Birds of a feather
Chapter 12
"Finally momma." Vanille said into the phone. "It's about time you set the date, both me and Hope have been beside ourselves wondering who gets Nora when."
"Oh, it'll be alright dear. Everybody is looking forward to seeing you and Nora, so go on and call Hope and get it worked out."
"I plan to momma."
"Oh and Vanille, one other thing." She could picture her mother holding up one finger on the other end of the phone.
"What's that?"
"Be nice to Hope, you won't win him back if you keep being mean."
"…Alright momma, love you. Bye."
She hung up the phone and walked into the living room. Nora was stretched out on the couch watching tv.
Nora looked at her and asked. "So, who gets me when?"
Vanille was mortified. "You heard that?" Nora nodded her head innocently. Vanille got down in front of her and grabbed her hand. "You know that doesn't mean I don't wont you here. Right? We do it this way so both me and your dad can see you."
"I know." She stated.
"Don't ever think I don't love you o.k."
"O.k."
"Good." She got on the couch and layed down with Nora and wrapped her arms around her. It amazed her that Nora still let her do stuff like this. When Vanille was this age she wanted less and less cuddles from her mother.
"Nora, grandma said she wants us to go to Pallumpollum on Christmas and stay until after the new year."
"That sounds fun."
"Ummhumm. So I was thinking, would you like to go to your dads today and stay with him until Christmas."
She nodded her head excitedly. "Yeah that'll be fun."
"Alright then, I'll call him and see if he's not busy today. You go and pack a bag for when we go to grandma's."
With an o.k she got up and went to her room to pack. Vanille pulled out her phone and dialed Hope's number.
He answered fairly quickly with "Yeah." She could hear people in the background. She wrote it off as the TV.
"Hello Hope." She said cheerfully.
"Hello Vanille." He replied.
"I have good news, wanna hear." She teased.
"I like good news." She couldn't see it, but she knew he had a smirk on his handsome face.
She smiled "Momma finally got a date set."
"Bout time!" Hope exclaimed.
"Hehe if that's got you excited then you'll love the next part."
"Let's hear it, don't leave me hanging."
"Well, momma wants us to go down on Christmas and stay through new years." She heard 'hmm' in acknowledgement. "Because of that I thought maybe you would want me to bring Nora by early. I was thinking about today. If you don't have plans that is."
"That is good news. I'm free today, well outside of some last minute shopping I'm doing later today." She could picture his perfect smile as he spoke to her.
"That doesn't sound like you, do you need me to keep her a little longer or send me a list and I'll pick them up for you."
"No, no it's fine. I've done all my shopping, Sera and Snow wanted me to tag along with them. It's fine though, they adore Nora."
Sera and Snow? Who were they? "Alright then, I have her packing for momma's but when she gets done with that, I'll swing her by."
"Sounds good. Later." He hung up.
Vanille and Nora pulled up to Hope's yellow house around noon. She noticed there were two vehicles too many. There of course was the deuce and a half parked on the side of the house, but in his driveway was a large silver truck. In the front yard was a haphazardly parked red car. She parked behind the truck and the two headed to the front door.
As she approached the door, she could hear music seeping through. It was a familiar tune sang by a familiar voice. She heard the all too familiar guitar riffs of the song 'follow you down' by the Gin Blossoms. She stopped at the door and listened as Hope sang and played guitar, she noticed as he played the solo there was a bass guitar playing as well.
"Mommy, why are you just standing there."
"Huh? Oh! Right, hehe I'm sorry I was just listening." She knocked but unsurprisingly no one inside heard. She decided to open the door, as she stepped in she was hit by the loudness of the music. Hope looked at her from behind his microphone in acknowledgement of her entering, beside him was a large man with shaggy blonde hair and a beanie playing bass.
She watched as they moved to the music and slowed for the songs bridge and Hope sang
"How you ever gonna find your place
Runnin' at an artificial pace
Are they here to find us laying face down in the sand
So what the hell now, we've already been forever damned"
She was tapping her foot as the music swelled and the two of them harmonized the last chorus.
"Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
I'll follow you down but not that far
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
Anyplace but those I know by heart"
They let their guitars fade out and Hope spoke into his mic. "Ladies and gentlemen, our special guest has arrived. The lovely miss Nora Estheim." Nora smiled ear to ear and skipped to Hope in excitement and hugged him. Nora went to the couch where two pink haired women were sitting. Vanille recognized one of them as Claire Farron. She stared in disdain at her outfit, a black and white baggy hoodie with black legging that had a checkerboard pattern stripe down the side. Wasn't she too old to ware something like that? The other, who had her head leaned on her shoulder, looked very similar to miss Farron. A sister maybe? She watched as she put an arm around Nora's shoulder and the two hugged, the other woman wasn't as restrained and tackled Nora in a hug.
"Thanks for bringing her over Vanille." She heard Hope say. He wasn't speaking directly into the mic but it picked up parts of what he said.
"Oh it's nothing. Who are your friends?"
The blonde spoke up "Snow Villers, ma'am." He pointed his thumb at the energetic pink haired woman. "That's my wife Sera."
She smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Well I best get going, dinner isn't until 1:00 Christmas day, so I'll probably pick her up around 11:00, that'll give us about 20 minutes to spare."
Hope gave her the thumbs up. Vanille spoke one last time. "Bye Nora, I love you, be a good girl."
"I will, Love you too."
Vanille left and sat in her car. She thought to herself about how that could be her, Hope and Nora singing in the living room. Having fun as a family. If she wanted her daydream to become a reality she would have to act soon, before Hope and Claire got to close. More importantly before Nora became attached to her as well. She would hate to break Nora's heart like that.
"Oooohhhh Nora you are just the cutest! Please call me auntie Sera! I think we know each other well enough for that." Sera squealed as she rubbed her cheek against Nora's.
"Sera, calm down she's not a toy. Also, this is only the second time you've met her." Lightning said.
"Oh, Claire you're just jealous because she sat by me and not you." Sera playfully stuck out her tongue.
"That's because you're basically sitting in my lap. There was nowhere near me for the poor girl to sit."
Snow appeared in front of the girls and said, "If Sera is auntie, call me uncle Snow! Or maybe uncy Snow." He rubbed his chin.
Hope put a hand on his shoulder. "Uncy would be cute if she was 4, but she's 11. Anyways who ready to get moving?"
"What, but I want to hear you play a whole song." Nora said
"Well we are gonna get lunch and I don't want to get there when the stores are all crazy." Hope reasoned.
"Please. It doesn't have to be a long one." Nora then looked to snow and said. "How bout it uncle Snow?"
Snow clutched his heart. "I just can't say no to that. Come on Hope one more for the road."
"Fine, one more." Hope relented without putting up a fight. Hope and Snow started talking about what song to play next. They settled on Runaway by 3 Doors Down…followed by what you know by Two Door Cinema Club. So forth and so forth for the next hour getting more and more into the music before ending it with F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X by Fall of Troy. Lightning laughed as Nora's eyes went wide when Hope did the screams in that song. Lightning was glad she had been taking pictures during the performance and captured Nora's shocked face.
"Wooh! That takes me back." Hope said as he set his guitar down. "Sorry guys, looks like we got carried away."
"It's fine I got lots of good pictures." Lightning said. "But we should get going before everyone starves to death."
"Look at it this way" Snow started "we played through the lunch rush, so whatever food joint we eat at won't be packed." With that said they all piled into Snow's truck.
Shortly after they arrived at the one and only open air mall of Bodhum, which was proving to be a less than stellar design choice in the cold December air. They all sat down to eat and after eating Sera rallied the girls and dashed off to do some Christmas shopping. Both Hope and Snow where left to meander around without a goal in mind or any women folk to tell them what to do, in short they were at a loss.
"Well what do we do now?" Hope asked.
"Dunno. Unlike Sera I'm not a last minute shopper. She'll buy stuff she knows will be hard to find early, then wait. Well ok I do have to pick up a present for her that I ordered, but I bought it a month ago so it's not last minute."
"Whatever you say man." Hope began to walk forward.
"It's the truth. Also the store is this way." Snow pointed his thumb behind him. Hope did a quick 180 on his heel and walked the right way.
The store they arrived at was a jewelry store. "Snow I'm flattered but…"
"Haha. Like I'd ever get you something from here." Snow responded sarcastically.
"Welcome mister Villers!" A joyful voice came from the young woman behind the counter. "I have your order right here." She reached under the counter and produced a necklace box.
"Sweet, Hope come look what I bought Sera. I picked it out myself." He said the last part like a kid showing off a drawing to a parent. Snow opened up the box and let dangle from his fingers a crystal pendant necklace.
