Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VI, its characters, or lore.

More than Family

She leaned against the railing, relishing the feel of the wind coursing across her skin and through her light green hair. Though she didn't really remember much from the time she'd transformed, flying through the sky under her own power thrilled and intrigued her, and she felt certain that her short experience with it had left a mark upon her soul. She simply couldn't get enough of the feeling. Still, she hadn't really gone up on deck to lose herself, but rather to find that new part of herself. With their new plan in motion, things were bound to change rapidly. Once they sought the aid of the Espers, and opened that door to their world, there would be no going back. They were her own 'people', in a way, but she knew nothing about them, and had only Maduin's memory of them. She had no idea how to act with them, or how they'd react to her, and quite simply put, she was-

"Nervous, Terra?" She jolted at the unexpected voice, and at finding Setzer suddenly there, grinning in that carefree way of his. Honestly, she still wasn't entirely comfortable around him, only having known him in the time since they'd found and brought her back, but she was getting better with people in general, or so she tried to be.

"A little, yes," she admitted, brushing her hair from her face as he joined her at the railing. "I've never had a home, or a family. Never had a place to return to where people were waiting for me, and I was welcome. Now though, there's a whole other world, a place where I'm from and with people, Espers that is, who knew me. Espers like me... or, sort of like me."

"Would you consider Kefka family?" Setzer erupted in laughter when Terra's expression twisted at the question.

"What? No! He's-"

"But he's human, just like you, or half of you," he continued, cutting her off, "and from what, admittedly little, I've heard, you basically grew up with him. Always returning to Vector together, where everyone knew you." Trailing off, he pause a moment, watching her expressions change. He could tell she wanted to refute it, but his comparison was sinking in, and she didn't like it.

"Terra," simply saying her name aloud caught her attention again, "you can stop that now. Kefka's not your family, nor is anyone in the Empire, I was just making a point." Her head tilted slightly as she blinked at him, digesting his words. "The entire Esper race isn't your family any more then the entire human race is, it just doesn't work that way. Sure, maybe some know you, or knew and liked your parents, but that barely qualifies them as friends even, and you've already got those anyway." Smirking, he jabbed his thumb over his shoulder, and she turned with it, again getting a face full of hair from the assaulting wind. Through strands of green, she saw Locke chatting up Cyan while the older man cared for his sword, Gau scampering back and forth across the deck, pointing and making random animal sounds at whatever had his attention, and Sabin and Edgar talking and laughing among themselves.

Feeling welled up in her chest, bringing a smile to her face as she repeated Setzer's words. She did have friends, ones willing to cross the world and fight an empire to help her. The brothers noticed her attention then, Sabin sending her a simple wave as Edgar turned out a grandiose half bow, and she laughed as the younger brother merely rolled his eyes at his siblings theatrics. They were so similar, and yet so very, very different.

"So what's with the worrying?" The gambler spoke again, breaking her reverie. "You get to meet people from your past – and not just people, but giant, magical, creature-like people – and you'll have friends from now beside you to do it. That sounds like a win to me." A glint of gold spun through the air suddenly, disappearing again as he snapped it back up, flashing the coin her way, heads up. "And believe me, I know about winning."

She wasn't sure how to take his final remark (winning at what?), but otherwise his words made her feel better. Calmer. Whatever came next, she'd face it as she had everything else, and she wouldn't face it alone.

"Hey, you two!" Setzer and Terra both swiveled at Sabin's shout. "Come on over here! You're making Edgar jealous!" Edgar jumped noticeably at that, his eyes twitching between them and Sabin as he began speaking rapidly to his brother. His words didn't carry over the blowing wind and creaks of the airship, but the younger twin didn't appear the least bit fazed.

Setzer nudged her lightly with his elbow before leaning conspicuously closer. "Hear that, Terra? Should we go over and put him out of his misery?"

"Um, sure, but... what's Edgar jealous of?"

Honest bewilderment shone in her blue eyes as she glanced up at him. The gambler's mouth opened, then closed again, no words forthcoming. He simply shook his head and started toward the brothers. "Someone's sure going to have their hands full with you someday."

Terra watched him go, not at all grasping what he'd meant. Her head listed slightly to one side as she looked curiously at the three men now talking (arguing?) and gesturing wildly to one another. She felt left out of something, and didn't know why, but it did leave one odd thought in here head.

Sometimes, the more she learned, the less she felt she actually understood.

A/N: I'd actually wanted to pull this one out longer, get more interaction in there, but it kept feeling forced, so that's just it. I'll keep working at it! For now though, I'm going to start focusing on prepping my story for NaNoWriMo, so I won't likely be getting much, if anything, up here over the next two months. I might still kick something out if I just need to work on something different, but I make no plans nor promises ^_^

- Kateface87: Along with that, I'll look more into the Thamasa area once I'm back on this more. It'll give me time to think and find a good scene though!

As always, thanks to my reviewers for the support! I love creating things that people enjoy, and it's always nice to hear that you do!