Chapter 1: Arrival

Tifa brushed her bangs out of her face. She could feel her cheeks getting flushed. Never had the bar been so busy on a Tuesday… she felt as if her legs would fall off.
Her eyes scanned table to table, making sure everyone’s drinks were full. When her gaze fell upon Cloud, he lifted up his empty pitcher and winked at her.
“Oh shit!”
Tifa grabbed a bar towel and hurried to his table. “I’m so sorry hon… damn it hasn’t been this busy in a long time.”
The blonde warrior smiled up at her.
“No problem Teef… I’m not worried about it.”
Tifa lifted Clouds’ empty beer pitcher and wiped the table clean.
“I’ll get you a…re..fill.” Her voice faded as the atmosphere in 7th Heaven became hushed. People all around the bar were slowly turning to look towards the front doors, conversations becoming quiet murmurs. There was a commotion outside and it was getting louder by the minute.
Cloud furrowed his brow as he slowly rose to walk around the table and stand next to Tifa. “What the hell?”
The noise outside had moved down the street and was now halted in front of 7th Heaven. Tifa could see a crowd of people outside through her windows.
Suddenly the doors flew open and Vincent barged in, carrying what appeared to be the limp body of a young girl.
Tifa dropped the pitcher from her hands in surprise as Vincent made his way towards them, sweat running down the bridge of his nose. Cloud met him halfway. “Vince what-“
“Take her, quickly.”
Cloud lifted the girl from the ebony-haired gunman and carefully held her close.
“Take her upstairs… I will explain as soon as you do.”
Cloud nodded and started up the steps, as Vincent shook the tension out of his arms. He then realized that everyone inside the bar was staring at him as did the people outside who peered through the windows. Valentine wrinkled his nose as he remembered this was why he hated crowds.
Tifa ran upstairs leaving Vincent to back up, nodding to his audience.
“Afternoon.”
When the crowd just sat motionless, he grunted and went upstairs. Idiots!!

* * *
When Vincent found them, Cloud had unwrapped the girl from the blanket surrounding her and laid her on the couch in the living room. Tifa had a bowl of warm water and started wiping the dirt off her still face.
Cloud stood up as soon as Vincent entered the room.
“What’s going on?”
Valentine crossed his arms and shook his head.
“I’m not sure… I found her outside Nibleheim… she was just laying in a heap by the road. I was able to wake her but only for a moment.”
Tifas’ eyes were full of concern. “Did she say anything?”
Vincent shook his head. “Not much… the only words I understood were: ‘Hurry… they’ll find me.”
He dropped his arms and shrugged in his own dramatic fashion. “And then she was unconscious again.”
Cloud turned to look at the girl who laid so still before him and spoke. “Then she’s running from someone.”
Tifa shook her head as she examined the girl. “She’s got some really bad scars on her arms… They look like puncture wounds.” As Tifa scanned over the girls arms, she paused. “Planet! Look at this!”
Both men strode over to see what Tifa had found.
“What is it?”
She lifted the girls’ left hand and turned it so they could see the underside of her wrist. There was a mark of some sort…like a tattooed serial number. Vincent stood straight.
“The scars… it makes sense… she’s an experiment.”
Cloud was alarmed. “What?”
“A guinea pig… nothing more.” Vincent strode to Tifa’s kitchen and got himself a drink of water. Cloud followed, his voice hushed.
“But that all died with Hojo….didn’t it?”
Vincent lowered his glass and stared out the kitchen window. “Who said this has anything to do with Hojo?”
Cloud shrugged. “I dunno… who else would it have been?”
“There are suspicious goings on that would suggest otherwise.” Vincent set his empty glass down and turned to look at this friend sharply.
“I feel the earth move… and I don’t like it.”
Cloud had always regarded Valentine as a rather strange person from time to time… but none more then right now.
“Wouldn’t somebody be looking for her? Family? Someone?”
Vincent shook his head. “I doubt it… Most specimens are orphans… or grown people with no families…. No one misses them and they can do what they want with them.”
Cloud crossed his arms. “They? You know who did this? Shinra?”
Vincent leaned back against the counter and chuckled. Cloud was always the first to jump down Rufus’ throat.
“One would wonder… but again… I highly doubt it.”
“In the meantime gentlemen…. I’ll watch over her here.”
Tifa strode into the kitchen, setting the bowl of water on the countertop.
“But Teef… the bar… the kids…you can’t take care of her and run the business too.” Cloud was indignant.
Tifa tossed the towel in her hands into the sink and nudged Vincent over to get herself a drink of water.
“I’ll manage… besides, I’m gonna need some help regardless… if I got her to work it would help both her AND I out.”
Vincent strode back to the livingroom and lingered by the front door. “If you need anything, I’ll be around. I’m going back to Nibleheim… see if there is anything to be found out… I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Cloud nodded. “Will do.”
As soon as Valentine was gone, Cloud walked over to the couch and stood over the sleeping girl. Now that she was cleaned up, he couldn’t help but notice the similarity. It wasn’t completely the same, but he knew it was close enough to send a certain person he knew into a flurry.
Tifa sat down on the edge of the couch at the girls’ feet and looked up at Cloud.
“Hey…. Spacey!”
The warrior jumped out of his thoughts and turned to her. “Hmm?”
Tifa smiled. “You see it too, don’t you?”
Clouds’ brow furrowed. “Huh?”
“She looks so much like her… I thought it was her.”
Cloud regarded Tifa’s expression… she looked troubled in a way as she spoke again.
“I mean her hair’s different… and she’s younger… but-“
“I know what you mean Teef.” Cloud ran a hand through his hair. “How old you think she is?”
Tifa stood and crossed her arms. “Eh… maybe just shy of 26? Maybe 27.”
She paused to walk closer to Cloud, taking hold of his arm with a hand her voice became urgent.
“Sooner or later he’s gonna come by Cloud… he always does… What’s he gonna do when he sees her?”
Cloud shook his head. He played with the toe of his boot with the heel of the other one.
“I don’t know, but if you and I can see the resemblance… he’s gonna see it too.”

* * *
Tifa sat alone in her apartment completely exhausted… after Cloud left she closed the bar early much to her regulars dismay. But when she explained the situation at hand, everyone understood. Now she relaxed, enjoying herself a cup of tea as she watched the lights come and go from the cars below. Her apartment was dark except for the small lamp that hung from above her dining table.
Tifa regarded the events of earlier. An experiment? How cruel! Who knows how long she had been held prisoner? Her gaze fell on the girl residing on her couch. Tifa was stunned at how long her hair was. If the girl was standing, her black locks would just barely touch the backs of her ankles. If her hair was any tell-tale sign of how long she had been used in such ways…well… the mere thought made Tifas’ insides lurch.

* * *
Cloud made his way up the stairs struggling to balance a bag of groceries and a new box of whiskey for Tifas’ bar. As he rounded the corner, Yuffie came bounding out of Tifas’ door. “Hey Cloud!”
The warrior grunted his reply and moved over to let her by, but she moved with him trying to do the same thing. So he moved over the other way…as did she. After a moment of it, both were flustered.
“You gonna dance with me or ya gonna move?!” Cloud finally bellowed.
Yuffie jumped and turned sideways so he could pass.
“Gawd Spikey, what gives?”
As Cloud entered Tifas’ abode he looked back.
“What are you doing here so early for anyway?”
Yuffie followed, closing the door behind her. “I came to see her!”
Cloud immediately set down the box of whiskey.
Tifa sat with her guest at the kitchen table. Both were enjoying a cup of tea together. The young girl was stunning. Her ebony hair hung to the floor, it was so long. Her eyes were green, the deepest green Cloud had ever seen and her face was nothing short of beautiful. Of course to Cloud, no one was as beautiful as his Tifa… but well, he was a guy!
“Hey!” Tifa greeted him. “Just put the groceries on the counter OK?”
He silently did as Tifa requested and then proceeded to pour himself a cup of tea.
“So, ya gonna introduce us Teef?”
Before she could answer him, a soft voice was heard.
“You’re Cloud… right?”
He looked up at the young girl and smiled. “You are sharp aren’t you?”
She blushed. “Tifa told me.”
Tifa stood. “Cloud, could I talk to you downstairs for a minute?”
When he nodded in reply, she gently touched her guests’ shoulder. “I’m gonna go with Cloud, you just enjoy your tea ok sweetie?”
She smiled up at Tifa. “Thank you.”
Yuffie, eager to help, dove into the now empty chair. “Well, it’s just you and me now!”
She leaned forward. “Hey… you ever head of Materia?”

* * *
“So… who is she?”
Cloud inquired as he helped Teef put away her delivery of whiskey.
She shrugged. “I could tell you if she could tell me… Cloud… she doesn’t remember anything… not even her own name.”
Clouds face was stone as he took her information to heart. He crossed his arms as Tifa continued.
“She’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever met next to Aerith. She’s quiet, kind and she seems to already trust us… which is a good sign.”
“Does she remember Vincent?”
Tifa nodded as she wiped of the Bar counter. “Yeah she does… he was the first person she expected to see here actually… but she’s ok with him being gone.”
Suddenly they heard a screeching of car tires, honking horns and yelling voices out in the street. Then… a familiar voice was heard.
“What the HELL ya think yer doin?!! GOD DAMN Sunday Drivers!”
Clouds eyes flashed. “It’s Cid!”
Tifa threw down her bar towel and hurriedly grabbed the empty whiskey box.
“Well come on! I sure as hell don’t wanna be down here when he goes upstairs… he might scare her!”
Cloud followed right behind her.
“Teef, Cid scares everybody… tell me something I DON’T know!!”
Once the two were upstairs, they knew they had moment before Cid came up. He always smoked a cigarette beforehand.
Yuffie smiled widely at them like she’d just struck a goldmine.
“Hey, guess what?”
Cloud hurriedly washed his hands. “What?”
“Her and I picked the perfect name to call her until she remembers her real one that is.”
Tifa sat down next to her new found friend and smiled. “Which is?”
“Lilli!” Yuffie announced.
Cloud nodded in agreement. “I like it.”
“Yeah well you should!” Yuffie crossed her arms. “It was my cousins’ name!”
He dried his hands and raised an eyebrow at the little ninja. “You had a cousin?”
Bubbly as always, the floodgates of blabber were opened.
“Well actually, she was my 2nd cousin on my mothers’ side… or was it my 1st cousin twice removed? Well anyway-“
“Yuffie.” Cloud was too wise in his ways to get rid of her. “You do know that Cid is on his way here?”
Her eyes darted open wide. “Nope! Hand no clue and thank you for tell’ in me! Bye!”
The little ninja jetted out of the apartment. No sooner had she left, when Cids’ voice came booming up the stairs over stumbling footsteps and Yuffies’ shrieks.
“GOD DAMMIT TA HELL!!! Brat, this is a new shirt, confound it all!!”
Yuffies’ squeaky voice was heard as she ran out of the bar.
“Sorry! Send me a bill! Gotta Run!!”
Cid burst through the door, a fresh stain covered the chest of his shirt. His eyes never left it as he brushed the access liquid off, stalking to the kitchen to get himself a towel.
“What the hell is wrong with people Strife? I git myself almost run over outside the bar and then Yuffie, flitt’in ‘round like some Pixie makes me spill my tea!” he angrily tossed the now empty cup he held into the sink.
Tifa exchanged humored looks with Cloud.
Cid, still occupied with the situation at hand, didn’t even look at them while he chucked the dirty towel in Tifas laundry basket.
“Cripe… I just wanted to take me a peaceful walk and…”
His voice trailed off when he finally looked up. Tifa took in a sharp breath and looked at Cloud. Cids reaction was just what they feared it would be. For the first time in years, Cids hard features softened and he just stood in the kitchen, his eyes wide staring straight at Lilli. He took a step closer and finally spoke.
“Shera?”
Tifa put a hand on Lillis’ forearm as if protecting her. But for whatever reason it was… she didn’t want her to be scared. Lilli looked nervously at Cloud and then her eyes shifted to Tifa.
Cid reached up and pulled his goggles off his head, his eyes never leaving her face. When Lilli didn’t respond, he took another step closer.
“Hey… it’s me.”
Tifa stood up quickly, pushing back her chair.
“Cid, this is Lilli… Vincent brought her here. She’ll be staying with me for a while.”
Like someone had slapped his face he finally pulled his eyes off her and looked at Tifa. “Her… Her name is Lilli?”
Cloud stepped foreword and gently nudged him to move out of the kitchen into the livingroom.
“Come on old man… we gotta talk.”
Cid, still somewhat in a daze, backed up still facing Lilli.
As they neared the door, she shot out of her chair startling Tifa.
“It was nice to meet you Cid!”
Nice to meet you?? Tifa shot a glance at Lilli. Jesus… if that was me I’d been petrified! She thought.
Cids eyes lit up at her voice and he smiled. Cloud, exasperated, nudged him out the door, until the two girls heard Cids voice.
“Shit Strife! Get off me Dammit! I’m mov’in aren’t I?!”

