Author's Notes: Double update! Twice in one day! Woot! Sort of another filler chapter. Longer than the last. Lol.

In Life and Death
Chapter 14: Possibilities

Week 21…

His eyes were once again glued to the cell phone laying a few inches from where he was laying on his bed. It had been a week since his last appointment. A week since Riku had asked for some time to think. A week with no contact from his silver haired friend. He tried not to dwell on it too much but Riku was on his mind all the time now. "Damn hormones."

He rolled over on his back, stretching out. A second later and his phone was ringing. He grabbed it and flipped it open without looking to see who was calling.

"Hello?"

"Hey Sora!"

"Oh… it's you Kairi." He said, not masking the disappointment in his voice.

"Well… that wasn't very enthusiastic."

"Sorry. I was just hoping it was…" He trailed off with a sigh.

"Still no word, huh?"

"No. And I'm beginning to think there won't be. He hates me now. Thinks I'm some disgusting freak."

"Sora! Now stop it! That's just not true and you know it. It's just Riku being Riku. Just a bit more than he can handle. He'll come around." She said in that all-knowing tone of hers. "You did."

"My body." He said blankly.

"Okay. I did."

"Yeah. A day."

"Fine Sora. You're right." She snapped. "He hates you. He's not calling because he's decided to run away and assume another identity to get away from your freakiness."

"See? I knew it!"

"Sora. He said he'd be there for your next appointment. Just relax, okay?"

"Yeah." He mumbled.

"Would it make you feel better if I tried to talk to him?"

"No." Sora said sheepishly.

"By no do you mean yes?"

"Yes."

Kairi laughed. "Okay sweetie. Get some rest, Sora. And don't worry anymore. Love you."

"Yeah. You too."

Kairi shook her head as she hung up the phone. "Just one big, massive circle that keeps going around and round. At some point those boys will have to own up to the truth. Because they are driving me crazy!" She shouted the last part, throwing her phone on her bed.

A sigh escaped her lips as she thought of how much had changed in the past few months. She was in love with Sora for years. She thought they were meant to be together, they they'd get married and have kids. And now she was hoping for Sora and Riku to get their acts together and raise their kids together.

"Well… if I can't be mommy… at least I can be aunt Kairi." The thought warmed her as she made her way down the block to Riku's house.

She wasn't sure what she'd say to him. She hadn't meant to get so caught up in the middle but she couldn't change that now. Sora needed her. And maybe Riku did too. Maybe just a little.

She knocked on his front door, hoping he'd be home alone. Her hopes were crumbled when Riku's father answered. He took one look at her and walked away, leaving the door open. "Uh… hello? I was wondering if Riku was here." She stepped inside. She was waved upstairs by Riku's father. "Gesh." She snorted, walking down the hall. There was a reason she didn't come over to Riku's much. His father was a complete ass.

"Riku?" She asked as she knocked on the door. She heard a crash, followed by a string of curses. Then there was a click as the door was unlocked and swung open.

"Yes?"

Kairi gave him a quick one-over. He looked perfectly normal, maybe a little disheveled but normal, like nothing was wrong. "Uh… Riku…"

"Yeah. Who else would you expect?" There was a sarcastic tone to his voice.

She smiled, despite herself. "I came to talk to you about Sora."

"Shhh!" Riku grabbed her arm and wrenched her inside. He closed and locked the door.

"Ow!" She said, rubbing her arm where he'd grabbed her. "Paranoid much?"

He shrugged. "I'd rather my dad not find out."

Kairi nodded, understanding. She knew his father had a temper, especially when he was drinking. Which was always. She turned and wrinkled her nose at the piles of discarded clothes, paper, books, and other things littering the floor. "Did you suddenly forget how to clean?"

Riku shrugged as he bent over to pick up a few things. Yeah, so what if he had always been sort of a neat freak. "I've been a bit… preoccupied." He answered softly.

She rolled her eyes. "Clearly you've been very busy. Have you even left this room?"

"Next time you want to berate me, just pick up the phone."

"Would you have answered?"

"No."

She threw up her arms. "You won't talk to me. You won't talk to your family. Would you at least talk to Sora?"

"No."

"Why not?" She whined.

He turned his back on her and spoke softly. "I'm not ready." He hated showing weakness.

"Riku… he's freaking out."

"He is?" Riku sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I told him not to. I said I was okay with it."

"Are you really?"

He sighed again. "No, not really."

"Why not?"

