Chapter Text
Laguna and Leon disappeared with the boys and Cloud was left alone with Ellone. She didn’t dive right into speaking and instead spent a long moment simply enjoying her coffee. There was a softness to her that reminded him of Aerith.
For all she and Leon seemed different at a glance, Cloud was slowly picking out a number of similarities.
“There was a time i fretted i would never see my brother in love with anyone,” Ellone said and as far as starting conversations went, it was one hell of an opening line. “He was a somber child and grew into being an angry teenager. It tapered with time but even when he left, he was unhappy.”
“Childhoods were rough,” Cloud muttered.
“Yes. He never knew our mom, he was too little when she passed away. That was only one of many factors i guess,” Ellone sighed. “Coupled with the awful orphanage, it bred a dark spot in him.”
Cloud had heard very little about what Leon had gone through, but then he didn’t really need to ask to know. “We all have dark spots. It might have been those spots that attracted us to one another. I was an orphan too.”
“I’m sorry,” Ellone managed what few could and sounded sincere. “Maybe you’re right. When he left, i was afraid for him. I’m sure i annoyed him with how often i called. When he finally hung up on me one night because he had a date, i was so relieved.”
Cloud chuckled before he could help it, “Did he really?”
“Oh yes. Apparently i was keeping him on the phone too long and he had to shower and get ready still.”
Cloud couldn’t explain why that made him smile but it did. Leon was always so calm and composed even when they’d first met. Imagining him fretting over getting ready or taking more than five minutes to pick out his clothes amused him. “I wonder if there’s a time limit on being able to tease him about that.”
Ellone laughed suddenly, covering her mouth to stifle her giggles. “Oh, now he’s going to scowl at me for letting that slip. Good. It’s nice someone can tease him without him running off to be alone.”
“I can out brood him any day,” Cloud shrugged. “You know, i don’t think he left with the intention of hurting you. You or anyone else.”
“Oh, i know.” Ellone agreed, “But many of us still felt like we drove him away. To see him happy really means the world to me. Of course he could have mentioned he was married though.”
Cloud nodded slowly, feeling like that was a topic he needed to tread lightly over. “I guess i can’t make excuses for why he didn’t say anything sooner, but neither of us wanted some huge wedding or party. Being able to elope with just the two of us was what made it so perfect.”
Ellone smiled, that soft look that again reminded him of Aerith. “I was a little worried, you understand. Big sister’s prerogative and all, but i’m not sure which one of you is more in love with the other.”
“We’ve barely been here an hour,” Cloud commented. “You’ve already decided?”
“Oh, you two give away much more than you think. My brother is nervous about fixing things with dad, but all he had to do was want to fix it for it to be fixed. Dad’s so excited, and this whole time you were here next to him. Supporting him.” Ellone traced the rim of her cup slowly as she spoke. “The way you two interact with your kids. How he looked at you while you were putting Riku at ease. It’s all i needed to see to know, but i hope i’ll get to see many more glimpses.”
Cloud thought he might be turning pink and hoped he wasn’t. He’d had years to get used to his own friends pointing out little things about his relationship but similar observations coming from Leon’s sister was somehow more embarrassing. “I’m sure you’ll know before we do.”
“I’m sure of that too.” Ellone agreed. “I am so genuinely happy to meet you, and i hope it's okay if i invite myself to Radiant Garden some time.”
“It is. He’s missed you.”
She sat forward and set her cup down, “Come with me a moment.” She stood, glancing out the windows to check on the others before seeming satisfied enough to leave them be. “This way.”
Curious, Cloud got up to follow, wondering again if he should be nervous about this little side adventure but surely Ellone wouldn’t just tell him she liked him only to plan something awful in a room away from Leon. She wasn’t THAT much like Aerith.
“I doubt i’ll get an opportunity to do this later, and definitely not if my brother finds out.” She grinned, walking quickly down the hallway.
“Oh, plan on getting us into trouble?” Cloud asked.
“Very much so.”
