I am SO sorry for the long wait. I've had the worst writer's block ever and I just couldn't work up the inspiration for this chapter. I hope that I can execute the next one fast for you guys. Sorry for the wait!

Disclaimer: Not mine :D

Please enjoy and happy reading!

"So we have a few warnings for you babe," Axel spoke, turning around in the front seat of the car to face Roxas. The blond looked up, noticing that he was being spoken to and directed his attention from the window to (his boyfriend?) Axel.

"What he means," Demyx said from behind the steering wheel, "is that mom is big into meeting new people. She's very…welcoming and very…huggable." The musician chuckled. Roxas stared at the two of them, looking a bit frightened.

Axel had turned to playing with the radio knobs (it occurred to Roxas that this was his favorite car activity) and he rolled his eyes. "Just be prepared is all. Even dad rolls his eyes at her. She's just over zealous."

"Which is never a bad thing," Demyx added on, a finger held up to punctuate his point. He kept his eyes on the road and stopped at a stop sign.

Roxas looked at the clock on the dashboard before turning his eyes back to the window. He took a quick glance at his reflection, grimacing. He then focused his eyes on the scenery that was illuminated by the orangey glow of the setting sun and his reflection faded from his eyesight.

He couldn't say that he was fully prepared in meeting the parents. He wasn't always the best at meeting new people, and since this was an important first meeting with his new boyfriend's (still felt weird calling Axel that) parents, it wasn't a shocker that he was nervous. Still, it couldn't be the worst thing in the world, though Axel and Demyx's warning seemed to fuel along his anxiousness. He could only hope and pray that the night would turn out well and time would just zoom by.

The drive to wherever they were going seemed to take forever and it occurred to Roxas, after the first half hour, that they were moving to the further outskirts and very ritzy portion of the town. He'd never been in this area before, but he'd heard talk of what it was like. In the light of the disappearing sun, Roxas could see plenty of well kept vegetation and sparse mansions. Big mansions. All of which were off in the distance and kept safely behind tall stone walls. If their parent's had money like this, it was no wonder why Axel and Demyx were living the good life.

Roxas had never really dreamed of living like this. He didn't have the personal experience, but from his point of view it just seemed like too much of a high stature to uphold for him. It was much like a lifestyle were you had to hold and present yourself properly at all times. Axel and Demyx seemed to do that well enough. They had the cars, the house and the expensive name-brand clothing, but by their personalities and overall ways of living, they seemed like two ordinary laid back guys who just happen to have money. The pair were like some mutated definition of rich in a way.

"We're here," Axel announced and Roxas looked up and out the front window. They pulled directly up to a large, wrought iron front gate and Demyx pulled up before it, rolling down his window. There was a keypad waiting for him and he entered in a numbered code. The gate opened and Demyx pulled through while rolling his window back up, blocking out the chilly night air. He drove up the long driveway. Roxas looked out the window, taking the sight of the large grounds that surrounded the intricate looking mansion.

The place was something unseen of Roxas. The large house was stark white with contrasting black shutters lining each window (which there were a lot of). The place looked to be only one floor in some spots and two floors in others, like it was some strange illusion. It was just so much bigger than homes that Roxas was used to, including Demyx and Axel's own place. His stomach fluttered in anticipation.

The yard surrounding the house was neatly clipped and primped. Large oak and maple trees shadowed the earth from the sun's disappearing rays and the delicate fall colored leaves swayed gently in the breeze, some fluttering to the ground as the season began to molt trees from its foliage.

Demyx pulled right up in front of the house and shut the car off. Axel turned to face Roxas with a wide grin. "Welcome to our home," he said and pointed up to the large stain glass double doors. Roxas looked out his window and just stared at the front porch.

They exited the vehicle and, as if on cue like she'd been waiting, a slender blond opened the door with one of the biggest grins Roxas had ever seen on anyone's face. He stood between Axel and Demyx at the bottom of the steps and it almost seemed as if the woman launched herself down those stairs and she glomped (no, she didn't hug, she truly did glomp) her biological son. Demyx must have been expecting it because he caught her in his own embrace without so much as stumbling back. He too grinned, wide and happy.

