A/N: In the Second Time Around universe, Lightning asks Rydia and Edge for advice on how to approach Valentine's Day with Fang, who isn't a fan of the holiday. Pairings: Lightning/Fang (dating, established) and Rydia/Edge (married). Guest appearances, mentioned or not: Maria (FF II), Firion (FF II), Y'shtola (XIV), Lyse (XIV), Rydia (IV) and Edge (IV). Language is the only real warning here.
The Book Exchange
"Damn it to the gods... Valentine's Day is in a week... and Fang's not a fan of the fucking holiday... what am I to do...?!" Lightning berated herself for the billionth time on the matter, knowing that it's bound to annoy certain people to no end if they actually heard it. To make matters more interesting, the older Farron is a huge fan of the holiday known as one for those with love in their heart, something that Fang was never told about. This particular time, it would be close to their 3 year anniversary as a couple, with the pinkette putting serious thought into popping the question to the brunette, as Lightning is beyond sure that Fang is her soulmate, the one the pinkette wants to be for the rest of her days. Pacing in the house they share, Lightning was slowly driving herself insane over the matter - until the landline went off, snapping the older Farron back into reality. As quick as her namesake, Lightning raced to her phone and was shocked to see the name on the Caller ID: Rydia the Greenie (Fang herself somehow convinced Vanille to program it that way in their landline phone).
Somehow remembering that Rydia was planning on calling Lightning about a work related matter that's to take place the very next week, Lightning quickly composed herself so that Rydia wouldn't suspect what transpired a few minutes ago. "Farron speaking..." was the greeting given to her green haired colleague and close mate, causing Rydia to laugh her arse off, knowing that certain habits are hard for Lightning to break. "You still can't say 'hello' when Edge or I call your house, Light?!" Rydia managed to reply between laughs, suddenly making things much more difficult for Lightning than either person had initially anticipated. Fang won't hear the end of this one if she ever finds out, Lightning mentally berated to herself. "Sheesh... Rydia… get to the damn point, or I'll PERSONALLY-" Lightning started before the green haired lass FINALLY composed herself and revealed the matter at hand: the Guardian Corps Valentine's Day Ball. Rydia and Lightning, somehow, were the two selected to run it. The two talked the event over in great detail, which FINALLY gave the older Farron the much needed confidence to ask someone for advice on how to pop the question to her long time girlfriend.
"Rydia… this is going to sound embarrassing... but can you and Edge come over to the house for a bit? Or can I stop by yours for a few...?" Lightning asked the green haired woman in a tone that is very unlike Lightning to use to anyone, which the reply to that was for the older Farron to visit them at their home, suggesting that it would make it FAR less suspicious for Fang to find out about Lightning's plan to ask The Big Question to the brunette. The text from both Serah and then Vanille sealed the decision: Lightning should visit Rydia and Edge to get an idea on how to propose Fang on Valentine's Day, for they may have an idea that would help get the brunette to have some respect for the one holiday she normally despises for reasons most wouldn't understand. On this day, the drive to Edge and Rydia's house was short, as Lady Luck was definitely on Lightning's side. Upon arrival to their house, it was Edge who greeted the older Farron at the door in clothing that had the pinkette wondering if he had just got over the flu he had for the last two weeks. Fortunately, Rydia was fully clothed and the green haired lass mentioned that the furnace was busted.
The side hug from the married couple somehow put Lightning at ease.
XXX
Upon arrive to Edge and Rydia's home, the first thing Lightning spotted was a book on their coffee table. If memory served the older Farron right on the matter, the book wasn't there before. In addition, it appeared to be new in appearance, or recently purchased; either way, Lightning couldn't tell although she never saw that book before. As if he read Lightning's mind, Edge handed Lightning that very book on the coffee table, as a means to explain why it's there, how it was purchased - the whole nine yards as far as Edge was concerned. "This book is from a couple of months ago, which I gifted Rydia and the kiddo for Christmas in case you're wondering, Light. What's inside is the story of how much they mean to me as a person to this very day, and for the rest of our lives as a family. This book is full of pictures of us and varying things from me to them - as in what I love about them, the things they've done for me which I'm eternally grateful for. Where I got it from? Some bizarre website that one in... damn it, I forgot the exact place... either way, it's custom made. No two books are alike from what the website gave me..." the Eblan native explained which saw a lightbulb go off in Lightning's head - and Rydia blushing as red as fire hydrant.
