Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XIII. Square Enix owns it. I do not own anything. Do not sue me.

Author's Note: Sorry for the belated update. Work has been hard and I can get an 8:30AM-5PM shift and the next day I get a 12:30PM-9PM shift. And it's kinda stressin' me out. BUT! Here you go. Story is finally completed. I'm sorry if it's not up to par but it's the best I could do with my job/stress. If I wasn't for Haruka-Chan 212 I wouldn't have completed the story. So... Enjoy. OH! I'm writing a new one soon. It's going to be my version of FFXIII-2. It'll be located in the FFXIII page, not the FFXIII-2 page.

Special thanks to Haruka-Chan 212; she wrote the 'sexy times' scene. THANKS!

Lost Then Found

Chapter Sixteen

"Not talkin' 'bout a year / No not three or four / I don't want that kinda forever in my life anymore / Forever always seems to be around when things begin / But forever never seems to be around when things end / So give me your forever / Please, your forever /Not a day less will do / From you."

- Ben Harper "Forever"

XXXXXXXX

Lightning, Serah, and Snow's Apartment
0850Hours (8:50 AM) – Friday
Two Months Later

"Happy birthday, sis!" Serah exclaimed, jumping in bed with her once slumbering sister. "Get up! Fang and Vanille are here!"

Lightning pulled the covers up over her head and groaned. "Let me sleep some more." It was her day off. Amodar made her take it off. He said it was his birthday present to her. To be honest, she would have rather been at work. "Go away and stop jumping on my bed. You're making me sick."

"Ah, come on, sunshine. Ya gotta get your sexy ass up so we can celebrate," Fang said, appearing in the doorway with a smile. That was a good way to wake up, but not good enough.

"Really?" Lightning groaned again. "I really don't wanna."

Fang crossed her arms, and walked closer to the bed. "I'll get her up, Mini-Sunshine. Go make a pot of coffee or something."

"Alright," Serah smiled. "Make sure she gets up."

"Oh, no worries there," Fang smirked. When she was sure Serah was gone, Fang got in the bed, under the covers and wrapped her arms around Lightning's thin waist. "Get up," She whispered, pushing a lock of hair behind the woman's ear.

"If you think this is gonna get me up," Lightning snuggled closer to Fang, taking the hand used to push the hair behind her ear and locked her fingers with it, "you're wrong."

"If you don't get up, ya won't get my present," Fang said as she rubbed the back of Lightning's hand. "And I think you're gonna want it."

"Blow me," Lightning mumbled into her pillow.

"You'd enjoy that too much, wouldn't ya sunshine?" Fang whispered as she kissed the back of her neck.

"Go away, Fang."

Fang sighed and got up, "fine." The woman in bed pouted at the lack of contact. But she soon found the covers being ripped away from her hands and herself being thrown over the other woman's shoulder.

"FANG! Let me go!"

"If you're not going to get up, I'll dump you in the shower myself."

"Put. Me. DOWN!" Lightning couldn't help but use her fists on Fang's back, her only way of defending herself. After all, she didn't want to hurt her… girlfriend? What were they anyway?

Serah, quickly running into the room, couldn't help but smile when she realized the noise was coming from her enraged sister, who was currently over Fang's shoulder. "Need help?" She asked innocently.

"NO!" Lightning yelled. "She doesn't!"

"Sure, mini-Light. Go turn on the water." It was a demand that Serah followed through with. She giggled and ran into the bathroom, turning the knob to cold.

"You should've gotten up when she told ya to, Claire."

As Fang put her in the shower, Lightning tried her best to hold onto the railing, attempting to pull herself away from the water. "NO!" But her hand slipped upwards, causing her to land feet first in the cold shower. "Damn it!"

Fang smirked while Serah giggled. "You're so sexy when you're wet."

Serah walked out of the bathroom just her sister took her shirt off and throw it at Fang's face. "Bitch…"

Everyone could hear Vanille laughing in the background. Despite the morning so far, Lightning knew she was going to have a good day.

When Lightning finally managed to get out of the shower and dressed a half hour later, she looked at herself in the mirror. She had been in the same position no more than five months ago. Back then she looked at herself in the mirror and noticed how tired and unhealthy she looked. But now? She looks like she did at eighteen. Healthy and glowing.