"Hey mom," he spoke into her curly golden blond hair. She stood back and looked her son over. Her eyes were a unique violet color, filled with compassion, joy and love.

"Baby, it's been too long," she complained. Then she pouted. Pouted.

"It's only been a few days mom," Demyx said, amused.

Approximately twelve seconds in her presence and already Roxas could tell she was severely eccentric. He didn't even have to meet their father and he knew right away where Demyx's personality came from. Possibly some of Axel's antics as well.

The woman released Demyx and her face lit up and she took Axel into her arms. He hugged her back with matching vigor, swaying their bodies back and forth gently. "Missed you," he said quietly. She pulled away and looked him over appropriately. "I missed you too sweetie."

And before he could do anything about it, Roxas was next and he found himself literally being yanked into a tight embrace. This was a completely new definition to 'bone-crushing hug.' The air was forced from his lungs and his feet seemed to have been lifted partly off the ground. His arms were pinned to his side, preventing him from returning the hug in anyway.

Luckily he was released before long and with a gasp of breath, Roxas looked into sparkling eyes. "You must be Roxas."

Roxas, fully in shock, was staring wide eyed at the woman. She was just shorter than him by a mere inch (that didn't do much for his self confidence) and her face just seemed to be glowing. This, he thought, was a happy woman. There just didn't seem to be any sign of a rouse to her appearance. It was all genuine and the simple sight of her instantly reminded Roxas of his own mother. This, in turn, caused his heart to swell with remembrance and longing. He couldn't open his mouth to say anything back. He didn't mean to be rude, he was just too struck at the moment.

Axel seemed to pick up on Roxas' sudden emotional change and he nudged the boy with his elbow. "Uh, Rox…" he went on, helping the other out. "This is our mother, Mariana." Roxas looked from the redhead back to the blond woman and calmed his nerves. With a deep breath, he brushed the image of his mother from behind his eyes and smiled endearingly at Mariana.

"It's nice to meet you," he said. He would have stuck his hand out for a handshake, but he presumed that the hug had been enough of a greeting.

"It's wonderful to finally meet you Roxas," the woman said and motioned for the group to follow her up the stairs. "I've heard so much about you and I've been so anxious to see you in person." She turned sharply when she was in front of the front doors and looked directly at Roxas. She approached him and took his face in her hands, her violet eyes seeming to be scrutinizing and studying. Her lips twisted a bit as she looked him over. "And after listening to Axel yap on and on about you like a little school girl, I had started to think that he was over exaggerating about your appearance."

Roxas couldn't see Axel's reaction since his head was being held in place by Mariana. The redhead's jaw dropped, his brows furrowing as he looked at his adopted mother with a look of mortification. On Roxas' other side, Demyx snickered evilly behind his hand. Axel shot him a glare out of the corner of his eye.

"Not a school girl," he muttered under his breath.

"Well, no matter. You," Mariana said and poked Roxas on the nose, "are adorable."

With a blush creeping upon his cheeks, Roxas rubbed his nose and tried to turn his face away to hide his embarrassment. "Uh, thanks."

"So after hearing so much about you, I was getting curious and I begged the boys to bring you over for so long. It's a shame that my two boys were hiding you away from me," Mariana went on. She turned away once again and opened the front doors, leading the trio inside. Roxas had been stuck to his spot on the porch and with a gentle shove on the back from Axel, he found his footing and entered the home. Instantly, his face melted into a look of wonder and he was too busy taking in the details to even notice that Mariana was still talking.

"…such a pretty thing to keep hidden from me. And I was sure that it was only a matter of time before one of them gobbled you up."

"Mom," Demyx hissed under his breath. The woman turned around with furrowed brows.

"What? It's true. Anyways..." She turned to Roxas who was still studying the foyer that they just walked into.

The first thing he noticed was a family picture. It was large and hanging from the tall cream colored wall above the archway that led down a hallway straight in front of the front doors. The thing that stood out most of all was, of course, Axel and his brightly colored hair that just seemed to be misplaced in the photo. He was standing back to back with Demyx, both boys appearing to be around seventeen or eighteen and dressed in all white. Sitting before them, Roxas saw Mariana sitting in a simple and elegant white dress. Beside her was a man with dirty blond hair and stunning aqua eyes. He was dressed in a white suit.

