A/N: Yay, sappy Christmas episode finale! Just when you thought it couldn't get lamer and fluffier!

My American housemates reliably inform me that they have never heard of mince pies or mulled wine. I am shocked and moreover appalled. What kind of crappy Christmas do you all have in the US?

---

"Caught you," Yazoo tapped his father on the shoulder, surprising him.

"Caught me what?" Sephiroth scowled.

"Thinking about proposing to Cloud," Yazoo gestured at the shop window before his father; it was a jeweller's, and upon blue satin cushions were displayed the range of engagement rings. "A little feminine for him, don't you think?"

"Mmm, true, and he has a habit of getting everything covered in paint."

"Ah," Yazoo linked his father's arm as they set off down the street. "So you are thinking of popping the question?"

"No, of course not. I was wondering what to get him for Christmas. I thought he might like a ring… not a jewelled one, obviously…"

"But dad, you don't want to get his little hopes up. He's wild about you and you know what he'll think if you present him with a ring…"

"He's not an idiot, Yazoo — he knows not to expect that."

"Really?" Yazoo raised an eyebrow before pulling his father sideways into a boutique, "hey, come in here with me a minute."

"Yazoo, this is a women's clothes shop," Sephiroth objected, taking in his surroundings.

"I know that," Yazoo sighed as if his father was being especially dim. "I'm looking for a present for Reno. Well, kind of for Reno… indirectly." He rifled through a clothes rack and brought out a ball dress of cerulean-coloured taffeta, holding it up against himself.

"Do you think I suit blue? Reno says so, but I think it washes out my complexion."

"It makes you look paler," Sephiroth agreed before shaking his head. "Hey, I object to being made to assist you in buying outfits in which to titillate that red-headed deviant!"

"'Deviant'? This from the man who makes his lover dress up in PVC and takes him to fetish clubs?"

"Kadaj is a little tell-tale," Sephiroth scowled.

"I wish I had smaller feet," Yazoo lamented distractedly, picking up a dainty stiletto.

"Your feet are a perfectly normal size for a man," Sephiroth pointed out before sighing and glancing at his watch. "You know, I really haven't got time for this."

"Why, where are you going?"

"To lunch with Tseng and Rufus… though if the company questions it, they're potential investors from Wutai."

"Fiddling the expense account, dad? I'm shocked."

"Does the university know that you spend your scholarship money on dressing up like a duchess?"

Yazoo pouted and threw a handbag at him.

---

Christmas Eve

Rufus was lying on Tseng's couch with his head on his lover's chest; Tseng's fingers moved through his glossy blond hair; he felt eminently contented.

"Hmm," Rufus shifted, wriggling deeper into Tseng's embrace. "I know that there's a reason we're off school tomorrow. What is it?"

"Because it's Christmas," Tseng replied, his voice a low rumble from Rufus' position.

"Oh yes, that's right," Rufus said. "I knew it was some kind of pointless holiday. Don't you have somewhere to go?"

"No, my family are all on the other side of the planet. Don't you?"

"No, I'm an orphan."

"Really?" Tseng could not believe he was unaware of this vital piece of information about Rufus. Then again, the blond was reticent when it came to discussing his past: not so much secretive as simply reluctant, as if it bored him.

"Yes. My mother died when I was a child, my father a few years ago in a freak accident involving a mako reactor…"

"I'm sorry," Tseng leaned down and kissed the top of Rufus' head.

"It's ok, I don't remember my mother, and we didn't get on, my father and I. He didn't agree with what I wanted to do with my life. He wanted me to be a politician, or a high-powered businessman like him. When he died he didn't leave me anything in his will, just to spite me."

"Well I suppose I should be glad that I escaped that particular in-law."

"Hmm, he would have hated you. He didn't like anyone who wasn't afraid of him. And he wanted me to get married and have lots of little ShinRa heirs for him."

"Do you want children?"

"God no! I get enough of that at work…" Rufus laughed.

"So…" Tseng stroked his lover's back. "It's just you, me, and Cuddles then?"

'Cuddles' was the name of the elderly shih-tzu, who was, as usual, sitting on his chair sneezing intermittently.

"Three's a crowd: can't we get the dog put down?"

"No! If you made me choose between putting that dog down and putting you down…"

"Harsh Tseng! I thought you loved me."

"I do, but Cuddles loves me and has done so for much longer than you have…"

"I hate that dog…" Rufus muttered, glaring resentfully at Cuddles, who just raised his head and gave a good-natured wag of his tail.

"Don't be jealous," Tseng admonished, squeezing his lover, "it's not an attractive quality, you know."

"Well I'm glad I've found out where your affections really lie Tseng. It's a good thing I didn't buy you any Christmas presents then, isn't it?"

"Liar. I looked under your bed."

Rufus sighed. Recently he had found himself noticing things that Tseng would like, buying them without a second thought: books on meditation and vegetarian cookery, items of porcelain as frangible and translucent as an egg shell; a selection of rather ingenious sex toys (well those were a gift to himself as well). Only the other day he had found himself picking up a mug that said 'planet's greatest lover' and he had a sudden moment of freaking out when he realised he was even contemplating buying something to utterly twee and tasteless just because it would make Tseng smile and kiss him, these thoughts resulting in him instantly putting it down and walking quickly from the store.

The only possible conclusion to be drawn from the episode was that he was hopelessly smitten: he might as well admit it, at least to himself. He was even beginning to feel bad for all the uncharitable thoughts he had spent his loveless lifetime directing at moronically happy couples. He closed his eyes in despair and stroked the portion of dark, silken hair which lay coiled on his Tseng's chest.

"What's wrong?" Tseng sensed his lover was pensive and disgruntled. "I wouldn't really have you put down, you know."

Rufus adopted a mock-serious expression, propping his chin upon the centre of Tseng's solar plexus to look at him. "I know, I'm just concerned you may have bought me hideous tacky things to clutter up my house with."

"You know my taste is impeccable, in all things," he replied, then leaned down and kissed Rufus in that damn way of his that always stole the blond's breath and made his heart flutter.

---

Kadaj had come to terms with the idea, however distant he liked to keep it, that his father and Cloud probably had sex, but did they have to make it quite so obvious? Sephiroth had descended the stairs, followed a few moments later by Cloud, who was looking distinctly flushed and was wearing one of Sephiroth's sweaters (a garment he certainly had not been wearing earlier), which kept slipping off his shoulder and did nothing to cover the love bites on his neck. Cloud joined Sephiroth in the kitchen, and they commenced talking in low tones and kissing each other lingeringly.

"Hey," Kadaj objected from his unseen position in the dining area. "Get a room!"

Cloud laughed as Sephiroth turned him around and tugged his lover back against himself, his arms crossed protectively over Cloud's chest. "Are you still wrapping presents?" the blond asked.

"Shut up!" Kadaj snapped. "I know I leave everything to the last minute…"

"Don't mind him," Sephiroth murmured in Cloud's ear. "He's crabby because Vincent isn't coming to dinner tomorrow."

"Oh, really?" Cloud pulled away from his lover and went into the dining room and pulled up a chair next to his friend. "What happened, Kadaj?"

