Shera's Diary

Chapter 19

Surprise

By Kristen Gupton-Williams

(...and a thanks to Cythen for picking out my typos and such so that I can get them fixed in a timely manner.)

Dear Diary,

It's been several days since the rocket and Cid's departure again. The meteor still hangs in the sky, but it's much lower on the horizon now. The news has finally admitted that it's on a collision course for Midgar. People have been told to evacuate, but as is so often the case with human stubbornness in these situations, they aren't getting out. It's estimated that over 85 percent of the people in Midgar are still there, having some misguided faith that Shin Ra is going to do something for them.

We can thank the news for that, since they keep reporting that the company is feverishly searching for a solution.

People can be incredibly stupid, sometimes. And, if the company or AVALANCHE doesn't find a way to stop it? Oh, I'm sure there will be a public outcry.

Come on, people! Get your families out of there! You have plenty of warning! It's just so… frustrating.

I've plugged the radio back in since Shin Ra no longer has a presence in Rocket. The ca-- Cid, has taken to calling every night again, just to ask how I am and to let me know that he's still kicking.

I'm so worried about him.

I can't get that kiss out of my mind, either. I wonder if he was just wrapped up in all the emotion about losing the rocket, seeing space, and all that, or if he did it simply out of some sort of sentiment for me?

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Dear Diary,

I couldn't sleep last night. I was restless, more so than I've been.

Cid didn't radio, and not having heard his voice and having that reassurance that he was still amongst the living fold, made any meaningful rest impossible for me.

It was about four in the morning when I heard something outside of my bedroom window. There had been a sound, like something tapping on the glass that got my attention. Startled and afraid, I got to my knees and lifted up the edge of the curtain to see what was out there. Lately, there has been an influx of creatures around the town, most of which seem quite vicious. Thus, the first thought on my mind was that one of those beasts was outside of the house.

When I peeked out, there was something looking right back at me that made a startled screech when I yelped in fear. It quickly ducked out of sight and I heard it run around the side of the house toward the door.

I grew even more afraid, since I couldn't remember locking the door before bed. Not knowing what else to do, I ran from my room and into Cid's. I pulled his grandfather's spear off of the wall and headed toward the front door with it clutched in my grip. It was the only weapon that I knew of in the house and even though I wasn't versed in fighting, I supposed that if motivated enough, I'd learn very quickly how to use it.

I got to the front door and gathered the last of my courage. I saw that it was slightly ajar, indicating that I hadn't locked it, nor even shut it properly.

Drawing in one last breath and trying to steel myself, I kicked open the door and charged out onto the porch. I found myself face to face with…

A chocobo?

So much for a terrifying monster.

With my hand still shaking in my anxiety, I reached out and stroked the bird's neck. I saw that he was bridled and wearing a saddle. "I thought you were something that came along to eat me."

I heard the distinct flick of a lighter and then heard a very familiar, drawling voice.

"Y'all ain't got nothin' to be scared of. I ain't known 'em to eat people so far."

I dropped the spear that I was still supporting with my left hand to the ground and I spun to see Cid leaning against the side of the house, smirking at me. "Cid!"

He straightened up and walked up to me. "Howdy, Shera."

I was confused, to say the least. "What are you doing here?"

"We all decided to take… a lil' break," he said, pulling the cigarette from his lips and flicking some ashes to the ground.

"But that meteor! It's so close! I mean…" I was glad he was home, I truly was, but I wondered how they could be doing this.

He reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I know, but we've got seven days before impact. It was…generally agreed last night that we would take two days off."

Looking up at him in the dim light, I asked. "Why?"

"We talked about it, and there were those on the ship that felt like they had things they needed to do before we went in to face off with Sephiroth. One guy wanted to see his daughter, another wished to go back to Wutai. I mean, just in case we failed, we all wanted to see family and what not one more time. Mostly, though, it was for all of us to take a minute to remember what it is we all are fightin' for." His hand slid from my shoulder and gripped my upper arm. It dropped away from me completely after a few seconds, and he let his gaze fall to the ground.

