One day, in Radiant Garden, Aqua takes a break from it all and goes to the plaza where she last saw Terra before she fell to darkness.
It looked vastly different from back then. Alas there were still planters, and even the same flowers remained, a scent she can recall that day. The day she failed to save her best friend from the darkness he tried to so hard to fight on his own.
She sits down in one of the grassy flower beds, just taking it all in. No one was roaming about after that last Heartless she had the middle part of a usually busy town to herself.
She idly started playing with the flowers and played the petal game.
After a time, she felt a presence behind her, startled she dropped the flower and whipped around to see none other than the man plaguing her thoughts.
She was about to stand guard and be defensive when the look on his face stopped her. They shared a moment of silence before he hesitantly stepped forward into the flower bed. She didn't recline, so he continued on until he was but a foot away.
Facing about, he slowly sat beside her.
Still no words to say. Aqua just stared as her heart pounded and threatened to explode out of her chest and cling itself to the man who now sat beside her, looking more forlorn than she previously had herself.
Several, long seconds later, she resigned herself to sit quietly with him. Her hand rested back into the ground as she followed his gaze to the center of the plaza.
Seeing everything but nothing.
It was, actually calming and relaxing, having him there. Her anxiety had dissipated, but her heart still throbbed.
But this time with yearning.
Swallowed by her thoughts, she nearly choked when a hand softly graced over hers, light fingertips, hesitantly hovering with feather light touches.
She didn't glance over because she knew if she looked, she wouldn't see brown hair and beaming blue eyes. Instead, she lifted her fingers to meet his. His palm slowly planting themselves onto the ground, they laced their fingers. Her forefinger stroked the upper part of his hand, smoothing over the knuckle
A cloud of tension lifted from him as he relaxed a bit more, but still on guard.
And that was it. Just silently. In each other's periphery, but not looking at each other.
Just feeling the other one there.
Aqua can't recall how long they had sat there, playing with the loosening fabric of her worn apparel. His stillness and relaxed domineer. She can't recall when she had fallen asleep on his shoulder.
Yes, she could smell the overwhelming amount of darkness on him, but, she could also smell the scent of natural Terra. He still carried the air of upturned grass and soil.
She didn't need to look at him to know.
Slowly she rose back into consciousness, happy he didn't leave her. A familiar voice broke whatever incoming thought she had.
"Aqua, I will set things right."
Her heart squelched and her eyes watered. His voice. Her Terra's voice. So soft and kind, even if a bit deeper than her memory.
She linked their hands, giving him a reassuring squeeze. She whispered with affirmation, "We, will."
The light had began disappearing behind the mighty walls of the garden.
Xemnas had given her a light nudge. He had to return before the others went looking. Not that they would.
Just as silently as he came, he stood up slowly and walked away, with Aqua's back to him.
He wanted to keep what they had at that moment.
He was sure she wanted the same.
But, even as his stance remained, he dug into his pocket and pulled on a worn cord.
The sound of shuffling successful in attracting her attention, he pulled out the item which he had managed to keep on his person for all these years.
Aqua's light gasp filled his ears, indicating she had seen.
"It's a promise." He stated, a portal opening.
"A promise." She echoed.
And he walked in.