I'm so sorry this took so long! I'm in the musical at my school and, add that with homework, and I have no free time. I tried to get this up as soon as I could. Thanks so much for waiting!

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts. Not even a little bit. :(

Naminé slumped onto the counter.

"Tuesdays suck," she whined. "Nobody comes to diners on Tuesdays. There's no point in me being here."

"Oh, stop complaining and get me another coffee."

"Bitch," Naminé muttered with a smirk and she put on another pot of coffee.

"Good, I only like it fresh."

She rolled her eyes and jumped slightly, so she could sit on the counter space next to where Axel sat.

"But I agree with you."

"Huh?"

"Tuesdays do suck," he answered. "There is no point in Tuesday. Every other day has some sort of purpose."

She thought for a moment.

"What about Thursdays?"

"The next day is Friday. You get that 'only one day left!' thing."

"True. Very true."

Naminé smiled and swung her legs. She stared at Axel, who had seized the salt and pepper shaker, was putting them in awkward positions, and making high pitched moaning noises. She began to laugh, and laughed harder when Roxas poked his head out of the kitchen to see what all the commotion was about. Oh, she was glad that she met Axel. He made things interesting. Even since day one…

-x-x-x-x-

"Excuse me, sir, are you alright?" she said to the man sitting alone. He had his head in both hands, and multiple coffee cups were scattered on the table. He looked up distractedly, dark circles of worry around his eyes.

"What? Yeah. I'm fine. I'm peachy."

"Anyone who uses the word peachy to describe themselves obviously isn't."

The mysterious guy smiled and Naminé sat down.

"Don't you have to work?" he asked, noting her smock.

"I'm on break. Normally, I'd eat, but I get the feeling this is more important. Plus, Olette can make the best pancakes in like 3 minutes and I can eat them in one and a half. So basically, I've got thirty-nine and a half minutes left."

"What's your name?"

"I'm Naminé. What's yours?"

"Axel. I don't think you can help me in thirty-nine and a half minutes."

"Let's have a go at it."

Axel smiled. He then told her his entire story. He met Larxene when he was small and they'd been friends since then. His parents, who "only wanted the best for him," arranged for them to be married. But he didn't love her. He had to make that clear. He did not love her. She was a friend, yes, but he just couldn't marry her. For one thing, he was gay. And he couldn't picture himself spending the rest of his life with her. It'd be too chaotic. She had a terrifying temper, and she needed everything to be her way. He felt confined by her, and he just couldn't handle it. He just couldn't marry her. But his family would practically disown him if he didn't go through with it. Laying his head on the table, he mumbled that the wedding was scheduled to begin in less than an hour.

Naminé listened intently.

"You have to go," she said. He looked up at her hopelessly. "No, sorry, I should have phrased that better. You can't just leave her alone on the altar on her wedding day. The least you can do it tell them. I'll go with you."

"You don't know Larxene, Nam," Axel said, his eyes scared.

"Come on. I know you can."

Axel gave in quickly.

"But don't you need to work?"

"I've worked overtime plenty. I can get off," she replied, dragging him away from the table to her usual spot at the counter. Her blonde brother exited the kitchen. "Hey, leave table thirteen free. Tell Xemnas that I'll be back soon if you see him."

Roxas nodded, raising an eyebrow at her, but she just waved and walked out with Axel. He led the way to the car, and, after some argument, agreed to let Naminé drive while he changed in the back. His phone rang at one point, and after a minute of mumbled conversation, Naminé was informed that they were starting the mass, and he was expected to walk in late. ("They weren't surprised," he said. "They call this 'typical Axel behavior.'" Naminé laughed.) Trees and fences flew by and as she looked at the beautiful nature, she realized the desperation he must have felt. Being forced into an unwanted marriage. Expected to go along with it, though it makes you anything but happy. The church came into sight and she frowned, pulling into a parking space.

"We're here," she sighed and stepped out of the car. Axel followed shortly after, and she wrapped him in a hug. One, she wanted to give him her support, and two, he looked so awkward in a tux that he just needed a hug. "You can do this."

"Yeah," he said, and they walked together to the steps of the church.

"Go on," she said, stopping.

"You're coming with me!"

"Axel, I'm in jeans! I'm not wearing jeans into a wedding!"

"No one's getting married."

