A/N: Hey everyone! Chapter three… holy crap. I never thought I would get past the first chapter. But there you go, don't ever say that word.

Anyway, I want to thank all of you who reviewed! And as promised… cookies!

Kairi: Hey! Aren't those mine?

Midnight: …

Kairi: (snort) That's what I thought.

…

October 18, 2009

God, these meds are starting to mess with my head. I was looking back at what I've written so far, and suddenly the words were blurring and meshing together.

I had freaked; scrubbing my eyes and tossing the notebook to the foot of the hospital bed. It had scared Mom shitless. Even Mrs. Wilkins had been startled.

But the worst of it is, I'm so tired. I'm always falling asleep at noon, then crash for the night at seven. Seven! No sane teenager goes to bed at seven. But Mom's ecstatic about it. She says that meds are finally kicking in and that my body's healing.

Yeah, healing. That's exactly what my body's doing.

And Mom is expecting that I write a journal entry everyday, so that in some non-existing future I can look back at them and be grateful that I survived this.

I don't have the heart to tell her that this is going to be it for me.

….

Mom pulled back my bed covers early the next morning.

I tried to burrow back under them as sunlight hit my face in the most unpleasant way. I felt like hissing and screaming 'the light! It buuurrrrrnnnnnsssss!'.

Mom moved my bangs off my forehead and sat down next to me.

"Sora, it's time to wake up."

"No. You can go whack a mole," I groaned, rolling over to burry my face in the mattress.

I heard her sigh. And then, with a strength I never knew she had, she picked me up and set my feet on the ground.

She put her small hands on my shoulders and looked me in the face.

"Sora, sweet heart, don't you remember? We have to go to the hospital today. Your appointments start this morning."

I cringed, looking away.

I had forgotten. But can you blame me? With Riku as the fodder for mind-numbing fantasies, who would remember about the treatments that might just save your life?

Mom touched the side of my face with a slight smile.

"What am I going to do with you?"

"Is not killing me an option?"

It worked. She laughed and pulled me into a hug. I snuggled my face into her shoulder and wrapped my arms around her waist. I closed my eyes as the familiar scent of jasmine and vanilla filled my senses.

She pulled back to kiss my forehead and pat my cheek.

"Get dressed. I have breakfast ready for you downstairs."

I nodded and she pushed my bangs out of my face one last time before smiling and walking out, closing the door behind her.

I stared at the door for a moment, hearing her heeled sandals click as she went down the stairs.

I shook my head and leaned down to grab a random assortment of items and throw them on.

I was slow moving downstairs, the smell of eggs and bacon the only thing motivating my feet. And somehow, I still managed to stumble and almost fell flat on my face on the last step.

Mom was at the stove when I got to the kitchen. She turned and smiled at me, pointing to a plate on the island counter filled with scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. I picked it up and moved it to the table. I sat down and contemplated a moment before standing and going to the fridge.

Dad mumbled from behind his open newspaper, snapping it every once in a while. He finally closed it and violently slapped it on the table.

Mom sighed.

"Dan, why do you pick up the paper if you know something is going to make you act like that?"

"Sorry, Laney," Dad replied, rubbing his face. "But it's these political scandals. They're getting ridiculous!"

There was a grunt from the hall and I turned in time to see Leon stumble into the kitchen.

I raised an eyebrow at the coffee mug clutched in his hand as Mom greeted him.

He merely scowled and reached for the coffee pot. His cup proclaimed, in big red letters, 'No Talking Until I've Had Two Cups'. There was even a mean looking bulldog near the handle that's face had been frozen mid-growl.

He filled the mug to the rim and took a long draught.

Did I mention that my brother is a morning person?

Mom looked over to him with a small frown and muttered something that sounded like 'save some for the rest of us'.

I shook my head and sat at the table with my milk. Dad sighed at the paper before turning to me.

"So what were you planning on doing today?"

I blinked, remembering that I had promised to spend time with Riku today.

My stomach flipped as I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Not much. Just hanging out with a friend."

"Kairi?" Mom asked as she finally sat down with her own breakfast.

I looked at the empty space across from me before turning to see Leon still standing at the counter, chugging coffee.

I looked back at Mom to see her watching Leon in distaste.

"No, it's a new friend," I replied.

She turned to me and smiled. "That's nice. Will we to meet this new friend?"

I shrugged.

"Sure."

She smiled again and started on her breakfast. I followed suit, slowing my chewing and wincing when Leon suddenly proclaimed, "There's no more coffee."

Mom sighed and rested her forehead in her hand.

….

