Ok so! here is the next chapter of this story annnd I'm working on the next chapter for both!

Enjoy~

By the time my plane landed in St. Louis I had just about convinced myself to buy a return ticket right on the spot. I didn't owe these people anything! I was happy damn it! Coming back here was only going to dredge up all the things that I work so damn hard to berry.

Who am I kidding? I owe these people everything. I owe them so much more then I could ever pay back. I sighed as I waited for my luggage to come around.

"Roxas!" a voice called out from the other side of the room. I looked up just in time to see a brown blur heading toward me. I had time to think 'OHSHIT!' when suddenly I was holding a sobbing Sora. "Oh Roxas it's so good to see you!" he cried as he sniveled into my chest. I hugged him back and glanced around to see who he came with when suddenly Riku appeared out of the crowd. He stayed by the wall though and didn't approach. I sighed, I guess I should be expecting that from some of my friends and family...

"Sora, Sora! I gotta get my luggage!" I said as I tried to pull the brunette off me. Sora quickly pulled away and gave me one of his hundred watt light bulb smiles.

"Sorry Rox, I just missed you so much!" he said. I gave him a guilty smile before quickly grabbing one of my luggage that had just come around followed by the other. Sora grabbed one and I the other then headed over to Riku.

Sora and I stopped in front of the silverette but Riku just continued to stare at me.

"Riku! Stop being an ass!" Sora said punching his best friends arm.

"He's lucky I don't knock the crap outta him." Riku growled and took a threatening step toward me. I slowly set my bag down just in case I had to defend myself from one of my childhood best friends.

"You will do no such thing!" Sora said stomping his foot and his hands on his hips. "I will not let you ruin this Riku! And besides you lay a hand on him and Axel will have you six feet under before you can blink." the brunette snapped at his friend. Riku just grunted and turned away. Sora turned his attention back to me.

"Sorry bout that, he's just in a bad mood." Sora said with a sheepish smile. I let out a short laugh as I picked up my bag.

"You don't have to apologize Sora, I am perfectly prepared to get the crap beaten out of me when I get home." I mumbled.

"I hope Cloud rips you a new one." Riku snarled at me. I closed my eyes and counted to five before simply picking up my bags and walking around Riku. Sora caught on and hustled to catch up with me.

"So we're parked out the south entrance. We have instructions to drop you off at your mothers house." Sora said, his hands laced behind his head.

"Instructions?" I asked as we wove our way through the crowd.

"Yeah, uh...well Axel kinda lent us a limo so we could come get you.." he said with a smile. I glared at him and stopped walking.

"No." I said. "I will not be taking any favors from him." Suddenly there were hands on my shoulders.

"You will get into the damn limo. Axel's threat is the only thing keeping me from beating the crap outta you. If you disrespect him in any way, that threat is null and void and I will be given free rain over you." Riku hissed in my ear. I spun around and pushed him away from me.

"Bring it on Riku, I am not afraid of you. I left this place to get away from him, I will not have anything to do with him. You have no idea what I went through because of him,what he did to me!" I felt my face flush with anger as I glared at the taller boy. (STILL TALLER)

"Yeah well maybe I would if you had told somebody what the hell was going on instead of just fucking leaving!" he snarled and I felt shock radiate through me, what did he mean he didn't know? Sora stepped between us his hands raised.

"There will be time for this discussion after we are behind closed doors guys." the brunette said. I picked up my bags and stormed out the doors and waved down a taxi.

"Roxas! Roxas what are you doing?" Sora called after me. I put my bags into the back of the idling taxi as Sora caught up with me, Riku behind him.

"I'll get my own ride to my mom's if its all the same to you." I said. I turned around and gave Sora a hug. "Come see me at the house. I'll be there." He hugged me back reluctantly.

"Roxas, your being silly. The only thing this is going to do is piss Axel off. He has a rather short temper lately." Sora said as I pulled away.

