Guilt’s Cost: Part CXXII

Decision

Vincent remained with Jaras on the couch for a long while. Finally Jaras turned to his father with an expression of seriousness. "I know that you and Tifa would like to stay here in Rocket for a while longer, but I would really rather get back to the ASRIO base."

"Oh," Vincent raised his eyebrows, surprised at his son’s request. "Well, if worst came to worst, I could go back with you and Tifa could stay here longer if Cid wanted her to."

Jaras was impressed. "You would leave her here and return with me?"

"Sure." He shrugged slightly. "I know that you need someone right now and if I can be that someone, then I would be glad to. Besides, Tifa is more than capable of handling Cid on her own."

"That may be, but I know that just yesterday you were having reservations about Tifa being around Cid." Jaras almost smiled.

Vincent was amused that Jaras was calling him on this. "Well I did, you’re right but after last night and this morning, I think some of those fears have been alieved. I know I can trust Tifa. Hopefully though, she will want to go back with you and I. I guess it kind of depends on Cid."

"Okay." Jaras picked his book back up from the coffee table and slipped his reading glasses back on. "I hear Tifa out in the kitchen with Cid, I think maybe you should go talk with them."

Vincent got up smiling knowing that Jaras in his awkward sort of way was blowing him off for the moment. He strode into the kitchen finding Tifa in the with Cid who was again feeding the baby.

Tifa got up upon seeing Vincent and threw her arms around him and gave him a good morning kiss. "Hey, missed you when I got up."

He grinned down at her. "Sorry, but I couldn’t sleep anymore. I didn’t want to wake you."

She was bright despite the early hour and didn’t actually didn’t seem that disturbed by his absence this morning. "Oh well, just glad to see that you didn’t run off somewhere."

Vincent dropped his gaze and stepped to the side before landing in a kitchen chair. "Actually I need to talk to both of you."

Tifa sat down in the chair next to him and Cid looked up from the nursing baby with slight interest in his expression.

"Okay," he tried to choose his words carefully, not wishing Tifa and Cid to think that he was just trying to bail on them. "Jaras really is having a hard time with these flashbacks and his memory has returned. He asked this morning if he could return back to the ASRIO base and I think maybe that’s a good idea considering his situation."

Tifa just looked back at him, nodding slightly.

"Poor son of a bitch remembers, huh?" Cid sighed, turning his eyes back to his son.

"Yeah," Vincent went on. "I would like to go back with him since I think at this point he really needs me. Tifa, if you want to stay here longer that’s completely fine with me. I can send the airship back for you in a few days or have the helicopter come for you."

Tifa looked at Cid for a moment with concerned eyes. "Cid, do you want me to stay longer?"

Cid seemed unusually thoughtful for a second and then he reached across the table and patted Tifa’s hand. "You go on and go. Sue and Sephy need you now. I think I’ve got enough of a grip on this whole dad thing to make it."

"Are you sure?" Tifa leaned forward a little, not wishing to leave Cid if he still wanted her to stay. "I mean, you’ve been through a lot and it’s only been a few days."

"It’s okay." Cid smiled weakly. "Me and the kid got it under control I think. If we have any questions, we know where to get a hold of you. Truth be told, Shera’s mother called this morning and said she’s coming out for a few days to help with her grandkid. The house would be kind of crowded with everyone here."

Tifa reciprocated his smile before turning back to Vincent. "I guess I’m going with you then."

Vincent tried to hide his relief with her decision but it didn’t go too well and all those present knew that he was happy. "Okay, I’ll go let Jaras know that we’re going and I’ll clue in the flight crew as well."

***

Within the halls of the ASRIO base, Porter was walking along slowly with only the accompaniment of his dog. He made his way along unaided, having discarded cane despite the advice of his physical therapist. The pain was intense and Porter was having some difficulty but he knew that if there was a mission coming up he needed to get back to walking normally again. He knew very well that if Tseng had any doubt whatsoever about his physical ability at the time of departure he would be left behind no matter how much they really needed him for the mission.

D seemed somewhat annoyed with his master’s sluggish progress. He would walk a few paces forward and then sit, whining until Porter reached his side again and then the process would be repeated.

Porter finally managed to reach the door to the room he and Rayna shared. Completely spent from his self-ordered torture he threw the door open and made his way to the bed and laid down. D took up a place right next to him and quickly fell asleep. Porter patted his dog lightly upon the head and stared up at the ceiling. He knew he was pushing himself rather hard to be able to go on the mission but didn’t know what else to do. He had to go. He had to personally see to Hojo’s death.

Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, the door to the room opened again and Rayna entered, having returned from a day of shopping up in town. She dropped her bags to the floor and went over to Porter’s side, laying down next to him.

Despite the pain he was already in from his walk, Porter couldn’t help himself from rolling to his side to kiss his beloved Rayna.