Hmm... I'm wandering about. I was thinking I don't want to languish in the Demyx inactivity... or I just don't feel like writing without him. I think I'm in love. lol. Anyway, here's a little bit of fluff, angst and a happy reunion. I think Naminé might be one of my favorite characters in KH:II cause she's so damn shy, but so pretty. XD I know. Not much reason there. Anyway, she's here... and yes that means Roxas is with her. To AkuRoku lovers: Sorry... Demyx is Axel's man in my book. To AkuRoku haters: don't worry, they're just friends. I'm not even going to kid you, it's not that I don't like the pairing, it's just that I'm a little more sure they were just friends (as gay as they sound in all of their scenes together. lol) and I want to keep it that way for poor Demyx's sake...

Please note that Naminé is the only person allowed to call Demyx "Demy". He'd hurt anyone else. Badly.

Anyway, please read, enjoy, review, repeat :D ... I love you guys, btw. You brought my hit counter all the way past 4000 hits on this! I'm so happy I could squeal (and I did) or maybe break some stuff (I've yet to do that). Cheers! Cookies for all :)

"I hate snow!" Axel griped, trudging along behind Demyx who was whistling cheerfully, still dressed as a drowned zombie. Axel's outfit… well, there was only one word to describe it: fruity.

"You match well, though," Demyx laughed, "You look like strawberry shortcake out here!"

"Shut up," the redhead grumbled.

"So are you a red betta or a phoenix? I still can't tell."

Of course, he was commenting on the big filmy wing and tail pieces of the outfit that billowed behind the older man as he moved. They were rather restrictive and a source of much turmoil for the redhead because they were constantly getting caught on something or other.

Demyx's answer came in the form of a particularly large snowball to the back of the head, the force of which sent him sprawling into a snow bank.

He sputtered and rolled over, floundering in the cold wet stuff, but there was a warm press suddenly, and he ceased his struggling. Axel's lips just barely touched Demyx's and for some reason, Demyx felt like he was suddenly in a completely different world… not this tiny little corner called Christmas Town… no, he was laying on an endless white beach with a fire burning beside him and a heart beating strong in his chest…

"I think I love you…" Demyx whispered softly.

Axel smiled, "I think I love you too…"

--- ---

There's a fatal error. A weak spot.

"Demyx… he makes me… he makes me feel."

"I don't understand…" Demyx whispers hoarsely, "I don't make you feel that way?"

"It's different… the love you give me… is different."

Axel sighs and turns away, refuses to look into those hurtful blue eyes. They're hurtful because he made them like that. The love that Axel gave him was an insult and the guilt of it weighs heavy on his consciousness… settles lead-like in that hollowed pit in his chest.

"Well, I'll wait for a while…" Demyx sighed in defeat. "I'm sure he's… a sweet kid."

--- ---

For a while, Demyx was convinced that Axel really did love him at that point. After Roxas left, he seemed to be grounded in Demyx, but it was a cruel shock when Saïx dragged him up to the Alter of Naught one starless rainy night.

"Strange…" the berserker mumbled, his voice somewhat muffled in the hood of his robe.

"What is?" Demyx asked evenly.

"He can't see what he has right in front of him. I've never seen anything like you… never felt anything like you… except maybe one..."

"Roxas," Demyx said, a pathetic sob escaping him. "Saïx… I need some time alone now."

"Of course," the blue-haired man replied, slipping away silently.

Demyx felt his soul die.

He was never quite the same again after that night.

--- ---

Demyx waited in the hall on the first day they found the little girl. She was scared and confused, and for some reason, she wouldn't trust anyone but Roxas.

Now that he was so horribly lonely, he never really took any time to socialize with anyone, and he felt it a waste of time to even talk to her since she would probably just run away. But one night, he was surprised. She was at the doorway to his room, swaying lightly to the music he was playing on his beloved sitar. He stopped playing abruptly.

"You can come in and sit if you like…" he offered.

She seemed indecisive, but slowly, she inched forward until she was standing next to the couch against the wall near the door. She slid down onto it tentatively. Taking that as his cue, Demyx began to play again, tapping out a light, lilting melody like the sound of a small stream rushing over smooth stones.

"Why do you play happy songs when you're sad?" she asked suddenly. "It doesn't sound quite right when you do that…"

Demyx looked shocked.

