Chapter One

What had happened to Claire?

Serah wondered this to herself as she lay on her entry couch, her arms splayed up along its warm, felt rests. Beyond the open doorway, she watched as rain pitter-pattered onto the dirt alley, and throughout the bordering spit of woods, causing the dancing of mud puddles close by. All the while, in the silence and cooling air, she pondered this.

It had happened maybe ten or fifteen minutes ago, she recollected. Her husband had called, presumably at the time of Claire's arrival, and had told her, almost drowned out by the roaring of his velocycle, 'We need to talk', before suddenly hanging up.

Only moments before were she ready to face the day again. She was revitalised from her little nap, and ready to complete her plans: of cooking the food for Claire's small housewarming party. Her motivation to do it was aided by the weeks-or-month–long build-up of excitement, all to do with her sister's return.

Throughout her busy day of teaching, Serah felt the drums of happiness beat around her feet, and energise her every step travelling the school's pathways and corridors. When she entered her homeroom, a student had even commented on her unusually brighter mood. When the other kids joined in the chorus, the moment felt good. Likewise did the staff notice her peculiar amount of perkiness. From inquiring further at each of these exchanges, Serah—though—had also learnt that: she wasn't normally that 'perky' or even in a great mood most of the time. That there was some sort of seriousness about her, or perhaps strictness, even though that's not necessarily what she wanted to relay from her heart.

Unless, of course, her students knowingly made trouble or ignored their homework, then she would have to rule with steel. And maybe, she had thought, her teaching style had something to do with her sister, and the influence she had on her...

And such was the reason for her excitement, her sister. Because today was the day that she would finally be coming to live there at the Rest, with them all, permanently.

Serah still felt that excitement when she had returned home, despite also feeling exhausted. She needed a break, of course, considering the work left in the day 'ridiculous', so she took one and lay down on the nearest couch… But, as much as she hated to admit it, ever since she received that phone call from her husband, the initial bright feeling had dampened. Rather than anything else, Serah, now sitting up on the couch, was content to mull over: what exactly Snow meant by his words. 'We need to talk.'

It didn't seem like it was terrible news; nor did it seem like it was anything totally fine. It was something worth talking about; not was it like, anything mundane, like a leak from their alfresco, or some paperwork they'd forgotten to do at the district HQ.

It could've been about Sazh, if he had worked with him today; but it seemed very unlikely to be the case, as Snow had called her, just as soon as he'd met Claire at New Palumpolum station, and they'd, presumably, gotten on his bike…

Unfortunately, all roads led to it being about her.

Serah swallowed the small, forming lump in her throat. She couldn't quite gleam the worry etching the surface of her mind, and it did, admittedly, dampen her once excited mood. Just to go with the rain outside. And from the sounds of rolling thunder, abating into the distance, what were the signs of a coming evening storm.

What else could she do but wait for her sister? It was frustrating, but that's what she'd do. Then she would ask her.

Serah picked herself off the couch, and with tired legs, she hovered into the kitchen. She could hear the closer NORA gang members talking outside in Snow's garage-alfresco, their favourite station's music playing on a radio. Then she saw her youngest daughter at the dining table, who, very cutely, had her hand up to her chin and an elbow on the table. Her eyes shifted from the window to her. "Sorry, Eve," Serah said with a laugh. "I'm all finished with the cooking, well on your end. Thanks! Why don't you go play with Lexi?"

Evet grumbled, then said "fine," before hopping off her seat. The mother offered a high five for her help as she left towards where she came, and her daughter, with reluctance, accepted it.

Serah faced her cooking once again, picking up a wooden spoon beside the stove. She decided, first off, that the pot of stew deserved a good stir. When she opened the cast iron lid, a gush of steam bellowed out, revealing her stew that had a bubbling, strikingly yellow broth. After stirring it, she grabbed a spoonful, and blew on it. She sucked the smallest of sips, and straight away loved the thick texture. It could use with some salt, and maybe the application of a giffon or two, for spice.

Suddenly, she heard rapping at her door.

Her eyes widened, and then she calmed herself before walking in view of the entrance. When she noticed him—his stocky frame, dark skin and typical baggy, green aviator's jacket—her smile raised into a grin which then rose to exclamation. "Ah—Hey Sazh!"

"Hey Serah. Been well?" he said with his warm tone and smile.

She came up to the old man and offered a hug, wooden spoon still in hand. They embraced, and she put a little extra squeeze, just to remind him of how much they valued him.

"Thank you. It's good to see you," he said, smiling as they broke off.

"Same! I've been good!"

"That's great. So, I assume the party has moved over here?"

"No—we're only here because I need to do the cooking, since Claire's house's gas isn't working, for whatever reason. Once I'm finished, we'll move back!"

