique little family I am not doing them any favours letting you go up in that plane. Your son will be a week overdue and wondering what part of the ocean your plane went down in. You’ll just have to wait.”

Cid sighed quietly, swearing. He looked at Benji.

“Well kid looks like it’s you and me. Let’s find a hotel and call your mom. You can’t be running around in that condition.”

“There’s only one hotel and Julian’s keeping his man-whore there,” sniffed Benji.

“Even better, it’ll give me someone to take my aggravation out on.”

“Oh just tell him his legs look stumpy, he’ll cry for a week.”

Cid grinned. “And are his legs stumpy?”

Benji rolled his eyes, still wiping at them though he was calmer now. “I don’t know how he made it as a dancer, he’s built like a gorilla. I mean I’m big but at least I’m proportioned correctly. He looks like he spends his days up a tree picking lice off his friends.”

Cid drove to the one hotel in Wutai; a pretty but costly little tourist trap that catered to the wealthy. Cid wasn’t wealthy but he could afford a few nights of extravagance. Besides, Benji would probably enjoy a little spoiling.

“Benji, I know it might be a little hard to take advice from your dad when he’s probably the kind of guy your mother warns you about but… you gotta start picking your boyfriends a little more carefully.”

“I know. But I thought Julian was different!”

“Benji I met Julian. The only thing ‘different’ about him was the size of the bulge in the front of his pants. The rest of the package was the same self-centered asshole I always see you with. Now your mother won’t say anything because the gods know he’s picked some real hum-dingers as well but you gotta start basing your relationships on something other than the size of the guy’s pant-snake.”

“I know. What attracted you to mom? Forgive me for pointing out the obvious but every time I catch you staring it’s never at a man. Call me observant but men do not seem to be your gender of choice.”

“I’d just never seen anything like him. He was this thin quiet little thing wrapped in a cape who never spoke, and I didn’t really pay much attention to him because I thought he was a girl. I wasn’t interested in being with some weird ‘emo’ Goth chick with made-up issues. Then I realized he wasn’t any of those things. And… whatever his problems were… he wasn’t looking to be saved. He was so delicate and so damned strong. He was… fascinating to me. This… fragile little gem that could wilt like a flower at a touch, and a heartbeat later cut you to scraps.”

“Aw… love at first sight.”

“Yeah for me. He thought I was a jerk.”

“So mom was astute even then.”

“Watch it, brat.”

“Well what did you do to get him to notice you?”

Cid shrugged. “I dunno, mostly followed him around, whining and annoying the piss out of him until he gave in out of pity.”

Benji gave Cid a sour look. “Great, Dad, that’s real romantic.”

“Hey it worked, you’re here.” Cid grinned. “Nah it just took time. He didn’t have a lot of trust for other people back then. You think he’s shy and introverted now. You should have seen him after thirty years in a coffin. He was pretty out of it mentally. It took a lot of time and patience, but he was worth it.” Cid looked at Benji. “Any guy who wants to spend the rest of his life with you after fifteen minutes isn’t worth your time, Benji. He probably just needs a place to stay. Love is about establishing trust and connections. Not about looking for an easy place to land.”

Benji looked down at his hands, his long silver-tipped blonde hair hanging in his face.

“You’re a great catch, Benji,” said Cid quietly. “And your mother and I raised you better than this. You’re worth a hell of a lot more than the first asshole who gives you a phoney smile.”

“I know,” said Benji quietly. “I don’t even know why I do it. Every time I do I find myself asking what the hell I was thinking. I’m looking for something but I don’t know what.”

“Well you’re single now so make sure you set aside some time to ask yourself what you’re looking for.” Cid pulled up before the hotel. “You wait here, I’ll book us a room.”

Benji nodded. Cid turned, and found himself staring at a chest. It was a male chest, flat, hard, and draped in grey silk. Cid slowly looked up, and found himself looking into beautiful jade green eyes framed by a flowing mane of silver-white hair. The face was beautifully shaped, delicate but not too fine, and the overall height had to be about seven foot three. It was not Sephiroth. But he had to have ‘Made by Shinra – guaranteed to contain Sephiroth DNA’ stamped somewhere on his ass. He moved like a racehorse, dressed like a model, and exuded the arrogance of a remnant. Benji got out of the car and waved at him.

