Parenthood'z Nightmare

Chapter IX - Deranged Domestics

We all experience that moment in life where something so obvious, so well known, leaps out of the blue and hits us, shocking us with its undeniable presence. Beneath Costa Del Sol's mild winter temperature, on the ship home, Sephiroth experienced just that, and was so shocked he spoke the obvious aloud.

"I have a surviving blood relative."

"You always had one." Genesis replied, sat across from him upon the twin sofas within the great grey, slab-like ship's lobby. They had been sat in silence, staring out at the grey horizon as the sleet fell and winter approached.

"I do not." He sharply insisted.

"Very well," Genesis stretched, "you have a surviving relative you like."

"...Better."

All was silent for a while longer; known for their mutual strong-headedness it was wise for the two men to remain quiet when a peace-maker was not present.

"When the war of the beasts brings about the world's end

The goddess descends from the sky

Wings of light and dark spread afar

She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting." Genesis began.

"So, will you be taking your vacation this year?"

"Hm, considering my current wage and cost-of-living I doubt I'll be able to afford a vacation for the next sixteen years or so."

Genesis smirked. "So not until Alice has grown and fled?"

"Exactly." He sighed in memory. "You should see what Cissnei's done to my office; it's a... pink massacre... with polka dots."

He laughed. "It will certainly be a change from hospital blue, as I suppose she's become accustomed to." He lifted the final coffee of their journey to his lips. "What colour was the room did Hojo kept her locked up in again?"

"Imagine the interior of a janitor's closet only the door is high voltage, state of Shinra technology."

"Brown then?"

Sephiroth nodded. "Brown bricks with a grey floor."

"I suppose even hospital is a luxury then."

Again, they fell into the quiet, only the distant chattering of other passengers and the sharp sound of splattering sleet against the glass sounded for the next hour, well, the silence lasted for Genesis.

"You should ask him," Posie sat at Sephiroth's side where his arm was stretched behind her, over the sofa's top. "It will put your mind at ease!"

'Quiet.'

She frowned. "Ask him first." He said nothing. "You know I won't shut up until you do."

'I don't want to ask him.'

"I'm in your head Sephiroth, I know you want to."

'I'm tired of your nagging!'

"Let's agree that's self-loathing then!"

"What's wrong?" Genesis asked, distracting Sephiroth from his 'conversation'.

"Excuse me?"

"Your expression, something's wrong?"

"Ooh! He's asked now! Go on, tell him!"

He sighed. "Do you think she'll remember me?"

"Who? Alice?"