Hi! Today I'm bringing you a new fanfiction from Final Fantasy XIII! It's one of my favourite games and I really liked Hope's and Lightining's relationship so, yes, this is a Hoperai fanfic. I hope you enjoy it and I'll really appreciate it if you could leave a comment and tell me how did it go (English is not my first language so feel free to tell me about grammar mistakes! It would help me a lot!).

Enjoy!

It was a rainy late afternoon in the city of London. You could feel the moist in the air, see the people rushing to go back home and have dinner with the family, dog owners trying to get a hold on their hyperactive and happy-to-be-in-the-rain dogs, hear the traffic from three streets ahead… You could say it was a very peaceful atmosphere.

It has been raining all day and a certain security guard was getting sick of it. Come on… When is my shift ending? It feels like I've been here for days… It wouldn't be that bad if I actually DID something.

While the big guy daydreamed about the boring weather and how he wanted to go home and cuddle with his bride-to-be, he didn't notice that his boss was calling him. And he was angry.

"Hey! What do you think I pay you for? You have one job and it's to make sure nobody suspicious gets in the museum, and what do you do? You let this soaking shrimp get in! Get rid of him before I get rid of you." ordered the museum director that had a grip on the poor kid's shirt.

"Roger…" said the big man picking up the boy, that had been thrown to the ground, after making sure his boss was gone. "You're ok? Sorry about that. He tends to get really mad at me and pays it with both culprits…"

"I'm fine. Sorry for the trouble. I was just trying to get a picture for my science class and he came bitching around, saying 'Don't take photos. Are you blind? It says it in that freaking poster'" said the boy imitating the boss's voice. "And then he saw me all muddy and kicked me out. Literally."

The security guard couldn't help but laugh at the boy's very accurate imitation. He liked him. "Boy, I think I'm going to treat you to something. You made my day. What's your name?"

"I'm Oliver. And I'm your girlfriend's neighbour's son. You've seen me a ton of times, you dickhead!" he explained while trying not to get wet under the little doors roof. He was freezing.

Now that he mentioned it, it certainly was him, but dirtier. "Oh man. You can imagine how muddy you are if I didn't even recognise you."

"Yeah, blame me for your stupidity."

"Now you're talking like my fiancé's sister." remarked the security guard to Oliver.

Before the boy could ask more about the resemblance made, the grumpy boss returned. "Villiers! Your shift is over. And take that brat out of my museum!"

Not losing any more time, Snow said that he was coming back in a minute and that he was taking him home. He then left to pick up his things, not forgetting the umbrella that Serah had made him take this morning, and they both made their way to Snow's car.

"I have a question. I saw you doing weights from my window. Why is someone like you working in this shitty museum?"

The kid, not only has a bad mouth but, he's a spy too? I hope he's just looking from his window when I'm there. "You know it's illegal to spy on someone?" Oliver just shrugs his shoulders.

"You train in the garden. Don't blame me if I can see you. So, why?"

Letting the subject go, Snow responded. "Okay… Well, I like protecting people. So… that's why."

"…What? That's so lame… If you liked that, you would be in the police or in the army."

"I'm trying. But it's not always easy." He said getting in the driver seat. "You're very rude, you know? Being a bit nicer won't kill you."

"Yeah, yeah. So," continued the boy not caring about his rudeness "you are marrying Serah, right?"

"Eventually, yes. Why are you asking this?" He didn't know where was the boy going with his questions at all.

"Because I saw this afternoon how she left with another man. You know, from my window."

"Thank you for taking me. I really needed a dress to wear. I don't have any dress that fits the environment. And Snow couldn't go with me… I hope I didn't take a lot of your time…"

"Don't worry, Serah. I'm happy you asked me. I wouldn't get out of my office if you didn't ask me things like that."

"You should go out more, you know, and meet people. Or someone special…"

"Please, don't start with this again…" Said he platinum man with a desperate voice.

Giving up, Serah just crossed her arms and stared out of the window. "Fine. But I still think you're a waste, Hope."