“Hi Selkie,” said Benji. “Selkie, this is my dad, Cid. Dad this is Selkie.”

“Hullo,” said Cid. “Uh… do you know Sephiroth by chance?”

Selkie tossed his head. “I’ve heard of him. But I’m hotter and I don’t need seven feet of steel to compensate.”

“Buddy I know Sephiroth. That’s not compensation, that’s advertising.”

Selkie looked bored. He moved past Cid in a swirl of pale grey silk and exotic perfume, walking over to Benji to help him out of the car. “Poor baby. You really hurt yourself. Are you coming back to the troupe?”

“Depends on if I can dance or not,” said Benji. “And even if I can dance… I don’t know… Julian and his chimp will still be here and I don’t really feel any need to see either of them.”

Cid raised an eyebrow as Selkie leaned close to Benji, placing one long pale hand on his chest, his lips mere millimetres from Benji’s. “Why don’t you let me worry about Julian and Monkey-Boy? And you just worry about getting better.” He batted long silver eyelashes at Benji. “Can I call you later?”

“Sure,” said Benji, staring back as if mesmerised.

Selkie smiled, parting his lips invitingly. “Later then,” he whispered, and walked away, Benji and Cid staring after his graceful, willowy frame.

“Oh my god he makes me want to be butch so bad,” said Benji.

Cid raised an eyebrow. “Yeah I can see why.”

“So if he and I get together does that make us lesbians?”

Cid rolled his eyes. “Come on, get in here or I’ll tell everyone you’re straight.”

“And I’ll tell Mom you were looking at his butt.”

“That’s fine, if your mom had been here he would have looked at his butt too.”

They checked into a room, and Cid immediately walked over to the phone to call home. He dialled the number then sat down on the bed, putting a cigarette into his mouth. There were a couple rings, then an automated voice came on.

“We’re sorry, all lines are down, Please try your call again later.”

Cid hung up and sighed heavily. “Crap.”

***---***

Aiden sat up abruptly, uttering a sharp gasp, his hand on his stomach. Morning had somehow faded into evening, and the house was rapidly becoming dark.

“Mom?” he said, his tone frightened.

Vincent slowly moved his ponderous body into a sitting position. “Is it time?”

“I don’t know, but something’s certainly happening.” Aiden lowered his head, rocking in pain. Vincent stroked his long black hair.

“All right, I’ll call the midwife.” Vincent reached for the phone and the bedside lamp, and discovered the power as well as the phone lines were down. Okaaaayyy…

“I’ll see who else is home,” said Vincent. “Just stay right here.”

Vincent slowly got up, reaching for his robe and pulling it on. Then he made his way across the darkened room, the only sound that of the howling wind shaking the roof. He opened the bedroom door and stepped into the hallway.

“Cid? Cid are you home?”

Silence.

“Teddy? David?”

The wind moaned eerily.

“Anybody?”

There was no response. They were alone. That was fine. He could handle this. Really. He could. And Cloud and Reno were just across the airfield where they had always been. They would realize the power was out and come to check on them.

Vincent walked over to a small ornate window, peering out into the increasing gloom. He could barely see Cloud’s little yellow villa for the falling snow, and night was coming on fast. Better get the candles lit and the bath poured for Aiden’s labour. Assuming they still had hot water. Carefully Vincent went down the stairs and into the kitchen, finding the storm lamps stored in their little cupboard, all fuelled up and ready to go. Next he went over to the sink and turned on the tap, checking the temperature of the water.

Stone cold. Vincent sighed quietly.

“Oh…kay… Well time to do it the old-fashioned way. Cloud, now would be a really good time for you to develop psychic powers and figure out we’re in trouble over here.”

