I started writing this about a month after LR came out in Japan. I'd watched the livestreams in Japanese and I was still reeling after watching the ending, so I decided to write down my feelings, which eventually evolved into this fic. This is yet another post-LR story; one that I've slowly been expanding on for a while now. It's more like a really long story divided into separate chapters, so there may be some abrupt cut-offs (though I'll try my best to keep those to a minimum). And it's centred around Lightning and Hope (yes, again) because I love writing about them and their partnership. Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy XIII or its characters.

Aftermath: Chapter 1

A cool breeze greeted her as she stepped out of the train, playing with the strands of hair against her cheek. With a soft smile, she brushed them away and took in the sight before her. A dirt path extended as far as her eyes could see, flanked by vast plantations on either side. In the distance she saw rolling hills that met the sky at the horizon. 'This is a new journey…' she thought to herself as she stepped forward.

She followed the path for what seemed like an eternity, thinking about her previous life, before she was the Savior of Souls or Etro's Knight. When she had been just Lightning, a soldier serving in the Guardian Corps. Back then, she had never taken the time to appreciate her surroundings. The seaside town of Bodhum had been a popular tourist attraction even without the fireworks and festivals, but she never once walked around the town without a purpose. 'I guess I was just that kind of person…always charging forward without a second thought. Back then, it seemed like I never had enough time to do anything.'

She smiled. 'But now, I have all the time in the world.'

Eventually, the path came to a stop in front of a wooden gate. Beyond it stood a modest house, painted blue and white. A single car stood in the driveway, parked in front of a garage. She looked down at the gate and saw a sign – the faded lettering read Estheim Residence. Acknowledging that she was at the right place, she opened the gate and stepped inside. She walked up to the door, rang the doorbell once and waited.

A minute later, she heard the click of a lock and the door swung open to reveal a middle-aged woman. Her hair was white, though not due to her age, and her green eyes seemed to sparkle.

"Hello," she greeted with a smile. "We don't often get visitors. May I know why you're here?"

The gentle look in her eyes when she smiled was all-too-familiar. Before Lightning could stop herself, she said, "You're Nora Estheim, aren't you?"

The woman before her seemed surprised. "Yes, that's me. Though I don't think we've met before…" she raised a hand to her chin, trying to remember. Lightning shook her head.

"No, we haven't met, but I know your son. He-" She bit her lip. "He and I worked together, in a sense."

Nora Estheim's eyes lit up. "Ah! Then you must be Lightning!"

It was her turn to be surprised. "…how did you…?"

"He talks about you and some other friends of his from time to time. The way he describes her and the way you carry yourself…you both seem like the type my son would look up to."

This time, Lightning smiled and held out her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Estheim. I used to be known as Lightning, but my name is Claire Farron. Please, call me Claire."

Nora shook her hand. "It's nice to finally meet you, too," she replied, her grin widening. "I'll go get Hope, please wait right here."

Lightning nodded as the woman walked off. Knowing that Hope still spoke of her warmed her heart. She could almost picture the boy's reaction upon seeing her standing at his doorstep, him running towards her and looking up at her with a smile on his face.

But she did not get what she expected. Instead of a fourteen year old boy, a young man approached the door. His gaze was directed towards the floor, and he seemed dazed, almost as if he had just woken up. However, when he looked up and saw her, his eyes lit up instantly. He began walking faster and before she knew it, Lightning was caught in an embrace.

"…Lightning? I-is it really you?"

She placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed him away slightly. He was taller than her now, she noted, but his expression was familiar.

"You of all people should know I don't like being hugged," she chided, and he let go almost instantly. Before he could begin to apologize, however, she smiled. "But this time I'll make an exception. It's good to see you again, Hope."

"L-likewise," he responded, apparently still in shock. Within moments he composed himself. "Why don't you come in and sit down?" he offered, stepping aside. She nodded and followed him into the house, to a sitting room filled with family artefacts. She seated herself on one of the white sofas in the middle of the room. Hope sat down across from her and leaned forward, resting his chin on his clasped hands.

"So I hear you're a researcher now," she said simply.

He nodded. "I've worked as a part-time research assistant at some universities…but how did you know?"

"Serah," she replied simply. "A few days ago she found out that you were once a research assistant at the university she teaches at."

He looked surprised, but then lowered his gaze to the table between them. "I suppose that explains why I didn't find her first. I don't really look at staff records…"

"I think it was a lucky break on her part," Lightning added. "It seems like Serah's gift as a Seeress carried over into this world as intuition. She even found Snow just a few months after we both arrived in this world together. I've been living with the two of them ever since."

"And...what about the others?"

"We tracked down Noel and Yeul. They owned a flower shop back in the city, and Serah was eager to meet them. They seemed happy."

