A/N: If someone took you in after you turn orphan, should you really go by her a present, for her birthday even? Well it looks like Hope thinks he should. Maybe he'll find the perfect gift for Lightning.

Serah, Snow and Hope goes for a walk down the city of Bodhum. Vanille already left to go home. The trio arrived at market row. Hope looks around, noticing there's all kinds of markets. Accessories, foods, fragile house vases and so on.

"So, Hope. What are you gonna give Lightning?" Snow asks.

"Well, uh..." Hope looks around, wondering what to get for her. "Gee...I haven't really through of it."

Hope walks up to a table that's selling some jewelry. He looks around it, trying to think. Serah and Snow stands behind Hope. "Gee, I don't know, Hope I don't think Lightning's a kind of girl for jewelry." Snow says.

"Maybe she is, it's worth a look." Hope says.

Serah looks around the market row, then finds a weapons shop. "Oh, look at that." Hope and Snow looks to see where Serah's pointing at. "I'm gonna take a look over there. I'll catch up with you two."

Serah leaves to check out the weapons shop. Hope continues looking around as he browses at the jewelry table. As he looks around, the owner shows up. "Can I help you?"

Hope looks at the man. "I'm just looking."

"No offense, kid. I don't think jewelry is your type." The vender man says.

"It's not for him, it's for a friend." Snow says.

"Oh, is she a lady friend?" The vender asks.

"Yeah." Hope answers. Hope kept looking around until he finds a pair of earrings. The earrings are pink crystal roses. Hope picks it up and gets a good look at them.

The vender takes notice of Hope's interest. "Ah, you interested in those? They are one of a kind."

"They do look pretty special." Snow says, putting a hand on Hope's shoulder.

"Okay. I'll take it. How much." Hope says.

"It's only five-thousand Gil." The vender says.

Hope puts the earrings down, he takes out his wallet. Hope has the exact amount of money. "That'll clear me out...well, I guess it'll be worth it."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up there." Snow pulls Hope back, having a little private conversion with him. "That's not how you operate. If there's one thing I know, you have to haggle."

"Haggle?" Hope asks in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Watch and learn, my friend." Snow says, with a pat on the Hopes back. Snow and Hope walks back up to the vender. "Sir, it's your lucky day. You're about to unload those earrings."

"Is that so?" The vender asks.

"Yeah. My friend here is prepared to offer you One thousand Gil for it." Snow says.

Hope doesn't feel too good about this. "I laugh! Ah-ha-ha! See?" And Hope was correct. "One thousand Gil won't get you a silver ring...but it will on that table over there." Snow and Hope looks at the vender cart fifteen feet away, then they look back at the vender. "If you want the earrings, the price is five thousand."

"Now I laugh. Ha-ha. See?" Snow says, mocking him. The vender isn't too happy about that. "Forget it!"

Snow grabs Hopes hand and drags him away. "Hey-hey. what are you doing?" Hope asks. "I really wanted to get those earrings for her."

"Hey, hey. Don't worry about it. He'll call us back any second. Trust me." Snow says.

Snow and Hope waited for the vender to call them back. It's been seconds, then minutes. Hope really starts to get worried, Snow's little 'Operation' isn't working. Hope gives up then he and Snow returns to the vender, who's doing business with a lady.

"Excuse me, sir?" The vender turns his attention to Hope. "I'm back and I'm prepared to pay five thousand Gil for those earrings."

"Good for you, but I just sold them." The vender hands the earrings to the lady. The lady smiles and walks away. Hope watches her walking away in disappointment. "Now, either buy something to get lost."

Hope walks away in disappointment. Snow follows him. "This stinks. I wanted to get Lightning something special for her birthday."

Snow pats Hope on the shoulder. "Well, you win some, you lose some. Next time, don't be so cheap and pay the man."

Hope looks at Hope, both in surprise and offended. "Wha...but I-This was YOUR idea!" Hope yells.

Hope grunts in frustration and walks off. Snow follows him. "He-Hope! Wait!"

Serah browses through the weapons shop, looking for the perfect weapon for Lightning. She knows that Lightning has her Gunblade for battle, but she could use something special and protective, like a knife or something.

That's it! A knife! Serah thought.

Serah browsers through the knife collection. Lightning always wanted a knife, ever sense she joined the Guardian Corps. She knows that the battlefield can get pretty tough, and a hidden back up weapon can come in handy. The element of surprise one might say.

Serah finds the perfect knife, one that can flip into it's hilt. "Excuse me, sir?" The owner looks at Serah. "I would like to buy that one."

"I'm gonna need to see some identification." The owner asks.

