Saying Goodbye

NearKunn: We got over 400 reviews! I did have a cake by the way. It was tasty. Also one review I got was someone asking me to stop with the after chapter blurb. And all I can really say to that, since it was an anon review is that, thanks for not being a complete ass about it, but I won't stop. You will just have to skip it, the "after chapter blurbs" have nothing to do with the story. Those are just my musings as an author. If you don't like them, tough. I don't really say anything important anyway, so just don't read them. Read the story and let me have my fun. Okay? Now onto the final chapter of Bittersweet.

"Can you believe this guy Roxy? Cause I can't!"

"Sora, you do realize that I have no idea what you're talking about right?" Roxas asked shutting the door to his room and motioning for Sora to find a seat somewhere that wasn't occupied. "Sora, these are my friends; Hayner, Pence and Olette. Guys this is Sora he's my idiot."

"I take offense to being called Idiot." Sora replied with a pout sitting comfortably on Roxas' bed.

"Yes, but you're my idiot." Roxas answered with a smirk sitting next to him. "Anyway, I assume you are talking about Vanitas."

"Yes…so that's what the uniform looks like? Jeez, wasn't it way hotter on the brochure?"

"You're thinking about the girl's uniform." He pointed out.

"Indeed I am. And it would look glorious on you." Sora answered. "Anyway, back to Vanitas. He is a moron. Like of the highest order."

"I've been saying that for years."

"All that pinning, is finally paying off. The moment that Ven, starts showing some interest back in Vanitas, is exactly the moment that Vanitas decides to run away. He's moving. Did you know he was moving? I didn't! And I share a room with him. But I guess he's decided to live with his parents! Roxas! HIS PARENTS!"

"Right, you do realize I don't know anything about Vanitas' parents right?"

"None one does. What I do know is that Vanitas is my cousin, practically my brother because his parents are the type of people that leave a five year old on their sister's doorstep at four o'clock in the morning." Sora answered. "Why would he do this?"

Roxas shrugged and ran a hand through his hair. It was at that exact moment his phone buzzed with a message from Vanitas.

'Whatever my mess of a cousin tells you, you're not allowed to say anything to Ven. He'll just get worried.'

"They're both so stupid…" Roxas commented out loud locking his phone. "I'm gunna make a quick call."

-XxX-

"Aunt Aerith." Vanitas' voice stopped his Aunt in her tracks as she was finishing up dinner.

"What's up Van? Mind setting the table?" She asked with a smile.

Vanitas nodded and got to work grabbing three plates before putting one back. He didn't expect Sora back for a while. As he guessed Sora was probably over at Roxas' house whining to his perpetual crush. The idiots really needed to figure out they were in love with each other soon. He wasn't sure how he handled seeing the morons act like that this long already. "I um…I kinda pissed Sora off earlier, so he…actually…I um…."

"Van." She interrupted turning around to give him a look. It wasn't stern or judgmental. It was that Mom look. The look a Mom was supposed to have. The look that his Mom could never truly have. Because his Mom didn't love like his Aunt did. "I don't really understand your reasons. You've never been good at talking. But I've raised you since you were five years old. Those twelve years I've spent with you haven't really been easy ones. But I wouldn't trade that for the world. You know if you want to come home. My door is always open."

Vanitas didn't say anything. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to say. She hit the nail on the head when she said he wasn't good at talking. Especially about things like this. Instead he nodded and shot her a smile. "I'll call." He added.

"Every day." She added with a smile but it didn't quite cover up the tears in her eyes.

"Hey now, I won't have that much free time." He laughed. "How about once a week or something a little more reasonable like that."

-XxX-

Vanitas heard the doorbell ring as he threw the last of his sketch books in the box. Sora must've forgotten his keys again when he ran out of the house. He pulled the tape over a box when his bedroom door opened. He picked the duffle bag up off the floor and placed it on his bed by the pile of clothes.

"You're moving?" Ventus' voice asked causing him to look in shock and automatically regret it when he saw the hurt look on the younger male's face. It stabbed at Vanitas heart more than anything else.

Looking away he began to stuff the last of his clothes in the bag. "Roxas wasn't supposed to tell you."

"You should have. Didn't you say you loved me?" Ventus' tone was enough. Vanitas didn't have to see his face to know what kind of look he had. "But you're going to leave without even saying anything to me."

Vanitas swallowed the lump forming in his throat.

"I love you."

