AN: Thank you Gary123 for the review! Hope you enjoy! Please R&R!

I've been missing the world we've lost
since the day you left,
Because I lost you along the way
Because tragedy took my compassion
-Off Road Minivan, Spiral Gaze
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Aeros had been half asleep in the Library when Sleeping Lion had nudged him.

He'd blinked, looking around as his Keyblade prodded him again, They've won. It's over. Many arriving.

Aeros's eyes widened as he slowly stood, checking throughout the Library to see if anyone was there before closing up for the night. As he stepped outside he looked toward the Play Island as he noticed a gathering of many shapes and sizes playing, many with unique coloring and clothes.

He rubbed his head as he then turned and made his way toward Ruki and Vale's to collect them, getting the feeling the three of them should meet the many Others who had come in contact with their sons.

He knocked on the door, and Vale answered in surprise, "What's up? You don't normally close up the Library this early."

Aeros turned slightly, looking in the direction of the Play Island, "Looks like we've got a bunch of out-Worlders on the Play Island."

Vale's eyes widened before he turned, "Ruki! Seems like Riku's home!"

The silver haired woman yelled out from elsewhere in the house, "Really!?"

"Yup!"

There was a thud, followed by her scrambling as she came to the door with a large smile on her face, "My baby's home?"

Aeros smiled minimally, "I guess so, there's a ton of Strangers on the Play Island."

She looked up at her husband before running back into the house, "Just gimme a minute! I wanna grab some stuff before we head out!"

Vale glanced back to his friend with a shrug, "You need to grab anything from your house? We could meet you there."

Aeros scratched his head for a moment as he thought before declining, "Nah. I'm alright. I really just want to see Sora again."

Vale agreed, and the two chatted for a while as Ruki gathered a number of items into a large bag before popping up behind her husband and unexpectedly shoving the load onto Vale, "Alright, let's go!"

Vale nearly dropped the bag Ruki gave him, "What in the world did you stuff in here!?"

Ruki laughed as she shoved Aeros towards the dirt path that would take them to the docks, "Just some stuff!"

Vale swore as he shut the door, grumbling to himself about 'women' and 'restraint.'

The trio sedately made their way to the docks, chatting as the sun began to set. It wouldn't take them too long to get to the Island, but slowly a sense of urgency came on them as Aeros hopped into his raft with Ruki, while Vale took the food in his own and set off.

They were still a minute or two from the Island when Aeros saw Sora and Kairi's silhouette seemingly appear on the little island that held the paopu tree. Aeros's Heart began to beat fast, as his son leaned close to Kairi, the sun lowering as it kissed the horizon.

And then Sora vanished like a mirage in a desert.

Ruki gasped as Vale's raft glided beside them. Aeros allowed his raft to slide up to the pier of the Play Island as Ruki hopped out, taking the anchor line from him and tying it as he robotically got out. Vale made quick work of securing his boat as Aeros began to walk towards the crowd, his eyes clearly where Kairi's now distressed shadow sat.

So many people were just staring in complete shock and horror, tears glistening on some of their faces, while others were too struck with disbelief to do anything else.

Or notice Aeros's building rage as he walked towards the one person in the crowd who he'd known all his life.

Riku's face was wet with tears as deep horrible confusion set in.

One second he'd been overjoyed to see his two friends home.

The next, horrified to watch helplessly as his best friend since birth disappeared.

Everyone had been so focused on staring at that tree, that he only just barely heard Roxas as he whispered, "...Dad..?" in concern as footsteps closed in on him.

Riku's battle sense went off, and suddenly Aeros's fist was headed towards his face. Mickey leapt in front of him, "Look out!"

The Mouse King took the punch head on, immediately plowing into him as he wasn't prepared to brace for an attack. Riku and Mickey fell back several feet, a slight shock of confusion running through him as he wondered just how powerful Sora's dad actually was.

Donald and Goofy yelled in unison from a distance, "You're Majesty!"

Riku distantly heard his father yell as he stared up at the bridge above him dazed as Kairi's head peaked over the edge before jumping down beside him to help him up.

Vale grabbed Aeros from behind, "What the hell do you think you're doing!?"

The group of warriors were too stunned by the turn of events to move, shocked at how quickly things had shifted.

Aeros glared towards his friend, "I want ANSWERS!" He struggled, grievous rage taking over his thought process as he struggled against his childhood friend, getting just loose enough from his grip to slam his elbow into his face. A sickening crunch was heard as Vale lost his grip, grunting at having his nose broken as blood started dripping down his chin as he landed in the sand.

Finally, Terra moved forward to try and intervene as Riku regained his balance, summoning Braveheart to his hand and brandishing it, "I don't wanna hurt you, but if you're gonna start attacking us deliberately, I will put you down."

