This piece is very cute... And a little unnerving around the middle when Roxas makes a certain realization.

But this is a little fluffy, just a little. In contrast to the previous part... Still waiting for any review as to whether the end should be fluff or smut! I'm tempted to just wing it...

-9 Years Later-:-The Seventeenth Year-

Axel sighed as he sat in front of the clock monument. "How many times has Roxas actually remembered about this? Twice?"

He heard footsteps approach, and watched the trio turn the clock's key. They spoke to Axel, not actually knowing that he was listening… and right in front of them… and perfectly capable of responding to them, not that he ever did. They ate their dinner and watched the sunset, not noticing as Axel snuck eating some of the food. Axel liked the taste of Ollette's cooking. It was only once a year that he was able to nibble on a home-cooked meal. All the other days, he and Roxas never really cooked anything unless they felt the urge to do so. They didn't actually need to eat, anyway. But Axel was very appreciative of the annual nice snacking.

Curious as to what they would leave as a gift this time, he eagerly blew a warm wind to urge Ollette to show what she was hiding. She turned to Sora, and the two of them set up a candle on either side of the clock tower, and a small recipe booklet.

"Goodnight, Axel! Have a nice romantic dinner!" Ollette waved, not seeing Axel wave back as he picked up the booklet. There was a page folded over, and a little sticky note from Ollette on how to make it look nicer, how this recipe was simple yet classy, and how they would have given him a bottle of wine if Roxas wasn't underage. Axel shrugged at the last part. There was wine in the bottom cabinet in the kitchen anyway.

He thought up some creative ways to keep Roxas out of the kitchen, and set to work. "'Simple yet classy?' Pasta? If you say so, Ollette… Though presentation is a big factor, so that must be what the little instructions are meant for. Well, I've never made something like this before, but I hope that I don't need to pretty it up to cover the fact it tastes bad…"

"There. That should do it. Now dim the lights, play the music at a really low volume, and light the candles."

Axel looked at the scene again, proud of himself. He had tasted the spaghetti, and it had actually turned out really good. He set out two wineglasses; Roxas could refuse the alcohol if he wanted, because Axel had made sure to put out some sparkling apple cider too. The candles cast a romantic glow over the table which, in Axel opinion, looked great for a first real dinner date. He could faintly hear the soft, dreamy music, and it added to the atmosphere nicely.

"Hey, Roxas? Meet me in the bedroom for a minute."

"Okay!" Roxas called from the study down the hall.

Axel replaced their T-shirts with button downs, and Roxas' sweatpants with jeans. "There. You look delicious, my darling."

"What's all this for, anyway?"

"Obviously it's for you, love!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Come with me. Close your eyes, okay?"

Axel led Roxas to the romantic scene.

"Open."

Roxas' eyes fluttered open, and he covered his mouth with his hands as tears ran down his cheeks. "Oh, Axel!" he embraced him. "This is so sweet of you!"

"Anything for you, love. And this is our first date. It had to be special…"

Roxas suddenly realized that this actually was their first date… They'd been sleeping together, living together, eating together for seventeen years, but had never actually dated. They were lovers for two nights and then Roxas ended up dying. Though becoming Axel's lover right away wasn't his plan, exactly, Roxas was hit with the fact that the first time he approached Axel on his own, the first time he had initiated being alone with the older man to talk to him… he'd had sex with him almost immediately. All of a sudden… Roxas felt a little bit like… a slut. "You're… right…"

Weren't there set rules for that kind of thing? First date is a hug or kiss on the cheek; second date a peck on the lips, that idea? And wasn't the sex supposed to be… after marriage? The bases, whatever they each stood for, weren't they supposed to elapse over time before getting a home run? Suddenly, Roxas felt used, dirty, unchaste…

"We… just skipped right to the sex…"

"Yeah, we did, but… that's not a bad thing, right?"

