Chapter three

Lightning made her way back down the stairs, smiling a little at Fang calling her Sunshine. She sat back on the couch and looked at Vanille. There was silence a moment before Lightning spoke up nervously. "Well… She seems to be okay."

Vanille smiled sweetly at her, deciding not to hold back here. "She does. I cannot believe you kissed her! That was so totally not in the script."

Lightning chuckled as she watched Vanille bounce in her seat she lowered her voice. "My mind just melted when I saw her. That was all I could think to do. It was stupid and I know it."

Vanille shook her head hard. "No way! It was brave, and brilliant and totally romantic. It's not like you knew she had no memories," Lightning put her feet up on the table and watched her friend as she continued. "Her memory will come back. I know it!"

Lightning groaned a little. "Saying that isn't as reassuring as everyone seems to think it is."

Vanille clasped her hands together in front of her. "And I told you that she would be interested… She's totally flirting with you! You guys looked so cute together..." She just kept rambling and Lightning didn't have the heart to stop the excited woman.

Fang moaned at how good the hot shower felt. She was more than a little disappointed that she couldn't remember anything. She sighed and washed her hair, not really sure what that night would bring. She wasn't sure where she was staying; she hoped that it'd be with Vanille because she wanted to be near someone that wasn't a stranger. Vanille had told her she was staying with Snow and Lightning's sister, so maybe that's where she would be staying too. She sighed and let the hot water run down her shoulders and breasts. It was weird to be here in someone else's shower and part of her wondered if she'd been here before. Maybe Lightning was sweet coating things about the seriousness of their relationship prior to stasis. There was something about the other woman and the way she looked at her that gave Fang a strange feeling of triumph. It was almost like this was a long time coming. She shut the water off and wrapped up in a towel before stepping out of the shower. She reached to the counter to look for the clothing Lightning was going to give her and saw nothing. She sighed and tied the towel tighter before leaving the bathroom.

Lightning came out of the kitchen with a mug of tea in her hand for Vanille, stopping dead as she passed the stairs. Standing on the landing with damp skin and hair was Fang. Fang in just a little blue towel that looked amazing with all that tanned skin. Lightning had always had a vague curiosity about the Oerban woman, but at that moment she found herself thinking about nothing beyond how those long legs would feel wrapped around her waist. Thankfully for Lightning, Fan failed to notice the flush that spread over the soldier's pale chest and shoulders.

"Did you need something?" Lightning cautiously looked up to her and then it clicked. "Shit. I was supposed to get you something to wear," She put the tea down with Vanille before heading up the stairs, slipping past the towel-clad woman letting herself breathe in the smell of her as she passed. She went upstairs, totally enthralled by the scent of jasmine that followed her into her room. She went to her closet and looked to Fang. There was no way that the woman's long legs would fit into her pants but the waist might be okay. It would have to be shorts. She tossed a pair of black capris onto the bed with a belt before getting out a long tank top from a drawer. She took a clean button up shirt for herself so she could change.

"We can go out shopping to get some stuff for you tomorrow if you want," she mumbled as she made her way out of the room to let her change.

Fang made a small chuckle as she picked up the tank top to put it on. "Thanks!" She threw the word over her shoulder, not even giving Lightning a chance to leave before the towel was off and she was getting dressed. The top was a tight fit on her shoulders and the capris were snug but they did the job. She fastened the belt and took a look in the mirror to make sure she looked okay. She gave a small nod of approval and made her way out of Lightning's room. She came back down the stairs and moved to sit in the couch. Vanille grinned and sat with her, taking Fang's arm and putting it around her shoulders. Fang smiled and leaned into the shorter girl.

"Weird looking clothes eh? But they are comfy," Fang smiled and stretched her legs out. "So… When do we need to get out of here?" Fang looked to Lightning for confirmation.

Lightning looked at her watch, pulling the sleeve of her shirt up. "Whenever we feel like showing up I guess."

Serah shook her head as she peeled potatoes. "Poor Claire… She must have been so devastated," she looked at her husband as he tidied up toys from around the kitchen.

"It was awesome though… It was like all the emotions she had for like her entire life just went bam! And exploded all over," he ran a hand through his hair and chuckled. "I didn't even know she liked girls."

Serah gave him a look that her sister would have been proud of and put the knife down before turning to him. "Why does that even matter Snow? Poor Claire put herself out there finally and it just went sour on her. Why would it matter if it was a woman?" She crossed her arms over her chest and Snow could almost hear the ice breaking under him.

