A week passes while I'm stuck in the hospital, and the only visitors I get are Mom and Dad. That is, until today. A nurse comes into my room and I glance her way from my bed and she smiles pleasantly, "Some people are here to see you."

I open my mouth to ask who they were, but I had no time. As soon as she stops talking, Hayner, Pence, Olette, and Axel practically shove their way into the room. They stand beside me and for a moment everything is sill, silent. I stare back at them, and Olette is the first to speak, "We're so glad you're okay, Axel told us you were in the hospital!"

As I suspected, Axel did call the ambulance, and of course, he told. My eyes zero in on him and I ask, "Are they the only ones you told?"

Axel frowns lightly, hurt shining, just barely, in his eyes, "Yes. Hayner, Pence, and Olette are the only ones I've told."

I nod slowly, "Thanks."

He nods, looking away from me now. I need to trust him more. I sigh and Olette sits on the side of my bed, "I don't know why you're here, and I won't ask. I just want you to know I'm here for you."

"Me, too!" Pence says, smiling, "Friends forever, man!"

"Exactly!" Hayner says, pumping his fist into the air.

Olette smiles, standing again, "That's right. What are friends for, if not to be there for each other?"

I can't help but to smile at my friends, "Thanks guys. All of you."

Axel looks back at me, as if asking if he's included. I give him the subtlest of nods and a small smile comes to his lips. Seeing him smile makes my heart speed up a bit and I look away before my face can get red in front of my friends. After awhile my friends leave, including Axel, which I wanted to stay so I could thank him for saving me, without everyone else in the room. I guess that'll have to wait for another time.

Mom and Dad come into the room and they don't look happy. I look at them, but they're glaring at each other too much to notice me. Finally Mom breaks the tense silence, "I can't believe you intend to keep him from me!"

"He's my son," Dad replies.

Mom looks like she wants to hit him, "He's my son, too. So was Ventus! And where is he, huh?!"

Dad stiffens, glaring at her. She glares back, "Exactly. Which is why Roxas will be coming back to Radiant Gardens with me."

"You can't take him, he's perfectly fine here," Cloud says.

I frown, Perfectly fine? What world are you living in, Dad? Obviously your own.

"Which is why he's in the hospital, right?" Mom growls softly, "I won't keep debating this with you. You've kept me at bay long enough. I'm tired of calling you, hoping to talk to him or Ven, but you never answer. I'm not giving you the chance to keep taking him from me."

"You left. You don't get to be his parent anymore," Dad replies coolly.

And you get to? With everything you've been doing? I can't say these things aloud.

"I'll give you two weeks with him after he gets out of the hospital, then I'm taking him home with me. No exceptions," she replies, then she walks out of the room.

Dad's eyes zero in on me and I shrink away from his gaze, or I try to. He grunts softly, "The woman's mad. You're not going anywhere, and that's final."

"She doesn't seem to think so," I say, "And if you hate me so much, why do you want to keep me so bad? Is it so that guy Vexen can keeps giving you money? Because that's just sick."

"Shut up," he growls, smacking me once, hard enough to snap my head to the side. He then turns and leaves the room as well. I shake lightly and stare at my lap. I really do hope Mom takes me with her.

The next day I'm able to go home, so Dad drives me back to his house. He says nothing the entire way home, but neither do I. As we pull into the driveway, Dad says, "You're grounded for this little stunt you pulled. I'm taking your phone and IPod. Get them from your room and take them to me. Also, you wont' be leaving the house unless you're going to school."

"But the doctors said I needed to go to a support group," I try weakly.

Dad glares at me through the rear view mirror, "Fine. But only for an hour, then get your ass back here."

I nod quickly, not wanting to fight him. It's a miracle he's even letting me leave the house at all. We go inside, and as instructed, I give him my phone. He frowns, "And the IPod."

"I don't have it. I haven't been able to find it for awhile now," I reply.

He smacks me, knocking me down, "You lost it?!"

I hit the ground with an "oof" and stare up at him, "I don't know.."

He kicks me in the stomach, "I'll have to punish you another way, then."

Just then someone knocks on the door. Hoping it's Mom, I look to the door, and when Dad opens it, my heart sinks. It's Vexen. Vexen smiles at Dad, "Is he back yet, Cloud? I've been waiting all week."

Dad moves from the door to let Vexen in and when Vexen sees me his smile grows, and it's sickening to look at. Dad glares at me and tells me to stand, and strangely enough, I do. Vexen hands Dad a one-hundred dollar bill, but Dad shakes his head, "The price is now three-hundred."

Vexen glares at Dad, "What? It's always been one!"

"So?" Dad replies, "Now it's three. So pay up or get out."

Vexen frowns, "If I give you four, can I keep him all night?"

My heart skips a beat.

"Five and you get him all night," Dad replies, "The price is now five."

Vexen frowns, but pulls out his wallet. He hands Dad four more one-hundred dollar bills, then he turns and grins at me.