AN: I gotta say guys, I wasn't really expecting so much positive feedback when I uploaded Chapter One. It feels great, and I'm glad that everyone is looking forward to more of the story! I've decided I'm going to update this story weekly, so every Monday/Tuesday there'll be a new chapter in the works. I'll try to stay on that schedule as consistently as possible, but I tend to be sporadic at times so the schedule will be a little inconsistent every now and then.

I also wanted to ask you guys a question: should I change the title of this story? It has been brought to my attention that there is another FFXIII fic on here with the exact same title as mine, only the basis of that story is Lightning/Vanille. Though my story will be much different, nevertheless it may be a good idea to change the title to avoid confusion for readers. What do you guys think?

I'll stop now so you guys can enjoy this next chapter! Critique is always welcomed!


~Chapter Two~

"So where are you guys going?" inquired Vanille the next morning. She cornered the young Farron, now Villers, in her bedroom as she was packing up for her and Snow's honeymoon.

Serah beamed at the older girl. "Well Snow thought it'd be a great idea that we take a trip around Gran Pulse. I've always wanted to see the sights and he said that it was beautiful."

"Ooh how exciting! You are going to love it! Just remember to stay clear of the Behemoth Kings!"

"Yeah, wouldn't want ya to hurt your little head fightin' them," sneered Fang as she stood in the doorway. Actually on her way to see Lightning, she couldn't help but stop in once she heard mention of Pulse.

Serah smiled. "Don't worry, my hero will protect me."

Fang laughed. "Better off usin' him as a shield."

"Fang!" pouted Vanille. "Don't say that!"

"Ah alright, I'm sorry Serah." She gave her a wink before ruffling Vanille's hair.

"Oh, I wonder where Lightning is?" inquired Vanille. Now that she thought about the soldier, Lightning hadn't been acting like herself. She sensed that the pink-haired woman wasn't really having fun at the wedding, and the next hint was that Lightning was still not up. Living in the Farron household for a while taught Vanille to always expect Lightning in the kitchen in the morning.

Serah cocked her head, furrowing her eyebrows. "Isn't she up?"

Vanille shook her head.

Serah bit her bottom lip. "Maybe I'll go check on-"

"No need to worry Serah," chimed in Fang. "Me and Vanille will take good care of her. She probably got a bit too tipsy at the weddin'." To Vanille she said, "Right Vanille?"

Instantly catching Fang's drift, Vanille clapped her hands together in excitement. "Ooh yes! We'll take good care of her!"

"But I should-" hesitated Serah.

"Now, now Serah, you're goin' on your honeymoon," said Fang. Her face lit up when she heard the front door slam. "Looks like your knight in shinin' armor has a-"

"SERAH!" Snow's excited voice boomed throughout the house as the large man, donning a clean, white t-shirt, and baggy jeans while supporting his signature trench coat, entered the room. He quickly pulled Serah into a tight embrace. Fang still could not get used to him without his bandanna - she thought his hair looked ridiculous without it.

Serah hushed him after engaging in a tight hug. "Claire's still asleep," she whispered.

Snow was, naturally, shocked. "Really, Sis? Are you sure she's not sick or something?"

"That's why we're gonna take care of her," said Fang with a grin.

"That'll make her day," chuckled Snow.

"Hey Lightning likes us!" pouted Vanille.

"'sides, we don't want ya to feel gloomy on your honeymoon just 'cause Sunshine is," said Fang.

Serah smiled weakly. "Well let me go say goodbye to-"

"No time!" Fang leapt in to help hurry Serah along. "Ya wanna go and check out all the sights on Gran Pulse right?"

"But-"

"Come on Serah, Fang and Vanille can handle everything," said Snow as he wrapped his arm around his wife's waist.

"Oh before I forget, I'll have my phone on at all times so-" began Serah, but of course she was quickly cut off.

"No you should enjoy your honeymoon!" protested Vanille. "We can handle it!"

"C'mon Serah, don't ya trust us?" sneered Fang.

Serah's cheeks flushed light pink. "But-"

"Fang and Vanille have everything under control," said Snow as he gave his wife another tight squeeze. He broke away to reach down and take her luggage. "Come on honey."

