So, updating early as I'll be going off the grid here soon for the release of Kingdom Hearts 3. I'll update one more time the day I get my copy in the mail (sometime around the 28th to the 1st.) After that it'll just depend on how long it takes me to beat the game and come out of whatever hell it's gonna put me through.
As always, thank you to everyone who has reviewed, faved, and all that good stuff.
This, along with most of this story is just for the fun of it. Wasn't sure where to put this, so I put it here even if there is no Lemon in it. I've yet to work on part two, so I have no clue when that will be done but enjoy this bit of drabble just for the hell of it.
August 2nd
Ray smiled as he sat at his large dining table, his husband on the other end of it quietly eating the birthday dinner he had prepared while his children sat around them; Kain to his right with Kyra and Reina on the other side beside each other, Reina sitting on Kai's left. Ray couldn't remember the last time they had done this as a family, and he was happy to have his kids over even if it was just for a short while.
The years had flown by them so fast now, Kain had a family of his own and Kyra was already working with Kai at the enterprise while Reina was already in the third grade. Not that he wasn't happy for them all and all that they had accomplished, it was hard not seeing them as often anymore or as often as he had hoped since Kyra moved back to Japan after graduating from college back in February; and now it was August and their father's birthday which was the reason they were all there to begin with.
Kai had wanted a small get together, just him and his kids and husband and that's exactly what he got and even though Ray liked the idea he couldn't help but feel that the moment they left it would be the last time he'd see his two oldest for a while.
Suddenly a random thought passed through his mind, and a smile found it's way to his lips as he sat there, Kai having looked up briefly and caught sight of it from across the table and his brow quirked in question.
"What's that for?" He asked, setting his fork down on the table beside his empty plate.
His question caught the attention of their children, the three raven haired children turned and gave their other father a questioning look as his smile hadn't wavered.
"I was thinking that maybe we should all go on vacation." Ray answered happily as he sat down his own fork beside his empty plate.
Reina's face immediately lit up at the idea, while Kyra and Kain exchanged looks with one another before turning back to Ray.
"Papa, you know I would love to but I just don't have the time right now to take a vacation." Kyra started as looked at her father with a sadness in her eyes.
She knew that having lived in Russia for three years had been hard for her and her parents and she had missed them both dearly, but now that she had just gotten back things were hectic at work and at home, it was like she never had time to breathe with everything going on. She was one of the very few women that worked at her father's enterprise and she was determined to show the others that she had gotten the job on her own merit, not some hand-me-down from her father.
Ray's smile didn't waver though as he met her crimson eyes, "I'm sure you'll be able to take some time off, it would only be for a weekend." He told her then looked at his husband. "You normally have weekends off, so it would work anyways right?"
Kai nodded to him, not sure what was really running through Ray's head at the moment but he wasn't about to openly question it with their children sitting there.
"If we plan it far out enough, then I'm sure you'd be able to get the time off." Ray said, turning back to his eldest daughter.
"How far out are you thinking?" Kyra asked, not able to hold back the sigh.
"The end of the month?" Ray said, his voice hopeful.
"I don't think I can." Kain piped up before Kyra had the chance to, both his father's turning their attention to him now. "I'm backed up with work, not to mention Raiden and I don't know if Matt would be able to take the time off."
Ray gave him a pitying look, he knew what Kain was saying was all just a front since Matthew had taken Raiden with him to live at Max's place since April, though he was the only one at the table who knew Kain's situation outside of Kain himself; being Max's best friend and almost co-parent to Matthew had it's perks at times since Max called him for just about everything.
"It would just be us, Matthew could stay home and take care of Raiden and that would give you a break." Ray said, making sure not to let up Kain's little secret to the others at the table; more than sure if Kai knew what was happening with their son they'd never hear the end of it.
"You want me to leave Dimitri at home then?" Kyra asked a bit perplexed, not liking the idea of leaving her husband at home alone.
"When was the last time we did anything as a family, just us?" Ray asked, turning back to his daughter. "It'll just be for two days, it'll come and go so fast you won't even know it happened." Ray said, trying everything within him to get his children to agree.
"I'll go with you Papa!" Reina piped up, holding her arm up as if she were answering a question in school, her golden eyes beaming with excitement.
Ray chuckled a little at his youngest, "You were coming with us anyways kitten." He laughed and her smile only widened as she sat back down in her chair, finishing the piece of birthday cake on her plate.
"I don't know Papa… I'll have to think about it." Kyra said with a frown, Kain nodding his head as he too didn't really care much for the idea.
Even if he was currently living at home alone, that hadn't stopped him from trying to make things right with Matt and getting his son back. It didn't matter how much he had begged and pleaded with him though, Matt was unmoving and wouldn't come home until Kain got his act together and stopped drinking; the reason he had left to begin with since it had caused a rift to form in their relationship. Even if he had wanted to go on this family vacation with his family, he didn't want to give up the time he had to try and work things out with Matthew. So far he was just happy that nobody outside of himself, Matthew, and Max knew about the issues they were having, knowing that if his fathers knew what kind of problems he was getting himself into he'd never hear the end of it, and he didn't need another set of people breathing down his neck about what a terrible partner and father he had become.
