Rimnerel: Sorry for the wait everyone. I don't know how many of you may believe this, but I seriously had my doubts about this chapter being written.

Johnny: You always have doubts about any chapters being written.

Rimnerel: Johnny!

Oliver: This time it really was serious.

Rimnerel (u.u): I mean I lost the data for this chapter twice! My computer just did not like this chapter. Oh well, let's just thank all the nice reviewers. And Raven Star, again I'm sorry for not telling you about this one. I seriously thought that I mentioned it. But I promise to tell you about all the other stories that I am going to write.

Enrique: Now we can get to work on this one finally.

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Michael lounged in his bed thinking about Kai. Hell, that's all he had been doing since the male in question left that morning after finally telling Emily off. A smirk rose to his face whenever he thought about the reaction on her face. It had seriously been priceless and he was glad he was there to see it. She would surely if not all together back off of Kai now that he shredded any thoughts of them ever getting together.

"I seriously have to hand it to Kai, I don't think I would have done a better job myself," Michael mused.

And yet his mind still wondered what Kai was thinking about. There had been something in the male's expression as he was leaving to contemplate or whatever, that had seemed to be pleading to him. Pleading with him to notice something that was so obvious that it could be easily mistaken for something else.

"What are you really thinking Kai?"

Michael thought some more to himself, but he could not get what the dual haired male had on his mind. It was like. . .Kai manifested some mysterious problem out of nowhere. Or. . .maybe it was something that they both should have known and only Kai just realized what it is. Kai's last words to him before leaving had some sort of meaning behind them.

*You know. We've both changed a lot over the last few days. Ironic how it only happened when our paths crossed again. *

There was some sort of meaning behind it, Michael just knew there was. Of course it was funny how they both seemed to change only over the course of days, when before they were relatively complete opposites. A few days ago if Michael had thought that he wanted more from Kai than just a night in the bed, he would have laughed. Now he knew that he did want more. He wanted to protect the male from all the pain he had suffered from his grandfather, Boris, and anyone else that has ever caused him pain in his life. Was it really that much of a funny idea now as opposed to a few days ago?

He doubted that a few days ago Kai would snort at the idea of letting the red head in on his dreadful family secret. A few days ago, he probably would have snuffed the idea of letting anyone into his icy sanctuary to try to warm his heart again. And yet here Michael was, sharing a secret that Kai has kept even from his team. People that he has trusted his life with for a while now. Not even they knew what Michael knew now. If they did. . .well, that would probably mean that Kai had really begun trusting someone.

But the question here is what was on Kai's mind, and how Michael could help him with those conflicting thoughts. Whatever they were. Michael sighed, then turned his head towards the window. It had finally stopped snowing. Maybe he would ask Kai to go for a walk with him and then maybe they could talk about whatever it is that was on Kai's mind. Sitting up from where he laid, he got up from the bed.

Just then a knock on the door sounded. The person did not wait for him to open the door, but came in. Michael was about to open his mind to protest when he saw red spirals.

"Adrienne, you know, you could have waited for me to open the door. I mean what if I had been in the middle of something," Michael said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"But you aren't. So everything is cool," Adrienne grinned. She looked around the room, then frowned. "Where's your new boyfriend?"

"What?" Michael flushed. "Me and Kai aren't like that!"

"Not yet, what a shame. You two would make a good couple," Adrienne said coming to sit down on the bed. She looked at her little brother as he blushed at her remark. "What? You don't think you would be a good couple?"

"Me and Kai are just. . ." Michael started. Exactly what were he and Kai now? Were they lovers? Or was it more to their relationship?

"What? You're lovers now, but soon enough you will be together. You have great chemistry together. You shouldn't throw that away, Michael," Adrienne advised. "Chances like this come once maybe in a lifetime. Just look at me and Tommy."

"What about you and Tommy?" Michael said, reseating himself on the bed.

"You remember how everyone told me that he was no good for me because he was never in a steady relationship?" Adrienne said.

"Yeah, so what does that have to do with anything? Or more to the point, what does that have to do with me and Kai?"

"What I'm getting at is that I spent enough time with Tommy to understand why. He's a writer and his career has him paying more attention to his manuscripts at time than his girlfriends. The girls he was with before couldn't take it and thought that he liked his work more than them and dumped them. He sort of grew accustomed to it, but what they didn't realize was that he has a passion for everything and when he can take a break from his work he's the most wonderful person in the world to be with," Adrienne smiled.

"I'm still not getting the point of this big sister," Michael stated.

