A/N: In Jihl's Last Stand, Part 1…Jihl makes a last minute plan as her death sentence is coming, against Candy. This part will determine whether or not it is a success. Meanwhile, Fang and Lightning are having increasingly romantic feelings for each other, and this half WILL end in Fang and Lightning being a couple!

Jihl's Last Stand, Part 1

Jihl sits in a private section of the prison library, looking over the notes on the manifesto Nabaat has been working on that she is now ready to leave behind after her last breath has exhaled, pleased with what she has planned on it thus far, hoping that it would severely harm Fang and Lightning's good name this way. The disgraced PSICOM Officer felt that once she's gone, she'll have some explosive info about varying people - Fang and Lightning included - that is, in her eyes, capable of ruining their good name...or so it seems. What Nabaat doesn't know is that Candy is in the same library, finishing a plot of her own to end Jihl's life before the death sentence is carried out, and that manifesto would further damage her reputation. With time clearly not on her side, Jihl wastes no time and finish her manifesto and starts to plot a diabolical plan; this time though, it is against Candy.

Once she leaves the library, Jihl heads to the cafeteria, as dinner time for her wing was approaching fast. Since it's the final days Jihl has to live, she is given nothing but the meals she wants to consume before her execution is carried out. Other inmates in the prison would normally be jealous of this, but in this case, they're not, for they all know what Jihl Nabaat had done for so many years, as well as the lives she ruined which included her own. In a strange twist of fate, Candy just so happens to show up at the same cafeteria for supper, mainly to take a very good look at Jihl's food and peculiar mannerisms, knowing that she'll get this treatment herself if she carries out her plot and kills Nabaat just before the sentence is carried out as Candy herself will get the death sentence if it happens. It was a lot for her to take in, considering that it was Jihl who coerced Candy to do her bidding at will.

Time will only tell what goes on from this eventful dinner at the cafeteria, for something is about to happen to someone - and no one will see it coming.

Jihl's making her last stand.

XXX

In the Yun-Farron household (this was mutually agreed upon by Fang and Lightning the week after the brunette and Lasswell first moved in), the four residents eventually lay out the ground rules, with the two older women agreeing to split all expenses. Seven was beyond stoked by this, as it gave Lightning the peace of mind Rachel had denied in the past. Even Lasswell couldn't help but smile at this - out of the four people, he was one who won't take anything he's given for granted, never had, especially with the situation about Bahamut. Speaking of that beloved cat, he was adored by all, especially those four humans he has since claimed as his territory. Any visitor would fall in love with Bahamut upon seeing him.

Having Fang and Lasswell living with Seven and Lightning gave the silver haired girl hope that she will own Odin, her favourite horse in the stables, at some point in the future. It took Seven's millionth tale about that damn horse in the household to inspire both Fang and Lasswell on a future birthday gift to the silver haired girl, now that they're armed with that particular piece of information. Lightning was sometimes amused by Seven's stories, other times she was seriously annoyed by them. Fang and Lasswell weren't minding those tales one bit, since they shared their own stories about Bahamut, which put the older Farron at ease for the first time in years.

Things in the Yun-Farron household would only get better in time, and opportunities to have a better future for the four would all become reality, in the least likely way for all residents in that household.

Even Bahamut himself would be blessed in the future. Although he is a cat, he is loved to death by all the humans who now live with him. Seven would spoil him with treats to exchange for cuddles, while Lasswell would have his weekly naps with him. As for Lightning, she made sure that Bahamut got the best cat food, both wet and dry, and all of his favourite cat treats. He was worth it to the older Farron. Fang? It was her methods that put him at ease whenever Bahamut needed to visit the vet.

However, the best would be coming soon.

XXX

It is one week before Jihl's death sentence would be carried out. The disgraced PSICOM Officer is moved into a cell meant for inmates who are a week away from being executed for their crimes. In Candy's case, this creates an interesting scenario for herself as well as an interesting dilemma, now that she might not be able to kill Jihl like she had originally planned to do. Upon finding out that her crew is now in prison for the arson incident, the jilted inmate has to think things over, if killing Jihl would be worth it for herself and her now imprisoned crew. By the maker, it was a very hard choice for her to make. After writing down every pro and con, the only thing that truly emerged from this was a migraine.