As she opened the door to go into her bedroom, she saw Fang sitting on her bed. "What are you doing in here…?" Lightning asked softly as she started buttoning up her top.

"Thought I'd wait for my little ray of sunshine," Fang smirked.

"Charming."

"I try."

"Where's Serah and Vanille?"

"They left," Fang stood up and took a few steps closer to Lightning, stilling her hands from buttoning up her top.

"Where'd they go?" Lightning asked softly. Why was her mind not thinking straight?

"Mentioned somethin' about getting' a birthday cake and dinner for tonight," Fang leaned in closer as she started to unbutton the shirt. Their lips grazed together as the shirt came open.

"What're you doing…?" Lightning breathed. Without an answer, Fang pushed her backwards, causing the back of Lightning's knees to hit the foot of the bed. "Fang…" It wasn't a demand to stop, and Fang was thankful. Her lips traveled lower, kissing down to Lightning's neck. Her hands moved to Lightning's bare waist, pulling her closer. She needed to feel Lightning against her.

Lightning laughed softly as Fang pushed her down on the bed, causing her shirt to fall open. Before she had a chance to pull it shut, the other woman put both hands on the shirt, pinning it between her and the bed. Fang smiled as she leant down and placed a much needed kiss on Lightning's lips. She let her lips drift lower, above the woman's covered breasts. Lightning felt the arousal float slowly down to her core. Was she already ready for it? Her mind was telling her yes.

"Fang…"

Just then, Lightning's home phone rang. "Ignore it," Fang demanded, placing another kiss on Lightning's lips before she had a chance to protest. The noise instantly faded from her thoughts. The only thing she was concentrating on was how soft Fang's lips were and how much she needed the woman hovering above her.

"Hey, Light! If you and Fang are together, that explains why neither of you are answering the phone. Pick up! I wanna know what kind of beer you want!"

"Well that just ruined the mood," Fang said as she got off of Lightning. The ex-sergeant groaned in frustration as a shaky hand grabbed the phone.

"What?" She huffed into the phone.

"So I take it I was right?" Serah giggled. "Anyway, what kinda beer do ya want?"

"You know what I drink, Serah."

"Maybe you wanted something special today, instead of that cheap stuff that you always get," Lightning could hear Serah rustling with something in the background. "Anyway I'll let you and Fang finish whatever you were doing. See ya!" Click.

Lightning sighed and put the phone back on the nightstand. "So you're tellin' me she just called to find out what ya wanted to drink?" Fang asked, the woman near her just nodded. She couldn't help but sigh and lay down on the bed next to her girlfriend, who stood up quickly to button her shirt. Fang smiled at that and let out a breath. "Why don't ya come lay down?"

"Why?" Lightning whispered, finishing up the last button.

"Because knowin' Vanille and Serah, they'll be gone for a few hours. We can nap."

After the rude awakening she got an hour prior, a nap sounded good to her. She walked back over to the bed and laid down slowly, Fang's arms enveloping her. The feeling of being held by the woman before her was something she could get used to. They hadn't had much alone time since that last dinner two months ago. She missed the woman's touch, sexual or not. "Sleep tight, sunshine."

"Mhm…"

XXXXXXXX

Lightning, Serah, and Snow's Apartment

1130 Hours (11:30 AM) – Friday

"I can't believe that bakery girl spelled 'Claire' wrong."

"Well, if you think about it, Serah, you kinda went 'eep Claire' because your cell phone vibrated on your boob."

"… Right."

The two giggled and set the groceries on the sink. "Claire, we're home!"

"Where's Fang at?"

Serah's brow rose as the two made their way from room to room to look for the two women. Vanille was slightly ahead of her, about to check Lightning's room. Without knocking, the perky redhead opened the door happily and squealed. "Aw!"

The younger Farron poked her head through the door and giggled at the sight. Lightning was curled into Fang's side – or was anyway, until she shot up at the sound of Vanille's squeal. With an angry look on the ex-sergeant's face, the intruded woman said, "go away!"

"But it's so cute. Why don't you ever act like this around anyone else?"

"I said… Go. Away," Lightning told her sister.

"Never pictured you as a cuddler, sis," Serah said, quickly ducking as a pillow came her way. She giggled and walked out of the room with Vanille.