The words made him freeze and for a moment everything faded away. The too empty room, the bag in front of him…the boxes laying around…

Just Ventus…

He turned to look at the blonde male standing still in his doorway. Hands stuffed in the pocket of his green hoodie. But Ventus didn't look away.

"I know I'm late, but I mean it. I do love you. So the least you can do is give me a proper goodbye." There were tears threatening to fall from Ventus' eyes and he was pretty sure at this point he was no better off, but the younger male never broke eye contact with him.

"I'm really bad at that. Ven I don't think…I could say it if I even wanted to. You're way too important to me for just words." He admitted.

"Then don't say it." Ventus replied shutting the door and locking it behind him.

"Are you okay with that?" Vanitas asked eyes widening slightly.

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't" He answered with a shrug.

Vanitas laughed at that pushing back his tears. This was definitely not the time to cry. He smiled surprising himself with how genuine it felt. "Say it again."

"I love you."

That was all he needed to cross the space from his bed to the door and kiss the blonde. Of every kiss he had shared with Ventus all of them felt different. And this one…was Bittersweet…

-XxX-

Ventus swung their intertwined hands between them as they walked through the airport. Vanitas smirked and leaned over to kiss the blonde's cheek making him blush. "Thanks for coming with me."

"Did you really think I was going to let you get on a plane without giving me a goodbye kiss?" Ventus mumbled embarrassedly.

Vanitas laughed at that and the two joined up with where Aerith and Sora were waiting. His parents had most likely already boarded the plane. Although it wasn't supposed to leave for another half hour. He didn't care. That was more time he got to spend with the people he loved without them hanging over his shoulder.

"Hey Sora…" Vanitas nodded his cousin over out of ear shot of his Aunt. He reached into his carry on and pulled out an old envelope passing it over to the younger. Sora raised his eyebrow and pulled out all the pictures inside, the brunette couldn't suppress his laugh. Inside there was a photo of Sora snooping through girl's underwear…Riku's hair catching fire and getting cut off…Roxas looking extremely furious with green mush throughout his hair, food being flung, Roxas running terrified from cats and dogs alike… "You are my prodigy. Use those pic well." He smiled clapping the younger on the shoulder.

Sora shook his head and pocketed the envelope. "You're still an asshole." He replied but forced his cousin into a hug regardless. "You should probably board asshole."

Vanitas laughed as that and shoved the younger as he would any other time Sora was being a pain. He then glanced over at Ventus. "Do I get my goodbye kiss now? Maybe with tongue?"

"Don't push it." Ventus deadpanned but he pulled the older male down into a kiss anyway. One Vanitas had to force himself to pull back from first as it seemed Ventus refused to be the first one to let go. He pulled away from the blonde with a quiet laugh and brought up their intertwined hands to kiss the blonde's knuckles. "I love my Venny…"

Ventus let out a light laugh. He refused to cry as he'd already done enough of that. "And I love my Vani." He asked.

He was sure he could feel Vanitas heart jump even with their short distance and his own did the same when Vanitas smiled brightly at him. "Five years."

"What?"

"You're not allowed to date anyone for five years." Vanitas commented.

"Why five years."

"You have to go through a mourning period obviously." He answered with a shrug.

"I thought mourning periods only lasted one year." Ventus replied with a joking smirk.

"Well I'm worth it."

"Sora's right. You are an asshole." He added.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Those were the last words the exchanged before Vanitas boarded the plane.

-XxX-

"VANI~~~!" The moment he walked in the classroom door he was attacked. "On one leg Denzel had attached himself and Marlene on the other."

"Hey kiddos." He smiled patting the both on the head and bending down to the five year olds level. "How was your first day of school?"

"Subpar." Denzel answered. "I drew a duck and Marlene scribbled."

"So she's an abstract artist." He shrugged, Denzel was way smarter than he should be for a Kindergartener. He actually kind of reminded him of Roxas.

"I wrote my name all by myself!" Marlene exclaimed.

"Good job! Did you guys make any new friends?"

"Uh-huh!" Marlene answered before running off to grab her book bag.

"Hi are you their Dad?" A teacher, she looked pretty younger herself asked offering him her hand to shake.

"Brother. Actually, I'm their legal guardian so." Vanitas answered shaking her hand. "How'd they do?"

"Oh well...Marlene's a social butterfly and Denzel's a little shyer, but they seem to be getting along really well. And they're both very well behaved." She answered.

