Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Ashen Skies ❯ Chapter 28

Ashen Skies"

Chapter 28

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Warnings:

Author's note: The events of this chapter begin two months after the end of the previous chapter. Nothing too exciting in this chapter, I'm afraid. Mostly warm fuzzies and revelations.

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*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and all related characters belong to Square-Enix. This fiction piece is strictly a non-profit exercise of creativity and entertainment for people (like me) who can't get enough of this world and the characters.*

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Two months went by and though the doctors managed to slow the growth of the crystallized matter growing in their lungs, Rufus and Scarlet were slowly getting worse. Lazard was in the president's office, trying unsuccessfully to convince him to stay behind and rest instead of participating in the latest strike mission.

 

"I'm not dead yet," Rufus snarled when his coughing fit ended and Lazard gave him a suspicious look. "I'm going on this mission."

 

"Your piloting skills could be compromised if you have a fit while you're in the air," Lazard reminded him. "This isn't just about you; it's about the other participants as well."

 

"I won't lie in bed waiting for the end," Rufus insisted stubbornly. "Until my condition renders me bedridden, I'll continue to participate in these strike missions."

 

Lazard sighed. "I just wonder if there's even a point to them any longer. We haven't learned anything new from what we scavenge for months. The WEAPONS won't attack us here. Sometimes I think we're best off waiting it out."

 

"The population is going to grow to a point where expansion will be necessary, eventually," Rufus pointed out. "In order to fulfill that need, we have to keep searching for a way to end the planet's attacks on us, so that people can go out into the world again."

 

"You provide a decent argument," Lazard admitted, "but every one of these strikes carries the risk of losing fighters and equipment. Perhaps we should turn our research to a different area. We know the northern crater is the primary birthing place of these creatures. It stands to reason that the answer to stopping this lies there."

 

"And how would you propose we investigate the crater?" Rufus challenged. "Any attempts to descend into it would be met by heavy WEAPON opposition."

 

Lazard couldn't refute that. "With time, maybe we'll find a way."

 

"Perhaps." Rufus smirked. "Until then I think we should carry on with our current research and strategy."

 

Lazard said nothing further. The look in Rufus' eyes told him that the president didn't expect to live long enough to see a workable solution to Gaia's rage. Perhaps he was right. Shalua and the research team were working hard to discover a successful treatment for Rufus and Scarlet, but their efforts could only stave off the malignant growth for so long.

 

~************************************~

 

"He ought to be resting," Tifa sighed when she went to see off Reno and the other participants of the strike mission. The president was boarding his chopper with Scarlet.

 

"Boss doesn't like being laid up in bed," Reno told her softly, his eyes going to Rufus' chopper. "Besides, I think he's hoping to get taken out on one of these missions."

 

Tifa stared at him with wide eyes. "Why would he want that? They might find a cure."

 

Reno nodded, but his grim expression didn't fade. "Yeah, they might. Or the pres could end up drowning in his own blood, weak as a kitten. That's no way for a guy like him to go out, babe."

 

Tifa put a hand on his shoulder. "And you're okay with this?"

 

For a moment, a flash of emotion surfaced on his face but he quickly gathered his control and shrugged. "It's not my life...or my death. Gotta respect the bossman's wishes, yo." He put his arms around her and gave her a kiss. "I'll see ya when we get back, sexy."

 

She nodded and returned the kiss before stepping away to allow him to board his chopper with Rude. She saw Cloud across the distance and she waved at him. He hurried over to her with his quiet little smile on his face.

 

"You'll keep Aerith occupied, won't you?" He asked as he hugged her. "Zack's really concerned that she'll stress herself out while he's gone and she doesn't need to be alone, this close to her due date."

 

"Why doesn't Zack just skip this one, then? I'm sure the rest of you can handle it without him this time."

 

Cloud glanced over his shoulder at his friend, who was discussing combat orders with Sephiroth, Vincent and Reeve. "He's pretty nervous about the due date coming up, I think. Fighting lets him blow off some stress."

 

"Well I'm sure Aerith would feel a lot better if he stayed behind this time," she sighed, "but you men are impossible to reason with when your battle lust kicks in. Take care of yourself and watch after Zack. I'll visit Aerith and try to keep her mind off of it."

 

"Thanks, Tifa. I'll look out for him."

 

~*******************************************~

 

Tifa went to Aerith and Zack's house to find Yuffie already there visiting. The ninja was approximately four months into her unexpected pregnancy and she began to visit Aerith often for advice and comfort.

 

"We should play cards or something," Yuffie suggested.

 

"After I finish getting the pie into the oven," promised Aerith.

 

Yuffie glanced down and adjusted her cleavage. "Ugh, my girls are so sore! Did yours hurt after a while, Aerith?"

 

The Cetra nodded and began to deftly put the top crust on the pie. "Mm-hmm. They'll probably get bigger too, if they haven't already."

 

"I could live with that. I always wondered what it would be like to fill out a bra."

 

Tifa glanced down at her own ample bosom and frowned. "I wouldn't want mine to get bigger."

 

Aerith cast a sympathetic look at her. "Maybe yours won't grow much, when and if you decide to start a family. From what I understand, some women don't change much in bust size."

 

Yuffie regarded Tifa with curious brown eyes. "You aren't pregnant, are you?"

 

"No," Tifa assured her. Everybody kept asking her that lately...probably because so many other women were expecting offspring. "My contraception has done the job, so far."

 

Yuffie snorted. "Lucky duck."

 

Tifa shrugged. She wanted children someday and being around new babies always made her a little envious. She went into the kitchen to help Aerith put the pie in the oven, urging her heavily pregnant friend to sit down at the table with Yuffie.

