Crystallized Love
Hope Estheim knelt in front of the crystallized figure of a woman not far from the crystal pillar of Cocoon, her hand resting just above her chest where her l'Cie brand used to be.
"Hey Light," Hope said quietly, his silver hair falling on his face as he looked down for a second. "It's my birthday today, my 21st birthday. I'm the same age as you.
"Serah still refuses to marry Snow because you're not here, do you believe that?" Hope let out a weak laugh, "She's older than you now, 25 years old, you're the baby now.
"Sazh and Dajh, they're okay. Dajh started calling me Uncle, can you believe that? Neither can I," Hope sighed before swallowing.
"Vanille and Fang haven't come back yet, we're still waiting for you three, please don't be too long.
"I miss you Light, you told me to wait for you that if my feelings weren't some stupid crush-," Hope chokes on his words.
"Seven years... wow that's a long time - I never moved on I'm still waiting, still waiting for you to come back to me. You think after all the hell we've went through...
"I live in New Bodhum now with Serah and Snow, they've got a room ready for you y'know? I miss you so much I-I wish they would just let you go, the Fal'cie don't need you, don't need us..." Hope blinked back several tears which threatened to leak.
"I'll talk to you again, I... I love you," Hope said before standing up and brushing off the dirt from his trousers.
Hope looked at the crystallized form of Lightning before turning away and taking a deep breath. Hope took a step forward as something fell on him from behind.
"Oof!" Hope exclaimed as he collided with the ground, something pink in his face. What?
Gently twisting himself Hope let out a gasp when he realized who collided with him.
"Light!" Hope said as he shot up gently grabbing Lightning's form as she shifted when he moved.
"Hmm."
A tear leaks from Hope's left eye, trailing down his cheek as he stared at the sleeping form in his arms.
Quickly Hope reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone before flipping it open, pressing in numbers.
"Hope?" Snow asked from the other side.
"I went to visit Light-" Hope started.
"I thought we told you not to do that, it's not going to help you move on," Snow began to rant.
"No! Stop, she's awake! Light's awake!" Hope exclaimed down the phone, silence followed.
"We'll be there." Hope hung up.
"Hmm," a noise came from the sleeping form in Hope's arms.
"Light?"
"Hope? You've grown," Light smiled slightly as she looked up at the weeping boy.
Not willing to hold it in anymore Hope pulled Lightning into a hug, squeezing seven years of not being able to hold her into it. A soft laugh came from Lightning as she hugged him back.
"I missed you too kid."