"You shouldn't throw things at your sister," Fang said as she sat up.

"Your sister needs to learn to knock," Lightning retorted.

"Good luck on that one. I remember one time, Vanille walked in on me-"

"DON'T… wanna hear it, Fang."

"-while I was-"

"Fang. Stop."

Fang smirked, "why? Are ya getting' jealous?" Lightning said nothing. Sure, she was, but would she admit it? No. Fang pulled Lightning down on the bed and held her. "Who'da thought you'd get jealous?"

"I'm not…"

"You are, and it's absolutely adorable…"

"Save it," she pushed her lips into Fang's, taking her by surprise. She soon melted into the kiss, pushing the woman into the bed. Lightning let a small groan escape her throat as her arms slid around Fang's neck. They both completely forgot about Vanille and Serah in the next room.

"Would you two hurry up already? We would like to eat."

Fang chuckled, shifting her weight to roll them over. "So would I." She moved her lips down to the elder Farron's neck, sucking gently on the pulse point there. Lightning let a small gasp escape her as Fang's hands moved lower, caressing the navel piercing.

"Would you two get out of bed already?" Serah's voice came through the kitchen.

Lightning groaned, "five minutes, is that so hard to ask for?"

"It only takes you five minutes?" Fang found herself smirking, earning a glare from Lightning.

"Why don't you shut up and let's find out," she pulled her back down into a kiss, her hands fumbling with Fang's shirt. The dark haired woman pushed her hips into the elder Farron as the shirt half came off.

"Oh, Etro. Gross!" Serah ended up walking into the room, but immediately regretted it. "You should have told me to shut the door!" She walked out and mumbled, "now I need to disinfect my eyes…"

"I'm about to have one less sister here in a minute," Lightning stood up quickly and chased her sister down the hall. Serah looked behind her to see what the noise was and saw her sister running towards her. She squealed and darted off towards the kitchen, and eventually through the back door.

"Claire! You're getting slow in your old age!" Serah called out as she jumped the small railing and towards the beach.

Fang and Vanille followed behind the two sisters, chuckling to themselves as they walked. "Hey Fang. Who is she and where's Lightning?"

"Oh, that's still Light," Fang answered as she finished the last button, straightening her shirt out. "Just a very… very sexually frustrated Light."

"Oh… OH!" Vanille covered her ears, "Didn't need to know that."

"Hey, you asked."

As Lightning caught up to Serah, she picked her younger sister up and started towards the water. "Claire! Stop!"

"Paybacks a bitch," was all Lightning said before she tossed her sister into the freezing cold water, causing Serah to scream loudly.

As Lightning stood there, watching her sister, Fang and Vanille showed up. "You satisfied, sunshine?" Fang asked, knowing Lightning would get the underlying meaning.

"Yes, actually." She smirked.

XXXXXXXX

Later that night, the friends were in the backyard relaxing around the little campfire they had made. Everyone except Lightning, who had just stepped inside to get away from the noise to answer her phone. As soon as she said 'hello', it's like her mind was somewhere else and she went inside. "Who do you think it is?" She all but snapped at the person on the other line.

The rest of the conversation was a bit of a blur to her due to her current blood alcohol level. The moment she hung up the phone she opened up the back door. "Guys!" Lightning called, "Get your asses in here," she finished, holding the phone to her chest. The group of friends stood up and hurried inside and followed Lightning into the living room. "Begum was caught. SWAT raided an underground warehouse."

"Are you serious?" Serah had a big smile on her face.

"Yeah…" Light said breathlessly. "Apparently they've had an undercover agent in Begum's gang for a few months now."

"Alright!" Snow said as he clasped his hands together. "Justice has been served."

"Yeah…"

"You sound disappointed, sunshine," Fang said as she walked up to the woman.

Lightning thought about it for a moment before sighing. "In a way, I wanted to be the one to get him. I mean… he almost did kill me. I guess I wanted revenge."

"Aren't you the lead interrogator? I mean, you have been on the case for months," Sazh said as he took a sip of his soda as Dajh played with Chocobo.

"I am. But it's not satisfying enough."

"So an eye for an eye then?" Fang asked as Snow handed her a beer, quietly thanking him.

