EDIT: Nothing major, just fixed a few things to make the next chapter flow better

a/n: Hello you lovely people :3

This is just a little story that came to mind one day, and I had to write it or I would've gone crazy. Not sure how long it'll be, only that it'll contain AkuRoku...eventually xD and since it's almost AkuRoku day, I figured I'd just start posting now! Fun, right?

I hope you guys enjoy the first chapter of Parenting!

~A-Far-Off-Memory

Full Summary: AU. Roxas Strife is a 19 year old college student struggling to get through school while dealing with the burden of taking care of his younger brother and sister. He was all they had, since their father died in a car crash and their mother left because she couldn't stand to look at her own children.

But when his brother starts to spiral out of control due to his ability to be easily influenced, Roxas is left relying on the one person he never thought he would-cocky, arrogant Axel Brenton.

But is Axel really as bad as he seems, or is there more to him than just a pig who's trying to get into his pants? Roxas will have to learn to look deeper than just the surface, and that sometimes, taking risks in love is the best thing you can do.

Chapter I

"Roxy! Roxy! Roxy!"

Roxas groaned, cracking an eye open to find blue eyes a few shades darker than his own staring at him. Naminé was hovering over him, hair thrown up messily—he could tell she'd tried to do it herself by the large chunks that hung down—and looking eager about something.

Roxas loved his baby sister to death, but seriously? It was before noon on a Saturday. She knew not to wake him up before noon on a Saturday, especially after the week from hell that he'd had. It had been her and Ventus' first week back to school after winter break, and he'd been scrambling to make sure they had what they needed. And now, all he wanted was to just sleep in…was that so much to ask?

She poked his cheek. "Are you awake yet?" she questioned, leaning back to rest her bum on her folded legs.

Sighing, he sat up, rubbing his face tiredly. "Yeah, kiddo, I'm up." A colossal yawn broke free of his mouth. "What is it, Nami? Couldn't you have asked Ven instead?"

She giggled. "Venny left a little while ago! But I need you to take me to my friend's house, she just called and asked if I could come over, then I told her yes because I knew you would let me." Her eyes turned big and pleading, like a puppy. "I can go, right Roxy? Please please pleeeeeease?"

Roxas' brow furrowed. "Wait, where did Ven go?"

She immediately looked away. "He told me I couldn't tell you…he gave me some munny!"

Instantly, Roxas grew suspicious. Reaching for his wallet, he pulled out a ten munny ball, holding it out to her. "You can have this if you tell me where he went."

She pursed her lips, considering it. "Will you take me to Kairi's, too?"

Sighing (and feeling like he was selling his soul to an adorable, little blonde-haired devil), he nodded. Squealing with delight, she took the offered munny and tucked it into the pocket of her overalls.

"Venny said he was going out to see one of his friends. He said you didn't like him, which is why I was supposed to keep it a secret." Suddenly, her eyes widened. "Roxy, Venny won't be mad at me, right?"

Roxas stood, pulling her into his arms and twirling her. "Don't you worry, kiddo. I won't tell him you told me." Smiling at the high-pitched squeals of laughter, he spun her around once more before setting her on the floor, ruffling her hair. "Let me take a quick shower, okay? Why don't you call your friend and tell her you'll be there in half an hour." Pausing for a moment, he added, "And ask who's home, too."

Nodding, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. She was so little that she barely even reached his hip. "Thank you, Roxy! You're the bestest big brother ever!" she exclaimed before scampering off, presumably to call her friend. Meanwhile, Roxas headed to the bathroom for a quick shower.

As he rinsed, he thought about Ventus. He knew that there was only really one possibility as to who he was with—it had to be Vanitas. After all, who else didn't he like? Only Axel, really, and he'd never seen the two of him hang out in his life. Actually, he didn't even think they really knew each other...they'd only seen each other in passing when Ventus walked to Roxas' university one day after school to meet with him.

No, it had to be Vanitas.

Roxas turned the shower off, flooded with worry for his younger brother. Vanitas was older, and he was a jerk—he was friends with Axel, after all. He just didn't want him getting hurt, and he knew that that was the only possible outcome including Vanitas. There was something off about him, something that Roxas just didn't like.

Wrapping a towel around himself, he exited the bathroom. Naminé was waiting for him, smiling immediately upon seeing him emerge. "Kairi said that her older brother is there. He's really nice, I promise—I met him before, so did mommy. So you don't have to worry, okay Roxy?"

Smiling, he nodded. "Alright. Gimme a minute to get dressed, and then we'll go."

"Okay!" She ran into her room, most likely to grab some dolls or something like that. Roxas shook his head, still smiling, and went to his room to get dressed. He pulled on some tan shorts, as well as his favorite faded Batman shirt. He then rubbed his head vigorously with his towel, leaving it nearly dry and feathery. Not wanting to bother gelling it, he simply pulled on a grey beanie.

"Roxy, are you ready yet?" Naminé called from the other side of the door.

"Yeah, come in if you want," he told her, adjusting his hat so that it sat just right. The door opened and Naminé stepped in, looking frustrated. Seeing the look, Roxas knelt before her. "What's wrong, Naminé?"

She sighed, pulling at her hair. "Can you fix my hair for me? I tried to braid it, but…I don't know how…" Her eyes lowered, lip quivering.

Eyes soft, he tilted her chin up and kissed her forehead. "Of course I will. Turn around."

This brought a wide smile to her face. She turned and he pulled out the elastic in her hair, gently combing through the long honey-blond strands with his fingers. He then started weaving it into a French braid, securing it with the elastic once he was done and letting it fall down to her butt.

"There you go, monster," he told her, poking her nose once she's turned back around. Giggling, she leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, Roxy!"

He grinned. "Anytime, kiddo," he replied, standing up. She immediately took his hand, and he tucked his wallet and keys into his pocket and grabbed a plain black sweater before they left the room. "How about I teach you how to braid sometime?"

Gasping, she looked up at him with wide blue eyes. "Really?"

He nodded. "We can practice on one of your dolls."

Those pretty eyes sparkled at that. "You're the best!"

Chuckling, he just began swinging their arms between them, marveling at the fact that it was possible to love someone as much as he loved his baby sister.

He knew things had been tough for her since their father had died, and then worsened by their mother moving them across the city before deciding that she had to leave for a while. It was bullshit, really—she'd left because she said she couldn't look at any of her own children without seeing their father. So that left him, a nineteen year old college student, to take care of a seventeen and six year old. She sent money for bills, of course, but the two elder Strifes had been forced to get jobs to pay for food and other things, like a babysitter for Naminé when they were working or unable to watch her.

It wasn't fair, none of it, but there was nothing to be done about it. Until their mother smartened up…Roxas had to act as mother and father to his brother and sister. He didn't really know if he was up to the task, but he was just going to do his best and hope it was enough.

a/n: Aw, isn't little Nami just the cutest? :3

So...yeah. That was chapter one. I hope you guys liked it, and if not, I'll just cry in the corner or something, nbd. But if you did like it, please leave a little review, or even just a follow or favorite! They brighten my day lots, and they make me want to write faster! So please take the time to do so, and if you don't, well I won't be too broken up about it, I'm just here to write xD

Also, if you have the time, please check out my two Dexion oneshots, and also my other story I'm working on! I promise you won't regret it :)

Well, until next time!

~AFOM

P.S. If anyone's interested in betaing this or any of my other stuff, please let me know! It's always nice to have another pair of eyes going over everything and catching mistakes I miss xD