Hope: Light, you're being unusually kind to these two.
Lightning: Are you saying I'm usually not kind to people?
Hope: In that case, the right present should do the trick, I'd say.
Lightning: Listen to you. All of a sudden you're an expert on love? I haven't seen this side of you before, Hope.
- Quotes from Lightning Returns (Adoring Candice side quest)
"Sir, I understand your concern but your wife is already recuperating, I'm sorry but she needs to rest right now. She's well and your baby is in our nursery for observation," said the nurse by the front desk as Snow paced behind the two locked doors that separated him from his wife.
"I know…I just need a minute to see my wife that's all," Snow pleaded moving to the side as another nurse went by to pick up his paperwork.
Hope stood by the wall next to the chairs in the waiting room as he watched Snow plead with the head nurse for the fourth time already. Sensing the nurse losing her patience Hope walked over to Snow and peeked at the lady. "Sorry he's just really worried. We were both at the mall shopping for the baby when we got the call. Well I'm sure you will understand," Hope smiled politely as the nurse eyed both men hesitantly.
Then she sighed. "I do understand. But like I told Mr. Villiers his wife needs to be resting and her sister came with her so we already made one exception. I'm sorry, but for now you gentlemen will have to wait," the nurse said getting up and to leave. She turned around one last time and nodded knowingly, "I will come back and see when the doctor thinks its fine to allow visitors for Mrs. Villiers. Excuse me."
And like that she left. Hope looked at the taller and future brother in law tense up. Hope had never seen Snow look so defeated. Normally even when fighting monsters that were fifty times his size he'd have his confidence in check. Right now though….
"Hey lets go sit down a while. Remember Claire is there with her, I can text her to find out how's she's doing alright?" Hope proposed as he reached for his phone in his pocket.
Snow sighing in defeat turned around and walked to the set of chairs, "That's not the point Hope. I should be there with her. I've been by her side all these last few weeks, yet Light decides to keep her company while I head out and that's when the baby decides to arrive." He sat down with his hands against his head. Hope joined him while putting his phone up. He texted Claire anyways.
"I'm glad both Serah and the baby are ok. Although I do wonder if…" Hope cursed himself for saying too much. "Crap! I can't bring that up now, Snow's already upset enough." Hope thought to himself before realizing that Snow had stared back.
"What Hope?" Snow asked worriedly as Hope looked around nervously. Not the best way to cheer up a friend. Still he couldn't lie to Snow, might as well speak his mind.
"Well I was just- you know your baby is a boy. So I just wondered how-well his name would have to be decided b-" Hope was interrupted by a sigh of relieve. Now the young researcher was confused.
Snow looked at him cheerfully, "We already decided. Serah and I agreed on Jack."
"Jack?" Hope repeated back thinking of its origin. It was short and simple. But that was all he could think of. Snow resting a hand over his head smiled at him knowingly. "I know it doesn't sound as cool, I didn't think so either. But Serah was explaining to me that many philosopher and independent individuals are named Jack. Serah is running a coffee business but her passion is teaching and I am a free spirit right?"
Hope nodded at the logic. "So your son is the best of both worlds."
Clicking his right index finger at him Snow winked, "Exactly kid."
Hope smiled finally having Snow relax a bit. Normally he would correct Snow on the 'kid' name, but just this time he would pass on that.
Hope kept his hands around his coffee cup as he waited for Claire to come back. She seemed a bit upset over something, she didn't bother saying anything in front of him and Snow. Hearing the chair next to him move Hope lifted his attention to the pink haired woman with her eyes glued at the head nurse.
Hope's mother was a very warm person. Except of course he recalled one incident where Nora did lose her patience. It was scary, as much as Hope had been spoiled he never did spend much time hanging with the other rich kids around him. His hometown of Palumpolum was a commonwealth sector well known for its designer stores and commerce. Wealthiest of the wealthiest lived there, and Hope was isolated from most people in school. Except for two years when he met three set of friends, two of which went to school with him. Kai a boy who befriended Hope who wished to be a pilot for the military one day and Elida a girl who had a passion for singing. And for telling both boys what to do.
They all had gone on a school fieldtrip one day and what started as a simple request to get a better angle at a picture for Kai's younger brother Hal back home; Hope's third friend who was too young to go with them, ended with all three kids wandering off into a restricted area in the wilderness. Hope got scolded by his mother like never before. She had this look on her face, Hope remembered; that eye of the storm that casted a gut feeling that something was wrong. He'd never apologized so many times in one sentence that day.
