Raven Leonheart looked in the mirror. At one time, she never would've believed where she was in life now. She had long black hair and gray eyes. She wore a blue sundress, which, before she had gotten married, she wouldn't have been caught dead in, because it was so brightly colored. Raven was 25 now. Xeno Leonheart, her husband, was downstairs with Keiko, their six year old daughter. Their adopted son Matt was packing, preparing to go to Balamb Garden.

"Mom!" yelled Matt, "Where did you put that picture of all of us standing with Aunt Star and Uncle Rage and Nina?"

Raven strode into his room. "Right where I told you. On the counter down stairs."

Matt shook his head. He was 17 and 5 foot 9, with blonde, spiky hair and deep moonstone blue-gray eyes. He looked like the type of guy who would have girls flocking to him. But he had never really had many friends. This was his first time to Garden, and Raven was hoping he'd be a little more sociable.

"Thanks Mom." He smiled at her.

"No problem. Want me to go get it?"

"Nah. I will in a minute." Matt sat down on his bed

His mother stared out the window at the sun, high in the atmosphere. White clouds stood out brightly against the robin's-egg blue sky. They lived just outside Winhill, where everything was beautiful. Green trees lined the horizon. His mother was deep in thought, and he wondered what. She was singing under her breath…

"And they tried so hard to reach you, but you're falling anyway, and you know I see right through you, cause the world gets in your way, what's the point in all this screaming, no one's listening anyway…" she sounded almost distant as she sang to herself.

"Mom?"

Her eyes snapped back to the present, out of the midst of memories, and she grinned. "Hm?"

Matt shook his head. "What were you thinking about?"

"I was remembering how I met Xeno." She smiled gently, reminiscences flooding her face.

"You hated him. How did you end up falling in love with him?"

"Life's that way … it never turns out the way you expect it too."

"Life isn't fair."

"What makes you think that?"

"My real parents died. What's fair about that? And how you're a sorceress. How about that?"

"Everything happens for a reason. Don't worry. Destiny will take everyone where they're meant to go, Matt."

Raven ruffled his hair and put her hand on the door frame. "Be downstairs in about half an hour. We should be ready to leave by then." She backed away and disappeared around the corner.

Matt shook his head. She's more like my best friend than my mother. I can talk to her. It's hard to talk to most people cause they don't understand. She's cool, not the clean-your-room type mother. How often do you come across a person like that? He snapped his suitcase shut. Thump thump thump… He walked over to the door and opened it to see Keiko there.

"Matt?" she looked up at him with big stormy, innocent gray eyes just like Raven's.

"Yeah, squirt?" he smiled at her.

"You aren't gonna forget us, are you?" she stared intently at him.

"Never, Kei." Matt replied.

"Here, Matt." she handed him a sheet of paper.

It was a poorly colored and drawn picture of Keiko, Matt, Xeno, and Raven all outside holding hands. Geeze, now I'm gonna feel guilty leaving…She's such a sweet little sister. He thought. Matt put it down on the bed beside him and pulled Keiko up onto his lap.

"Thanks, Kei."

"Why do you have to go?" she squirmed until she was in the position where she could look him in the eye.

"Because I have to go and learn how to…"

How do I put this without saying 'to assassinate sorceresses and be a mercenary'? She's a little young for that kinda violence. Well…I'll be defeating evil, so I'd really be saving people, would I not?… Thought Matt, sighing.

"I'm learning how to save people."

"Neat!" Keiko beamed. "Can I visit you?"

"I'm sorry, probably not." Matt looked away.

"I'll miss you." She buried her head in his shoulder.

"I'll miss you, too."

"Mommy and Daddy aren't going away too, are they?"

"They're staying here with you. But hey, I'll be back during the summer."

"That'll take FOREVER!"

"It'll pass quick, okay? And I'll come back in June, I promise. All right?"

"I guess." She gave him a hug and hurried out of the room.

She had to make this tough, didn't she? He thought solemnly.

He looked at his watch. 9 o'clock. Time to get going. He went down the stairs to meet Xeno and Raven. Keiko was standing sadly behind her mother.

"Ready?" Raven asked, to break the silence.

"Mom… Can I just take my motorcycle?" asked Matt.

He had always had trouble with goodbyes, and it would be easier if he left alone.

"Sure." She shook her head, as if there was unspoken tension in the air. So there was.

"Goodbye Mom, Dad, Kei." He hugged them all, putting on his black leather jacket and sunglasses.

He didn't look back as he turned on the motor and hit the gas.

Boy that was a pain. But soon I'll be at Balamb, and it'll go quick. I'll enjoy Garden, and everything'll be normal. I'll write letters to them anyway. So it'll feel like I haven't lost touch with 'em. It'll be great. Wait… I did pack that picture, right? $H!t… Now I can't even look at a picture of my own family. I already miss them. And now… I feel even more alone.