Slayzer: Normal, way too damn normal.

Lightning: What is it now?

Slayzer: Hope's just way to normal. A lot of fanfics with you two it's always X years later and Hope is just so sickening normal. He always seemed to be happy, well adjusted but still somehow childish and pure. It makes me miss the old Hope.

Hope: What do you mean the old me?

Slayzer: I didn't think much of the first few hours of this game. In fact with my first impressions was that I wasted a good deal of money on a game with sub-par heroes. I really didn't start liking the game until Hope got over his Shinji Ikari-ness and started plotting murder. Don't get me wrong I love how Hope got over it all and learned forgiveness but I just like him more in that dark place. So for the better part of his month I've been banging my head on the idea of Hope older messed up and broken.

Lightning: So what was your first impression of me?

Slayzer: Don't worry once the story stopped being the Finale Fantasy take on the Fugitive I amended my first misgivings of you all. Well except for Snow and Vanille who I still think are both just tools.

Snow/Vanille: What!

Slayzer: Hey once I game finally let me leave you two out of the party, I did. So why the hell don't you two just rot in the menu bar with like all the other FF losers?

Sazh: Man that was just cold.

All things Final Fantasy is owned by SquareEnix

The Dangers of Staycations

Lightning sighed contently as she mussed her face into Hope's feather soft hair. It was so strange that just having Hope, doing nothing but holding him in her arms could feel so wonderful. The pair hadn't moved from under the palmtree for over an hour.

"Do you think we should head back?" Hope asked.

"I think we have to or everyone will worry."

Hope kissed Lightning as he got up and help her to her feet. The two started back for the hotel. They tried to look like they were walking next to each other and not a couple but failed at it horribly. You could see how they cast sidelong glances at each other and smile when they caught the other one looking. How they drifted closer to each other as if pulled by gravity, only to pull away when they noticed it. The dead give away of how much they loved each other was just how happy they looked just being close.

It was hopeless, they just couldn't down play just how much they loved each other. Hope moved next to Lightning and brushed his fingers against her hand. It took Lightning a few moments to realized what Hope wanted but when she got it and laced her fingers with his. Such a simple thing to walk hand in hand but Lightning and Hope both blushed red. "This doesn't feel awkward dose it?" he asked.

"No it just feels different and new. I've never had a boyfriend like this before." after Lightning said that she had to smile like a school girl with a crush. 'My boyfriend.'

"I wish we could just stole right through the island like this but I know that would cause problems."

"I know Hope, I don't like the idea of hiding from you when we only have the rest of the week here."

When this vacation was over Lightning had to go back to work with the Guardian Core and Hope would be home in Palmupolum. Long distances was another thing they have to work around.

"Next time you get some leave you should visit me in Palmupolum, it's a wonderful place when your not running for your life. I could show you the market district or we could tour the hanging parks."

"That would be lovely but…."

Lightning didn't say it but they have to act like they weren't a couple. It was like they have to elope even for a date. Hope squeezed Lightning hand harder. "When I'm older our ages won't matter and I then can show off my wonderful girlfriend without shame."

Lightning let go of Hope's hand and folded her arms as if she was bracing herself. "When your older, what's that four years? That a life time to a young man like you."

"What are you saying Light?"

"In four years you could fall in love with some cute young girl you wouldn't have to be afraid to be seen with. The two of you could go on walks or dates and do all kinds of things that you could be seen doing with me. In four years you'll be eighteen and a handsome young man and I'll be an old lady and you'll forget about me."

Hope hugged Lightning from behind, he couldn't believe it but she was trembling. Was losing him really so frightening for her? "I love you Lightning and that will not change in four years or forty. Besides I'll be fifteen next month so really it's more like three years."

"Well that's a little better. A small matter of bookkeeping really? Most people would just rounded a three down to zero and just call it even" Lightning let herself melt into Hope's tender hug.

"Yeah it's practically nothing at all." Hope added holding her tighter. "I love you but I guess until then we have to try and keep this between us."

That was when Lightning saw Sarah running up to them from the hotel road, she was looking very upset. Seeing her big sister being hugged by the boy she promised not to get involved only upset her even more. "What do you think your doing!" Serah cried as she pulled the two of them apart. "I can't believe you Clare, how could you!"

This was bad, Serah wouldn't use Lightning's real name unless it was serious. "Look I can't deny how I feel anymore and it just kind of happened." she said and held Hope.

Serah was losing it and was almost in hysterics. "It just happened! How the hell do you just sexually abuse a child and say it just happened!"

Hope and Lighting looked at one another and then back to Serah. "Okay now what are you talking about?" they both asked.