After spending all day searching for the perfect dress to wear, Hope and Serah were returning home. When the pink haired girl called him two days ago saying she needed his help, he didn't know he was accepting a complete day at the mall. Screw himself. He should have asked before saying yes. It's not that he doesn't like going shopping with the Farron sister, but it can get exhausting if she doesn't find what she wants. And get angry.

If after a while she doesn't find anything that fits in her prototype of what she's looking for, she becomes the Meanie Miss Farron he so heard about. Lucky him she did find something and was all smiles and happiness. And now she was trying to pass it to him by bringing that damn topic he hated.

"I know you mean well Serah, but you know I don't like to talk about this…"

"Come on! I bet you could get any girl you want, I mean, you're smart, good-looking, young, and have a stable job. How could anyone pass that?"

"Someone who'd want me with them at lest an hour during the day. You know I don't go home a lot. That can be tiring for some people."

Serah thought that he might be right. "That's true. My sister did it back then and I didn't like it at all. You know, I didn't mind if we didn't have enough money or that I couldn't go to collage if that meant we could spend more time together."

"I guess she just wanted the best for you."

Nodding her head, Serah stayed in silence after bringing her sister to the conversation. Hope didn't know what to say. Continue talking about her? Change topic? He just continued driving until he heard her murmuring "I wonder if she's looking for us…"

He did know how to answer that. "Serah, you really think your sister, the woman who went against God only to save you, won't be looking for her little sister? Where is the optimistic Serah I knew?" Questioned the man with an all serious expression.

Laughing at his overdramatic reaction, she responded. "You're right. I'm just over thinking things…" After, they stayed in comfortable silence until they arrived at the neighbourhood where Serah lived. "Hey, look! I think Snow arrived. There's light in the bathroom."

Stopping in front of the house, Hope got out of the car and helped Serah with the bags "You sure bought a lot of things for one party."

"Well, I might have bought some extra things…" seeing the look Hope was giving to her, she continued. "What? Don't look at me like that. I don't spend as much time as I wish with you so I just take advantage when we are together."

That seems something Light would do… He couldn't help but smile at the thought. Taking it out of his mind, he asked. "So, what's this party about?"

"I don't really know. Snow just told me he had some tickets for it, but I didn't actually ask for what it was…"

Hope stopped walking and asked with unbelievable voice. "… you are going to a party you don't really know for what it is but, you 'don't have any dress that fits the environment'?"

Stopping near the door, Serah turned around and faced him. "You sure ask a lot."

Arriving at the entrance, Serah was about to open the door when a giant did it for her.

"Welcome home, sweetheart!" said Snow picking up her fiancé from the floor with a hug. Over her shoulder, he saw that there was someone behind. "Oh, didn't see you there. How have you been, Hope?"

"Good. I see you're doing fine too." He said, pointing at a Snow that was dressed with a white T-shirt and pyjamas bottoms and had a bottle of wine in hand.

"I like giving my bride-to-be a nice receiving. How's the day been?" Snow said, giving a quick kiss to Serah and helping Hope with the bags afterwards.

"Great! I've found the perfect dress." said excited the little woman going to the kitchen and taking out of the fridge what was going to be dinner.

Putting down the bags in the living room connected to the kitchen, Hope asked "What's the party about, Snow?"

"It's a charity gala. A lot of famous people and celebrities are going. There will be artists that will sing to raise money for charity. Or something like that."

"You don't even know?"

"Hey, my boss gave me those tickets. It was a chance that it was not going to be repeated in a life time. I couldn't just say no. And stop complaining. I'm taking you to that party."

From the kitchen, Serah commented "A charity gala… I've never been to one before. Not even back in Cocoon."

"They mean well, but there's still some profit behind them."

"You can keep talking bad about them, Hope. You're still going. And you're staying for dinner."

Taking a chuckle out of him, Hope started to help Serah with the food. "Yes, mom."

