Author's Note: I'm such a bad girl. I have another story in progress, but I've just fallen so in love with Birth By Sleep I had to get this out of my system. I like the whole Ven/Aqua/Terra thing always teetering on the brink of romance, but never quite getting there. I like traversing that edge, maybe tipping over once in a while, but usually the edge does it for me. And it's so obvious how much Aqua loves her boys and how loyal she is to them so I figured this type of thing wouldn't be too far from the truth. I intended for this to be a drabble series, delving into lost moments behind the scenes or before the story even started, AU of course, but with enough vagueness so that it can kind of be taken for canon. I haven't played the whole game yet, of course, I'm still on my first storyline (Aqua's, of course) so bear with me if I get little facts wrong. with that said, my first chapter here is spoiler-free, I will be putting warnings on later chapters as needed. Enjoy!


When Dawn Breaks

I


It was half past 2 in the morning. She lay in bed, not even trying to sleep, just gazing up at the blank ceiling above her. Thoughts flew in and out of her mind like skittish birds, and she was unable to focus on any of them, a sign of how tired she was. But sleep refused to come. Sitting up slightly, she leaned her cheek against the cold wall of her small room, knowing his was directly beside it.

I bet you're already lost in some sweet dream...

She smiled slightly, rubbing a hand softly against the wall, as if it was his cheek. Her little Ven. Always so energetic and optimistic. He had an air about him that made everyone around want to protect him. He was like the light personified. The light they all fought for, the light they fought with.

She jerked her head away from the wall and her thoughts when she heard a light knocking at her door. Swiping the covers away and readjusting her nightgown, she padded on bare feet to the entrance, opening the door just a crack. She kept one hand slack and empty, anticipating her Keyblade if necessary.

"Who is it? Do you know what time it is?" she snapped. Neither Ven nor Terra should be up at this hour. It wasn't healthy.

"It's just me. I'm sorry to bother you, Aqua, but I...I couldn't sleep and I thought-" Ven's bright blue eyes seemed to twinkle in the darkness. He looked so small and helpless, standing there in his leisure shorts and t-shirt, blonde hair ruffled with his attempt at rest. She smiled sympathetically and opened the door wider.

"Come in. I'm having a little trouble sleeping myself. Must be the night air. A bit chilly for this time of year, isn't it?"

"Mmm." Ven nodded in agreement, hugging his own arms for emphasis. He looked around her room curiously, and she realized a bit too late that he'd never been in here before, let alone at night.

She debated renigging on her kindness and sending him back to bed, but sighed and followed him in after closing the door silently. She hadn't the heart to do that.

"Your room's nicer then mine." he commented playfully, still hugging himself in the night chill. She took in the simple furnishings. a tall bookcase filled with books on philosophy, astronomy, magic, and a few on combat tactics she'd snitched from Terra and Master Eraqus's own personal collections, just to round out her self-education. She blushed a bit at the thought of snitching them. Beyond that was a white wardrobe, holding the few outfits she was permitted to own while in training, and beside it a small vanity table, with a mirror and a well-worn brush. Her bed was the standard issue, but pushed against the side wall instead of underneath her window, like Ven's was. Instead, she had a desk under the window, covered with bits of paper and some rough drawings. She dabbled in storytelling and crafts now and then, nothing she'd share with the others. She was constantly afraid of coming off "too girly".

"I think yours is nicer." she countered, remembering all the little knick knacks he had around in his.

Ven was starting towards her desk and she reached out to stop him, but she was too late. "What's all this?" he asked softly, paging through her sketches. he stopped at one of her earlier ones. It was a childishly simple drawing of herself, Ven and Terra when they'd first started training under Eraqus.

"It's nothing, just some...stuff." she quickly started piling the papers up and shoving them away into the desk, but Ven kept hold of the sketch. His fingers gently traced the characters. She'd drawn him in the front, smiling, as always. She was a little behind him, with a hand on his shoulder in support. Terra was next to her, arms crossed. "These aren't just stuff, Aqua. these are really good! You're an artist!"

