After Fall

I really... really don't want to go to New Eden.

It's not that things are uncomfortable between Lightning and me, because they're not. Well, not as much as it was. And it's not because Snow and Serah are still mad at me - which I'm pretty sure they are.

It's because Yuj and Maqui are coming with us.

I mean... they're nice enough guys, I guess. We just don't... have a lot in common. Yuj usually hangs out with Maqui in the village scrap heap, and when they're not out there or in Lenora's Garage, they usually hang out at Lebreau's cafe.

Honestly, I think I'd rather clean up the chocobo corrals all day.

Besides, even if Lightning says so, I really don't need new clothes. I mean, I'm a little upset about my jacket... but my shirt is fine, and Serah patched the holes in the knees of my pants. I tried explaining that to Lightning, but Snow said I should just go along with it and enjoy the trip. New Eden's supposed to be kind of like Palumpolum was, a giant commercial city right here on Gran Pulse. It's also a trading hub between Cocoon and the other villages, I guess, because they say you can find just about anything there.

I guess that includes things you don't need or want, huh?

I really don't know what to think about the clothes Yuj gave me to try on. I mean, the pants aren't too bad, I guess. They're longer than I'm used to, so I had to tuck the legs into my boots to keep from stepping on the hem, and they're such a dark gray color that they're almost black, which I guess is somehow 'in-style'. I don't know if I'm thrilled with the color, but I do like the extra pockets on the side for keeping smaller items. The shirt is short-sleeved and a dark green color with blue and purple threads weaving through it. I've buttoned it over my plain black tee, but I left the top two buttons undone because it feels kinda tight in the shoulders if I do them up.

The jacket, though, is horrible. It looks almost identical to Snow's, except it's in black and somehow it seems flared at the waist. I hate it.

"Are you alive in there?" Snow asks loudly from outside the dressing room.

"J-just a minute!" I reply.

When I step out from behind the curtain, Yuj is nodding. "Turn around, let's see how it looks from all angles."

"I-I don't know..." I murmur, turning slowly. I feel foolish, like everyone in the store must be looking at me, even though there's not really anyone here except for us and the store clerks.

"I like the coat." Snow says, and Maqui nods his agreement.

"I don't." I grumble miserably. "If you like it so much, why don't you wear it?"

"Can't." Snow retorts with a smirk. "Too small."

I can't help but huff a little - I mean, it's not my fault that I haven't grown much in the last year. I'm barely five-foot-one now, and Snow still towers over me at six-foot-seven. He teases me about it every chance he gets lately, too. When Maqui and Yuj start to laugh at Snow's quip, I peel the jacket off and angrily toss it in Snow's direction. He catches it before it can hit him in his face, and the jerk is still laughing.

"Aw, c'mon!" Snow says. He lays the jacket haphazardly over one of the near-by racks of clothes and puts his hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look up at him. "We're just having some fun, don't go getting all bent out of shape."

I open my mouth to either yell at him or curse him, I'm not quite sure which.

"PREGNANT?!" Lightning's surprised exclamation is audible in the store even with the door closed, and when I look out the store front, I can see passers-by giving her and Serah an odd look.

"Seriously?" Maqui asks. "You and Serah are gonna have a baby?"

"Yep!" Snow grins and nods in Maqui's direction.

I feel kind of floored, I guess. I mean, I know Snow and Serah are married, and I know that married couples typically have kids. But I suppose I wasn't really expecting it to happen so soon. Though I guess Lightning wasn't really expecting it either, if her outburst is anything to go by.

"Way to go, Papa Snow!" Maqui shouts. "Guess I'll finally get to be 'Uncle Maqui'!"

Snow lets go of his grip on my shoulders to bump his fist against Maqui's, then he crosses his arms over his chest. He looks really happy, which honestly? Kind of ticks me off right now.

"Congratulations, Daddy!" Yuj says, slapping Snow on the back before thrusting a vest made out of thick white fur at me. "Try this on."

"No way!" I shout. I turn my back to Yuj and cross my arms over my chest. "I'm not wearing that!"

"It's totally the fashion, though!" Yuj tries to argue.

"I'd sooner wear that stupid coat!" I growl. Apparently, that's a mistake, because Maqui thrusts the coat out to me like he's trying to be helpful. Which he's not. I want to protest, but I can tell just by looking at the three of them that I probably don't stand a chance. Damn it.

"Can't wear those shoes, either." Yuj announces after I've put the coat back on. "They're too dirty."

"They're shoes, they're supposed to be dirty." I say, but Yuj has already walked off to examine the selection of footwear lining the wall. I glance at Snow in what I hope is a pleading manner. "Make him stop!"

"Sorry, kiddo, Lightning's orders." Snow shrugs. "Might as well take those shoes off now."

I pull off my shoes one at a time and toss them onto the floor, then try to look any where but at Snow and Maqui's grinning faces. I feel a little relieved when Serah and Lightning walk in, but it's short-lived: Lightning looks almost as miserable as I feel being subjected to Yuj's fashion sense.

"Here you go -" Yuj stops mid-sentence when he sees me without my shoes. I can tell he's trying not to grin when he hands over a pair of tall black boots, but Snow and Maqui can't seem to contain themselves. Even Serah starts giggling.

"It's not funny!" I growl, throwing the boots on the floor and stepping into them before tightening the buckles. "Stop it!"

"It's kinda funny." Snow laughs.

"No it's not." Lightning says firmly. She walks towards me and picks up my old shoes. She must be pretty upset, because the smile she aims at me is barely more than a grimace. "Don't worry, you'll grow into them. Now come on, let's pay for everything."

I turn to go back to the dressing room for my old clothes, but Yuj has already grabbed them.

I can't help but notice how Lightning's shoulders tense as Yuj and Maqui congratulate Serah. As I follow her toward the register to pay, I wonder what that means.

~fin?