It takes all the strength I can muster to pry my eyelids open, and once I get them there, they squeeze shut again, burned by the sunlight pouring into the room. Someone's faint voice points out the movement and another calls my name. I can feel people watching me and it's uncomfortable. Fuck off. Groaning, I try to raise my arm, but it's too heavy.

"The window," I mumble, my words slurring together. Somehow, they understand and the shades rattle, closing in one sharp motion. I try again, squinting. It's still so bright.

"Welcome back, Kitty," Reno grins, leaning forward in the chair he's pulled up to the side of the bed. Rude looms beside him, expressionless. Much to my surprise, Tseng's out cold in another chair across the room, face as stern as always even in his sleep.

"Thanks." My voice sounds funny and my head's hazy. Where are we?

Reno seems to read my mind, laughing quietly to himself and shaking his head. "We're in Kalm. Didn't think it'd be safe for you or Rufus in Midgar, so we moved you guys out here. He woke up two days ago, though."

"Two days?" I almost sit up, alarmed, but the stinging in my chest knocks me back down. It all comes back: Hojo's bitterness, Cid's rescue, getting carried away.

"Marx kept you under a lot of drugs to keep you asleep. Said it'd help you heal faster." He sighs, shrugging. "He unplugged all his shit and left a few hours ago. Not sure where he went."

I frown, ignoring the fears of not knowing what that psycho pumped into my body, and nod toward Tseng. "What's with him?"

"He's been awake for a long time." Reno laughs. "Thought it'd catch up with him eventually. He keeps stressing like that and it won't be long before he gets Rude's hair." At that, Rude raises an eyebrow, but he doesn't say anything.

"Is he worried about Meteor?"

Reno flashes a weak smile and stands. "Shield your eyes, Sweetheart." He pulls the shades back up to reveal the sky. "Take a look." From here, the looming mass looks hardly a few miles from Midgar, though it's still very easily close to impacting Kalm as well. "Veld and the others came to help evacuate the city after we got you and Rufus out. It was good bein' with 'em, even just for a little while."

"Reeve called," Rude adds. "Avalanche was about to fight Sephiroth when he did."

"How long ago?"

"About—" He's cut off when the ground begins to shake, shooting Reno a frown. "An hour or so."

"Great." My heart begins to pound and I can't bite back at my fear this time, trying to make a joke as Meteor draws nearer by the second. I swear I can feel the rock's heat from here. "Well, nice knowing you guys."

Reno rolls his eyes and turns back to the window. Meteor doesn't feel so slow anymore. Decorations and water glasses rattle on the room's surfaces, crashing to the floor as the shaking gets stronger. "Fuck," Reno hisses, stepping away and sitting on the edge of my bed.

Before I can brace myself for the rock's impact, uncountable tendrils of light shoot forth from the ground, glowing a blinding shade of bright green. The lights push upward against Meteor in an effort to wrestle it away. The Planet's defense. As they split into white-hot threads that spread across Meteor's surface, Rude checks his phone with a scowl.

"Vincent Valentine and Yuffie Kisaragi are in Midgar."

"For what?" I ask, hardly able to breathe around the pounding in my chest.

"Further evacuation."

"I don't know if it matters anymore."

"What the shit is happening?" Reno demands, drawing our attention back. The lights flare and we shield our eyes. Is this the end? For a second I think it is, overwhelmed with suffocating heat. But then it's gone and the world goes dark. I let my arm fall, staring at the smoking remains of Midgar, stunned.

"Holy chocobos."

"They did it," Reno says, eyes wide with shock. His face splits into a grin and he turns sharply to face me. "Holy shit!" He falls onto his back and smiles up at Rude. "Was that thrill better?"

"Exceptionally."

"Thrill?" I frown, catching sight of Tseng standing. He tears his eyes away from the window, glancing at me. Before he can speak, Reno sits up.

"See, Kat? You could've slept through it all just fine!" I sit up to hit him, stopped short when a shooting pain fires through my shoulder. He winces. "Take it easy, Kitty. You pulled your shoulder, too."

"How…?" I frown only to recall catching myself on the scaffolding. "It didn't hurt before."

"Not compared to all those bullets, no."

I groan, rolling my eyes. "This is gonna be fun." Suddenly, I notice the absence of two people. "Where's Rufus?"

"Another room with Elena," Tseng replies, straightening his jacket. "Fractured ribs and a broken heel. He's stuck in a wheelchair."

Rude's phone chimes loudly and he checks it, raising an eyebrow. "Speak of the devil…"

"Brat's bein' needy today, ain't he?" Reno scoffs, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"…" Rude turns and leaves silently.

Standing, Reno stretches his arms over his head. "Shit, it's late." He glances at me over his shoulder, eyes bright and smile wide. "You still tired, Kat?"

"I could hibernate again," I admit, laying my head back into the pillows and relaxing.

"Yeah, so could I." He laughs, turning back to Tseng. "How 'bout you, Chief?"

"It's amazing how much more polite you are after I've been dead a while," Tseng teases, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I think I'll keep Rude company while he babysits."

We laugh as he leaves, quieting once the door closes behind him. Reno rubs the back of his neck, resting his hand on his hip.

"He seems cheerful," I point out.

Reno nods, pacing the length of the room. "Yeah. I think he's happy to be back." Good to know he found somewhere to belong. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." I press my lips together, feeling dread create a pit in my stomach. "Is it okay?"

"Is what okay?" Reno frowns, looking back at me.

