A/n: SO SO SORRY! I have a lot of excuses, but I'll won't list 'em off. Let's just say, I took a little vacation, to celebrate the Holidays and getting to the half way point! I will try to never take this long again!

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Um um...please check out my account page and it has a link to my blog that I use just to update my writing stuff. This means about everyday you can get a sneak peek of the next chapter and hear about how work is going. These little a/ns are getting to long, so I can answer questions better on my new blog.

Disclaimer: Don't own KH, don't want it, so please don't sue.

Quick, think back to middle school. Remember those dreams you use to have? The ones about walking into school naked, or only in your underwear. Those ones, the really stereotypical one that pretty much don't exist after you leave the hell-hole called 'public education'.

Not that I actually went to public school in middle school. Didn't convince my parent's on that one till High school… Did you know that four more years of private schooling could've added up to five trips to Disney World? Needless to say, Mickey and I were tight in high school.

So the whole underwear feeling is stemming from the fact that I'm literally up on a pedestal making an ass out of myself. And what I mean by that is I'm currently standing in front of my employees wearing an Armani suit and a cheap holiday tie from some chain store. And when I say cheap, I mean cheap. As in the tie currently strangling me not only was made out of cheap polycotton blend shit, but also bore a picture of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer that felt the need to light up ever three seconds or so.

This morning Roxas had dressed me in what he deemed to be 'appropriate' to talk to my staff in. Unfortunately, he had run across my father's armoire, dug through the mess that hadn't been touched in two years, and found the festive tie. My dad had and odd sense of style, Mom often said I got my sense of humor from him. He was the only person in the world who'd stand in front of his employees wearing a cheap Wal-Mart tie and still be at ease.

I didn't have that confidence. Not an ounce.

"So, Happy Holidays, and here's to yet another successful year at Flynn Financial!" I raised my glass, and a chorus rose up in front of me. Sometimes, I wondered how people two times older than me can stand to work for a lazy twenty-one-year-old who maybe comes into the office once a month.

"Here here!" I watched the gaggle drink their champagne and clap dutifully. I got off of my pedestal, a box from storage and joined the masses, already loosening the Rudolph tie. Over the sea of heads I could pick out few I actually knew. Mr. Murnane, balding and in his late forties, who basically ran this place for me. Nice enough guy; has bit of a temper, though tended to suck up to me. And that was his wife, Carla. Bleach blond, most likely went gray years ago.

Kujawinski, pretty girl, who was in her mid-twenties. Not too much older than me actually. She just graduated from DePaul and was currently working for us as a secretary. Really smart though, and I didn't mind having her voice greet me when I called in

And there was Larxene, who was part of the pay role. How she convinced me on that one, I'll never know. I think…she was technically my assistant. Though I can't remember anytime she'd actually been usefu-,

Oh yes, that's why I kept her around.

Through the crowd a small figure made its way, parting the working class elites like Moses parting the red sea. They stopped right before me and plucked my glass away. Without the barest hint of a smile, they placed the champagne back on a nearby table.

"You're my ride home tonight." He reminded me sullenly. "The least you could do would be not getting us killed on the way home."

"Yes, ever so sorry Mr. McCurdy." I grinned, elbowing Roxas in the ribs. "Do attempt to put on a happy face. It's not every day Larx feels so gracious as to take her younger brother out on the town."

"If these people are as stupid as you're making them out to be, you should reconsider their future here."

"I've got these people kanoodling with Oprah, they know when to keep their mouth shut." I picked up my glass, completely by-passing any dirty looks Roxas might have been shooting at me. "It's not my fault two people who claim to be siblings and share some of the same features are mistake for siblings, even when they are not and I only want you here to drag you through the exact same pain and suffering I must go through every time I step into this god forsaken place." I took a rather large sip of my drink, and Roxas rolled his eyes.

"Lush."

"Look, when you're twenty-one you can enjoy this just as much as I can. For now, however, the law still says 'no' to that one."

"I don't even-,"

"Spare me Rox. You're not my mother."

