Hey there everyone!

In my last reviews, someone mentioned that the last chapter could really be the end of the story and I gave it some thoughts. As you saw, I'm sure, I was always looking depressed in my comments around the last chapters. This summer has been hard with me, despite all the good things that happened and I think I've come up with the best I had for this story. My English has gotten a little better, now, all my mistakes looks like those I make in French, as forgetting a word, a letter, or just using the wrong homophone. So there it is, I was already saying before that I was nearing the last chapter with each update. This will be the very last chapter of Associates till death do us part. The first reason is that Noctis and Lightning have suffered enough. The second is that I have many other stories which need updates. And then, I must admit that I would have used a little fillers or so if I really did five more chapters. So then, I wanted to thank you all for your support, for everything. I'll surely write other fics for FFXIII, but for Versus, I'll wait for the game to arrive in America.

This fic was intended to be my version of what I wanted the Lightning x Noctis pairing to be. I hope you liked it. This last chapter is for everyone who red me and liked the story. As I promised, the baby's coming! Thanks again for the comments, the hits and the support. It's the first time I end a story in less than a year, but then again, I think it's rather complete. So then, before to make you any sadder, I'll let you read the conclusion of Light and Noct story…

Associates tills death do us part

An end is only a beginning

Noctis awake slowly, still feeling numb from last night. He had never cried that much in his life. Maybe had he shed all the tears he had swallowed back in the past? Nevertheless, he was now able to accept himself as he was. A man, and also a fal'cie slayer. It felt pretty heavy for a title, but then again, he had always had a lot of responsibilities, as a prince and now as a king. But the first role he had to play was to be a husband. And as he looked at Lightning, who was lying next to him, he felt that he would finally be able to be there for her as he wanted to. She was a l'cie, alright, but she was his l'cie. That didn't mean she was his slave, on the contrary. She was his friend, his lover. His everything. He would protect her against any odds. This was clear. All so clear now…

"Good morning, Noct." she whispered, not even opening her eyes.

She knew he was awake. She could feel it in the way he stood next to her, not moving an inch, as afraid as he was to wake her up. She had got so aware of him, of his ways. She knew him almost better than herself and she liked that feeling.

"Good morning, Claire." he answered her.

She smiled and looked at him through her heavy eyelids. She felt so tired. She hadn't slept much last night. They'd made love. After all, they had to take advantage of the fact she could still do it, before that the birth of their baby was too close. Then again, maybe were they only running away from the fact that they didn't even have to make love anymore to feel that close to each other.

"I feel so big." she moaned.

He chuckled at that. In the early morning, she wouldn't let him sleep, not until she could find a way to lay and to feel good. It was hard to find a suiting position now, even for sleeping. Her belly was getting bigger with each day.

"You're gorgeous." he said.

"Liar!" she retorted, her fist readying for a punch.

"I'd never lie about that!"

Convinced, she sighed, but lowered her fist, looking at Noctis right in the eyes. He had raised himself on one elbow and was forcing himself not to coddle up against her. He had to prove he didn't have to be sentimental all the time.

"Then, say it again."

"You're beautiful, Light."

"Those weren't your exact words."

"I'll say it with every word I can find that would fit your beauty."

He knew she was going back to her pregnancy's switches of moods, but he didn't care. After all she'd been through because of him; he could spoil her a little. Lightning laughed softly, before to take his hand and bring it to her belly.

"Can you feel it? She's moving."

"She? I thought you didn't know if…"

"I'm sure it's a girl. It has to be."

