Author's Notes: Well this is the last chapter of the story! I hope that you will like the ending!

Chapter 9: A Gift That Matters Most:

Later, Hope and Lightning returned back home a little tired. Faith was sleeping with her head against Hope's shoulder. They headed into the living room first. Once they did, Faith began to wake up. Lightning sat down on the couch and Hope sat Faith on the couch. A smile appeared on his face. "Faith woke up just in time. I'll be right back." Figuring now was the best time to surprise them, he walked away. They both looked up at him curiously and watched as he disappeared upstairs. When he came back, he was carrying a medium sized box wrapped in paper and a bow. He sat down on the floor and placed it between him and Faith. Faith blinked curious.

Lightning wondered what he had for her. The box was as big as Faith. "What did you do?"

Hope smiled at her. "You'll see." He turned his attention to Faith. "Come on Faith. Open it." It took a little time, but Faith moved over and began pulling the bow. Hope helped her and Lightning joined in as well. Together they opened the box and Hope pulled out the rabbit doll. He held it up in front of Faith. "Look Faith. It's a doll." A few seconds later, Faith grabbed onto the doll. She held it for a little, but then unexpectedly placed it aside. It surprised Hope. It didn't seem like Faith liked his gift. It made him a little disappointed. Maybe he had picked wrong, but he wasn't ready to give up just yet. He took the doll and looked down at it. "I guess if you don't want it, I'll have to play with it." He started bouncing and tilting it as if it was walking. As Faith watched, she started to get interested. She leaned over. Hope grabbed onto her and placed her on the floor with him. They started playing with the doll together. It wasn't long before Faith started playing with it on her own. It made Hope smile. He knew that he could get her to like it.

Lightning sat on the couch watching them the whole time. "And the spoiling begins."

Hope sat down beside her, looking over at her. "I wouldn't really call it spoiling. I noticed that she was getting tired of her old toys. Maybe she's getting too old for them."

The two watched Faith until she began to tire herself out again. Once she was close to sleep, Hope carried her upstairs to her room to nap. After she was settled, he returned back downstairs. He sat next to Lightning on the couch. "It looks like you did quite a bit of shopping while you were there."

Hope smiled a little. "Don't forget that I told you I had another surprise for you as well."

While the gesture was nice, she felt that he didn't need to go through the trouble. "But Hope I don't need anything else."

"I know, but I thought that this might make you happy." Hope grabbed her hand and placed a wrapped box in her palm. He curled her fingers over the box.

Her eyes lifted up to him a little surprised. "Another one?" All he left her with was a smile. Lightning opened the box and looked surprised. It was a compact with an orb and metal decorations wrapped around it attached to a golden chain. When her eyes traveled along the side of the compact, she saw a small button. "Is it like the one you gave me last night? What does it do?"

"It took some effort, but I got it to work." Hope pressed the button on the side. A small projection screen appeared. "I put in some pictures I thought you might like." Once Lightning saw it, a look of surprise came on her face. On the same screen, she saw a picture of her and Serah together smiling. She went through a few more pictures that were put in. In some of the pictures, she saw herself with Serah, some with Faith, and some of them with Hope. In all of them they seem happy. It reminded her of the good times they all shared. In the end, she was touched. After going through all of the pictures that were inside, she turned the projection off. Her eyes lifted to Hope. Hope searched her expression trying to read what she was thinking. It was hard to tell what she was feeling. There wasn't any reaction of happiness, sadness, or any other emotion when she looked at him. She had seemed neutral. "So? Do-?"

Before he could ask, Lightning leaned toward him. Her arms wrapped around his neck as her head rested on his shoulder with her eyes closed. "Thank you," she spoke softly. Looking at all the pictures that he had put in so far, it made her happy that she had this life now after everything they've been through.

To Hope, it seemed that she was happier with the gift he gave her now than the one last night. With this one it had more meaning. They separated and looked at each other. "I'm still working on adding some things in. I was hoping to place some footage in too. I thought to get you this because if you're ever away and you're thinking of home, then you'll have this to remind you."

