In the Second Time Around universe, it's the Fangrai wedding that Lady Luck would approve of - Seven and Sice are briefly mentioned at a few points here! Please note: This tale is a day or two late (work plus other reasons, including a brief bout of Writer's Block). Pairing featured: Lightning/Fang (endgame: married)

A Wedding Lady Luck Favours

"Hold still, sis...need to finish this make up job so that you can knock Snaggletooth off her feet..." Serah scolds her older sister, who's nothing less than a total nervous wreck as the older Farron wasn't quite herself for the last few weeks. Wedding planning isn't for everyone, as they say. It was a real miracle that the planning got done right let alone at all. Serah is kicking arse and taking names while doing Lightning's makeup as the Farron sister in question is about to say 'I Do' to the love of her life, one Oerba Yun Fang. Snow was asked to walk Lightning down the aisle, for he greatly owed it to Lightning for his best fortune in life these days. Snow for obtaining Lightning's blessing to marry Serah the right way according to one Oerba Dia Vanille, and by that, as unorthodox as humanely possible but also as Lightning as humanely possible. The night before, Lightning and Fang couldn't see each other, per Gran Pulsian tradition which Serah found odd yet Lightning completely embraced the tradition. Serah, being the observant sister she is, took note that Light was a bit disappointed that two of her students, a teen couple who goes by Seven and Sice, could not make to the ceremony at all, although the reason was out of their control. However, their wedding gift to the Fangrai couple more than made up for their absence from the joyous occasion, something that even Vanille's new girlfriend Carlyn approved of, which is in the hands of one of the guests - which one that has it, currently is unknown to them.

By Etro's Miracle, Lightning was fully ready from head to toe, so that she can wow Fang at her own wedding. It was a few minutes later that the two Farron sisters made their way to the beyond expensive limousine reserved for them, so that they can get to the venue for their wedding. This was one of a few gifts from the people who know both Serah and Lightning - but the question remains as to who paid for this super expensive limousine service. As far as they knew, some people that were tied to either Lightning's old gig at Akademia or the Guardian Corps would be in attendance, plus one Y'shtola Rhul-Hext, who would be attending with her colleague Maria instead of her wife Lyse, as Lyse fell ill with a very bad case of the flu just the day before - which Palom, Porom's younger twin brother, is nursing Lyse back to health. Fang would be beyond stoked to see the violet haired lass, who remains a huge cheerleader of the brunette's romantic relationship with Lightning. Serah, whose wedding to Snow was officiated by Y'shtola, would be happy to meet one like Maria, one who supports Lightning's relationship with Fang. As for the ride to the venue, the sisters did their best to make it as fun and relaxing as possible, to put the nerves Lightning has had to ease - or at least try to put the nerves she has had lately at ease, if Lightning had to be COMPLETELY honest here. Knowing that Rydia, Edge and Porom will all be in attendance at the joyous occasion in some capacity, Lightning would be at peace to see the mentioned trio there.

Little is known that one would film the event for the teens in Akademia, out of the kindness shown from Class Zero to the guest that is filming it.

Something Lady Luck will approve.

XXX

Fang and Vanille have their friendly 'Sister Bicker Fest' while Carlyn just watches, laughing her arse off at the adorable scene. If there was one thing Fang loved about Carlyn as a girlfriend to her sister Vanille, it was the raven haired lass' ability to make fun of situations like this. It was this that had Vanille herself laughing at this shortly after which put the brunette at ease. "I can't beat poking fun at myself for this..." Fang happily said to herself on the matter, knowing that having a great sense of humour has helped in her relationship with Lightning. With Fang being ready in her best sari, she knew that the venue would be large enough for the ceremony and reception to ensure that both Cocoonian and Gran Pulsian cultures were seen, recognised, embraced and celebrated throughout the day. It was a surprise that Vanille was far more nervous about this day than Fang by looks, although Fang was beyond nervous despite not looking nervous, arguably more so than her redheaded sister. Speaking of the redhead, Vanille (as well as Carlyn) was dressed in her best Dia outfit for the ceremony. Fang and Vanille, alongside Lightning from a while beforehand, agreed to have Hope as the Best Man and, in a complete shock for a twist in the planning, Rydia as the Matron of Honour. The reason why Rydia was picked to be the Matron of Honour was because she was a very key player in the Fangrai pair getting engaged in the first place.

