I just wanted to thank everyone so far whose read my first Final Fantasy XIII fic. The reviews really helps with the commitment issue in the process of making an extensive story.
Once again thank you all and I hope you will continue to hang in there with me.
Just a reminder: I do not own FFXIII (but you all knew that ;])
Day3: The pieces are all fitting together...
Snow entered the living room in a tank top and shorts but still wearing his signature black bandanna. Having been told by Sazh that Hope had arrived before intruding into the room, Snow still showed he was authentically surprised as he put his massive arm around Hope's shoulder's slightly squeezing the younger man's neck.
"Hey buddy! The past six years have been good to you!" Snow had pulled Hope's head uncomfortably close to his chest which had him somewhat frightened.
"Sn-Snow! It's good to see you t-to!" Hope was trying to wriggle free from Snow's strength. It was no use.
The large man finally released his grip to the sound of Serah entering the room with their daughter. Hope gazed upon the small creature resting against Serah's chest. The sight of the small girl was one of many experiences in his life that were somewhat new. The child stared into the strange silver haired man, unsure of what was expected he did what was natural which for him, which was to smile nervously.
"So? What do you think of our little girl?" Snow laughed showing off his pride n' joy.
"Isn't she just the sweetest?" Serah added. This put more pressure on the apprehensive man.
"Uh...Yeah she sure is. Has Snow's blonde hair, and she shares you beautiful eyes." He commented hesitantly.
"Aw thanks Hope." That's when Serah looked to Lightning. "Hear that Claire? Hope thinks we have beautiful eyes."
Lightning looked at Hope who was now clearly distressed. "Oh! I just meant your eyes Serah."
"So you don't like Claire's eyes? Our eyes are the same y'know which is the same as saying you don't like mine." Serah sounded hurt.
"Hey! Are you saying that my wife and child's eyes are ugly!" Snow loomed over Hope who hadn't prepared for a hostile confrontation.
"Wait! No! That's not wha-" Hope was loosing control of the situation.
"How could you say such a thing Hope?" Tears beginning to well in her eyes.
"You've offended me and my family. We're taking this outside and settling this like men." Snow's stared down at the smaller man who's hair covered the eyes that were to scared to stare back. Never has Snow directed such anger in his direction.
Hope stood waiting for his punishment, never had he felt so isolated. How could I have let this happen! His thoughts were loud enough for him to hear clearly by the atmosphere's relative silence. It was surprisingly quiet that Hope took his chance to survey the situation only to be met by the smile's of his aggressor and Serah.
"Sorry we put you on the spot! Don't look so scared buddy, it's just been so long and we just had too!" Snow laughed ferociously. "You should'a seen the look on your face!"
"Oh I'm sorry if we scared you dear." Serah embraced Hope the child still in her arms."It's been so long."
"It sure has." Hope sighed in relief. I thought I was a for sure going to be killed...
"So you really think our little Nora is just the cutest little thing you've ever seen?" Snow jumped in.
Nora...The name of their child shared the same name as his mother. But he knew that Snow probably named her after his organization. "Nora huh? It's a beautiful name..." Hope smiled at the girl staring up at the father who was making faces.
"Is everything okay?" Serah saw that his face had softened.
"Yeah. Nora was my mother's name." Hope smiled. This made Snow recall that day. The day he let the life of his friend's mother slip away from his fingers. Snow shook the memory from his head, and decided it was time to rekindle the bonds formed years ago.
"Well we got a barbecue to start and a birthday for a very special young lady to celebrate!" Snow pumping his arm. "Sis, is it okay if we set up outside? You have the perfect backyard."
Lightning's backyard was in fact perfect. Right below the living room windows was a stoned patio that was surrounded by artificially planted grass in a U shape boarded by a small stone wall looking out at the sea. Along the walls there were the exotic plants that were also planted in the front. Lightning's patio set consisted of a long table surrounded by six chairs. To the side she had a grill that sat untouched under a protective sheet. This barbecue would be the first for her grill.
"Sure, we all could use some fresh air." Lightning agreed.
Sazh had already took the liberty of setting up outside while Snow, Serah, Hope and Lightning caught up in the living room. On one side of the long table the cake was placed waiting for it's duty to be served. In front of each chair Dajh placed forks, spoons and a napkin along with cups. Sazh finished up by pulling out an array of beverages and appetizers from the bags he brought earlier. Next he focused on the grill which to his dismay seemed to be untouched. Opening the top he marveled at the clean grill perfect for the steaks.
The five from inside stepped outside to find an already prepared table and the sound of meat sizzling against the grill.
"Well there you guys are." Sazh looking back at them.
"Alright!" Snow ventured over to admire the steaks. "They look great old timer!"
"You bet they do. They've been marinated in a Katzroy's secret recipe." The man's technique reflected his experience and culinary prowess. "After doing this for many years, it never gets old."
As Snow and Sazh stood eying the meat Serah approached Dajh looking for someone to watch the child. "Dajh, do you mind taking Nora over in the grass and playing with her until dinners ready?"
"Of course Mrs. Villiers."The boy took Nora in his arms along with her bag of toys and walked over to the grass. After a moment of watching the two, Serah turned to her sister who sitting in her place in front of the cake.
"I can't believe you put all of this together. Thank you Serah." The soldier thanked the younger sister for planning by far one of the greatest birthday celebrations.
"Well actually, Snow thought of it." The younger Farron confessed.
"Snow?" Lightning glanced at the man who was being guided by Sazh in the art of grilling.
"Yeah! You may not realize it but he worries about you just as much as he does for me and Nora." Her words was the comfort she'd been looking for since her guests had arrived.
