Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts (II), Sora, Kairi, Riku, etc.

Author's Note: This was totally random, and it took really long for some reason, but oh well. I'm sorry for this super late chapter. Anyway, read and (hopefully) enjoy!

Warning: Darn, I can't say anything or it will give it away. Oh well. No warning this week, folks.

Quick Author Babble: Hi! Bonjour! Aloha! Greetings!

Chapter 19: It's Okay to Cry

Sora came down in the morning to see his mother hugging his father, who looked very dressed up in a khaki tuxedo and a big, brown suitcase.

"I'll see you in a couple of days, dear," Mrs. Roma said with a smile.

"Yes, see you then," Mr. Roma remarked, smiling as well.

Then Sora remembered—today was when Mr. Roma left for his big business trip. Sora walked over to him.

"Oh, good morning, Sora," Mr. Roma said, smiling brightly.

Sora looked much like him. They had the same, spiky, brown hair and deep blue eyes.

"Um…hi," Sora remarked. "You're leaving?"

"Yes," Mr. Roma answered. "But I promise I'll be back for Christmas. I'm sorry I'll be late for the man-in-the-big-red-suit's arrival."

Sora hadn't believed in Santa Claus since he was six, but he smiled a little anyway.

"That's okay," he said.

Mr. Roma opened the door to reveal the cold, snowy weather outside. Mrs. Roma gave his arm a comfortable little squeeze.

"Be careful," she stated nervously.

"How many times have I had to tell you?" Mr. Roma said, turning around to face his anxious wife. "I'm not dead yet, and as long as I'm living, there's no need to worry."

He kissed her on the forehead, ruffled his son's hair, and exited the house.

111

Sora walked into the snowy park. It was freezing, and even though he was appropriately suited up for cold weather, his teeth were still chattering. The fast approaching Christmas seemed to have lifted everyone's spirits. Christmas wreathes were tied on every streetlight, snowmen were everywhere, and kids were happily having a snowball fight.

"Oh, Sora!" chirped a familiar voice behind him. "Good, you're here."

Sora turned around to face the redhead he'd come to know so well and smiled.

"Hi, Kairi," he said. "What's up?"

"I'm having a Christmas party after Christmas morning," Kairi remarked. "It's going to be a gift exchange. All of SCARF is coming, along with Naminé."

"I'll be there," Sora said.

Kairi smiled.

"Good! It just wouldn't be the same without you, Sora! Now back to the present…"

Sora felt snow connect with his shoulder. At the sight of Kairi throwing snowballs at him, he quickly dove down and grabbed his own blocks of the cold, powdery rain.

"Aah!" Kairi shrieked as Sora's aim hit her straight on the neck. "Sora!"

"You started it," Sora said, sticking out his tongue.

Kairi threw a snowball at him and Sora ducked. It flew over his head.

"Ha…" he began, when another snowball went soaring at him and flew right into his mouth.

"Nowthat'swhat I call good aim," Kairi said proudly. "Stuff a snowball in it, Sora."

Sora glared, but only for a second. He spat out the snow. Most of it had already melted. He leaned over, picked up as much snow as he possibly could hold, and just as he was rearing up to throw, another voice rang out into the air.

"Oh, Sora, Kairi…a snowball fight?" Yuffie said, walking into the park. "That is so immature!"

She paused and looked at them.

"Let me play!" she cried, running over to Kairi. "I'm on Kairi's side!"

Kairi and Yuffie bombarded Sora with snowballs.

"Aah!" Sora yelled as about thirty of them shot at him. "Aw…no fair! Two against one!"

"Deal with it, Spiky! One…two…three…FIRE!!!"

Yuffie and Kairi shot as many snowballs as they could at Sora. Sora ducked and dodged, but got hit anyway. Yuffie and Kairi giggled as he fell over into the snow.

Yuffie walked over and put her foot on Sora's back.

"And the winners are…Yuffie and Kairi!" she said, pumping her fist triumphantly into the air.

Sora groaned and knocked her off. He stood up and wiped snow from his already cold jacket.

"Yeah, well, I still say it's unfair," he said.

"Maybe, but the majority says it is fair, right, Kairi?" Yuffie asked, turning to Kairi.

"Definitely," Kairi agreed, nodding. "We win fair and square."

"If I had a partner…" Sora began.

"Oh, stop complaining," Yuffie remarked. "You may be a loser, but you're still our loser! Now let's go have some hot chocolate."

111

It was Christmas day. The Romas' house was decorated beautifully with Christmas lights, reindeer, and even a statue of Santa himself. A deep green Christmas tree stood upright in the living room, torn wrapping paper all around it, open presents set on the table.

Sora had promised Kairi he'd come to the gift exchange, but he felt bad about leaving his mom alone in the house on Christmas. Mr. Roma still hadn't got back from his trip, and it didn't seem right to leave Mrs. Roma all by herself in the house.

