Okay, I'm not dead tired this time (close, but not quite) so I'm going to answer a few things :) First, I know this is early, but I'm probably not going to have internet access for the next... three days. So I decided to post early rather than late.

Now then, onto the reviews I got:

animeXIII: I don't talk to my dad often either... and usually, when I do, bad things happen O.o So you're not the only one XD

Awaiting Dusk: Namine, Kairi, and Ellie are roommates. For now. It was mentioned earlier, but I don't remember where... hm... And yes, it is Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Hilarious play. I couldn't stop laughing from backstage last night (opening night) it was so funny. I'm thinking of writing a fanfic where the plot of that is the lives of whoever I decide to pick on XD (BTW, you say 'break a leg,' not good luck :P ) That ridiculous word is... well... there's an interesting story behind it. I actually got it from my friend who wouldn't stop saying it when I was coming up with chapter titles for chapters 1-32 (how many chapters I had planned at that point) so I decided to add it in somewhere... originally Axel was supposed to say it, but things changed... I love Sora too. He's my favorite character, actually. I love Riku, but Sora is just amazingly adorable XD You get to see more of his personality eventually... just... not right now... XD (rest? What is this 'rest' of which you speak?)

813 i love you 813: I don't think it's a real word O.o It's my friend's friend's nickname. *shrugs* I figured people wouldn't have liked to have one of each chapter at a time XD Plus, they're kinda sister chapters so...

SutaaFox: Again, I love Sora :D He's epic in his own adorable way XD Roxas is really whiny... I don't like that about him... But, it's the way Roku makes me write him, so... Sora's character gets more development, as I said earlier, but not for a while. Kairi too, gets a little bit where I am in the story, but... (I'll explain this in a little while) The reason Cloud wants to see Roxas is- Oh wait, you get to find out in this chapter. I'm not going to say XD

PurpleMoo1819: I should make a definition XD That would be fun to do. I'll tell you guys next chapter :P

So, that's everything. Now, I remember what I noticed that I forgot from last chapter. The main characters of this story are Roxas and Axel, right (Namine too, kinda) Well, then it's Ellie and Riku since Ellie's Axel's best friend/cousin and Riku's her boyfriend, so it's important to get their side of things, and why they have quite a bit more character development than Sora and Kairi, who are just kinda there. They're not really main characters, which is why they currently seem flat. XD That's what I noticed :P

Anyway, really long Author's note, sorry about that. I probably have more to say, but it can wait XD Read, enjoy, review, and I'll see you next week!

~Sunechirei

Full Chapter title: A wise man once said, "I don't know, go ask a woman."

The worst thing that can happen to you as an employee is getting called to your boss' office.

But what's even more horrible than that, is when you're called to your boss' office, and he just happens to be your father. That way, you don't know if you did something wrong at home, in the office, or if it was just a friendly chat because your mother doesn't think you and your father are close enough and need to bond more.

Truthfully, I think Dad and I are perfectly bonded. Just peachy. Amazing father and son. You know, all that crap that's talked about in movies. But the relationship I had with my father was perfect. We talked when we needed to, didn't when we didn't, and we got along as well as any other son can be with his dad. I don't know why Mom wanted to change that. Nothing was ever wrong with us. Well, except when there was, but that's another story.

Okay, now I was scared. Dad was content with the way we acted around each other as well. So that meant I was in trouble for something. Oh shit.

What was I in trouble for?

I nearly collapsed against the railing of the stairs when that thought hit me, weighing me down as though there were a ton of bricks on my head.

It wasn't a nice feeling.

But I had to continue, so I did, trekking up the stairs without any kind of enthusiasm.

When I finally reached the thirteenth floor, feeling extremely worn out from my climb, I slowly opened the door, peering out to make sure Axel wasn't there. Luckily, he wasn't but someone else was. Hesitantly, I crawled out of the stairwell, which caught the attention of this person.

Cold, blue eyes turned towards me as I waved at Kairi, laughing nervously. She seemed to be mad at me recently for some reason. Probably because of Naminé. Man, women have no sense of when not to talk to each other. Besides, what did I do to make her mad at me? She was the one who fucking dumped me!

Looking away, Kairi opened the door to my father's office, not even saying a word to me about anything.

And I thought we were friends.

"Roxas, you and Mr. Lea are still having issues, aren't you."