"What do you mean?"

"He almost blew ya to bits, so ya wanted to return the favor, didn't ya?"

"Well… no, not really," she mumbled.

"You wanted to torture him?"

"What? No! It's just-"

Vanille hopped forward and shoved a cold beer into Lightning's hand. "Alright! Enough of that good news, now let's go back to celebrating! The capture of Begum and Claire's birthday!"

As the group of friends went outside, Fang spoke. "Now there's no more risk of sunshine getting blown up again."

"Shut up, Fang," Lightning said as she took a sip of her beer.

"Hey, at least one good thing came from that," Serah said as she leaned against her elder sister.

"And what was that?"

Fang grunted, "well. Ya got yourself hurt. And who was there to take care of ya?"

Lightning smiled softly and agreed, her head nodding slightly. "Yeah…"

"See!" Sazh grinned widely. "I knew there was a heart somewhere in there!"

Lightning glared at him. "Who asked you?"

"And there she is…" Snow countered, quickly dodging the full beer bottle Lightning threw at him. He silently thanked Etro that she was drunk. Everyone laughed and shook their head.

"That's a waste, Claire!" Serah commented.

"Yeah, it was," Lightning agreed, "'cause I missed and now I'm gonna go get another. I'll be right back." She turned around and walked towards the kitchen. Fang lowered her eyes and followed, sneaking away from the group.

Catching Begum was probably overwhelming for the elder Farron, and the fact that it wasn't her to catch him probably made it worse. That had been her duty for months and it was ripped from her in a flash. Fang knew that Lightning would get over it soon, hell maybe that night. It was something that Lightning would be happy about Begum's capture later. Then she could go on her life and maybe her and Serah could be a family again.

Fang smiled as she saw Lightning bend into the refrigerator to get a beer. She smirked silently and wrapped her arms around the elder Farron, causing her to jump. "There you are…" she whispered.

"Etro! You scared me."

Fang chuckled. "Sorry about that. Figured you'd want an escort." The blond leaned into the embrace.

"Good," Lightning started, pulling away, "now you can help me."

"Anything for you, sunshine."

"You're so whipped."

"And you're so drunk. It's kinda cute.

"You're lucky I love you," Lightning said as she put the beer back in the refrigerator.

Fang loosened her grip on the woman's sides and turned her around. "Wait… what?" She admitted, she was surprised to hear those words come out of Lightning's mouth. Extremely surprised, actually… It wasn't an 'I love you, Fang' but it was good enough for her.

"I said… you're lucky I love you. I know that… we haven't spent much time together lately but I find myself thinking about you all the time and…" Fang pushed a finger to the woman's lips.

"You talk too much."

"I'm trying to pour my heart out to you and you have the nerve to sto-" The dark haired woman kissed Lightning, pushing her body against Lightning's smaller frame.

Lightning's breath caught in her throat when Fang's lips quickly moved from hers to her neck. The combination of alcohol in her system and Fang's body so close to hers made her feel like she was on fire. "What about the others?" She was barely able to voice through heavy breaths.

"Forget the others." Fang pressed the Instructor against the kitchen counter, raising her left thigh to rub roughly against her center.

And she did. Lightning completely forgot about the people who were by the fire in the backyard. Celebrating her birthday. They surely wouldn't miss them if they stayed inside for a few minutes. Most of them were too drunk to even stand up. "Fang please."

"Please what Sunshine?"

Lightning didn't respond to the question. Instead she sat down the six pack she'd been holding, grabbed Fang's hand and led them both down the hallway. Halfway to their destination Fang's arms wrapped around the slightly shorter woman's waist and picked her up bridal style. "Fang!" When the Pulsian didn't respond to the protest, Lightning leaned in to close her lips around the skin of Fang's neck.

"Keep doin' that and I might drop ya."

The blonde ran her fingers through Fang's wavy hair, allowing her nails to drag along her scalp in the process. "If you'd hurry up." She hissed into the Pulsian's ear. "I've been waiting all day." Truth of the matter was, she'd been waiting ever since their first encounter for Fang to touch her again.

Using her right foot, Fang kicked the door shut once they entered. "You're such a tease." She whimpered when the nails of Lightning's hands traced a path under the back of her shirt.

