Author's Notes: Thank you for keeping up with the story! This the end! I hope you will enjoy part two and hope everyone is safe out there.


"The Other Side of the Fence" Meets "Sibling Rivalry" and" The Runaways"

Epilogue

Aqua & Vanitas

Amaya rushed to the edge of the boat as she looked excited. She placed her feet on the edge of the bottom rail as her hands held onto the top rail. The next month had passed by quickly and they were already on their way to the islands. There was a big grin on her face as the ocean breeze lifted her raven hair. Vanitas sat nearby as he watched her. He wondered how this trip would turn out. Lately, he had been thinking about the past a lot. Now was his chance to do something about it. Then, he felt a hand on his shoulder, which snapped him out of his thoughts. Aqua sat beside him. He gave her a curious look. "Where have you been?"

Nervously, she smiled. "I got a little…sea sick on the side of boat."

With his eyes closed, he breathed out. He guessed it couldn't be helped. His hand rubbed her back to comfort her. "You should be used to the ocean by now."

"Well…my stomach has been all over the place." She turned her attention to Amaya at the front of the boat. "At least someone else is excited." Then, she noticed the expression on his face. It was the same expression he had all month. "It wasn't that bad living here, you know?"

His eyes traveled toward the side. "I know."

She gave him a concerned look. "Then what is it?"

Without thinking, he spoke. "…I was…thinking about the past…"

"Why?" She didn't understand it. She searched his eyes, but couldn't find an answer. She leaned her head against his shoulder. "Not everything was bad. Come to terms with the past. Then you can forget the bad and remember the good."

Deep down, he knew she was right. Aqua stood up. His eyes lifted up to her. "Sure you should be getting up after getting sick?"

She smiled to assure him. "I'll be fine." She walked over and stood beside Amaya who pointed up toward the sky.

After some time, they made it to the islands. Aqua smiled as she held onto Amaya's hand. "First things first, let's go visit grandma and grandpa."

Amaya grinned. "Okay!" Vanitas walked behind them as he rolled his eyes. He didn't mind seeing Aqua's father, but her mother on the other hand…


"Aqua! Amaya!" A cheerful greeting left from her mother's lips. First, she hugged Aqua and then moved onto Amaya.

Her father patted Vanitas's shoulder. "Vanitas! It's been a while! How have you been?! How was the trip?"

"It was fine," he sounded nonchalant.

Aqua's mother pinched Amaya's cheeks. "You're growing so much! How are your classes?! Are you still practicing the violin?"

"Just fine…grandma…" She could the pain already set in from her pinching too hard.

Aqua glanced between Vanitas and her mother. She noticed that she didn't give him a warm greeting. "Mother…"

Inside, she sighed to her. Then, she let out a forced smile as she turned toward Vanitas. She had to keep up appearances for her daughter and granddaughter. "Hello Vanitas…" A frown went across his lips. Even he could tell how insincere she was. That was one of her worse welcomes toward him yet. She turned her attention back to the girls. "I'm so glad to see you!"

Silently, Vanitas sighed. It seemed their feud would never end. He stepped toward Aqua. "I'll be next door if you need me."

She looked a little surprised, but a small part of her understood why. She really wished they would get along. "We'll be over there soon." After he left, Aqua frowned toward her mother. "You could've been a little nicer saying hello."

Her mother mirrored her frown. "I was..." Then, she changed the subject, which made her smile again. "So? You said that you had something to tell us?"

Aqua placed her hands on Amaya's shoulder and smiled toward her. Amaya looked up at her curious. "You might want to stay for this too little one."


Vanitas went next door and knocked on the door. A moment later, a woman with salt and pepper hair tied in a bun answered the door. A surprised look came on her face, but then, it was replaced with a smile. "You made it!"

"Hey..." he greeted her, uneasy.

She stepped aside to let him in. "Where are Aqua and Amaya?" she asked interested.

Vanitas stepped out of his shoes and left them by the door. "They'll be over soon."

She looked at him curious. "Are they next door visiting the in-laws?"

"Yeah…" he answered.

His mother sat down on the couch and placed her hands on her lap. "I take it she's still a handful?"

He sat down beside her. Silently, he was amused by her joke. It was clear to everyone how Aqua's mother felt about him. "Just as welcoming as ever…"

She gave an apologetic smile. "At least you don't have to see each other every day. You'll just have to get along this way."

When Vanitas looked down, he noticed the bruise on her wrist. "What happened to your arm?"

Nervously, his mother placed her other hand over the bruise to cover it. "It's nothing."

He sighed. "Let's not go through this…"

She didn't want him to worry about her. "I was cleaning and while I was doing so I…fell on the stairs and accidentally bruised my arm."

He looked around the room. "You don't really need anything this big anymore since me and Ventus ain't living here anymore. Why don't we just sell the place and get you something smaller?"

She knew he had a point. "It would make things easier…" His mother sighed in defeat. "I guess you're right…" Then, she smiled a little. "Your brother should be coming home soon."

"Yeah…" he answered.

She noticed that he seemed slightly distracted. "Is there something on your mind?"

A sincere look came into his eyes. "Was I that much trouble back then?"

She was surprised that he asked something like that. "What brought that up?"

By the nervous tone in her voice, he already knew her answer. "I'll take that as a yes."

She sighed. She couldn't hide it. "At times, you were a bit of…a handful."

"I'm sorry," he said sincerely.

She blinked surprised. This seemed very unlike him. "Did something happen?"

"I was just thinking about the last time I came here." He turned his attention to her. "Did anyone tell you that he appeared again?"

At first, she wasn't sure who he was talking about. "Him?"

The last thing he wanted to do is call him by a fatherly name, so he came up with the best name he could at the moment. "The deadbeat…"

Her eyes traveled along the floor. "Oh… Well…I haven't seen your father since you two were really young. He never really crossed my mind much after that. How did he look?"

It was the same image Vanitas couldn't get out of his head. "Rough."

A small part of her did feel a little sorry for him. "I see…"

Beside her, he felt the opposite. "I can't say that I feel sorry for him."

His mother looked concerned at him before she turned her head forward. "I know… Things haven't always been the easiest and we haven't always gotten along, but…" Then, she smiled a little toward him. "…I'm proud of what you have become." Inside, he was surprised, though he didn't show it on the out. "I'll admit… I was worried about you for a while, but Aqua became such a positive influence on you and both of you have raised such a beautiful daughter." Then, she rose from the couch. She placed her hand on top of his and smiled. Afterwards, she stood up and headed toward the kitchen. "I'll go make us some tea. I can't wait to see my granddaughter again!" Vanitas watched as she disappeared.

Then, his eyes drifted toward the door. Ahead of him, he saw his seven-year-old self standing in front of it. He remembered the day his father left, the words 'see you around kid' he said to him, and him leaving afterwards. He walked over toward the door. It seemed that Aqua and Amaya were still next door. Then, he glanced toward the couch again. It brought back a lot of memories. He could still remember the night he sat with Aqua when they got back together. His eyes followed along toward the stairs as he watched his younger self take her hand and walk up them. He walked up and looked around as he headed into his room. In the center of the floor, he remembered when he tried to break up with her for her sake, but she wouldn't let him go. Then, he looked over toward the bed where they had their first time. Whether they were good or bad memories, it started to make him miss the place he called home. When he traveled back downstairs, he saw Aqua and his mother embrace as Amaya grinned behind Aqua. Everyone seemed very happy for some reason. "What's going on?"

