Chapter 7

As Lightning and Serah was still in their embrace, a knock came from the door - breaking them out of their own little world. Lightning felt Serah jump a bit from the sound of the knock and saw that she had a look of utter fright on her face. Lightning placed a hand on Serah's chin and tilted her face up towards her and gave her a light peck on the lips. Serah immediately felt herself becoming relaxed from Lightning's comforting kiss.

"Claire," Serah whispered when another series of knocks came from the other side of the door. Serah reluctantly released herself from Lightning's grip and went to the front door.

Once Serah opened the door, the sight of Snow's tall, broad body came into view. In one hand he was holding a bright arrangement of flowers and in the other hand was a box of Chocobo-shaped chocolates. He was smiling from ear to ear. "Serah, baby!" he joyfully said as he wrapped his large arms around Serah's petite frame. "I missed you so much," he exclaimed as he handed Serah the gifts. "Here, I got these gifts for you baby. I hope you like them," Snow said as he placed a kiss on Serah's lips. Lightning felt her legs suddenly become weak - she had to steady herself against the door frame.

Serah looked at the beautiful bouquet of flowers - they were her favorite flowers.

"I asked Fang to go fetch them for me, since she knows where all the good flowers are on Gran Pulse. She was a bit…angry at first, but once I told her I was gonna pay her and that they were for you, she gave in," Snow chuckled while rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh yeah, do you like the chocolates?"

Serah looked at the box's cover where an adorable Chocobo was hugging a piece of chocolate that looked exactly like it. It was cute and Serah couldn't help but smile at the picture. "I think it's cute," she admitted.

Lightning stood silently at the door as she watched the events unfolding before her. In her mind, she felt that maybe it was best if Serah remained with Snow. Something inside her told her to let Serah go, but another part of her told her to fight - to fight for Serah for all she's worth.

Snow then turned towards Lightning with his face beaming. Lightning froze at once as their eyes made contact with each other. She knew it was impossible for Snow to ever know the truth just by looking into her eyes, but her guilt made it feel as if he could know everything with only one glance into her guilt-ridden soul. Lightning immediately averted her eyes away from Snow's - not even wanting to take the chance.

Snow walked towards to where Lightning was standing. "There's my sis!" he cried out cheerfully. "What are you doing standing all the way over here? Did you think I wasn't going to get my own sis anything? Of course not!" Snow exclaimed as he pulled out a little charm of a gunblade.

Lightning noticed it looked exactly like her own gunblade.

"I asked them to make a replica of your gunblade and they did! I thought maybe you would want to put it at the end of your gunblade or something. I don't know…" Snow trailed off as Lightning remained silent. "I thought it would be cool looking," he finished.

Lightning took the charm from Snow. "Thank you Snow. It's awfully kind of you," Lightning said softly, as her guilt stung at her conscience.

"Ah, it's the least I can do," Snow modestly said. "After all, I owe you a lot for allowing me to marry Serah," he said as he placed a hand on Lightning's shoulder.

Serah looked at what was happening and felt the same guilt Lightning was feeling at the moment. Serah caught a look of shame cross Lightning's face. Now Serah wasn't so sure if she had the heart to tell Snow the truth.

They sat down to breakfast that Serah had whipped up, but Serah and Lightning were the only ones barely touching their food. While on the other hand, Snow was eating voraciously. He had obviously gotten over his food poisoning. Serah and Lightning caught glances of each other as they sat from each other across the table. Lightning wondered if Snow could even slightly detect the tension in the air, but judging by the way he was eating, he had no idea what was going on.

Serah felt her body becoming more tense with each passing moment. She knew it was now or never - she had to tell Snow the truth - she had to. Serah looked towards Lightning trying to tell her now was the time to reveal their relationship, but Lightning was still looking down at her full plate of food.

Lightning could feel a heavy stare on her, so she looked up and locked eyes with Serah. There was a determined look in her eyes and Lightning immediately knew what she was trying to tell her. Lightning felt torn between the situation. She wasn't sure if now was the best time to tell Snow - not after he just lavished them with gifts.

Serah saw doubt in Lightning's eyes, but felt compelled to follow through her made up mind. Serah tried to build up courage before she spoke, "Snow," she said in a mousy voice.

