ARRRGH!

I'm sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry for the inexcusable delay. I had exams and college letters coming in and whatnot. Sorry sorry sorry. I promise I'll update more regularly after the exams (which is next week). As for now, enjoy the very-long-delayed two chapters.

I'll write thank-yous for the reviews when I update the next time. Sorry sorrrrrrrry! (Please! Don't abandon me! I have abandonment issues.)

Chapter 6: Goodbyes

Arien DeVir was, by all means, a very conscientious woman, or that was what others had acknowledged. Arien denied it, but everybody around her knew it. And the person who knew it the best was Renaldo Miller.

She did not know what to do with the ridiculous relationship that she was leading. It was nothing fulfilling, nothing true. If it was in her teenage years, she may have had cried at this opportunity. But now, in her twenties and infinitely wiser than a decade before, Arien saw no attraction to the tired man named Jack McKinnon. She did not even wish ill fortune for him; she just wanted to stop the charade.

Redemption came when she was not looking. All of a sudden, Reno appeared in her office, with a big grin on his face.

"What's the happy occasion? Tseng got sick?" Arien asked calmly. Reno chortled and plopped himself onto the desk. Arien frowned at him.

"Nah." He grinned at her as she expressed her profound distaste at his rear end placed on the corner of her desk. "Rufus' order. Stop the charade."

"Why?"

"I ain't Rufus. But you gotta let the dude know that we know he was leaking info, yo. You know, as a warning."

Arien frowned. "This is awkward."

"Like hell!" He scratched his head. "You're good at this, though."

"Good at what?"

"Telling guys that you've been playing him."

Arien gave a sideway glance. It was a sore subject. During the Kadaj fiasco, Arien had left him – quite literally in bed – after informing him that it was nothing but a fling, a tryst. Not knowing Arien's true motives, Reno had nearly killed her. But as far as she could see, Reno did not seem to mind the bullet scar on his arm – or what that meant for him. She also sported a bullet scar on her chest, but that was not something she could readily explain to her son – "oh yes, Vince, your father nearly killed me. Now finish the carrots".

"Oh, before you go run off to dump your prince, tell me one thing."

"Yes?"

"How far did you go with him?"

It was Arien's turn to laugh. "Nowhere close to where we are," Arien said, laughing.

"How far?"

"A kiss, and he did feel me up… No!" Arien hastily stopped him as Reno, with a very dark expression, picked up a gun on her desk. "Don't go kill Jack, we can't have a mystery murder case and police snooping around. You've touched me plenty of times to make up for the damage."

"Ha, ha." Reno replied sarcastically. However, after Arien had left the room to take care of some problem her subordinates had caused, his mood did not get better.

"Either way, he's gonna die, yo," Reno said to the bookshelf.

"Do you really have to dress like that?"

"What? I'm not dressed like a slut."

Reno sighed. "You should wear a muumuu."

"Very funny."

True, what Arien was wearing was modest. No low-cut, cleavage showing lacy stuff. Simply dressed in dark blue shirt and tight skirt. What he disliked was that it amply showed off her slim waist. He knew exactly what kind of thoughts that threw into men's heads – mental activity of undressing her. He knew, because he had done it many times. And apparently, she knew too.

"Are you gonna take it off?"

"Take what off?"

"Your clothes."

"Only if you're there." Arien's heels clicked. "You're the only one who appreciates my stick-thin figureless-ness."

Okay, so maybe she did not understand.

Reno kissed her, perhaps a little longer than usual, before she pushed him away with a sour look on her face.

"When's Vince getting out?"

"Five. We have to be back before then. Don't dally."

"I won't. Not with you around." Maybe he'll take the child to somewhere he liked as a treat; despite his parents' absences, Vince took it good-naturedly. Well, one of us is always there, Reno amended.

Their plan was simple; show him the truth, the truth that Reno was actually her partner, not him. Reno liked that idea. Shove the masculine superiority in that bastard's face. Arien could seriously care less. It was cheesy. Out of all the methods to dump someone, Reno HAD to pick the cheesiest one. As far as she got the job done, she didn't care if someone threw stick dynamite in the building.

"Ready?"

"Mmhmm."

She dialed and waited for him to pick up. She heard a click, then a very low "hello".

