A/N: So, I hope that you guys like this chapter, because I enjoyed writing it :)! So, this is my favorite chapter to write, so far, so hopefully you'll like it as much as I do! Enjoy!

About 1 month later, in late July- (Hope's birthday is coming up soon)

I was called to go and see Grandfather right when I woke up this morning. I barely had anytime to brush my teeth before one of the servants came and dragged me away to grandpas office. She only left me there, standing in front of the door. I rapped my knuckles against the wood of the door.

"Come in." the voice called from the other side of the door. I grabbed the knob and twisted, making my way into the room.

Grandfather looked up at me and smiled. "Ah, there you are. Please, come in! There's someone I would like you to meet."

When I walked in, I noticed a boy who looked no older than 6, sitting in a chair by the desk. He had this blueish-gray colored hair, and he was wearing a v-neck t-shirt and jeans.

"Hope, I would like you to meet my newest apprentice, Ienzo." Grandfather gestured towards the little boy, who was unusually quiet. Grandfather placed a hand on the boys shoulder. "Ienzo, this is my granddaughter, Hope."

I walked over and knelt down to the kids level, giving him a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, Ienzo." When grandpa had said his newest apprentice, I was quite shocked that this little boy was who he was talking about. I mean, he was just a little boy!

Ienzo looked up at me with a dull expression, one that held sadness in his eyes. It was an expression I had seen before...

It was an expression that I had once worn on my own face.

Grandfather explained to me what had happened that brought Ienzo to him. Ienzo's parents had died, how, he doesn't know, but he took it upon himself to take him in. He told me that Even would be in charge of taking care of him now, but he had asked me to do something I never thought I would have to do.

"I would like you to help raise him."

Now, I was almost fourteen, mind you. And I was being asked to take care of kid that was no older than 6 or 7 years old. And hadn't grandpa said that Even would be in charge of taking care of him? So...why was I being asked to do it?

"Exactly what do you mean by raise?"

"Well, like a mother would take care of a child, or, in this case, act like a big sister to him. He has no one, and, well, to be honest with you, he isn't quite fond of Even."

I looked back over at the little boy, he was clearly sad and everything, before moving over to him and kneeling back down to his level.

"Listen, I'm gonna take care of you, ok? You don't have to be scared. I won't hurt you, or let anyone else, ok?" I gave him a reassuring smile, and expecting to not get a reaction out of him, when he threw his arms around my neck and buried his face into my shoulder. I was still for a minute, startled by the act, but I eventually wrapped my arms around his tiny little form, and pulled him to me, tightening the embrace.

I was going to do my best to give this kid his happiness back.

Dear Diary,

Today, Grandfather got a new apprentice. His name Ienzo, and he is just a little boy. He lost his parents and has no one. I am going to take care of him, like a mother would raise her child, or, like grandfather had said, one would take care of a younger sibling...something I never really experienced, unless you can count a friendship with younger kids one. Ienzo is very quiet for a child his age. He is 7 years old, and from what I was told by grandpa, very intelligent. Tomorrow is a very important day, at least, that's how Lea said it. Tomorrow is my birthday, and Lea is excited about it, because he said he got me a present that I'll love. Who needs presents when you've got wonderful friends like me. Even though I had insisted on them not getting me anything, none of them listened. My party is being thrown at Aerith's house, and she spent all day decorating for it. Then, tomorrow night, my birthday party with the apprentices will take place. I had asked them to not throw me one, and they all listened when I had asked, except old Braig, the one who never listens to anything I say, unless I tell him to throw someone out of the castle. Ienzo listened to my ranting the entire afternoon I spent with him, listening intently.

I can truly say that I am already fond of the little guy.

July 23.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Hope! Happy birthday to you!" Everyone sang as I sat there, smiling and awaiting to blow out the candles on my cake. Right when everyone stopped singing and began to cheer and clap, and when Lea yelled 'GO ON AND BLOW OUT THE CANDLES!' I blew them out, and everyone began to cheer, with Lea being the loudest one.