Serah doesn't blame him. She shows the owner her drivers license, then pays the twenty thousand Gil for it. "You don't seem much of a fighter or anything. Why would you need that knife?"

"It's for my sister. She's in the Guardian Corps." Serah explains.

"Now that makes sense." The owner says. "Well, have a nice day."

Serah nods and smiles, then leaves.

Meanwhile, Hope and Snow looked all over the market. They are having no luck in finding what Hope was looking for. Finally, the kid gives up and stops near the old jewelry cart.

"I can't believe no one else in this place is selling the same pair of earrings!" Hope says.

"Yeah. I guess they really are one of a kind." Snow says. "Turns out five thousand is a pretty good deal." Snow gives a cheeky chuckle at the end.

Hope is pretty irritated by that. He walks over to another vender cart. "Whatever. I guess I'll just have to find something else instead." Hope looks around the cart. He picks out a big knife, pulling it out of it's hoister. "Maybe this."

Snow doubtly looks at the knife. "Doesn't Lightning already have a weapon?"

Hope looks at Snow angrily, talking in a hostile tone. "Oh, it's not for Lightning!"

Snow looks nervous, he backs up as he pulls the knife away from him. He's treading on dangerous ground.

"Hey, boys. Over here!" The vender calls out to him. Hope and Snow returns to the jewelry vender. "You're in luck, the person returned those earrings. Turns out her daughter is allergic to roses."

Hope seems disturbed to hear that. "She doesn't know they're not actual roses right?" Hope asks.

"That's what I said to the buyer. It's best not to question it." The vender says. "Anyways, I saved them just for you." The vender reaches the earrings to Hope. Just as the kid was about to grab, the vender pulls them back. "But...there is one little thing...they now cost twice as much. Ten thousand Gil."

Hope is disappointed to hear that. "What?"

Snow leans into Hope's shoulder "Don't worry, I think I can get him to drop it down to Two-fifty."

Hope waves his hands violently at Snow, trying to push him away. "Get off me!" Snow backs up then Hope calms down, then faces the vender. "I don't have that kind of money." Hope turns to Snow. "Thanks for ruining everything! Lightning's right about you."

Hope walks away, leaving the hurtful Snow behind. "That's pretty hurtful." The vender says.

"Yeah. But he isn't wrong." Snow faces the vender. "Is there anything I can do to get you to lower the price?"

The vender claps his hands together. "Well, there is one thing." The vender says. "My sister, she wants to open her own food booth. But there's just one small problem."

"What is it?" Snow asks.

"She's a terrible cook." The vender says.

"Can't be that bad, could it?" Snow asks.

"Last time she cooked a Behemoth Steak, it was still moving." Snow seemed a bit disgusted hearing that. "Anyways, she wants to open her booth, but she's afraid no one will like her cooking."

Snow doesn't like where this is going. "What do you have in mind?"

"Just taste it and tell her it's good." The vender says. Snow was afraid of that. "Do this and I'll lower the price."

Snow shudders at first, then takes a deep breath. "All right. So where's your sister."

"I'll go get her, wait here." The vender says. The vender leaves and returns with his sister, June. She holds a plate filled with some food that can make you sick just looking at them. Snow even begins to wonder if that's even food anymore.

But a deals a deal. He's gonna have to get those earrings for Hope, even if it kills him...or gives him food poisoning.

Hope arrives at the weapons shop that Serah was visiting. By the time he's there, Serah's already walking out with a gift bag in her hand. Serah was surprised when she sees Hope right in front of her.

"Oh, Hope. Hey." Serah looks past Hope to see he's alone. "Where's Snow?"

"Who cares?" Hope says, looking down.

Serah notices Hope is upset. "You okay? What happened?"

"Well, it's kind of a long story."

Hope and Serah goes for a walk back home. On the way, Hope explains everything about these earrings he wants to give Lightning. Serah is surprised to hear about Snow's silly little haggle plan, but she thought it was funny that he did it.

In the end, Hope explains that he couldn't afford the earrings. "Well, I'm sorry you couldn't get them." Serah shows the gift bag. "But look at what I got for Lightning."

Hope looks inside. He takes out the folded knife. He's confused at it, wondering what it is. Serah takes the knife and unfolds it. Hope was surprised to see the knife come out of the hilt.

"Wow. That's neat." Hope holds on to the knife. "You really think she'll like it?"

Serah nods. "She'll love it." Serah notices how late it's getting. The sun is beginning to set. "Oh. Come on."

Serah grabs Hopes hand and drags him. "Wha-Serah...Where are we going?"

"You'll see." Serah answers.

