A/N: Thanks so much for 2000 Views! I hope you enjoy this next set of 5. If you see a flub or odd thing please let me know so I can correct it. Thanks.
31: Hammer
What is it about the pink one?
Fang grunted feeling her lips quirk at that thought. Green eyes followed the sleek soldiers routine. Her sword practice was nothing but elegant beauty, stunning dexterity, and amazing speed. Their yard was a mist of glimmering sand floating down, from the dynamic play of her wife working on technique, while getting in a few hours of exercise.
The slender soldier stood amidst the prismatic sands, eyes focused, her body tense, poised to slip into the next position with out pause or hesitation. The tip of her sword dipping, and rising, her motions reminiscent of a martial art that died with the rest of Gran Pulse' people. The crystal sands shimmered through the air as a new spray was kicked up by shifting feet. Creating a beautiful curtain of endless wonder, each grain catching the light as it fell back to the land. A field of falling stars creating a thousand points of light, each beautiful, but it wasn't them that Fang watched with mute wonder and growing awe.
Unfortunately it wasn't just she who saw through those green eyes.
A creature of endless rage stalked the shadows of her mind poking at the cage that held it. Searching for a weakness that would let it free once again. She would show that pink haired stain just what happened to all that belonged to Cocoon.
Fang felt annoyed that the Destroyer was once again active. What ever hell hole it had crawled into after Lightning's banishing her, it seemed that she was crawling back out. Eyes filled with wonder were lost to the angry souls burning rage. The awe cracked and melted under the simmering anger all of which was pointed at the pink haired soldier.
"I will have her…, her blood upon my hands, I will bathe in her precious fluids… and wipe this weakness from your soul. I will have you too… and at last I will be free." A growl alerted Lightning that not all was as it should be. It was feral, nothing like Fangs sensual growl. This was anger and pain.
Dual blue eyes shifted to her quiet wife. Even from the center of the yard Lightning could see the fine tremble in her form. Concern drew brows over blue eyes. Her routine was forgotten as she stepped forward to see what was troubling her quiet, blazing eyed huntress. Knowing the dual nature of her wife she approached cautiously, her sword folded and put away before she touched Fang.
Green eyes rose watching her approach, a predator locked behind the eyes of her lover. Lightning didn't stop her advance, but did change the destination. Turning aside she slid a hand across Fang's tight strong shoulders.
"I am here." She whispered knowing that some where with in this shaking form her wife was fighting.
"I am here now." Lightning murmured, her mouth brushing against Fangs ear.
If you stopped to think about it, the idea of living with a woman who could at any moment become your executioner might have made any other person decide it was not for them. But Lightning trusted Fang to fight for her. She had seen it in loving green eyes time and time again. Witnessed it in every motion both conscious and unconscious. Fang defended her body and soul with the passion of a jealous lover, it would be nothing short of all consuming for Fang to loose this battle.
It might have been hubris on her behalf but there was more than a little proof that the bond they shared was what helped over come the raging entity known as the Destroyer. That bond wrapped around them in a metaphysical way, linked them together like the story of the crimson string that bound soul mates one to the other. Touch strengthened the bond, and Lightning used it to their advantage. Leaning in Lightning molded herself to a powerful back, hands sliding under strong arms wrapping them around Fangs chest and sealing the press of her body. Her face brushed into a dark mane soft lips tickling a receptive ear there Lightning whispered her lovers name again.
"Oerba Yun Fang, come back to me."
A growl issued from full lips, her wife's body bowing whether for her own push or the fight between herself and the dark creature with in her she didn't know. Regardless the soldier of Cocoon used every weapon they had against the Destroyer.
Pulling her head back from Fang's dark mane, Lightning whipped her own out of the way, not just hers, but Fang's as well. Her cheek pressing against warm flesh. Her hand caressing dark hair.
"I know you can hear me." The trembling broke and a sight issued from a tight chest. Lightning felt the relief before that silky voice came out gravely and exhausted
"I hea ya sunshine." Fang whispered and straightened, her hands coming to the small ones that clung to her.
She lay back forcing Light into a prone position as she was unwilling to release her dark haired huntress. That dark head came to rest on a dedicated pink soldier, silken waves cast across small breasts, green eyes stare up at the sky.
