You guys didn't really think I was gonna kill Hope off, did you? Seriously? On a different note, Happy Mother's Day to my fellow moms out there reading this. I know there's at least two of you. It's after 1AM here, so it is officially Mom's Day from where I'm sitting.

Are you ready for some fluffalicious romantic fluff? I hope you are. I'm not a Garth Brooks fan, but I am a Bob Dylan fan and he's the one who wrote the song, ergo the title of this chapter. So get your cozies on and get ready to wallow in the fluff, 'cause it's on its way! Consider it a gift from me to you.

To Make You Feel My Love

Lightning shifted in the chair beside Hope's hospital bed, flipping through his chart. It had been three days since they had made it out of that cave, and it was the first time she had been allowed to see him. They had planned to keep her under observation for two days for dehydration and exhaustion, but she was starting to get so agitated after one, that the chief medical officer chose to release her instead of risking the future health of his staff. She had wanted to see Hope then, but his condition was such that he wasn't permitted any visitors. So she busied herself with work, checking on her troops, seeing to their well-being, and preparing for their return to the Colony, anything to keep her mind off of Hope. The following day, she gave Rassler a severe tongue-lashing for fussing around her like a mother chocobo. It was then that she made up her mind that she was going to look in on Hope, doctor's orders be damned.

She marched into the medical unit, scattering nurses in her wake. The one doctor who tried to halt her had his words die in his mouth the second Lightning looked at him, daggers shooting from her eyes.

"Where is Sergeant Estheim?" She asked in an icy, polite voice that held only the promise of imminent pain should her inquiry be objected or deflected.

"H-he's down the corridor," came the reply, the doctor raising a shaky hand to point in the direction to his right, "um… fifth door on the left. Uh-"

"Thank you." Lightning's answer was swift and clear. She swept by the doctor, who was paralysed by his own fear of the captain they called the Iron Lady. She stopped in front of the door he had indicated was Hope's and peered into the small window. His bare torso was visible above the blankets, his upper body draped in bandages that held his shoulder in place. Turning the knob, she quietly let herself in.

Now she sat at his bedside, watching his chest rise in fall as she held his hand in hers, stroking his knuckles with her thumb. In spite of his wounds, Lightning was relieved at his appearance. She didn't want to remember Hope looking the way he had. He started to shift beneath the bedding, and her heart skipped a beat as his eyes blinked open. A smile started to spread across his handsome features at the sight of Lightning's face.

"It's good to see you again," she murmured.

"That's my line," Hope rasped. "I was beginning to think you guys had all been sent back to the Colony without me."

"I don't leave any of my troops behind. We won't leave until they give you the okay," Lightning replied flatly. Hope squeezed her hand in reply. There was a bit of a hesitation before he spoke.

"I missed you."

"It's only been three days, and they wouldn't let anyone to see you," she chuckled, trying to make light of his comment, but something in Hope's eyes made her realize he wasn't just talking about recent events. Her face grew serious.

"Hope, what happened to you out there, out on the frontier?"

He sighed, closing his eyes and turning away slightly. "A lot of things I'd like to forget," he muttered.

"Like whatever happened that gave you those scars?" Lightning nodded to the other side of his torso. The ends of the four pink lines were just visible atop his stomach where they curved down around his waist out of view. Hope's eyes had widened in surprise at her question, and then he smirked mirthlessly.

"You would notice that."

"How did you get them?"

Hope hesitated. "It- it was just after my first year in the Corps. The instructor we had was…well; to call him an asshole would be putting it nicely. He didn't like me. He knew I was one of 'those l'cie' as he put it, and he hated the fact that I knew more about the beasts of Pulse than he did. So he thought he'd teach me and this other guy he didn't like a lesson by sending us out to exterminate a trio of gorgonopsid. If I had still been l'cie, it would have been no problem. But we were just a couple of kids armed with guns. We were lucky to have even taken out one of them, before the other two charged. One of them took a swing at me, giving me this," he indicated to his scars.

"I was rolling on the ground, poisoned and bleeding, and this other guy… I-I never even knew his name… H- he tried to defend me. He-" Hope paused, swallowing hard, and Lightning squeezed his hand in encouragement. "He didn't make it. The gorgonopsid were killed by a squad of proper soldiers who found us, but not before… They tore him apart, Light… It was awful." He shuddered at the memory. Lightning reached out to stroke his hair.

