Jack sat at the piano, his knee bobbing up and down as he thought. He looked up as the door cracked open. Sally stood there, a concerned look on her face. "Jack, did you have a fight with KyRea?"
"No. She was tired, so I let her go back to bed."
"She's on the couch." The rag doll planted herself next to him and looked into his face. Jack wrapped an arm around her and rubbed her shoulder gently.
"Sally... I-I think... Now would be a good time to ask the kids about... the adoption."
"Jack, we've only been married a few weeks."
"Sals... I don't think I've realized, until now, just how badly those two need REAL parents..."
"Jack-"
"She called me 'Dad', Sal. 'Dad', Sally." He met her gaze and bit his lower jaw bone. "I don't know what to do for them anymore, Sally..."
The ragdoll looked at her clasped hands, her face twisted in thought. She couldn't imagine her death without the Doctor, even if he was a bit cruel. Sally gave a content sigh and looked into her husband's face.
"Alright... We'll talk to them about it tonight." Jack hugged her to his rib cage and released a contented sigh.
"Thank you, Sally."
-
Mac and Bloo laughed as Ky swung them from her arms as they walked down the streets. "Okay, guys, my arms are tired," she said, yawning.
"Awww... Come ooon!" Bloo moaned.
"Guys, leave her alone. She had a rough night," Jer said, coming into step with them. Sora titled his head to try to get a good look at Ky's face. Her eyes seemed a little red and her smile was a little strained.
Yeah, she looked tired.
Junior glanced back at his cousin and frowned, he knew something wasn't right... and he could tell Jer had an idea as to what it was, and he would have to corner him later. VC skipped by Ky and linked her now free arm with hers.
Ky grinned at her, her eyes getting a little brighter. Sora rubbed his neck, wanting so much to ask his sister about her problem.
"So... What are we going to do today?" Harry asked, running his fingers through his messy hair.
"Mm... I dunno, what do you guys want to do?"
"How 'bout we go hang out at Town Hall?" Roxas suggested, jabbing his thumb at the building they were passing.
"Sounds good!"
The large group trouped into the hall and the younger ones immediately went running, screaming joyfully. Ky smiled and rubbed her eyes, her glasses going askew. Dib reached over and gently straightened them back. "KJ, you have crooked ears," he concluded.
"Yeah, I know," she yawned, rubbing her neck as she stretched.
Demyx threw an arm around Ky, "Alright, missy, time to tell us what's up."
"Huh?"
"Yeah, I mean, c'mon man, you've been in a daze all day," SB pointed out, shrugging.
"Not that you're not always in some sort of daze-"
"But it just seems like you're a little... too out of it," Jer interrupted Link. Ky looked up at them all, her eyes hidden by the shadow of her hat.
"Mm..."
"Ky, you can tell us you know," VC said, tapping the Tom Boy's shoulder. Ky looked over at Junior who had stopped playing to listen.
"I know..." she whispered, brushing past them and walking up to the stage. She sat down on the edge of it and cradled her head in her hands. The boys looked at each other, then trouped after her. They planted themselves in the free space around her.
"Soo... spill it," Purple said, tapping his chin.
"It's stupid, guys. Really."
"If it's so stupid, then it wouldn't be bothering you," Goofy pointed out. Ky raised her eyes to look at him, a small smile on her face.
"That's better," Mac said, crawling into her lap with Junior.
"Now, just make it bigger," Junior prodded. Ky giggled and rolled her eyes.
"See? Now tell us what's up," Jer said, nudging her shoulder gently.
"Heh... weelll..." She nibbled on her lower lip and looked up at the ceiling. She sighed and met Sora's eyes, sadly. "I miss Mum and Dad." Everyone was silent as she rubbed her neck and looked back down at them. "I don't know why I suddenly miss them so much now... I just... do."
Sora hung his head as well: he'd been keeping his feelings about his parents down as well... He had always just assumed that Ky had gotten over it. She was young when they died, and her memories were fuzzy.
"I was dumb enough to call Jack 'Dad' this morning," she laughed, rubbing her eye. "Ah, well, I'll get over it soon enough," she said, smiling at them. Dib reached forward and set a finger on her forehead.
"You know we're still here for you, right?" he asked. Everyone nodded in agreement. Ky laughed and nodded with them.
"Yeah, I know," she said, grinning broadly.
"Oh, good!" Jer laughed, snatching her hat. "Can we goof off now?"
"Dude, gimme my hat!" Ky shouted, reaching up and cursing her lack of three inches in height. "VC, get him!"
"Jeremy, toss it here!" Roxas shouted.
"Jer! Give it back!"
"Over here!"
Jack froze at the door of Town Hall and listened to the laughter and the stamping of feet as the boys rampaged a game of keep away with the girls. He rubbed his neck, then gripped the handle and shoved the door open. He watched Ky laugh as she tackled Jer to the ground and the two rolled to a stop at his feet. Jer reversed the tackle and was now pinning her to the ground.
Jer raised his eyes and gave Jack a nervous grin. "Hullo, Jack."
Ky gave Jack an awkward wave before planting her knees on Jer's chest and kicking him off. "Hi, Uncle Jack."
He held his hand out for her to take, his expression serious. Ky frowned and took his hand, allowing herself to get pulled to her feet. Jack placed her hat on her head and brushed her short hair from her face. She blinked, and stared up at her uncle.
"Jack?"
He set his hand on her chin and studied her face, his gaze wandering to a spot near her ear. He sighed, the sign was beginning to show; he saw it on the other two as well. Everyone was staring at him, wondering what was going on.