"Axel was the one to snatch you, huh?"

Being pulled back into reality, Roxas' attention was sapped back towards Mariana who followed were his eyes previously had been and smiled as she looked up at the family photo.

"I guess so," Roxas answered quietly. Apparently that was unsatisfactory for the redhead for he came up behind Roxas and encircled the boy in his arms.

"Got him before anyone else could. I'm a lucky one, I guess." Axel grinned easily and nipped playfully at Roxas' neck. His fingers went to work, tickling Roxas' sides causing the boy to writhe with discomfort and slap at Axel's arms.

Shaking her head, Mariana turned to her other son and placed her hand son her hips. "And what about you mister?" she demanded. Demyx pursed his lips.

"What do you mean, what about me?" he questioned.

Pointing a finger, the blond woman narrowed her eyes, though they held no amount of anger. This was all in good fun for her. "When am I getting grandchildren?" she asked innocently. She stepped closer in an intimidating fashion and Demyx sighed in a way that indicated that they had been over this before.

"One, you know that with my preference, it is impossible for me to have any biological children."

"So find a husband!"

"What's that going to do mom?" Demyx asked. Axel had ceased tickling Roxas and was holding the boy now, his head on the blond's shoulder. Both watched, Axel because he was used to this and found it funny, Roxas because he found this conversation particularly strange.

"If you had a husband, you could adopt a child, meaning I would have grandchildren. Besides, I want the best for you and having someone that makes you happy will make me happy."

"Aw, don't leave her in the dust, Dem," Axel voiced in. Mariana glanced over at him then back to Demyx with raised eyebrows.

"Yes, you wouldn't want to do that to your poor old mother."

"You aren't that old mom," Demyx said.

"You're straying from the subject," Mariana then said with a bi-polar strictness. Roxas was struck dumb by her strange change in emotions and was noticing a family trend already.

"Yes, I'm with someone now," Demyx sighed.

With a squeal of excitement, Demyx's mother literally hopped up and down, her hands clasped together. "Oh, that's so wonderful sweetie! What's his name? What does he looked like? How old is he? Is he a top or a bottom?"

"Mom!"

"They're need to know questions, honey. Just tell me."

Axel leaned down and whispered in Roxas' ear, "How about we leave them be for a moment." He took Roxas by the hand and led him, unnoticed, through the archway below the large family picture. The hallway was long and it led to a large dining room. The table in the center of the room was long and fairly expensive looking. Multiple hand crafted chairs lined each side, two adorning either head of the table. Roxas' first thought when he saw the long table was that there appeared to be more places to sit than necessary to the number of occupants of the house. But then again, maybe there were more people here than he knew about?

Axel walked by the table and stopped before a swinging door that led them into the next room. "We never really ate at this table. Only when mom was having a party or dad had a business meeting here." Roxas nodded and took one last look around the room. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling and Roxas could imagine the decorative and colorful shimmering of each individual crystal in the light. Mixed with the serene beach and meadow paintings on the wall and the baby pale blue color of the wall, the room gave off an overall tranquil feel.

"I like it," Roxas commented, shifted his eyes to Axel. The redhead looked like he wasn't expecting that reply, but took it anyways. He pushed the door open and extended his other hand out for Roxas to take. The blond moved to his side, easily slipping his hand in Axel's and allowed himself to be led into the kitchen.

"So here," Axel spoke and gestured to the large kitchen with his free hand, "is our wonderful kitchen. Of course, I'm usually only in here when I'm scrounging for a snack." Roxas chuckled and his eyes examined the room. This, he thought, was any cook's dream.

It was just so big and open. Plenty of counter space, high tech appliances, cabinets that probably held any ingredient under the sun. The countertops were a black stone, granite most likely. It was clean and pristine, steel plated and a chef heaven. Roxas wouldn't mind cooking any time of the day with a kitchen like this. It was everything his mother could only dream of. Seeing it in person made him think of his mother's dream kitchen that she would gush over as she stirred, mixed, sautéed or baked whatever she was making.

