I was only off my dead line by an hour or so. For those of you who added this story to your alerts and favorites list, i wanted to say thanks for the support. [And i hope you continue to enjoy the story.] Anyway ETA on the next part will be sometime between Monday-Wednesday [Hopefully] Dragon Age 2 is coming out on Tuesday so i may get distracted. As always hope you enjoy~

Present Day: Laugh Away

[Juokas POV]

I was seated on the sofa, Blue's head laying on my lap. She was nothing like I'd imagined. Her hair was a light baby blue color, swept to the one side curving wildly. Besides that one side, her hair was relatively short everywhere else. But what I found most striking about her appearance was those deep mischievous sapphire orbs she has for eyes.

Fang sat in a chair next to us, head propped up on one arm, legs on the other. "So who are you two exactly? I assume you remember enough to tell me that much." I looked over to her, "I'm Sulyya Gaisras Juokas, I fought in the war against Cocoon. My eidolon was Gilgamesh, the many armed swordsman. I remember everything from my childhood but only bits and pieces from the war."

Fang nodded, "You had Gilgamesh? I believe I fought a battle with you before, we were up against the Blue Devil and his eidolon Zalera." I shook my head, "More than likely…" Fang poked a thumb at blue, "What about her?"

"She is a Cocoon soldier, Captain Kelionė už Vandens of the Sanctum Security, Bodhum regiment. Most people call her Blue. Obviously she fought for Cocoon durin' the war. Her eidolon was Hades." Fang shot upright suddenly leaning forward. "Are you tellin' me that girl right there is the Blur? Wielder of Hades and slayer of thousands?" I blink hesitantly, "Yes she was the Blur." "Why aren't you tryin' ta kill 'er?" Faltering I looking down, her face is peaceful. "I don't know I feel like I need to protect her…Like she's done somethin' for me...somethin' big and I don't remember."

Fang smiled leaning back in her seat, "Ahh makes sense, it would explain why you two are all hands on if ya catch my drift. Blue certainly doesn't strike me as the fabled Blur." Blue took a deep breath barely cracking her eyes open, "And you don't strike me as the wielder of Bahamut but you are, aren't you?" "That's right, how'd you know?" Blue sighed turning her head to face Fang while in the process nuzzling into my lap, "I remember that tattoo on your arm, you chased me through the sky over a battle field near the Steppes, You were very…persistent…"

"Bloody hell I remember that! You lost me in the Mah'habara Subterra! It took me forever to get back outta there after followin' you in!" Fang laughed uproariously. Blue chuckled weakly curling into me, "Believe me I know." A small smile crossed her face a she dozed back off. "Haha I guess she is the Blur, she wouldn't have known that otherwise! Wait 'til Vanille gets a load of this one. But I do have a question, you said 'Sanctum Security, Bodhum regiment' right?"

"Yes I did…" I sighed as I ran my fingers through Blue's hair she let out a contented sigh. "The rest of the Cocoon folk from this time will be interested to hear 'bout that."

Looking at Fang, "Would ya tell me what's happened since the war?" She nodded, "I don't see why not."

Over the next two hours Juokas learned of all the events since the end of the war with Ragnarok, to the fall of Cocoon and the death of the Fal'cie.

"Sure is a lot to take in…think I'm gonna have to sleep on it." Juokas said tiredly. Fang nodded flicking on the T.V in the corner but keeping the volume low, "Go ahead and take a nap the others won't be back for a few hours."

[Blue POV]

I woke up curled into Juokas's warm body on the sofa, her arms wrapped around me protectively. I sighed leaning into the embrace. Looking around I notice the room is dark, the sun has set outside. The only light in the room is coming from the T.V in the corner. Fang looks like an uncomfortable gaggle of limbs but she's snoring soundly. Juokas's warm breath is tickling the back of my neck.

I yawn, sleep's hold lingers over me. I hear, what I assume to be the front door, open followed by footsteps. I quickly close my eyes, playing opossum. The light flicks on behind my eyelids. The gentle breeze brushes against me as someone comes to stands in front of us. A new voice, "You were right Vanille they do look like a good couple. Hehe look at them all cuddly, and Fang was probably sitting there watching them for the longest time..." She lets out an exasperated sigh, "Fang…FANG wake up!" "By Etro Serah what is it! Can a girl get some peace n' quiet in 'er own home?"

"Is there any particular reason you have two women cuddling on your couch Fang? Were you not a decent enough host to offer them a bed?" Serah scolded Fang. For fear of exposing myself I lazily rolled over draping my left leg over one of Juokas's, while nuzzling my head against hers. My gesture had not gone unnoticed, "A cheeky sleepa' I like that!" "Your such a pervert sometimes Fang, what my sister sees in you I have no idea." "Aye it's not like that your just readin' too much into it." "How long have they been asleep Fang?" Vanille asked walking in from the kitchen.

"Well Juokas there has prolly been out as long as I have so I'd say four hours. While Captain Vandens there has been asleep since we took her off the table." Serah turned and glared at Fang, "What was she doing on the table…did you have..?" Vanille quickly clamped her hand over Serah's mouth before she could finish. "It's not like that Serah, She was hurt and we laid her on the table while we treated and bandaged her wound. Then we moved her over to the couch to lay down 'cuz we didn't want to hurt her by taking her upstairs." Serah's eyes moved from Fang to Vanille, Vanille's eyes widen in realization, "Serah we weren't gonna take advantage of her honest to Etro."