They climbed a narrow staircase and she led him down a new hall that matched the rest of the house. Had he not grown up on an airship that was all twists and turns the huge home would have had him lost in seconds.
“In here,” She pulled him into a library and he only had a moment to be floored that people actually had library’s in their homes.
Ellone wandered over to a shelf and pulled out something like a large book. It wasn’t until he was standing beside her that he realized it was an album. “I’ve spent the last several years getting copies of pictures from all the kids we were in the orphanage with.” she began. “Trying to collect some memories and prove that there were some nice moments along with the bad.”
“Please tell me you have pictures of a tiny Squall.” Cloud grinned.
She flipped through the pages and landed on one covered in pictures of Leon as a child. They weren’t exactly baby pictures but he seemed to be around six or seven. Despite the age difference, he looked strangely like Riku.
His smiles were small but real and his eyes held an unreasonable amount of wisdom. It was long before he’d become angry at the world.
“Oh,” Cloud muttered, pulling the album closer to take a better look.
“There are more,” Ellone said, turning the page. There were several other children that Ellone pointed out to him. Seifer. Quistis. Irvine. There were pictures of Ellone herself that he spotted easily enough. “There’s a small piece of me that believes you found this little boy and brought him home.”
“I don’t know about that,” Cloud said, looking at every new picture of Leon he came across as if there would be a test on it later. “He was always there.”
“Hiding until someone he could trust came along.” Ellone said. “You might find me a touch dramatic, but i’ve seen my brother smile more today than i have since he was ten.”
Cloud smiled a little, he couldn’t help it. The way Ellone doted on Leon was sweet, but she was the closest thing to a mother he ever had. “I can only take so much credit. His smiles were rare for me for a long time too. They’ve grown a little more since the boys came to stay with us.”
Ellone actually laughed at him. “I doubt that very much. Fools in love seldom realize they are.”
“Oh no, i realize it.” Cloud mused, taking out his phone and taking pictures of Ellone’s photos. There were too many of a tiny Leon to just ignore.
“I might have a small envelope of pictures to pass you when my brother isn’t looking. Think you could keep it hidden until you’re home?”
“Yes,” Cloud said almost instantly. “I know just how to ensure they don’t get thrown into the fire too.” Tifa's threats would do the trick.
Ellone’s smile grew. “You sure about that?”
“Very. He’s got a few of me thanks to my younger brother. This is purely payback.” Cloud said, but he couldn’t help love seeing the pictures of Leon smiling so freely; in a way that only kids could. “One is definitely getting framed and we’ll see how long it takes him to hone in on it.”
She laughed, the same glint of mischief in her eye that Leon had on occasion. “Good. I’m glad i could help cause a little ruckus, but my intentions are not pure. I was hoping for a trade.”
“What kind of trade?”
“Do you have more recent pictures? He hides from a camera like it’s his occupation. I don’t have many of him as an adult.”
Cloud stared at her for a second before pulling out his phone. “What’s your number? I’ll text you some now.”
“Really!?”
“Sure. I’ll give you some of the babies too. I must have a few thousand.”
“Thank you Cloud, you don’t know what that means to me.” Ellone beamed, pulling out her own phone to begin the swap. “I’d love to see you both more than once a year.”
Cloud chuckled, “Once Squall relaxes a little more around your dad, i’m sure that’ll happen.”
Ellone nudged Cloud with a smile. “May this visit lead to many more.”
~
The garden had always been Leon’s favorite part of the house. It had always been a calm, quiet place that contrasted the chaos that was inside. There were many gatherings and luncheons he’d avoided by slipping outside and hiding in the trees.
Seeing his children running through the paths he’d once known so well left him oddly choked up. The number of flowers, trees, ponds, and other plants were enough to entertain the children. The stone walkways created a game of hopping from one to the other and birds seemed to have no fear of the humans in the area.
It put their own little flower garden at home to shame but it was a fraction of the size. Seeing the kids able to play without toys was a good feeling too.