 

Aerith walked out of the kitchen to do as Tifa advised but she stopped suddenly and frowned, putting a hand over her belly. Tifa noticed her pause and she shut the oven before going to her side. "Is something wrong?"

 

Aerith didn't answer immediately. Her eyes were distant as if listening to something and she rubbed her abdomen slowly. Yuffie was now looking up from her seat at the table and her expression was concerned, too.

 

"It's nothing," Aerith said after a moment. She smiled at both women reassuringly. "The baby just rolled over or something and it felt a little strange."

 

~***********************************~

 

Shalua was stuck into her research as usual when a commotion outside her lab distracted her.

 

"You've got to let me talk to her! Something's wrong with Shelke!"

 

Recognizing the voice as Denzel's, Shalua put aside her research notes and hurried to the door. The boy was struggling with one of the security guards when she yanked the door open and Shalua quickly told him to let him go.

 

"What's wrong, Denzel?"

 

"Its Shelke," the boy explained as he pulled out of the guard's slackened grasp, "She's having a fit or something!"

 

Shalua wasted no time. She took off at a run, dodging around staff as she went. Denzel followed behind her as she exited the building and raced down the narrow streets to the home they shared with Shelke. People looked at them curiously as they passed but neither of them slowed until they reached the house. Shalua fumbled with her keys before unlocking the front door and yanking it open.

 

"Shelke?" She called out as she entered the house.

 

"She's upstairs," Denzel panted as he charged in behind her. "In bed."

 

Shalua immediately ran through the hallway leading to the back of the house and climbed the ladder to the bedroom. Her sister lay quietly in her single bed as if asleep and Shalua went to her side and checked her pulse and temperature anxiously. Denzel came up behind her as she called out to Shelke softly.

 

"She was twitching," Denzel insisted. "Like when she has Mako withdrawals."

 

Shalua gently shook the girl, wondering if she needed an infusion. Shelke had been doing so well recently. Something about this place seemed to be healing her and she needed fewer and fewer Mako injections with each passing week. Could she be having a relapse, or was it something else? The seizing was typically caused by one of two things: withdrawals or the process of net diving. She usually twitched when she went into or came out of a net dive, but Shalua warned her sternly not to use her abilities anymore; at least until they could be sure it wasn't dangerous for her.

 

"Denzel, go and get her infusion kit from the medicine cabinet," Shalua instructed. "Bring a washcloth dampened with cool water, too."

 

The boy didn't hesitate and Shalua continued to call out to her sister while he retrieved the items she asked for. Within a few minutes, he climbed back up the ladder with the kit and the washcloth in hand. Shalua thanked him and set the kit aside, leaving it on the floor for now. She was reluctant to give Shelke a dose of it prematurely, since she seemed to be weaning off of her dependency of it. Instead, she dabbed at her face with the cloth and blew on it gently, hoping the cool sensation would help wake her up.

 

After several minutes, Shelke twitched. It wasn't a violent spasm, such as Shalua had come to expect of withdrawals. Shalua waited, pressing her lips together anxiously as she fought the temptation to ready an infusion for her. There was another twitch and shortly after that, another.

 

"Shouldn't you give her the shot?" Denzel asked nervously.

 

"Shh, not yet," Shalua shushed him as patiently as she could. "I'm not sure she needs it. Just wait."

 

They waited anxiously as Shelke's body twitched in short, random intervals. The girl's eyes finally fluttered open as the twitching stopped and she looked up at their worried faces with the disoriented expression of a person waking from a vivid dream.

 

"Shelke, what happened?" Shalua demanded in a relieved tone. She had an unpleasant suspicion but she didn't want to jump to conclusions.

 

"I'm okay," Shelke assured them both. "Shalua, I know you said I shouldn't use my SND ability but I've been hearing things about the WEAPONS and the Lifestream...things that made me think."

 

"What network did you dive into?" Shalua pressed sternly. "Have you been spying on anyone?"

 

"Sort of," admitted the girl almost sheepishly.

 

Shalua sighed. Great, this was just what they needed. If her sister "broke into" any of the personal computer files of Lazard or the other leaders and they somehow detected her meddling, suspicions would arise again and the director might change his mind about withdrawing her sentence.

 

"Whom did you spy on?" Shalua asked in a tired voice.

 

"The planet."

 

Shalua stared at her. "Pardon?"

 

"I spied on the planet."

 

Shalua's brows drew together and she frowned. "What do you mean? Are you telling me you tapped into the Satellite system and dove into every network?" She didn't know she was strong enough to do something like that and she was faintly horrified.

 

"No, that isn't what I mean," Shelke told her patiently. "I tapped into the Lifestream."

 

"I don't get it," Denzel said. "I thought you could only do your thing with networks."

 

"The Lifestream is a network," Shelke answered. "It's not computerized or electronic but it basically works the same way. It's just harder to tap into and navigate, because it's so big."

 

Shalua's eyes went blank with understanding and a little awe. "A network of spirit energy," she murmured. "Of course! Shelke, what did you do? What did you see?"

 

"I followed the flow of power," explained the girl. "I wanted to see if I could find some clue that might help us stop more WEAPONS from being born. I rode the currents to the greatest source."

 

"The northern crater," guessed Shalua. "Shelke, that was very dangerous!"

 

"I know, but I wanted to do something to help," argued the girl. "So I went into the crater—"

 

"You went in?" Denzel interrupted, his eyes huge. "Are you crazy?"

 

"It's okay," Shelke insisted. "There were a lot of WEAPONS there but they didn't pay much attention to me. My physical body was here."

 

"But they could have realized what you really were and traced you here," Shalua told her sternly. "You put this whole colony at risk! The planet only leaves this place at peace for the sake of the Cetra who once lived here. Spying could have enraged Gaia even more and provoked withdrawal of the sanctuary!"

