Time for some more for you

Chapter 12:

Waking up slowly, Vanille spun around in the bed, frowning at the lack of Lightning holding her. But she knew that she was just selfish wanting her nearby all day. The fact that Lightning probably had to do a lot of work just so she could make it to help Vanille during her first treatment.

Rubbing her eyes gently Vanille began to roll towards the edge of the bed as she just debated if she should just try and sleep the rest of the day away. She knew that she couldn't and still get the house for Lumina to return home to. But the thought of being able to just sleep some of the pain her lower body was in was a pleasant idea.

"We should have moved from the washing machine sooner." Vanille muttered softly as she pulled the pillow Lightning normally used, as she closed her eyes tightly, she could hear her door opening followed by a loud but distinct groan.

"Why do I always forget to knock!? Every single time!" Serah yelled as she slammed the door shut causing Vanille to be awoken entirely as she shot up and looked at the alarm clock before falling back down happy at the time she read as she could hear a powerful knock on the wooden door out of what she just knew was from irritation. "I brought Lumina back and Fang tagged along. We brought doughnuts. I hope you can eat before treatment."

Grumbling softly knowing that she couldn't get furious at her friend like this. Stumbling a little, Vanille braced herself against the wall as she grabbed her robe and quickly wrapped it around herself as she just smiled, opening the door to see Serah standing there covering her eyes.

"I have a robe on. And according the doctor person I can eat just it is suggested something light." Vanille said as Serah carefully cracked her fingers before she shivered and slide her fingers back together. "And if just the sight of me being naked is that much of an annoyance, I wouldn't go into the utility room."

Taking a deep breath Serah lowered her hand entirely as she turned around and began to walk towards the stairs. "For once that is only ew because you are married to my sister. And I'm not even going to ask why you are walking funny. I think it is for the best." Serah muttered as she came to an end by the stairs. "By the way is my sister going to be present?"

Smiling as she grabbed the railing, Vanille took a careful step down as she just smiled at Serah waiting next to her. "Yes... after she screwed my brains out. Not to mention how we went through like a whole unopened box of condoms... she planned to go in get a bunch of work done and clock off early. So she can come back here to bring me." Vanille said as she could see Serah shiver visibly.

"How can you? On second thought don't tell me. I'm just glad you could convince my sister go. Even though she is as useful in emotional situations as a screen door on a submarine. Like remember your labour?" Serah said with a small laugh as Vanille rolled her eyes.

"Don't remind me... and at the same time I did accidentally break her hand. So not the best example." Vanille muttered as she rounded the corner to roll her eyes at the sight of Lumina laying face down on the couch. "And what happened to her?" Vanille asked as she carefully started to lift Lumina's tired head up before she took a seat and rested it on her lap.

"She staged another orgy that Serah walked in on. Apparently that didn't stop her." Fang said entering the room holding out a ring of pastry towards her.

Chuckling softly, as she grabbed the breakfast with one hand, Vanille started to run her hand through Lumina's hair. She just smiled at the soft grumbling coming from Lumina. It was just something that just meant a lot to Vanille in more ways than her daughter knew.

"Yup... definitely a Gran Pulse way to deal with your emotions. Claire did the same to me last night because apparently my body is going to be literally toxic." Vanille said as Lumina quickly shot up from her mother's lap to glare lightly at Vanille before she tossed her head onto the back of the couch groaning.

"Mom! Ew! That is so gross. I don't want to hear that. Bad enough I didn't get much sleep." Lumina said as she crossed her arms trying her best to ignore the loud throat clearing happening behind her.

Clearing her throat loudly again, Serah rolled her eyes at the sight of Lumina waving her off. "I swear Lumina, I will tell Claire if you don't tell your mother." Serah snapped as Lumina began to pout.

The worry ever present as the back of Vanille's hand came to a stop on Lumina's forehead. "Tell me what? You don't have a fever... are you feeling alright?" Vanille asked in a slight panicked tone forgetting about the slight pain she was in and the terror she was feeling about how she was going to be hit in the head with radiation and was practically forbidden from even kissing her wife or daughter for a few days.

Gently grabbing her mother's hand, Lumina lowered it with a smile on her face. "I'm fine Mom. Worried about you but fine. What Serah is talking about has nothing to do with that." Lumina began just enjoying the smile that graced her mother's lip as she took a deep breath. "She is talking about how I might have forgotten to do the important thing Light always wants me to do with women."

Raising an eyebrow, Vanille bent her head backwards to see Serah practically fuming. "She didn't wear a condom!" Serah snapped out loud as the sound of a slamming door rung throughout the building as the colour very visibly drained from Lumina as she could hear the boot falls of Lightning walking into the room.