“You have the sweetest children i’ve ever seen,” Laguna commented, walking at Leon’s side as they watched the kids and made sure they didn’t wander off too far.
“You are officially biased.”
“I am!” Laguna grinned. “They’re yours so they’re perfect. Just like Ellone’s will be perfect should she have any.”
Leon nodded once, not knowing how to follow that up. He’d thought speaking to his father on the phone was difficult, in person was that much harder.
“I like Cloud already too. I know i can’t say i know him yet but he was so good with Riku inside. It must be the same with the twins.” Laguna said, evidently refusing to let the silence grow.
“It is. He’s a great father.” Leon shrugged a little, mildly uncomfortable with talking about his relationship with his husband with his father. “He’s great.”
“Mhm?” Laguna smiled a little, his attention drifting back and forth between Leon and the kids. “I really am happy you found someone you’re so obviously in love with. I’ll try not to harass you with too many questions. I’ll learn about him in time. At least i hope to.”
“I know,” Leon muttered. He winced when the twins started pulling up flowers by the roots but Laguna only laughed and pulled him back before he could say anything.
“They’re babies. Let them play. When they’re a little older and understand better we’ll teach them to be nicer to the flowers.” Laguna said, but his laughter grew when Riku evidently became frustrated with his brothers and took the flowers from them and haphazardly shoved them back into the dirt.
They could hear the little three year old scolding and saying, “Flowers come from dirt!”
“I’m pretty sure Riku’s going to grow up to be a vigilante.” Leon said before he could think better of it. His father’s mirth was what reminded him that it was an odd thing to say.
“As long as he’s fighting for good,” Laguna mused. “I get a feeling that your oldest is a little like you.”
Leon shrugged weakly, “I’ve been told that before.” He swallowed his nerves and told his father an edited version of how they adopted Riku and then the twins a year later. Both had seemed so sudden and learning to be fathers wasn’t something that could be done overnight.
“I didn’t know how to tell anyone. You. Ellone. I kept thinking there would be a good time for it, but i guess it doesn’t work that way.”
Laguna had stayed oddly quiet while Leon spoke, most likely not wanting to run the risk of interrupting his son until he stopped speaking. “I can’t say i wish i didn’t know sooner, but i’m happy to know now. Some things take time whether we want them too or not. Radiant Garden has been good for you. You’ve found a lot there, including your way home.”
“I guess,” Leon muttered, still unable to shove his wariness away. “I still figured i should apologize.”
“You did. I forgave you. We both wanted things to have happened differently, but it has brought us to this place. I’m proud of you.”
Leon nodded and silently hoped his face wasn't red. His younger self would have scowled and hissed that he didn’t need approval from the absent asshole, but his older self had gained a little wisdom. Maybe he didn’t need it, but it was nice to have. Having his own children had made him realize that.
“Thanks,” He muttered, wanting to hide his embarrassment.
Laguna reached out, squeezing Leon’s shoulder in a show of fondness. “Am i allowed to visit from time to time?”
“Whatever.” Leon said but a nod accompanied it. “We don’t exactly have a guest room though. We’re saving for a slightly bigger place. All three boys won’t be able to share the same room forever but that’s not happening any time soon so you’ll have to find a hotel.”
“I’m happy to. It’s not an inconvenience.” Laguna watched his son before continuing on cautiously. “I could help financially if you ever need something.”
“No,” Leon said instantly but there was no heat to his tone. “I didn’t come here with my hand out. We’re fine.”
“I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. That’s fine. I just want you to know that i’m always an option should there be a surprise expense.” Laguna said speaking quietly. “Just remember that.”
Leon nodded once. “I doubt i’ll ever take you up on that, but…” He frowned. But what? He’d hoped to be done with his conflicting feelings. Money would be a good thing and the Guardians knew he wished Cloud wasn’t consistently working two to three jobs at a time. Even so, he couldn’t justify taking money from his father. “But it’s nice to know anyway. I’m sure i’ll fight you less on it if it’s something for the boys.”
