He felt as though the breeze always whispered into his ear today, of all days it could. Today was special and the wind knew of it. It was a calming grace, a subtle hint that he wasn't alone, never truly alone. Fox walked through the meadow on this beautiful June day, his pace a little slower than normal when he was moving about with his kids. The years had passed, and over the years did his family create all sorts of good memories together. They had so many perfect days, even after her death that pained the vulpine's heart to this day.

Fox walked into the still damp grass through the cemetery, until he came about the tombstone he always visited today, every year since her passing. His breathing became a bit labored as he tried to choke back his emotions, kneeling to a single knee as he placed the beautiful bouquet of flowers down for her. It was hard keeping eye contact with the headstone, reading the words of remembrance to his past wife. Fox began slowly, trying to be optimistic in the natural occurrence of death. Years ago he never would have believed that she would leave them so suddenly, and so soon.

"Happy birthday love." Fox said out loud to himself, and to his beloved wife who lay six feet under. "Can you believe it's already been 10 years?" He tried to smile and sniffle the tears that threatened to break away from his eyes.

"I got a letter in the mail, about a high school reunion. It's already been 10 years since we graduated." Fox's tone of voice, slowly over time was changing. It was hard to smile in the face of death. We often times take our everyday lives for granted. We are desensitized to the nature of our deaths, for we believe there will always be a tomorrow. However every day is a new dawn, and each day may be our last.

He stared at her tombstone, where his wife Fara Phoenix McCloud laid in rest. A beloved mother and wife taken too soon from him and this world. It had already been nearly five years since her passing. Their time together was short, but they were some of the happiest years of their lives. Fara's final request for Fox before she passed, surrounded by friends and family is that he would visit her every year, on her birthday.

"I think about you every day honey." He broke the eye contact from her tombstone, and looked to the sky. "Jamie is doing well, she is really enjoying middle school. Mark is so big now, you would be amazed how much he's grown. He'll be turning six soon as you know. You would be so proud of him." He started to break down as Fox reached into his pocket, containing a small card from his two kids. He said slowly, through a broken voice.

"They wrote you a card, Jamie made it herself and Mark wrote you some nice words to read." Fox let a few small tears run down his face as he placed the card near the bouquet of flowers. He knew she was watching him from the heavens, as he remembered his own experience with death.

He wondered if she was perhaps given the same opportunity of a renewed life. Perhaps she was, and perhaps she was not. The Makers work in mysterious ways, as he wondered why he had to endure such pain after knowing it so well, so closely himself all those years ago. When he gave up his life to save hers, only for Fara to be taken away from him so early in their lives together.

"Sometimes I wonder…Why I'm still here and you're up there." He started slowly, as Fox looked back to her tombstone, time had not waned on its granite marking, but time had waned on his wounded heart. "Why you had to leave us so soon love, but you know…I've always smiled for the kids. Even when I didn't want to, even when it hurt a bit." Fox looked up to the sky as he spoke.

"When I saw the stars light up at night that covered the sky. When I looked to the horizon and didn't know where the planet started and where the heavens began, I knew you were there looking at them with me. When I listen to the wind I know you are speaking to me. I know you are always with me in spirit, but it still pains me that you aren't here with me now Fara."

Fox continued on for several moments. It tore him apart, every year he put himself through this. Time had not healed his scarred heart, perhaps nothing ever would. But not all was bad, he was happy to tell her some new news as he gave a small smile.

"I think I'll go to that high school reunion. I know I'll see some of our friends that….We haven't seen in a long time now. I'll be sure to tell Krystal, and Luna and all of them that you said hi. They'll ask what happened to you, I'm sure they'll be wondering after I proposed to you in front of everyone at graduation." Fox gave a small laugh as he sniffled his tears, reminiscing the good memories he and Fara shared together. "I remember you said you would never forget that moment. I haven't either love. I'll go and I know they will ask…But, I'll smile for you."

The vulpine gave himself a few moments of a mental break. He visited her several times throughout the years, multiple times a year. But today, on her birthday was always the hardest. Fox changed his posture, as he was beginning to depart from his departed wife. He changed from a single knee to a squatting position, looking at the grass to the side of her grave. He didn't know why, but he felt as though he couldn't look at the stone as he spoke.

