A/N: In the Second Time Around universe, Seven and Sice ask Y'shtola and her wife Lyse for marriage advice while Lightning and Fang are on holiday. Pairings: Sebusai (established but engaged) and Lyse/Y'shtola (married).
I am happily announcing here that Y'shtola WILL be a character for this collection as she'll be either the domestic cat (Paying it Forward) or her usual self and paired with Lyse (Second Time Around).
Dr. Rhul at Your Service
"Seven, remind me why do WE need marriage advice...?!" Sice asks her fiancée in a loud and complaining tone, clearly not liking the suggestion they were given by one Serah Farron-Villiers, even though the younger Farron knew about Lightning being on holiday with her Yun. It's necessary to get marriage advice, so that you two won't screw things up so bad, was what Serah told them.
If only Serah recalled Snow's warning about giving her baby sister that very advice...
XXX
"To shut Serah's mouth up, that's why. And to show Lightning that we can do this on our own, as we planned..." Seven responded to her fiancée's inquiry, with a tone that had the white haired woman feel at ease as quick as one can say 'light', reminding Sice why Seven was meant to be with her to the end. It was a quick kiss to Seven's cheek that had Sice flashing a small but sincere smile. One that's meant for only Seven. "Might as well wait for Y'shtola to arrive so that she can give us whatever advice on married life she can give...if she has any..." Sice went on, causing the silver haired woman to laugh, her first time laughing for the day if Sice had to be completely honest here. The engaged couple then took about cleaning the living room to the Yun-Farron household so that Y'shtola wouldn't have to reprimand them for not making it homey, to Y'shtola's standards (they were HIGH according to Seven).
The pair would enjoy the remainder of their free time by watching an action movie on TV that they both enjoyed from their time at Akademia - an oldie but goodie if you wanted Sice's opinion on said film. It was only after the post credit scene being over with that a car pulled up to their driveway. Oddly enough, Y'shtola wasn't in the driver's seat, but a lass with blonde hair and an odd aura about her neither Seven or Sice can place on her to determine anything about the mystery lass. "I wondered if Y'shtola brought company with her...and if that driver is said company..." Sice began, not happy that there was another person in what clearly was Y'shtola's car (the license plate MIQOTE gave it away) pulling up into the driveway of the Yun-Farron household which neither Sice or Seven knew of this person in the past. Seven had to admit that the Miqo'te was among the best at hiding things from people like her and Sice, and if the silver haired woman had an opinion on the matter, the reasoning was a good one.
The engaged pair would be shocked beyond belief when they see the mysterious driver hold Y'shtola's hand as they come to the front door, with the topic from outside not known to the Sebusai pair inside but the 'mystery' lass was happy for some reason.
Sice was about to eat her words.
XXX
The doorbell to the Yun-Farron household was the first thing Lyse spotted while she and her wife Y'shtola casually strolled to the front door to the Yun-Farron household, knowing that she and the Miqo'te are bound to give the Sebusai pair some advice on a long lasting marriage, which one Serah Farron-Villiers paid the Miqo'te to do, against not only the will from Snow, but also the wills of both Lightning and Sice. To Y'shtola, bringing Lyse along would give Seven and Sice a perspective that would prove Serah's gut feeling correct. The Sebusai pair stopped dead in their tracks the instant the doorbell was run. Sice freaked out because of the bowl of popcorn that was still there, and the two glasses of cola that was still halfway full beside the bowl of popcorn. Seven, however, went to the door as calmly as she could to answer it, knowing that Y'shtola wouldn't be happy if she waited at the door for too long (something Fang and Lightning did before the Sebusai pair moved in with them). "Y'shtola? What are you doing here?" Seven asked the Miqo'te, knowing that the 'mystery' lass needed to be introduced - and fast.
"Seven. 'Tis good to see you again. My apologies for not informing anyone that I'd bring someone with me. Seven... and Sice, this is my wife, Lyse Hext. Lyse, meet Seven and Sice…" the Miqo'te introduced her wife to the pair, with Sice being dumbfounded by FORGETTING that Y'shtola is already married. I can't believe that I fucking FORGOT about her wife Lyse! Fuck me, and fuck my life... the white haired woman embarassingly thought to herself while not getting a read of the reaction her fiancée gave. Seven had to take a VERY good look at the blond whom Y'shtola calls her wife, and gave Lyse a gentle smile plus a handshake, which Lyse gave the youngest Farron sister a hug, grateful for the silver haired woman and her excellent judgment in character. "Sice, do you mind getting two more glasses out, and fill them up with some of the cola you and Seven already were enjoying?" Y'shtola asked the white haired woman, knowing that the Rhul-Hext couple only drank cola wherever they go since Lyse was allergic to alcohol and Y'shtola wanted to respect Lyse's lifestyle the best she could.
