Chapter 7
the next day all was good and quiet tho Lighting didnt get much sleep she couldnt stop thinking how it must have been her fault that Cloud left and it might have been it was a mishap that she attacked Cloud without all the intel of Serah's plan for her as Lighting layed in her bed she thought to herself..'will Cloud be back...is he ok? do I acctually miss him? why am I feeling this way?' suddenly a knock was heard at her door
"Clair? are you awake?" Serah asked sounding exited tho Lighting knew what today was it was the day Serah was to marry snow
"yes im awake you can come in Serah" Lighting says sitting up in her bed as Serah enters the room
Lighting's POV
as I sat up in my bed when Serah enters I have her close the door. I move my bangs out of my face and fix my bra strap and stand up brushing off my pants and strech
"MORNING SIS!" Serah squealed with happiness as she hugged me I smiled seeing her so happy but i wanted to see Cloud but why? I dont know why I just do ok?
"Clair are you ok?" Serah asked I just shook my head and held my head with my hand
"yeah im fine I uh...just couldnt sleep" I explain trying to avoid Serah's gaze
"oh? why couldnt you sleep Clair? is it something I did?" Serah seemed worried
"No no ...Serah its not that...um..have you seen or heard from Cloud at all today? Not that im worried or anything but because we still need to descus the order of our mission." i say avoiding Serah's eyes
"AWWWW are you crushing on Cloud Strife?" Serah giggles I feel myself blush a little but try to avoid the questions on that topic
"N-No I said im not worried its just we have a job to do and we havent decided where to look or find Caius or Sephiroth and I still have a bad feeling in my stomach from last night"
"Clair? is it possible that your crushing on Cloud without realizing it?" Serah says seriously
"N-No...no I dont so go get ready for your wedding i'll see you there" I said with a smile
Clouds POV
I'm walking through the stores of New Bodhum and think of what happened the previouse night when Light felt offended...'did she not like me does she think ALL guys are pigs?..I dont know what to think i never had a girlfriend before...so I wouldnt know what to think or where to start...I heard from Tifa that if you like someone your stomach starts to feel tight and your wanting the urge to smile when your always with that girl...and even tho I felt like that last night I hid it so I didnt over go any boundries and its not like me to smile much anymore..not since all the massacure in my hometown when Sephiroth killed almost everyone but the only survivors was Me...Tifa...and ...my best friend Zack Fair... I shook my head trying to forget the bad memories..so I went out to buy Serah a wedding gift and buy Lighting something but as I was out shopping it became late so I figured that Light and Serah may have fallen asleep so I rented a hotel...as I layed down that night I thought bout Lightings face how cute her smile was ...WAIT did I just called Lighting cute? anyway I went and got the suit I rented and got dressed and headed to the wedding at the N.O.R.A house the next morning
N.O.R.A HOUSE
"is everything ready for the wedding?" Gadot boomed from his loud voice
"yes everythings ready Gadot calm down" Lebread says finishing the cake as Maqui finishes the music on his new invention
"All's set up here Gadot" Maqui hollors
"ALL RIGHT LETS GO!" Gadot shouts
NORMAL POV
Everyone was at the N.O.R.A house dancing and having fun before the wedding Snow was at the tabel wearing a tall and fitted leather suit and Serah was in the N.O.R.A house getting ready as the wedding was going to be held outside of NORA on the beach with Lebread and Lighting setting up
"You look so BEAUTIFUL Serah!" Lebread squeals Serah wore a long white strapless dress with daimonds at her upper chest
"You really do Serah you look lovely" Cloud says standing in the doorway "hope im not late" Cloud walks into the room
"CLOUD!" Serah and Lighting screams as they get up but Lighting blushes trying to remain calm
"yeah sorry im late I got some intel on Sephiroth and Caius from a man outside with Snow name was Noel Kriess and I picked up a few things" Cloud hands Serah a bright purple necklace "im not good at jewlery but Yuel helped me pick"
"Its wonderful thank you Cloud" Serah kisses his cheek
"you have intel want to share?" Lighting says quietly
"yeah seems Sephiroth and Caius are in the place called Valhalla where Chaos roams supream but due to your recent vitory over a year ago Serah some life has streamed into Valhalla its still daul and timeless to Noel's intel but has some mountains in it" Cloud informs
"I see thanks for the info ...we'll investigate tommarow" Lighting see's Cloud staring at her "What?" Light asks stern
"u-uh...sorry you just look so ...beautiful is all" Cloud states with a smile Lighting was wearing a bright pink long strapless dress to her feet with a pink heart in her hair (think of Lightnings dress in FF13 Lightning returns during her performance to reach the pattrion Snow)
"I-I do not" Lighting protests with a faint blush trying to hide it from the others tho failed to hide it
"Sure you do you look more beautiful than Etro herself" Cloud walks over and takes Lightings hand into his to show he ment what he said
"we'll leave you two alone" Serah smiles and takes Lebreads hand and stands up
"NO Serah stay please" Lighting begs
"ok i'll stay for a few minutes" Serah whispers to Lighting "Cloud didnt Snow say you had a tux what happen to it ...did you not like it?"
