Well, here is the awaited chapter four. I want you all to read and review because I'm sure everyone will have an opinion or something to say by the end. Trust me. Super special awesome plot twist yet again. I just love these! Enjoy!

Saving Roxas

Chapter 4: Unexpected Events

Axel's POV

I stared down at him awkwardly from my position beside the casket. It was weird to see him dressed in a fine suit and have his hair combed nicely. I wondered why they didn't bother to cover his neck where a long line of stitching was. Apparently he had a knife and slit his own throat while he was waiting to see his friend. I guess he finally snapped and couldn't take prison life anymore.

I saw some similarities that I'd rather not acknowledge. The facial features were almost the same. A thin, very angular face that went well with the height we both shared. The mortician didn't believe he needed any 'dressings' as he put it, so he looked deathly pale. You also had a clear view of the tattoos under his eyes that were so much like mine. Actually, the only difference between his and mine was the color. He had always covered his with makeup so he couldn't be picked out for the crime boss he truly was.

"Why me? Why did this happen to me?" That was a common thought that ran through my head growing up. I would lay awake at night and try to understand what I had done wrong, but I was just a foolish kid. I know now that nothing was my fault, and it was just the poor choices of my mother that led to my suffering. Her drug addiction that led to her paranoia and suicide; her death that led to Alec taking me and the abuse that followed. It was his abuse that caused me to turn to drinking and attempt suicide as well as rape of one of my closest friends. I lived a nightmare and honestly, it was his fault. He just had to target my mother and the screw up named Axel Lea was born.

"Axel?" I turned at the sound of the voice that broke me from my thoughts. It was Roxas, standing beside me awkwardly. He didn't have the best track record in a funeral home, but at least he didn't know Alec that well when he was alive. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly. "You've been standing there for awhile and looked a bit off."

Just looking into his concerned eyes I remembered the only good thing that came out of my hell of a life, and he was standing in front of me. Like I told him four years ago, he's what saved me. I know it sounds incredibly corny, but it's the truth. I saw him that day reading a book under the tree in the courtyard. The sun shone on him making his hair shine and his skin glow. His blue eyes were so deep that I could get lost in them and no longer worry. It was a strange kindness coming from him and his current behavior toward me, but it's appreciated.

"I'm fine, Roxas." I took a step away from him and moved more toward the casket in the dreary funeral home in Radiant Garden. It was already a dark day, but being in here only made it worse. A few people came to visit, and I learned that Alec had been parentless too. His parents were killed by a drug dealer who thought they knew something, but they didn't. How ironic their son would become one of the most dangerous and well respected dealers in the underworld. I'm sure they would have been disappointed. One visitor was a police officer from Twilight Town who helped escort the body here named Kuja Burmecia. He had been an undercover cop when I was younger and helped lock Alec away the first time. He had long, silvery-purple hair and only came to see how I was doing and if I wanted to leave everything to him. Kairi always kept close to me while Naminé had to work the nightshift, and Hayner had to go to another class. It was only Kairi, Roxas, and me when it was really late. Xion had only looked at Alec in wonder.

"He was your dad?" she asked quietly. One thing I never told her about was Alec and all his wrong doing. "But I thought~"

"He became unable to raise me," I interrupted her. "Cecil and Snow adopted me, and I never want you to think badly of them since we aren't biologically related. This man here means nothing," I finished coldly. She nodded and walked away to sit with Kairi. I looked to Xion and Kairi and sighed. They were smiling about what Kairi had said, and I envied them. I haven't really been happy in a long time and today wasn't helping at all. I turned to Kuja, who was sitting in a seat against the wall and waved him over.

"What is it, Axel?' he questioned when he got closer.

"Watch him, tell the other's I'm leaving," I said as I blew right past him. He called out his affirmation, and I left through the back and decided to take a walk. It was a cold afternoon, but I didn't feel like grabbing my jacket because I just wanted out of that stuffy room. Being in the same room with Alec was hard enough when he was alive, but when he was dead, it was even worse. I remembered when we walked into the home and saw Roxas holding his right shoulder absently. It made me think of that night when we were all taken captive by him and held there. Roxas got shot in the arm, I got shot in the leg, and Demyx almost died from his wounds. He was in a coma for a month, Roxas went crazy for a bit, Zexion had been a total wreck, and Marluxia was miserable. He had caused so much pain it was unbelievable. I stopped walking when I saw a bench and sat down.