"I… I don't know," he replied honestly.

"I can tell you're a good person," she said softly. "My name is Naminé."

"Demyx," the sitar player said softly, extending his hand. She rose and took it, shook it and stood there with a sweet smile on her face.

"Will you be my older brother like Roxas? He protects me usually, but he has a new friend and he can't come see me as often now."

"I know what you mean," Demyx mumbled with a little hiccupping sigh. His voice was a little shaky, but he continued, "Yeah… I'll take care of you. I have nothing better to do, after all."

--- ---

Walking down this white hall, the only sound to keep him company was the click of his boot heels against the smooth white tile. It had been ages since he'd been fully decked out in his Organization uniform and eons since he'd seen these halls. Castle Oblivion had always seemed so resplendent all of the time, but Demyx knew well that this was just a construct of his shattered mind: the place where memories were stored, and here he was so terribly stuck until fate should decide to release him.

He wandered aimlessly, sifting through old memories now and then… happy ones, sad ones… painful ones. It was all very repetitive, but somehow comforting.

"Demyx…"

He looked up, brow furrowed in confusion. A little girl stood in the hallway… a little blonde in a white dress and somehow he couldn't quite grasp who she was…

"Come here Demyx!" she called with a little chuckle.

He obeyed, stepping forward and darkness engulfed him.

--- ---

Demyx finally came to in unbearable pain. He moaned weakly.

"Shh, it's alright…" a young woman whispered softly. Her tone was strangely maternal.

"Where am I?" Demyx mumbled, cracking his eyes just enough to see deep azure eyes much like those of the little girl in his dream. "Who are you?"

She smiled and laughed a little, pushing her pale blond hair out of her face. Demyx suddenly noticed his pain started to taper off somewhat.

"I should probably be offended, but you never were all that bright," she teased, "How could you forget me? I'm the one you promised to protect!"

"N… Naminé," he whispered, a weak smile curving on his lips. She slipped a hand into his and he gripped it gently.

"Yeah… but I'm Lizzie now. You know, I'd been wondering how long it would take you to show up. I know you and Axel have been having some brushes with fate."

"How… did you… get in here?"

"I'm a nurse, silly. I realized who you were just now… you were kind of close to death for a while there. We were worried about you."

"We?"

"Me and Axel. I saw him too. He's doing well."

Demyx sighed.

"That's good."

"Yeah… are the painkillers kicking in yet?"

"Yes," he said softly, trying to raise the volume of his voice just a little.

"Don't push yourself. You're still pretty weak right now."

"I noticed," he laughed. "So… am I in the ICU or something?"

"Yes. You've been out for about two weeks now, I guess," she said softly. "Axel called your parents just as soon as it happened and he's been showing them around the city. Xigbar and Marluxia are here too. Roxas has been pretty psyched with helping out with keeping everyone busy."

"Roxas…" Demyx breathed, sounding almost horrified.

"You don't need to worry… they may have had that little tryst… but you know what? Axel loves you. He loves you so much it's scary," Naminé assured, "He and Roxas are kind of just man-friends. Weirdoes. All they do is talk about professional wrestling and how big Jessica Simpson's boobs are."

Demyx laughed, wincing at the pain it started up in his belly.

"Yeek. I'm sorry, Demy. I shouldn't do that to you," she apologized.

"No," he laughed, "It's alright. Laughter is good for me. I thrive on silliness, remember?"

"Yeah… I better call the doctor. Since you've come around they'll probably move you out of intensive care," she smiled softly at this, "And then you'll get to see your husband."

"I don't believe in marriage!" Demyx grumbled, but it came off sounding pathetic because of his current state.

"He's still your husband, whether you like it or not."

"I remember the time you tried to marry the cats," Demyx giggled, "The way you're talking now brings it all back."

Naminé huffed, "Well, now I wish you hadn't woken up for me. Sheesh!"

"Thanks for that… I forgot to mention."

That was the right thing to say, alright. She smiled.

"You're welcome. I'll be right back. Don't you dare go to sleep while I'm out, alright?"

"I won't," he promised as he watched her go.

Since when was she so goddamn beautiful? I guess I never really got to see her all grown up… he sighed softly, his mind returning to thoughts of Roxas and Axel. Demyx was concerned that Axel belonged to him alone. He was not willing to share. I hope this doesn't change anything…