The Return

"So, what was that whole thing about you quitting baseball?" Fang sat next to Lightning at the bar of the hotel where the Rangers were celebrating their victory. While the others were getting rowdy and the room was getting loud she and Lightning were sitting off to the side where they could talk. "Were you serious?"

"As a heart attack." Lightning's tone left no room for argument. "Being with you and Allie is the happiest I've ever been." Lightning turned pensive. "I've already won two World Series and neither of them agreed with me. The cameras, the press I hated every minute of it. It's your turn, Fang. I've already talked to Amodar and he's going to take you back to the Rangers."

"I don't want to be responsible for you quitting something you love, Claire. I don't want to feel like that."

"You're responsible for being something I love, and, unless you're planning on leaving me, I'm not planning on quitting you or Allie. Baseball, it's just a game. Our family, that's something real." Fang yawned and Lightning put her arm around her. "Ready to go? We've got to pick up our daughter in the morning and fly back to Texas."

"This party is for you, sweetheart. You should stay."

"Only if you stay with me."

"Of course, I can't have you falling for the next hotshot on the team."

-DSOF-

Fang woke up the next morning with a pounding headache next to Lightning who looked like she felt the same. The previous night was a blur, try as she might she couldn't remember much passed the drinking contest she had let Lightning talk her into. I've gotta stop letting her get in my head.

Lightning opened her bloodshot eyes and grunted what sounded like, "What time is it?" She reached to the nightstand, found her phone and freaked out at what she saw. "It's noon? Holy shit, we're late."

Fang sat up quickly and looked at the alarm clock near the bed, 10:00. "What are you talking about? It's only ten. We've got an hour."

"Oh, right, my phone's still on Texas time." Lightning fell back onto the bed and Fang wrapped around her.

"We still need to get ready. Traffic's gonna be horrible this time of day." Lightning moaned and rolled over, throwing her arms over her head. Fang chuckled and tapped her on the arm. "Come on, sweetheart, let's go get our little girl."

"You go. I'm tired."

Fang ran her fingers across Lightning's belly and she failed to stifle the giggle. Fang smirked like a cat. "Well, well, I think I've found your weak spot."

Lightning rolled over to face Fang, her eyes narrowed and her teeth ground together. "You wouldn't dare."

Fang rolled her eyes and pat her on the stomach. "No, I wouldn't." Lightning glared at her so she got up off the bed. "I'm serious." Fang made to head towards the bathroom until Lightning rolled over. She tiptoed towards the bed then, when she was in range, she shouted and jumped Lightning, wrapping around her and tickling her.

Lightning struggled and shouted through her reflexive laughing, "Stop it." Fang pinned Lightning to the bed with one hand and was frantically tickling her with the other. "Stop it." Lightning hooked her leg around Fang's and flipped her over onto the bed, quickly reversing their positions. She held her legs together with one arm and tickled her feet with the other.

Fang squirmed and tried to kick but Lightning was too strong. "Alright, Claire, alright. Uncle." Lightning let her go and laid down beside her, both panting. Fang patted her on the thigh, "I don't know about you, but I'm ready to go home." She got up off the bed and pulled at her clothes. She turned and asked in a sultry, seductive voice, "I'm going to take a shower, if you're interested."

"You have to ask?"

-DSOF-

Allie practically skipped her way down the hallway towards the main office, the social worker walking behind her couldn't suppress the smile that crossed her face. She had never seen the girl look so happy before and it warmed her heart. She opened the door and entered the room where Fang and Lightning were sitting across the desk from the matron of the orphanage. "Mommy."

Fang stood up as Allie dove at her and she caught her into a spinning hug. "It's pretty much official now, darling." Lightning joined them in their family hug. She had never smiled so much in her life, at least the soreness in her jaw said so.

"There's just one more thing to sort out. Do you want her to take your last names?"

Fang and Lightning shared a look. The look passed to their daughter. "What do you think, Allie?"

Allie mulled it over for less than a second. "Yeah."

Fang and Lightning chuckled, Lightning remarked, "She's hardheaded, just like you." Lightning touched her forehead to Allie's. "How do you like Alison Yun Farron?"

"I love it."

"Alright, that's all I need from you. Now if you'll both sign here then Alison will officially be your daughter." Fang and Lightning both signed the page and the matron stood and shook their hands. "Congratulations. If I may ask, what do you intend to do now?"

Lightning answered. "We are taking Allie back to Texas. The rest will have to work itself out."

"I hope it does, and I hope you're family is happy."

She shook first Lightning's hand then Fang's. "Thank you." Fang smiled at the girl in her arms. "Ready to go, sweetie? We've got a flight to catch."

"Yeah!"

Allie hopped out of Fang's arm and took her and Lightning's hands. All three smiled brightly as they marched out of the orphanage for the last time.

-DSOF-

Lightning was exhausted when she pulled into the driveway of Fang's house. To spite sleeping on the plane she had driven from the airport while Fang and Allie slept the whole ride there. Lightning violently shook Fang and she snapped awake, "We're here."

"Already?"

