A/N: it's been nearly a year, folks. I'm sorry it's taken so long to actually want to write this, but I've done it. I was reading through my stories, their reviews, and checking out how I was thinking as I wrote, and I gained motivation. I didn't really recognize the reviews (I've been out of touch) and I wanted to update this for you all. Think of it as a belated Christmas gift, or something. c:

This chapter is dedicated to Darkflames and Fire and ChainzOfThePast, for helping me realize that yes, there was something I could do to make this story more entertaining. I hope you enjoy.

It was a gorgeous morning. The birds were chirping merrily, twirling in the air as chipmunks and squirrels left their hidey-holes in search of breakfast. The sky was clear and bright, tinged with pink along the horizon as the sun rose. Little by little, it crept across the waking world, soon landing on a certain flat. Albeit beautiful, the sun was known to be a prick every once in a while. It scoured the windows, finding purchase on the bedroom. With little effort, sunlight pierced the slim break in the curtains, hitting Hope right smack on his groggy eyeballs.

"Ffffffffffffffffffffffffffuck." His lips were dry and chapped as he bit down, drawing out the F for several seconds before he finished the curse, throwing at arm over his eyes. A horrible headache pounded in his temples like a nagging grandmother who locked herself out of the house, banging on the door with a shrill screech to be let back in. His arm fell, but the sunlight refused to inch off his face, settling comfortably on the bridge of his nose. If he could, he would've thrown a pillow at the window. What a great reason for Light to kill him.

Light.

Hope coughed roughly, fully awake as he shot up in bed. Holy crap, he got wasted last night! His hand came up, cradling his head as he struggled to remember what he did the night before. He had been feeling light on his feet after the l'Cie brand on his arm vanished, and coincidentally met a few local guys who loved hearing wild stories. He lured them in by talking a little of his adventures (he didn't mention his mark), and one had asked if they could continue talking in the bar. He started taking drinks, getting more and more drunk with each shot he downed. After a while, Lightning showed up to take him home, and—

He didn't.

Hope couldn't hold back a snort of laughter as he recalled his not-that-awkward lip lock with his mentor. He'd smushed his face to hers in an amateur kiss, but she'd kissed back! His lips stretched into a grin as he momentarily forgot his hangover, thinking about a blond he'd have to visit later. Looks like Snow owes me 2,000 gil...

Deciding he may as well greet the day, he flopped out of the bed—Was this Lightning's room?— and stretched backwards, relief spreading through him as he cracked his stiff joints. Glancing at the clock on the wall, it said 8:32. He snorted again, moving towards the door. His mouth worked into a grimace as his hangover came back full force, slapping him across the face. He opened the door and shambled down the hall, towards the lovely smells coming from the kitchen.

Entering the room, he saw Lightning standing in front of the stove, casually dressed in a dark blue T-shirt and black yoga pants. She turned her head slightly when he walked in, smiling in amusement at his disheveled appearance.

"You look like hell," she pointed out.

He stuck his tongue out at her. "When don't I?"

She shook her head, her smile widening. "Not too sure about that one." Flipping their sunny-side up eggs and crispy bacon onto their respective plates, she picked up the meal and brought it over to the table. "Have a seat," she offered, taking her own, "and eat your food. It really looks like you got hit by a truck last night."

Another snort and the grating sound of hard chair legs against tile signaled Hope's obedience, the pain of his headache pushed to the back of his mind as he dug into his breakfast happily, swallowing noisily after each bite. Lightning, actually using her fork as she ate, chuckled as she watched the boy wolf down his food. "Eager, are we?"

Hope nodded enthusiastically, gulping down another mouthful of bacon. "It's so gooood," he mumbled.

"Do you remember anything from last night?"

A sly grin, uncharacteristic for Hope, danced across his mouth as he met the older woman's gaze. "Which part are you referring to? The drinking part, the talking, me kissing you, or me puking in your toilet? 'Cause I really remember that last one."

Her brow raised. "You're acting rather bold today," she noted. "Aren't you hungover?"

