AN - UPDATEFEST CONTINUES. This one literally takes off where the final game ends. It's heavily implied that the "New World" is our world at the end of the game, but I am cheating SLIGHTLY with location names by literally calling them whatever they are in various other languages. It just became too weird and disjointed in my head otherwise while writing it otherwise. Enjoy!


The peaceful quiet of the countryside was only interrupted by the mild rattling of a train ambling along winding tracks through the hills. It pulled into the station and came to a stop with a squeak of the brakes and a lone passenger disembarked. Lightning Farron stepped onto the platform with a serene expression on her face. There was a gentle warm breeze floating through the air that had her brushing the wayward strands of pink hair behind her ear. She smiled as she looked out at the lands beyond the station and made her way to the exit. She spied a plane trailing across the blue sky and it made her heart skip with excitement. "We'll be together soon." She whispered to herself.

Searching for the familiar white jeep that belonged to her sister's now-husband, she walked through the carpark until she found the car, and the owner in question. Snow Villiers was easily recognisable from a distance, based purely on the fact that he towered over just about anyone else in the vicinity. He spotted his sister-in-law and waved, a huge grin on his face. "Sis! Good to see you!" He called out as she approached. Her eyes narrowed but held a warm tone and she shook her head.

"I suppose I can't say I'm not your sister anymore can I?" She sighed, though smiling at him as he took her bags. He shrugged and laughed as he loaded them into the car.

"Did I ever listen to you when you could?"

"Fair point."

They both got in the car and Snow killed the radio as he turned over the ignition. He slowly and carefully exited the station carpark and began their journey home through the rolling hills towards Barcelonnette. After everything had settled, Serah and Snow decided to set up their life together in the Alps in the south end of França. Lightning was originally against the idea as it would take her sister far from her, but realised that she had to let her go lest she repeat the mistakes of her past. The initial loss hurt, but then it lessened over time as they spoke via video almost every day, and visited each other often.

"Serah wasn't making the trip down?" Lightning asked as she watched the countryside roll by out the window. Snow danced his fingers along the steering wheel and tilted his head while still paying attention to the road.

"Eh, she wanted to but… You know her and how she treats these yearly visits from everyone…"

"So basically she's in full blown manic cleaning the house with a toothbrush mode, all while cooking a banquet." Lightning replied with a quirk of her lips.

"Pretty much. Can you blame her though?" Snow agreed with a chuckle. "The others should be here within the day, Fang and Vanille wanted a road trip. Sazh is already here with his family, and I think Hope and his parents are about an hour away."

Lightning's mind went to Sazh and remembered their first re-meeting at Serah's wedding three years ago. He stood so tall and proud, so content and happy. His wife Quinn who was reborn into the new world with them was radiant and in awe of all of these people her husband was acquainted with. Sazh had confided in her that apparently, at first Quinn didn't believe him about the old world and it was a sore point in their relationship. Up until a reporter had shown up on their doorstep questioning him about the Saviour and the Purge from his stories... It was one thing for her husband to speak of such strange tales but when a complete stranger was spouting the same things it was a little overwhelming. The poor woman nearly fainted when she was introduced to the elder Farron, and after the reception was over Quinn took her family back to the hotel room. She dragged Sazh to the balcony once Dajh was asleep, and made him start from the top.

She had since moved past the initial shock of it all and had become a calm and welcome addition to the yearly gatherings Serah held. It took a while for her to stop looking at Lightning like she was about to sprout wings and ascend to the sky, but that was common for those that came into contact with her who held memories of the old world.

These annual get-togethers were outside of the former Saviour's regular visits to her sister, but that was because it was an anniversary of their first day in the new world. This year would mark the fourth they'd had. Lightning smiled as she leant on the open window of the jeep, stretching her arm outside and letting her hand ride the air currents. Snow was animated as he updated her on the goings on in the small city, and the community centre he ran was flourishing. Serah was continuing her role as a teacher at the local elementary school, and they both genuinely seemed happy.

They pulled into the driveway to their house and Serah was already bursting out the front door. She made a beeline for her sister and leapt into her arms as Lightning got out of the car. "Wow hey," The elder Farron laughed as she held her sibling tight, "I've missed you too, but please don't choke me to death on your doorstep."