He never got to see 'that' look again for a while. But one thing that Hope remembered about that expression his mother had was best described as well….maternal. In its most rare form of course.
So why did Claire have that same look and he felt like he was in trouble? Hope made an attempt to test his theory.
"So tell me, pink hair?"
No response. Hope tried again this time thinking of the name Snow and Serah had chosen. "Jack is a nice name, did Snow tell you the story?"
Giving one final stare at the nurse in her desk Claire turned her attention to Hope and suddenly 'that' look was gone. She smiled at his question even. "Yeah, Serah wants her son to be a philosopher, better that then riding motorcycles all day." She added looking at the empty chair where Snow was sitting.
Hope laughed softly at the jab of the father in question. He took a sip of his coffee before asking what Serah thought of the baby's hair.
Until that set the trigger. Glaring partially at the nurse again she mumbled a few lines that didn't sound like it was directed at him.
"Dunno they took Jack away from her after a few seconds of giving birth. She didn't even get a chance to take a good look at him." The anger that was building was starting to make Hope raise his head in question.
He read somewhere that when babies are born they almost immediately take them to get their feet pricked and tested to make sure they are in good health. Normal medical procedures.
"I'm sure it was necessary," Hope assured before taking another sip of his coffee. At least he tried, the stare of death wouldn't let him.
There it was again. That maternal look, Hope saw in his mother when he got in trouble after school.
"Really Hope? Serah gives birth to her own flesh and blood and the first thing nurses think is necessary, is to remove the baby from their mother? Its bullshit is what that is," Claire scoffed as Hope nodded his head slowly.
He needed to retreat and quickly. "Not even a quick glance?" Claire looked down slowly before letting a sigh. "A glance yes, but a mother should be able to hold their baby."
Hope wanted to ask why she was the one so mad. She wasn't the one giving birth, but of course the left part of his brain assessed the situation and agreed it would be suicide let alone stupid to ask her that.
"I agree."
There was a neutral silence before Hope turned to the left empty chair beside him. When Claire received his text message it didn't take long before she came back through the procedure room. Snow had already zoomed past her the moment it was clear for him to go in while Hope stayed behind with the older Farron sister.
Looking at his watch Hope noticed they had already been here for over an hour. It was minutes past four in the afternoon. Looking back up at his partner Hope stopped his upcoming question about the baby when he saw Claire's trance. It was a rare sight, but he was happy to see these little surprises.
"Something on your mind?" He asked instead. Blinking in response her eyes became focused again and the gentle look was gone. "Just thinking about Serah. It's a bit surreal to see her get married and go through child birth," she looked back at her pendant her sibling gave her. "I had to wait an eternity to see her this happy, now here we are going through all this."
Hope looked back down at his cup. Barely anything left he placed in the empty seat beside him. "You know sometimes I think your seeking out to win sister of the year award a little too much." Narrowing her eyes at him she followed amusingly. "Meaning?"
Putting his hands by the edge of his chair he smiled knowingly, "She's always been happy so long as you're around. Remember after her wedding? And the 'suggestions' she made to you?"
Realizing what he meant she turned her head away hiding a smirk. "She was just happy…so much that she wanted to share it with me." Claire looked back at him flatly. "Besides we all know how that turned out."
(3 years ago)
"Sazh just let him do it."
The older man looked incredulously at the younger man who looked up from his packet of papers. Sazh was the one with the experience here, it was his job to set the groom straight.
"No no no uh huh. Not on my watch," Sazh pointed his hand at Hope warningly. "And you are supposed to be the best man. How could you agree to such a thing? No way we getting away with this without Lightning having our heads." Sazh finished looking at Snow who was curiously quiet the whole time.
And for good reason too. Whenever it came to getting through with Sazh, Hope was usually the best weapon. Finally reaching a stopping point the young researcher put his clipboard down to one of the guest tables close by. Looking around at the slow traffic of guests making their way around the closest tables Hope nodded in approval. He was the best man, and as such he coordinated mostly the entire reception with the casual approval stamp of the older Farron sister. But as the best man his primary job also was to make sure the groom was relaxed and focused on his big day. So his good cop bad cop routine with Sazh had to be tested a few times. But it was okay, he already knew how to get through the pilot.
"You know Light isn't going to say anything now, after all Serah and I are married. This is just the celebration party right?" Snow reasoned hiding his growing smirk before Sazh corrected him. "No it's not a party it's a reception. You know formal stuff, and if we're going to have a rowdy event you might as well count me out because I know Lightning wont-"
"I won't what?"