"Sora, it's alright, really," Mrs. Roma said with a small smile. "Stop worrying about me. Your father will be home soon."

"But…waiting for him all by yourself?" asked Sora. "It's Christmas. It's time for family…"

"And friends," Mrs. Roma finished. "Go. Your friends will be waiting for you. You bought them all presents, right?"

Sora nodded and looked at the plastic bag he was holding filled with wrapped presents for his friends.

"Go then. I'll be fine."

Sora, though still doubtful, turned and walked out the door.

111

"Merry Christmas, Sora!"

Sora was greeted by Naminé at the door. She was dressed in a very seasonal red sweater, her hair tied back in a red barrette. She grinned at him and let him in and turned and walked into the living room. Sora followed her. Inside, Kairi, Yuffie, Roxas, and Olette were talking and laughing, surrounded by presents.

"And then Hayner fell into the berry bush!" Roxas said, laughing.

"What happened afterward?" Kairi asked.

"He came out and he was all covered in smashed, red berry stains," Olette giggled. "He's such an idiot."

Kairi looked up and, still laughing, waved at Sora.

"Oh, hi, Sora!" she chirped. "Merry Christmas!"

Sora smiled and sat down in the chair beside Roxas.

"Merry Christmas," he said. "Where are Hayner, Pence, and Leon?"

"Leon's a bit odd when it comes to celebrations," Yuffie explained.

"And we don't know where Hayner and Pence are," Roxas remarked.

"They better not be getting into trouble on Christmas!" Olette stated, crossing her arms.

Roxas turned to Sora.

"I bet you five bucks they're getting into trouble," he said.

"And I bet five bucks that they're doing late Christmas shopping," Sora remarked.

Roxas shook his hand.

"Deal."

Olette put her hands on her sides.

"You two!" she shouted. "Betting on Christmas! Now, really!"

Suddenly Naminé came in, Pence and Hayner behind her, Christmas presents in hands.

"Why are you so late?" Olette asked.

"Well, Mrs. Ita across the street started yelling at us and took our baseball away, so me and Pence gave her a little visit," Hayner said, smiling evilly.

"Pay up," Roxas said, holding his hand out to Sora for the money.

Sora sighed and handed him a five dollar bill. Olette gasped.

"What did you two do?!" she shouted.

"No need to raise your voice, Olette," Hayner said, still smiling evilly. "A little itch powder never hurt anyone."

"Hayner!" yelled Olette. "She's just a poor, old lady, and it's Christmas! How could you do such a thing?"

"I don't know," Pence said, shrugging. "We just did it."

Olette sighed and frowned. Hayner and Pence sat down, Hayner still smiling triumphantly.

"Well, let's trade some presents!" Hayner cried.

"You're not getting any presents from me, you horrible person!" Olette shouted, clearly still upset.

"C'mon, Ole," Roxas said, nudging her. "Cheer up."

Olette continued to frown, but she didn't yell afterwards. Kairi reached over to a brightly wrapped red and gold present and handed it to Sora.

"Come on, open it!" she said. "It was hard to decide what to get for you, and I want to see what you think."

Sora tore open the wrapping paper, many pairs of eyes watching him. He opened it to reveal a big, brown, leather book. Engraved on the front was the word Memories.

"It's an album that basically keeps everything," Kairi said. "I've already put a few things in it."

Yuffie leaned over to her.

"Love letters?" she whispered teasingly.

"Shut up, Yuffie," Kairi said, pushing her back.

"Open it at home, Sora," Hayner remarked. "Just give Kairi her gift so we can get on with this thing already!"

"Hayner, be quiet," Olette muttered.

"Yoube quiet!" cried Hayner, sticking out his tongue.

Sora put down the album and handed Kairi her present wrapped in shiny, green wrapping paper. She shook it and, curious, tore it open. Inside was a clear vase, inside what seemed to be hundreds of pieces of paper.

"What is it?" Kairi asked.

"Three hundred sixty-five pieces of paper," Sora explained. "They each have little messages for each day of the year."

"Ooh!" Yuffie squealed, jumping in front of the vase and looking inside. "Ooh, I want to read one! Sora, did you make all these for Kairi? That would be so cute! Oh my gosh, this is so adorable!"

"Yuffie, calm down," Kairi said dryly.

"And their pink and red!" continued Yuffie. "Pink and red! Valentine's Day colours!"

"Uh…" Roxas remarked awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.

"Sora, did you write these personally? If you did, I'll read it, I really would."

Sora took in a deep breath.

"Yuffie, you've got to be less excited," he said slowly.