 

"I know that," Shelke argued, "and that's why I didn't stay for long, once I made it to the bottom of the crater and had a look around."

 

Shalua sighed. It was too late to do anything about it now. "What did you see?"

 

"There were a lot of spirits there," Shelke answered, "Especially at the bottom. There was a big pool of Lifestream. I could hear all the voices of the souls in there, but one of them was louder than the rest. I think it was the voice of the planet itself. It sounded like a woman's voice, but it was deep and sad."

 

Shalua wondered if it was really possible for her sister to have heard the voice of Gaia itself. "Are you sure nothing followed you back?"

 

Shelke shook her head. "Yes, I promise. Like I said, once I made it into the network I just rode the currents and I only stayed in the crater long enough to see the bottom. If the planet even noticed me, I get the feeling it just considered me another spirit in the Lifestream. Maybe if I'd stayed longer Gaia would have taken more notice and gotten suspicious, but I didn't risk it."

 

Shalua took a deep breath. "You took a very big risk, but this is information we've never been able to get before. I'm not sure if we can do anything with it, though."

 

"Couldn't someone try to talk to the planet there?" Shelke asked.

 

"Nobody could make it all the way to the bottom of that crater alive," answered Shalua with a frown. "Unless they have powers of invisibility against WEAPONS. Even then, only the Ancients could ever communicate directly with the planet and they're all extinct, now."

 

"Well, what if we used some sort of technology to talk to it?" persisted Shelke. "Like radio frequency?"

 

Shalua smiled a little wistfully and stroked the girl's hair. "You should consider going into the science field, some day. It's a bold, creative idea but it would require research and testing. Furthermore, there's still the issue of getting someone safely to the crater's core without attracting the attention of the WEAPONS in there. You can't very well carry equipment with you when you're in your synaptic diving form, so don't even suggest volunteering."

 

Shelke sighed. "But we can still tell someone what I saw, can't we? We're safe here and maybe some day, someone can come up with a way to use the information."

 

Shalua inwardly agreed that it was a possibility, even if a remote one. Still, there was a more immediate, unpleasant possibility that she didn't care for. "No. Not yet, at least. I want both of you to keep this to yourselves."

 

"But, why?" Denzel asked. "Shelke might be onto something!"

 

"Yes, that's true," agreed Shalua, "but it isn't immediately useful information and both of you need to remember, these people were ready to kill her when they found us." She looked her sister in the eye. "Like it or not, your past connection to Deepground makes you a suspect in their eyes. If we go to them telling them you've ridden the Lifestream to the bottom of the crater and heard Gaia's voice, I'm afraid they'll go right back to labeling you as a danger to the colony. They might even suspect you of trying to help the planet find and destroy us."

 

Shelke and Denzel looked alarmed. Good, they took her warning seriously.

 

"I need more time," Shalua went on. "Trust still needs to be built on both ends and until I know I can go to someone with this information without putting you in danger, this stays between the three of us."

 

"I'll bet we could trust Cloud," Denzel mumbled, downcast.

 

"Maybe so, but Lieutenant Strife doesn't lead this colony and he wouldn't be able to do anything with the information in the first place. He's a Soldier, not a scientist or a mystic."

 

"Okay Shalua," Shelke agreed softly. "I understand."

 

Shalua smiled at her before turning to Denzel. "What about you? Do you understand why it's so important to keep this information quiet?"

 

He nodded. "Yes ma'am. I don't want anything to happen to Shelke."

 

"Good. Now that you've scared another two years out of me, let's have something to eat before I go back to work."

 

~**********************************~

 

Aerith felt another spasm and she took a deep, slow breath as her stomach tightened. She had hoped she was wrong because it was a little early and she wanted Zack there but she couldn't ignore what her body was telling her. Yuffie had just started dealing the second hand of cards and Aerith looked at her friends irresolutely, wondering how she should bring her predicament up. A thrill of fear and excitement went through her and she tempered it with effort. Maybe simple honesty was best.

 

"I'm having contractions."

 

Tifa looked up from her hand and Yuffie froze partway through the action of dealing another card to Aerith. The ninja's eyes grew steadily wider as she comprehended what the statement could mean.

 

"You're in labor?" Yuffie squeaked.

 

Aerith chuckled and shook her head. "No, I'm having contractions. Labor comes later and I'm sure I won't be sitting here playing cards when it does."

 

"Mein gott!" Tifa exclaimed, her eyes going to Aerith's stomach. "How long have you been having them?"

 

"This is only my second one," Aerith answered. "I had the first one about fifteen minutes ago, when we were putting the pie in the oven. I was hoping it was a false alarm but it might not be."

 

"Oohh, Leviathan," Yuffie gasped, dropping the cards as she jumped up. "Okay, okay...I'll go boil some water and sterilize a knife! Tifa, get her in bed and get some towels!"

 

"Yuffie, calm down," Aerith soothed, resisting the urge to laugh outright at her animated worry. "Zack and I already have a midwife chosen and the baby isn't going to come shooting out of me instantly!"

 

"B-but shouldn't you be getting ready anyway?" Yuffie was wringing her small hands.

 

"Actually, it's better for most women not to be confined to bed during the whole event," Tifa said, keeping her calm. "At least, that's what I've read. Restricting movement can make it harder on the mother unless she's got complications that make bed rest necessary."

 

"That's right," Aerith agreed. "Besides, it could still be false contractions. The midwife told me this could happen near the end and I don't want to get us all worked up over nothing. Let's just keep playing cards for now and if I keep having them, we can get the midwife."