Ray sighed, the light in his eyes dulling a little. "Alright, just let me know before next weekend." He said and seemed to sink into his chair.
Kai watched him from across the table and then his eyes hardened towards his two oldest children.
"Reina, if you're done go on upstairs." He called softly and she nodded, picking up her plates and taking them to the kitchen before she headed for the stairs, leaving her sister and brother with their fathers.
Kyra and Kain turned their attention to their father, they both already tensing at just the sight of him and his crimson eyes burning.
"I can guarantee time off for the both of you at work, so that isn't something you two will need to worry about. And Kyra, I'm sure Dimitri can survive a weekend without you, Tala will probably keep him busy anyways. Kain, you might as well stop trying to act like we don't know what's going on either. You have no reason not to come with us, if it's something your father wants to do then I see no point in not doing this. He's right, when was the last time you two even came over to just say hi?" He started off, his voice hard and the two sunk in their chairs.
"Kain, you live twenty minutes down the road but you never stop by to see us. Kyra, I know you just moved but you've had plenty of time to get your apartment in order and even still, when was the last time you came by?" He asked, his eyes almost burning.
Ray's golden eyes widened as he watched his husband lay into their children, a bit thankful for the help but also cringing inside since it was clear that Kai knew about their sons problems and how he had found out was something he'd have to ask about later as he didn't want to interrupt his ranting.
"I'm sorry that I've been busy, but it wasn't to hurt anyone's feelings." Kyra snapped back. "I have a lot on my shoulders at work as it is, and yes we got the apartment done but I can't just leave my husband." She argued back, her own crimson eyes burning.
Kai inhaled deeply, trying to keep his temper in check. "I know you've taken a lot on your shoulders since you started working, but you're doing a fine job but you're also forgetting to take care of yourself and that you have more family than just your husband. Don't make the same mistakes I did." He warned, his eyes narrowed at her and she visibly sunk into her chair at his words.
Kyra knew he was right, she had taken on a lot to show her worth at work and in doing so she had failed at taking care of herself as it showed in her weight loss and the dark circles that were under her eyes. Though it wasn't like she was trying to put Dimitri first, she just didn't feel right in leaving him home alone but once again her father was right, Dimitri would probably be fine and Tala would probably get a chance to spend time with his son since he hadn't been able to in the past three years.
Kain was already waiting for his turn, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched his father's eyes turn to him next. Kain didn't know how he knew, but now that he did he was preparing himself for the onslaught though it never came as his fathers eyes slightly softened.
"You will come, no ifs or buts about it. It'll be good for you, and you know it. No more bullshit, understand me?" Kai asked, even if his eyes were soft his voice was tense.
Kain nodded quickly, feeling like he had no room to argue back. "Where did you want to go?" His voice cracked a little as he spoke, turning to Ray on his right.
"I was thinking Tokyo Disney and Disney Sea." Ray answered brightly, looking like he had been unaffected by Kai's rantings to their children.
Kyra scoffed and turned her attention back to Kai, "You sure you want to do this now? You, in a crowded hot and stuffy place? Not to mention rides, doesn't sound like you."
Kai shrugged his shoulders at her, not looking bothered by Ray's choice in the slightest. "If it makes your father happy, then I don't care where it is." He said as he crossed his arms over his chest and Kyra's face fell. "When did you want to go? That way I can put in the time for all of us." He asked, looking at Ray from across the table who gave him a broad smile.
"End of the month sound good?"
Kai nodded, pushing himself away from the table and collecting his plates up. "I'll put it in tomorrow then." He said, turning his back on them and going under the archway that led into the kitchen behind them and placing his plates on the counter before leaving to his office down the hall.
"I'm sorry guys, I didn't think he'd jump down your throats like that." Ray apologized the second he heard Kai's office door close, his golden eyes soft as he looked to his kids.
Kyra looked more pissed off than anything while Kain had sunk down into his chair, not looking up from the table. "It's alright Papa…" He muttered out, "Excuse me." He said and pushed himself away from the table, going towards the back porch.
Kyra turned to Ray when they were alone, the scowl on her face dropping. "I didn't mean to upset you Papa by not stopping by, I'm just up to my head in work and being one of the only females in such a male dominate place it's been hard, even if I am the bosses daughter. If anything, that's made it worse on me." She said and Ray nodded, reaching over and touching her hand.
"I know and I don't hold it against you. Both of you have your own lives and I respect that, but I have missed you two." He said, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. "It's just for two days, I promise."
Kyra nodded, "I know, but… Really, Disney?" She asked with a cocked brow.
Ray shrugged his shoulders, pulling his hand away as he sat back into his chair. "Why not? I've never been and I'm sure Reina would love it."
