Author's note:

Thought I'd be nice and submit the next chapter, took me a while to figure it all out but here it is. Hope you all enjoy it, I sure did. I dunno how long this story will go on for, I still don't know what I'm trying to achieve with this; other than to get it out of my head.


The kids had clung to each other as if they'd never see each other again. Max, Ray and Tyson were huddled together by the gate, in a long sad soppy hug of goodbyes. Once they had pulled away Max and Tyson shook Kai's hand, while Makoto just waved to him before being led onto the plane. Ray took up Rain in front of him, still wiping her tears from her cheeks. Kai led them away once the plane had departed from the gate, making sure to keep them close through the crowd of other people.

Once they had settled back into their van, Ray's phone started to ring; blaring off his ringtone until he answered it. He sat there in silence for a moment, just listening to the other person talking; while Kai had set the van back to park in the parking spot. Ray nodded his head, turning pale as he hung up and sat the phone in his lap.

"She'll be here in two hours, wants to know if we could meet for dinner later tonight." Ray's voice threatened to crack, but he pushed past it.

Kai's face grew dark for a second, taking a glance back at Rain for a second before turning back to Ray.

"It's your choice." Kai said, though his tone held a bit of anger in his words.

Ray glanced back at Rain, much like Kai did, and turned back to his husband letting out a huff of air.

"Yeah… I think that'll be fine." Ray sighed out, settling back into his seat. He texted out his response to the number that had called him, creating a contact for her in his phone.

Kai pulled out, quietly observing Ray from the corner of his eyes every so often. He could see that Ray was trying to still his breathing, wiping his forehead several times as they continued home. For a moment, he didn't know what to do or say. He was half expecting Ray to decline the offer, and he was beyond words now since he had accepted. A quick glance back over at him told him Ray was beyond words himself, looking like he was greatly regretting his decision; but now it was too late.

The drive home was uncomfortably quiet, threatening to break their newly found resolve and peace. Though neither uttered a word, afraid to break it further. Having enough of the stuffy tension in the van Kai sighed, shifting in his seat as he pulled up to a red light.

"Rain." He called, and she looked up to meet his gaze in the rear-view mirror. "We're going to go out tonight, meet your mother. Do you want to go?" He asked, his gaze not leaving hers.

"Yes." It didn't take her long to respond, and she bounced a bit in her seat.

Ray seemed to have deflated in his seat, a shaky sigh passing his lips. Kai sighed too, but it wasn't as deflating as Ray's.

"Alright, you have some school work you need to do beforehand. I want it finished before we leave." Kai shifted in his seat, pulling through the newly lit green light.

"Yes, daddy." She nodded her understanding, turning back to the window to stare out it.

"Thank you." Ray murmured, resting his forehead against his window.

Kai gave him a soft, weak, smile before focusing back on the road before him.


The hours seemed to draw on once they had gotten home, Rain promptly took to her room to do her school work. Kai started for the spare room so he could fix it back to his office, Ray followed up and helped him for a bit till he left. Aimlessly he walked around the house, unsure what to do with himself. He fiddled with some dishes in the sink, becoming bored and unfocused on them he left and wandered the sitting room. There was nothing to do in there either, and he found himself in his room. He picked around at the scattered clothes on the floor, gathering them in a laundry basket to wash later. Setting the now full basket of laundry on the floor by the bed, he started back to his meandering about his home.

"Ray." Kai's voice broke through Ray's hazy thoughts.

Somehow, he had found himself upstairs in the door way of the office, just standing there and starring off into space. He jumped slightly as Kai repeated his name, setting down the file he was holding in his hand on the desk.

"Sit down." Kai sighed out, leaning back into his chair as Ray nodded and took a seat on the couch; to the left of the desk.

"We don't have to go." Kai broke the silence, Ray nodded again starring out the window behind Kai's head.

"Eight years… She got out in eight years…. For…" Ray trailed, his voice was dark and cold and his eyes never left the window. "If it were reversed… I'd be in there until I was 50… Or more." Ray slightly chuckled, shaking his head.

