I hope i've done well in this chapter, I hope you enjoy this one :D sorry for the wait.

...

For 3 days, Lightning did not speak, and even her fighting was suffering from her strange behaviour. Hope could not put his finger on it because she just seemed so depressed, so lost and he hated to think it but she looked alone. She had tried so hard to avoid him and it hurt him quiet badly, he had to find a way...

...

It had slowly gotten colder, so cold in fact, that the fire they built went out by the early morning. Lightning had awoken to find Hope's teeth chattering while he busied himself with starting another fire.

Lightning walked slowly not minding where she went, she skidded on the ice and landed harshly on her behind.

...

It was in slow motion, he was watching her walking by herself, when all of a sudden she skidded and now on the floor. He started laughing, but when she did not get up he ran to her. Everyone watched as he ran, panic written on his face, smiles of knowing on theirs. When he got there she was on her back, laughing like there was no tomorrow. He stopped dumfounded for a moment before bursting into laughter. Snow, Vanille, Fang and Sazh stood there watching the scene before them. Seeing Lightning smile was a rarity but to see her laughing was just out of this world, and Snow was speechless.

"Serah said she hadn't laughed since before their parents had died. I don't really understand it."

"You never will Snow," Fang sighed, "let's just see what happens shall we?" She pulled out her Lance and started to shovel the snow with its sharp tip. While Vanille plunked herself down, on a random rock. Snow stood staring at them, watching Hope hold out his hand and pull Light to her feet. Sazh patted him on the shoulder and asked Snow to help gather firewood.

...

Lightning grasped the hand outstretched and was unceremoniously pulled to her feet. Her body hit his, and she clung to him, while finding her balance again. Though when she tried to pull away she realised that Hope was would not let go. There was silence around them, and Lightning felt eyes focused on her, the urge to lift her head was a tremendous one to ignore.

Finally, she succumbed and lifted her gaze from his finely chiselled, if not clothed chest, to his jaw, lips, nose and then finally focusing on his eyes. Bright green eyes stared straight through her, her breath caught as she watched his eyes move their gaze from hers to where her lips were and back again.

"Are you hurt?" he whispered, cutting the silence. She shook her head slowly for that is all the action she could muster from her confused and muddled thoughts. They stood like that for a moment, before Hope pulled back a little, kissing her on the cheek and started moving away. Before she knew it she had grabbed his hand and made some stupid excuse that she might slip again, he squeezed her hand and pulled her closer to him. "Now Light, that's a lie if ever I heard one." He smirked "But as you insist I will help you across this ice and snow." His natural smile and humour making her blush, and she playfully slapped his shoulder for good measure.

Lightning paused for a moment, looking at the others sitting around the fire and sighed. However, when she realised Hope was not taking her back to the fire and in the opposite direction, she found herself getting anxious. "Hope? Where are we going?"

"Just for a walk, I want to talk to you." His voice also sounded anxious but determined not to make a scene. She complied because she trusted him, she even... no don't say it!

"Oh ok." They walked for about 10 minutes before Hope let go of her arm and walked forwards a couple metres." This is for the best Claire Farron!"

Without turning around, he pulled out his boomerang and threw it at her. Lightning found herself caught unaware, lifting her Gunblade from its pouch in instinct but was too slow and the boomerang hit her square in the stomach. Although it winded her, she got, breathing somewhat difficultly. Before he could react he was pinned to the ground, Lightning was above him, foot pushing into his Adam's apple. "Explain why I shouldn't beat you into a pulp right now Hope Estheim?"

"Because I am on a mission." he spoke clearly.

"Which is?... To kill me?"

"No, never that!"

"Then why did you attack me?" She was fuming, showing her anger by pressing her boot into his neck just a little harder. "Why did you attack me?"

"Because I wanted to get you angry, to get your full attention, I need you, to understand what I'm saying, without the fog that clouds your judgement when you're around me."

"My judgement is fine, Estheim" anger pulsing through her veins.

"Really?" slipping his hand around her ankle and pulling her down beside him, he rolled so he was above her. Closing the distance between their faces, she opened her eyes to see his face just inches from hers. Heart racing, he smirked, "Do you feel it Light?" she held her breath, watching his eyes move between her eyes and her lips. It felt like she was drowning, warm water rushing around her. she closed her eyes "You don't know how much I want..." and she was left feeling cold.

It was a while before she opened her eyes. Sitting up she looked around, she got up and walked towards Hope. "No Light don't come any closer."

"What?" she was confused, one minute he would not leave her alone and now this. She sighed, "What is your mission?"

"You!" He turned to face her, tears streaming down his face. "I can't do this anymore."

She took a step towards him; he did not stop her this time so she continued to walk towards him until she was a at arms reach. "What about me?"

"I have too... I have..."

TO BE CONTINUED!

So watcha think?

Merry Christmas and I hope you enjoy my Snow themed chapter :D

xxxx