(A/N): Hey kids! Look it! I brought you a little present: chapter 7! AND it's early!!! Yay! Yes, it is a little shorter than the other chapters have been, but I feel that it has everything it needs to have in it, and that I ended the chapter where it needed to end. As promised, this chapter deals with the relationship between Zexion and Demyx...with a bit of help from Axel. ;)

As always, I MUST thank all of my precious reviewers...you have no idea how much I ADORE and LOVE you guys. You helped me get to 100 REVIEWS!!!! I LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!

Disclaimer: Blah, blah, don't own. You get it.

ENJOY!!!

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Life, Interrupted – Chapter 7

"So you guys really are dating?" Roxas asked stupidly, earning an eye roll from Axel. "But I thought you said—"

"Oh, come on, Roxas! Isn't it obvious?!" Demyx half-shrieked through his tears.

Axel settled himself on Demyx's bed and helped the teary-eyed boy up to a seated position. "Alright, calm down, buddy. Talk to me. What happened exactly?"

After taking a few quivering breaths, Demyx began to explain, sniffling after every few words he spoke. "Well…this evening...when we came back from the park…Zex and I…both had therapy with Vexen...I had it first…so he was waiting outside…for his appointment…Vexen was asking me about…the reason I was at Twilight Hill…and I guess…Zex could hear me…After I was done…and I walked out the door…Zex usually hugs me really tight…whenever I see him…even if it's only be two minutes since we've last seen each other…he knows that I can't function without it…but he didn't hug me when I came out…he just looked at me coldly…and brushed right past me into Vexen's office…When he came out…I tried to ask him what happened...He pointed at me…then took out this book he has…tore out a page…and drew a big heart on it…He held it in front of my face…and tore it in half…He was saying that I didn't love him…and that we were over…I tried to talk to him…there were actual tears in his eyes…but he pushed me away and ran from me…We broke up!" Demyx broke into sobs after his last few words, leaning against Axel and burying his face in the older boy's chest.

Axel exhaled in a sigh and stroked Demyx's hair comfortingly.

"Don't cry, Dem," Roxas soothed from his bed, feeling a little helpless. "I'm sure things will be okay…"

"No they won't!" came Demyx's muffled cry from Axel's chest.

"Demy…" Axel began cautiously. "Can I ask you something?"

"Hm?"

"What did you tell Vexen about why you are here?"

Demyx lifted his head to look at Axel, then at Roxas, then back at Axel. "I told him that I'm here because I lied compulsively when I was in school and at home just to see people's reaction and enjoy the calamity that it caused."

Axel raised an eyebrow at the boy he was holding. "I don't see why Zexy would be offended by that. After all, doesn't he already know you inside and out?"

Demyx was silent as the two other boys stared at him. He bit his bottom lip nervously.

Axel spoke again, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "Is what you told Vexen the truth?"

Demyx waited a long moment before he answered. "No…only Zex knows the truth."

Roxas was the one to speak this time. "Dem, we can't help you if you don't tell us everything. We're not going to judge you. We're not going to hurt you."

Axel watched Roxas speak and then smiled at his words approvingly.

"Okay, well the truth is…" Demyx began slowly. "When I was about fourteen years old, I watched my best friend die in front of me. We were swimming together in a lake by our houses. He suddenly couldn't go on and we were nowhere near shore. I tried to pull him with me, but he sank down. I dove and searched for him until I was underwater for so long, I thought I was going to die. I had to swim to shore…he drowned, and I left him behind.

"After that, I lied to everyone. I said I didn't believe he was dead. I said he was still alive and I could see him and talk to him, which is why they think I'm delusional. But I just couldn't admit to myself that he was gone, so I tried to make even myself believe he was still alive. And for a while, I really did.

"But now Zex doubts me. He doesn't know which one's the truth and thinks I'm a liar. He thinks I'm lying about my love for him and that maybe the real reason I'm here is to just have fun watching people when I lie to them. So he thinks I'm just having fun lying about my love for him!!"

