Hey everyone :) How are you all?

Wow! 41 reviews!? I've literally got no words to express how grateful I am. I never imagined that I would get as many reviews as I have. Thank you so much for liking it, guys. It's because of you that I keep writing.

Sora Loves Rain – Yaay! A new reviewer, that's good. Thank you for liking it so far. I hope you stick around to find out what happens next.

NegaiKoumi – I'm so glad to know that you enjoyed the small hint of Koumi.

SoraTakinouchi – Thank you for liking the girl-talk, I really wanted to show their close bond with each other. About Takari, well, I guess you just need to keep on reading weather they need up together or not ;)

Aleena15 – Yeah, I love their relationship the two girls have with each other. I hope you're going to enjoy the new chapter.

Misaki92 – It means a lot to me that you enjoyed the friendship which I have tried to portray. That was something I used a lot of time on while writing. Thank you so much for your beautiful words. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter, especially the Sorato moments. Hmm, the only thing I can tell you for now is that keep reading and you might find out.

BlueLightSky – I could totally imagine Mimi being the messy one in her relationship. :D

Alright! Like I promised last time, I would give you all a longer chapter with a few Sorato moments – and here it is. I hope you'll enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.


Chapter 8

A few months went by and everyone was pretty busy with their lives.

Matt had driven to and from the University to help himself study better. He had spent almost all day there and decided to head home where he could be able to relax a bit. He hadn't eaten anything either therefore the only thought on his way home was a delicious hot meal. He was driving back home when he stopped at a super market to buy a couple of ingredients for tonight. He already knew what to make so it didn't take him long to buy the things he needed. Once he had bought them he climbed back into his car and headed home.

He came inside his house and went past the living room into the kitchen where he put the two bags of groceries. He came inside his own room where he changed into his casual black trousers and a grey shirt. He then walked to the hallway where he heard his phone vibrate. He picked it up and saw that he had gotten a message. He opened and read it out loud.

"Hey, sweetie, what are you doing?"

He raised an eyebrow when she read Sora's text. 'Sweetie?'. He found it weird that she called him that but nevertheless he chose to replay her back with a text saying: "Nothing much, just came home from the university? – you?."

A few minutes passed when he received a message. "Oh god! I'm so sorry the message wasn't meant for you. I was going to send it to Mimi, but I accidently sent it to you… Damn you both for starting with an M."

He couldn't help but chuckle as he could practically picture her face as she must have been blushing right now. "No, it's alright, as long as you can call me anything but Sweetie. Like Hot Matt or handsome Ishida, you know somewhere along these lines ;-)"

"-_-' .. Right! I will try to remember that next time – Not!"

He slumped back into the couch and texted her back. "Going back to my question, what are you doing?"

"I just closed the flower shop and I'm heading home right now to a very empty apartment. I just hope there's food because I'm starving."

"Wanna come over? I'm going to cook dinner"

"No it's okay, I don't want to disturb you"

"Disturb me, Sor? For what? I live here alone, and besides I could use the company."

There was a long 15-minute silence before she texted back. She must be busy debating whether to come or not. "Alright, I'll be there in half an hour – and thanks Matt, I'll see you in a bit."

He smiled and placed his phone on the table and decided to begin with the cooking. He took out the ingredients from the bag and placed them all on the kitchen table.

Today he was going to make something different – Something delicious. He was planning to make lasagna, garlic bread and some garden salad. He started to make the meat first as that was the thing which took the longest time to cook. He chopped onions and put it in the pot where the meat was busy getting cooked. In the meantime he pulled out a bowl from the dark brown colored cupboard and started to make some salad for the meal.

He had almost finished making the salad so he put it in the refrigerator until it was time to eat.

He turned his attention toward the pot where he was making the meat for the lasagna. He saw that it was done so he started to put his secret ingredients into it and tasting it weather it needed more or less. When he was about to take out a casserole for the lasagna he heard the bell ring from the front door.

He walked to the front door where he opened it and saw Sora standing at his doorstep with a black handbag on her shoulder and wearing her trademark warm smile.

"Hey Sor come on in."

She came inside and hung her jacket in the hallway and got inside the living room. She couldn't help but praise the smell of food wafting through the house with each step she took. "Mmm, it smells nice."