All three men in their circle went silent as the woman in question stood behind them with basket. Handing it to Sazh she looked at him again, "What won't I do?"
Giving the silver haired man a 'I told you so' look Hope casually went back to his paperwork as he realized the chair count didn't match up. He walked away safely. By the time he was on the other side of the ball room he already could hear the protests.
"Are you trying to push my buttons Snow!? Because I promise you, brother in law or not I will end you if you even dare make this place into a circus."
Vanille turned to Hope confusingly as she helped unfold the chairs. "Is something wrong Hope?" Pursing his lips thoughtfully he shrugged.
"I don't know, nice dress by the way."
Blinking at the compliment she turned around in her lilac dress, "Thank you! Fang helped pick it out, I've never worn this type of color before. But Fang says I looked great in it so…"
Nodding in response he finished arranging the four seats around the new table. "Where is Fang?"
Looking around Hope failed to see the raven haired woman before Vanille winked back at him. "She's not here yet. But just wait until she makes, if you think I look nice you should see her in her dress."
At this Hope looked down in thought. Fang in a dress? That would be interesting.
After a while the reception had started after the guests filled up the room and while the music played on Hope continued his job as he inspected the wedding cake. Three towers high and four branches out, a total of seven cakes with the one in the bottom center being the largest.
"How's your hostage?"
Turning around at Claire who had a drink in hand he chuckled lightly. "Looking as delicious as I'd hoped, but quiet as ever."
She nodded as she sipped her drink before cursing as a drop escaped her lips. His eyes couldn't help but follow the drop down her chin. Lighting wore a maroon dress that slimmed down elegantly into ruffles. She was beautiful for sure, but Hope had already pried away before she became suspicious.
"It's almost a quarter till eight so if you want me to make an announcement for the groom and bride to start cutting the cake I will," Hope suggested pointing at his watch. The pink haired woman just looked at him funny, "Aren't you supposed to be looking over Snow?"
At this the young man really tried hard not to rest a hand by his hip, there was a false rumor going around that Hope Estheim could be sassy when pushed. That simply wasn't true.
"He's a bit preoccupied. What about you Ms. Bridesmaid why aren't you looking over Serah?"
She smiled in response. Looking towards the group of dancing guests was the married pair dancing away in laughter.
"She's a bit preoccupied as well."
Hope turned back to the cake setting the last few plates around carefully. He was almost done before settling down the wedding knife and server before he heard another man interrupt.
"Hey there you are, I was getting myself a drink. Want to dance now?" The man said looking eagerly at Lightning. The guy was wearing a nice suit just like Hope, but even the young researcher had to admit this guy had a really nice jawbone.
Turning around in instinct Hope pretended to look over his list again before he heard her mumble away.
"Hope go ahead and make the announcement in ten minutes." She turned to the man again. "Sure let's go."
Like that Hope watched as the two made their way into the dance floor as a part of him grew a mixture of dislike and awe. The anger that subtly sparked within at the guy for ruining his conversation and the awe that Lighting Farron had agreed to dance.
Hope purposely watched the two dance and although the ten minutes soon came up he saw the man continued to stay with her in the dance floor, as much as he hated it he waited a few minutes. If Lightning was having fun, why couldn't things be off schedule for a while?
Five minutes after eight Hope made the announcement on the stage and the people began making their way around the table by the cake. Making sure he was positioned close by Snow he couldn't help but smile. He and Snow had a strange friendship indeed. From trying to kill him, to being each other wingmen during the dark times in the other world. Now here they were with their friends and loved ones all coming together in joy.
"You ready hun?" Snow asked putting his hand over the petite ones. Serah giggled as Snow started to guide her cut a large piece. Hope internally cringed at the calculations. There was plenty of cake to go around, but he didn't take into consideration how the brawny groom ate.
After the polite claps of the people they all formed their lines as the cake began being distributed. Hope watched back silently as Snow and Serah sat in their table happily.
"I love this, what is it again Hope?" Serah asked biting a piece of her cake. Hope looked up cheerfully, "It's got a café cream with almonds mixed in. Lightning picked it out."
Snow nodded with a mouthful, "Mfph, weve it to sif". Hope shook his head as he looked at the guests to his left. Vanille and Fang were talking to Lighting. Fang was wearing an elegant azure dress and Hope admirably admitted Vanille had been right.
Seeing his eyes look at the three Fang raised an eyebrow at him. "Careful with those eyes love." She was just teasing. That's who she was, but Hope had flustered away quietly. Looking for Sazh.
