Apathetical here:

And now without further ado I present to you: Saving Gravity chapter three!

Darn doesn't rhyme to particularly well.

So I'm hoping this chapter wasn't too much of a failure :) and sorry for the shortness!

Anyone know of a word that rhymes with three?

Chapter 3

Slowly Roxas ambled into the kitchen careful not to step on any of Ven's toys, and avoiding the sound making ones all together; the little tyke had recently taken to throwing things, something Roxas wasn't too overly excited about. No mater how fast you were, a toddler could throw faster.

"And harder for that matter." Roxas muttered rubbing the side of his head, were he had gotten hit by a wayward toy.

Yesterday Ven had thrown a tantrum of sorts, kicking screaming and throwing things in every direction. Roxas, of course, got hit repeatedly as he wrestled with the child. Eventually Namine came over to lend a hand, quickly hushing to the toddler. She made it look so easy, causing Roxas to feel more than a little embarrassed.

'Ven has certainly taken a liking to Namine' Roxas realized; weren't toddlers supposed to be abnormally aware of strangers?

Shaking his head, and banishing his thoughts he stepped into the kitchen, briefly debating between food or coffee. Settling on something hot and liquid like, Roxas began looking through the many MANY still unpacked boxes, attempting to find the coffee maker. Discovering it in a still half unpacked box, he gently set the appliances on the counter, careful not to make too much noise lest he wake up Ven. One of these days he'd get around to finishing unpacking, but between Ven, Namine and searching for a new job, who has the time? Certainly not him!

Glancing at the clock Roxas decided he had a little while before the toddler decided it was time to wake up and have breakfast. Carefully stepping into the living room, he began to gather the little tyke's strewn toys, gently handling the ones that made even the slightest noise. Sighing, he less than gracefully deposited the toys into the laundry basket, currently being used as a toy box for Ven.

Looking around, he realized just how bare the apartment looked, only the essential items had been unpacked, everything else were still in boxes. Resolving to start seriously unpacking the moment Ven was at his mother's, he looked around debating over what he should do.

Roxas made his way to the bedroom absentmindedly deciding he should get dressed before an upset toddler got in his was. He was just in time to hear the familiar wail of a now awake and very hungry little boy. Sighing, Roxas stepped into the room; Ven was shaking the bars of his crib like a inmate would the bars of his prison. Briefly Roxas was thankful the bed was sturdy and could withstand a toddler's temper…hopefully. Smiling Roxas reached for Ven, drawing him up into his arms. He started to make his way to the kitchen, but before he even got out of the room Ven started up his familiar cries.

Looking at the little boy, Roxas couldn't help but ask aloud "Now what?" only a little exasperated, taking care of a one year old child on his own was starting to take it's toll on him.

In between his cries, Ven was enthusiastically pointing towards his crib, Roxas nodded his head, understanding what Ven wanted for once. The white teddy bear Namine had given him was propped up against the edge of the crib. Holding Ven closely, he grabbed the stuffed bear, and passed it to the now content toddler. Who proceeded to cuddle the bear, refusing to let go.

"If only you could be this easy to understand all the time!" Roxas mumbled half to himself half to the little boy, who had now presided to demand food.

Walking back into the kitchen, Roxas placed Ven in the highchair, before turning to the fridge and grabbing a bottle he'd prepared the night before. Remembering the coffee still in the pot, Roxas grabbed himself a cup of coffee, and leaned again the counter watching his one year old son happily devour the formula.

At 10:30, Roxas figured it was about time he got Ven ready for a weekend with his mommy, Xion. Sadly the toddler didn't agree with that idea, and promptly threw a temper tantrum every time Roxas attempted to pick him up; Ven was content with his toys. Getting slightly annoyed, Roxas forcibly scooped the upset child into his arms, attempting to comfort him all the while sneaking closer and closer towards the bedroom.

The moment he set Ven down in order to grab a set of clothes, Ven was off again, heading straight back towards the living room, and his collection of toys.

Muttering about babies that couldn't stand still, Roxas stepped back into the living room.

Ven was no were to be found.

After a quick search of the living room, one thing was apparent, Ven wasn't there. More then a little panicky Roxas began to scour the apartment, calling Ven's name every few seconds. Again the little toddler was unable to be located. Now more then a little worried, Roxas grabbed the phone unsure of what to do what if Ven was just playing hide and seek? 'That's silly' Roxas chided himself 'he's a year old, he doesn't understand hide and seek'.

Just when Roxas was debating about calling Namine in to help find the child, the phone rang; in a daze he pressed talk, and mumbled a half hearted hello.

"Roxas." Xion's voice was harsh and cut through his upset stupor "I want Ven dropped off around 12:00, no earlier, no later."

"What! I thought you had to work!" Roxas was more then a little annoyed at his ex's abrupt change of plans.

"I ended up getting the day off. I expect to see him at 12." Xion hung up, leaving Roxas to stare in shock at the phone, wondering why she wouldn't pick Ven up herself then.