"Lumina, I'm going to pretend for the next forty eight hours I didn't hear that. That should give you enough time to pray that you are going to be in the clear." Lightning said as she took a deep breath before she rubbed her eyes once again. "And Fang tell me there is coffee. Because if not, I'm going to possibly kill someone."

"Sorry, we weren't sure if you were going to be here on time... we got Vanille one though." Fang said as Lightning took a sharp inhale.

"Claire, just drink the one they got for me. Caffeine isn't going to be something that can help me right now... and it is probably for the best. You know how when I have something strong when I'm nervous that coffee is going to make me even more terrified and panicky." Vanille said as she looked towards the woman who just took a deep breath before she quickly walked towards the kitchen. Looking between her friend and daughter, Vanille just smiled at them. "Fang can you look after Lumina? Serah is going to be pretty busy trying to come to terms that here niece might have a child before she does... and she needs to sleep."

"Why is everyone getting pregnant but me? It isn't fair... I'd be a great mother." Serah sulked softly as she sat between Vanille and Lumina who sulked a little crossing her arms.

Contorting her face, Lightning coughed softly as she re-entered the room. "Long shot Serah, do you still have that weird phobia of bodily fluids? Because that might be a contributing factor." Lightning muttered as came to a stop next to Fang who shrugged her shoulders. "Doesn't matter either way, Vanille we should get going soon. I don't want you to be late."

"We have an hour and a half Claire... regardless I need actual clothes on." Vanille began as she popped the last bite of the doughnut into her mouth. She couldn't help but just be overjoyed at the thought of how that was the first real thing she has eaten since dinner.

Standing up, Vanille walked over towards Lightning just gently hugging her enjoying the feeling of Lightning returning it. As Lumina started to mumble loudly of how this was gross. Simply causing Vanilly to laugh softly into Lightning's chest.

"Are you not up long or something?" Lightning asked softly as she began to rub Vanille's head lightly. She had to admit it was a strange feeling feeling the bare skin of her wife's head but she knew that statistically that it was very likely that Vanille would lose her hair all over again in short time so she might as well just get used to it.

"Nope. You were just that good. I'm surprised I can even walk."

"That's it. Going to vomit. Vomit than hang myself. Because seriously that is all kinds of nasty." Lumina mumbled as she began to stand up from the couch and began to walk out of the room. Something that Vanille had to admit that she felt a little bad for until she felt a hand clap down onto her shoulder.

Wincing a little, Vanille looked towards the woman and just frowned internally at the sight of Fang with a relaxed demeanour. "Right you go get changed Van. Serah and I will continue to watch Lumina. Just go kick some ass." Fang said with a smile as she began to walk out of the room.

"Thanks Fang... Serah. I'll be quick." Vanille said pulling back from Lightning to give her what felt like it was going to be one of the last kisses she could before it was something that would actually harm Lightning. A feat that she could never muster unless she was herself in great pain. Pulling back Vanille smiled at Lightning as she began to quickly walk out.

Taking a deep breath Lightning smiled as she looked towards her sister who had begun to pout lightly. "Do you ever think I might have plans Fang?" Serah pouted out as Lightning just rolled her eyes.

"You told me yourself last night you don't. And I know you love spending time with Lumina. Worst case we are here for a few hours." Fang said with a sly smile as she slide into the seat next to Serah.

"If you two do anything, I don't care. Just clean up after yourselves, and don't let Lumina catch you. My focus is more so on my sick wife for the next few days. Any mess, you'll both be back here on your knees scrubbing the building from top to bottom. I don't care if it is at four in the morning and you need to be somewhere at six." Lightning stated coldly as she started towards the base of the stairs as she could hear the distinct sound of Vanille's careful footsteps.

Coming to the base, Lightning just enjoyed the sight of Vanille in what she had constantly called her lazy day outfit of sweatpants and a hoodie that she had taken from Lightning years ago. One that normally would spark some minor comments of how it was a few sizes too big, but Lightning didn't mind. As long as Vanille was comfortable and ready to just suffer through this all. No matter how painful it would be.

"You ready Van?" Lightning asked as she could see Vanille taking a seat at the base of the stairs as she took some deep breaths as she rested her head against the wall. "Or more importantly feeling alright?" Lightning spoke as she took a few steps forward before she gently held Vanille's head as if she was trying to judge how much Vanille would be able to walk by herself.

"I'm feeling fine Claire. Or at least as fine as I can be. Just nervous is all. They always tell you not to expose your head to radiation and I'm about to go do just that." Vanille laughed softly as she stood up with her shoes on as she gently held Lightning's hand.


