A/N: This story follows the canon timeline, but Axel is between seventeen and nineteen (for reasons listed on my profile, if you care).

Some say that the truth will make you free. Xion knew the truth now, or at least most of it, but she didn't feel very free. If anything she was trapped by the decision she knew she had to make. Riku had let her return to the Organization for now, but it was only to say her last goodbyes. One way or another, she was going to leave for good, soon, and her last escape wouldn't be a run for freedom.

One prison to another…

Kingdom Hearts shined brightly as ever through the Grey Area window, laughing and mocking her with its eerie light. Xion wished she could tear it out of the sky and bash it against Xemnas's evil face. But even though she, along with Roxas, had created it, she had no idea how to destroy it. Riku said the Organization's leader was going to use it for something evil… he had used her and Roxas for evil all this time, and she'd thought she was doing good. Getting rid of monsters and trying to get hearts back. What would really happen if the great moon was completed?

She thudded a fist weakly against the window. The sound echoed through the room, but there was no one but her to hear it.

"What are you doing up so late, Xion?"

Or so she thought.

She spun to face Axel. He leaned casually against the wall to the right of the entrance, staring at her with one eyebrow raised. "Or maybe early would be a better word. It's past midnight."

"Just… thinking. I couldn't sleep."

"Same here. What're you thinking about?"

Xion sighed, resting her back against the window and letting herself slide down until she sat vulnerably on the ground, legs cradled against her chest. He knew. Why did he have to ask? "I can't stay here," she whispered anyway.

"Hm?" Axel walked over and sat beside her, one of his legs stretched out and the other bent slightly at the knee.

"I can't stay here," she repeated more loudly, even though she knew he'd heard her.

Axel shook his head sadly and sighed. "So what are you going to do about it?" He couldn't resign himself to the idea that one of his best friends would leave him. But they had to do something; he couldn't stand to see Xion sitting there, looking so hopeless and defeated.

Xion dropped her head into her hands. "I don't know," she moaned through her fingers. She had planned on leaving tonight, but she'd gotten so caught up in her thoughts that she couldn't bring herself to run away. And there was no way she could go with Axel here. Maybe that was a good thing.

Axel placed a hand on Xion's shoulder to comfort her, but didn't reply.

"What do I do, Axel?" She looked straight into his eyes. It was a gaze that he wanted to meet but was too strong for him to bear, a gaze that yearned for him to tell her that everything would be alright. But he couldn't promise that, however much he wanted to, without lying.

She and Roxas think I'm some kind of miracle worker, he thought. In some ways he had worked miracles for them, but he couldn't magically fix this. It was time Xion started to make some of her own decisions.

"Well what do you want to do, Xion?" If she left, he would have to bring her back again. But he hoped she would choose to stay of her own free will.

Xion laughed hollowly, making Axel frown. "I want… I want to be… with you. You and Roxas," she tacked on. The same words I dreamt. Except for the last three words, she'd said them without thinking twice.

For some reason Axel was disappointed by the 'and Roxas,' though he couldn't put his finger on why. Of course she wanted the three of them to be together, and so did he. He shook his head and stood up unexpectedly.

"I know you'll try to leave, and then we'll be back at square one again." Axel looked down at her, but she avoided his gaze. "But forget about that for now. What do you want to do? Let's do something right now, just for fun." He'd do anything to cheer her up, to get the excited, funny, spaz-out-when-she-sees-something-cute Xion back.

"Now?" She asked, perking up. "When you could be getting some valuable sleep?"

Axel laughed. "No time like the present, right? Besides, Saïx'll have us up in about three hours, anyway."

Xion frowned. "I don't know anything fun, except for eating ice cream on the clocktower."

Axel crossed his arms, thinking. She'd wanted to go to the beach, but he couldn't take her there without Roxas. They'd promised to go together.

His mouth widened into a grin. There was one other thing she'd wanted to try. "C'mon, I'll show you at least one thing."

"What is it?" Her blue eyes lit up like she'd found a winner stick in her ice cream.

