If It Never Happened

Chapter 16: Friend, Lover, Sister, Cousin

"Who invited you to the party?" Vanita accused as she, Venus, and Terra walked down towards the beach.

"The more the merrier…" Terra simply said eying Venus who beamed at him. Vanita scowled at the friendly exchange and crossed her arms.

"Don't you have someone else you could go bug?"

"It's okay, Vanita. I haven't seen Terra since junior high, I don't mind if he tags along." Venus beamed at him and had Terra smiling.

"Good to have you back Venus. You haven't changed a bit."

"Oh," Venus rubbed the back of her neck, thinking about hers and Vanita's earlier conversation. "I don't know about that. I'm pretty sure I've changed some."

"Not from where I'm standing." He moved a little closer and Vanita pried herself between the two shoving her hand in his face.

"Then stand somewhere else." She suggested with a deep scowl on her face. Terra grunted and pulled her hand off the two glaring at each other before turning their noses up. Ven let out a small amused laugh. "What's so funny?"

"I can't help it, you two fit together so well."

"HAH?!" Caught between annoyance and amusement by the statement the two spoke in synchronicity. "We do not!"

The fact they were so in sync had Ven laughing and holding her sides. Didn't the two of them see each other?

"It's true…" the laughter slowly calmed and she sighed happily. "You two made such a good couple back in junior high. You guys just fit together… which is why I was surprised and a little upset you two broke things off. Both of you deny it but I know I was the reason." Her smile slowly faded into a look of guilt.

Terra and Vanita exchanged knowing glances with each other. Vanita then sighed and slapped a palm on the back of her sister's shoulder.

"Weren't you paying attention to our previous conversation? I told you the real reason he and I broke up is because he'll only be satisfied with the perfect woman. Ain't that right, Terra?" She crossed her arms eying Terra over Ven's head.

"You're not wrong," Terra admitted.

"Then… you think Roxas is the perfect woman?" Ven asked Terra with a bit of wonder.

"Huh?" Terra looked up surprised.

"I heard the two of you were dating… so I just wondered if it was true." Ven fidgeted a little glancing back at her sister who suddenly looked interested in a nearby shop window.

"I… well that is…" Terra rubbed his looked at her, up at Vanita, then back down. It was time to come clean, he thought. He couldn't miss this opportunity. "Roxas isn't perfect but she's close enough to…"

"Terra?"

At the sound of Aqua's voice Terra whipped around. She stood tall and elegant, long legs tucked in jeans and a baby t shirt, her blue hair styled with a lace headband. Her face looked conflicted...and somehow angry.

"Aqua…"

"Aqua!" Ven peeked around Terra with a smile. "I was hoping I'd run into you here!"

"Ven?" Surprise hit first and then joy. "Ven it's so good to see you! What are you doing here on the islands?"

"I came to visit, this is great! All four of us are together again." She bounced in her sandals, hair flying loose and free.

"All four of us…" She looked at Terra and Vanita. Then suddenly she remembered Roxas on the beach with Axel and frowned. "What's going on, Terra?"

"What do you mean?"

"I just saw your girlfriend by the docks heading towards the little island. She was crying. Did you two break up?"

"What?" The sudden news had Terra standing at attention. "No, why was she crying?"

"I don't know… but Axel's with her now trying to comfort her. She looked really upset for whatever the reason."

"Axel is?" Vanita's interest suddenly piqued, and a faint dread hit the pit of her stomach "Terra… don't jump, DAMN IT!" She shouted when Terra suddenly turned and sprinted towards the docks. "Stupid hot head! Come on let's go after him before he does something stupid."

Venus and Vanita run after him… but Aqua stayed where she was watching them run. She'd done her part… got the ball rolling. With a heavy sigh she turned away and hoped the lot of them would get their feelings sorted out.

At the docks Roxas had calmed her crying jag and just held onto Axel for the moment. His warmth was comforting, but the twisted guilt in her stomach wouldn't go away.

"Axel…"

"Hmmm? What's up, Roxy?" He continued to hold her, his cheek resting on the top of her head.

"Don't call me that… I hate it when you call me that. It makes me feel…" She blushed bright red and buried her face further into his chest. "Embarrassed."

"Aww but it's cute."

"I am not-" She lifted her head to yell at him… and got lost in those teal eyes that looked down at her so seriously and thoughtfully.

"You stopped crying…" he wiped a thumb over the last drop of tears and smiled warmly. "Thank goodness." His eyes went soft and serious. "I meant what I said, Roxas."

"I know you did… I'm not making our situation any more comfortable by blubbering all over you with this." She rubbed her arms. "It's just… lately I've been thinking too much about my relationship with him. Now that you're finally moving on, having fun with Vanita… I'm wondering if I'm really okay with it."

"Are you?"

"I don't know… when we first broke up I found myself walking to your house to knock on your door… and then I remember we're not together anymore, and it made me sad and lonely." She clutched her heart. "When Terra asked me out… I couldn't say yes fast enough. He's handsome, and strong, and I enjoy the attention he gave me."

