The Goggles and the Hat

Chapter one: We've got to do something

The whole gang was there, Tai, Matt, Mimi, Izzy, Joe, Sora, Kari, and TK, they were sitting the park with their Digimon having one of their coveted reunions. Everyone had already finished sharing where their life had been taking them. Matt and Gabumon were training to be astronauts, Joe was going to Medical School, Sora had taken up a management position at her families flower shop, was attending a local college, and was the captain of her school's Tennis team, Izzy and Tentomon had begun working on mapping the digital world now that more and more people wanted to take a "vacation" there, Tai and Agumon had begun attending Law School and had just won their first mock trail in class, TK and Kari were going to High School and had begun dating, much to the dismay of Davis. Everyone was just sitting there thinking about the good old days.

Tai stood up and asked Sora "Wanna go play some Soccer?"

Sora scoffed, looked at Tai and said, "I play tennis now Tai."

Tai looked disappointed but Mimi pushed Sora off the bench she was sitting on and said, "Go on Sora! Show him what you're made of!" Sora blushed and she walked to the field with Tai, but she didn't know why, Tai was just her friend right?

The rest of the group watched the two go, once again Mimi was the first to speak "We've got to do something about those two"

Joe looked at Tai and Sora and said, "They look like they're having fun. What's the problem with that?" Joe motioned with his hand as he ended the thought.

"Nothing's wrong there" Matt said, "But Mimi means romantically. They like each other, we can all see it, but they refuse to see it themselves."

Now it was Izzy's turn to talk "Hmmm… I think you're on to something there. Logically speaking Tai and Sora have known each other longer than any of us have know anyone else in the group, excluding Tai and Kari, as well as Matt and TK."

"So what are you thinking Mimi?" TK asked

"Well I think they just need to tell each other how they really feel" Mimi said, almost pouting

"Well" Joe chimed in again "If they can't see it themselves how will they tell each other?"

"You're right Joe" Kari said, "We've got to make them realize it themselves then-"

"Then we've just got to get them together in a way that they'll have no choice but to say what they need to!" Mimi cheered

"It wont be that easy" Matt said, "Tai has got to be the one to talk first."

Mimi giggled and said, "You're soooo old fashion"

"I guess when it comes to fashion you're the expert" Izzy joked.

"Think about it. It's a set up for disaster if the girl goes first, then it's like the guy is being asked out, not the other way around, despite who actually asks" Matt urged

"He's right" Joe said "We studied the brain in a class I had to take, this is something the Professor talked about, it's a terrible blow to the male psyche if it starts like that"

Kari giggled and said, "You're starting to sound like Izzy." Everyone laughed at that including Izzy and Joe

"Anyway" TK said still laughing slightly, "We still need to help Tai and Sora see each other"

"Shit" Matt muttered "they're walking back" then he quickly said, "Girls talk to Sora, guys talk to Tai."

The two got close enough to hear Tai's name as they walked up. "You guy's talking about me?" Tai asked

"Uh… yeah…" Matt said, "Kari told us you were… uh…thinking of moving out and we… uh… were talking about what kind of place you'd get," it didn't sound very convincing but Tai bought it all the same because he was excited about the topic.

"Well, I was thinking about this really nice place a way down the road from here, it's real cheap but it'll make a great bachelor pad" Tai said

"Well it's getting kinda late" Mimi said "I don't have a place to stay in town, Sora, do you think I could stay with you tonight?"

"Sure Mimi" Sora answered

"Oh can I come over and hang out too?" Kari asked

"Of course," Sora answered, "I'll even let TK come over if you two promise not to make out on my couch" it was a joke and everyone laughed.

Tai said, "I should probably go home too…"

"Tai, you wouldn't mind if Izzy and I came over for a bit do you?" Matt asked

"Not at all, but what do you need?" Tai asked

Matt hesitated for a moment and said "Well Izzy wanted to know if your computer had a special link to the Digital word because… of that time you got sucked in during the fight with Diaboromon"

"What about the computer you went through?" Tai asked as he began to walk back to his place

"We can't go there, the barber shop I was in closed down last month" Matt said trying to think of something casual to change the subject to until they got away from any eavesdroppers.

"Rotten timing, wouldn't you say so Izzy? Tai asked

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Terrible timing, especially because we had to go all the way down there." Izzy stammered.

"Hey Joe" Tai said "You place isn't too far from mine, wanna just chill at my place for a bit, after all being the only one to go home alone would be kinda depressing."

"Yeah" Joe said, "Sounds like fun"

The Goggles and the Hat

Chapter 2: Tai's place

As the four entered the Kamiya apartment Matt was got on with his plan promptly "So Tai, what do you think of Sora?"

Tai looked at his friend confused "What do you mean Matt?