Vincent built a fire in the downstairs fireplace, and began heating water. He was careful to move slowly and not strain himself, but even moving only small amounts of water at a time was difficult. Finally he had the bath ready, and he climbed up the stairs to the bedroom, feeling ominous pains in his belly.

“Aiden? Come on, the bath is ready.”

Aiden nodded, slowly forcing his swollen body off the bed. “I wish Matias was here.”

“We’d just be picking him off the floor. You okay?”

“No. I feel like a tube of toothpaste with an olive stuffed in it, and somebody’s trying to squeeze it out.”

Aiden managed to get off the bed, wearing only a cotton nightshirt. They walked out of the room, and together gazed down the staircase.

“You go down first,” said Vincent quietly. “I’ll hold the lamp. Be careful.”

Aiden nodded. He wasn’t about to risk slipping and falling down the steps, so he sat down on them, and, holding onto the railing with both hands, slowly moved down, step by step. Vincent watched as Aiden inched his way down the stairs, finally reaching the bottom.

“Mom I’ve changed my mind, I don’t think I want to do this anymore.”

“You mean the water birth?”

“I mean the whole ordeal.”

“Too late for that now. At least we’re not both in labour.”

Vincent set the lantern down on a low table and began moving down the stairs himself, choosing to walk. He had excellent night vision, so he was not worried about seeing his way in the dark. However this particular night he misjudged a step and slipped. He did not fall far, only a few steps, then caught the railing and stopped himself. He was shaking, and his heart was pounding. He was almost in tears, and his nerves were completely undone.

“Mom?” said Aiden worriedly.

“I’m all right,” said Vincent softly, trying to reassure him. “Just go on to the bath. Let me calm down and I’ll be with you.”

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

Vincent closed his eyes and nodded. “Yes. I’m fine. You go on ahead.”

Aiden nodded, and walked into the candle-lit bathroom, stepping into the warm water, still wearing his dark blue nightshirt. He sank into the heated depths, and sighed gratefully.

“This is better. I was worried it wouldn’t help. The midwife said some women can’t tolerate it. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all. I wish grandmother was here.”

“So do I,” said Vincent softly. He placed a hand on his stomach and closed his eyes, willing his body to quiet.

“Mom? Are you sure you’re all right?”

“No,” Vincent admitted in a small voice. “I’ve gone and done it. I think I’m in labour too. I’m just going to rest and see if this stops.”

Aiden began to panic. “But you can’t be! I can’t do this alone!”

“You’re not alone, I’m right here. Just relax. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“You just said you were in labour! And you’re not even eight months yet!”

“Aiden, calm down. It’s not going to help either of us if you’re…” Vincent sucked in a breath of air as a sharp pain crossed his middle. “Fucking hell.”

“Well this is just precious,” said Aiden. “That’s it. Somebody has to go for help.”

“And how shall we decide that? Draw straws?”

“I’ll go.”

“You will not. I’m not having my child give birth in a snow bank.”

“But it’s perfectly acceptable for me to let my mother miscarry on the steps?”

“I’m not miscarrying!”

“No you’re just giving birth seven weeks early.” Vincent heard the sound of Aiden slowly getting out of the bath. “I’ll go.”

***---***

It was early evening, and Benji was sitting in the hotel bar with his father. Or at least he would be if Cid would stop pacing, waiting for the phone lines to come back up. Benji was drinking a Caesar and smoking a cigarette. Normally Benji avoided alcohol and cigarettes, but… well… some days called for them.

“Is this seat taken?” asked a soft voice.

Benji glanced up. “No. Hi Selkie.”

The tall, beautiful man sat down, reaching out to deftly steal Benji’s cigarette, bringing it to his lips to draw the smoke into his lungs. Benji smiled wearily at him.

“That’s bad for you.”

Selkie exhaled the smoke in a slow, lingering manner. “I could say the same to you.”

“Well if I was a dancer I’d agree.”

“You’re still a dancer,” said Selkie quietly. “The damage is not that bad. With time and physiotherapy…”

“I still won’t be as good as I want to be.”

