Perfect! As I hoped I am able to get the last installment for Once a Nobody, Now a Somebody finished and uploaded today!

Once more if people didn't find the link to the picture that inspired this fic here it is again if anyone is interested:

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And onto the epilogue!

Birds of the early morning join the mellow repetition of breaking waves filtering in through our open bedroom window welcoming the rising sun for a new day. A steady heart beats somewhere near my ear and the slow inhale and exhale of his gentle breathing gradually lifts my head up and down.

Scrunching up my face I rub it almost unconsciously against Axel's chest trying to will myself back to sleep. The morning melodies continue, but don't lull me back into dreams. As sleep continues to allude me, I become more aware of my surroundings: I find myself snuggled most comfortably within Axel's hold under the soft covers of our bed. Lazily I open my eyes and am greeted by a lightly tanned smooth chest. Beyond the wonderful living pillow lies what used to be just my room and is now both Axel's and mine. The simple room I only allowed the colors red and green, is now plastered with all the colors of the rainbow and then some. The walls are no longer bare, but now are barely visible at all from all the photographs, artwork, and posters. The open closet is full to the brim of both our clothes and is just as colorful as the rest of the room. From the pictures of me with Axel and our friends to our clothes messily strewn across the floor to us sharing a bed every night to…well just having Axel in my life once more has without a doubt made this room, this house, this life of mine feel whole and truly complete.

Lifting my head I stretch my body so I'm able to place a gentle kiss over his lips. I smile at the twitch of his lips in response to mine as I pull back not wanting to wake him. Snuggling back into the warmth of our bed, I let my mind wander over the events of this last year starting with when the last battle was fought and the enormous nobody defeated.

After I fell asleep that day Sora, Riku, Leon, and Yuffie spent the rest of the it scouting the island for anymore heartless and nobody's. Meanwhile, Axel stayed behind to keep an eye on me. Fortunately they only came across a small handful of the creatures in the first few minutes of their search close to the beach then never found anymore after that.

I was pretty much dead to the world until early the next morning when I awoke on the gummy ship. Later I was told the others decided since no one knew if anyone was going to send a boat that we'd wait until the evening of the day after the battle to use the gummy ship and fly us to town when the ship would be less noticeable and us not exhausted from battle. The main reason we were so lax to fly to the main island was because the heartless and nobody monitor showed absolutely no activity or presence. So it was assumed it was safe to say that if any attacks did happen in town that Tifa and Cloud already had everything taken care of with Kairi and Naminé.

Not long after I awoke, Cloud arrived on the island via a small boat from Kairi's family which she and Naminé taught him to use. He opened the gummy ship hatch on his own waking everyone else up and giving us all a good scare. Everyone wanted more sleep, myself included, but we were glad to hear that indeed all the students and staff made it back safely and only a few people managed to get scrapes and in the worst case a sprained ankle from the rushed departure. No nobody nor heartless ever appeared on the mainland so Tifa and Cloud helped the school in whatever ways they could while keeping a watchful eye out. When night fell that day, Cloud and Tifa decided one of them would return to make sure we were all alright and one stay behind just in case the mainland attack was delayed for any reason.

After Cloud told us what happened on his end and us on ours, it was decided Cloud and Leon would stay with the ship and fly it over that evening as previously planned (and yes Axel did give them as much crap as he could before we left). After a meager breakfast, we all piled the camping gear left behind into the small boat then myself, Axel, Sora, Riku, and Yuffie crowded in for the trip back.

When we were bringing the boat up to the docks, it seemed the whole school plus dozens of other citizens were gathered waiting for us. I quickly found out I really dislike being the center of so much attention. It makes me wonder how famous people deal with it all the time. There was this annoying photographer and journalist from the town newspaper all up in our faces that bugged me the most. They wouldn't stop flashing the camera and were the most insistent about getting answers to their endless questions. I think Sora or Riku managed to tell the principle that the rest of the camping supplies left on the island were in the boat but I'm not sure as I was concentrating on not getting separated from Axel and forcing my way through the crowd for the 'usual five minute walk' to Sora's…I swear that with everyone around us it took over an hour to reach the house and shut everyone not wanted out. Sora's pleas for the crowd to leave mainly fell on deaf ears even after we locked ourselves inside the house, there was a crowd of people standing outside for hours after in hopes to see and questions us. Fortunately Kairi and Naminé thought enough ahead for us to send Selphie and Tidus (the least likely of our friends to get bothered with questions) shopping the day before so we had plenty of groceries to not have to brave the masses of the town to buy.