"They don't know that yet."

"Come on!" Axel exclaimed, latching on her wrist and dragging her into the church. She stumbled over herself, and he pulled her up. He walked up the aisle confidentially, as though he owned it, and a few people laughed. Naminé placed herself as far back as she could while still being able to see Axel.

The ceremony was dry and long. He fidgeted often, standing up there. When he looked at her, she would nod and give a smile and he would look back at the blonde girl who she had to assume was Larxene. Naminé supposed that she was pretty, in an odd sort of way. Her features were sharp, eyes a harsh blue and hair short and blonde. She gave off an angry sort of vibe that plainly told Naminé to steer clear. She gulped as the priest came to the ever-important line:

"Speak now, or forever hold your peace."

"I got something to say." Axel came out of the "classic groom pose" to slouching with a hand on his hip. "I can't marry Larxene."

"Axel!" cried out a voice to Naminé's left.

"No. Let me talk." He faced the congregation. "I never wanted to marry her. She's my friend and I like her, but I can't marry her. I don't love her and I don't want to spend my life with her. And this isn't a random thing I just came up with. The thing is… I'm gay, alright. Yes, I prefer dick over pussy." (Here Naminé smacked her hand against her face.) "I didn't speak up before because I was a coward. But someone I met today gave me courage. Damn, that's so cliché. Anyway. I'm going to leave now, 'cause I'm kinda afraid of all of you due to the glares you're sending me. So, yeah. Later."

He strutted down the aisle, ignoring all the gasps and open mouthed stares.

"Who do you think you are?"

Axel stopped and turned to his near-bride, who was now red in the face and looking murderous.

"You can't just walk in here and blow this whole thing off," she spat, walking toward him. "All this planning, all this money gone to waste because you 'got courage.'" She mocked him and her face contorted into a terrifying expression. Axel began to back away slowly and Naminé saw him pale slightly. "You will marry me, and we will be happy, goddamnit!"

"That's where you're wrong," he replied, grabbing onto Naminé's hand and jerking her out of the pew. "I'm leaving now. I won't be seeing you. Don't bother to be in touch!"

Larxene screamed and tore down the aisle toward them as Axel leaned in close to Naminé and mumbled, "Run."

She obeyed, and quickly at that. Larxene made eye contact with her and she was currently terrified. At Axel's heels, they burst through the church doors as the furious blonde stumbled chasing after them. Axel hurriedly opened the car, jumped in, and as Naminé was shutting her door, started driving. The door slammed shut and a thud was heard as Larxene threw a rock at the car. Axel just began to laugh and drove faster. By the time they got to the restaurant, Naminé was wind-swept and quite sick. Praying her legs would support her, she took a shaky step out of the car and nearly fell, but Axel, as though by magic, was next to her and scooped her up. He carried her bridal style into the diner and placed her down on a stool as Roxas exited the kitchen.

"What the hell happened to you?" he asked as she placed her arms on the table and rested her head there..

Naminé gestured for Axel to explain, as she did not yet trust herself to open her mouth.

"Well, we just went to my wedding and told my psycho ex-fiancée that I didn't want to marry her, and she basically wanted to kill us, so we got in my car and drove here really, really fast, so now she's a bit sick."

"Run-on sentence," said Naminé.

Axel just laughed.

"Who's this?" He gestured at Roxas.

"I'm her brother," he said, sounding slightly protective, "Roxas."

Axel grinned. Little did they know that this would soon become his up-to-no-good grin, as they lovingly called it.

"He's cute," he told Naminé, accidentally making it loud enough for Roxas to hear.

Said boy sputtered, turning a lovely shade of red and scarlet and ran into the kitchen.

Naminé fell off of her stool laughing.

-x-x-x-x-

She smiled as Axel made the salt and pepper hump each other. That day she'd gotten the completely wrong impression about him. He wasn't weak or fearful by any stretch of the word. He was Axel, and no one asked him to be any more. And Naminé wouldn't deny that it was extremely entertaining to watch him court Roxas.

Oops. Bad time for the blonde to walk out of the kitchen, holding plates of food: the salt and pepper had come to the "climax" and Axel was putting on a good show. Naminé fell off her stool again. Ouch. Another bruise to add to her collection.

Being friends with Axel was painful.

:) Please reivew. Reviews make me update faster.