DEDICATION: I'd like to personally dedicate this chapter to all of my reviewers, who boosted my confidence level lots, and inspired me to continue writing this. This is for you, Viashin, Kichi Hisaki, Havgirl1, Plastic Pink Headphones, Bob Da Peach and especially LadyNightRunner and Sinfulsecrets because their amazingness knows no bounds, Lady gave me a Chocolate statue, and I got kitty plushies of Xig and Dem from Sinful! TT-TT Tears of joy I tell you. Srsly I love you guys.


How I Became The Gay Father Of Two

Chapter Three: Substitute for Living Together

That morning I woke to the lovely, delicious smell of homemade pancakes, pure maple syrup and eggs, and a humble looking mow-hawked Asian boy. 'How the hell is his hair still like that?' I had only realized it when I woke up this morning and played it over in my head, but Demyx had never asked me about my scars, or my eye-patch... Which I suppose I was greatful for, but he was the first, definitely. I came down the stairs with what I'm sure was a blissful look on my face. "Hungry?" Demyx had asked. I nodded, and had asked him why he felt the need to do this. He told me that he just wanted to earn his keep, and he felt bad for taking up my guest room, and my kitten. I smiled at this.

"Don't worry about it. It's not like anyone else was in there anyway, and it's kinda nice to wake up in the morning without cat hair in my mouth for once." Demyx smirked at me, and continued eating.

That was when I decided now was as good a time as ever. "Listen, kid..." I said seriously, earning a curious look from the blonde. " I found you in the middle of the road, passed out in practically rivers of blood. If I'm any sort of decent human being, I'm worried. I know you barely know me Demyx, but I need to know where you live, why you weren't there and passed out in the middle of the road, and how you got that huge gash." I added the last part, looking carefully at the still bandaged spot on his forehead, because I figured if he wanted someone to know, he'd tell them of his own volition, maybe not through the dazed ramblings of a nightmare.

In response to this, Demyx took to watching his syrup dribble down the side of his pancakes. I was ready to drop the subject when he sighed. "I live just a couple of blocks from here, with my dad and little sister. My dad recently moved following a job offer we got after he was fired from his previous one due to downsizing. I wasn't there last night because Rikku was spending the night with our grandmother, and..." He paused, not looking at me, touching the bandage on his head. "I tripped. And fell. I'm a little clumsy." He said, and laughed hesitantly. I smiled too, even though we both knew how far fetched this sounded.

"All right then! Let's get you fed, then home, okay kiddo?" I said, and I think I saw him smile with relief when he thought I wasn't looking.

So we cleaned up after pancakes, giving Myde a bit of the leftover batter, made sure to change the dressing on Demyx's head, and I walked him home, still not having my car back from the parking lot.

At his door, Demyx turned around, and looked at me sheepishly. It was fucking adorable. "Hey, Xigbar..." He started, seeming to gather his courage. "I know I... I just met you, and all... But," He stopped again, looking up from his feet. "But could I come... you know... stay, with you... and Myde... whenever I... um... never mind that sounds really..." He said, turning to the door.

"Whenever you want? Of course. I'm sure Myde would love to see you again." I said, and smiled as bright as a man with my features could. He returned it, and went inside.


It was the first day back to school after the winter break. Christmas had come and past uneventfully, Myde getting a dish with his name on it. Demyx had come over twice, once for Christmas, and then again for New Year's. I didn't ask why, knowing it would probably end badly. I just enjoyed his presence. Luxord had dropped my car off during one of Demyx's visits (since the bastard lives in a penthouse apartment downtown). That had been quite an adventure.

So here comes Lux, all buff and fucking British, shouting through the door, "Yo, Xig I have your keys, mate!" I was finishing my shower, so I asked Demyx to get it, instantly regretting it when I heard the muffled yelp that he let out. I rushed out of the bathroom, only in my track pants, my hair not up in it's usual ponytail yet, but thankfully I had my eyepatch.

