A.N. Phew, I've finally finished the sec chappyx3 hope you'll like it

Fanfic Fan – Yeah I know that Lights reasons to become crystal are REALLY lamex'DD sry. but I'm still glad that you liked the 1st chappy^^

The Last 13 Days

Chapter 2: Awakening

After the former l'Cie got new hope to see Lightning again, they went to the island too and helped the people to build a new home. Even if it was much more difficult than back then, when they built new cities on Gran Pulse, it wasn't impossible.

It took them a while to reach their goal. The day and night cycles was still there, so it was a bit easier to return to everyday life. However, the time is quite immaterial for all of them.

There were clocks everywhere, and if you didn't know that time doesn't exist anymoe, one could almost think it's normal. Hope didn't know how much "time" had past since they defeated Caius. Somehow, he has lost track of time. Maybe it's due to his almost non-stop work. After all, he couldn't just sit and do nothing — like Lightning.

He helped everywhere and in everything and worked harder than anyone else. And over time, many people looked really hopeless. As if they had already settled their affairs and were just waiting for the end of the world. There were times where he was also about to give up hope. But as long as he was with the others, and as long as the hope still existed to see Lightning again, hope kept living in him. And he was sure, that the others felt the same way.

It was another one of those days in which his friends forced him to take a break. „I have a lot to do!", grumbled Hope, who's held by Snow to not go back to his work. „Not today, kiddo."

„You have to take a break.". said Sazh and put a hand on his shoulder. „But..."

„Lightning won't wake up from crystal stasis, when you're working like a madman.", said Fang, who has seen through him, as always. Hope remained silent and stopped to fight back Snow. „Hope, we all know why you're always working so hard. We miss Light too, but we don't put our health at risk.", said Serah and embraced the silver-haired man.

Hope didn't answer. What should he say anyway? They saw through him, again. But he hadn't even given a lot of effort to keep it a secret. The reason why he was working so hard, was not because that Lightning may awakes earlier, but also to distract himself and to not have to think about how Lightning had died in his arms and became crystal.

The latter was the main reason. Serah released him and looked at him sympathetically. „She will certainly wake up soon. We have to be patient."

„I know.", he finally replied. „Light will certainly not approve, if you're working around the clock.", chided Vanille. „Exactly! She would certainly say: 'Hope! If you don't take a break right now, I will find ways to force you to!'", said Fang, and even tried to imitate Lightnings voice.

„Yes, that sounds like a sis.", said Snow and grinned. „So take a break, kid. Lightning's curtenly watching over you, so don't give her a reason to chain you somewhere so that you can finally rest up.", chided Sazh. „Okay.", said Hope, while smiling slightly at the group. „I'll rest for a while."

„Not just 'a while'! You rest up until you no longer look so drained!", said Serah sternly — just like Lightning — and looked at him as dangerous as her big sister, if she wanted to make it clear that she won't discuss this. „Okay. I take a few days off. But if you need me, then—"

„We have everything under control. Just stay home and leave the rest to us, okay?", interrupted Snow and pushed him in the direction in which his house was. „All right." sighed Hope and strolled to his house. „Poo Hope...He's totally bushed...", sighed Serah and looked after him anxiously. „You too, Serah.", said Vanille quietly, but loud enough that everyone heard it. Serah was silent and just leaned against Snow, who put an arm around her. The group was silent, as if they were inserting a minute of silence or Lightning.

„Guys.", began Fang and got their attention. „You all sound as if she was dead, but she's not, don't forget! She sleeps and she'll wake up soon."

„Fang's right. We woke up as well, afterall."

„Yes, five hundred years later.", commented Sazh. Fang sighed theatrically. „The point is, we woke up, which means that Light will wake up too, so get ahold of yourself!" They all nodded and then went home. „I hope Fang's right and Light will really wake up soon...", sighed Serah, who was still leaning on her fiance.

„Of course she's right.", said Snow and held her close. „I'm pretty sure she'll wake up soon. We must be patiently." Serah nodded and walked with him to their house.

Since they had nothing else to do after dinner, and they were exhausted from work, Serah and Snow went to bed early. Then in the middle of the night, Serah woke up by a noise. It sounded as if someone was calling her name, but she told herself that she had imagined it, and went back to sleep.

Then she felt something gently stroked her cheek. „Serah. Wake up.", said the voice, which she would recognize everywhere. „Hmmm...Not now, Light...", she mumbled sleepily and turned away. A few seconds later she opened her eyes in shock and sat up quickly. „LIGHTNING!"

In this moment Snow awoke with a start too and fell off the bed. He got up again and rubbed his head. „What's the matter, Se—" He stopped when he saw Lightning, who was standing on Serahs bedside and looked at them. She wore a shiny and revealing armor, where white feathers hung on her left leg and covered it completely. „Sis!", he exclaimed and ignored her infamous death glare.

