"A new record. He's almost up to your's Dawn." Crowe said as she finished the time. I watched as Prompto sat on the bench and panted harshly.

"Well, He is my son." I said. I approached the bench and handed him a water bottle. He took it and downed it.

"New record. You're becoming quite proficient at this, Chocoboy." I said.

"Think I'll beat your record?" He asked.

"Not if I can beat it first." I said with a wink. He grinned at me. I grinned back. His phone buzzed and he looked at it.

"Oh, crap! I'm going to be late for graduation rehearsal!" He said.

"Change your clothes and let's go." I said.

As we drive over, he asked the question I knew was bothering him a lot.

"Will you be able to come to graduation?" He asked.

"I'll be there even if I have to fight through every daemon in the world to do so." I said. He smiled.

"Promise?" He asked. I nodded.

"I promise." I said. I pulled over and let him jump out and run to the auditorium. After that, I headed home.

I sat down in my desk and began to write the days events in to journal for Prompto. After I was done, I sat back and stared at the collection of pictures on my desk.

One of Prompto when he was a baby. I was cradling him and he was sound asleep in my arms. I was staring at him with all the love in the world in my eyes.

One when he was a toddler. He was standing on the bench where I was sitting, smiling at my baby boy as he played.

One when he was a child. He was hugging a stuffed Chocobo that he won, a bright grin across his chubby cheeks and his glasses crooked on his face.

One when he was a pre-teen, on one of our work outs. He had lost a lot of weight from when he was a child and that picture. He had started wearing contacts at that point. He was so determined.

One from high school, a newspaper clipping. The picture was of him scoring the wining shot of nationals.

One from his junior year of high school. The musical Dear Evan Hansen with Prompto playing the role of Evan Hansen. A picture of the cast all together grinning brightly after closing night.

The final picture was of Noctis and Prompto, sharing a sweet kiss at a track meet. Prompto had won first place and he had been so happy and excited that he ran up to the fence, jumped up on it and kissed Noctis just long enough for me to snap the picture.

My baby was all grown up.

I felt hands on my shoulders and I looked up and saw Cor there. I smiled at him.

"He's all grown up now." He said. I nodded.

"It seems like only yesterday you brought him to me, wrapped up in a bundle of blankets." I said.

"Amazing how time flies." He said.

"It really is." I said and sighed softly.

"Everything okay, Dawn?" He asked. I nodded.

"It's just... hard to believe. He's nineteen now..." I said.

"He's a man now." Cor said. I nodded.

"No matter how big he gets... no matter his age... he'll always be my little boy. He'll always be my son." I said. I reached up and took Cor's hand. He held my hand.

"I still think you would have been a good father for him, Cor. You cared for him so much when he was little." I said.

"After a while, Dawn, I started to wonder if I would. If I could see past the loss of my own son to love him like my son. I can only hope I would have." He said. I turned my head and kissed his hand.

"You would have. I believe that with my whole heart." I said. I squeezed his hand.

"I wonder if I had really pushed Regis if he would have given in." I sighed.

"The past is past, Dawn. We have to move forward." He said. I nodded.

"All business with you." I said with a sigh. I stood up and went to start preparing dinner and Cor left to return to the palace.

Time skip: 1 year later

I opened the door and was surprised to see Noctis there.

"Oh, Noctis. If you're looking for Prompto, you should be checking the palace training grounds." I said.

"Actually, Dawn. I want to talk to you." He said.

"Me?" I asked. He nodded.

"May I come in?" He asked.

"Sure, would you like some coffee?" I asked.

"I would. Thank you." He said as he entered the house.

"Take a seat. It'll be ready in a moment." I said. I turned and went in to the kitchen. When I returned to the living room, Noctis was starting at a picture that Cor had taken of me and Prompto when Prompto was a baby.

He had been about 2 years old at the time. He'd gotten sick and I ran him to the hospital. We were there all night. When we finally got home, I sat down with him on the couch and just fell asleep. I guess Cor thought it was so cute that he took a picture. And then I had that picture framed. I guess we agreed.

"Here you go." I said. He thanked me and took the cup from me.

"Prompto was a very small baby." Noctis noted. I nodded.

"He was. But he grew up to be tall enough. Sometimes to tease me, he'll put his elbow on my shoulder." I said. Noctis chuckled.

"Sounds like what he does to Emmalee Banks when they train together, though he puts his elbow on her head and that leads to her putting her elbow in his kidney." He said. I chuckled.

"That's my boy." I said.

"So, what did you need to talk to me about, your highness?" I asked.

"Ah, geeze, Dawn. You don't have to call me by my title. Just Noctis or Noct is fine." He said.

"Alright, Noct. What did you need to talk to me about?" I asked. He looked back down to the floor with a blush.

"Prompto." He said. I remained silent, encouraging him to go on.

"I... I want to marry him." He said. My eyebrow rose.

"So your asking for my blessing?" I asked. He nodded.

"I-I would ask his father but..." Noctis said.

"Yes, no need to bring up a sore subject." I said.

"I'm sorry." He said. I sighed and sat back, picking up a picture of Prompto when he was learning to walk.

"You know, when he was in elementary school, he was overweight. One day, I came home from a mission and he was going on daily runs and trying to loose weight. My first thought was that he'd been bullied at school. But he insisted that wasn't the case. I soon figured out that he was trying to impress someone at school. I never knew until high school that the person that had caught his eye was you." I said.

"So then... you knew?" He asked.

"I think I knew he was gay before he did, Noct. But, it wasn't just that. That day, when he first put in contacts and insisted I make his training a little bit harder, I realized than my son was all grown up. I've missed so much. Basket ball games, track meets, soccer games, plays, awards.... so much I missed out on." I sighed. I looked at Noctis.

"I only ask one thing of you, if you're serious about marrying him." I said. He nodded.

"Never let him feel alone." I said.

"He'll never be alone. As long as I live, he'll never be alone." He promised. I patted his shoulder.

"Take care of my baby, Noctis." I said. He grabbed my hand.

"Thank you, Dawn." He said. I nodded and the prince left my house, already mumbling about proposal plans. After I was sure he was gone, I let a few tears slip from my eyes.

"I will not miss my son's wedding." I thought.