A/N: Chapter 17! I'm trying to focus on individual characters a bit, so let me know what you would like to hear about. I'll try my best3 (: Enjoy!

-Serah-

Serah found herself stirring as endless roars of thunder shook the frames of the windows in her room. A flash of lightning illuminated her pitch black room causing her to jolt. She sighed heavily as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and glanced at the clock. 1:30.

"Shit.", she whispered to herself as she ran a weak hand through her hair. A quick look to her right revealed a large window facing the roads that lined her neighborhood, just inches from the edge of her bed. The outlines of the streets were barely visible through the thick rain and dim lights. Just a short glance revealed a ferocious storm. Unwillingly, she slid herself out of her warm bed and felt the cold hardwood floor underneath her socks. She took a few steps before turning to her left and walking into her bathroom. A small candle glowed causing various shapes of shadows to dance around the small area.

The young Farron girl walked in front of her sink and stared at her reflection for a while. Tiny bags protruded under her eyes indicating an obvious lack of sleep. There was a raised scar going down her right temple that her eyes fixated on.

"Hey baby!", Snow shouted as he walked through the door. Serah was sitting on the soft couch, with a pair of square black-trimmed glasses stuck to her face. Instead of her usual side-ponytail she had her hair messily put up into a bun. Her eyes were glued to the computer sitting in her lap as she furiously typed. The instant Snow walked in she directed her attention to his presence and smiled. "Hey Snow.", she replied.

The large man kicked off his shoes and took a few short steps over to Serah. He grabbed her laptop and slung it onto the table before pressing his mouth against hers in rough kisses. Serah kissed him back for little while before she tasted the liquor on his breath. A hard hand was felt pushing on his chest beckoning him to back off.

"You're drunk?" Serah questioned with a hint of anger in her voice. This had been the fourth day in a row this week that Snow had showed up completely wasted.

A short chuckle escaped his lips as he began kissing his wife again. Serah struggled to push him off her.

"Answer me Snow.", She demanded keeping her hand on the man's muscular chest.

He hung his head down and sighed a deep sigh. There wasn't a need for him to answer, his breath was enough of an indication.

Serah rolled her eyes in irritation. Without skipping a beat Snow quickly forgot about the bump in the road and began kissing her down from her neck to her chest. The young woman couldn't help but let him indulge himself for a little. She was used to him wanting sex when he was trashed. This time she wasn't in the mood, she pushed him off again.

"Not tonight Snow.", She declared once his kisses had trailed down to her stomach. He quickly lifted his head up in confusion. The dilation of his pupils and relaxed sleepy eyelids were now fully visible to Serah. It was obvious that he had been drinking all night.

The young woman scooted herself out from under him and ran a hand through her messy bangs as she put a hand on her hip. "Snow I think maybe you should take a shower, and get in bed. I'll make you some tea?" Serah offered awkwardly as she stared at her drunk husband sitting on the couch.

"Is.. Something wrong babe?", Snow questioned unsteadily getting up from his perch and walking over to her. In an attempt to keep the distance between them equal, she took a step back as he approached her.

Serah felt her eye flicker as it focused back on her face. Her memory faded as another bolt of lightning flashed outside again. Frustrated, she sighed. That was a mistake. She thought to herself as she turned to face her shower taking slow steps as if she were questioning each one. The glass door slip open and she reached a small nimble hand inside to turn on the hot water. In a struggle the unused shower spurted to life, roaring as the controlled water pounded against the porcelain base.

A nice hot shower, then I'll go back to bed. She promised herself as she took her clothes off in the candlelight.

Snow's eyes flickered from his wife's feet steeping away from him to her face. Serah continued stepping backwards as he advanced towards her.

"Serah what's your problem? Why won't you let me touch you?", Snow slurred angrily still trying to get closer to his wife. Without even realizing it she had herself backed up against a wall, with no other option than to stand there and face him.

