Got some more for you peoples.
Chapter 7:
"What? No... that can't be real." Lumina gasped out as she gently tugged her mother's hand once more. She knew that her mother's sense of jokes were often dark, hell she still remembered a festival that she had made Lumina and Light celebrate that started with her faking her own death with pig blood on top of her as Lightning's alarm woke her up.
But this, this kind of joke, she always thought was never going to be something Vanille would pull. Hell even the multiple fake deaths Vanille had only lasted a couple of minutes. But with the ticking of the clock behind her it was becoming clear that it really wasn't, just because she would have to have recruited Lightning. A woman that Lumina couldn't even count how many times she had cracked a joke. She was starting to believe that the woman actually owed them.
"Mom... come on... this has to be a joke. Like that Samhain joke you played on us a few years back." Lumina begged as Vanille's tear riddled eyes just continued to stare at her. "Mommy... please..." Lumina begged harder as Vanille slipped her hand from Lumina's and gently cupped her face and began to brush some tears Lumina didn't even know she had been crying.
"Sunshine... come here." Vanille said as she gestured for Lumina to climb onto the bed with her. Something Lumina knew was as good of a sign as any other for what she was saying. There really was no joke. Climbing onto the bed, Lumina winced internally at the feeling of her being pulled into a hug as she felt Vanille's hand rubbing her hair as she felt Lightning just rubbing her back.
Just the thought that she might not have her mother soothingly rubbing her head again was enough to make Lumina just cry. She didn't want to be the child in this circumstance. She wanted to be strong for her mother who she just knew was feeling a thousand times worse but had to shove those feelings to the side just to help her out. A gesture that was paining Lumina further.
"The doctors are giving me good odds Sunshine." Vanille said softly as she kissed the top of Lumina's head. "So don't be saddened Sunshine. Not yet. Let's wait till after my treatment ends to worry if we need that." Vanille said as she winced a little at the feeling of Lumina holding onto her tightly.
"I'm going to go make sure Fang and Serah are alright. Do you want me to get you anything Van?" Lightning asked, hoping that Vanille would see this as what it really was. Just her wanting to try and process the news herself.
"No thank you." Vanille said as she let go of Lightning and wrapped her other arm around Lumina. Watching her wife walk out of the room, Vanille took a deep breath as she turned to her crying daughter. There was one thing that she knew would guarantee her relaxing at lot easier in this circumstance. "You are my sunshine..." Vanille began in a melodic tone feeling Lumina tense a little before relaxing her arms a bit.
"My only sunshine... you make me happy when skies are grey." As Vanille continued to sing she could feel her daughter getting into a far more reasonable state to talk about this. She also knew that Lumina could be far more calm. "You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away." As the final words left her mouth, Vanille just smiled as she could see Lumina's head popping up to look at her.
The tears having seemingly miraculously vanished, not that it was a mystery to Vanille as to where they went. They went where they always go. To the place where Vanille saw her daughter's tears belonged. Away. It was one of a few things Vanille just couldn't stand. Namely that her daughter would be reduced to tears over anything.
It was probably one of the only ways that Lumina could really hurt Vanille. But at least this was a way that she knew that she could make her daughter feel better. It was probably the only thing that made the sight a little bit more bearable to Vanille.
"Tell me the truth Mom... do the doctors really give you good odds?" Lumina's voice croaked out shattering the silence as Vanille just smiled at her. The same smile that Lumina knew was something that Vanille knew but wasn't sure how she was meant to say it.
Sighing a little Vanille lowered Lumina's head once more as she took a deep breath. "They really do. Apparently it is a slow growing one they caught early. They just can't operate on the tumours safely right now." Vanille began softly as she started to hum the tune she had just sung to her daughter. Hoping that any other stress that was in her would vanish from her.
"But you know I'm not going to go anywhere Sunshine. Not until I see you married and your wife or husband are expecting a grandchild with you. All that is going to change in the meantime is I'm getting treatment." Vanille whispered as she could just see out of the corner of her eye the sight of Lightning standing by the door. Stopping herself from coming in. "I mean I'm even getting discharged later today."
"But you are meant to be a super Mom... I have never even seen you sick before and now you have cancer." Lumina muttered as Vanille chuckled softly never missing a beat in the tune. It was almost like she timed each second of the chuckle intentionally perfect. It made her feel at least a little better in the circumstance just because it at least meant that Vanille had thought this through a little.
"Do you really want to talk about this Sunshine? Because if you don't then I don't."
