Luna

The day I met him was quite honestly the best day of my life, though the weather wasn't quite as much.

My umbrella had met a tragic fate against the wind, leaving me with nothing but a soaked hoodie to protect myself against the storm. Even so, classes were on as usual. Luckily the buses hadn't been impacted.

Or so I thought, not having seen one for over ten minutes. There I was, standing in the downpour, with books clutched to my chest most likely soaked all the way through, when a car pulled up in front, window down. With the most gorgeous man I'd ever seen.

Cliche, I know. The eyes alone had me standing for a solid few seconds gawping. Luckily, I didn't miss his first words and embarrass myself too much.

"Do you need a ride?"

"Um." I looked down at my books, scraps of paper barely holding together. "You really want a dripping mess in your car?"

He smiled a brilliant grin. "I'll take my chances."

In the end I didn't go to class, my work ruined beyond comprehension anyway.

We sat at a motorway diner, sharing a milkshake I couldn't honestly remember the name of. Our hands kept touching as we held the glass, words filled with stories and tales. We'd never ran out of things to talk about, even as the hours passed.

I got home that night with a beaming smile on my face, the horrible weather forgotten, the furthest thing from my mind. The empty town didn't feel as empty as before, not with Leon in my life, even if we had only known each other a few hours.

Our first date was not a week later, the same diner with the same milkshake. He told me how he worked at an up and coming management business, dealing with top clients that needed various things... done. He was only low level, of course. A lot of things were hush hush there, though he seemed rather confident he could rise above the ranks.

It was refreshing to see his determination. I told him how I was studying at the university not far from town, business of everything. I'd always dreamed, when I was helping Dad in his workshop, to run something of my own one day. I'd never known what, even now I didn't, but someday I would. Someday I'd achieve my dreams, and seeing Leon's conviction only made me believe that all the more.

Leon had no parents. I… I visited their graves today, on the anniversary of their death. Car accident. He wanted to show me the only family he had left, and I was honoured. He trusts me, I think. It's only been six months, but…

I trust him too. I love him, and all his past.

I met the boss of Leon's company today, Terra. He was a surprisingly determined person, though he barely smiled as he spoke. Could've just been a rough day, I guess. Leon never spoke bad of him at home - if anything, he was someone he looked up to massively.

Terra was followed by a lackey… Ventus. Something wasn't right with him, though I couldn't put my finger on it. Afterwards, after expressing my concerns, Leon told me not to worry, Ventus was just like that. He never did anything though, or spoke more than a word or two.

He wouldn't stop staring at me. Those beady blue eyes, probably once filled with happiness, now seemed… like they had been through too much. Too much hate.

Luckily I'd never have to meet him again.

Leon woke me up in the middle of the night, frantic. He'd found out something about the company. About Terra, Ventus, everything. I couldn't find out more as he took off quicker than I'd ever seen, leaving his phone behind next to the bed.

I'm worried.

The night before was forgotten about. Leon said he'd had a bad dream, to not worry about it. It was all sorted, he'd said. We'd gone to the fair that day, had ice cream, and came back to the most loving sex we'd ever had.

"Leon… I wanted to ask you something."

We were lying in bed, tangled in each other's embrace, nothing but skin and sheets between us. I knew, looking into those eyes, I loved him and every part of him. It had only been a year since we met, but I knew.

"I want to… try for a baby. With you."

The look on his face was something I'd never forget. Pure wonder. I had a feeling he was experiencing the same as I was - content. Pure, blissful content. We were happy, with our own apartment, him with his steady job, and me almost finished my degree.

We were both going places. Our whole lives were mapped out in front of us, and the only thing missing was something I'd always craved deep inside, even seeing newborn babies in my teens. I always wanted a child of my own, to treasure and hold and love with every piece of my being. Like my love for Leon, I just… knew.

He smiled, brilliantly. "Nothing would make me happier."

