Cid liked to be alone at night. Shera, against her own wishes, would leave him be as he sat on his own outside. He would sit in an old rocking chair, staring up at the stars in the sky, looking to all extent and purposes a contented man.

"Too bad I can never get back up there..." he said under his breath. The Highwind was no longer in any condition to fly. The years had taken their toll on his child, and although he had once been dedicated to restoring it, the job had never been completed. Cid and Shera just didn't have the money to fund the repairs. Tiny Bronco had been well beyond repair after the escape from the Shinra way back. There was never going to be another rocket. They'd have to change the name of the place to just 'Town'.

He thought often of Aeris when he sat out here. He and her had never been close, which made it seem unusual to him. She had often talked about 'returning to the planet' or some such stuff. Cid hadn't really been interested at the time, but it was all too relevant now. Was that his future? To become part of what he had once played a role in saving?

Pah, he'd rather become part of the sky, part of the stars. Instead he'd be grounded for ever. Still, what are ya gonna do about? Spend your last days in this fucking chair depressed? Not Cid! Not his fucking style, no way.

He smiled and took a drag from his cigarette.

***
Cloud, Vincent, Barret, Tifa and Yuffie had decided to stay at the inn. Shera had offered to make room for them somehow, but they didn't want to be in the way (apart from Barret who had argued with Cloud for a good ten minutes.)

"So is everyone okay?" asked Cloud. Barret swore aloud. He wasn't sure what he hated more - the old emotionless, arrogant, closed-book Cloud or the new 'let's discuss our feelings guys!' Cloud.

"I'm going to the bar," he said and quickly left.

"I'm going out for some fresh air," claimed Vincent.

"Fresh? In Rocket Town?" said Cloud disbelievingly. Too late though - Vincent had already gone.

"Hey Vincent, wait for me will ya? I said WAIT!" yelled Yuffie before running after the enigma. Cloud shrugged.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked. Tifa giggled despite herself.

"You sure have changed these past few years Cloud, " she said with a glint in her eyes. Despite her sadness she couldn't help but feel... okay while Cloud was around. "I'm glad you're with me tonight."

"Sure," said Cloud. Perhaps you haven't changed THAT much, thought Tifa. We still can't be as close as I want us to be... you think we can't get any closer... maybe you're right.

"I'm glad Cid has Shera," she said, trying to swim for something resembling a shore.

"Yeah," agreed Cloud. Tifa looked at her knees. Cloud still wasn't the world's greatest conversationalist. He seemed eager to know how everyone else was these days, yet still couldn't reveal his own feelings.

"So I guess we'll be in Rocket Town for quite some time then?" she asked. Cloud sat down next to her on the bed now. Tifa wanted him to put his arm around her but didn't dare ask him to.

"Not really. Cid... doesn't have much time left."

"We can't just lave after... after... " she failed to say 'he dies'. "right after! Shera's going to need us to look after her and support her through it."

"I hadn't thought of that."

Tifa sighed. Cloud most certainly did care for his friends, but for all his good intentions he had little practise at seeing people's feelings. She lay back on the bed and even Cloud's presence couldn't stop her worry about Cid and Shera now.

***

Cid closed the back door behind him and walked in quietly, for once trying not to disturb Shera. He had tried not to shout at her quite as much as of late. The old gal had taken the 'news' badly, much worse than he had. Cid certainly didn't like the fact that he was dying, but he'd deal with it. You wouldn't catch him crying about it.

He was not altogether surprised to see her curled up on the couch, a framed photo in one hand and a tissue being used to wipe her tears in the other. She screwed up her eyes and sobbed quietly, unaware of The Captain's presence.

Shera... for fuck's sake, why you gotta do this to me? Your makin' me feel fucking guilty about dying. If I could stop it I would. But this ain't some fucking meteor. This is something inside of me, and there ain't no way I can get it out.

At least the others had seemed to be able to accept it. They hadn't gone of on some quest (at least not to his knowledge) to find some shit from some shit-hole that would miraculously cure him. Cid had already been a part of too many damn miracles. He'd gone into space despite all the odds. He'd saved the planet and he reckoned that counted as a miracle too. But miracles are limited, and Cid knew in his heart (the part of him that was being devoured as he stood here) that this was it. He'd had his run, he'd had his life. There were always dreams that would never be fulfilled, but even so, Cid was content. Hell, he'd seen this whole fucking planet from space, seen how tiny it was, and so he himself... well he wasn't big at all.

Quietly he moved over to Shera and sat down next to her. Cid was not the best in the world at making people feel better, but even so he felt he should try. He put his hand around Shera's shoulders and held her head to his chest.
***

Barret had just ordered himself a drink when Yuffie stormed into the bar.

"That damn Vincent! He just disappeared!" she huffed as she sat down next to Barret at the bar.

"The hell you shoutin' at me for? You know Vincent, he probably just wants ta be alone, " said Barret angrily.

"Whatever. So when are you planning on buying me a dr- hey, who's that guy? He looks like he knows you."

Barret turned to look in the same direction as Yuffie. Sitting at a nearby table was Palmer, a face Barret remembered. The old man was staring at Barret conspicuously. He would never forget ANYONE involved with Shinra, that was for sure. If he and Cid hadn't met in the circumstances they had, Barret probably would have torn the pilot's head off.

"That bastard. He was part of Shinra, something to do with their space program. We met him before your time," said Barret. Barret took his beer in his one good hand and walked over to the table. "The fuck you staring at old man?"

Barret noticed a moment of darkness about Palmer's eyes that he hadn't noticed before. It soon vanished though and was replaced by fear. Palmer had stored his 'weapon' in his room - and he knew too well that he wasn't going to be able to take on Barret by himself. His eyes met the gun grafted on to the large man's hand and a lump formed in his throat.

"What the hell you doin' in Rocket Town? Your fat ass ain't welcome here," said Barret.

"I-I'm just passing through. I don't intend on causing any trouble. I mean, it's not as though I work for Shinra anymore," stammered Palmer.

After the day he'd had, Barret was in the mood for a fight and in truth he just didn't care that Palmer wasn't going to be able to give him one. He placed his beer down on the table and with speed greater than his size would suggest, Barret knocked Palmer off his chair with a punch to the side of the face. The fat man rolled about on the floor as Barret kicked away at him. Yuffie just sat and watched, making no attempt to save the fat man. She had no intention of getting in the way of an angry Barret. Soon enough Barret decided to end it, and just walked back to his room. The inn manager had seen it all - but decided, after considering the gun on his arm, to not interfere in such a 'petty' squabble.
Once Yuffie and Barret had left, Palmer took himself back to his room, rage rising within him and threatening to erupt. That violent thug would pay for that. He felt there should be... a test run of his new weapon before he turned it loose on this town. Barret would do just fine. He would pay. They all would. They would see that he was no joke. Oh yes - they would soon see. Tomorrow, he decided, it would begin.