Welp hard to believe we are here...
Epilogue:
Gently scratching Vivi's head, Lightning just smiled as she could see him jumping up into her arms. His large frame just didn't seem to register with him as the pink haired teen caught the large animal. "Boy, you aren't going to be able to do this in a few days. This is somehow worse than when I had to break you from sitting in my hood. But I don't have the time like that." Lightning said with a soft tone as she gently started to lower him down.
She was actually looking forward today. If just because it was the first time she actually got to talk with her sister and mother. It had been months since she had last seen them. She just knew from the occasional sighting of them she could get, Lightning was at least a little shocked to see Serah seeming more and more at her wit's end.
"Serah should be in the visitor's room. So let's just try and avoid getting into trouble." Lightning said as she scratched the lab's head. As she just chuckled a little at the sight of him raising one of his paws in a clear attempt to Lightning to carry him. "I know you aren't injured, and I can't carry you boy. I'd love to, but what if you get placed with someone who isn't as strong as me? You'll need to walk on your own paws... mind you it would be pretty adorable to see you in shoes... but you still need to walk."
Seeing the paw being placed down, Lightning just sighed gently as she opened the door, just smiling as she could see Vanille skipping down the hallway. The joy being ever present on her face as she quickly caught up to Lightning and hugged her tightly.
"Yuna wanted me to tell you that you need to take your meds before you go to visitation." Vanille said as she just took a deep breath as she looked down to see Vivi sitting patiently. "And it is going to be sad to see him go." Vanille continued as she just smiled at Lightning shaking her head as they separated and started to walk towards the stairs.
"It will be. But it was never meant to be a permanent thing." Lightning said softly as she opened the door. "How are you holding up though? You aren't meant to be seeing Yuna for another few hours." Lightning asked as Vanille simply clasped her hands behind her back.
"I'm doing fine. I was just trying to get her to agree to the shared room. They still aren't overly happy that we are a thing. So yeah. But they are thankfully no longer on the whole 'you two should break up' idea. So we have that." Vanille said as she reached ahead to open the door. "So yeah. It at least went by without her getting mad. I think I'm wearing them down."
"Or pushing them to put you in solitary again. Let's be honest, the latter is the likely one. I wish you would stop pushing them like this." Lightning said as she groaned a little at Vanille just pressing her lips against Lightning's cheek.
"They won't. But have a good day. I'll see you at lunch." Vanille said with a smile as she spun around and started to walk off humming gently as Lightning just smiled as she walked through the door.
She just smiled as she could see the nurses behind the glass just looking up and smiling at Lightning. As they produced two small cups which Lightning happily downed the both of them. A smile on her face as she placed the cups back down.
"Thanks." Lightning said as she started to walk away. She was just happy that everything was looking up. At least she could actually meet her sister and mother. It was without a doubt the best thing that could happen.
Turning to the right, Lightning just smile as the doors opened as she walked in, Lightning just smiled faintly as she heard the sound of Vivi barking alerting Serah and her mother. Feeling her arm jerk a little, Lightning winced gently before she pulled back and felt Serah rushing up to just hug her despite the crowded room.
Wincing internally as she took some deep breaths as she gently started to hug Serah back. Or at least the best she could given the situation. She wasn't even sure if she had it in her to lash out at Serah for this surprise hug.
"Serah... you know I don't do hugs that well." Lightning whispered as Serah just shook her head as Vivi started to gently paw at her leg.
"No. I didn't listen to you." Serah began softly as Lightning could hear tears in her voice. Just that simple thing was enough to make Lightning incredibly worried. "I found the tapes... and I watched part of one..." Serah spoke as realisation dawned onto Lightning what she had meant. "Just two minutes... and..." Serah continued as Lightning could feel her crying already.
Gently rubbing her back, Lightning just had to take a deep breath as she knew that this would happen. The one thing that she never wanted Serah to see she did end up seeing. It was a little heartbreaking to her. She was just going to force herself to just stay in this hug as long as she could.