Long fingers stroked the pale skin of a small hand taking comfort from her silent companion. A woman who gave her the chance to just be. To dwell in the moment holding onto eternity in every breath. There never was a rush to her usually somber solder, no need to gather information she had already deduced. No picking at the small things… Fang found her sighing again, a sense of relief washing through her.
"Better?"
Full lips curled at their inside joke. The absurdity of asking a person who had just been dragged out of a life and death battle if they were all right never set right with either woman. So instead they asked from the point of view of a survivor rather than an observer.
"Getting there… my head feels like a hammer hit it."
Small hands slipped from larger ones, to give aid where she could, hands of healing began kneading temples, working the pulsing pain with determination. There was not a place left untouched, questing fingers sliding through dark silk, working away that blinding pain.
32: Echo
"I think tomorrow I will help Snow start building that second room on ta the house. Etro knows the baby won't wait for us to finish." Green eyes dipped then rose with a smile tugging on her lips.
"Care ta help?"
On her last birth day they had presented Light with her very own leather tool belt, it had been a gag gift really, as in her free time Lightning had become quite the handy man. But seeing the dark soft leather tied about her lover was something Fang found great joy in. Especially with a pair of work pants on that hung low off of slender hips.
Lightning laughed having been married long enough to Fang to know where her thoughts were going.
"You lech."
"For you, you'd betta believe it."
"I would love to help."
A good feeling filled the women, their family was growing, the world seemed at peace, and for a brief moment neither of them felt the need to hunt the dangerous horrors of Gran Pulse. A giddy laugh erupted into the darkness between them, drawing surprised green eyes. Full lips parted, thoughts paused as her soldier danced past her… well not dance, danced, but slender hips sway as she took off towards their home pausing near the great old tree not far from the way stone.
Inquisitive green eyes sparkled at Lightnings actions. If a day could have been perfect, it would have been a day like today. The village was growing, not just because of the successful three month mark of Serah's pregnancy, but it seemed every day new life was being breathed into Oerba. Pennants flew from occupied homes their bright colors whipping in the glow of Cocoon. The laughter of children's voices filled the yard their screeches of delight wafting from the Main house, and their mated pair of Chocobo had their first brood, not one of the hatchlings had been lost.
Almost four years had passed since the Purge, four years of steady progress gave her beloved soldier the strength and freedom to have a little hope. To look forward and see a future where life was more than existing, more than making it through to the next day just to get by. Fang glowed feeling both warmed and humbled to have been a large factor in this growth. A lighter, freer soul released from the bonds of slavery to a world of black and off white. Still cautious, always testing, sometimes pensive, attentive to details. Alert to danger, but not that brooding dark force that greeted every day with a quiet rage that dared the sky to fall upon her almost expecting it.
They had suffered aplenty, had their share of close calls, brushes with death, lost a few souls, but they had some how emerged through those times with a renewed strength and determination to forge their path ahead. Something that showed in those blue eyes that beckoned, reinforced by the smile that pulled at fine lips.
"Goddess, how did I get so lucky?"
Fang couldn't help but recall the day they met, such unbridled anger from her person had been whipped at this woman with intent to slaughter, maim and kill. Not just her but the people who even then she stood for, good people who had a crummy hand delt to them. People she called her brothers and sisters. The forgotten, the unwanted… they had seen the worst in her that day and never since.
Fang swallowed as Lightning leaned against the great tree, her slender form stretched along the great trunk, open and exposed, fearing nothing. Her bodice lifted up exposing a strong set of core muscles, pale in color, hard and yet soft.
Today really was a good day. There had been no doubts in those blue eyes, not hints of her past haunting her, chasing a healing and repentant soul through memories of regret and shame.
The soldier who had to be, was no longer needed to live in Oerba. Oh there were still remnants of her in this new Lightning, that stubborn streak, her determination to succeed, the drive to protect, the need to be needed. For the most part, only the good things remained. Her amazing skill with Blazefire, honed to a razors edge. The ability to harness the anger that once consumed her, but even this took second place to the new strength she had found and they had spent years cultivating. Their love.
"Can you believe it!"
