Title: Second Wind

Chapter Six

By: Calore


"I'm sorry to drag you into this when you just got back."

"It's fine. Don't worry about it, kid. It's about time these old bones got moving again." Light smiled at the nickname and resisted the urge to glance over her shoulder. Sazh saw it, and placed a hand on her shoulder gently in sympathy and comfort. Light leaned into it gratefully.

"It's not easy, is it?"

Light shook her head almost imperceptibly. "No. No, it's not." A voice in the back of her head grilled her for letting her weakness to show, but she didn't care. She felt safe to show what she felt to Sazh, especially after how he'd supported her when she found out she was pregnant. Sazh, most of all, understood the fear and loneliness.

"It'll get better. I promise."

She tried to smile, though it came out looking forced. "I'm not sure if it will."

Sazh, mindful of the milling studio assistants around them, did not draw her into his arms as a father would. His girl was always a bit prickly when others were watching. "Maybe not easier. But better."

Light distracted both of them by smoothing out the rumples in Sazh's jacket. "You're going to be on television in front of millions of viewers."

Sazh flashed a grin, crinkles edging from the corners of his eyes. "And they'll love me."

Light managed a laugh. "Yes, I imagine they already do. Are you sure you want to let Dajh up there, too?"

Sazh glanced at his son, who was flirting outrageously with a pretty makeup assistant a short distance away. "I think you should ask him that," he replied dryly.

Light followed his gaze and smiled a bit. Dajh had certainly grown into a man, now nearly half a head taller than his father and with a lean athlete's build. He'd lost some of his teenage lankiness, though it wasn't all quite gone. His hair was cropped short, but he radiated the easy charm and friendliness that endeared just about every female who came across his path. Luckily, Dajh was no heartbreaker, or not an intentional one. Even when he was young and sometimes looked after the twins when they were small, Dajh had been careful not to provoke jealousy or show favoritism. He always sought to smooth out harsh words and emotions between anyone he knew.

A natural peacemaker, Light thought. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the double doors open and Hope and Vanille walk in. Vanille immediately saw Sazh and squealed like a girl.

"Sazh!" She rushed at him with the exuberance for seeing long missed beloved relation and flung herself into his arms, almost tipping both backwards. "I thought you weren't going to make it! Oh, it's good to see you. Is Dajh with you? Have you had anything to eat yet?"

"Whoa there, little girl," he laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling in pleasure. "One at a time. Light here managed to get a ship to come pick me up with Dajh. He's right here, breaking another heart. And we did have something to eat on the way over, so you won't have to worry about my stomach growling on air."

Dajh approached them and Vanille also tossed herself into his arms, chattering happily. Sazh and Hope clasped arms around each other, murmuring easy greetings. Sazh saw over Hope's shoulder and saw Fang shyly approaching them.

She walked slowly, like a student approaching a teacher for punishment. Dressed in dark slacks and a creamy blouse purchased during the day before, Fang looked civilized and uncomfortable underneath it. Her hair still fell to her shoulders in loose locks, looking a little neater, as though she'd tried to wrestle them down and given up. Her face and mouth was unpainted, completely free of any cosmetics. Despite her efforts, her exotic complexion and eyes only made her look half tame.

Feeling a sting behind his eyes, Sazh strode to Fang and seized her in his arms. "My God, you haven't aged a day."

Fang felt the ice that'd lined her belly thaw, her arms carefully coming around to hug Sazh back. "Just a few. You look like you've aged more than that, though."

Sazh adopted a mock stern look as he drew her away to look at her. "Are you calling me old?"

Fang grinned back cheekily. "I'm calling you ancient."

"You always had a smart mouth," he laughed. "We're glad to have you back."

Fang turned her head to Dajh, who was smiling at her. She blinked a few times, recognition finally dawning on her. Suddenly feeling shy again, she cleared her throat and would have apologized, but Dajh only folded his arms around her as his father had done.

"I know we haven't officially met," he said, his voice soft, "but I've heard a lot about you." Pulling away, he was just a few inches taller than Fang, sharing the same warm brown eyes and complexion as his father. "I'm glad to finally meet you. I'm Dajh." His smile was quick and easy and demanded nothing.

She saw no accusation or anger. Swallowing the lump that'd formed in her throat, Fang managed to smile back. "Fang. The last time I saw you, you weren't taller than my hip."

A few chuckles went up as Dajh grinned. "Yeah, I had a few growth spurts. Welcome back, Fang."