After some trouble because Snow wanted to help in the kitchen, they finally managed to make dinner (Serah and Hope of course), and they were now sitting in the living room, where Snow had been waiting after doing the only thing Serah asked him to do: Put the table. "Why does Hope get to help you cooking but I get kicked out?"

"Because unlike you I don't set the kitchen on fire just doing fried eggs."

Helping Serah putting the plates in the table, Snow counterattacked. "In my defence, that cooking oil was defective."

"I used the same one this morning and nothing happened."

"Babe, you're supposed to defend me. Who are you marrying, smart pants or your hero?"

Smart pants?

"Don't call him that, and of course I'm marrying my hero."

The three of them then started to eat dinner. They eat through half dinner in silence and just enjoying the food: mashed peas with some boiled vegetables.

Hope broke the silence. "I admire you're waiting for your sister to be here to get married. It's been centuries since you two proposed."

Serah didn't wait to answer. "She's going to be my maid of honour. Of course, I'll wait for her."

"Lightning in a dress?" Said Snow finishing his plate and taking a sip of wine. "I must see that. Does she even like them?"

"Like it or not, she's wearing one. I remember when we where kids she didn't put them a lot. Only if my mum said it. And even then, she put on a grumpy face because she didn't like how it looked on her and complained about how 'it didn't fit to play around'."

"Tomboy since the beginning huh…" commented Hope with a smile.

After some minutes in silence, where you could only listen to the clock in the living room, Snow commented "Be surprised if you want but, I can't wait to see that grumpy face again."

"So she can punch you in the face?"

"She can't punch me without a reason." Said the big man trying, desperately, to defend himself from the young man's attack.

Hope answered "Don't worry about that. She'll find one."

Hope had been around the couple a lot since they found each other two years ago and, generally, they didn't talk much about the other world or Lightning because Snow and he knew it made Serah kind of sad. So, he wondered why was Light in all the topics they talked today. No that he minded. He could talk about her and with her for hours if they let him. Then, he remembered.

Tomorrow was Light's birthday.

Looking at Serah, that was lost in her thoughts, he asked "Your sister would be 28 tomorrow, right?"

"I think so. After the Valhalla incident I'm not sure…"

Snow awaked when a surprising situation came to his mind. "Wait, that would mean that now I'm younger than her… It's a strange feeling." Said Snow talking slowly like he was making sure what he said was right. "But what feels weirder is that you're older than both of us. Where is that little annoying kid that used to follow us around?"

Both members of the table laughed but Hope was the one to answer. "I'm still here, but taller."

"You know what would be funny? That we met her tomorrow. On her birthday. Just like in the other world."

The Farron sister took a sip of wine and said the evidence that was on everybody's mind but no one was saying. "We haven't found her in 4 years, I don't think we will just because tomorrow is her birthday. And you didn't meet her that day."

Snow ignored her bride-to-be and got as close to Hope as he could, with the dinner table in the middle, and suggested "What do you think? Wanna bet?"

"Snow!" The big man turned to face her. She didn't like he was betting at all. And she could see he already had too much of that wine.

"Just imagine. It's free. I'm not going to bet anything. For now."

With a bit of hesitation, and under Snow's gaze that was now on him, he played his game. "Well then, if we see her tomorrow then-"

"Confess to her!"

He didn't see that coming. "What!? What are you talk-"

"Don't play dumb on me. Everybody knows. You were too obvious as a kid."

He definitely has had too much to drink. Tired of avoiding the topic all day, he just answered "If that were to happen, I wouldn't tell her right then and there…"

"Why not? It's Lightning. She's the type that wants guys go straight to business."

Hope put his hands on his face and reclined on the back of his chair looking at the ceiling. He was too tired for this. "Can we just not talk about this, please?"

Serah noticed that the silver-haired young man didn't want to talk about her sister at all. The girl tried to divert the conversation. "Em… Oh yeah! Snow, tomorrow is the Gala and, since I invited Noel too, he's coming tomorrow morning and he's staying here the rest of the week."

"And in what way is that got something to do with me?" Snow didn't know where she was going with this.

Fortunately, Serah did.

