Author's Ramble: I'm updating two stories tonight. This and one of my ongoing Sailor Moon stories. I left my writing world for a while because there were no reviews. You see, I only got 1 (one) review for the last chapter. I've either lost my touch or you're telling me to wither away, stop writing (you're a bore). I'm so pushy with this whole review thing if you want to read more that I'm blinding myself. We all have voices and no one will judge you for what you think. (Actually they do, but I still say this to encourage you to participate by reviewing; I voted when I knew my vote wouldn't make much of a difference when my state is so blue in the first place.) The greatest writers are also the busiest reviewers. I tend to review every story I have read so far. If I ever miss to review it is all because of a scrunch on time. When I review, it's a long review or I try to really get my thoughts and opinions out. I'm a soft critic; sometimes referred to as a teddy bear reviewer and a very wordy writer. I like to repeat myself. I like you all to review. Instead of looking up stats to see how many times my story has been visited, I prefer to see reviews up on the board. It's very rewarding.

It is so easy to get caught up in other stuff other than fanfiction. I love school, so I'm into that. Science and history are extraordinary in the academic circle. I'm a science major, but I've been taking so many history classes that got me involved in writing theses that I'm thinking of a minor in history. I'm also working on one of the biggest most personal projects of my life, which is the interviewing and recording of my family history from my great, great, great grandparents up until my generation. It will become a compilation that will suck the years out of me. I'm already translating my grandmother's words and that's taking its toll, though what keeps me energized is working in the first place. I also enjoy taking care of people, which is another side project of mine. The main project, however, is my research project with a pharmaceutical lab company. I'm working with really smart folks there, chemists who really know what they're talking about. Though, I'm not planning to go into that research field, I am very opened to learning new things. My final senior project is going to rock! To sum things up when you don't review my drive to write diminishes. When I find the free time, I turn to one of the above projects and forget about this one, so if you may review do so to remind me of why I should continue grinding out chapters for this story. I kind of need something to start me up, like a fire needs oxygen, or like products can only form when a catalyst is needed for the reactants. Review. All it takes is an "I want you to keep writing" and I'll find no excuse to stop (with the exception of my loves up there I mentioned earlier).

I have also shook things up by changing the summary of the story. I changed the summary of the story because this story is evolving to the point that the title works. Now, the summary has to also work with the title, so I've quickly changed it to suit; for better or for worse. Hopefully for better since my goal is to capitalize. The next time I update my stories will probably be mid December. I'm practically done with this piece and ready to finish the others. Those of you who know about Simply Plain and Simple, another old CCS fanfiction I have not finished installing, that one is really on hold until I can get my hands on my written draft again. I haven't had time to look for it in my room back home, but I'll get right to that when time is available.

I think I got most of my thoughts out of the way with this one ramble. Thanks for reading!

The Kids

Everything that Syaoran owned reminded her of Akira, which made her sick to her stomach. The acid in her empty belly churned as she remembered Akira.

The house that Syaoran had taken out a huge mortgage on was extravagant. Mahogany furniture and pine floor boards to match. It was spacious and lonely when Sakura inspected each room. She couldn't imagine one man living in a house fit for an entire family. It seemed off kilter, but worse, the house reminded her of the home that she and Akira bought a few blocks away from her father's place. It was beautiful.

"White picket fence," Syaoran said, following her around the house as she toured it.

She looked at him with a startled face. "I beg your pardon?"

"White picket fences and a family is what I imagine you were thinking about. Too bad he didn't make it turn out that way," Syaoran grumbled, his brown eyes, turning into a swirl of murky emotions.

"I can't believe I'm going to be leaving everything we started behind," she whimpered, a tremor in her voice.

"His lost. Not yours."

"Thanks," she said, rubbing the fatigue out of her eyes.

"I'm going to give you a job as my business partner. I want to hand over some of the tasks that I think you're more than capable of handling, so I don't have to be so swamped for the next couple of months."

"What? I can't accept that! You're already offering me a place to bunk!"

"So? When you were planning to live with him, you quit your job and got ready to work for him in advertising, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but that's different."

"You thought you were going to be tied down to that man, so you gave up all that you owned for him."

"Hey--"

"I'm giving you a higher position, which means a better salary. I can show you the figure when you come to work with me. Is that not good enough for you?"