"He made up with his parents," Kadaj sighed. "I mean I'm happy for him, but I was looking forward to having someone else to talk to over Christmas dinner… apart from my stupid family…"

"Thanks son," called Sephiroth.

"But Kadaj, I'm going to be there," said Cloud.

"You are?" the silver-haired boy hugged Cloud gratefully.

"Of course he is," Sephiroth said, "he's part of our family now. Like Reno, who I assume we inherited because no-one else wanted him."

"No," Cloud corrected, "we inherited Reno because his mother won the lottery and moved to Costa del Sol."

"Crafty woman," Sephiroth commented. "If I had the money I'd move far away from Reno."

"Hey," Cloud emerged from the dining room. "No being horrible to Reno: it's Christmas, save your animosity for the rest of the year."

Sephiroth sighed and lifted up a large saucepan to make mulled wine in. "Just somebody keep him away from the booze, right?"

Cloud laughed. "Well, I'm sure Yazoo will try."

---

The arrival of Reno and Yazoo was a rather rowdy affair. Cloud opened the door to the silver-haired and red-haired boys: both were wrapped up in scarves and weighed down with presents, and Reno was wearing a headband upon which was suspended a sprig of mistletoe by means of a curve of wire.

"Cloud!" he grinned, setting down his burdens on the doorstep and holding his arms out. "Come here you blond bombshell!"

"Is he drunk already?" Cloud asked as he was grabbed and showered with kisses.

"No," Yazoo replied, rolling his eyes, "this is him sober: he's just over-excited."

"You jealous, honey?" Reno asked, turning his amorous attentions to his boyfriend.

"Reno, get off…" Yazoo laughed as the red-head kissed his neck, batting the dangling mistletoe away.

"What's going on?" asked Kadaj, wandering through from the kitchen.

"No, Kadaj, don't go within his range!" Cloud warned, but it was in vain, for Reno had already lunged at the svelte silver-haired boy. There was the comical spectacle of Kadaj's flailing arms as he struggled against the red-head.

"Agh, Reno! Not with tongue!" Kadaj cried, as Yazoo freed him by means of a sharp yank on his boyfriend's scarf.

"Now," said Reno, rubbing his hands together, "where's the General?"

"Reno, it's not worth it — he'll kill you," Yazoo warned.

"Nah, not on Christmas," said Reno dismissively, bounding into the kitchen, where he ran smack into the patriarch's broad chest. Sephiroth grinned down at him and flicked the mistletoe sprig contemptuously.

"Nice try, short-ass. I believe we traditionally have to be under this."

"Damn," said Reno. "Just you wait 'til I find a box."

"With baited breath," Sephiroth replied, grinning at Reno's vexation. "Come on, have a drink to console you," he ladled some of the warm wine into a glass and passed it to the red-head.

"You're being very nice to me," Reno commented suspiciously. "Poisoned, is it?"

"No," Sephiroth folded his arms.

"Ah, so Cloud is bossing you about again?"

"Bingo," Sephiroth raised an elegantly tapered eyebrow and glared as Reno had a good laugh at his expense.

They were all settled in the living room by the time the doorbell rang again. "I'll get it!" Reno cried, anticipating Cloud and jumping off his seat upon the couch.

There was the sound of Tifa and Loz being ambushed, their cries of surprise followed by their laughter. Soon the entire clan of silver-haired men and their assorted partners were sitting around, listening to a bad Christmas music CD, Vincent walking on this carnage with his typical sang-froid and managing to dodge Reno on his way through the door and using his boyfriend as a human shield. Kadaj got kissed several times in the ensuing scuffle before Reno managed to land one on Vincent and withdrew, with a satisfied smirk to his position next to Yazoo.

"No-one escapes," he said, narrowing his eyes at Sephiroth.

Yazoo patted his lover's hand and said, "shall we tell them?"

"Ooh, yeah!" Reno jumped up. "Where'd you put the champagne, Yaz?"

"Dear God, please tell me they're not getting married," Sephiroth murmured and squeezed Cloud's hand tightly.

"No, dad, we're not mental," Yazoo sighed and went to retrieve two bottles of champagne from within one of the bags they had brought.

"Fuck no!" Reno paused to think about how Yazoo would look in a white dress, but shook his head and continued: "you might have noticed is that instead of being at work, slaving my butt off, I'm here with you guys. This is because my lovely ma has given me enough money that I can quit my job and still keep Yazoo in the style to which he is accustomed. And so I'm gonna go enrol in college and get some worthwhile qualifications… Though, hopefully by the time I finish there Yazoo will be pulling in the kind of salary that will let me continue to sit on my ass indefinitely…"

Sephiroth groaned.

"…Hey, seriously yo, I'm no good at speeches, but I guess I just wanted to share my happiness with everyone, 'cause you guys are like family to me. And if I'm more hyper and annoying than usual this evening, I apologise in advance."

Everyone clapped politely and Reno bowed, almost losing an eye when the mistletoe bobbed back and hit him as he ascended. Yazoo came over and handed him one of the champagne bottles and kissed him lovingly.

"While we're making announcements," said Loz, suddenly, standing up. He handed Tifa up next to him and embraced her from behind, one hand resting delicately on her stomach as she smiled radiantly. "We have something to say…"

"No!" Sephiroth cried, his face taking on an aspect of acute horror. "Don't do this to me!"

There was tense silence for a moment, Tifa and Loz turned their heads and looked at Yazoo, and suddenly all three teens dissolved into helpless laughter.

"Told you he'd fall for it!" Yazoo said, holding onto Reno for support.

"Hey, why didn't I get in on this?" Reno sulked.

"Because you can't keep a straight face, Reno, and you know it!" Tifa told him between fits of giggling.

"Oh, so I'm an object of ridicule am I?" Sephiroth stood up and gave a look that was nothing short of terrifying at his two eldest sons, the kind of expression which made Reno genuinely glad that he had no share in the prank.

"Dad…" Yazoo tried very hard not to laugh, but Sephiroth's serious face was really quite funny.

Sephiroth gave an exasperated sigh and stalked out of the room.

"Too far?" ventured Kadaj.

"Maybe," Loz replied looking slightly worried.

"He'll come around," Cloud said, jumping up and following his lover to the kitchen.

---

Sephiroth was standing with his hands braced on the counter, frowning and staring blankly out the window.

"Sephiroth, love…" Cloud said softly. "Don't be like this… they were just joking with you."

"Do you think it's funny?" Sephiroth retorted.

"No," Cloud lied, coming forward and embracing his lover. Sephiroth hugged him tightly, nuzzling the side of his neck.

"They don't realise how hard it was, bringing them up when I was only a kid myself. That's why they think it's a joke, how afraid I am of them making the same mistakes I did."

"You call it 'mistakes', but you wouldn't change it, would you?"

"Of course I wouldn't!"

"Then you can't judge them for what they decide to do with their lives."

"I suppose not."

"You know what I think?" Cloud stroked Sephiroth's back.

"What?"

"I think you're just really pissed off at the idea of becoming a grandparent at 38."

"O-oh. Shit!"

