The crowd waited eagerly in silent anticipation as their beloved Commander Farron climbed the small stage to deliver her speech to the newlywed couple. She had invited Fang up with her – the Pulsian was to deliver a speech right after – but the darned woman insisted she have everyone's undivided attention, and that meant the stage to herself. Lightning scanned the large crowd and swallowed nervously. She was not used to addressing large audiences – her line of work required her to either bark orders at her squad or report to one or two commanding officers privately.

"Hi." Lightning started. The crowd joined together in a chorus of hi Commander Farron and she tried to stifle a laugh. Over the years spent with Fang, her exigencies for formalities have lessened noticeably. Although she would go by Commander Farron to unacquainted strangers and during formal affairs, she insisted people just refer to her as Lightning, though her colleagues occasionally would jokingly salute her by the former – a friendly reminder of the long way she had come since her darker days. Her nervous laugh earned her a few chuckles from the audience. Her heart rate slowed to a healthier rate and she continued her speech. Here goes. "I can't say I'm surprised that Hope grew to be such a lovely young man, one befitting for a wonderful young woman such as Vanille. I also can't say I never saw this marriage coming, all those secret glances at each other when they thought no one was looking, late night talks and midday strolls." Lightning winked at the red faced couple. "Vanille is a sister to me, and Hope a brother, and there are very few things that make me as happy as seeing them share a life together."

"Hypocrite," Serah coughed. The audience boomed with laughter and Lightning shook her head with a smile, grateful for the touch of humour added to her dull speech. She gave Snow a sheepish grin, knowing Serah was referring to her colder than usual behaviour reserved for him so many years ago. Though she had yet to admit it out loud, Snow had grown on her ever since he married Serah. He was still the loud and boisterous man they all knew and loved, but there was a seriousness to him that was never there before The Fall. Snow gave her a small wink and she felt a stab of guilt. She wasn't exactly the friendliest and approachable person at his wedding – she refused to take part in half of the festivities – but Snow never held it against her. He was understanding and dependable and that had earned him Lightning's respect. Putting her past behind her, Lightning turned to address her silver haired subordinate.

"Now Hope, be good to Vanille because Fang's not the only person you'll have to answer to," she gave Hope a mock stern look. "And Vanille, your husband is not your personal guinea pig so keep your experimental potions to yourself."

The Dia gave her husband a cheeky grin. "I can try."

With nothing left to say, Lightning raised her glass of champagne. "To Hope and Vanille."

As the crowd echoed her words and cheered, Lightning exchanged positions with Fang. The Pulsian gave her a smile as she passed – a smile Lightning knew all too well. Fang was planning something, and that was never good. Fang sauntered her way up the stage with the microphone and Lightning caught herself staring. For someone who was so against wearing a dress, she sure could present herself in one. The blue satin dress was form fitting, accentuating certain parts that Lightning wished Fang did not move as much when she walked, else she would have to break her promise of not ravishing Fang senseless in a tent that day. Lightning smiled as Fang enthusiastically greeted the crowd. It was definitely a step up from her attitude just hours before.

"Hey, in case y'all have been living under rocks these past few years, I'm Fang!" She waved to the crowd and received equally ardent greetings in return. "I'm Vanille's big sister by everything but blood and now I guess I'm Hope's big sister too. Back in Oerba, long before you kiddies roamed the lands of Gran Pulse, it was tradition for the village elder to write a ballad and sing it to the new mates," she wagged her eyebrows at Vanille who giggled. "But, seeing as how y'all don't speak Pulsian and the times have long gone, I came up with something a bit more modern. Now, who likes rap music?"

Lightning swore her jaw hit the table. Indeed rap music composed a huge portion of Cocoon's music industry but it wasn't something she was a fan of. Fang, on the other hand, took a liking to the genre, claiming it reminded her of ancient Pulsian chants. She had heard Fang hum a few traditional songs here and there around their house but never actually sing, let alone rap. She looked to Vanille for reassurance that this was not going to be a total disaster but the fearful look she received from the redhead did little to calm her. Oh dear sweet Etro…

"Ahem. Testing, testing." Fang tapped the microphone as if it hadn't been working the whole time she was talking. Lightning had to chuckle, her girlfriend was quite the talented entertainer. "Can I get a beat?"