"no no its not that Serah i got attacked by monsters so its trashed I went and got my SOLDIER outfit to replace it i hope you dont mind" cloud explains "besides there's something else I have for you Light besides the information"
"whats that?" Lighting asked confused. Cloud walks to Lighting wtih his hand behind his back
"here for you Light its for leaving you guys last night and I thought maybe it would cheer you up" blushing after giving it to Lighting
as Lighting opens it to reveal a white and light pink rose corsage to put on Lightings wrist as Lighting stares speechless
"I-Its beautiful Cloud but you didnt..." Lighting gets interupted by Cloud
"of course I did I left you both yesterday without a word" Cloud says sheepishly
"yeah and Lighting was SOOOOO worried bout you Cloud" Serah giggles
"SERAH!" Lighting quickly shouts at Serah as she hides ...as Lighting blushes a crimson read
"sorry to worry you both but i'm ok and you look amazing ...both of you" Cloud says
"we're going to go now" Lebread says as she takes Serah's hand and goes out the door leaving Cloud and Lighting
"hey uh Light?" Cloud asks getting her attention
"y-yes?" Lighting asked trying to avoid eye contact with him since Serah told him she missed him last night
"uh I was wondering...why is it your afraid to let Snow marry your sister Serah?" Cloud says asking seriously
the question takes Lighting off gaurd and she looks at him lost and confussed but play's it off
"I-I dont know what you mean" Lighting says looking to the side
"I can tell you like Snow tho i cant really say you wanna show it ...but I CAN tell that are worried bout Serah...so whats really wrong?" Cloud asks as he sits next to her
Lighting looks at cloud and takes and looks to the ground. "...fine...its because Serah is all I have" She puts plainly trying not to explain
"I dont follow" Cloud says
"...let me start from the beggining...when I was little Serah and I lost both our parents...they said they was going to put us into a adoption center...but I wasnt going to let that happen...so I decieded to take on school and Become C.G.C SOLDIER so I could get my degree's and get enough Gil to get a house and pay our bills and our food and everything so me and Serah would stay together...and Snow wanting to marry Serah made me angery when I first heard the news...to me they didnt understand the situation of what was to come if they married...and after we went to rescue Serah...I thought he was childish and didnt think of anything seriously...but he did everything he could to save Serah no matter what the cost was ...at the end I accepted their marrige...however ...letting them marry makes me feel like im going to loose my last family memeber" Lighting explained sheding a small tear here she was explaining something so deep and personal to Cloud and he didnt laugh or anything it suprissed her she looked at Cloud
"I get it Light...when I was little I grew up in small town called Niflheim...my closest friend was a female her name is Tifa...we grew up there and told everything to eachother...but I left so I could become a SOLDIER to gain more streangth so I could protect her and my family ...to protect everyone I cherished...one day i was given a mission to go to Niflheim with two 1st class SOLDIERS ...one was named Zack Fair my new best friend in SOLDIER and the other was a man named Sephiroth...the man we're going to face...well Sephiroth detroyed my home after finding out what he was ...he was a alien created from janova's cells from a metorite...Zack fought Sephiroth one on one ...but Zack got formly injured and asked me to finish him off...so I plunged his sword into his stomach and chest we fought and he stabed me throught the chest...however i wasnt going to go down not yet...I grabbed the sword in my chest and plunged it deeper so I could get close to Sephiroth and slam him into a reactor killing him then due to the accident in Niflheim I was paralized and the Shinra troops was after me and Zack...but Zack wouldnt let them kill me...he fought thousands of Shinra troop on his own and died protecting me he told me that I was his living legacy ...and in Soldier before our mission in Niflheim...he gave me this speech so what if it seems hopless..if it was me I still wouldnt give up...embrace your dreams and no matter what happens protect your honnor as SOLDIER when he died he gave me the sword I carry now ...but after a few months I had one made like his and gave it the same name as his but plunged the original into the ground where he died for remembering Zacks bravery...then a few years later he came back with the plan to destroy the world...he killed many people and even Zacks girlfriend Aerith ...however I couldnt protect her...and I fought Sephiroth again and I had to cure the sickness in Midgar I found it cause Areith cured me when I was hurt and dying from it however after then I swore to not loose anyone else" Cloud says without looking at Lighting however was trembling in anger and shed a few tears
