Decided to skip some time between chapter 11 and this chapter. About two months worth of time is skipped. I did it simply because I didn't want to draw out 2-3 chapters of boring filler.

This chapter turned out to be a pain in the ass for me. I had about 600 words written, then scrapped the entire thing and rewrote it. Not as long as the usual chapters, but bare with it k?

Oh, and thank you as ALWAYS :D to Baby Capri 1990 for proofing this for me.

The Simple Life

Chapter 12

I sat along the back wall. In the last month or so, so much had changed, and the more I thought about everything, the less I was able to focus on Fang teaching her class. Fang and I spent so much time working on this new business of hers. It flew off the ground once we finally got the doors opened. Classes were already booked solid for the next three months. New clients were calling daily, having heard from friends at what kind of solid teacher Fang was. I knew she would be amazing.

Based on my calculations, by the end of the month her and I will have earned back our initial investment. Self defense was in high demand. Especially since, over the past year, the city of Bohdum's crime rate had nearly doubled. People wanted to know how to defend themselves from any kind of attacker. Men and women joined at nearly an equal rate. More women though. That didn't surprise me.

We had an arrangement between us. She took care of meeting with the new clients, and teaching the classes, and I took care of the paperwork and finances. So far it's seemed to have worked out nicely for us both.

As my mind wandered, I started to think about my sister. She's been depressed beyond belief lately. Her and Snow got pregnant again, and then, two weeks later, had the same complications as the first child. I accompanied Serah to her appointment this morning where the doctor confided in her that she was likely to never be able to carry children. She was prone to Ectopic Pregnancies. She was devastated. Hell, I was devastated for her.

I stayed with her until she fell asleep. Then I made both her and Snow dinner and sat in the living room until he returned home from work. He had thanked me before walking into the bedroom to talk with Serah. Once he was out of my sight I took my leave. I no longer needed to be there. He was there to protect her now. Even with how much I hated him and never wanted him to be a part of our family, Serah loved him. I'd come to accept that he was my brother-in-law. Did I like it? Hell no! But I accepted it.

I made sure to tell Serah, before she fell asleep, that if there was anything I could do for her, that she needed to let me know. She just smiled and thanked me. As she had always done while we were growing up. Serah was the more modest one of the two of us.

"You in there sunshine?"

I snapped out of my thoughts when she waved her hand in front of my face. "Yea, just thinking."

"About Serah?"

My hand latched with hers as I stood up and we walked for the exit to bid farewell to the last few people who were leaving for the night. "That's all I can think about. Fang, you didn't see her face today. You didn't hear her voice when the doctor told her she can't have children."

"See you ladies Thursday." Fang smiled politely at the two older women who were the last to leave before closing and locking the front doors. "How did Snow handle it?"

We both made our way back to the office to grab our things and finalize paperwork for the evening. "I left once he got home. I knew she'd be okay once he was there."

"See, I knew ya liked the blockhead."

"Shut up, I do not like him," I sat at the desk, soon hunching over some files for the people attending class tonight, "I tolerate him, there's a difference Fang."

"You're stressing too much darlin'. Just relax."

I did just that when I felt her strong, nimble fingers work on the tense muscles of my shoulders. Before I could stop it, a groan rumbled from low in my stomach and I put my head down on the desk. "Stop distracting me."

She laughed softly, yet didn't stop massaging my shoulders. "How about I give ya a full massage when we get home?" I nodded. It sound like a wonderful idea. I needed it. I needed her to just be there with me, reminding me that in the end, everything would be alright. I knew, deep down, that everything would be alright between Serah and Snow. But I also knew how much they wanted to have a child. "I'm sure they'll try to adopt ya know?"

I glanced up at her and smirked softly. She always seemed to be able to read my mind when I was thinking too much. "Serah's always wanted children. I remember when we were kids, she'd steal all of my baby dolls, and take care of them simply because I never did."

"You had baby dolls?" She covered her mouth, bursting into laughter. It was obvious she was trying to imagine a tiny me dragging around some doll behind me.

"Shut up Fang. Our parents were trying to make me into a perfect little girl." I filed the last of the folders and stood up, reaching for my coat. "When they passed, I became a mother on top of being a sister. I had to take care of the both of us." Subconsciously I leaned into Fang's arms when she took the coat from me and put it on my arms.

"They're proud of you." My eyes fell closed when she rested her head on my shoulder and placed a warm, loving kiss on my neck.

"Oh yea, they're youngest daughter is married to a meathead. And they're oldest daughter is gay."

"You don't have any complaints." She pulled back to give me a mock hurt look.

I rested my hands on hers and just smiled. "No, I don't have any complaints. Especially when it comes to the fact that I, too, am getting married shortly."

"Claire, they're happy that you both are happy. Just remember that." She knew my parents were a touchy subject with me. But she always knew how to make me feel better. To feel more relaxed. "Come on, let's go home before it gets too much later."

I nodded and we left the building. My arm automatically looped in hers after she locked the back door behind us and we began our short walk home for the evening.