A/N: I had this idea ever since I played the game and while I loved FFXV, I won't deny that it could have been better. So I felt like I wanted to put my own spin of how I'd like the story to go and of course patch a few things that disappointed me along the way. ;)

I also want to thank my best friend LizzieBCT for taking time to beta my story. Could never do it without ya!

Final Fantasy XV (or any of the other franchises) unfortunately do not belong to me. All rights go to Square Enix and Hironobu Sakaguchi. The story's plot and any OCs belong to me.

His head was throbbing and his body felt extremely sluggish. Having Umbra send him back in time was a normal routine for Noct when he wanted to gather more supplies, and intel that he may have missed along the way. Hell, Noct even did it to enjoy some quality time with his friends. But alas, those good times were drawing to a close. After all he was currently thirty, recently out of the crystal, and fated to become the True King; to carry that role onto his shoulders. With all that in mind he asked for Umbra to guide him back for one last time, a final adventure.

It was always a blinding light that followed so Noct shut his eyes and waited patiently to be in the backseat of the Regalia. Every time he had journeyed back though, he was always quick to recover, never feeling this weak. Perhaps his weariness was catching up to him. Who knows?

He wiggled his fingers to get a feel of his worn out body. There was some shuffling nearby before whoever it was began to approach him. Looks like he attracted their attention.

"Noctis." A voice; so faint and yet so familiar, one he hasn't heard in years. Noctis for a moment had trouble breathing. His hand was lifted and cradled very gently almost as if they were afraid any added pressure would cause it to crumble.

"Noctis," the voice repeated, much closer this time. As Noct struggled to open his eyes, his heart began to thump rapidly. It couldn't possibly be him, could it? He blinked away the bleariness from his vision and the first thing that came to focus was the vast navy blue ceiling, golden borders decorating the roof arches. Noct slowly tilted his head to the left to face his guest and found himself in complete disbelief. His eyes started to water with unshed tears. The black hair that's been tousled, those green eyes filled with warmth, and his well-kept beard...he never knew he would ever see him again and yet-

"D-dad?" Noct sucked in a breath.

His father rewarded him with a loving smile and leaned closer to his son, unaware of the conflicting emotions Noct was dealing with. After all, Regis believed it to be simply from waking up in an unfamiliar environment. To him of course, confusion was a common occurrence of someone coming out from a coma; let alone one that lasted a complete month.

One whole month passed and King Regis would come every day in heart wrenching struggle at seeing his son's catacomb state. It was such a close call, his child's life almost lost and he felt he has aged far more in this one month then in his entire reign.

He held Noct's hand closer, pressed his lips on them and almost began sobbing. He would never let this happen again. He would protect Noct with his life!

"I won't let anyone hurt you." He promised. King Regis head immediately flew up when he heard his son began sobbing. Noctis normally would act rebellious and stubborn as all little boys, but here before him he was crying his little eyes out. As if he hasn't seen him in years. King Regis was about to question what was wrong when Noctis made a move to throw himself in his arms. Only to stop short and cry out in pain.

Noctis didn't know what came over him, as he almost passed out again from the blinding pain that wracked down his spine.

"Noctis!"

Regis helped him lie back down and as he went to pull away Noct wrapped his arms around his neck and held him close. "Don't go!" Noct cried desperately. "Not yet!"

His father was completely baffled at his son's actions, but he made no move to pull away from him. Noct was overwhelmed with both grief and exhilaration. The pain of losing his father and being here seeing him again taking over. Noct was never one to show his emotions so he would conceal them from his friends, and often times from himself too. Maybe it was in doing so that finally broke when he saw his father's kind face. His father who was taken away from him all too soon. Screw being a man, right now he was boy relieving his grief. They were like this for a few minutes and was cut all too soon.

Noct was rather disgruntled when his father pulled away.

"I'm sorry son but your body needs a bit more time to make a full recovery. You should rest some more and not push yourself far too much."

Noct only sniffed and nodded his head. Not yet processing what his father had just told him, in fact he hasn't yet processed where he even was. The dawning realization had just come to him, as he looked around.

This was right after he was attacked by a demon and had been hospitalized. Then wouldn't that mean -. Noct almost stopped breathing entirely in shock. He was looking at his hands in wonder and - how small they were. He was this far back? But why?

This would be around the time he and his father would journey to the kingdom of Tenebrae to help with his healing; Luna's homeland. His Luna.

This shouldn't be possible! Umbra's powers never traveled so far back before! This should all be Noct dreaming but the agonizing pain his body was dealing through (now finally sinking in), the rich feel of his father's cloak along his fingertips, and the unmistakable smell of disinfectants that always lurked in infirmaries had him doubting that he was imagining all of this.

His mind could never go to such creative lengths and detail.

Everything was complicated now. Not only that, now he was a boy. He was inexperienced in his body again, and without his three best friends either. Noct wanted to pull at his hair in frustration.

He was just about to when an epiphany came to him. If he was in the past now before all had spiraled downwards, maybe this was the gods offering him a chance to change things. Or at least prevent - he slowly turned to his father, looking at him with much concern. Prevent himself from going through much heart ache later on.

"Y-you won't leave right?" Noct's voice was all croaked and he started coughing. But he had to make sure this wasn't some sick illusion; he needed that assurance. His father quickly held a cup of water towards him.

As Noctis drank, his father ruffled his hair, and then pulled the covers up to his chin. Regis set the cup aside after he felt his son was hydrated enough, grabbed his little hand again, and whispered, "I will be here, always."

Noct smiled contently his heart swelling and allowed the lurking exhaustion to close in. He thanked Umbra under his breath. For sure if he ever saw him again, he would reward him with Ignis's cooking.

"I'm back dad." And then Noct's eyes fell shut, his breathing returning to its rhythmic beat. Regis brushed through his son's midnight locks. "I know, my son. Welcome back."

To be continued~