Hello everyone! I just wanted to throw in a quick disclaimer about the content of this fic. Firct (and obviously) the characters aren't mine. Second, I have taken extreme creative liberty with the storyline. Though I fixed their ages, the time lapse of the characters is way off (it's gonna be that way in the sequels and prequel, too.) Sorry if this bugs anyone, I know it bugs me, and just let me know in the reviews. Thanks for reading! Please R&R!

yuffiegal23--here's your update! Thanks for reading!

xsaturnine--AC is indeed consuming, I've watched it 5 times full through, but I've watched a certain character's return scene 39 times! --eyes bug out-- Thanks for reading, and I'm going back to your fics when my stupid exams are done!

Platonic1--Thanks again as always, and keep plugging away at that fic! I just started "The Twisted Blade," one of the sequels...

Chap 11

"Sure. I think we finally shook those goddamn bird Heartless, too." Cid stood, rubbing a hand along the consol affectionately. "Knew she had it in her. No Heartless is as fast as my Highwind." The pilot's steps were sure even past the swaying movement of the airship's motion and he lifted Squall into his arms with the same easy certainty. Aerith climbed shakily to her feet, finding herself a little awestruck at the gentleness of the muscular man's hold on her injured comrade. She had initially thought him brash with his loud mouth, foul tongue and seemingly perpetual glower, but perhaps there was more to it than that.

"Coming Yuffie?" she asked, breaking her own line of thought. It was time to concede to the little voice telling her to analyze later, sleep now. The other girl groaned and shook her head, an odd motion considering that it was currently between her knees in an attempt to ward off her airsickness. Aerith shrugged--if she wanted to stay there, more power to her.

Aerith followed Cid towards the back of the airship, taking the left hall as the main path branched into two. The pilot raised a booted foot and kicked an electronic panel, and a room on the right side of the hall became visible as the metal door slid open.

"In here," the blonde man muttered, speaking around the cigarette in his mouth. The room was small, arranged more for space than for comfort, and sported two sets of small bunked beds of either side of it. All the wall space that wasn't dominated by the beds was lined with rows of sleek metal drawers, all of varying sizes. In the sparse floor area that was available, shirts, over worn boots and old blue jeans were piled everywhere. "Not used to company," Cid explained, again using his foot to do the work of his occupied hands. It took him but one well directed sweep to clear to clear the lower, rightmost bunk of the pile of clothes it had been buried beneath. The pilot laid Squall on that same bunk. "Sorry 'bout the mess." He grabbed an armful of what looked like a mix of socks and oil-splattered rags off the top bunk. "'Hope this'll do."

"Anything will do," Aerith replied politely. "Thank you."

"Sure. If you need a blanket they're..." Cid looked hopelessly at dozens of identical drawer fronts, "...somewhere. Dammit." He took a long drag off his cigarette, gave the girl a shrug and exited, smashing his fist into the door's console to do so. Aerith watched the door slide closed before she made her way up the metal rungs to the top bunk.

"Anything indeed," she mumbled, tossing the last of the socks to the growing pile on the floor. She allowed herself a small sigh as she tried to get comfortable when one more thing came to her weary mind. Leaning down over the side of her bed, she took a quick appraisal of Squall's appearance.

He was sleeping still, breathing shallowly but evenly just as he had been. His brow was slightly furrowed; she couldn't help but notice the way his scar looked the same, regardless of the crease of his forehead around it. The first thing she had noticed about Squall when they met was that scar.

Analyze later; rest nowthe sleepy voice commanded again. Yawning, Aerith rolled back.

- - - - - - - - -

"What the friggin' hell do you mean, 'space-worthy?'"

"Just like it sounds, Cid," Mickey replied tiredly, stifling a yawn. What a trying day it had been. "The modifications we made with the gummi blocks I gave you, remember? You have extras in the hold and I'm sure you'll find plenty more in Traverse Town."

"Not that damn place again. I already told ya-"

"And I already told YOU that there is no other way. You have to get them out of here. The balance is too far upset in Hollow Bastion; Touched or not, you're all little more than Heartless bait if you remain. You yourself are a target, but they especially cravethe young ones." At that Cid sighed, rubbing a gloved hand over his face. Mickey glanced back at Yuffie—who had managed to doze off with her head still clenched firmly between her knees—and lowered his voice. "What's wrong? There is more to this than you not trusting the gummi blocks."

"They…they don't remember me. Not one of them knows who I am." Mickey smiled ruefully at the older man.

"A lot has happened between then and now. They were tiny, Cid, little more than toddlers at best. How can you expect them—"

"—I don't." It was Cid's turn to interrupt. "Not really. I just thought that perhaps, you know…"

"They are tired," the King reminded the pilot, patting his muscular shoulder affably, "as are you." He heard Cid grumble "Tired my ass…" beneath his breath, but ignored him and continued. "Just give them time, see how they end up, all right?" He glanced ahead, out the Highwind's front windshield. "Now, are you ready to take her up?" Cid, banishing his temporary melancholy, grinned the grin of a man possessed. He still wasn't sure, but space was space, and Mickey had yet to mislead him…

"Well, if you say so. What the Hell—Traverse Town it is!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Well, there are 2 chapters of "Escape" left. I just finished….and I can't believe it! Stay tuned…I believe they're being posted very shortly!