So after over two years of posting absolutely nothing I'm finally back on with a story that's been sitting on my computer for far too long. Most of the Digimon fandom probably doesn't know who I am considering I've only ever posted three one-shots, so hi! I'm Fegs.

This is my first full-length Digimon fic, so please be kind. I'm hoping that since the Sorato fandom has been kind of dead lately that you guys are starved for something new. Like I mentioned, this has been sitting on my computer for a long time untouched and I finally got back to writing it. Obviously, it's an AU about my very favorite pairing. I'm a little nervous since I haven't posted in such a long time, so we'll see how this goes. Reviews are appreciated!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN DIGIMON. These characters are not mine.

Alright, now onto the actual story. Enjoy!

1

... ...

"There are certain people you just keep coming back to

She is right in front of you."

-All At Once, The Fray

... ...

Catherine was going to kill him.

And for probably the first time ever, Matt feared for his life. Well, figuratively, at least. He was definitely in trouble. Of all days to be late, his unfortunate bad luck chose to surface on the day of his cousin Catherine's wedding.

Twenty minutes late already, it took him another five just to find a parking spot outside the church. His feet carried him as fast as they could away from his car and up the stone stairs into the main foyer. His immediate reaction to the flood of people still finding their seats was a sigh of relief. So he wasn't late after all. Or more like the wedding was starting past its set time. Either way, it seemed luck didn't betray him today.

Across the foyer, he spotted the Groom and headed over.

"Hey Man," he greeted.

Akira grinned, and they clasped hands. "Hey."

"Ready for this?"

He shrugged, visibly nervous. "As I'll ever be."

"Well, you are marrying Catherine. I'd be nervous too."

Akira was a good guy, much to Matt's relief. Catherine was his only cousin, and as they grew older, he couldn't help but feel an obligation to be protective over her in the way a brother protected a sister.

Matt looked around the foyer before turning back to Akira. "Where is Catherine?"

"Still getting ready, I suppose." He gestured to a door a few feet away. "In there. I can't see her before the wedding." He stated before adding, "That's what she says, anyways."

That sounded like Catherine. Always following the traditional rules. Matt excused himself from the conversation and headed towards the door. Tentatively, he knocked. "Hey, it's me." Through the door, there was a muffled "come in" and he followed suit.

It wouldn't do her justice to say his cousin looked beautiful. No, it was more like stunning, incredible, breath-taking in her silk white gown and with her blonde hair tied up in a mix of loose curls.

She turned to fully face him, a smile on her fair features.

"Hi, Matty."

Matt bit his tongue to avoid cursing at her for using the nickname he so deeply despised. She dubbed him 'Matty' back when they were just kids. Being three years younger than her, there wasn't much he could do to get her to stop so the name stuck. As they grew older, he began snapping at her each time she said it, but today he would hold his tongue. Just this once.

Exhaling (both out of shock that she looked so incredible and at the tension built up for holding back a response to 'Matty'), he shook his head. "Cath…you look…"

"Thanks," she saved him from searching for the right words.

"You nervous?"

"More like anxious. I just want to be married already!" Her innate impatience shone through. "Do you think I look good enough?"

"Good enough? You look like one of my Mom's porcelain dolls."

She immediately frowned, "You always thought those dolls were creepy."

A chuckle escaped his lips, "Exactly."

She giggled, placing her hands on her hips. "Even on my wedding day, you're still mean to me." She cocked her head to the side, smiling. "Where's TK?"

"I haven't seen him, but I sent him a text earlier. He's here somewhere…probably seated already."

"It's a shame you two aren't girls...I would have made you my bridesmaids," she said in an airy sort of tone. After a moment of actually considering it, her eyebrows drew together. "But then again, you would have fought over who got maid of honor, so maybe it's a good thing you're boys."

"It's definitely a good thing," he answered her.

Catherine ignored him, spinning to check herself in the full length mirror. Taking a step back, she admired herself. "You know, next wedding will be either you or TK. It's crazy, isn't it?"

"TK's a lot closer to getting married than I am," Matt commented matter-of-factly. He hadn't been in what he considered a serious relationship for years while TK had managed to hold a constant relationship with his girlfriend Kari for the past four years. If anyone was getting married next, it was definitely TK, a fact Matt really had no mind to.

"Don't worry, Matty, we'll find you someone." Catherine once again spun to face him. "In fact, I've got a beautiful girl doing entertainment at the reception!"

Talking about girls and relationships with Catherine ensured a never-ending conversation - it was her favourite topic. So at that Matt changed the conversation as fast as turning off a light. "I still don't know why you didn't ask me to perform."

She made a 'tsk, tsk' sound. "Maybe because you haven't performed in front of a crowd in over a year. How do I know if you're still good?"

"I was never that good." He said, and started towards the door. "I guess I should go find TK. I just wanted to wish you good luck."

"Thanks, but I probably won't need it," she grinned. "It's not like I'll trip as I walk down the aisle." Her smile was quick to vanish as the thought sunk in, and her eyebrows drew together. "Oh no, Matt! What if I trip-"

But Matt had already squeezed out the door, tossing another "Good luck" through the crack before he had gone completely.

In only a matter of minutes, people had managed to find their way to their seats and everything seemed ready to go. Matt caught sight of TK's blonde hair and joined him in the second row.

"Where have you been?" TK asked once his brother took his seat next to him.

"Just went to give Catherine a pep talk."

