More time's passed again, and Hope's growing up. She can even speak now bless her :) It's a short chapter because I split a long chapter into two to make it easier to read.

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Tales of Symphonia. Namco do I believe.


Raine smiled as she watched the small group of friends playing in the snow. The gang had gotten together for a holiday in Flanoir, and it seemed like the couples were having fun in the snow.

Lloyd and Colette were building a snowman, Sheena was pelting Zelos with snowballs and Presea had just pounced on Genis and pushed him over into a snow drift.

The half-elf woman got up and put the kettle onto the fire. No doubt that lot would be wanting warm drinks when they came inside.

"Would you like a hot chocolate?" she asked Hope. The young girl had decided to stay inside, a little nervous of the strange, cold whiteness she'd never seen before. She'd been talking to the dark-haired boy she'd become rather attached to. Kero, Sheena and Zelos's son, was a little younger than her and not able to really talk back properly, but he seemed content for the little girl to talk to him.

"Yes please auntie Raine," she smiled. Kero tugged on her sleeve and gestured at her. "And Kero would like one too please."

Raine nodded and smiled. She was such a sweet, well mannered child. But then it wasn't surprising, considering who her parents were.

Raine looked out of the window again. It was nice to see they were all happy. She was happy too, to an extent. Certainly discrimination against half-elves was decreasing, but she felt lonely sometimes. She had friends, but not a special one. And, as nice as it was, the teddy bear Colette had insisted on buying her as a thank you for helping to deliver Hope safely wasn't any good at saying comforting things when she woke up after having a nightmare.

The kettle whistled and she moved to take it off the fire. A loud THUNK outside startled her. She rushed to put the kettle down safely and ran to the door.

A familiar purple lump was uncurling itself from a pile of snow.

"Snow angel!" Lloyd and Colette both said at the same time and started to giggle. No one else did. Private joke then.

"Are you alright?" Raine rushed out of the door and performed some healing spells on an angel the group hadn't seen in quite some time.

"I will be," Kratos said, rubbing a sore bump on the back of his head.

Raine heard the sound of small footsteps crunching on the snow. She saw Hope walking towards them out of the corner of her eye. The girl was walking to her parents who'd spotted her, she'd be alright as would Kero who was standing in the doorway, not brave enough to step into the snow. Raine turned her attention fully back to healing skills.

Eventually Kratos recovered enough to take some notice of his surroundings. He spotted Hope hiding uncertainly behind her parents legs. A flash of recognition crossed his face, he knew those eyes.

"And who's this then?" he asked softly.

Hope, sensing the stranger was talking about her, looked up at her parents. They smiled and nodded at her and she slowly and shyly made her way over to Kratos.

"I'm Hope," she said, holding out a tiny hand for the brown haired angel to shake.

"Hello Hope. I'm Kratos. It's nice to meet you," he smiled and shook her hand gently.

"Did you fall from the sky?" Hope asked, less shy and more friendly now she knew the mysterious person the adults seemed to know meant her no harm.

"Sort of," Kratos said. He sighed as the small girl climbed up his back and onto his shoulders. She gripped his hair to make sure she didn't fall. It was a long way down to the ground from his shoulders, even when he was sitting down, to someone so small. Hope looked up at the sky. What WAS it about kids standing on his shoulders and, he assumed unintentionally, pulling his hair?! Lloyd had done that when he was tiny as well. Although, he had to admit, there was something very comforting about having a child on your shoulders.

"How'd you get all the way down here from all the way up there?" Hope asked, peering up at the sky, trying to figure out just how far he'd travelled.

"With great difficulty," Kratos winced. "I don't recommend you try it."

"OK," Hope said cheerfully, jumping down from his shoulders and going over to her parents who were gesturing for her to come to them and follow the others inside.

"Come in and have a cup of tea," Raine smiled softly, holding out a hand to help him up out of the snow.

"I've just had a completely horrid journey," Kratos said, accepting her help and brushing snow from his clothes. "Tea sounds absolutely wonderful."