Disclaimer: I don't own the awesomeness that is Digimon.

A/N: Well, to start off, a big apology to everyone for taking so long to post another chapter, but now that I'm getting Tales of Graces f and Abyss out of the way, I should have time to hopefully post more often again. This is the chapter you guys all got to vote on, so I hope you enjoy it. Didn't exactly turn out quite like I thought, but it fits great with the story, so I'm not complaining. A big thank you to my online friend Henry (Twilight Archangel) for his help with the Spanish. (I love you, Henry!)

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 225: Love Conquers All

Ken Ichijouji

Server, Eastern Hemisphere, Digital World

Ken took his time removing his clothes, his gaze often returning to the door of the men's changing room. He had taken his time coming in from outside after Dai had stepped out to inform them that the springs were free for use, and now that he was alone all of his doubts and fears were beginning to creep into his mind again.

Sam...

Anger, fear, pain, and hopelessness. Those were the emotions that had clouded Sam's face during their intense argument earlier, and no matter how hard he tried to forget, Ken could not stop picturing his son's tormented expression in his mind. It was like a broken record or an old film replaying over and over again in his head, and despite his best efforts to banish the memory to the depths of his consciousness, he could not push the imagine away.

I shouldn't have let myself get so caught up in my own pain and sadness. Now Sam is probably suffering even more because of me...

A soft sigh escaped Ken's lips, and glancing towards the door again his dark eyebrows narrowed into a deep frown. As much as he didn't want to admit it, his main reason for taking his time about coming inside, as his earlier thoughts indicated quite clearly, was his own son.

After washing up in the springs, Sam and his friends had settled down in the main room of the cabin under the watchful eye of Yolei to do their homework, and after the last confrontation Ken had endured with his son, he was ashamed to admit that he'd been too afraid to come anywhere near the room, as he didn't want to upset Sam yet again. Instead, he had merely lurked by the doorway out of sight, watching his son for any signs of distress, until Yolei had finally come out to tell him in that no nonsense tone of hers to go and wash up.

As far as he knew, Matt and Cody were still talking to Leomon and Dracomon outside, and Izzy was still absorbed in his computer, thus the reason why Ken had been the first to arrive in the change room, despite the amount of time he had wasted debating whether or not he should show his face inside the cabin. And adding all the time he'd spent lurking by the door, his mind wavering back and forth as to whether he should talk to his son or not, he was surprised that Matt, Cody, and Izzy hasn't beaten him to the springs first.

Izzy must still be in his own little world, and knowing Matt and Cody they're still concerned that Vampiramon and the others will ambush us before the night is over. I don't think that will be the case, though. It's not their style. So far their tactics have always been much more sneaky and subtle.

"Yolei! Ouch! Hey, be careful!"

Ken looked up at the sudden sound of a commotion outside the door, and a moment later Izzy was shoved through the entryway, the sound of Yolei's voice following behind him. "You'd better not come out of there until you look and smell half decent!"

Ken raised his eyebrows at this, and glancing at Izzy, he said, "What was that all about?"

"Uh...Yolei threatened to confiscate my laptop if I didn't take some time to wash up," Izzy explained, sheepishly scratching the back of his head.

Ken quickly wrapped a towel around his waist, and sitting down on the nearest bench he managed a thin smile. "Can't say I blame her. Knowing you, you would get so caught up in what you were doing that you'd forget to wash up."

"I'm not that bad...am I?"

"Well, you...occasionally have your moments."

"But-"

"And if I were you, I wouldn't even think about trying to stay up all night on that laptop of yours or Yolei really will steal it from you."

Izzy smiled at this, and quickly removing his clothes, he said, "I don't doubt that."

Yolei...you never change, and that's what I love about you. Even when it feels like my whole life is falling apart, you give me a sense of comfort and stability.

Another sound at the door made him look up, and this time Matt and Cody came into the room, Gabumon and Armadillomon following behind them.

Seeing the two digimon suddenly made Ken realize that he had no idea where his own partner was, and glancing at Izzy he was quick to note that Tentomon also hadn't put in an appearance.

Apparently he had been so worried about his son, he had failed to notice that Wormmon hadn't come back from the springs with the younger Digidestined. Upon realizing this, he felt a small twinge of fear in his heart, and his handsome face twisted into a frown.