"No, I'm not." He folded his arms over his chest, glaring up at me now. "But you're the adult here, you should act like it."

"An adult who just made an ass of himself, so happy holidays, I'm getting wasted."

"I can't believe you brought me here." He suddenly snapped. "These are your employees. These people respect you; you shouldn't be bringing your 'best friend's under aged brother' to holiday work parties."

"And yet, you're so legal where it counts." He blushed slightly, before sticking his nose up in the air and avoiding eye contact.

"This is stupid. I hate being here, the only people I know are you and Larxene, and you two aren't great company."

"You could go chat up Miss Kujawinski, she's got a pretty nice rack. You could pass for eighteen if you try hard enough." I patted him on the head. "Off with you, attempt to seduce members of the opposite sex. Be good. Be safe. Use a condom, that's a good lad." Roxas's face snapped back to mine, his face caught half way between a blush and a scowl.

"That's disgusting."

"You like it." I drank some more, grinning down at Roxas, eyebrows waggling slightly. He rolled his eyes again, arms crossed over his chest defensively. "The least you could do is enjoy the view." I said, gesturing towards the windows that pointed out to the lake. "Hello Lake Michigan. How's the pollution today?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"This isn't getting us anywhere, I'm going to go over by Larxene and pretend to be her brother some more."

"Good luck with that Roxas McCurdy!" I waved him off as he stomped back to Larxene, and I really couldn't help the smile that stretched across my face at the lone middle finger drifting away through the crowd of people.

I continued to observe the window, and actually walked closer to it. I watched the city outside, still bustling, but then again, it was only seven. People would be going home now, to their families…

Christmas was in two days.

My father built this company with his own two hands. Sometimes, that's hard to believe. I mean, this company is younger than I am, and now it caters to Chicago's elite. Even the illustrious Scott's invested in Flynn Financial. I suppose I should be proud, you know? To be 'running' this place, this was my father's passion, his life's work.

I mean, this is what he left behind to me, just a house, three cars, and a multi-million company. He set me up rather nicely, but in the end, I can't help but blame this place for killing him. The same wealth that allowed him to pass down all those things to me ended up killing him.

Had he not created this company and ran it so well, he would've never had enough money to book a private jet and whisk my mother away to the Bahamas' for their twentieth wedding anniversary. That plane went down, a freak accident. My parent's never reached the Bahamas.

I was close to my parents. We were a trio, best friends with each other. I never felt like I had to hide anything from them. I guess that's why I can't understand Roxas's fierce need for independency, the reason why he hated it when I attempted to help him, or how he looks when his mother leaves a message on the machine, begging for him to come home.

I've had to change my phone number at least three times since he started living with me.

Sometime I can't help but wonder what my life would be like now if they were still alive, if they decided to hold off their trip for another week… if the weather had been bad and they'd been grounded. Maybe Roxas wouldn't be living in my house. I already know I screwed up a lot of my life right after their death.

Larxene refers to it as 'my dark days'. A three month process that started the second I heard of their fate, and ended when Roxas turned up at my doorstep. I dropped out of college, handed over my father's company, and didn't leave the house. Shut off my parent's room, completely locking it up the way they'd left it and quietly arranged for their funeral to be arranged. Fact is, I can barely remember what happened during those three months. I'm not sure what I did, or why I did it.

There's no pictures, no written records no…nothing. The only way you'd even know I was alive is the Peapod truck that'd come once every other week. Other than that, I might've been dead.

The few close friends I have refused to talk about it. Larxene laughs if off uncomfortably, Roxas will change the topic, and for some reason Demyx Peterson won't even look at me anymore. What I did, what I said, I can't help but wonder. It's odd, having no memory of such a long period of time.

Then, Roxas came and I woke up. The next thing I knew I was living with a sixteen year old and my life was all sunshine and daisies again. Or well, as sunshine and daisies as you can get with your parents dead. And, well, life went back to a relative normal and remained that way today.

