I have some explaining to do.
So, why did this take so long? Two things. One, lot's of college work, exams, coming back home for the summer and getting a job, and summer online courses. However, the second thing is that the original draft of this chapter was HUGE. And way to unfocused. Thanks to one general whitefurur, this chapter ended up the way it is now, nice and focused. So I extend a great thanks to him. He's a friend, a good writer, and a crazy Krystal lover who's ardent admiration for that blue magical space vixen is exceeded by mine own.
He probably disagrees. He needs to git gud.
I also want to extend a thank you to all my readers and reviewers. I'm glad you have fun with this couple as much as I do! Hearing about all the warm and fuzzies you all get makes me sincerely happy. If I can make people happy with my writing, then I'm doing my job. At the very least, you all are feeling something.
So thank you. Please read and review, God bless, and have a good night!
And I'll Walk With You Chapter IV: Changes
A few days after that wonderful date, Fox decided to take the team off hiatus. He was worried that the break may have dampened their skills, even with their time in the simulators. But to Fox's surprise the team never looked better. They squashed pirate forces with ease, took care of escort jobs safely, and Katt's new status as a member only helped the team dynamic. In fact, the close bonds formed over the break seemed to have made them all stronger. Before long, ironically, the team found themselves in another break, this time caused by the general lack of action. Thank goodness for backup funds.
Fox currently found himself in Krystal's room in the evening, with her head in his lap, and stroking her hair. The vixen was reading. The whole room was filled with calm, not just caused by all the scented candles in the vixen's room.
Fox sighed, smiling.
"It is comfortable, isn't it?" Krystal said.
While scratching her chin, Fox nodded. Krystal's purring filled the room.
Another moment of silence passed.
"Hey Krys?" Fox said.
"Yes, Fox?" Krystal replied.
"I'm happy," the vulpine said simply.
Krystal snuggling further into his lap was the answer.
Three days later, in the middle of reading in the lounge, Fox recieved a call on his wristcom. It was Slippy, and he wanted to meet with Fox in his room.
The moment Fox walked into his friends quarters, which were impeccably neat as usual, he knew something was wrong. Slippy would usually happily greet him whenever he came to visit, but he didn't do that now. Instead the frog was sitting on the bed, looking over at him. His face was...pensive, Fox thought. It wasn't that Slippy wasn't a thoughtful person, but to see his friend look so lost in thought told him that whatever he wanted to talk about was serious.
"What's going on, Slipp?" Fox said, sitting in the bed next to him. "You don't look so hot."
"Nothings...wrong, Fox," said Slippy. His tone only made Fox worry more. "It's just...I have something important to tell you."
"Go on," Fox said easily. He put a hand on Slippy's shoulder. "I'm your friend, you can tell me anything you need to get off your chest."
Slippy looked at him for a long moment, and he still looked hesitant. But finally, he spoke.
"I proposed to Amanda, Fox," Slippy said, "And she said yes."
Fox about fell over. Shock was the first feeling, next was relief at the lack of bad news, and finally there was joy.
"Slippy!" Fox cried, bringing his friend into a hug. "Slippy, that's awesome! Oh, man, I'm so happy for you!"
It sounded great to hear Slippy laugh, considering the previous atmosphere. "Aw, shucks, Fox! You're squeezing to hard!"
Fox let him go. "Seriously, though," he said. "Congratulations, that's great news."
Slippy chuckled again, than looked at Fox with a serious expression. "There's something else I need to tell you though, Fox. And this is what is making me uneasy right now."
The moodswing of the moment caught Fox off guard. "What is it?" he asked, reeling a little.
Slippy took a deep breath. "Fox...because I'm moving on into the next stage of my life...I'm going to be leaving Star Fox now. In fact, I'm planing to leave tomorrow to go with Amanda to Aquas. I have plans I need to think about, and talk about with her."