"You should've contacted me, Hope, I could've helped you."

Hope shook his head. "The whole reason I signed up was so I could prove myself to you. Asking for your help would've just felt like a big step backwards. After that, I started to work even harder. I didn't want to think that someone had died in vain for me. And I didn't want to rely on the protection of others anymore. Especially yours."

Lightning sighed. "Hope, you never had to prove to me you were strong." Hope looked at her with wide eyes, and she smiled a bit. "I already saw how strong you were and how much stronger you would become."

"Light…"

From the look on his face, she could tell he wanted to kiss her. However, the captain was all too aware of her surroundings, and so she made a compromise. She rose from her chair and pressed a kiss against his forehead, and he sighed at the touch. Hope gripped her hand tighter, and she looked down into his green eyes.

"I looked at your chart while you were sleeping. Looks like you'll be ready to go in a couple of days. Then we can all head back to the Colony, and you can start making good on that promise you made me," Lightning's face was solemn, but her eyes spoke volumes. Hope could feel a smile playing about his lips.

"I can't wait," was all he said in reply. Lightning turned to leave, and Hope called out to her once more.

"I love you."

She turned back to look at him, suddenly feeling warm from within. "I know," she murmured.

~x*x~

Two days later found Hope up and about, trying to hobble on one and a half good legs as the platoon prepared to ship back to the Colony now that their mission was complete. The doctors had put his leg in a special AMP-enhanced cast to speed up the healing process, and his shoulder had mended nicely. Luzzu and Rassler flanked him on either side, alternating between mothering and ribbing him.

"Well, at least it's not your right hand that's broken," Rassler was saying. "That way you can still take care of important business," he snickered and clapped Hope on the shoulder- his bad one.

"Ow! Son of a bitch, would you watch it?" Hope rubbed his shoulder and backhanded the tall, burly man across his wounded arm. Rassler yelped and the two exchanged irritated glares.

"Nevermind him, Estheim," Luzzu's steady voice came from his other side. "Secretly, he's been hoping your hand was broken so he could hold it for you." Rassler sputtered in objection.

"Somehow, that sounds more like the truth than the joke you meant it to be," Hope grumbled, causing Luzzu to howl with laughter and Rassler to grow even more apoplectic.

None of the three men noticed their captain until Hope stumbled to an abrupt halt and saluted. The other two quickly followed suit; Luzzu trying to blink back the tears of mirth.

"It's good to see you back on your feet again, Sergeant Estheim," Lightning commented, adding with a smirk, "and I see that these two are worrying over you like they did me"

"Thank you, captain," replied Hope, imitating her neutral tone. "As for the worrying bit… I think they worried over you much more than they are me." He glanced sideways at both men, who feigned innocence.

"Hm," she arched a brow, not really wanting to know the graphic details. "Well, I hope you three and your men are all packed, we'll be heading out in an hour."

"Yes, ma'am. We're on our way to check them now."

"Very good, then. I'll leave you to it," and with that, Lightning walked off. Hope tried not to watch her, but his eyes found the subtle sway of her hips as she walked to Colonel Treno's office irresistible. His fixation did not go unnoticed, as he suddenly felt the jab of Luzzu's elbow. He looked sharply at the ginger haired man, who had a knowing gleam in his eye.

"There's a time and a place for everything, sergeant. This isn't either of them. She knows that, and so should you," Luzzu's voice was low and for only Hope's ears. At first, he was confused by the man's words, and then it started to dawn on him. He knew. Hope started to speak, but a faint shake of the head of the head silenced him.

"Let's get troops packed up and on the airship before the captain finished saying her goodbyes to Colonel Treno, whaddya say?" Luzzu spoke up, quickly defusing the situation before Rassler caught on. "Unlike you single guys, I gotta wife and kid who will be thrilled to have me back home ahead of schedule. And quite frankly, I'd much rather be with them than here with you lot."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Hope chimed in, and Rassler nodded. The trio walked to their temporary barracks, with the occasional teasing, "Hurry up, slowpoke!" directed at Hope.

