Twenty Years Later (And So, We Meet Again)

The lake was just as peaceful as it had always been.

Chicago, like the rest of the world, had changed immensely in two decades; every time Zexion returned it seemed even stranger, even further from the city he had grown up in. He was sure how he felt about that. Once, the city had seemed like little more to him than a monstrous, grinding machine hellbent on his destruction. But time and distance had taught him to cherish it. It was the place where he had been born not once, but twice - first from his mother's womb and then from the love of a dying man whom he had never forgotten. He still felt Demyx in the whipping of Chicago's famed wind, in the stirring of the trees and the movement of the water across the lake. That in itself was enough to bring him back again and again.

He approached the shore of the lake and sat down, took off his shoes and socks and slipped his bare feet into the cool water. For a while he sat there silently, deep in thought and memory. He always felt nostalgic when he came to this place. In the distance, he spotted a family of ducks swimming and playing in the water. It made him smile.

"I miss you." He whispered. A few small waves lapped against his ankles, and he knew that was as much of an answer as he was going to get. It would have to be enough.

Time had not healed his wounds, only made them easier to live with. He still bore the weight of his sadness, but he'd become stronger. Life had not been easy for Zexion. For the first few years after losing Demyx he'd had to fight tooth and nail to keep his promise and stay alive. He had been like a blind man in a desert, wandering lost and aimless, searching for some kind of oasis.

But San Francisco was a beautiful city, and eventually he'd started to enjoy it. It became more than a place to be close to the ocean; it became his his home. And so he pulled himself from his crushing misery and crafted a purpose for his like, went to college and then medical school and dedicated himself to helping the sick get well. It seemed like a good way to keep Demyx close to him.

And some time in the middle of all of it, he realized he was happy.

At first he had felt guilty about this, being happy in a world in which Demyx didn't live, but eventually he realized it's what he would have wanted for him. Being happy was the only thing he could do for the man he loved, and so he was.

He stayed there by the lake until night fell over the city. He said goodbye to Dem and promised that he would visit again soon, then left to walk to the restaurant where he was meeting his friends for dinner.

Larxene, despite the wild days of her youth, had become quite the family woman in her own special way. Even after twenty years Zexion still felt the slightest shock at the sight of a wedding band on her finger. He'd never thought anyone could tame her, but Marluxia had done it, and they had a beautiful daughter whom he was proud to call his god child.

But her husband and daughter weren't there at the restaurant. It was just Larxene and Axel and Roxas waiting for him at their table in the back of the Olive Garden, the same one they sat at every time he came back to Chicago. It was kind of a tradition, a family reunion of sorts.

"Sorry I'm late." He said as he took his seat across from Axel.

"You're not that late. Actually, you're on time. But I guess that's late to you." said Axel.

"Well, you're here, so I sort of assumed I was behind."

"Touche, mon frere. But Roxy here keeps me punctual."

Roxas let out a derisive snort that made Zexion think this was either not the case or the bane of his existence. Getting Axel to do anything on time would certainly be a struggle.

It was good to see them, to talk with them and laugh with them. They talked about Axel's work in a local tattoo parlor, about Larxene's family, told jokes and shared memories. Sometimes it felt like he was married to his career, which didn't leave much room for a social life - and although he had friends in San Francisco, Larx and Axel and Roxas were like his family, and he always felt safe when he was with them. He was glad they had stayed in Chicago, because it made his visits there much more enjoyable.

"So, we have to get to the station now, right?" Larxene asked when they had finished their dinner.

"Yes." Zexion said. "My train leaves in an hour. But I told you, you don't have to - "

"Don't be ridiculous, of course I'm driving you. Besides, your luggage is already in my car."

"Really?"

"Yeah, Marly loaded it up while you were at the lake. We kind of figured we'd be low on time, because we usually are."

He nodded, hugged Axel and Roxas goodbye, and followed Larxene out tot he car. Just as she'd said, his suitcase and duffel bag were in the backseat.

Half way to the station, Larxene looked at him. He saw something like concern in her eyes. "You look really tired, Zexion. Are you alright?"

"I am tired. I work a lot. But that's all - I'm tired, but I'm happy."

"Are you? I do wish you'd find someone, at least to keep you company.."

"Larxene. I know you're well intentioned, but I'm not interested in finding anyone else. I had someone, and he's dead. I know it's been twenty years but I still love him as much as I did the day I lost him. It wouldn't be fair to another person. It wouldn't be fair to me. I'm as happy now as I'll ever be without him, and I don't want to mess with that."

She was quiet for a moment, then nodded."I understand."

They pulled into the station. He unloaded his luggage from the car. "Thanks for the ride. And for letting me crash on your couch, like always."

She hugged him. "Any time, Zex. You'll come back soon, won't you?"

"Of course. Of course I will."

The train was quiet as it rolled through the heart of the country. Everyone was asleep, everyone but Zexion - he had a headache that nothing could kill, and he was grateful for the silence. In the dead of night all he could hear was the steady clicking of the wheels against the tracks. He leaned his head against the window, stared out at the clear, bright stars and the fields of wheat. It was comforting, because it reminded him of hope.

When I see you, I have hope.

Dem's dying words echoed inside of his skull. Even after all the time that had passed he could still hear his gentle voice so clearly, and the memory of it made him yearn to hear it again. It made long to look in those blue eyes and tell him he had it backwards; Demyx had been the one to give himhope. He told him this every night in his whispered prayers, but it wasn't the same. He wasn't even sure that his prayers were heard.

He sighed a little. He still wasn't sure about how much God cared for him - perhaps, he thought, God had created them and left them, or maybe he was dead. But he believed in Heaven. He had to.

The first light of dawn had just touched the sky when the pain hit him.

It started in his right shoulder and shot down to his wrist, like a bullet ricocheting inside of his arm, and spread to his chest. It was more intense than anything he'd ever felt, a terrible agony that took his breath away and made his vision swim.

He knew exactly what was happening to him. It was his job to know. His heart was seizing, giving out, too many years of working too hard, too much stress and too many drinks. All things considered, he wasn't completely surprised. He laid down, closed his eyes, and pressed his face into the seat.

He knew he could call for hep or scream, but he didn't want to. He didn't want to die surrounded by a crowd of strangers trying to save his tired heart. His life had been full and satisfying. He was ready. He wondered what would happen to him, where he would go. He felt no fear, only curiosity and a desire for the pain to be over.

"Zex." A voice said from above him. He recognized it immediately, and his eyes shot open.

And there, sitting in the seat opposite him, was Demyx. He looked so healthy and beautiful that Zexion felt tears well up and spill over. He'd missed him so incredibly much.

"D - dem..." He choked out.

An easy smile crossed Dem's lips. "Don't talk now. We have an eternity for that. So don't be afraid, don't worry. I'm here."

"We...will be...together?"

"Forever. That's a promise. I'm really proud of you, y'know that? I've been watching you this whole time, just like I said. I was always there. You did so well. You had me worried for a while there...but I knew you'd come out of it alright, and you did." His smile widened. "You're ready, huh?"

"Yeah...I'm...ready."

"Then let's ditch this place, you and me." He offered his hand. Zexion took it, and a moment later he was on the outside, looking down on his still, pale body. He felt free, liberated.

And together they rose above the train, above the fields of wheat and above the world, ready to meet eternity.