He should have expected that. Truly. Of course it made sense that Slippy would leave, he was getting married. He now had more in his life than Star Fox.
But that announcement hit Fox like one of Corneria's bullet trains.
"Oh...Oh!" Fox stuttered. "I mean...that makes sense, considering that you and Amanda are getting...well, together and all."
"Yeah," said Slippy, now looking a little uncomfortable. "Times have changed, after all."
A moment of silence passed between them.
"I'm sorry, Fox," said Slippy suddenly.
"Wha?" Fox replied. "Slipp, what do you have to be sorry about?"
"About leaving," replied Slippy, looking up to him guiltily. "Fox, I've been part of this team for most of my life. It's been...everything to me, all this time. Just like it's been for you. Heck, even though it doesn't feel like it since you, Falco, and Krystal are the better pilots, I'm one of the founding members of the second generation of this team! And...the fact that all of you are my dearest friends means leaving this is hard and you might be...are you mad at me, Fox?"
The way Slippy said it troubled Fox. Slippy had been a constant presence on the team, perhaps the most constant. Peppy was no longer an active member, and Falco's long absence after the Lylat War counted against the avian. And Krystal, though dedicated, had only been part of the team for two years. Throughout the teams second existence under himself, Slippy had been Fox's longest serving wing-mate, not counting Peppy or ROB.
And now that wing-mate was leaving. For good.
As much as Fox hated to admit it, it did scare him. But if there was one thing he absolutely wasn't, it was angry at his best friend for finding a woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
How could he be?
"Slippy," said Fox, patting him on the back. "I'm not mad, honest."
Slippy looked at him for a long moment. "But it bothers you," he said.
Lying was absolutely out of the question. Slippy would knew, and had known him long enough.
"I mean, it's a major change, and it'll take some getting used to, but...I'm happy for you, Slipp," said Fox.
Slippy smiled at him. "You're a good friend."
Fox patted him on the back. "I try to be," he said.
They embraced each other again, and Fox left the room. All the way back to lounge, he was lost in thought. So much so he couldn't continue reading his book.
Strangely, he felt like he was in a free-fall. All of life, all at once, was rushing around him.
Slippy broke the news to the rest of the team at the dinner table. The reactions of the crew were to be expected.
"And here I was thinking that this nerd over here would be the last one of us to get hitched," said Falco with an arm wrapped tightly around Slippy's neck, "looks like I was wrong!"
"Oh har har," said Slippy, his smile not at all matching his words, "I'm happy you had faith in me."
"You are going to make Amanda very happy, Slippy," said Krystal earnestly, rubbing his back. "I'm so happy for you."
"Yeah man," said Katt, toasting her beer to him. "I mean, it's pretty obvious you two were gonna get hitched."
"Really Katt?" asked Slippy, beaming.
"Oh yeah!" Katt replied, "She's the only one out there in Lylat that can match you in your nerdiness."
They all shared a laugh at that. Fox's laugh was half-hearted. Ever since Slippy broke the news he'd hadn't felt level at all.
Thankfully the rest of the team was too happy for Slippy to notice. Except for Krystal, of course. In his peripherals, he could see her looking at him with concern, and he avoided eye-contact as much as possible.
He needed to think about this himself.
As soon as he finished dinner, Fox brought he dishes to the sink and walked back to his room without wishing another congratulations to Slippy. A mistake, as he knew that would only worry Krystal more. Once he was in his room, he pulled up a chair to the large viewport in his quarters, and simply stared at the stars. All the while also looking at the picture on his desk, the most recent portrait of the entire team. He kept focusing on Slippy in particular.
A founding member, he thought. And someone who had been there for him ever since before his parents died, and after.
A knock on the door broke his musings. He didn't need to ask who it was.
"Fox?" said Krystal. "Can I come in?"
Fox took a breath.
"No, Krystal. I'm...I want to be alone," he answered.
Silence.
