Chapter 23

Cloud woke up to crying. He groaned softly, sitting up and wiping his eyes. When he opened them he saw Sephiroth holding Selene, rocking her gently back to sleep.

"She's hungry, I didn't want to wake you." Cloud got out of bed, walking to his side. She was two months now, her hair having grown more. It was blonde like Cloud's, though it was straight like Sephiroth's. Cloud was glad she didn't have any of his curses, knowing her life would be more normal and fair than his own had been.

He worried of those who would chase after her, Cloud not wanting to struggle in life. He knew there would be dark times for her, he couldn't protect her from everything. He wouldn't be like his mother, he would love her for all she was.

She would always be able to run back to him.

"It is alright, let me feed her." Sephiroth handed her to him gently, Cloud going over to his rocking chair and sitting down. He lowered the sleeve of his gown, his breast shown to her. Selene just seemed to know she was going to be fed, leaning towards it. Cloud resituated her, holding his breast as he led her to his nipple. When she latched on she suckled greedily, Cloud smiling as he rocked back and forth in his chair.

Everybody would try to hold her down, but just like Jenova told him, he would tell her. Speak up, say what she needed to say so she wasn't pulled into the voices of others.

"Sleep, Seph," he whispered, Sephiroth frowning. Cloud already knew what he was going to say, looking to him with tired eyes. Sephiroth needed to sleep, more than just a father. Whether he agreed or not, Cloud knew what was best for him.

"I will come to bed soon." Sephiroth sighed, getting into bed and laying down. Cloud looked back to Selene, her eyes opened and staring up at him. She had eyes just like Sephiroth, all the way down to the slitted pupils. Cloud smiled down at her, touching a finger to her cheek. Her skin was so soft, almost like silk against his fingers. She was perfect.

"You woke mom up because you were hungry, didn't you?" She smiled around his nipple, showing her toothless gums. Cloud smiled wider, moving a strand of hair from her face.

"Your father is sleeping now, so no more crying okay Selene?" She suckled harder, her eyes closing. Cloud hummed softly, closing his own eyes as he waited for her to cease in her suckles.

When they lessened in strength he detached her from his nipple, lifting back up his gown. He got up and placed her in her crib, his footsteps light as he walked back to bed. He got in, pulling the blankets over his body.

"Cloud." He opened his eyes, looking to Sephiroth who was laying on his side. His eyes seemed to glow in the dark as they stared at him, Cloud smiling softly.

"Why aren't you resting?" He whispered, Sephiroth moving closer. Cloud felt his hand on his thigh, his body heating up. Mentally though, he didn't want to be touched. He still had stretch marks, and though he lost the fat quickly, he felt like it never left.

He gasped when he kissed him, Sephiroth moving over him slowly. Cloud put a hand to his chest, Sephiroth pushing his gown up. Cloud pulled away from the kiss, panting softly as he felt his hands over his stomach.

"Seph please don't," he whispered, Sephiroth looking to his face. Cloud looked away from his eyes, his cheeks burning.

"I'm ugly." Sephiroth frowned, Cloud gasping when he kissed his lips. He felt his hand rise up and play with his breast, Cloud whimpering softly. He gasped when Sephiroth pulled away from his lips, kissing a trail down his body. Cloud closed his thighs, not wanting him to see what had happened to his core. He was ugly, his scars were ugly.

Sephiroth spread his legs with a hard tug, his head disappearing beneath the sheets. Cloud tried to stop him but he couldn't, biting his bottom lip when he felt his tongue on his core.

"Stop," he whimpered, Sephiroth not obeying his command. He kissed that part of him like he did before, Cloud arching when he slipped his tongue in deep. Soreness had corrupted his body, but Sephiroth made it go away. Cloud panted softly as he brought him slowly to the highest of pleasures, moaning softly when he slid his hands over his thighs.

Cloud could vaguely hear the rain pound against the window, the sound and the feeling of Sephiroth's tongue bringing him higher into what felt like a dream.

"Seph..." he moaned breathlessly, his eyes closing shut when he suddenly became more feral, putting a hand over his mouth as he started to pant heavily. His release was nearing rapidly, Cloud reaching a hand beneath the sheets and grabbing a handful of Sephiroth's hair.

"Don't stop!" He gasped, his lips parting as he bordered on release.

"Don't... Oh god... Sephaah!" He arched as he came into his mouth with a loud moan, panting heavily as his body spasmed softly.

Sephiroth came from beneath the blankets, licking his lips. Cloud looked to him, gasping when he kissed him. He parted his lips, Sephiroth slipping his tongue inside. He tasted all of him, Cloud moaning softly. He pulled away with a gasp when he felt him push inside. Sephiroth kissed his neck, Cloud panting softly as he adjusted to the intrusion. He felt tighter so it hurt, but the pain slowly dwindled away.

