[Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts]
Aqua first thought was to laugh hysterically, but she decided to keep quiet and bite her tongue.
Terra and Ven were arguing again. Over what; she didn't know. Probably over some trivial matter, like whether Ven was stronger than Terra, or who got first dibs on freshly baked cookies.
"Oh, come ON, Terra."
"Ha! No."
This time Aqua couldn't hold back her giggle. The two of them acted exactly as if they were brothers; depending on each other, supporting each other, picking on each other...
When Terra and Ven noticed that Aqua was laughing at them, they both frowned.
"Oi, Aqua, do you always have to do that?" Terra scowled as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"You mean laugh at you?" Aqua mused, smiling. "Maybe."
Ven groaned.
Still smiling, Aqua patted Ven on the head. "I'm just teasing! That's what family does, after all."
"Really?" Ven gave her a puzzled look.
"Hmm-mm."
Terra smirked a little, pacing around Aqua a few times. "Such a girl." His reply was a kick in the shins.
Staring at the ground, Ven cocked his head sideways, thinking.
"Aqua?"
"Yes?" She turned away from Terra, who was wincing, around to face the spiky-hair teen.
"You see us as a family?"
Aqua nodded. "Of course. Why else would I say that?"
Pausing briefly, Ven grinned at her. "I don't know." He glanced down at the dirt. "I see us as a family too... I guess."
"So," Terra interrupted, rubbing the sore area of his leg. "Does that make me the lazy dad, Master the sleepy grandpa, you the overprotective mom, and Ven the annoying teen-aged son?"
Aqua rolled her eyes. "Sure, why not?" she replied, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
There was a silence before the three of them burst into laughter.
It was then, as she fell over onto the dew-filled grass, gasping for air, that Aqua knew that she truly meant what she said about them being a family. Looking at Terra and Ven, her heart filled up with the best feelings that existed; love, trust, laughter, excitement. Aqua would never trade their bonds for anything else in the world.
Well, as long as she didn't have to be the mother.