A/N: Personally, I'm not sure if I do see Vanille and Hope as a couple. Don't get me wrong, it is nice seeing those two together. I even enjoyed their little moment on Gran Pulse. I guess you can see I'm a bit on the strange side. Being a LightningxHope and a VanillexHope. Even though I only enjoy Lightning and Hope in a family relationship.
Snow, Serah and Hope now makes their way back to their home. Before they left the park, something caught Snow's attention. "Hey, look." Snow walks on the grass field. He bends down and picks up...a four-leaf clover.
"Wow. A four-leaf clover." Serah says.
"Are those...good luck?" Hope asks.
"You bet." Snow says with that goofy smile.
A couple of birds flies by in the air. One of them caws, then some bird poop lands on Snow's shoulder. Serah and Hope reacted disgusted by the sight of it.
Snow notices the poop and reacted disgusted at the sight of it. "I thought it's suppose to bring good luck?" Hope wonders.
Snow grabs the sleeve of his coat and wipes the poop off. "It does...it's just a small bump on the road."
Snow keeps on walking, only on his next step, he falls down. Serah and Hope got worried, and they rush up and looked down. "Snow!"
Snow lays face down on the ground. Snow pulls himself up, into a siting position. He looks up to find the worried Serah and Hope. "Don't worry, I'm okay."
Serah sighs in relief. The two of them regroups with Snow, then they make their way back home. For some reason, Snow's not having too much luck on the way. So far, he's tripped, and when Hope stepped on a crack, it breaks Snow's back. Snow got beaten up by a group of second graders, and a first grader. And then everyone but Serah and Hope laughed at Snow cause he got beaten up by children.
By the time they're home, Snow's in bad shape. Serah had to give him a hand with walking. Hope opens the door, allowing Serah to take Snow in. Serah lays Snow on the couch. Snow rests on the couch.
"Snow, you okay, sweetie?" Serah asks.
Snow puts a hand on his head. "I'm...I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
Hope looks at the four-leaf clover in Snow's hand. "I'm starting to think that clover gives bad luck."
Snow chuckles. "Ah, kid. Such silly imagination."
"I'm serious. Ever since you found that clover, nothing but bad luck has been happening to you." Hope says.
Serah looks at Hope then back at Snow. "He does have a point."
Someone knocks on the door. Serah goes to answer it. Only as soon as she does, Guardian Corps instantly burst through the door. Serah was startled to see them. They rush through the door. Hope wonders what's going on, until they push the kid out of the way. The soldiers crashes on Snow, causing the big oaf to fall on the ground.
The Guardian Corps dog pills on Snow. "Snow Villiers, you're under arrest!" The Commander says.
"Wait-what? What did I do?" Snow asks.
The Guardian Corps handcuffs Snow's hands from behind. "Sir, you have the right to remain silent."
The Guardian Corps takes Snow and they leave the hose. Serah and Hope stands, watching the door, with shocked expressions on their faces. They have absolutely no idea what just happened.
Vanille and Fang are at home. Vanille had just got home. Fang is doing a little bit of cleaning around the house. Vanille is sitting on the couch, slowly kicking her legs and humming a song while tilting her head side-to-side.
Fang takes notice and laughs. "Well, someone's all peachy. What happened on your little date?"
"Oh, nothing special." Vanille says.
"Come on." Fang sits next to Vanille on the couch. "Tell me what happened?"
"Oh, we went out on a pacnic, we talked a little. I told Hope about Oerba." Vanille says.
"Hope? He that kid from the door?" Fang asks.
Vanille nods. "Yep. He even invited me to come see the Fireworks."
"How nice." Fang says.
"Oh, that reminds me. His friend, Lightning. She's having a birthday tomorrow. We should go." Vanille says.
"What? It's tomorrow?" Fang stands up. "Oh that's just great. Now I'm gonna have to do some last minute shopping." Fang makes her way to the door. "I hate last minute shopping!"
Vanille jumps out of the couch and follows Fang. "Hey, Fang! Wait for me!"
Fang and Vanille heads for Market Row. It's closing in an hour. Fang really hates getting involved in last minute shopping. The more annoying part, that she had just realized, is she knows nothing about Lightning. What is she gonna do for a present?
Fang browses through the carts and tables in the market. Fang arrives to the one cart that's packing up. "Excuse me, sir?" The vender stops packing and looks at Fang. "I'm doing some last minute shopping for a birthday present. What'ch got?"
"I'm sorry, miss. I'm closed for the day, but uh..." The vender picks up a box from underneath the table and sets it on the table. "Here, some stuff I couldn't sell. Maybe you'll find something in here."
Fang digs through the box, trying to find something. So far, she's found a Holy Materia, a wild rose, an Onion Knight hat and a Blitzball. Nothing seems to interest her. Vanille just stands next to Fang, looking into the box.
"Hey, how about this?" Vanille takes out a metal hilt. Fang takes a look at it.
"A flashlight?" Fang asks.
"Don't know." Vanille looks at the button. "What does this button do?"
Vanille pushes a button and a red glow electric sword appears. It's a lightsaber. "Whoa! That's some flashlight." Fang says. "I wonder where it was made from."