"A surprise." He opened a corridor and gestured for her to walk through.

XXX

"Neverland?" Realization dawned on her. "Wait, this is where you and Roxas flew, isn't it?"

"Didn't take you long to get it memorized." Axel grinned. "Wait here for a sec'."

Xion's eyes followed him as he jogged towards the end of the island where the ship was docked. Once he was out of sight, she took out a few Heartless (with magic, not her keyblade) and kicked some pebbles around.

This would be the perfect time to leave, she thought, so why don't I? She shook her head, her black hair tickling her face. One more night won't hurt, I guess. If she was going to have a last memory and it couldn't be of the three of them together on the beach, she wanted it to be of her flying with Axel.

"Hey, you're not about to go off and start acting depressed again, are you?" Axel had snuck up on her while she was thinking, his hands forming a sphere around something that glowed inside. "You can worry later. Got it memorized?"

She nodded, suppressing a giggle at his overuse of those three words. "What's that?" She pointed to his hands.

He unveiled the green-dressed creature, his hands unfolding like the petals of a black flower. "She might take offense to being called a 'that,' and she's our ticket to flying."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Miss," she apologized quickly, and Axel laughed at her politeness. Things like that tend to stick out when you live in an Organization filled with heartless jerks. He wondered where she'd heard the word 'Miss' in the first place.

The pixie seemed pleased with Xion's manners and circled around her, spreading the magical dust. When she was through, she stuck her tiny tongue out at Axel.

"Sheesh, what was that for?" He rolled his eyes.

Xion giggled. "Maybe she wants you to use your manners too."

Axel sighed dramatically. "Oh powerful and glorious pixie, I would be honored if you would bestow your magic upon me," he said, sarcasm dripping off his words. Apparently the pixie found it acceptable enough, since she flew around him too. Or maybe not; she gave him a swift kick on the nose before flying away.

Xion shook with laughter. A grin pulled at the edge of Axel's mouth until he swallowed his pride and allowed it to surface.

"Yeah, ha ha. Do you want to fly or not?"

Xion straightened up. "I want to fly."

"Good. Roxas said you just have to think of something happy, and believe." Ugh, I sound like some sappy Disney character. He found himself thinking of Xion, and he levitated off of the ground much more easily than before.

Xion gasped, then closed her eyes to try it for herself. A happy thought. Her and Axel flying was the best she could think of at the moment. It got her off the ground in less than half a second.

"I did it!" She exclaimed through an ear-to-ear grin.

She's so much better at the happiness thing, when she puts her mind to it. Then again, I wasn't so bad this time, either. He laughed at her expression of pure joy, joy he knew couldn't be fake.

"Now comes the fun part," Axel said, taking her hand in his. He willed himself towards the stars, pulling Xion behind. To be honest, flying was disorienting and made him a little dizzy, but Xion's laughter rang out like crystal bells in the moonlit night. He'd fly with her forever if he could listen to the sound.

Being with her… makes me happy. I can't be imagining that, can I?

He looked over at her elated face. How long had it been since he'd seen her smile like that? It took him a moment to realize he felt the same expression on his own face.

Maybe they really have rubbed off on me. Right then, he felt, felt, like the luckiest Nobody in the world.

Xion was startled by the sound of Axel's laughter joining hers, but it only made her want to laugh more. It came from deep inside the heart she wasn't even sure she had. But she felt it, so what else could it be? Right then, her world was perfect.

When they were up high enough to where the island was a tiny dot in the middle of the dark sea, Xion took the lead, spiraling through the sky like an out-of-control firework, but with a little more grace than when Axel had led. She thought her lungs would explode from joyous laughter, but they didn't, so she saw no point in stopping.

"Hey Axel, I hope you're not scared of water!" She yelled back, getting an idea.

"Xion, no-!" The wind whipped away his words as she pulled him into a ninety-degree dive.

They plummeted too fast to scream, in exhilaration or otherwise, just barely closing their eyes and mouths before they split the cresting waves. Xion was shocked by the sudden cold, but Axel took her in an arc back to the open air.