…

Cocoon and Pulse went back to their peace after the burial of Maximilian Lucis Caelum. Noctis and Lightning had made new laws, which benefited their both worlds. The people loved them and there weren't many fal'cie left, not even many l'cie left in any of those world to prove a threat for their vast kingdoms. Fang and Sync were really in love, even if the poor Sync was being bossed around by his girlfriend. Shawn was still crazy about his Heather and Lightning hoped she would be a mother just as good as her best friend was. Noctis was helping her a lot, making the councils and the office work without her to give her time to relax, or just to rest. For some reason, all the energy she had at first had vanished. She slept all day long and ate during what was left of her time. Noctis' mother had told him she was just the same way and the doctor said this was as expected since she had been attacked in the middle of her pregnancy. Then again, he wasn't sounding alarming over the baby's or the mother's health. But Noctis was still worried sick with the idea of losing any of them. There was a limit even to his powers. And for some reason, as Lightning was nearing the end of her pregnancy, and growing bigger and bitter, he felt left out and helpless. As she reached the ninth month, she decided that he wasn't sleeping with him in her bed anymore, since he was taking too much place in their bed.

Noctis was a bit frustrated, but he let her do as she wanted. It wasn't as if he could talk back to her, every of his servants would gave him the devil eye for it. She was ruling the servants as only a queen could and had them all on her side. Anyway, two weeks later, she was asking him to come back in their room, missing his presence and not able to falling asleep while he was away. Noctis was pleased to be needed for something, even if it seemed insignificant.

Time went by, slowly and the ninth month ended without any sign of contractions or childbirth. Lightning seemed really worried about it, but the doctor said a little lateness couldn't do her any harm. The baby was just fine. Noctis thought on the contrary that this couldn't last much longer, since he was the one paying for it all. He wasn't sure if he could take many more days and nights of that...

…

"Noctis!"

"Wha… Light, it's two in the morning."

"Noctis, I think that it started," she retorted, her voice sounding urgent.

Noctis was still half asleep and couldn't understand her as well as he wanted to.

"What has started?"

"The work. The contractions. The baby you know?"

She almost punched him, but he was already up, as if he'd been electrified by the news. There was a five minutes of pure panic between them, before that Noctis remembered what they had planned months ago. He first called the doctor. Then he helped Lightning shifting her weight to feel more comfortable. She had decided she wasn't having her baby in a cold operation room. They were in their new room, and the fire was still burning in the fireplace and their blades were shining on the walls, thanks to the moonlight entering by the windows.

Lightning shouted abruptly as the nurses entered the room. The doctor came and before he knew it, Noctis was almost thrown out of his own room. All he could hear were Lightning yells. It felt terrible. Shawn and Lucas and Sync all came to keep him company, but he felt guilty for not being with his wife. At the same time, she yelled his name and cursed so strongly that he thought for a minute that she really hated him. After all, this was mostly his fault.

"Hang it there man, Heather was just the same." Shawn tried to cheer him up.

"I doubt it." Sync remarked.

Lightning sounded way more aggressive than Heather ever would. It was just how she was, of course, but it felt awful, still. Specially for a first time of being in such a situation. Noctis was pacing through the corridor, trying to calm down, repeating himself that everything would turn out right. But he wanted to be with her. To hold her hand and to let her punch him, or just yell at him, so that she would feel better. This was so stressing.

"I can't just stay there and do nothing!"

Lightning was so close, just on the other side of that stupid door. But the nurses said that he would get in the way. As if he could do anything else now? He had nothing to do. He could only worry himself to death.

And, on the other side of that stupid door, Lightning was struggling with her baby, as the contractions were getting stronger and closer to each other. It felt strange. The baby moving inside her wanted to get out, and somewhere in the back of her mind, she felt it like a rejection. She had been alone with this baby for so long. They had been one since the very first day, and now… Now, she felt as if she was going to be torn in two.

"The baby's a little bigger than he should be, that's why it hurt so much, your highness."

"How can you even tell?"

She wanted to cry, all this pain running through her, she had been so scared of the childbirth, it made it a hundred times harder. She had had no mother to encourage her. She had had no one to tell her how it would feel like. Maybe was it her fault, but she never listened to Heather or to anyone else who could have told her. She was scared and certain that she couldn't do something like that. She wasn't like the other women; she could never pull that off. And even if Noctis had said it would be alright, ah, that was a laugh. How could he ever know? Of course he'd say that. Anyone would. That stupid doctor said just the same!

