Kairi woke up feeling very confused and disoriented.

"Where… am I…"

She rolled over, and Sora's snoozing, slightly snoring face greeted her. He'd been cuddling right next to her, going by how close he was now. Even in sleep he somehow sensed she was near.

"Oh thank goodness," she whispered, tears filling her eyes as she swept his bangs aside and kissed his forehead. He was still alive. Her magic had worked. She put her arm around him and cried, she was so relieved.

Seeing him on the brink of death like that brought back bad memories. Fresh pain from old wounds. She clung to him and sobbed, and even though he was asleep his presence still comforted and soothed her. He was alive and he was okay, and holding him in her arms was proof of that.

She gently lifted his shirt to make sure his wounds had fully healed, and sure enough, the only remaining sign of them were the bloodstains on his torn clothes. Just to be safe, she felt his side for any lingering injuries or sore spots and coaxed more light from her heart to heal his body with.

"Thank you for keeping our kids safe," she said softly as she caressed his skin. "You're a good father." He stirred slightly, and she kissed his cheek and told him to keep sleeping.

Best to let him rest until he was ready to wake up. They were lying on the big cot he'd custom built for the two of them, which meant they were on the Gummi Ship. Riku must've made it to their location after all and brought them inside. No doubt they were on their way home, the question was how much longer the journey would take.

Kairi gingerly extracted herself from Sora and sat up. She was still a little weak and drained, but she wanted to make sure her kids were okay. A quick check revealed that Miyu was passed out on her cot nearby and Emi was also fast asleep. Kairi hoped she wasn't having nightmares.

"Shhh, Emi, it's okay, Mommy's here," Kairi soothed as she brushed a strand of hair back from Emi's sticky face. Her poor daughter had clearly cried herself to sleep. "Daddy's okay too. He gave us a scare, but he'll be just fine."

"Mom, you're awake," came Miyu's sleepy voice. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, her blanket sliding off her shoulders.

Kairi grabbed the blanket and wrapped it back around Miyu. "How are you feeling?"

"Not great." Miyu looked at Sora and hung her head. "Mom, it's my fault Dad got hurt."

"What happened?"

Miyu fiddled with a piece of her hair and wouldn't meet Kairi's eyes. "Dad showed me and Haruto how to drive the Gummi Ship last week, so we decided to take it for a spin. We didn't realize Emi had snuck on board till we were halfway through our trip. She promised to be good and we didn't want to leave her alone on the ship, so we… brought her with us."

"Why didn't you bring her home?"

Miyu bit her lip and fidgeted some more. "We knew we'd get in trouble if we went back. We didn't ask for permission to take the Gummi Ship."

"And you can see now why that's a rule?" Kairi asked, her voice cracking a little. "Why your father and I want you to ask permission before you go off world?"

Miyu's voice was very small when she finally replied. "Yes."

Kairi put a hand under Miyu's chin and gently tilted it up. "Honey, I'm not here to scold you. I just want you to know that the rules are here to protect you. Even when you break them, I want you to tell me, okay? I don't want you to be so scared of getting in trouble that we have another situation like this happen again."

Miyu nodded and wiped her eyes. "It's just… I wanted to… I wanted to show I could take care of Emi. I wanted to be strong enough."

Kairi's heart ached. How many times had she felt like that as a teenager? She'd wanted to prove she deserved to fight by Sora's side, only to get kidnapped again. She understood Miyu's pain and frustration. She understood it all too well.

"You will be." She embraced her daughter, and Miyu hugged her back. How grateful she was that Miyu was safe and sound.

"These things just take time," she told her daughter. "It took me a lot of training before I was a competent fighter. It didn't really come easily to me the way it did for your father."

Miyu looked at Sora again. "Dad… I just want him to wake up so I can apologize."

"He's already forgiven you, I'm sure." Kairi tucked a strand of Miyu's hair behind her ear. "He'll just be glad you're okay. If anything, I think it would mean a lot to him if you thanked him."

Miyu tilted her head. "Thanked him?"

"Yes. Trust me, he'll be happy if you do."

Sora was always moved when she thanked him for his sacrifices, so no doubt he'd feel the same about his kids expressing gratitude too.

"Okay," Miyu said softly. "I just… I want to see him smile again."

"Me too."

His smile would cheer them all up like it always did. Heaven knows they could use something to lift their spirits. Miyu was still tired, so Kairi told her to get more rest. Then she checked up on Sora and Emi again and went above deck, where Haruto was in the kitchenette eating a snack.

"Mom!" he said, popping out of his seat. "You're okay!" Then he slumped back into his seat, his head drooping. "I'm sorry, about everything."

"Apology already accepted," she said with an affectionate smile as she ruffled his hair. "Your father is resting and he'll be as good as new before you know it." At least, Kairi hoped he would be. No, she knew he would be. "Just… let us know before you take the Gummi Ship anywhere, okay? I don't want a repeat of what happened today."

"It won't happen again, I promise."

"Good. And no Emi tagging along unless Dad or I are there, got it?"

Haruto scratched his cheek. "I dunno, Mom, I think she feels kind of left out. I mean, Miyu and I both have Keyblades, but she doesn't."

"She's too young to have one."

That was not something Kairi ws going to budge on. Eight years old was way too young to be thrown into a life of fighting.

Haruto summoned his Keyblade and stared at it. It was gold and wild-looking, and the blue hilt embossed with white feathers had a paopu keychain dangling off the end.

His hand shook a little. "Maybe… maybe I'm too young too." With that he let his Keyblade disappear.

Kairi didn't know what to say to that. Haruto was thirteen, and while she'd originally wanted to wait longer to bequeath him his Keyblade, it didn't feel like the wrong decision per se.

"Maybe you're too young," she said, resting a hand on his, "but I do know one thing."

He searched her face. "What's that?"

"You and Miyu protected Emi long enough for your father to reach you in time, and for that I'm very proud of you. Remember how it felt to protect someone important to you and draw on that when times get hard, okay?"

He nodded. "Okay."

With that, Kairi went to the flight deck. Riku was driving the Gummi Ship but gave her a relieved glance and a half smile as she took her seat next to him.

"Glad you're awake already," he said. "Lemme guess, Sora's still asleep?"

"You know he is. And I suspect he will be for a while yet."

"Well, we're almost home, so he can sleep it off in his own bed."

"Thank you, Riku, for coming. Even after all these years you're still protecting us."

"Anytime. Strength, to protect what matters. That's how I've tried to live my life ever since I realized that's what's important."

"Right." Kairi fiddled with her necklace and frowned. "Do you think we did the right thing, Riku? By giving Miyu and Haruto Keyblades? And then we're planning on giving Emi one someday too, but after today, I…"

After today, all of Kairi's deep-seated fears had returned. Had she and Sora doomed Miyu and Haruto to a life of fighting? Would Emi likewise be doomed if they gave her a Keyblade?

Riku was silent for a few moments as he steered them around an asteroid. "Right or wrong," he said at last, "what matters is how you handle things moving forward."

She sighed deeply. "True enough. It's in their blood. We couldn't keep their birthright from them forever."

Riku glanced at her one more time. "Nope. No kid of Sora's, or yours for that matter, was ever gonna be content to live an ordinary, boring life."

"I just hope they see what a precious gift an ordinary, boring life is."

"After today? I think they will."

As Kairi stared out the window and watched the stars go by, she could only hope Riku was right.