Disclaimer: I do not owe Kingdom Hearts or any of the other Anime/Disney characters

Chapter Sixteen

Part two

Happiness

-Happiness changes as you change. It's in yourself.- Mary Steward

Kairi and Sora looked down at the two eight month old babies seating in the center of their living room. Both a mini replica of Riku in male and female form, the only thing they had in common with their mother was her smile and laugh. 'Hi, Orianna,' Sora waved over at the little girl as he called out to her, but she just stared at him with huge aquamarine hues. 'Do you want to stay over with your Auntie Kairi and me,' he gestured over at his wife who was trying to pursued Neo to come to her, but he was more interested in his stuff toy than her.

'If it makes you two feel any better, they don't like me much either,' Riku walked over to join Kairi and Sora. He was wearing a dark navy suit, he was taking Amaranth out and since it was a special night recruited Sora and Kairi to watch the twins overnight. Since Neo and Orianna's normal babysitters were off celebrating their three month wedding anniversary. Nina and Hina had finally tied the knot and were enjoying the married life, they had held a small ceremony to commemorate their union with close family and friends. Afterwards they went off to Europe for their honeymoon and backpacking across the country. Hina, who was outdoorsy, had fun for most of the trip. While Nina had returned an honest mess and swore that she would never again brave the wilderness unless she had too. So until Nina was satisfied they would celebrate their wedding anniversary each month. He wondered what they would actually do when it was their real anniversary. 'Neo, Orianna, come to Daddy,' he called out to his children so that he could prove a point as he squatted down to their level. 'Don't you want to give Daddy a good-bye kiss?'

Both babies stayed immobile, but at least they knew their father and acknowledged him by looking over at him. 'I put their milk in the fridge, you just need to heat it up a bit for them.' Once they heard their mother's voice they looked alert and ready to run to where ever she was, but they were still babies, so they got ready to crawl to her location. 'There diapers and wipes are in the diaper bag as well as extra clothes and snacks.'

'They look like puppies ready to pounce,' Sora whispered as he watched the twins searching for their mommy already on all fours their tails waging, well if they had tails they would be.

'Yeah,' Riku sighed a little in disappointment that they didn't react the same way towards him.

'Cheer up,' Kairi watched them take off when Amaranth came into view and she patted Riku on his shoulder.

'Who would have though that you'd get so depress over the love of your children,' it was a ding at the fact Riku hadn't wanted kids in the first place.

'Just wait until you and Kairi have your own and they love Kairi more than you,' Riku told him.

'Hey,' they reached their mommy.

Amaranth squatted down to meet them, 'How are Mommy's big boy and girl getting along with Uncle Sora and Aunt Kairi,' she somehow managed to pick up the two babies up in her small arms. In their own language they answered her and looked over at the trio that was watching them. 'I know that they'll play with you and take care of you, so that you can have fun and enjoy your stay.' She kissed each of them on the cheek drawing their attention even more towards her. 'So you two be good and Daddy and I will be back in the morning to pick you up.'

Riku walked over to join his little family, 'That's right, Mommy and I will be back in the morning after a little R&R,' he made to kiss Neo, but he turned away and held his hands out in front of his in defense. He tried to kiss Orianna, but she did the same and he was left pouting at his children's strong defense.

'That's not nice,' Amaranth told them and they turned cute aquamarine hues towards her. 'You should be nice to Daddy and give him a kiss.'

They turned to look up at Riku, who in turned looked down at them with a frown on his face to see if that could win them over. Orianna was the first to throw his a bone and stretch out her arms for him to pick her up. 'That's Daddy's little girl,' he picked her up in his arms and hugged her close while giving her a kiss.

'Neo,' Amaranth nudged him and he finally relented and reached out for Riku too, but only to give him said promised kiss.

'I am starting to see who runs the show,' Sora whispered to Kairi as they watched the exchange.

'You are just now seeing it,' she asked. 'However, I do think it's cute that they give Riku such a hard time.'

'I heard that,' Riku and Amaranth turned to look at them.

'Humph, it's not like you don't deserve it,' she answered without reserve.