The two parted as they smiled toward him. His mother rubbed the water from her eye. "Sorry…It's nothing."

He looked curious between them. He wanted to ask, but he decided to let it go. Aqua smiled toward him. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah." He looked over toward his mother. "We'll talk about the house later."

She nodded. "Yes. It was good to see you again…son." It amazed him. Things really had changed over the years. He wondered if things had gone differently, would she still call him that...?

Sora & Kairi

Sora, Kairi, Lucy, Hana, and Wynn went down to the beach. Then, Sora placed his hand to his head worried. "Awe…!"

Kairi looked over curious. It sounded as if something was wrong. "What is it?"

"There's a few other things I need to grab before everyone gets here!" Sora placed his finger to his chin. "But I don't know if I'll be back in time…"

Kairi didn't want him to stress over their reunion with the others. "What do you need? Maybe I can go-."

Sora shook his head. He couldn't let her do that. "No. You have to stay off of your feet as much as you can. Do you know who will get here first?"

"I think… Aqua and Vanitas," she replied.

Sora smiled. "Then let's ask Vanitas. I'll write down what we need and then you can give it to him."

Kairi gave a dull stare. "Do we have to ask…him?"

Sora smiled to assure that it would be okay. "I'm sure he wouldn't say no to you. Just let him know that you can't." Kairi sighed. She didn't really want to, but she didn't have much of a choice. "Don't worry! It'll be all right. I'll be back as soon as I can." Before he walked away, he noticed Lucy and Wynn give him a pleading stare and wondered what they were thinking. "Do you guys… wanna come with me?"

They cheered and ran toward him. "Yeah!" Behind him, he could see the look of defeat and disappointment on Kairi's face as she slouched over. Nervously, he shrugged.

"I'll stay with you." When Kairi looked down, she saw Hana smiled toward her and grab her hand. It made Kairi happy to have her stay.

Then, they watched as the others left. Afterwards, Kairi turned her attention to Hana. "I guess it's just you and me." She placed her hand on her stomach. "Your aunt and uncle should be here soon." In response, Hana nodded.

Aqua & Vanitas

Later, the three of them headed toward the beach. "Amaya!" Amaya lifted her head surprised. Ahead, Hana waved as her other hand was wrapped into that of Kairi's.

Amaya grinned. "Hana!" She ran ahead and met her.

The scarlet haired woman beside her smiled gently. "You guys made it."

Amaya went over and wrapped her small arms around her as much as she could. "Hi Aunt Kairi."

Aqua grinned. "You look well."

Vanitas arched his eyebrow. "You sure got bigger..." Right away, Aqua frowned as she nudged Vanitas in the side with her elbow.

Kairi frowned as she gave him a dull stare and placed her hand on her hip. "And you sure haven't changed one bit …"

Aqua looked around curious. "Where are the kids?"

Vanitas looked around as well. "And where's my air head brother? Isn't he already here?"

"For now, it's just us and yes he is. He ran to pick up something before everyone else got here." Kairi placed her hand on top of Hana's head, which she grinned. "At least one of my little ones was nice enough to stay with me." She closed her eyes as she sighed in defeat. "I guess daddy is more exciting than I am…"

Hana grabbed onto her hand as she grinned to assure her. "That's not true mommy." In response, Kairi smiled.

Aqua smiled as well. "I guess we'll wait here until they get back."

"It might be a while before he gets back. I wanted to wait here for you guys first. After that, I was going to take Hana to get some ice cream," Kairi replied.

Vanitas arched his eyebrow. "Maybe that's why she stuck with you."

Kairi frowned and stepped in front of him. She held out a note. "I actually suggested that after they left. In the meantime, can you get this?" Vanitas took it from her hand and scanned over it. "I would get it myself, but I'm supposed to take it easy and it would be out of the way and take a lot longer for Sora to get."

"Fine fine…" He stepped closer to her. "You ever think about putting a cap on it?"

Kairi blinked, surprised and confused. "Huh?"

He pointed toward her stomach. "I would get that husband of yours neutered before you end up with ten more kids."

Kairi frowned toward him. "Just go…"

Vanitas waved his hand, dismissing her glare. "Maybe don't make it so easy for him to get access." Kairi's lips parted stunned as red came to her cheeks. She crossed her arms against her chest as she looked toward the side and pouted. Aqua sighed. Vanitas glanced at her. "What? It's not a trip without getting under Red's skin."

After he left, Aqua smiled nervously. "Sorry about that… You know him."

Kairi looked upset. "More than I want to."

Aqua looked down at the raven-haired girl. "Amaya and I will go with you to get that ice cream."

"That sounds nice..." Kairi said, still a little upset.

Hana tugged on her arm, curious. "What did Uncle Vani mean by that?" Kairi twitched, embarrassed. She didn't realize her daughter overheard that conversation they had between them.

Amaya tilted her head interested. "What did daddy say?"

Hana pulled Kairi along. "Uncle Vani said something about mommy shouldn't let daddy have easy access and…" She placed her finger against her chin. "And that daddy should be…ne…ne…neutered?"

Amaya looked back toward Aqua. "But mommy I thought that meant-."

Nervous, Aqua waved her hands quickly. "Your father meant nothing by that! It was just a little joke! Let's go get ice cream!" Amaya and Hana walked ahead as Aqua walked toward Kairi. She let out an apologetic smile. "I'll make him apologize later for this."

Kairi leaned in close with a stern stare. "I'm not letting him ruin her innocence over this…"


Later, the two sat outside of the ice cream shop, underneath an umbrella. Aqua grinned toward Kairi as she placed her hand against her stomach. "It feels like you're due any day now."

"I still have another two months to go." Kairi sighed. "I'm just ready for them to come out."

"What are you hoping for?" Aqua asked interested.

To Kairi, it didn't matter much what they had, but Hana's words still rung in her mind. "Maybe a boy to even it out."

Aqua smiled as a thought came to mind. Nearby, Amaya and Hana ran back with ice cream as they giggled. Suddenly, Amaya bumped into someone heading into the ice cream shop. When she lifted her eyes, she became surprised. Suddenly, Aqua heard her call. "Mommy!"

Aqua looked over curious. She got up and headed toward her. "What is it Amaya?" Then, her eyes widened surprised.

"It's funny running into you here," a male voice said.

Soon, she was greeted by a familiar, warm smile. "Hey! Terra! You made it."

The two moved in and embraced. "Thanks for inviting me. I hope it isn't intruding."

After they parted, Aqua smiled at him with assurance. "It's not intruding at all. We consider you family too, so I'm glad you could join us. I know Ven will be glad when he finally gets here."

