I don't know if I could have made more of an idiot of myself talking to Cloud. After another half hour of serving drinks, I get too distracted and have to stop, dropping myself in a seat at Cid's table.

"Had your fun?" he asks me.

"Mm." I lower my head to the table's top, closing my eyes. "I guess so." I should have just left our conversation at Cloud saying he fought a few months ago. Why did I have to add a cryptic thank-you? Now he's going to be wondering what the hell I was talking about. Somehow, under that piercing blue gaze, I couldn't bring myself to admit I'd nearly succumbed to Geostigma. For some reason, the thought just made me feel pathetic.

"So, I saw you talking to Cloud earlier," Cid says. I groan, and he sighs. "What?"

"I made a moron of myself. Is he always like that?"

"Like what?" Cid asks. I know he knows what I'm thinking, but he just wants to give me a hard time.

"All quiet and serious. He makes me feel stupid just by being there."

"You ain't falling for him, are you?" Cid queries, his voice sharp.

"No, no, no," I sputter, raising my head from the table. Cloud's not unattractive by any stretch of the imagination, but that's not something I'm going to be telling my uncle. "He kind of...scares me?"

"He might look tough, but he's a softie," Cid replies, leaning back in his chair. Apparently, my vehement denial appeased his "fatherly instincts." He looks over toward the bar, and when I follow his gaze, I see he's looking at Cloud. The spikey blonde is gazing out at the crowd, his face expressionless.

"Kid's been through a lot of bullshit, and there were times when he didn't want to fight anymore, but he always comes through when it counts."

I nod, not really sure what to do with this information. It doesn't make me any less afraid of the guy. Only time and maybe getting to know the "softie" side of him could do that.

"About time," Cid says, getting to his feet as the door to the bar opens. I stand up as well, looking at the two newcomers. One of them is a beefy black man with...a gun on his arm? I'm not sure I believed that part of my uncle's stories until this exact moment. The other man with him has shoulder-length, thin black hair, and looks...kind of familiar.

Pain. Blinding, agonizing pain shoots through my skull, racing down my body. I grab my head as I collapse onto my knees, trying to focus on breathing. Flashes of fluorescent green blind me, forcing my eyes tightly shut as I gasp.

It's over in the span of several seconds, a quiet episode in the middle of a hectic, noisy bar. If I'd been alone, no one would have noticed. As it is, Cid is by my side, his hands on my shoulders.

"Lissa!" he hisses, his eyes full of concern.

"I-I'm fine," I manage, gingerly removing my hands from my head. "I just…." I just what? I don't even know what could have triggered that.

Cid grimaces, helping me to my feet. I'm a little unsteady, but I use the table to keep myself upright. "It was the mako, wasn't it?" he asks.

"Yeah. It hasn't happened in a while, I promise," I reply, feeling like a little kid getting scolded. When I was 16, I used to suffer from mako-induced headaches a few times a day. It's been getting better, but certain things can still trigger it. What I want to know is what on earth did it this time.

"There's the bastard I've been wanting to see!" The man with the gun-arm has made his way over to us, a big smile on his face. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Working!" Cid shouts, crossing his arms. "Been busy."

"Too busy for old friends?"

"Damn straight." Cid gestures to me, and I stand up straight, trying to hold myself together. "Barret, this is my niece, Lissa."

"Nice to meet you," Barret says, offering me his actual hand.

I shake it firmly, stating, "Likewise."

"Take a seat, jackass," Cid says, pointing at an empty chair at the table.

"I will in a sec. First, I gotta find my baby girl." Barret waves at us before sauntering up to the bar, slapping Cloud on the back.

"His baby girl?" I ask, looking at Cid.

"Yeah, Tifa looks after his daughter and another kid who ain't got no parents. It's a damn shame what all this fighting's taken from us." Cid lights another cigarette, and I sigh.

"That's something I think we could all agree on."

…

Time passes pretty quickly, and soon Tifa's closed he rbar, enlisting my and the short-haired girl's help in cleaning up. The girl wastes no time in introducing herself as "the Yuffie Kisaragi, ninja extraordinaire." She tries to chat me up for a minute or so before Tifa tells her to get to work.

During this time, Cid and Barret are talking to that man with the black hair from earlier, Cloud joining them when Tifa tells him to vacate his seat or get cleaned with it. There's a knock at the door at the back of the bar, and I have to refrain from staring as a red dog-cat thing comes inside, thanking Tifa for letting him in. Yes, thanking her. Upon seeing my surprise, he introduces himself as Red XIII, but apparently, I can call him Red. This isn't strange or anything.