* * *
“I know I’ve got some old clothes in here somewhere!”
Tifas’ muffled voice echoed from the back of her closet as she rummaged through boxes of pants and random shirts.
“You sure you don’t mind?” Lilli sat cross-legged on Tifas’ bed, her green eyes taking in every inch of the bedroom.
“No not at all!” Tifa paused to peek out and smile at her friend. “I’ve got gobs of stuff in here that-whoa!”
She crawled out backwards from the closet. “I totally forgot I still had these.”
She stood holding a pair of black cargo pants. She held them out in front of her. “If we hem the legs shorter, they should fit you just fine.” Lilli took them gratefully as Tifa turned to continue her hunt for buried treasure. Lilli couldn’t wait to wear some real clothes. She had been stuck in Tifas bathrobe all morning.
There was a moment of silence. Only the sound of boxes scooting, material rubbing against hangers… Lillis’ wheels were turning.
“Why’d he call me that?”
“Hmm?”
“Why’d Cid call me Shera?”
The ruckus in the closet came to a halt. Tifa ran her top teeth over her bottom lip and then bit it…hard.
Shit…damn you Cid.
Tifa pushed a big box of clothes out from the back of the closet and then stood to pull it over to the bed. She sighed and flopped down next to Lilli.
“Well…umm.” She scratched her nose in thought and then proceeded to mull through he box. “Cid’s just… well.”
“Just what?” Lilli was insistent.
Tifa lifted an armload of clothes up onto the bed and smiled quietly at her.
“It’s no big secret he misses her… Shera was an important person in his life.”
Dammit why doesn’t she just tell me? Lilli thought harshly. Tifa cleared her throat before continuing.
“Shera worked for a big company named Shinra when Cid met her… she was there when Cids’ space program was in the works… when the rocket they were working on failed to launch Cid blamed her for it.”
Lillis’ brow furrowed. This sounds interesting! “Was it really her fault?”
Tifa shrugged. “In a way yes… but only because it couldn’t be helped. Shera really never was a fast worker. Diligent as all hell but slow. And when the rocket was in the countdown to launch, she was still working on one of the oxygen tanks… the rocket failed and well, like I said… it infuriated Cid.”
The young girl fingered the clothes in her lap and looked up at Tifa. “So… what happened?”
“Cid blamed her… but as kind as she was she agreed with him... I’ll never forget meeting them for the first time. Cid was nothing short of cruel to her.”
Lilli was stunned. “That bad?”
“Yeah… treated her like a dog. He relented a bit when they were married… I think he finally forgave her because he loved her… we could tell he did… but after awhile we could see that it wasn’t going to work no matter what he did. When they started fighting, he began drinking… and smoking again… that really made her mad. We told him to stop but… he never did… So she left.”
Tifa took in long breath handing Lilli some more clothes. “She left and never came back… that was awhile ago… and since then Cid’s changed quite a lot.”
They were both quiet for a moment before either one spoke again.
“So… why’d he call me that?”
Tifa smiled. “It’s no secret you look like her at first glance.” She paused to wave a hand and roll her eyes. “I know, I know, but you do… you really do.”
Lilli blushed slightly as her friend rattled on.
“Shera had way different hair and her eyes were a different color… but I think you reminded him of her. He really thought she’d come back for him.”
Lilli nodded. “He didn’t seem too dissapointed when you told him who I was though.”
Tifa nodded. “You’re right… heh… who knows? Maybe he’s finally healed.”

* * *
Cid sat down at the bar while Cloud poured himself and his friend a drink. Cid tapped out a cigarette from his pack and lit it. There was a moment of silence before Cloud spoke.
“Something bothering you?”
Cid kicked back the shot of gin Cloud served him and hissed as the liquor hit the roof of his mouth.
“Nah just thinking… that maybe you ‘an Teef knew I was gonna act like I did up there.” He gestured upstairs as he spoke.
“Sorry I did that there... uhh… that there freaky shit… just hope I didn’t scare the girl none.”
Cloud leaned back against the wall. “Naw… she didn’t seem too scared at all… you’re in the clear old man.”
Cid chuckled as he took a drag of his smoke. “So what ya wanna yammer at me about?”
Cloud walked around the bar and sat down next to Cid.
“Listen… I know you miss Shera… we all do Cid… I and Teef were just worried that having Lilli here might bother on you.”
Cid scratched the back of his neck and then rubbed the spot. “Shit Strife…y’all don’t have nothing to worry ‘bout with me… I’m just fine.”
Cloud slapped Cid on the back and stood up. “That’s it really… just makin sure you’re ok with her bein here.”
Cid blew a few smoke rings at the ceiling before replying. “What’s she doin here anyways?”
“Vincent found her outside Nibleheim… she was experimented on Vincent thinks…. We don’t know how long she went through all of this… or what kind of things were done.”
“Ya mean, Ya don’t know who did it?”
Cloud shook his head. “No… Vin’s looking into it today.”
Cid whistled. “Damn… that’s some shit right there… poor girl… Hell though, for go’in through all that, she sure is a sweet thing.”
Cloud downed his gin and nodded. “Mmm, I’ll give her that… but what can effect you when you don’t even remember it?”
Cid took another drag of his cigarette.
“Really now? She don’t remember noth’in?”
“No… Tifa’s been talking to her but so far… nothing.”
Like a wind of change, Cid spoke again.
“Damn she has some hair huh? I ain’t never seen a lady with hair like that.” He shook his head, eyes on his smoke.
Cloud regarded the pilot carefully for a moment and then decided to ask a more personal question.
“Cid…. Do you still love Shera?”
He cleared his throat and shifted his weight on the bar stool. He took a drag of his cigarette and scratched the grizzle on his cheek before replying.
“I reckon sometimes I think I still do… that shit’s kinda obvious…But since Kadaj… I’ve become like you is with Aerith.” He looked Cloud in the eye. “You still love Aerith right?”
Cloud nodded and Cid tapped his cigarette in the ashtray before continuing. “But at the same time y’all, you ‘n Teef… you have a life together now… I guess I’m the same…still love her… but if the right woman came along ta fill the hole I got right here…” Cid tapped his chest and winked at Cloud. “Why shit… course I’d take that… though I dunno who’d want me now.” Cloud was about to laugh but he saw that there was not one ounce of humor in what Cid was saying. He had made so many mistakes in his life… so many people hurt... and that was what stung… it left a bitter taste in his mouth. Cid rubbed his forehead with a hand and took another drag of his smoke.
He’d never been too good with words; everyone knew that… in fact Cloud believed it was the lack of no-how that made him swear like he did.
Cloud smiled encouragingly. “Well, we all gotta make our own paths right?”
Cid ground out his cigarette. “Like Lockheart says, ‘No dilly-dally-shilly-shally eh?”
Footsteps on the steps made both men look up suddenly.
Lilli came wandering down the stairs. She wore a pair of Tifas' cargo pants and a black tank top. Her hair was pulled back in a shiny braid that hung almost below her ankles. She smiled shyly at both men as she approached. Tifa soon followed behind her.
Cid stood up much to Clouds surprise and tossed out a hand to his now empty seat. Tifa looked confused. Was he being…. polite???
Lilli cleared her throat as she sat down in the seat offered to her and gestured to the open pack of cigarettes on the bar.
“May I?”
Cid fumbled to grab the pack and retrieve a smoke for her.
Cloud looked back at Teef and smiled. She walked to him and contently laid her head on his shoulder.
“Thank you.” Lilli smiled at him.
Cid stood nervously for a moment and then spoke. “Well kids… I reckon I oughtta git movin… late as it is.”
Cloud craned his neck to look up at the clock. “Highwind… it’s only 11am.”
A chuckle escaped Lilli as she raised her cigarette to her lips. Cid saw his cue and lit it for her. Cloud noticed that the pilots eyes traveled all over the young girls face…. Almost as if he wanted to take every detail in. The corner of Cids' mouth curved up into a half smile as he watched her.
Tifa saw it too and nudged Cloud, leaning up into his ear. “Ok… he’s scaring me… this isn’t like him at all!”
Her whisper sounded worried. Cloud knew Tifa was quite fond of the ‘ol crusty bird… but it was apparent that she was also fond of Lilli… like she was her own baby girl.
Cloud leaned into her ear and whispered his reply. “It’s ok… let them be… remember Teef.. I was once him too.”
Tifa pulled back to look into his eyes. Her gaze was wondering, but she trusted him.
Cid stuffed his lighter into his pocket and stood for a moment watching Lilli take a drag gracefully. He cleared his throat.
“Something wrong Smokestack?” Tifa leaned in towards him.
Highwind jerked out of his thoughts and rubbed his nose. “Hell… naw… just seems like forever since I seen a woman smoke ya know?”
Tifa sighed inwardly. Planet, I can’t believe I’m even suggesting this… “Highwind, ya know Vincent IS coming back really soon… To let us know what’s going on… Barret’s coming too…. Sure you don’t wanna stick around?”
Lilli looked at him with a soft inquisitive fashion that made his heart beat faster.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Reckon I’ll do that.” He began to back up to the front doors and Tifa noticed that the armpits of his shirt were soaked with sweat. “I just gotta git down to the store real quick like ‘n pick me up another shirt… be back in a jiffy.”
Lilli lifted her cigarette to Cid and smiled. “Thanks.”
He held his arms behind him, fidgeting with the back of his belt. When she smiled like that it felt like somebody punched him square in the gut.
“Anytime girlie.”
Lilli watched him go and then turned back to finish her smoke. Cloud regarded her thoughtfully for a moment.
“So… how are you doing? You like it here?”
She nodded eagerly as Tifa sat down next to her.
“It’s like I’ve been here before… feels like home.” She yawned and stretched her arms before grounding out her cigarette.
“Mind if I take a nap? I’m still really bushed.”
Tifa gave Lilli a sideways hug. “Sure you can, but don’t you wanna stick around too? This meeting IS about you ya know.”
Lilli stood and smiled. “Vincent found me, I have no memory… and I’m staying with the sweetest people I could ever meet… There’s what I know… fill me in on anything else later… I’m really worn.”
Tifa laughed. “Smart Ass…” she muttered as Lilli wandered up the stairs.
She then looked at Cloud, an eyebrow raised. “Ok… you talked to him… is he sick?”
“Who, Cid? No…. why would he be sick?”
Cloud said this all with a smile playing around his lips. Tifa glared at him in a playful manner. “You SAW what just happened! Cloud… the man is almost 36 years old and he was bumbling like some damn 15 year old!”
“Who was bumblin’ like a 15 year old?”
Barret strolled into the bar, Marlene in tote.
“Auntie Tifa!!” Marlene lept from her dads’ arms and into Tifas’. Lockheart stood up with Marlene in her embrace and sat her on the bar stool beside her.
“Hey Spiky, how goes it?” Barret bellowed as he made his way to them. Cloud scratched the back of his head and guffawed, “Oh well… same old same old... heh”
Wallace glanced at Tifa and sensed tension.
“What’s goin on?”
“A lot more then we expected.”
All of them knew that voice. Vincent strode in and sat down at the bar. Cloud was about to speak when Yuffie came rushing in, Cid adorned in a new shirt, on her heels.
“Fine for you, Vinnie Valentine! Leave me behind with the ogre!”
“HEY! Who you callin’ ogre ya self-centered lil twit?”
Tifa found it time to intervene.
“Alright you two, enough!”
Yuffie was indignant. “But-“
“Shh!” Tifa was firm. “We gotta be quiet!”
Barret was confused. “Why? Whadda Hell-“
“Hey!” Cid cut in. “Where’s Lilli?”
Tifa looked at Cloud and gestured at the pilot. “See? I told you!”
“HEY!!!” Barret had quite enough. “What the HELL is goin on?”
Vincents' monotone voice cut through the sudden silence.
“There is much to say Barret. It would be better if you heard it from the beginning.”
“Well while you do that, I’ll fix us all something to eat.” Tifa held Marlenes’ hand and together they made their way to the kitchen.
Cid yanked out a cigarette irritably and lit it.
“Dammit ta hell… where’s Lilli?”
Cloud, surprised at how insistent the pilot was, finally answered him. “She’s upstairs sleeping.”
Barret slammed a hand down on the counter, sending Yuffie almost into Vincents’ lap. “Who da hell is Lilli? Dammit people, talk to me!”
Vincent stood up and walked over to one of the larger tables in the bar. “I will shed light on that in a moment, if you all want to take a seat… this will take time.”

