[From Hope's diary]

If there is anything I missed from old world, it is our L'cie power. Although I still retained my normal intellectual ability, it is noticeably harder for me to visualize, connect the facts, and thinking in probabilistic ways. Of course, people around me cannot comprehend what is the fuss all about, as they saw me passing through all theoretical and engineering subjects with almost perfection. But the truth is the level of technology available in this New World is far lower compared to our Cocoon.

My mother Nora helped a lot for taking care of Valerie and Conroy when they were just born. My job during PhD consists mostly reading and analyzing papers, and doing experiment over my laptop and hence I can work from home to care for our kids. But intensive childcare is no joke. Especially Valerie, she has been very active on picking up and throwing stuffs and climbing everywhere in my room. I simply did not have that much time and energy to do my research, childcare and housework at the same time. Light only has 3 months of pregnancy leave, which is not sufficient for doing childcare until our babies can talk and walk.

For Light, her physical strength and endurance is still far superior even compared with men of top performers in Guardian Corps. But unlike in the old world, she is beatable here. In fact, after Valerie and Conroy were born, her performance in physical test dropped significantly and rendered her unfit for some critical missions to lead the rescue team during natural disaster. This caused distress in her, since for the entire 15 years in this new world, Amodar always entrusted her to become few of female team lead. Only her and Nabaat can reach that position out of 50 batallion in infantry division.

After 20 years serving in Guardian Corps since she was 15, Light decided to retire and tender her resignation. At that time, I was already research fellow in Ecole Polytechnique. Valerie and Conroy was still 6 and 3 years old, so I put them in my parents' house to give me more private time with Light. I am glad to see her relax facial expression. I always admired her willpower and perseverance. But everything in this world has limit, and physical strength included. I feel that it is good to embrace our vulnerability as it make us to be more down to earth

Based on our agreement, once I secured full-time job after I graduated two years ago, all of Valerie and Conroy's related expenses and myself will use my salary. Lightning kept all her savings which she earned in Guardian Corps and Dissidia tournament for her pension fund. The fund earned her dividend for her own living expenses, household bill, and charity. Her prize money is so much so that even its 5 percent of its return (which is invested in mutual fund) is almost the same as my full time salary. At that time, anyway. I am really amazed to have such career wife that even entertain to marry me and fund my study. It is very unusual for career woman to marry down, let alone pay childcare expense, and fund her husband's study. None of my female colleagues do that, nor I heard so far anyone from this world that did such thing.

The day after farewell party with Lightning's colleagues from Guardian Corps, I arranged 1-week vacation to go with her outskirt of Paris, to visit Sazh's vineyard and chocobo farm. At that time, she was 35 and I was 28. I remember that intimate moment we were together to share our deepest feeling after long time. At that time, Lightning wore simple light brown T-shirt with image of her eidolon, Odin. She also wore black arms sleeve on both hands. For me, I wore my blue polo-tee with my university symbol (this was free shirt given during my graduation ceremony). Both of us sit below an oak tree on the pasture. Time showed around 6pm and the sun was about to set.

"I feel so glad for our time here, Light...honey", I said, "It has been awhile since last time we are both alone together like this". I stretched my right arm to embrace her on my shoulder while playing with her hair.

"Time passed so fast...", she sighed, "I suppose this is what we perceived during time of peace...we are no longer young, Hope...". She rested her head into my chest, "Last time when we had this moment was after that Dissidia closing ceremony..."

I nodded and felt guilty, "I am sorry if I don't spend more time to do this..."

"Why? What for?", replied her, looked surprised and raised her eyebrows, "It is very critical time for you, Hope...not many people that I knew can survive PhD in top university like Ecole while doing childcare...I told you that I am OK to postpone having a child until you graduate, but yet you insisted..."

"I was overconfident...", I admitted, "I thought that because of my scientific knowledge from Cocoon, it should be not too difficult to get good result..."

Lightning grabbed my chin with her right hand, turned my head facing her, stared me with her sharp blue eyes...The fierce eyes of warrior queen, which renders me powerless every time I see it, even until now...

And she moved forward and quickly kissed me. I was stunned and my body freeze. Her left hand caressed my spiky hair from behind, biting my lips and then my neck. I always enjoy when Light dominate me, even roughly. She is very passionate but still gentle at the same time. After awhile, she moaned and released me.

"Because you worried about me...", she continued, "You think it will be challenging for me to have a child if I am too old..."

"And am I wrong to think like that?", I asked her while leaning back to tree trunk behind me.

She also leaned back while crossing her hands, "You are thinking too much, Hope...", answered Lightning, "You are a guy and yet you worried about having a kid more than me..."

"There will be never ideal time to have a kid...", I responded, "Job is always never ending, I have been doing research for so many years...and I missed to see children...it has been thousands of years since last time I see one..."

Lightning was silent after my last words. She knew what I am talking about. Due to destruction of heart of Etro in Valhalla during her fight with Caius, the aging stopped and there were no more children bornt into Nova Chrysalia. That was why Bhunivelze assigned her to rescue souls to be brought to new world. And we have been in this world for more than six years already.

Lightning chuckled, "You are very interesting person, Hope..." and lightly punch my right upper arm, "You never think that becoming househusband while doing postgraduate study will be hard, do you? I only support Valerie and Conroy by my salary, but most of the care need to be done by you...I only worked normal office hour, whereas you need to standby day and night, weekday and weekend...even with Nora's help.."

"It is worthy sacrifice to be made...", I replied, "When watching their innocent eyes and their happiness..."

"Right...and they grew older now...", Light commented while her eyes were watching a running white chocobo passed by in front of our eyes.

"I am thankful for all your support, Light...", I hugged her firm body from beside her and kissed her earlobe. I can feel her firm muscles on shoulders and battle scars on her neck. Lightning's skin is rougher due to scars and bruises she received from battlefields, unlike Serah, Alyssa or Vanille. But I don't mind, as that is what I like about her and she knew it.

She smiled widely and bumped her forehead against mine, "I have been taking care of you since you were 14, didn't I?"

"So now you are free, honey...", I told her that now she has retired, "What would you do next?"

"No worry, Hope...I will find things to do...", Lightning said while raising up and stretched her body, "I hope I can find job that still required physical activity, but less demanding though"