A/N: From the title, you can probably tell what's gonna happen here. I can tell yea that Hope and Lightning mets for the first time. And I guess you'll see that Lightning's gonna have a soft side when she has to take care of a helpless child who's overwhelming in despair.

Hope and Nora are wondering down the Jagd Woods. Hope is beginning to stagger, the kid is become very exhausted. Nora is trying her hardest to get them to Bodhum.

Overwhelmed in exhaustion, Hope sits down against a rock. "Mom...Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, I'm sure." Nora says.

"We're lost. I think we should head back."

Nora looks back at her son, she's about to speak, but turns fearfully speechless. Hope takes a moment to catch his breath. When he looks up at his mother, he's confused.

"What?" Hope asks.

"Hope..." Nora's voice was quiet, but trembling. "Come towards me. Quiet...and carefully."

Hope was confused, but he looks behind him. Suddenly, he's scared. The kid is right beside a sleeping Behemoth.

Bit by bit, very slowly, Hope stands up, and backs away from the Behemoth, like three inches each step. Hope tries his hardest to not awaken the beast.

By the time he's close to his mother, Hope steps on a twig, which startles the both of them. And it should, cause the Behemoth snorts from the noise, slowly waking up.

"Oh no." Hope whispers. The Behemoth growls softly as it starts to stand up. The Behemoth faces Hope and Nora and roars ferociously. "Uh...mom. What now?"

"Run!" Nora says, bolting off. "Run for your life!"

Hope lately runs with his mom, and the Behemoth chases after them. Far away from that location, Lightning walks down the path, following those footprints. Personally, she's surprised these people have gone this far without running into any trouble.

Lightning arrives at the area where Hope and Nora were resting. She noticed the footprints have stopped for a moment. "What...?" Lightning looks around, there, she finds large claw prints. She widens her eyes seeing them. She recognizes these prints. "Oh no."

Lightning heard a bellow, from a Behemoth. She turns her head at the direction of the sound, they're probably headed that way, running away from it. Lightning goes down that path.

Hope and Nora are still running away from the Behemoth. Hope is starting to lose his stamina. It doesn't matter, cause the monster is running faster then them. Not really fast, but...let's say it's more like an extra mile per hour.

Hope stumbles and trips, falling down. Nora looks back and sees her son in danger. "Hope!"

Nora rushes back, helps her son stand and run. That doesn't help with their situation, the Behemoth is even closer. It can pretty much snap it's jaws to shave off the skin on their backs. Nora tries to put some distance between her, her son and the beast. She approaches at a cliff. She didn't bother to stop and look down at how deep it is. She was about to jump, but she trips and falls in.

Apparently, the cliff is higher then she was hoping. It's about fifteen feet. Nora holds onto her son with dear life, she crashes onto the ground. Nora and Hope were unconscious from the fall. Only for a short time.

Hope tries to sit up, with his mother laying on top of him. Hope looks at his mother with worry. "Mom?" Nora moans. Hope sits up, trying to wake up his mother. "Mom, mom. Are you okay?"

Nora opens her eyes and gives a small smile. "I'm...I'm fine, Hope."

Hope and Nora stands up, with help from Hope to Nora. They were about to walk off, until the Behemoth suddenly lands in front of them. The Behemoth growls at them. Hope and Nora are worried. The Behemoth swipes at them, knocking Hope and Nora back and away from each other.

Hope was knocked back to the cliff, Nora crashed into a tree. The Behemoth faces Nora, prowling at the woman. Nora is barely awake. Hope sits up, watches his mother in trouble. However, he wasn't prepared to see what happens next. The Behemoth slashed its claws at Nora, directly in the stomach.

Hope felt his heart stopped at the sight of red ooze over his mothers body. "Mom! NO!" The Behemoth growls at Nora. Hope had to do something.

The behemoth snapped its jaws at Nora, holding the women in it's mouth and shaking her like some rag doll. The beast stopped it's frenzy when a boomerang hits it in the head. It did not like it.

"Hey! Over here!" Hope got the Behemoths attention. Nora looks at her son, very weakly. Everything's a blur to her, but she can see that it's her son that's gonna become the monsters dessert.

"Hope...No..." The Behemoth drops Nora from its mouth and walks up to Hope.