"Fox, are you sure?" she answered, her voice soft. It pained him to do this, but needed this time to himself.
"Yes, Krystal. Don't worry," he answered.
That wasn't going to convince her, but it did get her to go away. Fox went back to looking at the stars, and looking at the picture every so often.
He barely slept that night. The free-falling sensations persisted.
"Well guys," said Slippy, tears in his eyes and standing in front of his Arwing, "I guess this is goodbye."
"Dude, don't say that," said Falco, who despite his attempt to appear collected obviously looked saddened, "It's not like you're going away forever. I'm crashing your wedding whether you invite me or not, and you know that."
It was the fact that Slippy didn't make a snappy comeback at that remark that told Fox just how final this all was. He stood next to Krystal, with his arms folded and the calmest expression he could manage on his face.
"And I"ll be there to, Slippy," said Katt, wrapping an arm around Falco, "Me and this guy here will be eating you out of house and home every month."
Slippy hugged the two of them, and Fox could see tears welling up in all their eyes.
Slippy walked over to the two of them next. Slippy didn't say anything to him, there wasn't anything else to say. He merely embraced him, which Fox returned with all the friendly warmth he had. "I'm gonna miss you," he told Slippy.
"Of course," Slippy replied.
Krystal embraced him too, and Fox could see tears in her eyes as well.
"Slipp," Krystal began, "It was fun flying with you. I wish you and Amanda the best, alright?"
"And I wish you both the best too," said Slippy, "and it was great to be there when you started on this team. I'll miss you just as much as the others here, don't worry."
"Thank you," said Krystal, wiping her eyes and smiling.
They all watched as Slippy's Arwing launched from the Great Fox's hanger for the last time, speeding towards Aquas and his future. It was when Slippy's fighter was seemingly absorbed by the blue planet that Fox walked back to his room, back to his chair, and back to looking out at the stars in thought. He stayed rooted at that spot for most of the day cycle, and late into night cycle. And just like last time, a knock on the door broke him from his thoughts.
Fox, said Krystal to him telepathically, Please let me in.
He didn't answer at first.
Leave me alone, Krystal, he thought back, letting out a long sigh.
Fox, she answered, I can sense it, I know that you're-
Krystal, he thought back sternly, leave me alone.
Then what do you want me to do? she questioned harshly, I'm not going to let you just sit there and feel miserable.
I'm not miserable, I just need some time alone, he thought back slowly.
Don't lie to me Fox, she replied, now sounding cross. And how long will it be before you talk to someone?
I don't know, Krystal, he answered. Now he was impatient.
But Fox-
Krystal! he thought back loudly. I just want to be alone! Please. Stop bothering me.
A long moment of silence passed between them both. Long, and horribly uncomfortable. Finally, he heard the sound of paws padding down the hallway.
His thought went back to Slippy leaving, and how uncomfortable it made him feel. In fact, this last few days had been incredibly uncomfortable. balance. Like someone had taken his one of his legs and made it shorter than the other, so he could see things from a nauseatingly bad angle.
And all of the sudden, a sickening thought entered his head.
That was probably the first time he had every raised his voice to Krystal in anger. And that thought alone made him sick to his stomach all the more. Coupled with the reality of Slippy leaving the team, and all the thoughts that came with it, he felt noxious.
I'm not going to let you sit there and be miserable.
She'd only been trying to help. And...he was miserable right now. And sick, he guessed.
A low whimper escaped his throat.
...Krystal? he thought, hoping she'd answer him.
Nothing.
He felt his heart drop into his gut.
...I'm sorry, Krystal, he thought sincerely.
Nothing.
I've been...I've been thinking a lot lately about Slippy leaving, and how this team is going to feel different without him, he thought, his eyes welling up a little, and it's very hard to think about. I'm having a difficult time. I...I am miserable right now. I just wanted some time alone, but that's no excuse to yell like that.
Still nothing.
