This chapter takes place right as Aqua got back to the dining room after leaving Terra with his father. Again wish I could be less blunt… oh woe as me lol. But please enjoy as always

Aqua quickly made her way back to the dining room as to not get in between Terra and his father. One thing that kept running through her head was how could someone as nice as Terra be the son of such a pig/jerk/ass. He was nothing like him, he is the kindest most thoughtful and caring friend she's ever had so how could he be related to that beast? But a good thing was that he wasn't and probably wasn't ever going to be like him so she didn't think about it that much.

When she arrived back to the room she saw everyone was starting to wrap up dinner and get back to their business before Christmas tomorrow. Ven walked passed her with Des next to him still talking about pretty random stuff. And only a few steps behind them was Evy who held a jealous/mad look on her face. Before her sister went after them, Aqua stretched out her arm and blocked her from leaving.

"Aqua get out of my way"

"No Evy, we need to talk" she said as she laid her eyes on her with a stern look. Evy just rolled her eyes and silently said whatever and tried to push her sister out of the way. Which she couldn't

"Will you just stop and listen?" she said, slightly raising her voice. Evy sighed as she looked at her sister and in a snotty tone asked

"Ok what do you want?"

"Evy stop with the attitude and leave those two alone"

"Why are you telling me what to do your not mom"

"Because if you don't stop acting this way you're going to come off as a real jerk to everyone, and believe me when I say that Dante is already convinced you are" Evy just sighed and rolled her eyes again and said what every teenager would say at least once in that phase of their lives

"Whatever just leave me alone" she said in a huff and shoved her sister's arm off her then walked away

"EVY!" Aqua yelled and was about to run after her before she felt a hand come over her shoulder.

"Aqua let it go, if she wants to act like that then let her" her mother told her while she held a sleeping Dante in one arm and some dishes in the other.

"I know I should but…" she heard her mother let out a sigh and say

"Unfortunately sometimes the hard way to learn something is the only way" Aqua wished her mother wasn't right, but she knew she was. So Aqua did something she rarely did and just dropped it, then she turned to her mother and helped her out by grabbing the dishes. Which were soon taken by the only other person in the room, Terra's mother

"Here I got them" she said while she managed a balancing act with the amount of pots and plates she already had in her hands.

"Are you sure Elise? You look like you're about to tip over" Aqua's mother said looking at her like she was a jenga set just waiting to collapse. To that she just looked at her and grinned while she adjusted herself into a better position to hold the stack of dirty dishes

"Don't worry about me, I'm kinda use to this type of thing. Go have fun with your daughter" she said with a smile. Aqua's mom really didn't want to leave her alone with all that work cleaning all that, but if she was so happy/generous to do so then let her

"Well ok… I'll see you later" she hesitantly said then left the room with her daughter and son in hand

"So are you heading back to your room" Aqua asked as she held the door for her mother

"Oh thank you dear, no actually do you mind taking me to your room?" this took Aqua by surprise

"My room...why?"

"Well I just wanted to see where you've been sleeping is all" she explained, not really seeing a reason why she'd even ask why. Aqua was never one to keep secrets

"Oh… well ok come on it's this way" she said taking the lead. While they walked down the halls, her mother had time to realize how much her little girl had grown. Not just in height or mere measurements but in the way she matured.

'She looks a lot like me now but she acts so much like Arlen. Acting so serious but balancing it out with fun and silliness just like he always did. –sigh- if only you could see her Arlen, how much she's grown from the little girl you use to pick up and play with' she thought while she looked at her daughter from behind and then for a spilt second she could swear she saw the same 5 year old girl that now only lived in her memories. That put a smile on her face as the image gently faded back to the woman that girl became. If only her husband could see their daughter now, he'd be so proud of her of what she's striving to become.

In no time at all they made it to the very oriental and detailed door that lead to Aqua's room. Aqua slowly opened her door and stepped in with her mother who looked around her room. She noticed how much it looked like her old room back home but with a larger window with a better view. Her mother set Dante down on her bed so he'd have a more comfortable place to sleep while she looked around. Aqua sat on her bed, gently stroking Dante's hair as he dreamed, while she watched her mom look around

"Seem cozy enough for you?" Aqua asked jokingly as her mother looked over to Aqua's desk and saw a couple of photos

"It feels very cozy" she said as she perused through the items on her desk. The first was a recent photo. It was a picture of her and her friends all together in the summer. Terra had his arms over both Ven and Aqua's shoulders while Ven flashed the peace sign and Aqua waved. She chuckled at that picture "I can see you get along well with your friends" she said to Aqua who got up and looked at what her mother was looking at

"There more than my friends, there my best friends"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Oh no reason it's just it seems like your blushing a little right here next to Terra" she pointed out with a grin.