"You're impossible to understand yourself. You have a good head on your shoulders and yet you keep forgetting it's there. If it wasn't sewn to your body you would lose it every time," Adrienne shook her head. "What I'm trying to say is that if I had been like the rest of those girls I would never been as happy as I am with him. Kai makes you feel at ease doesn't he?"

"I guess so," Michael said.

"Tell me about it. With him do you just want to stay by his side and enjoy life? Do you want to protect him from everyone that's ever wanted to hurt him? Don't you feel that you can heal the scars that his grandfather caused him?" Adrienne looked over at her little brother with a short stare. She could see the thoughts flickering in his eyes. She wondered if he understood now.

"I do want to heal the pain he's suffered from. I promised him I would be reliable and he could put his trust in me. I would never allow him to hurt. When he cried in my arms after telling me about his parents, I just wanted to take all his pain away and heal him," Michael murmured. "I've never---"

"Thought you would find someone that you could fall in love with?" Adrienne finished his sentence. "I don't think he realized that either. That's why you two are perfect for each other. You both need each other. For him, to heal you and vice versa."

"What do you mean heal me?"

"I've notice that you've shied away from relationships. I suppose that's because you grew up without ever knowing our parents. I thought you wouldn't mind, but you obviously do."

"Adrienne, that's not true," Michael started, but he knew his sister knew him better than anyone else. She had truly been the only one he confined in and trusted. Even though his aunts were there, it was his sister that he turned to. The one person who had loved their parents as much as he wanted to. There were plenty of times growing up that Michael cried himself to sleep from going to school and seeing all the parents with their children. And then wondering why he seemed like the only kid without a mother and father. Adrienne had understood those thoughts and consoled him.

"I know you don't want to seem like you're not hurting. But you are. I can still remember all the times you asked me why they had to die before you knew them. It hurts I know because I still hurting too. Not a day goes by that I don't want to see mother and father again. To have them tell me that they are proud at our accomplishments. Even to scold me for something I've done. I'm sure Kai wants that too. The two of you are kindred spirits, don't miss this opportunity."

"Adrienne, even if I'm in love with him, that doesn't mean that he's in love with me," Michael argued.

"How do you know? Stop being such a pussy and go find out. Didn't you hear what his teammate said? They're leaving tomorrow, if you don't find that out now then you'll never find out. He could slip away from you forever," Adrienne countered. Her mahogany eyes narrowed. "I'm not going to console you when he does either because I told you so."

Michael's eyes widened as it finally hit him. That had to be it. Everything was fine until Tyson said something about leaving. Could he really. . .was it really as simple as that?

"Adrienne. . ." Michael turned his eyes to his sister with a short smile.

"Have you finally figured it out?" she asked.

"Thank you for everything. Sometimes I think you're right, I do forget that my head is on my shoulders."

"At least you finally realize it. Now I don't have to beat it into your head," she smiled, wrapping her arms around her little brother and hugging him tightly.

"Sometimes I really do love you," Michael chuckled.

"Sometimes? You better love me all the time kid. I'm the one that gets you out of these tight spots. Without me, you would still be wandering around trying to find yourself. So, you going to tell him anytime this year, or will I have to kick your ass into high gear?"

"No, I think now that I've figured things out, I won't need that swift kick. I think I can manage on my own now, thank you very much," Michael replied.

"Fine, as long as you know now. And when you two finally hook up, you can tell our aunts that you finally have someone and probably kill them when they meet him. And then me, you, him, and Tommy can sit down and have dinner together so we can get to know the man that tamed your little wild streak," Adrienne laughed.

Michael said nothing as he shook his head. So he finally managed his way out of the tangle of his thoughts. Now he had to help Kai find his way out of the jungle of thoughts that clouded his mind. And it was time Michael found out exactly how Kai felt about him. No matter what happened he would be by Kai's side the whole way.

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Rimnerel: Okay, I decided to cut this chapter into two pieces because it makes more sense to have separate levels of realization on both either ends.

Enrique (confused): What did you just say?

Rimnerel (^ ^): I have no clue myself! I just need to half the story up because chapter eleven is my epilogue, and I wouldn't have anything to write about in chapter ten.

Robert: You really are uncouth when you want to be.

Rimnerel: Oh, Robby-kun! Hi! Mind doing my closing for this chapter?

Robert: Why not since I'm here. Rimnerel hopes that everyone will read this chapter and enjoy it. The next chapter comes out Friday or Saturday depending on how reliable her computer is.

Rimnerel: That's Robby-kun! Okay everyone, you heard my muse. Until then!