"The baby."

"Oh." He heaves a sigh, shrugging. "Yeah, Marx said everything was alright after we got you stabilized." He puffs out a weak laugh. "I don't think he likes me."

"You think?"

"Eh, he'd probably dance on my grave if he wasn't so stuffy."

I wince, trying not to laugh, and search the side table. "Where's my phone?"

"Can't be a second without it?" Reno teases, raising an eyebrow. He pulls it from his pocket and hands it over. "Charged it for when you woke up."

"Thanks. I'm glad you were hopeful."

"Marx said you'd be alright, remember?"

"Mhm." I turn the phone on and raise an eyebrow at Reno when he sits beside my pillow, watching me text my uncle.

Tseng, you didn't happen to ditch Rude, did you?

I'm not sure if he'll answer me, so I lay back against Reno's leg and close my eyes, resting my phone on my stomach. After a moment of silence, it buzzes and I sit back up, thrilled that he answered.

What do you think?

I roll my eyes and Reno snickers, shaking his head.

Don't be such a goody-two-shoes. I would've.

I'm sure you would have.

"He knows you so well," Reno comments. "Isn't he supposed to be babysitting?"

"Rufus must be sleeping."

I need to tell you something.

Over text?

Don't be so cynical.

"You can't help that he's old."

"He's only a few years older than you."

"Yeah. Old."

I scoff and turn back to my phone, heart skipping beats sporadically.

You there?

I'm waiting.

Oh. Well, I'm pregnant. Surprise!

"Cruel," Reno snorts.

"Marx didn't tell him, did he?"

"Nope. He wasn't in the room when you were being treated. Too busy serving our beloved president." He nods toward my phone, smug. "Radio silence."

"You're right."

Hello?

Whose?

… Yours.

Kat, incest is not funny.

Yeah here's the thing… It's Rufie's.

"Gods, you're horrible," Reno mutters, turning away from the screen as if the news still hurts. Slowly, he gets up, shedding his jacket. I huff and toss my phone onto the foot of the bed, staring at the ceiling. He raises an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

"I need to take a shower."

"Okay." He's smiling before he can help it, reveling my handicap. "You need help?"

"Please?"

"Aw, poor Kitty Kat can't take her own shower," he whines, pouting. I throw my pillow at him, scowling.

"I can shower just fine. I need help getting there."

"Mhm." Reno wiggles his eyebrows. "Sure you don't need help with the rest?"

"Don't be gross. It's not gonna be pretty."

"I know. It's you."

"Screwoff."

Snickering, he heads to the bedside and offers me an arm. We stumbled toward the bathroom slowly, taking our time as my knee slips in and out of place, even wrapped up tightly in Marx's bandages. He helps me get a towel out of the cabinet and leaves me to eye my nasty wounds in the mirror alone. Gross. I peel off the bloody gauze and carefully step into the shower. The water stings, but it feels good to wash up. It's only when I step out that I realize I don't have anything to wear. Fuck.

"Hey, Re?"


"I'm not getting in a fucking wheelchair," I snap, arms crossed as I glower at the seat. Rude sighs and shoots Reno an exhausted look.

"Kat, c'mon, we can't carry you around forever," Reno pleads.

"I'm not getting in."

"You don't want to strain your chest—" Tseng starts.

I cut him off with a glare. Defeated, he nods, and Elena hands over a pair of crutches. I'm lucky his head's pounding knives into his skull, or I'd probably get chewed out. Just as I tuck the supports under my arms, Rufus wheels into the room, stopping by the window.

"All of you…" He turns to face us, resting his chin on the shoulder of his scuffed suit. "What do you all plan to do from here?"

"Are you're serious?" I demand, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't remember being fired," Reno chimes in, tucking his hands into his pockets.

The others nod, waiting for the president's response. Without Shinra, we're nothing. We threw every other source of identity out the window when we signed up for this. It's everything we have everything we are. Slowly, Rufus turns the wheelchair around, thinking.

"Fine. I have two orders for you then." He lifts his gaze, staring hard at everyone. "Return to Midgar and find out the situation there. I also need you to gather some friends." His eyes are cold when they finally reach mine. "Just because people may be our staff does not mean they're friends. Understand?"

"Why did you look at me when you said that?" I mutter, scowling.

"I know that," Tseng replied, frowning. "But what use will it be gathering friends now? What are you going to do?" Tseng questioning orders? Death did him good.

"I want information for now, no matter how little or how much." Rufus turns to my uncle. "Tseng."

"Yes sir."

"I'm sure you've been reprimanded—"

"There are still many things Shinra can accomplish, sir."

Rufus nods, his pale hair swinging free into his face. He doesn't seem to notice.

"I'm sure this'll be fun," Reno says cheerfully, elbowing Rude. "We'll take city duty."

"I'll go with Tseng, then," Elena replies. I can hear the nerves in her voice and I struggle to hide a grimace. Gods, why'd she have to fall in love with my uncle of all people? I glance over at him, curious. Can he even tell? I start to follow the others our the door, ready to join Reno and Rude when Rufus speaks up.

"Kat, you're staying here with me."

"What?" I snap, stumbling into the doorframe when I turn too fast. Not used to these damn things.

"You're in no shape to be working." He raises a slender eyebrow, watching me fumble with my crutches. "Besides, you wouldn't want to leave me alone when I could—"

"Whatever," I huff, plopping back down into my bed. I instantly regret it, cringing. "Ouch."