"We don't have to go." Kai repeated, his eyes never leaving Ray's profile.

"No… We should. I shouldn't run from this anymore, it hurts… But, I have to be strong, for Rain." He nodded at his own words, eyes still set on the window.

"Alright." Kai sighed, turning back to his paper work on his desk. He was way behind, since Tyson and Max had occupied his office for a good week.

"She gets it from you, you know." Ray's voice broke the silence that had befell them. Kai gave him a questioning glance, Ray didn't look back as he was still entranced by the window. "Her stubbornness, the way she carries herself. Takes no one's shit." He chuckled a bit.

"I'm glad though, at least she has a strong father too look up to. I'm too weak…" Ray trailed again, a small tear forming in the corner of his eye. "See." He pointed to his face for a second, dropping his hands into his lap. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen. I'm sure it's not what you wanted out of life."

"I wanted you." Kai spoke, before Ray had a chance to slip in more insensible words. "I wanted you, and I have you. We have Rain, that's all I need."

"She'll never sign those damn papers." Ray bit his bottom lip.

"A piece of paper doesn't mean anything, she's still my daughter." Kai added, setting the folder back down on the desk; feeling as now he wasn't ever going to catch up with his work.

"She had the chance to do one thing right, and she won't…" Ray sighed, shaking his head again. "Why does she have to be such a bitch?" He almost yelled, but kept it low enough Rain wouldn't hear him through the walls; that connected the two rooms.

"She has a right to be a mother to her child, I know it's not perfect or what you or I want. But she has that right."

"You're siding with her?!" Ray finally turned, a flash of anger across his face.

"That's not what I said, and you know it." Kai glared back at him. "If it were reversed, and you had the chance to be with your child. Would you not take it? Think about it, the only time she ever saw Rain, was when she was born. That's it. Rain has a right to know her mother as well, it wouldn't be fair to her." Kai sighed. Ray nodded a bit, but he still held the angry look on his face.

"I hate it when you're right." Ray sighed out, after a long silence had filled the room.

"You must hate me then, since I'm right all the time." Kai gave him a playful smirk before turning back to his work, hoping Ray was done with his babbling.

"Did you ever forgive them?" Ray broke the silence again, shifting in his seat a bit.

"No."

"Should I?" Ray asked, looking down at his hands that he folded over his lap.

"I'm not going to tell you what you should do." Kai sighed, turning off his computer and placing the folder in the drawer of the desk. Spinning his chair, so he was now facing Ray fully; crossing one leg over his other.

"Why didn't you?" Ray looked up, his bangs framing his face as a look of concern crossed his features.

"They didn't deserve it." Kai shrugged a bit. "I can careless what they think now, or do. Boris and Voltaire are dead now, so it's doesn't bother me."

"Maybe we should call Bryan, have him off Mariah." Ray chuckled a bit, but his eyes flashed with his words.

"Ray." Kai warned, giving him another glare.

"I'm just kidding… Plus, you were the one who suggested it first. Remember?" Ray laughed, swatting his hand in the air to show he was playing.

"Yes, I remember." Kai smirked a bit, suppressing his own chuckle which caused him to snort. "Feel better now?" He asked, taking in Ray's content expression.

"Yeah. I think so." Ray nodded.

Rain came bounding in the room, her homework paper held in her hand as she took it over to Kai. He glanced at it for a minute, nodding and handing it back.

"Looks right." He said, ruffling her hair on the top of her head a bit before she bounded out of the room again.

"Did you ever get a hold of Julia?" Ray asked, after Rain had slipped around the corner of the door.

"I did. She said yes, on account we pay her well more than what it's worth." Kai sighed, just thinking about the amount she had requested from him was causing him to regret his decision.

"How much?"

"You don't want to know." Kai shook his head a bit, still exasperated thinking about it himself.

"That bad huh? Well, she'll be covered under our insurance. So, there's that. When will it happen?"

"Next month, she'll be here and we'll go to the place." Kai seemed to stiffen in his chair a bit, at the thought of it all as it was starting to set in his mind.