"Less excited?!" shouted Yuffie, basically bouncing off the walls. "How can I be less excited during all these cute moments? It's like, oh my God, someone get me a camera! Someone take a picture! Someone dosomething…"

"I'll…get her out of here," Olette said, taking the still blabbering Yuffie by the arm and leading her into the kitchen.

Sora and Kairi exchanged a look and burst out laughing.

111

"Thanks, Olette."

"Thanks, Yuffie."

"Thanks, Naminé."

"Thanks, Roxas."

"Thanks, Pence."

"Thanks, Hayner."

"Thanks, Sora."

"Thanks, Kairi."

"Thank yous" rang out through the air as Christmas day went on. It was a day full of laughter and smiles, the lights twinkling from the beautifully decorated Christmas tree at the corner of the room.

"Ooh, I've got a great idea!" Yuffie said.

"If it's Spin the Bottle, forget about it," Sora remarked.

"No, it's not," Yuffie stated, crossing her arms. "I was thinking we get into pairs and have a snowman competition. Whoever has the best snowman wins!"

Naminé nodded.

"Ooh, that sounds fun!" she said. "Let's do it! And remember…official partners. Roxas, you're my partner."

Roxas smiled a bit too happily.

"But…Leon's not here," Yuffie stated. "Then who am I supposed to build with?"

"You can build with Pence," Naminé suggested.

Yuffie nodded, but it was obvious she'd rather be with Leon. Everyone got up and put their jackets, gloves, and boots back on before trekking outside in the snow.

111

"Almost done," Kairi said, sticking a pebble eye into the top part of the snowman.

Sora stuck another pebble on the other side of the snowman's face.

"There," he remarked, taking a step back to admire the snowman. "Done."

"Not quite," Kairi stated.

She took a stick and traced their names into the snowman.

"What'd you do that for?" Sora asked.

"For ownership rights, of course!" Kairi replied.

Sora laughed.

"You're so weird."

"Like you're not," Kairi said, rolling her eyes. "Naminé, we're done!"

Naminé was busy trying to help Roxas make his snowman head rounder. She waved her hand impatiently to Kairi before smashing her glove into the snowman head. Yuffie, however, smiled at Kairi and Sora.

"Great job, you guys!" she chirped. "Pence, can you find more pebbles? I want our snowman to have buttons..."

Sora looked around at all the other people working on their snowman.

"Well, I guess we're the only ones done," Sora said.

"Good!" Kairi chirped. "I've been waiting to do this all day."

She leaned over and picked up a clump of snow in her hands and chucked it at Sora.

"What the...?!" Sora cried, ducking, the snowball skimming over one of his brown spikes of hair. "Oh, that's it! It's on!"

He picked up his own clump of snow and chucked it at Kairi. Kairi dived down to get more snow, and neither knew what happened after that, but somehow Sora ended up lying on top of her. Had he jumped on her to stop from throwing the snowball? Honestly, he didn't know, but Kairi was looking at him with a mixture of surprise and embarrassment, face flushed, violet eyes wide. In the end, both ended up laughing uncomfortably.

"Sorry," Sora said, getting up and helping her up.

"I-It's okay," Kairi remarked, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

Just at that moment, Mrs. Ire came outside. Her normal, happy smile was gone—all signs of holiday cheer had left her expression. In fact, she looked sympathetic, even a bit horrified. She was clutching the telephone in her hand so hard that her knuckles were turning white.

"Sora..." she said, voice cracking. "It was your mother on the phone."

As if suddenly put under a spell, everyone fell silent and looked at Sora.

"I don't want to be the one to tell you this, but your mother thought it would be better for me to say it, since she's in a horrible state right now," Mrs. Ire continued.

"W-What...is it?" Sora asked uncertainly.

Mrs. Ire took a deep breath and looked away from him.

"The plane your father was on..." she murmured. "It crashed."

Sora's heart beat fast. Everyone around him was suddenly scared to move. Mrs. Ire breathed in.

"There were no survivors."

Sora fell speechless. He felt Kairi squeeze his arm comfortingly. Mrs. Ire looked at him, apology in her pale blue eyes.

"I'm so sorry."

111

"Mom!"

Sora burst into the house, vision blurred from warm tears aching to get out.

"Mom!" he tried again, voice a bit hoarse.

Mrs. Roma walked down the stairs. Mrs. Roma was a very pretty woman. Long, blond hair streamed down to the middle of her back, her emerald eyes big and understanding. But right at that moment, she looked like a total wreck. Her hair was all over the place, sticking up at odd angles, her emerald eyes so wet and red they looked like she had been crying all day.

"Sora," she said, attempting a smile. "You're home."

Sora looked at her, not knowing what to say. Mrs. Roma did not, however, change her posture, even after the horrible things she had heard.

"Mom, it's okay," Sora remarked. "You can cry."

"I don't want you to see me like that," Mrs. Roma retorted, though she looked like she was about to collapse.