I nodded slightly, seeing that he suddenly looked a little uncomfortable. I opted to change the subject for just a moment. "Where's the airship?"

He finished his cigarette and went over, dropping it in the old coffee can that was forever on the porch. "North of here. Sorta parked it central to where all've us needed to go. I rode that damn bird here from there."

"Oh… well, you should probably get his saddle and such off of him," I said quietly, seeing that the bird was now trying to graze out on the lawn.

Cid nodded to me and then went over and did just that. He threw the bird's things down on the porch and stepped right up to me again. "Think there's any chance I can get a little tea? It's damn cold out."

The fact that I was cold from being out in my pajamas finally sank in and I had to agree that it seemed like a good idea. I moved to pick up the spear from the ground beside me, but Cid claimed it first.

"You were really gonna pike the bird with this?" he laughed.

"Well… I thought it was a monster or some such. I didn't know what else I could have used." I opened the door and stepped into the house.

"Goddamned, Shera. There is a shotgun in my closet, for future reference." He propped the spear up in the corner of the kitchen and I went to get the water heating for the tea.

A few minutes later, we were sitting at the kitchen table, across from one another. Finally, feeling like he didn't have anything else to hide now that the fight was almost over, he proceeded to spill to me all the events of the past several weeks.

The tale didn't end until well after the sun had crested the horizon. Then, with the morning light coming in through the window, I could appreciate how tired he looked.

"Cid, why don't you go rest for a while," I suggested quietly, reaching across the table and taking his hand.

He nodded, clearly agreeing. "Yeah… a few hours in my own bed would be real damn nice right about now. You just make sure to not let me sleep too long. If this is the last time I'm gonna get to be home, I don't wanna sleep through the whole fuckin' thing."

I suddenly felt the sting of tears in my eyes.

He had doubts that he was going to survive.

That notion broke my heart and try as I may, I couldn't contain myself. "Cid…"

Seeming to realize what had just run through my mind, he got up and came around the table, pulling me up from my seat and into his arms. He held me in his strong embrace, rocking me slowly. "Shera… I'm gonna give this every fuckin' thing I got. I wanna get out of this alive, with the planet saved. That's truly what I intend to do. I don't want you to think otherwise, okay?"

I managed a muffled response to his words, but the tears still fell.

He sighed and took my hand, leading me back to his room. After pulling his curtains closed to block out the morning light, he turned back to me. "I've had y'all up since an ungodly hour. Why don't ya just take a nap with me?"

Knowing that I couldn't pass up the chance to sleep close to him just one more time, I readily agreed. I crawled onto his bed and then sat there, waiting for him.

Cid offered me a faint smirk and then pulled off his shirt, tossing it over to the floor.

I couldn't help but gasp. His body was bruised and cut in several places. It looked like he'd been through Hell. "Cid… my God…"

He shrugged and got to work on his belt and pants. "It looks worse than it is. I'm all right, Shera."

I looked away for a moment, not wishing to stare as he got down to just his boxers. A moment later, I felt him sit on his side of the bed and then lay down. I laid back as well, turning my head to gaze at him.

He was looking right back at me. "Don't be afraid, you know I ain't gonna get weird."

With that, I couldn't help but laugh a little to myself and I rolled onto my side and scooted closer to him, until I felt him spooned up against my back, and his arm draped over my waist.

I knew this was something I could get very used to if fate permitted.

I then thought about the kiss we'd shared before his last departure. I couldn't help but ask him about it, but before the first word escaped me, I could hear him quietly snoring behind me.

I somehow wasn't surprised. It seemed like fate was determined to keep me guessing about what was really going on between us.

Soon, I was out, too, and I slept for close to four hours before I awoke. I slipped out of bed at that point and got something in the oven. Now that I've written this, I'll go wake him up and serve him his very late breakfast.