TWENTY-FOUR

"Alright," I said. "Give it a try."

As I scooted out from under the sink, Tifa took a glass from one of the cabinets while Biggs and Wedge watched from the other side of the bar in breathless anticipation. After meeting them outside a few hours ago early this morning, I had let them guide me to the market district, where I'd bought myself a nice new set of tools in one of the shops that sat along the main road. It was bigger and more expansive than the one Reeve had given me and came in a nice black case.

Gathering the parts to make a filter had taken longer, and we'd had to do some scrounging in the junk piles for that. But those places were a treasure trove to me and a useful place to find supplies—I'd done my share of scavenging back in Sector 5 to find materials for my repairs, so I was used to it by then. The ones in Sector 7 had a lot more to choose from and look through, and I was starting to realize that different parts of the slums had different goodies to find.

Biggs and Wedge were such a great help, showing me the largest of the scrap piles and all the ones that had the best loot. We spent half the morning searching for parts and things I could turn into parts—being a scavenger meant making do with whatever you could find, and I was very good at taking discarded pieces of metal, plastic, or anything else I could get and making them into useful components like valves or filter tubes. The guys and I found everything I needed.

Once we had enough, we brought it all back to the Seventh Heaven and got to work. The place didn't open until later in the day, so we had it all to ourselves. Tifa and the guys watched in fascination as I got out my new tools and started putting the filter and its parts together. They handed me different things when I needed them and found other ways to help, and now it was time for the big test.

I stood up as Tifa came back over to the sink with the glass. When she turned it on and the water started pouring out, we all smiled. That rotten egg smell was gone! So far, so good. But there was still one more part of the test. I couldn't help feeling a little nervous, but I did my best not to show it, hiding it behind a practiced, confident grin as Tifa filled up the glass with water. I almost laughed when I realized the guys and I were practically holding our breath.

Tifa's eyes widened when she drank some. "Oh, wow! It's amazing! Totally different! Jessie, give it a try!"

"Now this is good water!" I beamed as I took a sip.

"Hey, what about us?" Wedge asked.

Biggs gulped some down after I handed him the glass. "Damn! It's like night and day! Totally awesome!"

"Oh, you're right!" Wedge went next. "This is so good!"

Tifa chuckled. "Want some more, guys?"

Biggs grinned. "Hell yeah!"

Taking the glass back, she put it down for a minute, then got three others from the cabinet. After that, she and I filled them all up one at a time, a glass for each of us. Once the guys had theirs and we had ours, I lifted mine in a little toast.

"To clean water and good friends," I said.

"Hear, hear!" Biggs agreed.

After sharing a laugh and clinking our glasses together, we all took a good, long drink of that wonderful water. I don't think I ever enjoyed a glass more in my life. Maybe it was the company, and the fact that I'd been able to do something good for my new friends.

Tifa lifted her glass again and smiled. "To Jessie, for getting us that clean water. May it never run dry."

"To Jessie," Biggs agreed.

"Jessie," Wedge echoed, raising his glass, too.

I blushed. "You guys… thanks. Just glad I could help."

"No problem!" Wedge beamed.

I went on after we all took another drink. "That filter should work for a good long while, but I'll have to replace it eventually. All the stuff slowly builds up inside, you know."

Tifa nodded. "Right. The guys were telling me about your business earlier. You might want to consider adding this to it."

"Definitely!" Biggs agreed. "People around here hate how the water is, and they'll love what you can do for them. You could make a killing making and selling filters for everyone."

"You really think so?" I asked.

Wedge gave me a thumbs up. "Oh, you bet! Biggs and I'll sing your praises up and down the streets. Everyone in Sector 7'll know who you are by the time we're through."

Tifa helped herself to some more water. "And I'm definitely gonna tell all my customers who fixed up the water and made it taste so good. Think you can put a filter upstairs, too?"

"Yeah, no problem," I said. "For your bathroom?"

"Right. It'll be nice to actually feel clean again, you know? I bet lots of people would be happy to have some of your filters for that, too. No more feeling oily and dusty all the time!"

Biggs's eyes lit up. "Tell me about it! Sign me up, Jessie!"

