Be my Hope, Be my Light

A/N: Its been a while! So I return to bring you guys another Parallel Future! Next chapter continues the main story and it will have its moments! My reason for absence is trying to get in college and after trying n trying...I got in a medical college! Oh yes! Doctor-hood, here I come :D

I do not own Square Enix or Final Fantasy.

Parallel Future: Never Too Late

Today's the day…the day I finally confess.

Hope was in bright spirits. He finally hit the big 1 and 8. He has been waiting for this day since he was 15. He just couldn't keep himself together as he grinned.

I hope she likes this…its nothing too fancy but it will do the job.

Then an amusing thought crossed his mind.

I think she would punch me if I really did spend too much on her…but I don't mind.

He looked in the mirror and smiled.

She's worth it.

He had invited Lightning over to his house tonight. He had everything planned out. He fell over the bed and stared at the ceiling.

What if she doesn't come? What if she rejects me? Nah! Some things in life you just do! No going back now!

He got up and went to the bathroom to take a shower hoping that it would calm his nerves as he waited for what could be the biggest night of his life.

And maybe…our lives.

Hope sat on the couch, waiting impatiently for Lightning to come over. He just couldn't contain his excitement. He kept looking at the mounted clock on the wall and then back to his wrist watch hoping to pass the time. Then he heard the door bell ring and quickly got up only to slip and fall down the floor.

Smooth…Really smooth.

He got up and collected himself before opening the door, hoping to greet Lightning but he was in for a surprise.

"Hey there little man!" Snow crushed him with a bear hug.

"Snow! What are you doing here?" Hope got out of his hold.

"What? The more the merrier!" Snow let himself in while Serah followed him in and he put the pieces together.

"Serah…" Hope raised his eyebrow at her as she timidly shrugged it off.

"Oh come on! It will be fun! Plus theres someone I really wanted you to meet."

"Who? Lightning? I don't think theres any need to…." Then he saw her but she wasn't alone. His eyes widened when he saw her holding another mans arm as she made her way towards him.

"Hi Hope, its good to see you." She let go of the man and hugged Hope but he was too shocked to return it. "Hope?" Lightning noticed it was strange that he didn't return the hug. "Something wrong?"

"No…" Hope tried to collect himself but failed miserably. His whole world came crashing down on him. "No…nothings wrong….its good to see you too and….who…who is this?" Hope gestured towards the man behind her.

"That's Cid, hes the latest scapegoat in my sisters plan to get me hooked up with someone." To this, Cid chuckled as he extended his hand towards Hope.

"So this is the best friend of yours I have heard so much about? It's a pleasure to meet you Hope." Hopes eyes hardened as he shook his hand.

"I am sure it is." Hope looked at Serah behind him with pain evident in his eyes. This didn't go unnoticed by Serah. "Please come in….make yourselves at home."

Everyone sat down in the living room while Hope retreated to the kitchen, trying to make something for everyone but failing miserably. His heart was too heavy with pain. He couldn't take it. He wanted to cry. He wanted to but refused to do so.

"Hope?" It was Serah. "Is everything ok?"

"What do you think?" Hope replied sharply.

"Is…is it because you didn't want everyone else to come?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

"How long?" Hope turned around and looked at her, shocking Serah as she saw him on the verge of tears. "How long have they been going out?"

"They…." Everything dawned on Serah the moment she heard the question. How stupid could she have been? She didn't realize Hopes feelings for her sister.

"How long?!" Hope demanded.

"Its been…a few months."

That was it. That was enough to send Hope over the edge. Serah saw him shed a single tear before he just started laughing. Serah couldn't help but feel guilty and responsible.

"I am sorry Hope." Serah looked down. "I am so…so sorry." She couldn't help but cry as well.

"I was a fool…a hopeless love struck fool." Hope continued to laugh as he placed one hand over his head and looked towards the ceiling. "Stupid…stupid….stupid!" He continued to hit his head with his fist before Serah stopped him. "Is she happy?" Serah couldn't possibly answer that. "Is she happy!" Hope shouted. Serah nodded slowly and Hope looked towards the direction of the living room looking at Lightning in the comfort of another mans arms.

"Forgive me Hope…please forgive me." Serah lost her balance but Hope held her. He stared her down with empty eyes.

