Exactly two and a half hours later, Serah pressed send on the phone already dialed, the phone that'd been dialed for the past two hours and a half hours.

The other line rang once.

Serah waited, toes curling as she sat on the guest bedroom, the closest to Fang's room and farthest from anywhere else in the house

It'd been a dreadful time full of thinking that overwhelmed her small frame.

Fang had been hurt. Hurt to even touch her.

What had she done?

A second ring passed, prolonging Serah's fears. What if Fang wouldn't answer? She'd been stupid beyond belief. Of course Fang would be afraid. The last time they'd touched in intimate manner, Serah had nearly killed herself. Her stomach clenched to even imagine what Fang must be thinking now, of her restless, scared and alone, too afraid to share a touch. Serah had been so stupid befo—

The other line picked up.

"Fang," Serah blurted, suddenly forgetting everything she'd rehearsed. "Fang, I love you. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. Please come home." Serah took another breath, eyes blurring. "I'm sorry."

There was a pause on the other line. Serah opened her mouth and shut it, trying so hard to remember the words that crammed a boggled brain. "Fang… "

"I miss you." The words were so quiet, Serah almost couldn't hear, but they caught Serah's breath just the same. She forced to breathe before she could speak.

"I miss you too, Fang," Serah relayed back, "I'm sorry I scared you this morning."

Fang avoided the details. "How are you?"

Serah eased back to the bed, "I'm good, Fang. I'm… real good. It's good to hear your voice again."

"Yours," Fang countered, seeming a little groggy. Serah wondered if she'd tried to sleep, "I like yours. When you're happy, Light."

"Fang, it's Claire," Serah told her again. She wasn't supposed to, wasn't allowed, wasn't good for them both, with Fang having moved to call her Light, even when in private, but Serah was tired of it. Tired of hurting Fang. She could allow her this. "It's always Claire to you, no matter what."

"Claire…" Serah's heart quickened in hope. That awe on Fang's tongue when she spoke her sister's name, after Serah had hurt her… "I keep hurting you, and I hate it."

The admission made her want to cry. All this week when she'd prodded, struggling just to touch, just to comfort Serah with a touch. Had she blamed herself then too? Knowing Fang, it was likely.

Serah's denials of fear to let Fang touch her crushed into her heart. She must've felt horrible— still did, unwanted by the woman she saw as her wife!

"You don't," Serah tried to assure her, hoping to get through, "You never hurt me, Fang. I just… " Serah doublechecked the door, "I've been a little crazy of late, and… with Serah gone…" Serah bit her lip. This was in direct violation of the doctor's words, but Serah wanted to get through to Fang. She needed to. Fang hurt and it was her fault, now it was up to her to fix it. And if allowing her illusion for just a little bit helped, Serah would do it. Fang deserved a viable reason why she'd been so cold. Serah couldn't tell her point blank, so she let Fang relate. It was the only way Fang would truly come back.

"I've been depressed," Serah confessed openly, quiet in pretending to take the spot of Claire. "It feels like I'm dying. You're the only one who makes me feel better in all this." Serah could hear her breathing on the other line. "But I feel bad," Serah struggled to sound more like Claire. "Like shit, 'cuz I shouldn't get to… you know?" Serah winced, quick-running through Claire's mannerisms. She wasn't explain-y like this. Claire was short. She didn't doubt herself with questions. "I s—fucked up, Fang. It wasn't you."

"Claire?"

"I'm sorry, Fang," Serah apologized once more, biting her lip to keep it clippy. What else would Claire say? She used to have such a way about her, such an intimacy with Fang that wasn't gushy. Serah struggled for the memories on the spot in this moment. "Now… be a good wife and join me for breakfast." Serah cringed. Gods, she was bad at this. Too much more emotional than Claire had ever been. She needed some practice.

"…Okay."

Serah blinked. The line went dead and, in another moment, a knock came at the door, startling her. She hung up Lightning's phone and hurried to the door where Fang stood, shyly penitent. Fang made a small noise upon seeing her and Serah almost caught a hesitant smile, only just missing the edges.

She looked like a different person.

Averting her eyes when Serah glanced down and saw it, Fang shuffled her feet, awkwardly reaching back for the door with the hand she'd offered to hold.

Serah took it, drawing Fang's eyes to the spot where their fingers clasped. She stared, then checked up at Serah, eyes still a little scared.

But she held on.

In a twisted sense, all that awkwardness had been worth it. Fang visibly felt better and it lightened the burden set on Serah too, if only a little to right this particular wrong. It hadn't been smooth, but it'd worked.

Serah led on downstairs with a gentle tug to that hand. "Come on,"

Fang followed on.

XXX

At Fang's soft request, Serah worked by her side this morning in making breakfast. "Three eggs," Serah instructed. Fang fetched five and told her she should eat. When she went for the noodles, Serah took note of how much smaller Fang had gotten too. Jeans baggy, belt cinched, they wouldn't have held without the piece. Her shirt looked looser on her too. When Fang returned, Serah let her cook as many noodles as she liked.