"I'll be at the house." I said. I glanced to Riku who was just glaring at me. "I had my reasons for leaving Riku. I'm sorry that you were never told. I know my apology doesn't mean much but its all I've got to offer. See you later." I said as I closed the cab door. The car pulled away from the curb and I watched the two of them turn around and get into a waiting limo.

"Where too?" the driver asked. I sighed and turned to face the front. I gave him my family's home address and tried to relax a little. Unfortunately the day was only beginning.

The cab pulled up the front of my family's home and I couldn't help the smile that slipped onto my face as I pulled my baggage out of the car. I paid the cab his fair and stood on the side walk as the car left. I took a deep breath and picked up my bags and headed for the door. I rang the door bell and waited. A few moments passed and the door swung open to reveal my mom.

We both stood frozen for a moment before she was suddenly crying in my arms, with me crying as well. Cloud appeared in the door way after a moment and gave me an icy look before picking up my bags and setting them inside. He came back out and helped me get Mom to the living room.

We got her onto the couch but as I was standing up again I felt the shift in air and hit the floor just in time to avoid Cloud's fist.

"Cloud!" Mom screamed as Cloud cocked back, ready to take another shot. I stood up and faced him, my feet apart but my arms by my side.

"Go on Cloud. If it will make you feel better." I said. He started forward but froze as Mom put herself between us.

"You will do no such thing!" she snarled at him. "We haven't seen him in five years, you will not be greeting him like this!" Cloud backed down and set on the love seat on the other side of the room. I set down on the couch as Mom pulled me down with her. She gazed into my face for a moment and touched my cheek.

"You've grown into a very handsome man Roxas." she said with a soft smile. "Your father would have been proud." I threw my arms around her and held her tightly.

"I'm so sorry Mom. I can't believe I haven't been here for you when you needed me most. I feel like the biggest ass in the world. I know that Sorry isn't going to make it right but it's all I've got" She pulled away and searched my face.

"Just tell me why you left. Was it something I did or your father? Whats the truth?" she asked. I felt the blood drain from my face as I looked to Cloud.

"He never told you?" I asked them. They both looked to each other, confused. "Axel? He never told you what he did?" I asked a little more urgently. My mom shook her head and took my hands in hers.

"Tell us Roxas." she whispered.

"The day I left Axel had told me he was engaged to Larxene." I said my voice soft. Cloud opened his mouth ready to be pissed but Mom hushed him. "If it had just been that, I would have come home and nursed a broken heart but..." I trailed off. "He told me he still wanted to see me. That he would take care of me and keep me on the side..." I felt the old emotions of betrayal rise in my chest but took a deep breath. "Like...like some kind of whore mistress, some dirty little secret!" I shook my head, trying to clear it. "Up till that point I had thought he loved me...but he proved that he didn't...I just couldn't take it...so I came home, packed what I could and left. It was cowardly of me and stupid and the only reason I haven't been back is because I'm terrified of how much I hurt you and everyone else. But I swear to you that I assumed he would tell you all what happened. I didn't know he would leave you guessing as to why I had left!" I said my voice slightly distressed. Mom wrapped me in her arms and held me to her.

"I'm sorry that you went through that." she whispered. "I'm sorry that he thought he could treat you that way." She pulled me away from her and gazed into my eyes. "I would rather you have left then to have stayed and been his affair." I felt tears sliding down my cheeks as I saw the pity in her eyes. I closed my eyes and couldn't help a small smile form.

"Thank you Mom." I said. She kissed my forehead.

"I'm just so relieved to have you home." she said before standing up. "I'll go make us some tea." I rubbed my face tiredly as I turned to Cloud. He was sitting with is elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. I set, and waited for him to look up, wondering what his reaction was going to be.

"I can't believe you didn't tell any of us this." he finally said, looking up at me. "It would have been so much easier if we had just known. We thought you were dead for the first year!" At this he stood up and his eyes got dark again with anger. "We searched and searched for you! Axel was in a damn panic when we couldn't find you those first few weeks! It wasn't until a few months later that Sora finally told us he had heard from you!" He took a few steps toward me and I stood up.