 

Yuffie stared at her with amazement and a little awe. "Gawd, how can you be so calm?"

 

"I'm not that calm," Aerith confessed. Her hands shook a little as she picked up her cards and arranged them. "I just don't see a reason to work myself into a panic. It's not good for me or the baby, whether I'm getting ready to deliver or not."

 

Tifa rubbed the Cetra's arm supportively. "We'll stay with you for as long as you need us to."

 

"Thank you," Aerith said sincerely. Having the support of her friends would make things easier on her, until she could confirm it was false contractions or until Zack returned. She only hoped that he would make it back on time, if she ended up going into labor.

 

They continued playing cards and Tifa proved to be a blessing, chatting about other things to keep their minds occupied. Aerith had another contraction fifteen minutes later but she endured it quietly and gave a quick nod of confirmation when Tifa looked at her questioningly. It wasn't that bad, yet. The fifth one was stronger than the others and it came after fourteen minutes. Aerith grunted a little in discomfort and took a few shallow breaths until it passed.

 

"Do they hurt?" Yuffie asked her worriedly. After all, she was going to have to go through the same thing in a few months.

 

"Not much," Aerith answered. "They aren't comfortable but they aren't really painful yet, either. Um, I think it's time to get the midwife, just in case. Could one of you go and get Mrs. Kochi for me? She lives in the last house on the right, at the end of this street."

 

"I'll go," Tifa offered. "You two just keep playing cards. Oh Yuffie, would you take the pie out of the oven and set it on a window ledge while I go?"

 

~***********************************~

 

Night was falling when the strike teams returned to the colony. The WEAPON they took down to the west of Bone Village was a powerful one and it put up a strong fight. Several regulars and low-ranking Soldiers got injured and Angeal suffered a fractured arm. Fortunately, there were no deaths and the medics were quick to administer healing spells and potions to the wounded. The rovers pulled to a stop in the designated parking area and the helicopters landed near them. The winged Soldiers touched down and began the task of overseeing transport of the harvested creature parts to the research building.

 

"You should go home," Genesis told Angeal with a glance at his recently healed arm. The materia mended the fracture but there was still some bruising. "The rest of us can take care of this."

 

"I'm fine," Angeal said. "This shouldn't take long."

 

Zack climbed out of one of the rovers with Reeve and Vincent, ready to help finish up. He started toward the rover where they were unloading the samples but before he could get there, someone yelled his name. There were people coming to watch the activity and a military cadet was pushing his way past them, hollering for Zack. Sharing a little frown with his friends, Zack paused.

 

"Lieutenant Fair," the cadet gasped as he reached him. He saluted respectfully. "Miss Lockheart told me to come and get you as soon as you returned. Your wife is having the baby!"

 

Eyebrows went up and Zack ogled the man in surprise. "Seriously?"

 

The cadet nodded. "Yes Sir! She started having her contractions late this morning."

 

"Oh my god," Zack felt like someone hit him over the head. "The baby's coming!" He turned around to face Vincent, Reeve and his fellow officers. "THE BABY'S COMING!"

 

"Yes Zack," Genesis said dryly. "We heard. We have these useful things known as ears."

 

"I...I've got to go," Zack babbled, hardly hearing Gen's sarcastic remark. "My wife's having a baby!"

 

"Then go," Reeve chuckled. "You aren't getting there any faster doing squats."

 

Zack hadn't even realized he was doing them. He started to run toward the path but he nearly stepped on a small child, who was apparently making a beeline for her trooper father. Zack hastily caught himself and scooped the child up without a thought. He thrust her toward the first person he saw, not even paying attention to who it was.

 

"Here, hold this," Zack said absently to Vincent. He was off and running before the gunman could do more than raise an eyebrow at him.

 

Vincent stared after the retreating lieutenant with a puzzled expression before setting the little girl on her feet and mumbling an apology to her father, who stood there scratching his head.

 

"I thought Aerith wasn't due for another week or two," Cloud muttered in a worried tone. He watched Zack dodge and weave his way around people.

 

"I'm sure it will be fine," Reeve assured. "It looks like Zack could use a hand getting through the crowd, though."

 

Cloud immediately took to the air and flew toward his friend. He swooped down and caught Zack under the arms, startling him. "It's just me," he said with a smile. "Looks like you could use a lift."

 

"Thanks, buddy." Zack said with relief.

 

The blond carried him up over the heads of the people on the pathway and flew him to his house.

 

~****************************************~

 

The women in the house jumped as the front door banged open and Zack came in, hollering anxiously for Aerith.

 

"I'm upstairs," Aerith called in a relieved voice.

 

Zack muttered a hasty greeting to Tifa and Yuffie before running to the ladder and climbing up. Aerith was with the midwife, walking the floors of the bedroom. Her expression was strained and her face was sweating but she smiled thankfully at him as he crossed the room to her.

 

"Thanks Mrs. Kochi," Zack said as he put a supportive arm around Aerith's waist. "I can walk with her 'till it's time." He took one of her hands in his as he half-embraced her.

 

"Good boy," the middle-aged woman approved with a fond smile at him. She relinquished Aerith to his care and took a seat in the rocking chair near the bed.

 

"Hey, you started without me," Zack said to his wife in a teasing, breathless tone.

 

"Believe me, I didn't want to," she countered. Aerith tensed and she squeezed his hand, sucking in a few rapid, sharp little breaths. "The baby insisted," she finished in a pain-tightened voice.

 

Zack nuzzled her flushed cheek and murmured soothingly to her, enduring the pressure of her squeezing hand without complaint. "I've got you, angel. Just keep walking, okay?"

