It's been a quiet couple of years.

Nothing much has happened in regards to the hostility plagued tandem of planets in nearly half a decade. In complete and frank honesty, it was probably for the best. Letting the distance and silence come between the two nations has allowed them both to repair and reform in their own ways. Boring diplomacy never reached beyond the boundaries of the system, and nobody wanted to push the boundaries either for fear a second contact could arise. Nobody wanted that mess on their plate. Not now of all times.

At the ceremony earlier today, yet another moment of silence was taken to remember those who had perished in the accidental destruction of Corneria's capital city. It happened so much in so many gatherings that it had just become second nature to everyone. Everyone wanted to remember. Everyone wanted to pay their respects. Surely a single moment would do. After all, a single moment was all it took to flip the entire planet upside-down.

Long after the ceremony, graduates slowly began to trickle out of the academy and meet up with their loved ones. The annual CDF graduation ceremony. Four years of teaching and application all wrapped up into a future pilot cloaked in a navy blue silk cap and gown with a diploma and piloting license in hand. Only two hundred graduated this year, down from the previous years for obvious reasons, but that made in no less important. Why?

Well, after half of the graduating class finally escaped the auditorium, an eighteen-year-old Fox McCloud finally emerged with credentials in tow. It was a hard fought victory. Four years it took, but it was definitely worth it. And not only did he have that piloting license, his degree also gave him free roam to pursue any engineering programs he wanted. It was something else, after all. Maybe he'd use it, maybe not.

Fox's eyes honed in on the arctic fox standing at the edge of the sidewalk. It was hard for him to miss. That lab coat could reflect the sun with how bright it was. Not wasting any time, he tucked his papers away and set off to meet Vince. As he got closer, he noticed both Wolf, Sheila, and little Nathaniel with him. He knew they were in the crowd somewhere, but this was the first time he'd seen them all day.

Vince immediately noticed him. Fox barely had enough time to react as Vince threw himself into Fox and hugged him as tightly as his fragile body would let him. They both laughed, but more because Vince wanted to hold back his tears. That didn't work.

"I'm so proud of you," Vince whispered, choking on his emotions as his death grip on Fox's gown tightened further, threatening to tear into the silk. Fox just chuckled, hoping that Vince would let go sometime soon, but by the indications, it didn't seem like he would. The vulpine just rubbed Vince's back to try to calm the emotional mess down.

Vince finally pulled away and looked at Fox, tears welled in his eyes. He forced a smile. He couldn't believe Fox made it this far. The years of selflessness he poured into the kit ever since he gave him a place to live and a new opportunity at life finally paid off in a way, as if it needed a reason to anyway. The pain, the emotions of those years internally hoping and praying that his ambition would carry him to where he inevitably was now had built up until now. He could safely say now that… there was no pain. Sure, it might have seemed like it, but seeing the product of his best interest finally get to that end goal… it was surreal.

Years of pain. Years of sacrifice. Years of sleepless night wondering if he could fulfil his best friend's untimely intentions had caught up to him time and time again. Today was not one of those times. There was relief, for once. He didn't have that weight on his shoulders. Fox could see it. Vince carried himself like… like someone ought to carry themselves. He didn't have his worried burdening him. He wasn't anxious of the future or internally hoping that something—anything—would go in his favor for once. Today… he looked and felt like he'd won.

There was no tired bags under his eyes. His shoulders weren't slumped over. His tail didn't look lifeless. His eyes didn't look dull or bland. For once, Vince didn't look like he had just woken up, but looked like he had… won. He did win. Fox may have walked away with the diploma and knowledge that followed it, but ultimately, Vince came away a winner. His selfless investment finally churned him a profit. That's why he was happy. That's why he couldn't contain his emotions.

For what seemed like an eternity, Fox and Vince stared at each other, happy as could be. Eventually, the graduate nodded his head, setting a hand on Vince's shoulder.

"Thank you."

"Thank you," Vince immediately echoed emphatically. "Fox, you have no idea how proud I am of you. You… you made my dream come true."

"I couldn't have done it without you," Fox replied, himself holding back tears.

Vince laughed away some of his thoughts to cry more. "Your father would have been proud too."

"But what about you?" Fox asked.

"What about me?" Vince confusedly asked right back.

"Did I make you proud?"

Vince smiled, another tear slipping loose. "More than you could ever imagine, kit."

