I wanted to expand my head-canon a bit, mainly with more Ven/Aqua sibling goodness. In my head, Ven was dropped off by Old Man Xehanort at the age of twelve, and Aqua was thirteen while Terra was fourteen. The ages are due to me thinking "How long did these three know each other to be such great friends?" I may write more of these, and probably have one that explains why I see Aqua as a lesbian (not to bash the shippers who pair her with any of the guys, but have you all seen how she acts around Cinderella?). This is also going to be the only one to connect to Darkness Within, unless further chapters in that story ask for an explanation fic.

Read, enjoy, and review if you'd like.

"Aqua!"

The bluenette shot up from her bed, getting tangled in her sheets. Feeling lucky that she had fallen asleep in a tank top and gym shorts, Aqua sat up quicker than before.

In her doorway was Ven, wearing his pajamas as well, and looking scared.

"What's wrong Ven?"

He pointed out her window.

Outside was a storm, and a fierce one at that. Aqua then remembered how the blond was afraid of them.

The thirteen-year-old motioned for the twelve-year-old to come over, patting the side of her bed that was undisturbed by her rushed awakening.

He rushed under the covers, trembling.

Aqua bit her lip. He had woken up a moth ago with no memories, and had been here for only three months. It upset her to see him so scared.

"C'mere. Big sis Aqua will keep ya safe," she whispered.

She fell onto her back and held Ven close as he curled up against her, almost like a cat.

Aqua patted his head, kissing the top of it softly. She told the boy faerie tales she knew, calming him down before sleep took both of them.

Master Eraqus started the routine check of rooms the next morning, the birds waking him up, the soft patter rain dripping from the roof nearly lulling him back to sleep.

But, he still got up and checked Terra's room first.

The fourteen-year-old was sprawled on his bed, sheets nearly off, room a wreck. And he was snoring, too.

Eraqus left the brunet to sleep in. Today would be an off day, he decided. No training.

Next was Ven's room.

The bed was made, hadn't really been touched, and there was no sleeping blond in it, the room itself slightly messy, almost as if someone was trying to hide then ran out.

Aqua's room was last.

Her room was neat and organized, everything magically sorted. Resting on the bed, under the neat covers and sheets was the bluenette and the boy she considered a brother in her arms. Both were sleeping calmly, but had an air about them that told Eraqus that neither planned this from the start.

The older man smiled. At least two of his students got along.

"Sorry 'bout the other night," Ven said when the two had gone down to breakfast.

Terra glanced up from his meal to listen in.

"Hey, it's fine. You were scared and needed to be kept safe. I'll always protect you, Ven. You're my little brother," Aqua said with a smile. She kissed the top of his head once more, then went off to get the both of them food.

"Aqua wouldn't let me comfort her if she was scared!" Terra suddenly complained.

Eraqus shoved the brunet's face into his bowl of cereal.

"She deals with her problems on her own, Terra," their master said as Ven laughed at the sight.

Aqua had stepped up just in time to hear the master's comment. She smiled, handing Ven his food.

Today was just another day.

"Ven. . . The reason why the master said that. . . Was because I'm scared of letting others in. . . That's why I never ask for help, but I offer it. That's why. . ."

The masked woman trembled, holding her comatose friend closer.

"But I should've let you in. . . My little brother. . ."

She sighed.

"Storms really are scary. . . Like this one. . ."