Author's Note: So, the story never stops for a writer. I finished my third book and am currently editing it for grammar and coherency in my spare time. But I still write.

For those of you who are JUST dropping in, I must tell you, this is... well, it's not the sequel... but it's an addition to the fanfiction I already have up: All the Pieces Lie Where They Fell.

I'm not exactly sure what made me think of it, but I was wondering how they would explain the addition of Namine, Roxas and Xion on the islands. Thus, these little scenes were born. All of this will have taken place BEFORE my epilogue. Between chapters 93 and 94, basically.

So, I would recommend reading that first, not that anything in here is really spoiler-heavy; but to get a more accurate view of my KHverse, I'd start there.

For those of you who are coming back: Hi! Missed me? By the way, my profile's been updated with a complete FAQ/Q&A of everything as it relates to AtP thus far. You should check it out if you haven't already.

This first scene is with Riku, because he was the one who started talking first, go figure. The rest will be posted as soon as I get them tidied up and betaed and whatnot. There are five scenes, but one of them is too long to just be one chapter, so expect like, 7 or 8 chapters in total. (ish) All of the scenes happen pretty simultaneously and will build off of one another.

No copyright infringement is intended by this. Kingdom Hearts belongs to Square Enix and Disney and anybody else who might have a share in that.

"I know you're a replica, but please tell me you understand the concept of two parents…"

xx

-Destiny Islands-

The sun was just setting as Riku quietly let himself into the front room of his house. It felt odd, he had nothing with him—though he had actually taken things the last time he had left. But his pack was on the Gummi Ship, which wasn't here.

"Riku?" came a voice from the kitchen. "Is that you?"

"Mother?" Riku asked, though he already knew it was her. "I'm home."

Xion stood quietly behind Riku, waiting for someone to mention her.

A short woman with blonde hair that had many silver streaks in it came out of the kitchen, holding a sopping wet dishtowel. She had sharp blue eyes, like her son. She threw the towel down and ran over to embrace her son. Xion noticed that she was a head shorter than Riku and that Riku hugged her very gently, as if afraid she would break.

"How was saving the worlds?" his mother asked.

Riku laughed. "It was fine, I guess. We met a lot of new people, speaking of which…"

Riku's mother cocked her head to one side as she took in the sight of Xion.

"Mother, this is Xion. I was wondering if she could sleep in the spare room we have? She doesn't have a home…"

Riku's mother's brow furrowed. "You two aren't, together, are you?"

Riku and Xion both laughed.

"Together? You have got to be kidding me… him and Namine are all…"

"Like I would ask you to host my girlfriend! Besides, her and Roxas…"

"Namine?" Riku's mother asked.

"I'll bring her by tomorrow," Riku said. "Promise."

"She here, on the islands?"

Riku nodded.

"I'll make dinner."

"No, Mother, you don't have to!"

"Of course I have to! Have you two eaten?"

"Not since Castle Oblivion," Xion said. "And it was a large meal, Aerith and Cid make so much food."

"If you've got something already fixed up, I could eat something," Riku said.

Riku's mother beamed. "You find yourselves a seat at the table and I'll bring it right out. Then while you two are eating, I'll get that room fixed up for Xion. Will you need clothes?"

"Kairi said she would get some stuff," Xion said. "I'll be fine."

Riku's mother nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.

"How much does she know?" Xion asked Riku.

"Mother? Oh, I told her everything."

Xion raised an eyebrow, knowing what everything entailed.

"I had to tell her the gruesome stuff too. I wouldn't be able to come home and live with myself if I didn't."

They lapsed into silence, the only sound in the house being the clinking dishes in the kitchen as Riku's mother prepared the food.

"Are you going to ask about him?" Riku asked her, his voice tense.

"About who?" Xion asked, looking puzzled.

"My father."

Xion cocked her head to one side.

"Oh come on," Riku said. "I know you're a replica, but please tell me you understand the concept of two parents…"

Xion blinked. "Well, yes. Well enough, anyways. Why does it matter?"

"Because, usually, by now people start asking where he is, now that they've met my mother."

"People like who?"

"You'll meet them," Riku said. "Tidus, and Wakka, and Selphie."

"Well, since you've piqued my curiosity, where is he?"

"Gone," Riku's mother replied, coming out of the kitchen. She placed a plate of pot roast in front of each of them, alongside some mashed potatoes and steamed carrots.

Riku sighed, knowing she had not just had this sitting around.

"Gone as in, how?" Xion asked, picking up a fork and a knife.

"Just got up and left one day," she replied, bitterness in her voice. "Left Riku with no fatherly figure in his life except Sora's dad, who did an excellent job. But still…"

She shook her head and sighed. "Anyway, what happened to your parents, sweetie?"

Xion wasn't able to answer right away because her mouth was full. She wasn't sure how she was going to answer. She didn't have parents… not really.

"She's a replica, Mother," Riku said, his voice calm.

Xion swallowed, unsure how Riku's mother would react to that.

Riku's mother raised an eyebrow, nothing more.

"That won't be a problem, will it?" Riku asked.

"Not at all," she replied. "Riku, honey, you could bring home fifty people of any race or type and I wouldn't care, so long as you came in and said hello every now and then."

Relief washed over Xion. She wondered if it was obvious.

"Well, I'm actually going to be home more now," Riku said.

"Oh, really?" Riku's mother inquired.

"Well, I hope I can be," he said, thinking. "I was thinking that maybe if we all stayed here and left on smaller trips to fight the darkness, maybe it could work. I still have to run it by Sora though."

"Would you be around enough to go to school?" Riku's mother inquired.

Riku snorted. "You're kidding, right?"

She shrugged. "I've got to ask."

"School?" Xion asked.

"I'll explain tomorrow. Just like I'll tell you all about what happened, Mother."

Riku's mother beamed. "And you'll bring Namine by?"

Riku flushed. "Yes."

She smiled.

xx

Later that evening, after everyone had retired to their rooms, Riku lay on his bed, thinking. He needed to be sure of something…

He got up and walked down the hall to his mother's room. He knocked before entering.

"Come in," she called.

He let himself in quietly.

"What is it, Riku?" she asked.

"It's okay, that Xion stays here, isn't it?" he asked. "You didn't just agree because she was sitting right there, did you?

She nodded. "Of course! I don't mind at all. I'm just glad that you're home and fighting on the side of light."

Riku smiled.

"I'll treat her like I would my own daughter," she said. "I must ask, though. Why were you the one to bring her home, couldn't Kairi…"

"Namine's staying with Kairi," Riku replied. "And I'll explain that all tomorrow. It's a long story."

"Okay, then. Good night, Riku."

She stood up on her toes and kissed his forehead. He had to lean down a little to let her, but he didn't mind.

"I love you," she said.

"Love you too, Mother," he replied, letting himself out of the room.