A/N:

Hi guys! Hope you haven't waited for too long! My sport (I'm being vague..) is finally over now, so I was able to finish this! yay!

Oh, I'm sorry for misspelling Bodhum in the past chapter...I will correct it in ch1 eventually, but the switch was made in this chapter!

And a special, awesome thanks to my lovely reviewers :D you guys are great and provide me with so much motivation!! Not only do I know that you guys read it, but you actually like it? That's fantastic!

Disclaimer: ...still not mine.

Hope was lucky he found Sazh along the way. Now that he was here in Bodhum, he didn't actually know where to go. He had followed his mother around four years ago, passing by tourist attraction after tourist attraction, but the actual location of Snow's house was definitely a total mystery to him.

Sazh led him and Dajh down the Bodhum boardwalk and across the seaside landscape deeper into the city. Even though Palumpolum was right by the shore, Hope didn't really go down there too often. He started to regret that. Everyone seemed like they were having such a nice time, wading in the cool rush of waves after burning their toes on the white sand. He felt like running on the sand himself, but that quite possibly be because he wanted to delay this meeting as much as possible. An idea struck him, "Hey Dajh, want some ice cream?"

The younger boy's eyes lit up at the suggestion, but Hope continued, "It sure is hot out. I'll treat."

Dajh tugged on Sazh's arm for approval, but the father immediately rejected the idea. "There'll be food at the party Hope. You can't wait a minute?"

"…Alright then." Hope kicked the air aimlessly, a little upset with his failed attempt at procrastination.

They soon were standing outside of the Villiers' household. It was a nice looking house, not too small or too large, with a small porch fully equipped with one of those white large swings. It was a normal looking house, really; the most standard property Hope could ever really think of. But, in some way, that was just right for Snow and Serah. A couple that had to deal with so much craziness deserved this normality. Sazh ran right up , Dajh right next to him on the front porch. The older man glanced over his shoulder towards Hope, "You coming?"

There was no point in trying to resist now. Hope fumbled up the white steps towards the door and his friends. His head was down-turned, but he raised it remembering how weird that must have looked. What kind of person looks nervous over a baby shower? The last thing he wanted to do was raise suspicion. That would mean he would have to talk about it. Which could mean that other people would find out. "Yeah, go ahead and knock."

Sazh eyed him weirdly and knocked harshly on the door. Hard footsteps could be heard approaching, and soon, the door swung open, revealing a truly ecstatic looking Snow. Unlike Sazh, Snow looked a little different. Older wasn't it…or mature; he still had that same optimistic smile plastered on his face. Hope decided that he just looked more tired, which seemed slightly impossible to him since all of them were extremely tired all the time when they were l'cie. Are babies that much work? He wasn't really looking forward to the prospect yet.

"Hey!" The tall blond man hugged Sazh ruthlessly and then Dajh, laughing, "Boy, isn't it great to finally see you guys!"He gestured for them all to enter the house when he noticed Hope standing slightly behind them. He raised his eyebrows in confusion, "Hey, you. This is a private party."

Hope scratched his head, "Um…Snow…"

"Just kidding" He pulled the teenager into a firm hug, "Jeez, Hope, you're tall."

"I'm still a lot shorter than you." That was most certainly true. Snow was practically a giant to him back in the day, but he supposed the gap between them did diminish a little. "But, thanks for noticing, I guess."

"Four years is definitely too long not to see someone." Snow patted his back and then turned back into the house, "Just think about it. Four years from now, you could be married too."

Hope laughed, "Doubtful." He shook off his sneakers as he walked on to the hard tile floors of the parlor.

"Hey, you never know. Serah was your age when she married me."

Now he hadn't thought about that. Could he really feel so committed to someone at such a young age? A part of him felt like he still had so much growing up left to do before he could ever really reach that step. "She was obviously more mature than I am."

"Eh, maybe." This voice was higher. Hope looked past Snow's broad shoulders to see Serah walking towards them, a small bundle nestled between her arms. "But I don't really think it was my age that made me ready." She smiled and handed Snow the delicate bundle of pink blankets. "I think it was Snow."

The comment immediately made the blond man smile and lean down to kiss his wife's cheek. "Of course. It's all about the right person."

Hope rolled his green eyes in disbelief. Was he really having this conversation now? "Is that Eira?" He moved closer to Serah, eagerly welcoming the change in conversation.

"Mhm. Want to hold her?"

"Oh…I don't…" But the small baby was immediately pushed into his hands. Hope wiggled his nostrils at the smell permeating from the blanket, but was soon distracted by the tiny white person he was clumsily carrying. Eira had sharp blue eyes with rosy, chubby cheeks. She was perfectly bald too, making her look more like a small old person than an actual baby to Hope.

"Good job. A dad in the making!" Snow hit his back harshly, almost causing him to fall forward. "I'm going to show Sazh and Dajh their room. Be back!" He waved off and headed deeper into the house.