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you but isn't it just an important that he didn't tell you either? That all this time he has been here and has never once told you or anyone else about what he tried to do to me?" I said, my voice neutral.

"Axel has his reasons for not telling us. You are my family! I expect you to trust us enough to tell us things like this!" he snapped. I just looked at him like he was crazy.

"Yes I understand that, but Axel just stood around and pretended to now know why I had left? Why don't you see that as a little bit strange." I asked taking a step toward him. Cloud just shook his head.

"Sit down Cloud." came Mom's voice from the kitchen door. We both turned to find her with a tray of tea. I quickly went around and took the tray from her and set it on the table in the living room. Mom got to work fixing us all a cup of tea.

"So," I said as she handed me my cup. "Dad...?" I asked, my voice weak. Mom handed Cloud his cup and set back down next to me. She took a deep breath.

"He died from cancer." she said her hands clutching at each other. "He'd been fighting it for about a year now." I set my tea down and took her hands in mine.

"Oh god Mom, I'm so sorry." I whispered as I watched tears roll down her face. She gave me a shaky smile and squeezed my hands.

"He asked about you a lot the last couples days he was alive." Cloud said. "His memory was fuzzy but we told him that we had found you and that you were coming home any day now. He was so happy." I felt tears streaming down my face. "But we didn't get a hold of you till yesterday, Axel found were you where but it took him a while to find an address or number." I closed my eyes and took my hands from Mom to rub my face.

"I'm so sorry Mom and Cloud" I whispered. "I've been such an ass."

"You've already apologized Roxas. So now, tell me what you have been up too." she said with a smile. "Lets get on a happier subject." I sighed.

"I went to school there in London and graduated with my degree in digital graphic and design. I've been working for a small branch of a computer gaming company for about half a year now." I said. "But that's about all, I made a really good friend since I've been there. Her name is Namine and we're currently dating but I don't know how long it will last." Mom gave me a smile.

"It's good to know that you're trying to move on." she said. I gave a small nod.

"Trying." I said in a tired voice. The door bell went off, making me jump a little.

"Cloud will you get that for me dear?" Mom asked him. He didn't reply, just got up and went to the door.

"So tell me about Namine." Mom said, turning her attention back to me. I tried to smile but I was a little worried about who was at the door.

"Well, uh, she's blond and has pretty blue eyes. She's a studio artist and makes a pretty good living off of it. Her art work is amazing." I said, trying to focus my hearing on Cloud's voice coming toward us. It was definitely a male voice. I felt my shoulders tense up but then recognized Sora's voice just as they came into view.

"She sounds lovely dear." Mom said patting my hands. "Sora dear, so good of you to come." she said to the brunette. Sora came over and gave her a hug.

"It's good to see you to Aunt Sharon" he said before taking a seat next to me. Cloud took his seat back on the love seat. "Roxas, we need to talk about you refusing to use the limo." Sora said to me. Mom gave me a questioning look.

"Axel sent Sora and Riku to pick me up at the airport in his limo and I refused and instead took a cab." I said, holding my head high. I would not back down from my actions.

"Roxas, you really upset him. He was just trying to do something nice for a friend." Sora said, his words were saying one thing but his voice and his eyes said he didn't believe a word of what he was saying.

"Sora since when are you Axel's message boy?" Cloud asked his voice bland of emotions.

"I am not his message boy, but when Axle wants something done it's best to just not argue with him." Sora said his eyes downcast. I gave him a questioning look, I was staring to get the impression that Axel was no longer the person I remember him being.

"What did he say when you told him what Roxas did?" Cloud asked, leaning forward.

"He was pretty upset but he just closed his eyes and said it was to be expected but he sent me over here to ask that you please come and see him after you have rested and reconnected with your family. He also wants me to remind you that he was the one who went out of his way to find you." Sora said. A small growl crawled out of my throat.