"Syaoran!" She stomped her foot. She was beyond aggravated by how fast he was taking everything. He gave her little time to voice her opinion as it always was like this.

He answered her by reaching over and burying his hand into her auburn hair. The gesture stilled her.

"He lost you for a reason. If it had been me in his place I would have given you my full attention," he whispered, gazing deeply into the peridot in her eyes.

Gulping, Sakura pulled away slowly, wishing to change the subject. "I think you're going way too fast. I'll only work for you under one condition. You're going to interview me like every other one of your would-be employees. I want this position fair and square."

"I know your potential already…"

She frowned. "You interview me or no deal!"

Syaoran sighed. "You win." He awarded her with a lopsided grin.

She stuck her tongue out at him, a silly move she would have done on her older brother if he teased her. He reacted by staring at her face as if it was a masterpiece.

"Something on my face?"

"No." He shook his head. "You better call your dad and tell him to bring your stuff here this weekend. I have some clothes for you to change into until your things arrive, so make yourself at home. After you're done with your call, just come upstairs. I'll take you to your room."

"Wait! Where are you going to be?"

He chuckled. "Don't worry. You'll find me. These empty halls carry their wailing a lot better than you think."

Wailing. Was their some sort of torture chamber that Syaoran slept in? Did he take pleasure in torturing? The horror of leaving a poor old bunny rabbit with the likes of him!

"Why don't you leave the bunny in my room? I'll take care of it."

"Suit yourself. I was hoping you'd offer."

She shivered as he disappeared up the stairs, leaving her feeling isolated in his vast home. She really was in the same house with Syaoran Li. She really was going to have to get used to his nosing around. It was going to take some work, but she thought she could survive a couple of days and then move out. She would let him know of her plan, of course, so not to show that she wasn't gratified by all his help and concern. After all they had been through she was glad they hadn't come out complete enemies.

Ascending the stairs after making the phone call that Syaoran had more or less ordered her to make, Sakura stopped short. She suddenly stopped in the middle of the staircase when she heard a whimper. Then, there was a silence again. She knew that sound. Her heart raced a million beats faster and her clammy hands gripped the banister. Like lightning, she bolted the rest of the way up the stairs.

A second short, but demanding wail broke out. Sakura's hurried footsteps could be heard in the hallway, now. She knew the sound and now she was desperate to confirm what she knew. After a minute or two of eavesdropping by pressing her ear against the doors, she finally found the right one. Without warning, Syaoran's new guest burst through the door of his master bedroom.

Sakura almost had a heart attack on the spot. The man was just full of surprises that evening. The cute, bunny rabbit was just a start. What would a grown man like Syaoran want with a cute creature, naturally adorable and nothing like him or his fancy? It just didn't make sense to her. However, seeing this man now bending his head over a crib blew her mind away from the notion that he had no fancy in naturally cute things. He actually had two of them, not including the bunny rabbit.

Syaoran heard her enter and quickly turned, placing a finger over his lips. That hitched anything Sakura wanted to say aloud. Next to the crib was Wei sitting in a rocking chair. He held the second baby while Syaoran bent over the other one in the crib. One would think two men would look out of place in this situation, but it didn't look that way at all. They both looked primed and well-at-ease. Wei looked like taking care of babies was all he did for a living! Sakura almost cried out in shock.

"I think she's quieting," Wei whispered to Syaoran.

"He is, too."

Wei got up and put the baby in his arms next to the other baby in the crib. The rocking chair kept rocking even after Wei abandoned it. Sakura smiled weakly at Wei as he approached her. He was looking to exit the room, feeling his own bones cracking with the tense half-an-hour routine of soothing two colicky babies. For a moment he paused by Sakura's side, wedging between her and the door. His old, wrinkled, and experienced hand rested gently on her shoulder. "It's not that bad. They've settled in for the night."

Sakura shook her head in disbelief. Wei had raised Syaoran when he was a baby. He was the appointed Godfather of Syaoran and the Li family's butler, but the man was moving on in his years. How could he help take care of two infants as well as run the household with Yelan? Sakura looked at the man with admiration, hoping he read her expression correctly. She was surprised at what he could do. Only he could shuffle around the way he did at his age. Any other man would just tell his Godson, "Hell, no!"

