A/N: Lightning and Hope are now getting to know each other. Now it's time for Hope to get to know his new family, or temporality family I should say. Ah, you'll see what I mean. Will a new home and family really help Hope out of his sorrow?

Lightning takes Hope back to the Guardian Corps station. She has some business to take care of before taking the kid to her home. At the station, Hope finds his packages, both his and his mothers. He wasn't too happy to be holding on to his moms belongings. They are all he has left of her.

Lightning speaks to her General Amodar. He wasn't too happy to find her leaving work after coming back with hundreds of helpless citizens. Lightning explained the situation she was in, with Hope Estheim. The loss of his mother, what Nora told Lightning to do, the conversation she had with Hope. Amodar found it acceptable, Lightning having to handle a responsibility she was entrusted with.

In the end, Lightning asked the General for something special for Hope. Once that's done, Lightning leaves his office. She finds Hope sitting on one of the chairs by the office. Lightning walks up to the boy. She sits next to him, looking down at the boy.

Lightning holds out a folded paper in front of him. "Here." Hope looks at the paper confused, then at Lightning. "Just read it."

Hope takes the paper. He slowly unfolds it, and reads what it says:

By authorization of the Guardian Corps. Lightning Farron has been entrusted to become the official legal guardian of the Orphan Hope Estheim. Under the signature of the Guardian and the Orphan in question, Lightning Farron has passed all of the Guardian Corp's requirements and is welcome to become the orphan's care giver.

Hope isn't too thrilled about this. Having a stranger as his guardian. But he kept on reading, and noticed something.

By choice, Hope Estheim can choose Lightning Farron as his guardian:

There are two check boxes. One says: I agree to have the person in question as my guardian

Another says: I disagree to have the person in question as my guardian

Everything underneath the two choices is other a bunch of official, legal statements about Lightning and Hope. Hope slowly skims through the paragraphs, until he stops at the dotted line where his signature goes.

The signature is for to make sure that Hope really means it when he accepts Lightning or he denies her as his guardian. Hope looks up at Lightning, a little shocked. Lightning speaks, clearing things up.

"I want you to make the choice. I at least want to give you a chance. You can come live with me, at my house, to...You know, get use to it all. And in the end, you can decide if you're comfortable with me or not." Hope doesn't answer. He's still pretty speechless. "Even if you don't want to stay, I can still help you. No matter what happens, I will be there for you. Just like your mom asked me to do."

Hope looks down at the paper. "I...I..." Hope looks up at Lightning. "I don't know...This is...so sudden. I don't think I'm ready just yet."

Lightning puts a hand on Hope's shoulder. "Take all the time you need. I'm in no hurry." Lightning pulls Hope into a hug. Soon after she does, Hope wraps his arms around her. "Everything's going to be okay. You'll see."

Lightning and Hope leaves the Guardian Corps, making their way back to home.

Snow and Serah are at the Farron Residence. Snow wanted to visit Serah after his little rescue mission, knowing that she would be worried. He got the right idea, but the wrong person. Serah was a little worried for Snow, but she's more worried about her sister, Lightning.

Snow tries to comfort Serah, to get her to calm down. He know's Lightning's tough. Lightning may say that Snow's too stubborn to die, but I'd say Lightning's even more too stubborn to die, or to lose even.

Serah is pacing back and forth in front of the couch. "Where is she?" Serah asks.

"I don't know. It's possible she's still at work." Snow says.

"I'm getting really worried." Serah says.

"Don't worry, I'm sure she's fine." Snow says.

Vanille skips into the living room. "Hey. What's wrong?"

Snow looks at Vanille. "Oh, hey. Who are you?"

Vanille is surprised to see Snow. "Oh, you must be Snow. I've heard so much about you."

Snow looks at Serah. "Snow. This is Vanille. She's our new neighbor."

Vanille nods. "Yep. Well, I should get going. Fang's probably home by now. Ciao." Vanille leaves the house, going back to hers.

Lightning approaches at her house. She parks her hover car in the parking lot. The rain stopped on the way home. Lightning comes out of the car, then Hope. Hope stands and looks at the house. It's pretty big, probably even more then he expected.