"Fuuuuuccccckkkkk..." Candy grunts to herself, realising that she herself would be sentenced to death if she kills Jihl on her own, continuing a vicious cycle of sorts her family was cursed for, proving that Candy was no better and putting her in a bind. After hours of thinking it over thoroughly, the inmate felt that it was best to leave Jihl alone, so that her sentence can be carried out. After all, time was against her, and against Jihl too. However, Candy does have some written evidence that Jihl left behind which could help reduce her sentence and, if Lightning felt like it, could give her a conditional pardon in the future. It would be up to Lightning, Hope and Celes, a colleague of theirs who works at the prison, to determine if Candy is worthy of a reduced sentence or a conditional pardon.

Candy would be given the shock of her life just one day before Jihl's execution for what the disgraced PSICOM Officer did for several years as a free woman is to take place. This shock would take the prison by surprise as well. Once Fang, Seven and Lasswell find out in time, they all would be more stunned than ever before.

All of them would find out from Claire "Lightning" Farron herself in time, when she makes an unexpected discovery in her rounds at the prison that day.

It would be more than one discovery the older Farron finds.

XXX

Each passing day, leading to Jihl's death sentence being carried out, has the disgraced PSICOM Officer deep in thought about everything that's happened over the last several years. Her longtime affair with Rachel Tronco-Farron, which eventually led to Rachel's death by her hands although Fang and Lasswell were the intended targets; her divorce from Fang, being indirectly responsible for Lightning's suicide attempt and being the mastermind behind the arson at her and Fang's old house...all of this, in a twist of fate, was all taking a heavy toll on Jihl all of a sudden. How that was, no one knows. In spite of it all, Jihl remained as at peace with herself as she could. Jihl, at the last second, opted to not follow through with her plans on taking action against Candy, knowing that she won't have enough time to execute the plan.

Instead, Jihl remained in her cell, writing yet another letter, but to no recipient in particular. As she was writing whatever she was thinking about, emotions of guilt, sorrow, despair and regret take over her being, knowing that she alone is responsible for her situation. Upon finishing what would be the final letter, Jihl takes a final look at her cell. Oddly enough, she spots the perfect way to end it all three days before Jihl's execution takes place. "I guess this is how I should go out..." was the last words that Jihl Nabaat would ever think of before someone else entered her cell, which no one saw this coming.

Jihl Nabaat is now dead.

XXX

It is the day before Jihl's execution is to be carried out, two days since anyone has seen the disgraced PSICOM Officer at any spot within the prison facility. Lightning, accompanied by Hope, were assigned to the prison facility on this particular day, because there were rumours flying around regarding Jihl's disappearance. Some of the inmates suggested that she could have escaped, while others either didn't care or speculated that Jihl was being held in yet another cell. There were a few that even said that Jihl Nabaat took her own life a few days before. Being the skeptical types of people, Lightning and Hope agreed to split up and cover the entire prison facility, in order to find out just what happened to Jihl.

Hope took over the wing where Candy was being held at, as he knew that she had a huge role in the arson. Oddly enough, he found Candy alright, but she was in a distraught state of being, not quite herself. "Hey there Candy, are you okay? You don't seem to be yourself as of late," Hope asked the inmate, noticing that she clearly not herself. Candy wouldn't say a single word to the concerned slender man, which the white haired maled made mental notes of his encounter with Candy to aid in the ongoing investigation into the arson incident, which was taking longer than expected despite the people behind it in jail for it. In typical Hope fashion, his heart genuinely went out to her, as he remembered her face when she was working with Cid Raines on tricky incidents in the past, especially when Hope himself was new to the GC. He hoped that Candy was a part of what Cid wanted her to do.

Lightning took the wing where Jihl was transferred to days before her sudden disappearance, hoping to find out where Jihl went to, and more importantly, if she's still alive. "It's unlike Jihl to just vanish like that. I wonder if that arsehole Dysley knows anything...he's her caretaker since she was transferred to the new cell...damn it, this is giving me a fucking migraine..." the older Farron said to herself, trying to put any leads together with the mystery on her own, knowing a very odd piece of information a few others knew. With caution and wondering about Dysley's character like everyone else in the GC, Lightning approaches the cell, only to see the door left opened ajar. Upon entering the cell, the only words that loudly came out from the older Farron's mouth were "Holy fucking shit!", and for a valid reason.

