A/N: In the Paying it Forward universe, Celes and Lightning talk about their respective spouses which reveals a few things. Length of this piece isn't very long, mind you. Romantic pairings: Fang/Lightning (married) & Celes/Locke (married)

Girl Talk, Take One

Celes and Lightning find each other a bit longer than usual after the smoke cleared, as the mission they were sent on was a bit more difficult and dangerous than one anticipated. Both lasses being battered a decent deal, the first thing they had to do after finding each other was help each other get to their camp and rest, knowing that any conversation over the mission - or their spouses - would have to wait until at least the next day. The two Guardian Corps members needed their beauty sleep first, plus work on recovering from the injuries they sustained on the mission. Upon returning to the camp that was reserved for the duo, which came complete with a fully functional cabin that has a kitchen, full bathroom and a bedroom that can fit two people, the GC's 'superstars' took turns getting showered before changing into their civilian clothes and then Celes making the pair a snack to eat to hold them over until the duo decide on the next course of action. As long as they finish their mission, which was a success despite injury and exhaustion clearly showing for them both, Celes and Lightning both knew that the full written report of what happened would be done upon their return to Neo Oerba. Oddly enough, the exhaustion for the pair was too much to stay awake, so they both agreed to get some sleep and wait for orders from Amodar the next day before anything else can be done at their location. Locke picked a good lass to marry, this snack is great. Maybe I should get the recipe to relay to Fang... Lightning mused to herself in awe, knowing that despite the Vector native not being much of a cook like Locke, Celes holds her own with the homemade snack the blonde prepared for them.

Celes beamed with pride at how much Lightning enjoyed the snack, knowing that the pinkette is the better overall cook between the two, although when it comes to proper cooking, everyone in their inner circle and their families know that one Snaggletooth aka Oerba Yun Fang has everyone beat in the realm of cooking, even beating Little Farron aka Serah Villiers at the art of cooking. No one turned down Fang's cooking. Lightning and Celes at the prepared snack in silence, which wasn't long after that the two went straight to sleep, as the exhaustion clearly got the best of them. It was very shortly before Celes made it to her bed that she nearly slipped and fell from something that was under her right foot that the blonde took whatever caused the near mishap and set it on the dresser near her bed, as the Vector native will look at it the next morning. Celes released a quiet chuckle upon noticing the pinkette already tuckered out from injury and exhaustion from the mission, meaning that the blonde couldn't get a word out of the older Farron sister until the next morning. Knowing that she has new info for Fang about Lightning, Celes wisely kept quiet and went straight to bed, knowing that she was as tired and hurt from the mission as Lightning currently is. This soreness will hand us our arse in the morning, but I can't wait to give Fang the recipe for the snack I made Light and I on this mission... the Vector native mused to herself, knowing that the brunette was wanting that snack's recipe for a while, but never had the courage to ask the blonde for the actual recipe. How a mission away from their spouses change things they say.

The following morning changes things for the duo, and in the best way.

XXX

Lightning wakes up as the sun was nearly in the sky, but sore as fuck (her own words), yet feeling refreshed. After brushing her teeth, the pinkette got into her favourite t shirt and jeans, only to notice that a photo she takes with her on missions -the one of just her and Fang from their dating days, young, goofy but in love in that photo - disappeared while on the mission. I'll ask Celes about it after breakfast, it's no use for me to freak out about it now... the pinkette mused to herself, knowing just how cranky Celes will get when the blonde doesn't have enough sleep. It was at this time that the older Farron sister decided to make breakfast for the two while awaiting communication from Amodar on the device in the cabin, knowing that Celes doesn't want to be left in the dark about important matters. It was the smell of the bacon sizzling, the eggs being cooked just right, the toast being made correctly and - Celes' personal favourite - fresh coffee being made - that eventually woke up the Vector native at last. Celes LOVES a hearty but healthy breakfast more than anything else to start the day. It was the tank top and pajama pants that the blonde wore - a contrast to the tank top and boy shorts Lightning was wearing - that put the duo at ease quite naturally, for they knew how the other lass was in sleep clothes when away from their better half on a mission. Like the snack from the night before, the duo ate the breakfast made by Lightning in comfortable silence, with the only chatter being whatever news Amodar would bring their way in a few hours. It made no sense for them to worry about what they can't control, right?