The afternoon sun was shining on me and the grass in the park I was seated in. The trees provided a comfortable shade and the walkways seemed newly paved. It was such a lovely day when my mind was utterly spent. First, I finally get up the courage to find Roxas again, and then he basically tells me to go home, then Alec winds up dead and asks to be buried here no less. I placed my elbows on my knees, placed my head in my hands, and I sat there for a while. I didn't know how much time had passed before I heard footfalls running along the pavement. I didn't look up; it was probably a jogger taking advantage of the sunny, yet cold, afternoon, but they stopped when they neared the bench.

"There you are," I heard someone sigh while they sat down beside me. I looked up at the voice and met Roxas's blue eyes. He was breathing heavily like he ran all the way here, and I didn't doubt that he did considering he removed his jacket and tried to settle his breathing.

"Why are you here?" I asked venomously. I didn't want to be mean to him, but lately he's been sending some confusing signals. The literal slap to the face at the restaurant the other day and the ignorance. Then all of a sudden he seemed to care when I was injured and my dad died. Honestly, he was pissing me off.

"Well," he started off, narrowing his eyes a little at my tone, "Kairi sent me to go find you after you left, dick," he insulted, facing forward stiffly. We sat in silence for a little bit before he broke it. "Sorry," he added quietly.

"For what?" I questioned, not bothering to look at him.

"My attitude; it's just sort of complicated and I…with your daughter…then your dad…" he trailed off, not being able to form a sentence. I sat up and looked at him curiously as he tried desperately to get his mind in order to speak.

"Roxas, just…" I took hold of his chin and turned him to face me as I tried again to kiss those beautiful lips. I leaned in a little and to my initial surprise, he did as well. Closer and closer, I felt like my heart was going to burst. Was he going to let me this time? Will he finally tell me those three little words I've been missing for four whole years? I closed my eyes and waited for the contact, so I could hold him and~

Ring Ring

Fucking hell!

Roxas pulled away quickly with wide eyes as he probably realized what he was about to do while I silently cursed the person who was calling.

"Uh, it's yours I think," he said hesitantly as he scratched the back of his head while not very discreetly moving away from me on the bench. I pulled the phone out of my pocket and didn't look at the number because I was so pissed.

"What?" I barked into the phone, annoyed, and I heard a yelp on the other end.

"Jesus! I didn't even say anything, Ax!" said the startled voice on the other end, and I paused my remark and smiled suddenly at the familiar voice.

"Sorry, Demyx," I apologized and leaned back comfortably, forgetting Roxas's awkward position on the bench beside me. "Just caught me at a bad time, y'know?"

"Oh! Sorry, but when Marly called Zex with the news, I happened to answer the hotel phone and just had to call. Is it really true? Alec's dead?" he asked me quizzically. He didn't sound bitter in the least considering how Alec shot him twice four years ago: once in the stomach and again in the back. That was one quality about Demyx everyone loved. He could never hold a grudge.

"Yeah, he is actually," I started off, turning to check on Roxas only to see his retreating form in the distance as he walked away.

"I also heard you were staying with Kai in Radiant Garden. Run into Rox yet?" he asked happily.

"Y-yeah, I have," I stuttered and stood up myself. "Alec's viewing and funeral will be here since this is apparently where he was~"

"How is he?" Demyx howled into the phone. "Have you kissed, had sex, how's he be~"

"He hates the fact that I'm here and treats me like shit. He's also currently involved with Naminé if you remember her from school," I interrupted angrily. There was silence on the other end, and I heard quiet talking before there was yelling suddenly. All I made out was late and now before there was a lot of shuffling on that end.

"Axel? You still there?" the voice was different, but I still knew who it was.

"Yeah, Zexion. You didn't hurt Dem, did you?" I asked with a small smile.

"He's late for his last performance because he didn't want to wake me," Zexion sighed tiredly. "Something about I haven't been sleeping much lately, but I just want to go home for a little."

