Author's Note:

Ok! So! This story I decided to rewrite before I got too involved with it before hand. I didn't like the way I had started it and scraped the old idea for one based in an alternate Kingdom Hearts universe. So I hope this story works better than the last! Thanks for stopping by and remember to leave me lovely reviews!

Warnings:

Yaoi coupling, Lemon(s)

Disclaimer:

I do not own Kingdom Hearts… Sad times…lol

A Second Chance

Prologue

"There were no words to describe the first time I looked into your face, your angelic and pure face. It was almost as if the entire world around me melted away into nothing. Your tiny fingers and toes were curled as you experimented with your legs and arms, stretching them out and quickly pulling them back to your little body. You frowned then turned red in the face before screaming healthily at the top of your pair of brand new lungs. That was our first meeting. You cried and cried until I could figure out how to comfort and calm you. It seemed that you were just hungry and wanted to eat. I gave you back to your sleepy mother and watched as he happily fed you. I could see the exhaustion on his face but I knew that you had been a labor of love…well more like over 48 hours of labored love. Your mother and I couldn't be more blessed to have you in our lives. You may have come earlier than we had intended but all things happen for a reason...We couldn't love you more, my son…"

Roxas smiled to himself and closed the baby book that belonged to his newborn son. He hugged the book to his chest happy to have found the words written by his beloved fiancé. The blond climbed out of his bed and scampered down the stairs from the loft bedroom he shared with a certain fiery redhead. His feet padded softly against the wooden floors as he quietly made his way to the baby's nursery. There he would find his lover sitting in the rocking chair cattycorner to the crib, he had successfully lulled their baby boy to sleep and was now currently on the edge of rocking himself to sleep. His deep, emerald eyes were tired but full of a pride that was only experienced by being a new parent. Roxas sighed softly and smiled to himself at the scene in front of him; he leaned against the doorframe and watched as his lover's eyes finally slipped shut. Biting his bottom lip and blushing softly from the adorable moment, the blond made his way quietly over to the relaxed redhead and gently touched his shoulder, "Axel…"

Slowly, a pair of sleepy, emerald eyes opened and turned to look up at the beauty before them. In the low light of the baby's room, Roxas looked like an angel. His soft features and golden hair seemed to be glowing while those lovely sapphire eyes shimmered with happiness. Axel watched as the smaller male in front him smiled before returning the gesture with a sleepy grin of his own.

The blond laughed quietly and leaned in to press his lips to his lover's forehead. He listened as the redhead sighed softly then yawned. They'd been parents for two days and the responsibility was starting to show through on each of them. Axel was notorious for being up late and five days ago this was certainly the case. The older male had been up writing his final paper for his Art History class while a very pregnant and very female Roxas had passed out cold in their bed. He hadn't a clue that night would be his last as a kid free young man, and he spent it doing homework. Now here he was the same young man but he was now a father and falling asleep at eight in the evening.

"Here…" Roxas whispered while gently taking their infant son from his fiancé and laying him down in his crib for the few hours that he would sleep. He reached over to the baby monitor on the dresser and turned the knob on the front until it clicked. The red LED light came on, letting Roxas know that the monitor was on and functioning. He squeaked softly when he felt a pair of strong arms snake around his slender waist and pulled him so that his back was flush against a nicely toned torso. "Ax…" The sapphire eyed male chuckled softly while feeling the taller man behind him rest his chin on his right shoulder. The redhead usually only got this cuddly when he was asleep or falling asleep. "I think it's about time that we went to bed. What do you say to that?"

Axel groaned softly and nuzzled into Roxas's neck, earning another squeak from the blond. "I wish I could. I have another paper to finish for class tomorrow morning. I should have had it done last night but my duty at that point in time was helping you. You picked a wonderful week to give birth, my love. Nothing like taking care of a newborn and taking care of all my finals in the same week, at least after tomorrow I'll have six weeks off and I'll be able to help you take care of the rugrat."

