"Rufus' Twin"
By Jen
Chapter Two - Two Months Later
****************************************
Vincent stretched the stiffness from his legs, caused by having sat for hours
going through the numerous files of Hojo and Gast. He rarely slept anymore;
years of slumbering in the world of nightmares does that to a man.
He had another rusty chuckle over the raw panic in Cids call over the
PHS moments ago. Cid was the toughest person he knew, yet his wifes
labor had neatly plucked the foundation out from under his feet in seconds.
He pushed a lock of long, black hair from his face and adjusted the scarlet
scarf surrounding his neck.
The Nibelheim mansion, thanks to the efforts of him and his friends, was
now a slightly less gloomy place to live. The windows had been cleared free
of grime, so that light leaked through, and all of Hojos unwelcome
inhabitants were disposed of. A little over a year had passed since
Sephiroths defeat, but he still had not managed to read and organize
all of the files littering the basement. His hope was, that he would find
nothing that would threaten the tenuous threads of peace surrounding the
groups members.
Well, it was time to make the calls. Of all of them, he disliked the job
of awakening Barret the most. He was not interested in hearing the litany
of curse words that the big, black man could spew forth. The ninja girl Yuffie
was often times hard to reach, because she would sometimes turn her PHS off
when sleeping. Red, the sleek panther-like creature, took naps when it was
to his liking, so he was occasionally awake at this time of the night. Reeve,
formerly known as Cait Sith, being awake or not depended on whether he had
accomplished his daily mountains of work.
Vincent picked up the PHS and began to dial.
**************************************
Cloud awoke to a loud booming noise coming from the general vicinity of his
living room. He ran a hand through his blonde spikes and shook his sleeping
wife awake.
Wha- the soft voice of a woman with long, silky brown hair
asked.
Tifa, I think Cid is beating down our door again.
Do you think Shera is really in labor this time?
Shed better be, or Im going to stuff the Yoshiyuki up
his-
Cloud! Have a little sympathy. Remember what you did to Cid?,
she added with a giggle.
Yeah. I woke him up twice before it was the real thing.
The second time, he came to the door with his Venus Gospel in his
hands.
I was afraid he was going to use it too, he replied, jumping
into a pair of crisp, blue pants.
Tifa heard bits and pieces of a muffled conversation and then Cloud returned,
cradling the form of their five month old baby Cera in his arms.
Cid said that Shera is sure its for real this time. He wants
us ready in fifteen minutes or hes leaving us behind.
How did he look like he was holding up?
Terribly.
Well, lets get going then. I wouldnt miss this for the
world.
***********************************
Barret fumbled around the nightstand next to his bed for about three rings
before his big hand closed around the PHS.
lo?,he asked, fuzzily.
Barret? Sorry to wake you.
Vincent? What the hell is it?
Shera is in labor.
Is that damn fool Cid sure this time?
Yes. He said to be ready in 20 minutes or he is leaving you. That would
make it 15 minutes now.
Okay, okay, Im gettin up. But he better be right, or else
Im gonna shootim.
Goodbye then.
Yeah. See ya soon.
He turned to Elmyra, his fierce expression softening. He had never expected
to find someone to care for after his wife had died at the hands of the damn
Shinra. Takin care of his old friend Dynes kid Marlene had seemed
like enough for him. But, seein Elmyra with Marlene made him realize
she needed a woman in her life, and it helped that he liked Elymra enough
to want to marry her.
Was that Vincent?
Yeah. Sheras in labor for real this time.
Ill get Marlene ready if you want to grab the blanket I made
for the baby.
Sure, sure, he replied, reaching out to brush a strand of graying,
brown hair from her eyes.
She smiled at him and crawled out of their bed. Barret did the same, reaching
for the clothes folded neatly on top of the dresser.
************************************
No Vincent, you did not wake me. I have been sleeping restlessly lately.
Grandfather taught me to be in tune with the planet and I have not been liking
some of its cries as of late.
I have been feeling uneasy as well, Vincent told Red XIII.
Have you been able to discover anything in Hojo or Gasts
files?
Not yet. But I am afraid it is only a matter of time until I
do.
Considering that Red had paws and walked on all fours, it was awkward for
him to hold the PHS and stand at the same time. So, Cid had fashioned him
intercoms for the rooms of Cosmo Canyon that he liked to frequent the most.
When he was away from his home, he wore a set of headphones with a large
button for answering on its side.
He was resting now, on the small, green sofa in what had once been his
Grandfathers room. His one good, red eye blinked every so often with
the rhythm of the conversation.