"I… What was I thinking then? Theoretically… I hardly knew you…"

"Roxas, there is nothing wrong or abnormal about the way things happened. We love each other. Even if we have to go back to square one… I still love you very much and I do not want you to get hurt. The way we got to be together was just off the status-quo. That's all. You don't need to be worried or guilty about thinking you're dirty for losing your virginity. At least you lost it to someone you love with all your heart, right? You aren't dirty, and you aren't a whore. You're beautiful, and you're pure and innocent. You'll always be innocent… always be loved. Having one partner who you love very much is never wrong under any circumstances. One lover does not make you a slut, Roxas. It means you're a faithful, loving boy. If anyone here is a whore, it's me. Before I met you… I was a real monster. It was disgusting how many people I slept with just to relieve tension. Sorry to be in so much contrast to your purity. You probably feel tainted by my dirty behavior in the past."

Roxas took his face in his hands. "No. I love you, and you're pure too. I wasn't tainted by you… you were cleansed by me. Have you ever thought of another man or woman besides me since we made love?"

"No. Not once, I promise you that."

"Then you aren't a whore. You're devoted to one lover that you care about… and your past doesn't matter as long as I'm still the one you love and think about."

"Roxas, you're too good for me…"

"No, we're equal… because our love is equal."

Roxas was pulled up into a passionate kiss, and eagerly accepted the attention from his lover, giving off a soft moan.

When the kiss broke, Roxas pulled Axel down to peck his lips before gazing into his eyes. "I love you."

"I love you too…"

"Our dinner's getting cold."

"So you're okay with our first date being now?"

"Do you love me?"

"Yes."

"Then there's nothing to worry about," Roxas giggled softly, and Axel pulled out his chair for him like a gentleman.

The candles burnt away to nothing, but the dimmed lighting of the room was still enough for them to see each other. They had their hands on the table, fingers intertwined as they leaned across the small table to peck their lips together.

Roxas smiled, his eyelids feeling slightly heavy. He was full, and had tried some wine, not really liking it, but the blonde downed a few glasses of it. He wasn't drunk, either. Axel was pretty impressed at how well Roxas held his alcohol. Roxas was just sleepy. The music, warmth, and lighting were all lulling him, as if waiting to make fun of him for falling asleep at the table when it inevitably happened.

"I love you, Roxas…"

Roxas only wearily whimpered in reply. Axel smiled as he lifted the boy and helped him change into pajamas before lying him down on the bed. Roxas closed his eyes halfway as Axel sat on the edge of the bed, stroking the blonde spikes tenderly and brushing his thumb lovingly on Roxas' cheekbone.

"You're beautiful…"

"Axel…" he murmured. Axel bent down and kissed his forehead. "I love you."

"Sweet dreams, my beloved…"

Roxas caught Axel's sleeve cuff. "Don't go…"

"I need to clean up, love. Here…" he handed Roxas the Heartless plushie, which the blonde cuddled with right away, the heart lighting up as he hugged it. "You can go to sleep with Tango for now, okay? He'll keep you company. I'm going to clean up, and I'll be with you soon. Just rest awhile, love. I'll be back, and I'll keep you and Tango nice and warm."

After a small kiss, Axel left the room, closing the door almost all the way, so that a small stream of the hall light could get in. Roxas cuddled with his Tango, falling asleep almost immediately after his eyes closed the rest of the way.

Axel smiled, standing in the doorway as he watched Roxas sleep. The boy looked so adorable… all curled up under the blankets, hugging his plushie, a peaceful expression on his cute face. Axel was as quiet as possible as he changed into his pajama pants, deciding against a shirt, and tried not to disturb the bed and wake Roxas. The blonde stirred, a soft moan of slumber escaping his lips before he grew quiet once more.

The redhead kissed his forehead, tentatively wrapping his arms around the boy, who eagerly snuggled against the warm body that was enticing the somewhat cold blonde to move closer to his lover, not releasing his hold on Tango. Axel thought that Roxas naming the plushie was sweet. He truly was innocent. Tango was not too creative a name, but it was a good one nonetheless. Tango seemed to enjoy the loving it got when it was with Roxas, if that was possible.

"I love you, Roxas."

"I… love you…" he replied in his sleep, cuddling closer to Axel's chest.

Axel gave off a quiet chuckle before he fell into his own slumber. 'Another good year, you three. Thanks.'

Why does Axel not remind Roxas what day it is? Why does he just go by himself? He shouldn't be complaining. It's funny that Axel uses the presents they leave to impress Roxas, though. It's cute.

Maybe I should make the ending a fluffy lemon! Because people don't like my story and won't even review to tell me it sucks... And they won't tell me what to do.