A/N: This is the Fangrai wedding in the Second Time Around universe (the first ceremony), with Fang and Lighting being the pairing in focus! Seven and Sice are mentioned here, however. In addition, the lack of dialogue is intentional.

Winter Wonderland (for a Wedding)

One can put up a solid argument for who is more nervous on a winter day in January, the date Fang and Lightning set for their wedding: Fang, Lightning... or Little Farron aka Serah. Why Serah Villiers, you ask? One, she's the Matron of Honour for Lightning. One trait the Farron sisters have in common is how nervous they are when something major is about to happen. In this case, Lightning FINALLY marrying Fang. Lightning being a nervous wreck is bad enough... Serah tends to be on another level in this regard, however, which one Oerba Dia Vanille finds hilarious at times. Being the wise one, Snow Villiers kept himself out of Lightning's way ever since she and Fang got engaged. Two, Lightning and Fang sometimes had to cringe their teeth whenever Serah would chime in on THEIR wedding plans, making the younger Farron sister nervous and fearful of regret. It was Fang who put Serah at ease each time, as the brunette often wondered if Little Farron had done more research on the wedding ceremonies the clans from Gran Pulse would have than she suspected, since Fang paid close attention to whatever Serah said whenever a great idea came about in the planning. Third, and final reason, Serah will Serah. She's known in the circle as a royal nervous wreck. Definitely a Farron thing... Fang would muse to herself in complete amusement.

Fang's nervousness was far more subtle than everyone else... that is, if you're not Porom, Hope's girlfriend. The Mysidian native reads the brunette like a book and was able to spot her nervous streak better than the rest. With that being said, Fang's contribution to the overall planning was more than some expected, as Lightning can't plan things like weddings worth shit (Lightning's own words on the topic at hand, mind you) and Fang went to Little Farron to get insight on how Cocoonians do wedding ceremonies, both in the past and even now. The brunette felt SO much better after Little Farron's insight to things, as the wedding plans went LEAGUES smoother because of Serah. Something told Fang, and Lightning to differing degrees, that Serah was getting wedding ceremony intel from an outside source of all places - the Oerban native has been working with Lightning to get a teenage couple from Akademia in Rubrum moved to Bodhum-Oerba on a permanent basis for an unknown amount of time, and they couldn't make it to this ceremony for varying reasons. With that all being said, Fang kept her feelings on varying things to herself, for the brunette knew that it's not wise to speak out on something that would ruin the relationship with the older Farron sister.

Claire 'Lightning' Farron... under most circumstances, the pinkette is, perhaps, the toughest nut to crack. When it came to planning her own wedding... she couldn't plan anything worth a damn. Serah was practically begged to help out. What Fang doesn't know is that Lightning had Serah get in touch with both Seven and Sice to get help with wedding planning, because the older Farron sister recalled that the Sebusai couple, as young as they are, played a huge role in Serah's wedding being a huge success despite Little Farron... er, Serah, having yet to meet the pair in person. If Serah knew who to turn to, it was Seven and Sice. This helped Lightning in ways that not only no one saw coming, but it also helped Lightning get varying aspects of the ceremony completely secured, such as the food (thank you for your allergy to alcohol, Lyse... and massive thanks to Noel for his allergy to dairy plus Hope's allergy to gluten), venue and rings. Thankfully, the food planning made EVERYONE nervous, as things like food and beverage allergies made some aspects of the planning more complicated but it was for a very good reason if Lightning had to be completely honest with herself on the matter. Unlike Fang and Serah, whenever Lightning was nervous, it was in plain view. Everyone knew whenever Lightning got nervous about something. Fast forward to the night before the big day... Snow was a complete gentleman and nursed his sister-in-law to health as the older Farron got badly sick from her nervousness getting out of hand.

It would be all worth it in the end.

XXX

A couple of weeks pass before the Big Day (according to Snow, as Serah has made Lightning's upcoming wedding to Fang a bigger deal than the older Farron sister wanted it to be, although Light understood the reason behind Serah's actions), and the nerves from the final stages of the planning improved the sister relationship between Lightning and Serah, while also strengthening the love Fang has for Lightning. The tradition of one not seeing their soon-to-be spouse on the night before the ceremony turned out a tough pill for the older Farron to swallow. In a strange twist of things, it was the giant oaf Snow who put Lightning at ease, as he went through the same thing on the night before he and Serah married in their ceremony. Snow hung out with Lightning at the Yun-Farron household while Serah had Fang over for the night at the Villiers house. There was something about Snow that made Lightning realise why he's the perfect lad for Serah. Granted, Snow's not as book intelligent as Serah but he knew people and was able to tell who a good person is and who is a bad person. The fact that Snow saw the final version of Lightning's wedding dress before Serah spoke volumes of Lightning's growing faith in her brother-in-law. Something that would make Serah the luckiest sister on the planet if she witnessed the scene herself.