I'm sorry, Krys, he thought as meaningfully as he could. I'm just going through a lot right now, and...
He couldn't do this alone.
...Please come to my room, he thought shyly. Please, Krys...I'm so sorry...I need you right now, this is too hard.
For a moment he waited, and once that was up he lowered his head in shame. He tried to look at the picture of the team again, but it hurt too much. But all that hurt vanished the moment he heard his door woosh open. He couldn't bear to look as he heard paws padding over to his bed, and the sound of someone sitting down.
"Look at me, Fox," she said.
He did. She wore a small frown, though her eyes didn't hold anger, but rather a mix of concern and sadness. There was warmth in those eyes. And right now he wanted to be consumed by it.
He tried to look away, but she gently cupped his cheek in her paw and made him look back at her. He leaned into her hand.
"...you're mad at me," Fox whispered.
"I was," she replied, her tone soft, "But after you told me you needed me, I had to come."
"...are you mad now?" Fox asked.
Her response was to stroke his cheek fur with her thumb. "No, I've forgiven you," she answered. "Now I'm just...I'm relieved you called me over."
Fox let another moment pass of Krystal just petting his cheek.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you, Krys," he said meaningfully. "I'm really sorry."
"I wasn't mad that you yelled at me, Fox," Krystal answered. "I was mad that you didn't talk to me."
"What?" Fox answered.
"Fox, for these last two days, I could feel it," she answered, her tone hushed and caring, "I could feel how stormy your mind was, and I wanted to do everything I could to calm you. I wanted you to talk with me. And...Fox, you can't just go off on your own like that, not when you're hurting that badly."
"Sometimes I'm going to have things I want to keep to myself Krystal," Fox answered.
"I know that," she answered, "I do. And I will admit I was pushy and I should have considered that you wanted time alone, but Fox, I could feel your pain. And I...I hate feeling that from you. I hate feeling that you're in pain. It hurts, darling."
She said this with tears welling up in those perfect blue eyes, and Fox once again was lost in their expanse, and the love and care they held for him. And what she called him only made that paw that stroked him all the warmer.
To think she could actually feel his pain.
"...I'm so sorry, Krystal. I didn't know that it hurt." he whispered.
"I know," she answered. "And I will remember to be a bit more gentle when I urge you. If you want to be alone, I will work to be more patient. But please, Fox. If something is truly bothering you and it hurts, tell me. I will help you. Have your space, yes, but don't you ever think you have to bare the burden yourself. "
"I will remember," he responded, holding the hand that held his cheek. He gave a little smile, which she returned.
A quiet moment passed with the two of them just looking at one another. Then Fox turned his gaze back to the stars.
"Talk to me, Fox," said Krystal. He didn't need to ask what she meant. Folding his hands in his lap, he began to speak.
"Slippy leaving the team reminded me of something," he began, "And...well, it's sort of a hard thing to face."
"And what thing is that?" Krystal asked.
"That there's life beyond Star Fox," Fox answered.
He looked back at her, to she was giving him a confused look.
"Explain," she said.
"Well," Fox began, "Star Fox has really always been the...one of the biggest things in my life. It's always been in focus, if you know what I mean. I had decided on being a pilot even before my father died, but after that happened and the Lylat War began, I really only had one goal in my mind-to fly and fight, and carry my father's legacy."
He took a moment to look down and close his eyes. "It's really be one of the centers of my life, one of the things on my mind so much" he said. "When I first became Star Fox's new leader, Slippy, Falco, and Peppy all were behind me, and right then I saw it as my future. And now I see it was the only future that I've ever thought for myself for a long time."
It must have been the tired tone in his voice, because he felt a warmth around his waist now. He smiled at Krystal's tail, which she a wrapped around him.
"Slippy leaving...it showed that Slippy has something beyond this team," he started again. "That's sounds selfish of me, doesn't it? It showed me that I've focused all my life on Star Fox, and in doing so I...I've never thought about life beyond all of this. All this fighting. And at one point, like Peppy, I won't be able to pilot anymore. That...all of this scares me. It's overwhelming."
