Another little time skip between the last chapter and this chapter. Maybe like a week or so. That's it. This will be the last chapter to this story. The third part is under construction. Date of release: unknown. I'm focusing on other things in my life at the moment. Working on a Glee story, playing video games, and working non-stop. Plus I've been out with my friends a lot lately. Go me! I've got a life! Well...kinda lol

Thanks for following this story guys, this has definitely been a roller coaster ride.


The Simple Life
Chapter 15

"Have you finally lost your mind Serah?" I felt my anger begin to boil inside.

"But Claire?" Tears began to well up in her eyes.

I let out a heavy sigh, "Serah…does Snow know you're even asking this of me?" I didn't give her a chance to respond before speaking again, "do you even realize what you're asking of me?"

"Yes, I do. And yes, he does. This was the most logical solution we came up with. And that's why him and Fang went to do something else, so they could talk about it."

"So is everybody going to be in this against me? Am I going to be outnumbered by everybody until I finally give in?"

The tears finally broke free of her eyes, finding their way down her pale cheeks. "It's not like that Lightning-"

I raised my hand to cut her off, "What about the strain that would put on my body? Even though I'm up for an instructor position in the military doesn't mean I plan on taking it easy." The questions continued to flood my mind. What she was asking of me was ludicrous. "If you think, for one second, that I'd sleep with that meathead, you're even crazier than I thought."

A small smile broke through, along with a soft laugh. "No…it would be artificial insemination Lightning."

"I don't care. Having that oaf's child would probably kill me, just like it would to you…" I bit my tongue quickly as the words left my mouth. I saw the expression fall from her face. "Serah I didn't…"

"You're right, it might have, but at least I was willing to give the person I loved something he so dearly wanted." She stood up closer to me. She never did back down when we fought, I think that's why her and I remained so close over the years. "Not like a certain sister who said she'd do anything in her power for her only living relative."

"Serah-"

"No, let me finish. Last time I checked Light, you're a woman. Women have babies…some of them at least…but you promised me when mom and dad died," she bit her tongue for a moment, obviously reliving the details, "and I quote, 'Serah, it's just you and I now. And I'll do anything in my power to make sure you're happy. Anything at all, regardless of how crazy it might seem.'" She paused for a moment while I, too, relived the memory. She can never remember what she ate for breakfast the day before, but she remembered words that I spoke to her nearly ten years ago.

"Yea…I remember," I looked away from her, "I still have to think about it though Serah. This isn't just a simple 'Will you buy something for me?' This is major Serah…"

"But you'll think about it at least?" There was a small ray of hope that lit up her face.

"I said I would." I turned toward the door, "I'll call you later, I have to get in touch with Fang."

Even though I knew the decision was all on me. Everybody told me it was all on me. I still needed to discuss it with someone. That someone, was Fang. The woman who was to be my wife in three short months. I smiled softly at the thought. But, if I were pregnant, how would that change everything? Then, there was always the chance I'd become so attached that I wouldn't be able to give the child to my own sister. She'd be the only reason I was doing it.

I can't see myself as a mother. But, what mother can ever see themselves as one until they are? I don't think I'd make a good mother. The option of ever doing this again would be just out of the question. Once wouldn't kill me, would it? It would be for my only relative. I'd just have to tell her to never ask me for anything ever again.

"Enjoying yourself sunshine?"

I jumped at the sound of her voice. I was so lost in my own thought that I didn't even hear her return home from her day out with Snow. "How did your lunch date go?"

"Aww, are we jealous?" She chuckled before leaning over me for a soft kiss.

I gratefully returned it before glaring at her, "Of him? Never."

"And how did the meeting of the Farrons go?"

"Why go into detail? You already know what she asked of me," my voice became soft. I stood up from the dining room chair, "I need a drink."

"Enjoy it while ya can darling. Once you're pregnant, I'm not allowing any alcohol in this house."

"Who says I'm going to say yes?" I pulled two small glasses from the cabinet, placed a few pieces of cubed ice in each before filling them with whiskey.

She chuckled. "Thank you." She took the glass from me and took a long drink before leaning back on the wooden chair. "It's Serah, Claire…You're going to say yes to it. You'd give your right arm to her if it would benefit her somehow. Besides," she put her glass on the table and scooted her chair closer to me after I sat down, "you're going to make one fucking gorgeous pregnant woman."