The sight before Lightning was one she'd wished to have never seen.

Jihl Nabaat was hung by a sturdy noose, but the older Farron wondered if she killed herself - or if either Dysley or Candy had something to do with it in order for Jihl's death to look like Jihl killed herself but was actually murdered. Lightning paged Hope to get a couple of people to Jihl's cell, so that an investigation is done about Jihl's sudden death. Upon a more thorough look around the cell, the older Farron spots three separate envelopes, all of which providing possible clues as to what exactly happened. Hope and a few others arrived to the scene, all of whom sharing Lightning's reaction upon seeing what the older Farron saw. Knowing that this now far from over, both Hope and Lightning would have to withhold this new development from Fang, Seven and Lasswell until not only is the new investigation over with but the trio also expressing interest as to what exactly happened.

They would all be at a loss for words when that day eventually comes.

XXX

Two months have passed since the week of Jihl's death. For reasons unknown, Lightning and Seven's lives were beginning to be more peaceful than before, more so than the time the older Farron was married to Rachel. There was something about Fang and Lasswell living with them that not many people would expect to be a healing force for the Farron family, but it was surely there. The healing effects Fang and Lasswell brought made things better for them. Not to be outdone, Lightning and Seven made things better for Fang and Lasswell in turn. As the brunette saved loads of money by moving in with the older Farron, there were many more things that Fang could do with the money she made from her expeditions.

It was a Thursday afternoon when Lasswell checked the mail, why he wanted to check the mail was anyone's guess. In his discoveries was a thick pile of mail as well as a care package for him and Seven from their pen pal Rain in Grandshelt. Upon entering the Yun-Farron household, he puts the regular mail on the coffee table so that either Fang or Lightning could sort out what was for whom. It was the same place where the older Farron puts the mail before sorting it out. Two hours later, Fang and Lightning come home from their monthly shopping trip with Serah, as Seven was sick and couldn't leave the house as the silver haired girl normally joins them for the monthly trip. Bahamut, the loyal and beloved feline, kept her company along with Vanille by being in her room until she got better.

The three women go into the kitchen and make sure that the groceries were all put away in their proper place and had Seven's medicine ready for her so that her illness would go away. "Uh...Claire, Fang...looks like you have loads more mail than before..." Serah announces while handing the brunette cans of Bahamut's favourite wet food, promoting Lightning and Fang to take a mental note of the pile of mail Lasswell had brought into the house two hours before as they remembered that Seven was in bed as she was sick as shit and Vanille was taking care of the silver haired girl. Shortly after putting away the last of the groceries, which took a few minutes, Fang, Lightning and then Serah went to the mail, while Serah giving Vanille Seven's medicine so that the silver haired girl can get better. Serah stayed behind with the older women as her gut was telling her that Lightning would need her support.

Smiling to herself that Lasswell remembered where the older Farron places the mail very well (Seven told him the exact spot), Lightning, Serah and Fang carefully sort through all the mail, which three large envelopes caught their attention almost as quick as Lightning's namesake when they get to them. With Serah putting the junk mail into one pile and the monthly bills for the house into another pile, Fang and Lightning carefully opened each of the three large envelopes, its contents taking them by susurprise. "What's going on here...?" the younger Farron began to ask them, only to see key documents that would make things much better for the Yun-Farron household as a whole financially, and one step closer for Odin, the horse Seven loved to death, to finally be a part of the Yun-Farron household at long last.

The documents gave the household details regarding Seven's inheritance from the other deceased members of the Tronco family, along with Lasswell's inheritance from Jihl's estate and the Nabaat family. Fang and Lightning side hugged each other for this strange turn of events, and even Serah couldn't help but be shocked by this as well. Serah, Lightning and Fang all wonder how the kids and Vanille would take the news of this magnitude, considering that it's been two months after Jihl's death. The conversations Seven has had about Odin now made Lightning smile for the first time in years, with the older Farron now having the means to ensure that he's bound to be a part of the family. Fang gave the older Farron another side hug before placing her head on Lightning's shoulder, beyond grateful now that the two older women live together. In turn, the older pinkette placed her cheek on Fang's head, creating an adorable scene which no one but Serah was able to see.