"What do you mean already?" Lightning snapped as she tended to when she was tired. "You've been asleep the whole drive here." She leaned over the seat and gently woke Allie. "Wake up, sweetie, let's get you to bed."

Lightning and Allie headed for the house while Fang stretched and yawned. "What about the luggage?"

Lightning waved dismissively at her. "Take care of it. Our daughter and I are going to sleep." The door was unlocked so Lightning and Allie walked right in and found Vanille packing some of her belongings. She started to say "Hi" but stopped when Lightning shoved her way into Fang's room and threw herself on the bed with Allie right behind her. They curled up together and were out in seconds.

Fang entered carrying most of their bags and shaking her head, she noticed Vanille and the boxes around her. "Hey Vanille, what's going on? You moving out?"

"Since we're having a baby and all I thought it would be good to try living together for a while. He got back this morning and I started moving some of the smaller stuff."

Vanille's stomach had a small swell and Fang put her hand over it. "Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"

"Not yet." Vanille smiled and hugged Fang. "Thank you, for everything."

"We're sisters, Vanille, if you ever need anything you can always come here."

"I know." Vanille took a step back and put her hands on her hips. "Now what is all this about you adopting a daughter? Lightning just flew by with a little girl, was that her?"

"Yeah. When I thought Claire wasn't coming back I needed something to fill the hole she left in my life. Allie came around when I needed her most, and since we were orphans I figured she could use someone too. Then Claire came back to me and now we're a family."

"Serah's been calling me nonstop about Lightning quitting baseball on live TV. Was she serious?"

"She said she was. She doesn't like people knowing her name, doesn't want to be popular, it disagrees with her. Plus, I think she's become really attached to Allie."

"Are you quitting too?"

"Hell no, they'll have to kick my ass out. Claire set it up to where I can play for the Rangers again, and I'm not stopping until I win my own World Series." Fang took a hero's pose and Vanille chuckled.

The sound of a car door opening stilled the room and Hope soon followed. "Fang? Did you guys just get home."

Fang turned to face him. "Yeah, we had to pick Allie up from the orphanage. She's asleep with Claire in the room."

Hope nervously avoided eye contact with her. "Are you upset that Vanille's moving in with me. I know she's your sister and that you're close."

Fang grabbed him by the shoulder and smiled. "Not a problem, kid." Her face turned serious. "But if she ever calls here saying you hurt her," her eyes narrowed to slits, "I'll find you." Hope swallowed and Fang walked passed him out to the car and grabbed the rest of her and Lightning's luggage. She tossed it in a corner of the room and left it there to be sorted later.

She approached Vanille and took both her hands in hers. "Then I guess I'll see you sometime. We should all get together soon, you two, me and Claire and Serah and her beau."

"That sounds great, but you look tired. I'll see you later."

Fang lumbered to her bed and lay down beside Lightning and Allie who were fast asleep. She wrapped her arm around Lightning and held her close, her head hit the pillow and she was already asleep.

-DSOF-

Claire woke up in the middle of the night with a great idea. I'm going to ask Fang to marry me, but I need the right time and place to do it. She carefully got out of bed, Allie stirred but didn't wake up. She slowly opened and closed the door so as not to wake anyone and sat down on the couch in the living room. Our couch? We need to figure out where we're going to live.

She took out her phone and dialed her sister's number. Serah answered groggily. "Claire, is that you?"

"Yeah, did I wake you?"

"Yeah. Look why don't we go to lunch tomorrow. I'd really like to meet my niece."

"Sure, I'll see you tomorrow then." She hung up the phone and sat in the dark room by herself mulling over their housing problem until the sun came up and Fang and Allie woke up. Allie was the first out of the room. She sat down next to Claire and Claire out her arm around her. "Did you sleep well?"

"Much better than the orphanage, the beds there were like sleeping on a rock."

Allie leaned against Claire and they sat together until Fang left the room wearing nothing but a pair of boxers and a t-shirt that left her stomach bare. She leaned over the couch and kissed Allie on the forehead and Claire on the lips. She walked to the kitchen and Claire's eyes never left her. She fidgeted on the couch and Allie noticed. "Are you okay, mom?"

"I'm fine."

Fang looked back and noticed Claire's discomfort, immediately recognizing the source. She cocked her hip to the side and slid her hand up her thigh slowly. "Like what you see, sweetheart."

"Stop it, Fang."

Fang spun around, "Why don't you come and stop me."

Claire dove off the couch and tackled Fang to the ground. They wrestled, Fang trying to throw Claire off and Claire trying to hold her down. Fang wasn't able to get leverage and Claire finally pinned her. "How's that?"

"Kinda sexy."

Allie started laughing from the couch. "Looks like mom is stronger."

"She got the drop on me." Fang struggled more but Claire held fast. "Alright, fine. You win." Claire let her up from the floor, Fang held onto her for a bit longer than necessary. "We should try this again later when we're alone."

Claire kissed her, "I'll still be on top."

"That's what you think, baby." Fang opened the fridge and found it empty. "Dammit, we need to go shopping."

"We need to decide where we're going to live. Are we going to live here?"