Hope backs up until he's against the wall. He suddenly regrets what he has done, even if it was to help his mom. The Behemoth was face to face with Hope, and snarls at him. Hope swallows hard, then the Behemoth roars. The beast raises it's claw at Hope. Hope cowers, preparing himself for the strike.

Lightning bolts in, she runs over the cliff, falling down onto the Behemoth. The Behemoth's attack becomes interrupted when Lightning lands on the beast, and stabs her Gunblade in the back. The Behemoth roars in agony, moving backwards away from Hope. Lightning rides on the Behemoth as it tries to shake her off.

Hope now looks at what's happening, to see the monster is struggling to fight against Lightning. The Behemoth finally shakes Lightning off. The soldier girl lands on her hands and feet. Lightning looks up at the Behemoth, who's looking at her wither angrily.

Lightning gets up, holding her weapon at hand. "Great. Just when I thought this was too easy."

The Behemoth roars and charges at Lightning. Lightning charges as well. On the way, her weapon shifted into a gun and Lightning shoots repeatly at the monster. They came close to each other, that's when Lightning shifts her weapon back to a sword. Lightning strikes with her blade, only to have it parried by the monsters teeth.

Lightning holds on for a while, then she and the Behemoth disbands. The Behemoth swipes, but Lightning backflips, avoiding the attack. During that flip, Lightning shoots at the beast. Lightning managed to shoot the monster in the eye, it was not happy about it. The Behemoth charges at Lightning.

Lightning was stroke by the monster by the time she landed. Lightning crashes against a tree. The Behemoth growls at Lightning, but then turns facing Hope. The kid's in trouble again. The Behemoth runs towards Hope. Hope cowers and screams as the beast runs towards him.

Lightning jump flips towards the monster, landing on it again. Lightning stabs her weapon into the monster. The Behemoth roars, but doesn't stop. Rapidly and repeatly, Lightning stabs her weapon into the monsters thick flesh. By the time the monster was in front of Hope, it stands in place, with it's legs wobbling. Lightning gives one, final strike, then the Behemoth finally falls with a booming thud.

Hope is pretty shocked at what just happened. He's taking the moment to put the pieces together. Lightning walks off of the dead Behemoth, shifting her weapon and put it back in it's holster.

Lightning looks at the scared boy in front of her. Hope looks to the side and quickly rushes at that direction. "Mom!"

Lightning kept her eyes on the boy. She's surprised to find a wounded women, who she can tell is the boy's mother. Hope kneels in front of his mother. "Mom?" Nora struggles to breath. Nora coughs as Hope grabs hold of her hand. "Mom, mom? It's me, Hope. Speak to me."

Nora looks at Hope dizzily. "Ho-ho...Hope?"

Hope takes a look at his mother's wounds, it's pretty nasty. "No..." Hope looks back at his mother. "Mom?" Nora starts to lose conscious. Hope puts his hands on her cheeks, making her face him. "No, stay with me. You're all right. You're okay."

Hope knows that he's lying, he can tell she's a goner. "Ho-Hope...I'm...I'm s-so sorry."

Hope slowly shock his head. "No. Please don't apologize. You're going to be okay." Hope's voice was quiet and soft, but still trembling. Lightning slowly walks up to the mother and son. She stands next to Hope. Hope looks up at Lightning and pleads. "Please! Can't you do something?"

Lightning kneels down, looking at Nora's wounds. Lightning can tell the women is a goner, but she doesn't have the stomach to break the news to the boy.

Nora turns her head, facing Lightning. "M-miss..." Lightning looks at Nora. "Please...Take...take care...of him."

Lightning gasps a little hearing that. Nora turns her head, looking at Hope. Nora weakly raises her hand, rests it on Hope's cheek, and manages a small smile. "My son...I lo...love...you..."

Nora draws her last breath, then she closes her eyes. Hope's in a total shock realizing his. He quickly grabbed Nora's hand as it falls from his cheek. "No! No, no, mom! Wake up! Please wake up!" Nora's not responding to Hope's plea. "No! Please don't leave me! Mom! Please!"

Tears are beginning to escape from Hope's eyes. He knows his mom is gone, but he can't believe that this is happening. "No..." Hope leans his head down, holding his mothers hand close to his forehead. "Mom...please..."

Lightning just stands next to the boy, watching this whole thing. Her expression is sadden. Lightning knows how the boy feels. She did lose her parents when she's...probably about his age.