What I looked down from the stairs upon was Luxord and Demyx, the latter of the two being pressed up against a wall by the bigger man. Lux was just inches from the other man's lips, letting out a, what he probably thought was seductive, "M'name's Luxord. I like long walks on the beach and a shitload of alcohol, but right now, sweetie, all I see is you."

I was fuming, though I couldn't understand why. I stormed down the stairs, and hit Luxord with a swift shot to the side. He let out an 'oof', falling out the still open door. I grabbed the handle, and glared at him. "Thanks for my car, mate." I said, going to slam the door, but before I could, I heard a satisfied voice say...

"Your boyfriends fucking sexy." And the door slammed in the god damned Brit's face.

Needless to say, Demyx was freaked out. "S-s-so... Th-that was your... your friend..." He studdered, still pressed against the wall. I stood in front of him, not sure of what to do, whether to hold his hand or comfort him or something...

"Yeah, don't worry, they're not all like that. At least, they won't be toward you... I hope." I said, scratching my head. "Shit, that probably didn't sound reassuring..."

Demyx laughed. Hesitantly at first, but it got confident as he continued. He walked back into the kitchen, and I followed. The blond boy looked at me, and smiled. "I like your hair down... it drags the attention away from your scar." He said, and that was the first I'd heard him say about it.

I looked at him wide eyed, disbelieving. "What the hell?" I asked.

He looked at me funny. "What, what?"

"My scars!" I nearly screamed. "Aren't you... I dunno, repulsed or something?" It took all I had to keep that sentence calm.

He shrugged. "They're not as bad as you'd think. I'd say it suits you, even." He said, smiling at me still.

I laughed, almost cynically, and walked away. "It suits me..." I repeated. It made me laugh more.

But anyway.

So that was my break, and here I was, back at school, in my office looking at my desk, and the not on top. It was from the principal. It told me to meet him in his office as soon as I got in.

I turned in, nodding to Yuna and Paine, the secretaries, and leaned against the door, crossing my arms. "Yo, Squall. Whaddaya need me for?"

Leonhart grunted, and the gray, pinstripe suit he was wearing tightened as all the muscles in his body tensed at the same time, even the ones on his scalp that made his tight pony-tail look even tighter. "That will be quite enough Xigbar. I have two things to inform you of. One, being that I need you to take over Aerith's Grade Ten and Twelve classes for however long. She was admitted to Scarborough Centenary over the break." He said, crossing his arms and looking away.

"Then the tests..." I said, having heard over the coffee table in the Lounge about Gainsborough's condition.

"The tests came back positive. She's in stage 2B lung cancer. She starts chemo next week." Leonhart said, he stone-faced expression softening to one of sadness. All of the teachers knew of the closeness between Leonhart, Strife, Lockhart, Valentine, Highwind and Gainsborough. They had all been childhood friends, and went into the teaching profession together, some unwillingly. Gainsborough's hospitalization would be a shock to all of them. "Secondly," he said, quickly returning to his business persona. "I thought I should also tell you that Mr. Niikamura will be your teaching assistant, since he was scheduled to be Ms. Gainsborough's."

I was caught off-guard. Niikamura...? I looked around the room for the first time and found Demyx, hair deflated and styled conservatively, standing against the wall to my right, looking smug. I stared at him. He looked oddly formal, even though he was only in a pale blue oxford shirt, top two buttons left undone, and loose fitting, light-blue, faded jeans. He had on black sneakers, a logo which I recognized from the kids feet. Converse. "Demyx?" I said, even though I knew full well it was him.

"Guess I forgot to mention that." He said, smiling. "But I did say 'we got a job offer.' I thought you caught that." He was looking so smug, with his arms crossed over his chest, and his legs crossed lazily at the calves... Gods, I would have punched him if he didn't look so damn hot.

Leonhart looked at us almost... was that... disapproval?! Well, I wasn't the one down at McKoule's as a regular with the same man every night, so he could just fuck off for all I cared. "Good, you know each other." He said, putting an odd emphasis on 'know' that I hoped only I heard. "Get along, then." He said, giving both of us a cold look as a sign to leave.

