A/N: Lightning tells Citra, Lasswell and Sice a tale about the origins of a certain 'tradition' that Fang and Seven take part in a short time after seeing Seven keeping the tradition alive with her and Sice's newborn child. From the 'Paying it Forward' universe with the following pairings: Fang/Lightning (married), Seven/Sice (married but first time parents here) and Lasswell/Citra (newly married). A Family/Humour/Romance tale.

The Cuddlebugs

Citra looks at the sleeping Seven on the sofa, holding Lasswell Jr. in her arms, with a smile of content on her face, with Sice standing to Citra's left and was equally awed at the very scene. Lasswell, Seven's younger brother, Citra's (new) husband and Sice's brother-in-law stepped to the bathroom at the Yun-Farron residence in Oerba for a quick moment to collect himself, as he was crying happy tears upon seeing his older sister taking a nap with her one day old son, Lasswell's nephew, who was named after him. Upon emerging from the bathroom, Lightning and Fang followed the younger Yun to the living room, where they were met with the very scene that left Fang speechless: Seven sleeping on the sofa with her newborn son Lasswell Jr. in her arms, taking a nap together. The group quietly went to the outdoor deck to have an interesting discussion on the matter, but also respecting Seven's sleeping form in mind as to not wake her and the newborn baby from their nap. Fortunately for Seven and Sice, the latter got done with breastfeeding their son in time for his nap with Seven, helping things out for the best. After the group made it to the outdoor deck sans the sleeping silver haired woman, Fang could not help but laugh and smile about Seven's actions, for it reminded the brunette of how she was with Seven all those years ago. Upon being asked why she was laughing and smiling at Seven's habit, Fang brings up the real origins of Seven being one half of 'The Cuddlebugs':

Flashback

Snow, being the lovable oaf with a heart of gold, is driving Lightning back home from a tough day at the Guardian Corps Office. With Lightning on maternity leave for the past few weeks, the older Farron wanted to provide an update to Amodar and Rygdea on the birth of her and Fang's first child, their daughter Seven, which was only the day before. Although the lads in the room were shocked that Lightning is at the GC, the older Farron was smart enough to breast feed her newborn daughter, alongside the swaddle and changing her diaper, before leaving the house for a bit to provide the update. With this knowledge, Snow was put at ease here as his sister-in-law knew what to do to make this visit as painless as possible. During this visit, it was revealed that Lightning earned enough hours to take a year off from the GC with pay, which the pinkette was more than happy to take, with all things considered in the happy news from Lightning (and Fang by extension, who was at home with Baby Seven). As for Snow, you can say that he was surprised with this new bit of information to say the least. However, the oaf was the happiest lad on the planet, because of how the older Farron helped him and Serah for as long as she was able to with the varying situations they were in until things got stable. He volunteered to drive Lightning to and from the GC office for this brief visit, as a way to say thanks for all the help Lightning sent their way over the years.

During the drive home, it was quiet for the first third of the trip, as Snow had loads on his mind and Lightning was wrapping her head about having a year off with pay, with the timing of her and Fang's newborn daughter Seven being the best time to take said year off. It meant that Lightning will be able to witness Seven's eventual first steps and words with her wife Fang by her side, amongst all of the other important things that comes with being a new parent, the very things no new parent gets a second chance at seeing if they missed it when it happens. It was at a particular point where Snow made a stop at a gas station, which felt a bit odd to Lightning if she had to be honest, but the pinkette then understood. Of course, the car Snow was driving was low on fuel. They likely wouldn't make the rest of the trip home in Neo Oerba had Snow kept on going. It turned out that not only was Snow needing a snack and cup of coffee, but wanted to ask his sister-in-law about this, why she wanted to update Rygdea and Amodar of Seven just one day after giving birth to the newborn. After being asked that very question by Snow, Lightning thought about what to say before she said the following, making Snow smile and melting his heart with her response:

"I want to be there when Seven takes her first steps, speaks her first words, the things that I won't get another chance at if I kept on working my arse off at GC after my maternity leave is over. The fact that I accumulated enough hours at the GC to take a year off with pay is what I wanted to find out for myself, since it was something I never looked into beforehand. Only Rygdea and Amodar knew how many hours I accrued for the time off. That's why I had to ask them about the matter so that I can be the best mother I can to Seven, she's the pride and joy to Fang and I. You'd probably lose count at how many times Fang talked to Seven while she was in my womb, you giant but lovable idiot..."