~x*x~

"So I guess you and your men are ready to head out, captain?" Colonel Beatrix Treno inquired after she exchanged casual pleasantries with Lightning.

"Correct, the sergeants should be making sure everyone is packed and ready to go as we speak," Lightning replied.

Colonel Treno chuckled. "You certainly don't waste any time, do you?"

"At the risk of sounding arrogant, ma'am, my men are the most efficient fighting force in the entire Expeditionary Corps," the captain replied simply.

"I know. That's why I specifically requested your platoon to come here and take care of our little problem." The colonel smiled. "Which you did, and I can't begin to tell you how grateful the people here are to finally go back to business as usual. I've little doubt that had any other fighting force the Corps had come here on this mission, it would have ended in a much more unfortunate manner. This won't go unnoticed by the powers that be, you can guarantee it."

"And I am grateful to your engineering and medical crews for getting Sergeant Estheim and myself out of that hole."

Colonel Treno inclined her head in acknowledgement. "Well, I won't keep you any longer, Captain Farron. I wish you and your platoon a safe journey back to the Colony." She stood up and extended her hand to the other woman.

"Thank you, Colonel Treno," said Lightning as she rose, taking the proffered hand and shaking it. "I hope you won't need our services again in the near future."

Beatrix Treno laughed. "Agreed."

When Lightning left the colonel's office, she nodded to Lieutenant Beclem, who had the oddest look in his eye. She wondered about it for a moment, but then completely dismissed it, chalking it up to him being his usual, devious self. Ambitious, but rubbish, she thought to herself as she left.

~x*x~

The flight back to the Colony was as uneventful as their flight from it. They arrived on base after midday, and Lightning was surprised to see Serah and the twins waiting for her as she left Lt. Colonel Amodar's office from her debriefing. Her sister looked like she'd been crying for days. Pregnancy hormones, Lightning surmised, as she approached her sister and received a stranglehold of a hug.

"They told me something bad had happened to you! I was so worried, you should have called me!" cried Serah in near hysterics.

"I-I'm sorry, Serah, but there were other things…" Lightning's voice drifted off as she turned to see Hope being assisted by a couple of soldiers. Her sister followed the line of her gaze and she half gasped, half sobbed at the sight.

"She's been like this for days," Jaq informed his aunt with an exaggerated eyeroll, Vivi nodded her pigtailed head in agreement. Lightning had to suppress the urge to chuckle. Serah attempted to run to the young man, but Lightning, grabbed her arm.

"Don't embarrass him. Hope can walk over here, just be patient." And slowly, but surely, he proved her right. When Lightning felt he was close enough, she let Serah go, and the pregnant woman practically pounced on him.

"Hope! What happened? How did you-?" Serah's voice caught in a sob. Hope looked down at her and smiled gently.

"I was just doing what I promised you I would do."

Serah pushed back and looked up into Hope's eyes. Then another tearful sob came forth from her lips and she hugged him tightly once more. Lightning, seeing Hope had all he could do to balance his own weight, nevermind the weight of two and a half people, gently pried her sister off him.

"Serah," she began in a gentle, firm voice, "why don't you go and take the kids home, and get some rest okay? I promise I'll find some time to come over tomorrow. I don't want to see you this upset, it's not good for the baby, understand?" Lightning stroked her sister's hair as she tearfully nodded in agreement. She put on her brave face for her older sister, forcing a smile on her lips. Wordlessly, she took the twins by the hand and walked back to her car. She paused only once to turn back and ask, "See you tomorrow?" Lightning nodded.

When her sister had disappeared from sight, Lightning turned to Hope, and with an arched brow, stated, "Let's get you home, shall we?"

Hope smiled. Just then, a small rumble was heard and rain began to fall. Lightning made a face, and he laughed. "The sooner the better," was his answer.

They hurried as best they could to her car, with Lightning carrying both their gear. Getting inside, they looked at each other's dripping face, trying not to laugh at the dripping visage that looked back at them. Then Hope leaned toward Lightning, with half-lidded eyes and slightly parted lips in an effort to kiss her mouth, which she halted with her fingertips.

"Not yet," she murmured. "Too many potential eyes."