Sora looked at her with concern. Mrs. Roma suddenly burst into tears.

"I'm sorry," she quickly apologized, through cracked sobs. "It's just...you look so much like him..."

Sora brought her a tissue, trying to be as comforting as he could be.

"You don't have to apologize," he said. "I'll...I'll miss him too."

He was gone—wiped from the universe, just like that. Sora couldn't believe it. He would never see him again. It didn't matter that he was usually busy. He was a kind man, and as far as Sora knew, had never done anything selfish.

Sora snapped his eyelids shut, not allowing the tears fighting to let loose go.

"I just don't know what he did to deserve this."

111

Sora looked at the moon from his sky watching place. It was freezing cold and he couldn't feel his fingers anymore, but he didn't care. His mom had gone out to see her friends, and hopefully they could do a better job of cheering her up than Sora had.

Everything had happened so quickly. He was dead. Sora's father was dead. Sora was not letting tears fall. Crying wasn't going to help with anything.

"I thought I'd find you here."

Sora turned. Kairi walked up to him and sat down beside him.

"I'msosorry, Sora," she said. "I can't imagine how you feel right now. On Christmas, too..."

"You didn't do anything," Sora stated. "You don't have to apologize."

He looked down at the snowy ground.

"I just..." he began, but he couldn't finish it. "I can't believe...he's gone."

"Oh, Sora!"

Kairi hugged him tightly.

"You're not crying?" she said questioningly.

"Crying's not going to help with anything," Sora replied.

"But...if you don't cry...how will you feel better?"

She leaned in close to his ear.

"You can cry," she whispered. "I won't tell anyone."

Sora cuddled up to her, suddenly feeling like she was the only thing he could cling onto. And right then, as he listened to her rhythmic breathing beside him, he felt like he could just let everything out. He held her close and a tear slid down his cheek.

Valor999: Thanks a lot!

Blubber Nuggets: Thanks, and yes, she might, if anyone tells...Sora has his reasons to pull the plug. I would pull the plug, if I was in his case. However, I am not, so ha. Thanks and here's your update!

KeiraLoveKH: Really? Best one yet? I don't know about that...However, I'm glad you liked it! Sorry this update took a little longer. I've had...more homework these days. (And my birthday was last weekend, and I had a sleepover so no writing, and during the week my hands were tied and so on...) It is good! I love it, actually! Tidus and Yuna better get together or I'll be REALLY, FREAKING MAD! Okay, so, thanks for reviewing!

KiaraFay: It's okay. Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

SupernaturalFreak101: Yeah, my sister does that to me too. Not with my own story, but others. Yeah, go Yuffie! Thanks for reviewing!

LOTRchic: Why wouldn't they get together? Well, anyway, thanks for reviewing!

Isler: Oh, thanks! Thanks and here's the next chapter!

Spam Hearts Zexion: Yeah, only Sora. Yeah, poor Yuffie. Happy Kairi and Sora though! Thanks!

Sorafanluver: Yeah, I do live in Canada! It's cool you do too! Yeah, what would we do without Yuffie? I would say "Happy Thanksgiving" back, but it's way past Thanksgiving now, so...Thanks for reviewing!

Zestychicken2: I bet it's one of those old types, so I doubt she'll get the video back. She's not stupid, just hyper. Yeah, Spin the Bottle is a classic...but I never play it that seriously. (And I've only played it once in my lifetime so...yeah...) It is kind of creepy. I liked that line too...I think. Maybe. Well, possibly not. I'll try to add Riku. I'm saving him for the final chapters. Well, now that I think about it, technically we arein the final chapters, but I'm talking about way at the end near the epilogue. Well, anyway, thanks so much for reviewing and I'm glad you liked it!

Lazy Dum Dayjuana (or - d a y j u a n a): Thanks! Oh, sorry it's getting to sweet. I think I already got to the Kill Me part in this chapter...Wait, I'm saving the BIG Kill Me part for the actually Kill Me chapter...Well, whatever. Thanks for reviewing!

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Rahi-1: Oh, good, thanks. Okay, I'll stop writing well...This chapter sucked anyway...I'm on the way to unwellness! Just joking. I don't think I write that well anyway. Yeah, I could definitely see her do that with Cloud and Aerith, if you think about it. (Or Cloud and Tifa, if you prefer them.) Thanks for reviewing!

Bexmar: Sorry, but I'm glad you liked it! I laughed so hard at your "NO, Goofy, don't French kiss!" Yeah, five-year-olds these days...Thanks! Yeah, it is sad...I need Riku to come in and...and...uh...be...Rikuish...Whatever, I'll think of something, I promise.

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Okay, done all those reviews. (Finally!) Well, everyone, I gotta hurry, it's a school night and I have math homework. Here's your UPDATE!!!

Read and review.