I couldn't bear to write a story without Fang and Vanille as they're my favourite characters of the game, so what I've done is made it so they came out of stasis once Cocoon had been crystallized. Call me a party pooper, but that's how it is. They all live on Gran Pulse now (don't ask me how they built houses in a short space of time; they just did) and now, let's watch the story unfold!

Don't own FFXIII blah blah blah.

Sighing happily, Serah stretched her slim legs out and lay them across her fiancée's lap, kicking off her boots so they landed with a thud on the floor. Lightning sighed and stooped down to pick them up. "Really, Serah," she chided, "the house is turning into a pigsty! I don't need you to contribute to the mess Snow makes."

Snow and Serah laughed together. "Oooh, let me have my happy time!" Serah whined. Snow chuckled and tickled behind her knee, making her squeal in delight. Lightning rolled her eyes and deposited Serah's boots near the front door. "Well, at any rate, I'm not clearing up all the time after you two lovebirds, even if I have accepted you're going to get married."

"It's gonna be so cool!" she grinned, throwing her arms round Snow's neck and kissing his stubbly cheek. "And I'm hoping we can start making proper plans soon and all that! Waiting a year is too long for me!"

Snow looked across at Lightning and bit his lip. Her face remained stoic, but Snow could see a glimmer of worry in her eyes. He knew what she was thinking; the right time to tell her sister what had happened between them last year.

"Lightning?" Snow asked softly, crouching beside the young woman's shaking form. She sat with her arms wrapped round her knees, crying silently. "Light…what's wrong?"

She looked up, revealing glittering eyes releasing their crystal streams. "I don't even know, not really," she whispered, wiping her eyes on the back of her hand and sniffing. "I think this is all just starting to get too much…"

"Hey, it's okay," soothed Snow, changing position and crossing his legs. "It's like that for all of us. The kids still cry in the night sometimes." He put a large hand on Lightning's arm comfortingly. "I know what you're like about wanting to be strong, but sometimes, maybe you have to let it out."

Lightning laughed softly. "It's just not me, is it? Crying like this. Serah would be ashamed of me."

"She'd be nothing of the sort!" Snow shook his head. "If anything she'd be glad you finally showed some emotion, Light!"

Lightning didn't reply and wiped her eyes again to get rid of the last traces of tears. Snow turned his head to the sky and gazed at the stars. In the distance, they could hear Fang and Vanille laughing amiably. "They sound like they're having fun," commented Snow.

Lightning smiled."I swear there's something more between those two."

"Me too," he laughed. "You know, it's nice to be spending some time with you, Light. You're always so distant from everyone else. I like being able to talk to you."

"But I was always a bitch to you, if you haven't lost so many brain cells from me slapping you that you can't remember."

"Yeah…I remember. But, d'you know why I always persevered, and tried to be your friend?"

"Because I'm going to be your sister-in-law?"

"No."

He caught Lightning's chin in his hand and raised her face up so she was looking directly at him. He spoke softer this time, "It's because I always liked you. But it's not like I could have ever told you. It's only because I know there's not much time that I've told you this now."

Lightning blinked in surprise. "You're not serious," she said quietly. "You can't be. What about Serah?"

He sighed and let go of Lightning's face. "You're right…but I think I've come to realise we should just be friends. I can't see it working anymore. I've been through too much. Besides, my feelings for you are too strong now. Travelling with you has just made them grow." He smacked his head hard. "I sound like a child."

"No more a child than what you are already," Lightning replied with a watery chuckle, fiddling with her hair and gazing at Snow.

Snow stared. Lightning's eyes were captivating; he just couldn't stop staring. Cautiously, they inched closer, their faces burning.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes..."

Finally, Snow closed the last few centimetres and their lips were gently pressed together…

Pretending to need the toilet, Snow shifted Serah off him and stood up to go upstairs. Lightning had wandered up there a minute previously, and he needed to speak with her. He found her in her room, putting away clothes in her wardrobe. "Light?" he hissed. She looked round and raised her eyebrows.

"Yes, Snow?"

"I can't take it," he said urgently, "we need to tell Serah. It's not right; it doesn't feel right being with her! I know she's your sister and I hate to say all that, but I can't be with her anymore, Light! You're the one I want!"

Lightning scowled and shut the wardrobe door, then folded up the ironing board. "Keep your voice down, Snow! And…I know. You're right; we need to let her know. I don't like keeping secrets from her; it makes me feel awful." She sighed. "Okay, let's go and tell her and pray she doesn't summon an Eidolon on us…"

"Hmmm…he should have come back by now," thought Serah, fiddling with her hair, "unless he went for- oh, don't think about that! Ewww!"

On cue, Snow appeared in the doorway, looking nervous. Lightning strode past him and sat down next to Serah, taking both her hands. "Serah, we need to tell you something," she said firmly. "And I'm not sure you'll like it. In fact, I know you won't like it. But it has to be said, understand?"

She nodded, bewildered. Snow hovered in the doorway, trying to melt into the background, but when Lightning shot him a dangerous look, he inched forwards a little. Serah looked from her fiancée to her sister, waiting.

"When on our travels, a few weeks into our journey to Oerba," Lightning began, "Snow comforted me when I was feeling low, and we kissed. That's what we needed to tell you; or rather, what Snow was supposed to chip in with."

"Sorry, Serah," Snow mumbled, sitting on the arm of the sofa. "I guess my feelings changed during the journey."

Serah was speechless, her face blank. She bowed her head for a minute or so, thinking. Lightning still kept hold of her hands tightly. Beside her, Snow whistled nervously to himself, eyes darting all over the room, looking anywhere but the Farron sisters.

Serah suddenly raised her head and said quietly, "Can I have my hands back now, sis?"

"Oh! Of course!"

The moment her unsuspecting sister let go, Serah delivered a stunning slap to her face, then whirled round and did the same to Snow, who fell off the arm with a yelp of shock. Lightning rubbed her cheek, waiting for Serah to speak, while Snow picked himself up.

"Serah?" he asked. She just smiled a little sadly.

"So, if that's how it is, I can't do anything about it, can I?" she sighed. "Still, we got engaged very quickly, so maybe it's for the best. Maybe it wouldn't have worked out anyway."

"Serah, I'm truly sorry," he said. "I'd still like to be friends with you though."

"More than willing," she said flatly, fumbling behind her neck and unclasping her necklace. "I think Lightning will need this more than me now," she said, giving it to Snow, before standing up and leaving the room, shutting the front door behind her.

Snow bit his lip as he watched Serah leave. Lightning just sighed and leaned back, fiddling with her hair. "Well…that works," she mumbled. "What now?"

"I think I should go after her," proclaimed Snow. "Just to make sure she's okay. She'll be by the beach, I think."

Lightning nodded and closed her eyes briefly, opening them to reveal a guilty sadness glittering in their depths. "Be careful with what you say," she said as Snow left.