A/N: I'm back! Haha, hopefully this is much better than the original :P I will still be using parts of the original, just as different chapters and with some major editing. So. I apologize in advance for any errors I make, and please feel free to let me know about them! *coughifanyonewantstobetathat'dbeawesomecough* I'm gonna attempt to put another chapter up again right now, so yurrrr. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of this story, or the game Kingdom Hearts. A girl can dream, right?

"Oh, he's just blowing off steam. Work is stressful, you know."

My mother tried to explain to us many times why my father was abusive. Each time, the story changed a little. If she would fight back, threaten him, maybe he would stop hitting her. But for now, all we can do is hope.

"Mom? Would you like to go grab a coffee with me? Maybe it'll soothe your nerves. We'll be back before he comes home. I promise."

So, we went. That was the first day I saw him. He was gently handing out coffee, warning people of how hot their beverage is. I could see my mother smiling at me out of the corner of my eye. Even with her swollen, bruised face she looked beautiful.

"Mom, please don't embarrass me."

"Sunshine, no worries. Maybe he'll be the one."

I smiled and felt my face flush.

I made my way to the counter. He smiled at me, the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. His eyes glittered a gorgeous color of green. I noticed his name tag: Axel. It seemed fitting.

"What can I getcha?"

My face turned red. "Uh, just, um, a black coffee."

He smiled, "And for your gal pal back there?"

I laughed, "That's my mother!" He laughed too.

"Well, what is she having?"

"Same as me, please."

He looked in to my eyes, "I'm Axel."

"I read your name tag. How much do I owe you?"

Axel smiled again, "Uh, it's on the house if you tell me your name."

My face got hot, "It's Roxas. But I'd really like to pay for the coffee."

"It's on me Rox." I smiled and put my money in the tip jar. I thanked him quietly.

After grabbing the coffee, I followed my mother to a table by the window.

"Who is he, sunshine?"

I peered in to my cup, "His name is Axel, and he's gorgeous. That's all I know." My mother smiled.

"He's certainly easy on the eyes. And what a unique name. Is he…you know… gay?"

"Well, he was flirting, but I'm not sure."

"From the way he keeps glancing at you, I'm going to say yes."

I stayed at the café till Axel got off work. My mother had left after she finished her cup of coffee. I hope he knew I waited for him. He came out of the kitchen, "Roxy-boy! You're still here?"

I blushed, "Uh, yeah."

He smirked, "And why? Were you waiting around for little old me?"

Play hard to get, my mother always told me that. I turned my back and walked toward the door. "It's a possibility." 1…2…3…

"Roxas! Wait."

I smiled and turned around to face him, "Yes?"

"How'd you get here?"

"Why, I walked."

"May I give you a ride?"

Love at first sight? I think so. Axel and I spoke on the way home. He's 21, almost 22. He's a junior at the community college. He's majoring in communications. As he approached my house, I felt rushed to tell him the way I feel. But I didn't want to scare him off. He pulled in to the driveway, "May I walk you to your door?"

"If you'd like to."

And he did. We stood on the porch. "Rox, I am glad you came in to the shop today."

I was nervous. "Yeah?" My voice squeaked. He leaned down and kissed me gently. I could feel him putting something in my pocket. He smiled.

"Call me sometime.