Author's Note: Okay, this is definitely my favorite chapter, let's see what you guys think. For all of you Hope\Vanille fans out there, this is the chapter for you. It was so much fun to write! A lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into this. Mine and theirs. Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Hours have passed. . .

Even though the moon had risen, and billions of stars sparkled across the sky, the air they all sat in was still laced with tension. The calm before the storm; that almost too peaceful silence that has a very flimsy barrier at it's end. A barrier that, upon breaking, releases a mighty hurricane.

Fang had long since left the others. She sat by herself on a large boulder. Doing nothing in particular, not really even thinking, she was just there.

Lightning stood at the edge of the lake, studying the reflection of the stars in the slightly rippling surface.

Vanille sat by the fire, picking up handfuls of sand and watching them slip through her fingers.

Hope sat by the fire as well, staring into it, doing much more thinking than Fang. She'd caught on to his lie. Had the others as well? Lightning hadn't interfered, beyond pulling Vanille back, she could know. She might just be keeping silent. Vanille had defended him, so she probably didn't know. . .

Vanille had defended him. He still couldn't believe that. she refused to let Fang hit him. But why? It wouldn't have been a big deal, Fang wouldn't have been able to hurt him much. And even if she had, he would have healed fairly quickly. Yet she stood her ground. Had probably been willing to take the punch for him.

Hope had done that for Vanille once, stood between her and an angry Fang. He and Lightning had guarded Vanille while snow and Sazh held Fang back. But that was a long time ago, back before Vanille and Fang's sacrifice.

Hope unconciously looked up at Vanille, then Lightning. Coincidentally, Lightning chose that moment to glance at him, too. After about a second, she looked to Vanille, then back at him. He understood.

Now or never.

While Lightning turned back at the lake like nothing had happened, Hope stood, and pulled off his shirt and shoes. He tossed them aside and stepped into the lake, the deceptively warm water lapping at his ankles. He took a deep breath and summoned all his courage, then turned and called out, "Hey, Vanille!"

She looked up, and jumped, startled to find him shirtless.

"I want to show you something."

"Un-underwater?" she stammered.

He nodded.

"Oh. I-I can't swim very well. . ."

"That's alright, I'll be there too. And besides, you don't even need to breathe, just hold it in." he extended his hand to her.

She hesitated for a moment, then took off her boots and came forward, taking his hand. He offered her a smile, which she nervously returned, then headed into the lake.

Once underwater, Vanille tightened her grip on Hope's hand. She'd almost drowned once as a child, and had no desire to repeat that. But Hope was right, she didn't need to breathe. She felt only slight discomfort holding her breath, which was entirely forgotten once she saw the underwater lake life.

The water was so pure here, that she could see almost all the way to the bottom, even though it was night. The moonlight cast a surreal light on the underwater life. Vanille felt as if she were in another world enitrely. The slightly swaying foliage looked almost silver. And the fish. . . There were so many colors; from yellow to dark blue, they swam in and out of her vision. There was even a rather large turtle, whish Hope pointed out to her, swimming along the bottom of the lake, lazily making it's way. It was amazing.

Vanille was watching a sky-blue fish weave it's way in and out of some grass, when a crimson one swam directly in fromt of her.

Crimson. . .

The crimson handprint on Hope's face, it was hers. Her bloodied hand had touched his face, and he had leaned into it, held it with his own. The look in his eyes, she'd never forget it. His strong arm around her and his gentle hand on hers were the last warm things she felt, as her own warmth left her. His sweet voice was the last thing she heard as she faded away. . .

"I am so sorry. I love you"

Vanille gasped out of the memory, and took in lakewater. She immediately began to panic, choking on it. Fear set in. She'd died before, she didn't want to go like this.

She vaguely felt Hope dragging her to the surface. But she didn't really feel it until they hit cold air. As soon as they did, she began coughing the liquid out of her system. As her coughs turned into sobs, Hope pulled her in, and she sobbed into his bare chest; for feeling his warm body against hers brought the memory back.

"Shh." Hope whispered gently, "It's okay. You're fine."

"I-I was dying." she gasped, "And. . ."

"No. Vanille, you weren't dying, you were just afraid-"

"No." she sobbed, "I was dying. And you. . . you held me, and-and you said," she gasped, "you said. . ."

Hope held her out from him a little, so he could look into her eyes. Her wet, emerald eyes, "I am so sorry. I love you."

Vanille's eyes widened. Her heart swelled. He knew the words, so that meant. . .

"I love you." Hope repeated.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the two leaned in. Until their lips met. There had never been such a kiss on Pulse, one so full of passion, and love. The man had waited over six hundred years to tell her how he felt. And the woman had waited over a thousand, for someone like him. No, not someone like him. Just him.

As neither needed oxygen, they remained locked together. As one. They were indeed, two halves of one whole. Soulmates.

And Lightning could see that.

Well, what did you think? I feel that this is my best chapter yet, but that's for you guys to decide.

What will happen, now that Hope and Vanille's love has finally been expressed? Lightning saw the kiss, but did Fang? If she did, what will she do? Will she let the couple be? (doubtful) Will her overprotectiveness be her downfall?

You'll just have to wait and see. :)