Serah and Snow arrived a few minutes after Fang had, both rosy cheeked from the morning chill. Snow had placed a reassuring hand on Fang's shoulder before moving off to allow a studio assistant to lead them to the stage.

Another assistant approached Light, who was perched on a stool silently reviewing her speech. "Show starts in ten, Colonel," she chirped, a set of headphones around her neck. "Crew's prepping everybody and cameras are ready to roll. Be sure to be up there at least two minutes prior for a sound check." Light nodded an acknowledgment and would have returned to her copy when she saw Fang sitting pale faced on a nearby chair. Her eyes looked slightly glassy, her expression oddly blank.

The sight reminded her of a soldier about to go into his first battle.

Tucking the paper into her pocket, Light walked to stand before Fang. Fang took several moments to finally blink and look up at Light, her eyes still slightly unfocused. Light felt her heart melt; Fang looked just like Avery did before her first day of school, terrified at the prospect of being away from home for the first time and trying desperately not to show it.

"I'm all right," Fang said. Light could hear the slight crack in her voice.

Lightning sat down beside her. "This is nothing," she murmured softly, gestured toward the stage and the bustling crew. "People will see you, but you won't see them. You won't have to speak; just look as you always have. Proud. Confident."

"I'm not any of those things."

"It doesn't matter if you are. It's a stage, a show. We look our parts and play through it and that's all that matters. For us, for this, we need to look strong. Human."

Fang watched the former l'Cie sitting comfortably, each quietly speaking to each other or someone from the studio. She'd never seen such things before, the cameras and wires and lights. It was all alien to her. She was sure Gran Pulse had these things because television and newscasts existed, but not on the same scale as Cocoon had. Her palms, sweaty, slid against her thighs nervously. It all terrified her because she did not know what to do. The heat of Light's body beside her did little to soothe her galloping heart, her shaky breaths. She wanted, above all things, to not screw this up for her. To not fail.

"You'll be all right. I promise."

Her lips pressed tenderly against her own, arms coming around her. "We'll be all right. I promise."

Her throat was strangely tight and she had to force the words out. "What if we aren't? What if we're making the wrong choice? I don't want to go back there, Claire, I don't-"

"I don't want to either," she admitted, leaning against Fang's body, wanting to draw in her familiar warmth. "I'd rather we stayed on Pulse, if we could, but everything leads back to Cocoon. We have to. For Serah. For Dajh. Everything."

Fang felt resolve harden her heart, as well as guilt. "I'm sorry. I wish I hadn't taken Serah away from you."

"You didn't take her away. Stop saying that."

Fang didn't answer, but only because she knew she wouldn't win.

"We'll make it. We always have." Light didn't like the troubled expression on Fang's face, wanted to smooth away the furrows in her brow and the tense line of her jaw. "Fang."

Green eyes looked at her, not quite hiding the uncertainty. "Come with me." Light slipped her hand into Fang's and led her away from the shadowed corner they'd been standing in. Behind them lay the ruined bridge, the sleek ship shining at the end like a deadly omen. Barthandelus had long ago left after delivering his message. After his departure the l'Cie had immediately agreed that they were not prepared to leave Pulse just yet and all had wandered away to spend their last hours here as they wished. Light led her away that bridge to the bedroom they'd shared in Oerba. Fang followed her quietly, obediently, and Light felt her strong hand shaking slightly in her own.

Fang was afraid.

Her lover was afraid and she would soothe those fears away.

Closing the door after them, Light turned to Fang and drew her into her arms, drawing her down to kiss her. Fang obliged, her hands reaching up Light's back to brush her fingers against her hair.

"Claire," she breathed, breaking the kiss to nuzzle Light's hair. "Not now. I don't think I can."

"What better time than now?" Not waiting for an answer, Light began to undo the ties of her uniform, her hands steady and sure.

Fang pulled Light against her, trapping her hands between their bodies. "Because it feels too much like good bye," Fang whispered. "Claire, I couldn't bear it if it is, if you went away."

"I won't. We'll be all right. I'll always be with you." She slid her hands away to tug at Fang's sari, her movements gentle and unhurried. "I love you, you know. I wouldn't let anything happen to you, fal'Cie or no."

Fang managed a laugh, pressed her mouth to Light's hair and simply breathed in her scent. "I love you, too. I want us to make it out of this mess alive. I want a happy ending. I never could stand that maudlin stuff."