Kairi panicked as she tried to think of a way to stop things from spiraling further out of control, when Aeros summoned Sleeping Lion in turn, falling into his own battle stance. His blue eyes were nearly aglow with the depth of his rage, "If you think you can take me, Riku."

"That's ENOUGH!" With a shout, Ruki swerved in front of Aeros cutting off Terra's intervention, "If you think I'm gonna let you hurt and threaten MY Family," she grasped his Keyblade arm in an inescapable hold, "Then you've got another thing coming to you!" Ruki then immediately pivoted as she lifted Aeros off the ground in a Judo-like throw, "So you better take a second and COOL OFF!" and tossed him several feet before he landed in the water with an explosive splash.

Everyone just stared in amazement as the water settled where Ruki had tossed Aeros, Riku slowly falling out of his battle stance with his mouth open. He unsummoned Braveheart as Ruki turned to Vale who was still nursing his nose, and huffed, "Honestly, what the hell does he think he's doing?!"

Vale smiled up at his wife as she shook her head at him, "Now look at you. What a mess." She waved her hand, and the green glowing effect of a Curaga spell swirled around him, his nose immediately realigning and repairing itself as the blood that'd been lost was cleansed away.

Donald squawked at the simplicity of that Cast, "Can all of them do that!?" Goofy placed his hands tiredly on the duck's shoulders to keep him from causing a scene.

Riku took a few careful steps toward his mother in wonder, "...Mom?" Kairi was rather shocked behind him as Mickey shook his head and got ahold of himself while nursing his cheek.

The older woman spun on her heel with a smile, "Riku!" She nearly skipped over to him before throwing her arms around him, "You're really home!"

He blinked a few times while staring vaguely at his father, who was now standing after Pence helped him up off the ground.

Riku allowed himself to relax for a moment as he squeezed his mom in a quick hug, "For now, yeah."

Ruki squeezed him one more time before backing off, looking over at Kairi, "And so is our princess."

Kairi's eyes teared up as she ran to the woman, throwing her arms around her as she buried her head into her chest, crying over Sora's disappearance wordlessly. The older woman held her tightly to herself as she brushed her hand through Kairi's hair, mumbling words of comfort.

Terra cleared his throat, giving Riku a look who nodded, as Hayner was still staring out at the sea piped up, "Uuuh… is… anyone concerned that guy hasn't come up for air yet?"

This seemed to kind of snap everyone out of their daze as Vale scoffed, "Nah, he's fine."

Roxas, Xion, and Ventus stood together as Naminé sidled up next to the other girl, all four of them staring pointedly at the water. Aqua noticed this, "Ven…?"

He started, glancing over at her, "Uh… Well, it's just-"

Aeros suddenly emerged from the water, about five feet from land as if he were a zombie springing up from the ground, his long hair untied and hanging around his face as it settled around his shoulders. Donald squawked in indignation as he got the majority of the brunt of water from Aeros's hair being flung out of his face.

Goofy couldn't help the nervous giggle that sprang from him at the sight of Donald's anger as everyone flinched, some of them screaming from fright at the man's abrupt emergence.

"What was that for, you big palooka!"

Aeros's head was still bowed, but as he lifted his head to glare at the group in front of him, it were as if his eyes were glowing from his smouldering emotions.

Vale sighed as he cracked his neck, "You know, if it weren't for the fact that you don't like the idea of hitting girls, or having much of anything to do with your father's reputation, you'd definitely be the strongest on the Islands, Aeros."

The waterlogged man frowned at him before shaking his head to dislodge more water, everyone slowly backing away as he sluggishly made his way back to the shore. "I don't care about being the strongest, Vale."

The group began to feel awkward as things continued as they were. Aeros used a quick Aero spell to dry himself off before glancing at the group of four, two girls of whom were huddled behind two look-alikes. Aeros blinked at the one who seemed to be in a more defensive stance, his solid cream jacket sparking his memory as he finally allowed himself to calm down and relax his body language to non-threatening.

He'd been in a full blown rage, completely zeroed in on Riku, but he'd heard it.

He'd heard someone hesitantly call him dad.

"So, which one of you was it?"

The two blonds blinked as the defensive one relaxed with a touch from a black haired girl who looked strangely how Kairi used to. Another one, also faintly familiar, hesitantly came around and looked at him timidly.

Aeros stared at the blonde for a moment while the other fought with himself, before continuing, "You're Naminé… right?"

The blonde gasped, "You… You remember me? But… I didn't tell you my name!"

Aeros nodded, "I don't completely remember where, but… I did learn your name some time after we met in that Dream."

Roxas glanced back at the frail girl as she nodded before Roxas took a few steps forward as he stared at the sand before looking up at the older brunette, "It was me… I was the one."

Axel finally couldn't take it anymore as he took a few striding steps towards his friend, "What are you being accused of, Roxas?!"

Roxas looked at Axel with a warm look that caused the taller man to stop, confusion on his face as he looked back at Aeros. "...You're… Sora's father."