Thunder rumbles in the skies and then it starts to pour. Hope drops his arms in front of him. His hands shake with sorrow and rage. His hands clinches and Hope screams at the top of his lungs in the air. After the screaming, Hope looks down at his lap, sobbing. Hope now sits in the middle of the rain, in front of his mothers corpse.

Lightning kneels down behind Hope. She rests a hand on his shaking back. Hope doesn't react to Lightning's touch, and still remained in sorrow depression when Lightning pull him close to her, wrapping her arms around him, in her embrace.

"I am sorry." Lightning whispers. Hope cries in Lightning's embrace. Lightning rests her head on top of Hope's. Tears comes out of her eyes, sliding down on her cheeks. "I am so sorry."

"This can't...be...it just can't." Hope murmurs.

Lightning barely heard the boy speak, but it didn't matter. She only wants to comfort him from his loss. The sound of an airship engine roars. Lightning looks up to see a large airship flying pass them in the skies. "They're here." She whispers.

Back at the accident, everyone was boarding on the large airship. Sazh makes his announcement. "Welcome everyone to Sazh airlines. For the consideration of others, please turn off your cell phones and laptops while on board. Remain seated while taking off and landing for your own safety. That is all."

Everyone gets on board, taking their seats. "Okay, that's everyone." Luke says.

"Wait. Where's the Sergeant?" Gus says.

"I don't know. But she said to not wait on her." Luke says.

"Well, we can't leave Lightning." Snow says.

"I know, but orders are orders." Luke says. Luke makes his way to the pilot room, to tell Sazh to take off. Snow keeps looking out the window, waiting for Lightning. The engine turns on and the doors begin to shut. That's when Snow stops Lightning...with the kid.

"Wait! Stop! She's here!" Snow shouts. Just like that, the door stops and opens up again. Snow runs out and approaches to Lightning. Lightning looks at Snow with disapproval. Hope is just looking down in depression. "Hey, sis."

Lightning glares at Snow. "I'm not your sister!" Her tone doesn't sound too hostile, which is a lot less then she does to that comment.

"You doing okay?" Snow asks. Snow turns to Hope. "Who's the kid?"

Lighting doesn't answer Snow, she just glares at him. Lightning walks by Snow and gets on the airship with the helpless Hope. After that, Snow joins in. The door closes, the airship takes flight, heading towards Bodhum.

The airship lands on the landing bay of the Guardian Corps station. Snow and Amodar takes care of the citizens from the train wreck. Lightning, however, has some personal business to take care off.

The soldier girl didn't bother to go straight to work. As soon as she's off the airship, she finds Hope and takes him with her. Lightning goes to her hover car and drives off. Lightning has been entrusted to take care of Hope by his own mother, and the girl needs to talk to him.

Lightning and Hope arrives at an ice cream parlor, Winter Wonderland. Business was a little slow. There's not much, just six costumers, including Lightning and Hope. Hope is sitting on the table by the windows while Lightning's talking to the women behind the counter. During the entire time, Hope just looks down in depression. His mom is gone and she's never coming back. Nora is all he had left, and now she's gone. Hope can't believe this is happening. He's starting to think this whole thing is just one big never-waking nightmare.

Hope turns his head, looking at Lightning from the counter. Now he's stuck with her. With a total stranger in a strange place. Hope looks back down at his hands.

"Okay, thank you." Lightning says as the counter lady gets to work. Lightning stands by the counter, waiting for her order to be done. While waiting, she turns around, looking at Hope.

Nora's words echoed in Lightning's head: "Please. Take care of him. Of him. Of him." Lightning wondered what she meant by that. Is Hope now an orphan and Nora wants Lightning to take him in? Does she want her to watch over him until he can go home with his family? There's so many things Lightning wants to know about Hope.

Hope slowly turns his head, looking out the window. He just looks at the rain falling down from the sky. Behind the wet window, Hope is seeing...his mother. He widens his eyes in a shock. Nora is just sitting there on the beach, having some ice cream with her husband, and a little kid who is Hope.

Even though he know's it's an illusion, his mind playing tricks, he can't help but feel shattered seeing that. Hope puts a hand on the window, as if to reach them. But as he gazes at his memories, the illusion vanishes. When that does, he's miserable once again.

Lightning walks back to the table, with a sundae in her hands. She sits across the table, in front of Hope. She places the ice cream on the table, sliding it towards Hope.

