Lights flipped on around her as Lightning entered her apartment and froze only four steps in, finding two tall strangers next to Vanille and a chatty Serah. The first, a bronzed-skinned dark-haired beauty with unique deeply blue hued highlights leaned scowling against the couch, protective arm around Vanille's small waist as her sky-blue eyes measured Serah scathingly, then flipped to Lightning upon her arrival to do the same.

The second woman, more tan than bronze, appeared no less intimidating. Short, wild hair frecked with thin silver threads reminded her of Fang's, only spiked between a messy array of blonde hair instead of black. Friskier hair, only a few inches long, frayed in every which way, cleanly off her angled face, which cut a sharp jawline around a face fashion would die for, perfectly beautiful in every thinkable way. A long, dark tribal tattoo curled up her arm, inch-thick in diameter with branching designs that convalesced at the shoulder, linked at one spot before disappearing under the sleeve of a black t, following a track of three wicked scars from clear claws that'd followed the tattoo to shoulder.

Lightning spotted six smaller ones immediately between the two women, imprints that made them no less beautiful, but half more intimidating.

"Serah…" Lightning cautioned, "I thought we agreed, no passively alarming company while I'm not home."

Lighter green eyes cut across the room, aimed just over Lightning's shoulder, where a small gasp emitted. "Dad…"

"Woe be the day when a father learns of her only child's offspring through bloody pixeled television." The woman slipped off the couch ledge, daunting further in height, which Lightning estimated stood just above Fang. Lightning glanced back at Fang for explanation, who'd frozen up on the spot.

"Fang! We tried to call!" Vanille pleaded, "Then Jaeger took our phones…"

"I didn't let them in?" Serah offered meekly, "Not that I wouldn't…"

"Jaeger," Sky reached out a hand for the father, but retreated quickly at the icy glare that earned, "It's still relatively new for her too," Sky offered, shooting Lightning another analytical measurement.

"Fang," Jaeger didn't appear to hear them at all. "This. Is what you have to show for five months of tolerated vacationing? This?"

"Daddy…" Lightning had never seen Fang look so small.

Jaeger started in on her, advancing with every point. "We feed you up, raise you right, spend years instilling the values of your heritage, even let you play explorer with the cute Cocoonian crush for half a prime year—" Lightning stepped back out of the way as Jaeger pushed on right past her to Fang, nearly up against the wall, "to be rewarded with the honor of bearing the first disgrace to the clan in years, grandfather to a halfling, and adopt a Cocoon-wretched tramp!"

Taking it all to that point, Fang stiffened at the last bit, jaw clenching right in turn. "She's not a tramp, Dad."

"Well thank the Gods you remember some piece of your heritage; here I came in thinking you'd forgotten us all!" Jaeger shoved her to the wall.

Fang grimaced, but when she looked at Jaeger again, her features curled into a glare. "She's not a fucking tramp, Dad!" Fang launched at her.

"Oh, shit," Lightning initially backed up as they clashed to the floor, wrestling, then started back for them. "Fan— "

"Lightning, no!" Vanille wriggled free of Sky's arm, racing over before she got too close. Vanille guided her back. "Don't interrupt them. Fang's fighting your Skarr."

"My what?"

"It's like your worthiness to belong, sortof." Vanille went on, pulling her back to them at the couch, "It's like a tradition Yuns do to show their worth for the mate in cases of conflicting opinion. Like the way Sky fought Fang for me and had to beat her to show Fang I could belong with her."

"… that makes no sense."

"It's usually over a girl both sides want to fight for, a sort of way to prove they could protect her better." Vanille added, "In this case, Jaeger's just trying to kill her. Fang's fighting for your honor. It gets confusing when you mix up the rules— like how Sky had to fight twice for me since she lost the first time, that was unusual, since there's not usually a second fight."

Lightning glanced at her again from where Fang and Jaeger literally growled, beating each other. "Why not?"

