Naminé's foot shook as she sat with one leg crossed over the other, checking her phone every ten seconds to see if she'd gotten a text. She glanced around the café patio area, waiting anxiously for her guest to arrive. Roxas, who was sitting directly across from his sister, gently urged her to relax.

"Nam," he said in a low, soft voice, "you need to chill. She's on her way."

The blonde girl huffed. "I know," she replied.

Noticing the concern on his sister's face, Roxas offered her an empathetic smile. "She texted me and said left the gym a while ago. Jasmine won't bail on us."

After a quick pause, Naminé sighed. "You're right. It's just…after what Riku told us, I'm really worried. Plus, we still haven't heard from Ven. Something wrong."

Roxas sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair. Naminé was right.

After he went to see Jasmine, Riku met up with both Roxas and Naminé on campus. He didn't go into a lot of detail of what they talked about, but he did reveal that Jasmine ran into trouble and that Ven was placed on a new assignment. While Roxas was confident that Riku wasn't lying, he was certain Jasmine didn't tell Riku the entire truth.

Before Roxas could say anything else, he caught sight of a familiar girl checking in at the hostess stand and he waved to get her attention. Once the girl in question spotted the blonds, Jasmine made her way over to their table, apologizing for being late.

Just as Jasmine reached the table, Naminé threw her arms around her and gave her a tight hug. "You had us worried sick!" she exclaimed. "Sora told us you were in the hospital."

Weakly, Jasmine returned Naminé's embrace and eyed Roxas over the younger blonde's shoulder. "I'm sorry," she apologized, gently pulling away from Naminé. "Things have been pretty crazy."

Roxas gave a rueful smile before it was his turn to hug his old friend. "That's what I hear." As he held her and heard Jasmine breathe, he could hear the strain in each breath she took, causing his concern to increase. "A fire, right?"

Jasmine nodded her head and locked eyes with Roxas, a strange pit forming in the pit of her stomach as she stared into his familiar-looking bright blues. "I've always had bad luck with fires."

The trio then took their seats as a waitress came over to their table. While Roxas and Naminé ordered coffee, Jasmine simply requested room temperature water. Promising to come back shortly, the waitress dismissed herself, leaving the three high school friends to themselves.

"Axel didn't tell me much," Roxas began gently while still getting straight to the point, "but he did tell me that you and he were the only ones who came back from your assignment."

Jasmine's expression was blank. Once the waitress delivered their drinks and offered to come back in a few minutes for their order.

"He's on another assignment," she replied stiffly. "My boss wants me to join Ven once I come back from my leave."

When Jasmine was drinking, Naminé and Roxas exchange quick, confused glances.

"How much longer are you off?" Naminé asked.

"About three weeks," Jasmine answered, pulling down the sleeves of her oversized hoodie. "I'm still recovering, but I'll have a lot of free time."

Feeling uneasy about Jasmine's weird, robotic behavior, Roxas tried to switch up the conversation. He knew that he couldn't ask too many questions about her job (Axel had already told him that they were sworn to secrecy), so he felt like it was pointless to keep pressing her. But, even with the tension in the air, Roxas was still happy to see that Jasmine was doing okay.

"After Sora and Riku told us what happened and with Ven not answering us, we didn't know what to think. We're just glad you're alright and that you've got some free time on your hands."

"And," Naminé tried her best to quell her concern and followed Roxas' lead in shifting to a lighter topic, "Now that you have free time, we were hoping that we could all hang out."

Jasmine did her best to muster a smile. "I'd like that."

Roxas and Naminé looked to each other, both blondes breaking out into identical smiles.

"You know our birthday is coming up in about a week," Roxas began. "We're having a big party here on Radiant Garden. You're coming."

Jasmine playfully rolled her eyes at Roxas' bossiness. "You're so demanding," she lightly teased. She reached for her glass and downed the rest of her water, "I'll be there. I have to make up for lost time with everyone."

"Then after that," Naminé said, looking over Roxas' shoulder to see the waitress returning, "Sora is throwing a Halloween party back on the Destiny Islands. Wakka and Tidus will be there too."

Jasmine's eyes widened in surprise. "I haven't seen or heard from them since I left. How are they doing?"

"They're good," Roxas answered. "Right now they're being drafted for a pro-blitzball team."

The raven-haired girl smiled softly, remembering her high school days. Tidus and Wakka always wanted to be professional blitzball players; in fact, they were the best. It's no surprise that they were already being looked at. Jasmine was grateful that both boys were reaching their dreams.

"I'm happy for them," Jasmine said simply. "Just let me know the details and I'll be at Sora's party."

"You promise?" Naminé asked, lifting her eyebrow.

Jasmine reached for the menu sitting in front of her and skimmed over the lunch section, locking eyes with Naminé for a brief moment before speaking. "I promise."

"Naminé texted me and told me that Jasmine's coming to your Halloween party," Kairi informed Sora as the two of them left the library together.

"Really? That's great!" The spiky haired youth said, his smile spreading from ear to ear. "I wasn't sure she'd come but I'm glad Roxas and Nam were able to convince her."

