A/N: So my editor husband tore something in his shoulder and is unable to edit my work. I didn't let that stop me, however. This really should have gone through a beta, but encouraging my husband to do something he shouldn't - like using his arm for frivolous things like editing - makes for opportunities to re-injure. So, my apologies for this update coming to you without being edited.
P.S. - For those who are getting tired of this Serah bs, there will be a bit of Lightning in the next chapter! Hang in there!
Serah started the next day the same way she started the previous one; her obsession with contacting Lightning more intense as the days went by. Even before she uttered any words to Snow, in fact, even before getting out of bed to brush her teeth, Serah plucked her phone from the beside table and checked it diligently.
No missed calls.
Of course not. She didn't get any service at the house. Though she thought that through all her wishing and hoping that maybe – just maybe – Lightning's call would find her just because she wanted it to.
Or maybe the communications company had put up a new tower overnight!
Optimism was the way to go, she figured.
But, crawling out of bed, optimism was forgotten, stiffness and soreness taking centre stage.
"Must have slept wrong..." she muttered on her way to the bathroom. Catching her reflection in a full length mirror, she took a step back in front of it. Turning to face it, she smoothed her hands over her sleep shirt and slightly swollen belly. Stepping to the side, hands still cupping what was mostly water retention since she wasn't actually showing yet, Serah wondered how big she might grow. She had to admit that it was exciting, even if she hadn't told anyone yet. It was a secret only she and Snow shared; unwilling to allow anyone to partake in their elation right away.
In fact, she wanted Lightning to be the first to know... if she could ever manage to speak to her again that was.
She had a healthy appetite and hadn't seen a morning of sickness like she expected, however she was exhausted most of the day. It could have had something to do with her near constant worry about Lightning's well-being and not sleeping soundly because of it, but Serah wasn't looking forward to getting as big as a behemoth down the road. Surely carrying around all that weight would sap whatever energy she had left.
In any case, she knew that Snow would be the most supportive and best husband she could ever want. She wasn't overly anxious about how the next few months would turn out, especially now that things were on the precipice of change, as long as he was by her side. He had saved her from a lifetime of nothingness, dealt with her sister like a champ, and now he would keep her and care for her and their child. Life was good with Snow, and by getting back in touch with Lightning, it would be perfect.
A quick shower and change of clothes later, Serah tucked her phone into her pants pocket and headed down the staircase into the kitchen for some breakfast to feed her complaining stomach. It was only once she reached the kitchen that she realized she must have slept longer than she thought.
On the countertop was a basket full of fruits and vegetables she recognized as varying varieties from around Pulse. Snow must have brought in from the market in town. She hadn't even mentioned wanting produce, but Snow knew she loved anything if it came off a tree or grew in the ground.
Leaning over the brimming basket, she inhaled long and deep. Everything smelled so wonderful.
Serah sighed happily, a little giddy giggle working its way up her throat.
Snow was going to make such a great father.
Though, if he had left the gift for her, that must have meant that he was back already.
Practically prancing to the kitchen window, she peeked outside into the back yard.
He was back, and had the help he mentioned yesterday in tow.
Snow, Gadot and a still skinny Maqui were unloading some lumber from the back of a trailer.
Gadot hadn't changed at all, still a red-headed daredevil and still getting her soon-to-be husband into trouble, she noted, perhaps a little sourly.
Maqui was tall, certainly, but he hadn't filled out over the years. He must have had the metabolism of a housefly, and had been trying to pack on some muscle like his idol, but was unable to come anywhere near Snow's physique. It wasn't for trying – the boy had a healthy appetite, Serah witnessed it often when she cooked for him and the hungry NORA gang.
Speaking of the rest of the gang, there was no sign of the others. It was unusual not to see them all together, but since the mass migration from Cocoon to Pulse, NORA was attracting more attention for their monster-wrangling skills. Perhaps they were out on a job. But even that didn't make sense. Snow and Gadot would have never let them go without muscle; and out of the three – Hope, Yuj and Lebreau – Serah had to admit that Lebreau was probably the toughest.
Lebreau was often seen lecturing the boys, and Serah knew they all had a healthy amount of respect for the little firecracker. Sometimes she even wished she could be more like Lebreau or even her sister; no one liked a mousey, nondescript girl...
Scratching that spot on her arm again, where her l'cie tattoo had once been, she pulled up her sleeve and gave it a good look over. Nothing. There had been nothing there yesterday either, but it had been itching like mad. Maybe something had bit her while she was outside. So little was still known about the perils and wildlife of Pulse that she was usually extra careful when not inside and at the mercy of pests and such.
It wasn't just her health she had to be worried about now.
Smiling, she put her hand on her belly.
Just to be safe, after she ate, she would put some ointment on it.
Once fed, and the spot taken care of, she prepared a pitcher of lemonade and cups to take out to the boys who were still stacking wood and covering it in tarps. Both Snow and Gadot had shed their stuffy layers of upper clothing, but Maqui, much too shy about his own lack of form, had stripped down to his undershirt. Though, he was still sweating profusely under the thin, soaked cotton. Apparently he didn't believe Serah when she told him that he was fine the way he was and that he should be proud of his form. And he clammed up when she proclaimed he was handsome and would make a fine catch for any girl.