"Well, true tradition holds that if the one in question loses the challenge, they ought to be slain for inability to provide better for the mate," Lightning tore her gaze from the two to stare at Vanille in mute shock. Vanille glanced her way and caught it, "Oh! But we don't follow that original tradition anymore. Not usually."

"Shouldn't we be more concerned here? If Fang could die from this…?"

"Oh, it's nothing to worry about." Vanille breezed off. "Fang's the best fighting Yun I know— "

"Hey!" Sky snapped, taking Vanille's arm at that.

"Oh, sorry sweetie," Vanille corrected, "she's the strongest Yun I know," Sky growled, "she's not going to lose," Vanille went on, ignoring it mostly. "This is just Jaeger's chance to use the name of tradition to get some hits in. You just don't wanna get too close."

"I see…" Lightning observed, wincing with another painful-sounding hit.

"Wow," Serah watched, glossy-eyed with it all. "Do you all look like that?"

Sky glanced at her warily, distaste amplifying with the smell. The pheromones practically wafted off of her. "Bloody Eden, they're family!" Sky grabbed up Vanille and hoisted her onto her lap to overpower it.

"They've got really a really keen sense of smell, Serah. Like dogs."

"What?" Serah took a few seconds to register, "Ohh… oh, like—!" Vanille gave her a knowing nod that turned her positively pink all over. "Oh, God. Be right back!" Serah disappeared into the bathroom in a flash. Vanille smilingly looked to Sky, who scowled disapprovingly.

"Bloody Cocooners."

Vanille kissed her, giggling.

"This is going on awhile…"

"Jaeger's no pushover; she taught Fang all her life after all, but Fang's in her prime and the cream of the Yun crop. She'll overpower her eventually." Vanille turned back to her girl, "Sky, you haven't even said hello to Lightning! Be polite."

"Hi." Sky grunted, barely giving her another glance.

Lightning arched an eyebrow at Vanille.

"She's a bit of a supremacist," Vanille apologized, reprimanding back to Sky. "Behave."

Sky growled lowly.

"She's not," Fang pinned, Jaeger locked in unbreakable hold, "A tramp."

"Ugchhk," Jaeger struggled to snap of it, but when it became clear she couldn't, she stilled angrily, taking a few long moments to breathe. "You've crossed a line, Fang." Jaeger growled out, "Practically spitting on our heritage. You know how many Cocoon-born Yuns there are?"

"None," Fang admitted miserably.

"Damn right there's none," Jaeger gruffed, "Your mother's very upset."

Fang's grip loosened entirely. "Mom knows?"

"She does now," Jaeger pulled herself up, dusting off. "And she wants to meet her. Where is this girl anyway?"

"She's right there, Dad." Fang gestured, pointing up to Lightning. Jaeger crossed to her, leaving Fang to pull herself up.

"You, eh?"

Lightning retained composure evenly, "Me," Lightning glanced Fang's way for guidance, who gave a desperate headjerk her way and mimicked a hand. Civil then. "It's a pleasure to meet you," Lightning followed up, holding out a hand to her. "Mrs…"

"The name's Jaeger," the woman took her hand in a steel grip, "Not Mrs."

Fang watched Lightning's features for the tell-tale wince, which didn't come. Fang breathed with the release of hands. "Lightning," Lightning returned collectedly, making Fang extremely grateful.

"Lightning," Jaeger nodded, still seething, but seeming to accept her calm appeal, "Good name. At least you're not the shriveling bit." Jaeger glanced over at Fang, brow darkening once again. "We need to talk," she looked back at Light. "Both of you. And I need a hard one."

"She means drink," Fang explained, crossing over to Lightning's side to lead them both over to the table.

"I'll get it," Vanille volunteered, earning looks from all of them as she stopped before the exact cupboard Lightning hid alcohol in. Vanille shriveled under their piercing eyes. "Serah showed me…"

"Se-RAH," Lightning hollered, summoning the girl at once from the bathroom. "Take Vanille and go to your room."

"Okay," Serah breathed, waiting as Vanille slipped a gallon chug of vodka to the table and crossed over with her to disappear down the hallway once more. Sky started after them.