"I mean, what do you think of her?" Matt said as he sat on the couch

Tai thought for a very long time everyone had they're eyes on him hoping that he'd make they're job that much easier. "Well" Tai finally said, "I think she's a great friend"

"Is that all?" Matt pressed on

"What is this?" Tai commanded

"Sit down Tai." Joe said, "Getting this riled up isn't good for you"

"You'd best listen Tai, Joe may not be a Doctor yet but he knows what's going on inside you better than any of us" Izzy advised

Tai sat down but still wanted answers. All of the shouting had woken up Agumon and Gatomon who had now walked into the living room "What's going on?" Agumon asked his partner.

"This guy wont get off me about what I think of Sora." Tai said while jabbing a finger at Matt

Gatomon jumped on the couch and began walking along the back the way she did the first time she was ever in the small apartment "Well you love her, right?" Gatomon said casually.

"WHAT?" Tai yelled his face turning a deep red

Gatomon continued, "Well it obvious Tai. You care very deeply about her."

"Yeah but just as a friend!" Tai blurted out.

"Think about it man, you know that isn't true" Matt said sitting back casually

Tai stopped and thought, thought about Sora. He saw a girl perfect in every way, he saw a girl that he could look away from. He saw his friend, but he also saw something more in her eyes. Wait were they right? They couldn't be, Sora was his friend, his best friend for that matter, you don't just fall in love with your best friend, do you? The more Tai thought the more he learned the answer to that question is yes, yes you do.

The Goggles and the Hat

Chapter 3: Sora's Place

As they walked to Sora's Mimi kept talking about all these dreamy boys she was meeting in America, and how she had hordes of boys fighting over her at all times. 'Typical Mimi' the other three thought when they were all inside Mimi asked Sora " So what about you? Any boys you've got on your mind?"

"Not really" Sora replied

"You sure?" Mimi asked "What about Tai?"

"What about Tai?" Sora asked

"Well you like him, don't you?" Mimi said

"Mimi, Tai's my best friend, of course I like him, but not the way you're saying it" Sora said, a little annoyed

"You sure? Tai'll be real sad. He likes you a lot, he'd never say it, I'm not sure he even realizes it, but I'm his sister, I should know." Kari said looking sad

Sora looked at Kari and saw how true the words she said were. "Tai really likes me…" Sora mumbled to herself

"You bet" TK said "Matt told me, you're practically all Tai'll talk about"

"Look in that big heart of yours Sora you'll know that you like him too" Mimi urged

Sora was deep in thought when Biyomon flew over to Sora and said, "Sora, even I know they're right, I could see it from the very first time I saw you two together. You are the Digidestend of Love, you know this is right."

Sora hugged Biyomon and said, "Thank you Biyo" then a thought crossed her mind "What if Kari's right and he doesn't know his feelings?" Sora asked almost in tears at the thought.

"Don't worry Sora, my brother is with him helping him sort his head out." TK said reassuringly

"Thanks for telling me that TK, if anyone can help its Matt." Sora said

The Goggles and the Hat

Chapter 4: Thoughts and dreams

Tai was still sitting on his couch thinking about Sora when Kari came home. "Hey Kari. Did you have fun at Sora's?" Tai asked

"Yeah" Kari said smiling

"What'd you guys talk about?" Tai asked

"Girl stuff, TK was bored as hell" Kari said laughing

"Sora didn't say anything about me did she?" Tai asked

"Why do you want to know Tai?" Kari asked slyly

"No reason!" Tai yelled color rushing to his face as he retreated from the room and flopped himself on his bed face down.

Kari giggled and walked after him across they're shared room and sat on the edge of his bed "Listen Tai" she began "We all know you like Sora, the only ones who couldn't see it were you and Sora."

"But what if she doesn't like me back?" Tai asked feeling miserable at the thought.

"Are you kidding?" Kari laughed, "All girls love you"

"But Sora isn't like all the other girls, she's different" Tai said

"I'm sure she likes you Tai" Kari said trying her best to comfort her older brother "just be yourself and tell her how you feel." With that Kari left her brother to his thoughts and told Agumon and Gatomon to leave him alone for a while "He needs some alone time to collect his thoughts" She said to them.

Meanwhile Sora laid on her bed thinking about Tai. She knew she loved him now but she wasn't sure she should, after all Tai was her best friend and what if this ruined everything between them? That was the last thing she wanted. Mimi, as if reading her mind, said "Don't worry about it Sora, He's a boy, you're a girl, and you've known each other for years, this sort of thing happens all the time."

"I guess you're right Mimi" Sora said, "but… oh, I don't know…"

"Relax Sora, just follow you're heart" Mimi yawned then said "Go to sleep, you don't want to look tired tomorrow do you?"