"What do you want to talk about?" Lumina asked getting the hint that it was making Vanille vastly uncomfortable talking this much about death. Something that Lumina could agree with. She also didn't really want to talk about how her mother might die.
"How about how are your friends are doing? They are taking precautions right? You know I don't mind if there was a bunch of little girls running around, but Claire really does because she doesn't want you to become like her parents and thinks you would feel a lot more accomplished if you could support them without help."
Groaning softly Lumina began to grumble softly. "Yes Mom... precautions were taken. But you always taught me on Gran Pulse help for that kind of thing was freely given. I mean... my children would be third generation but would people in Oerba really shun them?" Lumina complained as Vanille just chuckled again softly.
"That isn't the type of help she is referring to. But would you really be fine with other people taking care of your children? But to answer your question, a lot of the village wasn't happy with you being half Cocoon born. That is until Lightning proved herself against the villages best fighter. You might know that fighter as your aunt Fang. Thankfully Fang's parents know some medicine because you were just a couple months old and we were down there for the tradition for newborns." Vanille said as she could hear an almost sceptical laugh coming from her daughter. "I know you find it hard to believe, but Claire really does care for you. Just as much as I do if not more. And out of alot of things she is good at, the one thing she sucks at is expressing her emotions. Something you can even ask Serah about. I mean when I first met her I thought she was a robot."
Rolling her eyes, Lumina took a deep breath. "What was that tradition for newborns? I mean... it is always hard to get information like that from you and Fang and if I didn't talk to Pap Pap I never would know about a lot of traditions." Lumina whispered softly.
"I thought you would have noticed... but I suppose not. It has been years since you were last there in Autumn." Vanille said as Lumina just continued to stare at her mother's features. "In order to bequeath a soul to Pulse and make sure a child grows up strong, their first steps must be in the same place their mother's were. So for the first six or so months I refused to let you walk until I could get you there. People in my family have walked on the same stretch of ground for hundreds of generations. Really as far back as the tradition can be traced. I'm sure if you choose a Cocoon born to be the parent to some of your children, besides you needing to probably fight the village's strongest fighter like Claire did... you would need to declare a Farpais with the village elders. Which means you and your children's mother, just so you can prove yourselves to give your children the right to walk on the same ground you did."
"If I find a Cocoon born that is worth that I would gladly do that." Lumina said as a thought occurred to her. "Wait, does that mean Fang and Serah will need to do that if Serah ever decides she is ready to have children?" Lumina asked as Vanille just smiled at her.
"Yes, and no. Serah really would put up a fight because of how much she would gladly let the child walk around and then lie about it because she is a sucker for a child's first steps. As well as words. I mean she was furious because I didn't record your first steps. Because she wanted to see them and she wasn't allowed to watch. But yes, Fang would need to fight a representative of the village and then declare a Farpais with the elders... causing her grandparents to abstain for obvious reasons."
As Vanille spoke, she couldn't help but feel some joy as Lumina she just knew deep down was trying her hardest to take both of their minds off the topic that was just hanging in the background. It made her feel like that old expression Lightning had constantly used in many situations about some animal in some room. She never really got it, but Lightning had assured her it was a real saying at least on Cocoon.
Resting against the wall, Lightning knew she was going to be in the way of the doctors and nurses moving around, but she didn't really care. She just gently held her forehead in one hand as she contemplated if she could just scream. She wanted to be furious but she knew that she couldn't just snap at everyone. Hell she couldn't really snap at anyone.
Feeling a pair of eyes on her, Lightning looked up to see her sister looking at her before she plopped down next to her. "Don't even ask it Serah." Lightning hissed at her sister knowing that it would hopefully scare her away from even asking one of the few possible questions that clearly had been on her mind.
"Okay." Serah said softly as she placed a hand on Lightning's arm giving her a gentle rub as she took a deep breath. "How did Lumina take it?" Serah said as Lightning let out a low grumble. It was almost like she was baring her teeth to her sister in a hope to just scare her away from the setting. "You know that doesn't work on me Claire. I'm one of three people you will never harm intentionally. And Fang I know can defend herself when it comes to you. So just speak to me Claire."
"I don't want to talk about how I'm feeling, and Vanille just got done singing to Lumina. So you tell me how well she taking it."
"Claire... come on. I know you are feeling sad, but everyone is going to gather round and help Vanille and by extension you and Lumina. I mean as far as news goes this is a lot worse than her thinking she might be pregnant... but everyone will rally. You'll see Claire." Serah said calmly as Lightning shoved the woman's hand off of her arm as she took a deep breath as she debated if she should just shove her head back into the plasterboard of the wall.