"I'm sure he wants some alone time with you at home too," I said quietly.

"I also wanted to tell you~ hold on a moment." I heard him yelling something about the blue one and something about a hot pocket. "As I was saying," he started in his usually quiet voice, and I snickered. "We're getting on a plane tonight after the show to Radiant Garden to see you, alright? I called in the tickets, and we'll be there soon. I have to go because Demyx is still wasting time, bye~ FORGET THE HOT POCKET~"

I laughed happily at the mental image of Demyx struggling to get dressed and eat a hot pocket while Zexion yelled at him. I stood up and decided to finish my walk when I heard someone shout my name. I turned around, curious as to whom it was. I saw long silvery white hair and a purple shirt, and I already knew who it was. I was rather shocked.

"Setzer?"I asked, puzzled, as the man came to a stop in front of me. He held out his hand politely, and I shook it.

"My, how you've grown; it's been awhile." He smiled politely.

"Yeah it has," I said, shocked. The last time I remembered seeing him was the day of my mother's funeral. He had been her best friend and was over a lot to bring her home if she had passed out at a bar or something. He would always leave me some money to buy things for myself. He was half the reason I didn't die before age ten.

"I heard about your father so I came to see if you were alright," he said. "Walk with me?" he asked, and I followed him wordlessly.

"Thanks for the concern, Setzer, and I'm fine," I said looking at the concrete as we walked through the park.

"I assumed as much considering how well you handled Jamie's death years ago," he said, and I shivered at the mention of my mother. "You look so much like her, you know that?"

"Y-yeah, I see it in the few pictures I have of her," I told him.

"You also look like your father too," he said, and that made me shiver again. "I would have been around a lot more because when I was younger, your mother made me promise to look after you if she couldn't. She made me promise a month before you were born. It was like her fail safe, because she knew she couldn't raise you," he explained. It wasn't hard to believe since I used to think of him as my father until my mother smacked me and told me straight.

"Well, it worked, I guess," I started. "I probably wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for your help," I told him honestly.

"After your mother's death, there was this large dispute about what should happen to you. Your mother had written a will about leaving you in my charge when she died," he said, and I looked to him curiously. We had left the park at this point and were back in town. "Since she didn't have a lawyer present at the writing, and that it wasn't written officially, Alec believed he should have you," he went on. "It lasted for a month, if you remember living with your cousins that month." I did remember sleeping in the same bed as Reno because I was scared, and Kairi would sneak in too because we were all worried about something the grownups were worried about.

"I went to official after official and pleaded that she had wanted you to be with me, but the fact that it wasn't a legitimate document and that I wasn't blood related, I lost," he said sadly. "The day the court ruled in Alec's favor, he also had a restraining orderagainst me from seeing you to watch you like your mother had wanted," he said with a sad look on his face. "It was hard, especially when it was on the news about his arrest on drug offences and child abuse. It broke my heart, but because he was still alive, I couldn't go near you. I hired a lawyer to try and find a way to around the order, but none could find one, so I tried to talk to him myself. I visited him every week trying to get him to let me see you, but he was just too stubborn. Then he escaped and took your friends and you captive…it just killed me to hear what he did."

I knew he was sincere, and I felt bad that I didn't even know any of this had happened. It made me feel terrible.

"Then I went to visit him last week. He had told the warden he wanted to end the order, so I went to visit him and a lawyer they got to cancel the contract. The lawyer came three hours before me, and within that time range, Alec had taken his own life," he said, and I nodded. "I knew you had been adopted already into a loving family, so I decided to just come and maybe become friends with the son of my closest friend, if he accepts it," he said, stopping. I noticed we were back at the funeral home, and I nodded with a smile. I shook his hand, and he smiled as well.

"I'm glad you came by, and I appreciate all you've done for me. I'm sorry you couldn't have been a part of it like you had wanted," I said sincerely. "Maybe we can get together sometime and have dinner or something."

"Sounds great, but I should be letting you go. Your blond friend seemed rather worried when I ran into him," he said, and I nodded as he began to walk away.