Chapter 2: Discovery

By the time Tifa had prepared a hearty meal of stew and warm bread, Vincent had spilled the beans about Lilli and when Tifa finally returned to the table, Vincent continued.
“There is a rumor circulating that for the past three years, Shinra has been keeping tight security on the entire area surrounding Nibleheim… I thought it was just people talking… but it may be more.”
Tifa took a drink of her water, brow furrowed.
“How much more?”
“After searching some of the private resources, I found that quite a few of Shinras top scientists have gone missing during these last 2 years, but according to Reeve, these “missing” men and women have been filing documents that date as recent as 3 months ago.”
Barret shoved a spoonful of stew in his mouth and nodded.
“Speakin a Reeve… Where da hell is he?”
“Alas, he sends his regrets that he has other affairs, but I am here in his stead.”
Cat Sithes’ voice was heard at Vincents’ feet. Yuffie looked down in surprise.
“Woah! How long’ve you been here?”
“Lassie, I’ve been ‘ere for the last fifteen minutes listnin ta ya jabber!”
Vincent actually smiled at the cuddly puppet as Marlene rushed over to pick him up. Once she sat back down in her seat next to Tifa, Cloud spoke up.
“So… Lilli… what’s her story Vincent?”
The gunman cleared his throat. “Reeve found some unlabeled documents in Shinras’ computers. In these he acquired information on Lilli… Her mother, a woman named Tabitha Reed was a scientist for Shinra shortly after Hojo. When Lilli was 18 Miss Reed handed her over for experimental purpose.”
Tifa, practically a mother herself was disgusted.
“That’s horrible!”
Valentine nodded. “Indeed… but the first thing she ordered was a memory wipe… figuratively speaking, the girl is a vegetable as far as her past life is concerned.”
Yuffie took a sip of her water and growled. “If that bitch was here I’d give her what for!”
Barret nodded. “I’ll drink ta that!”
Vincent shifted his weight a bit before continuing.
“The girl had most done to her what an animal wouldn’t even have accepted… her mother and the companies experiments were much like Hojos back when the S.O.L.D.I.E.R. program was rising to ranks.”
“So inhumane that no one would volunteer.” Clouds voice was distant. Valentine nodded to him before continuing.
“It also seems strange that Miss Reed comes up in the files as one of the missing scientists I mentioned earlier… but we have to be cautious.”
“Why’s that?” Cloud asked before taking a bite of food.
The gunman crossed his arms and took in a gusty breath.
“The different injections that were put into her system are some that I am not even familiar with… some could be quite dangerous.”
Cloud swallowed his food and wiped his hands with a napkin. “So am I right in assuming that if she’s been experimented on with Mako… then-“
“She’s like you and Sephiroth? Yes… minus of course the Jenova cells.”
Yuffie, being a Materia expert who also knew a few things about other powerful substances chimed in. “Well not to compare you two or anything Cloud, but since S.O.L.D.I.E.R., so many more combinations have been uncovered… I mean that was just something I overheard last year, not that I know everything, and don’t ask me who I heard it from cuz I can’t remember… wait! I remember now!”
The whole table spoke in unison:
“Yuffie!”
“Gawd! Sorry!”
Vincent closed his eyes and rubbed his temple with his right hand. “Yes Yuffie… Since the rise and fall of S.O.L.D.I.E.R., new ways of combining Mako have been uncovered. What is worst of all is that Lilli had no reprieve… They could have done as many as 3 experiments on her in an hour period… it’s sickening to think of really.”
The table fell silent as food was finished, drinks drained and thoughts mulled over heavily. But Vincent was not finished.
“Furthermore, to keep a combination from taking over the specimen, an antidote of sorts would be administered. Now… I am not saying that is what happened to Lilli, but until we can meet with Reeve, we have to think about what could have happened… Lilli could have gotten away before one could have been given to her… or she escaped and not given one at all… either way this may be why she can not remember her acquiring her freedom… if she got away without an antidote injection… she could change into a different form as I do… making her extremely dangerous… this could happen anytime, anywhere.”
“Like a time bomb.” Clouds voice was dark.
“Exactly.”
“Tifa.” Marlene finally spoke. “Lillis not mean is she?”
“No sweety… she just has some things wrong with her and she might be really sick.”
“Like Denzel was?”
“Yeah kinda like Denzel baby girl.” Barrets role of daddy took over and his voice was tender.
Cid listened quietly… the entire time he uttered not one word. He just smoked one cigarette right after another in between bites of his food. Suddenly he stood up and his chair scooted out behind him with a screech.
“If y’all excuse me, I’m goin outside.”
“Woah Cid! Where you goin?” Barret bellowed.
“None yer business Wallace… this yammer’in is just a bit depress’in Capuche?” And with that, he stormed outside, slamming the door behind him.
Vincent, who held a finger to his lips grunted in thought as Barret spoke.
“Whadda hell crawled up his ass?”
“Your voice probably.” Cloud answered.
Barrets reply was a smack upside Clouds head playfully.
“Enough outta you Foo!”
Tifa rose to clear the table and Cloud stood to help her. “So… what do we do now?” He asked Vincent as he grabbed a few plates and cups.
Valentine scooted his chair back and stood up.
“I’m going back to the area surrounding Nebleheim… see if I can find any traces of a lab… those scientists have to be somewhere… I intend to find out where. I will be back in a few days… until then Lilli is not to be outside in Edge. By the descriptions in the files that Reeve told me about, she was a valuable specimen and asset… I do not believe they are going to just forget about her… that is not Shinras way.”
Cloud paused. “And the rest of us?”
“I’ll be sending word by phone… until then everyone should stay close to Edge.”
Marlene, clutching Cat Sithe, stepped up to Vincent quietly and tugged on his tattered cape. He looked down at her in surprise, his ruby eyes peering from over his collar.
“Yes?”
Marlene spoke sweetly as she only did when she talked with him.
“You got a phone?”
Vincent stepped back and flung his arm out, exposing his belt. Sure enough, there latched to his onto it, next to his gun was a brand new cell phone tucked neatly in it’s leather case. She smiled up at him and as serious as Vincent was he couldn’t help but smile back. He winked at her and walked out of the bar… gone.
Barret rose and soon he and Marlene headed home. Like always, Cat Sith went where Marlene did.
“See ya later Spiky!” He waved to Cloud as the two… or rather two and a half left the bar.
Tifa trudged out from the kitchen and scanned her premises.
“Is Cid back yet?”
Yuffie shook her head. “Nope… but I see enough smoke to choke a Zuu outside, so I’m guessin he’s still out front.”
Cloud started towards the door, but Tifa stopped him.
“No Cloud… I think it’s time I did the talking… I think I know what’s wrong.”
Tifa was right. She was the only one who could chisel through Cids rough exterior without the pilot minding… so Cloud let her go.
“Ok… good luck sweets.” He pulled her to him and kissed her forehead before sending her on her way.
Tifa found Cid outside pacing back and forth in front of the doors, smoke rising from him like he himself was on fire.
He was so into his own head he didn’t even see her at first. When she spoke he jumped.
“So… nice day huh?”
Cid grunted, his back to Tifa.
That was strange… usually he always at least threw her a smile… even when he was feeling down. But not today.
He threw down his smoke and stomped down off the steps.
“I’m go’in home.”
“Cid! Wait!” Tifa was in total shock.
“I said I’m go’in HOME Lockheart!’
Tifa was speechless… for the first time in 2 years; Cid had treated her like one of the guys!

Chapter 3: Fast Friends

Lilli awoke to the sounds of night traffic in the streets below. Her head hurt… had she really slept that long? She crept out of the spare bedroom and saw Tifa curled up next to Cloud in the other bedroom. She smiled to herself… honestly, she felt like they were like her parents in a way. At least someone truly cared about her and that felt nice.
Her pounding head reminded her of her destination… the bathroom. Maybe Tifa had something to help the pain.
Lilli found some aspirin and quietly made her way to the kitchen for a drink of water, when she heard noise downstairs…. Like footsteps.
Curiosity got the best of her. Quietly she opened the front door and slowly descended the stairs. When she reached the bottom, all she saw was darkness.
Suddenly someone grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her down behind the bar, covering her mouth.
“Shhh.” She recognized the voice.
Cid let her go gently and stood up to peer over the bar counter. There were figures outside 7th Heaven peering in the windows.. and then- a blinding light made him squint.
He ducked down again and this time he pulled Lilli to him.
“Tuck yer legs up girlie.”
Lilli gathered herself into a ball, concealing herself from sight. The figures shone their flashlights in through the windows, scouring every inch of the bar. After a moment Cid heard a familiar voice.
“Nope nothing here sir… all clean.”
Reno.
“Alright men, move out! We’re done here here!”
After a flurry of footsteps, the men were gone. Cids tight embrace on Lilli lessened and the both of them stood up slowly. He brushed himself off as he quickly regarded her.
“You alright?”
She nodded.
“What in the hell are ya do’in up this late anyway?”
Lilli was shocked. “What areYOU doing here at this hour?? You don’t even live here! And how did you get IN??”
He chuckled. It was rich hum that made Lilli smile in spite of herself. He lifted up a ring of keys and jingled them at her.
“Barrets always leavin somth’in behind in my shop when he comes callin and I left my smokes over on the booth there yonder…”
Lilli continued to smile. “I see.” Pausing, she gestured to the windows. “Who were they?”
Cid lit a cigarette and offered one to her. She gladly accepted it and he replied as he lit hers.
“Shinra bastards… lookin for you.”
He swiped the ashtray from atop the bar and they both sat back down on the floor in case Reno returned.
Lilli was quiet for a moment.
“You live here? In this town I mean.”
Cid leaned his head back. “Nope… me I live in Rocket Town… it’s quite a skip and a jump from here I’ll tell ya that much… got my ships up there.”
“Ships?”
Great… now she’d done it. Barret always said that when it came to Cid and his ships, the Bastard would talk F-O-R-E-V-E-R about the subject…. So naturally, Lilli was about to listen to the biggest windbag ever to grace 7th Heaven…. And the poor girl didn’t even know it!
So… Cid told her… told her about the Highwind, not forgetting to quietly remind her that it was his last name. He told her about the Sierra and Tiny Bronco and the space program he’d worked so hard at…. And amazingly enough… she listened. In fact, she almost seemed truly interested in his babblings.
2 packs of cigarettes and 4 hours later, night turned to dawn and Tifa awoke.
She pinched Clouds sides playfully.
“Hey sleepyhead wake up.”
Cloud moaned. “Eh…already?”
“I’ll make breakfast!” She said in a sing-song voice.
Cloud opened one eye lazily and smiled. “Only if it’s pancakes.”
“You got it Spiky.”
Tifa scurried down the hallway, tying her robe. Wait a minute!
She took a few steps backwards and peered into what was now Lillis bedroom. It was vacant.
“Lilli? Sweety?” She was no where to be seen!
Tifa scurried through the remainder of her abode only to find it empty.
“Cloud!!”
The urgency in Tifas voice jerked him out of bed. The warrior pulled on his pants and jogged down the hallway. “Teef, you ok?”
The motherly instincts had kicked in and Tifa was panicking.
“Lilli’s gone!”
Cloud opened the front door, Tifa ahead of him and they hurried down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, she halted to a stop, throwing her arm out to stop Cloud… so fast in fact, that he almost ran into her.
“Teef, what the-“
“Shh.” She pointed calmly to what she saw.
There, behind the counter on the floor, was Cid and Lilli. Both were fast asleep. Cid was reclined back against the bar, his goggles and gloves in his lap. He snored now and again and Lilli was leaning up against the side of him her arms around her sides. 2 overly full ashtrays and a lighter sat between them.
Cloud scratched the back of his head and yawned as he made his way back upstairs.
“Like I said Teef, as long as she’s here, that old callous isn’t going anywhere.”

* * *
Lilli groaned as she opened her eyes lazily. She sat straight remembering where she was, but Cid was nowhere in sight. In his place, she found some cigarettes in a pile next to her leg and his coat was covering her. Lilli smiled to herself, picking up the smokes and went upstairs.

