A/N:

You know what's not fun? Packing for college and having no free time to actually write...especially when you decide to write two things at once. Thank you, all my patient readers for this next chapter. It may take a while since I'm going to college on...wednesday. oh god.

Thankyouthanktyouthankyou my fabulous reviewers:

ObsessiveCompulsiveValkyrie, Silvaria, and vLuna.

And a super special thanks to my beta ObsessiveCompulsiveValkyrie!

Disclaimer: I own 0 of the final fantasies.


"Teef! Can I have one of those drinks with the tiny pink umbrellas in them?" She batted her eyelashes a bit, "Pleeaaasee. This is a celebration anyway!"

Tifa grinned a bit, "You're eighteen, Yuffie. I can't refuse to serve you." She moved behind the bar and got out an opaque, tall glass out from below.

"Really? Reeve said that he asked you to keep giving me water."

Her back was facing the ninja as she picked up the plastic bottle and poured the clear liquid into the glass, mixing it with a few flavored juices, "Oh? This is a party though."

The bar was loud and packed with suited employees of the WRO and other regulars of Edge. Chuckling laughter filtered through each table as people clinked glasses and reminisced about the new organization's success.

"Please put that away." The deep voice almost halted Tifa's movement, but a quick glance to her left identified the newcomer to the counter.

"Vincent, it's just one drink."

The caped man turned his head to look at the young girl seated next to him. A toothy smile was plastered on her face as she sipped the drink lovingly. Vincent sighed, "Have you met Yuffie?"

"I have. And she's a bright, responsible girl," Tifa softened her voice, "At times…" She cocked her head to her left, while Yuffie wasn't looking, directing Vincent's attention to the seltzer bottle on the back counter, next to the vodka and champagne, "I take care of her." She brought out a wine glass and positioned it in front of the dark haired man, "White or red this time?"

"Red." His eyes watched the equally crimson liquid pour down the dark bottle and into the glass. He drank the wine lightly and then looked back to Tifa. "Where's Cloud?"

She was already mixing another drink and handing it to another WRO employee. "Hm? Cloud? I don't know." Tifa turned back to the counter, "Wow. It's more crowded than I expected. What happened at the WRO?"

Vincent grunted at the new topic. "We've come up with new technology to excavate oil."

"A great thanks to these two here especially." Reeve walked forward, placing Cait Sith on the counter in front of him. The robotic black and white cat swung its legs happily, facing its content controller. "Nothing for me!" Reeve held up his hand at Tifa's offering. "It's really an outstanding achievement. We'll be able to build a pipeline and provide energy for even more isolated towns."

"Barret had called me and said he found a big oil field this time…but can it really be as beneficial as Mako?" Tifa looked at the head of the WRO inquisitively.

Reeve shook his head. "It depends on what you mean by beneficial. It won't be as efficient, but it won't be killing the planet at the same rate. I'm also having my people research alternative energy sources from things more…eternal."

Cait Sith suddenly pointed up as the door to the bar swung open, letting the cool air fly into the compacted space. "The lad's back now!"

"Cloud!" Tifa's immediate smile soon vanished as she glanced at the time. "…You're two hours late."

The blonde jostled his keys and placed them back in his pocket. He hurried behind the counter and leaned in as an older man described a new drink order. "A woman gave me a hard time. She said I delivered the wrong present for her son." Cloud hit the tap and let the brown liquid flow into the glass. "I have to go back tomorrow."

"That took you two hours?!" Yuffie jumped from her seat and went up to his side of the counter. "You, sir…" she limply held her finger, wobblingly pointing it in front of his face, "Need to respect your promises!"

Cloud rolled his eyes and looked to Tifa. "Did you give her alcohol?"

"Damn right!" Yuffie wobbled back to her chair and hopped back onto the stool, looking calmly at Vincent. The black haired man downed his wine.

Tifa grabbed a bottle from the other side of the counter, her elbow rubbing against Cloud's back as she passed, "At least you're here now."

