Let's see what is happening after that cliffhanger.
Chapter 4:
"What?" Lumina's voice croaked out as she looked towards the redhead in the bed. A concerned look strewn on her face.
"According to the scans... the doctors think I might have a brain tumour. And they along with Claire want to biopsy parts to check to see if it is tumour and if so is it malignant or benign." Vanille said softly as she looked into her lap. Her blatant fidgeting with the plastic lid.
Just the hearing of the sound of the paper cup being placed on the table, Vanille was shocked at the feeling of being dragged into a hug. Glancing over a little she gently slid one of her arms around her daughter who was holding tightly onto her.
"Mommy..." Lumina cried out softly as Lightning sighed a little knowing that Lumina and her could seemingly agree on something for the first time in a long time. Taking a seat on the edge of the bed Lightning rested her hand on the redhead's leg.
"Now can you see it from our point of view Van?" Lightning began gently rubbing the woman's leg. Just hoping that she would be able to get it through to Vanille, especially if it was over something like this. "Unless you can give the both of us a satisfactory reason Van... there is no reason to not do it." Lightning continued as she moved her hand to take the paper cup from Vanille so she could use both hands to console their daughter.
The sound of the room was punctuated with the sound of tears spilling from the teen as Vanille clearly tried to think of an excuse. Something that Lightning knew and just wished that she didn't need to do this song and dance. Not now. Normally, she was fine with it, but this was a very serious situation to Lightning that she knew if it was one of her detectives she would pretty much forced them to get tested. But now that it was someone that she cared deeply for that she couldn't strong arm in the same way she was just begging that Vanille would just accept that they should just do this.
"You love my hair don't you?" Vanille croaked out as Lightning took a breath and walked over to place the cups down on the nightstand before walking back over and gently placed a hand on Vanille's lap.
"I love you Vanille." Lightning said as she could see Lumina's head pick up the streaks being far more obvious than what Lightning knew the girl wanted. But she also knew that they were as genuine as almost anything the woman did when it came to Vanille.
"Mom... please... can you just get the biopsy?" Lumina spoke sniffling as Vanille puffed her cheeks out and stared into her daughter's tear ridden eyes at what she knew was something that she could almost never say no to. But just the thought of what would happen to her. The cutting and breaking of her head just to scrape and cut things from her brain.
Unwrapping one of her hands, Vanille lightly brushed some of the tears away from her daughter's features as she took a deep breath before looking towards her wife. Sending the message hopefully clear to the elder pink haired woman.
"I'll be there if it makes you comfortable Vanille and if it would be something the doctors would allow. If you don't want me, I'll get whoever you want." Lightning said as she lightly as Vanille took a gulp as she nodded her head in almost acceptance of that fact. Lightly patting at Vanille's leg, Lightning took a deep breath. "Do you want me to fill Fang and Serah in? Or at least about the further tests?" Lightning asked as Vanille just frowned as Lumina continued to hold her close.
"Please... I can't tell Fang or Serah bad things. Just be back as soon as you can. And don't." Vanille said as Lightning took a deep breath as she stood up, taking a few steps to just smile at the woman.
"I wouldn't." Lightning said as she started to walk out of the room. As she walked into the elevator, Lightning took one final deep breath as she looked around and was happy there was no one around. Just so she could let her smile fall. She wanted to let her anger out, but she also knew where that would lead her. Namely being brought in with Internal Affairs, a group of people that she would rather never have to give the time of day, let alone explaining why she beat a hospital elevator.
She knew that there was a way out. An easy and pleasant way out for her that just had one issue with. Speeding up once the doors open, Lightning smiled at the sight of Fang and Serah being near the entrance. It would mean not as many people would be affected by it.
Coming to a stop, she laughed internally at the sight of Fang turning towards her with a smile on her face. "What's up?" Fang asked with a smirk on her face as Lightning just smirked internally.
"Say something insulting to me Fang."
"Claire, don't you dare." Serah snapped as Lightning placed a hand on her shoulder and forced her to stay sitting.
"You're a terrible mother." Fang said as she winced from the fist being delivered to her jaw. Wincing a little as she started to sit upright, Fang began to rub her jaw as Lightning shook her hand that had delivered the blow to Fang. "Still as hard of punch as ever." Fang said as she started to rotate her jaw in small movements that caused her to just breathe a little in relief.
"And your head is still like a brick wall." Lightning stated as she walked over towards her sister and plopped down in the seat. Giving her hand one final shake as she could feel her sister batting away at her shoulder.
