There was a warm smile on Riku's face as he sat at Kairi's bedside, and he wiped his eyes. She looked up with a tired but joyful look in her eyes, and he stroked her hair and leaned in to kiss her forehead.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked. She sounded exhausted, and he couldn't blame her.
"Mm…" He nuzzled the side of her head, earning a giggle. "Just pondering the things we've been through."
Somehow, more specifically, he found himself thinking back to the day he had proposed to her about two years previous. It certainly hadn't been the way he expected to when he was younger, considering their relationship hadn't exactly been ordinary. They hadn't quite been officially been dating, though he'd taken her out for an evening every once in a while just to see her smile, to try to make her happy. He had caught her completely off guard when he pulled out a box with a diamond ring within.
"Riku…?" she had nearly squeaked.
"I'm sorry." That had been the first thing he said. "I know this isn't entirely what we expected. If… If we hadn't lost Sora, this probably wouldn't be happening." Tears had welled up in her eyes as he continued. "I know I'm not him. I know you were a lot closer to him, and that's perfectly fine. I messed up a lot, and he kept you safe. And these last couple of years have been really hard." He'd fallen silent, gathering his thoughts. "But I've finally started to see you smile again, and I don't want that to go away."
"Riku… I…" He'd shaken his head.
"I promise I'll keep you safe, Kairi," he'd continued. "I'll do everything I can to make you happy. I don't want to see you lose yourself in sadness any longer. So… If you'll let me, I want to stay at your side, not just as a friend. Let me protect your heart. Please." It had taken her some time to give him any kind of response, and when she finally did, it wasn't anything he had expected. She'd fallen against him and wrapped her arms around his back tightly, burying her face in his shoulder.
"Oh, Riku, I'm so sorry," she'd blubbered as he gently returned her embrace. "I'm sorry I've made you feel like this. Please don't feel like you're not good enough… You're my best friend and I'd be devastated if I lost you." She'd pulled back slightly to look into his eyes, tears dripping down her face. "Please don't think I'm settling for you or anything. I…" He'd grunted as she kissed him and blushed when she pulled back to meet his eyes again. "I love you, Riku. Some part of me always has."
"But…" He'd frowned. "I… Kind of figured you and Sora would end up together." She'd shaken her head.
"I… I can't say for sure what would have happened if he had survived," she'd admitted. "But nothing was set in stone. Riku, you mean so much to me, and please forgive me for making you feel like this." She'd given him a weak smile and wiped her eyes. "I love you. Nothing would make me happier than to marry you." He had smiled as well and blinked back his own tears of joy and relief, and he'd retrieved her hand and placed the ring on her finger.
"I love you too, Kairi," he'd told her, and she'd stretched up to kiss him again, more gently this time. "I promise. I'll make you happy and I'll keep you safe."
"You already do, Riku," she'd replied. "More than you know. Thank you."
Despite her repeated reassurance, it had taken him quite some time to get over his guilt and an unfortunate inferiority complex. He had accepted back when he and Sora first closed the Door to Darkness that he had no chance with Kairi, had trusted Sora to take care of her. And when Sora had done the same, trusted him to take care of her as the last of his life faded from his body, it left Riku feeling conflicted for quite some time. Sora had died saving him from Xehanort's final act of darkness, and more than once Riku had wished it had been the other way around. Even after their wedding, he couldn't help the doubt in the back of his mind and the guilt still clutching his heart that he had taken something from Sora.
But now, he couldn't be happier, and trusted their lost friend was still with them in some way, watching over them, hopefully happy for them. He kissed Kairi's temple, then looked down with a warm smile at the newborn she held in her arms. He gently stroked his infant son's head, mindful of how fragile the child seemed. But he attributed that to him simply being a newborn. Riku could sense the beginnings of a strong heart within the child.
He looked up at the sound of soft knocking and found Ventus peeking in with a grin on his face.
"Hey, can we come in?" he asked, and Riku exchanged a quick look with his wife, then nodded. Ventus made his way to Kairi's opposite side with Aqua following him, and she smiled warmly as she took her husband's hand.
"How is he?" she asked as she looked down at the newborn.
"He's fine," Kairi replied with a proud smile. "Healthy and strong."
"Just like his mother," Riku added, and she gave him a curt look. He smiled and leaned in to kiss her again. The infant cooed softly, stirring and looking up at Riku with the same bright blue eyes as his father.
"I think he likes you," Ventus laughed, and Riku snorted slightly.
"I certainly hope my son likes me," he replied. "I'd like to at least have some time before he hits his awkward teenage years where he thinks I'm a hopeless dork."
"Well, you are kind of a dork," Kairi teased, and he smirked at her.
"You're the one who agreed to marry me," he pointed out, and she smiled warmly.
"And I'm glad I did," she said. "I love you, Riku."
"And I love you, Kairi," he replied warmly. Once again, he kissed her temple, then leaned down to kiss the top of his son's head.
"So," Ventus tilted his head slightly. "Any idea of what you want to name him?" Kairi looked up and met Riku's gaze, and they both smiled, though Ventus could see traces of old sadness in their eyes.
"I don't think it's much of a question," Kairi said as she looked down at her son. Riku shut his eyes, taking a soft breath, and nodded in agreement. Ventus smiled as well and lowered his head for a moment, then looked back up and held his hand out slightly.
"May I?" he asked, and both Riku and Kairi nodded. He leaned in and held his hand toward the infant, who gently wrapped his tiny hand around Ventus's finger. Ventus felt his eyes water as well, though his heart swelled with happiness. He spoke softly, earning a gentle coo from the boy.
"Hello, Sora."
