Xigbar shifted slightly. Kairi was currently lying pretty much on top of him and he really didn't want to wake her up. He smoothed some of her hair out of her face and couldn't stop a grin from forming at how damned cute she looked.

Kairi stirred, blinking before opening her eyes fully, and mumbling, "Morning."

"Morning Red," Xigbar smiled.

"How'd you sleep?" she asked, smiling back.

"Great," Xigbar smirked. "How about you?"

Kairi smiled again, "I slept quite well, thanks." she said, moving to sit up so that she wouldn't be restricting his movement anymore.

Xigbar let her sit up before wrapping an arm around her and dragging her back down, "I don't think I said you could move just yet, Sass."

Kairi squeaked, before shifting and rolling her eyes, "Kay, kay."

"Much better," he grinned, "Now. What're you up to today? Feeling okay from last night? No headaches?"

"Nah, I wasn't really drunk." Kairi answered, "I drink more often than Namine, anyway." she chuckled, "And I've got no plans for the day yet." she smirked.

Xigbar glanced at the clock, "I've got about two hours before I have to relieve Cloud at the shop, so how about we go out for some brunch, Red?"

"Sure." Kairi smiled.

"Great. Wanna swing by your house for new clothes? Although I think you look damn sexy in my shirt," Xigbar winked at her.

Kairi laughed, grinning at him, "Yes, clothes would be nice. But your shirt is quite comfortable."

"Keep it, then," Xigbar said. "It looks better on you anyway, Red."

Kairi rolled her eyes, "No it doesn't."

Xigbar rolled so that she lay under him and leaned down, kissing her. "Yes, it does," he whispered, grinning.

Kairi giggled, pulling him back down to kiss him again.

Xigbar continued to kiss her for several moments before pulling back, "C'mon, we gotta get up. You look too damn sexy in that, Red. Testing my control."

She pouted, "I'm okay with testing your control."

Xigbar grinned and shook his head, kissing her once more before climbing off the bed and offering her a hand, "You're gonna be the death of me, Sass, I just know it."

Kairi rolled her eyes, but took his hand, "I highly doubt that."

He pulled her to her feet and spun her around once, kissing her nose. "Let's go."

Kairi smiled, "Kay."

XXXX

Namine blinked, slowly waking up due to some noise in the apartment. Her headache was gone, thankfully, and her stomach felt settled, although she was hungry. Getting up from the bed, she walked over to the door, halting when she saw the piece of paper taped to it.

Hey Nam,

Had to go to work, but I didn't want to

wake you. Help yourself to anything

you need, and call me if you need me.

Hope you're feeling better,

Reno

Namine flushed, ripping the note off of the door and slipping it into the nearby trash. She must have been dreaming, then, when she thought she heard him say -

Jumping at another bang inside the apartment, Namine opened the door hesitantly to see Riku running around the couch chasing Sora, both laughing.

"Namine?" Riku stumbled, tripping over the TV stand and hitting his head on the couch.

Namine squeaked, "Are you okay?"

Sora, who was still laughing, walked over to help Riku up.

"What are you doing here?" Riku asked, wincing and taking Sora's hand, allowing him to pull him up.

"I was sleeping," Namine blushed.

"In Reno's bedroom?" Riku asked incredulously.

Namine's blush deepened, "I stayed here last night... Reno didn't tell you?"

"No," Riku shook his head, rubbing his sore neck, giving her a weird look.

"It wasn't like that!" Namine blurted, blushing brighter. "He slept on the couch!"

Riku visibly relaxed at that.

"Kairi did say she was taking you out drinking." Sora commented, "I'm guessing Reno didn't want you driving?"

Namine nodded.

"You went drinking?" Riku asked.

Namine sighed, "Yes."

"Oh, man, poor Reno. That must have been entertaining," Riku grinned.

Namine blushed, looking away, "He was very nice about it. But I might have... said something."

Riku titled his head, "What?"

"I told him I loved him!" Namine blurted out, flushing. "And then last night, I thought... well, obviously I was dreaming."

"Whoa, that's the first time for you guys, right?" Riku asked.

Namine nodded mutely.

"Hey, that's good, though, right?" Sora asked.