I wonder what he's up to. I hope he's okay...

"Still no sign of any movement out there," Matt announced, his voice slightly muffled by the shirt he was pulling over his head. "Aquilamon's going to take over for Leomon so he can get some rest. Eventually someone will also have to take over for Dracomon, too, but his spot can wait till later in the night. We don't want any of our digimon using up too much energy, which means all of them are going to have to take a turn."

"Right," Gabumon agreed.

"I can't say for sure, but...I don't think we're going to be attacked tonight," Cody said slowly, pausing to gaze thoughtfully at the ceiling. "It doesn't feel right somehow. It feels too soon for any kind of physical retaliation from them."

Surprisingly, Ken found himself replying before he could really think about what he was saying. "I agree. Vampiramon and the others have a lot of tricks up their sleeves. They're definitely planning something, but...I don't think they'll attack us outright just yet. At least not until we get closer to the Spirit Chip."

"Which in some ways is actually more of a disadvantage," Izzy muttered to himself.

Ken was startled by that response, and glancing at the computer expert, he said, "What do you mean?"

"Mind games," Cody interrupted before Izzy could answer. "You should understand that better than anyone, Ken. DarkAngelicmion especially seems to be a fan of that tactic. It makes it harder to predict what they're going to do, especially when they have a specific target in mind."

Sam...

Ken let out a soft gasp, but instead of voicing his fears he quickly ducked his head and proceeded to gaze miserably at his hands.

"Whether they attack or not, we still need to keep our guard up," Matt said shortly, grabbing his own towel and securing it tightly around his waist. "They might choose to come after us simply because they know we're not expecting them to."

There was truth in that, and standing up Ken proceeded to head towards the opposite door leading to the springs, Matt and the others following behind him.

Stepping out onto the rocks, he stopped short when he spotted Tentomon, Wormmon, and Alopemon sitting near the edge of the pool, a look of intense concentration on their faces. For some odd reason all of them appeared to be staring into the forest lining the north side of the springs.

"Oh, Tentomon! There you are. I was wondering what had happened to you," Izzy called out, throwing aside his towel and lowering himself into the pool. "What are you doing out here?"

Tentomon exchanged a look with the other two digimon, and stumbling over his words, he said, "I...i-it's nice out here, and you...uh...were taking too long to come."

Ken didn't believe the little rookie for a second, and removing his own towel he lowered himself into the spring next to Matt, he gaze fixing on Wormmon. "I was worried about you."

"I'm sorry, Ken," Wormmon replied, gazing calmly at him in return. "I didn't mean to disappear on you."

"What's really going on?" Matt asked suspiciously, frowning at the three digimon.

This time Gabumon and Armadillomon exchanged looks, and moving to join their digimon friend they fixed their gazes on Alopemon, who looked stubbornly determined not to be the one who had to speak up. Unfortunately, Wormmon and Tentomon were also looking at him now, and letting out a disgruntled sigh, he said reluctantly, "Kara thought she saw something in the woods earlier when she was bathing. It's probably nothing, but Daichi figured a few of us should keep watch back here just in case."

"He never mentioned anything about that to us," Matt said slowly, a frown marring his handsome features.

"With the way Yolei has been hounding him about his homework, it probably slipped his mind," Armadillomon said easily, smiling in amusement.

There was certainly some truth in that, and slipping into the water near Izzy, Cody nodded in agreement. "Yolei hasn't let up for a second on Dai. It's not like he's had much of a chance to tell us what's been going on."

"What exactly does Kara think she saw?" Izzy asked curiously.

Alopemon shrugged, a bored look on his face. "Thought she saw someone watching her. Ryoko and the others looked, but they didn't see anything out of the ordinary. She probably just spooked herself, being out here in the dark."

"Even so, I don't like it," Matt replied. "We'll have to have a few of you switching out and taking turns to watch back here as well."

"It won't hurt to be extra careful," Gabumon agreed.

Izzy was about to reply when there was sudden movement on the other side of the screen. A moment later the chattering voices of Mimi, Rosa, and Yolei filled the night air, and their laughter echoed in the trees to the north.

"Should we tell them?" Cody asked quietly, glancing towards the screen.