 

Aerith nodded and put one foot in front of the other. Her tension faded a bit again and she laid her head against his chest. Zack looked up from her honey colored locks and regarded the midwife. He didn't want to cause anxiety for Aerith but he had concerns he needed addressed.

 

"Is it dangerous for the baby to be born almost two weeks early?"

 

"It's not likely, but the lungs could be a tad underdeveloped," she answered. "I doubt you'll have anything to worry about but I've sent word to Dr. Lewis just in case. He'll be on stand-bye to come and assist if there are complications I can't take care of."

 

Zack felt reassured by that and he relaxed a little. "How long do you think it will be until she's ready to start pushing?" He and Aerith had planned this out and prepared as best they could for this event, but he hated seeing her in pain and he hoped she wouldn't have to endure it for an extended amount of time.

 

"She's begun dilating, so hopefully it will go quickly once her water breaks," answered the older woman.

 

Aerith groaned and squeezed Zack's hand again. He whispered encouraging words to her and gently squeezed her hand back.

 

~**********************************~

 

Zack stayed by Aerith's side the entire time and Tifa and Yuffie waited downstairs, dozing on and off in the living room. In the dark hours of the morning, Aerith and Zack were rewarded with the birth of a baby girl. The midwife let Zack cut the cord and she cleaned the baby up with practiced efficiency before handing her over to Zack. While Mrs. Kochi helped Aerith finish the process and cleaned her up, Zack cradled his new daughter carefully and stared at her crying little face with bewildered awe.

 

"Aerith," Zack breathed, "we made a person!"

 

Despite her obvious exhaustion and soreness, Aerith managed a weak chuckle. "What else do you think we could have made?" She gasped as the midwife helped her up from her kneeling position at the side of the bed. Mrs. Kochi used a Cure materia to mend the damage caused by the birth, before guiding Aerith to sit down on the bed.

 

"There will be some bleeding for a while," the midwife informed as she propped pillows against the headboard and helped Aerith recline against the pillows. She covered Aerith to the waist. "It's perfectly normal during the recovery process and Cure materia can only heal the damaged tissue. Aerith, I've put a supply of maternity pads in your bathroom. If you start to bleed severely at any time you contact your doctor right away."

 

Aerith nodded, her eyes fixated on the baby in Zack's arms.

 

Zack sat on the edge of the bed and offered the baby to her, rightfully guessing that she wanted to hold her and try feeding her. "Say hello to your mommy, Ifalna."

 

Aerith's face screwed up and Zack paused. "What's wrong, honey?"

 

"It...doesn't sound right."

 

"I thought you wanted to name our first girl after your mother?" His brows furrowed.

 

"I did, but now that I hear it out loud it feels strange to call my daughter by my mother's name." Aerith's eyes suddenly began to fill with tears. "Oh, I should have considered that! I should have said it out loud to myself before now."

 

"Hey, it's all right," Zack soothed. He carefully handed the infant over to her and kissed her on the forehead, wracking his mind. "I've got it. How about we make Ifalna her middle name instead of her first? Instead of Ifalna Kirsten, we'll call her Kirsten Ifalna. How does that sound?"

 

Aerith sniffed and considered it as she gazed down at their daughter. "Kirsten Ifalna Fair. I...actually think it sounds better, that way. Let's do that."

 

Zack smiled, pleased that he'd managed to come up with a quick solution. Kirsten began to settle down, her thin cries fading to whimpers as he and Aerith doted on her. The midwife let them have their first bonding moment together and then she reminded them that Aerith's work wasn't quite done yet. She needed to learn how to help the baby latch on to feed. Zack almost left the bedroom to give them privacy, thinking his presence might make it awkward for her. Aerith promptly corrected him and told him he had every right to be there, so he watched with interest as Mrs. Kochi instructed her until she got it right. It took a few tries but Kirsten was a cooperative, hungry baby and soon she was nursing contentedly.

 

"You two made my job easy. Well done," complimented the midwife in satisfaction as she left Aerith to it. "Lieutenant, you might want to call Dr. Lewis now. He'll want to check the baby's vitals and give Aerith a quick examination just to make sure everything is okay. I'll clean up in here while Aerith is nursing."

 

Zack nodded, flushing a little at the compliment. Maybe he did manage to keep a level head during the whole thing but in truth, he'd been scared out of his mind the entire time. "Thanks so much, Mrs. Kochi."

 

He took the ladder down to the main part of the house to make the call, wanting his wife and daughter's first nursing experience to be peaceful and quiet. He jumped a little when he reached the bottom of the ladder and turned around to find himself face-to-face with Tifa and Yuffie.

 

"I forgot you two were here," Zack apologized, "thanks for sticking around, ladies."

 

"Of course. How are they?" Tifa whispered eagerly.

 

"They're both doing great," Zack assured with a broad, happy grin. "Aerith is nursing her now."

 

"Can we see them?" Yuffie asked. Tifa shushed her warningly and Yuffie winced at the volume of her own voice and muttered a hasty apology.

 

"Sure," Zack answered. "Just try to keep your voices down. I think Aerith will be happy to see you."

 

~*****************************~

 

"She's beautiful," Tifa complimented with a smile as she and Yuffie looked down at the feeding infant. "Such pretty blue eyes!"

 

"She has Zack's eyes," Aerith agreed with a smile, thinking of her husband's blue-violet gaze.

 

"Kind of wrinkly," Yuffie said candidly. Tifa elbowed her lightly and she winced. "What? I meant wrinkly in a cute way...not a creepy old man way."

 

"Gee, thanks," Aerith said dryly. Her forgiving half-smile turned into a yawn and the turned her head away politely, since her hands weren't free to cover her mouth.

 

Tifa and Yuffie exchanged a meaningful look between them and the latter covered up a reflexive yawn. "Darn," Yuffie muttered, "those things are contagious."