"Wow, kiddo…that's heavy," Axel commented.

"So if that's the truth, why don't you tell Vexen that?" Roxas asked, trying not to sound too blunt.

"Because!" Demyx explained. "First of all, have you met Vexen? Would you tell him your deepest, darkest secrets?! I don't think so. And second, aside from you guys now, I've only ever told Zex anything worth knowing about me. I'm too scared to tell anyone else. I'm afraid to let them in…to let them get close. And it hurts that much more that Zex doesn't believe me because he was the only one who I've ever told the truth about me."

"He's got a point," Axel said to Roxas, Demyx still sniffling in his arms. "I won't tell that basket-case about my morning dump let alone my deep secrets."

Demyx couldn't help but choke out a laugh at Axel's frankness.

"There we go…" Axel smiled down at Demyx. "Be happy, Demy. Because your fairy fucking godmother over here," he motioned to himself, "has got a plan for ya."

Demyx gazed up at Axel with wide and hopeful teary eyes. "Really?"

"Yep, I'm gonna wave my little magic wand and sprinkle some freakin' fairy dust and you two will be back playing hide the snake every night in no time."

--

It was the following afternoon in the recreation room. For the first time in the entire month that Roxas had been at the ward, Demyx was not super-glued to Zexion's lap. In fact, the two boys were on opposite ends of the room. Zexion sat on the couch in front of the television, his legs tucked underneath him and his head buried into a giant book that rested in his lap.

Demyx was perched on the armrest of a chair Roxas was seated in. Though he was trying to busy himself with watching Roxas doodle in his journal, he couldn't help but glance up at Zexion constantly and end up gawking like a freak at the boy he loved and adored. A few times, Zexion's eyes would flicker towards his blonde observer and the butterflies in Demyx's stomach would excite him so much, he felt like vomiting. But then he would catch the pain in Zexion's eyes as the blue-haired boy quickly engulfed his attention in his book again.

Though Roxas and Demyx were seemingly busy, they were feeling insanely impatient. They'd been strictly instructed to sit in the rec room and not participate in what was about to take place. But waiting for this "situation" to take place was driving both boys up the wall with anticipation. Roxas was pressing so hard with his pencil in agitation that it snapped and flew out of his hand.

As if on cue, the infamous clicking of Axel's boot heels could be heard coming down the hallway. He stepped into the rec room with a flourish. Shooting Roxas and Demyx a wink, he sashayed around to the front of the couch and plopped his lithe body down uncomfortably close to Zexion.

Axel moved his face even closer to Zexion, until he was sure the silent boy could feel the breath against his cheek. "Hi, Zexy…" Axel greeted him, mock-deeply. "Mind if I join you?"

Zexion simply glanced at Axel's expectant face, rolled his eyes, and returned to his book, making Axel pout. He crossed his arms, sinking lower into his seat. "Fine, be a poophead," he stated childishly. After a moment, he tried again.

"Ugh, look at that, Demy is over there hanging out with my friend Roxy," he began, letting a disgusted tone seep into his voice. Upon the mention of Demyx's name, Axel could see Zexion's ears perk up. Though he attempted to keep his gaze on his book, none of his attention was occupied by it anymore.

"I hope his horrible habits don't rub off on someone as innocent and pure as Roxy," Axel continued, the revulsion in his voice increasing. "I mean he lies about everything. I feel like Roxy is going to get corrupted just breathing the same air Demy breathes. He should be quarantined so we all don't catch his sick little lying disease. Ugh!"

Zexion's defined jaw-line became even more so as his teeth were beginning to clench and grind at Axel's words. The grip on his book tightened and his turquoise eyes narrowed.

At this point, every patient in the room had abandoned whatever activity they were engaged with and were watching Axel's little performance.