Cloud raised his eyebrow. "I bet now you're glad they were just joking with you… 'Cause, you know I don't think I'd like to have sex with someone's grandfather — that's too weird, even for me…"

Sephiroth laughed and hugged Cloud tighter. "How do you always do this?"

"Do what?"

"Calm me down so effectively. If it had been Jenova who followed me in here we would have been throwing plates at each other in a matter of minutes."

"Oh, I don't know, you're not that hard to reason with," Cloud gave a thoughtful look, his expression suddenly darkening.

"What's troubling you?"

"I was just thinking… well, Vincent managed to make up with his parents. Maybe I should go and see mine."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, you stay here with your family — I'll walk over."

Tifa's head appeared around the kitchen door.

"Sephiroth," she began diffidently. "Listen, I'm sorry: it was a stupid, immature joke. If I'd known how much it would upset you I never would have…"

"I won't forgive you," Sephiroth said sharply. "I expect such idiocy from Yazoo and Loz, but you Tifa, I am very disappointed in."

"Come on Sephiroth," Cloud caught the playful tone in his lover's voice, but Tifa still looked worried. "It's Christmas: you have to forgive everyone."

"Alright," he smiled and kissed Tifa's cheek and gestured for her to lead the way back. Allowing Cloud to go before him, Sephiroth followed the two teens as they slipped back to the living room, but he paused at the foot of the stairs, because Reno was standing there on the second step, looking nonchalant, his arms folded across his chest.

"Reno, dare I ask?"

In a surprisingly swift movement for the normally-clumsy red-head, Reno reached out and grasped Sephiroth's shirt front.

"Gottcha!" he cast his eyes upwards to indicate the mistletoe now dangling over both their heads.

Sephiroth sighed long-sufferingly and reached up, plucking the unfortunate sprig from its mooring and tossing it negligently over his shoulder.

"You know," Reno scowled, relinquishing his grip on the older man's shirt, "you are distinctly lacking in Christmas spirit."

"'Christmas spirit', to you, consists of the license to sexually harass everyone unfortunate enough to be under the same roof as yourself?"

Reno descended to ground level. "Well, that's part of it, yeah… it also involves getting' drunk off my ass and eatin' cake."

"And you're telling me that you won't be content until you manage to kiss me?"

"It'll totally ruin the entire holiday."

Sephiroth sighed again and stepped over to Reno, who fluttered his eyelashes and puckered his lips.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed as he was suddenly pushed backwards and overbalanced. Sephiroth's intention was not, as he first feared, simply to shove him on his ass, for he was caught at a rather alarming angle, like a ballroom dancing move, his ponytail hanging at right-angles to the floor. "Umm, Sephiroth?"

"Shut up, Reno," the other commanded lowering is head and proceeding to ravish the red-head's mouth; all Reno could do was wrap his arms around Sephiroth's neck and try to breathe.

Reno's eyes were dreamy and unfocussed as Sephiroth restored him to his upright position. The older man raised his eyebrow.

"Satisfied?"

"Um… yeah, more than."

"If you tell anyone, particularly Cloud, I will kill you."

"Are you fuckin' kidding me, yo? Yazoo would cut my nuts off!"

Sephiroth brushed past him into the living room, Reno following at a wary distance.

"He broke my festive hair band," the red-head complained as he took his place next to his boyfriend, stripping off the now defunct item.

"Well, I did warn you baby," the silver-haired boy replied with a tender smile. "Hey, what happened to your lip?"

"Hmm?"

"It's bleeding." Yazoo touched his forefinger to the edge of his boyfriend's mouth and showed him as it came away red.

Reno was saved from explaining himself by the timely distraction of the doorbell chiming, but he then recalled that there was no point in leaping up since he was now without his mistletoe and sat back moodily, drawing his arm across his lover's shoulders as he sucked on his throbbing bottom lip: sweet, predictable Yazoo, who was gentle and made sense.

"Hey, I'll get that," Cloud said, reluctantly getting up from his perch on the sofa arm next to Sephiroth. "I'm on my way out anyway."

The older man gave him a solicitous glance. "Ok, call me if you want picking up."

Cloud smiled at him and kissed his cheek before going to the door.

---

"Hello?" he frowned as he opened it to see a woman standing in a circle of porch light, her white hair, translucent skin, and the pale dress she wore making her seem delicate and moth-like. She smiled to reveal even rows of pearly, strangely sharp teeth, her expression seeming hostile rather than warm.

"Forgive me for calling at such a time… does Sephiroth still reside here?" she asked. She spoke with strangely artificial politeness, as if she were an android, or an alien trying to emulate humanity.

"Yes, he does. Who shall I say is here?" somehow he knew the answer before she spoke it.

"Jenova."

Cloud felt faint with dread — she was even more beautiful than he could possibly have imagined: in her he could see the high, delicate features that all three sons had inherited to varying degrees, but coupled with an ethereal femininity that was breathtaking to behold. He knew that she must be in her late thirties, like Sephiroth, but by just looking at her you could be forgiven for thinking her to be any age above sixteen. The dress she wore was short and skin-tight, revealing her slender, etiolated limbs, and over it she wore only a fur wrap, and in her hands a clutch purse, as if she had just stepped out of a limousine. She must be freezing, he thought distantly, glancing down at her bare legs.

"Who is it, Cloud?" Sephiroth asked, coming out of the living room and closing the door behind himself.

"Your ex-wife," he replied faintly.

"Hello Seph," Jenova said, looking past the blond. "It's been a long time."

Sephiroth's ordinarily pale face grew even whiter as it drained of blood. He stared at the revenant as if she was an apparition. "I thought I felt a pricking in my thumbs this evening," Sephiroth said, masking his shock with sarcasm.

"I'm um… in the way," said Cloud, brushing past Jenova.

"Who was that?" Jenova asked, watching the blond take off down the street with his long, rapid strides, "have you been taking in waifs and strays?"

"He's my lover, his name is Cloud."

"What is he, like seventeen?"

"Eighteen," Sephiroth shook his head in irritation, "listen, you disappeared for a decade, you don't get to criticise my choices. What are you doing here, anyway?" instead of inviting her in he stepped out onto the porch and closed the front door.

"I suppose my curiosity finally caught up with me. How are the boys?"

"They're fine. All grown up now, no thanks to you."

She opened her mouth as if to speak, but closed it and shook her head, almost in comical disbelief. "I'm sorry Sephiroth," she managed, eventually.

"No you aren't. Where have you been anyway?"

"All over," Jenova waved her elegant hand vaguely. "Nibelheim mainly, had lots of fun which no doubt your wildly envious of, many lovers, none of whom were as good as you, obviously."

"You look good," Sephiroth appraised, folding his arms and taking in Jenova's form, familiar and yet strange.

"So do you, though, more serious I think."

"That was necessary. I grew up fast – for them."

"Can I see them, the boys?" behind Jenova's studied indifference Sephiroth saw a hint of hope and uncertainty.

"I don't know…" Sephiroth gave her a wary look.

"I know I don't have any right… I did abandon them. I've thought of them, and you, every day since I left, but I can't say I ever regretted it. You and I were destroying each other, Seph."

