I begin my life anew

Chapter 9

"Light, are you listening to me?" Serah called, interrupting my daydream. I turned to her to see what the matter was. "Light, you weren't listening to me were you?"

"...No, I'm sorry," I said loosening the grip on my scarf. "What were you saying?"

Serah sighed and turned her body forward, "Never mind, Claire..." Even though I was unsure of what she said, whenever she called me by my real name I could tell she was talking serious.

"Just tell me Serah-"

"I said never mind." She said sternly with her arms crossed. I sighed lightly as my head turned over to the window to see the small flakes of snow hit against it.

"Serah," I said softly and calm. My younger sister turned to me, "It's been a while since we last saw the snow." My fingers intertwined with my scarf, escaping the cold that snuck its way in through the cracks of the car doors.

Serah smiled, "It has," She leaned over my shoulder to gaze at the snow that seemed to soar like birds outside. "Remember when we use to play in it when we were younger?"

I smiled at the thought of those good times, "Yeah, I wish we could relive those moments when we were closer together."

"Hey my little back seat passengers, could we sit back and put our seat belts on, the road is kind of bumpy," Snow butted in on our moment from the driver's seat. "I wouldn't want you both to hit your heads."

"Oh Snow," Serah giggled. "You worry too much."

"I'm serious Serah, I wouldn't want Light to get hurt either you know, with her baby and all."

Serah moved over closer to me and did as Snow said, she then rested her head on my shoulder and placed her hand on my stomach. "Sweet baby..." She whispered. A slight grin came to my face as I rested my head on top of Serah's, and placed my hand on hers. "Yeah... Sweet." I whispered growing my grin to a smile. Before I knew it, we had fallen asleep in each other's arms. I didn't dream of anything, or had so much as a thought. It seemed as if time had stopped and my younger sister and I were catching up on time we had lost from our separate lives... It was so peaceful.

"Claire," I heard a disrupting call of my name, a title that seemed unrecognizable at first. "Claire, wake up!"

At the alarming call I finally awoke, I turned my head a little to see Serah, who had a slight grin on her face. "We're home Claire."

"Already?" I asked rubbing the crust from my eyes.

"Yeah, let's go inside," She proceeded to exit the car. "If you're still tired, we have a bed ready for you."

With a note of that, I followed Serah from the car. The cold breeze hit me like a ball of snow, literally. I jerked my head to the side to see Maqui and Yuj throwing snow at each other, their faces filled with fear as I glared back at them. "Oh my gosh!" Maqui cried. "I'm so sorry Lightning!" I kept my cool on this one, even though I should have scolded them, I brushed it off.

"It's alright, it was an accident." The two stood in the same spot, as if still frozen in fear. As I walked in the house they continued their war in the snow once more.

Lebreau stood by the door way to greet me, "It's been a while Light," She shot her signature smile. "Those two causin' trouble?"

"They had my attention for a moment..."

"They've been like that ever since the first inch fell," She chuckled. "They never grow up do they?"

I turned to look at the two teens at play, "They should enjoy it while it lasts, and childhood is such a precious thing that shouldn't be focused on the real things, but based on the imaginative things."

"True that," Lebreau turned to the living room. "But I think that time for me is up though." She walked further into the house, I followed.

"Welcome sis, to our humble abode!" Snow announced from the bedroom. It wonders me sometimes if he has some self control in that annoyingly thick head of his.

I began unbuttoning my coat when Serah tugged at my sleeve. "Come with me sis, I have something to show you!"

"What is it?"

"Just come on," Serah pulled me towards the door next to her bedroom, "You're gonna' love this!" She pushed the door open and revealed a room covered in white and hints of yellow.

"This is the nursery?" I asked almost in disbelief.

"Yeah," Serah smiled. "It's all set for the new arrival."

I walked in marveled by the dedication, astounded would be a word to best sum it up. "You really went all out didn't you?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Serah walked over, "I did it for you."

"What are you talking about?"

"I noticed you've been nervous about the baby..." My younger sister sat on the rocking chair near the brightly white crib. "I didn't want you to worry so much when it actually came."

I grinned, "Thanks..."

Serah smiled back, "Anything for you sis."

I yawned lightly. "You should go to sleep." Serah stood up and stopped at my side.

"Perhaps you're right..." I yawned once more. "I feel pretty exhausted."

Serah smiled and without me to notice grabbed my hand and guided me from the nursery and into her bedroom. "This is where you'll be sleeping tonight..." She paused for a split second. "..and all the other nights."

"Don't you and Snow both sleep in here?"

"Yeah, but Snow doesn't mind sleeping on the couch." My younger sister walked over to her bed and sat on the edge of it.

"Are you sure he doesn't mind?" I asked feeling pity for Snow.

"Snow's the one who offered to give up his bed," She began to take her sweater off. "Ya' know, he's not as bad as you say he is Light."

"I guess he's not..." My head tilted downward a little thinking of the kind gesture of Snow, perhaps I was a little too hard on him...

"Light, aren't you going to get changed into your night clothes?"

"I think all my stuff is still in the car."

Serah stood up, "I'll go get them."

I stopped her before she passed through the doorway, "I can get them."

"Light, you can't lift up heavy things remember?"

I smirked at her, "Have you forgotten that I was a soldier?"

"No, I have not," Serah whined like a little child. "I just worry about you doing things you aren't suppose to..."

"You worry too much Serah, I can do things on my own." With that I threw my jacket over my shoulders and proceeded outside, the icy wind created chills up my spine as I ventured out into the undying blizzard. The cold bit at my nose and snapped at my fingers as I approached the rear end of the car. The bitter cold feel of the vehicle's metal had no effect on my numb fingertips as I grasped the handle of the door and released the lock that concealed my belongings.

