Day 7: The flashes of colored light illuminate the night sky...

The group had spent the whole day on the beach in which they had engaged in the festivities open to the public. Having been spread thin, they had regrouped at their rendezvous which was reserved by four beach towels. Snow and Serah arrived to find Sazh and Dajh as the first of the group to have returned. Lightning's guile allowed her to find her place next to her sister without anybody noticing her immediately. They all recalled each others day events-Sazh shared the moments he had with his son at the plaza's shopping district while Snow and Serah corrected small details from their retelling of their time on the beach's popular locale.

Lightning sat with her knees to her chest as she found herself on the outside of the small discussion circle. It was not that she was in a bitter mood, it's just that she couldn't help think about the night she had before. And where was he now?

Hope made his way through the crowds of locals as he searched for his father who he had invited. It had been days he'd seen him and was anxious to see what he had been up to since he left him alone.

However it wasn't long before he had found the only man dressed for a business meeting rather than one who was on vacation.

"There you are." Hope approached the man who watched the pyrotechnics display.

"Ah, it seems you found me."Bartholomew seemingly amused. "You lead the way."

Bartholomew was not a stranger to the men and women that kept his son safe but rather it had been some time since they had last met and was eager to see them.

The father son pair traversed passed the public who stood motionless as they gazed upon the explosions of light that colored their bodies with a pastel of pinks, greens, purples and golds. Hope abruptly came to a halt to which Bartholomew did the same only seconds after. Taking a step towards his right, Hope found himself facing the colorful spectacle like those around him.

Bartholomew approached his son until he stood beside him. "It's beautiful."

"Just like all those years ago..." Hope continued his stare intensely at the sky.

Time seemed to stop for Bartholomew as he tried his hardest to find words that wouldn't appear to be insensitive as it was obvious that Hope was thinking about his mother.

It was silent for nearly a minute before he spoke. "She was beautiful. Your mother..."

"She always loved these sort of things." Hope mumbled in response to his father's words of consolation. The more he thought about her, the more he began to smile.

"Hope, I know I didn't say it often but I loved your mother...And...most importantly I wish I'd told her it more than I had..." Admitting his regret, Bartholomew turned to his son reassuringly. "Son. Theirs beauty all throughout this world of ours; I want you to find that one special person that embodies all that is beautiful and I want you to keep that person as close to your heart as you can."

Hope smiled as his father continued.

"I was the happiest when I was with her...I was the happiest when we were together as a family...the three of us."

It was at that moment that time seemed to continue as the voiced of those around them could be heard and the flashes of light stunned their eyes. But the message had already been delivered with the rest of a father's hand on his son's shoulder.

Bartholomew's words were processed over and over in Hope's mind while they proceeded to move past the masses. Little did his father know, that he had already had someone special who he believed to symbolize everything that he believed to be beautiful.

"Light."

The rumbles from the visual display was accompanied by the "oohs and aahs" of the awe-struck crowd. Among the roar of excitement, Dajh and Nora applauded as the spontaneous flashes of lights littered the night sky while Snow and Serah held each other close as they re-lived the past memory.

Lightning sat with her conscience deep within her thoughts. She new that this night marked the inevitable end of her friend's visit and the departure of Hope's stay. The thought of returning home each day to a quiet home seemed unbearable after having a gratifying week with her closest friends

All this thinking seemed to detract her from the on-goings of the crowds and show that she hadn't realized that Hope stood within reach. Her eyes widened in surprise. The same mixture of feelings she got when he first showed up to her house earlier in the week seemed to have left her lifeless of both thought and action. But she hadn't needed either, for Hope had guided Lightning to her feet where they met face to face with her hands held by his. Behind the couple Bartholomew had already reacquainted himself with the group allowing Hope take the opportunity to lead the woman to a more secluded locale.

For a few minutes Hope walked Lightning through the raving masses, Lightning admired his strength and willingness to get what he wanted. For her, it was flattering to know that she was this young man's desire which seemed to be exactly what she needed after having spent so many years as a soldier.

Finally they arrived to portion of the beach where a few couples were enjoying their partners' company more than the fireworks. Turnin to Lightning, Hope just stared at what he believed to be the most beautiful sight.

No words needed to spared by the two as all that needed to be said could be seen in each other's eyes. Hope told her that he would be leaving her for a undetermined amount of time and Lightning understood. But for once this unknown frightened the stalwart soldier, but for a different reason. It wasn't the amount of time she would have to be alone before he returned, but it was the unknown of the life she would have when he got back. The life of having someone that would love and care for her after a long day, a life worrying about the safety of said person so that she had him to come home to. Yet it excited her, the rush of her life moving forward without the foreboding nightmare of growing old and alone seemed like the fresh start she needed.

The couple embraced one another embellished by the pinks, and greens of the firework display which lit up the night sky.

End

There you have it folks. I just want to apologize that the ending was not as enthralling as I thought it was going to be a little more than a year ago when I started, but it's been awhile and I just wanted to make sure I wrapped it up. Again, I appreciate the reviews which I enjoy reading and thank you guys so much. See you on the other side.