Serah blinked twice to bring her ceiling into full view once more. Though the pounding in her head had stopped, her stomach still felt a little more queasy than usual, coupled with a strange, out-of-body sort of feel as well.

At her first real movement, a friendly, "Serah!" greeted her up. At her desk, Hawke stood and hurried back to her side. "How're you feeling?" Hawke bent, touching Serah's forehead to check.

"Better…" Serah admitted with another blink. "You're still here?"

"As promised!" Hawke smiled, "I even brought you something." She gathered something up from the desk, and turning back to Serah, Serah identified a tray with food. "Ta-da! Breakfast in bed, the prescribed solution for a hungover sweetheart, according to ." Hawke laid the tray before her on the blanket. "Made it myself!"

"You did?" Serah observed the wonderful-smelling dishes of bacon-stripped Behemoth, scrambled eggs over rye, and chopped hash browns crisp-toasted to browned perfection. She frowned. "How? Fang and Lightning are home."

"I have my ways," Serah looked at her. Hawke's hopeful smile dropped. "Okay, I went down the street to pick it up. A Yun can't be good at everything! I had to scale the house with it balanced though, does that count?"

"Hawke," Serah's little heart crushed for her, so warmed. "That's so sweet of you! You didn't have to do this for me, aww."

"I wanted to! I hope you don't mind me using your computer though; I didn't know how to fix it up right."

"You even looked it up?" Serah felt so mushy, her eyes almost teared. "Here," Serah tugged her closer and lifted to kiss Hawke's cheek chastely. "Thank you, Hawke."

Hawke beamed. "Just like the box said! Phew! You eat that, I have some paroozing to do." Stealing away a kiss to her cheek back that had Serah blushing crimson, Hawke seated herself again at the desk chair as Serah began to fork at her food.

"What're you looking up?"

"Dating," Hawke admitted freely, unabashed. "I wanted to find an average timeline for progression of it, but people don't seem to agree much. There's some pretty interesting stuff here otherwise, though! Did you know that there's a system that aligns the ancient sport of baseball to progressive sexual stages in a relationship?" Serah glanced over, amused. "It compares them by bases! Like first base is just kissing and tonguing and such, at second you get to touch and fondle, third includes oral, and only the homerun is sex! Better yet, it says that a good percent of relationships reach third base before mating! If we start one of these relationships, can we do that too?"

Serah's cheeks had gone rosy. "Maybe eventually."

"Oh no," Hawke disheartened, "That's what you said about sex too. Would we have to wait for matehood till that too?"

"Touching and oral are both very intimate too." Serah explained, "They're worth waiting for, if you've found the right person."

Hawke slumped, pout taking her features again. "What if I asked you to mate me tomorrow?"

"I'd have to ask you to give me more time," Serah admitted, then bit her lip. "And hoped you liked me enough to wait it out."

"But I doo like you," Hawke insisted, "That's why I wanna make you all happy and orgasm." When she looked to Serah again, the younger girl had her lip caught between two sharp teeth. Hawke sighed, "I donno about this crazy dating stuff, Serah, but whether or not you'll have the best sex of your life with me, I'd still like to hang out with you today."

"You do?" Serah asked tentatively, crossing her fingers under the blanket.

"Yeah, I wanna take you somewhere. I think you'll really like it."

"I'd love to go!" Serah barely held back a squeal of delight.

Hawke smiled too. "I'm glad." And she was.

XXX

"This is regular childplay?" Lightning asked, gesturing to the small children where Ember batted at Rivera with a small wooden sword. Rivera hadn't been hit yet, blocking with a pole. "Or are they training?"

Fang chuckled. "They're still a little young, don't you think?"

"I'd figured five at a guess…" Fang choked on random air. Lightning offered her a smile that lit up her eyes. Lightning touched her forearm softly, gentle enough to convey the tease.

"It's seven," Fang corrected with a shy glance to the kids.

"Rivera seems good at blocking."

"Rivera's six; she's been practicing to follow in the Yun ways for a little bit now, readying herself for training." Fang leaned back against the wood pile they sat against, chancing a glance back to Lightning and that faint smile. "She's very protective over her sisters, Ember especially."

"I can tell; she hasn't struck at Ember once."