"Hey Light, you need a hand?" A familiar voice rung in my ears, I turned my head to see Snow and Gadot.

"No, I can do this myself." I heaved at my suitcases from the trunk of the car, but they didn't budge.

"Let me help you with that," Gadot walked over and pulled my bags from the trunk without much effort. "You should ask for help next time Light."

Before I could respond back, Snow and Gabot were taking my belongings in the house. "Come on sis, you wouldn't wanna' freeze out here would you?" Snow said with a cheerful smile.

Without answering back, I followed them inside. The moment we entered the house, the cold on our bodies were stripped away by the warming sensation of the fireplace.

"Oh Claire!" Serah squealed standing by the bedroom door, rushed over to us. "You're all wet sis!"

"Well, I was outside in the snow Serah," I said with a scoff. "Snow will get anybody wet."

Serah looked at me with her face turning a bright red. "S-sis!" She squealed again.

"What?" It took me a moment to realize what she was getting all excited about, then I blushed bright red like my younger sister. "Oh, I didn't mean it that way!"

"What didn't you mean?" Snow unexpectedly joined.

"N-nothing, it's nothing!" Serah stuttered, she grabbed my arm and pulled me back to the bedroom. I quickly shut the door behind us, by now we were pretty sure everyone was wondering what was up.

Serah sat on her bed, her face scrunched up from some sort of inaudible laughter. "I can't believe you said that!"

"I can't believe it either," I cupped my face in my hands as if trying to take away the humiliation. "I didn't mean it that way!"

While Serah and I wallowed in my unexpected mistake, Snow entered the room with my bags, "Sorry to interrupt your little session, but you left without taking your suitcases." Snow placed the luggage by the bed and without another word he left.

Serah and I just stood there staring at the door without a thought in our minds, it was just long awkward silence, and then we continued our session of laughs.

Serah fell back first onto her bed. "Light, I can't even remember the last time we even laughed that hard."

"Neither can I," I went to open my bags, "When was the last time we even spent this much time together?" I threw a few pieces of clothing onto the bed.

"It had to have been before Cocoon fell."

"Hmph, it's a bit upsetting that we haven't spent quality time together in more than five hundred years." I closed my suitcases and turned towards the wall, trying to remove my sweater.

"We should spend more time together when the baby is born," Serah kicked her legs up in the air. "We could go shopping, take it to the park, and all that stuff..."

I turned to her, "I don't think I would be able to," I said with disappointment. "I have to work."

"Well don't you get maternity leave for a few months after the baby is born?" She asked.

"Yeah..."

Serah sat back up, "Then we'll spend time together in those months."

I smiled, "It sounds like a plan."

Serah smiled, "Sis," she says softly. I turned my attention to her as I put on my night clothes. "The baby comes any day now, you nervous?"

I let out a quick sigh, "Well I've been told, childbirth is one of the worst pains you could ever experience in your life..." I tried to pull my shirt over my stomach. "So to that I say, bring it on!" My sarcastic remark made my younger sister giggle.

"Light, I'm serious."

"I am kind of nervous actually," My smile dimmed. "Anything could happen during the delivery."

"I'd doubt anything bad would happen," She stood up and walked towards me. "All your doctors say the baby is healthy, and you're as healthy as a horse."

I stroked my stomach, "I guess you're right, maybe it'll just be a normal delivery..."

Serah was silent for a few moments, she removed her wedding ring from her finger and went towards the nightstand, it wasn't long until she returned with her ring dangling from a thin piece of thread. "Could we try something?"

"What is it?"

"I was reading up and I came across an article that said, if you dangle a ring above your belly while you're pregnant you can tell if it's a boy or a girl."

"I thought we were waiting it out?"

"Well I can't wait anymore," Serah squealed in excitement. "Please sis?"

I let out a long sigh, and then I saw the desperation in her eyes. "Alright, we'll try it."

"Yay," She cheered. "You're gonna' have to lie down for this."

"Don't be surprised if I fall asleep," I joked sitting on the bed. Serah chuckled; I lied down on the bed and waited for Serah to start.

"Okay, so how this works, I hold the ring above your belly and if it swings in a circle it's a boy and if it goes back and forth it's a girl." Serah held the ring above my swollen stomach and we waited... After about a minute the ring began to swing in a circular motion. "Sis, you're gonna' have a boy."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Mhm, see how it's going in a circle?" She pointed it out, and indeed it was in a circle. "Oh sis, this is exciting!"

I caressed the bump, "I hardly believe it's true though," Trying to sit up now was difficult.

"Why don't you believe?"

"I can't say for sure, but it just doesn't seem true to me." Eventually I sat upward. "I guess I don't believe in the old wives tales."

"Well we'll know for sure when that day comes." Serah yawned.

"I guess it's time for you to go to sleep?"

Serah grinned, "Yeah I guess so," She stood and walked to her bed. "I have to get up early tomorrow, I have a class to teach."

I looked to her, "Then you should go to sleep right away."

Serah hid under her blanket and was quiet for a while. "Claire," She finally spoke.

"Hm?"

"Do you think you could give us your blessing to have our own children?"

I smirked lightly, "It's not my decision to let you and Snow have children," I said. "You're married now, you don't need my blessings anymore."

"Alright, I just wanted to know." Not long after she was silent and sound asleep. For me though, it was difficult to sleep... I couldn't tell if it was from the pelvic pressure or from the fact that I might have just discovered my baby's gender. It made me uncomfortable and a little excited, it took a while to forget, hopefully I can get over it.