Selkie arched an eyebrow. “All right, I’ll bite. What’s crawled up your leg and wedgied your panties? I mean other than Julian and his dancing gorilla?”

“I just found out that in a little over a year they will be holding auditions to get together a cast for an upcoming version of ‘Loveless’.”

Selkie smiled. “And you want the role of Minerva? Honey there is not a wardrobe man alive who can make that big ol’ man-frame of yours look good in a dress.”

“I don’t want to play Minerva,” said Benji. “I want to play Corporal White. I absolutely positively must play Corporal White. Since I was three years old I wanted to play that role.”

“Well it’s a good role but what’s the big deal?” said Selkie. “I mean why him over all the others?”

“My mother was Corporal White in his dancing days,” said Benji.

“You mean her dancing days.”

“No I mean his. Perhaps you’ve heard of him.” Benji took a drink from his glass then turned to look at Selkie. “Vincent Valentine?”

Selkie’s jaw dropped. “Oh my god! Vincent Valentine is your mother?! I read about that but your last name is Highwind so I didn’t realize you two were… oh my god he was the definitive Corporal White! I mean they still talk about him like he was on the stage five minutes ago. Honey do you know how many dancers would give their falsies to be able to say their mother is Vincent Valentine?”

“I know Julian would,” said Benji. “I’m pretty sure that’s the only reason he dated me. Anyway… I want that role. I know I can do that role, and I know I can do it as well as Mom did.”

Selkie helped himself to the stalk of celery in Benji’s drink. “Wouldn’t you just love to see him do it live? Wouldn’t you just love to see Vincent Valentine perform that role in real life on stage right before your eyes? No hope of that happening I guess, he’s got to be… what? Eighty?”

“Eighty-five,” said Benji. “And pregnant.”

Selkie lowered his celery stalk, raising one eyebrow in disbelief. “Get the hell out.”

“No, seriously, the experiments they did on him as a Turk froze him in time, he’s going to be twenty-seven forever. He’s ageless, he regenerates… he’ll be raising his own great-great-grand kids.”

“Boy that’s depressing.”

“Tell me about it.”

Benji and Selkie sat together, Benji sipping his Caesar, Selkie crunching his celery. A speculative look crept across their faces, and they exchanged glances.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” said Selkie.

“Oh yeah,” said Benji. “Where’s my cell phone?”

***---***

“Aiden you’re soaking wet!”

Aiden sighed. “That’s why the human race invented towels, Mother.”

“Don’t use that tone with me young man.”

Aiden carefully extracted himself from the bath. “I’m going.”

“Aiden you are…”

The front door opened, and Vincent heaved a sigh of relief as he heard Reno’s soft voice.

“Hey, it’s dark.”

“That would be a direct result of the power being out,” said Aiden.

Reno walked into the livingroom, still young and beautiful at age sixty-three, Sephiroth’s blood shielding him from the effects of time.

“Cloud and I came over to see how you two are.”

“Go look after Aiden,” said Vincent softly.

Reno did as he was told, walking into the bathroom. “Well hello, short, dark and balloon-like.”

“Just help me into the bath,” said Aiden.

Cloud appeared just then stepping into the room and walking over to Vincent. He gently gathered him into his arms, picking him up effortlessly. He carried him upstairs and placed him on the bed, then covered him over.

“How are you?” Cloud asked quietly.

Vincent winced, groping for Cloud’s hand and squeezing it. “I’m having a baby and I’m doing it now.”

“Where’s Cid?”

“In Wutai with Benji, and Rhiannon is in Junon. They can’t get home through the… Cloud I’m in real trouble.”

“You’re not in trouble,” said Cloud quietly. “Just breathe. You’re fine. You’re going to be fine. Reno will look after Aiden and I’ll look after you. Hey I was there the first time you had a baby, remember?”

Vincent smiled. “Yes I seem to recall you sitting there looking terrified.”

“Well that was my first birth. I’ve been through a few more since then. You’ll be… Vincent, what are you doing? Vincent? No… don’t bring out the…!”

