Author's Note: I was in the middle of writing another Noerah fic when this multi-parter decided to crawl into my head and not leave until I did something about it. I will hopefully get around to the previous one (It's a one-shot so maybe when writer's block hits me) at some point in the future but my time tends to be limited by work and family obligations.

Updates will be slow and random although I do tend to have another chapter near completed whenever I post anything new. My overall outline is approximately 6 chapters but I do have a lot of head canon that could be thrown in here.

Here's to hoping it won't completely suck.

- TDW

Disclaimer: Spoilers for all three FF13 games apply, although this would take place after Lightning Returns.

Rating: T. Will go up to M in next chapter.

Chapter 1 - The One You Love

"You're not going to make it back again?"

"Sorry babe. One of the pipes bringing water into the village burst and it's contaminating a few of the other wells. We're stuck here at least another week."

Serah couldn't keep the disappointment from entering her voice. She was standing in their apartment kitchen setting down the final dish for dinner when he had called. It was so like Snow to not want her to worry, but still, "You couldn't call me when this happened? You and NORA were supposed to be on a flight home by now."

"I know and I'm sorry. I was just hoping when we first heard about it that the work would go faster than it has."

"But, everyone was expecting to see you. They'll be here any minute." Everyone being her sister, Hope, Sazh, Dajh and Noel. Yeul was busy with school this time and Vanille and Fang had yet to be found again in the new world. All of them were to meet up for a big dinner party to welcoming back NORA from their travels abroad to help villages and towns less fortunate. Serah had especially been looking forward to it as it would be the first time in months she would be able to see Snow and she missed him far too much as he continued to travel.

"I'm really sorry Serah. I promise, I'll be home as soon as I can, Maybe a week. We'll do our best to try and rush it. In the meantime, give everyone my best."

"Snow, the chief wants to talk to you about that new path you want to set down and I think there may be other problems he wants to ask us about." Serah could hear Maqui in the background and she knew that he would have to go soon.

"Hey babe, I have to go. I really am sorry and I love you."

"I know. I love you too." Serah sniffled into the receiver moments before she turned off the phone in her hand. She should be used to this by now but every time Snow would call she was filled with dread as to what the next delay or problem was going to be. It had been far too long since she had last seen her hero and she was heartsick from missing him and not being able to touch him. What she wouldn't give just to hold his hand; yet here she was, alone in an apartment far too big for just one person. Well, there was her cat, Nora but that wasn't the same as human affection.

Not for the first time, Serah considered if her decision not to live with Lightning was the wrong one but in retrospect she would never have said no to Snow in the first place. He was the one she should be with. After all their struggles to get this far, it was the one of the first things she wanted.

She just hadn't expected things to be so hard and for him to be gone so long and so often.

Thankfully the ring at the door interrupted any further thoughts as she took off her apron to answer it, taking one last glance at the mirror in the foyer to make sure she was presentable before opening it. On the other side was her sister accompanied by Hope. The pair often spent time together as Lightning was assisting Hope to find the final members of their unusual group: Vanille and Fang. After the 'birth' and population of the New World, they had all been reborn, retaining their same ages and experiences as before but with the added benefit of a new life already ready and waiting for them to fill it. Each one of them had been given enough to start a new life and finally live the way they wanted.

"Serah?" Serah winced as she realized she wasn't properly welcoming her guests and opened her arms to greet her sister with a big hug, giving another one to Hope right after. She was so happy to see them.

"Thanks for coming you two." She stepped back and left them both enter the house, noticing as Lightning took stock of the place.

"Where's Snow?" A smile turned into a frown.

"He-he couldn't make it."

"Again?" Lightning didn't seem happy about Snow's absence although her old distain for Snow was less begrudging than it had been in the past. Hope sighed behind her, he didn't seem surprised either but any comments he might have had he was keeping to himself.

"Yes." It was getting embarrassing. Making plans and then having them change last minute. When Snow came home they would most definitely be talking about it. Serah was afraid that in spite of Lightning's current blessing on their engagement, she might suddenly decide to revoke it and start hating Snow again especially if Serah began to complain about it.

"When is everyone else getting here?" Hope interjected, changing the subject tactfully, something Serah made note to thank him for later.

"Well-"

"Right behind you." Sazh stepped up into the apartment just as Serah was about to answer, little Dajh in tow and Noel following soon after. She greeted each one with a hug before shooing them back into the dining room, ignoring Sazh's confused look when he asked when the rest of the gang was getting there. Lightning and Hope would be the ones to fill him in on what happened.

***

"So, the systems I set up to find more of the reborn like us is still pretty faulty. I'm starting to think it was sheer coincidence that we found Noel and Yeul." Hope was explaining his analysis on the data he'd picked up from his latest device. Just like back with the Academy he was in charge of a company managing technology systems, or rather developing and testing them although truthfully he was only putting a little effort in the ones he created and released to the public. The technology of this world was not what it had been where it had been on their old one. He feared that if he developed anything unwisely it could generate a war and none of them wanted that.