"Hey," she said casually.

"Hey. Why a call all of a sudden?"

"I just wanted to talk to you," she replied to the question.

"I see."

Silence.

"What's wrong?" She asked, looking around for a chair. It was a slow conversation.

"Nothing…

"Er, okay." Jack gestured to the chair, and she sat down. "So, what's wrong?"

"Am I that readable like a book?"

"I know you too well." She widened her eyes. "I've known you since we were in the Academy, remember?"

"I guess."

Arien was getting aggravated. Either spit it out or pretend that nothing was wrong. "So, what's wrong?"

"I…" he struggled to get the words out. "I don't know how to act around you, Arien."

"Why not?"

"I can't control myself around you," he admitted.

Arien plastered a confused look on her face. "I don't quite follow you."

"I have a wife and three children, but I'm about to betray them. I can't do that."

The pained look did not really bother her, but she did not appreciate the angry call that followed. What was even worse, it was Reno who picked up, listening in, and he refused to surrender the telephone.

"Reno! I'm calling! Put down the phone!" Arien cried. "Reno…!"

"Alright, alright!" He replied. "Jeez."

Scowling, she talked to the phone, "Hello?"

"He lives with you?"

"You live with your wife," Arien replied sarcastically. "How may I help you?"

The cool countenance caught him off-guard. "Why the hell did you do that to me?"

"Do what?"

"You led me on!" Jack was shouting. "You fucking led me on, bitch!"

"You took the bait. Despite the fact that you have three children and a wife with marriage ratified under law." She paused. "Oh, and you've also been leaking our information."

"What's that got to do with anything?"

"Let's just say that my boss personally wanted to see you suffer. You've caused a great big mess." She saw Reno, who was attempting to grab the phone away from her. "I don't think we have anything else to discuss."

Jack stared at the phone as he heard the tone go silent. Her boss? Who was her boss? That Reno guy? But why would he personally want to see him suffer? Because he was being protective of his girlfriend?

There were many mysteries that were suddenly unraveling themselves. However, one thing was certain.

They were not going to toy with him and get away with it. Never.

Arien sat down next to the redhead, who seemed oddly pensive. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothin'."

She frowned. "Something's bugging you."

"Am I that see-through?" Reno looked up. "Ya know, I used to be good with poker faces."

"I just know you too well." She smiled. "I haven't been with you this long without learning a few things."

"I hope it's that." He stopped. "It's just that… it's kinda odd that we've been living together, have a kid, and not married, ya know."

Arien shrugged. "We just never got around to it."

"Yeah, but having both parents – legally – for Vince might be better than the kid just having a dad."

"What are you trying to get at?"

"I thought you knew me well enough."

"Not that well enough to be a psychic."

"Hah." He stopped again. "Hey, Arie."

"Yes?"

"Were you okay with… what you did?"

"I'm not crying, am I?" She stretched on the sofa. Reno knew better than that. She bruised pretty easily, although she never showed it. He was unsure.

"No, really. Were you okay?"

"Yeah." She looked surprised. "I used to have a crush on him, Reno, but that was long time ago. I was a teenager. So was he."

"And we're all dumbasses when we're in our teens."

"Pretty much."

Awkward silence ensued. "Hey."

"Yes, Reno?"

"Well, back to Vince…" he held her hand, touched it, feeling the smooth skin. "Why don't you become Arien Miller?"

"I don't know. Why don't I?" Arien laughed.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh Reno." She rolled her eyes. "Getting married? Coming out of your own mouth? Are you really Reno?"

Reno stood up. "Thanks," he said angrily.

"No, no. I just don't see you as a family guy. You're…"

"A player, a scumbag, a drunk?" Reno scowled. "I know. And that's who you ended up with. Sucks to be you."

"I never said those things. You did." She pulled his hand. "Don't get angry. It's just that this is not something I was expecting ever."

"Never mind."

"I do."

"Is that a yes?"

"No if it includes big blown-up weddings. This is beyond a shotgun marriage." She stood up. "Just going to the civil court, okay?"

"Got it." He stood up too. "Better go pick up our kid, huh?"

The next day began badly and took turn for the worse. When the Turks got a call from Rufus, the seniors knew at once that it wasn't an easy mission. When Tseng came into the room, Reno whispered, "Oh shit."

