Ah, last chapter. And yes, we went through all that angst just to kill him. We're weird like that. Hope you guys enjoyed it!

First thing I'd do is pray for time to crawl
I'd unplug the telephone and keep the TV off
I'd hold you every second
Say a million 'I Love You's'
That's what I'd do with one more day with you

One more day, one more time
One more sunset maybe I'd be satisfied
But then again I know what it would do
Leave me wishing still for one more day with you

One More Day – Diamond Rio

Chapter 14

One More Day With You

The hospital room was dark and cold to Roxas as he sat in the chair beside the white bed, but he paid it no mind. He would sit here forever, if it meant just one more day with the man that he loved.

Axel was slipping. Slipping faster that Roxas could follow, and there was nothing that the doctors could do anymore.

The loss of feeling in his legs had led to more, and now the redhead could no longer move, his mind completely unable to translate and send the signals to his body. His voice had vanished just the day after their date, and things were turning into a landslide that was taking Axel's failing life along with it.

Roxas had never imagined that it would all go so fast.

The doctors estimated that Axel would probably not live through this night. He was already hooked up to a breathing machine, as well as life support. He wasn't even breathing on his own anymore, and without the help of the machines, he would die.

A soft hand on his shoulder made Roxas look up, and his blue eyes met the same ones of his elder brother, Cloud's face soft and pained. "Roxas… I'm sorry."

The younger blond shook his head. "No. It's not your fault Cloud. I just… I wish that we could have met sooner."

There was a silence that was only broken by the soft sound of the heart monitor beeping, and then Cloud spoke, his voice soft. "I think… I think that you were meant to meet when you did, Roxas. You helped Axel find himself, and somehow that was all that he needed. To find forgiveness before he…"

The tall man didn't say the word, feeling Roxas flinch as he came to that. The teen sighed, shaking his head as tears welled up in his blue eyes. "I know. That's what I keep telling myself… But…"

Cloud knelt down, wrapping a secure arm around Roxas's shoulders and allowing his brother to lean against him, burying his face in the taller's shoulder. "I know, little one. It doesn't make it any easier…"

The moment lasted until Cloud's pager went off, summoning the blond to another room. He squeezed Roxas tightly before releasing him. "I'll be back later, okay little one? Will you be alright?"

Roxas nodded. "Yea."

As the door clicked shut behind his brother, Roxas turned back to Axel, his hands enclosing Axel's cold fingers. There was no response to his touch, just as there hadn't been in the last week since Axel had lost all mobility. The blond gently petted Axel's skin, his breath shuddering in his chest.

"I love you, Axel…"

Roxas was shaken awake a little while later by his brother, Cloud's blue eyes solemn and deep as he looked at the younger. "Roxas…"

The blond rubbed at his eyes, reflexively looking towards Axel as he did. There was no change; the redhead was still on the sheets. Roxas turned to look up at his brother, blinking in confusion.

"Roxas…" Cloud murmured, his voice soft and pained as he knelt down beside his brother. "I think… I think that it's time to say goodbye."

Roxas's eyes widened, tears flooding them even though he had been sure that he had no tears left to cry. "No… Cloud…"

Cloud shook his head, his hand gentle as it ran over Roxas's soft hair. "I'm sorry, little one, but there's nothing we can do for him. Axel would live out the rest of his days here, on the life support until the tumor consumed his mind completely. It's time to let him go."

"I…" Roxas choked, his hand searching for Axel's limp one. "I don't…"

"I know…" Cloud whispered, cradling Roxas's head against his neck. "I know you don't want to say goodbye, but it's time for him to go. He'll go pain-free and easy, just like falling asleep. All of his pain will be gone."

Roxas pulled in a shaky breath, his mind still protesting the idea, though his heart knew that Cloud spoke the truth. He nodded faintly. "You're right… I can't… I can't stand to see him like this… He would… He would want this."

Cloud wiped at his brother's tears, pushing himself to his feet and moving away. Roxas thanked him silently, standing and moving forward to say goodbye for the last time to the man that he loved with everything he was.

"Axel…" he whispered, his blue eyes looking into half-lidded acid green eyes. He barely saw a flicker in those orbs, a hint of recognition, though there was nothing else to indicate that Axel had heard him. "I love you Axel…" Roxas whispered, stroking the red hair, his fingers trailing over Axel's thin face. "I'll never forget what we had together, no matter how short it was." He smiled softly. "And I'll live every day for you."

He pressed a kiss to Axel's cool skin. "I love you… I love you…" Roxas rested their foreheads together, his tears dripping onto Axel's cheeks. "I just wish that we could have had at least one more day…"

The blond shifted backwards, stepping back and nodding to his brother. "O-Okay."

Cloud moved forward as Roxas sat beside Axel, his hand still wrapped in the redhead's limp fingers. As Cloud started to turn off the machines Roxas felt his heart lodge in his throat, but he pushed it down, a smile on his face.

As the last machine stopped and Axel's chest grew still, Roxas waited for the long beep that would mean Axel was gone forever. But to his shock and surprise, the limp hand around his moved, squeezing gently, and Axel's eyes met his.

"Roxas… love you…"

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee….

Tears cascaded down Roxas's cheeks, his hands over his mouth as he stared in shock at Axel's closed eyes and relaxed, smiling face. Cloud was staring in shock at the redheaded man, his own eyes wide.

"He wasn't… He couldn't move or speak. How…?"

A smile broke out over Roxas's face even through his tears, his blue eyes shimmering. "Axel… he called me Roxas. He said my name…"

That was the first time that Axel had ever called Roxas anything except for Hero.