"Sure thing, Biggs," I laughed.

"He's a bit of a clean freak," Wedge grinned. "Not just with himself, but you should see his place. It's spotless!"

I knew the feeling. "I'm the exact same way."

"So what do you think?" Tifa asked. "About our idea?"

"I think it's time Rasberry Repair Services expanded into the water filtration business!" I smirked.

"Yeah!" Biggs and Wedge cheered.

A few days later, I found myself a place to live. It was a small house down the road from the bar, close to the edge of town. Not much more than a shack, really, but even though it was small, it felt cozy somehow. Only one room, really, aside from the bathroom. A faded blanket hung from the ceiling and separated the two instead of a door. Inside was the toilet, sink, and even a small tub with a shower head. I couldn't wait to install a filter here so I could take a nice, hot bath.

There was also a small kitchen in one corner of the main room. No dishwasher, but there was a fridge, stove, oven, and several cabinets. A few shelves set into the wall nearby would be my pantry. But I couldn't really move in until I had the place all furnished and stocked up. And I also had more filters to make. So I was pretty busy. I picked up supplies in the market district and scoured the junk piles for old furniture that I could salvage, fix up, clean, and polish.

Biggs and Wedge were always there and more than willing to help, and they were pretty handy, especially for moving the heavier stuff. We found a nice, full-sized mattress for my bed and a few long iron beams I was able to make into the frame. I still had my mini blowtorch, so all I had to really do was cut them to size and weld the pieces together. We also found a small wooden table and a few chairs to go with it. Some of the legs were wobbly, but I fixed them easily enough.

"Okay, guys," I said. "Easy does it."

It was the big day, and Biggs and Wedge were carrying the heavier furniture inside for me, including the dresser we'd come across just this morning. It wasn't actually that big, but it was solid, polished wood and had several drawers. Of course, before we could bring it or the rest into the house, it had all had to be cleaned and sanitized. But between Biggs and I, that hadn't been a problem at all.

He backed into the house with the dresser. "Okay, Jessie. Where do you want this sucker to go?"

"Right over there," I pointed to the wall nearby.

"Got it," Biggs grunted. "You heard her, buddy. Let's get to it."

Wedge nodded. "Right. Lead the way!"

Between them, they got the dresser in place right where I had told them while I finished stocking the kitchen and bathroom. Then, while they took a breather and wiped the sweat from their brows, I got them each a drink before putting my clothes away in the dresser. I'd bought a few new outfits, and I still had that black dress I'd worn the night I had first come down to the slums. I wondered if I'd ever wear it again. With a sigh, I hung it up in my little closet.

It took most of the day to get everything moved in, and it was dark by the time we were finally finished. We all stood inside, smiling as we looked at the little place that was my new home. It felt good to have my own place again, and when I went to pick up my gray backpack off the bed and put it in the closet, something fell out, clattering to the floor. A lump formed in my throat when I picked it up.

It was a small, framed picture of Mom. Reeve must've packed it for me, but I hadn't known it was there until now. I hadn't gone through all the pockets on my backpack until today, though. It must've been in one of those smaller ones on the outside and I had simply missed it earlier. I gently picked up the picture and gazed at it for a moment as I blinked away a few tears. I still missed her so much.

"Who's that?" Wedge wondered.

I carefully set the picture on my dresser. "My mom. She died."

Biggs laid a hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze, then he and Wedge simply nodded. They didn't say anything, but they didn't have to. They knew. They just stood there with me, quiet for a moment as I sniffled a little. Then I wiped my eyes, took a breath, and wrapped an arm around each of their shoulders.

"Thanks for all your help, guys," I said. "For everything."

"No problem," Biggs smiled.

Wedge shot me a thumbs up. "You bet!"

I laughed and gave them a squeeze of my own. "Well, now that I'm finally moved in, how about we all have something to eat? And I know the perfect way to break in my new kitchen!"

"How?" Wedge asked eagerly.

"Pizza!" I grinned. "Sound good, guys?"

His eyes lit right up. "You bet! It's only one of my favorite things in the whole wide world, Jessie!"

"That's a great idea!" Biggs agreed.