"besides what does C.G.C stand for?" Cloud asks shaking the dark memories away
"It stands for Caccoon Gardians Corperation" Lighting explains to Cloud
Lighting sat there in silence not knowing what else to say so now she understood why he was so quiet and emotionless "C-Cloud I...i'm sorry"
"forget bout it...I have to go Snow asked me to see him" Cloud stands up and walks to the door when he is stopped by Lightings hand Cloud looks back at her "you ok?" Lighting walks up and kisses his cheek
"th-thank you Cloud...for everything" Lighting says slightly blushing
"N-no problem" blushing trying to keep a straight face "well i need to go with Snow" Cloud leaves with a red face as he runs into Snow
SNOW'S POV
as i'm waiting for the wedding to start I see Cloud comes twords me with his face a Dark shade of red
"YO CLOUD!" I hollor for him to come over as he comes my way I could tell he was blushing "yo you ok Cloud why the blush?" I ask tho Cloud shakes his head
"I just saw Serah and Lighting and gave them pressents but after I went to leave Lighting kissed my cheek" Cloud explained to me
"WHAT?! LIGHTNING DID THAT?" I was so suprised as to what Cloud told me
"mind keeping it down its weird enough" Cloud tells me everything that happened after I bugged him for more details...after a little while music started playing
"SHIT my best man aint here..Cloud would you be my best man?" I begged him worried he'd say no
"I guess...sure I dont mind" Cloud and I stand on the pier as Serah comes into view as I see Serah my heart melts I always knew Serah was beautiful but seeing her now she looked like an Angel sent from Etro herself. I see Cloud stare at Lighting as she walks Serah down the aisle
"you ok Cloud?" I snapped him out of his thoughts
"y-yeah" and I knew then that Cloud liked my soon to be sister -in-law but I had to ask either way
"Cloud do you like Lighting or do you Love her?" I asked as he kept his eyes on her
"I-I dont know all I can say is that when I see her my stomach feels funny and my heart pounds like I ran for mile or like when I fight evil" Cloud explains to me I can tell he may like her more than he says but he'd have to see and find out on his own
as Lighting and Serah comes to the pier Noel was going to be our minister as Serah steps up to me I stare into her eyes
"you look beautiful Serah" I tell her gazing at her beauty
SERAH'S POV
as i'm coming down the pier with Lighting I can see everyone starting at me and I start to feel extreamly nervouse till I see Lighting nod at me letting me know its ok as I walk down with my skyblue boquet I can see Cloud staring at Lighting
"Clouds keeps staring at you Claire" I tell light as we walked
"he's staring at you Serah everyone is" Lighting simply states trying to not look at Cloud
"Do you acctually like Cloud? Claire?" I ask as Snow explained to me earlier that she may like Cloud and it caught my attention
"I'm not sure Serah right now isnt a good time anyway...besides lets get you to that blockhead Snow" Lighting smirks to me
"you look beautiful Serah" Snow tells me I cant help but blush Snow has always been sweet even when i turn to crystal he never gave up to save me
"you look really dashing yourself " I giggle
"are you both ready to begin?" ask's my closest friend Noel he has been a good friend during our time as time travlers to save the timeline
"yes lets begin" I say
NORMAL POV
"we are gathered here today to join Snow Villers and Serah farron together in holly matromony if there is ANY reason for these two not to be wedd speak now or forever hold your peace..." Noel says to everyone but not one answered so he continued" Snow Villers do you and your thick skull (getting everyone in the crowd to laugh) take Serah to be your awfully wedded wife to cherris and hold in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?"