"This is so freakin' sweet," Roxas whispered aloud. He let go of Axel's hand and walked over to the counter, running his hand along it. He realized then that the countertops were the same as the one's in Axel and Demyx's, and now his own, house. But this…this was so much more.

"Yeah, and it's funny since mom really doesn't cook. We've got our own chefs here, so the kitchen isn't really seen by the four of us besides snacking or me and Dem hovering over Nari if she's baking something." Axel looked at Roxas, eyes wandering to anything and everything, wondering if he'd need to drag the boy out of here. He didn't know that his love for the kitchen ran this deep.

"There's a lot more to see Roxas. Why don't I take you up to mine and Demyx's old room?"

Looking up, the blond complied, looking almost reluctant. But he'd be lying if he said that seeing Axel's old room wasn't something he'd been looking forward to. So he followed behind Axel, the two of them going back through the dining room and down the hallway to the foyer. A staircase that curved up against the wall in the foyer led to the second landing. One long main hallway gave way to different separate hallways here.

Roxas was led down the main hallway then off to a separate hallway not far from the top of the staircase. "Dem and I got our own wing," Axel said and stopped before one door. Two strips of caution tape were put up in an X formation on the white door. "And now, welcome to our room."

So the first thing Roxas' eyes were attracted to was the giant disco ball hanging from the ceiling in the center of the enormous room. The second noticeable thing was just that; the size of the room. The entire thing had to sum up to a hefty portion of the downstairs of their house alone. And that was a big space. The walls were reflective with an odd multi-color pattern. When you first walked into the room, the wall straight before you was a red color that rivaled Axel's hair. The wall on your left was a deep violet. The ceiling itself was painted a deep navy blue and multiple glow in the dark stars and planets were stuck up there literally covering the entire ceiling. That must've taken forever.

The right wall was interesting seeing as it was painted black with large white polka-dots. And lastly, Roxas turned and looked at the wall that held the door to find that it was (again, interesting) a very deep shade that was unmistakably pink. And with a cocked eyebrow, Roxas asked just that. "Pink?"

Axel, who had moved to the enormous king sized bed grinned guiltily. "That was Marly's idea, I swear. He helped us paint the room and told us that he would get the paint. And he came back with multiple colors." Axel pointed the wall. "Including that one."

Laughing Roxas took to walking around the room. It was a lot emptier than he expected it to be, but he assumed now that most of their belongings went with them when they moved. Among the items remaining was a smaller dresser. Roxas presumed that that held some clothes for the pair if they ever decided to stay over night or something. There was also retro furniture that formed a little sitting area over by the black and white wall. A large (I.E. LARGE) flat screen TV was mounted on a section of the pink wall that allowed viewing access from most sections of the room. Besides that, there were many pictures and band posters flung up on the walls.

"This is incredible," the blond remarked. He moved to the bed and sat on the edge, looking back over his shoulder to where Axel was spread out, watching him with predatory eyes. Roxas could feel the shivers run up his spine as those majestic eyes rested on him. He felt only a bit uncomfortable being watched so intently. "Uh…Ax?"

"Sorry, you caught me in a trance." Axel moved, sitting up and joining Roxas at the end of the bed.

"One bed?" Roxas asked when Axel was situated next to him.

"Yeah…well," Axel stammered and rubbed the back of his neck. Was that a bit of color creeping up his neck? Axel…blushing? Over wha-

Oh.

How come he'd never thought of it before?

"You and Dem?"

Axel snapped his head in Roxas' direction, looking like he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Okay…it was in the past and…I mean…it's not like that anymore…it's a long story and…."

Something inside Roxas turned just a fraction of a bit uneasy at all the new thoughts that clouded his head with this new bit of information. He felt a bit hurt that he'd never been told, but…maybe there was a reason for that. And one….be-

He stood up quickly from the bed. He knew that Axel wasn't a virgin and that didn't bother him. Demyx seemed too…innocent…and with Axel? Axel's reaction to his one bed question did seem to spell it out that they had…

Oh sweet Jesus. They needed to get off this subject.

"So your mom seems…"

"Like a complete whack job?" Axel finished for him. Thank god for subject changers.

"It's just her personality I'm sure. And it's nice. She kinda reminds me of my mom in a way. Just a bit…" He grabbed the word in his mind. "Louder."