"Not really, I just like to draw people and things I like." she lifted up another sketch of master Eraqus. The proportions were off, but she'd managed to capture the man's serious gaze. She'd emphasized his hairstyle and the tuft of black hair stuck out around his head like a storm cloud. Ven couldn't help but giggle. She laughed too, just because she knew the drawing was a silly one, drawn one day when she'd been a bit less then pleased with the Master, after he'd called her out during a training session for bad form. Her drawings and writings were really her only way to let out her feelings. She'd never let anyone see them before.

Feeling a bit self conscious she looked Ven in the eyes. "Don't tell anyone about this, okay? Not even Terra. No one else knows I do this. It'll be our secret."

Ven's smile faded away and he nodded resolutely. "Of course. But...I'm just curious as to why you don't want everyone else to know how good you are. the Master always tells us to be proud of our talents and strengths."

Aqua shook her head and smiled weakly at her best friend in the whole world. "I really don't think the Master was talking about drawing, Ven." she took the rest of the papers and put them away. Ven made to give her the drawing he'd held onto, but she shook her head. "You can keep that, so you can remember our secret. And our friendship." Ven nodded and pressed the drawing to his heart before pulling it away and studying it again.

"Thank you, Aqua..." he said quietly, his eyes going misty. She draped an arm around his shoulders comfortingly.

"No, thank you, Ven. for being such a good friend." she smiled and ruffled his hair playfully. They both laughed. But then, something caught Aqua's eye.

"Look. It's the sky before dawn breaks. I've never seen it while I've lived here before...the colors are so nice."

Ven turned and took in the astounding sight of night just before morning began. The stars were still lit, but the sky behind them was tinged with pinks and purples in between the darkest blue.

"Wow...it's so beautiful..." he put the picture down and leaned up against the window with both hands, like a little kid looking at a thunderstorm. Aqua felt such overwhelming love in her heart at that moment, such gratitude for the luck that had given her Ventus and Terra.

"There's supposed to be a meteor shower one night next week, if my new almanac's to be believed." she commented offhandedly, joining Ven by the window, pressing her hands against the cold glass.

"Really? Like, falling stars?"

"Yup! a bunch of 'em all at once. It's something else. If you're up late and catch it, that is."

"Oh." Ven's face grew thoughtful. "If I do, want to come outside and watch it with me? Terra too!"

Aqua sighed and sat on her bed, her fatigue finally catching up with her as she held her head and her eyes fluttered.

"I don't know, Ven. I haven't been sleeping too well lately, and staying up late to watch a meteor shower won't help."

She didn't tell him why she was having trouble. She didn't want to bother such an innocent soul with the burdens of her nightmares. But they were always so vivid and real...

Something dark was coming. Bad things were supposed to happen. And she was going to lose everything...

"I'm sorry...Maybe I should go? Let you rest."

Ven made to leave, clutching the drawing in his left hand, but as he passed her, Aqua's hand shot out and took his wrist. She seemed to be having trouble articulating what she wanted.

"No...I...Do you think...would it be alright if you stayed here with me? Just for tonight. I feel like...I'll sleep better...knowing you're here."

Ven's face was clouded with doubt. He was probably thinking through all the things that were wrong with her request, what Terra and the Master would say come morning drills, finding him in here with her, and all the implications it would begin. But seeing how sad her eyes were, how sincere her question was, and the warmth of her hand on his wrist...

"Alright...I guess one night wouldn't hurt. Might be fun!"

Aqua immediately went about making the floor beside her bed as comfortable as possible, piling up all her spare blankets and quilts into a soft mattress and giving him her downiest pillow.

"All comfy?" she asked sleepily once he'd flopped onto the makeshift bed. He didn't answer, simply gave her a thumbs up and a contented smile. with a giggle she swooped down and gave him a swift kiss on the forehead, then lay down.

"Good night, Ven."

"Good night, Aqua."

"Sweet Dreams."

"Sweet Dreams."

Aqua lay there for a while, just watching Ven sleep, the steady rise and fall of his chest, and the easy way his eyes roamed about behind his eyelids in dreams. One of his arms was leaning up against her bedframe, and his hand was raised towards her. She gently took it, so as not to wake him, and gave it a soft squeeze. Remarkably, he returned the squeeze and smiled, still asleep, then turned over, away from her. She withdrew her hand and finally allowed her eyes to close.

I never want to lose this. Lose him...lose us...I will never allow it. I'd die first...

and as she lost herself within her haunting nightmares and shallow sleep, dawn broke.