Author's Note: Yes this is early, but I'm sick, stuck at home and bored…plus this chapter was just too cute and amusing to not post. Don't worry those who like the darker stuff, I just figured that my poor bereaved cast deserved a little reprieve.
"I hate this." Sora grumbled, looking at himself in the full length mirror.
Leon snorted, as he tightened the collar of Sora's formal wear.
"You look fine, stop complaining."
"Why is the King throwing a party now? We haven't won yet or anything."
"Because it will ease people's nerves; a lot of people died or were hurt during the battle and the King wants everyone to unwind for a little while we still have the chance."
"But why do we have to dress up, you know I hate this stuff."
Leon grinned. "Oh I know, that's why I'm enjoying this so much."
Sora frowned and looked at the mirror again.
"Oh stop whining," Riku said from across the room. "Kairi's going to be dressed up too."
Sora flushed wondering what Kairi would be wearing to the dance. Besides him Roxas fussed with his vest nervously his mind on a similar vein running parallel to his only about Namine.
"Do you know what Rinoa is going to wear?"
Leon smiled up at him as he finished checking over Sora's outfit and stood. "I have no idea, but that's part of the fun."
"That reminds me, where did Cloud go?" Roxas inquired.
"Oh he's probably arriving with Tifa." Leon said with a knowing smile.
Since the battle and Tifa's injuries Cloud had become increasingly easy going in her presence going so far as to let her hold his hand and go out with her without so much as flinching. He was still quiet and reserved, but his guard was easing and everyone agreed the change was a good thing though it made things around the pair a little duller.
Riku moved towards the door, casting a last look at Roxas and Sora. "If you two aren't out there soon I'm going to ask one of the girls to dance with me."
The boys scrambled after him, Leon followed after them with a knowing smile flitting across his face. They passed through the adjoining hallway and emerged in a brilliantly lit ballroom, there were already hundreds of guests and the orchestra had already begun to play. The four of them found a corner to stand in and began looking for familiar faces. Roxas frowned as a low murmur ran through the crowd and every head turned towards the main entrance to the ballroom. His eyes widened when he saw Kairi and Namine's Grandmother entering through the large doors, dressed in a long flowing blue and silver gown that seemed out of place on such an elderly lady.
She walked through the crowd, a path clearing for her as she approached. When she reached the King's raised dais she bowed.
"Your Majesty."
"Finally we meet," Ansem's voice boomed. "Madame Mim, your reputation precedes you."
She looked up at him, her face and voice expressionless though she and Maleficent exchanged a brief and heated glance.
"Unfortunately Sire; for I have given up my past."
"So it would seem, you hid your grandchildren from us very well."
"Only for their protection Majesty, I did not want them hurt until it was unavoidable."
Ansem the Wise nodded, standing and taking a withered hand and raising Madame Mim up besides him. Roxas recalled how warm and virile Mim's hands had felt and wondered what the King felt in those bony fingers.
"Let it be known that Madame Mim, once declared an outlaw and traitor, is excused from all wrong doing from this day forth. She is to be treated as any other citizen of our kingdom. I will not abide any mistreatment of her, by anyone."
With this last comment Ansem shot Maleficent a pointed glance, and though it was minor she did incline her head. Madame Mim smiled up at the King, bowing graciously; she looked very smug.
"Thank you Majesty."
He nodded, allowing her to step away, the music resumed and people began to return to their food and dances. Sora and Roxas watched as Madame Mim was intercepted by Merlin, he bowed to her and extended a hand. She smiled, and took the hand, both boys blinked in astonishment as both Merlin and Mim changed right before their eyes. No longer were an elderly man and woman standing before the throne, but instead two young and lively people beaming at each other like newfound lovers. Madame Mim's dress seemed much more fitting now, and Roxas flushed as he realized he had the thought about Namine's grandmother.
He turned away from the pair and jumped in surprise to see Rinoa standing besides Leon, leaning against him with a smile.
"I'm glad the girls won't have to worry about that anymore."
Leon shrugged. "They didn't know until a few days ago remember?"
She frowned up at him. "What if your Aunt or Uncle turned out to be a wanted fugitive? Wouldn't that worry you?"
Leon considered. "I suppose, but it worked out in the end didn't it?"
"Oh you're impossible, come on, we're dancing."
As Rinoa pulled Leon out onto the ballroom floor Roxas turned to see Yuna approaching them. He hadn't seen her since Rikku's death, he knew the two had been close and as she came towards him he felt some of his guilt returning. He opened his mouth, but she shook her head to forestall him.
"I don't blame you Roxas, I just wanted you to know that alright? It wasn't your fault and I don't want you to think we can't still be friends because of it."
He nodded mutely, feeling very uncomfortable under her gentle smile. Riku of all people came to his rescue.
"Would you like to dance?"
Yuna blinked in surprise, blushing slightly as Riku took her hand and led her away, Roxas breathed a sigh of relief as the pair moved off.
"Have you seen Kairi or Namine yet?"
Roxas shook his head, scanning the crowd looking for them. He supposed that they might not have come after all, he did spy Cloud and Tifa finally they were standing together and speaking quietly to one another away from the rest of the guests. Seeing his brother being so intimate with another person was a little strange, he looked elsewhere, still searching for Namine.
"Wow." Sora said.