Not really… it was like a dream she had some how found her way into from a life that had been a gruesome nightmare. Honestly had any of them ever thought they would know such joy and peace?
"I can't." Fang said shaking her head a smile tugging at full lips.
"We're going to have a baby!" Lightning pushed off of the tree and came to her dark huntress feeling such joy.
Fang willingly raised hands to catch her bounding companion, wrapping arms around her slender frame and raising lips up to meet those that descended. A kiss that suffused her with warmth. Lightnings joy was infectious and though Fang knew her partner was a beautiful woman on any given day, she glowed with this new spirit of life.
In a moment of spontaneity Fang drew the woman she loved into a full circle. Their bodies turning in the glow of moonlight and Cocoon, and for her efforts Lightning turned her face up to the sky and let it happen. As they came to a stand Lightning being set gently upon her feet, a warrior soul rejuvenated by the proverbial sunshine she held was once again overwhelmed by their love and the positive changes it had wrought in the both of them.
Fang watched as her pink haired soldier recognized these feelings, and her expression softened. A hand came to Fang's cheek and she leaned into it.
"You have been quiet." Fang continued to rub her cheek into that small calloused hand.
"Just been thinking about who we use ta be."
A veil came over dual blue eyes, and for a brief moment Fang felt as if she might have ruined the moment they were sharing.
"I love the woman you have become, who you are becoming." It was Fangs turn to cup her lovers face, blue eyes sliding closed, and much like Fang had she leaned into the caress.
"Please stay with me in this moment." Startled blue eyes rose up to her and she gave a reassuring smile.
"You look amazin with so much joy. Please don't let it go so soon." A shy look crossed blue eyes but the spark that had filled those dual colored eyes returned.
Fang sighed and shared that soft look as she thread fingers with her wife.
"What ever we have been can not compare to what we have become, and it will only get betta, because there will be a day we look back on today, and say the same thing. And these glimpses of the past, the echos that we hear even today may shape us but they do not define us any longer. And I find myself humbled and moved to have been shaped by you…"
33: Green
Lightning was closer to the toilet than any one had a right to be. Her cheek lay on the seat, an arm wrapped around the tank, fingers pale, knuckles white. Breath came in fast pants, anything trying to hold the urge to puke at bay. Sweat clung to her brow, blue eyes were tightly squeezed shut as an exhausted and horribly sick soldier tried her best to hold on to what ever dignity and food left within her system.
Behind her a worried dark haired lover sat rubbing her back, little did they know in the Villiers home the same thing was happening between husband and wife. Serah's morning sickness was pretty severe, oddly enough… Lightning sympathy pains were just as strong. Something they had not yet put to gather, but that would come.
Fang grimaced as she felt a shudder roll through her wife's body.
"Oh God…" As the next wave rolled through the usually hearty soldier, Fang found herself doing what any partner would, holding the hair of their beloved back, giving a steady presence, and praying to what ever god or goddess they believed in for a little bit of grace for their spouse.
It wasn't until later after her second bath, and third bout of vomiting did Fang seek out her sister for some aid. Finding her not at the main house, but at Snow and Serah's house.
"I will be back later to check on her, Snow. You keep an eye on her, and be sure she keeps drinking water." Vanille paused when she saw the familiar shadow of her lanky huntress sister., slowly she came through the screen door and sized her up. There was a hint of a smile on her lips and something cheeky in her eyes.
"What?" Vanille asked feeling a smile coming to her own lips at this quiet knowing huntress.
"Is Serah sick?" There was both delight and worry in Vanille's face.
"She is! But' don't tell Light..." Fang winced.
"What?"
"I think she knows..." They walked down the steps into the yard.
"Whats up?" Vanille asked, not so sure what Fang's words meant.
"Say, Van… can some one share this particular experience with another?" Red brows rose up as her face contorted.
"Why would you want to? Of all the things to share…" The expression of sympathy and chagrin had a soft hand coming to Fang's arm.
"Are you saying Light is sick?" A dark nod.
"Holy Etro…" Vanille breathed."Sympathy morning sickness?" The sisters shared a pained look when from within the house, the sounds of Serah's retching could be heard. Panic writ its self over her elder sisters face and before she could say anything Fang shot off like a bullet out of a gun blade.