Once Sice came to the living room with the two glasses, she brought out four cans of the cola she and Seven were drinking earlier in the day. Lyse, knowing that Seven wouldn't give a shit, went for the popcorn. The Sebusai pair smiled as their instincts to leave out the partially consumed popcorn was the best thing they could have done while waiting for Y'shtola to arrive. Y'shtola was impressed that Seven and Sice were more prepared than she thought of them to be. Lyse felt more happy on this occasion than in recent times, putting Sice at ease as the blonde's personality is similar to the white haired woman.
It would be after the pleasantries that were exchanged that Y'shtola would get to the topic at hand.
XXX
"Seven... your older sister Serah brought to my attention that you and Sice needed marriage advice..." was all Y'shtola needed to say, because the Sebusai pair made a collective groan about the matter as neither of them were wanting to seek it out as they have yet to wed. It was Lyse's signature laugh that put the engaged pair at ease, proving to Seven why Lyse is the right woman for Y'shtola. Lyse understood the Sebusai pair's stance on the matter, better than Serah if Sice had a brutally honest say in the matter. In the immediate aftermath following Y'shtola's remark, however, the house went silent, as no one had anything to say. Lyse laughed again after a few minutes, apparently because she had thought about what to say to the Sebusai pair ever since Y'shtola made that statement to put them at ease with the next step: marriage. After another minute passed, Lyse finally spoke her words of wisdom to the Sebusai pair:
"Seven...you and Sice have been through SO much from what Shtola here told me, and together I might add. You didn't know that you had two older siblings until you reached adulthood, and yet you welcomed them with open arms, just like Sice did. Odin, the cat who's napping on my lap I must admit, loves you two, adores you to death. As for you Miss Potty Mouth, so little is known about you, and yet the Farron sisters welcomed you as if you already are a part of the family. Shtola here misses your cooking by the way, and is beyond proud of the woman you have become today. Same goes for you as well, Seven. Knowing that you had the odds stacked against you for your entire lives thus far, and you two keep proving everyone wrong when needed, there's no limit to where things will go for you in your lives, since marriage is a constant work in progress with no end in sight. Stay true to who you are to each other, and NEVER, EVER stop talking, even when things get rough in the marriage. Tough times don't last but tough people will. That's all I have to say." Lyse said to the Sebusai pair while affectionately referring to Y'shtola as just Shtola, giving Odin the cat love and attention as he somehow warmed up to her at first sight and giving a peculiar name for Sice with the choice thoughts the white haired woman has been having over this 'ordeal' (as Seven would put it) since Serah was the one who had the idea in the first place.
For the first time since they got married, Y'shtola was unable to say a single word, for Lyse said everything that the Miqo'te herself wanted to say but couldn't find the words to put it out in the open. To give the tall blonde some 'brownie points', Y'shtola gave Lyse a kiss on the cheek to say 'thanks' for the words of encouragement to the Sebusai pair, for the Miqo'te pair knew in her heart that Lyse's words was spoken for the both, as it came from Lyse and Y'shtola as a pair and further proving Seven right in how Lyse and Y'shtola are the perfect couple for each other. It was Sice who came to Lyse and gave her a hug, also to say thanks as she was a genuine loss for words but now grateful for Seven's insight and even more grateful for Serah's foresight. The four women, after the talk, continued the lighthearted chatter with popcorn and cola, with a movie that came up once Sice turned the TV back on which is a favourite of all four in the house, especially Lyse. Laughs, cheering and tears were shed over the appropriate bits in the film on TV, with Odin STILL on Lyse's lap, but wanting attention from Y'shtola.
Serah's gut was right on the money for her baby sister and soon to be sister-in-law by having Y'shtola come to give them advice on marriage. "Dr. Rhul at your service, after all" was the only thought on the Sebusai pair's minds, grateful for their mentor and her wife to give them the advice they weren't expecting but really needed.
Things would only get better in time for Seven and Sice - as it should be.
Their love would stand the test of time.
FIN
A/N #2: Next tale is a Thanksgiving themed tale from the STA universe, with the Fangrai and Sebusai pairs as adults AND with kids!