The green haired lass knew both halves as well as Serah; it was Serah who was more than happy to be a bridesmaid because the last thing she wanted was a feud with Vanille (another bridesmaid) for the Matron of Honour title. Rydia was beyond floored when she was asked to be the Matron of Honour - a request that she felt that she simply did not deserve at all, for the simple reason that she's not related to the Farron sisters and it should have been Serah, or Vanille. When it was revealed that both Serah and Vanille were the ones who wanted Rydia to be the Matron of Honour, the green haired lass was beyond happy to be given the request, which the Mist native immediately and very happily accepted with her entire heart. For Rydia's outfit it's the Gran Pulsian twist of a dress for Cocoonian weddings, which more than simple yet elegant at the same time. The fact that she, Edge and Porom are in Fang and Lightning's lives for as long as they have been, it's a testament to how much of a positive impact the Fangrai couple made onto other people around them, the aforementioned trio being included in the mix. Hope was the obvious choice for Best Man by everyone that knows him, Vanille especially. He's the biggest reason why Fang finally grew a pair of (lady) balls to even ask Lightning out on a date in the first place, with his outfit being the Cocoonian twist the Yun Clan sari for weddings of all things!

While the Oerban sisters were distracted, Carlyn took a peek of the wedding bands for the ceremony, which were designed by none other than Seven and Sice themselves: the bands in question have an equal blend of Cocoonian and Gran Pulsian cultures within them. This was more than fitting for the ceremony.

Even Etro herself would approve.

XXX

"Etro help us Light... who in their damn minds would pick this for the venue...?!" was the question Serah would ask her sister, clearly noticing that this venue is not only HARD to land for a wedding ceremony but also one that have and also know people outside the venue who officiate same sex weddings at this location on hand (and foot). The lad officiating Fang and Lightning's wedding? It was one Noel Kriess, of all people. Why Noel? He lost a bet to the Fangrai couple years ago, shortly after they made the official announcement that they were a couple. Noel wanted to honour his loss to that bet in a big way. What makes it more surprising is that Noel didn't charge Fang or Lightning a single coin for his services on this day - and he can legally officiate weddings before one asks THAT question (something Serah often mused to herself for years, yet never asked Noel a single question about it for some time, she only asked when the time was right to do so). Little did Serah know that Lightning herself was the one who suggested the venue, with Fang being the one who had to rely on Lady Luck to get it secured... only for Noel himself to pay every fee to get it truly secured for them ("I lost a bet to the pair a LONG arse time ago, while they were dating. It's the least I can do to honour my loss of that bet..." Noel told the staff there when paying every last fee for the venue, which was a proper belly laugh fest) and the Fangrai pair finding that out two weeks after their engagement was made public. It was Noel who, along with both Serah and Vanille, suggested that Rydia be the Matron of Honour for the ceremony.

With Serah getting to the room reserved for the bridal party and took her place as quick as Lightning's namesake next to Cid Raines, another member of the bridal party - which was directly in front of Rydia and Hope as they're the Matron of Honour and Best Man respectively - Lightning got to the room where Snow was waiting for her with an open arm out. "You'll need this, Sis..." was all Snow said, handing her a small piece of cloth to use should she get misty eyed during the ceremony. While Lightning would have replied with the instant 'I'm not your sister' in other circumstances, she was his sister-in-law, and Snow knew a thing or two about people who get married shed a tear or two - not just because of his marriage to Serah sometime before this very day either! At least the fucking oaf is thoughtful on my day... Lightning mused to herself as she and the giant idiot (Lightning's description of Snow) of her brother-in-law get ready to make their entrance. It was a short few minutes later that they were given the cue to walk down the aisle. As neither of Lightning's parents were alive, Snow wanted to earn the right to walk Lightning down the aisle. Ever since they first met, Snow saw Lightning as his sister. After earning her blessing to marry Serah, the giant idiot stood up for Lightning in the most important ways possible, and even gotten away with beating the loving shit out of some homophobic pricks on a few occasions.