"Xion!" He cradled her in his arms since she had stopped flying on her own. Don't tell me you can get hypothermia in a few seconds! Laying her down on one of the island's cliffs, he set a small magical fire in the air next to her. He put an ear to her chest, breathing a sigh of relief that her lungs were still working.

She coughed out a little saltwater and sat up, rubbing her head. "Maybe that wasn't the best idea."

Axel grinned in relief, dismissing the fire. "I'd say that's an understatement. And for the record, I'm not scared of water."

"Is the great Axel scared of anything?" She asked, teasing even as her small frame shivered.

His gaze fled to the ground, where his fingers played with a blade of grass. She still doesn't know?

"…I'm afraid of losing you," he whispered.

Xion blinked, pushing a clump of wet hair behind her ear. "You know more than anyone I can't stay."

Axel singed the grass next to his hand, cursing himself. This whole thing had been to make her happy, not have her feeling depressed again.

"Why do you have to talk like that?" He asked, a hint of anger in his voice. "I don't care if it's true. That doesn't matter right now, not to me."

"But-"

Axel took her hand before she could protest, and they went soaring into the air again, this time with only a gentle wind where the sound of laughter had been. Stars hung suspended all around them: the true ones in the sky, the mirages reflected in the ocean below. And what's the difference, if we can't reach either? On an impulse, Axel reached for Xion's other hand as well, linking them in a full circle.

"Look at me."

Xion's eyes gravitated towards his, pulled by the energy of his voice.

"Why won't you at least try to be happy? Even if we don't have hearts, it's never stopped you before."

Those beautiful eyes were torn away again. "It's wrong for me to be here." She shook her head slowly. "I don't want to make you go through all this trouble to make me feel better when I'm going to have to leave you."

"Who says you're making me?" Axel's hands gripped hers more tightly. "If you weren't a replica, if you didn't have to leave, would this be okay?"

"I think… It would be more than okay." Xion frowned sadly. Thinking about what could be only made reality seem even worse. "But it's just-"

Axel broke the circle to hold a finger to her lips. She froze, startled by the thin point of warmth. "No more buts. You're my best friend, got it memorized? I don't care what anyone else says. I don't care that you're a replica. You're you, Xion. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

Xion wrapped her hand lightly around the one Axel held to her lips and moved it her side. Why do you always make me feel so… special? She didn't know if that was the right word; she couldn't explain how she felt. If she felt at all. What did I do to deserve a best friend like you? "You're the best friend anyone could wish for, Axel. But-"

Warm arms enveloped her, silencing her voice as Axel pulled her close to him. The heat melted all objections and scattered them like ashes.

"I know you're just beating yourself up. Stop it." Axel wasn't sure what he was doing, why he suddenly felt like he just had to hold her and make sure she was real, make sure she wasn't going to fade or flee right then and there. "Whatever happens, I'll protect you for as long as I can. That's a promise." He found himself shivering as much as she had been earlier. His voice dropped to a whisper. "But when you have to go… I'll let you." The words stung his throat. That doesn't mean I won't bring you back. Maybe that's selfish of me, but I couldn't live with myself if I just let you get yourself killed. "But you don't have to go now. You're the most selfless person I know, Xion. Just this once, think about yourself." He relaxed his arms enough for her to lift her head and look up at him.

"What. Do. You. Want. To. Do?"

Xion dropped her forehead back onto Axel's chest, finding comfort in his unusual closeness. "I want things to stay like this, forever." How does he do that? Make me feel like everything will be okay? "But I also want to do what's right."

Axel sighed. "You're way too good to be friends with me, you know that?" One good thing in the middle of this big mess, and fate has the nerve to try and take her away from me. Go figure. Well, I'm not going to make it easy.

Xion didn't object for once, just floated there, surrounded by Axel's warmth. The scent of summer and sea and cinders wreathed around her. She felt so perfect, so truly happy, with him holding her, and she was terrified of leaving him, leaving her one brief moment of sanctuary.