"I didn't pick anything. Your son decided that he was gonna join us a whole two weeks early. It's not like I had the power to keep him in my temporary womb, you big jerk." Roxas grinned while feeling his lover place a kiss on his cheek then released him. He turned and blinked his eyes watching as the taller male shuffled out of the nursery. The blond shook his head and sighed, he hated it when Axel over worked himself but he knew that was part of the redhead's nightly ritual if not his DNA. He was hoping that the next six weeks would help him break Axel of his bad and unhealthy habits. They had to truly pull together as a team if they planned on properly raising their son. Roxas turned his eyes back to the infant and smiled, he had faith. It felt like he and the redhead had grown even closer since the boy's birth, so he didn't feel like there was anything to fear.

Letting out an exhausted grunt, Axel lowered himself into his chair at his computer desk. He just sat back for a moment with his eyes closed. He mentally prepared himself for the hour long stretch that he would be stuck here, writing his final paper, and that was only part of it, he still had a test to take in the morning. He cursed himself for being such an over achiever but when your family pays for the entirety of your schooling he knew he needed to go above and beyond what was expected of him and he had. He was only 23 and was nearly finished with his Art Major; he would graduate with his Masters Degree in the summer. He'd been busting his ass for this since 10th grade and it was finally almost over, his only obstacle now was fatherhood. Could he juggle everything? Could he keep Roxas happy, keep his perfect grades, keep his job and be a good father? He wasn't sure but he knew for damn sure that he was going try. Opening his eyes, Axel would sit forward and straight in his chair. He picked up his reading glasses and slipped them on so that he could focus better while typing. He had just opened the document to his already 6 page paper when his instant messenger popped open. It was his mother. She was checking in on him and Roxas.

The left side of his mouth curved into a smile as he reached his hands over the keyboard and started to type at what seemed to be a million miles an hour. He took a moment to explain to her that everything was running smoothly and that today had been the baby's first day home. He also told her that Roxas took to being a parent like a fish to water but it was probably because he'd been a pregnant female for the past 10 months and was now certain of his maternal instincts. His mother agreed with him then went on to say that she was sorry that she and his father hadn't been there for the birth of the infant and that they were coming out from Twilight Town to meet their Grandson that weekend. Axel groaned softly, he'd hoped to have the weekend to himself so that he could settle into his fatherly duties and so that he and Roxas could work on getting into somewhat of schedule with the infant. But he supposed it would be nice to have someone experienced with this sort of thing come and guide him. He told his mother that he was looking forward to seeing her and his father and that Roxas would be thrilled as well. They talked a few minutes longer before Axel explained that he needed to be getting back to work on his paper for class in the morning. Of course his mother went off on a silly tangent saying that he should be resting and taking care of "her Roxy" but didn't forget to mention how proud she was of him before wishing him a good night. Axel chuckled softly and shook his head while making sure his instant messenger was signed off and once again as he was getting ready to type another distraction.

"Aku? When are you coming to bed?" Roxas asked him from the door way, leaning against it cutely, hoping to lure the redhead away from the computer for the night.

Turning to look at Roxas he smiled, "Soon. I promise. I have to get this done so that I can turn it in. Just think, after tomorrow morning I'll be all yours for six weeks. Give me an hour tops for this thing and I'll come lay down with you. I'm almost finished."

"All right, Aku. I'll see you upstairs then" Roxas smiled softly and sleepily before pulling away from doorframe and heading up the stairs to bed.

Finally, he might get some work done. He just sat there for a moment, waiting for something else to come up, like the baby waking up again and wailing at the top of his lungs but there was nothing. Once again preparing himself, Axel turned towards his monitor and touched his fingers to the keyboard. He read over what he'd last typed to remember where he was going with this paper then once he was back in the grove he started to type furiously. Now, another thing Axel was notorious for was taking longer than he planned on some things but that usually couldn't be helped and normally worked out in his favor. He'd spend nearly an hour longer on his paper than he had promised Roxas, he was happy and relieved that it was finally done but now he feared that maybe he'd upset his lover. Over the last 9 months, Roxas had been quite moody and Axel seemed to get in trouble for damn near everything. He knew that most of it had really been nothing to get into an argument over but he and Roxas had their quarrels and Axel had his moments of absolute explosion. He really needed to try and learn to handle his temper better, especially now that there was a child in his life. His patience would surely be tested over the next 18 years.