"Am I hurting you?" Sephiroth asked, Cloud not responding. He just touched his forehead to his shoulder, panting softly as he relaxed.

"Move." Sephiroth pulled out, Cloud gasping when he thrusted back into him. He sunk his nails into his skin, Sephiroth thrusting back inside. Pleasure slowly built as he sped up, Cloud moaning against his neck. Sephiroth grunted with effort, Cloud whimpering when he bit down on his neck. He came with a moan, Sephiroth not stopping. Cloud arched when he became sensitive, Sephiroth kissing his lips. Cloud moaned when he finally came, his thighs shaking against him.

"I love you."

:::+:::

Cloud looked to Rufus as they sat outside, Selene held in his arms. Sephiroth was talking to the King, the two walking through the garden. Rufus sipped some tea, Cloud uncaring of his presence. He had just learned of his mother's death, and though he didn't care much, hearing it from Rufus irked his nerves. Cloud could tell, his mother had died a long time ago, but due to her estrangement, Cloud was not told. What irked his nerves was that Rufus tried to show sympathy. He didn't care, taking Cloud for a fool.

"How do you feel? Your mother has passed." Cloud looked down to Selene, touching a finger to her cheek. She whined softly, Cloud looking back to Rufus.

"Life and death is a process. She was of age, I could not have expected less." Rufus smirked behind his cup, Cloud letting his lips pull down into a frown of displeasure.

"Your highness, I will not weep in open or secret. I will not fret, though I will ask you do not idly play with the emotions you believe exist." Rufus's smirk fell, Cloud in no mood to deal with his antics. He came here as a little girl, but now he was a woman. He was just as much a man, and as one he would speak up. He understood it might get him in trouble, but he was in no mod to be played with.

"If the matter of my mother's passing is all you wish to speak about, forgive me but I will excuse myself." Cloud stood, Rufus watching her leave.

"Do you wish for me to retrieve her sir?" Rufus shook his head, Reno straightening up. Rufus had lost interest in her. She was no longer affected by his game, her piece thrown away.

He could do little to her now, especially since she had a child. Little would believe his claims of her split genders. He sighed, standing up.

"She is no more of use to me."

...

"Your daughter, how is she fairing?" The King asked, Sephiroth looking to him. They had stopped walking, the matters of his army put aside. Cloud had went back inside, the King having smiled at the sight of their daughter.

"She does well. She has already learned to turn over on her own." The King chuckled, patting his back. His smile fell though, Sephiroth looking away.

"About Genesis, Sephiroth..." Sephiroth almost didn't want to hear it. Genesis had been captured by the wutaians, word having reached them that he had been killed. His body was found in a pasture just outside their borders in Wutai.

"I know you two were close, but he's in a better place now." Sephiroth nodded, knowing the truth behind his death. He had went AWOL, choosing to side with the Wutaians. Angeal had to stop him. The last time Sephiroth saw his dark haired friend, he was slouched over a mug of beer.

They had been closest.

Brother's.

"I shall hold his funeral within a week. I will return with news soon." Sephiroth bowed, the King turning and leaving.

Sephiroth walked back to his home, stopping when he saw Cloud with Selene in his private garden. He held her close to a flower bush, a smile on his face as he told her about them.

Sephiroth walked over, Cloud looking to him. He smiled, picking a flower and bringing it over to him. Sephiroth took it, Cloud kissing his lips. Sephiroth pulled away, touching a hand to his cheek. Cloud smiled wider, Selene screaming in want for attention. Sephiroth looked to his daughter, touching a hand to her small head.

She smiled, laughing with a toothless smile. Cloud kissed her cheek, Sephiroth sighing softly.

He still had this.

They went inside, Sephiroth laying down in bed as Cloud put Selene to bed. He hummed softly to her, Sephiroth looking over his body. It had been three months now, Cloud having started his menstrual. Sephiroth was already thinking of the other nine kids he wanted, wondering if Cloud would want as many.

He kept telling him not yet, but to Sephiroth that was neither a yes or a no. Cloud walked over to their bed, laying down next to him.

"Do you wish to nap?" He asked, Sephiroth looking to him. Cloud blushed when he touched his lower back.

"We can't," he whispered, Sephiroth sighing in remembrance. They just laid together for a long moment, Cloud looking to him.

"Selene didn't like Rufus. She got fussy," Cloud told him, Sephiroth smirking.

"Smart girl."

Cloud laid his head on his shoulder, sighing softly.

"Denzel told me he wanted to marry Marlene." Sephiroth raised an eyebrow, Cloud smirking. He was growing up so quickly.

"I love you."

Cloud looked to Sephiroth, kissing his chin.

"I love you too."

The End!

Author's: So I hope you all liked this story, cause I loved writing it for you all.