"Well, here we are. Home sweet home." Lightning says.

"This is...your house?" Hope asked.

Lightning looks at Hope. "Yeah. You don't like it?"

Hope looks at Lightning. "No. It's just...I wasn't expecting a place...like this."

Lightning doesn't bother to continue the conversation of her house. Instead, she and Hope walks to the door. Lightning opens it and walks in, then Hope walks in and Lightning closes the door behind him.

Serah heard the door open, to find Lightning and Hope. Serah rushes up to Lightning and hugs her. "Oh, sis. I'm so glad you're okay."

Lightning was surprised at the sudden hug. "Uh, hi Serah." Lightning hugs her back. "Of course I'm okay."

"I know. I was just so worried after hearing the news." Serah disbands her hug. Serah noticed Hope next to Lightning, she looks at the kid with confusion. "Who are you?"

Hope doesn't speak. Lightning answers Serah's question. "Serah, this is Hope. Hope, this is my sister Serah."

Hope looks up at Serah. "Hey." Hope's tone was depression.

Serah takes notice of that depression. She gets a closer look at Hope. "Are you okay? You seem sad."

Hope doesn't answer. Lightning puts her hands on Hope's shoulders and moves him aside. "It's kind of a long story, Serah. I'll tell you later." Lightning looks at Hope. "Come on, Hope. Let's get you in the shower."

Lightning takes Hope down the hallway to the bathroom. While she's doing that, Serah gets to work on dinner. Lightning turns on the water in the tub, then switches the drain to the shower. Lightning feels the water, making sure it's warm enough.

Lightning faces Hope, who's just standing there. "When you're done here, meet me in the dinning room."

Lightning leave the bathroom for Hope to do his...business. While he's in the shower, Lightning goes to the kitchen to help Serah with cooking. She's not much of a cook, but she does help Serah dealing with the slicing and dicing. You know, knifes.

While they're working, Lightning explains the situation to Serah. Snow hears the whole thing from the counter.

"So, how did Hope and his mom escape the train?" Serah asks.

"They used the Emergency Exit before it was blocked." Lightning says. "They somehow ended up in Jagd Woods. I followed them, tried to save them."

"What happened?" Serah asked.

"They were being attacked by a Behemoth. They tried hard to avoid the creature, but by the time I showed up, it was too late." Lightning stops cutting the food on the board, looking down. "His mom died."

Serah gasps hearing that, Snow is surprised. "That's horrible." Serah says.

"Yeah, the poor kid." Snow says. "So, what? Are you gonna take him home or something?"

Lightning looks at Snow, shocking her head. "No. The kid told me he doesn't have a family. His mom was all he had left."

"Is he going to be living with us?" Serah asked.

"Well, I'm not sure. I mean, she did asked me to take care of Hope. I only want to do what's best for him. If he wants to stay with us, then he will." Lightning resumes to her kitchen duties.

After Hope was done in the shower, he heads for the dinning room like Lightning told him too. Hope's now wearing his Pajamas, just some red, dark red plaid pants with a gray t-shirt. Hope sits on the table, depressed.

Snow walks into the dinning room, carrying the plates. Snow notices Hope on the table. "Hey." Hope looks up at Snow. "How you doing?"

"Fine..." Is all Hope answers. Snow sets up the tables. Lightning walks into the dinning room, standing by Hope. Snow leaves the dinning rom. "Who's that guy?" Hope asks.

"No one. Just my sister's idiot boyfriend." Lightning says.

Snow returns to the dinning room with dinner, a barbecued salmon with some roasted starfishes around it. Serah follows Snow from behind. Serah sees Hope, then walks up to him. "Hey, Hope." Serah bends down to his level, giving him a hug. "I'm sorry about what happened."

"It's okay." Hope whispers, leaning his head on Serah's shoulder.

Serah ends the hug. "Well, enough talk. Let's eat." Snow says.

Lightning sits next to Hope, Serah sits across from Lightning and Snow sits on the one end. They all sit down, eat in silence. Hope is barely touching his food. He's not so much hungry. Can't tell if it's other cause of the dessert before dinner or his stomach is filled with sorrow.