Roxas turned where his cousin was looking and felt his face light up as Kairi and Namine walked up to them, they looked as nervous as Roxas felt. While Kairi wore a full silvery blue ball gown that touched the floor, Namine wore something far simpler, a cream colored dress with the hem ending just below her knees. Roxas thought it was perfect. Sora moved first, reaching out and taking Kairi's hand, she smiled at him nervously and they led each other out onto the floor.
"She's never danced before." Namine said, stopping in front of Roxas.
"Have you?" He asked, his heart trembling as she leaned against him.
"Once."
He felt a stab of jealousy, "another boy?"
She giggled, looking up at him, her eyes sparkling. "Would it bother you if it was?"
"I—" Roxas looked away, his face heating.
She smiled, putting her hands around his waist. "Waka, a boy from Destin, asked me to dance once at a party someone's parents were throwing. We were ten, I think we looked like idiots but it was fun."
Roxas' heart was going a mile a minute as she leaned into him, he had his arms around her as well and they were just standing there away from the dancing and enjoying each other's presence.
"Boy if you don't take my girl dancing I will have to bewitch you in order to coax your feet."
Roxas jumped, looking over to see Mim, the young Mim, standing next to a young Merlin smiling at him.
She nodded to the dance floor. "Go on, enjoy youth while it lasts."
He found it a bit odd that someone who could apparently change age at will was chiding him on youth; but he took the cue, taking Namine's hand in his and guiding her out nervously into the swaying crowd.
"I've never danced before."
Namine nodded, looking down at their feet. "My grandmother once gave us the basic idea."
She took his hand, placing it on her hip, reaching her other hand to hold his shoulder and finally clasping his hand with the first. Taking a deep breath, like they were about to jump into the air they began. It was slow really, dictated by the movements of the crowd around them. Once or twice they jostled into another couple but everyone was good natured about it thankfully. After several missteps and blunders Roxas got the hang of things and began to move confidently with Namine. She smiled, moving closer to him and leaning her head against his chest and closing her eyes. The move dictated they slow and they began to simply sway back and forth across the dance floor. Roxas looked over Namine's head, spying Leon and Rinoa and trying not to stare as the pair dazzled a small audience, dancing as if they'd been doing it their entire lives. Leon spied Roxas and cast him a smile and winked, Roxas looked down at Namine, wondering if what Rinoa and Leon had found was what was in store for himself and Namine. He hoped so.
"Namine, do you think we'll make it through all of this?"
She didn't move as she spoke, remaining against him. "I don't know, I wish I could tell you I've dreamed and drawn how this ends so I could tell you, but I haven't…and I can't force what I see."
He nodded, his grip tightening around her. "No matter what I'll make sure you get through this."
She shook her head. "Only if you're there too Roxas, I don't want to grow up and get old without you being there with me. It would be too lonely."
He looked down at her; she was looking up at him now, her eyes shimmering with light. Hesitantly they leaned together, their lips touching as they kissed and held each other closely, they stopped dancing and just stood there holding one another as the party swirled around them.
"Sora, look," Kairi said impishly.
Sora followed her eyes and felt his eyes pop. "What are they doing?"
"Kissing of course, can't you tell?"
He scowled, flushing a little. "Well yeah but—"
"Quiet you, they're allowed to have fun right?"
"Are you alright Kairi?"
Her smile faltered for a moment. "We didn't have to fight this time, but what about next time?"
"The King will think of something."
"I suppose but, Sora you saw what happened, all those people." She shuddered at the memory of the battle's aftermath; he put his arms around her gently.
"Hey it'll be alright, remember what everyone keeps saying right? So long as we're together we can't fail, we only get stronger when we're all with each other."
She nodded. "I'll just have to keep on believing that."
His enthusiastic smile was contagious. "You bet, we'll all get through this just wait and see."
Kairi poked him playfully in the chest, her mood changing. "So you lazy bum, when are you going to kiss me?"
Sora lost his composure and blushed, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, that is—I uh…."
"Oh come on Sora, do I have to write you a letter? Kiss me."
He did, and immediately forgot about everything else around him as they embraced, understanding just what Namine and Roxas were doing and not caring all at the same time.
"Oh Merlin, how do they get away from us so fast?" Mim sighed as she watched both her granddaughters.
Merlin chuckled. "Oh they're young yet Madame. You still have plenty of years to watch over them."
She nodded, looking at him mischievously. "Speaking of years, it's been years has it not?"
He cleared his throat, coughing conspicuously, without the beard to hide his expressions he resorted to less subtle means.
"Madame I'm an old man."
"And I'm an old woman."
She reached behind him and he jumped in alarm. "Madame!"
Shaking her head she chuckled. "Oh stop, you're not as senile or as forgetful as you act. You remember all those years ago when youth wasn't merely a spell."
Despite his re-cast youth Merlin still wore his spectacles which he now righted, "indeed."
She sighed at his vagueness. "So help me Merlin if you make my life any harder then we'll have to have a duel and to the winner go the spoils."
He chuckled, stroking a beardless chin. "I seem to recall our last outing resulted with you in bed and deathly ill."
Her smile darkened and a mad twinkle sparked in her eyes. "Yes and you helped me break that confounded bed if I recall you old goat."
The pair laughed, chuckling at ancient memories rekindled by the next generation's new found hope and strength as they continued to dance grandly around the ballroom.