Chapter 22:

"She is fine. She really really just needs rest. I was just curious about when I should be expecting and I use this term in the lay understanding not the clinical one, but the coo-coo bananas sister coming down?" Rosa asked as she cold see Mary just laughing softly at the comment.

It wasn't that she had never thought of Serah in that regard, especially because she knew how ferociously she acted when it came to her older sister. Even if there wasn't a self serving reason behind it because Mary did understand that while she was getting stressed taking care of the family Mary could also tell that she was getting used to it.

"Not for another week at the earliest. She has a few things she needs to sort out first. Several kingdoms looking for loans, one looking for an extension... and a few large companies. Not to mention Porom and Palom's tutors in the sixteen subjects for schools but she is also leading them towards what they want to achieve with their life. Porom was even talking about getting into medicine but was worried about the grades. Palom however was talking about wanting to teach. Specifically science subjects and like his sister he is also worried about his grades." Mary said with a small smile as she shook her head. "It feels just like yesterday that I was trying to steer Serah towards something which was beyond fruitless because for the longest time she had the same ego her Father did when it came to anything."

"Please tell me not in the..."

"No no. Just in the sense that Lightning hates. Namely tossing the family name around. Amongst reminding several kingdoms repeatedly about their debt to the family and that their children should come to her birthday party. Admittedly that was only the kingdoms with princes that she was interested in when she was single." Mary said with a slight laugh as she looked towards the door before just sighing faintly.

"Well that isn't that bad. I guess... compared to what it could have been."

"You've no idea. What you knew of Reginald was only the very tip of a very very large iceberg. And I'm including the video you've seen to the point you are jealous of how Lightning hugged me. But that is something that I'll be damned if I lose now that I have it back. I don't care if I have to end up selling my own countrymen up the river... I will not lose that."

Raising her hand to just stop the tirade from going on any further than it already had, one that Rosa could agree with if she should ever get to that point where Lightning initiated a hug like she had walked in on. She would happily sell every one of her countrymen to the reaper with the exception of Cecil and Kain.

"I doubt it will ever get to that point. And if you've seen what I've seen on those tapes you'd realise how privileged you are for that. But I can't disclose the contents without Lightning's permission and even then I wouldn't want to share it with you. It is all kinds of awful." Rosa said with a smile as she could see Mary just relaxing at the comment. "I'm actually thankful because Lightning still wants me to destroy it and I plan to do it with great zeal." Rosa spoke as she looked into the window as she could see Lightning sitting in her bed as she looked towards Vanille with a look of hurt in her eyes that Rosa recognised well.

"How long are they going to be here?" Mary asked following the doctor's eyes to her own daughter as she just sighed gently "And do you know what is up with Lightning to cause this?"

"Forgetfulness, anxiety... could just be stress. I don't think it is going to be an issue regardless though." Rosa began as she could feel Mary turning towards her shocked. "Lightning tends to try and figure out things first, but she is also aware of the stress it puts you and Serah under and she tends to avoid things that cause it when she knows it. That is why I'm leaning towards saying this was a mixture of anxiety and forgetfulness." Rosa continued as she just sighed and looked towards Mary. "As for being in hospital, they are leaving after breakfast. Lightning's scans came back fine barring some minor concussions. And Vanille's hand was actually worse than I initially thought. She has a minor fracture. But it is a stable one so she'll be fine. In a week she'll have the cast off and a padded splint put on and be fine. She just can't partake in her favourite pastime of writing."

"Is that why Lightning looks like she does right now?" Mary asked as Rosa just took a deep breath.

"Potentially. I asked Vanille to not tell Lightning the truth because in the best case scenario Lightning thinks it is just a sprain and once we get back she will need to spend some time in solitary so we can get it through to her it was intentional... but if Lightning knew that Vanille had intentionally broken her wrist protecting her from herself... I don't know what she would do and I'd rather pretend that it didn't happen. However Lightning is sharp and probably could tell that Vanille is hiding something."

Seeing Mary relax slightly as she just took a deep breath as she was about to ask a question that was clearly a tough one for her. "It is best to be like your eldest and be blunt if there is a question Mary."

The silence was starting to get to Rosa but she also knew that she had to wait for Mary to break it with the question that she had clearly been unsure if she should even ask. "What is the relationship between my daughter and Vanille?"