Pulling back Serah just stared up at Lightning as she could feel her tears just leaving streaks on her face. "Even Mom couldn't get past that mark... and we even found some of the letters he received..." Serah continued as Lightning just took a deep breath as she raised a hand to just hold Serah's head back against her chest. "Don't let anyone say you aren't the strongest person to ever exist. I don't even know if I could ever survive those minutes I watched." Serah continued to blubber as Lightning just continued to hold her tightly.
'She really is a dummy. I feel sorry for her.'
"Serah. What happened in the past is over. But Vivi seems to really want you to sit down. Probably so he can try and help you. It is literally his only job." Lightning said gently as Serah pulled back and freed a hand to just try and force her eyes dry. Something that just caused Lightning to take a deep breath. "I still wished you wouldn't have watched any... and chances are they can get worse." Lightning continued as she took a deep breath as Serah just tensed up. "I don't know which one you watched, there is a chance that it is one of the moments my own mind has blocked out. But if not that was a pretty normal thing."
"There was sixteen thousand hours of footage... and if that was normal..." Serah started as she hugged Lightning tightly. "I don't want to even imagine what it would be like if there is a worse possibility."
"Serah, do the math. That is scarcely two years if it was the entire day. But in reality it was stretched out over four years." Lightning said with a slightly happy tone as she could see Serah looking worried. "I know you want and even need me hugging you Serah... but I'm getting to the end of my restraint right now." Lightning whispered as Serah just started to separate from her as she began to dry her eyes. "You just need to remember Serah, that regardless, I am getting better. And I do intend to keep getting better. The past only has as much power as you give it." Lightning said as Serah just took a deep breath as she began to fidget slowly with the hem of her shirt. "What happened?" Lightning said as she began to lead her sister towards their equally torn up mother.
"I brought them... and I was going to give them to your doctors but Mom and both of your doctors suggested that I get your approval first." Serah whispered as soon as she sat down Vivi jumped up to sit carefully on the edge of the bench as he gently licked her face.
"Stay boy." Lightning said as she dropped the leash on the table as she walked over towards her mother and gave her the hug she so desperately wanted. Trying her hardest to not scream at how uncomfortable she felt, Lightning was just glad that her mother had hugged her. "I'm sorry you had to watch those as well. You both chances are had genuine good memories of Father and shouldn't have learned about him like that. But I am glad you want me to decide if the doctors get to see them. And convinced Serah as such." Lightning said with a soft tone as Mary just held as tight as Lightning had been.
"I had very few... and all of those came about before both you and your sister were born. After that I lost all my rights to even really be an individual in his eyes. I was nothing more than arm candy and a mother to the next generation then. Even knowing how bad he truly was, I still have those moments to remember him by. Not the monster he truly was." Mary spoke as she gently separated from Lightning and gently started to brush some of the hair out of her daughter's face. "You are looking a lot better than the last time I saw you. But that was with your hands still bound to a bed." Mary continued as she just took a deep breath.
"I feel a lot better. You both have no idea how happy I've been. The only sad part is the fact Vivi in a few days is going to be gone. But he seems ready. Once I can get him to stop periodically jumping into my arms because I doubt whoever is going to get him is going to be as strong as me." Lightning began as Serah just gently hugged Vivi and began to gently pet him as he seemed to be ecstatic at the contact. "And before you say it Serah, I mean it physically as strong."
"You are pretty strong in that regard too." Serah spoke softly taking a deep breath as she began to sit upright as she dried her eyes a bit. "And I hate to rush you on the topic Claire... but what about the videos? Because if you don't want to give it to them... I'm burning them and tossing the ashes down onto the grounds where his body was found." Serah said as Lightning just rolled her eyes gently.
"Don't bother. He doesn't deserve that much Serah. And if you want to let them watch it, give me the videos before we separate. I'll hand them into Rosa myself that way she knows I'm fine with her watching them. Just... lots of questions with almost all being if I really am okay with her and Yuna watching them." Lightning said softly as she gently took up the loop of the leash as Vivi just seemed to frown at Serah no longer petting him.
