Chapter 5

Serah pressed an ear against the door to catch any words Lightning and Snow may be saying to each other, but she had only heard a loud, single thump come from the other side of the door. Serah jumped from the sudden loud sound and immediately exited her room to see what had happened.

Lightning was crouched on the floor and checking the now unconscious Snow for any permanent damage.

"What did you to him?" Serah gasped out.

Lightning hesitantly turned her gaze towards Serah and said, "Sorry, he got on my nerves."

Serah crouched down besides Lightning and checked Snow's pulse by placing two fingers on the base of his neck - it was steady, but slightly erratic. "Do you have any potions left?" Serah asked Lightning.

Lightning sighed and slowly picked herself up to search for some leftover potions she may have kept.

Serah was left alone with the unconscious Snow as she brushed his shaggy blonde hair away from his face. She was struck with a pang of guilt as she stared at the face of the man she had thought would have been her husband. Because of her, Snow was now laying passed out on their floor. What have I got myself into? Serah questioned herself before Lightning came back with a spare potion.

Lightning handed the potion to Serah, but Serah only stared at her with a look of sadness.

"What's the matter?" Lightning asked. "If it's because I overdid it on Snow - I really am sorry."

Serah only nodded her head no as tears started to well up in her eyes.

Lightning saw the twinkle of tears in Serah's eyes and automatically knelt down to hold her in a comforting embrace.

"Hey, what is it?" Lightning whispered into Serah's ear as she felt Serah's small body shake from attempting to hold back her tears.

"Why did it have to be you?" was all Serah could choke out.

Lightning felt her body freeze from Serah's comment. "Wh-what do you mean?" Lightning couldn't help but stutter.

"I mean, why couldn't I have just stayed in love with Snow - my life wouldn't be so hard right now." Serah looked sad as she admitted this.

Lightning felt her throat become dry at the thought of Serah running back to Snow as a possibility.

"But, suddenly," Serah said softy. "I realized that I love you more than anything, no matter how hard I've tried not to. I can't escape you, Claire."

Lightning felt herself wanting to tear up from Serah's confession and moved in to place a gentle kiss on Serah's lips as a thank-you-for-loving-me gift.

Serah felt her body relax again as she felt the verification she needed from Lightning - to know that what they were doing was not wrong if they both loved each other purely and simply.

Snow's eyes fluttered back to conscious reality as he shook his head gently to clear the haze clouding his eyes. What he first saw made him want to pass out again. Serah and Lightning were still lost in their kiss and hadn't realized Snow had regained consciousness.

"Damn it, you two!" Snow shouted, causing Lightning and Serah to tear themselves away from each other. "Can't you guys at least wait until I'm not knocked out cold in your hallway to make out?" Snow stumbled back up on his feet as Serah quickly assisted him.

Snow shrugged Serah's helping hand gently away. "I'm fine, I'm fine," he repeated - his ego more bruised than his body.

Serah and Lightning looked on as Snow struggled a few steps further.

It wasn't exactly pity that Lightning was feeling for Snow, it was more like sympathy and a bit of guilt for hurting him in the first place. She wanted to apologize to Snow properly, but couldn't bring herself to do so.

Serah had thought Snow had finally thrown in the towel and was about to leave their house and her life for good because after all, why would anybody in their right mind continue to fight for someone who clearly has rejected them.

Without warning, Snow quickly turned back around and grabbed Serah by the waist to lift her easily off the floor as if he was never even injured.

Serah felt as if there was a hole in her stomach as she was being suddenly lifted off the ground. She had no time to react.

"I'm sorry, baby," Snow said, "but I'll do anything to win back your love."

Before Lightning even had time to process what was happening before her, Snow had leapt from the top of the stairs and swiftly exited the house.

The last thing Lightning heard was the sound of Serah's voice calling Snow all sorts of obscenities which caused her to snap out of her stupor.

"Unbelievable bastard," Lightning growled and raced to the front of the house, but there was no sign of Snow and Serah anywhere.