Holy Hell High

[Reno]

Bryna sighed standing up slowly and looked at her boys. It was time to go home. "Come on you two. We'll be back first thing in the morning."

The blonde and the brunette both slowly got to their feet, the family watching Mr. Rou leave before turning and heading for the doors gathering closer together as a cruel winter winds hit them.


Sora stared blankly at the door. It was a simple door made of metal and painted white in a poor attempt at comfort. But it was not a door that could, in the future, offer any comfort. You could never break done this door and break it apart to use for firewood if the ice age ever hit.
You could never break down this door if you were ever accidentally locked inside - maybe some doctor had cliamed you were clinically insane and threw you in their by mistake. Then what would you do?
You could never, ever scream so loud that anyone on the other side could here you. What if you were really hurt and couldn't get off the ground... then what?

He blinked as the door moved and opened and a blond looked out, looking unhappy. "Come on Sora, get in here."
The brunette shut his eyes shaking his head slowly. "I can't Rox... I just can't..."
The blonde glanced back inside, as if gauging the reaction of another, before looking back towards his brother. "He really wants to see you Sora..."
The brunette's eyes turned cold but he took in a deep breath and nodded. "Okay..." He walked forward and his brother opened the door wider, letting his twin enter the small hospital room.

Sora saw his dad to one side of the bed and his mother at the other, but Ven was ignoring them both. Instead he was looking straight at him and Sora... was looking right back. "Can I... talk to Ven alone please?" He murmured, glancing at his parents.
Roxas looked between the two quietly before nodding and turning, walking outside.
Bryna looked at her son who hadn't so much as looked at her the whole time she had been here, not understanding why he was shutting her and her husband out. Heart heavy she stood and nodded to her son. "Of course." She walked over ruffling her hand through Sora's hair, thankful he had showered before coming here, before walking out as well.
Sirocco soon followed and the door shut, leaving only him and Ven, now rather awake, within. Sora walked over, sitting down in the seat his mother had just vacated and raised his face to look at Ven's. "You're an idiot, you know that?"

[Rikugurl]

The operation was a success and the doctor was able to revive Ventus's veins 95% back to the way they were. They were going to be sore during damp days but if that was the only damage and pain he would have to face, he had no reason to complain.

The next day, the family went into the doctor's office where she explained that Ventus was indeed recommended to be place in the closest, well known psych ward. It resided in Neverland, a town nearby Radiant and was only a 20 minute drive from the Holani's home. It felt like forever though.

Two days later, after Ven had recovered some of his operation, he was walked into the back of a large truck with steel doors and transferred to the ward.
He was checked in and had a through physical. They asked some questions that bothered Ven a bit... like what was the cause to some bruising they had found around his bottom area.

What a shock they were in the blonde bluntly said that it was none of their fucking business.
They did report this finding to his parents though.

After that, he was place in a small room. Nothing but a bed and four walls.
They said after a week of surveillance and well behavior, he would be moved into a nicer room.


At the front of the building, there were high security gates. No one could bring ANYTHING into the ward that had any sharp edges or that could be broken. Nothing small enough to be swallowed and so on and so forth. It was basically... you were only allowed to bring the clothes you were wearing.


The Holani family wasn't the only one hurting. Carina and Riku were also hurt... knowing that Bryna and Sora had to go through this again. They all had to. Carina made sure to bake plenty of goods and Riku gave all his company, space and comfort to Sora. Olette, Pence and Hayner called Roxas everyday, seeing how he was doing.

Then there was... the Tellus family.
Ida had called, asking how Ventus was doing. Him, Terra and Zack had all been good friends so she was somewhat close to the family. She found out that Ven had tried to kill himself again... and once more Terra didn't take it well. He had mentioned something about Zack.

Ida thought it was time to call her eldest boy.
She called Zack... but his phone was off. That didn't stop her though. She had given Zack a secret phone the day he left the nest... and that she was the only one who knew about it... therefore she was the only one who would call it encase of an emergency.
She called... and Zack picked up. It didn't take long for the worn, black hair woman to fall onto a chair and start crying.

Her boy was in the military... and the war was right around the corner.
Hatori was proud... as Terra and Ida held each other in comfort.

What the hell was going on...?


Sirocco sighed as he looked down at his son. His arms were once again bandaged... and some extra padding was added so he couldn't scratch the healing wounds.
Ventus hadn't said a thing since they've been here. He was... so afraid about that. Those questions... they needed to be answered.

He blinked though as he looked up, seeing Ven looking up in the direction of the door. Sora was coming in.
He stood... and nodded slowly. "Alright..." He walked behind his wife and son and closed the door behind him.
It was hard to talk in private... when three cameras were watching you.

Ven looked over slightly as Sora sat down... and then... his blue eyes met his brother's. He looked down slightly before looking away. "Inon owknon, Ranginui. I'mnon eallyron orryson." He spoke softly.

Sirocco's eyes widened as he heard the strange sound coming out of his son. Oddly enough... he recognized it.

When the triplets were young, they started to babble to each other like all babies do... but they also developed a sort of language. Bryna had been worried about it and brought them to the doctor. The doctor told her that it was somewhat common for identical twins to form their own kind of language to communicate to each other. The language was called Idioglossia. Sora had picked it up as well.... and they hadn't really spoken it... since they were five. It was untranslatable due to the fact that no two twins came up with the same language.

What Bryna and Sirocco didn't know... was that 'Ranginui' was Sora, 'Papagaio' was Ventus and 'Conexiune' was Roxas.

[Reno]

Ah, the poor Mizushima family had their work cut out for them. With Bryna feeling so guilty and Sora so down, it was rather hard for Carina and Riku to get them to talk... and when they did the results weren't the best. At first.

"Carina... how can you even stand the sight of me? I must be a terrible mother if my son tried to kill himself not just once but twice!"
"Oh Bryna you can't honestly believe that any of this is your fault...?"
"I ignored all the warning signs... I knew he was a tad unbalanced whenever he threw his tantrums, but I didn't do anything about them, I just ignored them. What mother does that?"
"People make mistakes Bryna..."
"Not usually ones that KILL their loved ones!"

"You know Ri, you probably have better things to do then watch me blubber like a little girl. Bet Kairi's bitching again."
"Sora!"
"Well, she does!"
"Will you stop it I'm your friend and I'm going to be here for you whether you like it or not."
"Well fucking great!"

It took awhile, but eventually the two silverettes were able to bring the two Holanis back to some sense of normalcy. Riku had even decided to spend the first night over and - because he was neither welcome to sleep in the music room or Ven's ended up having to find home on the couch.
Late that night, he was awoken by someone laying against him on the couch and when he was awake enough to process it, found it was Sora in tears and murmuring something about a nightmare. And he finally told him...
"I found him Ri, oh god... there was so much blood a-and I thought... thought it was too late t-thought he was gone..."

As for Roxas his calls from his friends were always short... and lies. He just put a smile on his face, told them everything was alright, and ended the call as quickly as possible. He was lying, but he just didn't want to get his friends involved. He could deal with this on his own....
As for the music room and Ven's room - both had become forbidden areas. The doors had been shut and no one was willing to step foot in either; especially not the music room. The songs of the harp and the flute... might as well as been as dead as the violin.


Bryna and Roxas looked up as well, both sparing a glance back at the door as they heard the language spilling out. The mother of those two wonderful boys couldn't help the small smile that flitted across her face as she glanced towards her husband. "At least he's talking." She murmured softly.

Sora's head tilted in surprise as he heard the other speak - and it certainly wasn't in English. He hadn't heard it... for a very long time - but he still knew how to speak it. He breathed in and out slowly, and gave it a shot.

"Ion oundfon ouyon, ouyon nowkon?" From the look Ven gave him, Sora found out quite quickly that Ven did not indeed know that. "Ion utcon heton ireswon... Ion ademon ureson heyton ouldntcon eeson ouyon..."
There was a pause, a disturbing taste filling the air.
"Ancon ouyon magineion owhon caryson hatton sion? Eeingson omeoneson ouyon ovelon oson uchmon urtinghon oson adlybon hatton... heyton urthon hemseleveston? Hatton heyton ontdon ayson aon ordwon... ustjon ryton oton ndeon tion?"

