A/N:

Oh goodness...this one was really hard to write. I don't even know why. So combine that with sudden bursts of busyness, and you get this awful update. I hope you guys like it...what a struggle.

AND specialspecialspecialspecial thanks to my awesome reviewers :D 18? That's better than last time...I can't even believe it. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D x10000000000!

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I'm sorry for not replying to all you guys...but I want to get you this part as fast as possible! But thanks to all of you :D you're all so nice! And also thanks to everyone who added this to their favorite/alert list!

Disclaimer: Not mine.

All he felt was regret.

And no, strangely enough, he wasn't regretting not kissing her back or not telling her that he cared about her too. It was just…this whole trip seemed purposeless and stupid. Completely regrettable.

Lightning was practically incapacitated on the couch and he couldn't even say it. How much easier could it have been? And he was pretty sure Lightning wasn't too fond of herself right now…that is if she remembered anything at all.

He immediately started packing at that thought, thinking it better to leave now while he still had some sense of dignity left for this whole situation. He was nearly done too, when he heard a knock on the door. Hope left his bedroom and headed towards the front door, but saw that Lightning was already up walking there as well.

"Good morning, Light." His green eyes remained focused on the floor.

Lightning gave him a passing glance and just headed towards the door, opening it slowly to reveal a rather hyper Snow. "Good, you're up Sis! Thought you'd be crashing the whole day you might miss Hope's send off."

Her blue eyes flashed briefly, "Why are you here?"

Snow grinned, "Why? Am I interrupting something?" He walked into the house, big boots tracking in traces of dirt and patted Hope on the back. "Enjoyed your stay in Bodhum, Hope?"

No. "Yeah, great." He gulped, realizing what a horrible liar he was. "I have my bag packed, Snow, so if you want to just take me to the train…"

"Leaving already?" His glance trailed from Hope to Lightning then back to Hope. "…Well Serah wanted to do breakfast first. So here I am to get you two."

Lightning turned around and started down the hallway, "I'll just stay here."

"And miss Hope and Sazh leaving? You may not see them for another four years, Lightning."

She seemed to think about this for a second and then nodded. "I'll go get Hope's bags."

"She thinks you did it on purpose you know."

Snow practically choked on his orange juice but managed to keep everything down. "What did I do?" He glanced briefly towards the kitchen, saw the women were pretty preoccupied, and turned back to Hope. "It was only a nudge. Just a little push. Am I right, Sazh?"

The other man held up his hands, "Hey, I don't know what you two are talking about."

"I don't even know how you guessed, Snow." Hope straightened out his napkin, a little mad at himself for being that obvious about his feelings.

"Light's an open book."

The napkin was suddenly tearing. "What?" Hope's eyes were glowing, shining from his face in complete confusion. "She's an open book about what?"

Snow's voice was even, "Um, you? Isn't that why you two aren't looking at each other?"

"Oh Hope, you didn't." Sazh was shaking his head, "Well I guess we've been in bigger messes so…"

"Hey, hey!" Hope raised his voice but not too loudly to catch Serah and Lightning's attention. "What do you think happened last night?"

Sazh didn't say anything. He simply gestured to Dajh, who was happily trying to make a paper airship from his napkin.

"…she just kissed me."

Snow's eyes widened, "She did? That's actually more than I expected to begin with. So…."

Hope just stared at Sazh and Snow getting tired of all of this. "Look guys…"

"Don't be shy, Hope!"

"I'm not!" Hope saw them look taken aback at his sudden outburst, but he couldn't stop. "It was horrible, okay? This whole weekend has been absolutely horrible!" He glanced back to Snow who was just staring behind Hope, facing the kitchen. Hope turned and saw a stunned Serah and Lightning, holding eggs, bacon, and a giant bowl of oatmeal. The teenager attempted to crack a grin, "…is only something someone crazy would say. It was great seeing all of you."

Lightning dropped the bowl of oatmeal in front of him. "Sure."

But at least her sister seemed more convinced, "That's good, Hope. We'll be sure to invite you back."

Great. He didn't know what was going on with him but everything just seemed completely shitty. Lightning and him were practically not speaking, and he wasn't even sure if it was because she remembered. And even if she did remember, was she mad at herself or at him? Neither was exactly a good option. The first one meant she was probably ashamed, and the second one just made him look like an utter jerk.

Baby Eira was looking at her oatmeal in disgust, and Hope was too afraid his face was making the same expression. He had this whole idea in his head, of what this weekend would have been, what It should have been like. He would see her again, all there old memories would come up, she would realize he's more than just helpless little boy, and he would be able to tell her how he feels about her. That simple. And for a while, things were going that way. At least he thought so.

