Welp, let's check what happened after the last chapter.
Chapter 14:
Smiling softly, Vanille closed her eyes as she felt a strange sense of calmness overtake her. She wasn't sure why or even why it felt like what she needed. Especially given how she didn't feel Lightning holding onto her. Or even hear anyone moving around the house.
But the only thing that made sense to her as to why she was so serine was the fact that she had felt dreadful the last few days. But she was happy that she could stomach food and liquids without running the risk of running to a bathroom to projectile vomit.
The only downside was she still didn't really trust her joints from not screaming in agony from her trying to move. Hell she still wasn't even sure if she wasn't in the most pain she had ever been in. Even including the natural drug free water birth she had with Lumina. But she just knew once this was over the pain would fade as did the pain she was in when Lumina came into the world.
Vanille normally would have been furious at the sound of the front door swinging open followed by stomping footfalls, but she was sure whoever it was had a good reason. But she just had to make sure that it wasn't someone breaking in being possibly the dumbest criminals in existence. Slowly slumping out of bed, Vanille walked towards the door as she just frowned at the yelling she could hear.
"You've hit a new level of stupid! Do you have any idea how close you are to a criminal record right now! It will be a miracle if you don't get expelled!" Vanille heard being yelled causing her to just deflate. She was positive that the reason Lightning had gone to get the only person she would be screaming at like she was.
She knew that whatever it was had to have been big. But she also knew that whatever the issue was they could talk through it with whomever was the persecutor. They always had whenever it was a close thing to Lumina being expelled.
"They have nothing on me! Not even a witness!" Lumina yelled at what Vanille just knew was a spotty defence given how this wasn't a topic Lightning liked to even get close to discussing. As far as she was concerned anything but Lumina's best in learning was enough to anger Lightning. "All they know is that dick and I got into an argument and I forgave him! That is it!" Lumina screamed as Vanille finally descended the stairs fully as she spun around she frowned a little at the sound of something heavy hitting the couch that Vanille just knew was Lumina being tossed back down.
"Honestly Lumina! You committed vandalism and large financial damages. Things that can lead to you being hauled in front of a judge and it will haunt you for the rest of your life. It probably will haunt you a lot more than normal people because of my job." Lightning scolded as Lumina just stared up at her.
"It wouldn't be the first time your job has fucked me over." Lumina mumbled as Vanille just knew she had to put an end to this. She knew that she had to especially from Lumina's choice in words that normally Vanille never really cared about but knew that Lightning very much so cared about.
Placing her fingers into her mouth and gave a sharp whistle alerting them as she almost fell over. She winced a little at the sight of Lighting leaping over the couch to grab hold of Vanille. As she began to fall over a little, Vanille lightly bated her wife's hands away.
"I'm fine. I just don't want my wife and daughter fighting." Vanille barked lightly as she continued to fight the constraints being placed on her to make sure she was alright. It felt more like a punishment to Vanille, especially because she knew that she was going to be fine. Why wouldn't she be?
"I'm fine." Vanille bit loudly once more placing her foot down to just make sure that there was no room to argue. This was one of the times that Vanille wanted it to be clear to the both of them. She was going to be ultimately fine if she could just trust her family to not be at each other's throats over what would ultimately be something trivial. "I don't care what you guys were arguing about. If Lumina got in trouble at school, we don't need to talk about criminal anything until we try talking to everyone." Vanille hissed at Lightning before she turned to Lumina. "And you, I don't care who started it or what. You've scarcely made it out of the last hearing with just a suspension. How well do you think anything else is going to go down?"
"They have nothing Mom." Lumina said avoiding her mother's gaze. This had been the loudest in a long time she had heard her mother's voice. Hell Lumina wasn't even sure if she was going to be able to avoid her mother's wrath if she got actually really mad at her.
"They never have anything and yet they always seem to latch onto the correct person!" Vanille snapped at Lumina, frowning internally as she could see her daughter slouching in the chair trying her hardest to be as small as possible to avoid her wrath. "What was it last time you said? They had nothing? And yet they were able to connect you to the small fire that caused the sprinklers in the art room to go off destroying projects." Vanille continued as Lumina just looked down at the ground knowing that there wasn't a defence she could make that wouldn't be countered. "Is it so hard for me to ask you to go the last few months you have in school without being expelled? You have four months to go before you graduate. Is it really that hard?"
