Enamis09: Oh, yeah, I had actually thought about writing a oneshot like that, but had forgotten. Thanks for the reminder! I've got a few more requests lined up that I'll have to get to first, but I'll come back around to that one. Hope your exams are going well!

Coolmegan123: Yes, I'm sure it was jarring, even if she didn't realize yet how alike she and Kairi were. I know as a mother, myself, that it's super easy to empathize when children are involved. Thanks for the compliments!

Get ready for all the fluff! Of course, this is me, so I had to include a little angst, too, but this chapter is mostly just full-on fluff. I think I decided to write this one because I started thinking about what exactly would have happened after everyone left the beach at the end of the story. Inferno's Edge picks up a bit further down the road from the end of Sorrow's Promise, so there are a few relationship moments that we miss, and I wanted to touch on those.

This chapter takes place right after the end of the story, when they are on their way home that night.

Chapter 54.5

(Falls after chapter 54)

Meli's Perspective

Destiny Islands didn't really believe in street lamps, but the moon was full and lit up the road before us just enough. Everything was quiet. It felt as if the elements of the world had breathed a collective sigh at the return of their resident heroes, and now could rest at ease. Or maybe that was just me. My heart was at peace for the first time that I could remember, my body full to the brim with happiness.

Glancing up at Riku beside me, I couldn't help but smile. He was home, and he was...mine. A blush crept over my cheeks at the thought. I didn't even know what that meant, for sure. Only that it was nice, to know that we felt the same way about each other, that I was finally free to let my fears go and just love with no inhibitions, that I could have him by my side whenever I wanted and experience more of the blissful affection that we had shared on the beach.

As if reading my mind, Riku looked down at me with a soft smile. "It's so surreal...being back here after so long...having you with me. I'm a bit afraid that I'm gonna wake up any minute and find out it's all a dream."

My lips quirked upward. "Nah, we determined a long time ago that this was all my dream, remember?"

Riku laughed, and my heart fluttered in my chest. "Oh right, I had almost forgotten. You were so determined that I was a figment of your imagination."

"Oh yeah, you definitely are. There's no way that me being with a guy like you could be real."

Halting suddenly, Riku swung around to face me, sending tingles all over my body as he pulled it up against his. "Don't you start with that again," he warned, expression stern. "We've had this conversation before, remember?"

I let out a giggle. "Yeah, I know. I'm just kidding. I just wanted to see your sexy lecture face."

His eyebrows flew up. "Sexy, huh?"

The blush on my face returned with full force. "Um...maybe..." I hadn't actually meant to say that part aloud, but it was kind of fun to be able to without worrying about what anybody would think.

Riku's mouth twisted to the side in thought, and I stared at his lips, running my tongue over mine unconsciously as I remembered how he had tasted earlier. "So, is that why you seem to like to rile me up so often? Because you think I'm sexy when I'm lecturing you?"

"Uh..." It wasn't true, I was just hard to get along with, but the thought was funny enough to make me fight back a smile and play along. "Maybe..."

I could see him battling against his own smile, trying to keep his "sexy lecture face" on, but it was a battle he soon lost. He laughed aloud again, then moved his arms up to wrap around my shoulders. "Come here, you. I'm gonna really give you a lecture."

His mouth devoured mine, and I thought my knees might give out. Why had I let it take me so long to say yes to this? This was heaven. I didn't think I would ever get used to life being this wonderful, nor did I want to.

Our lips eventually parted, slowly and a bit reluctantly. His eyes smiled down into mine as I breathed a contented sigh. "I guess..." Riku pulled his gaze away and glanced over to the side. "I guess that I should go in at some point soon."

Surprised, I followed his gaze. We were standing right in front of a modest sized, one-story house. The small front porch and yard were unadorned, void of any signs of people living there, but a light was on inside a front room. "This is your house?"

"Yep." He did not sound at all enthused about the fact.

I pushed back away from him and waved my hand towards the house. "Well what are you waiting out here for, then? Go see your mom!"

Riku raised an eyebrow mischievously at me and started to step in closer. "I think you know why I was waiting out here."

"Nope." I stopped him with a finger on his chest. "You're just using me as an excuse to put off what you know you need to do."

"Now who's got on their sexy lecture face?"

Planting my hands on my hips, I scowled at him. "Shut up and get going."

"Okay, fine." Riku cupped my cheeks in his hands. "Are you going to wait for me?"

I hadn't expected him to ask, but didn't mind the thought at all. "Do you want me to?"

"Mm-hmm." He bent down to press another kiss onto my forehead. "If you don't mind. I promise I won't make you wait long."

"Okay." I gave him an encouraging smile as he stepped away and headed up onto the porch and through the unlocked front door. Locking doors wasn't really a Destiny Islands thing, either, kind of like street lights. Once he had disappeared inside, I trailed after him, taking a seat on the porch step. The stars seemed especially bright tonight. At least now I could enjoy looking at them, instead of worrying about whether Riku and Sora were alive to see them.