Laguna came closer, dragging Leon into a tight hug that left him flailing for a second until he had no choice but to return it. “I’m truly happy you called me that day. I know you don’t like asking for anything, so i will take it very seriously if you ever do. You letting me be apart of your new family means the world to me.”
Leon refused to believe that his throat was tight with some emotion he’d rather ignore. It was hindering his ability to respond so he didn’t. Instead, he leaned a little harder into the hug, fully aware it was the first one they’d ever shared.
From the second he’d met Laguna at seventeen, he’d been standoffish and avoided as much contact as he could. This was new, but it wasn’t necessarily bad.
“It’s not too late to fix this?” Leon muttered, feeling years younger.
“Never,” Laguna promised, holding on a little tighter for a brief moment. He released his grip after a beat to allow Leon to pull away if he wanted to. “You’re here after all. You’re here, i’m here. Your sister, your husband, your children. Son, this is how things are patched up. We don’t have to be under each others feet to get to know each other.”
“That’s…” Leon exhaled hard, and stepped back. “Good.” Baby steps, he could work with baby steps. If he’d learned anything the last few years it was patience. “Thanks dad,”
“Daddy!”
Leon jerked from their moment their second he heard all three of his boys screeching for him. The only thing that kept him from sprinting towards them was the fact that he could see them still and the sounds were more delighted then pained.
The twins hovered over Riku who sat next to the little pond, his hands close to his chest.
“What happened?” Leon asked, speed walking to the kids with Laguna at his side.
“Frog!” Riku grinned, holding up the creature in his hands. “Can i keep!?”
“Please!” The twins chorused.
Leon shook his head and sighed, his heart going a mile a minute. Children really could scare an adult half to death. “I’m afraid not baby. This pond is the frogs home. This is where he lives. What if a frog came and took you from your home?”
The twins seemed to consider this as if it were a real problem but Riku scoffed. “Frogs too tiny.”
“Mhm,” Leon smiled, trying to focus on Riku having a good time and not his urge to make his son wash his hands the second the frog was released. “And tiny frogs will stay in the pond.”
“Really?” Riku pouted.
“Really.” Leon nodded.
Laguna chuckled, “Your daddy is right, but every time you come here to play i’m sure you’ll find other frogs to visit.”
“Frogs!” Sora laughed. “Like frogs.”
“Fishes,” Roxas added, looking in the pond. He was leaned over it so far that Leon was afraid he’d fall in.
Leon sighed, trying to rid himself of whatever stress was still in him. “Why don’t we release that frog you have there and you three can go tell papa what you saw. If we start soon we might actually get you three cleaned up in time for dinner.”
“Show papa the frog?” Riku asked.
Leon shook his head. “No baby, but you can bring him outside with you later for him to see. Besides, he’s been alone with auntie Ellone way too long and i’m starting to regret not making them come out with us.”
“I’m sure they’re fine.” Laguna commented, looking amused.
“Yeah, but i don’t need my sister and husband alone for too long. I don’t know how Cloud ever left me alone with all the women in his life.” Leon grinned, knowing full well all the things Tifa and Yuffie in particular had told him about Cloud when they’d first started dating. “It was hard enough keeping him away from Rinoa and Selphie.”
“Bye bye frog,” Sora said.
“Swim away.” Roxas added.
Riku still looked reluctant but he finally opened his hands wide and without any further prompting, the frog made it’s escape. All three boys stared at the water in awe as the creature swam away and Leon actually had a moment of wondering if he’d ever been that easy to please. He couldn’t remember ever being that easily entertained, but that was probably the point.
“C’mon, babes. Inside. Though maybe we should take your shoes off in the sun room.” He finished with a mutter.
Laguna huffed softly. “Look at you sounding all grown up. You know there’s still one particular housekeeper around here that is going to faint when she sees those windows. I might have assumed the muddy shoes would have also amused you too.”
Leon stared, eyes wide as the oddly gentle accusation was tossed at him. “No idea what you mean.”
