The next day was thankfully a Saturday, but I made it a point to wake up early and wait downstairs watching TV quietly so that I could sneak a chance to talk to Sora.

Said brunette stumbled downstairs for a glass of water as he usually does, so I made sure to have one fresh with ice waiting for him.

"Here," I interrupted his walk to the fridge.

"Thanks," he whispered quietly.

"Sora, please, forgive me?" I didn't care what it'd take. I wanted my baby back.

"I do Roxas."

"Then, then why did you change rooms?" I asked, still a bit bothered.

"Cause," Sora clearly didn't want to talk about it and I knew that the only reason was because he didn't want to cry.

"I missed you." I was caving. I was falling for him all over again, because I could never stop loving him. Right away I panicked. Would we end up like Cloud and Leon? My own eyes watered at the idea.

"I'm sorry," Sora whispered, not even repeating the phrase I needed to hear.

"Sora," I whined. I was willing and ready to go on both knees, hands over head, clasped in desperation.

"I'm tired." He turned around and walked back upstairs. With a shake of the head, I followed, a bit bothered at how he went into Leon's room.

"Morning." Leon greeted as I nodded it back. Sora sat on the bed, next to our big brother, curling up at his side.

I could only watch with envy as I glared at Leon.

"Sora, why don't you," Leon started, but Sora wouldn't listen.

"I'm tired." He repeated, eyes closed. I continued to stare coldly at my older brother, hating how he put his arm around what's supposed to be mine.

"S-stop," I begged quietly.

"Roxas, not now." Leon warned but I wouldn't listen.

"Stop!" I yelled, not sure if I was yelling at Leon to let go of Sora, or if I was yelling at Sora to stop being so ….unlike Sora.

"Hey, shut up." Cloud walked in the room next, picking out clothes to wear from his closet.

"You shut up!" I yelled back.

"Roxas," Leon barked with Sora hiding safely at his side, but it was too late, I pissed Cloud off.

"Yeah? Who's going to make me?" Cloud grabbed my shirt and I was ready to hit him until Leon pulled us apart.

"I'm going to make both of you stop. Now." Leon was direct.

"If he wants to be a dumbass then let him learn from his own mistakes." Cloud huffed as he pushed himself away from Leon.

"Call me a dumbass one more time!" I dared him angrily, my adrenaline and rage at their maximum capacity.

"Silence." Leon said but Cloud was already smirking.

"I really do hope you get your dumbass kicked at school to knock out your pathetic pride. You could use a lesson to see how weak you really are." Cloud walked up to me as I gulped, not anticipating that he would actually try to hurt me.

"That is enough. Both of you." Leon put a hand on Cloud's chest.

"His damn fault. He thinks he's so cool, so strong." Cloud shook his head. "He doesn't know shit."

"You're shit!" I screamed. I was scared. Was, was he right?

"You little fucker," Cloud fisted a hand before Leon restrained him.

"Knock it off." He said sternly.

"I'll knock him out!" Cloud shouted.

"I'd like to see you try!" I got fed up with Cloud's threats.

"Cut it out!" Leon struggled as he and Cloud wrestled to both move towards or away from me.

"Let me go!" Cloud pushed Leon, who then yanked Cloud's arm forcefully.

"Alright I have had it!" Leon shouted so loudly, we all froze. "Don't you see we're already broken enough?!" His voice was strained as I swallowed in guilt. "When dad left I made a promise!" Leon pointed a stiff finger as I looked up at him in shock. He had never before mentioned dad, so I knew it must have been serious. Leon was the only one our dad loved, the only one who was actually granted permission to join dad when he left, but he turned it down because he wanted to help our mother take care of me and my brothers. I frowned, feeling pretty shitty before Leon continued. "I promised myself that I wouldn't abandon my family. That I would do whatever it took to keep you all safe, fed, and warm." Leon inhaled deep. "I never once asked dad or mom for help. But I am asking you all now." Leon sighed in an exhausted frustration. "Please, for the sake of whatever we have left," Leon shook his head. "Try to make it last?"

We were all silent, no doubt thinking, guilty, hurt, feeling insecure. I made eye contact with Cloud for a brief second before he looked away again.

"Sora," I looked over to my twin, who wasn't even looking in our direction. "Sora please," I was choking up. "I love you."

"Then why did you throw me away?" Sora asked, his voice raising.

"Because I wanted to protect you from hurting!" I explained loudly.

