After Sora's confession, Naminé seemed to distance herself. She had said she wasn't upset that Sora was attracted to men; she was more upset that, despite everything, she could never give Sora what he really wanted.
Riku stayed with Kairi and Noctis, helping raise Noctis as his own son. Though Noctis was almost already grown, there were still a few skills he did not yet acquire.
A few months before Naminé was due, Sora, Kairi, and Noctis went to Zack's grave.
Noctis knelt at his father's headstone, paying his respects to the man he barely remembered.
Then he stood, turning to Kairi and Sora. "Both my father and my closest friend are dead," he said, "a stranger lives in our house and teaches me things as if he were my father. Tell me, what will happen now?"
Kairi knit her brows and clasped her hands together. "I don't know, Noct. I suppose I will marry Riku, just so you can say you have a father..."
"But I know of his relationship with you, Uncle Sora," Noctis added, "What will I do if people find out my uncle is having an affair with my stepfather?"
"No one is going to find out, Noctis," Sora assured, "because Naminé and I are leaving Boston once the baby is born."
"What?" Kairi whirled around.
"Naminé and I have been planning this for a while," Sora explained, "we're going to move out of Boston. I'm going to finally forget about Riku, and we'll start a life anew. No more secrets, no more sadness; just me, Naminé, and our children."
"Do Mother and Father know about this?" Kairi inquired.
"I talked with them about it," Sora replied.
"Who will run the Destiny Inn?" Kairi demanded. "Noct and I must keep up the general store."
"The Destiny Inn will have to close its doors," Sora answered simply.
"But that was in the family for generations! You can't just give it up!" Kairi mentioned.
"Perhaps I'll sell it," Sora suggested, "please...let's just pay our respects."
Kairi's voice ceased, and she turned away in silence.
July 4th, 1782, Naminé was stricken with a terrible illness. She remained in bed, clinging on to her health so she could give birth to her child, as the due date crept near.
Sora organized the expenses that would cost him their migration, each number he ticked down worrying him.
The tavern door swinging open forced him to look up from his quill and parchment. Axel strode forward, his back straight and a serious expression sculpted onto his face.
"Axel, what a surprise," Sora offered, "I haven't seen you in a while."
"I'm willing to make you an offer," Axel said, "I want to take the Destiny Tavern off your hands."
Sora's eyes widened. "You can't be serious..."
"I am," Axel assured, "Roxas and I can take care of this place. That way, it will still stay in your family's possession. I can pay, if you want me to."
"No, no, that's fine," Sora reassured, "I just didn't expect anyone to offer. Are you really sure about this? It's far different than working at the shipyard."
"I can handle it," Axel said confidently, "besides, Roxas will be with me."
Sora shook Axel's hand. "I trust you two wholeheartedly. Please, take good care of this place."
At the first strike of midnight on July 19th, Naminé went into labor. For hours, her weary body attempted to give birth to her child. Her health had been sapped fully, but Naminé desperately clung to her thread of life.
Sora sat beside her, gripping her hand. Sweat dripped down her forehead, from the harsh exercise of labor and from the fever burning inside her.
Waiting outside the room, hearing her pained cries, were Kairi, Cloud, and Aerith.
Sora reached beside him and dabbed Naminé's forehead with a damp cloth. Her chest heaved, and her skin felt like fire.
"Naminé come on, you can do it," Sora assured, but his doubt crawled up from the pit of his stomach to torment him.
Despite her sickness, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Sora's family entered the room shortly after to welcome the child.
Naminé closed her eyes, sleep immediately taking her. She slept for almost several days, but when she woke, she had hardly recovered.
Sora remained by her bedside, vowing to be a good husband to her.
"Sora," she said, her voice weak, "I don't think...I'm going to make it..."
"No, you'll be fine, I know it!" Sora dismissed, grasping her hand.
Naminé just barely shook her head. "I feel so weak...I know I won't last much longer."
"You'll be alright, Naminé. Is there anything I can get you?" Sora asked.
She inhaled deeply, her breath rattling. "I want to see Riku."
Sora was taken aback. "What? Why? I told you I shall finally forget about him once we leave."
"Please Sora, let me see him. I deserve to see the man who loves my husband far more than I." Naminé begged. "Please, go down to the general store and find him."
Sora pursed his lips and nodded. He dashed out the door, feet pounding against the stone road, chest heaving as he pushed himself further.
He burst through the doors of the general store. Kairi stood at the counter, shocked at Sora's entrance.
"Naminé...sick...wants to...see Riku..." Sora huffed.
Kairi nodded quickly, fetching Riku from the storage room.
"What does she want to see me for?" Riku wondered.
"Don't know..." Sora gasped, ushering him out the door.
They sprinted back to the tavern, rushing upstairs to find Naminé still barely clinging to life.
Sora collapsed by her bedside, gripping her hand.
"Riku," Naminé said, her eyes drifting to him.
Riku knelt by her bed. "You wanted to see me?"
"Please...take care of Sora, and my children..." She pleaded, "give to him...every little ounce of love...that I could not."
"Naminé..." Sora shook his head.
"Take care...of Luna and...Tidus..."
"Tidus?" Riku inquired.
"My newborn son...I have decided to name him Tidus..." Naminé answered.
Sora stared at his wife, amazed. "Naminé please, you have to live. I don't want to raise our children without you..."
"I'm sorry, Sora," Naminé smiled, "but my time...is almost gone..."
"I wish I could've been a better husband to you," Sora lamented.
"You are all I could ask for," Naminé assured. She turned her head to Riku. "I'm glad I could've met you once...as who you really are to Sora..."
Riku nodded. "The pleasure is all mine."
"Sora," Naminé added, "I love you."
"I love you, too," Sora returned, the tears streaming down his face.
Naminé turned her head, looking to the sky. "At last...I shall see my son again..."
Her eyes closed, and she sighed her last breath.
Sobs racked Sora's body, and he gripped Naminé's limp hand in his. Riku reached out to him, but could not bring himself to touch him.
A month after Naminé's death, Sora proceeded to move. He bought his horse and his supplies, holding his children in the seat of the small carriage. His father's rifle was strapped to his back.
"Sora, are you sure about this?" Kairi asked.
"I have to," Sora said, "there is more for me out there than there is here."
He turned to his parents. "Mother, Father, I am afraid I was not honest with you."
"Sora, what is it?" Aerith wondered.
"Riku and I were lovers," Sora explained, "I pined for him for years; but now I think it is time I finally make for myself a new life."
Aerith covered her mouth with her hand, and Cloud sighed. Then...they opened their arms and embraced their son.
"It doesn't matter to us who you love, as long as you are loved." Aerith said.
"You're not upset with me?" Sora asked.
"Of course not," Cloud said, "though I wish you hadn't kept this secret from us for so long."
"I admit, I was afraid you wouldn't take the news well," Sora said, "but now I know I should not have been so scared. Riku loved me..."
"It's true," Riku's voice added as he strolled up the road. "But Sora, I know that perhaps this isn't the time for me to speak, but...I want to visit you out there. Please, write to me someday."
Sora nodded. He still so desperately wanted for Riku to kiss him, to convince him to stay by his side, but he knew he could not live in Boston anymore.
He clambered into his carriage, gripping the reins.
"Where will you go?" Kairi wondered.
"Wherever my horse takes me," Sora answered. He flicked the reins, and his horse galloped off, leaving Boston behind.
AN: Someday I'll write a fanfic when neither Naminé nor Xion are the ones getting killed off...