A/N.

I just want to thank everyone for their kind reviews : )

Its been a few days since I've updated so for that I apologise, its nice to know that you are all still reading and enjoying this one as I'm enjoying writing it! I know I originally said I wasn't going to pair anyone up in this one but I think it might liven it up slightly, so look for subtle hints in the chapters to follow! And I know I've changed the placing a little bit and have missed out the Mah'habara Sunterra - Flower Filled Fissure, but I'm going to let the Hecatoncheir battle happen in the Sulyya Springs instead because it fits better with this story :D

Enjoy

xx

She had never been happier to see a blue sky.

They had finally arrived at Sulyya Springs, stepping happily from Atomos they felt the sunshine wash over them. Their eyes adjusting from the dark caverns to a beautiful cloudless sky.

Vanille sighed in relief, stumbling forward she sunk to her knees next to the nearest stream and dipped her hands into the ice cold water to drink. Replenishing water that had been lost over the past few days. They all then joined her, happy that they had broken out of the dark damp caves.

Even Lightning couldn't help but let a small smile wash over her features, it had been a crazy few days and she was happy they were over. She had to admit, they had been stressful on her too. She looked over at Fang and Vanille, bathed in the joy of their home planet and felt a slight pang of sadness. She would have loved for Serah to be here with her, enjoying the bright sunshine. Her smile soon faded as she set out with the task of securing the perimeter for camp. They all needed a rest before continuing, maybe with a night outside they would be more at ease with their surroundings.

She was sure now, that they could take anything life could throw at them.

As the darkness fell across the clear skies, the smell of cooking drifted across the campsite. Snow was good for one thing, and that was catching things that tasted nice.

Vanille sighed and looked into the fire, her tired eyes beginning to drift closed as the flames danced in front of them. Her body still ached with the stress of the past few days, but at least the dizzy feeling was beginning to fade. She jumped slightly when she felt a presence to her left.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" the young soldier was a sight for sore eyes, as she sat herself on the ground next to Vanille. For once, not with her gun blade in hand.

Vanille gave a small smile, glad that Lightning was talking to her, Fang had gone to fetch in more firewood and Vanille hated being left on her own.

"Who's taking watch?" Vanille felt herself asking, Lightning usually wanted to be the first to make sure everywhere was safe. She ignored Lightning's first question, she wasn't sure yet how she was feeling.

"Sazh" She sighed, looking down at her feet, the cold breeze lifting her pink hair sideways with it. Revealing a soft expression across her face. One Vanille had only seen when she was talking with Hope.

"Do you want me to take one?" The young girl asked and Lightning shook her head.

"No, its okay, I'm sure Fang will take one when she gets back" Lightning whispered, she didn't like the thought of Vanille being out there on her own just yet.

Vanille nodded, she felt too tired anyway but she wanted to pull her weight with the rest of the group.

"You know she'll fall asleep again right?" Vanille giggled, lifting the mood slightly, Lightning just shrugged her shoulders.

"Probably, but your not strong enough again yet" Her statement was short, yet filled with the familiar hint of concern. Vanille was sure she must have been imagining it. The soldier was making a habit of being worried about her, It wasn't normal. It filled Vanille with a little bit of warmth every time the woman next to her spoke, she shook her head. It was perhaps better not to get too close, not with any of them. She fell silent and pulled her knees up to her chest.

"Something's up" Lightning stated, looking back at the young girl. It wasn't so much a question.

The young redhead looked away, up at the stars. They shone brightly down on the two l'Cie, Vanille liked the stars, they were there silently watching over everything yet never passing judgement, it made her feel peaceful. Inside, she was mixed up. So many lies were swirling around in her head it was hard to keep track. She hated lying to Fang, but lying to Lightning, felt worse. It would help if she had someone to share things with, but she knew that the young soldier would hate her for not telling the truth. She was just building up her trust and it would knock it straight down again. So she kept up the walls, protecting her from all the pain that was involved with the truth.

Lightning was looking at her with a puzzled look, she could almost see the girls inner battle. She knew something was wrong, yet she didn't feel she knew Vanille well enough to push her just yet. She sighed and looked away, a slight awkward silence between the two women. Lightning couldn't help but feel slightly protective over the small girl, she wasn't sure why perhaps it was because she was so like Serah. She shook her head, that couldn't be right, even though they were built rather similar in body, and close together in age, in personality they were nothing alike. Maybe it was just because she felt sorry for the younger girl.

That was more of a reason.

"You should get some sleep" Lightning stated, breaking the silence between them. She could see how the young girls eyes were drooping and she had to admit, she too was feeling the strain.

"So should you" Vanille replied with a small smile.