Serah takes Hope back to the beach. She and Hope walks up to the pier and sits on the very end. They sit down, watch the sun set as it slowly falls over the horizon sea. Hope is amazed at the very view in front of him.

The water is sparkling and the sky is turning a red-orange color. He's never seen such a beautiful sunset in his life. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Serah asks.

"It sure is." Hope says. Serah and Hope watches the sunset.

After a moment, Hope looks down, with a tear escaping his eye. Serah looks at Hope and noticed his small depression. "Hey, are you okay?"

Hope looks up at Serah. He wipes away the tear. "Ye-yeah. It's just..." Hope looks back at the view. "I just wish my mom was here to see this. She would love this."

"I'm sure she would have." Serah wraps an arm around Hopes shoulders, the pulls him close to her. "I'm sure she's happy you're enjoying this moment."

Hope lays a head on Serah's shoulder. "Yeah..."

Serah and Hope watches the sunset together. Silence takes over the two of them, then Serah speaks. "Hey, what's Palumpolum like?"

"Hmm...It's just a big city. It's a nice place to be, but it's nothing like Bodhum here." Hope says. "You know, you and Lightning are lucky to live in a town like this.

Serah smiles. "Thank you."

Meanwhile, Snow eats more of the disgusting food. He's already eaten Gorgonopside claw, Behemoth tongue dried in blood, Ceratosaur fins, Armadillon eyeballs and Wyvern livers on a stick.

In the end, he looks like he's about to throw up. But he manages to hide it and replace it with a smile for June. "Delicious. You're cooking is...unique."

June smiles. "Thank you." Then leaves. When she's gone, Snow faces the vender. "All right, I've eaten your sisters food." Snow puts a hand on his stomach. "I just hope I don't have to eat it all over again."

The vender seems surprised at the results of his deal. "Wow. You must really care about that friend of yours." The vender looks down, slowly breaking down in heart-touched sorrow. "It almost makes me want to contact my best friend..." Then looks up in rage. "Expect that he's a filthy dog!" The vender looks directly at the kitchen utensils cart. "I HATE YOU RYOKO!"

The vender ducks and pulls Snow down as well. Ryoko throws a sharp knife and flies past them and hits the pole of other vender cart. Snow stands up, looking at the knife in fear, that could have been him.

Snow faces the vender. "How about you just sell me the earrings before I get an unwanted haircut?"

"Well, a deals and a deal and I'm a man of my word." The vender takes out the earrings. "That'll be twenty-five hundred Gil."

Snow plants the money on the table. "Deal!"

Snow buys the earrings then hurries home. He doesn't know what he fears most, the terrible cook or the knife throwing friend. At night, Snow arrives at the Farron house.

Serah and Hope are already at home. Serah's getting started on dinner and Hope's giving her a hand. It's pretty much his first time cooking and Serah is teaching him.

Snow walks in and finds Hope and Serah in the kitchen. "Hope." Hope looks up to see it's Snow. The boy is disappointed to see him. "I know you're upset, but just hear me out." Snow reaches into his pockets, takes out the small jewel case. He opens it to show Hope the earrings. "I got you those earrings.

Hope is pretty shocked to see them. Serah looks at the earrings. She thinks they look pretty. "Snow. How did you get them?" Hope says.

"Well, let's just say if you go into Market Row and you see a booth that's selling strange looking food, just keep on walking." Snow says.

Serah and Hope are both disturbed and confused to hear that. "I'll...take your word for it." Hope takes the case.

"They're lovely. I think Lightning will love them." Serah says. "Dinner's going to be ready soon, Snow. Would you like to stay?"

"No thanks. I'm not really hungry." Snow says. Suddenly, his mouth is full. He looks sick. "Excuse me..." Snow rushes into the hallway bathroom. Serah and Hope looks at the hallway entrance that Snow bolted into.

Later, they hear the sound of vomiting, and they reacted disgusted to it. Just then, the sound of the door opening and closing happens. Hope panics, he knows it's Lightning. Hope tries to hide it. At the start, the case jumps around in his hands. Then Hope holds them behind his back.

Lightning walks in, exhausted and barely walking straight. "He-hey Lightning." Hope says.

"You feeling okay?" Serah says.

Lightning moans tiresome. "So much paperwork...so exhausted." Lightning takes a step forward then collapses on the floor, Serah and Hope were worried. They all gather around Lightning. Of course they relax when they see she only fallen asleep.

Snow walks back into the kitchen, wiping his mouth. He walks in confused to see Serah and Hope standing in front of the sleeping older Farron sister. "What did I miss?" Snow asked.

"Is she okay?" Hope asks.

