In this chapter, Hope finds out more about the person that calls herself Claire. Then he decides to tell the truth to Serah.

There will be some cameos from different Final Fantasy games in this chapter! Don't worry, it won't be a crossover. This is also the first and last time they'll appear, with the exceptions of some passing mentions.


Hope couldn't move. He was frozen where he stood. The woman in front of him continued to smile politely—the smile of a stranger. No, this couldn't be! He thought. Light wouldn't forget us…she wouldn't forget me…she can't…

"Sir?" The woman who was not Light inquired. "Are…are you alright? You look pale."

Hope shook himself, then forced himself to smile. "I…I'm fine. It's just that, y-you look so much like a dear friend of mine I couldn't help but…"

"It's okay." She said, then smiled teasingly. "You look like a child whose lollipop was taken from him. Wow, you must be really disappointed I'm not her."

"I-I…um…I didn't mean…she…you…" Hope stammered while he felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. Light, no Claire, her eyes were shifting, twinkling with amusement, but now moving into what seemed like pity.

"She must have meant a whole lot to you, huh?" Claire said sympathetically.

"Yeah, she did." Hope sighed.

"Haven't seen her in a while?"

"Six months, and no word of her at all."

"Wow." Claire breathed, and genuine concern was written in her face; her brows furrowed, and the slight frown slowly spreading. "I'm sorry…no wonder you're disappointed."

Hope shook his head, and a slight smile spread across his face. "No, no it's not your fault. At least, I met someone new, Ms. Claire…"

"Oh! I'm Claire Tonnerre!" She perked up. Tonnerre. No wonder I couldn't find her, I was looking everywhere in the databases for Farron. Hope thought.

Claire stuck out her right hand. "What's your name? I'm so impolite not to ask!"

"Oh, I'm Hope Estheim." Hope responded, shaking her hand. Then Claire's face turned surprised, her eyes widened in recognition and her mouth opened slightly. Hope felt a flurry of happiness, thinking that maybe his name stirred some memories of hers.

"Mr. Estheim?" She squeaked. "I do know you!"

Hope felt his heart would burst with happiness.

"I'm a reporter for Le Cadran Solaire. I'm here to interview all the scientists here this week for the conference!" She went into her brown messenger bag, and scrounged up a pen and notepad. "And I need to interview you!"

It was that moment Hope's heart broke in two.


Hope went back to his hotel room that evening, after parting ways with Claire. It was easy to talk to her, her easy smile and soft voice made him spill all his opinions on the advances of where he worked and his thoughts on the conference. Although it would be easy for him to take the train back to Chantilly, his company decided that staying in a hotel would be more efficient than going home every day.

Hope unlocked the door, threw himself onto his bed, and covered his eyes with his arm. Tears stung the back of his eyes, and he let out a heavy, broken sigh. After six months, six months, he found Light. And she didn't remember anyone. This new person, Claire, barely spoke of herself, and when he asked if she had any siblings, she said she didn't.

Hope bit back a growl of frustration. Even people who didn't remember their past had the same relations to their old world counterparts. Hope's coworkers, though sparse between French speaking regions such as Switzerland, Quebec, and Belgium, still were his coworkers. And they had the families that were the same. What's so different about Light? She had completely new relationships than before, and even her own sister would be a stranger to her.

Serah. Serah needed to know about this. Hope swallowed his self-pity, rubbed his eyes, and reached for his phone, finding Serah's number. Serah would be at home, also back in Chantilly, now that summer break would've started for her. The phone rang, and Serah picked up.

"Hello?" She said.

"Hey Serah. It's Hope." He responded.

"Hope! It's been ages since you called! Vanille was just complaining about how hard it is to stay in touch with you." Serah chirped, her voice with a teasing and happy edge. Normally Hope would've played along, but today, he couldn't.

"What is it? Me and Snow are missing you back home."

"I have good and bad news." He ground out.

"Good and bad news?" Serah mused. "Hope, are you alright?"

"Serah, I found Lightning." Hope sighed.

"What? You find my sister?! Hope this is great news, but why do you—"

"Serah, please listen—she doesn't remember us." A couple of silent seconds passed.

"Huh? What do you mean she doesn't…how…?" Serah sounded shocked over the phone. "I…I need to sit down, and you need to explain."

"Remember when I first came here, I was confused as to who I was? I only remembered my daily life, and the basics of who I was. And while I knew I had friends and family, I only remembered everything a month later?" He started slowly.