"My back, ah, my back hurt, it feels as if my spine's going to break!"

"It's okay your highness, you're not dilated enough yet, just hang in there."

"It's okay you said? It's okay? I'm not okay! It's been only an hour, and I already feel as if it's been a whole night!"

"Well, it's been 12 hours after all your highness. The baby will come soon now."

"It's been 12 hours?"

She had been cursing and yelling and concentrating on breathing between all that so much that she had completely lost sight of time passing by. Suddenly, she felt overwhelmed by her panic. Her heart was beating fast, she was covered in sweat and the nurses were changing the covers of her bed for the second time.

It was coming to an end. It really was. And Noctis wasn't there.

"Where's Noctis? Where's my husband? Why isn't he with me?"

Noctis burst into the room at the very instant he heard Lightning asking about him. She looked a bit reassured as he entered the room and he cautiously moved around the other people to rejoin her and sat next to her. She grabbed his hand and held it so tight he thought for a second that his joints were going to break. But it really seemed to hurt. And with the blood on the sheets the nurses were shoving in a corner of the room, Noctis felt that Lightning had every right to hurt him. This was nothing compared to what she was going through.

"Hang on, Light. You're doing good." he encouraged her.

"I'm not gonna live through this one."

"Of course you will. You've faced odds far more terrible then that, and with a smile." he reminded her.

"You're right, Noct. As always."

"I am grateful to hear that."

But his voice was a little shaky and even if Lightning wanted to comfort him, she answered back with a yell, before that the doctor told her that she could push, finally! The deliverance was coming, and Lightning felt all her fears disappearing suddenly. Most women could get through this perfectly okay, why wouldn't she? She was a princess, no, better than that, a queen! She was a fighter. She was a winner. She was Lightning. And Noctis counted on her. She held tight to his hand, even if she knew that she was hurting him. It hurt so much just to breathe as she tried to push. She could felt the baby struggling, he gave her kicks and it hurt, as if she was being torn from the insides. She bit her tongue to hold back her yell, soon tasting blood in her mouth.

Noctis felt that something was wrong, but the doctor was concentrating a lot over the coming baby and the nurses wouldn't talk to their king, even if he was. Right now, he didn't want to give any attention to anyone else than Lightning. But still, Lightning was suffering too much. There was too much blood, she looked so pale. Was the baby really going to be an average human baby? Was it coming out as a fal'cie? Or a l'cie? Or worse… A cie'th?

He shook his head, if he'd panicked, Lightning certainly would. He encouraged her as he could, softly stroking her hair, never letting go of her hand.

She yelled once more. Her voice was on a higher pitch and pierced through Noctis' heart. Lightning's brand shone through her clothes, with a red glitch. The stones on his back burned in unison through his skin. She was his l'cie and he was connected to her. If he let her go now, she would die. The doctor gave some instructions, but none of the future parents could hear a thing that he said. They were in another world. A world of pain. It lasted a few seconds, nothing more, and then it was gone, and Lightning was breathing fast and she had to push between each of her breath.

It seemed to last for an eternity, this fight within herself, but Noctis was next to her, listening to her pain, holding her hand, her shoulders, sitting beside her to hold her up. Then, someone else's began to shout in the room. And this someone was…

"It's a girl!" one of the nurses exclaimed.

Lightning felt relieved, without even knowing why. Noctis felt the same, but he didn't entirely understand what that meant. What was a girl already? He was so shocked just to see the red and crying baby in the hand of the doctor, still attached to his mother… He was so small. No wait, it was a girl, it was a she. She was so frail! His little girl. The nurses hurried to wash her up so that they could give her to her dad. He was scared as hell. Would he hold her alright? Won't he hurt her if he grabbed with too much strength. And then, the baby was in his arms, and Lightning was laughing and crying from relief at the same time. The baby cried too, she was good at that, but as he gave her to his wife, the child stopped to cry, recognizing her mother.