Fang turned on the stove to heat. She shuffled over to Serah again, momentarily watching as Serah stirred their eggs.

Serah picked up a spice. "Parsley?" Fang made a face. Serah chose another. "Ginseng?"

"Salt."

Serah complied, the pain a little less. Such was the effect Fang had on her.

Fang scooted around Serah and searched the freezer. She found some chopped, pre-cooked behemoth bits.

Serah added those to their eggs too.

"Fruit would be good," Serah added idly, specifically looking to Fang for it. "Do you wanna cut some?" She wouldn't let Fang catch her with a knife. Fang had tried to be quiet about it, but she'd kept all sharps and pointies away from Serah since, along with pills, the drug IV, and Lightning's gunblade, all of which had suspiciously disappeared from their spots.

Serah couldn't blame her and didn't bring it up when Fang discreetly went to a tall cupboard for a knife.

When the food was ready, Fang helped her bring the large portions to the table, including almost three bowls of noodles and more than Serah could ever see them eating, even given the whole day.

"I hope you're hungry…"

Fang set the eggs down too and sat, plate and utensils set with the orange juice. "I'll eat when you eat."

Serah spooned some food for her and Fang both, significantly more for Fang to help the woman fill back out. Fang responded by forking more meat on her plate.

"Fang!" Serah choked on an unexpected bubbling in her throat, then covered her mouth when the noise emitted, a half-cough, half-choke, half-blocked bubble.

Serah had forgotten how to laugh.

Fang reached for her hand under the table. Mangled as it was, she recognized it too. Fang squeezed her hand and lifted a fork, chopped meaty bits on the tool. Serah lifted her fork too and munched, prompting Fang to as well.

Serah was sated after on a few bites. She kept eating for Fang's sake, and because she realized she must've looked terrible too.

"Something smells incredible," Gadot greeted them, coming in from the living room.

"Gadot," Serah greeted, motioning him over. "Come eat with us."

"I would love to!" Gadot cheerfully moved over to them, taking the immediate seat next to Fang. "Good morning you two,"

"Hey,"

It was the first verbal acknowledgement she'd given to anyone but Serah since their deaths.

Serah felt so proud.

XXX

A few hours later, Fang sat with Serah, staring out the cliff's edge. Vanille sat with them, on Fang's other side, seemingly the most troubled, but Serah could read her relief too. Fang had an arm around both of them to either side, though Serah leaned a little further into that comforting arm, cuddled under Fang's shoulder.

"See that one?" Vanille indicated with her eyes, "It's a boat."

Fang squinted, hard pressed to follow her eyes. "Where?"

"There," Vanille pointed for more guided direction, "That slender funnel's the mast, and the puffy parts below it are the actual craft. It even has a small sail on the right side."

Fang puzzled over it, then looked to Serah. "Do you see it?"

"I see a blob."

Vanille frowned, but the answer lit up Fang, who squeezed her at the side. Serah always felt better, knowing Fang did. Vanille checked her again, as she'd given glancing occasions since they'd first settled. Serah did her best to feign away noticing. She could tell Vanille was curious, Fang's lighter spirit seemed so out of the blue, but she didn't want to worry about it. Not today, when Fang seemed okay.

Well, okay in the sense that Serah still seemed like Claire.

"How's the town been?" Serah asked to distract her, knowing Vanille still watched.

"It's… looking good. Most people are out of the hospital and doing better. Rebuilding's almost done too. Lebreau just finished hers."

"On the new bar cafe?"

"Yeah, it looks nice," Vanille cast Fang a sideways glance. "You should both see it sometime."

"Maybe soon," Serah answered for both of them. Fang handed her a slice of tangerine slice, which she took, then offered part to Vanille, who denied. Vanille watched her chew it, then leaned back into Fang too.

Serah almost felt normal, sitting out with her friends.

XXX

Fang shifted, clearly uncomfortable, and squeezed Serah's fingers. "Goodnight, Claire."

"Fang," Serah didn't let go of those hands. She didn't want to. And clear as day as Fang's face always read, Fang didn't either, hesitation aside. "Will you hold me?"

Fang's eyes darted, skittish, almost ashamed. "Are you sure?"

Serah's heart squeezed at the kind girl's plea, a hesitation that spoke volumes with a ringing, wistful yearn. "Yes," Serah's answer resolute, then cause she might need it, Serah added, "Please."

Fang's warmth smothered her, overcoming her own fears and doubts and shame all in one. Serah felt her relax and her own body loosen in turn. Fang cradled her and tucked her head, folding Serah to her. Serah felt her heartbeat strong against her back.

"I love you," the words left lips still chapped with awe, coupled with a twinge Serah didn't like there.