Pushing her sister back into a more prone to facing Fang. Just because that was the easiest way she could just barely get through this. It was at a point that Lightning was at least a little glad that either Fang understood why Lightning asked for that, or at least felt the environment of the room and said it.
"You know I don't actually mean that Light." Fang said softly as she pulled her hand away from the side of her face and lifted up the paper cup.
"Yes I know. If I wasn't you would have challenged me to one of those Pulse death matches." Lightning said before she quickly gestured the anger at what Lightning had said. "Just I ne-"
"I told you not to Claire. What the hell?" Serah hissed as Lightning just cracked her neck unsure if her anger was still coming through. She didn't want to have to do this, but she knew that she had to. There was no other way they would find out given how Vanille never liked talking about this topic.
Placing a hand over Serah's mouth, Lightning smiled internally at the relief she had as she could see her sister sulking out of the corner of her eye. "You'll understand in a minute Serah." Lightning said ignoring the licking that she could feel on her palm. She knew that this was going to be a hard thing for her to talk about but she knew she just had to be blunt about it. "Vanille might have brain cancer." Lightning said as she could see Fang and even Serah's expression blanch. "When she got her head scanned they found growths that Lumina and I thankfully just got done essentially bargaining with Vanille to get a biopsy of them so the jury is still out on if it really is or some other sort of thing..." Lightning continued, slowly taking her hand away from Serah's mouth just in time to feel the smaller woman latch onto her giving her a rib shattering hug.
Lightning took a deep breath as she returned the hug from Serah. "And right now instead of me being with my wife, she is busy consoling our daughter and the only thing that got my mind off the topic is the same thing as always, punching something." Lightning hissed as she could hear her sister starting to cry.
Rolling her eyes, Lightning gently patted Serah's back. She knew that Serah was at times just as emotional as Vanille given the right topics, but this was a time that Lightning couldn't blame her. She knew how much this at least made her feel better.
"Do they know if it is the bad type or you can ignore it a little type?" Fang spoke being the first to regain her ability to speak but Lightning could just see that she was fighting the same urge Lightning was.
"They won't know until they cut into her head and get some of the growths to check, but according to the doctor, from the number they counted, chances are it is the bad type... and that they were most likely the reason Vanille had been passing out randomly, or any number of things." Lightning said as she craned her head a little to look at Serah who had continued to cry into her shirt. She loathed the fact that this was were she was.
Not trying to help her wife who she knew was feeling worse than Serah right now with the added benefit of fear of what is to come, all being bottled up because of how Lumina needed some help right now.
"Do you need anything Claire?" Serah asked as finally seemingly regaining her ability to speak as she pulled her head away from Lightning's chest.
Sighing a little at relief from being offered that blank cheque, "You two may need to take Lumina for the night. I'm going to need to stay as long as I possibly can because Vanille is terrified right now which largely was the reason it was so hard to convince her to do this." Lightning said as she could hear sniff coming from Serah. Something that she knew was from her just being as hurt by this as Lightning had been, the difference though was that Lightning had to be a rock right now. No matter how much this was hurting herself. She had done it with other things when it came to her family, she could do it all over again.
"We can take her Light. But I think we both know that isn't what Serah meant." Fang said trying to snap Lightning from the stoicism that she had donned around herself.
"It is what I need. If I know Lumina is looked after, I can focus solely on my wife who is about to have what amounts to brain surgery." Lightning said as she took some deep breaths again as Serah separated from the hug with a shocked expression strewn on her face. "And don't tell Mom or Dad Serah. Right now we don't need genuine crazy homeopathy." Lightning said as she took a deep breath and looked towards Fang. "And can you not mention this to Oerba Fang? Because when one person knows the rest is going to find out quickly. I'm not asking you to not tell them, I'm just asking you wait until we have something concrete before you call Vanille's father and your parents." Lightning said as she could see Fang shaking her head as if she had been just zoned out trying to figure this entire thing out until Lightning had said that.
"Fine. Just say the word and I'll tell them. But this is the news that should be said face to face Light." Fang said as Lightning took a deep breath and placed her hand against her forehead.
"Fine, that will be discussed. Just don't tell them." Lightning said as she stood up and took a deep breath as to calm herself down a lot more. "Fang... say something insulting again please."
"Lumina is going to become a deviant with you as a parental figure." Fang said as Lightning slammed her fist across Fang's jaw once more. Sighing a happy sigh, she couldn't help but just smile at the relief she felt, even though it was beyond a temporary feeling.
