Chapter Twenty-One---Paralyzer

Trista turned when she noticed her son staring at someone behind her. Panic clawed at her but she shoved it away. It was a boy of no more then 17 or 18. There was nothing he could do. Nothing was going to stop her now and if she had to kill a few more people along the way, she would do it.

"Can I help you?" The boy's eyes narrowed and darkened dangerously as he stepped closer to her, hands clenched into fists.

"You can get the fuck away from Zexion bitch. I know who you are." Trista laughed. Such tough talk for one so small.

"Zexion's just getting his medicine. There's nothing to worry about." Tiffa made a move towards Zexion but Axel lunged for her, stopped partially by Trista. The woman was much stronger then she looked, something Zexion knew all too well as he watched Trista struggled with his friend. Just before Tiffa had injected the syringe into his IV, she was yanked away by the hair. Leave it to Axel to pull a girl move.

"You're not giving him anything! I know what you did to your parents! I won't let you do that to Zexion." Trista's fist met his face and he reeled backwards, lights dancing in front of his eyes. With one swift motion, the needle was taken from Tiffa and sunk into Axel's thigh. He screamed.

"You got in my way once..." She whispered harshly into his ear as he sank to the floor, stomach knotting and twisting as his vision blurred.

"But never again..." Zexion, amidst the commotion had been pressing the call button for the nurse. Damn nurses are never around when you need them...real ones anyways.

"Now you..." Trista's chest heaved as her dark green eyes settled on Zexion once more.

"It's your turn." His mother had always had a plan B. It was how she was. If things didn't go right the first time, she made damn sure they did the second time.

Only, his mother had never counted on Axel...or Cloud or Sephiroth. She never calculated them figuring out her little mind games. And she most certainly had never counted on being caught.

"Get away from my son." Sephiroth's voice was deeper then she'd ever heard it and he was angry. Jade eyes smoldered to deep emerald as he reached for her, caught hold of her throat and threw her against the wall, pinning her there as two police officers entered and cuffed Tiffa, leading her away.

"You will never hurt this family again." The man released her from his iron grip but she only laughed as the men led her away in chains. The one that Zexion knew meant she had won. But she hadn't...had she?

"Zexion?! Dad?! What's going on?" Riku rushed in, torn between his brother and his father, wondering why the police were here in Zexion's room. No one notice the blonde kneeling on the floor.

"It's over Riku. It's really over now." Riku's shoulder's sagged and he held back tears. Strong arms encased him and his looked up into the loving eyes of his father. They had finally won. Riku turned, looking for Cloud and Leon. He had to tell them...

There on the floor knelt Cloud, cradling a hideously pale Axel as if he were no more then a china doll. As if he were afraid the boy would break. And if he looked close enough, he could see the tears lurking behind blue eyes.

"Axel..." The voice was a barely-there whisper as the blonde lifted Axel up, inhaling the scent of cinnamon shampoo that still lingered there, keeping him close as if to protect him from fate.

"I...It's ok Cloud...I'm not afraid...I..I just wish...one more day..." Axel's eyes closed and his breath was ragged and heavy while Cloud's tears feel freely onto the porcelin face.

"It's going to be ok...I promise...You'll be ok..."Suddenly there was a flurry of motion around the two as Axel was taken from Cloud's hold and into the O.R. And for a long time, Cloud sat there, alone on the floor, tears falling into his hands.

He knew better then to make promises he couldn't keep.

An: Oooohhhh...small update, more drama! Muwahaha I am sooo evil. Review!!!!!!!!! I love you all, thanks for making this story so great!!!!

Ulti!!!