Serah immediately jumped out of the bed and hugged her older sister. „How did you get here? Are you awake?" Lightning returned the embrace. „No." The younger Farron looked up confused, but didn't let go of her sister. „What do you mean?"

„I'm still asleep."

„And how comes you're here?", asked Snow confused and walked slowly to the two sisters. „This is a dream."

„And why can we both see you?"

„No further questions!", shouted Lightning to finally silence Snow. Snow raised his hands and said nothing. „If you're still asleep...", began Serah and looked at her sadly. „When will you wake up again?" Lightning paused and looked away from her. „I don't know."

„Didn't you say, you don't answer any more questions?", asked Snow and grinned at her, while Lightning glared at him darkly. After she was sure that Snow finally shuts up, she looked back at her sister. „But I hope soon."

Serah hugged her sister again and clung onto her. „I miss you so much." Although Lightning claimed that this was a dream, her cool armor and her fingers that brushed gently through her hair felt quite real. „I miss you too".

Lightning pushed her back to the bed and Serah sat down. She knelt down in front of Serah and stroked her hair, while she took the long strands and placed it over her left shoulder. She looked exactly like herself. Then she looked confidently into her eyes.

„Listen. I'm pretty sure I'll wake up soon. You all have done a really great job. But I can feel that something's coming. So take care of yourself, okay?" Serah nodded and felt a tear ran down her cheek. Lightning wiped away her tears and looked seriously at Snow. „I'm counting on you."

Snow nodded and grinned broadly at her, smart enough to say nothing. She looked back to her little sister and her gaze went instantly smoother. „Tell the others that I'm fine. And that I'll be back soon. I don't want them to unnecessary worry about me and lose hope."

„Why did you come to us and not to Hope? I mean...It's great to finally see you again and to know that you are okay, but..." Lightning looked away, unsure of what to say.

„Lightning, can you do me a favor?" Lightning didn't answer. She could already guess what she wanted. „Visit Hope and tell him yourself that you're okay. He would certainly feel better if he sees you." Lightnings gaze stuck on the ground. „Please, Lightning..." Her voice was a mere whisper. „Do you know how much he's suffering?"

„I know." Lightning finally answered. „But the others don't look better. Even Mr. Optimistic." She glanced pointedly to Snow. „What do you expect from us, sis? When Serah became a crystal, you were pretty miserable, too."

Lightning sighed and stood up. She looked down at Serah, who looked as if she wants to cling onto her, to prevent her from going away, even if she knew that she has to let her go. She hesitated a moment before she patted Serah gently on her head. She hadn't done this in years. „Do try to keep up hope. I'm back soon. I hope to end this chaos and save you all.", she said and disappeared.

„LIGHTNING!", called Serah and woke up from her dream. Snow also awoke with a start and fell off the bed. Serah looked around frantically, looking for her sister. In this time, Snow got up again. „What's wrong?", asked Snow confused.

„Oh, nothing...", muttered Serah disappointed. „I just thought Lightning was here..."

„She was, wasn't she?" The Pink-haired woman looked at her husband. „Did you have the same dream as me?" Snow nodded and grinned at her. „Yeah, she said she's counting on me, right?"

„Yes, that's what she said.", she answered, while smiling at him.

Meanwhile...

Hope had finally fallen asleep after hours, but some noise woke him up. Especially now that he dreamed about Lightning! He tried to ignore it — whatever it was — in order to return to his dream and to forget that Lightning was still in crystal stasis.

But his senses slowly increased, which meant that he woke up completely. Now he noticed that this noise was actually a voice.

And a very familiar voice, that he yearned for for an eternity. „Hope!", called the voice, while he sat up in shock. „Finally, I thought you never wake up." Hope turned in the direction where the voice came from and saw Lightning. She wore this Valkyrie armor and seemed to glow. „Lightning...", he murmured and looked at her in shock. Before Lightning could comment his facial expressions, such as "You look like you've seen a ghost.", Hope jumped out of the bed and hugged her as tight as he could.

Fortunately, the armor protected her or he would've probably crushed her. „Before you say anything...", began Lightning, as she hugged him back. „I'm not back. This is just a dream." Hope said nothing. What should he say anyway? Even if he was disappointed, he was still happy to see her again.

Then Lightning pushed him away. „Hope...", she began and looked into his eye. „I was watching you and the others. It's great that you're helping the people, but take a damn break!" Hope still kept quiet, as he stared into her stern, ice-blue eyes. „I know you can't wait until I get back, but think of your health too! Listen to others and take a break! When I get back, I don't want to see an overtired Hope, understood?", he nodded and stared at her, as if he'd not seen her for years and tryed to memorize her face.