The fact remained to Lightning that she knew the second she walked back into that room she would feel so much worse. But for now, she knew that she was feeling fine. Sighing once more, Lightning stood upright and started to shake her hand.
"Thanks for that Fang." Lightning said nodding her head as she spun around and started to walk towards the elevator. She knew that this wasn't going to be a fun night, but she also knew that she had to do this. It was something that was making her just groan internally.
She knew that it wouldn't be long until she was by Vanille, and she was going to need to shove her emotions down just because of how she had to be a rock once more. But that wasn't something that she knew she could do once more.
Walking into the elevator, Lightning just blindly hit the button to her floor as she raised her hand up to her face. She needed some time to just enter back into a stoic mask. She didn't want to really, but she knew she had no choice but to. She just wished that it was going to be an easier thing to do.
Sighing vocally, Lightning lowered her hand as she noticed the doors opening. There was a slight joy she had if because she could just be close to those who needed her right now. It was something that while hard on her, she knew it was so much harder on Vanille right now.
Stepping out of the elevator, Lightning could feel her smile drift back into a stoic mask as she walked into the room with Vanille. She almost laughed at the sight that was before her. Lumina curled up in a small ball as Vanille gently shushed her.
It was something that she had seen countless times before, but not recently. The sight of her daughter being asleep as Vanille just gently rubbed her back. "I wasn't gone that long was I?" Lightning asked as Vanille shook her head gently.
"She just cried herself asleep. She clearly didn't sleep too much last night and this just pushed her over the edge." Vanille said softly as Lightning walked over to the other side of the bed that she took a comfortable seat on as she gently placed a hand on Vanille's knee. "How did..." Vanille began but the words seemed to just die in her throat. A sentiment that Lightning knew more than enough when it came to Vanille.
"Shock. Mostly. I asked Fang not to tell your father or her parents at least until there is something solid. Asked Serah not to call our parents for... similar reasons." Lightning half lied as she took a deep breath and began to rub Vanille's leg. "I also asked them to take Lumina for the night." Lightning continued as Vanille just smiled softly as she looked down at the woman in her arms.
Smiling softly, Lightning spun around to see the doctor walking into the room with an eyebrow raised as he tried to piece things together. Deciding to just cut that out Vanille spoke up. "This is our daughter." As Vanille spoke she gently raised the hand that had been rubbing Lumina's back, smiling as she felt Lumina pull her closer in an almost defensive manner from the lack of a single hand. "But as a family we talked it over... I'll have the biopsy. Just... can it wait until her aunts get here?" Vanille said softly with a small tremor in her voice as she could see the doctor nod his head.
"You know I have a daughter myself." The doctor said taking a few steps closer as Vanille just smiled down at Lumina. "I can't imagine what is going through your mind. But I'll set this up and should have you back to her by tomorrow. With hopefully good news." The doctor spoke as Vanille just smiled at her.
"Hopefully." Vanille said softly as she returned to gently rubbing the woman in her arms as Lightning just turned back to focus solely on Vanille. She was just happy that Vanille had at least been staring at this situation as a glass half full type, but Lightning just knew better.
It wasn't even a situation that she knew enough about, but what she did know was there wasn't many things that caused growth looking objects to appear on the brain that caused headaches and blackout spells. But she just had to hope along with Vanille that this going to be nothing they had to worry about.
Hearing the door close again, Lightning gently grabbed Vanille's free hand and just smiled faintly at her as she gave it a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry Van. Everything will be fine. It always is. And if not, we will face this challenge like we've faced all the others in our life." Lightning said with a grin. She knew that no matter what, Lumina was going to be just fine. She had to be just fine.
"I hope so." Vanille said softly as she looked up and could see Serah and Fang walking into the room. The almost solemn look on their faces caused Vanille to groan at. "Can you two stop it with that look? We are being hopeful right now." Vanille said as Fang shook her head and walked over to the sleeping woman. Chuckling to herself as she could see the possessive death grip that Lumina had on her.
"Hard to think that Van. But that sight brings back memories of when she was younger." Fang chuckled dryly out as Lightning just joined in the chuckle.
"First time in years she hasn't violently gone against what is best for her."
Chuckling at Lightning's comment, Fang bent down and was about to slide her arms under the girl when she felt Serah smack her arm causing her to wince a little out of irritation. "Dear god you and Claire both don't know anything when it comes to this kind of thing. Just wake her up so she can actually have some time with her mother." Serah hissed as Fang rolled her eyes as she gestured for Vanille to do that one action just because Fang knew that she would be the only person that wouldn't get the woman's anger.