"SKY," Jaeger roared in turn, freezing the Yun. Sky froze mid-escape. Jaeger opened her mouth as if to yell again, the reconsidered better of it. "Go to Serah's room until I call you."

Sky nodded curtly and disappeared after them.

Jaeger turned on Fang and Lightning.

"Time for a little story, folks. And it better end in 'Anya-was-so-relieved,-she-forgave-and-forgot,-continuing-to-mate-with-daddy.'"

"Jaeger," Lightning started evenly, figuring now they could speak freely. "None of this is Fang's fault. What happened was—"

"I broke the condom!" Fang rushed in, squeaking overtop of Lightning.

Lightning looked to her blankly. "Fang… "

"I'll tell it, Light." Fang volunteered over her.

Lightning reached out a hand, taking Fang's on the table, earnest concern there with clear guilt in those eyes. "Are you sure?"

Fang rubbed her fingers with the smooth pad of her thumb. Her hand trembled ever so slightly. "Yeah," Fang confirmed, sounding incredibly small. She made the effort to counter that. Lightning squeezed her fingers, conveying that Fang didn't have to. Fang moved both their hands off the table, but didn't let go of Lightning's. "I screwed up." Fang returned to her father. "I'm sorry, Dad…"

"Damn right, ya did." At Fang's cringe, Jaeger sighed fitfully. "Just get me a glass, Fang. This'll go much easier."

Squeezing her hand once more, Lightning fetched three shotglasses, figuring Jaeger a straight up drinker. She wasn't wrong.

Jaeger picked up one of the glasses and scoffed. "It's a wonder your people ever get drunk with these dinky little cups." Jaeger sat back with a hearty exhale. "So what d'ya do for a living, Lightning?"

Lightning poured the drinks evenly. "I'm… a bartender, actually."

"Ah," Jaeger picked up her shot, "Guess that answers how you and Fang met too. Fang's always had a weakness for drinking away her problems," cheersing with Lightning's shot still on the table, Jaeger downed it back like water, "Gets that from her mother's side." At Lightning's quirked brow, Jaeger added. "That was a joke, Princess."

Fang denied the shot when it was pushed towards her, waving Lightning off. "I've been getting better about that. I haven't had more than a drink in the past two and a half weeks."

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that, darling," Jaeger took Fang's shot for her while Lightning refilled her other. "Your mother would be pleased to hear it, though. And you'll need all the brownie points you can get before you take Lightning to visit next week, so keep it up."

Lightning dropped the vodka gallon. "What?"

"Whoa, whoa!" Jaeger picked it up in a flash, saving almost all of it. "Watch the liquor, woman!"

"Dad, don't call her woman," Fang admonished off-hand, "Mom wants a visit?"

"Ya damn right, she does. Bloody springing this on her, aren't you? Woman's gotta meet the mother. At least once anyway. Though it looks like you want another relationship with this one," Jaeger shook her head. "Why aren't you drinking, Lightning? Cheers me, dammit. It's not right for a woman to be drinking alone. It's a sign of depression. And Hell, if I'm depressed. So- drink!"

"I'm pregnant," Lightning reminded, for once grateful for the lie.

"Ahh, fuckit. I'd even managed to forget, dammit."

"Sorry," Lightning apologized.

"Well, it's not your fault, is it? Ya always gotta cause a stir. Who executed the Adamantoise? Who's child is that? You didn't tell me she's your sister. Bah." Lightning's eyebrow hiked again. Fang waved her off. "Hit me up again, woman." Lightning poured another shot.

"Dad…"

"Woman, Lightning, whatever you are." Jaeger pulled back her glass forlornly, lifting it to stare into the crystal contents. "The exotic pink-haired Cocoon nymph who stole my baby."

Lightning opened her mouth to speak, but Fang quieted her. "Shh, it was a compliment."