I chuckled. "Awesome! I think it's time to introduce you boys to the Midgar Special! You'll love it!"

Wedge rubbed his hands together. "Oh, I can't wait!"

I had already bought all the ingredients when I'd done my grocery shopping earlier to get my kitchen stocked, so we got right to it. While the guys made themselves at home and relaxed, I got right to work, the clattering of the pan and dishes music to my ears. I hadn't cooked very much since coming to the slums—Aerith and Elmyra had usually done all of that when I'd been staying with them, though I'd helped a little at times—and I found I had missed it.

Before long, the lovely aromas of pepperoni, red milly, black shelly, mushrooms, and more filled the air in my little house. The guys got up and set the table while I was busy cooking, so by the time the pizza was done, everything else was already good to go. With Biggs and Wedge in the chairs and me on the edge of the bed, we dug in. It was really good, and I enjoyed the company as much as the food.

"So what do you think?" I asked in between bites.

"Delithious!" Wedge beamed, his mouth more than full as he took another slice from the pan.

Biggs agreed. "Best damn pizza I've ever had!"

As we ate, we talked, joked, and just relaxed together for a while. It had been a long day of work and moving in, but also a good one. After we were done, the boys both helped me with the washing up, and once it was finished, we all hung out for a bit until it had gotten dark outside my window. Then they left, thanking me for the pizza as I walked them out the door and waved goodbye.

Later that night, after I'd changed out of my daytime gear and into a comfy pair of white pajama bottoms and a blue T-shirt, I unfastened my ponytail, took out the extensions for now, and let it fall free around my shoulders. It was almost long enough. Maybe another month or so. As I switched off the lights, slid under the covers, and laid down in my new bed, I let out a contented sigh. After weeks of staying with others, I finally had my own home again.

True to their word, Biggs and Wedge spread the news about me all across town while Tifa frequently mentioned me to her customers. So I soon had all kinds of work. Tech repairs, building and installing filters, and even some basic computer maintenance services. As time went on and the weeks passed, I also started expanding the water side of things to include small irrigation systems for people's gardens. It wasn't much different from the filters, really. Just bigger.

At first, I worked out of my house when I wasn't on-site at a client's home or business, often doing everything at my little table from repairs to assembling filters and computer parts. But thanks to my friends and my hard work, both my business and my reputation grew so fast that I could barely keep up. I knew I'd have to find a bigger space before long with all the clients and jobs I was getting. I just hadn't had time to start looking yet what with how busy I was.

Luckily, Biggs and Wedge were right on top of it. Those wonderful guys had already been scouting out places around town for me without telling me. When they stopped by the house one day to visit after I had come home from a job, I thought we'd just hang out like we usually did and maybe stop by Seventh Heaven for dinner. We did that a lot, and it was always a great way to end the day.

"So, Jessie, you up for a walk?" Biggs asked.

I nodded. "Sure. We going anywhere in particular?"

Wedge winked. "You'll see."

"Okay, guys, what's going on?" I smirked. "I can tell you two are up to something. It's not my birthday—that's in August—so mind spilling the beans? Or are ya gonna keep me in suspense?"

Biggs chuckled. "Got somethin' to show ya. You'll like it."

"Well then, lead the way!" I laughed.

I followed him and Wedge a short distance down the road, then we turned onto a side street a few minutes later. When we came to a large building made of wood beams and corrugated metal sheets, I didn't see why we were here at first. It was bigger than my house, but still smaller than the bar. No one lived or worked here as far as I knew. As we stood in front of the door, I looked at the empty building and wondered why Biggs and Wedge had brought me to this place. There didn't seem to be anything special or unusual about it.

"Okay, boys, I'll bite," I said. "What are we looking at?"

Biggs grinned. "Your new shop."

My eyes widened. "My new… what did you say?"

"Your new shop!" Wedge beamed. "Biggs and I've been working on it for the past couple weeks ever since we heard the place was vacant. It took a little while, but now it's finally ready!"

"Care to do the honors?" Biggs handed me the keys.

I took them. "You bet!"

