. . . I hope you like this. I apologize for my lack of updating. Sorry! . . .

ooo

CHAPTER 4

Sound of Rain

oOo

"Daddy!"

"In a sec, Marlene."

Barret turned back to Tifa.

"Anythin' else yah need fixed 'round here?"

Tifa wipped her foreheaded on the back of her hand, coming away damp from sweat.

"No, I think that's all for today. Thanks, Barret."

The large man nodded. "No problem."

"Daddy!"

"Whatcha want, baby?"

"I'm thirsty!"

Barret chuckled and picked her up as if she weighed nothing and carried her over to the back kitchen of the newly re-built 7th Heaven. Tifa finished clearing up the loose screws and bolts that they had just been using to put up cabinets and finish off the bar counter when the phone rang. Tifa walked over and picked it off the hook quickly, bringing it up to her ear in a swift motion.

"Hello? . . . Cid? . . . Where have you been? . . . Oh, well you got it back? . . . Oh good. I'm glad you called. . . . She did? Well yes, I did call. . . . Well, it would seem that Red has had something very important he needs to tell us all. . . . I don't know, but he's very adamant about seeing us all in person. . . . I don't know why! But we'd all appreciate it if you could come, and pick up Yuffie on your way. Eleven days from today. . . . Thanks, Cid. . . . Okay, Bye."

"Who was that?" Barret asked as he came back out, Marlene bobbing behind him happily with a cup of water in her hand.

"Cid." Tifa said, hanging up the phone.

"Cid? Where has that sob been off ta?"

"Looking for the Tiny Bronco."

Barret picked Marlene up and placed her up on the counter-top.

"Oh. Well, is he comin'?"

"Yeah. He's bringing Yuffie."

"Hmm. Then that makes all of us. Wonder what Red's all about?"

"I don't know. But we'll find out soon enough."

oOoOo

"Dammit! Look at this fuckin' mess! Look what they did to my baby!"

Shera sighed and worked to finish the rest of planting her flower bulbs. She had found them stuck to the ground in frost the next morning and hoped that they would still bloom. Above her the sky predicted heavy rain, and she was sure if nothing else, a good shower could provoke her buds into bloom.

"Crap, now I haveta paint a new fuckin' coat on her!"

She covered the last of the heads with earth and slapped her gloved hands together, knocking dirt to the ground in a shower. She grabbed the basket and entered the house, placing the empty basket in a cabinet under the sink.

"Shera, get out here and give me a hand!"

She stood up, sighing, and opened the door, throwing off her gloves to the ground outside. She walked out to where Cid was working on Bronco.

"Yes, Captain?"

He ripped out the dying cigarette from his mouth and threw it to the ground. "Take the hose and spray it down while I scrape the shit out of all this goddamn mess."

"Alright."

She took the hose and let it rip. Cid, who didn't seem to either notice, or mind that half the spray was hitting him, dug into the Bronco's hull with a will, chisling away at the rust.

"Captain."

"Keep it comin'!"

"Captain!"

"Just hold that damn hose!"

"Cid!" She cut his water supply.

He jumped and turned, angry that she released on the water.

"What, dammit!"

"Captain," She brushed her fly-away hair from her eyes. "I don't see how more water is going to help."

"Don't argue with me!" Cid snapped. "Who's the Captain? I am! That means you do what I say! Now spray that damn hose!"

"I don't think I'll need to."

"What?"

With a welcoming, on que blare of thunder, the sky dumped it's heavy load all over the Bronco and the two people working to restore it.

"Oh-fucken-fantastic." Cid sighed. He turned to Shera. "What are you doing! Get inside the house!"

"Captain, what about the plane?"

"Dammit!" He rushed inside the house and came out a moment later towing a plastic sheet with him. He dashed to the Bronco and flung the sheet over it, trying to protect it as best he could from the weather. Shera jumped into action and took the opposite side, pulling it over the ship. Before long the two managed to fasten the plastic over the ship and get it secure from the weather's torment. Then, completley soaked, they both ran back into the house, dripping wet all over the floor.

Shera threw her back against the door, slamming it shut against the storm and laughing quietly as she watched Cid stamp over to the bathroom, grabbing a towels and bringing them back. He tossed one to Shera who caught it and began to strain out her hair into it. As always, her willful brown lay in utter chaos, now plastered flat to her face and streaking over her glasses from the wet.

Cid ran the towel through his own hair like a maniac, and turned towards Shera. He saw the way she looked and began to laugh.

"Captain? What's so funny."

"Funny? Look at yerself! Haha! That's what's funny!"

Shera sighed and gave him a look.

"You're cruel."

Cid laughed and sat down in his seat. "Yeah, maybe."

They both grew quiet as the sound of rain picked up and filled the atmosphere. Cid reached into his pant pockets and pulled out his packet of cigarettes, shoving one in his mouth and lighting it up. Putting it away he looked down at the table and Shera turned her head towards the kitchen stove. Tea.

She walked over and began to heat up the tea kettle.

Cid began to cough and think things over in his mind. He hadn't been back home since his last visit when they had all managed to kick Sephiroth's ass and save the world. But he had only come to get a few things and leave again, two months gone and now he was suddenly back. And things had changed. A lot of things had changed. But for right now, the things that really changed were between the two people in his kitchen.

i Shera, you were right. . . . sorry . . . /i

Yup, he had finally come out and said it. The big "s" word, and she had graciously accepted. But now what? She had stayed these past two months because he had asked her, and she had offered, to watch the house. But that was over, and there was no more debt, or punishment, to bind them here.

"Thanks."

"For what, Captain?"

"For watchin' the house while I was gone."

"Oh, no trouble."

She busied herself with wiping down the sink counter to fill in the silence. She could hear him taking long drags on his cigarette and could smell the smoke slowly filling the kitchen area. The tea screamed it was done and she pulled out two more green tea packets and stuck them in two cups, filling both up with steaming water and carrying them to the table.

Cid took his and watched the packets stain the water a darker brown.

He puffed on his cigarette and frowned.

"So now what to do with the rest of this wasted day . . ."

Shera sipped on her cup quietly.

The Highwind was outside, what was left of it. Ruined and unflyable, it sat like a ghostly reminder of it's former glory. Cid and his crew had managed to bring what was left of his life's pride and joy back to rocket town and give it a spot of burial before the empty launch pad of the Shin-Ra 26. It sat there, lost and dejected, waiting for the day it could be repaired and sky worthy once more.

The Highwind was unreachable. But there was still something esle he could work on in the meantime.

"Want the car fixed?"

"The car?"

"Yeah, you could take it out. Get to the next town or whatever." He thought about what he said. "Though not alone, granted."

She smiled as he puffed smoke out. Like a big lazy dragon.

"Naturally."

He seemed to think it over a little more, then happy that was something he could do, stood up and beconed her to follow him.

"A'right, let's get this piece o' crap up and workin'."

Shera smiled and rose to follow. They were both still soaking wet.

"Yes, Captain."