"Why not?" He repeated with a sharp laugh and spun around to face her. "It's Sora, Kairi. It would have been different if it was you."

"Me?" She repeated confused.

"Or Selphie or something else."

"So this is because he's a guy, right?"

"No!" He hollered.

"Really?" She would have figured that would be weird fact. She couldn't think of another reason. "Then what? Why would it be different if it were me? Besides the obvious?"

"Because I don't love you!" His eyes widened as he realized what he had said. He had never spoken it aloud. "I mean… wait…"

Kairi smiled widely and laughed. "No way. You said it. You can't take it back now. I knew it! I just knew it!"

"No… no you don't. I… this is all my fault." He sunk to his bed, his face in his hands.

"Yeah, it is. He avoided you, so now you're avoiding him? Doesn't make thing easier."

"That's not what I meant. I…" He looked up at her for a second before lowering his head again. "I got him drunk on purpose. I didn't mean for it to go that far. I just wanted to loosen us both up a little bit. And boy did he loosen up."

"Uh… too much."

"Right. Sorry. Details aside… it was my fault. I got him drunk and… did that to him. Though I still can't understand how. My brief understanding of human anatomy…" He shook his head. "But I guess if that doctor of his says it's possible… oh this is so fucked up!"

She was silent a moment before she spoke, her voice soft. "Why?"

He raised his head, looking at her like she was crazy. "Are you serious?"

"Well… yeah… the circumstances are odd… but isn't this what everyone wishes for? To have a family with the person they love?"

He shook his head and rose from his place on his bed. "That's just a bit farfetched."

"Is it really?"

He grabbed her arm, more gently this time, and herded her towards the door. "Look… Kairi… you take care of him for a few more days."

"Riku!"

"No!"

"Wait…"

He shoved her out the door and locked it.

"Well…" She pouted and crossed her arms. "Jerk!"

She knew she could never understand Riku's situation. The confusion, anger, guilt, and fear among other things he must be feeling. But she could understand his need for time and space. She only hoped it wouldn't drive a further spike between them. "You guys need each other now more than you ever did in the battle for Kingdom Hearts."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

The following week…

School started that following week. The first few days were lonely and troublesome for Kairi. She missed walking the halls with Sora and Riku. And everyone who saw her asked questions about both. Where were they? What was Riku doing now that he graduated? Why hadn't Sora been to school yet? Did he drop out? Is he okay? Is it true that he's gotten fat? Did either of them still have those keyblade things?

Every class was much the same. Mostly, the questions came from old friends. Though some came from people she had never met, let alone talked to before.

"Sora!" She whined on the phone during lunch break. "Won't you reconsider?"

"Reconsider what?"

"Homeschooling, you silly goose. I'm terribly miserable without you here."

He laughed softly. "Yeah Kairi. That's a wonderful idea. Have me waddling through the hallways, getting attacked by questions and prodding hands."

She sighed. "I know. It just sucks not having you here. I should dropout too."

"I haven't dropped out."

"You know what I mean. We could take classes together."

"No Kairi."

"But Sora…"

"No! I will not have you give up your senior year. You will go to the prom. And the other silly dances and sport games. You have to do everything! And tell me about it!"

"Sora…"

"Promise, Kairi."

She smiled and laughed. "I promise."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Week 22…

It was the day of his next appointment and Sora was heading over to the pier. He still hadn't heard from Riku but he hoped he'd find the silver haired boy waiting for him. He was disappointed. Instead, he spotted Kairi, her back to him, talking on her phone.

"Yeah." She said, nodding her head. "I think it's a fantastic idea!" She paused. "No, really." Again she paused. "I agree. It makes sense when…" She turned and caught sight of the staring brunette. "Sora!" Without a goodbye, she flipped the phone closed and shoved it in her pocket. "I didn't see you there."

"What are you doing here?" He snapped.

"To escort you to your appointment, silly." She smiled as she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the ferry.

"But what about Riku?"

"Hmm?"

"Riku, Kairi. Where is Riku?"

"Out of town today." She answered quickly, still tugging on his arm. "Very last minute."

"But he said…"

"Oh stop worrying over nothing, Sora."

"It's not nothing!" He whined.

"Oh come on. We don't want to miss it. You'll be late."

Sora whined but let her drag him off.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Later that day…

"Really Sora. Stop acting like a baby. Everything's fine."

Sora crossed his arms and stuck his tongue out at her. "I can do anything I like and that includes pouting."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine. Whatever. Now let's go." She pushed him out the hospital door.