"Yes, but it's been six months…" She responded, sounding a bit weary as to where he was going with this.

"I think Light is confused too. You, Sazh, Yeul, Fang, and Vanille didn't take that long to remember everything. Snow took about three weeks, and Noel was about the same. I was more than a month. Me and Light were the ones who were touched by Bhunivelze the strongest…I…I…" Hope couldn't continue any more. While he blessedly had no memories of the 169 years at the hands of the god of Light, he remembered the hellish days when the chaos first flooded, images of a ghost that enticed him…

Hope gritted his teeth. He would not remember that phantom, it was not real. Light was real, this was really Lightning, he'd found her, Claire was Light for sure, for sure…

"I understand." Serah soothed. "You think she needs time to recover. But what does she know?"

"I didn't get too much time to talk." Hope answered. "All I know is that she thinks she's Claire Tonnerre, and a reporter working for a paper."

"Does she know who I am? Does she think she has a sister?" Serah's voice turned to steel.

"Serah…"

"Hope, answer me." Serah commanded. Hope shivered in fright. It was this tone of voice he was most terrified of when he had to work with Serah after Cocoon's collapse. Stern and stiff, she wouldn't take no for an answer.

"She doesn't remember any of us, and she doesn't think she has a sibling." He blurted out.

"Hope, I want to see my sister. Right now."

"Uh—"

"I said right now, Hope! I want to see her!" Serah nearly shouted.

Hope braced himself. He hated his next words, but he had to be honest. "Serah, that's not a good idea."

"What do you mean, not a good idea?" Serah demanded.

"It's just that…we have to remember…Claire isn't the Light we knew." Hope whispered. "If she suddenly sees someone who looks like her, and she doesn't know why…Don't you think it'll be too much of a shock to Light if we just showed her someone she resembled so strongly? And then you tell her you're her sister?""

"We could scare her off…forever…" Serah sobbed. "Hope, please tell me you have a plan."

"I do…just. I want to take Claire around, show her the old gang, and take her around to places that remind her of home, pray that she actually starts remembering." Hope admitted. "But Serah…because you're her sister, and you look so much alike…and…I hate to say this. but…" He trailed off, not sure how she'd take this.

Hope heard the sound of Serah weeping through the phone, hiccuping sobs and wails. It broke his heart to say the last words. "…I need you to see her last."

For a few minutes, Hope listened to the sound of Serah crying, and tears struck his eyes again. "Serah, I'm sorry, I—"

"Hope, I understand." She sniveled, but otherwise sounded better. "Just…make sure my sister is okay."

"I know. I will." He spoke softly in understanding.

"What if…what if she's not meant to remember?" Serah cried out.

"What do you mean?" His eyebrows furrowed at this notion.

"What if…she doesn't remember us…has no connections to us…because it's better?" Serah sobbed, and Hope listened to her sniffles in between. "What if that's why…she has no memories?"

"Serah please." Hope begged. "If it was any of us, Light would never give up on us. We can't give up on her."

"You're right." Serah said. "If she starts remembering, we'll know you're right."

"I know." He nodded, and a few moments passed in silence, a bit of relief replacing the heavy dread that choked him before.

"Hope?" Serah's voice came in through the speaker, trembling as she spoke.

"Yes?"

"Please. Make sure she's happy. Even if she doesn't remember us." She rasped out between sob.

"I will. I promise."


The meeting was finally over, Hope sighed as he rolled his shoulders and walked towards the exit of the congress hall. There would be a few meetings here and there next week, but he didn't need to take part in them, and his boss told him to take a break, which he gladly agreed to.

"Mr. Estheim!" A voice called to him from behind, and he turned around to see Claire walking towards him. She was wearing a short-sleeved, buttoned blouse with frills and a black pencil skirt, and her hair loose. Her heels made a gentle clacking sound on the floor.

"Hello, Ms. Tonnerre." He smiled.

"Please, call me Claire." She smiled back.

"Then please do me the favour and call me Hope." Hope reached his hand out. "To make up for the bad beginning we both had."

"It wasn't all that bad!" Claire laughed, and then shook his hand. "Besides, I'm here today to do a little more follow up on your opinion on genetically modified–"

"Claire!" A cheerful voice chirped, and the two of them turned to see a blonde young man, wearing a teal dress shirt and green tie, practically bouncing towards them. He held a stack of papers, a clipboard tucked under his arm, and an earpiece. He was a little taller than Claire, and there was a boyish look to him. He shot them both a dazzling grin as he stopped before them, and Hope couldn't help but smile back.

