A/N: In the Paying it Forward universe, Celes has an idea for the Halloween party at the school Seven and Sice attend. How will everyone react to the idea, especially Lightning and Fang? Special note: this story is where Seven and Sice first meet. All pairings mentioned here are married or at least serious in dating.
Celes Cole the Party Planner
"Fang... Celes... I don't have a fucking clue on anything tied to the Halloween Party for Seven's school..." Lightning admits to her wife and Guardian Corps bestie (Vanille's words for Celes and Lightning's friendship which Hope can easily attest to) in an interesting conversation about their daughter's upcoming party for school. Lasswell, who JUST started Preschool, was having too much fun with Bahamut in a section of the living room where the Yun-Farron couple can easily see him and the cat. Seven and Y'shtola were taking a nap in the silver haired girl's room after the oldest Yun-Farron child was done with her homework, which the violet eyed child brought up the party to both grown ups as soon as she was informed about it at school. For reasons unknown Seven was one of the two students tasked to find people to set up the party for a group of about 14 kids, which includes the two transfer students Rem and Machina (Deuce and Jack being the only two Seven really interacts with as she doesn't know the other students in her class at all). The other student was one in her class but Seven never met or interacted with them before.
Naturally, Seven's first two people to help get an idea going are her mothers, who everyone at the school have the utmost respect for, as Lightning's one of the most respected GC Personnel there besides Celes and Fang being the heiress to all clans in Oerba being one fact anyone is a gigantic idiot if they lack a clue on that topic. In the past, Fang and/or Lightning have ideas left and right about certain parties but as of lately, neither one had a clue on this year's Halloween party... until Celes decided to volunteer to help with the ideas. Seven, to the Vector native, is like a daughter to her. Recalling Lightning's rant at the GC Headquarters, the blonde wanted to help the person who more than made it worthwhile to be a part of the GC. Celes, in recent times, remembered a theme for the GC New Years party from a few years ago that some felt was more fitting for Halloween than New Years. The blonde, in a move that had Locke literally on the floor laughing, took the small photo album from said party with her, but was nothing but smiles for the reason why she needed to borrow it. I'm so proud of you for helping Sevsky... Locke happily mused to himself after their conversation was over with, as Celes happily remembered their chat about it.
Seven Michaela Yun-Farron is one the Coles would go to hell and back to protect just like Lightning and Fang.
The Yun-Farrons are family to the Coles.
XXX
Celes, being from Vector, had a few ideas for the Halloween party written down on a piece of paper to brainstorm with Hope Estheim prior to meeting with Lightning and Fang, as the lad was one who can offer suggestions based on his know how with Neo Oerba/New Paddra laws and what can and can't be allowed at varying holiday parties at schools regardless the level (although Lightning is just as knowledgeable as Hope the older Farron had her hands tied with varying GC stuff plus a sick Lasswell) for which the blonde was beyond grateful with insight from one who doesn't have kids. It was well known that Celes will take both Seven and Lasswell trick or treating due to varying obligations both Lightning and Fang have on Halloween, so for the Vector native to seek help elsewhere was a decent idea, as it would give the blonde insight on how to deal with the Yun-Farron kids. Thanks for the fresh perspective Hope... Celes very happily mused to herself while driving to the cafe and meet up with Lightning and Fang to help Seven plan the party for her class. It was this type of confidence that proved why Celes Cole is such a good person.
After exchanging pleasantries - and hearing Lightning's rant - Celes revealed what she talked to Hope about regarding the Halloween party for Seven's class: incorporate an ice breaker with a student one knows nothing about, and they're paired up with that person for every activity for the duration of the party. On paper, it sounded like one lost their mind but these days one can expect the unexpected, and it could mean that Seven would meet other people in her class that's not Deuce or Jack. To quite a few people this was a crazy idea, but after hearing it clearly enough, Lightning and Fang were on board with the idea - after all, they recently met the Aran family who are completely okay with having picnic to get to know them in the near future. It was the older Farron who would get the ideas for Seven's Halloween Party from Celes to relay to the silver haired girl so the latter would incorporate it with whoever she is paired with for the actual party. Fang was able to recall that Seven was NOT told of just who she'll be paired up with for the planning for the party at all, which Celes' idea would either make or break the silver haired girl.
Little did the Yun-Farrons know that the other person is tied to the pair they recently met.