He heard Krystal hum in thought, and he looked over to see her tapping her chin. She looked to him.
"I think I know how you feel," she said.
"Really?" Fox asked.
"Well," she started, "After my planet was destroyed, the only thing I could think about was finding out who did it and getting answers. It never occurred to me to think much about the reality afterword, of having to live with being the survivor of genocide. One day shortly after you found me on Sauria, I woke up in the middle of the night and thought, 'oh my goodness, what happens now?' It was incredibly scary, even though I was with you and the team. I can't imagine how that would have been if I didn't have this home now."
Fox reached over and ruffled her hair. She batted his paw away with a quiet giggle.
"Yeah," he said, "That does sound like me in a way. I mean...Krys, I've focusing on piloting since I was 18!"
He sat up out of his bed and looked at her in shock. The enormity of it all made him hold his head in befuddlement.
"I've been doing this since I was around your age when you met me, Krys," whispered Fox, "And...I never thought about the time when I could begin to move on from this team."
Krystal reached up and held his hand. "Sometimes time gets away from us," she offered.
"I'll say...Krystal, I'm twenty-eight years old!" he said, covering his eyes with his paw.
"...and?" Krystal asked.
"I'm...I'm old!" Fox moaned, holding his head. Suddenly all those years caught up to him in a single moment of his body beginning to ache, and Krystal just fell on the bed laughing.
"What?" Fox asked, his ears leaning back and tail wrapping around his left leg.
"It's just," Krystal said, trying to stifle a giggle, "It's just that the way you said that...oh my, Fox, that was something."
Fox pouted. It only made her giggle again. Then he cracked a smirk.
"This means I can make fun of you when you get old," Fox said wryly.
"No it doesn't," Krystal replied quickly, sticking her tongue out at him.
The two shared a laugh, and Fox looked back out the viewport. Solar shined brightly amidst the dotted darkness.
"Fox?" Krystal asked softy.
"Hm?" Fox replied.
"Have you been thinking about those retirement plans?" she asked. Fox looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, with all that's happened, not as much as before. But that subject's still on my mind, for sure," he answered.
It was Krystal's turn now to look out the viewport, and he could practically see the gears in her head turning methodically. She looked back to him.
"If you hadn't met me," she asked, "and if we hadn't gotten serious about...us, would you be thinking about retirement plans?"
That...that was a hell of a question. Fox could only scratch his head with his ears lowered. He didn't look out at space this time, instead choosing to look at Krystal's eyes. One of his ears twitched.
"...no." Fox finally answered.
"What?" Krystal answered.
"No, I wouldn't be thinking about. Not at this point," Fox said truthfully.
Krystal just looked at him.
"But," she started, "But Fox, surely at some point you've thought about it? I mean...eventually you'll get old enough that you know you can't do this anymore, and then you'd have to find something else to do in your life. You're telling me that you're just now considering it, and you might have never done so until it was too late if it weren't for meeting me? For getting into a relationship with me?"
Fox just shook his head. Hearing someone else sum it up for him made him uncomfortable.
"No," Fox answered. "I...I'm different than Falco in that way. Falco always wants to pilot, and that's not because he doesn't have anything else to do. It's what he wants to do. Me? I've been piloting for so long that I just...I just don't know what else to do. And I never thought about it."
He was really uncomfortable now. Strange. He'd always been comfortable with this part of himself, but to hear Krystal confront him directly about it made it seem...depressing, almost. Like it seemed that fighting was all he knew and all he ever would know.
...how much had he missed?
He felt tired all of a sudden.
But all the weight on his shoulders lifted when he felt Krystal walk up beside him and wrap her arms around him. Holding him, rubbing his back. And the look she gave him was a different kind of loving. It was protective.