"Will she be staying here?" Ray asked, cocking his head to one side.

"No. Once it's done she'll go back home. If it doesn't stick, then we'll do it again in four months. By then I should have had my surgery." Kai added, and watched Ray's complexion pale a little.

"I almost forgot…" Ray breathed out, his shoulders slumping forward.

"You have your problems to worry about, I have mine." Kai reminded him gently, Ray nodded.

A calm silence befell them, Kai was too busy thinking of the prospect of actually going through with having another child to be bothered with work. After a while Ray had left, figuring it'd be best to wash the laundry now. Rain had migrated to the living room across the hall, playing a game on the console. For a while the house felt at peace, everyone content in doing what they pleased until it was time for them to leave.

Ray made sure Rain had showered and dressed in nice clothes before leaving, a simple pink dress with flower designs while Ray had braided her hair. He himself wrapped his hair in a white and gold wrap, his clothes were nice crisp and clean; but not over the top extravagant. A dark red flannel shirt with tan khakis, with a white undershirt on. Kai had done the same, slicking his bangs back, showing off his scar from the day before, and tying the darker strands in a small knot at the back of his head. His clothes were a mix of formal and casual, a dark blue suit jacket with a pair of black slacks and white button-down shirt on.

As they settled into their seats in the van, Ray texted the address to the restaurant to Mariah. After getting a response, he settled his nerves and took Kai's free hand in his lap. Gently tracing his finger over the back of his pale skin, trying to keep his breathing in check as they pulled away from their home. The ride was quiet, but no tension hung above their heads. They felt at peace with what they were about to do, Ray swallowed his fears. Rubbing his finger over Kai's hand, soothing him and himself through the touch. They would get through this, like always; together. He knew that now, he depended on it.


His breath caught, only once, in his throat at the sight of her. She looked good for having lived the last eight years behind bars, her pink hair had dulled a bit. Her eyes were wide and bright, still holding that gleam he remembered from their youth. Her skin was paler, and she looked a little taller now. Her face held a serene, peaceful expression as they walked up to her. She was standing by the doors of the restaurant, a tall thin Chinese woman stood to her right inspecting the other patrons walking by into the building.

He could feel Kai tense beside him, and his own hand clamped down on Rain's shoulder as she walked in front of him. Stilling his breathing and nerves he pushed on, his expression remained placid as he approached. Something caught her eyes and she turned, a soft smile crossing her lips as she laid eyes on her daughter. The smile faded and she nodded to the two men standing behind her, a welt of guilt and shame turning in her stomach as she met Ray's gaze. Anger mixed with the other emotions as she met Kai's gaze, and he didn't move under her glare.

"Mr. Hiwatari?" The woman stepped from around Mariah, hand outstretched to Ray. "Good evening, I'm Priscilla Mayweather." She shook his hand, her own soft and cold from the bitter March air.

"This is my husband, Kai." Ray cleared his throat, releasing her hand and motioning to Kai beside him.

Kai nodded to the woman, shaking her hand in his. The heat from his skin almost seared her own cold one, and she pulled away quickly. "Pleasure." She glowered, and then turned to Rain before her. "Hello precious." She smiled at the little girl, who smiled back at her.

"Can I see her?" Mariah's soft, pleading voice came from behind Priscilla as she peaked around the woman's shoulder.

Ray nodded, taking a step back as she started over, but he kept his hand firmly on Rain's shoulder. Mariah smiled at her again setting down to be eye level with her daughter, her eyes fluttered around her face and hair. Taking her in as much as she could, her eyes watering a bit and she rubbed the back of her hand over them.

"Oh God, she's beautiful." Mariah gasped out. "You two have done an excellent job." She turned up and nodded curtly to the two men, getting nods in return for her kind words.

"We should go in." Ray cleared his throat again, and the party followed behind him and Kai.

Rain had pulled away from her father and walked beside her mother, almost entranced by her. She smiled back at her words, sometimes Mariah tried speaking to her in Chinese but Rain just blinked at her in confusion. By the time they had sat down at their table, Rain was bouncing in her chair. Ray's nerves had settled and he watched with curious eyes, his heart threatening to break.

