Chapter 9

"Will you marry me?" were the words that came out of Lightning's lips. Serah froze from the unexpected proposal from Lightning - her mind had a hard time processing the question. All Serah could do was stare at Lightning with a dumbfounded expression graced on her face.

Lightning fidgeted under the awkward silence that befell between the two of them. Her heart was racing and her mind was scolding her for asking such a stupid question. Idiot! Her mind yelled. You did not just ask Serah to marry you after she just got through telling Snow she wanted a divorce!

"I-I know I really didn't do this right," Lightning started. "I know I didn't get down on one knee or present you with a ring or anything, but I-I…" Lightning didn't know what to say to make up for blurting out such a stupid question. She was really starting to regret asking it in the first place.

Serah remained paralyzed as Lightning rambled on about how she messed up popping the question. All Serah could think about was the repercussions if they ever did decide to get married. What would their friends say? She thought. Would they support them? Or would they be shunned from their own community? Worst, how would news of their marriage affect Snow? Question after question barraged Serah's mind until she couldn't stand it any longer.

Lightning was still going on about how much of an idiot she was for even proposing to Serah. Serah stopped her rambling by placing her hands gently on the sides of Lightning's face. She turned Lightning's face upwards to meet her eyes as she spoke. "Yes," Serah simply said.

Lightning's eyes immediately lit up with happiness, but then doubt clouded over them. "R-really?" she asked unsurely.

Serah chuckled at how Lightning could be so insecure sometimes. "Yes, silly. I will," Serah confirmed as she nuzzled her nose against Lightning's. She didn't care if their friends or if anyone else supported them. In the end, she would still have Lightning by her side, and nothing and nobody could ever change that fact.

Lightning kissed Serah firmly on the lips and hugged her tightly. "You don't know how happy you've made me," Lightning said, tears filling up her eyes.

A tear made its way down her cheek, but Serah wiped it away. "I love you Claire," she professed - and she meant it with all her heart.

Multiple tears of joy streamed down Lightning's face, " I love you too Serah, so much," and she kissed her again this time more passionately. The two of them reveled in the joy of soon being married. The worries could come later, but for right now, they were happy.

The next day, Serah awoke to find Lightning already getting ready for work - she was putting on her guardian corps uniform and nibbling on a piece of toast at the same time. How she could multitask like that, Serah would never know.

Lightning noticed Serah waking up. "Hey," Lightning said , her voice slightly muffled from the toast dangling from her mouth. "You're awake. Finally," she added.

Serah huffed in response, "Yeah, how come you didn't wake me up." She rubbed at her sore back. I'm not sleeping all night on this couch anymore, she mentally noted. She noticed Lightning trying to finish her (slightly burnt - Serah couldn't help but notice) piece of toast. "I can make you breakfast, you know," Serah said to Lightning.

Lightning glumly looked at her overly well-done toast. "Uh, it's okay. I really need to get going anyways." Lightning walked over to where Serah was sitting and gave her a peck goodbye on her cheek, but Serah didn't want just a peck. She pulled Lightning further in to kiss her on the lips - biting her bottom lips slightly, making Lightning gasp from the nip.

"W-what was that for?" Lightning said, flustered. Her face was red from Serah's sudden boldness.

"It's just a preview for what I have in store for you after work," she said deviously.

Lightning's red face only became redder from Serah's suggestive statement. "I-I'll see you," was all she could eek out as she kissed Serah lightly on the lips and made her way out of the front door.

Serah heard the rumble of Lightning's motorcycle engine come to life as she started it up. She then heard it speed off into the distance - the vroom of the engine fading softer and softer.

After the sound of Lightning's motorcycle engine completely disappeared, Serah plopped back onto the couch - an arm splayed on her forehead. She sighed contentedly in the silence as she stared up at the ceiling deep in thought.

Something in her mind urged her to call up her best friend Vanille to tell her the good news of her engagement, but another side of her was too afraid of how Vanille may react.

Serah sat up and stared at her cell phone biting at her lip nervously. After inwardly battling with herself, Serah reached out for the phone and dialed Vanille's number. With each ring of the phone, Serah became increasingly fearful of telling Vanille the news.

Just when she was about to put down the phone, the sound of Vanille's chipper voice rang out from the other end of the line. "Hey, Serah!"

Serah's heart beat so loudly, she could hear it thumping in her ear against the phone. "H-hey Vanille," she answered back, her voice dry.

"What's up?"

"Oh, nothing really. I just wanted to tell you something."

"Yeah? What is it?" Vanille said, her voice dripping with curiosity.

Vanille took a deep breath. "I-I'm divorcing Snow."