"You see, Light. You've been perfect. Just as always." he told her softly.

Lightning smiled briefly at him, unable to look away from her daughter. This was feeling so different then talking to her belly. This baby was for real. She could look at her, and as she counted, the baby had all of her limbs. She even had a bunch of black hair on her head. But her blue eyes were turning green, just like hers.

"Will it be Estelle?" she asked.

"Yeah, Stellie," he answered.

…

The following days were like a magic tale for the new parents. Even if Lightning was beaten by the childbirth, she liked her daughter a lot. Her mother-in-law was as crazy as her over the little girl and Noctis attended to his king duties while everyone was all head over heels for the baby. With all the attention Estella was keeping for herself, he almost never had a chance to hold his daughter in his arms. But he was sure that he would soon. His mother was so happy, he felt guilty for taking her joy away, even for his own happiness. And after all, he had a kingdom to look after. And he still felt clumsy when around the baby.

The months passed, and Noctis realized that having a kid meant even more nights without any sleep than having a pregnant wife. Estelle was a demanding baby, crying a lot and sleeping all day long. But it was still rewarding to take care of her, since she was giving those cute smiles every now and then. And before that Noctis knew it, the years started to go by. And as the time flew, his daughter grew up. He helped her in learning to walk and smiled as she first call him daddy. Every day was an adventure for Estelle.

She was four years old when the first war in years broke out in Pulse. Tenebrae's country had run amok. A mysterious monster was wreaking havoc in the streets and the citizens had started attacking the cities around their town to steel food and supplies, instead of asking for some. They were all infected by a strange sickness and even the messenger bringing the news collapsed after telling all he knew about it to their highnesses.

"I don't get it! It's so sudden. Just a month ago, Tenebrea looked good when we went there with Estelle." Lightning observed.

"I know. Something's wrong. I'll go and check it out, you just…"

"Wait a minute! You really think that I'm staying back home while you're going to risk your life once more? No, no, this time, it's my turn to go out and fight, Noctis."

"I won't let you put yourself in any danger Lightning, I swear!"

"But I'm in real good shape. I even have an eidolon now!"

"You really scared me when I saw you fighting that Odin in the garden the other month. I'd always thought eidolon came to l'cie when they were desperate and ready to give up their live."

"That's not it. Eidolon's appears when a l'cie is in a great emotional turmoil."

"You never told me what had gotten you in such a great emotional turmoil, Light. Don't tell me you're gonna start to hide things from me again!"

They were really arguing, for the nth time in the last four years. It wasn't easy to be king and queen of two worlds. Lately, things had gone a little out of hand and they weren't able to talk quietly to each other. Hell, Noctis barely came back to their room to sleep with her at night, he had too much paperwork to fill and people to meet with. Lightning was training as soon as she had a minute free, to let out her stress. They were able to get along when together to Estelle, but for some reason, the rest of the time, they were at each other throats.

"You're one to talk, really, Noct! You're never with me, how do you want me tell you anything?"

"Where am I now, huh? I'm with you, ain't I?"

For once, he had joined her in their room before that she get to bed. He wanted to discuss the matter of Tenebrae with her before to take as decision. But at the same time, it seemed that they weren't able to discuss anything calmly anymore. Before, Noctis was ready to make concessions, but he was bitter tonight. Tenebrae's curse reminded him of his Stella, whom he still loved, somewhere in the back of his heart. And he felt guilty and angry with the whole world for it. And the stones on his back had been burning him lately. He controlled his fal'cie powers now, more or less, but lately, he felt nervous, as if he was losing control every now and then.

Lightning, on her part, had been quite anxious, since her sister, Serah, was expecting a baby. Twins to be precise. Snow was really worried, even if Serah and him had already had a child, a boy, which they'd call Cloud. The boy had blond hair and deep blue eyes. He was really sweet and gentle and getting to be a good friend with his cousin Estelle. But the doctors weren't looking really encouraging about Serah's second pregnancy. Having twins was hard on any woman and Serah had always been frail. Maybe was it a good reason to explain Lightning's fury, or the fact that Remilda was telling her how to raise her own daughter, while Heather was out in a family trip with her son and Shawn.