Serah giggled and pulled back, holding her at arm's length. "It's really good to see you, sis. Come on and put your bags inside! Hope and his parents will be here soon… The NORA gang went into the village to pick up some supplies for the evening."

"Lebreau playing bartender again I take it?" Lightning drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"You know it! Fang and Vanille are just over the border but should make it here by nightfall. They've been enjoying themselves on a road trip through Europa over the last couple of weeks. Oh, Rygdea and Amodar send their apologies but they have them on assignment down south so he can't make it this year."Serah rattled off as she led her sister through the house, updating her on the whereabouts of everyone. Lightning's lips thinned as she cast her thoughts to her two former military colleagues, the unrest with the war putting them once again in the thick of danger while she relaxed in the countryside. She took a deep breath and held it for a few moments before exhaling. That wasn't her life anymore.

Once settled, the two sat out on the front porch in the late afternoon sun, enjoying a quiet tea together. Snow took up some meal preparations in the yard with his old NORA crew after they'd returned from their supply run, content to let his wife have some sisterly time. Lightning was just happy to sit and listen to her sibling chatter away about her kids at school, the village and life in general for the happy couple.

"Anyone in your life yet Claire?" Serah asked with a sly grin. Lightning scowled and buried herself in her mug.

"Tch... Not exactly something I'm paying attention to at this stage you know?"

"But if not now, when?" Serah complained. "You work yourself to the bone even in this world sis."

Lightning smirked and brought her tea up to her lips. "I gave up the army life here Serah. I work for the museum as an archaeologist. It's my job to work things to the bone."

"Other bones, Claire. Not your own. Do I need to set you up with someone?" The young pinkette retorted, feeling exasperated by her sister's evasive antics. The elder Farron chuckled into her tea and thought about that. It was her proverbial excuse when she was in the Guardian Corps, and then when the shit hit the fan and the Purge happened, there was definitely no time for romantic inclinations. Some brief infatuation maybe, she had an active imagination as anyone else did.

"Let's see… What's your type anyway?" Serah's voice chimed her from her thoughts as the younger Farron swiped through her phone. She rolled her eyes at her older sibling and gave her a pointed look. "Humour me, at least?"

Lightning shook her head and folded her arms, leaning back in the chair. "Fine. Keeping up with me would be a priority-"

"That much is a given.." Serah muttered and ignored the glare she got in response. "What about height? Tall or short?"

"Tall."

"Dark hair or light hair?"

"Does it matter?" Lightning complained. "... Dark."

"Are you a fan of tattoos?" Serah continued, scrolling through her phone some more.

The elder Farron's mind immediately flashed to the giant gorgonopsid on Fang's shoulder she often found herself staring at while on the run and shrugged. "I don't mind them."

"Do you like slender or beefcake? Like, Yuj or Gadot?"

The elder pinkette scrunched her face up in disgust. "Ew. Serah. No. Athletic. I suppose some muscle is good but not so they look like someone went crazy with a balloon animal."

Serah giggled at the mental image of Gadot made from balloons and filed that away for later amusement. "What about personality? A talker or a listener?"

"Talker. Then I don't have to say anything."

"Ok, clearly they're going to need a sense of humour to tolerate you, sis."

"Oh shut up, Serah. And if you're looking through a dating app I'm going to kill you." Lightning groaned and made to get up from her chair. Serah leapt up and held her by the hands.

"Come on Light, I just want to see you happy."

"I am happy, I don't see how…" The former Saviour trailed off as she heard music in the distance, coupled with a car engine at speed. She saw a convertible come over the rise, bright red and tearing along the curves of the road like they were driving on a knife edge.

"Come on come on, let me hear your war cry!" Loud blaring metal music filled the surrounding neighbourhood and while the music wasn't quite to her tastes, she had heard the band before and knew exactly who would be driving that car. Her eyes lit up as the car rounded the corner and came to a stop outside the front of Serah's house.

"Well damn I'm either seeing double and shouldn't be driving, or there are two pink-haired beauties on the porch!"

Oerba Yun Fang leapt from the car without opening the door, making full use of the convertible. She also appeared to be making the most of the fine day, wearing a black tank top and khaki coloured shorts that showed off her long, tanned legs. She took off the dark aviator sunglasses that framed her face as she made her way around the vehicle and helped Vanille with her things. The redhead was also dressed for the weather, in a flowery white summer dress that moved and shifted with the warm breeze.