The line remained quiet as Vanille soaked in the news. "Oh, but why? I thought you two were so happy together."

Serah thought awhile - searching for the truth. "I wasn't," she said sadly, tears pooling in her eyes.

Vanille heard Serah's voice cracking and knew she was crying. "Don't cry Serah. Please, don't cry - I hate it when you cry."

Serah sniffled as Vanille soothed her over the phone. "Thanks Vanille, but you're going to hate me when I tell you the rest of the news."

"Oh, I could never hate you," Vanille reassured her.

"The thing is, I only divorced Snow because I'm in love with someone else." Serah could hear Vanille gasp softly on the receiving end.

"Who?" she asked, her voice riddled with surprise and curiosity.

Vanille tensed her body up - readying herself for the worst. "Lightning," she said and cringed.

Vanille neither screamed nor said anything for a good while, but after a minute or so Serah heard Vanille squeal in glee. "Oh! I knew it! I always knew it!"

"Knew what?" Serah heard the faint voice of Fang over the phone questioning Vanille.

"Guess what?" Vanille said to Fang. "Serah and Lightning finally got together!"

"Really?" Fang said incredulously. "I guess I owe you ten dollars then, huh Vanille?" Serah then heard the shuffle of money being passed around.

"W-what? Wait a second. You guys bet money on this?" Serah couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Uh, well…" Vanille trailed off and then immediately changed the subject. "I knew it! I knew it! I always knew you guys had some sort of sister-complex with each other," Vanille said slyly. "So, who confessed to who first?"

"Uh, it was Lightning," Serah answered. "She did it when you were fetching the bouquet for my wedding."

Vanille gasped in shock. "That Lightning! She is such a go-getter! But it's about time - I was starting to wonder if she was ever going to say it. But what about Snow?" Vanille asked, her voice returning to serious mode.

"He knows, but he didn't take it so well," Serah said sadly.

"Aw, it's okay Serah. Fang and I have your and Lightning's back no matter what!" she said encouragingly.

"Thank you Vanille. I knew I could always count on you," Serah said gratefully. "But there's something else.." Serah added.

"What? What?" Vanille prodded eagerly.

"Lightning asked me to marry her and I said yes."

Another loud squeal from Vanille pierced Serah's ears - it must have been doubly loud for Fang. "Oi!" Fang shouted at Vanille. "Now what?"

"Serah and Lightning are getting married!" Vanille shouted joyfully.

"Well, whaddya know, another wedding. This time it will be right," Fang commented. "Congratulations Serah!" Fang shouted through the phone.

"Thanks you guys," Serah said, tears of relief falling down her face. "You don't know how much I appreciate your support."

"No need to thank us," Vanille modestly said. "We are just so happy to hear such good news! So when's the wedding?"

Serah thought for a second, but realized she too didn't know the date. "Um, we haven't hashed out the details yet, but we'll tell you once we know," She assured Vanille.

"Okay! Please do!" Vanille said cheerfully.

"Alright Vanille, I'll talk you soon then okay," Serah said.

"Alrighty! I'll be here! Bye Serah!"

"By Vanille," Serah said and clicked off the phone.

Once Serah put the phone down, she exhaled a sigh of relief - she felt as if the whole weight of the world was lifted off her shoulders. She made her way towards the kitchen to plan a special surprise dinner for Lightning - this called for a celebration.

Serah opened the liquor cabinet to find it almost empty - Lightning must have drank heavily while Serah was off on her honeymoon with Snow. Serah felt her heart sink looking at the amounts of alcohol Lightning must have consumed to numb down her sorrow.

Seeing as there was no liquor left, Serah decided to head off to the store to restock on some for their celebratory dinner. Serah grabbed a jacket and headed to out to the store.

As she walked past the rows of stores on her way towards her destination, Serah stopped in her tracks at the sight before her. Snow was sulking outside a bar with a bottle in his hand.

He looked like a mess, Serah noted. His hair was all disheveled and his clothes looked like he had been romping around in the dirt all day. Serah felt her legs become paralyzed - she didn't know whether or not she wanted to talk to Snow in such a state.

Just as when she was about to walk away, something inside her told her to turn around and confront the broken man. She at least owed him an explanation for everything she put him through.

Serah walked slowly towards Snow until she stood in front of where he sat. He didn't notice Serah approaching him because his head was buried in his hands - he looked absolutely miserable.

Serah timidly tapped him on the shoulder and he flinched at the sudden touch. He picked his head up and gazed at Serah in amazement. His eyes became wide with surprise and his body shook in disbelief. "Serah?" Snow whispered.