As usual, the smell of the hospital stung my nose. I looked over to Leon to see his own nose wrinkle in distaste.

Both of us had grown to hate hospitals with an intense passion.

I sighed and watched my checkered Vans on the boring green carpet of the waiting room.

Mom patted my knee before going back to reading her newest classic book find. I looked at the worn cover and sighed again.

Leon suddenly chuckled and I turned to see him holding his cell phone. I raised an eyebrow and he turned the screen to me so I could see the picture.

Cloud sat in the front seat of a van with a scowl. In the back seat, three tow-headed children, and whom I could only assume was his mother, appeared to be clapping and singing. Leon scrolled down to show me the caption under the picture.

"Dear Lord help me."

Leon and I broke out into giggles and earned a few odd looks from Mom and Dad. Even a few nurses that walked by stopped to give us odd looks.

Leon pulled up a message screen and typed.

Srry babe. No can do

It was a moment before Cloud replied.

See if u get sex for a year

Leon shook his head and sighed.

U cant even go a week w/o sex. But I don't get any for a year?

Cloud's reply was only one word.

…fuck

I shook my head with a smile as Leon texted him back. Cloud and Leon matched a little too well.

"Sora Bennett?"

I looked up to see a young blonde nurse in blue scrubs reading the clipboard in her hand.

Mom stood first, turning and grabbing my hand so we could walk together.

The nurse gave us a strained smile and lead us through the swinging door into the emergency room. We walked a little ways until we got to the nurses station.

She told us to stay where we were and that she would get the doctor. I noticed that her gaze lingered on Leon just a little too long. When she was out of earshot, I leaned closer to him.

"The nurse was totally just checking you out."

Leon scrunched his eyebrows and looked after before shaking his head.

"No way."

I snorted at him.

"Yes way. You attract more straight women then a department store."

Leon gave me a withering look.

"That was a horrible comparison."

I opened my mouth to retort, but the blonde nurse popped in and said that Doctor Miya would be here soon.

I held back a sigh and looked around the nurse to see a tall woman with flaming red curls beeline for our little group.

When she reached us, she greeted the nurse and turned to my mother, full lips parting in a smile and long fingered hand reaching out.

"Hello, Mrs. Bennett, I'm Doctor Miya. Pleasure to meet you."

"You, too, doctor."

Miya shook hands with Dad, then turned to me. Through her square, black-framed glasses, I saw green. The kind of green that reminded me of another pair of eyes I would be seeing later.

"And you must be Sora."

"Hi," I said, shaking her hand.

"Hello. I'm Lauren Miya, and I'll be attending physician from now on."

"Cool," I replied. Leon kicked the side of my foot with his steel-toed boot. My left eye twitched for a moment as I held in the pain that was radiating up my knee.

Didn't want to be pussy footed in front of the new doc.

Miya waved us into an empty room and explained the procedure to us. All I heard was IV.

I hate needles. Hate them so much.

She excused herself for a moment to grab the supplies and I perched myself on the exam table, laying back.

Mom moved a chair to my left side and held my hand with a weak smile. Dad and Leon sat side by side in the chairs by the door. Leon's elbows were resting on his knees as his fingers laced together and covering his mouth.

I looked up at the ceiling a waited.

Miya came back quickly with an older nurse, introducing her as Mrs. Wilkins.

Said nurse brought in one of those fluid bag racks and wheeled it up to me. There was already a bag on it and I felt my innards shrivel.

Suddenly there was a needle close to my face and the demon nurse grabbed my right arm and felt around for a moment.

"This is going to hurt a little bit. Try to be still," she commanded when she found what she had been looking for.

The demon wiped a cleaning cloth over the crook of my elbow and I opened mouth to say that I didn't like needles, but suddenly there was pain, bad pain.

I looked down to see the tube being taped to my skin. A little blood was oozing out around the opening. My eyes watered as I squeaked.

Miya was quick to comfort me, saying that the worst part was being stuck and the pain would go away. But it didn't, not really. I could feel whatever chemical they were pumping into me moving into my vain.

I turned to Mom helplessly. I must have looked terrified, because she held my hand tighter and caressed my cheek.

"It's okay, Sora. It's okay."

I looked at Dad's apologetic grimace and Leon's red face.

He suddenly stood and moved toward the door, saying something about needing a bathroom. A lump formed in my throat at the hoarseness in his voice.

This treatment wasn't going to make me better. It was going to kill my family.

….

Hours later, I was still rubbing the sore spot that the gauze covered up. Mom scowled and batted my hand away every time I tried to take the medical tape off.