Tifa was busy putting dishes in the sink to wash when Lilli walked in. “Hey!”
Lilli strode over to the kitchen table and sat down smiling. “Morning.”
Tifa poured her friend a cup of tea and handed it to her. Seeing that she was wearing Cids jacket and the pile of cigarettes lying on her table made her raise an eyebrow. “Have fun?”
Lilli played dumb. “Huh?”
Tifa crossed her arms and sat down next to her. “Huh? Nothing! I saw you two asleep downstairs.”
Lillis gaze fell as Tifa giggled. “Hey! No one’s mad at you; I was just asking is all.”
The young girl breathed a sigh of relief. “I had fun… we just sat and talked… Cid told me about his airships.”
What the hell? Tifa was confused. The look on Lillis face was one of excitement… yet everyone else who’d heard him yammer on like that usually looked scarred for life! Tifa squinted her eyes.
“And you… enjoyed that?”
She nodded her head. “Well yeah! It was really fun! So exciting to hear about the space program… Tiny Bronco…everything.”
Fun? Exciting? Anymore words like that and Tifa was going to take Lillis temperature! Instead…
“Well I’m glad you had fun sweety.”
Quick! Tifa thought, Change the subject before I yack!
“Cid told me about Shinra… Are you ok?”
Lilli shrugged. “Yeah… it was kind of freaky… shining their flashlights in the windows and all… Cid said they were looking for me.” She paused to finger the sleeve of the coat she wore. It smelled like Whiskey and sweat. “Why? Why are they after me?”
Tifa smiled encouragingly and patted her arm. “Hon I really don’t know… We’ll find out soon enough.” Lilli nodded.
“Go get cleaned up ok? We have to meet downstairs with everyone in a bit.”
Lilli stood, gathering her smokes. “Huh? Why?”
Tifa stood up as well and dove back into the dishes. “All of us are having a meeting over what Vincent’s found out about you… he’s been around Mt. Nabal these last few days.”
Lilli froze. “Did you say Mt. Nabal?”
Tifa paused her constant scrubbing to turn and look at Lilli.
“Well, I don’t think I said Golden Saucer.” She put a hand on her hip. “You ok sweety?”
Lilli nodded quickly, smiling… but what was behind that smile shining in her eyes made Tifa worry.
“Well go on then… No Dilly-Dally!”
Lilli nodded. “Where’s Cid?”
Tifa smiled at her question. “He’s with Cloud… their running a few errands on the Highwind… Cloud can make deliveries faster with Cids help… Now hurry!”

Lilli wiped the steam off the bathroom mirror with a bare hand and regarded herself. That name… Mt. Nabal… it sounded so familiar… like an old enemy. It troubled her… gave her a feeling of dread. As she stared at her reflection, Lilli begun to feel lightheaded. Something was wrong… she couldn’t breath suddenly. It felt like someone was squeezing her throat shut.
The young girl began to panic, banging a hand on the edge of the sink. A tingling sensation began pricking her skin… all over like pins and needles… then more painful until it was all she could do to not twitch. It felt like hundreds of hot pokers were jabbing her.
She needed help, but couldn’t breathe well enough to even whisper. Lilli collapsed against the bathroom door, her vision blurred… and then… as if someone flipped a switch, it stopped.
Her head pounded with pain… as thoughts, memories that had all been secluded from her began rushing into her brain like a thunderstorm. The men… she saw their faces… a room… like some kind of lab… she saw it like it was yesterday. She heard the screams and crying of the others… the others like her. And that woman... some… some kind of a doctor… she could see her face plain as day. “I’m sorry.” She heard her say and then… Darkness.
Lilli came out of her thoughts, fumbling to stand. When she finally got her feet under her, she made her way to the sink. But when she yet again met her reflection in the mirror… a scream escaped her throat.

“Lilli? Open the door sweety please!”
Tifas words were too much like a worried mother Cloud thought.
The four of them, Barret, Cloud, Cid and Tifa all stood outside the bathroom door and had been for the last hour. When Tifa heard Lilli screaming she came to her aid… but when all she got was a locked door and crying from the other side, she called Cloud on her phone.
It was now Barrets turn to try. “Honey? We all your friends here… ya know dat right?”
Nothing… just sniffles. Wallace sighed. “We just wanna help honey… dat’s all… come on.”
“I’m never coming out! I look like a freak!”
Tifa threw her hands up in frustration.
Cloud cleared his throat. “Lil… what’s wrong? Come on please.”
“What happened sweety?” Tifas voice cut through Clouds.
More crying. “I’m changing… it’s happening.”
Tifas eyes flashed as Barret spoke up.
“Where’s Vince when ya need somthin explained?”
Tifa leaned close to the door, her voice soft. “Are you remembering things honey?”
There was a whimper. “Y-yes… I… I know what they did to me… it was awful!”
She began sobbing again. Tifa looked at Barret… then Cloud and all three of them turned to Cid. His face was nothing short of worried to death. Tifa stepped towards him. “You wanna try?”
Like fate snapped its fingers, Lillis voice rang out before he could reply.
“I wanna talk to Cid…where is he?”
The three made a path for him as he stepped up to the door. The engineer cleared his throat and scratched his cheek.
“Hey girlie… it’s me.”
“Cid?”
He smiled to himself. For some reason, hearing her say his name made him feel so much better. He shifted his weight nervously from foot to foot.
“Yeah Darlin it’s me… you alright in there?”
“Not really… no.”
Tifa took this moment to hand the pilot her bathrobe. Cid took it and spoke up. “Ya need me ta come in there and help ya? I got Teef’s here robe.”
Lilli sniffed and Cid heard her bare feet pitter-patter up to the door. “L-let me have it first.”
She unlocked the door and he stuffed the robe the best he could through the tiny opening in the doorway.
The door shut for a moment and then;
“Ok… you can come in.”
Cid raised his eyebrows and gathered his wits about him. Women! This can’t be all that bad… Hell!
Slowly he opened the bathroom door and stepped inside. He felt a jolt of shock through his body when he saw her. There she was… sitting on the edge of the bathtub. Her long black hair sweeping down her back to touch the floor. But it wasn’t her hair that shocked him… it was her skin.
From head to toe she was as white as a sheet of paper… she still had a hint of pink sprinkling her cheeks, but she looked like a porcelain doll! To be honest she was whiter then Vincent!
Cids eyes were wide… and though it was startling at first, he couldn’t help but smile.
She looked up at him finally. “Well?”
He crossed his arms. “Well what? I’m here aint I? Didn’t turn n run like some Piss-soaked hound! Now… you ready ta come on out here and talk ta everybody? The meetins gettin ready ta start.”
Lilli nodded, standing up slowly.
Cid watched her… whatever stopped, be it time or motion, he didn’t know… but something made him want to gather her up in his arms and tell her everything was just fine… tell her how beautiful she looked. But past experiences stopped him.
She clutched her arms to her sides and walked over to the door. As she walked past him, reaching for the doorknob, he closed his eyes and inhaled the soft aroma of Lilacs… Tifas body spray never gave him a second thought… until now. Coming off her? It smelled like heaven….a contented hum escaped his throat. When Lilli froze, he jerked back to reality. Shit! Did she hear me?
That she did. Her hand dropped from the doorknob and she turned her head to look up at him. Her porcelain cheeks began to feel warm. She rolled her lips inward while staring him right in the eye. Cid felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
God Dammit… wish she’d stop lookin at me like that… I can’t hurt her… I done that already… drove Shera away like a blind fool and now…. here she is… shit.
Lilli couldn’t stop looking into his eyes…. So blue… like summer skies. He doesn’t care, she thought. He doesn’t care that I’ve changed… he still looks at me the same. She took in a slow breath. If only she could tell him how much that meant to her… if only.
Lilli came back to the present and opened the bathroom door slowly, looking up at Cid one last time she walked to her bedroom to get changed, shutting her door behind her.
Cid let out a heavy breath through his lips and stood for a moment rubbing the back of his neck. Dammit… what was happening to him?

Everyone was seated downstairs waiting patiently. This time Reeve and Red joined the group after being detained the last few days from previous engagements.
Everyone looked up, some turning in their seats when footsteps were heard coming down the stairs.
Lilli’s apparent change was shocking, but incredible. Against her maroon tank top and jeans she looked like a ghost… a beautiful ghost. Yuffie giggled. “Well Vinnie, looks like your not the only one who looks malnourished.”
“Yuffie!” Tifas voice was scolding.
But to everyone’s surprise, Lilli began laughing. A flood of relief ran through the group and as soon as Lilli contained herself, Vincent spoke.
“It is good to see you again Miss Lilli…please, sit down… we have much to discuss.”
Cid took her gently by the arm and led her to a vacant seat next to Tifa. They all watched him as he scooted the chair under her. He hovered over Lilli apprehensively, leaned over farther and kissed the top of her head abruptly. When he took his place across from her, there was a stunned silence. Even Reeve looked at the pilot with a blank stare. Cid grabbed the smokes from his goggle strap and eyed everyone. “What??!” He snarled.
Vincent shook his head before clearing his throat.
“The rumors are indeed true… several times I saw Shinra security sweeping the area around Nibleheim…. It was all I could do to keep from being seen. They have not ventured as far as Rocket Town but the area below was hard to avoid even for me. This leaves unanswered questions for Rufus Shinra… questions regarding Lilli and the goings on with her mother.”
“My mother?” Lilli looked over at Vincent.
He gestured to Reeve. “You are the one who uncovered this information….perhaps you should now take control of this meeting.”
The groups attention turned to a suave looking man seated next to Cloud. He nodded.
“Miss Tabitha Reed was your mother Lilli… but as far as your birth name or birth date are concerned, that in itself is a mystery since there is no record of your fathers name. She was a successful scientist who studied Dr. Gast and Dr. Hojos work closely even after their death.” Reeve paused to thumb through a few of the papers that lay before him.
“According to these files, Lilli was selected, as you all know, at the age of 18 by her mother to be used as a guinea pig for purposes unknown to me… the files do not state this at all.”
“Another question for Rufus.” Cloud piped up.
Reeve nodded in agreement before continuing.
“However, it is says here that you escaped on your own during transport.” He paused again to look at Lilli.
“This is no easy task my dear…especially if the transport is from Shinra. Do you remember anything?”
She scratched her chin in thought. “All I can remember is being shoved into a big crate in the back of a truck.” She said all this with an intense look on her face. It was apparent the girl was picking her brain like never before. She sighed. “But that’s it… I’m sorry.”
Reeve smiled. “It’s quite alright.” He turned his attention to everyone else at the table. “The most valuable piece of information I have gathered is this file dated quite recently… 2 days after Vincent found our little runaway.”
Lilli smiled. She could tell by the affection in Reeves voice that he was becoming very fond of her. She was right.
“This file is what lists Lilli as escaped and has on it what I just read to you all concerning her being alone during escape. It says here: No unnecessary precautions are to be taken. Transport said specimen #32140 to base lab. Be it destination reached, terminate all living proof and return by said date.”
Lilli listened quietly, examining the tattoo on her wrist. It matched the number Reeve spoke of just now. Cid extended his arm across the table to her offering Lilli a smoke. Without even looking up, she accepted. When her fingers grasped the cigarette, Cid lifted his fingers and brushed them over hers. Tifa was watching and smiled at him. Cid caught his friends gaze and cleared his throat, sitting straight to look at Reeve.
“The location of this said base lab is unknown. But it is quite possible that wherever it is, these missing scientists are as well, alive and continuing with their studies… Now I have not only found Lillis file but also those of others that were used for such things like her.”
Yuffie gulped. “And?”
Reeve gestured to Vincent, who leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. The gunman continued where Reeve left off.
“Whatever these people including Lilli were being used for, they were to be gotten rid of as soon as their usefulness was gone… like worthless lab rats. Sadly Lilli is the only one of these people who survived. But her escape is not what they planned and the longer Lilli remains at large, her memory may return… and this is not the best thing for Shinras reputation, now that Rufus appears to have gone all squeaky clean.”
Tifa put a hand on Lillis arm, looking at Vincent. “So what do we do now? We can’t just let them hunt her down like some animal!”
Vincent nodded. “And to let them would be just as wrong.” His attention turned to Lilli. He leaned in towards her and spoke gently.
“I brought you here… I have brought my friends together to fight a battle that is not their own… but they are no longer just my friends now… they are yours as well.”
Lilli broke away from his hypnotic gaze to look at everyone. She studied each face one at a time. They weren’t just acquaintances anymore…. They were her family. Over the last few days she had really carved out a place in her heart for each and every one of them… yes even Yuffie!
And then… her gaze fell upon Cid. He was just sitting there looking at his hands… and then, he glanced up and caught her eyes on him. He threw her a sideways smile and winked. She smiled back, looking at Vincent again. He raised his eyebrows as he spoke. “If the time calls for it… will you fight with us?”
Lilli nodded. “Yeah… let’s do this.”
Tifa squeezed her arm encouragingly as Reeve spoke up.
“Very well… I know that everyone hates the waiting game, but since there is no immediate danger to Lilli, a few more days won’t hurt anyone… but before any immediate action is taken, I must speak with Rufus.”
Clouds voice was impatient. “How long will that take?”
“He is away on business… but he arrives back in the area next week. I already have an appointment scheduled with him and will discuss these matters with him thoroughly. Hopefully this can be settled between two businessmen, instead of bringing weapons and blood into it.”
Reeve stood up. “Well then, I draw this meeting to a close… good evening.”
As he passed Lilli he reached out and patted her arm.
Everyone here is so nice, she thought. Everyone cares.
“Oh… Lilli?” Reeve had stopped at the front door. He looked like he had good news… and he did.
“Yes?”
“You may leave 7th Heaven if you would like… I think now that the prominate danger has gone, venturing out with either Cloud or Tifa is quite alright… however going out alone is not a good idea and I strongly suggest you listen to me on this.”
Lilli nodded. “Thank you sir.”
“Good evening my dear.”