"What's the hurry?"

"We have an appointment." She said matter-of-factly.

"What? What kind of appointment? Where? Since when?"

"Oh just come on!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him down the street a block. She stopped in front of the Randiam apartment building. "Come on!"

"Kairi… where are we…"

"Hurry! We're late!" They ran past the office and she pushed him into the elevator. She ran her hand over the buttons, looking for the right one. "Oh! Was it floor four? Or five? Oh I knew I should have written it down!" She tilted her head to the side, thinking, and then pressed the number three button. "I hope this is the right one." She said as the elevator roared to life.

Sora grabbed the hand rail to balance himself. "Right what?"

"Right floor."

"What floor? What are we doing Kairi?" He groaned.

"Just a few more seconds." She said as the doors opened.

"Finally."

Sora looked up as he heard the voice, his eyes wide. When he didn't hear from him or see the silver haired boy earlier, he had doubts that he ever would again. And there he was, leaning up against a door with the number thirteen on it. "Riku?" Sora looked from him to Kairi and back again. "Okay. What's going on here?"

Kairi ignored him as she made her way down the hall. "Sorry we're late. Went a little longer than anticipated."

"Is everything okay?" Riku turned his gaze to Sora.

"Oh yes. Everything went fine." She said quickly. "Just a little mix-up with the examination rooms. Veera's so frantic about privacy! Like anyone who sees a fat teenage boy is going to think pregnancy. And anyways…"

"I'm not fat!" Sora snapped from behind her.

"Anyways…" She continued like she wasn't interrupted. "I pointed out that we come through the entrance and walk through the halls. We see plenty of people. And boy did she freak out! She actually suggested that we come through the back entrance. I didn't even know there was a back entrance! I swear… she's getting more paranoid with each visit."

Riku smiled. He didn't trust Veera at all and it was nice to see Kairi didn't completely either. "Kairi… remind me later that we should talk."

"About what?"

"Later."

"Okay then." She smiled.

"Hello? Sorry to disturb you but what is going on here?"

"Oh yeah. I forgot you were there Sora." Kairi said with a laugh. "Oh come on, silly goose." She said grabbing his arm when she saw his expression. "I was only joking."

"Then tell me what we're doing here. And why you didn't show up. Or why you haven't called me!" He accused Riku.

Riku dropped his gaze to the floor and scratched at the back of his head. "Look… I'm sorry about that but I had some things to deal with…" He stole a quick glance at Kairi and hoped the red head would keep certain truths to herself. "But today isn't about me. It's about you, Sora."

"Me?" Sora had doubts with the way things had gone thus far.

Riku nodded and waved for them to follow as he opened the door he'd be leaning on.

"Riku! You can't just go barging into peoples' apartments!"

Riku rolled his eyes. "I'm not. My name's on the lease. So it would be pointless to break into my own place." He pulled two sets of keys out of his pocket and tossed one to each Sora and Kairi.

Sora stumbled slightly, trying to catch the set thrown at him. "Wait… what? You moved? Without telling us?"

"Sort of." Kairi said, shutting the door behind them.

"You knew about this?"

"Calm down Sora." Kairi said, moving further into the empty space.

"Shut up a minute Kairi and let me explain!" Riku shook his head and turned towards Sora. "I thought that… maybe… you know I think all this secrecy stuff is shit, right? And no one in their right mind would see a fat teenage boy and think pregnancy."

Sora glared at him. "Kairi already said that today."

Riku smiled as Kairi giggled. "But this apartment building is just down the street from the hospital. And with your mom being gone most of the time, it would be easy to just disappear for a while. We can get a webcam or something to make her feel more connected. And you could easily hide the issue since you won't tell her."

Only the part about his mother sunk into Sora's head. "It's weird enough without having my mother freak out on me."

"Uh… yeah… that was the important message behind what I just said…" Riku shook his head and continued on. He was sure it would sink in to Sora's head eventually. "Not to make it sound like we're trying to hide you away or anything."

"But we assumed you'd want it that way." Kairi said quickly.

"Veera's so overly protective we can probably convince her to make visits here instead of at the hospital."

Kairi nodded. "Annnd… this means we get to go shopping. Ya'll at least need something to sit on in here."

"Wait… what?"

"School starting is another good excuse." Riku continued. "Closer to your homeschooling teacher you have to meet with. Maybe we can convince him or her that you're on bed rest for some reason. Maybe you broke your leg and you have to meet with them here. What's a few more lies?"