"Don't be afraid." Fang's body spoke otherwise in her calmed state. Serah wanted that for her mind. "I'll be here when you wake."

"Okay."

The easy trust and acceptance of Fang's immediate love stung her. Claire had been so perfect for Fang.

Serah closed tired eyes and fell to the bliss.

XXX

Lebreau found them next morning, Serah huddled in wrapped. Though not altogether surprised, the sight gave her pause long enough to stare at them, concern growing. Lebreau debated waking them both against the restful sleep they seemed to be getting. Vanille had reported these two were doing better. If she'd known, she'd neglected to mention they were sleeping together too.

Lebreau understood their need for each other. Fang, caught in delusion, and Serah, in her pain. She might've supported it even, for at least a comfort for both. But as long as Fang's mind translated Serah to Lightning, Lebreau couldn't accept it. Fang wouldn't heal while she still thought as much, and Lebreau would see her heal. Until then, the comfort they sought from each other must be limited, lest Serah get attached to a woman loving the dead.

Before Lebreau could decide whether to interfere in this or not, Fang woke and huddled Serah closer. Lebreau spotted the stroke to her side. "Fang," she spoke automatically, drawing the woman's eyes.

"'Brue," Lebreau blinked, not having expected that much progress. "Shh," Fang glanced to Serah, indicating the sleeping girl.

Lebreau entered the room quietly and sat on the coffee table in front of the couch, getting a full view of the way Fang held her. Arms wrapped around her stomach, one hand idly stroking a clothed side, head higher with Serah's tucked to her shoulder and neck, it reminded Lebreau how she'd once ago cradled her little brother Maqui on bad nights.

If only Fang saw her as Serah…

"Hey, Fang," Lebreau softened her voice. Fang looked up from spying on Serah's head, almost as if confused to how she'd gotten there. "How are you holding up?"

Fang seemed genuinely puzzled, like no one had asked yet before. They probably hadn't either, knowing her friends. The delicacy around this issue had put them all in careful straits.

Fang's features softened until she eyed Serah again. "I'm okay," she watched Serah's little pink head below. "Light's been having more trouble than me. I wanna help, but Light only lets me so much." Her eyes grew sad on the top of Serah's head. "I feel like we're courting again."

"Courting," Lebreau gently pushed, "Not married?"

"Yeah," Fang told her sadly.

Guiding, as if talking to a child, Lebreau needed to ask, "Do you comfort her with touch?"

Horror filtered in, unbidden in her eyes that suddenly found Lebreau in terror. "No, no touching— Lightning doesn't like touching, she doesn't want it! She's— "

"Shhh," Lebreau tried to sooth, hand covering Fang's shaking shoulder where the woman began to tremble, "Shh, Fang," it was low, but Lebreau didn't want her waking. She pointed down to Serah, "Shh, she's sleeping. Shhh," Fang settled somewhat, but the fear hadn't left her eyes.

"She doesn't like it," Fang tried to tell her, voice quieter this time. "I won't do what Light doesn't like."

"No one's going to make you touch her," Lebreau promised.

"She likes hugs," Fang mumbled, eyes back down on the top of Serah's head. "I give her hugs for the dreams."

"I'm sorry for scaring you, Fang." Lebreau apologized, then went on when Fang didn't respond. "I'm going to go make us all some breakfast," Lebreau told her, "Okay?"

"Food." Fang mumbled, stroking her clothed side, "Light's all small…"

Lebreau stood. Fang didn't seem to hear her anymore, not wholly, lost in a world of comforting Lightning. Lebreau had learned what she wanted. She could leave them for now.

She'd talk to Serah later about this too.

XXX

Serah woke snuggled, as she did on good days. Recognizing the warmth in a snap, Serah bunkered down all contently, pressing back into Fang, who squeezed her.

"Morning," Serah greeted, sleepy happy to be in her arms.

"Claire," Fang readjusted holding her, but didn't let go. "Lebreau's making food for us."

"Sweet of her," She closed her eyes. "I don't wanna move."

"You should eat," Fang coaxed, trailing up and down her side.

"I need to shower," Serah still didn't move. "Ugh."

Fang stayed there petting her while Serah contemplated her move.

"I'll shower," Serah decided, "While you eat with Lebreau?" Nobody moved. "We could go the other way too."

"I wanna eat with you."

"Okay." Serah played with her palm, tracing the lines on it affectionately. "What do you wanna do today?"

Fang curled her fingers around Serah's smaller ones. "Be with you. Otherwise, it doesn't matter."

They both dawdled longer.

"Fang, Se… reakfast is ready." Lebreau called out from the other room.

"Guess that's our sign," Serah sighed, rolling off to her feet. She turned to help Fang up too. "I'll be back soon."

"Hurry." With a warm morning hug, Serah scurried off upstairs. She missed Fang at once.