Fang barged through the front door her eyes cast about, no Light, thumping pell mell through the hall she saw signs of her wifes passing, to her dismay, Lightning was once again in the bathroom, but her wave of sickness had hit before she was able to make it.
"Baby, I'm so sorry." She murmured coming to her knees at Lightnings back.
"I was trying to get help from Vanille."
The pale, weak creature didn't even have the strength to pull herself from the rim of the toilet and if Fang wasn't mistaken, there were tears welling from closed lids. Truly she must have been utterly depleted to have allowed that, and still she tried to reassure her attentive wife.
"So'kay." A pathetic groan came out louder than the words she tried to form.
"Shhh... come on." Fang edged closer her body coming against Lightnings back.
"N….oo…"
"What?" Fang asked her brow knitting.
"Leave me…"
"That's not gonna happen." Fang said, leaning forward to slide arms under weak knees so she could pull Lightning from the floor and vomit.
"Jus… leave me…" Her weak protests went ignored as Fang drew her once again to the bathing area. Setting her on the stool outside the four so she could pull the soiled shirt from her body and wash away the remnants of her last accident.
"Please…" Fang shook her dark head at the weak and tearful request.
"So tired…"
"I know Sunshine, but Van is coming, and she helped Serah so soon you should feel betta." A holler came from the front room. Vanille slipping her shoes off at the door and moseying into the house.
"We're in the bath." Fang called
Vanille stepped in with out restraint and felt sympathy wash through her as she caught sight of the weak and sallow looking soldier.
"Of all the things you have already sacrificed for your sister, don't you think this one is a bit much?" Vanille asked as she set down her bag and let Fang finish as she turned to help clean the mess her sister in law had tried very hard not to create.
"W- w…" Lightning's head lolled back boneless as Fang worked soap into her pink hair.
"Serah has morning sickness." Fang informed.
"Not uncommon in pregnant women." Vanille said with a growing smile.
"Preg…nt?"
"I am sure she would have loved to tell you herself, but she looks just as bad as you do, and in her own way she already told you… Didn't she?" Vanille finished cleaning the mess on the floor and toilet and turned to hand a towel to her sister.
"Wrap her up and bring her to the bedroom. Don't bother dressing her, I have some oils that will help."
"Your a god send."
"Goddess?"
"Yeah." Fang grinned and followed after Vanille to their bedroom. The blankets were a mess, from the rough morning, the sheets soiled from cold sweats.
"Could ya…"
"Say no more…" Vanille said already seeing where she needed to help out. While Fang held their poor soldier Vanille made quick work of the bed sheets and stretched new ones over them before Fang lay her wife down upon them.
"Thanks Van."
Lightning was already asleep, comforted by the warmth and strength of the woman who held her.
"Poor thing." Vanille said setting her bag on the dresser and pulling out a crystal glass bottle with stopper.
"Rub this into her skin. It will bring some color back to her, soothe all her aching muscles, and warm her." She pulled another vial out, this one familiar.
"Antidote?"
"Ya may not know this, but it helps settle upset stomach as well. Harmless, I gave some to a pregnant woman…"
"Your the healer." Fang said not having meant to question Vanille's advice.
"Give her another one in the morning, and only broth for breakfast. Something light for lunch and a bit of food for dinner. After three days she may chew your arm off." Vanille laughed.
"She will be hungry enough and hopefully steady enough to hold down good healthy food.
"For Etro's sake… no Jamba fruit or Flan in any of its forms for her during this time…" Fang blushed a little. She had not known that Vanille knew about her coaxing Light with sweets when she didn't feel well.
"Okay." She smiled.
Vanille looked to the wiped out woman and shook her head.
"Get to work, before she wakes up. If we can get her broken off from these sympathy pains, it would be best. The only way to do that is with work. Other wise its going to be a long three months for the four of you… and any fool who gets any where near you."
Chagrin flashed across Fangs features… she needed no more prompting.
"I will bring more oil tomorrow. Just in case I will have Talon, and Gadot fetch us some more Borgbear…" They shared a look before Vanille left Fang to her duties with a wave.
34: Fireplace
The worst thing to happen in a harsh winter is to have heating vents plugged, but there is any manner of ways that this very thing could happen. Creosote was usually the largest factor, a build up of flammable substance that builds over the years and can like calcium deposits build on its self until there is a hard block in the chimney that needs knocked loose and cleaned out.