Kairi wrapped a stray strand of fire red hair back behind her ear and took hold of Sora's free hand. "You're such a good friend to her, Sora," she said after a long pause, earning a look of confusion from the boy.

"What do you mean?"

Kairi chuckled. "Duh," she deadpanned as the two of them walked down the leaf-covered road leading to the dorms. "You never gave up on her, even when things were bad – even if it meant pissing off Riku."

Sora gave a sigh and recalled all the times that Jasmine helped him throughout the years. From helping him with homework, to getting him and Kairi together, and to protecting him from Vanitas, Jasmine was always there for him. Sora would never give up on a friend, especially one who had done so much to help him.

"She's like the big sister I never had," Sora said simply as he squeezed Kairi's hand tighter. "And it's not like she did all of that to herself." His facial expression turned somber as he recalled the reason for Jasmine's disappearance. "My parents still feel horrible for what happened – for what Vanitas did to her."

Kairi's smile faltered and her eyes shifted to the ground beneath her.

"You know that wasn't their fault, right?"

"I know," Sora said quietly. "They just think that they should've fought harder to get custody of Vanitas – that way he wouldn't have ended up with my uncle."

Kairi knew this story all too well.

When Vanitas' parents died, Sora's mom and dad tried their best to get custody of Vanitas. However, it was written in their will that he'd end up with Xehanort. They fought the decision for weeks but to no avail. Vanitas ended up being adopted by Master Xehanort and the rest was history.

"They tried their best," Kairi reminded Sora. "It's no one's fault that he turned out like that…only your uncle's. And no one knew that Jasmine's parents and his even really knew each other like that."

"True," Sora said distantly. "My uncle and aunt were very private. There's a lot I didn't know about them. But my dad said they were very nice people. I don't think Vanitas would've turned out the way he did if he wasn't with my other uncle."

Kairi came to a halt, causing Sora to jerk forward. When he looked back, he saw an urgency in Kairi's bright blue eyes. "Have you seen him since that last time?"

Sora shook his head fervently. "No. I'm shocked he's still walking around in public. He's so full of it. He thinks he'll never get caught."

"Sora…"

Kairi's voice was stern and her grip on Sora's hand tightened. "If you see him again, try and steer clear. I don't want you getting hurt. Vanitas is dangerous and you know it. Let Jasmine and her partner handle it."

With that, Sora gave a defeated, exasperated sigh.

"I know…" he trailed off. "I know I can't do anything to stop Vanitas. I'm not in SOLDIER and I don't even have an idea of what Vanitas does. I think…deep down…I just wanna protect my friends…" Sora's gaze then drifted to Kairi. He recalled the incident where Vanitas threatened her as well. "You too."

Kairi's fair cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "You're always looking out for everyone else. Just remember to take care of yourself."

"I will," Sora said kindly. "Thank you, Kairi."

Content with Sora's promise, Kairi tugged them along back on the path towards the dorms.

"Are you still thinking about SOLDIER?" She asked quietly.

Sora began to swing their linked hands lightly. "I've thought about it. But I know Jasmine and my parents would kill me."

Kairi felt a heaviness in the pit of her stomach. Sora had mentioned SOLDIER a few times in the past. In fact, him and the other boys had taken up martial arts lessons with Cloud and the others. But even though it was just for recreational purposes, Kairi knew that deep down Sora had been curious about SOLDIER and asked about it on more than one occasion.

"Sora, Jasmine didn't join SOLDIER because she wanted to: she had no other choice. Naminé and Jaz hung out one time and she told me what Jasmine went through JUST during training. I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

"I know I know." Sora recalled his own conversations with Jasmine on the topic. "It's just a thought. I'd only do it if I had to."

Kairi smiled ruefully and picked up the pace, anxious to get back to the dorms. "You're always trying to be the hero," she mused. "Some things never change."

Noctis shut his laptop when he finished his video call with Jasmine. Glancing over his shoulder and staring at the clock hanging in his hotel room, he realized that it was almost midnight where he was. He and Jasmine had talked for almost two hours.

The prince smiled.

They'd never spoken for that length of time on a call before – at least on a personal call.

A heavy knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Who is it?" he called out.

"It's me! Prompto," his friend replied cheerfully.

Noctis yawned as he turned towards the door. "Come in."

The door creaked open and Prompto appeared before the prince, dressed as if he was about to turn in for the night. The blonde gave a quick bow before Noctis and, when he lifted his head, revealed a smile on his face.

"The king is resting peacefully in his room, Your Highness. He's in good spirits and is excited to travel to the capital city tomorrow," Prompto announced.

"Did Ignis handle all the preparations?" Noctis asked.

Prompto nodded. "Ignis and Gladiolus took care of everything. The palace is excited to welcome both of you."

Noctis breathed a sigh of relief. After all these years of traveling and hiding and fighting, they were finally able to go home.

"Your Highness," Prompto began slowly and cautiously, "the king wanted to talk to you earlier. However, when he came by your room, he overheard you speaking with Miss Valentine."