Terra looked down toward the raven-haired girl. "Amaya! You've grown so much since I last saw you." Amaya grinned.

"Amaya…!" At the table, Hana waved as she sat next to her mother.

Aqua smiled gently toward Amaya. "Go eat before your ice cream melts." Amaya nodded and ran off. Aqua turned her attention to Terra, which he smiled. "She really has grown up. The last time I seen her in person was years ago."

"Did you get the picture I sent you of her?" she asked curious.

"Yes. That's why I recognized it was her. She looks like you."

Aqua laughed a little. "But when she's pouty or upset, she looks like her father."

Then, two boys ran out passed them. Aqua looked surprised. "Are they…?"

Gently, Terra smiled. "Yeah! My two boys."

Aqua watched them surprised. "Wow…I haven't seen them in so long either."

The two boys stopped in front of them. "Why don't you guys say hi to Amaya." The boys nodded and ran over toward the table.

Aqua let out a gentle smile. "They really have grown up so fast…"

"Yeah." Then, he turned his attention to her. "You seem…different."

Aqua wondered what he meant. "What do you mean?"

He couldn't figure it out. "I don't know. You just look different like a glow or something."

Aqua became a little nervous. She didn't think it would hurt to tell him. They were close friends after all. "I haven't told a lot of people yet, but…" Her eyes met his. "Maybe I have a glow because…I'm pregnant."

A surprised reaction came to his face. "What?"

She placed her hand against her stomach as she looked down and smiled gently. "Yeah…It surprised me too. It's what we wanted."

Terra relaxed a little. "Congratulations. You seem happy."

Aqua nodded. "Thank you. I am."

A thought he always wondered about came to mind. "Hey Aqua?"

She looked curious. "Hm?"

A little nervous to ask, he still questioned if she had the same thought. "Do you ever wonder…how things would've been different if we chose the same path?"

As she took a second to think, her eyes traveled down. "Well…I'm sure we all have thoughts like that, but…" She looked over toward Amaya and smiled. "…I wouldn't change a thing. I have someone very precious in my life and there was only one person who gave me that precious gift. I wouldn't trade that for anything."

Terra could see her sincerity and hear it in her voice. "You really do seem happy."

She smiled toward him. "Yeah," she replied without hesitation.

Terra waved slightly. "I'll see you later at the beach then."

Aqua nodded. "All right. See you then."

After he left, Kairi watched as she walked over. "That seemed serious."

Aqua sat down beside her as she still went over the conversation in her head. "Terra asked me a strange question."

Kairi shook her head a little. "It's not a strange question."

"Hm?" Aqua wondered why she said that.

"Maybe he wonders what life could've been like if you two ended up together instead." Aqua pondered if Kairi was right. Afterwards, she gave a suspicious stare. "So? When were you going to tell me?"

Aqua smiled nervously. "As soon as I sat down with you."

Kairi let out a sigh. "You're very brave taking another chance."

Aqua blinked surprised. "Huh?"

Kairi looked over toward the girls. "Amaya turned out to be a sweet child, which I'm sure she gets from you." Then, she turned her attention to Aqua. "What if this one turns out to be the spawn of evil like a certain someone?"

Aqua grinned. "He's not that bad."

"I guess he was excited to hear the news?"

Aqua let out a nervous look. "I haven't told him yet…"

Kairi looked at her surprised. "You haven't told him?"

"I wanted to surprise him earlier, but he seemed so deep in thought lately ever since he came back. I'm starting to get worried..." Then, Aqua smiled to assure that things were fine. "So far, I've only told our parents. I plan on telling him soon."

Kairi smiled, curious. "The same question to you too. What would you want to have?"

Aqua placed her hand on her stomach as she looked down with a smile. "I already know that it will be a boy."

Kairi looked surprised. She seemed so sure. "How can you tell so soon?"

"I just know because he made sure of it." Kairi shook her head, amused. She wasn't sure what made her believe so, but she would take Aqua's word for it. Then, Aqua looked over toward the girls. "How is life on the island? I'm sure Hana and the others have been keeping you busy."

Kairi smiled a little. "Yeah… Everything has been good. I do miss Sora when he has to travel, but each time, we get really happy when we get to see him again." She looked out toward the island. "I do want to get back to working again so... maybe he wouldn't have to travel as much."

Aqua smiled to assure her. "I'm sure it can be hard at times, but you shouldn't worry. You are helping by taking care of Hana and the others. They count on you and I'm sure he appreciates that."

Kairi nodded as she smiled hopeful. "Maybe someday I can return back to teaching." She giggled a little. "By the time I do, I'm sure I'll end up teaching one of the kids."

Shortly after, Aqua looked up toward the sky. At times, she did miss living on the island. "It really has been a while since we've been here…"

Kairi gazed up at the sky with her. "Yeah… Not much has changed…"

Riku & Namine

On the island, Riku stood near the water as he reminisced over the times he stood on the same sand, staring at the same ocean. It had been years since he had seen his childhood home and it didn't seem like the island changed at all. It was the same place where he met his best friends, the ones he had cherished most. All of a sudden, he heard a small voice in the distant. Curious, he walked over toward the other side of the island. He could still hear the sounds as he got closer. Then, the next sight surprised him. Below him, there was a small girl who seemed curious about the water below her. For a moment, he observed her. She seemed very young and he wondered why she was alone. As the water brushed toward her feet, she ran back scared.

Before he could ask where she came from, he heard a voice nearby, "She hasn't seen water like this before."

He turned his head toward the familiar voice. A woman with blonde hair that hung over her shoulder approached him with a faint smile. "Namine?"

She nodded. "Hello Riku. It's… It's been a while," she greeted uneasy.

Riku gave her a serious look. He tried to remain calm. "Why did you call me here? You wanted to talk before you saw the others, so why?"

Deep down, she was scared. Last time they spoke, they didn't end on the best of terms. It took a lot of courage for her to speak to him again. "Thank you for coming. I wasn't sure you would after what happened last time..."

"I'm surprised you even showed up. You don't usually come to family events like this."

She glanced toward the ground. "I know, but…I thought it was important to come to this one."

His face tensed. "Then what do you want with me?"

She became on edge. "I know we haven't ended on the best note."

"You think?" He frowned. "If this is some attempt you're trying to make-."

Namine shook her head. "No! No! Nothing like that…" She pressed her fist to her chest. "Please know how sorry I am! I know I kept pushing you away, but I wasn't sure what I wanted. Please…"

Riku relaxed a little. Both of them thought about the last time they saw each other three years ago…

Riku sat up from the bed of her studio apartment as he placed on his shirt. Soon, he felt the touch of her hand as she grazed his arm lightly. He smirked back at her. "You'll have to give me a second. I'm starting to get hungry." It had become the same routine for him again. For a while, they were separated in their on-again, off-again relationship, but she had reached out to him once more. Now, he had visited her every couple of months in the city, but it seemed they had less time together now. "It's going to be hard to travel from home to here all the time especially now. I don't want to see you any less than I have been."

Namine sat up on her knees as she held the covers over her body. "I know."