Celes and Lightning made the most of this time after breakfast either cleaning the dishes as well as the cabin, or having a prediction fest on what their boss would be telling them. After all, it's been a month since they started this mission, and there was serious talk about Fang and Lightning wanting to start a family for more than a year at this point. When the blonde showed a photo that nearly made her slip the night before to Lightning, the pinkette very quickly realised it was the photo that she was looking for, as the photo had Light smiling with her eyes nonstop. The photo was from their dating days, while in Oerba on holiday, where Fang's parents took a photo of the two of them together, being goofy and silly while being in love with each other; it was that trip that Lightning met Fang's parents for the first time as well. "Thanks for finding this photo, Celes. I didn't know how it slipped out of my pocket like that..." the older Farron began, although Celes' hug was her way saying that it was okay to not only cry, but also it being okay to have something of sentimental value with them for missions this long and away from her true love. It was at this moment that both Celes and Lightning began their lengthy girl talk about their respective spouse. If there was anything the two lasses could do while waiting for the update from Amodar, it was to talk about the person they chose to marry. What would surprise Lightning the most was hearing about Celes' past, and how Locke saved her life which would see a better life for her, and also Locke, in turn. It was the least that could have happened at that time.

The older Farron's heart went out to Celes about the things that the Vector native had done before meeting Locke, which helped her go towards a life filled with having a just mind and heart, to bring the correct form of justice to those who wronged any one for any reason. "Locke did the right thing by being with you, Celes. I can't put that any other way in my opinion" was all Lightning said, for Celes it was enough, it was right. When it came to Lightning's tale involving herself and Fang, Celes was at a real loss for words, knowing laws on same sex relationships and marriage before and after Celes and Locke moved to the Neo Oerba area were enough to enrage the Vector native to the core, for Celes' recollection of Dysley was one that angered everyone for any reason one could think of saying about the matter. "What matters now is that you and Fang are now married, and as happy now as you were then. Loads of us at the GC - minus a certain individual who shall not be named - are cheering for both you and Fang on your marriage. You two have more cheerleaders on your side than you think..." was all Celes needed to say, for her words rang nothing BUT truth to them. After a while longer of their talk about each other's spouse, the alert they've been waiting for finally showed up. It was Amodar contacting them with an update. Pleasantries were exchanged between the parties, where Amodar was given the best laugh from the pair in a while, considering what they were talking about a short while before then.

Amodar gave the two superstars of the GC the best news they could hear, that they can come home. Everything where they were at is completely under control, and their services were no longer needed, which was massive relief for the duo considering that they've been away from home for a month. A few days later, after they packed up their belongings, Lightning and Celes had to get some medical attention for the injuries they sustained on their mission - all the while Celes snuck in some time to write the recipe for a certain snack made to one Snaggletooth aka Oerba Yun Fang, or Fang Yun-Farron as she's better known as these days. It was Fang's visit to Lightning in the hospital - complete with the snack Celes made while on their mission on hand - that had Lightning smiling nonstop at her wife. The brunette was beyond happy to see her wife after a month away. Lightning, once again, reminded Fang at the real reason why they are meant to be together to the end, as the hospital allowed Fang to stay with her wife as long as needed, since Hope and Snow continued to take turns on keeping the Yun-Farron household in pristine condition when Fang couldn't, with Serah and Vanille helping when they were needed. It was here that Lightning and Fang decided to have their talk on who would be taking the treatments so that they can finally start the family they've wanted for so long, eventually agreeing that Lightning should carry their first child although Fang was in better shape at the moment to do so for the married couple than Lightning was. "Together to the end" was all they said as the couple happily held each other the best they could at the moment.

A lifetime of happiness awaits.

FIN

A/N#2: There are more takes to Girl Talk coming up in the future, and will not always involve Lightning and Fang.

A/N#3: Next story is in the Paying it Forward universe, and it's when Lightning meets Fang's parents for the first time (extending the photo found in this story).