Matt looked at the screen as well, and shrugging, he said, "They've got enough to worry about right now. No need to add to their worries."

"The three of us have been splitting up to watch both sides, so there's no one over there right now," Alopemon explained. "I doubt they'll get suspicious. All of us only came over to this side all at once because we heard you guys coming out."

"So you were trying to hide what you were doing?" Matt shot back, giving the little rookie a disapproving look.

Alopemon gazed serenely back at the golden-haired Digidestined, his head held high. "No, we just didn't want you to worry unnecessarily."

"This feels amazing!" Mimi called out from the other side of the screen before Matt could make a retort. "How's the water on your side, Matt?"

"Great, though it'd be better if you were over here with me," the former musician replied, smiling slightly.

Mimi laughed at this, and moving closer to the screen, she said, "We'll have to save that for another time."

"How's Dai doing? Getting his homework done?" Cody called out, smiling in amusement.

"That boy. Honestly," Yolei replied from the other side of the screen, huffing indignantly. "You practically have to stand over his shoulder to get him to do anything school work related. I don't know how it doesn't drive Noriko crazy. He's just like Davis was when it comes to school."

"I take it it's not going well then?" Izzy laughed.

"Oh, he's almost done. That's the only reason I'm here now. If he'd just co-operate a little more I wouldn't have to bully him so much."

"I think he mostly does it just to get a reaction out of you," Matt smirked.

Yolei snorted in reply, the sound floating over the screen to reach them. "I'll believe that."

"And no doubt he's enjoying every minute of it," Rosa teased. "Though, he sure does pick his times. It's definitely going to start pouring rain soon, which means our dip in the springs will have to be cut short."

As the rest of the Digidestined continued to chatter easily, Ken moved off to join his partner, who was still watching him with sympathetic eyes. Pulling the rookie into his arms, Ken murmured, "How...was Sam?"

Wormmon took a moment to answer and when he did his tone was encouraging. "He was quiet and he looked a bit tired, but other than that he seemed fine. I think he's calmed down a bit, and he was getting along pretty well with Dai. I wouldn't worry too much if I were you."

"It's hard not to, but...I am glad to hear he seems to be okay. Did he...mention me?"

Wormmon regretfully shook his head. "No, although he didn't have much of a chance to with all the commotion concerning Kara."

Wormmon was right of course, but even so Ken couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. Was his son thinking about him at all? Was Sam still hurt by his words even though they were said out of love and frustration?

I only said what I did because I want you to understand...

Ken jumped at the sudden feel of a wet hand on his shoulder, and jerking around he came face to face with Matt, who was watching him intently in the darkness.

The two of them made themselves comfortable at the edge of the pool, and gazing off into the night, Matt said quietly, "You know...Sam's behaviour reminds me a lot of how I used to act before I met Tai and the others."

Ken glanced sideways at his fellow Digidestined, wondering curiously what Matt was trying to tell him. "Yes, I remember the stories. You were troubled as a child and there was a lot of anger and resentment inside of you."

"Anger, sadness, regret, frustration...There was a lot I kept bottled up inside," Matt sighed, reaching up to run a hand through his golden hair. "My parent's failed marriage, being separated from T.K...I was angry and I felt like there was no one out there who could really understand how much I was hurting. It's never been easy for me to express my feelings, and most likely some of that is a result of what happened in my past, but...after meeting Tai and the others, after seeing the way it was so easy for them to express their feelings in a way that seemed impossible for me to do, I learned to let a lot of that go."

Ken found himself nodding in agreement, a smile coming to his face. "You've changed so much since then."

"I have, but...it wasn't something I could do on my own. I needed help to break away from the pain and misery I had surrounded myself with," Matt replied, the expression on his face hidden by the shadows lurking in the night. "Sam is rebelling much in the same way I did because it's hard for him to accept the truth of what happened, just as it was hard for me to accept my parents divorce and being separated from my brother. Reality can be cruel, and often we try to hide or rebel against it to protect ourselves from the truth. You know that every bit as well as I do. Maybe even more so."

Thinking back on his own brother and his past as the Emperor, Ken felt a sudden lump form in his throat. "Yes. Yes...I do."

