Blue Eyed Beauty

This took far too long to write.

Sorry for the delay.

"Terra, did you ever wish we hadn't moved away?"

Terra almost dropped Ventus in shock. Blissfully ignorant to the serious question the toddler giggled, completely under the impression his older brother was playing a new game. Laughing weakly as he set Ventus down, Terra avoided his father's gaze, trying to gather his thoughts. "A-Are you serious?"

"It's just a thought," Eraqus began slowly, leaning against the main doorway as he began brushing off the fresh dirt that coated his hands with a wet rag. The rickety old sliding door creaked under his weight, the worn wood groaning. It would have to be replaced soon; it was lucky to have lasted this long considering it had been handmade. Most homes this far out of town didn't even have the luxury of a door at all, let alone a working sliding door.

Eraqus cleared his throat. "It's a passing thought," he repeated gently, a small frown crossing his features and tugging down his few wrinkles. "But sometimes I cannot help but wonder if it would have been easier on you boys if we hadn't moved at all."

"Back there?" Terra asked skeptically, ignoring Ventus's insisting tug at his sleeve. "By the ocean."

"…yes…"

"Where mom died," Terra added blankly.

The tension between them could be felt in the air, and aside from Ventus muttering "Terra" every few seconds, neither of them spoke. Terra sighed, nudging Ventus with the sole of his foot, sending the toddler toppling over in a fit of giggles. "You didn't mention this to Van, did you?"

"Vanitas?" Eraqus chuckled, dropping his dirty rag by the doorstep and entering the house. Stepping over his younger son, he took a seat next to his son, letting out a long whoosh of withheld air. "I did, actually; this morning."

Terra grimaced. "How did that go?"

"Oh you can imagine," Eraqus smiled, tickling the blonde's bare toes while Terra poked him lightly in the belly. "He called me an awful father and stormed out of the house. I don't think he went too far however."

"You let him leave by himself?"

"He's old enough to take care of himself—or at least, I know he's left enough times at night to know he can fend for himself," Eraqus interrupted, smiling faintly as Ventus wriggled away enough to bury his face in the crook of Terra's knee. "I recall you saying that you were going to meet your friends today?"

"Yes—"

"Are you telling the truth?"

Terra flinched. "Of course Father—"

"Are you sure?"

"Father…"

Eraqus sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. Watching him out of the corner of his eye, it suddenly occurred to Terra that his father was not as young as he used to be. Sure, when he went out, the women of the town would flatter him, flutter around him and comment on how young he looked and how tragic it must be to raise four boys on his own. Looking at his father's faint worry lines and tired eyes however, Terra was suddenly alarmed at how tired the old warrior appeared. His father remained silent.

"Father? Father?" Terra reached over, shaking his father roughly. "Dad!"

"You are going to see a girl."

Terra froze, his cheeks heating up instantaneously, throat clenching to the point where no words would come out. Eraqus smiled weakly. "In other words," he began quietly. "You are going to meet that Kitsune again."

"I-I—What—"

"Don't bother lying Terra, your brother told me."

"Vanitas—"

"Oh please Terra," Eraqus snapped suddenly. "Vanitas is not as cruel as you make him out to be. Do not be so quick to put the blame on him. Ventus told me."

Terra snuck a glance at his younger brother. Ventus smiled up at him innocently before hiding his face again. Oh that little sneak.

"I'm not angry Terra—and he didn't mean to tell me. He was playing by himself while you were gone the other day and accidently let it slip. I'm disappointed you didn't mention this to me yourself."

Terra remained silent, eyes to the ground. His mouth felt particularly dry. "I-I…"

"I hear she is very pretty, isn't that right Ventus?"

"Yeah!"

"Dad…I don't know what to say…"

"It depends," Eraqus began; his smile teasing and eyes shining with silent laughter. "Are you still planning on going? Or are you going to stay home instead and make the young lady wait?"

Terra flushed, fumbling for words. "I-I—"

"Go ahead, I don't mind."

"But aren't you angry—"

"I'm upset and disappointed that I had to find out in this manner," Eraqus began slowly, grabbing Ventus by the ankles and hoisting him up into his arms. Ventus squealed in complaint, scrambling to grab onto Terra in vain. "But I suppose it was going to happen anyways. Go on; it's rude to keep a lady waiting."

Terra didn't have to be told twice, scrambling to his feet and out the door. Ventus frowned, tugging at his father's ponytail in complaint, motioning to be put down.

"Dad." Roxas knocked on the wooden door frame, arms crossed over his chest. "Are you ever going to tell him the truth? That he talks in his sleep sometimes and all the floorboards creak under his weight at night?"

Eraqus smiled, laughing. "It's much more fun this way, don't you think?"

"Terra!"

Terra jumped, yelping as Tifa smacked him on the arm. "What was that for?"

