Notes- GOMEN GOMEN! I know this took forever... summer school has been taking up all my time! New friends, and a loss of sleep... (class starts at 7am!) I get out at 1:45, but I go home and stuff my face (no lunch at school... unless you're into soggy corn dogs...) and then I'm so full that all I can do is sleep! Then I usually wake up around four... talk to Blake for awhile on the phone, then I go do something with my sister. Writing doesn't get much of a say in my schedule... but class ends on the 31st, so I should be able to update more after that! Sorry for the slow updates...

Chapter 8- Get Away for Awhile

Fleur and Sora sat with their friends and partook of the snacks provided. They chatted away about many various topics- mostly Sora and their memories of times past. But eventually, the subject turned to Roselin. Fleur's face took on a look as if many different emotionswere all whirling around inside her. Hate, worry, and despair were apparent.

"So she hasn't gotten any better... Fleur, you can live with us, you really should! Leave the witch and all your worries behind. There's no reason for you to stay." Cloud tried to comfort her.

"Cloud, it's not so easy... there are so many unanswered questions about my past, mainly my parents... I could never forgive myself if I were to just give up on all that and forget my past altogether! I need to stay with her awhile longer, I need to find out who I really am..." Sora noticed Fleur's eyes empty of their shimmering happiness and stare off into nothingness. He wrapped his arm around her and held her close, and she began letting out quiet sobs. This was a very sensitive topic for her, and she was easily upset by it. Aya turned and hit Cloud on his chest, not hard, but in a way that said "Why did you have to upset her?" Fleur wouldn't admit it, but it was his statement that there was no reason for her to stay there that made her upset. She would keep quiet though, she would never do or say anything that might make her friends feel bad. Hari leaned over and placed a comforting hand on Fleur's shoulder.

Kadaj sighed heavily. He loved when Fleur visited them, but it always came to tears when they asked about Roselin. Hmm... he thought. I wonder how we can make her feel better... wait a sec... her gift! Aya and Hari bought her a gift! I'm a genius... He tapped Hari on the shoulder, and she turned and looked at him with a questioning stare. Kadaj whispered a reminder into her ear, and Hari's face lit up with a huge grin. She rose and motioned for Aya to follow, and they made their way up the stairs to their rooms. Fleur looked up at the guys, her eyes doing the asking for her.

"They went to get something for you... they won't be more than a minute." Kadaj reassured her. He smiled, knowing that she would be overjoyed with her present. Cloud looked at Kadaj, his face wearing the same look that Fleur had giventhem moments ago. "Remember, man... the 'surprise'?" Cloud stared for a moment more, and then a smile graced his face. He sat back in his chair and nodded. Kadaj looked up, facing the top of the stairs. Everyone turned and looked to where he was facing. Aya and Hari came back down, Hari holding a small box. They rushed over to Fleur, who sat up from Sora's hold, and looked at them, perplexed.

"Surprise!" The girls shouted as Hari handed her the box. "Go on! Open it!"

Fleur smiled and slowly opened the box. Resting inside was a gorgeous sapphire pendant, an uncut stone with shimmering strips of silver fashioned to look like vines. It hung from a delicate silver chain. Fleur was speechless. She let out a sigh of happiness. She placed the open box on the table next to her and rose to hug her friends. While she wasn't looking, Cloud motioned for Sora to put the necklace around her neck. When she sat back down, Sora reached across her and took hold of the necklace. Heopenedthe clasp, and moved his arm around her neck, reattaching the clasp behind her. She turned around and looked at him, and he smiled brightly. She leaned in and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Aya and Hari took their seats next to their boyfriends, and Cloud and Kadaj both leaned in to kiss them. After a moment, Fleur had an idea.

"A ball! A grand ball! I will throw one for my birthday! It's in a week, anyway. You can all come! How wonderful will that be?" She cried out in happiness and excitement.

"Oh Fleur!" The girls yelled. They all rose again for another group hug.

"They shouldn't even bother sitting down..." Cloud joked.

"Damn straight." Kadaj replied, and all three of the guys started laughing.

The remainder of the visit was wonderful, but eventually Sora and Fleur had to leave. Hugs were given, and dates were set for the ball.

"I'll come see you before, to make sure you know when to come. I'll miss you guys!" Fleur told them. She and Sora were in the doorway facing in, about to leave. Final hugs, and they were off. Aya, Cloud, Hari, and Kadaj all waved good-bye until the two were out of sight. After they swam through the cave, Fleur led Sora back up to the surface. Before they emerged, she turned around to him.

"Sora... I'm glad you came with me." She moved closer to him, and he put his arms around her. She rested her head on his chest, and there they stayed for a few moments, suspended under the waves in a warm embrace. This will be my getaway... here, with you... I don't want to leave this feeling...

After a few moments of listening to his heart beating, Fleur whispered into Sora's ear something strange. "Sora... don't panic... there is nothing wrong, we'll wake in a few moments... I..." At this, her body went limp and she began to sink. Sora looked at her, her body descending, her eyes closed. He tried to move to save her, but he couldn't budge. Darkness flooded his eyes and he began to sink as well. The last thing he saw was the moon through the surface of the water, and then his eyes closed.

When he woke, he was laying on the shore, and Fleur sat up beside him. She was wearing a white robe, and had one for him. When he noticed he was wearing nothing but a small scrap of cloth that washed over him, he blushed a bright pink and took the robe. Fleur put her hair back in a ribbon and stood up. Sora stood up beside her, and they walked to where the carriage had been waiting. They climbed in, and the carriage began moving slowly. As it sped up, Fleur closed her eyes and felt the breeze from the window. Sora sat next to her, her hand in his. This didn't last nearly long enough, as they arrived at the castle only minutes later. They got out, and Fleur took a sack that was resting on the driver's seat of the carriage. They approached the door, and Sora quietly opened it. They rushed upstairs, into Fleur's room. She emptied the sack onto her bed, and their clothes fell out.

"Take your clothes and go back to your room. I'll see you in the morning." She said as she began to fold Sora's clothes. He put his hand over hers and stopped her.

"Why do I have to go...? Can't we stay together just a little longer?" He wrapped his arms around her waist. She turned in his arms and faced him, placing her arms around his neck. They both leaned in, and their lips met in a loving, gentle kiss.

Notes-Sorry it took so long to update...This chapter took me several hours, mostly because I wrotemy ideas in different segmentsand then pieced together the good onesjust now. Plus time spent editing, and all this only happens whenI get a fewfree minutes...Hope you like! Is everyone else as happy as I am that they got together? I've been itching to make it happen. R+R! Reviews keep me going!

-VarekaiSoleil