"Well of course it does, what did you expect – you're staring at the best cook ever." They walked further down the kitchen where he began to turn on the oven and started to place the lasagna pieces on the white casserole.

In the meanwhile Sora noticed what he was wearing and couldn't help but laugh at the sight or rather the words she read. He was wearing an apron with a line saying. 'Mr. Good looking is cooking'.

"Wow, did you choose the apron yourself?"

He looked down and smirked proudly. "Well it's just the truth I can't help it now can I?"

She tucked a lose hair behind her ear. "Alright tell me what do you need help with?" She made her way toward him but he stopped her grabbing her hand and leading her toward the kitchen stool to sit at. "You're not doing anything, just relax I've got it covered."

"Come on Matt, I'm not going to sit here and let you do everything."

"Yes you can," he turned around to see her expression and saw her staring at him rather more in a particular spot. "What is it?"

"Nothing" she turned her attention to the pot on the stove. He already knew what she was staring at. "The cut is gone Sora and my hand is doing fine, I can handle this."

She studied him for a second and nodded.

"How about you set the table when I'm finished, alright?"

"Yeah that's fine."

While he was busy cooking food she couldn't help but admire how good he looked while he was making himself busy. It made him look relaxed and it was like cooking was something he actually liked to do. He knew all the basics of cooking as he had learned how to cook at a very early age whenever he had to cook for himself or his dad.

She silently continued to watch him while a smile formed on her lips when a saying came across her mind. "Women love guys who cook for them." Wait what? How did she think of that thought? She shook her head lightly and glanced around her. 'Might as well take a small look around,' she thought to herself and got off the kitchen stool and looked around the house. She hadn't really explored the place even though she had been here for so many times.

She made her way down the hallway and noticed a couple of paintings and a picture of an ocean hung up on the wall. She made her way further down the hall where she saw two rooms. One of them was the guest room and the other... Well it was his bedroom.

She remembered the girls had asked whether she had seen his room or not. She thought it was a weird question to ask as she didn't fully understand what they had meant by it. Was there any specific meaning behind them asking? She didn't know.

She took a small step inside his bedroom and noticed instantly how neatly everything was placed just like the rest of the house. His bed was made, his closet was closed and the window was open half way making the fresh air come inside as an uninvited guest.

His two signature guitars were placed along the wall – one red and one brownish. She then glanced around when her eyes caught something standing on a black shelf. There was a couple of personal pictures of him and decided to take a closer look at them.

One of them was of him sitting with his acoustic guitar in his lap while playing. It was a black and white portrait of him, which made the picture a beautiful sight to see. He wasn't alone in the picture – Gabumon was sitting beside him leaning into his side looking like he was enjoying the music he was creating judging by the fact that he had a small smile formed on his lips and had his eyes closed as well.

The second picture was of a younger version of himself and TK. They were out on a picnic with their parents.

She thought that it was probably before the divorce. They seemed happy – like one big old family. She could also see a special glow on Matt's face as if his whole world had just lightened up. And what was the reason of this? His parents – being together. She knew how hard the news affected Matt as a child. She smiled sadly by the sight in front of her. 'He must have kept it as a memory' she thought to herself.

"TK brought that – copied it actually so I had one in the house." A voice came from behind her and turned her head around to see him standing there with a small cloth in his hands. She swallowed nervously. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to intrude… I was just..."

"It's fine, Sor. Come on, the food is ready." She walked ahead of him and Matt took one last glance at the picture before he walked out from the room. Sora came into the kitchen where she saw that he had already taken plates and glasses out from the cupboard. He placed the bowl of salad on the table. Sora took the plates and glasses and walked to the living room where they would be eating their dinner. She placed the plates and glasses neatly on the table and made it look elegant. She then one by one started to place all the things they needed for the meal.

"You can just go and sit down I'll be there in a minute with the rest of the food." She nodded and sat down on the couch waiting for him to come. Two minutes later he came inside, he already took the apron off, carrying the lasagna and the plate of garlic bread in the other hand.

He placed it on the table in front of them and smirked at Sora. "Voilà, Madame" he said in a French accent.

She laughed at him in genuine way almost thinking that he had made all the food just for her. "Wow Matt, it looks great."

"Wait till you taste it."