"I'm sure she would, but you do realize that Kain and I are in our twenty's. We're a bit old for a child's place." Kyra said, her voice deadpanned.
"I'm sure you'll love it, they have big rides too." Ray said, his excitement not dying down.
Kyra sighed, shaking her head. Of all the places her father could have picked, why did it have to be Disney? She started to collect her and Ray's plates from the table, taking them into the kitchen before coming back to Ray who had stood from his chair and hugged her tightly.
"I'll let you know the date and times as soon I look some stuff up. Make sure to tell everyone goodbye before you go." He said as he let her go and she nodded, deciding it'd be easier to say goodbye to Reina first and started for the stairs.
Ray watched her go, his ears perking as Kai's office opened and he stood leaning in the doorway. "Everything alright?"
Ray nodded, going over to him and hugging him just as tightly as he had done his daughter. "Thank you, for agreeing with me." He said as he looked up into Kai's crimson eyes, that were reflecting the love he had for him in them.
"After all you've done for me, it's the least I could do." Kai said, leaning down and pecking Ray on the lips gently before pulling back. "Though I do have to agree a little with Kyra, me in a theme park?"
"It'll be fine, I promise. You and the kids will love it." Ray said, giving his husband a fanged smile.
The two parted when Kain stepped back into the house, his body almost freezing up on him as he saw his fathers standing there in the hall in front of him. "I'm gonna go ahead and head home…" He said, lowering his head.
Ray frowned, stepping up to his son and pulling him into a tight hug. "It was good seeing you, be careful." He said, tightening his hold on him for a second before letting him go.
Kain gave him a weak smile and then met Kai's eyes and nodded to him. "Happy birthday." He said meekly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Let one of us know when you get home." Kai said, and Kain nodded before heading towards the foyer where he crossed Kyra's path coming down the stairs, the two saying goodbye as Kain slipped out the front door.
"Is he alright?" Kyra asked as she stepped up to her parents.
"Just some stuff going on between him and Matthew, but what else is new?" Ray asked in a joking manner. "He'll be fine, don't worry about him." Ray said, hugging his daughter back. "Be careful going home and give my love to Dimitri." He said as he let her go, stepping back from her and letting her move onto Kai.
Kai placed an arm around her shoulder as she hugged him. "Happy birthday Dad." She said cheerfully before pulling away.
"Thank you, we'll see you soon." He said, letting her go and waving to her as she turned down the hall for the front door as well, slipping out of the house and closing the door behind her.
"Should get Reina in bed." Ray said as he started towards the foyer, his heart hurting after having watched his two oldest leaving the house.
Kai stopped him by grabbing him gently around the wrist. "Don't take too long." He said, a smirk on his lips that caused a smirk to cross Ray's own, a fang slipping over his lower lip.
"Of course, birthday boy." He said with a wink, Kai letting him go so he could hurry up and put Reina to bed and then join him.
The two lay awake, their breathing coming back in normal intervals as the sheets were still tangled around their legs. Ray lay with his head on Kai's chest, the two of them coming down from their high as Ray began to stir and sat himself up, grabbing his boxers off the floor and starting to slip them back on before joining Kai back on the bed beside him, sitting up against their headboard.
"How did you find out about Kain?" Ray asked, shifting the sheets better and pulling them up around his body.
Kai huffed, turning on his side and propping his head up on his hand as he met Ray's eyes. "Been dying to ask that, haven't you?" He said with a smirk.
Ray shrugged his shoulders slightly, playing with the ends of his long hair. "Kind of, but I didn't want to say anything with them all still here."
"I saw Matthew back in May at the café beside my work, he was there alone and I asked him where Kain was since he wasn't with him and had the day off. Matthew couldn't answer me with a straight face, kept trying to run around the questions. So I asked him what they were planning to do for Kain and Raiden's birthdays, said he didn't know and that he'd have to talk to Max about it." Kai explained, Ray nodding along.
"I didn't question him further about why he would need to talk to his dad about Kain's birthday or their sons, it was already pretty clear that things weren't good between them. Then, we didn't hear anything when Kain's birthday came around and the same thing happened for Raiden's. I know we sent them both something, but we didn't even get a call back from them. I don't know what they're arguing over though, just that they aren't together right now." Kai answered, his brow quirking. "But you know why, don't you."
Ray nodded, still playing with the ends of his hair. "I do…"
"You going to tell me?" Kai asked, his brow raising higher.
Ray huffed, dropping the ends of his hair over his shoulder and onto his lap. "He's a drunk." Ray said bluntly, anger in his tone.
Kai sat up against the headboard beside Ray, going quiet as he waited for Ray to continue. Never had he thought that their son would have dove so far off the deep end, he had never shown it around them, when he did come around, and he hadn't heard anything about it from Kyra either.
