Chapter 8

A/N: So sorry for the long delay. I've been stuck in a rut on where to take the story next, so please be patient with my slacker-like mood these days.

Lightning could feel some crazy fiasco was about to go down as the three of them neared NORA headquarters (Lebreau's home). She steeled herself and prepared to fight for Serah no matter what the cost. Snow will wish he had never taken Serah away from her in the first place.

Fang and Hope walked close behind Lightning with just as much fire and determination in their eyes. Hope walked with his head held high and his fists clenched - he was willing to fight with all his strength for Lightning's beloved knife. (If only the boy knew the true purpose of the upcoming battle).

Fang looked at Hope with a slight tinge of guilt at the little lies she had been telling him - if anything was to happen to Hope, it would be on her shoulders.

"Hey Hope," Fang stopped him by standing in his path. "Maybe Lightning's right. Maybe you should just head on home," she tried to convince him.

Hope blinked unsurely and looked at Lightning. Lightning only gave him a quick glance and crossed her arms impatiently - they had no time for any delay, and she was growing impatient at their frequent stops.

Hope could feel he wasn't wanted in this situation, so he opened his lips to agree, but Vanille sprang onto him from out of nowhere and interrupted him.

"I have arrived!" she exclaimed cheerily and gave Hope and Fang a big hug. She proceeded to try and hug Lightning but Lightning only sidestepped away from her attempt. Vanille placed both hands on her hips and pulled out a folded rod she uses as her weapon. She twirled around with it, with her usual vibrant smile on her face as she and Fang playfully sparred with each other.

Lightning stared on and became rapidly irritated by her followers antics and did her best to calm herself down - she had no time to deal with frivolous things. Hope was looking on as Fang put Vanille in a playful headlock, causing the smaller girl to forfeit their match.

Lightning cleared her throat loudly to get the three's attention. "Sorry to interrupt something so important," she said sarcastically, "but I'm going to go now and whether you guys can keep up or not is solely up to you." She then turned around to proceed onwards towards Serah. Every moment wasted was another moment Serah was in Snow's clutches, and that made Lightning's stomach twist in disgusted knots at the thought.

Fang, Vanille, and Hope glanced at each other and ran to catch up with Lightning. Lightning could hear running footsteps behind her getting closer and couldn't help but smile a little at how loyal her companions are, despite the cold exterior she always conveyed to them. The four of them walked determinedly together towards Snow's hideout with their weapons in hand.

Lightning could see the headquarters off in the distance and readied herself for what Snow may do. She wasn't afraid of Snow. She was afraid he may do something to hurt Serah, and if he did, he'd have hell to pay.

The group approached the front steps and looked around, but it was seemingly empty. There were a few lights on inside indicating someone was home.

"Should we knock?" Hope asked timidly.

Fang looked at him as if he was crazy. "Knock? We should ram his bloody door in that's what!" Fang fiercely said. Vanille nodded eagerly in agreement.

"That seems a bit excessive just for a knife…," Hope mumbled.

Lightning turned towards the three and said, "We're doing neither. We wait for them to come to us," she said resolutely.

"How are you sure they know we're here?" Vanille asked.

Lightning looked at one of the shadows behind the curtains move around frantically - she was sure the hulking silhouette belonged to Snow. "Trust me, they know," Lightning stated and watched Snow's shadow point to something urgently.

They didn't have to wait long before the front doors slowly creaked open. Lebreau stuck out her head and stepped out as if she was stepping into a war zone. She shut the door behind her firmly and stood before the four of them. "H-hey, you guys, what brings you here?" she said, perhaps a bit too cheerily.

"Cut the crap Lebreau! You know why we're here!" Fang yelled.

Lightning turned around to give Fang a warning stare. "I can handle this," she said through clenched teeth, shutting Fang up. "Listen," Lightning said to Lebreau who now looked somewhat afraid. "I'm really not in the mood for any more silly games. Just give me what I want and you can tell Snow I'll forget this ever happened," she said rationally.

Lebreau inhaled deeply and turned back around inside without another word. Lightning stood in her spot with Hope, Fang, and Vanille surrounding her. They waited for what felt like an eternity. Finally, the front doors creaked open again, this time Snow stepped out, but Serah wasn't with him.

It took everything Lightning had not to clock Snow's jaw as soon as she saw him, but she decided it best to wait before resorting to violence. Snow walked out taking one step at a time in a deliberately slow manner. Lightning glared at him as he approached them. Snow had a serious look on his face - a look he rarely ever showed. "I'm assuming you're here for Serah," he said to Lightning.

Hope looked on at Snow in confusion, wondering if what he had heard was correct. Lightning furrowed her eyebrows in frustration. "Give. Her. Back. Snow," she emphasized each word in a warning tone.

Hope's eyes opened wide in shock. It was true, Lightning was here for Serah, not her knife, but why would… Hope's thoughts trailed off as he tried to piece everything together.

Snow looked down at Lightning and frowned. "Why can't you just leave the two of us be?" Snow whispered. "Our relationship was wonderful before you had to egg her on."

Lightning pulled back her arm, ready to deal Snow a fist to the face before a familiar voice stopped her.

"Wait! Claire, don't!" Serah shouted from the front steps. She ran towards them with Lebreau and Gadot at her heels.

Lightning averted her eyes to Serah and sighed a breath of relief at the unharmed sight of her. Their eyes made contact with each other and Lightning could feel a burst of happiness fill her heart.

"W-wait, Serah!" Lebreau yelled, trying her best to catch up to Serah.

Snow stared in disbelief at the sight. "I thought I said to watch her!" he yelled at his two accomplices as Lightning and Serah embraced in joy at their reunion.

Serah kissed Lightning's cheek as Lightning kissed Serah's forehead lovingly. The familiar smell of Serah's clean and fresh scent eased Lightning out of her tense state. She couldn't stop planting small kisses on her beloved Serah - afraid to let her out of her arms ever again.

Fang and Vanille had tears in their eyes as they looked the two lovers reunion. Vanille clasped her hands together and squealed in delight as Fang and her hugged at such joy they felt for their friends. Hope stood motionless in his spot at the sight as he tried his best to process what was going on. Once he did, he whispered, "Oh…Maker…,"

Snow was growing enraged as he yelled at Lebreau and Gadot for allowing Serah to escape. "I specifically told you not to let her out of your sight!" he roared at the two.

"B-but, she said she needed to use the restroom," Lebreau explained. Snow placed a palm over his face and looked at Serah and Lightning jealously. He started to shake angrily and clenched his fists. Hope could see the rage in Snow's eyes and could see he would not let Serah go that easily. In one swift motion, Snow nabbed Lebreau's gun from her hand and aimed it at Lightning. Lightning and Serah were too distracted to see what was going on and so was Fang and Vanille. Only Hope saw Snow aim the gun at Lightning's back.

Before Hope could even think, he jumped in front of Lightning as soon as he saw Snow squeeze a finger on the trigger. All Lightning heard was a loud bang and then turned around to see Hope lying on the ground.