Sora just rolled over and said "Good night Mimi"

That night Sora dreamt of Tai, but not like the dreams she used to have about him, beating him in Soccer and such, but a dream just about him. Sitting in his living room talking and then inching closer and closer until their lips were centimeters apart when suddenly Mimi jumped up from behind the couch they were sitting on and yelled, "Wake up sleepyhead!"

The Goggles and the Hat

Chapter 5: Face to face with your newfound love

Sora was torn from her perfect dream and saw the pink haired girl sitting next to her bed with a huge smile on her face. "What's got you so happy?" Sora asked totally forgetting the previous night's conversation.

"Well today's the day right?" Mimi cheered, "The day you are going to talk to Tai!"

"Oh, yes" Sora said remembering that what they had said the night before was not part of her dream

"You just have to remember Sora, let Tai talk first, he needs to be the one to go first" Mimi urged

"Well what if he doesn't say anything" Sora argued

"Then turn on your charm and get him to say it. Say your cold and get in real close to him or something," Mimi said as cheerfully as ever

"Mimi, it's the middle of summer, how could I be cold?" Sora said

"Well then Tai'll know for sure and he'll be able to work up the guts" Mimi said her cheer still shining through "But I've got a flight back to America today so you'd better send me an email telling me how it went ok?"

Together they walked to the park and saw Joe there chatting with Matt and Izzy.

"There you are Joe!" Mimi said, "Hurry up or we'll miss our flight!"

"Joe's going with you to America?" Sora asked her friend

"Yeah" Joe said walking up with two large bags in his hands "There's a medical lecture there I wanted to go to

"I hope that's not the only reason" Mimi joked as they walked to the street to get a cab.

"Oh, Sora." Matt said, "Tai wanted to talk to you, he's over by the fountain"

"Thanks Matt." Sora said 'well here it goes' Sora thought as she walked over to the place that Matt indicated it wasn't hard to find. She saw Tai sitting there with his old Blue headband on, and… were those his old goggles?

Tai saw Sora walking up, he stood from where he had been sitting and walked over to her "Hey Sora" Tai said

"Hey Tai," she said back, "are those you old goggles?"

"Yeah" Tai said looking up and tugging on them slightly

"I'm surprised Davis was willing to part with them," Sora said giggling

"Yeah, he said something like sense the problems in the digiworld have been taken care of I should have them back. But the thing is, he was wearing a brand new pair of goggles when he gave them back to me" Tai said laughing as he put his hands behind his head. They just stood there laughing for a while even though it really wasn't that funny. When they both stopped Tai looked at the ground and said "Hey Sora, you want to go for a walk?"

Sora smiled and said, "Sure Tai, I'd love to"

The two walked in silence for a very long time Sora was actually considering taking Mimi's advice and saying it was cold until Tai said "Hey, Sora… I uh… I wanted to tell you something, but I really don't know how to say it"

'Oh my god, he's really going to say it' Sora thought "Just say it Tai, you know you can tell me anything." Sora said

Then a thought occurred to Tai "Come on" he said and reached for Sora's hand but then his brain caught up with him and he stopped just short of grabbing it. When Sora saw this she brought her hand to his and grabbed it. Tai was shocked but he was too excited over his idea so he started running to a very special spot in the park pulling Sora along behind him

"Tai where are we going?" Sora asked

"You'll see!" Tai said smiling the way he always did, it made Sora smile too when she saw it.

They finally got to the place Tai had thought of, it was the biggest hill in the park the top was covered in trees but if you sat on the edge of the mini forest when the light hit it just right it was the most romantic place in the park. Tai pulled Sora up the side of the hill that they had "rolling races" down the side of when they were younger (did anyone besides me do that as a kid?) Tai let go of Sora's hand when they reached where the trees began. The sun shined through the leaves staining the ground with speckled shadows and the wind blew through the trees shaking the leaves and making the shadows dance. They sat down there and Sora looked at Tai and asked, "So what is it that you wanted to tell me?"

"Well… we've known each other for a very long time right?" Tai asked looking deep into Sora's eyes

"For what seems like my whole life." Sora said kindly

"Well…" Tai continued, "Recently things have been different…"

"What do you mean Tai?" Sora asked knowing full well what he meant.

"Sora, I think I'm… falling in love with you" Tai said his face positively crimson as he looked away.

Sora smiled, scooted closer to him, hooked her arm around his and laid her head on his shoulder then said "Looks like I beat you to the bottom again Tai, because I know I'm in love with you." Tai was shocked but happy, Tai grabbed her hand for the second time that day and laid his head on top of her's gently. Little did either of them know the rest of the group was behind the tree watching, silently cheering them on.

So I'm going to end it there, I'm sure you people wanted the kiss, everyone always does, but count how many people kiss that soon in a relationship, I can on one hand. If that's what you really want tell me you want a sequel or another chapter or whatever, I've thought of something for just such an occasion. And, of course, I don't own Digimon, blah, blah, don'tsuebe, blah.