"So, Hope. Where are you from?" Serah asked.

"Palumpolum." Hope didn't look at Serah to answer.

"Whoa. That's pretty far." Snow says. "What brings you to Bodhum?"

Hope doesn't answer. Lightning punches Snow on the shoulder. "Snow! He doesn't want to talk about it."

Hope looks at Lightning. "No, it's okay Lightning." Hope says. "Me and my mom, we were on vacation. We've been planing it for months. We were even gonna attend the fireworks festival."

"Oh. Well it's a good thing you did. It's going to be a magical night." Serah says.

Lightning looks at Hope. "If you still want to go, we can take you there." Lightning says.

Hope looks at Lightning. "Thanks but...I'm not sure if I do...it just feels sad going there...without her."

"I understand. Think about it." Lightning says.

"Well, Hope. Welcome to the Farron Residence." Serah says.

Serah and Snow tried to make Hope feel welcome at home. Lightning doesn't better to try, knowing that the kid needs some time to adjust, of both moving in and with his emotions.

After dinner, Lightning shows Hope around the house. The ground floor wasn't much, all though there was one part of the house that Hope was wondering about. The double doors at the end of the hallway.

"What's down there?" Hope asks.

Lightning moves Hope in front of her, away from the doors. "That's my parents room. Stay away from it."

"Why?" Hope asks.

"Ever since my parents died, I made this rule, that no one is ever, and I mean EVER, allowed to set foot in there." Lightning says.

Snow walks by, hearing the whole thing. He comes in sight. "She's serious. You should have seen what she did to me when I tried to enter. I still have the scar."

Snow makes his leave. Hope faces Lightning then nods. "I understand."

"Good." Lightning takes Hope upstairs, explaining as they wonder down the hall. "Over there is Serah's room. The door at the end of that hallway is my room." Lightning takes Hope to a large empty room.

Hope seems a little confused. "Why did you bring me here?"

"Cause this is your room." Lightning says. "Well, sort of. You see, if you decided you want to stay with us, this is going to be your room."

"I see." Hope says.

Lightning takes Hope to the end of the hallway, where he arrives at a large room that's filled with bookshelves, a chair with a reading light in one corner and a work desk in the middle of the room.

"This is my father's study." Lightning says.

"Whoa. It's like a library." Hope says.

"Yeah, well. My dad had quite an interest in books." Lightning says. "Now me and Serah, we just use it to do some school work, paying the bills, when I bring work home. Stuff like that."

Hope wonders about something. "Hey, Lightning. Can I ask you something?" Lightning looks at Hope, waiting for the question. "You said no one's allow in your parents room. How come that rule doesn't apply to this room?"

"Hmm..." Lightning turns, facing the desk in the middle of the room. "I don't know. I guess I just didn't feel like it."

"Oh. Well, I thought the reason was...cause their room is the source of them. Since they're in it everyday while...well, this room is just your dad and, he's in here...only often."

"Very often actually, and that too I guess." Lightning turns to face Hope. "Anyways, you're welcome to use this room if you wish. Just don't break anything, bring any food or drink, fall asleep on the desk or the reading chair, snooping through any of the drawers, expect for the upper left drawer, but that's only if you need a pencil. And if you used any of the books from the shelves, make sure you put them back where you got them from when your done. And I mean EXACTLY where you got them. All the books are specially organized."

"Wow. That's quite a lot of rules for this room." Hope says with a silent chuckle.

"Yeah, well. My dad was a bit of a neat freak. I figured if I could ever carry that one for him, it would be for his study." Lightning says.

Lightning takes Hope back down the hallway, to a room that's next to Lightning's. Lightning opens the door and she and Hope walks in. "Until you get your own room, you can stay in the guest room here."

Lightning turns on the light. Hope looks at the guest room. It's a small room. There's only a bed with a TV in front of it, a nightstand and a small dresser with a mirror on it. The bed and the table carrying the TV are connected together and to the walls. There's basically more room in the bathroom where Hope took a shower.

Lightning turns to look at Hope. "I know it's small, but it's all we have. I promise, if you decided to stay, we will get you your own room as soon a possible."

Hope slowly shook his head. "No, no. It's fine."

