Hope grows up and becomes a soldier, with the goal of earning Lightning's love in mind. Will she accept him, or will she put her sense of duty first?

AU:Lightning comes out of crystalstasis in the middle of a revived conflict with PSICOM, the last l'Cie to wake after the fall of Cocoon. Hope has a five year head-start, but even his expert mechanical skills can't fix the bigger problems of their future.

After meeting Alexander, Hope has a hard time falling asleep. Perhaps a bath in the river with Lightning will calm his nerves?