Namine sighed, "I'd rather not have told him while drunk. I hope he didn't hear me, or just drops it..."

"Hey," Riku walked over to her, giving her a hug, "My brother might be an ass sometimes but he cares about you, Nami. It doesn't matter how it came out, if that's how you feel, then he should know."

Sora stuffed his hands in his hoodie pockets, grinning at Namine, "And I'm sure you weren't dreaming. Just... bring it up casually or something." He had no idea how you casually bring up something like this, but hoped Namine would.

Namine paled, "Oh god."

"Hey, whoa. So you dreamed he told you back, right? Well, would it really be a bad thing if it really happened?" Riku asked.

"Yes!" Namine stressed. "He can't... love me! It's too soon! We've just started and he just can't!"

Riku hugged her, "Of course he can, you're amazing!"

Namine just shook her head, denying that statement, denying that he had really said it, denying everything.

Riku sighed, "All right, well. Sora and I'll take you home, okay?"

Namine sighed, thankful Riku had dropped it, "Thanks."

"Let me just grab my keys. You don't mind, do you Sora?" Riku asked on his way to his room.

"Not at all." Sora shook his head.

Riku nodded, popping into his room. He quickly pulled out his cell and sent a message to Reno that he really needed to talk to Namine as soon as he could - it wasn't an emergency or anything, but at the same time it kind of was. Grabbing his keys, he walked back out, smiling at Namine, "Let's go."

XXXX

"Who the hell stole my bras?" Larxene snapped, walking into the living room and paying the guest (Roxas) absolutely no mind. If he was going to be with Axel, he was going to deal with the fact that Axel stole her bra.

Axel raised an eyebrow, "Don't look at me, Sparky."

Larxene glared, "Well, Flameout, who the hell else would have? Cloud's been out all day."

"Maybe Zexion did it." Axel shrugged.

Larxene raised an eyebrow, "And in what universe did you expect me to fall for that?"

"This one." Axel said, "Because it seriously wasn't me and I have no idea."

"Why would anyone want to steal those things from you?" Roxas grimaced.

"Because my roommates are all assholes." Larxene grumbled.

"Are you sure you didn't, I don't know, leave them in the dryer or something?" Roxas asked reluctantly.

"No, because they don't go in the dryer." Larxene rolled her eyes, "You really never did your mom's laundry? Like not even once?"

"No! Ew," Roxas blanched.

Larxene laughed.

"So, where are your bras?" Axel asked.

"Hell if I know." Larxene sighed, "I still suspect you." she glared, plopping into a chair.

Roxas rolled his eyes at them both.

Larxene grumbled, and Axel changed the subject, "Where have you been all afternoon, anyway? I haven't seen you since you came back from work, and for once I've actually been here all day."

"I've been around the house." Larxene shrugged, "Feel the need to watch my every move, Scarlet?"

Axel rolled his eyes, "No, you just usually force me to."

Roxas poked Axel's side. "So what did you do all day, then?"

Axel gestured to the painting drying on the other side of the room. "That. Not quite done, though."

Roxas studied it for a moment, "What else do you have to add?"

"Dunno, just doesn't feel done."

"Okay then. I think I'm going to make a lasagna," Roxas said, standing.

"Okay," Axel said, "You sure?" he stood as well, to keep Roxas company.

"Yeah. I froze that sauce from last week and I feel like cooking," Roxas said, shrugging.

Larxene's phone suddenly went off. Glancing at the number, she shrugged before saying, "Well, have fun. If you find my bras, lemme know," before flipping her phone open and disappearing down the hall.

Axel raised an eyebrow, but turned to Roxas, "Alright, let's go, then."

"You don't have to watch me cook," Roxas said, entering the kitchen and pulling out one of the pans he'd stashed here.

"I like watching you cook." Axel shrugged, "As long as you don't mind me being here."

"Not at all," Roxas smiled, getting out the various ingredients he'd need to cook with, handing the onions and peppers to Axel. "Chop them for me? But be careful."

"We don't need to keep bringing up my deficiency with knives." Axel rolled his eyes, starting to chop.

"Yes, but-" Roxas cut off with a very high-pitched screech as several bras tumbled out of the freezer, which he had just opened.