Wait a minute. Why were there babies in Syaoran's house? Where was their mother? Why did the house look so clean, like somebody wasn't done moving in, yet?

"Come down for dinner when you're ready," Wei murmured before slipping out of the room.

"Syaoran?"

"Sakura," he said with a quick wave of his hand for her to come forward.

"Syaoran…" She nearly gasped his name.

"Sakura, I want you to meet my son, Hiroki, and my daughter, Ayame."

"Oh my goodness," Sakura gasped, eyes wide like giant, green dishes.

Syaoran led her out of his room and took her to the room two doors down from his.

"It's not so bad this room. It's the only one furnished, so do as you please with it."

He nudged her around the room. He even opened the closet, which contained a box of designer clothing.

"They might be just a tad bit too long for you," Syaoran said, watching her pull out some nice black jeans, splaying it across her thigh.

"It fits better than Fanren's."

"That's because the person that these clothes are supposed to belong to is only a size or so bigger than you, not ten sizes."

"Syaoran, that's just mean. What would your sister say if she heard that?"

"She wouldn't say anything, but beat me with a stick."

Sakura laughed, hugging the pants under her chin. Syaoran was already leaving the room for her to change.

"Whenever you're ready for supper, you can go downstairs. Wei will fry you something before heading home. Take your time, though. There's no hurry. I have to go watch the kids, so I won't be down for another hour or so. Don't wait up."

"Wait, Syaoran. Who do these belong to?"

"My wife."

"Oh, Syaoran," she whispered his name only to the air because the door had already shut. Something in his nonchalant tone twisted her heart in pain for him. There was more about his wife that she had to know about. To find anything out she would have to either go to Syaoran directly with questions or bring the questions to someone close. She was going to have a long chat with Wei and she was going to enjoy dinner with him.

Sakura hastily slipped on a pink nightgown and ran down the stairs. Wei was in the kitchen, setting three plates down when she entered.

"It's like this every night before I go. I watch them when he has to work or run an errand," he said casually. The old man eased into his chair and gave a pat to the chair next to him.

Sakura settled in almost curling up in the chair because that was what Wei's voice did to her.

"They're about two weeks old," he answered the first question on her mind.

She was still awestruck by the fact that Syaoran had twins and she knew nothing about it. Wouldn't that mean…

"His sisters and Madam Li know nothing about the twins. Syaoran wanted to keep it a secret from them. He thinks his sisters and mother wouldn't be able to handle the shock."

"What about me? I almost had a heart attack!"

"They're older than a day now. I do believe he planned on letting you know first."

"He's going to tell Yelan soon, right? I think she has a right to know she has more grandchildren."

Wei rolled his shoulders and let out a breath of air. "He's going to let them know soon enough. I'm pretty sure he plans on breaking the news sometime this week."

Sakura ran her hand through her curls, absentmindedly.

Wei looked prepared to ask about her wedding, but by the look of dismay on her young face he did not have the courage to ask. He would hate to be the one to elicit her sorrow by bringing up Akira.

Akira was a decent guy. Quiet and gentle. Sakura couldn't figure out what had gone wrong between them before all of this happened.

"Things will be alright. I'm sure of it." Wei gave her a warm smile that melted the ice that she built around her heart for most of the day.

"It's like this; place your trust in Syaoran's hands and he'll help everyone pull through."

"He's been an enormous help, but he seriously needs to get his ego checked. I'm a woman, who can satisfy her own needs. I don't need the likes of him bossing me around to guarantee me a place in society."

"Syaoran is Syaoran. He's protective of his own even though he doesn't show it fashionably."

"I'm not his kid sister! He doesn't need to treat me like this," she sighed, rolling her eyes.

"He doesn't think you're his kid sister," he assured her. He laughed at the look of disagreement she gave him and gave her a pat on the hand before picking up their plates and moving them to the sink. "I'll be back in the morning to make breakfast. I'm going to prepare some baby formula for tomorrow right now and then I'm heading home. Take care of the Young Master for me."

"What about the even younger masters?"

The old man chuckled, his voice sandy from the long day's work. "Them too if you please."

"Wei, what happened to their mother?" She was looking around as if she might find the woman inside the kitchen.

The old man answered her in a grave manner. "That's a tale for Young Master to tell."