When Lightning was done with her reply to Snow's answer, the giant oaf had to process what was said for a while before saying this: "Makes sense, sis. I mean, how else would you have found out about the time off you've accrued if you didn't ask? Granted, your workload was chaotic enough to not ask about it ahead time, but knowing it now is the best time in my opinion. More time with Fang and Seven, just like you said sis. The more time, the better, since Seven will know that both of her parents spent time with her when it was needed the most." Upon hearing Snow's words, Lightning flashed a gentle smile, the one meant for her family, Snow included even though he's still the 'idiot' in Lightning's eyes and opinion. As long as his heart is in the right place, that's the only thing that mattered to the older Farron.

The duo will get the shock of their lives upon entering the Yun-Farron household.

XXX

Knowing the only sound coming from the Yun-Farron household was the tea kettle, which indicated that Serah was already in the house, Lightning and Snow made strides all over the place to keep the peace - and by keeping the peace, staying quiet, as to not wake up Fang from whatever nap she's taking on the sofa. When the duo walked into the Yun-Farron house, Snow and Lightning were taken back by a peculiar sight: Fang sleeping on the sofa alright, but with Baby Seven in her arms, taking a nap together. Being the gigantic but lovable idiot, Snow couldn't resist but take a picture of the adorable scene. Fang and Seven had smiles of content on their faces, being cuddly while taking a nap on the sofa, making Lightning blush, of all things. If Fang was capable of this, Lightning wondered to herself, then why did we wait this long to start a family? It was a brief moment before the older Farron followed Snow's lead and snuck in a photo of the napping duo, who she herself called "The Cuddlebugs". Pocketing her phone, Snow and Lightning have a quiet cup of tea with Serah, who kept Fang and Seven company although the younger Farron had to be quiet for the most part due to the nap. The younger Farron revealed that both Vanille and Hope stopped by with stuff for Baby Seven (as Vanille would call the newborn), which included a check specifically meant for Seven's future from the Estheims.

It was a while later that Snow and Serah had to leave so they can return to their home, which after Lightning was left with Fang and Seven, the older Farron took the loveseat to rest her eyes for awhile - which a crying, fussy Seven woke her up only one hour later. The timing couldn't have been better: Seven got breastfed by Lightning, which Fang changed the newborn's diaper and helped with the swaddle and other new parent duties. Upon finding out about the photo that Snow and later Lightning took of her and Seven taking a nap on the sofa, Fang was already plotting her 'revenge' with the older Farron and that damn oaf. More on the pinkette as they see each other every day than Snow, but Fang made sure that her revenge will be carried out.

Even if it had to be a few years later.

Present Time

"In case you're wondering about my 'revenge' on Light here...I took a photo of her doing the same thing with Lasswell here the day after he was born - I still have the picture as proof!" Fang proudly boasted to the group, which had Sice and Citra laughing their arses off while Lasswell and Lightning...well those two couldn't say a single word...although Fang did admit that Lightning got her first and the pinkette forever has bragging rights about who got to be called The Cuddlebugs: Fang, and Seven.

With Seven continuing the same tradition Fang started, which Lightning followed suit with Lasswell, knew that by cuddling with her newborn son Lasswell Jr. on the sofa, Lasswell Jr. has parents who love him unconditionally and will protect, lead and guide him until their dying breaths - whenever that is. Knowing this, it reminded Sice why she and Seven are meant to be together to the end.

Seven continuing the tradition Fang and Lightning started.

FIN

A/N #2: Next story is from the Second Time Around (AO3 Exclusive) Universe: Seven and Sice getting marriage tips from Y'shtola and her wife Lyse, all while Fang and Lightning are on holiday!