"I guess it's been this way since Raiden turned two… I had no idea until Max called me in April, when Matt took Raiden to live with him there. Matt says he's tried to get Kain to sober up, that he's tried forcing him to go to meetings and seek help but he refuses. I guess it got so bad at one point that Kain was passed out drunk on the floor of their home in the afternoon, he was supposed to have picked Raiden up from beyblade practice but he never showed up. Luckily Matt was still at work and was able to take him home, but when they got home it hadn't ended well and so Matt took Raiden." Ray breathed out, feeling his hurt clench.
"They've been there since April… Matt hasn't let Raiden see Kain or even talk to him on the phone." Ray continued, shaking his head. "I don't know what to do for them."
"You can't do anything for them, and you shouldn't do anything for them. This is their problem, more like Kain's problem. You can't jump in it and fix it." Kai told him.
"I know, but I just feel so helpless. I didn't even know he had a problem, I don't even know why he has this problem." Ray said back, shaking his head.
"Do you think it's because of me?" Kai asked, causing Ray to quickly look at him.
"Why would it be?"
Kai shrugged his shoulders, crossing his arms over his bare chest. "I know that when he was with me, when you were pregnant with Reina, that he didn't sleep well and he was constantly at my side. It didn't matter what I was doing or where I was going, he was like a second shadow. At first I played it off that he just wanted to get to know me, but he rarely talked half the time and when he did it was always asking when he'd be going back or worrying that you weren't going to call him. Back then, he was showing tendencies with someone who suffers from separation anxiety and when Matt had to leave to stay with Mariam it got worse."
Ray listened to his husband, knowing that Kain had always been a clingy child but hadn't really seen that much of a change in him. He didn't want to put the blame on Kai though, not when he hadn't even been present for most of Kain's life. It was Ray who had a drinking problem, who had also put his son on the back burner after Kai had left with Kyra twenty-two years ago.
"You're not to blame for that, if anything it's my fault. I was a drunk when you had left, I let Max raise Kain."
Kai shook his head at him. "Kain was a baby when that happened, he wouldn't have remembered any of that. You got sober before he even turned two, he didn't know about any of that till he was fifteen." Kai answered, his arms tightening around his chest. "What he did grow up knowing was that he had a parent out there who had avoided him all his life, I know you told him he had a mother but the fact still remained was that he was missing one parent and he thought it had something to do with him. When it was my fault." Kai said, his voice getting weaker.
Ray grabbed his hand, holding it tightly. "You shouldn't beat yourself up over that anymore, I forgave you and so did Kain."
"But that doesn't stop the fact that something happened to him, yes it's not my fault this is the way he's decided to cope with what ever it is, but if anything it links down to what I failed to do as his father."
"Stop it, you didn't fail him anymore than I did." Ray said, cupping Kai's cheek and making him turn to look at him. "You've done plenty for him, you let him live here with his child and partner. You paid for his college and gave him a job that pays him well. You're right, it is his fault for what he's done to himself and his family but it's not your fault. His faults are his own, not yours." He said, dropping his hand and taking up Kai's again.
"But he's repeating what I did, Matthew won't let Raiden see him now. What do you think that's going to do to him?"
"It's between them, the only thing we can do is help anyway we can. He didn't even know I knew, let alone that you knew anything." Ray answered, rubbing his thumb along the back of Kai's hand.
Kai scoffed, rolling his eyes. "I didn't think it was this bad."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I just didn't think it was a good idea."
"I'm not mad at you for not telling me, I'm just as helpless as you are. One of our kids is in trouble and we can't help." Kai said solemnly.
Ray smiled at him, not for the heaviness of the situation but for the love he could see Kai had for their family and kissed his hand before letting it drop back down onto his lap.
"I know, but he'll get through it. We did, and we were separated far long than they have been." He said with a small laugh, Kai smirking a little and turning to Ray before he straddled his waist, holding Ray's wrists over his head.
"Guess I need to make up for it then, don't I?"
"Only if it'll make you feel better." Ray said, his own smirk on his lips as his fang showed before Kai crushed their lips together in a heated kiss.
Kain sat in his car, still running, as it sat in the drive of his home. He had been sitting there for half an hour now, not wanting to go inside with it being empty. His head and heart felt heavy, it had been like this since April and it hadn't gotten any easier as the months went by. He missed his boyfriend and his son, knowing full well that it was his fault that they were gone. He had fought with himself several times about just going to Max's, but Stella had told him it wouldn't end well and just not bother but he was slowly losing the battle.
Beside him in the passenger seat sat a brown bag, a bottle of rum sitting in it untouched. He eyed it, knowing that it was the reason for this mess to begin with but had bought it on his way home anyways.
He shut the car off, still unmoving from his seat as he picked his phone up from the cup-holder he had placed it in as he had driven home from the corner store. He felt his heart seize up on him and his breath hitch in his throat as he stared down at his home screen, the faces of Matt and Raiden looking back at him with broad smiles as they were holding up the trophy Raiden had won at a small city Beyblading tournament the past year. It had always hurt when he looked at it, but now it was like someone had stabbed him in the heart.
He found Matt's cell number and hit the dial button, putting the phone to his ear as he held his breath. It rang, and rang, until the other side picked up.
