A/n: First off, I wanna thank Branded By Pulse who pointed this out to me in a review, b/c I would have been clueless otherwise. Second, I'm really really really really really really truly and deeply sorry everyone. What I posted for this chapter a couple days ago was NOT the right chapter-I accidentally posted the original version instead of the edited version *facepalm and s.m.h* Thanks to Branded By Pulse for mentioning Fang n Vanille being crystals in their review, as well as Phoneix being my reader and keeping this edited version in her e-mail, I'm able to give you all the proper edited version ^_^. So plz, enjoy this chapter...oh! and if you reviewed already for the wrong posting, just leave me an unsigned review and I'll respond to you (if it doesn't let you post another signed review for this chapter that is^^;)
Chapter 9: Changes
Serah let out a heavy sigh as she went about preparing breakfast for the entire household; with everything she was cooking it could be considered a Fal'Cie's meal…but due to the people she was cooking for, more specifically their ravenous appetites, it was more of a kids meal.
Just from her sigh alone, it was clear that her attention wasn't focused solely on her task.
"Claire…where are you?" she whispered to herself as she tended to the skillets, one containing bacon while the other held sausage patties. She also placed three dozen biscuits in the oven before rising to check on the large pot of rice and an equally large pot of cheese grits.
At first, whenever she used to call her sister's name, real or adopted alias, she immediately felt anger towards the ex-soldier. How could she have just up and abandoned her? Over time, the anger that she had felt for such actions had dulled, until finally they gave way to the deep longing she felt to be with Claire again. Serah would even settle for closed off and distant Lightning so long as they were together again.
She should have known something was up the day her sister just up and disappeared a year ago; her sister had given her a necklace that she hadn't spoken of in years and Snow had approached her looking somewhat defeated.
The crinkled paper her held in his hands should have been another clue and the final one should have been when he spoke her sister's name before he handed the letter to her.
When she had read the letter, she had instantly broken down into tears. For the second time in her life, it felt like her sister had abandoned her. Snow was at her side in the blink of an eye and held her the entire time she cried—which she had learned was a pretty long time, when they spoke of it later.
As her fiancé held her why she cried, the others went out and searched for her sister; Fang seemed especially pissed and very determined to find Lightning. They all believed that they'd be able to catch up with Light since too much time hadn't passed, not to mention the lancer's excellent tracking skills, and bring her back…even if they had to knock Light out to do so.
Though, Fang might have done that regardless if the elder Farron had agreed to come back with them peacefully or not.
The group, minus Serah, Snow and Dajh, had searched the whole day and had come up empty handed; well, that was not entirely true…Fang had given Serah her sister's cape—successfully bringing tears to her eyes again.
Sadly, beyond that, the groups search turned up nothing and Serah knew it wouldn't. She knew that Claire didn't want to be found, she knew the moment that Snow had received and delivered them all, but herself more specifically, that letter.
It had taken a while, aka one month, for Serah to be able to think about her sister without going from saddened to angry and back to sad again, but she managed. Thanks largely in part to her family comforting her—though the other two females more so than the males.
Snow, Sazh, and Hope did offer her support…as best they could without looking gay, though she did still have her doubts about Hope.
*Beeeeeeeeeep*
"Huh?...Oh, the biscuits!" she cried in a slightly panicked tone, thinking that she had burned them. She quickly opened the stove and removed the two trays, happy that she had not ruined them.
"Everyone, breakfast's ready!" Serah called out loudly to gain the attention of the other patrons of the house. Not ten seconds after the words had left her mouth did people begin to fill the kitchen and immediately made their way to the food.
"Man! This smells great baby!" Snow praised happily as he went about fixing his plate, a big grin on his face.
Sazh rubbed his hands together as he followed behind the largest member of the group. "Hey, hey, hey…'bout to having a rumbling filled in my tummy," the fro wearing male stated happily. The chocobo chick in his hair, Sweets, poked his head up and chirped in agreement. "Umm-hmm…you said it chocobo."