Serah hugged Fang and Vanille quickly before casting a look down the hallway. "Tell Claire to behave herself," she said sullenly. "I hate not saying goodbye to her."

"She'll get the memo," reassured Fang as she and Vanille walked the couple to the door. "Treat her good ya hard-head!"

Snow gave her his signature thumbs-up before jumping into the car and driving off. Fang and Vanille waved until the car disappeared, and once it was gone Fang moved hurriedly into the house.

Vanille skipped after her just as the tan-skinned woman reached Lightning's door. "You gonna wake her up?" she inquired.

"Yup, time to her to get her scrawny butt up," said Fang as she turned the knob. "Hey Vanille, can ya get some breakfast rollin'? This might turn ugly."

She nodded. "Yup! But what's wrong with her?"

Fang shook her head, signaling that it was not a good idea at the moment. Sighing, Vanille left.

Glad that Vanille was gone, Fang slowly inched into the bedroom. She had to stifle her laughter - she had to say that Lightning looked ridiculous curled up under her blanket like that. Slowly she eased herself onto the corner of the bed and shook Lightning's exposed foot.

"Rise and shine Sunshine," she said loudly.

A low grunt came out from underneath the blanket; Lightning pulled the blanket closer around herself and stole her foot back. Not deterred Fang traveled to the left side of the bed where the window was. There she could see Lightning's eyes staring unfocused at the window. She didn't even seem to acknowledge her friend's presence, even as Fang sat down next to her.

"C'mon Light, ya can't keep on sulkin' all day," reasoned Fang. "C'mon, get up and have some breakfast with us, yeah?"

"Is Serah out there?" Lightning's voice sounded hoarse. Pulling back the blanket slightly and inspecting closer Fang realized that her eyes were red. Had she been crying? Miss-Her-Heart-Is-A-Black-Hole... crying?

Snapping out of her stupor and realizing Fang saw her, Lightning yanked her blanket over her face. "Go away," she commanded.

"Now ya know I can't do that Light. C'mon, rise and shine! Vanille's makin' us breakfast." To make her message urgent Fang began to poke at Lightning's concealed head.

Lightning let out a muffled sigh. "So Serah's not here after all..?" Serah always cooked breakfast for them every morning and sometimes Vanille would help.

Fang crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. Who would've thought that depressed Lightning was more difficult to sway than usual Lightning? Becoming tired of the antics, Fang could not hide the annoyance in her tone as she spoke. "Light, don't make me force ya to get out of bed," she sighed. "Serah ain't here right now, so what's the big deal?"

"I don't want to talk," mumbled Lightning. "Leave me alone Fang."

"Not until ya spit up."

"No."

"Well that's too bad 'cause I ain't leavin'. Ya were depressed at the weddin' and now you're depressed-"

"I'm not depressed!" snapped Lightning, finally pulling the blanket off of her face.

Fang raised her eyebrows. "Okay, then explain why ya were cryin'?"

"I wasn't crying," the soldier said dryly.

Oh Light, ya are such a bad, bad liar. "Okay, so explain your red eyes."

She watched as Lightning reached up to rub her face. Then she said, "Pink eye."

Fang snorted with laughter, "Such a pathetic lie."

Lightning glared at her. "Fine if I get up will you leave me alone?"

She didn't even have to speak to know what the answer was. Sighting Lightning slowly crept out of bed. Smiling Fang followed Lightning out of the bedroom to the door of the bathroom.

"Do you mind?" she snapped as she opened the door.

Fang grinned. "Don't mind if I do!" She didn't even care that Lightning slammed the door in her face - she felt accomplished she got the pink-haired soldier on her feet. Heading back into the kitchen as Vanille continued to busy herself over breakfast, Fang plopped into one of the chairs and said, "Food ready yet Vanille?"

Vanille giggled. "Almost. Did you get Lightning up?"

"Yup. They don't call me 'Ms-fix-it' for nothin'."

The cherry-haired girl cocked her head to the side. "They don't call you fix it..."