Maybe I should have listened to myself. Hope started mashing up his scrambled eggs even further. Maybe I should have stayed…

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden splatter of oatmeal in his eye.

"Eira!" Serah immediately stole the small bowl of mush out of the baby's hands and turned back to Hope, "I'm so sorry, Hope."

"It's…okay…it just…." His eye was stinging, "…burns a little. What's in this?" Hope was rubbing the oatmeal away, but it still seemed to make his eye tear.

Serah glanced at her sister, "I think Claire put some cinnamon in it? Why don't you help him wash it out, Claire?"

Lighting stood up, stoically as ever, and left for the kitchen, letting Hope follow. She ran the faucet and wetted a towel, pressing the soft cloth against his eyelid. "Just hold still."

"This awful."

She squinted her blue eyes, "It's really just cinnamon, Hope but…"

"Do you remember?"

Lightning's pressure on the towel decreased, "What?"

Hope took a large inhale of breath, trying to let the pain in his pupil distract from what he was saying. "Last night…do you…"

"All I remember was the awful headache I had this morning."

He just blinked, "Really?"

The pressure returned to the towel. Lightning hesitated a little, "Guardian Corps training didn't exactly cover hangovers."

Hope laughed a little, taking the towel from her hand, "Right of course…" He looked at her faint smile with his good eye. "So we're okay?"

"Is your eye okay?"

He tried to ignore the fact that she didn't answer. "…Yeah…it's fine."

"Good. Finish up eating. There aren't too many trains on Sunday."

Hope walked down the platform, one duffel bag in hand.

"You're still so…"

"Young?" Hope flashed a smile at Sazh, "I know that. …I know that now. There's a lot of time…a lot of people…"

Sazh crossed his arms, "Am I hearing you right, Hope?"

"I…I think so."

"Hey, kid." He looked back up at Sazh's voice. "Just tell her first."

That was surprising advice. "Why?"

"No regrets." Sazh gave Hope a quick hug, patting him on the back and then turned back around. "Say goodbye Dajh!"

The little boy waved then ran away from Snow, Serah, and Lightning, joining back with his father. "Say goodbye to Hope."

"Bye Mr. Estheim."

Hope gave the boy a quickly wave, "Bye Dajh." He had a slight smile from being called 'mister'. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

Snow walked over carrying Dajh's bags, "Me and Serah are gonna show them to the platform. You'll be okay, Hope?"

His green eyes glanced back to where Serah and Lightning were talking, "Perfect."

"Okay then." He rubbed Hope's hair. "See ya, Hope. We're thinking about coming to Palumpolum soon."

"Eira may be a better traveler by then." Serah walked up and gave Hope a big hug, "It was so nice of you to come." Her voice was so soft, as if she understood his regret to the whole trip.

Hope nodded, "Of course. And yeah, definitely come. My dad wants to see you all." He walked away, the dark duffel seemed to get heavier and heavier as he approached Lightning. They were standing across from the train, his attention fully on her and hers completely focused on the shiny machine.

"Goodbye, Hope." She turned and smiled, hesitating for a second before pulling him into a hug. It was short lived though, her grip on him quickly falling before he even had a chance to hug her back.

Hope shook his head and dropped his bag. "Not yet."

She turned back to the train, "I have something to say too."

"Well, let me go first." He grabbed her hand quickly, not giving her time to react and leaned down to kiss her quickly. "You may not remember what happened last night but I do."

"Hope, you shouldn't…"

"Let me finish." He thought he would be speechless, but the words poured out so easily. "It's an ultimatum."

"Ultimatum? Hope what are you…"

"I like you." He was surprised he could still look at her, eyes not retreating to the sky or ground for once. "And not in the 'you took care of me and are my friend way' but more in the… I guess…" He paused, strong voice fading, "more in the 'love' way."

Her face read nothing. Absolutely nothing. And he thought he should be afraid from her lack of facial expression, but it was terrifying him. But he continued. "So I'm giving you the chance."

Lightning's blue eyes seemed slightly dulled, "Chance?"

"To run away." Hope gulped, "Or…I guess…letting me. I like you, Light."

"I know."

Hope didn't exactly know what to say, "What?"

"I know Hope. I knew when you came. I heard you."

She did? What….

"Get on the train."

"But Light…"

Lightning picked up his duffel bag and handed it to him, "Hope…please." Her head went down as the train started to prepare to leave, "Just get on the train."

He took the bag from her, hand running through his silver hair. "Bye, Light."

"Bye, Hope."

A/N:

Yup so that's the end... I hope you liked it!

...

Just kidding guys :D But we're nearing the finale! It may be next chapter...or maybe two. I haven't decided yet. Thanks for reading! And please review!