"Wow. You really picked this out yourself?" Hope questioned.
"Yep." Snow smiled.
"No help from her." He pointed to the counter girl.
"None."
"Lightning help you?"
"Big no, she still hated me when I ordered this."
"Ah yes, now its just mild contempt. Did your mother-in-law pick it out?"
"Is it that hard to believe?" In the background, the counter girl could be heard giggling.
Hope scratched his head. "Well…yeah." He leaned on the counter and spoke to the girl. "You can be truthful with me. Did he pick it out?"
Still giggling she said "Yes, he search all the items in the store then all our catalogs looking for the right gift."
"Wowzer. Who'da thunk." Hope laughed.
"Yeah yeah laugh it up." Snow threw his arm around Hope "Y'know if you need any help picking out something for ol' Lightning, let me know. I'll lend you my expertise."
"Rrriiiiggghhtttt. I'll keep that in mind."
The two left the store and began to wander around the mall. "Oh hey, theres a new Call of Duty game out, Its almost like they release these every year." Snow said sarcastically as they walked near a video game store called ECG. Hope liked this store because it was one of the few around were he could still get games from every console generation.
"You want to go in, don't you?" He asked Snow.
"Of course." They both walked into the store. "I noticed a PlayStation 2 in your living room, it yours or Nora's."
"Well I've had it since I was her age but we both play it. I never got any console after that, Vanille though, she had a PS3. I played the borderlands games like it was my job. Still not as much as I played rpgs though."
"Heck yeah! I got the hd collection or whatever it's called, you should come over and play one day. Nothing beats some good old fashioned couch co op."
As Hope looked at the various games on the wall he replied. "Thanks but I'll pass on those."
"Ah, I bet your burned out on 'em."
"No, they will always be fun. But when you shoot people in real life, well it just…doesn't sit right with you to do it virtually."
"Ah…yeah, that…ah, would be tough I bet." Snow rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Rpgs though, I can burn the midnight oil on them. Nora too, we'll play through one together. It's a blast." He reassured Snow.
"I bet it is. Did you get her a game for Christmas?" Snow asked as he looked over a ps2 game in his hand.
"No, not this year. Vanille got her one for her Nintendo, she keeps new consoles there. Luckily Vanille was a gamer, so I don't have to worry about her buying something super violent or gory."
"Yeah that is good. Bugs me to no end when I see little kids parents buying them violent and bloody games."
"Indeed."
Snow held a game in front of Hopes face. "Since you didn't get her a game, looks like her cool uncle Snow will have to…well if her papa approves of the game that is."
With a smirk Hope said "Go for it."
"I wonder if we should meet back up wiff da boys?" Sera asked after she finished off her chocolate chip cookie.
"Its up to you, they're probably still standing in the same spot." Lightning replied as she took a bite from the massive lemon cookie she was holding.
"Probably." Nora chimed in and took a bite from her own cookie. Also lemon flavored.
Lightning smirked at Nora and patted her head, Nora drew herself closer to her and she let her hand rest on Nora's shoulder. Yeah, that student teacher professional relationship had flown out the window.
Sera let out a short little squeal. "Ah! Look Claire! Build-A-Bear!"
"Yeah. That stores been here since we were little girls. No need to get all excited." She stated flatly.
"Lets go make matching bears!" She clapped her hands together.
"You have enough stuffed animals" She sounded like her mother.
A mischievous grin spread across her lips. "Nora have you ever been in Build-A-Bear?"
Lightning gently bonked Sera on the head. "No! Bad Sera!"
"Well, I kinda do want to go in. It looks really cute in there." Nora said as she smiled at Lightning.
"Ok." Lightning quickly said. She couldn't help but wonder what the name of this power Nora held was called.
"Oh, I see how it is." Sera jeered. "You don't care one bit about your sweet baby sister."
"How could I, I'm still mad about you burying my make up in the back yard."
"Aunt Sera, that was mean why would you do that?" Sera seemed to melt at being called aunt.
"She thought a make up tree would grow." Lightning teased.
"I did not!" Sera protested from behind her grin. "Anyways let go and build a bear already, I'm eager."
"Eager?...right, whatever." She began to walk towards the store then stopped. "Wait, Hope should be here, he'd probably enjoy doing this with you Nora."
"Yeah, Lets call daddy and get him over here! He can make a bear too!" Nora said with excitement.
"Yeah That's a great idea! Snow can make one too and we can all have a big bear family!" Lightning couldn't tell who was more excited.