The massive bat-like wings shot out, slamming small objects off tables and almost striking Cloud. Vincent’s entire body contracted, and he screamed. Moments later Reno came pounding up the stairs, grabbing the door frame to abruptly turn the corner and tear into the room.

“I’ll look after Vincent,” said Reno. “You take care of Aiden.”

“Right.”

Cloud left the room, and Reno sat down on the bed with Vincent. Outside it was perfectly black, and the blizzard was in full fury. Reno sat with Vincent until the pain subsided, then built a fire in the fireplace.

“How early are you?” asked Reno.

“Too early. I’m not due until July. It’s only May.”

Reno nodded. “Okay, let’s get you calmed down and get this stopped, this baby needs to stay inside for a while… okay, just breathe, that’s good. Breathe deep, relax. Close your eyes…. Vincent you’re not co-operating. Vincent do not have this baby now! Vincent that is an order, I am ordering you not to… you never listen to anybody, do you?”

She emerged in a wash of fluid, shooting headfirst out of her mother’s body and into the towel Reno only had just enough time to grab. He wrapped the newborn up, and gazed down at her as Vincent lay on the bed, looking grey and weak. The newborn stared at Reno, wholly perplexed. One moment it was warm and dark and cozy, now it was cold and dry. Her tiny fingers slowly flexed, and her wet hair looked black.

“I am never doing this again,” Vincent grumbled. Then his head went up. “Why don’t I hear anything?”

“Because she’s not saying anything,” said Reno. “Vincent… are you sure you were only seven months?”

“Reno I know when I got pregnant.”

“No I don’t think you do. Because this doesn’t look like a premature baby to me.”

Reno gently handed the newborn to Vincent, who accepted her, carefully studying his new daughter while Reno dealt with the cord.

“She is rather large for two months premature, isn’t she?” said Vincent.

“I’d say that’s a fully-formed baby,” said Reno. “I think Cid sneaked her in when you weren’t paying attention.”

Vincent examined his new daughter. She was about eight pounds and seemed rather confused by her abrupt change of circumstance, but she looked perfectly fine. Vincent sighed in relief.

“Cid you bastard.”

“What are you going to name her?” asked Reno.

“I don’t know yet. Cid and I thought we had two more months to argue about it.” His head went up as he heard Aiden scream, calling for his mother. Vincent would have gone but Reno gently pushed him back to the bed.

“You rest, I’ll go look in on him.”

Reno left the room. Vincent stared worriedly after him, wanting to go to after him and be with Aiden. Then his baby fussed, and he looked down at her. She stared back at him with eerie red-brown eyes. This did not look like a premature baby. Granted he was no doctor, but… well… if she was this big at seven months he didn’t really want to see what she would look like at nine.

“You just crept in and never said a word, didn’t you?” said Vincent. “And you’re still not speaking, but you’re certainly thinking, aren’t you?”

“MOTHER!”

“I hope you won’t take this personally but I have to look in on your brother.”

Vincent carefully bundled his newborn safely into the covers, then slowly extracted himself from the wet bedding, just in time for the placenta to decide it was time to leave his body.

“Oh I am so not cleaning that,” grumbled Vincent.

“MOTHER!”

“Aiden I am coming, all right? I’ll be there in just a…”

“MOTHER!”

Vincent sighed. Picking up Cid’s bath robe, he pulled it on and began carefully making his way downstairs to where Aiden was.

“Typical kid,” grumbled Vincent. “No matter what you’re doing, it can’t possibly be more important than what they’re doing.”

He made his way down stairs to the bathroom, coming to sit on the side of the bath. He reached out to take Aiden’s hand.

“You’re going to be just fine,” he said softly.

“I don’t feel fine!”

“We’re not going to let anything happen to you or the baby. Just relax…”

“How long is this going to take?”

“It takes as long as it takes,” said Vincent.

“How long have you been in labour?” asked Reno.

“Since this morning,” said Aiden. “I didn’t wake Mom up until it got bad. It’s been at least thirteen hours. Isn’t there a time limit?”