Axel laughed at this. He stood up and wrapped his arm around Roxas' waist as he led the pair of them from the room. "It is hard to find people that are louder than her. She's a sweetie and I guess I'm just lucky that she took legal guardianship over me."

This made Roxas think and he asked, "How long have you lived with Demyx?"

Axel took the pair of them back through the hallways and to the stairs, his hand sinking dangerously low around Roxas' waist which the blond was keeping careful track of. "I moved in when I was fifteen."

Roxas leaned into Axel's side when they reached the foyer, feeling like he fit there perfectly. He wanted to ask, not sure how far he could go with this. But perhaps brining up the subject of biological parents wasn't appropriate at this time. Or maybe he wasn't ready to have that subject turned on him just yet.

They walked back down and into the kitchen. Axel must have some sort of internal food clock, Roxas mused to himself because when they walked into the kitchen the smell of garlic bread and tomato sauce hit him full force. Over to the side of the kitchen, Mariana and Demyx, who appeared to still be arguing, were setting the table.

"We aren't completely deprived of domestic doings," Axel whispered into Roxas' ear.

"Axel grab the napkins of the counter, please," Mariana asked, immediately turning back to finish her last comment to Demyx, who Roxas saw roll his eyes. Doing as his adoptive mother asked, Axel walked up to the normal family sized table that Roxas was more familiar with at the far end of the room.

Being that they were from a rich family, Roxas had been expecting the worst about eating here. The classic rich style of having like, four different forks (who needs that many forks!) and just all of the proper things worried him. But looking at the setting and finding normal settings, one utensil for each purpose (i.e. one spoon, knife, and fork) and everything he was used to allowed him to heave a large internal breath of release.

"Nari's making her specialty," Demyx said with a beaming grin. He placed the last fork at the head of the table and stretched when he was done, his back popping.

"Honey, don't do that," Mariana sniped. "You know I hate the sound of popping, cracking, whatever of bones."

"Specialty?" Axel spoke. "Meaning Italiano tonight?" He looked excited enough, so Roxas could only assume that it was bound to be something good.

"You know it," Demyx said. The looks on their faces reminded Roxas of two boys in a candy shop. Demyx looked at Roxas who was taking a seat next to Axel. "Even us rich folks eat simple." He scrunched his nose up. "None of that caviar or gold flakes on our ice cream sundaes. We're simple."

Roxas smiled at the thought. Simple was best, in his own personal opinion. And it was always nice to see people who had money but didn't felt a need to buy the most expensive things or have the most expensive food or other ridiculous things like that. It made him think, 'there are rich, non-stuck up people out there in the world,' something he thought he'd never see first hand. Well, now he was dating one of those people.

"Dinner will be about another half hour," a female voice said from behind the group. Roxas was startled by the sudden intrusion and had jumped violently in his seat. Demyx, Axel and even Mariana laughed aloud and Roxas felt his face burn with a blush. He turned around to see a short, plump Italian woman behind him. Her thick dark hair was pulled back in a bun, her calculating chocolate eyes looking him over before she nodded approvingly.

"Roxas, this is Nari. Nari, this is my Roxie," Axel said in introduction. The woman raised one eyebrow quickly before inclining her head in acknowledgement.

"Nice to meet you," she said in a heavy accent. He said the same back to her, strangely feeling a motherly aurora from her. She looked like she was a mean and strict woman, but he didn't get that feeling from her at all.

"I brought some wine for you all to share before everything is ready to be served. I'm sure Signora Mariana has many questions for you, Roxas." She smiled, almost in warning and placed the bottle of wine on the table.

"Grazie, Nari," Mariana said with a hint of an Italian accent. The woman nodded her head.

"Prego, Signora."

As the woman walked away, Mariana took a seat across from Roxas and folded her hands, giving him a look that told the blond that he was in for it. He gulped and wished that Axel, who was busy getting the wine bottle open, would hurry up. Mariana was strange. She appeared to be an overall nice person and she really was. But he figured, that when she wanted to be (now!) she could be an intimidating person. Her amethyst eyes were set on him and he could swear he saw the questions circling around them.