The only thing that could possibly make it stranger is the next person who comes in. He's got long black hair, a claw for a hand, and is dressed in black with a red cape and enough buckles to open his own business. His eyes are blood red, and I'm glad they only fall on me for a second before he settles in a corner, arms crossed, watching everyone.

"All right," Barret shouts, getting to his feet from where he was sitting with my uncle. "Since we're all here, I'm gonna start talking."

"About time!" Cid jabs, making Barret's eye twitch in irritation.

"Shuddup," he grumbles. "Here's the deal. I need a couple of you to come with Cid and me to Mideel. I got a promising contact there who wants to talk business. Only problem is, the place is swarming with monsters, lately. So, who's in?"

"I suppose I could join you," Red says. "How did you find this 'promising contact?'"

"Jackass in a wheelchair told me," Barret grunts. Which I guess is a fond nickname for somebody everyone knows save for me.

"He's actually not in that wheelchair anymore," Tifa adds.

"Hell if I care," Barret snaps. "Anyway, who else is in?"

"I'll come as well," Vincent says, his low voice sending chills down my spine.

"Appreciate how I don't actually get a say," Cid retorts, leaning back in his chair, putting his feet up on the table in front of him.

"Damn right, you don't," Barret says. "Can't walk to Mideel, and there ain't a ferry taking people there, so your ship is the only way we're getting there easy."

Cid mumbles something that sounds an awful lot like, "Arrogant, piece of shit bastard," but I could be wrong. All the same, it makes Barret kick the legs of Cid's chair, knocking him to the ground.

I step forward, worried he's hurt himself, but Tifa puts a hand on my arm, giving me a reassuring look before she intervenes between Cid and Barret. "Do us all a favor," she says, her voice suddenly commanding, "and sit down!" Barret does as she asks without question, and when Cid looks like he's about to argue, she narrows her eyes, making him think better of it.

"You're guests in my bar, so you're going to act like it," she says. "Next person who does something stupid is going to get thrown out in the streets. Do I make myself clear?"

Cid and Barret mutter yes'ms, and look down at the table, chagrined. I'm so surprised I can't stop staring at Tifa who has single-handedly managed to silence two grown, loud-mouthed men. I could learn a thing or two from her.

"Good," she says. "Now, you're all welcome to stay here for the night, but you'll have to sleep down here. Do what you want, but don't make too much of a ruckus."

Tifa turns, walking back toward the bar, hanging a right and going up a staircase as conversation starts up again. I hang out in a corner, away from everyone, thinking. If Cid's going to need the airship tomorrow, that means it's off-limits for me to sleep in tonight. Does that mean I'll be crashing here with everyone else?

"Newbie!"

I jump at the sound of Yuffie's voice as she throws an arm around my shoulders. "U-um, hi?"

"Welcome to the group! Who would have thought Cid had a niece?" She removes her arm, much to my relief, but she leans against the wall beside me, meaning I'm going to have to chat with her.

"I don't know," I reply, shrugging. I don't think that's a real question, but I have no clue what I should actually say.

"I mean, it's totally cool and all," she adds, smiling. "Another girl in the group is awesome."

Am I actually in the group? I'm pretty sure I'm just here so that Cid doesn't worry about me. He's been doing that a lot since...well, since my dad died. "Is it just you and Tifa then?" I ask.

"Yeah. We do all right. Hey, how old are you?"

"What?"

"How old are you?" She leans in close as she asks this, her eyes wide and expectant.

"Twenty-one," I reply. "Why?

"Dang it!" she cries, drawing back a bit so she's no longer invading my bubble. "I'm still the youngest."

"Enjoy it while you can," another voice says, and I turn to see that man with the short dark hair approaching. The one who'd triggered that headache from earlier. "You're only young once."

"You can say that because you're old," Yuffie pouts, and I raise my eyebrows at her words. That was...kind of rude.

He laughs it off, however, turning his gaze on me. "I don't think we were properly introduced. Reeve Tuesti, at your service." He holds out his hand for me to shake, and when I do, my head starts to rush.

"Lissa Highwind," I reply, breaking contact immediately after. The rushing stops, but my stomach is feeling a little queasy. Reaching into my pocket, I grab hold of the materia there, comforted and repulsed in equal turns.

"You look familiar," Reeve says, frowning at me. "I don't suppose we've met before?"