"This isn't something you can rally from Serah. We aren't building a shed, tilling fields or even hunting down a bunch of meat. No amount of well wishes is going to make her cancer vanish. Or make me understand how I could get my own daughter to act her age and help us get through this. At least for the next few days to let this sink in for Vanille first. But no, instead of doing any of that Vanille needs to try and stop a forest fire while a tsunami and earthquake are happening." Lightning hissed softly as Serah just placed a hand on her sister's upper arm once more.
"Lumina is still a teenager. she'd kill me if she knew I told you... but when I picked her up yesterday she was in near tears thinking it was you inside the hospital. I mean she even said 'Daddy'... a word I haven't heard her utter like that since she was six. Like all children, she doesn't want to think either of her parents can be harmed and when she is faced with that... well I'm just glad that Vanille understands that eventually Lumina will be there for her just like you will." Serah spoke softly as she held on lightly as Lightning started to try and buck the hand off of her arm.
Giving up, Lightning just sighed as she slammed the back of her head against the wall as she just let out a sharp exhale as she lowered her hand from her head. "Serah. I get that you are trying to help me. But this isn't the way. At least not now. I need you to get Fang and just go downstairs for a bit... maybe like an hour and then come back up to see us off. Unless she gets discharged sooner. In which case Lumina or I will come find you guys. If it is later... we can cross that if it comes." Lightning said softly as Serah just gave her a sombre smile as she stood up.
"Do you want some help up? Or would you rather stay sitting for a while?" Serah said as she slowly began to right herself up, groaning internally at the way her joints just popped from seemingly being comfortable in the position they were in. Something that Serah just hoped wasn't a sign she was getting any older. "Also... out of curiosity besides her being late what made you guys think pregnant? Because the fact she was late wasn't a clue just really makes me want to put up with the grossness of what goes on in that house of debauchery."
"Serah, you say that but you really don't. Remember when you said something similar about 'Old Yeller' except this time I won't be the one holding you as you cry it will be Fang who's stance on animals is they are meat, but also as you just learned today she has a lot of desires in bed that you find gross." Lightning said as she looked up at Serah who was glaring at her.
"One, that rule doesn't apply to dogs and cats. I'm still working on pet birds and large goldfish. Two how dare you bring up that awful movie. Three... poop is meant to come out of there. Nothing is meant to go in. Finally, not all that Fang wants to do between us is gross... some of it I actually have found I enjoy. Like wax... that actually feels pretty nice according to Fang when I drip it on her and her thingy." Serah said defending her stance as Lightning felt her eyebrows raise. "Okay we did that once and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. Point is, I'm not as prudish as everyone thinks... I'm just not as lewd as Fang or you or Vanille or Lumina."
Shaking her head at thinking her sister would do something like that and enjoy it, but at the same time she knew that it was still possible. "I have a list of ten movies I never allowed you to watch in full because of how you'll react. Like the end of 'Bambi' or the very start of 'Finding Nemo'. Point is you think you can handle something but in reality you can't." Lightning said as she returned her hand to her forehead to just try and get some signal to her sister that she really didn't want slash need to continue this conversation.
"Come on. I promise I won't overreact or show how grossed out I am by something you say." Serah pleaded with Lightning who just took a sharp inhale as she looked towards her sister.
"I'm so big we ignore blood." Lightning said as Serah raised her eyebrows at Lightning in a similar manner as to what had been done to her. "It is just as valid as what you've been looking for that has the bonus of being a lie that can be believed partially." Lightning continued as Serah rolled her eyes.
"You forget Claire. I've seen you two do that before... a lot. That is why I'm super careful before I go into any room. Even when you aren't even near the building I'm in." Serah defend her doubt as Lightning just groaned knowing that Serah wasn't going to give this up until she regretted it. "Come on Claire. I'm an adult. And frankly after what I've seen with you you can't surprise me."
Looking towards her sister, Lightning just rolled her eyes as she decided to just get through this and get rid of her sister for a while. "I have a thing for lactation and Van's boobs were making so much milk you could have had a bowl of cereal... which I was actually contemplating."
Gasping a little as she felt a smack on the top of her head, Lightning just felt a vein start to develop as she could hear her sister angrily stomping back a few steps. "Why would you tell me that? That is so gross Claire. Breast milk isn't for adults! Just ew!" Serah yelled as Lightning just smiled at her with a smug smile. One that made Serah just angrier at her sister. "I swear if you say I told you so! That is gross. How did you even discover that!" Serah continued as she stormed towards Lightning to smack the top of her head again before making a quick retreat across the stretch of hallway.