'Now, now,' Amaranth walked over to them to hand Neo over to Kairi.

'Sorry, but it is fun to watch,' she took Neo in her arms, but he squirmed trying to get back to his mommy.

Riku handed over Orianna, who seemed to not mind being in Sora's arms. 'Can't you guys show me just an ounce of the love you show your Mother,' he questioned as he noticed them looking over at Amaranth.

'They just love to play hard to get,' Amaranth stated as she kissed each baby one last time before they decided it was time to leave for their dinner reservation. Riku had planned a date night for them, saying that it had been a long time since the two of them had been alone without the twins. Having children was life changing, but each and everyday was a new experience for all of them. As soon as the babies noticed them putting their coats on, they started to cry and instincts of a mother told her to stay. Nonetheless, Kairi and Sora seemed up for the situation and if they coddled them too much they would never learn to stay with others.

Once they left the apartment, Riku turned back to look at the closed door. 'You think they'll be fine?'

'I am sure that they'll be okay,' she told him as she grabbed his hand and squeezed it lightly to reassure him. Yet hearing her little ones cry out to them made her want to turn back and cancel the night.

He knew that Sora and Kairi wouldn't let anything happen to the twins and tonight was too special to give up. 'Yeah, you're probably right,' he agreed with her and turned to look down at Amaranth, who spoke big but had doubt written on her face as she frown at the door.

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After a delicious dinner that didn't involve to attention seeking babies, Riku was pretty happy that things were going smoothly. Amaranth seemed to be enjoying herself, after dinner they had headed over to the orchestra theater to watch an overseas piano performer, Yiruma. Once the performance was over they would head over to biggest surprise of the evening. 'That was wonderful,' the curtain had closed and people had finished clapping, they were gather their belongings and were getting ready to depart.

'I am glad you enjoyed it, but the night isn't over. I still have one more surprise,' he told her as he helped her up and got her coat on.

'If you keep spoiling me so much, I'll be expecting it every date night,' she teased as she slipped into her coat and then waited for him to get his on.

He would do anything that she asked, he thought to himself and almost groaned when he realized he had become one of those people that long ago he had scoffed for being idiotic love fools. 'Anything you want,' he said as he put his coat on and reached out take her hand.

Amaranth wondered what the surprise could be, after dinner at a five-star restaurant and watch Yiruma perform live, she didn't think the night could get more magical. She looked at the way their were heading and though that it was strange that they were leaving the city and entering the suburbs. There wasn't really that much to see there, unless they were going to visit her parents but it was too late for that and they would be wondering about the twins. 'Riku, where are we going,' she asked him as they headed in a different direction from her parents house.

'Some place nice and quiet,' he told as he looked over and saw the puzzlement on her face.

After a while they pulled up to a beautiful two story house, with a double door garage, nice lawn with flowers around the front area of the house and white picket fence. 'You didn't bring me out to meet your secret family, did you,' she asked as she studied the dark house.

'Don't be silly,' he turned the car off and walked over to open the door for her and held our his hand to help her out.

'Then I don't get why we're here,' she told him and watched as he closed the door and walked her to the front door where he searched for the front keys.

'Which makes it even more surprising,' he finally found the key and opened the door for her to head inside.

They entered into a small entryway with a coat closet on one side, as she looked around the small area she noticed the house wasn't furnished or lived in. Which made it even more suspicious as to why they were there. 'Come on,' he took her hand and pulled her to the flight of stairs by the entryway, one led up and the other down.

They walked up the soft white carpeted stairs into a large living room, that opened up into a dining room, next to it and beside another flight of stairs was the kitchen. 'This is,' she didn't have the words to say how empty and strange it was to be in an unfurnished house at such a late hour.

'Beautiful, right,' he grabbed her hand and lead her to the patio where it was too dark to see anything, but he found a switch and it lit up a nicely kept and private back yard. Flowers went around the whole private fence, there was a large tree to one side and a shed on the other and just empty space for kids to run around or…Amaranth jumped when she heard whining in the distance coming from upstairs.

'This place isn't haunted house is it,' she became a bit panicky at the though of it being haunted.

