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Zexion sniffled and quickly wiped the tears from Demyx's cheeks. "No, Dem. Please don't cry. Please. Don't cry for me. I don't deserve it, okay? No one deserves your tears. The only tears I want to see from you are tears of joy. Promise me. Promise me you won't cry unless its tears of happiness. Please." As more tears fell down the blond's cheeks, Zexion wiped them away with his hands. "I love you, Dem. It hurts too much to see tears of pain coming from those beautiful eyes..." He held him tightly, burying his face in his best friend's shoulder. "We'll all get better. You, me, Roxas...even Axel might get better. We all just need some healing time from our wounds. I'll get better for you, Dem. You and Roxas. I swear I'll get better. I'll get strong again to help you through everything. I want to be there for you. Like I used to be... Now I feel like I'm weak and in the way... I don't like feeling like this, Dem... I really don't. It makes me want to hit depression again, but I know that'll just make me worse; I know that'll just make you worry about me; and I know that Roxas will never speak even words of hatred to me again... I'd rather words of hatred than silence, Dem... Just to hear his voice directed at me... It's so sad that I'd rather be the object of his anger than complretely ignored...like I don't exist... I can't go through that, Demyx. I just... I'll go insane without some form of attention from him...no matter how hateful it is..." He whispered softly, relaxing against Demyx's chest.

"I...I need to work on getting myself back together first... If I'm falling apart, I know I won't help anyone or anything. I hate that I have to care about myself first, but I know it's what has to happen..." He sniffled and wiped his face, looking up at Demyx. "You...you won't be upset if...if I do end up trying to help Axel...will you? I mean, after I'm out of here and everything... I just...don't want him to...to try anything else with you anytime soon...or...or someone else. I know Roxas...probably wouldn't like it too much...but I feel like...like I have to help him get off of drugs... I feel like I at least have to try... He...told me to call him after I get out of the hospital...I guess so he'll have a definite answer for me... And...and I'll probably have to stay at his place...for a few weeks to make sure he doesn't try to get into anything again. He...might have to come to my place, too, but I'll keep him away from you. I won't let him near you, and I'll let you know when, if, that happens... I just...don't want you mad at me for doing it... Nothing other than rehabilitation is ever going to happen between me and him again. I won't let it... I just...need you to be okay with it before I try..."

Zexion nodded spastically at Demyx's words. "No, no, Demyx. I swear I won't let him drag me down. I can't. Not after all that's happened. I hate what I did, but I'm gonna go past and rise above it. It's happened, and I can't chang it. I can only take what I've learned and move on to not do something so stupid again. If not for me, then for you guys." He kissed Demyx on the cheek. "I'm gonna go, okay? I...don't think I can handle anymore shunning from Roxas right now... I know I deserve it, but...I just can't. I have to keep thinking positive if I want to fix anything, and crying won't help that at all." He stood, rubbing his eyes free of tears. "I'll be in my room if you wanna come say goodbye to me before you leave. If not," he said, leaning forward to kiss his cheek again and hug him warmly. "I'll see you soon, okay? I love you, Dem. Thank you for everything." He pulled back and headed out the door, waving to him with a gentle smile.

Zexion went back to his room silently. He enjoyed the short visit from Demyx, trying to ignore the fact that he knew Roxas was outside the doorway the whole time. He told him goodbye and he hoped he would start feeling better soon. He also said he would call him and let him know when he was out of the hospital and if he contacted Axel. After that, he was alone. He was alone in the hospital, no one to visit him anymore.

Zexion was released a few weeks later, being told he was back in a healthy weight-zone. He felt proud of himself, having gotten healthy again. He hadn't had any visitors, but he didn't blame Demyx or anyone. He knew everyone was at a bad time right then. When he stood up in front of the mirror before he left, he examined himself. He did look very healthy now--compared to how he did before he was admitted. His clothes even fit him better. He wanted to go see Demyx, but he knew he had to call Axel first. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and went through his contacts, calling Axel's phone.

"Oh, Axel..," Zexion said, mood immediately dropping at the sound of his voice. He sounded terrible--like he was being tortured and hadn't seen daylight in weeks. "Axel.., it's Zexion. I'm out of the hospital... Did...Did you want to take up my offer to help you?" he asked in a soft voice. "I can come over right now if you need me to. You sound horrible... Did you wnat me to come over?" He asked as he hurried his way out of the room and down the hall. He waved with a soft smile at the nurse he passed before he exited the building. "I'm walking out of the door right now to my car. If you need me to come over, tell me now. I'll come straight there, I promise you."

"Yeah, Axel, I can bring you something to eat..," he said softly as he opened his car door and sat down. He closed the door and buckled his seat belt before quickly attaching his phone to the hands-free system in his car so he could drive. "I'll be there in maybe fifteen or twenty minutes, okay? Let me stop by somewhere and grab some food." He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, straight to the nearest fast-food restaurant. He bought some chicken nuggets and fries and a double-cheeseburger. Around ten minutes after getting his food he was at Axel's apartment. He grabbed the food and his phone before hurrying up and knocking twice before entering. "Axel?" he called softly, closing the door behind him with his foot. He walked slowly through the eerily dark apartment. He found his way to the bedroom and slowly crept over to the bed. "Axel..," he said sadly, gazing down at him. "You're trying so hard to quit, aren't you?" he asked him in a gentle voice, sitting beside him. He pulled out one of the pockets of fries and grabbed a singular one, holding it to Axel's lips. "I got you some fries and chicken nuggets... I figured they'd be the easiest to eat."

Zexion frowned deeply as Axel spoke. "I'm just glad you're trying so hard, Axel... It would be nice to see you and Demyx happy...like you used to be..." He ran a gentle hand over Axel's hair. He didn't run his fingers through it, scared they would get caught in the matted locks. "I can stay with you if you want, Axel. Really. I can see that you're trying to get better. I'll help you stay away from everything. I promise I'll do whatever I can to help you. I'm mostly-healthy again, it's my turn to help you get healthy." He fed him another fry. "Have you had a shower any time in the last few weeks?" he asked softly, knowing it was difficult for him to get up.