XXX
It was the day Seven would be notified of WHO she would be paired up with to plan the Halloween Party for their class. Like her, the person she'd be paired up with had no clue as to who they'll be working with. When Seven turned around to meet her party planning partner in crime, it was none other than Sice Camille Aran, whose parents recently met Lightning and Fang Yun-Farron. Both students couldn't speak for several minutes, before Nine, one of their classmates, had something snarky to say about this exchange which Sice went into 'Potty Mouth Sice' Mode and tore Nine a new arse crack, immediately prompting the teacher to intervene as a means for all to save face at what would have been yet another fist fight between Sice and Nine. Seven, if she was completely honest, never met or interacted with Sice at all before. Some argue that the reason for this is Sice being towards the door of the classroom while Seven was closer to the front of the class. After shaking hands, the duo agreed to meet after school to discuss whatever plans they had come up with for the party.
Once school was done for the day, it was Seven who waited for Sice in a certain section of the school library - it was one where students could discuss varying things as long as they're respectful of the other patrons there. When the white haired girl FINALLY showed up - their parents knew they'll be at school late - it was fashionably late as far as Seven was concerned. Sice, being Sice, brought some snacks over to make up for it - and to have a taste tester for some of the food she planned on bringing to the party. Seven, having the metabolism that would make Serah jealous because it was clearly from Lightning, who can eat whatever she wants but still maintains a killer figure, had no cares in the world when she tried Sice's pastries, and being unable to speak was music to Sice's ears because she knew it was THAT good if you don't talk while eating. Seven, after eating every last sample of food Sice provided, brought up the idea that at one point there would be an ice breaker with one they didn't know, and would be paired up with him or her for the entire party. Sice - Etro bless her - immediately agreed to this, as Sice was a bit of a loner in the class, with Seven not faring much better.
With all the planning finally being finished - and quicker than they thought - it was one Celes Cole who would pick up Seven and bring her home from school while Samus and Phoenix Aran picked up their daughter Sice. "I was paired up with Sice Aran, Celes... and she really liked your idea for the party..." Seven announced to the Vector native who couldn't stop smiling upon hearing that remark. "To tell you the truth, I overheard Lassbrat say something like that not too long ago at your birthday party, and it brought back some stuff from when I lived in Vector. And no need to thank me, kiddo..." the blonde countered Seven's remarks. Once Seven was dropped off at the Yun-Farron household, one of the first things she did was give Lasswell one huge hug for the comment, and it had Lasswell smiling, for something he said inspired Celes to come up with the idea she had for his big sister's Halloween Party. Once Lightning and Fang get word about the Halloween Party, it was a HUGE weight that came off their shoulders, for their daughter can focus on her studies and not so much on the party planning.
Celes forever is part of the Yun-Farron family.
XXX
It is finally the day of the Halloween Party for Seven's class at school. Everyone was having the time of their lives - mainly eating the food Sice made with the help of her parents, of course. And in an interesting twist of fate, Seven was paired up with Sice of all people for the duration of the party. The silver haired girl couldn't help but feel bad for Deuce, who was paired up with Nine. Sice, however, had a laugh when King and Jack were paired up. One who doesn't say much is stuck with the wannabe comedian... who would've guessed... the white haired girl mused to herself while observing the scene. When the party was all over with, Sice gave Seven the last of the food for her parents and younger brother to have - plus a plate of food to give to one Celes Cole, with this plate for a specific reason tied to the Vector native and her parents. Although feeling overwhelmed, Seven was able to sort out the extra food so that who gets what when she comes home from school. Fortunately for the rest of the Yun-Farron family, it saved them a night of cooking as everyone wolfed down the extra food from the Halloween Party - where everyone belched from how GOOD the food was.
From that moment on, Seven and Sice would be attached to the hip to the end - in other words, everyone knows that they would wind up falling in love and then getting married before having kids. One could argue that Celes Cole had a role in Seven eventually finding true love, as it was found when the silver haired girl was in a K-12 school with the person who she would marry and have her happy ending. Even if she and/or Sice go through the bumps in the road just to get to that happy ending.
All thanks to a certain General from Vector.
FIN
A/N #2: Next story is back in the Second Time Around universe and it's the Thanksgiving themed follow up to 'Friendly Invasion from Vector' where Celes and Terra meet Odin the cat, which likely sees Seven having competition with the cat!