Light managed to drag the sari down to Fang's waist, her hands smoothing over Fang's smooth back, and made a quiet purr of satisfaction. "I want the same. But this isn't good bye. We'll make it, I'm sure of it." Light shrugged out of her jacket and tugged Fang down for a kiss.

"I don't think I'll ever feel the same way for anyone as I do for you," Light admitted, her cheeks flushing at the confession. "There'll never be anyone else but you."


Lightning was surprised to find Maxwell leaning against a wall, her coat draped over his arm.

"An excellent show," he said, straightening. "I daresay you've won the masses in spite of your disagreeable face."

"Some might contest that," Light retorted, amused. He held out her jacket for her, draping it over her shoulders. "I thought you were still busily working on that paperwork like the industrious little bee you are."

Maxwell sneered faintly. "Somehow, I have prevailed."

Light couldn't resist patting his cheek tauntingly. "You've made me so proud." She watched his eyes rise to look very interested over her shoulder. His brows rose ever so slightly, and a smirk tugged at his lips.

"Maxwell!" Vanille rushed to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I haven't seen you in ages! Where have you been hiding?"

"Ahh, my lady," he said gallantly, gracefully placing Vanille back on solid ground. "I have been driven to my wit's ends, slaving away over the mutilated corpses of former trees-"

"Paperwork is part of your job description," Light said succinctly. Turning slightly, she saw Fang in the corner of her eye, standing stiffly at the rear as the former l'Cie walked off stage. Her green eyes were fixed firmly on Maxwell, their expression unfathomable. Lightning felt a tingling down her spine, similar to the feeling she got when something was about to ambush her.

"Are you thinking about getting a puppy?"

"Oh! How did you know?" Vanille squealed. Hope approached them warily. He knew he was using his girlfriend as a shield and felt not an ounce of shame for it. "Do you have one? Which breed do you think we should get?"

Maxwell's eyes slid away to leer at Hope over Vanille's head. "I recommend a mutt from the pound. Stronger genes from... mixed parentage."

Vanille peppered him with questions, not noticing Hope's flaming cheeks. Lightning only rolled her eyes at her adjutant and turned away. "We do have work today, you know," she commented over her shoulder.

"You won't be having breakfast with us, Sis?" Snow asked, an arm companionably about Dajh's shoulders. "The gang's all together again. We should catch up while we can over breakfast."

Lightning shook her head. "I have some more follow up work and there'll doubtless be calls from reporters. I'll have to take care of that. I'm sorry to miss the gathering, but maybe next time."

Serah, standing beside Snow, asked, "Do you think you'll be late for dinner?"

"I shouldn't be." Light grinned crookedly. "I may even be early. I can probably pick up the girls today. I know you're on shift at the hospital."

"Oh! I thought I'd pick up the girls today, but that does give me time to finish some chores," Vanille said. "Where are you staying, Sazh? If you haven't already gotten a place, Hope and I have another guest bedroom."

Sazh only shook his head. "Light got us some nice digs in the local inn for me and Dajh, so we'll be fine." Sazh turned to Fang, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "We should explore Oerba some time, kid," he chuckled. "It's really changed since you last saw it."

Fang, who'd been pinning Maxwell with a dark stare, started. Sheepishly, she realized she hadn't heard a word anybody had said. "Ah... that sounds great." Turning her eyes back to Maxwell, Fang's felt her hackles rise. She had not liked the easy way he'd held Light's coat out for her, nor the way she'd smiled at him in return. He was tall and handsome in a sophisticated manner, just the kind of man she imagined a woman like Light would be with.

She wanted to tear him apart, limb from limb. And he seemed strangely oblivious to her animosity, still standing intimately close to Light. A deep dark instinct inside her quivered, screaming at her to shove him away, hissing that he had no right to stand so fucking close to her woman.

Suddenly, her right arm was in agony. Where her arm met her shoulder, where her brand once was, it screamed as though on fire. Muscle twisted and cramped horrendously, as though trying to tear itself free from her body. Just managing to keep herself from gasping, Fang slowly gripped her arm with her free hand, her fingers digging viciously into skin as though to staunch the pain. Her face was pale and sweaty, she knew, so she angled herself subtly so to keep her face out of view of the group.