"Well you failed!" Sora screamed as I gulped. He sniffled before he rushed to his feet and out the door. I was about to chase him when Cloud put his hand on my chest.

"Let me," I started.

"Stop. Just give him a second." Cloud was so calm, it made me realize he was right. I looked up into Cloud's eyes as he looked at Leon, and I could see the hurt. Right away, I started crying. I didn't want to end up like those two, loving each other, but resenting each other all the same. I wept as I prayed that Sora and I could work things out, and to my surprise, Cloud held me.

I gripped his body tightly as I used his frame to get out all my aggression.

He exhaled loudly to clear the air before he spoke.

"This ends now. Leon, get Sora."

"But he," Leon tried to reason.

"The sooner the better." Cloud remained persistent.

"Alright," Leon nodded before he went downstairs. Cloud continued to hold me as Leon made his way back with my twin's wrist in his hand. "I'm not asking Sora. Come on." Leon led Sora to the bed to sit down.

Cloud gently let go of me as I stood still, waiting to see what was going to happen.

"Sit." Cloud instructed as he locked the bedroom door from the inside. I took a seat on the bed as we all looked to Cloud, no doubt curious to see what he had planned. "We're all going to sit here until we work this out." Cloud said, so Leon nodded.

"Alright,"

"Sora, talk to him." Cloud ordered dryly, obviously referring to me.

"I just want him to love me." Sora sniffled.

"I do!" I hated how he made it sound like I didn't.

"Then why did you try to get rid of me?" Sora asked, taking refuge in Leon's arms, making it clear that he didn't want to talk to me anymore, so I sighed. It got quiet when all of the sudden, Cloud cleared his throat as if something big were stuck in it.

"I'm sorry." He said quietly, and when the three of us looked up at him, his eyes were watering as they stared at Leon.

"C-Cloud?" Leon asked nervously, causing the blonde to look away, as if in shame.

"I'm sorry Leon." Cloud actually sniffled as I looked in disbelief.

"Oh Cloud," Leon let go of Sora and rushed to Cloud. He took him in his arms tightly as Cloud clung onto his body in return.

"I'm sorry," Cloud's voice was weak as his hands trembled up and down Leon's back.

"Shh, it's ok. It's ok Cloud." Leon nodded in comfort.

"I love you." Cloud whispered.

"I love you too." Leon smiled, causing me to smile in joy of the breakthrough that they were finally able to have.

"I was weak. I, I ran away." Cloud shook his head. "I never should have run away from you." Cloud shivered visibly.

"You're back now." Leon comforted him.

"I love you." Cloud repeated, causing Leon to smile wider than I had ever seen.

"I love you too." Leon repeated as he inhaled deeply.

I looked to Sora, who pouted with the most adorable plump lower lip that I had ever seen.

"Baby?" I bit my lip, wishing it were his.

Sora didn't say anything; instead, he opened his arms up like a hurt baby who wants to be picked up.

"Come here," I firmly gripped his back as I held him close.

"I love you Roxy."

"I love you too Sora. So damn much." I inhaled deeply.

"Let's uh, let's get some food for the boys." Leon looked to Cloud, pushing Cloud's crazy spikey hair out of his face.

"I'm not hungry." Cloud said plainly as I chuckled silently at his personality.

"The boys need to eat." Leon said quietly.

"But I'm not done." Cloud said as if it were important.

"Not done with what?" Leon wondered.

"Hugging you." Cloud said honestly with his arms still around Leon's back, just as Leon tightened his grip on Cloud's waist.

"How about we take a small break to feed ourselves, and then we pick up where we left off, ok?" Leon made an offer.

"Can't they feed themselves?" Cloud whined.

"Cloud," Leon said with the authority he always seems to possess.

"I'll call for pizza but I'm using your credit card." I said, looking at Cloud.

"Fine with me." Cloud shrugged before he leaned in, to my own surprise, as if he were going to kiss Leon on the lips!

"Cloud!" If there was anything more shocking at that moment than Cloud puckering for Leon, it was how Leon stopped him by taking a step back.

"What?" Cloud asked, in fear.

"Babe, I'm still with Rhinoa, and you're with Tifa. As much as I love you and want to be your one and only," Leon sighed, "We need to straighten things out with them first." Leon said as I nodded in the background. Right, Leon really is the perfect role model. He's loving enough to forgive Cloud, yet gentle and kind enough not to cheat on Rhinoa even though his heart lies with our brother.