They began to eat and Matt had been right. God, he was good at cooking that's for sure.

He looked up to see her expression and smirked. "So? How is it?"

She chewed her food and couldn't get enough of it. "I have to say this is delicious." She had taken a piece of lasagna two pieces of garlic bread and some salad. It was a very delightful meal they were having.

"You're good."

"Keep going with the praise..." he said with a slight teasing voice.

She took a bit of her lasagna. "Don't flatter yourself too much, Ishida."

"Oh I'm not the one doing it, Takenouchi I think it's the one who's sitting across for me is."

They however continued to enjoy the meal with each other's company. Matt raised his glass of wine and looked at Sora. "Care to give out a toast?"

She bit her lip and took her glass in her hand and raised it toward Matt. "To the fantastic meal made by none other than you."

He smiled as he had his gaze fixed on Sora. "To the fantastic woman who is sitting across of me, her presence has made this dinner more enjoyable." Sora couldn't help but blush at his words. Why was he having such an effect on her lately?

They enjoyed the rest of the evening in each other's company.

A couple of hours later they had finished eating their dinner and placed all the dishes into the dishwasher as they cleaned off after themselves. Sora walked back into the living room where she saw something she hadn't noticed before.

She saw a picture of everyone smiling into the camera on the black shelf. It was taken a couple of years ago and she couldn't help but think how everyone had changed through the years. They had gotten older and mature that's for sure. Matt came inside with a smirk on his face and caught her lost in her own thoughts. "You know I could easily seduce people by just bringing them inside my house. I mean look at the way the things here has gotten you mesmerized already."

She glanced at him and rolled her eyes. She however turned her attention back to the picture. "It's funny how everyone has changed."

He glanced at the picture and spoke softly. "Yeah… Some of them changed through the years but I think they're pretty much the same."

"You think so?" She looked at him. He nodded. "Yeah, I mean Tai still has his huge bird nest on his head, Meems still likes clothes, both TK and Kari are still positive thinkers – and of course I'm still as good looking as ever," he winked at her.

"I swear if you say good looking one more time I will hit you."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Is that a bet?"

"It's the truth Ishida and I will do it."

This caused the blonde haired guy to smirk. "Sora, how many good looking people have you seen in your life? I mean what is the definition of good looking? Because I'm sure your def..."

"Argh!" She got tired of the word so she stood up quickly and got a cushion and started to hit him with it.

He tried to block her but she still found a way to hit him with the cushion. "Alright alright I give up. Jeez, I won't say the word again."

"Good!" She moved away from him as she had a satisfied smile on her face. Matt threw a small smile her way before he stood up from the couch. "Do you want anything to drink, coffee maybe?"

"Yeah coffee sounds fine." She stood up as well and joined him in the kitchen where he started the coffee machine. He got two mugs out from the cupboard and placed them on the table. Soon enough the coffee was made and poured into two cups. They walked back into the living room to sit down.

She sat down with the cushion on her lap as she thought back to the conversation they had a couple of minutes ago. She took a small sip from the mug and glanced at Matt. She hesitated to ask him the question, which was on her mind for the last 10 minutes. "Where do you think we'll be 20 years from now?"

He looked up at her and shrugged his shoulders while he ran a hand through his hair. "Working maybe? Moving on with our lives."

"And what would that be? How would it look like?"

"Well I could picture us working but I'm 100 % sure that we'll maintain a good friendship between us all even after all those years. I don't think we'll ever stop seeing each other." He paused slightly. "What I could see in the future is you become a fashion designer and working at your own clothing line."

She couldn't help but smile at him and think how his imagination was coming through. Did he really think that she would archive all that? She sure hopes so.

"You know what, I can see it already" he reached out a hand to demonstrate it. "Sky lines – Clothes that will make you fly"

She raised an eyebrow. "Clothes that will make you fly?"

"What, I can do better. How about – Sky Lines – Clothes that will make you reach the skies"

"We're talking about clothes not some new flavored ice cream and here I thought you were good with words" she joked lightly.

"Oh trust me that logo will make your career."

"You're seriously so bad" as she hit him on the arm where he simply chuckled.

"But coming back to your future, you could also turn out to be a granny like woman who only like to spend time at home with your ever loving novel and a bowl of ice cream beside you and just like that your Friday is set for the week"

She tweet her eyebrows at him. "Granny?"

