Declaimer: "Me and my crew do not own Kingdom Hearts…"

Kiome-Yasha: "Okay, so I'm writing the first chapter to this story, hopefully I can make a good and interesting beginning on this. If not, the others can pick up on my failure, lol."

Saving Gravity Chapter 1

After a long a vigorous week of court meetings, Roxas was able to find an apartment for himself, holding a one-year old Ventus close to him as he opened the door to their new home. He had been given the privilege to keep custody of his and Xion's son, leaving his ex-wife the victory of having the house. He grumbled from the odds, but was left pleased with what he had received from the bargain, gazing down at Ven while he slept. He had placed the miniature child inside a baby carrier, the design covered with black and white checker dots. He entered inside the mediocre apartment; the place already filled with boxes and disoriented furniture. Roxas sighed from the mess, knowing he still had to unload everything, although he already had prepared a bed for him and Ven.

The infant moaned with distress in his sleep at this time, feeling the faze of his hunger kicking in. Roxas quickly took the small infant out of the carrier, placing him on the highchair he had bought during the week. To his luck, Ven was still asleep, which gave him time to get adjusted in organizing the place; but for safe precautions, he took out some Gerber food and placed it on the counter.

While Roxas started to unpack, he took notice how he didn't know any of his neighbors inside Sunset Hillside. Not that he really had much, since he was all the way down the hall, but he still had someone next to him who occupied the room number 212. He could hear faint shuffling sounds from next door, gently shedding off the tapes to the boxes, as he wouldn't wake up his son.

"I really should get acquainted with them." He mentioned aloud with a soft tone, taking attention on the wall as he tried to decipher the number of residences living next door.

He didn't take long to dwell on it though, taking his concentration back to his original task. He took out some stuff for the kitchen first, deciding to be the most important step; along with the fact he was already at the location.

He took whatever he got, placing everything in the proper setting around the kitchen. He heard Ven moan in his sleep, alerting him that his son was about to wake up at any moment and wail for food. He gave a fatherly smile though, finding he couldn't complaint, as he would do his best to raise the small blond.

It was at this moment that Roxas's cell began to ring, causing Ven to stir from his nap, his fists and legs kicking with annoyance. Roxas hushed his son to go back to sleep, making haste to pick up his phone from across the room.

He grabbed the mobile phone, sliding it open, "Hello…?" He asked patiently, gazing over at Ven to check on him.

"Roxas, haven't you installed your phone yet?" It was Xion.

He tried not to sound annoyed, considering all she'd put him through, "Well, I just moved in this week, things take time you know…" He didn't understand the problem if she could just call him on his cellphone.

"Fine…" She didn't want to argue, "Look, I just wanted to make sure you remember that I have Ventus this weekend."

He scoffed from the reminder, "Yeah, you told me that like an hour ago. For someone who didn't even want to claim custody of him, you sure do bother in trying to have him over the weekend."

"Well, I am his Mother; shouldn't I have the rights to be with my son?" She asked lightly, though her tone held vice.

Roxas sighed heavily through the phone, deciding to avoid the remark on how she didn't even want to keep their son when they found out she was pregnant in the first place. She had admittedly announced how she wanted an abortion, but Roxas convinced her not to, feeling confident enough that they were ready; though obviously not.

"Look, just make sure to drop him off at my house on Friday." She clarified clearly through the buzz of the phone.

He shook off the exasperated look on his face as it was soon replaced with confusion, "Wait…! I have to drop him off? I thought you said you were going to pick him up?"

She tried to defend herself, "I don't get out of work until late at night! I'll be too tired to pick him up. So, just drop him off when I call you." She solidly insisted, proving that she wasn't going to back down.

Roxas could only sigh with defeat, "Fine, I'll drop him off; just be sure to call me when you do!" He declared with a strict tone, doing his best to keep his voice low in order not to disrupt Ven's nap.

After a few exchanging livid words to each other, Roxas was able to end his call with Xion. He closed his eyes momentarily before taking his attention back on the sleeping one-year old and boxes. Soon he heard someone begin to knock on his door, vibrating the sound throughout the apartment as it echoed. He quickly opened the door in order to evade Ven's tantrum, becoming slightly baffled in seeing the landowner named Saix.

"Roxas, I find your stay here to be pleasant so far?" He spoke with a delicate and stern voice, never faltering his words.