"But it's pulling my arm hair!" I finally whined as Mom popped a DVD into the player.

"I don't care," she said, sitting next to me. "I don't want it to get infected. And weren't you going to hang out with the new friend?"

The left side of my mouth drooped down and I looked out of the open window nervously.

I had gotten a text from Riku after the hospital fiasco. He said he would pick me up at my place. But now I wondered if he even remembered where I lived.

I settled deeper into the couch cushions and touched the outline of my phone in the front pocket of my jeans.

I turned to Mom and told her about the text. She nodded and hit the play button, and as the movie started, I realized that she picked my favorite rom-com. I smiled and felt around until I found her hand. I gave it a squeeze and she reciprocated.

After five minutes, Leon started to make a gagging noise in the back of his throat. I looked over to him, but didn't scowl.

Leon didn't go back to the room we were in at the hospital, but met us outside when the treatment was over, his eyes red-rimmed and smile shaky.

His eyes were still slightly red, but it was fading. He caught me staring and stuck his tongue out. He wouldn't look me in the eye.

I appreciated Mom gesture, but I couldn't help but stare out the window, waiting for Riku.

I sighed and tried to focus on the movie when a roaring sound tore through the neighborhood. Dad turned in his seat to get a look at the road.

"Sounds like a sportster," he said, craning his neck to get a better look.

I snapped out of my stupor and stood to join Dad by the window. Suddenly, there was a streak of red and I blinked.

The red Convertible braked in front of the house and my forehead collapsed on itself as I thought.

And then it hit me.

"Holy shit," I said running out of the room and into the foyer. Dad yelled something about language, but I was out the door and running as the driver side door to the car opened.

I lunged and reached it just in time. Riku had one foot out and had turned.

He raised an eyebrow and looked up and down my body as I stood, crowding his space.

"Sora?" He said tentively, more like it was a question.

"Hiya, Riku. How are you?" I asked breathlessly, adrenaline making my limbs shaky.

"Fine. You?"

I laughed a little and he leaned back to study me.

"Great! Just great. Say! How 'bout we head out now?"

His other eyebrow raised and he stared at me curiously for a moment.

"I kind of wanted to meet your parents."

I opened my mouth to talk but wilted when he gently pushed my chest and got out of the car.

I licked my lips and looked over to the house to see three interested faces disappear from the front window. Riku closed the door and walked with me to the front door.

I saw a hand make a thumbs up in the window and I scowled hard, moving closer to Riku's tall form. It would be Leon to try and flirt with my Riku.

I bulked when I called him mine. He wasn't mine. Well, not yet.

Riku opened the door for me when we reached the porch. I smiled at him and walked in…

And was met by my family, all smiling and standing in a row. I blinked and turned to Riku, but was beat out by my Mom.

"Hello," she said, stepping foreword to shake his hand. "I'm Laney Bennett, Sora's mom."

"Hello, Mrs. Bennett. I'm Riku Price. Nice to meet you." I shivered at his deep voice. At the corner of my eye, Leon looked me over carefully.

She giggled and blushed.

"You, too. And this is my husband, Dan." They shook hands. "And my oldest son, Leon."

Leon stepped closer and took Riku's proffered hand, but didn't shake. He stared Riku down with a scowl and looked him over, like he was a homeless man trying to get into a five-star restaurant.

He suddenly let go of Riku's hand and turned away, headed upstairs to his room.

Mom apologized to Riku for Leon behavior; he graciously waved it off as nothing. But on his way past, Leon leaned down close to my ear and whispered, "When you get back, we're having a little chat."

I felt all the blood leave my face and turned to watch as Leon walked away.

Mom touched my arm and lead me or to Riku.

"You to have fun," she said, gently pushing us to the door.

Riku chuckled and opened the door for me.

We said goodbye on the porch and headed for his car. The shiny, red, expensive car.

I hurried past Riku to get to the passenger door first. Him opening all these doors for me was making me feel like a woman. It was bad enough that I wanted to moan and spread my legs for him every time he spoke.

I slid into the car and closed the door. I rubbed my hands on the leather seat for a moment before buckling in.

"Nice car," I said as the engine literally roared to life.

Riku chuckled and checked his mirrors before pulling into the road.

"Thanks. It was a birthday present from my father." I looked up when I heard the dispassion in his voice when he mentioned his father. I let it slide only because he spoke.

"No offence," he started slowly.

I laughed and shook my head.

"Not the best way to start out, Riku."

He sighed, but smiled at me.

"No offence, but there doesn't seem to be very much to do here. So, I was thinking that we could just hang out at my place." He looked over at me when he finished.