Axel started laughing, not at Roxas, but rather at Cloud finally going through with his much-earlier threat of freezing Larxene's bras. He squeezed Roxas's shoulder before shouting, "LARXENE!"

"WHAT?" Larxene shouted back.

"Found your bras!"

Slightly exasperated (but also relieved) she responded, "Where?"

"In the freezer." Axel chuckled.

"Why the hell were my bras in the freezer?" Larxene snapped.

Axel scooped them up, tossing them out into the living room. "Well, they're in the living room now. Go get them before someone trips on 'em." That settled, he walked back into the kitchen to check on Roxas.

Taking the sauce out of the freezer finally, Roxas was shaking his head as he went back to his cooking. "You're all insane here," he muttered.

"Would you really want me any differently?" Axel joked.

Roxas stuck his tongue out at him, not answering as he moved confidently about the kitchen, pulling various things out of the drawers that he himself had stocked and organized.

Axel laughed, going back to the chopping.

A half hour later, they had successfully stacked the lasagna and Roxas slid it into the oven to cook. "And now we wait," he said, moving to start cleaning up.

Axel glanced at the timer, "Half hour is plenty of time for plenty of things." he said teasingly.

Roxas smacked his arm, "Not in my kitchen."

Axel laughed.

"If you help me clean up now, there's less to clean up later, meaning more free time..." Roxas grinned.

Axel grinned back, immediately beginning to help.

Washing off the last of the utensils, Roxas turned off the water before facing Axel and flicking his dripping fingers at him, splattering his face.

Axel blinked.

Roxas grinned, wiping his hands on his pants, not saying a word.

Axel rolled his eyes, walking into the living room before returning a second later, holding something.

When Larxene walked out of her room a minute later to pick up her frozen bras, phone still at her ear, Axel was chasing Roxas around the room, waving one around.

"AXEL!" Roxas yelled, ducking away from him.

Axel laughed, chasing him.

"Stop! Axel!" Roxas dove around the couch. "Larxene! Do something!"

"I'm finding this quite amusing, actually." After a pause in which whoever she was on the phone with said something, she spoke up again, "Oh, Axel is chasing Roxas around the room with one of my frozen bras."

Roxas halted, turning to face Axel with a glare, "Stop now or no sex for a month."

Axel stumbled to stop and not run into Roxas, before pouting, "Aww, come on, I was just teasing." He tossed the bra at Larxene, who laughed, leaving as quickly as she could.

Roxas continued to glare until the timer on the oven went off and he sighed, "I know, you pervert," he muttered on his way to the oven, turning it off and safely removing his meal, setting it aside to cool.

Axel, still pouting, followed him.

Rolling his eyes at the sight of Axel pouting, Roxas stood on his tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss.

Axel pulled him back over, kissing him properly.

Roxas couldn't hold in a tiny moan, pulling back to give Axel a look, "Food first."

Axel rolled his eyes, "Fine."

"You get out plates, I'll grab Zex, Dem, and Larx," Roxas said, heading to Zexion and Demyx's room first before walking down the hall to Larxene's room.

Axel shrugged, pulling paper plates out of one of the cabinets and tossing them onto the table. "Well, that wasn't particularly difficult."

Zexion and Demyx walked into the kitchen and a minute later a smiling Roxas entered as well.

"What made you decide to cook?" Zexion asked, sitting at the table.

Roxas shrugged, "Just in the mood." He winked at Axel before moving to serve the food.

Larxene walked out a minute later, phone back in her pocket, and plopped down, "Do I get food even though Axel chased you around with one of my bras?"

Demyx raised an eyebrow, "I don't think I want to know."

"Never question it." Axel suggested, Larxene nodding in agreement.

Roxas just sighed, placing the pan on the table in a clear 'serve yourselves' gesture, moving to sit next to Axel and enjoy his dinner.

XXXX

Reno rang the doorbell at Namine and Kairi's. Kairi was curled up on the couch, and hopped up when she heard the door, shouting up to her sister that she would get it.

"Oh hey." Kairi said, "Here for Nam?"

"Yeah." Reno said.

"She's upstairs, but... she's a little..." she trailed off.

Reno sighed.