"Bastard, not like I asked him too." I snarled. Mom patted my arm.

"I know you didn't ask him too sweetie but he did find you, you should at least go and see him. Just hear what he has to say." she said. I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead.

"Tell him Sora, that I will try to come and see him tomorrow if possible." I said through clenched teeth. "And tell him to be ready to answer my questions and be sure that he knows how unhappy I am about being forced into this." Sora gave a small smile.

"I will be sure to mention that." he said.

"Sora dear why don't you help Roxas get his bags to his room?" Mom said as she stood and picked up the tray of tea.

"Sure Aunt Sharon." Sora said, standing up and picking up one of my bags. I stood as well and grabbed my carry on and the other suitcase and followed Sora to my old room. The room was just how I remembered it, same bed, same dresser and desk. I sighed as I set my laptop bag on the bed and set down. Sora took the desk chair as he left the suitcase by the door.

"Sora, why do you seem scared of Axel?" I asked as I stared at the floor. Sora gave a burst of laughter causing me to look up at him.

"Roxas, Axel has always been willful but now he has the strength both of the Mafia families backing him. When things don't go his way, people tend to disappear." he said with a sad kind of smile. I stared at him for a moment, trying to process that Axel was giving orders to hurt people.

"I want to say that your lying but I know that you wouldn't." I sighed. "I guess he really stepped up to fill in his dads shoes?"

"He has filled his dads shoes and three more pairs. He's been hugely successful at everything he has set his mind too. Its amazing really, all that he has accomplished since he took over." Sora said, twisting the chair back and forth.

"How do you know so much?" I asked. Sora blushed a little and cleared his throat.

"Well, uh, Riku and I...well we uh, we're a couple." He said as his face turned bright red. "We've been together for about 3 years and living together for about a year" I couldn't help the huge smile that spread across my face.

"Sora thats great!" I said with pure sincerely. His face got even more red.

"Thanks, and to clarify as to why I know so much is because Riku works for Axel." Sora said. I felt the color drain from my face.

"Riku is part of the Mafia?" I asked, my voice breathy. Sora waved his hands as if to clear the air.

"It's no big deal Roxas. A lot of our friends from high school work for Axel." Sora said. I couldn't help the vacant, yet terrified expression on my face.

"Like who?" I asked. My voice a still a little high. Sora seemed uncomfortable as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, Riku; as you know, and uh, Demyx, Zexion, and well he didn't go to school with us, but Leon." He causally continued to list off names of my friends and even some of my family but I was zoned out. How the hell could this have happened? Why would all these good people join a well known gang?

"Roxas? Roxas are you even listening to me?" Sora finally said as he realized I was no longer following his ever growing list.

"No I admit I stopped listening after Leon." I said before I placed my head in my hands. "Please tell me you don't work for him to Sor..." I said as I watched him through my slightly parted fingers. He gave a huge smile.

"Nope," the smile dimmed a little. "Well not really." I groaned and rolled my eyes. "Wait, wait! I work for a computer company that designs and installs security software. I only work for Axel when he needs me to." he said. I couldn't help the blank expression I gave him.

"What is wrong with you people?" I asked with a hint of anger in my voice now. "How can you think that it is okay to be involved with something as violent as the Mafia!"

"Roxas there's a lot that you don't understand. A lot of bad things happened around here after you left and Axel is the one who stopped it from getting too bad. We owe him so much, you can't possibly understand." Sora said with a sad smile. I couldn't help thinking that that smile looked so miss placed on Sora's face.

"Your right Sora, I don't understand. But even more then that, I can't understand. I left this country to get away from Axel and that organization and I come home to find that just about every body I know is in with them! Next I'm gonna find out even my family is involved with that bastard!" I said. I stood up as I caught the flinch that Sora gave after my last statement. I felt my heart hit my stomach and my face go pale. "Who?" I asked, my voice soft. Sora wouldn't look at me, choosing instead to stare at my bed. He didn't answer for a moment and I was getting close to exploding when he finally looked at me.