"I've been calling your name for the last ten minutes!" She exclaimed, rich brown eyes narrowing at him in annoyance. "What is with you today Terra, you looked so excited when you told us we were going to meet her today; now you won't stop going into your own personal bubble!"

"O-Oh…Nothing," He muttered, dragging his gaze back to Aqua. She sat next to Zack, laughing while he flailed about, red faced. No doubt he'd told her one of his stories and was embarrassed by her instead. "Just thinking…"

"About Aqua," Tifa began slowly, glancing at Zack from the corner of her eye.

"Uh-huh."

"And about Zack…"

"Uh-huh…"

"You know, Zack was planning on proposing to Aerith this summer. Not that I'm trying to imply anything, but at this rate, you might actually beat him in that territory."

"Uh-huh—Wait, what?"

Tifa burst out laughing, catching Aqua and Zack's attention momentarily before Zack resumed his story telling, Aqua continuing her assortment of flower crowns. Leaning in, Tifa chuckled. "You're such an open book Terra. I'm surprised you haven't stolen her away already."

"I-"

"So how long have you been going out with her? And where is she from anyways?"

Terra was pretty sure his face wasn't supposed to feel that warm. "She lives past the forest and we aren't going out!" He exclaimed hurriedly in a hushed tone. Tifa blinked.

"What?" She visibly drooped, looking back at Aqua for a minute. "Are you serious? You two are totally head over heels for each other too…"

"What…"

"Only you would completely miss that Terra," muttered Tifa, frowning. Well no. Maybe Zack too; the boys she was friends with were pretty clueless in general. She pitied Aerith; who knows how long Zack had been set out for her, only to linger in the shadows because he was too thick headed to see that she liked him too. "Just ask her. Why don't you invite her to the town's celebration; you know, the one we're holding for Leon's wedding? The merchants will be back in town too. It could be like a date!"

Terra shifted awkwardly on the grass, tearing a few blades out periodically in his discomfort. "I'm not sure about this Tifa…I think it's a good idea—"

"Nonsense! You like her, right?"

He hesitated, words caught in a net hanging in his throat. Zack cried out triumphantly, flailing wildly as he pulled Aqua to her feet and dragged her over to his two friends. "Terra! Terra, listen! Aqua says she knows how to fight!"

Terra pulled out of his previous thought. "You do?"

Aqua shifted on the spot, looking from one person to the other nervously. "Is…that a bad thing?"

"No, but you just signed your initiation test for the group," Tifa said tragically, smiling weakly. "We can all fight. My father was the best combat teacher in our village, until I took over his post when he died. He taught Zack, and Terra's father taught him."

"Who taught you?" Zack asked eagerly. Aqua tensed.

"M-My father…" She looked at Terra, eyes clearly screaming for help. "But I don't really like fighting…"

Terra snorted. "Figures; you're such a girl sometimes Aqua."

The change in mood was drastic. As Aqua frowned and drew closer to Terra, Tifa and Zack found themselves backing away little by little. "What is that supposed to mean?" She asked indignantly.

Terra shrunk. "I meant you don't seem like the type to fight—"

"No, you meant that because I am a girl, I don't like to fight. Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I need a man to protect myself. I am perfectly capable of caring for myself."

"No!"

"Yes you did!"

"I did not!"

"Terra, I could take you with both hands tied behind my back, blindfolded."

"I bet you my whole life savings that she could," piped Zack from behind. Terra shot him a nasty look.

"Aqua, I didn't mean it—"

"Even if you didn't mean it, you said it." She muttered, stung.

Tifa smiled weakly. "I know how to settle this."

"How?" Terra asked feebly, at a loss on what to do. Tifa smiled. "How about you really do fight her? If you win, she apologizes for overreacting. If she wins, you take her out on a date this week to apologize."

Tifa; she was a good friend, but it didn't mean she wasn't cunning at times Terra mused, getting to his feet. Aqua bit her lip nervously. "I don't know…that doesn't seem right—"

Well, better to seize the opportunity fate had bestowed upon him. "Are you afraid I'll find out you really can't fight Aqua," he teased. "Or are you just worried you might lose—"

It happened so quickly he couldn't be sure what really happened. Somewhere between the times he'd started talking and he'd landed sunny side up, Aqua had managed to move. She'd whip kicked him behind the knees to knock him off balance, grabbed his wrist and used his own weight against him to flip him over her own body and flat on his back behind her. Not that Terra could really admit he remembered all of this, what with the wind knocked out of him and bright lights flashing before his eyes. Aqua was standing over him with Tifa, looking panicked and afraid as Zack roared with laughter somewhere off in the distance. Everything was echoing.

Terra couldn't be sure what had happened exactly, but staring up in shock, he knew one thing.

He'd quite literally fallen head over heels in love with the blue eyed beauty who was currently terrified he'd broken something in the process.

This would take a lot of explaining to do later at home.