I blinked, looking around. I had no idea when I entered my dad's office. I remember walking past Kairi, hoping she would actually talk to me, but I think that's when I spaced out. Now, I was sitting in the chair, in front of my dad, staring blankly at him like I had just woken up, confused about what the hell was going on.

Axel was right; I do space out a lot.

"No. We're perfectly fine. Everything's great." I barely registered what I was saying, though I knew it was some kind of lie.

Lying...

That's all I'd been doing lately. Just lying my ass off to keep people off my back. The sad thing was; it didn't work. Apparently I'm like an open book, easy to read, not hard to understand. It was annoying. Really, annoying. Especially when I really wanted to keep a secret from everyone around me.

But nooo. I just had to be so easy to read that Naminé had probably picked up on the fact that I may or may not like Axel in a way that's sexu- That is not true!

Man, lying...

I felt so horrible for lying to everyone, for keeping secrets from people close to me, like my family, or my friends. Hayner didn't even know Naminé and I had broken up! Of course, I hadn't heard from him since my birthday, so of course he wouldn't know.

"Are you sure?" My father's voice was full of skepticism, bringing me back to the world again, and he seemed to be trying to get me to tell him something. Well, he was obviously trying to get me to tell him something; otherwise I wouldn't be here!

I would be leaving the building, escaping from the madness that is the female world.

"Yep," I finally said, even though it wasn't true, and a strange silence fell over the two of us. I felt extremely nervous, my hands wringing. Slowly, my father sighed and stood up, shaking his head sadly.

"Just make sure you figure out what ever is wrong with you two before the end of the month. Understand?"

Yeah, if only I didn't have such an observant father. I would be a hell of a lot happier right now. Then again, he was observant, and he liked to listen (obviously, or he wouldn't have married my mom) so maybe I could talk to him about this. It would be hella embarrassing, but I could still do it.

Now would be the best time. No one could get into the office without my dad's permission, and maybe...

"Hey, Dad?" I called out to him before I knew what I was doing, and before he opened the door. He stopped, turning to me, waiting for what ever I was going to say, and I cringed slightly, realizing just what I've done. "Wh-What...," I stuttered, "can I... can you help me with something?"

Okay, I was putting myself out there right now. I had a feeling I was going to fucking regret it, but I had to do it. I needed someone's help, and why not ask my father?

"No."

….

No? He just told me no. What the hell! Aren't father's supposed to be supportive, listening to their son, helping him? Why the hell did he just tell me he wouldn't even listen to my problems? He just told me to figure out the whole ordeal with Axel, but he's not even willing to help me!

What the hell is wrong with him?

"Why?" I guess you could say I was hurt, but I was more confused, really.

"Because," my father replied, sighing again, "I don't know how I can help you. I'm assuming you want advice on your issues with Naminé?" Man, the people in this place were psychic!

"Well, partially," I started to say, taking a deep breath to continue, but my father stopped me, holding up his hand as he shook his head.

"I don't know," he said, not even waiting for me to say what I needed to, "go ask your mother." Without another word, he yanked open the door and headed out, leaving me standing alone in his office.

The sun shining in from the window was uncomfortable on my neck, like it was burning my skin, and the air around me seemed to become heavy with some kind of emotion I couldn't figure out.

Anger?

Confusion?

Something along those lines. But those feelings were there not because my dad had just acted like a douche, but because he'd told me to go talk to my mother. Mom, of all people. I decided at that moment to question his sanity.

Sure, she was a great mom and all, but asking her for relationship advice is like trying to keep Sora and Riku from being competitive. Yeah, she would be a good listener, until I mentioned that I might be in love with a guy.

That would probably end in turmoil.

Mom didn't seem to be the kind who would like the fact that she could never be a grandmother... that woman is obsessed with babies. I'm surprised I'm an only child.

But what else could I do?

An hour later, I was sitting very uncomfortably in the middle of the living room, waiting for my mom to return with her tea. She'd eagerly agreed to let me talk to her, but I really had no idea what to say. What could I say? 'Hey, mom, I'm kinda in love with my business partner, who's a guy, and we've already almost gone all the way!'

That would go over well.

"So, Roxas, what do you want to talk about?" I hadn't even noticed Mom coming into the room, and I really hoped I wasn't red. That would be a huge tip off. "Roxas?" I blinked, not realizing that I'd been spacing out for a few minutes. My mom was watching me with a worried expression, despite the fact that her steaming mug of tea was at her lips. I sighed.