"He's such an idiot..." With a smile on her face the least she could do was follow through on her part and enjoy herself.
Hope had slipped back into the house as the two Farrons conversed. Feeling that he needing time to recollect his nerves, the man leaned back on the counter letting out a slow well deserved sigh. The breathe was too loud that he hadn't noticed the back door open which allowed the intruder to walk in on the sulking man.
"There you are! What are you doing here? The party is outside." Snow with his thumb pointing behind him, the other on his hip.
"Oh, I was just looking for...more napkins." He lied.
"You look a little sick, was it the train ride?" Snow was now leaning against the counter next to Hope.
"It...The train ride was alright..."
"Then tell me what's on your mind. Don't worry we're all friends here!" Snow's arm was around the silver-haired man's shoulder.
"Can I confess something to?" Hope asked with eyes at the floor.
"Hmm?" Snow's eye brow now arched.
"You promise not to tell?" His head now looking up at Snow's for reassurance.
"Sure. Whatever you plan on telling me can't be that bad." The stupid grin that Hope always hated was now the thing he needed the most.
"Okay...I think...I think...I'm in love with Light..." Hope only heard the man above him snickering.
"Whoa! I was not expecting that!" He laughed. "In love? With my sister?"
"Well I'm not sure if it's love, but I do know I've liked her for sometime..."
Snow stopped laughing when he saw that his friend was in need of his help. "Let me be honest with you, Light is- Well she's-..."
Finding the right words he continued. "You may be barking up the wrong tree my friend. Sure there's nothing wrong with you liking her; I mean I applaud you for your taste in women. Farrons are like no other; their strawberry pink hair, bright blue eyes...soft, pale skin..." Snow got caught up in his own thoughts for a moment until remembering who he was talking to. "However you might find that Light doesn't quite open up. Y'know?"
Hope searched the ground his feet stood on for answers. "But I can't just give up. I saved myself for her for six years...And your telling me that I wasted my time for nothing."
"Now I didn't say that." He replied defensively. "I was just saying that its been difficult for people to find a way past that iron defense she has up all the time."
"There has to be way in." Hope was now off the counter determined to let Lightning know how he felt about her.
Snow saw the rejuvenated young man and laughed in agreement. "If there's anybody who can find their way in, it's you...So while your here you penetrate that castle!"
"Did you have to say it like that?"
"Probably not..."
Returning to the rest of the group the two men stepped outside to that everyone had taken their seats and had been waiting for the two in order to begin the dinner. Sazh and his son sat next to each other one of the sides with two chairs, across from them Serah sat with Nora in her lap with an open seat next to which belonged to Snow. Hope looked at the open seat available. It would be the one right across from hers. The lone chair was directly across from where Lightning was sitting which meant that they would be forced to look at each other from across the table.
Settled, the group sat quietly. The light in the sky was now that of a setting sun, casting shadows of the group against the home, Lightning and Hope's faces half orange as opposed to the Katzroy's who's were completely lit up. Down the table Lightning saw bright green eyes from behind silver locks washing over her body. Blushing, the woman averted her eyes to her other guests. Sazh was demonstrating the proper technique for cutting steak. "...knife in right hand, fork in the left..." transferring her eyes she watched the Villiers. "...would please cut Nora's steak? I can't with her sitting in my lap..." But her eyes returned to the one she had new found feelings for. Again, she was flushed but this time was seen by her brother-in-law who came to the rescue.
He was the Hero after all.
"Before we begin I would like to say a few words." Snow was holding out his glass in front of him. "I just wanted to thank our close friends Sazh, his son Dajh and Hope, for being able to join us here this evening-and for the rest of the week really-to celebrate a belated birthday for a woman we all hold dear to our hearts...some closer than others-" He gave Hope a quick glance followed by a wink. "You really do deserve this sis. Happy belated birthday and I know we're all gonna have a great time this week!" With his words spoken they all toasted to Lightning which marked the beginning to a dinner as a family once again.
Having finished their plates it was time to cut the cake, everyone had gathered around to watch the birthday woman cut her cake. But it wasn't til Serah noticed that they were missing Hope which halted the steel's penetration into the soft pastry. It was after noticing he wasn't with them that he returned to the table looking somewhat concerned.
"Hey um...my father is waiting outside. It looks like it's time for me to go." Hope looked at their faces who all had standing eye brows, all except Lightning's who was still looking down at the cake.
"Wait. Where are you staying?" Sazh inquired.
"Um a hotel in the plaza." He responded.
"Are sure you have to go? I mean you could stay with us." Serah pleaded trying to avoid ruining the occasion. "Maybe you can stay here with Claire?"
Hope looked at Lightning for approval on the idea although he still was returning with his father.
"If he says he has to go, then he has to go..." Lightning's face was emotionless.
"Okay then...well talk it over with your father tonight and meet at my house tomorrow." Snow smiled looking at his sister-in-law.
"Alright..." The group returned to the cutting of the cake. The highlight of the party wasn't the cutting of the cake, or the delicious steaks. It was the group together after so many years apart, and now that they lost a member the party seemed to have come to a spoiled end.
It was some damn good cake too.
I hope it doesn't bother you guys that some of the events in the story a repetitive, I'm trying to convey a sense that there are two sides with the same problem. Repetition includes Lightning and Hope seeing strangers with similar feature's to their beloved, also Lightning's talk with Sazh and Hope's dish with Snow. Please don't think that it's uncreative or that I'm running out of ideas. Oh and I do apologize for ending the chapter on a bad note. :[ Thanks.
