Seventeen: That Sinking Feeling

"You know that sinking feeling you get sometimes, like a feeling that something bad is about to happen? That's happened to me, they're usually from dreams I have..."

I was at Aerith's office on Monday morning, I needed someone to talk too. Yes, Roxas, Kairi, Axel, and Aqua were all options but...I didn't want pity from them and I wasn't sure if they could do much to help. I just didn't want this getting out far I guess.

"And from the horrors of your dreams...do they ever happen?" Aerith asked me in a gentle voice, her facial expression was calm and patient. Like she actually cared about my well-being.

I sucked in a breath and shifted uncomfortably in my seat on one of her floral couches.

"Yes."

"Would you like to tell me those dreams that have taken place in your life?"

A pit started to form in my stomach. Was it guilt? Pain? Anxiety?

I had to let it out, I had to tell someone.

"There was this one dream, about my mother..." I paused to look up at Aerith who waited patiently for me to continue. "As a child, I've had many terrors of her...d-dying from her disease...I still do sometimes..."

"That's a terrifying thing...especially for someone so young like yourself." Aerith said softly. "Did you ever tell your parents about it?"

I shook my head. "I couldn't worry my mother while she was pregnant with my little sister at the time, and my father would've thought I was crazy..." I paused to suck in a breath. "Do you think...that I'm crazy?"

"Me?" Aerith placed a hand over her heart. "Oh goodness no, never Namine. You're going through a rough time of loosing a loved one. That doesn't make you crazy, that makes you a normal human being. That makes you caring. Mourning over a loved one that has passed away is not easy. In fact, it's one of the most hardest things to accomplish in life, some people can never get over the fact that a person very dear to them is dead."

Wow...

"Wait, so they just grieve the rest of their lifes?"

Aerith gave me a sad smile.

"Depending on the person...Sometimes they do...but sometimes they find someone else."

I'd love for someone to take care of my father, Nora, and I...but no other women could ever take Mums place. Never.

"Hey, would you mind picking up a few things at the store for me? I'd bug Aqua to do it...but...we're staying after to watch the Blitz Practice, you can stay if you like and we can all go to the store together?" Kairi asked handing me a fifty dollar bill.

I shook my head. "No that's alright, you guys have fun. I need to get Nora anyways. She'll probably want to see the kittens on the way as well."

"RIKU, COME ON! THAT WAS OPEN! OOOPPEEENNN!" Olette shouted at Riku, from across his place inside the Gymnasiums pool.

Yuffie laughed. "Geeze, somebody takes after their father!"

"I do n-"Olette paused and her bright green eyes widened.

"Olette?" Kairi asked shaking her shoulder.

I turned in the direction to where or what Olette was staring at to find a man wearing a blue bandanna with red hair sticking up in the front, and a women standing besides him...she kind of resembled Tifa but more Gothic.

"Olette? WHY are you staring at that couple?" Aqua asked, she had a puzzled expression on her face.

"IT'S WAKKA AND LULU!" Olette shouted before running up to the couple.

They both looked extremely happy to see her and tackled her into a big group hug, causing the three of us to laugh. I saw Olette's father, Tidus, who is also the Blitz ball coach run over to join the group hug. I wasn't sure why but it sort of reminded me of a Disney moment with Mickey Mouse and his friends or something...

I checked my watch. "Well, I best be going, see you tonight."

Kairi wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. "You bet! And maybe you can do my laundry for me? Nah! Nah! Just kidding! Unless you really want too! For ten bucks maybe?"

"Please..." Axel groaned as he walked by us. "I can't tell you how many times this little devil has bribed me with money!"

I laughed. "Did It work?"

"...Maybe..."

Aqua gasped. "Kairi! Did you see that!? Terra looked our way! He might of been looking at me!"

Axel snickered. "Yeah...sure, I know that Vanitas has his eye on you!"

Aqua growled at that.

I laughed again. "Well...see you guys later!"

"Bye Namie!" They all cried after me as I left the Gym.

Finally in my life...it feels my walls are falling and I'm letting others in.

And I'm glad that I did.

"Namine? Can we please get a kitty?" Nora asked me as we reached the check out line.

I noticed the rack of cat toys across from us, and realized why she's been this quiet for so long.

"You know the answer to that." I said with a sigh as I watched the cashier ring up Kairi's feminine pads. Nora watched too, she raised a brow and pointed at them.

"What are those?"

The cashier laughed at that while I just blushed like an idiot.

"It's...a big girl item..." I replied as I gathered up my bags, I thanked them and we headed out of the store and out in the streets of Twilight Town. The sun was starting to set, and the air was breezy and crisp making me glad I wore my woolen sweater today.

"Do you think we'll ever get one?" Nora asked, her little hand pulling down on my sweater, giving me a sign that she's staying close to me. After that crisis of loosing her in the slums Nora and I have purposed to stay together at all times.

I smiled sadly. "Yes, little kitty...we'll get you a kitten someday...I promise."

"Looks like Kairi, Aqua. and Axel's parents are still at work!" I said to Nora as we made our way up the front porch to Kairi's home.

"Which leaves you all alone..." A familiar voice sneered from behind me, sending a cold chill down my spine.

I slowly turned around to find my father standing against the hedge of bushes that were lined up at Kairi's driveway,

"Daddy?" Nora asked, instantly hiding behind me.

He was here, he was really here...he found us.

"Nora, go inside...I'll be there in a minute."

Nora nodded and did what she was told, I bent down to gently place the groceries besides me. Then I faced my father. His hair looked like it hadn't been washed or brushed in days, and his clothes were all wrinkled.

"I've missed you two." He started, his eyes were shining brightly and he was grinning like a loon.

He was up to no good, and I know it. This was my sinking feeling.

"What do you want," I demanded swallowing hard, trying to sound braver than I felt but I was failing miserably.

"What do I want?" His grin grew even wider. "What I want Namine, is for my two little girls to come home, back were the belong."

"We are home." I snarled bending down to pick up the groceries. "Nora and I belong anywhere, wherever you're not that's where we belong. Now get out of here before I call the cops and have them arrest you for trespassing." And with that I marched inside the house and slammed the door shut with my foot and locked it, not looking back once.

Nora ran up to me with tears in her big blue eyes. I set the groceries down on the table and picked her up in my arms holding her as close to me as I could without crushing her while we could hear my father screeching with laughter from outside the house sounding like a villain.

That was what he was. A villain, and I was the superhero, and Nora the sidekick, and the superhero saves not only everyone, but themselves as well.

However something was telling me that this wasn't the last I'd be seeing of my dad...

And that feeling could not be wrong no matter how much I told myself.

A/N: Well there's the super long update! You all probably lost interest in the story by now, and I don't blame you if you did :/ but like I've promised, I will complete this story! :) Thank you all for your support! :D

Disclaimer: All Character rights go to Square Enix and Disney, except for my OC