A/N: Surprise! And Happy Heart Day! I bet you guys didn't see this one coming, did you? I've been thinking about this story for quite a while, but I didn't know how to write it. I don't even know how I managed to write all of this in six hours. The words just flowed. By the way, this story takes place after Lightning Returns. I never finished the game, nor have I ever spoiled myself, so please be mindful of that. I wanted to continue my version of her journey following the conclusion of Heir to Chaos. If anyone is wondering what the proper chronological order to reading my Lightning and Caius stories, it's Chorus Mortis, Nothing to Lose, and Heir to Chaos.

Anyway, I'll stop rambling now. Thank you again for stopping by! Oh! Please let me know which category this story should be in. I can't decide if it belongs in XIII-2 or Lightning Returns. Do let me know in the reviews!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Summary: The age of gods and fiends is over. The age of man began in the New World. Heartful and happy, Claire Farron is ready to live peacefully once more until an anomaly from the heavens struck the apple tree. Confused and fueled by curiosity, she pressed onward and discovered the last person she never wanted to see again; him. R&R!


Home is Where the Heart Is (Part 1)

Beep, beep, beep! The rustic clock rang terribly on the oak nightstand, jumping and rumbling as best as it was programmed to do. Beep, beep, beep, the unpleasant melodies chimed. A hand finally surfaced after a minute, fumbling across the messy surface, tapping around for the blasted contraption. The hand finally found the jumping clock and silenced it with as little effort as possible with a push of a button. The blanket rustled. A groan escaped from the soft, cavernous blanket.

"I hate mornings."

She's awake. The body beneath the blanket shuffled more and revealed a pink-haired woman; hair exploded in every direction. It was quite unsightly. Rubbing her eyes then released a much-needed yawn, Claire's eyes looked around the room, as she did every morning at seven o'clock. The curtains swayed from a passing breeze. Her eyes hopped to the black and white clock hung on the wallpaper wall.

"Time to get up."

By seven-thirty AM, Claire was in the kitchen cooking all sorts of delicious delights. Buttermilk pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, toast, octopus-shaped sausages with seaweed eyebrows, and the ultimate favorite, non-fat bacon. Holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a spatula in another, the sound of eggs sizzled on the non-stick pan. Mixing the eggs around, a column of gray smoke rose and, with it, carried the aroma of freshly cooked eggs through the house. The smell snaked through the living space, up the stairs, and into a bedroom down the narrow hallway.

Dropping two pieces of toast followed by a bottle of raspberry jam on the table, the sound of tiny yet mighty footsteps thundered from above, down the stairs, and into the kitchen. A smile formed across her lips while she grabbed his favorite Chocobo cup and chocolate milk from the fridge. Young Klaus rushed to his mother, stuffing his face into her apron. Claire could not help but smile at her son.

"Good morning." She greeted warmly.

"Good morning, mommy!" The little boy squealed, looking at her with his big, round, baby blue eyes.

The woman rubbed his head, running her fingers through his thick purple locks.

"And happy birthday, Klaus. You're four now."

"Am I a big boy now?"

The smile never left her face. She nodded. "Almost. When Auntie Serah picks you up from school today, mommy will throw you a party today and give Klaus a very special present."

And just like that, his eyes widened to the size of hardboiled eggs. "Birthday! Birthday!" Klaus rejoiced while he jumped with joy.

"Go and eat your breakfast before it gets cold. Mommy poured chocolate milk into your Chocobo cup."

If his eyes could light up, even more, they would glow by now. "Thank you, mommy!"

Klaus dashed to the table and scrambled into his chair. Claire's heart swelled with unconditional love for her son. Leaning by the marble counter, she picked up her coffee cup and watched Klaus decide how to eat his breakfast. His tiny hands moved much faster than his brain could process. She could tell how excited he was at the sight of toast and jam. His legs swung happily beneath the table while smearing the thick jam across the toast before munching down, sending crumbs raining down onto the ceramic plate. As she continued to watch him, Claire could not believe she had a son. Sometimes, she thought she was still dreaming, sitting on Etro's throne as the world crumbled.

Klaus reminded her of that man, a name she vowed never to speak. Claire quietly strolled down memory lane, starting from the beginning, the first confrontation on Valhalla's black sandy shores all those years ago. How could she forget the moment her eyes met the Time Guardian? She could not. Claire remembered their subsequent clashes across the land, ensnared in a timeless loop. Every day, they battled across Valhalla's vast arena, bombarding each other with cataclysmic spells and swordplay. Claire remembered the moments where she believed she bested him, where she could stand victorious over her nemesis. It never happened. In the end, he bested her and—

Stop. Stop thinking about the past.

She looked up and watched Klaus empty the Chocobo cup. Quickly hopping out of his seat, the boy rushed to his mother and smiled. She dabbed the side of his lip with her apron.

"There you go. Now, are you ready for school?"

He instantly made a face before giggling. He loved school! In fact, he told his mom he was the most popular kid in his class because he had a lot of friends. Sometimes, he was too pure for this world, she mused. His giggles always found a way to brighten the day, well, any day, to be more precise. Claire placed the cup onto the counter and guided Klaus to the front door. The boy excitedly rushed to the small red and white stool he used for putting on his shoes. Claire grabbed her keys and tote bag while she waited.