 

"We'll leave you in peace and go home," Tifa said. "I'm sure you're exhausted and you'll want to sleep as soon as you're finished."

 

Aerith didn't argue because she really was having trouble holding her eyes open. While she knew she'd had an easy birth compared to some, she'd spent the entire day before breathing through contractions and then spent all night laboring to give birth. "Thank you both so much for being here for me. It means a lot to me."

 

"No problem," Yuffie said. "I wouldn't want to be going through that without a friend or my stick-in-the-mud husband nearby either. I'm just glad everything's okay."

 

Tifa chuckled. "I'm sure Zack will take good care of you. Try to get some sleep, okay?" She squeezed Aerith's shoulder before following Yuffie to the ladder.

 

Zack just finished his call to the doctor when the two women walked to the front door. Tifa paused before walking out and she gave Zack a stern look. "I know I probably don't need to ask where you're concerned, but you're going to help her with the baby, aren't you? You aren't going to leave all the hard work up to her?"

 

"Of course I'm going to help her," Zack answered enthusiastically. "As far as I'm concerned, all she needs to do is feed her. I'll take up poop patrol and cleanup duty by myself until she's good and rested. I'd even do the feedings for her if I had the equipment to do it."

 

Tifa gave him a broad smile of amusement and approval. "So you don't fear the diaper?"

 

Zack grinned, shaking his head. "Believe me, I've dealt with worse than baby poo."

 

Tifa giggled softly. "Well, goodnight then. Congratulations, Zack. I think you're both going to make fantastic parents."

 

~**************************************~

 

The doctor came and gave mother and daughter an examination. Satisfied that they were both healthy and that Aerith was on the mend, he told Zack to call him if his wife started bleeding excessively or any trouble came up with Kirsten. Aerith slept for two hours before the baby's cries woke her up and alerted her that it was time to nurse again. Zack brought Kirsten to the bed for her and stretched out beside Aerith as she fed her. When she'd had her fill, he carried her back to her crib in the small, adjoining room and returned to bed. He held Aerith close and rubbed her back until they both fell asleep again.

 

Being on "poop patrol" was easier said than done. Just as the sun began to come up, Kirsten began to wail indignantly. Aerith immediately stirred and tried to sit up but Zack urged her to lie back down.

 

"You just fed her a half hour ago," he reminded her gently. "I'll see what she needs."

 

Aerith sighed gratefully and nodded, letting her head drop back to the pillow.

 

Zack went into the little nursery and he turned on the floor lamp by Kirsten's crib. "Hey, sweat pea. What's the fussing about, huh?" He lifted her gently and laid her against his shoulder, bouncing up and down on his heels. The smell reached his nostrils and his nose crinkled.

 

"Oh, I get it. Had to happen sooner or later, right?" He smiled in spite of the odor and kissed her soft, chubby cheek. "Don't worry. Daddy will get you all cleaned up."

 

He carried her to the other side of the room and lowered her onto the changing station. Keeping one eye on the fussing infant, he reached for the parenting book in the cubby, next to the wipes, spare diapers and powder.

 

"Okay, let's see here," Zack muttered, stroking his daughter's downy hair as he set the book on the changing table above her head and flipped through the pages. He found the diaper changing section and sighed with relief when he found an illustration diagram for cloth diapers.

 

"Doesn't look so hard, does it kiddo?" Zack tilted his head and read through the text instructions. "First thing we need to do is ditch this dirty one and get you cleaned up."

 

~*************************************~

 

Aerith listened to her husband chatting with their daughter as he went to work changing her diaper. As tired as she was, she grinned at some of his comments, finding them amusing and cute at once.

 

"Phew! Hey, don't worry about it, munchkin. Everybody poops and it never smells nice. Hold on a sec; you're almost ready for the powder."

 

Aerith closed her eyes and enjoyed his chatter. Kirsten's fussing had died down and she was now making sweet little infant noises of curiosity while her father worked over her.

 

~*******************************~

 

Zack unconsciously poked the tip of his tongue out in concentration as he followed the diagram and folded the cloth diaper as it instructed. "...And this corner goes this way," he muttered, "there. Now I've just got to fasten it."

 

He picked up the diaper pin and popped it open. He hesitated for a moment when Kirsten kicked her legs restlessly. He didn't want to risk poking her so he waited for her to settle down again before pushing the pin through the material and fastening it. He studied his handiwork and grinned.

 

"Just like in the diagram," Zack said in triumph. He scooped Kirsten up and the diaper immediately began to slide down. "Uh...except looser. No problem, sweet pea. We'll just tighten it up a little."

 

Aerith's sleepy voice called out. "Zack, do you need any help?"

 

"No, we've got it," he assured. "It just takes a little practice and teamwork. It's cool."

 

He turned his attention back to the baby and he laid her back down on the changing table. "Okay, now try to hold still for Daddy."

 

Poking his tongue out again, he removed the diaper pin and adjusted the folds. Kirsten squirmed just as he was about to put the pin in again and Zack groaned softly as one of the corners flopped open. He tried to salvage the job he'd done but he ended up having to start over from scratch. After a couple more tries, he finally got the diaper situated and fastened properly.

 

"Whew, that was some work," Zack said as he snuggled his daughter. "We got through it though. Yeah, we rule."

 

~************************************~

 

Zack and Aerith slept when they could and people began to drop off gift baskets, flowers and baby items at their door as the morning progressed. Nobody wanted to disturb the new parents, knowing that they would be worn out from the trying night and taking care of their newborn.