"I know," Sephiroth looked up. "It's something I've only begun to understand recently, that relationships aren't meant to be like ours was."

Jenova gave a strange, faraway look. "I suppose life has taught me some harsh lessons too."

"Jenova, I don't feel bitter about what happened all those years ago: I forgive you, but the boys… I don't know. They were devastated when you left, Kadaj especially… they never understood. I don't want you to waltz back in and throw their lives into chaos again. Kadaj is still very young and headstrong, and Loz, he's still very emotional and fragile at times. Yazoo, he never forgave you…"

"Yazoo was always your pet," Jenova said darkly.

"And Kadaj was yours. It took him years to trust me: he thought I'd driven you away."

"You did."

"Don't ever say that to me. How can you?"

"I knew I had no place in your life…" said Jenova quietly. "You didn't need me, and so I went."

"Don't blame me because you didn't have the courage to stay," Sephiroth's eyes blazed and both were silent for a moment. "You can see them," he said, "but let me warn them first: they're with their lovers."

"Lovers?" Jenova laughed. "They are all grown up."

Sephiroth turned back into the house, opening the door onto the happy scene of his children enjoying themselves in ignorance of the woman outside. Yazoo and Loz were playing cards with Reno and Tifa, sitting cross-legged on the floor around the coffee table. Reno was gesticulating, apparently pleading innocence in face of accusations of cheating and Yazoo was laughing and remonstrating with him playfully. Loz had his hand at the small of Tifa's back and she turned to give him a smile in that gentle way of hers. Kadaj was looking through the CD rack, trying to find something that pleased his tastes more than the current saccharine tunes (which Yazoo had probably put on to vex him) and Vincent was leaning against the wall next to him, listening to his suggestions.

"Boys," Sephiroth said, interrupting their various occupations. "Loz, Yazoo, Kadaj: there's someone here to see you. Will you please come into the dining room?"

The grave attitude of their father made all three silver-haired boys alert and compliant, despite their confusion; they all murmured that they would soon be back and followed Sephiroth out.

"What was that about?" Reno exclaimed.

Tifa nodded. "Sephiroth looked very serious."

"Isn't it obvious?" Vincent replied from his position, arms folded across his chest and his head down. "Their mother has come back."

---

Sephiroth conducted Jenova into the kitchen and gestured to the doorway to her right. "They're in there."

Jenova smoothed down her dress, her figure becoming straightened as she walked through to the dining room. Sephiroth watched her as she hesitated in the doorway momentarily, gazing upon her three sons, before she ventured to step forward and out of his sight.

"Hello boys," she said, her eyes sweeping from one to another, trying to reconcile the tall youths before her with her memories of the children they had been. All three stared wildly at her, likewise.

"Mother!" Kadaj was the first to speak, his voice plaintive.

"Kadaj," Jenova came forward, she held out her hands as if to cup his face, but drew back at the last second. "Kadaj, my baby. Look at you! What are you wearing and what's all this on your face?"

"Umm, make-up, mum. It's kind of a look… I don't know."

"Stand up straight, darling, don't hide behind your hair," she chided, making Kadaj look even more awkward than previously.

"Oh," Jenova's attention was distracted by the largest silver-haired boy, "Loz!" she cried in recognition, flitting towards him. "Oh, look how big and strong you are now, so handsome," she touched his bicep admiringly and gave the briefest brush against his high cheekbone with her fingertips. Bewildered by the strong emotions surging through him, Loz started to cry softly and Jenova recoiled in confusion.

"Yazoo," she said, looking at the fey boy with the long hair, who was scowling at her disapprovingly and moving to comfort his brother.

His expression softened as he touched the taller boy's arm and murmured "don't cry, Loz," with a gentle, reassuring tone.

"Yazoo, you've grown so much," she said, her voice full of wonder. "You've turned out so beautiful…" she laughed a little, "when I left you were in your awkward phase."

"When you left," Yazoo was still holding Loz's shoulder, "yes mother, that was a long time ago wasn't it?" his tone was spiteful, dangerous.

"Yazoo, don't!" Kadaj cried. "She's come back to us, like I always said she would!"

"Come back to you?" Jenova stared at her youngest son. "No, I just came to visit you. I wanted to see what you all looked like grown up."

"Well now you've satisfied your curiosity, you can go," Yazoo retorted.

"Yazoo please," Kadaj pleaded, "don't speak that way to mother."

"Don't let her fool you again, Kadaj," the middle sibling told his younger brother, not unkindly.

Jenova had apparently not anticipated such antagonism, she froze in the centre of the room, until Kadaj came over to her and slipped his arms around her in a tentative embrace, which she allowed for a moment before backing away and shaking him off. Kadaj looked up questioningly, for some affirmation of her love, some explanation of her leaving, or an expression of contrition, but she gave him none, her gaze was cold and he could not guess what she was thinking.

"For the love of God, someone stop him crying," she snapped, looking at Loz, "I can't stand it!"

"Are you satisfied with your reunion, Jenova?" Sephiroth commented softly from the doorway.

"Yes, you ought to be very proud of what you've done with them Sephiroth," she turned to glare at her ex-husband, her eyes glittering with malice. He recognised that expression: it was the one she adopted when cornered. "A cry-baby, a bitch and," she gestured at Kadaj as if struggling for the right term of censure, "a painted little fool."

The elder siblings gasped, Kadaj looked blank, his eyes impossibly huge. Yazoo moved and pulled him into a protective embrace, glaring fiercely at his mother over his little brother's shaking shoulders. Jenova placed her hand over her mouth, seeming suddenly to understand the enormity of what she had done.

"Come on," Sephiroth looked at her a little pityingly, "I'll take you somewhere."

"You turned them against me!" she cried accusingly.

"No Jenova, you have done that yourself," Sephiroth said, turning and walking away, leaving her to follow, or not, as she chose.

She stalked out of the house after him, glancing over her shoulder to see the three curious faces of Vincent, Tifa and Reno at the living room door.

"A plague on this house," she hissed, slamming the front door behind herself

"What a bitch," Reno commented succinctly.

"I take it it didn't go well," Vincent said.

Reno frowned. "Should we go in?"

"No," Tifa laid a restraining hand on Reno's arm. "Leave them, they'll return when they're ready."

"But, if Yazoo's upset I wanna be there for him…"

"Don't worry," Tifa gave a reassuring smile, "he has his brothers."

---

"Where would you like me to take you?" Sephiroth asked as Jenova slid into the passenger seat.

"The airport I suppose," she shrugged.

"Don't you have any belongings, woman of mystery?"

"At Hojo's house, Nibelheim."

"Hmm, so that's who you ran off with? I always wondered whether you would really go off on your own, or whether you waited for a better offer." Sephiroth looked in his rear-view mirror before pulling away from the kerb. "But Dr. Hojo… really? I wouldn't have thought he was your type."