"Why are you with me? You don't even care if I'm falling asleep alone every night since the last two months! It's been weeks since you last kissed me. What's wrong with us?"

Noctis was shocked by Lightning's question. She was right. He'd been oblivious of her and he was so overloaded with work and worries that he didn't have the desire of being with her when he had some time off.

"I… Listen, things are crazy and I can't keep track of everything anymore. I've unl'cied a hundred of people in two weeks, the terrorist attack from last month almost got my mother killed, Estelle wants to learn how to use a sword and she injured my best general in a little sparring play because you let her borrow one of your real swords!"

"Oh, so that's how it is? It's my fault?"

"No, but… Why should it be only my fault?"

"Noctis, if you stopped unl'cying people and kept some of them to aid us as the healers we had before…"

"But they're asking me to make them human again. To free them from a life of slavery, Light!"

"I know, but you never unl'cie me, even if you could!" she retorted.

"You like your powers, you said it yourself, you don't know how you could live without them!"

"I never said that!"

"Yes you did!"

"Well, I'm taking it all back! We'd be better off without all the fal'cies and l'cies that are left in this world!"

Noctis froze at that, instantly. She could say many things, almost anything, but he couldn't hear that coming from her. Because he was a fal'cie and he didn't know if he could ever be just a human again.

"Is that the only reason why you're mad at me? Cause I'm a fal'cie?"

Lightning saw the change in his face, in his body. His shoulders had lowered. His voice was strong and harsh, but there was a hint of pain in his ton. She had crossed the line.

"No, Noct, I never…"

"Why are we arguing all the time like that? Weren't we a team?" he sounded weaker now. If she wasn't attacking anymore, maybe he could try to reach her soft side.

"We still are supposed to be a team. And I still love you." She whispered, looking down.

"Just as I do. But then, what's wrong with us?"

Lightning bit her lips. She didn't know, she wanted to know, but she couldn't find why she was so angry with him. The fact that she was his l'cie, maybe. She felt as he took her for granted. During the last four years, he had stopped to spoil her, stopped to hold her at night like he did before. When he came to bed now, all he wanted was to sleep. And when he wanted her, she had to be his in the moment, not a minute later. He was still tender when he made love to her, even if he hadn't in months, but he was different. There was no magic anymore. No tender words. No compliments just to make her smile. He seemed so tired of everything. Of her. She had lost all the weight she had gain in the pregnancy and she was looking just as the Lightning she had been before, but Noctis had changed. And she had too. They weren't just a king and a queen, or lovers now. He was a father, and she was a mother. And sometimes, they felt guilty for wanting to have time together, just for the two of them, when their daughter was alone. Even if she was sleeping, or playing with friends. Maybe because they didn't have that much time to spend together as a family, with them being so busy and all…

"Do you really love me, Noct? Do you want me as you did when we had just gotten married and were falling in love together? You feel so distant. Last time we made love…You were like a stranger."

Noctis gulped down, hearing the sadness and the guilt in Lightning's voice. She thought it was her fault. But it wasn't her, not at all, she hadn't done anything. It was him. And his damn fal'cie powers. He was scared to tell her why he'd changed. He wasn't sure himself what was wrong with him. He still loved her, more than ever. But he hated himself for not being able to stay the same.

"I love you Light. I'm sorry if I'm unable to show it, but, lately I…"

"You what?"

They were standing tall before each other. She looked both angry and terrified. He was mortified. He wanted to hold her. But at the same time, he knew that wouldn't comfort him. Then again, he had to tell her so that she could understand. If she could understand.

He walked up to her and slowly wrapped his arms around her, making her rest her head in the hollow of his neck. As her face touched his skin, he shivered. She felt so cold. He knew she wasn't, but he still felt that she was so cold.