Lightning's fingers ran across the orb on the compact. "Thank you Hope. That was really thoughtful of you." Along with the memories, she wanted to keep her family close to her and for them to never separate like what happened in past. She was glad that everything worked out in the end.

Hope smiled as she continued to look down. "There is one more thing." Lightning looked over at him and noticed his smile. She wondered what he was up to this time. "After this, you have to agree that you're getting more spoiled than Faith is." He stood up and walked away. Lightning was a little surprised. How much was he actually going to give her? While he was in the kitchen, he leaned back as he grinned. "For this one, you have to close your eyes."

"Is this the last one?" she asked curiously.

"Yes, but you have to close your eyes," he reminded her again.

Lightning breathed out and listened to him. She closed her eyes and waited patiently for him to return. Nearby there was some noise in the background that seemed familiar, but she couldn't figure out exactly what it was. Hope stepped in as quietly as he could to her. Seconds later, Lightning felt something cold on her lap. She had no idea what it was. "Can I look now?"

Hope sat beside her. He was about to tell her yes, but then another idea crossed his mind. It sounded more fun. "Not yet."

Confusion became written on her face. "What is this?"

Hope opened the box. "You'll find out soon enough, but first you have to open your mouth."

To Lightning it sounded like a weird request. As much as she trusted him, she could help but be suspicious. "What are you up to?"

He grinned. "Just trust me. It won't be bad."

She breathed out uneasy. "Fine." He lifted something up to her lips. Soon she was met with a small, soft substance. The taste seemed familiar. When she opened her eyes, she saw the cake that she had taken a bite of in the box in her lap. She looked a little surprised. "These are-."

Hope nodded. "Yes. I found the little bakery again where we got all of those sweets before. I picked up a few boxes."

Lightning took the piece that she bit off before and ate the rest. Her eyes traveled over to him. "You really have been busy. When did you find time to do this?"

"Before I left Palumpolum. I woke up early and did a little shopping," he explained.

"You really are a spoiler. Don't make it a habit," she told him.

Hope smiled gently. "I think when it comes to you and Faith, I can make an exception."

Gently, Lightning smiled back at him. As he watched her, she seemed as if she was truly happy. It made him happy. Then his eyes lowered a little toward her lips. He pointed toward a spot on his lips to mirror where she had some icing. "You have a little something right there."

Her hand rose toward her lips in an attempt to get it off. "Where?"

Hope leaned in and kissed her lips. He could taste the little bit of frosting that was on the top of her lips. Once they separated, they both smiled. Afterwards they both leaned against the couch and began eating a few of the small cakes. Hope looked over at her. "The last few days weren't so bad."

Lightning gave a small smile. "Yeah."

Even after the story was over, Serah continued smiling. "So do you still have it?" Lightning reached into the drawer and pulled out the compact she was talking about. She started showing her some of the pictures they had along with the new ones that were put in. Serah watched with amazement. "Wow! I remember some of these!" After she finished looking through them, she handed it back to Lightning who put it away. Serah let out a smile, reflecting over everything she had heard. "That was a nice story."

Hope smiled as well. "I guess over time Faith just grew attached to the doll. She loves playing with it."

"I see that." Then Serah looked over a little surprised. Faith stepped over to her with a look of sadness on her face. Serah was curious as to why. Faith leaned in and hugged her. The act surprised Serah. She looked over at the others with wonder.

Hope gave a small smile. He was glad that Faith was coming around. Lightning relaxed. "That's sometimes her way of apologizing," she explained. Serah smiled a little and embraced Faith back. Afterwards Faith turned back to Lightning. She placed her hand on Faith's shoulder. "Are you saying sorry now?" Faith nodded a few times. Lightning gave a gentle smile. Faith went over and hugged her. She leaned her head against her stomach as she closed her eyes. Lightning rubbed her back comforting. "Isn't there someone else you're forgetting?"