"Then I'm glad I'm here," she said, "To be there and give you something else. To make you think beyond fighting."
Fox blinked.
"That sounds so...lonely and sad," she cooed. "To live you're whole life absorbed in fighting. To think it's only thing you can do."
Now his ears were really on fire. She was talking to him like he was the most beloved person in the world.
"But I'm here," she said, smiling, "to give you something. And fuss over you, too, apparently." She chuckled soothingly.
A comfortable silence followed. They looked at each other, then back out at the stars. They were together.
"Fox?" the vixen asked.
"Yes?" he replied.
"Where do you want to go after Star Fox?" she asked, "Where...this is sudden, I know, but after talking about the future I want to ask...where do you want to take us?"
Maybe it was the feeling in the room. Maybe it was all the emotion throughout the day. Whatever it was, Fox didn't know. But he did reply, and it just rolled off his tongue.
"I want you to always be with me," Fox answered.
He felt her tense, but he looked at her and saw no fear. Only...wonder? Excitement?
"You said you wanted to stay with me forever," she said, quietly, " I remember."
Fox just said it. And contrary to his wildest dreams, where it was impassioned and nervous, he said it serenely and dreamlike.
"I...I'd like to marry you."
All sound left the room but for his breathing and hers. He heard the sharp intake of breath, the strange calmness of his own breathing. And he saw. Saw the ways her eyes widened and the way she started to tremble a little.
"Fox..." she whispered.
His face was burning red now, but he didn't look away from her.
It was out in the open now. He wouldn't take it back. He'd never dare too.
"How long...?" she asked.
"Since we started getting close, before we admitted we loved each other," Fox whispered in reply, leaning into her. "I...I just started feeling that way. You're the only woman I've ever...I want you to always be at my side. I want...Krystal, I want a life with you."
She was searching for something. She placed her hand on his forehead. He knew she wanted to see if he was sure. He wasn't insulted. This was important. The distance he wanted to go with her. To marry and, hopefully, start a family. It had just always been there, that want. Now it was out.
Krystal began to cry silently, smiling at him and looking happier than he'd ever seen here before. She glowed with that happiness, lit up the room with it.
"So," Fox stumbled, "Do..do you..?"
She leaned into him now, nuzzling his forehead and nodding a silent yes.
For such a tumultous and emotional day, it was lovely night for Fox McCloud and Krystal. They held each other, and for the first time in two days, Fox felt level and right.
"So you told her, eh?" Falco asked, laying down on Fox's bed with is hands behind his head, grinning at his friend.
"Yeah," said Fox breathlessly, taking a sip of cola. Even with a close friend, talking about what happened that night left him feeling flighty and anxious. "I told her I would like to marry her at some point. And she...she said yes."
"Well love is really in the air, then," Falco replied. "Next you're gonna tell me that you and Krystal are going to run off and leave Star Fox with just me and Katt."
"We aren't ready to leave," Fox replied. "And we still have much to talk about regarding that future. But like I've said, it just came out. I feel sure about it, this is what I want."
"Marriage is one of those things that you need to be serious about," said Falco lazily.
Fox smiled. "Have you and Katt thought about...?"
"Nah," said Falco. "We're happy just being together right now. I don't even know if that will ever happen, but we are going to stick together, that much I know."
"I'm not surprised," said Fox good-naturedly.
"And what's that supposed to mean, Foxy?" Falco asked with his typical smirk.
"You and Katt are to wild for domestic life," Fox quipped, now smirking himself.
"Krystal has you more whipped than I thought," the bird retorted easily. "But I won't lie and say that you're wrong, bud. So, when's the bachelor party? Because I need to reserve some ladies for us-"
Fox's wristcomm beeped, interrupting the bird and the soda can that was about to fly from Fox's hand. Looking down, Fox saw it was a message from Peppy. He smiled once he read it.
"Well Falco," said the vulpine, "Seems Katina needs us for something."