"Now that Vanille is moving out, why not? We can get a bed for Allie and she can sleep in Vanille's old room and we can sleep in the master bedroom. It'll be perfect."

"But what about Serah? I can't just run out on her like that. By the way, we're having lunch with her so be ready by noon." Fang groaned but Claire didn't relent. "Noon, Fang, not noonish."

Fang's sarcastic tone angered Claire a little. "Fine, I thought we could spend a relaxing day at home but doing things sounds like more fun."

Noon came around and Fang, Claire and Allie sat down at a restaurant to wait for Serah. They didn't wait long and Serah immediately wanted to meet Allie, who thought her pink hair was adorable. Serah was taken with her eyes, that shone a deep blue. "So this is my niece? She's adorable."

"Can I call you Aunt Serah?"

"Of course you can call me that, and this is your uncle Snow."

Snow fell to one knee and ruffled Allie's hair, a gesture that she didn't like. "Hey, kiddo."

Allie shot him an oddly Farron like glare and Serah laughed. "I see she already takes after you, Claire."

Fang put on an upset face, "Great, she's gonna be violent and antisocial."

Claire punched Fang on the shoulder, crossed her arms and pouted. "I am neither of those things."

Fang and Serah both retorted, "Yes you are", then looked at each other and laughed.

"At least I don't have to worry about you two getting along." Serah and Snow sat down and Allie sat next to Claire. "I called you last night to talk to you about our living arrangements. Now that me and this one," she pointed at Fang with her thumb, "have a daughter and with Vanille moving in with Hope I was going to suggest that I can move in with Fang and," she sighed, "maybe Snow can move in with you."

Serah and Snow exchanged a look of relief across the table and Snow smiled. "This turned out to be a lot easier than I thought." Claire looked confused so he explained. "Our relationship has gotten to the point where I think we could handle living together. I was going to ask you if Serah could move in with me, but this works out a lot better."

Claire gritted her teeth until Fang took her hand. "Awesome, then this works out for everybody." She squeezed Claire's hand and she calmed. The waiter took their orders and Fang stood. "I've gotta use the little girl's room. Be right back."

As soon as Fang was out of earshot, Claire leaned forward. "I think I'm going to ask her to marry me."

Serah looked shocked. "Really? You've only known each other for a year. Are you sure you're ready for that?"

Claire sighed. "A week ago we weren't even talking to each other, but after all that's happened I think I am. I'm hoping to find a ring today, and I don't want to make a huge deal about it."

Serah took her sister's hand across the table. "If you think it's right, Claire, then I'll support you all the way. When are you planning on asking?"

"I don't know, I haven't figured that out yet."

Allie started laughing and Claire looked over to see that Snow was making funny faces and Allie was laughing. She picked up a packet of sugar and threw it at him so Claire scolded her. "Allie, you can throw harder than that. Here."

She took another sugar packet and demonstrated by throwing it at Snow. "Hey, knock it off."

"See, Allie, it's all in the wrists." Allie threw another packet at Snow who tried to dodge it but failed due to his size. Claire laughed aloud, "See, easy. You're gonna be a great pitcher someday."

The food arrived just before Fang returned from the restroom. "Alright, I'm starving." She tore into the sandwich she had ordered with a fury that set everyone else at the table aback. Even Allie looked at her weirdly, Fang looked at her, "Allie, the food is your enemy and must be defeated."

A light appeared in Allie's eyes and she nodded before ravenously tearing into her own sandwich. Fang followed suit and Claire sighed before slowly eating her own. Serah smiled at their antics. They make a great couple.

Snow broke the silence. "Are you really quitting baseball, sis?"

Claire nodded. "Yeah, I never did like being famous and now that we have Allie one of us needed to take time off. I'm done with baseball, at least for now." Allie and Fang were done eating in moments. "Seriously, you two." Fang shrugged. The conversation turned to Allie for the rest of the meal.

-DSOF-

After leaving the restaurant, Claire, Fang and Allie headed to a mall to find Allie some clothes and to furnish Fang's house. She didn't own much and most of what she had was from when she was single. They passed a jewelry store and Claire made an excuse to leave. "I need to find a bathroom."

"Why didn't you go at the restaurant?"

"I forgot. I'll find you." She took off towards the jewelry shop, making sure Fang didn't look back. She was looking though the cases when an attractive young, blonde haired woman approached. "Can I help you find something?"

Claire choked up. "I am planning to...um...propose to my...um...girlfriend and..."

The saleswoman took it in stride. "Then you're in the wrong section, engagement rings are over here."

She walked her over to the counter and one immediately struck her, a simple band of silver with both a jade and a coral inlaid, their eye colors. "I want that one."

She paid for the ring, far more expensive than she would have liked, and immediately through the packaging away leaving only a still unmistakeable velvet box. She tucked it away into her jacket pocket and ran off to find Fang and Allie. Now I have the what, I just need the where and when.

When I started this story, I never imagined it would go as far as it has. I didn't think anyone would read it or take it seriously. I'm happy that it's earned it's place as my most popular story yet. Possible sequel idea, Don't Strike Out, Alison. Thoughts?