Sora reached out, placing a hand atop of Ven's slowly, fingers curling around the others. He looked up at Ven his eyes full of angry and sadness.
"I'm so pissed at you..." Sora whispered, switching back to English - this was something he didn't care if the whole world heard. "So pissed I could punch you. But I know the reason you're doing this is because you're hurting. I don't know what happened to cause you such pain... and I'm not asking you to tell me either..."
The brunette took a shaky breath, surprised when a few tears slipped down his face but didn't bother to brush them away.

"I just want you to know that I love you Ven... and that you really, really hurt me doing this crazy shit but even still I'll always love you. And I know that might not seem like much right now... but I hope maybe one day it will." His fingers squeezed Ven's lightly watery blue eyes looking at his brother in askance. "I know... even if I ask that I can't stop you. Hell Ven when you are determined to do something, the whole world can't stop you. But I'm still going to because I'm selfish enough not to want to say goodbye to you yet. Please... please never do it again Ven."

Even in another speech he could still give a speech... and mean every word of it from the bottom of his aching heart.


Terra stared blankly at the desk at the register unable to believe all that had happened in the past few days. Ven was back in the hospital, his brother was leaving for the military and here he was... still selling fucking flowers.

Tch, about now, his father and brother were probably carting off the rest of his stuff from the apartment. He was going to have quite a mess to figure out when he got home. What they couldn't bring home was either going to the scrapyard or being sold off. And... in a few more days... Zack would be sold off to the military and he'd probably never see his brother again because Zack... still wasn't talking to him.

"He WHAT?!" Terra yelped as his mother informed him of the news. He snatched up his cellphone, speed dialing his brother's number. He placed it against his ear hearing it ring and ring and ring... and the voicemail predictably came on. "Zack... Zack please call me back... tell me it isn't true! You didn't join the military did you?!"

He never called back. Each day, Terra had called and each day he left a message, pleading and begging for his brother to call him back, to talk to him. No response. Until finally, this morning right before work when he tried again to call back...
He found that Zack had disconnected his phone. And that the phone bill with only one phone on it was now his responsibility.

The only good thing that seemed to come out of this was how proud his father seemed to be.
"Well it's about damn time he shows some truth to his blood!"

But... he was sure he was worried to. Or maybe it was just for his mom's sake...
Late one night, Terra sighed as he trudged towards the bathroom needing to take a piss - but the sound of soft voices made him pause. He hesitated, knowing eavesdropping wasn't exactly ethical...
Yet it didn't stop him from tiptoeing to his parent's door, noticing it was cracked open just slightly. He peeked in, seeing his parents sitting on the bed.
"Well, after all the near-death scares Terra's given us, I think Zack's got all the right to try his hand at it."
"Hatori this isn't funny!" Ida cried, sounding close to tears.
"...I know." His dad wrapped an arm around her shoulder, bringing her close. "Ssshhh, come on dear, don't cry."
"My boy is going out to war and you're telling me NOT to cry?"
"Well, can't blame a guy for trying..." Hatori sighed, placing his chin atop her head. "Our son's gonna be just fine Ida, have faith in him."
"Faith?! Faith?!" Ida said, her voice rising to the point it was squeaking as she pulled away from him.
Hatori reached up and placed his hand over her mouth to stop her from getting any louder, probably thinking about Terra who was SUPPOSED to be sleeping. "Now now Ida... listen okay I'm scared over this too you know? I mean it's one thing having Ter whose like a fucking ticking bomb each year; I never though I'd have to share that day-to-day worry over Zack too - but if it's something our boy wants to do, we can't stop him." The hand slid from her mouth across her cheek and threw a few strands of her hair.
"Hatori... I'm still going to try."
"Okay babe. Try." He murmured leaning forward to give her a soft kiss. "But you know this is something that he's been planning for years now... can't fathom what took him so fucking long though."
Ida just shook her head, more tears filling her eyes and Hatori reached up, tugging her into a hug.
Terra watched silently, before he turned and walked back to his room shutting the door behind him as quietly as possible as guilt started to eat him alive. "Jesus... I'm so... sorry mom... dad..."

God, how many people could say they had a hand in killing their own brother? And their best friend?
He'd made them both crazy, and for the life of him he couldn't fathom what the fuck was wrong with him.


Zack grunted as he threw the book of books on Terra's carpet, glad the brunette wasn't here - but he had planned that out on purpose. He had meant it when he said he didn't want to see him for a long. long time...
"You know you're going to regret it." Hatori said, placed another box nearby his younger son's closet.
"Regret what?"
"Not saying good-bye to him."
"Tch, doubt that."
Hatori glanced back at his elder son, raising an eyebrow. "I don't know what the fuck you two are fighting over, but it's gotta be pretty damn stupid."
"It's not stupid dad!"
"Oh sure, just like when you two fought over who owned that CD wasn't stupid, and when you fought over who owned those damn lizards wasn't stupid and when you two fought over who broke the TV in the living room wasn't stupid."
There was a pause and Zack just glared out the window. "This is... a lot bigger than those things."
"So what? You always forgive him." Hatori asked before walking towards the door. He hesitated at the threshold and looked back. "Let me tell you something son, if you get on that bus without saying anything and you find yourself lying in a fucking ditch and dying, I fucking guarantee you the last thing you'll be thinking is 'I never told my little brother I loved him'." Hatori scoffed before turning and walking out the door and back to the car where the rest of Terra's things were.

Zack listened to his dad leave, a frown on his face as he looked around the room at that he had come to recognize as his brother's. Books stuffed to capacity in their shelves, an empty reptile tank sitting atop it where their fish, lizards, snake, gecko, and chameleon had all once found a home in.
A dresser with stickers all over it that he and Terra had put on their back in their childhood - most of them from the dentist after they had gotten their teeth cleaned.
Walls done in a soft golden beige color that he and Terra and their parents had all painted back a few years ago because the brunette wanted to do something different their parents giving up pretty quickly and the two boys getting into a paint war mid-way through. Pictures and paintings of walls took the place of where, usually, posters would be, Terra having grown out of that stage back when he was twelve.
Then there was the body-length mirror that was on the closet door that Zack used to stand in front of and fix his clothes up nervously whenever he was about to go on his first date with someone, Terra teasing him ruthlessly as he got all 'dolled up'.
The desk where Zack would sometimes find Terra doing his homework at - only to get him with a water gun and drag him out of his room for a game of water war.
And then there was the bed they used to build forts in, or slept in when Zack was too lazy to go back to his room, or... or the one Terra would just lie in when he got sick and the whole family would pitch in to try and make him better even when he would get so delirious and far away with fever he couldn't talk. Even when he was three, he had always tried to look out for his little brother, always tried to protect him and make sure he was okay even though he couldn't understand why he got as sick as he did.

Zack sighed and blinked, shaking his head. "Stupid..." He murmured softly, turning to leave the room, when something sitting atop the trashcan caught his eye. He paused, and then walked over. "What the...?"
It was... Terra's wolf clock. The one he remembered Ven giving the other for one of his birthdays. It was... broken?
He frowned, lifting up a piece of the clock, turning it in his hand and studying it like a scientist studied a precious gem. "How... did this happen?" He asked, seemingly to no one.

[Rikugurl]

Ven sighed as he looked down... but it wasn't for long. His eyes widened when he heard his brother. He had... found him? He... really couldn't remember exactly what he had done... but when Sora explained some things....

Shit...

He didn't want SORA of all people to find him like that. He had wished... no one had found him like that... He could of just... passed on and forgot about this pain. The pain that no matter what he did wouldn't go away. How did... other people deal with such pain? Like... Sora... Roxas... mom and dad....and.... Terra and Zack. How did they put up with the pain in their heart that they couldn't understand?

Ven always had a theory... if he was feeling pain, he needed to see where it was coming from.
That's... why he started cutting.
Pain from somewhere else drew away from the pain from inside. Why.... couldn't he be like everyone else though?

Tears drew under his eyes as he listened to the odd language, understanding it as perfect as English. He knew Roxas understood everything too... but his parents... they never caught on.
He bit his lip as he listened, feeling the fingers around his. It was wrong... making everyone feel so much pain. To deal with that...

