A/N: Don't worry, I'm working on FoaH - well, actually I'm not, I'm currently working on a one-shot-ish thing for akuroku day that I probably won't get done in time - but this just came to me one lonely evening and I had to write it down. Though it can be read as a dribble on it's own, it's actually a small story on the past for a story that's been plaguing my head for almost as long as I'm writing FoaH. Don't expect that one too soon though, because I'm planning to finish it before I put it up.

Think of this as a small apology for all these months you had to wait for FoaH.

Disclaimer: Characters are owned by Disney and Square Enix (or however that's spelled) all else is mine.

Story is rated K+ because I couldn't bear to rate it any lower and because it's a side story to a T rated story (or maybe higher, who knows?) (and KH is rated 12+ anyway, so the rating here doesn't really matter).

I hope you'll enjoy it!

Roxas was searching, searching and searching, but he knew he wouldn't find Mr. March. That didn't stop him. He didn't want to go to bed alone, but he could feel the tears pricking behind his eyes.

No. He wouldn't cry. He was a big boy – 9 years old already – and big boys didn't cry over something as stupid as losing a stupid stuffed toys. But it was a birthday present from Axel and when he thought about losing something so precious, he couldn't stop some tears from rolling over his cheeks and nose.

Maybe it was better to go to sleep. Go to sleep and wait until the morning. He could search for Mr. March for real then.

With that thought in his head he climbed in his bed and turned of the lights, his arms automatically reaching to hug the plush rabbit, but closing over nothing but thin air. He crawled further under the sheets, and his arms went to hug himself as a substitute. Roxas lied awake in his suddenly too big bed, the linen feeling cold and aloof against his skin, and they didn't suffice as protection from the monsters under his bed, the beast that was hiding in the closet, ready to attack once he let his eyes fall closed, as there was nobody to protect him from these heartless creatures anymore.

Nothing to protect him from the thing behind the curtains that was surely no tree – no tree had such a shape – and that was knocking on his window and calling out his name with a voice like –

Wait. He knew that voice. But it couldn't be!

Not even turning on the lights in his haste, and forgetting to check beneath his bed if the coast was clear of the heartless, he tiptoed as fast as he could to the window, forgetting about everything for a moment because of the Hope. He reached for the curtains and standing in front of him was Axel, only ten years, escaping from his mothers claws in the middle of the night and climbing trees in the dark.

The window flew open as quickly as it would go, and soon there were two pairs of feet standing on the carpeted floor of Roxas's room.

"I thought you'd be lonely." Axel said. No explanation as how he'd seen Seifer walk away from school, a grin on his face and Mr. March in his cruel hands. He knew Roxas couldn't care less, as long as he was there.

"I-I'm sorry." Roxas hitched, tears again in his eyes.

Axel just shook his head and lead Roxas back to his bed. There was a ruffle of blankets, and they lied beside each other, hand in hand, face to face.

"It's alright Roxas, hush, I'm here." Axel whispered and Roxas sniffled and smiled. Axels feet were cold and his smile was warm and Roxas didn't worry anymore about the monsters because they were chased away by his own, personal sun and the too bug bed had turned in a small Fort of down, just for the two of them.

So what do you guys think? Comments, thoughts, critiques?