"Yeah," Fang agreed, "She'll probably take Ember up as her Zekki when Ember comes of age." The term summoned Lightning's head, which Fang admired. "It's what you'd call an apprentice, roughly, when Ember starts her training."

"You know," Lightning started, scooting a little closer to Fang, "It's struck me that I've never seen you fight, Fang. Actually fight, not against me or wrestling your father."

Fang paused at the movement, Lightning's hand dropping to her lap. "The main hunting band's out in the Massif." Fang explained, "Bands go out in smaller groups nearby, but…"

"I'd love to see it," Lightning admitted, "If that's not a ridiculous request, Gran Pulse being dangerous and all."

"You could hold your own," Fang countered, slowly inching for that hand on her leg. "I could take you in a couple days…"

"I'd like that." Lightning's lips twitched at the hand inching towards hers in Fang's lap. Fang could be so cute sometimes. Mere centimeters from touching, her body so very warm…

"Unca Fang!" Ember came dashing over, snapping the air between them as she threw herself to Fang's lap. Lightning scooted up again as Fang caught her and hugged Ember close to her.

"Hey, Ember," Fang rubbed the little girl's back warmly, "Tired of playing Yuns and PSICOM?"

Lightning gave an amused eyebrow.

"Riv won't hit me back," Ember complained, "She's bad at playing PSICOM. I stabbed her good, though."

"You did, eh?" Fang tickled her under the chin, "What a stronng little Yun you make."

Ember giggled and squealed, slapping at Fang's hand until she managed to writhe away like a little fish. Rivera came up behind her and helped Ember back to her feet. "Ember wants to play Sense and Hunt."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah! Yeah!" Ember cheered excitedly, "I'm gettin' real good, Unca! I smelled Riv up real fast last time!"

"I don't know, Emberrr," Fang shook her head to the child, "I remember last time…"

"I can do it now, Unca Fang! I can do it! Lemme show you!"

Fang smiled, then glanced over to Lightning, who tilted her head. "I'm assuming this is the Yun version of Hide and Seek?"

"How's she gonna play?" Rivera grumbled to Lightning's general direction. "She's not a Yun."

Lightning stood faintly amused by the resemblance.

"She doesn't need to be a Yun," Fang cautioned the stubborn girl. "Lightning can be the hunted." Fang earned another eyebrow. "You don't need Yun senses for it?" Fang offered, sheepish.

"Anything I have to do besides hide?"

"Hide well," Fang advised, then nodded to the inquisition. "Seriously, walk around a bit first, find somewhere completely secluded, we don't even have to see you. When one of us finds you, we'll attack to pin. If you pin us first, the hunted wins the game."

"I donno her scent!"

Fang smiled and gestured to Lightning. "Go ahead." Ember dashed up to Lightning and tugged her wrist, sniffing Lightning at the thigh. At her second eyebrow, Fang laughed. "Pick her up."

"Pick me up! Pick me up, Lite-en-nnn!" Ember lifted her arms to Lightning eagerly. Checking one last time to Fang, Lightning gripped the little one under her arms and hoisted her up. Ember immediately clung to Lightning, wrapping her little legs around her as much as she could and buried her little face in Lightning's neck. As the girl immediately settled against her, Lightning forced to find more comfortable supporting, her arm dropped around her rump for better support, other sliding to her back.

The girl inhaled at her neck deeply, settling. "Mmm! You smell pritt-ee, Lite-en-nnn."

"Call me Light," Lightning smiled, easing the ending the girl couldn't pronounce. "And thank you. I don't have as good a nose as you, but you smell very pretty too."

Fang watched as the girl giggled and threw her arms about Lightning's neck, head resting at her collar as she smiled back to Fang. "I like yo'r new woman, Unca. Will you make her a ant?"

Rivera groused, kicking at the dirt as she looked to Fang. "Put that away, Uncle. We're trying to play here. You're gonna give Em a bad example about Cocoon."

Fang roused from staring to look and address the older sibling, which took a second to register. "You're resembling Sky again, Riv." Rivera straightened with pride. Fang ruffled her hair and crossed to Lightning, where Ember had closed her eyes.

Lightning watched Fang's start to glow, watching the small child.

"You want a baby." Lightning realized, Fang's yearning making sudden sense.