"It all looks delicious Serah," Hope commented a bit shyly as her praised his idols (and crush's) little sister.
The young Farron simply smiled happily in response; she had learned to fix her plate first before notifying everyone that the food was ready least she be caught up in that hectic mess. As the light blue eyed female watched what she considered her family, take their seats, she reflected how so much had changed within the past year.
For one, the village of Oerba was bustling with people. After Cocoon had fell, people immediately flocked to the abandoned village since it was basically there; it took only a few months before the village had expanded and grown into a fairly large town. Those who didn't stay in Oerba, though it was renamed New Bodhum due to the large body of water near the edges, migrated out elsewhere on Pulse and built their old homes that they had on Cocoon.
Besides that, she and the rest of her nontraditional family were celebrities now. Serah chuckled to herself as she thought about how that happened…though how it started off really wasn't funny.
The group was returning home after a night out on the town—it was done largely to help Serah get through her emotional turmoil. As they were walking down the street, each in great moods, a group of teens, about five or so, came out of nowhere and started throwing rocks at the family.
They teens were also yelling "Get out of our town you filthy l'Cie" and "Don't spread your disease to us". Yeah…there were still a few die hard Pulse l'Cie haters out there.
A few of those rocks ended up hitting Vanille and Serah…which immediately pissed Fang and Snow off at having their girlfriends hurt; the beating that they gave the group was proof of that. It took the shortest two females of the group pulling their lover's off the little punks to prevent them from being killed.
That incident successfully ruined everyone's mood. The youngest two women of the group tried to calm their lover's down by pointing out how it wasn't really the teens fault—earning skeptical looks from their taller counterparts. In the brawler's and lancer's mind, those teens got what they deserved…no one hurt their girlfriends while they were around.
Both Vanille and Serah stressed how the Cocoon citizens, well former Cocoon citizens, didn't know the truth about the entire l'Cie fiasco; which explained their resentment. And, that if they did then the people wouldn't be so hateful towards them.
To make a long story short, Fang had been inspired by their words and suggested that they write a book—a memoir, if you will—about their journey; specifically, starting with the thirteen days before they all met one another, told from each of their perspectives.
Serah recalled the tattooed Pulsian's exact words after she pitched the idea. "Well, if the military hasn't told the citizens the truth…then it's our job to set the bloody record straight, and tell 'em the truth yea?"
The entire family agreed with Fang's logic. If the military was gun-shy about informing the people of the truth behind the l'Cie, then they would just have to take matters into their own hands.
"It's what heroes do," the engaged female recalled the NORA leader saying back then.
With that decided, they all went about writing about the days before they met one another; the destinies intertwined that shaped the fate of Cocoon and all its citizens. It had taken them roughly four months to write down everything—they wanted nothing left out.
The next hardest thing was getting the books published—which was easier said than done considering that they were running low on funds and that none of the publishing companies wanted to deal with Pulse l'Cie. Forget the fact that Cocoon citizens lived on Pulse now and that they were no longer l'Cie!
It was decided by the lancer that they could only publish one book, which the money would have to come from their own pockets, and that out of all of theirs Hope's would be the cheapest; this move would successfully throw them out of chronological order based upon the next person Fang and Vanille's awakening affected. After paying to have the book binded and self published they could do nothing more than wait.
The response they received was more than they could have hoped for; which was great because after three weeks of waiting they were a few gil short of being flat out broke.
People loved it and were practically begging to learn about the lives of the other l'Cie as well; which happened over the course of a few months…one member of the groups book coming out per month.
By then, group had agreed and had worked out numerous contracts with various publishing agencies about how much money they each would receive due to the number of units sold, posters, advertising, etc.
Practically overnight they had become stars; none of them had expected the first book to go over quite so well in such a short time if at all…but it did. Now they couldn't even go into town without being swarmed by a mob of fans and admires wanting autographs, pictures, and even kisses.
