A/N: First off, I'd like to thank my loyal readers/reviews for their support and

reading. Since there are so few just now, I'd like to give them a special note

each.

Rjtheclown: thanks for your constructive criticism and complements. They've been

very helpful in noticing some flow problems and grammatical errors. Don't worry;

I'll fix that big one in the dream sequence.

DaughterofDeath: you've been with me since the beginning of this fic, and I

can't express how grateful I really am for that. Your continued support and

reading has meant a lot. So did that first review.

Kogoro: thanks for spreading the word with my fic. I hope its been generating

some attention, even if they aren't reviewing. And thanks for the glowing praise

too.

Eva Harlow: you gave me my very first review on this piece and I was so excited

to get it. I'm glad you were interested enough to read and review.

Thanks tons guys! You're the greatest! Hands out Auron and Tidus plushies to

everyone

Second, I'm thinking of adding in an "extra" chapter just before Chapter 7:

Golden Boy that deals with Auron and his experiences with suddenly having to

raise Tidus and why he left him to live on his own when he was recruited for the

Abes. What do you guys think? Review or e-mail and let me know!
TIDUS

Next morning, I was up bright and early cleaning up from the party. I

guess some of Auron had rubbed off on me during the last three months--when he

had practically moved back into my place-because the mess my house was in was

driving me nuts. I didn't even realize that mundane housework had taken over my

birthday until someone knocked on my door.

In a reasonably bouncy mood-I was 17 now, after all-I bounded to the

door to answer it.

Mom's lawyer was standing there, with a folder of papers. I guess he was

my lawyer too, by now, but it never really felt like it. He'd been a friend of

her family's anyway, and I remember my old man not liking him too much. So mom's

lawyer he was.

"Good morning, Tidus," he greeted. "I have some papers for you and Auron

to sign. Does he happen to be here?"

Great. All that legal crap that I'd been hoping to put off for at least

another day. "Nah. He had some emergency personal stuff come up last night.

Dunno when he'll be back."

"I see. Well, most of it can't be handled until he comes back, then.

Except for this." He pulled a small white envelope out of the folder and handed

it to me. "Happy birthday, my boy. It's been a pleasure to know you all these

years."

I was more than a little surprised that mom's lawyer would get me

something for my birthday-he certainly hadn't before. But maybe being seventeen

now gave me some special privilege in his eyes.

I was even more surprised to open the envelope and find two tickets to

next week's sold out Rising Stars concert. My favorite band.

"Wow," was all I could manage to say.

"That lovely young woman on your blitzball team said that you were a

fan. I do hope you enjoy it."

Sure, I was a fan. One of the biggest in Zanarkand, even if most people

didn't know. Allya must have heard me singing some of their stuff in the locker

room or something. "I will. Thanks!"

"You're very welcome." His smile was the kind a grandparent might wear

when they've given a well-received gift. "When your guardian gets home, the two

of you need to stop by the office so that everything can be signed over to you."

"We will." Cool. I got to put off the legal crap after all.

"Then I shall see you later." He turned and left.

I decided to ask Allya to go to the concert with me, and headed off

right after him.
I'd shown up at Allya's place just in time to get invited in for an early

breakfast with her family. She had both parents, two brothers and a sister, so

it was a pretty crowded mess. But her mom insisted that I stay, since it was my

birthday and I hadn't eaten yet.

I discovered that I really liked all the craziness. And the easy way the

banter flew between the siblings. I began to wonder what things would have been

like in my family if my old man hadn't died. Or if Mom hadn't gotten so messed

up in the head and married someone else.

And then I started wondering why Auron had never gotten a girlfriend. Or

any friends for that matter. I got so wrapped in my musings that I tuned out the

breakfast around me.

Allya yanked me from my little world by shaking my shoulder. "Hey,

birthday boy! You still with us?"

"Huh?" I blinked a couple of times. "Sorry, I was thinking."

She grinned. "We noticed. The smoke was just rolling out."

Her brothers and sister laughed at me. I just shook my head.

"Anyway, Mom was asking what brought you out here this morning. We

figured that you'd be out with the old man today."

"Allya!" he mother snapped. "How many times have I told you not to use

that disrespectful name?!"

"Its okay," I said quickly. "He really doesn't mind. He told me so."

Allya's mother gave me a look that said she didn't believe me, but she

didn't push the subject.

I looked over at Allya. "I came over this morning to ask you if you

wanted to go to the Rising Stars concert with me next week."

She blinked. "Seriously? You have tickets and you want me to go?"

"Yeah."

"Mom, can I?"

Allya's mom sighed. "I suppose. But you be home before midnight."

Allya squealed and hugged me. "Thank you! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"

"Sure. No problem."

The rest of breakfast was full of conversation about the concert and the

Rising Stars. It was one of the best days of my life.