"The base in Mideel was recently annihilated by a terrorist," Rufus began in his unemotional tone.

"So what?"

Elena stepped on Reno's foot.

"This cuts off approximately three months' supply of any fuel that we were hoping for, sealing any kind of movement on our side. Consequently, we must seal off their footing in order to balance the game."

"The game? What game? Why wasn't I invited to any of the games?"

This time, Arien stepped on Reno's foot.

"We must attack the oil base in the Cosmo area. Since secrecy is the key, the attackers must go through a canyon leading to the Cosmo area." Rufus gestured to Tseng. "Tseng, the slides, if you will?"

Tseng flicked on the switch, and the Turks concentrated on the screen. The cross-sections of the canyon appeared on the wall.

"What will we be attacking in? Tanks?"

"Aircrafts. The bombers will be led by Reno, and the attackers will be led by Arien. Fighters…"

"Wait a minute," Reno interrupted. "We usually have guards and bombers and that's it."

"Cosmo base is swarming with radars. As soon as the net catches the fly, there'll be combat," Elena explained. "We can't just bomb them then go home."

"Precisely," Tseng nodded approval, while Elena flushed in pleasure. "We'll be having four squadrons. As stated before, Reno will be leading the bombers, Arien will be leading the fighting squad, Rude will deal with the attacking, and Elena…"

"I can't control any aircraft," Elena muttered.

"I can teach you how to move your hands." Reno winked, implying quite something else. Arien scowled.

"You'll be on the guard, since you have the least experience. The callword is Operation Tightrope."

"When is the day?"

"Tonight."

The four whistled.

"Here are the information portfolios. Study them carefully. You will be flanked with your subordinates along with two pilots in each squad. Dismissed."

"This is just FUCKING great," Reno muttered. "One slow roll and you're in flames. You can hardly move."

"Fly too high, you're shot, fly too low and you'll crash," Elena agreed.

"And it's new moon."

Arien's words shut Reno up. "How do we get the visuals?"

"Don't ask me, I'm not the flight expert."

"Yeah, well if you crash, you can be sure that it's one hell of a funeral pyre."

"Thanks for the cheery image," Arien said sarcastically, and disappeared into the office. Reno turned at his fellow Turks, who were scowling at him, and said:

"What did I say?"

"This sucks."

"Yes, I know," Arien replied, zipping up her flight suit. "At least you didn't load yourself with Jager Bombs like the last time."

"That was awesome."

"You made me airsick."

"Still, it was cool."

Arien sighed. Reno actually never got drunk enough to lose control, but he sure liked to make it look like he was completely drunk. She pulled on the gloves resolutely.

"Are you coming?" Arien asked. "We'll be late."

"Yeah, yeah." Reno sighed. "Let's go, and hope that we'll come back."

The flight to Cosmo was easy enough. Arien heard the blare and Rude's voice: "We will now cease all communications on all but the current frequencies. Lower altitudes. Approaching Alpha Gate."

Arien followed, her VTOL gliding smoothly. The wing-span was just short enough for the canyon, Arien noted.

"Shit!" She heard, and from the corner of her eyes she caught a glimpse of a flash. She guessed that one of the squad had crashed; sure enough, a few more went up in flames as the debris hit one after another.

"Keep on going!" She commanded those behind her.

"Approaching Beta Gate!"

"Don't strangle the stick," Arien ordered again. "Roll fast."

The aircraft swerved, and she winced as there was a loud crash behind her.

"I can't do this!" Came a loud cry.

"Fucking idiot!"

She could see the missile launched at the foolish aircraft, which had gotten out of the canyon. It burst into flames midair.

"Thank you, idiot," came Reno's sarcastic voice. "You just pinpointed our location. Fucker."

As if in response, the walls caved in as bombs exploded.

"Okay, change of plans."

"That was Barrel Road. It's closed," Elena reported.

"Yeah, we know, Laney."

Arien was sweating profusely. The pilot seat had no thermal control, the suit was sticking to her body, and the helmet was heating her head. She wanted to grip on the stick, but she kept a light touch on purpose. This was utter hell. She heard another crash. She focused on the surroundings, narrowly avoiding from crashing into the canyon wall.