"So Roxas," she started. Axel got the top off the wine bottle and poured some in his mother's cup, the wine glass filling sinisterly with the blood red liquid. Axel then poured some for Roxas. "You're eighteen?"

Roxas had hastily taken a drink but stopped himself before he looked like he was a deprived alcoholic. "Yes," he said, having choked a bit on the wine. Axel rubbed the back of his neck soothingly, silently telling him to calm down.

"When do you turn nineteen?" she asked, taking a sip of her own drink.

"New year's day," he announced. Axel's fingers on his neck really helped calm him and it felt so good right now.

"Oh how special!" Mariana clapped her hands together. "And I hear you have a twin? Oh, what's that like? I've always wanted a twin!"

Sora, that was a comfortable topic. He could go on and on about his brother and their tales.

"Yeah, his name is Sora. He's pretty much my best friend. You know, that whole theory about twins having some extra sense about each other and being connected is true. With us at least." He felt like he was rambling, but the woman looked so interested that he was sure he could just go with it at this point. "We've always been close and it's like we just pick up on each other's feelings and thoughts automatically. Like sometimes we end up thinking about the exact same thing at the same moment, or we say the same thing at the same time without meaning to."

The woman laughed. "I swear these two are like that sometime," she said and motioned to her two sons. "I think they're soul twins or something. Joined at the hip, I would always say."

"We've not joined at the hip mom," Demyx said from beside his mother.

"Yeah, or else we'd have some serious problems," Axel piped in. He picked his glass up and said, "I'm going to get my own drink."

He stood and left and Mariana went on her merry way with the questions. "So you're a freshman?" He nodded. "What's your major?"

"I'm majoring in journalism," Roxas said easily. He like questions that were general, not too intrusive and just plain easy to answer.

"Writing? Oh god, I'm a terrible writer," she scoffed. "I always give props to anyone who can write. I think it's just one of those things that isn't for everyone."

"Like singing," Demyx chortled. His mother threw him a 'I'm not amused' look and he dropped his laughter down to a snicker. Mariana pointed a finger in warning to him but Roxas understood that this was all in good humor. Besides, he never thought he had the best singing voice either. That's why he never sung in front of other people.

"I have an amazing voice, you just can't hear it."

"I still think you singing broke that mirror in your room and not me and Axel playing baseball." Axel sat back down at the table, his glass filled with some bubbling brown soda.

"We talking about mom's horrendous singing?"

"I'm glad that I can rely on you two for moral support," Mariana said. "Next time you find something that you suck at, I'll tell you. Demyx, you were the worst tree ever in your second grade play."

Axel and Roxas both laughed and Demyx looked completely downtrodden. "You said I was the best tree ever back then!"

"I'm your mother," the woman said. "I'm supposed to tell you that you are the best at everything when you're young."

Changing the subject, Axel asked, "Is dad coming down to eat?"

"Oh!" the blond woman jumped. "I forgot to tell you! He left late this afternoon. Some emergency at the office. He said to tell you that he was sorry he couldn't be here." She turned to Roxas. "And he said that you'll just have to come back at another time so you two can meet."

"Well, that sucks. Roxas can still move in with us tomorrow though, right?" Axel asked.

Looking fairly evil, Mariana said, "And what if I don't like him? What if I don't think it would be good for someone like him to move in?" She winked to Roxas who smiled at her.

"Like that would ever happen, mom," Demyx said.

"Of course it wouldn't. Will you boys need help tomorrow? I'm sure we can find someone…"

"It's fine mom. If we needed help we'd ask Luxord who'd ask Marly who'd probably ask his new boyfriend."

"He's got a new one?" Mariana asked quickly, sounding surprised, yet at the same time not surprised at all. "How long?"

"About three weeks and counting," Demyx said, setting his wine glass back down.

"Yes!" the woman hissed, surprising the three boys. They all gave her questioning look which she brushed off quickly. "Your father and I have a bet going, that's all."

"You're betting on Marluxia…

"…and his relationship?" Axel started and Demyx finished.

"Oh don't act like you've never done it," she sad accusingly like she was trying to turn this away from her onto them.