"You probably know that…Krystal and I have been talking a lot more lately." He started slowly, opening up to his wife. "You know Jamie is still very closer to her. I'm sure you remember how she called her mommy…No one can ever take your place baby." Fox finally looked back to her tombstone as he lost it again, sniffling his tears as he used his thumb to try and wipe some of them away.

"I know you and Krystal were so close. Even after everything that had happened between us all…Ever since you left us honey…Krystal has tried to spend time with us. I hope that…You would approve. I know you two were the best of friends. You know me, I guess old habits die hard." Fox gave a nervous chuckle, referring to his on and off relationship with the blue vixen, as well as his rather promiscuous activities from their high school days.

It was hard to talk about these sort of things with Fara. As he clearly knew that they would still be together to this day if she had not fallen ill and passed on. Over time the blue vixen was trying to mend the wound that was dealt to Fox's heart, but with her work that constantly made her travel it was difficult. Fox knew that Fara and Krystal were the best of friends, he could only hope that Fara would give her approval of their relationship, whether or not it ever became something more.

Fara had passed away from a rare, degenerative type of disease. There was no cure, no hope, just a limited amount of time before she would die. It was the exact same disease that her mother had passed away from, as it was hereditary from their genetics throughout family history. She fought for as long as she could, but in time the disease took her as well, just like her mother before. Mark was barely a year old at that time, though Jamie was old enough to remember the fennec, and how she suddenly passed and one day was no longer with them.

"I hope you know that, I haven't forgotten about you darling. You will always be here in my heart. You know that Krystal would be an excellent mother to our children." Fox took a pause as he stood back up, wiping away another tear. He looked back up to the sky as he spoke.

"I don't know if…Something will ever happen or if that ship has already left. I don't know if perhaps Katt is to help in your role now honey." Fox mentioned their feline friend to Fara's grave as he had many times in the past. Over these last five years since the fennec's passing, Fox had spent much time together with Katt Monroe. The only friend within close proximity to the vulpine father to this day. They were close, very close. "That really does sound like the old me doesn't it?" Fox gave a small chuckle as he looked back to the tombstone.

"Sometimes, Mark asks what you were like. He was probably too young to remember much of the details. It hurts to tell him, but I try and smile as I remember what you were like darling. He's very attached to Katt." Fox looked down to her name, breathing deeply as he began to relax and smile again, wiping away the last of his tears.

"It's funny. Jamie is attached to Krystal, and Mark is attached to Katt. I haven't seen either of them in quite a while now. They will never take your place love but…I hope you would approve of what I am thinking. Our kids need a mother, to help them grow up to the adults I know you want them to be." Fox admitted everything to his past wife, as he looked back up to Sol shining through the trees.

"I don't know what I'm feeling in my heart, other than I just miss you so much. I don't know darling. I don't know if you're happy or you're angry at me. I don't know a lot of things." Fox admitted as he breathed easy again, trying to calm his heart as he continued on. He was so confused, just completely lost aimlessly wandering around as time has went by. After Fara had left, he had never been exactly the same. However he always knew of these values in his heart.

"I just hope that you would approve and understand. I hope that you are happy up there, in the heavens looking down on us, as you have joined your mom. I hope that you would give me your blessing, whatever I may or may not do. I have never forgotten you love, for even a day."

Fox looked back down to Fara's grave, smiling as he prepared for his final words to her for the day. Until the next time they would meet.

"I think I'll go to that high school reunion. Catch up with some of our old friends." Fox looked directly to the words that wrote 'Fara Phoenix McCloud' as he continued on.

"Happy birthday love. I'll visit again soon." Fox turned around as he began to walk back to his parked car. He breathed easy as he left the tombstone with the flowers and card that he left to his wife from him and their kids. Fox looked up to Sol's shining rays as he listened to the wind again, his spirit uplifted from the painful marks of the past.

Author's Notes

I've been in a big writing mood lately, but I don't want to update other stories to often cause then you guys will be spoiled.

This is another mini-series spin off I'll be doing, expect anywhere from 5-10 chapters. This idea was given to me by Mr Foxer. He's written a few stories of Star Fox and Kung Fu Panda, be sure to check him out.

No fluff this time, just the feels. I cried while writing this, just saying.

Take it easy

Zythxx