AN: Sorry it took so long! Anyways. If you guys want more let me know and I will continue to write this out as a full story long as ya want it! Also excuse the shitty ending it is 6am and I am very tired

The almost painful whistle of the kettle snapped Lightning from her thoughts, her eyes focusing on it rather than the phone in her hands she easily tucked in her back pocket. For her it was...more calming to do the little work required to make tea from teabags rather than buy a jug from the Cie mart down the road regardless of knowing the owners. This was easier because though it was funny she liked adding cinnamon to anything almost, a trick Fang had taught her back in college.

Fang, the person of her thoughts tonight. She could remember almost every memory they had. Painful as some might be she'd think of one when she needed it and lately that had been more often than not. She needed a cold reminder that this was the real world, but not the world of a battlefield, or those of fantasy. No. Lightning needed to remember the level of anger, pain, and love they held before breaking apart. It was simple to her. It was real. Yet, she still felt nostalgia and that hum in her chest thinking about it.

How had things gotten that torn up? It had plagued her forever. She didn't see it and neither did Fang. Things just fell apart and all the either could do was just watch it crumble like they hadn't even tried. They had tried so hard after to continue but there was just regret in the air surrounding everything so it didn't surprise her to hear the words slip out of Fang's mouth and while she had agreed maybe they couldn't do it for a few years it still hurt and she still cried (she still does at times). They had too many secrets of their own.

Fang had gotten a proposition to give tours of Gran Pulse, the all but begotten country. Fang was one of the few Yun left maybe even the only one so it made sense for her to take it. She'd give tours, educate people on her homeland, her people's ways, and off to the side she gave a once a month for one-week survival course. She knew of that because they'd send recruits her way if they couldn't handle themselves well enough. They'd either come back better with more refined survival instincts, half dead, and exhausted, ready to quit. Lightning would find herself chuckle about the state of the men before sending them to the showers after a couple of laps around the course.

Lightning herself had driven up the ranks in the Guardian Corps. up to LT. or that scary bitch as the recruits would call her in the past five years. She had seen two or three battles and proved herself in each one as one of the best snipers they had seen, not something she prided herself in. She prided her ability to hit a tin can from four or five miles away with just about any weapon you gave her. She supposed her favorite part of her job was being stationed in New Raccoon near her sister and her big oaf of a brother-in-law. The recruits would always hear stories about her and she loved the shock on their faces when it turned out to be her and she defied their expectation of what she'd be, especially when she took one or two down in a spar.

Lightning shook her head and pulled out her phone before sitting down and taking a sip re-reading the text.

Hey sunshine, been awhile eh? Sorry, 'bout that. I'll be in town later if you'd like to meet up? -Fangry

Her reply:
Sure. I'll be at Sazh's Place for dinner later. Can meet me there. -NoReason

That ol' shit finally got his restaurant? Lightning snorted shaking her head. -Fangry

Yes. It only took him a couple of years and me to pay for half of it. -NoReason

Co-owner eh? Nice, wouldn't peg you for the bunkered down type. -Fangry Lightning flinched, that was something they argued about.

See you at eight then? -NoReason was all she could muster up rather than the 'not fair' or 'don't do this now Fang' that she had to bite back.

Alright it's date then! -Fangry

Lightning sighed heavily putting her phone on the table. Fang always had a way with words, especially those that stung. Even if she didn't mean for it to sting it had. Lightning had regretted their argument that day and wanted so badly to take back those words she sputtered in just pure anger at her partner but couldn't. Fang was just as worse if not worse with the things she had said as well. Still it took Fang two years to actually talk to her and over the next three they talked maybe even became friends again but not like they were before, till six months ago when Fang had just stopped talking. Lightning thought maybe it was she remembered why they fought and didn't work out and just wanted to cut their ties.

It was 6:00 P.M., in about thirty minutes she had to meet Serah and Snow at the restaurant. It was just a casual dinner so she didn't have to wear anything extravagant or outrageous which she appreciated so she had time to spare. Time that was spent finishing some paperwork, reading over field reports, patrol reports, etc. as well as finishing her drink. Throughout the entire thirty minutes she as unsure of how to feel about seeing Fang. Yes, she was happy about it but, then again she wondered why on earth Fang would want to be HERE and see HER. Did she still care like she used to? Or was it just a reason to get back at her? No, that's not how Fang worked and she knew that very well. Even though, five years could change people she didn't think Fang's core would be altered that much. In any case maybe this was the time to apologize?

It'd have to wait till dinner was over, she decided as she set her cup in the sink and found her way into her bedroom to change. The leather jacket she always wore, a long sleeve black shirt, her pink scarf, and jeans. She never has a strong fashionable sense, just whatever was comfortable and this was but, she held the jacket for a moment thinking about leaving it because it was well Fang's. It was snowing and cold, she had no other jacket so she just prayed Fang wouldn't notice and put it on and headed out the door.