I was glad he came by because he was one man I trusted and was happy to become friends with. I walked back inside and saw Naminé had returned and Roxas was currently hugging her close and leaning his head on her shoulder. I smiled for Kairi and picked Xion up when she came my way. I swung her around to carry her on my back.

"Let's go, this place is depressing."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Roxas's POV (Right after he returned to the funeral home)

I can't believe I almost kissed him. What was I thinking? I'm dating Naminé! Naminé… I love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her because she's amazing. I sat down beside Kairi and Xion. I looked to Xion and noticed her blue eyes and realized that this Jessie Axel had married had blue eyes like mine. No wonder he liked me and her. Xion didn't look too much like Axel, but maybe she took more of her mother's features than her father's.

"Roxas?" I was pulled from my thoughts as Kairi shook my arm. "I need to take this call; can you watch Xion until I get back?" she asked, and I nodded quickly. She stood up and headed out of the room and left me and Xion alone while an elderly couple was talking to the officer beside Alec's casket.

"Mr. Strife?" I turned toward Xion. "You look like you've seen a ghost, are you alright?" she asked, and my eyes widened quickly. She can read me like Axel can. I shook my head.

"I'm fine…and you can call me Roxas if you want," I told her, and she nodded with a brilliant smile. A skill she must have acquired from her mother that must've caught Axel's attention. "Um, I was just wondering but, what was your mom like?" I asked curiously. I didn't really want to know, I just wanted to know who Axel had been married to for four years. Xion was silent for a bit before moving into Kairi's seat and pulling out her small bag. She opened it and pulled up a small picture and handed it to me.

Xion was seated at a table with a cake in front of her. She looked about two years younger in the picture and Axel stood on her left with a goofy grin on his face. He looked very happy as he hugged the small girl, and beside him was a beautiful woman. She had long black hair, swept over one shoulder, and large, ocean-blue eyes. She had a radiant smile and fair skin. She looked a lot like Xion and was, in my opinion, an extremely beautiful woman.

"She was loving, kind, and extremely brave," Xion said as I handed the picture back to her. "She always took care of dad and me and never once did she yell. She was great at giving advice and always warm and comforting," Xion said sadly.

"What happened to her?" I asked quietly as I thought of Axel coming home to her and a daughter every night and became jealous.

"She died of heart cancer two years ago, and dad hasn't really been that happy since, but I try to be strong like my mom, for both of us," she told me. I thought of Axel crying over her loss and the fact that he had her at all along with a daughter. I was jealous and wanted nothing more than to yell at him. Had he even thought of me in those four years, or did he just think of me one day after she died? Is all this just so he can fill his bed at night or~

"Naminé!" I turn to see Naminé was back from her shift and hugging Xion. Naminé had been acting motherly to the girl who's spent the last two years with only a father, and Xion seemed extremely grateful, but I kept imagining that tall, dark-haired beauty hugging Xion and was still jealous when I pictured Axel kissing her.

I felt Naminé hug me suddenly and kiss my cheek. I suddenly felt like a dick because I was getting angry at Axel when here I was with Naminé. I love Naminé, and Axel loved Jessie. I slowly wrapped my arms around her andkissed her lips sweetly, if not desperately, as if to remind myself why I was here and not there with him. Kairi walked back into the room and sat with Xion. I sat down with Naminé on my lap and rested my head on her shoulder.

"Roxas, are you~"

"Shh," I interrupted and closed my eyes. "Later, alright?" I felt her nod and rub my back gently. We didn't wait too long before Axel returned and Xion ran to him excitedly. He looked pretty good, but I guessed it had something to do with that guy I had run into on my way back.

"Let's go, this place is depressing," he said as he carried Xion on his back out of the building. The others followed, and I was last to go because I glanced over at Alec's casket and sighed as I rubbed my right arm as a phantom pain struck suddenly before I hurried after the others. I don't care what Axel did or does in the future. I have Naminé, and that's all that matters.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Demyx's POV

"You coming, Zexy?" I called behind me as he struggled down the steps of the hotel's entrance with his bags. I placed my bags on the ground right as the bellhop realized what was going on. He was about to run up and help when I took the bags from Zexion and smiled. I ran down the last couple of stairs so I didn't drop his things as the bellhop packed the bags into the back of the rental car. "You still look tired," I told him as he got closer to me.