"Watch it!"

She rolled hastily, feeling her peripheral vision turn a full 90 degrees as the VTOL spun. She breathed a sigh of relief when she came out of the canyon. It was a short sojourn, but it had used up her nerves.

"Echo Gate destroyed. Can't go by the manual," Rude's voice informed. "Fly straight through. Don't look around, just follow the tail."

"Roger that."

Arien wondered if she would survive for the seventh time. She highly doubted if she could fly through the blazing inferno; she followed into the flames, the entire VTOL swerving as she maneuvered around the large hunk of rock that was colliding against the surface of the canyon.

"Out!"

"Okay. Back-ups in position."

They attacked first. Reno continued on as a hail of bullets rained; Arien swerved in from the behind and triggered. She dived as an opponent launched a missile at her; thankfully one of her subordinates launched a sidewinder, and Arien managed to get out of the way.

"Fly up! FLY UP!" Reno was shouting. "You're gonna get caught in the blast!"

"Explosives dispensed," came a voice from the helmet.

"Roger that."

The flight home was easy, but the pilots were still tense. Going through the canyon at mach speed was too intense for Arien; she nearly fell out of the cockpit.

"You okay, Arie?"

She remained sitting on the ground.

"You look like hell."

"Where are you going?" Arien called after the redhead.

"Reporting to Tseng. We lost seven."

Rude joined him. "Not too bad, eh?"

"Seven's a rounded number." Reno grinned. "That canyon was fun."

Elena sat down next to Arien. Her blonde hair was plastered onto her sweaty forehead. "Does Reno always go like that?" she asked.

"Today was mild. He has wild tendencies to do aerobats." Arien smiled. "How do you feel, Elena?"

"I don't want to do that again."

Arien laughed. "Same here." She took a deep breath. "The things we have to do to keep this company alive."

"At least we get paid for it." Elena stood up and offered a hand, which Arien accepted. "How's Vince?"

"I want you to lure him out."

"But…"

"This is vital."

Silence ensued. Then, an exclamation of "three million gils?" followed.

"More will come if you do this."

A pause. Then a resolute "fine."

"Good."

"Laney, Arie."

"Yes sir."

Reno felt odd with his girlfriend, possibly wife, calling him "sir". Oh well. It was what his rank demanded.

"I want you two to go to Wutai."

"Why?"

"Don't ask me why, Tseng told me."

"And do what? Have a vacation?"

"No. Tseng wants you to get this dude."

Elena caught the photograph flipped at them.

"And who, may I ask, is this male?"

"Dunno."

Elena and Arien both stared at him.

"Honest to god, I have no clue. Read the report."

"When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Arien was sitting on the sofa – again – with a portfolio in her hands. "Why do I have to go?"

"Because he's a sucker for beauties like you two young ladies."

"Thanks."

Reno sat next to her. "Take a break," he said.

"Okay."

"Coffee?"

"No thanks."

He pulled her on top, his hands sliding up her shirt.

"No. Vince…"

"Is asleep."

She overlaid her mouth onto his. "Promise you'll watch him?"

"I'm taking hours off work to watch him. Don't worry."

"Does Tseng know?"

"About me taking off? No." He grinned. "Aw come on, don't ruin the mood with Tseng's face."

Arien laughed. "Don't ruin the sofa."

"Can I ruin the bed?"

"It's already ruined."

"Alrighty then."

Reno was taking his clothes off when he stopped and looked at the woman in bed, swathed in beige sheets, her white tank-top visible. "Remember our first night?"

"Kind of."

"I do." He smiled. "I didn't know you were a virgin. I freaked."

"Thanks."

"No, I did. And you look just like you did then. Although I think the sheets were blue."

"Really."

"Yeah." He climbed into the bed, and nudged her. "Hey, scooch." Then he stopped her. "Actually, no." He pulled her on top of him, and framed her face with his hands. "You haven't changed."

"You have." Reno picked up a strand of hair off her shoulders and smelled it.

"How?"

"You're… less high-strung." She smiled slightly. "I think you qualify as a family guy."

"Me?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"Thanks." He gently kissed her. "Arie?"

"Yes?"

"No matter what happens, just remember that…"

Arien waited for the next word.

"I love you."