As she was about to pull away, Vivi quickly ducked his head under her arm to force Serah to continue the petting much to Lightning's amusement and Serah's confusion. "Vivi is trained to read people's emotions. In fact he does it a lot better than me and he does it naturally. To the point that it actually shocked some of the people that do this." Lightning said as she could see the confusion seemingly increasing with Serah. "He thinks you need comfort right now and knows how to do it." Lightning said as she could see her sister nodding her head in understanding.
"He is a very smart animal." Serah said with a small smile as she just took a deep breath and gave the animal what he and apparently she wanted. "And you are saying he is leaving you? Just to go to some random person's care?"
"It was never meant to be a full time thing Serah. I could only do so much because your father had placed so many restrictions on me and specifically Claire." Mary said softly as Serah just took a deep breath and began to just scratch the animal's back.
"I don't want him to just go somewhere... but I also don't really want to try and take him out of whatever program... I mean you could probably use him when you get out... right Claire?" Serah asked as Lightning just chuckled shaking her head.
"Don't drag me into whatever twisted math you are doing in your head. I wouldn't take him out by any means. But he does help with a lot of things I find. But he also doesn't really do cages that well. Mostly because I refuse to lock him in it." Lightning spoke as Serah just seemed to smile at her sister.
"I think I will." Serah said as she looked at her sister who seemed a bit shocked. "Not because of you. I just deal with a lot of crap in my day to day now... and let me tell you I actually wish I could just go back to school and be care free. Because some of the things I need to weigh in on, I just want to curl up and die a little more each day and the second you get out, I don't care about the formalities. You are taking over." Serah said as Lightning just chuckled at her.
"I plan to. But if you want to, you'd need to dig the information out. Just don't carry him. He often tries to fake an injury to get that privilege. And he has done it literally the entire time I've had him." Lightning corrected as Serah just smiled as she could feel the animal licking her face causing her to chuckle a little. "But he does do a great job at making people forget about the world in great ways and does help with night terrors."
"Good... I've been having a lot since I saw that stupid video. And apparently no plumber will make the water in the showers go above boiling. I can't imagine how you went through that... for years... and then when you came back... it took you a long time to get the help you actually needed. And... just the thought that you at any point had plenty of reasons to just... you know. And Dad..." Serah began as she just took a deep breath as she began to just pet Vivi again not understanding how it worked, she was just happy that it was working.
"I wouldn't give him that satisfaction. Plus the Voice often is very against me being in pain or even thinking about that kind of thing. I told you... it was largely a survival thing if you believe Rosa and Yuna's theory. Which I'm kind of inclined to think that. Just because everything about that theory is proving more and more right." Lightning began as Serah just took in her sister's form.
"What's with your hand Claire?" Mary asked as Lightning just smiled as she pulled her hand back.
"Low blood sugar. I was late to breakfast and they ran out of oatmeal because it was tofu bacon and egg day which sucks but I was slightly above the okay mark." Lightning said with a small smile as she could see Serah looking worried at her. "Relax. I just need something with sugar to kind of bring that level up." Lightning said as Mary seemed to remember something as she bent down to pick up the plastic bag by her feet.
"I almost forgot. I did make some dorayaki for you. That should help. There is a lot of sugar in them. Still no idea how normal people can eat with plastic cutlery... wouldn't those break against your teeth? Although the plastic would make them probably taste better. My skills are super rusty from not doing it for so long." Mary asked as Lightning just smiled at her mother as she quickly looked around before she dove in and hugged her as tightly as she could.
"I'm sure they will be great Mom... you always did make the best ones and nothing has compared since then."
'You've changed a lot. I like this version more.'
Author's Note:
Holy shit this is done. It is well and truly done. Now I just need to start working on planning and doing the sequels so give me a bit to get that sorted out for everyone. Catch you next time.