Sitting in the chair Lightning began to read through the pamphlet she was given for... she had no idea how many times it had been. It was at the point that Lightning was positive that she had memorised the entire thing.

It was just better to her than trying to think of anything else to do because the only other option was checking her phone, but she knew that the odds were that all that would happen is she'd have a message from Lumina going through Serah or Fang just to make sure that everything was alright. Or worse it was someone calling her about something that would require her full attention to get ahead of. Which she couldn't afford right now.

Vanille took priority. Nothing else.

It was something that she had made clear countless times over to the force about what it would take her to be dragged back. Something she knew that while he would never outwardly state it, knew Amodar would agree with her just because it hasn't been a long time since he left the force and knew Lightning's penchant of working herself to near death.

Reading the same line over again, Lightning just frowned at the fact of how she was meant to give Vanille a lot more to eat in less servings because of how what was happening would play with her appetite for a few days to come.

Taking a deep breath, Lightning closed the pamphlet again as she could see a nurse coming to a stop in front of her. "The doctor says it is okay to go in now, but are you feeling alright? You look a little pale." The nurse asked as Lightning just smirked as she stood upright.

"I'm fine. Just worried about my wife. And this stupid thing doesn't exactly help." Lightning said as she held the pamphlet up. Quickly sliding it into her back pocket, as she followed the nurse to the room that Vanille was in.

As she walked in, Lightning could feel her blood running cold at the sight of Vanille just hunched over herself as she looked as pale as a ghost. Practically running past the doctor, Lightning began to brace Vanille who she could see a queasy expression on her face. Like she was going to be meer seconds away from throwing up what she ate up all over herself and the room.

Lightning wanted to scream at the doctor asking what he did to her wife but knew that what she had spent the last hour reading told her that this was all very common especially for the first few times experiencing it. Just the sight was enough to practically drive a spike into Lightning's heart but she just smiled at the feeling of Vanille grabbing onto her arm with near reckless abandon just to support herself.

"Mrs Farron, how are you feeling?" The doctor asked alerting Lightning to his presence.

"I... feel... like... sh-" Vanille cut herself off as she used her free hand to cover her mouth. Something that the nurse who had lead Lightning into the room had expected as she quickly ran in front of Vanille to hold out a plastic tub.

Snatching the tub from the nurse's hands, Lightning held it closer to Vanille's head as she could hear the sound of Vanille vomiting, it just hurt her that it was happening this close to once this round ended.

After a few minutes Vanille began to spit into the small puddle of her stomach's contents just to try and get rid of the taste that was in her mouth. The near revolting taste that no matter how many times it happened to her, including all the times she was violently ill when she was pregnant, she still couldn't get used to the taste.

"This is to be expected. Thankfully, we can treat these side effects." The doctor said as he gestured towards the door for Lightning and Vanille to walk out.

Glancing down towards Vanille who still was hunched over, Lightning took a deep breath. "Do you think you can walk Van?" Lightning whispered softly as Vanille quickly shook her head in a gesture that Lightning knew was a simple one but its message was brutally clear that Vanille wasn't even sure if she could even keep what was in her stomach down.

"Then can you hold the tub a second?" Lightning whispered again as Vanille with a shaky hand tried to reach out for the plastic container that had to have been a couple of inches away from her face, but what strength she could muster fell short.

Loathing the fact that she was born an arm short, Lightning turned to face the doctor who thankfully could seemingly read the room and left before he walked in holding a wheelchair carefully. "That is as much as I can help." He said as he was waiting at a clear marker of what Lightning just knew was the safe zone.

"I'm moving the tub away for a few seconds Vanille." Lightning said as she handed it back to the nurse before she quickly shot her arm under Vanille's legs as she used the one Vanille was currently grasping with a death grip up.

It was a simple plan really to Lightning. She just wished that it didn't seem like Vanille's head was hanging lopsided. It had the unfortunate resemblance of death on Vanille's normally soft features. It was something that made Lightning feel a little disgusted with herself until Vanille's eyes opened slowly again.

Covering the distance, Lightning began to lower her as she could see some minor pain start to resurface in the green eyes. Something that made Lightning feel beyond disgusted that she ever had to see in them. She knew that Vanille was going to feel worse and worse as this goes on, but knew that there was nothing that could really be done about it, if she wanted to continue living and even continue to hold onto what she holds close.

"Thank you..." Vanille muttered as Lightning raised herself gripping the sides of the chair to gently push her back a few steps before she walked around behind her to just do what she was positive the nurse or even doctor was meant to do. She just knew in Vanille's shift that Lightning's presence was enough to make her feel better. It was something that no matter how long she had known Vanille it still surprised her, but this was a case of her being thankful for it.

