Disclaimer: I still don't own Kingdom Hearts. If by chance I do wake up and happen to own it, I'll alert you all first.

Pain.

Writhing agony. Like nothing Roxas had ever felt before. The doctors said is was his body accepting Sora's bone marrow. Roxas didn't really care what the doctors said any more.

Because in a sterilized room none of that bull shit mattered anymore.

The air tasted funny, not like real air, but distilled and processed, removed of anything real. It was necessary. To protect Roxas from getting sicker.

But wasn't this treatment supposed to cure him?

XxX

Roxas blinked, once, twice, and sat up. Looking up, a small beach had unfolded around him. Complete with palm trees and crystal clear water. In the distance he could vaguely see Zexion and Demyx making out on a pastel beach towel.

"Wow..."

"Hey, it's your dream."

Roxas looked up. Walking up to him was none other than Axel. Roxas thanked his sub-conscious that Axel was wearing swimming trunks and not a Speedo.

The red-head stretched out next to Roxas on the beach towel. "So, what's up?"

Roxas glanced over at Demyx and Zexion.

"Oh." Axel watched Zexion rip off Demyx's trunks, The red-head cleared his throat, "Besides that."

The blond sighed, "Nothing much really... just dreaming."

"Hm?" Axel blinked momentarily distracted by Zexion and Demyx.

"Axel?"

"Oh, right," Axel grinned, "Missed my cue."

"Running the dream."

"Sorry." Axel leaned over and kissed Roxas' lips. This time there was nothing in them to slow them down. Axel's tongue slid casually into Roxas' mouth sending shivers down the young boy's spine.

After a moment, the two broke apart. Somewhere off in the distance Demyx moaned Zexion's name. Loudly.

Both Axel and Roxas laughed at this.

XxX

It was hard for the Strife family to organize visits. But it was truly a rare event for all three Strife boys to be together alone.

Sora gibbered on incessantly about the bone marrow donation. How it wasn't that bad-he didn't know why he was so scared- and that he was sorry for worrying Roxas- and that his hip had barely hurt afterwards.

Cloud sat in a corner of the room, frowning through his mask.

XxX

Roxas blinked.

Before him sat a chessboard. And across from his sat Zexion. He appeared to have recovered from the previous dream.

The slate-haired bookworm started and Roxas, a hand covering his mouth, "You're white."

The blond blinked again before realizing Zexion was referring to the chess pieces. "Oh right." He muttered before moving a pawn.

The two exchanged moved slowly trading pieces.

"You shouldn't be afraid." Zexion murmured taking one of Roxas' bishops.

"Afraid of what?"

"Axel and you." Zexion replied, "What will be will be. And what won't, wont."

Roxas sighed, "It won't be. I can tell you that. we'll either get better and leave each other or we'll die."

The book worm seemed agitated now, " And if you do break up, then you'll just date Hayner or someone else! What's important is not missing out on each other." He took Roxas' last knight, "Because one of you might... die." There was a look of desperation on his face, "And you'll realize... how much you missed out on, by being stupid and cagey and--" Zexion seemed to be choking on his words, "How much you really love him, but never got to tell him..."

Roxas mulled this over in his mind.

The book worm sighed and looked up at Roxas. For the first time the blond realized how blue Zexion's eyes were. Demyx had been right. "That's all I have to say. By the way, checkmate."

"Shit."

XxX

His mother was holding his hand, stroking his head, doing everything just to touch her son. His father was telling him to buck up and that he'd be back on the ward shortly. Roxas sensed they were hiding something from him but he was too tired to care.

Reality was too painful, he wanted to go back to his dreams.

XxX

It was laughter that awoke him this time. Demyx.

Roxas' eyes popped open.

Perched on the hospital bed across from Roxas sat Demyx.

He was different though. His face was full, roundish almost. There was a healthy tan to his skin too. Although he still wore his hair in a make-shift Mohawk, his hair was different as well. The dusty looks looked like they belonged to a sixteen year old instead of a sixty year old. Even his clothes had changed. A vintage tee-shirt and tan shorts. Roxas smiled, very Demyx.

The new Demyx raised a hand. "Come over."

Rolling out of bed, Roxas noticed that he was still in his hospital gown. Tentatively, he sat down on the edge of the bed. Demyx smiled cheerfully and offered Roxas' one of his head phones. Eager to see what music the new Demyx listened to, Roxas accepted it.

Strange, melodic string music filled his ear, "What is it?"

"Demyx closed his eyes, a look of peace came over his face, "Ravi Shankar. A sitar player."

The name struck a cord with Roxas, but he couldn't remember where he had heard it from. He'd figure it out later.

"This is his Evening Raga." Demyx opened a blue eye, "Do you like it?"

"Yeah." Roxas lied.

Chuckling, Demyx murmured, 'You don't have to listen if you don't like it."

Feeling a little guilty, Roxas handed the ear phone back, the strange melody burning his ears.

"I'm glad I got to meet you, Roxy. I'm glad I got to meet everyone."

"I'm glad I got to meet you too, Dem." Roxas looked down. "And I'm sorry I snapped at you--"

Demyx waved it off, 'Don't think of it." He stood up, "Hey, I got someone waiting for me." He winked, "And so do you."

The door slid open and a new Zexion peeked out. He too looked healthier, his hair shinier, though it still fell into his eyes. A book was tucked underneath his arm. Roxas could have laughed.

Demyx did. He linked arms with the smaller boy and the two walked off down the hall, together.

Still smiling, Roxas heard someone else laugh. A nice laugh, fully and happy with just a mischievous hint to it.

"Axel." Roxas thought the red-head's name rather than spoke it. But Axel seemed to get the point anyway.

After all it was his dream.

Axel's hand's slid up his shirt. Roxas could have noticed his hospital gown had metamorphesized into normal clothing. He decided to ignore it, choosing to think only of Axel's tongue in his mouth, Axel's long fingers tracing pattern beneath his shirt. Axel.

The two leaned back against the bed sheets, their legs tangling up in each other. Axel's kisses trailed away from Roxas' mouth and down his neck. The blond gasped slightly. His hands roamed over Axel's strong back and up through his hair.

Ecstasy.

Roxas caught Axel's kisses again. Their mouths moving in sync. Had Roxas had time to think he would have thanked Demyx and Zexion for leaving them alone. But there was no time to think. There was only Axel.

Axel broke away from the long kiss. Smiling sadly, he said, "It's time to wake up, Roxy." Gently, he kissed Roxas' forehead, "I'll see you soon."

"Alright." Roxas replied, "Axel?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, Roxas." Axel kissed him one last time on the lips.

XxX

"Well, Roxas," Dr Lexaeus looked at his clipboard, "Everything seems to be in order. Are you ready to get back to the ward?"

Sitting straight up in his bed, Roxas nodded, "Yes, yes I am."

I know chess doesn't work like that, it just seemed to be an appropriate ending for that dream. Also I find it funny that Demyx and Zexion get more action together in Roxas' own dreams then Roxas and Axel get, ok, ok so it's off-screen but really. Whatever.

Reviews are always nice. Especially as a holiday present for moi.