"Baba?" Raiden's voice came through, and Kain swallowed hard as his hands began to tremble.
"H- Hey buddy, how… How are you doing?" He asked, trying to find his voice. He hadn't expected his call to have been answered, all the other times he would have to leave a voicemail or Matt would just hang up on him.
"I'm alright, what about you?" His little boy asked, and he felt tears prick at the corner of his eyes.
"I'm alright. What have you been up to?" He asked, not sure how long he'd have left talking to him.
"Oh, well dad is taking me to Kyoto this weekend for another tournament." Raiden said, his voice filled with excitement. "It's not a big one or anything, it's more of a practice thing they're having us do."
"I'm sure you'll do great… Where um… Where is your dad?" He asked, his stomach dropping.
"He's right here, did you want to talk to him?"
"Yeah." Kain answered, his heart speeding up in his chest.
He could hear Raiden exchange the phone over to Matt, before he could hear him let out a deep breath into the phone.
"What?" Matt asked, already sounding annoyed.
"I um… I wanted to see how you two were doing." Kain answered, quickly losing all his conviction for having called in the first place.
"We're fine… How are you?" Matt asked, his voice losing the hardness in it slightly.
"I'd feel a lot better if you two were here, where you belong." Kain answered, his voice cracking.
"You know why we aren't there, unless you're calling to tell me that you've fixed yourself then we're not coming back." Matt answered after a pause between them, and Kain could no longer hear Raiden in the background.
"You can't do this to me!" Kain yelled, his arms shaking as he held the phone to his ear. "I'm his father Matthew, you can't keep him from me like this!"
"I'm doing this to protect him Kain! You've given me no choice in the matter, either fix yourself or I'm taking you to court for full custody of Raiden."
Kain's heart stopped, a sweat forming on his forehead as he sat in silence processing what Matt had said to him.
"You can't… You can't do that…" His voice trembled, his other hand coming up and covering his eyes as the first set of tears began to fall.
"I can and I will, don't test me with this Kain. You need to think of what's best for our son, not just what's best for you." Matt said after another silence passed over them, his voice not as harsh as it had been.
Kain nodded, even though Matt couldn't see him.
"I don't want to do this to you… But you're not giving me many options here, if you'd had just let me help you we wouldn't be in this mess." Matt sighed out, Kain having gone quiet on the other end.
"I don't even know what's wrong…" Kain breathed out in a shaky breath, wiping his tears away. "I didn't want this, I never wanted this Matt… I've tried, you know I have tried to be the best I could be…" He choked out.
"Then go seek help, professional help to find out what's wrong." Matt said sternly. "I know you've done what you could, but you're not the same man I grew up with." His words not only stung Kain but they also stung himself, even though it hurt him to say those things to Kain he needed him to understand that what Kain had done to their family wasn't something that could be easily fixed overnight, if at all.
"You know I'll always be there for you, I've just needed to make sure our boy was safe and him being around you wasn't going to keep him safe. I didn't do this to hurt you Kain, but you have to think about your actions and what Raiden sees and what he needs from you."
"I know…" Kain heaved, wiping his tears away with the back of his arm as he leaned his head against the headrest of his seat. "I never wanted this… I'm so sorry…"
Matt sighed through the phone, "I know… So go and fix it so we can come home."
"I'll try." Kain said, his eyes closed as the rest of his tears rolled down his cheeks. "I miss you two… Give him my love, please."
"I will." Matt said, his voice holding his own sadness within it before he hung up on him.
Kain pulled the phone away from his ear as cried harder, not having gotten an answer would have hurt just as badly as getting one and now that he had finally gotten through he knew he needed to get his act together if they were ever going to come home. He couldn't imagine that Matt would take Raiden from him completely, but now that had been placed on the table he felt a sense of dread and panic wash over him. He knew it could happen, it was just a matter of keeping it from happening.
Once he had settled down enough, wiping his face again, he grabbed his phone and the bag that sat in the passenger seat. Taking himself into his empty home, the bag clutched tightly in his hand as he shut the door behind him.
Kyra had barely put her keys down on the table that sat in the foyer of her apartment when Dimitri called for her from the kitchen, turning the corner on her right and stepping through the archway of the kitchen she stepped up to her husband who was busy doing dishes while listening to music off his phone.
"How was it?" He asked, quickly turning down the volume before he turned around to see her.
All at once Kyra looked annoyed, pissed, and sad at the same time as she closed her eyes trying to keep herself composed, taking in a deep breath before she opened her eyes.
"Papa got this weird idea to go on a 'family vacation' to Disney." She said, the sarcasm evident in her tone.
Dimitri's eyes widened as he looked at her for a second, before he had to stifle a laugh. "Really, and where did he get that idea from?"
"I don't know, but he wants it to just be us." She said, her voice rising.
Dimitri's face fell, and he bit into the side of his cheek. "When does he want to go?"