"You should put me down then."

"Gladly" Fang crawled onto the bed before gently laying her girlfriend on the blankets. "There, I put ya down, now what?"

Lightning couldn't help but laugh at the woman above her. "Come 'ere." She slurred together before grabbing the front of Fang's black tank top and pulling her down against her.

Their lips crashed together in a heated passion that had been building since early that afternoon when they were interrupted by Serah, not once, but twice. Lightning's hands quickly moved from the front of the obstacle to the hem. She tugged impatiently at it until Fang got the hint and pulled away, allowing the Instructor to pull it over her head and throw it haphazardly to the floor.

"Someone's impatient." The brunette chuckled, but allowed the elder Farron to have her way. It was, afterall, her birthday. Hell, even if it wasn't her birthday Fang knew she'd allow Lightning to have anything she wanted, with or without directly asking for it.

The birthday girl just glared up at her lover before snaking her fingers through her wild mane and pulling their lips together once more. This time she allowed her tongue to drag along Fang's lower lip. She couldn't help the moan that rumbled deep in her throat at the taste of mixed alcohol on them. She was only allowed a few seconds to taste before her own mouth was invaded by Fang's strong, nimble tongue.

"Fang please." Lightning broke their kiss first before arching her back slightly off the bed. It was a silent invitation to Fang to relieve her of her shirt. An invitation that Fang didn't hesitate in taking. The Pulsian sat up just enough to allow Lightning to follow her and pulled her tank top over her head. She threw it over her shoulder in the same general direction that her own had flown. Before allowing Lightning to lay back down, she reached around behind her to unhook her bra.

"Please what?" She spoke near Lightning's ear before dropping her lips to the skin just below it and sucking gently.

The blonde's fingers dug into Fang's bare shoulders, as she held onto her for dear life. She fears that with the mixture of alcohol and arousal, she wouldn't be able to hold herself up for long. "Make me yours." She whispered against Fang's ear before turning her head and meeting Fang's lips yet again.

Fang ripped her lips away from Lightning and allowed the tip of her tongue to drag down the slightly salty skin of her neck. She enjoyed being in complete control of the younger woman. Her neck arched away from the blonde when her fingers dug into her spine. Fang took it as a silent command to speed things up. Something she quickly did. She shifted her body further down the Instructor's and sucked one of her nipples into her warm mouth. This caused a soft curse to escape Lightning's lips and her back to arch up, pushing more of her breast into the Pulsian's eager mouth.

Lightning lifted one of her hands to play with the other breast that Fang was ignoring. It only lasted a few moments before the brunette pushed her hand away and replaced it with her own. The sensations were almost too much to handle in Lightning's heightened state of arousal. She'd been denied for too long, and she planned on making up for it that night. Another silent command came as she lifted her hips in an attempt to grind against Fang's thigh. But the strong leg wasn't quite close enough to her.

"Patience love."

"Don't have any." Lightning shifted her weight and rolled them over, now satisfied to be on top. She lowered her fingers to undo the front clasp of Fang's black lacy bra. As soon as the offending garment was out of her way, her lips descended to the already erect nipple. Fang's throaty moan sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine. Instinctively she allowed her hips to grind down against Fang's muscular thigh.

Fang, on the other hand, had other ideas for her and quickly reached between them to undo the button that kept Lightning's shorts fastened around her waist. As she struggled with the button, Lighting's hand moved lower to help Fang discard her own shorts. "Why did ya have to wear these bloody things?" Fang grumbled before forcing herself to sit up completely, causing Lightning to lean back, just so she could use both of her hands.

"Cause you thought they were hot." Lightning's voice slurred some. She succeeded in opening her girlfriend's shorts and sliding her fingers inside. The blonde gasped when her fingers made contact with Fang's dripping center.

"Ah hell." Fang shifted her hands to the waistband of Lightning's shorts and tugged on them. The blonde got the idea and stood up to relieve herself of the rest of her clothing. She remained standing for a few moments, until Fang got the hint and discarded her own clothing.

Lightning laughed out loud when she was forcibly pulled back onto the bed, then pushed into the mattress as Fang straddled her hips. The laugh, however, quickly faded when she felt a strong thigh press against her heated center. "F-Fang.." She swallowed thickly before her hips grinded against the invading leg.

