Aqua's POV

After searching for a nice spot I settled down on the paopu fruit tree, lying on my back while looking at the sea.

This is what I needed. I felt at great ease, so much that my eyes were starting to feel heavy. Would it be too much if I fell asleep here? Maybe for just a little while? "The breeze feels so nice." I muttered groggily, not even trying to fight back the sleepiness.


Ven's POV

I took off my armor and saw I landed on the beach, hopefully Aqua isn't that far away from here. Out of good measure I looked around, just in case there were any heartless around. The coast was clear so I unsummoned my keyblade, but still remained on my guard.

"I wonder where she's at…" I mumbled to myself looking around as I walked alongside the beach, knowing her she's probably somewhere with a nice view of the ocean.

Stopping on my tracks I smiled at finding her lying on the paopu tree. I entered the small wooden shack and followed the steps upstairs crossing the bridge to stand behind her, is it me or is she asleep?

I tip-toed to stand in front of her, and just as I thought she was sound asleep. I'm glad she finally managed to relax, she really needed it. I sat down next to Aqua, deciding it'd be best to watch out for her until she woke up.


Aqua's POV

A small tingling on my hand woke me up. I opened my eyes to see a small ladybug walking across my fingers before flying off.

"Had a good sleep?"

I gasped surprised before seeing Ven sitting right next to me. When did he get here? And how long had he been sitting there? I sat upright and saw the sun already setting, I've been asleep for maybe a couple of hours.

"Yes, thank you. When did you get here?"

Ven shrugged absent mindedly. "Just a while ago, I saw you sleeping so I thought I'd stay with you just in case."

That's very sweet, but couldn't he have just woke me up instead of waiting here with me that long? "You could have just woke me up you know."

He chuckled and smiled warmly at me. "I didn't have the heart to, you really needed time to rest."


Ven's POV

Aqua chuckled shaking her head slightly. "You're always like that Ven." She said as she cupped her hand on my cheek.

I let it rest for a little there, enjoying the warmth of her fingers, but I can't let myself get off track. "Aqua…" I took her hand off my cheek, noticing a hint of scare in her eyes. She probably remembered that time back at the Keyblade Graveyard I made that same gesture. "I need to talk to you."

Aqua looked away from me, seeming nervous almost as if she knew what I was going to say. "I want you to be honest with me, not only because I think lying to each other is not healthy, but because I'm worried you're holding back."

She sighed and looked down at her hands resting on her lap, saying nothing.

"Are you sure you're okay after to what happened to our baby?" I finally asked, ready to see any physical reaction from her, as little as it may be.

"So you knew." She mumbled with a defeated sigh.

Of course I did, there was no way I could miss something like that. I took her hand in mine, encouraging her to keep talking.

She shifted her eyes away from me, almost in shame. "I can't help but keep thinking that it was my fault."

"But Aqua-"

"I know!" She interrupted me. "I know Ven, it was not in my control." Aqua looked down at her hands longingly, drifting further into her thoughts. "Our baby was inside me for so little… I didn't even make the most of it. To think it would end so quickly…" She bit her lower lip. "I hate feeling like this. But after how much we kept trying, it's like our efforts were for nothing."

When I noticed small tears gather at the corner of her eye, I took her in my arms making sure to have her head rest on my shoulder. "Aqua, if we want to try again, we need to move on." I whispered in her ear. "And you need to forgive yourself Aqua, I want to make sure you understand that it was not your fault."

"But what if it happens again? What then?"

"Then we'll keep trying." I let go of her and wiped the tears from her face with my thumb, moving away a few strands of hair to see her face properly. "I want you to be the mother of my child Aqua. It has to be you."

"Ven…" She breathed.

"And if things don't turn out okay again, then I'll stay by your side at all times. We are a team, you don't have to carry this burden by yourself." This was all true, it was needed two people to start a family and whatever was meant to happen while we finally reached our goal, we'd face it together. After all, we are supposed to support each other.

I cracked a smile, and kissed the back of her left hand. "So, what do you say?"

Aqua looked at me with pleading eyes, wiping away her damp cheeks. "No matter what happens, we'll get through it together, right?"

I took her hand, and gently kissed it. "I promise. But we also have to talk to each other, we can't let things like these bottle up right?" I added with an amused smile.

Aqua chuckled shyly. "Yes, right." She finally smiled, heaving a sigh of relief. "You are right Ven. I… I believe we can do this. No matter how many times we have to try."