Though cold Lightning walked from her apartment to the restaurant to clear her head. The cold provided a blanket that just helped everything make sense or maybe the fresh air? Regardless it worked and she enjoyed the five minute but relaxing walk. She combed a hand through her light pink hair and released the breath she held in crossing the street to the restaurant. In mere seconds she spotted her sister waving her down with a bright smile and she smiled and waved her back taking a few seconds to hold the door open for a woman and her dog receiving a thank you before striding off to her sister and Snow both of which gave her quick hugs and thanked her for coming.

"What on the menu?" She asked scooting her chair in.

"Nothing fancy really, Sazh's famous onion, steak soup. I ordered for you by the way." She nodded. Serah pointed out a finger to her and continued, "Which I don't think cinamon would go well with." Lightning rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You have an addiction."

"No I don't." She took a drink of water.

"You put cinnamon on everything!"

"No I don't."

"Yes you do."

"You so do."

"I so don't."

"Uh-huh."

"I don't! I know what goes well with it and what doesn't. Fang used to put it on everything and I will admit it isn't that great on steak-"

"You still love her."

"Serah please not here."

"Alright, alright, but Vanille and I may still not be trying to fina a way to get you two back together." Serah sat back in her seat arms crossed and smirked. Lightning rose an eyebrow.

"Is that why she's here?"

"What?" Lightning sat back unamused herself.

"She texted me earlier and wanted to see me." Serah blinked in confusion. "You didn't know?"

"No..." It was odd simply because Fang always notified Vanille when she would be out of town even for a few minutes and in return Vanille would tell Serah if Fang was close by (Fang being the only one she trusted near her car other than Lightning and let's face it Serah refused to give up the heap of junk she drove.)

"There's a first for everything." Lightning told her sister.

"Here ya are ladies," Rinoa smiled placing plates down in front of them. "and dogs." She chuckled at the happy dog beside her that lightning bent over o pet a couple of times. It wasn't nearly as big as Bahamut but Angelo was a good dog regardless.

"Did you hear that honey? You ARE a dog." Serah teased. Snow shook his head kissing her.

"Most men are," Rinoa laughed. "If you guys need anything just holler for me?"

"Thanks!"

"I thought you were off this weekend?" Lightning spoke up crossing her arms curiously at the older woman.

"Overtime." Was all she had to say and Lightning nodded as she walked away leaving them to their evening.

The dinner ended with a few minutes to spare before Fang was too arivve (Lightning calculating in the time it might take Fang to be 'fashionably' late.) The dinner was nice and calm despite Serah trying to poke her for news on her love life or her "dramatic but romantic" reunion with Fang that ended when Lightning gave her a look and said no. Serah shrugged and dropped it but it'd eventually come back up. Lightning did have to compliment Sazh on the soup, it filled her up quickly but damn it was good. Almost as good as Pulsian dried jerky. The meat? That was the mystery of it. Snow was tolerable now and a good man that had learned the ropes of what he could ask Lightning and what he couldn't as he wasn't her lover or Serah somethings would remain off-limits. The conversation was made up of mainly "how are you, what have you been doing, how was today." Just the casual but she appreciated the casual talk especially after a day of Military jargain andpaperwork. After it was over she hugged them and said her goodbyes as she waited.

And boy did she wait for awhile, longer than expected but this was Fang, so she waited. She didn't mind as she found the darkened sky and light snow to be quite beautiful bringing back memories. She remembered when they were young she would drag Serah out in it from her book and roll around in it as their parents watched their smiling kids. Now it seems that since their parents are gone that roll was reversed. She still likes the snow but who has time when you have work? Certainly not her. Until now.

When Lightning looked up at the sound of a car engine there was a quick flash of light blue of a massive- whatever the hell it was and she found herself cringing covering at the sound of a loud crash. When she looked up she found a car overturned massive damage to the hood and doors her feet started themselves. They walked and she obeyed. It was her INSTINCTS to help but the look of it all stunned her until the fire started and daunting realization hit her.

That was Fang's car. She could see Fang struggling and bleeding inside. At that point she was already stripping her jacket and sprinting to the car yelling to the people who gathered at the restraunt to call 911. As she reached the car she extended her hand trying the handle but it wouldn't budge. No, no, no! She thought to herself.

"Fang? Can you hear me?" She nearly shouted as she made it around to the other door but it wouldn't work. None of them would so she found herself back at the paasenger door. "Fang?"

"Y-yea..." She heard mumbled.

"Fang honey I need you to cover your face." She gave her a second or two before kicking the window in and laying her jacket over the glass. When she looked in Fang was already out cold and still bleeding. God the blood...there wasn't enough she'd die from (thanks to the airbags) but there was still enough to worry her.

Though the seatbelt was jammed and unrelenting to release Lightning managed to bring out her knife cut Fang free trying her best to not hurt her more than she already was. With that, Lightning pulled her out and dragged her away far enough if the car were to explode she wouldn't be hurt. She had NO idea what to do beyond that. There was quite bit of blood on the back of her head and it made lightning feel so helpless. A broken finger, nose, even a knife wound? Sure she could help with that but this? She had no idea! She wasn't the famous Doctor Vanille was! She was just a soldier with an uncncious woman in her lap.

"Don't you dare do this too me now." She warned Fang gritting her teeth. "Goddess..."