"No! It's not important… Totally not important at all," he shook his head hard, making any attempt at this point to secure his spot sleeping in the bed that night. He laughed nervously and nearly ran for the door when he heard the doorbell ring. He swung the door wide, wanting to kiss whoever just saved him from his hormonal wife. "Hope… You are a sight for sore eyes!"

"Is she here yet?" Hope craned his neck to try and look past the man in front of him. Snow laughed and shook his head, letting Hope in past him.

"Last I heard she was heading to Light's place with Vanille," he smirked at the blush that came over Hope's cheeks. "They should be here soon."

"Oh? Yeah okay… That's good-great even," he took his jacket off. The last time they had all been together was for Snow's twenty-sixth birthday about a month earlier. Lebreau had supplied the party favors and by the end of the night Hope could barely stand. Vanille had taken it upon herself to get the Nineteen year old guardian corps recruit safely to bed. The whole situation worked itself up to an awkward attempt at a kiss and Hope's even more awkward confession of love.

"Hey! It's my favorite little Don Juan!" Serah said with a laugh as she leaned in the kitchen doorway. Hope made a face; he was never going to live it down. At least Vanille had taken it in stride. He grinned a little as Eli started to drag him off towards his room.

Fang got out of the car and let out a low whistle as she looked at the house. She looked to Vanille and chuckled. "This is where they are keepin' ya?" She nodded her approval.

"Yeah… Lightning helped them get it after the wedding. She does really well for herself. She is a soldier… A lieutenant to boot," she gave a firm nod and a thumbs up to Lightning behind Fang's back. The gesture was cute but made Lightning feel like she was on some sort of matchmaking reality show.

"Well Sunshine… Colour me impressed! I was worried that weapon of yers was going to waste," she smirked as she followed Lightning up the front steps. Lightning pushed the door open and stepped inside, motioning for them to follow.

"Oh my god…" Serah was quick to move past her husband. She smiled up at the strange woman. "Hi! I'm Claire's sister Serah!" She offered a hand. Fang looked a little confused at the use of the name Claire and looked to Lightning.

"I assume yer Claire too? Since nobody else here could be her sister," She chuckled and took Serah's hand. "It's nice to finally meet you lovey," Fang blinked and nearly fell over as Serah pulled her down to hug her.

"You have no clue who I am, I know that. But you also have no clue what you did for me either," Serah pulled away slowly. "I am here because of you… I have this amazing family because of your sacrifice and I just want to tell you how much that means to me Fang."

The tall huntress chuckled a little and had to look down, not sure how to take the praise. "Lovey, I'm not sure why I did what I did… But I know I am glad I did it. Everyone here seems so happy and ya all seem to think I had somethin' to do with it," She smiled and looked to Lightning a moment before looking back. "Thank ya for invitin' me out tonight. Ya make me feel like some sort of hero," She smiled at the shorter woman, blinking as she spotted someone peeking out from behind Snow's legs.

"Come on Eli… Come meet Fang," This time the voice came from a young man, tall, with spikey silver hair and an unsure smile. Hope walked to Fang and smiled wide. "You look the same as you did five years ago," He offered a hand. "I'm Hope. Another former l'cie."

"Hope works under my command with the guardian corps," Lightning offered. She grinned a little at Fang before scooping up her nephew. "And this is Eli!" Lightning grinned and looked at the boy, who nodded and smiled to Fang.

"I'm Fang too!" Eli said with a nod.

"What he means is that his middle name is Fang… He is named after you of course," Snow smiled and took the boy from his aunt. Fan blinked and looked to her sister, who was grinning widely. Fang looked back to the little family.

"I… I am honored… Really," She was astounded by these people and felt awful that she couldn't remember them. A child named for her, a woman that clearly had feelings for her, and the way that Hope looked at her as if she were some sort of Goddess… It was a lot. What made the situation even stranger was the fact that she felt totally at ease with them. Snow gave her a grin.

"Make yourself at home. I'm going to start getting dinner on the grill," he chuckled and made his way back to the kitchen with his wife.

After dinner Fang sat in the grass next to Vanille she was all smiles and looked around the yard. Sazh had arrived shortly after they had with his son Dajh in tow. His reaction to seeing Fang was enough to nearly floor Fang, hugging her before she even knew his name, not bothering to stop himself from crying as he thanked her again and again. She shook her head and leaned back on her elbows.

"Sort of overwhelming isn't it? I thought it was when they did it to me," Vanille asked with a grin. Fang gave a nod as she watched Lightning talk to her Serah and Hope.