"He started it." Lumina mumbled as Vanille took a deep inhale as she shot her wife a glare to stop her from piling on the teen. Something that Vanille knew if Lumina was less of a free spirit it would have worked, but then again they wouldn't have need to resort to it.
"Lumina, in four months, you will be able to focus on getting money together to move to Gran Pulse like you always wanted. But no village will accept you if you've been in a Cocoon prison because you would then be putting the entire village at risk. And if you get expelled you can't offer the village anything. You will be shunned. No matter who you are related to or what your birth situation." Vanille snapped as she could see Lumina just frowning as if she knew it was true but she didn't want to think of it. "If someone did start the incident what Claire is trying to remind you poorly there are things that can be done. But there is nothing we can do for you if you prevent yourself from achieving what you always wanted. There is no trial to prove yourself, there is no case you can make the elders. Once you are in prison in Cocoon you are marked and if the village accepted you you'd be putting everyone at risk."
As Vanille continued the seemingly last ditch reach she had to protect her daughter from being doomed to not having a home. Happy that her message was at least carrying through, Vanille turned to Lightning as she glared. "And you, you need to stop instantly jumping to the worst possible scenario. You are dealing with our daughter, not some random teen you have sitting across from you chained to a desk. That didn't work for Serah, and it hasn't worked on Lumina. What makes you think treating her like she is just some stranger is going to get through!" Vanille yelled as Lightning began to shrink away slightly as Vanille was just seemingly fuming. "That is all Lumina is trying to do. Honestly I'm getting tired of constantly reminding the both of you are trying your hardest to show how much you care for each other. You both are pig headed in the worst possible way! I don't have this much issue with my first graders but you both take it as a challenge!" Vanille yelled as she could see Lightning looking down at the ground with a frown being present.
It was a clear sign to Vanille that Lightning was actually feeling just as bad for this as Lumina clearly was. Someone who hadn't even raised her head since Vanille got done with her. "Now, the next person who yells or acts like you two have been, is getting sent to their room and isn't leaving until they produce a sheet of paper with ten reasons as to how much you care for the other. I don't care if you are sixteen or thirty eight. Am I clear?" Vanille snipped once again as she could see Lightning and Lumina mumbling something. "I'll repeat and I expect to hear both of you enunciate the words properly. Am I clear!?" Vanille yelled as she could feel better at actually at the sound of them quickly saying how they were sorry and how they understood.
"Good." Vanille said picking up. "Now, Lumina, go clean the kitchen... and actually scrub the dishes by hand. Lightning, go get me some of my candied ginger and some of those pills the doctor told me to take. Once that is done, you can help Lumina with cleaning the kitchen. Maybe some father daughter time will remind the both of you about my little rant." Vanille said with a slight chirp to her voice as she could see a bit of anger in the other women eyes that she quickly shot down as she snapped her fingers and gestured out of the room towards the kitchen.
Smiling at the sight of how they both quickly scrambled out of the room as if they were trying to defend themselves from what was going to come if they didn't protect themselves right away. Normally Vanille would have felt a little bad about having to do this, but she didn't right now. At least not bad from having to yell at them. They deserved to have their heads smacked against each other in Vanille's mind. She was just feeling bad from all the sudden exertion she had just done after days of not eating properly mixed with what she had put her body through right before the unintentional fasting.
Walking over towards the couch, Vanille sat down with a small smile at how her body seemed to thank her with a small euphoric feeling before she could see Lightning entering the room with the small opaque box and a glass of water. Handing the items to Vanille, who just smiled but she could see the look in Lightning's eyes. It was one of question, that Vanille felt like she didn't entirely deserve it but she could see where Lightning was coming from.
"It is to ease my tummy and so I have something propper in my stomach. I mean I asked you for the pills... even if I find them stupid and pointless, I know it will make both you and Lumina relax. So don't use this as an out. I don't care if I need to get Fang to bring over some hobby kit thing like wood burning. You and Lumina need to actually spend time together." Vanille said as she opened the box and took a piece of the ginger before placing it into her mouth as she could see Lightning almost sulkingly leave the room. "Honestly... you and Lumina are the only people I know that hate spending time with your family... I'd normally had to kill to get that kind of time with my Dad." Vanille sulked a little as she chewed the tough item in her mouth.
