The thing about Fang that seemed to make her so, so, attractive was her confidence. That damn cocky sardonic grin that exuded confidence as she smirked.

The fact that would she would claim she was right until the end even if she was dead wrong just because she could. That "I'm a badass" confidence that Light didn't quite have enough assholery to pull it off. That was what made Fang almost irresistible to Light.

Her ability to be absolutely crazy that even Serah would make a comment about and Fang would happily tell her that she didn't care for the psycho-babble bullshit even if she secretly agreed with her.

She drove Light up the wall with every chance she got simply because she could and hey, Light was pretty amusing to her when she was pissed off. The fact that she would bait Light and know she would get a sound beating in return didn't dissuade her one bit. Nope, they both knew that a challenge was being made and someone would give in and get revenge later, or it would be settled then and there.

A solid sounding friendship now isn't it.

It had been over a year since it all happened. Vanille and Fang pulling away joining hands and then simply crystal. Crystal everywhere.

Lightning grinned as she watched Hope raise his boomerang in victory. He had led the party for the majority of the day and proved he had the right to. He ran over to her, noticing her grin and folded his weapon up.

"Did you see that Light?!" She quickly hid her grin and straightened, falling easily into a soldier stance.

"That's Sergeant Farron to you, Private Estheim." Six months ago, this would have dashed Hope's spirit in a second, but he shrugged and a smile slid onto his features.

"Sir! Yes, sir!" He saluted and stood completely still. Lightning glanced over to the other members, they were scrounging the kill and failed to notice where Hope had snuck off to.

"Cut it out, Hope." She punched his arm lightly. "You aren't supposed to be bothering me any ways." She glared at him, stepping back and crossing her arms.

"Oh come on Lightning. You know I can do this; it's all a formality. You're just worried I'll outrank you soon."

"Not on your life. Now get the rest of those idiots and let's report back. Serah is hosting some dinner party and if you're late, she'll blame me." Lightning rolled her eyes.

"Sir, yes, sir!" Hope saluted again, with less sarcasm then before, turned and started to jog back to the other Guardian Corps. Lightning grinned at his retreating back. He was still the same Hope but he had changed so much starting when he had demanded that he be allowed to join the Guardian Corps and go wherever Lightning went.

Eleven Months Ago

Cocoon was still livable, but barely. Nothing would ever be the same again. Even after being flown down to Gran Pulse, people wanted to turn it into nearly the same lifestyle that Cocoon had provided. They seemed to be succeeding. Lightning, once she had established herself a home in Oerba, had traveled to see Hope at the new city, at his request. She found him, hanging around outside a smaller version of his house in Palumpolum.

"Lightning!" He had run to her and hugged her tightly. She hugged him back for a second and then grabbed his shoulders pushing him back firmly. He hung his head down, staring down at the ground.

"What's wrong?" He looked up to meet her eyes for a second and looked away, staring at the crystallized Cocoon.

"My father. It's not that he doesn't love me, I know he does. It's just, he's helping the new city with his financial advice and that's great, but I sit here and do nothing all day. He won't let me join anything, not even to warn the troops what sort of creatures there are around here." He glanced back at her, his eyes troubled.

"You want me to convince him to let you help?" Lightning played dumb, Hope had to say what he wanted. His eyes flickered and he looked towards the glittering sphere.

"No, yes. I want to join the Guardian Corps." He made eye contact with her, she stared back, waiting for the rest. "In Oerba, with you." She dropped her arms from his shoulders and sighed softly. Oerba was one of the only places he could join the Guardian Corps, they were mainly being used for scouting purposes and occasionally guarding the towns. The new city had already made a defense group and while they worked together, it was clear they didn't want to be affiliated with the Corps.

She turned away from him and stared at Cocoon, looking to where Fang and Vanille were. They wouldn't have hesitated, though both of them might have teased him about it first.

"I'll help." She said softly, Hope's face lit up instantly. "But you have to tell him first. And he has to agree." He nodded fervently.

"Thanks Light."

They waited around until well after dark, sparring and talking. Hope wanted to hear all about Serah and Snow and where Dajh and Sazh had gone to, and Lightning wanted to make sure he hadn't let his skills go to waste. When Bartholomew returned, Hope made his case and after a long discussion where Lightning stood quietly and said nothing, he agreed to let Hope go back with Lightning to Oerba. She agreed to stay the night and they would head out in the morning. Bartholomew sent Hope to bed and looked over to Lightning.

