Dear Everyone,

I have decided that it'd be fun for us all to go on a little vacation from all the events that have happened to all of us, a cruise ship, good old sailing. Um so if all ya are interested, we'll see you there and uh yeah.

Love, Fang & Vanille

Lightning stared over the note as Snow had just read it to all of them; after all, they did need the vacation after fixing the time and saving the world again. Hope rubbed his chin, and let out a deep sigh.

"Well at least it's a free trip; I mean look they even got extra tickets for all of us. I guess there desperate for us to go." Snow said scratching the back of his head.

"It's quite nice of them, it'd be a lot of fun to get out of the office and take a break from all the hard work we've done."Hope said his voice deep now by his mature age.

"I hear ya! That's three plus me and Serah, what about you Sazh?"Snow said excitedly as he clamped his hands together.

"Yeah, I'm for it, I'll bring Dajh with me."Sazh agreed as he smiled and the Chocobo chick agreed.

Snow turned to Lightning knowing it's going to be hard to convince her and Hope just stared at her, the woman who had made him strong, he had finally caught up to her age since hers stopped during the time capsule break out.

"Sis come on now."Snow said as Lightning turned to him. "I'm not your sister, and my answer is no."Hope knew she wouldn't agree or it'd be hard to make her agree to it.

"Give the ticket to someone else because I'm not going."Lightning said turning around to the door ready to leave before Snow.

"What would Serah think?"He said as she stopped at the door handle and looked to him and secretly to hope who was now a grown man and older than her. Her answer was the shutting of the door and the frustrated sigh from snow as he took a seat.

"Snow…"Hope said knowing that there "Hero" would talk her into coming one way or the other. He shot up from where he sat with an evil smile and brilliant plan ready to hatch. Hope knew Lightning was in trouble now.

"Okay, when she's fast asleep we'll sneak into her home and take her and board the cruise."Snow said to Hope and Sazh. Hope lifted an eyebrow as Sazh just turned.

"Lightning an ex-soldier she's a high alert person even when asleep, how in the world are we going to break into her house and just taker her without waking her?"Hope said as Snow nodded.

"You see, I thought of that possibility already, a day before we'll get her so drunk and the next day she'll have the worstest hangover, where she can barely see or move."Snow laughed.

"That's a bit too much; we'll just try to be as silent as we can while breaking in."Hope said as Sazh walked out and left to prepare his things for the trip.

"Why don't you break in and try and get her, but if she wakes up convince her. I'm counting on you I'll see you later." Snow said grabbing his tickets and leaving Hope to think about the Woman who had always admired.

"But…"Hope stopped as he heard the door shut and he knew he was going to have to do since everyone was depending on him. He looked to the letter and where the tickets lay, and he grabbed the remaining two for him and lightning.

Lightning sat in her house in Bodhum, she looked to the clock that read 9:00 p.m. she sighed wondering if she should have took the ticket and just went, and it was just for a few days right. She sighed and got up now wearing her pajamas which were black shorts and a long sleeved white thermal, she turned off all the lights and went to her bedroom and went to sleep thinking about it.

Hope sat outside her home seeing the lights go off and waited about two hours more giving her time to really sleep and then made his move to proceed and break in. He looked around making sure no one was around, he proceeded in going up on the roof and seen an opening, he silently slid through and made his way into Lightning's living area and walked quietly around looking for her bedroom, seeing as it was his first time in her home and breaking in.

He walked down the hallway opening the first door that was a storage area with weapons and things she had received, he open the next door which was an guest room, he walked all the way to the end of the hall and turned to see a glass door and where Lightning stood sleeping in her king sized modern bed. He opened the door quietly and walked through and over to where she stood asleep, he stared at her for a moment as she slept and he smiled remembering the times with her.

He slid off her cover to see her in her pajamas which were quite wow, he slid his um under her back and another under her legs and picked her up gently, she was light. She didn't stir and Hope quietly smiled for that intill he accidently bumped into her dresser dropping something in the process, she arose quickly and looked to Hope who stared at her.

"Hey there Light."Hope said nervously as Lightning looked at him with calm eyes. He was nervous and lightning saw that, she felt him tense as he stood carrying her still.

"Put me down."Lightning said filling uncomfortable in his arms. Hope set her down onto her bed and just smiled nervously as she stared at him calmly.

"I'm guessing this was Snow's idea and you got nominated."Lightning said calmly as Hope let out a sigh of relief and pulled out her ticket and handing it to her.

"I'm sorry."Hope said looking down as Light looked to Hope remembering him as young frighten boy during being a l'cie, but now he's this strong smart man who helps the new world. Lightning stared over his strong muscles and tall frame; he was the one older than her now and taller.

"It's alright, but don't break into someone house, especially someone like me. I would've probably killed you."Lightning said moving her pillows revealing her gun blade there ready to cut through anyone.

"Thank goodness, I was afraid you'd wake up and kill me. That's the reason I didn't wear shoes."Lightning looked down to his feet seeing them bare.