It was time.

XXX

Seeing Fang standing near Noel recreated the butterflies in Lightning's stomach, for the brunette was wearing her best sari, the same type of sari the pinkette herself is wearing. The compromise for this day, it was agreed that the wedding 'dresses' the Fangrai pair would wear be the wedding version of the Yun Clan sari but also have some of the Cocoonian customs in the ceremony itself. As for Fang, she couldn't stop staring - or smiling - at her bride to be. The brunette's nod to Snow was her thank you for walking her down the aisle. There were no words spoken between the couple, for the joyous eye contact was more than enough to convey the proper words. Noel - being Noel - started the ceremony with the usual legal lingo, which he found to be an absolute snore fest to say the lot verbatim but added his twist to in after it was said and done, which had people laughing for how sincere it was. Even Fang and Lightning had a laugh at that. When it came to the exchange in vows, everyone in the venue had their eyes water at the very least. Thanks to the small piece of cloth Snow gave Lightning, this helped the pinkette keep everything in check when it came to her emotions while Fang said her vows. What had EVERYONE crying was when Fang kissed Lightning's tears away, for they knew that the brunette DID NOT like seeing Lightning cry one single tear... at all. By the end of the brunette's vows, everyone had to refrain from applauding as Lightning still needed to deliver her vows before any form of applause can be given to the pair at all.

In a very un-Lightning like move, the pinkette had a fumble at the start of her vows, which threw everyone off. Fang caught it though and gave her an encouraging smile that told her to continue. It was because of that smile that Lightning recovered as quick as her namesake and delivered the rest of her vows in typical Farron fashion, with Fang getting misty eyed - and the brunette tried to keep it together, of all things! When Lightning finished her vows to Fang, the pair needed a moment to prepare for the exchange of wedding bands; however, there was a particular Yun Clan custom that had to be done first, which was a tasting of various animal meat and down it with tea. When both lasses successfully finished that custom with ease - Lightning more so than Fang on the tea, Fang outdoing Light with the meat - they were finally able to exchange the matching wedding bands. With Carlyn able to get her nephew be the Ring Bearer, the Fangrai finally saw their wedding bands: the design that equally blended both cultures together as one, something the pair couldn't stop smiling at the entire time. Noel's announcement that Fang and Lightning are now wives, a few minutes later, they shared a kiss that was fully of true and real love, no lust involved at all. It was at this very moment in time that everyone gave the couple a standing ovation, with the cheers being some of the best and most meaningful.

The reception later on was clearly one to remember, and in the best way possible. All sorts of speeches were said, with Maria making one on Lyse's behalf, one that saw Lightning smile an extremely rare smile to the crowd, one that she and Y'shtola will never forget. As for the food and dancing, there was too many good memories that one could share because it was just that good - and hilarious at certain points. Vanille had to dance with Lightning while Snow had to dance with Fang which is a Cocoonian custom, which was comical to put it lightly if one was either Serah Villiers or Edge. Upon finding out that Seven and Sice designed the wedding bands, Lightning needed a moment to herself to absorb that information - and Fang following suit shortly after. They really were here, Seven and Sice... Lightning and Fang mused to themselves at their respective moment in time. The two teens made a very meaningful impact to the wedding they couldn't attend in person with the actual wedding bands Lightning and Fang would forever wear. Odin the Cat - the cat had to be there, and he was one very well-behaved feline one must add - was eating his food in peace near Rydia of all people, for the Mist native was his chosen hooman for this joyous day.

Seven and Sice would get one thank you gift for the ages for their contributions to the ceremony that legalities kept them from attending it in person, for which everyone would be eternally grateful. As Lightning and Fang's wedding was one to remember.

A wedding Lady Luck favours.

FIN

A/N #2: Next story is in the Paying it Forward universe, and it's the Sebusai wedding!