Roxas will always be an interesting roommate/boyfriend/surrogate parental unit. I mean, I don't know anybody else nowadays who'd scold me for drinking when I'm supposed to be driving not only myself home, but Roxas and Larxene as well. Still, sometimes I wondered if one aspect out shone the others…like the surrogate parental unit part…

My parents' died in April. Roxas moved in July, and we started dating in August. This means I've roughly invested two years with him, and still the farthest we'd gotten was a hand job. And when I say a hand job I mean ahand job. As in one, as in I had to practically hogtie him to get the job done. It's insane. Sometimes, I'm proud of myself for putting up with it, the whole monogamy thing.

Constantly I was reminding myself that Roxas was only seventeen, and it was only a month ago that he was actually legal, well not legal legal, but age of consent legal. In fact, he kicked me out of my own home so he could celebrate with his friends. Though, I guess it was a good sign, he had never brought them over beforehand. So at least they know knew where he lived…even if they didn't know who he lived with.

Honestly, I don't understand why he has to keep me a secret. Other than the fact that I'm four years older than him and you know…Axel Flynn.

Back in middle school I was known for causing Professor Vexen's slight mental break down. In high school I was infamous for causing a chain reaction that destroyed lab 232. Mr. Xemnas never looked at me the same way after that, in fact, there are still some scorched desks in use there today, some of the only salvable objects. My catastrophe in the lab earned me urban legend status at Twilighton High.

I wish I had done it sooner, not during the last month of my senior year, that way I could've at least enjoyed some of the benefits that came with blowing up a classroom.

Chicago continued to bustle beneath the ongoing party, completely unaware. Snow was starting to fall outside the window. I hated snow, absolutely hated it. Though, if I had to pick between snow in Chicago and no snow in Orlando, I'd still pick Chicago, no matter how many Mickey Mice they had running around.

This is the city I love, that my parent's loved. I couldn't even comprehend living anywhere else. Sue, the Picasso, Millennium Park, all of it. Wouldn't be worth it, leaving Chicago, no matter what the reason. While I might've been able to bring Roxas, I don't think I could drag a dinosaur, a statue and you know…a park with me to wherever.

Larxene was winding her way through the crowd to me. She gently propped herself on my shoulder and leaned over me, her face level with mine.

"Who's that Mr. Laurent guy?" She questioned, lips splitting into a devious smile.

"Marluxia?" Automatically assuming she wasn't referring to his father, a rather stiff broker. "Some higher up's son. He goes to…shit what was it? Columbia?"

"Oh, an artist?"

"Most likely."

"I like artists…maybe I could help him out." She threw her head back, now staring at the halo of pink hair in the crowd.

"How would you do that?"

"Form drawing…" Her grin widened, and she licked her lips, green eyes staring at the man appraisingly. "Yes, that could work out rather nicely." She turned back to me. "And you say he's here with his father? A higher up?"

"Yes." She slowly lowered herself down from her perch, and grinned some more, though her eyes narrowed, almost predatory now. "Be nice." I called after her as she loped away, almost like a ballerina through the crowd. Roxas reappeared at my side a moment later, once again removing the glass from my hand, even if it was now empty.

"She was staring at him the whole time; she didn't even bother introducing my pseudonym to anybody."

"What a waste."

"And you were just standing over here staring out the window. Thinking of anything in particular?"

"The normal…"

"Don't beat yourself up like that." He warned carefully, knowing exactly what 'the normal' meant.

"Look, it's not like a get I kick out of it."

"Still… So, Christmas break starts for me tomorrow, do you have anything planned?" He changed the subject, Roxas would rather avoid any topic he deemed 'fragile'. He'd rather be comfortable right now and allow things to blow up on their own accord, and it has once or twice. Blown up, almost totally pompeiied itself.

"Nothing, I havn't even gotten you a gift yet."

"Good, cause I'm not planning on giving you anything."

"I didn't say I wasn't going to get you anything…"

"I just said "good", as in, please don't get me anything."

"I don't know, I just saw this amazing sweatshirt that was pink and was decorated in unicorns and rainbows. It would've really brought out the color in your eyes."