I sighed. "Gods, that man is such a prick." I said, once out of earshot. "Come on, we don't have a class until period two, and I could go for a coffee." I said, and we weaved through the halls to the Teacher's Lounge.

I opened the door and took a step in, but Demyx stood behind me, wide eyed. The door to the Teacher's Lounge opened into a wide, black carpeted room, with white leather loveseats, recliners, and a foot stool or two, a white porcelain coffee table, with black coasters, a small flat screen T.V. mounted on the white walls. To the left of this cozy expanse was a glass partition, that divided the actual Lounge from the kitchen, with a small opening in it, with no doors. Through the glass and across the black and white checkerboard, classic eighties style tiling, one could see the cupboards, white marble counter tops, and stainless steel sink, dishwasher and refrigerator. From around the side of door, two identical, spiked heads could be seen. The brunette one came bounding up to me, black dishrag dropped carelessly at his twin's feet.

"Xiggy!" He exclaimed happily, as his blond brother came over as well, after hanging his white dishrag up with his twin's.

"Nice to see you." He said, smiling, both pairs blue eyes sparkling at me. "Did you have a good break?"

"Yes, I did. What about you two?" I said to the twins.

"Mum and Dad were back from Jamaica!" The brunette said, doing the hula.

"Dork, the hula's from Hawaii." The blond said, pinching his brother's arm. That's when they both seemed to notice Demyx. Oh shi--

"Who's the Asian hottie?" The brunette said, smirking at his almost-mirror-image.

"Yeah is he your..." The blond said, reflecting his brother's smirk. Oh, goddammit, that twin telepathy was--

"BOYFRIEND?!" They exclaimed together, sticking out their asses, and swinging them back and forth simultaneously. I slapped a hand to my forehead loudly. Demyx cleared his throat.

They stopped and looked at him. "I am Niikamura Demyx. Would you care to enlighten me?" He said, looking at the two of them, earning a blush from the blond and a blank look from the brunette.

"He means your name, stupid." He said, elbowing his brother out of his stupor. "I'm Haruko Roxas. And this is my twin brother..." Roxas said.

"Haruko Sora! Nice to meet ya!" He finished, as they both bowed. Sora was the first one up. "Hey, you into the Pop-Rock revolution? J-rock, Pop?" He asked, enthused.

Demyx nodded, clearly taken aback by the sudden out burst.

"You should totally check our band out then!" He exclaimed. "We call ourselves Radiant Garden. Isn't that just perfect? I'm back-up vocals and lead guitar. Roku here's lead vocals, Fujikimi Riku's bassist, Misaki Namine's rhythm guitar and back-up vocals, and Misaki Kairi's on drums. She can pull out an awesome beat outta nowhere!" Sora said, striking a silly victory pose.

Roxas slapped him upside the head. "Cut that out, Lala." He said, using the boy's hated nickname in response to his own. The blond turned back to Demyx. "Seriously though, you should check us out. We're playing a gig this Saturday at the Grace church, just up by the Elementary School. Tickets..."

"Are eight dollars!" Sora said, stuggling for a bit before to hold up exactly eight fingers.

"Are you sure you're Graduating this year, Sora?" Roxas whispered, pressing a hand to his face.

"Yeees!" Sora cried indignantly, scowling at his brother. "The third finger doesn't wanna go up without the pinky because it loves it so muuuuuuuch!"

Roxas rolled his eyes and turned to us. "So, you interested?"

Demyx nodded. "Sure, I'd love to see you play." The three of them looked at me, and I thought for a second.

Axel would burn me to a crisp and then eat me for dinner if I let this opportunity to get him in pass. I crossed my arms. "Tell you what, I'll come, and I'll bring four extra people, is that cool?"

Roxas and Sora looked at each other, and nodded vigorously at me. Then they scampered off into the kitchen.

