A/N: In the Second Time Around universe, Sice, as well as Seven, are struggling in a few of their classes. Will Lightning be able to help, or will Fang get a certain Miq'ote and violet haired lass duo from the Sebusai pair's past to help? Y'shtola and Maria (the latter from FF II) appear here. Pairings: Lightning/Fang (married) and Seven/Sice (dating, established). Language is only real warning here.

Lesson for Seven and Sice

"FUCK ME AND FUCK MY LIFE! I'll NEVER be able to pass this fucking class, or the other two! Fucking academic warning it is for my dumb arse! DAMN THIS FUCKING SHIT!" Sice could be heard by everyone nearby swearing like a sailor, all over course material for three classes the white haired woman's having trouble with. It wasn't any better for her long time girlfriend Seven, for the silver haired woman not only had to put up with Sice's rage but she was also having trouble of her own in two classes - none of them being the same as Sice's. Unlike her white haired girlfriend, Seven had less to worry about regarding academic performance, but didn't want to chance having an academic warning of her own either way, recalling one at the university going through the such at the moment and Seven would be lying if it didn't worry her one bit. After 30 minutes of hearing her girlfriend's monologue of a shouting match by force and a pair of ear plugs she always has ready for cases like this, Seven discreetly made a call to one Claire 'Lightning' Farron, who had left the Guardian Corps a year back to finish her studies in music, and to finally be able to relax with her new wife, Oerba Yun Fang.

Upon hearing Lightning's usual "Farron!" greeting over the phone, Seven was already laughing her arse off. For reasons unknown, Lightning can't shake off old habits, even in phone conversations. Seven, once her laughter died down, immediately explained to the older why she was calling and the very troubles she was having in her and Sice's studies put together. More specifically, the classes they were having trouble with and how Sice could be in danger of getting an academic warning if she failed all three, while Seven herself having a small window to breathe on her part. "I don't know how much I can of help to either one of you...I'm sorry. Music's always been my 'thing' if you will let alone understand before, during and since my stint in the GC, Seven. I'll have to contact Fang and see what she can do to help you two out. I really wish I could do more to help you two here, Sevsky…" Lightning said with a tone of sadness Seven didn't miss on the other end - mainly because it's the same tone of sadness Seven herself would have when saying stuff like that to anyone, especially her classmate Deuce, the only one in the class Seven and Sice considered their mate/friend as they constantly kept in touch.

Little did Lightning and Seven know that Fang had a plan of her own to help the Sebusai pair out with their studies.

XXX

"Hey there kitty cat! Hiya Maria! What's cooking?" Fang greeted the Miq'ote and violet haired lass in her infamous cheeky matter, causing both Y'shtola and Maria to reply to Fang's greeting with "Same shit different fucking day, you dunce. How about you?" in a tone that matched the cheekiness of Fang's greeting step by step, all before the trio laughed their arses off together.

"It's actually different shit today, lasses..." Fang began, getting cut off by Maria due to the worried tone the Oerban native had in her reply.

"Everything okay at home, Snaggletooth?"

"Not quite, Maria. Sice AND Seven are both struggling in a few of their courses at the university. Oddly enough, it's five different classes: three for Sice, two for Seven. The subject matter might not be something Light knows much about, and she just finished her music studies last semester..." Fang continued, only for Y'shtola to butt into the conversation. Wow... Seven and Sice are having trouble in their classes? That's unlike them to struggle like this... but then again, this is university classes we're dealing with. Lightning might not know much of the course material they're taking as their respective majors differed than hers, so the least Maria and I can do is give them a helping hand. What's the worst that could come out of this... Y'shtola thought to herself, knowing that Seven's major could be up the Miq'ote's alley, while Sice's major is, in fact, Maria's expertise.

"We'll help them out, Fang. You helped Lyse and I with the wedding, honeymoon and new house expenses... plus matched Maria up with that lad Firion now that they're engaged… this is the least we can do to pay you two back", Y'shtola responded with the gentle smile she's known for, the one that whenever the Miq'ote says she'll help, it's all action since Y'shtola is one to back up her talk. It was Maria's confirmation to help them that sealed the deal for Fang and her quest to cheer up the Sebusai pair.