Once she was sure her adopted sibling was fine, she raced up the stairs two at a time and ran up to the sisters, giving Serah a quick hug. "Mini-Lightning! It's good to see you, this time of year is better than Christmas honestly. And Christmas is definitely one of the better holidays this world has."

Serah returned the hug and then practically tackled Vanille off the porch as the younger Pulsian ascended the last step. Fang sauntered over to Lightning and hummed, giving the pinkette a once over. Peace certainly suited the older Farron sister, though she still held some of her typical standoffish traits. "Mmm Sunshine it is good to see you too. No hug for little old Fang?"

"Little? I'd say you're a lot old, judging by the fact you already had five hundred years on us when we first met." Lightning retorted with a twitch of her lips. Fang's eyes darted down at the quirk and then narrowed.

"You just made a hag joke not even five minutes into me getting here? No hug, no 'happy to see you too Fang!' Just a glare and a hag joke. Do you see how your sister treats me, Serah?" She said with a pout. The younger Farron looked over to watch her sister's stony glare begin to crack, the barest hint of a smile breaking through. Lightning tried to hide her laughter behind her hand as Fang looked outraged. "You fiend!"

The pinkette dropped her head and exhaled, looking back up at her friend through her locks. "It's good to see you Fang." She said quietly, reaching out to touch the lightning bolt tattoo on the tanned wrist with a knowing smile. Fang's eyes lit up and she flashed the most brilliant of smiles, her wrist buzzing from the woman's touch. Turning to their respective younger siblings, Lightning helped Vanille with their bags and guided them inside, with Serah's curious gaze following her.


The party was in full swing with a lot of chatter, a lot of drinking and a lot of happy faces. Snow's fire pit was roaring in the yard as he sat with his NORA gang swapping stories about the purge, with Sazh and Quinn listening attentively. Their son Dajh was over with Sarah and Vanille, being thoroughly entertained by the redhead's over the top stories about life on Pulse.

Hope was seated on the deck with his parents, talking to a relaxed pinkette. "So Hope, how goes the academy? Study life treating you well?" Lightning asked as she cradled her drink in her hands. The boy smiled and fidgeted in his seat.

"The science program is intense but, I'm applying myself and getting some decent grades.." He mumbled bashfully. His mother Nora, placed an arm around him and squeezed.

"He's being modest Lightning, he's at the top of most of his classes." The pinkette's eyebrows raised and she smiled broadly.

"I'm impressed, though not surprised."

"Well, it helps to have been around for five centuries waiting for the world to end learning the basics…" He joked with a grin. "What about you Light? How are the digs going?"

She nodded and took a sip of her beer. "They're going well. Found some interesting relics dating back a few thousand years recently in Anglaterra with far too much detail in their stories to be anything Bhunivelze could have depicted."

"So it lends more weight to your theory that he didn't create the world, merely inhabit an abandoned one?" Hope asked with an amused grin, "How lazy of God."

Another nod and another sip. "Yes. Though I won't be publishing that anytime soon. There's enough issues in the world without adding to them with any of my findings."

Bartholomew took a drink himself and leant forward on the table. "The civil war in the east is escalating, I hope it doesn't impact on your research by making it less safe to travel."

"It won't. I'm working out of the Natural History Museum in Londres which allows me to travel out of the way of the conflict and makes it easier to visit Serah here as well. So I'll stay out of the war business this time around and keep my interest in relics."

"Must explain why she likes me so much!" Fang's voice rang out from the kitchen as she sauntered out with a fresh round of drinks for everyone. Lightning rolled her eyes but held a smile.

"Now who's making the hag jokes?" She replied sardonically as the brunette sat down beside her and bumped her shoulder. Fang handed her another beverage and took a long drink from her own. Serah came over and joined the table, asking after everyone.

"What about you Fang, anyone special making themselves known?" She asked coyly, obviously on a roll from earlier. Lightning rolled her eyes and groaned, necking what was left of her current bottle so she could start on the new one Fang had given her.

"Goddess, you're relentless. She was on my case earlier for the same thing."

Fang laughed and shook her head. "No Serah, I haven't been on the prowl." The younger Farron frowned at her sister's annoyed expression and narrowed her eyes.

"Well, do you have a type? I'm already on the lookout for Claire, maybe I can prowl around for you as well!"