He looked up, his glossy blue eyes looking into his brother's.
Sora was the master of speeches. Ven even BOUGHT a speech from his brother in 6th grade. Took him out for some ice cream if Sora wrote him a speech. Sora only did it that once... only because he REALLY wanted some ice cream. After that... he only helped Ven with it.

"Inon... Inon ontwon....odon tion gainaon.." A tear dropped from an eye as he sighed shakily. "Inon hinkton eingbon erehon orfon whileanon illwon elphon emon ollectcon yselfmon... Aybemon inon eedednon histon..." He shook his head before looking back at Sora, a soft smile being made oddly. "Inon... ustjon eednon oton learcon ymon eadhon..."

Sirocco sighed as he watched the... odd conversation. How he wish he knew what they were saying.
When he first heard this... language, he thought the boys were speaking babble. But then all three started to speak the same kind of babble... and react to it. Of course that was when Bryna took them and found out what it really was.

It was hard to get them to stop... Making them know that it wasn't healthy to only speak this language. Worse yet, the boys knew it was a secret language... so they used it against their parents... and not one would rat out on the other.

The man looked at Roxas, seeing his blonde son watching the screen, drawn in by the conversation.
He knew even now... that Roxas wouldn't tell him or Bryna what Sora and Ven were saying. He could still remember that time...


"Onon! Ontdon skaon orfon haton!" One of the identical twins yelled at the other as he leaned in and looked at his board.
"Henton hatwon neonon?"
"Mmmmm F hreeton!"
The man blinked as he looked at his two blonde boys looking at each other's boards.
Battleship was much longer than it should be with four players.

He leaned in on his brunette son and whispered. "What are they saying."
"No telling! It's a secret!"

A woman came into the room and placed down some PB&J sandwiches. "Alright boys, no cheating."
"WE'RE NOT!" The blondes cried out and pouted... but everyone reached for a sandwich.


A woman with a white dress walked over to the boy who seemed pretty down. He hadn't been acting the same since last week... and she was really getting worried. She really wanted to ask what was wrong... but Terra always made it known that it wasn't her business... which was true.... but you couldn't help someone who didn't want to be helped.

"Cheer up, Terra... we have a lot of customers today." Aerith smiled as she looked up, seeing a woman holding out three flowers. "Is that all for today?" Aerith asked as he picked them up.
"Yes. Please put the name Melody on it."
"Of course." Aerith smiled before writing the name on a gift tag and wrapping it around the stems. "That's 30 munny."
The woman handed over the munny and she was handed a receipt... and a pin.

On the pin was a flower that had a saying around it.
I donated flowers for the war.
Aerith's Flower Shoppe was having a huge special today. It was 10 munny for any single flower in the store and the flowers were donated to the troops. Sure most of the troops were men... but even men liked flowers! Take Terra for example.


"Terra broke it." A soft voice came from the door of Terra's room. "I'm sure he didn't mean it though... he... he'd been having a hard time with everything. First... his best friend tries to kill himself... and then... you joined the military... and now... his best friend is in another town in the psych ward for trying to kill himself again... and... then... there's me...."

Ida sighed as she shook her head. "I haven't been the strongest figure in these times, I admit..."

The blue eyes looked up, a rarity in Atteris blood that she had passed down to her sons.
"Zack... you need... to talk to him before you go. I know... that something horrible has happened... but you're his big brother. You were always the one that had the answer he was looking for when he was younger. I'm sure he said that some of our answers were stupid... but not yours."

She walked into the room and stood next to her son that was... taller than her. Being 6'3", he was taller than a lot of people. She looked up at him and smiled. "If there is only one thing I ask of you before they ship you overseas... is that you talk to your brother. I had Terra... because... I knew you were lonely... and that you would make a great older brother. Please don't let me down, Zackary..."

She slowly turned and headed for the door. "He's at work now... and I heard they were having a troop donation anyway... even if you don't want to admit you went to see him... there's still that cause of picking up some flowers."

[Reno]

Sora blinked and looked up at his brother, a small smile coming across his face. Those... were the best words he'd ever heard. "Eallyron?" He murmured softly as he reached up, wiping away the tear that was falling down his brother's face. "Henton mion appyhon ymon rotherbon." He reached up, circling his arms around his little brother in a hug.

Bryna shook her head, lost in what they were saying except of course the small part of which Sora had spoken English for... possibly just to reassure them that they weren't plotting the destruction of the world.
She knew... that she should probably be worried that Ven has resorted back to this speech once more but... but he was talking and that was something. He hadn't cut out everyone in the world...

Roxas watched the monitors intently, but when he heard Ven speak up a glowing smile came over his face as well. He moved away from the monitors and ran towards the door. "Roxas!" He heard his parents calling in surprise and wonder - what had he heard? He'd never tell.

Sora and Ven both looked up in surprise as Roxas came in and rather than get mad that his privacy with Ven was over, Sora waved him inside. He knew, thanks to those monitors, the cameras and the microphones, everything they had just said had been heard - but all they understood was that he loved Ven and didn't want him to hurt himself anymore.

"Papagaio!" Roxas said softly as he came to his brothers bedside- he had not forgotten either, much to the twins' delight. "Ouyon eanmon tion?" When he was also confirmed he gave Ven a hug too - and then laughed remembering the last time they were so close to each other had not ended well. "Oureyon onton onnagon ithon emon gainaon, ightron?" He joked.


Terra looked up and blinked up at his boss as she took care of the next customer. He sighed softly but nodded. "R-Right." He stood from the register, brushing himself off and put on his best smile as he went to some of the customers, offering his aid even if he felt like he wanted to dig a plot for himself and crawl into it for eternity.

He didn't have any right to escape this pain. He caused it, now he had to live with it...

He shoved that out of his mind as he explained to the lady what the flowers she was looking at where called.


Zack looked up when he heard his mother and glanced over. His frown deepened as he heard her speak. Oh yeah... Ven. That... had been hard to hear. He felt guilty... but only a little. Otherwise, he was just mad at the other trying to get out so easily...

"M-Mom..." He started to say when he heard her next statement, frowning but she didn't let him get a word in edgewise. From there on he just shut up and listened.

When his mom was done he looked down at the carpet quietly thinking before he hurried forward. "Mom!" When she turned to face him he reached out and brought her into a hug. "You're the best mom ever, don't forget that." He kissed her on the cheek. "I'll be right back I uh... have an errand to run." He hurried out of the room and down the stairs heading for the front door, but a jingling of metal stopped him.

"I think you might need these."
Zack turned facing the kitchen were his father stood, the ring of his car keys dangling off of his finger and a sly smirk on his face.
"Uh... yeah!" Zack said reaching out and taking the keys. He paused, glancing at his dad, then up the stairs were hie mom was, smiling. "You two plan these things don't you?"
"For you? Nah, you're too simple we can just be spontaneous. " Hatori teased, biting into a muffin.
"H-Hey! Me and my simple brain take offense to that!" The black-haired male pouted, but nodded and hurried out the door. The sound of the car leaving the drive was the next thing they heard.
Hatori shook his head and glanced up the stairs towards his wife. "Well, that was eventful."


The sound of a ringing bell echoed in the small flower shop and two people turned at once. One was the beautiful owner her hair done in a braid. The other was a tough-looking teen with smudges of dirt on his face.
"Can I-" Terra started and then froze. ".....Z-Zack?"

[Rikugurl]

Ven blinked when the tear was wiped away and he looked up at his brother. He couldn't help but smile as he felt the warm arms around him and he tried to hug back the best he could... bandages and all.

He blinked though when they heard their parent yell to his younger brother and looked up. Roxas was in the door frame, looking in. He smiled and nodded as Sora waved him in. It had been a long time since he heard his 'secret' name. Ven's smile only grew bigger as he nodded. "Inon eanmon tion." He laughed as his brother hugged him, trying to hug back once again.

He tilted his head at the question but laughed some more, shaking his head. "Onon.... utbon ouyon houldson tillson ebon arefulcon~~~" He teased as he poked his brother.