"What's the bet?" Axel asked. He had his arm casually draped over the back of Roxas' chair, the tips of his fingers playing with soft blond locks at the base of his boyfriend's neck. He had felt Roxas squirm a bit uncomfortably a few times and only continued to smirk to himself. He loved having an effect on people.

"Well," Mariana said, moving in like she was about to let out some huge secret. "I said that it would last at least a month, if not more. Your father said three weeks top and no later, but Marluxia would be the one to break it off, which I actually agreed to. I mean, you know how he is."

Was it not weird talking about one of your friend's relationships like this with your mother? Roxas could only wonder, but neither son looked uncomfortable.

"You two are so bad," Axel said from behind his drink. He was smirking in a nasty way that made it seem like he wanted in on the bet or something.

"It's all in good fun, not to be mean. And well, like I said, you know how he is! But I love him to death, so if any of you give him head or tail of this bet, I'll hunt you down." Roxas cold feel the seriousness in her threat and shivered. This woman really was intimidating.

"Dinner is almost ready," came the accented voice of Nari, once again scaring Roxas nearly to death. He jumped once more, earning some snickers.

"Nari is a ninja. You don't even hear her come up and bam! She's there," Axel explained. "We just got used to it."

"I can see that," Roxas muttered quietly. He grabbed his wine glass and did his best to sip at it.

What a crazy family.

"It was so nice to meet you Roxas," Mariana said while she hugged the poor boy tightly. He returned the hug to the best of his abilities. She let him go and moved on to her sons.

"You two better take good care of him. Roxas, you just let me know if I need to come down and lay down the law for the two of them. Don't let them turn you into their house maid or anything. And if you need to, give them a good smacking on the nose or two, one for you and one for me."

Roxas grinned uneasily. "I will. Thanks for everything tonight. It was really nice meeting you."

"Everything will be fine mom. You know we're not that bad," Demyx said.

"You're fine until you find someone to do everything for you." She studied the three boys over for a moment, then gushed, "Oh I'm going to miss you all!"

"And you say that every time," Axel said, turning his emerald eyes upwards.

"And I mean it every time." She walked forward and opened the front doors. "Now get out of my house before I get all teary eyed. I'll call you some time in the next week. Be good, take care of yourself, keep up in school and all that fun jazz." She rushed them out with a flick of her hand. "And I had someone bring the Ferrari out for you Axel."

"Couldn't pick a more conspicuous car mom?" A bright red Ferrari was bound to attract enough attention.

"Oh hush, you love that car."

"Yes, but for just driving around, not too much. People stare."

Mariana t'sked. "And since when have you cared whether people stare at you or not. You have bright red hair, now you'll have a bright red car. What's the difference?"

"Fine, but it's not my fault if I walk out of work and find someone trying to break in and hotwire it."

"Oh, just go. Be safe, have a good night."

"See who can get home first?" Demyx proposed as he walked to his car. Axel walked up to a red F430 Ferrari spider that was parked right behind the blue Audi.

"You got left or right?" Axel asked. He opened his door and waited for Demyx's answer.

"I'll take left. It's just a tad longer. Don't leave me waiting too long." With that, the blond got into his car and started the engine. Axel got into the Ferrari and shut the door behind him.

"So how many amazing cars do you all own?" Roxas asked, putting his seatbelt on. Axel mimicked his actions and started the engine, hand immediately going to the radio dial.

"A good portion. Dad has his own trading business, and what he trades is cars. So naturally he loves cars and has to have all the cars he wants. So Dem and I are lucky and grew up with cars that hadn't been released on the market yet or the best foreign cars." Axel shrugged like it wasn't the most amazing thing ever. No matter how nonchalant he acted, Roxas could only think that that was the possibly one of the greatest things.

"My dad was a contractor, so I never really got this kind of luxury. And my mom was a kindergarten teacher. We had money, but we never really had money. You know what I'm saying?" Roxas spoke. He reached forward and fiddled with the temperature dials, turning the heat up a bit. The winter was fast approaching and it was getting a lot colder out now. He'd have to go shopping for some warmer clothes. He didn't exactly have any of those, since all of his had been lost in the fire.