If Lightning only had the courage to let Fang know how she really felt about the brunette ever since they first met.

XXX

Another four months has passed; since Fang and Lightning recieved the news about the inheritance for their kids. Seven and Lasswell, the observant pair of kids they've always been, have been pushing for the older women to confess their undying love for each other. The weekly picnics the four have had at the nearby park, Lightning gifting Lasswell and Bahamut a toy each along with making sure that they're both sound asleep...and Fang STILL singing a lullaby to Seven before tucking the silver haired girl into bed each night, the older Farron getting flowers from "an unknown recipient" (in Lightning's eyes) and Fang getting gifts from a "secret admirer" (in the brunette's opinion), it's anyone's guess as to why neither woman has said anything to each other as of yet. All subtle clues that Fang and Lightning are meant to be together to the end.

To Hope and Serah, they knew that Lightning wants things to be organic between her and Fang, not forced by any means. Vanille, oddly enough, felt that the same way with Fang and her growing relationship with the older Farron. It is this tidbit that puts them all at ease with Lightning and Fang's organically growing relationship, as they'll be together under natural circumstances someday. For the adults, doing things organically was the best way to go, especially when Fang and Lightning were previously married to other people in the past.

One particular item that caused both Seven and Lasswell to help push the older women to confess their love for each other was the fact that, for the last month, they've been sleeping in the same bed. What they don't know was the exact reason why. It turns out that both Lightning and Fang were having trouble sleeping in separate rooms for a while, which they were having nightmares about what happened in their prior marriage with Rachel and Jihl respectively. It was when Fang snuck into Lightning's room as the brunette needed someone to talk to, in order to help her sleep, that kickstarted Lasswell and Seven's plan. They felt that the older women belonged to each other. One night in particular, Lightning and Fang have their nightly chat about varying topics, which gave the older Farron the courage she needed to start that talk with Fang.

"Fang...I've been getting flowers every day at work for a while now, which no one at the GC is fessing up to. I wonder who knows where I work that's sending me flowers, as I'd take them out on for at least dinner..." Lightning began, causing Fang to beam with pride, suddenly making the older Farron suspicious that it was Fang who has been sending her flowers at work. It was this moment that the brunette had something to get off her chest all the same.

"I've been getting gifts from an unknown person too, Sunshine. I too wonder who it is, since no one who's with me on my Expeditions sends me stuff that I've been getting as of late. Sometimes, I think it's you, but other times it could be someone else. Fuck...I wish I knew who..." Fang continued, and before long, Lightning closes the distance and kisses the brunette on her cheek. The next thing that the brunette sees is Lightning looking at her with a warm smile on her face, giving away to Fang the mysterious person who's been sending her all those gifts, and continues with a confession of her own before allowing the older Farron a chance to say anything.

"Light...Claire...if you're wondering about the flowers...it was me who's been sending them to you. Seven told me your favourite flowers...you can say that I like you as much as you like me...would you want to be more...?" Fang began to ask, with Lightning closing the distance once again and kiss her on the lips. Fang returned the kiss the older Farron gave and it didn't take long for the pair to agree on that night thay they're more than just friends at long last. The warm smile they shared - a smile reserved just for each other - held a vow of a happier, better and more peaceful future for themselves and their families. For reasons unknown, Fang didn't mind being interrupted by Lightning's affections. "In case you're wondering about the gifts Fang, that was me who sent them to you." Lightning confessed, just before a noted yawn took the rest of her thoughts away, as sleep was the top priority for the older Farron, which Fang agreed to just get some sleep.

The new couple fall asleep, having sweet dreams and knowledge that they would keep each other and their kids safe and secure.

"Sweet dreams, Sunshine. I love you." Fang happily said to her new girlfriend.

"Sleep well, Fang. I love you too." Lightning replied, with a happy and peaceful look on her face as rested her head on Fang's chest, just to listen to her heartbeat.

Nightmares stood no chance against them this time around.

To Be Continued

A/N #2: Jihl's Last Stand, Part 2 will not only see Lightning revealing Jihl's exact cause of death to Fang, Seven and Lasswell in a flashback, but also what will it take for Fang and Lightning to take their relationship to the next level as marriage eventually comes up but both women are afraid to make a move.