Sirocco smiled as he saw the smile back on Ven's face. Back on... all their faces. It was true how close multi-births were.
He looked back though when he heard the sound of footsteps. A nurse.
"Is everything alright here...? One of our security officers detected some odd behavior and---"
"They're fine." Sirocco couldn't help but chuckle. "They're just speaking their twinese~"


Ida yelped a bit as she was pulled into a hug, but she couldn't help but smile as she hugged her boy back. "I'll try not to." She watched her son rush off and shook her head before slowly walking to the top of the stairs. A laugh came from her when she saw that pout and then Zack was gone.

Her blue eyes looked down at her husband and smiled. "That's our boy."


Aerith smiled as she handed a receipt to another customer when the bell rang once more. She looked up and blinked... seeing a... very.... cute man...
She remembered him from somewhere but.... where...?
Terra reminded her.
It was his brother.

She couldn't help but dart her eyes to the floor as he walked in more before leaning close to Terra. "Go ahead... I'll take care of the customers..." She looked up at Terra and winked before finding a woman who seemed to be having some difficulties in picking a flower.

[Reno]

Roxas blinked but chuckled. "Ulydon otednon." He said, shaking his head. And then he poked his brother in the cheek playfully, smiling. "Utbon, Ion ancon tillson inwon aon okingpon atchmon!"

"Hoon onon." Sora murmured, as the two started to poke each other and laughed. "Hildrencon."

Bryna smiled at the nurse as well. "Isn't it fascinating?" She looked back towards the screen, her eyes full of happiness as she saw those smile, the glittering of life, the laughing...
Hope filled her heart. They could do this... it was going to be okay.

The rest of the trip was silent for Bryna and Sirocco, but for the triplets, they fell into their own little world of talk - as if they were five once more and everything was simple and easy and all they had to worry about was running away from bathtime and sneaking out of bedtime.
"Why is it always bedtime?"
Though they had no idea what they were saying, it was enough to see Ven smiling again, and see his eyes lighting up once more.

They eventually had to go though, and though it was hard, the goodbyes were sweet. Kisses and hugs and true promises of seeing him soon echoed in the room... Roxas and Sora especially having a hard time to say farewell - it was hard, knowing they would not be taking the blonde back with them for quite awhile.

But they knew... it was for the better. Ven... had to get well. And if this would help, they would manage.


"Tch," Hatori scoffed, taking another vicious bite out of his muffin. "Should of had girls." He grumbled around his food.


Terra blinked glancing back at his boss in surprise. "O-Oh... Okay....?" He looked towards his brother.

A few minutes later, Terra had grabbed his coat and was strolling around the block with his brother, hands in his pockets and his eyes averted.
"So you're.... leaving when?"
"December 28th. I'll still be here for Christmas." Zack answered.
"Oh...."
".................."
".................."
"So... gonna join Angeal and Sephiroth then...?"
"Yep."
"oh....."
"................."
"................."
"Zack I don't want you to go."
"But I do."
"What if you die?"
"Then I'll die with pride."
Terra looked at his friend sharply. "There isn't any pride in death!"
Zack smiled. "That's what you think... but I'm the fighter expert here, not you. I was the one who took all the fencing classes and kickboxing and karate and you barely made it through the first few classes. All you did was read books and let me teach you a few moves. I don't think you know a thing about the pride of a fighter."
The brunette looked away, frowning. "Well... it wasn't any fun when you were already so many classes ahead of me. And what do you mean I don't know anything - I fight all the time!"
The black-haired male laughed. "Yeah in the streets!"
"It counts!"
"To who?"
"To me!!" Terra humphed, crossing his arms unhappily.
"Are you... sulking?"
"No I'm not sulking!"
"You are too!"
"Shut up!" Terra shoved his brother.
Zack only laughed.

They got back to the flower shop not long after, both hesitating in front of it. Terra glanced at his brother, a silent fear in his eyes that Zack's simple mind actually picked up. He didn't think he would ever see him again after this.
"Listen Terra..." Zack hesitated. "I'm still pissed at you. Real pissed." Terra looked away, lips twisting in shame.
"BUT.... I think I can forgive you... on one condition."
"....?"
"You. Me. Tommorrow morning. Snowball war."
Terra blinked, looking at his brother. "...You're joking right?"
"Nope! And if you do not accept I'll just have to find your plucked feathers chiiicken."
The wolf-lover growled. "You're on."

Zack laughed but then reached out, grabbing his brother and pulling him into a bulky hug, thanks to their jackets. Their was hesitation then he felt the other returning the hug. The elder sighed, a white cloud of breath floating in front of his face. "I love you bro, you know that right...?"
Terra blinked and sniffled as unbidden tears came to his eyes, nodding. "I... love you too Zack..."



Terra sighed, looking at the calender hung up near the register. December 24th. Christmas Eve. Tomorrow the flower shop would be closed and would not be reopened until after the Christmas weekend.
And in four days from now... Zack would be getting on the bus to boot camp... and it would be the last time he saw his big brother in awhile.

Terra looked around, noticing the shop was empty. They would close early today due to the upcoming holiday...
"Aerith...?" He asked tentatively, looking over at his boss. "How much is my paycheck going to be?"
She seemed to pause in thought before she said a small number and then added that he would also be getting a 50 dollar Christmas bonus - which for such a small business wasn't bad....

"Do you think it's too late to do a Christmas miracle?"
She turned to him, smiling and shook her head. It was never too late for miracles.
"Alright... I want to spend my whole paycheck and the bonus on flowers. I need them to go to someone real special and I need them to get there by Christmas morning..."

[Rikugurl]

"EYHON!" The blonde cried as he laughed, getting poked all over. He poked back the best he could, having a pretty hard time due to his bandages... but he still got Roxas pretty well.

But all good things must come to an end, right?
It was time for visitors to go home... but not without a hug and kiss first. Oddly enough... Ven was loaded with them. He waved good bye to his family as they left... and the room became silence and cold once more.

A sigh echoed as he laid back in bed, curling up to the blanket... and falling asleep.


Almost two weeks passed... and Ventus had been in his new room for one. It was much bigger. It had a dresser, two night stands, and a twin bed that was in front of a huge window looking over Neverland.
He could even see the clock tower of Twilight Town and the large buildings in Radiant from there. It was a beautiful view... and he was wondering if his mother and father put in the money for him to get such a nice room.

No matter how nice it was... Ven... was becoming miserable. He was getting lonely, despite being visited once or twice a day but... Christmas was coming... and this was the first Christmas that he was without family. Sure there was a Christmas tree in the main lobby... and the game room where people played checkers and chess... Chinese checkers and the sort... but he wanted the one that was in his home.

If anything, this was the last place he expected to celebrate Christmas without his family.

A sigh admitted as he laid in bed, the sunset making beautiful colors in his room. Neither Aqua or Terra came to visit him. Had Aqua... not known...? He knew Terra had to... and he knew why he didn't come.
He was... starting to miss him though but wasn't sure... how he'd react to seeing his friend again.

"Last Christmas, I gave you my heart. The very next day, you gave it away. This year, to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special..."


Sirocco sighed as he sat in his chair, looking at the lit tree. The smell of Christmas was in the air and a hot cup of coco was between his hands. Usually by now, the boys would all still be playing in the snow... and he'd have to call them in... but the boys weren't out there. They were missing a fellow player.

He slowly looked over the crackling fire at the stockings that hung in front of it. They were all full... even Ventus's...

It had hurt when the school called a few days ago... and asked how Ventus was doing. They knew very well how he was doing... and only called to tell them that... due to school rules and the well being of their funds... Ventus wasn't allowed to go back to Hollow Bastion High School. Because of his poor grades and now suicide attempts, the school could no longer keep him on record. They admitted that they were going to kick him out sooner... but put some leeway on him.

They also made a blow about Roxas. One more fight... and he was out too.

He knew none of the boys were going to take the news well... and knowing Sora, he might even say that he'd go to Hercules public high school to be with Ven... but there was no way he or Bryna would pull their boys from the better education.
Now the word 'tutor' was talked between them.

Why weren't things getting better?