As he looked back, he smiled a little. "That's why I've been thinking… Maybe it would be easier on us if we…move in together." Inside, he was hopeful that she would agree. "I'm sure I could find something here to do."

Namine was surprised that he thought it through. Her eyes traveled down as she thought. It was last thing she expected to hear. "Hmm..."

He noticed her in deep thought. "What is it?"

Inside, she was worried about what she wanted to say next. "The truth is…I've been thinking for a while too. You've been getting busier and I've been getting more work as an artist. I have shows coming up and I really need to focus on that."

Riku looked back as he arched his eyebrow. "What are you saying?"

At first, she glanced at the bed. It was hard to tell him the words out loud. Then, she lifted her eyes to him as she pushed herself. "I'm saying that…I need to focus. I've been doing fine for the last few years and I really want to keep it up, so…" She pressed her fist against her chest. "…maybe we shouldn't-."

Before she could touch his shoulder, he stood up from her and frowned. "You're not doing this again!" Namine turned silent. She knew that he would be upset with her. "You did this last time a few years ago! You told me that you needed to focus and that I would be a distraction."

She shook her head. "I never said you were a distraction."

"You didn't have to." He became suspicious. "Why did you really call me back here?"

Her eyes traveled down. "I thought…I thought if you weren't seeing anyone and we were both lonely that…"

Riku breathed out. "I'm not someone you can just use!"

She became concern with what he was thinking. "I wasn't!"

"I tried to understand back then, but… I can't do this again." He turned to get his bag he brought with him. "I'm leaving."

Namine's eyes widened. "Wait!" She stood up and went in front of him as she held the blanket close to her. "I didn't want it to be like this."

He gave her a serious look. "I can't come here when it's convenient for you. I wanted something more than this. Not just seeing each other every once in a while."

Namine wrapped her arms around him. "Stay a little longer. Where else will you go?" Riku didn't respond. As she closed her eyes, she tilted her head against his chest. "Please… Don't go…" As angry as he was, he sighed as he relaxed. She had a point. He couldn't travel back until tomorrow. Frustrated, Riku sat on the bed. She didn't want him to be angry anymore nor was she was ready to lose him yet... Namine leaned in and placed kisses against his lips and neck. Her eyes lifted up to his. "I still want to be a part of your life." She leaned forward as he tilted back against the bed. He decided to indulge her one more night.

The next morning, Namine opened her eyes. Already, she noticed that Riku was gone. He left earlier than originally planned. Sad, she sat up on the bed. A part of her thought it was for the best so that she could focus on her life's work, but deep down, she began to regret what she did…

An awkward silent came between them until the small child beside her tugged at her dress. She gave a worried look. Namine smiled to comfort her and brushed the top of her soft hair. "It's all right. Don't be afraid."

Watching the two interact, he figured they were connected somehow. "Is she yours?"

As Namine smiled gently, she nodded. "Yes."

He figured that she must've found someone else after him. "Congratulations." Then, he thought about the reason she asked him out to the island alone. "If this is your way of apologizing-."

"Yes, but there's also something else." Nervously, she fiddled with her fingers as they were near each other. "Umm…?"

Confusion became written on his face. "What is it?"

Pushing her nervousness aside, Namine turned her eyes back to him. "I wanted to talk to you because…there's something… I have to tell you." Her eyes lowered. "I ran this through my mind over and over again, but it doesn't get any better…" She shook her head. "…and there's no easy way to say this."

Riku looked serious. "Then just say it."

A concerned look came on her face. "The time that we decided to split for good-."

He frowned. "You decided that."

"I know… I'm sorry. I understand if you hate me or if you'll never forgive me, but you have a right to know." Riku tried to read her expression, but still couldn't pin what she wanted to say. "A few weeks after we split, I found out something very important, but…" Her fingers tightened together in front of her. "I wasn't sure if I should tell you and I know you have a right to know, but I didn't think you would want to have anything to do with me anymo-."

His patience began to wear thin. "Just tell me. What is it?"

She turned quiet. What was the best way to say something she should have a long time ago? Then, she did the only thing that came to mind. She placed her hand on top of the small girl's head. "I… haven't introduced you yet. This is Laramie and… Laramie…she's… she's your daughter."

At that moment, his world froze. His eyes widened. As soon as the words left her lips, he couldn't believe what he heard. "What…?"

A look of regret came on her face. "I'm sorry. I should have told you. I felt it was my responsibility to-."

Riku took a good look at the young girl. He had already noticed the light silver tint in her hair and her mother's eyes. "How old is she?"

She lifted her head to him. "Two."

Then, Riku became upset "If she really is mine, then she's my responsibility too! How do I even know she's mine?!"

"I wasn't with anyone else! Just you!" Below her, Namine noticed a tight tug on her dress. There was a scared look on the young girl's face as she hid behind her leg. Riku noticed as well. Both of them decided to relax for her sake. "After you left, I just threw myself in my work like I always do, but then…" She looked toward her. "…I had her." She smiled gently. "I never imagine myself as a mom, but I ended up loving her more than anything I'd ever created."

He took a second before he spoke, "Even so, why didn't you tell me? I've missed a lot in her life already."

"I know. I regret not doing this sooner, but I didn't know if you would want her or if you would want to take her away from..."

Once Riku heard her fears, his anger began to ease slightly. "I wouldn't have done that."

Curious, Namine stared at him. "What would you have done?"

His eyes traveled along the ground. "I don't know…"

"I know that… there are certain things you've missed, but…" Gently, she smiled. "…there's still plenty of more moments to come. She is still going to need help growing up." Inside, he knew that she was right. He still had a chance. While things were quiet between them, Namine smiled and looked down at Laramie. She knew it was time for them to finally meet. "Go on. It's okay." Laramie stared at her unsure. "Don't worry. He's a really nice man."

Riku kneeled down toward her, unsure. Inside, he was nervous to interact with her himself. "Hey Laramie…"

The girl stared at him curious and concerned. Lightly, Namine pushed her forward. Soon, the small girl approached him. "She's…really shy. She doesn't talk much, but I'm sure that'll change once she gets to know you."

"It's nice to meet you." Riku held out his hand toward her. At first, Laramie seemed unsure as she stood still. He smiled toward her. "It's okay." At that moment, he wondered what he could do so that she wouldn't be shy with him. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a seashell in the sand. He held it up for her to see. "Here." Curious, she tilted her head. "It's a seashell. You can find these on the beach." He held it toward her. "You can have it." Laramie walked toward him and took it from his hand to look at. "Do you like it?" She lifted her head to him and nodded a few times. "Wanna look at the ocean?" She nodded toward him. He stood up and put her small hand in his. They headed closer toward the ocean. The water brushed against her feet. Worried, she moved closer to his leg as she looked down. "Don't worry. I know it's cold, but it won't hurt you." Curious, she lifted her head to him. "I'll be right here." She stood as she let the water brush against her feet again. This time, she felt calmer and even began to like it. Nearby, Namine smiled. It seemed like they were beginning to bond...