"Before I moved in with Demyx, I had no idea what it was like to have money. We were dead poor, me and my real parents." Axel's eyes steeled as he focused on the road. "But, well…" he trailed off, leaving Roxas to wonder.

That was the first time that Axel had given some snippet into his past life. That was good. And Roxas could only go with it. He didn't want to push Axel, but maybe he could give him a gentle push?

"Was it tough?" he asked, unconsciously holding his breath. Axel gave him a swift side glance and sighed.

"I always had more of an issue to worry about than money. To be honest, money was always the last thing on my mind. My childhood…" he left that sentence hanging and took a very long pause. Roxas' chest constricted with the buildup of CO2 and he let out that breath of air, slowly taking in the next. It was suspenseful, having Axel just leaving loose ends like he was. "It just wasn't fun. It wasn't a life that any kid should have been put through. How about we leave it at that for right now?"

Roxas caught the slightly guilt look that Axel had on his face and smiled encouragingly, trying to show him that he wasn't disappointed, though he was slightly. "It's fine, Axel." He reached for Axel's hand that was resting on the gear shift and laced their fingers. "We'll focus on the here and now."

Roxas' ears picked up then that Axel had shifted the music so that classical tunes were drifting from the speakers now. He smiled, listening to the singing melody of the piano that was softly accented by violins and violas. He'd always loved classical music. Surprisingly it was their father that had played a CD for the twins when they were toddlers when they went to bed. He fell asleep to the relaxing orchestrated melodies.

"You told Sora that you were moving in with us?" Axel asked.

"Yeah."

"And he took it…?"

"Better than I thought. I mean, he wasn't on the ground as a quivering blob and begging for me not to leave him, so I took that as a good sign. But I know it'll be hard for both of us to be so separated. We've never lived in different houses before."

Axel squeezed the hand in his for good measure. "You'll both be fine. It's not as if either of you will be left alone. And besides that, are you ready to head to school Monday?"

"Oh god, don't remind me," Roxas groaned. "Morning with Leonhart, then with Strife, then onto everyone else. Yippee."

Axel laughed. "It must be lovely having the wonderful couple so early in the morning."

"Leonhart hates me, no thanks to you."

"He's still mad about our little show? And I thought it was pretty good. I think he'll lighten up when Strife gives into him a little more."

Roxas shook his head a bit. "D'you really believe in the 'they're dating' theory. I mean, sure they may act like it sometimes, but you can't be certain."

"Have you been in their presence when they're together? They send major sex vibes to each other from across the room. Like, major ones too! They're so bad they'd turn your brother into horn dog."

Roxas' eyes widened a bit. "Is that even possible!" he asked.

Axel nodded with a grave look on his face. "'Tis true, mi amore." He took a quick glance at the clock. "I think we're gonna have to gun it a bit more if we want to beat Dem. He drives like a madman at night. It's kinda scary."

Roxas didn't know if it was record time or not that they had made it back to the house in fifteen minutes from where they had been, but there they were, pulling up into the driveway.

Only to find Demyx's car sitting there.

"Madman," Axel muttered. He turned to Roxas. "Ready for your first night here as an actual resident?"

"Depends. Where do you want me to sleep?"

"With the husband of course."

"And where can I find one of those? As far as I know, two wives live here."

"Cheeky bastard. You sleep with me and no one else."

"Ooh, possessive, I like it."

"I'll give you something to like. Wait till tonight."

Roxas sighed. "Axel, don't insinuate things that you know just won't happen."

"How about you make it easy so I won't have to rape you."

"Can't rape the willing."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm stating a fact. I never said I was willing."

"You are a horrible, horrible person."

"And you're just horny. We're even."

Roxas stepped out of the car and walked up to the front door, making sure to put a little shimmy in each step, knowing full and well he was being a tease.

Axel sat in the car, watching the nice view as Roxas went up the front walkway. "Oh, he's willing alright."

Nari is the name of my Dragonite. . Don't ask.

Anyways, how'd you like? I'm not much of a fan, but since I've been struggling horribly for the past month, I knew I wasn't going to like it however it came out.

Be glad that I'm back. I'm so happy that I got it done that my read through is going quick cause I want to post it ASAP. Ignore my mistakes!

Review so I can continue to be inspired.