Maker, it'd never been this bad before. Grounding her teeth together, Fang had to force herself to keep from screaming. There was a strange moist sensation where the worst of the pain lay, as though she could feel the blood pouring out of her arm. She caught sight of her right hand, wondered at how it lay limp against her side. Felt her knees turn to jelly when her fingers didn't move as she commanded. Move, damn it. Move!

A pale hand covered her tense arm, and she looked up to see blue eyes looking at her. "Fang," Light said, her voice soft, but firm. Commanding. "I wanted to speak with you about something. If you don't mind coming with me for a few minutes?"

Wordlessly, Fang followed Light away, not daring to look back. When Light turned back to close the dressing room door behind her, she noticed under the bright lights the thin sheen of perspiration on Fang's face. She was deathly pale under her dark skin and it frightened her.

"Let me see."

Fang stiffened and shook her head. "I'm fine." She angled herself to put her hurt arm out of sight, as though shielding it.

Light leveled her with an even stare that clearly said what she thought of that. "Let me see it anyway."

Fang didn't move for a long time, but finally dropped her uninjured arm away. "Have at it," she muttered.

Light carefully placed her hand on Fang's arm, gently rubbing at the muscle. It was warm to the touch, just like the rest of Fang, and didn't feel any different. But she knew Fang was in deep pain. As she massaged, the muscles twitched and jumped under her hand, as though it was cramped. Fang was quiet throughout, her eyes on Light's hands.

"It doesn't hurt anymore," she finally said, her voice devoid of emotion.

Light continued to soothe the muscle. "I want you to see a doctor."

"No." Fang's voice was flat and cold.

"You said you would."

Fang scowled. She had, in fact, said she would the first time Light had discovered the mysterious pain she sometimes felt in her arm. It came and went at odd moments and Fang never knew if it was something that was triggered. The pain had begun after she'd been branded and while sometimes it was simply a dull ache like a sore muscle, more an irritant than a hindrance, on occasion the pain was blinding. But she managed to keep the pain to herself and Vanille never knew. In a way, she felt that she deserved it, that it was penance for that day when she was unable to save Vanille from a l'Cie's destiny. When her arm had been torn free because she'd dared to defy a fal'Cie.

But it was always better to have two arms than one.

Light's hands fell away and Fang immediately missed them. "I don't want you in pain," she said softly. "If you don't want Serah to look at it, I can find another doctor. But please, see someone about it. It worries me," she added, and Fang thought Light's aim was flawless. It always was.

"All right," she muttered. "I'll have it looked at. I don't mind Serah looking at it. I'd prefer it, actually."

Lightning smiled. "I'll ask her to look at it later. Thank you for doing this for me. And for the press conference. I know it was hard. You did well."

Fang's cheek warmed slightly and she looked away. "It's fine," she said gruffly. "Just sitting still in front of a camera."

"And not looking murderous," Light chuckled. She stopped, as though debating with herself. Stepping closer, she rose on her toes and brushed her lips against Fang's cheek. "Thank you," she repeated.

Fang's heart thundered in her chest and she wondered how the entire studio couldn't hear her. She felt her face flaming and her palms go slick. She could only nod dumbly as Light took a step back. Light's own cheeks were pink, but she didn't look unhappy.

"I do have some more work to take care of," Light managed to say, clearing her throat. Fang started, stammered something out and made for the door.

Light stopped her from opening the door. "I forgot something," she said. "Perhaps this is a bit premature, but... do you want to spend some time with the twins?" Light smiled slightly, looking shy. "I'd like it if you did."

Fang felt the floor drop away, her knees going to jelly. An immeasurable well of joy rushed to her chest and throat, so sudden that she almost stumbled. She fought to keep the ridiculous grin off her face. Gods, she thought Light would never have allowed her to see them again, not after what she'd said to her. She remembered what Vanille had said about Light's obligation to allow her to see them, but she hadn't wanted to know her children only because their mother felt it was her duty. But if Light wanted her to see them, was willing to let her know them...

Fang took so long in answering that Light started to look dismayed. "I mean, I'm not forcing you to if you don't want to," she hastily added, watching Fang's face carefully. She looked odd, as though she couldn't decide what to look like. "And I do want to ask the twins, but I'm sure Arial will want to while Avery might be-"

"Yes." Fang's answer was sure. Her green eyes were intense and filled with something that made Light's own eyes fill. "Yes. I want to spend time with them. I... I would really... really like it. To know Arial and Avery." My daughters. Ours.