If Lightning's jaw hit the table before, it was certainly on the ground now. The crowd went ballistic when Snow stood and imitated the rhythms of rap music. She turned to Serah this time for answers but wasn't sure who looked more horrified – her sister or Vanille. Had Fang and the oaf been planning this in secret or did the Pulsian have something on the poor man? Before Lightning could regret not pulling the woman off the stage, Fang began her "song".

Now listen up 'Nille, 'cause dis is da real deal…

Lightning wasn't sure exactly when she ended up on stage trying to pry the microphone out of the huntress' hands but if she had to guess, it was sometime between Fang rhyming "Vanille I'm gonna miss ya" with "banging Serah's sista" and "marrying Hope" with "glad you didn't elope". Oddly enough, everyone was having the time of their lives. The crowd was red faced from laughing and even Fang didn't seem to mind the chokehold Lightning had her in as she doubled over with laughter. Lightning realized how ridiculous she must have looked, microphone held as far away from Fang as possible in one hand, and a guffawing Pulsian in the other. She had a feeling it had been Fang's plan all along for her to come up on stage and make a spectacle of herself. She smiled. Now that's the Fang I know and love…

The crowd settled as soft music resonated off the walls of the tent, signalling the first dance for the bride and groom. Lightning felt familiar hands entwine with hers as she watched Vanille and Hope sway gently on the level platform.

"You okay?" she asked the silent huntress.

"You know what I just realized?" Fang turned to face Lightning with mirth filled eyes and Lightning found herself lost in the emeralds. She shook her head nervously, wondering what crazy emotional words Fang would spout this time. "You know how all I've ever wanted for Vanille is for her to be happy?"

Lightning nodded in agreement. "We all do, Fang. What about it?"

"Well, get this Sunshine," she shook Lightning's shoulders excitedly. "If they love one another as much as we do, they should be pretty happy right?"

Lightning pried Fang's hands off her shoulders before Fang shook her into oblivion. The Pulsian's emotions must have been in chaotic disarray if such a fact was not immediately obvious since the beginning.

"Yes Fang, they're happy" Lightning said sternly but lovingly. Fang was a stubborn woman and Lightning had to be strict if she wanted to get through to the huntress.

"Just like us?" Lightning's heart skipped a beat when Fang gave her a frightened look – almost as if she expected Lightning to say no. All it would take for her to break the other woman's heart and render her vulnerable was a simple two letter word and it scared her. She would never want to hurt Fang like that, nor did she want the power to. Lightning leaned in and planted a kiss on the other woman's forehead.

"Just. Like. Us." Any trace of fear immediately vanished from the huntress' statuesque features and was replaced by a radiant grin. It was the kind of grin that could stop an army dead in its tracks and Lightning felt like a gorgonopsid caught in headlights. "You know if you smile any wider your lips just might touch your ears" she chuckled at her girlfriend's puppy like nature. Fang had such a beautiful smile that Lightning found it difficult not to reciprocate. The Pulsian's smooth, full lips were as alluring as every other feature that belonged to her, if only Lightning could just lean in and press her own lips against those divine, succulent…

"Ahem."

Lightning flinched and turned toward the owner of the squeaky voice that had managed to sneak up behind her during her little slip up, and reflexively shoved Fang away.

"Damn it woman, you know Vanille knows we're together right?!" Fang rolled her shoulders to check for any damage and muttered something under her breath about domestic violence.

"Sorry, I was… distracted." Lightning's face coloured as Fang tried to make eye contact with her. Even after so many years together, Fang still had that effect on Lightning. She couldn't look at the darn woman for more than a few seconds before her mind began to wander… elsewhere. After all, who wouldn't want a taste of such magical lips, especially when they would travel down to – get a grip, Lightning!

Fang knew exactly what Lightning was thinking. It was obvious in her red face, dilated pupils and quickened breathing. "You were coveting my lips" she stated in a matter of fact manner.

Lightning huffed and crossed her arms. "Admiring maybe, but not coveting."

AHEM! Vanille shoved her nervous husband toward her sister and extended a hand to Lightning. "If you two could stop having eye sex long enough for Hope and I to get a dance in, that'd be great."