"Oh, well in that case, please do buy me a gift. I'll get you a matching one."

"We can be twinkies." Roxas rolled his eyes as I elbowed him a bit, jostling his tiny form this way and that. When I let up, Roxas settled again, arms crossed.

"I swear if you even think about getting me a pink sweater with unicorns and rainbows I'll castrate you."

"Threaten received, noted and filed. Thank you."

"There's a file?"

"Oh yes, I flip through them regularly, reminds me of the good times. It keeps the spice in our relationship, it's what wheels me back in every time."

"Our relationship of me being your best friend's little brother?" His smirk widened.

"Yes. That one." We stared at each other rather awkwardly, a silence stretching between us now. However, the silence wasn't very exactly comfortable. Everybody is always talking about 'comfortable silences'. I have no idea how silence is ever comfortable, even when we aren't talking there's always at least something to focus on, like the television. However, the only noise around us now was the insistent buzzing of chatting coworkers.

Very cautiously, very slowly, Roxas wrapped an arm around mine and leaned ever so slightly in. Suddenly, I felt myself relax, even though I didn't know I was the least bit tense before. I could hear the tiny puff of breath he let out over the din of the forty-somethings surrounding us. Suddenly, I had something to focus on, and our uncomfortable silence became very comfortable. His body pushed ever so slightly against mine, just his head, an arm and a leg, was enough to keep me focused on him alone.

I stopped thinking about Chicago, and my parents and the infested waters of Lake Michigan. Suddenly, and thankfully, it was just Roxas. It was like being home on the couch, watching reruns of some old tv show. Just me, and Roxas and white noise.

I leaned up against him as well, shifting my weight over on my right hip, bringing myself a tiny bit closer to him. Even though the room was pretty warm, what with all the people milling about, I was more than happy to press up against this softer source of warmth.

Roxas always thought he was too dependent on me. Sometimes I don't think he really realizes just how much I depend on him. If Roxas had never showed up…I'd be at ho me now, still not realizing the world was passing me by.

I shook my head and inconspicuously pressed my lips to his hair, quickly, and hopefully not noticeable.

"Thank you." I said suddenly. "Chances are you won't get it, but thanks, a lot."

"You're welcome?" He answered on command, though I could tell he was not sure if it was the correct way to respond. Truth was he didn't need to say anything to that, as long as he kept it up. As long as Roxas was still Roxas, I would continue to thank him. He shifted slightly, and I could feel a grin split across his face. "Looks like she bagged Mr. Pink."

"Good for her." I adjusted myself, watching as Larxene and Marluxia practically clawed at each other, hidden somewhat discretely in a cubicle. My eyebrows rose dangerously high as I saw a pale hand slip up the slit in her dress. "Okay, before I lose my lunch." I swiftly turned us away, and Roxas dropped his arm, now holding my hand slightly.

That night when we were climbing into bed, Roxas had migrated there sometime after his birthday, I was expecting Roxas to comment on the party. However, we laid still, each of us resting on our own pillows and on our own side of the bed. He let out a long sigh, stretching himself out slightly before snuggling into his pillow.

"Do you think Larxene found a way home?"

"She always does, a bit like a cat."

"We should rename her Sassy." He grinned.

I couldn't help but laugh a bit as Roxas continued to smile like an innocent five year old. He turned over and flicked off the side table light. Our room was dark except for the occasional light from headlights outside the window.

Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, Roxas was clinging to the back of my T-shirt, his face somewhere near my shoulder.

"I love you," he whispered, tired, and I knew he was most likely not even awake.

I couldn't stop the small chuckle that escaped from me as I finally fell asleep. Maybe making an ass out of yourself could be worth it, you know, in the long run.

A/n: This chapter seems a bit short, and I'm sorry for that. I will however, attempt to get out Roxas's chapter quicker and it should be longer. I proofed this very fast, so I'm sorry for the mistakes.

Check out sukkoppu(dot)blogspot(dot)com for more info on my fics and when to expect the next chapter!