"What' day care?" Alice asked Sephiroth as he carried her through the street early the next morning. She had awoken at six AM, been dressed and told she would have a wonderful day... or else.
"You went there three days ago, remember?" He replied.
"P'ay doh' house?" (Play dough house?) She chirped, Sephiroth smirked and nodded, relieved when Alice joyfully squealed as Sunny Care came into view and tried to squirm out of his arms.
The gates opened and he set her down on the ground, softened with construction sand. "Wait here." He ordered and walked to the building steps where Kate stood, watching over the other children as they hurried about.
"Is Alice okay today?" Kate asked, watching Alice manage to climb atop the slide on her knees.
"So far." Sephiroth watched Alice nervously grip the slide sides. He was surprised when a small boy befriended her, promising her the slide was fun.
"I know she'll be alright." Kate said. "I'll make sure the other children understand her condition. You and I discussed the wheelchair, have you made a decision?"
"So long as she's able to move freely I think it would be good for her to use it, at least until she's strong enough to walk by herself."
"Has she managed any steps lately?"
"More than she should. She's eager, can stand by herself now, she managed twelve steps today." He watched her slide down the slide and then crawl back up the ladder.
"She's certainly getting stronger. We'll try her in the wheelchair for half days."
Sephiroth nodded. "You said it's alright if I pick her up at seven?"
"Well, as I said, the latest pick-up time is at five, the building officially closes at seven after cleaning... we can make a small exception but you really should try to pick her up as close to five as you can. Call me if you know you're going to be late."
"Daddy!" Alice called, sat at the top of the slide with her newest friend.
"Alright," Sephiroth agreed and approached the slide to stand beside Alice.
Alice gaped for a while, the slide had seemed so high yet her father towered over it. "See me go s'ide?" (Did you see me go down the slide?) She excitedly tugged his coat then yelped and grabbed the edge of the slide, worried she'd slip.
"Yes, I have to go now." He patted her head and walked away.
"Daddy!" She shrieked; slid down the slid and struggled to stand so she could hobble to him. She latched onto his leg, her big green eyes teary.
"You know you're not supposed to be walking." He scolded as she began crying.
"I suggest you go." Kate explained. "Most of the children do this their first few days but she'll be fine in a while."
Sephiroth prised Alice off him and handed her to Kate as he hurriedly left, trying to ignore the stares of other parents as Alice's howled.
***
"No Alice today?" Genesis always seemed to be lurking in the Shinra Building's corridors.
Sephiroth shook his head. "The day care Angeal suggested was perfectly suitable."
Angeal, stood opposite Genesis, nodded in appreciation. "How was Alice?"
"She was fine at first but was suddenly unhappy to be left there."
YOU ARE READING
Parenthood'z Nightmare
FanfictionSephiroth is thrown into his own personal nightmare - PARENTHOOD! Forced to father a toddler just as strange as himself, Sephiroth tries to balance a war around day care, shopping, bedwetting and his growing fame. Zack, Angeal and Genesis may be the...