Sighing in relief I rested my forehead against hers. "Of course we can." I reassured, looking straight into her eyes, giving her a small peck on the lips. "Aqua, let's go home."


"Oh V-Ven…" Aqua moaned beneath me as I fondled her breasts laying soft pecks on her exposed neck. Oh how much I love having her so close to me, feeling her body underneath my fingers and hearing her call my name.

Finally have Aqua open up to me feels like we've broken through a barrier, and now reaching the other side has gotten us closer to our shared dream of starting a family. Personally I don't care if it takes us year to conceive, for as long as I have Aqua by my side, there's nothing else I need in this world.

"I love you so much Aqua." I whispered in her ear as I took in the sweet scent of her hair.

She cupped my face in her hands and locked our lips in a tender kiss. "I love you too Ven… p-please take me now I can't take it anymore..."

So eager, just as always. "As you wish." I bit my lower lip and groaned content as our bodies became one, and the rest of the world suddenly disappeared.


It wouldn't be a week until Aqua and I could try again for a child. So in the meantime we decided to patrol together again, mostly because I wanted to make sure the heartless' numbers had decreased since talking to Aqua at Destiny Islands.

There was still the risk that wasn't the case, so just to be safe I was sure to stay on my guard was there anything to happen.

"Are you sure I should come with you? Maybe it's best if I stay behind." Aqua asked as we walked together down the market street.

"Don't worry about it, in fact I wanted you to come so I could check something." I reassured as I searched from the corner of my eye for any wandering heartless.

Aqua hummed in curiosity. "Something? Is it supposed to be a secret?"

"Not really, I'll tell you after we're done to see if I was correct." I replied with a shrug. "And if I am, you can tag along as much as you want in case you're feeling with a fighting spirit." I smiled at her and saw her grin excited.

"Really? That'd be great. Sometimes it gets a little boring after you leave. I'm sure training once in a while will do me good." I can imagine, I should probably take her out more often so we can hang out together like this.

Before I could say anything else I heard Aqua chuckle and summon her keyblade. "Ven over there!"

I was about to summon my keyblade as well, but laughed at seeing there were only three heartless to where Aqua had pointed. "Go for it." I encouraged her, and couldn't help but smile at seeing Aqua excitedly run towards them.


"That was actually kinda fun." Aqua laid her head against my shoulder, getting comfortable.

We sat together atop sunset hill watching the sun slowly set, having finished taking patrol for the day.

"With days this calm it gets boring on my own, but it's so much better when we go out together." I should probably invite Aqua more often, especially if we get to relax like this afterwards.

Aqua smiled meekly while looking off into the sky. "I wish the last couple of times I came with you were just like today." I felt Aqua hold onto my arm lightly, was she still worried about it?

Ah maybe this is the right time to tell her.

I start to think on how to approach the subject, and let a brief silence take over.

"While you were at Destiny Islands I ran into Xion." I finally say.

Aqua looks at me in curiosity. "Oh really? That's nice, it's been a while since we last saw her."

"Yeah." I nodded in acknowledgement, trying to not get too off track. "But the thing is we talked real quick and got to the topic of the heartless. She said heartless not only go after hearts with unusual amounts of darkness, but after the hearts of keyblade wielders as well."

Aqua raised her eyebrows in realization, putting the pieces together. "Back then when I summoned my keyblade…" She whispered.

"They sensed your keyblade and your heart."

"And that happened just after I lost the baby…" Probably in an epiphany, Aqua brought her hand up to her mouth in surprise, her posture suddenly falling.

She was in shock, I could tell. I wasn't sure if I should say anything, her expression was a mixture of surprise and guilt and I felt if I spoke it would make her feel worse.

"That's why…" She mumbled quietly.

"Aqua?"

An exasperated sigh escaped her lips and her hand hid her eyes. "I should have known, it all makes sense now. I was feeling so devastated and guilty, no wonder the heartless were after me."

"Hey," I placed my arm around her shoulders reassuringly. "Don't worry about it, that's all in the past. And besides didn't you see? They are gone now."

Aqua looked back at me and smiled, a small glimpse of guilt still evident. "Thanks to you. I can see clearly now that there is no point in hiding my feelings." She sighed relieved and cuddled against me. "Now more than ever, I believe we can do it."

That's what I wanted to hear. "Yeah, and we will."

I cuddled against her, and we both watched as the sun died down and the stars began to slowly appear in the sky.


Short chapter, but Aqua finally started to let go of her guilt and move on. Now let's just hope Ven can keep that same cheerful attitude too.