"Jack, are you okay?" Sora tried, coming into step by his sister. Jack turned his head to his nephew and nodded.
"Come with me," he said, suddenly turning on his heel and walking down the steps. Everyone began to follow. "No, just the two of them." Ky and Sora exchanged glances, Ky's glasses falling down her nose.
Jer glanced at VC, hopefully he didn't just get Ky into trouble... Eleven years and Jack still didn't really fully trust him around Ky. VC met his gaze and shrugged; Jer ruffled his hair back and sighed, exhaustion overcoming him again. Victor wrapped an arm around his sister's shoulders and gently rubbed her arm.
They turned their gaze back to the uncle, nephew and niece trio. The siblings looked uncomfortable; they felt like they were in serious trouble... They just couldn't think of what they may have done to get them into such trouble that Jack couldn't talk to them.
The two kept a steady pace behind the Pumpkin King, Ky tripping over her feet every-so-often. Sora kicked a pebble across the ground of the graveyard, his hands shoved in his pockets.
Jack held his head up high, his speech running through his head. He listened to the gentle treading of the children's feet behind him. He could hear the heavy treading of Sora, the klutzy steps of Ky... no words were exchanged between the two of them.
"Sally." The two teens looked up to see their aunt sitting on a gravestone, hands folded neatly in her lap. She looked up and smiled at them.
"Jack," she answered, taking the hand Jack extended to her.
Alright, they were in serious trouble if Jack had asked Sally to help him. The siblings exchanged grim looks and rubbed their necks.
"A-are we in trouble?" Sora finally asked. Jack and Sally froze and turned to look at them.
"Of course not," Jack said, a small smile finally playing on his jaw. The teenagers released their held breath and felt relief swim over them. Trouble was out of the list.
After a few more minutes of walking, they came to the bottom of Spiral Hill. A large Tombstone stood at the base, two handles protruding from its center. Jack gripped each one and pulled it open, revealing a large hallowed hall. Ky released a low whistle and stepped forward with her brother.
Candles flickered to life as they stepped in. "Where are we?" Ky asked, staring at the spiraling ceiling.
"The original Town Hall," Jack answered. "Back when all Holidays were at war and our people needed a secret place to meet. This was the safest place. When the truce was made, everyone forgot about the other holidays and this place was sealed away. It's rather beautiful isn't it?"
"Yeah," Ky and Sora breathed, circling to take it all in. "Shame it was locked away," Ky stated, running her hand along the carved wall. The original Town Blueprints had been oh-so-carefully carved into the stone walls. "Catacombs?"
"Yes, they're still there. Some have been collapsed over time, though," Jack said, setting a hand on her shoulder and leaning over it. He turned his niece away from the designs and brought her to and old stage. "But that's not why we're here."
"We have something we need to discuss," Sally said, leading Sora along with Jack.
Ky crossed her legs and snuggled her body against her brother's. Sally and Jack sat in front of them, looking very much like the royal couple they were. Ky fidgeted and twiddled her thumbs, noticing the dirt that had somehow stained her finger. Sora looked up as Jack cleared his throat.
"Sally and I have been talking about something important... Something that could greatly affect both of your lives," he said.
'Please tell me he's not going to send us to a boarding school,' Ky silently wished.
Sora fidgeted and took Ky's hand away from her mouth, before she would begin to nibble her nails.
"We're going to ask your opinion before we make the decision," Sally said, seeing the looks on their faces.
They nodded and tightened their grip on each other's hands.
Jack and Sally looked and each other, then back at the brother sister duo. "What do you two think about being legally adopted to us?" Jack asked, taking Sally's small hand in his.
"Hu-? Wait wha-?" Sora stuttered.
"Seriously?!" Ky asked, her voice suddenly going an octave higher.
"Only if you want to," Sally said, nodding. Sora and Ky glanced at each other, tears smarting their eyes.
Sora smiled at his sister and choked as she threw her arms around him in laughter. "Please, oh please do!" Ky cried, tears fogging up her glasses.
Sora rubbed his face into her hat as he cried and laughed with her. Jack and Sally sat there, watching them and smiling. Jack slipped his hand into Sally's and gave it a gentle squeeze. "We've done good," he whispered. Sally nodded and set her head against his shoulder.
"Yes, we have."
-
Sirius panted as he ran through the Hinterlands, his shaggy hair flying into his face. He leaped over a fallen log and chanced a glance behind him.
The boy was still following him. Sirius mentally swore, and pushed himself forward, ignoring the stabbing pain in his hamstrings.
Davis leaped from his branch and landed, cat-like on the ground. He smirked and charged forward. "Hey Sirius? Aren't you making a big deal out of nothing? She's just a girl!"
'Don't answer... don't answer!'
Sirius pushed forward, Spiral Hill now in his sights. He smirked and ran faster, energy building up in his muscles. Davis was panting behind him, trying to keep up now. Sirius leaped over a fallen tomb stone, barely keeping his balance as he landed.
He glanced over his shoulder, and smirked as Davis lost his footing and slipped. "HA!" he laughed, pushing himself faster. Sirius slammed the graveyard door open and ran down the alley way as fast as he could go.
-
Davis pushed himself up, ready to continue pursuit after the corpse.
"Let him go, Davis. We can use him after all."
The boy scowled, then turned on his heel. "Yes master," he hissed through gritted teeth.
-
Horray!! It's been like what... three months or something?
Whatever...
Sirius (VC)