"I was late….7 years late."

Hope somehow through a miracle was able to hold out till the end of the night. Everyone bid their farewell till it was only Lightning and Hope left. He saw her talking to Cid before he left. Probably telling him to go on without her since she needed to talk to Hope. Hope closed the door after Cid left and leaned his head against it.

"Hope, whats wrong?" Lightning asked.

"Nothing."

"You know that's a lie."

"You know its none of your business." Hope replied back sharply. Lightning was shocked. Never in her life had Hope spoken in such a manner.

"None of my business?!" Lightning stormed over towards Hope and hit him straight in the face. "How dare you!" Hope fell down but looked back at Lightning with a deadly glare.

"How dare you!" He got back up and stared back at her with the same intensity as her. "You didn't think it was ok to tell me you were going out with Cid?" Her eyes widened.

"Is…is this what its all about?" Hope averted his gaze,

"I thought you trusted me enough to tell me everything…..everything before…"

Before I could've done something to prevent this.

"I am sorry if I didn't tell you but I just didn't know how to tell you." Hope looked at her. "I didn't even want this…but Serah insisted and then one thing led to another and well…I kind of lost it. Sorry for not talking with you over the months."

I…I thought you were out on some mission. I…I didn't know…I didn't think this would ever happen.

"Are you happy?" Lightning looked towards him and smiled.

"I guess I am." Looking at Lightning smile because of Cid broke him in two but he didn't let Lightning notice. If she was happy, he would tough it out. He walked towards her and surprised her with a hug.

"I am happy for you. Congrats." Hope let those words slip out of his tongue with disgust.

"Thanks." She hugged him back. "So..what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?"

"I…I just wanted to know what you have been up to these past few months."

"Oh..well you better prepare yourself for a long story!"

I…I was prepared for everything….but….I wasn't prepared for this.

Hope spent the rest of his days like a machine. Wakeup, go to college, eat, sleep and repeat. He begged Serah never to tell Lightning about his feelings. Lightning on the other hand had spent 2 years dating Cid. Hope had hoped that they would've broken up but that wasn't the case. To add insult to injury, he heard that they've been sleeping together. Having all the life taken out of his body, Hope tried to cope by writing everything down in a notebook. He found it to be a great stress relief.

Its been 2 years….2 years and I still haven't given her the gift.

Its still lying around….somewhere….rotting away like me.

I have no one but myself to blame.

Seven

The pain of my existence.

I was late.

7 years late.

If only I was older, I could have…I could have…but…

I try to move on…I try to but its useless.

I love her.

I seriously love her.

Even now when she is with another man.

I still long for her even though she is beyond my reach.

I wish…I wish…I don't have any wishes left.

I live only because I know that my death would cause her pain.

I love her.

I hate her.

I love her.

I hate myself.

I love her.

I love her….

I love her…...

Its December now. A cold December. No family to enjoy with, I still have my friends. They are my new family. However, I haven't met them for sometime for fear of meeting Lightning and breaking down. I cant see her. Not like this. I talk to her whenever she calls me but I cant handle meeting her face to face. Am I a coward? Having given up on the only woman I have ever loved? Believe me, if I could, I would take her away from Cid and give her nothing short of all the happiness in this world, but the fact remains.

She is happy….without me.

I once again find myself, writing away my misery. I keep her gift next to the notebook, a somber reminder of what could have been.

Without warning, he heard the door bell ring. Hope left the notebook and proceeded to open the door. To say he was shocked to find Lightning was an understatement.

"L-Light?" She didn't respond. "Come on." He led her inside, wondering what was wrong. "I'll go get some hot coffee. You must be freezing." He handed her the mug and she took it but Hope saw her hands shaking. "Light." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Talk to me."

"He left me." She muttered.

"What?"

"Cid….he left me." Hope couldn't believe his ears.

"Why?"

"He said he couldn't deal with me anymore. Guess I am just not an easy person to get along with."

"But…you spent 2 years with him. Why all of a sudden?"

"Guess that was his breaking point or…..he tried to make it work but I was just…"

"Enough." Hope shut her up. "Don't blame yourself."