 

Cloud figured they wouldn't have much time to cook for themselves until they adjusted, so he dropped off a basket of assorted cheeses, sausage, crackers and nuts. Tifa was of a similar mind and she left a small bouquet of flowers and a basket of baked goods. Angeal left a mobile to hang over the crib. Elena dropped off a baby sling and a wrapped stack of extra diapers. Yuffie figured Aerith deserved a little self-spoiling so her gift was a basket of essential bath oils. Reeve and Vincent left a patchwork teddy bear and a quilt blanket for the baby. Sephiroth dropped off a music box.

 

More than just their immediate friends left gifts by their front door and Angeal wisely assigned some men to take turns keeping an eye on the house to prevent theft. Associates, Zack's subordinates and civilians all seemed to have something to contribute, from baby clothes to toys.

 

After lunch, Zack finally stepped outside for a little fresh air and he nearly tripped over one of the gift baskets by the door. He looked around at the assorted presents and his eye widened.

 

"Holy crap."

 

Aerith heard the exclamation and she called out from inside the house. "What's wrong?"

 

"Uh, I just never knew we were this popular," Zack answered over his shoulder. "We've got some storage space in the attic, right? I might have to put some stuff we're not using up there to make room for all the stuff out here."

 

~*****************************~

 

Later that evening when people were beginning to retire for bed, Lieutenant Rhapsodos landed softly outside Zack and Aerith's front door. He glanced around quickly before setting a basket containing a vase of white and yellow lilies, a bottle of aftershave and a book.

 

"I'm going to see what the weather's doing," Zack's voice called out from inside the house, just as Genesis straightened up.

 

"Damn," muttered Genesis. He spread his wing and flew up and away rapidly as Zack's footsteps approached the door from the other side of it.

 

Zack opened the door and paused in mid-step when he saw the latest gift. He picked it up and checked for a card or a note but there were none to be found in or near the basket. He slipped the handle over one arm and scratched his head, wondering who left it. As he glanced up to see what the skies looked like, something dark floated down to land at his feet. At first, he thought it was a falling leaf but upon picking it up, he realized it was a long, black feather.

 

Zack scanned the night sky suspiciously but he didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Carrying the basket on his arm and the feather in his free hand, he walked back into the house. Aerith looked up from the baby she held to her breast and she smiled when she saw the flowers. "My favorites. Who are those from?"

 

"They didn't leave a note or anything," Zack answered. He set the basket on the dining table and took the vase out. "Do you want these in the bedroom or in the living area down here?"

 

She considered it. "Since I've been spending so much time in the bedroom today, I think I'd like them in there, by the window. That way I can look at them more."

 

Zack nodded and picked the vase up to place it where she'd asked. The only reason she was downstairs right now was because she'd needed to use the bathroom. She was sore despite the Cure spell used on her, due to muscle strain from the labor. He had to help her down the ladder and the baby started crying with hunger again before she could go back up, so Zack brought Kirsten down for her to feed her on the couch.

 

"Zack, you don't have to pretend," Aerith said to him when he came back down and rejoined her. "It's cute but I know you picked those for me."

 

Zack grinned regretfully and shook his head. "Wish I could say that was true but it isn't. When would I have snuck out long enough to find those flowers and pick them? I've only stepped out a couple of times today, sweetheart."

 

She looked a bit puzzled. "I...guess you wouldn't have time. Are you sure there's no card or anything? Not many people know those are my favorite flowers and I think you'd be the only one to remember something like that."

 

Zack started to grin wider. "I swear, it wasn't me and there's no card or note, but there are a couple of clues."

 

Interested in the mystery, Aerith shifted a little in her seat and gazed at him questioningly. "Like?"

 

Zack went to the basket and withdrew the bottle of cologne. "This is my favorite aftershave, but it's not easy to come by these days. That means it was somebody really observant, with a good memory. Then there's this." He picked up the book and brought it over to her. It was a small, hardbound leather book with gold lettering on the spine and cover. It was in very good condition, as if kept by someone who treasured literature.

 

"Children's nursery rhymes," Aerith read as he showed it too her.

 

"Yeah. Who do we know with anal-retentive attention to detail and a love for books and poetry? Oh, and there's also this." Zack went to the basket and lifted out a sleek black feather. "Who do we know that leaves behind feathers like these for obsessed subordinates to make dream catchers out of?"

 

Aerith blurted a laugh before she could stop herself. "Genesis? Well, why didn't he just leave a note?"

 

"Because he was trying to be anonymous," Zack guessed with an amused grin. "He doesn't like people to know he gives a damn."

 

Aerith sighed, grinning. "He's a weirdo."

 

~*************************************~

 

After recovering and adjusting to motherhood for a week, Aerith felt confident enough to get out of the house more. She was exceedingly thankful for the baby sling Elena had thoughtfully provided. She never would have thought of it herself and it allowed her to bring Kirsten with her wherever she went, easily supported close to her heart. At first, she was nervous about nursing the baby out in public—even though she'd seen plenty of women do it before. Zack was very encouraging and before long, Aerith began to simply feed the baby wherever she was rather than return to the house to do it.

 

Their friends doted on the baby when they ran into them and Aerith was meticulous about thanking each and every one of them for the gifts. Sephiroth and Vincent were both reserved but polite in their greetings, while others like Elena were sunny and complimentary. The newborn fluff fell away and the baby started to grow honey-colored hair in replacement.

 

On the weekend, she and Zack went to the market area for supplies and Kirsten began to fuss warningly. Aerith left Zack to finish up in the grocery building while she went out to find a sitting place to nurse. There were benches arranged in a circle in the center of the market area and Aerith chose one beneath a ghost tree to feed her daughter. As she arranged her blouse and coaxed the baby to her breast, she heard the approach of booted feet. A shadow fell over her and she looked up to see Genesis standing over her. He was looking around casually but he addressed her when he spoke.