"Well, letting me sleep when you don't know your own concert schedule is stupid," he told me while yawning. I opened the door for him, and he got in. I got close and kissed his forehead.

"Then take a nap on the drive over. You've over worked yourself, Zexy," I told him and he nodded, curling up in the chair. I took off my jacket and covered him with it to keep him warm and shut the door. "Thanks!" I called to the bellhop and gave him five dollars before running to the other side of the car.

"You're welcome, Mr. Harris! I hope you enjoyed your stay!" he called happily. I got into the car and started the engine and pulled out of the hotel lot and onto the road. It felt good to be driving again instead of letting the limo driver do it while the band was driven around. Zexion was never allowed with the band in the public eye because my homophobic manager claims it's bad publicity, even though they all know I'm gay and in love with Zexion. He's always at my side when I'm not with the band. I snuck a glance to him as he slept and smiled softly as I slowed to a stop at the light. I kissed his head and held his hand for a minute.

Zexion was still trying to get his dream job as a brain surgeon, so he's been taking so many online classes with tough assignments and high standards. Not only that, but he also acts as my schedule master and helps me get where I need to be on time. He goes to every concert and stays until I'm done and we go home. He's so loyal to me, and it breaks my heart that the press puts him down sometimes, pairing me with some other celebrity who is openly gay.

When we reached the airport, I pulled my hoodie on from my back pack and pulled the hood up before I put on my sunglasses. I wanted to wake Zexion, but he just looked so haggard awake, so I let him sleep a little longer. I helped his sleeping body into the jacket and put a pair of sunglasses on him as well. I got out of the car and unloaded all of our bags and opened the door of the car and gently shook his arm.

"Zexion?" I questioned lightly. "We're at the airport, you need to wake up," I said, and he slowly sat up. I helped him out of the car and handed the keys to the guy waiting from the rental place. He knew who I was, because I told him when I arrived, but I also told him not to say anything. I picked up most of our bags while Zexion carried two of them, and we walked through the halls quietly. He didn't want to attract attention to us, so we were quiet. When reached the ticket counter, and I handed the woman our tickets.

"Hello, sirs; your flight will be leaving in half an hour, so please place your bags onto the conveyer so they can be placed onto the plane," the woman said, gesturing to the belt on her far left. I grabbed the two bags from Zexion and took the six over easily and placed them on there. The woman looked like she was talking to Zexion, and from the way she was looking at me, she might have picked up on who I was.

"…assure you he's not Demyx Harris," I heard as I returned to Zexion. She nodded and handed our tickets to us and we went to got wait for our plane. I let him sit in the large area and let him take the glasses off. I looked into his light blue eyes and smiled lightly. He returned the favor, and I sat beside him as he leaned on my shoulder.

"Sorry," he muttered tiredly. I turned to him, and he looked up at me.

"For what?" I asked him curiously, and he sighed and closed his eyes again.

"For yelling at you earlier…and about throwing your hot pocket out the window," he said, and I laughed slightly.

"I'm sure the pool guy will be a bit upset, but it was funny!" He still looked unconvinced I had forgiven him, so I went on. "You were tired still and you didn't want to be the reason I was late to rehearsal. I understand and you had every right to yell," I told him and wrapped my arm around him and pulled him closer to me. "When we get to Radiant Garden, we'll get a nice hotel room and just relax. I'll buy you some sea salt ice cream and take you out to see a movie. You like that plan?" I asked him lightly.

"No," he said and my face fell. "I want a tub of sea salt ice cream and to lounge around in bed all day with you," he said, and I smiled seductively and moved my head to talk into his ear.

"I haven't been giving you much attention lately, have I?" I whispered seductively and he shivered and he shook his head. "I promise that when we land, I will get a hotel room and give you so much love, you won't walk straight for a week," I promised, kissing his ear, and he shivered.

"D-Demyx," he stuttered.

"Flight 304: Radiant Garden, Hollow Bastion. Boarding call 1."

"Come on, Zexy," I said, pulling him up and holding his hand.

"I gave them my backpack," Zexion stated dejectedly. "What will I do on the flight?" he asked quietly as we walked toward clearance.