My smile matched his. We kissed, lovingly. The kissing led to more, yet this time it had a meaning, maybe we would be blessed with a child. And if not, we had all the time in the world to make our own little bundle of joy. We had no rush.

It was when we were lying there, tangled in an embrace, hands clasped together, that the knocking started. Loud, incessant banging on the front door.

"No."

Leon's voice took a tone I'd never heard before in all the months I'd gotten to know every piece of him.

The knocking turned into banging, a harsh, cracking sound. It sounded like someone was breaking in.

Leon wasn't moving. "Babe?"

Even shaking him didn't help. He was rooted to the spot, and in what seemed like minutes, but was only a few seconds, did the loud, terrifying sound of the door's lock being broken rattle through the apartment. Seconds later did it slam again, shut.

"Leon?!" There wasn't any time for me to react, still lying in the sheets, than the mysterious intruder barged in, a shadow looking in the doorway of the bedroom. I could only look on, still clasping Leon's arm, as I could make out who it was, my hand raising to my mouth as a silent gasp exited it. None other than Ventus was standing there, gun in hand, raised and pointed directly at Leon.

That seemed to jolt him out of his haze, clenching his fists. "I told you I wouldn't tell anyone."

Ventus shrugged. "You still know." He cocked the gun, closing an eye. "Any last words?"

Leon looked directly at me, then. Was this seriously happening? To us? "I haven't told her a thing. I promise."

Ventus smirked at that. "Good."

The shot rang through my ears and didn't stop. I watched as my love's eyes, still open, glazed over, the life gone from them. Blood ran down his face as he fell against the bed, slumped over, lifeless and dead. He was gone.

My love was dead.

His blood was still flowing, into the pillows, staining white into red. Everything was so red. Even the walls above. Too much red-

"Now… to deal with you."

My gaze snapped from Leon's body to Ventus, who was inching closer by the second, a feral look in his eyes.

I couldn't even scream.

"Don't… touch me." I managed to get out, or I think I did. His smile didn't lessen. I couldn't move an inch. Not with Leon there. It was too much-

"Don't worry, I won't kill you. Not a beautiful face like yours." Ventus' voice had that edge to it, like he'd tipped off the edge, or maybe he had a long, long time ago. I was afraid.

I couldn't speak or move as he climbed onto the bed and forced me down, that smirk never fucking going away.

His lips were like poison, all I wanted to do was get away but I was frozen. Completely and utterly frozen.

"He never deserved you." He spoke as he unzipped his trousers. No, no, no, no-

He forced my head to the side, practically choking me, forcing me to stare at Leon, his soulless eyes, the blood already spread to touch me. Ventus forced himself into me, then, but I couldn't even close my eyes. I'm not sure if I even blinked.

I just started at Leon's face as I willed it to stop. To become a bad dream. For Ventus to leave and for Leon to be back in my arms. This didn't happen to people like me, it couldn't.

What did Leon even know? Something that could warrant his own death, seemingly.

I didn't notice when Ventus, clearly finished, dragged my body in a blanket and took me away somewhere. I'd shrunk away into my mind a while before. I didn't notice when I was shoved in the back of a van to the point I think I passed out. I didn't notice, days later, as I was told, by Terra, that Leon had died and they were offering me a house as they knew I was going through a difficult time. And that, although unofficial, if I spoke a word, Ventus would know.

His name alone sent shivers down my spine.

I think they furnished the house for me, leaving belongings I had in the apartment. They just... turned up one day.

Leon's face was a face I could barely look at without feeling I couldn't breathe. The pictures were stashed away into the deepest corner of a cupboard I could find.

It was three months later I'd begun to feel again. Money appeared, every month, in my bank account, more than I could even begin to spend. It left me able to lie and sleep all day, eat when my hunger got so bad I could barely function. I knew I was skin and bones. I just felt like I had no reason to live anymore. Not without Leon. Not with what had happened.

The ghost of Ventus' touch still lingered, as well as Leon's eyes. I could never forget how he looked.

