AN:My original imagining for this chapter was that I was going to give Ava a support group by bringing in Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka's mothers. So then when I sat down to write, this happened instead... which kind of worked out better imo, lol. Thank you for the Kudos on AO3 and theIrishWriter for your review on FFnet.
TW: Broken Parental-Child relationship starting on the path of being on the mend, but still not in the best of places. (Vaguely reminiscent of MHA Endeavor/Todoroki for example.)

Boys need fathers
Every daughter
Every broken heart so gone
I believe that Love is greater
Never ceasing, always hoping
Always just beneath the dawn
-Brave Saint Saturn, Always Just Beneath the Dawn
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The days and weeks continued to roll by at a slowly quickening pace.

Riku turned one and continued to be consistently fascinated with whatever it was Ava was doing. Still coming for his play dates with her as Ruki or Vale stayed nearby as to not overwhelm Ava as her pregnancy progressed.

And then the day approached that Aeros was to return to sea, his six month break from going out coming to its end. It was the night before he was to go out as he went to check in with the Guild that he was surprised. It had been something of a well-known secret that Aeros didn't talk about his family, nor had he spoken to them well before Granny had taken him under her wing.

It had been part of why he had been so much trouble in his youth.

So when he had gone to check in and make the final arrangements, the fact his father was the one behind the counter shocked him. He paused, looking around confused, "You're here, Old Man?"

The older gentleman had a blond peppered short beard and well trimmed mustache as he held a long piece of cork between his teeth as though he were in the middle of trying to quit smoking. His eyes, a clear blue and hair that had been recently trimmed short examined him with a stern look on his face. His dark blue fishing overalls and olive green shirt completed his appearance as he glanced down at the log book in front of him. His voice was rough from the years of yelling, singing sea shanties, and smoking as he huffed, "So that's how you're going to greet me after seven long years?"

Aeros frowned deeply before looking away from him, running a hand through his hair in agitation before gripping his ponytail, "I hadn't realized the Guild had allowed you back onto its rolls."

It had been no small secret that his father had barely bothered to stay home once he'd reached his pre-teen years, going out to sea or drinking his nights away at the local bar with his buddies.

The older man grunted, "I hear you've got a kid on the way."

Aeros grimaced as he shoved his hands in his pockets to occupy them, it wasn't as if keeping secrets was Destiny Island's specialty anyways. "Yeah, what of it?"

His father chewed on his piece of cork before smacking his lips, "After taking on so many shifts for that friend 'o yours, I'd say it was high time someone did you the same favor."

Aeros blinked as he looked at his father shocked, "What?"

The old fisherman made a gravely noise in the back of his throat as he leaned back, looking his son over with a distinctly pointed look in his eyes, "You've changed since I've last seen ya." He crossed his arms over his chest, "You're a dependable young man. Something I wasn't good enough to be. Go home boy. You 'n Vale 've both been moved to land fishin' for now. We've lost a few too many men over the past year to old age."

Aeros felt his mouth drop, "But-"

His father waved him off, "You stay at home with that girl 'o yours. We don't need her stressing out anymore than she already is. Every man gets the majority of their kid's first couple 'a years on land anyways. Don't know what the current fools running things've been doin' while us older folks've been off, but they haven't been runnin' things quite right. I just have one simple request, if you'll let me."

Aeros closed his mouth as he felt his throat constrict, staring at his father hard for a moment before hesitantly nodding, "What is it?"

"At least allow me the chance to see my grandkid every once in a while, you hear?"

Aeros frowned as he stared his father in the eyes. It was probably the most sincere his father had ever been with him. He released a heavy breath, as he looked down at the floor as a strange bitter relief fluttered through his chest, "Alright." He glanced up at his father, "I'll...let you see Sora."

The old man's eyes glossed over slightly, "So you've chosen a name, have you?"

Aeros looked down at the floor uncomfortably before nodding, "Yeah. He's due... in March."

The brunette heard his father take in a breath as he heard a slight rustling of cloth as emotion bled into his voice, "Is that right. And boy at that?" The old man's chair creaked, "Have you told your mother yet?"

Aeros shrugged his shoulders non-committedly, "Haven't really made the time to talk to her."

His father sighed, "You mind if I let her know?"

The younger man looked up at his father, standing behind the desk with an uncharacteristically gentle look on his face. Aeros bit the inside of his cheek as he looked away, unsure of how to deal with this new development in his life as he croaked out, "Sure."

He heard his father's footsteps as his worn black boots came into his view. He felt his father's presence pause before his much larger and heavier hand rested on his shoulder, squeezing it firmly, "Thank you." He continued gently, "Now get goin'. Your lady won't wait all night."

He sucked in a breath and held it as he looked up at his father, warmth pooling in the back of his eyes, "Uh, yeah." He glanced away for a moment, "Her name's Ava, by the way."

His father smirked, "The girls of Destiny Islands never were good enough for ya. Now git."

He stared at his father for another long moment before nodding and backing away from his father's grip on his shoulder. He made his way out the door and paused just before he went to shut it, glancing back at his father, "You be good to mom."