"Well they should! I managed to get Sunshine up. That's an impossible task on its own."

"Breakfast is ready!" Vanille cheerfully placed the food down on the table, but as soon as Fang reached out to eat she slapped her hand away. "No! Not until Light's here."

Fang grumbled. "She's in the shower Vanille, so by the time she gets out it'll be cold."

Vanille considered the older woman's response and finally conceded with a sigh. Fang grinned and quickly dug in. "Fang, what's wrong with Lightning?" she repeated, unsatisfied with the fact that Fang did not offer her an answer earlier.

Of course Vanille would ask that. Fang shrugged. "Sad that Serah up and married," she said.

"Really?" asked Vanille. "Ooh we should do something special for her."

Hah that's a laugh. But Fang was genuinely interested in what Vanille was thinking. "Yeah? Like what?"

"Hmm, I don't know. But something special! We should tell Sazh and Hope too!"

"Ah, I don't think tha-"

But Vanille waved her hand dismissively. "It's a good idea! We'll call them later."

A sudden thud coming from the bathroom broke them away from their thoughts. Neither girl rushed to check on Lightning, especially after hearing the onslaught of loud curses coming from her mouth. Besides, how appreciate would the woman be if they rushed in to help her? They both knew that the best response was to continue minding their own business.

Slipping on the water-sodden floor knocked Lightning back into reality, but she wondered if it had to result in a now-throbbing head. Dazedly picking herself up from the floor, Lightning determinedly made the journey to her room. She threw on a black sleeveless shirt, a vest over that, and pulled on some dark-colored jeans. As she dried her hair she noticed the picture frame on her shelf. Reaching up, Lightning carefully took it down and studied.

It was her - or when she was once Claire - and Serah smiling and embracing each other. This had to be when her parents were still alive... Lightning could not help, but admire how young and innocent Serah looked. She couldn't have been older than ten...

Her cold exterior was slowly crumbling as Lightning felt tears swim in her eyes. She stubbornly wiped them away and placed the portrait face down on the table.

Like clockwork there was a knock on the door. "Are you okay Lightning?" inquired Vanille. The woman was surprised that it was Vanille who was checking on her and not Fang. Judging by the smell in the kitchen and the fact that Vanille was checking on her, Lightning guessed that breakfast was served and Fang was stuffing her face in it. As the older Pulsian put it tactfully, "I enjoy a good meal or two."

Yet she found herself unable to have an appetite. She just wanted to go out, mainly out to work, but Amodar gave her the week off because of the wedding despite her protests that she was fit to work afterwards.

"Light, are you okay?" repeated Vanille.

Lightning sighed. "Yeah I'm alright."

"We heard you slip..."

"Yeah, was just being careless."

"Oh..." A pause. "Well breakfast is ready."

Though Lightning was prepared to come up with reasons why she did not want to attend breakfast, for the sake of preventing herself from being chased all around Bodum with Fang at her heels she decided to join them. Vanille cheerfully took her chair and Fang raised her head to give Lightning a curt nod before consuming the rest of her food.

Lightning sat down between the two, her eyes staring coldly at the food placed in front of her. Yup, definitely not hungry she thought blandly.

"Aren't you hungry?" inquired Vanille as she picked at her food.

Lightning crossed her arms and shook her head.

"Shame," commented Fang as she gulped down her food. She stared at Lightning's untouched plate before reaching out and taking it.

"Fang! That's Light's!" scolded Vanille.

"She can have it Vanille," sighed Lightning. "I think I'll just go for a w-"

"No stay here," the cherry-haired Pulsian interjected. "We want you to sit with us. We like your company."

Lightning knew that was a lie. Her company was like that of a sea-slug - totally nonexistent. They probably wanted to tag team her to find out what was wrong with her.

Sighing once more Lightning leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed over her chest as she once again became lost in her thoughts. So... Serah left this morning and she wasn't up to send her off. No, not true, she was up. Lightning was just in her own world at the time, zoning out what had happened. What kind of sister was she to not be there to give Serah her goodbyes? Was Serah worried? Lightning bet she was, and that made her feel worse. After their l'Cie adventure two years old Lightning swore to herself to be there for Serah. Now she wasn't making good on her word this time either.