"Huh… The gas isn't working, you say?" said Sazh rather cryptically.

"Yeah, I have no idea why. Please, have a seat!" Serah motioned her arms towards their tidy dining table.

"Of course, thank you," said Sazh, who didn't need to feel obliged. As Serah walked towards the sink to procure some tea, she heard Sazh relax audibly—he let out a fatigued and loud groan of sorts. It was just one of those graces Serah was aware left those once they reached, and continued maturing past, a certain age. She chuckled.

"Oh, thank you!" said Sazh as Serah brought the very warm tea. She sat with him, and they asked the other about how they'd been, and what the personal news was. Serah got up to check her cooking before asking some questions about work, and learnt that nothing much different had changed: just the same old story of there being too much demand and not enough hands to meet the needs of their rapidly developing world. That's why it was such fruitful work for Snow and his mob. It didn't take long for the conversation to inevitably turn to the main character of recent events, and daresay, beyond.

"So, she'll finally be staying here, huh?" added Sazh to the air.

"Yep!" Serah brimmed with excitement. The feeling had been restored.

"Yeah, I feel the same way." Sazh's relaxed eyes gazed past the window. "I'm curious to know, why now did she decide to make the move? What clicked for her?"

"She said she wants to spend more time with family; I think the girls had something to do with it."

"Oh, that's cute," said Sazh.

"She'd come here often during her break periods of her excursions. Spending too much time on trains, days on end… and we could tell, that, it was what she most looked forward to. Also. Amodar, an old superior of hers from her GC days, had got in contact with her and found her a job at the Rest."

"Yeah, I heard about that. I guess now is the perfect time for her, for change."

"Mhmm. Also…" should she tell him? "I think she's probably looking to settle down."

"She's settling down?" Sazh laughed. "That's great, truly—I hope all the best for her—but I wonder though, who would be her partner. She's the killer of gods!" Serah laughed.

"She's not exactly princess charming either. Can't imagine soldier girl telling her future boyfriend, who she's been having those coffees with, she was that l'Cie. The leader of the revolution, who took down the Sanctum, and ended fal'Cie rule forevermore. And raising a lot of hell in the process…"

"Yeah," Serah said between an understanding smile and laughter. "It would be troublesome for her, wouldn't it?"

"Yeah, all the best to her though—it would be great. Has she met anyone at the compound at the end of the line, perhaps?"

"I don't think so…" As Serah's mouth opened again, she remembered the news from Snow, and not knowing the specifics of what he'd meant, closed it, keeping whatever the thought shut.

Sazh, who had been sipping his tea, suddenly made a funny smile. "What about Hope?"

"Huh?"

"He's twenty-five now, ripe-picking."

Serah eyed Sazh as the meaning dawned on her, and saw the old man's smile begin to shift more into the subtlest of grins. As if he were stoking a fire he was in no way responsible of putting out.

"What—Hope for my sister?"

"He could be an option for Lightning—well, that's to say if he wasn't already taken. A smart and handsome boy like that, with a good career prospect, they don't stay single long—just saying."

Serah shook her head, but her smirk lingered, nonetheless. Not to say that the thought never occurred to her, but to speak of it so outwardly…

Suddenly, the sound of a velocycle landing took over the airwaves. "Speak of the devil," Sazh quipped from his vantage point by the window.

It was Claire.

Serah needn't get off her stool, as the wide frame of her husband had just as quickly appeared through the front door. The dear oaf glanced at Serah, scratching the back of his head.

"We're home~!" he announced. Serah rolled her eyes. He then faced the door, for who would be the next person to enter.

Claire stepped through the door. The dark-haired woman, the length of it falling in round tufts at her shoulders, made her bearings. Noticing her and Sazh, her chipped lips spread into a smile.

"Hey sis, Sazh."

Serah released the valves of joy. "You're here! I'm so glad you're finally here," she came up and hugged her. "Did you have a haircut? I love it!"

"Yeah," her sister said laughing, clasping the back of Serah's head gently, "I was waiting for Snow, and I got bored."

So this is the news. "I'm so glad. How have you been?"

"Good," Claire loosened the embrace, but stepping back her eyes turned a fraction more serious. "But there's some news I need to tell you."

Suddenly, the slight trepidation came back to the fore of Serah, but she listened in as she pulled away. "What is it?"

"My gas's running."

Now total confusion took its place.

"Ah, what?"

"My gas's running now," she repeated.

"Ah, no it isn't," Serah pointed out, "but that doesn't make any sense; how would you even know—"

"Serah." Light said, intent on gaining her understanding. "My gas is running now, just like the rest of ours."

Serah was still so confused, and perhaps as a result, Claire leaned in closer and whispered with enough raspy exclamation that all present could hear her.

"My powers, they're back."