Next chapter up and running obviously. this is a long one, specially compared to my others. Hope it turnes out well. Please Leave reviews so i'll know how i did.

Chapter 4

Fang looked at behemoth in front of her. It was big, easily bigger than most; and there were two of them. She looked at the pink haired soldier next to her, her only partner. The other four had drawn the second behemoth away to deal with it, but it was slow going. She and Lightning on the other hand, had already got it to change to its bipedal form. Their fight would be over soon.

Fang and Lightning both struck at the creature, Lightning landing at least double the hits that Fang did, but with less force. Lightning finished with a back handspring and a shot from her gunblade. Fang staggered the creature just as Lightning broke into a sprint, at her. She launched the behemoth into the air and then dropped to one knee, laying her spear over it at an angle. Lightning never broke stride as she put one foot onto the flat of Fang's spear. At that moment the huntress brought her arm down on the other end, and sent the smaller woman flying into the air. Lightning did a summersault and came down on the beast in midair, sword sinking deep into its chest, then pushed off, rocketing the beast at Fang, who was waiting below. The pulsian planted her spear into the ground and rolled out of the way just as the behemoth crashed down, impaling itself on the spear. Lighting landed on the stomach of the felled monster and grabbed Fang's spear from its chest before running after the woman who was already half-way to the other battle. Lightning didn't even have to wonder why she left it, the two were operating in perfect synchronization. Fang stopped and turned just before entering the second battle zone, where the behemoth was still in its four footed form. Lightning threw the spear to Fang as she ran, who caught the weapon and immediately threw it straight into the air before dropping again to one knew, cupping her hands as she did. Lightning put one foot in Fangs hands and the pulsian threw her into the air. She caught Fang's spear on the way up and, at the apex of her flight, threw it down at the beast that was still distracted by the other four l'cie it was fighting. The spear went through the beast neck, yet it continued to fight. Fang joined the others against it as Lightning began her descent, in a full dive. The beast was weak, and with Fang's help it was staggered in seconds, before it could transform. Fang landed a kick to the underneath of the monster's jaw, since her spear was stuck in its neck, which knocked it into a stumbling position on two feet. As this happened Lightning reached out a hand and grabbed ahold of the now horizontal spear and spun herself around it twice before releasing and returning, not so high, to above the beast's head. Then she came down and landed on top of it, driving her sword into its face. She jumped off as the monster came crashing down on its back, Fang's spear now sticking through its neck completely.

Fang walked over to retrieve her spear and held out her arm as she did so. Lightning saw no need for the gesture but accepted it anyway, bumping her wrist against Fang's as they passed each other; at least it was better that Snow trying to get a high five.

"Damn soldier girl. When did you learn how to fly?" Sazh asked as Lightning returned to the group.

"That was awesome!" Hope added, his eyes wide and his jaw nearly on the ground.

"What? No praise for little ol' me?" Fang asked with a smile as she reunited with the others, spear in hand.

"You were good too, Fang." Vanille said to her friend.

"I know," Fang said, "but they're right. This one was almost all Sunshine." Fang rested her arm on Lightning's shoulder as she said this. If it had been anyone else, Lightning would have shrugged it off and stepped away, but with Fang, she was glad to have her nearby.

"Well, let's get going, we're almost there." Vanille said, skipping ahead of the rest of the group and turning around to face them while she waited for them to catch up.

"I'll second that." Sazh said as they started towards her, "Between that Taejin Tower and these triple-XL behemoths, I could really use a break."

"What's wrong old man?" Snow asked, patting Sazh on the back, "Can't keep up?"

"Oh I can keep up alright. It's just really exhausting to do so." Sazh said

Vanille had been right. They had barely walked for ten minutes before they reached their destination. It wasn't much, but it was more than they had seen on Gran Pulse so far.

"Well, ladies and gentleman, here it is. Home sweet home." Fang said, "Oerba, Village proper."

They explored the village fairly extensively; finding a surprising amount of it intact. There were a few beasts to take care of, all of which were dispatched easily; they're only real trouble coming from a simple yet annoyingly long battle with a vetella which left Sazh cursing the "Damn shielded bastard." The high point of the search when they found something they hadn't expected to find but where glad was there.

"Beds!" Hope exclaimed, jumping onto the nearest one, "They're still intact!" He added, bouncing on the one he was sitting on. He turned and lay on his back. "And they're soft." He said, before sitting back up and watching as both Snow and Vanille found the other beds in the room and tested them out.

"Kids right." Snow said, swaying on the bed he was sitting on to see if it could hold his weight. Suddenly Vanille jumped up from the bed and ran out the back door, or the hole where one used to be.

Suddenly they heard a shriek and all heads perked up. Then Vanille said "There's Three more in here." The rest of the group followed Vanille's path to a nearby building that was slightly smaller, one room instead of two, that contained three beds, two of which appeared to be larger than any of the others.

