Author's Note: Heyyy! Remember me! Probably not. Anyway I could apologize and list all the reasons why I took so long to update such as tearing a muscle in my ASS during field hockey summer workouts. I mean really HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?... But I won't. Instead I will just let you read the much belated update.

Take Note That:
1. I made Hope a bit older in this. He's like 18-ish. BUT no it is NOT so it can be Light/Hope. *GAG*
2. There is an OC in this. She has a minor but important role in the story.
3. ***MANY of you will think this is OOC. Especially Lightning. So please don't bother telling me. Thank you.***

Lastly I want to thank all my reviewers. I absolutely love you guys! Keep reviewing! It's what makes me update at all. Especially all of you who said I'm a great/amazing/talented writer for a 14 year old. No matter how often I'm told I never feel any less warm and fuzzy. So don't stop. =)

Now! On to the chapter. Enjoy!

Bodhum Beach

Six figures sat in a circle on the sun baked sand on the beach of the sea-side city of Bodhum. It was Lightning and Fang's day off from work, and like they did with most free days they met up with their friends. Serah sat with her new boyfriend on one beach towel, alongside Lightning, Fang, Hope, and Vanille respectively, as they chatted and ate hotdogs.

Why are the good ones always taken? Vanille sighed as she surreptitiously ogled Fang, who in turn, gazed dreamily at Lightning, much to the said soldiers ignorance. Lightning then in turn glared at the newest member of their sizeable clique- Snow Villiers. The afore mentioned giant of a man was nearly groping Light's little sister Serah as they sat clinging to each other on their beach towel.

What a mess… All without the mention of the stuttering and embarrassed nature of Hope every time he would have any form of interaction with Lightning. And, finally to top it all off was the look of longing that Vanille would flash to Serah intermittently in attempt to avoid the notice of any of the others.

"Serah!" The warning lashed out like an attacking snake causing the young Farron to flinch and immediately retract her ever-wandering hands from her new boyfriend. She flashed an apologetic smile to her big sis.

Hope laughed at the fearful expression on the Team NORA leader's face at the intensity of Lightning's glare. Meanwhile, Fang took note of the way the ever-bubbly Vanille seemed uncharacteristically bothered by the whole situation.

"Aww… come on, Claire. We're just havin' a little fun. If ya ask me I think you're jealous," Snow teased having mustered up enough courage to face his girlfriend's sister. That in itself was a pretty admirable feat. The soldier's fright inducing glare somehow managed to up its intensity as her teeth ground together.

"Sis, is just not used to me having a boyfriend who dares stick around after first meeting her." Serah said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"What makes you think you can call me Claire?" Ignoring her sister Lightning spoke directly to Snow.

"Well… I am dating your sister…," he said matter-of-factly, "And you let them call you Claire." He gestured to Fang and Vanille.

"I like them. I don't like you. You can call me Lightning."

Snow grinned. "Ok, Light."

"Lightning" She said emphasizing the last syllable.

Snow opened his mouth to speak just as Fang butted in, putting an arm around Light's tense shoulders. "I wouldn't push it, Snow. Sunshine here may be nicer than she used to be, but she's killed for less. Trust me, I know." She winked as Lightning pushed her away, though most of her hostility had already faded.

"I still say she's jealous," Snow said with a shrug before adding, "That's it! Light nee- Lightning needs a boyfriend!" Light scowled. The same expression mirrored on Fang's face as well.

Serah gasped. "I think he's right, Claire. I mean, when was the last time you were on a date?"

Hmm… 10th grade and I broke the douche bag's nose…"Not long ago."

"Oh really? If I remember correctly it was what… 10th grade and you broke his nose when he tried to kiss you goodnight." She announced smugly. Lightning couldn't help but smirk at the memory.

"Ok maybe I overreacted… a little." Fang and Vanille giggled, Snow winced, and Hope nervously gulped down a couple bites of his hotdog.

"Poor bastard," Fang chuckled. Hmm…does that mean Sunshine's never been kissed?

Serah continued. "Yeah, and then his parents tried to sue. What was his name…? Yaag? Yeah that was it, yet that's only one of your horrible attempts at dating."

"Oh there's more? Do tell." Fang smiled mischievously as she playfully nudged Light with her shoulder.

"No don't tell."

"Aww…come on sis. Not even the one when you were a freshman and you-"

"I said no"

"beat up that cheerleader cause she-"

"Serah!"

"was jealous of you and that jock boy…Cid?"

"No, not even that one."

"Ugh, fine…" After a short silence Serah opened her mouth to speak.

"Can we please change the subject now?" Lightning said quickly before Serah could begin to tell another violent tale of her past failed boyfriends. Maker knows there are plenty to choose from.

"Weren't we talking about how Light needs a boyfriend?" Snow grinned. "How bout Hope?" Hope nearly choked on his hotdog before replying only with a nervous laugh. Vanille giggled and nudged him with her elbow.

Lightning scowled. "Not my type. And I don't need a boyfriend. Ugh, I don't even want one."

Vanille squeezed Hope's shoulder sympathetically. Poor Hope…

After thinking for a moment Snow blurted. "Ha I got it!"

"Got what?" Light sighed.

"You're asexual!"

"What?" Lightning made a face as her "friends" laughed at her expense.