"At the end of the month." Kyra huffed, leaning her back against the counter to her left. "Dad's going to put in the time for us all to have off so we can go, be the last weekend of the month."
"So it's just two days?" Dimitri asked and Kyra nodded. "Well that's fine, I was afraid you'd be gone for weeks or something."
"You're fine with me going?" Kyra asked, a black brow raising as she looked at her husband.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Dimitri asked with a shrug. "I think it'd be good for you, you haven't seen them in three years babe. Your sister was what, three the last time you saw her?"
Kyra nodded, "She was two… Almost three… But really, Disney? Of all the places he could pick."
Dimitri laughed at her. "You're right, I can't really see your father walking around that place with Mickey ears and a smile on his face."
Kyra felt a smirk on the corner of her lips. "You're right, but he said that if it makes Papa happy then he's fine with where ever it is." She huffed.
"Then go and do it, spend time with them. Papa has been dying to get his hands on me anyways."
"Just do me a favor." She said, her voice low. "Please don't tell him that we're going to be trying to start a family, you know he's going to flip shit and hound us daily if you do."
"My lips are sealed." Dimitri said, pretending to zip his mouth closed.
"I'm going to go take a shower." Kyra huffed, pulling herself away from the counter and heading towards their bedroom as Dimitri went back to finishing the dishes, turning the volume on his phone back up.
After Kyra had taken her shower and gotten ready for bed, Dimitri was already in the bed waiting for her, though instead of going to their bed she grabbed her robe from the back of the chair that went to her vanity and slipped it on.
"Where are you going?" Dimitri asked, sitting up in the bed to watch her.
"I have some papers I need to finish." Kyra sighed, tying the satin sash around her robe. "I won't be long, I promise." She said before walking out of their room and down the hall to her office before Dimitri could even respond to her.
She left her office door open, going over and sitting down at her glass table-top desk and switched on the lamp that sat on the edge of it. Starting her computer up, the light almost blinding in the barely lit room. She sighed out as she waited for her computer to start up, rummaging around in her work bag for the papers she needed. Once the home screen of her computer came up she placed the folders down she had fished from her bag onto the table beside her computer and happened to glance at the small clock on her computer screen; 9:35 PM. She smiled a little to herself, promising herself that she would be done before 10:30, giving her an hour of work to complete what she needed.
At 2:30 in the morning Dimitri wandered into the office yawning, Kyra still sat and typing away furiously at her keyboard as her crimson eyes darted from the papers on her desk to her computer screen, a cup of cold coffee sitting beside her as it had gone untouched for an hour.
"Babe, you said you wouldn't be long." Dimitri said softly, coming up and standing behind her, placing a hand on her back gently.
"I know, I'm almost done I promise." She said, not bothering to look up at him as her fingers continued to dance across her keyboard.
"It's two in the morning, come to bed. Don't you have to get up at five anyways?"
"I know, I know. Just… Let me get this final paper done and I'll come to bed." She snapped back, getting irritated from the lack of sleep and the pile of work she had barely pushed through.
Dimitri sighed, rubbing her back gently before placing a kiss on the top of her head before he headed back to their room, the sound of Kyra's typing filling the silence of their apartment.
Kyra hadn't gone to bed till it was almost four in the morning, dreading the fact that she'd only get less than an hour of sleep before she'd have to wake up and go to work. When her alarm went off she cut it off quickly, Dimitri getting up to go and make them breakfast as she went off to the bathroom for a quick shower in hopes that it would wake her up more. She barely had the energy to put on all her makeup, just doing her eyes and putting on some lip gloss before she went and sat down at the table in the dining room.
"You can't keep doing this my love, you're going to burn yourself out." Dimitri said from the kitchen, the smell of eggs and toast filling their apartment space.
"It needed to get done, specially now that I'm going to have to take two days off at the end of the month." Kyra protested weakly. "At least it's done now."
Dimitri sighed, shaking his head at her as the two went quiet while he continued to make them breakfast. They both knew she couldn't keep going on like this, and Dimitri was actually grateful that she was being forced to go with her family on this sure of the moment vacation. Not that he wouldn't miss her, but it would be good for her to spend some time with her parents and siblings, while also not having to worry so much about work. He was just thankful that it hadn't caused a problem in their marriage, if anything they were going just as strong as when they were dating.
August 30th
"Do you have everything, kitten?" Ray asked, watching Reina hauling her suitcase down the stairs as he stood by the door in the foyer.
"Yup, I got my hairbrush, my toothbrush… OH no I forgot something!" She said, her face dropping as she let go of the handle on her suitcase, it rolling down the rest of the stairs as she turned back up them and took off for her room.
Ray caught the suitcase before it went into the window that sat directly in front of the staircase, pulling it over with his and Kai's as he shook his head at his youngest child. His other two would be arriving shortly as they were going to leave their cars there while they took the SUV as it would sit them all better. Kai came into the foyer, checking his watch.
"Kain should have been here by now." He said, going over and sitting on the bench across from the staircase, facing the inside of the foyer.