"Cloud is one of Axel's Elite, like Riku. And your father was a business partner with Axel in several of his small franchises." He said, his eyes pleading with me to understand, and to stay calm. I quickly looked away, my bangs covering my eyes. I clenched my fist and felt my nails digging into my palms as I tried to control my anger. "Rox..."

"You need to leave." I said through clenched teeth.

"Roxas.." he started to say as he stood up from the chair. My head snapped up and I kicked the rolling chair he had been sitting in, into the wall with such force that the chair bounced off.

"Leave." I snarled. He raised his hands and slowly walked backward to the door. A knock came just as he reached the door.

"Roxas? Is everything okay in there?" came Cloud's voice through the door. Sora looked at me, his eyes asking the same question as Cloud.

"Everything is fine!" I called to the door. "I'll be fine Sora, I just need some time to adjust to this new bit on information. I'll call you later today, I promise." I said as I stared in the opposite direction of my cousin.

"Alright Rox, call me." he said and then the door opened and closed. I set back on my bed and let my head fall into my hands.

I knew it wasn't fair to feel betrayed when no one knew what had happened between Axel and I. I knew this and yet I couldn't help the feelings that were consuming me. If I had know all of this before I left London I probably wouldn't have come at all. I groaned and rubbed my face in frustration. Why? Why did my life have to take a turn for the complicated? I sighed and grabbed my phone from my laptop bag and hit speed dial 1.

"Hey sweetie" Came Namine's sweet voice after a few rings.

"Hey." I said back.

"How are things going?" she asked. I felt a small smile tug at my lips.

"Oh the usual shit that happens when a kid goes home after being gone for 5 years. Tears, yelling, hitting, dramatic revelations that make you rethink the world." I said with a huge amount of sarcasm. Namine let out a small laugh.

"Oh okay, so nothing too major." she said sarcastically before switching over to serious Namine. "But seriously Roxas, how are you holding up?" she asked.

"I'm fine, just got a lot to process, and it sucks having to drag out all the shit that I've spent the past 5 packing away." I mumbled as I lay back on my bed. Namine gave a sigh and I could just see her rolling her little blue eyes.

"I know its not fun Roxas, but if it is still such a big deal for you after all this time then its probably a good thing that you take it back out and re-examine what happened." she said. I smiled.

"You are so smart Nam, its too bad you wasted it on art." I said with a sigh. She huffed at me.

"Oh hush Roxas. I'm trying to give you good advice here. You need to face what happened between you and Axel. I was going to make you go home eventually.."

"What?" I asked with a bit of a snap.

"Roxas, we can't be together until you solve this thing with Axel." she said.

"Namine, we've been together for the past 3 months. Where have you been?" I asked and she gave a bitter laugh that sounded absolutely horrible coming from her.

"Oh Roxas, we may have been going through the motions of a relationship but we both know that your head, and heart where still in St. Luis. Truthfully, I don't know if you will ever be able to fully give your heart to someone else because Axel took such a big chunk of it." she said, her voice going soft.

An awkward silence fell between us and suddenly I wanted to be back in London. I wanted to hug her to me and tell her she was being silly, that of course I loved her with all my heart, that I wanted us to spend the rest of our lives together.

But I couldn't, because I was here in St. Luis and all those things were a lie.

"Nam...I love you." I whispered.

"I love you too Rox." She whispered back and I could hear the tears in her voice.

"I'm sorry." I said as tears threatened to overwhelm me.

"Me too." she said and the line went dead. I curled up on my bed and let myself drift into a uneasy sleep.

Sometime later a soft knock at my door woke me. I lay there for a moment just staring at my ceiling. Once again I found my life falling apart at the seems because of Axel and I couldn't help the huge wave of anger that washed over me. I found my phone and checked the time. It was already seven in the evening.

