Thanks for taking an interest in my post-LR headcanon! I'll be keeping this as true to the existing canon as possible (to include Tracer of Memories... though that doesn't come until later in story's timeline), but some license will be taken as necessary. I haven't decided how long this is going to be yet, and all chapters will be posted on my tumblr first. Feel free to follow me there if you'd like. I got the story title from a Ben Folds album, so thought I'd carry on the trend in chapter titles, but it's not indicative of a soundtrack to the story. (I usually write while listening to the FFXIII soundtracks - keeps me in the proper mindset.)

Thanks to my lovely beta, RainbowSerenity! (She writes some lovely fanfiction as well. Should definitely read it, and follow her on tumblr.)

I welcome feedback, so please, if you have some, leave it there for me. :) I'll have the first three chapters posted here today (since they're already up on tumblr). Enjoy!

Chapter I: Landed

The pleasant smell of wet grass. That was the first sensation she experienced on the new world.

Well, that, and the fact that she was face-down in it. She propped herself up just enough to lift her head and looked at her surroundings. The sun was about to emerge from below the horizon rather than having just dipped beyond it, judging by her increasing ability to clearly view the environment in which she found herself. Wherever she was featured a modest smattering of foliage-covered mountains in the middle distance, which she could easily see from her perch atop one of the gently rolling hills scattered across the mountain valley. Fields which mysteriously appeared to be cultivated lay in many of the flatter areas of the landscape, with small forest outcroppings dotting the valley. A couple of trees with red fruit hanging from the branches stood just in her periphery, with small berry-covered bushes littering the ground beneath them. As the light of day grew brighter, she could also see a few roads winding through the valley, and even some houses here and there. Off in the further distance, there appeared to be an entire village full of steeply sloped rooftops popping up on either side of a river running through not only the town, but the rest of the valley as well, for as far as Lightning could see. It was incredibly serene, despite the uncertainty as to where exactly she was, and the fact that she seemed to be alone.

Her eyes squinted in the face of the now visible, steadily rising sun. A new dawn... she mused with a smile and looked down. ...In old clothes, she added without disdain, noticing she was wearing her old Guardian Corps uniform. Thank goodness, too, because she was sure her Equilibrium garb was less than proper attire for... wherever this was. Pushing herself up to her knees and sitting atop her heels, Lightning let her eyes slide closed as the new sun warmed her straight to her core, only to have them snap back open at hearing a rustling noise nearby. She tensed and trained her line of sight to the bushes beneath the fruit trees, where she thought the sound had originated. It didn't look particularly dangerous around here, but she knew better than to let her guard down in unfamiliar terrain, no matter how peaceful and perfect this new world was supposed to be.

"...Lightning?"

Her body immediately relaxed at the familiar voice. "Serah," she breathed in relief as her younger sibling emerged from the brush, picking a stray twig out of her bangs. Lightning rushed forward to embrace her sister for the first time in ages. She hadn't had the chance to do so when they had first reunited in the void where they defeated Bhunivelze, so she took full advantage now, dropping to her knees with Serah and burying her face in her sister's hair. "You're here..."

Serah initially said nothing, opting for a slow nod into Lightning's shoulder as tears ran freely down her face. "We're both here."

After some time kneeling together and letting the reality that they were both here, out of danger, and alive and well sink in, Lightning pulled back and looked around. "Where is everybody?"

Serah was scanning their surroundings as well. "I didn't see anybody else before I found you. I woke up just down there," she explained, pointing beyond the trees and bushes to what was likely down the other side of the hill, "and came up here so I could see more of where we are."

Standing and offering a hand to help her sister do the same, Lightning further scrutinized the surrounding landscape in an effort to decide their next step. Serah appeared to be doing the same, but looking to Lightning to call the shots. And then, a modest home not too far off caught her eye. She squinted in an attempt to discern more detail, but it didn't seem to matter how much she could see. Something deep inside was urging her towards that particular house. "There," the older said, pointing towards their new destination. "Let's go there first. We'll see if whoever lives there can tell us anything helpful."

"Maybe we'll find some of our friends there," Serah wondered aloud, though doubt colored her words. Lightning had to agree that, while she felt some sort of connection to the house, she didn't think they would find any of their little family there.

"...Maybe."

And with that, the reunited sisters started off on a light jog down the hill, slowing to a brisk walk as they made their way to the modest residence. As they grew closer, they came to a small paved road leading right up to the front drive. They were both thankful for the ease the smooth surface afforded them in their relatively short journey and quickened their steps. They were now close enough to see more detail in the home. The darker gray siding was an unusual choice for the rural setting, Lightning thought, but extremely attractive with the pure white trim and black fascia, soffit, and shutters. The front door was painted red, giving stark contrast to the adorable white front porch spanning the entire front of the home. Off to the side, a red bench swing drifted gently in the breeze. There was a detached garage set back from the house just a bit, which is where the path they now walked ended. Lightning could see a small garden peeking out from behind the house, and two cruiser-style bicycles were propped against the side of the garage.

It wasn't the kind of house she ever would have imagined herself in, until she saw it and fell in love with its quaint personality. Just the right amount of modern and traditional to avoid both discomfort and gaudiness. Maybe that's why she was so drawn to it?

"Sis, you coming?"

Lightning shook her head to clear her thoughts and caught up with Serah, who she hadn't noticed was now several steps ahead of her at the edge of the front porch. Together, the sisters stepped forward, stopping short of knocking.

"What should we say?" Serah wondered. Lightning only shrugged.

"We'll just ask whatever we need to in order to get the information we need. Everybody on this world came from the same place we did. Shouldn't be weird."

"What if they don't want to talk to us because they don't know us?" Serah didn't sound fearful, but rather like she was trying to plan for every possibility. "Or, ooh! What if we do know them?"

"Then we won't have any trouble, right?" Lightning smiled at her sister, noting how the younger hadn't changed much at all. Always wanting to be fully prepared...

She raised her hand and knocked firmly on the solid red door. The two sisters heard some commotion inside, an unfamiliar woman's voice asking them to wait just a moment, the same voice asking "honey" to answer the door, and then a click of the handle turning. They were met with bespectacled hazel-brown eyes that narrowed and then went wide in surprise as their owner was struck with recognition. Lightning's eyes had gone just as wide, while Serah's gleamed in relief and familiarity.

"Lightning Farron? And Serah? What are you two doing here?"

"...Mr. Estheim?"