He tried to hide his disappointment with a nod and a deep breath to calm down. He sat back in his seat, and Lightning started the car to begin the journey home. Hope didn't try to kiss her again.

Parking the car and waiting for the elevator, Lightning noticed a small, mischievous grin starting to spread over Hope's face, but not once did he look at her. She wondered what was going on in his mind. His hand had drifted out to hers, finding and lacing their fingers together. She allowed herself a pleased smile to come to her face, slightly squeezing his hand as it wrapped around hers. When they entered the elevator, the impish expression Hope wore was still there. The doors closed behind them.

Now what could he be thinking… oh, Lightning's thoughts were stilled as Hope quickly encircled her waist with his arm and kissed her. She was just beginning to relax into his hold when he pulled away and straightened up, the only indication of anything having happened between them was the slightly smug look Hope now had, coupled with the faint blush on his face. Oh, now this won't do, she thought, a bit put out that he had teased her so. Lightning gave him ten seconds to enjoy his moment of triumph, and then she launched her own offensive. She pushed him against the wall of the elevator and paused to savour his look of surprise before she reached up and pressed her lips against his. Hope's arms automatically went around her as she deepened the kiss, the tip of her tongue darting out and teasing his lips, eliciting a sigh from him. Lightning pulled back just before the elevator's chime. When the door's opened, she was the one with the smug expression, as a dazed Hope struggled to collect his wits.

Together, they walked to Hope's door. Lightning handed him his bag.

"Why don't you come over for dinner once you get cleaned up and changed," she offered. "If I know Serah, she's most likely restocked my kitchen this morning, and I know you have nothing to eat."

"Sure," Hope replied, still feeling giddy from the kiss.

Lightning nodded, a soft smile turning up the corners of her mouth, "I'll see you later then."

She turned and walked to her door, feeling Hope's eyes on her as she moved. She stopped in front of her door and turned once again to look at the young man, who quickly came back to his senses, fumbling with his lock and opening his door. Lightning couldn't help but to chuckle a bit as she entered her own apartment. She tossed her bag to the side and entered her kitchen and checked her pantry. Sure enough, Serah had been here. She closed the pantry and retrieved her bag, heading to her bathroom for a much needed shower. Then she paused, noticing the vase that she had Hope's rose in was on her counter, empty. A few dried petals on the counter were the only signs the bud had existed. Lightning frowned. She knew it would be dead by the time she got home, but not seeing it there at all… She sighed heavily and strode to her bathroom, in search of a much-needed shower.

~x*x~

If it weren't for his healing injuries, Hope would have flown through getting showered and changed. He debated a bit on whether he should put in an effort to dress up or just wear something casual. It's Light, for crying out loud, he thought to himself, she's not gonna care. But it's because it's Light, I want to look good for her. He growled and shook his head. With a huff, he pulled a button down shirt with thin vertical stripes of black and blue out of his closet, and a pair of jeans. Compromise. Perfect, he thought, shrugging the shirt on and wincing slightly as he rolled his left shoulder. Hope finished getting dressed and studied himself in the mirror. Aside from the misshapenness of his lower left pant leg due to the AMP-cast, he was pleased with his appearance. Just one more thing, he thought, grabbing his jacket as he left his apartment and walked to the elevator.

~x*x~

Lightning looked up from her cooking when she heard the knock on her door. Try as she might, she couldn't quell the elation she felt as she opened the door, biting her lower lip in an effort to calm herself down. Hope was standing there, the shoulders of his leather coat wet and his pale hair dampened to silver. They paused for a moment, taking in the sight of each other. Beneath her apron, Hope could see she had on a simple sleeveless top, it's neckline baring her collarbones, her pendant gleaming against her skin. One of her trademark skirts completed the outfit, accented with a simple belt. Hope blushed slightly, and then remembered his gifts.

"I thought I'd contribute something to dinner," Hope said softly, holding up a bottle of wine. "I'm not really all that good with picking out this sort of thing," he confessed, "but I was told it'll go good with just about any meal."

Lightning took the bottle from him and smiled at his honesty, opening the door wider for him to enter. He stepped in, pausing to brush his lips against hers as he did so. Lightning turned away from him and placed the bottle on the counter. When she turned back, she gasped at what he held in his hand.