'No,' he shook his head, 'we should go see what's making all that noise, though.'

'It could be a giant mouse,' she panicked as she knew house had those and tried to pull out of his hold as he led her towards the stairs going up.

'Don't be silly,' he lead her up the stairs as they went up she saw a bathroom to the left and three rooms to the right all open and unfurnished. There was only one more room to the left and she assumed that was master bedroom were the noise was coming from. The light that came from the bottom of the close door was shadowed by whatever was on the other side and trying to get at them.

'How about we turn back,' she tried to escape once more, seeing that it was making scratching noises as it tried to get out to attack them.

'We can't,' he stood behind her and blocked her escape route.

'What do you mean,' she panicked thinking that behind the door was a giant rat trying to get out and eat them.

'You'll just have to go inside and see for yourself.'

She heard the clicking of nails against the door, the whining more persistent and her heart more terrified than brave. 'Go on, I promise you have nothing to fear,' he whispered into her ear and she yelped. 'Sorry,' he laughed as he reached over in front of her and opened the door.

Amaranth was expecting to see a giant rat leap out at her and not a lonely little husky with a white and gray coat. Of course, before she registered the puppy she had fallen back into Riku's arms. 'Don't worry, he doesn't bite,' Riku told her. 'He actually should have been asleep, but maybe he heard us when we arrived.'

Amaranth looked down at the little puppy and then at Riku, who seemed a little displeased. 'He was supposed to be waiting in the middle.'

Amaranth turned to see what he meant and in the middle of the large room where rose petals in a heart shaped form. Well, sort of heart shaped seeing as the puppy had mess it up a little. 'That's what I get for having Roger teach him to stay and wait,' he mumbled. 'At least he didn't eat the box. How about you give me a moment and I'll fix everything up again.'

'That's,' he didn't give her a second to answer. He picked up the attention seeking puppy and went inside and closed the door. Amaranth was left alone in the hallway and she couldn't help her curiosity now that it wasn't frightening and her heart had returned to its normal rhythm. The house seemed like it was for a large family, new and modern, so it yet to have a lived in feeling. Of course it was unfurnished, no one lived there and, 'Amaranth,' Riku called for her before she could finish her thought.

'Coming,' she reached out to open the door and be surprised. Of course, half the surprised left him in the dust and ran towards her as she opened the door and came into view.

'Wait,' he called up the untrained puppy, but this time Amaranth wasn't afraid and welcomed him.

'Hi,' she greeted him as she squatted down to pick him up. He was happy for the attention and licked her face.

After a moment of watching Amaranth and the puppy he cleared his throat, 'Ahem.'

She got up with the puppy in her arms and looked at Riku, who was down on his knee in the middle of the circle holding out a ring. 'This was supposed to be more romanic and cute,' he blamed the dog for ruining the heart again and not staying by his side.

Amaranth froze as she took him in and what the house meant, 'You…'

Riku nodded, 'I do, we've already started a family which will need more room to run around and play as they get older. Plus, a good guard dog to protect them, but we'll have to get a better trainer than Roger.'

She laughed at his last comment, but at the same time she cried because not only did he want to build a better future for his children but wanted to spend one together with her. 'So,' he asked, 'what do you say?'

'You haven't really asked me yet,' she pointed out and she put the pup down and walked over to stand before him. 'Once you ask me, I'll tell you,' she watched as he took out the ring from the box, tucked the box away and took her hand.

'Amaranth Benson, will you do me the honors of become my wife?'

'I don't know,' she felt him halt the motion of placing the engagement ring on her finger, thinking that she was going to say yes right away. 'I have to ask my children.'

'Please don't,' he was starting to see where they got playing with his emotions from.

Amaranth laughed before she nodded and leaned over to kiss him as he finished placing the ring on her finger. He got up and held her in his arms as he kissed her over and over, until he heard a small bark coming from his wingman. 'Don't tell me, you're just at protective as the twins,' Riku pulled away and looked down at the barking little fur ball. 'I should have really reconsidered getting you.'