In town, Vanitas walked down the street as he carried a bag in his hand. As he looked around, he noticed that a few of the buildings had changed, but for the most part, things had seemed the same. His mind began to dwell on the past again. Instead of going back to the beach, he decided to take a detour. A few minutes later, he traveled down the alleyway that led toward the warehouse he used to go. It surprised him to hear things so quiet around. It was different. Eventually, he stepped back into the old warehouse. The place seemed untouched since he last saw it years ago. There was still a couch on the side where he would lie some nights. On the other side was the desk where his former boss sat. He stepped near the desk. Then, he noticed something down below. He moved his foot and saw a spot of blood. By now, it could've been anyone's, but he still thought it was possibly his own. While he had forgotten most of the pain, the memory of what happened still didn't fade. He counted himself lucky that he wasn't taken away like the others were. He turned and walked away until he heard a voice, "Ah! So you've come back…" Even though he knew it was his imagination, he indulged and turned back. He could still remember the smirk of the man who controlled him long ago. "I knew you would come back eventually. No matter what, I'll always know what you are."

Vanitas frowned. "I've won old man. I didn't get taken down with you." He turned more toward the desk. "I kept thinking I was nothing more than this and even if that was true, I didn't see what else was right in front of me." He lifted his eyes. "I didn't have to live down in the darkness like you did." His eyes drifted toward the side as he reflected on what he had now. The two closest people in his life had stuck by his side. He had a family that cared for him. Something he couldn't see in front of him before. "I'm not that same boy I was years ago. I have others that care, that didn't want me to go down that path." He glared toward the image of Xehanort. "You were wrong. I was nothing like you. Never was." Afterwards, he turned and walked away. "In the end, I'm still here while you…" He didn't look back. "…you're nothing but a distant memory." At that moment, a burden was lifted from him. Now that he had finally confronted his past, he could put it all behind him.


"About time you showed up!" Sora grinned toward him.

Vanitas handed him the bag. "Yeah... yeah... I got what you wanted."

Sora took the bag from his hand. "Thanks."

When Vanitas looked around, he could see that everyone was there already. He didn't realize that he had been gone that long. "Hey!" He turned around to see Ventus with his small son. He had blonde hair and blue eyes just like his father. "It's been a while."

Vanitas placed his hands in his pockets. "Yeah."

Ventus looked down toward the small, blonde-haired boy. "You remember your Uncle Vani right?" The small boy nodded as he put his fingers to his lips.

Behind Vanitas, he could hear Sora snicker. While it didn't bother him as much anymore, it was more that Sora held it over his head. Vanitas bent down toward the small boy and rubbed the top of his head. The boy let out a grin. Sora and Ventus gave a quick smile toward each other. Vanitas really had turned into a kinder big brother. Ventus looked down toward him. "Go play with the others."

The young boy nodded and took off. Sora and Ventus watched as they smiled and Vanitas looked calm. "Food's almost ready. Do you guys mind helping?"

Ventus turned to him. "Sure!" Vanitas watched as the two interacted. This was the family he knew now.

"Hey!" They looked over to see Roxas waved toward them.

Sora grinned. "Hey! You made it!"

After they were done, Vanitas looked toward the ocean. The others noticed that he seemed lost in thought. Ventus, Roxas, and Sora looked curious. "What is it?" Sora asked. Then, they looked toward the ocean as well. The same thoughts crossed their minds. They headed over the small hill and went toward the ocean. Their thoughts traveled back to a few years ago, now a memory that had brought them closer together…

A few years ago...

"Oh…!" As a young Amaya stepped further into the ocean, she leaned forward and picked a shell out of the water.

"Don't go out any further or you're get drag away by the ocean!" Vanitas warned. He kept his hands in his pockets as he watched her carefully.

She turned back as she held up a shell. "Daddy look!"

He stepped closer and bent his knees down beside her. "You like it?"

Amaya nodded. "Hmm..Hmm…"

"Then it's yours."

Amaya smiled toward him. Vanitas took the shell from her and placed it in his pocket. She stared out over the ocean. "It's pretty out here..." she said in awe. Vanitas stood up straight as Amaya looked up at him. "Do you like it?"

"Hm." He took a moment before he spoke. "It's where I used to live."

She smiled. "I would stare out at the ocean every day if we were here."

He stared out. "Even if you did…nothing ever changes…"

She lifted her head toward him curious. "You don't like it?"

After thinking about it, he couldn't condemn the place completely. It was where he met the woman who would change his life forever. He placed his hand on top of her head. "I guess a little…"

Amaya smiled toward him, happy. Then, she looked over surprised and confused as she noticed something on the other side of the beach where they were. "Daddy…?"

He followed the direction of her eyes and looked at the other end of the beach. There was a man dressed in a brown jacket and torn clothes underneath, staring forward at the water. Dirt covered his body, long grey beard, and clothing. Vanitas squinted his eyes. Why did the man look so familiar…? Suddenly, he felt a hand clutch his. Below him, he noticed the worried look on Amaya's face as she hid behind his leg. Ahead, he noticed the man stare toward him. He looked down her. "No one's gonna to hurt you. Let's just go." He held onto her hand and started to walk away.

"Va…nitas?" Vanitas's eyes widened in surprised. Quickly, he turned his head. How did the stranger know his name? At the same time, somehow, he recognized that voice too. He turned toward the man on edge. The man smiled. "I thought I recognized those eyes. There's hardly anyone else with them."

Vanitas took another moment to remember who he knew the man. Then, the answer struck him. Was it possible? "You…?"

The man smiled a little. "It's been a while."

Vanitas's lips parted, confused and stunned. After all this time, he saw the one person he never thought he would see again. Amaya looked at him curious. "Daddy...? Who is that man?"

The man smiled. "Ah! It really has been a long time. You already have a child of your own."

Vanitas pressed down on his teeth. "Hey...! Vanitas...!" Nearby, Sora, Roxas, and Ventus walked over the short hill. "There are you! Aqua was looking for you." Then, Sora noticed the man that stood across the beach. "Who's that guy?" Along with the confusion of his face, Roxas and Ventus became confused as well. Vanitas felt uneasy. The last thing he wanted was for them to see him.

The man looked at them. Eventually, a smile crept on his face. "I see…All of you have really grown up. Sora…Ventus…and Roxas."

They felt on edge. "Seriously Vanitas…who is this guy?" Ventus asked.

Roxas thought more about the man until he came to a realization. His eyes widened. "It can't be…"

Vanitas looked back serious. It seemed Roxas figured it out. "You guys weren't that young, but he's easy to forget." He stared forward serious. "It seems he finally came home after all this time…Right? Dad…?" The others stood with stunned looks on their faces. They were speechless. After all this time, they came face to face with their father again. Their father took a step toward them. They became more on edge.

"Stay back!" It caught him by surprise at first, but he stood still. An angry look came on Roxas's face as he stepped forward. "What are you doing here?!" His father didn't answer. "I asked what are you doing here?!" Before he could run toward him, Vanitas held out his arm toward the side to block him. Roxas looked up at him. "What are you doing?!"

Vanitas stared forward serious. "He's not worth it anymore."