"It wouldn't have changed me from not hearing you."Lightning said as Hope smiled and scratched the back of his head.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow at the Cruise, hm?"Lightning said a ghostly smile brushing her lips as Hope smiled.

"Great!"Hope said smiling as they became silent.

"I should go, I'll see you tomorrow."Hope said as Lightning turned to the window seeing as it was raining and thundering.

"Do you really want to go out at this time? You can stay here if you'd like."Lightning said feeling bad that he had to now go out since it was raining.

"Um I don't know. I mean…you don't mind me."Hope said blushing a bit by her offer seeing as Lightning looked at him as the little boy she knew when they were l'cie, so she really thought nothing of it.

"Yeah, here come."She got up and walked out of her room and to the guest room where hope had looked in secondly; he looked to her and looked uneasy.

"This is where Serah and Snow slept when they came over, but it's better than sleeping on the couch."Lightning said folding her arms over her chest as Hope just lifted an eyebrow wrong thoughts going through his head.

"Or would you rather sleep with me?"Lightning said jokingly as she walked away to her room and went to sleep smiling at Hope's flushed face and letting him sneak into her house.

Hope just blushed at her joking remark and got ready for bed by removing his jacket and tie and leaving him shirtless as he lyed in the covers smelling fresh and not like SEX. He closed his eyes thinking over how nice Lightning was to him; she had always showed a more affectionate side to him that no one else had really seen, but only him. He smiled as he remembered his first encounter with her and just being with her as a l'cie.

Hope awoke to the sun shining in on him from the windows of the room; he had forgotten where he was and got up and went out the door scratching his chin and chest. He walked into the living room to see Lightning sitting at the couch seat by the window in the living area, he was going to greet her intill she turned around and looked at him.

"Hope."She said as he looked down at what she was staring at he was shirtless bare chest, thank god he still had his pants on, he covered his chest and walked back to his room.

Lightning looked out the window seeing as it was no big deal, she stood dressed in a long sleeved black shirt and dark jeans with her boots and blade by her, her bag with clothes for the trip sat by the door. She looked at the ticket and read over as it said they'd be there for two weeks, she sighed and put a fist under her chin in boredom. Hope came out fully dressed and walked over to her, he sat across from her.

"Um sorry about that, I forgot that I slept over."Hope apologized as Lightning looked to him her light aquamarine eyes glistening from the sunlight.

"It's nothing, but we should hurry and go, because the ship is going to be leaving in about an hour."Lightning said as Hope checked his watch that read 1:30 p.m.

"I slept for a long time, must be from all the work I've been doing."Hope said rubbing his temple.

"There are the two lovely people I've been waiting to see. Sis and Hope."Snow said opening his arms wide as he seen them walk over to him with their luggage and change of clothing. Hope was dressed in long sleeved white shirt with black pants and dark shoes.

"I'm not your sister."Lightning said walking away from Hope and pass Snow and to Serah where she stood talking to Vanille and Fang. Hope looked at her and then walked over to Snow; he wrapped on arm around and smiled mischievously.

"So tell me what happened?"Snow asked Hope as they walked and boarded the ship.

"It's a long story, I'll tell you about once were inside and have a drink."Hope said with a small grin on his face as they went to their rooms.

/

Hope found his room reading 544, high class bedroom and he looked over to his neighbor only to almost cough in awkwardness to see that it was…

"Hey Hope."Lightning said opening her door and closing it behind her, not making big deal that Hope was her next door neighbor, she was thankful that it wasn't Snow and Serah, god only know there nightlife. She set her bag down in her room which was beautiful and basic, there was a large modern bed with fluffy comforter white sheets and fluffy white pillows, there was a balcony too with a small chair, and she set her bag down by the closet in the room and set her clothes to where they needed to be. Hope was thinking like crazy about Lightning being in the other room, he had kept his feelings to himself for all these and had even tried to fine new love, but didn't feel happy. He thought had forgot all about his love for Lightning, but it was always there and it is always going to be there aching for the other. Hope just shook his head from his foolish junior thoughts and set his clothes away and walked to meet up with the rest of the group.

"So guys, I'm glad you all came. Here's the schedule that is going to be taken place for the next two weeks, so you all go out and have fun alright."Fang said going out with Vanille behind here as they went somewhere on the schedule today, everyone sat and looked over the paper as they decided where to go, Sazh left first with Dajh and the chocobo chick.

"Hope, my man, well I guess that gives us our time to have our "manly talk" and get ourselves a drink as the girls go have their fun, hm?"Snow said with a smile as Serah went over to her sister and talked to her about some spa and girly things to do while there. Lightning perked up when hearing drinks, but remembering that Hope was an older man now he was of age to drink and so was she. She just nodded to her sister and watched Hope leave with Snow.

"So tell me everything."Snow said as they stood in the bar night club area, Hope held a beer in his hand as Snow held a beer as well.