Fang looked to her and Lightning could see it, clear as day in those features. "Don't all Yuns?" Fang tried to shrug it off unsuccessfully, clear desire shining through. Lightning made a mental note to teach Fang poker sometime.

"Fang…"

"Can I have my sister back?" Rivera complained, "Preferably before you fuck?"

Lightning gave Fang a meaningful look, which completely went over Fang's head. "Rivera, don't use that word." Lightning chided in Fang's place, who realized only after.

"Yeah!" Fang seconded, making Lightning roll her eyes.

"Grandpa uses it all the time," Rivera grudged, "So do all the Yuns Mom fucks."

"Rivera," Lightning gave Fang an eyebrow, "Let's get your sister inside."

"That's what I first said," Rivera resented petulantly.

"And don't use that word," Fang added, earning a shake of the head from Lightning, but the very small edge of a smile too.

Fang followed faithfully after.

XXX

"Hawke, do you see this?" Serah gasped, covering her mouth in awe. "The ancient laws of the Fal'cie encoded to the great stone," Serah reached out, hand hovering over the glass it was kept in. "Maker. I thought for sure Gran Pulse would destroy this."

"Some of them wanted to, I'd reckon," Hawke admitted, "But the majority of the Yuns wanted to keep it around. Serve as our reminder of the wars we waged for our freedom all those years ago."

"Yeah," Serah whispered, almost mystified by it. "Gran Pulse suffered the hardest blow of the Fal'cie. We might've still been at war if the Fal'cie hadn't turned on Cocoon when Gran Pulse started winning." Serah looked to her in amazement. "Do you ever think about it? If they hadn't turned on our planet, their lies remained veiled, and we'd never allied?"

"I don't relish the thought of being enslaved to them," Hawke acknowledged, "But Cocoon and Gran Pulse had to come together sometime along the way. It's worked out for both of us, even if our prejudices still exist."

Serah smiled at her, "I might not have met you otherwise."

"Is this where I cue in fate?" Serah blushed, so taken with that easy smile. Hawke's hand found her shoulder, those lit up eyes so alluring in every way. "Come on, Serah. The first uncovered tribal artifacts are this way— we even have the rock crumbles people have chipped of Titan's toe."

"Uncovered relics?" Serah gushed.

"Of our past civilizations," Hawke fueled her enthusiasm, feeding off her fascination with their culture's historical origins. "You should see how we used to forge weapons without Cocoon's tech. Brr."

"The structural foundations that originally divided the tribes from a conglomerate into the pockets across Gran Pulse, forced into disarray by the Fal'cies before the Transgressions and formation of l'cie slaves— Hawke!" Serah practically squeaked, then attempted to settle at Hawke's warming smile. "Am I terribly boring you with this? We don't have to stay if you've— "

"You're not boring me," Hawke cut off, "It's nice to share histories with someone so learned and smart. Besides," Hawke added, barely giving her time to blush. "I don't get to share my opinions often. Oddball, remember? In the heart of Yun territory, no one else really enjoys hearing how appreciative I am of our tech advances, and none of the other Cocoon girls I know talked about it either. It's nice to have someone of conversable mind for a change."

"You're nice to listen to," Serah blurted, the added shyly. "I mean, what chance, bumping into maybe the only Yun who would… enjoy this with me."

Smiling at her as always, Hawke's palm touched to hers before the warmth of smooth fingers slid between her own. "I got lucky. That a pretty girl in the water, grabbing my full attention, turns out to be a smart historian who likes to listen to me speak... well," Hawke chuckled, "I'm not renouncing that sex would make it better, but... this is nice." Serah bit her lip to keep from smiling too much. Hawke tugged her hand. "Come on. I'll show you."

XXX

Two Yuns splayed limply, one strewn across the fold-out couch, the other tucked in a snoozing Lightning's arms on the other couch. The only conscious Yun lie in the small space, head resting on Lightning's hip. Fang stroked little Ember's back warmly as the girl unconsciously nuzzled to Lightning's chest, comfortable in her arms.

Not a sight Sky had expected upon returning to the house.

Summer pulled up behind her to a halt, eyes flickering across the scene. "Fang?"

"I'm awake," Fang's hand soothed her little girl. She patted Ember's back twice and sat up on the sofa, leaving the little one mewl without her extra soothing warmth. She curled on Lightning snugly as Fang rose to face them. "How'd work go today?"