Roxas looked frantic. "Not worth it?! Did you forget what he did?! He's the reason you had to join the organization for money! He's the reason everyone had to struggle!" He closed his eyes tight. "He's the reason that my mother is dead!"

Vanitas looked back toward him. "I know… but nothing's gonna change the past." Roxas couldn't hold back his tears anymore. He fell down to his hands and knees. Sora and Ventus kneeled beside him and placed his hands on his back.

Amaya looked over curious and confused. "Daddy…? Why is Uncle Roxas crying?" She looked up at him for answer.

Vanitas debated about what to do. He stepped forward. "I thought I would have a lot to say to you if I ever saw you again, but now…I don't really have anything." Sora and Ventus looked over surprised. Vanitas shrugged. "What's there left to say? I hated you for the longest time and I thought I would always carry that hate with me, but now, who cares?" He pointed behind him. "If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have these three dorks behind me. I don't know if you have any other bastards out there, but we're the ones that ended up together. Better than that, I learned that I'm nothing like you." Amaya and his eyes met. He couldn't imagine leaving her behind.

Sora stood up. "I couldn't do what you did either. I couldn't leave my family behind." Ventus helped Roxas to stand up.

Their father looked remorseful. "I'm sorry…"

Then, Vanitas spoke, "Sorry ain't gonna change nothing. You missed out. Now you'll never get to know your grandkids. You ain't gonna do the same thing to them or us. As far as this goes, this is the last time we'll see each other." Sora looked down uneasy. As forgiving as he was, he couldn't let his family get hurt again. Before their father could turn away, Amaya looked determined and ran over. Vanitas looked surprised. "Amaya!"

Amaya stood in front of him as she looked upset. "Wait!" He looked toward her. "You're my grandpa, right?"

"Hm."

"You made my daddy and uncles really sad. I'm not sure why, but…" She bowed as she closed her eyes and placed her hands together in front of her. "Please…don't hurt my daddy again…" Vanitas reacted with surprise. She stood up straight. "…and my uncles too."

Her grandfather smiled a little. "You really care about your dad?"

"Yeah! More than anything."

He kneeled down toward her. "Sounds like he raised you well. Stick close to your dad. Don't let him out of your sight. Got it?"

Amaya nodded a few times. She looked back toward Vanitas. He kneeled down toward her level. She ran back toward him. He gave her a serious look. "What did I say about going up to strangers?"

Her head lowered. "Not to go near them…" she muttered. Then, she lifted her head anxious. "…but I just wanted to-!" He flicked her in the forehead, which she closed her eyes tight. "Ow…" She rubbed the middle of her forehead.

"Don't do it again." She looked down disappointed. She just wanted to protect him. Suddenly, she felt herself lifted up. Surprised, she looked at him. "…but thanks anyway." Amaya smiled and wrapped her small arms around his neck. Across the beach, their father smiled.

Suddenly, they heard a voice in the distance. "Vanitas!" They looked over to see Aqua come from over the small sand hill. She walked over to him as Kairi and Xion followed. Their father looked surprised. Aqua went over to Vanitas first. Xion checked on Roxas. He shook his head and smiled to assure he was all right and Kairi went over to Sora as their two girls followed. As the boys' father watched, he smiled gently. It seemed that things had turned out for the best for his family. Aqua looked out of the corner of her eye and noticed the man across the beach walk away. "Who was that?" Vanitas watched as he walked away as well. She became worried by the serious look on his face. "Vanitas?"

He placed his arm around her waist. "Don't worry about it." He glanced back at Sora, Ventus, and Roxas. Silently, they agreed with his decision.

Ventus looked down. "It seemed like a long time ago..."

"Yeah…" Sora whispered. Then, he smiled as he put his hands behind his head. "But hey! Look at it this way! This brought us closer together."

Roxas sighed. "There goes Sora. Always looking on the bright side." Sora grinned toward Vanitas. "And our big brother actually stood up for us."

Vanitas sighed and looked over toward him. "Your jokes are really getting old... like you…"

Ventus stepped closer to him. "Sora's right, you know. You actually turned out to be a good brother in the end." Sora walked over and embraced him with a grin. This time Vanitas didn't pull out of it. Sora looked back toward the others. "See. He's still harmless."

Suddenly, Vanitas felt two more pairs of arms embrace him jokingly. This time he didn't roll his eyes. "Fine... You dorks win." They placed their hands on each other's shoulders as they smiled toward each other.


Kairi sat on one of the beach chairs as she watched the kids play across the way. "Hey!" She lifted her head up to see Sora walk toward her.

In response, she smiled. "Hey! Where have you been?"

He sat down beside her. "Around."

Kairi grinned. "Sounds fun." While they rested, Sora placed his hand against her stomach. Gently, she smiled. "Last one hopefully."

He let out a joking grin. "You sure? There could always be room for one more…"

Right away, she let out a deep frown toward him. "Don't even joke about that!" Afterwards, he laughed a little.

"Hey." When they looked over, they spotted Riku walk beside Namine and Laramie. He gave them a slight wave.

When they spotted Laramie, they weren't sure who she was, but a few ideas came to mind. Curious, Sora looked up at Namine and Riku. "Who's this?"

They both smiled toward Laramie before they looked at them. Namine smiled a little. "This is Laramie and… she's your niece."

The two became speechless. "Your…" Kairi blinked, surprised. "I didn't realize that you two had a child."

Namine gave a look of regret. "I'm sorry. It was my fault. I was the one who didn't tell anyone." She glanced toward all three of them. "I should have told all of you sooner."

They weren't sure what to think. Then, Sora smiled toward the small girl. "Hey! I'm your Uncle Sora and this is Aunt Kairi," he spoke slowly. "We're your family. It's nice to meet you."

Kairi leaned toward her as she smiled gently. "You're really pretty."

Laramie looked Riku and Namine curious. Namine smiled a little. "She's very shy."

Sora grinned. "We can change that!"

Namine noticed their children playing near the ocean. "I haven't had a chance to see the girls in a while and I don't think I've met your son yet. Do you mind…if I…?"

Kairi nodded. "Go ahead! I'm sure they'll be happy to see you."

Namine grabbed onto Laramie's hand. "Come with me. We should go meet the others." The others watched as they walked away.

Riku sat on the edge of their chair as he sighed deeply. He finally had a chance to relax after spending time with them. Kairi glanced at Sora before she leaned toward Riku concerned. "I guess…congratulations are in order. How come you didn't tell us?"

"I didn't find out myself until today," Riku replied.

The news stunned them. "Really?" Sora asked. In response, Riku nodded.

Sora and Kairi glanced at each other again before they looked back at him. Kairi spoke first. "The last time we spoke, you said you weren't together."

"I know…" Afterwards, he explained what happened between the two of them three years ago to the conversation they had on the island just a short time ago.

Sora placed his hand on his shoulder to comfort him. It sounded as if it was a lot for him to take in at once. "Well…this is a good thing, right? You know now that you have a kid. Better late than never." Riku looked a little concerned.

Kairi placed her hand on his other shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll be a great father. You still have a chance to be a part of her life and you don't want to let that slip by."