 

"And how is the goddess today?"

 

It took Aerith a moment to realize he was referring to her, and not the planet. She smiled. "She's just fine, and so is her daughter."

 

He nodded and looked at her before looking down at the infant. Aerith was prepared for him to start fidgeting uncomfortably or avert his eyes, but he seemed to have no issues with breastfeeding despite his admitted aversion to baby exposure and pregnant women.

 

"She looks like you," he observed. "Except for the eyes."

 

Aerith nodded, relaxing. "She's a good baby. She really doesn't fuss unless she's hungry or needs changing."

 

"Then she must have your temperament. If she took after her father, she'd be making no end of noise. Where is the proud puppy, anyhow?"

 

Aerith giggled. "He's getting some groceries for the house." She started to say more but a young man stopped a few feet away and blatantly stared at her. Rather, he stared at the partially exposed swell of her breast. Aerith's face immediately flushed hot and she hastily dragged her thin shawl over her shoulder to cover herself and her daughter. Kirsten squirmed and fussed a little, disliking having her head covered.

 

Genesis' brow furrowed. "What are you doing that for?"

 

Aerith bit her lip and looked away from the staring man behind Genesis, lowering her eyes. Genesis turned around and saw the ogler. Aerith couldn't see the expression on the redhead's face but it must have become foreboding, because the young man paled a bit and averted his gaze.

 

"Is there something we can help you with?" Genesis asked in that biting way that suggested the recipient should be very careful about how they answered.

 

"Uh, no Lieutenant. Excuse me."

 

"If you're that hard-up for a view of the female body, I suggest you visit the book trader. Get an old smut magazine and have a party with your hand. Now, vanish."

 

The guy made his retreat so fast that he nearly tripped over his own feet. Aerith was touched and impressed by the lieutenant's actions but she was still humiliated and she kept the shawl in place. It was fine for Zack to encourage her to nurse out in the open but he wasn't the one that had to worry about making people uncomfortable or getting stared at.

 

"Maybe I just shouldn't do this in public," she sighed.

 

Genesis turned to face her again and he frowned down at her. "What? Don't be absurd. What are you going to do, stay in that house until your daughter is weaned?"

 

She shrugged and bit her lip. "Well, you're the one that said you were afraid all the new and expecting mothers were going to start offering you samples of breast milk."

 

Genesis sighed and rolled his eyes heavenward. "I was being facetious. Those women were fanatical. You're sitting quietly, minding your own business. There is a difference." He took a seat next to her on the bench. "If some people can't handle the sight of a woman feeding a baby, it's their problem, not yours. You have a backbone, so use it."

 

Aerith hesitantly pulled the shawl back again and her daughter settled down. The Cetra cast a covert look around and she was heartened to see another woman around her age nursing her own baby across the street.

 

"That's better." Genesis' voice was faintly approving.

 

She looked up at Genesis and offered him a little smile. "Don't you ever just give an open compliment to anyone?"

 

"I leave that to others." He shrugged and brushed a fallen leaf off his jacket.

 

Aerith chuckled, her cheeks cooling as her embarrassment faded. "Thank you for the gift you left."

 

Genesis glanced at her sidelong. "The mobile? That was Angeal's idea, not mine."

 

"No, I mean the beautiful flowers, the book and the bottle of aftershave." She watched him from beneath lowered lashes, amused by his obvious discomfort.

 

"I don't know what you're talking about," he denied.

 

"Oh? Then whose feather was that Zack found outside by the basket and who else would have leave a copy of an old book that's practically in mint condition?" Kirsten finished eating and Aerith put her against her shoulder to burp her before re-adjusting her blouse.

 

Genesis sighed and gave her an annoyed look. "Either I'm getting sloppier or you're sharper than I thought."

 

Aerith giggled softly. "Well, Zack figured it out right away. Don't worry, your reputation as a grouch is safe."

 

Genesis smirked and looked at the baby. Feeling mischievous, Aerith adjusted the sling and gave him an innocent look. "Would you like to hold her?"

 

Genesis looked away and snorted. "Don't push it."

 

She laughed and shook her head. "Predictable. Um, Genesis...could you not mention that guy from a minute ago to Zack?"

 

"You mean the pervert? Why not?"

 

"Because Zack will kill him," Aerith said matter-of-factly. "He was a jerk but I don't think he deserves to be maimed or killed over it."

 

"Hmph...you're far too charitable. All right, I won't tell him." He checked his watch and swore under his breath. "Angeal should have met up with me here by now."

 

"Maybe he's just running late."

 

Genesis gave her a dry, sardonic look that made her wince. "Yes, Aerith. He's late. Hence my comment."

 

"I just meant maybe his duties are slowing him down," she defended, smacking him lightly on the arm.

 

Genesis smirked and shook his head. His eyes suddenly snapped to something across the street and Aerith followed his gaze to see a young couple with a baby approaching. The man called out to Genesis, using his formal title. He was holding a camera in one hand and Aerith guessed he and his wife wanted the lieutenant to have a picture taken with them and their child.

 

Genesis stood up abruptly and manifested his wing. "Well Aerith, I'm in a rush."

 

"But what about Angeal?" she reminded him, "you said you were meeting him—"

 

"If you see him, tell him I'm at the house." Genesis spoke rapidly. "Otherwise, he'll figure it out on his own." He launched into the air and flew away without another word, leaving a couple of feathers to float down in his wake.

 

Aerith chuckled and looked down at her daughter, who was staring at the drifting feathers curiously. "Uncle Gen-Gen is a mess, isn't he?"

 

~**********************************~

 

-To be continued