Lightning chuckled as she took Vanille's outstretched hand and led her to an empty corner where the music wasn't too loud. She trusted Fang wouldn't kill Hope – not yet anyway. Lightning was overcome with pride as she danced with the shorter girl. Vanille has changed quite a bit since their journey – they all have – and knowing that she was partly responsible for the younger girl's upbringing eased the guilt she felt for not playing a similar role for Serah. Admittedly, Vanille had grown on her even faster than Fang had, partly due to that fact that Vanille didn't enjoy teasing her as much as the huntress did. She was a lot like Serah, although less… reserved. Unknown to Fang, when Vanille moved out to live with Hope, Lightning made her promise to come over at least once a week. Her home was less lively without the younger Pulsian around.

"We were not having eye sex" she huffed as caught the redhead after a spin.

"Oh please, one second later and you two would have been naked and doing it under the table. Now dip me."

Lightning rolled her eyes but let Vanille have her way with the teasing. After all, it wasn't as if Vanille never caught them – as she so blatantly called it – bumping uglies underneath a table before. Who said a dinner couldn't be sexy?

The two enjoyed the rest of the song together before Vanille ran off to rescue Hope from her adoptive sister. Lightning felt a twinge of sadness as Vanille slipped away into the crowd in search of her husband and shook her head in attempt to get rid of her unhappy thoughts. I'm beginning to think like Fang…

Light blue eyes scanned the crowd in search of a wild haired huntress and finally found its target at the open bar. Of course. She noticed a small crowd begin to form around Fang and the Pulsian didn't look too happy. Angry shouts could be heard above the muffled chatter of the crowd and Lightning broke into a light jog – running wasn't an option in her heels. She spied a head of silver hair fighting desperately against the crowd to reach the turmoil's epicenter. Okay, so she's not yelling at Hope… that's a good sign, right?

People moved aside as she approached and she was able to see the cause of the commotion. She brushed past her scowling lover and gave the old man a hug.

"Glad you finally made it." Lightning ruffled young Dajh's hair as he wrapped his arms around her torso. She noticed her whole family was present at the bar and none seemed too pleased about Sazh's arrival.

"Well at least someone's glad to see me." Sazh shot the scowling huntress an icy glare. What's going on?

"Oh I'm glad to see you old man, I'm just not the least bit happy to see her!" Lightning followed Fang's angry glare to the blonde figure standing slightly off to the side. Her eyes widened in disbelief. She could recognize those green eyes everywhere. The last time she saw them, they were as lifeless as the spectacles that framed them. Before she could utter some form of protest, the ex-PSICOM soldier stepped forward and offered a hand.

"Jihl Nabaat – ex. Lieutenant Colonel of Sanctum's PSICOM division, pleased to meet you." Jihl smiled warmly.

"I know who you are," Lightning spat, ignoring the offered hand. "You're supposed to be dead, remember? Your beloved Primarch fired you – or rather at you I should say. What are you doing here? Explain yourself!"

Sazh ambled over and took Jihl's outstretched hand, returning it to her side. "We would if y'all would just give us the chance to!" He sighed and stepped forward protectively. "I was on Cocoon for a routine pickup when a group of PSICOM stragglers ambushed my plane. She saved us. Without her Dajh would've… he wouldn't be…"

Lightning's expression softened as Sazh broke into sobs. She turned to the young boy at Jihl's side as the rest of her family – excluding Fang – comforted his father.

"Dajh?"

The mini Katzroy took a breath and ambled forward. "Auntie Lightning and Auntie Fang, I know you think Jihl is a bad guy but she was actually really nice to me. She took care of me and even let me see the fireworks and the chocobos!" Fang was hearing none of it.

"This woman wasn't taking care of you kid, she was keeping you prisoner! She tried to get your old man to shoot Vanille, heck she tried to kill us all!" Fang turned to address the afro'd man. "You've really gone senile if you think we would let this Sanctum dog waltz right into our town and not do anything about it!"

"Fang!" Lightning grabbed her lover's tanned arm to keep her from launching herself at Nabaat. Though she shared Fang's opinion that Jihl was not to be trusted, calling their father figure senile was hardly appropriate, no matter how chaotic the situation.