I couldn't fight the blush that rose to my cheeks. The first gulp of the strong alcohol forced down the awkwardness though. "What if I suffer from what Serah suffers from? Her doctors said it's hereditary." I quickly downed the rest of the whiskey and stood to refill my glass. Drowning away my confusion, one of the only ways I knew how to deal with it. I had already made my decision. In all actuality, I made the decision when I originally told her I'd do anything for her. I meant what I said all those years ago. But now, I just had to come to terms with it and accept it.

"Getting drunk isn't going to help ya."

I lifted me refilled glass in a mock toast to her. "It will for tonight at least." The glass met my lips and another gulp was downed. Followed by a heavy exhale of the breath that was trapped in my lungs. "It will just kill her if I can't carry the child Fang."

"I'm sure you can. Just look at how well you take care of yourself." I watched her stand up and take the bottle from my hand, then she grabbed that same hand to lead me into the living room. "I know she's your sister and all, but Serah's not as physically fit as you are."

She did have a point. Serah liked to indulge herself in fattening, sugary sweets on a somewhat regular basis. She was just as bad as Vanille was with the cakes and candies. Whereas, I never touched the stuff. My only downfall, whiskey. "I guess." I curled up in her arms as she grabbed the remote for the radio to turn on music to fill the void between our words. "What if I become attached to the child?"

"You won't."

"How do you know?" I sat up to look at her. That and to take another drink from my glass.

She pushed the bottle away from me before I could grab it to refill my empty glass. "Because you'll continue to tell yourself that it's Serah and Snow's baby." I cringed at the though. "That's what I thought. Just remind yourself that it's Snow's child. That will keep you from getting too attached. Besides that, you'll always be able to see little Snow Jr."

Again, I cringed. "I promised her I'd do anything for her. Anything that was within my power."

"You should have worded it better dearie." She finished off her first glass before turning to place a kiss on my forehead.

"What about our wedding?"

"I don't think it'll interfere. You'd only be a month or two along, if you even conceived by then. It wouldn't alter your dress at all." I sighed softly. "It might alter your mood some."

"What's that suppose to mean?" I pulled away from her, moving to refill my glass.

"Honey, you're an emotional roller coaster as it is. It's going to get worse when you're pregnant."

"I am not," a sigh left my lips. I was already well aware of how my emotions ran. I just didn't need her reminding me of it.

"Claire…" She tried to take the glass from me before I could drink it. "You know you drink too much right?"

I slid onto her lap, straddling it as I faced her. "But you love it when I'm drunk." I trailed my lips along her neck, my hand sneaking down to hers to fetch my glass. "I need to be drunk when I tell Serah that I'm going to do it."

"Fine…two more, then you're calling her." She gave in and began to enjoy her second glass.

"Are you jealous that I cans out drink you?" I shook my head to clear my thoughts, the whiskey's alcohol content was already starting to catch up to me.

Fang just smiled and shook her head at me. "You've had more practice, love."

"Will you still loves me when I am a fat cow?" I finished off yet another glass.

"You won't be a fat cow." She filled up my glass one last time. "Last one, then you're calling Serah. And I don't want you to drag it out either, finish it like you did the others. You're in such a rush to get drunk."

I glared at her. She knew me all too well. I would have dragged out this last glass, just to avoid calling my sister. "Fine." I raised my glass to hers. "Bottomsh up." I cleared my throat before downing the entire glass. "Give me the phone, before I shange my mind."

"You're cute when you're drunk sunshine."

"Shut it." I scrolled through my contacts list until I saw Serah's name. "Her goes nothing." I hit the green button and lifted the phone to my ear.

After the second ring I heard Serah's voice on the other side. "Hey Light."

"Hi…" I took a deep breath to gain my composure before speaking again. "I have to make thish ssshort."

"Have…you been drinking?"

"Yesh...I needed to relash. I thought abut it."

"And…?" I could hear the tone in her voice. It was blank.

"I'm gunna do is…it…yea…it."

I could hear her excited squeal on the other end. Before she had a chance to respond I hung up. I'd deal with her sooner or later, face to face. Right now I had other things on my mind. There were two things that helped me relax. Alcohol, and sex with the most beautiful woman in this known world. I tossed the phone to the other side of the sofa before snaking my arms around Fang's neck and kissing her passionately. I needed to enjoy this day. It would quite possibly be my last day of freedom for several months.

And this will give you an idea of what's to come in part three. Keep an eye out for it.

Don't forget to review.