When I had unlocked the door and we went inside, I stopped for a minute and looked around. Just ahead of me sat a long, L-shaped desk with a cushioned, wheeled black office chair behind it and a gray metal filing cabinet over in the corner. A paper tray for my order forms and a pencil cup sat neatly on the desk, and lining the walls were solid wood shelves. They were empty for now, but there was plenty of space for all my supplies and any devices I'd be repairing.

Biggs smiled. "So, what do you think, Jessie?"

"I think it's great!" I exclaimed. "It's just what I need!"

"Hey, check this out!" Wedge said. He was holding a large iron sign in both hands. "Biggs and I made it for you. We'll hang it over the door. Got your business name on it and everything!"

I gasped. "A sign? For me?"

Biggs clapped my shoulder. "And that ain't all, Jessie! There's even a little garage in the back. Perfect for storage, tinkering, or whatever else you wanna do. All clean and ready to go."

"Oh, guys…" I blinked back sudden tears as I beckoned to him and Wedge. "Get your asses over here, you two."

Smiling, they did, and when they were close enough, I pulled them both into a tight hug. And as we stood there together, our arms around each other, I was so overcome I couldn't find my voice at first. I'd found my two best friends, and I knew that whatever happened, they'd always be there for me. And I'd be there for them.

Finally, I let go. "Thanks so much, you guys."

"Anytime," Wedge said.

"You're welcome," Biggs nodded. "Knew you'd be needing a bigger place, so we got right on it."

I wiped my eyes. "You sure did…"

Wedge looked from me to Biggs. "Tri-five?"

At first, neither of us understood. But then, when Wedge lifted his hand above and in front of him, Biggs and I both got it. We raised ours a moment later, and then after glancing at each other and nodding, we all slapped our hands together in a three-way high five, laughing at the end of it. It felt great, and so did I.

"So what now?" Biggs asked. "It's getting late."

"Dinner at Seventh Heaven?" Wedge asked hopefully.

I grinned. "Why not?"

"Now that's a plan!" Biggs agreed.

After we went outside, I locked the door, then slid one arm around Biggs and the other around Wedge as we walked down the road side by side. I felt theirs wrap around me, too. The sun was just going down as we turned onto the main street and headed toward the bar, still arm in arm. I looked first at Biggs and then Wedge, and finally straight ahead again, smiling with my head held high.

"You know, guys," I chuckled, squeezing them both, "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

I met Barret and Marlene that night. They were sitting there at one end of the bar when Biggs, Wedge, and I went into the Seventh Heaven. Tifa motioned for us to join them, so we made our way over while she kept working. It was busy tonight, a decent-sized crowd, and I noticed that Barret kept a watchful eye on everyone. But not once did anybody cause any trouble. One look at him told me why.

He was huge, dark-skinned, and muscular, with a black beard and short buzzed hair. Olive pants, tough brown boots, a thick leather belt, and a sleeveless brown vest with a high collar over a black tank top. He also had a brown leather bracer over his left forearm. The flaming skull tattoo on his upper left arm was pretty cool, too.

But when I saw his other arm, I couldn't help staring. I didn't mean to, it was just so unusual I couldn't help it. Scary and fascinating at the same time. Barret didn't have a forearm or hand on that side. Instead, a large gatling gun had been grafted on below the elbow. I'd seen a few of them during my time at Shinra working for Scarlet, but I'd never heard of one being attached to someone before. Although I wondered how he had lost his arm, I knew better than to ask.

He had a little girl sitting on his lap, only two years old and cute as a button with her short, dark red hair and pink dress. With her skin as fair and light as mine, I could tell she must've been adopted. As fondly as Barret looked at her, though, I knew it didn't matter one bit. I had to close my eyes for a moment when I saw them as bittersweet memories from my early childhood rose up in my mind, those days when I hadn't been too much older than Marlene was now.

My own father had still had a little warmth in him back then, time to spend with his little daughter. He had never played with me, but he'd spoiled me rotten, getting me just about anything I wanted. I'd had him wrapped around my finger for a while, but as I had gotten older and he had risen up through the ranks at Shinra, we had drifted apart. I think I was eight or nine when I stopped calling him Daddy. Things between him and Mom had already gotten strained by then.