To do this safely all fire must be extinguished, and the heat depleted... in the winter it makes for a very cold home, especially in Oerba after a particularly loud hail storm, with fist sized stones.
Fang grunted, they had woke to a house billowing with smoke, and a rattling rasp in their lungs. Lightning awoke with a coughing fit and darted for the bathroom as if she were sick.
"It looks like the flue is blocked..."
From the bedroom her wife came, her body swaddled in winter huntress pants bound about her shapely legs complete with fur leggings and moccasins.
Fang who was dressed in a pair of britches and a loose shirt paused shock on her face.
"Are you really that cold?"
Obviously that had been something she should not have asked, by the dirty look Lightning gave her.
"My Sunshine..." She giving a crooked smile.
"This is still too hot to get into." Fang said putting a hand on the warm stones that built the fireplace. Lightning moved forward attracted by the promise of heat.
"You Cocoon folk..." Fang chuckled again and took a punch in the arm.
"Laugh all you want after you get my house warm again."
"Yes, ma'am." Fang looked around for something she might be able to use to knock loose the build up but only seemed to have two choices... a crimson bladed lance that would be hell to get into the fireplace and chimney...or a neatly folded, easily compact, razor sharp Blazefire gunblade.
Blue eyes shifted taking note of what Fang was eying, dismay came across her features as she realized what was going through Fangs head.
'Thats not happening Oerba Yun Fang... eva..." She said with her wife's accent on the last word for clear emphasis.
A rich amused sound erupted from Fang startling her soldier.
"There are other ways to get warm."
"After you reignite the fire..." Honest blue eyes met green with out so much as a twitch.
Hope appeared in green eyes.
"Yah mean it?"
"If it gets me heat..."
Fang stood up lumbering with childish eagerness towards the two well kept weapons.
"With out using those... "
"What?"
"You heard me..."
"Come on light its just a bit of build up, two swipes!"
"Two very clear ways to die a cold and lonely huntress in the dead of winter..."
Some of Fangs bravado deflated.
"Not even a little?"
"Only if you intend on dying a little..."
Fang's features took on a sly look, her full lips curling into the grin of a Silver Lobo.
"Oh I intend on doing that very soon... ova and ova again." Her words were not lost on the chilled Soldier who suddenly found a renewed source of heat flooding her body at the sultry tone used just with her in mind.
"Until then..." Lightning breathed no louder than a whisper, not even attempting to hide the flush across pale skin.
Fang moved for the door and in bare feet darted outside before her wife could call her back, but her voice carried.
"Oerba Yun Fang!" That rich contralto laugh rumbled from the back of the house had pink brows knitting with renewed heat and desire.
It wasn't like she denied her lover any thing... some times life got in the way of making love, exhaustion, responsibilities to the village, care of little ones, monthly cycles... it happened, but she didn't deny Fang's advances. Perhaps they had let a little too much come between them these last few weeks... or was it longer?
Her dark haired huntress came back through the door bringing a new wave of biting cold, and frost curling fingers stretching into the dead of their living room. Lightning snapped out of her thoughts and closed the door leaning back against it with a hint of exasperation.
"Are you trying to see if anything of mine freezes off?" She groused playfully. It brought another rich sultry laugh that had Lightning thankful that she was leaning against something for support.
Perhaps it had been more than a couple of weeks..."
The sound of chopping brought lighting once again into the cold space of their living room, Fang was using the wood splitter to reshape a knobby frozen log that looked oddly familiar even under its new shell of hail and iced snow fall.
"Is that a beam from the fence?"
"Bet yur pretty blue eyes it is!" Fang didn't even notice her partners jaw fall open, she was already making short work of it so she could maneuver it into the chimney and use it to knock away the blockage.
"Two birds with one stone." Fang chortled. "Extra fire wood and a flue cleaner."
"I hope there's a flue left when you're done..." Lightning murmured admiring the play of muscle under a shirt that was beginning to cling to Fang's body due to the cold sweat her little jaunt outside had created.
"Ya dint say anything about that Sunshine. Just heat..."