"yes I do... and so does my thick skull" playfully punches Noels shoulder
"Do you Serah Farron take Snow to be your awfully wedded husband in sickness and in health as you both shall live?" Noel looks to Serah
"I do with all my heart and soul" Serah looks at snow
"May we have the rings?" Noel asks as Lighting give him the rings
"You may place the rings on each other" they did as Noel told them to
"you may kiss the bride" Noel says to the two
Snow lifts Serahs veil over her head both smiling at eachother and Snow and Serah kiss eachother lovenly as the crowd starts cheering for the two newly wedds
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I GIVE YOU MR AND MRS VILLERS" Noel says aloud to the croud later at the party Snow dabs icing on Serah's nose as Serah puts cake on Snows cheek as everyone got ready to dance Cloud found Lighting sitting alone and walks over to her
"well?" Cloud asks infront of Lighting
"well what?" she asks not wanting to look Cloud in the eyes
"you ok?...look Snow will protect Serah and she'll always need you...your her family Light her sister" Cloud says with a slight smile
"I know just other things on my mind" Lighting says
"hey...Lighting?" Cloud gets her attention for she looked at him
"yes?" she asks
"would you like to dance? Serah did ask me to be your date an would be upset if we didnt try to at least have a little bit of fun am I right?" Cloud asks holding out his hand it trembling a little bit showing this was way out of normal for him
Lighting smiles and takes his and and nods her head showing she understands
"yes i'd like to dance with you Cloud but know I dont dance" Lighting states firmly
"Good cause neither do I so there is a first time for everything right?" Cloud smiles taking her hand and leads her to the dance floor as we go next to Snow and Serah
"so hows it going?" Serah asked smiling while dancing with Snow
"Its good Serah thanks to you" Cloud smiles as he keeps Lighting close to him but not to close as to not make it uncomfterble
"Thank you for being Lightnings date" Serah smiles
after a while the party had ended and Serah grabbed her blue boquet and as all the girls gathered around girl crazy all but Lighting who leaned on the wall looking down lost in thought when Serah threw the boquet all the girls missed but one who didnt even know she had it
"HEY LIGHTNING" Snow hollers to Lightining
Lightning looks up at Snow taking her out of her thoughts as she feels something on her chest and arms
"LOOKS LIKE YOUR NEXT TO MARRY SIS" Serah says pointing at Cloud who was next to Lighitng eyes closed and arms folded till he heard what Serah said to Lighting making both blush a dark crimsion red
"WE'LL SEE BOUT THAT SERAH NOW GO AND HAVE FUN BEFORE I BEAT SNOW" Lighting said and with that they was gone
LATER AT LIGTHNINGS
"well i'll let you go Lighting i'll be by in the morning to get you so we can go after Sephiroth and Caius" as Cloud truned to leave Lighting but she asked him to wait
"would-would you stay with me tonight...I-I um ... it wont be the same without Serah there" she frowned
"sure if its no big deal with you Lighting i'll take the the couch like I should have" Cloud says but is stopped by Lightings index finger on his lips "yes?"
"u-um...how bout you take my bed...if Sephiroth is THAT strong you need rest" Lighting says with a faint blush
"I'll be ok go get some sleep Lighting ok" Cloud kisses her cheek "sweet dreams" Cloud goes to the couch
"N-Night" says a very flushed Lighting "and Cloud?"
"yeah?" Cloud asks as he grabs the blankets he got the other night from the attic
"Just call me Light..ok?" she winks at him and goes to her room as she brushes her teeth and brushes her hair she takes the pink heart out of her rose color hair and takes off her shirt and gets into bed ready for tommarows search
later on in the night cloud could hear some sort of crying filling the empty house Cloud figured it was nothing but decided to go check on Lighting as he walked down the hall he cracked Lightings door and seen Lighting crying he walked inside and soothed her arm eventually calming lighting down Cloud went to go leave when he heard Lighting "S-Serah pl-please dont leave me...your all i have left" Cloud walked over and soothed her arm again..."I'm here for you Light" Cloud told her walking out the door