Aerith smiled as she fixed up the last flower and was about to go into the back when she heard Terra call her name. She blinked and looked up to hear the question.
"Hmmm.... 550 munny, I believe. Oh! And a 50 munny bonus... for the holidays." She smiled.

She turned and looked at him though when he asked her a...peculiar question. "A Christmas miracle?" She repeated before nodding. "Isn't it that time of the year were miracles are common? It's never too late for miracle." She giggled as she tilted her head.

When Terra spoke once more, her eyes widened as she covered her mouth. "600 munny in flowers?" That was quite a bit. She looked down before slowly walking up to him... and smiled softly. "If it's a miracle you're trying to achieve... and it has to do with flowers... let me help you by putting my paycheck into it to."

[Reno]

"Oh god you're singing, this MUST be bad." A voice interrupted. There was a chuckle when the the blond on the bed jumped, startled and turned to find the origin.
The lady in the threshold smiled wickedly - but he knew her instantly. It was hard to mistake that blue-haired woman for anyone else.

There was a quirk of an eyebrow as he looked her up and down. She was... strangely dressed. Mainly the fact that she WAS in a dress. A nice slimming black dress that had a lack of a back to it and a silky shawl was draped across her shoulders. Her face had a light amount of make-up, the most obvious being the bright red lipstick.
"Christmas party for mom's work." She rolled her eyes. "Droll affairs really." She walked forward looking around the room. "Didn't know crazy people got such nice sleeping arrangements. If I knew that maybe I woulda tried something stupid like this years ago."

There was a pause then Aqua looked back at him, her smile more serious and sympathetic. "Terra told me a few days ago. I can't believe you've been here so long and I never even knew..." She sighed tilting her head. "You okay?"


"Are you sure this is gonna work?!"
"Mom SAID it would!" Sora complained right back.
"Why are we CLEANING on Christmas Eve?"
"Because, you not playing on Christmas is just criminal." Sora teased, before he went back to scrubbing at the blood on the carpet. They had tried all sorts of different cleaners - now... they were using salt water.
Roxas sighed, shaking his head - but Sora was right. They couldn't just keep ignoring the music room...
But he was pretty sure the blood was never going to completely come out. It was going to be splotched onto the tan carpet for the rest of eternity....

As for Ven's violin, Sora had thrown out the wires and had done his best to clean the bow but the blood had soaked into the wood and he was going to have to ask Ventus if he wanted to keep it or not. The violin itself seemed to be in good condition it just needed new wires...
He looked down putting the scrubbing brush back in the warm salt water that was slowly becoming cool shaking it a little.
"Hey!!" Roxas complained as some droplets hit him.
Sora chuckled. "Sorry."
"No sorrys!!" Roxas dipped his fingers in the water to wet them before flicking them at Sora.
"Hey!!" Sora growled and cupped his hand in the water and threw it at Roxas.
"SORA I'M GONNA-"

"Boys what are you doing?!" Bryna called from the stairs.
"Nothing!!!"
"Oh like I believe that!"
Sora and Roxas burst into laughter.

Bryna shook her head as she turned away from the stairs and stopped when she noticed Sirocco staring at the stockings, a sad look on his face. "Hey honey..." She walked over, sitting next to him. "You okay?"


Terra blinked as his boss came closer and smiled at her words. "Are... Are you sure?" She nodded and Terra smiled brilliantly. "...Thank you Aerith, I don't know how to repay you!"

Flowers were exactly inexpensive... but with his paycheck and Aerith's they might very well be able to fill up the whole room!!

[Rikugurl]

"WA!" The blonde cried as he jumped up and looked over, seeing a woman in the frame of the metal door.
Yea... that was one thing that made this room more suspicious. A metal door with an alarm.
He hadn't heard the buzzer to let Aqua in though.... did that mean his door hadn't been closed tightly?

He... could of just walked right out?
What the hell kind of security is this anyway?

But less of that and more of Aqua. He had NEVER seen her so dolled up before... it was.... really weird.
He sighed as he looked away and shook his head. "As good as it will get with having three cameras watching your every move. It feels weird just to fart in here..." He pointed up at a camera.

That was the second thing that made this room suspicious. There was a camera facing his bed, one in the corner and another over the door. No privacy for him.

He looked up at her, then pass her to see someone else at the door. He frowned and looked away again. "You came at a bad time..."
"Oh, excuse me miss.... visiting time was over a hour ago. I must ask you to leave. Ventus needs his sleeping medication."

Ven looked up at Aqua before smiling faintly. "See you later...."


Sirocco looked up and sighed, shaking his head. "I... I just have to wonder Bryna.... what... went wrong with Ventus? Why he... struggles so much more than his brothers...? Is it... because he's the middle child? I... don't know... I mean... we took care of them all equally... seeing that they were all born together. Nothing was wrong when they were kids but the minute puberty started...."

He sighed and shook his head. "We tried hard to get him into HBHS... and now he's been kicked out... we've given him a good life... and he tried to end it twice... we try to teach him to be wise when picking friends and... he gets beaten up by his best one.... then becomes friends with a college boy who... has rowdy college friends.... I mean.... what happened to our little Venny...?"


Aerith only nodded and smiled happily at Terra's question. "Don't worry about it....but maybe.... you could repay me...." She shied away but got another question from Terra. She giggled some more before bashfully looking up at the brunette. "Do you think... you could give me... your brother's number?" She could only giggle more at Terra's reaction.

Only a hour later, a van with the name Aerith's Flower Shoppe was being filled with many, many flowers. Too many to count really. "That looks like the last of it." They had bought as many 20 potted flowers as they could... which came up to 65 pots of flowers. She got into the passenger side and buckled up as Terra was making a phone call to is parents house, letting them know he was going to be late.

When Terra was done, they were off. Aerith looked out the window, watching the places go by. She had no idea where they were going... but it wasn't in Radiant. She saw a sign that read:
Welcome to Neverland
and smiled. She had never been here before. She wasn't one to travel.

She blinked though when they pulled into a place that looked like some kind of hospital. Was this why Terra hadn't been himself... was... someone sick? She looked at the sign they passed on the way in and blinked.
Neverland's Psych Ward
For Mental Disorders and Suicides

She swallowed and looked over at Terra. Something sad has happened in his life...

They pulled up to a delivering haul and the two got out. A man from inside walked out and pulled up his clipboard.
"Hey, who are you?"
Aerith turned to him and smiled. "We're just delivery!"
"I don't see this delivery on the list."
Aerith looked back at Terra before winking and walked up to the man. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Hmmm...." She looked at the list and shook her head. "Oh dear... so we aren't. That's not a problem though is it? We're just delivering flowers to someone..."

The back of the van was opened up, revealing all the pots. "All you need to do is scan them all, right?"
The man blinked as he saw the flowers. Now... because this was a high security building, it was their job to scan everything to make sure no one smuggled in anything that wasn't allowed through walk-ins... such as sharp objects, medication, and so forth.
But... he wasn't going to freeze his ASS off to scan a billion pots of flowers.
"N-no... that won't be necessary... just call it a uh... Christmas gift. Just sign here."

Aerith smiled as she took the clipboard and signed her name where she needed to. "Thank you!"
She ran back to the van where Terra was already starting to unload. She grabbed a few pots and nodded. "Lead the way."

[Reno]

Aqua blinked then laughed at her friend's crude language, nodding, her red lipstick making her teeth seem to shine. Because she was always so... tomboyish she never really outshone her feminine side too often - this was a real treat for her friend and if they both weren't gay an attraction might of spurred.
"I bet." She teased, her blue eyes shimmering as she noticed all the cameras - jeez, talk about invasion to privacy. It looked like the clinically insane no longer had rights.

But she knew it was only to protect him - a little discomfort was a small price to pay for a life.

She blinked when she felt a presence behind her and glanced back, seeing a broad shoulder woman there. Sleeping... medication? Wasn't that a LITTLE uncalled for? She glanced back at Ven, shrugging - didn't she always! Her timing was always inexplicably bad always just missing something or someone or just coming when something was ending. Like a movie... or a concert... or a class.

