I don't own any of the characters, namco does. For Moses' sake I hate having to put this in here all the time.

Chapter One

"Waking Up"

The sun shone through the windowpanes and poured onto Colette's sleeping face. Zelos only smiled and tucked a wisp of blonde hair behind her ear. Her head rested on his chest as it had the night before. Her body leaned on his and her left arm lay across his chest and then tucked under his right arm and left her hand to rest on his shoulder. He lifted a hand and stroked it down the side of her face softly. Her deep blues eyes opened to his and her lips curved into a smile.

"Morning Hunny." Zelos smiled and walked his hand down her arm, she slipped her hand inside his and smiled back.

"Good morning Zelos." Colette sighed happily.

"You sleep well last night?" He asked keenly.

"Hm? Oh, I slept fine once I came in here." She paused and looked up sweetly. "Thank you Zelos, I really do appreciate you letting me sleep in here. I hope I wasn't too much trouble."

"Don't worry 'bout it hunny. You sure Lloyd won't mind?" Zelos asked her, his eyes looked hopeful and somehow like a lost child's would.

"I don't think he'll mind. He was gone last night and I was so scared…it was only one night…it's not like it meant anything." Her voice shook and her eyes began to gloss over with tears as she spoke.

"Colette, don't cry…it's ok hunny, calm down…" He coaxed her but only saw her eyes growing wetter with tears. Zelos sighed and pulled her into his arms.

"It's alright hunny…everything's gonna be alright…no one's going to get mad at you…" He soothed again.

From outside the door Sheena listened jealously. "I've never heard him like that…so sincere…like he really cares about her…he's never like that about me." Sheena sighed and walked away.

"Zelos…I was so scared…I didn't know what to do… Lloyd was out looking for Kratos again…it doesn't usually bother me that he goes to look every few nights…but I couldn't sleep after what happened today…" Colette finally let all the tears fall from her eyes and cried against his shoulder.

"Colette…it was upsetting seeing Raine like that...But Lloyd won't but be angry with you for staying the night with me. We're best buds, Lloyd and me. He might suspect something knowing me, but I'm sure once I explain this to him he'll understand."

"No Zelos…he'll just act like he doesn't mind…but once we're alone…" Colette sobbed hysterically now but muffled the noise against him.

"Colette! What are you saying?"

"Once we're alone he can stop pretending…he'll be angry with me…"

Zelos sat there in shock. Could his best friend really be doing something bad enough to make Colette act like this?

"Colette…what does he do when he's angry?"

"He yells at me…" She dug her nails into his hands and continued through sobs. "Zelos…he hits me when he's angry."

"Colette, hunny! You can't be serious?"

Colette only nodded solemnly. Her eyes were big and shiny, he could only stare into them. Deep pools of immense pain and distress.

"Colette hunny…does anyone else know?"

"No…I've never told anyone…"

"Why not?" Zelos asked softly while wiping more tears out of her eyes.

"Because it wasn't always like this."

"What do you mean hunny?"

"He used to never yell at me or hit me or anything…it hasn't been like this all along."

"When did it start?"

"I'm not sure, maybe two weeks ago? Yeah, about two weeks ago."

"You should have told one of us. Has he hurt you darling?" Zelos' eyes were caring and surprisingly innocent. He started to lift the edge of her long, silk gown when she quickly shoved the dress back down.

"Colette, did he hurt you?" He said moving his hands off the gown.

"N…n…no…he didn't hurt me, I'm fine!" Colette said trying to escape his grasp weakly.

"Colette, he hurt you, you're lying, I can tell when you're lying Colette…you know better than to lie to me." Zelos didn't let her go still, he just looked at her confused and worried.

"Zelos…he didn't hurt me!" Colette grew more upset now and bit her lip nervously.

"Colette, it's alright…just let me see what he did to you." Zelos held her against himself tightly and lowered the strap on her gown. Her body shivered and grew taut as he untied the ivory ribbons on the back and slipped it off. Her face was full of fear as her eyes scanned his face for his reaction. Bruises and welts rose on her fair skin, cuts and gashes were crimson with anger.

"Colette! This is more than getting slapped across the face, this is serious abuse!"

"Don't tell the others Zelos. Please don't tell them, he'll only get angrier with me and hit me more." She was helpless and lost in his arms, her body lie there weakened and frail

"Colette! Why don't you fight back?"

"It only makes it worse, he's too strong. I've tried but he seems to be much stronger than he ever was before, no matter what I do he'll always be too strong for me."

"Colette, you should have told me sooner…" Zelos sighed and stroked her hair softly.

Colette's eye grew wide as she drew a blanket over her bare body.

"Lloyd!"

Zelos turned but the greeting he received from his friend was nothing like what he was used to.

Yeah guys! Sorry that was wicked short but there will be more up later. Please R&R! That'd be super awesome. Thanks.