Saipras' baseball
It was a pleasant day in the World That Never Was. Well, actually pleasant by Vexen's standards, anyone else and especially Axel would have found the day unbearable. The sun was out but the ground was frozen under a blanket of snow. A rather fluffy blanket on which the younger inhabitants of the castle were currently enjoying themselves. They, not minding the cold as much as their parents,  had all were bundled up as much as possible, by their caring mothers. Vexlia tossed a snowball around in his gloved hands, now and again trying to remember something he seemed to have forgotten. Zexray sat near by, trying to get his blond companion to forget whatever it was he had forgotten.
“ If you can't remember then its probably better that you don't worry about it.” The brown haired boy said.  Vexlia nodded but still looked worried. Namene, Demmly, the twins: Li, Xalie and the triplets were engaged in a very competitive snowball fight, which the triplets took to meaning throw as much snow as possible to bury Li up to his neck. De-Axys grumbled about the cold while sitting as close to the door as possible, so as to catch any of the warmth coming from the roaring fireplace inside.
“ Stupid cold, stupid Uncle Vexen making Vexlia come out here, stupid dad making me come out here, Stupid Uncle Demyx making Demmly and the triplets come out here...” She muttered under her breath. Her usual companion, Saipras, was wandering ahead of her, his gold eyes staring up at the blue sky above him. He doubled back to find De-Axys sleeping against the wall.
“ What do you want, Saipras?” The black haired girl grumbled as she raised her head sleepily. “ Can't you see I'm trying to sleep.”
“ Why are you sitting like that?” Saipras asked.
“ None of your business, now leave.” With that De-Axys leaned her head back against the door. When Saipras didn't make any sign of moving, she opened one eye. “ What? Did you lose your baseball again?” Saipras shook his head and pulled out his precious baseball from the pocket of his coat.
“ Nope, its right here.” He declared proudly.
“ Good for you.” De-Axys muttered.
“ Do you wanna see something special?”  He asked. De-Axys sighed, knowing she wouldn't get much sleep unless she humored the boy.
“ Sure, let's see it.” she said. Saipras shook his head again and hugged the baseball to his chest.
“ Nu-uh. Daddy says I can't show it to anyone.”
“ Then why the hell did you ask if I wanted to see it?” De-Axys asked angrily.
“ I don't know.” Saipras admitted. De-Axys was about to yell at the poor boy when the door to castle burst open, sending her sprawling into the snow.
“ Oh, De-Axys, I'm sorry.” Came Demyx's cheerful voice as he peaked around the door at her. “ Who wants hot chocolate?” He yelled to the children playing in the field. Like magic everyone stopped and looked at Demyx.
“ Did you just say hot chocolate?” De-Axys asked hopefully. Demyx nodded.
“ Yep, your mom just made some in the kitchen. De-Axys let out a whoop then ran inside toward the refreshing warmth and to the kitchen for chocolaty heaven. The others followed almost immediately. No one in the castle could make hot chocolate like Axel could. Being a fire nobody did have its perks. De-Axys not only found hot chocolate in the kitchen but also a whole platter of cookies.
“ Mom, who made these?” She asked Axel.
“ The cookies?  I don't know. They were there when I came in here.” The redhead responded before taking two cups of hot chocolate upstairs.
“ Why do you have two mugs?”
“ One's for me and the other is for you dad.” Axel said happily. De-Axys shrugged at her mom's antics and greedily grabbed three cookies and took a mug of hot chocolate over by the fire place to drink it. She wondered if hot chocolate hurt her mom when it was splashed in his face. By the time Saipras came into the kitchen, after shedding his puffy winter coat, there was only one cookie left. Regardless, it was still warm and the chocolate was nice and gooey. Saipras quickly ate his cookie then, in a typical  child's fashion, wiped his dirty hand on his shirt, seeing as the other hand was still holding his baseball. Demyx clicked his tongue disapprovingly when Saipras tried to sneak past him.
“ Saipras, how did you get your shirt all dirty?” He asked. Saipras shrugged.
“ I don't know.” He said innocently.
“ Well, we're going to have to change your shirt.” The blond man declared and promptly picked up the blue haired boy.  Demyx always kept a spare set of clothes in his room, just in case. Getting Saipras to  Demyx' room was easy enough, but getting his clothes off proved to be difficult. The reason being, Saipras refused to let go of his baseball. The ball couldn't fit through the hole in his sleeve and he refused to put the ball down in order to get the shirt off.
“ Saipras, come on.” Demyx said as he struggled with the boy.
“ No, its mah baseball!” Saipras yelled. Demyx sighed and thought for a minute.