Amaranth giggled as she held him in an embrace and looked down at the cute puppy. Knowing that as soon as the twins saw him, they would fall in love with him. They would also like the house and being able to go out and play in the backyard. 'This is a wonderful surprise,' Amaranth stated as she turned to look up at him and kissed him once again.

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'Don't you dare,' Hina cautioned her five year old daughter as she reached towards the cookies laid out for the guest to enjoy.

'But I want one,' she pouted and gave her huge puppy dog eyes.

Hina was a sucker for mini version of Nina, but she wasn't going to fall for her adorable puppy eyes. 'Not until you have something to eat, I don't want you to spoil your lunch.'

'I am going to go and tell mom,' she threatened.

'Your Mother will agree with me, now why don't you go and play with the other kids.'

'Humph, you never let me have fun,' she puffed her cheeks and turned around before running over to play with Neo, Orianna and Sebastian.

'I am sending you off to have fun,' she pointed out, but Tilly was already off and ignoring her.

Sora join Hina and understood how she was feeling, 'I remember when Sebastian was like that.'

'You're son is just a month older,' Hina pointed out, 'don't make it sound like there is such a huge age gap.'

'But they grow up so fast, look at the twins. They're already seven,' Sora pointed out, 'next thing you'll know they'll be graduating and moving out of the house.'

'Don't frighten her so,' Nina joined them out on the patio. 'Matilda is still little and adorable like me. She won't grow up too fast.'

Hina just sat and stared at her daughter as she ran around playing with the other kids. Wondering if these moment of her childhood really would pass in a blink of an eye. 'Sora, will you help me,' Kairi asked as she came out with two plates of food.

'Hey, Nina,' Hina suddenly turned to Nina, whom had taken a seat besides her. 'Why don't we—'

'Don't even think about it,' Nina didn't let her finish. 'One is a good and solid number, plus it was hard getting back in shape again after her birth.'

Hina mouth fell open in exasperation, 'I was the one that carried her.'

'I know and getting you back to your former figure was hard work,' Nina teased her.

Sora and Kairi laughed as they watched the exchange between the two females. 'The food's ready,' Amaranth announced a she came out with the final dishes and Riku falling her with baby number three in his arms. Baby Gabriel was the spitting image of Amaranth. He had dark colored hair, amber hues, a small button nose and olive colored skin. Just like his sibling when they were little, he was attached to his mother but Riku was more attached to him.

'Food,' Sebastian cried as he heard Amaranth.

'Cookie,' seemed to be the translation for Tilly.

Neo and Orianna usher the smaller kids back to the adults and took the wet wipes their mother handed them to clean their hands before sitting down at the picnic table with their family and friends. Riku handed over Gabriel after he saw that his mommy was unoccupied and could now hold him. 'Hey, Munchkin,' Amaranth kissed her youngest as she watched her friends with their kids and smiled.

Who would have thought that they would finally get to this point in their lives? She didn't, she had known that she was in love with Riku when he was little and an adolescence, but had given up on him when he was older. Long distance relationships never worked out and he had had someone special at the time. So she had decided to move on and live her life, only never to leave him behind because her love had been so strong she always looked for someone similar him. Then a decade later, it was as if fate had decided to reunite them. Of course, because of the way things had ended when they were younger, when they met again things had become complicated. Riku had let his emotions: anger, jealousy and possessiveness get the better of him. When all he had wanted was to be with her and treat her as she should have been treated in the first place, but the darkness had eaten away at him and because he hadn't known that their feelings were mutual he couldn't trust her or anyone and he took it out on her. Showing her the best way he knew how that she belonged to him.

To some people it would be foolish to stay with someone such as him, but isn't love foolish and doesn't it make people go blind. Amaranth had known what she was getting into and what would happen, she had submitted willingly. She also knew that if she didn't want him, she could have walked away but that wasn't the case. She had wanted to walk a path alongside him, not away from him and with another or on her own. Now she had gotten more than what she had hoped for, she had children, a beautiful house, lots of friends and family, a successful business and wonderful husband to grow old with.

