A/N: In the Paying it Forward universe, Celes and Terra give Jihl some choice words regarding Lightning. Seven's reaction...how priceless would it be? Length of this is short, lack of dialogue is on purpose. Pairing focus is Fangrai (married).

Verbal Beatdown, Vector Style

Celes has had it. She's been hearing Jihl Nabaat's shit talking about Lightning for as long as the Vector native's been with the Guardian Corps. Unfortunately for the blonde, this round of Jihl's trash talking of the pinkette is in the presence of a dear buddy of Celes', Terra, and in public too. Knowing that Seven and Lasswell, Lightning and Fang's two kids, who are still a bit young to understand the history between Jihl and Lightning, Celes knew that she and Terra would be the ones who help teach Sevsky and Lassbrat (Terra's names for Seven and Lasswell, inspired by Seven Yun-Farron herself), because the school Seven is slated to attend the next year has a habit of talking about those in the GC in a wide variety of ways. Terra, who has been in the know, felt heartbroken about the situation. Lightning is seen as a sister to both Terra and Celes, so for both of them to hear Jihl's latest tirade of the pinkette, it sent Celes over the edge to the point of anger, and Terra... she was as unreadable as Lightning typically is. If anything, however, what both lasses can do would bring some comfort to the Yun-Farron family.

A few weeks pass, and the duo of Celes and Terra were plotting and planning something to deal with Jihl, because 'word on the street' (Snow's words) was that Seven felt overwhelmed by yet another tirade of Jihl's as the silver-haired lass overheard something particular that caused the feelings to happen in the first place. If Seven can smile, that would mean something to us. Sevsky needs to be happy and focus on getting ready to start school, Celes and Terra think to themselves, trying to make the most of the situation these days. With this being Halloween Day, sometimes things need to happen so that real change can take place. With Seven giving the duo input, this should help the situation with Lightning and Fang, who has been in the middle of daycare for Lasswell. Fang's pregnancy with Lasswell was nothing short of a nightmare to put it kindly, as it was worse than Lightning's pregnancy with Seven. The Oerban thanked Lady Luck for the help she got to deal with such a difficult pregnancy, which Jihl spared no expense with the insults to the brunette.

Terra, remembering that she and Celes are family to Oerba Yun Lucien & Enya, reached out to the elder Oerbans for advice on the situation, as Celes was a bit hot headed to explain things calmly like she usually does. In an odd twist of fate, Enya picked up the call on the first ring, knowing that the elder Oerbans had wanted to reach out to Terra and Celes, albeit the conversation being of a different topic. When Terra and Celes went back and forth on the situation with Fang, Lightning, Seven & Lasswell being the targets of Jihl Nabaat's tirades, Lucien was planning something, while Enya just listened. Enya is a mother figure to both Celes and Terra, and they see her as a mother to them just the same. The comment from Lucien about how "That cunt aka Jihl Nabaat won't be in PSICOM for long" which both Celes can Terra clearly overheard, was the turning point that action needed to be taken for the issue to be resolved once and for all. It was the only way, in the eyes of the elder Oerbans, that PSICOM would change for the better over time, as it was found out - thanks to documentation - that Jihl had resorted to dirty tactics to stay in power in PSICOM.

Over time, all of the documentation made its way to the head of all of the government branches: Cid Raines. Dysley was murdered by one Claire 'Lightning' Yun-Farron in self-defense all those years ago as just Claire 'Lightning' Farron, which was very easily proven as self-defense when the next day, the older Farron agreed to be Fang's girlfriend (now wife). After receiving the proof from Lucien, Celes wasted no time to get this to Cid's hands, which had seen the needed course of action to be FINALLY done after so long. It was Cid who gave Celes - and Terra, who visited the GC HQ to drop off lunch to the gang, free of charge - his blessing to fire Jihl Nabaat from PSICOM. It was a Vector style verbal beatdown of the ages, where everyone who wasn't Lightning (she was in Amodar's office over other matters) cheered when Celes and Terra let Jihl have it. Seven saw this too, as Lightning brought her in as today was 'Bring Your Daughter to HQ' Day. The smile on Seven's face was priceless. Her adult bully won't insult her parents anymore. Terra's presence made this worthwhile to the silver haired girl. Seven's eyes said 'thank you' to the two blondes, which was more than enough for them.

Seven Yun-Farron got the last laugh with Jihl's career with PSICOM, which was the reason for the Vector style verbal beatdown from Celes and Terra, because Seven is family to both lasses.

To Celes and Terra, Seven is family, just like the rest.

FIN

A/N #2: Next story is back in the Second Time Around universe, and this time it's Y'shtola and Lyse hosting Turkey Day.