Aerith had done a good job, with the help of Mrs. Gainsborough, who had made my cake. It was chocolate with vanilla frosting, and just staring at it made me want to just grab it and eat it all, but I didn't do that. When Mrs. Gainsborough picked up the cake and carried inside the house to cut it up and put it on plates to serve to all of us, everyone grabbed their gifts that they had gotten for me, which, I had asked them not to get. Aerith was the first one to hand me her gift.

"Happy Birthday, Hope!" Aerith clasped her hands together as I opened the package. Inside, was a necklace, that had a on it. It was extremely beautiful.

"Thank you, Aerith! I love it!" I quickly put it on.

Aerith smiled, and was very pleased. "You're welcome!"

Next, was Isa. "Happy Birthday." he handed me a small bag.

I opened up the bag, and inside, was a picture of Me, Isa, and Lea, sitting together on the swings at the park when we were younger. I remember Isa's mother taking it.

"Oh, Isa!" I grabbed him into a hug. "thank you! I love it!"

He quickly moved away as soon as I let him go. Next, was Cloud, who handed me a small box that was nicely wrapped up.

"Happy Birthday, Hope." He smiled at me as I took the box from him and ripped the wrapping paper off. I opened the lid of the box, and inside, was butterfly hairpin. It was the prettiest thing I had ever seen, and I had no idea that Cloud was such a good gift picker!

"Cloud, it's amazing! I love it! Thank you!"

"Actually, Aerith helped me pick it out, so some of the credit goes to her." Cloud said, gesturing to Aerith.

"Thank you, both of you!"

Next, was Squall, who I was actually surprised to see with a gift. "Happy Birthday, Kid."

I opened up the gift and it was blue-beaded bracelet that was extremely pretty. I grabbed Squall into a hug. "Thank you!"

And lastly, was Lea, who was grinning sheepishly at me as he approached. "This is part of the present, because there's more, but you have to wait till later to get it."

I opened the box up and inside, was a picture frame, and several photos. Each one was of Lea, and some were with me and him, and some were with Lea, Isa, and I, but mostly Lea. At the bottom of the box, was necklace that had a tiny little flame symbol on it.

"Lea..." I whispered, amazed at how much trouble he went to for this. "This amazing. You did all this for me?"

He grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head nervously. "Well, yea, I mean we are best friend's and all. It was Isa's idea, and some of the pictures came from him. I bought the necklace though." He was blushing slightly, and I did my best not to giggle.

I jumped up and threw my arms around his neck, causing him to stiffen in shock. I whispered into his ear.

"This is the nicest gift you've ever gave me...thank you!" I let him go, and giggled when I saw that his cheeks were tinted pink.

This was the nicest birthday I ever had.

…

After everyone had left, Lea volunteered to walk me home. He said that he still had to give me the rest of his gift. When we got to the gates that led to castle, we stopped, and Lea turned to me.

"Hope, I hope that you had a good time today."

I smiled, nodding my head. "The best!"

He smiled happily. "Good...I'm glad." For some reason, he looked really nervous, and before I could ask what was wrong, he threw his arms around me, and pulled me into an embrace, which I happily returned. Y'know that feeling that described that felt like something fluttering in my chest? Well, it came back, and it was even stronger than before. Right when it had seemed he had thrown his arms around me, he let go.

"Well, that was your other gift!"

"Thank you, Lea. See you tomorrow."

"Yea...later!"

Sometimes, Lea is very hard to read.

My birthday party that the apprentices and grandpa threw for me was nice. Grandpa was the only one that actually got me a gift, along with little Ienzo. Grandpa had gotten me a beautiful new piano, something that I was very joyous about! I love playing the piano, and I am hoping to teach Ienzo about the ways of music when he gets older. Ienzo's gift though, was the sweetest one though. He had made me a pass that had 'a day with Ienzo' written on it. He had also made me a card and a picture.

He was as sweet as he could be.

Dear Diary,

My birthday was a very nice one. Everyone threw me a party, and gave me a gift. I'd rather not go into details, for I am exhausted.

Until later.

July 24.

A/N: So tell me what you thought!