Midway through that exchange Juokas had woken up and was staring at me with an expression of barely contained amusement. My face hurts from my muscles constricting into a fierce grin, I have to bit my bottom lip savagely to keep from laughing.

Vanille unclamped her hand freeing Serah. "You better not have! And Fang if you hurt my sister…" Juokas's eyes widened in further amusement as the small girl made a strangling gesture in the air. Fang waved the girl off dismissively, "In all honesty Serah your sister would definitely get ta me first." Fang stood walking towards the patio window, "It's getting' awfully windy, a storm is brewin', I can smell it." "Keep it in your shorts Fang", Lightning teased with mock seriousness as she walked through the door.

"Ah you would comment on my shorts Sunshine" Fang purred mischievously. Our resolve to stay quiet was crumbling, we tightened our grips on each other burying our faces further into each other's necks. Again this gesture did not go unnoticed, "Did they just move?" Lightning queried walking over. I smirked, before using one only visible hand to caress down Juokas's body coming to a rest on her thigh. Catching on to my intent she pulled me closer threading out legs together before running both hands down my back.

"Cheeky bastards practically makin' love on our couch with their clothes on…could have at least asked of it we wanted ta'…" "Fang!" Serah growled. We couldn't take it anymore, our laughter busted out in an uproar. In my fits of laughter I rolled to the floor clutching my sides, tears of mirth falling from my eyes. Juokas's wasn't faring much better.

"Owww dear…Lindzei…make it stop it hurts! Oh hahaha!" By the time I finished laughing I laid face down on the floor clutching my side with a vengeance. "Such a delectable thing to wake up too after the dreams I've had, gall my side is being an obstinate bastard." I groaned rolling slowly onto my back. Juokas had finished laughing and was sitting on the couch looking down at me.

I let out a sigh closing my eyes, fatigue seeping into my body with renewed conviction.

[Juokas POV]

Fang glanced down at Blue before chuckling, "Did she nod off again? Really, wakes up long enough ta' amuse 'er self with my sufferin' and she goes right back to sleep. What a lady that one." She waggled her finger in mock disapproval.

Serah walked back into the living room from the kitchen, "Fang, you're just going to leave this woman on your floor? Where is your hospitality, really Fang." Fang covered her face with her palm, shaking her head, "I was gettin' to it ya bloody harpy…" I stood hovering near Blue moving to pick her up. Fang peeked between her fingers to find Serah still glaring at her, with a sigh "Juokas let me help ya with her."

[4 hours later]

Blue had been sleepin' for some time now. She didn't even fuss when we moved her upstairs from the floor. I've checked up on 'er a few times tonight, each time I find her tangled in the sheets from thrashin' around in her sleep. Vanille was determined to convince me that she'd be alright and Fang would watch over her while we cooked dinner. Serah adamantly rebuked the idea of Fang watching over anyone, especially a defenseless woman. With Fang, Lightning and Vanille convincing me otherwise, much to Serah's chagrin, I consented.

Not sure why Vanille needed my help, with Lightnin', and Serah helpin' her, it seemed like a crowd. The kitchen was full to capacity, Vanille and Serah managin' the stove while Lightnin' and I slaved to cut all the ingredients. During a lull in the choppin' Lightning sat on a stool in the kitchen on one side of the island and I sat in the livin' room on the other side.

Lightnin' gave me a contemplative look, "Are you from Oerba?" Surprised by the question I mumbled out "No, I'm from Sulyya Springs. I've never been to Oerba."

"You've never been to Oerba!" Vanille shouted in disbelief. I scratched the back of my head, "Nope, before the war I was too young to wander too far from home." "Hum that's odd, I don't remember there being a city in Sulyya."

Fang walked into the kitchen checkin' our progress, "There wasn't, it was a big trade out post though, quite the operation. Your clan was awfully generous if I remember correctly, 'All wanderers welcome in Sulyya'. Sulyya was the middle ground between the Mah' Habara subterra and Oerba. All the supplies that went to Oerba had to go through Sulyya."

I nod in agreement, "That's right; there was always shipments to sort and organize. How I spent most of my time as a kid, learning the routes and how to keep in contact with the caravans. Not exactly the most excitin' childhood, but it had its moments. Sulyya had its own horde of problems to occupy us with."

Lightnin' nods slowly before she asked, "What is your full name?" Before I can answer Fang slides over leaning on the counter, "Yeah, it's not like you two actually introduced yourselves or anythin'" she said with a wink. "My name is Sulyya Gaisras Juokas." Again Lightnin' nods, "It's obvious that you are a L'cie, did you have an Eidolon?" "Yes I did, my Eidolon was Gilgamesh, the many armed swordsman." Lightnin' begins to nod but is interrupted, "Claire stop interrogating your guest, where are your manners!" Serah scolded waving a spoon viciously.

Fang chuckled as Lightning was scolded, "And you! Fang…aren't even supposed to be in here!" Serah swatted Fang with the spoon before she pushed her roughly out of the kitchen. Fang walked around defiantly and plopped on the stool next to mine. Serah's eyes narrowed at Fang but she turned returning to her duties at the stove.

Lightnin' tilts her head slightly glancing at her sister before looking back at me, "What about the other one, your friend I assume?"