"Snow you're drunk again." Serah half screamed back at him with an irritated tone. The angry tone in her voice surprised Snow, and his face began looking extremely confused. Even in his confusion he stood there for a few more minutes looking up and down Serah's body with his hungry eyes. With a smile on his face he took a step and closed the distance between them.

Each memory came back to her mind in quick spurts. A flash of his hands sliding up her shirt that dissolved to reveal the angry drunken look he had on his face. She remembered the feel of his rough tongue in her mouth, and the pain after a quick kiss of his fist against her cheek.

The young girl sighed again as she stepped into the hot water of her shower. Blistering liquid washed away ever memory as it stung her soft skin. The warm palms of her hand were placed against the cold tile lining the shower. Her head was hanging down, causing the sizzling water to drip down her cheeks, nose, and chin. She shut her eyes, immersing herself back into her nightmare.

"Come on Serah. Let's go upstairs?" The man offered with a drunken smirk glued to his face. He inched closer to his wife and began kissing her neck.

"Snow, I think you should just.." Serah tried to reply but quickly found her voice muffled by her husband's large hand. Her eyebrows scrunched in confusion as she tried pushing his hand off. Tightly, he held her there. An attempt to scream at him came out muffled and inaudible under his grip. As the fight wore on her heart pounded furiously inside her chest.

Snow stopped and stared at his wife as he slowly took his hand off her mouth. Without a moments hesitation the soft palm of her hand slapped against his cheek. She stared into his drunken eyes and saw them fill with rage. Impulsively he formed a fist and smashed it against her temple. The young girl before him was immediately knocked out from the sudden impact.

Serah formed a fist and hit the chilly tile in frustration with her head still hanging. Her skin had become irritated as the hot water continuing pouring over her bare body. Despite the warmth coating her, Serah involuntarily shuddered. Her eyes stung with tears that molded into the already dripping water sliding down her face.

Two weeks. Two whole weeks I had to sit there and be strong for my sister.

The thoughts entered her mind forcefully. She had been the strong one this time instead of Claire. Every night was plagued with horrifying dreams. Sleepless. Two weeks and she hadn't faltered. Two weeks and she wasn't broken. Two weeks and she had successfully managed to put on her biggest facade. But now? Now, under the cover over darkness and muffled by a storm accompanied with the endless rage of water, Serah could break down.

Pain. Throbbing head. Stiff body. Serah jolted herself awake with a gasp to find herself stripped laying alone on her bed in the darkness of her and Snow's room. Her mind swarmed itself with unanswerable questions. Had everything she just experienced only been a figment of her imagination? How did she get in her bed, and why didn't she have any clothes on ? Where was Snow?

"Serah?" The man in question answered. Bingo. He flicked on the lamp on their nightstand. His clothes had been changed from his shredded jeans and long-sleeved black shirt. Now, he was wearing short black boxers. No shirt. Serah scooted herself to the other side of the bed away from him with a puzzled look.

"What is wrong with you?" She questioned as she reached the end of the mattress.

"Look, Serah.. I," He struggled to finish his thought. "Things got out of hand.", he summed up.

The words confirmed Serah's memory was real. Her eyebrows scrunched together in pain at the massive headache she had. She slowly shook her head from side to side.

"You're a fucking monster." She proclaimed as she got up from the bed and inched herself away from her husband. The door was a few feet away. If only…

"Don't," Snow stood up quickly with his hand outstretched towards Serah. "don't go anywhere."

Serah shook her head at him again and reached for the doorknob anyways. In a chain reaction Snow quickly jumped over the bed and slammed her forehead against the door. Unfortunately for Serah, this time she stayed conscious. Her hand slapped against her forehead as tiny trails of blood trickled down the gash. A moan of pain escaped her lips as her body gave way and fell to the side.

Snow caught her immediately, and as he laid her down on the floor he pinned her arms above her head. The young girl squirmed beneath him, and struggled against his grip. The fight they had against each other caused a small vase to fall a shatter on the hard floors of their bedroom. Just inches away from Serah's head were the broken ceramic shards from the explosion . Her husband began kissing her collar bones. Roughly biting at her neck. Tightening his grip on her hands. Spreading her thin legs apart with his own.