"A word outside, please." She nodded and followed him out.

Outside the man stretched and placed his arms behind his head in a similar fashion to Snow, sighed and then dropped them.

"I know this is what he wants to do and that he wants to help. But I just got my son back." He paused, seeming unsure and continued on. "I have to let him live his own life." He looked at Lightning, who raised an eyebrow. "Will you take care of him? He looks up to you so much."

"I'll do my best." Lightning paused, wondering if she really needed to say anything else. Hope's prior knowledge of the area would serve him greatly making him a key asset in any patrol, Bartholomew didn't need to be told.

"That's all I can ask for."

When Hope came back with Lightning to Oerba, she offered to let him live with her. Snow had also offered but she quickly reminded him of how his new wife and him needed the time to just be together. Surprisingly, Hope had refused both offers and enrolled himself into the Guardian Corps training. He lived in a bunkhouse on the edge of Oerba with other new soldiers. Lightning had questioned him on this, he could have easily been hired without any protocol training, she would have been assigned to train him for two weeks and he would have been set. He insisted he wanted to earn his way up, without any advantages.

This choice had made life a living hell for Hope, he was picked on and treated brutally, the rich boy from the new city. He stuck it out though, not saying a word to anyone about it. Eventually, it stopped as he made friends and they realized that he had a right to be among soldiers. Lightning didn't find out for months later that he had been bullied and when she did, promptly decided those trainees could use a little extra training and a few more chores around camp.

"Sergeant Farron!" Hope yelled, bringing Lightning crashing back to the present. He had grown taller and put on some more muscle but he had a ways to go yet. He was fifteen and a bit now she shuddered to think of what he would look like at eighteen. His hair was cut short only about two inches long making him look older than he was. He ran towards her with three other soldiers following.

"Ready to head back now, sir-m'am." His face seemed neutral, though she could see the twinkle in his eyes. She nodded once and turned, heading back towards camp.

They reach camp an hour before dark. They paused at the chain link gate, looking to Lightning.

"Dismissed." They nodded and didn't move. "You all did well, I'll be reporting to General Amodar promptly." They broke out into smiles and scurried away. Hope leaned against the fence.

"Get going, soldier." She crossed her arms, she never wanted to seem as if she was favouring Hope. Hope looked at her and tilted his head.

"Light, do you think they're ever going to wake up?" Lightning felt her heart jump into her throat. She glanced over to the moon like crystal and looked back to Hope.

"Yes." She swallowed, hoping he wouldn't notice.

"Come on, Light." He implored. "I miss her so much, Fang too of course. But she was my best friend and always supported me."

"I know Hope, but." Hope cut her off.

"Do you think there's a way to wake them?" He shoved his hands into his pockets, gazing at the ground.

"I.. I don't know. It took five hundred years last time."

"You want Fang back just as much as I want Vanille." Hope accused, his eyes angry. "She was your best friend, calming you down when you lost it by sparring with you for hours, you always listening to her rant and rave."

"Yelling at me about it won't make them come back Hope. Sazh already went and tried to wake them. We're needed here, they'll come to this place first." Hope moved forward slightly, stopped and nodded as anger drained from his face.

"Sorry, I just" Lighting held up a hand.

"I know. Go get cleaned up, we still have a dinner party to attend and you are not skipping out on me."

"Meet you out front." Hope tossed the words over his shoulder as he walked in. Lightning sighed and almost jumped.

"Evening Sergeant Farron." General Amodar appeared from the shadows.

"General.." Lightning paused.

"I only saw part of that interaction, calm down. That boy has been hurting since the day he got here. Despite that, he is quite impressive. How did the patrol go?"

"Very well, he led most of it, but they all played their strengths and I wasn't necessary."

"Excellent, looks like we have some new corporals on our hands and a sergeant to boot." Lightning paled ever so slightly. Amodar laughed, not noticing.

"You'll be fine accepting a Lieutenant's role right? I know Estheim is young, but you can keep him in line."

"Thank you General." Amodar nodded and caught her eye.

"Comes with some days off and you have to use them. But not now, I hear you and the new sergeant have a dinner party to attend. Throw him a bone and go get him his new colours so he can show off. Night Lieutenant, see you Monday." Amodar turned and walked away, leaving a lightly stunned Lightning. She shrugged and decided it was best to go with it.

She turned and faced Cocoon and whispered quietly.

"Wake up. We all miss you."

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XIII or any of the characters.

Story is rated T for swearing, alcohol, violence and suggestive themes.