"This is going to suck." Cloud whispered just loud enough to be heard.

"It's what's right." Leon said as if there were no other option.

"Ok." Cloud said before he reached for his phone in his pocket.

"What," Leon started.

"I'm breaking up with her." Cloud said as if it were obvious.

"Cloud," Leon shook his head. "Don't do it like this. Call her and ask to speak to her in person." Leon said as Cloud deleted his break up text.

"But that's even more awkward." Cloud pouted.

"She deserves more than a shitty break up text." Leon said.

"Fine." Cloud sighed loudly before he called his girlfriend. "Hello? Tifa? Can we talk? No it has to be in person. What? How, how did you know? Oh. Oh." Cloud was quiet for a while. "Yeah, you're right. How did you know that one? I see. I'm sorry. Kay. Yeah, you too. Bye." Cloud hung up as we all stared at him, wondering what had been said on the other line.

"Well?" Leon asked.

"I'm single so can we date now?" Cloud was always blunt. Leon gave a soft smile.

"I have to break up with Rhinoa. But, I thought you were going to break up with Tifa in person?" Leon wondered.

"She figured it out. She said I never used my cell phone before, so it had to be something big. She guessed that I was dumping her, for you." Cloud said as he gazed into Leon's eyes.

"She knew that much?"

"Well she went to high school with us." Cloud shrugged.

"She took it pretty well then, huh?" Leon folded his arms.

"Said she was waiting for me to go back to you."

"That's, awful." I couldn't help but chime in.

"What do you mean?" Cloud asked.

"She knew you were using her to get over Leon!" I stood up angrily.

"It was her idea." Cloud said as I blinked in confusion.

"Huh?"

"She said that I could date her so no one would beat me up any more, and since her exgirlfriend Aerith was chasing after our other friend Zack, Tifa said she needed a distraction."

"Sounds, complicated." I scratched my head.

"Well Aerith asked Tifa back just last week so I guess the timing works out." Cloud shrugged.

"I wish things were that easy for me." Leon sighed. "I'm going to call Rhinoa. I'll meet with her tonight and try to make it fast." He said as he reached for his cell phone on his dresser.

"You aren't going to kiss her when you see her, are you?" Cloud asked like a possessive, nervous mess.

"Maybe on the cheek, out of sympathy." Leon shrugged.

"Oh, ok." Cloud said, clearly not satisfied as he stood up and aimed for the door, but Leon caught his arm.

"You left me, remember that." Leon said as I gulped, wondering if Leon had just shot himself in the foot.

"Yeah and I'm willing to take you back so you should act like you care." Cloud grunted as my eyes widened. So much for the restored love.

"What?!" Leon was just as horrified as I would have been. "I'm the one taking YOU back, or at least I was about to." Leon scoffed.

"About to?" Cloud looked confused.

"Why should I if you're going to act like a dick?" Leon asked.

"I'm not a dick!" Cloud fought back.

"You're single, that's for damn sure." Leon shook his head as I looked to Sora and sat by his side on Leon and Cloud's bed.

"What?" Cloud asked fearfully.

"Go ahead and get pizza, you can use the food munny in the kitchen drawer." Leon looked to me as I nodded silently.

"Where are you going?" Cloud asked as Leon opened the bedroom door.

"To go spend time with my girlfriend." Leon left as the rest of us remained in the uncomfortable silence.

"Ahem," I coughed after Sora's stomach made a loud noise.

"I'm hungry," Sora whispered as I nodded.

"Let's go call pizza. Cloud, you want any?" I asked just to try to move past the awkwardness. Cloud remained silent before he looked at me, and then shook his head. "Ok," I cleared my throat and led Sora downstairs. Once we reached the bottom I heard Cloud slam his bedroom door.

"Well, at least, at least we aren't fighting anymore." Sora tried to stay positive, so I smiled for him.

"It means the world to me, to have you back." I said as I got the number to call for pizza.

"Really?" Sora blushed.

"Well yeah, you are my world." I said, knowing it was cheesy, but knowing Sora would appreciate it.

"You're my world too Roxy." Sora hugged me as I dialed for pizza.

"Ok, twenty minutes. Can your tummy wait that long?" I teased Sora's stomach with my anxious hands after I hung up the phone.

"I don't know." Sora frowned. "I'm really hungry Roxy."

"Here, why I don't keep your mouth occupied." I whispered before I cupped his face and made out with him.