When he met up with the man Hope had a great conversation over aerodynamics.
"Anyways the military has me in this project. Somethin' about designing a plane that can stay up in the air without having a flow field," Sazh said resting an arm over his chair.
Hope gulped a bit too much on his drink, "A hover craft?"
Sazh pressed a finger motioning to keep it quiet. Hope mused at the thought. Here he thought the technology they left behind was long gone. Maybe not so much after all.
"Hey there pretty lady, that for me? You shouldn't have." Sazh said looking at Lightning approaching with two plates of cakes. She put them in front of both men before resting a hand on her hip.
"You two were either too lazy to wait in line or smart enough to know I wouldn't let you two go without a slice," she commented as Sazh looked up mocked like he was offended.
Turning to Hope the man picked up his fork, "Well I don't know about Hope, but I like to think of myself as an opportunist. Ya know? Wait and see is the name of the game."
Hope already quietly ate his cake. It was very good and he turned to her thankfully. "Thanks for having our backs."
She smiled gently before her eyes scanned his and the smile turned into a light frown. "Wish I could say the same thing about you Hope."
At this Sazh let the piece of cake drop from his fork as his mouth was open still. Closing it quickly he reached for a napkin to clean his mess. "What happened? Hope wha'd you do now kid?"
Hope glanced up surprised as he moved the cake around. "N-nothing! I didn't do-"
Lightning sat down next to him with her hands crossed around her chess. He wasn't sure if she knew this made her chest area more…freed.
"I told you to make the announcement at eight. And you purposely waited didn't you?"
At this Hope shrugged involuntarily and Sazh looked up confused.
"So? You seemed to be having fun dancing with that guy." Hope sounded a bit too defensively and almost immediately Sazh rolled his eyes, already figuring out where this was going.
"Great. These two again…"
"Alright I'll be right back,"Sazh said getting up from the table. He turned as Hope looked at him for support. "I got to go find Dajh, he's probably playing with the other kids. A dad has to make sure his child isn't up to something mischievous." Sazh walked away before giving the young man a look of sympathy.
Hope didn't understand, he decided to take another bite of the cake.
"And now," Lightning started again narrowing her eyes at him. "Now Serah is giving me advice to go after this guy, I was just being polite. She is even trying to convince Snow to talk to this guy after the reception. This is her day and she's playing match maker for me," she said massaging her temple.
Hope poked his mouth as the fork in his hand ran out of cake. He hadn't kept his eyes off her. Putting the fork down he reached for a napkin. Cleaning his mouth Hope looked at her a bit cheerful. All of a sudden the sulkiness that had been going around inside him had left.
"Your right Light. This is my fault. But you know…I think I know how to stop this mess from happening." Hope put his napkin down before watching her perk her head at him. "Really and what is that?"
He smiled back, "It's simple, just tell him we're together."
Her eyes widened before Hope could finish feeling more worried at her reaction. "Or not, I-mean it was a suggestion. Keep him away until Serah forgets. Its fine if you wa-"
"That's perfect."
Hope looked up at her smile. "You know sometimes you find great ways to use that head of your Hope."
"Sometimes?" He asked suddenly. Before he could protest he felt a fabric brush his lips. Watching her gently remove her small handkerchief. "You missed a spot."
Hope looked back at his watch. It had been a while since they got news from Snow that Serah had been resting for a while. She would not leave until the following morning. She put too much stress on herself during child birth and Snow decided to stay with her.
Claire didn't want to budge and only when Hope convinced her to go downstairs to the cafeteria and eat something with him did she move. They were quietly waiting to hear from the doctor in another hour or so. It was night time and the hospital lights were still laminating the hallways.
Feeling a tug at his side Hope turned to see Claire move around his left shoulder. He knew he could ask for a pillow from the nurse at the office, but it seemed his partner didn't mind using him instead.
After a while he heard her whisper his name. "Hope? You…can go…home…rest"
Looking up from the magazine in his right hand Hope looked down at her sleeping form. Completely leaning into him from her chair.
"Sorry you're stuck with me."
She mumbled something he couldn't understand, but he let her stubbornness be and went back to reading.
Author's Notes: Just wanted to post this chapter. I thought about making this part into the previous chapter, but I thought against it because I wanted to emphasize on something. It always made me laugh how Hope and Lightning interact in Lightning Returns. Granted they had pieces of their souls taken away from them, but the sarcasm was over 9000 sometimes. Anyways here's another chapter and now the real fun begins, with the extended family coming up!