"When she was pregnant with Lumina, I wasn't skipping foreplay and it just happened. Since then well... did you know you can accidentally induce that? Because it has happened a few times just never with her being late. But turns out both are uncommon but still happen symptoms of brain cancer. Had to threaten a few oncologists for that to be explained to me and Van." Lightning said softly as Serah was left feeling torn between comforting her sister or smacking her sister again for any number of reasons.
Standing up, Lightning began to dust herself off as she could feel her muscles starting to ache but knew that she could get through this all. "Now go find Fang, and go to the cafeteria and do whatever it is you would normally do. I need to go be a parent and wife and help Van and Lumina." Lightning said as she winced at the feeling of the near bone breaking hug coming from her sister who had a worried smile on her face.
"Just don't shut in on yourself Claire. It took me and Vanille years to get you to be more open with your emotions... something that thankfully Lumina doesn't really need, but what she does need is just both parents to help her come to terms that these immortal superheroes are just as mortal and normal as she is. I mean she idolises both of you she just doesn't like showing you because you are a bit of a hardass still. But I blame Mom and Dad mostly for that." Serah said pulling back to look at her sister as she felt Lightning return the hug gently making her just smile at how her sister hadn't forgotten how to do that one thing. She just wished that it wasn't like pulling teeth from her sister. "So... just please don't turn back into Army Sergeant Lightning Farron and stay being Police Chief Claire Farron. I'd rather you be a big softy... but the point is don't back step." Serah continued as Lightning just sighed.
"Fine Serah. Now go. I need to go back in." Lightning said as she lightly pushed her sister back as she quickly walked towards the door causing Serah to just sigh knowing that she might have been too late to convince her sister to not regress into the emotionless shell.
The calmness of the room was enough to cause Lightning to just want to run. She was just glad to be back in her own bed. A little saddened that Vanille just didn't want to be held given how that had been how slept for years now whenever they were in the same bed.
Feeling that sleep wasn't going to be coming any time soon, Lightning began to climb out of bed as she grabbed the alarm clock to check the time. Trying her hardest to ignore the fact that it was four in the morning as she stood up and walked quickly over to the door. Stopping from pulling her robe down, Lightning just knew that the cold biting her exposed arms would do her good.
As she opened the door, she glanced towards Vanille who had remained still and her breathing had been the even reassuring rhythm of a deep sleep. Smiling as she walked out being careful to close the door, Lightning came to a stop in front of Lumina's door.
Opening it, she smiled at the sight of the sleeping near naked woman. The only thing stopping Lightning from slamming the door closed was the strange bending of fabric she did to cover her breasts and lower region.
Gently closing the door, Lightning walked to the remaining room on the floor. Opening the door, Lightning smiled at all the items still littering her desk. From old bills that had been long since paid just waiting to be shredded to various copies of files she had taken home that she hadn't locked in her safe just yet to even multiple awards for the various things she had done during her life.
Walking around her desk, Lightning took a deep breath as she balled up one of her fists. Slamming the fist into the solid wooden top, Lightning just smiled at how she knew the desk wouldn't give but she still had to test it for that.
Smiling lightly, Lightning brought her arm up again to bring it straight back down onto the thick desktop. She didn't care about the sound she was making. She knew both her daughter and wife were deep asleep.
Wincing a little after the fourth or even tenth hit, Lightning had long since lost count but what she did know was it felt good, but the sound of the groaning wood caused her to stop. Feeling her anger not subsiding as quickly as she wished it was Lightning just brought both her hands down followed by quickly ridding the desk of everything on it.
The flurry of papers began to fill her vision as she could hear heavier things falling and possibly breaking Lightning spun around and slammed her fist into some of the things that had adorned the wall.
The pain was feeling good. It was distracting her from all the other emotions that were flooding her mind. She had no idea how Serah thought that this was the best thing. But she had to admit that pain was a nice emotion.
She knew pain. If she felt pain, she knew exactly how to deal with.
Slamming her fist into the final thing that was hanging on the wall, recognition of the object happened too late for Lightning as she could see the clay craft project Vanille had done with Lumina and her back when Lumina was two. As she could see the immortalised hand prints separating before hitting the ground, she collapsed at the sight.
Carefully picking the two pieces up, Lightning could feel her tears starting to spring forth with the emotions she was trying to shove back.
That was the problem with pain Lightning found. It always subsided leaving a gut wrenching feeling in its place.
Author's Note:
Welp an emotional chapter. Hope I still got everyone interested in the story because it is just getting good for now.
