(Yes, for this one I borrowed "Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straights

(Yes, for this one I borrowed "Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straights. It's their song, they wrote it, yadayadayada, and all that copyright stuff. On to the story!)

Reno stepped out of the car, waving a thanks to Reeve before turning and surveying his party for the first time. His eyes widened at Elena's dress, a long velvety black thing with sparkling bits scattered throughout. "Hey…where'd you get that?" "Oh, I had it in safe keeping." Reno whistled. "Nice. Hey, we could've sold that! Why didn't you show us?" She shrugged. "I didn't want you to sell it." Reno chuckled. "Fair enough."

Rude had pulled together a suit, and Reno had borrowed one from another of the 'army' members, since he'd already decided that they were going somewhere fancy tonight. It had been hard to find a place where they could eat for free, but even the high-class restaurants gave in when he said that they were part of the group fighting to save the world. No one really cared. It was one free meal, and they were all going to die anyway. Elena had suggested a place that looked nice, and they'd hitched a ride in Reeve's car to get here. Reno had to admit that everything was easier now that the world was going to end-for a second time.

As they walked in to 'The Dark Flower' restaurant, they could hear music playing from somewhere nearby. They stopped to listen in the doorway, and Elena lowered her head as she made out the words of the song.

These mist colored mountains,

Are home now for me

But the lowlands

Home always will be

Someday you'll return to

Your valleys and your farms

And you'll no longer burn to be brothers in arms

Through these fields of destruction,

Baptisms of fire,

I've witnessed your suffering,

As the battle raged higher

And though it all hurt me so bad.

In the fear and alarm,

You did not desert me, my brothers in arms.

There's so many different worlds.

So many different suns,

And we have just one world,

But we live in different ones,

Now the sun's gone to hell,

And the moons riding high,

Let me bid you farewell,

Every man has to die,

But it's written in the starlight,

In every line in your palm,

We are fools to make war on our brothers in arms…

They all stood there for a moment, looking around for the singer, and not seeing him. Sighing, Elena led the way into the restaurant, while the others maintained a thoughtful silence. Reno cursed under his breath. "We're here to have fun, you guys," he said suddenly. "Not contemplate the future. Now, where's the waitress?"

She did arrive, and they all ordered. Conversations ensued, about the weather, and the past, and what they'd do the next day. Elena cracked some jokes about them being able to con people into giving them everything they wanted for free, and Rude commented that he still intended to try and make waffles the next morning. But the talk had a forced cheerfulness about it that all of them recognized…and were unable to end.

They stayed for a long time, watching the sun go down outside and the stars come out. A candle was lit at their table, and even Reno had to admit that it was a beautiful night. He watched the candle flicker in front of him, finding himself fascinated by the layers of heated color within the flames. Rude was munching on his pie, and Elena was humming quietly to her herself, looking thoughtfully out the window. When the waitress came to take their empty plates, she turned around again.

"You know," she commented, smiling slightly, "The next time we do this, it won't be free." The next time? Wondered Reno. Rude looked up. "…Who'll pay?" Reno had to laugh slightly, realizing that they were already getting into the usual banter about who should pay the bill, even if it was about the next time they ate. The next time, he thought to himself. There probably won't be a next time. They know that…

"Well," he said. "I think Elena should be punished for keeping that dress from us." Elena looked startled, then smiled. "Oh no, my dear Reno, I think it should be you who are punished for suggesting that a 'dainty young woman' like myself should give up her mother's possession." Her mother's, thought Reno. "Oh, well excuse me," he replied, "But survival comes before vanity in my opinion."

They went on like this for some while, as they left the restaurant, stopping to look up at the sky as they walked out. Elena bit her lip, and turned to the others. "I guess we'll have to all pitch in…next time. When it's all over." "When it's all over," echoed Reno, nodding and doing a pathetic impression of his old cocky smile. "…next time," allowed Rude. "When we're all back here again," agreed Elena.

No one said anything after that, they just walked to the curb as Reeve's car pulled up, right on time, to take them back the observatory. As they rode back in the car, Rude looked out the window, and thought to himself, when we come back…