Gently patting at Lumina's shoulder, Vanille smiled as she could see the girl's head perking up a little to see Lightning holding onto her mother's other hand as she felt the gentle soothing touch of her mother on her back.
"You fell asleep Lumina." Vanille said softly as Lumina started to slide on of her arms out from around her and started to rub her eyes. She could feel the tears already wanting to spill free again but she couldn't let them. Not yet. It would make the inevitable leaving of her mother so much harder on the both of them.
"I'm sorry." Lumina whispered as she had to ignore the chuckle coming from behind her. It was the same unique laughter that she knew belonged to Fang, but she just didn't want to snap at the woman. At least for now. She knew that if she wanted to get revenge it wouldn't be a hard thing necessarily to get. Just time consuming.
"It's fine Sunshine." Vanille said with a smile as Lumina slide out from her mother's arm, just so if she could make what time remained before she knew Lightning would send her away with her aunts at least productive and helpful. At least for Vanille. She didn't care about the rest. As long as she could help the person that needed it.
Sighing a little, Lumina turned around and glared at Fang who had a chuckle still wanting to spill out that she could see. Just the sight was enough to make Lumina want to punch her aunt but she knew that if she did it would cause so much more worry on her mother than she needed. No matter how much she was positive that it would feel wonderful to do. She just had to hope that the anger would dissipate eventually or that Fang would laugh at her expense in the room again.
"Sunshine..." Vanille spoke softly getting Lumina's attention again. Something that just caused her to smile at the feeling of knowing that she could get most of her daughter's anger gone by the utterance of a single word. "You are going to be staying with Serah and Fang tonight... please don't be difficult with them and go to school tomorrow. Okay?" Vanille said in a deadpan tone as Lumina looked down and lightly chewed her lip, something that Vanille knew from experience was the look Lumina always got when her plans for the future were foiled by a simple request on Vanille's part.
"Okay Mom." Lumina spoke softly as she looked down and took some deep breaths for what Vanille just knew was her accepting that she really was going to need to do everything her mother had just told her. But what she did know was it didn't mean she had to enjoy doing the things requested.
Sliding her hand from Lightning's, Vanille gestured for Lumina to walk over and give her a hug. Something that just made her smile as the woman returned it quickly. "I love you Lumina. And while Claire might not say it as often or in as many words, I know she does too. All that is going to happen is the biopsy and hopefully we'll have an answer and I'll make sure you know as well." Vanille said softly as she could feel Lumina just squeeze her tighter. Something that just caused all kinds of amusement for Vanille.
Separating from the hug, Vanille just groaned internally at the fact that she could see Lumina quickly rubbing her face with the back of her hand doing what Vanille just knew was the same thing she had always done when she wanted to try and hid how she was feeling.
"I love you too Mom." Lumina said as she turned around and quickly look at the ground and nearly ran out of the room causing Vanille to just chuckle a little.
"She is just like you Claire." Vanille said as Serah chuckled to herself but the redhead knew it was purely from agreement. Something that just brought some joy to her.
"Bye Van... just..." Serah began as she tried to find the words that wouldn't die in her throat like they had been. Deciding words would do much, Serah quickly lunged herself forward and hugged Vanille tightly. Just the action was enough to elicit a laugh from Vanille.
"Van, what I think Serah means is seriously keep us posted. Preferably as soon as you find out, but I'll accept after you tell Lumina." Fang said as she placed a hand on Serah's shoulder and lightly started to peel her from the woman. Something that she figured would be a lot easier of a thing for her to separate from Vanille, but also just wanted to signal to Serah that they should probably get going as well just because she knew how much of a penchant Lumina had to get into trouble without a valid reason to get away with most legal things.
Separating from her best friend, Serah nodded her head as she took a few steps to just stand next to Fang and hold onto her, just because she knew her emotions were going to betray how much this was already hurting her.
Waving them off, Vanille smiled as they walked out of the room leaving Lightning alone with her. Looking over towards her wife, Vanille quickly kept her hand away from Lightning's as she just glared light heartedly at her. "I thought I told you not to get into a fight with Fang." Vanille said as she finally relented and Lightning hold onto her hand.
"I didn't. I just punched her and she let it happen... but let's talk about something happier. Okay?"
"Okay."
Author's Note:
Another chapter for you crazy people... hope you enjoyed it.
RagnarokXIII: Well that is a good thing. there is a lot to come.