Fang thanked them both and agreed to surprise Seven and Sice with the two mentors from their past in a few days to help them in this time of need. The brunette saw bits of both herself and Lightning in them and wanted the pair to succeed at the university above all. It was one of many reasons why the older Farron and the Oerban native said 'I Do' a few months ago, having JUST returned from their honeymoon three weeks ago.

The Sebusai pair only hoped that the help would come soon.

XXX

Four days had passed, which surprisingly saw Seven starting to have trouble in two MORE classes, while Sice was still Sice. Swearing at the material for the three classes she was STILL having trouble in. Neither woman saw Lightning come in from a grocery shopping trip with varying items and snacks, the latter to hopefully help the duo out. Once Lightning got to the 'study room' Seven and Sice were in (Fang was beyond grateful that Lightning had a designated a room to just study in when Seven and Sice moved in with them), she knocked on the door as loud as she could, since she could clearly hear Sice's swearing spree. Fortunately, Lightning heard the silver haired woman demanding that Sice be quiet for a few to get to the door - only to see Lightning with a few pencils, a notepad and their favourite snacks in her hands. "Room for one more...?" Lightning asked, moments before Fang, Y'shtola AND Maria all made a surprising appearance behind the older Farron, briefly putting the pinkette in a state of surprise which Light herself was too shocked to say anything as a reply. "Y'shtola… Maria?! What the fuck are you two doing here...?" Sice asked the duo that came with Fang, with Sice clearly remembering the pair from the days back at Akademia in Orience when she and Seven were kids growing up in the orphanage near that place. It was Maria and her signature smirk that said everything to the white haired woman, effectively shutting Sice's mouth up on the spot.

Lightning was right in her conversation with Seven: the older Farron didn't know much of either woman's major to be of much help to them, but provided the snacks and stuck around as moral support, with Fang following suit. Y'shtola shook her head at the Yun-Farron couple, making a mental note to use what she saw against Fang when the moment presented itself - while giving Seven a MUCH NEEDED hand with her classes. As it turned out, Seven's major was stuff Y'shtola knew about to the letter, which saw the Miq'ote giving the silver haired woman pointers for the classes that would help her for life, which Seven herself made sure to write down should the time come that the silver haired woman need a reference guide to help. As for Maria and her helping Sice, the violet haired lass immediately spotted the problem: it was the teacher Sice had. The material was almost impossible for the white haired woman to understand because of how the professor taught the material. If anything, Maria's heart went out to Sice, for the issue being one that isn't Sice's fault. By Etro's Miracle, Maria made the given material a twist to help Sice better understand what's expected and how to pass the classes with flying colours. Seeing this made Lightning smile her gentle smile, now knowing that Fang was doing her part to help the pair.

"I love you, Fang. Thanks for helping my baby sister and our soon to be sister in law..." Lightning quietly said to her new wife, which was followed by a kiss to the cheek, all the while hold a large envelope in her hands, with info that would change their lives forever, and for the best. Blackmail material Maria, 9 o'clock... Y'shtola told the violet haired lass with the eye contact, prompting Maria to see the action the Miq'ote was referring to, only to release a quiet giggle afterwards. The evening went on with a good dose of tutoring and trash talking about each other and life, the very things that the Sebusai pair needed to help get through this particular bump in their road, the one they traveled together since they were kids at Akademia. It would be this very tutoring session that helped them not only get through the rest of the semester and pass their classes with flying colours but the remainder of their time at the university.

Seven and Sice both would end up graduating with honours, with their old mate/friend Deuce in attendance to see them get their degrees (thanks to Fang for the invite and Lightning for the air fare, room and board to make it all happen) - all thanks to a lesson for Seven and Sice, from Y'shtola and Maria.

Everything happens for a reason.

FIN

A/N #2: In the Paying it Forward universe, Celes (who makes an appearance) thinks that everyone in the Guardian Corps forgot about her birthday back in early March. What happens when a belated birthday surprise from Lightning, Fang and Hope is revealed?