"Oh, you again." Claire mock-groaned at the sight of the young man. "Why are you always here?"

"Anything to be in the presence of a lovely young woman." He drawled. "I have to say, you look finer than the weather we're having." Then he winked at her.

He winked. He had the nerve to actually wink at her. Hope felt his eye twitch.

"Please stop." Claire had put her hand on her face and covered her eyes.

"Hey I haven't even started quoting Shakespeare yet!" The blond protested. "Ahem. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day–"

"Zidane, no. Stop it right now." Claire commanded.

Zidane pouted. "Okay, but admit it, I made a good Puck."

"Yes you did. You nailed that part in A Midsummer's Night Dream." Light commended, and Zidane gave another dazzling grin.

Hope was beginning to feel a bit left out, and maybe a little miffed that this guy was talking more easily to Claire than he ever did. He felt uneasy, and a little annoyed, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the blond was savvy, or flirting with Light, or handsome…

Zidane looked at Hope's face, and turned to say: "Oh but where are my manners? I haven't even introduce myself." He stuck out a hand. "I'm Zidane, I also work for Le Cadran Solaire."

"Pleased to meet you, I'm Hope Estheim." Hope plastered on a stiff smile, and shook his hand. So this guy knew Claire and worked with her too?

"You wouldn't be here if you didn't have something for me." Claire said.

"Nonsense, who says I'm not just here because I enjoy your presence?" Zidane winked again. Again. "Anyways…I do have something for you."

"Oh boy." Claire rolled her eyes.

"Spiky wanted me to give you this list, and to make sure all the interviews you've done are checked off." Zidane said as he handed Claire the clipboard. "Grumpy says you have his favourite pen, and he wants it back."

Claire checked off the list, and then handed Zidane the clipboard and a silver pen. "Gives this back to Cloud, and say thanks to Squall for me. He saved my life when my pen ran out."

"No problem!" He chirped. "Also, Drama Queen told me that your reports were well done, and if you turn in your paper today, he's going to give you 'work' for the next week." Zidane air quoted the word "work" with his free hand.

"You're uncontrollable. I don't want to know what you're calling me behind my back."

"You're special. I call you by your name." Zidane looked mockingly serious and put his hand out while the one that was holding a clipboard was placed over his heart. "Ahem….'there is a rose…and I think she might have tamed me…'"

"Oh stop quoting stuff." Claire scorned. "And tell your brother thanks, but it won't be necessary."

"Alright, alright." Zidane chuckled. "I will be off. It was nice meeting you, Mr. Estheim. You should drop by sometimes Claire." Zidane walked closer, and kissed Claire on the cheek.

How dare he do something like that! Hope was basically seconds away from strangling the young man before he bounced off again. It was even worse, when Zidane struck him a genuine pitiful "oh I'm so sorry you can't talk to her properly" look.

He wanted to strangle him so badly.

"You must not hang around kids enough." Claire mused. "You looked like you wanted to run away when Zidane came."

"What…how old is he?" Hope asked. A kid?

"Zidane's sixteen, but he has an ego that gives him six more years." Claire sighed, but her tone was affectionate. Then Hope felt vaguely ashamed; he got jealous over a kid. No matter how charming and handsome he was, it was still just a kid. "He works as an intern for the paper since his brother's in charge of this division, but he wouldn't in any other position because he's only in lycée. He helped me out when I first came here, and shows everyone around the place because he knows it so well. Talented actor too."

"Oh, well. It's not like I don't like kids, but the one I worked with…" Hope shuddered.

"Was he that bad?" Claire raised an eyebrow.

"Not really. This kid is a student of a German coworker I have, is the same age, and kinda looks like Zidane too. And get this: He got into university at the age of twelve, and he graduated this year." Hope explained.

Claire's jaw dropped. "That's amazing! Guess you're not the only child prodigy."

Hope felt embarrassed, and rubbed the back of his head. "I'm not that great…"

"Of course you are." Claire waved it off. "But what's so bad about this kid?"

"He dresses like a punk and is terrifying." Hope explained. "He has the shortest temper I have ever seen, completely rebellious, and never listens to anything anyone says. It's a good thing he's such a genius at biochemistry, and his accuracy with everything is almost perfect, otherwise he'd be such a pain to work with."

"Well, he seems like quite a colourful character." Claire laughed.

"Oh he is. Mind telling me how you met Zidane?" Hope asked. Then his stomach growled loudly.