While Sora, Riku, Kairi, Naminé, Selphie, Tidus, Tifa, Yuffie, Leon, and Cloud hung out together that day (well Leon and Cloud snuck in after the crowds had long dispersed and the sun set), Axel and I were able to spend some real downtime for just the two of us. The alone time we got on the first day Axel was back was good too, but this time there wasn't a time limit, we could properly see each other, and we weren't so emotional. The only times we left my room was to eat (and well obviously use the restroom).

It was pretty weird showing him my room since at the time it only had his colors of green and red. When I brought him in, he didn't say anything for a long time and I couldn't bring myself to look at him. Nervous at what his reaction was going to be. My nerves went away before his silence though so when I turned my head to gauge his reaction, I saw a sad pained expression. One I've only seen him show when he feels awful for doing something or something bad happened that was his fault.

I tried comforting him saying it wasn't his fault and that he had done nothing wrong. It was just my way of coping without him…however little it may have helped in the long run. But because he was there and alive I wouldn't need those colors like I did just days before. I have kept all of my red and green things, but now they're mixed in with other colors as well. Still to this day I don't think he's forgiven himself for the extremes I went through, but we don't really talk about it already knowing we'll just have a repeat discussion of the previous conversations we've already hand on the topic as we both haven't changed our opinions on what happened. I just have to content myself with the knowledge that he knows I don't blame him what-so-ever for anything that happened to me after he faded and –

I hear a door quietly open then click shut from somewhere down the hall from our room. I only have to wait a few seconds until Sora's father Miroku passes in front of our open bedroom doorway. Peaking in on his way to the stairs, he smiles warmly at me and winks before he is gone from sight heading down the stairs and soon out of the front door on his way to work.

Miroku and Yolei are both amazing parents I must say. They took me in, supported, and took care of me when I was a complete mess and then when Axel showed up a year ago, they immediately took him in too. I don't know why entirely I don't consider them my parents too even though both of them and Sora have told me on multiple occasions it would be just fine if I called mom and dad. Technically they sort of are seeing how I'm Sora's other half and they're Sora's biological parents, but I think what holds me back is that they didn't raise the me who was a nobody. They didn't actually raise me as an individual. I've only existed from when Sora became a nobody. Sure I still have memories of Sora's past that include Miroku and Yolei, but those memories aren't truly mine and I don't have the same kind of emotional attachment as Sora. I care for them, yes, but I don't think I feel love or would terribly miss them if I were to never see them again. But that is in no way to mean that I'm not eternally grateful for all they have done for me and Axel. I know I've cost them lots of time, money, resources, and stress. I think the best way to explain it would be I view them more like friendly adult supervision…but no that sounds too stiff. I'm closer to them than that sounds, but still not as close as Sora is to them.

Back to after the battle though. The day after the rest of us arrived at Sora's, his parents returned from their business trip. Miroku and Yolei arrived at the house early in the morning as they usually do when returning from a trip. Everyone was asleep. (Selphie, Tidus, Kairi, and Naminé returned to sleep in their homes at night and were only at Sora's during the day, but the rest of us were all at the house.) That morning Riku shared Sora's bed with him as they often do, Axel was of course sleeping with me in my room while the rest were in the living room; Tifa and Yuffie slept on the sleeper sofa leaving Leon and Cloud on a queen blowup mattress on the floor. It must have been quite the shock for Yolei and Miroku to walk into their home to find Cloud and Leon curled together while Yuffie laid sprawled out upside down on the sleeper sofa leaving Tifa little room to curl onto her side. If I remember right, Sora's parents didn't wake any of them (how none of them woke to the sounds of them entering the house I have no clue as they all trained themselves to be light sleepers). Instead they opted to head towards me and Sora's room to get an answer as to why there were four unknown adults sleeping in their living room. Miroku later told me that him and Yolei tried my room first and just stared in shock when they opened my door and saw me laying on top of Axel snuggled in the covers much like I am now for quite some time. He said that he wasn't quite sure what he was more surprised about: that I had some older and larger red head in my bed who I was obviously very comfortable with or that I was apparently supporting a very blissful smile in my sleep. I don't think either of them saw me smile more than a handful of times let alone for a prolonged period of time. So to them I suppose it was quite a sight indeed.

They left my room, proceeding to Sora's to find the familiar sight of Sora and Riku curled around each other. Obviously they woke them and got a good summary of what happened while they were gone and who the mysterious people in their living room and the redhead sharing my bed were.