"It's getting harder and harder to be with you Light. I don't know why, but each time I touch you, it feels as if you were a block of ice. Even when I hold Stellie's hand, she seems freezing cold. I almost can't stand it, and I never meant to hurt your feelings, but I didn't know how to say it. I feel as an alien. I want you, but I can't even caress your skin without getting frost bite."

"What are you saying? You're warm and I'm just… I'm perfectly normal, if you don't want me anymore, just say it instead of inventing such a story!"

She felt hurt, so deep. He couldn't even stand to touch her? Why?

"Lightning, please, listen, I… My perceptions are changing. My metabolism is changing too. I ain't a perfect fal'cie yet, but I'm growing less human with each day that goes by. Can you understand that? Can you see why I couldn't get the strength to tell you about it?"

She pushed him away with that, unable to believe him, until she saw the dark mark on his neck, where the skin of her face had met his. This looked like an awful frostbite. And now she understood that he wasn't lying. He had this scared look on his face. He didn't know what was coming and he really was sorry. He had been distant because there was no other way for him to endure the changes. Suddenly, Lightning felt awful for being mad at him. And at the same time, she was even more furious. He should have told her before!

"What… What can we do to bring you back to normal?"

"I… I don't know. The doctors haven't seen anything like that, and I guess there getting desperate too. Still, on the outside, he doesn't look like it, so, as long as I'm alright, they thought we'd better stay silent about this. If anyone were to know that I'm growing less human, they could try to overthrow me and you. Tenebrae would certainly now, as things stands."

"Why… Why didn't you tell me? Why did you have to go and keep that for yourself?"

"What was I supposed to say? No one can do anything about this! And it was already hard enough not to hold you in my arms and getting away from my own daughter, all for my sake, while I don't really want to care about it."

"You can't say that, what would we do without you?"

"That's exactly why I couldn't say anything!"

"Has anything else change about you, Noct? Has anything else happen? Anything weird and that you manage to hide to me?"

"Lightning…"

"Tell me!"

"Well, I don't… I don't eat anything anymore. I can't swallow anything down. And I don't really need to sleep anymore. I'm never tired. And if any skin to skin contact burns me as frostbite, I can't get hurt in any other way. But then again, I don't heal pretty fast when I get burned."

"Oh Noctis, for heaven's sake. I must have been so careless not to notice any of that."

"Well, I've been pretty distant. And I had my reasons."

"I think that I understand, but we can't go on like that. I won't lose you just because you're a fal'cie. There must be a way, I just got to… Wait a minute, I think I got it!"

"What?"

"The focus you gave me, Noct! Wasn't it to make it stop? To turn you back into a human?"

He hesitated before to shake positively his head, giving up on hiding anything anymore.

"Then, it's all clear. I'll complete my Focus and we'll be both back to being simple human?"

"And how exactly do you intend to do that?"

"By fighting against you one last time, of course."

Noctis gulped when he understood that she was serious. Maybe was she right. But he was scared to be put in a position where he could hurt her. Because he knew he wouldn't be able to hold back if she were to attack him. Something inside him wanted the fal'cie to win over the man. Maybe was it that other Noctis he once had mentioned. Maybe should he have killed himself a long time ago, even if it would have broken Estelle's heart…

"It sounds so simple, Light, but do you realize what you're going to face? I'm not sure if I'll control myself in a fight."

"The simple idea of hurting you is making me feel sick, but I don't have a choice if I want my Noctis back, isn't that right?"

"I still don't know what you're thinking. How can you be sure that this will work?"

"I'll remove anything that makes you a fal'cie. I'll tear off the stones on your back. And with some luck, it could save you."

Her voice was a little shaky as she said that. She was really ready to go the hard way and Noctis knew that she was right. It was the only way they had. And if he had to go through hell to have her back in his arms, he would gladly go through it. With her.

"This could work," he admitted. "But it's going to be hard on us both." he warned her.

"I'll do it only if you agree with it."