He nodded again, slower this time. "Yeah. I was ignoring it, but now that you said that, it's coming back." He pouted at her.

Lightning gave him a funny look before continuing. "I meant the 'you and I kissing' part, Hope." Her fingers laced together under the table as she sat back in her chair. "What did you mean by it? You said "I love you", too."

"I know." He stared at her hard, searching her eyes. "I meant it, Light. I know it's wrong and you're definitely not in my league, but I do love you, Lightning." A brief moment of seriousness lasted before he grinned again. "I do recall you saying you had a thing for silver-haired guys..." He showed his teeth now, and Lightning found herself being reminded of a wolf before it dove in for the kill.

"Ah, that I do. I've only met one though, but I suppose that's all it takes." A soft smile lit up her face as she met his gaze full-on, watching as realization dawned on him.

"Y-You're cool with this?" He stammered, blinking at her. The absolute shock of it all mulled his headache for a moment as his head swam.

Lightning laughed outright then. "Yes, Hope, I am. I want to be in a relationship with you." Her eyes seemed to twinkle as she spoke. "Will you accept?"

Hope felt like the gods had smiled upon him, but he didn't fully enjoy the fact that his secret love for a year liked him back. He was unsure if there was a catch. "Are you certain you're fine with the whole 'you're older than me, I'm younger than you' thing?"

She nodded in confirmation.

"YES!" He crowed, jumping from his chair and racing to the other side of the table, planting a big kiss on the soldier's cheek. "I love you so much, Light... Thank you." He smiled down at her, a soft blush on his cheeks. It darkened as Lightning leaned up, giving him a sweet kiss.

"I love you too, Hope."

They were gazing lovingly into each other's eyes when the door suddenly flew open, banging carelessly into the wall. They broke apart, Lightning getting up to confront the intruders when they made themselves known. "Heeeeey, party people!"

The woman sighed. "It's barely nine o'clock, Snow, don't you have someplace to be at this hour?"

The blond's baritone laugh echoed in the living room as he made his way towards the kitchen. "Not until noon, Light! You gotta deal with me and Sazh for a while."

She shook her head. "Hey, Sazh, Dajh." The duo waved at her jauntily, the elder waltzing over after putting Chocobo in Dajh's hands. "How are you two holding up?"

"It's a bit different having Dajh with me again, after so long traveling with our band of misfits, but I'm happy." He smiled at his son a few feet away, alternating between playing with his chocobo and talking to Hope. "He's completely fine, and I guess I am too. As long as he's great, I'm great. Dajh means the world to me; I don't think I could stand it if my world was taken away." He met her eyes. "I know you of all people would understand the most."

She nodded. "I'm still messed up over Serah, but I know someone who I feel can take care of me, and I them."

"Who?" Sazh's curiosity was insatiable.

"It's H—"

"Aw, you shit!" Their heads swiveled in the direction of the cry, seeing a disgruntled Snow handing a smug Hope a bag of gil. He had only just pocketed the money when he suddenly found himself kissing the ground, a sore spot on his shoulder. "I can't believe you won the damn bet," he heard Snow grumbling as he got back to his feet. "I swear she would've never said 'yeah'!"

"It's your fault, you knew about it and made the bet yourself!" Hope snickered as he watched the man fume.

"I never would've thought she'd like you, though!"

Lightning took that as her cue to speak up. "Did you two make a bet over me?"

The two at least had the decency to look sheepish and guilty. "Snow bet me 2,000 gil that if I admitted my love for you, you'd say no. I bet that you would be okay with it... I didn't know about your yes, though."

"You've got my answer," she retorted.

"See, Snow? You. Lost. To. Me."

Snow growled, glaring down at the smug teen. "Tch. Yeah, yeah. Whatever helps you sleep at night, Hope."

"You lost and it's fair. Nyeh," Hope stuck his tongue out at Snow, but the older man was quick. His index finger and thumb grabbed the tip of the boy's tongue, holding it there as he smirked at Hope. "Mnnn! Snuh, leh guh!" Hope flailed, trying to pull his tongue out of Snow's grasp. "Leh guh, dahnit!"