"M!" Sora moaned as he chased after my tongue, causing me to grin.

"Knock it off!" Cloud's voice seemed to have come from nowhere as he trudged into the kitchen.

"We're just kissing." I said innocently as he pushed between me and my twin to get to the fridge.

"I'm not blind." He retorted.

"Roxas already called for the pizza." Sora rubbed one of his arms, no doubt hurt by Cloud's lack of sensitivity. Cloud can be a bit too dry for the average human, but Sora requires extra care so between the two extreme's, it's no wonder they don't really bond much.

"I heard him on the phone. I'm not deaf either." Cloud kept his back to us as he looked through the fridge.

"He's just trying to help, no need to be a dick." I rolled my eyes as Sora bit his lip.

"What'd you call me?" Cloud slammed the fridge door to look at me as I gulped. Shit. What did I just start.

"Nothing." I shook my head. Usually I'd love to piss Cloud off just for the fun of it, but I was fed up with enough drama for one day.

"That's what I thought." Cloud huffed, boiling my anger as I tried to refrain.

"Do you want us to save pizza for you?" Sora offered, making me smile at just how gentle and kind hearted he is to be nice to Cloud even after Cloud had hurt his feelings.

"Do whatever you want." Cloud brushed past Sora, intentionally bumping shoulders roughly as Sora gulped with a step backwards from the impact.

"Ow," Sora whispered as I fisted my hands.

"Hey!" I shouted. Now he had done it.

"What?!" Cloud lashed around.

"What was that for?" I took another step closer to my older brother.

"You got a problem?" Cloud took a step closer to me, getting right in my face, much taller than I wanted to admit.

"Don't, don't hurt him." I tried to look brave.

"I'm just walking." He narrowed his eyes on mine, but I didn't fall for it.

"You don't have to be rude you know." I inhaled deep.

"Thanks for the tip." Cloud turned his back as I growled.

"I wish Leon were here; he's a better brother than you." I said, knowing that I was probably saying words harsher than I should have.

"Shut up!" Cloud whipped around to yell at me.

"Make me!" I got ready to fight as Sora put a hand on my bicep.

"Roxy stop!" he begged before Cloud rolled up a sleeve.

"I dare you Roxas. Say it again, and I will give you what you want." Cloud's voice had no bump, no doubt, no hesitation.

"I, I said make me." I trembled with unsure eyes before Cloud walked right up to me with no emotions in his eyes that were locked on mine. I cleared my throat and stepped away from Sora, aimed for Cloud, but was blocked before I took a hit straight to the nose. "Nyghya!" I rushed my hands to my face as I took several steps back.

"Roxas!" Sora screamed.

"I dare you. Say it again. Say it again!" Cloud shouted at me, making me angrier by the second.

I grabbed a textbook off of the kitchen table and faked a high aimed throw before I hurled it at Cloud's left thigh, grinning when it made impact and Cloud groaned in pain.

"You little," Cloud grabbed his thigh before he limped after me. I sprinted around the kitchen table before I stood on one side, and Cloud at the other. None of us moved as we each leaned from left to right, trying to figure out where the other was going to go. Blood was steadily leaking out of my nose as I looked to the stairs, hoping to reach my bedroom.

"Stop it!" Sora shouted before Cloud put both hands on the table and jumped over it.

"Shit!" I ran around but not fast enough. Before I knew it, Cloud had tackled me to the ground. "Ooof!" I fell face first, my nose feeling twice as heavy as before.

"Quit, kicking, me," Cloud mumbled as I rolled on my back and kicked as hard as I could in any direction.

"Get off of me!" I nailed him in the chest and stomach several times as we wrestled wildly on the floor.

"What the?" I heard Leon's voice but couldn't see much as Cloud and I began to tug on each other's hair.

"Make them stop!" Sora begged.

"Hey! Break it up!" Leon tugged on Cloud's torso as I continued to kick and punch and squirm.

"Let me go!" Cloud wriggled to break free of Leon's grasp.

"Get off!" I repeated as I aimed to kick Cloud once in for all in the face. I missed. Instead of hitting Cloud in the nose, hoping for payback, I nailed Leon in the jaw. "Fuck," I couldn't even make a sound as I saw Leon's face turn to the side. I didn't know he was going to throw Cloud off of me and then try to grab me next!

"Roxas!" Sora gasped as I paused on the floor in sheer panic.

