In the Paying it Forward universe, this is the IMMEDIATE follow up to the previous story, when Sice celebrates the festive season with the Yun-Farron family. Same pairing focus from the last story applies here as well, although Celes and Locke are featured.
Sice and the Unorthodox Christmas
Seven felt bad for the newest housemate in the Yun-Farron household, and for more than one reason. Sice lost her biological parents - something that would metaphorically destroy both Seven and Lasswell if they were in Sice's situation - and was en route to the local orphanage, yet it was in writing that Fang and Lightning would be Sice's legal guardian, for Sice had no other relatives nearby and the Yun-Farron couple were the first couple thought of for this by quite a few people, Celes and Locke included. Ever since the married couple took Sice into their home, and this was no surprise to anyone, Sice was on edge almost every day, considering the circumstances that led to this situation. It was a certain feline - Y'shtola to be exact - that made it her duty to help Sice feel at home. Seven was happy to have her own bed for a while if it meant that the white-haired girl can feel comfortable in her new surroundings, given what happened earlier in the year. Ever since Lightning and Fang - with the help of the gigantic oaf that is Snow Villiers - the stables at the Yun-Farron household were redone to make sure that while Odin and Kain had more than enough space, the remaining space would be for a small guest house of sorts. Sice would be the first person to live in the guest house, as the white-haired girl made it VERY clear that she wanted to have her privacy despite there being a couple of rooms to spare inside the main home.
Lasswell, the youngest Yun-Farron family member, was really excited to have their gift giving on Boxing Day this year, instead of Christmas Day. Out of all the members of the Yun-Farron family, he embraced Boxing Day more so than the rest, although Lightning was taking a liking to Boxing Day, after hearing the importance of it by Enya and Lucien via a lengthy phone call the day after the older Farron sister's birthday. If one had to be COMPLETELY honest, Lightning was never a really huge fan of Christmas Day. It broke quite a few hearts that Serah was the only reason why Lightning celebrated Christmas Day at all after their parents died - Lightning wanted Serah to have a happy Christmas Day. In a way, the Clans of Oerba... Lucien, Enya, Fang & Vanille were the ones who brought back Lightning's Christmas Spirit. When Sice entered their lives, the holiday season for the Yun-Farron family eventually took yet another twist. How? Christmas Eve was the traditional celebration with the Villiers and Estheim families, Christmas Day was a more private affair for the Yun-Farron family & Boxing Day was a continuation of Christmas Eve, but with Celes, Locke & the Aran family. In other words, the Yun-Farron family as a whole were celebrating the holiday season for three days straight. This eventually took a financial toll on Lightning and Fang, but for reasons unknown.
Little did they know that Sice would be the family's MVP.
XXX
It was Christmas Day. In a first, the married couple, Lightning and Fang, were doing Lady Luck's work and SOMEHOW did the last of the holiday shopping for the three kids currently chilling out with the cats and horses inside the area of the Yun-Farron household - baby sat by the Coles, of course - hence Lightning and Fang currently being holed up in a secret room wrapping up the presents while, somehow, having time for a quickie of sorts which wasn't at all shocking to Celes, of all people. While the married Yun-Farron couple were holed up with present wrapping and whatever, the kids, horses, cats & the Cole family were having fun with the board games and the pets (according to Seven, the horses are pets who are part of the family) making sure the kids stayed warm, even though Odin was being Odin by demanding Seven's attention every now and then outside the carrots he and Kain feasted like human kings on - Kain followed Odin's lead with Sice. As long as the humans are happy so are they. For lunch, Celes and Sice had to excuse themselves to make a healthy yet hearty meal for themselves - Locke was shocked in a great way when Sice showed his wife a few culinary tricks with the food available - which everyone not only enjoyed, but also had a second plate to hold themselves over until Fang would make them their dinner. And before anyone asks, every pet was given their version of the meal so that everyone can eat in peace.
Fang and Lightning finished the gift wrapping a bit later than usual, but it wasn't because of the occasional quickie as some would speculate that to be - it actually was the gift that the couple bought for Sice was a very complex item that they had a difficult time in wrapping, in all honesty. Seven's gift from them was a bit tricky but not as difficult as Sice's. With Lasswell's gift, it was about as easy as the upgrade to Fang's double bladed lance Lightning got her as a birthday present the year after they got married. The married couple had a lengthy chat with Celes and Locke about a conversation they had with the three kids in the household a few months ago, when Sice first moved in with the Yun-Farron family, and how Fang and Lightning felt that they should have the means to not only defend themselves at home, but also have a weapon for certain academies they were talking about going to upon reaching adulthood, where it was Locke that gave support to that idea, with Celes saying something about getting them a weapon that is an extension of them. Lightning couldn't stop smiling with her eyes once she caught wind and the meaning behind Celes' words, for she knew that Vector's Undefeatable General spoke truth in her words, while giving Locke the credit he very rightfully deserves.
