So! Here is the promised Wednesday update!

Hope sat quietly by himself in the hospital bed. After last week's rather unremarkable rescue, they had confined him to the hospital for observation of his head and also for internal injuries that he had no idea how he had gotten. Probably when the building was rolling. He didn't have a lot of visitors during his time, although he figured that had more to do with Noel then about people wanting to visit him or not.

The hunter had become fiercely protective when the doctor had described Hope's injuries, his body significantly weakened because of the use of cure spells over actual medical technology. It made the mage miss being a l'cie all the more. Back then, a cure spell fixed everything and his powers replenished his body's energy. In the end it didn't matter though, he wasn't a l'cie and the magic that he had the ability to use had to come from somewhere.

And not to mention the troubling news of Alyssa. He bit his lip roughly when he thought about her. He hadn't done right by her, he'd know. He'd all but forgotten about her, a by product of her paradox being fixed and then reconfigured by whatever Caius had done. At least he hoped it was Caius. He didn't need another curve ball. The door slid open and his head jerked up before his eyes rolled. While company was welcomed he wasn't sure that he was in the right state of mind to deal with Snow. Not that he had a choice. Right now he was definitely a captive audience.

"How are you doing kid?" The blond asked as he dropped into a seat.

"Fine and dandy with the major head wound. What did you do today?" Hope asked drolly, he could snark with the best of them, but often he worried that most of that passed over Snow's head. His father had once described him as politely tenacious but he had a feeling that his mother's old description was far more appropriate. A hard headed smartass.

"You know... I don't remember you having all this attitude back then." Snow's smile was a little then.

"I do believe that we had more pressing matters then a fourteen year old boy's developing personality." Hope let a small smile grace his features. "But I think we are remembering different adventures since I'm sure I personally tried to kill you at least twice."

"I only remember once." Snow replied as he turned to look out the window. There was a long moment of silence between the two. Even though now centuries in the past their adventure wasn't all that long ago for either of them. The sight of the crystal pillar off in the distance didn't help either.

"Snow..." Hope twisted his hands in his grip. As much as he griped about Snow, it was still hard to truly call the other out on things. Especially things that he knew was something that bothered the other. "What did Lightning tell you. I know she told you... About the cost."

"Heh... I thought you had accepted what I said as truth... Should have known you were too smart egghead."

"Serah probably doesn't believe it either." The silver haired man pointed out.

"Well of course she doesn't... But she accepts that I want to protect her. I don't know about Noel... I think he hates me."He scratched at his nose, buying time. Hope could allow that for a while.

"He hates the parts of his personality that he sees in you." Hope responded. "You're bothersome, overbearingly protective and naive... strong willed and good hearted."

"Never thought I'd get a compliment from you kid. Especially involving your boyfriend." Snow laughed as Hope winced at his words and the scientist glared at him. He was about to shoot into a rant but that would be playing too much into Snow's hands. Realizing that the older (younger) man wasn't going to take his bait Snow sighed and looked at him. "The thing is... We can't really stop Caius."

"But you said we could win!" Hope glared him down and Snow looked away, the look on his face mostly ashamed.

"Etro weakened herself by waking us up. Anytime that he choses Caius could kill her... but it would backfire and turn Noel's Yeul into the next Etro... or even Lightning..." Snow stopped but Hope was more then patient. "Lightning believes that Noel doesn't have what it takes to accept the heart."

"He won't have to!" Hope clenched his hands. "I'm going to find a way to store the heart. It's been in human hands for far too long."

"Hope... do you really think things could be that easy?" Snow swallowed hard. "Lightning and Yeul weren't the only ones chosen by the goddess Etro. Everything that we are doing is playing into her hands."

"You're not making any sense!" Hope slammed his hands on the bed.

"We... All of us. Are the chosen of Etro. We'll be her slaves for eternity." Snow crossed his arms. "That's our price. Even when all this is over... win or lose. We will have to continue to fight."

"That can't be right. What about the other gods. Pulse and Lindzei. If we achieve Caius' aim they should come back."

"Caius has already dispatched of them. There is only Etro and Bhunivelze. And if what Lightning has told me is true... Wakening Bhunivelze will signal the end of the world."