"I, uh," Hope began, holding the rose out to her, "figured you might need a need one."

Carefully cupping the bud with her hands, Lightning bent her head and inhaled its fragrance. "Thank you, it's beautiful," she murmured.

"Shall I put in water for you?"

"Please," she replied, turning back to her cooking in an effort to hide the warmth in her cheeks. Hope spied the empty bud vase by the sink and filling it with water, placed the rose inside.

"Nice vase," he commented. Lightning laughed wryly.

"Serah gave that to me as a thank you gift for being in her wedding," she explained, not looking up from her cooking. "Never thought I'd ever have a use for it… until now."

Hope smiled and came over to stand behind her, sniffing, his hands lightly resting on her hips. "Smells good," he remarked, complimenting both the food and Lightning. "Anything I can help with?"

"You could start by opening the wine. The corkscrew is in that drawer," she indicated with her right hand, trying to be oblivious to his touch, his scent that reminded her of the warm nights back in Bodhum. "You do know how to use one, right?"

"Ha, ha," Hope retorted sarcastically and pulled the utensil out. "Yeah, I think I can handle it." The unmistakeable pop of a cork releasing from a bottle moments later backed his words up.

"Glasses are already on the table," Lightning answered the unasked question, turning the burners off and preparing to place the food in serving dishes.

Dinner was a simple affair. Lightning had worried earlier about whether her culinary skills were adequate, having cooked mainly for herself for so long, and Serah would always insist on doing the cooking herself whenever she came over. The way Hope was eating however, she realized she needn't have worried. She looked thoughtfully at him over the brim of her wine glass. He felt her gaze upon him, and he paused his fork's return journey to his mouth.

"Something the matter?"

Lightning shook her pink head. "I was thinking how relieved I am that my meagre cooking skills are being so well appreciated."

Hope laughed a little, embarrassed by her observation. "Sorry, I guess I went crazy with my seconds and thirds."

"It's okay, really. I'm not too fond of keeping leftovers, and you're thin enough as it is," she replied, sipping her wine.

"I'm not that thin," he protested.

"No," Lightning replied, recalling his sparring match with Rassler, the memory of his bare torso flashed before her eyes. "No, you aren't," she murmured.

When dinner was finished, Hope assisted Lightning with the washing up, sharing a friendly, teasing banter amongst them. Refilling their glasses with the last of the wine, they retired to the couch in Lightning's sitting room. Everything about her space fit her, Hope decided. The furniture, the décor, it was all neat and simple, chosen more for its function than its form. He sat down next to her, hesitating for a moment before stretching his arm out, resting it over her shoulders. Hope felt her stiffen slightly, but slowly, Lightning relaxed into his casual embrace. They sat, sipping their wine in silence before he felt the need to break it.

"Light, why did you give me back my knife, back in the cavern?"

Lightning glanced up at him, giving him a strange look. She took a sip from her glass before answering, "Because you needed it, Hope…needed to be reminded of your own strength… And, contrary to what you thought, you deserved to get it back."

Hope looked down at her with wonderment, feeling his heartbeat skipping. Wordlessly, he disengaged his arm from around her, taking her glass from her fingers and placing it down on the coffee table along with his own glass. His hand came up and caressed the side of her face; his green eyes searched her pale blue ones. The love he felt for the woman at his side threatening to burst from his chest. Lightning raised her own hand and placed it over his as Hope leaned forward. Through lowered lashes, she watched his lips breathe out three simple words:

"I love you."

Lightning could feel herself melting into his kiss, tasting the wine on his lips. She felt his tongue sweep against her mouth in askance, and she readily parted her lips for him, feeling his hands at her waist. Hope caressed and teased her tongue with his own, mating them together in a dance that neither wanted to stop. Lightning nibbled at his lips, and he could feel his desire for her start to rise. Yet Hope remembered his promise to her, he would wait until she fully came to terms with her feelings. So it was with a trembling sigh that he pulled away, his eyes closed. He pulled her into his chest, speaking softly into her hair.

"Thank you for giving me another chance."

Lightning "hmphed" into his neck, poking him in the ribs with her finger, enjoying the way he flinched at her touch. "Silly," was all she said in reply.