She smiled sadly at Ven's pathetic goodbye, glancing back at the nurse and motioning with her hand to give her just one second before she walked up to her friend. "I'll come back soon, okay? Merry Christmas Ven." She threw an arm across his shoulders in a half-hug, giving him a rare kiss on the cheek - her mark of good luck. She chuckled though wiping away the lipstick that was left behind with her thumb. She gave him one final smile before straightening and leaving, high-heels tapping inexplicably loud on the tiled floors.

It was okay - she couldn't of stayed very long anyways. Her parents and brother were outside waiting. The only reason she even got to come here was because her mother's Christmas 'affair' was at the Pixie Hollow Hotel - ugh what a gay name.
She stepped outside, shivering as the vicious winter wind whipped at her hardly-dressed form. God she HATED Christmas time...

She walked to a small car, seeing her mother drumming her fingers atop the dashboard, her expression less than happy her dad was quietly subdued and her brother was just staring out the window, a far away look in his eyes. thinking of Demyx no doubt.

She got inside the car.
"Well it's about time!" Her mother predictably sniped at her.
"I was gone for..." Aqua lent over, noticing the clock in the car, "Seven minutes mother." Her dad started the car and pulled out of the lot.
"Yes, to visit some crazy boy." The woman spit out, her disgust overly obvious. Her mother had never approved of her friends, ever. Now that Ven was in a crazy ward well... let's just say his negative score with her had gone down even farther. This was why she hardly had friends over - even if she knew Terra and Ven understood. She... hated to put them through that.
"He's not crazy." Aqua said, her hands balling into fists. Even despite the fact that her mother's opinions would always be the same no matter what she said, still Aqua defended the few important ties of her life - she hated it when her mom belittled them so ruthlessly and uncaringly.
"He's in a crazy house, with crazy doctors, and crazy pills and a crazy room. He sounds pretty damn crazy to me!"
"He's not crazy! He hurts himself thats not the same thing!"
"We-"
"Ladies, ladies." Her dad spoke softly and wearily. "Now, now no arguing. This is supposed to be a happy affair."
Aqua's lips pressed together in agitation and she looked out the window, her eyes angry. Her dad... used to be strong and brave. He used to stand up to his wife without fear and without wavering - especially when it was any shot against her or Saix...
And then she turned twelve and her dad... just got so tired. He gave up, backing down from the fights and turning into a big fucking coward. Mom had ruled the house ever since.
The transition was eye-opening and brain-shattering in many ways... and not all of them bad (though most of them were, bad that is). Life... became so much harder but instead of rolling over like her father did, she became defiant, reckless and rebellious. It was startling how quick she changed...

She had run away a couple of times - not for very long, only a few days or so. It never took Saix long to find her (she was always at Terra's house) and one sad look from her brother drew her back.

She tore up or burned all those pretty fucking dresses and skirts her mother had been so proud to buy her over the years and filled her wardrobe with jeans and overalls and all sorts of boyish clothes.

She started to make threats to people. Started to learn how to fight and tale her rage out on kids in the vacant lot nearby the schools. She'd come home with cuts and bruises and scars all over her 'perfect, fragile' skin and a grin on her face, especially happy when she got to point out a chipped tooth she had received that nearly made her mother faint.

And, the worst defiance and one that she loved the most because it allowed her to finally, truly, be herself - she started to date girls. She'd bring them home, take them out, make-out with them on the couch - everything and anything to piss her mother off more, she did.

Brash, strong, crude, offensive - to her mother's eyes she had turned into a barbarian; a useless ruffian who had no hopes and no future as anything useful to society. She was fighting on her own now to prove her mother wrong and it was one she could not afford to lose.


Bryna was silent, unsure of how to answer at first. How did one answer such a complex, impossible question? "Ven was always the more outlandish and explosive compared to his brothers. No matter how alike they look... they will never be the same people Sirocco. They all have had their separate experiences that helped shape them into who they will become, no matter how hard we tried to prevent it."

She leaned back and smiled sadly. "I read in a magazine once a long time ago that each family had a 'problem' child. One that is more different then the others, more of a challenge to raise. At the time I thought it was a bunch of poppycock... but now... now I'm not so sure. I mean all of our children have flaws of course. Sora's too trusting and forgiving, overly unselfish and his heart almost... innocently fragile. Roxas has an unhealthy need to isolate himself and to bind in his emotions and is more awkward with social situations than he would ever admit. But Ven... Ven has a hard time ever being happy... he throws his tantrums and he defies his elders and he has issues being apart from people he deem 'important' at the time and locks himself away a lot..."

She glanced at her husband and smiled. "Venny is our little problem child, just like Terra is Ida's and Aqua is Mrs. Umi's. Is it any wonder they all became friends? They're drawn to each other because for some reason or another, they're... more radical than the rest."

She shut her eyes and sighed. "We can only pave a path for him honey, one that we can only pray he'll take to success - but we can;t filled in all the holes, can't stop the earthquakes from knocking him off the path... can't prevent him from making mistakes. He's our boy yes, and we love him and it hurts to see him fail, but sometimes... sometimes the universe just gets out of our hands and all we can do is keep standing there and wait for him to need us first."


Terra blinked as his boss got all bashful as she asked for repayment. "Yes...?" He started hesitantly afaraid that it would be a difficult one... then his eyes widened at her request, mouth gaping open. She wanted... Zack's... number?
She... this sweet, sweet woman.... liked his older brother? Damn, why did EVERYONE like Zack? Seriously, Terra was not only way better looking, he had a winning personality too!
Even still, he grinned. "Sure, I'll give you his address too!!"

Quickly the flowers were chosen and the truck was loaded with box after box of flowers. It was a rainbow of color in the car, Terra making sure to have included as many different types as he could afford - he made sure to skip over the roses though. He knew the triplets were allergic. Well, actually he knew Roxas and Sora were - but Christmas was not a time to experiment with allergies!

After a quick call to his mother explaining he was out working magic and to say some cookies for him, they were off to Neverland. Terra drove. Though he had never been in the area himself, he had done some research of the area Ven was at not long after he had heard of where he had been hospitalized. He had looked up the hospitals websites, learned the address and routes to it, read about their success rates, their patient practices, their security standards, even their food menus. He knew from that that most likely Ven would not be awake once they got there. For some reason almost all the patients there were medicated into sleep to 'build routines' back to unstable minds.

He didn't agree with that method, in fact found it plain unhealthy, but he had no true expertise in the medical department. What did he know, he was only a human. Of course... he and hospitals had never gotten along. He thought they were too impersonal, too constricting, too... too undignified. Jesus no one could die with any sense of honor anymore, could they?

Terra found the place easily, recognizing the building from a picture he had seen on the website - even in the dark the features were not hard to make out. He pulled into the clearly marked delivery area, and cut the engine. He glanced at Aerith, seeing her empathetic gaze and he only smiled weakly, not saying a word as he got out of the car.

After his boss sweet-talked their way out of trouble (no wonder she owned her own business) the two quickly started to gather up pots of flowers and head for the doors. Terra... didn't know where Ven was either. He got directions from one of the receptionists' desks, and after that, the two were on their way a nurse leading them to the blonde's room.

The door was opened and Terra got his first peek inside, and, it it wasn't for the steel door that was as overbearing as the bars to a jail cell and the three cameras he quickly spotted leaving the occupant with little to hide, the brunette would of sworn he was walking into a hotel room. It was nice for a suicidal's room...

And Ven... Terra caught his breath when he saw the slumbering blonde, seeing how... pale he was. Small except for the awkwardly large feet and so painfully thin the clothes he wore just seemed to hang from him...
He hadn't changed a damn bit. And it was a beautiful sight for the nervous teen. He'd been reading too many medical novellas.

He stepped inside, glancing back at Aerith and in her eyes could see a spark of recognition. Of course she did - he was the same blonde he ranted and raved about endlessly during work, was the same one she saw in the car whenever Zack came to pick him up, or the same one that would ride his bike at his side as he headed to work....

"Aerith..." Terra said with a soft smile. "This is Ven." He looked back at her, "We better hurry. We got a lot to unload." He set down the first set of potted plants down as did Aerith. Once they were arranged in a order they saw was fitting, they went out to get more.