"You can do whatever you want with me, Light, you should know it by now."

"That scares me when you say it like that."

She wanted to hug him, but of all the things she could have wanted, she couldn't. That would hurt him. She had already hurt him, both in flesh in soul, with her worries and her words. She had to repay him for everything he'd given her. And she wouldn't let him die, that was for sure. Her daughter had the right to play with her father without being afraid of touching his hands or his face. He had a right to be happy with his wife, even if a crazy fal'cie had decided that he would be the first and only human fal'cie.

"You know, I could end up fighting back, even if I don't want to."

"You can't be a fal'cie if it means that it prevents you from being a human. I don't want to see you turn into a real monster."

Noctis was shaken up by the words she had chosen. A real monster. Was that what he was becoming? Was that all his life would ever be about? Fighting against a monster he was slowly becoming?

No, Light was with him. And she would fight the monster with him, even if it meant putting her own life on the line. She was her l'cie, and it was her focus. But she was his wife and it was her heart desire too.

"What do you say if we get to it right now?" she suggested.

"Go all out, Light. But be careful not to hurt yourself. And if anything goes wrong, just run away."

"I won't run."

He understood. But things had gone too far already. And if she was to let her love for him lower her guard, he would have to protect her against himself. Whatever it takes.

…

Estelle was almost asleep when she felt her mother's and father's powers colliding together. She was immediately up and rushed out of her bed, surprised by what she was feeling around her. Her room was right next to her parents' room. And she knew in the bottom of her heart that something was wrong. Her black and grey hair were short on one side of her head and longer on the other. She wore a small gown her grandmother had made for her herself. The green dress was fitting with her blue-green eyes. She bit her lower lips as she tiptoed in the hall, closing the door with care, not to make a sound. The whole castle shook from a brutal shock and she could heard a horse neighing in her parents' room. She stepped inside and hid herself in a corner, not to be seen. Estelle had always been a curious little girl. And when she felt that something was wrong, before to warn any adult, she always wanted to understand what was going on first. But she saw that night, she couldn't understand. And at the same time, something deep inside of her could get what was happening before her young eyes.

Odin was standing right next to Lightning, fighting side by side with her, against Noctis, in his full fal'cie form. Estelle had barely ever saw her dad turning into a fal'cie, but she could recognize his strength and his face, even with the bared claws and fangs. His eyes were red. He had big black wings in his back, and the stone in his back had grown into threatening spikes. His skin was dark and his hair was silver. He looked like a demon. But he was the one in pain. There was dark blood on the floor, coming from his back. And two silver stones were shining on the floor. There were still a dozen of them, waiting to be tore off from his skin. And Lightning's sword was covered by thunder as she charged Noctis. There were tears on her face. She'd never thought they'd come to that. Odin was fighting beside her, but even his strength wasn't enough.

And Estelle thought that this wasn't fair at all. None of her parents should be fighting. Why was mommy crying? Why was she injured her daddy? Why was daddy looking so weird?

"Stop it you two, just you stop!" she yelled suddenly, halting the fight of the king of Pulse and the queen of Cocoon.

They turned around to look at her and were ashamed to see their daughter, witnessing the madness this whole fal'cie thing had gotten them into. Then, their eyes widened with surprise. Because, from the back of the little girl, two small and fluffy wings were propping out, flapping quickly. And as she yelled again, Noctis felt something breaking inside of him. And with a shattering glass' noise, all the stone on his back fall to the floor. Instantly, he lose his claws, and his fangs, and his eyes were shining like gold at new, as he stood in his room, half naked, uninjured, and simply human. At first, he rushed to his daughter, who had collapsed after such a use of magic. Her wings were invisible and as he took her in his arms, he could say that she was warm, just as warm as she'd ever been. He hugged her tightly after making sure she was still alive. Of course she was. Stellie was a tough little girl. She took it after her mom.

"You sure scared me for a second, Stellie." he moaned under his breath.

"Noctis!" Lightning called him.