"It's tough, but not impossible to overcome the changes in our lives that keep us shackled to the past," Matt continued, finally turning to look at him. "And it isn't something we need to do alone. For both of us, a lot of our pain sprung from the fact that we failed to see and understand that it wasn't something we had to face by ourselves. We couldn't see that there were others out there who cared and wanted to help us, and once we understand that we were able to move on with our lives."

"Yes, but-"

"Sam is the same way," Matt said simply. "Just like us, he has an amazing group of friends who aren't going to give up on him, and in time he will allow them to help him accept the truth. One day he'll understand just how much you care, and eventually he'll realize what is truly important. Give him time and allow Dai and the others to do their job."

"Matt, I...thank you."

"No need to thank me. I'm only telling you what you already know yourself."

There was a moment of silence, and leaning over to place a hand on his friend's shoulder, Ken said softly, "You've done an amazing job with Ryoko."

Matt stared at him in surprise, and no doubt thinking about Daichi, the golden-haired Digidestined smiled slightly and said, "Time will tell, I guess."

"I think it's pretty obvious now myself."

Matt simply nodded, choosing not to respond, and turning to leave, he said quietly, "Sam still loves you, just as I still love my parents, despite how much they hurt me in the past. Don't ever forget that."

Matt...

With those final words Matt left to join Izzy and Cody by the screen, and holding Wormmon close in his arms, Ken lifted his sapphire gaze to the dark sky and smiled.

Yolei Ichijouji

Server, Eastern Hemisphere, Digital World

"Still nothing yet," Rosa teased, poking Mimi playfully in the stomach.

Laughing, Mimi glanced down at her bare belly and said, "It's still way too early to really tell yet."

"Give it a couple of months and she'll be complaining she can't see her feet," Matt snorted from the boys' spring.

Catching the shadow of her husband lounging close to the screen, Mimi rolled her towel up into a ball and tossed it over with enough force to send it bouncing off his head.

"You throw like a girl," Matt teased, plucking the towel off his head and tossing it aside.

"I throw better than you do!"

"Ouch," Rosa smirked, exchanging a smile with Gotsumon.

Yolei watched the others with a frown on her face, and thinking back on the troubled son she had left doing his homework, a sigh escaped her lips.

It wasn't loud, but Mimi must have sensed her mood because the rosy-haired Digidestined suddenly joined her and tugged lightly on her lavender braid to catch her attention. "Are you okay, Yolei?"

Yolei made a face and glanced anxiously at the screen, her thoughts once again turning to Sam and her husband. "Not really."

"Ken never did talk to Sam, did he," Rosa whispered, doing her best to keep their conversation hidden from the men.

"No. He kept hovering by the door and couldn't seem to make up his mind about what to do. I finally told him to just go and wash up."

"Well, maybe it's better they have a little time apart to think," Mimi suggested, tugging thoughtfully on her pink hair.

Even though Mimi was probably right, Yolei wasn't too sure on that herself. It was frustrating to watch the two run in circles around each other, and if there was one thing she hated, it was feeling helpless.

Things can't go on like this. I can't just sit here watching while my family falls apart...

"Yolei?" Hawkmon called from the edge of the pool, looking concerned.

Palmon, who had only been too happy to partake in a second dip in the springs, also looked worried, and a moment later Yolei felt Mimi's wet arm slide around her shoulder in a comforting embrace.

"It'll be okay," Mimi whispered in her ear. "Sam and Ken are going to get through this."

"El amor conquista todo," Rosa whispered.

Yolei, who wasn't familiar with the Spanish language, rested her head on Mimi's shoulder and glanced curiously at the younger woman.

Seeing her look, Rosa smiled softly and said, "Love conquers all."

Love conquers all...

Yolei pulled Rosa into their circle, and the three of them rested their foreheads together in a show of silent respect. They remained that way for a moment until several wet towels came sailing over the screen, and they found themselves being bombarded by an arsenal of cotton.

"Okay, now it's war!" Rosa cried, grabbing one of the makeshift bombs and getting ready to retaliate.

Laughing, Yolei allowed herself to join in the fight.

Rosa was right.

Love of all kinds was a powerful motivator, and sooner or later Sam and Ken would find their way back to each other.

At least, she hoped they would.