Demyx laughed and sat on the end of one of the loveseats. "I like those boys. They're... fun." He said, searching for the right word. "What about the other members of their band? Are they like them?"

I smiled, sitting in a recliner beside him. "Fujikimi Riku's a top student. He tells himself that he's not that good, but he's got top marks in nearly every class. He's head of the Student Council, and the Athletics Council. And he's amazing at sports. He's captain of the soccer team, kendo club, volleyball team, and hockey team. And a legion of adoring fans to boot. He's pretty popular." I said, recalling how well he did in my gym class.

"Misaki Kairi and Namine are the second set of twins, and have been best friends with Roxas and Sora since childhood, from what I've heard. Kairi's specializing in music, playing a total of five instruments, not including the drums. She's pretty good too. I've heard her playing during the lunch hour, just before our Christmas concert. But the only thing she doesn't do, is vocals. That's Namine's field of expertise. She's the top female vocal student, and already a well known artist around the school. She's got a mural done all by her up in the French hall on the third floor, and it's pretty trippy.

"Roxas is the guy to go to if you want something sung, and sung well. He's top vocal student overall, taking the spotlight at least once in all musical performances. You wouldn't believe it, but that kid's got a pair of chords on him. But not only that, he's an amazing writer. I've heard praise from Gainsborough constantly. You'd think he was the next J.K. or something!" I laughed.

Demyx looked puzzled. "But what about Sora? What does he do well?"

It was at this moment that the twins bounded in, holding two mugs of coffee, and a tray of sugar and milk and cream. They put it on the coffee table in front of us, smiling identically. Sora bowed. "I'm the school's--" He started.

"Drama King!" Roxas finished, earning a playful swat from his brother. "He's starred in all of our dramatic presentations, and the only reason I got the starring role in the annual musical every year is because my voice was better than his!" Roxas said, not being able to help the hint of admiration in his voice. "He knows about all the great plays, and musicals. Ask him any sort of trivia, and he's got it on the tip of his tongue." All of the praise had Sora blushing.

"Stop that, Roku. People might think you have a heart somewhere." The brunette was drawing patterns in the carpet with his toe, not looking any of us in the eye.

Demyx touched his arm and smiled. "Hey, I'm looking forward to seeing you play. All of you." He looked to Roxas as well, then took his cup without putting anything in it. I took mine too, but put two spoonfuls of sugar in prior to drinking.


English class was... more than eventful. I got a load of sass that I didn't usually get in my gym classes, and that put me out of my element. Thankfully, Demyx saved me.

It all started with one, Almasy Seifer. Figuring that since I wasn't 'actually a teacher' as he put it so aptly later, he thought he could do what he wanted. He came in, stomping around, and sitting on a certain other blond's desk to talk casually to Rai. Hayner's face was so red I thought I'd see steam pouring out of his ears. He was making weak protests, trying to get Seifer's ass off his desk. I stepped over.

"Almasy, if you don't mind, I'd like to get my lesson started." I said, crossing my arms. The blond stood, copying my posture.

"Then go ahead." He said. Curse our matching height. My usual 'tower-over-and-scare-them' technique wouldn't work.

"I hope you realize with whom you're taking that tone, boy." I was getting pissed. This was gonna end badly, but I didn't particularly feel like stopping it. "Take your seat, your proper seat, and I'll begin."

Seifer started to say something, but was cut off by Demyx. "Please, Almasy, take your seat, or I'll be forced to call down the principal to deal with you. Or I could always give you this entire month's work schedule right now to be finished for the end of class, with your entire mark riding on it. I wonder how cocky you'd feel then." He said, a dark tone in his voice rising that I had never heard before. It scared me, and Seifer too, apparently, because he backed away, taking his seat quietly.

I mouthed a thanks to Demyx while we were walking back to the front, and he just smiled. It scared me out of my wits, to think that he could smile like that, after seeming to menacing only seconds before. I suppressed an involuntary shudder.