He didn't want Rain to hate her mother, she needed to make her own opinion of her; that was only fair he thought. Kai hadn't said much, taking a seat beside Ray as they sat across from the three women in the booth they were provided. Priscilla had been monitoring everything, her dark brown eyes scanning to and fro from one person to the next.

"So, what grade are you in?" Mariah asked, still not able to tear her eyes away from her child.

"I'm in fourth grade, I was able to skip a grade." Rain said, a fang poking out from her wide smile.

"What a smart girl." Mariah beamed. "You're much smarter than your father was." She whispered in her ear, getting a giggle in response.

"Yeah, daddy helps me with my homework most of the time. Papa says the numbers hurt his eyes." Rain giggled again, looking between her fathers, her eyes landing on Kai.

"Daddy?" Mariah questioned, then looked to Kai who stared right back; as if waiting for her to say something off hand. "I see." She mumbled, a shiver running down her spine as her eyes locked with his for a second.

Priscilla made some kind of noise at this, while she pretended to look over her menu. Ignoring the pointed stare from the males across the table from her, her nose curled as if she smelt something foul.

"Do you have any boyfriends?" Mariah ignored her lawyer, turning back to Rain. Kai's glare hardened, and if his look could have killed, she would have dropped dead.

"No" Rain giggled. "Daddy says I can't date till I'm 30."

Mariah shot him another glance, so far Rain had only responded about Kai and what he had done or dictated to her daughter. Her nose curled a bit, feeling unsatisfied with the idea. Kai had no claim on her child, sure she had his last name, but they weren't blood related and it sickened her. He was after all the reason she ended up behind bars, to begin with. She knew Ray never wanted to fully press those charges on her, if it wasn't for the stoic Russian sitting across from her, she would have met her daughter long ago. Anger swelled in the pit of her stomach again, as she chanced a sideways glare at him. He hadn't seen it as he was looking over his menu, unfazed by what the two were talking about.

"So. What does she call you then?" Mariah turned her attention to Ray, who almost jumped out of his seat from her voice.

"Papa. It makes it easier that way." Ray answered once he regained his bearings.

Priscilla made another noise, and turned to Mariah and said a few things in Chinese to her. Though Ray understood what she was saying, he didn't react to the words. He could care less if the old woman thought his life was shameful, he was happy. His daughter was happy, well taken care of. A thought crossed his mind for a second, that they may use his sexuality against him in court and he shuddered at the thought, pushing it to the back of his mind.

The idle chatter between Mariah and Rain continued as they placed their orders to the waiter, Rain answering every mundane question Mariah could come up with. Yet, she hadn't grown bored yet of her. Still in her trance by her mother, she was beautiful she thought, and friendly. For a moment Kai had looked up from his menu, still holding onto it once the others were gone; only to keep himself occupied. For the first time he noticed Rain's eyes weren't the same as Ray's, they were almost identical to Mariah's and for some reason it hurt him a little at the revelation.

"Such manners." Mariah beamed again, as she watched Rain eat with poise and dignity for one so young.

So far, the entire night Rain had been nothing but pleasant and well behaved, her fathers wouldn't have had it any other way. She wasn't an unruly child, but she was still a child. She stepped out of line, as most children do, and she was punished accordingly. They never raised a hand to her though, Kai's tone and glare had always been enough to set her right. She loved her papa so much, she never intentionally got on his bad side and he was more lenient on things to begin with. All in all, she was happy to be their daughter and she showed it to the world by behaving the best she could.

"Do you want dessert, my treat?" Mariah asked once the plates had been cleared.

"Is that okay daddy?" Rain asked looking to Kai, and again Mariah could feel the anger swell in her stomach.

"Ray?" Kai turned to him, after seeing Mariah's pointed stare at him.

"Yeah, that's fine." Ray nodded, unsure why Kai would ask him for permission.