Fang, Sice & Locke were now holed up in the kitchen to make who or Etro knows what (according to both Lasswell and Seven), much to Celes' amusement. Lightning, on the other hand, was trying to NOT laugh her arse off at the current display in the kitchen. Tried, and failed miserably. Seven... well, she took a quick nap on Ligthning's lap, where the older Farron sister gently petted those silver locks. Lasswell was simply too occupied with Bahamut and Y'shtola to even pay attention to what was happening in the kitchen. As for the horses - those two couldn't take their eyes off Lightning and Seven. As the silver haired girl was tired from the last few days from illness, she was taking naps during the day when she was able to, which Lightning was able to spot at this moment in time. Odin was worried for his human, with Kain following suit due to the potent Seven Factor. This tidbit was a reason why Sice felt at ease only a week ago: Seven brought out the best in both people and animals. It was impossible to NOT be concerned for one who looks out for other people. By Etro's Miracle, dinner was done a minute after Seven woke up from her quick nap. Simply put, the smell was too strong and too good for the silver haired girl to ignore. As per usual, Seven and Lasswell made sure - more Lasswell than Seven due to the latter still recovering from illness - already had set the table, complete with glasses of almond milk (due to Lightning and Seven's allergies to dairy products), water & cups of ice for the Strawberry Dr. Mog.
It took Lady Luck for Seven and Lightning to not drool from the sight of dinner.
XXX
Boxing Day at long last, the day where it was the Cole, Yun-Farron & Aran families would continue the holiday celebration with gift giving. Sadly, this was the first Boxing Day without Samus and Phoenix, but with Sice present, they have left a piece of them with the other two families, which put Fang and Locke at ease with peace in their hearts, for they knew that Phoenix and Samus were no longer suffering, and their daughter Sice was safe with the people they trusted to take the best care of her. It was all they could do to carry out their wishes. Wasting no time, everyone was opening up their gifts. Dinner from the night before was amazing, as it helped Seven make a fuller recovery from illness along with Y'shtola and Odin's constant care. Breakfast was a simple dish made by just Sice and Fang, yet it was enjoyed by everyone who ate their cooking. Odin was one happy horse on Boxing Day, as his human was back to her usual self, healthy and happy. Regarding the opening the gifts, it was Celes, Lightning & Seven who opened theirs with great care while the remaining humans went into it without care of the wrapping paper used, the one thing Seven found quite amusing. Needless to say, this was only the first round of gift opening for every human plus pet, as they had to have their lunch and afternoon movie to watch, which was an Aran family tradition that Sice would lose her shit (in a bad way) if they did not have their Boxing Day lunch and movie. Lightning fell in love with that idea when it was first introduced by Phoenix.
It was after the movie that the second round of gift opening began. It was mainly for the kids as Celes and Lightning didn't ask for much this year for the holidays, and it was one Serah Villiers that got everything for the aforementioned duo, plus Fang and Locke opened the lot of their gifts in the first round. The kids were having loads of fun with every aspect of what they got, with Lasswell, Seven & Sice having difficulty with the last gifts when they got to it. It was at this time that the adults took the trio to a specific room in the main house that housed their final gift. For Lasswell, he was gifted a katana that wields the ice element with varying movements at will - the one item he told his pen pal Rain about in his last visit to Granshelt in Lapis. For Seven, it was Brynhildr, a whipblade that wields attacks tied to three elements (fire, ice & thunder). What did Sice get? A scythe that could be mistaken for a halberd or spear, depending on how one looks at the weapon. They were all safely stored on a rack near where Lightning's recently upgraded gunblade and Fang's two bladed lanced were held. Not only were the trio rendered completely speechless as they had nothing to say about this unexpected gift they're getting, but they also couldn't stop smiling with their eyes, for they knew that Fang and Lightning listened to them well and showed support for what they wanted to do in life after high school graduation. Little did they know that these gifts were bought with the money from Phoenix and Samus Aran the Boxing Day before.
Phoenix and Samus was at this Boxing Day in spirit. This was made clear with the note the trio were given. Lasswell and Seven both wouldn't stop hugging Sice, for this was the first Boxing Day without her parents being alive. This gave her, and the others, the peace they needed to live their lives to the fullest with happiness and joy that they all rightfully deserve to have in their lives.
Sice would become the Yun-Farron's greatest blessing.
FIN
A/N #2: Next story is the first Yun-Farron wedding from the Second Time Around universe!