It seemed that no matter where Hope went, he would always somehow wind up needing to consider the worlds welfare. It still didn't stop him from making machines that would serve his own personal purposes though.

"Seems all of us meeting up again has been coincidence." Noel suggested.

"Yes. It is starting to look like it although I'm now considering extending my device to perhaps explore the possibility of rebirth in other eras. Both Vanille and Fang were born a good 500 years before the rest of us, before the timeline was distorted… I need to find out if that is a factor as to why we haven't met up with them yet."

Serah nodded, it was a good theory but- "What about Noel and Yeul? Neither one of them was born when we were yet they are here as well."

"That's true and I have to take that into account. The theory is still worth testing though."

"You know, if you want, I can ask Yeul if she has any ideas on why she and I were reborn in this time period. That might help you with your next device."

"Yeul is a bit of an anomaly on her own so that could be a factor. Thanks Noel."

"No problem. I'm sure she won't mind helping you."

"How is the young missy anyways?" Sazh inquired, of all of them only Noel and Serah really knew Yeul. The young yet ancient seeress kept mostly to herself when there was a group of people together. Noel had once mentioned to Serah that Yeul loved to sit back and pay attention since her life was no longer in danger of ending at any single moment. It wasn't much later that Yeul confirmed that fact and she was very active learning all she could about their new planet and making new friends.

"She's doing well. Studying hard and all that."

"She find herself a boyfriend yet?" Noel scoffed a bit.

"Not yet."

"Only because you terrified the last one." Serah couldn't help but get in the jab. For all Noel was Yeul's guardian, he also had a tendency to be overprotective.

"He was being inappropriate."

"He was touching her hair; you grabbed his head and slammed his face into the doorjamb… twice."

"I forgot you were there when I did that."

"I'm sorry I asked." Sazh chuckled while he scratched his head. "Still adjusting to being a big brother I take it?"

"Definitely an adjustment." He admitted. Being reborn as Yeul's older brother was certainly different for him and not what anyone could have ever expected. Even Hope, who was the expert on what they knew about the rebirth process still didn't have a clue as to what would cause it. However the benefit for Noel was that it also made him her legal guardian since he was of age to keep her out of the foster system. That and they didn't even need to look to find one another. Still, no matter how much Serah pried to find out how or if it really bothered him, Noel would simply insist that everything was fine and she'd believed him… for the most part.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out. Serah will keep you in line if you get too crazy. Word is, she's got a difficult older sibling as well." Everyone got a good chuckle from that, even though Lightning shot Sazh a good stony glare.

"Don't worry everyone, I don't think Noel could ever get as scary as Lightning was."

Not long after the meal her guests began to let themselves out of the apartment. Serah was a bit sad about it as she would have enjoyed company for a longer time but they all have their own lives to get back to. As it was already the weekend, she herself didn't have much else to do. She was already caught up on her students assignments and her lesson plan so all that was really left was to clean up after her friends and go to bed. Meaning she was left alone with her thoughts again.

Sighing she started picking up the remaining plates on the table, not noticing the shadow behind her that was approaching.

"Hey." Several of the dishes fell from her hands and landed back on the table as she spun around, hand held at her chest to see Noel sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry about that; didn't mean to startle you." He walked over to where she was and began helping her pick up plates.

"What are you still doing here?" Not that she minded, it was nice to still have company over and it wasn't uncommon for Noel to come around. After everyone found each other again they all tended to live in proximity of one another although some travel was still involved.

"I figured you wouldn't mind some help with clean up, since Snow isn't around right now." The unspoken, 'help you clean up for his homecoming alone' was left unsaid. Noel was blunt on a good day but he was learning to be a bit more tactful with how he said things thanks to both her and Yeul's influence; plus Serah really didn't mind the help or company. They may not be traveling the timeline anymore trying to save the world but they were still best friends and she liked having him around.

"That'd be great." The two worked in silence as the rest of the dishes were picked up before heading into the kitchen. In spite of living in a reasonably sized place and having quite a few amenities neither Serah nor Snow thought about getting a dishwasher when they moved in. Therefore Serah had to do everything by hand. It was a good thing that parties like this weren't overly frequent and Noel stayed to lend a helping hand. It probably would have been more work if NORA along with Snow had been here but then she probably wouldn't have been able to get cleaning done that same evening anyways. Snow and the gang always liked to stay up.

"So, did he tell you when he'd actually be back?"

"Maybe a week?" Serah sighed, her hand wiping down suds from one of the dinner plates. Snow hadn't been very specific but she trusted his estimate on how long things might take.

"That sucks."

