Disclaimer: I do not own Ratchet and Clank or any of its characters. Ratchet Appreciation Week 2021 prompt list by weeksofrac of Twitter/ weeksofratchetandclank of Tumblr.

I know I've written a ton about Ratchet with his family, but I feel as though that makes me the happiest writing him. Surrounded by people he loves and that love him back… Ending this week off with one last piece on that topic.

You Make Me Feel Alive

Day 7: Through the Years

Chapter Summary – Day 7: Future AU. After so many years, Ratchet's finally gotten everything he's ever wanted…

Morning sunlight filtered into the homey kitchen, illuminating the room in soft, golden light.

A small smile touched the old Lombax's face. He shuffled into the kitchen, minding the tiny dining table near the doorway and the limp in his right leg. Tuneless hums bubbled up his throat, and gray-furred shoulders bobbed with the beat of the song. He headed straight for the coffeemaker—a man on a mission—for his morning cup of coffee.

A massive yawn broke the flow of his hums, and he lifted a shaky hand to cover his open mouth. His free hand jabbed a finger at the coffeemaker. With a whir and a grumble, the coffeemaker kicked into gear, grinding the beans and heating up the water Ratchet had poured in it the night prior.

While the coffee was getting ready, Ratchet made breakfast.

He nabbed the flat, bready muffins at the top of the fridge, standing on the tips of his toes to reach the bag. Grumbles and gurgles rang in his ears, and as the cacophony of the coffeemaker filled the kitchen, the Lombax made his breakfast.

Sometime during the few minutes he spent putting the peanut butter away, Talwyn shuffled into the kitchen. Her slippers scratched against the pearl-white tile.

"Good morning, beautiful," Ratchet murmured, a grin touching his mouth.

"You know my bedhead is the stuff of legends." Talwyn's voice, slightly weak and faded after so many years of use, graced his hearing. The clink of porcelain echoed out from behind him. "I don't get beautiful until nine."

Ratchet chuckled. "That's a lie," he said, lifting up one of his breakfast muffins. "You're always beautiful."

A laughing, breathy scoff was his only response.

While Talwyn poured her coffee and gathered things for her breakfast, Ratchet stepped over to the sink.

Over the sink, lined with potted green plants and flowers, was the window showing the open ocean off in the horizon. Large trees blanketed the hills leading to the wide ocean, leaves swaying with the cool morning breeze. A line of white sand, separating the blue from the green, drew across the view Ratchet had from his kitchen.

It was breathtaking.

"Clank wasn't in his bed, so he must have gotten a headstart with Susie and the grandkids." Slurps came from the old Markazian. "They're most likely at the farmer's market now, and if the clock is right, they should be back in about a half an hour. Maybe more if they stay right up until the market closes."

Ratchet hummed, snacking on more of his breakfast as he gazed out the window.

"The movie is playing sometime in the early afternoon, so we'll have plenty of time to get dressed and ready for the day. After that, Susie wanted to make dinner for all of us, and I think I agreed to help out."

A mug of coffee settled on the side of the sink, and Ratchet felt Talwyn's body grow close to his. "Here, your cup."

"Thank you, gorgeous." Ratchet lifted up the mug, sipping the warm liquid. He stayed quiet, soaking in the peace of the morning.

Talwyn wrapped an arm around him, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Whatcha thinkin' about, handsome?"

"Nothing too deep." Another sip. "Just thinkin' about everything we've been through over the past years and how grateful I am to be at this point."

"That's kinda random," Talwyn joked. "How'd you get there?"

"Oh, I think of it every morning. I just stand here, take in the view, listen to you, and think about how thankful I am to have this."

Talwyn fell silent for a moment before pressing a soft kiss to Ratchet's cheek. "Mind if I join you in your reminiscing?"

"Sure, sweetheart. I always love your company."

"You liar."

One corner of Ratchet's mouth lifted higher than the other. "I've never told a lie in my life. It's just the truth."

Another soft scoff was all the response he got.

Peace settled over the space. Ratchet continued sipping at his mug, and his brain began waking up with the rest of the world.

This was something he had wished for for so long. Waking up with the people he loved safe and sound; spending time with them in the quiet moments when the universe wasn't demanding his attention; a casual plan for the day that meant making memories with the rest of the time he had left…

He had spent much of his early life alone. If he went back in time and told his teenager self what awaited him in his future, the teen would have laughed his older self away.

There had also been a time when he had gained and lost so many people as well. So much pain haunted him during those years, and sometimes it had felt like he would never find happiness again. If he went back to talk to his young adult self, his other self wouldn't have believed it either.

Then there were the years when he had retired from hero work, working with Qwark and Talwyn to train other heroes and generally keep the galaxies he loved in safe hands. So many heroes, so many friends…

Marrying the love of his life. Adopting Susie. Watching her grow up. Letting her join the other heroes in training and watching as she became her own hero.

Years flying by. Memories building up to look back on. Soft moments full of warmth that brought a smile to his face every time he thought of them.

All leading up to this moment.

Ratchet took a deep breath in, held it for a moment, then blew the air through his lips.

The years hadn't always been kind to him, but he wouldn't have traded his life for any other.

Song Inspo: "Alive" by Krewella (Surce &. Don-P Trap Remix).

This is completely first draft writing, but it's the end of Ratchet week and I don't have too much energy to write at the moment. I didn't want to quit on the last day of the week, especially since I was so close, so I wrote this over a couple of hours. But now I can officially say that I did Ratchet week all on time, and I had a fun time doing it! :D Thank you all for reading and supporting, and I hope you enjoyed my stories for Ratchet Appreciation Week 2021!