Hope smiled. "So now there are five less people for me to worry about," he joked. But Lightning knew that there was truth behind his words. 'He really has been worried for all of us...'

"Serah also managed to locate Sazh."She paused. 'Serah has managed to accomplish so much in this world, but I…' She pushed the thought away and continued. "He's a pretty well-known mechanic, and he works at a shop some hours from here by train. I figured everyone else couldn't be too far away, either."

At the mention of Sazh, Hope's smile had grown. Lightning could understand how he felt - he had looked up to the man as a father figure.

"So you set out to look for us, and I was the closest, huh?" he asked.

"…you were, but that wasn't the only reason why I came here first." This time he met her eyes, his gaze curious. She sighed. "The truth is…I'd like you to come with me. To look for the others."

"…me?" The surprise was evident in his tone.

She nodded. "Yeah…or at least that's what I was thinking. But now, I've realized…" she shook her head and clenched her fists in her lap. "I've been selfish."

"What do you mean?" She looked up and saw him watching her, a determined look in his eyes. It seemed like he would not look away until he got an answer. She sighed again.

"When we arrived in this world, Serah and I were together. I assumed that the others would be as well, Fang and Vanille, Sazh and his son, Noel and Yeul. So when I found out about Sazh, I didn't think it would be practical for me to tear him away from his son."

"But I was selfish," she repeated. "I assumed that you would be free from obligations, and eager to come along with me. I didn't stop to think for even a moment that you would have your own life, with your family."She looked away, avoiding his eyes. "I'm sorry, Hope."

"…you don't need to apologise, Light," Upon hearing her old nickname, she glanced at him again. 'It really has been a while since someone called me that…'

"I don't want to tear you away from your family, either," she said, her tone insistent. "And…just now, when I suggested it, you seemed pretty shocked."

He seemed to realise that she had misunderstood something, because he shook his head firmly. "No, that was…I was just surprised, that's all. We worked together in Nova Chrysalia, but from what I remember, you always preferred to work alone."

"I did…" 'And maybe, in some ways, I still do.' "But I'm willing to make an exception."

This time, Hope laughed. "You seem to be doing that a lot today," he teased, ignoring her death glare. "But I'd be glad to come along. It'll be good to see everyone again, if we do find them."

He stood up, and Lightning took that as her cue to stand up as well. "You're sure?" she asked, somewhat hesitantly.

"Of course. And besides," he continued, holding out his hand. "You and I are still partners, right?"

She distantly remembered the time she had said the same words to him. With a smile, she took his hand and shook it firmly. "Right."

Hope's mother insisted that she stay for lunch, and she could not help but oblige the woman and her warm smile. Bartholomew Estheim joined them at the table. Although he was surprised at first, he acknowledged her presence with a nod that held a deeper meaning behind it. 'Thank you for taking care of my son.'

Eating with a family was something she had not experienced in years. It was different when she ate with Serah and Snow – with them, she felt like she belonged. And although she didn't feel unwelcome at the Estheim residence, something made her feel like an outsider, almost as though she was sitting in on something private. Still, Lightning could not help but smile as she watched Nora tease her son when he refused a second helping. Even Bartholomew let out a laugh at his son's protests as Nora heaped a huge helping onto his plate.

'Although it feels different, it's still…fun.'

When Lightning finally stepped onto the front porch, streaks of purple clouds stretched across the sky as the sinking sun glowed a deep orange. 'The sun will set soon,' she mused

The sound of footsteps behind her snapped her out of her reverie. Hope appeared at the doorway, a small suitcase in hand. "You've got one too, so I thought I'd carry some things just in case."

"You don't need to justify yourself, you know."

"I know, but I felt like it."

After bidding goodbye to Hope's parents, the two of them set off towards the station. 'It's going to be quite the journey,' she thought, looking up at the darkening orange sky.

She heard a chuckle beside her. "What's so funny?" she asked, turning her head to face him as they walked.

"Oh nothing really…I was just wondering how you got this address."

"Serah gave it to me. She said she got it from her university." She paused, confused. "Why?"

He looked up at the sky. "It's just…a coincidence, that's all," he replied, a small smile on his face. "Because I don't live here – I have my own apartment, in the city. I just visit my parents on weekends." He glanced at her. "If you'd come here a day later, you would've missed me."

"Oh." Was all she said, but there was a deeper meaning behind it.

'One day later, and he wouldn't have been here. Was I just lucky? Or was it something else…?'

A small smile played upon her lips as she walked forward. 'I guess I'll just have to wait and see.'

That's it for this chapter, though I might post the next one tomorrow. I'm still working on the third, and I hope to wrap this up within five or six chapters in total.

Please do leave a review! I really appreciate the feedback!