The brunette wasn't sure if she was more amused by Serah's offer to act as a matchmaker or Lightning's groaning about it. She shrugged and circled her finger around the lip of her beer. "I dunno, I haven't really thought about it."

"Ok well I'll do the same thing I did with Claire earlier.." Another groan. "Shut up sis. So Fang, tall or short?"

"Hmm… Short. I like to be the taller one."

"Dark hair or light hair?"

Fang tapped her chin and thought about the question. "Not sure? Light, I guess. Doesn't faze me."

"Tattoos?"

"Eh. One or two is fine but…" A scoff from Lightning drew her gaze. "What? So I'm a hypocrite sue me. I like heaps of them on me but not other people."

"Do you like slender or beefcake? Like, Yuj or Gadot?"

Fang's nose crinkled. "Ew. Serah. No. Lithe and athletic for me thanks. I'd rather not have someone look like a condom full of walnuts."

Lightning choked on her drink. Serah rolled her eyes. "Claire said the same thing…"

"Well, I said that I didn't want someone who looked like they were a balloon animal." Everyone around the table laughed and Fang grinned broadly.

Snow's voice called out from the porch that the food was ready, and everyone made for the door to grab dinner except for Lightning and Fang. They sat there in silence, enjoying their drinks before Lightning finally broke it. "All of Serah's meddling in our love lives aside, how are you, really? How are things going back in the village?"

Fang shrugged and picked at the label on the bottle. "Yeah good, you know. Same old same old. 'Nille's working her stuff down at the local hospital, and I just… You know." Lightning nodded solemnly. She knew her friend was the only one without any true sense of direction in the new world, having spent her entire life either fighting in battles or in crystal stasis.

Vanille was more than happy to take up the role of a healer in their village and in return she and Fang were given lodgings on the outskirts. Fang didn't need to work to keep a roof over their heads, but she needed to work to stay busy. She had been taking odd jobs here and there, floating between labourer jobs, security, anything that kept her busy with her hands. She often put on the jovial front but she let it slip around Lightning, showing a bit more of a melancholic regression as the years had passed. The pinkette appreciated the honesty but was naturally still troubled by the mood.

"Listen… I've got a dig coming up in Iemen in a few weeks; if you and Vanille have finished your travels by then why not come with me? I could certainly use the help, and the company." She watched as Fang's eyes lit up but then quickly stifled her reaction as she maintained her composure.

"Yeah, sounds cool I guess…"

"There'll likely be bandits on the site you get to beat up…"

Her eyes lit up again and a grin tugged at her face. "Sounds like my kinda date, Sunshine." She said with a wink and Lightning chuckled. "Hey, while I think of it. Did a reporter bird run into you recently? Her name was… Aoede I think. Came to our village just before we left on our trip. Thought she meant bad business but she'd already met your sister at that point."

The pinkette's eyebrows rose and she thought back to the person she'd met on the train coming here. "Actually yes, I saw her on the train just today."

"Really," Fang breathed and took another sip of her beer. "She grill you like there was no tomorrow?"

Lightning shook her head. "No, she… Said that while it was the opportunity of a lifetime she had somewhere else she needed to be. But thanked me for saving her nonetheless. Thought she was going to put up more of a fight but… If she'd spoken to my sister already, and you two…"

"And Snow. And Sazh. And Hope. And Noel. And the NORA guys.." Fang added.

"Wow. It must have been something pretty huge if she'd worked that hard to get all the information but not try to push for an interview with me…"

"I think I have an idea of what it was…" Fang replied, looking over at the TV in the lounge room. She slowly got up and walked over to it, seeing a familiar face on the screen. Lightning followed and gasped when she recognised the reporter standing near a war zone.

"That's her! Turn that up."

"-Middle of the conflict zone in the hopes that we can get two sides to see reason. This is a historic occasion to be able to get both leaders from either side of the war to sit down and attempt peace talks. Again this is Aoede reporting live from the capital of Praga in Txeca."

"Wow Sunshine, looks like your story got upstaged by the little bird there wanting to do her own bit to save the world," Fang said with a lop-sided grin. Lightning turned to regard the brunette. Her eyes flashed down to her lips and back up again. This time Fang caught the falter in her gaze but didn't comment on it, mind whirling however with curiousity.