"Well, I don't really know...," I began, still trying to figure out what to say, "I guess... well, I guess I'm just having... relationship issues..." Yeah, that summed it up without revealing anything. I hoped.

I think my mom was about to drop her teacup, and I swear that my own heart dropped a million miles. Never, in my life, had I come to my mom for relationship advice. I'd never had to before.

Olette was always the one to take over when I was having troubles, so I'd never needed my mom before. For some reason, I had a feeling this was one of the best days of her life. Mother's are so strange.

"Relationship issues? What do you mean? Is there something wrong with you and Naminé?" Mom placed her cup on the table in front of her, leaning forward, her voice completely calm and serious. It was rather creepy to watch. I mean, Mom was almost never this serious.

Occasionally, she was, when I did something wrong and she was scolding me and what not, but this... this was just weird.

Leaning back in my seat, I nodded, "Kinda... but that's not really my problem." Well, it was one of my problems, but not the main one. Or was it? I couldn't tell. I really did like Naminé, but...

"See... I have... um... a.. uh... I have... um..." I could feel myself flush, and I looked away from Mom, not wanting her to see how embarrassed I was. She waited patiently for me, a light smile on her face, like she could wait all day for me to stop being embarrassed and actually ask the question I wanted to. "How do you..."

There was no real way to put this into words. I didn't even know what I wanted to ask her! I could ask, "What do you think of me liking a guy," or, "How do you know when you love someone," or even, "Is it normal to have a girlfriend, but have more feelings for your business partner?"

Yeah, the last one is totally what I should have asked.

But instead, I decided to take it slow, "Um... how did you know you were in love with Dad?"

Mom probably would have dropped her cup had it been in her hands. Seriously, she had been acting weird every time I asked her a question about her and Dad. It's like there was something going on there... but what...

"When I knew I loved Cloud?" Mom laughed. "Well, I guess you could say I figured it out when he was the one I thought of every day, when I knew that I couldn't be happy unless I saw him, that I didn't want to go on with my day until I'd heard his voice..." she trailed off, a calm look taking over her eyes. "I guess I knew when I could sit in silence in a room with him and feel as though I were flying."

Wow. I had no idea Mom felt that way about Dad, though I guess it makes sense. They are married, after all. But those words got me thinking; how did I feel around Axel?

Embarrassed, mostly, like someone had taken an ridiculous picture of me and posted it all over the internet. But did he make me happy? Was I unhappy when I hadn't seen him for a long period of time?

The answer to all of these was; I don't know. Sure, Axel made me feel... I don't know, different, like I had something to look forward to, alive. That was it.

"Wh-what about... um..." I wanted to ask another question, but I didn't know what it should be. I felt as though I really didn't have the answer I was looking for, and that there was something missing from Mom's description of how she knew she was in love.

"Roxas, do you think you love someone?"

I have got to stop being so readable! Seriously! I mean, sure, asking your mom for love advice could tip her off that you may or may not really like someone and wanted to know how you could tell if you weren't just an insane idiot who couldn't tell being embarrassed from actually liking a person. But still!

Did she know I was wondering about Axel? Or did she think I wanted to know because of Naminé? What the hell was going through her mind right now!

I desperately wanted to ask.

But I didn't.

I was too afraid.

"Roxas?"

I jumped, not realizing that I'd spaced out again.

Mom was giving me a concerned look, but I just waved my hand, silently saying that I was fine, and I just needed to think for a second. Or, I hoped that's what I was silently saying, because that's what I meant.

Who knew what my mother would take that as.

But, she left me alone, so I continued thinking for a minute, trying to gather my thoughts before I actually answered her question. I didn't actually think I loved Axel, just maybe had a crush on him, or I was just confused.

I didn't know though, as I'd never been in love with anyone before, so it was possible I actually did love him, but I was so dense that I didn't even notice. Man, anything could be possible!

"I don't...," I began, leaning forward in my seat, "I don't know if I am or not. I'm really... confused about the whole thing."

Ah, for once, I spoke the truth. Kinda. I was leaving a lot of it out, but still, it wasn't a lie.

"Confused?" Mom asked, "What about?"

Hadn't we just been talking about this for the past few minutes? About love, dammit! Sometimes I wondered if my mom was an idiot. But, if I'd said this aloud I probably would have been nearly murdered, so instead I went with, "About if I'm in love with A- someone. I can't... I don't know..." I sighed, placing my head in my hands.