Lightning looks closely at Hope. She puts a hand at Hope's shoulder. "Hey." Hope looks up at Lightning. "You know, you can tell me anything. If there's something wrong, you can say something."

"No, really. I'm fine, honest." Hope says.

"Okay." Lightning walks to the door, but stops by the door and turns to look at Hope. "If you need to use the restroom, there's one next to Serah's room. The lock is broken, so knock if the door's close." Hope nods, understanding. "Well, good night." Lightning leaves, closing the door behind her.

Hope just watches Lighting leave, even though she's gone and the door's closed, he still stares at it. "Good night."

Hope looks down in despair as she slowly makes his way to the bed. Hope moves the covers out of the way and lays in bed. To his surprise, it's really soft. It's not like the softest bed in the world, it's just softer then he was expecting. Hope lays in bed, trying to fall asleep, but instead, he ends up in a restless night.

The next few hours fly by. Serah's already asleep in bed, Snow left to return home with his gang. Lightning's in her fathers study, reading 'War and Peace'. Lightning can't turn her mind off about Hope. The kid is just like her and Serah when they were younger. She can only imagine what the kid's going through, losing the only family he had left.

Hope's asleep in his guest room, only he's tossing and turning on his bed. His mind just can't turn off the tragic event that happened earlier today. It keeps replaying in his mind, over and over until the nightmares came.

"No! No, no! ...Mom, please!" Hope shots up out of bed. He's sitting on his bed sweating and panting. He was having a nightmare. No...it's not a nightmare, it was real. Hope looks down at his hands, they tremble in fear.

Hope becomes startled when he hears the door opening, and the hallway light overwhelms the darkness the surrounds him. "Hope?" Hope looks, he sees that it's only Lightning, wearing a short black top and blue pajama pants. He can tell she was about to go to bed.

"Lightning? Wh-what...what are you..." Hope doesn't say anything else, but Lightning answers as she walks up to him.

"I heard you screaming." Lightning sits next to Hope on the side of the bed. "You okay?"

"Ye-yeah. I'm fine." Hope says, looking down.

Lightning knows he's not fine. "Hope-"

"Lightning?" Lightning looks at the door, to see the tired Serah. Serah's wearing nothing but a long pink T-shirt.

"Serah? What are you doing here?" Lightning asks.

"I heard noises. I thought someone was in trouble." Serah walks in, towards her sister.

"We're fine, Serah. Hope was just screaming." Lightning says.

"Really?" Serah bends down to Hope's level, looking at him. "Is something wrong?"

Hope slowly shook his head. "N-no. I'm fine. I just had a bad dream." Hope says.

"What happened?" Serah asks, putting a hand on Hope's lap.

Hope doesn't answer, but Lightning can tell what's going on. "It's about her, isn't it?"

Hope gives a slight gasp. He doesn't answer, he just tries his hardest to fight the tears. "Hope. Listen." Lightning puts a hand on Hopes shoulder. "You can tell us anything. If there's anything wrong, you can talk about it."

"Lightning's right." Serah sits next to Hope on the bed. "We are here for you, Hope. We can help you if there's something wrong."

Hope doesn't answer, just stays silent. He knows that's true. Lightning and Serah tries to be patient with Hope. They know he's trying to take a moment to decide to talk.

Finally, Hope speaks, slowly releasing his tears. "It's just...I...I can't believe this is happening. Mom's gone and...she's never coming back. She's all I had left, but now..." Hope begins crying. He places his hands on his face and sobs into his hands. "I'm all alone."

"You're not alone, Hope." Lightning says. "Remember what I told you: Me and Serah, we lost our parents. We know how it feels to lose something you hold dear. The sorrow, the pain, the fear."

"You don't have to be alone, Hope. We're both here for you, and we're gonna help you get through with this." Serah puts a hand on Hopes cheek, then moves his head so he's facing her. Serah smiles a little at Hope. "Your mother maybe gone, but that doesn't mean she's no longer with you." Serah gently puts a hand on Hopes chest. "She'll always be with you, in here, and nothing can ever change that."