The others had come in with their various plates of food and sat scattered on the couches and on the floor, watching the footage roll in. Lightning and Fang moved to the back of the room as the talks commenced, yet to grab their own food and still nursing their drinks. Bartholomew watched with a firm gaze intensely glued to the screen. As a diplomat working out of Alemanya, the conflict was close to the Estheim's doorstep, threatening to spill over the border at any minute. Nora held his hand firmly with a smile as the others in the room talked quietly amongst themselves.

"Didn't even think the peace talks were possible, let alone happening today." Snow said as he sat down on one of the couch arms, holding Serah in his lap. Everyone was still in high spirits with the gathering, though an air of tension was starting to settle in the room as the negotiations were being broadcast live.

Lightning watched with a set jaw, staring dead ahead at the screen. A tanned finger snaked around and tilted her jaw away from the television until she was looking into concerned jade eyes. "It's not your fight anymore Sunshine… Let them sort it out amongst themselves." Fang said gravely, her expression not faltering, nor did she remove her hand from the pinkette's jawline. Lightning's eyes darted to the ground as she felt her heart rate speed up from the touch.

"I…"

"Somebody stop him!" A cry came from the screen and the room fell silent. A man ran into the negotiations with a bomb strapped to himself and Serah gasped.

"This is for Order! Freedom from chaos! This is for Sanctum!" He cried, and then pressed a button in his hand. The screen went static just as the beginnings of an explosion were seen. Lightning held a hand to her mouth in horror as Serah buried her head in Snow's chest. Bartholomew's grip on Nora's hand was iron clad with white knuckles, and everyone in the room was generally silent. The screen flicked back on to the news studio with a clearly shaken desk reader.

"There has been an explosion in Praga where the negotiations for the civil war were being held. It appears that the bomber was from known terrorist group Sanctum, who believe that the law should follow the creed of the Fal'Cie and want to resurrect them into the new world. The fanatics have been fuelling the war for a year now with increasing escalated violence. The local militia is on the scene of the bombing now, combing through the rubble for survivors. For more on this latest developing story we-"

Lebreau got up and muted the television, as Bartholomew's phone started to ring. He answered and spoke quietly into it, before hanging quickly. He looked around the room and then to his wife. Nora squeezed his hand and nodded. "I think our trip has just come to an abrupt end." She said sadly.

Hope's father stood and bowed his head. "I apologise. They've just called me back to the capital in the wake of… that… I'm sorry." Serah and Snow stood and helped them with their things to the door. Everyone at that point figured it was time to take their leave, and started making for the door as well. Vanille looked to Fang for guidance and her older sister shook her head. She wasn't about to leave Lightning alone after witnessing that.

"Come on, let's see everyone out and then 'Nille and I will stay to help clean up."

The pinkette merely nodded, the signs of shock evident on her face and in her movements. They all made their way to the door and exchanged hugs and handshakes with everyone as they departed until only the six of them remained. Serah had tears streaming down her face and Snow hugged her tight. Vanille then took her by the hand and led her into the kitchen to tidy up, with Snow following behind them. Fang took Lightning out the back to sit on the steps outside, handing her a harder drink than the beer. The pinkette downed it in a single gulp, and Fang did the same with her own.

Lightning held the glass in her hands, trying not to shake. She gazed up at the night sky, an orange tinge at the base of her peripherals from the fire in the backyard. Fang chanced a missing limb and wrapped an arm around the pinkette's waist. "I'm sorry, Light." She whispered as she held her friend close. Lightning turned to regard her companion and inhaled sharply when she realised how close they were.

"Why are you apologising?" She asked, confused. Fang blew out a breath that was tinged with frustration and stared at the fire at the base of the stairs.

"Just… It's all bloody stupid. I'm sorry that humanity is a pack of morons." The pinkette huffed quietly in agreement,

"Heh… What's that saying? Those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it? In this instance it makes me wonder… If humanity would have been better off under Bhunivelze's rule, not remembering any of it."

Her face was grabbed suddenly and turned to find angry jade eyes boring into her. "I never want to hear you say that again, Light," Fang said firmly. "You did not go through everything you went through just to come out the other side with a shrug and a 'Maybe it was all for nought.' Never. Again. You hear me?"