"Of course. They really have good manners for everyone but me." He smiled. "I'm glad though thanks."

She blushed and he mentally rolled his eyes. "Actually, there's some paperwork still we need you to fill out." She added grabbing a stack from her desk. "And uh…I don't mean to pry, but…what happened to their parents?"

Vanitas took the papers from her and shrugged. "They went off somewhere. Who knows where? I figured they would. Anyway, they signed legal guardianship over to me. Not like it matters. I pretty much raised them."

"Oh…I'm…sorry." She batted her eyes at him.

He mentally laughed. Keep trying girly, he only had eyes for one person. "Thanks. I'll bring the paperwork back tomorrow."

"Vani? Can we get ice cream now?" Marlene asked.

"Put your coat on." He interrupted. "Nope. The agreement was that you had to have a good week, then we'll get some on Friday."

"Is it Friday?" She asked.

"It's Monday." Denzel answered.

"So no ice cream then?"

Vanitas laughed. "No, but maybe we can get something special for dinner tonight? How does that sound? We'll go get you guys some new shoes and eat out."

"I want pink shoes!" Marlene exclaimed.

"We'll see what we can find." He answered. "Let's go. There's someplace we have to go first."

-XxX-

"Hey Mom!" Ventus greeted as he walked into his home. His Mom waved to him from where she was on the couch. "How's it going?" He looked over her shoulder at the album she was putting together.

"How's it look? Too extravagant?" She asked.

He laughed as he saw it and shook his head. "No it looks nice."

A few years ago she invited Ventus to move back in. Right after she and his Dad had gotten a divorce that was. Much to his chagrin, none of the kids really wanted anything to do with him after that. Not even Roxas who thought it was pretty funny how his homophobic tendencies and his need to use Roxas to look good came back to bite him in the ass.

Their mother had taken to scrapbooking in her spare time. Right now she was putting together the wedding album in which she already had Cloud and Zack's wedding and now she was working on the decorations for Roxas and Sora which was going to be in about a month. "It's fabulous." He smiled and kissed her cheek.

If it was anyone else Ven would probably think they were too young. But Roxas and Sora have been together already for so long. And even though they were only twenty, it was one of those forever things. It would all work out for them.

The doorbell rang and Ventus mumbled an "I'll get it." Before going to answer. "Hel-Vanitas?"

"So it's been five years." Vanitas commented stuffing his hands in his pockets. "How's that mourning period?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to ask you out." He answered. "Well I mean, it won't be much of a date. We'll have a couple of five year old tagalongs."

"No, I mean…what are you doing in town?"

Vanitas smiled at that. "You see, I just got this nice job here in town…so I thought I'd move back. I'm staying with Aunt Aerith while I look up some three bedroom apartments. Of course, I think she's just glad to have kids in the house again. I'm honestly surprised Roxas didn't already tell you. I mean he was the one who told me where to find you at."

"That little traitor. He'll tell me you're leaving but he won't tell me you're coming back. I need to beat some priorities into that kid." Ventus grumbled.

Vanitas laughed at that. "So what do say? Come to dinner with me and my siblings? And I promise next time I take you on date. I'll find a baby-sitter."

"Vanitas…I would love nothing more than to go on a date with you." The blonde smiled. "Of course you do realize this makes you my boyfriend again right? And that this time I won't let you leave."

"Good. I don't want to leave." He smiled leaning forward. Their lips met in a kiss sweeter than any that had come before it. This one didn't have the same drama or mixed emotions as the others. Just one sure emotion bubbling through.

"Ew! Vanitas is kissing someone!" Marlene giggled loudly from the car causing them to pull away.

"Yuck…" Denzel shook his head.

"Are you two going to get married?!" She called.

Ventus blushed. "Uh…sweet kids…"

"Well they're mine so what can ya do?"

Ventus smiled and turned around to grab his coat. "I'll be back later Mom."

"Have a good date!" She called back making him blush even harder. Since the divorce she had become much more accepting. Even to the point of fawning over Zack and Sora like they were her own children. Likely she'd do the same with Vanitas.

"So what now?"

"Well we have the rest of forever to figure that out." Vanitas answered grabbing the blonde's hand as they walked down the pathway back to the older man's car.

"Hey if Vanitas is our new Daddy, does that make Ventus our Mommy?" Marlene asked.

"Nope, he's also your Daddy." Vanitas replied.

"Oh I am?" Ventus said raising an eyebrow at the raven.