"Um, yeah…as good as it gets, I suppose." The early twenties adult replied hesitantly, clearing his throat in order to shake away his discomfort.

"I just came to deliver a message when your first rent payment is due."

"Oh…" The blond deflated slightly, "When is it?"

"I expect payment due on the first day of next month…" He got up close to Roxas's face to emphasize the seriousness of the situation, "And be sure not to be late." The man chastised with a threatening glare, causing Roxas to step back as he sought protection from his door.

The owner then smiled humbly, "I hope you enjoy your stay here at Sunset Hillside. Be sure to get along with the other neighbors here, I assure you, they are all quite friendly."

"Yeah…I'll take note on that." Roxas congested shortly; taking in account that Saix wasn't a landlord to be trifled with. The two males bid farewell to each other, wishing the other to have a good day.

As soon as Roxas had closed the door though, he turned around and spotted his son to be wide-awake. He could see the wrinkles begin to form on his face, his whimpers picking up levels as his face frowned with despair. Before Roxas could make a leap in calming his son down, little Ventus let out an agonizing cry, disrupting the silence inside the apartment. The howling baby's father jumped into action, grabbing a spoon from one of the drawers he had filled, washing it under the sink before lifting the lid to the Gerber jar.

Roxas rushed over and sat himself down, wrapping a small apron around his offspring's neck, "Don't worry, Ven. I'm going to give you food now." The infant looked hopeful from the term 'food', but such anticipation was washed away when he saw what his father had to offer him. He tried to shift away as he pushed himself against the highchair's table, scrunching up his features in disgust as he gurgled with displeasure.

"Come on, Ven…!" Roxas tried to reason with the child, picking up a spoonful of the mashed contents inside, "You're hungry, aren't you?" He added softly, attempting to feed the boy as he drove the spoon between his closed lips.

Ventus spluttered from the ration that was in his mouth, spitting it out as it dripped down his chubby chin. He felt the mess he had made, which only caused him to be frustrated even more. His face turned red as he cried even harder, his mouth still full with food as he refused to swallow it.

Roxas could only groan from the sight, "Dammit, Ven…" He soon scolded himself for saying such a bad phrase in front of his son. He didn't stop though, going for a second round against the baby as he tried to force him to eat, "This hurts me as much as it hurts you…" He explained with authority, which only caused Ven to cry with disagreement.

It wasn't long until both heard the door knocking, halting Ven's cries momentarily before he started to wail again. Roxas heaved heavily from the disruption, placing everything down on the table before heading to the door. He didn't bother looking through the peephole, turning the knob to the door as he swung it open. He was caught out of breath though when he caught sight of the visitor before him, catching her off guard as he had opened the door abruptly.

"Um…hello?" She peeked inside, noticing the baby who was gawking at her, "I couldn't help but to hear the little guy there from next door, do you need any help?" She offered softly, her expression soon changing to embarrassment, "Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't even introduce myself! My name is Namine, I'm your neighbor from the room 212; it's nice to finally meet you…um…"

"Roxas…!" He sharply added, becoming too distracted as he realized his son wasn't screaming anymore, though he heard faint sobs.

She giggled teasingly from his startled reply, "What's his name?" She directed her eyes over at the human cub; who continued to whimper as he looked at her with interest.

"Oh, that's my son, Ventus." He looked over at the angelic beauty, "Would you like to come in Miss Namine?"

"Are you sure? I don't mean to intrude." She shyly included, becoming insecure from his offer.

"I don't mind at all, it's good to make some friends since I'm new here."

"Oh, that's right, you just moved next door to me. Sorry I haven't come by to welcome you here in Sunset Hillside, I've been rather busy." She explained with a light tone, entering inside the incomplete dwelling as she approached the young Ventus, "How old is he?" She questioned humbly, already beginning to wipe the mess he had made on his chin.

Roxas didn't seem to mind the treatment she was giving to his son, as it kept him quiet, "He's a year old; he's mine and my ex-wife's son."

"Ex-wife?" She asked with dismay, hearing Ven giggle as she softly cued at him soon afterwards.

"Yeah, we got a divorce last week." Roxas humorously explained, 'After she had slept with another guy behind my back…' He added grumpily inside his mind.