His father nodded solemnly, "As I should be."

Aeros closed the door behind him, feeling the need to flee as a strange ache grew in his chest as he grit his teeth. Of all the people he had thought he'd never see again, to come face to face with his father…

By the time he returned to Ava's home he simply came in the front door, closing it a little more roughly than he'd planned before pressing against it as he slid down its surface and buried his head into his knees. He hugged them close to himself as he gasped silently, his teeth and eyes clenched shut as he tried to sift through his warring emotions.

The bitterness he held towards his father for mostly abandoning him and his mother.

His mother, for turning cold and leaving him to his own devices.

The years in between where his parent's home was simply a bed to sleep in.

Fending for himself until Miss Angeline took him under her wing.

Being able to stay on land, and not worry about leaving Ava's side as they prepared for Sora's quickly approaching arrival.

Becoming a father.

All of it hit him at once as he sat there in the doorway, feeling lost and as though he were still a child as the responsibility became clear to him.

He didn't know how long he sat there, weeping and sifting through his emotions.

Finally, he noticed Ava's presence next to him, her hand gently resting on his bicep as he took another shuttering gasp.

God he hated crying, it was just so… ugly.

He felt Ava place a cooled wet cloth into his hand and he gripped it, his face unbearably hot from his pouring out of emotion. Stiffly uncurling himself, he took the cloth and wiped his face down, sniffing occasionally until he blearily looked at her.

She gave him a reassuring look as she searched his eyes, "You alright?"

He looked down at the cloth still in his grip as he allowed himself to relax against the door and release the tension in his body as he looked towards the kitchen. He cleared his throat and sighed, "Yeah."

She tilted her head, "You wanna talk about it?"

He looked at her tiredly, wanting to say no but deciding he might as well, "I saw my father. I guess Vale and I are docked for the next couple of years… so we won't be going out to sea anytime soon."

Ava stared at him in wonder before furrowing her brows, "Your father?"

Aeros nodded, "I haven't seen him in years… my mom either."

She blinked in shock, "I didn't realize…" Though she supposed it made sense that his parents were still alive.

She and the other Foretellers had all been orphans, so the concept of parents only crossed her mind in regards to Ruki and Vale's families.

"So you spoke with your father… Did it go well?"

He fiddled with the cloth in his hands and frowned, "I..guess? My father wants to see the baby...after he's born."

Ava nodded absently, taking one of his hands in hers, "And?"

He looked at her, staring her in the eyes, "I said yes."

She smiled slightly, "Good. I think… while you might not have the best of feelings towards your father… I'm glad that you have the chance to patch things up between you. Before it's too late."

He studied her a moment with a blank look on his face, "Too late?"

"I never got to say goodbye, my parents both died very… abruptly."

His eyes widened, coming to the realization that he was still spoiled when compared to the harsh realities Ava had survived. He breathed, "So you're glad… we can try and patch up our relationship to avoid regrets?"

Ava nodded, "Yes. You don't have to forgive him all at once, or your mother either. Sometimes… it's just one thing at a time that you find you can finally let go." She shifted before moving to stand, ledgering herself heavily against him as he braced to hold her weight as she stood stiffly, "Now then. I think that's enough for today."

Aeros nodded as he stiffly got up, the time spent on the floor treating him poorly as he stretched.

He was exhausted.

New Years came and went, bringing with it a strange meteor shower as it blazed through the skies above, causing quite a stir on the Islands.

Ava couldn't help but feel pensive about it. Ruki teased her being a spoil sport, but something hadn't been right about it.

That wasn't a natural phenomenon.

Chirithy agreed with her, feeling trepidation as the final streak of light glistened through the sky.

Ava was unable to rest for a handful of days after, unable to settle her unborn child as he seemed determined to ensure she knew of their shared unease.

She sighed, looking over the days left until she was due, Yen Sid making plans for the Blue Fairy to act as her midwife and deliver her child. She didn't know what to expect such a mystical being to look or act like, until early in the twilit morning of March 28th she appeared in her room. A bright morning star seemed to light up her room as she appeared in a flash of glitter, startling Ava as the ethereal entity looked at her kindly.

A vision of beauty, her blue dress sparkling as if made from starlight itself, bright blonde hair fashioned in a way that reminded her of a bygone era. Transparent cloth covering her arms in billowy sleeves, and a simple pair of similarly shaded transparent blue rounded fairy wings on her back. Her voice was kind as she looked the young woman over, "I am the Wishing Fairy, and I have come at Master Yen Sid's behest to aid you on this most joyous and trying of days, young one." For none could claim to be as old or powerful as she.

Ava couldn't help but feel the pressure of her presence as it encompassed the room. She forced herself to breathe as she stiffly brought her legs over the side of her bed, "Today?" Nerves set in as she realized just how much she didn't feel ready for this.

The Blue Fairy smiled warmly, walking to her and taking her by the hands as she reassured her, "Today."

By midday, Sora was born. Aeros, Ruki, and Vale by her side.

And then Ava fell into a deep Sleep that none could wake her from.