Lightning laughed at the absolute absurdity of Fang's current game plan, and the exuberance with which she carried it out. She couldn't even feel upset about the prospect of Fang destroying the chimney with her battering ram of a beam, her verdant eyes alight with the prospect of success and her reward upon completing the task.
A few whacks from the hatchet had it looking more like a mid-evil spike you would use in defense rather than a proper battering ram.
"How..."
"It's a process." Fang replied playfully.
"Un huh."
"Trust me."
Lightning was fine until that statement came up. She groaned inwardly and found herself fighting the urge to retreat a lot further from the chimney, but part of her felt that now she would have to grab Fang before the whole damn thing came crumbling back on her... couldn't do that in time from the other side of the room no matter how fast she was.
"I heard that." Fang knelt in front of the fire place and angled the newly trimmed beam so she could work it up into the chimney.
"You heard nothing."
"Un huh." She smirked knowing that her wife felt superstitious about that particular statement. Perhaps it was a soldiers training, or just something that had happened one too many times to be coincidence... Only Etro knew... The best way to get around it was to work through it. She would once again prove she was skilled at many things.
"Wait." Fang paused, the muscles in her shoulders, back and thighs tensing to shove the newly designed flue leaner up into the chimney.
Curiosity flickered into green eyes as Lightning moved into their bedroom and returned with a length of colored cloth.
"I swear your temerity will be the death of you." Fang smiled up into her wife's face.
"Not as long as I have you." They shared a warm silent smile, dual blue eyes meeting green as Lightning lay the cloth over Fangs mouth and nose leaning into Fang as she tied the cloth behind dark tresses.
Strong hands slid up the backs of Lightning's thighs, fingers digging into the bindings that kept furred leggings in place. Up over the swell of her butt grasping slender hips. for a moment neither moved, caught in the feel of the other. Lightning swallowed hard as breasts pressed into thighs and loins.
Green eyes fluttered closed, as fingers thread through sweaty dark tresses. If Lightning wanted to distract her, she was doing a damn good job of it.
"Kiss me..." Fang whispered turning full lips up in supplication.
Amusement flashed across blue eyes, and the makeshift mask she had made was pulled from mouth and nose so she could deliver. It started chaste, but could not hold back the growing heat between them. It started with parting lips... neither knew who began it, a slip of tongue, a growl of desire, Arms slid around a hot damp body and legs parted, Lightning sliding onto Fangs lap as strong arms pulled her in.
A gasp, teeth and nails. Bindings stood no chance against such stress, they parted in frayed ends. Clothing removed by heated hands, more sounds, a rich symphony of pleasure and passion sung by the two lovers.
The fire was forgotten as heat burned between them. Raging, demanding, it could not be denied, so they willingly submit and played their part in the carnal flames that consumed them, together.
35: Dream
"I'm starting dinner, did you make it to the grocery store yet?"
"I'm there now."
"Oh good, I didn't miss you. Was your friend coming over tonight?"
Blue eyes shifted to the tall woman dressed in black leather and black jeans. From behind she looked dark and menacing, broad shoulders, wide flared hips, she must have poured herself into those jeans… blue eyes closed as heat began to suffice pale features.
"Hello? Claire?"
"I'm here mom, she is coming over."
"In that case we need more 'Gui meat. Could you pick that up? Oh an those wild onions your father is so fond of."
"Anything else?"
"I don't know, let me ask Serah, maybe she will remember something."
Claire watched her dark lover bend over a large crate of melons, their green and pale white a riot of color against all that black…
Really hot black… She thought as her eyes fell on that offered view.
"Thank you God…"
"What was that dear?"
"What?" She stammered not having known those words had come out rather than just in her head. Blue eyes flicked up panning across the produce as her dark lover had disappeared.
"You were saying something"
"No, mom, its nothing."
"Oh, I think it was." A warm voice purred intimately into her ear, arms sliding around her stomach as their bodies pressed together, causing Claire's breathing to hitch. A brief urge to pull away filled her but the scent musky dark rich filled her and the warmth so encompassing… to hell with what the others thought…
A small hand came to the arms about her drawing a feral smile to full lips pressed against an ear.