"She was just doing her job! Auntie Lightning would have done the same if Auntie Serah wasn't a l'Cie!" Fang froze. Dajh had a point. If Lightning hadn't gone after Serah and become branded by Anima, they would likely have faced each other on the battlefield, and only one would come out alive.

Lightning remained quiet, but Fang wasn't going to give in just yet. This woman had caused Vanille so much pain…

"I am no longer – as you said – a Sanctum dog. Barthandelus is no more, PSICOM is no more, Rosch… is no more. Like many, I was raised to believe in the paradise we called home and the hell that was Pulse down below. I was not any different from you, or your friend." Nabaat gestured at Lightning who remained silent in Fang's arms. "Tell me, did you not believe that we were vipers, ready to strike your home at any second? When everything you were made to believe turns out to be one huge lie, what do you do? Is it not easier to continue believing the lie than to fight against everything you once stood for? My idiocy was realized when the old man shot me down but I believe the goddess gave me another chance at life, to make amends to the people whom I have caused so much pain." She stepped forward and placed her hands on Dajh's shoulders. "Do and say to me what you must, but I really do care for him."

"So you saved the old man and his son's life, how many lives have you taken in the process?" Fang scowled. There wasn't as much bite in her tone as she had hoped.

"Are your hands not also stained red with the blood of others?"

A long dreadful silence fell into place, made less awkward by the oblivious rowdy partiers. Any crowd member whose attention had been caught by Fang's angry shouts was immediately shooed away by Snow. Fang didn't know what to say. She no longer had a reason to hate the woman, but she couldn't exactly open her arms up wide and offer a hug. Surprisingly, Serah stepped forward and offered the woman a hand.

"Hi! I'm Serah, Lightning's sister. We've never met before but I've err… heard a lot about you from Snow's stories. I'm very pleased to meet you."

Snow followed his wife's lead and offered his hand next. "I'm her husband Snow. We've met before." Jihl blinked hesitantly before she accepted the couple's greetings.

"I remember you. The hero right? I could hear you screaming 'Serah' from the Palamecia" she laughed. It was a beautiful laugh, one that didn't scream I'm going to beat you to death with my fencing baton.

Lightning watched speechlessly as Vanille and Hope greeted Jihl next. The couple proceeded to show the woman around and insisted on introducing her to new friends, with Serah and Snow following closely behind. She vaguely remembered the huntress wrapped around her.

"Fang… what just happened?" I'm not dreaming right? An ex-PSICOM baton lady did not just come back from the dead and attend Vanille's wedding as Sazh's date right? RIGHT?!

"I'm not too sure myself Sunshine but if I had to guess… the usual. I'm gonna get us some drinks." Lightning nodded and fumbled for a seat as Fang's supporting hands left her body. The huntress soon returned with a tray full of various shots, muttering something about wanting a normal life.

"Ahem. I believe two beautiful ladies owe me a proper welcome back?" Sazh grinned as the couple embraced him.

"Sorry about that Sazh but you'd think that after spending so much time with ol' Barty she'd be turned off by, well, old. Unless she's into that kinda thing…" Fang laughed.

"Wait – wha? You think we're together? Like together together?" Sazh raised his arms defensively, as if Lightning had her gunblade pointed at his face. "She's Dajh's godmother and a good friend of mine, we're not together. Besides, she's… well y'know."

Fang and Sazh stared wide-eyed as Lightning choked on a shot and doubled over with laughter.

"I knew it! No woman could spend that much time with Yaag Rosch and still be straight!"

Fang rubbed Lightning's back as she tried to control her laughing fit. Okay, enough shots for you Lightbug…

"Is she single?" Fang froze when Lightning stilled beneath her. "Okay, that didn't come out right… hehe." She gave Lightning a quick peck on the forehead before a content smile appeared on Lightning's face and she went back to senseless giggling. "What I meant was, I know someone who might be perfect for Jihl." A little too perfect if ya ask me.

"Anyone I know?" Sazh looked around curiously. No one particularly struck him as a good match for Jihl Nabaat.

"Oh yeah." Fang caught the attention of the woman she was looking for and waved her over. "Lebreau, there's someone I want you to meet."

AN: Did anyone catch the mini reference to a TV show?