All Snow could think about was Serah. He opened his eyes. A nurse came over and asked him if he wanted anything. He asked for Serah, but then he felt his eyes go heavy and everything swirled around him.
He woke up a few more times, but every time he did there was no Serah, just a different nurse or sometimes nobody was with him at all. He tried lifting his arms but couldn't. He wasn't in any pain though, so that was a plus.
Finally he woke up without feeling groggy and took a good look around. He was definitely in a hospital. He looked down and saw that his left arm was broken. He tried to remember what had happened, but everthing was a blur to him. Then he remembered the pub, and what had happened with Lightening.
"Serah!" he thought out loud. Had Lightening told her everything? Is that why Serah wasn't there with him? He tried getting out of bed and felt his head spin, but he continued on. He had to find her and explain.
He'd just left the room when he bumped into someone.
"Oops, sorry," he said, and looked down.
Serah looked up at him with surprise. "You're awake!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah, looks that way," he said. "Hey Serah, I have to explain-"
"Not now," she cut him off. "You're lucky to be alive, Snow. Explanations can wait until later."
He wanted to argue back; Serah deserved an explanation, but at the same time she didn't seem angry so he let it go and followed her back into the room.
"What happened to me?" he asked her once they were sat down.
"You were hit by a car. Luckily the driver saw you and braked, but he still hit you. If he hadn't have seen you, then... you'd probably be dead now." she looked sad when she said it, and Snow worried that there was more.
"All I got was a broken arm?" he asked.
She paused before she answered, "No. You've been in and out of a coma for a while."
"How long?"
"...three months."
"But my head's okay now, right? I mean, I feel a bit off-balance but I'm fine."
"Yeah, you're okay now. You had a bit of head damage when you fell. You might have some problems with balance from now on, but there are certain things the doctor can help you with so that'll get better."
He sighed with relief. He still needed to talk to Serah about what happened before the accident, though, and after some persuading Serah agreed to take him home.
Once there he told her he hadn't meant it, and she listened. She stayed quiet throughout his explanation of really meaning to have just a couple of drinks, but then it all went to his head and before he knew it he was drunk. He told her about what happened with Lightening, and even though she did look hurt she didn't say anything. He told her he was on his way home to tell her everything when the accident happened, and then she spoke.
"I knew I shouldn't have let you go. But I have my own explanation to make."
Snow looked at Serah confused, so she continued.
"I told Lightening to keep an eye on you. I should have done it myself, then I'd have walked home with you and this never would have happened. I'm sorry."
She did look sorry, too, but Snow felt so much worse.
"After all that I did, you're the one apologising? Serah," he took her hands in his, and she looked up at him, "you're not responsible for my actions. That's all me. I'm the one who should be sorry. I should have known I wasn't ready the second I walked in."
She smiled and nuzzled her head into his chest. "Well, what now?" she asked.
"Well," he thought for a moment. "We start again. I'll stay away from temptation. Then, when I think I'm ready, we'll both go somewhere for a drink, and if I'm not ready then we'll go straight home."
Serah entwined her fingers with his. "Sounds like a plan," she said.
Maybe it was because he'd been in a coma, but Snow found it easier the second time around. Staying home most of the time was fine by him, and on the rare occassion that they did go anywhere he didn't feel so tempted.
It had been months since the accident, and finally him and Serah went to the pub. They ordered soft drinks only, and didn't stay long. With each visit they stayed a little longer, until Snow could stay over an hour and have just one drink without getting the urge to have another.
"I'm so proud of you," Serah told him on their way home on evening.
"I couldn't have done it without you," he replied, and he meant it. She'd been his rock throughout this whole thing.
The next week it was time to go for a drink with his mates. Snow could see the worry in Serah's eyes, but he reassured her it wouldn't be like last time.
He could smell it when he reached the pub doors, but it didn't bother him like it had done before. They went in and got a table. Everybody was drinking, but Snow didn't let it bother him. He ordered half a pint for himself, and sipped it slowly. Once he'd finished he stood up.
"Getting another?" one of his mates asked.
"Nope, think I'll pass," he said, smiling. "I have an amazing girlfriend to get home to."
He left the pub to the jeers and wolf-whistles from their table, but this time for all the right reasons.
THE END