Snow couldn't hear her over his noisy chewing and swallowing, so Serah said louder, "Snow!"

Snow immediately stopped chewing and gulped down his mouthful of food loudly and turned towards Serah. "Yeah? What is it babe?" he asked.

Lightning felt her chest become constricted with anxiety. This was it, she thought. No matter what, I'll back Serah up. Lightning then braced herself for the worst.

"S-snow," Serah stuttered as Snow continued to look at her with a smile on his face. "There's something we need to talk about."

Snow looked up at Serah with a piece of bacon dangling from his mouth - he gobbled it up before he said, "You can tell me anything Serah. After all, I am your husband," he aid and smiled.

Lightning saw Serah flinch at the word husband and saw a look of guilt flash across her face. Lightning felt nauseated at the position she had put Serah in.

Serah took a deep breath as she readied herself for the expected lash of anger from Snow. "Snow, I think we should get a divorce." Serah looked away quickly - afraid of seeing the hurt on Snow's face.

Lightning immediately turned her eyes towards Snow, but didn't see any emotion on his face. Snow neither frowned nor cried at the news - he only sat really still with his fork gripped tightly in his palm.

Serah gathered up the courage to stare straight into Snow's eyes, only to see him returning her stare with no emotion. Serah froze at the emptiness reflected in Snow's usually vibrant eyes.

After a few more moments of eerie silence, Snow spoke in a hushed whisper. "Just answer me one question Serah," Snow began as his grip on his fork became evidently tighter. "Why?" Snow finished with a look of sheer bewilderment and sadness plastered on his boyish face.

Serah hugged herself as she tried to shield herself from the sadness oozing off of Snow and hitting her heart with ferocious force. She couldn't stand to see Snow in such a broken state. "I-I," Serah could only utter under the crushing stare of Snow's sad eyes.

Lightning couldn't stand it any longer - she had to save Serah from all the burden of telling Snow the truth - after all, she was just as much responsible for Snow's sadness as much as Serah was. "Because of me," Lightning answered for Serah.

Snow immediately swiveled his head in Lightning's direction - he looked completely confused. "Because you made her want to divorce me?" Snow questioned, trying to make sense of the whole situation.

Serah was looking at Snow and Lightning back and forth, too confused and scared to step into the conversation.

Lightning wasn't one to bullshit so she spoke bluntly, "No, because Serah and I are more than sisters. We are lovers and there is no longer room for you in Serah's life."

Snow's brow wrinkled in confusion and his mouth frowned in disgust at Lightning's words. "Lovers?" he said his voice cracking a bit. "You're joking, right?" With each word he was becoming more and more hysterical. Snow was now looking at Serah - the question more than likely directed more towards her than Lightning.

Serah could only lower herself into her chair from the tone of extreme anger emitting from Snow's voice.

Lightning piped up again to divert Snow's attention from Serah - this time she tried to be much more sensitive to Snow's feelings. "Snow, I want you to know that this isn't what either of us wanted. Please, don't think we did this to you intentionally - it just happened." Lightning could see tears forming in Serah's eyes as she continued to look down - trying her best not to make contact with Snow's eyes.

Snow looked positively irate. He stood up from his chair and slammed his fists into the table, causing Serah to shake from the sudden loud noise. "I won't have any of this!" Snow shouted - he was now hunched over the table - his face a few inches away from Serah's. "Why did you marry me if you knew you were going to fuck me over like this?" he screamed into Serah's face - rage contorting his entire face.

Serah could only stare fearfully into Snow's eyes as tears streamed down her own. She opened up her mouth to respond, but nothing came out.

Lightning stood up and walked over to Serah's side - she was afraid Snow was going to strike her at any second. "That's enough Snow," she firmly said. "I already told you everything. There's no need to shout at Serah. If you can't control yourself, then I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Lightning sounded more brave than she felt. She knew if Snow unleashed all of his fury on her, she would probably not stand a chance against his monstrous frame.

Snow scowled at Lightning and darted his eyes towards Serah. "Fine," he said with his teeth clenched tightly. "Then I wish you two nothing but happiness," he said sarcastically as he stared down Lightning. He then stomped his way towards the door and slammed it behind him. Serah was now crying uncontrollably as Lightning firmly placed a hand on her shoulder and comfortingly squeezed it.