Innocence Lost

Hey everyone! First of all, I am begging you for mercy in reading/reviewing this fic. This is the first FF fic I have ever written and I took this on as a personal challenge to see if I could actually pull it off. This story takes place approximately one month prior to any of the events of the 13 days. Rated M mostly for what happens later. I hope you like it!

I don't own Final Fantasy, it belongs to Square Enix

"I'd better go." a relaxed and very naked Serah Farron said. She didn't want to go; she was warm and comfortable here. She let out a long sigh and tightened her arms around the man she loved.

"No, don't go…not now." Snow begged of her, wanting nothing more than to hold her right here forever. He pushed loose strands of pale pink hair away from her eyes. "It's raining out there. Stay here with me; stay all night. You don't have to go home." Snow tried to convince her yearningly. Serah smiled and kissed his neck. She let one hand travel freely over his chest and up to his face where her fingers toyed with blonde locks of hair.

"I don't want to go, but I need to. Lightning will be expecting me." Serah didn't have the strength to even move right now even though she needed to. It was 6:15 on a Thursday and she knew if she just got up now and got dressed she would be home in twenty-five minutes. The problem was that she was just too contented as she laid under the covers with Snow and getting dressed right now simply wasn't an option. If she let herself; Serah could have fallen asleep to the rhythm of the rain. The small seaside house was so quiet and dark. "Are you going to come over for dinner tomorrow?" Serah asked.

"Of course I will. 5:00, right?" Snow asked her.

"Yes. We're going to eat outside. Lighting bought new patio furniture and she can't wait to use it." Serah said finally mustering up the strength in her already weakened arms to push herself up. Snow reluctantly let her out of his embrace as Serah searched the floor for any of her clothes. She found some pieces but not everything.

"Do you think…Lightning knows?" Snow asked Serah sitting up in his bed.

"If she does, she's certainly kept it to herself." Serah said finally finding her bra. Snow looked a little sad for a moment.

"Why do you think she doesn't like me?" he asked of her.

"Even though she's my sister, sometimes not even I can understand her. She has these ridiculous expectations for people and when those expectations aren't met she…" Snow cut her off.

"I think you're right, but I think she has ridiculous expectations for you and as far as she's concerned I don't meet them." Serah had her back to Snow. She smiled.

"It doesn't matter, I love you." She said before quickly turning around and throwing her half naked body across Snow's lap and sinking her lips into his. She held on to him as she felt fingers in her messy pink hair. Her small, delicate body sunk gently into Snow's arms. She could feel his tongue on hers; warm and hungry. Finally, she pulled her lips away from his. "I really have to go. I should finish getting dressed." Serah said smiling and rolling back over to the side of the bed where the rest of her clothes laid in a pile.

"So, should I bring anything tomorrow for dinner?" Snow asked Serah.

"No, just show up." Serah reassured him as she put the last of her clothes back on. She rose to her feet and brushed at the wrinkles on her skirt with no success of making them disappear.

"I'll walk you to the door. You know what, I'll just take you home." Snow said combing the floor for anything to put on. "Do you have an umbrella?" Snow asked finding the soft flannel boxers he had taken off earlier. He followed behind her through the dark house. They hadn't bothered to turn a light on anywhere.

"Yes, I have an umbrella. You don't need to take me home. I can walk, it's not far." Serah answered making her way to the front of the house careful not to knock anything over.

"Did you bring a coat or something, it's going to be a bit on the cool side tonight since it's raining and all. You can't walk, Serah. I'll take you." Snow said putting his hands on Serah's shoulders as she picked up her bag that she had dropped by the door when she got home from school that day. Lightning thought it completely irresponsible that Snow had taken so much interest in her 18-year old sister. She wasn't even done with school for god's sake! Lightning didn't understand what motives he could have had for wanting to become involved with someone younger than he was. In her mind it couldn't have been anything good. But the fact was, his love for her was quite pure and Lightning didn't see that; nor did she care to see anything past the fact that she didn't like Snow.

"Really, it's okay. I'll just walk. It's only rain. I'll be fine." Serah reassured Snow.

"Here, wear this shirt." Snow said pushing a long sleeved shirt over Serah's head. It would at least keep her a little warmer on her short walk home. She laughed as she pulled her arms through the sleeves. She was swimming in his shirt since it was entirely too big for her. She pulled the fabric over to her face.