Sephiroth had been a soldier when Jenova left him, forced to give up his commission and take a civilian job in order to look after his family when she went. Hojo was high up in the army, less a doctor and more a mad scientist. There were rumours among the troops about the unethical nature of his experiments, but whatever it was he did, he did it with approval from the higher echelons. Sephiroth remembered him as tall and thin with long, greasy hair he habitually tied back and glasses: hardly the sort of figure Jenova would consider a catch.

"He worships me," she said by way of explanation.

"And that's enough for you?"

"He gives me whatever I ask for, and he works so much that he's hardly ever at home to bother me. When he is there, he only wants my body, he doesn't try to understand me or, or pry into my affairs, or ask me to love him. I've never met anyone else I can co-exist with so peacefully."

"So basically, he gives you money and mainly leaves you alone?"

"Like you said, earlier Sephiroth: we don't get to criticise each other's choices anymore."

They remained in silence for some minutes after that as Sephiroth drove along the darkened streets, Jenova curled up sulkily beside him. "I'm sorry it turned out that way for you tonight," he said, eventually. "I'm sure you expected something… less humiliating."

"Don't pretend that you are not glad that they despise me."

Sephiroth did not venture to reply to such an obviously spiteful comment, he pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned off the engine so he could look at her when he spoke.

"Jenova, I don't want to leave things this way. You didn't give me a chance to say goodbye to you, you just left in the middle of the night. Please, let us part on better terms this time."

"How would you have us part?" Jenova's eyes blazed cold fire. "Shall we have one last fling, for old times' sake?"

"That isn't what I meant."

Jenova saw her chance to gain the upper hand: she pulled her dress up to reveal her slender thighs. Sephiroth sighed and averted his gaze.

"Don't be prudish, Seph," Jenova's voice became husky. "Don't you remember this? We were good together once… you used to beg me for this."

"You delighted in making me beg," Sephiroth said bitterly, taking her wandering hand from off his knee.

Jenova gave her bright laugh. "Come on, Seph, I know you want it. Look at me," Sephiroth turned his head slightly, "I haven't put on even a pound in ten years, look." She ran her hands down beneath the swell of her breasts over her flat stomach. The slenderness which in their youth had captivated him, had seemed girlish and added vitality to her, now made her seem strangely frigid and brittle. A little plumpness would have softened her, given her womanly curves befitting her maturity, but she had remained exactly the same, still dressing like a teenage model; only around the eyes could you see that she had aged.

"You're a very attractive woman, Jenova, but I have a lover."

"Seph, I know what you like," she said seductively. "Don't pretend to me that your blond toy boy knows how to satisfy you."

"You don't know anything about Cloud! He satisfies me, completely, and even if he didn't I would still be faithful to him. I would never risk something as important to me as he is on a cheap thrill in the back of a car with you."

Jenova laughed dismissively. "Perhaps he's pretty and submissive," she gave him a sly sideways glance, "you always liked the idea of someone docile and complaint, didn't you? But don't pretend that he's the love of your life, he's just a child."

Sephiroth felt suddenly weary: he had been curious to speak to Jenova, had wanted perhaps to lay to rest their past antagonism, and he had hoped she might have had cause for reflection over the time they had been apart. Yet, she was as cold and manipulative as ever — more so even, for once she had a softer side, increasingly rarely seen as they grew up together and she learned to hide her insecurities, jealously guarding her emotions even from him. There was no trace of that in her now, and he knew that his best intentions would only be turned against him. Giving a wordless sigh, Sephiroth turned the ignition and eased the car back on to the road.

"Once, we felt like we were in league together against the rest of the world," he said keeping his gaze fixed on the tarmac. "I think we believed that we could despise everyone else on the planet, that nothing else mattered apart from us. We were so wrapped up in each other… I can hardly believe it's come to this: us, strangers to one another."

Jenova was silent for a long time, lost in her own thoughts. "You were the only person I was ever faithful to, in my whole life," she said quietly. "Isn't that strange? I was obsessed with you right to the end. I did love you," she said this as if she were just realising it, "and it made me feel so weak I despised myself."

"You think that it's weakness to love someone?"

"Yes," she gave him a superior look, and knowing that stating otherwise would only earn him her distain, Sephiroth contented himself with lifting a hand to brush her cheek softly; her skin was chilled to the touch.

---

"Honestly Reno, I'm fine," Yazoo protested, growing tired of his lover's inept attempts to be solicitous. "I don't want anything to eat, or drink, and I don't want to talk about it."

They were in the kitchen, Yazoo was washing up the plates and glasses from earlier, when the house had been full of festive cheer, before the ghost of Christmas past paid her visit. Reno was concerned that his lover was using housework as an excuse not to deal with his emotions.

"That's ok," he said holding his hands up peaceably, "what about a hug?"

"I don't need a hug!"

"I know you don't need one, just thought you might like one… you know, just plain ol' cuddle with your boyfriend."

Yazoo glared at him, but nonetheless took his hands out of the sink and dried them on a towel before turning towards Reno and sticking his arms out stiffly. The red-head smiled before taking up the embrace, melting against Yazoo with a noise of contentment. Yazoo gave in too, letting his arms slide around his lover's back and resting his head on his shoulder as he felt Reno's hand stroking his hair.

"See," Reno murmured, hugging him tighter, "everything's ok, baby."

Yazoo pulled back just slightly, Reno's arms still around his waist, and looked up at his lover. Then a strange thing happened: his face went from blank and placid to crumpling in anguish as he suddenly dissolved into tears.

"Aww, come on," the red-head said as Yazoo buried his face in Reno's chest, "tell me what happened."

When Yazoo cried he really went for it, and he was sobbing now with all the intensity of an anguished five-year old. Reno held him close until the first outpouring had passed, then took him into the dining room to sit down, pulling a chair around so he could sit before the distraught silver-haired boy and take his hand.

Yazoo wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his sweater and sniffed.

"Kadaj hates me, he thinks it's all my fault she left. I didn't mean to be so horrible to her, it just happened… and she made Loz cry, and Kadaj was looking at her like he expected her to explain everything away, and I couldn't stand it."

Reno tried to look like he understood this disjointed speech and stroked Yazoo's flushed, damp cheek.

"She always hated me," Yazoo said darkly. "She doted on Kadaj because he reminded her of herself, and she was indifferent to Loz… she hated me because I saw through her. She always used to say 'you're just like your father, Yazoo', as if that was the worst possible insult." He took a deep, shaky breath. "I don't know why I'm getting upset… I don't need her approval."

"I know… but she's your mother, and she abandoned you, you're allowed to be emotional."

"I never cried once when she left. Loz did enough crying for everyone, I guess, and Kadaj went all weird and wouldn't talk for weeks… like he was in shock. I just tried to look after everyone, including dad… even though I was only ten. They were all acting like someone had died. I wasn't sad though, I mean, I was worried about them, but I didn't care that she'd gone, the opposite – I felt relieved. The house was so quiet and no-one yelled anymore. Maybe I felt guilty… I think I knew even then that she hated me, and I thought to myself, if I'd been a better son she would have stayed, and then dad, Kadaj and Loz would be happy."

"Yaz…" Reno gave him a pitying look.

