THE SWEETEST THING
CHAPTER 2 Get Her Back
In front of the sink, it was her habit. She had hers, and he had his. But he wasn't here anymore, he was gone.Wiping her hands dry on a towel, she turned her eyes towards the front door and sighed.
Come through that door . . . come home . . .
Cait Sith scratched his machanical head.
"Well, I s'ppose I can take a heli down there an' pick yah up. But really, what's all the rush, eh?"
He frowned as Red barked something across at him.
"Aight, I'll be there in a week, jus' hang on to yer tail!"
"No, he isn't here."
"He isn't there? Well where is he then? Red wants us all to meet in two weeks over here at 7th Heaven. He's making it sound urgent."
"He was here only once since you all defeated Sephiroth. He's been out ever since looking for his baby."
"His what!"
Shera laughed. "In his language, that means he's been looking for his Tiny Bronco."
"And you've been there by yourself all this time?"
Shera paused. "I'm just looking after the Captain's house for him. I thought he'd like it . . ."
Tifa sighed on the other end. "Well if he comes back within the next two weeks, let him know about the meeting, okay?"
"Sure."
"Thanks, take care, Shera. Bye."
click
"You too."
Out in the garden, in the backyard, with the sun towards the east and the mountains dead ahead. Clouds strewn across the blue abyss like a partial blanket. She breathed in the crisp december air and tried to plant some more bulbs in the stubborn, cold earth. These would make lovely winter flowers come January and Feburary. Maybe you'll be back by then . . .
Distant noise.
She looked up into the thick sky. That had sounded familiar, but with the crisp breeze pushing in the gray clouds from the north, she was sure it was nothing more than the wind.
A rumble.
She shot her gaze upwards again. She'd heard it this time. Engines. She had heard engines on the wind. She scanned the air and unconsciously bit her lip, wishing to be able to see beyond the frosty clouds. Doesn't mean it's him.
Rumble.
She knew that sound. There was only one plane that made such a distinctive hum. She stood, an earth encrusted glove shielding her eyes from the morning sun. They were too large for her, she had borrowed his for this exact purpose. They were old and unused, and the newly added dirt had little effect on their previous state. She scanned the sky from behind her large glasses, teasing her lip more. Then, just as suddenly as it arrived, the sound was gone.
It wasn't him . . .
She sat down again, trying to distract her mind from thinking any longer on it, when through the clouds a loud whirring broke through the thick sky and the gray spiraled crazily in tight ringlets of smoke as propellers pushed back the curtain and the faded red Tiny Bronco sailed into view. Shera practically jumped from the ground, watching in breathless relief as the machine circled around the perimeter a few times, lowering altitude, and came to land in the yard, blowing vicious wind around and tossing her hair crazily about her head and bowling over her basket of flower bulbs.
She took a step forward as the plane turned, it's engines died, and the cockpit was kicked open and Cid jumped out, a moment later reaching in and taking out his spear with him as well.
"Captain!" Shera called. He turned and spotted her, smiling with a cigarette clamped between his teeth.
"Told yah I'd get her back, didn't I?"
She smiled, unable to shake it off, and nodded. "Yes, you did."