I suddenly became aware of my mother's weight pressing down the piece of couch next to me, and her hand rubbing my back comfortingly.

"It's hard, isn't it?" She muttered calmly. "I didn't know for a long time that I loved your father, and even when I thought it was true, I kept going into denial, not wanting to admit that the guy I hated so much, I actually loved." I looked up at her, and she smiled at me. "What does your gut say, Roxas? Do you love this girl? Or don't you?" Well, she was actually a he but...

What did my gut say?

Were these feelings I had for Axel real?

"I don't know," I nearly screamed, clutching my head in frustration. "I don't fucking know!" Mom's hand removed from my back, and instead reached for my shoulder, turning me so I faced her.

Her red eyes were completely serious, reminding me of when I was little and I nearly got lost one day. "Roxas, it's nearly impossible to know at first who you love. It usually just comes to you, and you can't control it. Right now, you're confused, but in a few weeks, who knows. Maybe you'll find that you love this person, and you end up together for the rest of your lives," she smiled, and stood up, "or you could end up hating them."

The last one sounded more likely.

I stood up as well, grinning. "Thanks, Mom." I reached forward and hugged her before heading out of the room. "I really appreciate it." As I headed to leave, Mom said one last thing to me.

"You know, I hated your father at first. Really, really hated him. But there was just something about the way he always looked out for me, always helped me out... I don't know what it was, or why it happened, but it did."

This piece of advice... well, I basically ignored it. My mind was already working a hundred miles a minute, and I didn't need to work this piece of info in at that moment.

So I came to this conclusion; I didn't love Axel.

I went into work early the next day, even before my dad did, and I headed up to my office as quickly as I could. There were things I had to do, people I had to deal with; well, one person in particular. But none of those things bugged me. I was actually happy for the first time since New Years, not confused, just, normal.

It was nice.

"Whoa, Roxie! What are you doing here?"

Looking up from the door handle that my hand was on, I was completely surprised to see Axel sitting in my desk chair. His wide, sea-green eyes, staring at me like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Let's just say, he seemed as surprised to see me as I was to see him.

I didn't know what he was doing in the office so early in the morning, and I couldn't help but wonder if he came here at this time every day, but more than that, I was completely shocked to see that he was doing work.

Axel; the lazy ass who forced me to do everything, was actually doing work.

Whoa.

I came back to my sense after a second, walking in and closing the door behind me. "I work here," I told him simply. "What are you doing here?" Axel shrugged.

"I rise with the sun. I come here when I'm bored."

This was perfect. No, seriously, it was perfect. I needed to talk to Axel, and now I could without fear of Riku and Sora over hearing what I had to say.

Perfect.

"Aright," I said, walking to the other side of the desk, "but I'm here now, so you need to get your ass out of my chair." Axel obliged without even a quirky remark.

As I sat down, he laughed, muttered something to himself, then began to walk out of the room, not even saying a word to me. But I stopped him.

"Wait a moment," I said, completely serious. Axel froze, turning around. "I need to talk to you." His face lit up at my words, but I had a feeling he wasn't really going to be happy with me after I finished talking to him.

Quickly, he strutted back over to me, placing his hands on the desk and leaning in.

"Yes," he muttered suggestively. I pushed it to the back of my head without thinking much about it. He was just flirting, like he always did. But I needed to be serious, and I couldn't become embarrassed now. Not when I'd finally figured everything out in my head. This was the time...

"I want things to be normal between us." Axel's face fell, "I don't want this awkward air to hang around when I'm near you, I'm sick of everyone in the office thinking there's something going on between us," I took a deep breath before continuing, "because there isn't."

My words seemed to strike home with Axel, as he pushed away from the desk, a hurt expression in his eyes. But I didn't let him say anything.

"I know, I know, I'm being a bastard right now," I continued, "but I was just... really confused. I'm sorry. Can the two of us just act like normal business partners? No flirting?" I knew I was going a bit too far with this, but it was my decision.

Axel looked down at his feet, hiding his probably very emotional face. Or, I thought I was emotional, but I may have been wrong, because when he lifted his head again, there was a grin spread across his pale face, and he said, "Yeah, sure. No problem. Got it."

A pain struck my heart at his words.

Was I doing the right thing?