"Now the radiation should be processed by the body within the day. By tomorrow really at the latest. The next three days rule is just to make sure because there is no guarantee. But what she is feeling should pass by tomorrow."

"How much pain will she be in? And for how long?" Lightning asked knowing that that was ultimately what was concerning Vanille even though she wasn't going to voice her stance. Not until she was feeling better.

"I'm going to prescribe somethings for it. As well as some other medications that she should be taking. But like the radiation should be gone by the end of the day. As for how much, well that changes from person to person" The doctor spoke as Lightning could see Vanille tense a little but all Lightning could really do without opening a can of works in front of everyone was place her hand on Vanille's shoulder. "You'll need to monitor her condition after each round, or someone who you trust if you are unable to be there."

Biting her lower lip, Lightning knew that the next while is going to be hard. Getting off one day early, Lightning knew that getting frequent days off early, while would make the entire force breath a sigh of relief she knew in good conscience do that. But at the very least she knew that maybe Lumina might finally grow up finally which would cause Lightning to at least have someone else she could trust to do this. Until then, she could call in what favours she had to get this done.


Slumping on the couch, Lumina crossed her arms as she took some deep breaths. The waiting was what was really killing her. Something that Serah could read if her walking into the room holding a plate of the freshly baked cookies placing them on her lap with a small smile on her face that Lumina just knew was fake.

"You should eat these while they are hot... Fang is busy eating the dough I left in the bowl thinking I don't know about it." Serah said softly as Lumina gently grabbed one of the cookies and sighed softly as she took a bite from it. "You know I didn't really mean to tell Claire right?"

"If I thought you intentionally did it Serah, you know my vengeance would be swift and brutal." Lumina mumbled softly as she took another bite as she stared at some cartoon she hadn't turned off yet when she probably should.

"So what is with the sad expression? Claire isn't going to let anything happen to Vanille..." Serah said softly as Lumina just sighed again softly dropping the half cookie that remained onto the plate. It was getting to the point where Lumina was getting sick of people asking her what was wrong when it was so clear to her. "Your mother is going to be fine. I've known Vanille a long time... longer than Claire. Any time in the past when she is terrified of something she will go through hell and back just to be there for someone she cares for. I've seen her stare down wild animals over Fang... but you are her only child. I doubt she would let even herself stop her from being there for you."

Slapping the remote, Lumina quickly just turned off the tv as she looked towards her aunt who had a slight saddened expression on her face. She was positive that it was one where thought she could do so much more. It was one that irked Lumina a lot.

"I know Serah. That doesn't stop the fact that she has brain cancer... so cookies aren't going to exactly help me with the whole my mother might die." Lumina mumbled softly as she picked up the half cookie again and took a nibble from it. "Bad enough I have my friends constantly worried about me doing something drastic that would get me expelled."

"I know that idea has crossed your mind Lumina. The thing is, because your principal knows what is going on... it is going to take a lot. And all you'll do is make it hard on Vanille if you do get to that point because at which point you will be doing something profoundly illegal. That Claire can't brush under the rug like the underage drinking. Or the having sex in a car." Serah said softly as she could see Lumina relaxing. "And I know you haven't done the former in a long time, and I'd rather think you haven't done the latter in a while... just I know it is going to be hard on you. But you aren't going to be alone."

Placing the final bite into her mouth, Lumina looked towards her aunt and just smiled as she rested her head onto her shoulder. "I know... I'm just scared. And the fact Light just is almost dead to it pisses me off." Lumina mumbled as she could hear a car just pulling up outside.

Not even waiting for a response from Serah, Lumina quickly shot up and ran towards the front door. As she flung the door open, Lumina could feel her heart grow cold at the pale face of her mother hanging out of the car window with a destroyed look on her features. Just the sight was enough to make Lumina want to scream into the abyss about how this wasn't fair. As she was about to rush to her mother, Lightning just stepped in the way.

"Lumina, stay back." Lightning hissed as Lumina could suddenly feel her blood boil at the thought of Lightning trying to be the only one to help. It was paining her almost as much as the sight of Vanille being so destroyed from this one round. But she knew that her hands were tied as she stepped inside holding the door carefully as she could see Lightning picking Vanille up and carrying her up the stairs making Lumina just want to scream out of irritation towards Lightning but knew she couldn't without starting a fight making Vanille fight through what she was feeling to stop them. Once however Vanille was out, Lumina was going to have it out with that woman.

Author's Note:

And here we have yet another chapter. Catch you all later.