"You're picking him up at the station, of course."

Even though Snow was pretty much drunk, he did notice she was punishing him. "I thought you were going. It's your friend."

"I know, but you have been an ass all night with Hope so you're going now. Have fun!" That said, the young girl went up-stairs indicating she was going to call it a night.

Left with Hope and all the dirty dishes to do, Snow just said a final advice before Hope left him too. "You're sure you want a Farron in your life?"

"See you tomorrow, hero."

And then, the hero was left all alone with the punishment.

The CD Charity Gala. An event that takes place once a year at the Old Billingsgate Market in the City of London. It gathers musicians and celebrities from all around Europe with only one purpose: get as much money as they can for the children with rare diseases.

"Wow, I can't believe we are attending this gala… Look at all those famous people!" Said Serah getting out of the car.

"Think that we could get a signature from any of them?" Asked Noel.

The group was getting near the entrance of the old market and good God they parked close to the door because it was freezing. The clothes' choice didn't help at all.

Once the security man asked for their invitations, they went inside without a problem but noticed the not-convinced-look he gave them.

Once they were in, they could see that it was full of tables, celebrities, a scenario and two counter bars. It was dark inside because of the concerts they would be performing, so the environment was like a real concert indoors. They could get lost very easily. Good job that they were easy to spot: a 2 metres tall man dressed in purple shirt and brown trousers, a silver-haired in brick-red shirt and dark blue trousers, a brunette in a dark blue shirt and dark green jeans and a young woman with her pink hair down in waves wearing a baby blue one stripped short dress with a belt the same colour as her teal high heels. At her side, the men looked simply, all wearing their shirts rolled up to their elbows and with black shoes.

"Where are we supposed to go?" Asked Hope looking around the place.

Checking the invitation, Snow answered "It says 'table 23'. I imagine that's where we're heading for."

Looking around for a clue to where was the mysterious table, Noel declared "Seems like around here there are only 'tens'."

"Second floor it is then." Said Snow beginning to march the way.

Starting to move to their new destination, Noel spotted the bar counter and changed his mind. "You can go without me. I'm going to the counter bar for something to drink." Not waiting for a response, the ex-hunter headed to the bar nearby getting passed the crowd.

"All right. Let's get to our table then."

While they were trying to reach the stairs to the second floor, they could hear that a rock band had started to play on the stage and the people, that we're getting closer to see, we're not making easy the task to get to those stairs. Thank God they had Snow and he was making a path.

"And the hero saves the night!" Exclaimed the big man turning around to face Serah which she responded "You'll save the night if you find our table so we can sit and have dinner."

Meanwhile, Noel reached the bar and ordered something to drink. He was surrounded by what seemed famous people but he didn't recognise anyone.

"And how did you become famous?" Asked the bartender giving him the drink.

"Oh. I'm not famous. I just got invited here."

"Too bad. I wished I could see you somewhere."

Noel wasn't sure if he was getting the hint right. "See me… somewhere?"

"Yeah. You know, you're kind of hot."

Yeah. He did get it now.

Not knowing what to say, he was saved by a young blond man, that appeared out of nowhere and was dressed like him but all in black, except for a red bandana in his left wrist. "Flirting with the young again?"

"You know I'm looking for some company, Jack."

"Okay, then." The young man called Jack turned to Noel and asked with decision "What do you think about him, you like him?"

Scratching the back of his neck, Noel answered as kind as possible. "Um, sorry but I'm not interested."

"You heard him. Don't be sad, the night just started!"

Once the sad bartender left for another order, Jack introduced himself before Noel could thank him. "Jack Edevan by the way. And, you are…?"

"Noel Kreiss. Thank's for that. I really didn't know how to get out of it."

"No problem. I'm used to get rid of annoying men."

Then, he's famous or something. He doesn't look like it… "Out of curiosity, are you a celebrity too?"

"Something like that."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"He's trying to say he is but he doesn't like to brag about it." Noel turned around to the new voice and couldn't believe who he was seeing. "It's been a long time."