"Go, to," Leon put a hand over his jaw, his eyes closed as he panted. "room," he huffed as I gulped, my eyes watering as I tried to figure out what had happened, what I had done, and what was going to happen next.

"But," I whispered, wishing I could apologize.

"Room!" Leon ordered loudly before he let out a shout of pain, his body tensing as he took uneasy breath's.

"Ok," I scrambled on my butt to get to my feet before I ran past Leon, Cloud, and Sora and upstairs. I dashed into my bedroom and into the bathroom to rinse out my nose for just a minute before Sora stood behind me with a black rag.

"Here, so you don't stain the towels." Sora whispered as he handed me the rag.

"Thanks," I whispered back as I took it and held it gently to my nose. "Ah!" I gritted my teeth at the pain.

"Shh, it's ok. Once we have some food I can give you some pain medicine." Sora rubbed my back gently.

"Thanks." I gulped before he ushered me to our bed. I sat down against the headboard with him at my side before we heard the doorbell go off.

"I should probably go get it since Leon's in his room and Cloud probably left." Sora hopped off the bed and returned minutes later with the full box of pizza.

"Is Leon ok?" I asked.

"I'm sure he'll be fine." Sora reassured me as we ate silently for the most part.

"I'm sorry I started a fight with Cloud." I apologized to Sora, knowing he must have been bothered by my stupidity.

"It's ok." Sora said before he left and returned with pain meds for my nose.

"Where's Leon?" I had to ask.

"I don't know." Sora shrugged.

"Is he in his room?" I asked curiously.

"I said I don't know, ok?!" Sora snapped.

"Ok," I whispered. Sora shook his head before he showered by himself. I waited for him to finish before I quietly showered next and when I finished I saw him in bed, eyes closed, clearly awake, but trying to look asleep. I left him alone as I went to Leon's room, hoping to have a moment with him.

"Hello?" I knocked on the door and pushed it open.

"Shh," Leon held a gentle finger to his lips as I gulped. He was sitting up in bed with Cloud lying down at his side, holding our older brothers hips, crying.

I nodded as I prepared to shut the door.

"Wait," Leon called out as I obeyed. His jaw was bruised and Cloud was shirtless with a few bruises of his own, probably from my crazy kicks.

"Yes?" I asked as Cloud continued to cry without any noise into Leon's thigh.

"Come here," Leon whispered and patted the mattress by his side. I didn't hesitate for a second as I walked up to the bed and sat down where Leon had instructed. "Cloud," Leon rubbed our brother's bare back.

"I'm sorry," Cloud said without moving his face away from Leon's leg.

"I'm sorry too." I repeated. "I'm sorry." I looked up at Leon, staring at his jaw, feeling guilty.

"I'm sorry for leaving you, and for yelling. Did you eat dinner?" Leon asked and I nodded. "Are you still hungry?" He asked, being the parent we never had but always needed.

"No." I shook my head.

"Good. Brush your teeth, finish any homework, and get some sleep." He instructed calmly as he ran his fingers through Cloud's hair.

"Yes sir." I nodded and stood up. As I walked to the door I heard Leon shuffle in bed, and I paused just before exiting to turn around. "Should I turn off the light?" I asked, watching as Leon held Cloud in his arms, both lying down, chest to chest, Cloud still hiding his face.

"Yes please." Leon said. "Goodnight."

"Night." I echoed and returned to my bedroom.

I crawled into my bed and turned off my table lamp, hearing Sora snore lightly. Since he was asleep I figured I could hold him, so I put my arms around him and pulled him close. He fidgeted uneasily and whimpered as I did my best to soothe him.

"Shh, it's ok." I whispered. "I love you Sora." I said as quietly as I could. Sora's chest expanded and then deflated.

"I love you too." He said as I gulped. I didn't expect him to be awake, but I was thankful to hear his words back as I squeezed him tighter.

Author's Note: I'm sorry it's been so long. Once again life has been crazy and I've been doing my best to keep up. Super excited for this story and I'm working on an Akuroku right now. I don't expect it to be very long like some of my other stories but I am hoping it holds up with what I have written so far. Once I get a bit more established I'll share the title. Hoping to post it sometime in the next month or so.

Reader Responses:

The Dark Flair: Homeschooling would be a good option but with Leon working and Cloud busy with school, neither one of them have the time. Plus it would totally deflate the natural drama that my stories need to thrive lol. Thanks for the review I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Silent Sacrifice, Living Legacy, Sarabellum