"Answer somethin' for me… and I want honesty Vanille," she looked at her sister. "What's the deal with Sunshine over there? Why the lip lock when she saw me? I asked her and she said there was nothing before."

Vanille sipped her beer and sighed. "Honestly Fang. I am not sure what is up. You guys used to wander off together, sparring, scouting," She shrugged, not wanting to get in the middle or lose Lightning's trust. "You never mentioned anything happening that would make me assume something you know… Happened."

"I can see something happenin'. I mean it wouldn't have surprised me," Fang kept her eyes on Lightning and picked at the label on her beer bottle, she sipped her drink before she continued. "If we were back in Oerba, I would have easily given her chase," She let out a low chuckle.

"Well maybe something will happen now!" Vanille laughed nervously at that. "You know, since you are staying at her place and all…" she cringed when Fang choked on her mouthful of beer and gave her a glare. "I am in the only spare room here and Hope lives with his dad so their place is full. "

Fang raised a hand to stop Vanille. "It's alright Vanille. I am sure I will get by," she grinned slowly, eyes still on the pinkette. "She might have a harder time of it though," She got to her feet and made her way over to where Dajh and Eli were playing some sort of sword fighting game.

Serah smiled and took a seat next to the older Farron. "Claire… She is really something," She shook her head. "I know she can't remember anything and I think that just adds to her charm. She seems so modest," she lowered her voice. "I heard she was pretty Claire… But oh my goodness… What an understatement! " Lightning gave a small nod and put her sneakered feet up.

"She is even more stunning than I remembered," Lightning said with a smile as she watched the tall Oerban playing in the yard with Eli and Dajh. They had equipped her with a stick and now she was trying to fend the boys off. It was sort of cute to watch the three of them. She had never pictured Fang as being a nurturing type. It sort of made sense though when she thought about the way Fang was with Vanille.

"Maybe you need to sit her down and have a talk with her Claire. If you guys connected before she went to sleep then I am sure you can connect again now," Serah smiled and leaned back, putting her hands on her round belly. Lightning shook her head.

"No… She has enough on her shoulders right now, I am not about to add to that," she got up slowly and made her way over to where Fang and the boys were playing. She smiled to herself as she sat on the swing set. Fang stopped what she was doing and handed off her sword before coming to sit on the swing next to Lightning.

"You having a good time Sunshine?" She leaned back on her swing and started to spin slowly to wind the chain.

Lightning watched Fang let go and spin back to where she started. "Why do you keep calling me that?" Fang chuckled and stopped to look at her.

"I am really not sure… It just seems to fit ya," she started to wind the chain again. "Ya want me to stop callin' you that?"

Lightning shook her head. "You used to call me that before. It is just weird to hear it again." Fang paused and looked at her before spinning on the swing again. She was quiet a long moment before swinging to the side to crash her swing into Lightning's.

"Weird… I don't know Sunshine," she shrugged. "It just popped into my head and stuck yeah?" Fang smiled and looked over to the others. "They're great ya know? Your family."

"You know Fang. They are your family too now," Lightning smiled and looked down to the grass. Fang reached over to lift her chin again.

"No reason to be shy…" She smiled and started to actually swing. "So… Vanille tells me that I am crashin' at your place yeah?" She smirked slowly, her green eyes lighting up dangerously. "We sharing a bed?" Lightning's eyes widened, if Fang kept on the way she had been it was going to be hard to keep away.

"Okay just stop with that. It's making me uneasy Fang," Lightning got up off her swing, having decided to put the brakes on this while she still could. Fang was quick to scramble off of hers.

"Woah! Claire… I didn't mean to upset ya…" Fang reached to slow her. Lightning pulled away.

"Don't call me that…" Lightning shook her head and started off towards the others. Fang blinked and went after her.

"I'm sorry Sunshine… Light… I will stop. I will be on my best behaviour yeah?" She took Lightning's hand and pulled her back. "Stop avoidin' me! Seriously, I like talking to ya."

Lightning sighed and turned back to her. "Fang. I think that we need to drop this for now. For the sake of you getting better anyways," she gave Fang's hand a gentle squeeze before heading back to the others.

Author's notes:

-Okay, here we do. Hope this is to everyone's liking. After the last chapter went up I got a couple anonymous comments about my punctuation (Which sort of sucks because I can't send you a message to thank you)... So I attempted to adjust that. Sorry, I am used to writing term papers more than anything. It has been years since I wrote something that didn't include law jargon... So this is an adjustment.

Thanks again for the continuing support.