It wasn't that the question was one that she hadn't been expecting. In fact it had been one she was even surprised it took this long with how Lightning had constantly gone on about Vanille to anyone that was paying attention. Something that at the time had gotten to Rosa a few times but she did understand where she was coming from. Vanille was the first person to care about her for herself that wasn't related to her.

"I can't say. That is something you'd need to ask Lightning about. I can say it isn't anything bad. Vanille really does just care about Lightning to the point of her own harm. And Lightning cares for Vanille deeply." Rosa said with a sigh as she looked towards Mary who had a smile on her features. "I need either Lightning's permission to go deeper or to break the trust she has in me. And I won't do either." Rosa continued as she could see Mary deflating a little.

"What if she doesn't tell me... or worse she starts to rebuff me at everything now."

"You do your daughter an injustice by thinking she'd do anything like that. I don't think Lightning would ever shun you like that. I will say she does give you just as much love as you give her. She, just like you, is unsure how to do it at points." Rosa began as she gestured down the hallway. "If your husband was still alive... that would be a much different story. Something I can tell you feel the same way about. Lightning and you both would have kept things close for all sorts of reasons." Rosa continued as she could see Mary just looking confused. "You need some rest as well, and I doubt I'd be able to convince you to leave. So you can use the on call room. I already cleared it with the doctors. I need to call my head of the orderlies and the other doctors on call in the institute. There was a minor incident earlier today."

"How am I meant to sleep? I know Lightning is going to be all kinds of confused and she looked like she was going to hurt herself."

"I trust that she wouldn't. I like to think I've a good grasp on your daughter and I honestly don't think she will hurt herself, and if she did there is proof the one in the room with her would toss her body in the way to protect Lightning from herself."

"That's good to hear. And will probably let me sleep a little easier... even though I still don't think I could sleep."

"Just try to. It will make her easier even if she doesn't realise it."

Falling to her knees, Lightning could just feel tears starting to run down her face as she felt a presence next to her. She knew what it was going to be. But that didn't make her feel any less hurt that it was going to even be here.

"You do know that she did it intentionally." The voice spoke as she placed a hand on Lightning's shoulder. "Don't take this out on yourself... You know I I loath it when you do that. I loathe you tearing yourself up for other people's actions. You couldn't have stopped her."

Falling onto her side, Lightning could feel herself just starting to curl into a ball as she could see Lumina walking around to face her directly. "I know you like to think that I kick you while you are down... and I know you think you can only cry in here and I mean this pure primal almost crying. But I want you to know that you really can cry out there. Maybe not in front of your mother and sister, but you totally could cry."

"I just keep hurting everyone." Lightning sobbed out as she could see the voice dropping to her own knees to stare at the woman carefully as Lightning just weaved her fingers deeper into her hair. "She won't even tell me the truth as to how much I hurt her..." Lightning continued as Lumina just sighed gently as she began to just gently raise Lightning up so she could rest her head on her lap.

"Because you wouldn't take it well if she did. We both know the only reason she would hide something from you is either it is bad, or she knows you'd take it too hard. And judging by your reaction to dragging me here so you can cry... she is right."

Lightning just wanted to scream but she had to admit that she was finding some comfort in at least a part of her just trying to prop her up at least mentally. But she knew that it wasn't going to work. It was just her trying to talk to her. And she already didn't trust that particular part of herself. While she did have to admit that it had helped her in the past, she also knew that part of her had also done just as much hindering to her. She had really just wanted to cry in peace but she supposed some part she didn't really have access to had thought that she needed the help.

"I'm going to just die..." Lightning said as Lumina let out a sigh as she started to brush her hair out of her face.

"Not for a long long time Light. All that wanted you dead are in fact dead. You are a titan right now and nothing is going to be able to cut you down bar for your own self. And speaking as a part of you... you are so full of shit I'm surprised that you aren't needing to constantly clench otherwise you'd need to be wearing exclusively brown pants." Lumina said as Lightning just looked up at her. "Only three things are going to stop you. A freak accident, time or yourself."