Noctis' eyes widened in surprise. "What did he hear?"

Prompto shook his head vigorously. "Nothing," he replied. "He just said he heard a woman's voice. When I escorted him back to his room, he asked who you were speaking to."

"And what did you tell him?"

"The truth," Prompto explained. "Just that you were speaking with Miss Valentine."

Noctis ran a hand through his blue-black hair, his anxiousness setting in.

The king had asked about Jasmine on a few occasions since his rescue and each time, Noctis tried to be vague and give as little detail as possible. He still hadn't had the chance to talk to his father about making Jasmine a queen's candidate or even give him a full rundown of who she was. And, given Jasmine's social status, he wanted to be careful in how he approached the subject.

"I've been trying to figure out how to tell him about the situation. I'm sure I can't keep avoiding it forever."

A sly smile tugged at the corners of Prompto's lips. "If it makes you feel any better, he keeps asking me, Ignis and Gladiolus about Miss Valentine too. As you requested, we've been brief with him."

The prince appeared relieved, grateful that his men didn't go overboard.

Prompto turned away but his smile remained. "He wants to personally thank her in helping with his rescue. I told the king that Miss Valentine was recovering from her own injuries and that it was best to let her heal before making the trip to the kingdom. I didn't go into detail about what happened to her, just that she was injured in battle and is on the mend. He agreed that it would be better to arrange the meeting once she's feeling better."

Prompto was good when it came to conversing with others. Plus, the blond knew deep down the prince was more than a little nervous about introducing Jasmine to the king. Especially since she technically wasn't a candidate yet. He could always count on Prompto to step in.

"Is it because you're still unsure of Miss Valentine's feelings for you?" Prompto asked candidly.

The prince crossed one leg over the other and stared off to the side.

"A bit," the prince admitted. "It doesn't help that she's having a hard time recovering. I don't want to put too much pressure on her."

Prompto took a seat on the footrest at the edge of the prince's bed.

"It's understandable. Miss Valentine was trying to be professional and not cause trouble for herself. And…" Prompto lowered his voice on the off-chance that someone was listening. "If I'm being truly honest, I think her status compared to yours makes her feel a bit insecure – at least in the grand scheme of things. Otherwise, I think things would be different and you both would be in a better place."

Noctis turned back to Prompto, thinking long and hard on his predicament with Jasmine.

"It doesn't help that Ignis gave her a hard time too," Noctis thought out loud.

To help ease Noctis' mind, Prompto offered some words of encouragement. "Just give it time, Your Highness," he advised. "She'll come around. Just keep building and show her that you're serious about her. I already know that she's fond of you and finds you attractive. She told me so herself."

As if a switch flipped, Noctis then had a hopeful glint in his eye. "When was this?"

"Your birthday," Prompto revealed. "I had to pry it out of her, but she said it."

Noctis shifted in his seat, not knowing exactly what to say. While this did give him hope that there was a chance for him and Jasmine to form a deeper bond, he was still unsure of where her mind was at.

"What should I do?"

Prompto thought long and hard before answering. "You're already communicating better. Why not dote on her a bit?"

"Like a gift?" Noctis asked curiously.

"Nothing super extravagant," Prompto clarified. "Just something to let her know you're thinking about her. Like I said earlier, she needs to see you in a different light. And if she sees you trying, she'll try hard too."

"Maybe…" Noctis trailed off, taking a short pause before coming up with an idea. "Once my father gets settled, we can go into the capital city and find something."

"Great idea, Your Highness!" Prompto's face lit up at the idea. "Send her some flower too. Miss Valentine likes lilies. I'm sure she'll appreciate the gesture."

Noctis scoffed, unable to believe he was in this situation. Here he was, on his way back to his kingdom, his father was safe after all these years, and now he had a viable shot with Jasmine. If Noctis could go back in time to a year ago and tell his past self what was happening, his past self would say that he'd lost his mind.

With a yawn, Prompto stood up and patted the prince on the shoulder. "Don't overthink it, Your Highness. You're headed back to the kingdom, we have the king, and Miss Valentine agreed to go out with you. It'll all come together the way you want – just wait and see."

Author's Note: Hope you guys have been doing okay! I swear it was much easier to knock out chapters when I was younger. But then again, everything was easier when we were younger lol. In any case, thank you all for reading and such. It's nice seeing that you guys still care to read after all this time. I feel like I say that at the end of every chapter, but I do mean it.

rawrrbreee: Of course! Honestly this story keeps me sane as do you guys. As long as this is still fun, I'll keep putting out content, even if it's not as frequent as when I was younger. I'm just happy people like you still enjoy it. Lol you're not the only one who thinks this lucky streak with Noctis and his dad will run out. As for the Ventus conversation she'll have with him, I'm already drafting it now and it's kind of a mess haha. I'm honestly not sure what would freak Noctis out more, her hanging out with Riku (though nothing really happened) or the Ven conversation. But I do plan on switching gears and utilizing the other characters a bit more. I miss them so much.

As usual, let me know what you guys think! Until then, thanks for the support and see you next time!