Minus Six II: Pandora's Box  Hope had looked and sounded as
emotionally fragile as Serah was.   She had been more prepared
this time (after her experience with Serah), but was still as
sorely surprised, if not more - she hadn't expected to recieve a
Hope who had dropped to his knees and clung to her hands like
they were his lifeline, his head bowed, sobbing out apologies -
and Lightning had rather awkwardly alternated between trying to
reassure him and getting him to stand, while Serah carried Raine
out of the kitchen - and the soldier was grateful that Serah
knew a private scene when she saw one, even when the younger
Farron was still struggling with her own emotions.  He wouldn't
release his grip on her even when she tried to pry them off
gently - and it was an odd feeling to have his larger, stronger
hands grasp hers and make it difficult for her to move (without
hurting him) instead of the other way round - she could still
remember the day when he had been just a little over half her
size, and when she ha