There was an emergency in her voice. And as he turned around to look back at her, he understood. The brand on her chest was shining. Her focus was completed. He ran to her, as Odin vanished like thin air. The stones that had once been on his back were now floating in the air and starting to turn around Lightning. And they were turning faster and faster. Lightning reached out for his hand, calling his name. He tried to catch her hand, but before that he could even touch her, she had turned into a crystal. He stopped death in his tracks.

"Light?"

That couldn't be it! This couldn't be the end of it! She wasn't going to sleep in this crystal, she couldn't abandon him and Stellie like that! But she was covered with the crystal. Her hand still reaching out for his. Her eyes locked with his. And there was so many things that she told him just with her eyes. How she was scared, and that she loved him, and that she was worried about Estelle, and that she was glad it was all over. And even more that he couldn't read anymore because of the tears in his own eyes.

"Why did I listen to you, Light? Being a fal'cie while knowing you're alive and that you can be happy with Stellie should've been enough. Why did I tell you? Now, I can't even save you. And you're stuck in one of those stupid crystals!"

"Look up, daddy." Stellie whispered to him.

Noctis looked up, blinking, to see that Lightning was already out of the "stupid" crystal.

"How can I stay in a crystal if my fal'cie is death?"

"Are you for real? You almost gave me a heart attack!" he replied, half furious, half relieved.

Lightning wasn't a l'cie anymore. She had managed somehow, with a little help from Estelle, to complete her Focus. And he wasn't a fal'cie anymore. He felt whole and alone at the same time. That other Noctis that he couldn't control wasn't there anymore. It was all over. All over.

"I'm sorry." she whispered.

"Oh, don't be. If this isn't a dream, this could be the greatest day of our life. We're free Light!"

"But how did Estelle manage to use any magic on you?"

They looked down at their little girl and she gave them a shining smile.

"Grandmother said that I was a magician! And I did a nice trick just now, didn't I?"

She looked as if she was hiding something from them.

"Stellie, sweetie, what was that trick just now?" Noctis asked her.

"Well, I can use magic! And I'm not a l'cie nor a fal'cie! That's cool, huh?"

They exchanged a look. Remilda really should have told them that. But if what Stellie was saying was right, then, it meant that maybe humanity wouldn't have to rely on fal'cie or l'cie to live her life. All she needed was her own strength. And her free will.

"Hey, you know, I'm glad to see that you're so strong Stellie. Since you're going to be a big sister soon, I know that you'll be able to take good care of your little brother."

"What are you talking about, Light?"

"Should I draw you a picture, Noct?"

And she fought with me in her state? he realized. Damn, those women will never change. But hell, I like them both so much!

And that wasn't going to change! He held the two women of his life close. Now, he would be the man that they needed. And Lightning was glad. They were free to live their life. And soon, all Cocoon and Pulse would be too.

- The end –

Yes, the end. I think that this is lovely. Maybe too much, maybe was it a bit fast after that last big scene. But I think that everything is said. And as you shall guess, for Noctis and Lightning, this is only a new beginning. After all, Estelle is going to have her own life. And a little guy is coming. Storm! But this is another story that you all get to imagine yourself, just as you want it. Still, you can't write about it, this fic and this idea are all mines.

Hey Haku, Estelle looked a little like the girl you had drawn for Noctis and Lightning. And maybe that her eyes change of color, as her dad? Well, I'm glad you followed that story all along and I hope to hear from you about this ending!

Anyway, I hope you liked my story. I sure liked writing it. Now, it's over, but, I still hope to hear from you. Does people wants a sequel? Other stories over FFXIII? Any other FF crossover? Right now, I'm thinking about publishing on the site my first FFVIII story in English. Maybe… Or should I translate one of my FFVII fics? So much to do, so much to do. Still, I'm glad for Noct and Light. And Estelle, of course. Maybe was it a little sudden. Tell me what you think. Maybe I'll edit this chapter. But for that, I'll need reviews… See ya all and thanks for reading!