The days following Miroku and Yolei's return were mainly spent getting to know Tifa, Yuffie, Cloud, Leon, and of course Axel. That is when they weren't at work. Talk of Axel staying with us didn't really get covered until some days had passed and Leon pointed out he and the others would need to return to Radiant Gardens soon, but didn't feel they could leave until they were sure Axel had a good place to live.

Yolei and Miroku must have talked about the situation over the last few days when nobody else was around as it didn't really take any coercing for them to agree to Axel living here. Since taking in another person meant feeding, clothing, and sending to school they asked if Axel wouldn't mind obtaining a part time job to help pay some of the expenses.

Immediately Axel agreed thanking them profusely for allowing him to live here with me. To help out and feeling guilty about all the things I've cost them I said I would find a job as well and at least pay for anything I'd need in the future and if I could, pay them back for at least some of the things they got/did for me.

As it turned out Axel and I managed to get jobs at the local ice cream parlor. Much to our and our friends amusement who knew how much we love ice cream. Sadly though there is no sea salt ice cream in this world, but we have found many other delicious flavors though none can ever compare to the amazingness of sea salt ice cream.

The job aside, none of us even knew how to figure out what grade Axel would be placed in. Axel knows his original somebody, Lea, never finished high school, but he can't recall what grade he was in or anything pertinent. When Miroku took me and Axel to the school after spring break, the principle had a hard time as well and had to bring in some teachers to help place him. Axel's lack of knowledge for math and key vocabulary terms in pretty much all the other subjects not to mention didn't know a lick of the islands uneventful history worried the school staff. But when they saw how well Axel retained information along with his sharp intellect, they decided that he'd be placed in Riku's grade (one above me and Sora's sophomore status). We were both quite sad that we weren't going to be in any main classes together, but we did manage to wheedle Axel into a few of my electives like gym and art.

The whole discussion concerning Axel living with us went really well and Sora's parents were even alright with letting us share this bedroom and bed…though we both blushed crimson when they asked how far we've gone in our relationship. I am positive they already knew the answer, but wanted to hear it from us personally. It made me uncomfortable; yes we've gone all the way and I have never wished it was otherwise, but I don't like to tell other people aside from Axel anything really personal or activities of my intimate life. Not wanting to answer it or the follow up questions I could tell they were going to be asking shortly, I asked if we could talk about this alone. Easily they agree, so Miroku and Yolei followed Axel and I up to my room where the conversation continued. As much as I didn't want to discuss anything like that to anyone let alone them, I kept my mouth shut about it as if it was necessary to be talked about for Axel to live with me then I'd just have to deal.

That had to be the most embarrassing conversation of my life. They even went as far as giving us the sex talk for when two guys do it. Both me and Axel were red enough to match his hair for that portion of the conversation. I guess we learned some things about diseases, but…well yeah I don't really want to ever think about that again. Anyhow Miroku and Yolei were both relieved when we told them how we feel about anything more than holding hands, having an arm wrapped around one another, a brief hug or a quickly stolen kiss in public or more than snuggling up when in a home with friends around who don't care or are uncomfortable with the affection. Yeah we like to be affectionate with each other, but we also know what it feels like to be around people who show way too much PDA; it just makes us uncomfortable so we don't want to do that to others.

When they asked if we'd be having sex in the house I almost choked on my own tongue and Axel started spluttering. I don't know if we are simply just that shy when it comes to talking to others about the intimate parts of our relationship or what, but I really wanted to crawl under my bed at that moment or bop the two of them over the head with my key blades.

I was so happy when Axel answered so I didn't have to and basically said defiantly not when there is someone in the house/yard or if we know someone will be coming anytime soon. That answered, Miroku and Yolei deemed the conversation over and were quite happy with our responses. Thankfully they let us stay in our room until dinner that night. As soon as they were gone Axel made his way over from my desk chair where he had been sitting throughout the Q and A session over to me sitting on my bed. He settled down beside me pulling me down with him to just simply lay there in his arms.

In the organization, no one ever asked let alone cared what we did as long as it didn't disrupt the others and we still completed our mission in a timely manner. Axel was kind of mortified by the entire conversation. I just found it utterly embarrassing, but I had also been a somebody in a world interacting with humans for a year. As nobody's we just observed a small fraction of what humans do. So many of the questions I had about why somebody's do what they do I've found answers to as I understand human nature a lot more than I used to. My being around others longer and over hearing some students talk about their sex lives in school prepared me enough to only be embarrassed and not mortified like Axel.