"Tifa…"

There was a loud ringing noise as the robotic cat moved to a standing position on the counter, "Now that we're all here together, Reeve would like to make a toast!"

The head of the new department looked uneasily at the big crowd of semi-attentive people. As the former head of the urban development sector of Shinra, he was only partially used to speeches. "The task of the WRO has not been an easy one. Heading a post-apocalyptic world recovering from a lost energy source would be considered a futile mission to most people. Yet through our hard work and planning, we are on the right track to getting Gaia strong again. Thank you all for your continuous effort and your commitment to this planet."

There were a series of loud applause and a few drunken whistles from the crowd. Reeve gave a slight bow and sat back down on the bar stool, "I meant every word."

"And I'm glad you can celebrate your achievement here," Tifa was smiling brightly, wiping up the few spilled drinks on the black counter. "It's great that we can…" her voice stopped as she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned quickly, dark brown hair whipping the air, "Cloud?"

He looked pain stricken, paler than usual and incredibly uncomfortable. His shoulders were tense and high, and his eyes were flickering with uncertainty, "We need to talk."

She briskly nodded, "Of course, go right ahead."

"No," his voice was soft, beckoning her to lower her own, "Not here." He turned to his friends across the counter and pointed to the side door to the left of the bar. "I think I'm out of this, Tifa." Cloud picked up an empty bottle, raising his voice, "Show me where it is?"

Both of them abandoned the bar and walked into the stock room, unseen by most of the unaware customers. Tifa grabbed her hair, twisting it between her fingers. "…You weren't two hours late because you had the wrong order, were you?"

"No…" Cloud's blond bangs cascaded in front of his eyes, "Tifa, something fell. Something fell from the sky."

Space, although beautiful and mystifying at initial contact, was becoming never-ending for Rinoa. Restless, she approached Squall on the bridge, arms wrapping around his torso, "Tell me we're almost there."

His body stiffened from the first touch, but he felt himself begin to relax in her grasp, "I don't know…Selphie?"

The young girl popped her head around from the pilot's seat, "Yeah? Oh! Um…we should be there soon, maybe only another half hour."

Ellone nodded next to her. I don't know why she insisted on coming. "We should try to land in an isolated area, just in case, right, Squall?"

Why am I always the leader? "Yeah, sure," he felt his heart become hard as Rinoa let go of his body and ventured off to the back of the ship. Rinoa…

"Whatugoanfthat?" Zell's mouth was half full as he pointed to the small navigation screen. "Selphieshdihfshouldn'tlrgjyou…"

But the girl wasn't paying attention. "Hehe, Irvine! Go back at looking at the engine room!"

Squall felt his body tighten as the high piercing alert noises sounded off through the bridge. Red flashes lightened the cold metal of the ship, reflected in everyone's startled eyes, "What's going on?!"

"Uhh…Oh no!" Selphie grabbed the controls, "An asteroid field! I don't think I can…" But the ship was already hit. A giant space rock collided with the right side, causing the floor to quake and half of the crew to fall over. More noises were ringing through the air, "Squall! Commands!"

He blinked, not really hearing.

"Squall!" Selphie's voice shouted again.

Rinoa! The SeeD ran away from the bridge, through the halls of the ship, scavenging for the girl, "Rinoa!"

"Squall!" She ran forward and grasped the young man in front of her, "What's happening?" The ship shook again, another collision.

He didn't answer. Squall grabbed the young girl's hands tightly and dragged her back to the bridge, "Selphie, status."

Her fingers were fumbling with various keys. "…It's not looking good, Squall…err Commander."

Squall sighed. Great start to the mission. "Get the radio. We're abandoning ship." The hand closely wrapped around his own tightened. He switched his gaze back to Rinoa, "Don't worry." His fingers traced through her black hair, "Zell, set the escape pods to the proper coordinates and move out. I'll see everyone in thirty minutes."

A/N:

I'm gonna write as much as possible. I'll try my best to update this soon! Thanks guys!

~Mira