Chapter 1: Hugs and Kisses

Pairing: Hope X Lightning

Rating: K - T

Summary: Hope is deeply depressed after losing his father, and Lightning is there to comfort him and advises him to move on.

Setting: A year after Final Fantasy XIII, ignoring Final Fantasy XIII-2's events, where Lightning does not disappear all of the sudden.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XIII. Square Enix owns it.

A year after the events of Cocoon where Cocoon residents are saved thanks to the sacrifices of Vanille and Fang, residents of Cocoon find new homes in the wilderness of Pulse. Although they are not adjusted to the wild life of Pulse at first, they easily adapted to the new environments by keeping the monsters away using powerful force fields, find new sources of food, and so on.

Lightning, Sazh, Serah, Snow, and Hope have found new settlements for themselves. Sazh has found a new wife, by the name of Mona, and married her after a few months meeting her. Dajh, Sazh's son, like his new mother a lot. Currently, Sazh works as a weapons merchant, selling various weapons for protection, hunting, and so on. Whereas his wife, Mona, works as a doctor, treating any injured people in her own clinic. They are living in a new settlement called Neo Palompulum.

Serah and Snow are happily married, with Lightning's approval and blessings. Snow still joins NORA, but with a brand new twist. This time, NORA is working side by side with Guardian Corps and PSICOM, as a new faction for civilians safety and defense. Both of them are currently living at Vita Bodhum, with the rest of NORA original members.

Lightning is still working for Guardian Corps, as Captain. She now lives with Hope in her new home at Vita Bodhum, after his father, Bartholomew, died out of injuries when he went hunting for food with a group of volunteers. Hope is deeply saddened by his father's death, and still grieving his loss for quite some time. In a very young age, he is now an orphan, and Lightning, who deeply cared for Hope, took him in her new home, as his new guardian.

One night in Lightning's house...

Lightning is now 22 years old, looking the same as she did like last year, with slightly longer pinkish hair. She has finished her patrol around Vita Bodhum earlier than usual, and went back home early. She is not surprised to see Hope is not down in the living room, and went to Hope's room.

"Hope?" asked Lightning when she went into his room.

Hope's room is nicely decorated, with motives of Pulse life, making his room looks full of life. Hope is sleeping on his bed, and Lightning sat on his bed, shook him gently to wake him up. He woke up groggily, rubbing his eyes, and looked at Lightning after doing it.

"Yeah?" replied Hope.

Hope is already 15, and is much taller now. He looks slightly masculine, slightly longer silver hair, and deeper voice. Although he is still not as tall as Lightning, he might be taller than Lightning in another few years.

"How are you feeling?" asked Lightning again.

"Not really good, Light." replied Hope again.

"Hope, you should stop being sad about your father. It is time for you to move on."

"I... I can't, Light. I keep having nightmares about this..."

Lightning went closer to Hope, holding his hands.

"I can't keep living! All of my family has gone! I'm afraid I will be gone too!" said Hope, with tears flowing from his beautiful eyes.

"Hope..."

"I hate my life! Worst of all, I hate everything!"

Instantly, Lightning slapped Hope's right cheek hard, shocking Hope himself, as well as stopped his crying.

"You are not the only one lose family members, Hope! I too, lose my parents in early age!" said Lightning angrily.

Hope's tears still flowing, but he is listening to what Lightning is saying.

"You have others, Hope. You have Sazh, Snow, and Serah as your family. I am also a part of your family, Hope." confessed Lightning.

Hope is shocked to hear that for a while.

"Hope, everyone will die someday. You, me, and everyone else. When the time comes, we will move on, Hope." said Lightning.

Lightning uses a napkin to wipe away Hope's tears.

"You have me, Hope. I will protect you, and I will always care for you as long as I am living." said Lightning sadly.

Hope blushed when he hears that, and suddenly hugged Lightning, with his head pressed against her chest. Lightning slightly surprised with Hope's action, and slightly blushed when she realises he puts his head on her chest.

"Cheer up, Hope. Your parents have moved on to a better place, watching you down here. I am sure of that." said Lightning softly.

Hope looked up to Lightning with slightly happier mood.

"T... Thank you, Light. I... I will always protect you too. When... When I grow up, I will protect you, like the same way you did for me. And... I will always be there for you too." said Hope shyly.

Lightning smiles, and wraps her arms around Hope for a few minutes. She raised his head slightly, and proceeded to kiss his forehead a few times, earning a blush from Hope. He also smiled when he saw Lightning's smile.

"You are very adorable, Hope. Keep smiling for me. That is enough to motivate me to protect you." said Lightning.

Hope kisses Lightning's forehead too, also earning him a pinkish blush from Lightning.

"Always, Light. As long as I am with you, I will always smile for you." said Hope.

They are still hugging for half an hour, with Lightning soothes Hope with some lullabies, putting him to sleep. Lightning tucked him in bed, kisses on his forehead, and left the room with a smile on her face.

"Stay strong, Hope." said Lightning with a smile.

It has been a while since I wrote a fan fiction, and I think it is pretty short and noobish work. I am pretty much inspired doing this one-shot work due to reading many good Lightning X Hope fanfictions here, Anyway, hope someone here likes my work.