"Come on in, though." Kairi let him in, shutting the door behind him. "Why don't you call her? She'll pick up."

"Yeah, but then she can hang up." Reno said.

"So call her from down here. If she hangs up, knock on the door." Kairi shrugged.

Reno thought about it for a moment, before nodding. Kairi smiled, dashing up the stairs to give him some privacy.

Walking into the kitchen, Reno leaned against the counter and pulled his phone out, dialing Namine and waiting.

A few rings later, Namine answered, "Hello?"

"Hey." Reno said.

"Hi. Thank you, for leaving the note. How was work?" Namine asked.

"Work was good." Reno answered, "And no problem. So... Riku sent me a text earlier."

"Okay..." Namine said, not quite sure what else to say to that.

"He said you were kinda freaked."

Namine sighed, "I'm fine."

"No you're not." Reno answered.

"Really, I am though," Namine insisted.

"Nam..." Reno frowned, "Is this about earlier?"

"Well, I am still a bit embarrassed over how I acted, yes," Namine admitted.

"I'm not taking about that." Reno sighed.

"What are you talking about, then?" Namine asked.

"Namine, I meant what I said earlier." he finally just said. "I love you. And I don't know if you were just drunk when you said it or if you meant it, but I wanted to tell you anyway."

"I..." Namine shook her head in denial before doing something that she had never purposefully done to anyone - she hung up.

Reno cursed, hanging his own phone up before going up the stairs and knocking on the door.

There was some shuffling noises and then Namine opened the door, "Not now, Kairi, I-" She cut off abruptly, paling. "Reno."

Reno put his hand on the door so she wouldn't be able to slam it if she was tempted, "Namine, you can't just hang up on me after I say something like that." he said, "It's okay if you don't feel the same way."

"I..." Namine shook her head. "You can't feel that for me. It's too soon, it can't happen."

"Yes I can, and I do." Reno said.

"No," Namine shook her head again.

"Yes." Reno responded.

"No," Namine said, frustrated. "You can't, it's just not possible."

Reno leaned in and kissed her instead of responding again and turning things into an argument.

"Don't," Namine jerked backwards, hugging herself. "Just don't. I shouldn't have said it, it was too soon, it'll mess everything up, I'm sorry."

"You're not messing anything up, Namine, and don't apologize about it." Reno protested, "Did you mean it, or were you just drunk?"

Namine closed her eyes but nodded, "Yes."

"Yes you meant it, or yes you were just drunk?" Reno asked.

Taking a shaky breath, Namine said quietly, "I meant it."

"I meant it too." Reno said, "I promise you, I meant it."

"You can't," Namine whispered. "You just can't. I'm nothing special, I know how this goes."

"Namine," Reno said, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind him, "You're amazing, and I'm so lucky to have you."

Namine shook her head, taking a step back, "I'm not."

Reno took a step forward, "Namine."

Namine swallowed a lump of tears, eyes watering as she continued to shake her head and back away from him.

Seeing her eyes water, Reno hesitated, not moving forward. "Do you want me to just leave?" he finally asked after a moment of silence.

Namine jerked, meeting his gaze with wide eyes and blurting out, "No!"

"Then..."

"You just... can't love me. That's not how it's supposed to go - we're supposed to date and then something will happen and we'll break up and it'll hurt and then we find new people and try dating again. It's not supposed to be... something, so fast. I'm not... anything special."

"Namine... look, Nam, I've had quite a few girlfriends, I'm sure Riku's told you that much. But... none of them have met my family, and none of them... none of them were like you, Namine, and I know that what we have is different because it's something. But you need to trust me that you're allowed to let this happen and see what happens."

"Reno," Namine breathed, eyes wide.

"Namine."

She didn't even remember moving, but suddenly she was clutching onto him as if he would disappear if she let go.

Reno wrapped his arms around her.

Hesitantly, quietly, Namine muttered into his chest, "I love you."

"I love you too." Reno said, hugging her tighter.

XXXX

That last scene? Was like pulling teeth. Seriously.

Oh, these characters. :D

Hope you liked it! Bit of bad news - this semester is absolutely HECTIC and this is our last chapter until we write more. So updates will become sporadic, sorry!

Reviews make us write faster, though! ;)