"Hey! You ladies better get down here before you miss out on some good food!" Sazh yelled out as he bit into a piece of bacon. "Ya'll know Snow won't leave even a scrap of food," he added with a slight chuckle.
"Hey!" Snow protested with a mouth full of food as he looked up and glared at the pistol wielding man.
Before their conversation could go deeper, namely friendly arguing, footsteps could be heard ascending stairs followed by the opening of a door.
"Aye, no need to shout," a smooth, accented voice answered before its' owner stepped into view wearing that infamous smirk of hers. "We can hear ya just fine without all the yelling."
Fang entered into the kitchen with her with her best friend/lover Vanille attached to her waist. The cinnamon haired female looked flushed, and the room's other occupants had no doubts as to why that was.
"So could we," Sazh grumbled in response before turning his attention back to eating. Fang had heard his words and simply smirked at him, not even ashamed of the fact that the entire house knew what she and Vanille had been up too earlier.
As blue eyes watched as Fang prepared a plate for herself and Vanille, while the shorter Pulsian went and took a seat, Serah was yet again reminded of change. After her sister had left, Fang had stepped up and started taking care of things.
The young strawberry blonde really wasn't too surprised with the tanned woman's actions; Fang and Lightning were very similar when it came to dominant/leadership positions. It was in both the ladies nature to step up and take care of the members of their family…which explained why they often fought as much as they did in the past.
With the books being major successes, the Sari wearing fighter suggested that they branch out into other fields. The others agreed and did just that; each was successful in whatever they chose to do.
Yup, everyone's we're all successful and basking in the glory of it, Serah thought to herself. Except the person that you wish for the most, she added sullenly.
So deep in her thoughts was she, that when a large hand gently touched her arm, she jumped in fright. Her body relaxed immediately when she realized that it was Snow's hand.
"Serah, are you alright?" the blonde male inquired curiously. His eyebrows were draw together, showing his concern.
She nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just thinking…" she trailed off, not really having to finish the sentence. He, and everyone else at the table, knew who she was thinking about.
"About Sis," He stated, and he received another nod. He gently squeezed her arm, though it still looked like he could snap her like a twig from even such a simple action. "Don't worry, Serah, she'll be back," he assured her in a confident tone.
"That's right," Vanille agreed from across the table. "You're her little sister after all. So there is no way that she won't come back." She added. Her eyes and voice portrayed just how concerned she was for Serah; truly her heart went out to the girl. What Serah was feeling was more or less similar to how she felt when she and Fang got separated.
"I agree with Vanille," Hope said, lacking anything of his own to say…least he express his feelings in the process. Even after being with his "family" for a year, and a little more if you counted their journey together, he still felt a little shy around them from time to time. Now obviously being one of those times.
Sazh nodded. "Yeah, not only that, but soldier girl's gotta come back because who else is gonna give you away on your wedding day?" he questioned with a sideways grin, that caused Serah to brighten a bit.
The black man knew, as did the others, that Serah hadn't picked a date or anything because she didn't want to get married without her sister there; it just wouldn't seem right to do so to the younger Farron. Thankfully, Snow totally understood her feelings and did not pressure her in the matter.
"I'm sure Sunshine will be back soon. So don't worry yourself too much Little Farron," Fang remarked. "That's why you've got us to keep ya company. And I'm sure we're way more fun than our burst of Sunshine?" she inquired, arching an eyebrow, looking at Serah with a playful smile on her face.
The tribewoman's words really hit home and got the desire affect; Serah laughed. "You're right about that Fang. You guys are way more fun than Claire," she admitted, causing the whole table to burst out in laughter.
As she looked at the five people sitting around the table she felt much better. While she did miss her sister dearly, she had them there to keep her company and to keep her from losing herself to sadness; she had her family. Still…
Claire, please…come home soon, Serah thought before going to work on her own plate of food.