Hope deflated into the hospital bed feeling weak. Not quite sure of what any of this fully meant. It was all so much to take in. And a lot that Snow was obviously dealing with. While he now understood the other's wish to hid it from them. It was all too much. He swallowed hard. "Do you think Caius intends to wake Bhunivelze?"

"I don't think he's thought that far ahead." Snow stated. "Admittedly, the whole thing with Alyssa just seems like something he started to cause a snag in our goals. After all, if you die... One of the chosen is gone... One of the most important ones too."

Hope swallowed hard and closed his eyes. His mind was racing. He had already started the construction of the mini-ark from his hospital bed and had passed it into the hands of those who would finish it before the others left. His mind raced through alternative plans, objectives and endings but he could find nothing. His mind was stuck on one painful crux.

"At some point we'll have to fight him won't we? Bhunivelze..." His mind was filled with dismay and something that was near to terror but not quite.

"Lightning didn't comment on that. She believed that we could continue buying Etro time." Snow admitted.

"I'm scared." Hope stated quietly. He remembered the impressions that he use to have as a l'cie. Things that told them when enemies were near and what steps to take next. While the impressions weren't quite as strong anymore they still happened. And what Snow had told him, had given him enough to know to be petrified.

"Hey kid...It'll turn out right. We did it once and we can do it again. Even if we have to take it to Bhunivelze himself."

"Y-you're right." Hope replied though his smile was thin and weak. "You're also right... Noel and Serah don't need to know. They might doubt when it's time to take the heart."

Snow looked at him wide-eyed. He had expected Hope to want the others to be in full knowledge of what they were doing. But the more he looked at Hope, the more he wished he hadn't told him either. He raked a hand though his hair. "You look like dead warmed over kid."

"I'd like to be alone I think." Hope replied off canter. "I need some time to think."

Snow sighed, he knew he'd get no more out of the other and he stood slowly and clapped his hand on Hope's uninjured shoulder. Once Hope is sure that the other is gone, he finally allows himself to cry.

Relieved to be out of this hospital, Hope arrived in the research block before he even thought to head off and see the others. He found Aina making the finishing touches on the 14th ark as he liked to call it and smiled grimly at the sight of it. She looked up at him, her sea green hair falling off a shoulder and sighed softly.

"I want you to know that you owe me big time Director." She chastised him as she turned back to the seemingly disarming black box. "You hand me a data disk filled with gibberish about Fal'cie tech and instructions to frankly steal from the Academy and ask no questions."

"I know but..."

"The documents stated it clearly enough." She cut him off and lifting the box with two hands and handed it to him. "And I think you are absolutely insane. But... if this makes things easier on those two... I can't blame you for trying."

Hope swallowed thickly. Of course, for Noel and Serah this was hard, but what Snow had told him still weighed heavily on his conscious. He didn't like lying or withholding information from people. Especially those he cared about. Even now as he prayed his plan would save Etro he couldn't help but be afraid of what would happen next. He wrapped his hands around the medium sized box as best he could.

"Just... Thank you for all your help." He mumble nervously. More like the shy fourteen year old he had been then the self composed man he was now. "Thank you so much."

Aina must have saw something in his face as she laid her hands over his and nodded once. She turned back to her work and sighed softly. "I was told that you are going back into the gravity well in a few days. I'm taking over your duties in official capacity once you've been brought up to speed and signed off on everything."

"Aina..."

"Also General Yurg wants to talk to you as well as Councilor Ulman. They've been put into your meeting schedule."

"Damnit Aina. You can't really be putting up this wall right now!" He growled as he stepped forward. The older woman spun around with tears in her eyes.

"I sure as hell can. You sent me everything remember? I damn well can be upset that one of my dearest friends has basically set himself up to die!" She swallowed hard before continuing. "Maybe when you woke up those short few years ago I only saw the myth and the legend. But if I had known that knowing the man would be so painful I would have never..." She trailed off in a watery chuckle. "Who am I kidding?"

"I'm sorry." Hope swallowed hard, even after all this time he didn't do well with emotions. Especially volatile ones and he wanted nothing more then to apologize again. Somehow make things right. Aina was clenching her hands on the table and anyone could have walked in on this odd scene.