With a heavy sigh, the redhead moved his cursor across the screen of his monitor and printed his document before saving it once more then closing it out. Letting his paper print, knowing it would be waiting for him in the morning, he stood up with a groan and stretched his sore back. Picking up his phone, Axel turned away from his desk and headed out of the room, flipping the light off as he went; this nearly left him in absolute darkness. The rest of the lights in his penthouse apartment were out all that was left was the light from the city spilling through his sliding glass windows that led out to the balcony. Roxas must have fallen asleep, there was usually at least one light on if one of them was up. Axel spared a moment to walk over to his sliding glass doors and gazed out over the city. It was lovely and sleepless. Axel loved living here, there were so many interesting things to see and people to meet and his life was never dull, but he still wondered if a penthouse apartment was still the appropriate place to raise his son. Shouldn't he and Roxas get a house at this point? Really the thought wasn't him but it wasn't about just him anymore. He just shrugged the thought off and looked down at his phone, pushing the power button to cause the backlight to illuminate. It was a surprise to him to see that he'd missed a call and had 3 texts waiting for him. Furrowing his eyebrows curiously, he brushed his thumb over his touch screen unlocking his phone. Emerald eyes instantaneously went wide when he saw that his older brother, Reno, was trying to get a hold of him. He hadn't seen his brother in nearly two years and it was killing him. The two of them had been so close growing up so when Reno went his own way, it left Axel alone, he didn't have anyone else in the world he could trust quite like he could Reno, well other than Roxas. He dialed his voicemail and listened to what his brother had to say to him.

"Hey Ax! Just me, your obnoxious older brother calling to see how you're doing. Must be pretty damn busy to go and ignore me. Mom does tell me that you're the sleepless wonder; especially now. Just means congratulations are in order. I can't believe my baby brother is a father. Anyway, I'm back in town and Mom was wanting me to keep it hush-hush so that she could surprise you buuuut I figured what the hell, we're adults. I miss ya, man. Anyway, I'll be seeing ya this weekend. Call me back, douche bag."

"Fucker…" Axel laughed softly while pulling his phone away from his ear and ending his call, keeping the message in his inbox. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. So much for that quiet weekend with Mom and Dad.

"Aku? Are you ok?"

Axel spun around to see his weary lover standing at the bottom of the stairs rubbing his left eye sleepily. He looked disheveled already for only being out for two hours; his hair, which hadn't been done in its normal style for lord knows how long, was just a messy tuft of golden fluff and the shirt that he had chosen to wear to bed just happened to be one of Axel's button down shirts. The first few buttons were undone, giving the redhead a peek at the soft and supple skin that just happened to be his lover's chest. The hem of the shirt covered the blond's lower half nicely, never once revealing to Axel that there were once again boy parts in between the smaller male's perfect skinny legs. Luckily for the both of them, Axel was too tired to make any sort of sexual advance and he just nodded while speaking, "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just heading up to bed."

"I heard you mutter something, you sounded angry at someone…"

Coming away from the sliding door, Axel would stand next to Roxas and brush his empty palm against the blond's face then leaned in to steal a tiny kiss from those soft lips he loved so much. "I'll explain everything in the morning. But right now, can we just go to bed? I'm exhausted and I have to be up at six to get ready for school, not to mention the baby will probably be awake in a few."

"Mm…" Roxas nodded, still in his half asleep state. "Aku, will you carry me back upstairs?"

"Of course."

Axel gently swept his slender lover up into his arms and carried him up the stairs with ease, laying him down on their bed once they were in their room. As soon as Roxas felt his back hit the mattress he crawled back underneath the blanket and curled up with his pillow and sighed while nuzzling into it. Axel peeled off his shirt and kicked off his jeans, not bothering to throw either piece of clothing into the nearby laundry basket. Climbing into his own bed felt so good, for the past three days he had to spend his nights at the hospital. Those first two were restless; Roxas had been in intense labor and was up all night fighting with his contractions until the infant finally decided to come into the world. Then of course that third night the two of them were taking turns getting up with the baby every couple hours to comfort him and feed him or whatever it was that he was in need of while he wailed at the top of his lungs. His first moments with his son played out in his head, lulling him to sleep quickly, finally finding that deep and undisturbed rest he deserved, that is until the newborn alarm clock woke him up.