Fang and Serah, Whhhaaaaa?

100% Direct sequel from the story 'Longing' if you want to know what the hell is going on. :) R+R

I was standing on the top of a hill in the Pulsian wilderness surrounded by trees and mountains. The wind blew through my hair tossing it aside. The angle of the sun in the perfectly clear sky dropped long shadows from the trees, it made the ground look like camouflage. As I looked all around myself all i could see was never ending land adorned by wildlife and large creatures flying in the sky. It was beautiful, but I was suddenly terrified. I can't protect myself out here, I'm not a fighter. I don't even have a weapon. I clutched at myself, calling out for help, when I heard the grass rustle behind me. I spun quickly on my heel to see her emerging from the thick trees. Her sideways smirk was wide, and I suddenly wasn't scared anymore. The wild Pulsian goddess approached me, and I knew everything would be alright, her long lance was at the ready for anything. If we were attacked, she would protect me without a second thought. My face relaxed as I started walking towards her, and her smile grew larger. We were only a few feet away from each other, her arms came up to take me.

If I had blinked, I would have missed it. Somehow, out of the clear blue sky, a single element could stop us from reaching each other. The bolt hit the ground directly between us, I could feel the force vibrate through my feet. The sky began rumbling immediately after. Lightning.

Serah's eyes shot open, but she mastered herself to remain silent. It was still very early, Serah's hand came up to wipe the thin line of sweat from her forehead. Her mind racing from her dream. She glanced over to the sleeping figure next to her taking a deep breath. That was when she heard it.

Footsteps faintly coming from downstairs.

Lightning and Vanille were due back from their honeymoon today, but it was far too early for them to be coming home, wasn't it? Fear pulsed in Serah's veins, a set of footsteps had reached the bottom stair and began climbing.

"Wake up!" Serah whispered frantically shoving Fang who moaned in response from being disturbed. "Shh! Get under the bed!"

"Mmmph.." Fang grumbled.

Serah's eyes went wide. Her bedroom door stood wide open, whoever was climbing those stairs was getting dangerously close to the top.

And now another pair of feet were climbing.

Frozen with horror, Serah watched as the first form emerged in her door way. Vanille.

The radiant grin on Vanille's face, was replaced with shock almost instantly. Her eyes were on the sprawled out form of Fang half dressed across Serah's bed. Vanille looked nearly catatonic.

"Vanille!" Serah chorused, trying to keep her voice casual as she threw her entire body weight against Fang, successfully rolling her out of her bed. She hit the floor with a a faint thud. Serah whipped the comforter off of her bed and threw it off to the side praying at anything holy that it would successfully cover Fang's body, and that Fang would take the hint and not move.

Serah stood and quickly crossed her room, throwing her arms around Vanille pulling her close. She watched her big sister over Vanille's shoulder hastily pass them and go directly to her own room, smiling widely at her.

"Please.." Serah begged once under her breath into the shorter girl's ear before she released her and followed her sister into her room.

"What are you doing home so early, Claire?" Serah pushed the door open to find her sister halfway dressed into her Guardian Corps uniform.

"Got called in." Lightning sighed, and she didn't sound happy about it.

"Is everything okay?"

"I'll know soon." Lightning picked up her weapon before she pulled Serah into a tight hug. "I missed you, are you doing okay? Where's Fang?"

"I'm fine. Um. I don't know where Fang is.." Serah hugged her sister back, her heart racing at the questions.

Lightning frowned, "I told to her to keep an eye on you." Her voice rung with disapproval. She released her sister. "We'll catch up tonight, I'm already late."

Lightning was already heading down the hall. Serah followed to see Vanille was still struck dumb with shock in front of her bedroom, the soldier kissed the girl and murmured a low "I love you" before she headed down the stairs. The front door opened and closed roughly.

Vanille's eyes found Serah's and they were locked in a staring match. She couldn't find words. Serah opened her mouth and closed it again without much success either. It wasn't until Fang's low chuckle that signs of life breathed in Vanille's face.

"Well, that was pretty damn close." Serah could hear Fang's deep throaty laughter echo through the hallway.

Vanille's hands balled into fists as she stomped into Serah's room. "You think that's funny? What the hell are you thinking, Fang?"

"What?" Fang poked her head out of the comforter, grinning. "I thought that was a great idea, but I can't take credit, that was all Serah."

Serah walked closer to her door, leaning against the wall to listen.

Vanille put her hands on her forehead, pushing her fringe up as she shook her head. "Fang, you're a dead woman. Claire's gonna kill you."

"Why would she kill me? I haven't even done anything, it's not like I'm screwing around with her emotions, Vanille. I really like her.." Fang's voice softened towards the end of the statement and it caught Vanille off guard. She went to sit on he bed beside her best friend as she looked down at her gloomily.

"She's still not going to like it, and you can't keep it a secret forever.."

Fang nodded, "I plan on asking for permission to date her properly.."

Vanille threw her hands up in the air, "Seriously? Yeah, okay Fang, that would be absolutely charming if you hadn't already slept with her!" Vanille shrieked.

Serah actually recoiled from the hallway.

Fang stood up stretching now, letting the comforter fall to the floor she revealed the bottom half of her sari and her tank top were both still intact. "Yep, and that's all we did, Vanille. Sleep."

Vanille couldn't help herself a small smile at this.

Fang grinned at her. "I've grown up, hey?"

"Really? You and Serah, huh? That's kinda cute." Vanille grinned.

Serah wore a wide smile as she poked her head around the open door now, happy that the girls had forgot about her in Vanille's moment of passion.

Fang's face lit up when she saw Serah, "Hey sweetheart. Close call, hey?"