"Yea, it's pretty much decided." He answered.

Ventus shrugged as he got into the car and buckled his seat belt. "I can live with that."

NearKunn: HAPPY VANVEN DAY!

Bonus:

Vanitas looked over at his bed which was still adorned with boxes and his duffle bag of clothes. It would be too much of a mood killer to start clearing it off now. Smiling to himself he pecked Ventus' lips one last time and led him over to Sora's bed. His cousin would understand. It was an emergency after all.

Bonus Part 2:

"What are these?" Roxas asked holding up an envelope as Sora walked into their shared bedroom with a towel around his neck.

"Oh shit…"

Roxas opened it and looked inside. "The fuck?!"

"Roxy-bae…I promise! I only plan on using those against Riku!"

"Then get rid of the ones with me in them you asshole!"

Bonus Part 3:

"You got held back again?" Riku asked looking incredulously at Demyx.

"Yeah, but this time I only have to make up about 4 credits." Demyx answered.

"About?"

Bonus Part 4:

"I'm supposed to apologize for my behavior." Seifer grumbled from beside his Grandmother.

"Aw, buddy, I forgive you. You know, you can always count on that." Hayner smirked as the bigger male glared daggers at him.

Bonus Part 5:

Marluxia handed the director his letter of resignation. "I'm sorry, I don't think I can handle another year of these brats." Subsequently that was the same year he had Sora in his class.

Bonus Part 6:

Zidane stack the last box onto the pile and sighed. "Done!"

Vanitas nodded exhausted. Moving was hard but he was glad for the help. Especially since Ventus had been trying to calm Denzel and Marlene down since they'd arrived. The twins had been bouncing off the walls with excitement at their new home. Especially since now they had their own rooms. Between himself, Zidane, Leon, Roxas and Sora they were done with the process of moving everything up the stairs and into his and Ven's new place.

Bonus Part 7:

"Mommy came to pick us up!" Marlene called latching onto Ventus.

"Marlene!" Ventus objected embarrassed now that the teacher was giving him a funny look.

"Can we get ice cream now?!"

Bonus Part 8:

Vanitas intertwined his finger with Ventus' and tilted his head forward to catch the blonde's lips in a kiss. His tongue slipped out and swiped against lips which eagerly parted for him. His hand slide along Ven's side and slipped under his shirt feeling the soft skin there.

"Vanitas, I had a nightmare. Can I sleep with you guys?" Marlene called from the doorway making them break apart.

An hour later and Denzel and Marlene both lay between the two sleeping soundly. Vanitas lay awake with Marlene's knees in his back. Ventus seemed to have fallen asleep as well…

Sighing the black haired male laid back against the pillow. This was parenthood after all.

NearKunn: Now that it's finally over I'm a little teary eyed. This story has been my baby since I was still in high school. I started this my senior year in 2011 and am just finishing it before the new year of 2015. I know updates and everything else from me has died down quite a bit. But fear not. I'm still an avid Kingdom Hearts fan. VanVen will always be my OTP. I think a part of me just didn't want to finish this, but I couldn't drag it on forever…so farewell Bittersweet! I'll always remember how much fun this story was to write. How great my reviewers were and how amazing every single one of you who reads and followed this story. And things have been tough for me lately, so I'm just absolutely blown out of the water by how great some of you are. I smile every time I get a review or a follow or a favorite. You're all amazing. This story like I said is my baby…it's my most popular story to date. I love you all so much!

Vanitas: I'm so…it's over…and you didn't even write any smut…I am disappoint.

NearKunn: Get over it.

Sora: My bed really? You just had to didn't you…

Ventus: I didn't do it!

Vanitas: *throws arm around Ven's shoulder* So…how about we-

Ventus: No.

Vanitas: Damnit! But it's our day!

Ventus: Still no.

Vanitas: How about for Christmas?

Ventus: Again…no.

Axel: Hey Roxy look! *holds mistletoe overhead*

Roxas: *unamused*

Sora: Hey so, thanks again everyone for reading this far. You're all awesome. *throws everyone a cookie*

Demyx: Please leave a review! We like those! It'll at least cheer Sensei up since she's moping over her baby ending.

Riku: Yup.

Roxas: Thanks for the support everyone.

Ventus: It's greatly appreciated!

NearKunn: I'll see you around! Hopefully I'll write more VanVen in the future. And soon I'll probably start up Bit by Bit again. Although I don't know when. Thanks again everyone! I love you all!