"Well, look at that." Fang said, turning away from the room and to the others, "Looks like we got ourselves full set; two rooms with three each. Guess that gives one room to you guys, and another just for us girls." As she finished the sentence Fang grinned and looked at Lightning, who didn't seem to acknowledge the gesture.

"Fang's right." Lightning said using her soldiers command voice, "This place is calm enough that if we can find doors for these buildings, then no one should need to be on watch. We can rest up and continue on in the morning."

"I don't know." Sazh said, drawing their attention, "Something tells me that if we go any farther forward, we ain't gonna be comin' back."

"What are you saying?" Lightning asked

"I'm sayin' I'm tired." Sazh said, "Now I'll do whatever it takes to get Dajh back, but at the moment, he's crystal; and so is your sister. And if our friends here are any example," he gestured to Fang and Vanille at this, "then they ain't goin' anywhere. If I have to die to make sure Dajh is safe, then so be it, I'm fine with that, but if I can live through it because we took one day to rest, then I say we take that day."

Lightning let what he had said sink in. She had been so focused on getting Serah back that she hadn't thought about how strung out they would be when they got there. She looked around the group and noticed that, despite their efforts to hold themselves up; every single one of them was slouching. For the first time she felt her own muscles were sore and worn out. Perhaps he was right and they needed a break. "What do the rest of you think?" she asked the others as she looked around to each of them.

"I'm with him." Hope said, to everyone's surprise. "I'll do everything I can to save Cocoon, and if we leave tomorrow, I'll give it my all. But I'm not sure I'm ready to face it, not yet at least."

Lightning looked at the young boy; it had taken courage to say what he had said. It made her wonder if he was right. Were they ready to face what was ahead? She looked around the room at her team. They were strong, no question about it, but were they strong enough? And what of the pulsians, this was their home, was she really going to tear them away from it so soon, just for herself?

"Fine." Lightning said, "Tomorrow we rest, after that we begin training. The cie'th stones will give us our targets. Once we've gotten as strong as we can get, or we run out of time," she pointed to her l'cie brand at this, "then we'll move on."

At this everyone visibly relaxed. Tomorrow would be the first day that they didn't spend walking and fighting. They had covered countless miles so far, and tomorrow they could rest. But that was tomorrow.

"Well, let's get moving, we need to find some doors for these places." Lightning said.

They spent the next few hours looking for and installing doors onto the rooms. They had to get creative and search for scrap metal and spare parts to build them, but they got them built by the time night rolled around. They also managed get enough spare parts for Hope to start fixing Bhakti, which Vanille seemed to think was one of the greatest things to happen since she had woken up from crystal.

The group sat in the second room of the first building that had contained beds. They had moved in some chairs to sit in and were following their usual routine of winding down. The only real difference being that they were indoors and had candlelight instead of a campfire. Hope was sitting on the floor with Vanille behind him, looking over his shoulder as he worked on fixing Bhakti, occasionally turning to stare at her when she got into his light, at which point she would move and then proceed to get in the way again. Lightning, as usual, remained quiet while the others talked, not wanting to be caught up in the pointless conversation. After a while she decided she had gotten tired of listening to them babble.

"Lights out." Lightning said as she stood up, hearing an unexpected chorus of whines from her group. They were usually ready to sleep by this time, worn out from the fighting and traveling of the day.

"C'mon sis, It's not often we get time off, and I plan on sleeping as late as I can. So there really isn't a need to hit the hay this early." Snow said, trying to make case for them continuing to stay up.

"I'm not your sister." Lightning said, glaring at Snow.

"But he's right, Sunshine. We ain't gotta get up to beat the beasts, so we ain't got no need to crash so soon." Fang said, drawing Lightning's attention from the larger man, "Besides, I got us a little celebration planned." At this Fang reached behind her chair and pulled out three bottles, two that looked like wine bottles, but slightly smaller, and one shorter stout square one with a green fluid in it.

"Whatcha got there?" Sazh asked, not recognizing any of the drinks.

"This is the good stuff." Fang said, showing of the two bottles as she set the square one down, "It's called Fire-lite. Not sure what the real name is but that's what I remember. That and it's awesome."

Lightning sat down as Fang got out some glasses; she was obviously outvoted in this. They all watched as Fang opened the first bottle and poured some into a small glass. The stuff was nearly invisible, the only reason they could see it was because of a slight orange tint it had when the light passed through it. Fang handed the glass to Sazh, and then poured one for Snow and another for Vanille. She offered one to Lightning, who refused, but Fang just kept her hand out until Lightning accepted that Fang wasn't going to let her say no (not that it would be the first time) and took the glass. She then poured herself a glass before setting the bottle down; it was unspoken but unanimous that Hope wouldn't be drinking any, but he was too busy with the robot to care.