After she and Snow moved to Pulse, Serah suspected that Maqui had felt something more for her than friendship, and he'd begun to distance himself from the soon to be newlyweds. But she refused to let him push her away altogether. It had taken some effort, but somehow Maqui seemed to get his feelings in order, and things quickly returned to normal between the three.
As she approached them, tray in her hands, Gadot was the first to notice her. Obviously posing, he flexed his muscles as she neared. That man's muscles had muscles!
A warm smile first for her good friend, she offered the skinny blond one of the sweating glasses.
Taking the delicate tumbler in hand, a shy smile and overheated red cheeks greeting her, Maqui quickly raised the edge to his lips.
From the corner of her eye, she still saw Gadot flexing, now making a show of it; Maqui snickering as she rolled her eyes. She good-naturedly paid the redhead no mind just to see what he'd do.
Tossing down a heavy looking board onto the pile, Snow turned and grinned.
"Hey, baby!"
"I thought you boys might be thirsty." Serah made an offering to him from her tray, and he accepted, greedily gulping down the tart liquid.
"Hey! What about me? What am I? Chopped chocobo liver?" Gadot scoffed testily.
"Oh, Gadot!" Serah commented with mock surprise. "I didn't even see you standing there!"
Snow and Maqui both chuckled, and Serah relented quickly, offering Gadot the glass from her own hand, and a smile.
"You're just as bad as that sister of yours." snorted Gadot accusingly, large hand dwarfing the glassware as he accepted.
Snow's head snapped, eyes narrowed in annoyance, to Gadot as the faux pas dropped from his lips. But Serah's gaze dropped to the grass, tucking the tray under her arm.
She missed Snow leaning over to slug Gadot firmly on the bicep, and Gadot's sheepish frown.
For a moment she forgot about Lightning. As awful as it was for her to think it. For a second she was living in the present... all until Gadot – no, it wasn't his fault. Even if he did know that she hadn't been able to reach her sister, it wasn't his fault for making an innocent joke. She knew he wasn't being mean spirited and hadn't meant offense. Perhaps she was just over-sensitive due to her condition.
Though, it would have been nice if she'd been able to get a hold of her sister... surely she was getting Serah's messages.
Really, why hadn't she called by now?
"Serah. You haven't tried today, have you?"
"No." She admitted to her fiancee. She had been too busy thinking about herself. "Not yet."
"Well, let's go, then. I could use a break. I think I can let this blockhead" he gestured at Gadot with a tip of his head "work unsupervised, but keep an eye on him anyway, Maqui."
"Will do, boss." Nodded Maqui seriously.
Gadot looked properly shamed, and had no rebuttle as Snow took the tray from Serah's arm and shoved it into his chest, escorting her past the other man.
The burly blond's motorcycle sat parked a short space away.
"That was a little harsh, wasn't it?" Serah said quietly.
"I don't think so." Snow responded thoughtfully. "Gadot's got a big mouth, and sometimes he's just gotta be reminded about it."
Serah's head was still hung low. She felt awful about the awkward dialogue.
"He'll be fine." Snow's huge hand was threading through her hair, soothingly. "I guarantee he'll be back to his old insensitive self in no time."
Mounting his bike, he patted the seat in front of him. Serah climbed on, with some assistance, and nestled into his arms as they closed her in, his hands on the handlebars. With a jump, the bike roared to life, and they were off.
Driving quite conservatively, Serah was a tad impatient with her chauffeur at the lengthy bit of time it took to get to the top of the hill where she managed to get reception. She wanted to make the call; obsessed over it on a daily basis; that one call that would finally connect her with her sister.
Not getting off the bike once Snow had cut the engine, she quickly dialed.
It rang once, twice.
A pause.
Then voicemail... again.
The mailbox of the customer you are trying to reach is full.
Her eyes widened, as she twisted around to look at Snow.
Panic.
Please try again later.
Sheer panic.
"Serah? Serah! What's wrong?" Snow begged, hands instinctively moving to her shoulders.
Her breath caught in her too tight throat. The thought of Lightning not checking her messages shot cruel scenarios into her mind. What if she couldn't check them? What if she was hurt or in the hospital? She had no friends or family on Cocoon left to take care of her!
But what if... what if she was... dead?
Gasping desperately now, Serah clutched Snow's huge forearm with both tiny hands, unable to catch her breath, pulse pounding in her ears, spots darkening her vision. "She's..."
Serah's stomach rolled, threatening to expel its contents until she felt herself being manipulated. Her legs pushed over Snow's, his strong arms plying her embrace around his middle, her face pressed against his bare chest. She closed her eyes, the feel of his body protecting her seeming to calm her somewhat.
"Hold on, baby." he murmured, hand cradling her head. "We'll be home soon. Your hero will take care of you."
The last thing she remembered was the sound of the bike and the wind whipping at her hair as Snow sped towards their home.