"Yeah, but you've been through quite something, rest will do you good. I'll be fine."

"I'm not too tired" Vanille lied, truth be told, she didn't want to sleep without Fang by her side. She knew the nightmares would come, and she didn't want to appear weak in front of Lightning.

"That's not true, you can hardly stay awake now" The older woman replied.

Vanille looked back down at the ground, shuffling her feet.

"Will you stay for a while?" She said quietly, "I.." She paused, looking into Lightning's cool blue eyes. "I just hate being alone"

Lightning was shocked at the eye contact, it made Vanille's plea so much harder to ignore so she found herself agreeing.

"Okay, just until Fang gets back" She sighed, she had felt awkward last time the young girl had clung to her in her sleep. She wasn't used to close contact, not since Serah. She missed the contact with her younger sister, it was hard even thinking about the past.

As if she knew what Lightning was thinking, Vanille's small voice met her ears.

"Do you miss her?"

Lightning was puzzled by this question, it seemed to her sometimes that the girl next to her could read all of their emotions. She had thought she could keep her feelings hidden fairly well, but from Vanille that seemed impossible. 'Ironic really' She thought, when Vanille's feelings were more messed up than the rest of them.

The girl had more secrets than she had ever known someone hold in, and she had to admit. She was ever so slightly curious. She couldn't help but be drawn in by her, she hadn't felt this way about another person before. She usually didn't care what they were feeling. It confused her even more. The girl meant nothing to her, I mean, her and Hope. They had been through a bit of a journey together. But her and Vanille, she had only really spoke with the girl for a slight amount of time.

She looked over at the rest of the group before she answered. Snow was still tending to his cooking, she could see by his clumsy actions that he too was lost in thought. And if she knew him like she thought she did, it would be about Serah too.

Hope was already asleep, peace was written across his face. The young boy had been through his own tragedy. Yet he had found a little more happiness, he had something to keep fighting for. So did Sazh, Hope had his father, alive and well back on cocoon. Sazh had Dajh. His crystallised son, waiting for him to complete and return from his focus, he would then wake up and be able to live happily with his father.

She and Snow had Serah, although she was worried that when Serah was married, she would be missing her little sister more and more. She was sure though, that she had lost her already after pushing her away. No, she couldn't think like that at least she had her chance when Serah awoke from her crystal sleep, to put things right with the young girl.

Now she looked over at Vanille, she wasn't sure what Fang had waiting for her, that she had yet to find out about the older woman, but Vanille had nothing, apart from Fang. It filled her with a little more sadness. No one so young should be so alone. So she figured, answering Vanille's question couldn't hurt.

She looked over to the young l'Cie, about to start her explanation when a smile crossed her features. Vanille was already asleep, her features relaxed. She was curled to one side and Lightning noticed she seemed to hug herself for comfort. It must have been the lack of Fangs presence.

She began to wonder if this was what the girl was like when her and Fang had been separated back on cocoon. It made her feel slightly guilty, back on cocoon she had been filled with so much hatred. Ignoring the feelings off all those around her and she had forced Vanille then, to go off alone with Sazh, while she charged on in her crusade. Now she realised, Vanille needed someone for comfort, she was hurting in her own silent way. And Lightning had been to blind to see it.

She sighed and laid herself down on the ground next to the girl. It couldn't hurt, to stay here like she promised until Fang returned. It wouldn't be long, unless she had run into difficulty. She had a way of attracting trouble after all.

She wasn't worried about Fang, in fact she was slightly annoyed with the older woman. She wasn't sure why, not really. It was just something about her attitude towards everything. It reminded her slightly of Snow when she had first met him, overconfident. Yet she couldn't knock the woman's loyalty. She had done everything in her power to find Vanille again and like she had told Lightning, she would tear down the sky to save the younger girl, and Lightning believed her.

She jumped slightly as Vanille's arm looped around hers, the girls grip was deathly, like Lightning was ready to run away. Lightning felt her body stiffen, the contact alien to her.

She soon relaxed when the girl loosened her grip slightly and fell deeper into sleep. Raising her other hand above her head she allowed herself to close her eyes, feeling slightly content with her surroundings. This place felt peaceful, as if she were back on the beach in Bodhum. She felt no immediate danger, she trusted Sazh's judgement anyhow, yet the world here was more silent, it lacked the wilderness that the Archylte Steppe contained, she wasn't ready to let her guard down yet, after all. Tomorrow was another day.

And she was ready, ready to greet what ever challenge would face them at dawn.

A/N.

Okay, I just wanted to lighten the mood a little after the previous chapter, and its nice to write in a little bit of interaction between the two of them!

Thanks for reading :D