Uneasy with the silence Vanille spoke up, "We should do something fun today."

Gulping down her food, Fang turned to her friend and smirked as she reached for her glass. "What's on your mind Vanille?"

Vanille carefully thought over the idea before coming up with one she thought was perfect. "Let's go shopping!" she exclaimed.

Lightning looked at Vanille with a horrorstruck look on her face. Fang spat out her drink and focused on Vanille also with the same look. This caused the young Pulsian to giggle uncontrollably.

"What're ya laughin' at?" inquired Fang, the horror-awed look still on her face.

Vanille continued to giggle. "You guys are so alike!"

Lightning was taken aback by the remark. She slowly turned her head to face Fang and saw the tan-skinned woman smirk at her. Me like her? No way!

But she did know that they were very similar. They were fierce, loved to fight, were survivors, and protective of the ones they cared about the most. Lightning could see how Fang's relationship with Vanille paralleled her own with Serah - perhaps that was why she felt she could trust the woman.

"We're not going shopping," said Lightning forcefully.

Vanille pouted.

Fang cast a look at Vanille and sighed. "C'mon Light, what's the worst that can happen?"

Lightning snorted. "A lot can happen. A lot."

"But Light, last time you went shopping with Serah for the wedding!" pleaded Vanille. "I pinky swear we won't be there too long."

Lightning raised her eyebrows. She acts so much like Serah...

Feeling a flick on her shoulder she faced Fang who grinned at her. "Just appease her for one day, yeah?" she whispered.

And no one seems to care what I think. "Fine, but I'm not trying on anything," she said.

"Aww," whined Vanille.

"No!" hissed Fang. "She'll come after me then."

"Good," snorted Lightning.

"Well... okay then, let's get going!" Before the older women could protest, Vanille leapt out of her chair to get ready.

Fang sighed and stood up, brushing her sari to perfection. She eyed Lightning as the woman continued to retain her stiff posture, the difference this time being that her eyes were closed. "Ya still gonna be a stick in the mud?" she inquired.

"You're one to talk," said Lightning. "You hate shopping as much as I do."

"Yeah but I'm doin' it to keep Vanille happy. Meanwhile ya keep actin' like a lance is up your arse."

"With good reason." Lightning opened one eye. "This isn't what I would call 'fun'."

Fang laughed. "So then what is 'fun' by your standards? Mope around all day? C'mon Light, live a little! Maybe Hope or Sazh will be in town."

Lightning rubbed her face. "Ugh..."

"Feel 'nother emotional breakdown comin'?"

At once the pink-haired soldier's face shot up, all the color in her face gone. "Don't you dare mention that to anyone!"

Fang shrugged, raising her hands. "Secret's safe with me."

Lightning furrowed her eyebrows. "Somehow I don't believe you."

Fang grinned. "Learn to trust a little, yeah?"

The soldier snorted.

"C'mon, what's the worst that can happen anyways?"

"Well the worst can be that Vanille will start picking clothes out for me."

Fang snorted. "Personally I think that'd be the highlight of the day." She could picture it now... Lightning in a skimpy piece of attire... breasts bulging from the too-tight line of the upper wear... Fang began to feel build up in her core and that snapped her back to reality. After all it would be a little weird if she jumped the soldier right there and now.

"Oh?" Fang could not help, but find it cute how Lightning's eyebrows rose in that inquisitive fashion. "And I think it'd be funny if Vanille dressed you up in a frilly, pink dress."

Fang's fantasy of a scandalous-clad Lightning was quickly replaced by herself wearing a frilly, girl dress with poofed up hair and a big, pink bow to top it all off. All the arousal that was building up inside of her was gone in an instant, as was all the color in her face.

Lightning smirked. "Now wouldn't that be fun huh?"

Fang grumbled. "Alright Sunshine, ya had your fun. I won't tease ya if ya don't bring that up to Vanille."

"Secret's safe with me," said the soldier.

"Somehow I don't believe ya." But Fang couldn't help as smirk just as the red-haired Pulsian returned to the room.