Riku looked down at the small hand that had taken his free one and smiled. Smiled at the fact that he now had the woman of his dreams and a family and life to share with her until the ends of time. That for all the misgivings he had caused her, he would now make up for the rest of their lives giving her anything she wanted. Because he loved her and would never do anything to cause her to lose her faith and love for him. He gently squeezed her hand and looked up to meet amber hues watching him, he leaned over and whispered into her ear, 'I love you.'

'I know,' she beamed brightly at him before she leaned in and gave him a light kiss. 'I love you too.'

—Afterword—-

A/N: Hi, guys, it has been a long time. I am sorry to have taken so long on this last chapter. Well, mainly the afterword. Which is longer than what I usually write. I know that a lot goes on in this chapter and it's sort of rushed, but I hope that you enjoyed it and the rest of the story in general. I know that it's not your typical love story and it's twisted. Believe me, I don't agree with the abuse that Amaranth suffered throughout the story. However, I wanted a dark Riku and I got carried away on how his dark nature came about. Sorry, to anyone that felt uncomfortable reading this. Please don't hate me and I hope that we meet again someday soon in another story. So—

Xemnas: Wait, that's it? I was in a lot of this story and you're not going to tell everyone what happened to me. I feel left out and cheated, you could have added me to the final scene.

Shibuya: I don't want to seem too needy, but what about me. I had my heart broken in the story.

Namine: Ahem, I had my heart broken too. I was also the main female antagonist, but you did a poor job of making me antagonistic.

Author: Right, I should answer what happened to you guys. Let's see.

Xemnas: Instead of writing a summary of our happy ever afters. How about a story each?

Shibuya and Namine: That sounds like a great idea.

Author: (sweat drops, since that would be too much) Xemnas and Xion leave Chicago and return to their old hometown. There, Xemnas meets Azure, a woman that reminds him of his late wife. She is benevolent, beautiful and has a way with children. Xion gets along well with her and he feels attracted to her so he decides to gives it a go. However, things aren't easy and convincing her to go out with him is difficult until one day she accepts. They later get married and have a child.

Xemnas: Now, I have a son and daughter to spoil and take over my empire.

Author: You mean business, (she corrected as she looked through her papers). Shibuya goes on to winning multiple pastry competitions. He also takes over as head Pastry Chef at Petite Amor when Amaranth and her father step down. Umm, during his whole ordeal with Amaranth and his heart being shattered, Shiki stayed by his side and slowly over a passage of time feelings for her started to develop. Feelings that had crash landed on him out of nowhere and before someone else took her away he confessed. He felt like an idiot afterwards when Shiki had told him that she too liked him and she was happy that he finally felt the same way as her. Now they lived together and hoped to someday be married and have children.

Shibuya: Yeah, we started by adopting a cat and I am also looking at rings.

Namine: I on the other hand, (she looked at the Author to hurry her up).

Author: Right, Namine left Riku and everything behind. She wanted to just focus on her career, forget being rejected by the person that she loved. Without knowing that there was already someone that loved her unconditional and would do anything to make her happy. He always looked at her and made her into a shining star, since he was her photographer. It also made not falling in love with her even harder, but after some ups and down he finally captured his shining star.

Namine: Roxas and I are happily together, (she cut in as the Author was taking too long.) He asked me to marry him and I agreed, (she showed off her diamond ring). We are now living together and are looking for a home to call our own and start a life together.

Xemnas: You're gushing, Namine.

Namine: Because I never though that I could find happiness.

Shibuya: I feel the same way.

Xemnas: Yeah, (he looked at the author) you're not so bad.

Author: Thanks, well—

x: If she wasn't so bad, she would have finished this story a long time ago and started mine posting mine. Her official beauty and the beast inspired one. *If you haven't guessed it yet, she has a huge obsession with it.*

Author: Whaaa, you're not supposed to be here. (She pointed at the female, before rushing towards her to push her out.)

x: Why? Afraid that people might be interested in my story.

Author: No, but this isn't your story.

x: True, compared to this story mine's a bit more forbearing. Although, I won't deny that it has its own charm. Therefore, you guys should pressure the Author to start posting our story (Riku and mine.) So here's to maybe seeing you in the future.

Author: Ignore her. Thanks, once again, for sticking with me until the end. Hope to see you guys again. Until next time.