Mockingbird

Chapter One

"Aw, how adorable!"

"Look at those chubby cheeks!"

"How old is he?"

Kai looked down. "N-nineteen months."

"Aw, you've got such a sweet little brother! Take care of him," cooed the first woman as she walked away.

Kai watched them turn into another aisle. Brother? Ha. How little they knew.

He picked up various packets of meat, examining each to make sure they looked edible, and put them in the trolley.

"That'll feed at least Uncle Tyson, won't it, Gou?" Kai smiled. "Come on; let's go find you some yummy biscuits."

- - -

"I'm back. Can someone help me with the bags please?" Kai called from the car.

Hiro stepped in, throwing his car keys from one hand to the other. "Come on slackers! We've not all got kids to look after!"

Tyson dragged himself up reluctantly, Max skipped down the stairs and Ray walked through casually.

"Hello!" Max sang, sticking his head into the back passenger area and pulling a funny face at Gou.

Kai frowned. "Do you mind a minute? I'm trying to get him out."

Ray stuck his head in too. "Seems like he doesn't want to, the amount of struggling he's doing."

Kai sighed. "I know."

Eventually Gou was taken out and put safely in the house under Hilary's supervision while the guys took in and unpacked the shopping.

Kai dropped onto the sofa, watching his baby son walking around, jamming his toy car into every space.

"No," Kai said sternly, pushing the baby's hand away as it tried to put the car into the fish tank.

"Ish!" Gou said.

"Yep. Fish."

"Car." Gou looked at his toy.

"Car. It goes 'brum brum'," Kai explained.

"Ish 'n car!" Gou went to put his toy back into the tank.

Kai picked him up. "No. That's not where it lives."

Gou kicked and struggled in Kai's arms. "Ish! Car!" he screamed.

Kai held him in his arms and cradled him. "Ooh, someone's getting tired." Kai shushed him, rocking the baby back and forth, singing the Mocking Bird song. It was Gou's favourite.

"Hush, little baby, don't say a word. Daddy's going to buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird won't sing, Daddy's going to buy a diamond ring. And if that diamond ring turns brass, Daddy's going to buy you a looking glass. And if that looking glass gets broke, Daddy's going to buy you a billy goat. And if that billy goat won't pull, Daddy's going to buy you a cart and bull. And if that cart and bull fall down, you'll still be the sweetest little baby in town."

Gou's eyes fluttered – he was trying to fight it – but eventually they came to a close and he gently slept.

Kai held him tighter, holding him close to his chest. He stood there, bouncing softly on his feet, while his friends looked on, touched by the scene.

Max furrowed his brow. "Kai? Why are you crying?"

Kai ignored him and carried on rocking his dear, sweet child.

"I love him so much. Why can't he love me back?" he whispered.

Max frowned. "He does."

"How? He cries whenever I try to play with him. He struggles when I try to hold him."

"You can't hold that personally. He's just getting to that age."

"Yeah, but I'm his dad," Kai sobbed. "Whenever he hurts himself he runs to you to be comforted."

Max bowed his head. He signalled to the others, leaving Kai on his own.

Kai sat down, clutching his precious bundle close, crying uncontrollably, praying…