Riku released Sora and wiped a tear from the brunette's cheek.

"Are you ok now, Sora?" He asked.

The teen nodded and sniffled slightly. "Yes. I can't believe I started crying. The dream felt so real..."

"It's ok." Riku replied. "I understand."

Sora smiled sheepishly at his friend. "Don't tell Kairi. I don't want her to worry."

The older boy nodded. "I won't say a thing. Now c'mon...let's keep building the raft."

Sora nodded and the two boys continued to work. They were almost finished when Kairi walked up holding a white sheet in her arms.

"It's a little faded but there's no rips in it." Kairi said, unfolding the sheet.

"Looks good Kairi. Thanks." Riku replied.

"You're welcome. Wow. You guys work fast. Looks like the only thing we need now is a mast."

Riku nodded and finished hammering down the last board. Sora stood and brushed the sand off his shorts. Kairi looked him over and frowned slightly.

"Are you ok, Sora? Your eyes look a little puffy and red."

Sora blushed slightly and rubbed his eyes. "It's just from the dry heat. My eyes do feel a little itchy."

Kairi nodded and looked her sheet over again. Riku stood up and stepped back from the raft, looking it over.

"Looks good. All we need is a mast and a sail." He said.

"And food, water, medical supplies..." Sora added.

"Right." Riku smirked.

"We should test it and make sure it floats." Kairi suggested.

The two boys nodded.

"After we put the mast on." Riku answered. "See if it's too heavy or not."

"How long before your mom has her baby?" Sora asked.

"A month and a little bit now."

"I wonder if it'll be a boy or a girl..." Kairi wondered.

The silver-haired teen shrugged. "I don't know. Mom thinks it's a boy."

"Well let's find a mast!" Sora exclaimed.

The friends shared a small laugh then set off to look for a good mast. Out of the corner of Sora's eye he thought he saw something. The brunette looked up to see the vines in front of the Secret Place gently swinging back and forth. Someone or something had gone inside. Sora looked down the beach. Kairi and Riku were both still there, looking through drift wood. He frowned and backed away from the Secret Place slightly. He picked up a stick just in case and continued to look for a mast.

"Here!" Kairi called. "I found a good one!"

Sora jogged over and looked the stick over. "Looks good."

Riku took the stick from Kairi and went over to his tools to round the bottom of the stick. While he was doing that Sora got the raft ready for the mast and Kairi flapped the sand out of the sheet.

"Okay...." Riku stood and walked over to Sora and the raft.

The two boys attached the mast to the raft and wiggled it around. It was on there solidly.

"Good. Now let's test it on the water."

Kairi set her sheet on a rock and giggled. She ran over to the raft and jumped on it.

"Better hope it doesn't sink." Sora teased.

Riku and Sora pushed the boat into the water and sat on it. The raft rocked a bit but didn't sink.

"Oh yeah. We're good." Riku smirked.

The boys got off the raft and pushed it back onto the shore. Kairi grabbed her sheet and attached it to the mast.

"Maybe we should attach some baskets to the raft to hold our supplies." Sora suggested.

"Or some boxes..." Riku murmured.

Kairi nodded. "Yeah. Then we'll have to put it on the water again and test it out."

---------------------

The three friends worked until the sun set. They attached boxes on either side of the raft for their supplies. They tested the raft on the water again and it didn't sink. The friends decided to quit for the day and tied the raft to a tree so it wouldn't float or blow away.

"We'd better get home for supper." Sora yawned and stretched.

Riku smiled and slung his arm around Sora's shoulders. "In a month and a little bit we'll be on our way. We're going to have a fun time, Sora."

The brunette smiled and nodded. Riku slung his other arm around Kairi's shoulders and the trio headed for the docks. They rowed back to the marina. Wakka and Tidus waved as they rowed up.

"Hey! We were just comin' to see yah!" Wakka called.

"Gee thanks." Riku grinned. "We've got it all built already."

"Sorry 'bout that." The redhead grinned sheepishly. "My dad just got home."

Kairi giggled and pulled her boat into the housing shed. "And what happened to Selphie?"

"Her mom made her stay home and clean her room once she got home from her dance lesson." Tidus replied.

"Well thanks for the help." Sora teased.

"You're welcome." Wakka chuckled. "You're also invited to my house for a cookout in an hour."

"Sounds good." Riku replied.

The friends all got on their bikes and pedaled home. Riku dropped Sora off then made his way over to his house. Sora went inside to see his mother making salad.

"We're going to..."

"...Wakka's house for supper." Sora finished for her.

April smiled and nodded. "Right. So what did you do all day?"

"Oh just stuff... swam, play-dueled, went seashell hunting..."

"Sounds nice."

"Yeup."

The brunette walked up and stole a crouton out of his mother's salad.

"Get out of there!" She laughed.

-------------------------

Wakka's backyard was full of fireflies when Sora and April arrived.

"Hey April." Wakka's dad smiled. "Come on in. Put your salad on the table there."