Being respectful to Rydia, Lightning skimmed through the book with the married couple's okay. The book... it's very simple... the way Edge had this made for his family is beautiful and amazing at the same time... maybe Fang would like this if not love it... hopefully Serah and Vanille will like this idea Edge and Rydia gave me... I'll have to wait and see, I guess... Lightning mused to herself, knowing what the two younger women will say should they be asked for additional insight on the matter. Upon a careful look at the inner back cover, the older Farron spotted a website of sorts where the book can be custom ordered from, which by Etro's Miracle, the pinkette wrote down the website so that she can have one made for Fang to help with popping the question to the brunette. With a gentle smile on her face, Lightning returned the book to Edge and Rydia, with the married pair returning the smile to the pinkette, knowing that something as simple as this gave Lightning the much needed inspiration to FINALLY pop the question to Fang. After all, Edge was starting to get irritated by the fact that Lightning was torn about the topic of popping the question, which Rydia was hearing the same from Fang and the brunette also being torn about proposing.
Little did the trio know Fang was thinking of the same idea.
XXX
Fang was playing hostess to Snow, Maria and her fiancé Firion, Y'shtola and her wife Lyse... plus Vanille and Serah, as they were having a get together of sorts to celebrate a holiday of sorts known to the Yun and Dia clans, and suspiciously close to Valentine's Day according to Maria's careful observation. It was at a random point of the get together that the brunette showed off a book of sorts - complete with an engagement ring so that she can pop the question to Lightning at long last. It took the speed of Lightning's name sake that both Serah and Vanille caught wind of the book's entire contents that those two women jumped up and down for joy to no end, which also saw both Firion and Lyse shouting 'FINALLY' with happiness and joy, knowing that it took one of them LONG enough to finally have the guts to propose marriage to the other. In an odd twist to fate, Serah revealed to the group that Fang was even given the blessing from her and Lightning's parents to wed the older Farron before they passed away, one obstacle the brunette was able to overcome, a surprisingly easy one if Snow had to be completely honest as that damn oaf had to jump through loops to even be able to marry Serah.
Seeing the congrats and words of encouragement from those who gave a damn about Fang and Lightning - outside of Rydia and Edge but they had their own plans with the brunette on a later day - had the brunette smiling one of her best smiles since Lightning and Fang became a couple. You lot mean the world to me, just as much as Sunshine is my world... I can't thank you lot enough, Fang happily mused to herself at the scene. For once, something went right for the brunette in recent months. Knowing that Lightning was with Rydia and Edge over a work related matter, the brunette and her guests had a hearty meal that ensured leftovers would be in the home even after the guests had an extra plate to take home. There was one cake there that was left untouched - it was the very recipe from Rydia and Edge that Serah and Maria made together since the violet haired woman really wanted to get to know Little Farron (Fang and Lyse's nickname for Serah - more so Fang's but everyone else caught on quick, especially the blonde), which Maria found out that the Farron sisters are quite different... not to forget that Lightning can't cook to save her life but cleans like a pro and the younger Farron's career path is vastly different than that of the older Farron.
No one at the house is aware that Lightning has her own plans.
XXX
A few hours later, Lightning returns to the house she and Fang share, with a small black box and a book she had custom made for Fang, as a means to help propose to the brunette. It was a few months ago that the older Farron made the initial visit to a jeweler that only uses blood free diamonds in their jewelry, which said jeweler finally had a ring meant for a Yun - more specifically, Lightning's Yun. Lightning's book had room to fit the small black box, which the book itself was done quicker than Lightning's namesake (the pinkette was later told in the note that Rydia and Edge ordered this particular book and provided pictures of Lightning and Fang to help expedite things) and the company behind the book was working with the jeweler in secret with this grand scheme of the pinkette's. If anything, the older Farron was trying her best to keep her cool as things like popping the question is a HUGE deal which was making her nervous to no end. The one thing Lightning has been told by everyone was to be herself, which helped in landing Fang the way she did.