"I'm talking about the pictures that Lexie girls is flashing allover the hotel."

While Hope and Lightning were getting closer Lexie was spreading around a picture and a lie. Serah was by the pool when she saw Lexie chatting with a group of women, mothers most likely.

"That was so terrifying. I can't believe a monster attack here."

"I know it ruined the vacation completely. I should get a refund for that."

"The staff was useless and if it weren't for those l'Cie fighting off the monsters I shudder to think what would have happened to us without them."

Lexie took that moment to interject into the conversation. "Are you sure you should say that? If you ask me I think letting them stay here puts some of us at risk, like your children."

"What are you saying? Those people are heroes."

Lexie pulled out her camera as showed them a image of Lightning and Hope passionately kissing. There was a sudden gasp of horror from the mothers as they saw the picture. Lexie knew the picture spoke for itself but it never hurts to up sell it with some fear. "Does it look like she protecting that boy or abusing him? I mean it's fine to get rid of monster but are you really happy with a different kind of predator staying in the same hotel as your children. I had to leave as things between them got even more… ah… intimate." That last part was a total lie but at that point the women would have believed anything Lexie said about Lightning.

The women scattered like hens that found a fox in their coop. Some went to gather their children and others left to complain to the staff or warn other mothers. Lexie just kicked back and smiled as everything feel into place. When Lightning came back instead of being a hero she'll be a pariah and not just here at the hotel, Lexie planed to ruin her totally.

Serah had overheard the conversation and she herself felt betrayed by Lightning. 'Clare told me she wasn't going to do anything with Hope. That she knew it was wrong and leave him alone but she lied to me!'

"You lied to me!" Serah accused her sister as Hope watched helpless from the sidelines.

"We didn't do anything like what that brat Lexie was saying. I mean yeah sure we kissed but that was it." Lightning said feeling like she had to set the record straight with her sister.

"I wish I could believe that, I really do." The coldness in Serah's voice was chilling.

Hope couldn't stand it any more, Lexie, this place or even Sarah. No he had enough of this. "So what if I love Lightning! I don't care who knows it or what they say. Every damn person in that world owes us their lives so the lest they can do is let us be happy and if they can't then none of them where worth saving!"

Lightning was never one for passionate outburst but hearing Hope say she was worth more to him that all that made her realize that she felt the same way. Lighting moved toward Hope and kissed him as a rewarded for standing by her. "I'm with Hope, I don't care who knows I love him or what they think."

"Your crazy! What about your career, all the respected you've worked so hard for your whole life? You're just going to throw that all away, for him?"

"Yes." Lightning said as she and Hope hugged once again and she knew it was the right choice to pick him. "I'm sorry Serah but I love Hope and if you can't except us then you don't except me."

Serah was struck by just how devoted Lightning was. "You can't mean that? I'm you family, your only family, and you would turn your back on me over a boy."

Lightning shook her head with a sad smile. "No Serah, it's because you're my family that I want you, more then anyone in the world, to understand how I feel. I'm happy and I want you to be happy for me too and it hurts me that your not."

Lightning kissed Hope once more, a long goodbye kiss and as Serah watched she saw something she hadn't noticed before. Serah didn't see how young Hope was or how many years where between them but she saw just how much they loved each other, just like Snow and her. She remembered how disparity she wanted Lightning approval of her marriage with Snow.

"Hope I'm going to check out of the hotel before this I cause you anymore trouble. I think you should stay and try to enjoy the rest of your vacation without me." Lightning said sadly.

"How can I with you gone but I understand. Goodbye Lightning and I love you." Hope said as he and Serah watched as Lightning leave, heading for the down to the airship port and not the hotel.

"Damn that Lexie this is all her fault. I can't let her do this to Lightning." Hope said as he left to search for the cause of all this misery.

Serah just stood their alone unsure of what to do now or how to feel.

Hope made his way through the hotel searching for Lexie but he could feel the eyes of everyone on him. He pretended not to hear the whisperings behind his back as he past by. It was almost enough to make him lose his cool and shout down the next fool who said anything about Lightning and him.

A hand touched Hope's shoulder and he spun around ready to unload on the poor bustard who crossed him but he stopped when he saw it was Vanille.

"Are you okay Hope?" Vanille asked.

"No I'm not.' Hope said with a heavy sigh. "Everything's gone to hell and it's all my fault. If I didn't kissed Lightning that time then she wouldn't have to leave. I've ruined her vacation and maybe ruined her life."

"You can't blame yourself for what Lexie's done but it will be your fault if you don't do something about it."

"What do you mean?"

"Really Hope have you changed at all? Isn't there something you want to tell Lightning, aren't you brave enough to go to her. Don't worry about Lexie we'll take care of her."