Speaking of the younger Farron sister, Fang was beyond nervous. A night without seeing her Sunshine made things kind of interesting... until Serah pulled a Vanille move by inviting Porom over. The same Porom who can read the brunette like a book a million times over, just like how Rydia taught her. Porom is known to be a miracle worker, as the Mysidian native always found a way to improve varying situations that she knew how to get under control. The tea that Porom provided for the get together - Edge and select others came by as well - was one that came straight from the Yun Clan of Oerba in Gran Pulse, which lacked any type of caffeine and was known to help relax the person who drank the fruity beverage regardless if the tea was served hot or cold. Fang became more grateful than ever for the Mysidian native and her quick as Lightning thinking, as Vanille being the one to help Lightning and Rydia get Porom to meet their inner circle was the best thing that could have happened to her when it came to the buddies the Fangrai couple would surround themselves with. This get together helped the brunette prepare for the rest of her life being with the love of her life, Claire 'Lightning' Farron, Fang's one and only Sunshine.

A winter wonderland for a wedding awaits.

XXX

The actual ceremony was one that every attendee was in pure awe of. With a perfect balance of Cocoonian and Pulsian customs and traditions, there was something for everyone in a literal sense. From the vows to the Yun Clan customs and finally the ring exchange, there was not a single eye that was dry after Fang and Lightning were announced as wives. If there was one person who couldn't say a word because of how perfect Fang and Lightning's wedding turned out to be, it was Maria. The violet haired lass could not say a single word for how well done the ceremony really was at the end of it all if one had to be completely honest here. Y'shtola and Lyse, the married pair who turned down the bridesmaids role as they felt it was reserved for those like Vanille, Serah & Rydia, refused to talk to anyone during the reception later on. Why? Lightning's decision making on the cuisine and beverages were the best one made, as the older Farron turned out to be beyond considerate of the attendees who made it, considering the varying allergies Lyse, Noel & Hope have, which the actual foods also turned out to be some of the favourite foods that Lyse and Y'shtola would enjoy at home. Rydia... being well, Rydia, the Mist native was the Matron of Honour, which was one decision that was amongst the toughest for the Fangrai couple to make. Vanille and Serah were really happy to be bridesmaids, as both lasses felt that Rydia was more deserving to be Lightning's Matron of Honour then either of them, due to the green haired lass' overall demeanor throughout their entire courtship up to this point.

With the gift giving, it was not at all present at the reception. For reasons that would make every attendee proud, there would be a separate event for that when Fang and Lightning come back from a three-month long honeymoon traveling the world, which is a dream of the couple's from the day after they got engaged. It was also one item that people can save up money for, that way the couple can get better gifts from their guests including the ones who couldn't make the ceremony and reception at all. For those who are wondering about the beloved cat Odin - he was the Ring Bearer in the ceremony... and one very well behaved cat at the big event. As for Snow Villiers, his speech for Fang and Lightning was one that gave the older Farron sister another reason why he's the best lad for Serah in the history of ever: the words that came from his mouth for his speech were the sincerest and felt more genuine to them than how they are outside times like this. Oddly enough, the oaf only had water as his beverage of choice, as he was the designated driver for a few people and he wanted to stay sober for the long drive home from the reception. As for the newly married couple, it was a real winter wonderland that their big day landed on 22 January - why they picked that day will forever be a real mystery to all of us, and all of those outside of the couple. With that being said, Lyse and Noel thought to themselves, it was more than just worth it in the end.

Fang and Lightning have the rest of their lives to enjoy together as a married couple, and that time would be used as wisely as possible. Each moment spent together in each other's company was seen as a valuable treasure that can't be replaced. A happy Fang comes with a happy Lightning.

Etro and Lady Luck were highly praised in the end, as they should be.

FIN

A/N #2: Next story is in the Paying it Forward universe where the Guardian Corps has a Valentine's Day party that makes it a family affair.