Glancing up at the clock Roxas nearly screamed in frustration

11:00 am. Only an hour till Ven was supposed to be at Xion's place.

'Of all things to happen it had to be this! I had to LOSE my own son.' Roxas resumed his frantic search around the small apartment, yelling out Ven's name.

"I believe this is yours"

A voice behind Roxas startled him out of his search.

Namine stood by the doorway to the kitchen, wearing the same paint splattered dress she always did, hair tied up in a messy bun, brown paper bag in one arm, and in the other a giggling and very much alright, Ven.

"Oh…there he is." Roxas mumbled embarrassed that Namine had been the one to locate Ven.

She smiled, understanding "The front door was open a little bit; he must have wandered out into the hall. I noticed him on my way back from getting groceries."

'Ahhh', Roxas realized, 'that would explain the bag'

"I was attempting to get him ready for a weekend with my ex, he apparently had other plans." Roxas quickly supplemented, "He ran off."

Namine smiled and nodded her head, understanding completely "Did you want some help?

Roxas nodded his own head gratefully, and Namine set to work getting Ven dressed while Roxas gathered a few toys and clothes the toddler would take with him to his mother's.

Roxas watched Namine, she could keep the little toddler entertained enough to stay in one place but still manage to get him dressed and ready to go. It shocked him that it was even possible for Ven to stay still.

"So Namine, what are you planning to do today?" Roxas mentally chided himself for the abrupt lameness of his question.

"Not to much, I have a consult with a client for a portrait at one' clock but other then that, my day should be relatively relaxing." She looked up questioning, 'Why?"

Roxas shook his head, and looked at her, "No reason, just wondering. Do you need a ride to your clients place?"

Namine smiled again, brushing her blond hair out of her eyes, and more importantly out of the reach of a happy toddler and picked a now dressed Ven. "I'd love that, thank you." She smiled gratefully.

--

The ride to Xion's was as uneventful as it could be; Ven was perfectly content with the world now that Namine was there. Namine didn't say very much past a polite "Thank you".

Roxas sighed as they pulled up to his old house. It was an averaged size house, nothing too big or two small. At the time it had been just enough space for three people. It was a yellow house, with white trim and bright pink flowers surrounding the porch and driveway. A stereotypically 'happy' house like in the movies where everything and everyone was perfect, nothing horrible or troublesome ever happened. Ahh the irony, Roxas realized slightly cynical.

Glancing at his watch, Roxas realized they were roughly 10 minutes 'late'. Briefly debating if 'forgetting' to hand Ven over to Xion would get him in a worse situation then he was already in, Roxas settled on handing the toddler off to his mommy. It was only fair after all, and Ven couldn't grow up without a mother.

At first Namine waited in the car, but she quickly took pity on Roxas, who was failing to hold both a squirming toddler and a bag filled with toys and clothes. Stepping out of the car she grabbed the bag from Roxas' hands before he had a chance to argue.

Together they walked up to the bright yellow house, Roxas flinching all the way. He could feel his ex wife staring him down through the curtain, obviously angry.

The door opened before anyone had a chance to knock, or even ring the door bell for that mater.

"Hey Xion" Roxas muttered, evidently she was VERY upset with him, and Roxas didn't particularly want to get into an argument.

"You're late." Xion glared, at Roxas before spotting Ven, her expression softened as she reached for her son. Scooping him up, she was more then a little shocked when the toddler began to cry, evidently realizing what was going on.

"What did you do to him!" Xion yelled at Roxas the child in her arms forgotten for a moment.

Namine stepped forward and before Xion could even react she had calmed Ven down and was whispering to him softly.

Roxas was sure Xion's glare would kill him. Namine smiled and stepped back, unaware that she was now on Xion's hate list.

"I'll go wait in the car." She looked toward Xion "It was nice meeting you."

Xion was fuming, and obviously debating over whether or not it was worth yelling at Roxas about it; obviously yelling won out.

"Roxas." Her voice was deadly cold, Roxas flinched a little, "Who was she? And WHY was she anywhere NEAR MY SON!" Her voice ended in a yell.

"That's Namine, my neighbor, she's been helping out with Ven a little." Roxas looked up, a little confident, okay so she's been helping a lot, but Xion doesn't need to know that.

"I don't want her near Ven." Xion coldly replied clutching her son closer to her body, "I don't like her."

"And what gives you the right to say that?" Roxas demanded, "You didn't even want custody of Ven!"

"Well Roxas, he's OUR son. And I don't want OUR son anywhere near her. I think I have THAT right." Her voice was sickly sweet as she looked, or rather glared at Roxas.

"You have no right Xion. Visitation rights are all you got out of the divorce."

"Oh they are, are they?" Xion smiled menacingly, 'We'll just have to see about that." Xion slammed the door in Roxas' face.

Walking back to the car, Roxas began to think over what Xion had said…

Nothing good was going to come out of this he decided.