He was alive, and he was home. His mother was going to be ecstatic to see him...or at least I hoped she would. I knew they weren't super close, but surely after having no idea where her only son was for two years or more, she would give him the welcome that I was sure he needed from her. Hopefully there wouldn't be much fussing at him for leaving, either. He had enough guilt as it was.

The minutes ticked by slowly, mostly because I had no idea what was happening inside. Finally, light spilled out onto the ground around me as the door opened, and I twisted around to see Riku. He looked drained, but he was smiling and beckoning me with his hand.

"Come here. I want you to meet my mom."

My eyes widened. "What? Now?" I guess I had assumed that I would meet her eventually, but I never would have thought it would be this soon. I rose to my feet, but wavered uncertainly on the step.

"Yeah, if that's okay with you." He reached for my hand, and pulled me towards the door. "Don't worry, she doesn't bite."

The living room, much like the outside of the house, was pristine, and lacking in personal touches. There were no family photos, no trinkets sitting on the bookshelf. It was comfortable, though, with plenty of seating. Riku's mom rose from the chair where she had been sitting when we entered the house, her hands folded daintily in front of her.

"Meli, this is my mom. Uh, I guess you can call her Mrs. Tanaka."

I hadn't even realized before that moment that I didn't actually know Riku's last name. Mrs. Tanaka was only slightly taller than I was, much smaller than her towering son. Her hair was dark blonde, and her eyes were a darker color as well, leading me to believe that Riku must have gotten most of his appearance from his father. Her eyes were also currently puffy, so I assumed that she had been crying.

"Mom, this is Meli. She's..." He turned his gaze to me, pressing his lips together. "Well, we haven't actually technically decided what we are yet, I don't guess. But...she's very special to me." His warm smile made my heart speed up.

"I'm good with whatever you want to call me," I murmured in return.

Riku's smile broadened. "Okay, then. Mom, this is my girlfriend, Meli."

Girlfriend. I thought my heart might explode out of my chest, and had to fight hard to keep from having a huge, goofy grin on my face as I turned back to Mrs. Tanaka. "Hi," I squeaked.

The creases around her eyes deepened as she smiled back at me. "Hello, Meli. It's very nice to meet you."

"We've known each other for several months now, but the whole...relationship thing is new," Riku explained. "She definitely played a big part in getting me back home."

"Well, then I am very grateful."

"He helped me a lot more than I helped him," I mumbled, ducking my head sheepishly.

Riku wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Let's just call it even." He pressed his lips onto my temple. "Want me to walk you...wait, you do have somewhere you're staying, right?"

"Yeah, at Kairi's."

He smiled. "Good. I'll walk you up there."

A flash of an emotion crossed Mrs. Tanaka's face. Riku must have seen it, too, because he released me and crossed to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I'll be back within the hour, 'kay Mom? No more disappearing, I promise."

She nodded, renewed tears glistening in her eyes, and he kissed the top of her head. "Goodbye, Meli. I hope you'll come by again soon."

I smiled and gave an awkward wave. "Thanks. Bye."

We didn't say anything to begin with as we walked back out to the road and started towards the mayor's house. I caught Riku staring at the house next door to his as we passed by. "Is that Sora's house?"

"Hmm?" He glanced down at me. "Oh. Yeah. He was pretty nervous about seeing his parents again."

I squeezed his hand. "So were you. But it all turned out okay...right?"

He nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah. It did."

Furrowing my eyebrows, I studied his profile in the moonlight. "Your mom...was she...?"

"Mostly just relieved," he answered before I could fully form the question. "Like Kairi said she'd be. I just..." He heaved a sigh, running his free hand down his face. "I feel really bad for all the worry and sadness I caused her. I could have come back at any time and let her know I was okay. I was just..."

"You were dealing with a lot of stuff," I finished for him. "Was it a mistake to not come back? I don't know, maybe. But you can't keep blaming yourself for everything. You were trying to do what was right for everybody all at once."

"But somehow my mom didn't make it onto that list."

"I'm sure she's forgiven you already," I assured him, my heart aching for his sadness. "She's your mom, after all. Now you're gonna have to forgive yourself."

One corner of his mouth lifted in a slight smile, but he didn't reply. We walked in silence for another minute before he spoke up again. "I just...I didn't want her to see me like that, you know? I was so messed up with darkness, then with hiding from the darkness, then practically becoming the darkness... As much as I hate that I made her wait this long, I'm glad it's this me that she's seeing now."

"Yeah," I answered softly. "I get it."

Nothing much else was said until we reached the front porch of the Yoshida's home. "You coming in?" I asked, turning to face him.

"Not this time. I'd better get back home." He smiled and ran a hand through the long side of my hair. "I'll see you tomorrow, though, okay?" Leaning in, he kissed me – not the same drawn out, steamy kiss from earlier, but still sweet and sending thrills down to my toes.

"Okay...Boyfriend," I replied with a gleam in my eye.

The grin on his face matched the exuberance in my heart. "Okay, Girlfriend."

Please let me know what you thought in a review, and if you have any special requests, shoot them my way! Ideas for scenes can be as vague or specific as you want. I'll try my best to do whatever I receive!