AN: So sorry this took so long to update but my life kind of went to hell. Someone in my family got sick and ended up in the hospital. Then I fell behind in my classes. Then my laptop broke and I didn't have it for over a week. Cost me a lot to fix it. But my life is mostly back on track now. I finally graduated! Yay! On top of that I got my Christmas present early. I'm going to the Final Fantasy concert in Chicago this Friday! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!

Anyway onto chapter 21. It turned out different than I wanted and it's a lot shorter than I planned but I wanted to get something up before Christmas in case I don't have time to update again. Thanks for being patient with me as it has been a difficult few months.

Review Thanks!:

ben4kevin: Thank you!

Mallobie: Thanks!

thewhitespirit: No worries. School has to come first, unfortunately.

Guest: You win the prize! Cookies and milk for you. ;) Yes they were from the Never Ending Story! I loved the movie too! Obviously.

rebirth-flame: Right again. The shadow does hijack Hope's vision. As for why Hope has them. Can't know that yet ;)

PeachTeaKT: Sorry I'm back now. Don't worry I will finish the story. It might take me awhile though. Glad you are liking the story.

xDemonicCloudx: Thank you very much (blush). I do love fluff scenes. They are so fun to write.

Chapter 21 Storms

Noel kept telling himself that he had nothing to be jealous about. So what if Dajh had pulled Hope off to talk leaving him alone with the boys. He knew that the two of them wanted to catch up. They hadn't seen each other for a very long time not to mention Noel knew that Hope needed this. Something else that Noel kept telling himself.

It did help matters that Dajh reminded him of Jolie and what Sandra said floated through his mind 'Then you wouldn't mind me saying what a cute couple they would make…' Dajh didn't look like Jolie but he was a good looking man and just as smooth.

"You don't have anything to worry about," the taller of the twins said with a kind smile.

"I know," Noel grumbled not remembering the boy's name.

"If you know then why are you jealous?" the smaller of the twins quipped.

"I am not jealous!" Noel snapped.

"Whatever you need to tell yourself," the small boy said with a smirk.

"Has anyone ever told you that you were rude," Noel countered.

"I'm rude? You don't even remember our names!" the small boy snapped back. Noel didn't have anything to say to that as it was true. He didn't remember their names.

"Leave him alone. He just met us," the taller twin said with a roll of his eyes. "I'm Bastian and he," the boy said as he pointed to his smaller brother, "prefers to be called Zar."

"I promise I won't forget this time," Noel told them.

"You know that we were almost named after you and Hope but Dajh told us that it seemed to upset everyone so they decided not to," Zar said as he looked out the window a curious expression on his face.

"Why?" Noel asked.

"I think it brought back sad memories thinking of you two here and never being able to see you," Bastian explained.

"I can understand that. Hope is terribly upset that he won't see them again either," Noel said as he looked at the boys. It was unnerving to see that Serah and Snow that had children that weren't that much younger than him.

"We're freaking you out, aren't we?" Bastian asked giving him an almost sad look.

"Of course not," Noel said quickly. Maybe a little too quickly judging by the glare that Zar was giving him.

"You don't have to lie to us," the smaller boy said making his brother roll his eyes.

"Fine it's a little unnerving. The last time I saw Ser…your mom she was your age. For me all of that only happened five years ago and for Hope it's only been a few months." Thinking about his boyfriend Noel gazed out the window wondering what him and Dajh were talking about.

"You really have nothing to worry about. Dajh doesn't like Hope at least not in that way. He more," Bastian started to say and then paused a moment looking deep in thought, "idolizes him."

"Right," Noel said as he once again looked out the window and frowned as he saw dark clouds rolling it. It looked as if they were going to get another storm. A very unpleasant storm.

Dajh looked behind to the man that was quietly following him. The silence was awkward. Dajh remembered a time when they could laugh and talk easily. Of course that had involved piggyback rides, tickling, and childhood games.

He only saw Hope at this age once and that was from a distance. He was younger and smaller than he remembered. Of course now he was older and taller than Hope. Any normal person would have a hard time dealing with something like that. But he was far from normal. Being a l'cie, stuck in a time loop, a traveling with the twins for…well not many things surprised him anymore.

