"Let's rest up for the night ." Sazh suggested. He stretched his arms above his head; his muscles groaning softly. He allowed himself to fall back onto the grass, closing his eyes; he soon became motionless and dozed off. Lightning looked over at her other two companions. Hope and Vanille also looked tired; so she took his request with a nod, agreeing.

Hope soon found and threw together a few twigs, setting up a small fire. Vanille kicked a couple of stones aside and sat down; her arms looping around her knees, her body completely beaten. She watched the fire's flames; the glow reflecting in her eyes. Lightning could see at a glance that something was deeply troubling her; but she refrained from discussing the matter. Instead, she set herself a small distance away from the girl and laid down.

It was a dark night, no stars reflected in the sky and no moon made an apperance. After a few minutes of watching the sky she sighed; glancing sideways. She noticed Vanille was still sitting motionless; Hope too, was almost asleep.

When Vanille realised that she was being watched, she flashed across a small fake smile; hoping to avoid any questions.

"Go to sleep." Lightning said quietly. "Tomorrow is going to be a long day. "

Vanille nodded in agreement and laid herself down. It took a while, but eventually she fell asleep.

Lightning heard something soft. Opening her eyes slowly she noticed that the fire had burned itself out and darkness still surrounded her. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the dark. Looking down in the direction of the sound; she swiftly realized what was wrong. Vanille was laid with her head against her own body, weeping softly.

But still the young girl slept; her body shaking heavily and tears rolling down her already wet face. Lightning sighed to herself.

Vanille's lips moved slightly and Lightning had to concentrate.

"No, let her go." Vanille whispered.

Lightning quickly closed her eyes, sighing deeply. When Vanille's own eyes opened she jumped slightly; confused. Breathing heavily, she looked around. Through her narrowed lashes, Lightning noticed how Vanille quickly crept away from her, suddenly frightened when she saw who she was actually laid next to. Forgetful of being careful, the girl collided against a sleeping Hope, causing him to moan loudly and alert the now; very wide awake Sazh.

In alert the older man drew his weapon; frightful of what had awoken him.

"It's nothing," Lightning said, before anyone had a chance to speak. She sat up quickly, addressing him quickly. "Vanille bumped against Hope."

Vanille gasped. Realizing that Lightning had already been awake.

Grumbling, Sazh laid down again, quckly followed by Hope. Vanille in shame; placed her hands over her legs and looked down.

"I will stay awake for a while," she said shakily. Lightning shook her head, her eyes fixed to the pale looking girl.

"What were you dreaming about?" she asked.

"Huh? " Vanille stared with empty eyes briefly, before turning away. "Nothing..."

"That wasn't nothing, you were crying in your sleep." Lightning argued. Vanille looked descending, she bit her lip, looking for words.

"Listen if you don't wish to tell me then ..."

"Fang,... I was dreaming about Fang. " She said quietly.

"Fang?"

"Mm, yes, I miss her, we were spilt up back on Cocoon. She promised she would look for me but ..."

"Oh .. when did it happen?" Lightning asked, curiously. Vanille shrugged.

"I don't really know. I don't care..." was her short answer. Lightning had begun to see through her persona, even through her joyful exterior, inside; there was a sad girl who missed a loved one.

Filled with compassion, she moved closer to her.

"Vanille." She whispered sympathetically, stretching out her arms she pulled one of the youngest members of their group closer to her and Vanille quickly hid her face in her neck. The tears were silent, but they were still there; still tears.

Lightning was never very good at comforting, yet there was something there that was stirred up. An instinct perhaps; a feeling that she had to protect Vanille. Not that she wasn't doing that already, but this was different. She felt the girl tremble; there was no wind and it wasn't even cold outside.

"Vanille?" She placed her coat around the shoulders of the shivering girl; then carefully brushed away her tears with her thumbs.

"You should get some sleep." She suggested, carefully placing her down.

"But ..."

"Shh, go to sleep." She said, silencing her. Vanille's eyelids felt too heavy to argue anyway and she quickly found herself asleep. Lightning noted that she still didn't stop shivering. For some reason she felt a glimmer of concern. She was used to being constantly concerned about Serah; and Vanille looked a little bit like her. Perhaps that was what brought the feelings up. She shook her head, deciding to get some sleep herself.