"Ohh. Ohh, Fang," Jaeger lamented, tipping back the shot and reaching for another. "What am I to do with you? She's beautiful, I know. I'm not above saying it just 'cuz she's a prattling Cocoon brat. She's beautiful, alright? You're beautiful, Lightning."

"Thank you,"

"And charming, dammit! With an incredible head of hair, and a tight body, she probably clenches so very hard!" Lightning blinked. Fang touched her wrist. Jaeger howled, "And I get that, Fang! I get it's arousing and the best way to fuck, having your woman thrash your world like you're her little plaything. I get that! Your mother may even like her! But… whyyy, Fang? You have to learn, there's just some candy you can't touch! You have to… to… " she whimpered.

"Dad, don't cry."

"What's the use?" Jaeger tossed the shotglass over her shoulder, not even cringing at the smashing glass. "You try to bring your kid up right. You try ta… I need a nap, Fang. Where's the pisser?"

Fang was already at her side, helping her father up. "Were you drinking earlier?"

"Since ten," Jaeger confirmed, helped along to the bathroom. "Decidedly more after watching the box… cruel, evil little people in the box. Chit, chit, chit, chit, chit, they goo."

"I know, Dad. I still don't like the television either."

"Bloody box," Jaeger reached the bathroom door. "You stay right therrre. We don't cross no swords in the pisser."

"No we don't," Fang confirmed, "I'll wait for you here." Fang closed the door behind her.

Lightning came down the hall, glancing worriedly at Fang. "Will she be okay?"

"She's fine. Just needs to sleep it off."

Fang cringed, apologetic. "I'm sorry about all this, Light."

"Psh," Lightning brushed off, "Like I haven't put you through uncomfortable situations. This is my fault anyway. Fang… you didn't have to— "

Fang shook her head to shush her, then tapped her ear and pointed towards the door. Lightning quieted accordingly. "We can talk about it later, Light."

"Talk about it nooow," Jaeger whined from behind the closed door.

Lightning offered Fang a smile. "Later then," without further word, Lightning stood to her tip toes and kissed Fang's cheek gently, soft lips whispering, "Thank you."

Fang was left breathless.

"Aww, was that it? Grab her for a makeout, Fang. You can get sex outta this, just give 'er them puppy eyes."

Fang leaned against the wall, eyes following her every step. When Lightning glanced back at Jaeger's latest catcall, she smiled. Fang's heart melted in bliss.

XXX

"So Fang and Sky have been… your two?"

"Well, the only two exceptional ones, yeah," Vanille confirmed, snuggled on top of her Yun in bed. Sky played with the skin of her belly idly, not keenly interested in conversing with the Cocoon sister. She turned her head up to smile back at Sky. "My Yuns." Sky smiled back, stroking her side. Vanille turned back to Serah. "Everyone else was just pre-dating until Fang realized she wanted me and scared the piss outta my current boyfriend. When I told Fang I loved her too, she challenged him that very day. The puss-face didn't even have the balls to fight her! He just up and gave her his blessings of me! Ass."

"Wow, he just gave you up?" Serah breathed, "Ouch."

"Doesn't matter," Vanille waved off, "Fang was who I really wanted anyway; he was just a helpful step to her. I learned how to give a better blowjob with that ass, just in time for Fang."

Serah choked.

"Oh, was that weird?" Vanille asked, "Talking about blowjobs with Fang? I can never tell what's appropriate in this culture. The other day, I made a joke at work about these two gorgonpsids where one insistent pup was biting and gnawing and playing with the mom's teats, and I said it reminded me of how Sky devours me back at home." Sky barked out a laugh and Vanille smiled at her warmly. "Funny, you know? You should've seen the look this woman gave me, like I started going into labor on the spot and she was my mate or something. I thought her head would pop right off of shock." Vanille shook her head, "I didn't see her again after that… and I've a sneaking suspicion she's the one who filed a complaint against me making the workplace uncomfortable. Hmph."

"Bitch," Sky sneered. "Cocoon britches, all too uptight."

"I know, right? I thought so too."