During the lesson though, I fell through many times. I got a lot of my facts wrong, and only covered it up by throwing in some humor. From the kids' point of view, I'm sure it appeared as though Demyx was teaching the lesson. It was interesting to see just how much he loved this subject. He was very well read, as I came to realize. All the students were asking him about their favourite books, and there were only a few that he hadn't read. I was mildly impressed.

After school, I got home to find Myde sitting patiently at the door. He mewled at me, and scampered off into the kitchen. I followed, and saw him sitting smugly beside his empty food dish. Everything about him said "Why the hell is there no food in here?" But maybe that was just me. I got him food and water, smiling at him happily. He'd gotten bigger, and was about as tall as my computer, which he had taken a shine to sleeping on when it got to cold out. His stripes were abnormal as ever, and I was suddenly aware of how blue the kittens eyes were. He had blue enough eyes to rival any siamese... Strange.

I pulled out a seat at my table, and cleared only enough space to eat. I was lazy and deflated after being shown up by my assisstant teacher. 'But think of the odds!' the voice I so often chose to ignore exclaimed. 'You and Demyx. In the same class, five days a week. And he's over every weekend at least once... The chances of you getting laid are slowly climbing.'

I shook my head. Not good things to be thinking. He was a friend and a co-worker. Nothing else. Sure, he was attractive, slim figure, slightly muscular but only slightly, a pale complexion, and beautiful turquoise eyes, that shone when he was smiling... and wild sandy-blond locks that are somehow always styled perfectly... Making me wonder if its stiff with gel, running my hands through it, while my lips trailed elsewhere...

I stopped at this. Looking back, this is probably where I realized how poofy I was, and how in love with the boy I had fallen. He was my friend, and I would not jeopardize that by putting romantic feelings into play. 'Liar. Your selfish. You like just being this close too him. Having him come to you when he needs it... You lucky bastard.' I slammed my fork down, startling Demyx across the room. "Good lord, why won't my brain just shut it?" I said, holding my head in my hand.

At that moment, an incessant banging came at my door. I stood, and walked to it, opening it slowly. And before I could register what had happened, I was on my back, Demyx on top of me, the door wide open and letting in snow. He was crying.

"Xig... Xig... C-c-can... Can I s-st-stay tonight?" He whimpered into my chest.

I was still wide-eyed, trying to figure out what was happening. But I propped myself up, and laid my other arm across his back. The way he clung to me told me that he wouldn't want to be alone. "Yeah." I whispered, sitting up fully and holding him close without realizing what I was doing. "Yeah you can. But, ah... I'll have to pull a cot out for you. The guest room sheets are... being washed."

Demyx just wimpered again, clutching my jacket tighter. My mind went into overdrive, and I vaguely remember picking him up bridal style, then laying him on my bed. Somehow, the cot was pulled out, the sheets made and Demyx still crying silently. My head kicked back in when I realized how close I was to his face. I felt the heat rise, and I rushed out, closing the door. Then I made my was across the hall to the guest room. The crisp white drapes that hung in the window matched the perfectly clean sheets on the bed.


End Chapter Three

A/N: AAAAAAAAck. D: I'm so sorry for the wait guys. Like the last chapter, I've been revising my story/plotline, so it fits. And my computer crashed a couple times, making it hard to save my work, and I had to restart this entire chapter at least three times. It was torture. Those first three paragraphs are permanently embedded in my mind.

But, I think I have the plotline fixed, and we're gonna see more of the Fab Five (Isn't that great? I mean, since they're all poofs...). And side pairing developments. YAY!

Soo, here we have Roxas, Sora, Riku, Kairi and Namine introduced. These five will be just as important as the other four in the Fab Five. Or I hope so, if I don't go through anymore plot changes. .

Also... SNEAKY!Xigbar. Ohohohohoho. Tricking Emmy into sleeping with him... Naughty minds are at work here. HIDE YO CHILDS! Lol, kay. Again, sorry for the wait.

SIAGR; ily LadyNightRunner and Sinfulsecrets :D