By the time most everyone had gone, 5o’clock had rolled around and Lilli found solitude on Tifas back steps. It was the only place she could sit outside without being noticed. She still felt strange in this new skin. The sounds of cars, bustling people and children laughing all sounded like music to her ears. She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath through her nose.
“May I sit with you?”
A strange voice startled her and when she opened her eyes, she was in awe. The biggest cat (or dog??) was standing beside her. She wasn’t afraid. She knew who he was. Something made her want to grab him around the neck and bury her face in his flaming fur.
She nodded to him and Red laid down next to her. “I have come to keep you company as it is what we animals were created to take part in from time to time.”
Lilli reached out to touch his mighty frame, but hesitated. “Ummm… do you mind if I-“
Red closed his eyes and leaned his weight into her which was his reply. She stroked his beautiful face, scratching behind his ears and under his chin. He growled happily as she finished it all off with a pat on his back.
He laid his head down between his paws. “You seemed troubled at the meeting… anything I can do Lass?”
Lilli smiled down at him. “Not really troubled… I just want to know where I came from… who I am. For all I know Midgar could have been my hometown… but…” her voice faded away as she pursed her lips.
Red lifted his head and licked the side of her face in comfort. She laughed at the feeling and wiped her cheek.
The great animal chuckled. “Aaah, see my child? Never forget that laughter can get us through the hardest of times… laughter, love… these both tie into happiness. And that is what has kept my group of friends together so long. We are family… we are one.”
He laid his head on her lap and smiled. “And we are all here for you.”
Lilli embraced his neck, holding him close.
“Thank you.”

After the meeting, Tifa opened 7th Heaven for the remainder of the day. She was busy serving customers and all the while, Vincent stood by her back door, looking out the window.
Tifa slid her last beer order down the counter to a young man and walked back to Vincent, wiping her hands. “Hey!”
He didn’t turn to look at her, but gestured to Lilli chatting away to Red on the back steps.
“She is a blessing, that girl.”
Tifa smiled. “I think she’s given us all a bit of something since she’s been here.”
Vincent nodded. “I am amazed at how one person can change the course of another…can fill the voids and bring anew spring to a wintered soul.”
Tifa laughed quietly. “Watch it Valentine… keep up this poetry talk and you might just sweep me right out from under my feet.”
Vincent smiled in reply, as Tifa spoke again.
“You really think highly of her don’t you?”
“I envy her… she has gone through so much for her youth… to be so at peace with who she is… she may be troubled for not knowing her past…unlike me, she can go on… but still, I respect her.”
“The fact that she can deal with the pain and yet enjoy life?”
“Yes.”
“You mentioned her bringing spring Vincent.”
The gunman finally turned around and tossed his clawed hand in the direction of Cid. The pilot sat across the way playing cards with Barret. “Everyone has seen his change… she has done nothing special, yet it was so much more then any of us could have done for him… to have that much beauty inside… that much love… she is the person he has needed… Shera wanted him to change… and left because he wouldn’t… but really, the reason he didn’t change was because she didn’t truly understand him.” Tifa continued to watch Cid with a thoughtful expression, like she was seeing the pilot in an all new light as Vincent continued.
“Lilli… was patient enough to understand him… and now… he loves her for it.”
Tifa nodded. “Huh… your right… perhaps the Planet sent her to be the glue that holds this family together.”
Vincent smiled as he walked away from her.
“Perhaps.”

Chapter 4: Falling

“Rise and shine sleepyhead!” Tifa called to Lilli through her bedroom door.
“Ohhhh… Nooooo… go away!” She moaned from under the covers. Tifa rolled her eyes. “Sweety, the next time I tell you NOT to discuss theology with Vincent, maybe you’ll listen to me!”
“Yeah, yeah go away!”
Tifa laughed. “You wanna go with me to Rocket Town this afternoon?”
Lillis eyes flashed open from under her sheets. Rocket Town? Where have I heard that name before?
Hearing no reply, Tifa shrugged. “Ok! I’ll just tell Cid you said hi then!”
Lillis green eyes flashed. OH!!! That’s right!!!
“Ok I’m getting up!”
Tifa laughed even harder as she walked away, down the hall.

“Ow! Shit!”
Cid adjusted his shaded goggles as sparks flew, burning his arms every so often. Damn propellers on the Highwind needed attention again. Pausing, he leaned closer to inspect his progress.
Hearing the sound of the hanger door open, he stopped his welding to look down.
“Cid?”
That voice rattled his brain and he stood up straight.
“Lilli?”
She appeared below him, Tifa beside her.
“Hey, Smokestack!” Tifa waved. “I gotta pick up a shipment of Gin… Lilli wanted to see you so I just came in to show her where you were.”
Highwind leaned over the deck railing, smiling down at them.
….The hell? Wanted to see him? What’s a pretty thing like her want with a rotten jerk like me for? Despite his thoughts, his ego couldn’t help but feel a wee bit stroked.
Tifa waved again. “So anyway, I’m out! Be back in about 30!”
Cid waved, his eyes on Lilli.
“Oh, and Highwind?”
“Yeah?”
“You treat her right… you hear?” Cids ears burned. He could tell by Tifas face and voice that she was not joking. His past was still there… bitin at his ass like a hemorrhoid.
He nodded. “Will do!”
When she was gone, Lilli spoke up. “Whatcha doin?”
“Damn propellers got nicked up again!” He thrust a thumb at his work. “You wanna come up here and check her out?”
He laughed inside at himself. Yeah… sure… Highwind you idiot hopeful there ain’t no way in hell she’d wanna-
“Sure! How do I get up there?”
Cid blinked in surprise. Holy Shit…. No fuckin way!
“Uh... well hold on ta yer britches I’ll be down in a jiffy!”
He hurried off the lower bridge scratching the back of his head. Holy hell! She actually wanted to see the ship!
When he emerged onto the landing deck where she stood, he felt a rush of blood to his head… like he hadn’t seen her in weeks… when it was really just the other day.
He yanked the grease rag out of his hip pocket and wiped his hands off as he walked towards her.
“So, ya wanna come on up then do ya?”
She nodded, an excited smile on her face. “You bet! I can’t believe…” she paused to look up at the ship. “How immense she is! She’s beautiful!”
Cids heart picked up a pace or two as he watched her. She looked radiant today. He cleared his throat. “Well, come on then honey, don’t just stand there a gawkin! This way!”
He directed her to the entryway onto the ship and together they rode up in the elevator to the first deck where Cids work awaited him. When they stepped out, Lilli strode over to the railing and leaned over unafraid. Cid watched her reaction as he walked past her to start working again. He smiled, pulling his goggles down over his eyes.
“Ya like her?”
She looked back at him. “Yes! This is amazing! I can’t believe how high up we are!”
“Heads up girlie!”
When she turned again, he tossed her a pair of extra goggles. “Best to wear em… wouldn’t want yer pretty eyes gittin messed up now would we?”
She threw him a smile and put them on carefully. Once they were adjusted, she held out her arms. “Well, how do I look?”
Cid chuckled… a deep hum that tickled her ears. “Honey, ya look like a damn fly.”
His chuckle grew to a laugh as he saw her reaction. “Alrighty then, back to work!”
He picked up his tools and started on the last nick on the huge propeller.
Lilli took the liberty of sauntering over to the stool beside him and stole two cigarettes. Ha-Ha! She thought… Snatch!
“One a them better be for me.”
Her mouth dropped open as Cid smiled, never once stopping his work.
She lit one and leaned over, then under Cids arms, sticking the smoke in his mouth.
He curled his lips to take a puff and drawled. “Much obliged sweets.” Smoke rolled out his nose and mouth as he spoke, which for some reason caused Lillis stomach to do a flip. She stood carefully, not wanting to get in the way of the thousands of sparks that flew from Cids blowtorch.
After lighting her own cigarette, she leaned back against the railing to watch him.
Cid was hard at work, but his mind was far from it.
Go on… he thought… say yer bored girlie… I know you wanna go… there aint no way in hell ya could be content in all this shit. No way.
But as the minutes ticked away, she didn’t once succumb to his thoughts. Instead, she bombarded him with questions like, what do those propellers do? How do you control this thing when it’s flying? And where do you go to the bathroom when your 400 feet in the air? It was almost too good to be true…she seemed like she wanted to fly one herself!
By the time Cid was done, it was time for another smoke. He perched his goggles on his forehead and spun around in his seat to face Lilli.
This whole time she’d wanted to ask him a question… one that had been bothering her.
“Cid?”
The engineer focused on lighting his cigarette.
“Hmm?”
“Do… do I look like Shera?”
Cid choked on his smoke, which made him jump to his feet. He turned away from Lilli in a fit of coughing. When he’d finally contained it somewhat he turned back to face her.
If she knew about Shera… she knew about…other stuff.
His eyes were like daggers, but his voice soft.
“H-how’d ya know about her?”
Lilli took in a sharp breath. Oh boy… now I’ve done it.
“Tifa told me… I just-“
He held up a hand to silence her. Tifa? Then she DID know everything…All this time… he thought she never knew… he felt shamed… embarrassed and a bit hurt.
“Naw… I don’t wanna talk ‘bout it.”
His face looked pained and he swallowed hard.
“I-I didn’t mean to-“
“I said,” Cids voice boomed throughout the hanger. “I don’t… wanna talk ‘bout it.”
With that said, he turned to walk back inside the ship, his whole body felt numb.
“Might as well go get Teef… take you two home.” He muttered.
Before she could say anything, he was gone.
For a reason unknown just yet, Lilli began to sniffle… to cry and then after a while her full blown sobs echoed throughout the hanger. Her chest hurt… what was wrong with her? Why hadn’t she just let things be? He was nothing like his past said… and she was happy with him just the way he was… I’m a stupid girl… I’ve gone and ruined everything and now he hates me.

When Cid arrived at the Rocket Town shipping docks, Tifa was surprised to see him… alone. And the fact that he seemed flustered told her he’d gotten riled up for some reason.
It all made sense though when she saw a swollen, pink-eyed Lilli sitting on a box on the deck by the Highwind. She knew something was wrong.
After a silent ride to Midgar, Cid just leaned over the wheel of his ship, his elbows resting on it. Lilli was the first to leave.
God, get me out of here! She thought as she scurried down to the elevator. Tifa though, had different plans. She stood firm in the hull of the ship, her arms crossed.
“You mind telling me what happened back there?”
Cid raised his head slowly to look at her and Tifa felt all her anger melt away. He looked so different. He looked drained… and somber. His eyes were lightless and bleeding… like two open wounds. He shook his head slowly as the corner of his nose wrinkled. “Naw… cuz yer gonna tell me why the hell you told Lilli ‘bout Shera.”
Tifa felt her cheeks getting warm. Dammit Highwind… why not just TALK to her?? It wasn’t like he’d just gotten divorced yesterday or anything… it’d been at least 1 year… What…. Oh Planet! Now Tifa knew… she looked at Cids face and all Vincent spoke of the other day hit her. Cid loved that little girl… he really did.
“Well… what was I supposed to do? Leave her hanging?”
“Naw… ya shoulda told er to come ta me… ‘stead a tellin her all that shit! Bad enough I gotta watch my ass with you and Cloud.” He stopped abruptly to stand straight, rubbing his face with both hands. “Now I gotta watch what happens ‘tween me an her now.”
“Cid, I didn’t tell her every detail about why Shera left… I made sure she knew you’ve changed… what is so wrong? Sooner or later you’d be telling her just what I did, on top of that, you married her!! Hell, you named one of your ships after her!!”
Tifa threw her arms out in exasperation before letting them drop to her sides. She sighed.
“Honestly… I think you’ve wasted enough of your life letting guilt kill your existence.”
Cid looked offended at first, but then his face softened and he nodded his head. Tifa was stunned. Holy Chocobo! He wasn’t going to argue her!
She smiled at him, her arms crossed.
“Now that you’ve found your heart again Cid… use it.”
With that, Tifa left the hull and exited the Highwind