As they headed back out the door and into the cold, Terra answered the unspoken question in her eyes. "Suicide. Twice. Nearly died both times, but luckily someone found him before he was too far gone." He started to pick up more pots. "I... don't know how he's been holding up or anything. This is... the first time I've seen him in weeks - I... I know he doesn't want to see me yet. But... I want him to know I still am out there and I still care... and to make sure he didn't have such a lonely Christmas. Kinda... gay and sappy, huh?"

He laughed before lifting up the next batch of flowers and taking them in with her. The receptionists and nurses watched them come in and leave once more... and then again... and again - and finally some of the staff came out to help getting the idea that this was not a small shipment.

Pretty soon, they had so much help, Terra and Aerith dedicated themselves fully to the room instead, arranging the flowers in a very specific way that would bring out the beauty and stunning colors of each pot. It took a long, long time... but Terra thought it was worth every second.

Finally Terra placed the last of the pots on the nightstand on the left, licking his lips nervously as he glanced at the card. He nodded and he and Aerith quickly tiptoed out of the room in the small, narrow path they had made from the bed to the door - the rest of the room... was covered in flowers. Against the walls the flowers were simple white, and then the rows faded to a soft pink, then a curious orange, then a bright circle of yellow, then a blaring red cut in, followed by a cooling blue, then purple. It was like a big rainbow sea. Then there, the area closest to Ven, was a tight circle of specially arranged flowers. These were the plots of flowers that showed the true expertise of Aerith - yellow lilies with white daises, brillant sunflowers with purple irises, orange tulips and red carnations, the phenomenal black-and white-Starbursts lightly complimented by the rare Blue Comets, and finally, the one that Terra had chosen to place the card with, an arrangement of sharp Pheonix Stars their natural color changing petals easily matching the posies solid shades of purple, blue forget-me-nots, and white magnolias.

As they left, the staff of the ward clapped and cheered for them, having never seen something so amazing or loving quite like this happen before. Many saw only the bad sides - families dumping off their relatives, siblings, offspring or parents without a second look back. The bills get paid but no one comes to visit, no one cares if he or she is getting worse or better... years of love and care shattered in an instant of panic that was only human to collapse to or disaster that was was impossible to prevent.

But very, very rarely, things like what Terra had done would occur. Little acts of love that would be impacting to the psyche and help that [erson remember that they were special and that their was someone out their who cared they existed.

Terra handled the praise like an abused child would, uneasily and unable to accept it. It was hard to, since he was the reason Ven was here in the first place. Yet the said nothing, only nodded and ushered his boss and his self out as quickly as possible...

Back in the room, the flowers stood innocent and silent as their new own slept and slept and slept. And on Terra's chosen bouquet, a card without a name was nestled there but the script so easily placed, their would be no mistake to who had written it.
The message was short:
Merry Christmas Ven

[Rikugurl]

Very light hazel eyes looked out the window at the snow flakes passing by, being blown off the trees by the winter wind. They glanced back when the door was closed, looking through blue hair at the other blue haired figure.

His sister.

A sigh admitted as the expected voice of his mother boomed at her. Then another voice boomed back and forth until the expected male boomed over them and the women stopped.
It was the same old story anymore.
And his part... was always the same too.

He rose his hand and wrapped it around his sister before giving her a soft smile. A silent 'Just forget about it'.

No matter how expected things were, no matter how unexpected Aqua was... Saix was always there for his little sister. He always was... even when they were young.
Their mother never said much to or about him... but that was because he was a 'good boy' in her eyes. She still got on his case about what he had decided to do with his life... but he never fought back with his mother.

That sense of peace calmed him when he should of exploded on her. Like that time she tried to force him to eat a hamburger. He just calmly started that he could no longer eat this meat for cows were sacred, pushed his plate away and excused himself from the table.

He wasn't always so quiet though. When she threatened to slap Aqua, a monster grew inside of him... and he would give her holy hell.
Ever since their father backed down... he had to step in when he could... but he knew that Aqua wanted to defend for herself... so why shouldn't she? In the past few years, he only backed her up when she was in dire need.

He wondered... what would happen next year... when he went off to campus for the first time. He had asked Aqua if she would want to come live with him, much like Zack did Terra... but she was still thinking about it.

He leaned back and sighed as the car drove off.
He hoped they weren't serving any hamburgers at the party.


Sirocco sighed but nodded. "I suppose... you're right..." He shook his head before leaning back into his chair more. "My father said that I needed to raise my children to become good people... but I suppose... I can just do so much." He sipped some of his coco before looking at her. "Even if Ven is our problem child.... he's still a Holani... and he's still our boy."

He blinked when he heard a thud upstairs and some boys laughing. "Guess it's time for bed." He smiled before finishing his glass and stood, going to the kitchen and putting it in the sink. He wrapped his arms around his wife's waist as they walked up the stairs together.
"Boys! Time for bed! We have a busy day tomorrow!"


Aerith smiled as she waited for the receptionist to look up the name 'Ven'. It sounded familiar but...
She followed Terra and the nurse as they walked all the way down a hallway to the last door. There was a glass window that looked inside the room... but she was sure it was a two way mirror. These kind of places... made her kind of....sad.

She gasped too when she walked in, recognizing the boy instantly. It was the one she remembered riding the bike next to Terra sometimes to work. The one Terra always talked about.
It was Terra's best friend.
He was the one all these flowers were for?

She smiled sweetly as they put the flowers down and they were back out once more.
Her jacket was pulled close when they went back outside. Before she could pick up another box though, she blinked as Terra started to talk.
"S-suicide...?" That poor boy.... What on earth could make him want to take his life... not once... but....twice?

She frowned sadly as she picked up a pot, still listening. This was... his first time seeing his best friend?
She nodded, understanding to a point. You either become extremely close... or extremely avoiding when it comes to suicide. Terra... she could understand.

They quickly went back and forth... before they no longer had to. They became busy with the flowers... and put a lot of care into them as they arranged them. Every now and then, she looked back at the sleeping blonde... not even a stir. Whatever medication he was on... he was out like a light.

When they were done, they walked down the small path that was left. The woman stopped and looked back, smiling at all her flowers. This was truly... a Christ,as miracle. She blinked though when she heard some cheering... and the look on Terra's face. Aerith couldn't help but shake her head as she left the room and closed the door.... but was quickly hustled to leave.

They got back to the van and got in, Aerith now driving and pulling away. They were off back to Radiant. The woman looked over, watching Terra look out the window. "I told you it's never too late."
The rest of the ride was quiet and the van pulled up in front of the Tellus home where the front light was on for the awaiting child. Before Terra could get out, Aerith smiled again... and hugged the brunette. "Merry Christmas!"


The night passed, children in their bed knowing that Santa was flying overhead and going down their chimney... even if they didn't have one. Filling their stockings with toys and under their tree with the ones the elves didn't feel like wrapping. even those who got up and went to their tree in the middle of the night couldn't catch the man in the red suit... but giggled when they saw some cookies and carrots eaten.

In the morning, big and little kids got up earlier than usual to head back to the tree. Their faces bright and cheery as they waited for their parents or guardians make their coffee before tearing into the shiny boxes.
Trucks were flown even if they weren't suppose to as inanimate horses were galloped.

In another town, the sun shown into a large window... and over a meadow... no wait... a room of flowers.
A blonde laid their peacefully, his bandages still apparent around his arms to remind him of what he had done. The rays of light shown through his golden hair and bounced off his pale, soft skin.

Just open your eyes
And see that life is beautiful....

Pale eyelids fluttered and a groan admitted as the sun shown in his face. None the less, blue eyes opened slowly, sparking from the shine coming through the window. He turned his head... and stopped. The blue eyes widened as he suddenly sat up in bed. His mouth gaped as he looked all around, his blonde hair shifting. "Wha... wha......." His blue eyes caught something.

A card.

He blinked, still not believing... all the flowers.... but... slowly took the card.
It had a bird on it holding a mistletoe. He slowly opened it... reading the only line written.
Merry Christmas Ven

"Terra..." A whispered breathed though chapped lips... before they moved into a beautiful smile. Water started to fill his eyes as he ran a finger over the sentence.