"She's fine. This is normal." Serah bends down and helps her sister and up. "She's just exhausted from work." Serah stands with Lightning leaning against her. "I'm gonna take her to bed. Take care of dinner, would yea?"

Hope is nervous. "I-I don't think I'm ready."

"It's okay. Just don't let the gumbo boil." Serah walks towards the stairs, taking Lightning up to her room.

Lightning lays asleep in her room. Snow went back home, still not having the stomach for Serah's dinner. Serah returns into the kitchen. By the time she is, dinner's ready.

Serah and Hope takes their food and eats at the dinning room. "Dinner's amazing." Hope says.

"Thanks, but I think you did well with it." Serah says.

"Well, I did learn from the best." Serah giggles at Hope's complainant. "You're a great teacher. You ever thought about becoming one?"

"Hmm...Maybe I will." Serah says.

After dinner, Serah and Hope went straight to bed. It's been a long day for both of them, all the walking around and gift shopping. It's even worse for Snow since...well, you know.

Day 3

Hope lays in bed, turning side to side. He's wide awake, for some reason, the kid can't sleep. He's not really upset or anything, just having some insomnia. It's about two in the morning. The kid manage to get some sleep, but his dream end and he woke up in the middle of the night.

Hope realizes he's not going to sleep anytime soon, he gets out of bed, walks down the hallway. Hope makes his way to the kitchen, only by the time he's down the stairs, he notices something. The light's on in the dinning room. To his curiosity, Hope quietly tie-toes to the dinning room.

He looks inside to find Lightning sitting on the chair, with a slight sorrow expression and a cup of warm milk in front of her. Why is she up? Hope walks into the dinning room.

"Lightning?" Lightning seemed a bit startled. She flinched looking up to Hope.

"Hope? What are you doing up?" Lightning asks.

Hope walks up to the table, taking a seat in front of Lightning. "I couldn't sleep."

"Is something wrong?" Lightning asks.

Hope shook his head. "No, just having a little trouble sleeping. Why are you up?"

Lightning looks down at her cup. "I couldn't turn off my mind." Lightning takes a sip of her warm milk.

Hope doesn't say anything else. Lightning and Hope just sits on the table in silence. Hope takes a few sips of Lightning's milk. After a moment of silent, Lightning speaks.

"Hey, Hope?" Hope looks up at Lightning. "You know I told you my parents died."

Hope gives a slow nod. "Yeah."

"Well...when I saw you with your mother, it reminded me of what happened...that night." Lightning says.

Hope can tell Lightning's upset. "What happened?"

Lightning inhales deeply and exhales through her nose. She isn't sure if this is really a good idea. Lightning's not fond with talking about her past, but for one reason, she feels like she had to talk about it with him.

"Well, it was seven years ago. I had this boyfriend." Hope is a little surprised to hear that. He would never expected Lightning to be the kind of person to be in a relationship with. Who wouldn't? "His name was Cain O'Neil. He was a fine guy, really sweet...Or so I thought."

"Why? What did he do?" Hope asks.

"Well, one day, Cain took me for a drive, said he was gonna take me somewhere special. Only it wasn't really special." Lightning explains. "Turns out, he was trying to abduct me."

Hope widens his eyes open. "Abduct? You mean...like kidnap?"

"Yea. He took me to some abandoned warehouse. He stripped me, put me in a bondage, locked me away. Turning me into some kind of sex slave..." Lightning looks away from Hope. "I've said enough about that." She takes a deep breath then looks at Hope again. "Anyways, just before he was gonna take me to his lair, my parents showed up. Dad was taking care of Cain while mom was taking me somewhere safe. I don't remember what happened, but some explosion happened in the building."

Hope is surprised to hear that. "What? An explosion?"

"I'm afraid so. My dad died cause he was in it. Me and my mom were caught by it from a distance." Lightning says.

"But, she survived didn't she?" Hope asked.

"She did, but she wasn't so lucky." Lightning says with a sad expression. "She died minutes after she was taken to the hospital. I could never forget her final words: 'Claire...take care of Serah.'"

Hope looks confused. "Claire?"

Lightning slowly nods. "That was my real name, before I became Lightning."

"Oh..." Hope looks down, then looks up at Lightning. "What happened to Cain afterwards?"

"Well, I don't know. I haven't heard of him since then. I assume he was caught in the explosion." Lightning says.

"I see. I'm sorry about your parents." Hope says.

Lightning smiles a little then reaches over the table to ruffle the boys head. "Don't worry about it." Hope chuckles at Lightning messing with his hair. Lightning stands up and heads for the stairs. "Well, I'm going back to bed." When Lightning was long gone, Hope goes to bed as well, getting some sleep for the rest of the night.