Doing a final check, she nodded at him. The boy dashed out of the front door, through the front gate, and waited for the school bus. She followed behind and turned her head toward the road. Glancing at her wristwatch, it was almost eight. Her eyes observed the arm glide across the numbered surface, passing the twelve mark. On cue, the sputtering sounds of the bus echoed from down the road. Within minutes, the sunshine-colored vehicle spread from the horizon.

Claire knelt. "Alright. Be a good boy today, okay?"

"Okay, mommy!"

She kissed his forehead as the bus rolled to a stop. The doors hissed open. "See you later, Klaus. Mommy loves you."

The doors closed. Klaus rushed to his favorite seat, ecstatically waving at his mother as the vehicle reversed, traveling back to the main road. Soon, it was out of sight. A sigh escaped her lips. Resting a hand over her heart, she momentarily thought about the boy and suddenly… his father.

"No. Stop that." Claire shook her head, dislodging the thought. "He doesn't exist. We don't need him anymore. We're happy."

Claire tossed her attention to the apple tree planted on the edge of the cliff, looking out at the ocean. The lone tree was, perhaps, Etro's last gift to her. The Goddess of Death gifted her an apple tree that refused to bloom. Apple season was in season. All the trees in the town sprouted apples of all shapes, sizes, and colors apart from this one. She shrugged. Whatever. Turning her back to it, she locked the white gate and focused on making her way into town to buy ingredients for today's birthday party. And, of course, his gift.


2:14 pm.

Claire appeared over the horizon with arms cradling, or rather, juggling several paper bags in her arms. Her tote bag was about to burst at the seams from groceries she picked up from today's fresh market. The woman grunted and struggled with each taken step walking forward on the dirt road to her house. She took a moment to glance up at the blue-tinted sky above her. All she saw was a beautiful expanse of clear, blue skies with pockets of cotton-shaped clouds with silver linings. Her eyes dropped to the scene beyond yonder, watching the horizon burst into striking red and yellow hues. The woman looked at her wristwatch and tilted in confusion. Strange. The skies shouldn't be this color at this hour.

Tossing her attention back at the horizon, her heart skipped several beats at the sight of thick, gray clouds lingering above the sea. The clouds contorted. Thunder cracked. The winds around her picked up, singing to her. Hollow-sounding songs played around her in a tempo she recognized. Soft, raspy voices slipped into her ear, sending chills down her spine. Claire shook her head and hastened her steps. The dark clouds over the sea transformed into a menacing cluster, smiting the sea with vicious precision. The woman stepped forward, and the skies shrieked. Crack! A vortex suddenly gathered above her home, swirling clockwise.

Claire took no chances and dashed home, commanding her legs to transport her to safety.

"Move it!" she shouted.

The woman reached the front gate with her heart madly drumming in her chest, propelled by sheer panic. Her fingers fumbled on the lock, trying her fastest to unlock the damned thing.

"Come on!"

The lock clicked. On cue, the heavens sent a lightning spear to the apple tree. Claire was knocked off her feet, stumbling backward, and crashed on the ground as she was blinded by light. She covered her ears and head from the lightning bolts striking the land. High-velocity winds howled and ripped the rough green meadow. Claire kept her eyes closed, waiting for the storm to pass. Curling into a ball, she prayed for the madness to cease.

"Take care of him."

A voice. Who? Take care of who? The organ thumped ferociously in her chest while another lightning bolt struck the ground next to her.

"Give him another chance at life," The voice murmured. "Please, I beg you. He yearns for a simple life."

Wait. I know that voice.

"Save him, Claire Farron."

The heavens smite the apple tree. Claire remained curled in a fetal position for the next two minutes, waiting for the anomaly to end its reign of terror. Her limbs refused to take commands from her heart. She didn't realize her body was paralyzed from the encounter. It was stiff and cold—a few more seconds rolled by. Claire drew in a deep breath and cautiously lifted her head to survey the damage. Making sure the storm passed, she warily sat upright while her blue eyes traversed the terrain. Claire expected to see charred grass and pockets of crackling flames.

"Nothing…?"

She was confused, perplexed even. How was that possible? The storm should have left some damage from its wake, yet not a trace of it was visible. Now on her feet, Claire gently breathed, eyes locked on the apple tree. She bravely stepped forward. A weak breeze pushed her from behind, guiding the woman to her destination. Her heart got excited again, bashing against her chest. Any harder, it could just explode. As she approached the tree, she exhaled. Stepping onto the grass, it crunched beneath her shoe. Tilting her head, she scanned the rugged bark for signs of damage. The smell of charred wood lingered… and wait. Apples?

Thump!

Claire almost jumped out of her skin. A bright red apple rolled to her foot. Mumbling under her breath, she bent down to pick it up and realized very quickly she wasn't alone. Her eyes dropped onto an outstretched gloved hand. Again, her heart thumped. Claire forcefully swallowed a ball of spit lodged in the back of her throat. As her gradually eyes traced up the armor-clad arm, it was then she saw his face.

A sudden gust of wind rolled over his sleeping face. It was him, the Time Guardian, and the man known to her as Klaus's father.

Her voice could barely say his name. "Caius." She said the name. "I can't believe it. It's… It's you. You're back."