Sirocco smiled as he walked into the living room with the coffees, setting them down and walk to the fireplace, getting it ready for another morning. Bryna was in the kitchen pouring some eggnog but both stopped when they heard the feet coming down the stairs.
It was hard... not to hear those feet.

Sirocco looked back and smiled as he dropped the lit match and started the fire. "Merry Christmas boys."

[Reno]

Yes these fights were always the same. Even the predictable arm came around her shoulders, bringing her into a loving hug. Aqua looked up, smiling softly up at her brother. At... at least she could always count on her brother to be there for her even when she didn't want him to be. She sighed and relaxed against her brother just waiting for them to get there and get this over with.

Sadly, though there were no hamburgers there there was steak. Aqua took sympathy on him when she noticed his sad and despairing eyes and traded his meat for her veggies - that way they both got enough to eat.

Though she wasn't a Hindu herself, she did respect her brothers right to choose his own religion and did her best to stand up for him whenever their mom shot it down, even if she had no idea what she was talking about.
That was why, when she found out about Demyx, she had been ecstatic. A Hindu buddy was just what Saix needed, and with one so... bouncy hopefully he'd spread a bit of that good cheer to her moody sibling.

As predicted, the party was annoyingly boring. Other then snatching up a glass of champagne when her parents weren't looking (and getting quite a tongue-lashing when her parents smelt it on her), she had no fun at all.


Bryna smiled faintly nodding to her husband's words. He'd never stop being their boy - but blinked when she heard something overhead and soft laughter wafting down the stairs. What were those two doing?

"Okay dad!!" The two boys cried when they heard the order, and shortly thereafter, the Holani family was in bed, dreaming sweet dreams of Christmas morning.


Terra sighed, relaxing on the drive home as he looked out the window blankly. "I... guess so." He murmured softly, his gut already tightening in nervousness. Gift-giving... had always been rather difficult for him. When he was young, he used to have this friend named Diliza. She was a... rather selfish sort of a girl but they had managed to become friends...
Until one day on her birthday he had gotten her a simple present - a hand-made nameplate with her name etched on it. She had given the gift a bored sort of look before handing it back. "I already have a name." Was what she told him.
It broke Terra's little seven-year old heart - and ever since he had become overly self-conscious of the things he gave people, silently afraid of rejection. Never learned how to break that fear either... psychology books didn't exactly have an outline for gift-anxiety.

What if Ven didn't like it? What if he was so angry he didn't care? What if-
Terra shut his eyes, forcing the thoughts away. It was done, it was chosen and all he could do... was hope.

It was not long before they got back to his house, Terra a tight ball of tension and worry that he was sure would not leave anytime soon...
He took off his seat belt and was just reaching for the door when suddenly and surprisingly, he felt arms encircling him in a... a hug.
Now Terra was not a huggy person - not because he didn't like them (in fact, he liked them rather well but he'd never admit it) but just because they weren't... manly. Just cause he was gay, didn;t mean he was going to act like a fucking girl.

But this hug... well... it meant a lot.

He smiled at the soft-spoken words, turning around and hugging the woman back. Aerith was more than his boss... she was his friend. "Merry Christmas Aerith. Thank you for helping me." He answered before he slipped out of the car and headed for the front door.


The night was long, cold and quiet but filled with warm dreams of tomorrow and roasting fires and running heaters to keep the chill away.

And then, slowly the sun starting to rise, bright as it shimmered across the snow. Excited children jumped awake, running down the stares and jumping on beds to wake up their parents.

"Merry Christmas!!" Was the reverberation in one small home. Rare Atterain-sapphire blue eyes opened, and Terra looked up seeing a family black-haired male standing over him. "Nnnnmh..." He grumbled, grabbing his pillow and throwing it over his head in attempt to block his elder brother out.

"Oh now none of that!" Zack crowed as he easily snatched the pillow out of the other's sleepy grasp and then hit him over the head with it. "Up, up!!"
"Nnnn..." Terra grumbled grabbing his blankets and throwing them over his head. Again Zack was not deterred as he grabbed them and tugged them off the bed, leaving Terra cold and pillow-less.
"You're lucky I wasn't naked." Was the brunette's agitated grumble and then Zack was on his way, keeping the pillow and blanket captive because he just knew the other would fall back asleep if he didn't.

Terra sighed sitting up slowly and stretching out. He shook his head then glanced at his cellphone that he had left on his nightstand in case Ven were to call. He knew from his research that patients got a chance to make one phone call a day for no more than ten minutes...
But there was no guarantee he would...

The brunette sighed, getting up and putting his cellphone in the pocket of his sleep pants and grabbed a dirty shirt, throwing that on too before he headed for the stairs.


Of course it was hard not to hear them - Sora was racing down the stairs like any other kid would on this day of all days. "Merry Christmas dad!" The brunette chirped as Roxas joined his side, stretching and yawning. The blonde was lazily returning the sentiment while Sora broke away quickly, bouncing around like a kid hopped up on sugar and the two could hear him.
"Happy Yuletide mother and ooooh that looks good!"
"Merry Christmas Sora dear."
"Hey, Hey can I open a present? Just one?"
"Sora..."
"Two? Five? Pleaaaaase?!"
The mother laughed. "You are very bad at bargaining sweetheart."

Roxas shook his head and smiled a little - his brother was such a dork. He didn't know how Sora could still be so happy - without Ven... this holiday just wasn't the same.

[Rikugurl]

Ven closed his eyes as more tears ran down his face. How could... he not of heard all the noises they made while bringing in those flowers. That med... must of been really strong...

The sound of a door opening made the blue eyes look up... and a nurse was at the door with his tray of food.
"Well... you look like you have some color in your cheeks today." She smiled as she walked over to his bed and placed the food down on the stand.

The blonde looked at the food. It was hot pancakes with Christmas decorations around it. "Merry Christmas, Ventus."
"M-merry Christmas..."
The nurse looked around and smiled. "Well... I must say that... if I got this many flowers, I would MARRY the man who put in all this time."

Ven looked back at the card before looking back at her. "I need to make a phone call."
"After breakfa---"
"Fuck breakfast! I need that phone call!"
The nurse blinked before nodding.
"You son has quite a swearing problem... maybe he's not well enough to---"
"Ven swearing is a sign that he's getting better." The man said as he laughed.
"Alright."

The blonde quickly jumped out of bed and ran down the path of flowers to the door. He burst through it and rushed down the hall, pass the lobby with the large tree and to the phone booths.
He picked up the phone and started to press his access number before a very familiar one.

His toes curled on the freezing tile as his white gown didn't do much for him.


Sirocco smiled as he shook his head. "Alright, alright... let's try and get these presents done before Carina and Riku get here." He sat down after picking up his stocking. "Remember, stockings first~"

[Reno]

Terra sighed as he headed for the stairs. He could smell breakfast wafting up the stairs, could hear his mother and brother talking and the sounds of silverware clinking together and the coffee maker bubbling. They were all familiar sounds - but with the hint of holiday cheer and excitement as soft Christmas songs played from the radio.

He sighed, slowly starting to decent he stairs - but when he came mid-way he froze completely foot hovering over the next step uncertainly.
He set his foot back down and slowly reached into his pocket, bringing out his phone that was singing a happy little tune - the default ring tone. Someone he didn't know was calling him.

He started down at the caller ID but all it said was 'Private'. With a ball of tightening anxiety taking over his gut, he pushed his thumb across the top of the flip phone, easily opening it. The music cut out.

He raised it to his ear, swallowing nervously as he asked. "....Hello?"


"YAY! I LOVE YOU DAD!" Was the hyperactive chorus as the brunette came rushing from the kitchen and snatching up his own stocking and ripped into the gifts.

Roxas shook his head as his suddenly barbaric brother - god he'd never grow up before joining him on the floor, taking his own stocking.

Bryna came out smiling softly as she watched her mix-matched boys opening their gifts. Sora, opening his gifts with a excited fervor and Roxas slowly opening his with such delicate preciseness that he didn't often even rip the paper. If Ven had been here he would of been right there with them, tearing the paper to shreds in an attempt to get to the good stuff faster.

Bryna took a seat beside her husband setting their eggnog on the table before reaching for her own.