Chapter Five: Commitment

Sora sat, staring at him in surprise. She was a bit stiff from the shock, but at least she was fairly sure she wasn't gaping at him like an idiot with her mouth open.

Tai seemed a bit surprised too. And Sora couldn't blame him. Of course this had never meant to come out! And if she hadn't gone browsing through his stuff it never would have...

Both faces seemed to redden with embarrassment at the same time.

Then the door from the kitchen slammed. "Dad? Aunt Sora? I'm home!" Tia cried, dragging out the last word.

Tai scrambled to his feet to go greet his daughter. He shot Sora a look, but she didn't have to be told not to say anything.

Sora stared after him for a moment. Did Tai love Tia? Absolutely. More than anything in the world. Not all mistakes were bad... In fact, Tia was the best thing that ever happened to Tai.

Now the real question... was what she was doing a mistake? And would her mistake turn out so well? Probably not.

But somehow.... she just couldn't bring herself to stop.

...

Tai's head was literally spinning. If it wasn't for the fact that he never got sick, and that he'd just confessed to Sora something Izzy and Kari didn't even know, Tai would've suspected that he'd at last fallen ill.

Tia walked through the kitchen, looking glum.

"What's wrong?"

Tia shrugged and sat down at the table. "Jovi's mom forgot about a doctor's appointment."

"Aw, that stinks. But you know what?"

He'd captured her attention now. She looked up. "What?" She asked a bit skeptically.

"Tonight we'll go out for ice cream, okay?" Tai felt the need to soak his troubles in ice cream as much as Tia could forget her disappointment in her's."

Even as an eight-year-old, Tia could scheme fairly well. "Will Aunt Sora be there?"

Tai started. He hadn't planned on leaving Sora out, but he really hadn't expected his daughter to bring it up.

"Uh... yeah. Of course." Tai composed himself rather quickly, but his daughter left the room with a sly, triumphant smile.

...

At Tia's insistence, they went for ice cream at about four-thirty. Before dinner. Her planning was pretty obvious, except for the fact that this was being planned by someone considered too young for dating, much less set someone else up.

Halfway through her ice cream Tia suggested that Tai and Sora have dinner together tonight.

The two being so unsubtly set up choked on their ice cream cones at almost the exact same moment.

Tia grinned making the freckles she'd gotten from her mother stick out.

The two just stared at her for a moment. Then, cutting her father off right before he was about to object, she continued, "Jovi and I can finish our play-date. You heard how sorry her mom was. She loves having me over. She wouldn't mind."

Sora masked her grin by scrutinizing Tai's daughter. Tia hadn't gotten her plotting ability from Jalissa, that much she was sure of. Despite how many times Tai's rushing into things almost got them killed, it was a trait she missed. Ever since growing up Tai had matured a little. (Something they'd all joked that he'd never do.) And ever since the birth of his daughter Tai had been downright responsible. Tia was sweet, but she had more of her father in her than anyone knew.

In the end neither adult could think up a legitimate excuse.

And that is how they ended up eating dinner together at a restaurant. They sat across from each other at the table.

It was more than a little awkward, but one awkward night wouldn't kill them. The question was: How many awkward nights were to come?

Not soon after they started their meal Sora broke the silence. "I can't believe your eight-year-old is guilt-tripping her friend's mother into having her stay for the night. She so gets that from you."

Tai was thoughtful for a moment. "That's funny. Most people say I'm lucky... because she's just like Jalissa."

"No." Sora was thoughtful too. "On the outside she may seem like her mother... but on the inside she's all you."

She stabbed him softly, playfully with her fork and smiled.

Tai laughed and faked pain. "Okay, for that I get the rest of your chicken."

"No."

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

Damn, did this bring back childhood memories or what?

"One piece." she relented.

So naturally Tai went for the biggest one.

Sora rolled her eyes, but Tai got it. Now they seemed like almost every other couple here, though granted they were louder than most.

At that moment the speakers in the restaurant started working. Of course thought Sora. Her emotions right then deserved something between an eye roll and a blush. Of course their table was right under the speaker. Tai listened and noted what the slight blush was for.

L is for the way you look at me.

O is for the only one I see.

V is very, very extraordinary.

E is even more than anyone that you adore can

Love is all that I can give to you

He worked on blocking it out and tried to get into the subject he'd been dying to get an answer to almost since she'd first arrived.

Sora seemed to be blocking it out as well.

"So how are things with you and Matt?"

Sora started. This was the last conversation she wanted to have. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, I just can't see why you would come so early to the wedding, and to my house, if everything was alright."

"Kari invited me to your house." She said defensively.

"Yeah, and how fast was your heart beating when she suggested it?"

It was childish, flinging insults at each other like this, but Sora couldn't help but get just a little angry.

"Stop being such an ass Tai!" She hissed.

They said no more. The bill was paid for and they left. The waiter sent them a worried look that Sora made a point to erase from her memory.

In the car Tai spoke again. Softer and more gentle. "Look Sora... I'm not trying to... be an ass. But I just wish you'd tell me what's wrong. I mean, we are still friends, right?" His tone was hopeful, almost pleading.

"We are." She confirmed just as quietly. Then she sighed. There was no way to get out of not telling him, not unless she wanted to kill an amazing friendship. "It's just kinda... you know, lonely. Matt's on tour so often these days."

"Maybe he's just not as into you as he should be."

Sora's head snapped up and she burst out hotly, "He's plenty into me! He's my husband."

"He's not into you like I am." Tai admitted.

Sora was shocked at how simply he came out and said it. But then, Tai had no wife or lover to stay faithful to.

"And you know what?" Tai continued. His voice was softer than ever, but Sora couldn't remember it ever being so intense. "I don't think you're into him like you're into me."

Review please! Thank you so much to those who've reviewed and I'm so sorry I couldn't get this up faster.

I don't own Digimon.

Seriously guys, thank you. I really appreciate it. :) I would make you all brownies... but I think it might kill my computer if I tried to send them to you....

BTW, the song in the restaurant was L-O-V-E if anyone want to look it up. The version I was listening to was by Nat King Cole, but I know there are a lot of different versions.