Faith lifted her head to look up at Lightning. Then her eyes traveled over to Hope who gave a disappointed smile. "You didn't forget about me did you?" Faith went over and curled up next to him. He grinned and blew on her stomach which caused her to laugh. "Do I get a sorry too?"

Through her laughter, Faith managed to speak. "Yes!"

He placed his hands on her arms. "Did you learn your lesson this time? No hitting anyone?" Faith nodded a few times. Hope gave his eyebrow a slight arch. "Really?" he asked to be sure.

Faith giggled. "Yes…!" Hope grinned along with her. Faith lifted her eyes to him and smiled.

Then everyone heard a noise from downstairs. Serah looked back. "It sounds like the others might be awake." She stood up from the bed. "I'll go check to see if Snow is awake." She headed toward the door and walked out of it.

Hope looked toward the door. "I guess if everyone's awake now, then they might want breakfast or something."

Lightning frowned. "Well I'm not making anything."

Hope closed his eyes as he relaxed. "I'm not really in the mood to make anything either. Maybe we'll end up going out or something."

Lightning breathed out a little as she closed her eyes. She didn't feel like going out much either, but it was better than cooking for a lot of people."I guess better than nothing." She was about to get up, but then she felt something grab her hand. Her eyes traveled over to see Hope lying across the bed catching her before she got up. "What?"

He let out a smile. "I thought it was good to remember what we had been through. It just reminds me more about how happy I am that we are getting married. I wouldn't change my mind because I know that I chose right." He lifted his eyes to her. "Hopefully there will be more good moments to come."

A smile appeared on her lips. She grabbed on more to his hand. "I'm sure there will be." Hearing her say that made him smile more. "Let's go before they decide to eat everything out of our fridge."

Hope nodded. "All right." He was about to get up along with her, but then felt something on his back. He looked back surprised to see Faith on his back with a smile. "Hey! What are you up to?" She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. It caused a suspicious grin to come to Hope. "You're not trying to get me again are you?"

Lightning smiled a little. An idea came to mind. "Well if she is then she's going to need some help." She went over to where Faith was and leaned against his back.

Hope fell and lied against the bed on his back. "Are you both teaming up against me again?"

Lightning looked over at Faith. "Faith? Are we?"

Faith grinned as she closed her eyes. "Yes!"

Lightning's eyes traveled to Hope. "I guess we are."

Hope grinned a little silently. "That's not fair."

Lightning let a faint smile appear on her lips. "Then get Faith to come to your side."

Hope smiled at her. "Why can't I get you to?"

She sat up and placed her hand on her hip as she sat over him. "This is for pulling me off of the bed earlier."

Hope laughed a little, silently. Soon he opened his eyes and saw the two smiling faces above him. He hoped to see that sight more often. It made him happy. "You two... You two really mean a lot to me." The smile never left from their faces. At that moment, he felt he should say what was on his mind. Then he lifted up making both of them fall on the bed. He caught onto Faith before she fell and carefully placed her on the bed. He leaned over Lightning before she had a chance to sit up. A smile crossed over his lips. "Looks like I got you before you got me. So much for you helping Faith."

Lightning looked up at him. "I can get out of this you know right?"

Gentle and sincerely he stared into her eyes. "I love you Light."

For a moment she stared up into his eyes. She could tell by the look in his eyes that he was sincere. "I love you too."

It brought a bigger smile to his face. He leaned in and kissed her. Faith crawled over nearby them. With wonder, she stared at them. She used her little index finger to poke Hope's cheek. Once he felt the few pokes she gave, his eyes traveled over and smiled. "Yes Faith. I love you too." He tickled her stomach with his fingers which made her giggle. "Now do you want to help me instead of your mom?" Faith responded with a grin.

Lightning looked over at Faith. "I see. Changing sides on me? I could switch this on you too you know."

Hope let out a small, mischievous smile. "That's sounds like an idea." Soon they started playing around and laughing. At that moment, the three of them were happy just being together.

The end! Thank you for reading! I hope that you enjoyed the story!