April nodded and went to put her salad down. Sora walked over to Wakka and Chappu who were trying to catch fireflies in a jar.

"There's jars or nets over there, ya." Chappu said, pointing.

Sora nodded and picked up his own jar and joined in the firefly chase. Selphie, her abundance of sisters, and their mother were the next to arrive. Selphie's mom brought a really yummy-looking chocolate dessert.

"Now I know where you get your sweet tooth from." Wakka teased.

"Very funny." Selphie said, making a face at Wakka.

"Heard you had to clean your room." Sora said.

"Yes." The girl sighed. "Took me forever."

Each of Selphie's younger sisters picked up a net and started chasing fireflies and Chappu around the backyard. Sora shared his jar with Selphie and they ran around together. They had collected a few fireflies when Kairi and her parents showed up. Kairi's dad was the Mayor of Destiny Island but no one really made a fuss over it. He was a normal guy just like everyone else.

"What'd you guys bring?" Selphie asked, catching another firefly.

Kairi picked up a net and chased a few bugs around. "Soda."

Tidus and his mother showed up next with another salad. No one wasn't that surprised that Jecht hadn't shown up. He rarely ever went to anything he was invited to especially if his wife was invited too. Riku and his parents were the last to show up. All the women crowded around Mileena to barrage her with questions about the baby. All the men crowded around the grill to cook and "be manly". Riku smirked and picked up a jar. After a few swooshes of his hand he'd caught nearly a jarful of fireflies.

"Show off." Selphie teased.

Riku just chuckled and watched Selphie's sisters chase Chappu.

"What'd you guys bring?" Tidus wanted to know.

"Extra buns and popsicles." Riku replied.

He let his jarful of fireflies go then proceeded to catch a new bunch. Wakka's dad took everyone's order then put the hotdogs and burgers on the grill. It was a nice, warm, and humid night. The stars were just starting to come out and the moon was almost full.

"So this is like...the second time our parents have gotten together?" Tidus teased.

Everyone laughed, even Chappu.

"When is your mom going to have the baby?" Selphie asked.

"A month and a bit." Riku replied.

"Got any names picked out?" Téa asked.

"Mom picked some out but she hasn't told anyone. She wants it to be a surprise."

"Ah. That's nice."

"Food's ready!" Wakka's dad called.

Everyone kept chatting as they ate. The adults sat on the deck while the kids sat out in the grass. Sora released his and Selphie's fireflies before jamming half his hotdog into his mouth.

"That's really nice, Sora." Kairi teased. "Really polite."

Sora just chewed on his mouthful of hotdog and grinned stupidly. His friends laughed before digging into their own meals. Everyone was starving for some reason. Sora heard a chorus of "aww"s from the deck and looked over his shoulder. Apparently the baby had kicked and now everyone wanted to feel.

"I don't understand the point of fussing over a baby before it's born." Chappu said.

"That's because you're not a woman." Selphie replied.

"Neither are you, little girl." The redhead teased.

Selphie stuck her tongue out at Wakka's older brother and everyone laughed. There was another chorus of "aww"s as the baby kicked again.

After everyone was done eating and pigging out on chocolate desert and popsicles Mileena decided to go home. She was feeling tired and a bit nauseous.

"Riku, come home to watch over your mother." Lee barked, helping his wife to her feet.

Riku rolled his eyes and waved at his friends. "See you guys tomorrow."

"Bye Riku." Sora replied.

The rest of his friends bid the silver-haired boy good-bye and Riku went home with his parents. A few minutes later Lee returned to continue "having a beer with the boys". Selphie was the next to leave. Her youngest sister was getting tired and cranky. Tidus, Kairi, and their parents left next. April was busy having a beer with the boys so Sora, Chappu, and Wakka lay on the grass and star gazed.

"Hey guys..." Sora murmured.

"Yeah?" Wakka looked at his friend.

"Have either of you guys seen something on Destiny Island?"

"Nope. I was surprised that Riku got attacked." Chappu replied.

"I've never seen anything either." Wakka added. "Why?"

"I...I thought I saw something go into the Secret Place today. I didn't see what it was though."

Wakka shrugged. "Maybe we should get the adults to go look again?"

Sora shook his head. "Nah. It was probably nothing."

Riku's dad went home way before April did. It was quite late by the time April and Sora headed home.

"Everyone hogged down our salad." April smiled, showing Sora her empty bowl.

"You make good salad, Ma." Sora replied with a smirk.

April laughed and the two made their way inside. Sora's mother went straight to bed but Sora had a short, cold shower before he headed off to bed. It was going to be a hot night. Sora stripped down to his boxers and turned his fan on. He lay on his bed and smiled. The brunette couldn't wait for Riku's mother to have the baby. He couldn't wait to go on this adventure with Riku.

To be continued...

...............
Owie. My wrists hurt TT R&R Please. It'll make wrists feel better...j/k :)