From the right side there was a hiss and whisper, an older woman and her adult daughter staring. Claire caught sight of them staring wide eyed, mouths gaping. The rebel in her wanted to give them a good reason for such expressions. It burned in her stomach and drew the brash youth forward.
Fang always the eager rebel loved to watch the decision making pass through sharp blue eyes, and loved even more the outcome of those thoughts.
Claire turned surging up to claim warm soft lips as her own. A lithe body pressing back into her own. Hands slid into dark hair and pulled her closer into the kiss.
"My god… no shame…"
The words might have galvanized Claire into further motion but the incessant
"Hello?"
Drew her back to Cocoon.
"Claire?" With a satisfied smile crawling over fine lips she answered.
"Yeah?"
"Oh, I thought I lost you."
Smoldering blue eyes were gazing up into green, the dropped to Fangs mouth and she watched an agile tongue work at smeared lip balm.
"Mom…" A small hand raised to wipe at the smear, drawing it back to her own mouth sucking it from her finger tips.
"Serah says she needs some eggs and powdered Flan for dessert. Said something about making Fang's favorite dish."
Fine lips quirked, because she doubted Serah had the skill of ability to create Fang's favorite desert… Dark brows raised inquisitively at the sultry look her girl friend was giving, but it promised wonderful things for later.
"I will get them."
"See you when you get home honey."
"Bye mom, love you."
"Love you." A small hand wrapped its self in dark leather and hauled her rebel forward determined to get this shopping thing done as quickly as possible for some much needed private time before they were due home for dinner…
Bethany Eclaire hung up the phone shaking her head. sometimes talking to her eldest daughter was like speaking to an errant little child who needed proper disciplining.
"Was that Claire?"
"Yes, she is picking up groceries."
A light brown brow knit.
"Is she bringing her… friend?"
"Seems so."
A pained sigh.
"That woman is trouble… she hangs with the wrong crowd, Mama."
Bethany smiled turning to her worried husband.
"We do this with her or she will do it with out us or she might choose worse, at least Fang is respectful. Perhaps she will learn a few things."
"More likely Claire will… her friend is part of that group, she wears some kind of brand on her arm… last week several of them were picked by PSICOM. What if she is serious about this woman?" His worry only elicited a chuckle form his wife.
"What will her future be like?"
"I suppose something like ours, when my father said the same about you."
Bethany drew her husband into her arms and held him as he sighed heavily.
"Do I have to like her?" Again her joyous laugh something that warmed his heart.
"Not at all my dear, It is a fathers duty to feel less than pleased with his daughters choices. Makes their wings stronger."
Later after dinner Claire reached for a strong hand under the table for quiet support. Their eyes met while her Father looked on, Claire found strength in those vibrant green eyes and her silent question was answered with a gentle nod from her tall dark companion.
"Mom… Dad…" Claire paused her eyes dropping to the table, the hand in hers held tighter, willing her courage.
"What is it honey?" Bethany asked, her hand seeking that of her husbands beneath the table having a feeling some one had better support him.
"I… I mean… Fang and I are dating." A sputtering cough came from her father and filled her with dismay.
"What?"
Bethany held that trembling hand tighter.
"What happened to friends?" He asked a little exasperated his fears were coming true.
"We are friends, but I love her…" Blue eyes shifted from her fathers shocked and dismayed features to Fang who beamed nothing but love and acceptance.
Something fell in the kitchen startling them all… and the dream that had been warm and comforting despite its angst faded. The smell of fried Jamba hash and behemoth meat filled the house, as a soft curse came from her own kitchen.
Lightning looked about the room of her home. Small, modest, well kept, but not anything she might have had on Cocoon… With a sigh blue eyes turned to the empty space in the bed beside her.
Sitting up she pulled blankets from her body and twisted pulling legs over the side of the bed. Head found hands and she tried to hold onto that feeling of deep love and care… and felt it fraying around the edges and unraveling like the remnants of the dream. Tears threatened to flood blue eyes as the faces of her parents began to fade hiding once more under the self imposed change from Claire to Lightning just to make it, to survive…
For a moment to cover that growing ache in her heart she contemplated pulling that mask back into place, to draw it forward like a lovers embrace… she swallowed and tilted off the bed. Bare feet hit the floor and she was on the move, eyes closed blinded by emotion and tears she was trying to fight.