"Yeah right," TK scoffed. "A pep talk about getting married from you? Hell, I'm the only person in our family worthy of giving someone a pep talk about marriage."

The implied stab at their parents' failed marriage drew out an awkward silence between the two of them, one that Matt felt he was obligated to end.

"I thought Kari was coming to this?" He asked, noting that TK's girlfriend was nowhere to be seen.

"She was but something came up…" TK responded, tone changing in the slightest way. Had Matt not been his brother, he may not have detected it. TK must have noticed his brother's curious look because he cleared his throat and went on. "I…uh…wanted to talk to you about Kari, actually. See, I wasn't sure when the right time would be but I really think-"

His words were drowned out by the sound of the organ beginning to play the traditional wedding march. As everyone else in the room did, Matt and TK ended their hushed conversation and turned to the back of the aisle to watch as the bride made her way across.

TK's thoughts would have to be put on hold for later.

… …

Carpooling with his brother probably would have been a better idea than them both driving themselves. The parking lot at the reception was no kinder than the one at the church. Of course, that was most likely Catherine's fault for inviting so many people.

After another struggle to find a decently sized parking spot, Matt finally headed into the hall where the reception was being held.

TK was already at their table, and Matt had his hopes set on finishing what they never talked about in the church. However, as he neared his brother, he realized that he was already busy with someone else. Once Matt was within a few feet of the two, and grasped a good luck at the young woman's face, it struck him that she was no stranger to him.

"Oh! Hey, Matt!" TK greeted after catching sight of him. "I was wondering how much longer you'd take."

"Parking," he justified, and quickly turned his attention to the red headed woman at his brother's side. "Sora Takenouchi…" he smirked, knowing full well just how much she hated when he did that. Pressing her nerves had always been a specialty of his; a talent he enjoyed more than he should.

Her eyes drifted past TK and onto Matt and despite her neutral expression, her voice was soft and welcoming when she greeted him. "Matt Ishida. It sure has been a while."

"So you do remember each other!" TK declared suddenly. "It's been so long since you two had spoken, so I wasn't sure-"

Matt silenced the younger blonde with a look. Holding his gaze a moment longer, a visible understanding washed over TK's face and he nodded. "You know, I'm starving! I think I'll go grab some food and let you two catch up!" He was gone faster than Matt could have hoped for.

Sora frowned. "You didn't have to send him off. I like your brother."

"Well, like he said. We've got some catching up to do."

A small smile that was questionably forced danced across her face and her attention dropped to the floor. Something told Matt that catching up was the last thing she wanted to do, but none of that stopped her usual wit from escaping her. "Still wearing your cocky little smile, I see." She noted casually.

"Still not a fan, I see." He shot back.

She immediately shook her head. "I'm past disliking you, actually. Not worth the effort." There was an air of boredom to her tone, and suddenly she was acting more like she had the last time he'd seen her.

Studying her for perhaps a moment too long, Matt finally spoke up. "Seriously, what's it been? A year?"

"Give or take a couple months, yeah."

"So why so long?" Considering the way they left things, he really didn't need an answer.

She shrugged. "We were never really friends, Matt. I still barely know you."

It was true. Matt had only ever hung out with her on a few occasions, all of which were through their mutual friend, Tai. However it was a surprise to Matt that an entire year had passed since his last encounter with Sora, considering how close they both were to the bushy-haired brunette. Their paths should have crossed at some point, but they never did thanks to an effort surely on Sora's part. She was a champion at avoiding people - the art at its finest, Matt had learned.

Which reminded him as to why she had been avoiding him in the first place…

"Last time I saw you, you slapped me across the face."

That got a laugh out of her. Bitter as it was, it counted. "You deserved it."

"All I did was kiss you."

"You deserved it." She repeated, stronger this time. And just as suddenly as she had reappeared in his life, she switched the topic. "So Catherine's your cousin?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Which begs the question as to why you're here. I didn't even know you two knew each other."

"Oh, we don't. I'm technically not even a guest at this thing."

Well that made…no sense at all. "So you're…crashing?"

Another laugh, this one much more genuine. "Actually, I'm the entertainment." She looked past him, just as she'd been doing the entire conversation. "And it looks like about time I get on stage."

With that, Sora circled around him, making her way to the stage which had been previously empty.

Matt watched her continue on her way, without giving so much as a second glance back at him.

He should have known she was performing here from the moment he caught sight of her. After all, she'd been performing since he'd first met her. In fact, she had been on stage when he first met her.

Even back then she was like this with him.

Tai always told him not to take offence to her cold behavior - she was like that with everybody. But this time there was something different about her, something that changed since their last encounter. Matt couldn't quite put his finger on it for sure, but it was like she was happier and more carefree.

On stage, after welcoming Catherine and Akira to share their first dance, Sora sat quietly and gently began strumming her guitar.

There was a long few minutes of Catherine and Akira dancing while others looked on, but while everyone watched them, Matt's eyes stayed trained on Sora. She was just so immersed in her music, making him wonder if he had ever looked as passionate when he performed. Then, as she finished the bridge of the song and the guitar took its turn softly strumming, her eyes finally looked as if they weren't seeing through every person in the room.

And they landed on him.

He'd spent his whole life maintaining a cool exterior, so keeping a neutral expression wasn't difficult. Inside, however, a million nagging thoughts had surfaced in his mind all thanks to this girl.

Even after all this time, Sora was still a mystery to him.