"This smells like you. I might sleep in this tonight." Serah said still laughing. Snow smiled.

"Only that?" Snow asked winking at her.

"Only this." Serah said. She threw her arms around him again. She wished only she could stay here and kiss him until she fell asleep instead of going home to deal with Lightning scolding her for coming in past 7:30. Lightning still thought Serah was a little girl. Serah didn't need Lightning looking after her every move anymore.

"Bye, baby." Serah said softly before letting Snow out of her embrace.

"Bye…I love you. I'll see you tomorrow." Snow reluctantly let her go as Serah slipped out the door into the pouring summer rain. She looked out into the sea before her from Snow's deck as she opened her umbrella. The waves were violent tonight. It was a wonder Snow's home hadn't been swept away by the sea as far perched out on the shoreline as it was. It was the coziest seaside retreat Serah had ever known and there was nothing more in the world she loved than Snow and all she wanted was to be with him as often as possible.

The steps leading from the deck of the house to the ground below were a bit on the slick side and so Serah had to watch herself as she made her way to the ground below. The longest part of her walk home was from Snow's house to downtown Bodhum. Snow's house was out on the beach along with a handful of other sparsely placed homes. It was about ten minutes from town. The stars were hidden by clouds tonight as she made her way to the downtown district. The Bodhum streets were sparse tonight. Of course there were people in the restaurants and shops that lined the street; and there were a few people waiting to catch the train to wherever it was they needed to go. Serah picked up her pace a little. She knew her bag was getting soaked. The umbrella wasn't big enough to cover the bag and her both. She dodged the puddles in the sidewalk as she made her way toward the intersection. She was forced to stop and wait on the traffic. Unfortunately, Serah was standing too close to the curb and she got drenched with dirty water from a passing transit car. She squealed and jumped backwards away from the curb looking in disgust at her drenched clothes.

She finally made through the intersection and continued on her trip home. Not much farther to go. Serah weaved in and out of a few more blocks before coming upon her street. She hoped Lightning had left the door unlocked for her and she wouldn't have to go digging in her soaked bag for a key card. She could see the light from inside her house. Lightning was certainly waiting for her to come in, judging by the light that was on in the living room. Lightning always read her books on the couch in that room. Serah didn't really want to deal with Lightning right now. She just wanted to get inside and get these now filthy clothes off and take a hot shower. She approached the door, letting her umbrella down and shaking off the excess water. It didn't do much good it was raining so hard. Serah tried the door; Lightning had left it unlocked for her as she had hoped.

Lightning looked up from her book as she heard the door open only to see her drenched sister. "It's 7:50." Lightning said dryly.

"Ooooo it's 7:50." Serah said sarcastically.

"Don't you take that tone with me. It's a school night Serah! Do I need to remind you that you're not finished with school for another month!" Lightning scolded her. Serah took her wet shoes off at the door as not to track muck through the house.

"Lightning I…" Lightning cut Serah off.

"I don't care what you have to say. There is no reason for you to be out this late on a school night." Lightning said without any remorse for her dripping wet sister. Serah shook her head. This was useless trying to talk to Lightning. She sat her bag on the edge of the barstool at the counter.

"I'm not getting into this with you. I'm going to take a shower." Serah said leaving the room before Lightning had a chance to take this any further. Lightning could hear the door in the other room close. She sighed, frustrated with Serah and resumed her book. Suddenly, Serah's bag fell from its haphazard position on the barstool, startling Lightning at its thumping to the floor. Lightning shot her eyes up at the sound noticing its contents spilled everywhere. She scanned everything quickly wondering if she should give her sister a hand and pick everything up. She obviously decided not to and returned to her book. But Lightning wasn't actually reading the words on the page. She thought for a moment, a feeling of alarm overcoming her; questioning what she saw in the pile before her. Lightning shifted her eyes to the contents on the floor again, this time studying what she saw carefully. Her eyes narrowed a bit and she slammed her book shut not even bothering to mark her place. She pitched her book forcefully aside and snatched up the condom that had fallen out of Serah's bag. That's exactly what Lightning thought she saw. Serah and Snow had been so careful to cover their tracks for the past three months; but this little slip up would have the shit hitting the fan. Lightning was furious.