Time for an Epi

Epilouge:

Sitting on the chairs, Lightning and Lumina had no idea how long they had been waiting. They had been tense seemingly the entire time. But they didn't overly care just from how they wanted it to be in the room with the woman that mattered to them.

However they both knew that they couldn't be. No matter how much they wanted. At least for their own safety in mind. At least for Lumina it would seem that it was more of a god send that she wasn't forced to be in the room. Just because she wasn't sure if she could even help.

Wincing loudly as she felt something cold being pressed against her jaw, Lumina was about to snap when she could hear a small laugh coming from next to her. "Sunshine, you need to keep something cold pressed to your jaw. I am proud that you were able to hold your own against hunters. And that the elders didn't seem to punish Carter that much." Vanille said softly as Lumina rolled her eyes gently as she grabbed the ice pack and just groaned.

"They induced labour and I'm not allowed in the room... where is the not punishing her?" Lumina asked sarcastically as she felt Lightning shove her gently. "OW! My ribs! Mom! Dad broke my ribs!" Lumina yelled as she went to cradle her ribs with her free hand as Vanille just chuckled.

Gently patting her back, Vanille just had to admit that this was a little amusing to her. "Both Fang and I told you not to wait for the last minute. This is the exact reason. Just be glad they gave her the all clear. And you'd know if your ribs were broken. Your body is just sore from fighting people who hunt for the good of the village like Fang just they wouldn't hold back against you like her." Vanille said as she could see Lightning just taking a deep breath. "In other news, the feast to celebrate new people and the birth is being postponed for a few days." Vanille continued as Lightning just smiled hearing Lumina taking a shaky breath.

"That and apparently your hair is long enough to tie back. Plus it doesn't sound nearly as bad as when Lumina was born. So I doubt she'll complain as much as you." Lightning said softly as caught the fist being tossed at her by the red haired woman.

"Let's see you pushing out nearly ten pounds of pure fighter that for months played 'let's kick internal organs from the inside' then not to mention the tearing. Dear god the tearing. I do not want to imagine how bad that would be to repair here." Vanille hissed as Lightning just chuckled at her. "Seriously I'd take a few broken bones any day you big baby."

"You broke near enough my entire hand. I didn't even think you had that kind of strength. And why is that always the first insult thrown out by people here?" Lightning asked a little confused as she could see Vanille rolling her eyes.

"Can you both just not? Seriously. I'm all kinds of nervous here... I'm not even sure how I'm meant to be a father... I know I'm going to screw up." Lumina interject her parents' argument. It wasn't that she wasn't used to them at this point. Far from it really. She was more so angry that she was supposed to have all the answers to something she wasn't sure about and had hoped they would come with the child in a few weeks.

This soon however was going to be a miracle if she didn't fuck up this new life as badly as she has her own at points out of spite. It was something that just made her more and more worried as she felt herself being pulled by her mother into a gentle hug.

"You are going to do fine Sunshine. That child will have not only three generations to help it grow, but an entire village." Vanille said softly as Lightning just lowered a hand onto her back.

"Plus no one ever really knows. Just... and I know this is hard but when the teenage years come be prepared for a lot of hatred. Farrons are cursed by that." Lightning said as Vanille just chuckled softly.

"Well, you'll have a second chance to see if that curse will be broken." Vanille added as Lightning and Lumina pulled back to eye her up carefully. Something that Lightning was about to question as Lumina was quick to hug her. "And your daughter is a lot quicker on the uptake. I was going to wait to tell you... but we might need to turn your study into a nursery." Vanille continued as Lightning felt her brow knit further. "Claire, come on. It is obvious."

"No I get what you mean... but how? I thought that the oncologist said that the odds were low and we shouldn't even try... so we've been using protection out the ass." Lightning said as she could see Vanille just laughing softly.

Just the sight of the confusion was broken by the sight of the Pulsean doctor walking out of the room, snapping the gloves off his hand. "The father may come in now." The doctor said as Lightning gently shoved Lumina up. As she stood up, Lumina just sighed as she walked out of the area and into the room.

Faintly smiling as she helped Vanille up, Lightning just stared into her eyes. "How sure are you by the way? You don't have more cancer do you? I only ask because I can only handle so much to worry about."

"I took the test a few days ago... and I did talk to the oncologist before we came down because I was worried as well. But apparently I am in the clear, he'd just like to slightly increase the scans to make sure... apparently that was the main thing they normally wait for a few years just to be safe. Why are you not happy?"

"You should know me better than that Van. I love you and any children we have." Lightning said calmly as she held Vanille close, planting a chaste kiss on the top of her head. "Just please don't tell me I need to fight any other hunter."

"No... but if you make another wisecrack about how big and violent your children are inside the womb, I'm going to shatter your hands and then put forward a motion of hesitancy to the elders meaning you'll need to fight a bunch." Vanille said as Lightning just sighed softly and kissed her head. "Seriously, I love children... and motherhood... but I swear if I have another ten pound super aggressive child who is constantly kicking me... I'm going to kill someone. Maybe you for putting me through that once more."

Smiling softly at the comment, Lightning just held her wife tightly. Just enjoying that at least their dreams hadn't been ruined from the small trip up nearly a year ago. That seemed to have stopped their hearts in that moment.

"Mom, Dad... do you two want to come in and hold your granddaughter?" Lumina asked as Vanille just chuckled at.

"You couldn't stop me even if you tried and had the entire blast of hunters in Oerba backing you up." Vanille said as she shoved Lightning behind her as she nearly sprinted into the room leaving Lumina in the dust as well.

"The hell? Is she really pregnant or is she just trying to screw with me?" Lumina asked as Lightning just chuckled.

"Even when I wanted to get her to take it easy when she was pregnant with you, she instead laughed and continued to work hard... if not harder out of spite." Lightning said softly walking into the room as she could see Lumina just standing next to her. "Did you feel that twang from holding your child for the first time? That nothing you've done really mattered until that moment?" Lightning asked softly as she could hear Lumina's breath hitching as if Lightning had been able to peer into her mind like it had been some sort of party trick. "Every father who is a real father in my opinion feels that. I'm sure in nine months time I'll feel that once again." Lightning said softly as she could feel her daughter hugging her gently.

"Promise me you aren't going to let me screw up my daughter." Lumina asked as Lightning just chuckled as she could see Lumina looking towards her with confusion.

"It is just deja vu. I promise you won't screw anything up. Even when it seems like it. Besides you need to be a good role model for your future sister and now your daughter." Lightning continued as she could see Vanille just smiling brighter at the child in her arms. "Now if you don't mind I should probably free your daughter from Vanille for everyone's safety. You haven't seen her when she is baby crazy."

"Claire, so help me... if you don't want the first kick of this pregnancy not to be me kicking your head you'll shut up there because I'm in a very happy mood."

"Okay Van."

Author's Note:

And there we go. An entire story. It was actually a fun one for me to write... let me know what you all think of it.