That's when it hit Sora. "You want me to live here? With you?"

"Keep up Sora." Kairi smiled.

"I was planning on it anyways." Riku said with a shrug. "I was planning on attending the university here when it starts next month. Not much difference between a one bedroom and a two. Kairi will just have to sleep on the couch when she comes over."

Kairi stuck out her tongue. "Get one of those couch bed things and I'll be happy."

Riku laughed. "I think we can manage that."

"You… want me here?" Sora had doubt on his face as he looked from Riku to Kairi and back again. "I thought after…"

"I'm just going to… look around for a minute." Kairi excused herself, jabbing Riku in the ribs as she walked by him.

Riku shook his head and let out a laugh as he watched her walk down the hall and disappear into one of the rooms.

"Riku…"

"I'm sorry Sora." Riku let out a sigh. "They whole situation is my fault."

"Riku…"

He held up his hands to halt the brunette. "I'm okay. I swear. No need to baby me."

Sora smiled and giggled at his choice of words and Riku soon joined him.

"You don't have to if you don't want to, you know? Just wanted to give you the option, if you wanted it."

"I do." He said softly. "I love it!"

"Really?"

"Really."

Riku let out a long breath. He hadn't realized how nervous he had been. The conversation with Kairi the week before had hit him hard. She had been right. For years Riku had been in love with Sora. He couldn't even remember when he first realized it. Sure, he had picked fights with the brunette and teased him about Kairi. But the truth was Riku always hoped one day, many long years down the road, that they could have the white picket fence and all that. Maybe even a kid or two. He just never imagined it would be this soon or that those kids would be biological.

But Kairi had been right and she struck a nerve with Riku. One day Riku would tell Sora how he really felt and perhaps they could be a family, if said brunette wanted him. Until then… Riku wanted to prove to that brunette that he could take care of him… of them. And while it wasn't a house with a fence and a yard, it was the best Riku could do on short notice, even if Kairi wanted him to hold out until he found a three bedroom so she could move in too.

"So… a quick tour then we'll go shopping? I borrowed my dad's truck for a few days."

"Your dad's truck? He let you?"

He shrugged. It was a known truth that Riku's dad loved his truck more than anything else and that included beer. "He only let me when I told him I was moving out."

"Ah. I'm sorry Riku."

"Don't worry about it. Got used to his shit years ago." He was silent for a moment before growing serious. "I won't be like him, Sora. I promise. I've only gotten drunk once and that was mostly a mistake. I won't do it ever again. I won't scream at my kids and I'll kill anyone who lays a hand on them… let alone do it myself." Riku had lost count of how many times his father had back handed him into a wall.

Sora reached out to touch his arm and Riku visibly relaxed.

"Uh…" Riku stepped away and scratched at the back of his head, suddenly embarrassed. "So… tour?"

"You aren't your father."

"This is the living room. Small, but it's sort of got a view. Corner apartment."

"You aren't." Sora insisted. "And I don't blame you. I could have said no."

Riku smiled and mumbled a thanks.

Sora smiled and crossed his arms. After a moment, he turned to look around the room. "So… the tour?"

Riku shook himself before nodding. "The kitchen is small but it has a fridge, stove, and dishwasher." They walked down the hall. "The bathroom is small. The hall closet is small. And the bedrooms…"

"Let me guess… small?"

Kairi smiled as she popped out of the empty one. "It's big enough." She grabbed Sora's hand and drug him inside. "It's got a huge closet and two windows. And oh! Won't the bassinets look adorable over here?"

"Baskets?"

"Bassinets. For the babies."

"What's a bassent?"

Kairi giggled. "Oh really Sora!"

"It's a baby's bed. Sort of like the newborn version of a crib." Riku said from the doorway.

"Yeah. We'll have to go baby shopping, Sora. Clearly you need help and I assume you won't let me throw you a baby shower."

"Oh gawd! How the hell am I going to do this? I'm not ready to be a dad! I don't even know what a basset is!"

"Bassinet." She corrected with a laugh. "And that's good. Because you're the mother."

He threw a glare at her. "You're lucky this room is empty. If I had something to throw…"

"Oh yeah. Real scary mister fat boy."

"Kairi!"

"There's some stuff in my room you can throw at her."

"Riku!"

End of Chapter 14. Stay tuned for Chapter 15: Guess What Grandma?

Author's Notes: Did you notice the apartment numbers? You're supposed to realize Riku and Sora (#13) now live across the hall from Zing and Veera (#14).