Serah fell back on a nearby chair, looking exhausted, "I thought trying to figure out my focus was hard, but really…" She gestured back to the baby, "She's a little bit of a handful."

But the baby was just laying there, looking at Hope rather curiously and blowing small spit bubbles from her drooling mouth. "She seems so calm."

"She's lovely now. And don't get me wrong, she's everything I ever wanted, but just wait for it." Serah wiped small beads of sweat from her brow and let out a large sigh, "Lightning should be here soon. I wonder what's keeping her…"

That's when the door knocked, causing Hope to immediately jump and Eira to break out into massive crying. Between his racing heart and the now screaming baby in his hands, Hope's mind couldn't think straight. He looked to the door and then to the baby, then back to the door, wondering which he would prefer to face more. Luckily, Serah made the decision for him. "I'll take Eira. If you could just get the door? It's probably just my sister." Her nose crumpled a little as she took the baby. "Shhhh…someone's a stinky-winky…"

Her voice was soon disappearing as Serah left the front parlor, leaving Hope alone. With the door. With the person behind the door. Maybe I can just wait. But that plan soon left his mind. The knocking was loud and quick, and soon there was a voice. "Serah! Snow! Open up! I can't exactly …"

He swung the door open before he could think anymore about it. Hope imagined his breath dropping, or maybe even his legs falling to bits at the near sight of her. He pictured his heart throbbing so strongly it would make his chest hurt and eyes swell, but none of those feelings were currently occupying his body. Hope, strangely, only felt calm standing in front of her. He felt safe, which was a little weird because he wasn't exactly in a dangerous situation. But that was really the only word he could use. Maybe I'm over her.

The thought made him happy, knowing that would only mean less disappointment for him in the future. Lightning wobbled in through the front door. She was taking her time, carrying a large cardboard box that was blocking her front view. Or maybe it's just because I can't see her.

"Snow, don't just stand there." She pushed the box into Hope's hands without even looking and wiped her forehead. "For a cake feeding less than 10 people, it's pretty…" He couldn't exactly see her reaction. But her wavering voice did scare him a little. "…Are you?" Lightning reached for the box again, taking it away from Hope's face and placing it on the floor next to them. "…Hope?"

Her blue eyes gleamed at the sight of him, and she immediately smiled and dragged him closer to her, "Look at you!" She pulled his head to rest against her shoulder, which hurt a little since now Hope was a little taller than her. But he certainly didn't mind this position. His cheeks rubbed softly against the faint pinkish hue of her hair, and he felt so…so…

There it was. The wobbly legs, the rush of blood, the dry, cracking feeling piercing his throat. He was not over Lightning Faron. Oh no. Hope pushed her away gently and took a step back, "Hey, Light."

She was still smiling, which got to him a little. Is she really that happy to see me? Her smile became contagious. "I thought you weren't coming."

"What gave you that idea?"

Lightning's smile faded, "The fact that you never really RSVP'd." She picked up the box from the floor and walked further into the kitchen.

Hope could only follow, "Four years is a long time not to see anyone." He found himself quoting Snow.

She nodded slowly while placing the tall box on the counter. He couldn't help but keep his green eyes targeted on her, making him feel like some creep. But she's just…

At 25, Lightning didn't really look a day older than when she was 21. Her skin was still incredibly pale, but framed wildly by her pink-blonde hair. Her blue eyes stood out clearly on her face, drawing most of Hope's little attention. The only thing that really seemed different about her was her clothes. He hadn't really seen her in anything else besides her Guardian Corps uniform, and she wasn't exactly wearing anything that fancy now, only a tan skirt and black tank top. But it still made him feel flushed. "Yeah it is." She crossed her arms and leaned back on the counter, staring at him.

Why is she doing that? But he didn't want to let his mind wander that way. "Um…is there anything to drink?"

"Sure." Lightning turned from the counter and walked back to fridge "You want water? Juice? Soda?"

"Give him a beer, Sis." Snow walked from the stairs towards the giant box. "Thanks for picking up the cake by the way."

Hope waited for her to yell at him about her nickname, but Lightning surprisingly didn't say a word about it. I guess it's true now. "I can't give him a beer."

The teenager walked closer to her. It was weird to him that he was taller, "Actually that sounds good."

"But Hope…"

"What?" Snow went through his own fridge and handed him a bottle, "He's eighteen, Lightning. It's perfectly legal." The tall blond cracked a smile and touched her shoulder, "Looks like the little hero grew up, huh?"

Hope turned away at that and took the bottle willingly. He waited for Lightning to respond, but she didn't. She didn't say anything at all, and her gaze was completely directed away from him. After what seemed like a more than generous pause, she finally spoke, "I should talk to Serah…" and left the room.

A/N:

*yawns* so sleepy...and it's not even that late. just wanted to get this part out for you guys! I'll get started on chapter 3 tomorrow :D

hope you enjoyed! (seriously. no pun intended...i used to say it all the time.)

-ASX