"Your right, thanks Vanille. hey wait a moment, 'we'll take care of Lexie' who is this we?"

"Me and Fang, so don't worry will fix that snotty little brat good."

Now if Vanille said she was going to take care of Lexie Hope would have wondered how it was going to work. Now that Fang was involved he only worried that they don't do anything permanent to Lexie or worse finale. "I can trust you to keep Fang in line, right?"

"Don't worry one bit about it. You just take care of Lightning and we'll deal with Lexie, peacefully."

Hope nodded and took off for the airship port. He missed the flight Lightning took but he could make the next one if he ran. It was wrong of him to just disappear without saying a word to everyone but he hoped that they would understand.

When Hope was far out of sight Fang steeped out from the shadows. "You really have to stop lying like that Vanille. Just what part of what we're going to do to Lexie will be peaceful?"

Vanille patted Fang on the back playfully. "Come on don't be like that, I just told a little white lie so Hope wouldn't worry about it. Now let's get business and find that twit."

Fang cracked her knuckles.

Sometime later Lightning arrived home to her empty house. The lights were off and it seemed even more empty then it was. It was a lot of house for one person and sometimes all that space just reminded Lightning of how alone she was, like right now. When Lightning left she forgot her bags in the hotel and they have to be sent here later. At the time she didn't want to go and pack but just get the hell out of that place.

Lightning went to the kitchen and opened a bottle of red wine and filled a glass. She still had about five days off from her work but now what was she supposed to do with it all? She considered just going back in to work tomorrow just for something to do. 'How pathetic, I don't even know how to enjoy my own free time.'

Then there was the issue of Lexie and her photograph, how long until that mess made it back here. What would everyone say then, could she even keep her job when that got out, maybe it would be better if she just resign before any scandal broke.

"That was the worst vacation ever." Lightning said bitter and took a long drink of wine. Then she thought of Hope and the weight on her mind eased, she let herself smile as she thought of Hope's kiss. "Okay, maybe it wasn't all that bad."

Well what ever happened would happen tomorrow and right now Lightning was to drained to do anything about it. She just take her wine go into the living room and unwind with some music and a good book. As it happened Lightning didn't read a single page or hear to a one song but she did enjoy a few glasses of wine and dosed off on her sofa.

A few hours later a rainstorm broke and the gentle rhythmic patter of rain on the roof almost but Lightning under even more. Then there came a loud pounding at her front door, it took a few minutes for Lightning to get up and answer.

'Must be my things from the hotel.' Lightning thought as she pulled open the door.

There stand in the rain, much to Lightning's great surprises and pleasure, was Hope who was looking like a half drowned lost puppy. Hope had taken the last airship to Bodhum and ran through the rain to get to Lightning's home like his life depended on it. "Can I come in?"

Lightning didn't say anything and just pulled Hope inside her home and into a hug. She didn't care one bit that his wet clothing was now dripping on her as well.

"What happened? Why are you here?"

"I didn't want to leave alone so I took the next flight out here to be with you. I had to rush so I didn't have time to pack anything."

"You mean these are the only clothes you have?" Lightning asked looked at Hope and his socked though clothing.

Hope smiled sheepishly as he dripped allover Lightning's floor. "Yeah, I guess I wasn't planning that far a head."

It was reckless of Hope to just take off like that but it made Lightning happy that he was here with her. Here with her, in her home with no one around. With no one to get in their way. Suddenly the idea of going into work tomorrow faded as a world of possibility's open up to Lightning.

"Let's get you out of those wet clothes." Lightning said slowly choosing her words carefully.

"Do you have something dry I could change into?" Hope asked as he took off his jacket and found Lightning's hands pulling on his shirt.

Lightning peeled Hope's wet shirt off him like it was a second skin. Her hands danced over his cool, soft and wet chest as she kissed him with a new found hunger and need that wasn't their before. Hope could feel the change in Lightning kiss and her touch, he could feel how she wanted him.

"I said I wanted to get you out of your wet clothing. I didn't say one word about you changing into dry ones."

"But Lightning then how will I stay warm? Maybe you have something I could 'snuggle' with to stay warm." Hope asked coyly as his own hands slipped under at Lightning's skirt.

"I'm sure I'll find someway to keep you nice and warm." Lightning said as she and Hope kissed.

That night Lightning learned several interesting things about her home. One, that her living room carpet could feel even better the a white sand beach. Two, that her shower could be far more invigorating then a waterfall. Lastly that her bed had more possibilities for adventure then any tropical island. Of course this was all depended on having someone you loved to share it all with.