"Kyra's on her way, she called me just a little bit ago. But I haven't heard from Kain all morning." Ray said, his eyes starting to fill with worry.
"I'll call him." Kai said, pulling out his phone quickly and going to Kain's contact and calling him up.
The phone rang three times before Kain answered. "Where are you? You should have been here by now." Kai asked, his voice stern.
"Sorry, I got caught up cleaning before I left." Kain answered, the wind coming through the background that let Kai know he was driving.
"Alright, be careful and we'll see you shortly. And park behind my car when you get here." Kai ordered, hanging up on his son before putting his phone back in his pocket.
"Is he alright?" Ray asked and Kai nodded, telling him what Kain had told him. "Should start getting these in the truck then." Ray said, eyeing the suitcases when Reina came bounding down the stairs again.
"I got them!" She cheered, waving around her two favorite stuffed animals in the air; the same ones her sister and brother had when they were infants and had been given to her when she was born. "I can't believe I almost forgot them." She laughed at herself.
"That would have been bad." Ray laughed with her, remembering a time she had forgotten them and cringed; it had been a terrible time. "Let's help daddy get these in the truck." He said, motioning towards her suitcase and she bounded over to it.
Kai got up, taking his suitcase along with Ray's as he held the door open for them. The SUV had been parked out in front of the front porch, Ray popping the hatch open and stood back as Kai and Reina loaded their suitcases inside. Kain having pulled up his truck in the drive and doing what he had been told, parking behind Kai's car before he got out and grabbed his own suitcase from the back of his truck and carrying it over to the others.
"Glad to see you." Ray said, his smile warm as Kain approached them.
"Sorry about that, lost track of time." Kain said sheepishly, loading his suitcase in the back with the other three.
"Bubba!" Reina cheered, throwing her arms around his waist.
"Hey sissy, where's Kyra?" He asked, brow raised as he hugged his youngest sister.
"Should be here soon, once she is we're off though." Ray answered, trying to keep himself from bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Sounds good, gonna head to the bathroom first though." Kain said, having to pry Reina off his waist as he rushed up the stairs to the front porch and slipped into the house.
"He's looking better." Kai mused quietly but loud enough for Ray to hear him, who nodded.
"Good, I really didn't know what to expect if he hadn't done something." Ray said, shaking his head.
"Kyra's here!" Reina called out, her golden eyes beaming as she watched her sisters car pull up behind Kain's into the drive before rushing over and clinging to her like she had done Kain.
"Woah, slow down sissy. You almost knocked me over." Kyra laughed, rubbing her sisters back before they pulled apart so Kyra could get her luggage from the back of her car.
"Did you speed? You got here a lot faster than what I thought you'd have." Kai said, checking his watch.
"Just a little." She shrugged, pulling out her large suitcase from the trunk and hauling it over to her father who took it from her and threw it in the back with the rest.
"Oi, you made it." Kain said as he jumped the stairs, coming over and hugging his older sister.
"So did you." She said, pushing against his side.
"We're burning day light people, lets go." Ray hollered, going to the passenger side of the SUV and climbing inside.
Kai rolled his eyes at his husband, slowly the guilt for agreeing to this was starting to creep up on him but he was determined to put a smile on his face for his husband. Their children climbed inside, the two girls taking up the captains chairs in the middle while Kain took the very back row for himself. Kai came back from locking up the house, slipping into the front seat and starting the truck up as Ray bounced in his seat along with Reina behind him.
"This is going to be so much fun!" He said, his golden eyes beaming with excitement as Kai pulled them out of the driveway and down the road.
As they rode up the elevator to the ninth floor of their hotel, Kai handed Kyra and Kain each a room key, giving Ray the spare to their room just as the elevators doors opened up to a lavish hallway.
"It's this way!" Reina shouted, taking her suitcase and running down the hall after having glanced at the room number on Kain's card.
Kain rushed after her, starting to feel excited about this whole thing as their parents and older sister stepped out of the elevator like civil people, though Ray was itching to take off and run with them.
"Oh good, we're far away from you two." Kain shouted down the hall, stopping at his and his sisters room, his parents room right by the elevator.
"I'm sure you'd hear them if they were on the first floor anyways." Kyra said, coming to stand with her two younger siblings, Reina covering her mouth as she tried not to laugh too loudly.
"Be glad you didn't live with them for three years." Kain said, pretending to shudder.
"Hey, only fair since they had to listen to you and Matt." Kyra jabbed back, watching Kain's face flush bright red.
"Open the door already!" Reina yelled out between them, not caring for their conversation and ready to run into their room and jump on the beds.
"Alright, alright." Kain laughed, sliding his key card through the reader and it lit up as he pushed the door open. "Holy shit…" He said, awestruck by the size and beauty of their room.
Reina pushed past him, running in and dive bombing on top of the closest bed, leaving her suitcase in the hall for her sister or brother to haul inside. Kyra grabbed up Reina's suitcase, following Kain inside their room as the door closed behind them.