It wasn't that he couldn't parent his own flesh and blood, he was just more laid back than Kai was. They had fallen in step with each other over the years, Ray didn't care what Rain did or wanted. Most of the decision making was left up to Kai, and he didn't understand why now he was being asked. It made him a bit uneasy, now he wasn't sure if he made the right choice in allowing her desert.

"Are you sure?" He looked to Kai.

"It's up to you." Kai offered, trying to ignore the looks he was receiving from across the table.

"Okay…" He took a mental note, to ask him later about this weird exchange. "Yeah Rain. You can." He smiled over at her, and she smiled back pointing out what she wanted on the menu Mariah held.

"Excuse me." Kai nodded, slipping out of the booth and heading towards the bathrooms.

All of a sudden Ray felt completely alone, the leather of the booth where Kai had been sitting was still warm and he kept his hand on the seat, trying to get some kind of comfort from it.

["Can I ask you something."] Mariah's voice pulled him from his stupor and their eyes met.

["Sure?"] Ray shifted a bit in his seat.

["Why does he make all the choices for our daughter?"] She sneered.

["Excuse me?"] Ray blinked, his distressed nerves turned over and now he too felt a swirl of anger in him.

["All night, it's been about him. Like you have no say in what she does, or what she can do. You are her father, not him."] She bit back, her angry tone carrying over and Rain was now starring between the two.

[He is her father, just as much as I am."] Ray's eyes turned to slits, his anger showing in his face now.

["It's quite sickening, if you ask me."] Priscilla cut in, giving him her own pointed stare.

["Well, I didn't."] Ray bit back. ["You two better understand something, as I'm only going to say it once. Kai has been there, since day one for Rain and I. He has loved us, unconditionally and has provided us with a safe and stable home. I don't care about your small minds on how I live my life, what should matter is that Rain has been taken care of. You should be happy about that, and happy that he agreed to letting you see her before the trials. We're only here, because he allowed it. To make Rain happy."] Ray's anger was threatening to spill, his voice had cracked a few times but he stilled his nerves.

["See, there it is again. Him making the decisions."] Mariah sat back in the booth with a hard thump against the back, crossing her arms over her chest.

["We made the decision together, as one would when married."] Ray shot her a glare.

["Whatever Ray."] She sighed, feeling as if her point wasn't going to make a dent in him. She still didn't like the idea of Kai being the one who made the decisions, even if Ray had said they made it together. She didn't want to have to thank Kai for his sudden burst of generosity, she knew it wouldn't last long anyways and she'd be wasting her breath and time.

The table fell silent, Rain still utterly confused as she looked from her biological parent to the next. She had no idea what was said, she hadn't learned that much Chinese yet. By the time Kai returned to the table he could feel the tension in the air as he took his seat, his back was stiff as if he was waiting for another bought of whatever just happened. Rain and Mariah were given their deserts and they ate them quietly, all the while Kai was glancing from one face to the next trying to decipher what had happened.

"Mr. Kai Hiwatari." Priscilla's voice caused him to look at her in the eyes, flaming red met dull brown but she didn't flinch. "May I ask as to what happened to your forehead?" She pointed at her own where Kai's scar mirrored her bare forehead.

Ray looked over at him, almost pleadingly not to say anything. He didn't have to, there was no need to tell them what happened. Kai noticed the look in Ray's eyes and he almost bit his tongue, but he wanted to see what their problem was with him.

"Car accident, lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree." Kai deadpanned, turning back to the woman in front of him. Ray wanted to smack him, but held his hands in his lap.

"Oh my, I'm sorry to hear that. Besides the mark, I take it you're alright?" Priscilla looked him over, as if trying to find another wound on him.

"You're not sorry one bit, bitch." Kai didn't show any emotion towards his inner thoughts, and he simply nodded to the woman's second question.

"Was Rain with you when that happened?" Mariah almost shrieked, her eyes filled with worry.

"No, she was at home with Max and Tyson." Ray sighed, his hands twitched in his lap but he fought the urge to smack his husband.

"So, you were in the car too?" Mariah asked, her eyes going wide as they danced over Ray finding nothing that would have indicated him being in a car wreck.