Lightning gasped through dry blood red lips as her hot sweaty body twisted with Hope under her bed sheets. She could feel Hope touching her, feel him inside her, They were so wrapped up in each other that it was overpowering her. As their body's gave in to the need for sleep Lightning pulled Hope close to her and kissed him goodnight.

"Best vacation ever." Lightning said before joining her lover in a restful sleep.

-several hours before and back on the island-

Lexie smiled happily to herself as everything was going her way. Already she managed to force Lightning off the island and soon she would ruin her completely. She double checked the image on her camera and smiled.

'Who knew one little picture could do so much damage? Now the only question is when I send this off to her superiors at the Guardian Core what caption should I use with it. Sexual Predator or maybe something a little more whimsical like Cradle Robber?'

Lexie was heading down the a hallway to her room to send the picture out to anyone and everyone who could hurt Lightning. However leaning against the door to her room was an unexamined guardian, Fang.

"Hey girl, got any nice vacation photos you want to show me?" why was it when Fang said that it didn't sound like a question.

Lexie took a few tentative steeps back holding her camera close to her. "I know you, your that crazy ass Amazon freak who was hanging around Lightning and Hope?"

"Flattery wont get you anywhere with me. Now why don't you just hand over your camera and leave my friends alone? If you do I might just go easy on you."

Vanille walked out for a side hallway behind Lexie, the girl was now trapped between the two Pulse. "Go easy on her, now who's the liar Fang?"

"Come on Vanille she might have bought it even if there is now why in hell I'm going to let her gets off without a beating."

The only way Lexie was going to get out of this was to make it past one of them and Vanille was far less threatening then Fang. Lexie made a brake for it and dodged past Vanille. Vanille was indifferent to the girl's flight and just let her pass by, she did however grab her rod off her back.

Lexie was half way down the hallway and was thinking she was home free when several steel bowlers wrapped around her. Her legs snagged under and she landed face first into the floor, hard.

"Nice cast."

"But this one's to small I think I should throw it back."

Vanille pulled back on her rode and sent the bound girl flying back to them. Lexie bounced off the floor and ceiling a few times before landing in a heap in front of her tormentors. Her camera had also slipped from her hands and landed back down the hallway..

"What do we have here?" a new female voice asked.

Lexie looked up hoping to find some salvation from the passing stranger. "Pleas you have to help me!" Lexie's hopes were soon crushed when she saw it was Lightning's sister Searh.

Serah picked up Lexie's fallen camera and took out the data card. "is this the only copy of the picture you have?"

"Yes, I didn't have time to make a copy."

Searh snapped the data card in two between her fingers. "Well that's half my business out of the way." she said as she walked over to join Vanille and Fang. "Now then I'm not happy with my sisters recent behavior or her choice in lovers but Lightning is my sister. So if anyone screws with my sister then their screwing with me, no their screwing with all of us and that's not a good thing." The three women seemed to towered over Lexie who was still laid out on the floor.

"This will be just like a girls night out." Fang said with a cold feral smile.

"I'd hardly call a beat down feminine bonding?" Serah add as she worked some stiffness out of her joints in preparation for a most one sided fight.

"Yeah, well next time we'll watch chick flicks all night and cry into our popcorn. So are we doing to do this or what?"

It may come as some relief to you know that after this Lexie became a changed girl and amended her bitchy ways. In the years to come she would be a honor roll student and go on to attend a prestigious collage. That all happened after learning a life lesson from Fang, Serah and Vanille. Don't bully people because you never know if they have friends who don't give a shit about anything and will just happily beat your bitch ass down.

Naturally the next day Serah, Snow, Fang, Vanille, Sazh and Dajh were asked to leave the island. So everyone decided to head to Bodhum and spent the rest of their vacation there at Lightning's house. Lightning wasn't expecting them back so soon and they thought it be fun to just walk in and surprise her. Now they didn't know that Lightning and Hope were already enjoying their time alone and each other.

Weren't they all in for a nice surprise.

-End-

I think I may have had Lightning and Hope moving to fast. After all it was only a few chapters ago I had Lightning telling Hope to hold off on sex until he was older and now I have her being sexually aggressive with him. I'll just chuck it up to Lightning didn't like the idea of Hope have sex with Lexie but she was okay if he wanted her.

A good part of me thinks this is a good place to leave off on. The only other thing I can think of now for this story would be what happen when Searh and Snow walk in on and Lightning and Hope in bed the next day. Why it sounds funny and feel like it could lead somewhere I just can't see it going longer then a page or two.

Still I might do something later to wrap this all but if I don't and if this really is the end of it all I'd just like to say thank you.

I've had fun with this fic and thanks for all your help and reviews.