A/N: About F'N time, right? Well, its been rather hectic where I live and I've been busy with other things. With Valentine's Day here I have a legitimate reason to get some of my stories done. By the way I made Hope an XBOX player here, hope that doesn't offend anyone but I got FFXIII for the 360 in June 2010 so that's why that was what it was.

Valentine's Day

Why oh why does this sort of thing happen to me? Hope thought, a shopping bag in each hand while he followed Lightning through the mall. There was no school today and Hope was planning on playing a game with his friends online. XBOX was his preferred system to play online, and most of his school friends were playing today and he was stuck shopping with his so-called 'guardian'. Well, he shouldn't really complain as she did look out for him and all that and the least he could do was just grin and bare it.

Lightning kept quiet the whole time they were in the mall, but every time Hope caught a glimpse of her face he swore he saw a smile on her face. Of course, the only thing she was carrying was a paper sack with some mystery items that he had not seen yet. Of the five bags that Hope carried he only had one that had stuff he had bought for himself. A new XBOX controller to replace one he had accidentally broken, then there was some new shirts that Lightning suggested he get since they were on sale, and finally there was some hygiene products he had needed like soap and toothpaste.

The rest was either groceries or clothes for Lightning. Hope had never believed that she was such a shopaholic until today. The first place they had gone was her favorite clothing store, called Sharp Fangs, which Hope happened to know by word of mouth that it was one of the most expensive stores in Bodhum. She spent over an hour in there while Hope himself had gone to the game store and got his controller. Then, she had gone off without telling him to lord only knows and he had to nearly search the entire mall to find her. She had an extra bag in her hand when he found her, and no surprise she didn't seem too concerned that she had made Hope worry. Brushing that little incident aside, the two continued on with their shopping spree and it finally ended with the groceries.

While Hope was grateful at the fact that they didn't stay long at the mall, once they got home he had hoped to immediately get online and play with his friends. "Too bad I never found the game I was originally looking for," Hope said alone in the kitchen. The game he had hoped to find was called The Last Illusion, a role-playing game that was insanely popular with his friends. the game wasn't a total commercial success but it was addictive. Hope remembered not thinking too highly of the game when he had heard about it initially, but after he played it at a friend's house he was hooked instantly. He had prayed it was in town but the game store said it was sold out and wouldn't get a new shipment until the following week. While disappointed he thought he'd get it eventually. He had voiced his feelings aloud and Lightning had overheard him, and she patted him on the head, saying something akin to 'better luck next time.'

Speaking of Lightning, she came into the kitchen no longer wearing the leather trench coat she was wearing earlier. She was wearing a bright red sleeveless shirt that Hope thought complimented her strawberry pink hair. She also wore a denim short skirt. She was leaning against the counter watching Hope put the food away. Nothing new, she always watched him put the groceries away whenever they went shopping. Hope never complained about that, as he saw it as fair since she could drive and he never wanted to drive. "So, you have any homework to do?"

Hope closed the cupboard after putting the bag of sugar away, "Nope. I finished it in study hall yesterday. I'm actually going to go and play online with my friends."

"Sure, just don't forget about bringing the clothes we bought upstairs before you start."

Again, she implemented that he bring her clothes up as well. And again he didn't complain. "Sure."

Quickly finishing up his little job, Hope grabbed the baskets and headed upstairs. He dumped them oh his bed and grabbed whatever was his and threw them in his drawers, not caring about it.

But he quickly noticed something amiss. He heard something that sounded like plastic hitting the wood of his dresser. Taking a closer look and he found that there was a DVD case in his clothes.

"Wait a sec..." Hope took a closer look at the case, it was green and the title on the front said-

"The Last Illusion?!" That was the game that Hope had wanted! Where did it come from?

He turned around, tightly holding the game in his hands, and he saw Lightning standing in the doorway, "Your welcome, little boy."

Hope smiled, finally figuring out that it was Lightning who bought it for him. He also decided that that was what she was up to when she ran off in the mall earlier. "Thanks Light."

"You can thank me later, when you can do the dishes after dinner, okay?"

'Damn it...I knew there was gonna be a catch,' Hope thought, though in this situation he was he could care less. Lightning had spent a great deal of money on him for one item and the least he could do was return the favor by doing her chores. "Okay, I'll go down and get started on it then."

"After we play online for a little bit."

Okay that was unexpected. "You play video games?"

Lightning put her hands on her hips, like she was offended, "What? Something wrong with a girl gamer?"

Hope waved his hands, "No, no, no! Its just that the only other girl that played online with me was Vanille and she-" He stopped, having totally forgotten about his former friend. He had wanted to forget her altogether after the incident a few weeks ago, but it was harder than he thought.

"Speaking of that little witch, she left something for you at the door," Lightning said, reaching down and holding a hand basket that was had a small brown teddy bear and a handful of heart shaped candies in it. Obviously a Valentine's gift to Hope. Lightning handed it to Hope and he took it, finding a card with his name on it. A feeling of disdain overcame Hope, and he set the basket on his dresser but not before pulling the teddy bear out of it. "Hey Light..."

The woman crossed her arms over her chest as if waiting for something, and she grew surprised when he suddenly handed her the stuffed animal originally meant for him.

"I'm giving this to you, happy Valentine's Day," he said.

She smiled, taking the animal, "When did you become sweet to me."

"You do so much for me and yet I don't think I've shown my appreciation for it fully. This is the first step in on that path," Hope said, taking hold of his game and walking past Lightning, "I'm heading downstairs to start the game. I'll see you in a few."

When Hope walked out of the room, Lightning smirked and she lightly pressed her lips to the teddy in her hands, "Cute little Hope. Thanks." Then she took the teddy with her out of the room.

A/N: Well, since the story MIGHT come to a close this year sometime, I just want to know what you guys would like to see in terms of the relationship between Hope and Lightning. You guys want it to be more crack-ish or fluffy? I'm leaving it all up to you to help me decide!