"Now that he's not showing you as much attention… you're back to being lonely again. I get it. I was the same way. I kept trying to move on, and forget you, but I couldn't. Then before I could blink you were with Terra. I saw you walking hand and hand with him, smiling so happily, and l… I wondered if you'd always liked him, and I'd just been blind to it."

"No, I've always liked Terra as a friend. I admired him from time to time but he didn't move into my field of vision until you were out of it." She looked down and away, flustered and sad.

"I see. Listen Roxas… You chose to step away from me. You had your reasons, good ones. I rushed you, I can see that now. I should have known you weren't ready for big steps like that... but it's just the way I felt."

Axel took her hands, brought them to his lips.

"I enjoy being with Vanita. She's helping me be myself again… but being with you, it's like… how to describe it… it's like feeling your heartbeat for the first time."

Roxas' breath shuddered out and her head lifted up, eyes filled. Her chest tightened and she felt those slow pulses inside.

"Axel… Axel I-"

"You bastard!" Terra's fist came flying out of nowhere, and Axel was sent sprawling across the wooden deck.

"Ow! Damn it what the-" he barely rolled out of the way before Terra could make a grab for him. He stumbled to his feet but Terra grabbed him by the shirt pullin him in for another punch that had him seeing stars.

"Terra! Terra stop it!" Roxas shouted at him and tried to pull Terra off Axel.

"No! I'm finally teaching this casanova a lesson!" Terra pulled Axel up again, but Vanita grabbed his other fist before he could throw it.

"That's enough, Terra! Stop being a bully." She pulled and shoved then stood in front of Axel with Roxas beside her.

"You're taking his side? You should just be pissed as me! The two of your are dating and yet he's-"

"I'm not angry… annoyed maybe, but not angry." Vanita crossed her arms. "I know Axel still has feelings for Roxas, it's part of our agreement."

"Agreement? What agreement?" Terra huffed and steamed and looked down at the teary Roxas. "Did you know about this?"

"Sort of… Axel gave me three months to make up my mind on who I'd rather be with, you or him. If I chose you then he'd continue to date Vanita… but if I chose him, he'd end their relationship. Vanita in turn gave him three months to get over me, and if that didn't work they'd go separate ways."

"What!?" Terra sneered. "What kind of stupid arrangement is that? Do any of you take relationships seriously?"

"Do you?!" Vanita stepped forward glaring at him. "How many girls have you dated trying to forget about my sister?"

"Huh?" Axel looked up from holding his bruised cheek.

"What?" Roxas on the other hand looked pale as a sheet.

"Vanita, you-" Terra grit his teeth. "You said you wouldn't say anything about-"

"Things change… you've done enough running from the problem, you're serious about you relationship with Roxas then that's one thing… but if she's just another string of replacements I want you to end it now!"

"Terra… what is she talking about?" Roxas stepped forward. "What's this about you and Venus?"

"I… that is…" Terra looked side to side, not sure how to respond.

"Hey you guys!" Venus ran up panting. Terra tensed up and slowly looked behind him at Venus. The look on his face had Roxas' chest painfully tightening. "You guys run way too fast!"

Venus stopped and bent over panting. When she looked up she wasn't sure she liked the look of the situation.

"I don't know what's going on… but I think we all need to calm down and talk."

"No…" Roxas said in a pained whisper. "We've said enough…" tears filled and flowed down her cheeks. She finally put the pieces together and sent Terra a withering look. Vanita had been right, she hadn't known Terra at all. "More than enough."

"Roxas, wait I can explain-" Terra reached out to grab her hand but she smacked it away.

"Don't touch me!" She whirled on him. "There's nothing you can say or do that could possibly make this better. Why don't you do us both a favor and be honest for once? Tell her! Tell her how you feel so that this doesn't happen again! Don't you dare make another girl feel what I'm feeling right now! Goodbye Terra!" She turned on her heel and stormed away batting away the tears.

"Atta girl, Roxas." Vanita smiled after her nodding in approval. She then sighed heavily and looked down at the sprawled out Axel who was still picking himself up and swaying. "Come on big guy… You need an ice pack for that cheek."

"Yeah… sure…" Axel groaned, barely coherent through the buzz in his ears.

"Ah, Vanita…" Venus held out a hand but Vanita shook her head.

"Venus… mind taking Axel home for me?" She slumped Axel onto Venus' shoulder and she wiggled some under the weight but planted her feet. "I need to talk to Terra alone for a minute."

"Oh… uh…" She looked up at Terra's shell shocked face. "Okay."

Vanita waited until they'd slumped down the block and out of ear shot before turning to Terra.

"Bet you feel like an ass don't you?"

"Why… why did you have to tell her?" Terra grit his teeth and clenched his fists at his side. "Why did you have to interfere?"

"Because I'm just as much to blame for this going on... because I put a wall between you and Venus. I thought I was protecting my sister… but in truth Terra. I was just hogging her to myself, and not considering her feelings at all. You were right about that." She crossed her arms over her chest. "...and I guess… because I'm bitter about the fact I couldn't make you like me even a little."

"That's the third time I've been dumped by a girl… why do I bother trying to maintain a relationship?"