"Too close." Serah shook her head, unable to keep from blushing at the use of her pet name. Sweetheart. The way Fang pronounced it with her foreign tongue made Serah's heart stutter.

The three girls sat with their legs hanging over the edge of the lake. Vanille had her lines cast out into the water, but Serah's eyes were in the sky. A third Corps Airbus had just made its way in the same direction off in the distance. Whatever was going on today really had been a big deal. It was easier back on Cocoon, if anything really serious was happening in the area Serah could always watch it on television. Not that it really made it any less nerve wracking, but at least she knew what was going on and how likely Lightning was to be there. How likely was a commander to be in danger?

A hand grasping her own brought her back to reality. Looking to her right she met Fang's gaze with a smile and entwined their fingers. Fang's eyes softened at the gesture, but she said nothing so as to not interrupt Vanille, who was discussing in great detail different types of fishing bait.

"Hey."

All three of them turned to see Lightning standing there with her arms folded. Serah gasped softly before trying to withdraw her hand from Fangs grasp, but Fang only gripped her tighter.

"Now or never." Fang decided, muttering under her breath with a smirk as Vanille jumped to her feet.

"You got off early?" The girl squeaked happily.

"I'm still working." Lightning groaned. She approached the three of them, "You guys need to be indoors for a while.. I'll explain when we're inside." Her eyes fell upon Serah's extended arm into Fang's lap. Her eyes narrowed infinitesimally as confusion grew into suspicion. She met eyes briefly with Serah before muttering. "Go on inside."

Serah silently obeyed, squeezing Fang's hand gently before sliding hers out of the tribal woman's fingertips. She followed Vanille down the stairs. Sighing, Fang turned around to find Lightning glaring at her.

"What was that, Fang?" Lightning's voice was dangerous.

"Ah.." Fang stood up. "Something I've been meaning to talk to you about, actually.."

Lightning's jaw tightened as she waited for Fang to continue. The tribal woman ran a hand through her hair, fixing her posture to her fullest height.

"I want to date your sister." Fang spoke with all the confidence in the world.

Lightning's glare grew larger before it shrunk. Her eyes bulged, and then narrowed into very slim slits. Her mouth was open a long time before she said anything.

"Now's not a good time, Fang." She hissed slowly before turning for the hatch.

"I'll wait then." Fang interjected, "As long as it takes for you to give me your permission."

Fang figured this was the best way to go about things. She may have always found a way to mess with the soldier but she knew there was absolutely one thing Lightning refused to joke around about, and that was the well being of her sister. It was even more intense than Fang's worry for Vanille. She wondered if any guy had ever put forth the effort to getting Lightning's approval to see Serah in the past, or if the soldier had scared them off before they even bothered. Fang wasn't afraid of Lightning, not in the least, but she respected the intense barrier that she held up around Serah at all times. She would go about things the right way and earn the right to see Serah.

Lightning didn't stop. Fang waited until she completely disappeared down the stairs before she followed after her, pulling the hatch shut behind her. When she got downstairs she found Vanille and Serah sitting on the couch, Serah looked like a frightened puppy.

"What is it, love?" Vanille asked.

Lightning was staring at Serah as she spoke, the girl didn't meet her eyes. "There's been attacks on headquarters. A terrorist group of sorts, they seem to think we're trying to put our bid in for control of the new world with bad intentions."

"But that's ridiculous.." Vanille started.

"We have to take every threat seriously. They're trying to snuff us out before our numbers get too high." Lightning interrupted. "And I seem to be a prime target, well one of them."

Vanille's eyes were wide, she stood and dove into Lightning's arms.. Lightning grinned at her.

"It's okay. I've got twelve men surrounding the house right now. My superiors seem to think it'd be a good idea to stay here and keep my family and myself safe."

"I don't like this, Claire." Vanille whined. Lightning leaned down into Vanille's neck to whisper something.

Fang took this opportunity to sit next to Serah, an action that didn't go unnoticed by Lightning.

"Scared?" Fang hummed at Serah with a smirk on her face.

"A little." Serah murmured.

Fang took her hand smiling wider. "You really think I'd let anything happen to anyone in this house?"

Lightning stared at her sister. A small smile formed on the girl's face as she squeezed Fang's hand. It wasn't something the soldier was expecting to see. She trusted people so damn easily. "Oh. Are you going to be playing the part of the hero now?" Lightning's eyes flashed angrily.

Fang held her hands up and sat back.

"Claire.." Serah started.

"No. This is wrong Serah, she's taking advantage of you going through a hard time, this is exactly what Snow did."

"Taking advantage of me?" Serah stood now, Fang shadowed her. "I'm the one that kissed her! Bet you didn't know that! You can't tell me who I can and can't see, Claire!"

Serah crossed the room and made her way up the stairs hastily.

Fang sighed, her hands landing on her hips. "Well, that's not how I wanted that to go.."

Lightning's arms were folded, she was looking away. "You better find a place to stay tonight." she grumbled before following her sister up the stairs.

Fang was left staring at Vanille who looked horrified. The tribal woman grinned, "Don't worry, I'll win her over. At least she didn't hit me."

As Fang chuckled Vanille bit her lip, replaying over in her mind the few words the Lightning had just whispered into her ears.

"It's just NORA. We think they want Serah. Nothing we can't handle."

She could understand why Lightning wouldn't want Serah to panic, but wouldn't it be beneficial to keep Fang around at a time like this? The zealous flare that burned in Fang's eyes right now showed that she would do anything to protect Serah as well. The conflict wore at Vanille's nerves either way, but there was only more to come.

"Stay close.. Fang."