"It's possible," I tell him. "My memory's pretty bad, though, so the odds of me knowing are slim." That's an understatement. There are entire periods of my life that I just can't remember or that I can only recall in bits and pieces. It doesn't usually bother me. Most of the memories I cherish are still in my head, and if they weren't, I wouldn't know anyhow.

"I'll have to put some thought into it," he adds, smiling again. A shooting pain darts behind my eyes, and I wince, rubbing my temple.

"You okay?" Yuffie asks.

"Fine," I reply. "I-I'm going to step outside, I think. Excuse me." Nodding to them both, I push off from the wall, darting out the back door.

The night air is warm on my skin, and it smells like rain might be on its way. I wish it could rinse me clean of these awful headaches. What is it about Reeve that bothers me so much? Maybe we really have met, and it's part of a memory I just can't reach.

Sighing, I run a hand through my hair, looking up at the sky. It's dark, covered in clouds, so I can't see anything save the moon trying to peek through. I'd rather be up there than down here, trying to navigate my way around strangers.

The door beside me opens, and Cloud steps out, a glass in his hand. He passes it to me, and I raise an eyebrow. "It's not alcohol," he says.

Which is one of my thoughts. The other is that it's drugged, but I don't really think my uncle would be friends with the kind of guy who would do that. Sighing, I put my hand in my pocket, grasping my materia as I take a drink.

My head clears immediately, my nausea passing like it was never there. "What is this?" I ask.

"Tifa's hangover remedy," he replies. "Apparently, it also works for mako poisoning."

I almost drop the glass, spilling a little bit of it in the process. "How did you…?"

"A guess," he says, "that you just confirmed." I stare at him, surprised and a little upset with myself for not trying to play it off when he says, "It's your eyes."

"Huh." I look down at the glass in my hands, noticing I'm trembling the tiniest bit. I'm not sure if it's left over from earlier or from this conversation. Taking another drink, I say, "It's been a long time since someone said that to me. I don't know that the average person knows what mako eyes look like anymore."

"Maybe not," he replies, but he doesn't say anything more, leaving us in silence. However, it doesn't feel awkward. It's more just...two people enjoying the same night sky.

I don't know how long we're out there like that, but it's enough time for me to finish my drink. Just as I'm thinking about going back inside, the door opens, and out steps Tifa.

"How are you feeling?" she asks me.

"Better," I reply. "Thank you."

"I'm glad." She gives me a small smile as she says, "I want you to know we won't bug you about it." I must have looked confused because she continues. "Your eyes. Yuffie might prod, but the rest of us don't like to pry in personal business."

"Oh. Um, it's okay," I tell her, feeling a little embarrassed that she was worried about me. "It's not like it's some huge secret or anything, but...thanks. Really."

She nods before saying, "I made up a bed for you upstairs. I think everyone's going to stay over, but the guys will be sleeping in the bar. You don't have to stay as well if you don't want to, but...the offer stands."

"Oh, I don't want to impose," I reply.

"You won't be," Tifa says. "You can think of it as payment for working tonight. I don't know how long everyone will be on this mission, but you're welcome to stay until Cid comes back."

That's right. It's not like I have anywhere to stay while I'm here, and I don't know when my uncle will come back. I don't really have a lot of options. "In that case, thank you again."

She gives me another smile before lookin at Cloud. "What about you? Are you going to stay as well?"

"I think so," he says.

"Good," she replies, and I swear, her eyes seem to light up with that word. The look she gives Cloud makes me feel like I'm intruding on something personal, and I wish I could get past them and back inside without bothering them.

"Barret might hunt me down if I don't," Cloud adds.

"You're not wrong," she chuckles before turning and holding the door open for us to go inside after her. Once we step back in, I notice everyone's still just hanging out talking, although most of them are sitting down now, save for Red who's lying on the floor. I also don't see Vincent or Reeve anywhere, not that I mind. Neither of them make me very comfortable.

Tifa shows me where I'll be sleeping, a room with one other bed and two futons laid out on the ground. "This is my room," she explains. "Let me know if you need anything else, okay?"

"I will, thanks," I say. "Um, I think I'll just go to sleep. It's been a long day."

"All right," she replies. "I'll be careful not to wake you when I come in later."

"Don't worry about it," I tell her. "I'm a heavy sleeper." That's a lie, but I don't want her to put herself out for me. She's already being so kind.

"Good night, Lissa," she says. "Welcome to the team."

"Good night." She leaves the room, and I settle onto my futon, crashing as soon as my head hits the pillow.

…

Ah, the test subject has returned.