"What? No I'm not it…was j-just cold out there is all" Aqua said with humility written all over her face. Her mother giggled as she put a hand over her shoulder

"Oh come on you don't have to lie to me" Aqua was starting to blush a lot as she tried not to make eye contact with her mother. All this was unbearably embarrassing for her, how would you feel if one your parents knew you liked someone and worse wanted to try to help you. Her mother giggled a little as she directed her daughter to her bed and made her sit down as she did the same, making sure not to stir Dante awake, he gets cranky when he wakes up early. She kept a smile on her face; she swore she predicted she'd have to talk to Aqua about dating and boyfriends one day. "Aqua… you don't have to be embarrassed at the fact that you like someone"

Aqua didn't say anything, she only kept looking at the floor, this was just too embarrassing a subject to her

"Listen love is love and there's nothing to be embarrassed about it. Besides it's only natural that your attracted to that… him" she said simply trying not to say some of her other thoughts about Terra. Now this was way more embarrassing then before, now her mom thought Terra was hot? "… I mean really that perfect waistline, his gleaming blue eyes, and his big sculpted sexy mus…"

"MOM!" Aqua yelled out almost making Dante wake up. Luckly he just shuffled a little bit and grabbed onto his pillow. Once they were sure that he was asleep their mother began to laugh

"Hehehe your just like your dad. Whenever I say anything like that you both blow your tops off"

"Well to be honest it's a little uncomfortable to hear you say stuff like that" Aqua said as she looked at Dante sleeping peacefully nestled between a couple of pillows. He looked so cute and precious as he slept, like a little puppy. "You know what let's just change the subject. So how's Dante at home?" she asked, desperately not wanting a repeat of what just happened.

"Oh, well he's really playful at home and he's really curious about everything. Heh… actually once he took apart our antique clock just to see where the bird went after 12" Aqua began to laugh as the image of Dante doing that came to her mind

"Wow…" was all she could say through her giggles before she took in a breath "… he really is just like dad, always trying to figure out how things work"

"Heh yeah I guess he is a lot like your father" she said with a sigh. Aqua could see she hit something, though she's not surprised she did. The only reason why Aqua didn't cry the instant she found out about her father's death was because she felt like she needed to be strong. Her dad was sick for a long time, almost since Aqua was a little toddler did her father fight with his disease. The doctors only gave him a few years but he fought for at least 4 times longer than that. She needed to be strong, because her father had always told her that he wouldn't be here forever, but it still hurt that he was gone. "Oh…" her mother said as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a slightly ruffled white envelope and handed it to her "…here"

"Who's it from?" Aqua asked as she inspected it a little

"Your… father wanted me to give that to you" Aqua took in a quick breath before she quickly opened the letter.

To my dear daughter…

Aqua I'm sorry I couldn't see you one last time, I really am. I found it hard to believe that the little girl that I and your mother raised became the incredible woman I last saw. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you lighting up flames and making invisible walls. It was truly amazing, you are truly amazing and I'm honored to be called your father. I hope that that master of yours taught you all that you need to know about how to be whatever a 'keyblade master' is. Aqua I want you to know two things one that I want you to help people from all over no matter what…and two that your daddy always loved you.

Take care of your mother and sister and your new baby brother or sister

Goodbye my lovely daughter… Dad

Aqua sat there with the letter in her hands, building up tears as she reread the last few lines of the letter over and over again. Then as she set it down in her lap she finally let it all out as she cried onto her mother's shoulder. Only now did it hit her that she would never be able to talk to him again, never be able to hug him again, and never to be able to hear him say how proud he was of her ever again. As she cried and stained the letter on her lap with tears she felt her mother's warm hand come across her shoulder and wrap her into a hug. She cradle her daughter back and forth as she cried, taking in a nostalgic feeling from when she was little. She just sat with her in her arms for a good half an hour maybe more till her tears ceased. She stroked her daughter's hair as her head laid on her, not saying a word. Finding that nothing need be said, because the action of her being here for her spoke louder than anything she could've possibly said. Aqua took in a big breath before she let go of her mother and wiped her eyes.

"Thanks mom" she said as she folded up the letter and put it back in its envelope and set it down on her desk

"Are you going to be alright dear?"

"Yeah –breath- yeah I just need to go on a little walk is all and I'll be ok" she said as she hugged her mother again.

"Yyawnnnn…" both Aqua and her mother smiled and chuckled a little as they looked behind them and saw Dante slowly waking up and stretching. Aqua scooted over to him and patted him on his head

"Good morning sleepy head"

"Yawn… morning Aqua… wait morning?" he asked excitedly and was about to rush out of bed before Aqua stopped him

"Oh no, no it's still not Christmas yet Dante" Aqua said knowing that's what Dante was probably thinking

"Oh…" he said disappointedly as he looked down, dissapointedly

"Hey don't be sad, you'll get to see Santa in a couple of hours"

"Wait I'm gonna see Santa!" Dante asked excitedly as he got a smile back on his face.

"Oh…um…" this was something Aqua couldn't see. She didn't think he'd actually take her so seriously. She looked over at her mother for an answer of how to get out of this but she just shrugged saying 'you're on your own on this'. Aqua said the only thing she really could say "… yeah he's coming here to see you little guy"

"YAY Awesome!" Dante was practically jumping off the walls in excitement. While Aqua began to think about what would happen because of this. He'd probably stay up all night and get really sad when no Santa would come. Though he could just fall asleep and she could fake it but from the look of him it didn't look like he was going to go to sleep any time soon. Oh what a corner she put herself in, because now she'd have to convince one of her 2 friends to play Santa for him. Neither one of them would probably like the idea of becoming 'TerraClaus' or 'SantaVen'. But seeing her little brother smile with glee warmed her heart, so she'd at least have to try. But in the mean time…

"Tickle fight!" she said a she reached for her brother and frantically began to tickle his sides and some of his tummy

"Ahhahahha! Aqua stop!"

I thought this part of Aqua's ark was actually really touching. Originally I was going to make it about how Aqua loves Terra and how she admits it to her mom but then I remembered this idea for giving Aqua one last letter from her dad and this was more emotional than the other option so I think I made the right choice. The next will be part or Ven's ark and I hope you all will like it. Bye