Namine gave a sympathetic look as Ventus begged for her attention, "I'm sorry things didn't work out for you guys."

"Oh, don't worry about it." Roxas discarded the subject away as he went into deep thought, 'Why am I telling a random stranger about my personal life anyway…?' He mentally asked, soon taking notice of how the girl was scouting his kitchen, "Is there something wrong?"

She shook her head, giving him a comforting smile, "No; but I have a question…" She turned and pointed at the jar and spoon that was displayed on the table, "Were you trying to feed him that?"

Roxas nodded absent-mindlessly, "Yeah, but he's not taking it…"

"Hmm…do you perhaps have a bottle, some milk, and some baby formula?" She asked innocently, gliding a hand over Ventus's untamed mane.

"Um, yeah sure…do you need them?"

"Yes, I think it's something that he may want…" She gave a positive smile, striking the older male to be stunned as he could only blush in humiliation.

She had boiled some milk inside a small pot over the stove, mixing the formula into the brew as she slowly mixed it. Roxas gazed at the woman in awe, taking time in studying her features. She had flaxen light hair, decorating the blonde silks into a messy bun as two pieces of paintbrushes serve as chopsticks. Her hands were dirty, carrying many dashes of colors over her thin and pale fingertips as they sank into her nails. She wore an artistic garment around the front of her body, serving as an apron as smudges of paint and charcoal could be seen over the fabric. She had the traits of an artist, but there was something else divine about her as she glowed from the task she was doing.

After much preparation for the boy's bottle of milk to be complete, Namine was able to feed the infant properly. She pulled Ventus out from his highchair, causing him to squirm before settling into the woman's arm without any objection or fear. She carefully brought the tip of the bottle over to his anxious mouth, propping the sucker inside as he began to drain the fluid with light strokes.

Roxas was amazed over Ven's calm behavior, hearing the light sucks he made as he drank from the bottle without any fuss. Namine smiled gleefully at the boy, finding his eyes beginning to droop, "If he's a year old, then that explains why he sounded so cranky."

"Huh?" The hopeless parent conveyed with confusion, "Why would he be so upset?"

She giggled from his lack of awareness, "He's teething…"

'Oh…that explains a lot…' Roxas mentally announced with exasperation, pinching his nose with the tip of his thumb and forefinger.

"It's better to give him a bottle for awhile, so that way, he has something to chew on." Ventus coughed halfway through, effecting Namine to draw the bottle back as he spat the liquid out, cleaning the mess quickly afterwards. It didn't stop little Ven from wanting more though, pressing his mouth forward in order to continue his feeding, producing a short whine as Namine passed the tip back over to him.

"Um…" Roxas began; catching the young female's attention, "Thank you…"

She gave him a humble smile, revealing the flawless curves to her pink lips, "You're welcome, I'm glad I was able to help." She gazed down at the boy in her arms, finding him to be fast asleep already even though he continued to suck silently, "Does he talk yet?"

The blond shook his head, "No, he could say 'Pa', but that's about it…the rest is just baby talk."

"How cute; I'm sure he'll be able to speak a lot more very soon." Namine stated adoringly, shifting the bottle away from Ventus's lips as he groaned quietly in his sleep, "There, the little guy should be out for the rest of the night." She handed the bundle over to Roxas who graciously took his son from the female's slender arms.

"Thank you again…" He tried to remember her name for a moment, "…Namine."

"It's no problem, like I said; I'm glad I was able to help…" She gazed over at the two with a nostalgic look, shaking away the expression as she began to make her way out, "Just don't forget to use the bottle for a little while." She advised gently, placing the nearly empty bottle on the counter as she made her way out the door.

"Goodnight." She commented softly, closing the door behind her as she headed next door to her own apartment.

'Maybe…just maybe…things won't be as bad as I thought…' Roxas mentally mused.

But as soon as he had thought that, Ventus started to stir and whimper in his sleep. It wasn't long until the small child let out a dreadful wail, sobbing with newfound irritation after losing the comforting warmth Namine provided to him. Roxas could only groan with despair of his luck, predicting the rest of the night to be a long one, though with a possible hope for a new beginning.

End Chapter

Kiome-Yasha: "This story's authors are Apathetical, Kiome-Yasha (Me), Startscribbling12, and Timbermoonkiss! Leave reviews please!"