Riku turned toward them. "You're right. It's just…a big adjustment."

Sora grinned as he pointed toward himself. "That's why you got me! I'm an expert on this dad thing!"

Kairi arched her eyebrow as she gave a dull stare. "Since when?" Before Sora could speak, his words became caught in his throat. Then, all three of them burst out into laughter. They looked forward to see Namine bring Laramie over to Lucy, Hana, and Wynn and watched as they interacted. They were glad to see everyone get along. Kairi looked concerned toward Riku. "Do you think that you'll work things out…?"

Riku lifted his head up toward the sky. Things seemed complicated right now, but he would have to take it one step at a time. All he knew was that he wanted to be a part of Laramie's life. "I'm not sure. I think I'll have to wait and see…"


Roxas leaned back against his chair with his hands behind his head. He began to relax now that he was back. "Yo!" He looked over to spot the fire red-haired man waved toward him.

Roxas sat up a little. "Hey Axel! You made it!"

Axel grinned. "Yup! You did too!" He sat down near the edge of Roxas's lounge chair and looked forward. He noticed the kids playing near the water. "They get bigger every time I see them. I need to stop by more often."

Roxas looked uneasy. He hadn't let Axel in on his plan yet. "We're…actually thinking about moving back here…"

Axel reacted with surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah. We could find a bigger place down here and the kids would have more room and we would be near family," Roxas explained.

Axel's eyes traveled down disappointed. "Oh…"

Roxas didn't want him to get the wrong idea. "You're family too you know, but I'm not sure what to do. My brother Sora said that things aren't as bad as when the organization was here."

"Yeah. Some of the members are either locked in prison or they moved far away from this place." Axel smiled a little. "At least this experience brought one of my friends back. Joining the organization had really changed Saix, but now that he's out, he's apologized for what happened."

Roxas looked curious. "The two of you are still living together?"

"Yup!" Then, Axel breathed out. If Roxas wanted to go, it couldn't be helped. "Well…if you move here, I won't stop you."

Concern came to Roxas. "That's the other thing… I can't move here if there's the chance that she-."

"You mean Larxene right?" Axel filled in for him.

"I can't risk anyone else getting hurt, especially them." For a moment, both of them glanced toward the three young children in the distance before they turned their attention back to each other.

"I doubt you'll have to worry. Last I heard, she was still in and I doubt she would want to come back here. Not after what her father did to her… She wants nothing to do with him." Axel scratched the back of his head. "Well…I guess I'll have to visit you guys here then. Won't be as often, but I'll still visit." Roxas still wondered if it was really the right move.

Suddenly, they heard a familiar voice. "Hey Axel!" They turned their heads to see Xion stand nearby with a smile.

Axel smiled toward her. "Hey Xion!"

She placed her hands together in front of her. "I'm glad that you could make it."

Axel nodded. "Me too." Afterwards, he stood up. "I'm gonna say hi to the kiddos. I'll be right back."

Xion smiled as she watched him walk away and then sat on the chair beside Roxas. "That looked like it was serious."

"I was just telling Axel about us moving. He thinks that this place has gotten safer since we've been here."

Her eyes traveled down. "Hmm…"

He wondered if that made her feel any better about moving back. "Maybe it will be okay for them."

She became curious. "So? Does that mean yes?" Roxas was still unsure himself.

Then, Jaxon ran over and stopped in front of them. "Mommy!" He looked between them. "Are you guys coming in too?"

Xion looked up at him. "Jax? Could you do me a favor? Could you ask your brother and sister to come over here too?"

Jaxon was surprised by her request. "O-Okay." He ran over and then brought the others back over. They sat on the edge of the chair as they stared at their parents curiously.

Roxas and Xion glanced at each other before they turned their attention to them. "Me and your dad were talking and we were thinking about moving to a bigger place."

At first, they were surprised to hear the news, but then Xenna along with her brothers grinned. "Cool!"

Daxs held his fist in the air. "Maybe I could get my own room!"

Roxas and Xion stared at each other before they looked back at them concerned. "We were… thinking about moving here instead. We could find a bigger place and you would be near your cousins." Xion leaned forward toward them. "I know you guys have made friends, but it doesn't mean you can't see them again. So…? What do you think?"

The three looked at each other and then back at them. Daxs grinned. "We could see the beach all the time!"

Jaxon looked a little concerned, but he would trust his parents knew best. "I don't really mind."

Then, they noticed that Xenna seemed quiet. Xion became concerned. "Xenna? Is it too much?"

Xenna looked over toward the others before she spoke. "I guess it will be fine… as long as I don't have to share a room with these two."

Xion embraced her. "This could be a good change."

"I hope so…" Xenna still sounded unsure.

Xion smiled toward them. "That was all. Go off and play." Xenna and Daxs ran and headed toward the water. Before Jaxon could run off, he heard his mother's voice. "Hold on Jax!" She squeezed some lotion onto her hand. "You're not used to being out in the sun this long. Here." She placed some over his skin.

"Mom… Not in front of the others…" Jaxon groaned. After she was done, he took off running.

Roxas chuckled a little. "You can't keep babying him."

Xion grinned as she placed her finger to her lips. "I know… but I can for just for a little longer."

Both of them stared forward and watched as the children played. Roxas rested his arm against the top of his knee. "Well… that went easier than expected."

Xion sat back along with him. "I hope this is the right thing to do."

He turned his head toward her. "We'll never know until we actually move."

She curled up beside him as she wrapped her arm around his. "Yeah… This could be a good thing…For all of us," she sounded hopeful.


Nearby, Kairi curled up against Sora as she relaxed. They watched as the children played near the ocean. She couldn't help but smile. As she leaned her head against his shoulder, her arm wrapped around his. "I'm glad that you'll be staying for a little longer. They really miss you." She lifted her head up toward him. "I really miss you too."

He mirrored her smile. "Me too."

She turned her attention back to their children. "Who knew that things would turn out like this?" She giggled as she put her finger to her lips. "I guess the legend was right."

Sora looked at her surprised. "Legend?"

"The legend of the papou fruit. No matter what, we'll remain a part of each other's life no matter what."

Sora nodded in agreement. "Yeah." Beside him, Kairi closed her eyes as she kept her smile on. Even after all this time, they were still truly happy together.


Vanitas sat down on the beach chair as he breathed out. Aqua smiled toward him. "You can't be tired already."

He put his hands behind his head. "Not really…" He stared out toward the ocean. On the edge of the beach, he saw the kids playing. It really was a relaxing sight. One, he wasn't sure he would enjoy in the past. Then, he became curious toward Aqua. "How come you're not out there?"

The smile increased on her face. "Because I wanted to sit here with you."

Inside, it made him happy to hear that, but he remained casual. "Suit yourself… You're not gonna change out of that outfit?"

Instead of swimwear, she stuck to wearing the same white, sleeveless shirt and beige khakis she had on since they came to the island. She watched as the kids played. "I don't really plan on swimming or anything."

Vanitas arched his eyebrow toward her. "Then what's the point of going to the beach?"