Humming softly the voice just started to stare at Lightning. "You are going to be fine Light. She is just trying to do what I would if I had a body. Namely protecting you. You need to see that. She won't mock you like your Father did when you cried. And while she might try and smother you, she'll at least let up if you just ask her a bit unlike Serah. If you are feeling so bad you are wanting me to comfort you, do yourself a favour and just talk to Vanille. She will be able to give you all you want in your heart and would frankly feel bad if you didn't tell her."

"How am I meant to tell her something like I want to just die because I hurt her enough to not tell me the truth." Lightning said as she could still feel the tears starting to run down as the voice just sighed gently. "I am the cause of so much suffering."

"You are the cause of no one's suffering but your own. You are not the head of the Farrons yet. Your power is just that of a teenager who is prone to accidents that others will lunge themselves into. Now come on. You know I loath the self pity act you put on in here." The voice spoke as she started to stand up. As she did so she reached down quickly to start pulling Lightning up. "I mean see how much has changed in here." The voice spoke as it started to gestured around at the pale green pasture they had found themselves in. "This is largely down to you. You and that red head out there. Your mind is... was largely healed. But this recent dive bomb you've been taking just because a stupid date is coming up. And you've been kicking yourself because you aren't a fucking island like you thought you were. I keep telling you, don't slide backwards."

"You've said that like twice in the last year."

"No you've only slid back far enough to hear it twice in the last year. Frankly that is what is pissing me off. You need to start talking about this stuff Light. If not to your girlfriend, try the doctors. Someone... anyone. I can't be the sounding board for all your issues. I want you to realise that. The only thing holding you back now is yourself."

"It doesn't feel like it."

"I guarantee it Light. It really is the only thing holding you back. That and the fact that you currently are sleeping through if my guess is right, breakfast. And we both know how you tend to react when that happens."

"Okay..."

"Should I wake her up?" Vanille asked as she could see Rosa just shaking her head. "She wouldn't harm me... but you are right shouldn't risk anything." Vanille said softly as she just sighed and picked up a fork and started to poke around at the scrambled eggs. "Kain would kill whoever made these eggs... they are grey and green."

"Yeah sadly that person would be up on his list. Just behind Cecil..." Rosa said as she looked at the chart in her hands.

"Why Cecil? He is such a nice person."

"Long long story, but they've been at each other's throats their entire lives and one day I wouldn't be surprised if they killed each other." Rosa spoke as she flicked a sheet back as she smiled faintly. "The only thing that is stopping them the entire time from doing that is the fact they know I'd be hurt. And from the experiences they've been in since they were fourteen where I've literally saved them to then nurture them back to health to smack their heads together. Funny story that ended up giving both massive concussions. Which was the last time they did anything of the sort." Rosa said with a smile as she could see Vanille just smiling and shaking her head in agreement as if she understood exactly what Rosa was talking about.

"I just hope that one day all it takes is for me to threaten to give her a concussion to make her stop hurting herself like this." Vanille said with a sad smile as Rosa sighed gently as she looked over at Lightning whose eyes had started to flutter open. "And how am I meant to write now?"

"You don't use that hand until you are healed fully. And potentially undergo some physical therapy to learn how to hold a pen again." Rosa said with a smile as she stood up and walked over towards Lightning. "Until then you can write with your other hand. And you are at the nice stage where you aren't used to one why of writing so you can become ambidextrous."

"What?" Vanille asked as Lightning started to sit up right rubbing her eyes. "And Light!" Vanille said as she quickly tossed the fork over and started to swing her legs over to go over to hug her as Rosa gently held her hand up as she reached over and pressed the nurse call button.

"It means you can write with both hands." Rosa said as she looked over as she just smiled at the sight of Lightning relaxing as Rosa gently moved her finger across her face. "How is your head?"

"Hurts still..." Lightning said as Rosa just smiled faintly as she could see some nurses coming into the room. "How is my mother?"

"Stressed and worried about you, but other than that she was fine. I'll go and wake her once you start to get something to eat. Which can wait until these nurses check your vitals. "

"How come it has to be cute girls that get to check her out?" Vanille asked bitterly as she was about to cross her arms before she just winced at the feeling of her cast preventing her from crossing her arms properly.

"It is whoever was at the station that was able to Vanille." Rosa said with a chuckle as she could see Vanille sulking.

"I don't like it."

Author's Note:

And more. Fun fun.