Axel can make endless jabs and talk to me plenty without ever getting any extra color to his face, but as soon as he has to hear or talk about it in detail or actual action with another person he gets red and flustered wanting nothing more than to be elsewhere. Between just the two of us we have no problem since it is about us. It's only when someone else hears, talks, or asks that we get uncomfortable with the topic. Guess I'll never have to worry about him bragging about us to anyone…

…I bet Miroku and Yolei had a similar conversation with Sora and Riku though I don't know if…wait I know I've seen Sora limping many times after a night at Riku's before Axel came. It's weird how many easy observations I missed when I thought Axel dead and just didn't care or put much thought into anything. I almost wonder if they've ever done it in this house, but at the same time I really don't want to be privy to the answer as I've never slept over at another place without Sora, but even more so I don't want to actually ask him.

Hmmph well enough of that. At school Axel has progressed very well. I knew from the start he would, even so I'm still very proud of him especially for adjusting so fast and well as he did. With his brain, he quickly rose to the top of the class and made friends easily…though part of that was probably because of the fame he got before he even started due to the whole camping trip and battles ordeal.

Even I have risen to the top of my class. This surprised everyone including myself when I started doing loads better. Just from having Axel around has made all the difference in the world. I had always thought of myself as an independent person who really didn't need anyone else, but in reality I need Axel in my life as much as I need to inhale air. All my time as a nobody I considered myself self-sufficient and all but when I look back and remember I wasn't independent at all. Axel was here so much and did so many little things for me that I never realized the full extent of my previously ignored dependence on him. It still took me months to realize that as a somebody and now that Axel's with me again I can totally see how I'm a different person. I'm happy, upbeat, optimistic, actually have an appetite, don't have to take health supplements anymore as I'm absorbing what I need now via my normal meals, I don't get tired like I used to, my stamina and strength are back up, I'm doing way better in school, I remember and figure out things faster than before, and I've actually made some friends of my own on my own.

Before Axel came back I wasn't really living. Physically yes, but mentally I really wasn't in it or had the will to do much of anything. Now I'm so happy I'm alive and wouldn't change anything about my life. I'm perfectly content with everything from school to working at the ice cream parlor to being with Axel once more to hanging out with friends to –

Below me Axel shifts around a bit as his breathing pace increases. He must be waking up. Moving from my comfortable position on his chest, I once again stretch my body up, this time so I can kiss him awake. It's one of my favorite things to do. When a moment then two passes I feel his lips respond and press lightly back against mine. Drawing back a little, I leave enough room for him to breathe and watch as his eye lids lazily open to reveal his vibrant green eyes. Sighing with contentment, he stretches his arms and legs before resettling his arms over my body and shifting his torso around trying to find a new comfortable position. Frowning slightly I almost ask what's the matter, but before I can voice the words, Axel rolls us onto our sides and proceeds to snuggle himself as close to me as he can. Even going as far as twinning our legs together and burying his face in my hair.

I hear him deeply inhale humming with satisfaction "morning Rox" he breathes out.

Rubbing my face against his shoulder and neck "morning."

"You been up a while?" he murmurs starting to rub circles in my back beginning from the middle and working towards my shoulders at a leisurely pace.

I hum in agreement to both his question and the relaxing job his fingers are doing.

"What were ya thinking about?"

"Us…mostly you." I admit not feeling foolish or embarrassed at all. I never quite understand why some people get flustered or embarrassed when their significant other or object of their affections catches them thinking about them. I know Axel thinks about me and I certainly think about him so I don't care if he knows. Besides hearing that I'm thinking about him always makes him happy.

Squeezing me gently "love you too."

Returning the embrace "love you Axel."

In front of me I feel Axel shake with mirth before I can hear it "we're a pair of saps huh?"

I chuckle in agreement "suppose so. Just don't tell the others."

Catching my joke "I know they'd never talk to us again especially those two stiffs Sora and Riku! Glah, Roxas don't remind me so early in the morning."

I pull my face away from him to outright laugh. He soon joins me as we both know Sora and Riku are way sappier than we ever thought of being…at least around others. There was a pretty comical weekend sometime back where the whole gang was hanging out at Riku's and somehow me and Axel managed to get in a contest with Sora and Riku to see who the sappier couple was. That was an amusing night to say the least and the most I could figure is that it started because of too much caffeine and sugar with Axel in a cuddly mood being a bit aggravated at Sora and Riku for being so showy with their kisses and affections. Once Axel gave up on ignoring the PDA he glomped me refusing to let go for the rest of the evening whining how Sora was giving Riku so much attention and I wasn't giving the time of day. Needless to say that brought on the weird contest which we lost much to Axel's surprise and annoyance. Apparently Riku is way more of a sappy romantic than anyone of us thought…well Sora probably knew.