The water shut off under Serah's grip. She sniffled as tears continued falling from her eyes. As her body continued shaking she couldn't even fathom the idea of getting dressed. She didn't have the urge to dry her hair, nor her body. The candles sitting on the hard counter-top in the bathroom flickered against the sand colored walls. A quick breath and the fire was extinguished, filling the room with the scent of Coconut and a doused wick. Hot steam rolled off the young girl's body as she stepped back into her chilly bedroom.

Goosebumps covered her skin. Her stunning ocean blue eyes flickered to the digital thermostat next to the entrance.

67 degrees in here, are you fucking kidding me?

Serah angrily asked herself as she walked over to the device leaving her wet footprints behind on the hardwood. A few taps on the touch screen set the number up to 75. She turned around and quickly trotted over to her bed and wrapped herself in the thick white comforter. More and more shivers went up her spine as the wetness of her hair soaked into her pillows. She felt herself dozing off, but her relentless flashbacks kept her on the verge of sleep.

Snow wasn't about to quit, regardless of what Serah did. Minutes inched by as she continued fighting against him. She felt the shards of the vase threatening to insert themselves into her skin. There were a number of bruises dotting her body in various places. With each struggle more begs came from her mouth. Her husband refused to stop.

After what felt like eons had passed he removed his one free hand from Serah's body and slid his hard cock out of his boxers. Serah's eyes were too blurred with tears for her to focus on anything, but the instant she felt the appendage touch her thigh she started thrashing furiously against his unrelenting grip. Her body slowly began wiggling on top of the shards of the broken vase. The light weight alone was enough to cause them to slice open her back, but the added pounds from Snow's body plunged them deeper into her skin.

The pain was too much, after a short struggle she ceased all movement. Her chest rapidly rising up and down as she heaved. She felt him enter her. Slowly. Painfully. A shriek erupted from her throat, piercing into her husband's ears. Thin legs were thrashing violently beneath him as he slowly began thrusting his hips. Tears trickled out of Serah's eyes, and disappeared into her hair as the thrusts became deeper and more painful. Relentless screams poured out of her throat as each assault on her body sent porcelain shards deeper into her back.

Minutes ticked by again at an infinitesimally slow pace. Serah's throat was burning from the shouts. Snow had shoved his hand over the girl's mouth, but still she persisted. The energy she was so determined to keep alive was gradually fading. The pace had slowed severely, Serah knew her husband was almost spent. His vice grip on her wrists had faltered for only a second, but it was enough. Serah had scooted her knee between Snow's legs and quickly shoved upwards. The collision with his tender spot had caused him to double over to the side. Without a hesitation Serah crawled up and ripped the door open. She felt a thick liquid substance running down her thighs. Blood.

Snow was quick on her trail once he realized she left. He raced after her down the hall. The young woman turned sharply and jolted down the stairs. Almost there. She made it halfway before she felt a tug on her arm, throwing her off balance. Her mind tried to keep up with her body, but instead she tumbled the rest of the way down the stairs. Another shock of pain as her foot rolled itself underneath her. A loud thud shook the floor as her head painfully collided with it.

Her husband reached the bottom just as her body had. He stared at her with an almost concerned look in his eyes, that Serah could barely distinguish in the darkness. She was crawling on the floor in a daze to get to the door. A hand outstretched itself towards her.

"Serah," His voice beckoned as he crouched down lower. "C'mon let me help you."

Without even realizing it she kicked her bad foot upwards, and landed another shot on Snow's crotch. Serah clawed at the floor as she suppressed a groan through gritted teeth. Using the door knob to pull herself up she grabbed the keys next to the door and ran for her car. She locked Snow out, and found some dirty clothes in the back of her car. Everything she drove by turned into a massive blur as tears streaked down her face. Her hands turned the wheel and her feet pushed the peddle but her mind couldn't fathom where she was going. She drove for what felt like hours. Then there was Claire….