"Serah's right." Hope looks at Lightning as she speaks. "Your mother's in a better place now, and she's always going to be looking down, watching over you. Even if you're alone, you'll never be alone. She'll always be with you, sending you her love."

Hope doesn't say anything. He tries to take in what they said. However, Hope cries a little. He leans to Lightning, they both slowly wraps their arms around each other. Hope cries on Lightning's shoulder. Lightning moves her hand on Hope's back, gently patting him.

"Why is this happening to me?" Hope asks. "We were just visiting Bodhum, but then that accident happened. We got lost in the woods and then...that monster, it had to..." Hope doesn't say anything else. Lightning gently hushes at Hope, trying to relax him. "It hurts...it hurts so much."

"We know, we know it does." Lightning says. "Trust me, you'll feel better. You just need to give it a little time."

Lightning and Hope ends their hug. Hope looks up at Lightning for a moment, then he looks at Serah. Serah wipes a tear from his cheek, then they hug. "Everything's going to be okay, you'll see."

The three of them sits on the bed in silence, then Hope breaks that silence. "C-can I lay with you two?" Lightning and Serah looks at Hope with confusion. "I know we've only met, but...I'm just...I'm really scared. I just don't want to be alone."

Serah smiles a little at Hope. "Of course, I don't mind." Serah looks at her sister. "Sis?"

Lightning doesn't answer. She's not fond with searching her bed with anyone, other then her sister. Laying with Hope is nearly out of the question. Sure he's just a little boy but he's still a stranger...let alone a boy. However, Lightning reminds herself that he's hurting and he needs the comfort. Plus, he's probably too depressed to...get any ideas. Unlike what Cain did.

"Well, I suppose I'll allow it. Just this once." Lightning gets out of bed, then Hope then Serah. "We'll sleep in my room."

The three of them leaves the guest room. Lightning and Hope makes their way to Lightning's room. Serah just stays behind by the guest room door. "You two go on ahead, I'll be there in a minute."

Serah walks down the hallway, heading downstairs. Lightning and Hope enters Lightning's room. They both get into bed. Hope sits in the middle and Lightning is sitting next to him by the wall.

Lightning and Hope now wait for Serah to return. Lightning looks at Hope. "Hey." Hope looks at Lightning. Lightning grabs hold of Hope's hand. "Everything's going to be okay. Me and Serah, we're right here, and we're gonna help you."

Hope slowly nods. Hope cries a little and he and Lightning hugged. "I'm really scared." Hope whispers.

"I know." Lightning whispers. "You don't have to be scared. You'll be okay." Lightning tightens her hug on Hope, carefully not too much so she doesn't hurt him. "I'll keep you save."

Lightning gently rocks Hope back and forth, as she sings to him in a quiet, gentle tone. "Make my with come true, let darkness fade into light. Show me there's still hope, show me it's not over." Serah walks into the room, but stops when she sees Lightning and Hope together. She also hears Lightning singing to Hope. "Battles we can win, our struggles lies within. Will we live to greet the dawn?" Serah walks up to the side of the bed, joins in on the rest of the song. "Love will not leave you." Lightning looks past Hope, to see her sister. She's surprised that Serah's joining in, even through their singing together makes a perfect harmony tone. "Hate will not leave you." Serah sits next to Hope on the bed. "Promise me one day that peace shall reign."

Lightning and Hope ends their hug. Hope drops his arms on his lap. He looks at Lightning with his tears escaping. Lightning wipes the tears away then she leans in and gives him a soft kiss on the forehead.

"Thank you." Hope says.

Lightning smiles. Hope turns to look at Serah. Serah hands a cup of warm milk to Hope. "Here. This should help you get some sleep."

Hope takes the cup. "Thanks, Serah."

Hope drinks his warm milk. Lightning and Serah reaches for the covers, lays it over them. Hope finishes his warm milk, Serah takes the cup and sets it on the nightstand. The three of them lays down. Hope lays his head on Lightning's shoulder. Lightning and Serah wraps their arms around Hope, snuggling close to him.

"You feeling comfortable?" Lightning asks.

"Yeah." Hope falls into a peaceful slumber. Serah and Lightning smiles at Hope, then they fall asleep as well.