The next morning everyone was awake apart from Vanille. The girl was tossing back and forth, shivering lightly. She was still pulling away, her skin even paler than before. Hope put his hand on her forehead carefully, maybe he could feel what was wrong if he really tried.

Vanille quietened instantly. His touch making her relax.

"She's just exhausted." he concluded. Lightning puffed in her typical manner.

"Mmm, okay then; so we carry her." she stated.

"Carry her?"

"Yes, we don't want to be slowing down, not now." she used this statement as a useful excuse.

"She has a point." Sazh added, shrugging.

"Oh yeah?" Hope replied, clueless.

"Yes... Sazh? .." Lightning gestured towards Vanille. He gently curled his hands under her light, ashen body; being careful as he lifted her in one swift movement onto his back. He placed her hands around his own neck so she wouldn't fall backwards. Vanille's response was positive and her hands tightened around him. She mumbled something small and fell silent again.

Hope grinned for a moment.

Vanille slept almost the entire way, until just after noon. When they decided to take a break from their constant walking; Sazh back put her gently in the shade, against the nearest tree, when she started to stir, she yawned quickly; noting how her vision was still blurry.

"Hey, hey, look who's awake ." Sazh laughed. Vanille rubbed her eyes, the man's own eyes sparkling back in the sunlight.

"Is she awake?" Hope's worried voice sounded from afar.

"Yes she is." Sazh shot back in his direction. Vanille wanted to get up yet Sazh stopped her. "Sit down,we just need to take a break."

Vanille didn't reply, she was still a bit dazed by waking up.

"Drink this." Someone was standing in the sun, directly in front of her. Blinking in the light, Vanille couldn't quite make out who it was, but the voice gave it away quickly.

"Thanks, Lightning." She drank the fresh, cool water gratefully.

"Stay in the shade, you may have suffered sunstroke.'' Lightning said quietly.

'Sunstroke... but... "

"No buts." Lightning warned. She sat down beside the girl, giving Sazh a cue to make himself scarce, fortunately he understood.

"I don't think you want the others knowing about your dream, right?" Vanille shook her head. "Therefore the sunstroke excuse, then perhaps you can rest without anyone asking questions." Lightning got up and left her for a minute. Vanille didn't often see this side to Lightning but she quickly realised that she liked it. She drank some of the water, before closing her eyes and leaning backwards against the tree.

Vanille insisted after the break to walk again by herself; but her request was quickly turned down. Mainly from the fact that she was still paler than usual. She climbed back on Sazh's back and cursed many things. She hated this, everyone was actually enjoying this; even Lightning.

By the evening, everyone had sought refuge. Vanille sighed as she was placed down, she couldn't protest much because of the soldier but she brushed away his arms.

"I am not helpless, you know." she muttered. Sazh grinned back at her quickly.

"Mnn... Fang... No... Let her go...!" Vanille moved violently from side to side, unaware that the others were wide awake.

"Stop... no... Fang!" Vanille shot forward like a catapult, propelling herself upwards. She bumped against Hope's head and quickly fell down again.

"Ow" she rubbed her head, cringing. Seeing Lightning and Hope both stood over her, the younger boy oblivious to the knock to his own head.

Lightning quickly helped the girl up, noticing sweat beading across her forehead.

"Hey." she greeted them akwardly, squeezing one eye closed. "You're awake already?"

"You were having a dream." Lightning stated.

'"Oh..." Vanille looked down at the floor, the dream coming back to her:

"Vanille, you have to go!" the tall, raven haired-woman said as she pushed her forwards.

"No... Fang, I ..."

'Vanille, listen to me. You have to, I'll manage ..." Fang looked frightful, shadows looming around the corner.

"Go, Vanille! " She pushed the girl away harder.

"No, I .. " Vanille opened her mouth to argue but Fang pushed the elevator button.

"I will find you, I promise..." she said, winking. The doors closed just in time to see Fang being grabbed by one of the guards.

"Fang... no, let her go... stop!" she cried loudly, banging her hands on the metal doors.

"Fang!"

She couldn't remember much more of her dream; it was all hazy... She rubbed her forehead, getting a headache from remembering back. This wasn't a dream, but a memory. She sighed, the others looking curiously at her.

"It's nothing in particular..." she lied quickly, not wanting questions.

"Go back to sleep." Lightning whispered to her. She laid back down, compliying. Closing her eyes; a single tear rolled silently down her cheek.

"Fang... where are you?..."