5.Celestia

'Thena was in an unusually good mood when she got back to the diner; late back to the diner now that she thought about it, half an hour later than usual. "And where were you little Miss, out wreaking havoc?" Celestia joked from the sink as 'Thena went back to the little table where she worked on her homework.

"Yea Cela, I knocked over five or six liquor stores on my way back" she responded with a smart ass smirk.

"You know, spring is the mating season" Aurora joked from next to her. "You on the other hand look like you could use a break; take a load off I'll finish the T-Dizzles pots and pans" she threw an arm over Cela's shoulders "Get the skinny on this boy for the rest of us" she winked.

"Oh I'm fine doll, I don't wanna go over there and ruin her mood" she was curious but she'd find out later; 'Thena didn't respond well to nagging.

"There's my fave sis… Oh, Cela, what are you doing here?" Skylar joked as he came breezing into the kitchen. "By the way I've been meaning to tell you; raspberry-almond shortcakes" he winked; referring to the cookies she promised him that morning. "And you better make 'em good; I've been having a helluva day out there" he mock gagged.

"I'll double-batch 'em just for you Skylar" she shot back.

"So lil-sis, what's the story you seem to be in unusually high spirits today; which begs the question, do you have any of your stash left?" Skylar started walking over to 'Thena's table.

"Hugs not Drugs Bro!" She laughed; she started whispering to him, causing them both to look at 'Cela laughing.

"Hey, what are you bitches talking about over there?" she glared.

"You NOSY now butt out so we can continue" Skylar joked as he stuck his tongue out at her. She sighed and went back to her dishes; she knew that code. She liked to think that 'Thena could talk to her about anything but she also understood that sometimes a girl needed a big-bro to talk to. She had the same bond with Tristan… She could get the info out of Skylar later; that crazy bitch loved to gossip.

"Hey, Cela, do you know of anyone who's looking for a place to stay 'til like fall?" Aurora's voice pulled her out of her dream world and back to reality.

6.Athena

She made it a point to find him on the el every morning for the rest of the week; it wasn't too hard with that crazy red hair of his. Of course she wasn't looking for her own benefit; he was like ten years older than her… making him the perfect age for Cela. Despite Cela's insistence that it couldn't have been helped, 'Thena still blamed herself for Cela's situation. Like a good big sis Cela was adamant that it was the hand life had dealt her and she would deal with it like she always did. But 'Thena knew Cela wouldn't be with Trent if it wasn't for the accident. She was planning on breaking up with him five years earlier; long before he started beating up on her on a bi-weekly basis. Cela was helping 'Thena pack for a trip to Costa Del Sol when she mentioned that she was going to 'ditch the prince of Midgar'; which was a nickname that she, Cela, and Tristan used when talking about Trent. He was never really nice to her, always putting her down and making her feel crummy about herself; the break up would've been best for Cela. She didn't get a chance to go through with it though. The accident put an end to that plan; Cela had to borrow money from his parents to pay the hospital bills. She explained that she couldn't break up with him after his parents had loaned her the money. She quit school and started working at Tony's restaurant. Things were looking up; she would have the bills paid off within a year. Apparently fate had other plans in mind; Trent started living with them about a month after they had moved into their tiny crummy little apartment. That's how it had been ever since.

Cela needed someone to remind her that she deserved better; someone like Red. If Trent was the hand that life had given Cela; Red was the trump card it had given 'Thena. She wanted Cela to be happy again; to be able to smile, really smile. She knew that Cela would keep making excuses to stay; Cela would never admit it but she was scared of Trent. Not scared of what Trent would do to her but what Trent would do to 'Thena. That's why it was 'Thena's job to make Cela see that there was something better for her in life. She was so lost in her own world that she didn't see the shadow he cast over her.

"Are you 'Thena?" a booming voice came from behind her. The man it was attached to was tall; bald and dressed for all intents and purposes like a hit man.

Instead of responding in a civilized manner; 'Thena screamed and tried to pull away. She had forgotten that she applied her brakes "I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY!" She shouted as she grabbed the canister that Cela insisted she carry with her. For the first time she was truly glad to have it.

"Whoa kid, relax, Reno sent me out here looking for someone named 'Thena; if you're not her just lemme know and I'll move on" he answered calmly.

She felt like a total ass, 'Thena was a name that her big brother called her by ever since she was a baby; there was a handful of people on the planet who knew about it and even fewer who were allowed to use it. "Um, sorry sir, you just kinda scared me. I'm her" she looked at the ground as she spoke; this guy was kind of intimidating.

He rose an eyebrow "You're kinda young aren't you?"

"Hey! It's not like that… it's complicated" she chuckled a little as she heard herself using one of Cela's favorite lines. "Um, you're a friend of Red's?"

"Red?" he seemed to chuckle a little.

"Sorry, I meant Reno… Red's a name that sis made up for him…" she felt herself blush a little.

"Ah, I see, yea, he got caught up in this thing he said he was supposed to meet someone out here. I guess I was just expecting someone older. So you mentioned a sister…"

"Yea, I have an older sister named Celestia… She's actually what I wanted to talk to him about. See I was hoping he could stop by and see us tomorrow, we'll be at the diner all day, cause sis is working a double" she was rambling as she always did when she was nervous. "But yea, I know she'd wanna thank him for Tuesday and all; plus I was kinda hopin' he could try to talk some sense into her…"

"Whoa, back up, you want Reno, of all people to try and talk some sense into her?" He laughed "she must be really far gone".

'Thena giggled a little bit "You might say that Mr… I'm sorry I don't' think I caught your name."

"I don't think I gave it; it's Rude. No Mr. just Rude."

"Ah, I see. Well if you don't mind that is, sir, could you just tell him that we'll be at the diner all day if he has a minute to stop by?"

"No prob kid. Will you be ok getting home on your own?"

"Yea, I'll be fine, I'm armed" she joked as she pointed to the pepper spray that she still had clutched firmly in her hand.

He laughed "alright, I'll see ya around then kid. Take care."

"Yea, you too" she unlocked her brakes and headed back to the station. "Thanks again!" she shouted after him.

Author's note:Welcome back kiddie (and thanks for stickin w/ it!) I know these two chapters are mostly fluff-iness; more development (good stories are like good mescaline; they come on slow ;D). I personally like chapter 6, or at least the dynamic that I'm developing between Rude and 'Thena; but it might come off as cheesy, lemme know!

KFConti