"Just... remember us left back here okay?" She asked quietly. "Be strong enough to survive."

Snow, never been one for self incriminations suddenly had temporary lapse as he sat with Serah in the Academia gardens. They had come here to relax but as he took in his beautiful fiancé and the permanent sorrow that lingered in her eyes. He felt as if everything was his fault. Why had he encouraged her beliefs? Why had he embarked on a journey to save Lightning at her insistence. He knew that such a path wouldn't have made her happy either. But she wouldn't be risking death.

"You looking thoughtful is kind of a scary thing." Serah murmured as she brushed dirt off her hands. She had been shifting through the fresh dirt beneath a rose bed when his mind had wandered off.

"Hey... Can't I think about the future once and a while?" He asked teasingly but her sigh was not the reaction that he was expecting.

"Is there any time when we aren't?" She asked in a way that completely broke his good mood. "All I can think about is the future. And how we could mess things up. The price we have to pay."

Serah swallowed hard. It wasn't often that one saw Snow stuck in self doubt. Oh, he wasn't as over confident as he seemed but he went through great pains to not let it show. To see him so out of sorts felt rather painful to be honest.

"I guess I just feel guilty..." He admitted quietly. "About Hope."

"Oh?" She asked as she threaded her arm through his. She thought about how sad Hope had looked back in 5AF. She closed her eyes and leaned against him.

"Well..." He paused in an almost uncommon thing and before continuing. "I had thought that by leaving Hope behind that I wouldn't have to worry about it. That he could you know... be a kid... Get along with his dad. Normal stuff."

"Did you really think that would happen?" She pulled back and stared at him with wide eyes. "That everyone who ever loved him, who he loved could just leave and he would be okay?!"

Snow winced as she ripped her arm from his. He'd done it now and she was about to lay into him. She stood up her hands clenched in frustration. He put his hands up in a placating manner and she shoved them away.

"IS THAT HOW YOU AND LIGHTNING THOUGHT ABOUT ME? THAT... That you could just leave me behind and I'd 'be okay?'" Her voice wilted as her anger did and she glared at him angrily.

"We wanted to protect you. I wanted to protect Hope." His voice was soft and chastised. "Maybe we were wrong in our way of doing it but... could you blame us? You'd been a crystal and Hope was so young..."

"Excuses." She hissed shaking her head from side to side. "Don't give me those fucking excuses as if they make it all better. Hope has been cleaning up all our messes... Searching for us. Trying to save Fang and Vanille-"

"AND I'VE BEEN DOING NOTHING?!" Snow stood up and grabbed her shoulders. "And what do you think Lightning is doing? She's protecting the goddess. She's trying to save the world."

"AND WHAT DO YOU THINK NOEL AND I ARE DOING?" She shouted back and shoved him hard enough. She caught him off guard and he stumbled over his feet and feel back on the bench. "I really hate that about you. You never try to understand how others feel."

Snow swallowed in guilt as tears began to roll down her cheeks. She was so beautiful even angry and sad. He stood up and scooped her up into his arms. He held her tightly and pressed his head against hers.

"You know I'm no good at this stuff Serah. I rush in... I fuck up... But I try right?" He asked as he buried his face in her hair. "I love you."

"We leave tomorrow." Noel spoke softly as he leaned against Hope on the couch staring out into the cold night. The other nodded weakly. The taller man took his partner's hand and intertwined their fingers as he thought of what would happen in the future. "We'll meet in 500AF right?"

"Of course." Hope turned and smiled at him. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Noel sobered unfortunately as he pressed a kiss to the older man's head. He pulled Hope into his arms and closed his eyes. The words that he wanted to say were trapped in his throat but he had a feeling that Hope was thinking the same thing. That they were both scared. No one could know what the future would bring but they both knew that harsh battles were coming their way.

"Hey Hope?" The other asked quietly as he pulled back and stared at their intertwined hands. "Can we reverse things? I... I don't want to leave without..."

"I understand." Hope stood up and pulled his hand, bring the other behind him. "Shall we?"