"Well, you could always join the mile high club with me," I told him, and he glared at me.

"I'd rather sleep, thanks," he said, walking ahead of me. I laughed and followed him as I thought of all the things I would do to him when we got our room.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Axel's POV

"We'll take Xion to go get an outfit," Kairi told me at the local outlet. Kairi thought today was a good day to go shopping for our outfits for the actual funeral. I didn't want them to go, but there was no arguing with Kairi, especially when Xion was on her side too. They had even invited Sora and Riku, and they took Hayner off to go look at some Blitzball stuff since they already had gotten their outfits. That left Roxas and me standing alone in the crowd. I didn't know what to say since only yesterday Roxas and I almost kissed and that we had been avoiding each other since then.

"Wanna check over there for some suits?" I asked awkwardly, and Roxas nodded slowly before I led the way, double checking frequently that he was following me. We shopped around silently and Roxas avoided me at any cost. He didn't even want to be on the same side of the small outlet store as me. I found my suit eventually and found him waiting patiently on the bench outside the store. "Let's go wait for everyone in the food court," I said, and he nodded silently as we began to walk there with our bags. He looked really distant, and the fact he wasn't talking was slowly grating on my nerves. "Want a drink? I think they have grape pop for ya?" I looked to him, and he stared at the ground and slowly nodded. I narrowed my eyes; I was sick of this. I grabbed his arm and dragged him to his feet towards the men's bathroom.

"Ow!" he yelled to me. "Let go!" he protested, but my grip only tightened as I threw the door open. I pushed him up against the wall and checked the stalls by kicking the doors. Roxas watched me worriedly until I basically ran back over to him. He tried to leave the bathroom, but I grabbed his wrists and shoved him against the walls.

"What the hell is your problem?" I growled to him. "Huh?" I yelled into his face, and he stared back defiantly. "What have I done that has pissed you off in such a way that you treat me like I don't even exist?" I stared into his eyes hard and saw them begin to water.

"I bet you never treated her like this," he said lowly. What? Where had that~ He tried to use my initial shock as a distraction, but I felt him trying to run off so I spun him around and held him to the wall.

"Roxas! Just stop deflection and hiding and be honest with me!" I yelled, my voice echoing in the bathroom. "If you just answer my question, I'll leave you alone!" I yelled, and he stopped struggling and paused. I pinned his wrists and he looked to the right as if waiting for my question. "What happened to us?" I said quietly, my own voice cracking slightly. My grip on his wrists loosened, but he didn't run, and I just stood in front of him.

"Axel…" he started off quietly. "I missed you, so much…" His voice cracked, and he looked into my eyes. "But I never loved you. Not once," he said coldly, and I felt like my heart had been gouged out and ripped to shreds. He left me to stand in there alone as he walked out of the bathroom. I eventually left to go sit on the bench in the mall, but my blank face gave away none of the emotions I was feeling right now.

He…never loved me? What about all those times we were together, when I would tell him I loved him, when he would say it back? What about that time we made love at the beach? Did it mean nothing to him? I couldn't accept what he had said to me, but I knew he meant it from the look in his eye. Maybe my decision was the wrong choice, but there was no changing it now.

I lost track of time, but I eventually heard shouting and gasps from girls and guys as I heard a running echo through the mall. I look up to see the commotion and was tackled by a blond man, and I almost freaked out, thinking it was Roxas, but the height was taller, and I realized who it was. I heard the murmuring in the mall.

"Oh my God! It's Demyx Harris from Lost Hearts!"

"Demyx." He pulls back embarrassed from the scene he made in his excitement, and I see Zexion walk up calmly. I get up and hug him lightly and he reciprocates. Demyx grins to the crowd and they soon disperse, but they still were staring.

"Axel?" I looked up at Demyx as I picked up my bag. "You look like a kicked puppy; did something happen?" he asked me worriedly. Zexion took the bag from me, and I walked toward the hallway with Demyx and told him everything about Roxas up until today. When I finished, I actually began to cry and used him as support. I could tell by the way he hugged me back he was filled with anger and I knew he would say something, but I didn't want him to do anything rash. I stood up and motioned Zexion over and told Zexion to calm Demyx since he was the only one who could. I stepped away as Zexion ran his hand through Demyx's hair and held his hand and said repeatedly, "I know," to Demyx's rant.