Humming softly, Vanille stared at the ceiling as she listened to the radio, hearing some footsteps down the stairs causing her to just groan internally. "You best have ten reasons." Vanille said as she could hear a groan before she could see Lumina walking into the room, lightly kicking the ground as she held the sheet out towards Vanille.
"Don't give it to me. Read it to Claire once she gets done her's. shouldn't be long. She was sent up only five minutes ago." Vanille said calmly as she could see Lumina grumbling as she deflated and looked at her mother as if she was trying to beg to not do this, but Vanille just smiled at her. "It does me no good. I already know you love Claire, but Claire doesn't know." As Vanille spoke Lumina began to shift her head back and forth out of irritation that brought some major joy to Vanille.
A joy that only multiplied as the unmistakable sound of footsteps coming down the stairs once more. "Best have ten reasons Claire. Otherwise your going right back up those stairs." Vanille spoke as Lightning entered the room with a sulk holding the sheet of paper out for Vanille who rolled her eyes again. "Not for me... who wants to read theirs out first? Or would you two like to take turns reading the things off?" Vanille asked as she could see her wife deflate in the same manner as Lumina had.
"We aren't leaving here until you both read the lists off. I don't care if you need to go to the bathroom, or we are here until mid day tomorrow. I don't have anywhere to be, I have Amodar's personal number on my phone and Lumina is probably going to be here for a number of days until we get called in to have another hearing." Vanille said as she could see the two quickly look at the sheets before looking to each other and turning back towards Vanille with an almost defiant glare in their eyes. "Oh, my bad. Do you two want a larger audience? I can get Serah and Fang here fairly quickly. If not just them, I can get your parents Claire? Their trip to Gran Pulse ended a few days ago."
"Please don't." Lightning begged as Vanille just continued to stare at her.
"Then you best start. Because the time is three minutes before I start calling people. And I know you remember our wedding reception. How well do you think your parents will take this?" Vanille hissed again as Lightning frowned once again as she shook her head. She knew that there was no way she could win when Vanille backed her into a corner like this, she just wished that it wasn't something that Vanille knew so well about her.
"This is starting to turn into the reception all over again. We are just short the people and the fire alarm going off for like eight different reasons all happening at once." Lightning mumbled as she could feel Vanille's eyes glaring at her. They were actually making her feel deeply uncomfortable because she knew how much destruction Vanille can cause when she put her mind to something. It was actually a deep worry constantly to Lightning.
Once she was sure Lightning was done, Vanille raised her phone and quickly started to dial some numbers. "Are you done Claire? Because I'll continue to dial your parents." Vanille said as she idly spun her phone in the air.
Groaning vocally, Lightning clenched her eyes tightly. "How is this incentive for Lumina? She likes my parents." Lightning said trying to counter Vanille's stance as Vanille continued to press some buttons on her phone.
"Because she is just like you and if it isn't me she likes to try and hide her emotions. You both actually get really embarrassed by it for some reason. Now though I just need to hit the call button... so your move Claire?" Vanille said calmly as Lightning took a deep breath.
Opening her mouth to talk Vanille began to cough as she could see what Lightning was trying to do. "Not to me Claire. I already know you love me and I already know you love our daughter..." Vanille snipped lightly as she could see a look of defeat seem to drift across Lightning's features. One that actually irked Vanille lightly because both Lightning and Lumina were acting like this was some big punishment for them to just admit to each other how they love each other.
Spinning towards the smaller woman, Lightning took a deep breath as she could see Lumina quickly looking in the same direction as Lightning just so Lightning couldn't talk about it. It was almost like Lumina was trying her hardest to strike any blow to Lightning that she could muster that just caused Vanille to roll her eyes lightly.
"Lumina, if you want to act like that, I'll call your friends over and once you are done, I'll show them the video of you learning how to use the potty... I'll even get some copies made to give them. Which we both know how that will end up. Especially with your old penchant of playing with your penis as you peed. Or would you rather if I talked to them about your fear of clowns that I know for a fact lead to your first wet dream when you turned thirteen." Vanille said as Lumina began to cough violently as she turned to face Vanille. "Yes dear, it is best to not tell someone who washes your clothes things like supposed terrifying nightmares. Especially someone who knows exactly what semen stains looks like."
Blanching at the thought of that kind of information getting out, but at the same time she was loathing the snickering coming from next to her. Something that was making her just want it to get out just because she knew that it would take Lightning down with her.