"It was good," Summer confirmed, stepping to Fang's side of the couch over Ember. "Sky's particularly moving forward well." She knelt next to the sofa, hand easing to Ember's back. "The children behaved?"

"Yeah, they were great." Fang nodded, "Rivera's slow to trust, but she and Ember had fun together. Even loosened a little when Ember fell asleep on Lightning."

Summer glanced to the couch where her normally-alert Rivera had fallen to a tired spell of sleep. "So I see." Easing her hands at little Ember's sides, she began to gently pull her youngest away. Lightning's arm fell away from her back in the extraction.

At the loss of that safety, Ember shifted at the tug, clinging to Lightning insistently, she buried her face in Lightning's neck. "Mommm," Ember whimpered, squeezing Lightning tight.

Fang's heart crushed a little.

Summer paused. "Ember," Hastening then, she plucked Ember off, who blinked sleepily, then curled around Summer at her shoulder and neck, exhaustedly drifting back in an instant, the way children somehow managed to. "It's okay, honey," Summer held Ember flushly close, cradling her precious. "Mommy's got you."

Fang's jaw unexpectedly twitched. "She was safe with Lightning." Sky froze to the spot, looking to Fang incredulously. Summer barely paused. "She's not a Yun, but that doesn't make her a bad mom."

"Not of the tribes either."

"Being Cocoon-born doesn't make her untrustworthy!" Fang snapped, "Mom and Dad can plainly see it— Lightning's worth giving a chance."

"Anya and Jaeger don't know she doesn't love you." Summer pointed out straightly.

Fang's head snapped to Sky in a flash. "What did you tell her?"

Sky riled at the accusation. "Nothing she couldn't figure on her own. They're not all blind to it."

"You had no right to say anything to her!"

"Now you're keeping secrets, Fang?" Summer's eyes roamed to Lightning's end of the couch. "She is a plague."

"Lightning's not a plague!" Fists curling at her sides, Fang turned on Summer in mounting rage. "She'd be a— " At the sight of Summer cradling Ember to her shoulder, the little one turned a sleepy head at all the yelling, scared eyes on Fang. Scared like Vanille's had been.

Fang faltered. "She... she's gonna be a great mother."

Fists unfurling with growing shame, Fang jumped the couch in hasty exit.

"Fang!" Summer called after her at the door.

Fang sped on.

XXX

"Another." Fang waved over the bartender, a sympathetic Aku she'd met only twice before and her exact reason for choosing this particular pub. The Aku poured her another drink without question and slid it over to Fang with ease.

"You wanna talk about it?"

"No." Fang downed the drink like a shot and patted the edge of the cup again. The nice Aku bartender poured her another without question.

The girl beside her chanced another look as her cup filled and attempted a cautious greeting. "You're taking that in quickly."

"I'm thirsty," Fang answered simply, dunking back the next cup as well. With the slam of her cup back to the bar, she addressed the girl again. "Have you ever impregnated a Cocoon girl?"

The girl's brow scrunched at the question. "I'm a Dia…"

"Personally, I don't recommend it," Fang advised her new friend, "You will not be happy with the results. First your family finds out, then your immediate and extended clan—"

"Oh, Gods!" The girl cursed, "You're Fang, aren't you?"

"Even cute Dias find out!" Fang went on miserably, head dropping to the bar. "Ohhhhh. Why'd she have to be so perfect?"

"Aww, Fang," the girl rubbed her back soothingly, "It's okay, we all succumb to— " she paused. "Wait. You think I'm cute?"

Fang lifted her head to look at her. "You're adorable." Fang dropped her head again, groaning. "Why couldn't I fall for adorable again? Whyyy?"

"You still could!" the girl sparked, encouraging.

"I never even had a chance with her, you know? She was just some uptight, straight— " the Dia made a face, "attractive, emotionally unavailable Goddess of a beauty among a herd of cows when I'd been yearning for home and Vanille and sex with someone to love. Fuck, how I wanted sex. I still do. Do you knoow how long I've been without a lay?" The girl caught Fang's look in earnest. "It feels like yeaaars."

"Oh, Fang," the cute Dia soothed, now rubbing up and down Fang's back and arm, clinging. "That's not good for a young, healthy Yun."