Once inside the bedroom, Noel couldn't help but fidget nervously even though he was the one that suggested that they do this. Remembering their first time, how Hope had taken control. Hope was someone who was probably use to being in control. He shook his head out as he realized that regardless of anything that they had done, Hope had been in control. He was the more experienced one and Noel knew that he could trust him. To lead, to guide or to take control, Hope would make sure things would be okay. With those thoughts the hunter visibly relaxed even as he discarded his pants.

Hope sucked in a breath as his hands froze on his own pants. Noel, having not grown up in a society where nudity could be an issue had stripped down so effortlessly, had taken off his clothes fairly quickly. Not that the older man minded. Noel was covered in richly tanned skin that covered hard muscles creating a body that resembled that of a hunter. Or the body of someone who was a hunter-gatherer. At that point Hope realized that he needed to turn off the analytical part of his mind.

He didn't want to think of maybes and what ifs. He wanted to explore the body of his wonderful partner. Hands leaving his pants, he approached Noel and carefully wrapped his arms around him. Noel smiled gently and tilted his head against Hope's mixing silver and brown.

"Hey... Aren't you supposed to be naked too?" The hunter teased as a hand tugged at Hope's pants.

"How can I focus on that when there's someone so handsome in front of me?" Hope teased watching as Noel's face colored, not use to compliments. Hope gently traced some of the stark white scares on Noel's skin before he smiled up at him. "Maybe you should help me out?"

Noel laughed and slowly undid Hope's pants and pushed them down his legs. He followed them down, making sure to keep his hands in contact with Hope's pale skin. Hope flushed more in embarrassment then anything else. He wasn't one to find such actions romantic or erotic. He pulled Noel back up against him and gestured towards the bed.

"Why don't you lay down and I'll get prepared." The older man murmured.

Noel laughed softly, he'd know that his partner wouldn't like such a gestured. Hope didn't like big romantic overtures and found attempts at being erotic more overdramatic at best and pointless at worst. And well, that was the only gestured that Noel knew how to do anyways. He laid down on his side of the bed and watched the other move around swiftly, seemingly uncomfortable with his own nudity.

Noel chuckled quietly to himself as Hope turned off the lights before approaching the bed. Leaving the setting sun as their only light was strangely romantic. But he knew that wasn't what the smaller man had in mind. Even though he was the more experienced of the two, Hope was hopelessly a prude about his own nudity and even his own sexuality.

"Oi... What's with that look?" Hope asked as he settled down on the bed and over Noel.

"Just thinking about my handsome lover." Noel teased as another blushed crossed Hope's cheeks. The other groaned a bit, Noel while not quite so comfortable with the physical aspect of a relationship. Always worried he was doing the wrong thing, he was unfortunately comfortable with teasing. A personality trait that Hope treasured nearly as much as it annoyed him. He pushed the other.

"Shut up." He growled before he dug his hands into Noel's hair and pressed a hard kiss to an open mouth. They lost themselves in kisses and touches. Hope deciding to not hold himself back at all.

Noel groaned into open air as Hope kissed his way down his body. He knew that the older man could be aggressive but hadn't realized how much that he'd been holding back. He looked forward to challenging the other back when he got better at these kinds of things. A harsh kiss against his inner thigh had his mind short circuiting.

Hope smirked, Noel was such a tactile creature, much like himself. He pressed light kisses up and down his thighs as he worked his legs open wider and up into position. Situating his own self he looked down at Noel fondly.

"This is going to be uncomfortable. And I need you to talk to me. I don't want to hurt you." He replied as he picked up the lubricant and liberally spread it on his fingers. Noel nodded afraid to speak. Hope reached down with both hands, one going for Noel's erection and the other for more secretive areas.

The brunet took a deep steadily breath as fingers slowly moved in places he wasn't sure to. He focused on Hope's face, his bright eyes as he tried not to think too much about what was happening below. The guardian knew that if he thought about it too much, he'd tense up. When there were two fingers inside he drew in a deep breath of uncomfortableness.

"Noel?" Hope asked imploringly and the other shook his head. Nothing had happened yet that was a problem. The younger man felt guilty for thinking yet, but he was afraid to make a sound, almost afraid that Hope would think any sound was distress and stop.

Hope smiled gently, Noel was holding back too much. He tightened his grip on the other's erection and began to pump harder and faster. Making him moan and seeing the pleasure across his face. One of Noel's hands trailed down and grabbed Hope's.