I've only thought of him as my father ever since. As his power had grown over the years, he had kept more and more to himself. It was all that mattered to him anymore. To him, Mom and I had been a burden, and he had resented us for it. It was still hard to believe sometimes that he had actually killed her and had tried to do the same to me. But… he had. I hated him, and I hated feeling that way about my own father. But after all he'd done, I couldn't feel any differently.

"Hi, Jessie!" Tifa smiled at me from behind the bar. "This is Barret, and the cute one on his lap is Marlene, his daughter. We met just a few months before you first came here, though he's been in Midgar almost as long as I have. Want something to drink?"

I nodded. "Sure, Tifa. A Cosmo Canyon would be great."

Barret scratched his chin as he looked at me. "So, you the one that fixed up the water 'round here, right? Tifa was tellin' me 'bout you. Not a bad bita work you did there, girl."

"Thanks," I said. I held out my right hand without thinking. "Nice to meet—oh, I'm sorry, I didn't—"

He smiled and shook it with his good hand. "Ah, don't worry 'bout it. I know I ain't like mosta the people 'round here. An' you didn't mean no harm by it. Good to meetcha, Jessie."

I chuckled. "You too, Barret. Marlene's just adorable."

"She is, ain't she?" he laughed, then gazed at her. "Hey, sweetie. Go on an' say hi to Jessie. She's our new friend."

Marlene looked at me with wide, curious brown eyes as she sucked contentedly on her thumb, a doll held firmly in her other hand. At first she didn't say anything, but I knew she was just being shy, so I just gave her a little wave. But then, when I sat down on the stool beside her and Barret, she pulled her thumb out of her mouth.

"Hi…" she said.

I smiled. "Hi, Marlene. Nice to meet you!"

Biggs came over then, a drink in his hand and Wedge right behind him. "Hey, boss. How's it goin'?"

"Boss?" I blinked.

"We, uh… we been doin' some business together," Barret said. "Me, the guys, an' Tifa. Local stuff."

Biggs glanced at me. "Yep, and he's the boss."

I nodded, remembering now. "Oh, right. Tifa was telling me about that. What sort of business?"

"Mostly I jus' hand out flyers for the watch," Barret explained. "You might've seen 'em on the billboards 'round town, too. Recruitment stuff an' all that. Then there's the bouncer gig I do here. Pretty easy job most days. Usually ain't no one dumb enough to try any stupid shit when I'm here. An' Tifa can handle things when I'm not."

She brought me my drink. "I always do. Never hurts to have a little backup sometimes, though."

"So what's the rest?" I wondered.

Biggs looked at Wedge and Barret, then me. "Uh, well…"

Barret shook his head. "Not yet, guys. Jessie's still new 'round here. Give her some time. I need to get to know her, too. Then we'll see 'bout takin' the next step. You got it?"

"Right, boss," Wedge agreed. Biggs added a thumbs up.

"I don't understand," I blinked.

Tifa gently took my hand. "We know, Jessie. And we're sorry about that. It's just… we have to be careful, is all."

"It's okay," I said. "I can wait."

Barret took a gulp of his drink. "Thanks, Jessie. From hearin' 'bout you an' all you been doin' for everyone, I've had me an idea. Still gonna think it over for a while, though. But there is one thing I wanna ask ya first. How do ya feel 'bout Shinra?"

I didn't have to think about it. "I hate them, Barret. They… they've taken a lot from me. So many things…"

"I know what that's like, believe me," he said, laying his good hand on my shoulder. "Them greedy bastards've hurt me an' Marlene as well as you. I'm real sorry for what they done to ya."

"Thanks, Barret," I smiled.

He went on. "Might be I've got a chance for you to get back at 'em, make 'em pay for all the pain they've caused ya. Don't worry 'bout it for now, though. I still gotta think it over for a while. But I'll let you know when I've made up my mind, awright?"

I nodded, grateful for the unexpected opportunity he was offering me. "Sure. And I'd be glad to thank Shinra for what they've done to me, if you know what I mean. Very glad."

"Good," Barret said. "That's jus' what I wanted to hear."