"I don't think that now. I mean, I talked to Kadaj about it once, and he said that he felt the same guilt, and thought it was his fault, and Loz… he always blames himself for everything. But it wasn't our fault of course, she decided to leave for her own selfish reasons."

"As far as I can tell, you're all better the hell off without her."

"Definitely," Yazoo scowled. "I can't believe what she said to Kadaj today. I hope he's ok…"

"Don't worry he's got Vincent, who seems to understand everything more deeply than I do, yo."

"I'm glad the runt has someone to look after him," Yazoo smiled a little.

"C'mon," Reno tugged him up, "There's champagne left: I say we get really drunk and dance around to lame Christmas songs."

"Yeah!" Yazoo enthused, thinking that he was so glad to be out of high school and to no longer care about acting cool.

---

Loz was lying back on his bed with his hand behind his head, looking up at the ceiling of his old bedroom. The door creaked as Tifa came in, wearing a black slip, her hair loose and falling down her back.

"Hey," she said, sitting down next to him, startling him from his reverie.

"Hey," he replied, glancing up at her.

Tifa rubbed his bare chest comfortingly. "It's not your fault, you know."

"I know."

"No you don't," Tifa teased lightly, "you're doing that guilty frown."

"I just shouldn't have got all emotional…"

"Lo-oz," Tifa smiled, "It's hardly surprising…" she lay down beside him and slid the topmost of her legs between his. "I like that about you, y'know."

"What, that I cry?" He turned his face towards her, feeling her fingers moving in his hair as she shifted, her long thigh pressing between his legs

"That you're sensitive," Tifa kissed him. "Although, sometimes you are kind of dense when it comes to understanding me."

"I am," Loz frowned. "Why?"

"Cause you still haven't realised that I'm trying to get it on with you." Tifa had learned long ago that sometimes the only way to get Loz out of a black, introspective mood was to completely distract him.

"Hmm," Loz smiled and rolled over on top of her, kissing her deeply and linking his fingers with hers. He dipped his head and moved his tongue over the bump of her right nipple, wetting the silk with his tongue and biting down gently.

"Ahh… oh God Loz…" Tifa groaned, her hips shifting beneath him. Loz raised his head to kiss her, thinking that he could never imagine being with anyone else: she was so warm and soft and just… perfect.

"Tifa," he frowned in that uncertain way of his, leaning on his elbow and looking down at her.

"What?" her fingers carded through his hair, a soothing weight.

"If you ever leave me, promise you won't run away. Just… whatever happens, promise you'll say when you're going."

"Loz…" she shook her head incredulously. "You know me, I don't suddenly change my mind about things… the only place I ever ran was back to you."

That was true, Loz conceded. He could not quite bring himself to believe it, but she loved him, with the same sort of calm resolve as she did everything.

"Loz," she teased, "you're thinking too hard."

"Play with me," he offered, smiling and lowering his head to be just out of range of a kiss, tantalising.

She pulled him down atop of her and they both laughed, rolling over on top of one another and play-fighting. He always liked to pretend that she might win, even though he was a foot taller than her and almost twice as heavy. Maybe he had been wrong to tease his father earlier, Loz thought: they were still kids, after all…

---

Vincent was standing by Kadaj's window with his arms folded, quietly watching as Kadaj rifled through his chest of drawers looking for something, he was periodically recovering himself and bursting into fresh tears. He gave a soft cry and drew his hand from the compartment he had been searching in, in his hands was clutched a photograph.

"Mm.. my dad, he took all the photos of her and put them away somewhere, but I kept this one."

Vincent came towards him, putting his arms around the narrow shoulders of his lover and taking the picture from his trembling fingers.

"She was a very handsome woman," he commented. "You're very like her."

"Don't say that," Kadaj closed his eyes and was struck by an expression of pain.

"What did she say to you?" Vincent asked in his soft, low voice. "Tell me, Kadaj."

"I suppose you could say that she was displeased with me," Kadaj thrust the picture back into its hiding place and sat down on the edge of his bed, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. His eyeliner was smeared in dark circles.

"She hardly had time for that. How could she be displeased with you?" Vincent eased down next to him.

"With how I look, how I dress. I'm a disappointment to her."

"She had not seen her children for ten years, and all she wanted to say was that she doesn't like your look?" Kadaj started crying again and the dark-haired boy folded him into an embrace; he felt alarmingly birdlike and fragile in Vincent's arms. "Do you want me to stay here tonight?"

Kadaj looked up at him, the unshed tears making his green eyes jewel-bright. "But your family… you're supposed to go there tonight, aren't you?"

"It's ok, I'll call them and say I'll come around tomorrow. You could come with me, if you like… I'll introduce you."

Kadaj sucked his bottom lip in uncertainty. "What if they hate me?"

"Why would they hate you?"

"'Cause," Kadaj shrugged. "I mean, even my own mother…"

"Listen, Kadaj," Vincent brushed the tear-traces form his lover's cheeks with his thumbs, "your mother doesn't hate you. Sometimes, when people don't know what to say, they come up with stupid things, that's all." Kadaj hugged him tightly round his middle and in response, Vincent stroked his hair. "She must be a very unhappy person," he theorised.

---

Jenova sat in the busy airport waiting to catch the last flight to Nibelheim, wondering idly if Hojo would be around when she got home. It was Christmas, but then again, he was often so wrapped up in projects that he didn't know whether it was day or night, summer or winter. She spent weeks on end sleeping alone in that mansion, never wanting to take the risk of her conquests staying in case he returned unexpectedly. She valued her lifestyle enough to be cautious.

It was chilly in the departures lounge, she pulled her fur wrap tighter around herself and opened her purse, drawing from it a photograph. It was dog-eared and creased from being always carried about, the back bore the date of a Christmas a decade ago. She turned it over and looked at the faces of her children: Kadaj with chocolate around his mouth, Yazoo with his hair in a plait looking like he was telling him off, Loz standing between them and looking concerned. They were all wearing identical red jumpers with reindeer on. Sephiroth was standing by the mantelpiece and smiling indulgently at them. Jenova wondered why she had taken the photo: perhaps she had been trying out a new camera.

She touched each of their faces individually, the mark of affection she had been unable to bestow upon them in person earlier that evening, and she noticed that her fingers shook. It was the cold, she told herself — she was always cold.

---

On his way home Sephiroth took a detour around to Cloud's house, where he spotted the blond sitting hunched on the kerb by his parents' house. He slowed the car as he drew up parallel with him and reached over to open the passenger door for him. Cloud slid in next to him and curled up in the same unhappy, defensive attitude that Jenova had.

"Take it it didn't go well?" Cloud shook his head in response and Sephiroth reached over and caressed his hair affectionately. "Come on, let's go somewhere and have a talk."

They drove for a few minutes, Cloud keeping silent and turned away. Sephiroth wondered why he was acting so distant, but reasoned that perhaps he was just lost in his own thoughts. They came to a stop and Sephiroth drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, waiting for Cloud to speak. They were, unbelievably, at a place which was referred to by teenagers as 'Make-out Point' since time immemorial. God, he and Jenova had come here…

Sephiroth was startled from his reminiscences by Cloud starting to cry, his shoulders wrenched with sobs.