Fang allowed her own hips to slide freely along the top of the Instructor's thigh. Between gasps for air their lips met. Mouths opened and tongues danced freely between the joined lips. Fang made the first move. She barely traced her fingertips down between Lightning's bare breasts. Her back bent and her lips soon started to follow the trail her fingers made. The only difference is they made a side trip to each of the blonde's erect nipples. She spent several moments sucking, licking, and flicking each of them in turn. Each action caused incomprehensible words to spew from the writhing woman's mouth.

"Please Fang."

"Please what love?"

Lightning grumbled angrily at the woman above her before grabbing her hand and moving it down to where she needed it the most. "Oh." Her eyes slammed shut as a new wave of pleasure rushed over her body. "Need…more." Fang obeyed all of her commands. She used two of her fingers to slide away from Lightning's tiny bundle of nerves to push into her heated passage.

It took all Lightning had not to go over the edge right then and there. But none of this was fair in her eyes. She couldn't be the one to get all of the pleasure. Her hand snaked down along her own thigh to reach between their bodies. What she found was the tell-tale signs of Fang's own arousal covering her thigh. She wasted no time in sliding two of her own fingers into Fang's core. She wanted the woman she loved to feel the same pleasure she was feeling. "Light… F-fuck." The brunette woman's breath caught in her throat.

The pair built up a fast, but uneven pace. It wouldn't be long for either of them. Not with all the pent up sexual frustration they felt for one another since their last encounter. The fact that they had been cut off from love twice today didn't help with their fly-away hormones. Lightning's eyes opened as she thought about the others they'd abandoned on the beach. That thought only lasted for a split second before Fang pushed a third finger into her and curled them just enough to hit her most sensitive spot. "So close." She panted against Fang's ear before curling her own fingers. She was a woman on a mission. She wanted Fang to experience her release with her.

Their rhythm began to falter as each of their bodies started to tremble. "Light…Light…" They chanted one another names in unison as their impending orgasms overtook both of them at the same time. Neither one of them stopped the thrusting of their fingers. Both intent on bring the other the most pleasure possible.

"Fang. I-I can't." Lightning gripped the older woman's hand, forcing her to stop her actions as she stopped her own. "Damn." She breathed out between heavy pants for air.

Fang pulled her fingers free of Lightning's clenched walls and brought them to her lips to lick clean. The simple action caused a low moan to escape Lightning's throat. "Happy birthday Light." She whispered just before taking the spot next to the blonde on the bed and encircling her in her arms.

"I love you." Lightning whispered after she turned to face the other woman. Her hand reached up to brush aside sweat matted hair before she leaned in to give her a slow, lingering kiss.

Fang couldn't wipe the smile from her face. It was the first time Lightning had said the three words to her. Granted she'd told her she loved her, but hearing the phrase, was different then hearing it in the middle of a rant. "I love you too Light." She kissed the forehead of the woman in her arms. The woman who'd held her heart in the palm of her hand for ages. "I love you too." She whispered again when she realized the blonde had fallen asleep in her arms.

"Aww! It's about damn time ya told her!"

Fang lifted her head to look in the direction of the doorway. In the doorway she saw a very familiar silhouette. Vanille. "Fuck off Vanille!" She threw the closest thing she could reach in the direction of the door.

"Don't think Lightning would appreciate you throwing her underwear at me."

The older Pulsian groaned loudly before burying her head in the crock of Lightning's neck and closing her eyes. Ignoring Vanille was the best way to get rid of her. "Good night Vanille."

"I'd tell you good night too, but it looks like ya already had a 'good' night." She giggled before closing the door and skipping down the hallway.

"That girl's gonna be the death of me." Fang spoke aloud to herself.

"You and me both." Lightning's groggy voice responded. "Please sleep with me."

Fang couldn't help the chuckle that left her lungs. "Already did that Sunshine."

The Instructor's head popped up and she locked eyes with the brunette. "Go. To. Sleep."

"Gee, I love you too."

"You're hopeless."

"But you still love me." Fang pulled Lightning's body into her own and smiled when she felt the birthday girl sigh with content.

"Yes. Yes I do." She closed her eyes and allowed sleep to overtake her.