"Claire, I wouldn't be laughing at that if I were you. Or do you forget we share a bed as well as some fantasies with each other... I mean I'm sure Lumina would love to hear about how you love playing a prisoner as I need to play a warden who forces prisoners to do things with me." Vanille countered as Lightning began to cough again.
"Ew!" Lumina yelled as she looked towards Lightning who had barely started to regain her composure. "And you were going to give me crap for clowns? I was thirteen. What's your excuse?" Lumina said as Vanille clapped her hands joyfully.
"Great you both are looking at each other. I say you each should take turns reading them off one at a time. So Claire, as you were starting?" Vanille said snapping the duo out of the pending argument. That just caused them both to groan.
Giggling softly, Serah rested her head against the back of the couch as the sound of the feuding parent child duo in the next room was getting a little louder. "So they were doing this... so you punished them like we would a child in class?" Serah asked as Vanille just smiled at her.
"If they want to behave like they are toddlers I'm going to treat them like toddlers. Seriously I have no idea when they started to butt heads like that, I just hope that it isn't going to continue with Lumina into adulthood." Vanille began as she held a finger up to Serah as she practically yelled loud enough for the next room to hear. "Do I need to send you two back up to your rooms again and have a repeat?" Vanille snapped barely with straining a laugh with Serah as they could hear a small 'no' being chirped from the room.
As the sound of them working together once again, Vanille couldn't help but laugh softly with Serah all over again at what happened. "It never fails to make me laugh. They both hate to express themselves to each other... it is a little messed up but I don't blame you... I blame Claire." Serah said as she sat back up and grabbed the mug of tea. "I'm glad you are looking better than you were a few days ago. It actually looks like you are alive. Are you feeling better?" Serah asked as Vanille just smiled softly at her.
"I actually feel a lot better. But all I've done really is sleep. I'm not sure what I can do with my free time. Which pisses me off a little. When I was younger it was so much easier to think of something to do." Vanille said as she took a sip from the tea in her own mug. "But I suppose back then I wasn't at risk of passing out and accidentally killing myself. I mean I can't even drive really. Which sucks."
Smiling a faint smile, Serah lightly patted Vanille's lap. "If it is a choice between you not being able to do much or you risking death you know where I stand. I mean we may fight over what is proper to talk about but you are still my best friend and the mother of my niece. I mean you know personally how tough things can be with just one parent..." Serah said softly trying to defend their stance to Vanille she knew that it was a hard thing for her to seemingly understand, but Serah knew better.
"It isn't the same Serah. My mother died when I was born... and while at times it was hard, I wasn't fighting with my father every five seconds over stupid things. Like we've only fought three times. Once was me doing the study abroad thing, then there was me marrying Claire... and finally that I couldn't give birth to Lumina in Oerba." Vanille said as she just met her friend's eyes, enjoying it a little that she could see that she was put at rest from that simple clarification. Even if it wasn't something that was earth shattering. It still made her feel better.
"I know. They are just pigheaded though. Everyone in our family can be at times. But that doesn't change the fact that we both know they probably won't be see eye to eye for a while. Despite what we both want... just be glad you could actually get them to do that punishment." Serah said softly as Vanille just frowned softly as she raised the mug gently once more to take a small sip.
"I just wish that it wasn't like this every single time Lumina gets in trouble. I mean could you imagine how disastrous it would have been if I didn't step in? I swear they store it up until they think my back is turned and then have at it." Vanille muttered as Serah just smiled at the fact she knew her sister did have a habit of doing something similar to that when they were younger. Especially when it came to people who got under her skin like everyone knew Lumina had a penchant to doing. But it did at least do her some good to know that she hadn't changed all that much.
All that had really had change was the number of people that got under her skin shrunk to just one. Even though that one was her own flesh and blood, it still didn't seem to stop anything from happening. Hell Serah was even having doubts that they even remembered what it was like when they didn't anger the both of them over trivial things.
"It is still funny to see them doing one of those craft things together again. When was the last time you saw that?" Serah said in a jovial way just so the topic would change to something less depressing to her.
"Right before Claire was promoted to chief. Not for a lack of trying mind you. They just always end up fighting." Vanille said frowning as she looked down to see a lack of tea. "Do you mind checking up on them? Their oddly quiet. I'll make some more tea."
"Sure thing."
Author's Note:
And done. That was fun... kind of is fun mixing up serious chapters with some light hearted ones. I'll see you all next time.