Snow pulled Hope into the noogie of his life, but Sazh's interest was still in Lightning. He saw her smile as she watched the guys wrestle on the kitchen floor, laughing the whole time. He noticed a twinkle in her eye that hadn't been there before, full of love and affection. And her eyes were entirely on Hope.

"You and the kiddo?" he asked, connecting the dots.

She nodded, looking back at him. "I used to see him as my student, my protège. But I guess over the course of our journey, starting around when he first triggered Odin and helped me take control over him, I... I began to see him as more than just that." Her gaze had moved back to the silver-haired teenager, now sitting on top of Snow, cackling as the blond begged for mercy from Hope's tickle attack on the man's sides. "I'm positive I'm in love with him, despite our age difference. I want to make this work." Her firm, powerful undertone surprised Sazh a little. Lightning had always been seen as a short-tempered, badass soldier girl who wanted nothing more than to finish the mission, rescue her sister, and smash the living hell out of Snow. He'd witnessed her motherly affections towards Vanille and Hope (probably towards the redhead) and knew she could actually have emotions, but he still found himself shocked at her loyalty to the kid. Nevertheless, he accepted them without hesitation. If his friends were happy with each other, then he was happy for them.

He placed his hand on Light's shoulder, gaining her attention. "Light, you and I both know well enough that your relationship with Hope—it's illegal. You're 21 and he's 15, and if you can't see it, society sees that as pedophilia. However—" he held up a hand as her mouth opened to reply, "I respect you and him, and whatever feelings you harbor for one another. I'll support you, no matter what." He gave her a reassuring smile. "I trust you won't do anything drastic with him, nor will he act stupid and make a terrible mistake."

Lightning exhaled heavily, her shoulders slumped as relief rolled off of her in waves. "Thank you, Sazh," she murmured, flashing him a tiny smile. "I trust you too. You're a skilled comrade."

Sazh chuckled, patting her once before letting his hand drop to his side. "I know that," he replied.

"Stop gossiping about the newest swords on the market and get in the airship!" Lightning turned, spotting Snow, Hope, and Dajh in the doorway, dressed and ready to go. An airship was parked on the roof, engine whirring as the abandoned keys were flung about. Sazh eagerly left her side, shuffling towards the door and past the trio. Snow and Dajh followed him, leaving Lightning and Hope alone in the house once more.

"This has been a... rather interesting morning." A short cough closed Lightning's sentence.

He nodded, letting the door hang open as he half-walked, half-skipped over to her. "I don't understand what happened to my hangover. Did I puke most of it out last night?"

She laughed softly, ruffling his hair. "I think Snow may have hit you while you two were wrestling in my kitchen. Not to mention you slept in rather late?" She smiled and rapped her knuckles against his forehead, making him flinch away and scrunch up his nose.

"Don't do that, Light," he whined, giving her puppy dog eyes.

"I'm good." She walked towards the door, pausing when she realized Hope wasn't following. "Are you coming, sleepyhead?"

He harrumphed. "I'm not tired anymore. Let's go." He walked past her, going towards the steps and taking them two at a time. When he reached the top step, Lightning unsheathed her Blazefire Saber and ran up behind Hope, tripping him with the gunblade as she went past him. He went down hard, letting out an "oof!" as his lips kissed the ground. Again.

"What the hell, Light!"

She was already close to the airship when Hope cried out. Jumping into the open doorway, she turned to grin at her new lover. "You snooze, you lose, Hope!"

Grumbling, he stood, quickly brushing off the bits of hardened clay stuck to his shirt. Snow revved the engine as he ran towards them, lifting off the ground as he reached the airship. Lightning reached for Hope's hand, grasping it tightly and yanking him into the airship, on top of her. They laid there breathless for a moment, soon breaking into uncontrolled laughter. Matching smiles spread across the new couple's faces as the group chatted aimlessly, Snow flying the ship towards Lebreau's bar downtown, ready for a day of fun.