Cid sauntered up what his friends had come to call “Clouds Hill”
It was an area overlooking the ruins of Midgar, Edge, and the vast land surrounding it. Cloud came up here sometimes to think… next to the grave of Zack… The pilot looked over the weather-beaten Buster Sword sticking out of the ground.
He took a stance, leaning against his weapon; he gazed out at the scene before him.
He bowed his head. Shit… what am I doin here anyhow? Was a stupid notion to come and yap at thin air.
Cid shifted his weight and sniffed. With a heave, the dragoon stood straight and stuck his lance in the ground before sitting down on the dusty ground.
“I come to say goodbye.” He murmured quietly. “Been comin up here last few months… justa clear my head… hopin you could hear me.”
He licked his lips and scratched his cheek. “Ya know… I said I’d never forgive ya for leavin… and the more I think bout it… the more I see it like I didn’t wanna forgive myself.”
He cleared his throat, rolling his shoulders.
“Hell I coulda changed Shera… coulda helped ya round the house… Coulda kept up on stuff so’s ya didn’t hafta… cripe!”
He reached up and gruffly ripped his goggles off his head before speaking again.
“I’m sorry Shera… I came here hopin maybe… wherever ya are you could hear me n forgive me… cuz I’ve moved on.”
Cid wiped his nose which suddenly felt itchy. “I realized once I changed, you’d want me ta move on… not dwell on the past like some God damn lost soul.”
He nodded to himself and sniffed. “I came here ta promise ya… promise ya that I aint gonna make the same mistake twice… I aint who I was.”
Cid stood up, brushing the dirt off his pants and pulled his lance out of the earth. He propped it back on his shoulder as he always did. Closing his eyes, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a worn picture of a young woman. The portrait was faded and the corners almost completely worn away.
Cid smiled to himself as he took one last look at it. Holding it above his head, he released it from his fingertips. The wind caught it and soon it was out of his sight.
“Goodbye Shera.”
Turning, he walked slowly down the hill… feeling lighter then he had in years.

Chapter 5: Heaven

It had been 3 days… 3 long days since anyone had seen Cid. The bar had been full almost every night, so Lilli had lots to occupy herself with, but every time she stumbled behind the counter, dropped a cup or heaven forbid, mixed a drink wrong, Tifa saw her do the same thing… halt, sigh and a few tears would escape her eyes before containing herself. She’d asked her what was wrong several times… even though she already knew, but the answer was always the same; “I don’t want to talk.”
And now… at closing time, Tifa watched Lilli as she washed down a few shot glassed behind the bar. The somber girl was seated at the corner booth smoking.
Cloud came out from the kitchen with a load of dishes hot and steaming from the washer out back. Tifa smiled sweetly at him before gesturing to Lilli. “The more she keeps this up… the more I want to smack him myself.”
Cloud began drying a few plates, his eyebrows raised.
“We can only do so much Teef.”
“Yeah, well I wish I could do more.”
There was a silence. Only the clanking of dishes and silverware were heard. Finally Tifa turned to Cloud, a hand on her hip. “Does anyone even know where he is?”
Cloud looked up from his duties. “Barret told me the only thing he’s seen is the empty Highwind parked down at the dock… but no one’s seen Cid at all.”

After everything was done for closing, Tifa made her way to the front doors, her keys in hand. As she locked the deadbolts, she glanced over at Lilli and smiled. “I got some fresh tea brewing upstairs… you want me to bring you some?”
Lilli shook her head, eyes plastered to the window. “I’ll get some in a minute… thanks though.”
Tifa nodded, her face concerned. Do you see this Cid? You see what you’ve done? Tifa sighed.
“You mind then if I turn off the lights?”
Lilli shrugged. “What’s the difference? I don’t care.”
Tifa smiled. “Ok sweety… well I’ll be upstairs ok?”
“Kay.”

As Tifa walked through the door to her apartment, a crack of thunder was heard and then… a downpour. Cloud was sitting on the couch, a glass of milk in one hand and a half eaten sandwich in the other. Tifa eyed his food as she passed.
“Mmm that looks good.”
“Yeah it is good… I got the last of the sandwich meat too.”
Tifa opened the fridge, discovering what he spoke was truth.
“Pig.” She heard him laugh at her from the living room and rolled her eyes.
The door opened and Lilli came walking in quietly. As she passed Cloud he smiled at her. She half-assed waved and walked into the kitchen.
“Hey sweety… teas right there… you want a bite to eat?”
Lilli shook her head as she got herself a cup from the cupboard.
Tifa leaned over and gave her a sideways hug. “Don’t give up hope Lil… don’t”

Lilli made her way downstairs. Teef had made her feel better, but her insides still felt like lead. She trudged over to her booth, but as she neared she saw something on the table. A flower… a single yellow flower laid next to her pack of smokes. She set her cup of tea on the table and picked it up. As she shifted her weight, her shoes made a wet squeaky sound on the tile floor.
From the light illuminating outside she saw a trek of wet boot tread leading to the front door. Something… like some force made her look out the window. There in the downpour he stood. Soaked to the skin. She blinked her eyes in disbelief. He just stood there, dripping from head to toe and the most he did was nod to her. That was all it took. Lilli dropped the flower and ran to doors. She opened them and tore out onto the street and then halted a few strides from him. She stood limply, her face like stone, suddenly feeling an anger well up inside of her.
The two stood for a moment in silence, the rain soaking them. A crash of thunder made Cid look up to the sky, but it didn’t effect Lilli… she was too mad.
“I only wanted to make sure!” She called out to him, her voice harsh. Hearing her, brought Cid to attention as she continued.
“I wanted to know… if you… really cared about me… ME!” She tapped her chest with a hand. “Or were you treating me like you did…because of her.”
He didn’t know what to say. He could only look at her…. All of her. That ebony hair…weighed down by the rain… her porcelain skin shone like a sonnet. He took a step towards her, but she wasn’t finished. “And you just… just” she began sputtering her words, flailing her arms around as her anger mounted. “You just LEAVE! You disappear… like I’M not gonna notice at ALL! Well I did!”
She was the one who closed the gap between them. She marched right up to Cid and pushed him as hard as she could.
“You JERK!”
He stumbled backwards a bit and then steadied himself. Ouch… he knew he deserved that.
Lilli was sobbing now. Didn’t he get it? Didn’t he care? She wanted him… all of him… forever.
Cid lifted his hands, trying to find the right words, instead he raised them to rub his face and then to run them through his hair. He shook his head, letting his arms drop limply to his sides.
“I’m tired.” His voice finally made its debut there in the rain. “I’m tired of tryin ta figure out why every time your not here… right here like you are… I hurt.” He paused to lay a hand on his chest. “Right here.”
There in the rain, Lillis anger began to wash away. She understood then how hard this was for him.
He took a step towards her, his face clenched as if trying to keep from blowing up inside. He studied her face, rolling his lips. God, everything around her seemed to stop… like she was some kind of magic. He stepped closer, till they were inches from one another and he felt his insides turn to what was falling all around them.
“I know you ain’t her Lilli… shit yer a whole different world from her… you… you.” His voice cracked and he let out a nervous breath. He couldn’t talk when she looked at him so… her green eyes were so understanding. He swallowed hard. “I feel you round me an it’s like… like comin home all over again.”
Lilli smiled, listening to the deep drawl she’d missed. She reached up and gently pulled his goggles off his head and dropped them on the ground. He felt his heart going a mile a minute, the blood pounding in his ears, as she ran her fingers through his wet locks. That was it… he couldn’t keep it inside any longer. For once, Cid Highwind knew the right words to say. He reached up and grabbed her hand, laying it flat on his chest, he was shaking all over. “I figured out that when yer here… the hurtin stops…. En I don’t wanna lose ya… now… never.”
Lilli looked up at him, her green eyes taking in the sights. His familiar grizzled face… his spring blue eyes… he wasn’t perfect. Everyone in Edge knew that. But he was here… and he wanted her… for who she really was.
“You mean it?”
Cid swallowed hard. “If’n you’ll have me... though I dunno who’d want a worn out ‘ol pilot like I am… Cripe, Planet knows ya deserve a whole lot more ‘en me.”
Lilli took in a deep breath and threw her arms around his middle. He put his arms around her tiny frame, taking in all of her.
“God I missed ya.” Was all he could get out.
She closed her eyes, holding him tight. He smelled like cigarettes, fuel, sweat, and rain… all rolled into one, it was what she called Heaven.

Cloud couldn’t help but smile to himself as he watched them outside the window kissing. Tifa laid a head on his shoulder and sighed.
“What?” Cloud asked turning his head to press his cheek against her forehead.
“Remind you of anyone?”
Cloud closed his eyes and chuckled softly. “Yeah… us.” He paused to look back out the window. “Planet knows, you saved me.”
Tifa lifted her head to look at him. “Really?”
“Mmm… in every way Teef.”
“Well, Barret’s getting his butt talked to tomorrow.”
Cloud was confused… Tifa had this great habit of changing the subject all of a sudden to leave you hanging. “Huh?”
Tifa gestured to the yellow flower on the table. “That’s the third time he’s left his keys in Cids shop… personally, Highwind walking around in my bar at odd hours of the night kinda bothers me.”
Cloud gathered his arm around her and chuckled.

Cid ended their kiss, let go of her and took a step back, analyzing her, a sly smile on his face. He shook his head. “Damn Lil… didn’t know what I was missin.”
She laughed as he moved back, swooping her up in his arms. He twirled her around, kissing her again. She wanted to stay like this forever. She felt like nothing could hurt her when he was here.
He softly put her back on her feet, their foreheads touching he closed his eyes. “Honey… I gotta git.”
“Why? Couldn’t you just bunk here for the night?”
He lifted his head and looked into her emerald eyes that pleaded with him. He shook his head. “Naw… if I don’t git the old girl outta Port, they’ll charge me a fee.”
Lillis heart stung. Dammit Cid… Don’t go yet… she didn’t want anything more then just to have him near like this.
“I want to come with you.”
Come with ME? His eyes widened in surprise. “Honey… you sure? Ya might git homesick.”
She rubbed his back, which sent chills down his spine.
“Yeah I’m sure.”
Cid picked her up and she held on tight, wrapping her legs around his middle. It was all in innocence, but her hold on him made Highwinds head swim.
He stopped in front of 7th Heaven and gently put her down.
“Well then, you go git some clothes and whatever else yer gonna need… I’ll wait right here.”
Lilly smiled. “Okay.”
Cloud and Tifa watched her come in dripping wet and she didn’t even notice they were standing there. Up the stairs she went.
Cloud continued to watch Cid however. It had stopped raining and he mosied out onto the street to retrieve his goggles, now soaked and almost swallowed in a puddle. He stood straight wiping them off and then Cloud saw the pilot do something he had only ever seen him do when he was flying his ship. Right there in the street he began to rock back and forth on his feet, leaping up into the air, a “YEE-HAW!” was heard.
Tifa began laughing as she rested her head on Clouds shoulder. Cid landed on his feet, a satisfied look on his face. He put his goggles on and proceeded back to the steps as if nothing had happened.
When she burst down the stairs with a bag of clothes, Tifas heart leapt to her throat. Lilli ran over to them. She looked like whole different person. “I’ll see you guys in a little bit okay? I love you!” she hugged Cloud, then Tifa, grabbed her flower off the table along with her smokes. “Here Cloud.”
She shoved Barrets keys into his hand. “Bye!”
Cloud peered out the window one last time. He watched Cid take the bag of clothes from her and holding her close with the other hand, they started off down the street. Cid watched all around, Cloud noticed… watching out for her like a hawk. He was pulled out of his thoughts by an insistent tugging on his arm.
“Cloud!” Tifa was yanking on his hand. “Reeve said that-“
“Do you trust him?”
Tifas expression froze, mouth agape. “Uh… trust who?”
“Cid.”
She crossed her arms and smiled. “Actually… with her? I do… I trust him.”
Cloud took her by the hand and led her to the front doors where he proceeded to lock them.
“Then leave it be… she’s only got so much time before Reeve talks to Rufus. So let her go.”
Tifa was indignant. “But Reeve said-“
“I know what he said Teef.” Cloud paused to take her again by the hand this time headed for the stairs. “But I talked to him this morning… He said it would be better for her to be in Rocket Town… Shinra has no interest in that red-neck hole since No. 26 failed… she’s safer there then in Edge.”
Tifa stopped at the foot of the stairs, the whole thing coming together in her head. “Cloud Strife!! You’re behind this whole thing aren’t you?! You talked to Cid and didn’t tell me!”
Cloud turned to her and smiled slyly. “Me? Talk to Cid? Why would I do a thing like that?”