"You…you grew up nice," Hope said breaking the silence.

"You too," Dajh said as they came to a stop. They were far enough away from the home that Hope and Noel shared where their conversation wouldn't be overheard but a shout for help would be.

"So how is everyone?" Hope asked looking uncertain.

"They're good. They miss you," Dajh told him.

"Really?" Hope asked looking and sounding surprised.

"Of course they do," Dajh said wondering why Hope would think that they wouldn't. "In fact I have something for you from them." Dajh then sat down and pulled out the items. Hope looked at him curiously and sat down next to him.

"They know you're here?" Hope asked with a small frown.

"Well…" Dajh said as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Not exactly."

"Not exactly?" Hope asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It's complicated," Dajh told. Which was true and a long story it was. It also wasn't only his to tell. He wouldn't feel right explaining it without the twins.

"I see," Hope said with a small sad smile. Dajh frowned. He remembered from when he was younger how often he would see that smile. He never saw the sadness back then but now it was hard to miss.

"Here," Dajh said as he handed over a picture to Hope.

"It's everyone. And just how I remember them or nearly," Hope said with a brighter smile. "What's up with Snow's hair?" Dajh laughed at that.

"Ridiculous isn't," Dajh asked with a chuckle. Hope nodded. "This picture was taken about a year after the twins were born."

"You all look so happy," Hope said wistfully.

"We were. Things were peacefully then," Dajh said also remembering how happy things had been back then. If only life would remain simple.

"Are things still peaceful?" Hope asked his eyes full of concern.

"Last I heard. Me and the twins have been traveling for a while," Dajh said as he pulled out the other item. "Light wanted you to have this." Hope took the item his eyes wide.

"It's her knife!" Hope said as he looked down at it looking near tears. "I thought that you said that no one knew that you were here."

"They don't, at least not exactly. Light though, I think she suspected that me and the twins would find you one day," Dajh said feeling guilty for the sad and hurt look on Hope's face.

He never did forgive himself for disappearing on Hope like he did; especially after Fang visited and said how hurt he was. Hope had become an older brother to him and he had, albeit inadvertently, hurting him. That was why he spoiled the twins the way he did they being what he considered younger brothers.

"It hurt that she didn't send me dreams asking for help like she did everyone else. I believed that she thought I was weak," Hope said as he slowly opened the knife.

"I don't know why she didn't ask you for help but I know it wasn't because she thought you were weak. She told us all many times how it was you who changed her mind about her focus and being a l'cie," Dajh told him.

"Me?" Hope asked looking surprised.

"Yes you," Dajh said with a chuckle. "My dad, Snow, and Light also talk about how good you were at giving long motivational speeches." He laughed even harder when Hope turned bright red.

"I can't believe they talk about that," Hope said as closed the knife and put it in his pocket along with the picture.

"They talk about you a lot," Dajh told him.

"I know you said the twins are eighteen but…how long has it been? You know, since you all returned home?" Hope asked quietly.

"Almost twenty years," Dajh answered with a sigh. "How long has it been for you two?"

"It's been five years for Noel but only a few months for me," Hope said with a humorless chuckle.

"Hope I'm so…" Dajh started to say when he was interrupted by a loud clap of thunder. He looked up at the sky and saw dark clouds rolling in. "It looks like we're going to be getting a storm."

"That's no ordinary storm," Hope said as he stood up looking tense. Dajh looked up at him and suddenly remembered a forgotten memory.

It was shortly after they arrived on pulse. He was exploring the area near their temporary home, when he was specifically told not to. He hadn't even gone that far when he was attacked by a monster, he didn't remember which one. What he did remember was Hope coming out of nowhere and killing it with one throw of his boomerang. That's when he decided that Hope was the strongest guy that he knew next to his dad. His opinion of the other man hadn't changed.

"Does it have something to do with Alyssa?" Dajh asked as he stood up. Hope had a faraway look in his eyes and Dajh had to grab onto his arm to keep him from falling. "Are you alright?"

"We need to get back to the others and quick," Hope said his voice horse.

Funny thought: You know when you have read/written to much BL when you are sitting in a coding class and your teacher writes very deep penetration will be hard to deal with and you have to tell yourself not to blush.