"Yeah, we went out that night." Ray said matter-of-factly, a bit surprised she would ask such a thing. As if it wasn't a normal thing for husbands to go out on dates once in a while.

"But, you don't look hurt." Mariah spoke her thoughts, still looking him over.

"Kai steered the car to where his side took the force, I walked away just fine." Ray sighed, a pain of guilt over taking him as everything came flooding back to him from that night.

Mariah's gaze turned to Kai for a moment, trying to figure out why he would do such a thing. Not yet understanding that Kai truly cared for Ray, and her daughter. She couldn't trust him, wouldn't trust him at all. Even before being sent off to jail, she had always hated him the moment she saw him. Nothing had changed, no matter how well her daughter had been taken care of by him. She couldn't stomach the thought of him actually being a caring person, there was just no way.

"We should get going, Rain has school tomorrow." Kai glanced at his watch, taking in the time. The tension around the table was unsettling and he knew Ray needed to get out of there.

Mariah growled a little in her throat, once again Kai was dictating her daughter's life and she bit her tongue before saying anything. Simply she nodded, as if she understood and rubbed the back of Rain's hand, before Priscilla slid out of the booth to let her out. Her stomach turned more as Kai smiled down at Rain as she took his hand in hers, coming up beside him as if she belonged there. For a minute Mariah thought that she did look like she belonged beside him, but she pushed that thought away quickly.

"Good night my love, I'll be seeing you soon." Mariah waved at Rain, who waved back.

"Good night Mommy." She said before Kai started away from the table, Ray following after them quietly.


"That bitch!" Ray finally let out his anger once they were back home, having tucked Rain in bed already.

He paced their bedroom now, Kai watching quietly from the bed.

"I can't fucking believe her, can you? How dare she! She thinks, after all these years she can just try and dismiss everything you've done for us?" Ray's voice held anger and sarcasm, he chuckled a bit between his words. "I don't care what they say, or think. Paper or no paper, you are her father." Ray continued his angry pacing, stopping a bit to point at Kai on the bed.

"I already told you that." Kai smirked, receiving an angry glare.

"Why did you tell them about the accident?" Ray almost whined to him, pulling at his hair that had been disheveled from unwrapping it earlier.

"Why not?" Kai shrugged, he truly couldn't care less what they thought about him.

"What if that comes up in court? What if they dig further and find out about your diagnosis and they take her from us?" Ray was almost hysterical now, closing his mouth quickly as Kai held a hand up to stop him.

"Nobody gets their children taken away because they have cancer, Ray."

"I guess…" Ray sighed, finally tired from his pacing he sat down on the edge of the bed by Kai's feet.

"Get a hold of yourself, please. This is ridiculous Ray. I know it's not easy, but everything will be alright." Kai sighed.

Ray nodded, his shoulders slumping forward a bit as he let out the air he was holding in.

"I don't like that lawyer lady…" Ray bit off, he was tired of being angry but didn't find an end to his rantings about the night.

"Neither do I. But she's not that much of a problem."

"Are you sure you don't want to call Bryan?" Ray glanced over his shoulder, eyes almost pleading.

"Ray…" Kai sighed, running a hand down his face.

"Sorry." Ray said meekly, turning back around.

"So, what if she's homophobic? I don't give a damn, never have, and neither should you." Kai said sternly, his eyes locked onto the back of Ray's head. "They can't really use that against us, it's unlawful."

"Unless we get a homophobic judge." Sarcasm slicked off his words as he huffed again.

"Doesn't matter, this isn't about them taking her from us. Just to settle when Mariah gets to see her." Kai reminded.

"You're right."

"Always am." Kai smirked then flinched as Ray smacked his foot.

"Ass." Ray hissed playfully.

"You love it." Kai nudged his foot into Ray's side. "Now get your ass to bed."

Ray stood with a smile on his face, pulling his shirts off and slipping out of his pants before crawling in the bed beside his husband. Kai took him in his arms, laying down with him on his chest. Secure and warm in his embrace the anger and mixed emotions flooded from Ray's mind and body. Everything would be alright, it had to be; Kai was never wrong.