"...because everyone needs someone in their life, Terra. Even a jerk like you." She turned him so he faced her fully. "Roxas is right though… you need to stop looking for replacements… and just let your real feelings out. That's the real reason you hate Axel… because he's doing what you've always wanted to. He's confessing his feelings to the girl he loves, telling her over and over how special she is to him, how much he cares about her… but you don't have the spine to do it yourself."

"That's not…" he started to deny it and cursed. "That may be true… but it's not the entire truth. I'm sick to death of him trying to wiggle in and mess with people's emotions. He pursued Sora, and now you-"

"Technically I pursued him… frankly I was upset that he and Roxas seemed to be heading towards a reconciliation. I'm not mad at him, because I knew his feelings… but I'm mad at Roxas who, just like you, has a hard time coming to grips with how she truly feels. You both are cowards… so I left your relationship alone thinking you deserve each other." Vanita confessed. "I pursued Axel… because I can understand how he feels. I understand having feelings for someone, giving your everything to them… and having it ripped away from you so fast you lose your breath."

"Vanita…"

"Shut up...don't say something that'll make me punch you." She brushed the tear that slipped out. "I loved you, hell…" her smile soured. "Who am I kidding? I still do. Just cuz you're a jerk, doesn't me you're dislikeable. In fact in some ways maybe it's the fact you're a jerk that I like you. You can spar with me in more ways than one… challenge my wit and we've got great chemistry… but it's not the same as you and Venus."

"No… it's not. What we had Vanita, it did mean something to me. I liked being your boyfriend… but i guess the guilt just got to me. I asked to go out with you because I wanted a chance to get closer to your sister… but the closer I was… the more I realized I didn't deserve her."

"Let her be the judge of that." Vanita looked him in the eye. "Roxas is right, tell her how you feel, Terra. Take that leap so you'll have no regrets. That way even if you're rejected… you can finally move on without any guilt or wonder."

"You sure you want me to? Didn't you say when you first got here you'd keep her from me?"

"That was the bitterness talking… and besides," Vanita turned her back and started to walk away. "It's times she made her own decisions without my influence."

~Meanwhile~

Venus sat Axel down in a chair in his garage and rummage through the fridge in there. She found a pack of iced peas that she thought would do and she set it against his swollen face.

"Are you okay, Axel?"

"Yeah… I'm fine." He looked up squinting some. "You're not Roxas, are you?"

"No…" She smiled. "I'm Venus… we met once, remember?"

"That's right… it was a few summers ago when you came to visit Sora who was in the hospital. You were lost and trying to find your way to the hospital."

"Yes… and you said the same thing to me you just did now. You're not Roxas, are you?" She smiled sweetly. "You were the first person who didn't make that distinction.

"Yeah, well Roxas is… special to me… so I can tell the difference."

"Mmm Roxas is pretty popular around here isn't she? Though I guess she and Terra aren't going to be together anymore." Venus played with her fingers in a nervous gesture.

"Which reminds me… I've got yet another reason to punch Terra in the face now. Once for revenge, the other for hurting Roxas. He's an idiot."

"You think so? I think he just doesn't know how to control his emotions very well. He tries to hold back… but does it so much that when he does finally let go… it just sort of explodes out of him." She explained. "He doesn't understand his emotions, either. Which probably frustrates him even more. I wish he'd just talk about it rather than trying to handle everything on his own. He's always been like that."

"Sounds like you know him pretty well." Axel deduced and saw her flush.

"I guess you could say, Terra is special to me too." She scratched her cheek. "Though I don't think I could ever tell him that."

"Why not? You could be just what he needs. Someone he can talk to, open up with, and care for him." Axel explained and smiled when he saw the awed expression on her face. "Give it a try… the worst he can say is no."

"You've a point…" She glanced back as Vanita came in. "I'll leave you two alone. I'm gonna go back to the house for now. Mr. Xehanort must be home by now so I'll talk to him about letting me stay." She waved. "See yah around Axel, and thanks."

"Don't mention it." He waved and stood up meeting Vanita. "So… you gonna punch me too?"

"Nah… looks like Terra did a good enough job for the both of us." She lifted a hand gently stroking his cheek. She smiled sadly. "Can't say I won't miss you though. It was short… but we sure had some fun, Axel."

"Could be Roxas still won't-"

"She will… she needs you Axel, and you need her." She let her hand fall. "I on the other hand can do pretty well for myself."

"Vanita… do you always put other people's happiness ahead of your own?" he took her hand. "Maybe it's time you did something selfish."

"I've been selfish all my life… besides I don't need a guy to make me happy. All I really wanted was to make some friends… and we can still have that." She rose on her toes giving him one last full force kiss. "Mmmm for the memories."

"Vanita…"

"Call me if things go south with Roxas… but I've got a feeling they won't." She lifted a hand in a wave, and jogged after her sister. Axel walked to the front of the garage to watch them both walk away.

"Heh… I don't think Sora and Roxas really realizes how much you look out for them." He waves, even knowing they couldn't see it. "Thanks for everything… Vanita."

~Ask Briry~

Briry: Not gonna say much as I gotta get to finishing the next update so I'll just say…

HAPPY AKUROKU DAY!

Next Chapter: The Final Confessions