“ Okay, let's see if we can't try this one more time.” He said. “ Saipras, can you please put your baseball into your other hand?” Demyx asked sweetly. Just like his mother, Saipras obeyed and Demyx was finally able to  get the shirt off.  Demyx smiled and pulled out another, clean shirt to wear. This time the shirt came on with no problem. Saipras left Demyx's room with a fresh clean shirt on and a warning to use a napkin next time he had cookies. Saipras tossed his baseball into the air as eh walked through the hallway but missed catching it. The ball rolled down a flight of stairs and into Vexen's laboratory. Saipras stop right in front of the door to Vexen's laboratory. He knew the laboratory was off limits to all of the children, except Vexlia. But if Saipras wanted his baseball then he would need to go in there. Summoning up courage, the blue haired boy opened the door and walked inside. He found his baseball under a cabinet of bottles filled with liquids of different colors. The colors looked so pretty, like Uncle Marluxia's garden in spring. Saipras reached a hand out and touch the glass. Suddenly, he heard foot steps from outside. Someone was coming downstairs. Panicking, Saipras crawled under a metal table. He was afraid of what Uncle Vexen might do if he found him. The triplets had told him scary stories, from their mom, about what Vexen did to intruders. Granted, they were younger then him, but that didn't mean they weren't true. Vexen appeared in the doorway of his laboratory and looked around warily. In his arms, he carried Vexlia, who nibbled on a cookie. Vexen set his son down in a nice comfortable chair, then searched the room again.
“ What's wrong, Mom?” Vexlia asked nervously.
“ The door was open when we came in. That means someone was in here.” Vexen answered. Vexlia looked around fearfully. Saipras noticed Vexen's back was turned as he examined a row of beakers. He took that opportunity to quickly dash out from under the table and run toward the door. He almost made it when he was suddenly lifted into the air.
“ Ah-ha! So here's the little intruder. Saipras, what are you doing in there.” Vexen asked as he held the boy. Saipras looked out the door at the window. The sun had already set and the sky was beginning to darken. His gold eyes went wide and he started struggling wildly. He really needed to get out of here!
“ Let me go!” He yelled. He struggled so much that the ball accidentally flew out of his hand and landed by Vexen's feet. Vexen's leaned down to retrieve it. “ No, its my baseball. Don't touch my baseball!” Saipras shrieked.  Vexen, looking startled, set him down on the floor. Saipras snatched his baseball up and held it protectively to his chest. “ It's mah baseball.” He said angrily, as he glared at Vexen.
“Okay, it's your baseball. I'm sorry I tried to touch it.” Vexen said soothingly, trying to calm the boy down.
“ It's my baseball.” Saipras repeated and left the room, leaving behind a very surprised Vexen and a frightened Vexlia who promptly started to cry. He had never seen Saipras act like that. Saipras ran up the stairs and through the family room, where the rest of the kids had gathered. He didn't even pause to ask De-Axys why she was sitting on the couch, next to a snickering Braig, with her feet on Li's back. He wouldn't have understood unless he saw the munny stuffed into the blue-eyed girl's hand. Poor Li looked like he had fainted. Saipras stopped in front of his mom's room. He tried to smooth out his shirt, which had gotten wrinkled when he tried to retrieve his ball and in his struggle with uncle Vexen. Saipras knocked on the door. Although his knock was soft, Saix still heard him.
“ Come in.” He called
Saipras waddled up to his mom and held out his precious baseball.
“ Sai? What is it?” Saix asked him, showing concern.
“ Daddy gave me this and told me not to let any one see it. So, I didn't let anyone touch it or hold it or nothing'.”
“ But Saipras, what is it?” His mom asked.
“ It's for you.” Saipras exclaimed and opened his baseball. What looked like an ordinary baseball, turned out to be a container lined with black velvet. On the black velvet lay a crystal crescent moon in the shape of a heart. How it stay shut was a complete mystery. Saix covered his mouth with his hand in amazement.
“ Oh, my gods.” He breathed. He reached forward and gently picked up the moon. The light from his window shone on the crystal figurine reflecting rainbows around the room. Saix looked down at his son.
“ Sai, did you do this all by yourself?” Saix asked. Saipras shook his head and blinked up at his mom with big gold eyes.
“ Daddy helped.” He said . Xemnas stepped into the room, drawing Saix's attention.
“ Happy Anniversary, Saix.” He said, smiling. Saix gently set the moon down on his desk and crossed the room quickly to hug his lover. Saipras tugged on the edge of his mom's coat, feeling left out.
“ Hey, don't forget about me.” He said indignantly. Chuckling, Saix bent down and picked him up.
“ Thank you, Sai, for the wonderful gift.” Saix said happily.
“ Welcome, mummy.” Saipras said, smiling. Xemnas chuckled and ruffled the top of Saipras' head.
“ You did a good job, Saipras.” He said approvingly.
“ Thank you, daddy.” Saipras said, now, practically beaming.
“ So that's what was in your baseball.” Saix said picking up the moon again. Saipras nodded as he stared at his reflection in moon's heart-shaped face.
“ Yeah, mah baseball.” He whispered.