Upon entering her house, the older Farron was taken aback by the setting Fang made in the aftermath of her get together with those who know the couple (thank you Y'shtola, Firion and Hope for the clean up and kitchen set up), helping her realise why Fang and Lightning are meant to be together to the end. Odin, the cat the couple recently adopted, was a purring factory once he saw one of his humans (more specifically, his 'hooman' according to Fang as Odin tends to be around the pinkette more than the brunette) and, using his cuteness, demanded that Lightning picked him up and bounce the cat like a baby, which the older Farron gladly did upon seeing the cat once she placed her book near a cake that was easily spotted in their dining room table. It was Odin's nonstop purring that distracted the pinkette long enough to get Fang out of wherever she was hiding place a book of sorts next to the cake, which was Lightning's favourite (thanks to Rydia and Edge for the recipe).
A few minutes later, Odin was gently set down by the cat's request, finally giving Lightning the chance to turn around and see Fang standing next to the very cake she helped make - plus a book in the brunette's hands, which looked VERY much like the one from Lightning that's currently next to the cake on the table. In a move that's not Lightning like, the pinkette was frozen in place for several moments, unable to form words or a proper reaction, prompting the brunette to let out a gentle chuckle, which would eventually get Lightning out of her trance. It was a minute later that Lightning made to her side of the table so that the couple can enjoy some cake. Fang was smart enough to make a small cake for just two people to enjoy. Fang made sure that Lightning got the first slice before getting her own to enjoy.
During the time they ate the cake, sincere glances were exchanged along with gentle smiles that took each other's breath away and uplifting words of encouragement and praise for one another. Granted, Fang and Lightning have had their rough spots but worked each of them out together, which convinced those two know them best that they're meant to be together to the end.
What came next would give the perfect ending.
XXX
It was 20 minutes or so after they finished eating the cake that the couple finally got the courage, likely by Etro's Miracle, to exchange the book in their hands. Fang gave Lightning her book at the same time Lightning gave Fang her book. Upon reading the first few pages, Fang's emerald eyes watered in happiness and joy at the contents of the book Light had made for her, which the book containing pictures of the couple and what she meant to the older Farron. Oddly enough, Lightning was clearly unreadable as the book Fang had made for her was from the same company, with varying pictures of the pair and words of how much Lightning, Fang's Sunshine, meant to the brunette.
At the end of their books was a secret compartment that held a small black box inside, containing a beautiful dimaond ring. The words of 'Will you marry me?', somehow, made its presence known underneath the area where the box would be. Fang and Lightning, at the speed of Lightning's namesake, looked at each other with love and joy in their eyes, completely floored that the other was planning on popping the question, since Lightning wasn't expecting Fang to propose, just like Fang was shocked to. see Lightning pop the question. Fang put Lightning's ring on the pinkette's finger at the same time Light did the same action to Fang and her ring. Without saying a word, they said yes and officially became engaged to be married, sealing the deal with a small but gentle kiss.
A few hours later the newly engaged couple went to their shared bed, happily in love, with a cat who adores his humans to beyond death but too tired to do anything else for the night. "Together to the end, Sunshine..." Fang happily murmured to herself before sleep claimed her, seeing that Odin is by the window, keeping his humans safe from the dark. The next day everyone would find out that Lightning and Fang got engaged... with Rydia getting to see a photo of the rings before Serah would. With a friendly hug and sister like smile, Lightning thanked her green haired colleague, along with Edge, for providing the idea.
Rydia's reply to Lightning's thanks?
"Anytime. That's what we are here for, Light. You've helped Edge and I plenty of times before. Fang too. It's the least we could do to help you and Fang."
Lightning not only got a ring on it by getting engaged to Fang but her friendship with Rydia would also stand the test of time.
What a happy ending.
FIN
A/N #2: The idea of the book came from a advert I tend to see on Instagram which drove me, which the book was a picture book of sorts for couples, where one would show their better half how much they mean to him/her.
A/N #3: Next story is in the Second Time Around universe. Sice is struggling in a few of her classes at university in Bodhum-Oerba. Since Seven is having struggles of her own, will Lightning be able to help... or will Fang call on a certain Miq'ote and violet haired lass duo from the Sebusai pair's past to help?