"Because that's what I care about," Fox forced a smile to keep from crying as well. "You sacrificed so much for me, the least I could do was follow through with what you wanted."

Vince stifled a sniffle. "Fox…"

"You've been my father for the past five years," Fox started. "You helped me get here. I wouldn't be here without you. Nowhere close to here. I… I can't thank you enough."

Vince stepped away and composed himself as much as he could. "Well, Fox, I… I think I need to thank you too. Not just with words, but… with an opportunity."

He wiped away the tears in his eyes and laughed a little. "You've got that nice little degree in your hand there, Fox, and… I think you should be able to use it. There's an open position in my field of engineering, and I was wondering if you'd want to take that opening under my wing, per say."

"You're offering me a job right away?" Fox asked, eyes wide.

"If you want it, I can give so many recommendations that they'll have no other option but to hire you," Vince smiled. "I'll teach you everything I know, and then some. But that's only if you want it."

Fox immediately nodded. "Of course! I'd be stupid to turn this down."

"Great," Vince smiled wider. "I'll set up the paperwork and everything."

"You did good, runt," Wolf finally spoke up, grabbing the husky and wolf hybrid and setting him on his shoulder. "I'm proud of you too."

"I'm so excited!" Sheila yipped, lunging forward to give Fox one of her own hugs. "You're gonna do great things, I just know it!"

"Thanks you guys," Fox grinned. "You two were big helps too. I wouldn't be here without you two either."

"Why are we still here?" Wolf blurted out. "Why don't we go out for dinner? It's a special occasion, no?"

"You're right," Vince smiled. "You up for it, Fox?"

"Sure, I'm game."

The group slipped away from the chaos of other graduates engulfing them in order to get to the parking lot. As Fox and Vince were heading to their car, the former saw something out of the corner of his eye. Someone was struggling with their car; the hood was up and everything. While Vince was oblivious, Fox slipped away and walked to the aid of the struggling canine.

Fox recognized her, but he didn't know her name. She was one of the only female students that insisted on wearing a bow in her hair. She graduated with him, but her cap and gown were lazily tossed in her car to avoid getting them dirty. She looked to be frustrated as she hastily tried to get her car working, but to no avail.

"Need some help?" Fox offered.

Startled, the female canine bolted upright and narrowly missed hitting her head on her raised hood. She immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh my gosh, please," she whimpered. "I can't get it to work and I've tried everything."

"I'll see what I can do," Fox said, tucking away his degree and setting to work on repairing her car.

"Wait, your gown will get all dirty," she stated.

"It won't hurt it any," Fox said, grunting as he started shuffling things around in the engine compartment.

"Oh gosh, please be careful," she pleaded.

Fox grunted again and stood straight up. "Got it. Your battery wire got screwed up, so I shuffled things around and it should work now."

The canine's face immediately lit up with glee. "Ahh! Oh my gosh you are a lifesaver! Thank you so much!"

"It's not a problem at all," Fox chuckled.

She stopped bouncing around and said, "Oh, I'm Fay, in case you didn't know."

"Fox," he replied, nodding his head courteously.

Fay immediately giggled. "Hehe, that's funny. Both our names start with F and are three letters. Isn't that funny?"

Fox couldn't help but laugh along.

Shyly, Fay continued, "Well, uh, thanks for helping me. Um… If you're not doing anything any time soon…" she grabbed Fox's wrist and fumbled with a pen she pulled out of her pocket before scribbling a few digits into his fur and skin. "Why don't you give me a call or something?"

Fox smiled. "Sure," he replied. "That would be cool."

"Okay then," she smiled one last time before getting in her car. "Thanks again, Fox!"

"Anytime," he answered, watching as she started her car and pulled out of the parking lot. Satisfied, Fox turned around and almost bumped into Vince doing so. All the arctic vulpine did was wink. Fox returned it with a devious little smirk.

And with that, they got into Vince's car and drove off to have their celebration meal.

Celebrating the next chapter of their lives.

No war.

No contact.

Just life.

As it was meant to be.

Wake up
You take my hand
Give me a reason to start again
Wake up
You take my hand
Give me a reason to start again

Cause your eyes are swallowing me
Mirrors start to whisper
Shadows start to sing
My skin's smothering me
Help me find a way to breathe

Time stood still
The way it did before
It's like I'm sleepwalking
Fell into another hole again
It's like I'm sleepwalking

*This Wild Life – Sleepwalking*
or if you're Elarix, Bring Me The Horizon

At least for now…