At times I think Axel truly enjoys the attention and publicity of being that red head who controls fire, but mostly I know he finds it to be an annoyance as he so blatantly put it "all the attention makes it so hard to steal Roxy kisses and sneak off from parties or other social events for some 'bonding time' without being noticed"…or something to the same extent all the while supporting a kicked puppy look.

Glah. Sometimes I swear he's such a perv. …but I can't say I don't encourage the behavior more than I discourage it. I don't think there's anything Axel would ever want to do to or with me that I wouldn't let him do. His boundaries for shenanigans is practically an exact copy of mine so I don't worry about it…though he's a bit more lax on what our surroundings and whose around us more than I am. I fully trust him with my entire being and love and care for him just as much so I know he'd never do anything that would purposefully hurt or anger me.

Anyways it sure has been an interesting year with Axel and I've enjoyed every second of it. We're closer now than ever before. Even a year from the infamous camping trip people are still asking us questions about the heartless, nobody's, and the fight that ensued, although I must admit that the questioning has decreased over that last year slowly but steadily from what it was, people still come up and ask questions. The owner of the ice cream parlor doesn't mind as we attract more people for the business, but I guess I did figured that people would still be curious for a long time. Though I never fully believed myself or something. This world isn't heavily populated like some, but it's definitely got enough citizens to even now make me, Axel, Sora, and Riku think twice before going somewhere where there's bound to be quite a few people. I keep telling myself that this publicity will wear off and go away but so far it's starting to look like it will continue to super slowly decrease and never fully go away. Though I can't deny that Axel's hair, eyes, tattoos, or stature make being less conspicuous any easier; I have never seen another person on Destiny Islands with Axel's color of red hair before. It is funny though how many people continue to question Axel if his hair is really naturally that red.

Being a somebody isn't what Xemnas and the other all cracked it up to be – it's so much better. Over a year ago I had wished I didn't have emotions as they hurt me more than anything, but now I thrive off them letting them fill my body enjoying the effects they have on me. I was a nobody who only experienced shadows of emotion, limited observe others experience the phenomenon, but now I am a somebody. Somebody who is truly alive and swelling with emotions from a heart of my own.

Enough musing Roxas, Sora is at Riku's, Yolei is on another business trip, and Miroku has already left for work. It's the first real day of this years spring break so it's time to properly start it off. Tilting my head back I crane my neck until my lips are able to make contact to Axel's. The kiss doesn't last long as my neck soon starts protesting the harsh angle. To resolve the annoyance, I pull myself higher on our bed until I'm just below Axel's eye level. Before I've stopped my repositioning, Axel is pressing his lips to mine and soon I feel a wet warm pressure tracing my lips. Opening my mouth allows our tongues to intertwine and dance playfully in and between our locked lips. Slowly our exchange gains more passion before morphing into desire, want, and finally lust. Tiring of the simple foreplay, I pull Axel over me wondering why he hasn't done so already.

"Miroku is-" Ahh that's why.

"Gone. Left before you woke up." I answer in between kisses.

"Hmmph" I can hear the smirk in his voice "well in that case…" he trails off with a path of kisses leading from my lips down to my neck and collar bone. Smiling I think I could get use to waking up like this with Axel all the time. Ohh what am I talking about I do wake up like this often enough though I still don't seem to be used to it no matter how much I enjoy it. Everything with Axel still feels like the most wonderful dream I'll ever have. And this is one dream I am thrilled to know I cannot wake up from as it is my reality. My existence as a somebody.

Fin

Hoorhayy! It's finished and I'm quite happy with the ending. I know I tried to incorporate a lot of things and I hope they came out alright and lose anyone in the script. I did a lot of editing and reorganizing of paragraphs, but I think it all makes sense and is easy to follow. Many thanks to Dreamy Duskywings who reviewed and to those who favorite and alerted my story.

Didn't really know where else to say this but I was wondering if my fight scenes were alright. I've never written any before and here I had three. This story was defiantly a challenge for me as I've never written one so long or used so many characters and dialogue. I feel like I did a good job, but sometimes that doesn't really cut it. But I guess the main thing is that I really enjoyed writing it and feel very accomplished having it finished and seeing that other people have enjoyed the story as well.

For anyone who is interested I plan on writing more AxelxRoxas stories in the future and have ideas for at least four more with a fifth written out…though it's kinda from a weird point of view and I don't know when I'll get around to writing and posting them. Otherwise I'll be writing for other anime/manga series in the near future

And as always I would love a review!