Aeros nodded, causing some of those gathered to gasp as they suddenly understood just why things went so immediately out of control.

What father wouldn't be enraged with grief and helplessness as he saw his son fade away from existence? It was bad enough as Sora's friends!

Roxas seemed to be uncomfortable for a moment before he continued, "I… I'm just.. A Nobody. I wasn't even thinking when I said it… but…" He looked Aeros in the eyes, "I can't help but think of you.. As my father, because I'm still Sora." Roxas seemed to slightly deflate at this.

Aeros looked at Roxas sadly as Ventus took a few steps forward, clapping his copy on the shoulder, "I kinda feel the same! I might not be related, but Sora kept me safe in his Heart all these years… and I can't help but feel like Aeros is my dad too!" He grinned as he looked up at the brunette who was starting to seem a little confused. "I certainly don't remember my own!"

Xion slowly walked up on the other side of Roxas and nodded meekly, "I kinda feel the same too." She shyly looked at Aeros, "I shouldn't even exist… but if it weren't for Sora's memories and Roxas… I wouldn't be here right now."

Aeros ran his hand through his long hair as he contemplated the three teens who had suddenly seemed to have adopted him as their father in confusion, "Uh…"

Naminé fumbled with her fingers a moment before she finally spoke up, "Maybe… we should all sit and figure things out."

Ruki released Kairi and turned with a grin, "Alright kiddies. Let's make a bonfire!"

Axel perked at this change of atmosphere, "I can make the fire!"

Isa rolled his eyes as he was about to retort before Ruki snorted at him and waved her hand, "I don't think so! Not on my watch! This is my party, and I'm not gonna let some newcomer upstage me!" She flipped her hair as she cocked her hip, "Now you help Vale and Aeros grab some spare wood from the Pirate ship! We don't have all night!"

Axel slumbed with a loud groan as Aeros jumped, "Wait, why am I being volunteered for this?!"

Ruki smiled at him with a look of sweet malice, "You wanna continue from earlier after you tried to pick a sword fight with my son and harmed my husband?"

Aeros stared at her for a long moment as a cold sweat sprung up on his skin, "...Y'know what, gathering wood sounds great. Wonderful even!" He immediately moved past the four teens who'd gathered near him and immediately made his way to the section of the Pirate structure where they'd kept spare wood and other items for various repairs over the years. Vale smiled as he grabbed Axel by his jacket and pulled him onward with an indignant stumble. "Hey!"

Aqua carefully walked up beside Ruki with a strangely devious smirk on her face, "I think we're going to be good friends, Miss."

Ruki looked at the blue haired teen beside her, smirking toothily, "Oh really?"

Aqua nodded, "You definitely know how to strike fear in men's hearts."

Ruki couldn't help but cackle as Riku snuck off, shoving Terra away as the two of them began to sweat. Olette and Xion seemed intrigued by the older woman and leisurely made their way over, creating a small group of girls as Naminé shrugged her shoulders at Roxas's questioning gaze.

It seemed he could still be a little bit clueless.

Isa began to clear the sand of any disruptions, the others quickly falling in line as they started gathering rocks for their firepit. Terra then used Earthshaker to dig a small pit for the wood to be placed in. After that, he took the long boards Aeros, Vale, and Axel brought over. A handful for sitting on, and the rest quartered with expert precision for kindling.

Aqua and Ventus arranged the wood into a rather impressive formation, Ruki nodding as she found it suitable to her design.

She summoned her Staff, surprising everyone as she smiled, "Alright, everyone stand back!"

The group did as they were told, Vale returning from one last trip with the heavy bag she'd packed earlier.

"Watch and Learn. Vale, you ready?"

Vale summoned his lance and twirled it, "Yup."

The two crossed their weapons as they both shouted, "ThunderFlare!"

A shot of Thunder from Ruki exploded from the sky like fireworks as Vale's Fira set the pile of wood bursting into flame in a blast of flashing heat. The two elements combined in a shower of sparks and fire like fireworks until it calmed down into a regular flame.

Aeros rolled his eyes, "You know I could have just used Firaga-"

Ruki hissed, "That's no fun Aeros, you square!"

Vale chuckled as he sent his weapon away, placing his hand on his wife's shoulder, "Now Ruki, calling him names doesn't solve anything. Just because he works in a Library doesn't mean he's smart."

Aeros growled as Ruki barked a laugh as she sent away her staff before plopping herself down on a log and digging to the bag she'd thrown together.

Riku shook his head as he sat down near his (insane) mother as Vale sat on her other side. Slowly, the others began to feel comfortable enough to sit down, though Aeros sort of stood off to the side, staring towards the paopu tree sadly.

Eventually though, Ventus grabbed the older man and dragged him over between him and Roxas, forcing him to sit down as the twins flanked his sides while Ventus settled next to Aqua with a grin.

It was time to set the record straight.