Aqua looked down as she placed her hand on her stomach and smiled. "I'm fine just watching." Something seemed off about her that he couldn't figure out. "Hey Vanitas…?"

He snapped at his thoughts. "Yeah?"

A little nervous, she smiled. "Wanna sit with me?"

Vanitas got up and sat in the large beach chair beside her. It was tight squeeze, but once she turned on her side, it became more comfortable. In her mind, she debated about ways to tell him what was on her mind, but she decided to try a different approach. She grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach. It felt hard and slightly round to the touch. He became curious and unsure as to why she pulled him over. "Hm?"

"Just another reason I wore a bigger shirt."

It wasn't long before he figured out what she wanted to tell him. His eyes lifted up stunned. "Already?!"

Her lips were curved into a cheerful smile. "Hmm-hmm…" She placed her hand on top of his. "I'm two months along."

Confusion became written on his face. "Wait a minute…! We just agree on this a month ago."

Her eyes traveled up and toward the side. "Well…" Then, her eyes met with his. "…You can't help when it happens." Vanitas sighed. They were already further along on their second child. "I know it's earlier than when we actually started trying, but do you think your technique will work? I mean, when we tried for Amaya, I did say I wanted a girl."

"Well… It's hard to say. I didn't try for a boy or a girl at the time, so there's no telling, but since you wanted a boy, then that's what you'll get." Their eyes met and then they laughed. "You still believe that I have the power to choose what you're going to have?"

Aqua cuddled up beside him and leaned her head on his shoulder. "All I know is the first time I asked for a girl and you made me bet that you could give me a girl. Not only did I end up with a girl, but on diaper duty, by myself, for a month. It's worse when they're first born, so I'm not taking that chance again."

A faint smile curled at his lips. He watched as the other kids played. There were more girls on the beach and only a few boys. "I don't know… The odds might be against us considering what everyone else ended up with." Then, Vanitas looked over curious and surprised. Down near the beach, he noticed Ventus and Terra meet face to face. There were grins on their faces as they spoke. "Terra's here?"

Aqua leaned up on elbow. "I invited him to come so that he could see Ventus and Amaya. I didn't want him to feel left out. After all, we lived on the island and went to the same school together. If it's strange-."

"You don't have to go into a long explanation about it. I was just asking." When he looked at Terra, he no longer saw him as a rival. There was no doubt in his mind that the bond between him and Aqua could be broken. Not after this long. When he left his thoughts, he noticed Aqua staring at him. "What?" He frowned. "I get it. He's a friend of yours. I'm not upset if that's what you're thinking."

As Aqua watched him, she thought about the question Terra asked her earlier. Her answer was still the same. She smiled to assure him. "It's not that. I was just thinking about how I wouldn't change a thing."

Vanitas arched his eyebrow. "Hm?" When she didn't explain why she said it, he wrapped his arm around her neck and pulled her in closer. "Don't be weird…"

As Aqua closed her eyes, she grinned. Then, she lifted her head to him. "So…? Are you happy?"

He arched his eyebrow. "Happy about what?"

"About the new baby."

He closed his eyes as he relaxed in his chair. "If you were responsible enough to take care of it on your own, sure." Aqua pushed her hands against his side as she pouted. He leaned her head more toward his neck as he leaned his head against hers. "Yeah. If you're happy…I'm happy," he replied sincerely. She wrapped her arm around his stomach as she relaxed. He stared out at the ocean once more. Eventually, another thought came to mind. "Hey…Aqua?"

"Hm?" she replied tired with her eyes closed.

"Thank you."

Aqua let out a yawn as she started to get comfortable against him. "For what…?"

He took a moment to think. There were other things he wanted say, but he thought it was better to summon it up. He watched as the calm water rolled up on the shore. Feet away, Amaya stopped and waved toward him as she grinned. It only lasted a moment before she took off running again. "For showing me… there was light outside of that dark world I was trapped in. I didn't think my life would get this far, but now… I was finally able to let my past go. It took longer than I thought, but now, I see this place wasn't so bad." When he looked down, he noticed that she still didn't move. He assumed that she had fell asleep. Apart of him was fine that she didn't hear the rest.

Suddenly, he felt movement beside him. Before he could look over, he felt a pair of lips against his cheek. "So? Is that why you've been so distant since we got here?"

"That was pretty sneaky of you."

"I just know that you let out your feelings better this way." He smirked a little toward her. She knew him better than he thought. "You seemed that way ever since we talked a few years ago."

"You mean the 'whole running into my dad' thing?"

She looked at him curious. "Is that what you needed to face?"

He looked serious. "I faced that the first time I saw him. I wasn't angry anymore because I knew you were right a long time ago. I was nothing like him." He turned his head back to her. "I went back to the old warehouse, the place you used to follow me." He could see her concern. "It was the other things. Feeling manipulated and trapped. I thought I would fall again, but I never had. I was nothing like that man either. Never was." He lifted his head. "I guess I still had some anger toward what happened, but when I went there, I was able to let it go." He looked back at her. "You probably think that was stupid."

She shook her head. "No. I knew you held it in for a long time, but I wasn't sure how to help."

Vanitas let out a half-smile, half-smirk as he closed his eyes. "Point is you were right."

She smiled. "You should be saying that more often." He sighed in defeat. He leaned back in his chair and she followed along as she leaned against him again. As time passed, she curled up beside him and fell asleep. The air felt cool as they lied under the shade of the umbrella. He listened to the sound of her soft breathing, the soft waves of the ocean, and the sound of laughter in the distance. He felt at peace. He took another look at the woman who lied beside him. Lightly, the tips of his fingers brushed her bangs aside from her face. She really did have a beautiful glow about her. He could still see her light, even now. He leaned his head against hers as he closed his eyes. Minutes later, Amaya ran up to their chair. Before she spoke, she stopped as she looked a little surprised. Below her, she saw the two asleep. It couldn't be help. She decided to leave them alone to rest.

As Vanitas was asleep, he rubbed his cheek against the top of her hair. "Every once in a while, you would ask if I was happy when you weren't sure if I was. The truth is… I'm always happy whenever I'm with you…"


Thank you for reading! Wow...I can't believe this is finally done after updating for over a year. Definitely the longest story I've ever written on this site and I'm glad I got it out after it was sitting on my computer for over ten years.

Side Notes:

'Laramie' can mean 'tears of love'. It's an interesting name and one I thought could represent the struggle her parents went through with their own relationship, plus the 'mie' part seemed close to the 'mine' part of Namine's name.

As for future projects, if you would like to read some extra side story to this one, look for "Life: It's Only Just Begun." It takes place within the sixteen years before the epilogue. Read how each couple deals with new changes in their lives. I've already written some of it.

I had plans for another idea called "Life: Alternative" A sort of darker version to this story showing a different future for each of the characters if they has chosen different relationships instead. What if Vanitas hadn't ended up with Aqua or Kairi hasn't ended up with Sora or Roxas with Xion?

Lastly, if you've been reading, thank you. I really like doing this story. Feel free to message anytime and stay safe out there!