Light blinked several times, her gaze seemingly unfocused, then nodded. "I'll ask them and call you. The weekend would be best, I think. And I would be off work. You can spend time together alone with them if you want. I suppose that's something we'll work out later."

Fang felt herself fill with anticipation and excitement, like a child expecting gifts. Which was something she'd never experienced in her life, which made it all the more surreal. "All right. I'll... talk to you later?"

"I'll call you," Light said again. An eyebrow rose. "You do still have your phone, don't you?"

Fang felt herself redden. "Somewhere," she mumbled, and resolved to never go anywhere without it again. She thought she left it on her night stand. Maybe.

With a slight smirk, Light walked out the room. Looking over her shoulder, she said, "Also, he's gay."

Fang blinked. "What?"

"Maxwell," Light remarked. "He's gay as a rainbow. Enjoy breakfast with everybody. We're all glad that you're back. Don't ever think otherwise." With that, Light swept out of the studio with Maxwell in tow, leaving Fang with a ridiculous grin on her face.

It was going to be a good day.


"So that's Ragnarok."

Light only held her hand out. Maxwell pouted.

"It's my car."

"I'm your superior."

He pouted some more and reluctantly handed the keys over. "I want to make it to work alive," he muttered.

Light flashed a grin that would have chilled a cadet's spine frozen. "We'll make it there on time if I drive, granny."

Maxwell barely managed to buckle himself in and pray when his back slammed against the seat. "Hooool-"

"Any outstanding work?" Light asked casually, zipping through and past other cars.

"-leeee shit," he wheezed, squeezing his eyes shut as the car barely nipped past a truck by a layer of paint. He wanted to frantically pat his front to check for any loose organs, but his hands were very busily clutching the door and armrest. "Are we dead yet?"

Light only smirked. "The Maker must be listening," she told him, "because we're on time."

He dared to crack a lid, saw that they were, miraculously, in one piece and pulling up to a checkpoint. "I don't understand why you can't just adhere to the speed restrictions," he muttered darkly. "You're an officer of the law."

Light ignored him. "Any requests for interviews with Fang or any of the l'Cie will be denied. Complete media stonewall on that or the reporter who tries to get to them will be on the blacklist."

Maxwell, gathering himself, whistled. "Very strict."

"Forward questions to me and the media liaison. No excuses," Light continued, nodding to the guard at the station. He snapped to attention and saluted, opening the gate. "If the general sees fit, a followup interview will be granted to a journalist of my choice with a predefined set of questions." The car moved smoothly through.

"An interview with you?" Maxwell asked, already keying notes in a slim electronic pad.

Light nodded. "With me."

"I don't suppose you've the general's approval on that," Maxwell asked dryly.

"I already forwarded him my plans the previous evening. I have his approval." Light slanted her aide a look. "Since when have you questioned my orders?"

"Since I decided my very excellent ass would be in the same sling as yours if this doesn't go exactly right," he snipped back, snapping his pad shut. "Not that I'm not willing to go down with you. I just didn't think it'd be so very soon." He sighed mournfully. "I thought at least once I got your job..."

"Never," Light grinned back, parking the car. "Perhaps a posthumous promotion?" She offered helpfully.

"You are cold," was his only reply.


"Mom was on TV this morning," Arial remarked, not looking up from her cell phone.

"I heard," Avery grunted back through clenched teeth, pulling her chin to the bar. Two more, she thought, and felt her body complain very loudly. She ignored it.

"You're going to be sore if you do anymore," Ripley commented, standing by where Avery dangled. She glanced at the muted newscast that Arial's eyes were fixed on. "Most of the school's talking about that. Ragnarok woke up."

"Fang woke up," Arial corrected, looking up at Ripley. Ripley was only a mere inch taller, but her lankiness gave her the illusion of being even taller. Her eyes were dark blue, her hair a burnished chestnut, tied back in a simple ponytail. She was a natural athlete like Avery, but held no deep loathing for books and studying. More often than not, Ripley's easy going nature made her suitable as a mediator between the twins during a fight. She was a tad closer to Avery because of their mutual interest in sports, but Arial certainly considered Ripley as much her best friend as her sister's. "She's not Ragnarok."

"Ha," Avery grunted, forcing herself through another rep

Arial only rolled her eyes. "I hope your arms fall off."

"They probably will after the next one," Ripley agreed. She glanced over her shoulder around the school gymnasium at her classmates doing various exercises. "Hurry it up, though. Teacher is looking impatient."