Lightning took a sip of the alcoholic drink after Fang raised her glass to signify it was ready. The drink was nothing like what she had expected. She rarely drank, and on the occasions when she had she had hated every one of them, but this was different. The liquid was smooth and fluid with a multitude of subtle flavors, not anywhere near the harsh and strong taste she had expected.

"Wow, that's pretty good." Snow said, and then took a long and oversized drink, draining the small glass.

"Might oughta slow down there big fella. This stuff packs a punch." Fang said as Snow filled his glass half full again.

"I can handle myself." Snow said before taking another drink.

He was wrong. By the time they got to the second bottle, which didn't take long with the number of people and the size of the bottles, Snow had drank twice as much as the others and was showing the signs. He was getting louder and slurring his words to nearly incoherent mumbles. At halfway through the second bottle, which was accomplished with very little help from the others, he tried to stand and fell down. At this Sazh helped the larger man to his feet and guided him to his the room, and moment later a loud thunk was heard. Sazh returned to inform them that Snow was already passed out on one of the beds. The man then sat down and poured himself some more of the stuff, but learned from the larger idiot and made it a small amount.

After some time had passed and what little conversation there was died down, Sazh decided to turn in as well, finishing his glass before leaving the room. Lightning reached over and poured herself only her second glass that since they had started, Fang, Snow, and Sazh had drank most of it mostly Snow. Fang took the bottle when Lightning was done with it. Seeing that the woman had just poured her second one, and that Vanille was still on her first, busy watching Hope work, she decided to forego the glass and drank straight from the bottle.

Lightning had a pretty strong buzz going by the time she finished her glass, though she wouldn't have said she was drunk. She looked at the bottle Fang had in her hand and wondered if there was any left. She didn't drink much, but this stuff was good, and it wasn't like they were going anywhere tomorrow.

"Hey…Fang." Lightning said, adding the pause to make sure she didn't slur her words, "Any left?"

"Nope." Fang said, shaking the empty bottle, the slightest hint of a slur in her words.

"What's that?" Lightning asked, pointing at the unopened square bottle.

"It's…" Fang said picking up the bottle and looking at it, but finding no label whatsoever, "It is…" she said, pulling out the oversized stopper and looking at it. She held the fluid under her nose and smelled it before turning to the soldier and finishing with "It is green."

"Pour me some." Lightning said, holding out her glass, moving it to compensate for the sway the tipsy woman had. "That's good." She added after her glass had gotten enough to try the drink. She took a sip of the drink and shrugged before throwing back the glass and finishing the green liquid. "I'm going to bed before you get me drunk." She said to Fang.

Fang took a long swig straight from the square bottle, before putting the stopper back in and saying "Me too." Lightning walked to the door slowly, but without ever losing her balance or composure. Fang was not so lucky. Halfway from her chair to the door she lost her balance and caught herself with both hands out to her side, but made it to the door without any more incidents.

"How long before you're done?" Lightning asked Hope

"At least another hour." The young boy said, looking frustrated at the slow progress of his work.

Lightning simply nodded in response, before following Fang out the door and in the direction of their room. Fang was already into the building by the time Lightning got there. She walked in the door and was almost immediately shoved against the wall by Fang. The huntress' body was pressed against hers, her hands on the wall on either side of the soldier. Fang pressed her lips against the pinkette's, surprising the smaller woman. She quickly recovered though, and returned the kiss, placing on hand on Fang's side, and putting the other behind the pulsian's head intertwining her fingers with the woman's hair. Their tongues worked together and against each other at the same time.

When they finally broke the kiss Fang looked at Lightning and said, "I've been wantin to do that for a while." And it was true. It had been three weeks since their encounter by the river, two since they had declared themselves a couple, even if only to each other. And Vanille. They hadn't had a chance to be alone together since then what with all the beasts and the large amount of ground they covered every day.

Fang kissed her again and began undoing Lightning's belt; an idea the soldier liked. She helped the taller woman undo her clothes until she was standing in her panties, bra, and sweater. She shook off the sweater as she kissed the other woman again, and then removed the pulsian's sari and top; she wasn't surprised to find the huntress didn't wear a bra underneath it. She ran her hands up Fang's front the massage her breasts as she began to kiss the larger woman's neck. She felt Fang reach around behind her and undo her bra, which she let fall to the ground before reaching down and pulling off her last remaining article of clothing.

At this Fang took a step back to admire the sight of the Cocoon native in front of her, and it was an amazing sight. Lightning stood, full bare, in front of her. Palms pressed flat against the wall, chest out, on leg on the ground, the other bent at the knee so her foot was against the wall. She had a hungry look in her eye Fang had only seen once before. She only managed to get out one word, "Damn." Before the woman, inhibitions lowered by the alcohol, literally tackled her, sending the two of them falling onto one of the larger beds.