"Yeah you'll either turn out to be a party freak that likes the attention from the journalists and loves to go to these cocktail parties or you'll be a good old bored granny sitting at home – your choice."

And here she thought her future was looking bright. Oh well, two can play the game. She had a slight twinkle in her eyes and leaned forward a bit. "And what about you, Ishida? How is your future going to be? Would you be the musician turned astronaut who has been in the limelight almost all his life or would you be this plain normal fisherman."

He raised an eyebrow at her. He certainly didn't see this coming. "Fisherman? Seriously? Do I look like a fisherman to you?"

"Who knows what will happen in 20 years. I mean you could have developed a hidden passion to fish and you'll have this house by the lake where you…"

"What is this? The Lake House all over again?"

"As I was saying before I got rudely interrupted – You'll have this lake house where every morning you'll go out to fish with a little white dog running behind you, named Tommy."

"I do not look like a fisherman and I do not have a hidden passion for fish – and our dog is not going to be named Tommy!"

"Well what would you call it then? What about Hajime? It's quite beautiful, no?"

He thought for a moment and then looked at her and nodded. "Yeah, that's a lot better than Tommy. A lot better."

She couldn't hold back her laugh anymore so a huge smile came across her rosy lips. "I cannot believe we just had a conversation about what to name our dog!"

Matt noticed the word, our – their dog.

Here they were sitting opposite each other on the white leather couch and having a conversation about their lives – Together maybe? Was there a hint about them being together?

He couldn't help but laugh at it as well. He was enjoying having such a conversation with her and to be able to hear her laughter. "I can't believe you made me a fisherman."

She placed both her hands on her lap and looked at him. "And you made me a granny? Do I look like one to you?"

"Nope, not at all! Like I said I could see you at those parties dancing around and from what I've been told grannies don't do all that."

Suddenly she realized something and a worried expression replaced her smile. "Oh no! You have to dance at those formal cocktail parties don't you?"

He smirked at her as an idea ran across his mind. He nodded at her and stood up from the couch to place his now cold coffee mug in the kitchen. He walked back to the living room toward a black colored stereo system he had set up when he first brought the place. He turned it on at a random music station where a song was being played.

Sora had turned her head around when she heard the soft music coming from the stereo. She was surprised when she saw him standing there with a slight smile on. She already knew what he was going to do. His smile gave away everything.

She began to shake her head. "No! Uh-uh I'm not going to dance."

"Come on, you need to attend those designer parties then you may as well learn how to dance, that is if you want to be a granny sitting home all day."

She smirked lightly at him. "Who's asking, is it the astronaut or the fisherman?"

He took a couple of steps toward her and held out a hand. "The friend." He said ever so softly which caused Sora to notice something different in his eyes. Something she hadn't noticed before.

She hesitated however and stared shyly on the floor before her. "I... I don't even know how to dance.,."

"Don't worry about it, I'll teach you." She took a small glance at his hand and reached out for it and gently slipped her own into his hand. She stood up and he led her toward the middle of the room so they had space enough to move. They could hear soft music being played at the radio. It was a violin and piano to be more specific.

He placed his left hand behind her slender back and his other hand held into hers. Her arm was gently resting on his shoulder. He led her slowly sideways so she could follow his steps.

Tin cans on rattlin' pavement
Confetti scattered everywhere
She falls asleep in the seat beside me
Rice caught up in her hair
I don't mind it, I keep drivin',
Flying on these wheels of steel
A bit anxious, a bit nervous
The moment's all that we can feel

She picked up the steps and tried her best to avoid his gaze so she kept looking at the side of his shoulder. He looked at her with amazement how fast a learner she was with a slight smile playing on his lips.

If oil is the soul of the engine
And wine is the drink of the Gods
Forgiveness the road to redemption
Faith can still beat the odds
We're meant to be baby hold on to me
You'll never not be my girl
'Cause love is the heart of the world

Sora quite enjoyed the feeling of them slowly moving side to side along to the soft music. She started to feel relaxed in his embrace – surprisingly. She felt comfortable as he had his arm around her.

Matt chose to study her beautiful features for a moment. Her ruby colored eyes were slightly lowered as she kept her gaze down to the side.