Somewhere in a galaxy far, far away, on the Death Star, the commander is chocking as Darth Vader is using the force on him. He ain't happy to receive a flashlight instead of his lightsaber.
"L-lord Vader. I'm sorry!" The commander continues coughing, gasping for air.
"I find your lack of focus disturbing!" Darth Vader says.
Fang and Vanille takes a look at the lightsaber. "Check it out. It's kind of cool."
Vanille waves the lightsaber around, Fang seems concern. "Hey, be careful with that thing."
Vanille makes a clean cut on the venders hover car, splitting the whole thing in half. Vanille and Fang seems worried seeing that. The vender looks furious. "Hey, my car!" Vanille turns off the lightsaber and toss sit back in the box. Then she puts her hands behind her back, whistling like she's done nothing wrong. The vender faces Fang and Vanille. "You're gonna pay for the damages! This thing cost me twenty-million Gil!"
Fang tries to reason with the man. "Okay, slow down. Let's take a deep breath and we can all-" Fang quickly pushes the man, making him fall back, then grabs Vanille's hand and makes a run for it.
It's about sunset, Serah was the only one home. Right now, she's working on dinner. Hope went out, not to bail Snow out of prison, but he just goes for a walk.
Serah is worried for Snow. He's now in jail for some strange unknown reason. She's wondering if Hope is right about the four-leaf clover Snow found. Maybe it really is bad luck. Which is ironic, isn't it? There's a knock on the door. Serah pauses her cooking for a moment to answer it.
Serah answers the door to find her sister with Snow. Serah is surprised to see both of them. "I believe this belongs to you." Lightning says with a disappointment tone.
Lightning shoves Snow into the house. "Oh, Snow." Serah wraps her arms around Snow, hugging him. "I was so worried."
Snow hugs Serah back. "Don't worry about it, baby."
"Yeah, I found that big oaf arrested for some unknown reason." Lightning faces Snow. "It's gonna cost you, you know. Just what is going on here?"
"Beats me." Snow shows Lightning the four-leaf clover. "I found this four-leaf clover and I'm suddenly having some bad luck." Lightning face palms. "What?"
"You doofus. That clover gives bad luck!" Lightning says.
"Funny, that's what Hope said." Snow looks around. "Speaking of which, where's the kid."
"He went out for a walk." Serah says. "I think Lightning's right."
"Not you two, Serah." Snow says. "Look, I'll show you it's good luck."
Snow walks out the door. Lightning just looks away. She holds out three fingers, mouths 'three' holds out two, mouths 'two' then one, mouths 'one' then points at the door behind her.
As Snow's outside, a flower pot falls and hits him in the head, then a stack of hay, an anvil, a golden safe, a piano...then a tractor.
Above the house, is an airship. Two deliver man and their boss are looking down where they dropped their stuff. "Oh man!"
The boss looks at the two men. "Can't you two butterfingers go one day without dropping stuff?"
Serah and Lightning looks out at the results. Serah gasps horrified with her hands over her mouth. Lightning does no reaction, just crosses her arms and looks down at the crashed stuff.
"That's some boyfriend you have there." Lightning says.
"Snow!" Serah kneels down and starts digging through the stuff. She finds Snow, knocked out. "Oh dear..."
Serah helps Snow stand up. Mr. 'Hero' is knocked out like a light. Snow leans against Serah as she takes him back inside. Lightning walks in as well. Snow lays on the couch. Serah continues working on dinner while Lightning is sitting on the chair next to the couch.
Snow starts to regain conscious. When she hears him waking up, Lightning looks at Snow. "Convinced?"
Snow sits up, with a hand on his head, gently rubbing it. "Convinced what?"
"That the clover is bad luck." Lightning says.
"Why...what happened?" Lightning takes Snow out to the porch. She shows him the crashed stuff that landed on him. "Whoa! ...I can't believe I survived that."
"I'm not. You're too stubborn to die." Lightning says.
"Ok...maybe this clover does have a bit of bad luck." Snow says.
Lightning looks at Snow surprised, but doubtful. "A bit? How hard did all that stuff hit you in the head?"
"Okay, okay. Fine." Snow takes out the four-leaf clover. "I'll get rid of it." Snow crushes the clover in his hands then drops it. "There. All done."
Lightning just huffs then goes for a walk. She figured she should go find Hope, since dinner's gonna be ready. Snow walks back into the house. Only as soon as she steps on the wooden porch, it breaks and he falls in, on knees at first, then falls all the way in.
Snow screams as he falls, until hit crashes on the ground. "Ouch..."
Hope sits out on the pier, watching the sunset. He just watches it with that plain expression. He sits with his knees up to his chest. So far, he's been doing fine ever since his mom died. Lightning, Serah and Snow did a fine job to cheer him up. I guess Vanille too.
Lightning arrives to find Hope on the pier. She's a bit surprised to find him there. She wonders what the kid's doing, out here all alone.
Lightning walks up. "Hey." Hope was startled. He flinches from hearing Lightning's voice. He turns to see it's only her. "What are you doing all by yourself here?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking." Hope looks back at the view.