"I would do anything for your love, Light. Absolutely anything." Hope couldn't keep the emotion out of his voice. He felt a tear wanting to slip free and he mentally blamed it on the wine. He felt her arms come around him in a warm embrace.

"I know," she replied, nuzzling the crook of his neck as she tightened her grip around him.

The remained that way, in silence for a time, listening to each other's breathing. Then Lighting noticed Hope's breathing had grown deeper and more regular, and his body felt heavy. Carefully, she extricated herself from under his chin. Hope had fallen asleep, his face relaxed in angelic repose against the back of her couch. It had been a busy day for him, she mused, and he hadn't quite recovered from his injuries yet. The wine must've been the last straw.

She carefully got up, not wanting to disturb him. Hope never stirred as she took off his shoes and adjusted his long body so that it was stretched out on her couch. She disappeared into her bedroom to retrieve a blanket that she spread out over the sleeping man. Hope mumbled a bit, but remained asleep. Lightning kneeled down beside him, and brushing his hair from his face, placed a light kiss upon his lips.

"I love you too, Hope…and maybe one day, I'll be brave enough to tell you."

She got up, and snapped off the light, padding away quietly to get herself ready for bed.

~x*x~

Hope whimpered and shuddered in his sleep, trapped in the depths of a nightmare. He was back in the cavern again, only Lightning was nowhere to be found. He was alone. He cried out, tossing about on Lightning's couch, causing the woman to snap wide awake from a sound sleep. She paused, and then remembering Hope asleep on her couch, quickly got out of bed and hurried into the sitting room. The moonlight coming in from her windows pooled on the floor beside the couch, illuminating Hope's hair. Lightning knelt beside him, watching in horror as he twisted and moaned under the blanket in his sleep.

"Hope, wake up, you're having a bad dream," she called out to him, shaking his arms roughly. This caused him to sit upright with a startled yell, his breath coming in panting gasps. Lightning gripped his shoulders tightly.

"Light!" Hope exclaimed, panicked, not realizing she was there beside him.

"Hey! Hey, it's alright," she soothed. "I'm right here Hope, look at me." Lightning stroked his face. He turned to her silhouetted form, where it crouched beside him. She was in a tank top and a light pair of shorts. His hands glided up her arms, clutching her bare shoulders as a sob of relief escaped his lips.

"I dreamt I was in the cave again, and that you weren't there," Hope panted, his pulse pounding.

"It's okay now, Hope," Lightning said in calming tones. "I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere. Go back to sleep. She gave his shoulders one final pat as she rose, ready to return to her bed. Hope gripped her arm, preventing her from leaving.

"Hope…" Lightning began, taken aback. Hope wasn't looking at her, but down at the moonlight where it illuminated the carpet.

"Please, Light… I… I don't wanna be alone." The anguish in his voice was palpable.

A sigh escaped her lips. She hesitated, not sure what to do. He couldn't possibly mean… Could he? And what was she doing even entertaining the idea? The hand that held her arm fast trembled, and realized in his state, she had little choice. Lightning helped him to his feet. She could just make out his fear-filled eyes, shining in the moonlight. Reaching up, she stroked his face, running her fingers through his hair. Then without a word, she took Hope by the hand, and led him to her room.

Lightning got under the covers and waited for him to undress, her heart beating madly in her chest as the rustling of clothes being shed reached her ears. The edge of the bed sagged with Hope's weight, and she tensed in anticipation. The covers made a soft, whispering sound as he got in, his hands searching for her in the darkness. She reached out for him in turn, guiding him to her, a small shiver running down her spine when her fingertips met the bare flesh of his chest. He pulled her closer to him, burying his tear-stained face into her shoulder as his body curled around hers. She felt relieved when the hem of his shorts brushed against her thighs. Hope breathed a sigh of contentment, his breath floating over her collarbone, and his body relaxed against hers as his fear subsided, his heartbeat returning to a normal pace. As her arms settled around his shoulders and his breathing settled into its sleeping rhythm, it began to dawn on Lightning that this was all he wanted from her tonight. A reassuring embrace, a haven from the storm in his mind. She kissed his hair and relaxed, joining him in sleep.