I never found out what they did with his body, or the apartment. Nothing was said on the news, nor did any policeman turn up at my door. It was like he'd been erased from history, just because he'd found out something.

My poor Leon.

Over the days I'd begun to throw up by the hour, the stress causing me to break down almost constantly.

It was when I'd begun craving food and, more importantly, only cucumber, did a thought pop into my mind.

Was I pregnant?

That very thought caused me to hole up in my bed, but not really my bed, for two days straight.

I couldn't look after a baby without him. Not when I couldn't even deal with myself.

I had to go food shopping eventually. It was when I finally emerged from the house and went to the nearby supermarket, donned in sweatpants and a hoodie, did I include a pregnancy test in the mix.

I had to know. If I wasn't, I could continue as I was. Sleeping myself into oblivion. Barely eat until I never woke up again.

If I was… I'd get rid of it.

But could I get rid of the last attachment to Leon I had left?

Hours later had me sitting on the bathroom floor, eyes closed half from exhaustion of getting up and half from not wanting to know what the stick in my hand beheld.

I looked down at the stick, eventually. Warily.

Positive.

My hands made their way to my belly, the test forgotten on the floor. Baby. A piece of Leon was still there, in me. But was I ready to keep that piece alive?

There was too much beeping. Too much white, too much noise.

And then not enough. Lying there, on the chair, waiting. Still wondering. Keep it or not?

"Are you ready?"

I bit my lip. "Not really."

The seconds passed, the doctor laughing as if I'd just made the funniest joke on the earth. "We get that a lot."

I'm sure they didn't get exactly what happened to me a lot.

They spread the gel, though I barely felt it. That's how it felt like all the time now. Just… nothing.

The doctor seemed to be trying to find something, and then-

Thump. Thump. Thump.

I frowned, looking at the monitor next to me. I promised myself I wouldn't. But… it was life. It was a baby. It was my baby.

"Wow, someone's lucky! Looks like you're showing two heartbeats. Usually we don't see this so early on in a pregnancy, but there it is, clear as day."

…Two.

I had... two babies?

"Are you still… unsure of options?"

I couldn't breathe. But this wasn't the same feeling as before.

"I'm keeping them. I'm keeping my babies."

I cannot deny it was hard. To begin eating again, to care for myself on days when I felt like I didn't want to live. Though I made myself, even more so the bigger my stomach got. When I could stand opposite a mirror and see the life inside me, imagine the two inside, together.

They were boys, I found out later. Two sweet baby boys. I wondered… if they'd look like their father.

One day, when I'd gotten back home from an appointment, there was a large package waiting outside my door. A note laid on top, and gingerly, I opened it.

Congratulations on the pregnancy.

Regards, Terra Quara.

I tried to forget that name as I unpacked the baby necessities they'd sent. I didn't question how he knew I was pregnant. Or even how he knew I was carrying twins, by the double cot and pushchair.

I pushed it out of my mind and focused on the two I was carrying inside of me. They'd become my priority, no matter what. I'd never think of anything else as long as I lived. Nobody was going to harm a hair on their heads. Never.

They were born on the 30th May, two beautiful boys with blue eyes, cooing and amazing. Sora and Roxas.

They would be my sole reason for living.

I began to notice the differences when they were about five years old.

Roxas has always had my blonde hair, while Sora had Leon's lovely brown locks. Their faces, though, began to… change as they grew. While Sora changed from his baby face and into a sort that resembled, of course, my own and Leon's.

While Roxas'...

I could see Ventus when I looked at him. Even his hair changed from platinum to a disgusting sandy blonde.

Every day.

Ventusventusventusventus.

I can't stop seeing him. He's there. All the time. My baby boy, Roxas, isn't Roxas anymore.

My boys are eight today. Yet Ventus won't leave.

Ventus-

Ventus-

Ventus-

...Ventus?

...Roxas?

Where has Roxas gone?