"Wait," Serah hauled back, ignoring the graphic comparison she now had in her mind, "So Sky and Fang aren't the only two women you've slept with?"

Vanille giggled, "Of course not! It took some time for Fang to notice she loved me, of course."

"So… um, how many have you had, exactly? That you've slept with, I mean."

"Oh, Serah, I don't know," Vanille considered, "Maybe thirteen or so." Serah gaped, Vanille glanced over at her curiously, almost shy. "Well, I had Fang and Sky for years you know. It's not all that common to find your life mate in your teens, otherwise I've had had more. Why? How many have you had?"

"Cocoonians are ashamed of sex," Sky gently chided, reminding her.

"None!" Serah blurted, cheeks rosying with the confession.

"See?"

"Oh, come on, Serah." Vanille encouraged, "You can tell us. We're not going to run to Lightning with the number or anything." She looked to Sky, who'd gone a little pale. "Right? Promise her Sky."

"Vanille…"

"What? We won't! Don't be a pooper, Sk—iioh! Oh, Fygla! You're telling the truth?" Serah went crimson and buried her face in the pillow. "Serah, I'm sorry!" Vanille apologized fervently, rolling off her woman to sooth Serah's shoulder. Even Sky braced to her arms to stare shake her head incredulously. "Serah, you're beautiful and fun! I'm sure it's not you! These stupid Cocoon people; you'd be sexed in an instant in Gran Pulse, I'm sure of it. As long as they can't tell you're Cocoon anyway… Well… we'll do you right now if you want! Sky?"

Sky's features twisted, caught somewhere between sympathy and revulsion. "Tragic or not, I'm not coming in her, Van."

"Oh, just ignore her," Vanille glared at Sky, then sympathized back to Serah. "Sky's a prude of threesomes. And Cocoon. But you're beautiful, Serah! It can't be you."

"It's not that… it's— Vanille!" Serah jumped a mile high, covering herself and flattening her skirt protectively. "Don't do that! I'm saving myself!"

Vanille's eyebrows drew together in confusion. "Saving yourself?"

Still red as a cherry, Serah backed against her headboard shyly. "You know, keeping myself pure 'till I find the one I'll marry…"

"Ohh," Vanille realized, "Your cherry." Her features scrunched again. "Wait— so you've never even masturbated before?"

"Fuck," Sky cringed, "Just do her, Van. I'll look the other way." She shuddered, standing from the bed. "Gahh."

"Aww, Sky! Vanille cooed, "I knew you had a heart! Sit down honey, no one's doing anyone today."

"Why?" Sky flinched, sending Serah a half-sympathized, painful glare. "She's missing the prime years of her life waiting for something that may never happen. How does that make sense?"

"She's a romantic, Sky. Come on, baby. Sit down. I'll give you a leg rub."

Sky grudgingly sat. "Can we fuck here?"

"No baby, that's not appropriate."

"Then don't give me a leg rub." Sky grumbled

"Man, but aren't you curious, Serah? Don't you wanna know what it's like to have a toe-curling, body flailing, wet beyond all measure orgasm?"

"Of course I do," Serah curled her toes experimentally, shyly eying her feet. "I want it to be special though. Not with just anybody… it'd be nice if that first person I sleep with is there the rest of my life, you know? I don't know…"

"Aww, Serah, it's okay. I sortof understand."

"I don't." Sky rumbled.

"She could be like your one and only," Vanille cooed, stroking your arm. "I hope you find her!"

"Or him," Serah pointed out.

Vanille made a face. "Her. Guys don't last forever, girl. That's why Cocoon has such a high divorce rate, you know."

Serah sighed forlornly. "Maybe…"

"You'll find her," Vanille reassured again warmly.

"Jaeger's passing out," Sky alerted. "We can head out there if we're done doing… whatever this is."

"Girl talk!" Vanille cheered.

"Okay, I'm going out there." Sky re-alerted, making Vanille giggle.

"Come on, Serah. Let's see how Fang is."

Releasing her hugged pillow, smiling to herself, Serah followed her friends out.