And Cid is certain this time?
Yes.
You know that I require very little time to ready myself. I will be
at the entrance to Cosmo Canyon in ten minutes.
********************************
Yuffie Kisaragi yawned and considered throwing her Shuriken at the PHS that
rattled noisily across the room. It was too damn late for someone to be calling
her now. It could only mean one of two things: All hell had broke loose,
or Shera was in labor. Of the two, she really hoped for the latter. At least
births took hours; and since she wasnt the one having the baby, she
could sleep through it.
She pushed herself to a sitting position on her mat, and then rose on long,
skinny legs. Her short, pixie-like brown hair was still in a neat cap surrounding
her head.
This had better be good, she told the caller.
It depends on your view of good.
Vincent? Does this mean Sheras in labor again?
Yes.
She sighed. Leave it to Vincent to keep everything short and simple. The
man was
damn hard to pry details out of.
Well, she demanded, is he sure its for real this
time?
Yes.
Gawd Vince, enough with the one word answers already!
Be ready in ten minutes or youll be left behind.
Ten minutes! What does he think I am, his gold chocobo?!
Goodbye Yuffie.
Yeah, cya soon.
She stumbled into a pair of shorts and a tank top. Then, she headed across
the town of Wutai to tell her father where she was going.
***************************
Reeve clutched his aching head and told his PHS to, Shut the hell
up!
First, he had maneuvered his way through a morass of paperwork, and been
given a migraine for his efforts. Simple aspirin was not working anymore,
and he considered asking Dr. Thomas for some medication. Then, the welcome
wagon Reno and Rude--formerly of the Turks--had shown up with a half a case
of beer. Never one to pass up an opportunity to get drunk with friends--he
couldnt count the times he and Cid had got plastered while playing
poker--he had merrily drowned his headache in alcohol.
Now, the damned PHS was like an anvil pounding away at his throbbing head.
Who the hell is this, and you had better make it well worth my
while!
A hangover again, Reeve?
Dammit Vince, why dont you ever suffer the woes of the mortal
man?
I have no feelings with which to drown in the pits of alcohol.
Jesus! My brain is moving to slow to keep up with you. Cant you
speak in plain English?
I am not stupid enough to get drunk.
Thanks. I feel much better now.
Shera is in labor, was his reply.
Now?! When I feel like death warmed over?
I am afraid so. Cid is planning to leave in five minutes.
Five! Well, Ill get one of my pilots to fly me there. I may be
late, but Ill make it.
Goodbye then.
Bye.
Reeve stood up, grabbing the headboard of his bed as support for his wobbly
knees. What he needed was a cold shower, plenty of caffeine, and a whole
damn bottle of aspirin. And oh yeah, he needed to wake up the two guys
responsible for this and take them with him.
********************************
By the time Cid and the gang arrived in the newly remodeled Mideel--thanks
in large part to Reeve--Doc Thomas had everything ready to go. His nurse
wheeled Shera into an examining room, shut the door, and told everyone to
stay in the waiting room, including the foul-mouthed, expectant father.
Cid had gotten Vincent to light a cigarette for him, and was now puffing
nervously away. Of the large group, he and Vincent were the only ones that
remained standing. Well, Vincent stood still, and Cid stalked the length
of the room and back again.
Damn Cid, Barret complained, this is worse than your
wedding.
Cid didnt even spare him a glance, all of his focus was centered on
the hallway that led to the room where Shera was giving birth. It had been
four hours already, and Yuffie, Marlene, and Cera were all sleeping. Tifa
rested against Clouds side, whispering something to him every so often,
Red was stretched out on the floor, and Elmyra was enclosed within Barrets
enormous arms, Marlene in her lap.
The doorway to the waiting room suddenly flung open, and a very pale Reeve
stepped through.
Dammit Cat, are you ever on time?! Cid demanded.
Jeez Cid, not so loud.
Behind him, Reno and Rude drug their groggy forms through the door as well.
Of the two, the red-headed Reno couldnt hold liquor worth $@*#. Four
of them, and he was out like a light. The bald, extremely tall Rude, on the
other hand, could have about seven and not blink an eye.
What the hellre you two doin here?! Cid wanted to
know.
Ask super-prez here, Reno winced, grabbing his head.
They had a part in my suffering, so I forced them to come with. Hows
it going?
Too damn slow.
Be patient Cid, these things take time. I should know.
Cid turned to Tifa and tried his best to manage a smile.
****************************
Three hours later, with a wail loud enough to make her papa proud, Amanda Cid Highwind was born.
Email: highwind32@hotmail.com