Chapter 6: A Pilots’ Home

Lilli awoke the following morning, after a restful night. But no sooner had she opened her eyes, then she got a mouthful of hair.
“Puh! Puh! Cid! Eh, puh! Cid!”
She tried nudging the pilot who was sleeping thrown sideways across the bed, his legs dangled off the edge and his head on Lillis chest… his mop of blonde hair conveniently in her eyes and mouth.
“CID!!”
He shot up, but moved obviously before his body was awake because he immediately rolled right off the bed into a pile on the floor.
“Dammit!”
Lilli peeked over the edge. “Sorry.”
He crawled up the side of the bed and flopped down on his back. Squinting, he looked up at her, smiling. “Mornin.”
His hair in all directions and more grizzle on his face then usual, he looked like a scruffy angel to Lilli.
She leaned over and kissed his forehead. “Morning.”
They’d stayed up most the night talking over tea, burnt popcorn and anything else edible that Cid could find. He kept apologizing to her over and over about his house. It was obviously a bachelors abode. But it was cozy and just the right size. After a few hours of chatting, Lilli was the first to fall asleep and she did so on the couch, her head on Cids shoulder. So he picked her up and carried her to the bed. He intended on sleeping on the couch… he really did, but she came wandering into the living room an hour later and woke him up, asking him to come sleep beside her. He was glad to do it. God it felt good to hold her… in his bed. And now here he was, on his back looking into the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen. He reached up and stroked the outline of her cheek with a rough fingertip.
“Ya sleep alright baby girl?”
Lilli nodded, smiling in the innocence that made him adore her so. He put an arm behind his head and smiled back. “Ya hungry?”
She turned and leaned over the edge of the bed scanning the floor for her smokes as she replied. “I’m starving… what do you want to eat?”
Cid sat up. “Whaddya mean, what da I want?”
Lilli tossed him a cigarette and lit her own before smiling. “Yeah… you tell me what you want and I’ll cook us breakfast…. Teef DID yeach me to cook ya know”
As he lit his cigarette, she leaned close and spoke quietly her face inches from his. “Cuz honestly… while I cook, you could use a shower.”
His lips spread into a sideways smile and he chuckled. “That bad huh?”
Lilli kissed the tip of his nose and sat straight. “Yeah.”
“Alrighty then. While I git ta smellin like a daisy, you can cook to yer hearts content… how’s that sound?”
She laughed. “Sounds good to me.”

The tiny kitchen was the perfect size for the petite beauty. She hummed to herself as she began searching the cupboards for anything close to edible… and she wasn’t having much luck. In fact, beside the burnt popcorn Cid made, there really wasn’t anything much to eat… and the dust lying inside the cupboards made Lillis heart drop. She didn’t feel sorry for him as much as she wondered. All this time this is what he’d come home to… besides 7th Heaven, where did he eat? Who helped him around the house? He had a busy schedule everyone knew that. Had he really been alone all this time?
Finally, she struck gold… well sort of. She found a bag of pancake mix in the very back of the cupboards. She opened it and peered inside, praying nothing with multiple legs would come flying at her face… whew! She smiled. Score!
Now for the fridge. She opened it and scanned its bare shelves… hmm… milk that looked like in a few days it was gonna start breathing and a box of baking soda. She rolled her eyes and looked out the kitchen window just in time to see an elderly woman putting up her “Open” sign in front of the Item shop. Fingering the Gil in her pocket, Lilli grabbed a basket she saw laying on the floor of the living room and headed out the door.

When Cid emerged from the shower, the warm smells of breakfast cooking brought a smile to his face. Shit… he hadn’t been this happy in years. He mosied into his bedroom and not one article of clothing was in sight. He checked in his closet which was also bare as a bone. He looked down at the towel he held around his waist. Great… now what?
“Baby Girl?”
“Yeah?”
Cid stuck his head out of the bedroom door.
“Where the hell are my clothes?”
Lilli appeared in the hallway with a wooden spoon in her hand. “In your washer.”
“Well… that’s dandy but what the hell am I gonna wear?”
“I found your bathrobe… it’s there on the bed.”
He owned a bathrobe? The hell? And when?
“Where’d ya find a robe at?”
Lilli put a hand on her hip. “In your closet… amazing what you find when you look in the proper places!”

When all was said and done, the two sat together on the steps of Cids house enjoying a warm breakfast of pancakes, eggs and toast. “Teef paid me for helping her this week with the bar, so I walked down and talked to the lady in the item shop while you were in the shower.” Lilli smiled. “I bought some milk… eggs… bread and a few other things.”
Cid nodded to her, his mouth full. He acted like he hadn’t eaten in days. Lilli watched him as she nibbled on her toast and couldn’t help but wonder; how long had it been since he’d had a meal like this is his own house? He smiled over to her and swallowed.
“S’good Lil.” He murmured between sips of his tea and then proceeded to shovel in some more.
The small place called Rocket Town was a familiar feeling to her… like Tifas bar, it was a place that somehow comforted her. It was far from a bustling community. With a population of maybe 200 people, it was a graveyard compared to Edge… and Lilli loved it. Cids house was placed by the small country road that wound through the town. Down the way she spotted an armor shop and of course the item shop. Seeing a sprinkling of people walking past back and forth she could see plainly that you didn’t drive a car here… you walked from point A to point B… how absolutely lovely she thought. This is a dream come true.
Every person who passed by the house waved, or said “Mornin Captain… Mornin miss!”
Lilli was astonished. They didn’t care what she looked like! They said good morning to her like she’d lived there forever… now this was heaven. Her attention returned to Cid. Earlier while breakfast was just getting done, he’d scoured the living room and found a pair of pants and a white t-shirt, so he put them on.
“Hey now!” he spoke up when he saw Lillis playful look of disgust.
“There ain’t no way in hell I am wearin that flowery shit!”
(The robe she found had roses on it… which Cid proceeded to tell her was a Christmas gift from Tifa and he only kept it in case she came to call… Teef was sensitive about gift giving.)
He began to stand up, but Lilli beat him to it.
“You want some more?”
Cid sat back down as he handed her his empty plate. “I reckon so… got me a shit-load a work waitin for me in the shop.”
Lilli hummed to herself, dishing up the last of the eggs and toast onto his plate. “More tea?”
Cid scratched the back of his neck. “Sure.”
When she returned, he dove into that plate with relish, like he hadn’t even eaten previous. Lilli studied him. He licked his fingertips as he finished his toast, grabbing his fork he moved on to the eggs. His eyes shifted to her and he winked over his meal. Lilli blushed, sipping the last of her tea and sighed happily. The feeling of the warm sun on her skin… this place felt like she’d finally came home… she didn’t want to leave… ever.
She rose as soon as he was finished with his food and carried his plate into the kitchen. It wasn’t until she really looked around that she realized how dirty it was and as she crept over to the sink, her green eyes popped open wide. The sink was covered in oil and axel grease smears and stains… not to mention there were a few machine parts in the bottom of it sitting in what appeared to be a pool of greasy water. She had been in such a hurry to cook, she hadn’t really noticed. Lilli sat down the plate on the counter and turned to look at Cid.
He stood next to the door across the way. He was obviously preparing for work. He pulled a worn leather apron off a hook in the wall and tied it around his middle. He then proceeded to walk over to a clipboard hanging on the wall on the other side of the door. Thumbing through a few of the pages, he took a pen out of his apron and made a few marks, muttering under his breath and then turned to make his way to the kitchen. Lilli leaned back against the counter and smiled. He held out his arms as he neared her. “Well, gimmie luvs baby girl, I gotta git workin.”
Lilli put her arms around him and gave him a hug. As his arms surrounded her He closed his eyes, praying she’d still be there when he opened them. He lifted her off the ground, embracing her fully before setting her down. When he finally let her go she reached for his goggles that laid on the counter. She reached up and fitted them in their usual spot on his head and kissed his grizzly chin. “There ya go.”
He chuckled. “Well now, thank ya darlin.”
He walked to the sink, lifted the parts that were soaking in that god-awful muck and proceeded to walk to the door which led outside to the hanger. “Miss me!” he called over his shoulder, and was gone. In his wake he left a trail of greasy drips that led all the way back to the sink. Lilli stared at the trail of oily-gritty goodness, lifted her eyes to look all around her and raised her eyebrows. “Self.” She said out loud. “Looks like you’ve got some work to do!”

Once Lilli had all of Cids clothes folded and or hung in his closet, she prayed nothing mutated or hairy was waiting for her in the bathroom. To her relief there wasn’t. She flipped on the light switch and all that came from her was: “Whew!”
It wasn’t as bad as she thought. The sink and counter was covered in blonde whiskers and soap residue. Luckily his toothbrush was squeaky clean and sitting in the medicine cabinet. The shelves in it were however grody…. So she began taking out items one by one and sorting them.
Lilli picked up a bottle of cologne and smiled to herself. She could just imagine, turning it over and reading on the label: “Eau de Rocket Fuel.” Laughing inside at her own little joke, she continued with the task at hand.
The bathroom didn’t take her too long, but she had to admit… after seeing that kitchen, nothing could surprise her now!
Lilli, cleaning bucket in hand said a silent prayer and headed into the kitchen. The sink was the first objective. She wasn’t at a loss for cleaning supplies though. There had to have been at least 2 full bottles of surface cleaner with… hmmm… “grease cutting action”??? Lilli roiled her eyes as she stared at the sink…. Go figure.
She whistled to herself as she and the gunk covering the sink went to war with each other. By the time she got to the counter, she had broke quite the sweat…. She didn’t care… this was fun and she knew once Cid saw this he’d be pleased… at least she hoped.
The fridge was another story. It looked like the last time it had been cleaned, Cid was probably 6 years old!

About three hours, 2 bottles of cleaner, enough sponges to make a small raft, and 3 gallons of sweat later, Lilli stood victorious. It wasn’t perfect… a lot of the grease stains on the sink were stubborn and left spots, but it was clean.
The living room was last. There were boxes piled on top of one another with engineers notes, blueprints and every writing utensil known to man.
Lilli sighed and looked at the clock. Noon. She was starving and knew of someone else who probably was as well.
“I’ll be back for YOU later.” She said to the living room, washed her hands and started the tea kettle heating on the stovetop.
It felt good to finally take care of someone… someone she loved. Lilli smiled to herself as his face flashed through her mind. He made her happy… she hoped she made him feel just as good.

Cid shoved his pencil behind his ear and maneuvered his ruler this way and that on his work bench. His shop was nestled snugly on the other side of the hanger. All of his wacky, crazy ideas were hatched in this very room. Cid chewed on the side of his mouth as his brow furrowed. Tweaking blueprints took a lot of time, especially when you’ve been staring at the same print for 3 hours straight…. You’re brain tends to become mush. But he was used to this… he just worked through it like he always did until his second wind came.
He bent over his work, drawing a line being very careful not to shake. Suddenly, his work phone on his desk rang. Cid jumped, making a long black squiggly line across his print. His face immediatly flushed.
“GOD DAMMIT!!” He threw his pencil and stalked over to the phone.
“WHAT??!!”
“Ow… my ear!” Lillis voice squeaked on the other end. Cid rubbed a hand over his face in embarrassment.
“Shit… I’m sorry baby girl.”
“Hey no worries! You hungry?”
He smiled into the phone. She was so forgiving. “Yeah, I was just about ta come in and take a break.”
“OK well, no rush… lunch’ll be ready in about 10 minutes ok?”
“Alright.”
He scratched his temple as he hung up the phone. He crossed his arms and leaned back against the desk and stared at his work table. Amazing how just a few words from her could give him a second wind just like that. He shook his head and returned to his print. Maybe she was magic.

Chapter 7: Proof

Cid came into the house, pulling off his gloves, he took one look at his kitchen and furrowed his brow. What the hell?
Lilli was sitting on the counter, a plate piled high with sandwiches sat next to her along with a piping hot teakettle…. And a clean kitchen!
She folded her hands in her lap and smiled when she saw him. “Lunch?”
Cid threw his gloves on top of the couch and pulled off his apron , hanging it on it’s hook. He scratched his cheek, sauntering into a kitchen he no longer recognized.
“You like?”
He smiled and rested a hand on either side of Lilli. He looked up at her and sighed happily. “Darlin… I…” he paused, his blue eyes dancing all over her face. She blushed under his gaze, her eyes shifting nervously. “What?”
He wanted to say it… wanted to say he loved her…. He knew he did… but for some reason, he couldn’t say the words. Knowing his luck? He just might jinx them!
He shook his head, changing the subject.
“I like it girlie.” He gestured to the kitchen, taking a step back. “But in one work day… it’ll be covered in shit again.”
“Uh-huh.” She hopped down from the counter, handing Cid a plate for lunch. “And when it does… I’ll clean it again!”
Again? Cid pondered that while he piled some sandwiches on his plate. Did she… want to stay here? With him? He could only hope… he secretly wouldn’t want it any other way.