"You know like-"

"I know what it means you moron, but just because I don't want a boyfriend doesn't mean I'm a-fucking-sexual."

Snow grinned seeing a perfect opportunity to tease and embarrass the soldier further. "Oh, so you're gay then! You know, you and Fang would make a great couple." Lightning's eyes went wide before narrowing, and Fang looked away to hide her blush. Oh Maker…and the sand dyed red from the blood of a fresh kill.

Snow's grin lingered as Lightning cleared her throat and reached for the satchel beside her. "Sis…Sis don't," Serah begged as Light pulled her survival knife out, running her fingers along it as she examined it in her hands.

"But why not, Serah. I think it'd be fun." The eerily calm tone of her husky voice made it seem almost sinister. "Call it my way of… bonding." Her smile was vicious as she rose slowly. "And with the same knife you two gave me on the birthday you introduced him to me. Oh, the irony!"

"H…Hey Honey," Snow said to Serah, "How bout we go swimming now?" They got up and slowly began backing towards the ocean.

Lightning made a sudden jerk in their direction and they turned and bolted for the waves. Laughing, she turned around to the three others. Fang and Vanille's hands left their mouths, no longer trying to suppress their laughter, while Hope's jaw might as well been sprawled out on the sand.

Light shook her head and laughed. "I wasn't actually going to kill him, Hope." Lightning recognized a familiar face coming their way.

"Hey guys! Sorry I'm late!" she said.

It was Ciel Vassilieva , a new recruit to Guardian Corp. that Lightning and Fang took under their wing. She was an orphan who'd always wanted to be a soldier like her father, but that dream was cut short when he died with her mother in the Velmecian Tower "Incident" four years prior. The same incident in which they almost died.

They never totally remembered that day except that it was caused by someone not some gas leak or some out of uncontrolled electrical fire that deceitful politicians fed their naïve, dependent "citizens", or should I say subjects.

Ciel was forced to take care of her three young brothers as they were thrown from foster home to foster home until she turned 18. When she did, she got them a home of their own, and then joined Guardian Corp. a few months later. This is what made Lightning take to her so quickly. She admired the girl. She went through worse than Lightning had but fought through it without losing herself in the process. That was something she couldn't say about herself.

"No problem, glad you could make it," Fang said, recovering from her fit of laughter.

"Not sure I wanna ask…" She said hesitantly, an ever-present smile on her face that never failed to shine through to the steely blue eyes underneath bleach blonde bangs," But what'd I miss?"

"Oh, nothing just a little game of knife-tag," Light quipped. "It's fun. You should try it sometime."

Ciel chuckled. "I'm sure it is. Just… remind me not to get on your bad side… like… ever."

Snow chuckled as he returned to meet the new company. "Words to live by… I'm Snow by the way."

"Ciel." Snow chuckled at the look on her face as she shook a hand nearly twice the size of her own.

"Well," Fang butted into the introductions putting an arm around Light's shoulders, "Now that we're all here…Whaddaya say we get wet!" She waggled her eyebrows and winked at Lightning, who shrugged her off, shaking her head.

"Ugh. You know what you go do that. I think I'll just stay here and fantasize about a little knife-tag."

"Oooh so you're fantasizing about me now, eh?"

"There's no winning with you is there?" Light scoffed.

"You know it." She winked. "I'll drag you in myself."

Light grinned at the proposed challenge. "Go for it."

The five others stood watching from a few feet away as the bikini-clad duo began wrestling in the sand.

"Hey C, tag team. Help me out here," Fang said to Ciel. Lightning shot her a you-do-it-and-I'll-kill-you glare.

"Uhh.. I think I'll pass. Words to live by, remember?" After a short silence she half asked, half laughed. "Are they always like this?"

"Always."

"Pretty much."

"Yep!"

Snow the only one who didn't respond, cleared his throat. Avert your eyes… Come on Snow avert your eyes from the two…hot…wrestling… "Ow." Serah elbowed him in the side and pulled off a glare that only a Farron could manage.

He chuckled nervously "Let's... go…swimming?"

As the five made there way to the water Snow's mind desperately repeated Don't look back, don't look back, don't look back. Meanwhile Serah watched as Hope nervously and stuttered an introduction to Ciel. She shook her head. Poor Hope…

"Haha! Success!" Fang managed to pin Lightning's arms behind her back as she practically dragged her towards the water, but not without resistance of course. The soldier kicked, squirmed and threatened as she feigned anger towards her best friend.

"Faannnggg! I don't want to go in the water!" Lightning pouted. Fang stopped. Lightning pouted?… Never thought I'd see the day…

Fang opened her mouth to make a crack at the pouty soldier when a loud and abrupt crackling noise sounded in the sand behind them. Fang released Lightning realizing it was an emergency dispatch that, as the duties of a soldier called for, they needed to respond to.

"Damn it all to hell!" Just when things were getting fun. "I hate being on call"

Author's Note: So what do you think? Personally I think it's not that great, but I tend to overthink and criticize everything I write. Which is partly why I update so slowly. *Sigh* I just need to stop thinking. Anyway if you think I'm wrong tell me. Review, review, review! Please!

PS- Is it just me or is there a lack of new Fang/Lightning stories? Come on people! Write! All I see is Hope/Lightning or Lightning/Snow! *GAG*