"Yes but he's helping people and making their lives so much better. I couldn't be prouder of him, really."

"Have you thought about maybe going with him one of these times?" She had. More than once in fact, not to mention it had come up more than once in conversation but it wasn't easy to explain why she didn't… or rather couldn't. It wasn't a matter of having faith like she had when Snow left to go find Lightning, instead it was more about respecting the feelings of her future husband and she wasn't sure if Noel would get that. "Serah?"

"Sorry, got lost in my thoughts a bit there." Noel gave her a skeptical look.

"Did something happen?"

"No. We just decided it was something that we would do. Besides, I just started my teaching job here and I think it helps him to know that he has a place that is easy to come back to."

"I guess that's good?" He finished wiping off the final dish from the sink before turning off the faucet and placing a calming hand on her shoulder. "Being separated and still loving each other- I don't think I could be as strong as you Serah." Seeing the calm but sad look on the younger mans face made Serah suddenly want to lash out. She wasn't strong, she was lonely and that feeling got worse every day.

"Why can't I come?" Serah had begged the question the second time Snow had gone off with NORA to assist a struggling village of the coast of a continent halfway around the world. Each trip away seemed to take a longer period of time, a longer breach before either them saw one another, a longer time that was spent not preparing for their supposedly upcoming marriage, which still didn't have a wedding date.

"I already told you Serah, these villages are filled with refugees from some pretty nasty war-torn countries. There's still plenty of militia at the borders waiting to drag these people back. I can't guarantee your safety."

"But if it's so bad why are you still going? Don't you think I worry about you too?"

"A hero's got to do what a hero's got to do. These people need help Serah."

"Snow, you don't need to be a hero anymore. Lightning fought so that none of us would have to! We have a real chance to just have normal lives here."

"I know… but this is just something I have to do." He had left the argument at that, never letting her in on what was going through his head as he left for the airport the very next day. The only comfort she had for his trip was that Sazh was flying the plane so she knew at least going and getting back he would be safe. Eventually, there would be so many of these trips that Sazh wasn't always available but… she wondered what was so important that they had to wait and with each following trip she wondered if they were even going to get married.

Since the rebirth Snow had become more subdued. Likely from all the years spent in a transient world constantly being invaded by chaos. It made Serah worry if the man she once loved even knew she was there.

"How's Yeul?" She asked wanting to change the subject to something less uncomfortable. Since the dishes were finished, she sat down on one of the stools she had by her counter while Noel started to rummage in the cabinets

"Good, she started up with another club."

"Oh? Which one?"

"Drama." Serah laughed. She always wondered what this Yeul, the one from 700 AF would enjoy doing and Yeul herself was very active in trying all sorts of different hobbies and activities. Now that she was free from her fate she was living her life to the fullest.

"She liking it?"

"I guess so. She hasn't really told me much about it except when she has after school stuff."

"Maybe she found a new boy she likes?" Serah teased. Noel groaned as he reached and pulled out one of the larger liquor bottles. It looked like one of the ones her sister gifted her.

"What do we have here? Looks like Lightning brought you a little present from her last trip out with Hope." He set the bottle down on the counter before grabbing a couple glasses from another cabinet. "Does she honestly think she's going to find Vanille and Fang this way or is it just an excuse to own so many different types of vodka?"

"You could always ask her."

"Do I look suicidal?"

"Maybe. You know, I think she intended that bottle for Snow but he hasn't been home to drink it yet." Saying Snow's name reminded Serah of the others absence, an unexpected pang stinging her heart that she couldn't dismiss.

"Should I put it back then?"

"No, no, go ahead. Who knows if he'll even drink it when he gets back. "

The younger man smiled as he twisted the cap off, pouring clear liquid about midway into each cup. "Do you want anything else in it or do you want to drink it straight?"

"Mmm, maybe some cranberry juice and ice. I think there's some still in the fridge."

"Coming up then." After Noel fished out the juice and poured it for the both of them, he handed her one of the glasses and pushed her towards the main sitting room where the TV was located, carrying the remaining liquor and his own glass with him. The two sat side by side as they sipped their drinks and Serah flipped through the channels to find a movie or show they could watch. It was nice hanging out together, just the two of them.

Eventually Serah decided on a movie and the two of them settled in on drinking their vodka's, renewing their own glasses as they felt the need. Serah had a really good buzz going by the time Noel said something that made Serah begin to laugh. She took another chug of her drink, the taste of alcohol long since forgotten when she saw the challenge in his eyes and the curve of his lips as he kept talking. It was as though she couldn't help herself as she leaned forward brushing her lips against his, the reaction on his face shocked but somehow inviting as she leaned in and kissed him again.

The last thing she remembered as the drink she held dropped from her hand to stain white carpet was being thrown down onto cotton sheets, hard lips, and a warm peace as the darkness crept over her.