"Here." Lightning's voice startles Hope, snapping him out of his trance. He looks in front of him, to find Lightning, and in between them a four foot tall ice cream sundae with multiple flavors. Vanille, strawberry, chocolate, mango, so on. Topped with whipped cream covered in fudge sauce, nuts and a cherry on top. Lightning ordered him what's call the Snow Angel. Some say it's like a heavenly treat. It's a bit pricey, but it's really good.

Hope just looks at the ice cream. He would so enjoy that, but he's not in a mood. He probably doesn't have the stomach to drown himself in treats. But, Hope knows that Lightning's trying to help him. She already paid for it and he guesses a little ice cream wouldn't hurt. Hope takes the soon and starts eating.

Lightning waits patiently for Hope. She still has to talk to him, but she knows that now's not the right time, even since his just lost his mother not too long ago. She did figured that a little ice cream would cheer him up. You could say she is using the ice cream as an icebreaker. Ha, ha. Good one, Kataang9.

After about ten minutes, Hope was halfway from his ice cream. It's already softening up, beginning to enter the melting stage. Lightning looks at the boy. "How's that ice cream treating you? Feeling any better?"

Hope nods a little, not even taking his eyes off of his mind. Lightning can tell that means only a little. In truth, he isn't feeling any better at all. The ice cream is okay and all, but he can't turn off his mind from the tragic event.

Lightning waits for a while. By the time Hope's nearly finished, Lightning speaks. "Listen...I'm sorry about your mother." Hope's hand freezes when a spoonful of ice cream was on its way to his mouth. Slowly, Hope retreats the spoon back to the bowl. "You'll stay at my place for a while, then I'll take you home. I'm sure your family must be-"

Hope becomes frustrated. He slams his fists on the table, pretty much shaking the table and everything on it, shouting. "WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME!?" Lightning was startled from that. Hope's shouting even got everyone's attention. "We were just...all we wanted to do...We just wanted to see those fireworks. My dad died just to get us the money for vacation, and then that accident happened...and now she's gone! And now I'm stuck with some stranger!"

Hope plants his face on the table, sobbing. Lightning's pretty shocked to hear that Hope's father is dead. Hope is now an orphan. Unless he has siblings or relatives, but Lightning doesn't bother to think about it. Hope's stranger comment hurt Lightning on the inside, even through it's true. Sure, Lightning did saved him from becoming a beasts afternoon snack and Nora did entrust her to take care of him, but under all that: She's still just a stranger to him.

Lightning doesn't know anything about Hope, other then being a parentless child. Hope knows nothing about Lightning, other then being in the Guardian Corps (She didn't say she is, he could tell from the fact she can fight and her uniform)

Lightning can now see what Nora means by 'take care' of Hope. Nora probably wants her to take him in, become his guardian.

Hope slowly calms down from the sobs. He raises his head from his arms, still looking down with tears escaping from his eyes. "I'm sorry...I know you're just trying to help, but...I..."

Lightning reaches her hand towards Hope, putting her hand under his chin, tilting his head up so he's facing her. "It's okay. I understand." Lightning says. Lightning moves her hand to Hope's face, gently wiping away his tears. "Listen, I know what you're going through. I lost my parents when I was young. I was pretty devastated...Of course I had to be strong for Serah's sake."

Hope looks confused. "Who...who's Serah?" Hope asked.

"My sister." Lightning answers.

Hope shook his head. "You don't understand what I'm going through. My parents are gone, yes. But...I'm all alone. I don't have any siblings or relatives. My mom...she was my whole family. But now she's gone."

"Hey, I do understand." Lightning says. "When my parents died, I built walls all over me. I wanted the comfort, but I couldn't trust anyone. I was pretty much all alone." Hope doesn't say anything. Lightning stares off in the side, as if she's seeing visions of her past. Lightning takes a deep breath, returning to reality, then faces Hope. "Anyways, what I'm saying is that I understand what you're going through. I know I could never replace your mother, but I am here for you. I know it's hard to accept some affection from a stranger." Hope slowly nods. "Hey, we don't have to be strangers. My name's Lightning Farron. What's yours?"

"Hope. Hope Estheim." Hope answers.

"There, see? Now we're friends." Lightning says with a smile. Hope gives a quiet chuckle with a small smile. Lightning laughs as well. "I knew that would work." Lightning stands up. "Come on."

Hope stands up, and follows Lightning. they both get in the car and Lightning drives off