I shrugged and asked if his dad knew I was coming over.

"It's just me staying there, Sora," was his answer.

I was hot all over, trying not to think about what would happen if we were alone.

"Where's your dad living, then?" I asked, voice higher a few octaves.

Riku looked at me quickly.

"New York."

I made a choking noise and looked at him incredulously.

"Seriously? You're from New York? Why'd you come here?"

I took a moment to look out the window and calm down.

"I didn't like New York," he said steadily. "Too much noise, too many people. I like towns like this." He waved his hand at the window. "My mom would always take me to places like this for vacations. Dad was always worried about his company to care about what I liked or wanted. And when she died, I was stuck in the city with him."

He shrugged and looked at me.

"I'm sorry to hear that," I said quietly. "But didn't you have anyone else?"

Riku snorted and rested his elbow on the side window.

"My brother's just like Dad; too power hungry to think of anything else."

He suddenly stiffened and sighed.

"Sorry. This is supposed a nice time, not Riku's-family-issues time."

I smiled and shrugged.

"It's fine. This way, I get to know you better."

We smiled at each other before Riku braked and cut the engine. I blinked, then looked around to see where we were.

My mouth fell open and I turned my wide eyes to him.

"You're loaded, aren't you?"

Riku chuckled and got out of the car. My gaze went back to the row of condo townhouses he had parked in front of. Only rich tourists had ever stayed these. But as I watched Riku unlock the front door to his, I realized he felt completely at home.

I quickly followed him into the house and looked around. It was so… homey. It kind of reminded me of my house.

"Go make yourself comfortable. I'll go make some popcorn," Riku said, taking off his shoes and setting them on a small mat by the door.

I do the same and Riku points me to his blue couch. He walked past me to the kitchen to ruffle through the cupboards.

I sit down and cover my legs with a checkered blanket that had been hanging on the back of the couch.

A minute later, I heard the microwave start up, and Riku padded over and flopped down next to me. He put his feet up on the coffee table and grabbed the remote, clicking the power button and making the screen T.V. screen come to life.

And before you ask, it was a very big flat screen.

The play menu for a DVD was already up, and it made me wonder if he had planned this out.

I shook my head and settled in to watch the movie….

But it was hard. Riku's presence was doing awful things to my heart. And every time he chuckled, it went right to my pants.

I couldn't help but stare at him carefully. It helped that the sky was starting to darken, casting shadows around the room.

I looked at his lips and wondered what they would feel like against mine. Or what those big hands, which were currently holding out the popcorn, could do to my skin. And that body; what it feel like pressed against me.

I suddenly had a vision of being pressed down into the couch, Riku's body draped over mine and him kissing me, tasting like butter and popcorn and just Riku.

I shifted the blanket over my lap to hide my growing… attraction.

I tried really, really, really hard to keep my eyes on the movie. But it didn't help that Riku was unconsciously moving closer to me, or that he was looking at me, or even that he was breathing.

"Hey, Sora." His voice rang out in a husky murmur and I shivered.

"Yeah?" I asked, forcing myself to turn and look at him.

But I didn't make it far. His lips were lightly touching half of mine and I stared at his open eyes.

We stayed like that for the longest time, staring at each other carefully, lips still touching, until Riku pulled away and sat back.

"I'm sorry," he said, loosely cover his mouth. "I shouldn't have done that."

I opened my mouth to say something, but my voice failed me.

So we finished the movie in silence, and as quickly as he could, Riku got me into the car and drove me back home.

He sped through town and when we reached my house, he parked in the same spot he did earlier.

He gave me a strained smile and looked out the windshield, waiting for me to run for it.

But I just sat there, looking at him.

"I don't want to go in," I said quietly when he looked at me.

"Why?"

"My brother wants to talk to me. He sounded pissed, and I don't need him lecturing me."

Riku nodded and looked at the steering wheel.

"I don't think he like me very much. Of course, I can't really blame him," he added quietly.

"I didn't mind that kiss, Riku," I said just as softly.

He turned to me quickly and stared.

"Then… can I kiss you again?"

I nodded and leaned closer to him. He gently caressed my jaw before bringing our lips together in a soft kiss.

He pulled back a little and looked at me in askance. I just pressed my lips to his again.

We kissed like that for almost five minutes; just light pressure and gentle nibbles. If one of us pulled back, the other would drag us back in with a smile.

At one point he mentioned my parents.

"Who?" was my answer.

He chuckled against my mouth.

…..

A/N: Awwwwwwwwwwww! Those two always make a cute couple! :3