"Cloud…" Sephiroth touched his shoulder, but had his touch shrugged off. "Talk to me, love, what's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" his lover repeated, "how can you ask that?"

"Don't get angry with me sweetheart…"

"Don't call me that!" the blond looked up furiously, his eyes shining through his tears; Sephiroth looked at him helplessly — he wasn't used to such histrionics, not from Cloud, and he didn't know how to react.

"Whatever your parents said…" he began tentatively.

"I don't care about that, it's about you and me!"

"What about you and me? I don't understand, explain it…"

"You're breaking up with me!"

"What? Where did you get that idea?"

"Because Jenova came back to you, and she's beautiful and you're still in love with her."

"Cloud, do you think that I am insane?" Sephiroth glared at his lover. "Do you really think that I would drop my life for Jenova just because she decided to come waltzing back? Or do you think that I value you so little that I would throw away everything we have together on a whim?"

"So," Cloud looked up with his bottom lip caught between his teeth, as if he was hardly daring to hope, "we're not breaking up?"

"No, love, not unless that's what you want."

Cloud shook his head vigorously. "Nuh-uh. But then," he still looked troubled, "why did you take me out here instead of home?"

"I thought we might have some privacy: my home is full of over-emotional teenagers."

"There's one in your car too," Cloud wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his sweater. He held his arms out to Sephiroth and leaned into his older lover's embrace, content just to lie against him and have his hair petted. The relief of having his — apparently groundless — fears laid to rest was overwhelming and he spent a minute just resting against Sephiroth, letting the warmth of his lover's body seep into his own, smelling the faint trace of cologne that lingered on his skin.

"So what did your parents say?"

"Hmm?" Cloud opened his eyes. "Oh, they didn't say much. It was more of an uncomfortable, disapproving silence sort of a thing. I think that they were really pissed off that you haven't thrown me out on my ass yet. They're so itching to say 'I told you so'."

"Well I'm not planning to give them the satisfaction any time soon," Sephiroth kissed his forehead and Cloud tilted his head up to catch a proper kiss.

"Hey, you know what people usually do in their cars here?" the blond hinted, sliding his hand up the inside of his lover's leg

"Yes, that had crossed my mind," Sephiroth gave a sly smile.

"Want to take this to the back seat?"

"Hey, I know it's been a while since I was a teenager, but aren't you supposed to get me drunk first? Tell me you've never felt this way about anyone before?"

"But that's true," Cloud laughed.

"You know… strangely enough, this is the second time I've been propositioned in this car tonight."

"You mean… Jenova?"

Sephiroth nodded.

"Skank," said Cloud bitterly. "Wish I'd knocked her down and pulled her hair like I secretly wanted to."

The silver-haired man laughed and kissed him affectionately. "Don't worry, I wasn't tempted, not even slightly."

"You expect me to believe that? She's gorgeous, and you two have a history, to say the least…"

"She always had a way of manipulating me, and I suppose I might have given in were it not for thinking of you. Having you makes me strong enough to resist her."

"Oh, Sephiroth…" Cloud's bottom lip trembled with emotion and for a moment the older man worried he had made him cry again, but he suddenly found himself pulled close and being kissed enthusiastically, Cloud's hands curled in his hair. "Backseat, now," the blond hissed as he broke the increasingly desperate kiss, grabbing Sephiroth's belt. "Pretend you've kidnapped me."

Sephiroth considered this scenario: "mmm, ok — but if we get arrested I'm not sticking to that story."

---

Christmas Morning

Reno woke up to his lover poking him in the head.

"Quit it," he waved his hand towards the pale blur he supposed must be Yazoo and turned on his side.

"I feel like death," Yazoo confided in a rough voice.

"Yep," Reno agreed. "Definitely not feeling so festive today, yo."

Yazoo shifted, spooning up behind Reno, the red-head making an appreciative noise at the warmth of his lover's skin. "Think we can just stay this way 'till tomorrow?" the silver-haired youth ventured, curving his arm over the other's waist.

"Mmm," Reno groaned in agreement, wriggling backwards, closer against him. Their attempt to sleep off their hangovers was foiled by the door being opened without warning and suddenly Kadaj was jumping up and down on the bottom of the bed.

"Get up, get up, get up!" he shouted happily, wearing identical pyjamas to those that Yazoo owned, and full of the joys of irritating the hell out of his elder sibling.

"Can we kill him?" Reno asked, rolling on to his back and trying to stave off motion sickness.

"I don't see why not," Yazoo replied, throwing a pillow at his younger brother's head, Kadaj managed an light sideways hop off the bed to evade it.

"Hey, aren't you guys up yet?" Loz stuck his head around the door. "We can't open presents without you."

"I hate your family," Reno confided.

Yazoo rolled his eyes. "Yeah, me too."

Dressed, but still feeling more than a little seedy, Yazoo and Reno descended the stairs, shivering and holding on to one another for support.

"You look like death," Cloud commented cheerfully as they entered the kitchen, where he and Sephiroth were making breakfast.

"Merry Christmas to you too," Yazoo muttered bitterly.

"Why you so chipper, Cloud? The General give you your present already, huh?" Reno whispered, not quite quietly enough to avoid Sephiroth overhearing; the silver-haired patriarch narrowed his eyes threateningly.

Instead of blushing, as Reno had expected he would, Cloud merely shot him a half-smile. "I don't know what you're talking about Reno."

"Oh," Reno adopted a similarly innocent look. "Yaz mentioned that the General was buying you a ring, that's all: I don't see you wearing it."

"Oh, it's not the kind of ring you wear on a finger," Cloud explained mildly.

"Cloud," Sephiroth murmured disapprovingly, relieved that none of his sons had overheard, as Yazoo and Loz were now in the dining room.

Reno's mouth fell open in shock. "You kinky little deviant!" he hissed.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones," Cloud replied imperturbably, "but whips and chains excite me."

"Cloud! Reno!" Sephiroth admonished as the blond and the red-head blazed at each other. The potential standoff was interrupted by the entrance of Kadaj who had dressed rather strangely, though no-one could immediately say what it was that was peculiar. It was Yazoo, the most observant among them, who put his finger on it first:

"Kadaj! You're not wearing black! And shit, is that your natural complexion?"

"Shut up!" Kadaj snapped, looking instantly defensive. For once his face was not covered in white powder, and his eyes were unrimmed by kohl, his pale, lightly freckled skin bare to the elements; he was wearing jeans, a little too long for him, and a green sweater.

"Hey!" Yazoo narrowed his eyes, "is that my sweater?"

"You never wear it anymore," he replied defensively.

"Kadaj," Sephiroth said gently, following his youngest son into the adjoining room, "not that you don't look nice, but what is this sudden style change in aid of?"

"Vincent asked me to go around and meet his parents this evening."

"So?" Yazoo asked.

"Well, I want them to like me…" Kadaj shrugged. "I don't want to make a bad first impression. Sometimes people just go on exteriors, y'know."

"Like mother, you mean?" Loz asked, for once sharply perceptive.

"Like mother," Kadaj agreed quietly.