"Well I got to her house around eight and waited for about three hours or so and I found an opening at the roof top and crawled and landed in her living area and walked down the hallway and to the end I found her…asleep still. I opened the glass door and crept through quietly and pulled off her covers and picked her up, but I bumped into her dresser and she awoke."Hope said looking to Snow who was smiling and laughing a bit as Hope continued on.

"I stood still for a moment and she just stared at me for a moment and said to put her down and then we talked, but she didn't get mad at me at all suspecting it was your idea," Hope said as Snow turned and chuckled. "She's gonna kick my ass later."Snow said as Hope just laughed a little. "I said that I should go and since it was raining really hard and thundering she told me if I wanted to stay and I said sure, and I slept in the guest room which used to be you and Serah's bedroom. And that's about it."Hope said finishing his beer and folding his hands together and pursed his lips a bit.

"Wait a minute, you slept over her house without even having to ask? Lightning is something else when it comes, but that's only because she still looks at you as that little fourteen year old boy back during when we were l'cie. I guess she doesn't really find you that weird to be around since you were the one who was with her during that most of the time."Snow said as Hope realized that, that was probably the reason why she had let him sleep over and be so around without her feeling bother or weird and that was the reason why her reaction was so normal to him being her neighbor because she looked at him as that little fourteen year old back during when they were l'cie. Hope just hid his face feeling a bit hurt by Lightning's true feelings about him, he felt tears waddle in his eyes but he blinked them away remembering he was an older man now, twenty seven not fourteen.

Lightning stood getting her back massaged by a very handsome man who had dark hair and hazel colored eyes, she didn't mind being touched just on her back by a stranger since Serah of course was beside her talking about her and Snow. Lightning thought back on everything that's happened and how everything turned out alright, she looked back on when she was a l'cie and how she guided Hope into the strong man he is today, a man she thought. His white grey hair, jade green eyes, light smooth untouched skin, pink smooth lips, strong body, tall, and sweet Heart with great intelligence. He certainly is a man, but she still saw him as the scared fourteen year old boy still growing up and getting strong, he had opened her eyes so much, they had helped each other. She smiled to herself and felt a small tear escape her eyes, she was surprised at herself for having a tear actually come, and it's been awhile since she's felt sad or well happy.

"So sis have you met anyone lately?"Serah asked as Lightning lifted an eyebrow and Serah laughed and turned back to the magazine she was reading.

"I haven't, no one's interest me."Lightning said looking away as they did her feet.

"Well have you been interested in anybody?"Serah asked as Lightning just sighed and thought.

"No, not that I know of."Lightning said as Serah just awed.

"You don't want to be alone forever, do you? Don't you want someone to love you?"Serah said looking to her sister who thought about what she said.

"I don't want someone to waste my time."Lightning as Serah sighed at her sister's stubbornness. Lightning had indeed felt lonely at times, but never really looked at or really thought about it, but now that Serah did mention "love" she never did think about it because she never knew the feeling or maybe she had brushed against someone who gave her this feeling.

Lightning and Serah made their way to the clothing store where they tried on clothes and maybe bought a few things mainly Serah though, they hit the bikini store and Lightning just looked at the really small bikini's they had and just turned away from them and hoped Serah wouldn't get any intill she did and even got one for Lightning. Serah and Lightning head back to their rooms and put there purchased items away and went to go get something to eat, only to meet up with Vanille and Fang who had been sitting in their discussing some things.

Hope and Snow stood in the arcade playing games like children and then hitting the stores and laughing all the exotic clothing they saw, they seen a thong for men and Snow bought two for him and Hope, Hope declined. Snow looked around the stores and got some things for Serah and Hope just looked at jewelry and other stupid things. Snow and Hope went back to the nightclub bar area after running around all the places in the cruise boat and since it was night Snow and Hope partied and drank, Snow knew that Hope had a thing for Lightning after Palempolum or even before that, he wanted Hope to have a good time. Having a good time for the time being was fun in everything for the time being, but after they were seriously going to get in deep shit especially Snow a married man. Hours passed as they still partied and Lightning and Serah stood waiting for them as they looked over there items that they got today.

About at 3:00 a.m. Lightning and Serah heard footsteps approaching and went out to see who it was, only for it be Snow and Hope all messed up with glow sticks and Hope having kiss marks on him and sweat on his shirt, Snow was drunk and they limped and tried push themselves back. Lightning lifted an eyebrow at them and Serah just well acted like a heartbroken wife, Hope opened his eyes a bit to see Lightning and everything blacked out.

Me first Final Fantasy story, I'm pretty excited, I bought the game like a month ago and am really fond of this pairing, I recognize in the game there closeness so. I was really bored and decided to write this. This takes place when like there done with the whole time capsule and like um they save the world again, but I kind of changed it into a happier ending since um XIII-2. That's the reason why it's in XIII category. I really didn't feel all great with Hope being short and Lightning being tall so I decided to just twist the story up a bit, but whatever, I HOPE you like it and I'll put in the next Chapter as soon as I can.

Please Review!

-CidVII