Xion watched the man now called Even as he worked at the computer, in the lab underneath Radiant Garden's castle.

It was time!

After talking it over with Kairi a half dozen times in the past few weeks, Xion had finally decided she had to try!

She'd watched the man every day she'd come to Radiant Garden now to help with the restoration work. She'd watched him all day today, too.

She had to do this - he really wasn't that bad now, from all she'd seen, was he? He was good now, like Riku. Not an evil asshole type!

Xion was still scared...

So she gathered up her courage before it could fail her, and she strode into the room - right up to the man.

He turned to her with a start, looking flustered. "What- who's- oh. X-Xion? Is there- do you...Hello?" he finally settled on, gazing down at her with...apprehension.

"Hi..." Xion shifted.

He kept staring at her.

She stared up at him, unblinking.

He coughed loudly, looking away. "Is something the matter?"

"No..."

"W-well, then...good. Excellent. Yes...glad to hear it." He turned away from her slowly, returning his attention to the computer screen. He made a few taps and a few frowns at scrolling numbers, letters, and images of what looked like...people? After a minute, he glanced over at her again. He froze, his lips parting. "You're still here..."

"Yes."

"I- I mean- what are you still doing here? Can I help you, do you...what is it?" Even said quickly, his face turning red.

"Are you working on science stuff?" Xion questioned, getting closer and peering at the screen.

"Science stu...science stuff?" Even repeated, in a strangled voice. He sucked in a breath and let it go again in a big woosh, raising a hand to his hair. "Yes," he said flatly. "Yes I am working on- on 'science stuff.' Science...that will one day give you the chance to experience being...ahem, fully human. Soon, in fact! I've made some progress recently with the formulas that I'm certain will revolutionize the ideas of-" He stopped, glancing at her and flushing. "Well...suffice it to say, no one will be disappointed in my work. It will be my finest."

"I know science stuff!" Xion said quickly. "Planets orbit suns, and the moon makes ocean waves, and...human bodies are full of science? Cells and...blood?"

Even smiled thinly. "Indeed... You sound as if you're well on your way to a- comprehensive education."

"I have a tutor. She teaches me at home. Her name is Purah."

Even stared at her some more. "Well, that's certainly not...terrible." There was a long silence. "In my own youth, I also had - ahem - several different, private tutors."

"Really?"

"Oh yes. I was too smart for public schooling - my intellect was too good for this world," Even spoke airily - with amusement on his face! "More importantly, it all would have been far too distracting for me. I shudder to think how I would have managed to focus on anything with dozens of other little chaos-mongers running all around me...shoving at each other, yelling nonsense, picking noses, and being too obsessed with whom was kissing whom rather than with actually learning anything. My singular focus allowed me to rise above the rest, at a rather early age. I'm eternally thankful for that."

"Oh..."

"What is it, child?"

"I just...nothing..." Xion dropped her head, wringing her hands together.

"Clearly not," Even said with a snort. "But I won't force you to talk."

"Kairi's said you're supposed to be like my- father. Because you're the one who made me. But..."

"I seem to recall having a similar conversation with the Princess, yes," Even replied, very quiet now. He was standing very still now, too. "But, of course you wouldn't want someone like me to be your father. And, at any rate, I do know you were adopted by Kairi's parent - they are your family. And it's a- a far better one than the one I could ever...have hoped to give you. Those islands are a better place for a child than these ruins, certainly."

"So...so you're saying you don't want to be my father?"

Even sighed, leaning heavily over the computer console. "I'm saying that I- would make a rather terrible one. I do, in fact! I am! The likes of Kana surely don't benefit too overly much from my parenting. It's more along the lines of...flailing uselessly and hoping it waves her off in the direction she's meant to go. You're far better off away from me, from here, believe me on that if nothing else, Xion. Yes, I'm the man who created you - but that's nothing but a simple statement of fact. That is...all I am."

Xion blinked, looking down at her feet.

"All of that being said, I still owe you a certain - responsibility. And that, I will do my best to fulfill for you, if...if that is what you truly want," Even went on swiftly.

"I just want to know...who you are. I want to..." Xion frowned, then raised her head to look the man in the eyes. "I want to know Even, not Vexen. I want to spend time with you. Kairi thinks I should."

"I see. Well...that, I can do. If you wish to create something like a bond with me...I'll do my part to uphold it."

"Ok."

"Xion..."

"Yes?"

"Are you happy? With your life, with Kairi, with those islands? With your parent?"

Xion smiled. "Yes!"

Even gazed into her eyes. Then, he nodded. "Good. Very good."

"Oh, hey, it's the little child Replica!"

Xion stopped, turning at the familiar voice. It wasn't Master Aqua, though! It was the- other Replica, Kana.

The girl flinched as the woman drew nearer - too fast, and too close! She still remembered last time they'd met!

But Kana stopped in front of her, raising a hand to push back long, shimmering purple hair. Her eyes rolled (Xion realized they were a different color from Aqua's now). "Right - tiny and delicate - children need gentleness..." she muttered to herself, putting her hand on her hip. She smiled, raised that hand with a flourish, and then slowly began to move it toward Xion's face...until the tip of her finger tapped lightly against her nose. "Aha - there. I just booped you."

Xion beamed up at the woman. "I've been booped before!"

"Of course you have," Kana responded. "You're a little child person. But you're a special little child person to me..."

"Because we're both Replicas?"

"Yes!" Kana confirmed joyfully. "I'm glad I finally caught you. Because now...we're going to have so much fun together."

Xion trembled as the woman stooped down, grabbed her hand, and turned to set off with her - dragging her with her through the streets of Radiant Garden!

"Have you ever ridden a motorcycle before?" Kana asked as she pulled her along.

"Technically?" Xion said slowly. "Maybe?"

"Great!"

"Why?"

"Why ride a motorcycle? Because it'll be fun!"

"Ok..." Xion had seen Even riding with her before, so if even he would do it...it had to be really fun. Right? And- and- "We're kind of sisters, aren't we...?" she blurted.

"Huh?" Kana looked back at her in confusion.

"I mean, Even made us both, and he's like my father, so if he's your father too, that makes us...sisters. Family."

Kana still looked a little confused. Then, she looked thoughtful. And then she just shrugged. "Sure. Sisters."

"I'm also...kind of...older than you."

Kana laughed. "No you're not."

"Yes I am. He made me before you. Weeks before you."

"Maybe he did - but I'm better than you, so...yeah," Kana retorted.

"Better than me...?"

"I'm better than most people - don't take it personally," the woman told her casually, with a wide smirk.

"Ok...?"

This was a terrible idea; Xion had made a horrible, horrible mistake!

AN: Relationships beginning to shift the last few chapters! :D Stuff is a moving... xD