"Roxas?" my mothers voice said from the other side of my door.

"Come in Mom." I called out as I set up in bed. She came and gave me a soft smile as she set on my bed.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked as she hugged me to her. I sighed and relaxed into her embrace just like when I was younger, I curled my legs under me and wrapped my arms around her waist, laying my head in her lap. Her fingers instinctively went to run through my blond spikes.

"Yes I guess I did." I said.

"You aren't mad at your brother and father are you?" she asked. I closed my eyes.

"I don't have any right to mad at either of them. I assume they joined for a good reason. Its not like I told them what he did to me, or..tried to do to me." I whispered, though I know she could hear me. She hummed in response to this. "Its...its just hard to think that I spent all this time trying to forget and now I'm gonna have to have it all shoved back down my throat."

"Roxas, we are not forcing you to join with Axel, the only thing I ask is that you pay him a visit. He did bring you home to us." she said with a gentle voice.

"Well in all reality it was the least he could do, considering he was the reason I left in the first place." I mumbled and she lightly hit my head.

"Roxas we have to take responsibility for the choices we make dear. You choose to leave, he didn't make that choice for you." she said as she started to play with my hair again.

"I know Mom." I whispered. We set in silence or a while, her just gently playing with my hair and me drifting in and out of consciousness. Finally she broke the silence.

"The funeral is tomorrow morning, and the reading of his will will take place two days after that." she said in a soft voice. I set up and turned to face her.

"Okay." I said and gave her a hug. "I really am so sorry for not being here for you and Dad." She hugged me back tightly.

"You're here now Roxas." She said back as she squeezed me before pulling away. "Why don't you come out to the kitchen and eat dinner with Cloud, Sora, Riku and I?" she asked. I flinched a little at the mention of Riku.

"I don't know Mom, Riku seems to be pretty pissed at me." I said. She gave me a soft smile.

"He'll get over it dear." she said patting my shoulder. "Now come along." she said standing up and heading for my bedroom door. I sighed and stood, following her out to the kitchen. As we came down the hallway I could hear Sora and Cloud talking in low voices but I chose to ignore even though they were probably talking about me. Whatever.

"Look who decided to join us." Mom said as we came into the kitchen/dinning room area. Sora and Riku were sitting on the side of the table facing the door and Cloud was at one of the ends. Cloud and Sora looked over to us but Riku was just glaring at the wall beside me.

"Hey Rox!" Sora said with a huge smile. "Sleep well?" he asked. I nodded and took the seat across from him, leaving the one across from Riku for my Mom to take.

"As well as I could." I mumbled. Cloud leaned back in his chair, his gaze still on me.

"It will take a little while I'm sure but you'll get use to being home." Sora said with an air of optimism. I opened my mouth, ready to tell Sora that I was not going to stay around long enough to get use to being back but the death glares stuck on my face stopped me. Both Riku and Cloud were glaring at me, there gazes warning me to tread carefully. I closed my mouth and just shrugged, letting the subject drop. No need to crush Sora's optimism so soon.

"So Sora tells me that you work for Axel now Cloud. Hows that working out for you?" I asked, and though I tried, I couldn't keep the sarcasm out of the question. Cloud just glared at me for a moment before sighing in defeat.

"Roxas you can't hold my employment against me, I didn't know that you two had a falling out. I didn't know he tried to make you his side fling with Larxene." he said. I flinched at the last comment but crossed my arms over my chest.

"So is anyone else curious as to why he he didn't tell any one about our fight? He just let you all believe that I ran off for no fucking reason?" I asked, disbelief all over my face.

"He told us that you two had had an argument but that it wasn't that big of a deal. He never told us what the argument had been about." Cloud said with a small frown. I set back in my chair, my mind whirling. How could he have not told them? What kind of asshole let my family believe I would just up and leave them?

