Chapter 12

Lightning walked towards the entrance of the hospital's double doors as she stared outside at the orange hue of the setting sun. Her body felt weak from fatigue - both mentally and physically as each step forward seemed to bring an increasing tiredness throughout her muscles. She could hear Serah bid Hope and the others goodbye in a cheerful tone behind her as she walked onwards, but Lightning knew her too well to know she was hiding a deep sadness behind it. Lightning sighed and thought of the predicament with Snow and how things had become such a mess.

Lightning took her first step outside and breathed in the crisp evening air and exhaled slowly. Her eyes took one last look at the disappearing sun before it completely vanished as she folded her arms and pondered to herself if everything was going to ever turn out okay.

As she doubted her hopes for the future, Serah's soft voice brought her out of her state of anxiety. "Claire?" Serah's voice whispered behind her.

Lightning found herself suddenly afraid to face her - suddenly embarrassed at her own bizarre desires. Her eyes cast downward to the pavement where Serah's shadow loomed in front of her from the lights of the hospital. She could see from Serah's shadow a hesitancy to approach her as the air between them transformed into a suffocating tenseness.

Reality was becoming all too prevalent as they both realized the repercussions their relationship brought upon others closest to them. Lightning knew Serah was feeling the same as her - guilt for all the harm they have caused for the sake of their taboo love.

Lightning took a deep breath and turned to face Serah and saw an evident sadness in her blue eyes. Lightning felt her mouth part open slightly- wanting to say something, but found it difficult to come up with the right words to say. She turned her gaze to the ground and frowned.

Serah took a step forward and outstretched a hand hesitantly to touch Lightning's face. She could feel it was hot from a blush as she caressed the soft skin tenderly beneath her fingers. She was comforted by how alive the flesh felt against the palm of her hand - comforted to know Lightning was there with her.

Lightning felt Serah's warm hand touch her cheek and instinctively pressed her face against her palm and found enough courage to look her in the eyes again.

Serah smiled slightly and pulled Lightning in for a hug. Lightning's body tensed up from the sudden embrace, but softened as she felt the Serah's surprisingly strong arms envelop her. "I'm sorry," Lightning mumbled against Serah's shoulder.

"For what?" Serah asked incredulously at Lightning's sudden apology.

Lightning choked down oncoming tears and held onto Serah tightly. "I'm sorry for putting you through all this," she said sadly. "You're life was so simple before I became more than a sister to you," Lightning confessed her deepest shame.

Serah pulled back to look at Lightning with eyes full of puzzlement. "Claire," Serah said firmly, but lovingly. "My life has become complete now that we've realized our love for each other."

Lightning couldn't help but let her eyes fill up with tears as she stared amazed at Serah's love for her. A tear slid down her cheek and Serah brushed a finger to wipe it away and pinched Lightning's cheek playfully afterwards. "Silly," Serah said and smiled. "That was what got you in such a gloomy mood?"

Lightning blushed and rubbed at the area where Serah pinched her. "You mean you don't regret your decision to be with me?" Lightning asked aloud to herself more than to Serah.

Serah's sweet smile and the twinkle in her beautiful blue eyes gave Lightning butterflies in her stomach. Serah wrapped her arms around Lightning's neck and kissed her softly on her cheek where she pinched her. "Never," Serah responded simply and pressed her forehead against Lightning's. "Why would you ever think such a ridiculous thing?"

Lightning found herself staring deeply into Serah's eyes and realized how strongly her love for the girl in front of her was. Her heart thrummed with excited vibrations with each touch and gaze Serah gave her. Her whole entire being found it difficult to think of a life without her. Lightning moved forward to press her lips against Serah's to kiss her gently. They parted and Serah smiled shyly at Lightning's unexpected affection. "I thought you were sad, but I guess it was all in my head," Lightning finally answered her question as she played with a loose strand of Serah's hair.

"Sad, yes, but not about us," Serah whispered.

"I don't want you to be sad about anything," Lightning responded and traced her finger lightly against Serah's collar bone. "What are you sad about?"

Serah cast her eyes downward and frowned slightly. "I'm sad about how much of a monster Snow has become… all over me." Serah unconsciously dug her nails into Lightning's shoulders as she told her the truth. "Why would he try to do such an awful thing to you Lightning, over somebody like me? After the way I treated him…," she trailed off.

Lightning was shocked at how little Serah thought of herself despite the strength she had just displayed to her.

"It's because of me, you almost got killed and now Snow's in jail, soon to be possibly executed because I led him on to believe I loved him," Serah mumbled one guilty thought after another. Her voice started to crack as she continued to speak. "I've caused so much trouble," she finished and sobbed softly against Lightning's chest. Lightning held onto Serah's shaking body firmly as she continued to cry.

Lightning struggled with words and which were the best to say at what times, but she said what she truly felt. "Please, don't blame yourself Serah. You can't blame yourself for somebody else's actions. What Snow did was unconditionally on his own free will. So please, Serah, don't cry over something you couldn't have any control over."

Serah's sobs ceased as she sniffled and turned her gaze up at Lightning. Lightning smiled reassuringly at Serah's unsure expression. She hugged Serah tightly and whispered," I love you Serah."

Serah closed her eyes contently and grasped onto Lightning's waist as she buried her face against Lightning's neck and said softly, "I love you too, Claire, and thank you."

It was the day of Snow's hearing and everyone who was there at the time of Snow's murder attempt on Lightning sat on the benches facing the judge. Lightning and Serah sat on the front bench along with Fang and Vanille beside them. Hope was well enough to attend and sat on the opposite end of them with Lebreau and Gadot. The judge banged his gavel once and said in a booming voice, "Court is now in session."

The room quickly fell silent as two police officers entered with Snow locked in cuffs. They ushered him to the table where a gray-haired, intelligent looking man was seated. He gave Snow a small nod and whispered something in his ear - Lightning assumed he was instructing Snow how to make himself likeable to the judge and jurors. Lightning caught sight of Snow's empty looking eyes as he turned his head slightly towards his lawyer. She had never seen Snow so lackluster and devoid of life. Something stirred inside of her, but she wasn't sure if it was pity or hate for the man that had attempted to shoot her when her back was turned.

The judge peered down at Snow and shuffled through some papers. "Snow Villiers, your case will now be presented to the court to decide whether or not you will be executed for your crime."

Lightning and Serah looked at each other with somber gazes and wondered if this would be the last time they would see Snow alive.