* * *
Reeve sat in a chair seated in the main meeting hall in the new corporate building belonging to Shinra. The gentlemen seated opposite him at the head of the table, stood up and made his way to stand in front of the window. A tense silence hung in the air.
“You’re sure it’s her?”
Reeve cleared his throat. “Yes…. No doubt… but I have come on behalf of her… she is of no danger to the public or to you Rufus. Her memory is void… you have nothing to worry about.”
Shinra crossed his arms as he turned to face Reeve, who continued. “Burn her files Rufus… she is no threat to you now. She has no idea what or who she is… she doesn’t even remember her name. What can she do?”
Rufus nodded, his face somber. After a moment he smiled at Reeve in a sympathetic fashion as he spoke.
“You amuse me… You always had the heart that I never could have.” He sat back down in his chair and raised an eyebrow.
“I cannot trust your judgment on this Reeve, I never have… your duties lie here, but your weak probing feelings are with them… you spend far too much time listening to their idle goings on… therefore I cannot help but wonder if your hiding something from me.”
Reeve, trying to keep calm, leaned forward slightly.
“Why? Why would I? A girls life is at stake here! That is why I am speaking with you. Not to play good guy, bad guy… That game is far too dangerous… I have seen what it can do.”
Rufus took in a deep breath, looking Reeve over his eyebrows.
“SHE is my property… she belongs to the Corporation! I have her birth certificates, the contract signed by both her and her mother Tabitha… until that specimen is 6 feet under, she is MINE!”
Reeve wasn’t feeling very gentlemanly at this point. He raised his voice in anger. “Rufus, the specimen is a girl… a human with a beating heart. I will not sit here and have you tell me that what I fight for… what I believe in is futile! I won’t!”
“FINE!!” Shinra slammed a hand down on the table. “You crawl back to the shadows like you always do… Hiding behind your desk having that feline do your work because your too much of a chicken shit to do it yourself!”
Reeves face became flushed as he hissed through his clenched teeth. “What would you have me DO then? Hmm? She has a LIFE now. She has a family, no they are not blood, but they are the only people who she knows and trusts. Why should I rip that away from her Rufus? WHY?!”
The President closed his eyes, folding his hands on the table top.
“I honestly, don’t give a DAMN if she’s taken up Chocobo breeding for some nighttime hobby… She-is-MINE!”
In the next breath his voice calmed to a strange businesslike tone that made Reeve uncomfortable.
“I want you to bring her here for questioning. I will return her the following morning when I am finished, you have my word. I will then decide her fate… but let me solely remind you Tuesti… a mind with it’s wheels turning is not the most healthy thing for my company… or myself.”
“No!” Reeve stood up. The President was asking FAR too much now!
“Do NOT make her do that… And HELL if I am betraying her. Not after I have given her my trust!”
“Well then… I’ll send Reno and Rude. I’m sure they would be more then happy to accompany you.”
This was Shinras polite way of saying that if Reeve didn’t go with the Turks, Rufus would send a force to take out 7th Heaven… and everyone in it. Reeve was stunned. “You really… are still the same… just as cruel and heartless as your father was.”
Rufus smiled smugly at him. “Well thank you… at least I didn’t inherit any of his bad traits… so really your compliment is most appreciated.”
His eyes turned cold as he continued with a snarl. “You will come here tomorrow morning. You will then go to 7th Heaven with my men and there you will abduct her, bring her to me and I will see if this specimen is as precious as you say she is.”
Reeve was speechless as Rufus smiled at him like everything was just golden. “You’re dismissed.”
As Reeve walked towards the door, Shinra raised a hand. “Oh! … they give any reason for Reno to use force?… the girl is dead. Shot right there in plain sight.”
Tuesti stood for a moment, his insides were twisted in a grueling manner. He could not believe what he had just heard.
“You would do this? Without any remorse you would really exterminate her?”
Shinra shrugged. “Isn’t that what you do to a lab rat when it becomes dangerous?” Without waiting for Reeve to reply Rufus waved a hand before looking down to sign paperwork. “You’re dismissed.”

* * *
“Yes… yes I’m fine… Uh-huh… I know I have to be back by… uh-huh.” Lilli leaned back on Cids couch and then flopped down on her back in exasperation. “Uh-huh… yep… gotcha… BYE!”
Lilli hung up the cell phone in her hands.
“AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!” There… she felt better.
“What the Hell?!” Cid came rushing into the livingroom. He had been out front smoking.
“Nothin… just Teef making sure I knew what time to come home… making sure I had a binkie…an extra sweater and medicine for every disease on the planet! What else?”
Cid chuckled as he grabbed his coat off the corner of the couch. “That bad huh?” Lilli groaned as she rolled over on her stomach to look at him.
“You really have no idea… you don’t.”
He stood over her and leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Hey, come on baby girl… best git to 7th Heaven… Cloud called an said Reeve’ll be there in a while.”
She nodded. “Might as well get it over with.”

* * *

In the heat of the day, Tifa came out of the kitchen carrying a tray full of washed dishes and saw Lilli sitting at the far booth… well, also looking through the window at something… like she didn’t want to be seen… and was grinning. Tifa raised an eyebrow and made her way over. “What are you doing?”
Like someone had smacked her, Lilli jumped and faced Tifa, a cheesy smile on her face. “Nothing! I was just…. Um… just…” she genuinely seemed worried to fine some excuse, so Tifa stepped up beside her.
“You had to have been looking at something inter…esting…” She stopped speaking when she saw the goings on outside the window. Cloud had his bike parked out front and both he and Cid were fixing the brakes. She looked down at Lilli in shock.
“Young lady… were you-“
“CLOUD??” Lilli was alarmed. “Oh! No! No not at ALL! Eww!”
Tifa raised an eyebrow. “Ok… that wasn’t what I was going to say but-“ Tifa’s eyes bugged suddenly… she was distracted…. Because Cloud had just taken his shirt off… and he was sweaty.
“Oh… now I see!” Tifas voice was sing-song as Lilli moved over to look. “Hey now!”
Tifa playfully elbowed her over. “Hell no! He’s MY man!”
Lilli squealed with laughter pushing back. “Hey now! You think I’m lookin at Spikey? Hell no!”
Tifa stood back laughing and let Lilli stand in front of her since she was shorter. Both girls peeked out the open window, giggling like two high-school bippytwats.

Cloud threw his shirt onto the steps of 7th Heaven and stood straight.
“Dammit!” Cids voice boomed out from under the bike. “Strife this son-uva-bitch ain’t gonna budge… ya got a wrench handy?”
“I think I got one in here somewhere.” Cloud squatted down to rummage through Barrets toolbox. Cid sat up and pulled off his shirt as well and chucked it over with his goggles and coat. He stood up to stretch his back and halted. What was that? He heard something… something like… giggling. His eyes shifted back and forth and then he shook it off. Damn ears been round motors too long… hearin shit now, great!!
“Found one, but the head is stuck.” Cloud rose to stand next to Cid. “Well lemmie…” Cid paused. Dammit! He heard it again… and this time he noticed Cloud heard it too.
“Where tha hell is that comin from?”
Cloud smiled without even looking up from the stubborn wrench. “It’s our audience… tee-heeing.”
Cid and Cloud both turned slowly to look back at the bar windows.
“Oh Shit!” Tifa tried to duck, but bonked her nose on the back of Lillis head. “Tifa!” Lilli turned, startled and began to lose her balance. She tried to grab Tifa for leverage, but it was no use, and both girls went tumbling to the floor screaming.
Cid and Cloud watched the whole thing through the window, blank looks on their faces. Cloud nodded once and pursed his lips. “Yup… well that’s about what always happens… but it’s usually just Teef….”
Cid sniffed and rubbed his nose. “Cripe… Women.”
With that said, the two men turned back to their work shaking their heads.

Whenever Cid worked on other people’s machinery, he always spent a good portion of that time criticizing them.
“Ya know Strife… if ya actually checked er breaks every once in a while? ‘stead a every 2 years…maybe she would’nt be such a bitch ta get apart!”
Cloud closed his eyes and sighed. “Uh-huh…”
After a moment, he sat down on the bars steps. “Have you talked to her yet?”
Highwind grunted as he scooted out from under the bike. He sat cross-legged across from Cloud and began packing his cigarettes. “Knew it’d only be a little while till you started bitin my ass too.”
Strife raised his eyebrows. “Something tells me you haven’t… Old man… sooner or later she’s going to find out. It wasn’t like Shera was just a girlfriend you broke up with… this is-“
“Marriage! Yeah… I know that Strife… ya think I’m stupid?”
He roughly ripped off the paper inside his pack and took out a smoke. “I’m 35 years old Dammit! I ain’t some kid… I know how-“
“How to handle it? Cid… you’ve never “handled” anything in your life! You spent a good portion of 2 years coming here and drinking yourself to some oblivion! You let the house fall into the sorry state it’s in… well, or WAS until Lilli got there… it’s-“
“Then that’s IT!” Cid pointed at Cloud and then proceeded to light his cigarette. “Because she’s here my house looks like Shera never left? Is that what you think? I love her cuz I thought she looked like Shera?!” He stood up angrily, taking a long healthy drag. “Well I’ll tell ya what… if her lookin like Shera is why I am who I am right here… then Hell yeah! Say that’s why… but it ain’t.”
Highwind shook his head and paced back and forth a few times before speaking again.
“Ya know… Imma tell ya the truth, that’s why she turned my head in the first place… it’s true… but when Teef told me who she was? I realized it was the eyes… just her eyes that looked like Shera… everything else?” Cloud watched Cids gaze look past him… like he was recalling … something so wonderful… so incredible it took a moment to put into the right words. His lips curled into a sideways smile around his cigarette as he took a drag.
“Everything else is like… like the very things that make time stop Strife.” He looked Cloud in the eye again.. “There’s a feelin… this feelin she gives me… makes me wanna do shit… be a better person… I can’t really explain it ya know… cept like that.”
He threw his cigarette butt down on the ground and stood for a moment staring at it, his hands on his hips. He stayed like that for while before looking up at Cloud. “But I… I want her with me… I reckon I need her Strife… cuz… well Hell knows what I’d do without her.”
Cloud couldn’t believe that he was listening to the same person he fought Kadaj with only two months ago. Cloud saw now what had happened… now he understood even more. She was put here for no one else but Cid… like the Planet did it on purpose.
Cid laid back down and scooted under Cloud’s bike, picking up the wrench he’d been using. “Y’all got nothin ta worry bout… promised myself I’d talk to her… I plan on it right after the meetin.”
Strife smiled to himself. “Aye-aye Captain.”

When the brakes were done on Clouds bike, everyone arrived at 7th Heaven to meet with Reeve. Red was involved with other affairs and promised to stop by and get the update from Cloud later. Lilli relaxed upstairs with Tifa, as Barret, Cloud, Yuffie and Cid AND Vincent all chatted downstairs.
Footsteps on the stairs outside brought everyone to attention. “Wow… Reeve’s right on time… strange.” Cloud guffawed. The doors to Tifas bar flew open and it wasn’t Reeve who entered. It was Turks… quite a large group at that… and fully armed.
Cloud, Barret and Cid were the first to jump to their feet. Barrets arms transformed and fully loaded, he stood poised. Cid picked up his lance and sauntered over to Cloud, he sniffed coolly.
“Gentlemen, that there was one helluva rude entrance wouldn’t ya say Strife?”
Cloud reached behind him and slowly drew his sword, eyes cold. “I’d say so… What do you want?”
“Actually, you were always the one who’s rude Cloud.” Reno pushed his way to the front of the group of Turks, his partner at his heels. He flung out a hand. “Men!”
The Turks hadn’t even budged yet when Vincent strode out from behind Cloud, his weapon drawn. Without hesitation, he stalked up to Reno and put his gun to the Turks head. The point of Valentines Death Penalty pressed firmly between Renos eyebrows.
“Don’t make me Turk… I am in a fowl mood today.”
Reno held out his arm to keep his partner from doing anything stupid. “Temper, temper beastie… we just want the girl… that’s all.”
Rude began edging towards Vincent, but this time a Shuriken came slicing through the air and landed between the gunman and the Turk, stuck in the floor.
“You wanna mess with Vinnie?” The little ninja strode out from behind the bar to stand firmly next to Barret. “You gotta get through ME.”
Vincent couldn’t help the smile that played around his lips. His ruby eyes flashed. “I would listen to her if I were you… it makes her most unhappy when bad things happen to me.”
Rude cleared h