"Build-A-Bear, huh." Snow said as he stood beside Sera.
"Yup we're gonna make a big ol' family of bears!" Sera said excitedly.
Lightning held out a small bag to Hope. "Here we got you cookies as a bribe."
"Hey we will not be so easily swayed!" Snow proclaimed.
Hoped grabbed the bag without hesitation. "Speak for yourself, I like cookies."
Lightning rubbed Hopes back as she spoke to Sera. "See sera? That's how you do it."
"Yeah, yeah whatever. Lets just make the bears already before I explode."
They walked into the store and were greeted by an employee. They were led to the unstuffed bears and moogles to pick out a bear. Sera and Snow decided to make each other's bear. As Sera browsed for a bear Snow leaned over to Hope and whispered. "Do I tell her I picked it because it looks like her?"
"Nnnnoooo." Hope shook his head as he whispered back. With their bears picked out they made their way to the stuffing station. "Psst,psst, hey Hope do I fill it up or leave some flab hanging off?"
"Depends. Do like sleeping on the couch or floor better?"
With the bears stuffed it was time for the big moment, adding the heart to the bear to bring it to life. Lightning noticed as Sera and Snow kissed each other's little stuffed hearts before gently placing them in the bears. She saw Hope knelt down by a smiling Nora as she caringly placed the heart in her bear. She quickly darted her eyes side to side to make sure no one was looking and placed a quick kiss on the little heart and quickly shoved it into the bear.
"What? Did it owe you money?" Hope joked at her.
She stuck out her tongue at him. "No, I was giving her a jump start."
He smiled his signature smile as he spoke. "She'll need a stint after that jump start."
" ." She sarcastically stated.
Nora motioned her and she leaned down. Nora whispered "I saw what you did. Don't worry I won't tell anybody." She winked at her. Lightning stood and gently bonked Nora with her bear.
"Better not."
"Don't worry it'll be our secret." She smiled.
"Oh, a secret. What is it?" Hope chimed in.
Lightning wagged her finger at him and said. "Nah, nah girls only no boys allowed."
"Yeah, no boys allowed, sorry daddy."
Hoped shrugged "oh well."
Now it was time to cure the bear's nakedness. While Nora, Sera and Lightning were discussing the latest in bear fashion, Hope was busy grooming his bear to perfection. He stepped back to admire the stylish hoodie and jeans the bear had on. He nodded in approval at the skateboarding shoes. "Psst, psst hey Hope…the dress with the pink chiffon or the black sequin dress?"
"The polka dot dress with the ribbon around the waist and get a matching bow for the head. Oh! And a bracelet."
"Bro, bro, bro. Accessories are my wheelhouse."
"…Right."
With the bears all ready they moved to the final, and most fun, part. Naming the newly built bears. Sera proudly held out her bear and proclaimed, "His name is Snow."
Lightning stifled a giggle at seeing the bear. "It's a dead ringer." She said as she held her bear in front of her face. Sera had somehow found an exact replica of the coat and beanie Snow tended to ware. "It even has the same dopy expression he has." She added.
"Hey, don't dis my man. His expression isn't dopy, its cute." Sera corrected her as she put her bear in its cardboard house with its little play birth certificate.
"Yeah, just like the bear I made." Snow held out the bear Hope helped him make. "Her name is Sera. S-E-R-A, spell it wrong and I sleep on the couch."
"Sounds like you have experience there." Hope said as he produced his stylish bear. "This is Sir Theodore Pumpernickle the third." Everybody started to giggle. "Hey it's a very dignified name."
"Yeah, yeah keep telling your self that Hope my dude." Lightning jeered.
He smirked in response then said "Nora, you want to be the best for last or next."
"I'll go next!" She showed off her bear. It had on a baggy hoodie just like Lightnings and each ear had a pink ribbon tied to it. "Her name is…Claire." She said shyly.
"Aaawwweeeeee! That's so cute! She made a little you." Sera squealed.
Lightning's heart melted. "R-really." She stammered uncharacteristically. She knew Nora liked her and was getting closer to her, but she didn't think she admired her enough to name something after her. Sure, it's only a stuffed bear but still, Nora searched for clothes just like hers for the bear and even tied ribbons to it to match her hair. "That's so sweet."
Nora smiled. "I wanted to make a super cool girl and you're the coolest girl I know…so I made you."