„Hope, say something, I have not much time."

„Uh...Sorry...It's just a long time since I've seen you alive the last time..." She nodded knowingly. „I know. You have to wait a little longer. And you better not be hopeless, when I get back!"

„Sure.", he said and smiled at her. „This is better. Well, I have to g—" Lightning could not finish her sentence, because Hope suddenly pulled her to him and kissed her. She was so surprised that she couldn't respond at first.

He didn't even let her, because he broke the kiss as soon as he began it. Lightning looked at him shocked. „ I'm sorry...", he mumbled, while looking down. „It's okay."

„You don't want to kill me?", he asked before he could stop himself. „Why would I want to do that?"

„Well...Because I..."

„We're together, right? So it's okay. As long as you won't surprise me like that ever again!", she said and shot him a glare. „Sure." he replied and jumped briefly at her glare. „What's wrong? I'll won't hurt you."

„I know that." He grinned at her. „But your glare's so..." He gestured around, looking for the right words „Yeah, I know.", she interrupted, then looked rather surprised, as he came closer again. „May I...?", he asked as he leaned down to her and looked deeply into her eyes. Lightning stared back at him and hesitated with her answer. Hope waited patiently, watching as her face turned red. Finally she nodded and Hope put a hand on her cheek and came even closer.

He kissed her again, this time more tender and now Lightning kissed him back. As something lit up, he broke the kiss minutes later and saw that Lightning began to glow. The pink-haired woman went a step back and looked sadly up at him. „My time's up." Hopes grip on her tightened.

„You can't stop me. Don't forget that this is just a dream."

„I wish this dream would never stop."

„Everything has an end."

„Sadly..." Lightning glowed even brighter and then Hope hugged her as hard, as he could he could prevent that she'll disappear. Seconds later, Lightning vanished completely and Hope awoke with a start.

He sat up in bed and looked around frantically, but of course Lightning was not there. For the rest of the night he couldn't sleep. He wondered, whether it was just a normal dream, or if it really happened. She did say that it was a dream, but...Oh man, it was just too complicated.

He stayed home for about two days, before he met up with the others again. Serah told them that she and Snow had dreamed that Lightning visited them in the middle of the night. Then he knew it was real. Since then Serah tried to cheer him up and reminded him what Lightning had ordered him, when he overworked himself again.

A few weeks later he got an important call from his colleagues from the Academy. The Academy still existed and Hope was still the director. He was told that he should go to the base as fast as possible and that it's really important. The others were also on their way there.

He sighed, as he went to the base. He surely had to make some decisions. Once there, he met Serah and Snow, who came running up to him. „Hope, you have to hear this!", called Serah, grabbed his arm and dragged him to the main control center. „What's the matter?", asked Hope confused and let her dragging him. „You'll see.", said Snow with a grin on his face, and followed them.

„Director Hope, we have a signal to the device that you've left in Etros sanctuary!", informed his new assistant Lydia. „Really?" Hope dashed to his colleagues, who sat on several monitors, to get more details.

When he visited Etros sanctuary the last time, he left a small device behind, with which he could contact her. It was just a small headset with a microphone in it. Once activated, every Academy member will notice, and it looked like it's been activated.

„Is there a direct connection now?", he asked. „Not yet. But we can hear someone. We're trying everything to communicate with this person.", said Lydia. „Can we hear her?", he asked, already knowing who activated this device, whereupon Lydia pressed a button. Then they could heard steps from the speakers. The remaining ex-l'Cie group came together so that they could hear everything. The steps sounded strangely metallic...then they stopped abruptly.

It was quiet for a while, but then...„What? Oh no, there's no way in hell I'm going to wait three hours for the next train! Forget it!", said a pretty irritated, but familiar voice. „Lightning!", called Serah, even if she knew that she won't hear her.

„Looks as if our Sleeping Beauty is finally awake.", said Fang and grinned. „Yay!", beamed Vanille. „Be quiet!", said Sazh, when they heard impatient steps, before and Lightning spoke again. „I know, I'll summon Odin." There was silence and after a few seconds they heard her annoyed mumblings. „Come on, you stupid crystal! Tch, looks like I'm still too weak to summon him..."

„Can I talk to her?", asked Hope impatiently. „Not yet.", replied someone. „Maybe I could walk on the rails to the other side...", muttered Lightning. „But it's too dangerous!", said Serah shocked that Lightning would really do that. „We're connected. You can talk to her now.", informed Lydia, whereupon Hope quickly took the next headset.
„Lightning?" For a few moments everything was silent. „...Hope?"

A.N. Ouh cliffhanger. I know it's reeeaaallly fast right now, but I hadn't had any ideas, but now I can start with the interesting part^^