Xion's death was not the tragedy of the century. In fact, when her shell didn't start up that morning, Axel shook his head, went to the computer, and began reloading her file into the twisted piece of metal that represented the only friendship he still had left within Twilight Town. With the promise of a download taking four hours, he picked up his back pack and headed to the hospital grateful that today was Saturday because he could feel the ball of stress growing tighter and tighter with this incident piled on top of his boyfriend's hospitalization and finals.

Roxas was still blissfully asleep when he got there. "I hope you like puzzles." The redhead mumbled taking a seat and sweeping back sun kissed highlights. Thank the powers in heaven that the younger teen got released tomorrow.

Sleepy eyes fluttered for a moment before finally opening like the first curtains of a play. The action behind them portrayed a fearfulness that might only be seen in small animals, but when they noted the redhead was there, the blond closed them again, "Morning." A dry voice grunted, rolling onto his back.

Axel had always found the fact that Roxas slept on his side adorable, "Morning, I brought you a puzzle."

"Thank ye, I do enjoy my puzzles. Is that all?" He asked batting long lashes flirtatiously.

"What do you mean 'that's all'?" The redhead chuckled, "I didn't know I was supposed to bring anything more."

Roxas gave him a hurt look, "No kisses?"

"Does the doctor say the kisses are okay?" He countered.

"I'm dying. The doctor can say whatever he wants. They're not going to change anything." Rocking forward, he connected their lips in a beautiful display of morning breath and poor technique.

Axel couldn't have cared less.

They spent three hours together doing a puzzle of a scenic field before the redhead finally revealed the homework that the teachers wanted the blond to do, "I mean it's not really hard to figure out who to give it to when I draw your name in the margins with hearts around it." He teased.

"So romantic." Roxas rolled his eyes before looking at the pile with a disgusted sneer, "We meet again logarithms."

Laughing a bit, Axel also passed the teen his laptop, "So you can continue writing, monsieur."

Giving the redhead's hand a kiss, he chuckled, "So much stuff and I'm getting out tomorrow. Oh you spoil me. Merci, senor."

"Senor is Spanish, Rox." Axel snorted.

"I know."

~o~

By the time he'd gotten home, the incident at Moshiva was on the news and Xion was almost done being reawaken. "You feeling okay princess?" He asked the AI when her blue eyes blinked twice, mechanical shutters covering them before opening again.

"Why wouldn't I be?" She laughed, "Man, it's so amazing to finally be out of the computer, Axel! I'm so excited! Everything is better than I could have imagined!"

The words registered their weight in the redhead's mind and he realized that this Xion was not the backed up file he had been keeping on his portable. He must have accidentally put the base file back in her, "Hey, mind going back to asleep for a little while?" Axel asked softly, "There's a couple more things I have to tweak, 'kay?"

Sorry about killing you again.

~o~

Gasping, Xion struggled wildly for a moment before she processed everything, "A-Axel?" She asked, clambering to her feet.

"Y-Yeah, are you oka-?" He was cut off by a hug. This was his Xion. This was the friend he had lost, "You didn't wake up this morning." He whispered softly, petting her hair.

If she could have cried, Xion would have. Giggling a bit, she held back a simulated sob, "I never thought I would. I was in The Database and I…Well, I died Axel." Holding him tight, she promised to never let something like that happen again, "And even though I'm back now. This me isn't me."

She never wanted to be killed again.

Axel didn't bother her for details when the AI didn't say anything more, "Just be careful next time." He frowned, shuffling off to finish an essay for finals. The work load at the end of the year always crushed him making him tired and inactive. It was almost like the school system didn't want him to have any free time for himself.

"Is Roxas coming over soon?" She asked laying back down on his bed.

Facing away from her, he was free to bite his lip in worry, "No," He told the truth, "Roxas is busy with homework too."

"Oh okay." She played with one of the little mechanical toys the other had made as a child. "Are we going to finally go to the beach after the school year ends?"

"Yeah Xion, we will."

~o~

Roxas' system had another failure, and so he was forced to remain in the hospital for another week. He lost fourteen pounds, "Ugh, I'm mega thin now."

Holding the blond's hand, he brought the back of his boyfriend's palm to his lips, "Well that's not good." Thank goodness Roxas had been discharged finally, "Why don't I take you out for a burger and fries?"

"And milkshakes?" The teen arched a brow.

Faking that it pained him to spend that much, he reluctantly sighed, "And milkshakes."

"I would have eaten more in the hospital!" Roxas claimed, "It's just the food was gross!"

"Oh yeah," The taller teen nodded, "I saw what they were serving you. Salad, spaghetti, pudding cups. That must have been tough on you."

Shooting him a playful glare, he bumped the older boy with his hips, "Wow, you're driving me home. My parents are crazy and your mom trusts you too much. How do they know that I'm not going to lure you to Moonlight Cove and bend you over for some romance?" He chuckled.

Rolling his eyes, Axel snorted at the idea of them heading to Moonlight Cove. It was a very renowned locals' spot due to the amounts of kids that had been caught practicing their night moves there, "Bending me over wouldn't be romantic, Roxas. If you're going to take my virginity, at least do it face to face."

"Ooooh? Is that the only rule I need to follow?" Pulling Axel down for a kiss before they got into the car, blue eyes searched his for permission, "I love you."

Pulling his boyfriend into a hug, the redhead rested his face in duck fluff hair before crying a bit, "I love you too, Rox."

That's why every morning for the last week, he'd gotten the mail and would continue to do so until his package arrived.

We're approaching the 40,000 word mark. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far. I'm really excited to give you the rest of this story. Layla betaed as always. I'm going to try to get back to regular updates. :D