If I don't have emotions, someone has a lot of explaining to do. Her feelings felt so real that confusion overwhelmed her. Why? Why?

Axel brushed her still-damp hair away from her face. He used his powers to dry the seawater that clung to her head, only to touch wet droplets that cascaded down under her eyes and soaked through his glove. He stared at her for a long moment before realization broke through.

"Xion… You're crying." He wiped the tears away with his thumb.

"That's what-" She sniveled, "-this is called? I feel like I'm-" Another sniff, "-overflowing."

"I knew it," he said, and Xion looked up. "You need a heart to cry. Replica or not, you have one." His grin widened into a true smile, softening his whole face. "Hearts never completely disappear, so you can't disappear. Not forever."

Xion slid her arm out from under his, reaching for his face. A thin finger wiped something from his cheek. Her face lit up like a sunrise.

"You're not so empty either, Axel."

He saw the glimmer of stars reflected in the tiny orb balanced on the tip of her finger. A laugh trickled out from his lips.

"I don't know how you did it, but you've rubbed off on me." He let the tears fall freely, feeling like an idiot but embracing that at the same time. I guess that's just the paradox of having a heart. But then again, haven't I felt like letting this out for a while now? When did it start?

Do I even care?

Xion laughed, making Axel's heart, or whatever passed for it, leap.

"There she is. There's the Xion I like to see." Smiling, laughing, not running from him. But there was still something he had to ask, which he hoped wouldn't drive her farther away again. "Will you make me a promise?"

Her laughter dried up, but much to Axel's relief, the smile stayed. "Anything, as long as it's possible for me to keep."

"Just stay with me for as long as you can. That's all I want."

"I can't say how long that will be, but I promise." She beamed at him, grateful for an excuse to stay, even if it couldn't last.

"Thank you." Axel gave her one last squeeze before releasing her from the hug, but Xion immediately took one of his hands again.

"Thank you, for showing me how to fly. Thank you for everything, actually. I'm glad I didn't leave."

Axel smiled. "We could do something like this every night, if you're not too tired."

Xion shoved him playfully. "You're the one who always wants to sleep. But that sounds like a great idea."

"Good, 'cause there's still lots of things I haven't shown you. Like…" He grinned at her curious expression.

"Like what?"

"Hm, maybe I'll leave it a surprise." He tapped his chin, grinning mischievously.

"Axel!"

"Oh fine, I'll tell you…" He suddenly slid his hand from hers. "If you can catch me!"

It was a childish game, something only people with hearts would participate in, but he didn't care. It would be nice to have her chasing after him for a change, even though he knew it would end quickly. She was much more skilled at flying than he was.

Xion's surprise gave him a head start, letting him drop about twenty feet and fly out towards the open ocean before she recognized the challenge and took off after him. She zigzagged through the air, trailing chiming laughter. Cutting him off and circling around him, she left the sound ringing in his ears before she charged. Axel didn't try to dodge, just held his arms out to his sides and turned the impact into another embrace as he was knocked backwards.

"You can't stay away, can you?" Axel teased once they came to a stop.

Xion blushed, but rolled her eyes to cover it. Something told her it wasn't very convincing. Maybe it was the fact that she made no move to retreat from him.

"I caught you," she said.

"I'm pretty sure I caught you." He ruffled her hair.

Xion sighed. "Are you not going to tell me, then?"

"Don't worry, I was going to tell you anyway." Because I can't stand to make you sad. "There's this place I know that's covered in snow." Her expression told him she didn't know what that was, so he explained, "Snow's cold, fluffy stuff that you can do all sorts of things with."

"What kinds of things?" Xion asked eagerly.

"Well I guess you'll just have to wait until tomorrow and find out." A sly grin tweaked Axel's lips.

"I guess I'll have to, then." Her natural curiosity would hold her there, which was probably what Axel was counting on. "Want to fly some more?"

Axel smiled. We've still got time. And he wasn't going to waste any of it.

"I want to do whatever you want to do."