"Can I adopt you?" Lightning blurted out. It was all she could think to say. This received a good laugh from Nora and a grin from Hope.
Still smiling Nora asked, "What's your bears name?"
"Miss Peanut." Lightning said as she showed off her cheerleader bear.
"I thought you didn't like sports?" Hope asked.
"I don't but…cheerleader outfits are cute. I wanted to be one just for the outfit but you have to turn those back in so…yeah."
Hope nodded his head. "So what you're saying is I could be dating a hot cheerleader but I'm not because you're greedy."
"Yep, gotta problem with that."
"Not at all."
Sera wrapped an arm around Hope and said. "Don't worry she stole a Bodham High outfit anyway."
"You Didn't!" Nora exclaimed and pointed a finger at her. "First I find out daddy broke into the teachers lounge and now I find out you stole a cheerleader outfit."
Hope facepalmed. "Your mother told you that!?"
Lightning was stammering while trying to defend herself to Nora. Sera then said. "She still has it and it still fits her."
"Sera!" Lightning squeaked.
"And Hope let me tell ya, that skirt makes her booty go pow." Sera nodded her head in agreement to her own statement.
Hope breathed in sharply as his eyes widened.
Lightnings face reddened as she squeaked "Sera!" again.
"Oh don't be embarrassed girl, be proud. Oh yeah, lift up her jacket and you'll see those legging are doin' their job as well."
She was about to cover Sera's mouth before she embarrassed her even more, when she felt the back of her hoodie get lifted up.
She froze.
"Oh wow! They do do their job!" It was Nora.
She gently swatted her handed to let go. "Yeah, yeah enough about my butt." She turned her gaze to Hope. "I'm more curious about this breaking into the teachers' lounge."
Hope rubbed the back of his head. "Oh, that…well…Hey! Let buy our bears, My treat!"
"The only treat I wont is that story." She smiled devilishly at Hope. He laughed in discomfort as he thought of a way to get out of this.
He couldn't think of one.
Just a few days later everyone was assembled at the Farron household again. This it was at Lightning and Sera's childhood home.
"Here you go Nora." Lightnings mother said as she handed Nora an envelope. "We didn't really know what to get you, so we got you this card."
"With a little something extra." Her father added.
"Thank very much!" Nora said as she opened the card to reveal 50$. "I like the card too!" She smiled.
"Well, we're very glad." Her mother smiled back at her. She then wrapped her up in a hug. Shen then turned her attention to Hope and put her arms around him as he held a pan of mac and cheese. "We're glad to have the both of you here dear."
"Glad to be here miss Lyza." He replied.
After everyone arrived they fixed plates and began to eat dinner.
As Lightning ate she watched as Nora talked with her younger cousins and a smile escaped her lips. She was glad Nora was getting along with them. She felt Sera's slim arm slide across her shoulders.
"Y'know sis, If you and Hope get hitched…Oh who are we kidding WHEN you two get married, you won't have to worry about how to raise kids because Hope comes with experience."
Lightning glanced over at Hope who was sitting next to her father as they ate and chatted. "And" she continued "He'll be the perfect husband too, again because he has experience. BUT this time it'll be with a good woman and he'll notice and appreciate that. I mean it was his ex's fault for the divorce right." Sera stated.
"Umm well…" Lightning trailed off. "I don't know why they got divorced, it not something you really ask someone." Lightning had always assumed it was Vanille's fault.
"WHAT!" Sera exclaimed. Luckly nobody really noticed. "Snow has always been so open with me. I mean I only knew him a few weeks before he told me about his past." Sera had a slight worried tone to her voice.
She turned to face Sera. "Well that's Snow, Hope is different. If he doesn't want to open up yet and that's fine. I know he doesn't like to talk about his time in the war, I mean it took me several years to talk about the Vile Peaks. So I cant just expect him to talk willy nilly about something as personal as why did you get divorced?"
"Well maybe if you ask him he may just tell you. I know you love him, I've seen the way you look at him. You can't hide it from me." Sera nodded her head in triumph.
"W-what!?...loves a...strong word." She blushed.
"Yeah strongly accurate."
Lightning bit her lip.
Maybe.
Maybe she should ask him.
"Ok. I'll ask him, but if he doesn't want to talk about it, I won't pester him about it."
Sera beamed at her as she leapt from her seat. "Good enough for me! Oh, but I expect you to do something by the new year."
"Wait! What!"