If you struggle, you'll only hurt yourself.

Come now. Be a good girl and quit fighting.

I won't let them hurt you.

I sit bolt upright, tears streaming down my face. Where am I? It's dark. So dark. Someone bumps me in the darkness, and I jump, only to see, in the dim light coming in from the window, that it's Yuffie. I press a hand my hands to my mouth, trying to suppress the scream that still wants to tear itself from my chest, even as my ragged breathing starts to even out. When I feel it's safe, I take my hands from my mouth, instead grabbing the sides of my head as I look down at my lap, eyes shut tight.

It's fine. It's over. You're safe now. I have to repeat this to myself, time and again until the tears stop. It's been five years, but I'm still haunted by nightmares. I wonder if they'll ever really stop.

I notice a sharp pain in my leg and reach in my pocket, only to pull out my materia. I'd forgotten to put it away before going to sleep. Maybe that was why I had that dream. Sighing, I get to my feet, careful to step over Yuffie on my way to the window. I pull the curtains aside, and the dim moon's light streams in.

Holding up my materia, it glints red in the darkness, making me remember more things I wish I could forget. Who would have thought something so small could have caused so much pain? I push up the window pane, pulling my arm back, ready to throw the materia out into the night.

After a moment of stillness, I chuckle darkly, lowering my arm, balling my hand into a fist around the little sphere. If it really was that easy to get rid of, I would have done it years ago. Honestly, it's not the materia's fault I'm like this. It's just...the only thing left of the things I suffered that I have to blame.

Slowly, I close the window, pulling my blue ribbon out of my other pocket and tying it onto the materia. I place it under my pillow, running a hand over my face. I'm sure it's early morning by now, but I don't think I can go back to sleep just now.

I hear a soft sound from somewhere beneath me. Is someone still awake? Quietly, I creep out of the room, heading for the stairs. As I make my way down, I hear a rustling. Someone is still up and moving.

When I get down to the main part of the bar, I see a little lamp lighting up the dark room just enough to maneuver in, which is exactly what Tifa is doing. She's got a pile of blankets, and I watch as she drapes one over Barret who's fast asleep, his head on the table in front of him. Tifa's very careful not to bother him but to make sure he's covered at the same time.

I make my way toward her, and she looks up, giving me a smile. "Can't sleep?"

"Bad dream," I reply. "Can I help?" She passes me a few blankets before heading to the other side of the room. I watch her go for a moment before turning to Cid, who's sleeping across from Barret. He's still wearing his goggles, which makes me smile. That's a very Cid thing to do; it's like he's always prepared for flight.

I slide the goggles off his head, ignoring the groggy grumbles he elicits as I put a blanket over his shoulders. He's such a cranky guy, but in sleep, he reminds me of the man I remember from my childhood…. He was so much lighter back then, so much less burdened. My father looked like the rough one in comparison most of the time.

Smiling, I move on, covering Red and Reeve. Tifa meets me back by the bar when we're both finished, and she puts a finger over her lips before gesturing for me to follow her to the stairway.

"Thanks," she whispers once we're halfway up the stairs.

"No problem," I reply.

"They always crash like that when we get together," Tifa says, the smile on her face like that of a patient mother. It's...endearing. It makes me want to get to know her better, to learn why she's so...nice.

"It's kind of cute," I reply. "I get the feeling this doesn't happen often, though."

"Not as much as it used to," she says. "Everyone's been so busy lately, so I can hardly blame them, but that doesn't stop me from wishing we could spend more time together."

"I can tell." She raises an eyebrow at me, and I quickly say, "I just mean, it's easy to see how much you care for everyone. That's all."

After a moment, she gives me a wry smile. "Am I that easy to read?"

"Oh, no, no," I sputter.

"I'm teasing you," she says, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Relax, Lissa. I promise, we won't hurt you. We're all friends here."

"Sorry," I mumble, feeling stupid. "It's been a long time since I've been around so many people. I'm not really sure how to act."

"Just be yourself," she says. "Let us figure out the rest."

"Easier said than done," I reply.

She shrugs. "No one's going to force you. It's honestly up to you whether you want to become friends with us." With that, she heads up the stairs, leaving me alone in the dark.

A/N: Ta-dah! Another chapter! The gang's all here, and they're going on a mission! Some of them. Lissa's backstory is pretty heavy, and I'm looking forward to teasing it, in all honesty. Expect a lot of that. Anyway, thanks for reading, and a special thanks to KD14 and in citrus heights for the reviews!