The pinkette's eyes widened and she nodded stiffly. "Good." Fang continued, lowering her hand from Lightning's chin. "The thing about humans, Light, is that they're idiots. They don't learn from their past. And they will always find a way to repeat it. I've seen it three times over my millennia in the old world, and now we're seeing it again here. If not for them fighting over the memories, they'd find other reasons. Religion, geography, politics, economics, resources… Whatever excuse they need to be able to say 'That other guy looked at me funny, I'm gonna stab him!' We're all base creatures at the end of the day, we'll all find a reason to fight, feed and fuck." She finished her rant with a squeeze of her friend's waist.

"Don't get involved Light. You did all you could, that's all any of us could ask for." Fang's eyes widened as Lightning leaned into her, and rested a hand on her leg.

"Thank you, Fang." The two women sat in silence for a while, with Lightning nestled close to Fang. Something about the cocky Pulsian drove her up the wall at the best of times, but yet she never felt safer when she was around. A pull at her heart drew her to the brunette, "Don't think I'm not going to murder you for this in the morning though. I think I've just had too much to drink to care that you've got your arm around me."

Fang chuckled at the remark and decided to be even more daring, and kissed her gently on the head. "I'll live it up while I still can then I see."

They were interrupted by Vanille stepping out onto the porch, calling gently for her adopted sister. The two women untangled themselves and stood. "Fang… We just got an alert from the embassy. França is closing their borders in 24hrs in the wake of the bombing… We won't be able to get home to Ostrali if we don't get out before the borders close."

"Claire, that could affect you getting home too," Serah added, stepping onto the porch next to Vanille. Fang and Lightning looked at each other, neither secretly wanting to leave the other's side. The brunette sighed and scratched the back of her neck.

"Guess I might have to take a rain check on that trip to Iemen, Sunshine. Sorry that the festivities turned into a shit-fight love." Fang said apologetically, walking over to give the younger Farron a hug. Serah sniffed and hugged her tightly, not able to avoid admiring the strong form of the Pulsian.

"Strong… Athletic.. Tall, dark hair, sense of humour, can definitely keep up with sis… It's like she was describing… Oh. OH." She stood back and stared hard at Fang, eliciting a raised eyebrow from the taller woman.

"Everything ok Mini-Lightning?" She queried as she felt the younger Farron's eyes practically burned a hole through her. Serah's mind flashed back to her earlier conversation with Fang as well. Did either of them realise they were describing each other perfectly?

"Um yeah, it's fine. I'm gonna go help Vanille with the bags." She grabbed the redhead by the wrist and dragged her back inside.

"That was weird. Your sister is weird, Light." Fang commented, eyeing their respective retreating siblings.

"You have no idea."

"So… Are you still tipsy enough for me to hug you without being stabbed? I get a feeling with all this border stuff it's going to be a while until we see each other again." Fang said with a hint of sadness in her voice. Lightning smiled a little and nodded.

"Lady Luck is still on your side, Fang." She said as she watched the brunette's face erupt into an enormous smile. She yelped as she was bundled up in strong, tanned arms and held close. Eventually, Lightning relaxed and returned the hug, daring to inhale the brunette's spicy perfume and trying to commit it to memory.

Fang was doing the same, pressing her face into the top of Lightning's head and smelling the sweet rose that she'd come to know from the pinkette during their journeys. It fascinated her that throughout the millennia and from the old world to the new, she still smelt the same. They disengaged from each other and stared for a moment before Vanille appeared at the doorway again. They knew it was time for Fang to leave, and they reluctantly followed the redhead out to the car.

"Claire, Snow and I will take you back to the station so you can get back to Anglaterra before they shut the airports down," Serah said quietly, trying not to cry again. Lightning nodded and grabbed her bags as well. "I'm sorry this trip got cut short sis… I really wanted to spend some time this trip just hanging out."

Lightning nodded and gave her sibling a hug around the arms. "It'll be ok. They'll clear this up and then I'll get some time off between projects in about a month. I'll come back then." Serah looked hopeful as Snow loaded the elder Farron's bags in the back of their jeep. Lightning then walked over to the convertible and said her goodbyes to the Oerbans.

"Be well Sunshine, don't leave it another year before I see you again, yeah?" The Pulsian said as she fired up the engine. Vanille waved at the trio as they left the driveway, Fang's eyes on Lightning in the rearview mirror until they turned into the street and drove away.