I just finished Final Fantasy XIII and I absolutely loved the ending along with the story and characters. By far one of the best and easiest Final Fantasy games in my opinion.

This story is a less than action packed adventure following six years after the fall of Cocoon and their focus completed.

I do not not own Final Fantasy XIII and I hope you enjoy development of this fic.

Hopeless Romantics

Day2: New Palompolum...

He awoke the bright luminescence shining through the window right above the back board of his bed. As his eyelids lifted the light poured into his eyes blurring his vision causing the young man to shut them immediately. Ah! That light...that...Light...LIGHT!

"Hope it's time to wake up. Don't think that I'm going to let you spend your first day of being a free man sleeping in." Bartholomew called to his tiresome son who resisted the intruding light by shielding himself under his blanket.

"Eeerrrr...What time is it?" Muttered the young man under the thick blanket.

"It's nine, and now that your done with school, we should start you life off with a good ole' summer vacation son." His father offered to the disfigured pile on the bed. Never had Bartholomew felt that life was good; not since Nora had passed. But things turned around for Bartholomew six years ago when he was reunited with his son, who immediately returned to his life by engaging himself in intense study which after six years of advance schooling payed off in graduation from one of the most prestige Universities in Palompolum; one of the youngest in his class. Two years younger than most. Bartholomew's assessment of his life was abruptly interrupted by Hope's voice.

"So what did you have in mind?" The young man sat up scratching his silver hair.

Bartholomew looked at his boy. But what he was looking at was not a boy but a man. Since his return Hope had done all he could to leave his childish appearance behind along with the brand the Fal'Cie had cursed him with.

His long silver hair was cropped shorter but still retaining it's style, he was taller than his dad, his limbs lengthy and his muscles developed. He had out grown his former self.

His father put his hand on Hope's shoulder giving him a reassuring smile. "How does a week at the seaside town of Bodhum sound?"

Hope's eyes looked at his hands resting on top of the blanket covering his legs. He knew she was there. Realizing that he hadn't given his father an answer his eyes shot up in excitement.

"That sounds great." Hope gave his dad the best authentic smile he could muster.

"Okay good. We'll talk about it more when you're done showering."His father stood up and walked towards the door only to turn around once more before leaving. "Breakfast will be ready when your out."

"Sounds good." Hope smiled.

Hope undressed and turned the knob; warm water sprinkled out of nozzle in the shower. Stepping in, he closed the door behind him only to succumb to a memories of his journeys being replayed in his mind. He saw them all in clarity; Snow giving the group one of his stupid hero speeches, Sazh laughing with the chocobo chick resting on his shoulder, although they were gone he saw them both, Vanille and Fang's image never left his thoughts either. He missed them dearly. But if there was one person he missed the most it was Lightning. He owed her so much that he felt he couldn't repay. She toughened him up, she gave him advice when he was lost and confused but most of all she protected him. He hated himself for being so vulnerable when they first met, he hated that she looked down on him. But later he devoted himself to make sure that as long as they were together he would do his best to protect her as well. She was the woman who shaped him into the man he is today. And he longed to show her.

He stepped out of the shower drying himself off. After getting dressed he approached the mirror above the sink. He stared into the blue-green eyes that were his own. With a smile he left the bathroom and approached the kitchen were he could hear his father frying up bacon.

"Ah just in time my boy!" His father looking back at him.

The two sat at the table; Bartholomew flipped through the channels on the t.v, trying to spoon eggs into his mouth whilst keeping his eyes on the t.v. guide. Hope poked at his food waiting for an opportunity to ask his father about the trip.

"Um...dad?"Hope looked at his distracted father."Dad?" He wasn't listening.

"Dad!" His elevated voice caught his fathers attention.

"What is it son?" Bartholomew inquired.

"Well it's about the trip." Hope looked back down at his fork. "I was wondering where we are going to be staying..."

"Oh, well um, we are staying at a wonderfully expensive hotel inside the grand plaza on the most inner part of the town. You know, where all the mall and restaurants are." His father explained. "Oh but don't worry we won't be far from the beach...Well hell, the whole town is a beach!." He laughed.

"Okay...I was just wondering." Hope laughed. But Bartholomew knew something was wrong. It had been awhile since he had seen Hope act so reserved.

"Is there something wrong Hope?" He intended to find out what was bothering his son.

"Hmm? It's nothing. Really." Hope assured his dad trying not to raise any alarm.

"Are you sure...? Oh! I get it! Your already missing the wonders of college life! Haha I was like that when I graduated from the University too." He chucked.

"Uh yeah. You got me dad." Hope gave a depressing laugh. "Well, I'm gonna pack for the trip."

"Alright son."

In his room he looked through his dresser for apparel that suited Bodhum. He approached his desk opening a small drawer with his identification card along with his credit card. As he packed his belongings into his bag the phone on his desk began to ring. Hope looked down at the screen that displays the callers name. It read private call. With a deep breathe he picked it up.

"Hope Estheim." He spoke. There was a small part of him that wanted to hear the firm voice of his long time crush asking for him. Wanting to let him know that she loved him as much as he loved her and that she couldn't live her live without him any longer.

"Man! You sound all grown up kid!" The voice laughed surprisingly. He was close. Sorta.

"Sazh!" Hope smiled staring at the wall. Hope couldn't believe that Sazh had called his him. There was so much he wanted to say but was still in shock that an old friend of his had contacted him. Before he decided on what to say Sazh spoke.

"Hey look, we can talk when you get to Bodhum. Now don't ask how I know but we can discuss that later. When you arrive go to this address...we're all here and we are having a little get together and you're invited!" Hope listened intently while writing down the number and address. "See ya when I see ya kid! We're waiting!"

Hope sat down on his bed astonished. What a coincidence that he was just thinking about them this earlier in the shower and that now he has a chance to see them all! A chance to see her! With this news he zipped up his bag and rested on his bed staring at the ceiling waiting for tomorrow to come. Too bad it was eleven in the morning. The day couldn't have passed any more slowly than it did.

Well that's chapter one. Hope all of you enjoyed it, and I hoped I captured the characters as accurately as possible but with some small twists. I plan on the next chapter to be in Lightning's point of view and have it more interactive with the other characters.