"I just wanna make babies," Fang whimpered, disheartened. She looked to the Dia imploringly, "Is that too much to ask? Just secure my mate, come until I don't work anymore, then watch my girl grow with pink hair like her Mommy."

"I'm a Dia," The Dia reminded, hand lowering on Fang's thigh, "Red's close to pink."

"It's no use," Fang bumped her head to the bar once more, "I'm obsolete. There's no— hey," Fang glanced down at her jeans where the Dia cupped her crotch.

"You are a Yun."

Fang's face dropped to a sorrowful pout. "You doubted that?" she pointed to her maw tattoo hopelessly. "I have the badge!"

"You've more than that," The Dia purred, gripping through her jeans, "I could give you babies, you know."

"Fang!"

Fang instantly straightened like a rod. "Ut oh," she peeped over her shoulder where Jaeger fast approached.

"What is it?" The Dia asked, just wanting to make her hard.

Fang looked at her in upset seriousness. "Daddy's home."

"Fang," Jaeger came up behind her and removed the Dia's hand, "You're cute, Dia, but she's courting."

"Hey!" Fang yipped, plucking it by the wrist again to place against her, "She's trying to help, Dad."

Jaeger sighed and gave her a look. The Dia girl's eyes scrunched sadly, but she obediently started to pull away, slightly hampered by Fang's grip. Jaeger slapped the top of Fang's hand and she released, rubbing it. "Oww, Dad."

"Fang, it's time to go."

"Nooo. I'm talking with my good Dia friend, Dad!"

"Your good Dia friend?"

"Yesss." Fang affirmed, "Gooood friend. I really like her."

"What's her name?" Fang blinked and looked to the girl, who mouthed something she couldn't distinguish. "I thought so," Jaeger shook her head, "Get up, Fang. Mom's waiting at home."

"I don't want to." Fang waved the bartender over for another refill.

"Fang."

"Lightning doesn't want me to either." Fang stressed, "She doesn't like Summer. And Summer doesn't like her. They want me to pick sides," Fang looked to Jaeger pleadingly. "I don' wanna pick a side, Dad."

"Fang," Jaeger repeated, sighing in aggravation. "Don't make me say it again,"

"I get confused, Dad." Fang confessed, "I can never tell… never tell… " Fang lifted her refilled glass, which Jaeger promptly plucked from her fingers and downed. "Hey!" Fang protested, expression falling.

"Don't try that puppy look on me," Jaeger warned, "You'll get up this instant, Fang. Else I'm gonna carry you out. What's it gonna be?"

"But I hurt, Dad." Fang pleaded, "I wanna stop the— Dad!" Fang yelped, suddenly lifted by the waist. Jaeger tossed her over a strong shoulder, hanging on my her legs. "Put me down!" Fang squeaked, eyelevel with Jaeger's butt.

"Ginger," Jaeger signaled the bartender, who waved them off.

"The Yuns have paid my family a thousand times overdue," she waved Jaeger off, "Go on."

"I'll send a dinner," Jaeger bade anyway. She spanked Fang's squirming butt. "Behave and thank the bartender." She turned, allowing Fang to lift her face to the Aku.

"G'byee, nice Akuu," Fang waved, then glanced over to her sad Dia. "Byee cute Dia." Flopping back down, Fang heaved sadly. "I wanna be happy, Dad."

"Drinkin' alone at a bar isn't a good start to that," Jaeger gruffed, then softened when Fang whimpered. "If it helps, Lightning sent me on after you."

"She did?" Fang perked, paused a moment, then furrowed. "See, Dad? Confusing."

"Women are always confusing. It's the price we pay to live in a world of beauties." Jaeger adjusted Fang as she left, who waved to fellow drinkers. "Especially Cocoon women— I should have Hawke tell you a few stories, make your problems seem like salt."

"Salt," Fang cooed, closing her eyes. "Mmm."

"Don't you fall asleep back there," Jaeger warned, "Everyone's worried sick 'bout you."

"Even Skyyy?"

"Yeah, even Sky."

"Good!" Fang echoed, "Let'err worry. Did you hit her, Dad?"

"No, I didn't hit her."

Fang bummed. "I wanted to hit her… that Asini."

"It's gonna be okay, Fang." Jaeger rubbed her leg soothingly. "You're gonna be okay."