"And you know what the most pathetic part about it is?" Axel's voice was growing louder, allowing the entire room to fully hear what he had to say. He was sitting up now, his face getting closer to Zexion's as he spoke, touching every nerve. "Everyone can tell that the lies he's constantly spewing out are totally fake. I mean, honestly, who does he think he's fucking around with? We all know he's lying when he feeds us all that bullshit." Axel shot a momentary look across the room to his two blonde comrades before he persisted. It was so quick, they were the only ones who caught it.

"Especially that stupid damn lie about how he got in here." Axel put on a mocking tone for his next sentence. "'Oh, I like to tell lies just to enjoy what it does to people because I'm hot shit like that and I don't care!' I mean, give me a fucking break! No one is in this damn funny farm because of a reason that fucking shallow. We all have a more depressing past, whether we're willing to admit it or not."

A strange look flickered across Zexion features, like he'd realized something.

"Now, if only there was someone who knew the truth about Demyx," Axel went on, each word he spoke making Zexion twitch. "Someone Demyx really loved and trusted enough to tell why he was in here, revealing the deepest darkest secrets of his soul!" Axel pulled at the front of his shirt in anguish with one hand and held the back of his other hand to his forehead for dramatic effect. Then he let both hands drop and he shrugged. "But that doesn't seem to be the case at all. There's probably no one like that. He doesn't have anyone to confide in. No one can love him, because he's SUCK A FUCKING LI—"

In one swift motion, Zexion had straddled Axel, catching the redhead by the back of his neck with one hand while the other crushed his mouth into silence. Zexion's breath came out in fuming exhales. His icy gaze was driving daggers into Axel's fiery one. The two boys stared at each other for a long time, before Zexion's grip on Axel's face tightened for a moment. Then he pushed himself off of Axel and made his way to the other side of the room. He came to a sudden halt in front of Demyx and stood in turmoil, struggling with himself over something.

Demyx immediately scrambled to his feet, and bright olive met shocking turquoise. "Umm…Zex I—I…" Demyx stammered. He stared at Zexion for a moment before tears began to pour down his cheeks. "I'm so sorry! I've always told you the truth. Please, you have to believe me. I...I love you so fucking much, Zex!!"

A long moment passed as Demyx stood looking at the boy he loved, his hopeful expression heartbreaking.

Zexion opened his mouth silently as a tear rolled down his pale cheek. "I've always loved you Demyx, and I always will," he spoke, his voice deep and rasping.

Every jaw in the room dropped at the same time, including Demyx's. It was their turn to be the mute ones. Then, Demyx jumping full force into Zexion's arms, warping his legs around his lover's waist and cradling his face with his hands as he inhaled sharply into a deep, passionate kiss. His tears of joy fell to mingle with Zexion's as the room erupted into a loud cheer.

"Finally!" Marluxia exclaimed. "It was quite bizarre seeing you as two entities instead of one. I thought I was actually going insane for a while there."

"I knew you guys weren't over! You never could be!" Roxas cheered happily.

Zexion finally let Demyx down gently after a long kiss. As they grinned at each other, overjoyed, Axel approached them and hung his arms around each boy's shoulders.

"Whew! That was quite a part to play for Auntie Ax!" he exclaimed, winking at them, eliciting a giggle from both boys. "You should speak more often Zexy, your voice makes me a little weak at the knees." Zexion rolled his eyes at the taller boy for a second time. "Well, I'm certainly glad you guys are back together now, because you know what tomorrow is don't you?"

"What's that?" Demyx wondered.

"Why, my dear, tomorrow is Christmas Eve."

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(A/N): Sometimes I can't believe the shit that comes out of my head. Don't be fooled by the sheer fluffiness of that last line. Though there will be some happy shit, there will also be some angst and oodles of hot shit. I do hope you all are looking forward to it as much as I am!!

Until we meet again my comrades....

xoxo

P.S. - Jess, my lovely beta...I just adore you.