"One more," Avery wheezed.

"Stupid meathead," Arial muttered. "It's not like Reyna's here for you to show off to."

Though Avery gave no indication of hearing, Ripley did spot a telltale sign of a blush, but didn't comment. "By the way, what happened to your eye?"

Neither of the girls answered. Rip only shrugged and turned back to Arial. "Have you seen her? Fang?"

"I did. She's nice." And she's my father, she thought. Ripley didn't know about that. In fact, nobody knew about that except the former l'Cie. She was looking at Ripley's profile as the other girl watched Avery and she suddenly felt an intense urge to tell her everything. The words were bubbling in her throat, struggling to come out. Ripley would understand, a voice in her head thought, exactly because she didn't know anything about it. Arial had never been able to speak about Fang to Avery, who'd only turn stony-faced and leave the room. And her mother had always looked so sad that she couldn't bear to see that expression on her face. Aunt Serah hadn't known Fang and the one time she'd asked Uncle Snow, he'd looked so uncomfortable and distressed that she'd simply dropped the subject.

She'd never felt right asking Vanille or Hope, even though Vanille told her stories about Fang when they'd grown up together. The stories had always enthralled and filled her with pride and excitement at having a parent who was even better at escaping adults and could even hunt and live in the wild on her own. She'd beg Vanille for every tidbit about Fang, desperately needing to know her father.

She had wanted to be able to look at Fang when she woke and know who she was.

But the only person who'd ever been able to say anything about her father and mother was Sazh. When she asked, curious even at eight years old, he'd looked sad, too. He had enveloped her in his arms and promised her that Fang would wake up and no matter if Fang hadn't met her yet, Fang would love her and Avery.

"She'll wake up. I know it." His hands were big on her shoulders as he crouched down to eye level, big and warm and comforting. Just like a father's should be.

"Really?" She asked uncertainly. Her mother had said the same, but as each day passed, Arial couldn't help but wonder if she was the reason why Fang hadn't woken up yet. The thought made her heart pump hard and fast and her body feel cold with fear and dread.

"She will. You heard the stories Vanille's been telling you. Fang's a strong girl. When she... when she saved Cocoon, it took a lot of courage and strength to do that. She just needs her rest now, but she'll come back. You'll see."

"What if she doesn't like me?" Arial whispered, eyes on the ground near the toes of Sazh's boots, finally giving voice to a deep lurking fear that'd she had never been able to say before. "What if she doesn't want to come back because she doesn't like me? What if she hates me?"

"Oh, no, no, baby," Sazh murmured, hugging her head against his shoulder, gently rubbing her back soothingly. "Fang doesn't hate you. She'd never hate you. She loves you and Avy."

"How do you know?" She'd mumbled wetly against the coarse linen of his coat, sniffling to keep the tears down. "Aunt Van said even when Fang was gone for a while, she always came back. Always. Why won't she come back now?"

"She'll come back," Sazh had said, and even though she had felt the uncertainty in those words, she took comfort in them.

Arial turned her eyes back to the holographic screen, her gaze on the lone brunette beside her mother. She'd only ever seen a single picture of Fang and the one on the screen was different. Her face was blank, almost cold, but she recognized the expression.

She imagined it was what both she and her sister looked like when they were being subjected to something unpleasant. Fang didn't look the same as that day Arial found her napping among summer grass, and Arial thought that she looked more suited to the grass than the civilized clothes she wore. Fang was a hunter, she remembered. Or still was.

She snapped her phone shut, the screen winking out. She gripped the electronic until her knuckles turned white, turning her face away from Ripley and Avery. She felt light-headed, almost euphoric, her fingers tingling. Her breath was coming in and out fast, her heart pounding. It took her several moments to realize that what she was feeling was happiness, and anticipation.

Fang had woken up.


A/N: Thanks for sticking with me, guys! I finally updated. Most of the semester is over at this point, just a few exams and then holidays, so I should be able to post a bit more frequently before the spring semester starts. /wrists

I also realized while rereading this thing (I wrote this months ago and I couldn't remember what I wrote AT ALL D:) that the previous chapters had kind of been pretty depressing. So I threw in a bit of a sexy scene from happier times and I hope you enjoyed that. I can't really remember what I wanted to say, other than that E.G. Szyslak pulled through and proofread this thing, so much love goes out to her.

As always, reviews are always appreciated. Like candy. Unless you're dieting. Sadface.