"Then who am I supposed to blame Hope?" Lightning raised her face to look at him. She looked sad and empty. "I knew I couldn't have a normal life after everything I went through but I…I at least wanted to try. I really did." Hope pulled her in for a hug.

"I know." He ran his hand through her hair. "Guess he just wasn't the one."

"I don't know…maybe." Lightning buried her face in his chest. "I am so tired….so tired of trying. Theres no one out there who would love me." Hope was shocked by her words.

If you only knew.

"I don't think so." He held her closer. "Hes out there and maybe hes closer to you than you expect."

What am I doing? I shouldn't try…not now…not when she's like this.

"Thanks Hope. You always knew how to cheer me up. You know me too well."

"I don't think so." Hope smiled sadly. Lightning pulled herself out of his arms to question him.

"What do you mean?"

"As things stand, I believe Cid knows you better than I do." Lightnings eyes widened. "You had an…intimate relationship with him for over…2 years." Hope said with a bad taste in his mouth. "I…I don't know that side of you Light….I never did." Lightning had no words to say. "Go to my room and take a shower….it will help." Lightning got up to head towards the bathroom in his room. "By the way…" Hope asked before she left. She stopped to look back at him. "Why did you come here instead of going to Serah?" Lightning didn't even ponder for a second before answering.

"I guess…It just seemed natural for me to come here." Hope nodded as she went to take a shower. Hope fell over the couch, contemplating these new developments.

What should I do? I…I don't know what to say.

After losing her years ago, going in to a state of depression nearly on the brink of losing himself, she suddenly comes back into his life. Hope just lay down on the couch and covered his eyes with his arm as he tried to think of what to do next.

I want to help her…sure…but where does that road end? Do I help her get through this and leave her be….or….

Hope slowly shifted to his side and thought about it over and over.

I….I want her…but…she doesn't feel the same. If she did then maybe…

Hope smiled sadly as he had made his decision.

Right now…she needs to be with Cid. If her happiness has been with him for these past years then…I will let her go.

Hope heard a loud noise in his room and immediately thought of the worst as he rushed upwards to his room. He kicked the door open before looking at Lightning fully dressed but she was lying on the floor, sitting as she stared at something with horror. Hope knew exactly what had happened.

"'So…you know?" Hope asked her as he made his way towards her and bent down to her level.

She read it..She knows everything.

Lightning didn't react. She was speechless. She couldn't believe her eyes. All these years, Hope had feelings for her and yet she never realized until today.

"Don't worry about it Light." Hope started. "I will get you back with Cid. You guys did spend a lot of time together so I am sure we can work something out." Hope placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Lightning stared back at him with shock.

"W-Why?" Lightning muttered.

"Because I want you to be happy and if Cid makes you happy then who am I to-"

"No! Why didn't you ever tell me?" Lightning interrupted Hope.

"Would it have made a difference?" Hope averted his gaze. "You brought Cid along the day I wanted to tell you." Everything dawned on Lightning. She grabbed the fabric of his shirt firmly and moved closer to his chest.

"I am sorry." Lightning spoke in his chest. "I am so so sorry."

"Its ok." Hope ran his hand along her hair.

"No! Its not! I cant help but think what could've been if you and I….we…" Lightning paused before continuing. "If we had been together."

"Too late for regrets." Hope said softly yet the words carried a heavy burden.

"Its never too late. Didn't I always tell you that?"

Unbelievable…I…I really cant let her go, can I?

"Yeah." Hope gut up and pulled her up with him. "You did." He smiled and she smiled back. Hope went to the table and picked up a package lying beside his notebook. He presented It to her as she looked confused.

"Whats this?"

"That day, I wanted to give you this. Its always been yours." She opened it to find a necklace. Lightning lost her breath as she looked at it. It was beautiful. "Hope its not too late?" Lightning responded by placing the necklace around her neck and smiling at him as a few tears trailed down her face.

"Its never too late."

Hope never liked the number 7. He cursed the fact that he was 7 years younger than Lightning. However, a few years later, on the 7th of December, he and Lightning would be married and 7 years after he gave her the necklace, Hope Esthiem would become a father.

A/N:

Like I said before, I got into a medical college and so you can bet I will be busy! So I hope you guys can bear random updates but it doesn't mean I will ever abandon this fic. Thanks for your support and as always R & R.