Disclaimer: These things are so pointless….so far I only own the characters Harper and Shade…..

Chapter 7

It was near midnight and they were back at Harper's renewed campsite. They just couldn't go on in the state Shade was in…

Harper was in her tent tending to the currently unconscious Shade, while everyone remained circled around the campfire, except Cid and Barret, who had gone to the village an hour or so away to find a healer.

"I hope he's okay." said Yuffie.

"I'm sure he will be fine." Cloud said, stroking the fire with a stick.

At that same moment Harper stepped out of the tent. Tifa stood.

"Any luck?" she asked.

"No. I'm afraid he can't be helped until a healer gets here."

"What's wrong with him?" asked Yuffie.

"His headaches, obviously. The pills he has probably isn't strong enough for him anymore. So we need and experienced healer who knows about stuff like this so he can be healed and he can make a stronger dose." Harper explained, facing Yuffie and Cloud.

"He'll be alright though…won't he?" Tifa asked.

Harper's lingered on Tifa a moment, as if she was judging her about something before she answered. "I don't really know. This hasn't happened before..."

Just then they heard a rustle in the bushes to their left, in the direction from the village. A minute later three people were standing before them by the fire. Two of which were friends.

"We found one." Barret announced lifting a hand in introduction. "This is the village's healer and black mage, Atlas. She said she would be able to do it…for a price."

The 'Atlas' character was an odd but intruding sight. She was in all black. Black, well everything…even her corset, which would've looked completely out of place on Tifa or Yuffie, was black. Her penetrating blue eyes looked as if they could tear you apart by just thinking about it. Her brown hair with her black undertones lingered calmly on her shoulders.

"I was told you had a headache problem…" she said in her penetrating, yet soothing voice. Tifa realized this was not a person to cross lightly.

Atlas observed the company was in, her eyes locking on Cloud for the briefest of moments, as if taken by him. Tifa opened her mouth, but shut it as Harper began to speak.

"Yes," said Harper stepping forward "My…" she cut off, glancing in Tifa's direction. "My friend is having trouble." She said.

"Lets see to it then…"

Inside the miniscule tent…

"Well, what happened?" Atlas asked, examining Shade, who was heaving.

Harper's eyes locked onto Atlas's, as if judging whether or not to trust her. "He's an Ancient. He's had headaches since I've known him…I never thought they would get to this level though…"

"Ancient huh? Lets see what I can do…Grab that basin of water over there for me, there is going to be a lot of sweat in here."

"You can help him?" Harper asked, fetching the basin required

"Of course. Or else I wouldn't be a healer now would I?" Atlas said, touching her fingertips on his forehead as she begun the healing process.

"How's he holding up?" Barret asked outside, dropping himself on an abnormally large log.

"Harper says there hasn't been much change…but she admitted that she didn't know if he would make it." Cloud told him "That's pretty much all we know at the moment."

"Do you -, Do you think him and Harper are…you know…together?" Barret asked, trailing off.

"If they are, they aren't telling us." said Cid "Maybe they're not supposed to be."

"I'm sure he'll be fine," said Cloud. "By the way, I need to fuss at you."

"About what?" asked Cid, acting innocent.

"What was the deal with the pills? Why didn't you just open them? You had to make poor Vincent do it for an idiot."

"I hate them kind of caps. They're so damn hard to open…" he said, trailing off.

"Well next time don't complain, just open the thing."

"Okay, okay. Chill out man. Geez."

"Don't tell me to chill out."

"What's your problem? You're all fussy all of a sudden."

"My problem is how you're so stupid you can even open a pill canister while someone is yelling in pain next to you." Cloud snapped.

"Cloud…calm down"

"Don't you get involved Tifa!" he said fuming.

"Don't you be snapping at her!" yelled Cid, standing to face Cloud. "You don't talk to women like that!"

"What would you know?"

"I know more than you!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Cloud, knock it off!" Barret demanded, standing between the two before they started hitting each other.

"You're so stupid!" said Cid

"You're stupider!"

"You're the stupiderest of them all!"

"Yeah?"

"YEAH!"

"Well you're stupid infinity!" yelled Cloud.

"BOYS!"

They both stopped and looked at Atlas, who had come out of the tent.

"Calm down both of you." She demanded.

Instantly the two sat down as if they were caught sticking their hands in the cookie jar and wanted to pretend they were innocent. Barret growled and sat down as well.

"What's the problem?" Harper asked, following Atlas out of the tent.

"He's an idiot." Yelled Cid, gesturing at Cloud.

"Say it again, but with a gun pointed at your head…" said Vincent cocking his gun against Cid's temple. Cid remained silent.

"How is he?" Tifa asked Atlas.

"He'll live. He should be up and around in a few hours. In the meantime you boys need to calm down and get some sleep. Harper and I are going to discuss his new prescription." She said, looking at Cloud the entire time as she spoke.

"Tifa, I need to talk to you." Said Harper.

Tifa looked at Atlas curiously before standing and following Harper in the bushes.

"What is it?"

"It's nothing. I just wanted to tell you that Shade and I are married." Harper said casually.

HEHEHE! A small cliffhanger there but a cliffhanger nonetheless. Sorry it's been slow and all lately. Been busy with school. Some drama and more action coming up soon. Hope you like it!

Comments? Compliments? Complaints? Suggestions? Questions? You all know what to do! Review!