“No, of course you don’t.” Laguna smirked, taking Sora’s hand excitedly when the child offered it to him. He walked them back inside, talking excitedly with the twins as Riku waited for Leon to start moving.
“Daddy?”
“Your grand daddy is full of surprises Riku,” Leon said, walking inside with Riku shuffling next to him. Laguna might have seen more in Leon’s angry teen years than he’d thought.
~
“And we didn’t die,” Cloud teased, pulling his shirt over his head as he changed for bed.
“Oh shut up,” Leon chuckled. The boys had been put to bed at their regular bedtime but it had taken an extra forty minutes to get them to sleep in the strange room.
Laguna had put them in a room with a connecting door to be able to keep the boys close but the babies still looked around the room nervously. They were sharing a queen sized bed and the twins seemed relieved to be able to stay with Riku. They weren’t truly able to sleep until Ellone appeared with a night light that threw shadows of stars and moons across the room.
Cloud laughed and stepped closer to where Leon was sitting on the bed and brushed a sloppy, open mouthed kiss to his cheek. “It’s going fine. Your dad is great. Your sister is great. The kids are fine. You already know i think you’re fucking amazing for some reason.”
“Hey,” Leon interrupted with amusement coloring his features. “There are reasons, you bitch.”
“The point,” Cloud cut him off, and stroked his fingers through Leon’s steadily growing hair. “Is that it’s okay to be nervous about coming home, but everything is working out.”
Leon made a soft noise and pressed his face against Cloud’s stomach. “Hm.”
“What’s the matter, Lion? Still all nerves?” Cloud asked, staying put as Leon leaned on him.
“Not really,” Leon muttered, pressing his face closer. “Just a realization. Laguna’s great, Sis is great." He repeated. "So the problem all those years was me.”
Cloud hummed and shoved Leon back hard enough that his back hit the bed. He climbed over top of him and settled next to him. “Dramatics seem to run in your family.”
Leon snorted, “Cloud-”
“No, shut up.” Cloud said and cuddled Leon closer. The position so similar to how he held the boys. “You’ve finally gotten to the point where you can admit that nothing that happened in the past was your dad’s fault. I will not-for one damn moment-let you start blaming yourself. You were angry and allowed to be. Laguna didn’t know how to be a father, let alone father to two adults, how could he? Your sister didn’t know how to relate to you because she remembered your parents and you couldn’t possibly. It was no one’s fault.”
“You make it sound so simple,” Leon sighed, happy to curl up against Cloud.
“It is, babe.” Cloud said. “Years ago, the three of you weren’t ready to make being a family work. It was too difficult. Too much baggage. It never would have worked. All three of you needed to be on the same page.”
Leon made a noise. “Dad and Ellone have gotten along for years. That wasn’t the problem.”
“Sure it was. She had to relearn how to have a dad. Had to get over whatever abandonment she’d felt as a kid and put an awful childhood behind her. Laguna had to cope with the fact that he’d thought his daughter was dead. He didn’t even know he’d had a son. They both had shit to work through. I don’t believe for a second that happened over night.”
“You make it sound good like that,” Leon mumbled. “Maybe i just needed to find you first.”
Cloud grinned, “Awe, the award to the sappiest thing you’ve ever said goes too…”
“Shut it,” Leon's shoulders shook from soft laughter. “I was being serious. I’m not sure i ever would have worked through this shit without you.”
“You’ve fought my demons, i’ll face your’s.” Cloud said.
Leon made another noise and tilted his head back to kiss Cloud’s jaw. “You haven’t had a nightmare in months.”
“Not a bad one,” Cloud agreed. “I love you, and we’re going to make this work for us. We’re here for a few days, there’s plenty of time to mend things more.”
Leon just grunted, and didn’t comment on their stay. “I love you too, Rain Cloud.”
“Besides, something amazing has already come of this.”
“What’s that?”
Cloud smirked. “Been here a whole day and your Balamb accent is coming back. It’s fucking adorable.”
“Oh fuck off.”