"T-too much." He rasped and Hope laughed gently.

All too soon for Noel, or maybe he had lost track of what was happen, but Hope's face was suddenly close and the other was adjusting their bodies. He realized that this was the point in which Hope was going to actually be inside him. His body tensed in fear and anticipation. Hope stopped his movements and shifted his whole body so that he could cup Noel's face.

"There is nothing with not doing this." The silver haired man stated firmly and Noel shook his head.

"I want this..." He whispered and Hope's smile turned very gently. He leaned down and kissed Noel gently. One hand on his face the other shifted his position and reached a hand back down. It happened so fast that Noel almost didn't realize it. Hope was inside, not full inside, but enough for Noel to really feel it.

He sucked in a deep breath and tilted his head back. Hope cupped his face and tilted it back to face him. The older man watched his lover as he slowly worked his way inside. He wanted to make sure that everything was okay. That Noel was ready and could take it. Once he was fully inside, Hope released the other and shift his position as he moaned weakly. Being inside Noel was amazing.

Feeling better, more confident at least, Noel reached up and curled his arms around Hope. The other moved to look at them and their mouthes met. When Noel was finally able to communicate that he was ready for more, Hope had been sure that he wasn't going to last. As Hope moved against him, Noel wasn't sure he could do much more then clutch at his lover and try to get use to the stimulation.

It didn't take longer for either to reach climax, Hope buried his head into Noel's shoulder to muffle his groan. Noel gasped in surprise as Hope came inside him. Hope reached his hand down to curl around Noel and finish him off feeling a bit guilty for moving maybe too fast. But, he didn't regret being able to watch Noel's face as he succumbed to pleasure coating his hand in white.

"I knew," Noel panted as he curled his arms around Hope after he'd pulled out and cleaned them both up a bit, "that I didn't want to leave without this. Without having experienced as much with you as I could."

"Don't say it like that." Hope's voice was surprisingly bitter and filled with anguish. "Don't say it as if after tomorrow we'll never see each other again."

"I didn't... I didn't mean it like that at all." Noel sat up quickly and pulled the other back against him, cringing at the soreness already spreading through his limbs. "Ow... I just meant that I don't know how long we'd be apart. I wanted to experience as much with you as I could before we were separated."

But by the melancholy look on the other's face the guardian knew that he'd failed at soothing the other. He tried to swallow his guilt and come up with a plan to make Hope smile, but he knew that he had nothing to make things better.

Hope stood beside Arcane as Noel stepped back towards Serah. The pink haired girl offered a fragment to the gate and the gyrators came alive and started moving glowing bright and bronze. Ethereal green joined it and Hope knew that it was really goodbye. Noel raised two fingers and waved them gently as he and Serah lifted up and disappeared.

Hope didn't say it out loud but the painful throb in his chest was enough to bring him to his knees. As the gate went dormant, the true proof that he couldn't follow the one he loved was horrible. No matter how the time passed the knowledge that he wouldn't see Noel for 100 years felt like agony. A strong hand clapped him on the back and he stumbled forward at the unexpected force.

"Come on kid. It's your turn next." Snow replied as he turned to head back to HQ. Hope growled under his breath and glared at the other.

"Couldn't you have left first you overgrown oaf." He grumbled.

"Ahh... I know you love me the most Hope!" Snow teased as he danced out of the way of a quick jab from the smaller man. Hope might have been physically smaller then Snow, but he packed quite a punch and Snow was finally bruised free for once.

As they entered the HQ, Hope swallowed hard. As much as he desired entering the gravity well so that he could be close to Noel again, he dreaded it. He didn't like the idea of having to wait. Of bring trapped inside a small box while those that he loved and cared about were in danger. He swallowed hard, he wanted to stay outside and help. But he wasn't chosen.

He had spent so much of his youth hating the fact that he had been chosen, that he had to fight and sacrifice and hurt. And now he wanted nothing more then to be in that place again. He felt like a fool.

Snow watched grimly as they were prepped to go into the gravity well. Before they breached the barrier that no one else could pass, Snow stopped him.

"See you on the flip slide kiddo." He waved at them but Hope had no way to reply. He tongue was frozen in fear and anguish as the last member of his family left his life, again.