Chapter 16: Epilogue

'Serah and Snow's wedding is approaching at a terrifying rate. Or at least that's how it feels.' Lightning commented. She couldn't help but feel overwhelmed and took another look at the time on her phone impatiently as she waited for Hope to be ready. It was funny when she thought about it. 'He takes longer than me to get ready.' She thought as she giggled slightly at the thought of Hope messing with his hair in the mirror.

She looked at her phone again. It now read ten forty-five. 'If we don't get moving soon we are going to be late.' She mentally noted. 'It starts at ten past eleven.' She finished uneasily and then cleared her throat with a little cough. "Hope!" She shouted urgently. No reply. "Hope! We are going to be late!" She continued, the urgency turning to anger very quickly.

Hope stumbled out of the bathroom, hopping as he tried to put his left shoe on. He then fell flat on the floor. "Ow." He murmured as he turned over. He sat up abruptly and dusted himself off a bit. "Sorry Claire." He apologised. "I was just finishing my speech." He explained. Lightning didn't have time for Hope messing about. She picked him up under the armpits and made him stand up properly even though he was probably a little bit heavier than her. She dusted him down again and then saw that his turquoise bow tie was skewed so she straightened it.

"There." She said as she looked into his eyes. "Much more respectable." There was a silence where the two lovers held each other's stare taking the whole moment in. Hope was the first to speak after breaking away.

"You look beautiful." He remarked. "You even remembered the broach." He added, smiling slightly while pointing at the pink rose to show his approval.

Lightning couldn't help but blush at his kind words. "You look very handsome too." She said quietly.

"What was that?" Hope joked, feigning deafness.

"You heard what I said." Lightning groaned. "Let's go before we miss my sister's wedding." She finished while motioning to the door.

The couple rushed to the car and got on the road to Oerba as quickly as possible. Lightning looked at the time on her phone again. It now read ten forty-nine. It was going to be close but Lightning could see by the concentration on Hopes face as he weaved in and out of traffic that he cared about this just as much as she did although probably more for her sake than for Serah. Still Lightning appreciated the gesture and blushed slightly. Hope noticed and smiled and at that moment Lightning looked away so that he couldn't see her blush. 'I need to stop acting like this or I'm going to embarrass myself. I'm meant to be the tough sister.' Lightning thought. Preparing herself for her appearance in front of her friends. Of course they all knew how Hope and Lightning felt about each other but Lightning didn't like them knowing. Well at least she didn't like Snow knowing because he would tease her continuously. She sighed slightly as Hope took a sharp turn to get on the main road into Oerba.

Hope glanced over for a second before fixing his eyes to the road again. "Something wrong Claire?" He asked calmly.

Lightning looked at him now, her heart beat rising as she did. "I just don't want to mess up." Lightning told him.

"The wedding?" Hope asked.

"Well, that and us." Lightning explained sadly. Hope reached over and grabbed her hand while keeping his eyes on the road.

"You'll be fine." Hope reassured her giving her hand a squeeze and winking at her. "Besides I love you and that's never going to change."

Lightning smiled. 'Wait. He just said he loves me.' Lightning opened her mouth to say the words back but they never came out.

Hope smiled too and then slammed on the breaks as they made it to the gardens in Oerba where the wedding was being held. "So what's bothering you about the wedding?" He asked turning to face Lightning.

"I'm just afraid Snow and his friends will make fun of me for liking you." Lightning started. "I'm meant to be the tough emotionless soldier. I'm not meant feel anything." She explained.

"You're not who you used to be Light." Hope explained. "If anything feeling and letting your emotions out has made you stronger. I know from first-hand experience that bottling up any kind of emotion doesn't end well." He finished referring to when he tried to get revenge on Snow for letting his mother die.

Lightning nodded. "You're right. You almost always are." She said with a smile and then checked her phone again. The time was seven minutes past eleven. "We have to get moving." She said as she excited the car. Hope exited too and practically ran around to her. He grabbed her in an embrace and she squirmed to get free. "Hope? What the-" She started before he interjected.

"Don't worry Claire." He whispered. "You're not alone anymore and I'll be with you every step of the way." Hope finished pulling away from the hug and smiling.

Lightning just stared at him. In awe of what he had said.

Hope bent down slightly and placed a kiss on her cheek, breaking her out of her trance.

"Okay let's go." Lightning commanded as she practically wobbled her way into the gardens.

Hope walked beside her and gave her his hand to steady her. The two of them took their seats at the front of the congregation and waited for the music to start.

