Aqua and Terra stood outside of the castle for a couple minutes after their master left, just watching the snow fall. It was exceedingly rare that their master would leave them all alone, but it wasn't they couldn't manage without him for a day or two. What he must've left for had to be really important otherwise he would've shown some hesitation in leaving his students and their families alone.

Terra was the first to break his gaze to the skies, then he nudged Aqua out of hers.

"Hmm?" Aqua asked as she looked over at Terra who gestured his head to the castle and said

"Come on, we'll freeze if we don't get back in" Terra said then started to head back with Aqua up the tall stairway to the castle.

"What do you think happened?" Terra asked, trying to make some small talk with his friend

"I don't know, he said it had something to do with his family. Maybe someone is sick?" she said not noting death as a option because the last thing anyone would want on their mind during the holidays is death. Though it would be terrible if that's the case for their master

"You might be right, I always got worried when my mother got sick" Terra said as he shivered, now that he thought about it, it wasn't really the brightest idea to come out here in just his regular clothes. He began to shiver even more as the brisk cold winds passed by him, causing his teeth to chatter getting Aqua's attention. She chuckled a little before she wrapped one of her arms onto Terra to give a little bit of her body heat. At least she had enough of a conscious mind to where her jacket.

Terra didn't say anything for the entire way up the steps, he was too lost in the fact that this was the longest time that Aqua had held him beyond a hug or helping him with his gestures during spell practice. Terra tried to act as nonchalant as he could to not show any form of his embarrassment/enjoyment to Aqua. But Aqua could see it anyway; it was a pointless effort due to all the red on his face.

Meanwhile in the castle…

The jerk known as Terra's father hastly made his way to the front doors of the castle. With Eraqus finally gone, it gave him the opportunity to do the thing he had planned to do since that man appeared in front of his door to take him to see his son a couple days ago. The whole reason why he came in the first place

When he got to the stairs that lead down to the doors, he crossed his arms and patiently waited for his son to arrive. He waited what must have seemed like an hour at the top of those steps but in actually it was only a couple minutes, but that's all he needed to organize his thoughts and know what he was going to say.

Silence engulfed the entire room as he waited, till it was disrupted by the sound of the two large doors opening with voices following them

"Ladies first" Terra said, gesturing his hand forward, making Aqua chuckle as she stepped in

"Well well I didn't know you were such a gentleman" Aqua joked at as she and her friend proceeded back to the dining room.

"Well I'm not my father you know" he said jokingly and even got a laugh out of Aqua as they walked up the steps. Then when they reached the top saw two stern eyes glaring down at them, mostly Terra, who had to fear/ hate those eyes over time. Terra's eyes grew angry at the mere sight of his father while Aqua looked at him and immediately knew she'd better get away from this rather than get in between the crossfire they'd produce. She fled back to the room and let them settle this out

Terra glared into his father's eyes, trying to show him the amount of pain he's caused him over the years he lived with him. All the pain, anguish, sweat, and suffering he made him go through, trying to make him into someone worthy to reflect his legacy. His father took in a deep breath then surprisingly put on a smile then walked down the steps to his son.

"Ah Terra I wish to apologize…." That word 'apologize' he wasn't aware his father even knew of that word's existence or even the basic meaning. He stood right in front of his son and laid one hand strangely gingerly onto his son's shoulder, but to him it just felt like his skin was crawling all over his shoulder. "… I'm sorry I've been a jerk. But now I truly believe in all of what your master has been teaching as true and real".

Two thoughts crossed Terra's mind when his father finished that sentence. One, his father somehow got drunk off eggnog or something. Or more likely that he was lying to get something from him. Terra looked into father's eyes and grinned humbly like he truly believed what he was saying was true.

"Really dad?" he said excitedly, putting on a grin to sell this lie better. Then his father grin changed slightly, to most it would seem like nothing. But Terra knew his Dad's poker faces and how he used them.

"Yes Terra, I truly believe" he said with the slightest change in his tone. Again something that Terra could tell from all his experiences with him. Then Terra put his hand on his father's shoulder and rubbed it in

"Oh Dad…" He said with a chuckle that made his father's expression change quickly to a confused look from his son's weird tone. "…you are truly the worst liar I have ever had the displeasure of meeting in my life. By the way nice job trying to sound more literate, it was a decent attempt at trying to make you actually seem like a human being" and with that he took off his father's hand off his shoulder and his own of his and made his way around him. His father being the stubborn man that he is kept his eyes on his son as he made his way up, keeping a now unshakable scowl

"You know you can't escape your destiny, the one I set you…." Terra stopped in his tacks at the top of the steps and took in a silent deep breath, that statement summed up the whole reason why he hated his dad. All he ever did for him was try to control his life and make it into what he wanted. "…now just listen to your father like a good little boy should and stop this shenanigans. You will come home with me and you'll be the fighter that I and your grandfather always wanted you to be" yep that's right his grandpa, the one on his mother side who gave his only daughter to this monster all so he could be his manager, was in on making his grandson into the next rage filled monster just like his dad.

Terra didn't respond he just kept walking back to dinner with one of his fingers raised high into the air for his father to see. Now that boiled his blood, and it also taught him something. That he should never try to use reason ever again, he should just stick to the way he always wins arguments.

"Tomorrow Terra… your days are numbered in this castle…" he told his son, who didn't even give him the slightest bit of attention. The only thing he could think about now, is a little snack for dessert, showing only more he really resented his father

Sorry for the chapter being so short, but I thought it would be better to cut it off right here. Also since the holiday season is now apon us I'm going to try and finish this before Christmas (no promises though, I don't want to rush through this) which I think I have a good chance of doing since I always work my hardest when I have deadlines. So I hope your enjoying the story so far (if not for any reason please leave the reason why in a review. Feed back is important to me) and I wish you all the best this winter season. I'll see you next time