"If you had stuck around maybe we would have known the truth." Riku said his voice a little on the bitchy side.

"Riku get off your fucking pedestal. You've never even liked me, so stop pretending to give a shit." I snapped at him. His eyes went into slits.

"You're right, I never have liked you. You've always been a whinny little brat to me but Sora was torn apart when you left and I was the one who had to clean up the mess." he snarled at me.

"Oh please, like it didn't work out for you." I said with a sneer. "And beside that Sora knew what had happened. I called him when I got settled in London." Everyone, including my Mom looked to Sora at this. Sora looked at the table and squirmed a little.

"Yeah, well uhhh.." Sora said and glanced to Riku who was looking a little shocked. "I'm sorry, Axel made me promise not to tell!" he finally said, throwing his hands in the air. "I went to him first after I heard from Rox because I thought he'd be the most relieved but he just made me promise to not tell anyone about the phone call. At first I didn't want too but he said it was for the best!"

"Why would he do that?" My mom asked as she took the seat next to me. Cloud was staring at the table his hands balled into fist.

"Looks like Axel is just as much at fault here as I am." I said with a smug smile. Riku glared at me.

"Yes well Axel is our boss, we can't exactly take it out on him." the silverette snapped as he hugged Sora. I felt a nasty smile curl my lips.

"You may not be able to do anything, but I'll be damned if I let him get away with this." I said crossing my arms.

"So has he known all this time where you were?" Cloud asked, looking from me to Sora. I shook my head.

"No he couldn't have known, I didn't even tell Sora where I was." I said. Cloud seemed to relax at that and I could understand his worry. If Axel had known where I was this whole time and yet hadn't gotten into contact with me when my Dad had gotten ill...his head would roll, Mafia be damned.

The rest of the evening was uneventful. We all had dinner in relative peace (other then Riku's snide remarks from time to time) and I listened to the others tell me about what they had been up to since I had left. Cloud was now dating Leon, a mutual friend of ours from school.

Guess everyone came out of the closet after I left.

We had all moved into the living room and where deciding on a movie to watch when the door bell rang. I looked to my mom who just shrugged.

"Cloud, be a dear and go see who is at the door." Mom said as she continued to flip through DVD cases. Cloud sighed and got up from his spot on the couch to go answer the door. I leaned back into the couch and stretched my legs out in front of me. It kinda felt nice to be home...

We decided on the new Sherlock Holmes movie just as Cloud came back into the living room followed by Leon. Leon froze for a moment and just stared at me before he started toward me. The tension in the air hit the roof as he crossed the room and came around the smaller couch. I stood and realized that the room was silent. Sora and Riku were watching from the small couch, Sora looked worried and Riku looked hopeful. Mom had stood up but was still by the television and Cloud was still in the doorway, just watching.

I realized that I was on my own to handle Leon. Fuck.

He stopped right in front of me, his eyes never leaving mine and his face blank. I couldn't help the slight twitch in my fingers as I waited for him to make a move. Finally, after what felt like forever a small smile cracked his poker face and he suddenly had me in a head lock and was rubbing his knuckles ferociously against my scalp.

"You little shit." he growled as he continued to assault my scalp.

"Damn it Leon! Stop!" I yelled as I struggled to free my head, and everyone laughed. Finally he released me and wrapped me in his arms, pinning my arms to my side.

"Its good to see ya kid." he said as he squeezed me. I couldn't help laugh a little.

"It's good to see you too Leon." I said as he set me down and ruffled my hair. I smiled and set myself back down on the couch while Leon joined Cloud on the love seat. Mom put in the DVD and we all got settled in for the movie.

As the opening credits started up I looked around at my family and couldn't help feeling that something was missing.

Dad. I thought as I leaned into the couch. I can't believe he's gone and I wasn't even around for him when he needed me to be. I shook my head and looked to the TV.

I just have to live with it I guess.

Leave me reviews or else!

...we both know that was an empty threat but leave reviews any way!