Snow looked around. He looked worried. "Thank the maker you got here on time." He said to both Lightning and Hope. "Do you have the rings?" He asked.

Hope and Lightning both held up almost identical silver rings. Except Snow's ring was the larger of the two.

Snow smiled. "Thanks you're the best. I knew I picked the right guy for a best man" He finished.

Almost after he finished thanking them the wedding music started and Serah appeared at the entrance to the gardens being escorted by Sazh. Vanille followed behind Serah spreading rose petals all over the place. Lightning genuinely smiled. 'Finally Serah is getting what she wants.' Lightning took a look at Snow who was smiling widely and blinking a lot. It looked like he was trying to hold back tears.

Serah finally made it to the front and joined Snow. The preist started reciting all the imortant religious stuff. Before Lightning knew it she was offering Serah her ring. The sisters smiled at each other and then Snow and Serah both said "I do."

The main ceremony finished and the chairs were cleared away to make room for a massive dining table. Everyone sat down at the table. Lightning made a mental note of who was there. 'Gadot, Lebeau, Yuj, Maqui, Sazh and Dajh, Fang, Vanille, Noel, Hope and at the head of the table the blushing bride and her beaming husband. It was as perfect as anyone could have immagined. Snow tapped his glass for silence.

"Speach!" Yuj and Maqui chanted.

Snow stood up still smiling. "I have only a few words to say and they are that Serah has made me the happiest man in the world today and I hope that nothing ever changes."

"Hear, hear!" The NORA team yelled.

Lightning actually found herself smiling at what Snow had said. 'Maybe he isn't so bad after all.' She considered.

Hope stood up next and everyone hushed immediately. "I think that's my cue then." He said nervously as he unfolded a peice of paper. He looked at it for a second and then looked up from it and threw it over his shoulder. "I'm not going to need that." He assured his audience and then cleared his throat. "What I have witnessed today is the definition of love. I know I'm not the only one here who saw it." He said glancing at Lightning briefly and cotinued. "As you all may or may not know the couple you see before you may not have been here without the help of their friends and one man in particular..." He paused for effect. "Noel. Give the guy a round of aplause. Without him and his knowledge of time and dimension travelling I would not have been able to find Serah and bring her back to us. Now on to the main part of the speach." He cleared his throat again. "When I first met Snow. I thought he was an arrogant and selfish idiot and I think it's fair to say that nothing has changed since then." Hope chuckled slightly while everyone else laughed and Snow protested that he had changed. "Anyway I now see that even though he is a bit of an idiot he is still the perfect man to look after Serah, although I'm not sure her sister would agree." He joked and Lightning glared at him. "That's why I want to wish you both the best of luck in the future. You're perfect for each other and I hope that you are eternally happy." He finished and everyone clapped. Vanille was in tears as well as Serah too. Snow grabbed hope from his seat and gave him a big hug.

Once everyone had settled down again they ate and pictures were taken too. Serah cut the cake and gave a massive slice to Snow which he scoffed immediately and then once everyone had finished eating they started walking back to their cars. Snow walked with Hope behind Serah, Lightning, Vanille and Fang.

"So when are you two getting married then?" Snow joked but Hope actually considered it as actual question.

"I guess when she's ready. I'm willing to wait." Hope explained.

Snow and Serah then rejoined at their car and Serah prepared to throw her bouquet. Vanille, Fang and Lebreau gathered around ready to catch the bouquet. While Lightning just stood and watched. Hope noticed this and walked over to her.

"Come on Claire. It's your sister's wedding, you know she wants you to catch it. Right?" Hope explained.

Lightning glared at him but then smiled. "Okay. I'm not promising anything but I'll do it for her."

Hope stood back and watched as the women clamoured around the newly wedded couple. Serah threw the bouquet as high as she could and it seemed like it fell in slow motion. Hope blinked and when he opened his eyes again the bouquet had reached one of the womens hands. Vanille, Fang and Lebreau looked disappointed but then started screaming and congratulating Lightning. Snow and Serah smiled at Hope knowingly and Hope noticed a pounding in his chest that definitely hadn't been there a few moments ago.

Lightning walked over to Hope her face blushing pure crimson. Hope smiled. Lightning looked up at him and he smiled even wider. "You know what this means?" She asked embarassedly. Hope nodded happily and Lightning hugged him unexpectedly. "I love you too." She whispered in his ear and then kissed him passionately. It's fair to say both of them couldn't have been happier...

Authors Note
Finally finished. Wow. Okay great, finished my first story ever. Review if you're feeling generous or just if you enjoyed the story. (I need to lie down after that ending.)