"THIS. PLACE. IS. AMAZING!" Reina cheered as she jumped on the bed, the sheets bunching around her feet with every bounce.
"I don't think you should be doing that sissy." Kyra said, rolling their suitcases beside the dresser that stood in front of the two beds.
"KYRA, YOU HAVE GOT TO CHECK OUT THIS TUB!" Kain's excited voice came from the bathroom, with a sigh at how childish her twenty-three year old brother was acting now; he was acting no better than their seven year old sister right now.
She went off, to check out the bathroom per her brothers request and eyed it, not really caring as she lived in something no different for her entire life.
"Yeah, it's a tub." She said, not amused that her brother was sitting in it.
"You can fit five people in this thing!" He said, his jaw dropped.
The sound of small feet rushing up behind her told her that Reina was now coming in to check out the bathroom as well, her golden eyes still alight as her mouth dropped and she rushed over and jumped into the tub along with her brother.
"It's so big!" She shouted, and Kyra rolled her eyes.
"You realize that our parents tub is this size, if not bigger, right?"
"Yeah, but how often do we get to use it?" Kain asked with a roll of his eyes, not caring for Kyra's sour mood.
Kyra went to respond when there was a knock on their door, seeing as her two younger siblings were busy playing in the tub she went over and opened it, their parents standing there, a large grin on Ray's face as she let them in.
"Welcome to the nut house." She said as they stepped into the room. "I hope you're happy, you've created two monsters." She said unamused to Ray, who gave her a cheeky grin.
"They in the tub?" He asked, already knowing since he could hear them outside in the hall.
"Of course, where else would they be?" Kyra said with a roll of her eyes, causing Ray to chuckle as he passed by her, Kai staying next to the door.
"He jumped on the bed too when he got in the room." He whispered to her, and Kyra huffed out.
"C'mon you two, lets go get something to eat." Ray called, standing in the doorway of the bathroom where his two children were still sat in the giant tub, talking about all the things they could fit inside it.
"Papa! I wanna see your room!" Reina shouted, jumping out of the tub with Kain climbing out of it behind her.
"You can when we come back up from dinner, c'mon kitten lets go." He said with a laugh, turning back around and leading them out of the bathroom like a mother duck with her ducklings.
Kai and Kyra quietly followed after them, Kyra shutting the door once their family had filed out of the room. The entire way back to the elevator Kain and Reina were going a mile a minute about how excited they were, Ray joining in every now and then.
The dining hall was just as grand as the rest of the hotel and their rooms, the food was exquisite and once everyone had their fill they all filed back to the elevator for the night, going to start their day in the morning at the first park and on Sunday they would go to the other.
As promised Ray showed the kids his and Kai's room, Reina and Kain just as awestruck by it like they had been with theirs. Before they were able to make more of a commotion Kai kicked them out, thankful for the peace and quiet now as it was just him and Ray alone for once. Quickly taking up his husband and carrying him to their hotel bed, Ray giggling at him as he got tossed down on the top of it.
Kyra let her siblings in, before following behind them into their room down the hall. Quickly pulling out her phone in order to call Dimitri while Reina got herself ready for bed, Kain going into the bathroom after her once she came out of it. Kyra talked with Dimitri for an hour before they said their goodbyes and went to the bathroom herself to get ready for bed, the two girls taking one bed while Kain got the other for himself.
Halfway in the middle of the night, after she got fed up being kicked constantly by Reina, Kyra slipped out of their bed and slid in next to Kain stirring him awake.
"What's wrong?" He mumbled sleepily.
"She keeps kicking me." Kyra grumbled, trying to go back to sleep as she laid on her back beside her brother.
Kain chuckled a little. "Raiden does the same thing to me when he sleeps in the bed."
Kyra yawned, settling down into the bed more. "How is he?" She asked quietly, not wanting to wake up their sister in the other bed.
Kain shrugged his shoulders, "I haven't seen him in a long time…"
Kyra's brows furrowed and suddenly she felt awake. "Why?"
"Matt took him from me… I'm working on it though." Kain answered, curling in on his side more.
"Why do you always get yourself into trouble?" Kyra huffed at him through the darkness of their room.
"I'll let you know when I have an answer." He mumbled back, not really caring for continuing the conversation they were currently having.
"Is there anything I can do?" Kyra asked, sitting up in the bed.
Kain sighed, pushing himself up beside her as he hung his head. "I don't think so… It's something I have to do, but I'm working on it I promise."
"You can always talk to me, if you need to." She said quietly, and he nodded to her.
"Thanks sis…" He glanced beside him at her in the dark and frowned a little. "Should braid your hair before it gets in my mouth again in our sleep." He chuckled a little, and she rolled her eyes at him.
"Fine, go get my brush and a hair tie then." She huffed, and he quietly and happily went to retrieve the items from the bathroom before coming back and sitting behind her, doing her hair carefully in the dark before they retired back to bed and fell asleep.