"Not that I'm standing up for your abuses of fashion or anything," Yazoo said. "But that outfit really doesn't suit you. Don't you have some formal gothwear?

Kadaj stuck his tongue out at his sibling before joining him at the dining table, looking slightly petulant as Sephiroth had implemented a 'no opening any presents before you've eaten something sensible' rule. He really had no idea what Cloud saw in that jerk.

---

Evening

"Ah, so you snuck off to do the washing up," Sephiroth said, "I have some cake for you, and I was wondering where you'd gone."

"The least I could do," Cloud shrugged, buried up to the elbows in soapy water, "you and Yazoo cooked…"

"At least I've got you alone." Sephiroth stood behind him and kissed his neck, setting down the side plate upon which sat a sliver of rich fruit cake topped with marzipan and fondant icing. Yazoo had made the cake at Hallowe'en and over the ensuing two months had conscientiously fed it brandy as if it were a cherished little alcoholic child. Cloud glanced at the proffered slice and noticed something silvery glinting in it. Overtaken by curiosity, he wiped his hands dry and pulled the mystery item from the depths of the cake: it was a ring. He gave a soft 'oh' of surprise.

"Sephiroth?" he murmured questioningly, turning to face his older lover. Sephiroth gave him a dark, unreadable look and sank slowly onto one knee. Cloud gripped the sink-edge with his free hand, his knuckles turning white and his other hand trembling and threatening to drop the ring.

Sephiroth, of course, had not planned to propose to Cloud when he bought the ring. He had told Yazoo what he believed to be he truth when he cynically dismissed his eldest son's joke, but the last few days had been so strange and emotional, and he was finding the idea harder and harder to reject. That Cloud had believed he would simply be thrown over for Jenova upon her return had shocked Sephiroth deeply, and the elder man had since been taken by a strange fear that his lover might leave him if he failed to show him how sincerely and deeply he was valued. All night he had been tormenting himself with the idea without knowing if he would have the courage or foolhardiness to execute it.

"Cloud." He looked on in alarm as the blond screwed his eyes tightly shut and shook his head, as if to banish the subject. "Cloud, look at me, open your eyes."

Cloud slowly complied, his breathing rapid and shallow like he was about to hyperventilate. "Sephiroth," he said pleadingly, "I can't talk to you when you're down there…"

Sephiroth stood up and simply took Cloud's hand, the ring resting between their two palms. "I love you," he began uncertainly. Come on, he told himself, you've done this before. Of course, Jenova had looked pleased and encouraging rather than as if she was about to run screaming or fall down in a dead faint. "And I know I haven't exactly taken the initiative before now, in fact, I've mostly been a cowardly idiot…" he frowned, "but I want you to understand how very serious I am about you. I want you… I want you to agree to marry me."

Cloud let out a strange sound somewhere between a yelp and a gasp, but he did not reply. Sephiroth began to panic, and began adding a codicil by way of reassurance to his startled lover: "I mean, it doesn't have to be soon, if you don't want it to be, you can take as long as you want… months, years, I don't mind, just say that one day you will. Say you want to spend your life with me…"

Cloud started to cry and Sephiroth could only pull him close in horror at what he had apparently done, stroking his lover's quivering back. He took a moment to reflect on the absurdity of what he had just asked: he knew that Cloud loved him at present, but that did not make the age difference go away — why would someone as young and full of potential as Cloud want to shackle himself to a man twenty years his senior?

"Don't cry, please… I'm sorry, forget I asked."

"Sephiroth," Cloud sobbed, his voice muffled by being held so tightly to the older man's chest. "Sephiroth, I'm so happy…"

"You're… what?" Sephiroth drew back a little so he cold see Cloud's flushed face.

"Happy," Cloud repeated before bursting into fresh tears. It had been a weird couple of days, Sephiroth reflected in his stunned state.

"So, is that a yes?"

"Of course it is! How soon can we get married?"

Oh shit, Sephiroth thought. He had just proposed to Cloud, and been accepted. How did that happen?

"Don't freak out," Cloud told him, feeling Sephiroth stiffen against him in that characteristic way that inevitably preceded one of his commitment-phobic panic attacks. "It's going to be ok. Like telling people about us being together, like me moving in… it'll be weird for a while, but you'll get used to the idea..."

What had been on his mind all those months ago, Sephiroth wondered, when he decided to push Cloud against a cupboard and ravish him? He was pretty sure it had been the idea that he wanted to have some fun with someone he had absolutely no danger of falling into a serious relationship with. Yet, that quiet, unassuming boy with the beautiful face had hidden depths and allurements… How was Sephiroth to know that Cloud would give him more sexual fulfilment than any other lover in his entire life? Or that Cloud would have the ability to soothe him and comfort him like no other? That Cloud would turn out to be more interesting, fun and inspiring than anyone he'd met in the last decade? It wasn't fair, Sephiroth concluded: he wasn't to know what he was getting himself into.

"'Course, you'll have to get that old ring cut off…" Cloud observed. "I'm taking metalwork next semester, so I'll make you a new one…"

---

"Umm," said Sephiroth, entering the living room where his sons and their lovers were occupied in trying on or playing with their recently-received gifts. "Cloud and I have an announcement…" His blond… fiancé?… was smiling ceaselessly and kept glancing down at the band of silver on his left hand.

"Yeah yeah, congratulations," said Reno, taking out a slip of paper from his pocket. "Ahh!" he cried in annoyance, "I had Christmas eve! Who had Christmas day, after dinner?"

Vincent raised his hand and the others groaned and reluctantly handed over their twenty Gil notes.

"Are we that obvious?" Cloud asked.

"Totally," Yazoo replied. "I knew dad would eventually cave and ask you like he secretly wanted to." Here he frowned and took out a slip identical to Reno's, "But I didn't predict you guys to work it out till New Year!"

"Sorry Yazoo," Sephiroth offered, "it seems I just couldn't wait."

Kadaj made a 'tssk' sound of annoyance and offered his prediction slip to Vincent, who laughed to see that it read 'when the lifestream freezes over'.

"Hey," said Reno, brightening, "can Yazoo be maid of honour?"

"Which one of us exactly do you think is a bride?" Cloud frowned. "No wait, don't answer that."

A new thought had occurred to Reno: "hey, lucky I saved the mistletoe, isn't it?"

"You did?" Sephiroth

"Sure, look up."

The couple raised their heads to see that, sure enough, stuck to the doorframe above them was the sorry sprig of fake mistletoe from Reno's infamous headband.

Sephiroth dimly heard the claps and whoops of the room's other occupants, but for a brief moment his world narrowed to a pale, pointed face of a boy who was really much too young to be his love interest, but who had the most incredible wide blue eyes and soft, yielding lips.

"Can't believe I just did that," he whispered as the kiss ended, "that was so vanilla."

"It's only going to get worse from here on in," Cloud replied. "Unless you want to get married in PVC…"

From the tone of his voice, Sephiroth feared that his lover was at least considering the idea.

- Fin de debacle

A/N: and they all lived happily ever after... except Jenova who has to go back to skanky Hojo. Thanks for all the reviews. I can't believe this story went on so long!