Lightning stands and sits next to Hope. They both watch the sunset together. Nothing but silence falls in between the two. Lightning had a long day at work, even through she has been promoted to Lieutenant. Lightning looks at Hope. He doesn't look happy, but not sad either. If anything, he's making the seem expression she usually does.
"You okay?" Lightning asks.
"Yeah." Hope answers. "It's just...I just wish my mom was here." Hope looks down, folding his arms on his knees. "My mom and I always wanted to come to Bodhum, we've been planing this trip for months. And now...here I am...without her."
Lightning puts a hand on Hope's back. "I am sorry about your mother...but, I'm sure she's happy that you're here, safe and sound."
Hope doesn't say anything. Neither does Lightning. Lightning removes her hand from Hope's back and looks back at the view. After a minute, Lightning starts removing her boots. Hope notices and starts to wonder.
"What are you doing?" Hope asks.
"Take off your shoes." Lightning says.
Hope is surprised to hear that. "What?"
"Just take them off." Hope doesn't question it. He takes off his shoes. "Lay your feet in the water."
Lightning and Hope lower their legs into the water. Hope couldn't believe it. "The water is really warm."
"You've never been in beach waters?" Lightning asks.
"Not really. There aren't many beaches in Palumpolum." Hope says.
Lightning can see that. She's heard of Palumpolum but hardly ever visited. "I usually do this right after work. Sit here quietly, with my feet in the water, feeling the warm, gentle ocean breeze. It's really helpful after a stressful day."
Lightning sits up straight, closing her eyes and inhaling slowly, deeply through her nose. Hope looks at Lightning, just seeing what she's doing, then he does the same. The two of them sit there, eyes close, their hair blowing through the breeze. Hope never imagined any of this is possible.
The relaxation, the beautiful view, the hospitality from the Farron sisters, and Snow. Hope lets out a deep exhale through his mouth. "This is really relaxing." Hope looks up at Lightning. "I could learn a lot from you."
Lightning opens her eyes, looking at Hope. She smiles a little and ruffles his hair. "You sure can." Lightning stands up. "Well, dinner's going to be ready soon. We should head back."
Lightning offers Hope a hand. Hope grabs her hand and she pulls him up. Lightning picks up her boots, then walks off. "Hey, Lightning?" Lightning stops, turns to look back at Hope. "I...uh."
Hope was silent for quite a while. "Yes?"
Hope doesn't really know what to say. Instead, he reaches into his pocket. He takes out a folded piece of paper and holds it out to Lightning. "Here."
Lightning looks at the paper. She takes it, sets her boots down beside her, and opens it up. To her surprise, it's the adoption form that she gave him. Lightning skims through it, until she gets to the part where Hope has two choices.
Hope checked the box that says: I agree to have the person in question as my guardian
Lightning skips to the ending where she sees that Hope signed his signature, making the form official. Lightning doesn't take her eyes off of the form while Hope speaks.
"I just wanted to say...thank you...for everything." Lightning looks at Hope and slowly lowers the hand that holds the document. "I know we only just met but I...I feel happy with you and Serah. You two have done so much for me after I lost my mom. I'm...I don't think I could ever ask anyone else to have for my guardian, I..."
Hope doesn't say anything, just looks down shamefully. He's feeling a bit embarrassed at what he's saying to Lightning. Lightning has no words either, she's pretty speechless at what the kid is saying to her.
After a minute of silence, Hope walks up to Lightning, until he's in front of her. Hope wraps his arms around her waist, laying his head on her chest. "Thank you."
Normally, Lightning wouldn't be too happy with this, but after what the kid has done and said, she instead smiles and hugs Hope back. "You're welcome."
Lightning and Hope hugged it out for a minute. After which, they disband. "Now I just I'll be able to get my own room."
Lightning chuckles. "Sure thing, kid." Lightning picks up her boots, then Hope picks up his shoes. "Hey. I'm going to be in Palumpolum on duty after tomorrow. You want to come?"
"What for?" Hope asks.
"I was gonna drop you off at your old house, so you can pack up your stuff." Lightning says.
"Oh...okay then." Hope says.
Lightning and Hope heads back home. "We can even try and pack up your bed."
Snow is back on the porch, fixing that little hole he fell into. Lightning and Hope returns home. They both see Snow. Snow looks up and speaks before they could.
"Don't ask." He said.
Snow continues his work as Lightning and Hope heads inside. Serah already has dinner ready. Lightning and Hope helps Serah setting up the table. By the time everyone's sitting down and eating, Snow joins in.
As they eat, Lightning talks about her promotion at work. Serah is excited, Hope congratulates her, Snow...he doesn't have any words, probably still upset at the terrible day he had. Hope mentions that he decided to stay with the Farron sisters. Serah's happy, she always did wanted a little brother, and Hope's a nice kid.
After dinner, Serah and Snow watches a movie on the couch, Lightning goes to her fathers study to read a book. Hope goes into the guest room. He takes out the earrings Snow got him.
Hope just can't wait for that special day tomorrow: Lightning's Birthday.