------------------------------------------------- -Chapter 8a- "Something on your mind?" Cloud asked Tifa. "I was just thinking about the baby," Tifa replied, thoughtfully. Cloud nodded. "Tifa, Sephiroth's son must be dealt with. I know he's just a baby, but..." "I don't mean Sephiroth's." Tifa said, quietly. Cloud's eyes went wide. "You mean...?!" Tifa nodded. Cloud threw his arms around Tifa and pulled her into an embrace. "Cloud," Tifa said, looking into his eyes, "I was just wondering. Are we really doing the right thing? I mean, even if he is Sephiroth's child, he's still just a baby." Cloud was thinking about things differently now, too, he realized. Only a moment before, he'd been thinking along the lines of eliminating a potential threat. Now the little one-winged angel wasn't a potential threat. It was someone's child, like the one Tifa was carrying. "I was just wondering the same thing," he told Tifa. "However, we have to make sure he isn't a danger." "But we don't have to kill him, do we?" Tifa asked. "I'm not gathering a lynch mob to kill a baby." Cloud assured her. Tifa relaxed. "I'm glad." ***** Sephiroth had endured people snickering him all day and it was starting to wear out his patience. He grabbed a man by the throat and slammed him up against a wall. "What is so funny?" he demanded, glaring at the man. "You ... um... you should look in a mirror, sir...." the man stammered, terrified. Sephiroth dropped him and went to find the nearest clothes shop. As soon as he saw his reflection, his eyes went wide. "That little...!" he exclaimed. "PRISCILLA!!!" Prscilla, who was across the street getting some groceries for their trip, yelped. "Uh oh." "Looks like he found out about that ribbon." the grocer told the girl. "Good luck." Priscilla paid for her groceries, then hurried out of the store. Sephiroth ran out of the clothes shop, the pink bow still in his hair, and gave chase. Priscilla, giggling, ran on ahead. She knew Sephiroth was only playng with her. After all, if he'd been serious, he could've caught her easily. ***** "Congratulations, Mr. Highwind," the doctor announced as he walked into the waiting room of the Rocket Town Municipal Hospital, "it's a girl!" "Just what the world needed," Cid remarked, smiling nevertheless, "another Shera. How're the two of 'em doin'?" "Mother and daughter are just fine." the doctor replied. "You can go in and see them if you like." Cid stood up and walked into the recovery room. "Hey, I thought I said I wanted a son." he grinned. "Sorry," Shera smiled. "I guess we'll just have to try again." Cid shrugged, sitting on the edge of the bed and kissing Shera's forehead. "Hm," Shera smiled up at him, "With the type of attempts you keep making, I'm tempted to just keep having daughters." Cid was about to reply when his PHS rang. "Cid Highwind here." he answered it. "Cloud? Don't tell me you... Elena? Sure I remember her. I see. Well, Shera and I just had our first kid together. No, it won't be a problem. I hope you don't mind if the two of them join us. I won't leave them." Shera smiled. "Okay, in two days then. Hope you don't mind having someone who whines, fusses, and screams at the top of their lungs along on this trip." ***** "No, we don't mind," Cloud said into his PHS. "And you can bring the baby, too." he let out a hearty laugh, then continued. "We'll see you in two day." he hung up the PHS. "Cid coming along?" Yuffie asked. "Cid, Shera, and the baby." Cloud replied. "Cloud," Tifa began. "I know," Cloud shrugged. "But we need the Highwind if we're going to find out more about Elena's baby."