"Sure, I'll tell you. But how about we walk and talk while we find somewhere to eat and finish the interview?" Claire suggested, and Hope flushed, nodding. "I'm normally stationed in Marseilles for reporting, since they needed people there, and it's also my hometown. I got an intern for the last year of university with the paper, and I was sent to do a little travelling and getting used to the job with my coworker, Cloud, in Paris. It was also spring break for the students in lycee, and Zidane was charged in showing me around. I did such a good job at interning that when I graduated, the paper offered me a job."

"That's really nice." Hope commented. Then he spotted by the exit two tall, young men, around his age, holding clipboards and recorders. One had spiky blonde hair and blue eyes, the other one had brown hair, and gray-blue eyes with a perpetual frown on his face. They were both handsome, and attractive.Why is Claire hanging around all these good-looking guys? "Are those your coworkers?"

"Yup." Claire affirmed. "How could you tell? 'Spiky and Grumpy'?"

"That…had something to do with it." He admitted. The pair of reporters noted him and Claire, and walked towards them.

"Claire," the blond one, Cloud, nodded to her. He looked serious, but put on a polite smile for Hope. "And Mr. Hope Estheim, your speech on new advances on DNA replication was fantastic. I completely enjoyed–"

"Hey Cloud," Squall grumbled, looking apologetic for interrupting them. "I just got a call from the boss. Zack called in sick. You're gonna have to interview Mr. Loire now."

Cloud groaned. "Why me?"

"Hey, I'm stuck with Mr. Hughes. This is what happens when the good-tempered person of your team calls in sick. You have to deal with all of these chipper fellows." Squall looked apologetic again. "My apologies for the interruption and not introducing myself. But I have to go." Hope and Squall shook hands.

"My apologies as well." Cloud said. "I shall have to head out."

"Not a problem, it was nice meeting you." Hope and Cloud shook hands.

"Claire, don't forget to turn in your report by next Tuesday." Cloud reminded her as he turned to go.

"Don't worry!" She called to him, then turned to Hope. "Shall we go? I know this cafe we can go to. It's within walking distance."

"Of course." Hope said, and the two started exiting the building into the fair weather outside. "All of you reporters seem to know strangely a lot about the science."

"Oh, that's specifically why we were chosen to do some reporting here." Claire said. "Cloud did a biology and communications double major in university, and Squall did a chemistry and language major. I did a biochemical engineering and journalism degree in university. We all have some sort of background, and I do a lot of science reporting."

"That's really impressive!" Hope remarked. "Where did you go to university?"

"I went to University of Nice Sophia Antipolis. Good school, close enough to Marseilles too." She replied.

"Don't mind me asking, but if you did engineering, why did you go into journalism?" Hope asked.

"I…I like traveling." She said. "I never got to do it much as a kid. Also, I have the feeling I'm looking for something, but I can't place my finger on it, and journalism helps me search."

Hope's breath caught. Is Light searching for us in her own way?

"Oh look! Here we are!" Claire pointed to a cafe across the street.

Hope stood shocked, and his mouth went dry… because the cafe's name was called The Ark.


A/N: Hooray! New chapter! And it's about twice as long as the first!

You'll have to forgive me for inserting Zidane into the story, however briefly. I'm playing FFIX right now and this guy pratically stole my heart. I really wanted some warm interaction between characters, since Light really never had any affectionate ones in game, with a few exceptions of maybe Fang and Vanille. So I wanted to give her some. Plus, jealous Hope was really fun to write hohoho. Cloud and Squall I picked to be Light's coworkers, because they all had weather related names. Zack, and two other FF chars get mentions, can you guys who they are?

Also bonus for whoever knows who the angry German kid is!

Just a bit of a note on France and the French used. "Le Cadran Solaire" literally manes "The Sundial" in English. I had to name a paper for a project in French class and that's what I used…because I'm lazy and I can't think of another title. Claire mentions that Zidane goes to lycée, which is a rough equivalent to high school in NA terms, but from grades 10-12. There's a similar education system in Quebec, Canada as well. University of Nice Sophia Antipolis is actually a real university! Also pretty high ranking in the country. I chose Marseilles as Claire's hometown since it's like Bodhum: A warm, seaside town that's a tourist trap.

Zidane quotes Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 and Antoine de Saint-Exupery's "The Little Prince". Since "The Little Prince" is a huge cultural influence in France, and Zidane is meant to be a savvy little guy, I wanted to add a little reference to that.

Anyways, thanks for reading! If you took time to comment on my stories, it'd mean a lot!