"Fang…"
The tone of Lightnings voice drew her quicker than the call. They met in the hall way, her wife literally running into her arms they thumped against one another and Fang wrapped arms around her as they thumped onto the floor. Lightning's arms were strong, incessant demanding, a pink head thrust up under her chin clicking her teeth shut.
"Hey, now." Fang gathered her trembling wife into her arms, drawing legs up cross-legged holding Lightning's half dressed from in the safety of her arms. A shuddering breath rattled in and out as she tried to fight what ever it was that had overwhelmed her.
Warm strong hands came to her back rubbing and kneading, the other was on a knee holding her pressed into Fang's body. Lightning let be needing the quiet reassurance that all would be okay once more… There were no questions no words to cheapen what she felt, no lies.. just a promise… and it was delivered through action. Something that always gave Lightning faith that those silent whispers were true…
They remained like that in the hall way for an undetermined amount of time, long enough that Lightning worried about breakfast.
"The food?"
"Shhhh, I turned it off, it can wait." Fingers slid into pink hair soothing, gentle. Lightning sighed and closed her eyes letting the sound of a strong heart beat sooth her.
One thing she could count on was Fang's patience, a trait that had more than once saved their relationship from disaster… her ability to assess Lightnings need for silence, for truth… and to let things be until she regathered her center. Most often in such cases Lightning let her know when things were better, until then Fang simply waited, quietly bringing comfort with her presence.
Lightning spoke first, he voice shaky, small.
"I saw them…"
"Hmm." Fang murmured drawing fingers through pink hair.
"My parents…" A pained look crossed Fang's features. A subject that was never easy for her sigh.
"It was a good dream really…" But like any wound, any provocation could bring pain…
"You were there." Lightning whispered turing her face up. Fang shifted to look into trouble blue eyes.
"I told them we were dating." They shared a smile, one pained, the other gentle.
"A little behind on that one hmm?" Lightning barked a laugh and snuggled into her lovers chest again.
"I think it would shock them to come out and say were married." Full lips pulled back into a Lobo smile.
"All dads have a cow about who their little girls marry. The good ones give them hope."
Lightning swallowed hard and nodding as words once again failed her.
"They would have liked you." She said in a small distant voice."
"Eventually." Fang agreed her thumb gently petting one of Lightning's knee's where her hand rested.
New tears fell, her wife's small hand tangling into her night shirt. Fang took a long careful breath so as not to let Lightning hear the tightness in her chest. The heart ache this gaping wound created was something she couldn't balm over, no amount of potion could bring relief from this agony… only quiet patience and trust. Together they held one another as if their hands covered that bleeding hole patching one another up until leaking stopped, and with Etro's grace they would make it through.
It took more time before silent tears stopped, and a clenched fist found circulation once more. Fang sighed ever so soft, green eyes sliding closed. It felt as if Lightning had slipped into sleep. Pulling back she looked down and felt surprise and warmth spread through her as puffy blue eyes met hers.
Tipping lips down she pressed a kiss to a pink covered forehead. Small hands cupped golden cheeks, drawing Fang for a kiss. A gentle press of lips. Fang didn't stop there. Slowly she brushed lips against a temple, a cheek, her lovers jaw, the pulse in her neck before retuning for another kiss upon gentle fine lips.
Fang pressed her forehead against Lightnings their breath mingling.
A growl of protest rumbled between them drawing similar smiles.
"Let me feed you."
Traitorous body…"
Fang chuckled lifting Lightning off of her lap, gathering long legs up under them and carried her back to the bedroom, laying her on Fang's side of the bed.
"I like your body."
Lightning grunted.
"I am glad some one does."
Their lips met again, a long caress that went unhurried, another press of foreheads.
"I will be only a moment."
"Okay."
Their morning was taken slow, eventually Lightning felt able to relate the dream that had started all of this arterial bleeding from a aching heart.
"My Father would be grateful for you." Lightning said with such surety Fang felt compelled to ask why.
Lightning paused drinking in eager green and the beautiful perfect planes of her soulmate's face. "You cherish me."
Fang tipped her head as warmth spread through her.
"I do." She murmured in that soft moment.
"I know you do."