Somehow he couldn't believe that he had managed to ask her for a dance in his living room late at night – Just the two of them. He had been in love with this woman for quite some time now and therefore she had always managed to stay on his mind despite what he was busy with.

I leave him sleepin' as I rise early
Always up before the dawn
The house is dark, but I see clearly
Kettle sings a morning song
The bacon's frying, babies crying
I soak up the sights and sounds
Minutes turn to days and I wish that I could slow it down

She couldn't help but stumble across the female singer's words, as it was something she had learned from Matt a couple of years back. She took a closer look at the meaning of the song. Was this some kind of reminder to her that time might be slipping away from her? She couldn't help but feel that they were dancing to the perfect song – in some kind of way it was about someone's future. She could picture herself having a family and a child of her own… with Matt.

Her eyes shot up of what she was thinking. "Wait, since when did I start having such thoughts about Matt?" She tightened her hold on his shoulder with the sudden thought. She however realized what she was doing and released her tight hold on him. He looked down at her with questioning eyes. She could feel her cheeks getting hotter at the incident and simply shook her head and turned her attention back to the dancing.

If grease is the soul of the kitchen
And coffee the drink of the Gods
Routine too perfect to mention
Time is a thief I would rob
We're meant to be baby hold onto me
I'll never not be your girl
'Cause love is the heart of the world

They could slowly hear the music getting built up to a slightly faster tune. Other instruments such as drums and guitar could be heard. He spun her around and brought her back to him where they moved to the music yet again. She couldn't help but laugh as she was actually enjoying herself dancing for the first time.

Oh, and hope is the soul of the dreamer
And heaven is the home of my God
It only takes one true believer
To believe you can still beat the odds

He spun her around in a careful manner. He brought her closer to himself where she finally looked up into his deep blue eyes. They eyes locked with each other.

We're meant to be baby hold onto me
You'll never not be my girl (I'll never not be your girl)

There was an unspoken silence between them as they both were mesmerized by the lyrics and the soft music that was playing around them.

The red haired beauty realized that this was the first time she had been this close to him. She could easily feel every muscle of his body; notice his strong cheekbones, his nice cologne that was coming through and the color of his eyes – those deep blue eyes. She noticed how blue they were. They were deep as if drawing her into his eyes. Slowly.

'Cause love is the heart, love is the heart,
Love is the heart of the world

The music gently faded away where a couple of piano keys were being played. This caused them to get lost in each other's eyes. Soon enough they came out from their little world when Matt cleared his throat. Sora brushed away a couple of strands of hair as she kept her gaze on the floor.

"Now you're ready to attend those parties in the future." She smiled slightly at him. "Yeah, uh I should probably head home." She took a small glance around the room in search for her bag. "I can drive you," he offered.

She smiled at his gesture. "No need to, really Matt. I don't want to burden you." Matt walked to the hallway to get his car keys and took his jacket. "Come on." She followed him into the car where he drove her home. She thanked him for a great evening and the fact that he wanted to drive her home. He drove off as she walked inside her apartment. She closed the door behind her where she saw that her mother was home.

"Sora honey, you're back"

Sora hung her jacket in the hallway and took off her shoes where she walked inside the living room. "Yeah mom, I'm back when did you come home?"

The elder Takenouchi smiled at her daughter. "An hour ago, have you eaten anything?"

"Yeah I ate dinner at Matt's place."

This caused the elder Takenouchi to look at her daughter with a different smile on her lips. "I've noticed that you two spend a lot of time together lately."

"I guess we do."

"I met him a couple of weeks ago and oh my, haven't he turned out to be such a handsome man? I still remember him when he was just a teenage boy. I must say how time flies by so quickly, don't you agree, Sora?"

"Uh, mom I'm going to go up to my room and relax a bit." With that said she quickly left to her room. She came inside and closed the door behind her where she leaned against it. 'What just happened today? I was dancing with Matt in his living room – and when did I get those strange feelings from? I'm not…'

'No!… I'm not falling for the blond haired friend of mine… am I?


Ta'da.

What do you guys think? Did you like it? Remember to give me your feedback :)

The song I've used is: "The heart of the world" by Lady Antebellum. (You should really go listen to it ^^)

To Be Continued.