Thankfully, by the time Demyx had calmed down, the others had arrived, and even if he hadn't, seeing Xion would have calmed him instantly.

"Xion!" he called, and she rushed over and he hugged her tightly, picking her up and spinning her. "Oh! I missed you and your smile!" he said as he put her back down but kept hugging her. "Didja miss me?" he asked with a big, goofy smile.

"Yeah, I did. Zexion, too!" she said, moving over to his much calmer hug that kept her on the ground.

"Your father been good to you?" he asked in his quiet voice, and she nodded. Kairi hugged the two happily along with Sora and Riku. Hayner just gave them a greeting and kept to Kairi's side and checked his phone often. Naminé hugged them too, and Zexion hugged her back like he always did, but Demyx held back slightly because of what he knew about her and Roxas.

"Axel? Where did Roxas go?" she asked after a moment, looking around curiously. I looked away and steeled my emotions and shrugged nonchalantly.

"Said he had to take care of something," I lied. I had no idea where he was, but I knew he was angry…or sad…I didn't know. I honestly didn't care either.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

We went home, and I had stayed in my room almost all night, sleeping or sitting awake. I knew most of them were worried, but Demyx lied for me saying I was just feeling sick. Zexion came up at one point to borrow my computer to work on some of his school work, but he didn't stay long. I spent my time thinking about my past because so much had happened in such a short amount of time. I silently wished Jessie was here. Whenever I needed a day like this, she would arrange Xion a play date with her friends and stay with me in the bed. She would let me rest my head in her lap, and she would stroke my hair. If I started to talk, she would listen; if I wanted silence, we would be silent.

Eventually, around eleven, I went downstairs and saw Demyx and Zexion had left, and Kairi was in the process of carrying Xion up the stairs to bed. I saw Naminé sitting by the door on the floor, staring at her phone. As much as I hated her for taking Roxas away, I was curious as to why she was sitting there. I walked over and crouched down beside her.

"I'm sure a chair would be more comfortable, Naminé," I told her, trying to make her laugh, but her lip was trembling.

"He still hasn't come home, and I'm worried," she told me. I knew 'he' was Roxas, and I wondered what he had been doing since we were out shopping before noon today. It was almost midnight. I was a little worried too, now that I knew, but then I remembered earlier today and didn't care.

"He'll be back soon~"

Ding Dong

Her face lit up and I smiled slightly, leaving the area to sit on the couch in the living room.

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Roxas's POV

"Thank the lord! Roxas!" Naminé sighed happily as she embraced me closely. I held her until she pulled back and glared at me, but it was wavering like she was about to cry. "I was so worried! Where were you?" she asked me.

"Around," I said distantly. After I ran away from Axel, I spent a lot of time thinking and looking. Even after that, I spent more time alone and sat in the park and ran through and set my priorities straight-mainly my feelings toward Axel. I didn't want to tell her I had been questioning almost every aspect of my life.

"That's not the answer I want!" she said, and I took her hand and pulled the door shut. She looked at me curiously. I took a deep breath and looked into her eyes.

"I was doing a lot of thinking, Naminé," I started off saying, and she nodded to me to continue. "It was a lot and took a lot, and I just needed to be alone to make this decision," I said as I stuck my hands in my jacket pockets. "You mean so much to me, and I just needed to…"

"Roxas?" she questioned. I pulled my hand out of my pocket and got down on one knee and held her hand. She gasped at the action, knowing what it meant before I even said it.

"Naminé, I love you, and today I decided that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, only if you'll have me. Naminé… Will you marry me?"I asked her, and she smiled slightly and nodded her head vigorously.

"Yes… Yes!" she said as I placed the silver ring with a blue sapphire on her finger. She pulled me up and hugged me close, kissing me. I held her and told myself repeatedly this was the right choice. This is what I had to do. I loved her, so I had to marry her, right?

Crash!

What was that? It sounded like the vase beside the door fell. Was someone there?

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Axel's POV

Marriage? They were going to get…married?

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