“You wish,” said Reno.

“Then could you please heat me more water?”

“You got it, kid,” said Reno, and left the bathroom.

***---***

Just past midnight, the baby finally arrived. Aiden was exhausted. Cloud, Reno and Vincent were... well… slightly perplexed.

“Aiden?” said Vincent. “What do you recall about the father?”

“Damned little,” said Aiden. “I told you, I was drunk off my butt. Why?”

Reno held up the squawking infant, scrutinizing it warily. “Well… the good news is he appears to be healthy.”

“Reno just hand me my baby, I worked hard for that.”

“Your wish is my command.”

Reno deposited the newborn onto his mother’s belly. Cloud, Vincent and Aiden stared at the tiny bundle of WTF? The afore-mentioned bundle stared back, smiling widely, exposing long fangs. The baby’s skin was a bluish-grey, the eyes were baleful yellow disks, and the cute little stumpy red baby-wings flapped enthusiastically, splashing water in all directions.

“Mom?” said Aiden worriedly.

“I believe,” said Vincent softly, “you just made a baby Chaos.”

“I don’t know how to look after a baby Chaos!”

“It’s all right,” said Vincent softly. “I know somebody who does, and I’m willing to bet she’ll be thrilled to help.”

***---***

“Genesis if you can’t behave yourself I’m going to make you sit outside in the car until this is over!” grouched Cid.

Genesis was a squiggling bundle of over-enthusiasm. “Oh I can’t wait to see this, Cid THANK YOU for inviting me along.”

“Well it’s not every day a family member is in a major musical production,” said Aiden. “It was really sweet of Angeal to baby-sit for Matias and me so we could attend.”

Genesis rolled his eyes, then dug into his coat pocket for his opera glasses. “Please, child, sweetness had nothing to do with it. You couldn’t make that man sit in the same opera house as I when the play is ‘Loveless’. I cry buckets and he frets about it. He finally told me I could just cry my eyes out and enjoy myself without him. I also think that after having attended thirty-seven performances over the years with me he would rather gouge his own eyes out than see this play one more time.”

“I’m with him on that one,” said Cid. “If I didn’t have my baby in the role of Corporal White I’d have stayed home myself. And Benji’s new sweetie is in it as well. So damned nice to see the kid finally hook up with a guy I like.”

“Now if we could just figure out which one gets on top,” said Aiden.

“Behave,” said Cid, grinning.

“Admit it,” said Genesis to Cid. “You’re excited.”

“Yeah I’m excited,” said Cid. “My baby’s gonna be the prettiest star this opera house ever saw.”

“You are aware that ‘Corporal White’ is not a staring role.”

“It is if I say it is.”

“Granted it’s a pivotal part but really the…”

Shaddup Gen.”

Genesis rolled his eyes and looked affronted. “Fine.”

Aiden smiled, glancing up to see Matias coming into the box to sit beside him. They kissed, and Cid grinned. He couldn’t wait to see what they would have together. It would probably be the world’s tiniest Goth.

The lights dimmed, and Cid became aware of a form slipping silently into the seat beside him. Together the five people sat, watching the performance, Genesis wrapped in a black and silver brocade opera coat, his long legs crossed, his opera glasses held in one gloved hand. To Cid’s left sat Aiden and Matias, clad in formal Goth, looking like undead nobles. Aiden was wearing his mother’s spectacular collection of rubies that Cid had given Vincent as a wedding gift years ago. To Cid’s immediate right sat Benji, wearing a formal black suit that made him look like a turn of the century gentleman, complete with silver-tipped cane and top hat. Benji pointed to the stage.

“Here comes Mom.”

Cid sat forward, and watched as Vincent Valentine stepped onto the stage for the first time in over sixty years in nothing less than the role he defined to a spontaneous standing ovation before he even danced a step. Benji, Aiden, Matias and Genesis rose to join in the acclaim, but Cid just sat back in his chair and grinned.

“He’s gonna hide under the bed for a week after this.”