Okay, I really need to start establishing a time frame here. Since the upcoming chapters, both between this and part three, will be time-based. In chapter 13 I mentioned about a late fall wedding. So that's going to be my basis of all the other time tables. This chapter will be set two months after the last one. Just for time purposes. And for purposes of them having about 50% of the wedding planned, since I suck at things like that and personally, it's something I couldn't handle dealing with. I've got too many past issues with marriage and weddings that I just feel better skipping the planning part all together.

The Simple Life
Chapter 14

It was too hot. No, hot was an understatement. It felt like the fiery pits of hell outside and here I was, with Serah, being dragged from one bridal shop to the next. She couldn't have picked a worst day of the year. "Serah can we please just stop for a minute? I need a drink." I hated whining to her, because I knew she'd have a field day with teasing me, but I didn't care. Both the back of my neck and my face were covered in sweat from the searing heat.

"But Lightning, your wedding won't stop. It's getting close you know. We need to get you to find the dress and get it ordered so it'll be here in time for the wedding." She glared at me as I stopped a vending machine for a bottle of water.

"Well, I was going to get you one too, but since you don't seem to need any cooling off, you're shit out of luck." I smirked at her as I sat down on the bench that was shaded by the vending machine.

Serah pouted, scuffed her feet, and then sat down beside me on the bench. I knew she'd see things my way. "So Snow and I have been talking."

I really didn't care, but I had to show her I was interested or else she'd tell me anyway. And if that was the case, I'd never be able to get her out of her foul mood. "About what?"

She looked down at her hands as they played with the hem of her tank top. "About trying to have a baby."

I sighed before looking at her. Two failed attempts and a doctor telling them they couldn't conceive apparently wasn't enough to defer their efforts. "And what conclusion did you come to?"

"We want to adopt."

Adopt? That was actually a wonderful idea. Most likely it was Serah that came up with it, since it was a logical idea. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "I like that idea. It'll be good and you won't have to worry about anymore trauma from losing pregnancies."

"Yea…" She pulled away from me and stood up. "Come on Lightning, we still have so much more to do today. Like, picking out the styles for the brides maids dresses. And the style of the cake. The flavor of the cake. Oh and the venue. Then your own-"

"Serah, stop." I held up my hand to quiet her. "I guess you keep forgetting. Fang and I have already decided on the cake as well as the venue. As for the dresses, if I have to step into one more gown today I think I'm going to rip someone's head off. And honestly, I don't think the store would appreciate blood all over their dresses. And I don't think Snow would appreciate losing his wife at such a young age." I glared at her as her facial expression fell.

"You wouldn't."

I nodded before taking another drink of my water. "I would. That's why you need to stop pushing me so hard. Things are progressing at their own pace. You know I won't wait until the last minute to try to do anything. The wedding is six months away. There's plenty of time."

"Lightning, what about the flowers, and reception, and music…all of that. Remember the hassle we faced for my wedding?"

"But that was because that block head couldn't get off his ass to start doing anything. He got his tux two weeks beforehand. We all were lucky to find a place that had one in his mutated size." I stood up and stretched. "Listen, Serah. You have to trust me. I know how to plan a wedding, I planned and paid for yours, remember. Go home, relax, hell… even talk to Snow some more about the option of adopting, I have to go and meet Fang for lunch." I hugged her before shooing her away.

That woman was going to be the death of me. She had been driving me crazy ever since I offered for her to help me pick out my dress. I knew what I wanted, and Serah knew what she wanted, and there was no compromising on her part. Everything I tried that I liked, she hated and talked me out of. Everything I tried on that she liked and I didn't, she tried to talk me into liking it. I was slowly getting to the point where I would have to go dress shopping alone. In order to get exactly what I wanted.

My mind continued thinking of possibilities for the wedding as I stopped at a sub shop to get both Fang and I lunch. A chicken Caesar salad for her, and a regular garden salad for myself. As well as two bottles of water. With the bag in my hand I continued down the street to her studio. I quietly walked in and made my way to one of the chairs along the window to watch as she finished her class. The class was an even mixture of men and women. Most of the men though, were visibly drooling over their teacher. A fact that I don't think I'll ever get used to.

"I'll see you all on Friday." Fang bid farewell to her students before turning her attention to me. "How was dress hunting my love?"

I cupped her cheek to give her a soft, gentle kiss before groaning. "Serah's bad Fang. Really bad." She pulled me to my feet and we made our way into the office along the back of the room.

"What do ya mean?"

I just shook my head. "She's as impossible as you sometimes."

"Fight that much?"

"I don't think you understand how opposite her and I are." I took a bite of my salad. "Everything I liked, she hated and everything she liked I hated."

"Doesn't seem that strange to me sunshine." I shivered as she took my container, placed it on the desk then sat across my lap. "Something else is on your mind. I can tell."

Damn her for knowing me too well. "Serah and Snow want to try and adopt." I slid my arms around her hips. "She said they'd been discussing options for the past few days."

"That's good for them." She rested her head on my shoulder. "They'll both be good parents. No matter how much of an idiot Snow is, he'll do anything in his power to protect Serah and any children they may have."

"Yea, I know." I played with the bottom hem of her shirt, causing her to look at me. My voice was just a whisper to her. "When's your next class?"

She grinned, knowing immediately where my train of thought was going. "Two hours."

"Good." I pushed my hand under her shirt and met her in a passionate kiss. It was surely the best way to remove all the stress that had built up during the past few hours with Serah.

Next chapter IS the final chapter of this story. The next chapter IS already finished, I'll just need to touch it up a little bit to where it flows nicely after this chapter. I'll post chapter 15 in a few days or so. Then there might be a break while I work on my one Glee story, then I'll work on part three of this series, since everybody seems to love it.

Don't forget to review!