The soldier lay atop the pulsian, her tackle having put the both on the bed. She kissed the woman, moving her hands up her bare stomach, then down to the hem of her shorts. She slipped her fingers into them and pulled down both the shorts and panties at the same time, never breaking their kiss. When the garments reached her ankles Fang kicked them off, sending them near the pile of clothes left by the wall. The pinkette then began pressing her right hand into the larger woman's core while her left massaged the woman's breasts. She kissed down the tan woman's neck and collarbone, then gently bit and nibbled her way back up. Fang wrapped her arms around the woman and returned the process, kissing and nibbling her way up Lightning's neck, then kissing a point behind Lightning's ear. At this the soldier halted her progress on the other woman, letting out a moan and turning her head to give Fang more access to the spot. This struck a chord in Fang's memory, it was the same spot she kissed their first time that had the woman stop, it was a soft spot; she was going to remember this.

Fang used the distraction to wrap her legs around the woman on top of her and flip them over so she was now on top, straddling the smaller woman. She moved and gave her a forceful kiss. When they broke the kiss Lightning moved one hand to Fang's shoulder, while the other remained between the pulsian's legs. Then, to Fang's surprise, she flipped the two of them back, so she was positioned over her, one knee set between the tan woman's legs, her left hand on the bed beside the woman's chest, supporting the soldier as she proceeded to gently kiss and bite her way down Fang's neck and chest to her breast. She resumed massaging the woman's core as she kissed, sucked, and nibbled at the huntress' nipples, eliciting a few soft moans from the woman beneath her.

Lightning brought herself away from Fang's chest and leaned close, putting her head right next to the elder woman's; she could hear her ragged breathing. Then she adjusted her hand and slipped a single finger into the pulsian's dripping entrance. Fang leaned her head back as Lightning fell into a steady rhythm. After a few minutes she brought herself closer to Lightning's already close ear and whispered so quietly, that it surprised the soldier that she had to listen to hear it, "Sunshine…more." A request Lightning had no problem following through with. She added a second finger to join the first, and pulled herself away from the pulsian to gain more leverage. She put more force into her thrusts, sliding into the woman with a force, then curling her fingers upwards as she pulled back out, almost completely, and then thrusting her fingers back inside.

As Fang began to adapt to the new position Lightning had gained the soldier changed it once again. She added a third finger to the mix, and began putting more force into her thrusts. Fang moaned at the introduction of a third finger, and began grinding her hips into Lightning's hand. The soldier was putting all of herself into the thrusts now, her entire strength and weight was behind it, and it showed. The bed was rocking back and forth precariously. Fang dragged her fingers down Lightning's back, and then put a white knuckle grip on the sides of the mattress. She moaned and, through struggling breath, said "Yes, sunshine yes." This spurred Lightning on. She found new strength and thrust hard into the huntress.

Fang let out a loud, low moan that reverberated off all sides of the building. Her back arched and her head was thrown back. Lightning did not let up. She continued thrusting into the woman and rode out the orgasm. Just when Fang thought she could take no more a crash resounded through the room and both women dropped suddenly. Lightning braced herself with both hands when they fell, pulling out of Fang to do so. They looked around and realized that the bed had broken. Fang, still out of breath and recovering, started to laugh. She threw her head back and laughed like this was the funniest thing ever.

"What's so funny?" Lightning asked, using all her willpower not to succumb to the contagious nature of the woman's laugh.

"This bed…" Fang started, talking through laughing fits, "lasted five hundred years..." another fit of laughing, "But one time with us." She couldn't finish, she began laughing uncontrollably.

Lightning got up and walked to their clothes as Fang laughed. She got dressed and by the time she was done Fang's fit had subsided into random bouts. She picked up the huntress' garb and brought it over to her. Fang dressed through her laughing fits while staying on the ground level mattress.

"We should sleep." Lightning said, turning towards one of the still intact beds.

"Oh come on, Sunshine. Lay with me." Fang said, patting the bed next to her.

"We probably shouldn't." Lightning said, not turning back.

Fang reached up and grabbed Lightning by the cap, using it to reel her in till she was sitting on the bed. She wrapped her arms around the soldier's waist and rested her head on the pinkette's shoulder. "I don't want to sleep alone." Fang said as the soldier's hands rested on her own, "Please Sunshine."

"Well, maybe for a little while." Lightning finally consented. She lay on her side and Fang did the same. She felt content as the larger woman moved close and pressed against her back, her arm still wrapped around her. "Just a little while." She repeated quietly, before dozing off in the comfort of her girlfriend's arms, with Fang doing the same just minutes later.

a/n: So i tried to add some action in at the beginning, i thought it turned out alright, but its always good to have an outside opinion. Leave reviews so i can keep getting better and writing more for all to read.